Takemichi yawned in such an exaggerated way he almost fell from his chair. Yamagishi at his side snickered before letting out a more muted yawn.
"If we continue this, we're going to end up in an unending loop of yawns." Suzuki joked before continuing the trend and yawning himself.
It had been a long day.
Well, they were just on their lunch break, however, that science test had been exhausting. Takemichi could practically feel his brain melting as he went over each question in his head. He rested his head on the table, eyeing the food with barely hidden contempt.
He was not in the mood to take a single bite out of his lunch.
In truth, he was starving. His stomach rumbled in disagreement with his mind, especially after puking several times and not eating anything in several hours. But with his scrambled thought, at this point, he believed that the only thing he could digest was a good boiling cup of black coffee.
"Earth to Takemichi," Yamagishi called, waving his hand in front of Takemichi's face. The blond boy groaned in response, not wanting to raise his head and instead shut his eyes for some of that comforting darkness.
"Someone is tired," Akkun said, the smile on his face noticeable by the tone in his voice alone. "Spent the night studying?"
"As if Takemichi would study," Yamagishi answered for him.
The presence of the Mizo middle five was comforting and familiar, finally able to relax Takemichi's anxious aura. In truth, that science test did not matter. It would not affect what is about to happen nor the future in any possible way. The only thing it managed to do was waste his time.
Takemichi wished his phone was not as shit. He would call Mikey or Draken and do further investigating. They were a strange pair for sure, but in the few interactions he has had with them, they never stroke Takemichi as bad people. It just seemed so bizarre that Mikey would turn up to be this horrible human being.
Takemichi stood up, drawing the attention of his friends.
"Oh, you finally look alive."
"Where you going?"
"The zombie moved."
Takuya stayed silent. For many reasons, Takemichi refused to meet his eyes.
While ignoring their little remarks, Takemichi cracked his neck one final time and started walking towards the door. He waved his hand at them in goodbye.
"I'm going to go hang out with Mikey," He told them. "See ya'."
It was not in Takemichi's nature to skip classes or to straight up leave the school grounds in the middle of the day. It was very much against his typical demeanor. Sure, he was a delinquent, but he had valued his education to some extent.
But that was before.
Tests, exams, classes, sick days, it all appeared so important. To some, it might be. But Takemichi knew better. He knew how his future would turn up.
It was a bit lamentable to think he would become a chronic part-timer. A forgettable face, standing behind the shop's checkout and giving you back your change. That one employee you catch the manager yelling at but try to ignore as you wander about. The sad-looking guy at the subway that you subtly avoid getting near to.
Takemichi was all that. Skipping biology was not going to change that.
What he could change, though, is the death of Draken. He could at least do one positive thing in his insignificant life, and that was enough.
He heard Yamagishi boo, joking about how they were 'being replaced by hotter, cooler guys'. Akkun hushed him before bidding goodbye to Takemichi.
Takuya suddenly stood up, surprising the rest of the group with this sudden action. He marched forward, grabbed Takemichi by the wrist, and dragged him outside the classroom.
"Takuya! What the hell?" Takemichi shouted as he got dragged. He briefly looked back, meeting the concerned eyes of Akkun.
In just a couple of seconds, the two childhood friends were standing alone in the hallway. Takemichi stared at Takuya like he had grown an extra head.
"What was that about?"
"Look. I know we are not as close as before." The seriousness in his voice felt like whiplash, freezing Takemichi in place. "But lately, you've been acting weird, like a completely different person. It's not always. Sometimes you're, y'know, your usual dumb self. But other times, it's like," Takuya poked his chest, the sting of the touch almost making Takemichi flinch. "I'm talking to a stranger. Always asking strange questions that you should know the answer to and keeping secrets like we're not your friends anymore. And after what Tachibana told me, I won't tolerate it anymore."
"What Hina told you-"
His mind was a mess, trying to make sense of everything Takuya just told him. Given that they were childhood friends, it had always been weird to open up to one another, preferring to keep it casual and fun instead of talking about their feelings. This was, if Takemichi's memory served him correctly, the first time Takuya had been so upfront about something.
"Just yesterday, you were acting like usual, but now you're being weird again." Takuya sighed. "When Tachibana called me, I didn't take it seriously. It was late, and if it had to do with you, I knew you could handle it on your own. But now you're here, and once again, it's like we don't even know each other. But now it's worse, and it's noticeable, and you're making all of us worried."
"I... I didn't mean to worry you," Takemichi said sincerely. It was surely out of Takuya's comfort zone to be so straightforward, and Takemichi could not just put this aside and ignore it. "It's just that, ever since Kiyomasa, a lot has been happening. Stuff I gotta deal with on my own."
Takuya nodded but did not look convinced.
"Can you at least tell me what happened last night? I can try to help."
Takemichi grimaced just at the thought of the previous night. If being honest, it was something he would rather forget about.
"It was just a weird moment. Toman-related shit."
That was technically true.
His childhood friend frowned but did not press further, simply nodded and patted his shoulder. "Just know that I'll always be here. You don't need to shoulder everything on your own."
The sincerity in his eyes made Takemichi want to cry, how he wished what Takuya said was true. This was far beyond middle school drama, and it was his priority to keep all his loved ones safe.
"I'll tell you, I promise."
