Windborne wanderers / kazuscara

8

it was sunday. a hot, sunny, and disgustingly humid sunday. kunikuzushi woke up but refused to get out of bed. what was he gonna do anyway?

he started scrolling on his phone, and stared at his contacts.

kaedehara kazuha.

we're closer now, so that name's due for a change...

he kept staring.

but what should i change it to? kaedehara? kazuha? should i give him a nickname? ...nah, can't come up with that stuff. wait, why am i so fixated on him?!

he's never gotten so much motivation to jump out of bed and clean himself up. he, quite literally, shot out of his messy bed, catapulted his phone to the other side of the room, and bolted out the door without properly closing it. thank god he didn't have a roommate, or else he'd be in for some nice nagging.

"yeah no something's definitely wrong... he's my first genuine friend... is it just 'cause i crave attention? that must be it. yeah." he mumbled as he ran to the shower room.

gaslighting's been extra popular these days.

——

it was sunday. a hot, sunny, and humid sunday. kazuha woke up and immediately set off for a park. the view and feel would be simply breathtaking.

unlike kunikuzushi, his routine went swimmingly. he washed up, styled his hair a bit, and even had a refreshing cup of self made coffee before going out.

he took his phone out and started scrolling through his messages.

kuni (adventure partner).

he stopped in his tracks.

he's no longer just an adventure buddy, right? yes, i should make it more... personal.

he typed something and turned his phone off for good.

kuni ╰(*'︶'*)╯

——

kunikuzushi was found violently splashing his face with ice cold water and scrubbing it like he was trying to morph his features.

"dude, what are you doing..." a person who was sat next to him in the shower area asked out of genuine concern. he had "medicine pink hair" and "puke coloured eyes" and "two unsettlingly symmetrical moles under his eyes". he also had "quite the scrawny build".

"hey, you're just as scrawny as i am! what gives?!" the guy asks, a bit offended. "man alive, what kind of greeting is this to someone you've just met..."

"what? never taken shit to your face before?"

"..."

"...my bad. i lashed out on you."

"o—kay...... by the way, what's your name, mr. i-cut-my-own-hair?"

"...kunikuzushi."

"oh? i think i've heard kazuha mention you before."

"you know him?"

"yeah! we go way back. we were friends since elementary."

"...huh."

"...i'm shikanoin heizou, nice to meet you!"

"mhm."

"kazuha can really tolerate just anyone, huh."

"the fuck's that supposed to mean?!"

they exchanged contacts later. friend 2 acquired!

——

"the heck is kazuha, an omamori?" kunikuzushi mumbled, but nothing could get past the detective's sharp ears.

"i wouldn't say so, but sure..."

"ever since he came into my life, everything's been a bit less painful, y'know? i even managed to make a second friend, but i'm not sure how long you'll last."

"don't underestimate me, kuni. i've dealt with worse, trust me."

"yeah, yeah... wait, why are you on my bed? get off! your hair's dripping wet!"

uh, yeah. heizou invited himself to kunikuzushi's room.

"what? it's the only thing i can remotely sit on! your place is a dumpster fire!"

"then get out."

"that's not how you treat people... figures, you've never had friends."

"fuck. you."

a new type of friendship. this one less emotional, less considerate, more plain fun, and more in-the-moment.

what should friendships be like? this one, or the one with kazuha?

"man alive, you aren't limited to one kind of friendship, y'know. your friendships are based on the people you choose to hang around with and the type of person you are yourself. maybe people who are less alike you will share a more carefree friendship with you, and those who share similar interests will have a more intimate friendship with you. that's your criteria from what i've observed so far."

"hell, did i think out loud... still, your conclusion isn't wrong, i guess..."

"i can't say for sure that that's your true criteria since, well, you've like 2 friends, but make more and see for yourself."

"...yeah."

——

"ooh look at the time..." kazuha sighed as he hopped off the bench. he was walking home, and passed by chinju forest.

his lips curved slightly upwards while looking at a particular tree.

"a new friend..."