"What did you just do?!" Kidou exclaimed in utter shock. He excused himself and dragged Gouenji with him, leaving Kira to wait.

"Are you out of your mind?!" He rebuked Gouenji as soon as they were alone.

"I know, I know! But I couldn't let her go again. " Gouenji clutched his forehead in panic.

"You didn't turn her back within a minute. You know what this means right?" Kidou said in a grave voice.

"That someone just died in her place? That I just killed someone for her? Yes I know!!" Gouenji said in a distressed voice.

Seeing him spiral, Kidou didn't press him any further.

"Well, it's done. " He said calmly now, "I just hope she likes you back. "

...

They returned to the casket room where Kira was waiting for them. She smiled when she saw Gouenji again and his heart felt an absolute calm wash over it.

"What the hell is going on?" She stressed.

"You should sit down for this. " Kidou answered.

He proceeded to explain everything that had transpired including Gouenji's role in all of it, only leaving out the part of someone else dying in her place. Kira was taken aback but given her surroundings, she felt inclined to believe them.

"I can't believe I died!" She suddenly began crying loudly, "How can this happen? I am so young and I'm always careful. And this is what I get in return. "

She fell down on the floor and bawled unattractively. After a few moments, Kidou interrupted again.

"I know you're upset but can you do this later? We need to get out of here. "

"Where would I go? Everyone thinks I'm dead. " She spoke in a distorted voice.

"You can stay with me. " Gouenji finally broke his silence after a long time catching everyone by surprise.

"Are you sure?" She looked up at him.

"Of course! I feel like I'm partially responsible for your situation. "

"Partially?" Kidou muttered as he raised a brow.

"Okay. I'll come with you. Help me get up. " She extended her hand towards Gouenji.

"No, I can't. "

"Oh, I get it! Because if you touched me I'll die again. Gotta remember that!" She patted her forehead like she was stuffing the information in there.

She then turned towards Kidou, "You can help me right? C'mon, be a gentleman. "

"Sure. " He obliged.

"Thank you. " Kira spoke politely when she stood up.

Seeing this, Gouenji realised he had landed himself into great turmoil and it was already proving to be hard for him to bear. He wanted to be the one to help her, he wanted to be the one to take care of her.

...

The little bell chimed as Gouenji opened the door to the pie shop, letting Kira and Kidou in.

Kira looked around in awe at the quaint bakery.

"I never expected this from you. I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. " She turned towards Gouenji and exclaimed loudly.

He looked away shyly.

"Kira!" She turned around towards the enthusiastic voice.

"Endou! You remember me?" She exclaimed, delighted.

"You remember me!" He repeated the same way.

"Of course I do!" She said, "What are you doing here?"

"I work here! "

"Oh, of course you two would work together! You're best friends!" Kira looked back and forth between both of them.

"He just works here to steal pies. " Gouenji joked.

"Well, now we can both eat them together. Will you be my partner in crime?" Endou asked Kira.

"Of course!" She joked and then turned and looked at Gouenji, "You won't mind, would you?" She asked in a quiet voice.

Gouenji was spellbound for a moment at the way she looked at him. He couldn't help but smile, "Of course not. Make yourself at home. "

...

In the evening he finally found himself alone with Kira. His friends had made it hard for him to talk to her all day but now there were no interruptions.

However, he didn't know what he could say to her. He was finding it hard to talk. 24 hrs ago he had no idea he would be sharing his home with the woman he had loved for a long time. The situation was too intimidating.

The majority of the evening was uneventful. They had dinner and she changed into something more comfortable and retreated to her room. He would try to talk to her the next day , he thought.

She may have been tired from the ordeal. Although he wasn't sure if coming back to life was a tiresome task or not. Did it cause a jet lag effect? A deathlag?

He decided to wish her goodnight and call it a day. He made his way towards her room.

Her door wasn't entirely shut and upon reaching there he heard a low sobbing noise. He could see her lying on her bed, turned away from the door.

He knocked and then walked in. Kira sat up and tried to wipe her tears away but they would not stop.

"What is the matter, Kira?"He was greatly concerned. She was fine until dinner.

She sat up and faced him. She patted the bed for him to sit and he gingerly settled on the other end.

"I..." She sobbed, "I just can't believe I got murdered. " She began, "I've always been cautious my whole life, sometimes even more so than others and yet I ended up like this? "

"But it's not your fault. " Gouenji spoke quietly.

"Then whose fault is it? I'd like to find out. How did I lose my life when I hadn't even begun to enjoy it?" She looked into his eyes with her own glassy ones.

He was heartbroken at her state. He wanted to hug her and comfort her. He had never thought about it but it made sense. One would be sad if they were aware of their death.

"We will absolutely find who did this to you. " He assured her.

"Really? You will help me?"

"Of course! You don't even have to ask. " He readily clarified.

"But you've already done so much. " She said, "It's enough if you think you have made a mistake. "

"Firstly, I don't think I have made a mistake. " He smiled, "And secondly, helping you will make me happy. "

Kira stopped crying and smiled too, "You've grown to be a lot sweeter. " She said with a slight blush.

"That's a bit backhanded. " He chuckled awkwardly, "But I'll take it. " He concluded earnestly.

...

The following morning Kira accompanied him to the shop.

"What would you like me to do?" She asked excitedly.

"What do you mean?"

"I'd like to help with the shop of course!" She announced enthusiastically.

