Another Like Me - Part II (CoTE x OC) || 𝕆ℕ ℍ𝕀𝔸𝕋𝕌𝕊

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟛𝟞 - 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕤

Word Count : 3091 words

After coming back to my room from dinner, I heard my phone ring out a message notification, and I clicked the message open.

Kushida
Are you free? [sent, 9:45pm]

A message from Kushida, huh? It's been a while since I've had an open conversation with her; I've mostly been preoccupied with Council work, Class S bullshit and the fact that I'm going to die to pay any attention to her.

I quickly sent out an affirmative reply, and tossed my phone onto the bed. I set up the coffee machine for two cups of the steamy beverage, for I knew that Kushida would demand for a cup as soon as she arrives.

And just as I had strained out two cups of coffee, I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in, it's unlocked."

I called out at the door, and I heard a soft click as my door swung open slowly. I carefully wrapped my hands around both the cups, and I made it out of my kitchenette, and my eyes fell onto the beige-haired girl, who was standing by the entrance to my room. She looked tired, and very tired on that.

"Long day?"

Kushida let out a sigh, and she walked into my room with small steps. She stared at me for a few seconds, and her eyes fell on the two cups of coffee I was holding onto.

"..... keep those on the table," she said softly, as she motioned to the cups.

"I was going to," I said, and I placed both cups on the table. "It's strange for you to be here in such short notice. Is everything okay?"

I didn't receive an answer to my question; instead, Kushida walked ahead towards me in a trance, and she let herself fall onto my chest.

I was a bit surprised at the sudden clinginess. Kushida rested her head on my chest, and she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

"..... what happened?"

"Shh," Kushida immediately shushed me. "Don't say anything. Just...... just let me enjoy this."

Whatever you say, I guess.

I didn't return the hug. I merely stood quiet and still, and my arms loosely hung by my side.

A few minutes passed, but Kushida was not showing any signs of letting go. I pursed my lips, and brought my left hand up to the short, exhausted girl.

I slowly and carefully patted the girl on her head, and she let out a satisfied sigh. As though on cue, like she was waiting for it, Kushida let go, and she smiled softly at my direction.

"Thanks. I needed that."

I stood by cluelessly. "Needed what?"

"Just a shoulder, I guess," she replied, and she proceeded to take a seat on the far left side of my bed. "I had a really shitty week."

"You always have shitty weeks."

"Stop it with the sarcasm," she rebuked me. "It was..... it was really bad this time. It just felt so much more exhausting and stressful than before."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked. I handed her a cup of coffee, and she mouthed a 'thank you' at my direction.

"I..... I can't say," Kushida replied after a while. "I didn't have much of a window to vent out this time around. For some reason, you weren't around in your room much, and you skipped all classes today. You ignored a few calls from me too."

"My phone was on DND. Plus, this week's been hectic for me too. I'm sorry I couldn't make some time for you."

"Nope, don't worry about it," Kushida laughed deprecatingly. "You definitely have better work to do than listen to me rant about my life. I should be grateful that you still let me do this."