Dank Darkwick - infirmary

Leo’s face is looking a bit bruised now. Must have been from the fall off the wheel. Didn’t see a doctor nearby so Taiga smeared the first substance he could find onto Leo’s face. Looks fine.

Alan enters the infirmary. He feels troubled. This yawning gap in his heart is growing, and it’s starting to hurt. He clutches his chest, a grimace on his face. What’s going on? He’s never felt like this before. Maybe he’s sick. That must be it. He looks around, searching for Prof Nicholas. Maybe some anomalous medicine should help. Fuck. He doesn’t see Nicholas anywhere. What should he do? Alan’s starting to get desperate, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. He feels… he feels cold. He needs warmth. But not just any warmth. He needs to hold somebody. But not just anybody. That’s it. He’s going crazy. His leg starts bouncing. God not again. He has to keep walking. To keep searching for someone… for THE one

After Tomosei leaves, Zero promptly passes the fuck out.

Got my shit rocked by a Sho fangirl. He's got a nasty looking bruise on his left cheek

Hey I'm here to donate the organs of my clone~ Here's my paypal~" *She shows her phone to some random nurse.

How much to kill me?

Taking on the appearance of Kuchisake-onna Shiro pops up in front of Ren, bloody smile painted on her face. She raises a vial in front of him, cackling menacingly. Drinking one ampule of mercury should do! Open up wide!

Hand it over.

Shiro opens the ampule handing it to Ren Good choice my boy Her grin widens splitting her cheeks all the way to her ears. Sinew and bones are visible.

Seiya walks in and gently places Zero down on a nearby bed. He pulls the covers over his body and nudges his face. Still not awake, but this time there was lipstick smudge on his mouth. "..." Embarrassed, Seiya lightly wipes it away before standing up and walking away. He returns with a small note and some watermelon flavored hard candy that he stole from one of the tables. After writing down something relatively unimportant, he folds the paper and puts both the note and candy in Zero's pocket. "I'll be back, love you." He almost moves to give him another kiss, but since he was wearing transferrable lipstick he decides against it. He settles for awkwardly patting his head before talking to one of the nurses and leaving.

‍♂️

7:07 PM

Kentin walks up to Zero's unconscious body. "..." For some reason, he's compelled to leave one of his wrapped hard candies on his chest. He leaves after.

draws a hairy ballsack on Zero’s forehead.

‍♂️

8:13 AM

Leo looks at Zero's unconscious body and flicks rubberbands at his face from the open door way. After that he scampers away.

Maver's heard a lot since he arrived. He came sometime in the wake of a big fund-raiser and long after some type of chaos that happened just before it. He's met a fair few of his housemates by now. But today he sits by Kōji Yōgai's semi-permanent bed in the infirmary, frowning. That detective has been snooping around, even in Sinostra, so Maver sees when the guy comes and goes. He also has seen the worker cats fixing up Yōgai's room down the hall. Maver tends to come to the infirmary during the hours no one else is around. He just sits there and stares. Thankfully, someone had gently washed off the drawings on the ghoul's skin. The doctors and nurses maintained him for the 6 weeks he was under, doing their check ups, washes and changes, and keeping him generally alive. Yōgai looks... peaceful. Must be nice. Maver wonders about a lot of things whenever he visits. "What are you waiting for," Maver murmurs today. He has his chin propped up on his knee as he sits in a chair by Yōgai's bedside. "What's keeping you?" Eventually, like every visit, Maver gets up and leaves without a trace.

At first, it’s soft. Familiar warmth. Someone’s arms wrapped around him, a steady heartbeat against his cheek. He knows this embrace. He feels safe—like he belongs, like he’s wanted. He doesn’t have to second-guess it. It should be comforting, but there’s a nagging wrongness. When he pulls away, he expects to see Seiya. But the arms around him are empty. The warmth disappears. A shift—cold rain pattering against his skin. Chihiro is standing in front of him, small, fragile, staring at him with empty, distant eyes. He reaches out to him, to offer some kind of comfort, but when his hand makes contact— He shatters. Like glass, like porcelain, breaking into a thousand jagged pieces that scatter around his feet. He stumbles back, breath hitching, trying to grab at anything that’s left—but all he holds is dust, slipping through his trembling fingers. He hears Jo crying. A choked, gutted sound that makes his stomach twist. He whips around to find her sitting on his bed, like so many times before. Her hands are held out helplessly to him, her eyes red-rimmed, and when she looks up at him, her voice is raw: “You gave me the one thing I resigned myself to never having.”

11:30 AM

Zero opens his mouth, but Leo’s laughter cuts through the smoke. He’s there—grinning, smug, like he’s already won. Like he always wins. But it’s not Leo’s usual cocky smirk. There’s something ugly in it, something sharp and cruel. And beside him—Seiya. Slumped over, his broad frame still, eyes dimmed with something hurt and disappointed. Like he’s looking at Zero and seeing something he regrets. Leo’s voice is quiet, but it slithers into Zero’s ears like poison. “All your fault, Zero. Just like everything else.” Zero lunges, but the world tilts—

11:30 AM

And suddenly, he’s standing in front of a locked door. His hands are shaking. He doesn’t know what’s behind it, but he needs to open it. He tries the handle—locked. He pounds on it, his voice breaking—“Let me in!” The door creaks. Something is on the other side—he can feel it, can hear the faint sound of Tomo’s voice. But no matter how much he shouts, no matter how hard he tries to force his way in— He’s too late. The door vanishes. The ground collapses. He’s falling, falling, falling— And just before the impact, just before the pain hits— He wakes up.

Somewhere in the depths of Sinostra, a notification chimes on a terminal window. Akihiro's eyes flick to the corner.

要害 幸次 — 
SPO2 98% 
BPM  143
BP   142/100 mmHg

A few clicks and a keyboard strokes later, the alarm and vitals reading record are erased. If he is starting to come to, that inspector doesn't need to know quite yet. Hopefully that buys you some time, Yōgai.

Zero’s eyes flicker open. The infirmary is too bright. Too sterile. The soft beeping of a heart monitor, the faint scent of antiseptic—it’s all wrong. He shouldn’t be here. He should be in his room. He should be alone. His body protests even the smallest movement. His fingers twitch—stiff, aching, useless. Every nerve feels like it’s been pulled too tight, like he’s still caught in the aftershock of forcing reality to bend too many times. The scars on his torso throb with dull, phantom pain. His left eye socket burns, an ache that shouldn’t be there. He knows he’s awake. He hates that he’s awake. His throat is dry, cracked from disuse, but it doesn’t matter. He grips the sheets beneath his fingertips and pulls. Not the fabric—the odds. “Salfuro.” His voice is barely more than a whisper. But it’s enough. A gunshot echoes in his mind. The odds shift—tilted, rearranged, rewritten. Sleep. The warmth of unconsciousness crashes into him immediately, dragging him under, under, under— And Zero lets it take him.

Subaru heard about Zero's condition through the grapevine and arrives at the infirmary to check on him. He sits in a nearby stool beside his bed and puts a box of assorted teas on the nightstand text to him. Zero really is unconscious. Subaru doesn't know what caused him to be in this comatose state, but it wouldn't be difficult to find out. He mutters a soft apology before brushing back his bangs and placing his bare fingertips against Zero's forehead.

After Subaru collects some of Zero's memories, he pulls back and stays sitting down beside him for a while. A cordial formality when visiting anyone who's sick, as well as recovery time after using his stigma.

Zero Yōgai

oooOOOHHhhh you're not gonna see Seiya and Tomosei in maid outfits ooooOOooOOhhh

Wow holy shit I wish you had said that sooner. Suddenly everything is better now. Thanks 2d anomaly man

oooOOhhh nooo problemmmm

12:58 PM

chihiro walks in, flowers in hand. its not the one he had planned out since it was such short notice. instead, he opted for the same flowers he'd given zero when they first met. he brought them in a vase and places the vase next to the bed zero is in before falling over him and breaking down into sobs. his entire body shakes. hes not even here.

Zero stirs slightly.

Ken passes by again and gets another glimpse of the unconscious man. He wonders if he's dead. "..." He would probably stink by now, though if he were. He's kind of pretty. "..." Ken walks up to him and drops another invisibility candy on him. He's pretty, but he doesn't hold a candle to his darling Saki. Ken leaves as a partial fan of Zero. (edited)

She arrives without a blip on any system, save for cameras. The strange thing is, she doesn't seem to appear from the Galaxy Express. Her starting location is Frostheim. She goes to the infirmary with a bag on her elbow. The purchases were not made in her name either. Sitting by his bedside is a hooded figure wearing a cap. Sunglasses dangle from her fingers as she watches over Zero. "You'd probably prefer not to hear from me," Jo Waker says quietly. "I understand. When I first heard about it, I wasn't sure I wanted to see you either. I was halfway across fucking Japan already and... I've got people looking for me." Her opal stare under the hood is distant. Looking at Zero but also looking through him. "You're such an idiot," she mutters. Her hand tremors as she pulls a can of Red Bull out of her bag and a bar of chocolate, both of which she puts on his bedside next to some flowers. Then, she produces a small daisy, the kind you find scattered in the grass. Jo twirls it in her fingers as her gaze flits back to Zero's sleeping form. "It seems really stupid now. Telling you the shit I did when I already knew you were overwhelmed. We've both got secrets. I never should have judged. Even if it hurt what you..." Her expression twists, caught between disgust and pain. "I was jealous, okay? The whole reason I ever fucked up my life is 'cause I'm weak when it comes to envy. It's my undoing. Looks like I let it fuck things up again. And I'm sorry." She stands, stuffing her sunglasses in a pocket, daisy in her other hand. Jo hovers over Zero's body, face cast in shadow. She seems to be struggling with something physical, the way she subtly shakes as she leans down and presses a kiss to his cheek. Jo draws away, very fast, like it burns, holding a hand over her mouth and taking slow, steadying breaths. Then she sighs, hand dropping away.

4:52 PM

"Biardecaa," Jo whispers, and the daisy in her fingers turns to diamond. She sets it on top of the chocolate before stuffing her hands securely in her pockets and beginning the cool down count. She didn't want to bump into anyone else while like this. Jo didn't need another reason for that detective to snoop.

Zero stirs slightly, fingers twitching as though he had been holding something and was fumbling to grasp it.

Jo was still counting, whispering the numbers under her breath, when she saw Zero's fingers twitch. She freezes and loses count. "Zero? Kōji?" She steels herself. Jo can't forget herself. She's in the middle of Darkwick, barely disguised, and there's a detective after her. And she just used her stigma. Jo shuffles back a couple steps, bumping into the chair by the bed. It shrieks as it drags shortly across the floor. She resumes her count, hyperaware of everything around her. "Sixty... fifty-nine... fifty-eight..."

