calmer weather | kengo utahoshi and ryusei sakuta

[mathemagician]

For now, it seemed the worst of the storm had passed. Weeks had gone by since Gentarou's death and subsequent revival. Ryusei had betrayed the KRC and also been seemingly forgiven by all of them. Everything seemed fairly normal, aside from the dark cloud on the horizon that the club opted to ignore at times. While things were calm and happy now, the war was still ongoing. Horoscopes were still appearing and attacks were still happening. It would only get worse. In time, it would be too much to ignore.

This was part of the reason Kengo had ducked out of class an hour earlier to go to the infirmary. There were no longer the days of leaving class to go to the Rabbit Hatch and work on Switches in solitude. No more Switches needed to be made and Kengo had spent far too much time going over the older ones again and again until he was forced to stop. Repetition did nothing good for anyone when things were already at their best. This, today, was an honest health issue. While he knew it wasn't the quietest location in the school, it was a better alternative to finding a place on the floor in the Rabbit Hatch and having to deal with everyone when they showed up.

Kengo's case was on the floor next to his bed, his cell phone out of his pocket and on the table top, just in case anyone decided to call him using it. His jacket was off and draped over the side of the bed, his tie loosened just enough to not bother him while he slept.

Unfortunately, even with medicine the nurse had given him, the pain in his head wouldn't completely subside.

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[mathemagician]

Kengo reluctantly let Ryusei pull away from him completely, settling in against the pillows and putting his hands in his lap. He didn't feel quite as uncomfortable before. To be honest, Kengo felt pleasantly content for the first time in as long as he could remember. There were still small stresses pulling at him -- like what they were going to do and how he was going to ever explain this if word got out -- but he'd said he would try to worry about it later. Kengo fidgeted slightly, the small smile still on his face. It was something he couldn't get to go away if he tried, which made him hope that no one else from the club would see him anytime soon. Seeing an expression like that on him was bound to raise suspicion.

"If you can't get it fixed today, we'll figure something out tomorrow. You don't have to rush." It was the complete opposite of how Kengo had been earlier, with his high-strung attitude and his obsession with keeping everything in top running shape at all times. The change was really only because he knew that Ryusei would most likely continue being in his panicked mode for quite awhile. Another stress was something Ryusei didn't need.

"You can still call me if you need anything." Kengo knew Ryusei wouldn't call, but he kept the offer there for some hint of normalcy. Time away from each other to sort out their thoughts was probably the best option right now.

Putting his hands down on the bed, Kengo laid back down and pulled the sheet up, distracting himself with fixing his pillow. His head didn't hurt anymore, but resting wasn't a bad idea -- as long as he could fall asleep.

[asteroidbelt]

Was Ryusei being that obvious? It wasn't like Kengo to give anyone any slack. Ryusei took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I know I'm not—"

It couldn't be the reaction Kengo wanted from someone who instigated and reciprocated like that, but Kengo seemed to understand all the same. It discomfited Ryusei, made him feel like he had no control over the situation. He should have been able to, but hindsight wouldn't help him now.

"Kengo..." he started as he hesitated by the door on his way out. "Thank you."

[mathemagician]

When Ryusei spoke, Kengo had lifted his head back up to look at him, waiting for whatever the other boy was going to say. It was an apology, at least, but then Ryusei had stopped talking and cut himself off. Whatever Ryusei had wanted to say had been pushed back down and Kengo wasn't going to push him to talk. Ryusei wasn't the type to open up like that and it was obvious he needed some space to himself for awhile to recover from what had just happened.

The thanks made him smile a bit more, which he tried to force down, only to give an even more nervous smile in response. It was one of a very small handful of times Kengo had ever let himself look happy around someone in the club -- or anyone at all. "Ryusei..." Kengo tested the other's name again, this time fully intending to say it the way he did. "... don't worry about it."

He couldn't think of anything else he could have said, but Kengo hadn't wanted the other to leave without responding to him first.

[asteroidbelt]

Reassurance, from Kengo? Was Ryusei being that bad right now? It wasn't like Ryusei was worried—

Was Kengo worried? Was that it? Ryusei supposed he might be. He should say something reassuring in return, but— They'd be here all day. They were saving this conversation for later, when Ryusei was more able to talk.

Ryusei's fault, then. His fingers twitched in annoyance. "We'll talk... soon," he finally said, before slipping out the door.