Ｓㄗ丹尺Ｋ

ᏣᏂᎯᎵᎿᏋᖇ ᏋᎲᎶᏂᎿ

arriving back in cell 13, hwa didn't know what to expect from the others, exactly. he knew jyugo wouldn't be there, having been taken by the medics before he would then be put into solitary until he woke up and his future was decided from there.

he didn't know what to expect from the other three. he had separated from them after leaving the arena, and once yamato opened the cell door for him, he tensed up and awaited whatever they were gonna say to or ask him.

what he didn't expect was the utter silence that followed his arrival.

uno, nico, and rock all stare at him, eyes wide and wary. they also seemed to be filled with some fear, and that had hwa clenching his fists in his dark hoodie. despite the hurt and anger swelling darkly in him, he kept his facial features indifferent and cold, much like they'd been his first few days in nanba prison.

it seemed that nico was the first to regain his sense, and approaches the older boy first.

"are you ok, hwa-kun? jyugo-kun didn't hurt you, right?" he asks lightly, eyes worried and still holding fear as he looks him over quickly.

hwa's nails dig into his palms as he shakes his head in answer. he wasn't worried much about nico and rock's reactions, but considering that jyugo's revelation had shocked uno to his core, he expected the gambler to react negatively to him as well.

"how come you didn't tell us about your powers?"

there it was.

the cold tone of voice and slight quiver to his words had hwa's features faltering slightly before retaining their nonchalantness. he had been trained harshly on how to keep his face cool in these situations — uno asking him this question shouldn't have the capability of breaking through even the slightest bit.

all three of the other teens wince at his next biting words.

"i didn't know i was obligated to share my life story with you guys."

of course he wasn't obligated, is what they thought. but uno's words and their own reactions to him made it seem like they had expected him to trust them with something like that, and they knew they'd messed up.

"hwa, it's just..."

"how long have we known each other?" cutting off rock, the blue eyed teen stares down the normal three, and they flinch slightly under his intensity.

"not long," uno whispers out, and hwa nods.

"that's correct. we've known each other for a while, sure, but unlike with jyugo, none of you knew me before i was put in this cell with you. you don't know where i've been, who i am, or what i've done. you seem to expect me to reveal my past to you people, yet i barely know you. that's not how it works, and it won't be like that."

after that spiel, he moves towards the cell door once more and knocks on it, calling out for yamato. once the deputy guard approached and acknowledged him, he gave his request.

"i'd like to spend some time in solitary if it's alright."

_0_

"supervisor, please stop bullying supervisor suguroku! you're still recovering!" haewon exclaims worriedly, trying to pull the monkey-like man away from hajime while the other three guards look between samon and the gorilla.