“……Would a birthday omelette be too unorthodox? Because I think that it’d be pretty neat.”

              “I don’t mind unorthodox...” He wondered if he could text Hifumi to request tamagoyaki or if he was too far deep into whatever he was cooking for dinner. 

……

It took one bizarre sight to throw him off. A strangely familiar figure trudged that very path, almost walking right through him. Literally. That tousled red hair and tired eyes that gazed off into the distance… He swore it felt like he was looking in a mirror.

Was this some kind of a joke? What did it mean?

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he was speechless, confused… and mildly curious. No words could describe how it felt watching the other in his daily routine, questions forming in his head on how this could come to be. Doppo Kannonzaka was gone, after all. At least to the living world. And yet there he was, very much alive fumbling about from task to task. So what did this make him? His existence made no sense then.

Before he knew it, the sky got dark. Still the living Kannonzaka was at his desk in the empty office. It figures…

The ghostly entity stood right behind. It’s not like he’d be seen or heard anyway, right? The mountain of paperwork before him made him wish he could help in some way, lighten the load at least a little. Somehow, watching it all in third person was much worse. Sad and pathetic. Then again, what did he expect? That scene in particular, when his counterpart was being berated by a certain balding manager only to bow and apologize like he should. Like what’s expected of a corporate slave.

His mood soured, so much that a heavy sense of bitterness and gloom hang in the room.

“That old fool… He’s lucky no one has stuck one on his damn jaw yet…”

              Doppo didn’t know when it happened. Whether it was years into his working life, the first day on the job, or if he had been conditioned since he was a boy. But at some point, an OFF switch was flicked. Routine moved his body. He could be dead ( he felt lifeless most mornings ) and yet he was sure he’d still be up at 6:00AM and in the office by 8:00AM. The only signs of life in him were in the things that made him want to die. All the little things that went wrong like speed bumps on a long car ride. They jostled him. A reminder that despite the countless hours practicing mindfulness as instructed by sensei, the bad really did outweigh the good. Even in the midst of the good, the bad never dissipated. That sour feeling lingered. No matter how hard he tried to will himself, Doppo struggled to enjoy any freedom from the office because what was freedom if it was only temporary? And so often shaved away with overtime. Like now. 

              There was an ache in his back as he bowed ( and apologized ). His back was hurting more and more. ( Ergonomic, my ass. No one was meant to live their life in an office chair -- and yet he was. ) Something in the back of his mind itched with that knowledge but he couldn’t scratch. He knew how tempting it would be...and yet telling himself not to think those forbidden things was just a paradox...

                  This wasn’t a life worth living. Could he remember what it was like as a child? The joys and wonders of the world so vast and exciting. Yet here he was. How disappointed he’d be in himself. Did Hifumi feel that disappointment too? Damn. He didn’t tell him he was working overtime. He was most definitely disappointed in him at this moment. Everyone must feel that too looking at him----- Old fool?

                Doppo’s eyes rolled to the side until the strain pulled the rest of his head around to the voice and he saw the hollow reflection. The pathetic heat of embarrassment from his apology froze over as his sweat turned icy. Although when Doppo had imagined being faced with mortal horror, he assured himself that at that moment a scream would rip through him as a final attempt to save himself by at least alerting someone else ( he knew that in such a situation no one would likely bother, however ). Yet no such noise came. 

“You look like you could use a coffee.”

“Is that something you want to talk about?”

“Come on, sit down. It’s break time.”

“I needed that, thanks…”

“Here’s a blanket. You looked cold.”

“Thank god you’re back, I need to rant.”

“Is my sweater ever going to be returned?”

“Bad day? Emergency plans are in order.”

“Alright your ride has arrived, where to next?”

“I’m brushing your hair, it’s a mess.”

“You happened to go get lunch and ‘bought too much’ huh?”

“Your hugs are the best.”

“Hey. Hey. Heeeeeey. Come on. We’re gonna be late, get up.”

“I’m late, yes. You should be used to that by now.”

“How long as it been that we’ve known each other? Feels like ages.”

“There was something on your face, I had to get it off.”

“You’re sure people think we’re dating?”

“I think it’s hilarious people assume they’re dating just because they’re nice to each other.”

“I need to hang out with someone I like, can we pretend to be working for an hour?”

“Tea and coffee? What happened?”

“Here you go, one forgotten, left it at home in a rush, lost item!”

“I’m going for a walk, you want anything?”

“… sorry I took a nap on you.”

“I suppose I am now requisitioned to being a napping spot.”

 sentence starters of lyrics from songs by 100 gecs .  some lyrics slightly modified to be more usable .  change gendered language & add context to your needs . ♡

“You. Rest. Now.”

“You took five steps and need to sit down again?”

“I’m absolutely fine, I just need to sit down.”

“I just need to sit-what do you mean I’m already laying down?”

“Your eyes aren’t focusing. Just close them for ten minutes.”

“Write one sentence on this piece of paper, and then I’ll let you up.”

“I just need a breather, that’s all. Maybe ten. No fifteen.”

“We’re both so exhausted we can’t even argue about not being exhausted.”

“When I said I needed five more minutes I meant it more like hours.”

“… no… I’m tired… let me sleep… I don’t want to get up.”

“We need to get out of the heat, you’re starting to look sick.”

“You can’t hide those shaking hands from me. You need to stop.”

“I’m just a little cold, I’m okay, really. Let me sit with a blanket or something.”

“Moving…? No I’m good thanks.”

“Gravity has a hold on me of which I have not the strength to break.”

“Was… was that actually there? That wasn’t there was it?”

“I’ve had no energy for three days.”

“You worked yourself so hard that you’ve been sentenced to three days of bed rest.”

“Listen I can… I can get up. It’s fine.”

“If we’re both in this state, we both really screwed up somewhere huh?”

“I have energy for exactly one more person of favourable standing, and going the hell to bed. With or without that person, bed is happening.”

“You’ve struggled to move anything for the last hour.”

“This is what happens when you over exert yourself.”

“You were almost dead from pushing it too far!”