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subasekabang · 4 years

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i've got some falling to do

Title: i’ve got some falling to do Rating: T Word Count: 8,020 Pairings/Characters: Neku Sakuraba, Joshua Kiryu Warnings: near character death, implied character death, injury Summary: Seven days after Neku’s returned to the UG, he receives a text that sends a chill down his spine. The Composer needs help. You’re the only one who can do it. Partner: @sugarsomg, desiquiche Author’s Note: Many thanks to @beyondworldborders for… practically writing a good portion of this. She’s my go-to Neku dialogue person. She also betad! neku-phones-sakuraba also gave this a once over and pointed out a lot of spelling and grammar errors. Title from Lemon Demon

The soda tastes sharp on Neku’s tongue as he leans back on the bench, gaze flitting around from person to person. The condensation slicks the cardboard cup in his hand, stealing his attention from the way the crowd threatens to overwhelm him. The Shibuya crowd is as loud as ever, but it doesn’t really bother him anymore, not like it used to. He likes the reassurance that people can see him, can feel him on the off chance that he shifts a little too close to another and accidentally shoulder checks someone. It’s a reminder that he’s alive, that the breath pulled through his lungs isn’t just due to muscle memory. His free hand raises to grip at the familiar weight of his headphones around his neck, but his fingers only curl around air.

Right. He sort of left his limited edition CAT headphones in the middle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing when he’d woken up on the pavement for a fourth time to find that he was alive after-

Well. Neku’s in high spirits. He’s had a good day. No thoughts of the past are going to wreck that.

It’s been seven days since he’d miraculously come back to life after his three long weeks fighting for his right to existence in the second, hidden layer of reality hidden right on top of Shibuya. For seven long days Neku has sat anxiously on the bench at the statue of Hachiko, hoping and praying to the maybe-god he knows there is that his friends are okay and will show up to greet him. He had almost given up hope by the seventh day, but seventh days had always been so monumental when it came to Neku and his friends. If they were going to show, it would be today.

And sure enough, Beat and Rhyme and even Shiki in her unfamiliar body with that very familiar smile had finally shown up- a week from the Game at Hachiko, just as promised. Their presence had lifted a weight from his chest, let a smile grow wide on his face as Beat snagged him around the neck, as Rhyme showed him her bell with glee, as Shiki had shoved Mr. Mew into Neku’s arms in order to talk animatedly with her hands as she discussed her reunion with Eri and her family. It had been a good day spent with his friends. Now it’s late, nearly dark, and Neku’s friends have headed back to their homes. Neku stopped for a drink, wanting to revel in the moment just for a bit longer- and to linger just for a few more moments, to give that one person just a few more seconds to pop in unexpectedly with that light step, that lazy swagger to his movements.

Neku still isn’t sure that he even wants to see him, but he does want to know that Joshua is okay, despite everything. He realizes now that Joshua had spent their week together within the Game intentionally hand feeding him bits and pieces of information, showing him where to go to jack Shibuya- from Joshua. He still isn’t sure what it means. Why give Neku the chance to shoot him, in those final moments in that dark grey room, if all Joshua wanted was to be done with Shibuya? Neku would have thought that he’d failed whatever test Joshua was levering against him when he faltered at pulling the trigger on the boy he’d come to think of as a friend.

So why is everything still standing?

Why does Neku hope to hear that gratingly self-satisfied voice so badly?

Neku can’t understand- it’s impossible to. But he knows he isn’t seeing Joshua anytime soon, much less tonight, so he pulls himself to his feet with a heavy sigh to begin the walk home, one hand shoved into his pocket to fiddle with the black lacquered pin he keeps tucked away. He absently chews on the straw of his drink as he ambles through the busy Shibuya streets, headed to the station to take his train line home. He reaches for his pocket when his phone buzzes with a text. Probably just Shiki or Rhyme letting him know they got home… safe…?

Unknown The Composer needs help. You’re the only one who can do it.

Unknown Immediately

The soda cup cracks open and spills along the concrete as Neku breaks into a run towards the station.

Neku’s lungs are burning by the time he reaches the sewers that Joshua had so carefully led him to during the Game. It’s as dark and dank and cold as he remembers, the sound of his feet echoing down the tunnels so loud it sounds like gunshots in his head. He half expects another barrier pulled up to keep him out, to keep him from making sure that stupid asshole is alive- or existing, or whatever.

But no, the door to that weird retro underground club is open, cracked open with a flip flop of all things stuck in the doorway so it doesn’t swing shut and activate the padlock again. A bubble of anxiety wells and pops in Neku’s chest. What is this? Is someone here to hurt Joshua? Or is this the person who messaged him to help Josh? He doesn’t understand what’s going on.

What if this is another of Joshua’s Games?

Neku takes a deep breath and shoves the door open, barreling into that same retro lounge he’d once been forced to fight Shiki in. It’s quiet, near silent except for the hum of the refrigerator behind the bar. No sign of anything or anyone. The schools of fish in the walls and floor continue to swim idly, completely undisturbed. It seems like a normal lounge. It all sets Neku’s nerves on edge.

Neku silently pads into the room, every muscle aching with how tense he feels. Okay, room empty. Where’s the jackass then? His heartbeat thunders in his ears, reminding him that yes, he’s alive.

Which, Neku realizes as he searches the room to find no one around and no other exits except the one he entered through, means he’s in the RG. That huge wooden door that Neku had to scan for isn’t open for him now. His Player Pin is dead without whatever energy the UG carries within it, nothing more than a token of his trials. He pulls the tiny pin out anyway and clenches it tight in his hand, breathing in deep and closing his eyes as he opens his senses.

…

Nothing calls out to him, nothing shifts in his mind or pokes at his attention. No stray thoughts or Noise distract him from the solitude of his own head. There’s nothing. It’s what he’s always tried to achieve.

Now it only reminds him of that last day, barreling through a still Shibuya to finally regain his life.

With a snarl of frustration, Neku’s eyes snap open. No door. Nothing has changed whatsoever except for the speeding up of his pulse hammering away, the shaking of his hands that want to fight doing nothing to calm him.

“How the hell am I supposed to save him if I can’t even get in?” Neku shouts into the empty air, raking a hand through his hair. He stomps a foot, fish scattering in alarm underfoot. Something is wrong, he can feel it in the air. If Joshua were okay he’d have appeared already to taunt him, right?

Why Neku, did you miss me so badly today that you had to break into my home?

Yeah, jackass.

“Please,” Neku whispers into the empty air, eyes closing once again. Panic has his chest tightening. Joshua needs him, he can feel it through whatever connection has been left between them, right? So why is he being forced to just sit here? What if he’s already too late? “Please let me in.”

With bated breath, he opens his eyes once again. Relief, strong enough to send him nearly to his knees, surges through him as he sees a tall, oaken door standing before him.

The panic in his chest curls tighter and tighter with every step closer he takes, has him hesitating as he shoves past the heavy doors. What is going on? This… doesn’t feel like him. He’s done this before, he’ll be fine. He has to be fine. Joshua has to be fine.

Why does he even care about the bastard anyway? What has Joshua ever done for him, really?

Graffiti rushes past him as his aching feet carry him deeper and deeper back to that fateful spot he and Joshua had last seen one another- that smirking grin, the smoke wisping off of the barrel of the gun. Three weeks of hell, just for that. What if this is just another of those stupid games of his?

Trust your partner.

Well. It’s gotten him this far, if with an extra bullet scar to his chest. He can trust CAT’s words one last time.

Besides, he can hear screaming.

Neku feels what’s wrong before he can actually see it, the hair on his arms and the back of his neck rising as something that he would describe as feeling like static dances across his skin and through his veins? What the hell? Is that Noise? That’s one hell of an energy spike for even a dangerous Noise.

But then Neku stumbles into that throne room and immediately has to throw his arm up over his eyes, squinting as a bright light nearly blinds him. Wind whips around the epicenter of this glow, tugging at his hair and his clothes and his heart. “What the hell?”

He plants his feet and squints through the bright light, grinding his teeth together through the pain as something deep in him tells him to get out, go, run. But he can’t because there in the middle of this power, this personal storm wrapped around him, is a tall figure with broad shoulders, curled over in pain and mouth open to scream, a pair of white fluffy wings sprouting from his back and flexing as if to try to pull the figure free from the storm. Neku can really only recognize him by the sight of that messy, curly hair and that connection that urges him closer, urges him to help. His partner is in pain.

“Joshua!” Neku grits his teeth and tries to take a step forward, only to be buffeted back by the power. He snarls and firmly plants his foot forward, then again, determination settling in his chest. He could turn back, return to the life Joshua gave back to him and forget this storm is happening, give in to the fear and anxiety and live like the ignorant RG person he is. Neku scoffs and takes a third step, bringing himself that much closer to his bastard of a partner. “Like hell I’m giving up on you after everything! You hear me, Josh?”

The storm seems to shudder in response, lessening slightly. That head lifts weakly, showing glazed, blank eyes that close in… resignation? No, that feels wrong. The Joshua he knows wouldn’t be giving up. What’s happened to him to get him here?

The fear curls up again as Neku fights his way through the storm. What’s to keep Joshua from killing him again, or this power that surges back up to meet his forward progress? His hands are shaking.

To think this is how he sees his partner again. No smarmy sudden howdy, Neku from around a street corner, or the bastard showing up suddenly to their friend gathering. No, Neku has to save his ass from whatever the hell this is. Fucker. He wants to yell at this idiot until his throat is hoarse, to yank him from this oppressive static clinging to him and hold him tight in relief. But Neku has to get Joshua free before he can do anything. Stupid.

“Get down here!” With another snarl, Neku shoves forward and plunges his hands into the glowing mass, eyes widening when his hands sink in to settle around a familiar wrist, a wrist he’d grabbed and dragged around Shibuya when his partner hadn’t wanted to participate in the mission. Neku grits his teeth and tightens his grip, thrusting his other hand in to snag Joshua’s shoulder. The form under this glowing feels like the kid he knows, the bastard who would giggle and taunt him. But it’s wrong, trembling under the power he’s trapped in. Static pricks along Neku’s arm, stinging warningly as if to make him release his prize. Neku shakes his head and ignores how he can’t feel his arm. “Damn it, I’m not letting go! That’s my partner!”

Neku grits his teeth and yanks, pulling Joshua free of the storm that tries to cling tight to it’s Composer. When he pulls that trembling hand free first, the white glow seems to peel away and leave a small, pale hand behind. Sure enough, as Neku hauls Joshua down from the epicenter and safe into his arms, static fizzles out and pops off of the tall form of what Neku can only assume is the Composer, leaving nothing more than the small teenager that Neku thought he knew so well leaning helplessly against his chest. Large feathered wings, disheveled and shuddering, hang limp from his friend’s back, drag against the ground as Neku quickly backs away from the storm that had possessed Joshua. White feathers rip free, pulled by the storm, and vanish upon hitting the ground. Joshua shudders in his arms and weakly looks up at him.

Joshua blinks hazily up at Neku, limp against his chest. His voice breaks when he speaks, hoarse from screaming if Neku had to guess. “N..?”

“Josh…” He looks exactly the same, right down to his clothing choices. But he also looks completely different, torn and beaten to hell and back from whatever was trying to rip him apart up there. Around his neck, hair tangled in the headband, lies a large pair of purple and grey headphones, battered and beaten from years of heavy use and worn from love. What the hell? Neku had tossed those things to the ground as soon as he’d realized he was alive. How did Josh end up with them? Why is he wearing them?

Questions for later. Are they safe?

Neku glances up warrily. The storm is just… gone, after its victim has been freed. Neku looks back down at his rescue in his arms. What was that? What’s been happening for the last week? Why does Joshua look dead on his feet? Neku frowns. “Are you okay?”

“I-” Joshua coughs, turning his face away from Neku’s. Everything about the boy in his arms looks worn and beaten. Dark circles cling to beneath his eyes. When’s the last time Josh slept? Does he even need to sleep? He sure looks it. His cheek rests heavily against Neku’s shoulder, tired gaze searching the dark corners of the large stone room. Neku follows his gaze, but can’t find anything. “I’m fine.”

Joshua seems to sigh, almost resigned as he tries to straighten up. Neku slowly lowers his arms, a hand resting between his partner’s shoulder blades- between those wings- as he wobbles, unsteady on his feet. The wings flare a bit, as if to steady him, but Joshua grits his teeth and they slump back to the ground. Neku frowns. Does that hurt him?

“You look like you’re about to keel over.” Neku scowls back at Joshua’s dirty look sent his way. It’s true. “What happened? What was that?”

“I am.” Joshua licks at his lips, gaze still slightly unfocused. Neku’s tempted to wave his finger in front of his eyes to see if he can track it. The blond leans in against the supportive touch to his back. “About to keel over, that is. It seems, Neku, that you’ve…” Joshua wobbles and raises a shaking hand to his shoulder, rolling out the joint a bit. He laughs sardonically under his breath. “It seems you’ve interrupted my execution.”

“Your what?” Neku asks sharply, baffled. As per usual with Joshua, every answer to a question only raises five more answers he needs. Joshua just cringes back at the noise, head falling back as his eyes squeeze closed. The guy looks like he’s about to drop, frail and ready to shatter. This isn’t the Joshua he knows.

