CLOSED.

→ ＮＯ ＴＲＯＰＨＹ, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine. he’s haunted by something he cannot define. bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse assail him, impale him with monster-truck force. in his mind, he’s still driving, still making the grade. she’s hoping in time that her memories will fade. ‘cause he’s racing and pacing and plotting the course, he’s fighting and biting and riding on his horse. the sun has gone down and the moon has come up, and long ago somebody left with the cup. but he’s striving and driving and hugging the turns and thinking of someone for whom he still burns…                          {HE’S GOING THE DISTANCE}

    “working.” izumo nudges kotetsu’s shoulder pointedly. “being a personal trainer’s not easy, you know.” he bites back a snicker when kotetsu stumbles, paying no heed to his words. you haven’t changed, he thinks, fond. 

     “don’t act like i haven’t been either,” kotetsu combats with a wave of his finger, “though, your line of work seems a bit more...dignified, hah. i spend eight hours under the hood of a car, usually.” kotetsu did work a lot, but he didn’t mind it. it actually helped keep him busy, occupied. the more time he had to himself the more obsessed he’d feel over not doing anything after graduating. 

     well, no he’s done something. 

    he trails behind kotetsu, casting a final glance at the door behind them as it closes. this is familiar, somehow– he falls into step alongside his friend like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “well, you know me,” he clicks his tongue, dry. “i still don’t get out much, but. i know a few places.”

     “man, what have you been doing here without me, then?” he walks backwards, thick arms raising behind his head to hook behind his neck. the cheeky smile is there on his lips, before he almost trips over his own feet. he rights himself before a fall, straightening his shirt, “shut up.” before izumo can even say anything.