I rested on the couch until Miho came back.
Knowing what she was up to almost led to a vicarious experience of both killing and being killed through my imagination that ran wild.
And I was on fire. My body was hot, and I longed.
I longed for Miho to return.
A little after 2:00 AM, the door clacked open and Miho came back home. Her footsteps told me that she was tired.
Although I saw her first as my eyes were well-adjusted to the darkness of the living room, I waited for her to call out to me first.
"Hey."
She did not disappoint.
"Hey. How was work?"
"It was rough. Just the way I like it."
The faint city light that shone into my windowless living room through the bedroom door I had left open revealed a wry smile the she made. Her face was half illuminated by pale light and half hidden in shadow, she looked more sculpture-like than usual.
But I knew those marble skins of hers were deceptive as I remembered the warmth of her body.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Would it be too late for you to cook me some ramen?"
"No problem at all. Why don't you go take a shower first."
"Thanks."
With that, she swiftly turned like an expert dancer and headed toward the bathroom.
I filled a brass pot with water and put it on the kitchen range. Pressing the knob while turning it fully counterclockwise made a tick-tick sound and the fire came on.
The sound of water running as Miho showered and the water bubbling in my brass pot blended well, and I placed the noodles into the pot as a whole. Some people like breaking the chunk into half but I always thought it was better without breaking it. It seemed Miho liked it that way too.
Before the ramen was fully cooked, Miho was already out, shaking her head like a wet dog. It splashed water onto the back of my bare neck and I realized she had taken a cold shower.
"Wear something. You might catch a cold."
I nagged like a mom. Miho did not protest and went to the living room where the big travel luggage she brought over earlier still stood where she left it. I looked over as the ramen was almost done and saw her take out some pajamas. Nothing fancy. Just loose-fitting black shorts that came down to her knees and an oversized white T-shirt that drooped a little and revealed the top of her right shoulder.
Tasty.
"Come and eat."
I was sitting on her seat, which made her sit on my usual seat across the table. She didn't seem to mind though.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"I had something already. I'm not hungry."
It was a lie.
"Well, thank you for the meal."
She really dug into the bowl of ramen and devoured it. Sucking in the noodles, making loud noises, gulping it down - her throat throbbing as the hot soup traveled down made me wonder. How would it feel to slit a human throat? And how would it feel to have your throat slit?
"So what did you do at work today?", I asked. Trying to sound as casual as possible. I didn't want to alarm my big cat while she was still eating.
Ignoring my question, she lifted the bowl with both hands and poured all the remaining food into her mouth, savoring the food until the last drop of its soup.
"Kya-, this is the best. You make really good ramen."
"Thanks."
"So, what were you saying?"
"I was asking what you did at work today."
Miho sat and looked at me as if I asked the stupidest question even a child wouldn't ask.
But what was the saying? There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
"Kill. Kill. Kill. What else?"
Miho gave me a stupid answer that made me giggle a little.
"Do you think it's funny that I killed a few people?"
"So a 'few' people today, huh?"
"Yeah, it was a big job."
"Do you get paid well for it?"
"Pretty decent amount, yes. But it's not a 9 to 5 job. The income varies a lot."
"I see. I need to find a new job as well."
"Did you quit because of what I did?"
"Yes, most people quit the company after that."
"You should have quit before that. Your boss was a horrible man. It's no good working for such a pig."
"I know. And you came and set me free."
"Free? Free from what?"
"Boredom."
Miho tilted her head and studied my face. This wasn't the first time but I still felt embarrassed.
"Are you OK with seeing people die?"
"No. I was OK when it happened but I threw up afterwards."
"Fear or disgust?"
"Both, I suppose."
"Do you think you can do what I do?"
"No."
"Right."
"Right."
Miho then picked up a chopstick and spun it around with her fingers.
"I once killed three men with a chopstick before."
"That is impressive indeed."
She then stopped spinning the chopstick, pointed one end toward me, and spoke.
"I could kill you right now if I wanted. Aren't you scared?"
"No."
"What makes you think I won't harm you? Why are you letting me stay here?"
"I don't know why I let you stay here. But I'm sure you won't kill me. Not for a while."
"What makes you so sure?"
"If you killed me," I grabbed the other end of the chopstick that Miho was holding, and slowly pulled it out of her grip as she did not resist, then pointed at her this time.
"Then who will cook you ramen at night?"
"Pfft", Miho laughed through her lips and spoke in her gentle husky voice, "I suppose I won't kill you for now then."
"But if you ever want to leave… then kill me before you go."
This girl makes me say the weirdest things.
And I like it.