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There was something Toko noticed about Komaru not long after what was dubbed the Towa Incident. That was what happened when she spent so much time with someone; after all, she prided herself in noticing anything resembling characterization about people. She would’ve recognized it far earlier, though in this case, there wasn’t anything to notice until there was.
It was in the pinch in Komaru’s smile, the tightness in her shoulders, none of the glimmer in her eyes when she forced laughter when they were talking to other people. Then Toko would notice her not using her scarred arm, not turning her head as much, and usually she would call it a night far earlier than Toko with one of those pinched, faux- reassuring smiles. If her actions before were concealed enough, that was what clued her in.
That day, it rained. Toko wasn’t very fond of the rain, but at least it was cool and not very humid or, with their luck and the planet still healing, acidic. Toko knew the kind of day it was going to be by the way she and Komaru were both swamped in a sweater and a long-sleeved shirt far too big. Normally at that point in the day Toko would resign herself to drafting her latest novel unless Komaru dragged her off to check on those annoying kids.
Komaru wasn’t even sitting upright, much less bouncing off the walls like normal. Her lack of energy was very uncharacteristic of her, especially given that she was doing absolutely nothing but staring at the ceiling. She’d made it to the couch, at least, though it was less comfortable than the bed they still shared.
Toko glanced over from the kitchen; sure enough, Komaru’s scarred arm rested across her stomach with her other under her head, supporting it in lieu of a pillow. That was one of her go-to positions on the harder days.
She turned back to the counter, thinking. Unless they wanted to go out in the rain, which she highly doubted Komaru would want to do, there was nothing they needed to accomplish. They didn’t even need to call Future Foundation for an update. And while she still was not the most comforting person, she knew one thing that made most people (herself and Syo included) feel better.
“Here,” she said a handful of minutes later, setting two hot mugs on the small table nearest the couch. “I made tea.”
A small smile- not a forced one, Toko noted- pulled Komaru’s lips for a moment. “Thanks, Toki.”
She didn’t fight the nickname and instead helped Komaru sit up in one smooth motion. She sat to Komaru’s right and handed her a mug. They’d both perfected the temperature when they made tea so they could drink it right away. As she expected she might, Komaru only used her right hand to hold her mug. Toko frowned down at her own tea, watching her watery reflection ripple.
“If you need anything,” she began after a few second’s silence, “you know I’ll help, right?”
“I know.” Komaru blew gently on her tea, almost shakily. Toko was a very worried person, generally, but this was when her worries became more concentrated on one thing. “...I want to not need anything. I want to not hurt.”
Toko understood that, though in a much different way. She took a sip of her tea, wondering if there really was anything she could do to help. According to the examinations Future Foundation had administered the first and only time they’d gone to headquarters in the last year, the best thing to do would be to wait for it to pass. So all Toko could do was help it go as easily as possible.
For just a moment, she stiffened as she felt Komaru’s head rest on her shoulder, only because it came as a surprise. Over the last year, she’d gotten more used to physical contact with Komaru than she ever thought she would be. “This helps,” Komaru mumbled. Toko didn’t want to stir, but she was fairly certain Komaru’s eyes were shut. Carefully, she took another sip of her tea and watched the rain out the window. She was sure that both she and Komaru would be content passing the day like that, alone, quiet.