as we walk ; geto suguru

Maturity

It takes you a while before Kazuma, Nagi, and you calm down from the fits of laughter you all three share at the table. Even then as you collect yourself, you let out occasional giggles and snorts as Kazuma continues his story of how your old teacher from college didn't notice something being placed on his chair when he sat down.

"He managed to continue the lesson with the thumbtack in his ass and even left the lecture with it,"

Nagi shakily took a sip of her drink while biting her smiling lip.

"I don't think there's been a day where Yamanaka-sensei's buttcheeks <em>haven't</em> been clenched, he's always been super uptight with literally everything."

You nod your head. "Ever since he found out I snuck vodka instead of water in my bottle, he used to check it every time I entered the class."

"Seriously?" Kazuma asked.

"Yup," you laughed. "But he was too stupid to figure out I was secretly bringing some in another water bottle that just looked like the water bottle I had water in."

Kazuma lets out another laugh but he's interrupted when his phone suddenly rings. He pardons himself and answers it, then gestures towards you and Nagi again.

"Sorry, (Y/N), I need to go to meet up with my group for my project, I'll see you on Monday. It was nice meeting you, Yoshino-san! I'll tell Azumi and Mina you guys are here!" With a final wave, Kazuma dashes off and leaves you and Nagi alone again. You're starting to wonder where Geto is, considering he was taking a rather long amount of time to get one item.

"Good kid," Nagi mentions and you're quick to agree.

Geto enters your field of vision and you greet him with a smile and wave. He's looking a bit solemn, perhaps the thing he didn't want wasn't there?

"Did you find what you were looking for?" you ask, smiling.

"Oh, uh, they didn't have the shirt I wanted in my size," Geto mentions quietly and shoves his hand in his pockets again.

"Ah, that sucks. What store did you go to, anyway? You were gone for a pretty lengthy amount of time,"

Geto pauses for a moment before answering. "Tommy Hilfiger."

"Do they have a Tommy Hilfiger here?" Nagi questions, putting a finger to her lip as she ponders.

"Remind me to go there later, yeah?" you tell Geto, who merely nods and instead brings his attention to his phone, checking the news.

That's odd, you think. Geto almost never uses his phone at tables, no matter the occasion. He would rather listen closely or engage into a conversation.

Then again, continuity doesn't last forever so you don't pay it too much attention.

"... by the way, (Y/N), I don't want to make you uncomfortable and you can drop the topic if you really don't want to talk about it... but I heard about your trial with Shigemo. Did something happen between you both?"

You and Geto both lift your heads at this and you shrink back slightly, guiltily smiling.

"Ah, a bit."

Nagi looks concerned and takes your hands in hers. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

The question swirls in your mind and you debate telling her the truth or not. But Nagi is a good friend, she's a great friend actually. She's understanding and compassionate and loyal, but when Mahito encounters your mind again, you lean towards the opposition for a minute but something surges inside of you and every impulse you resisted against loses control.