Zero wakes slowly. It’s not like before—no violent lurch, no crashing return to consciousness that shatters whatever fragile peace he had managed to steal. This time, it’s gradual. The heaviness in his limbs fades just enough to remind him that he still exists, still breathes, still takes up space in a world that keeps moving with or without him. He hates it. His body aches, but it’s a dull ache now, not the sharp, searing pain from before. Someone must have given him something. His fingers still won’t move right, stiff and useless, but they respond—barely. The weight in his chest hasn’t lifted. If anything, it’s worse. Because he’s still here. His right eye drifts, unfocused, tracing the edges of the room. His left eye socket pulses with that same phantom pain, like it knows he shouldn’t be awake yet. Like it knows he forced his way back here when he wasn’t supposed to. His lips are dry. He swallows, winces. His throat feels like sandpaper, raw from disuse. His breath shudders on the exhale. He should sleep again. He should pull the trigger one more time, let the odds take him under, let everything fade until the weight in his chest doesn’t feel like it’s crushing him. But he hesitates. Because for the first time, he realizes— He’s not alone.

His breath catches, his fingers tightening against the sheets instinctively, despite the stiffness, despite the lingering ache in his muscles. His mind is still foggy, but there’s no mistaking it—someone is here. Jo. Zero swallows, his throat still burning. Guilt twists in his gut. She shouldn’t be here. He doesn’t want her to see him like this. Doesn’t want her to waste her time sitting around, waiting for him to wake up when she has her own pain to deal with. Because of him. His fault. It’s always his fault. His breath shakes as he exhales. He wants to say something, anything, but his voice is shot, and even if it weren’t—what would he even say? That he’s sorry? That she deserves better? That he’s not worth this? He should tell her to go. Tell her to stop wasting her time on him. But he doesn’t. Instead, he lets out a slow, shuddering breath— And closes his eyes again.

It's almost like a prayer, the way she counts, hushed as she watches a gradual change come over Zero. Thirty... twenty-nine... twenty-eight... His eye opens and when it drifts over to her, Jo drops into the chair like she's lost all ability to stand up. She's still counting, face twisted in fear. In a way, she knows he can't move, is too weak to right now, but Jo keeps seeing in her imagination the slow, painful transformation of Zero's flesh into diamond. He looks like he's in pain still. Jo wants to smooth away the lines in his face with her fingers. She wants to pour him a glass of water, maybe call one of the nurses over, anything. But she has to keep counting. Twenty... nineteen... eighteen... "Kōji—" Jo cuts herself off with a shaky exhale when he just closes his eye again. Like he doesn't want to see her. She knew he wouldn't. Who'd want to see her after everything that had happened? She doesn't even realise they were mirroring each other right now with their breaths, their thoughts, how they blamed themselves. Twelve... eleven... ten... "Nine... eight... seven... six... five..." she whispers. "Four. Three. Two. One." Jo lunges for the flowers Chi left and grasps them, holding her breath as she waits for physical proof. The flowers remain as they are. No diamonds. A silent, single tear slides down her cheek and she hastily brushes it away as she sits down again, head in her hands. "I'm sorry," Jo eventually says, still not looking at Zero. "You weren't supposed to... see me here. I've visited before but... God, I'm so sorry." She reaches for the water and pours him a glass, getting up and forcing herself to sit on the very edge of his bed. "Please, drink. They've been keeping you stable, but you've gotta be parched. Just do this and I'll go. I'll leave again. I just want you to get better. And that means taking care of yourself, you understand?"

He rolls his head over and looks at her. He doesn't move to accept the water. He opens his mouth and tries his best to find the words. "How long." He means it as a question, but it's all he can manage in a flat quiet tone. (edited)

Jo's lips twitch and she takes a deep breath. She stubbornly keeps holding the glass out, though she doesn't try to force him to drink. "Six weeks and two days. I wasn't... here when it happened. I left that same day."

He continues to ignore the glass. "Where."

"Does it matter?" Jo asks miserably. "Please, Kōji, just have a sip at least. I just needed to get away for a while. I'm still supposed to be away, I just... wanted to see you. Check on you."

He closes his eye again, and turns his head away from her. "Then go."

‍♂️

Jo's eyes fill with tears almost instantly at the words. She draws back and sets the glass down on the bedside table a little too hard. A small piece of it chips at the bottom. "No. I don't trust you not to hurt yourself again like the dumbass that you are. You're finally awake. After six fucking weeks. When I first heard the news, I thought you died, you bast—" The rest of the word is choked from her as Jo dissolves into sobs. Too late, she hears someone else's approach. Seiya.

He says nothing. What is there to say? He can't make her leave and he can't leave himself. So he does nothing.

Jo's teary gaze is furtive, going from the familiar shadow at the doors and Zero right in front of her. Her time's up. She's going to get caught. She swallows thickly, trying to calm down her hiccupping sobs. "I'm coming back, okay? It wasn't just about you, there's people after me because I didn't stick an agreement and they're not forgiving. I've been in hiding. I—" Seiya's right there, right outside. Jo makes an effort to be even quieter. "Don't you dare lose yourself again, Kōji Yōgai. You're too loved to be gone." She brushes his lengthened hair back and gently gives a trembling kiss to his eyepatch. "I love you too much for you to go. Please. Listen to Seiya. Listen to the doctors and nurses. Don't hurt yourself again or I'm killing you myself." Jo withdraws, fixing her cap and sliding on her sunglasses. Her hood covers her hair where it seems tucked away. She fights off a wave of nausea and turns away, going toward the doors to let Seiya in.

He sighs. He still doesn't look at her. "Be safe Jo. Take care of yourself."

Jo pauses near the doors when she hears those words. She glances back over her shoulder. He's still not looking at her and it hurts. She doesn't respond. Just opens the door.

Seiya watched from outside the door as Jo cried next to Zero. As much as he wanted to run in and give him a hug and cry about how he thought he was dead, but he felt like he shouldn't interrupt. From where he stood, he could somewhat see the side of Jo's face. He didn't miss how Jo had leaned in to kiss Zero's eyepatch. For some reason it made his heart sink, even though Saki would usually kiss his cheeks or eyelids casually all the time, this felt different. He stood still when Jo got up to open the door, it was definitely her. Who else would have that scar on the corner of their mouth? "..Jo? What- Where have you been..?" He didn't know if he should hold onto her, ask all the questions he's been wanting to ask for weeks, interrogate her and find out what happened, or run to Zero. He was finally awake. After six fucking weeks, what if he decides to pass out again? "..why..?"

Jo didn't expect to get recognised immediately. She really should have kept on the goofy facemask she wore when she was out and about in Tokyo and elsewhere the last few weeks. She knew the scar was a problem. "Seiya," she says, and his name is filled with something like relief, fear, and resignment. Jo glances both ways outside the infirmary before taking hold of Seiya and hauling him inside, shutting the door behind him. "I don't have a lot of time, I need to get going. When the staff realise Zero's awake, it's only a matter of time before the detective comes snooping too." She hesitates. Jo wants to hug Seiya. She really does. But she feels she doesn't deserve that. I've been a horrible friend, she thinks. "I'm in hiding. For a lot of reasons. I'm sorry for leaving without a proper goodbye."

Seiya was hurt to say the least, and his face didn't hide it. He looked down at Zero, moving over to sit next to him and hold his hand. After blinking at him, he turned to Jo and stared at the ground. "...you didn't even tell me you were leaving. You told Saki you were leaving. You said-" 'You said you had to postpone getting pizza with me and to ask Zero what happened.You said you were sorry for everything. What is everything? Sorry for what? What are you not telling me?? Why did you tell Saki you were leaving and not me?? Do you think I'm stupid??' "What.. are you guys not telling me?"

He holds Seiya's hand as tight as he can manage and turns his head to look at him. yhe beautiful man that deserved so much better. The table full of items catches his attention. A random wrapped hard candy. A couple loose rubber bands. A box of assorted teas. A vase of flowers. A Red Bull, chocolate, more flowers. A solid diamond daisy. A small... scrapbook? A manila file folder. Much like the one he had received from Tomo once. And, tucked behind the rest, nearly lost beneath everything new, sat the first thing left behind. A single watermelon hard candy. With a note he recognizes as Seiya's script. He doesn’t touch any of it—not yet. Instead, he exhales, slow and even, as if he might exhale something heavier with it. It was… stupid, in a way. All of it.

7:56 PM

Small little things. Candy, rubber bands, a dumb fancy daisy, flowers that would wilt if he didn’t take care of them. There was no reason for anyone to do this. No logical sense. And yet— They did. They had come. They had left things behind. For him. The realization settles in his chest, heavy, unfamiliar. It doesn’t fix anything, doesn’t erase the scars—physical or otherwise. It doesn’t change the fact that his relationship with Seiya is crumbling, that he failed Chihiro, that he let Jo suffer, that Leo is still an asshole, that Tomo blocked him, that he doesn’t even know what the hell he’s feeling about Tomo anymore. It doesn’t change any of that. But it does mean something. He takes a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs, shift his ribs, remind him that he’s still here. That he’s breathing. That he’s alive. And maybe—just maybe—it was time to stop running.

7:56 PM

"Go ahead Jo. Tell him. Or I will. Either way. He should know."

Jo's spent so long running. From home. From contracts. Her country. All her new friends. She shifts in place where she stands, glancing anxiously out the door, but she takes her sunglasses off. It felt disrespectful to try telling the truth while covering her eyes. "I was in a hurry when I left. Didn't exactly put heaps of thought into my messages," Jo says with a sigh. "I wasn't totally actually sure if I'd come back. And if I did, when. And who'd want to see me. I didn't even know what happened to Zero, but I thought someone who wasn't me should check on him. We... had a bit of an argument." That was putting the situation lightly. "There's... I think there's some parts I'm now not allowed to say. But I'll tell you everything I can." Her gaze shifts to Zero, as if looking for confirmation at the allusion of Tomo's secret identities, but she then quickly looks away and back to Seiya again. "I went behind Zero's back, asking Kamiyama to find out what he was doing whenever he came by Frostheim but wasn't seeing me. As far as I knew, he didn't have anybody else to see. I worried. Worried more than was necessary, honestly. Kamiyama managed to... to blackmail me into telling Zero what I'd asked him for by saying he'd reveal everything I said himself. And there was something... something I really didn't want him to tell Zero, beside the spying." Jo's speaking on autopilot, the words just spilling as she tries to remain detached. "I'm... I told Zero I was in love with him. Is about the long and short of it. But I never wanted to get in the way of you two. I also didn't want anyone else in the way of you two though, which is why I was motivated to do what I did. Believe me, if I didn't think Kamiyama would tell Zero instead if I didn't do what he asked, I would never had said anything. Zero had an idea about how to fix the situation." Please don't hate me, Seiya. (edited)

8:23 PM

"Zero suggested he changed the probability I remember his existence. So I'd just see him as anybody else and forget my feelings too. I gave him a kiss goodbye, since I figured I'd forget about it anyway. But..." Jo falters now, glancing at Zero. I don't want to share this part. Why did you do it? "It gave him a new idea about what odds to alter instead. Zero kissed me and used his stigma to make it so I'd be... disappointed. Disgusted. And it worked." She won't mention that she had tried kissing him again to test that. It didn't matter at this point, surely. All this was bad enough. "I took care of him while he recovered from using his stigma. You were there when I ran out. He'd tried hugging me and we both seemed to realise just how much he altered beyond the kiss. Then... we had a couple difficult arguments. I found out something that I didn't want to forgive or understand at the time. I ran away." Jo looks to Zero, practically pleading for him to take over.

