Softly, he sleeps

Just rest for a while

Part 2

Kou sighed and stepped forward, grabbing Mitsuba's wrist before he could start wobbling again. "Alright, that's it. You're sitting down before you actually fall over."

"Hey—what the hell?! Let go!" Mitsuba protested, trying (and failing) to yank his arm back.

Kou ignored him and tugged him over to a nearby low concrete ledge. It was probably part of an old, broken-down fence, but it would do just fine as a seat. "Sit."

"No."

Kou stared at him. "Mitsuba."

Mitsuba crossed his arms stubbornly, but his body betrayed him almost instantly—his knees wobbled, and he swayed where he stood, eyes drooping again.

And then, without another word, he dropped down onto the ledge with an exhausted huff.

Kou raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you're listening?"

"Shut up." Mitsuba shot him a weak glare but barely had the energy to hold it. His body slumped slightly, his hands resting limply in his lap.

Kou sat down next to him, leaning back on his hands. "Told you you needed a break."

Mitsuba scoffed. "Like you ever take breaks. You run headfirst into fights all the time, don't you? Why don't you sit around and rest for once?"

Kou shrugged. "I do rest. Just not when I've got an exhausted ghost to babysit."

"Babysit?!" Mitsuba's eyes flashed with irritation, but it was half-hearted at best. His head drooped slightly again, his body tilting forward.

Kou nudged him lightly. "Hey. Seriously, you should sleep."

Mitsuba grumbled something under his breath before muttering, "And have you staring at me while I'm asleep? No way, you creep."

Kou snorted. "What, you think I'd sit here and admire your sleeping face?"

Mitsuba lifted his chin slightly, a tired smirk pulling at his lips. "I mean... you are obsessed with me."

Kou rolled his eyes. "Right. Totally obsessed."

Mitsuba chuckled softly, but it quickly turned into a yawn. He blinked sluggishly, his body growing heavier by the second.

Kou frowned. "You're seriously pushing it, Mitsuba. Just lean back or something. At this rate, you're gonna fall over."

Mitsuba muttered something incoherent and wobbled again.

Kou sighed. Guess I'll have to do this myself.

Before Mitsuba could protest, Kou shifted and reached out, placing a steady hand on Mitsuba's shoulder. Gently, he guided him sideways, tilting him toward his own shoulder.

Mitsuba stiffened slightly. "What the—"

"Relax," Kou muttered. "Just lean on me. It's fine."

Mitsuba hesitated, but only for a second. His body was too exhausted to argue anymore. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he let himself rest against Kou's shoulder.

"...You better not make this weird," he grumbled.

Kou grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Mitsuba made a soft sound—something between a scoff and a sigh—and then, finally, he stilled. His body slumped fully against Kou's side, his breathing already starting to slow.

Kou smiled a little. There we go.

He let his head tip back slightly, staring up at the night sky. The street was quiet now, only the faint hum of distant traffic filling the air. He could feel Mitsuba's warmth against him, the slow rise and fall of his chest.

For a ghost, Mitsuba sure felt alive.

(To be continued in Part 3!)