#uhmm lemme know if there’s any typos !!! im using a new thing to write in. and i kept catching things that my usual would have caught

[another-dr-another]

Higa - …

Higa - …Uhm…

//Tsurugi hides his face behind his hands, and lays his arms flat on his upper legs- he’s completely drawn away, and yet, Maeda and Taira can audibly hear as his breathing turns rapid.

Tsurugi, hyperventilating - I… I…

Higa - …

//Higa begins to move, before he falters- he spends a moment hesitating, while Tsurugi continues to cry. Slowly, he crosses over to Tsurugi, and sits side by side with him- once he’s committed to the action, Higa reaches over, and, while stiff and awkward with his moments, begins to pat Tsurugi’s back.

Maeda - …

Maeda - I’m… starting to feel like I’m intruding.

Higa - I, uh…

//Tsurugi takes a few breaths- loud, and shaky, but more controlled than his breathing has been. He begins to unfurl-

Tsurugi - Sh-Shit, I’m sorry…

//Able to think more clearly, Tsurugi shifts away from Higa. His feet were resting on the floor below the stairs, but now, he places them on the step he’s sitting on, and uses them to inch backwards until his back is to the wall. His legs are no longer drawn to his chest, and his hands go behind his head, but he’s still tucked behind his limbs, though he’s now able to look Higa in the eye while he speaks.

Tsurugi - I- I’m sorry, Higa. I shouldn’t have…

Tsurugi - It wasn’t alright for me to freak out on you like that, especially after you had just gotten startled yourself.

Tsurugi - I was… spooked, by everything that had happened, so I spoke without thinking, because I was scared, and I wasn’t in the right place mentally to deal with that in an appropriate manner.

//Tsurugi is still calming down- he takes a moment to breathe, and wipe at his eyes.

Tsurugi - It’s not… it isn’t true that the others want you dead… but it was true that they didn’t want me to be left alone with you,

Tsurugi - And genuinely, I don’t think you would have survived that if you were with anyone else. 

Tsurugi - And… I’m not sure how many would have, again, fallen down the stairs to keep you safe, not after you caused them to fall.

Tsurugi - The way I expressed my thoughts wasn’t okay, but…

Tsurugi - I hope… you can tell that…

Tsurugi - …I’m sorry, I’m trying to think of how I should word this…

Higa - …

Higa - Don’t… apologize to me.

Higa - It’s… I’ve done worse than warn people that they’re doing dumb shit, and I’ve done it for less… noble reasons.

Tsurugi, nodding - …

//Tsurugi seems to be calmed down now- the tension finally leaves his body, as his guard comes back down. 

Tsurugi - …That all in mind, though…

Tsurugi - I tell you this because I think I can change- nobody wants to be upset with others, or view them as a threat to everyone’s safety.

Tsurugi - I wouldn’t say everything I did unless I thought it could help you- I’ve chatted with people about it, people who have…

Tsurugi - People who are really upset about what you’ve been doing-

Higa - Uehara?

Tsurugi - …Actually, no?

Tsurugi - Uehara doesn’t want me around you because you tried to beat me, and you nabbed my hearing aid. I was thinking about other people. You’ve kinda upset everyone, Higa.

Tsurugi - But anyways, even if they’re not your biggest fan, everyone I’ve talked with hopes that you’ll change. 

//Tsurugi stands up.

Taira - …Maeda. Step back.

Maeda - …Huh?

Taira - Just- like this.

//While Tsurugi speaks, Maeda and Taira take a few steps back from the half wall- if Maeda gets on his toes, and cranes his neck, he can juuust see Higa and Tsurugi. 

Tsurugi - I know I keep saying this… but as much as I value being light hearted, and finding ways to be happy, and enjoy life even in this situation…

Tsurugi - We can’t afford to treat this like a normal situation. 

Tsurugi - Bit on the nose, but it’s a killing game. Play along, and work out what the best strategy is to make sure you don’t get knocked out.

Tsurugi - Losing is a very real possibility, but there’s no rule that says we can’t work together, and we’ve been shown that getting singled out is how you get picked off.

Tsurugi - So… 

Tsurugi - Okay, sorry, I have to make this point seriously.

Tsurugi - Stop whacking people, for the love of god. I’m being so dead serious about this-

Tsurugi - The bigotry is horrible and I hope you change, but if that’s going to happen, it’ll be a long process.

Tsurugi - The physically hurting people. That has to stop, I swear. Stop pulling that shit.

Tsurugi - …

Tsurugi, gently - Thank you… for talking with me, Higa.

Higa - …

Higa - Yeah.

Higa - …I’m sorry, by the way.

Higa - For, uh- for causing you to fall earlier.

Tsurugi - I appreciate the apology, Higa. That means a lot- I can tell you’re being genuine, and it makes me happy.

//Higa shifts, and Tsurugi, once more, reaches a hand out to him, which Higa accepts- with much less trepidation this time.

Maeda - …This is… really nice to see.

Maeda - I mean genuinely, I feel warm now…

Maeda - …

Maeda - Eugh. Nausea…

//Tsurugi pulls Higa up, and turns to head up the stairs, when he suddenly winces.

Tsurugi, hissing - Aaahhhh…

Higa - …Tsurugi? Is everything okay.

