Kyouhei let out a half-sigh, half-yawn and stretched his arms over his head, not satisfied until he heard the popping of his shoulder joints, the tension from sitting upright in his uncomfortable desk chair.
Ignoring the papers and dog-eared science theory books littering his desk, he turned to check on his study buddy, Mizumachi, ready to offer the other student a bed or at least a pillow when he found he’d been beaten to the punch.
The sight of his friend just totally knocked out with his study materials made Kyouhei feel warm, and even if it wasn’t that deep it was a sign of trust that he would now treasure.
Fighting another yawn, he crept off to his bed and removed his blankets and a few pillows from it, resisting the urge to hum so late at night - strike that, it was nearly two AM.
Carefully, he spread the blanket over the resting Mizumachi and dropped a pillow beside his head (just in case he woke up and needed one) before stumbling over to his love seat and collapsing, pillow and blanket bunched up in his arms.
Kyouhei only baked once in a blue moon, despite making sure to cook something every other day. It was usually easier to make something filling that would last a long time (like meatloaf or spaghetti) as opposed to something sweet he’d be tempted to eat in one go.
The obvious solution was to share the Peach Cobbler with someone, of course!
“Be sure to tell me what you think! This is my first time trying this recipe, so I’m a little nervous…” The student found himself chattering nervously while cutting out a portion, which was still warm, and holding it out to the photographer. “Eat up!”
The boy was being more obedient now, eating the chocolate and drinking the water as he had been told. He also answered to izumi’s suggestions.
he didn’t minded the reservation he took at some points; no one wants to talk about personal stuff with a stranger. It was understandable, and expected. Izumi himself didn’t knew much about this stranger, so he was just throwing ideas at the air.
“Well, I believe building up confidence in yourself is what helps against negative critique. That and not caring too much about what others might think. But you can only do that yourself. You can’t ask for help when it comes to that kind of thing” he concluded “Things like gaining lots of confidence in something most people aren’t too good at, is a good way of getting that”
He sighed, trying to think of more ideas. he was already getting invested in helping this boy.
“What do you feel the most confident about? Studies, games, whatever. If you have one thing you can start from there. it’s also helpful when making friends”
Wow, this Izumi was… pretty smart. Good at giving advice, in any sense. Kyouhei made sure to listen intently while finishing off the chocolate and washing it down with some more water.
He then had to pause. Because… he’d never really thought about what he was good at. Whenever the student had to make decisions, it wasn’t usually based on “well, I’m good at this” but rather “this would be better for me”.
Well, there was obviously talent involved, so maybe it was something that went along with having hobbies? So….
“I guess… I’m a quick learner? And I have a good sense of rhythm, and I’m fast - but none of those are really practical skills, right?” Especially not in biochemistry, where it was a good memory that was needed. It was very matter-of-fact.
As for the friends front, Kyouhei’d just moved and the whole ‘socializing’ business was fairly strange to him, but there were already a few people who probably didn’t mind hanging around him?
“You’re very sensible, aren’t you Sena? Or maybe you have experience in stuff like this…?”
Akira doesn’t move at all, he doesn’t really care too much if he gets wet since he knows he’s going to at some point, but he does appreciate Kyouhei’s efforts not to splash any water on him.
“It could be useful, especially if you’re new to this area.” He wasn’t sure if Kyouhei was new to Bellevue but there was no harm in mentioning the update of a weather app, it did turn out to be helpful after all.
“Um…I think I’ll wait out a bit. I was only heading home, so it’s not like I’m in a rush.” Morgana could wait, maybe he’ll even bring his cat back some sushi as a treat. Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned his head to the other.
“I forgot to introduce myself– I think? My name is Akira Kurusu.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Feeling a little foolish for putting off the act for so long (because of what it meant, really) Kyouhei took out his phone and turned on the automatic location setting on his phone before putting it away, not risking any water damage on that front.
“There, problem solved! Well, as long as you only make a mistake once I’m sure it’s fine.” Not including fatal mistakes, of course.
The brunet nodded, acknowledging the decision Akira had made - and what a nice, simple name! He hoped he wouldn’t forget it on accident. “Kyouhei, a pleasure to meet you Akira - though I’m sure the conditions could’ve been better.”
“Same, same~” he chuckled a bit himself, quickly getting three boxes of pizza, each one of a different type , while listening to the boy speaking.
“Heh, you think so? TYVM~ wanna join my party lol?” he said, turning towards the boy again “Well, don’t despair. Even working adults like me give up on normal groceries~ Lack of time, lack of skill. And junk food is great~”
This guy talked like he mentally read some people’s texts. All jumbled up with acronyms and… actually pretty funny to hear out loud, although not funny enough to elicit a laugh from Kyouhei.
