Ridiculous (Toji Fushiguro)

Chapter Eighteen:

Respectfully bricked up.
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"You're smoking again."

Sakimi sighed, turning away before he could flick it off again like he did earlier.

"I can't even enjoy a peaceful time alone?"

Accustomed to the familiar, slightly playful tone, Toji couldn't help but roll his eyes in response. Taking a seat on the vacant chair positioned in front of Sakimi on the balcony of their room, he leaned back, crossing his legs casually. His gaze drifted downwards, surveying the bustling crowd below, still teeming with energy despite the late hour of three in the morning. The distant hum of activity served as a backdrop to their secluded perch, perfectly entertaining Toji's bored mind.

He threw her a smirk.

"Regretting you hired me?"

As Sakimi let out a small laugh, Toji felt the tension in his shoulders melt away, replaced by a sense of ease that washed over him. He couldn't quite pinpoint why, but the sound of her laughter never failed to soothe him, drawing him back to memories of their earlier years.

He must really be getting old to be reminiscing this much.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

He chuckled.

On most occasions, typically around midnight, Toji would encounter Sakimi still awake. This occurrence would occur perhaps two or three times a week, and Toji found himself unfortunate enough to consistently stumble upon her in this state. It wasn't particularly surprising, to be honest, considering he too was an insomniac like her.

But more often than Toji liked to admit, the shared quiet moments like this during the nights they happen to bump into each other were something he enjoyed. He'd make the best of it by smoking with her, drinking with her, or just doing completely nothing at all. They'd talk occasionally, but never too much, until they're just waiting for the other to end their nightly rendezvous. Not that it's a problem, it just takes hours until one of the two falls asleep.

When it's Sakimi who falls asleep first, Toji made it his duty to carry her to her bed without waking her. When it's Toji, she slips a pillow behind his head and throws him a blanket. Of course, they never speak of it when morning comes, both too prideful to acknowledge the other's act of service.

"What was your first wife like?"

It was silent between the two of them, the people's steps and chatters serving as their only noise. Toji didn't acknowledge the question for a few more seconds before he sighed through his nose and looked at her, solemn.

She wasn't even looking at him.

"What's with the question?"

Sakimi spared him a fleeting glance, her gaze passing over him in a mere heartbeat before she redirected her attention upwards, fixating on the expanse of the dark, cloudy sky. With deliberate slowness, she brought the cigarette to her lips, inhaling deeply before exhaling a plume of smoke into the air above.

"Too personal?"

She wasn't mocking him, that much Toji knows even if she sounded like it.

The man emitted a heavy sigh, leaning in to pluck the cigarette from between Sakimi's lips before replacing it between his own. With a nonchalant shrug, he disregarded Sakimi's lack of attention towards him, opting instead to recline back into his chair. As tendrils of smoke curled lazily from his scarred lips, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"Yeah."

He heard her hum.

"...I see."
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