yogen | open //

open //

Who: Keigo, et al.
What: gestures broadly
When: end of may
Where: gestures broadly again
Warnings: none yet

[ Keigo opens their eyes to find themselves standing in the mirror room, staring at their own tired reflection a large mirror — with a pounding headache and the last vestiges of vertigo before the world rights itself again. Thinking back, the last thing they remember is being warm and comfortable under the covers on a cool winter night, the taste of hot chocolate still on their lips, the sound of a movie still playing in the background growing more distant and the lights dimming as their consciousness fades. Their joints are stiff and their mouth dry, their wrist sore from the extra tally mark now etched into it.

...

They spend a long time in that mirror room, sinking down onto the floor at rubbing at their wrist as they stare at the mirrors around them, gaze lingering on dense forest and wooden floorboards, flicking this way and that around halls of the school as if trying to find something— someone. It still feels like winter with how cold it is despite long sleeves and pants, breath fogging the glass even with them sitting an arm's length away, red ribbon loosened then removed from around their neck to replace the empty space around their left ankle.

Muddled memories aside, they're certain they've never been down here before, neither the mirror room nor any of these other rooms in the basement once they finally tear themselves away from the mirrors, letting out a terrified scream when something grabs at them when they try to leave and possibly shattering a mirror or four in the process of getting away, but if they don't turn around and look to confirm then it didn't happen and they don't get bad luck, they decided this rule just now.

Not even going to look inside the bloody summoning room, why is there a summoning room.

The hidden entrances and exits are still hidden to them, but hallways only have two ends: one looks like a shaft they're certain they don't have the upper body strength to climb up more than several meters without handholds, and the other leads out to the forest where they're going to walk out into and get hopelessly lost and eventually make their way back to campus maybe if they're lucky.

Then they'll be around wherever and whenever convenient. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he hasn't, he hasn't and he catches them as easy as he always had (as he'd remembered, memories taking over dreams that'd turn into nightmares or leave him feel clawed up inside) and subaru's own name feels unbelievable to his ears.

he isn't the same subaru that they left. but damn if it matters when either way, either way subaru squeezes back and shuts his eyes so tight he sees dots.]

Well! I'm here! [trembling, from voice to body to heart to control,] Some "see you tomorrow" that was, huh?

[does the fact he can joke, can tease, make it any less? subaru inhales sharply, nuzzling his head against keigo's in a way he hasn't anyone else in so, so long--]

You too, Keigo. [just saying their name is nice, even if it hasn't been used with the frequence it once was.] I— I missed you so, so much, I—

[breathe, breathe, crying is pathetic even if this is something worth crying over and he actually can spare tears now unlike when he'd plaster over a smile or feel nothing but a deep sadness and empathy for others.

i'm sorry still goes unspoken though, bitten back as he shakes.]

[ "See you tomorrow," huh? Was that the last thing Subaru said to them? What had they said back...? They can't remember, when yesterday feels like years ago.

They can cry enough for the both of them, though, because nobody can see if they bury their face against Subaru's shoulders and if nobody sees then it didn't happen. ]

I dreamt about you, sometimes, but it's not the same. [ With dreams, they forget too soon after waking up, wisps of emotion outliving anything concrete. The warmth and comfort of a hug, how their name sounds called in their ear, the smell of the boy in their arms... the softness of a cheek they can turn their head and kiss. Dreams, as nice as they were, as much as they got Keigo through the nights, are just not the same. ]

[he exhales slowly, easing the shot of adrenaline that'd spiked his heart rate before, and sniffles. keigo won't be the only one crying today, promise, and he presses a return kiss to the side of their head. real. this is real and they're not a ghost, a walking illusion.

the follow-up grin feels more natural than it has in a while, sparing a few moments, and there's a familiar lilt to his teasing tone. easy, natural, like there hadn't been months or years or anything between them]

Does that make me your dream boy? Kei~go. ♪

[ There's this immediate urge to shove his face into the ground. ]

More like my worst nightmare!

[ But they're laughing, leaning back to place one hand on Subaru's shoulder and the other on his head to shove him down because Chiaki says you should do what you want and right now the thing to do is to make Subaru eat dirt ]

[PLEASE stop listening to your sister keigo she's only right 75% of the time!!!!! but honestly subaru isn't expecting it and he'll absolutely eat dirt, laughing as he reaches up to tug the other down too. lay with him, come on, yes it's hot but one of them doesn't feel temperatures like a normal person anyway,]

Jeez~, you really haven't changed. ♪ You're so cute when you're embarrassed, Keigo~. I'll terrorize you every night if it means you'll never forget me.

[worst nightmare really describes it though, huh, with how the impression lasts longer than any happy dream could...]

