"S-sorry, sorry… so-sorry…" Nageki sputtered, suddenly ceasing his sobbing and frantically wiping the tears, still streaming down his face. He looked at the ceiling and exhales deeply. It was sort of miraculous how quickly he calmed down, Ryouta thought.

"Don't be, I didn't mean to-"

Nageki signed "no", then formed "A" and pulled it outwards from his jaw, pointed at Ryouta, then took both hands bent and taps his shoulder, meaning "not your fault". He wiped the last bit of residue from his tears when the bell rang.

Nageki had a free period the following class, and Ryouta had History, so they went their separate ways. Ryouta knew Nageki usually went to the library on his free period, despite being the last period of the day, but he still worried and hoped everything would be ok.

Nageki, on the other hand, was exhausted from the day already. Crying causes fatigue as it is, and the evening prior was quite the doozy. He ran his fingers through his hair, not caring it would mess up his fringe, and walked slowly down the hall, weaving through the upstream current of students. He was to go straight home today.

Home. A place he hadn't seen for a full year.

It… was hard to believe. Last night wasn't the best welcoming home ever, so he really didn't register the bird he had missed so desperately, nor did they converse much.

It was funny, because every day of the year Nageki thought about the quail at home. He thought about what they did, what they'd be doing, and how he feared it would never happen again. The evening prior, it almost didn't. He was prepared for that. And now… it was. It shouldn't have happened, but it did. And so going home really was a thing. He really would live on.

He… would live on.

Nageki knew Hitori's black SUV was already at the school, waiting. He wondered if it was strange for him as well, their first proper reunion, nothing but getting in the car brimmed with awkward silence. Or worse, questions.

The door at the end of the hall was suddenly much closer. Out the window, he could see the SUV. It was all so real. He really would walk out there, really would get in that car and see that face again. Even this morning was subtle and eerily… "normal". The only thing out of place was the fact Hitori was looking at another apartment building.

Nageki's hand was now greased with sweat, and he nervously lathered the one he had raised to open the door. He had the faintest urge to turn around and run to the library, like he always did. It was safe there. He always enjoyed that hour before heading back to the medical center's basement. Sometimes he didn't read, sometimes he merely looked at books for humour. It was peaceful, and it was the only break he got besides crying himself into a painful and cold dreamless sleep.

That… was off topic.

It would be rude, however. It wasn't as though Nageki didn't want to see his brother, he did, but he knew it was a forked road. One path was awkward silence, or crying. Nageki predicted the crying would be him. The other path was questions. Why and what and who and how. Even thinking about that path made Nageki's stomach churn.

He shook himself back to reality and looked out the door's window once more. His hand rested on the handle. Hitori was probably staring at him by now, with his luck. Why isn't he coming out? He was probably thinking.

Because I've hurt you, was Nageki's sheepish inner reply.

The door handle turned with a click, and he was pushing the door open, feeling the warm Tokyo breeze flutter his suit jacket. He pretends to take a good look around. Oh yes, Hitori certainly sees him now. The bird's head turned in his car, he definitely sees him. There's no turning back and running to the library.

Ryouta ignored the majority of history. Sometimes it was just boring to him, but today he was on a nervous tic. He had made Nageki cry the first day the poor bird returned from school. What did he even say? "Are you ok?" The fact such an innocent and caring phrase made Nageki upset… it was concerning.

But Ryouta's anxieties began getting the better of him. Did he say it in a nasty tone? Had Nageki ever mentioned not to say something like that? He knew about the bandages Nageki constantly got, but had never asked unless they were brought up… Ryouta assumed Nageki had his own problems that needed to be personal. Heck, Ryouta had yet to share his mother was in the hospital and was probably not ever coming out, so there was that…

Nageki seemed to like history; he always talked about certain figureheads and things. He made jokes about history. Ryouta loved listening to him, despite not getting anything. It was almost as bad as maths. Thank the gods in the sky Nageki and Ryouta hated math equally. They didn't have much in common for how close the two were, so it was beneficial they could at least complain about a subject together.

Ryouta remembered Nageki had a specific hatred for Martin Luther, Gandhi, and Galileo. Despite Nageki explaining their "flaws", Ryouta only saw Nageki treating history like some popular anime, and everybirdie was a character. You either made the favourites list, or you didn't. He knew this, because Nageki did like Malala and Martin Luther King Jr. Speaking of anime, Ryouta's thoughts drifted into Coore Grey's latest episode. He felt the worries about Nageki melting away, and his eyes closed, floating away into a fantasy of pigeons in fluffy dresses saving the day.

The car door was next. Hitori wasn't smiling, Nageki wasn't smiling. Though, neither bird was angry. It was the complete opposite, actually. Hitori was trying to calm himself, to not lunge over the seat and hug the bird about to enter the car. Part of him was about to cry. That wasn't cool. You'll embarrass Nageki and yourself. Don't do it. Nageki was trying not to grin like an idiot. If Hitori isn't smiling, you shouldn't smile. Don't do it.

Nageki opened the car door and climbed in. It was only then he noticed he was shaking. Very badly, as a matter of fact. Noticeably. It wasn't helping he started to stare at his hand because of this, and now Hitori was looking at his hand as well.

It shouldn't be so awkward; you've known and loved this bird all your life. Nageki tried to tell himself. He pulled his hand rapidly away as he settled into the seat. The car smelled just the same- a very immature quail that wore too much cologne but wouldn't admit it. Nageki breathed a sigh of relief for that, and let a smile play across his lips.

Hitori, who had to shake his head rapidly to stop himself from steadily staring at the dove next to him, adjusted his fingers on the steering wheel and cleared his throat before starting the car. He didn't move, however.

Nageki took a breath and looked at his brother. He must have had a funny face on, and realized it, because both birds burst out laughing without a word. It must have been a good few minutes before they calmed down, and Hitori actually rolled out of the parking lot.

The rest of the drive was relatively silent, but Nageki had the smallest smile the entire ride home.

Home. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.