Windborne wanderers / kazuscara

14

"the fuck you want? quit staring at me."

"i'm analysing something."

"you aren't analysing shit. just tell me."

"it's just... nah, i get why you'd be hung up over this, but... this is what everyone feels like when they have a fun little crush."

"nothing about this is fun."

"yeah, i get you. but these feelings are completely normal, so you don't need to overthink them. this part though... 'do i like him just because i find comfort in him or do i like the idea of him comforting me?'..."

"what about it?"

"nothing. it's just a relief that you remembered that question."

"the hell you take me for? of course i'd remember something so important. i've seen enough shit in my foster families to know that i need to establish that first before i do anything else."

"alright... say, let me ask you a few questions."

"what?"

"what do you like about kazuha?"

"...uh... it's kinda hard to give a concrete answer... but if i had to say, i guess it'd be his personality?"

"what do you think his personality is?"

"studious but not a shut-in, open-minded, can be kinda playful at times. is gentle and smart with words."

"hmm... you got that right. but you're missing one thing."

"what?"

"he is, at his core, a carefree person. he does care about what's going on in his life, but he is easy going and open to challenges. when he faces a hurdle, he'd immediately spring up to find ways to get over it."

"what are you getting at..."

"one last question. do you feel a sense of comfort around kazuha that you've never felt with anyone else?"

"i thought we've already established that. yes, i do. and you will never be able to give me that comfort."

"how nice of you! that last comment was completely necessary."

"but here's the thing— i don't want to be liking him just because he gives me comfort. that feels really shallow, you know? again, i have never experienced humanly love before in my life. he gave that to me. isn't that just me wanting a supporting figure in my life?"

"so what?"

"fuck you mean, 'so what'?!"

"finding comfort in him is a good enough reason to love him, is it not? if he's giving you this particular thing that you haven't been given before, then of course you'd appreciate it. let's just say you're appreciating it differently. besides, from what i've gathered, it doesn't seem like you are just simply using him. you actually like him for who he is, and not a fantasy version of him. i derived that much from your response earlier. so, if you have any more questions, just ask. don't try to mull it over and sulk ab—"

"KUNI!"

"what the fu—"

a figure flung the curtains open and stood there, panting.

"...kazuha?"

said person ran over to the bed and hugged kunikuzushi tight.

"w-what are y—"

"thank god you're okay... i heard from my classmates that you fainted due to blood loss."

"the fuck? they really like blowing things out of proportion, don't they?"

"ack, i don't care about that. as long as you're safe." kazuha stood back to just to sit on the bed. "can't have you dying on me yet. we still have so many places to go to."

huh? that's it? you only came because you wanted to go adventuring with me?

kazuha took kunikuzushi's hand into his and started stroking it gently. "will you be alright on your own?"

kunikuzushi remained silent as he questioned their relationship. heizou was about to say something until the nurse popped in.

"i didn't want to ruin your fun little family reunion, but i have to check up on this dying lad right here. go back to class, you two. i'll write up a note for your teachers in a bit."

the two nodded and left swiftly. wouldn't want to be missing out on that important chapter in calculus...

——

"uh, kazuha..."

"yeah?"

"...you could've worded your sentence better..."

"what sentence?"

"where you said kuni can't just die on you... he is a severe overthinker, y'know. he'd stretch things far beyond what they mean. he'll kill me if i said this to his face, but, he is quite emotionally fragile."

"...i know that much. do my words really affect him that much, though? just a curious question."

"man alive... you do know that you're currently the most important person in his life, right?"

"?!"