An After-Show Disaster | Ruikasa

4. Till I Can Push These Feelings Away

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When Tsukasa went to visit Rui after school the next day, as he'd promised the day prior, they seemed to be doing a lot better.

For one, he was sitting up..and their appearance looked a lot more put together. Tsukasa wasn't surprised, though, as Rui had apparently been feeling well enough to have been texting Nene earlier that morning, or at least that's what she told him.

..Apparently he'd already been thinking of new ideas for their next show too.
Something about that fact made Tsukasa feel uneasy, almost sad.

And it also gave him a sense of fear..what if Rui got hurt again?

And would he even have recovered enough to perform by the date of their next planned show?

Tsukasa decided it was best not to think about that right now, and instead enjoy the time he had with Rui.

"Feeling any better?" Tsukasa asked as he walked into the room, sitting down beside Rui's bed once more. He had noticed the irises he'd brought Rui yesterday were now placed in a clear glass vase, half filled with water.

Rui looked up from his phone, setting it beside himself and nodding.
"My head hurts a lot less today." they said, their usual smile had returned, which made Tsukasa smile in response.

"You didn't tell me it was hurting yesterday." Tsukasa told them, and he paused to think before answering.

"Fufu..I suppose I didn't, did I?" they laughed softly, and Tsukasa nodded in confirmation. "..That's ok, the important thing is that I'm feeling better," Rui paused, before looking back at Tsukasa, "I should be able to be discharged tomorrow, I think." he stated, and Tsukasa gave them a smile.

"That's great Rui!" he grinned, maybe he might've sounded a little too enthusiastic, but he couldn't express how happy he was to know they would be recovering alright. Tsukasa couldn't help himself, he stood up and leaned over to give Rui a hug. He seemed a little surprised, but hugged back nonetheless.

"Careful, I'm still not fully recovered." Rui joked, but Tsukasa sat back down regardless.

"Right, right...I'm just glad to know you're okay." Tsukasa explained.

It was true, Tsukasa was extremely happy to know that they would be alright.

But looking at his friend now, he felt almost sad.

Rui brought him so much happiness just by being there, and Tsukasa knew deep down that if his feelings didn't go away, it might drive the friendship they had apart.

That was the last thing he wanted.

..But he also didn't want to stop feeling this way.

Why couldn't he just get over it?

"Are you feeling okay? You're staring," Rui laughed slightly, though looking mildly concerned.
Tsukasa blinked a few times, not having realized he'd spaced out.
"Oh, of course," Tsukasa nodded, "my apologies, I was just...thinking about something."

...

Rui blinked calmly, sighing quietly. There was something melancholy about Tsukasa's smile, it's like there was something he wasn't telling them.

But even still, Rui was just glad he was here, glad he hadn't...left.

Rui had expected him to leave the first time he'd made a mistake, and yet Tsukasa had stayed then.

Why had he expected it to be any different now..?

Tsukasa was a good good person, a good friend, he wouldn't do that..well, Rui hoped he wouldn't do that.