He's not running away. He's done running away. He reaches for the glass of water on the table and drains it before speaking. "I had been going to Frostheim to see Kamiyama. I got involved with his side of the bodyswap and we ended up in a weird half-friendship kind of thing." He takes a deep breath. "This isn't strictly related to Jo but in the interest of giving you the full picture... After I told you about my pre-Darkwick, um. Activities. And given that it didn't go super great... I started dooming our relationship in my head. And things with Jo were rocky at best. I started reaching out to Kamiyama to fill the time. While I avoided you both. For a while I convinced myself it was for him. Because he seemed like a guy that could use a friend. But somewhere along the line I... I don't know. I started questioning things. And Jo kind of called me on it. The night everything went down I—" His voice breaks. He takes another breath. "The night it all went down I had felt like I'd well and truly pushed everyone away. And then I texted Jo or maybe she texted me? I can't fucking remember. But I was done. I couldn't stand the thoughts in my own head anymore." He had started to digress beyond what Seiya had initially asked but at this point everything was so finely interconnected it was impossible to answer the question without spelling everything out.

"...You guys are fucking stupid." Seiya was shaking at this point. He yanked his hand away from Zero when he stood up and left the room. The door slammed loudly behind him. Seiya decided to lock himself in a nearby bathroom stall before someone saw him leaving. He leaned against the door, his face was blank as he stared at the ground. Suddenly the ground began to look blurry. When he blinked, it was clear again, but something fell from his eyes. He wiped his face with his hands as he repeated what they had said to him in his head. Zero kissed Jo. Jo still likes him. Zero can't communicate to save his fucking life so he avoids Seiya and catches feelings for someone else. That person happening to be fucking Kamiyama out of all people. Jo runs away. Zero decides to lock himself away so he can avoid everyone. Stupid. It's so fucking stupid. Why the hell is it so hard for people to just talk?? Why do they always run away from the issue?? Half of this bullshit wouldn't have even happened if they had just fucking- He wants to dig his nails into his skull. This was so fucking frustrating. Everything was just out of his control. He hasn't done anything wrong, why does everything keep getting screwed over and why can't he stop it?? With trembling fingers, he pulls out his phone. He didn't really want to do this. At the very least, Leo's dumbass will-they-break-up bet was over. Breaking up over text wasn't something he wanted to do. Especially after Zero just woke up from a fucking coma.... not that matters when the coma was self induced. ~~Fuck you.~~ Tears fall on his screen. We're breaking up. (edited)

9:34 PM

`It's your fault by the way. I can't fucking deal with your shit anymore. All I've been was patient and understanding but you never wanted me to understand. You never wanted to tell me shit. You always want to run away until shit builds up and cry and wallow in self pity. Why can't you just fucking trust me? How much did you expect me to do? How long didyou expect me to wait for you to stop being such a fucking dumbass- Despite going through the efforts or typing and deleting and correcting his typos and grammar, he deleted everything. ~~Fuck you.`~~ (edited)

Jo turned to watch Seiya go, her hand outstretched as if to catch his sleeve, but she never touched him. She flinches at the door slamming. She takes a step toward the door to go after him before she looks back at Zero. Zero, all alone in his bed, only just woken up from a coma that lasted an entire month and a half. Zero who, somehow, she loved despite it all. He looks so... small now. This was the same man who could overpower her the second she had her guard down. Granted, he'd been inactive for a long time while he was out. Hesitantly, Jo sits down on the end of his bed, keeping her gaze on the floor and looking ashamed. "He probably needs space more than anything right now," she says. She's surprised by how smoothly it came out. She feels like someone's stomped on her heart inside. (edited)

He laughs bitterly. "Yeah. I think that space is called 'Breaking up.' "

Jo wraps her arms around herself, and glances up at the door. She's really stayed longer than she should. But it doesn't feel right to leave. "I think the whole friend group might be. I'm sorry." Jo hugs herself tighter, as if trying to squeeze the pain away. "...it was never my place to judge you for who you did or didn't like. I was your best friend, not your minder. I'm sorry for that too. I should have just... left it alone. You would have come to me if you needed me about any of this."

"I don't think I would have. I probably would have kept lying to you and myself about it." He sighs. What a fucking mess. But at least he doesn't have to hide anymore. "I've been a real asshole to everyone the way I've been running away from it all. I'm tired of that though." There's still something else he's running from though. But he doesn't know how to change directions. "Don't apologize. If I was you I would have done a lot of the same. Except maybe fall in love with myself. Gross." He tries to give her a smile but it dies fast.

Jo finally looks at Zero as he tells her not to apologise. She doesn't look very impressed by the joke. "Yeah, laugh it up. Who could ever fall for the guy who gave them all the things nobody else ever had? Totally makes zero fucking sense." Jo looks away again, at the floor, but there's a wry smile tugging at the edge of her mouth. Silly puns. She sighs. "...I think Seiya thinks I'm still in love with you."

He gives her a quizzical look, as if to say, you're fucking joking, right? "Look I can't read your mind but you did slip a little back there. Nearly sounded like you said 'I'm in love with Zero.' before amending to 'I told Zero I was in love with him.' Just... putting it out there."

Jo gives a faintly amused snort, catching Zero's expression. "Look who's suddenly decided to have an ego. Jo Waker? In love with you?" she teases. Jo sobers after a moment though. "Yeah. She is. But I don't think that matters. It's not your fault you don't like women. And I'm semi on the run right now anyway, so... Seiya doesn't have to worry about me anymore."

He coughs. And then sputters out a laugh. "You know it kind of is my fault that I don't like women, if I think about it. But that's neither here nor there." He turns thoughtful. "On the run? Not even gonna ask. Do you need help disappearing?" He catches himself realizing how threatening that sounds. "I mean like I have a contact that might be able to help with some stuff not like. Um..." He's trying to explain without explaining.

Jo raises an eyebrow at whatever that explanation was. Who even blames themselves for that sort of thing? It didn't make sense. She won't push it though. It's not a good day to be looking for answers to things she doesn't really want to hear. Her eyes get a little misty at the question over whether she needs help disappearing. Jo hastily turns away and dabs at the corners of her eyes. Zero sounds like he used to. Jo hadn't realised just how much she missed that side of him until now. "Yeah, no, I got what you said," she replies, still resolutely looking elsewhere until the emotion subsides. "Uh, but actually, I've got it handled. If some detective comes asking questions though, don't tell him I came to see you at all. I've been coming and going using someone else's shit to cover my tracks. A girl's gotta know how to slip away."

"Well alright then. If you've got it handled, I'll leave you do it." he makes a face as he processes the next statement. "God I fucking hate detectives. Don't worry. I've done the rounds with PIs more than once."

"This guy's a real funny piece of work. I actually know him from home," Jo explains. "We have... an agreement. Well, him, me, and the rest of my family. Sorta. But when I ditched Darkwick, I kinda violated part of it and now he's been sent after me." Jo reaches under her hood to comb a worried hand through her hair. Oddly, she's still kept it hidden this whole time. Jo turns and rests her back against the foot of the bed, staring Zero down. "What will you do while I'm gone? And I'm serious, Kōji. The last time I left... when I heard what happened, I thought I'd next see you in an open casket."

"Sounds like shit you don't need. But I'm sure you can handle it. There's not much of anything you can't." He reaches over and grabs the folder of homework Tomosei had left him. He opens it up and thumbs through the pages. God, it's like he can almost hear that prick in the back of his mind. -# "Oh it was really no trouble, mon amour, you were indisposed and it was simply the bare minimum of what I could—" Ugh. He was gonna make himself sick thinking about it. Something about the imagined line wasn't right though... but he couldn't put his finger on it. He looks at Jo. Really looks at her. For the first time since he'd woken up. She looked rough. But she was still Jo. "I think I'll probably talk to Tomo. If he'll let me. Last time I interacted with him I DDOSed him and pissed him off so we'll see if he's over it yet. I don't think I'm ready to admit my feelings yet. I'm gonna let the Seiya stuff settle first." He sighs. What a fucking mess. "And you? What are you gonna do?"

'There's not much of anything you can't.' It produces a weak smile. It's small and thin, but it's there. At the mention of Tomo though, her expression darkens before promptly going blank. She tugs down the tip of her cap as her gaze lowers to the pristine blankets of Zero's bed. Jo has unfinished business with Tomo. It was difficult to search for his rooms though because she had quickly discovered on her return that Tomosei's was not always the place to find the guy. And, of course, she had to do all this without getting caught or Tomo himself getting wind of her. Today's disaster was unlikely to help in her favour. "Probably wise," she replies to Zero. "It's never good to step into something new when old wounds are fresh. Might even upset Seiya more, at the idea someone can move on from him so fast. Even if he's... y'know, really mad at us right now. I think it's 'cause he's hurt." Jo heaves a sigh. "As for me? I'm actually continuing my studies. Not quite here though. And using different identities to avoid Detective Psycho's notice. And some other people who now might want to see me locked up." She's thinking of Saki. "I'll still come and visit. I can promise you won't be alone this time."

"No yeah.... I'm. Gonna try and slow down a bit. This year has been a bit crazy for me." Zero swallows. "I think I need some space, actually. I have a lot of shit I need to figure out and some of that includes how you and I move forward. I don't think I'm doing you any favors when we spend time together. But if you need something from me, shoot me a message, ok?"

Jo keeps herself very, very still as she listens. It's important she reacts right. Reacts less like Jo for once. Less hurt. Less angry. Jo takes a deep breath, counting mentally, before she exhales quietly, steadily. "Yeah. You make a good point, actually. Just... don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, okay? I'll actually kill you, I mean it. The same applies to you, if you need something, you better message." She slips off the bed and stands up, hands stuffed in her pockets. "I'll go get a nurse's attention or something, you've got quite the recovery ahead of you. In the meantime..." Jo shrugs. "I should go."

