Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: This takes place between parts one and two of 'Children of Tomorrow'
--
Daichi was trying not to think about it. But the more he pushed it out of his mind, the more it came back to haunt him.
On the whole, his day had been like any other. The part that involved Midorikawa Shin, however, was an entirely different story. Daichi had noticed he seemed out of it as early as the restaurant, but he had written it off as stress (hadn't Shin mentioned he had a big test that day?). It wasn't until they got to his place and Shin-- Shin, who stayed up until three am watching ninja movies without so much as a sip of coffee-- immediately collapsed on the couch that he realized that something was wrong.
He knelt down next to him. "Your head bothering you again?" Daichi kept his voice down, not wanting to make it any worse.
Shin said nothing, merely nodding. Daichi took a breath. "Listen, I know the hospital isn't your favorite place to be, but maybe we should consider it this time. I mean, if you took your medicine and you're still having headaches--"
"About that..." Shin trailed off, looking more than a little guilty.
"What-- why didn't you?!" Daichi knew Shin had every right be upset at his reaction, but he didn't care. How could he do something so stupid?
Shin's fingers dug into the beat up throw pillow he had been resting his head on. "Well, they make me drowsy and I had that Science exam today, so I figured I could deal with it until school was over and then run back home and take my pills before I met you this afternoon." His tone was already borderline frantic, but now it was getting hard to understand him. "But then my teacher wanted to talk to me after class, and I thought it was only going to take a few minutes Daichi-san, really, but by the time I could get away I was already late and I really wanted to see you, so--"
"Okay, I get it," Daichi cut him off. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted, I just... c'mon, lets just take you home and you can take your medicine, okay?"
"No, it's okay." Shin sat up, slowly. "I'll be fine by myself."
"But Shin--"
Shin gave him a look that made it clear his mind was made up. "Daichi-san, I've already worried you. I refuse to inconvenience you as well."
He was gone before Daichi could do anything.
--
And I've been sitting on my ass ever since. Daichi tossed a dishrag into the sink bitterly. But... Shin said he would be fine. He... he should believe him, Daichi reminded himself as he put away a plate automatically. He shouldn't bother him; he should just keep to his routine and not cause trouble--
You know that's a lie-- and you know that he needs you, damn it. He's your friend, now act like it and help him.
Well, it couldn't hurt to at least call. Just to make sure he was okay.
--
The phone rang twice until Daichi heard someone pick up. "... H-hello?"
Shin's voice was so small... "Hey, it's Daichi. Listen, I know I'm just being paranoid, but I thought I'd call you and see how you were doing-- are you feeling any better? I figure the medicine must've kicked in by now."
"About that..."
"Shin!"
He sounded miserable, but Daichi only had so much compassion for repeated idiocy. "I was feeling so awful it took everything I had left in me just to get to bed--"
"Fine, whatever." Daichi leaned against his kitchen wall. "You're going to take your medicine now, though, right?"
"... I don't think I can make it to the bathroom."
Daichi felt the anger drain away with those words. "Well, how about I come over and give it to you?"
"But--"
"I don't mind. And I still have the keys and I remember the numbers to punch in." He had given Shin a copy of his apartment key in case of an emergency. Shin had insisted on giving him a copy of his key and the code to his family's security system, saying it was only fair. "I still have your address around here, somewhere. I'll be there soon-- and I want to do this," he added at the last minute, just in case Shin felt like arguing.
But apparently Shin didn't. "Okay. My room is on the second floor, first door on the left. Thank you for this, Daichi-san."
It wasn't until he hung up the phone that it hit him. Had he just agreed to leave the house that didn't involve going to work or seeing his grandfather? To see someone he'd only know for a month at the most?
Yes, you did. Now go and help him already.
Daichi found Shin's address under some old art projects.
--
Shin had mentioned his uncle went on a lot of business trips when they first met, so Daichi had always assumed he was fairly well off.
"But I didn't think his house would be the size of my apartment building." It wasn't as big as the Asami mansion (which he had seen a picture of after reading an interview with the CEO discussing what direction the company was going in after the City Guardians had fallen apart), but it was very close.
