"Oh, come on. It's not that bad."
"It's very bad."
I can hear you strain not to laugh. I grunt. "You're being mean."
You laugh outright. "I would never-"
"Mako-chan."
A pause.
"Okay, maybe a little mean."
You're smiling. I can't help but to smile, too.
"I just want to come home," I sigh, clutching the phone a little tighter in my hand. "It's been a stressful few months."
"I know," you reply. "But, hey, you've finally graduated! You'll be home next week!"
I sigh again and flop into my bed, staring up at the ceiling. My roommate is already gone for the semester so I have the tiny dorm room to myself. Other than my own room at home, it's the first time in seven years I've had any alone time. It's unsettling, honestly.
"I wish I had planned better. I could be home now. I could be with you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there." You're guilty for something that wasn't your fault. And I say as much.
"I know, but I wish I could have been there for you. You were there at my graduation."
"I know," I respond. "But I was already home from school when you graduated. Besides, none of the others were here for mine, either. It's not like you were the only one who didn't make it."
You sigh and I hear a slight growl in your voice. "Someone should have been there for it."
"Mother was busy."
"She's always busy."
I rub the bridge of my nose and sigh. "Mako-chan..." I'm really not in the mood for this argument. Not again.
"I'm sorry," you say. "I just find it so unfair to you."
"It balances out," I say. "She doesn't know about us being senshi. And it's not because she isn't around. That was a choice I made."
You grunt in response. "I still think it's unfair."
I smile a little. "It's okay. I'm okay. I've got the senshi. I've got you."
You hum happily. "One more week, right?"
"Less than," I answer with a smile.
AN: Y'all better be washin' ya fuckin' hands.
