Everything Korekiyo Shinguji does feels like a tiresome chore. Absolutely everything, from waking up to getting dressed, let alone eating or showering. There isn't a day that goes by where they don't feel like collapsing when simply trying to walk to the bathroom.
Of course, being the reserved person they are, they say nothing about this to anyone.
'It would do no good to burden anyone,' They often reason to themself, 'It would simply be easier to cope with this in seclusion.'
That solitude ends today. Gonta suggested to them last week that they both go look for bugs, and being the softie they are for Gonta - and Gonta solely - they accepted this request with no hesitation.
As they get out of bed just thirty minutes before the scheduled bug hunt, they have to pause for a moment, pain creeping through their joints. Even after sleeping - what was it? 9... 10...? - eleven hours, Kiyo is still exhausted.
But a promise is a promise, and they promised Gonta they would look for bugs today. Despite not being all too fond of creepies and crawlies, they feel as though they owe this to Gonta, who has been so good to them, and patient. Not to mention, they've had to cancel plans with Gonta far too many times already.
'You owe this to him,' Kiyo thinks to themself. With that, they muster the energy to put on a fresh outfit and spray some dry shampoo into their hair. Thank the heavens for dry shampoo.
Just on time, thirty minutes later, there's a heavy yet gentle knock on Kiyo's door, and a familiar voice calls from the other side, "Kiyo? Is Kiyo ready to find bugs with Gonta?"
Despite the pain, the anthropologist's lips turn up beneath their mask. Their day just got a bit better. They twist the knob on the door to see Gonta's gleaming smile when it opens.
"Hello, Kiyo. Gonta is very glad to see Kiyo! How is Kiyo feeling?" He asks, and Kiyo walks out of their room, giving Gonta a smile through their eyes.
"I am feeling alright, thank you," They lie, knowing very well that they feel ill and pained. It would be a shame to dampen Gonta's good mood. "How are you?"
Gonta twirls his bug net delicately. "Hmm... Gonta is good, excited to have fun with Kiyo."
"Oh, that's wonderful, I'm rather glad."
Side by side, Gonta and Korekiyo trek to the courtyard where Gonta often seeks bugs. This is, of course, done at Korekiyo's pace, but Gonta holds no complaints.
Korekiyo finds this a bit confusing, though. Why doesn't Gonta ask them to hurry? Kiyo is only slowing him down, they're just taking more time to get to the bugs that await Gonta outside. A pit of tension boils in Korekiyo's stomach, worried that Gonta will get sick of waiting for them all the time.
But when Gonta opens the courtyard door and shields Kiyo's eyes from the sun, that tension eases a bit. "Here, Gonta not want Kiyo to get sudden headache!"
Easing their eyes slowly to the light, Kiyo thanks Gonta, then allows the entomologist to escort them toward whatever direction it is that he thinks will have the most bugs.
It's warm out. Not uncomfortably warm, or the type of warmth that makes you sweat in odd places, but the kind of warm one could fall asleep to. It's a nice warmth, fitting for a nice day with Gonta.
The two of them have gone seeking for bugs before, but today Gonta has chosen a flat area near some trees, bushes, and rocks, excellent for beetles, spiders, and true bugs.
"Here, Kiyo can follow Gonta, or sit by rock or tree," Gonta tells them, and they nod. The tree seems like the most convenient choice.
The tree in which Kiyo sits beneath is fully blossoming, giving the breeze and air an aroma of fresh floras. "Ah, how fortunate. The Japanese Tree Blossom, this is quite a large one, too," Kiyo points out to Gonta, who is ecstatic about the rich ivory blossoms that hang to his shoulders.
