Holding Onto Ghosts - Komahina/Hinakoma

The Shortest Chapter!

A/N: I'd say sorry but i'm not.

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Hajime doesn't think much of it when he's called into the counselor's office, at first. It's kind of routine at this point - they have little weekly check ins.

The morning had been fairly uneventful, from waking up to eating breakfast to going to help the groundskeeper cut grass and trim the trees out in the front yard. It wasn't unpleasant, and at least it had a purpose.

Nagito seemed to really like sitting out under the shade of the trees.

He had mentioned wanting a garden, someday, during one of their late night chats. Something about how he would have one if he didn't have horrible luck with plants.

So he's actually cheerful, for once.

He even gives Suzuki a little smile as he sits down across from her, ignoring the half-grimace she gives him in return.

"I'm not stupid, Hinata," she practically growls at him. He furrows his eyebrows, because he'd kind of like to disagree with that if it wouldn't get him in trouble.

"Uh... okay?" he says instead, and the confusion on his face must be apparent.

"There are people at this camp who are actually trying to change, you know," she tells him, leaning forward on her elbows. Her smile stretches far enough to look painful. "It's thanks to them that we know exactly what goes on behind closed doors."

His heart drops into his stomach.

Oh. That.

Had someone ratted them out to her? But how? It wasn't like they had been that loud.

"You broke the rules. You're gone. Your parents don't want you back, so you can pack your bags and get out right away."

His head swims as it goes through a 360, world flipping upside down.

What?

And he had just been happy. Not five minutes ago. He's sure he's going to throw up.

He's sure he's going to cry, or laugh, or scream.

He stands up and leaves the room quietly.

Nagito's standing outside the door, leaning against the door casually. He blinks at Hajime and gives him a small smile when he sees him, which drops as soon as he stares blankly back at him.

He opens his mouth like he's going to say something, but then the door is opening again and Suzuki is gesturing at Nagito to come inside and sit down.

He tears his eyes away from the door after a few seconds, shaking his head as he walks down the hallway.

Part of him wants to be angry - thinks he should be angry. But it's mostly exhaustion, like all the air had been sucked out of his lungs.

Despair.

He gets his bag. It's already packed. Graduation isn't that far away, after all. A graduation he'll never get to see. A family he'll never get to go back to.

He's not sure what makes him pause outside the head counselors office on his way out, because he should really get going. Get out. Find a hotel or a shelter to stay in for the night. But he does.

Nagito will get kicked out too.

He wonders where they'll go.

Maybe it won't be so bad, if he's with him.

But then the door opens again and Nagito shoots him a look that's apologetic. That's understanding. And walks back toward the rooms.

He blinks stupidly.

"What are you waiting around here for," Suzuki snaps, stuffing a handfull of change into her pocket quickly and smoothing out her shirt. She must have expected Nagito to close the door after him.

Everything clicks.

His eyes sting.

That - that asshole. He had bribed the head counselor to get to stay. And now - he was on his own.

There was nobody here.

Nobody.