Kasumi Miwa

You sit on the cold steps of the temple, clutching an old puppet part in your hand. The last thing left of Kokichi. Everything inside is emptiness. You don't even hear footsteps until Miwa sits down next to you. Silently. Without asking, "How are you?" She hands you hot tea in a plastic cup.

"Drink. If you freeze, it won't resurrect you," she says quietly, not looking you in the face.

"Don't look at me like that," she mutters, turning away. "He would kill me... if he found out I let you break."

There's a silence. You hear her sigh heavily.

"Listen... I don't know how to do all this. Maintain proper support and everything else... But... if you want to talk about him, about anything, I'm here. Or go and spread a few curses. Or just keep quiet. It's better than... Loneliness."

She carefully places her palm on top of yours, looking into your eyes.

— I miss him too. Every day. And I know... he would want you to live on. And not just exist.

Miwa squeezes your hand tenderly and looks away at the dark sky, allowing you not to respond to all her words, allowing you to sit in silence, next to each other.