There was a shift, something changed from the concern and mild admonishing. And then there was the subject change to consider. As much as Kazuma would appreciate the clean clothes, he knows if he lets this go now, that's where it will end.
"Ryunosuke." He reaches out, catches his hand as a means of catching and holding his attention. "What aren't you saying? What aren't you telling me?"
Of course, he wouldn't let it drop, but then again he didn't expect him to just let it slide. He takes a deep breath, facing him fully. Maybe it wasn't who he thought it was. Maybe it was some random person he hadn't met yet, or maybe it was one of the residents of Trench themselves!
"Was he missing his eye?" He motions to his face. "Like it's...completely white?"
Please say no. Scars were one thing, but if he was missing his eye then...
"Ah." Well, that question answered a few things on its own. "You know him then, to be asking that."
Barely a month in this place, and here he was potentially ruining the connections of a friend. Not that Kazuma is particularly happy with this choice in company given his own recent experience. But still, it certainly did make him feel a bit guilty--if not for the benefit of the stranger, then for Ryunosuke having to possibly deal with the fallout.
There's a small pause as Ryunosuke falls into silence. Of course, he knew him. Manabu happened to be the first person he met in Trench and one that he could count on as a friend. Not that he's certain how much of a friendship they still had after... why did he say those things? Guilt settled in his chest, slowly constricting his breath at the thought of what he's said.
"Sorry," He manages to come back to himself, glancing away from Kazuma. "I just...didn't think this is how you two would meet."
Another pause, not as lengthy as the first. "Manabu isn't normally like that."
He's only known him for a short time, and what did he know about him? He felt like everything he knew was on the tip of his tongue, but it refuses to make itself known. What could he even say? He sighs, moving to rub at his arm as he returns his gaze to his friend.
"We got into a fight." He admits. "Nothing- Nothing like this, mind you but I might have... said some things I regret."
Especially revolving around the fact that Manabu had died.
Kazuma hummed softly in understanding. Ryunosuke had his own troubles to deal with where Manabu was concerned, though for wholly different reasons and, it would seem, without the weight of a physical altercation. He had added that twist in himself, however unknowingly it was done.
"You'll be wanting me to apologize."
A statement, not a question. A fact, one rooted in having known Ryunosuke for a time. Whatever troubles he had with Manabu, he'd still be expecting him to make amends for his part.
"I'd like to hope that you'd both apologize." He says. "Though I can't expect you to apologize if I haven't done so myself."
Texting him wasn't enough. It was impersonal, made him feel aloof despite knowing that it was just words on a screen. He could easily just leave it at that but he's since stopped talking to Manabu completely.
Something he'll need to find a way to remedy. He can't let his friendship dissolve so easily. He'd be a terrible friend if he just simply walked away, and he wouldn't do it. Not when it felt like Manabu was starting to trust him a little more to open up.
"I'm not going to force you to apologize, but it would be the right thing to do."
"You won't force me, simply bully me into it." It's a joke, said with all the fondness of a close friend.
At the moment, the very thought of apologizing was something that he very much doubted should be considered at all. Though he had to admit that such feelings were likely the result of being fresh out of the fight in the first place.
Ryunosuke had been rather earnest in his assessment of being able to trust Manabu when he had first brought him up. Ryunosuke was pleasant, kind, easy to make friends with--but trust was another matter entirely. He had little doubt that he would find a way to solve his own disagreements, and that would mean--
"If I say I will at least consider apologizing, would that be good enough for now?"
He chuckles lightly. Yes, he certainly could bully Kazuma into apologizing, but where would that actually leave him? What lesson would be gained from it? Nothing as far as he's aware, but at least Kazuma seemed amenable to maybe apologizing.
It would have to do.
"Yes." Ryunosuke nods. "That would be enough. I'm sure you'll do the right thing."
Which would be to apologize, that much is implied. He'd rather them be friends, or something akin to it considering neither of them seems to trust easily.
The right thing. Kazuma hadn't known what the right thing was since he stepped on a boat heading for England what seems like ages ago. The right thing and the right choice were not always synonymous, let alone synchronous, in Kazuma's mind.
Still, he'll give a slight nod and a hum of agreement, acquiescence for the time being.
"Oh--" The otherwise neutral expression he had borne for the discussion of conflicts and apologies slid into an amused grin. "You might want to turn that phrase over again, partner."
