renji

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

Kazuki felt the hand, sighing. "Yeah, whatever. Are you ever going to take the bandages off?" After a bit of a pause, she hesitantly tilted her head to look up at him. "You'll always be able to be my sidekick."

“Mh?” Renji hummed, glancing at his own hands before shaking his head. “Probably never. They’re iconic, aren’t they? It was already a step to get rid of the one covering my eye.” He chuckled, before pausing. He looked down at Kazuki as she looked up, and his face suddenly felt very warm at her words.

They then sighed. "But you've got a cute face? You know the media goes wild for that." Kazuki chuckled a bit awkwardly, surveying his face. She fought a grin.

Kazuki thought back on his words and noticed Renji turning his face away. "Hhaaah. Haha. That's okay with me. It's, uh.. giving to the greater good, technically!"

He paused, nodding. “Mhhmm. The greater good is me. So I get all your money.” He hummed, somewhat pridefully, as if he actually enjoys the idea of getubg pampered with riches. Not like he’d ever admit it, though.

He nodded along. "At this point, I wouldn't care if you did! Say, do you want anything?" She poked him, snickering. "No, seriously. Do you want anything?"

At Renji actually turning to face him, Kazuki paused. They didn't actually expect him to do it. Hell, would he listen if she told him to spin around and strike a pose, or something? That was a dumb thought. Kazuki only stared.

He blinks, confused at the offer and nervously puts his hands up, shaking his head. “No, no, I was just joking. I don’t wanna mooch off of you yet.”

He shook his head. "What?! But I'm hella rich?? Don't hesitate to ask me to go out with you!" They definitely did not choose that wording unintentionally.

He flushed, “Even if you’re rich, I don’t wanna bum off of you when we’re going ouh—hanging out!” Holy shit, that was dumb. Did Kazuki mean to say going out? Should Renji have just gone along with it?? Well, it isn’t like he can correct it now, that would be too awkward.

Kazuki smirked at the stutter, quietly snickering into their hand. "Why? You're priceless, anyways. Your company is enough to pay the bill for both of us!" She shrugged, that dumb grin still plastered on his face.

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, pouting slightly. “Kay, if you insist, then fine. We can.. hang out later, alright? Since you want me to use your money, for some reason.” He sighed, obviously trying to be nonchalant and failing. “.. Not that I’m complaining.” Smooth, Renji. Very smooth.

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

Kazuki felt the hand, sighing. "Yeah, whatever. Are you ever going to take the bandages off?" After a bit of a pause, she hesitantly tilted her head to look up at him. "You'll always be able to be my sidekick."

“Mh?” Renji hummed, glancing at his own hands before shaking his head. “Probably never. They’re iconic, aren’t they? It was already a step to get rid of the one covering my eye.” He chuckled, before pausing. He looked down at Kazuki as she looked up, and his face suddenly felt very warm at her words.

They then sighed. "But you've got a cute face? You know the media goes wild for that." Kazuki chuckled a bit awkwardly, surveying his face. She fought a grin.

Kazuki thought back on his words and noticed Renji turning his face away. "Hhaaah. Haha. That's okay with me. It's, uh.. giving to the greater good, technically!"

He paused, nodding. “Mhhmm. The greater good is me. So I get all your money.” He hummed, somewhat pridefully, as if he actually enjoys the idea of getubg pampered with riches. Not like he’d ever admit it, though.

He nodded along. "At this point, I wouldn't care if you did! Say, do you want anything?" She poked him, snickering. "No, seriously. Do you want anything?"

At Renji actually turning to face him, Kazuki paused. They didn't actually expect him to do it. Hell, would he listen if she told him to spin around and strike a pose, or something? That was a dumb thought. Kazuki only stared.

He blinks, confused at the offer and nervously puts his hands up, shaking his head. “No, no, I was just joking. I don’t wanna mooch off of you yet.”

He shook his head. "What?! But I'm hella rich?? Don't hesitate to ask me to go out with you!" They definitely did not choose that wording unintentionally.

