Chapter Text
“See you tomorrow Chigasaki-san. Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Thank you. I look forward to working with you tomorrow.”
Itaru lightly waved at his still working coworker before leaving the room. Briskly walking through the empty hallway, he pulled out his phone.
11:34 PM, LP fully restored two hours ago.
He quickly surveyed his surroundings and after making sure no one was around, he opened the app and began to expend his LP.
The worst outcome had happened, a yearly misfortune that haunts the dreams of the brunette: The overlap between the end of quarter crunch and an event with his favorite character as the ranking reward.
As Itaru entered the elevator, he quickly pocketed his phone and greeted the figure standing before him.
“Good work today, Chigasaki. You’re heading home now too?”
“Ah, it’s you senpai?” He pulled out his phone once again, “Yeah I am. Overtime’s a real killer.”
“Make sure you rest properly when we get home. Your bags have been worse than usual lately.”
“... You’re really a cheat senpai. I even had Azami teach me how to better apply foundation the other day yet you can see through it straight away.”
As his LP count hit zero, Itaru looked up at the green haired cheat and smiled.
“If you’re so worried for your cute junior, you should play for me while I sleep.” He teased.
“Hmm…” Chikage hummed, “Maybe if you treat me to some curry from this new restaurant that’s opening on Saturday I will.” He nonchalantly offered.
Itaru had a momentary look of shock on his face before it returned to a smile. “Sure.”
“Hwah…” the brunette yawned, wiping away the newly formed tears around his eyes. His head was pounding and his mind was in a frenzied daze.
Ah… I think I’m reaching my limit.
After switching off with Chikage for several days, the last minute grind of the final hours of the event has begun.
I’m 100k above the border but… these bastards are crazy. Itaru’s gaze shifted to the sleeping figure beside him and his lips slightly curled upwards. No match for him though.
Emptying his remaining LP and buying yet another pack of dia, Itaru shook the body beside him.
“Sen~pai it’s your turn.”
Chikage jolted up and immediately put on his glasses.
“Uwah, that scares me every time.” Itaru lightheartedly chuckled as he handed his phone to his senior.
The green haired man smiled. “You could stand to get up faster too.”
“How mean, not everyone has the same skill set as you. I’m sleeping now.”
“Haha, good night Chigasaki.” Chikage responded as he began to play.
A few minutes passed and despite being supposedly tired, Itaru was unable to fall asleep. After tossing and turning several times, he gave up trying to find a comfortable enough position to sleep.
The brunette rolled over, facing the bespectacled man’s back. His thoughts began to drift as he watched the subtle movement of his senior’s arms as he played.
… To think a day would come where I would have someone rank with me like this.
Itaru closed his eyes, his consciousness beginning to fade away.
I wonder what would happen if the me back then knew that he would be lucky enough to make friends that would do this for him or even wholeheartedly accept him for who he is…
“Hey senpai. Thank you for doing this for me. I mean it. I never would have thought I would meet someone like you back then. You’re really the nicest senior I could have asked for...”
Chikage slightly turned back and warmly smiled at his lightly snoring junior before lightly patting him on the head.
“How sentimental of you… You’re a cheat too if you say something that cute while half asleep.”
A soft voice broke through the monotonous rhythm of tapping, “Thank you too for giving me a new family I can come back to.”
His ears reddened. “Heh. I must be getting sentimental too if I’m able to say something like that.”
He took a small breath and cracked his knuckles.
“Let’s get Chigasaki that SSR.”