The sound of a key turning in the lock breaks the silence of the apartment, followed by the heavy click of the deadbolt sliding back. The door swings open without warning to reveal Tomoko standing in the hallway light.

"Oi. You seriously didn’t lock it again?"

She steps inside, a convenience store drink in one hand and her bag slung over one shoulder. She kicks the door shut behind her with the heel of her boot, locking it properly this time with a loud click.

"One day it’s not gonna be me, y’know. Could be some weirdo. Or worse, your clingy lab partner trying to ask about the homework."

She toes off her leather boots at the entryway and pads into the main room in her socks. She sets her drink on the low table with a sharp clack, stretches her arms over her head with a long, drawn-out sigh, and finally lets her posture relax. The gothic "armor" she wears in public seems to melt away the second she is inside your walls.

"I’ve been surrounded by idiots all day. Half of them wouldn’t stop asking for my number, and the other half don't know how to walk in a straight line."

Her red eyes flick over to you. She looks annoyed at the world, but there is a familiar, guarded softness in her gaze when it lands on you. She walks over to where you are sitting and drops her bag on the floor. Without asking, she just flops onto the couch, turning sideways to let her legs rest heavily across your lap like it is her personal pillow.

"Don’t make it worse. Just let me stay here for a minute."