He flushed, “Even if you’re rich, I don’t wanna bum off of you when we’re going ouh—hanging out!” Holy shit, that was dumb. Did Kazuki mean to say going out? Should Renji have just gone along with it?? Well, it isn’t like he can correct it now, that would be too awkward.

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

Kazuki felt the hand, sighing. "Yeah, whatever. Are you ever going to take the bandages off?" After a bit of a pause, she hesitantly tilted her head to look up at him. "You'll always be able to be my sidekick."

“Mh?” Renji hummed, glancing at his own hands before shaking his head. “Probably never. They’re iconic, aren’t they? It was already a step to get rid of the one covering my eye.” He chuckled, before pausing. He looked down at Kazuki as she looked up, and his face suddenly felt very warm at her words.

They then sighed. "But you've got a cute face? You know the media goes wild for that." Kazuki chuckled a bit awkwardly, surveying his face. She fought a grin.

Kazuki thought back on his words and noticed Renji turning his face away. "Hhaaah. Haha. That's okay with me. It's, uh.. giving to the greater good, technically!"

He paused, nodding. “Mhhmm. The greater good is me. So I get all your money.” He hummed, somewhat pridefully, as if he actually enjoys the idea of getubg pampered with riches. Not like he’d ever admit it, though.

He nodded along. "At this point, I wouldn't care if you did! Say, do you want anything?" She poked him, snickering. "No, seriously. Do you want anything?"

At Renji actually turning to face him, Kazuki paused. They didn't actually expect him to do it. Hell, would he listen if she told him to spin around and strike a pose, or something? That was a dumb thought. Kazuki only stared.

He blinks, confused at the offer and nervously puts his hands up, shaking his head. “No, no, I was just joking. I don’t wanna mooch off of you yet.”

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

Kazuki felt the hand, sighing. "Yeah, whatever. Are you ever going to take the bandages off?" After a bit of a pause, she hesitantly tilted her head to look up at him. "You'll always be able to be my sidekick."

“Mh?” Renji hummed, glancing at his own hands before shaking his head. “Probably never. They’re iconic, aren’t they? It was already a step to get rid of the one covering my eye.” He chuckled, before pausing. He looked down at Kazuki as she looked up, and his face suddenly felt very warm at her words.

They then sighed. "But you've got a cute face? You know the media goes wild for that." Kazuki chuckled a bit awkwardly, surveying his face. She fought a grin.

Kazuki thought back on his words and noticed Renji turning his face away. "Hhaaah. Haha. That's okay with me. It's, uh.. giving to the greater good, technically!"

He paused, nodding. “Mhhmm. The greater good is me. So I get all your money.” He hummed, somewhat pridefully, as if he actually enjoys the idea of getubg pampered with riches. Not like he’d ever admit it, though.

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

Kazuki felt the hand, sighing. "Yeah, whatever. Are you ever going to take the bandages off?" After a bit of a pause, she hesitantly tilted her head to look up at him. "You'll always be able to be my sidekick."

“Mh?” Renji hummed, glancing at his own hands before shaking his head. “Probably never. They’re iconic, aren’t they? It was already a step to get rid of the one covering my eye.” He chuckled, before pausing. He looked down at Kazuki as she looked up, and his face suddenly felt very warm at her words.

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"You're so old.." They muttered, still in his shoulder. "I'd love to come one day but.. What are you gonna do now?" She paused, sighing. "Now that, yanno, the people at UA don't fancy you because of the whole situation."

“Psh, come on, I’m not that old..” He giggled weakly. He thought for a moment, before a bandaged hand started to slowly move up and down Kazuki’s back. It was almost as if Renji was trying to savour the moment, engrave it into his head. “.. I dunno. I’ve been thinking of trying to get into those post-school hero courses but.. I don’t think I’m suited for that stuff. I’ll.. probably just keep doing what I’m doing now. .. Until you start your own agency. Then I can be your sidekick, or something.” He hummed.

