The living room was silent, as if dead. From outside the window came the sound of children laughing. In the distance, a railroad crossing alarm rang out. But it all felt distant, like sounds from another world. The TV was off. Only the low hum of the air conditioner stirred the room's silence. Maoto sat on the sofa. His back hunched, hands dangling limply between his knees, he stared at the floor with eyes that saw nothing. He traced the wood grain of the flooring absently. Following the same patterns over and over, his gaze swaying without purpose. In the corner of the room, Akari's work tools were piled up. A pen display, a laptop, stacks of reference materials. She was in the bedroom now, on an online call. Occasionally, a muffled voice leaked through the door. It sounded like a meeting with someone—today, she was definitely going out. Maoto flipped his phone over in his hand, just for something to do. Screen on, screen off, screen on again. He opened his contacts. There was only one name. Akari. There wasn't even room to scroll. When his finger naturally tapped that name, it just displayed the number. There were no other numbers anymore. Not a single one. Seio's name was gone. His coworkers' numbers from the warehouse, the group chats—all of it. He had been gradually cut off from the world. He only realized it now. (*This is bad. If this keeps up—*) A faint alarm began ringing deep in his chest. A small, whispered voice. But that voice was unmistakably knocking at Maoto's heart. (*I have to get out of here. Now.*) His body moved before he could think. He rose from the sofa. Quietly, careful not to make the floor creak. He killed his footsteps and stepped into the hallway. The distance to the front door was just five steps. He shoved his feet into his sneakers. Heels still crushed down, he reached out. His fingertips touched the cold metal doorknob. —In that instant. The hallway floor creaked. It came from behind him. The sound of the bedroom door slowly opening. Maoto's shoulders jolted. Unable to turn around, his hand froze on the doorknob. "[gentle]Manato... where are you going?" The tone of her voice was terribly gentle. Maoto slowly turned around. His neck moved stiffly, like a broken machine. Akari stood in the hallway. In her right hand, she held a kitchen knife. Maoto's breath stopped. Akari was smiling. Her usual gentle smile, eyes crinkled at the corners. But that smile was like a mask, and only the amber and silver eyes behind it glistened, damp and intense. She slowly lifted the blade of the knife. Then, she pressed it softly against the inside of her own left wrist. The stainless steel blade slid over her white skin. "[gentle]If you go... I'll die, you know." Akari's voice was as tender as a lullaby. "[gentle]Manato... are you abandoning me?" The knife moved slightly. The tip of the blade bit just barely into her skin. A red thread ran across her white wrist. *Drip.* A single drop of blood fell to the floor. It soaked into the wood grain of the flooring, becoming a dark stain. The moment he saw that red, Maoto's entire body froze solid. His mouth opened, but no voice came out. The back of his throat seized up, and only empty air leaked through. His fingertips went numb. His feet wouldn't move, as if glued to the floor. Akari kept smiling, tilting her head just slightly. The knife tilted a little more. The wound on her wrist widened just a fraction. "[scared]Stop it!!" Screaming, Maoto pulled away from the door. Still in his sneakers, he ran back down the hallway. He reached out and grabbed Akari's wrist. The knife fell to the floor with a clatter. Maoto collapsed to his knees right there. "[crying]Why... why would you do something like that...?" Tears overflowed endlessly. He didn't even know what he was saying anymore. His voice just trembled, his words mixing with sobs. "[crying]Please... don't die... I'm begging you..." Maoto put both hands on the floor, his shoulders shaking as he wept. He cried out loud, like a child. Snot and tears, everything a mess. Akari quietly crouched down. She reached out both hands and embraced Maoto's head. His face buried into her chest. "[gentle]I won't die." Akari's voice carried the warmth of a mother. "[gentle]As long as Manato is here, I'll never die. I'll stay by your side... forever." Her hand slowly stroked Maoto's hair. She patted his back in a gentle rhythm. As if soothing a small child. Maoto clung to Akari's chest and kept crying. The guilt of having tried to escape burned deep in his chest. At the same time, there was relief—relief that he had been saved. If he didn't run away, Akari wouldn't die. As long as he was here, she would be okay. He couldn't leave this warmth. He mustn't. Maoto gripped Akari's shirt tightly. "[crying]I'm sorry, Akari... I'm sorry..." That was all he could say. Akari didn't blame him for anything. She just kept quietly stroking his back. The blood that had flowed from the wound on her wrist made a small stain on the floor. --- Night came. The bedroom curtains were closed, blocking even the light from the streetlamps. The room was wrapped in darkness, and only the sound of their breathing could be heard. Akari took Maoto's hand and led him to the bed. A white bandage was wrapped around her left wrist. Akari gently held the bandaged wrist before Maoto's eyes. "[gentle]Were you scared?" "[sad]Yeah... really scared." "[gentle]I'm sorry." Akari smiled. Her face was infinitely gentle. When Maoto opened his mouth to say something, Akari's index finger softly pressed against his lips. "[whispers]You don't have to say anything right now." Akari turned off the bedside lamp. The room fell into complete darkness. Their breaths mingled in the dark. Akari's hands cupped Maoto's cheeks. Soft and warm. She slowly brought her face closer and kissed his forehead. "[whispers]I'll always be by your side." Akari laid Maoto's body down