He doesn't stop her. He's not going to try to anymore. Any time he'd asked her to stay it had only hurt her more. So he lets her leave, knowing he'll never be the first one to message again. "Be smart. Good luck Jo." There's something intentional about his words. But it's vague enough to seem innocuous. He's still tired. All that sleep and still he's exhausted. He closes his eyes and waits for the dreams to come.

Jo had turned to the door when Zero wished her good luck. She looks over her shoulder at him again, a curious sparkle in her eye despite the otherwise rather sombre parting. "Thank you, darlin'." With that, Jo leaves, a little lighter than she had been when she arrived.

The detective's approached is pronounced in the clip of his step down the hall to the infirmary before he's seen in the doorway. When he smiles in greeting, it has that uneasy quality of being just a little too wide. "Kōji Yōgai, huh? The man in the coma that everybody's been talking about."

He makes a show of looking left and right. "Well I don't see any other unlucky bastards wasting away in here that just came to." His tone is bone dry. He does not want to talk to this asshole.

"You're a funny one, sport. I think we're going to get on great. If I may?" Detective Hale takes the seat at Zero's bedside. Thankfully, he does not light up a cigar in the infirmary. As a replacement, he's got a cherry red lollipop in his mouth. "I checked with your doc, and he said you're fit for talking, so... how are you, huh? You got a good set of gifts there. Looks like you're a popular guy."

He barks out a laugh. "Popular? Yeah I suppose in a manner of speaking it would look that way."

The detective seems a little put out by the question dodge, despite it being only smalltalk. He clears his throat and sits up a little straighter. "Say, I heard you had some visitors earlier. Friends?"

"Yeah? My boyfriend visited me. Er. Ex-boyfriend. It's still kind of fresh, and I'm still kind of emotional about it." He throws a little wobble into his voice for good measure. (edited)

"No doubt you are." Detective Hale rubs his chin thoughtfully before taking off his fedora, revealing a head of dark curls and grey eyes set into a rather handsome face. In fact, some of his facial features look sort of familiar. "What do you know about Jo Waker?"

Zero has had years to perfect his poker face when talking to investigative assholes like this guy. Something about killing powerful people for money gets you on some lists, that's for sure. So if he's alarmed or surprised or anything at hearing Jo's name, he doesn't show it. "Frostheim, right? Or was it Vagastrom? I heard about her beating up a guy so I can't really remember. She dresses real smart though, so probably Frostheim. Man she has the hots for my captain Romeo. Always coming around Sinostra to see him."

Detective Hale doesn't look very impressed. He gets up from his seat and goes over to the infirmary door... and locks it. Then he hangs his coat, covering the window. "All right. I think we can both cut the crap." The detective turns around to face Zero again, pulling out a revolver pistol and thumbing back the hammer. "Where the fuck is she hiding? I know Waker visited you today and times before. But you woke up today. Better give me a good answer unless you want to sleep again." Hale gestures with the gun. "You know her better than everyone here as far as I can tell from my investigation. Ex best friends. You're collecting a lot of exes, aren't you? But I think you're the only one who'd have a clue where she'd go. And I have reason to believe she's on campus. So, where?"

He's no stranger to intimidation tactics. He'd usually been on the receiving end just like this. Didn't have to use them much himself though. Zero was usually the guy they called when intimidation had failed. The appearance of the gun almost breaks his poker face. Almost. He nearly broke into a shit eating grin. Zero had been shot at. Many. Many. Many times. And not one shot had ever landed. He chalked it up to a passive benefit of his stigma. His own radius of bad luck pulling everyone else into orbit. It was one of the few things he liked about his stigma. But this guy was starting to get on his nerves. So he decides to press him and see how he works under pressure. "You know I put myself in that coma, right?" Zero leans over, grabs the barrel of the gun and presses the opening to his chest. "Go ahead. Finish what I couldn't."

There's a flash of something in the detective's eyes, surprise, followed by a familiar violent delight. Like he's enjoying this nonetheless. "All right. I can see you're made of tougher steel." Detective Hale leans into his gun, digging it further into Zero's chest where it's held. "Riddle me this: some girl shows up out of the blue, she assaults your ex, she follows you everywhere like a damn trained puppy, obsessed with you to the point of delusion, she contributes to the end of your relationship with your man..." The detective is careful not to let his finger linger too close to the trigger right now. He wants Zero alive. "...and you want to fucking, what, defend her? Hide her? Waker's not meant for this life. She's supposed to be under lock and key, if not in a prison then with her folks. She's a dead weight to you. Is all this really worth it? You don't owe that bitch a damn thing." (edited)

Zero laughs. Man this guy is laying it on thick.* "Ok let's play in your space for a bit. Let's say you're right, she came in my life like a tornado and then leaves. You say I don't owe her anything." *He gives Hale a pointed look. "You come in, on the heels of what has been a very awful 2 months. Immediately threaten me and act like you know anything at all about what I'm feeling. Why would I owe you any more than what I owe her?"

H: This guy is a stereotype. Of course he lays it on thick. You're meant to feel like you're in a noir novel with old timey gangsters. "Because I'm on the right side of the law. You'd like to stay on that side too, wouldn't you, Yōgai? I can't find any criminal records, but you have assisted Waker in evading capture. No doubt you've been an accessory to some of her crimes too." The detective tilts his head. "Is this really how you want to go down? Defending a psycho criminal? Potentially getting in trouble for that?" (edited)

Zero's gaze visibly flicks from Hale's face down to the gun pressed to his chest and then back up to Hale again. "Mhmm, right side of the law indeed." He keeps himself from grinning. Of course Hale wouldn't have found any criminal records on Zero. He'd made plenty of enemies but he'd never been caught and he certainly wasn't about to break that streak now. "Look, Dick—can I call you Dick? You look like a dick." he sighs "Look, Dick, do you honestly think I'm in a position to have helped her evade capture? C'mon, use that analytical brain of yours. I can't even stand. What the fuck would I do to assist her?"

Detective Hale's eye twitches. That's new. "And how'd you guess my first name is Richard, huh? You talk to that other skittish bastard from your house yet? Beanie boy Maver." The detective withdraws, though he keeps the gun trained on Zero. "You let Waker get away is what you did. You're obviously not stupid, so you know she's a danger to society, and you just let her roam free after she came to visit you." He smiles, comically wide and a little sadistic. "And you two sounded pretty cosy when she kissed your face, not once but twice. Even if you couldn't have grabbed her, the pathetic bitch would have listened to you if you asked her to stay."

"Lucky guess. And I have no fucking clue who you're talking about." If the guy had been getting on his nerves before, now he was deliberately grinding on them. Zero decides to make a gamble. He truly doesn't know if he can stand. But if he's gonna try something, it needs to be a calculated risk. He continues stringing Hale along as he subtly flexes his muscle to assess tone and condition. "Oh? Why do you keep asking for information you already have? Seems like a waste of time to me. I bet this whole investigation is a farce and you're just some perv that wants to bug every room just so he can hear some students going at it. Man that's pathetic." His condition is... not great. But it'll do in a pinch. Zero's been worse before. He waits for the right moment with Hale.

Detective Hale's eye twitches again and he steps closer to the bed. "Why you little shit."

That's it. There's his opening. All at once he snaps into motion. The sheets tangle around his legs as he lunges forward, his body screaming in protest but his movements sure, fast, brutal. Zero is on Hale, seizing his wrist and twisting. Hale gives him a good struggle. Zero's belligerency earns him a painful punch to the ribs. Nevertheless he persists, taking the blows, focused on one thing, and then— The gun is in Zero’s hands. After a scuffle and near miss of a knee to the groin later, so is the detective. Zero slams him to the ground, using his weight, his strength, his sheer fucking fury. One knee crushes into Hale's back, pinning him down against the cold floor. His hands don’t shake as he presses the muzzle of the gun against the base of the detective’s skull. Zero leans down, voice clearly pained, but steady. Dangerous. His voice is like ice, like steel, like a fucking promise. “I have never missed a shot in my life.” Zero presses the gun harder against his skull, fingers curling against the trigger in a way that’s not even a threat. “And this one?” Zero tilts his head, voice lowering to something razor-sharp. “This one would be so fucking easy.” “Now talk.” His breath fans against the detective’s ear. “Why the fuck do you look like Jo?”

The slimy bastard might have been in a coma for just shy of two months, but he's still a ghoul. That quickly becomes apparent to the very human detective when he's finally pinned down. The floor hurts. So does the knee in his back. Detective Hale writhes under Zero's hold, stilling only when the gun pressed coolly against the back of his head. A straight shot up and through. But this is curious. Zero didn't talk like half the blubbering idiots Hale had to deal with in his line of work. No... Zero talked like the other half. The professionals. Hale hisses when the gun is jammed harder against the soft skin at the base of his skull. His grey eyes flit to the side at Zero's whisper. He swallows. "Joséphine Waker is my cousin. Her direct family hires me for their personal business for that reason," he explains, and he's dropped the fake American accent in favour for something closer to Jo's.

Zero makes a noise somewhere in between a scoff and a growl. "That's disgusting. Is there a single goddamn person in her family that's not a complete asshole? Holy shit." He gets up off Hale. He wants to look this guy in the eyes. It's harder to lie that way. "Get up." He keeps the gun trained on Hale and motions with a nod to the infirmary bed parallel to his. "Sit."

The detective, slowly, gets up and has his hands in the air for good measure. He didn't particularly feel like dying today, but nor can he kill this guy either. His hands are tied, proverbially speaking. Despite the glitter of rage in his eyes that seems to run in the family, Hale goes and sits on the bed indicated. "Happy now?"

"Hardly." He's staring daggers at Hale. There's something about him that he can't put his finger on. He's seen him before... Ah. It clicks. "How does someone go from hugging their cousin on a beach to treating that same cousin like a criminal?"

Several expressions pass over the detective's face in a matter of seconds. Surprise at the recognition, then a moment of soft vulnerability as if he's remembering something, before his face twists and hardens into anger. "My dear cousin has changed a bit since then. We all have. Little Stef died and Jo was never the same again. She used to be kinda fucking normal, believe it or not." Hale's eyes flick to the infirmary doors where his coat is blocking the view. "Jo's got this special gift, and it made the family rich. Mine wanted in on it. We've got some business deals going. Jo was compliant at the start. She's been getting some of her own ideas in her head now."