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

"Hey, not everyone is worthy of my tears." They scoffed, pressing harder against him, like Kazuki was trying to bring them both down.

She nodded against him, quickly wiping off their eyes and shaking their head. "Damn? They didn't put you in like, foster care..? I'm glad." He stared into Renji's eyes, squishing his cheeks between his palms. "I'm always free. Okay?? Okay!!?" They nodded his head, squeezing him more.

“Well, I’m honoured I am.” Renji teased, gently rubbing Kazuki’s back affectionately. He allowed them to pressed against him, enjoying the weight.

He nodded, “They didn’t. I was pretty surprised about it, honestly. But I’m almost 18, so that’s probably why. Either way, I’m glad about it too.” Renji squeaked slightly at his being squished by him, but he smiled and nodded along. His eyes were big and shiny, still so much like a puppy. “Okay, okay! I know! I’ve gotta invite you to my apartment someday.”

"Hey." Kazuki muttered, walking up to him-- albeit a bit awkwardly. "It's kind of been a while. How have you been, penguin?"

- @ravenraverz

( YES ohemgee hello!! sorry i didn’t get to this sooner ive been busy but so glad to see you again! )

Renji flinches slightly at the contact but he chuckles and pats Kazuki on the back. “Hey, hey, calm down.. You’re gonna get tears on me.” He hummed playfully, but he was clearly emotional about this too.

“I.. got myself a proper living space. It’s a bit pricy, but I picked up this apprentice gig for advertising heroes and stuff..” Renji explains. He sounds a little uncertain talking about it, as if he still doesn’t believe his situation. “It.. It’s gotten better. I still can’t believe it, really. Living by myself has been good but.. it’s been a little lonely.”

Of course, as any man does when he doesn’t want to do anything, he wanders the compound for a smoke, cigarette hanging from his mouth.

However, instead of finding an empty hall like usual, he turns a corner only to be met with Tengai. Renji fumbles and drops the cigarette on the floor, stomping it out.

“Hey, what—?” Renji blinked, tilting his head. “What’re you doing here, Tengai-san? I thought you were sent away or somethin’..”

— @unbreathingg

The smell of cigarette smoke immediately overwhelmed Tengai's senses, causing a headache to begin hammering at the back of his skull. Eugh. Disgusting. One of the worst things for a person to smell of, in his opinion.

He cracked an eye open, just barely, enough to see who he was dealing with.

Another child. Lovely.

Wait- another child?

He immediately opened the other eye, squinting in disapproval and holding out his palm with a flat expression.

"Rappa is on house arrest. I'm allowed to visit when Eri requests it. Now hand me your cigarettes," he repeats, his eyes flicking pointedly down to the cigarette butt on the floor.

"Because you're a child, and you're not allowed to smoke. It's that simple."

He tucks the carton of cigarettes into his sleeve, letting his eyes fall shut again. Delinquent children. Was the entire damned Hassaikai full of delinquent children?

“Aah, I know right? Rappa-san is way stronger than me.. They’re overworking me to the bone while he’s away.. It’s cruel! I trust Overhaul-sama’s judgement, but still.” He sighs, exasperated. “He even has me going around trying to find this Chara guy on-top of everything.”

"Well when you're twenty, you can smoke as much as you'd like. Until then, you can behave. Who even gave you these?"

He paused upon hearing Chara's name - his immediate instinct was to tell Renji to call off the search. Leave Chara to rot out in the world. Pay him no mind. But that would mean directly contradicting Overhaul's orders, which was blatantly unthinkinable.

Renji seemed a little confused when Tengai paused. Was it about that Chara-guy? Maybe he was just really important or something..

"No. Twenty is the age to legally purchase cigarettes. You can have them when you're twenty."

He huffed quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course. Everyone had to get this pushy and interested when it came to matters of romance, apparently.

