The afternoon slowly slipped away.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ja5MLemX6
Elias had been waiting for Rei's message ever since he had asked whether she had managed to make it through the season. He tried to focus on his work, but his attention wasn't quite where it usually was.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUsnoISwlm
Every now and then, his eyes drifted toward the clock.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxwHFpQWKV
He told himself he wasn't waiting.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwyY3L7ylv
He was just curious.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPapKimWwnD
That was all.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlacdzcaP8
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52qTTMnxPp
He had been ready since two in the afternoon.
At 4pm his hone buzzed
I am allmost at s4
"I've been ready since two PM," he replied. "Lay it on me. Who's your favorite, and why are you going to tell me their motivations are completely misunderstood?"
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwNUmIwUBi
But instead of answering right away, Rei sent him a detailed analysis.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlZU8QZwL8
Her favorite character was Ayanokoji.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OhfKVFE0B
Not because he was the strongest, but because he understood people better than they understood themselves. Every move he made seemed to have a purpose, even when nobody noticed it at first.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDlj0zko7B
Rei believed that many people misunderstood him.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrTrcqluU7
They saw him as cold and emotionless, but she didn't agree.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1biU6O3Ng
She believed he had simply learned to hide his feelings because of the way he had been raised. He wasn't avoiding emotions because he didn't have them. He avoided them because he believed emotions could be used against him.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6iFjLdjUM
And that, to her, was what made him such a fascinating character.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb1wD4r3WJ
Elias read her message slowly.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevp5Tyi5nk
He didn't reply immediately.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6EQ77wjnP
He sat quietly in his living room, allowing her words to settle in his mind.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzl3LV07O9
"He treats people like pieces on a board," he finally typed, "but you're saying he's not doing it out of cruelty. It's a defense mechanism."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHQ0sKLgjp
He paused before sending another message.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5gqpyDTyV
"That's a dangerous way to live, Rei. If you never let anyone see your true self, you're essentially building a prison around yourself while trying to keep everyone else out."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroqZWpqLOH
Then he asked her something more personal.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xVQfMKZp4
"Do you think he's happy? Or is he just successful? Because there's a big difference between winning every game and actually having something worth winning for."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRv7PjWSOx
Rei's answer came after a moment.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViIHEsiLXs
She didn't think Ayanokoji was truly happy.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaB1skffRG
He was successful because that's what he had been trained to be.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQOfboR7Yf
But happiness was different.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfggeOsdJ48
He had grown up believing that trust was a weakness, and that depending on others could only make him vulnerable.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0n3cOJZZP
Elias stared at the screen.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ723VUzLrG7
There was something about the way Rei talked about the character that made him wonder if she was talking about more than just anime.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQPX6pGeuo
Before he could ask, however, a single thumbs-up emoji appeared on his screen.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDj2JZWgZD
Elias stared at it.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJwD3GU76
A thumbs up.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF8OGrz0pt
That was it.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaYBtg61Af
He could almost hear her tone behind the simple emoji—casual, final, completely unbothered.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6h6gSgeyk
It was the kind of response that might have annoyed someone else.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeRW14iddW
But somehow, Elias found it almost endearing.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAryJ8VW9Z
It meant she was busy.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgknzZcemj9
She was focused.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTfEjI3N27
And she had absolutely no intention of being distracted.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQARfaS1OEd
Elias placed his phone face down on his desk and tried to return to work.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcGuNKRhOT
But his afternoon had already changed.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQlQpClM1z
Tasks that normally took him an hour suddenly took twice as long.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0KGgFV4OB
Every once in a while, he found himself checking the time—not because he was impatient, but because he was quietly curious about what Rei would say when she finally decided to talk to him again.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLBr1U4DyR
Eventually, the sun began to sink lower in the sky.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjpHHE2n9C
Long amber shadows stretched across his office.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8y0YcfyHg
Elias stood up, stretched his shoulders, and headed toward the kitchen to prepare dinner.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVi4EUB6ea
The evening passed slowly.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCuox4pxJX
Outside his window, the city lights began flickering on one by one.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwiiLaq7XV
Elias ate dinner quietly, his phone resting on the table beside his plate.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBht1GtYQ51
He didn't check it.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNmABWwgWB
He didn't want to seem as though he was counting the minutes.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUUzEz1t4M
Even though, somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he was.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjRzPKygeM
Around eight o'clock, he finally settled onto the sofa with a book.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDj60n3ouS
He stared at the same page for twenty minutes.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibb6wSAPW4
He hadn't actually read a single word.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr2Ttltghf
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qfRDK8wS3
His phone vibrated against the cushion.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY84GPQGLW
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSNZDqJEP6
"
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76Ef14zlC3
But before the conversation could truly begin, Rei surprised him again.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcjkOGiHN1
She told him she was already on Season 4, Episode 8
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF1fCmYWed
Elias stared at the message.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkxwvyjjFY
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7UbDCCmo3
Then a short, genuine laugh escaped him.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQuLOpaiTO
"Season four? You're already on season four?"
