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Attendance at Phoenix Wonderland has been thriving lately, and, naturally, as has the number of guests arriving to see the shows of the Wonder Stage. All of Wonderlands x Showtime have been working harder than ever to deliver smiles with the best performances possible, all of them excited at the prospect of gaining a larger audience and making even more people happy. Eager to go beyond their limits, they practise each and every day, devoting everything they have to the shows they love so dearly.
So it’s no wonder that one of them was bound to go too far.
After knocking a few times on the door, Tsukasa steps back and waits to be let inside. Rui’s garage has a separate entrance than the rest of his house, Tsukasa discovered. He’s never actually visited Rui’s home before, despite having been invited a couple times in the past, but he must say he’s curious about what it’s like in there. Bitterly, he wishes his visit was under different circumstances. Over the last day and half, he’s been filled with nothing but worry for Rui. And who wouldn’t, when their close friend collapses with a fever in the middle of rehearsal.
He remembers how his legs started moving before he even had a second to think; turning just in time to see Rui sway and fall, his script falling from his hand, and Tsukasa moving as if another force was pulling him down, leaping off the stage just in time to stop Rui’s head from hitting the ground. He was still conscious, but he was weak; Tsukasa called for the others’ help, asked Nene to call Rui’s parents, all the while making sure Rui was alright, never once wavering. Later, they’d found out that Rui hadn’t been sleeping, from a combination of overworking himself amongst other things. Tsukasa wanted to scold him, and he did to some extent over the phone the night before, but he couldn’t really blame him. If anything, he blamed himself for not noticing sooner. If he’d just noticed sooner, then this wouldn’t have…
The door clicks, and he’s brought back to the present. Rui opens the door for him, and as soon as Tsukasa sees him, his heart aches. There’s dark circles under his eyes, no longer hidden by makeup, and his hair’s like a bird’s nest. His cheeks and forehead seem hot with fever, and his gaze is somewhat unfocused as he takes Tsukasa in. “Tsukasa-kun?” he mumbles, his voice barely even there.
“Rui…” Tsukasa sighs. He’s not even mad at him anymore for not taking care of himself-- he’s just heartbroken.
He blinks slowly. “Why are you here?” It’s not charged. He just seems confused.
“I brought you some things.” he says, holding up a grocery bag at his side. “...Can I come in?”
Rui takes a moment to process it, then nods, shuffling backwards to let him inside.
His room is about what Tsukasa expected. Several half-finished robots are scattered across the room, with blueprints littered about on the floor. There’s a couch with a blanket and several pillows, which Rui returns to after closing the door behind them. Tsukasa watches as he curls up on it, pulling the blanket up to his chin.
“It’s cozy under here.” Rui smiles. “Want in?”
“I’m good.” Tsukasa chuckles lightly. “I don’t want to catch whatever it is you’ve got.”
“It’s nothing serious, I promise.”
Tsukasa shakes his head as he sets down his bag on what he assumes to be Rui’s work desk, clearing away some of the loose metal parts laying about. “Serious or not, you need to be taken care of.”
“...Fair enough, future star. What have you brought for me?”
“Oh, just some painkillers...” Tsukasa takes the items out, one by one. “Some soft drinks, a tub of soup from home-- which I think should still be warm-- a few snacks, and some ramune candy.”
“Aww, my favourite~” Rui teases.
“Indeed. But you’ll have that after the soup.”
“Okay~”
Once he’s got Rui sitting up and eating (after pointedly refusing Rui’s requests to be spoonfed), he seems a lot better than before. He sits beside him on the couch, ready to pass over his water if he needs it, as they chat back and forth with each other.
“Who made this, by the way?” Rui asks, on his last few spoonfuls. “It’s delicious.”
“Oh… that would be my mother and I.” Tsukasa smiles, somewhat embarrassed. “She would make it for us when we were sick, so I thought you’d like it too.”
Bowl now empty, Rui sets it down on the standing table by the couch and curls back up. “It was delicious. Tell your mother I’m very grateful.”
“I will!” Tsukasa stands from the couch, making his way to the desk. “I’ll get your candy for you, then, since you actually managed to eat it all.” A sign of good health , rings in his head, and he’s relieved, somewhat.
“Yay.” chimes Rui, followed by a yawn. “I’m… quite tired after that, though. I might have to rest a while.”
Tsukasa chuckles. “Isn’t that the point? If you need sleep, go to sleep.”
“Mmm…” Rui hums. “It feels like a waste, though, seeing as I have company.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me.” Tsukasa scoffs. “It’s you that needs looking after right now. I was worried about you, you know?” As he returns to the couch, he tosses Rui his candy, and smiles when he sees Rui’s eyes light up.
Then he softens, turning to Tsukasa as he takes a seat, a smile on his face. “...Thank you, by the way. For today, and for yesterday.”
“I’m surprised you even remember yesterday.” says Tsukasa.
“It’s hazy, but I do.” Rui nods. “I remember you catching me when I collapsed. You were very cool, Tsukasa-kun.”
Despite himself, Tsukasa blushes lightly, taken aback by the sudden compliment. “W-Well… of course I am. I’m a star, aren’t I?”
“Yes. Yes, you are.”
A few minutes pass in silence, as Rui settles down onto the couch, popping a few pieces of candy in his mouth every now and then. Tsukasa thinks he must’ve fallen asleep after a while, but to his surprise, he speaks.
“...Why are you here, though, Tsukasa-kun?” he asks.
Tsukasa tilts his head, confused. “...To look after you. Wasn’t it obvious?”
Rui shakes his head. “No, that’s not what I mean. You mentioned that you make a habit of not visiting people when they’re sick, lest you pass it on to Saki-kun. Isn’t that exactly what you’re risking by visiting me? ...Why would you come?”
“...Have you maybe considered that you’re important to me too?”
Rui doesn’t have a reply to that, and Tsukasa takes it to mean surprise. He reaches out and lays a hand on Rui’s arm, in a gesture of reassurance. “I’m not just going to abandon my friend when he needs help. Especially not my genius stage director.”
Rui pulls the blanket up around him further. “...Thank you.” he says, after a long pause.
Tsukasa smiles. “Don’t mention it.”
Tsukasa stays for a while, ready to fetch anything Rui needed, or even just talking to him to keep him company. He’s well trained in taking care of someone who’s sick, after a lifetime of practise. When it starts to grow dark outside, and Rui has long since fallen quiet, Tsukasa gets up to stretch, doing his best to stay quiet. When he glances over to Rui, he’s not surprised to find him fast asleep.
Crouching down in front of him, he touches the back of his hand to Rui’s forehead, and he’s relieved to find his temperature a lot lower than it was the day before. Good , he thinks to himself. But as he stands up to go, he feels something tug on the hem of his hoodie, pulling him backwards. He throws out his arms to stop him stumbling, and he’s about to scold Rui gently for not being asleep yet, but…
When he turns around, Rui’s eyes are still closed. His expression is one of anxiety, furrowed eyebrows and shoulders drawn tight into himself. He’s so quiet that Tsukasa can’t make out his words at first, but Rui’s mumbles soon become clear as day.
“...please… don’t leave me… Tsukasa-kun…”
Tsukasa’s heart shatters at his words. Because he has to leave. Because he doesn’t want to leave, Rui, either. But also, because he knows that Rui is dreaming, and he knows about how much of his life Rui spent alone, and how those two things might be connected in this moment.
He’s a weak man, always has been for Rui.
Carefully, he kneels down in front of him and takes Rui’s hand in both of his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m not going anywhere, Rui.” he whispers. “And I never will.”