Chapter Text
Korekiyo woke up the next morning, feeling unusually drowsy. He turned over to the other side of his hospital-like bed, intending to go back to sleep and hoping the day would melt away. He would rather not engage with others unless Team DR forced him to at conventions and whatnot. Though, they weren't doing much of anything until next week, Which gave him time to sleep in. Korekiyo closed his eyes in an attempt to make the barley-started day disappear.
Korekiyo suddenly wrinkled his nose, getting a whiff of what smelt to be hairspray coming from the bathroom. Way too much hairspray.
He opened his eyes ever so slightly, seeing that the bathroom door was wide open. Kaito stood in front of the mirror, comb and hairspray in hand as he brushed through his half spiked, half naturally curly hair.
Kaito then looked over at Korekiyo, a smile making his way on his face as he realized the other had finally woken up.
“Ah, finally! For a second I thought you weren't ever gonna wake up!” Kaito said before looking back over at the mirror.
“...Why are you doing your hair? There isn't some kind of interview we’re supposed to do, no?”
“What? No, we’re celebrating your birthday! Remember?”
Memories of last night slowly began to seep into Korekiyos head, and steadily he realized exactly what he had agreed to. A whole day with the arrogant, aspiring astronaut Kaito Momota of all people… this could be interesting. While his initial thoughts were irritated with the fact that he made such a decision mid-breakdown, another part of him was interested in learning more about Kaito from a surface level point of view. Maybe if he just looked at this time from the eyes of his anthropological interests, today's adventures could be a little more bearable. He would just have to ignore the grudges he had against Kaito from his trial, of course.
“Ah, yes…” Korekiyo hummed, finally exiting his fetal-like position and sitting up as he rubbed his eyes. “I shall get ready, then”
Korekiyo picked out a Black turtleneck sweater and some gray dress pants, as well as some heeled black shoes and an ordinary mask. He knew if he dressed in anything over the top like he preferred, he would get recognized by passing fans on the street. It was disappointing, but he’d much rather wear something considered average then get bombarded with even more irritable questions. He already had to deal with such questions at QnA convention panels and on social websites on the internet.
He wondered how Momota dealt with such things as he walked over to the bathroom, considering how infamous his hair and goatee are.
Korekiyo peered into the bathroom, watching as Kaito spiked his hair up. It seemed Kaito had the look down to the science- Every hair had an aligned place on his head, and like magic it always looked like it had the day before.
Kaito gave one last blow of hairspray to his head before locking it in with a hairdryer. Afterwards, he set all his things to the corner, his corner of the sink.
“It's all yours,” Kaito said, giving Korekiyo a small smile.
Once Kaito stepped out and headed towards the closet, Korekiyo stepped in and took down his mask, beginning to brush his teeth. Then, he pulled out his facial care supplies and started his routine.
Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, sunscreen- It all kept his face from drying out. Once he had rubbed the sunscreen into his face, he reached down for his lipstick…
He patted around the area he kept his red lipstick, but he couldn't feel the small, rectangular container.
He looked down at the space where he kept it, visibly shaken up once he didn't see it.
He looked at the side of the sink to see if he had possibly dropped it. There was a small trash can near the sink, and as he looked down he noticed the lipstick plopped inside.
My lipstick! That Momota must've done this…
He immediately picked it up out of the bin, examining it for any wreckage. Luckily, there was nothing in the trash can, so the lipstick had not been ruined. Still, it was the very gesture itself that made Korekiyo shove open the bathroom door and storm up to Kaito.
“What makes you think you have any right to throw away my things?!” Korekiyo scolded, getting right up in Kaitos face as he waved the lipstick around.
Kaito was taken aback, as seen by him quickly looking up from his phone and at the other as he flinched back. This shock didn't last long however- it quickly boiled up into frustration.
“What’re you even talking about? I didn't throw away shit!” Kaito defended.
“Of course you didn't.. You filthy liar!” He sneered as he stepped back.
“What the hell is your deal, dude?!” Kaito asked, standing up. “I’m trying to do something nice for you! I didn't want you rotting in your room all day on your birthday, and now youre fucking yelling at me over some lipstick! And hell, even if I did throw it away- which I didn't, you’d be better off without it! You’re better off without her and you know it!” His voice was raised and his eyes were red hot with anger.
That imbecile…! Saying you're better off without me- Who does he think he is!? Kill him, kill him dear Korekiyo!
“You… you …!” Korekiyo shook with a kind of rage he hadn't felt in a long time. He desperately wanted to just shove Kaito out the window- to stab him, to burn him, to hurt him in any way possible.
He looked into Kaitos eyes, seeing the sudden fear in them.
His mouth was turned downwards, and his furrowed eyebrows wanted to curl up.
Just like at the executions.
Just like at his execution.
Korekiyo remembered his sister's wicked laughter as she threw salt at him as if he were a slimy, disgusting slug- and just like a slug, he melted into nothing. She thought of him as nothing. The entire time he had been finding women suited to her likings and killing them just for her, she had been wanting him gone- deader than dead! She wasn't real, none of it had ever been real. His love wasn't real, his sacrifices were not real, not even his execution, the most physically painful thing he had gone through was real! She wasn't real, but Kaito was! Why, Why did he keep listening to her!? Why did he want to hurt Kaito so badly, over someone who wasn't even real?!
