[Yusuke doesn't expect to see Akira today—of course he doesn't. He didn't expect to see him when he was captured, either, and yet he came here anyway, a place where they often—if not always—met up with each other. Chasing the phantom shape of his friend and leader, perhaps? It was the only thing he could think of to do during that time, a pantomime of his usual daily routine. He shakes off his thoughts with a small jerk of his head, frowning out at the people passing by, so oblivious to so many things.
Naturally, his mind is on Akira as he stands here. He should be thinking about art, painting, anything, but his mind is as blank a canvas as all of the ones he's tried to start and failed.
Funny how the moment he climbed over his art block another one appeared before him—this one not of his own making. He doesn't want to paint, to sketch, to do anything, what he wants is for Akira to be here and—
He startles, so lost in thought he didn't even notice the approach. His eyes pop open wide and he whips to face him.] A— [oh, no, tone it down, he's not Ryuji, and the last thing they need is attention drawn to them] —Akira, what are you doing here?
[He has a feeling that here is precisely where he shouldn't be, that he should be resting. There's no way that everything is fine and normal and it's okay to just hang out together.]
either way, it does take him a second to reply. the breaths he draws in are... labored, to say the least. he can't breathe in too deeply, or the pain in his ribs will likely be blinding. so the breaths are rapid and much more shallow—though it's apparent he's still trying to conceal that.
but it's fine.]
Wanted... to see you. [that, he says quietly. really, if that was solely the case, he could have just sent yusuke a text and asked him to come visit at leblanc. it's not as if akira really has any doubts that he'd have come by after school instead of waiting for a phantom in his usually spot (even if that technically paid off).
it's no less true, though. he does want to see yusuke.
...he wants some sense of normalcy.
he'll speak up again after a moment, this a little firmer as he catches his breath.] Needed some fresh air. It's too stifling staying in Leblanc all the time.
[an akira problem, if there ever was one. not wanting to be cooped up—especially after the interrogation. while he'd gone into that incredibly willingly... with everything that happened, being confined to a singular, small space feels to constricting. for someone who is trying to break shackles and attain freedom in so many ways, that's always a point of contention. right now, it's just even more so than ever—
and he feels like yusuke is probably one of the people least likely to ignore that feeling and understand where he's coming from. even if all the phantom thieves have a good sense of it, they haven't been confined before in the same way yusuke had, and right now, akira thinks his own feelings might be similar to how yusuke felt at times with madarame.
or maybe that's a stretch he invented in his mind to justify his decisions, who knows—but he's rolling with it.]
[Is Akira out of breath? Is he leaning heavier against the wall than he would normally? Yusuke is paying attention—of course he is, his gaze is roaming over Akira like he's not sure he's not a ghost of some sort, an apparition that's just answering to his imaginings. So too is he trying to figure out if what he's seeing isn't just his imagination or the truth, but Akira does winded, even if his voice is quiet.
His lips compress tightly together, his fingers flexing at his side like he isn't sure what to do with his hand, but it swings as though he's offering it to him in some respect (but hasn't figured out what that is).]
That's...
[Yusuke trails off before he can say anything, because he does need a moment to think about it. The normal reaction would be to hurry him back, into bed where he can rest, but he does understand that desire to be out. It's in all of them, really, that desire for freedom, otherwise they wouldn't have all rebelled against what they'd known.
He's loathe to urge him to turn his back on the freedom he wants in order to return to bedrest, even if that's the right option. When have they—he—ever chose the right option anyway?]
Let's sit. There's a bench just outside, and there will be better to enjoy the fresh air.
[He's reaching out halfway, though he has a feeling Makoto would be frowning disapprovingly. Freedom is all well and good and his heart did clench hearing Akira wanted to see him, but at the very least Akira should be able to enjoy it.]
[and this is exactly why yusuke was his first choice.
for all of his eccentricies, for all that he can be dramatic—yusuke does have a good understanding of these things. makoto would certainly scold him, all of the others would fret and fuss. but yusuke finds this quiet compromise. he doesn't ask questions right out the gate, he's not condescending about—
it's a bit of a relief right now. it's not like akira is unaware that his breathlessness is a bit obvious; try as he might to hide a majority of his injuries and what's wrong with him so not worry the team so much, some things are obvious.]
