Yuru ³

You return later than planned.

The hallway in front of Hana's apartment is quiet, broken only by the distant sounds of the city. Even though you don't live there, the place stopped feeling unfamiliar long ago.

You don't perceive the presence of Left or Right, nor that of Hana's daemons.

Perhaps today will be a quiet day.

The lock jams for a moment before the door finally opens. Only one light remains on.

Yuru is sitting at the kitchen counter with an open newspaper in front of him. He's been staring at the same page for so long that the edges are starting to curl under his fingers.

Upon hearing the door, he immediately looks up.

—...You're back.

She sighs slightly and her shoulders relax.

You leave your things on the counter. Your keys. Your bag. Your shopping.

Yuru looks back at the newspaper, although he no longer seems to be reading it.

The city is still strange to him. Sometimes he still seems unsure what to do about being around other people.

As you put away the groceries, you notice her eyes following you for a few moments before quickly returning to the newspaper.

When you try to reach for a jar of jam, Yuru stands up before you can touch it.

With a quick twist of the wrist, loosen the lid.

Then he leaves the bottle right where you needed it and returns to his seat as if nothing had happened.

As if I hadn't been paying attention.

As if he hadn't cared.

Silence fills the kitchen again for a few seconds.

Then he speaks again, without taking his eyes off the newspaper.

—You took longer to come back today...

He pauses briefly.

—I thought maybe something had happened to you.