An Empty Shell

Chapter 19: To Hold On To

It was already almost midnight, the two, finally decided to head back. She held on to the jacket Shuichi put on her as the wind tried to blow it away.
"It's getting really late, should we go straight back home?" Hayami suggested with a little worried tone.
"Yeah, but let's tell Mom and Dad first." Shuichi opted.
They were walking back to the hotel when Hayami stopped.
"Shucks! These are really killing me." Hayami annoyingly took off her sandals and was already limping.
"Are you hurt?" Shuichi hurriedly checked up on her.
"No, not really. It's just my feet are a little sore." Explained Hayami, squeezing her eyes in pain.
Shuichi examined her feet and it appears that there were already blisters.
"I'm sorry I brought you here and have you suffered from these... I should've thought of your discomforts first before letting you walk this far..." he felt sorry for her and blamed himself for Hayami's injuries.
"What are you talking about? You were not on my feet to have caused these, it's because of these sandals and me not getting used to walk with them on." She jested to make him not feel guilty.
Instantaneously, Shuichi turned his back on her and knelt down.
"Get on, I'll carry you." He signaled for her to hop on his back.
"What? Shuichi, you don't have to do this for me. I still can walk." Hayami refused and felt embarrassed.
"Yes I can and I don't want you to walk in that condition. So please get on now Hayami." Shuichi seriously insisted as if she was ordering her this time.
"No, there is no way for me to get on a piggy back ride!" She stubbornly refused to comply.
"Okay, I'll just carry you in my arms then." Shuichi suggested a lovers carry to persuade her.
"What? No! That's not even an option Shuichi!" Hayami was riled up.
"Okay then, please get on my back and you don't have to worry about me as much as I worry about you because I am fine and clearly you are not. So please..." Shuichi pleaded with a little stern tone. Hayami noticed this and his serious face.
"A-alright fine! I'd do it now just as you wished!" Hayami finally retreated and complied but with disagreeing look.
She picked up her sandals and leaned down on him placing her arms around his shoulders to his neck. She was a little nervous with this closeness to him. Shuichi reached out to her knees and hooked his arms around them to secure her on his back. She felt willies as part of her skin on the legs was touched. Shuichi smiled and tittered at her sudden reaction.
"What?" Hayami noticed his little snicker.
"Huh?.. Nothing!..let's go." Shuichi pretended not to notice, then finally stood on his feet. Hayami gasped at the sudden height and tighten her grip on Shuichi leaning her head on the crook of his neck. Shuichi looked over his shoulder and met Hayami's face with her eyes closed shut.
You are like a child Hayami, so precious..
His reverie on her.
When they finally got to the hotel, people saw them that made Hayami even felt more embarrassed but Shuichi didn't mind. He put her down to let her take a seat on the lounge area at the lobby. A hotel clerk saw them and asked if they needed any help.
"Yes, thank you. If I can have your first aid kit and some clean towels please." Shuichi instructed the clerk.
"Yes sir, got it!" The hotel clerk rushed to get their needs.
"Shuichi, you don't have to do this, really, I'm fine." Hayami was self-conscious with the people passing by and looking at them, although there were only very few because it was already very late that night.
"Are you allergic to any antibiotic?" Shuichi was kneeling down checking on her feet and seemed to not have heard what Hayami just said.
"No, not that I know of...But really Shuichi I'll be okay. Can we go now please?" Hayami was really not comfortable with the people watching them and tried to get Shuichi's attention.
"Some of the blisters have popped and those broken skin are prone to infection, so we need to treat them first, Hayami."
He responded while looking at the direction of the guy he sent to get the supplies to see any sign of him coming back. Then he saw someone running towards them, it's the hotel clerk.
"Here you go sir (pant), those are all the things you requested (pant).." he handed the supplies to Shuichi while catching his breath,
"Thank you very much..Keitaro-san. You did a great job." Shuichi patted his shoulder and checked the name on his badge as he commended him.
Then he turned to Hayami and knelt down again to check her feet. He put the towel on his lap and took Hayami's foot on top. He carefully cleaned her blisters with some antiseptic solution first. There were times when she winced with the burning sensation from that solution on the popped blisters. Shuichi tried to minimize the burning, he blew softly on the affected area. Then, he put some ointment and covered them with some cotton gauze, then he nicely wrapped them with elastic bandages. He did the same thing on the other foot that also had some popped blisters. Meanwhile, the hotel clerk remained there while observing them. Then Shuichi turned to him and smiled.
"I'm sorry, can I ask one more favor? Can you also lend us a pair of slippers for her? She can't walk with those sandals anymore." Shuichi politely asked another request to the clerk.
