Chapter Text
Sakura has been acting odd today.
In a way that rubs his friends the wrong way, but they couldn’t place what it is, like knowing the truth without having the proof. His friends can’t help but wonder what went wrong that day, or yesterday, or any other day. Because nothing is necessarily wrong with him, nothing bad happened that they knew of, nothing was off when he fights, or speaks, or when he gets teased, but why was he so terribly quiet? So quiet that the air around him stiffens, something about the calmness in him tells them that a storm is coming.
“Ra-”
“Kura-”
“Sakura!”
Sakura finally resurfaces from his daydream when Nirei shouts his name. His eyes meet with the blonde’s as he realizes where he is standing.
A few steps away from Pothos’s door.
He had zoned out pretty badly it seems.
All his friends, Kiryu, Tsugeura, Suo, and most worried of them all, Nirei, were looking at him with those looks he knew so deep in his heart. A fragile softness that would break once he tells them what’s wrong. And they were waiting for him.
“Sorry.” He mumbled, walking back to his vice’s side. A pinch of guilt started to poke at his chest. Maybe, he should try to not zone out while walking next time.
“Are you okay, Sakura-san?” Nirei can’t hold back the question he had been meaning to ask for a long time, ever since their patrol, Nirei had been watching quietly, as quietly as Sakura is.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Sakura answered plainly, he doesn’t seem to be bothered by the question as he usually is.
But isn’t that even weirder?
Sakura's hand paused when he touched the door handle, “Nothing to worry about.”
When the group walked into the cafe, the cold air of the evening had left. They were greeted by the warm air and the delicious scent of food.
The orange light of the dimming sun seemed to wrap the place in a soft, tender mood. At least, Sakura has his usual appetite. Kotoha made the omurice before he even came in, knowing that he would.
“I told you to eat slowly!” Scolded her, as she brewed herself a cup of coffee.
Sakura grumbled, but did as she said anyway.
“Kotoha, you drink coffee?” Kiryu asked from the table, elbow on the table, resting his head on his palm, his food half-finished.
“No, not really, but the weather’s been really cold these days." She took another sip, the frown still present on her face, finally paying attention to the group. Nothing seemed odd about it at first glance, except for how Nirei occasionally glances at Sakura when he isn’t looking.
“I thought you’d prefer tea like Suo.” Kiryu said, glancing at the auburn haired boy from across his seat, sipping on his tea calmly, “But yeah, the weather is really cold these past days, maybe winter is coming sooner.” He chuckled, this time, glancing at the dual-haired boy about to finish his meal.
“I like both,” Kotoha answered with a small smile, following Kiryu’s eyes to Sakura’s side profile. Was Kiryu trying to hint her at something? It certainly seemed so, “Yeah...make sure you are prepared for winter, especially you, Sakura.”
Said boy flinched when he heard his name being called. A tint of pink flushed his cheek, “Yeah I know…” He muttered, avoiding Kotoha’s doubtful stare.
“Sakura-chan, do you have a heater in your room?” Kiryu asked worriedly.
Nirei’s stiffness suddenly disappeared at Kiryu’s question.
“Ah, that’s right, you don’t have a kotatsu or any room heater, do you?” Nirei went back to his usual self, albeit still worried, but he wasn’t overworking his brain to try and find out what was wrong with Sakura, at least.
Sakura ate the last spoon of his omurice, chewing away the rice stuffed in his cheek—almost like a chipmunk—but that didn’t stop the blush from seeping out, “I’ll…ve…phine.” He tried to speak as he munched. “I'll be fine” came out a bit blurred, but the point came across.
“Is that so?! Then we should definitely go shopping! Tomorrow’s weekend, right?!” Tsugeura beamed, almost too bright for Suo’s taste.
“That’s right, we should definitely buy a heater asap!” Nirei joined in, he’s already making a list in his notebook.
