Nagisa Ran

“I’m so tired… ”

“I don’t want to be alone.”

“My hands are shaking.” 

“Don’t get up. I’m comfortable like this.”

“Please stay. I’d like some company.”

“Could I get a hug?”

“Would you pet my hair?”

“Will you sing something for me?”

“I just want to be close to someone for a little bit. Is that okay?”

“Can I lay my head in your lap?”

“You can touch my hair but don’t mess it up!”

“Here, lay down in my lap.”

“You know, you’re pretty comfy.”

“Come here, ya big lug/small fry.”

“Just take my hand. It’ll be better, I promise.”

“I’m not letting go.”

“I’ll hold you as long as you need.”

“It’s okay to stay, you know.”

“I’m so happy you’re here with me.”

      It was strange to come home and find Bloody Mary as upset as she was. Sure, it was pouring outside but she had never barked with her attention focused on the back door. Being sure to lock the door behind him and drop his tennis bag off before walking towards the door. 

      ❝Are you kidding me–❞ he sighed out his aggression when he saw Nagisa fast asleep outside in such an aggressive downpour. How was he even still asleep? Cursing under his breath he picked Bloody Mary up, set her behind him and quickly moved outside before the dog could follow out behind him. He was already going to have to clean up after one puppy it seemed; there was no need for another. ❝Oi… what were you thinking this time?❞ he wondered aloud, ignoring the rain that quickly soaked him through all over again. He had had every intention of going to change as he got in, but now… 

    He huffed as he stooped down and scooped their leader up in his arms and just as easily carried him inside. Both were sopping wet, yet that was hardly what Jun was worrying about. How long had he been out there asleep in the damn rain? He didn’t exactly look good, either and so when he reached the bathroom with Bloody Mary hot on his heels he simply set the other down in the bath tub before pressing his hand to his forehead. 

Or really at all.

Nagisa had searched for an escape of some kind from the suddenly confining walls of the house, though he hadn’t wanted to venture too far away while no one else was home yet. And so he had escaped to the back garden, sitting in the grass and letting his mind wander as it was oft to do.

Lost in thought as he was, he hadn’t noticed when it had started raining. First a couple drops, then more, until it was a full on downpour and he was soaked through. The moment he realized something was possibly wrong was when his vision was suddenly swimming and he became acutely aware of a pain developing in his head.

It had just been a quick something he had noted before his eyes had closed and he’d passed out under the rain, his breathing labored and cheeks flushed despite how pale the rest of his face had gotten.

Waking up had always been difficult when in the safety of his own home surrounded by people he trusted. Combined with the sickness that was surely dragging at his body, Nagisa had an even harder time of it. He was only dimly aware of being picked up from the garden floor before he was out again.

When he became aware next, he had been set upright against something hard. Judging by the acoustics of the voice he could hear speaking to him... he’d hazard it was the bath tub that he’d been placed in.

Breathing out, Nagisa finally managed to crack his eyes open a bit in order to gaze blearily at Jun. Ah... when had Jun returned? His clothes were soaked... with that thought registering, Nagisa realized that his own clothes as well were waterlogged.

Opening his mouth to greet Jun, Nagisa ended up doubling over and coughing into the crook of his elbow instead.

       Despite never having a ‘part-time job’ before, Hiyori was really enjoying his new position as arranger at Petit Petales. Mostly because his boss was kind enough to not press him too much about the ‘work’ part and because he had the unexpected help of an old friend at the store, with left him with mostly just the ‘fun part’ of doing arrangements for different occasions.

      Fate sure was nice to this spoiled brat. If only Jun-kun told him what was wrong instead of avoiding him all the time, things would be perfect. All of Eden was together, and he thought this would lead to being closer to the rest of the members, not to drift apart.

      No time for negative feeling though! If he could feel sad about things he could try to improve them! And things were going swimmingly with Nagisa, and even decent with Ibara, so there was no point in dwelling on the bad. He shook his head and took a deep breath, ready to return to his happy-go-lucky self.

      “Nagisa-kun~ Bloody Mary~ I’m hooome” he called out in a cheerful tone, all the way from the entrance. But there was no reply. He was sure his old friend would be sitting in the living room, since he could stay in the exact same place for hours -just like he could get tired of it and walk around aimlessly until ending up in a completely different place.