Korekiyo dropped the lipstick clutched in his hand, letting out a pained scream as he gripped at his hair. A scream that came from anger, confusion, sadness, and everything else he wanted to sleep away- to never feel again! A flood of tears ran down his frozen eyes as he shook uncontrollably.
His own panicked thoughts were loud enough to drown out Kaitos desperate attempts to catch his attention. “Korekiyo?! Korekiyo, snap out of it! Korekiyo- Korekiyo look at me!”
Kaito gripped at Korekiyos shoulders firmly, which caught the others' attention. Korekiyos head jolted upwards, Looking at Kaito with a face soaked with sweat and tears.
“Dude, calm down! H-here, name 5 things you can see, alright?” Kaito requested. With a shaky breath, Korekiyo nodded his head.
With a little struggle, Korekiyo was able to move his eyes around the room. “I- I see you, your bed, m.. my nightstand, my bed, and… and your sweater” Korekiyo muttered. “Why are you making me do this?”
“Just trust the process, dude. Okay, now.. Name four things you can touch”
Korekiyo threaded his fingers through his long, deep forest green hair. Some strands had fallen out into his hands due to how hard he had gripped his hair. “My hair…” He said.
His hands then went down to touch his sweater. His hands would lightly glide along the fabric that covered the lower part of his neck. “My top… ”
Korekiyos hands made their way to Kaitos arms, feeling the fabric of his striped light lavender and white sweater. “Your sweater…”
His hands guided themselves up to touch Kaitos hands. His hands were rough and callous, even a little dry. Korekiyo thought of how much Kaito would have had to use his hands to get them to such a point. What was the story behind that? “Your hands… Your hands are dry, they need lotion”
“I can do that later, but thanks” Kaito laughed softly. “Now, three things you can hear”
“Uhm… You” Korekiyo answered. As Korekiyo noticed this, he realized Kaitos' voice was… Soft. Or, he figured it was softer. Kaito was naturally loud, but his volume had toned down quite a bit. He sounded like less of a hyper-masculine clown like he had observed last night, and more vulnerable, more down to earth… More human.
Are you going to replace me with this fool…? How could you, Korekiyo..! I.. I've been there since you were born, and this is the thanks I get..?! Am I truly that horrible…?
Korekiyo tensed up, his body taking on a light shake as he heard her light sobbing. “S-sister…”
“Don't listen to her!” Kaito suddenly raised his voice out of habit- a habit he knew wouldn't help in this situation. “Shit- I mean.. Just focus on my voice for now, okay? Sorry, didn't mean to yell at ya.. ”
As Korekiyos sister sobbed, he tried to focus on other noises around the area. The heater was on, so that was something he could point out to Kaito. “The heater…” slowly, Korekiyos shaking became less and less until it was gone.
“Good job, good job…! Okay- what’re two things you can smell?” Kaito asked, his grip on the others shoulders softening.
“...Your hairspray,” Korekiyo said, giving a light smile. “It's the only thing I ever smell in the mornings”
“Is that good or bad?”
“...It depends. I also smell your axe body spray. I despise that smell”
“What?! I think it smells good!” Kaito said. Part of him was offended, but part of him found it a little humorous.
“You want to smell like a man and not a middle school boy, yes? If it were up to me, I would recommend some Rosemary body spray with a Hinoki perfume. You'd have a natural smell of musk rather than that gross, middle school locker room musk”
“Okay, dang! Enough about smell- give me one thing you can taste.” Kaito said.
Korekiyo licked his teeth. “Toothpaste”
“Good! Do you feel any calmer now? You seem calmer!” he asked, lifting his hands off of Korekiyos shoulders.
Korekiyo took a good look at himself, realizing that he was, in fact, calmer and more level headed. He wasn't screaming or thinking of ways to kill Kaito and everyone else who dared come his way. His sister wasn't to be heard, and his tears had begun to dry. The only thing that startled him as of right now was the fact that his mask had been down this entire time. Korekiyo spoke as he pulled his mask over his mouth.
“Was that all… to calm me?” Korekiyo asked.
“Well, yeah… Shuichi taught me that! It helped me out, so I thought it might help you. You don't need to be screaming and crying on your birthday, anyways” Kaito explained.
There was a silence between the two, though it was far from uncomfortable. Korekiyo stood there in awe of what had just happened- of how Kaito, the loud, arrogant, passion driven astronaut was able to calm someone of such a different life down with a few simple requests. It almost sounded unbelievable, stupidly false, if it weren't for the fact it had actually happened. The clown had somehow made him smile.
“So… Do you still wanna hit that bookshop?” Kaito asked.
“Yes, yes! My apologies, I was lost in thought” Korekiyo answered, looking up at the other.
“Cool! You’re ready, right?” He asked, walking over to the door and looking back at the other.
Korekiyo looked at the lipstick he dropped before stepping over it, heading over towards Kaito.
“Yes. Thank you, Kaito”