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Sakura doesn't remember when he last held a cigarette between his fingers. He does remember when he was at his lows, this cigarette would be the only thing keeping him distracted. The only thing that pulls him out of his mind.
He didn't process it when he visited the shady convenience store at the edge of town to buy a box. And definitely doesn't realizes when he leaned against the railing of his dingy balcony.
The only thing that pulled him back to his senses was the bitter taste of smoke and heat that entered his lungs, the nauseous taste of tobacco settling on his tongue and the pungent smell of smoke in the air.
He remembers promising to himself he'd stop before he mived here to Makochi with the excuse that it was costly. It was, it was expensive often times to his wallet and to his mental health. He knows he can barely stop when he starts.
But he doesn't try to stop himself this time. He wants the taste and smell, he wants it to pull him back to the real world, he wants it to forget about the numbing pain in his chest. He wants to smoke to distract him from the thought of Suo never coming back again.
He inhaled, the heat settling in his lungs and the taste was familiar. He let it stay like that for a moment, relishing the feeling a bit longer before blowing away the smoke. He watched as the puff of white smoke blow away, carried by the cold wind of the night.
"What the fuck, Suo."
He cursed to himself as his hands clutched the wooden railings tighter as he wish for the day to end.
Momijikawa doesn't know what to expect when he reached Sakura's supposed apartment. He stares in confusion and slight worry at the building. The place was, respectfully, rotting.
"Are you sure this is the place?"
Momijikawa couldn't help but ask to the blonde. Sugishita was staring too, he could only guess that this was his first time seeing this too.
"Yeah..."
Nirei nodded and Momijikawa couldn't hold back a sigh but nonetheless followed Nirei. If this was the place, he thinks he'll have to help Sakura do some repairs.
The place was barely liveable, the floor creaked with every step and he could only hope it wouldn't give out below them. The other rooms were unoccupied and that made Momijikawa worry more. He's partially sure this place was illegal.
"Sakura-san, it's us! Everyone's worried"
Nirei knocked on the door, and knocked again when no one answered. Momijikawa frowned, Sakura doesn't seem like the type to ignore anybody.
"Sorry for the intrusion..."
Momijikawa muttered as he turned to door knob, his frown deepened when he noticed the lack of security or just locks.
The strong stench of tobacco hit his nose when the door was pushed open. The stench made Momijikawa and Sugishita scrunch their nose as Nirei covered his.
Momijikawa really doesn't like the signs he's seeing or smelling. He pushed through the smell and entered the apartment, the other two following behind him. The place was dim, save for the light that filtered through the balcony, the kitchen was empty and the faucet was dripping. Momijikawa takes a mental note to offer fix that.
They found Sakura curled up under his futon, ignoring their intrusion. Nirei knelt down beside the futon, setting down the food their class made them bring.
"Sakura-san, are you okay? Are you sick again?"
Nirei only got a grunt in response and it obviously didn't sit well with either of them. Sugishita looked like he was ready to hit some sense into Sakura while Momijikawa opted to air out the pungent smell by opening the balcony.
Momijikawa's eyes landed on the multiple cigarette butts on the wooden floor of the balcony. He turned back to look inside and finally noticed the small boxes covered by the futon by Sakura's feet.
Sugishita must've noticed because he lifted up the futon and picked up a box, his expression grim as the realization settles in. Nirei just looked down on the floorand hoped Sakura would acknowledge them now.
"Oi. Haruka,"
Momijikawa crouched down beside Nirei, eyes focused on the unmoving boy in front of them. Sakura hadn't paid them any mind and Momijikawa doubts Sakura had even left the futon for the whole day.
"You haven't eaten."
It didn't come out as a question, Momijikawa was sure the guy hadn't eaten. Sakura's kitchen was empty and and the townsfolks hadn't seen him today.
Sakura heard him. They could tell by the way he flinched slightly and the audible growl of a stomach. Momijikawa raised a brow when the Sakura still refused to acknowledge them.
"The class bought some food for you..."
Nirei spoke, rummaging through the plastic bag for something that could count as a decent meal or anything filling for the stomach.
Momijikawa noticed that the bag was only filled with snacks not suited as a proper meal. With a huff, he grabbed Sakura's arm and lifted him to sit up. The sudden action catching a yelp from the monochrome student.
"What the hell was that for?!" Sakura exclaimed, turning to Momijikawa with a glare.
"Let's go. We're having an early dinner in my place." Momijikawa stated, tossing Sakura a pair of pants he found in the side.
"We'll stay here and clean up. We'll try to catch up" Nirei perched, handing the plastic bag filled with snacks to Momijikawa. "Sugishita-san looks about pissed about the room"
"It's not that bad..." Sakura grumbled, only to be hit on the face with an empty cigarette box, courtesy of Sugishita.
"Your balcony if filled with cigarette butts, your room is a mess, and it smells like lung disease."
Momijikawa words earned nods from the others and Sakura could only grumble as his cheeks painted pink from embarrassment.
