— 筋肉

The language was just to emphasize the teasing all the more. Both Matsuoka’s had a less than modest streak when they wanted to, and they both often loved to give each other crap about it.

Rin put a bit of butter on his just to keep them from being plain, but his pancakes only got enough syrup to cover them with a very thin layer. Not too much sweetness, just so they’d be moister each time he bit them. But the six was appreciated

here, have a floating rei for your blog

happy birthday, you big dork <3

          It was reflex to want to jolt away from the touch. He wasn’t           used to the small touches of affection. And it was force of           habit, these days to try and pull away from the things that           kept him grounded. He needed to be steadier than this,           more stable. If not for his sake, than for Rin’s and Gou’s.           They were his makeshit family. And they often, even if           they weren’t aware of it, pushed him to be a better person.           He didn’t want to let them down.

          “Why don’t you hand me your phone?           I’ll put myself on speed dial for you.”

          He hadn’t even been aware she didn’t have his number.           That’s how out of touch he’d let himself get.

              Kou fished her phone out of her back pocket, handing it to               him. At least she already had a picture she wanted to use.               Did she ever say thank god for joint practices? Puberty was               oh so very good to her friends, and the Samezuka team was               so much bigger; there was so much more to look at. God               damn. She was pretty sure more than half her phone's               memory was taken up by strangers' abdominal, biceps, and               gluts.

Was there a day where she wasn’t perfect?

"What’re you doing out here?"

              Dammit. She was sure he was a great kid and all, but all               that enthusiasm really wore her out. Was it bad to say that               she kind of missed his brother? At least his enthusiasm               had never ended with “the first place I wash is --" and did               she ever thank onii-chan for dragging him away? Well, at               least that was the worst thing he'd done.

     “I'm a big girl and I'm almost there,"               she assured. His apartment wasn't that far and she knew               these streets pretty well; they weren't so dangerous at night,               but better safe than sorry. She could see the apartments he               described from here. Maybe she should've stopped by the               store on the corner and brought him something, but she               didn't want to leave him alone more than necessary. He               didn't sound like he could take it. From what she knew, he               lived alone. Why on earth did he live alone? He shouldn't               live alone. He was great to everyone else, but he didn't care               about himself, and she was terrified of leaving him alone.

     “Thirty seven, right?"

           "Doesn’t mean you should have to.”

           He knew Gou was capable of taking care of herself. But he also               knew of her insecurities, the parts of her he knew to be more fragile,               and he wondered when she’d gotten so strong. He almost didn’t               want to acknowledge it, knowing she had done it out of necessity.               And he wondered when it had gotten to this point. When Gou had               gotten to the point where she believed that she had been forgotten               by him, too. He’d failed both Matsuoka siblings, in the end.

              ”I never forgot you. I just let myself               be selfish for too long, and you were               one of the people to pay the price for it.               And I’m sorry that I gave you reason to               doubt me. But I’ll be better, okay? I just               can’t make any promises about your brother.”

              He just needed this swim season to be over. He was starting               to think going to Samezuka had been the wrong decision. That               may have been what brought out these demons.

              She reached out to squeeze his hand, a smile on her face.               He could deal with whatever came his way, and she was               there to help him -- it was what friends did.

     “Y'know, it would be great if you actually        gave me your new number. I'd rather not         accidentally call the Queen of England." 

           Sousuke had to wonder how genuine that smile was. And a part of            him also envied her, in a way. She wore it so easily, whether it was true            or not. She was too kind-hearted. Leaning on her for support wouldn’t            be fair. He did, however, reach up to place a hand on her head after he            was pushed, stroking her head softly for a moment, wry smile on his            face as he considered her bright face. His hand fell to his side. He            couldn’t lie to that face. He didn’t have it in him to. 

           ”I don’t know what’s wrong myself.            But it’s nothing for you to worry about.            I’ll be fine. But I feel like I should make            sure you will be, too.”

     “You know I can take care of myself."

              He knew she had her issues; there was more than one               occasion that she'd called him in the middle of the night,               when she was curled up in onii-chan's bed, wondering               what it would've taken to keep her mom from working so               late or keep onii-chan home. And then, he left too, and               everything came rushing back and she was left with tears in               her eyes, wondering if she was the problem... Kou shook               her head. Now was so not the time to think about that.

     “Just... Promise you won't forget me        again. And make sure onii-chan        doesn't forget me, either -- and        remember I'm always, always here        for you, okay?"

Everything is adding up, you’ve been through hell and back, that’s why you’re bad as fuck, and you know you are