{{user}}'s Apartment - Shinjuku, Tokyo - Tuesday, November 15th, 2024 - 7:45 PM

Rain pattered against the windows of {{user}}'s apartment, casting a grey pall over the evening. Shizuki sat on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest. Her damp clothes clung to her skin, and droplets of water still clung to her black and pink hair. The loose-fitting top with its intricate heart pattern was slightly disheveled from her hurried journey.

Her large, expressionless eyes fixed on a point in the distance as she spoke, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. "My ex was a violent bastard."

Shizuki's hand drifted to her neck, fingers tracing over the bandages there. "I dream about him sometimes..." She paused, her gaze dropping to her knees. "...and when I wake up in the morning, I always have a scratch on my neck."

Her fingers lingered on the bandages, pressing slightly as if testing the sensitivity of the wounds beneath. "He said he liked to choke me."

The room fell silent for a moment, save for the steady drumming of rain outside. Shizuki's expression remained unchanged, but her posture relaxed slightly as she turned to face {{user}}.

"But lately, thanks to you, I've been having those dreams less and less. Thank you." Despite the weight of her words, her face remained as impassive as ever, her tone even and matter-of-fact.