An Empty Shell

Chapter 15: A Few More Adjustments

Hayami woke up next morning still sluggish from not getting enough sleep that night. She got up to prepare herself to go to school. Her eyes still half-opened, finding her way to the bathroom while dragging her feet and probably not in her  full consciousness yet. She pushed the bathroom door open. She didn't realize at first but Shuichi was already there brushing his teeth wearing an undershirt and long pants, looked like he was also getting ready to go to school but haven't worn his top yet. Although he was wearing an undershirt, his nicely chiseled muscles on his shoulders and arms were exposed and his beautifully cut chest and abs were embossed on his tight clothing. He got startled when Hayami opened the door. He looked at her still with a toothbrush in his mouth and he saw her in her unruly state wearing wild hair, sticky eyelids, groggy expressions, one sleeve of her top sliding off her shoulder and slipper worn on the wrong foot. He was stunned in a moment but at the same time amazed at her appearance. He quickly rinsed his mouth and wiped it.
"Oh, sorry I forgot to lock the door." Shuichi apologized but Hayami didn't bother. He looked at him still woozy then closed the door shut at him.
"She's unbelievable in amazing ways." Shuichi thought to himself and chuckled.
Hayami went back to her room and slumped her face down in bed.
What a weird sight.. I think I just saw Shuichi's ghost in my bathroom...and that's the most beautiful perfect body I've ever seen for a ghost...she mumbled then went back to sleep again.
Hayami thought she was still in her old
apartment and was just too lazy to deal with spirits or ghosts at that moment that's why she just ignored the one she thought a ghost that looked like Shuichi in the bathroom.
Wait a minute...was he brushing his teeth when I saw him?..she was trying to remember exactly what she saw when suddenly she heard a knock on her door that gave the creeps out of her.
"Hayami, you can use the bathroom now." She heard Shuichi's voice from the door.
Then it gave her a striking realization, that finally awaken her consciousness.
Of coarse, how can I forget? This is Shuichi's place! She jerked back up with eyes wide opened this time covering her mouth from a big gape.
"Hayami are you okay?" Shuichi must have felt her sudden tension again and had to asked her. He was still outside her door.
"Um, yeah.." Hayami simply replied not knowing what to excuse.
"Alright, when you're done you can come and join me for breakfast before we go to school." Shuichi offered her beaming in amusement.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Hayami answered and started to get changed.
Hayami finally came out of the room all dressed up. She met Shuichi in the dinning area drinking his coffee.
"Um, may I use the bathroom?" Hayami asked but couldn't look at him and was fiddling her shirt. She was like a child shyly asking. Shuichi's eyes widened when she saw her like that.
"Of coarse, by all means Hayami. You don't have to ask permission." He exclaimed and chortled a little.
She bowed and thanked him then rushed to the bathroom.
Hayami was gobsmacked to have found out that it was her time of the month and  she was just in despair on what to do since for sure Shuichi do not stack up feminine pads in his bathroom cabinet.
This is just the worse timing ever!
She screamed in her thoughts. She didn't have the chance to go shopping for her personal needs yet before she moved there.
Meanwhile, Shuichi's brow twitched while he was trying his best to perceive the intended meaning of her mixed emotions and he couldn't help but get worried. Also, it was already about time for them to go to the train station before they could miss it and be late for school. Shuichi stood up and went towards the bathroom.
"Um, Hayami? Is everything okay?" Shuichi softly knocked the door and asked her with a worried tone.
The door slowly opened only enough to show her face.
"Shuichi, I..uh.. I really hate to ask you this but, um.. d-do you think you can make a quick run to the store for me?" Hayami stuttered as she tried to tell him in a very low modulation.
"Certainly. What is it that you want me to buy?" Shuichi asked with curiosity.
"D-do you think you can buy me some pads?" She finally told him looking down her feet with her face as red as tomatoes. Shuichi didn't get what kind of pads she wanted at first but he was able to make head or tail from all how she acted.
"O-oh, okay. Um..you mean sanitary pads?" He clarified although turning slightly pink, he tried to sound casual as much as possible so as not to make her feel even more uncomfortable.
"Yeah, b-but it's okay if you're reluctant to go. I understand, really..you don't have to go." Hayami justified herself, embarrassed of this conversation and just wanted to get over with. She was about to close the door when Shuichi blocked it with his hand.
"No, of coarse that's not what I meant, I just wanted to make sure I understood you."  He defended with a caring tone.
"Wait right here.." he instructed and left.
Hayami just silently agreed. A moment later Shuichi came back carrying a box full of assorted types of feminine napkins.
"Um..these are from my mom's. I am not sure which one you would use, there's just so much variation and sizes. So, just feel free to pick the best one for you. I also included some pain medicine when needed." Shuichi shyly stated holding the box handing it to her. Hayami was astounded and confused at the same time.
