[Just wanna stay alive]

[toremainbehind]

[It was just an ordinary day.

He was just working at his uncle's bar as usual, cleaning the glasses and maintaining the orders for delivery. He's given up on trying to kick Mikoto out when he comes over right after school, well aware how his best friend likes to come and sleep on the couch before opening hours start.

On the radio, he idly listens to another report on a famous couple after discovering they were soul mates, and he scoffs softly to himself.

Soul mates.

It's rare to find them in their world, but when found, it's suddenly as if the whole world changes. People make such a big fuss about it, and it slowly grates on his nerves.

Mikoto himself was unimpressed.

He accompanies his friend, though, when he receives a call about Mikoto's 'stalker' being in the hospital, curious as to who this person is to be so determined to go after the grumpy redhead. He waits for Mikoto go in first before following him.]

Comments

[toremainbehind]

[It's fine if Totsuka doesn't say anything to him; he'll just mill around and finish packing up whatever he was in the process of getting. However, he does glance over at him every few times just to make sure that Totsuka isn't having any trouble moving around.]

Anything else you want to pack up?

[preciousmemories]

[Tatara's in the process of rolling up what clothes he has one-handed and casually sticking them into his socks, the ones with the least wear anyway. It's very slow going work, so he has part of a sock in his mouth when Izumo asks. He sticks a finger in the gap so he can answer.]

Just my clothes I think... I wrote the note already, and you've got my school things... There's a couple of books but... [He keeps that finger in the sock bundle as he talks, making as face as he thinks about what other things he could say.]

They're kinda falling apart? [And now he's gonna go back to attempting to pack his clothing while having it take up as little space as possible.]

[toremainbehind]

[Really, Izumo is a bit impressed with how Totsuka's been able to live so far. Granted, it does seem that he's okay with his living situation and the older man gets the notion that he might have been pushing a little too much.

So, he gives a nod.]

...Need help packing your clothes? Otherwise, I can let you handle that one on your own.

[preciousmemories]

[A bit impressed now... Maybe that wouldn't be quite as much of the main emotion later, when Tatara reacts to so many of the things that Izumo is used to with something like giddiness because it's new to him.

It's the situation he's known for most of his life, and his father always said he didn't get attached to things but—he finishes the bundle and rubs the back of his head.]

There isn't much left but it's...if you don't mind helping you can. [He feels almost shy saying it, but... There's not a lot of clothing he wants to take from here anyway.]

[toremainbehind]

I don't mind, but I'm wondering if I might be pushing you a bit.

[Trying his best to get adjusted to this new bond was...something.

It's a lot more emotion than he'd usually care to show with the exception of Mikoto.]

[preciousmemories]

[Tatara blinks.] I'm... Just not used to someone else being around, I guess. I don't mind.

[It was easy to slip back into doing everything by himself once he was back in this house, even if that made the actual process overly complex and take longer than it could. Besides, he's already done most of what would be considered the embarrassing part.] Since my adoptive father's wife left, it's mostly been me here so I... Asking is weird.

[toremainbehind]

Understandable.

[At least he doesn't seem to consider it embarrassing?]

[preciousmemories]

[What else is there to say? It's still awkward work to bundle his clothes up with one hand, and that partially that its his clothes.] This should be last of everything... [He... really doesn't have much right now, Izumo.] Start moving things to the car? [He'd say "Let's start" but...he's not going to be a lot of help as he is right now.]

[toremainbehind]

Sounds good.

[But he does pick up everything they've packed and gestures for Totsuka to head out first.]

[preciousmemories]

[Ok, he'll make his way through the door and over to the car, waiting for Izumo, before realizing that they should probably lock the door after them.

...He'll ask Izumo to do it after they're packed, since he's slower. Unless Izumo already realized it.

In the meantime, he'll just lean against the car door.]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo probably has.

As much as he doesn't like the man taking care of Totsuka, he's not that rude to leave a door unlocked. That's just good manners. But after locking the door, he does come over to Totsuka, unlocking the car.]

Ready?

[preciousmemories]

[A good soulmate, locking the door before he could say anything about it. That's still weird. It's still just the second day though.

He'll get used to it as he gets used to Izumo, maybe? Is it always like this? This flurry of questions immediately after meeting?

...it's not like this is a typical situation for meeting soul mates or Izumo, he thinks, so maybe there isn't an answer for that.

He nods, shifting the crutch.]

Seeing where you live will be interesting! [And maybe it'll turn into the kind of home he's read about, instead of the kind he barely remembers and the one they're standing in front of.]