After almost an hour later, all the pizza boxes were completely empty, smashed into each other and placed inside a paper bag in all their greasy glory. Takehiko and Ocean were comfortably sitting on the couch watching the movie while Ayaka had already abandoned them to watch her K-drama in the bedroom, as such flicks were not particularly her cup of tea.

Ocean was very invested in the plot. It came to him as a great surprise how much he enjoyed it, despite crime never being his first choice when it came to movies. He was more of a sci-fi geek and loved the occasional occult. This, however, was different but entertaining nonetheless. On top of that, the debate with Takehiko concerning Söze’s identity was keeping him on his toes and he was glad he had decided to spend the afternoon there.

Unfortunately, and despite his enthusiasm, he very soon felt his tiredness winning over. As Gabriel Byrne was walking down the shadows of the pier, Ocean’s eyelids grew heavy and his head kept bobbing. His efforts to keep himself awake were futile. Static seemed to add up to the flickering image of the screen, bits were glitching, bits were getting blacked out. The actors' voices were getting distant, gunshots were muffled. The low gurgling noise of a signal lost replaced everything.

He sunk into a trance, surrendering to the overwhelming power of his unconsciousness. He was no longer sitting on the beige couch of Ayaka's living room. He was standing in the middle of an unkempt garden with his feet bare, tall grass and red-tinted water between his skinny toes. His clothes were soaked, dark stains were colouring his sleeves. He crouched on his heels and touched the water with his fingertips. He lightly smudged it over his lips.

Blood.

His heart was racing. He looked around. It was the back garden of a decrepit house. A very familiar house. The wind was singing his name from a distance.

Why this again? Why now?

His anxiety was building up. He knew what was about to happen. His breath was short.

Suddenly, the backdoor opened. An old man with a crooked smile on his face appeared before him. The smile soon turned into surprise, then into anger. The man approached with his hands curled into fists, the white of his knuckles showing intensely under his pale skin. He was getting closer.

Ocean, frozen with fear, stood in the middle of the garden, his legs sinking deeper inside the pool of blood. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't blink. Like a fawn in a crossroad.

Run!

He ran. He escaped inside the house, the man behind him screaming his name. His heavy footsteps on the creaking wood were echoing along the narrow corridors. Those neverending corridors. Ocean was quickly losing his strength but he had to keep running. The screaming was getting closer. Fast steps of a second pair of feet alongside him were heard out of nowhere. Stunned, he looked over his shoulder but no one was there.

He's right behind, he'll get us.

The screaming ceased. Ocean's breath was getting even shorter, even faster. He closed his eyes and kept running, feeling the balls of his bare feet scraping against the rough floor.

He'll catch you. Any moment now. He knows.

More running. The corridor was almost over. He got up the spiralling stairs. More spirals. A sempiternal maze. No windows. No exit. No light. Only darkness.

He'll kill us, run!

Images were flashing before his wide eyes. Slapping and beating and punching. Fucking eejit! Blood. More blood. Glass shattering. Sirens. No room to breathe. The walls closing in. Flat beeping on the screen. Bright blinking lights. Red. Green. Blue. Merged together and spiralling. White uniforms. You’re a disgrace! Pages flipping over and over again. Lights flickering. Weigh in and weigh out. Eat more. Hands wrapped in the back. Don’t throw up. Rocking back and forth. Talking and talking and talking.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RUN!"

Takehiko gasped and, startled as he was, looked at Ocean mumbling in his sleep. He paused the movie carefully, somewhat disappointed he was the only one watching. Suddenly Ocean's body forcefully jolted and the man breathed in deeply, abruptly and loudly, as if he was resurfacing after a long time underwater. It was obvious he was in a state of shock. He looked around nervously, heavily panting. It was only when Takehiko began talking did Ocean realise that someone was next to him.

"You okay, mate?"

Ocean violently clasped Takehiko's arms. His fingers sank in Takehiko’s flesh. "Hide! He'll kill you!"

Takehiko could feel Ocean's warm breath on his lips. The man’s dilated pupils despite the adequate lighting of the room, the strength of his arms and their sudden proximity freaked Takehiko out. "Get off, dude, what the hell?”

Ocean, for a fleeting moment, gawked at Takehiko struggling to escape his grip before letting go and cried in surprise, "Sorry! I'm so sorry! Did I- did I hurt you?"

"What was that all about? Did you have a nightmare or something?"

"Ah... Yes..." Ocean was still to recuperate. The dream was still replaying in front of his weary eyes. The feeling of wanting to run away was still crawling under his skin. As he closed his lids once again, he felt his eyeballs rolling to the back of his skull. "I- umm... I'll-" he muttered and collapsed on the couch.

❦

Ocean slowly opened his eyes. He was still in a haze, his head woozy from sleep. He rubbed his face with the heel of his palm and took a deep breath. He indolently looked around. Everything was so blurry. He wondered why but then realised his glasses were on the coffee table before him. He grabbed them and put them on.