       The leash was still there, just like Nagisa’s shoes and overcoat, so they shouldn’t have gone out for a walk. Which mean they were inside?

       He looked for them on the kitchen, the laundry, the living and the guest rooms. He barged into Ibara’s and Jun’s as if it was his very own room and searched around but found nothing. He then walked up and into Nagisa’s room, to find it empty. Confused he reached for the last door he had to check -his own.

        Purple eyes opened wide at the surprising side of Nagisa cuddling the little pup while curled up over his bed. Yet, the more he thought about it the less strange it was, and the more he felt like he should have known from the start.

        A warm smile appearing on his lips he tip toed closer, almost feeling bad to wake them up, and sat on the side of the bed, fingers tenderly caressing Nagisa’s long hair and passing over his cheek.

       “I’m home, Nagisa-kun” he whispered tenderly, wondering if he would wake up with that, or if he should maybe lie down as well and enjoy some laziness together.

The feel of fingers in his hair was not foreign to Nagisa, and surrounded by the comforting presence of someone he trusted made it rather hard for him to want to rouse himself from sleep. The pup he’d been cuddling seemed to have a different idea though.

Bloody Mary whined a bit as she squirmed in Nagisa’s grasp, wanting to go and greet her owner but being unable to as she was trapped in her sitter’s arms. Shifting his grip, Nagisa let the pup slip from him, staying still as she determinedly climbed over his side and perched awkwardly on him before tumbling over and rolling to a stop against Hiyori. She took a brief moment to recover from her tumble before she was happily yipping and pawing at Hiyori’s legs.

While the pup was busy with her greetings, Nagisa slowly woke up the rest of the way, his eyes blinking half-open. He silently sat up, loose hair falling into his face. Rubbing under his eyes, Nagisa yawned into his palm before turning his still sleepy eyes to his friend.

A soft smile turned up his lips.

He could’ve sworn he’d seen this person before, but even if he did remember, the name escaped him. Had it been at a more favorable timeslot, Rei’s memory could have cooperated with him, but, sadly, it wasn’t.

Rei did notice something that caught his attention; this young man was working with two books open. While he couldn’t see the subjects contained within each book, he couldn’t help but wonder. This young man had apparently acknowledged his presence as well, if that hand wave were to be taken as such; it’d be best not to be too rude.

“Excuse me, but…” Rei began once he’d approached Nagisa’s table, giving the other a short wave in return. “You seem familiar. Have we met…?”

Jotting down a final sentence, Nagisa watched as the other approached his table, speaking. Well, it seemed he was not the only one who could not recall names at a glance. That at least told Nagisa that this was not someone that he had spent too significant an amount of time in the company of.

It took a moment more after the question had been asked for Nagisa to offer up what he felt was the correct answer.

“I believe we were classmates for a short while. At Yumenosaki.”

Before he’d transferred and met Ibara and Jun. When he and Hiyori had still been students at Yumenosaki.

Warning(s): Alcohol

[ text ]: I woke up to a half empty bottle of cider on my dresser. I drank it and have no regrets. Morning.

[ text ]: I’d ask why there’s pictures of Kayne West all over my bedroom floor but I don’t actually want an answer at this point.

[ text ]: I can hear your life falling apart through the ceiling.  Shut up.

[ text ]: I just googled ‘Rarest Pepe’ and I’m crying.

[ text ]: I just brought the Spice Girls Greatest Hits.

[ text ]: I’ve had nothing to do all day so I’ve been learning the lyrics to ‘Trap Queen’.

[ text ]: Be proud of drunk me. I managed to only eat HALF of a large pizza this time.

[ text ]: We all got really drunk and communally agreed Bucky Barnes was a ‘cute little button babe’.

[ text ]: What a massive egotistical penis.

[ text ]: Does today require people clothes or can I just wear my pyjamas?

[ text ]: I’m certain he heard me shout and LOUDLY ‘nap time comes before pants time’.

[ text ]: I’m not responding to this because I have died. I’m dead. Dead people don’t answer texts.

[ text ]: I think I’m going to retire and become a hermit.

[ text ]: I want Lucky Charms.