He continues to glare at Hale. The bastard is not helping his case. "And where do you stand on the issue of her 'special gift?' Your phrasing already implies something I don't like, so choose your words carefully."

Hale's jaw works away at the question. His gaze flicks again to the covered window. "...Jo had a soft spot for me, once. I was like an older brother for her. So, after Stèf died and Jo became distant, I gave her space for a bit. Then I noticed changes. When I confronted her, she broke and told me everything." Hale's gaze glints like the edge of a knife. "Everything. And I know you don't get special gifts from demons for nothing. Jo deserves to rot in hell for what she is and what she's done. I'm just interested in using up her gift so it doesn't go to fucking waste."

He's heard enough. His feelings on Jo were mixed at the moment but if there was a penance to be made, this guy certainly wasn't innocent enough to play god or clergy. "Listen to me very, very closely. Whatever you think you're entitled to, until you've literally sold your own sorry soul and crawled back out of hell to try living again, you have no such claim. Go Home." He grits his teeth. "Get. Out. Of. Here. Close down your little investigation. If I so much as catch a glimpse of you after this..." The hammer of the gun is still pulled back from when Hale had first aimed it. Zero aims for Hale's left foot and pulls the trigger.

The shot rings out loudly in the infirmary. If Detective Hale had been a smarter man, he would have just filled each chamber with blanks since his goal was intimidation and not lethal harm. Unfortunately for him, Hale is not the smartest. One thing he and Jo don't have in common. Hale falls to the floor, yelling and swearing fervently as he curls around his injured foot. Blood pools slowly on the pristine white floors of the infirmary.

As Hale deals with that, Zero gathers the items that had been left for him by his infirmary visitors. He's seen enough of these sterile walls. He can finish recovering in his own room. He doesn't give Hale so much as a sideways glance as he throws the bastard's jacket onto the floor and exits the infirmary, trinkets and gun in hand. (edited)

The detective has been recovering since he got shot. In the meantime, he's had several visits from the Chancellor and staff. Somehow, he's wormed his way into keeping his place on academy grounds for his "investigation". Hale still isn't quite up for walking yet though.

When the detective had gone to the campus store the other day, he'd gathered enough intel to plan a way to flush his dear cousin Jo Waker out of the academy's shadows. He figured she couldn't stay away from Zero. And he knows from personal experience she's had a history of seasickness issues she always treated with ginger pills and products. So he bribed a dealer of illicit anomalous substances to plant a poison into all ginger products in the campus store. All Detective Hale had to do was wait. Someone was either going to have to report this or put the pieces together to figure out finding an antidote -- which he would conveniently have, of course. If Jo and her companions struck a deal with him. If not, he would still find news of this and where it happened. It would help light up the trail.

Ritz comes to visit the wounded detective. She sits at his bedside, staring silently at him. He looks terribly grumpy. But he also doesn't scream when he notices her. Ritz can appreciate that in a person.

He side-eyes the rat. "Well, hello. What're you doing here, little one?"

She squeaks.

"Huh? Really? You don't say..."

Ritz runs a circle and stands for a second, squeaking some more.

Hale considers the little rat for a long time. "Now, that's curious."

She squeaks a goodbye and scampers off.

Detective Richard Hale throws back the covers of his infirmary bed and makes a stand... wincing as he puts pressure on his heavily bandaged foot. But still, he hobbles on after the rat.

‍♂️

10:02 PM

Seiya walks into the infirmary, using his hand to cover the bruise on his neck.

10:06 PM

Apparently for plot reasons, Seiya isn't allowed to get treatment so he goes back to his room to shower.

//we can send him to mortkraken!

Need something for period sweats or I’m going to make it someone else’s problem.

Jo manages, finally, to get Seiya to the infirmary where he's instantly being tended to by staff. She has a hand cupped over her mouth, but she's not crying, more gasping for breaths that she just can't seem to catch. With trembling hands, she opens up her messages with someone she told herself she wouldn't message again.

u ok???
omw

She collapses into a nearby chair, dropping her phone into her lap while she runs her shaking fingers through her hair. God, she might just fund Seiya suing the academy over this if he comes to all right. Jo tries very hard not to think of Leo's response. She had hardly started typing a response about how it wasn't her, it was Seiya who was hurt, before Leo had said he was on his way. ...maybe she didn't just call Leo because he was Seiya's vice-captain and someone she thought would answer. ... ...maybe Jo called for Leo because she needs someone too right now. Not that she'd ever admit it to anyone. She had asked Seiya to hang out because she had no one else while already feeling so fragile. Now Seiya was lying on an infirmary bed, unconscious, and Jo had no one but the one person she told herself she wasn't supposed to seek out anymore. She had to treat this like she called him for Seiya's sake. Not for herself.

Leo comes to a halt right outside the door. His hair is windswept and his face flushed like he ran here. He spots Jo on the chair before he looks over to see Seiya on the hospital bed with his head wrapped up. "...Damn." The vice-captain walks over to Seiya. A quick glance at the vital sign monitor showed that he was stable at least. Considering he's a ghoul, that's what mattered. "What, uh... happened?"

Jo's mostly gotten herself under control and closer to a state of calm when she hears swift steps and the slight squeak of someone stopping suddenly by the doors. She looks up and there's a visible loss of tension in her body at the sight of Leo. Relief. ... Leo looks more beautiful than the last time she saw him. His hair's a windswept mess and there's that familiar flush on his face from exertion. Jo's not sure she understood why silly romance novels had characters like Mr Darcy admire the glow that exercise gave Elizabeth until now. Elizabeth had walked briskly across many fields to go see her sick sister in Mr Bingley's care where Darcy was also staying too. The thought that Leo might have run here settles warmly in her chest, whether it might have been for her or Seiya or both. ... Jo glances down at where she's tightly wringing her hands. "Seiya was visiting me in Frostheim. I was just about to walk him out when a chandelier fell in the hallway of the student dorms. Hit him square on the head," she says quietly.

"Did you talk to one of the staff?"

"'Course I fucking did. He's been checked over, the wounds have been cleaned, and he's wrapped up. D'you think Casper the friendly ghost did it?" Jo says wryly. Her heel taps rapidly on the floor as she looks to Seiya again. He's a ghoul, so he'll be fine. But she can't help being worried though.

Leo silently takes note of her attitude, but for once doesn't give pushback. He walks over to a rolling stool and plops down on it. "... If his CT scan is normal after taking some anomalous medicine, he should be alright. Guess that guy was for real about that Chandelier."

Jo doesn't know what else to say. It was never this hard to talk to Leo before. Maybe it's just the atmosphere. Her phone buzzes with messages and she hastily checks it. She goes from confused to pale to exasperated and alarmed in a matter of minutes as she types back and forth with somebody. Standing, she shoots Leo and apologetic look. "Um, I don't know how to explain this, but there's some guy claiming to be my son and I kinda need to take care of the situation. Can you watch over Seiya for me? Let me know the minute anything changes." Jo hardly waits for a response before she practically runs from the infirmary.

"..." After five days? Leo is NOT paying child support. That kid ain't his. The vice-captain rolls up to the bed on his chair to look at the himbo again. He's sleeping peacefully. Surely this guys gonna wake up within the day, right? ...Is he supposed to stay here until then? That sounds fucking awful. If Leo had it his way, he'd just roll him back to his room. "...Damn." There's a loveseat against the wall. Won't be comfortable, but adequate for the time being. Leo stands and walks over to the couch, before plopping down on the stiff surface. Maybe he will doomscroll his socials for now. (edited)

"Peacefully"

This guys just being a pussy fr. Wasn't even that bad.

11:53 PM

In his sleep, Seiya's fingers reach out towards Leo. Needy ass mf.

Leo isn't even sure how long it had been by the time he catches movement in his peripheral. He tilts his head to find Seiya reaching his hand out like he's emulating "The Creation of Adam". "...?" The vice-captain rolls out of his spot on the seat and stands. His joints pop in the process from the awkward position he maintained for probably a few hours by now. Leo walks up to the hospital bed and glances down at Seiya's hand before experimentally brushing his fingertips against his. "Wakey, Wakey, himbo~ ♡."

Seiya made a small noise, maybe he was waking up? His fingers lightly grabbed at Leo's and Seiya reached a hand towards his head, feeling the bandages. '...That voice sounds familiar.' 'Bandages?' He struggled to open his eyes, so he kept them closed. Was he hit on the head with something? How long has he been passed out? 'My name is Seiya Masamoto, I'm a first... no... going into second? Second year Darkwick student, I remember the entrance ceremony. It's... August. It should be August right now, right? August 2024... fuck, why can't I remember anything?' Eventually he opened his eyes, shit, they felt dry as fuck. Did he sleep with his contacts in? He looked around the room, his vision getting less blurry the more he blinked. Ok, he was in the infirmary. Next to him was... Leo..? What was he doing here? "..." Seiya realized he was holding onto his fingers like a fucking baby and retracted his hand, slowly forcing himself to sit up. Leo isn't supposed to know who he was yet right? Why is he visiting him? "Um... who..?" Seiya has obviously seen Leo on TikTok, but in terms of personal relationships, this guy was basically a stranger.

"Damn, you're finally up." Leo draws back his hand and rests it on his hip. He takes the comment as Seiya just being in the midst of reorienting himself into being cognizant again. "How you feeling? That chandelier really knocked your ass out good."

"...Chandelier..?" Seiya leaned forward to rub his eyes. He doesn't remember a chandelier, where did he go again? "How long was I out for?" (edited)

Leo's eyes flick to the digital wall clock that had been incessantly ticking in his ear for... looks like four hours? It's later in the afternoon now. "Four hours. Almost had Mido come swap with me." Jo would probably be pissed, though. And he probably wouldn't have. It's not like Leo had anything that pressing to get done, but he wasn't about to say that. "You repeated chandelier like you didn't know what I was talking about." Leo relocates his attention back to Seiya. "Pop quiz. What day is it?"

....What day is it?? "...Dunno... August? Saturday?"

... Oof. Leo might have to get the doctor back in here. "Uh... no. What year are you? House?"

"Hota- no wait, sorry," he holds his head. "Vagastrom, uh- second year."

"That's better. So, you know me then, right?" Leo points to himself and winks. "No way you'd forget this face." (edited)

.... Did he ever speak to Leo? Or was he assuming that Seiya would know him because he was somewhat famous? "Um, Leo, right? Did we ever speak..? Sorry, what day is it?"

"...March 12th 2025. We speak plenty. Kinda have to considering I'm your vice-captain." Leo sighs and clicks his tongue. "I'll be back." Leo walks out of the room and flags down a guy walking in the hall with white hair, dressed in medical clothing. "Hey, you got a sec?"

