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Soul didn’t process he’d been hit before he was falling. The heat was there for a moment before something forced him out of there. His vision blurred as he made a rapid descent backwards, away from the battle; away from the music.
He crashed onto the ground, rolling with whatever was holding him before it released and he stilled on his back. The vertigo took a moment to stop, along with the ringing in his ears. As it dissipated, he realized how shallow his breaths were and tried to control them. He should probably get up, but he couldn’t find it in him to move.
“...ul?! Soul, hey!” Soul turned his head to see Lock lying next to him, looking absolutely horrified. He was covered in scratches and dirt, and Soul imagined he himself didn’t look much different. “Are you okay?”
Soul’s blood ran cold. Was… was Lock the one who pushed him out of there? He shouldn’t do that. Not for someone like him. You’re getting too sloppy.
But instead of saying that, Soul just forced a smile and said, “I’m fine. Thank you.” If only he could get up to prove it.
He watched as Lock’s face relaxed at his answer. Soul started to relax too, until a sapphire light enveloped Lock and his transformation rescinded. No no no no no! “Natsume-kun?!”
“I’m okay!” he exclaimed, laughing. His smile was small, but ever present. “I’m okay. Just tired.”
“Don’t–” Soul tried to reach a hand out to Natsume-kun, but was struggling to move. Natsume-kun seemed to notice, as his eyes darted downwards and Soul felt him pull his hand into his vision. “Don’t go falling asleep on me.”
Soul couldn’t squeeze his hand, so Natsume-kun did so for him. “I’ll do my best.”
He was a lot more relaxed than normal. Or maybe he was choosing not to panic at Soul’s expense. Not that it would change anything; Soul was already panicking enough for the both of them.
Of course, Natsume-kun was just looking out for him. Even if he wasn’t overexerting himself on the field, that wouldn’t have been his first bad hit. Natsume-kun knew this. But even so, Natsume-kun shouldn’t be taking responsibility for his poor performance. Sasana was his senior, in every sense. So as gold light surrounded him and took his transformation away, he couldn’t help but feel he let Natsume-kun down. “I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be. I’d rather it be this honestly.”
And I rather you didn’t get hurt, he tried to say. But those words wouldn’t come out. His consciousness was fading. Hypocrite, he reprimanded himself.
But even so, Natsume-kun didn’t appear upset. He was still smiling. Still squeezing his hand.
Sasana will just have to tell him when he wakes up.
As he closed his eyes, he could hear Pado’s voice in the distance.