(Wind Breaker) The Green Rose's Thorns

Part 22

Suo arrived really close to the bell the next day, and got immediately surrounded by several of his classmates. He had slept poorly and was still trying to recover his own mental state, but was tasked with easing the anxieties of several others.

"Aoi's fine. He'll probably be out for a few days though," he gave very few details about Aoi's condition and his terse tone told the others it was better to let it lie for now. Things shifted to conversation about another classmate's absence, leading to Suo and Nirei making their way to what they assumed was his residence. Seeing the dilapidated building reminded Suo of something else and his heart sank a little bit. Nirei didn't seem to pick up on it as they talked with the very cranky occupant, but he did notice how Suo didn't try to fight Sakura's stubbornness. On their way down the street they ran into Kotoha, and after a brief explanation she glanced at the old apartments and thought for a moment.

"Here. Take these back to the cafe. Aoi can tell you where stuff goes, tell him we're closing up for the day," Kotoha handed over the overstuffed grocery bags she was carrying. The two boys took them, splitting them between each other.

"Aoi's working today?," Suo's face must have reflected his worry because Kotoha let out a tired sigh and shook her head.

"He was feeling restless, so it was easier to keep him there than send him off to school like that," she explained, massaging her temple.

"Why not send him home?," Nirei was missing some key information. Or he forgot it in his stressed out state. Suo just flashed him a dry smile and nudged him forward, the two parting ways with Kotoha. Nirei kept sending nervous glances Suo's way, but the other boy didn't acknowledge it at all. The few attempts at conversation fell flat, too, making the last leg of their journey to Pothos almost agonizing for Nirei.

They stepped inside just as the last customer was leaving, stepping to the side of the door so they were out of the way. The old man left his empty dishes on the countertop, sliding his payment underneath before he left with a passing nod to the other two. Looking around there wasn't another soul in sight, something that made Nirei's stomach flutter all over again.

"Where is Aoi?," the blonde boy followed Suo over to the counter and deposited his bags there. Once there, he spotted some orange peels and discarded strawberry stems on a napkin beside the register. The back rim of one of the stools poked out over the opposite side of the counter as well. Nirei leaned over the counter where Suo knelt down, curious what could have gotten his attention there.

Suo knew from when they entered where Aoi likely was, and why it was so quiet. The customer that left was usually a pretty chatty one, and left everything on their table for the two employees to take care of on any other day. The scattered remains of fruit confirmed it when he got closer, and there on the floor behind the counter was the one they were sent after.

"Wh-Aoi? Is he okay? Um," Nirei started floundering hard, but hushed up when Suo held a finger over his lips and smiled up at him. He watched as Suo reached out slowly and brushed Aoi's hair out of his face, angled slightly down where he was leaning into the bar. Aoi's face twitched as the stray strands tickled his nose, eyes fluttering open to squint at the face hovering just in front of his own.

"Mrrrn, Suo?," Aoi murmured softly, obviously still closer to the realm of sleep than that of the waking world. He started to move, likely to get up and tend to the two guests, but Suo pressed lightly against his shoulders as a silent order to stay put.

"Kotoha said she'll close up for the day, when she gets back. We just need to put away the groceries," Suo explained quietly. Aoi's head slanted to the side, his brain sluggish and slow for more than one reason.

"I'll-"

"We can do it. If we don't know where something goes, we'll ask," Suo showed a sweet and tender little smile, and Aoi gave up his fight.

Suo stood back up, tilting his head somewhat at the odd look on Nirei's face. Nirei just shook his head, either to say he wasn't explaining or to chase it away, and they set about clearing the countertop. Suo scraped the plates off and placed them in the sink, then had Nirei hand him the groceries so he could put them away. He took great care not to trip over Aoi's sprawled out legs as he did so, while Nirei tried his best to be quiet with the plastics.

"That...doesn't go there. It goes, in the back," Aoi spoke up just as Suo was about to tuck away the last item. They both had assumed he fell back asleep, flinching even though his voice was so quiet. Since the item didn't need to be refrigerated, they just left it on the counter. Nirei rolled the plastic bags into each other and into a ball, trying to ignore Suo kneeling down again and ever so lightly running his fingertips down the length of the bandage on Aoi's face.

"Weird," Nirei accidentally let a thought slip past his lips. Suo froze up for a second, as though he hadn't fully been aware of himself or worse, forgot Nirei was even there. He stood up slowly, face hanging down so his hair hung over his face somewhat.

"Hm? What's this?," Kotoha had returned with another, much lighter bag in her hand. She glanced from Nirei and his complicated expression to Suo's slightly pink face, then scanned the cafe for Aoi.

"Where's Aoi?," she asked, just like Nirei had just a few minutes before.

"He fell asleep," Suo answered, raising his head and attempting to put on his usual cheery face. Kotoha gave him a discerning once-over but let it go, stepping beside the counter and making an exasperated face at Aoi's choice of sleeping arrangement.