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Things are difficult.
It's obvious, really. What an obvious truth of the world. Things are difficult. Anyone could tell you that. Even he could, back then. Back before he knew anything. Back when all he had was the little love in his heart and the small warm body in his arms.
Things are complicated.
That's something that Denji never knew. Back then, things were simple. Everything was simple. What was he going to eat? Was he going to eat anything at all? Back then, the best thing he had ever eaten was a slice of bread. Because that was all he could get. That was all he could afford. That was–
Denji stares up at the ceiling and wonders why that life sounds so much better than the one he's trapped in now.
"Nii-chan."
Denji ignores it. His eyelids are heavy, and he's tired. God, he's so tired. He never knows what to do when he feels this way. It happens more often than he would ever admit, but he doesn't know what to call it. He doesn't–
"Nii-chan, are you dead?"
"I'm not dead." He hisses between clenched teeth, and he sees those eyes – piercing and haunting – staring at him. Wide. Curious, almost. Maybe she was wondering what would end up happening if he actually was dead.
"Nii-chan." She looks down at him. One of the dogs is held in her arms. One of the smaller ones. Denji blinks. Nyanko is asleep by his head. Nyanko is always asleep by his head. He reaches a hand up to pat the fat bastard, and he gets a mildly irritated meow in return.
"Fuck's sake, what? "
"I'm hungry." She finally gets to the point, Denji groans out a sigh and drags himself to his feet. The animals all seem to take this as a queue that they're getting fed. Nyanko launches himself into the air and lands on Denji's head. The dogs crowd around his feed. Nayuta follows, just like one of them, and–
"What do you want to eat?" He asks, and Nayuta stares at him like he's asked something impossible.
"Food." She answers.
"Don't be a smart-ass." He sighs. "What kind of food?"
"Cereal."
Easy enough. Denji pours cereal into a bowl and hands it to her. The animals get fed later. Denji is too tired right now.
"Nii-chan." Nayuta stares at the bowl, and then back up at him. "What about you?"
He raises an eyebrow.
"What about me?"
"What are you eating?"
"I'm not." Denji never thought he would say something like that. He never thought–
"Are you hungry?"
"Not really." Denji frowns. "Just eat the damn food. We have to walk them soon."
Nayuta nods. She goes to sit at the table. Denji watches her, for a moment, before–
When was the last real meal he had, before–
He glances back to the fridge. To the rest of the kitchen. To the apartment. The last time he lived here, before–
God, he's so damn tired.
He takes a seat opposite Nayuta, and waits for her to finish up.