[ Chiaki voice telling them to beat Subaru up so he can never talk again!!! Unfortunately, Subaru's the one with the element of surprise and Keigo goes down easily, nearly elbowing him in the gut because that's what Chiaki would do— except they have to keep in mind the other 25% when maybe they shouldn't do what she does. ]

You don't have to...! [ if it were anything but terrorizing, maybe, but they have this suspicion that Subaru's done exactly that before and it wasn't appreciated. ]

Besides, I haven't changed because I'm still me. I've always been just me, as far as I can remember.

[ Maybe they looked a little different or acted a little different but you ever have a dream where you're this entirely different person with a different name and different life experiences and even different mannerisms? but it's still you, behind the wheel ]

[good. now he can study keigo like this, a face he last saw sleeping peaceful dead and one so awake now. it squeezes at his chest and he hums half-heartedly in acknowledgement, the words registering but not quite sliding into place. keigo can study him too, bright blue eyes wet with tears and cheeks red with the same, but happy, happy. what they can remember from dreams still matching up, at least visually.]

I think even if you weren't, you'd still be you. You've got a surprisingly strong personality, Keigo~, for a guy so li'l. ☆

[shortcake]

What's as far as you remember include, anyway? We've... had a couple people who're sorta odd in the memory department, so I've seen it all now. ♪

[ They're still growing!!! Like, maybe they're grown half an inch since Subaru's seen them last, enough to brag about but difficult to disprove. ]

I remember... getting to play around a lot. I played pretend a salesperson, and spent a lot of time just sitting around talking to people. I can't remember what we talked about, though... just that I liked the company.

[ Very vague things— feelings more than memory, and it makes Keigo rub at the side of their head a little in frustration, as proud as they usually are of their memory. ]

...Have you ever had a dream that felt so real while you were dreaming it, but when you wake up, it all slips away. You know it was a good dream, and that's it.

[subaru knows their memory is unusually good, too, which makes it all the more befuddling... they've always been proud of it, but

well, thinking of his own, the muted moments and static'd conversations... even times with keigo were like that: the subject matter forgotten, but the feeling remaining. at least he knows why though, and subaru'll give them a sly grin.]

Yeah, I'm having that feeling right now~.

[... and then it slips away into something softer, taking keigo's hand in his with a little squeeze. it's fine. the feelings are what matter, that much subaru's learned from others.]

Don't chase that dream too hard though, okay? I know your memory's your pride and joy, but that's just how they are. You're probably gonna be experiencin' some deja vu if it was that real, though.

[ They wouldn't have minded it, for the nicer parts, particularly conversations that had felt so poignant at the time, to the point of waking up in confusion and tears, but... Subaru is right. They shouldn't be chasing after the past, they should be facing their future, as bleak as "you're here because you died. again. despite everything everybody did to make you not dead." is.

The guilt of that still burns in their gut like the blazing sun. ]

...yeah.

[ Yeah. They give Subaru's hand a squeeze, signing and leaning into him. ]

What do you remember? About me? ...About us?

["us" shouldn't burn his cheeks the way it does-- but in the end he's still that stupid boy who reached out and fell for someone else, no matter the circumstances. the topics are gone, the feelings remain, the memories he has are no less in their realness; he isn't, either, as difficult as it is to accept with each person he interacts with, that doesn't know.

subaru doesn't know if he'll ever tell keigo anyway, guilt weighing heavy in his chest.]

More than I should, probably. To be hooooonest, I've been told a lotta stuff about you from others when I asked -- they didn't give it up easy though, okay? I really had to convience 'em -- but... other than that... I mean, what do I start with? How cute an' brave you've always been, or all the times you were a meanie who hit me?

[please he knows he deserved them his second fondest memory is being dragged across the icy school yard when keigo was angry at him for getting so hurt]

[ smacks him on the arm ]

I'm not mean!

[ YOU TAKE BACK THAT SLANDER, SUBARU AKEHOSHI ]

[UGH YESSSS HE FEELS LIKE SUCH A MASOCHIST BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE HIT BY KEIGO AGAIN!!!!!]

Hahaha! You are though~, always makin' me pay full price even though we're-- [, where does death draw a line um] So close~.

[that works.]

Little brat. ♪ I like that about you though, it's cute. ♪ I wouldn't letcha get your way if I didn't, y'know?

[ They place both hands on either side of Subaru's cheeks and squishes them, stop that cheeky grin, Chiaki was right. Wherever you are, Chiaki, you were right. ]

A good salesperson wouldn't make allowances to even their closest friends!

[ That's how they get you, pretending to be all buddy buddy and the next thing you know they're stuffing rocks into their pockets. ]

Did I swindle a lot of money out of you?

[shoutout to chiaki]

Yup! Pretty much everything I ever had! I'd get a buck, then I'd go right to you to spend it!

[so it sound less like swindling and more like a certain someone just wanted excuse to come around and talk. subaru'll put his hands on keigo's, the grin still there. good luck.]

You made a lot of cool stuff though, as a shopkeep. No employee discounts, no friend discounts... but it was totally worth it. Do you remember your suncatchers?