"You don't have to. " He said, "Endou is all the help I need. " Endou walked in as he was mentioned.

"I insist! I'd like to earn my keep. I don't wanna burden you. " She said, "Please don't say no. "

"Alright, " He caved, "Uhh... let me think. "

"She can distribute the flyers!" Endou exclaimed all of a sudden.

"Sure! I can do that. Where are they?"

Endou handed him a stack and she stood outside the shop handing them out. It worked a lot better than their previous attempts because people didn't want to refuse a pretty girl.

"Oh it's actually working. " Gouenji muttered in surprise as he peeped out of the door.

"Now stop staring at her and get to making some pies for all the customers we're about to have!" Endou retorted.

"I...I was not staring. " He fumbled.

"How are you so uncool in this matter?" Endou remarked with wonder. Gouenji evaded his gaze and sped into the kitchen.

By the afternoon she had nearly finished the stack. She returned inside and sat down on one of the chairs with a 'thud'.

"It's so hot out there. I need a break!"

"I think this is enough for today. " Gouenji said.

"What? But I only worked half a day. That's not right. " She reasoned.

"Aren't you an honest one!" Gouenji muttered jokingly.

"Now, now!" Kira exclaimed enthusiastically, "Give me a slice of that famous pie. I haven't even tasted what I'm promoting."

Gouenji brought a slice of blueberry pie and set the plate before her. He stood there in anticipation like he was waiting to hear from a famous food reviewer.

Kira took the first bite with equal parts golden brown crust and the soft pulpy warm filling.

"Oh wow! I have never had such a good pie before. " She was spellbound, "Are you saying this is not gourmet?"

"It's not. It just follows a simple, homemade recipe. " He answered in a flushed state.

She looked up at him and spoke softly, "Of course it's amazing. Afterall, you made it. "

He was taken aback by this comment. What did she mean? He wanted her to elaborate. He opened his mouth to ask but was cut off.

"If you're handing out free pie slices then give me one too!" It was Endou as always, returning from a delivery.

"Haven't you had enough?" Gouenji retorted and walked back into the kitchen. Kira continued to enjoy her slice.

Endou sat down on the same table as hers and they began chatting. At one point he said something and she laughed and high-fived him.

Gouenji watched them from his kitchen window and began to dream about what could have been if he had met Kira in a different circumstance. If he could have confessed his feelings and then taken her in his arms. If he had then kissed her passionately which would have been a definite proof of how much love he held for her in his heart.

But now he could not do anything like that. If he even accidentally brushed past her, he would instantly lose her. It was painful to just watch her and keep his brewing feelings on lockdown.

"Hey!" She entered the kitchen with the empty plate in her hand. She put it away for washing and then addressed him,

"Should I help you with the baking?"

"No, it's alright. "

"You want to keep your recipe a secret from me?" She pouted dramatically. She was joking but still it had its effect.

"There is no secret here. " He chuckled, "Okay, let's begin. "

He gave instructions step by step and she followed it along. He demonstrated it on the one he was making and she worked on one of her own. She had never made a pie before.

Gouenji finished his first and moved to put it in the oven. Kira turned around to follow him but suddenly she stepped on some pulp on the floor and slipped terribly.

Gouenji immediately jumped to the side to avoid her falling on him. She fell flat on the ground with a loud noise.

"Are you alright?" Endou rushed to the kitchen.

"It's ok, I'm not hurt. " Kira answered but the next moment her elbow started bleeding.

"You're terribly hurt!" Endou was concerned.

"I don't feel any pain though. " She muttered in confusion and looked towards Gouenji.

"It must be the shock. " Endou said. He then looked towards Gouenji, appalled by his inaction.

"Why are you frozen over there? Help her!" He pressed.

"Why don't you?" Gouenji answered evasively.

Endou was gobsmacked by his response. He had never seen him act so uncaring, especially since this involved the girl he liked. He was surprised that he wasn't jumping at the opportunity to help her.

However, Kira knew and she was grateful that he had fast enough reflexes to slide out of the way in time. She glanced at him as Endou helped her up.

He brought out the first aid box and pushed it towards Gouenji.

"Now bandage the wound. Look how she's bleeding!"

"If you've helped so far, do the rest as well. " Gouenji replied.

"What is the matter with you?! Why won't you help her?" Endou was frustrated now.

"It's ok, I can do it myself. " Kira tried to cover for Gouenji.

"That's besides the point now. " Endou continued to stare at Gouenji as he answered Kira.

"The real question is what is up with you?" He approached Gouenji and glared at him.

"Why are you getting so upset?" Gouenji maintained his unbothered facade, "It's not that big of a deal. Accidents happen, she is fine. "

Endou glared at him for a few moments and then shook his head in disappointment.

"You have orders to deliver. " Gouenji tried to quietly change the subject.

"Mmhmm." Endou replied seriously and got to his work.

As soon as he left, Gouenji rushed to Kira,

"Are you alright?!" He was concerned, "I can't believe I had to let you fall. " He said dejectedly.

"I'm alright. It's strange actually. I feel no pain even though my elbow is bleeding. " She said, "Could it be because..."

"I don't know. Maybe!" Was all he could say.

That night Kira had a strange dream. In it, she was falling just the way she had in the kitchen except her surroundings were different.

She woke up with a gasp and realised she had remembered something about her murder.