𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 [𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢]

• Chapter 14 •

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❝Look here!❞
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Setting the device down with a shuffle, the sharp pain beneath your chest refuses to subside. 'Shit, I guess painkillers won't fix this one.' Letting out a breath between your teeth, your fingers gloss over the supposedly broken rib.

'I should really have a doctor right now.'

You turn your head uncomfortably on the flat pillow. At one comfortable angle the sun blares in your eyes. The alternative, however, would leave your neck in shambles the next morning. You sigh at the impossible dilemma.

Giving up and deciding to finally close your eyes, your head fills with the previous conversation. 'But do you want to be alone?' Your face flushes at the sincerity that was in his voice. 'And now I can't sleep, either.'

A dull stab in your chest surfaced, drowning out the painful one. It's familiar, and you hated that it was. It made you want to hug the nearest person and melt in their embrace, not caring about anything else. But just the thought makes the pressure worsen, to your dismay. 'It seems impossible to get rid of. But at the same time, even if it floods my mind with these fantasies, I want to keep dwelling on them. It's just so easy...'

Your thoughts get cut off with a ding to your cellphone.

- - -

Maki

Oh, I forgot to ask.
Are you doing alright?
It was a little intense
after you got back.

really? yeah, I'm fine
though. here, call me
it'd be easier

You got it.

- - -

"So, how's everything?"

"I got some painkillers for my splitting headache, and I think I broke a rib," you state nonchalantly.

"That does not sound 'fine.'"

"Well it's not like I'm screaming in agony, so compared to the curse I cremated, I'm fine." You smile through the phone at your casual way of slipping the curse into the conversation. Though childish, it was a huge achievement for yourself.

"So you did run into a curse. Good to know you didn't chicken out at the sight of such a high-level one. For your first mission, that must've been intense."

"Yeah, it was. I got a little carried away with my technique and blacked out, though."

"Damn."

"Mhm. Where are you right now?"

"Training. I wanted to see you, but Gojo-sensei assured us that Inumaki-kun had everything under control. Good to know you slept through the night, though. It was pretty loud when you came back."

"Really? Tell me what happened." You twirl your hand above your head randomly, eyeing the sunlight seeping through your fingers.

"Well, I was hanging out in my room when the car pulled into the school, and I figured I would go say 'hi' and congratulate you, right?"

"Yeah. ...Ohhh." You sigh in embarrassment. Coming back fainted probably isn't the greatest first impression.

"Yep. So I walked out to greet you, and the first thing I saw was him laying you on a stretcher while Ijichi-san looked like he was fighting for his life on a phone call."