As the Sun Sets / Akitoya

May 24th, 2024

   Toya keeps saying he's doing alright through all of this, but I know he's not. He forgets I can read him well sometimes. An and Kohane hadn't picked up on it, maybe because he's really good at masking his anxiety around them. It hurts to see him so overwhelmed, but I know things will work out for him. I'll make sure of it.

   I glanced at the empty algebra homework in front of me, still completely unfilled. I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I leaned back. Toya probably has no clue I'm just as concerned as he is. Hah.

   My phone rang, breaking the peaceful silence. I huffed, leaning forward and grabbing it. Toya. I picked up, "Wassup?"

   I heard Toya sigh heavily on the other side of the phone. Usually I would call him dramatic, but he's stressed out, "My dad wants me to pack up right now."

   My brain tried to process the words but I just couldn't for some reason, his sentence seemed like algebra right now, "What do you mean?"

   He chuckled wearily, "Just what it sounds like, idiot. I'm packing up so I can get to your house."

   "Huh? But I thought you were coming tomorrow?"

   I heard some shuffling in the background-presumably him packing his things-before he huffed in amusement. I'm stressed and he's practically laughing at me... wow. "Nah, I'll just get up and come over today. I don't want to see my dad at all anymore..."

   The last part was just a murmur, but I heard it anyway. I hummed in thought; my mom wouldn't mind him coming over earlier, surely. She barely noticed when he was over anyway. "Alright. Guess I should clean up, huh?"

   He chuckled wearily, "You never clean."

   "And yet my room is still perfectly organized."

   "Neatness is different from cleanliness."

   I huffed. He's still annoying through all this, "When do you think you're gonna come?"

   "Uhh.. I should be there within the next hour."

   "Oh, okay... I'll let you pack, then."

   "Mhm. Bye."

   "Bye, Toya," I murmured into the phone before hanging up, sliding the phone back on the desk. I glanced at the packet of homework. Yeah, not getting done anymore.

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   I heard a knock on the front door. I huffed, getting up off of bed and rushing down the stairs and through the living room, quickly swinging open the front door. I blinked as I saw a very lifeless looking Toya holding a suitcase with a bag on top of it and a backpack over his shoulders.

   I let out a small sigh of relief, smiling a bit and opening the door wider. He nodded softly, walking inside. I took the suitcase from him and shut the door. 

   "Thanks, Akito.." He murmured quietly, crossing the living room and heading upstairs. I huffed, begging to lug his stuff up the stairs. Maybe I should've made him stay in the living room or something...

   I caught my breath, huffing as I glared at the back of his head. I shoved his suitcase aside and shut the door as he shuffled through his backpack on the bed, "What're you doing?"

   He hummed, glancing at me over his shoulder, "I stuck my phone in here somewhere."

   I gave a small noise of acknowledgement, noticing how down he sounded. I knew I wouldn't get anything if I asked. I sat down on the edge of the bed beside his bag, looking up at him as he searched through the backpack before grabbing his phone and sitting beside me. I continued to just observe him for a moment before speaking up again, "Do you wanna unpack anything or..?"