and slipped in beside him. Her slender arms wrapped around him, holding him gently, as if enveloping him. Even the way she undressed him tonight was infinitely tender. She unfastened each button, one by one, slowly. Each time, her fingertips brushed his skin. Akari's body heat seeped into Maoto's chilled skin. "[whispers]You were scared, weren't you? You tried to go outside all alone. But it's okay now. I'll always protect you." Tears spilled from Maoto's eyes again. He didn't even know why he was crying. Was he scared? Pathetic? Or was it—that he felt safe in this warmth? Akari slowly pulled down Maoto's boxers. His half-hardened penis was exposed in the darkness. She touched the glans gently with her fingertips, then wrapped it tenderly in her whole palm. "[whispers]You're so warm, Manato." Akari's hand moved slowly. Not hard, not hurried—just gently stroking Maoto's cock. "Nn... ah..." A small breath escaped Maoto's lips. Akari continued. Her fingertips traced the underside of the ridge, and her palm slowly stroked the entire shaft. Her hand was warm, and Maoto's glans, beginning to grow slick, made a wet, squelching sound. "[whispers]Does it feel good?" "[sad]...Yeah." Akari smiled happily and slipped the shoulder strap of her dress aside. The thin fabric fell away softly. When she removed her bra, her modest breasts emerged in the darkness. Still holding Maoto's cock, she guided it toward her secret place. Her pussy, already overflowing with love juices, was dripping wet before it even touched. "[whispers]I'm putting it in. Gently, okay?" Akari slowly lowered her hips. Her slick, wet vagina swallowed Maoto's penis. She didn't take it all the way to the base at once—she stopped partway, pulled back a little, then went deeper again. Little by little, as if checking Maoto's reaction. *Squelch... squelch, squelch...* "Ahh..." A sweet moan escaped Akari's lips. Her vagina was astonishingly hot, squeezing Maoto's cock tight. The moment he reached her deepest point, Akari's insides contracted with a tight clench. Akari began to move her hips. Not pounding fiercely—but like a wave, slow and steady, yet certain. "[whispers]Manato... does it feel good?" "Ah... yeah..." "[whispers]It feels really good for me too. Having Manato inside me... it's so warm. I want to stay like this forever." Akari placed her hand on Maoto's chest. As if checking his heartbeat. The slow piston continued. Her vaginal walls moved as if gently massaging Maoto's penis. Every time his glans touched her cervix deep inside, Akari caught her breath with a small gasp. "Hahh... ah... nn, nn..." Akari's moans gradually grew louder. Atop Maoto, she slowly quickened the movement of her hips. They changed positions. Akari gently pushed Maoto's body, and this time she was on the bottom. Missionary position. Maoto was on top, gently spreading Akari's white thighs. Her pussy was already soaking wet, easily accepting Maoto's cock. *Squelch, squelch, squelch...* They joined again. This time, Maoto moved his hips slowly. "Ah, ahh! Yes... that... that's good..." Akari wrapped her hands around Maoto's back and dug her nails in. With almost painful force. "[whispers]Manato, please... deeper... thrust deeper inside..." Maoto did as she said and pushed his hips in deep. His glans struck her cervix at the very back, and Akari's body jolted. "Ahh, right there...!" Akari's vagina clenched tight. She threw her head back, enduring the pleasure. Maoto's hip movements gradually grew faster. Following instinct, he thrust fiercely inside Akari. "Ah, ah, ahh! So good... it's so good!" Akari's voice echoed through the bedroom. From where they were joined came obscene wet sounds. *Squelch, squelch*—every time Maoto's cock stirred inside Akari's pussy, her love juices overflowed and trickled down her thighs. "[crying]I'm coming... I'm going to come... Manato, together...!" The moment Akari reached climax, her vagina convulsed in rippling waves. Squeezed so tight, Maoto couldn't hold back any longer. "Akari... me too...!" "[crying]Inside... come inside me...! Give me lots... deep inside me...!" *Throb. Throb.* Maoto's semen spilled deep inside Akari's vagina. The cloudy white cum hotly filled her cervix. He ejaculated again and again in succession, and the overflowing sperm frothed white as it leaked from where they were joined. "Ahhh... so warm..." Akari wrapped her arms around Maoto's neck and held him tight. Her insides were still twitching, as if trying to wring out every last drop from Maoto's penis. Neither of them moved. Their sweat-dampened skin cooled in the breeze from the air conditioner. Their heartbeats slowly settled. Maoto stared at the ceiling and thought. (*I don't want to go anywhere anymore.*) That feeling didn't come from fear or resignation. It was a pure emotion, welling up from the depths of his heart. He didn't want to lose this warmth. He didn't want to leave this gentleness. He felt his lingering attachment to the outside world crumbling away with an audible sound. Akari smiled on top of Maoto's chest. "[gentle]Manato... I love you. More than anyone in the world." Maoto didn't answer. Instead, he gently stroked her hair. --- The next morning. White sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains. A good smell drifted from the kitchen. The scent of frying eggs and miso soup. When Maoto woke, Akari was standing in the kitchen. The bandage on her left wrist stood out painfully white in the morning light. But she was cheerfully handling the frying pan. "[excited]Ah, good morning, Manato. Breakfast is almost ready." When Akari turned around, her face was gentle and bright. Maoto sat down at the living room table. His phone was there. The screen was still black. He picked it up and tapped it. The lock screen appeared. Maoto started to open his contacts—and his finger stopped. He didn't feel like opening it. He didn't want to contact