heartbreak hotel ! toukomaru

genocider.

re-edited. originally around nov 2017?

  komaru's green eyes widened. her heart started pounding. all her blood rushed to her face- or, at least, she felt as if it did. the brunette nearly shot out of her seat as she shouted, "you.. you..!" covering her mouth with her hands, she continued, "you found touko?"

  togami pushed her back into the couch. she let out a small 'oof..' and a huff of air as her back hit the fluffy pillows. his glasses reflected a now less energized and disappointed komaru. poor girl, got her hopes up. "is she.. dead?" komaru asked. naegi looked shocked. he shook his head frantically, so fast that komaru thought it'd fall right off when he stopped. "no! no she's... alive, and well..?"

  togami cut him off, sharply. he stood up tall- taller than normal, and huffed, "what your idiot brother is leaving out is that she has lost all her memories as touko, and is stuck as genocider syo."

  komaru's heart sunk. "s.. stuck?" she repeated. her lip quivered and a low whimper rumbled from the back of her throat. "yes," togami snapped. "my god. it's like i have to repeat everything to you." his voice wavered. he was stressed, no doubt. this was hard on him as well. why, when he regained memories of before the tragedy he realized how much touko did for him. how... sweet and caring she was. he didn't see her romantically, no no, he saw her as a distant friend. someone he longed to get closer to but distanced himself from. he had an image to keep up! drooling damsels like her would only kick dirt onto that. he was like a pristine marble floor and she was the hammer that would barley scratch it-

naegi cleared his throat. it seemed togami got lost in thought. the latter nodded at the brunette, as if saying a quiet thank-you, then turned to face his sister again.

he pushed his glasses up his nose. he took a deep breath in, then exhaled. his breathing was heavy. "i apologize for snapping. i do hope you understand we will do everything in our power to get her back." togami proceeded to look at naegi for approval. was he too direct? after all, komaru was rather sensitive. he didn't wanna hurt her terribly. naegi simply shrugged.

a sniffle echoed throughout the tense room. it was surprising a sound so small, so minuscule could make it through the tense atmosphere. not only that, komaru wasn't responding. so very out of the ordinary, it seems, very out of character. togami expected her to be on her toes, jumping to see syo but.. alas. she sat still. like a statue.

komaru's eyes were glued to a single strand of carpet. naegi opened his mouth to speak. the sound of his lips separating made komaru look up. "this room smells of peppermint and jasmine," she added in.

togami looked confused. "well... yes. they are my favorite scents. why..." togami paused, pondering what to say next, "may i ask why did you point that out?" he crossed his arms. he seemed more confused than upset, so komaru complied and answered calmly. "touko, well, this is what her bathroom smelt like. she said it reminded her of her favorite place to be," komaru let out a sad chuckle. "i'm.. assuming she loved it here."

komaru took a meaningful pause. "you know, she loved you a lot, togami byakuya."

togami's cheeks blushed. he shook his head. "she loved my looks, not me," he protested. "she loved you. i could tell." togami closed his eyes. he then proceeded to attempt to rub them- smacking his glasses hard. he cringed. ah, that hurt, but he's togami. nothing hurts him- or at least he'd never say it hurt.

this caused a bit of relief in komaru. she let out a gentle laugh, then stood up and brushed herself off. "well, i was gonna ask what you meant," she started, "but i think you're a bit too tired to answer."

togami snorted. "whatever," he sneered, yet his remark seemed a bit playful. "you two should head home. i shared my news, nothing else to do."

  naegi nodded and helped his sister stand up. "b.. bye, togami," komaru said. her voice was as weak as a dying willow, drooping and withered. it worried her brother, but still, naegi quickly added, "thankyouforeverything!"

togami let out a snide snort. "no need to thank me. i should be thanking komaru," he hummed, nonchalantly, "for putting up with the radio silence."

the naegis looked baffled. komaru stopped, one foot out the door. "huh? radio silence?" she repeated. togami rolled his royal blue eyes. "you waited for a year for some good news and got nothing," he stopped to put a finger to his chin. "well, only bad news. first was aoi was in a coma, then.." he closed his eyes. it even hurt togami to say this next one. "naegi attempted suicide." makoto grew tense, and togami continued. "komaru- you are more patient than anyone in the future foundation. that's why i say that."

togami cleared his throat. he seemed to be a bit on edge now. well, he was not used to sharing his emotions, so of course he would be. "now, off you go. i have meetings to attend to!" he moved his hand twice in a sharp motion, as if shooing them away.

before exiting, komaru smiled. it was gentle, almost embarrassed. "thank you, for everything," she murmured. togami shook his head. "i'll see you tomorrow."

  and they were out the door.