Running.

She was running through the forest.

Her breath was fast, and rough as she pumped her legs as fast as she could.

"Emi!" He screamed, running after her as worry and anxiety raked his body.

Thoughts ran rampid through her head, clouding as she rushed along the forest floor.

"ストップ!" ( Stop! ) he shouted, his voice hoarse and breathy from exertion.

She reached the tree root that both of the kids had tripped on many times in the past, and she stopped.

Instead of tripping over the root and launching forward, she dropped to her hands and knees, looking down at the ground as she heaved in breaths.

He caught up to her, dropping to his knees, before propping himself against the tree, ready to move if she began running again.

"Emi..." He called softly to the frozen girl.

He looked up at the sky.

It was dark, and the clouds were ominous and full of rain.

He looked back to her.

"Emi," he began, moving towards her. "どうぞ." ( Please. ) he let out.

He was confused as to why his friend was so upset.

"その荒廃しました." ( It's ruined. ) she whispered, beginning to shake lightly.

"What?" He asked, not quite hearing her.

"Everything's ruined, George!" She let out, much louder.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

She stayed silent.

George's eyes grew wide as he realized what was happening.

The upcoming week was finals week.

Hell week.

"Is this about finals?" He asked gently.

Her shaking increased.

"Emi-"

"停止..." ( Stop. ) She choked out, dragging herself up to stand.

Joji gulped, moving slowly in caution as he stood up as well.

His hair had grown in length slightly throughout the year.

It now draped down his forehead in slightly curved obsidian waves.

When it was clear that she wasn't going to say anything, a stoke of lightning shot across the sky, temporarily lighting the dark, colorless forest up.

It was quickly followed, if not immediately followed by a clap of thunder that shook the teens spines.

She took a step forward, as if to run the second the thunder sounded, but she was quickly stopped by Joji, who reached a hand out to grip her wrist.

She spun around, and now Joji could see her pink face, and glossy eyes.

The rain began to poor down again.

Joji's eyes softened as he pulled the shorter girl to him.

She hugged him as tightly as her weak body would allow.

He wrapped his arms around her like a veil of comfort and protection.

She began to shake again and George felt a spike stab into his heart as he heard her let out a sob.

She clung to his shirt.

He hugged her even tighter, burying his face into her hair.

Her over sized yet thin sweater, which was more of a simple cover was slowly getting soaked, even with the protection of George's arms.

"こわいです。" ( I'm scared. ) she let out in a choked whisper.

George felt his heart crumbling.

"テストでは、Emi を心配しないでください。失敗しない、あなたを知っています。あなたが賢明です。" ( Don't worry about the tests, Emi. You won't fail, I know you. You're smart. ) he whispered into her hair.

"Its more than just the tests, George." She replied.

"What is it? Tell me."

"彼らが取得している、譲二と離婚。" ( They're getting divorced, Joji. )

He froze.

He knew about the problems between her parents, he knew all too much about it.

He remembered every night that shed call him, on the verge of tears, hiding in her bedroom or the closet, with her parents screaming in the background.

"いっしょにいて下さい。" ( Stay with me. ) he said.

She looked up at him, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"What?" She asked.

"Stay with me tonight. You don't have to go home. Let me take care of you." He said.

"I'll make you dumplings." He said.

She let out a soft giggle.

Joji smiled ever so slightly at the sound.

"Okay." She said, allowing him to guide her home, through the rain.

His home was her home.

He didn't know it at the time, but those words flew through her bones, touching the core of her mind, body, and soul.

いっしょにいて下さい。

Stay with me.