Neku presses his lips into a firm line and gently takes Joshua by his upper arm, urging him towards that large throne at the back of the room. “C’mon, sit down.”

Joshua digs his heels in when Neku tries to pull him deeper into the room, shaking his head. He’s trembling in Neku’s grip, nearly collapsing in his attempt to pull back from where Neku’s leading him. Neku nearly lets him fall in surprise as panic flashes across Joshua’s worn expression, gaze locked onto the cold stone. “No, no, not there. The couch, in the Pad, but not here.”

“Okay, okay… not there. Got it.” Neku reaches for Joshua again, feeling almost like he’s reaching for a scared animal. What happened to him? He frowns and winds his arm around Joshua’s thin wait and drapes his arm across his shoulders. A little barbed tease about how Joshua needs his help rests on the tip of his tongue, laced with fury, but Neku swallows it down. He’ll have plenty of time to get mad at Joshua later. “C’mon, lean on me. You said we’re going to the pad?”

That has to be the weird western retro looking room outside of those invisible doors. What’s with that thing anyway?

Joshua gives Neku a blank look, reluctance in his eyes as he nods and leans against Neku. His gaze flits over one more time to the far wall, searching the dark corners, before falling to watch where he’s placing his feet. Must be taking a lot of concentration, Neku guesses, even with the way Joshua’s leaning his weight against Neku. Those pitiful, ruffled wings that look like they should be fluffy and bright drape over his arm and drag along the ground as they slowly make their way through the graffiti halls back to the RG. Joshua’s silent along the walk except for a tiny muttered curse when he trips over his own feet.

“Careful,” Neku mutters, pulling Joshua closer. This feels wrong, seeing Joshua so exhausted and practically defeated like this. The last time he’d seen his partner, the jackass had been smirking at him over the smoking barrel of a gun. He looked like he’d had the world resting in the palm of his hand, content and satisfied with how his plans had gone. But this Joshua looks like he’s on his last legs, tossed to hell and back and only clinging on to existence for some determined reason only he knows. Neku lowers Joshua carefully to the couch when they finally make it into that glaringly bright room, despite the urgency in his nerves. “There we go…”

Joshua blinks up slowly at Neku as he sinks into the couch, a grimace pulling at his lips as those long, wilted wings get pressed against the back. His eyes slide closed for a moment, brows knitting together in what Neku has to assume is pain, and the wings seem to simply fizzle out of existence. Neku can’t quite even focus on where they would be on the couch anymore. Huh.

Long, pale fingers are pulling at a thick blanket draped over the arm of the couch, but Neku can see how much effort it takes his once proud partner to even tug the blanket over himself. He exhales slowly through his nose, but looks around to find a distraction. He draws the line at tucking his murderer in.

Neku turns away, gripping his arm. What now? He’s got questions, so so many questions, but he doesn’t even know where to begin, much less how to get the answers out of Josh when his partner knows so well how to run Neku in circles.

His gaze lands on the bar on the far side of the room. Neku’s feet take off before he can process the thought, taking him behind the bar to search through the various glass bottles lined up against the wall. He can feel Joshua’s curious gaze tracking his movements, sending the hairs on his neck standing on end. Neku scoffs. “Do you have nothing but wine and liquor here?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Neku,” Joshua murmurs lightly. He sounds so tired, but there’s a little more life to his voice now that he’s sitting down. Neku rolls his eyes. Who’s the ridiculous one here? “We have plenty of soda and juice back there for mixers.”

“I’m looking for water, dumbass,” Neku snips back, kneeling to investigate the minifridge stashed beneath the bar. He pops open the stainless steel door and breathes a sigh of relief. Behind a neat stack of soda and juices stands a few bottles of water. Neku snags one and grabs a soda for himself before standing with a groan and looking at his ex partner.

He doesn’t think he’s ever seen the blond look so small, curled in on himself with the thick blanket draped so carefully across him. Everything about him seems wilted, even his curly hair more tangled and limp than usual. His shoulders sag, as if those wings are still weighing him down. His gaze listlessly tracks the fish swimming through the flooring underfoot.

What’s with those things anyway? Is Joshua so far removed from humanity that he has wings? Maybe he shouldn’t be too surprised. The Reapers had wings, though they were black and gothic, skeletal and reaching. Joshua’s were long and seemed like they would spread wide if he were to extend them, feathered and full even as disheveled and painful as they looked. Joshua looked like he could have flown with them, if they were taken care of better.

Neku sighs and sets the can of soda and the bottle of water on the bar, leaning against it as he pops the tab with a quick jerk. Joshua looks up at the noise, tired violet eyes meeting Neku’s gaze. Huh. Neku’s lips turn down as he stamps down a surge of anger.

“So…” Joshua’s gaze dims even more as Neku starts off. His lips press together as Neku clears his throat. “What was that back there?”

“What was what, Neku?” Even his voice is tired, none of that cocky inflection that used to color his tone.and infuriate Neku so much. Neku needs to hear that tone again, if only so he wouldn’t feel like shit for still having the urge to deck the kid.

“That, Joshua, back in that stupid stone room.” Neku’s voice rings in the empty room, crossing the expanse between them. He’s worried about the jackass. He doesn’t know what’s going on. Is Joshua still in danger? Is Neku? He doesn’t like worrying, doesn’t like the bubble of anxiety that builds and builds and builds in his chest so he does what he always has and turns it into something else. That anger rises again. He comes all this way after missing the asshole who shot him for a solid week, and now he’s going to try and play coy? He was led like a dog to some stupid final showdown between people much more powerful than him and this is what Josh is going to try and pull in response? No. Neku grits his teeth. “What did you mean by execution? And damn it, you need to give me a straight answer this time.”

“Neku…” Joshua turns his gaze back down, expression unchanged by Neku’s outburst. He raises a delicate hand to press against his temple. He’s probably still in pain. “Now?”

“I can’t help you if you won’t share what’s going on!” Neku snatches up the drinks and marches around the bar to stand in front of the couch, facing down Joshua. He tosses the water bottle down beside Joshua, reaching behind himself to set his own soda on the table. His hands are shaking. Yelling at someone who looks like a walking corpse doesn’t feel good at all. “Why was I called here to help if you won’t even take it?”

“Called here?” Joshua blinks, expression slipping as he stares flabbergasted up at Neku. His brow furrows in as he gapes open mouthed at Neku. He clears his throat and looks away, tucking his hair behind his ear as he reschools his expression. “I don’t know of any such calling, Neku. I was a bit preoccupied.”

Right. Josh looked pretty wrapped up in that storm. Neku can’t forget those agonized screams. There’s no way he would have been able to make a phone call, much less send two different messages.

Neku can’t get over how exhausted his friend looks. The anger drains out of him all at once. With a heavy sigh, Neku flops onto the couch beside Joshua. He does relish the visible surprise on his partner’s face when he bounces for the force.

“What are you doing?”

“Staying with you.” Neku sighs and runs his hand through his bangs, shoving back the gelled spikes. “I’m making sure you’re okay. Drink some water.”

Joshua sputters when Neku reaches across him to pick up the bottle and press it against his chest through the blanket. He squirms, hands fighting free of the confines of the fabric to grip the bottle even as he protests. “I don’t need-“

“Drink. The water.” Neku snaps, crossing his arms. His gaze drifts to those headphones around Joshua’s neck. He doesn’t know what he’s doing here, or anything about what’s going on in Joshua’s head, but there’s some connection between them even still that Neku has to figure out. He doesn’t know why Joshua has his headphones. But it reassured him, strangely enough. “I want to help, dumbass.”

He meets Joshua’s wide gaze. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m still pissed at you and I will be getting answers. But I trust you.” His voice softens. “I won’t leave you alone like this.”

“But…” Joshua falls silent for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. The fabric tightens and loosens, as if fingers are clenching at it from the inside.

Neku nudges Joshua’s shoulder. “Water.”

“This is my penance, Neku,” Joshua murmurs quietly. The plastic of the water bottle snaps as he twists the cap off. Joshua pulls his feet up onto the couch. Neku swears he sees his jaw trembling before he turns away. But Joshua’s voice does sound tight, like there’s something stuck in his throat. “I’m supposed to be left ‘like this,’ to be left alone.”

“That’s bullshit,” Neku spits. The quiet admission strikes a chord in him. He once thought he could live alone too, that it was fine if he kept his world borders closed to only himself. That he deserved it. But he learned differently, thanks to his friends. To Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, and yeah. Even Joshua. “I’m sitting here right now, aren’t I? You don’t have to be alone.”

Joshua’s silent for a moment.

“So chivalrous, Neku. When did that happen?” He laughs, quietly and sardonically. Neku wants to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. Joshua, face still turned away, tucks his hair behind his ears. “What I mean, Neku, is that I am quite literally not allowed to have any unnecessary contact with anyone. A Composer’s identity is supposed to remain a secret, you know. Only the Conductor can know who he is.” Joshua’s expression falters, a dark shadow across that cutting gaze. “And the powers that be have decreed that I’m not allowed to have another. Can’t be trusted not to break my toys, apparently.”

Some kind of punishment? That makes sense, Josh did try to nuke Shibuya. Even if he changed his mind, Joshua shot him, and even he has to face some sort of consequences for that, right? Sounds like it, if he has some kind of higher tier watching his movement. They probably weren’t too crazy about Joshua apparently going renegade.

But if Joshua isn’t allowed to have any kind of contact, then who the hell called him here? Someone who would insist that Neku is Joshua’s only chance at living.

It seems like every answer Joshua deigns to give him, he only has so many more questions to give back.

“Does that have anything to do with why you were being torn apart back there?”

“Ah…” Joshua flinches, the fabric of the blanket tightening around him as if he’s squeezing himself inside his cocoon. His voice comes out as a near whisper. “Yes. As you can imagine, Shibuya was… rather dissatisfied with my actions. She wasn’t too happy with me trying to destroy her current UG and hand the reins off. So… it appears as if she decided to simply give me what I wanted.” Joshua’s breath hitches. “Really, she must have seen it as a kindness, perhaps. After all the trouble I went through.”

Joshua laughs, one of those forced giggles. He nudges Neku’s arm with his elbow. “But how lucky for me that Shibuya adores you so much.”

She? Does Shibuya have… her own personality or personification or something? Alright. Sure. Not the weirdest thing that Neku’s heard of in the last month. His mind is running a mile a minute, stumbling over itself. He frowns in response to Joshua’s playfulness and nudges him back. Joshua’s smile wavers, but he covers it up with a sip from the water bottle.

Neku’s surprised at how quickly he’s learning to read this more fragile Joshua. He’s entirely on the defensive. If Neku pressed hard enough, he might be able to get any answer he wanted.

He just wants to know if Joshua is okay.

“So Shibuya was mad that you tried to nuke it- her.” Neku rubs the back of his neck. “But what? Adores me? What does that mean?”

“You spent three weeks tromping all across her UG, meeting the challenges set by her denizens and spreading your influence. You left a bit of you, Neku, near everywhere you went.” Joshua just laughs softly when Neku stares, flabbergasted at him. “It’s only natural that she would grow to love you. The same way that you grew to love her, no?”

“I… guess you’re not wrong.” Neku shifts uncomfortably, lacing his fingers together to hang loosely as he leans forward on his knees for support. He used to hate this city, hate its ideals and the noise and the crowds that made it all clash. But Shibuya is his home. The Game taught him to appreciate it, to listen to people and see how their differences make it a better city. “So… what are you saying? Shibuya led me here?”

“No.” Joshua shakes his head. The tiniest and most honest smile Neku has ever seen on Joshua’s face curls his lips. “And if my suspicions are correct, I can’t tell you who did. That’s beyond my jurisdiction. Normally that wouldn’t stop me, but I’m trying to get time off for good behavior.” He laughs- forced again- and tucks his hair behind his ear. “No, Neku, Shibuya was trying to kill me. Why would she lead you here?”

“I don’t know.” Joshua just sounds so resigned. He’s never heard him sound like this before. Neku feels helpless. “Because she knew I would try and save you?”

Joshua freezes beside him, the plastic of the bottle crinkling. Neku turns to glance at Joshua, catching only a glimpse of wide eyed confusion just as his head snaps away. Joshua shakes his head as if to clear it. “Ah, well. Of course, I’m very grateful to still be sitting here.”

“Will it happen again?” Neku takes Joshua’s momentary tension as a yes. Joshua’s clearly trying to hide his reactions and expressions as he usually does, but nearly dying must affect the amount of effort one can put into that.

“I have to assume so,” Joshua murmurs. He sighs. “A Composer is not meant to be without a Conductor. A Conductor not only serves as his Composer’s link to the Reapers and makes sure the Game goes smoothly, but he also helps to assist the Composer in guiding and mitigating the sheer power of the city that runs through the Composer. And as I don’t have a Conductor, I have to try and handle all this power on my own. Add Shibuya’s anger to that and…”

And Joshua doesn’t have long, Neku finishes silently. Joshua’s set back into the couch by this point, gaze tipped idly towards the floor. His partner looks sleepy, of all things. Guess that makes sense. Neku follows his line of sight and isn’t at all surprised to find him watching the fish again. He wonders what Joshua is thinking. He’s lost the one person who was allowed to know him. And now he’s fucking dying because of it.