[ Damn. They can't believe anybody would be such a sucker, they almost feel bad for Subaru. Especially since they aren't quite sure where all that money even went... hopefully dream Keigo bought themselves something nice. A dog, maybe. ]

No, I don't... Most of my dreams, I was with somebody else, so I don't remember making things by myself. Do you still have them? Can I see them?

[turn those pity points into affection points]

Yup and yup! There's no way I could get rid of them, Keigo, they were the reason we met in the first place. [... pretty much...] Keep your judgements to yourself though, unless they're about how pretty every one of 'em is.

[up we go! and holding out his hands to keigo, up we go-go!

...

he wants to keep holding hands while they go to the dorms. he's gonna. subaru hasn't felt this excited since he got to throwdown with dito last month, pardon the bit of excitement in his step. and how he keeps looking at keigo to make sure they're still there.]

[ It'll be hard not to judge; people tend to be their own worst critic, after all, and they're no exception, always looking to improve on their craft.

Maybe they can steal them when Subaru's asleep so they can fix any glaring mistakes they're sure to find after taking a step back. But for now, they take Subaru's hand, grip tightening a little the closer they get to the dorms. They had lots of memories about this place... ]

Do the walls still bleed...?

[please don't steal his suncatchers just ASK

also me, softly: do the walls still bleed? the answer is no, according to mira.]

Only when it storms. The rain gets into the roof and makes it all drippy and wet. ♪

[he lies as easy as he breathes these days, and messing with people's been a go-to since it's fun.

...

but keigo is still on shaky ground, and he can already hear helena scolding him. door held open, subaru peeks in out of habit before shrugging.]

But, uh... Mmmm~, you know, I haven't actually seen any lately, so maybe it did stop. You kinda get used to anything after a while.

[so. you wouldn't really notice it not there anymore, unless you thought about it. um. yes. this is his shoddy attempt at retracing his trick.]

[ No, Aratas don't ask, they take

There's that glace than Keigo throws towards the sky despite the sun beating down over their heads, the "don't you DARE start raining" vibes coming off them in waves. ]

That's how it felt like too... Knowing bad things are happening, but going on as normal anyways, and everything you ignore during the day just haunts you when you're alone at night.

[ Just them and their thoughts, which is always, if they're not kept busy. Good thing or bad in the long run, they're not sure yet

... ]

Do you think maybe the student store sells teru teru bozus?

[ Just in case. They'd be cute! and useful! nobody wants to be bled on in the middle of the night, this is bestseller material here ]

If they don't right now, I'll put in a request for it. I help around every now an' then myself, and I'm pretty good friends with the caretakers.

[one of them anyway. shin's his buddy. i think komaeda dropped off of being one but if he's still in on it then that's two, they're basically besties (???).]

Down the hall, take a right... and here we are!

[so quick, so soon. there was a description of the room somewhere for refresher's sake, but the important thing is that there's seven different kinds of suncatchers hanging from the skylight in the room. the one that's meant to be outside isn't outside because there's no way subaru can enjoy it given he has a skylight.

there's also a few stolen pieces of furniture like tables and stuff and their bunkbed set up with natsume's curtain, helena's side of the room with her books and pleasantries, nothing of this will change in the future.

also rereading the descriptions of these suncatchers this room is just bathed in sparkling prismatic rainbows huh. happy pride month.]

Ta-da...☆ The red glass one over there was a gift from Yori-chan though, so don't hate on it too much~. I guess I got a rep for likin' stuff like this.

[ Subaru and Komaeda are besties but he's not sure if they're friends??

Keigo hesitantly makes their way inside the room, lingering just the slightest at the door as if waiting for permission to come inside— but the tug from Subaru's hand tells them as much, and they come in to stare up at the suncatchers, stepping in close instead of admiring them from afar because what they're interested most in is the construction of these suncatchers. The way the wires are twisted and sheets of metal hammered, how to hang the crystals without being too tight that they'd chip or too loose that they'd fall out, and— is that a plant in one of them? how's the plant doing, is it still alive ]

Wow...

[ They turn to look at Subaru. ]

How much money did you blow on all of this?

[the plant is still alive, yes, subaru makes sure to mist it every morning, maybe it's even growing a little too big for its bowl now.

at the question, subaru turns his face away so they can't see the embarrassment heating his cheeks. unfortunately, that red is also staining his neck. the answer is a lot. way too much. it's like when surveys ask me how much i've spent on gacha games in the past half year and i tell my friends if they knew what option i chose they'd judge me.]

I've got rocks too! You wanna see 'em? They're super pretty too!

You paid money for rocks?! Subaru!!

[ SUBARU WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE ]

[HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]

There was a super cute and smart and amazing li'l shopkeep, how could I say no?! Like damn, you coulda picked rocks off the road and I'd buy 'em up!

[......................

which he did! i won't forget it! he did that! he's bought roadside rocks even before the rock gacha was hot!]

But these are-- these are really something else, Keigo. Real gemstones! People normally pay money for that kinda thing!

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