Work Text:
December 4th, 2004
He had needed to take a trip to the pharmacy to pick up cough medicine for his mother, who had come down with a cold the other day. Kunikida was debating on the two choices in front of him, the generic brand medicine with 100 mL for ¥700, or the higher quality, doctor recommended, 50 mL bottle for ¥1500? His mother had mentioned the generic brand, however, would she appreciate it more if he picked up the ¥1500 option? ‘Don’t overthink it, Doppo. I believe in you.’ His mother’s words flashed in his head, the words she spoke to him right before sending him off to the store. Right- he needed to hurry up and get back home. The 14 year old squatted down to the shelf he had been previously staring at, and reached forward to get the 100 mL bottle. It had to be a fine option, since it was what he was told to get. He shouldn’t question his mother’s judgment.
Step
Step
Step
With the tapping of shoes there to indicate someone’s approach to him, Kunikida raised his head from the shelf he was leveled at, only to end up gazing upon a peculiar sight.
A boy, who appeared to be close in age to him, maybe a bit younger, stood over him. Soft brown waves rested on his face. He had on a white button down shirt, black dress pants, and stood at around 150 centimeters, if Kunikida had to guess. None of that had been what made the boy odd. What stood out to Kunikida was the starch white bandages wrapped around the uncovered section of his arm and neck. That, and the expression worn on the other’s face. Kunikida had never seen someone, much less someone his own age, wearing such a blank, hopeless looking face. Two brown eyes with no feeling behind them, motionless eyebrows and a mouth in a straight line. Those black holes of eyes bore straight through Kunikida, as if looking at something right behind him. A cold, heavy feeling settled deeper and deeper in the chest of the blond teenager with each passing moment. It was like he was viewing a corpse, or something else he shouldn’t be, or wouldn’t want to see. Something he would rather remain ignorant about.
“Can you pass me the Dextromethorphan?” A quiet, inflectionless voice startled him. Kunikida composed himself. He hadn’t realized he was spacing out. How odd of him. Staring at strangers was quite rude and being a rude person was not ideal to him in the slightest. “Pardon me, could you repeat yourself?” He questioned the dark haired boy.
“Could you pass me 2 of the smaller cough syrup bottles? Since you’re right in front of it.” The same quiet voice repeated itself. Kunikida nodded, and shifted his hand over to the right to pick up the more expensive bottles. Why was he suddenly judging someone he didn’t know at all so harshly? Looking at someone for a brief moment wasn’t enough to just decide on someone’s character right then and there. Kunikida couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty for the thoughts he had been thinking just a moment ago.
“Someone in your family is sick as well?” Kunikida casually said, making small talk to try and ease his own uncomfortability. “It must be something long term if you need two whole bottles of this strong stuff.”
“I suppose you could say that.” His new companion offered a vague, questionable response to the question Kunikida previously asked. Something about those words gave Kunikida a bad feeling, a dreadful feeling perhaps. Goosebumps raised on his neck.
“Okay… Well if the medicine’s for a child, it’s important to remember to give only 2.5 to 10 mL, depending on the age.” Kunikida handed the pair of bottles containing a deep blue liquid to the other, careful not to drop them.
“Good to know. Say, how much would be a safe amount for a 14 year old to take?” The dark haired boy had seemed to take interest in Kunikida’s warnings. The blond couldn’t help but feel a little proud of that fact. Kunikida was, admittedly, quite thrilled by the fact that he was talking so casually to someone close in age to himself, since he had never been one to have time for friendships at school. His school work was far too important to jeopardize by getting distracted by his peers. Some of his classmates had tried to talk to him back in his first year of junior high, following him around, egging him on to come out of his shell. However, after a few weeks of this, they gave up and he was left alone. Not that he minded that, of course, but sometimes the fear that he would lose social skills that would be important later on nagged in the back of his head. Motivated by the idea of an interaction that would help him prevent such problems, he continued speaking.
“Well, for individuals over 12 years old, 5 to 10 mL is recommended. The dose is depending on how ill you are. I’m guessing you’re the one sick? Since you appear to be close in age to me. I myself am 14.”
“Your guess is correct! I’m 14 as well. I’ve come down with a nasty bug, and no one else was available to stop at the drugstore, so it was up to me to run over and get my own medicine.” The boy who had Kunikida nervous mere moments ago was now much more cheerful, a squint in his eyes because the corners of his mouth were now curled up in a smile. This sudden change in expression was…sudden. There wasn’t really another way for Kunikida to put it. “It was so cold out! And I had forgotten my coat. I practically froze to death on the way here. Very painful.”
“Ah, I walked here as well, so I understand what you’re saying. Though, I do have a coat on. It’s about 9° C out today, I'd say. So lucky for you, it’s not cold enough to freeze to death. I do hope you get home before making your sickness worse though.” Kunikida responded, joking along.
His companion paused for a moment, his smile dying down for a split second. His cheery demeanor returned not a moment later. “Yes, lucky for me.” Kunikida’s brow furrowed. The blond wasn’t sure what to make of this. Following his mother’s advice, he decided he wouldn’t think too hard about it.
Kunikida was quiet for a moment. He wasn’t sure what to talk about now. But he did want to talk about something. An awkwardness surrounded the two, at least in Kunikida’s perspective, while they both just stood there, not speaking a word to each other.
“I should probably hurry up and rush home.” The boy said. “It’ll just get colder out if I wait.”
“Yes, that would be smart.” Kunikida stated. “I hope you feel better soon.”
Nodding to his words, the boy spoke one last time; “Just to double check, you recommended 5 to 10 mL,” Something in his voice seemed… hollow to Kunikida. “Anything more might kill me, right?”
“...Right.” Kunikida replied, his eyebrows creasing together. This brown-eyed boy was making him uncomfortable again. “Alright.” was the brief response he got back. “Goodbye, my new friend.” And with a comforting smile sent in Kunikida’s direction, the boy turned and walked back down the aisle he came from. Hearing someone refer to him as a friend made Kunikida’s stomach jump. The blond felt quite overwhelmed with this term he received so suddenly. Were social situations really this simple? So many thoughts were now racing in his head that he didn’t catch the mumbling from the other boy, turning the corner to go to the cashier, about ‘maybe two bottles were overkill’ and ‘better safe than sorry.’
But perhaps it was for the best that Doppo didn’t hear that. He would’ve gotten curious about what the boy meant.
Leaving the drugstore a few minutes later, with his mother’s medicine bought, Kunikida started on his way home. He was hoping that the boy made his way home without getting sicker, when he briefly wondered what his name might have been.
“If I ever see him again, I’ll be sure to ask.” Doppo decided. Not that he probably would.
Doppo did not notice the figure in the alley to his left, who appeared to be drinking a blue liquid.
It was probably for the best that he didn’t.