[She moves, shifting to sit up on her knees and give her some height on him. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and pulls him into a hug]
I know.
[She doesn't know the full extent of it, obviously. She's not Akira, she's not the leader, but she gets it. That pressure. The pressure to perform and be perfect and people counting on you. She doesn't know all the other worries he might have here, she doesn't know what happened with Akechi or Dazai or anything, but. She's here for him anyhow]
[He watches her, a little confused for a moment, and he makes a soft little "oh" sound when she hugs him. He's still, then, trying to figure out what he's done to warrant such an action, when his brain catches up that she doesn't have to have a reason to hug him. He stretches his neck, hooks his chin over her shoulder, and wraps his arms carefully around her ribs. Gosh, she's so little.]
[Hearing her name makes her shiver as she lowers herself so he can hook his chin on her shoulder easier. It's easy to just sort of fit against him like she was made to be there]
We're friends. That's what friends are for. I'll always be here for you.
[She lets herself be quiet too, petting his hair and just holding him. The rest of the room nd the world seem to fall away, leaving just the two of them behind.
After a few quiet moments she speaks up softly] Did you want to lay down and rest for a bit?
[His jaw feels stuck shut, despite her question, and his arms tighten just enough around her to be felt. He doesn't know how to say he doesn't mind, but he doesn't want her to leave. He deliberates for a while, wobbling his head a little in an uncertain gesture-- it's not a nod, but it's not shaking his head no, either. Eventually, he just plants his face against her shoulder, exhaling.]
If you want, [It's muffled, but it's something. How is he so bad a designating his own wants, goddamn.]
[And then...just kind of pushes Akira so that they flop down together on the bed. She doesn't let go of him either except to wiggle and get comfortable, making sure he isn't going to be crushing her arm or something. She giggles a little and pulls his pillow over so they can rest heir heads on it.
[It's a little strange, to be looked after, he thinks. He's always been so resistant to it, because he's so used to taking care of himself, and taking care of everyone else before even considering his own needs, so he's truthfully not certain how to act, here. He shuffles around with Sumire's movements, mindful of her, and winds up hunched carefully with one arm over her waist and the other curled against his own chest. He ducks his head to use that hand to pull off his glasses, shifting to fold them and set them aside, settling back to intermittently watch her and look away, like he isn't sure where to look.]
[she follows his lead to remove her glasses so she can lay her head down more comfortably. It's... odd. She feels a little anxious and shy about this, but she's never seen Akira look so...bashful??
Sumi watches him for a few seconds, feeling her own heartbeat starting to speed up.] Is... is something wrong? Um, if this is too awkward, or if it's because of me, or something, I-I can go--
No, you're fine, you're good. I'm just... not used to people fussing over me, I think. I get so caught up looking after everybody else, I never let them.
You should let them. [She pokes at his ribs a little for emphasis.] We want to take care of you too, you know. You care about us, but we all care about you too! It goes both ways!
Oof, [He folds a little farther than necessary at the poke, either to really show he hears her or possibly due to a latent ticklish spot. He puffs his cheeks out a little.] I know..., It's not that I don't think you all do, it's. I've always been bad at it.
Hmm...That's okay. We'll just have to practice then. [She says it easily enough, laughing softly as she pulls him in closer again. It's easy to be bolder when the other person is acting more shy than you.]
Because we love you and we're going to fuss over you and care about you no matter what you do. No use in trying to stop it!
[He's not commonly a shy person. Meek, on occasion, mild to seem nonthreatening, but not usually shy. So Sumire drawing this out of him is a bit of a surprise for him, as well, and he burrows against her shoulder when she pulls him close again.]
[He rumbles a mock-offended sound, but he sure is soaking up her cuddling.]
[He's quiet a minute, almost too long to still be amicable without the assumption he's fallen asleep, but then hums, angling his head to look up at her through his mess of black curls.] ...I do, Sumire. I'd trust you guys with my life and thensome. [Just not the burdens of his feelings when they aren't relevant. Which to him, they never really are.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2023-05-10 08:54 pm (UTC)I know.
[She doesn't know the full extent of it, obviously. She's not Akira, she's not the leader, but she gets it. That pressure. The pressure to perform and be perfect and people counting on you. She doesn't know all the other worries he might have here, she doesn't know what happened with Akechi or Dazai or anything, but. She's here for him anyhow]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-10 09:03 pm (UTC)...thanks, Sumire.
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Date: 2023-05-10 09:14 pm (UTC)We're friends. That's what friends are for. I'll always be here for you.
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Date: 2023-05-10 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-11 02:00 pm (UTC)After a few quiet moments she speaks up softly] Did you want to lay down and rest for a bit?
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Date: 2023-05-11 02:29 pm (UTC)If you want, [It's muffled, but it's something. How is he so bad a designating his own wants, goddamn.]
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Date: 2023-05-11 03:10 pm (UTC)[And then...just kind of pushes Akira so that they flop down together on the bed. She doesn't let go of him either except to wiggle and get comfortable, making sure he isn't going to be crushing her arm or something. She giggles a little and pulls his pillow over so they can rest heir heads on it.
Who said anything about her leaving!!]
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Date: 2023-05-11 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-11 07:45 pm (UTC)Sumi watches him for a few seconds, feeling her own heartbeat starting to speed up.] Is... is something wrong? Um, if this is too awkward, or if it's because of me, or something, I-I can go--
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Date: 2023-05-11 11:12 pm (UTC)No, you're fine, you're good. I'm just... not used to people fussing over me, I think. I get so caught up looking after everybody else, I never let them.
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Date: 2023-05-12 02:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-13 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-14 08:11 pm (UTC)Because we love you and we're going to fuss over you and care about you no matter what you do. No use in trying to stop it!
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Date: 2023-05-15 01:48 am (UTC)I'm extremely outnumbered, here.
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Date: 2023-05-18 04:08 pm (UTC)I just want you to feel as... As safe and comfortable with me--with us--and we are with you.
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Date: 2023-05-19 10:39 pm (UTC)[He's quiet a minute, almost too long to still be amicable without the assumption he's fallen asleep, but then hums, angling his head to look up at her through his mess of black curls.] ...I do, Sumire. I'd trust you guys with my life and thensome. [Just not the burdens of his feelings when they aren't relevant. Which to him, they never really are.]