An Empty Shell

Chapter 22: Confusion

"Tadaima!" Hayami usually announce themselves whenever they get to the doorstep of their home even if nobody's waiting for them and Shuichi admire her for that. She told him one time that that's one way to keep her from feeling lonely during those times when she's usually home alone. Though normally she was with a spirit and that was Lady Fushimi before. She said sometimes she pretended to be coming home with her family waiting for her to keep her company. Shuichi saw the pain in her when she told him that story before. But lately, seemed like she had been happier whenever they go home together and that's maybe because she's no longer alone.
"You look, happy." Commented Shuichi seeing her with a big smile on her face as soon as they got in their apartment.
"Oh me? Happy? I don't know, I just feel like it." She was literally skipping when she went to her room while humming a song.
"I'm gonna take a bath first!" Then she ran back outside to go to the bathroom passing by Shuichi who was just standing there watching her. He couldn't help but chuckle at her childish behavior.
Shuichi was in his room preparing his stuffs for their school tomorrow. He was in his deep thoughts about his previous conversation with the others at Genkai's place earlier.
I have to tell her what is going on now. This  might help prepare herself...
Although I wonder what's taking her so long in the bathroom.
Shuichi noticed that Hayami was taking some time in the bathroom more than usual. He then decided to check her out since he couldn't sense her reiki anymore if something was going wrong.
"Hayami, gomene, just checking you out. Are you alright in there?" Shuichi knocked the door in the bathroom and excused himself. But Hayami did not respond. He thought she might have not heard him because of the continuous water running in the shower. He tried knocking the door harder a few more times.
"Hayami, please answer. Are you doing okay in there? You seemed to be taking too long in the bathroom."
Still of no answer and this made him really worried. He recalled that time when he found her on the floor that one night.
I have to get in there! I couldn't sense her but I have this feeling she passed out again! I have to break down the door.
Shuichi kicked the door down real hard to get through.
"HAYAMI!" He cried for her name as he dashed to get to her.
"Huh? What was that?!" She got startled from that loud noise. She opened the curtain just enough to take a peak and hid behind to still cover herself and found Shuichi standing. But before Shuichi could mutter a word..
"Kyaaaaahhhh!!!! What are you doing here you creep!!!!" She threw a bucket at Shuichi but he deflected it in an instant. He didn't have time to explain, he was inexplicably and utterly embarrassed for the first time in his life! He just quickly turned and calmly walked away, bitting his lips while head low, hair covering his face. Like a poor puppy dog dragging its tail from being scolded by its master.
Hayami finally came out of the bathroom and found Shuichi nowhere. She figured he already went to his room. She thought there must be a good reason why Shuichi barged in like that in the bathroom even breaking the door open.
Of all the people I should know by now, Shuichi is probably the very last person to be mistaken to have lewd thoughts! I'm such an idiot! Breaking the door like that, he must've been worried sick about me. But of what? He should've knocked on the door and called for my attention instead...Wait, maybe he did, because he is not that person to go around breaking down doors with no reasons.
Hayami was complexing what just happened, maybe even coming up with a good analysis about it. She suddenly felt guilty for screaming at him and calling him such and violently threw the bucket at him. She crawled on her bed to reach the wall, attempting to knock to call for him. She had so many attempts but she couldn't gather enough strength to do it. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and bit her lips. Then her knuckles touched the wall making a soft sound. She thought he didn't hear it and she was about to knock again but she heard a reply from him. She got surprised but felt glad.
"Uhm.. Shuichi, I'm just letting you know... you can use the bathroom now.." she bit her lips again because  it's not exactly what she wanted to say.
"Okay, thank you.." Shuichi's short reply.
A few moments after, Shuichi went back to his room and slumped himself in bed. Then he heard another knock on the wall.
"Shuichi, can we talk a bit?" Hayami initiated.
"Alright.." Shuichi once again gave her a short reply.
"Uhm.. I'm sorry about what happened earlier... I shouldn't have overreacted that way without even letting you explain.."
"No, I should be the one to apologize.. I should have realized you were just fine, but maybe I was just overthinking of things. I just don't want to see you in that state like how I found you last time."
"Yeah, I figured that too just now. I should have done it sooner. I'm sorry for calling you that and throwing the bucket at you.."
"Dont be sorry too much. I think it was actually a good reflex action you did there." Shuichi tried to make a jest out of it to lighten things up.
"Really? How could you say that? I could've hit you with the bucket just because you worrying about my well being!" Hayami couldn't believe just what he said.
"Well, not really. That was too easy to dodge anyway." He added to tease her quiet a bit more.
"Show off! Don't worry, I will practice my aim and knock your head out next time for sure!"
They both laughed out of what happened and they felt relieved that they still ended up being comfortable with each other.