[ text ]: I’m not surprised he didn’t show up. He didn’t arrange it.

[ text ]: I miss hugging you and smelling your hair (in a non-weird way!).

[ text ]: Why are you saved in my phone as ‘Prison Wife’?

[ text ]: I was in the middle of a check-up and the doctor quoted Jurrassic Park at me.

[ text ]: I replaced your apple juice with whiskey six months ago.

[ text ]: Why did you send me pictures of yourself dressed in all of my coats?

[ text ]: I’ve watched so much Peppa Pig I am reaching my point of insanity.

[ text ]: What a complete ball of Human-shaped trash.

[ text ]: You need to stop shouting about Communism in public places.

[ text ]: I was just legitimately asked if Human was a form of meat.

[ text ]: The Devil has a British accent.

[ text ]: You kept making train noises all night. Are you okay?

[ text ]: I just brought some muscle cream and I smell like a herb garden.

[ text ]: I think our neighbour may have gone rabid.

[ text ]: I realise we were joking at the time but are you considering a stripping career?

So, he’ll have to report at this place at—Rei paused to groan aloud when he saw the appointed time on the pamphlet. Did it have to be that early, he lamented, staring mournfully at the slip of paper as if the schedule would magically change in his favor. While he was doing a family friend a favor, he wished said friend would be a little more considerate with his condition. But, also considering the nature of the request…Rei felt like he was put in between a rock and a hard place.

As if the early schedule wasn’t bad enough for him, before he could go to the appointed place, he’d have to have read the reading materials that were supplied to him. Rei stared at the heavy bag he was carrying, containing around four or so books and manuals, and neither of them were on the thin side.

Frowning, Rei resigned himself to his fate. Thankfully, the weather wasn’t too cruel to him today, or else the stress could’ve gotten the better of him and there would be no one around to help him. Just when he’d brought his parasol and a water bottle with him.

There was simply no use grumbling about things he had no control over, so Rei’d decided to return to the hotel so he could get started on his reading.

As he walked down the street, however, something caught his eye, and it was enough to make him pause on his feet, peering through narrowed eyes past his glasses. He could’ve sworn he’d seen something that sparked an old memory, right there by the outdoor cafe…It wasn’t until his eyes met with the other’s that it clicked.

“Could it be…?” Rei went over for a closer look.

Oh he was coming closer. His name... Nagisa was fairly sure it was a name he should have remembered but it had been a good few years already. His ability to forget names that he did not deem important to keep safe in his memory was amazing.

He flipped another page in his play, having finished another annotation, and turned to add a few more lines to his paragraphs, mumbling a line out of the archaeology textbook to himself. It truly was a feat that he could multitask two different assignments like this and retain information, and yet not remember something as simple as this man’s name.

@charmedexcellency liked for a starter

[水] -  That was quite the crowd that was gathering. Mizumachi hit the streets to take a leisurely stroll around to see what new and interesting thing he could get into when he noticed the crowd of girls huddled around. 

Curious, he walked over to see that there seemed to be a guy in the middle of it all. Maybe he was an idol of some kind? He sure stuck out like a sore thumb with how tall he was, but curiosity killed the cat… and satisfaction brought it back. He’s no cat, but he sure was satisfied. 

       “Mhaa~! Are you like an idol or somethin’?               You’re pretty popular, aren’t ya?” 

No no, don’t mind the fact that the guy is an idol who is surrounded by screaming fangirls at the moment. Surely he can hear Mizumachi’s question and answer him, right? Maybe if he gives him an SOS look, the friendly giant can just hoist him up into the air and run away! 

Didn’t make it very sincere either.

Nagisa did appreciate his fans of course, because it was them that made it possible for him to continue being an idol. Made it possible for him to feel those sparks of happiness and fulfillment when he performed on stage 

Perhaps one day he’d be able to show them a sincere smile.

With a few chosen words, he finally managed to make his way through the crowd to where the male that had asked those questions was standing, one of the girls by him having, in that time, decided to take it upon herself to tell the guy who he was exactly.

Nagisa waited patiently for her to finish before thanking her and holding out his hand, it was polite to greet people with a handshake he’d been told, “As the young lady has said, I’m Nagisa Ran, leader of the idol units Eden and Adam.”