“There has to be something we can do…” Neku offers weakly, mind racing. Joshua doesn’t deserve to die. He firmly believes that, even as the snarled knots of dual scars in his chest twinge at the thought. He still doesn’t quite know what Joshua was thinking during the Game (what did he mean, Shibuya was going to give him what he wanted? Shibuya was killing-). But it all worked out, in the end. He didn’t destroy Shibuya. He even restored it. Rhyme’s back, and she lost fair and square. Neku’s even pretty sure that he saw a poster for a Def March concert pop up a couple days ago. Josh did all that.

Neku runs a hand over his mouth. Could he…?

“You need a Conductor, right? They won’t give you one and aren’t exactly giving you the chance to appoint a new one.”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but essentially that’s the gist.” Joshua tiredly lifts a hand, letting his fingers drift through his own hair. His shoulder leans just a bit more heavily against Neku’s. Neku sits back to support him better. Joshua sighs heavily. “So I’m quite out of luck, you see.”

So if Joshua gets a new Conductor, he’ll live. Those higher ups of his have made it so Josh can’t find a new one. Probably fair enough, considering what happened to his last one.

Neku has to be crazy to be thinking what he’s thinking, then.

“What if I was your Conductor?”

Joshua’s head snaps around, wide startled eyes clashing against Neku’s calm gaze. Jaw dropped, Joshua stares. Neku almost has time to find amusement in it when Joshua’s gaze narrows. “Are you an idiot, Neku?” Joshua snaps through grit teeth. Neku’s almost offended by the venom in Joshua’s voice. “You hated every second you spent in the UG.”

“Not every second,” Neku mumbles. It’s where he met his friends, including Josh. He would still be a lonely, abrasive asshole if he wasn’t forced into the Game. It doesn’t mean he forgives Joshua, and he’s going to punch him as soon as he can without knocking the Composer flat on his ass. But he can’t let him die like this.

“Nonetheless, you don’t even know what you’re trying to sign up for.” Joshua spits, shaking his head. He scowls at Neku, glaring. “Are you always so impulsive?”

“No,” Neku answers plainly. But he’s not thinking about himself right now. He hasn’t thought about if he wants back into the Game, even if he isn’t a player. All he can see are those wings that had dragged against the ground, the way they had shed feathers all across the ground like tears. Joshua could die. Neku can’t just sit back and watch something like that happen again. “But I can’t just do nothing.”

“You absolutely can Neku.” Joshua sighs. “I’m simply dealing with what I’m owed.”

Neku frowns and scoots closer to Joshua. Josh leans away for a moment, but looks down as he slumps against Neku’s shoulder. Neku clears his throat. “Your face deserves to meet my fist, but you don’t deserve an execution.”

“Don’t I?” Joshua tips his head back, leaning just a little bit more against Neku’s shoulder. He runs his tongue across his teeth, clearly deep in thought. “… do it.”

“What the fuck, Josh,” Neku spits. A surge of hot anger runs through him. What kind of jackass does Joshua think he is? “I’m not going to punch you right now. Do you think I’m that shitty?”

“You said I deserve it. Get it over with,” Joshua says simply with another infuriating shrug. “I’m waiting.”

“Oh, fuck you,” Neku bites, leaning away from Joshua. He grits his teeth. “Don’t fucking toy with me, Joshua. I’ve got some things I want to say, but it can wait until after I help you.”

Joshua scoffs. “You do still have all of your memory, yes? I know I haven’t taken anything I didn’t give back to you. Why would you help me at all?”

“Because you’re my friend, damn it!” Why the hell is Joshua being so difficult? Is this another of his stupid games? Neku’s anger burns hot in his chest. “I haven’t forgiven you, if that’s what you’re asking, but we’re still friends. I don’t want you to die. If you need me to become your Conductor for that, I’ll do it.”

It probably isn’t that simple. But in this moment it feels like it is. Maybe the Game won’t be so bad if he has some control over it.

“I don’t get friends, Neku,” Joshua hisses. A sympathetic pang runs through Neku’s chest, quenching some of the fire. He’s… shaking. Neku’s eyes widen as their gazes clash. Is Joshua… afraid? “Apparently I have a tendency to get them erased. You should run while you still can.”

Josh… wants him to get mad, Neku realizes. Is he trying to push him away? Well. Like hell is Neku doing anything that Joshua wants. He crosses his arms. “You don’t get a say on people caring about you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

“You do realize what you’re volunteering for, yes?” Joshua sneers. He’s clearly shaken. This can’t be one of Joshua’s games. Neku doesn’t think he’d ever voluntarily look so weak. “Did you like the taste of metal so much, Neku?”

Neku’s breath hitches and his chest seizes up. He hasn’t forgotten what being shot felt like, or the ring of gunfire through Joshua’s pistol. He fought so hard to come back to life. He doesn’t want to die again, he just found friends, a new goal, things to live for! But he can’t leave Joshua like this… Josh is his friend too. But Neku can’t swallow around the taste of metal in his lungs, can’t hear around the thunder of gunshot in his ears.

But then there’s a hesitant weight against his shoulder, a warmth to distract him from the memory. Neku blinks and looks down to find Joshua facing away, but leaning to brace his back against Neku’s shoulder. He’s pulled both legs up onto the couch, knees to his chest with the blanket wrapped around him as he faces away completely from Neku. Is Josh… trying to comfort him? Neku can’t see his expression like this. It’s odd, but not unpleasant.

“What would I have to do? As Conductor.”

“That’s classified information.” Joshua sinks deeper into his blanket. If Neku had to guess, that petulant gaze is locked on the fish below again. He sounds like he’s pouting. “I don’t want you as my Conductor, Neku, we’ve been over this.”

“You don’t exactly have a lot of people lining up for the position,” Neku tosses back. He frowns and leans in to press his weight against Joshua’s. A reminder that he’s there. This isn’t going to be the last time they talk. He won’t let Joshua be alone.

Joshua sighs. Neku can see the way his finger curls again and again and again in his hair. “You’d have to die again, for one, and how boring to lose your life just after having it returned to you. And then you’d have to put up with me constantly, listening to my whining and my demands and then you’d have to obey them. And most Conductors get erased in the line of fire when someone is gunning for the Composer’s position.”

Joshua’s tone is a little rushed, a little frantic. Neku can’t help but huff softly, smiling a little.

“Do you give this campaign speech to every candidate you have?” Neku snarks.

“Only the ones I don’t want.” Joshua sneers.

Neku hums in response. None of that really sounds great at all. But Joshua’s still trying to push him away. That can’t be all to it. “I’ve seen Def March in the RG. So I could still see my friends and could grab a burger here and there.” He nudges Joshua’s back. “Could grab you some of those chili dogs you like.”

Joshua’s hair pulls taut around his finger. Neku’s a little worried he’ll pull it out, but Joshua’s sigh cuts his thoughts short. “Theoretically, yes.”

“Then it doesn’t matter.” Neku can still expand his world from UG just as well as from the RG. He can finish the murals he’s started. He wouldn’t even have to give up any goals. Except maybe graduating, but it isn’t like Neku hasn’t thought about dropping out of school before. Hell, that only sweetens the deal.

“You are unbelievably frustrating, Neku!” Joshua shouts, running a hand through his hair. Neku’s never heard the other sound so done with the situation, not even when dealing with the Grim Heaper. “I am fine. I don’t need you as my Conductor.”

“Why are you being so frustrating?” Neku shoots back, shifting to look at Joshua properly. The other boy reluctantly shifts away to meet his gaze, frowning hard. Neku’s hands start to tremble. “I know you’re in pain. Every movement projects it so hard you should just give up on trying to hide it. You’re dying, Josh, and Shibuya’s going to finish you off if you don’t let me help you. I can do that.”

Neku sighs and sits back without breaking Joshua’s gaze, even as his friend visibly flinches. “If you really don’t want me as your Conductor, then fine. But let me fill in until you find someone you can work with so that you don’t just evaporate out of existence.”

“I don’t want to kill you again, Neku!”

“What, you already killed me once for your Game. You can’t kill me now to save your own life?” Neku snaps back immediately. Joshua looks hurt, like it took everything for him to admit that. It might have. Neku doesn’t particularly care. And yeah, he’s a little bitter. He’s allowed that.

“That was before you had to go and change! Had to go and change me!” Joshua tugs at his hair with both hands, teeth ground together. Joshua’s head snaps up to meet Neku’s gaze. He looks desperate. “Why didn’t you just shoot me?”

Neku presses his lips together in a firm line, meeting the stubborn Composer’s glare with one of his own. “How could I? You put me through all kinds of hell. You stole my life. Forced me through a cruel game. You manipulated me. But I’m still trusting you despite all that. Like I keep saying.” Neku softens his voice. Joshua’s just gotten more and more visibly distressed the more he’s spoken. “You’re my friend.”

“You trusted me and I threw another bullet at you!” Joshua scowls. Neku’s struck again by how fragile he looks. A shaking kid wrapped in blankets, beaten to hell and back and… nearly crying. Joshua hiccups as he struggles to fight back tears. Neku’s heart squeezes tight in his chest. “How could you call me a friend? I don’t… I don’t understand, Neku…”

If Joshua’s trying to convince Neku that he’s a horrible person who doesn’t deserve to be saved, this heartbreaking image isn’t cutting it. He just sees a lonely kid who’s been forced into even more solitude. Slowly, timidly, Neku reaches out to curl an arm around Joshua and tug him close.

“Wha-” Joshua gasps in his ear, but doesn’t fight when Neku pulls him into a tight hug. He squirms in Neku’s grip, but rests his chin on his shoulder. “N-Neku?”

“Just shut up for a second, Josh.” Neku wraps his other arm around Joshua, shifting to rest his chin on the crown of the Composer’s head. Joshua’s chest, pressed to his, is heaving and he can hear Joshua trying to take measured breaths. Neku tightens his grip. This is… really warm. He can’t remember the last time he had a hug. He squeezes his stubborn, frustrating jackass of a friend closer. Neku closes his eyes. “I missed you.”

Joshua shifts again and takes a moment to work a hand out of the blanket. Neku hides a smile in those blond curls as a tentative hand curls in the back of Neku’s shirt. Joshua sighs softly. “I’d tell you that I missed you too, but you told me to shut up.”

“Dumbass,” Neku laughs, snorting softly into Joshua’s shoulder. Damn it. He even somewhat missed arguing with this guy. They still have a lot to work out, but Neku just can’t let him die.

Joshua chuckles back and seems to melt into the hug for a few moments before loosening his grip. He pulls back to look at Neku, smile slipping away. Neku’s own grin falls at Joshua’s serious look. “I don’t want to have to kill you again, Neku.”

“Believe it or not, I’m not crazy about the idea either, Josh.” Neku crosses his arms. He really isn’t. He remembers the taste of metal in his mouth, the way blood had welled in his lungs. But he got Joshua to smile. It makes Neku just as happy as when he made Shiki smile today. “As long as I can see my friends again and live my life to some extent, I can handle it.”

“I suppose you will know your way around the Game by this point,” Joshua muses, the curl of his knuckles pressed to his lips in thought. Neku raises an eyebrow as Joshua laughs. “Especially as I was one of your guides.”

Is that him giving in, or bragging? Knowing Josh, probably both. Neku rolls his eyes.

“Right.” His gaze tracks Joshua’s movement as he pulls his fingers through his messy hair. His chest feels heavy. “So… we should probably get this over with quickly, yeah?”

Joshua twists his hair between his fingers. “If this is what we’re doing, then… yes, best to get this done as soon as possible, before Shibuya…” Joshua falters. Clears his throat. “Before Shibuya decides she’s tired of waiting.”

Joshua waves his hand. Neku flinches as a familiar heavy gun snaps into being in Joshua’s palm. His partner raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure you can handle this, Neku?”

“No,” Neku answers honestly. “But the only other choice is to let you die, right?”

Joshua nods, silent.

Neku takes a deep breath- his last one, maybe. He glances towards the padlocked door, towards the RG. Does he have any loose ends he wants to take care of as living and breathing Neku?

No, actually, nothing he hasn’t been told he’ll be able to do as Conductor. He can keep his friendships, can keep Shiki and Beat and Rhyme and he’ll be able to meet Eri eventually and he’ll be able to create still.

And he’ll be able to work out his complicated feelings towards Joshua.

“Neku?”

“What?” Neku looks up at Joshua. He holds himself up a bit better now, seeming to sit up a little straighter. One hand lightly grips the headphones draped around his neck. Neku’s a little afraid that the familiarity of the gun in his other hand is what’s bolstering Joshua’s confidence. But he kind of hopes that it’s Neku offering to be his Conductor that’s helped Joshua pull himself together. Neku raises his chin stubbornly.

“What are you waiting for? Shoot.”

#TWEWY #TWEWY Bang 2020 #The World Ends With You #Subarashiki Kono Sekai #shadowstryker #submission

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ryuukia · 4 years

Text

[Translation] SolidS Drama Vol.5 “One faithful day, I saw you laughing under the starry sky” Track 1

Ryota passed me this CD and the following one, and since these 4 are therapeutic for me (translation-wise), I couldn’t refuse. Personally I wish I could start with drama 6, but I have to do things in order... Also many thanks to Ryota for proofing this for me.

