joyfulmusebox | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ The journey to the station, meeting up with the guy, relocating to their final destination and making the appropriate transaction in a seemingly empty room has all gone successfully enough. There's the unspoken concern for Nazuna's companion but that is a matter to be addressed once they've secured their privacy. He does glimpse up at the other boy as they proceed down the hall though he's soon distracted with searching for the room number that matches with his key card.

Ah.

Nazuna comes to an unannounced halt and blindly reaches behind him to grab at Asahi to prevent him from wandering further. While no apology is offered, he's quick to withdraw his hand to wordlessly focus on working the door open. There's a short click almost immediately and he pushes his weight against the door before the back handle unintentionally knocks against the wall and reveals the room in its full glory. After the light switch is flipped up, that is.

As his shoulders slump forward, Nazuna forces himself to stand properly once more. He peers over to Asahi nd jerks his head in the room's direction, expecting him to go inside first.

What's waiting for them isn't horribly lavish and just barely misses the mark of passing for a standard hotel room. There's a good sized bed at the far end, a television monitor hovering above a dresser, a miniature fridge and a door that presumably leads to a bathroom. But the lack of windows and one wall being partially lined with mirrors serves as a reminder of the room's purpose.

It's all stuff that is going to be investigated further in a second.

A sigh of relief leaves Nazuna when he finally steps inside. The hood of his jacket is pushed off his head when the door is closed. Okay, he can relax for two seconds. Now he squats down to get his shoes off. ]

This is all ours for the next three hours... ♪

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[ He huffs, ]

I'm not. I just... have a bit on my plate, that's all.

[Well, of course something like that is going to make Asahi worry. He frowns deeply.]

Is... is everything okay? Do you, um... want to talk about it? I understand if you'd rather forget it, though!

[ There's an intake of breath — ]

I need to remember to put in a request to order more balls for Tennis Club. But I can't figure out where they go if no one shows up to practice~? Who's taking our supply~?

Tennis club? [Asahi repeats, a little confused.] I thought you did idol things after school? Do you also play tennis, Nito-san?

Um, no... I've hardly explained things to Asachin so it's only natural that things don't add up properly~?

[ He rubs his mouth and clears his throat before continuing. ]

Idol stuff is my schoolwork. Yumenosaki offers different courses and one of them is idol based. So we get different lessons in addition to normal school stuff. And we're required to join a club. I'm the captain of our Tennis Club~. Does that make more sense?

[Asahi's eyes widen as he listens to the explanation.]

Oh... wow. I had no idea. I mean, I didn't even know there were idol schools. But it's nice that you also play sports. Does your team have a manager who can help you?

Manager... ? I guess that'd be me. Extracurriculars like sports aren't taken too seriously at an art school like Yumenosaki. We don't even have a baseball club.

Ah... [That is unfortunate.] It's a lot of work to run a team all on your own... No wonder you feel stressed.

[The train pulls into their station, and Asahi turns towards the door.]

I don't know if there's anything I can do to help you, but if there is...?

No, it's okay. Izumi— er, my vice-captain can take care of things if it gets all that bad. If anything, Tennis Club is the least of my worries. But... Thanks.

[The get off the train and onto the platform, and Asahi nods.] It's good that you have people who can help you... but something tells me you're not the kind of person who asks for help very much.

[ He doesn't bring himself to answer right away. It'd be easy to say he's preoccupied with navigating the station... ]

If I can take care of stuff and help make people's lives easier then that's what I'll do. So it's all manageable.

[Nito could just follow Asahi, who knows this station like the back of his hand and weaves an easy path towards the most convenient exit. But he won't prod Nito to answer, and just waits.]

...Have you thought that maybe, other people feel the same way about you?

I'm not going to slow down.

[ Is all he has to say to that, thank you. He accidentally bumps into the other boy a couple times on the way out, trying to hold his bag as close to his chest as possible. ]

[Well, Asahi knows what that response is. If it were someone like Daichi or Suga or Nishinoya saying it, he might push back a bit about his friend taking care of himself better, but in this situation he can't push back.

When Nito bumps into him for a third time, Asahi pauses off to the side.]

Can I carry your bag for you?

Um, no, I got it~? It's not like it's heavy or anything...

[ He's just trying to make sure he doesn't bump into strangers. Though it's not like bumping into Asahi repeatedly is any better. ]

But I'll take a raincheck on your offer. Maybe you can carry it for me when you walk me back to the station.

Okay. [He gives in easily, and continues walking out of the station.] It's not that I don't think you can carry your own bag! You just seem tired..

See, that's how I know you're a good guy. You try to look out for others. I'm pretty lucky... ♪

[Asahi shrugs, and averts his gaze because he's feeling flushed and embarrassed again.] I just.. do what I can. I'm not the best at it. No one really looks up to me, or anything.

[ With a huff, Nazuna purposefully nudges into Asahi this time. ]

The point isn't to be "the best" or inspirational. The point is that it comes from a genuine place. Truly kind people don't do small things like that to be noticed.

Oof. [He says in a small little way, just a surprised exhale. He feels flustered, because accepting compliments is hard, but Nito isn't exactly going to change his mind about this, Asahi can tell.]

M-Maybe..? It would be nice, though. To have kouhai look up to me.

I know the feeling. I wish I could be a cool senpai but I know I'm not.

[ He shrugs. ]

So we do what we can, just like you said.

[He shrugs back.] I think you're cool. Incredibly cool. So, uh, there's that?

[ An irruption of laughter follows. ]

Yer a third year! Sho that doeshn't count!

Should it count more? [Asahi asks with a thoughtful frown.] From another third year?

[ The laughter abruptly ends, ]

Nope, not at all.