the librarian ❆ kagehina

life is just the movie adaptation of a long and complicated story.

     the campus diner was empty, just how shōyō liked it, and kenma sat across the way with a signature thin-lipped grin situated on his plain face. the boy had lied about having class, but that was the least of his worries; he was just glad to be out of the rain, and in a place where he didn't feel like the world's largest weight was pushing him into the concrete pathway behind the library.

"why'd you drive all the way up here? home is three and a half hours away, you could have just facetimed me."

"i had a weird feeling, i don't know," kenma sighed, "i just felt like i needed to come see you. can't really explain it, something just... felt off."

"well, i'm happy you're here. and sorry i'm late, i uh- i got held up."

kenma was about to assure him it was alright, but he knew better because shōyō's fingers were fidgeting and his leg was bouncing under the table, so instead of ignoring the obvious he said, "what happened?"

     shōyō told him everything beginning from their last phone call beneath the fluorescent lights of the diner. kenma listened intently, nodding and interjecting when needed; shōyō spoke loudly, fears forgotten when he realized he didn't need to whisper; the moon switched shifts with the setting sun by the time the ginger had finished his harangue, and the blond finally pieced together some advice- because that's what he does for his best friend. he listens, and then he helps.

     "so what are you gonna do?"

     "i don't know. i'm not sure what's the right choice. i mean, i could forgive him and be with him, i could do the opposite, we could stay friends- they all seem like terrifying choices."

     "well, what do you want?"

     "um..."

     kenma tucked a strand of hair behind his pierced ear and spoke sternly, "shōyō, you're thinking too much. just say what you want, don't think. i want you to just let it out."

     of course he knew what the answer would be. any normal being with common sense would- there's one ending to this story, even though shōyō says there's millions.

     "i want to be with him."

     "okay," the elder nodded knowingly, "then what are you gonna do about it?"

     "i'm gonna tell him."

     "good. i'm proud of you, shōyō."

     the peach-fuzz boy smiled, chomping a bite of a fry and giggling softly.

     of course i want to be with tobio, shōyō thinks. there was never another choice.

     it's him.