Not everyone can handle being alone.

For some people it was comfortable, preferable, but Izumi found much more comfort in being around people. The loneliness of her teenage years coupled with her near solitary private life made her crave that companionship. She thought she wouldn't be able to handle living alone.

Sometimes she still thinks she can't, but then she remembers that she's not alone, not really.

For the rainy afternoon she chose to stand out on her balcony with an umbrella over her shoulder and a cigarette in her mouth. It took a while to make the decision to do so but eventually, she knew eventually she would. A matter of sooner rather than later, really. She didn't want her furniture to smell like smoke, on the off chance she ended up inviting some people over.

Not that she ever did

"Kuro-chan," She sighed, relaxed as the tall body manifested beside her.

The bottom of her slippers where damp and she resigned herself to the dampness that she would trek back into her apartment later. Kuro-chan leaned over the balcony, for a moment Izumi wondered what it was like to see without eyes.

She passed the cigarette over to Kuro-chan who took it in clumsy fingers as she breathed out, smoke hitting Izumi in the eyes with a sharp sting. She recoiled, despite the zero difference it made and her eyes watered.

Kuro-chan bit the cigarette in half.

She wasn't alone, just the same as how four hours later when she was still crying it was just smoke in the eyes.

She wasn't alone, not really.

It was just smoke in her eyes.