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REO HADN'T FELT homesick since his first week in Canada. But right here, in one of the many hotels his family-owned, he couldn't help but accept that he would be sick with sentimentalities once he was back on the North American floor. Not everything could've changed in two years, but just from the way things looked across the cab's window, Japan seemed different, new.
Something strange stacked up inside his chest because even if Canada was more of a home now, losing Japan felt like he had nowhere left to go. Sure, it was illogical, so Reo supposed it had to do with immigrating; one never entirely forgets the place they were born, and it hurts to see it transform until it's no longer recognizable.
Luckily, he had Shidou and Mei-Ling, and they helped him from sinking deep into all those gloomy thoughts. Most of his time had to be busy either taking care of them in his natal country or mentally preparing for what they jokingly called his Big Comeback.
Right now, he is doing the former.
"Stop howling like a freaking werewolf!" Mei-Ling complained for what was probably the third time, throwing her pillow at Shidou on this occasion. The second they had gotten to their room, Shidou had fallen asleep. Although they had tolerated his noise while unpacking, Mei-Ling couldn't take it any longer.
He sat up in reflex, his eyes still half-closed. "Sorry?" But his voice wasn't apologetic in the slightest. Reo would've let him nap if it wasn't the middle of the day. "What time is it?"
"Almost six in the afternoon."
Shidou groaned, clearly disliking the answer. "Alright, in my defense, I'm fucking jet-lagged; I have the right to sleep and snore."
"Yeah, but you snore like an animal, and it's distracting," his dance partner argued.
Shidou made a face, slouching like a flower without sun or water. It was so cartoonish and dramatic in his big frame that Reo couldn't help but give in. Mei-Ling always said everyone was easily charmed by Shidou, and she was right. "Guys, it's fine. Shidou, go back to sleep." The guy was old enough to deal with eventual insomnia by himself.
But he crossed his arms over the pillow instead of lying back. "No, now I can't. Thank you, Mei-Ling."
"You're welcome, asshole."
They glared at each other for a few seconds in a staring contest. Mei-Ling was — what even Anri called — immune to Shidou's bad ideas, no matter how pretty and tempting he could make them sound. Reo watched with half a grin, waiting until Mei-Ling blinked, and the couple started groaning and yelling again, I won!, Fuck! It was just luck!
