[x] Return home, have a meal with Yuuka.
But as much as I'm tempted to stroll around the city some more - perhaps simply because being asleep for several days put a subconscious need of moving around on my instincts - I don't really know any place where I could buy some food with my current funds. Restaurants are out of question, they're all incredibly expensive, and fast food... Well, fast food somehow doesn't look like a good idea right now. Besides, even if it requires me to get back indoors, how could I resist the vision of having a meal with my precious Yuuka?
"Heh." I chuckle to myself.
I just called her 'precious'. Really, even though I can't remember anything definite, my heart keeps telling me that it's normal - for her to be there. I don't really know if it's simply me who was affected by this... memory lapse, or if there's something going on behind the scenes and it's just the opposite - people's minds were tampered with to remember events that didn't happen... And only I was skipped. Neither sounds reasonable, but then again, how can I be talking about logical reasoning when there's a woman who's supposed not to exist at my place? So, in the end, all I can do is enjoy the situation until someone kindly decides to tell me what the hell really happened.
Having built up my spirit a bit, I set off in the direction I came from, this time much more careful not to bump into any closet sadistic girls. I wouldn't want that event to repeat, now would I.
It feels almost refreshing when the humble apartment building I'm staying at comes into view. Gentle, orange light of slowly setting sun fills the air, making the scene resemble something out of a reneissance painting. Of course, no one sane would paint apartment buildings in the reneissance period, bah, I doubt they had those things back then, but it simply gives off that feeling. Almost artistic.
With the corner of my eye, I notice - again - the small flowerbed Yuuka was working on when I was leaving. Neatly arranged patches mark the surface of that small, distinguishable square of earth. There's nothing sprouting out of the ground, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before a sunflower field surrounds this building like an army of bodyguards. Of course, I realize it's a silly thought. Such things don't happen overnight, and while I'm not an expert in this matter, I'm sure even two weeks wouldn't be quite enough.
Climbing up the stairs, I dig out the keys from my pockets. If she wasn't there, she's probably home already, huh. Well, not even someone like her can spend all day tending to flowers.
And here's the first suprise - instead of leaving the door open like I'd expect her too, not only is it closed and locked, but I can't turn my key inside the lock either. Hey, there's no need to be so cautious, now. Even if someone came to rob this modest flat, I'm sure Yuuka would just blast him to oblivion. This is how she's supposed to be like, right?
So, forfeiting the efforts to unlock the door, I push the doorbell instead. Happy chime sounds somewhere inside, followed by a bunch of hurried steps, that stop just on the other side.
"Who's there?"
Now this is a silly question, who else could it be?
"It's me." I give an equally silly answer "Would you kindly open up?"
"Mhm."
Preceded by an agreeing mutter, there's a sound of metal grating against metal, and in no time, the door sets ajar, revealing Yuuka, who gives me an unsure, maybe a bit suprised stare.
"Hello. I'm back."
"I figured that much."
"So," I speak up again while untying my shoes "Care for a dinner?"
I can't see her face, but I know she's standing right beside me, arms crossed on her chest, staring down at me wrestling with the damn laces. Or rather, trying to buy myself some time and get her to answer before I finish.
"Actually, I was about to--"
"Forget it then." throwing the shoes aside, I cut into her sentence and straighten up "Whatever it was, forget it. I got back earlier to eat with you. I'm sure you can at least respect that and eat with me?"
Her gaze carries a hint of annoyance, like if there were diffirent plans she wanted to go with, but quickly looks aside, faced with my honest smile.
"... I suppose."
"Good girl."
Acting on a sudden impulse, I step towards her, and without caring about anything at all, grab her waist, grab her shoulders, and pull her into a kiss. Short, but genuine. Something like a welcome-back kiss she should've given me, but perhaps did not find enough courage, or whatever reason she could've had. Well, guru couldn't go to the mountain, the mountain had to visit guru. There's nothing wrong with taking what should be rightfully mine.
"Bold as always." she says after I pull back "You really did seem a bit changed in the morning, I was afraid that maybe you hit your head somewhere on the way back. But you haven't changed one bit."
I answer that irritated remark with a grin.
"Sorry for being me."
Not long after, we're both sitting in the living room - me at the desk, Yuuka on the floor - eating the makeshift dinner I made on the spot, out of whatever I could find in the fridge. That goddamn table impaired my finances enough, I'll probably have to live on without gorging myself anytime soon. I glance at Yuuka who silently, and without complains devours the rather poor meal. Wait, devour isn't a good word here. No matter how you look at it, no matter how primitive the thing on her plate may be, it would seem that when she's the one eating it, it suddenly becomes the most equisite meal. Effect of her aura, I'd guess. And it doesn't really conflict with the fact that she's sitting on the floor. Hell, I'd happily exchange places with her, but she insisted on staying there.
"Ehh." Sudden sigh interrupts my thoughts. "This place really needs a table..."
[ ] Keep silent.
--[ ] Turn on the TV, watch the news. It'd be nice to hear what's going on around.
--[ ] Do nothing.
[ ] Strike up a conversation.
--[ ] About the table.
--[ ] About what actually happened.
--[ ] About my memory loss.
--[ ] About the girl I met in the town.
==
>>20765 You were one step from activating Naya's new hax.