.... It's MARCH??? Holy shit. Okay, so either Seiya got amnesia that conveniently erased months out of his memory or he traveled into the future. How the fuck does someone conveniently lose their memory of the past year like that. That doesn't make sense. It feels more like he just travelled into the future. So Leo was the vice captain now?? Damn. Crazy fr.

He turns his head to Leo as he waves for his attention. "Hm? Something amiss with a patient?"

Leo jabs a thumb in the direction of Seiya's room behind him. "Second-year in Vagastrom. Chandelier fell on his head. I was called to wait around 'til he woke up. Someone patched him up earlier, but he's got amnesia seems like."

Oh right. He'd been assigned the patient the morning after his run-in with Laurent. Supposedly this was the same ghoul that Waker had abandoned Laurent to tend to. "I'll examine his chart. A moment please." He enters Seiya's room and swipes his ID at the computer to look over the chart.

Patient Assessment & Observation Log

Patient Name: Masamoto, Seiya
Species: Ghoul
Year: Second
Date of Incident: 12 MAR 2025
Attending Medical Staff: Tsukinari, Nicholas, Et. al.
Incident Summary: The patient sustained a head injury due to a falling chandelier. Initial examination revealed a mild concussion with temporary retrograde amnesia. No skull fractures or intracranial hemorrhages were detected via diagnostic scans. Lacerations on the scalp have been treated and sutured.
Current Symptoms: Confusion & disorientation (expected to be temporary), Mild headache, No reported nausea, dizziness, or motor impairment

Prognosis & Instructions: 
- Memory should gradually return within 24 hours. Rest and hydration are advised.
Monitor for any worsening symptoms, including:
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision changes
- Sudden mood or personality shifts
- Loss of consciousness
If any of the above symptoms present, the patient must return for immediate evaluation.

Follow-Up:
Patient is advised to remain under medical observation or may be discharged into the care of House Captain or Vice Captain for the next 24 hours.
If condition does not improve or worsens, seek medical intervention at Mortkranken or Darkwick General immediately.

3:05 PM

Seems pretty open and shut to him. He relays the relevant information to Kurosagi. "His chart says he should be fine and regain his memory in a day or so, but you ought to watch him in case anything medically significant occurs. He can stay here for observations for the next 24 hours or I can discharge him into your care. Your pick."

That's not a bad prognosis. Twenty-four hours and Seiya will be right as rain. So basically, he's fine. ... A devious smirk threatens to crack his face. Leo suppresses it, because it might ruin the himbo's current, untainted, perception of him. Looks like he finally has an opportunity to get this guy back for all the bullshit he's pulled as of late. This is gonna be good. "...You hear that, himbo? Looks like you're good to come back to the dorms with me. I had plans, but I'll move my schedule around just for y-o-u~♡!" Leo brings his index finger and thumb together in a fingerheart. "Think you can stand? Move around even?"

For the briefest moment he wonders if this is a bad idea. However the documentation says 'care of Vice Captain.' Masamoto was Vagastrom. Kurosagi was Vice Captain. All the right pieces were present. Everything is logically sound. The rest doesn't concern him. He hands the discharge paperwork over to Kurosagi and leaves. (edited)

“Himbo..?” Seiya frowns, did he do something to make Leo perceive him to be stupid? Seiya moves the sheets aside and puts his feet on the ground and is careful to stand up slowly. He touches his head, it hurts a little bit, but it’s manageable. Where was his room again? No wait, they were assigned before the ceremony. He should have the paper.. wait but it’s been a few months, should’ve memorized it by now. “…Yeah, I can stand.”

Leo pats Akari on the back before making his way around to the side of the bed Seiya stood up from. "Thanks, doc. I'll take it from here! Leo offers his hand out to Seiya and puts on his fakest dazzling smile that he uses any time he posts his face on social media. "Wouldn't want you face-planting if you get all dizzy and shit."

Seiya stares at Leo for a moment before taking his hand and looking away. "Thanks for watching out for me." Seems that Leo doesn't photoshop much, just naturally super pretty like that, I guess. Seiya brings a hand to his bandaged head again and looked over to white-haired guy. "Could I... take this off?"

He's halfway out the door when he realizes that the patient was talking to him. "Oh. Err... Nothing in the documentation said you couldn't. Just don't pick at the sutures. They're most likely dissolvable and they'll work their way out when you shower over the next week." He nods and exits.

"Okay, thank you." Seiya bows slightly as the guy leaves and begins to carefully remove the bandages, he wants to check a mirror.

Already removing them? Well, it's probably fine with the medicine and all. "Need help with that?"

Seiya hums and turns to Leo, crouching slightly to meet his height.

Leo peels off the rest of the bandages and examines his head. The bleeding stopped a while ago and Seiya's hair is so long and dark he cant see shit anyway. He brushes his hair back in it's normal position with his fingertips. The vice-captain weighs his options. How is he going to fuck with Seiya, he wonders. Decisions, decisions. "So, you want me to take you back to your room or somewhere else?"

.................................................... Seiya has the cringiest fucking urge to keep Leo's hands on him, have keep combing his fingers through his hair or someshit. Ew, what a freak. Seiya stands up straight again and checks his pockets. Oh. His phone is gone. Did he drop it somewhere when the chandelier hit him? "...Where was I before? I think I dropped my phone." (edited)

...Did this idiot just blush? ... What a dumbass. This is gonna be too easy. "...Your phone? I wouldn't know. You were out with someone else before I was called." Leo folds his arms over his chest and looks off to the side. His tone matches the now annoyed look on his face.

"Someone else?" .... Why's- Well... Seiya doesn't remember shit so maybe he had a closer relationship to Leo than just Leo being vice captain, this seemed like a jealous reaction? Or maybe he has beef with whoever Seiya met up with.

"I dunno." Leo sighs irritably. "Probably one of your other hoes."

??? "I'm sorry..??" What's with this sudden change of attitude???

Leo flips around so that he's no longer facing Seiya and cups a hand over his mouth to suppress barking out a laugh. Once he regains his composure, he speaks again. "...You know what, it's fine. It's not like you'll remember right now anyway... I'm sorry that was unfair of me." Now Leo sounds apologetic, still turned in the other direction.

"Um... I'm sorry if I did something to upset you... Are- Were we........?" Okay, he doesn't wanna go off and assume things. ............... And so he just doesn't finish his sentence

"..." Leo finally turns to look at Seiya. Now he has crocodile tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "...Yeah. We've been dating a couple of weeks now... but mostly kept it under wraps 'cause the whole vice-captain, you being in my house thing. If they found out they may have us transfer houses..." Leo wipes away a few tears. "So, yeah. I get a little jealous when you're off with other people sometimes. No one knows about us. I'm working on doing better, I'm sorry."

Seiya began to panic when Leo looks at him with watery eyes. Were they actually?? Well, it's not the most difficult thing to visualize? Seiya brings his hands to Leo's face to wipe away the (fake ass) tears away with his thumbs. "I-I'm sorry, please don't cry..!" The part about not being allowed to date because Leo was his vice captain confused him, though. Was that a rule? He hasn't heard it before, but it does somewhat make sense? But then again, dating someone of the same gender was probably against the rules too but no one really gave a shit about that. Like, dating someone in authority is typically going to be taboo. Seiya has yet to have reason not to believe Leo because this fucking dumbass can't remember shit. "I was probably just with a friend.."

Oh my God... he's so fucking stupid. Leo pulls his face out of Seiya's grip and grabs his hand, before heading for the door. He would have actually lost it if Seiya comforted him even a millisecond longer. "...It's fine... We can hold hands for now, because we have an excuse."

....... Seiya followed him out the door feeling kind of guilty about making Leo cry. He felt the urge to ask the dumbest fucking questions like "ermmm r u sure we're dating? " What the fuck kind of question was that? "Could I ask what happened in the past couple of months..?" ... He remembered Saki saying something about how Leo's tears looked fake. .............................. Seiya was mildly aware that he was kind of gullible, but it's not like Saki even attended Darkwick. At the moment, there's not really anyone else to trust.

"That's a broad question. Can you be more specific?" Leo laces his fingers with Seiya's. He barely looks back at him as he responds. Wouldn't be good if Seiya noticed that the tears are already drying up. Leo can't keep up the act for long.

"Well, I can't remember anything from after August to now so..." Damn. Leo is pretty short in real life. Cute. Seiya feels the urge to pet him, like a cat. Just a lil pat on the head. Pat pat. He obviously doesn't actually do this but he's imagining it. Fucking loser freak die.

Leo hums. He actually doesn't know how the fuck to answer that question, that's why he asked for specifics. It's not like he knows much of anything about Seiya's personal life. Saki's his friend? She transferred? Wait, he's definitely not gonna say that 'cause then he'd go to her blowing his cover. Leo decides they will make a detour so they don't pass anywhere near Saki's dorm. "Well... not much has changed as far as the academy's structure goes that you don't probably already know. I came in as a first-year and got appointed vice-captain 'cause of a case and my entrance exam scores. All the other houses have the same captains and vice-captains. Uh... Sinostra's on probation, like usual." Leo makes a point to leave out the detail that he just got off probation. "You've switched rooms once. Issue with the pipes." The tears are now gone, along with any cracking or fake ass grief in his voice.

Seiya nods slowly. He’s really curious. He reallyyy wants to ask… …………… “So….” How the fuck do you phrase this question?? “……When did we start talking…?

... Himbo's so fucking nosey. Now Leo's gotta make even more shit up off the top of his head. 'Talking'. He probably means when they started to talk with feelings out on the table, right? It's such a vague phrase he'd bet that even Zero and Seiya would have different answers if they were asked this about their relationship. "...Not that long ago. I took you out to pool because you were all in your feels about your ex cucking you. You had a few too many drinks and that liquid courage had you trying to cop a feel." Leo angles his head towards Seiya and playfully sticks out his tongue. "Total pervert. It's a good thing I think you're cute."

............................ Did he really do that??? "Ex?"

12:08 PM

Hold on, since when did Seiya ever drink? That doesn't sound right. "I was drinking..?"

"Forgot to say a virgin cocktail when we placed the order. I would have got you a new one, but you drank it anyway. Then asked for another one after you were done-- and requested that it be with alcohol." That was actually the truth. "You dated a guy named Zero. I can tell you the details of that if you really want, but you'll probably remember it in a day anyway. You were moping like a sad sack for a while over that." Eventually, they arrive at the hospital entrance and Leo opens the door and steps outside.