Memories from last night started to flood back as he noticed the brown throw lying on his legs. Anxiously, he uncovered himself and stood up. He noticed Ayaka sitting quietly by the kitchen table, a cup of fresh-smelling coffee on her lips, her fingers resting on a laptop touchpad. She had earphones on, listening to music rather loudly. The light coming from the window was softly shining on her face. Ocean started walking towards her and when he got close, he patted her shoulder causing Ayaka to let out a surprised yelp before turning around to face him.

"What am I doing here?" Ocean asked.

"What are you doing here???" Ayaka yelled, leaving her earphones on the table. "You passed out on the couch, don't you remember?"

"No… Did... did no one wake me up?"

"You seemed so peaceful after the nightmare so-"

"Nightmare?"

"Yeah," said Ayaka and raised an eyebrow, suspicious of Ocean's confusion. "Are you feeling well?"

"I'm grand, never felt better," Ocean replied absentmindedly. "Is Takehiko around? I feel like I should apologise."

"You definitely should. I think he mentioned something about hanging out at a café down the street. Apparently, he discovered something he wanted to check out before we leave."

"Like what?"

"Haven't a clue!"

"I see... What time are you guys leaving?"

"We're flying early this afternoon."

"Oh..." Ocean paused for a moment. "You know... I can't drop you to the airport, I have to work. Is that alright?"

"We'll manage. But thank you for being so considerate... You're the best in town!"

Ocean smiled at Ayaka's comment and headed outside. After a bit of effort, he found Takehiko inside a nearly empty local café called ‘Solaris’, behind a small white piano, playing a familiar melody. He ordered a coffee, sat at one of the armchairs and observed.

The boy’s upright posture seemed both stiff and flexible as his fingers moved along the piano keys. Once gentle and delicate, then intense, almost angry melodies followed by Takehiko's passionate expressions. Biting his lip at the fast parts. Closing his eyes softly and knitting his eyebrows at the slow ones. One song after another with every time sounding better, more confident. The contrast between Takehiko’s graceful playing and his alternative appearance was creating a harmony Ocean’s mind couldn’t help but absolutely agree on.

As soon as the fourth song was over and Takehiko took a rest to tie his hair up and sip his water, Ocean began clapping, slightly scaring the other. The waitress, the barista and some of the few patrons joined in with several ‘woo-hoo’s and praises.

"Thanks," said Takehiko with a smile, stood up and bowed to everyone. "Glad my audience is entertained!" He then took his coffee and water and joined the blond.

Ocean welcomed him with a grin. "You certainly don't strike me as the type who'd play classical music."

Takehiko wore a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"

"Ripped jeans, long hair, pierced ears,” said Ocean by nodding at Takehiko’s body. “Very rock ‘n’ roll!"

"I think there's nothing more rock ‘n’ roll than the classics."

Ocean laughed loudly. "Fair play!"

Takehiko smiled, content that his answer was well received. Immediately after, though, a concerned frown tensed his young face. "Slept well?"

"Like the dead,” Ocean replied. “Listen, I'm very sorry about that, I feel very embarrassed you had to see me having a nightmare and passing out. I was very exhausted, work’s been really tough lately. There’s no such thing as a break for a grad student. The movie was pretty good, though, wasn’t it?”

“You never saw the ending.”

“Did they show who-”

“They sure do.”

“Was I right?”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

Ocean chuckled with his comment. “I’ll go watch the rest tonight. I had a great time. And… Listen... I’m really sorry this whole thing turned into a lame slumber party. And with Ayaka in her own feckin' world... You must’ve felt very lonely, especially your last day here."

"Yeah, it was. It's fine though, I'm used to it,” Takehiko shrugged. “It’s been a while since I was with people other than my parents in the same room. Thank you for coming over, nonetheless. I had fun too."

"I’m glad. We should definitely do that again sometime and I’ll make sure I get some caffeine in my body beforehand. Do you know yet when you’re moving out?”

Takehiko hummed and brought the cup on his lips. “That’s a bit early to know,” he said sceptically. “Probably during the last week of August when the orientation week starts. Perhaps a little bit earlier if I’m able to get a job.”

“A job?”

“Yeah, part-time like Aya’s job at the library. Just enough to keep me going. Don’t want to burden my parents too much, y’know?”

“Right, of course,” Ocean said and finished his coffee. The thought of someone being considerate to their own family had never crossed his mind. He swirled the sediment at the bottom of his cup and placed it on the saucer over the table beside him. Then, rushing into a different subject, he added, “How long have you been playing?”

“Piano? About twelve years now, I think.”

“Do you play any other instruments?”

“Sure do. Bit of guitar, some ukulele and everything else I can get my hands on.”

Ocean smiled. “I’d like to listen to you playing some time again.”

“Deal. Next time I’m here, I’ll have my uke. Just make sure you don’t fall asleep.”

“You should play something a bit more uplifting than Chopin then, yeah? Five cups of cappuccino won’t be able to hold me up.”

“I’ll figure something out for ya.”

“Grand! Can’t wait. Now,” Ocean said and gently patted Takehiko’s shoulder. “I should get going, my papers won’t write themselves... I'm really glad I finally got to finally meet you! Safe home!" And without waiting for Takehiko to say anything in return he was gone.