Yeah, let's do that. It's pretty nice outside today, anyway. [it's a good compromise. they can talk and figure out where to go from there—and akira can sit, which he absolutely needs.
maybe that much is obvious. it takes a great deal of effort for akira to push himself from off the wall. his head never lifts—still that combined need of hiding his face from others and keeping some of his pained expressions masked—but when he has to shift the weight back to his injured leg, he hisses quietly, a bit unrestrained.
akira really hadn't planned for that sound to escape, but the pain still catches him by surprise. that bastard really had it out to break his leg if he didn't sign that confession...
which probably would have been fine if they hadn't drugged him so heavily and caused his memories to become too foggy to properly consent to what he was doing as intended. maybe then his leg wouldn't be like this, maybe his ribs wouldn't be either? who knows? what's done is done, akira knows he just has to recover so they can work towards their real goals and make his presence well-fucking-known to everyone who tred to tear him and the rest of the phantom thieves down.]
[Yusuke flinches in surprise at the hiss—it's un-Akira-like to let something like that out, and he's certain that he would've held it in had he the choice otherwise. That means... Yusuke already knew he must be in pain, but the pain must be even more than he had anticipated.
His hand moves automatically toward one of Akira's arms, on the side with the leg he's favouring. He can't just stand and do nothing to help when Akira's clearly in pain, and even if it's something like taking his elbow to give him something else to put his weight on, that's what he's going to go for.]
Like this.
[Firmly. He'll help a little, and it's not so glaringly obvious as if he tried to put Akira's arm around his shoulders. He waits, however, patiently standing for Akira to start walking, when he's ready.]
it's a really subtle action, but it's one that speaks volumes about how yusuke perceives the situation. and even though akira kind of hates it—not that yusuke is thoughtful enough to help, but that his own discomfort is obvious enough to warrant it—he can't deny that he'd do just the same if the roles were reversed.
hadn't he, after all? even the very first time yusuke was in the metaverse, akira offered his shoulder—despite knowing that yusuke didn't want much to do with him. things have certainly changed since then—and now, the roles have been reversed.
tempting as it is, akira doesn't actually draw back, instead shifting his weight a bit. it becomes a little more obvious that there's a reason he's favorite one leg, just like there's a reason for his posture, the length of the sleeves on his hoodie and why he keeps his face dipped.]
...It's not as bad as it seems. [...as if that's going to make yusuke worry less or even seem believable.]
His expression is inscrutable, but Akira can probably tell that he's uncertain about it. What he had thought of his injuries up until this point are that they weren't that bad. But he's realising now how much worse than how he had been thinking all along.
And he's probably not even seeing the half of it.]
...It seems more than I could bear.
[Their leader is too strong sometimes; a lot of the time.]
[he's not seeing very much of it at all. yusuke can see the things he doesn't hide as easily; the injuries to his face that have been bandaged, the bruises on his wrists that came from being handcuffed; he probably wouldn't even do much to hide the injection spots from the drugs he'd been given.
it's the bruising everywhere else he tries to keep hidden, even though his limp is difficult to mask—and more obvious when his weight is shifted to allow yusuke to support him a bit. but his ribs, the marks he has from being kicked and stomped on and utterly brutalized are something he'd prefer to keep hidden.
so he laughs, though a bit weak because it will hurt for him if he goes overboard.]
That's why I made sure you didn't have to bear it. [it's as simple as that.] That's my job, as Leader.
...if that's your job as leader, it's ours to support you after.
[Akira takes so much on his shoulders for them, Yusuke recognises that all too well--and he should think of ways that he can return it somehow. Even if it's as minor as helping him to a bench to sit, which he's doing now, taking as much of his weight as Akira chooses to lean on him.
Even if it's something like not urging him to go back and into bed even though that might be the right thing to do.
He wants to support but also give Akira what he wants, especially now.]
[he lets out a dry, quiet breath—not quite a laugh, but clearly a bit amused as they make their way to the bench.]
Fair enough. I guess I'm not in much of a position to argue it, anyway.