Please don’t repost/retranslate/reuse my translations. Likes and reblogs are appreciated.

CD Cast:

Takamura Shiki (CV. Eguchi Takuya)

Okui Tsubasa (CV. Saito Souma)

Sera Rikka (CV. Hanae Natsuki)

Murase Dai (CV. Umehara Yuuichirou)

Haiduki Fumihiko (CV. Kowahara Yoshihisa)

Horimiya Eichi (CV. Nishiyama Koutarou)

Staff A (CV. Uenishi Teppei)

Staff B (CV. Hose Yuuichi)

Track 1: A different view from usual

-typing and click sounds are heard-

Shiki: Sigh. I think things will turn out well if I continue on with this.

-phone rings-

Shiki: Hm? -picks up- Haiduki. What is it? Yeah. Yeah. Ah, this one? As soon as I’m done with it, I’ll hand it to you. Wait a bit more. You know the most what exactly keeps me busy right now.

Shiki: Hmm…… You can’t make me give this up. No matter how much you ask, my answer will be the same. Let me stick with this project.

Shiki: I’m aware my other jobs are pressing me, I’ll do something about that.

Shiki: I won’t say something stupid like “Trust me” at this point, but we’re still in the same boat. Just this once, follow along with me, manager.

Shiki: Fine, if everything ends up well, I’ll send you all the alcohol you want, Fumi-chan. I’ll leave the rest to you.

-call ends-

Shiki: Alright. -goes back to work-

Staff A: Alright, this is okay for now. Let’s take a break.

-Rikka goes back to his seat and drinks some water-

Staff B: Sera-san, excuse me, I’ll be fixing your make-up. Hmm, aah, your skin’s in perfect condition as always. Do you have any secrets to share?

Rikka: Hmm, nothing in particular. If anything, I only try to sleep properly and have balanced meals. Though I can’t deny I have issues following these rules sometimes because of my jobs.

Staff B: Ooh, that really does sound difficult. Everyone seems so busy.

Rikka: This is nothing. Though it might seem easier to me right now because of my years of experience as a model. Our manager is also very attentive with us.

Staff B: If I’m not wrong, SolidS’ manager is… Haiduki-san, right? If I think about it, he’d look cool even as a talent.

Rikka: I’m sure he’d be happy to hear that.

Staff B: That person is very considerate with the staff members on the set too. I also heard that he does his work fast and properly. When it comes to Solids, the schedule is extremely packed, but when you realize it’s him who will manage it, you get some sort of sense of relief.

Rikka: I’m glad to hear that. I’ll make sure to let him know.

Staff B: Please tell him we’re under his care from now on too. Oh, isn’t that person over there Murase-san?

Rikka: Eh? Dai?

Staff B: Next to him is QUELL’s…

Rikka: Oh… It’s Eichi. Please excuse me for a bit.

Rikka: Dai! Eichi!

-both come over to Rikka-

Dai: Hello.

Eichi: Good job~! Ahh, Rikka-san! You look so pretty!

Rikka: Thank you for the compliment! But Eichi, didn’t you forget something important?

Eichi: Ah…

Rikka: I told you to drop the ‘-san’, only ‘Rikka’ is fine. I asked you that the other day. No formal speech.

Eichi: A..h…

Dai: You’re still on about that? You’ve been so concerned about that for a long time now...

Rikka: Indeed. Just like how Dai won’t drop the honorifics with Shiki, Eichi also doesn’t really seem to be able to relax around me. I don’t mind it, but I’d be happier if he was more frank with me.

Dai: The fact that I speak formally with Shiki is more of a habit. I used to be into swimming once, so something like casual talk with the seniors from the sports club was unlikely to happen. It’s not in my intention to keep a distance or to be more reserved with any of you, especially Shiki.

Rikka: I can understand that.

Dai: Right.

Rikka: But although I’m about the same age as Shiki, you started to talk to me informally right from the beginning.

Dai: That’s... because you were glued to us almost instantly.

Rikka: So that’s what won you over, huh.

Eichi: In the meanwhile, my circumstances are similar to Dai-kun… err, I’m about the same. I used to be in a sports club once, then after I became an assistant director, it was all about that hierarchy in both industry and occupation-wise. It was a given that we had to be polite to those who were older and more experienced in the industry.

Rikka: Eichi, just follow Dai’s example. Make me an exception and drop the honorifics. Once you turn 20 years old, an age difference of 2-3 years is pretty much equal to nothing. You don’t need to treat me like a senior either. I’m usually ill at ease when people address me like that, it’s not my kind of thing. Okay?

Dai: You’re going to use the same tactic on Eichi, I see.

Rikka: Fufufu. Exactly.

Eichi: Err, uhh… alright… okay, then... Once again, you’re really pretty, Rikka.

Rikka: -laughs- Thank you once again.

Rikka: So, what’s up with you two here? You surprised me.

Eichi: I told Dai-kun the other day that Isse and Icchi would be having a photoshoot here, so he invited me to come and have a look.

Dai: I simply dragged him with me under the pretext of having a look in advance. I said it could make him feel less nervous.

Rikka: Now that I think about it, Eichi’s also some sort of manager for Issei and Ichiru.

Eichi: Yes! Ah- I mean, yeah. I’m more of a substitute. They suddenly made their debut in the entertainment world through QUELL, and they know nothing about manners or rules when it comes to agreeing to things. So, in order for them not to be too nervous on set, I go and check on them to help keep their minds at peace or something like that, In my case, I may have been with them since our debut, but before that I was working as an assistant director, so I know how things work on the set.

Rikka: I see. They can count on you then.

Dai: It’s the same case as Shiki then. He has practically years of experience of working as a staff member.

Eichi: -laughs- If Icchi and Issei could think that way about me, I’d be happy. Though lately I’ve observed they started to get the gist of it. Both of them seem to have gotten used to the set and feel more in their element. I’m about 90% happy and proud of them, but also 10% a liiitle lonely.

Rikka: -laughs- You must feel like a parent whose children became independent. But indeed, both of them started to look a bit more relaxed. The other day Shu came to SolidS’ common room with a bunch of magazines only to boast about them.

Eichi: Shu was showing off his doting parent side and I didn’t know about it!

Dai: I think it took them about as much as it took me to get used to the set. I suppose it’s thanks to Eichi’s support and their own power, huh.

Eichi: If you could tell them that directly, I’m sure they’d be very happy.

Dai: If I were to tell them that, I’d end up talking about myself and that would be awkward.

Rikka: That sounds like a good idea! You can tell them about how you used to be bad with photoshoots, your dark history, your experiences, and a lot more, senpai.

Dai: Are you teasing me?

Rikka: You’re wrong, you’re wrong! I was only thinking that it would cheer both of them up.

Dai: Then when the time comes to discuss about myself with them, I’ll also add 2 or 3 things about you.

Rikka: Eh? What do you mean?

Dai: Things like how you hate to lose and how they should run out of your way if they ever catch you being angry.

Rikka: Eeeh? -laughs- How mean! You’ll scare them.

Dai: It’s only the truth.

Eichi: -laughs- Dai and Rikka are getting along really well.

Rikka: Right?

Dai: I've learned to stop holding back. And I'm only saying what I want to say.

Rikka: Eh? You were being modest before?

Dai: It’s all in the past. You know about it, too, don’t you? We’re in the same boat.

Rikka: I guess so. I remember having a tough time trying to get closer to you.

Rikka: Ah, I apologize. You were also fixing my makeup, I should have been a little more quiet.

Staff B: -laughs- You don’t need to worry about that. I told you before, Sera-san. The make-up is almost untouched.

Eichi: Ah, right. During photoshoots the light is strong and it gets rather hot, so many people need to have it fixed.

Staff B: Exactly. That’s why I was asking if he had any secrets.

Eichi: I wanna know about them, too!

Dai: Even if he said something, it probably won’t work on anyone aside from him.

Rikka: -laughs awkwardly-

Staff A: The shooting will resume in 5 minutes! Everyone, get back to your positions!

Staff B: Ah, lastly, allow me to apply some lamé powder. -taps- And… this is it.

Rikka: Thank you very much.

Dai: Then I’ll head back. What about you, Eichi?

Eichi: Err, if it’s okay with you, may I watch the photoshoot?

Rikka: I suppose it should be okay.

Staff B: I think the members on the set would be alright with it. The studio is large enough, one or two more people wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Rikka: Let’s go ask the director. It’s a rare occasion, so I’ll introduce you to him.

Eichi: Thank you.

Dai: Good for you, Eichi. Sorry to disturb you during work.

Staff B: No, not at all.

Dai: Then see you later. Rikka, good luck with the rest of your photoshoot.

Rikka: ‘Kay. See you later.

Staff B: Good job.

-Dai steps away-

Eichi: Thank you, Dai-kun!

Rikka: That’s right, Eichi! Do you have any plans for today? If you don’t, can we head back together after you watch the shooting? There’s something I want to talk to you about.

Eichi: Eh? With me?

Rikka: If you’re busy, you can just say so! I think the photoshoot will be over in about an hour or so, too.

Eichi: Ah, no! I don’t really have any plans for today, so it should be fine. I was actually wondering whether I should show up at the office or just head back.

Rikka: I’m glad to hear that. Thank you.

If you like my work and you want to support me, you can now buy me a coffee by clicking right [here]. I also started taking commissions, more details are right [here]. Thank you~

#tsukipro #solids #solids drama vol.5 #track 1 #audio translation #english translation #takamura shiki #sera rikka #murase dai #horimiya eichi #eguchi takuya #hanae natsuki #umehara yuichiro #nishiyama koutarou

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ffamranxii · 4 years

Text

I just finished Fruits Basket Another and I have some Feelings, okay? Under the cut, because spoilers.

THE CHARACTERS

Hoooo boy let’s unpack here. Furubana is about Sawa Mitoma, a nervous first year in high school. She firmly believes that she’s basically human trash, and resolves to take up as little space in the world as possible, and that’s not even me paraphrasing. She says within the first few pages she wants to take up as little space as humanly possible. We find out that she’s the daughter of an extremely abusive mother - emotionally abusive. Sawa’s mother never hits her, but she’s also never once nice to her in any of her appearances. She isolates Sawa from any and all friends, she constantly drags Sawa down, and she’s rarely even at home, even back when Sawa was a little girl. How long has Sawa been looking after herself? Sawa is what Tohru could have become if Kyoko had been involved with a gang member rather than Katsuya.

The main trio of characters is rounded out by essentially the same trio as before: Mutsuki Sohma as the son of Yuki and Machi and Hajime Sohma as the son of Tohru and Kyo. Visually, they look nearly identical, which is why I chose that ^ picture. But they could not be more different. Sawa is every Sohma insecurity rolled into one, and the Sohmas are what their parents could have been without the curse and the constant abuse. Hajime is one of the oldest of the cousins, smothered with love and affection by his entire family, and is lovingly referred to as Dad and Papa (which annoys him), being one of the few in the family who cooks, cleans, or is, y’know, responsible. (Good job, Kyoru! Teach your boy right!) He is unwillingly elected student council president, and manages it easily. Unlike his father’s life, things come easily to Hajime, but he doesn’t let that make him conceited. He’s a down to earth character who trades biting remarks with Mutsuki. Mutsuki, on the other hand, I love. I adore. I want to erect a shrine to this boy. Poor Yuki, his wife hath birthed him a miniature Ayame. Mutsuki is trouble under a beautiful exterior, subtle snark and gentle teasing, but over the top in other aspects (like his thing that was once a desk and complete inability to do the most basic of tasks like buy laundry detergent, his utter willingness to let other people do things for him). He is also a deeply caring individual, and has an extremely close relationship with his cousin Shiki which is the complete opposite of his father’s relationship with Shiki’s mother that I nearly cried right there while reading volume three.

Kinu Sohma is the daughter of Hatori and Mayuko (a pairing of which I am not fond), and I actually was not fond of her until volume three, at which point she became a treat. A college student, Kinu seems to have no real ambitions or life goals (much like many college freshmen), spends much of her time sleeping, and only really sweeps in at the last chapter to comfort a very distressed Sawa in the way only a fellow woman can, delivering a wonderful speech right up with Kyoko’s Words Of Wisdom about how no one has the right to treat you badly, even your own family. No one has the right to abuse you, demean you, hurt you. That is a curse. She actually uses the word curse, and it makes me wonder what her parents told her of the Sohma curse, if Hatori ever mentioned how Akito used to be, or how Shigure was such a piece of shit about the seahorse, and it made me love Hatori all over again, for teaching his daughter such a powerful thing. Volume three also gave wonderful interaction between Kinu and the entirely deranged (but perfectly appropriate) Hibika Sohma, the daughter of Ayame and Mine. Just like Hatori is the only one who has any sort of control over Ayame, Kinu is the only one who can reign in Hibika. I believe these two are the oldest, out of all of the cousins, because in volume two, Hibika just fucking jets off to Paris with no warning, at the top of one of her tiny tophats instead of setting up her parents’ second store, because she needed inspiration to create new dresses. I don’t think a high school student could do that. Hibika may possibly be the oldest (Kinu is still a minor at 19 [Japan’s age of adulthood is 20]), because I don’t think a minor could do that either. She’s obsessed with Sawa and playing dress up with her, something Kinu is able to reign her away from doing with ease. She’s only the tiniest bit toned down from Ayame. I love her.

