Pulling themselves away from the wall - well, it isn't fun, but Nagisa focuses on what's ahead of them, on getting Kise's stuff and explaining everything to Mom, and he waits long enough for Kise to see Ama-chan and Gou-chan and Rei-chan drag Reo-chan into conversation, and then he loops his arm around Kise's and goes.
(He doesn't tell Rei-chan goodbye. If he - well he just doesn't.)
Getting Kise and Reo-chan's stuff is easy. The bed and breakfast they stayed at is near Haru-chan's and Nagisa has known its proprietor ever since he can remember. She's not at all surprised that Kise doesn't want to stay alone and waves away his attempts to pay for the rest of the time they'd had booked.
"We're all going to have to pull together and look out for each other, young man, and that starts now." She smiles as she speaks, but distress is visible around the edges, and she keeps darting anxious looks at her telephone.
"We'll come back and see if you need anything later," Nagisa promises, and they leave.
. . . carrying all those bags home is less easy than getting them was, Nagisa has no idea what could even be in them, but they're both trained athletes, so. They live.
He's not sure if he expects Mom to be out or not, but she's in the family room, phone receiver gripped tightly in her hand.
"She's probably talking to Dad," Nagisa says in a whisper. "Let's go get your stuff put away and then we can talk to her."
That's not a phone call he wants to interrupt - she looks as pale as a lot of the people by the wall had looked, and Nagisa knows exactly how she'll be feeling - but once she sees Kise (and all the bags), she'll want to wind it up so she can get the full story.
"We can put it in my room for now and figure out where you're sleeping later."
Kise's slow to turn away, the bond tugging hard even when Reocchi's taken up into the company of the other three on the far side, but the warm contact of Nagisa's arm in his is grounding enough to get him to follow when he pulls. He keeps his phone in his hand, though, just in case it buzzes. He doesn't want to miss a thing.
It's hard to immediately accept the generosity of the strangers here, but having Nagisa with him helps. He's navigating a strange new world suddenly, one where he doesn't know anybody and his compass is just spinning, but at least he's not really alone. He leaves his number with her when they go, promising himself he'll make it right with her as soon as he can.
He only looks into Nagisa's living room for a moment before looking away. That kind of pain is private, or it should be. It's the kind of pain most people will never even know but suddenly he feels a kinship with Nagisa's mother almost as strong as the one he feels with the other boy. There's a difference, of course, both in ages and because Nagisa was there at the wall with him, but it makes it a little easier to consider staying here for a day or two. Maybe a week. He won't think much further ahead than that, it's just... too long to allow for. It's too much.
"That's fine. I'm sorry the things are so heavy--we both travel with a lot, and I never thought anybody else would have to carry it." He sets his own bag on the floor just inside and to the side of the door, standing near it to give Nagisa as much space as he can. He's just a regular guest, right? He should just be polite and normal.
"It's okay, Ryo-chan!" Nagisa says. "I'm glad we were able to get everything, even though I think Shiroyama-chan would have let you leave some stuff there."
But it wouldn't be the same, he knows; not so much because of Ryo-chan's stuff, but because of his soulmate's stuff. It will help a little, having some of Reo-chan's things with him.
(What does he have of Rei-chan's? No, never mind that, focus.
And Rei-chan's family will look after him anyway, if he needs them to.
Not that he will.)
Downstairs, Hazuki Hiroko notices her son's guest, notices that he's not anyone she's met before, notices he seems vaguely familiar anyway.
And she has to get off the phone, she loves her husband and soulmate but one more second of his voice while knowing she can't have anything more will drive her crazy and she has to get off the phone. So she explains the situation, speculates a little, assures Jirou she'll call him soon, and she lets go.
As he'd expected, Nagisa hears his mother's footstep on the stairs no more than a couple of minutes after they've gotten all the bags settled, and he opens the door before she can knock and all but drags her in to explain everything.
"Hi, Mom! This is Kise Ryouta! He's vacationing here and his soulmate is outside the wall with" - his voice trembles a little - "with Rei-chan, and. He needed a place to stay. Where he wouldn't be alone?"
Hiroko's heart drops at the confirmation that her son has been separated from his soulmate the same way she has been. He's too young to have to feel like this, to have that feeling make his voice so uncharacteristically hesitant. For the first time, she wishes he hadn't met his soulmate so soon.
None of that shows on her face, though, as she gives their guest a warm greeting smile.
"It's good to meet you, Kise-kun, I'm Hazuki Hiroko. You must both be hungry! I'll make some lunch. Come down in a bit and we'll decide where you'll be most comfortable here while this situation resolves itself."