“I’m not sure, ah - what game is it?” He wasn’t a HUGE gamer but there were a few MMO’s he indulged in, and he was very partial to 3DS titles. Some Nintendo games had a multiplayer feature, right? Not that he had many people to play with.
“As much as I love junk food, sometimes I need… tacos. Or spaghetti. And those don’t come in boxed meals.”
[水] - Mizumachi only laughed in response. Of course he gets it! He is always up for something interesting and fun! That’s indirectly how he got wrapped up in this mess to begin with! He wanted to try training in another country, messed up and somehow found himself in Bellevue on some exchange program or whatever it was. He should have followed the rest who went to train in the Americas. Where else can you train to become a great American Football Athlete than America? Well, he wanted to be different.
Needless to say, he sure messed that up, but alas! That’s okay! He’s been having fun here, and he’s met all kinds of interesting people, you know?
“Haha! Yeah, investigating curious things is always fun! I like to travel to the beach a lot. Meet new people, gather shells, swim, check people out, beach volley, or tan!”
One of those things was not quite like the others. Who goes to the beach to play ‘Beach volley,’ right? It was all about Beach football! Everything else was common sense for when you go to the beach. It was just like how it was a duty of a guy to try to peep at the girl’s baths at least once in their life timeon a field trip. Yep. That’s what youth is about.
Sometimes Mizumachi would be piling up stools in the bathhouse so he can make a platform to dive off of so he could start swimming in the bathhouse. Then he’d get scolded by his friend Kakei. Be made to apologize, and then have to settle down and sit in the warm bath like a ‘good boy’.
“Nhaa~ I do! I got a loud voice! I’ll be a dynamic announcer! Yeah! I also competitive swim and play American football. It’s tough to balance everything, but it’s all worth it.”
He did love swimming and playing American football, so he was willing to put forth the effort.
“Ah! So you wanna follow me back to the dorms, or something? I’m headed there myself and we can keep talking.”
All is good to stand around and talk, but they should get going before it gets too dark, right?
“The beach?” Kyouhei hadn’t been to a beach in forever. He could only faintly remember going as a little kid, seeing the water go on without an end, touching the sky (in his mind, that’s what it was doing) on the horizon.
“Are you a beach-y person, Mizumachi? Is there a beach in Bellevue?” If so, the brunet definitely wanted to go there. Would the sand be as hot as he remembered? The sea as salty? No doubt it’d be more intense, now.
He totally glazed over the majority of what the larger man said, due to overthinking, but he could’ve sworn… well, it wasn’t really any of his business, right? Right.
Still, it was amazing that Mizumachi had so much on his plate and seemed to have energy to spare (if the current conversation was telling). It made Kyouhei a bit envious.
“I’m sure with your enthusiasm, you can get whatever announcing job you want - and at least you’re doing what you want to do, so that has to make it a little easier?” Not that he was the expert in following dreams, but it always seemed to be easier to do something when you enjoyed it.
Kyouhei took out his phone and peered at the time, noting that it was, in fact, much later than he should be pushing his free time to be, and made a long ‘eh’ noise.
“I would really appreciate that, thanks!” With a soft grin, Kyouhei pocketed his phone and turned to his now-guide and mock-saluted. “After you!”
In the dim lighting and with low voices, Kyouhei couldn’t help but shudder when presented with the adjuring. Akira wasn’t one to pry often, so the biochemistry student couldn’t find it in him to refuse.
“I…” he swallowed, trying to decide what to reveal. It was a tough decision but he wouldn’t back down. “I’m avoiding my family. I haven’t talked to them since I moved. Part of me hopes I’ll never have to talk to them again.”
Kyouhei blinked, a little surprised by the request, and then rested his chin onto his palms, considering his options. There were two kinds of dreams, and since he wasn’t really a sleep-dreamer….
“A lo-o-ong time ago, when I was still young and hopeful,” so not too long ago, if he wasn’t honest. But it sounded better if he started out like that. “I wanted to be a Geoscientist. I still kinda do, but that’s no longer an option for me, really.”
Kyouhei spluttered and waved his hands back and forth in front of him as if warding off an unsavory question or offer. It really wasn’t his fault he could only hear one-half of the conversation (which he now knew was because it was a phone call), and that he assumed the worst.
Really.
“Nothing big! I mean,” he clasped his hands together, nervously, looking back over his shoulder in an effort not to meet Kyouya’s eyes. “It kinda sounded like you were… extorting someone? Maybe?”