//Tsurugi nods, but his lips are drawn tightly together. He cringes, and slowly, carefully moves his hands, fingers carefully grazing the back of his neck. He hisses once again, and squeezes his eyes shut.

Tsurugi - …Fuck.

Tsurugi - Yeah, I’m okay.

//He seems to be emotionally alright now, however, a few tears escape his eyes-

Maeda - …Oh, shit. Did he get hurt?

Higa - …Woah, wait. What’s wrong?

Tsurugi - Uh- I’m fine, really.

Tsurugi - I just… I think I hit a bone wrong when we fell- knock on wood, but I don’t think it’s fractured or anything.

Tsurugi, lowering his arms - Just uh… aches, for lack of a better term.

Higa - …

Higa - I’m…

Higa - …Thank you. For uh- for earlier.

Tsurugi, teasing - …For saving your life?

Higa, serious - Guess so.

Tsurugi - …

Tsurugi - …Oh, son of a motherfucking bitch. Okay.

Tsurugi - Higa. Just how long do you think we’ve spent out here?

Higa - …

Higa - Are you alright to walk up the stairs?

Tsurugi - Shit, I’m good to run!

Higa - Let’s- Lets not do that…

Taira - …Back.

Maeda - …?

Maeda, understanding - Oh, hell. 

Maeda - Yeah, got it.

//Maeda and Taira take a few more steps back, then-

Taira - Gotta play it right… and pray no one thinks too hard.

//Taira grabs the cuff of Maedas sleeve, and tugs him forward, moving quickly-

Taira - Tsurugi, Higa, hey.

//The two on the stairs glance up just in time to see- well, to see Taira and Maeda arrive at the top of the stairs. Of course that’s what happened- the two must have just ran over, their prior momentum visible in the little ways that their sudden stop impacts them. The way that Tairas hair swings, and how Maeda skids to a stop makes it apparent that they sped over and just stopped- obviously, they haven’t been lurking at the top of the stairs, no sir.

Tsurugi - Oh!

Tsurugi - Hiya, Maeda! And hello, Taira!

Tsurugi - …I didn’t mean to like, ignore you, and just say hi to Maeda.

Tsurugi - If “Hiya Maeda” isn’t the first thing that I say, then the whole entire world will explode.

Tsurugi - So, y’know.

Maeda - Hi, Tsurugi.

//Tsurugi waves at Maeda- Maeda waves back at him, then leans over to look more directly at Higa, and wave to him as well.

Higa - …

Higa, waving - Hey.

Maeda - …Hm.

Maeda - Higa seems… genuinely impacted by everything. 

Maeda - I wonder though, if he’s just surprised that Tsurugi would yell at him, or if what Tsurugi managed to actually strike a nerve.

Maeda - Speaking of…

//Tsurugi’s still a bit pink in the face, with his eyes and nose having an especial tint to them. Maeda knows what to look for, so he can pick out a few tear tracks, and notes that Tsurugis eyes appear glossy.

Maeda - …

Maeda - To be fair, Tsurugi is always crying. So, I don’t think anyone will be particularly concerned.

Maeda - …Honestly, Higa is the one who’s more noteworthy, I mean he really just seems…

Higa - …What are you two doing here?

Taira - Oh, we just figured we’d wait for you two, since we were the last duos to show up- right, Maeda?

Maeda - Mhm!

Tsurugi - Hm-hm~

Tsurugi - We should prolly head in now, if everyone’s ready?

Taira - Alright.

//Taira turns to leave, and the rest follow her.

Maeda - …

//Maeda adjusts his pace to fall into step with Tsurugi, walking by his side. Again, Tsurugis calmed down, but he still seems to be bouncing back from everything that happened.

Maeda - …I don’t- Tsurugi, pspsps, look over here- dude, c’mon…

//Tsurugi seems to sense Maedas frustration, and glances over at him.

Maeda - Okay, uh…

//Maeda gestures at his own eyes, then points vaguely at Tsurugi, and looks at him. Tsurugi gets the message- Maeda is asking if he’s okay, and telling Tsurugi that he’s worried because Tsurugi looks as though he’s been crying.

Tsurugi - !

//Tsurugi waves a hand dismissively, and smiles- he’s fine!

Maeda - …

//Something tugs dully at Maeda, from the back of his head.

Maeda - …I should have, uh…

//Maeda starts checking his assorted pockets- checking his jacket, then jeans…

Maeda - …Yeah, no, I always…

//He checks his jacket again. There’s a quiet crinkle as his fingers finally meet plastic-

Maeda - There we are.

//Maeda moves closer to Tsurugi, gently pressing their arms together- he pulls his hand from his pocket, and pushes what he’s found towards Tsurugi.

Tsurugi - …!

//Tsurugi points to himself, silently asking if it’s for him. Maeda gives a small nod, trying to get Tsurugi to be sneaky as well.

Tsurugi, surprised - …

//Tsurugi quickly reaches over- and grabs the sucker that Maeda has been trying to gift to him.

Tsurugi, very quietly - Thank you!

//Maeda smiles, and moves away- as though nothing ever happened.

Maeda - Figured I had to have one somewhere…

~*~

Maeda, narrating - Oh, we’re at the rec room-

Maeda - It’s, like… right at the top of the stairs. Very first thing you see.

Maeda - It’s weird that everyone’s had the door shut, I imagine it’ll get hot in there…

{Head into the Rec Room}