'I requested alcohol??' "Shouldn't we ask the hospital staff if they know where I was when I dropped my phone?" Moping then immediately trying to get with someone else? Did Seiya really do that?? Seiya stopped walking and tried to imagine himself in a situation where he drank his feelings away because he was cheated on. The accident part sounds normal but after that he asked for another? If he tried to get with Leo after that then he must've not cared about the ex that much but in that case he wouldn't be drinking. Zero doesn't seem to ring a bell either, must've talked to him during the months he can't remember. It really feels more like he time travelled rather than got amnesia, Seiya was wondering if he would even actually get his memory back. Maybe that's not important yet. Hopefully. Right new he wants to find his phone.

It takes everything in Leo to not roll his eyes into the back of his skull. Obviously, the hospital doesn't have his damn phone, they would have given it back. He probably left it at Jo's or something. Leo narrows his eyes at Seiya. He's not even trying to hide the attitude right now. "Himbo, I'll call them when we get back to the dorm. It's definitely not in the infirmary, they would have given it back to you. I can check WickHive too. Some gen student posted something about the chandelier falling. Probably has the location too, I'll look it up. If you're that antsy to get online, I'll take you to my room and you can use one of mine."

Holy shit, was Seiya like one of those fucking loser ass pushover boyfriends before he was knocked out? Damn, what is with this guy's attitude when his "boyfriend" just got a fucking chandelier dropped on his head? And the way he says 'Himbo' doesn't quite radiate affection. "...Could you-" not talk to me like that? "-stop calling me that? I know it's not at the infirmary, I wanted to ask them where I was passed out since you don't know." He holds a hand to his head again, it was starting to ache. "...I need to call into work and tell them I can't make it today."

This is a new level of transparency he has yet to see from Seiya. Turns out he doesn't like his nickname for him, poor baby. That isn't going to stop Leo from using it. But to avoid pissing him off too much-- he will comply for now. Leo pulls out his phone, unlocks it, and looks up his work before dialing the number in his keypad. Seiya never told him where he works, he just knew from snooping. Good thing it works out this way. "I'll find out for you." Leo insists as he hands the phone over to Seiya. The wincing doesn't go unnoticed. Weird that the hospital didn't offer any pain medicine. Leo's pretty sure he has a low milligram of oxycodone somewhere in his room. "Would you prefer if I call you something cuter? Snookums? Pookie? Boo bear? Honey?" The vice-captain sports a devious smirk as he lists the most gag worthy names he can think of.

"Thanks." Seiya takes the phone and starts typing in the number when he hears this agitating grating noise- ........................ ..................................... ........................................ "Are you sure we're dating?"

Leo puckers his lips into a pathetic pout. "If you keep saying that, you're gonna hurt my feelings. Don't tell me now that you got your brain rattled that you think I'm ugly?"

"...not at all. I just don't think.." The phone picks up and Seiya holds it up to his ear. "Hello? Yeah, it's Masamoto, I'm calling from a different phone, yeah. I don't think I can come into work today" smth smth blahblah blah. Seiya eventually hangs up and returns the phone to Leo. "Sorry, I was saying that... usually my partners didn't talk to me the way you do." Was Seiya overreacting? He feels like he is even though he's on the right track. Leo might need to up his game idk shucks

...Leo is actually probably nicer to Seiya than most other people. He wonders if he should admit that, though. "You don't remember ever speaking with me, right?" Leo tilts his head inquisitively as he pockets his phone. "If I don't meet your standard 'type', maybe that's something you should have sorted out with yourself beforehand. It's just too bad that you're stuck with me now."

That's true, Seiya doesn't remember ever talking to this guy. Maybe there's some other reason why they're supposedly together, like Leo was just kind of mean in general. He supposes he can somewhat imagine Saki acting similarly, but there's a reason why they're not together anymore. "What did we like about each other?" Wow, real smooth.

Leo decides they've spent long enough idling outside the infirmary, so he pulls Seiya along to start walking back to the dorms. "Hmmm..." He could think of actual reasons, if he really wanted to. But nothing he says is ever gonna sound romantic, just practical. Leo keeps his eyes ahead as he recites a compartmentalized list that he's attributed to Seiya overtime. "...You're kind of soft. But not spineless. I'm pretty sure I get on your nerves more than you even admit, but it's kind of fun. You're useful and don't let personal feelings get in the way when it comes to getting a job done. You ask a lot of questions. It can be annoying as fuck, but it's part of the reason you can be surprisingly sharp sometimes. You are pretty direct." Leo recalls a few instances that feel a little more personal to admit to finding endearing. Seiya showing up with the noodles after he got kidnapped and then stupidly asking Leo if he was still mad at him for exposing the whole, Kamitani, DUPE-licator bullshit. Right after Leo completely trashed his room too. "...Guess you don't really hold petty grudges in a significant way either?" The vice-captain glances back at Seiya, his eyes brimming with amusement. "And you're a little pretty, I guess. If I close one eye and tilt my head at a forty-five degree angle. As for what you like about me? I couldn't tell you."

"A little pretty? Didn't you call me cute, earlier?" So being insulting was probably Leo's way of being playful. Or maybe he's actually a tsundere. Seiya gives him a slightly amused smile as he follows behind him. "Did you do something that would typically make someone hold a grudge against you?

"Wow, look at that. At least you're remembering things I said within the hour." Leo pauses to think for a moment. There's a lot more words he could attribute to Seiya's looks that are more fitting than 'cute'. He's not about to embarrass himself in his head, or out loud though. At that point he would exposing himself more than pulling a prank. "...Pretty makes more sense." ...Leo is not about to rehash the shit he's done to this guy. The jig might be up for real then. "Yes? No? Maybe? It's ancient history anyway! Out of sight, out of mind. In this case it's out of mind for you, so no need to get you mad at me all over again. If it helps, you were dating Zero at the time." Leo might as well slip that detail in, so it didn't seem like the shit he pulled was an act of betrayal in a romantic way.

Well, if what Leo did was during their relationship it would probably worse because that would mean that Seiya really was the loser pushover boyfriend. Not sure if he could consider it ancient history, though. It sounds like he was only dating Zero for less than a year. But if it was during a different relationship and Seiya still decided to date Leo then it can't be that bad, right? ......... Dude, Seiya like legit lowkey forgot what day of the week it was. Wait, why was he worried about attending classes when he has amnesia? Freak. "So are we going to my new room, then?" (edited)

"Yup."

"Oh, Kamitani~"

‍♂️

*He waves so excitedly. Hiiiii Shrimpy. Hiiiii!!*

"Hey. Can I get a pic of you buddy?" Leo holds up the artifact with a grin.

'Kay 'kaaaaayyy~!!! Go on and shoot!! Yay!! *He poses just like his pfp.*

Leo takes a photo of Kamitani.

*Do you think he dreams? ......Of course he does! Even as his bestie steals his memory each night, there is something that Kamitani always has in the back of his mind. A face. A person. Who is it, again?

The polaroid is simple. Two men. One tall and blonde, smiling, eyes crinkled up in joy, the beginnings of a beard on his face. His hair is tied into a knot on the top of his head. Shirtless, though not fully unclothed. He reaches towards the other man as if in deep laughter, like he can't support his own weight with the force of his happiness. Whoever he is, wherever they are, it is not Japanese. It's strange though. He looks familiar, even despite the foreignness. Tanned skin, blue eyes... if his hair was shorter, dark brown, he might be mistaken for someone else. Someone close by.

The other man, Kamitani. His hair is short though. Black. He's shorter than this other man, shorter than he is now, shorter by a good foot or so. But it's undoubtedly him. He wears the same clothes as the other man, wears the same expression of joy. He's in the middle of a story of some kind, or *something*, his gestures large and face bright. He's winking. 

No burns or scars mar his body. There's no rot in his hands, on his ear, in his brain. He is whole and complete. His beads hang out of a pouch around his waist. 

They are happy.

..... Kamitani can't remember. Oh well. Who cares about dreams, anyway? Not him! He's still posing for the picture.*

Leo stares at the polaroid for a little bit after it develops. He expected something weirder and more nonsensical. "Hmmm..." The vice-captain picks the photo up with his index finger and thumb and shows Kamitani the photo. "Who's with you? Do you know?"

*He tilts his head to the side as he stares at the photo. Stares really, super hard. Like reaaalllyyy, super duper super duper super hard. His smile falls for just a moment. He recognises him.* ... Nicky? *It's the quietest that Kamitani has ever been. And then, suddenly, his head lolls to the side, and he yawns, stretches. Shakes his head quickly as if shaking off the tiredness. He looks at Leo and smiles brightly.* Oh em gee!! Hiiiii Shrimpy! Wooaahhh! So fun to see you here!! Hiiii!!!! Whats up??

Hmm... Leo puts the photo in a plastic sleeve and offers it out to Kamitani. "Want it?"

*He stares at the picture and blinks a little.* Who's that?? *He looks like. o3o. Making that face. He genuinely doesn't seem to recognise it anymore.* Is that you, Shrimpy~? Wooaahhhh~!!!

"Yeah. I look hot, right?"

Ahahah~!!! You look soooooooooo cute!! Woah!! Not as cute as the other guy though!! El oh el!!!!

"Awwh, you're so sweet~♡! Anyway, I gotta go. Good seeing you Kami." Leo waves goodbye as he heads for the door.

10:54 PM

she mumbles through her sleep/feaver? “…I’m…orry”

The staff end up getting Mairo changed into hospital clothes and she gets put into a bed at the infirmary. Subaru sat at a chair by her bed and had planned on staying until her condition improved, so when she stirred in her sleep, the captain's face lit up. "No need to apologize. It's good to see you're at least semi conscious. Don't push yourself to talk if you're tired, okay?"

she lays there she hears Subaru and feels a ease wash over her that it was him… probably because she knew after everything he wasn’t going to judge her. She doesn’t want to open her eyes scared to look around but she knew she was in the hospital the smell always gave it away. “Suba…thank you for always being you. Even through the worst times I’m sorry I wasn’t a better person.” *she mumbles softly not fully making sense but finally opening her eyes but closing them again at the brightness and it hurting her head.

"... A better person?" Subaru promptly shuts the book he had been reading before turning his full attention towards her. "I think you're among one of the best people in our house. Whatever respect you attribute to me is, without a doubt, mutual." (edited)

she lightly chuckles. Bit that hurt her head to so she stops the migraine from the fever was killing her. “I could have been better but between it all after Taro’s death my coma I’ve been just a mess I didn’t even help you what type of friend am I…I” she just keeps talking “I’m such a useless selfish person causing headaches, stupid things….” she mumbles more then slowly passes out from the fever.