Daichi forced himself to stop gaping as he punched in the code. Shin needed him now. He needed to focus on that, and nothing else.
--
Shin's room was dark, and Daichi made no move to turn on the light-- the poor kid was probably trying to sleep, after all. However, he could still make out the shapes of books, metal parts, and what he guessed were toy models that were, well, everywhere.
Focus, Daichi, remember? He made his way to the bed, finding a chair. "Shin, I'm here." He rested a hand on a bump in his blanket he hoped was his shoulder. "You can wake up now."
Shin's head appeared from the blanket, hair messier than usual. "You really came."
"Of course I did. I promised you I would." Daichi leaned over, grabbing the extra covers at the foot of the bed and wrapping them around Shin. "Now where's your medicine?"
"The bathroom's down the hallway."
"Down the hallway-- got it." Daichi was already halfway out the door when Shin spoke again.
"Daichi-san?"
He froze mid-step. "What is it?"
Shin smiled weakly. "I know it's selfish... but I'm glad you're here."
"No. It's not." He waved, but didn't look at him before he left. However Shin reacted to that, he knew he couldn't handle it right now.
--
"Take two with a glass of water," Daichi read aloud as he handed Shin what the label instructed. "Side affects may include nausea and drowsiness."
"It hits me pretty fast." Shin rested his head against the pillows. "So it helps with the insomnia, too."
"Tomorrow morning you'll be fine." Daichi tried to believe that as he pushed the bangs away from Shin's face. Shin really would be fine, and he had a busy day tomorrow... but he didn't want to leave, not just yet.
"So... you're a mecha fan?" Daichi glanced around the room. He was starting to feel like they were staring at him.
Shin perked up a little. "Since I was five. I actually built a real robot once..." His face fell. "But then my uncle made me take him apart. He said it was annoying."
"You're joking." How could anyone as sweet and level headed as Shin build anything that even approached annoying?
"As soon as I'm in college, I'm going to try again." Shin reached for a robot on a nearby shelf, toying with the pose.
As glad as Daichi was to see Shin acting like himself again... he had to ask. "Why didn't you think I would come to help you?"
Shin blinked at him innocently. "Well, I know you don't like leaving the house, and it's already so late--"
"But none of that matters if you're involved." The intensity behind the words surprised even Daichi.
"... I'm feeling a little sleepy." Shin placed the robot on the night table next to his pill bottle before lying down, but he didn't close his eyes. "Daichi-san, do you mind if I ask you something personal?"
"I don't see why I would."
"Are you and Takasugi-san... you know..."
"No, never!" Daichi nearly leapt out of his chair in panic at the very idea. "I-I mean, she's a good friend... but that's definitely it."
"Sorry if I frightened you." Shin looked up at the ceiling (where a model airplane hung) for a moment. "Then, you don't have anyone?"
"Nope," Daichi shrugged. "Never, actually. I don't know, I've never really seen anyone in that way."
Shin kept staring at the ceiling. "But how can you tell if you... have feelings for someone... and what do you do if you have feelings for someone you shouldn't?"
Oh my God, he's trying to tell me he's gay. He patted his hands against his thighs, trying to think of something tactful to say. "Well, feelings, especially those kind of feelings can be confusing, even when you're my age, but..." Without fully realizing it, Daichi took his hand. "Shin, it doesn't matter who loves who."
His smile was even weaker than the one before. "If... if that's true... then I love you."
Daichi's first instinct was to ask what Shin meant, because he couldn't possibly have meant that... but Shin was in the middle of getting some much needed sleep. He probably wouldn't even remember it when he woke up.
He didn't want to disturb Shin. He needed to leave.
--
Daichi had left the pills on the night table-- along with a note (using the robot as a paperweight) to take them when he was supposed to from now on, or else. After making sure the door and the gate was locked, there was nothing left to do but go home.
He looked at the house one last time before he left, trying to breathe through the tightness in his chest.
"And I guess I love you too, Shin."