Oh. Oh. His face flushes with embarrassment as he tries to stammer out a good explanation before settling on:
"You know what I meant!"
That's not what he meant at all, Kazuma, and you know it! He would like to retire to his room now and pretend that he didn't just ask his best friend to remove his clothing. The implications! Of all the things he could have said! He could die.
There's laughter then, whole and genuine. It's been some time since Kazuma had cause to laugh, even if this was at Ryunosuke's expense. Surely he should be allowed?
At least he was laughing, and it was a sound that he could stand to hear more often. He missed hearing his laughter, and he ached with the knowledge that he went so long without it, and how he would go without until Kazuma felt it was time for him to return home to Japan. Leaving him in London wasn't an easy choice, but it was the choice he needed to make to continue forward.
"The impropriety of it all." He finds himself laughing as well, as he rubs his face. "You just couldn't help yourself could you?"
It was funny in retrospect, but boy if he wasn't embarrassed by it in the moment.
"Come on, I'll get you some clean clothing to wear."
"The scandal. What will they say?" The laughter fades into a soft chuckle before stopping completely. "You can hardly blame me for taking advantage of such an opportunity."
For cracking a joke and acting much closer to his age than he had in some time. It felt good, to simply allow himself to be.
"You know as well as I do that it would be almost impossible to avoid that." Considering they would likely take on the same cases... their paths would cross as many times as fate would allow.
He finally lets it drop, changing the subject back to his clothing.
"It's flashy compared to our school uniforms." He points out, moving further into the flat.
It was true enough; with their pursuit of the truth and the goal of changing the system, it would only be a matter of time before their paths crossed and they were set against each other again.
A ponderous thought, but one he lets drop as Ryunosuke turns the conversation around on him and his clothing again.
"...In that context, yes. I can concede they may seem flashy. It might be a better idea to find less...auspicious clothing to wear in Trench." Whatever Ryunosuke managed to have on hand for him would do well for now, but it might be best to stand out as little as possible from now on.
"We could see if the clothing shop I got my coat from has something you could wear. It'd be better than trying to clean your white clothing all the time." He says as he disappears into the bedroom. It doesn't take him long to return with a few items that look like they'd fit him.
"Here, try these?" He says as he offers the clothing out to him. "They might fit."
Might is the keyword there. Ryunosuke isn't certain that they will, but they're a little big on him, so there's a good chance they'll at least fit Kazuma better. At least he hopes.
"It would be better than simply waiting for this to stain..." Which it may have already if they didn't have the means to properly treat it. Of course, he is only just now considering that fact.
He waits until Ryunosuke comes back, gratitude ease to read on his expression. "Thank you, these will at least do for the moment."
He sets them aside and then fixes his gaze back on his friend. "I don't want to track more dirt in here. Do you mind?"
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no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:34 pm (UTC)There was a shift, something changed from the concern and mild admonishing. And then there was the subject change to consider. As much as Kazuma would appreciate the clean clothes, he knows if he lets this go now, that's where it will end.
"Ryunosuke." He reaches out, catches his hand as a means of catching and holding his attention. "What aren't you saying? What aren't you telling me?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:41 pm (UTC)"Was he missing his eye?" He motions to his face. "Like it's...completely white?"
Please say no. Scars were one thing, but if he was missing his eye then...
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:44 pm (UTC)Barely a month in this place, and here he was potentially ruining the connections of a friend. Not that Kazuma is particularly happy with this choice in company given his own recent experience. But still, it certainly did make him feel a bit guilty--if not for the benefit of the stranger, then for Ryunosuke having to possibly deal with the fallout.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:51 pm (UTC)"Sorry," He manages to come back to himself, glancing away from Kazuma. "I just...didn't think this is how you two would meet."
Another pause, not as lengthy as the first. "Manabu isn't normally like that."
As far as he's aware.
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Date: 2022-01-01 11:58 pm (UTC)There was something else going on, something that took Ryunosuke's attention for a moment and made him look--panicked? worried?
Guilty.
Whatever it was, it was tangled up with Manabu and, what Ryunosuke was claiming to be, his strange behavior. "How well do you know him, exactly?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:02 am (UTC)He's only known him for a short time, and what did he know about him? He felt like everything he knew was on the tip of his tongue, but it refuses to make itself known. What could he even say? He sighs, moving to rub at his arm as he returns his gaze to his friend.
"We got into a fight." He admits. "Nothing- Nothing like this, mind you but I might have... said some things I regret."
Especially revolving around the fact that Manabu had died.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:07 am (UTC)"You'll be wanting me to apologize."
A statement, not a question. A fact, one rooted in having known Ryunosuke for a time. Whatever troubles he had with Manabu, he'd still be expecting him to make amends for his part.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:14 am (UTC)Texting him wasn't enough. It was impersonal, made him feel aloof despite knowing that it was just words on a screen. He could easily just leave it at that but he's since stopped talking to Manabu completely.
Something he'll need to find a way to remedy. He can't let his friendship dissolve so easily. He'd be a terrible friend if he just simply walked away, and he wouldn't do it. Not when it felt like Manabu was starting to trust him a little more to open up.
"I'm not going to force you to apologize, but it would be the right thing to do."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:22 am (UTC)At the moment, the very thought of apologizing was something that he very much doubted should be considered at all. Though he had to admit that such feelings were likely the result of being fresh out of the fight in the first place.
Ryunosuke had been rather earnest in his assessment of being able to trust Manabu when he had first brought him up. Ryunosuke was pleasant, kind, easy to make friends with--but trust was another matter entirely. He had little doubt that he would find a way to solve his own disagreements, and that would mean--
"If I say I will at least consider apologizing, would that be good enough for now?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:34 am (UTC)It would have to do.
"Yes." Ryunosuke nods. "That would be enough. I'm sure you'll do the right thing."
Which would be to apologize, that much is implied. He'd rather them be friends, or something akin to it considering neither of them seems to trust easily.
"Now let's get you out of those clothes."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:42 am (UTC)Still, he'll give a slight nod and a hum of agreement, acquiescence for the time being.
"Oh--" The otherwise neutral expression he had borne for the discussion of conflicts and apologies slid into an amused grin. "You might want to turn that phrase over again, partner."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:46 am (UTC)Oh. Oh. His face flushes with embarrassment as he tries to stammer out a good explanation before settling on:
"You know what I meant!"
That's not what he meant at all, Kazuma, and you know it! He would like to retire to his room now and pretend that he didn't just ask his best friend to remove his clothing. The implications! Of all the things he could have said! He could die.
Let him die, please.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:51 am (UTC)There's laughter then, whole and genuine. It's been some time since Kazuma had cause to laugh, even if this was at Ryunosuke's expense. Surely he should be allowed?
"I'm kidding, Ryunosuke. I know what you meant."
Please don't make him suffer for it.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:56 am (UTC)"The impropriety of it all." He finds himself laughing as well, as he rubs his face. "You just couldn't help yourself could you?"
It was funny in retrospect, but boy if he wasn't embarrassed by it in the moment.
"Come on, I'll get you some clean clothing to wear."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 01:00 am (UTC)For cracking a joke and acting much closer to his age than he had in some time. It felt good, to simply allow himself to be.
"...Clean clothes would be a blessing right now."
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Date: 2022-01-02 01:41 am (UTC)A prosecutor and a defence attorney! What would the papers actually say?
"I'll go grab you a clean set of clothing. It's nothing as flashy as that but... it'll at least keep you dry and warm."
Unless he went rolling around in the snow again.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 01:53 am (UTC)How far can a mere joke go before it's no longer a joke? Before one of them starts to seriously think about the implications and possibilities?
"Flashy? It's...practical." And absolutely flashy. Militarian, but with a flare of style. Let him live, he didn't choose it.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 02:06 am (UTC)He finally lets it drop, changing the subject back to his clothing.
"It's flashy compared to our school uniforms." He points out, moving further into the flat.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 02:18 am (UTC)A ponderous thought, but one he lets drop as Ryunosuke turns the conversation around on him and his clothing again.
"...In that context, yes. I can concede they may seem flashy. It might be a better idea to find less...auspicious clothing to wear in Trench." Whatever Ryunosuke managed to have on hand for him would do well for now, but it might be best to stand out as little as possible from now on.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-04 10:30 pm (UTC)"Here, try these?" He says as he offers the clothing out to him. "They might fit."
Might is the keyword there. Ryunosuke isn't certain that they will, but they're a little big on him, so there's a good chance they'll at least fit Kazuma better. At least he hopes.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-07 12:18 am (UTC)He waits until Ryunosuke comes back, gratitude ease to read on his expression. "Thank you, these will at least do for the moment."
He sets them aside and then fixes his gaze back on his friend. "I don't want to track more dirt in here. Do you mind?"