[akira has to concede just a little—much as he is loath to admit it, the truth of the matter is that it took so much of his energy to get to their meeting spot without letting too much of that pain show that he's a little excessively winded now.
...so he needs to lean on yusuke just a bit more. his weight shifts, and he doesn't really feel concerned that yusuke can't handle it. akira knows, after all, that yusuke is incredibly strong despite his delicate appearance. it's incredibly deceiving—but that's part of what akira trusts so much about it as well.]
[That's right, he certainly isn't! Yusuke pauses just for an instant, as though for that moment he's surprised that more weight is resting on him, but he readily shifts to support him, happy to do so. It's but a simple thing.]
Thanks are hardly necessary, but you're welcome.
[Akira's done so very much for him and all of them that this is natural.
He exhales a sigh of relief (not for his sake) and pauses by the bench, supportive hand still in place.]
[he's going somewhere with this, honestly. he just needs a minute, because moving to sit is pretty uncomfortable, and he's biting back a hiss of pain to try and not cause yusuke too much more concern here.
he's done enough of that already today, apparently. it's fine... he's fine.
(he's not fine.)]
I'm sure Makoto or nearly anyone else would have demanded and dragged me back to Leblanc. [so he's honestly very grateful that yusuke offers his support but doesn't just try to immediately send him back to bed when he wants to be out and about.]
[The concern's a staple, not going to get rid of it. He won't sit anyway until Akira is settled, so that he can help him.]
Most likely.
[Immediate agreement. He can picture it all-too-well.]
But, sometimes you wish to be outside even if you're not supposed to be. Or if you're not really that able to be. [He pauses.] ... Do you want something to drink?
[it's an odd, quiet admission, but after coming all this way specifically to see yusuke, and with how drained he currently feels... he'd rather yusuke just stay here.]
Sit.
[yusuke can relax a little. akira doesn't really want him fretting too much, so if they just sit and talk, it'll be a little easier on him.] This is fine.
[Yusuke blinks, caught off guard for a visible instant-- and then he quickly lowers himself down to sit alongside him.]
All right, as you say.
[He can accept that easily enough.]
... Not much has been happening as of late. [It's been rather slow since Akira came back injured, while they've been awaiting his recovery.] Even my sketches haven't been coming that easily.
[his motions are slow, careful and a bit languid—but akira leans against yusuke a bit for some silent support.
he's tired—a bit drained from all the energy it took to get there; walking around, being on the crowded subway, finding even this bench. it's a lot.]
Are you feeling uninspired again? [there's clear concern in his tone—after all the work to break yusuke from his art block... is he falling back into it again?]
[...Oh. Yusuke glances down at him, surprised. Pleased too, mingling with the potent concern.]
A little. But it's not like last time.
[Yusuke shakes his head.] I know it'll be fine soon. [Like it was during the very midst of their plan, the worry and distraction makes his mind slow to ideas, not tending toward artwork in the least.
Akira's like one of his muses, after all.]
I imagine that once everything returns to how we're used to, there'll be no stopping my inspiration.
[he admits, with a quiet sincerity. he keeps his weight where it is, gaze focused idly ahead of him. there's a small smile on his lips, warm—it betrays his tension and the injuries that are visible on his face.]
You worked so hard to overcome it... I don't want you to slip back into that again.
[it was worrisome, after all. and yusuke overcame it with such certainty and gusto—it had been admirable in every way. akira definitely doesn't want him to have another slump, especially if it's his fault.]
I doubt I'll face such a large hurdle like that again anytime soon.
[Yusuke's self-assured, confident.
Though he does turn his head to gaze at Akira's profile as he idly wonders whether Akira downplays the enormous role he had in helping Yusuke gather the strength to overcome it. This is why he wants to be his strength and support this time.]
There's a flicker of something, almost pained, as if even the thought of this happening another time is hard to consider. It is, though, even the thought of it happening while they were waiting was...]
yusuke's really worried about that, isn't he? akira smiles a bit to himself; he's really fortunate for how much his teammates worry about his well-being, isn't he?]
We took the risk on it so that it wouldn't have to happen more than once.
[a breath, and.]
