The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 59~♫

 Kagetsu finally finished wrapping the ankle, sitting next to Rigaku. They didn't talk despite Rigaku's claim.

"How did you find me in the park?"

The youngest Kamini scratched behind his neck. "For a while, I had this feeling somebody was watching me. It made me nervous, but nobody was closing in, so I let it be. I wasn't doing anything bad, and it could be just a stray cat."

'True. Even to a policeman, this would seem like training despite the unholy hour.'

"Then I spotted a running figure."

"I tried to leave without you noticing."

"I did lose you for a bit after I heard some noise and huffs. It sounded like something bad had happened. I couldn't just leave."

Rigaku pushed his new glasses up. "I'm glad you stayed. Looking back, I had a small chance to get out of there on my own."

"I checked it during the day, and it goes underground too."

"It would be a long trip." Rigaku tried to smile but failed.

Rubbing his sweaty palms into pajamas trousers, he tried to calm himself down. There were two burning questions on his mind, and he didn't know which one to ask first.

"There is more, right?" Kagetsu rested his chin on his hands, his elbows digging into his knees. "If it's about me being freakish, I'll work hard—"

"No!" Rigaku barked, and pain shot from his hurt ankle as he stomped. "Actually, yes... but no!" He pinched his bridge.

Rigaku took a deep breath, counted till five, and released it. "Firstly, I'm sorry for yelling at you in the school. I shouldn't snap at you. You did nothing wrong!"

Hardly audible ticking sound spread through the room. Even if Rigaku's body screamed for a rest, his brain refused to enter idle mode. Not now.

"I was... researching your recent behavior."

Kagetsu covered his face.

"Not in a bad way! I wanted to understand you! For years I thought I know you, that I can guide you! Help you!" Rigaku dug his fingers into his knees as tears started to flow from his eyes. "But I realized I know nothing! My brain was useless!"

"Come on, Ri!" Kagetsu straightened. "You make the private math lessons sound like nothing."

"Even a monkey can learn to count! But I failed to realize what you really wanted to do!" He bit his lips. 'I didn't realize I loved writing stories myself! I'm such a fool!'

"Isn't that flexing my muscles?"

"You said you hated it."

Kagetsu hid his head between his shoulders. "Yeah," he whispered. "I do."