A Strange Encounter + How About No

I couldn't sleep, it was way too warm to be able to. The damp, thick and sweaty odor permeating through the room only energizing my lower body. This in turn makes me think, whether I'm willing or not, about my sisters' body while she lays beside me unconscious. Reluctantly, I step out of bed to go grab a glass of milk. The house at this point was dead silent... It must've been somewhere aound midnight, say 2 or 3AM, approximately.

Before going I opened the window only a tiny amount, so that the excrusiating heast can disperse, but no so much as to make Chiori even sicker. The absolute last thing I want to do is to worsen her health. Just to be extra sure, I covered her a little more with the blanket. Her face regained a little color, but she still had this exhausted expression on her face while sleeping.

I wasn't feeling too tired, so I shortly considered using the time I'll stay awake to study up a bit further. But as I was walking down the hallway and the stairs I disregarded it. I shouldn't overexert myself either.

Downstairs, in the kitchen, I grabbed a glass and the jug of milk and poured the glass halffull. I noticed how drenched my clothing were. I'd forgotten to change into a pyjama before going to sleep, which made the worn clothes reek of a severe sweaty stench.

"Well, I could go for a shower."

I downed the glass of milk in one go, and checked the clock centered in the living room... 1:15AM, much earlier than I thought it would be. That means I only slept a moderate 4 to 5 hours, which is why is a bit confounding to me when I didn't feel tired at all. Since it was this early anyways, might as well do a little jogging, I thought. Keeping a good bodyweight is the key to maintain a healthy mind.

I took a short shower and changed clothes. It was somewhat warm out so I took out a tracksuit I hadn't worn in a while and put on some lightweight running shoes. This still in my room, but my sister wouldn't wake up anyways, so it didn't bother me too much.

Outside there was a warm, dry breeze flowing. I decided to run from my house to the playground and back, which should take about 20 minutes. The path didn't have much for scenery, a few run-of-the-mill houses, a few trees, nothing too impressive.

I stretched for a bit and paced my breathing, then took off. I kept my posture upright while jogging, and made sure to go on a steady rhythm with my steps. I still had little trouble doing this, I wasn't totally out of shape. If I tried to race Chiori though, I'd probably lose all self confidence as a person though.

'So maybe go a little faster instead?' I thought to myself, and then slightly quickened the pace of my jog. I kind of want to enjoy racing against her again. We haven't done that since... somewhere in middle school? 5 years or so ago? Chiori just always beat me and after a while stopped asking to race me to some random place.

There are lots of things I want to do together with her, now that I think about it. I'm starting to feel more nostalgic for the days before. The days when we still were in constant competition, and shares most hobbies together. Sure we are now closer in a different sense, but it still feels more distant somehow.

The familiar sight gave me flashbacks. The neighborhood hadn't since changed much at all, even most of the residents are still here, and have been there all our lives.

But as I was running I could see someone, or something for that matter, off in the other direction, slumped over sitting under the bridge. Curiosity took over and I headed the other way. As long as I get 20 minutes of exercise in, I won't worry about the exact location of where I'm headed.

As I got closer, I could see a small person sobbing quietly, covered in torn rags with their entire appearance being dirtied and disheveled.

I got near, and could see the girl shivering in the cold dark.

"Who are you?" She asked in a faint voice.

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I woke up still feeling tired, with a slight aching on my neck and my back. The warm air surrounding us making me sweat buckets. Chiori was sticking to me, I was being clamped in a tight embrace by her. I felt a little groggy from sleeping while being covered in sweat under the thick damp heat. I felt like I would dry up if I laid down any longer, but I couldn't find the energy to get out of bed. I closed my eyes again, hoping to fall asleep but the aching in my dry throat wouldn't let me. Relucantly, and very slowly, I got up from bed, followed up by almost falling into bed again after briefly losing my balance from dizziness.

After having regained my balance I stumbled to the door, almost falling over and knocking myself out. But I managed to hang in there, though my slightly blurred eyesight together with my sense of balance down the drain started to really create a problem for me, it made me bump into walls and furtinure when I really didn't want too make much noise.

"She should be gone at this point, right?"

I really hoped she hadn't forgot about it, rather not let my parents find out that I let a stranger stay the night. Or about what happened when I let her in.

Just in general this was a strange idea, but what else was I supposed to do?

I regained my balance overtime after finally being out of the boiling hot bedroom, being able to breathe in the much drier, cooler, and much less stuffy air. Just to see if the guest was still there, I took the time to peek into Chiori's room, here I was greeted with a strange odor, much unlike what I was used to. It felt unpleasant, like some part of this house has lost it's usual face, and was flaunting it's new misguided identity. It felt wrong, even to the point of me regretting not letting her sleep on the couch.

But luckily, the guest wasn't there anymore, making me heave a sigh of relief. She is a good listener, I'll have to give her that. A little weird though, I have to add.

I strugged it off for the time being and grabbed whatever drink I could find from the kitchen, and what do I find?

Ah yes, the guest is still here, watching tv and laughing at sitcom jokes. Looks like lots of fun.

My parents aren't awake yet, so i did the only thing I could think of.

"Good morning." I interruptred her show. She casually glanced back at me in a lazy posture, then smiled and waved.

"Good morning~~" She sung chirpily. She patted a spot beside her "wanna join?"

I stared at her in disbelief for a brief moment, and pointed toward the door while she stared at my with a puzzled puppy face. Slowly noticing her act doesn't work, her expression got the more sour which eventually turned to bitterness. A sadistic smile began to appear on her face.

"Hooh, I see..." without saying anything futher, she showed me her cellphone...

Cellphone? She had one on her? I can see where this is going, and I don't like it.

"Mind if I show the rest of the school what ha-"

But before she could finish, I already took the phone and deleted the photo. Afterward I got to enjoy the tantrum of a so called 'adult' and she punched my chest with the force of a feather.

I gave her a cup of water and a handkerchief and went on with getting ready for school.

I just about had it with her nonsense already, little did I know it was about to get worse...

Just kidding, of course it's only gonna get worse.

"Who am I talking to?" I asked myself as I put on my school uniform.