Chapter 10: Finally Home

Luca's face fell as Shirumi stormed past him, her annoyance evident. He couldn't escape the consequences of his actions in the library. With a sheepish shrug, he tried to downplay the situation. "Oh come on, Shirumi, you're acting like we aren't friends," he said lamely.

However, Shirumi, on the verge of snapping, resisted the urge to attack him. She knew that confronting him would only lead to a lecture from his parents. Luca, a guy more interested in video games than caring about Shirumi, reveled in making her life difficult whenever he could.

Shirumi, stopping by her room, confronted Luca. "What do you want?" she asked sternly. Luca, feigning innocence, walked over to the couch, playing dumb. Shirumi saw through it. "Don't play dumb with me, Luca," she replied fiercely.

Their bad connection and lack of communication contrasted with their knowledge of each other's habits and behaviors. Luca cut through the tension, mentioning Shirumi joining the Mafia and the consequences. "You got yourself in trouble; you have to pay the price," he said, breaking the silence.

Shirumi, avoiding eye contact, denied being in trouble, emphasizing that she didn't need Luca's reassurance. "So don't act like you care," she muttered, entering her room and slamming the door. Luca, reflecting on her temper, noted, "Always has a temper when I try to help her or show that I care for her."

Luca sighed, watching as Shirumi slammed her room door shut. The tension lingered in the air, a testament to the strained dynamic that had become the backdrop of their shared living space. He knew he had touched a nerve, but he couldn't resist stirring the pot.

After a moment of contemplation, Luca decided to follow her lead. He rose from the couch and approached her closed door. Knocking lightly, he called out, "Come on, Shirumi, we can't avoid each other forever. Let's talk."

From within, there was a pregnant pause before she responded, her voice muffled by the door. "I don't need your help, Luca. I can handle my problems on my own."

Undeterred, Luca leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not trying to be your savior, but we're stuck together in this. You can't deny that."

Shirumi's voice, now tinged with frustration, came through the door. "I didn't ask for this forced partnership, Luca. Just leave me alone."

He sighed again, realizing the futility of the situation. "Fine, have it your way. But we need to find some common ground if we're going to coexist in this mess."

With that, Luca retreated back to the living room, leaving Shirumi alone with her thoughts. The apartment, once a space of solitude, now echoed the unresolved tension between two individuals entangled in a web of secrets and conflicting motives.

As the evening unfolded, Shirumi remained in her room, contemplating the challenges that lay ahead. Meanwhile, Luca immersed himself in the glow of his video games, temporarily diverting his attention from the complexities of their intertwined lives.

Little did they know that the events of the day were merely the beginning of a tumultuous journey that would force them to confront not only each other but the hidden truths that bound them together in an uneasy alliance. The night descended with an air of uncertainty, leaving the shared apartment cloaked in the shadows of their enigmatic connection.