Beyond the Horizon

Episode 17. The Silver Lining

"Ken, that tickles."

"That's not my fault. I'm trying to get your measurement, Tomo."

"Without the measuring tape?" Tomo held up the roll he had in his hand, with a smile and a raised eyebrow, while Ken was lightly tapping his fingers around Tomo's waist under his shirt.

Ken grinned. "I guess I got caught!"

"Well, you never asked for it," Tomo chuckled.

The grin disappeared as Ken took the measuring tape. "You still can't feel anything at your right side, can you?" he said quietly.

"Huh, you touched there as well?"

"Yeah. I just thought I'd see how you'd react. I didn't put any pressure on the scar, though."

"I should feel it if you put enough pressure, so it's kinda pointless to try that."

"I'll take your waist measurement for real now. Don't get spooked."

"I'll try not to."

Though Tomo was pretty used to not feeling clothes or anything in the area, Ken was right to assume he could get spooked. Suddenly feeling pressure over the scar or suddenly feeling something on his skin when it 'disappeared' or it just suddenly 'appeared' did alarm him. He still wasn't entirely over what happened either, so he could get images for that day in his mind when something was touching the area.

That was why Ken never put his arm around Tomo's waist if he risked touching it.

And, so, even if he expected it, he twitched.

The two of them called the entire area where he couldn't feel anything 'the scar' since it was due the injury, but the actual scar was much smaller. He had tried to figure out where the area actually was, but since he could feel with his own fingers it was difficult to notice when the tingly and the fully functional areas started.

"Did you want a chest measurement, Eguchi?"

"If you would, senpai," Eguchi said.

Tomo had suggested they went to the drama club to ask a senpai he was comfortable with. Chika would have done as well, but Tomo was more comfortable with Ken. He was respectful and had a better idea of what Tomo didn't like. And the thing about the scar as well.

"Anything else?" Ken asked as he wrote down the measurement.

"Shoulder, sleeve and inner leg," Eguchi replied.

"What are you doing when she wants all of these measurements?" Ken asked as he got Tomo's shoulder width.

"Just a café," Eguchi said.

"What are you going to be? A waiter?" Ken asked.

"Same as at work."

"Really? That's unexpected." Ken seemed to be going to take the leg measurement, but changed his mind and started with Tomo's neck, taking far more measurements than the girl had asked for. He wrote them all down. "Tomo, how tall are you now?"

"Eh... I was 166 during the health checkup..."

Ken stared at Tomo for a while, like he couldn't believe his ears. "Really? What was it last year? 160?"

"157 in October."

"Almost 10 cm in 11 months. Nice."

"Why are you impressed? It's not like I can do anything about it."

Eguchi laughed and Ken gave him a grin. He jotted down the height and gave the piece of paper to the girl.

"That should be all you need unless you are going to make a hat. The neck measurement is important if you're going to cover the neck to hide anything. It also helps when making a collar. Make sure to add some width if you make a vest."