“We don’t want you to freeze inside your room, don’t we? Plus, you can catch a cold, Sakura-kun.” Suo added with his signature smile. Sakura instantly remembers that one time he got sick right after the KEEL fight…He definitely didn't want to get sick again, but…
“Tomorrow, huh?” Sakura opened his phone, he almost forgot what day it was today. Time flew by so fast, it felt like Monday was just yesterday.
Sakura paused when he saw today’s date.
“Tomorrow…”
“Huh? Did you say something, Sakura-san?” Nirei looked up from his book. What he saw, though, was a foreign look inside his captain’s eyes. One that didn’t belong there, the one he’d been seeing all day.
Those distant eyes that aren't particularly anywhere, the reflection in his eyes didn’t tell him what he was looking at.
“Saku-”
“Can’t tomorrow, sorry, I’ve got plans.” Everyone’s eyes are set on him now. The sudden news caught everyone off guard.
“Eh, you’ve got plans already? Where to?” Kiryu asks as friendly as possible despite the very much obvious directness and urgency.
“I’m…going out of town tomorrow.” The dual-haired boy tried to be as casual as possible. Though, much like Kiryu, he couldn’t completely disguise the uncertainty in his voice.
The air grew thicker as his friends’ shared worried glances.
Nirei took in what he said, maybe a little too deeply.
Plans?
Outside of town?
To where?
With who?
Alone?
Why now?
Has it got something to do with his odd quietness today?
Nirei had a bunch of things to ask. Maybe a hundred questions or more. Why now, of all times, when he had been worrying him so much through the whole day?
He didn’t even know what was wrong, nothing was! And that made him sick. The gnawing hunger of wanting to know is starving him, and that hunch feeling that something bad was about to happen keeps nudging him the whole day, slowly breaking the dam that’s keeping his questions from flooding.
He was about to let it burst when Sakura opened his mouth again.
“There’s nothing you should be worried about, I just have some business to deal with, but I can’t have a piece of mind unless it’s done,” He said.
Slowly, everyone’s shoulders slack. They all looked at him with understanding. The intensity of the room slowly is wavering.
“It’s just a one day trip, geez.” The heterochromatic boy looked away, his hand found its way to his neck, the usual light pink dusting his cheek.
“Ahh, is that so? And here I thought we all could go on a trip together out of town.” Kiryu answered first after a moment of silence.
“But you can navigate by yourself, right, Sakura? I’m kind of worried since you can’t even navigate through your own phone.” Suo teased, which gained a low grumble from the boy.
“I’ll be fine on my own!”
“But now since Kiryu mentioned it, maybe we can plan a trip somewhere out of Makochi with the whole class!” Tsugeura puffed out his chest almost comically.
“T-that’s true! I’ve also heard that there’s going to be a school field trip somewhere soon!” Nirei skimmed through his notebook again, maybe ha had scheduled every school event in Furin already.
Kotoha continued to do her usual clean up in the kitchen, sighing as the usual chatter came back to life. She took occasional glances towards the group, especially towards the class 1-1 captain. Look at him now, obviously trying to hide his eagerness about the school trip. Kotoha smiled softly, placing down the last glass cup with a satisfying clink.
But that doesn’t mean their questions were answered.
The same thought crossed everyone’s mind simultaneously.
Sakura may not directly say it—not the name of the town he was visiting—but if it wasn't his hometown, then they would have no idea where he was going.
Okay, there’s nothing wrong with visiting your hometown, except for Sakura who should have no business with it ever again.
Sakura is being as ambiguous as he can be, and they couldn’t dare themselves to ask. Would he even answer them?
So they leave it at that. It may be something that Sakura wants to settle personally, and that’s fine with them, they just had to be there, and he’ll come when he’s ready.
They parted ways as their hands waved goodbye. The day is ending, but they still have a long way to go.
Along the pavement and under the grey sky, everyone was resting within their own mind, replaying, thinking, wondering, day dreaming, and drifting.
Each will arrive at their doorstep and sway in sleep.
At least, not for Sakura who will lay on his bed, filled with regret. What happened today, he has to settle it tomorrow.