#mnbig

Briefly, he wonders when this turned into a Cinderella story.

Kentaro had had worse days. He'd had so much worse than his boss berating him in public, near to screaming, spit flying. He couldn't help but cringe inwards at the looks passersby were shooting them, couldn't help by press himself further against the wall as Kurono advanced. He saw his hand coming a mile away. He didn't even try to dodge. What was the point? A slap was better than a punch was better than a kick was better than -

"Don't."

Kentaro opened his eyes (when had he closed them?) dumbfounded at what he saw. Kurono's wrist was caught in a punishingly tight grip. A man with cool golden eyes glared at him through ash blonde hair.

"Shirosaki, where did you -" Another man, with black hair and a warm face, peered at the three of them over his glasses. "Ah - always finding something interesting, aren't you?" He straightened himself, eyes turning flinty. "I'll take care of him, why don't you take that handsome young man to get a cool drink, hm?" The first man - Shirosaki, apparently - dropped Kurono's arm like so much trash. Ignoring his increasingly incoherent cursing, he turned to Kentaro as he was trying to meld into the wall in shame.

Gently, oh so gently, he took Kentaro's arm, walking him over to a nearby bench. Kentaro was so overwhelmed he didn't notice him leave and flinched violently when something moved in the corner of his eye. When nothing happened, he cast his eyes up. It was Shirosaki, looking lip bitten and heartbroken, holding out a bottle of jasmine tea. Flushing a deep red, he took it, clutching it in both hands. His stomach was a painful knot of anxiety.

"I'm - I'm really sorry. About everything, it must have been - I don't -" A hand on his shoulder interrupted him. Shirosaki was looking at him intently, cat-like eyes focused on his.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You've done nothing wrong."

Kentaro really couldn't be blamed if he started to cry at that, silent tears dripping down his face. Shirosaki coloured abruptly, flustered and nervous, pressing a handkerchief into his hands.