Michi Manabe is the daughter of Kakeru and Komaki and is sometimes at odds with Hajime. My biggest complaint with Furubana is that she is not in it enough!! Despite not being a Sohma proper, Michi is included in nearly all Sohma activities and all the Sohma cousins know her. She and Mutsuki were raised as siblings and address each other as such, which is precious because awww, but also because Kakeru has a deep sibling bond with his half sister as an adult, Komaki (who I view as another Tohru in a way, from how she was introduced) made an effort to keep Yuki and Machi in their lives and comfortable, and Yuki and Machi both created a family unit with the one family member who wanted Machi around, a bond so strong that their children saw each other so much growing up that they refer to each other as siblings. How precious is that?? Poor Hajime is probably the only voice of reason Mutsuki ever had in his life because you know Michi is to Mutsuki what Kakeru would be to Ayame. God I need a Kakeru-meets-Ayame-centric episode right now. Yuki would DIE. Riku Sohma is one half of the twin siblings born to Haru and Rin, and while he looks like Haru, this boy is a lot like his mother. He doesn’t have the anger issues his parents have, not really (except for instance of punching out Hibika’s brother), but he can be a bit spacey, he’s very serious and literal, and he likes to sleep. Everywhere. This family and their sleep. It kills me. He also gets himself a cute little girlfriend, and because of his crush on this girl and his watching of her, he notices her wanting to reach out to Sawa, and Sawa makes her first friend (mostly) on her own in nearly her entire life! On the other hand, Sora Sohma, his twin sister, is cute and spacey, a bit ditzy, and looks like their mother but is 100% Haru. She has nicknames for everyone in the family, and never calls anyone by their actual name. She’s my second favorite character after Hibika. Sora reminds me very much of Usagi Tsukino: instead of seeing a person, Sora sees a friend.

Poor Chizuru Sohma should’ve been Yuki’s kid. Honestly I’m surprised Ayame and Mine don’t have more kids, given how passionate I’m sure they are. And while Chizuru loves his father, he does declare the man crazy (as does every other character, minus Mutsuki, who says he’s “the most terrific of all uncles”) on more than one occasion. Chizuru is the more responsible of the Ayame/Mine Sohma children, setting up the Ayame II shop essentially on his own until Mutsuki offers Sawa’s help as a part timer (because remember, Hibika decided to go to Paris for the week). He hates that others view his family as eccentric and him as normal and especially hates when they comment on it, and he tends to be a bit foul-mouthed and outspoken. A bit like Hiro. Poor kid. Rio Mosca is Saki Hanajima’s boy and he is NOT KAZUMA’S SON AND THIS MAKES ME SO SAD. His parents’ love story is rather cute, however. His father is a foreigner (Italian, given that his surname is Mosca), and the two met on a plane, making this a cute little callback to when young Megumi prayed for a someone for Saki to “get on a plane and meet her.” Mina Sohma is the most precious baby and is the daughter of our boy Momiji! Although, look at her - could she be anyone else’s child? She is sweet and cute and seems to be without Momiji a lot - Momiji inherited his father’s business (which seems to be international?), and he travels all the time. Mina has a great talent for batting and rather than be privately tutored and follow her father all over the world, she stays behind in Japan to play baseball for her school. Her dream is to take over the family business from her father like he did from his. It seems Momiji’s terribly tragic story ended happily, as it seems he reconciled with his father enough to inherit his business... (more on this later). And then we have Shiki Sohma, who is surprisingly the son of Shigure and Akito! :O Shiki seems to inhabit two worlds, much like the Sohmas of Furuba. On the one hand, he is part of a generation who was raised by those healed by Tohru Honda. Loving, caring parents who love and adore their children. He has friends who care deeply for him - his best friends, despite all being in different grades, are Chizuru and Rio, and they all play Go together in the school club. His family are all deeply committed to him - Mutsuki especially is close to him, as seen in the first volume where Shiki was teased at but not seen, as Mutsuki called him to come to the house where he, Hajime, Kinu, and Sawa were having a hot pot with Michi, Riku, and Sora. His parents both are and aren’t the Shigure and Akito we know from Furuba - Shigure is still the immature jokester and Akito is still the serious head of the family, but they both love their son immensely, totally and completely in a way that Akito remembers being loved as a child by her father, in a way that Shigure’s parents probably loved him. On the other hand, in volume three, it is shown that, being the son of the head of the family, and living in the Sohma compound, with the old servants, the “old timers,” and Ren, subjects Shiki to some truly horrific abuse the likes of which no other second gen Sohma child has had to go through. Shiki would greet guests who would give him gifts, only to find that within those gifts were notes badmouthing his mother. Ren attempted to stab him as a small child, something the old Akito would and has attempted on the first gen Sohmas, and it’s implied the only reason was because Shiki was Akito’s child. Akito threw herself in front of Ren’s knife and took the blow for her boy. Shiki is a quiet and withdrawn child, one foot in each of these worlds, and seemingly paralyzed over how to act. Much like Sawa, especially once she meets the Sohmas.

Remember I said we’d come back to Momiji’s happy ending? See that woman in the top left? That’s Momo Sohma, Momiji’s sister. In Furubana, Momiji has reconciled not only with his father, but with his sister as well! Momo appears to pick up Momo from the Sohma house; she is Momiji’s assistant and Mina seems to stay with her sometimes when Momiji is out of the country. Momiji has his family back!!! Speaking of families, Hinata Sohma, Hiro’s little sister, is all grown up and makes her own appearance in the third volume (and is a slight alcoholic, lol). She also mentions brothers - did Hiro did another sibling after his curse broke?? Megumi Hanajima makes an appearance as a teacher at Kaibara High School, and this is my second complaint about Furubana - there is not enough Megumi!! He grew up sexy! Second best glow up in the series after Momiji! It’s Megumi who tells the romantic story of how Saki met her husband on the plane. Also making an appearance is Makoto Takei, former student council president, unwilling witness to Haru’s natural hair color explanation. He is now a teacher as well, and Sawa and Riku’s homeroom teacher. He’s also still in love with Yuki, and lets Mutsuki get away with anything. He is often at odds with Ruriko Kageyama, the daughter of Motoko Minagawa of the Prince Yuki Fan Club. Ruriko has inherited her mother’s obsession, though unlike Motoko and Makoto (god those two would’ve made a great obsessed couple), Ruriko loves ALL Sohmas. I don’t understand how the worship of an entire family to stalker levels is an official school club but whatever. Ruriko is actually pretty cool, and while she’s pretty strict, she’s also on somewhat friendly (like, “person I talk to at school but nowhere else” type friend) terms with Sawa.

THE STORY

I feel this can best be summed up in five sentences and in reverse: When Sawa was little, she fell down the stairs. She was found by Shiki, who simultaneously called an ambulance and fell in love with her. Her piece of shit mother sued Shiki because he was rich as shit. Ten years later, no Sohmas harbor any grudges against Sawa, her mother is still a piece of shit, the Sohma children are full of Tohru-and-Kyoko wisdom passed down from their parents, and try to help Sawa. And also they all hardcore ship Shiki/Sawa. The end.

No seriously, that’s the story. It’s beautiful. I wish there was one or two more volumes, a cameo featuring the adults, it would be perfect. Could you imagine the terrible awkward jokes Shigure would make? “Honey look, Shiki’s in love with the girl he pushed down the stairs as a kid. Was marrying her one of the terms of the lawsuit? Hahaha.” And Akito would just be like “....baby, you and Sawa go outside while I smack your father, you don’t need to see this.” And the two go outside and we then see Shigure fucking fly through the paper door and a loud “YOU FUCKING MORON” follow him out with the classic -_- “did I say something wrong?” Shigure face. And Shiki is just a fascinating color of ruby fire about the cheeks and mumbles, “so yeah... that’s my father....” and Sawa is a similar color and staring at her shoes like “he seems nice...” and Akito opens the ruined door as though she didn’t just beat the shit out of her husband and calls out to them, “come and have tea, your father had to step out for a bit. Sawa, dear, I’d love to hear more about you. would you prefer jasmine tea or green,” because Akito has done a complete 180 and become a decent human being since becoming a mother and Shiki is EVERYTHING to her and if her son loves this girl then GODDAMNIT SO DOES SHE.

#fruits basket another #furubana #fruits basket #furuba #fruits basket spoilers #furuba spoilers #i just finished the series and i don't know what to do with myself

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whydoesfireburn · 5 years

Text

Chapter Five Why Does Fire Burn? Local Boys Gay AF

I should probably add links to the other chapters, but I don’t know how to do that. I can spell or have proper grammar for shit, but I want you to enjoy

“Hey, Midoriya!” Shoto called running after the green-haired boy after school got out.

“Oh, hi Yukitomo,” Midoriya said, turning to look at him, “Do you need something?”

“Um,” Shoto felt his checks turn pinkish. In case anyone would have asked, he had no plan.

“I was wondering,” he said slowly, “If you, um... I wanted to know if you wanted to... train with me sometime?”

“Oh, you mean like to get ready for the Sports Festival?” Midoriya asked. When they got back to school after the USJ attack, it had been told to them the annual UA Sports Festival was going to take place soon and that they should prepare for it.

“Um yeah,” Shoto said, “Yeah, I thought we could train for the festival.”

“That’s a great idea!” Midoriya said happily. Shoto felt his heartbeat quicken. Could this mean he would be alone, with Midoriya for an extended period?

“And we could invent a few others too,” Midoriya said. Well, scratch that plan.

“Oh, yeah, that sounds good,” Shoto said, looking to the side a little bummed.

“Great! I’ll talk to Iida and Uraraka,” Midoriya said, “And you can invite Yaoyorozu and Yoarashi. Your friends with them, right?”

“Yes, I am,” Shoto said. It was still weird for him to say that he had friends. Before, there were only his siblings and Shiki.

“Okay then,” Midoriya said, “I’ll text you tonight, so we can plan it. Sound good?”

“Sure,” Shoto said, still a little disappointed.

“Great, um, here’s my number,” Midoriya said, after scribbling something down, tearing a strip of paper off the top of the blank page, and hand it to Shoto. When the white-haired boy looked at it, he saw a phone number and a smiley face written in Midoriya, slightly messy handwriting.

“I’ll talk to you tonight,” Midoriya said before waving goodbye. Shoto watched him leave and looked down at the number again. He had Midoriya’s number. There was a tiny voice in the back of his head that screamed, yes!

He carefully placed the paper in his pocket. As he walked out of the school, he saw a familiar flash of bright white. Gekko was trailing him. When Shoto first saw her in the morning, she had seemed mad, as if she was upset, Shoto didn’t listen to her. But now she was much happier. On the train ride, he texted Yoarashi and Yaoyorozu in the group chat that Yoarashi had made.

Rich, Loud, Soba Group Chat:

Chaotic Soba: Hey, remember when you told me I should just talk to Midoriya if I like being around him?

Chaotic Loud: YEs!!!

Neutral Rich: Yes, we remember.

Chaotic Soba: Well, I did.

Chaotic Loud: AND!?!?

Chaotic Soba: Is your cap lock always on?

Chaotic Loud: Basically

Chaotic Loud: There, I use small letters? ARE YOU HAPPY??

Chaotic Soba: I’m never happy

Neutral Rich: You were saying?

Chaotic Soba: It backfired entirely, and now I have to ask if you two wanna train with me, Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida.

Chaotic Loud: Sure!!!

Neutral Rich: Sound fun, I’ll go.

Neutral Rich: And I’m sorry talking to Midoriya didn’t work out well.

Chaotic Soba: It’s okay.

Chaotic Loud: I’m just happy you are out of DE NILE

Chaotic Loud: *Denile. Sorry about that.

Chaotic Soba: How could I not admit it when you badgered me ever six minutes about.

Chaotic Loud: OWO

Chaotic Soba: There is one good thing, though.

Neutral Rich: What is it?

Chaotic Soba: I got his number.

Chaotic Loud: *LOUD CHEERING*

Chaotic Loud: THAT Is AWESOME!!!

Chaotic Soba: Yeah.

Neutral Rich: Now, what do you plan to do with it?

Chaotic Soba: No clue.

Chaotic Loud: OH!! We could help you!!!

Chaotic Soba: Noo

Chaotic Loud: Why Not?!?

Read at 5:45.

Chaotic Soba has left the chat.

Chaotic Loud: Did he just leave us on read?!

Neutral Rich: I think it’s more he left you on read.

Chaotic Soba: She’s right

Chaotic Loud: Hey!!! D:<

Read 5:47.

Chaotic Soba has left the chat.

Chaotic Loud: Jerk.

XXX

Dabi slumped against the door of the apartment. He was greeted by the sound of the TV and dinner cooking. He was so fucking drained. Hawks and Mirko coming to the shop and having it posted it on his socials things, did help bring people in. A lot of people.

