Getting Pulled Over and Bundled into the Trunk

Everything is fine

Gakushuu scoffed, pushing his clothes down in his bag. "I don't need a babysitter, Itona."

The white-haired boy's brow furrowed. "It's not babysitting." He sipped his drink. "It'd just be some company."

"I'll be fine." Gakushuu ignored the uneasiness in his gut, fiddling with the bag strap. "He isn't going to try anything stupid – he knows that will drive me away for good."

"...If everything's fine, then why do you always look uncomfortable talking about him?" Itona replied bluntly.

Gakushuu felt a rise of frustration. "I'm not. Things are just awkward due to circumstances."

"... Or you're not dealing with what he did," Itona's voice was quiet.

Gakushuu bristled, his skin prickling. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Itona's lips thinned, hesitating before he took a deep breath. "... Terasaka thinks I... that I have trauma because of what Shiro did to me," he replied lowly, causing Gakushuu to tense and grip his bag tight. "... Some stuff... is harder to get over—"

"I'm not traumatised, Itona," Gakushuu stiffly, feeling his skin crawl at the word.

Trauma implied that there was something broken or damaged; which he wasn't. He was strong. Unlike his father, he didn't hold onto the past, he moved on.

Itona sighed. "I'm just saying—"

"Look, I appreciate the concern," Gakushuu replied lightly. "But I'm not traumatised. I'm perfectly functional." He frowned when his phone buzzed. "Anyway, I need to get going, he'll be picking me up outside."

Itona's eyes narrowed. "He's coming here to pick you up?"

"Yes." Gakushuu shifted the bag on his shoulders. "It is raining."

"...I thought you said you didn't want him anywhere near here?" Itona's eyes narrowed.

Gakushuu grimaced, growing irritated. "Yes, well, it seemed the more practical option."

"Why can't you see what's happening?" Itona stood up, looking almost angry. "Why can't you just admit you don't want to go?"

He gripped his bag straps tight, something nagging at the back of his mind. Then his phone buzzed again when his dad was calling. "Look, just let me handle this alright?" His stomach twisted when he answered the phone. "Yeah, I'm coming, I'm just grabbing an umbrella."

"Oh, no need, I brought one from the car," his father replied cheerfully while the rain splattered from the inside. "I'm at your door."

Gakushuu tensed. "What?"

There was a sharp knock at the door a second later as his father hung up.

He cringed, glancing at Itona who shot him a pointed look, before he sighed and opened the front door, feeling sick when he saw his father in the doorway.

"I didn't want you getting wet," his father said brightly, lowering the umbrella when Gakushuu stepped slightly. "Do you mind if I come in while you get your things?"

There was an uncomfortable pause as Gakushuu felt Itona's gaze burn into his head.

But what was he supposed to do? Let the man stand in the rain?

"Yeah, sure..." Gakushuu took a step back to let him in.

"Wonderful." His father hummed, slipping his shoes off as he stepped into the apartment. "The driver's outside." He looked around as the door was closed behind him. "Ah, so this is..." His smile twitched looking around the apartment, glancing at the futons, one living space and the doorway to the small bathroom. "...Cosy."