Subaru tents his eyebrows in concern. He was about to protest her claims, but quickly recognized that she went unconscious again. ... "... You're always around when I need you. Everyone has their limits. Physicially, we may be stronger than the average human, but our hearts bleed all the same." Subaru decides to stay longer.

when she wakes up next she opens her eyes she looks around a bit confused “Why am I? ….oh…”

Subaru sits in a chair against the wall. He has a book opened up in his hand, but it's clear he's been nodding off. The sound of Mairo's voice causes him to stir from his light sleep. "... You're awake." Subaru breathes out a sigh of relief. "That's good."

“Subaru…” she looks from Subaru then down at herself in the hospital closes as she tries to piece together how she got there. she was in Hotarubi looking out at the lake contemplating her life then she was here looking a Subaru….she mumbles to herself then puts get head in her hands as she remembers some of the rambling “I don’t remember all of it, but I’m sorry if I said something stupid or rude…” she drags her hand over face and sighs. “I-I didn’t go into the water right?” did she finally snap and do it?

Subaru shakes his head. "It was raining quite a bit, but you collapsed on the dock. And don't worry, you didn't say anything rude. On the contrary, you've been so quiet that it's been a cause for concern. How do you feel?"

“the dock?” she wants to sigh in relief but doesn’t catching herself holding it back. “I feel cold, tired, try and my head hurts still” she groans a little

Subaru stands up. "I could get you a heated blanket. I'm sure the staff have them available. Maybe some painkillers too?"

her head throbs a bit. She can tell it’s not as bad as earlier but still not great. “Yeah, maybe….pain killers would be good” she brings her knees up to her chest while in the bed and finally lets out that sigh, then a light chuckle “Well. It seems I’ve made more of a mess….at lest it’s only with me” Mairo isn’t faking anything she isn’t putting up a smile and cheery expression, she’s just trying to exist in as little of space as possible. It’s rare, but not a sight Subaru hasn’t seen before; though only once.

"Everything is fine. Don't worry." Subaru smiles reassuringly. "I'll be right back." *The Hotarubi captain leaves the room. Several minutes later, he returns with a heated blanket, some over-the-counter painkillers, and a bottle of water. He holds out the water and the medicine. "This is what they offered me for now. I'm sure the doctor will be in again shortly since you're awake."

she takes the items with a nod of thanks and takes the pills cracking the water open and chugging half of it “Thanks Subaru.” she puts the cap back on, then goes about draping the blanket over her not near a power source she looks at Subaru. “Um can you plug me in please”

"Of course!" Subaru hurriedly plugs in the blanket and sets it to a medium setting. He lays the temperature gauge on the end table next to her so it's more easily accessible. "I can talk to the staff about taking time off from classes for you. To recover."

“thanks… I greatly appreciate it. I mean I only have a few classes to begin with I’m sure I’ll be fine but still thank you.” She looks to the small room she is in and sighs she was doing so good with managing her mood she thought she was okay one really bad mental breakdown in a like 3months ago wasn’t bad now this. She frowns at her lap where her hands were. “If you have stuff to do you can go I’m sure I’ll be released soon

Subaru nods with a warm smile. "It's no problem. Will you be okay if I leave? I could always walk you back."

she thinks for a moment on his offer and nods “I think that be a good idea but I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in here…I could ask someone else’s to take me back you gotta be busy to…maybe I can ask Daisu-…oops” she covers her mouth actually forgetting her conversation with Daisuke for a moment. “Yeah if you don’t mind waiting.” she hasn’t mentioned Tohma once

"I will wait." Subaru sits back down. "Does Ishibashi know you are here?"

she looks at Subaru “um I don’t know… the last thing I messaged to him about something on wikihive involving taiga….” she makes a face between uncomfortableness and sadness as she thinks about what kinda got her here. “Um where is my phone by the way?”

Subaru looks around the room. He spots a phone laying on a desk. Surely, it belonged to Mairo. Once he retrieves it, Subaru hands it to her. "Looks like they found it, I believe?"

she takes the phone sighing in relief. “Thank goodness. When you wake up not in the clothes you dressed yourself in who knows what happens to your stuff” she laughs a little trying to make light of the situation then looks at her phone and her face looks a bit sad seeing her phone screen is of her and Tohma on that beach vacation. They look so happy. She puts her phone down. With a sigh and the puts on her usual grin. “I’ll tell him later no need to worry him over this. It’s just a fever.”

Subaru looks at her pensively for a moment before speaking. "Have you not been getting adequate sleep?"

she looks at him her neutral face returning. “I mean no more than normal…it’s just been busy lately.”

as she finish’s saying that her phone buzzes as she gets a message. She looks at it with a small sad smile and then sighs putting her phone back down. It was Tohma.

Subaru sits in the chair next to the bed again. He notices her shift in demeanor when she puts her phone back down. "... Was that sigh good or bad?"

“it’s Tohma that’s all. What great timing huh?” she laughs softly looking at Subaru. “I should text him…” she did want to text him but she feels dumb for letting herself get like this

Subaru nods. "You should. It's been a little while since you've been out."

she sighs softly knowing Subaru was right. She looks at her phone again and opens it typing out a message and sending it. “Okay done.” she looks at Subaru hoping some of his natural calm would rub off on her; not really realizing he probably wasn’t as calm as she thought

knocks on the door to Mairos hospital room and pauses as he sees Subaru also there “shoot I never told him yet I was here again I wanted to surprise him” he sees Mai-chan sitting up looking awful. “Poor gal”

Subaru glances up at the knock and finds a familiar looking man walking towards the pair. It takes him a moment to process it, but when he does his eyes light up with recognition. "Moto, it's you...!" Didn't Mairo mention something about a graduate becoming a staff member? A genuine smile breaks Subaru's previously apprehensive expression. "I didn't know the new hire was going to be you. How have you been?" (edited)

daisukes gives his usual carefree lazy grin back to Subaru “Hehe. surprise it me your fun loving ex captain. Heard this one collapsed-“ points to Mairo “-from Nicholas in the staff room though I come check up on her didn’t know you where going to be here also. Was gonna surprise you when things got settled a bit.” he sits in the other chair in the room. “I’ve been good got tired of the field work to fast pace for my liking, thought I try school stuff since I can be up all the time and focus on my craft outside of it more. How are you Suba?”

“yeah suprised sorry I found out but he told me not to tell you.” Mairo looks apologetic to subaru

Subaru listens to Daisuke's explanation and nods at Mairo's statement that follows in understanding. "I am pleasantly surprised all the same. And I am doing well. Nothing out of the ordinary has been happening as of late. Are you going to be instructing any of the classes, or does the Chancellor have something else in mind for you?"

“Ah, that’s good to hear. I came in as Teaching assistant and to help with administrative stuff the professor are struggling this year I mean a lots happened since my time actually here, nothing good really if you ask me.” he gets a real grim look on his face. Thinking about what’s he’s knows and heard about the blast 8 months to what he has seen here so far. “nothing good at all” he mumbles before brightening up a bit “…well as much as this wasn’t the reunion I was hoping for when I saw my kohais it’s still good to see you two still helping each other out and being there for one another. Zenji would be happy.” he looks at the two of them and really wish there was three of them in front of him instead “So how’s being the captain now?”

sits watching the two catchup with a small happy grin on her face. She looks to the other side of her bed looking for something or she should say someone but they weren’t here that moment not that Daisuke could see him anyway but maybe that’s a good thing she was pretty sure Daisuke took Zenji death harder than she did, which was understandable.

Subaru notices Daisuke's downcast expression, and for a moment the captain mirrors it. Before he can make any comment on Zenji, the subject shifts. Subaru is a little glad for that. There is only so much he can say about the topic without divulging too much. Daisuke probably knows what he needs to know anyway. "It has been going well, I believe. Truthfully, I don't that I am the right person for the job, but I have been adjusting as needed."

“nonsense Subaru you’re a great captain.” Mairo interrupts a bit annoyed a Subaru putting himself down. “All the general students and ghouls in Hotarubi think you’re great. you have your strong points as a captain and weak points too, but what captain here doesn’t same with the vice captains.” she crosses her arms looking at Subaru I’m pretty sure we are the only house that has a decent functioning captain vice captain duo…minus like mortfranken…probably?” (edited)

he chuckles at mairos outburst “Well it seems someone thinks differently on that opinion. I sure you’re doing great heard Haku joined this year and became your vice.” he looked at Mairo with a question look she notices and adverts her eyes from his. Ao he goes back to looking back at Subaru with his carefree look on his face. “He always seemed level headed enough though little all over the place so I hope he’s working out.”

Subaru smiles timidly at Mairo's defense of his work ethic. "Haku does very well. I think Darkwick made the right decision appointing him as vice-captain."

“well that’s good to know.” Daisuke smiles as he stands and stretches his person looking down at the two. “Well I got to get moving before they start wondering where I am. I snuck away from the staff room for this.” he starts to waves good bye getting to the door he stops looking at the two. “I’ll pop by Hotarubi soon, seeya later you two.” he leaves (edited)

mairo waves back as he leaves

Subaru says his goodbyes and waves Daisuke off as he leaves. ... "... That was certainly a surprise."

“tell me about it I was surprised when he told in a dm after months of not talking.” she smiles genuinely thinking about how Daisuke was gonna be around more. she sighs again looking down at her phone “So when do you think I’ll get out of here?”

random Doctor walks in sees that Mairo is up she checks Vitals checks her temperature and says she’s good to go. Next thing they know Subaru, and Mairo stand outside Darkwick general ready to go back to there dorm.

“well that was quick”

"I am glad that everything ended up being normal." Subaru begins walking in the direction of Hotarubi, sparing brief glances at Mairo on the way there to make sure she's doing okay. "If you don't feel well in the near future, you can reach out to me. That way I can ensure you're making it to the infirmary without harm. Being so close to the dock..." Subaru tents his eyebrows in concern. "That could have very easily been a lot worse."

she pause in the walking for a moment at words looking down at the ground putting her phone away. “I mean is it really that bad if I went in?” Mairo says it quietly before she continues to walk with him. She technically at the time didn’t care and as she thinks about it she still couldn’t care much about it. Because yeah people would be sad but only for a little bit. Her thought processes wasn’t good as she walks with Subaru to hotrarubi “I’ll try to keep that in mind Subaru.”

‍♂️

I fear the damage is irreparable...

A nursing student walks up to Seiya and conducts a checkup. After a few moments, they leave to talk to a certified professional. …. They come back. “Hi, hey, yeah, so you’ve been diagnosed with brain damage but there’s nothing we can do abt it yeah sry.” The student gives Seiya a lollipop for being a good boy and leaves.

‍♂️

4:43 PM

Purely because he wants to and not because Romeo Scorpius Lucci has probably called a hit on his ass, Mizu finds himself at the infirmary. He also, coincidentally, has a migraine just like the friend he was talking about on Wickhive! Crazy!!