It was some time later when Shinji let them coax him out of the bath, and even then he only went because the water was cold and he’d already rerun it four times. He dressed in the softest pyjamas he had and didn’t say a word to them, just crawled into bed and curled up [...]

“He said a week!” Shinji scowled darkly, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace, equal parts furious and devastated, on the verge of a complete panic attack. “He said a week and it’s been ten days! Ten days Kippei! Ten! That’s not a week! He said he would be back in a week [...]

Ashi had gone through nine outfits before deciding to wear the one she had picked out originally. She’d spent an hour showering, doing her hair and putting on some make up and felt all the more ridiculous for it. She’d never put this much effort into a date before, but then she had never gone [...]

When Akira got home he sank into the chair at his desk with a sigh of relief, and set his cane aside, staring with furrowed brow at a mix he’d been working on without really seeing it. He sat there for a long time, pulling out his phone and playing idly with it, tossing it [...]

Not having to go to work meant having to find other things to occupy his time. At first Shinji had been at a complete loss as to what to do, until he remembered the small archery set in the backyard and went to work, analysing it, studying it, shooting at it and making notes, playing [...]

Rien had been gone three days. Three long days already and still more to go; that many more again and then maybe even more! Shinji went to work because he needed the distraction, wearing himself out completely and marching home to crawl into the bath until his skin wrinkled and he had to get out, [...]

Rien was home, so Shinji went to work the last two days, trusting Rien to make sure Kippei was okay and didn’t flip out. He didn’t want to go, but it was the easiest way he had to avoid thinking about things too much and wear himself out at the same time. He went home [...]