Work Text:
"What happened?" Haruka asks.
"I don't have time to talk," Taro pushes past her, pulling his baseball cap over his eyes, "Work."
"You don't usually work today."
Taro stops on the threshold of the cafe. He looks down, face covered by the brim of the cap. "You learned my schedule?"
"Not on purpose," Hauka lies, "But we have to work together all the time and I noticed when you're available and when you're not."
It's not entirely a lie. She hasn't been taking notes about the days he works and doesn't, but she pays attention. She notices when he's free (and getting in her way) and when he's busy doing his job. He's been busy a lot recently. Weirdly busy. Working every day, working long shifts every day.
Taro shrugs. "My schedule isn't consistent. Emergencies come up and I need to cover other people's shifts sometimes."
"What's the newest emergency?" Haruka asks trying to stay casual as if she's looking for gossip and not for the reason Taro looks so tired recently.
"I'm already behind schedule."
Taro tries to leave, but Haruka chases after him. She grabs his arm and turns him towards her.
"Taro, are you okay?"
He opens his mouth. "I'm f...f...fi..." he chokes on the word.
The fact it's a lie is already obvious before his body goes limp and he collapses on top of Haruka. She catches him and lowers him to the ground gently. Mostly gently. As gently as he deserves.
He's only out for a few seconds before he gasps, eyes flying open. He sits up and she clears her throat.
"Why are you trying to lie to me?" she asks.
Taro climbs to his feet and looks away. "I'm late," he says and walks away again. She chases him, but he's ready for it this time. He dodges, letting her momentum send her tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap. By the time she gets up, he's gone.
"How are you doing today?" Haruka asks as she puts Taro's drink in front of him.
"It's a good day," Taro says. He looks exhausted, with dark circles under eyes that stare off into the distance. "I’m ahead of schedule."
"I'm not asking about packages," Haruka clarifies, "How are you feeling?"
Taro takes a drink, staring forward with a sour expression. "Same as yesterday," he answers quietly.
Subtly was clearly not going to get her anywhere, so Haruka goes to the next logical tactic.
Slamming her fist down on the table, she pushes into his personal space. "Tell me what's wrong."
Taro snaps to attention, scrambling away from her clumsily.
The boss clears his throat loudly behind her and Haruka shoots him a glare. There are no other customers around, and she didn't break anything. She knows he won't fire her at this point.
"What's wrong?" Haruka repeats as she turns her attention back to Taro.
His eyes grow wide and he retreats towards the door. She grabs him and shoves a finger in his face. "We're companions, right? Which means we need to be able to rely on each other. To trust each other."
"That's not what companion means."
Stabbing her finger into his cheek, she narrows her eyes even more. "You know full well what I mean. Tell me what's wrong."
Taro breathes deep and looks away. His shoulders sag and his jaw tightens. Hope blooms in Haruka's chest. Maybe she's finally broken through his stupid, stubborn shell.
"N-n-n-no-no-noth..." Taro chokes on his words again.
It's so obvious he's lying again. It's almost funny as his eyes roll back in his head and he falls, flopping over onto the table.
Haruka keeps him from falling farther to the floor and groans loudly.
A few seconds and Taro jerks back to life. He looks up at her guiltily and she flicks his head.
"Don't bother trying to lie again, I get it."
"You do?"
"Nothing," Haruka carves quotation marks in the air with her fingers, "is wrong. That's what you want me to think. And I'm not gonna fight you on it anymore if you're gonna keep making yourself pass out rather than admit the truth."
Taro presses his lips together and nods. Haruka takes her leave as she runs through plans to figure out what happened to him.