"Must every rambunctious teenager in this compound insist on getting themselves involved with the goings-on of others' romantic lives?" he sighed shortly, rubbing his left temple. "It's an amicable relationship between two mature adults. There shouldn't be anything overly interesting about it."

"...He's well," Tengai started reluctantly.

Tengai wasn't sure why he was being so closed-off about the matter. It wasn't though he was embarrassed to be with Rappa. He had actually felt remarkably warm when Rappa had said Tengai wasn't someone he wanted to keep hidden. It would be unfair for Tengai to want to keep Rappa hidden with that in mind.

He was quiet for a moment before cautiously starting again.

“It feels like a vacation, with full transparency. He’s been given no tasks. Simply to stay at home. My only task is to supervise him, but if he’s simply at home, that’s rather easy to do.”

Of course, as any man does when he doesn’t want to do anything, he wanders the compound for a smoke, cigarette hanging from his mouth.

However, instead of finding an empty hall like usual, he turns a corner only to be met with Tengai. Renji fumbles and drops the cigarette on the floor, stomping it out.

“Hey, what—?” Renji blinked, tilting his head. “What’re you doing here, Tengai-san? I thought you were sent away or somethin’..”

— @unbreathingg

The smell of cigarette smoke immediately overwhelmed Tengai's senses, causing a headache to begin hammering at the back of his skull. Eugh. Disgusting. One of the worst things for a person to smell of, in his opinion.

He cracked an eye open, just barely, enough to see who he was dealing with.

Another child. Lovely.

Wait- another child?

He immediately opened the other eye, squinting in disapproval and holding out his palm with a flat expression.

"Rappa is on house arrest. I'm allowed to visit when Eri requests it. Now hand me your cigarettes," he repeats, his eyes flicking pointedly down to the cigarette butt on the floor.

"Because you're a child, and you're not allowed to smoke. It's that simple."

He tucks the carton of cigarettes into his sleeve, letting his eyes fall shut again. Delinquent children. Was the entire damned Hassaikai full of delinquent children?

“Aah, I know right? Rappa-san is way stronger than me.. They’re overworking me to the bone while he’s away.. It’s cruel! I trust Overhaul-sama’s judgement, but still.” He sighs, exasperated. “He even has me going around trying to find this Chara guy on-top of everything.”

"Well when you're twenty, you can smoke as much as you'd like. Until then, you can behave. Who even gave you these?"

He paused upon hearing Chara's name - his immediate instinct was to tell Renji to call off the search. Leave Chara to rot out in the world. Pay him no mind. But that would mean directly contradicting Overhaul's orders, which was blatantly unthinkinable.

Renji seemed a little confused when Tengai paused. Was it about that Chara-guy? Maybe he was just really important or something..

"No. Twenty is the age to legally purchase cigarettes. You can have them when you're twenty."

He huffed quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course. Everyone had to get this pushy and interested when it came to matters of romance, apparently.

"Must every rambunctious teenager in this compound insist on getting themselves involved with the goings-on of others' romantic lives?" he sighed shortly, rubbing his left temple. "It's an amicable relationship between two mature adults. There shouldn't be anything overly interesting about it."

"...He's well," Tengai started reluctantly.

Tengai wasn't sure why he was being so closed-off about the matter. It wasn't though he was embarrassed to be with Rappa. He had actually felt remarkably warm when Rappa had said Tengai wasn't someone he wanted to keep hidden. It would be unfair for Tengai to want to keep Rappa hidden with that in mind.

He was quiet for a moment before cautiously starting again.

Of course, as any man does when he doesn’t want to do anything, he wanders the compound for a smoke, cigarette hanging from his mouth.

However, instead of finding an empty hall like usual, he turns a corner only to be met with Tengai. Renji fumbles and drops the cigarette on the floor, stomping it out.

“Hey, what—?” Renji blinked, tilting his head. “What’re you doing here, Tengai-san? I thought you were sent away or somethin’..”

— @unbreathingg

The smell of cigarette smoke immediately overwhelmed Tengai's senses, causing a headache to begin hammering at the back of his skull. Eugh. Disgusting. One of the worst things for a person to smell of, in his opinion.