"Certainly Sir, I'll be back in a minute." And again, he hurriedly went to their supply room to get a pair of slippers.
Shuichi sat beside Hayami and noticed her all blushed face and all the while, her self-consciousness.
"You are not really fond of getting people's attention, aren't you?" Asked Shuichi, angling his head to look at her face but she was avoiding him and turned away. Shuichi chuckled a little from her extreme shyness.
"How do you feel now?" Shuichi diverted his unanswered question.
"I feel better, all thanks to you." She answered with a small voice, still on her back.
"That's good to hear.." he simply added.
Moments later, the hotel clerk came back again with a pair of slippers.
"Here you go sir, although I forgot to ask her foot size. But basing from her small frame, she must be around size 6?" The clerked handed a pair of slippers.
"Good thinking Keitaro-san, and yes, you got that size right, thank you for all your help." Shuichi appreciated the clerk and took the slippers.
"Thank you Keitaro-san." Hayami thanked him too and bowed.
"You're both welcome. Just ring the bell at the counter if you need more help." The clerk offered while collecting the stuffs they borrowed and left.
Shuichi went back down to help Hayami put on the slippers. He carefully sled them in each foot.
"There you go, now you can walk comfortably." He commented then looked up to Hayami and smiled.
"Thank you Shuichi, although I could have put on those slippers myself." She appreciated him but then rolled her eyes. Shuichi chuckled at her facial expression.
"Well then, shall we go? Do you think you can walk?" Shuichi held her hand to help her up carefully indicating her for another lift.
"Yes and yes! I can definitely walk. Thank you." Hayami answered with a disagreeing tone from his inclined offer.
"Alright, let's go. Mom and Dad must be worried-sick looking for us." Shuichi led her walk with her hand clung to his arm to keep her steady. Then they stumbled upon a huge stairs going to the venue from earlier. They looked at each other and Shuichi gave her a sly smile while she glowered at him suspiciously.
"I hate to break it up to you but I can do this okay? Don't worry I am not disabled just because of some popped blisters." She indicated not needing anymore of his exaggerated help.
"Alright, but I'm just right here." Shuichi claimed as he chortled.
They climbed the stairs slowly. Hayami held on the banister while the other hand still on Shuichi's arm. She winced as she take her steps and Shuichi couldn't help but noticed her pain. But he let her be because he knew she would be mad at him if he insisted, although he was really tempted to just scoop her in his arms and carry her to lessen her burden.
There were just a few more steps before reaching the end of the stairs, when Shiori found them. She was worried and went looking for them. Then she let out a sigh of relief and smiled to her delight when she finally saw them. She ran towards them followed by her husband.
"Well, you two decided to escape the busy bustle of the party huh?" Shiori witted and jested with a frown then chuckled.
"Sorry Mom, Dad, I decided to take Hayami outside to get some fresh air." Shuichi apologized. Then Shiori noticed Hayami's feet.
"Oh no, what happened to you my dear?" She gaped with worrisome reaction.
"Um, just had few blisters on my feet, Mom. But I'm okay now, Shuichi treated them right away."
"Well, we're glad to hear you're better now but if you think you need medical attention, just tell us right away, okay?" Commented Mr. Kazuya who got also worried about them.
"Thank you, yes, I will sir." Replied Hayami still not accustomed in addressing Mr. Kazuya, Dad.
Shiori and her husband laughed at her very formal address.
"Shuichi is also my son, and if you call Shiori Mom you can also call me Dad, that would be fair." Remarked Mr. Kazuya to Hayami, smiling.
"Okay D-Dad.." Hayami shyly responded, looking at her feet while blushing. And the two grown adults laughed again at the priceless expression of Hayami.
"You two must be already tired. After all you came straight here after school. So we have booked a room for you to spend the night here then we can all go home tomorrow. Besides it's weekend." Shiori genially offered them their accommodation.
"That's so kind of you Mom, but—"
"That's perfect Mom! Hayami here is really exhausted to travel back home and not to mention she's also injured, so she really needs to switch off." Hayami was about to decline when Shuichi cut her off. He intervened while Hayami was nudging him on the side with a dissenting smile.
"Wonderful! Here are the key cards to your room. The room number is already written there. And by the way, I also took the initiative to bring some extra changing clothes for you two, so just relax and call the concierge if you need anything, I mean anything at all, okay?" Shiori couldn't be more happier to her welcoming hospitality.
"You sure did Mom, you are ever prepared..." Shuichi complimented his Mom with a nervy chortle.
"Alright, you two can go ahead to your room, we should go back to our guests, some are already leaving to go home, we should bid and thanked them for coming." Mr. Kazuya indicated them to call it a day.
They all bid goodnight to one another, then Shiori and her husband went back to their guests. Hayami remained quiet, and Shuichi clearly saw that she's annoyed. They went to find their room, this time they took the elevator. Hayami refused to hold on to Shuichi this time even if she's limping.
She's mad at me again... this is one of the most difficult things about her. When she's really mad, she becomes quiet and will never speak to me until maybe the end of the world. Shuichi was pondering while he was behind Hayami making sure she wouldn't fall because she's still as stubborn as a mule.
"This is our room...finally!" Shuichi showed the room to Hayami. They went inside and explored it.
"I-it's a suite? For one night?" Hayami gaped, couldn't believe what laid upon her eyes.
"Uhm, yes. Well, we can extend our stay if you want." Shuichi remarked wittingly.
"You know that's not what I meant!" Hayami was getting really irritated.
"I know, I know.. it's just that.." Shuichi held his hands up.
"I hope you get used to them, especially to my Mom. She's the person who doesn't settle for anything less. Especially when in terms of serving a family or a loved one." He delineated his Mom's personality.
"I know, I get that.. and the more I know and see her kindness and generosity, the more I feel guilty about everything between us because these are all just an act. I just hate lying." Hayami rebutted rather with a soft tone. Shuichi felt her sadness and guilt the way those words were said.
"You know, for me this isn't lying... We practically professed our feelings to each other moments ago.. that just leads us down to becoming a real couple right? ...
And I never pretended the way I show my affection to you. I was only holding back,
I mean, I still am.." he softly spoke with a smoky voice and glanced at her eyes. Then he walked towards her and Hayami felt nervous.
"Yes but, I didn't say... I never...I don't—" she couldn't figure out the right words to say while she backed up as he got closer. She stumbled on a table, she tripped and almost fell down, but Shuichi hastily caught her.
"Sshh...Don't worry, I understand what you were trying to say... even when you were stuttering." he teased her as he touched her lips gently with his point finger while holding her up by the waist. Hayami just glowered with a puffy face at his teasing. Shuichi chortled happily seeing her like that again. Then he helped her got back up on her feet.
"We should probably hit the hay, so you can now rest up..." Shuichi finally rerouted them to turn in for the night.
"Y-You're right, I'm just gonna take a shower to get changed before going to bed." pronounced Hayami with a heavy and sticky eyes.
"Okay, you go ahead then. I think Mom put our clothes in the closet. I'm just gonna prepare my bed in the couch while waiting for my turn." Shuichi suggested and went in the bedroom to check the closet, then Hayami followed.
"It should be in here..." Shuichi was checking the hanged clothes in the closet when he suddenly stopped and blushed.
"What is it?" Hayami was curious in his sudden pause.
"I think my Mom over did it.." he indirectly mentioned with a little tint of pink on his cheeks while scratching his head. Hayami couldn't perceive what he was trying to say and as to why he was being suddenly shy. So, she stepped up while Shuichi stepped aside, then she started to check the closet herself. There stunned her a sexy and daring set of lingerie.
"These aren't mine!" She flabbergasted, whole face extremely flushed.
"I know. Mine either. Looks like what Mom meant by she prepared us clothes to wear, was she went buy them for us, not getting them straight from our closets." Shuichi denoted what his mom just did with a sweat drop scratching his head.
"Don't worry, we'll figure something else.. if you want you can use this pair of shorts for now and I have a plain shirt too." He offered her more decent clothings which he thought would make her comfortable.
"But how about you?"
"Mom bought 2 pairs of each so I have extra. Here, I hope the size is not too big though." He gave her a set of boxer shorts and a T-shirt.
"Thank you Shuichi.." she shyly appreciated him, although she's not also used of wearing boxers to sleep, and it's for men. Good thing this is a new set. Not that I'm thinking maliciously but this is way better than the lingerie. She suddenly thought to herself.
Eventually, Hayami went to get a shower. And when she was done, Shuichi decided to recheck Hayami's wounds before he took his turn in the shower. He patched them up with new bandages after applying his own treatment regimen from his plants to hasten the healing. Hayami couldn't thanked him enough for taking care of her.
When he's finally finished in the shower, he noticed that Hayami's lights in the room were already out.
She might have already fallen asleep, she must be very exhausted. Shuichi realized.
Then he noticed his bed was already made in the couch. Hayami prepared them for him while he was in the bathroom.
Thank you Hayami.. he simply muttered to himself and went to sleep.