Loser Fried Rice, Coming up!🍛

“What happened?” the former nurse wanted to know again.

“I- I…” you started, wanting to explain how you just worked a little too hard lately, how they shouldn’t worry so much about you. You literally just had a fight about this with Zhao, you should’ve known better by now, but you couldn’t shake the guilty feeling that you worried them, that they took time off their day because you didn’t manage to look after yourself. Maybe it was the fever but your emotions felt like a mess.

“I’m sorry…” was all you could bring out at the moment as tears started forming in your eyes. You were so sick of yourself. The two men exchanged quick glances, then Nanba asked, pressing the issue further as you weren’t giving him real answers:

“For what, _______-chan? Did something happen?”

“I- I just worked… a lot. And, and I thought… I just needed some rest. I thought I could handle it. And now I caused problems for everyone. You had to come here, and Tesso probably would have something better to do too. And Zhao is mad at me.” you rambled and sobbed like a little kid.

“What are friends for, huh? Don’t we look out for each other in time of need?”

“But I haven’t been… in touch for so long. I just didn’t want to cause problems for you with my past with the Tojo Clan…” you whined, not caring about spilling the beans anymore and his eyes widened with realization.

“So that’s why you’ve been so distant? Zhao and Joongi too, because of what you were or are?” And then he chuckled to your surprise. “As if that stopped us being friends. Besides, who cares what you used to be? It didn’t stop Ichiban from the election either.”

“I know, but-” you wanted to elaborate how it might not be good for their jobs if their superiors learn what kinda friends they have but he cut you off:

“Listen, I can assure you that we’re gonna be fine. And if not, we’ll weather the storm together. Like how we used to, okay? You got us.” A few sharp sobs escaped your throat as you were trying to calm down, barely believing what you’d heard. He’s not mad? What he said made you feel a little better, but before you could answer, Tesso gently shook your legs with one of his big hands and voiced his concern:

“He’s right. And I got your back too. But you really gotta take it easy a little, ______-chan. You could’ve hit your head really bad if I hadn’t been there and Zhao-san’s really worried about you, too.” And the guilt was right back to torment you.

“I know... We had a fight right after you left… He’s probably sick of me…” you murmured, looking away again.

“Did he say that?” Your glance snapped back at his serious scarred face.

“Huh?”

“Did he ever say something that makes you think that? That you’re a burden to him? That he’s sick of you?” Tesso wanted to know and you admitted, shaking your head:

“N- no. The opposite actually. He- he kept telling me to rely on him more. But-”

“He’s a man of his word. If he said that, he meant it. Trust me, if he’d been sick of you, he wouldn’t be downstairs busting his ass makin’ that soup right now. I’ve never seen him as happy as he is with you and I’ve known him for many years.” The last sentence made you speechless for a few moments. He’s happy, isn’t he? It made your heart burst but also ache. He’s happy and I’m messing it up…

“I just didn’t want to trouble him. Or you two.” you eventually said, gaze on the floor again.

“But you aren’t!” both of them practically shouted in conviction and it made you blink at them in an initial shock. When you didn’t say anything for a moment, trying to comprehend what they said, Nanba continued in a softer tone: