Goryo awoke to the warmth of sunlight and the smell of freshly made tea.
"Master, you're awake! Breakfast is about to be served!"
Rubbing sleep and confusion from his eyes, Goryo looked groggily at the source of the clamorous greeting. At the sight of him, relief flooded into the young executor; it was Ebisu's first day in the Goryo Group's services in three weeks. Hiding his sudden smile with a yawn, Goryo lifted himself from the bed, his eyes never leaving Ebisu's figure.
"You fool. You should have stayed in the hospital longer with those injuries."
Ebisu glanced briefly down at his bandages, as if he just remembered they were there, before instantly returning his eyes to Goryo with a stubborn expression on his face.
"Absolutely not! That trouble with Thomas has made all sorts of trouble for you, and I'm not about to let you face any of it alone!"
Goryo let out a weak laugh as he let himself fall back onto the bed. "Ebisu. Come here."
Uncertainly, Ebisu took a few steps foreward.
"Yes, Master Goryo?"
"Closer." Goryo looked at him with one eye open, smirking at his obvious hesitation. "Oh, come now. I won't hurt you."
He left the word 'again' unsaid, instead looking again at the bandages on his chest with a twinge of guilt.
Missing his master's change in expression, Ebisu approached the bed with a mixture of curiosity and confusion, an excited smile starting to form on his face.
His own smirk reviving itself, Goryo's sleepy limbs shot out and, with some difficulty, dragged Ebisu onto the bed with him.
"Huh-? Master, what's the meaning of this!?"
"Quiet, clown."
Goryo struggled to throw the covers over Ebisu, who was wriggling uncomfortably under him. Once hope of escape was lost, Ebisu's movements began to slow, Goryo having thrown his arm around Ebisu's neck in an effective half-hug, half-headlock. Gasping for breath under the heavy covers, Ebisu insisted, "Master Goryo, we both have a lot to do toda-"
"Ebisu," the single word cut him short, though Goryo's face was only wistful. "Did you notice how casually that second clerk refers to Muhyo?" He turned his gaze to Ebisu, some meaning added now to his expression. "You could drop the 'Master', you know. I mean..." He turned away suddenly, his voice softer, "...we're friends. Aren't we?"
Ebisu's face lit up in surprise. "Really!?"
Goryo smiled, his expression warm. "Well, at least when no one's around."
Ebisu's objections ceased, and they laid together in silence. Goryo still had a faraway look in his eyes, and he would be the one to break the silence again, heaving a large sigh. "You're a fool for coming back, Ebisu."
Ebisu said nothing, only squirming a bit under Goryo's arm. Goryo sighed again, accepting his silence.
"...But I'm starting to think that I was an even bigger fool to ever let you go."
With a third and final sigh, Goryo released Ebisu, lifting himself off the bed. "Well, I guess I've got some appointments to make." Ebisu nodded quickly, scrambling off of the bed. He winced as he sat up, throwing the covers off of himself, and Goryo turned around at the sound of it. After a moment of uncertainty, he offered his hand.
"Come on, let's go, fool."
"Yes, Goryo!"