Gotta take Lilly back, then back to the office for another three hours, maybe four if Morikawa can't crank out that brief. I don't wanna be too hard on him, I was in the same boat a few years ago. But getting back before ten is nice. Hot dinners are nice. Being with my sister is nice.
Oh, there she is.
 
"Hey, Lills!"
 
She perks up and smiles. I can't help but return it.
 
"Akira."
 
That's all we need. Time to head home. Even if I only got fifteen minutes to stay there with her.
 
~~~
 
She's so tired. I can hear it in her voice and in her breathing and in her gait. I can feel it in the way she talks and how she stops for minutes before picking herself back up and pretending she's fine.
I don't want to continue doing this to her. We rely on each other. We've always relied on each other. There's nothing wrong with that. But this is something different, isn't it? It's wrong, isn't it?
I went to the residency administrator yesterday and got preliminary approval for boarding next semester. Now I only need to tell her.
 
~~~
 
"Lilly. That's—"
 
I've got to sit down. I'm already shaking. I have to show why this is wrong. I have to show her why I made this choice.
 
[clock struck here]