Kise doesn't mean to cling to Reocchi's toiletry bag quite as tightly as he is, but it's a little bit of comfort, especially the way it has all the smells that remind him of his soulmate. It's the last thing he sets down once they enter the room, idly taking in details as he looks around. Nagisacchi's room is so warm, just like the boy himself. He can't really appreciate the almost playful feeling it evokes right now, but it's certainly better than an impersonal rental room where the only association he can make with it is that it's where he was staying with Reocchi.
It's the sound of the door opening that gets his attention fully back into the present moment. Kise turns immediately to face it, putting on the very best smile he can muster. It's hard, to know the three of them are all feeling so much the same and they can't share it. His smile falters a little when Nagisacchi's voice nearly breaks, but he's proud of him for pushing through.
It's a lot to feel for someone he only just met, but then again, there are a lot of feelings happening today in general, so perhaps it's not so strange.
He bows politely when Hazuki-san greets him, nodding when he straightens up. "With everything happening, I think we both forgot to eat! That's very kind of you, and I'll do my best not to be any trouble."
The agreement is set, then. It's probably more than a lot of people have and Rei reminds himself of this as he and Nagisa-kun part and he turns his attention to where Mibuchi-kun, Kou-san, and Amakata-sensei are gathered. He waits for a pause in the conversation before speaking.
"Mibuchi-kun. My name is Ryuugazaki Rei, and I've been asked by your soulmate, through my soulmate, to make sure you have somewhere safe to say. I'm not sure what arrangements you may have made with Kou-san or Amakata-sensei, but please know that my home is open to you and as our soulmates will also be staying together, it should prove very convenient if we do as well."
Focusing on having something to do, even if it's just to check in with Kou-san and their adviser and make sure Mibuchi-kun is looked after, gives him something else to think about. It's also steps toward something like normalcy which is a good thing. It would be all too easy to fall into despair, to sit at the bottom of the wall and wait for a change, but that's never been Rei's way. If there's something he can do then he'll do it and until they have a firmer plan in place, this is what he can do. Be present, be available, and offer to help.
All while keeping his phone in his hand. Just in case.
It's hard, so hard, to turn away from Ryo-chan, but he manages it when he sees Ryo-chan's companion tugging at his arm. Ryo-chan will need to see that he's okay before he'll go, and the best way to show him that is to let him see that Reo isn't alone. So he smiles at Ryo-chan - it's a small smile, but it's as much as he can muster without it being obviously forced - and turns to the boy next to him as he starts to speak.
Reo hasn't actually spoken much with Matsuoka-chan or Amakata-san beyond exchanging names; he was able to remember enough of his manners for at least that much, but once he laid eyes on Ryo-chan everything else ceased to matter and they were kind enough to respect that.
It had yet to occur to him that he was going to need to find somewhere to stay, that he has nothing right now except his bag and the clothes on his back.
(Even as he realizes it, he still doesn't occur to him that he could go home. Why would he, how could he, go home? Home is here, behind that wall.)
Amakata-san must see that he still looks a little blank, that he's still processing things a little slowly, because, before any kind of silence can develop in the wake of Ryuugazaki-kun's offer, she smiles warmly and says,
"That's very kind of you, Ryuugazaki-kun. Please be sure to let your parents know that if those plans aren't ideal for them, Mibuchi-kun is welcome to come stay with me. It'll be a bit crowded with the three of us, but we'll figure it out!" On the three of us, she puts a hand on Matsuoka-chan's shoulder and squeezes it gently. Reo tracks the motion, looks at the girl's face, and sees for the first time that her brightly pleasant expression is fragile and close to shattering. She lives there, he realizes, she can't go home, and he feels a wave of sympathy.
Unfortunate though it may be, remembering that others are suffering too serves to clear his mind. "Thank you, Amakata-san," he says, bowing to her as much as he can in this crowd, "I'll remember your generosity if it becomes necessary." And he'll figure out something kind he can do for Matsuoka-chan, to cheer her up. No girl should have to endure such a sudden and forced separation from her family.
He returns his attention to Ryuugazaki-kun with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Ryuugazaki-kun. I accept, if your parents are amenable. I agree that it would be convenient for us both."
For his part, Rei has no idea where home is for Mibuchi-kun, though his and his soulmate's situation (along with the fact that no one here seems to know them) at least give them away as tourists. While he hoped the local establishments would be kind when it came to offering lodging to those displaced by this... whatever it was, he also knew many people here would be able to take solace either inside or outside by returning to their soulmates. The way his and Mibuchi-kun's situations mirrored each other, however, made him think that the alternative he was offering would be better than taking chances with even the kindest of hotel owners right now.
