Equilibrium

To Aid One's Turmoil

Naegi has never forced himself to stay up this late before, but nothing had been this important either. Komaeda was handled roughly by the strong female in his class and caused bruises to start forming all over his torso. There are also the cuts and scrapes on his face from his fall as well, Naegi did his best to clean them.

The digital clock on his nightstand reads 2:55am and gives off a red light so blinding that he can feel his blinks getting less frequent, each lasting much longer. He could doze off any second now.

I can't sleep just yet...not until... I know that… Komaeda-kun is okay…

His hands are slowly lifted up to his eyes and he forcefully wipes at them, contemplating whether another trip to the sink is necessary.

Deciding that's the best course of action to take right now, he props himself up from the chair he had placed next to his bed and makes his way to the small bathroom in the far corner of the room. Wobbling with sleep deprivation in each step, he arrives in front of the sink; using cold water, he tries slapping himself awake.

Naegi had done this a couple hours ago and it had been extremely effective that time, recoiling at the impact. However, this time he simply tensed up a bit before shaking it off.

Naegi is just that tired.

Finished with his task, he sluggishly returns to his post. Eyes glued onto Komaeda. Half way back to his seat, he notices the blankets he had placed on the other have begun to shift.

Huh that's weird… since when do blankets move…?

Then it hits him.

K-Komaeda! He's-!!

Suddenly it's as if all the exhaustion in his body has vanished. He rushes over to the bedside, eyes wide with anticipation as he watches the older come to.

"Ughhh, my head… what's going on? Is it acting up again?" Komaeda wonders out loud as he grasps his temples and shifts into a sitting position. He hasn't realized he isn't in his own dorm yet.

"K-Komaeda-kun!! You're awake!" Naegi's grinning so widely from relief he can feel his eye bags crinkling up. "I was so worried! Owari-san is so strong, she really knocked you out… I've been staying up ever since and watched over you until now!"

A soft gasp of surprise is emitted from the older as he whips his head to face Naegi, finally realizing where he is.

"N-Naegi-kun! You've been taking care of me? I'm speechless, thank you for looking after such ins-"

"Don't finish that sentence." Stern eyes lock onto Komaeda, silencing him. The other nods with a neutral expression as he complies. Content with that restraint, Naegi returns to a more cheerful manner again. "And it's nothing, really! Don't worry about it."

"Are you sure? You look really exhausted, it's late too." He points momentarily at the clock, which now reads 3:27am. "You're not going to get enough rest for class and I'm the reason why…"

Naegi immediately waves his hands dismissively of his observation.

"No, that's okay! We both have the day off tomorrow for recovery. Nanami-san was able to request it for us, she's so kind!"