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The door shuts with a little click, and Akihiko’s hand lingers on the handle for a second too long before he steps away. Momijikawa follows after casually, his hands tucked into his pockets.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?” Akihiko asks, glancing back with worry. Not that he doesn’t trust Sugishita, and he’s sure that Sugishita won’t start throwing fists when he’s trying to tell Sakura something important, but still. Nirei hopes they don’t kill each other.
“They’ll be fine,” Momijikawa assures, and it doesn’t do much to soothe Akihiko’s heart, but he nods anyway.
He steps out a little further to rest his elbows on the rusty, worn-out railings. Eyes trailing the overgrown trees that shade Sakura’s apartment, Akihiko can’t help but let out a sigh, exhaustion drooping over his body. His chin drops onto his hands, and Akihiko closes his eyes for just a brief moment.
“Here.”
Something hard nudges against his cheek. Akihiko jerks back in surprise before realising that it’s a plastic water bottle.
“I didn’t see you drink the tea I prepared earlier,” Momijikawa explains, sensing Akihiko’s confusion. “Take it.”
Oh, right. Akihiko hurries to accept the offer, bowing his head with a muttered thank you.
As he takes measly sips of the bottle, Momijikawa moves to mirror his position, propping his elbows up on the railing. The only difference is that he’s facing inwards instead, keeping watch on Sakura’s door while his back faces the outside.
Huh. This is the first time they’re alone together. Of course, Momijikawa is more of Sakura’s friend than Akihiko’s, so it makes sense. Although, it’d be really nice if their first time being together like this wasn’t because of the… current circumstances.
“Sugishita-san and Sakura-san are being awfully quiet,” Akihiko notes after a few minutes when he strains his ear and can’t hear any sort of yelling coming from inside the house. While he doesn’t exactly want them to be fighting, he almost wishes they were, just for that semblance of normalcy. Seeing Sakura so shaken up, to the point where he won’t even eat or speak, is truly unsettling for Akihiko’s heart.
“I’m sure what Sugishita wants to tell Haruka is important, that’s why.” Momijikawa shifts, and his elbow brushes against Akihiko’s. “You worry a lot, don’t you?”
“Haha…” What can Akihiko say to that? “I guess so. Someone has to.”
“But this whole thing can’t be easy on you either.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine! I—” Akihiko hesitates.
Momijikawa is already looking at him. While his eyes aren’t exactly judgemental, a shiver still runs up Akihiko’s spine. Momijikawa’s gaze is sharp and feels like it's trapping him in place, already seeing through the things he doesn’t want to admit out loud.
Maybe Akihiko should’ve expected this though—this is the same guy who can share the pain of losing a loved one.
“I don’t know the specific details, because I only heard about things in bits and pieces,” Momijikawa begins slowly. “But you’re the one shouldering the burden of hearing Suo’s last goodbye. I’m sure you’re hurting too.”
Akihiko’s shoulders drop in defeat. He rips his eyes away, staring at an aging tree bark while the back of his throat aches from his unshed tears. Crying won’t be of any use.
“I’m just worried,” he whispers, and he almost laughs at his own word choice. Who is he, if not the one to worry? “Suo-san could be struggling somewhere alone, and Sakura-san, I-I’ve never seen him like that before. I don’t care about myself right now. I just want to be able to help.”
He presses the heels of his palms into his eyeballs, pushing back the tears. Of course he’s hurting. He doesn’t need Momijikawa to point that out—he’s well-aware of how this whole thing seriously sucks.
Akihiko just desperately wishes to be useful. Both his best friends are suffering, yet all Akihiko can do is stand aside and watch.
It’s not enough. He couldn’t stop Suo, and he can’t raise Sakura’s spirits. What can he do?
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Momijikawa sighs, and suddenly, there’s a hand in Akihiko’s hair, patting gently. He nearly shrinks away from the unfamiliar touch, but it's like his body doesn’t get the memo, and instead has his limbs shutting down, turning into jelly.
“I’m not,” he denies weakly.
Momijikawa hums. When he retracts his hand, Akihiko almost chases the touch. His cheeks flush when he realises what he’s doing, and he holds himself back at the last second.
“You’re pretty bad at thinking about yourself, you know.” At Akihiko’s affronted look, Momijikawa shrugs. “It’s just something I’ve noticed. I know you’re worried, but let yourself be taken care of too.”
“By who?” Akihiko replies dryly. Instantly, guilt seeps into his veins—it’s not Sakura’s fault that he’s struggling, plus Akihiko is certain that Suo has his own reasons for leaving, however secretive he may be.
Akihiko doesn’t wish to be resentful, though, so he’s been putting on a strong face and trying to move onto the next important thing.
It’s just that he’s never felt so alone since middle school.
The door suddenly flies open with a bang, and Sugishita comes stalking out. Akihiko yelps, making a frantic grab for him. He looks constipated. Maybe they did get into a fight, and Sakura was just too weak to fight back—?
“I’m going home,” Sugishita grunts, slithering out of Akihiko’s grasp and stomping towards the stairs. Akihiko peers into Sakura’s house, searching for any signs of broken glass or something.
Did Sugishita manage to say his piece? Where’s Sakura?
“Haruka,” Momijikawa calls, stepping past Akihiko and into the house.
Sakura shuffles out a few seconds later, holding a tray of four empty plates and heading towards the sink. His eyebags are still heavy and his movements are sluggish, reminiscent of the time Akihiko saw him fall ill, but he’s on his feet. And it seems he’s eaten everything Momijikawa made.
Akihiko could weep.
“Good,” Momijikawa huffs, giving him a nod of approval. Then, he rests a hand on Akihiko’s shoulder, tugging him away from the entrance. “We’ll head home too, then.”
“Eh? A-Already?”
Momijikawa squeezes his shoulder. “It’s been a long day. And you should get home before the sun sets.”
Akihiko digs his teeth into his inner cheek, reluctant to go, but for some reason, he just wants to listen to Momijikawa. Maybe it’s because he’s such a grounded presence, that everything he says sounds so calm and wise, and he can’t help but follow along. Akihiko can’t believe this is the same guy he was plotting to destroy a month ago for being rude to Sakura.
“Take care, Sakura-san,” Akihiko wishes once they’ve grabbed his things, clutching the scarf around his neck.
He doesn’t expect a response, but Sakura meets his eye and gives him a slight nod.
“Thank you,” he mumbles.
Akihiko’s eyes prickle with tears, and Momijikawa is dragging him away, shutting the door behind him.
He can’t help it, he asks again, “Will Sakura-san be okay by himself—?”
Momijikawa chuckles. “Judging by the look on his face, I think Sugishita got through to him. Have faith.” He pauses, glancing over Akihiko’s frame, and adds, “Let me walk you home.”
The offer is so sudden and unexpected that Akihiko doesn’t even process it until he’s off the last step. When he does, he blinks, whipping his head towards Momijikawa. “What?”
Momijikawa barrels on. “You don’t live very far, do you?”
“Well, no, but—” Akihiko has to force down the resurfacing memories, pushing the shadow of an old friend out of his head.
It’s stupid. Momijikawa isn’t going to replace Suo. And Akihiko is stronger than this—he doesn’t need to be taken care of all the way home.
Ah, well. He supposes Momijikawa already saw through the fragility he’s trying to hide.
“Okay,” he agrees, and he feels oddly relieved when Momijikawa smiles back at him.