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[makejapangreat]

Pls designate date in header.

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[beguiledcard]

[ Okay, so! Shido looks calmer...

Akira's going to hold a blink, take a slow breath, and then... walk forward. Immediately, his brow tenses; he doesn't stop walking forward in time, either, to prevent the slam of a... very intense sick feeling.

He's immediately going pale, and then very slowly moving back to the doorway. His face is clammy by the time he gets there, one trembling hand moving to his mouth. ]

[makejapangreat]

[Well, he supposes that's what one would call a "tell". He immediately moves to cover the pot with the lid, then walks over to Akira, placing his hands on his shoulders.]

Easy there. Come on, out of the kitchen.

[Hopefully they can move quickly enough to keep the nausea from overpowering him...]

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods silently, letting himself get herded out of the kitchen without an ounce of fuss. ]

Sorry, I-... [ a pause ] Just... give me a moment... I-... I'll be fine!

[makejapangreat]

[Shido responds firmly, but gently as he walks him a fair distance from the kitchen.]

You will be fine, but as you said, you need a moment. Relax, Akira, we've only just begun.

[beguiledcard]

[ He lets himself get walked as far as Shido feels he should be placed. Eventually, his breathing does return to normal. It's after they're eventually to the stopping point, he just...

... Gently grips the front of Shido's shirt, and then rests his forehead against the older man's chest. He's not going to say anything to explain. Just... this, apparently. ]

[makejapangreat]

[...oh...

There is a moment of hesitance, but only just that— a moment— before a hand comes up to gently settle on Akira's upper back. It takes a few more seconds, however, before the gesture becomes firmer and more secure.

His voice is gentle.]

Take your time.

[beguiledcard]

[ It takes a moment for him to do that, but he eventually does pull back and nod. ]

I... felt a little nauseous, and it had me... lightheaded...

[ THAT SURE IS A FROWN AND BLUSH, APPARENTLY??? ]

[makejapangreat]

Hmmm, I'm sure it did.

[beguiledcard]

[ Just. going to gently huff, and then lightly punch Shido in the chest. ]

Anyway... I feel better now, but I'm... guessing you'll argue against me diving right back in.

[makejapangreat]

I think you're a reasonable young man who's aware of his limits, and just how hard he can push them.

If you think you're okay to dive right back in, I won't say no. But only if you're sure.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a moment of consideration... ]

... Okay.

[ He will turn and head back towards the kitchen, somewhat quickly. Though, once he gets far enough in that the smell is prominent, he comes to a pause... and then, with only a little hesitance, decides to head back over to where he was. ]

Maybe... after some water.

[makejapangreat]

[... Akira pls... maybe not as aware of his limits as Shido was thinking...

At least he backs off reasonably quickly.

To the request, he gives a soundless nod, going to the kitchen to retrieve a cup of water for the teen and coming back in short order.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He was testing himself, okay!!!

Also he was going to grab a bottle of water from his inventory, his hand literally sliding into his pocket, at first... But...

... Seeing Shido getting some water for him, he gives a small smile and doesn't hesitate to take that instead. ]

Thanks.

[ He takes a few sips of it, eyes closing as he focuses on his breathing and on calming down. ]

[makejapangreat]

[He examines the boy quietly. He looks... just like a normal teenager, and yet he's done so much, and gone through so much. Through some... truly horrific things...]

... how old are you?

[beguiledcard]

[ He blinks. ]

I turned seventeen a couple of months ago.

[makejapangreat]

[He blinks, not having expected that.]

While I was here? You didn't celebrate?

[beguiledcard]

Ah... yeah. April ninth.

[ Maybe it'll be obvious he's actively putting effort into brushing this whole thing off as no big deal... ]

It wasn't something I really thought about, since it didn't seem important.

[makejapangreat]

[...]

Akira, I know of plenty of people who would want to celebrate your being alive and here. [...] Don't you?

[beguiledcard]

[ For just a moment, he kind of... stares... a little. ]

Ah...

[ With a softened expression, he glances to the side, one hand lifting to press against the back of his neck. There's a moment of silence for a while, and then he holds a blink. ]

... Yeah.

[ Sorry, he's having a Moment... ]

[makejapangreat]

[He watches him for a moment...]

Have you told them?

[beguiledcard]

... Not the date, but... I did mention my birthday passed.

[ He shrugs gently. ]

The truth is, though... I don't entirely see the point of celebrating a single day. Not when I'm going to d--

[ .......... ]

I-... [ fuck ] ... Guess you should know, eventually...

[makejapangreat]

[...]

Not when you're going to... what?

[why is he getting a sinking feeling all of a sudden]

[beguiledcard]

[ Strangely enough, it's ridiculously difficult to look Shido in the eyes right now... ]

... Become like Goro and Kurama. [ holding a blink for a moment ] After that, birthdays... won't have as much of a meaning, I don't think. Every birthday will just wind up creating more and more of a gap between... me and my friends who are still- alive.

Don't get me wrong - I'd be happy watching them grow old. I'd- have.......

[ He's smiling, but there's something strained in it for a moment. And then... it cracks. His smile falters, the muscles in his expression twitch, and then he's lifting a hand to cover his face. Just like that, a part of the dam crumbles, the tears escape, and he begins to desperately work to put it all back together again. Shit... ]

[makejapangreat]

[Become like Goro and Kurama. Die. He's going to die.

... but he doesn't say anything. A flash of horror does briefly pass through his eyes, but he stays still and quiet for the most part, instead carefully watching Akira...

His brow furrows, a concerned expression making its way to his face as Akira hides away behind his hand. Well... that won't do, will it?

There's only a moment of hesitation before he steps forward and wraps his arms loosely around the teen. He speaks gently:]

Akira, let me support you.

a motherfucking crit fail on a save VS more tears..........?????

[beguiledcard]

[ His eyes widen as Shido's arms wrap around him, and his expression briefly softens, soon after... ]

H-heh...

[ It feels... almost ridiculous, and yet... he can't stop how much he winds up relaxing into it. Shido - he's being hugged by Shido as he's crying...

Which is apparently just what it takes for everything to come tumbling down around him, one hand coming up and gripping the front of Shido's shirt as even more tears escape. Try as he might to stop the broken sobs, there's... no stopping them. ]