It's okay, Yusuke. I'm fine.
[well. he's mostly fine. he's trying to be fine. he's doing his best!]
[Yusuke pauses for a long moment, gazing forward yet not seeing anything at all.
You hold a special place in all of our hearts is very true and he almost says it (or something more poetic than that), but ought he speak for everyone else? They should be the ones to tell Akira the type of presence that he has for them.
Words may not help heal his injuries faster but Yusuke has discovered how profound they can be.]
It is not easily swayed, [that's what he adds. No matter what happens, even in moments of weakness.]
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Naturally, his mind is on Akira as he stands here. He should be thinking about art, painting, anything, but his mind is as blank a canvas as all of the ones he's tried to start and failed.
Funny how the moment he climbed over his art block another one appeared before him—this one not of his own making. He doesn't want to paint, to sketch, to do anything, what he wants is for Akira to be here and—
He startles, so lost in thought he didn't even notice the approach. His eyes pop open wide and he whips to face him.] A— [oh, no, tone it down, he's not Ryuji, and the last thing they need is attention drawn to them] —Akira, what are you doing here?
[He has a feeling that here is precisely where he shouldn't be, that he should be resting. There's no way that everything is fine and normal and it's okay to just hang out together.]
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either way, it does take him a second to reply. the breaths he draws in are... labored, to say the least. he can't breathe in too deeply, or the pain in his ribs will likely be blinding. so the breaths are rapid and much more shallow—though it's apparent he's still trying to conceal that.
but it's fine.]
Wanted... to see you. [that, he says quietly. really, if that was solely the case, he could have just sent yusuke a text and asked him to come visit at leblanc. it's not as if akira really has any doubts that he'd have come by after school instead of waiting for a phantom in his usually spot (even if that technically paid off).
it's no less true, though. he does want to see yusuke.
...he wants some sense of normalcy.
he'll speak up again after a moment, this a little firmer as he catches his breath.] Needed some fresh air. It's too stifling staying in Leblanc all the time.
[an akira problem, if there ever was one. not wanting to be cooped up—especially after the interrogation. while he'd gone into that incredibly willingly... with everything that happened, being confined to a singular, small space feels to constricting. for someone who is trying to break shackles and attain freedom in so many ways, that's always a point of contention. right now, it's just even more so than ever—
and he feels like yusuke is probably one of the people least likely to ignore that feeling and understand where he's coming from. even if all the phantom thieves have a good sense of it, they haven't been confined before in the same way yusuke had, and right now, akira thinks his own feelings might be similar to how yusuke felt at times with madarame.
or maybe that's a stretch he invented in his mind to justify his decisions, who knows—but he's rolling with it.]
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His lips compress tightly together, his fingers flexing at his side like he isn't sure what to do with his hand, but it swings as though he's offering it to him in some respect (but hasn't figured out what that is).]
That's...
[Yusuke trails off before he can say anything, because he does need a moment to think about it. The normal reaction would be to hurry him back, into bed where he can rest, but he does understand that desire to be out. It's in all of them, really, that desire for freedom, otherwise they wouldn't have all rebelled against what they'd known.
He's loathe to urge him to turn his back on the freedom he wants in order to return to bedrest, even if that's the right option. When have they—he—ever chose the right option anyway?]
Let's sit. There's a bench just outside, and there will be better to enjoy the fresh air.
[He's reaching out halfway, though he has a feeling Makoto would be frowning disapprovingly. Freedom is all well and good and his heart did clench hearing Akira wanted to see him, but at the very least Akira should be able to enjoy it.]
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for all of his eccentricies, for all that he can be dramatic—yusuke does have a good understanding of these things. makoto would certainly scold him, all of the others would fret and fuss. but yusuke finds this quiet compromise. he doesn't ask questions right out the gate, he's not condescending about—
it's a bit of a relief right now. it's not like akira is unaware that his breathlessness is a bit obvious; try as he might to hide a majority of his injuries and what's wrong with him so not worry the team so much, some things are obvious.]
