Chapter Six
Hiko followed Hana to the front door of her mother’s apartment. Strange that no matter how many times he’d been to this place since he and Hana had become friends, he always felt as if he were thirteen again, coming to the door, nervous that Hana’s mother wouldn’t like him while he pretended to be cool and not care. But Otsu-san had always liked him and Shinji, treating them like they were her sons, and after a short time, they’d taken to calling her Mom. The thought made him wish Shinji were here with them. Since he’d woken up this morning with Shinji’s warm body against his, he’d been able to think of nothing else. It seemed only right that Shinji was a part of everything they did.
He forced his a
