Day 1 ā Unconventional Receptacle
Series: The Great Ace Attorney (DLC trial: Japan Side spoilers)
Summary: Immediately after Kazuma is acquitted from the assault charge. The suspiciously human sized case has more than one unexpected use other than carrying Ryunosukeā¦
Notes: From the DLC case that really should have been localized
"So, this... carrying case. You cannot be seriously consideringā" Kazuma shook his head. "Just get in, Naruhodo." This had to work out, all of this sneaky analysis of Ryunosuke's measurements, a custom-tailored box large enough to fit a grown man inside, it needed to work! He seemed impatient.
The events of the earlier trial left him frazzled. He didn't even know he was the defendant! Kazuma felt like a bird flying straight into a window the entire time, floundering for a semblance of reason and the fear of losing everything he worked so hard for, his lifelong dream...
Now he was realizing that all his nerves went straight to his stomach. He held the trial together, stiff as a board, but now that they were outside the supreme court, the fragile infrastructure all came crashing down like a tidal wave.
In classic Kazuma fashion, he convinced himself it was just from hunger and definitely not because of nerves. Because why would he, Asogi Kazuma, be nervous? The two ate and returned to the Mikotoba residence where they would be testing out this method of stowing away a whole person. This needs to work, there's no time for a contingency...
Looking into the storage case was edging his nerve-wrecked stomach. His throat felt as though it was closing whenever he looked at it. So he didn't look at it, eyes trained on the door. Hesitantly swallowing bitter saliva. He knew Ryunosuke was wary of climbing in, but Kazuma didn't have the patience nor time for a new method.
"This really isn't a good idea, Kazuma. Maybe I shouldn't..." Ryunosuke stared into the container, looking back up at his friend who... was avoiding looking at it, pale in the face. But Kazuma's gaze flicked up to Ryunosuke's face with momentary determination. (Call it desperation...)
"Get in!" Ryunosuke sighed loudly. "If I break something, it's your fault..." With that, Ryunosuke put a foot in, maneuvering himself insideā but he was quickly stopped as he just began easing himself inside, a hand being frantically held up. He looked up nervously, to his friend across from him with his other hand clapped firmly over his mouth. What he was not expecting was for Kazuma to say:
"Wait," A beat of silence. "Move."
"Move!" But the English student was dumbfounded, about to ask for a more concise response, but Kazuma pitched over the case retching, Ryunosuke's legs still contorted inside, unable to withhold his stomach contentsā needless to say, Ryunosuke froze and found himself caught up in another strange, uncomfortable circumstance. This time, a sticky situationā¦ Seriously, how is he this unlucky?
"Whaahah, haā?" He sputtered, taken aback by the sight of such a respected person, perfect student, a promising lawyer, his best friendā now vomiting into the storage carrier Ryunosuke was intended to fit inside. What a cruel twist of fate. It's always Ryunosuke at the center of these things...
WHAAAAT?! Ryunosuke feigned composure. He wasn't sure what to do with himself anymore, now that his best friend just puked on him. He didn't want to cause more trouble by making the surroundings dirtier. "Ahh, haah ha...?" He whimpered, unable to even speak due to the shock. "Whaaaht...?"
Meanwhile, Kazuma was still hunched over, now probably too ashamed to ever look up again. Too bad he was distracted by the blatant defiling of the carrying case Ryunosuke was to travel in. What a nightmare...
He spat once or twice before lifting his head, hands braced against the edges of the case while catching his breath. Ryunosuke stared back, surprisingly redder than he himself was. Why was he so flustered?! It took him a moment to find words, but was interrupted by a second wave erupting from the samurai.
Ryunosuke took a deep breath. "Just... Wow." He sighed, still in the same pose as he was when initially climbing inside. Something about the intimacy of this moment made Ryunosuke feel closer to Kazuma somehow. Was it the walls Kazuma built around himself to appear composed? Was it that Ryunosuke was witnessing an uncontrollable, vulnerable act?
What horrified him more, was that he was savoring this moment, as if it were enjoyable. Why is this... kind of...? No, no, NO. I need to never go outside again. His internal dialog made him audibly sigh, frustrated.
He was startled out of his confusing thoughts when he heard Kazuma clear his throat. "So... So sorry, Iā" Ryunosuke shook his head. In a moment of wit, he returned with. "No, it's okay. I know exactly what you mean to say." Perhaps the look he gave him was too enthusiastic for the happenings in this room.
Kazuma just buried his face in his hands and sat in silence. Ryunosuke could tell that he was stressed, and couldn't do anything to help him out. He was still quietly gagging while attempting to breathe through the anxiety, and completely tensed up. It made Ryunosuke kind of feel like a bad friend, just sitting here and watching.
"Look. Why don't we do this later? I promise I'll cooperate, since it means so much to you. But now is... not a good time." He suggested, observing the carnage. There was no way that he could sneak past anyone while looking like... this.
"Nonsense." Ryunosuke didn't expect such a sore response. He understood (at least he thought he did), but this felt pent up frustration projecting onto himā metaphorically and literally, apparently. In a very, very unfortunate and messy way.
He made a low noise of acknowledgement, and gradually shifted to attempt to clean up the mess. He realized there was no avoiding getting back out. Kazuma was still stiffly bent over, nearly against his side, and Ryunosuke seriously considered getting Professor Mikotoba. This was borderline scary.
Finally, the other man lifts his head, a hand over his mouth in a last ditch effort to spare the dignity he had left. The rest was quite literally spilled in front of him. "Sorry, I..." Ryunosuke nods this time. "I know. You did try to warn me..." He settled back down to talk.
"I can handle cleaning up. You can even blame it on meā"
"No, I wouldn'tā¦" Ryunosuke was actually quite relieved that his friend was selfless enough not to pin this on him (even if he suggested the idea himself). "And... I want to help. That was gonna be your..." The way Kazuma trailed off was a testament to the disgusting feeling it carried.
Honestly, he'd rather not think about what this case has been through already before he fit himself in it. He couldn't even stomach that yet. I mean, who could? "Yes, I know. Consider it a blood pact sealing our friendship for eternity. Or rather, a..."
"Careful." Kazuma hiccuped. Ryunosuke got the point and glanced away towards the door. Somehow, he dreaded that someone would knock any minute...
"Before anyone comes looking for you, I should work on... this." There was no way to put it lightly, but vague references to it were more than sufficient. "I should help you. It's my own carelessness." He perked up at Kazuma's words and shot him a skeptical look.
"Help yourself first, please." He already got to it, first carefully standing and hopping towards what looked like whatever cloth had polished the case. Perfect, that should... do something! "I can do it. You should really drink some water after that. Anyway! I see this as a bondingā"
"Absolutely not. This is a catastrophe, not a slumber party!" So quick to argue. It seemed Kazuma was bouncing back quite well, if he's already critiquing such a critical situation. "But, Kazuma... I've never really seen you in such a state, you're always so put together. You've seen me like that way too many times for it to even be fair..."
"That... Ugh." The sideways glance said enough, he got the gist. He expected a more concise (and borderline mean) objection, but was grateful that he was spared. "I insist, I won't forgive myself if you're in there and I didn't assist you in cleaning your temporary home!" Ryunosuke cringed, squinting at Kazuma and shot him a look that said "seriously?" The other man conceded.
"Okay. Fine. There's no way I can win a debate against you. But don't pushā"
"Say no more, partner. I know what you're meaning to say." Ryunosuke groaned at this statement. "This is what got you into hot water earlier..."