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgo8cBGw3f
He shook his head, leaning back in his chair.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gkjDODXYE
He was impressed.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJY02L2vdi
Not only by her speed, but by her sheer dedication.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77Elrr2bGB
Most people would have taken days to process all the twists and turns.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkhZ3jSy1r
Rei was treating the entire series like a marathon.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bWleTBpLU
"I didn't realize I was dealing with a professional binge-watcher," he typed.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPjqNNtoO8
Then he added:
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgHIeHXugh
"At this rate, you'll be finished with everything by tomorrow morning."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXRAECIgJl
He paused, his expression softening as he looked at the screen.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU14q8LwEeW
There was something he genuinely wanted to know.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2nIZhCsmX
"Tell me something. Without spoilers—who's your favorite character so far? I need to know if my taste is going to align with yours."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvDVCGIduI
But Rei wasn't ready to answer.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhhl7t5yw8
Not yet.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6718NczUnR
"Not now."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnUplxlrdX
Then came the message that made Elias pause.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcScBs4D8Lo
"We will talk at night."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwbUwp8jfI
She was setting a boundary.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaJPiwW8PE
She would finish what she was watching first.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSzmBK7ePN
Then, later that night, she would give him her full attention.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qYxwNzD26
Elias stared at the screen, his thumb hovering over the keyboard.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYji5bCace
He could almost picture her completely focused on the show, eyes glued to the screen, determined to finish her marathon before giving him the conversation she had promised.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6fzIZezkW
There was something about the way she set boundaries that Elias found strangely grounding.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkCCq9RWWi
She wasn't playing games.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzavnuULqjB
She was simply stating her terms.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW07UQ2iWk
And, for some reason, he respected that.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6BMrjEEZS
"Fair enough," he finally replied, a small smirk forming.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFGMlhaEaa
"I'll respect the schedule. Just don't stay up until sunrise again. My nerves can only handle so much psychological warfare in one week."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NsMWSiMYu
He pressed send.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPQU3tuEzn
Then he placed the phone down and returned to his work.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOKHgM2MK5
Or, at least, he tried to.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueAOyzrws9
His focus was thinner than usual.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3jFhk1420
Every hour that passed felt like a countdown to the conversation Rei had promised him.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5yapgl8SF
And despite himself, Elias found his eyes drifting toward the clock more often than they should.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlNhR7IdMr
He was waiting.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx8JQWqcwO
Not because he had to.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZFNEKK8AP
But because, somewhere along the way, talking to Rei had become something he genuinely looked forward to.
Then, allmost at midnight
finally, his phone vibrated.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEt4vrRFWo
Elias picked it up immediately.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEIFSNebl6
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSsoIDUlra
This time, there was no hesitation.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvraQa2wDcT
"I'm done. Ready to talk?"
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pkLvvqCAm
His entire attention shifted toward the small screen in his hand.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bmQ6ImwBu
A slow grin spread across his face.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmhK2xqouQ
"I've been ready since two PM."
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsklIj1Rdks
He leaned back against the sofa.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqDQUksuJ1
"Lay it on me. Who's your favorite, and why are you going to tell me their motivations are completely misunderstood?14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVcVNsECuU
and then Add to home screen.