Your Life Is Your Own

@impassiveesper​​     sent     …

“What are you thinking about?” - For Teru     //     unprompted.

            “      .   .   .   Hm.   I   don’t   know!   Perhaps   the   very   meaning   of   existence   itself?      “      And   just   like   that,   the   atmosphere      popped      as   if   it   was   tangible   bubble.   Whatever   the   blonde   had   been   brooding   over   seemed   to      dissipate      in   the   face   of   his   words,   like   storm   clouds   going   out,   rain   letting   up,   the   cerulean      light   returning   to   his   eyes.   If   even      Kageyama      was   able   to   catch   on   to   his   soured   mood,   then   maybe   he   should   be   touching   up   on   his   masking   again   instead   of   doing—

            This.

            He   looked   down   at   the   half-melted   ice   cream   cone   in   his   grasp,   waffle   texture      splintering      under   the   uncontrolled   pressure   of   his   fingers.   He   had   gotten   one   of   his   favorites,   neapolitan   with   a   touch   of   pistachio,   but   what      would      have   been   a   tasty   treat   turned   into   a   sticky,   awful   mess.   The   unpleasantness   crawled   up   his   arm   like      ants      and   Teruki   abruptly   stood   up.

Something didn’t feel right about this, and Shigeo couldn’t quite place what it was. He fidgeted somewhat, rooted to the spot even as Hanazawa tried to lead him away.

“But, you like ice cream,” he tried, then faltered when it occurred to him that wasn’t quite what he was hoping to get at.  The urge to challenge persisted despite his misgivings, and Shigeo took a moment to paw silently around for his point, confident that Hanazawa would allow him the space to find it. 

“What I mean is,” he began, choosing his words with care, “are you sure nothing’s bothering you?”

“I know everybody feels like they have to be extra careful around my feelings, but yours matter, too, so...”

He trailed off, looking away. As was common for these types of conversations, he no longer felt confident about his decision to challenge.

Right, you wanted an interview

There’s no greater joy one can experience than lining up all the cute outfits you bought for your darling little hamster.