He cracked an eye open, just barely, enough to see who he was dealing with.

Another child. Lovely.

Wait- another child?

He immediately opened the other eye, squinting in disapproval and holding out his palm with a flat expression.

"Rappa is on house arrest. I'm allowed to visit when Eri requests it. Now hand me your cigarettes," he repeats, his eyes flicking pointedly down to the cigarette butt on the floor.

"Because you're a child, and you're not allowed to smoke. It's that simple."

He tucks the carton of cigarettes into his sleeve, letting his eyes fall shut again. Delinquent children. Was the entire damned Hassaikai full of delinquent children?

“Aah, I know right? Rappa-san is way stronger than me.. They’re overworking me to the bone while he’s away.. It’s cruel! I trust Overhaul-sama’s judgement, but still.” He sighs, exasperated. “He even has me going around trying to find this Chara guy on-top of everything.”

"Well when you're twenty, you can smoke as much as you'd like. Until then, you can behave. Who even gave you these?"

He paused upon hearing Chara's name - his immediate instinct was to tell Renji to call off the search. Leave Chara to rot out in the world. Pay him no mind. But that would mean directly contradicting Overhaul's orders, which was blatantly unthinkinable.

Renji seemed a little confused when Tengai paused. Was it about that Chara-guy? Maybe he was just really important or something..

"No. Twenty is the age to legally purchase cigarettes. You can have them when you're twenty."

He huffed quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course. Everyone had to get this pushy and interested when it came to matters of romance, apparently.

"Must every rambunctious teenager in this compound insist on getting themselves involved with the goings-on of others' romantic lives?" he sighed shortly, rubbing his left temple. "It's an amicable relationship between two mature adults. There shouldn't be anything overly interesting about it."

Of course, as any man does when he doesn’t want to do anything, he wanders the compound for a smoke, cigarette hanging from his mouth.

However, instead of finding an empty hall like usual, he turns a corner only to be met with Tengai. Renji fumbles and drops the cigarette on the floor, stomping it out.

“Hey, what—?” Renji blinked, tilting his head. “What’re you doing here, Tengai-san? I thought you were sent away or somethin’..”

— @unbreathingg

The smell of cigarette smoke immediately overwhelmed Tengai's senses, causing a headache to begin hammering at the back of his skull. Eugh. Disgusting. One of the worst things for a person to smell of, in his opinion.

He cracked an eye open, just barely, enough to see who he was dealing with.

Another child. Lovely.

Wait- another child?

He immediately opened the other eye, squinting in disapproval and holding out his palm with a flat expression.

"Rappa is on house arrest. I'm allowed to visit when Eri requests it. Now hand me your cigarettes," he repeats, his eyes flicking pointedly down to the cigarette butt on the floor.

"Because you're a child, and you're not allowed to smoke. It's that simple."

He tucks the carton of cigarettes into his sleeve, letting his eyes fall shut again. Delinquent children. Was the entire damned Hassaikai full of delinquent children?

“Aah, I know right? Rappa-san is way stronger than me.. They’re overworking me to the bone while he’s away.. It’s cruel! I trust Overhaul-sama’s judgement, but still.” He sighs, exasperated. “He even has me going around trying to find this Chara guy on-top of everything.”

"Well when you're twenty, you can smoke as much as you'd like. Until then, you can behave. Who even gave you these?"

He paused upon hearing Chara's name - his immediate instinct was to tell Renji to call off the search. Leave Chara to rot out in the world. Pay him no mind. But that would mean directly contradicting Overhaul's orders, which was blatantly unthinkinable.

Renji seemed a little confused when Tengai paused. Was it about that Chara-guy? Maybe he was just really important or something..

"No. Twenty is the age to legally purchase cigarettes. You can have them when you're twenty."

He huffed quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course. Everyone had to get this pushy and interested when it came to matters of romance, apparently.