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Kusou sat on the swingset, lightly swinging in the harsh rain as they watched the clouds move in silence. He loved nights like this, where no one was out, the rain felt like a light massage on his shoulders. It was blissful in the quiet of the night. With everyone indoors, thoughts were faint like whispers tingling his neck like ASMR.
Kusou kicked his legs and swung himself harder. The rain was coming down and had soaked through his clothes. It was blissfully cold against his flushed face. He smiled gleefully. What a perfect afternoon.
“Saiki?”
He recognized Teruhashi’s voice immediately. It takes perfection to ruin perfection. But why were her thoughts so… quiet?
He hopped off the swingset and approached her. She had an umbrella, dressed in a beautiful navy blue dress that sparkled like her eyes. The kind of outfit that would grant an oh wow out of just about anyone.
“Oh wow. You’re soaked! Get under.”
Saiki obeyed a bit stunned. He squeegeed off his body a little, ringing out the tips of his hair.
“What are you doing? It’s late,” Saiki asked her, more curious about her quiet thoughts than her activities.
“I’m out for a walk. It’s good weather if you want to be alone. You?”
“Same. It’s great because most cameras don’t work as well in the rain.”
“Cameras?”
“I just get paranoid. You know how it is.”
“I really don’t. Come on, let’s get you home safe.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one walking you? You’re the one more likely to get, uh, robbed.”
“You’re bound to catch a cold and besides, your house is closer. No buts, okay?”
“Alright.”
They walked in silence, minds blank.
“God you’re freezing.”
“Hm?” Kusou looked at her. She was looking at their hands which had wound up intertwined.
Kusou felt his face heat up, “sorry,” he tried to pull his hand away but Teruhashi clung on tight.
I can’t believe he is letting me hold his hand.
Kusou wanted to scoff because not really, but the quiet in her brain was less agitated quiet and more peaceful quiet so he let it slide. He used his powers a bit to warm himself up to a more reasonable human temperature.
They walked together for some time, the silence hanging in the air around them and hovering like the humidity in the rain.
Kusou’s mom opened the door, ushering them inside. She was quick to grab them both towels.
“Stay?” Kusou asked Teruhashi, still holding her hand.
“Sure.” She said, smiling lightly.
Kusou guided her up to his room, “Let me get changed real quick and then we can watch something.”
Teruhashi sat on the floor leaning against his bed, sleep in her eyes. Kusou sat beside her, throwing an arm over her shoulders. “Jeopardy?”
“Sure.” She snuggled up to him, breathing in the scent of his shampoo.
She fell asleep on his shoulder.
He would never know what compelled him to do it, but he leaned down and kissed the crown of her forehead, “sleep well.”
He fell asleep curled around her to keep her warm.