Rei nodded to Amakata-sensei and Kou-san, pursing his lips a little at Kou-san's expression but not saying anything. Though he didn't know the details, he did know that Kou-san and her mother were very close and that this would be exceptionally hard on her as well. Amakata-sensei was a more involved and compassionate adviser than she often let on and right now, he was glad for that. "I'm certain it won't be a problem but thank you for the offer, Amakata-sensei. They're both as work right now but I suspect they'll be returning home soon enough. I texted them to let them know that I'm safe. Anything beyond that can be discussed later. For now, I think it's probably best if we both go there, even if only temporarily. You can rest and charge your phone if you need to."
It's always important to have a phone that can last for a while but making sure his battery is high has been at the front of Rei's mind ever since Nagisa neglected to answer him immediately. It's a small detail that he can focus on making sure is attended to as thoroughly as possible, and he can try to look after it for Mibuchi-kun as well.
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showyousomethingnice) wrote2016-04-28 04:07 pm
no subject
(He doesn't tell Rei-chan goodbye. If he - well he just doesn't.)
Getting Kise and Reo-chan's stuff is easy. The bed and breakfast they stayed at is near Haru-chan's and Nagisa has known its proprietor ever since he can remember. She's not at all surprised that Kise doesn't want to stay alone and waves away his attempts to pay for the rest of the time they'd had booked.
"We're all going to have to pull together and look out for each other, young man, and that starts now." She smiles as she speaks, but distress is visible around the edges, and she keeps darting anxious looks at her telephone.
"We'll come back and see if you need anything later," Nagisa promises, and they leave.
. . . carrying all those bags home is less easy than getting them was, Nagisa has no idea what could even be in them, but they're both trained athletes, so. They live.
He's not sure if he expects Mom to be out or not, but she's in the family room, phone receiver gripped tightly in her hand.
"She's probably talking to Dad," Nagisa says in a whisper. "Let's go get your stuff put away and then we can talk to her."
That's not a phone call he wants to interrupt - she looks as pale as a lot of the people by the wall had looked, and Nagisa knows exactly how she'll be feeling - but once she sees Kise (and all the bags), she'll want to wind it up so she can get the full story.
"We can put it in my room for now and figure out where you're sleeping later."
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It's hard to immediately accept the generosity of the strangers here, but having Nagisa with him helps. He's navigating a strange new world suddenly, one where he doesn't know anybody and his compass is just spinning, but at least he's not really alone. He leaves his number with her when they go, promising himself he'll make it right with her as soon as he can.
He only looks into Nagisa's living room for a moment before looking away. That kind of pain is private, or it should be. It's the kind of pain most people will never even know but suddenly he feels a kinship with Nagisa's mother almost as strong as the one he feels with the other boy. There's a difference, of course, both in ages and because Nagisa was there at the wall with him, but it makes it a little easier to consider staying here for a day or two. Maybe a week. He won't think much further ahead than that, it's just... too long to allow for. It's too much.
"That's fine. I'm sorry the things are so heavy--we both travel with a lot, and I never thought anybody else would have to carry it." He sets his own bag on the floor just inside and to the side of the door, standing near it to give Nagisa as much space as he can. He's just a regular guest, right? He should just be polite and normal.
"This is a very nice house, Nagisacchi!"
no subject
But it wouldn't be the same, he knows; not so much because of Ryo-chan's stuff, but because of his soulmate's stuff. It will help a little, having some of Reo-chan's things with him.
(What does he have of Rei-chan's? No, never mind that, focus.
And Rei-chan's family will look after him anyway, if he needs them to.
Not that he will.)
Downstairs, Hazuki Hiroko notices her son's guest, notices that he's not anyone she's met before, notices he seems vaguely familiar anyway.
And she has to get off the phone, she loves her husband and soulmate but one more second of his voice while knowing she can't have anything more will drive her crazy and she has to get off the phone. So she explains the situation, speculates a little, assures Jirou she'll call him soon, and she lets go.
As he'd expected, Nagisa hears his mother's footstep on the stairs no more than a couple of minutes after they've gotten all the bags settled, and he opens the door before she can knock and all but drags her in to explain everything.
"Hi, Mom! This is Kise Ryouta! He's vacationing here and his soulmate is outside the wall with" - his voice trembles a little - "with Rei-chan, and. He needed a place to stay. Where he wouldn't be alone?"
