Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

Crisis

Things have changed, quite a bit, at least when it came to Izumi's own perspective. Nothing had been the same yet it didn't want to really settle in until just recently. One thought had to cross his mind, that this felt good. Despite all of his expectations, despite being so stubborn and believing that he had made the right call months ago for him and Patch... He had been proven wrong.

How can one thing shake something like this up? He didn't get it and he wished that he didn't understand so he could live in this ignorant bliss he apparently lived in for years now. It was complicated, to say the least, and he didn't like thinking about it, at all. So much shot through his head at once, it was just... Something else. He had never considered this before, nor would he think he would ever. After all, this had all been different. Reconnecting like this, no forcing or anything like that. He wasn't sure how to put it exactly, he had no idea of this feeling, let alone the possibility. It was just hard to put into words, he had not been the same ever since that day. His head may as well be spinning, he couldn't really believe any of this. It was surreal, nothing made sense to him anymore.

It was like someone had been messing with his mind all this time and he got caught up in the moment. This was madness, pure madness. Or was it? No, this was not the right word. Even if he liked to think that... Just what had been going on at that point? This felt so unnatural but at the same time it felt right. The guilt had been washing over him despite getting what he wanted at the end of the day.

Yeah, it was what he had wished for. Reconnecting with the friend he lost a long time ago and he was happy about that. Though he needed a push from them of all people to get there... A good thing but something he couldn't stand all the same. An ironic twist of fate, if that even existed.

Agh, reflecting on all that had happened was a literal pain, to say the least. He didn't want to think about it and yet here he was, this keeping him up every waking second of the day. It made no sense whatsoever and yet—

"Sena? Hey Sena!" One voice to wake him up, one all too familiar, which got him out of whatever trance he had been in at the very least. Leo, of course it was that guy, and apparently he had shook Izumi over and over, his voice at the brink of cracking. For how long had that guy kept it up!? And how did Izumi not notice? Ugh, so annoying...

"What!?" It shot right out of his own mouth, a quick and sharp tone when staring at Leo himself who was looking curious yet also worried it seems.

"Practice started an hour ago! Yet all you do is either mess up or stand there!" The male responded, no shame in pointing it out. Hearing this was literally one of the worst things his ears could have thought of hearing, it was too shameful and embarrassing. A professional, making mistakes!? What was he thinking!? Wait, was he even thinking? No, not really. He was too distracted to do that actually. as much as he hated to admit it.

His own face probably showed the terror in his eyes when hearing that, refusing to admit it and just wishing to push Leo away right then and there yet he didn't bring himself to exactly do that for some odd reason. Not to mention that he had not been given a chance since the other members suddenly interrupted, wanting to throw in their own sense into the matter.

"My, are you alright Izumi–Chan? This is unlike you." Naru dared to point out, making him flinch. She was right on the spot, of course she was. If anyone had to know, it would probably be her. And yet, Izumi tried to keep up his usual front, forcing a quick huff out of his own mouth.

"What are you implying? That I show up sick at work?" He scoffed at her yet the woman shook her head quickly and sighing in annoyance. Yet her face showed that she was all but used to it.

"No, I'm not saying that at all. It would be something new though."

"Then keep qui—"

"Narukami–Senpai is right." Kasa–Kun interrupted all of a sudden, seeming to go with the flow. "Sena–Senpai, if I may, you seem out of the loop these days. Is something on your mind?"

This has already become irritating, they are already pushing it. Not to mention Leo had gotten closer with his own face and looking rather curiously at Izumi, like some little kid, and even nodding at Kasa—Kun's words. Why are they like this? This was none of their business, was it? Something annoyed him about it...

"Excuse me? What would be on my mind?" He asked, almost mockingly as he finally shoved Leo a little aside, trying to get that guy off himself. "You can stop shaking me by the way!"

"Oh c'mon Sena! We're worried here!" He protested with a slight pout.

"Aha.... Now you are. Thanks but I don't need your pity. I'm fine."

"Secchan is as stubborn as always, isn't he?" Kuma–Kun finally spoke up, the last guy he expected not to take action in the slightest. "Maybe he isn't getting enough sleep?"

"I get plenty of sleep thank you very much!" Izumi protested, almost offended that this possibility had even been thrown in. Talk about something being a pain in the literal ass... No, seriously, this was a pain in the ass. "Listen up, there's no need to butt into my business. You can stop this. Let's just get back to practice."

"We can't exactly do that if you keep messing up Senpai." Tsukasa explained, not looking impressed by this statement at all. None of Knights members were yet he didn't care. There was no need to make them worry like this. Not like they would get it anyway... "Maybe we should call it a—"

"Oh really? Then I'll make sure to not slip up this time. Simple enough, right? I will push myself beyond my limit if I have to." Honestly, he just hoped to be able to distract himself here.

"But—"

"No buts nor excuses. Have you brat learnt nothing the last year?"

"That—"

"Hah, give it up Tsukasa–Chan..." Naru–Chan sighed, her eyes staring blankly at Izumi himself now. "He's too stubborn to admit to it. We're talking to a brick wall here."

"Yeah... I don't think we can do anything about this..." Kuma—Kun agreed, though his face remained as much of a poker face as it could be. That or he was just extremely sleepy, to the point he didn't have the energy to put on a different expression. Though he added something which was a little... Odd for Izumi's own ears, at least for the time being. "We should leave it to someone else."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Izumi countered, crossing his arms while his gaze remained as sharp as it had been during this entire conversation. Yeah, what nonsense is that? Someone else? Unless... No, he was reading too deep into this most likely. No need to think about this.

And before this nonsense could continue he added quickly: "Enough chit chat, let's get back to what we were doing already."

Yeah, Izumi just wanted to shove these thoughts aside for the time being... Yet some gut feeling told him that this would not be as easy as he would imagine. After all, things had started to change, somewhat... Just like back then...