TRIGGER WARNING!

the strong implication of an eating disorder

proceed with caution!

or don't proceed at all. better safe than sorry!

Summary: Kagami tries to get his friend back on track as he see them slipping away.

The peaceful atmosphere of early morning was disturbed by the crack of curtains being drawn open. You growled as the rising sun pierced through your heavy eyelids. Trying to avoid any further contact with an obnoxious light, you turned on your stomach, your large bed giving the sound of protest as you kept twisting and turning to find the right position to fall back asleep. Just as the world started to blur around you yet once again, you felt the sheets being roughly pulled from your body, leaving it exposed to the cold. It had been late January so the temperature in your apartment was quite low, and if that wasn't enough, your current lack of the major part of fatty tissue didn't make your perception of the cold any better. You groped your hand around, your eyes still closed, in search of your covers, only to get the back of your hand smacked.

"Rise and shine, (Name). It's past noon already."

"Go away, Kagami," you huffed, adjusting yourself on the pillows. "Find someone else to bother. Besides, you're lying... It's still early. Like seven... or six."

"Because of your... habits... the time has messed up to you," the man scowled, before tossing the sheets on the armchair far from your reach. Now you had no other choice but to get up.

You raised your leg in a pitiful attempt of dragging yourself off of your bed but the limb felt too heavy, you fell back on the mattress.

"I don't have all day! Get out of bed. Now." Kagami grasped your ankle pulling you off the bed. You tried to kick him but he was quicker, already pinning your legs together.

"Fine! You bastard... just so you know: I hate you so much!" You barked, trying to free yourself from Kagami's iron grip; finally, he let go of you attentively observing as you pulled yourself to a sitting position. "Don't you have somewhere else to be? Like, I don't know, work?"

"I took a day off," Kagami informed, his eyes never leaving your boney fingers as you tied your robe, making your narrow waist even more skinny.

"There was no need, Taiga. I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much. Now you may go."

You stood up, almost immediately clutching your temple as you felt the vision before you blurring. It took you a moment to steady yourself; you glanced at Kagami who was still standing in your bedroom, not even bothering to act as if leaving.

"Come on, (Name)." He sighed, shaking his head resigned. "I'll make some coffee."

For a brief moment, the two of you eyed each other; you were reluctant of taking anything into your mouth but a cup of coffee wouldn't hurt. Of course without milk and/or sugar that was.

You sighed before walking past your friend on your way to the kitchen, Kagami's footsteps clear indication he was following you. As your bare feet connected with the cold, kitchen tiles, you froze, because before you, on the marble counter stood at least five paper bags of groceries.

"Just no... You've got to be kidding me," you stated angrily and pivoted on your heel. "I officially regret the day I told you where I leave the spare key."

Kagami's brows rose in mock concern; he passed you and started unpacking the bags.

"Boo-freaking-hoo. I had another key made. I don't need your spare one."

"I'm not hungry and I'm not gonna eat!" You rubbed your forehead in sheer annoyance.

"You're never hungry and when you are you drink water, (Name). This is getting out of control." Kagami shot you a concerned look, which you tried hard to ignore. "Just tell me what would you like to eat and I'll make it."

You couldn't turn your gaze from his maroon eyes, suddenly all of the memories from your slightly happier past flooding your mind. Just not so long ago, you used to be up by 7 am, already on your way to Kagami's apartment to wake him up for the breakfast the two of you had once a week. As he'd make french toasts and sausages, you'd be responsible for getting pastries and tea. The kitchen table would be loaded with food, the two of you would finish up while watching reruns of some ridiculous shows. You thought life was far less complicated before you felt sheer fear of taking anything in your mouth which energy value exceeded 40 calories.

"I'm not hungry," you mumbled stubbornly and locked your eyes on your bare toes.

You heard a loud sigh. Kagami threw a pack of red oranges into the kitchen sink. You could recognise the sweet smell of fruit everywhere and it stung your heart, even more, to know that your friend was trying really hard to get the old you back; the only thing was that maybe there was no other you anymore, just the hollow shell which only reassembled you from the look but had nothing to do with who you were before.

You sat down at the kitchen table, feeling your eyes dry. There was nothing else in the world you'd like more than to let your emotions flow and simply just cry your sorrows out but every time it was the same; you're eyes stung and your chest was heavy with the upcoming tears, yet no relief had ever come...

"Alright, if you're not cooperating with me, (Name), I'll make some scrambled eggs," Kagami informed as if announcing a battle plan.

You looked at him, feeling angry at yourself and for whom you had become.

"I'm not gonna eat it." You raised your chin daringly as Kagami started rummaging throughout your cabinets in search of a pan; he placed the iron skillet on the kitchenette and grabbed a brand new apron from the drawer.

"Tough luck, cause I'm gonna make it," he countered, pulling the cloth over his head.

"Tough luck, cause I'm not gonna eat it."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"I mean it."

"And so do I."

"Great," Kagami sneered before turning his back to you.

You craned your neck to see the blade of a knife cutting through your favourite ham, every move marked with a sharp swoosh. The lone sight of Kagami acting as if he was completely oblivious to the effect his efforts had on you, made your stomach twist. There was no way you could go back to where you had started.

"I'm not gonna eat it, Taiga."

The knife in Kagami's hand fell on the counter with a crack, piercing the heavy silence that hung between the two of you; he pivoted on his heel, his face expressionless.

"Tell it to someone who cares, (Name)."

"I'm telling it to you..."

You stared blankly at your friend but as his gaze became too much for you to handle, you propped on your elbows and hid your face in your palms.

"I'm sorry, Taiga, I really am." Your voice was barely audible but Kagami could hear every word. He didn't like who replaced his best friend but what he hated even more, was the fact that it took him so long to realise what was going on with you; he only hoped it wasn't too late.

Rarely did Kagami have moments of understanding other people, let alone women, so as he watched you sitting on the simple, kitchen chair with your shoulders slumped he had completely no idea what should he do; the only thing that seemed clear to him was that he had to do something, literally anything. Finally, he wiped his palms over the apron and came closer.

You heard the crack of joints before hands gently grasped your wrists, pulling them off of your face.

"Don't be." Kagami smiled reassuringly, his eyes at the same level as yours, as he crouched before you. "It's not your fault, you understand?"

You nodded, your eyes widening at the pleading note in your friend's voice.

Kagami smiled, straightening up and placing a kiss on your forehead.

"I'll make the scrambled eggs anyway. You're gonna watch me eat it."

You couldn't help but chuckle at his silly remark. It felt like the old times.

Maybe not everything was lost?