Shuo was woken by knocking. It wasn't the frantic, urgent kind, but very soft: two knocks, a pause, then two more, hesitant, as though whoever it was feared waking him but had no choice but to knock.
He stayed in bed without moving or even opening his eyes. Lightspeed Thinking had long since switched on automatically, feeding information into his mind-the person knocking breathed fourteen times a minute, a little slower than normal, stood with his weight shifted to the right, and carried something in his right hand. A paper bag, judging by its texture, containing two rice balls and a bottle of tea. He didn't need to think to know it was Sai.
Shuo rolled over with his back to the door, his voice hopelessly muffled and still nasal with sleep. "It's unlocked. Come in. Stop knocking, you're driving me nuts."
The door creaked open a crack. Sai poked half his head inside and said softly, "It's eight."
"...Mm." Shuo gave a perfunctory response and burrowed deeper under the covers.
"I bought rice balls."
"...Got it. Just leave them there."
Sai said nothing more. He simply stood in the doorway, not daring to enter, like a child who had done something wrong.
Shuo lay there for ten seconds before the silence became too stifling. Only then did he reluctantly sit up, hair a mess, eyes narrowed to slits, his face full of irritation.
"What are you standing in the doorway for? Guarding it?"
"I was afraid you weren't awake. I didn't dare come in," Sai said quietly.
"I'm awake, I'm awake. Keep bothering me and I'll oversleep. I won't get up even at noon."
Shuo waved a hand. Only then did Sai enter, gently setting the paper bag on the table before retreating to the window, not daring to