A/N: I'll just leave the exchange btw Kei-chan and Ace up to anyone's imagination for now cos it'll be fun. It can be really stupid or just pain... but I'll worry about that later. It'll probably ended being a simple thing... and unrelated to what Keiwa was saying 😃
"Six tails..." gasped Tsumuri as Win just watched over the four wordlessly.
.
Ace gently placed a kiss on Keiwa's forehead before holding his beloved close, not caring over the fact that he was still sitting spread-legged on the gravel. Ace's bare calves were already covered with dust and dirt as the young man made no move to get up on his feet.
Neon reached out to try to get Ace's attention. And because of that, she was able to notice a slight movement from Keiwa.
"Ace... look!"
Ace pulled away from Keiwa slightly to see Keiwa's eyes slowly fluttering open. Keiwa gave him a weak smile.
"Why... that face? Did you really... miss that tasty jerky... from last time?" teased Keiwa as Ace's tears fell like rain onto Keiwa's cheeks.
"Idiot Keiwa—! I wasn't crying—" he sobbed uncontrollably. Ace hastily wiped the fresh tears that start welling from his eyes with his fist. "—because of that stupid jerky. I thought I'd lost you again this time."
Keiwa lifted his injured hand to wipe to tears still on Ace's cheek and reached up to touch Ace's 'extra' fox ears. He chuckled softly.
"Hehe... what a baby—" he gasped as Michinaga scooted closer towards Neon and Ace. Ace reached his free hand up to hold Keiwa's hand.
"I'm sorry... Keiwa, over everything I've said earlier. It's all a lie... seriously! And for this," Ace kissed the bandage that covered the torn skin underneath as Keiwa could feel his hand start to tingle.
"Of course... I know... a lie. Could tell..."
Keiwa turned his head towards Michinaga and Neon before smiling weakly at them. He grinned at them lopsidedly. "Sorry... didn't mean to... do it again... so soon."
"Stupid—!" Michinaga choked. "I was fully prepared for that! You're just too far for me to catch you!"
Keiwa tried to grin again at them but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned his head back towards Ace.
"So... rry. Can't stay... so sleepy... later..." gasped Keiwa as he finally lost the fight. Keiwa's chest continued to rise and fall as he continued sleeping but there was no chance of waking Keiwa up again any time soon.
Neon placed a hand over Ace's arm. "Let's take Keiwa to the hospital. We'll figure out what to do together afterwards."
"Yeah..." exclaimed Michinaga. "But before that, Geats—"
The young man frowned at the other. "Go change into something else, you dirty fox! And hide that stupid fox ears and those bulky tails! It made you look goofy AF!"
xxx
Sara continued waiting for Keiwa as she kept glancing towards the clock on the wall. And then she heard sounds of people coming over and she started getting her hopes up and hurried to open the door—only to have random people apologetically excusing themselves as they walked inside in droves. It only took her mere seconds later to realise that one of the random people include Neon-chan and another person she didn't expect to see again. And the person was carrying Keiwa on his shoulders!
Sara gaped at all of them in confusion.
"Wha—how? Neon-chan... how?"
But before she could form another coherent word out, one very tall boy (taller than Keiwa by an inch or something) marched up towards their bathroom before later coming out again to enter Keiwa's room without even an explanation.
Sara started pointing her finger where Ace had disappeared before turning towards Neon. "Neon-chan—who? And Azuma... kun, right? How are you and Neon-chan... not to mention the other two—?"
Tsumuri walked over towards Sara before holding out Keiwa's Core ID towards her.
"This should be able to explain everything. Please touch the Core ID, Sara-sama," said the former Game Navigator.
Sara frowned at the strange girl who had been addressing her very politely yet already knows her name. But as soon as she touched the 'Core ID' belonging to her younger brother, she finally understood everything...
.
Ace slowly stepped out from Keiwa's room, slightly red-faced. He was wearing a simple plaid shirt and dark pants... which was of a familiar colour scheme that Keiwa used to wear but quite a different style compared to what Ace usually wears. Sara squealed softly in delight at the sight.
"Awww so cute!" exclaimed Sara before hugging him fondly. "It's a bit short on the legs, but I'm so glad Keiwa's clothes fitted you so well, Ace-sama!", she said again as Ace blushed even harder.
Michinaga just rolled his eyes at Ace. "Geez, don't be so weird, Geats! You looked like some excited girlfriend getting so thrilled for being able to wear their boyfriend's clothes for the first time!"
"Aah! Sh-shut up! Idiot Buffa!" shrieked Ace as Win hurriedly pulled them apart. He placed an arm over Ace's shoulder.
"So, are we good now—?" asked the punk rocker as Ace nodded his head, glancing towards Keiwa who was lying on the nearby couch.
"Let's go."