Momijikawa walked along the aisles of the convenience store they stopped by first, basket in hand as he collected ingredients for a simole meal. He didn't bring up conversation nor looked at Sakura in worr, he knows it'll only make Sakura more guarded. His top priority right now is to make sure Sakura doesn't starve himself.
"I don't have extra cash..."
Momijika turned around, Sakura wasn't looking at him as if a bit embarrassed as he admitted. Momijikawa ignored him and headed to the counter while Sakura followed behind.
"Oi, I said—"
"It's fine, Haruka. I'm the one who insisted you eat at my place."
Momijikawa kept his tone low, making sure to spund sincere to keep Sakura from doubting his words. He paid for the groceries and headed towards exit, a bit relieved that Sakura didn't make any complaints about getting free food.
Outside the entrance is when Momijikawa realized Sakura hadn't been following him leave the convenience store. Turning around he saw Sakura lingering at the counter through the glass doors before Sakura slip something into his pocket.
Momijikawa frowned as he watches Sakura finally make his way out the store. He has an idea on what Sakura bought, there's only a handful of things you can only buy at the counter.
He still waited for Sakura to catch up to him before continuing their walk to his apartment. Momijikawa knows he's not one to judge about other's vices, but smoking was something he hadn't expected Sakura to do.
The state of Sakura's room was enough for him to worry. The excessive traces of smoking and the thick smell of smoke that clung on the garments of his room, Momijikawa is worried if it had turn into addiction.
He glanced at Sakura who walked beside him, knowing that he couldn't bring the topic up anytime soon.
"Nirei says they can't make it..."
Sakura spoke as he reads the text Nirei had sent along with a picture of his apartment that was now cleaned and with the curtains replaced. He turned to Momijikawa, watching the boy set the table before sitting down. Sakura does the same, occupying the seat opposite of Momijikawa.
Sakura stares at the dinner laid in front of him, his stomach growling at the sight. He hadn't tasted homemade curry before and he was surprised to realized Momijikawa made it for him.
"Itadakimasu"
They both recited before quietly digging in. Momijikawa watched as Sakura's face brightened up at the first bite before devouring the rest.
"There's more in the pot"
Momijikawa mentions, knowing Sakura would most likely want seconds or thirds. He doesn't mind, he purposely made plenty for Nirei and Sugishita in mind. It's also worth it to see Sakura more bright than stuck in a depressive episode
Sakura obliged at the hint, taking seconds and thirds before he felt his stomach was full. He loved the taste of the meal and the warmth it had brought.
"I can wash the dishes" Sakura offers, putting his plate down at the sink.
"I'll do it, don't worry. You're my guest, okay?" Momijikawa insisted, pushing Sakura to his living room.
Sakura stared. The room was still the same as the last time he saw it with the notes that stuck to the furniture still present and the hospital bed that occupied most of the living room.
He wonders why Momijikawa wants him in this treasured place. The place where Momijikawa carries countless precious memories with his family before all fell apart. Sakura wonders why Momijikawa would insist for him to intrude his space.
He wonders if this'll lead to Momijikawa regretting letting him in and decides to leave as well.
Sakura feels the urge again. His lungs feel cold for some reason and the small box in his pocket became more noticable to him. He clicked his tongue, not wanting to make Momijikawa's apartment smell of tobacco because he couldn't handle his urges.
"Haruka, If you want to smoke, you can. Just do it outside the window"
Momijikawa spoke, staring at Sakura who stood in the living room for a while now while looking deep in thought. Momijikawa doesn't like to encourage bad habits but he isn't one to deny anyone of their coping mechanism. He certainly wouldn't stop Sakura after he watched him frozen in his living room with his hand twitching.
Sakura stared back, surprised at the words spoken to him. He hadn't met anyone that let him smoke before, not that many knew of it. But he won't refuse, he couldn't. His mouth felt empty and fingers itched for a cigarette to be in between.
"Thank you, Sakae..."
Sakura mumbled, silently realizing that Momijikawa must've saw him buy a box of cigarettes in the convenience store.
"No problem, just make sure the smoke won't get inside"
Sun Fei loved his city deeply. He cared about it's people, it's cultures, and it's uniqueness. It is the reason as to why he often stands on the balcony to watch the view of the bustling towns as the sun bleeds red until the night has fallen.
But as much enjoyment it brings, he decides to end his sightseeing earlier today despite the sun just setting. He turned away from the balcony and left through the door.
"You're early today. Finally fed up with the view?"
Bacchus greeted, watching as Sun Fei approach him and Rakta despite the sun just disappearing through the horizon.
"Someone was smoking below the balcony, it ruined the view" Sun Fei readily answered.
"Let's just get going." Rakta hummed, waiting as the other two take their time walking out the door.
"You live in an industrial town where smoke is everywhere and a cigarette ruins your mood?"
Bacchus questions, staring at Sun Fei as the other just hums in thought. Sun Fei took his time answering, purposely knowing it would irritate Bacchus a bit.
"It's an illness waiting to happen that people voluntary do. I just dislike the idea of smoking"