Why in the world would he keep his mom's... never mind..!
She just kept that to her thoughts for now because she really needed to get ready.
"O-okay.. thank you Shuichi." She simply reached for the box he was handing and closed the door.
Soon after she finally got out of the bathroom and grabbed her bag. Shuichi was waiting for her by the door.
"I am sorry it took me awhile isn't it?"
Hayami apologized for being late.
"No, worries I could definitely understand.
Girls just have more personal needs than guys." He smiled at her.
"Although you're not able to have your breakfast anymore." He worried. Hayami approached him.
"I'll be fine. I can grab a snack later." Hayami reassured him but for sure Shuichi heard her tummy growled. She turned away, flushed, while holding her tummy.
"Here. I packed a sandwich so you can eat it on the way to school." Shuichi chuckled a little and handed the sandwich to her.
"That's so thoughtful of you Shuichi, thank you." Hayami accepted and started to eat.
Then the two went off to go to school.
"Hold on." Shuichi stopped by a vending machine. He inserted a coin and pressed a button for a can of coffee.
"Here, I thought you might need something to drink after eating that sandwich and it's caffeinated so it will help you stay awake in class." Shuichi witted, smiling at her while handing the coffee in can.
"Geez.. thanks again. And I'm sure this will make me more jittery when I face Miss Himura." Hayami took Shuichi's humor and they both laughed.
"Although, you don't have to go see Miss Himura for your absences recently. Genkai and I took cared of it so you shouldn't worry." Shuichi proudly stated to ease her worries from the terror admin assistant.
"Really? You guys did that? Although, I'm pretty sure Miss Himura couldn't gas in against Genkai-Obachan. I really don't know how to thank you for all your help Shuichi. I feel like I'm so indebted to you now." Hayami remarked while looking away with a worrisome smile.
"Hey, don't even mention it. We are doing the best we can to protect you Hayami. Besides you're like a family now, right?"
Shuichi commented and patted her head. Then Hayami looked at him a little surprised.
"I-I mean you're Genkai's granddaughter now, so anyone who's family to her is mine too." Shuichi clarified but then again Hayami's heart jump when he said the word "mine."
And he felt that too but couldn't seem to know what've caused it.
They finally got to their campus, Shuichi and Hayami went to their first class with Prof. Nagata. But before they entered their classroom, Shuichi held her hand, Hayami jolted and looked at him, surprised, but didn't let go. He knew that there was always fear in her heart whenever she gets in there.
"Just relax and let me lead you." Shuichi looked at her with a warm smile, she nodded slightly.
Everyone was starring at them when they arrived. Hayami couldn't help but feel intimidated and uneasy, like she had shrank down. Shuichi felt it and gently tightened his grip.
"Good morning Shuichi, Hayami. It's nice to see you again. How are you?" a girl approached and gave them greetings.
"I-I'm better now thank you." Hayami shyly responded.
"Aww...are you two dating? Because you look good together." Another girl commented when they saw Shuichi holding her hand. Hayami was surprised by that comment and tried to pull her hand back but Shuichi wouldn't let go.
"Yes, we are." Shuichi exclaimed to their classmates to satisfy there intrigues. Hayami was in shock. She looked up at Shuichi completely baffled, then he just turned to her and simply smiled. Hayami was in a very awkward moment she didn't know what to do.
"Really!?"
"Aww, that's so sweet!"
"We're envious now."
"Since when did you guys start dating?"
"I knew it was love at first sight right!Minamino?"
All these commotion was surrounding them when he announced that news.
"Please excuse us, we need to get to our seats." Shuichi simply excused themselves from their overwrought behavior.
"Finally, you had the courage to declare. I knew there was something between you two ever since you guys first met. See? Boy, am I right." Nakashima unexpectedly meddled between the two when they were already seated. Hayami got startled and Shuichi felt her agitation and fear, remembering that time when they confronted them downtown.
"Nakashima, if you could mind your own business and let us be." Shuichi sneered at him with a dark look in his eyes.
"Okay, okay! Not a problem Minamino." Nakashima gave in nervously, holding his hands up, acknowledging Shuichi's warning.
He was still holding her hand and waited until she calmed down.
"You doing okay?" Shuichi leaned to her side and checked her up.
"Hm! I will be fine." He gave him a tensed smile.
I know this is too much for you to understand for now Hayami. But I need you to trust me on this, is that alright?
He channeled his thoughts to her and Hayami curiously looked at him. Then he noticed she doesn't have her communicator on anymore. And he sat back up and slumped his face on his hand.
"Shuichi, are you okay?" Hayami saw him did that, that made her worry.
"I'm fine.." he simply replied.
Of coarse she doesn't have her communicator anymore because of that encounter with the previous yokai. I should explain everything to her later, this could rattle her thoughts. What am I thinking announcing that to everyone?! I'm such a fool!