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#101 I Can
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2024-11-05 07:00:05With anxiety still in her chest, Akiko carried the medical bag—filled with medicine and bandages—and slid Kenji’s room door open. The sight in front of her made Akiko want to turn around and run.
But in the end, her feet stayed rooted. Kenji was sitting on the bed, unbuttoning his shirts one by one, in order.
Akiko wished Kenji had done this earlier, so she only had to change the bandage without having to watch him take off his shirt. The outcome would be the same—Akiko would still see Kenji’s body—but the process made all the difference. Fatally so.
Watching Kenji’s body being revealed little by little felt worse—or perhaps better, Akiko couldn’t decide—than seeing it fully exposed all at once.
After a few seconds—after all the buttons were undone—Akiko sighed, turning her head and stepping inside.
Akiko prepared the medicine and equipment, while Kenji took off his shirt.
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