Dabi was now booked thru the next three months, which was good, but gods he was tired. The raven-haired man slipped out of his shoes and hung up his jacket on the post.

When he walked father into the apartment, he found Fuyumi making udon because she always claimed they ate too much soba, and Shoto and Natsuo were in the living room doing homework and sorta watching the news.

Dabi walked up to Fuyumi in the kitchen as she was chopping up vegetables. Slowly he pulled out an envelope and set it next to her. Fuyumi stopped what she was doing and opened it. Her jaw dropped when she saw the contents. She pulled the money out carefully and counted it even more thoroughly. Then she counted two more times, just to be sure. She looked at Dabi.

“I’d told you I’d figure it out, didn’t I?” he asked, placing a hand on his sister’s shoulder. Fuyumi looked down again and then back up to her brother. She looked ready to cry tears of relief, but she didn’t. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Dabi's neck and hugged him.

Dabi pulled his sister close to him and buried his face in her hair. For the first time in months, he wasn’t worried about finances or bills. For once, both he and Fuyumi could take a moment and just breath. They were going to be okay, for now.

When pulled away from each other, Dabi asked, “You think it’s enough?”

“It’s more than enough,” Fuyumi said, “At least for a good while.”

“And this isn’t even the best part,” Dabi said.

“What’s the best part?” Fuyumi asked.

“I got promoted at the record store,” he said, “Which means more pay.”

Fuyumi covered her mouth with her hand. She was quiet for a minute before she pulled her hand away from her mouth and smiled. Then she was laughing.

“Oh my goodness,” she said, looking so relieved.

“You know what we should do?” Dabi asked, “You and I should go out tonight.”

Fuyumi looked at him like he was crazy, “And do what?” she laughed.

“Drink, dance, something if not anything,” he said.

“We don’t drink, Dabi,” she said.

“Coercion, you don’t drink, I do.”

“Dabi,” Fuyumi said, giving her brother a look.

“Come on, Yumi,” Dabi said, “We don’t go out, ever. We save money. We save, and save, and saved, even on rainy days. Let’s go out, be twenty-somethings. Just once, then we never have to do it again.”

Fuyumi looked down, shaking her head and smiling. She looked back up at her brother. She smiled, “Fine, after dinner, we’ll go out.”

“Yes!” he said, throwing his hands, “That’s what I’m talking about!”

Fuyumi shook her head the shooed her brother out of the kitchen so she could cook.

XXX

The club was darkish with pink and red lights everywhere. There was some weird music playing that neither Dabi or Fuyumi recognized. They sat at the bar, Dabi drinking Jack Daniels, and Fuyumi had club soda.

Dabi just finished his third drink when he turned to Fuyumi and slurred, “Isn’t this great?”

“Oh yeah,” the white-haired girl said, “Loud music, the smell of cigarettes, obnoxious people everywhere. It’s great.”

“Come on, Yumi,” Dabi said.

“What?” she asked, looking at him, “Oh gods, are you drunk?”

“No!” he said. He didn’t seem to notice that right then, he had been messing with his sister’s hair the way a cat uses its paws played with a string of dangling yarn.

“Really?” Fuyumi asked, raising an eyebrow, moving brother’s hand away from her head. “Why do you drink? You know you’re a lightweight.”

“I’m not a fucking lightweight!” he exclaimed.

“Mhm, okay,” Fuyumi said, rolling her eyes.

Dabi shook his head. They left a little while later and went to a different place, this time a bar. It was calmer than the club. Much quieter. They got a table area towards the back, per Fuyumi’s request.

Dabi got another drink, even though Fuyumi told him not to. Although she did preck up a bit when Toxice came on and she and Dabi all but screamed it. After a little bit when they had been sorta dancing for a bit, (it had really been Dabi spinning Fuyumi in circles), Dabi said, “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” she asked, laughing a little because she was dizzy from Dabi spinning her around for minutes on end.

“Nowhere, I’ll be back.

“You better not get another drink,” she said.

“I’m not,” he cried, “And even if I was, it’s no big deal.”

“Your Quirk makes you crazy when you drink!” Fuyumi yelled at him over the music, “Fire and alcohol don’t mix!”

“I’m fine,” he said, turning around.

“You better not been smoking!” she yelled.

“I’m not!” he called, not turn back to look at her. He was lying.

Dabi used to smoke a pack every two days, but when Fuyumi found out, she threw an absolute fit. Dabi had never seen her so angry. She yelled about how he was setting a bad example for Shoto and Natsuo, and how he was gonna get lung cancer. She made him swear to quite. And for the most part, Dabi did. But every now and then he would sneak one or two.

When he stumbled out into the street, he was met with cold night air, which sobered him up a little, not a lot but still. The noise coming from inside the bar could yet be heard, but it was muffled. There were two other guys smoking. Dabi pulled out his pack, but he stopped. Even when his brain was muddled with liquor, a nagging voice said he knew that he shouldn’t, for his sister’s sake, at least. Besides, there was no doubt Fuyumi would smell it on him. So he crushed the pack in his hand and set on fire. He let the box fall to the ground and stopped it with the heel of his boot.

The raven-haired man huffed. He decided to get one more drink. Yeah, his sister told him not too, but she would be too upset over that. But when Dabi got to the bar, he caved and got water. He cussed at himself. Fuyumi was lucky he loved her so much. He took the water and drank it in one gulp.

He was about to go find his sister when a voice called out, “Hey! Guy with the tattoos!”

Dabi turned around, looking for the voice called out for him. Then his eyes landed on messy ash-blond hair and warm brown eyes. It was the wing hero.

Well, this should be good.

“Hey,” Dabi said, trying very hard not to come off as too hammered.

“Hey yourself,” the shorter man said, smiling. He smelled like whiskey and fried chicken.

“What are you doing here?” Hawks asked after a minute.

“I’m with my sister,” Dabi said, pointing to the other end of the bar, very clumsy like, “She’s over in the corner.”

Hawks moved his head, try to see if he could spot where Dabi pointed. The raven-haired man turned to look to, only to see his sister talking to Miruko. Just then, Fuyumi looked up and waved. Dabi waved back.

“I see Rumi has taken an interest,” Hawks said, running a hand through his hair, laughing a bit. Dabi looked back to him. Maybe it was all the alcohol in his system, but Hawks looked really good. Like his face looked good in the bar’s crap lighting. His clothes hugged his body well too.

Before Dabi could overthink it, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and turned to see his sister and the other pro hero.

“Hey,” Fuyumi said, “I think I wanna head back home,” she said, quietly.

“Okay,” Dabi said, nodding, “We’ll go home.”

“Oh man,” Hawks, most likely without thinking, seeing as the next thing he did was cover his mouth and say, “Oh fuck was that out loud?”

“Yeah, it was,” Miruko said.

Fuyumi whispered very quietly to Dabi, “If you want to stay, you can.”

“I don’t want you walking home by yourself,” Dabi said. That may have seemed a bit overprotective, but they weren’t in the safest area right now. Even if Dabi was as drunk as he was, if he walked home with his sister, few people were going to give them problems.

“Hey, wait,” Miroku said, “I could walk your sister home,” she said, placing her hands on her hips.

“Why the hell would I let you do that?” Dabi asked.

“Oh come on,” Miruko said, “I’m a Pro fucking hero. I’m more than capable of walking your sister home. Besides, I’m not as drunk as you.”

“You’ve had three White Russians since we got here,” Hawks said. The taller of the two pros hit him in the stomach with the back of her hand and shot him a glare, and Hawks fell quiet.

“Dabi, I’ll be fine,” Fuyumi said, resting her hand on his shoulder, “You need a break, you should get it. I promise it will be fine.”

Dabi chewed on his lower lip before asking, “Are you sure?”

“Mhhm,” Fuyumi said, nodding, “I’ll be okay.”

It took some time, but finally, Dabi agreed. Miruko was still gonna walk her home, stating she had the morning shift, and she should really head home herself.

Dabi gave his sister a quick hug, “I’m glad we spent some time having fun together.”

“Me too,” Fuyumi said to let him go, “Next time, let’s just do something that doesn’t get you sloshed.”

“Okay,” the taller man said, smiling at her.

“Make safe choices,” Fuyumi begged, walking towards the door.

“No,” he said back.

“Don’t drink and fly bird brain,” Miruko said as she followed Fuyumi out. Hawks turned back to Dabi and said, “So um, you wanna stick around here?”

“Not really,” Dabi said, “I mean, I don’t wanna go home, but it’s kinda lame here.

“So, um,” Hawks said, “I got alcohol back home, good stuff, been saving it. Do you wanna, I don’t know, go there?”

Dabi usually would have said no, but his brain was clouded with whiskey. In his mind, what could go wrong going home in a way, way, above average looking guy and drinking some more? Well, a lot, but he wasn’t thinking.

“Lead the way,” he said.

XXX

Fuyumi had to bite her tongue,, trying not to laugh at the hero walking next to her. Miruko wasn’t overly drunk, but she was at the very least tipsy.

The whole thing was a bit strange. Fuyumi didn’t go out much with Dabi, they really didn’t have the option, and it was even rarer for her to be with people outside work and her family. Honestly, she would be fine if she didn’t go out at all.

“So,” the rabbit hero said, her words slurring a bit, “What's your brother’s deal?”

“What do you mean?” Fuyumi asked.

“Well, when me and birdie were getting our tattoos, he seemed to be I don’t know.”

“He’s just focused when it comes to work,” Fuyumi said, pulling her sweatshirt tighter around her. Fuyumi was dressed in jeans and a white shirt with roses on the front. At one point in the night, Dabi had thrown his hoodie on her shoulders. Fuyumi looked back to the other woman walking next to her.

“So, where's your place?” the taller of the two asked.

“It’s that building there.”

“Sweet.”

Soon Fuyumi found herself in front of the apartment door. She didn’t see the lights on through the windows, so she guessed Shoto and Natsuo were asleep.

“Um, thanks for walking with me,” Fuyumi said, turning to look at the other white-haired woman.

“Hey, no problem,” Miruko said, giggling a little, “Oh, hey, have this,” she dug around in her pocket for a minute, then pulled out a small card and handed it to Fuyumi.

Fuyumi adjusted her glasses to look at the card. It was white and had purple accents. It read:

Rabbit Hero: Miruko

Rumi Usagiyama

Phone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX

“It’s my info,” the Pro hero said, “Hit me up if you need help, or if you need someone to go out with. You seem like someone who desperately needs to go out more.”

Fuyumi bit on the inside of her cheek and looked down at the ground.

“In any case,” Miruko said, “I gotta get going.”

“Do you need me to call you a cab?” Fuyumi asked, seeing as the other was still reasonably buzzed.

“Nah, I’m good,” Miruko assured her.

“Well, goodnight,” Fuyumi said.

“Night,” Miruko said as she walked down the stairs back to the street.

Fuyumi didn’t go inside right away. Instead, she stood in front of the door looking out over the neighborhood. Everyone was tucked into bed fast asleep. All the lights turned off, except for the few street lamps. It was calm and quiet. This place was always quiet, that’s why Dabi picked.

A quiet place for the family to grow together.

Fuyumi then sighed and walked into the apartment. When she walked into the kitchen, she saw that Natsuo had been there seeing the leftover crumbs on the table and counter. She shook her head, she cleans it in the morning.

Fuyumi was about to head to her room when she felt the need to check on her brothers. It was a bad habit both she and Dabi both had. She pecked her head in to see Natsuo had fallen asleep studying again. A smiled pressed her lips as she went to pull the textbook out of his hands and place the blanket over him. Fuyumi left the room, the sound of Natsuo light snores following her as she checked on Shoto.

When she walked into her baby brother’s room, Fyumi saw one of Shoto’s arms was dangling over the side of the bed, his phone still clutched in his hand. She walked in and placed Shoto’s arm back, and went to plug his phone in. As soon as it was started charging, Fuyumi saw a message form Shiki pop up.

Shiki: Call me if you want advice.

Now Fuyumi wasn’t going swipe, or snoop, or even ask questions, but that didn’t stop her from wondering as she walked to her room. Shoto was always questioning Shiki’s judgment, why would he be asking for her advice?

XXX

Keigo had to thank Rumi so much when he saw her again. It was her idea to go out tonight, and she most definitely didn’t have work tomorrow. She clearly left him alone with the hot tattoo artist, so he could try to get something.

Keigo’s original plan was to go back to the tattoo parlor and get more ink work, but seeing the place was booked thru the next three months thanks to him, that wasn’t the best plan.

But it worked out, seeing as he was on his way back home with the raven-haired man in question. Dabi was quiet most of the way, sometimes tripping over his own feet. He wondered if it was a good idea to be drinking with this guy, but he wasn’t backing out now.

When they reached the door, Keigo struggled to dig his keys out, his mind still pretty hazy from the bar. He didn’t drink often, but when he did, he was not the most put-together person.

“Come on in,” Keigo said, pushing the door open. The place was nice, but the wing hero tried his damnedest not to make it too nice. He didn’t want to come off like he was trying to shove things in people’s faces, but at the same time, he wanted his place to look presentable. It was big though, Keigo couldn’t do anything to help that, nor did he really want to.

Dabi shrugged off his jacket and took his shoes off before going any farther, and Keigo went and got the alcohol.

“You can have a seat in the living room,” the ash-blond said.

“Okay,” Dabi nodded, flopping down on the dark brown sofa. Keigo brought the bottle and two glasses over and set them on the coffee table. First, the winged hero poured himself a drink, then he handed the bottle to Dabi.

The tattoo artist poured himself a generous glass and began to drink. He let out a hiss and looked at his glass.

“That’s some strong shit,” Dabi said.

“Yeah, it is, but it’s good.”

They made small talk for a bit. They both drank about two more glasses, when Keigo’s eyes fell around Dabi’s collarbone/neck area, right where his tattoos began.

“My eyes are up here,” Dabi said, snapping the ash-blond out of his trace.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“Wanna see em’?” Dabi asked casually. Keigo’s head shot up to look at other men.

“What?” he asked stupidly.

“Wanna see em’?” Dabi repeated. Naturally, Keigo was left without words. Was this guy for real gonna take off his shirt to show him his tattoo? In the end, he chalked it up to Dabi being drunk. But at the same time, Hawks wasn’t the soberest either. He might have said no if he was thinking clearly.

Finally, the wing hero nodded. Dabi grabbed his drink, drain of its contents, and lost his shirt.

“Woah,” Keigo whispered under his breath. Dabi’s tattoos were insane. His eyes didn’t know where to start looking. He stared with the raven-haired man's arms. At the top of his left shoulder, curling around and going down the middle of his bicep was a dragon. It was in traditional Japanese style and was light blue and white, with small flames coming from its mouth. The going from there to his elbow were waves with water lilies and small colorful koi fish jumping up and swinging against the current. Then from there to his wrist were clouds, and coming from them was a beautiful flurry of snowflakes on one side and rain on the other. There was a gold compass with the needle pointing north on top of his hand.

Then on his right shoulder, there was another dragon spiraling to the middle of his biceps again; only this one was red and looked angrier, with blue flame coming from its mouth. Then downward, there was a red oni mask on the inside of his arm and a small turtle on the outside. Then below that, there was the kanji for safety, peace, healing, family going down the inside of his forearm, and a tiger on the outside of it. And on the top of his right hand was a lion’s head, looking sharp and proud.

Without thinking, Keigo dragged his fingers down the side of Dabi’s arm. His skin was warm, like burning hot, and Dabi shivered a bit when Keigo touched him, but he didn’t say anything.

Then Keigo moved on to looked at Dabi’s chest. On the left side of his chest on his collarbone, was a silver chain, and then it hung down a bit and went up to connect to the other end by his shoulder. Then the chain dropped down to about his waist, and at the end of the chain was a pocket watch. The time was set to 12 o’clock, but Keigo was having trouble looking at the date on the bottom of the clock.

Over Dabi's heat was a list of names followed by a date, then a flower. The first was the name Rei, followed by a date, and the flower was a lilly-looking one. Then it was the name Fuyumi, the date December 6, and then a narcissus flower. After that was the name Natsuo, July 1, and larkspur. The last name on the was Shoto, January 11, preceded by a carnation flower. There was still room for more names, so most of that part of his chest was uncovered.

Dabi’s other pec had a beautifully detailed Calavera over it. Behind the skull was blue, and whitish colored flames dancing up towards his collarbone. Around the bottom of his neck was a rope of rose flowers and vines wrapping around. It was done so that if that when Dabi wore a shirt, it would mostly be covered. Starting at the base of his neck by the rose tattoo, down the black-haired man thorax, stopping right about two inches from his navel, was a detail katana sword. It was done so well that it looked like there was a reflection of fire in the metal.

After that, Keigo looked down. On the left side of Dabi’s mid-section, there was a much bigger tattoo. It was a phoenix perched on a sarkar branch. It went all the way down to the waistband of his pants. It was so detailed, it looked like it was going to come off of Dabi’s skin and fall away. On the other side of his midriff, there were two more tattoos. The one closest to his navel was a heart, like an actual human heart. There was a hand above it, and it looked like his heart was dangling for marionette strings. On the inside of the heart were stitching. The last tattoo was in a circle shape. Inside was the circle was a crystal blue lake, an island looking mountain. At the bottom of the ring were the words “Thanks for the Memories,.”

Keigo pressed his palm gently against the last one. They had been sitting in silence for a long time. Finally, Keigo said, “They’re all beautiful.”

Dabi just hummed in agreement.

“Did you do any of them?” Keigo asked.

“My forearms and hands,” Dabi said, “And the ones on my legs and thighs. A friend did the rest of them.”

“Can I see them?”

“Take me to dinner first,” Dabi slurred.

“Hell, yes,” the ash-blond muttered quietly. Neither of the two of them seemed to notice that Keigo was all but lying on top of Dabi. Dabi’s hand was running threw Keigo’s hair in a prolonged matter. Keigo kept his eyes trained on the ink work in front of him, scared of saying something stupid.

“You know,” Keigo said, still not looking up at the other man, “I wanted to go back to your shop to get another tattoo, but you're all booked up.”

“Well, that all your fucking fault,” Dabi said.

“That was mean.”

“I am mean.”

“I don’t you think you are,” Keigo said, resting his hand on Dabi's neck.

“Hm,” Dabi said, “Maybe, after-hours sometime I could fit you in. If the price is right.”

“Done,” Keigo said. They stayed like that for a while. It was almost like the most peaceful moment they both hand in a long time.

And then things got kicked up a knock.

XXX

When Dabi woke up, he had the world's biggest hangover. His head felt like hammered were banging against his skull. There was a ringing in his ear and a small voice in his head telling him that Fuyumi told him so.

He was surprised that his alarm didn’t wake him up. In fact, it was a few minutes until he realized he wasn’t in his bed. The sheets and blankets were too soft and nice to be his bed.

Dabi forced himself to set himself up. He blinked a few times and looked around. He was in a nice bedroom. The walls were a warm shade of red, and there were large black and white photos of some forest someplace.

Dabi looked at the nightstand next to him. There was a glass of water and two aspirin with a note that read: Drink me! :)

“What is this,” Dabi muttered to himself, “Alices in fucking Wonderland?”

Regardless Dabi grabbed the two pills and swallowed them with the water. It was like magic because his head was because of increasing less bad.

Then Dabi realized he was only in boxers. And that these boxers weren’t his.

Fuck! What did he do last night?

He rubbed his head and tried to think. He went home, told Fuyumi about his rise, and went drinking for the first time in a year and a half. Then things got fuzzy. He ran into Hawks, the Winged hero. Fuyumi left with Miruko. Dabi went to Hawks apartment, well he calls it more of a penthouse. They drank, Dabi took off his shirt, oh boy, that meant he had a lot in him. Then he and Hawks talked. What else happened?

Then he remembered.

He remembered they did, things. Not sex, but things. He also remembered that he didn’t kiss the guy either, that stuck out in his mind.

“Fuck,” Dabi ground, flopping back on the bed. After that, if Dabi remembered correctly, the hero gave him a new pair of boxers, and they both went to bed.

Dabi ran his hand over his face. Then he jumped out of bed and began looking for his clothes. Then there was a voice.

“Your clothes are on the chair over there.”

Dabi looked up to see Hawks standing in the doorway. His ash-blond hair was a bit messier than normal. He was only jeans and a simple black t-shirt.

Dabi didn’t say anything. He just walked over to the chair and started getting his clothes on. After a minute, Dabi looked up to see the hero was still watching him. He bit his lip, unsure what to say. Then he asked, “Do you know where my phones it?

“Your phone?” Hawks asked. His face looked a little worried at the idea of Dabi having his phone. Dabi said, “What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll tell everyone the number three heroes gay?”

“First off,” Hawks said, “I’m bi, so jot that down.”

“I’m bi, too, so.”

“Oh,” Hawks said. Finally, Dabi stood up and saw his phone on the dresser. He grabbed it and slipped it in his pocket.

“So um,” Hawks said, “I was wondering…”

“What?”

“Well, I was wondering if you wanted to, like, I don’t know, go do something. Like dinner, or maybe a movie.”

Dabi was taken aback a bit. He thought about it. A small part of him said, no. This was a bad idea, this was a way to get caught. But another part of him told him that a hot guy was asking him out.

“I’m free next week on Thursday.”

Hawks looked up surprised. “Really?”

“Hell yeah,” Dabi said, “You said you take me out anyway.”

“Um,” Hawks said, “Okay, yeah.”

“Here my number,” Dabi said, handing the ash-blond a piece of paper.

“I’ll call you,” Hawks said.

“I plan on it,” Dabi said, as he headed out the door.

XXX

When Dabi walked into the threshold of his own apartment, Fuyumi was waiting with her hands on her hips, looking pissed. Dabi groaned inward.

“And just where in this green and glorious earth have you been?” she asked.

“Places,” he said, trying to walk around his sister.

“Bullshit,” she said.

“Yumi.”

“Don’t you, Yumi me,” she snapped, “Do you know how worried I was?”

“I am a grown man,” Dabi said, “I can take care of myself.”

“You’re a grown man who becomes a toddler when he drinks,” Fuyumi said, crossing her arms.

“I wasn’t that bad last night,” he said. His sister let out a huff.

“Where were you?” she asked again calmer.

Dabi sighed, “I went to a guy's house,” he admitted.

“Dabi.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Do all your working brain cells leave when I do?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Fuyumi let out another groan and shook her head.

“Cheer up, sis,” He said, “Now I have a hot date.”

“Oh, yes, that makes me feel so much better.”

XXX

Shoto waited for Shiki to answer her phone. He was heading to training with Midoriya and the others, but he needed to talk to her first. Shiki, the closest human being Shoto could call a childhood friend, was currently studying in the US, training as a basketball protege. She left right before the UA entrance exam, and with the time difference, it was hard for the two to talk.

Finally, she picked up.

“Shoto Yukitomo,” she said, the smirk so evident in her voice,

“Space Jam,” he said back.

“How is my darling friend?”

“Fine,” Shoto said, wanting to get to the point.

“So I’m told,” she said, “So, there is a boy.”

“Yes,” Shoto said.

“And he cute, you say?”

“Very much so.”

“Well, my dear,” Shiki said, “You have come to the right place.”

“Please,” he said, his voice still monotone, “I have to leave soon, and I need your lesbian wisdom.”

“Okay, first off,” she said, “Lesbian wisdom is not going to help you gay ass ever. Second, tell me how far you’ve gotten with this guy?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, are you just talking, has there been back and frother?”

“Well, yeah, I talk to him,” Shoto said, “He’s my classmate.”

“Okay,” Shiki said, “That answers my questions.”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind,” Shiki said, “So you want my advice?”

“For the first time in my life, yes.”

“Rude,” Shiki said with a fake gasp. “All right, what I think the best course of action is to take it slow. Just find time to hang out, just the two of you. Just talk.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Okay,” Shoto said.

“What’s wrong?” Shiki asked.

“Nothing.”

“Shoto, I mean it.”

“I’ve never-” he paused, “I’ve been, I’ve never felt-”

“Sho,” Shiki said. “I get it, man. I do. It’s scary the first time you really, really like someone.”

“What if he doesn’t-?”

“Shoto,” Shiki said, “You have the social skills of a paperclip half the time, but anyone can admit, you are the catch of the century.”

“But what if he’s not gay?”

“Well,” Shiki said, “You move on. Find the new boy who’s got the eyes of a cartoon lamb, as you say.”

Shoto rolled his eyes and smiled a bit. “Thanks,” he mumbled, “I needed this.”

“No problem, Elsa.”

“I’ll call you again soon,” he promised.

“No pressure,” she said, “You’ve got to go to school, and so do I. But know that I’m just one call away.”

“I know,” Shoto said, “I appreciate.”

“Aww, he does have a heart.”

“Stop.”

“Oh, text me a pic of quote, “the cutest boy ever” sometime,” she said. “I wanna see his face.”

“I’m hanging up.”

“What? No! Come on, Shoto!”

XXX

“Hey! Yukitomo!” Inasa called, “We’re over here!”

Shoto looked up to see the group of five other kids. They were at Dragbaon beach, a place Midoriya said he trained all of the time, to practice.

“Sorry,” Shoto said, when he reached them, “I got held up a bit at the station.”

“It’s fine,” Midoriya said, “We haven’t been here long.”

“Should we get started?” Uararka asked.

“Yes, we should go,” Yaomomo said.

They broke off into groups. Shoto started training with Iida. They began with quirk training. Shoto found that the best way to beat Iida was to stop him from moving. And to do that, Shoto froze the ground on which Iida ran on. The white-haired boy watched his classmate slip around on the ice before freezing him in place.

“It seems you’ve won,” Iida said, having trouble staying upright.

Shoto stepped towards him, “Here, I’ll get you out.”

Soon enough, ice was gone that he could get Iida out. Shoto was pretty sure he may have gone a little too far, seeing as Iida was shaking from the cold.

“I’m fine,” Iida said, his teeth grit a bit.

“Why don’t we both sit down?” Shoto suggested. It took a bit of time, but finally, he got Iida to say yes. They sat down in the on the sand, and Iida took out his water bottle. Shoto looked over to the others.