Yeah, let's do that. It's pretty nice outside today, anyway. [it's a good compromise. they can talk and figure out where to go from there—and akira can sit, which he absolutely needs.
maybe that much is obvious. it takes a great deal of effort for akira to push himself from off the wall. his head never lifts—still that combined need of hiding his face from others and keeping some of his pained expressions masked—but when he has to shift the weight back to his injured leg, he hisses quietly, a bit unrestrained.
akira really hadn't planned for that sound to escape, but the pain still catches him by surprise. that bastard really had it out to break his leg if he didn't sign that confession...
which probably would have been fine if they hadn't drugged him so heavily and caused his memories to become too foggy to properly consent to what he was doing as intended. maybe then his leg wouldn't be like this, maybe his ribs wouldn't be either? who knows? what's done is done, akira knows he just has to recover so they can work towards their real goals and make his presence well-fucking-known to everyone who tred to tear him and the rest of the phantom thieves down.]
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His hand moves automatically toward one of Akira's arms, on the side with the leg he's favouring. He can't just stand and do nothing to help when Akira's clearly in pain, and even if it's something like taking his elbow to give him something else to put his weight on, that's what he's going to go for.]
Like this.
[Firmly. He'll help a little, and it's not so glaringly obvious as if he tried to put Akira's arm around his shoulders. He waits, however, patiently standing for Akira to start walking, when he's ready.]
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it's a really subtle action, but it's one that speaks volumes about how yusuke perceives the situation. and even though akira kind of hates it—not that yusuke is thoughtful enough to help, but that his own discomfort is obvious enough to warrant it—he can't deny that he'd do just the same if the roles were reversed.
hadn't he, after all? even the very first time yusuke was in the metaverse, akira offered his shoulder—despite knowing that yusuke didn't want much to do with him. things have certainly changed since then—and now, the roles have been reversed.
tempting as it is, akira doesn't actually draw back, instead shifting his weight a bit. it becomes a little more obvious that there's a reason he's favorite one leg, just like there's a reason for his posture, the length of the sleeves on his hoodie and why he keeps his face dipped.]
...It's not as bad as it seems. [...as if that's going to make yusuke worry less or even seem believable.]
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[Is that so, Akira??
His expression is inscrutable, but Akira can probably tell that he's uncertain about it. What he had thought of his injuries up until this point are that they weren't that bad. But he's realising now how much worse than how he had been thinking all along.
And he's probably not even seeing the half of it.]
...It seems more than I could bear.
[Their leader is too strong sometimes; a lot of the time.]
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it's the bruising everywhere else he tries to keep hidden, even though his limp is difficult to mask—and more obvious when his weight is shifted to allow yusuke to support him a bit. but his ribs, the marks he has from being kicked and stomped on and utterly brutalized are something he'd prefer to keep hidden.
so he laughs, though a bit weak because it will hurt for him if he goes overboard.]
That's why I made sure you didn't have to bear it. [it's as simple as that.] That's my job, as Leader.
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[Akira takes so much on his shoulders for them, Yusuke recognises that all too well--and he should think of ways that he can return it somehow. Even if it's as minor as helping him to a bench to sit, which he's doing now, taking as much of his weight as Akira chooses to lean on him.
Even if it's something like not urging him to go back and into bed even though that might be the right thing to do.
He wants to support but also give Akira what he wants, especially now.]
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Fair enough. I guess I'm not in much of a position to argue it, anyway.
[akira has to concede just a little—much as he is loath to admit it, the truth of the matter is that it took so much of his energy to get to their meeting spot without letting too much of that pain show that he's a little excessively winded now.
...so he needs to lean on yusuke just a bit more. his weight shifts, and he doesn't really feel concerned that yusuke can't handle it. akira knows, after all, that yusuke is incredibly strong despite his delicate appearance. it's incredibly deceiving—but that's part of what akira trusts so much about it as well.]
...Thanks, Yusuke.
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Thanks are hardly necessary, but you're welcome.
[Akira's done so very much for him and all of them that this is natural.
He exhales a sigh of relief (not for his sake) and pauses by the bench, supportive hand still in place.]
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[he's going somewhere with this, honestly. he just needs a minute, because moving to sit is pretty uncomfortable, and he's biting back a hiss of pain to try and not cause yusuke too much more concern here.
he's done enough of that already today, apparently. it's fine... he's fine.