Hiroko's heart drops at the confirmation that her son has been separated from his soulmate the same way she has been. He's too young to have to feel like this, to have that feeling make his voice so uncharacteristically hesitant. For the first time, she wishes he hadn't met his soulmate so soon.
None of that shows on her face, though, as she gives their guest a warm greeting smile.
"It's good to meet you, Kise-kun, I'm Hazuki Hiroko. You must both be hungry! I'll make some lunch. Come down in a bit and we'll decide where you'll be most comfortable here while this situation resolves itself."
no subject
It's the sound of the door opening that gets his attention fully back into the present moment. Kise turns immediately to face it, putting on the very best smile he can muster. It's hard, to know the three of them are all feeling so much the same and they can't share it. His smile falters a little when Nagisacchi's voice nearly breaks, but he's proud of him for pushing through.
It's a lot to feel for someone he only just met, but then again, there are a lot of feelings happening today in general, so perhaps it's not so strange.
He bows politely when Hazuki-san greets him, nodding when he straightens up. "With everything happening, I think we both forgot to eat! That's very kind of you, and I'll do my best not to be any trouble."
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"Mibuchi-kun. My name is Ryuugazaki Rei, and I've been asked by your soulmate, through my soulmate, to make sure you have somewhere safe to say. I'm not sure what arrangements you may have made with Kou-san or Amakata-sensei, but please know that my home is open to you and as our soulmates will also be staying together, it should prove very convenient if we do as well."
Focusing on having something to do, even if it's just to check in with Kou-san and their adviser and make sure Mibuchi-kun is looked after, gives him something else to think about. It's also steps toward something like normalcy which is a good thing. It would be all too easy to fall into despair, to sit at the bottom of the wall and wait for a change, but that's never been Rei's way. If there's something he can do then he'll do it and until they have a firmer plan in place, this is what he can do. Be present, be available, and offer to help.
All while keeping his phone in his hand. Just in case.
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Reo hasn't actually spoken much with Matsuoka-chan or Amakata-san beyond exchanging names; he was able to remember enough of his manners for at least that much, but once he laid eyes on Ryo-chan everything else ceased to matter and they were kind enough to respect that.
It had yet to occur to him that he was going to need to find somewhere to stay, that he has nothing right now except his bag and the clothes on his back.
(Even as he realizes it, he still doesn't occur to him that he could go home. Why would he, how could he, go home? Home is here, behind that wall.)
Amakata-san must see that he still looks a little blank, that he's still processing things a little slowly, because, before any kind of silence can develop in the wake of Ryuugazaki-kun's offer, she smiles warmly and says,
"That's very kind of you, Ryuugazaki-kun. Please be sure to let your parents know that if those plans aren't ideal for them, Mibuchi-kun is welcome to come stay with me. It'll be a bit crowded with the three of us, but we'll figure it out!" On the three of us, she puts a hand on Matsuoka-chan's shoulder and squeezes it gently. Reo tracks the motion, looks at the girl's face, and sees for the first time that her brightly pleasant expression is fragile and close to shattering. She lives there, he realizes, she can't go home, and he feels a wave of sympathy.
Unfortunate though it may be, remembering that others are suffering too serves to clear his mind. "Thank you, Amakata-san," he says, bowing to her as much as he can in this crowd, "I'll remember your generosity if it becomes necessary." And he'll figure out something kind he can do for Matsuoka-chan, to cheer her up. No girl should have to endure such a sudden and forced separation from her family.
He returns his attention to Ryuugazaki-kun with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Ryuugazaki-kun. I accept, if your parents are amenable. I agree that it would be convenient for us both."
no subject
Rei nodded to Amakata-sensei and Kou-san, pursing his lips a little at Kou-san's expression but not saying anything. Though he didn't know the details, he did know that Kou-san and her mother were very close and that this would be exceptionally hard on her as well. Amakata-sensei was a more involved and compassionate adviser than she often let on and right now, he was glad for that. "I'm certain it won't be a problem but thank you for the offer, Amakata-sensei. They're both as work right now but I suspect they'll be returning home soon enough. I texted them to let them know that I'm safe. Anything beyond that can be discussed later. For now, I think it's probably best if we both go there, even if only temporarily. You can rest and charge your phone if you need to."
It's always important to have a phone that can last for a while but making sure his battery is high has been at the front of Rei's mind ever since Nagisa neglected to answer him immediately. It's a small detail that he can focus on making sure is attended to as thoroughly as possible, and he can try to look after it for Mibuchi-kun as well.
"Is there anywhere you need to stop on the way?"