Yaomomo and Yoarashi were going against each other. Yoarashi using all the wind he could without sand interrupting other fights, and Momo was using metal barrier she had made to bock the wind. On the other hand, Midoriya and Uraraka weren’t using Quirks. Both of them were using well-timed punches and kicks. Shoto watched for a while before turning back to Iida and asking, “Do you wanna go again?”

They trained for a good couple of hours. Everyone gets a chance to go against everyone. In Shoto’s opinion, it was a pretty solid workout. Everyone had their own abilities and disadvantages to bringing to the table, making each match different.

Momo clearly was one for strategies, as was Iida and Midoriya. Although Midoriya’s approach was less organized than the others. Not that it was terrible, it just was different. Inasa's fighting style was based a lot on his Quirk. Shoto didn’t doubt that he could fight without it, but it seemed as though, Yoarashi relied on it a lot. Uraraka didn’t seem to know how to use her Quirk in combat a hundred percent, but she definitely knew how to fight. She gave Midoriya a run for his money.

As the sun began to sink, and the sky turn, orangish pink, everyone started heading home. Yaomomo was picked up by her family’s driver. Yoarashi and Uararka both had to catch the train, and Iida had to get to dinner with his family. Then it was only Shoto and Midoriya.

“So,” the greenet said, “Are you heading home?”

“Well, are you?” Shoto asked.

“Um, well, my mom’s not going to be home for a while, so I, I don’t know.”

“We could just stay and talk? I mean only if you want to,” Shoto said.

“Oh, well, um, that sounds okay,” Izuku said. Shoto nodded, and then there was silence, and the two boys stood there awkwardly for a while. Shoto felt his cheeks heat up. Shiki said to talk about anything, but he didn’t know how to even start.

Finally, Midoriya said, “Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did,” Shoto said, and then internally yells at himself.

Midoriya nodded and went on, “I noticed something about you, Quirk.”

Shoto felt fear fill his gut and swell up like a balloon. He told himself to stay calm, there was no reason for him to panic, and besides, there was no way Midoriya had found out. Right? Right?!

“What about my Quirk?” Shoto asked.

“It’s just,” Midoriya looked as if trying to piece together how to phrase the words he was trying to say, “When you use your Quirk, I’ve only ever seen you use the right side of your body. Why is that?”

Shoto felt his heart jump into his throat. It’s okay, he told himself, remember the story.

“My Quirk is stunted on my left side,” the white-haired boy said.

“Stunted?” Midoriya asked carefully, tilling his head to the side.

“Yeah,” Shoto said, “there was an incident when I was younger. I don’t like talking about it. It’s how I got my scar, it’s why I can only use my right side.”

“Is it also what the left side of you seems warmer?” Midoriya asked.

“Yeah,” Shoto said.

“That’s, crazy,” Midoriya muttered. Shoto nodded and said, “Well, at least I don’t break my bones all the time.”

“Ah!” Midoriya said, “Well, yeah, I guess, when you look at the two of them next to each, mine does seem a bit more bizarre. I mean, having a Quirk that can damage your own body isn’t that uncommon, but the rate of mine is a bit-”

Shoto listened to Midoriya mutter and ramble on for a few minutes a smile pressed his lips. Cute, he thought. Although Midoriya talking about his Quirk, it got Shoto thinking. When the green-haired boy stopped, he let out a sigh looked off to the side.

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Shoto asked once they had been quiet for another extended period.

“Oh um, sure, sure, that sounds,” Izuku looked down at his feet, his face the color of Kirishima’s hair, and then he looked up again, “That sounds nice.”

XXX

“Hey,” Fuyumi said, as Shoto walked through the door, “How was training?”

“It was good,” Shoto said, slipping off his shoes and heading to his room. He flopped down on his bed and pulled out his phone. He needed to ask Yaomomo and Inasa something that had been on his mind all week.

Rich, Loud, Soba Group Chat:

Chaotic Soba: Hey, I have to ask you guys a question.

Chaotic Loud: Yeah?

Netural Rich: What is it, Yukitomo?

Chaotic Soba: What do you think the chances are that Midoriya is All Might secret love child? Or something.

Chaotic Loud: What?

#todoroki shouto #todoroki fuyumi #todoroki natsuo #todoroki touya #todoroki family #mha fanfiction #bnha #dabi is a todoroki #dabi #tododeku #hot wings #takami keigo

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sobdasha · 5 years

Text

01 - just furubana things

This is not so much headcanons as it is that--much like I can't do mental math because the numbers don't remain pinned in place if they aren't literally, y'know, pinned in place with pencil on paper--I can't keep track of details and have zero concept of the passage of time without an actual timeline of events for myself.

So instead of using 20 scraps of paper I'm just dumping what I've accumulated here and calling it fic-adjacent and maybe adding in some headcanons as I go.

–

How the heck old is everybody anyway

?? - Hinata (according to my Fruits Basket timeline, she was born in March 2000, no clue how old she is now) ??? - Hibika (I have……...no clue……...I mean, since she was able to just run off to Paris at the drop of a hat, I'm assuming that means she's graduated high school??? But also she is the child of Ayame and Mine and is a Souma so like………….anything………..is possible……… I assume Hibika and Kinu are close-ish in age because they are good friends) In college - Kinu (what year though?? I'm guessing, since her plans aren't finalized, that it's still early. IDK if Michi asking her if college is fun is strictly for exposition, or implies that Kinu has just started her first year of college) 12th grade - Hajime, Michi 11th grade - Mutsuki 10th grade - Sawa, Sora, Riku 9th grade - Rio? Leo? I don't…...have my hands on volume 2 yet…….I don't know what they went with……… 8th grade - Chizuru 7th grade - Shiki (also these three are apparently all good friends and in the Go club together, I'm going to picture Akito having to have set up play-dates with Saki and Ayame when the kids were younger. I know technically Shigure could have done it since Aya is his bff but it's funnier if Akito has to) - somewhere in 9th to 7th grade are also Kou and Hajime's nameless little bro which is killing me, but idk what years ?? - Mina also ?? - Hajime's nameless and faceless little sis which is also killing me

Also! Who! Is that! With Sora in the New Year's bonus chapter of volume 1??? Is it someone we have met? Is it someone we haven't met? Is it some random person??? I don't think they particularly look like anyone listed above… (A part of me is kinda hoping…I mean, it looks kinda like Kakeru…I think it would be great if that was Kou. Michi looks like Komaki but acts like Kakeru, so if Kou acts like Michi he must look like Kakeru right??? THE POINT IS I want Kou to be at the fancy Souma New Year's because I want it to be true that Kakeru just becomes an honorary Souma attached to Yuki because it's inevitable and Akito just gives in and accepts it)

When I actually started writing down what was happening as I read…

sometime when people are bitty - the stairs incident

Day 1 of FBA - It's probably April 1st, it's the very first day of the school year and Sawa's actual first day of high school (although they've already had the entrance ceremony) - Sawa meets Mutsuki - Sawa takes her lunch outside before Amane can talk to her - Sawa meet-cutes Hajime by stepping on his face lol - Sawa doesn't get to talk to Mutuski (idk I guess he was gonna ask about her life and sneakily work around the topic about if she remembered the Souma family???) - Sawa runs over Hajime's little bro because she's so freaked out, and the little bro picks up the I.D. and gives it to Hajime, although like Hajime lives out of town and that's why he's living in the Souma house without his parents??? Because he lives too far out of town to attend that school??? So how did Sawa run over Hajime's little brother who is in middle school presumably out of town??? Did Hajime just grow up out of town and they moved back to Tokyo to inherit the dojo and Hajime was like "…….it's too far to walk to school I'm moving out" like Mutsuki did who is implied to live in town but just can't be arsed to walk that far???????

Day 2 of FBA - Sawa's second day of school - Hajime returns Sawa's I.D. on the way to school - Mutsuki appoints Sawa to the student council before she even arrives that morning - Ruriko comes in before classes start to confront Sawa about it and interrupts Amane's chance to ask Sawa out to lunch - Mutsuki is already texting Shiki - I guess the interludes might be that day??

Some time passes???

- Sawa flashes back to being introduced to the student council, and Mutsuki isn't wearing his sweater vest, so I assume this means it's a different day from Day 2, although it could be a typo

- The day that Ruriko has come to have lunch with Sawa to ~educate her~ that prompts Sawa to have the flashback, when Sawa later goes to student council we see Mutsuki in his sweater vest again so I assume this is once again a different day. That means it's been at least 4 days that Amane's been trying to ask Sawa out to lunch when Riku gets pissed about it.

The next day - Sawa is properly introduced to Riku and Sora, and then Sawa asks Amane out to lunch, yes I'm purposefully saying "asks out" every time, because I originally thought "Short black hair = Akito's child" and "I WANT TO SHIP THESE GAYS" and I want to treasure that feeling okay - Sawa punches out a cooler and meets Michi - SUKIYAKI PARTY - Sawa meets Kinu

The next day - Sawa was so happy about the sukiyaki party and her upcoming lunch date that she gets a fever and has to miss it noooo

And then after that Volume 2 jumps to early summer and I stopped keeping track

Miscellaneous stuff I wanted to keep in mind

I feel it's heavily implied that Shiki hasn't attended a family New Year's since The Knife Incident specifically. Which...really sucks for Shiki, that Akito has so strongly embraced the high road of "you can't pick your family you just have to deal, head of the family is my responsibility and I just have to deal", and even into the next generation a lot of the Souma family remains really toxic and that's the environment Shiki's growing up in. I assume Shiki's immediate household is not bad, but unfortunately it's right in the middle of a neighborhood of toxic assholes. Which is why, Mutsuki says, he wanted to get Shiki out beyond that environment and Sawa was super convenient for that among other reasons.

Hajime apparently grew up out of town, when Kyou and Tohru moved away so he could learn the dojo business from one of Kazuma's friends. This means Hajime and Mutsuki did not grow up together, which is sad, but according to Kinu they're still thick as thieves whenever they are together so that's really damn cute. The past year they've lived together is the longest visit they've ever had and like, Hajime helps out Mutsuki in the garden, Hajime--although insulting Mutsuki's lack of cooking ability--kind of implies that he does actually let Mutsuki help with the cooking when it's just them? Even when the results are probably worse than any time his little siblings tried to show Hajime they could totally help in the kitchen? Ughhhhh they're too cute.

I am presuming that both Mutsuki and Shiki live in town, and that's probably a large part of why they seem to be pretty close (closer than Shiki would like lol) despite the four-year age gap. I like to think it's also because Yuki also seemed pretty determined to Salvage Relationships, like with his mom, and so I like to presume that after the incidents of Fruits Basket Yuki informed Akito that they were going to reconnect as childhood bffs whether Akito liked it or not lol. So if Yuki and Akito are close, probably Mutsuki and Shiki are close too. And thus why Mutsuki is so concerned for Shiki's well-being and pushes really hard to set Fruits Basket Another in motion lol, like he's happy he's improving Sawa's life but his most immediate objective is Shiki's health and happiness. Like Shigure, only not an asshole and his plan is for everyone to win.

Yuki loves his son dearly and supports him so much but even so he's banned himself from Kaibara High School because he can't take Takei being so extra loooool I hope he sucks it up at least to come to graduation. Even though. Takei will--instead of talking about the graduates--okay he'll have talked a little about the graduates, namely Mutsuki--spend the entire graduation giving a speech to celebrate and congratulate and honor Yuki instead. As Yuki just sits there. Being stared at by all the other parents. With a long-dead smile on his "why is this happening to me" face. You know why this is happening, sir. But you came anyway to support your son. You are a good dad. Ganbatte. Have a drink afterward. (pray to anything you hold dear that your beloved child hasn't recorded this entire thing and sent it all the family including Akito who, surprise surprise, is also dying of secondhand embarrassment and doesn't appreciate this at all. Maybe Akito can take you drinking afterward.)

I will never be over the fact that the people closest to Yuki are all having multiple kids and there's Yuki and Machi like "ONE AND DONE." Why do they need to have another child after Mustuki? Mutsuki already has an older sibling in Michi, and possibly Hibika as well. And then Mutsuki even gets a little brother, Kou! And maybe Chizuru counts too! Like thanks for doing all the work for them of making Mutsuki not an only child. (They just…..didn't know what they'd get out of the Souma genetics grab-bag, and the idea of having to [have the housekeeper] clean up more sparkles was just…)

I'm revising my headcanon such that Hajime was the one who thought it would be cool to go to the same high school his parents did (because it's a theme, in FBA, about how it's cool to love your parents assuming they're, y'know, good parents who love you back, and thus how cute it is when kids are pleased to be like their parents), but unlike Mutsuki Hajime did not realize that as a ridiculously conventionally attractive Souma he would be a famous legacy student and if he had known this from the start he might have said "screw it" and just gone to school locally lol. Mutsuki on the other hand was fully aware of the shit he was getting into when Hajime first ventured the idea and Mutsuki embraced it. And then it all worked out perfect because it turned out Sawa would attend there too!

#sobdasha fic adjacent #fruits basket #fruits basket another #new year old fics #it was gonna be new year new fics to emulate new year new me but #i'm still trying to whittle down the stack of really old stuff soooooo

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