(he's not fine.)]
I'm sure Makoto or nearly anyone else would have demanded and dragged me back to Leblanc. [so he's honestly very grateful that yusuke offers his support but doesn't just try to immediately send him back to bed when he wants to be out and about.]
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Most likely.
[Immediate agreement. He can picture it all-too-well.]
But, sometimes you wish to be outside even if you're not supposed to be. Or if you're not really that able to be. [He pauses.] ... Do you want something to drink?
[There's a vending machine just over yonder.]
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Not yet. I'd rather just stay like this a bit.
[it's an odd, quiet admission, but after coming all this way specifically to see yusuke, and with how drained he currently feels... he'd rather yusuke just stay here.]
Sit.
[yusuke can relax a little. akira doesn't really want him fretting too much, so if they just sit and talk, it'll be a little easier on him.] This is fine.
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All right, as you say.
[He can accept that easily enough.]
... Not much has been happening as of late. [It's been rather slow since Akira came back injured, while they've been awaiting his recovery.] Even my sketches haven't been coming that easily.
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he's tired—a bit drained from all the energy it took to get there; walking around, being on the crowded subway, finding even this bench. it's a lot.]
Are you feeling uninspired again? [there's clear concern in his tone—after all the work to break yusuke from his art block... is he falling back into it again?]
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A little. But it's not like last time.
[Yusuke shakes his head.] I know it'll be fine soon. [Like it was during the very midst of their plan, the worry and distraction makes his mind slow to ideas, not tending toward artwork in the least.
Akira's like one of his muses, after all.]
I imagine that once everything returns to how we're used to, there'll be no stopping my inspiration.
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[he admits, with a quiet sincerity. he keeps his weight where it is, gaze focused idly ahead of him. there's a small smile on his lips, warm—it betrays his tension and the injuries that are visible on his face.]
You worked so hard to overcome it... I don't want you to slip back into that again.
[it was worrisome, after all. and yusuke overcame it with such certainty and gusto—it had been admirable in every way. akira definitely doesn't want him to have another slump, especially if it's his fault.]
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[Yusuke's self-assured, confident.
Though he does turn his head to gaze at Akira's profile as he idly wonders whether Akira downplays the enormous role he had in helping Yusuke gather the strength to overcome it. This is why he wants to be his strength and support this time.]
This is but a small stone in my path now.
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it isn't as if he's done very much directly, after all.]
Don't let this get you down too much.
[he doesn't want!! yusuke's art to suffer!!]
It's just a flesh wound or two. We'll win the next fights and nothing like this is going to happen again.
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[The answer is hard, resolute.
There's a flicker of something, almost pained, as if even the thought of this happening another time is hard to consider. It is, though, even the thought of it happening while they were waiting was...]
Once was more than enough.
[They mustn't put Akira through that again.]
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yusuke's really worried about that, isn't he? akira smiles a bit to himself; he's really fortunate for how much his teammates worry about his well-being, isn't he?]
We took the risk on it so that it wouldn't have to happen more than once.
[a breath, and.]
It's okay, Yusuke. I'm fine.
[well. he's mostly fine. he's trying to be fine. he's doing his best!]
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...
[Yusuke sighs, his hair falling to one side of his face as he tilts his head. It brushes against Akira's, just the side of his head.]
Indeed. You're always very strong, your very presence is heartening.
[But he knows that he's not doing as well as he's saying. Nevertheless...]
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emotionally still needs some work here. he's trying? though akira's head dips a little, feeling the tickle of yusuke's hair.]
Good. That's the kind of presence I'd like to have for everyone.
[huh.
well, there's no denying it's an honest, candid statement, one unintentionally laced with other implication of its own.]
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[Yusuke pauses for a long moment, gazing forward yet not seeing anything at all.
You hold a special place in all of our hearts is very true and he almost says it (or something more poetic than that), but ought he speak for everyone else? They should be the ones to tell Akira the type of presence that he has for them.
Words may not help heal his injuries faster but Yusuke has discovered how profound they can be.]
It is not easily swayed, [that's what he adds. No matter what happens, even in moments of weakness.]
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