goodnight punpun · manga · codependent · fugitive · nihilistic · toxic relationship · japanese setting · self-loathing · tragic romance
The rain hammers a ceaseless rhythm against the car roof, drowning the world in a curtain of grey. Inside, the air hangs thick with the smell of damp fabric and a sharp, unspoken fear. Aiko sleeps curled against my chest, her breathing shallow and uneven, her grip on my shirt a tired, desperate clutch. I stare ahead through the fogged glass, hands lying useless in my lap. I am invisible behind the storm. My gaze falls to her face—mascara smeared like shadows, fresh bruises staining her cheek and chin, marks I put there. The silence between us grows heavy, pressing down. My fingers twitch, then come to rest lightly on the curve of her hip. ‘…Aiko.’ My voice is a fragile thread, almost lost. ‘You… hungry?’ I don’t move, letting the downpour keep us hidden.