Out Of Sight

Shapes

Enjoy!

~'0'~

''How was school?''

Tenma pauses at his father's question, his chopsticks hovering uncertainly halfway between his plate and his mouth. He looks up, meeting his father's inquiring gaze, and mutters a, ''it went fine.''

Kichirou frowns and puts his own chopsticks aside at the obvious lie from his son. ''Buddy?'' he asks carefully, not wanting to somehow make the younger brunet uncomfortable. When the teen doesn't react, he frown. ''Tenma, what happened?''

The brunet bites his lip and hesitantly looks up again. ''I just... I met some of my old friends,'' he says, his voice soft and careful.

Kichirou's eyes sharpen. ''Are you alright?'' he makes sure his voice is steady and doesn't give any of his sudden apprehension away.

Tenma nods and his father would almost think he's lying, if it wasn't for the almost confused look on his face. ''I... yeah,'' he replies after a few seconds. ''They honestly didn't do anything, or something. To be honest, they- they didn't even recognize me.''

The teen smiles, but it's an empty one, and albeit the bitter tone in his voice is carefully concealed, Kichirou knows his son well enough to hear it.

He's not sure whether to be relieved or angered at the apparent lack of interest from Tenma's former friends.

''I joined the library committee.''

The older male blinks at that and quickly smiles. ''You did? Well, it's not such a surprise, with how much you hide in your books nowadays,'' he jokes and is rewarded with a slight smile. Barely there, but a smile nonetheless. ''So, what does this library committee do?''

As Tenma gives his father an outline of his new club activities, Kichirou tries to ignore the heaviness settling in his stomach. He can barely contain the urge to march to Raimon High and tell every single 'friend' his son had exactly what he thinks of them.

But he knows that the teen wouldn't accept that and as he looks at the careful upwards tilt to his son's lips – so different from his beaming grins – and the dark bags under currently brown eyes, he also knows that no matter what, he could never do it.

Not if it means destroying that last shadow of a smile, however faint it may be.

  ~'0'~  

Tenma's second day at Raimon High starts as uninteresting as possible.

Or, at least, that's what he likes to think.

Truly, nothing really noteworthy happens, but the brunet can barely drag himself out of bed. The thought of seeing anyone he used to know makes him feel almost nauseous and if it didn't mean prolonging this torturous wait, he would've asked his father if he could stay home.

But he's perfectly aware that that would only make it worse, so instead he dresses in his new uniform and gathers his books. Soon after he finds himself in the bathroom, looking at his quite impressive collection of contact lenses.

After a few moments of hesitation, he decides on a bright aqua and only a few minutes later, he joins his father for breakfast. ''Nice color,'' comments Kichirou with a look at Tenma's eyes. ''Remember, we have an appointment at the hospital this afternoon.''

The only answer the brunet gives is a quick nod and he barely speaks with his father, too caught up in his thoughts about the coming day and therefore missing the concerned glances Kichirou shoots him.

  ~'0'~  

When Tenma eventually reaches Raimon High, with ten minutes to spare until classes start, he's almost disappointed by how... boring everything is. If he expected to run into his former teammates, he's thoroughly disappointed, and he's not sure whether to be happy about that or not.