Hey, my name's Hana! (..◜ᴗ◝..) I write and draw fanart. Please read my strawpage & BYI, linked below. I would prefer for my audiences to be ↑18 even though I primarily SFW since my works may consist of adult themes.
I write for Haikyuu!!, Tokyo Debunker, and JJK. I crosspost on ao3 under the same user.
Not my usual post, but I was wondering why Elias was so striking as a character to me—before I quickly realized that it’s because of his hair… will ZZG ever add more to the ghoul’s hair💭
Summary: 4 times of Zenji trying to make contact, and the one time it actually works.
{ 1 }
Zenji has always been worried about what's been happening with Jiro, he's a worrywart for a reason. So this leads to occasional visits to Mortkranken to check how Jiro is doing, even though the ward itself sort of terrifies him.
Tonight wasn't anything different, after checking that everyone was asleep in Hotarubi, Zenji flew over to Mortkranken's entrance and phased through the doors with ease and made his way to the lab downstairs to find his younger brother.
The laboratory still gave Zenji the chills every time he visited despite being dead... though that fear was short lived by the time he spotted Jiro asleep on a metal table with a blanket covering him, he must've gotten stitched up again...
Nevertheless, he's glad Jiro was okay and getting his rest.
"Sleep well, brother." He muttered softly, even when his words could never reach his brother's ears.
Now as for the person responsible for his stitches, Zenji looked over to find Yuri asleep over his desk.
"Oh Doctor, you must be shivering! Let me assist you."
He can't have the man taking care of his brother freeze in such a place, that simply wont do! And so, Zenji wandered around in the lab looking for an extra piece of blanket he could use. Eventually, he found a clean one over some others stored away in another room.
"Perfect! This will do just fine."
However, when Zenji reached out to grab it with his two hands. They ended up phasing through it...
"Ah! Curses... I've forgotten I'm still incapable of holding other objects." Despite being dead for a year, he really tends to forget he's just a ghost.
Ah but then how could he help Yuri warm up? His blazer maybe?
"It's worth a shot!"
Zenji removed his uniform off of his shoulders and floated right behind Yuri, slowly, he lowered his blazer and wrapped it around him successfully!
"Aha! It worked, at last you can rest easy Doctor Isami- Ahh?!"
He might've spoken too soon, his blazer had also phased through Yuri and he must've felt even colder with its presence, or something worded much better by Haku- Zenji watched in terror as he nearly woke up the poor doctor from his sleep.
"M-my deepest apologies Yuri! I'll take my leave!"
Zenji left, feeling embarrassed after that whole ordeal... he should've found ways to hold other objects first before he could have attempted any of those! This makes for a new goal in mind, to be able to hold other objects to assist Yuri!
~~~
Yuri woke up that morning feeling a lot colder than usual.
{ 2 }
"You tried to what on who??"
Haku had just freshly woken up for the morning and he was greeted with Zenji explaining to him what had happened back in Mortkranken. Not the ideal way he wanted to start, but it's not the worst.
"I attempted to give him my blazer, but I had forgotten it wouldn't work out that way. I just feel embarrassed and horrible for it!"
"Calm down, it's not like you killed someone's grandma."
"That isn't something to joke about you lout!" Perhaps he should've consulted someone else...
"At least you know I'm kidding, anyways I *could* give you a temporary talisman for occasions like that." Although he'd prefer to save it for more dire needs, if it's to help Zenji though, he might as well.
"I appreciate the offer, friend. But... I'd prefer it if I could do the action myself through my own efforts."
"Okay, makes sense so then why come to me then?"
"Why you'll be the one providing me with some of those items of course! I can't pick up anything else that isn't a pen, paper or my biwa."
Yeah, Haku should've just slept in today.
.
.
.
It was late into the night again and Zenji has been practicing trying to hold other objects with Haku, so tonight it's time to see if any of it has worked! Zenji entered back inside Mortkranken to check on the doctor he wishes to see!
Back inside the lab, Zenji returned to the room the two normally work in and it seems he was correct! Yuri was still awake doing some reading and Jiro must be in a different room doing something else Zenji couldn't understand much.
Although they weren't asleep Zenji could at least watch a bit of what Yuri was doing. Floating right above the doctor and taking a good look at the book's contents, he was reading...
"Are you reading isekai novels, doctor? You have interesting tastes!"
Zenji isn't one to judge what genre someone reads, so long as the reader enjoys it! Does he read other genres though? Zenji would recommend him some if the other could hear him.
Yuri seemed to be immersed by the novel, it's an amusing sight since Zenji doesn't see this side of his often.
As Yuri hit a certain page and decided it was best to leave it off there before Jiro returned, he tried looking for one of his bookmarks he placed somewhere.
"Where did I place it..." Was it the late hour or was he actually forgetting where he last placed it? It should have been right-
"Ah. Here." Near the edge of the desk though? He wouldn't have placed it so far off, unless he shoved it with his arm without thought.
Unbeknownst to him, the poet responsible was giggling right above him with joy. It was a small bookmark he just moved, but progress always counts!
"I'm sure one day I'll be able to suggest you more books to read. You just keep on enjoying your own novel my dear doctor!"
His hand made its way to Yuri's head to pat him, but as usual the action wasn't felt and Yuri was left shivering instead.
"brrr... This calls for some caffeine." Yuri stood up from his desk to go grab some coffee upstairs. He'll need it for the next couple of hours anyways.
{ 3 }
This time, Yuri was focusing in class with Jiro by his side. Even though the discussion was already something he knew, he would like to keep his academic grades up (and occasionally show off his unmatched intelligence).
During the lecture, at one point Yuri tried checking on his clockwatch on his pocket for the time. Only to find his pocket empty...
What?? Did he forget it back at his nightstand in his room? Ugghh... Curses for another all nighter...
Yuri opened his mouth to ask Jiro next to him, until he felt something beside his finger on the chair. And as he grabbed the object, lo and behold... it was his clockwatch.
"Is something wrong, Yuri?" Jiro asked, noticing Yuri's perplexed expression over his clockwatch.
"...no, it's nothing. I thought I misplaced this."
That's been happening a bit lately, but it's only been twice. While he doesn't believe it's anything major, it's still strange how his things just conveniently appear when he needs it.
.
.
.
"You had forgotten it during your rush to change my dear, but never fear! I brought it along with me while no one was looking."
Although something like a clockwatch did take a lot longer to hold onto, all those practices were paying off at least!
"Make sure to not hurry in such a rush next time. I'll visit later in the night again!"
As Zenji left, his hand phased through Yuri's arm, causing him to shiver once more.
"...was it always cold here?" He could've sworn he felt a similar sensation last night.
"No? If it is, I don't feel it."
As Yuri got his response, he just sighed and tried to pay attention to Professor Dante.
This wasn't the time to spiral about theories at the moment... He's got a lecture to listen to and research to conduct later. Whatever was happening might be a one off situation, he has priorities at the moment.
~~~
"Haku! I've made us tea for today."
Haku and Subaru were back in Hotarubi having their usual discussions with some tea and snacks prepared by their captain.
"Oh great, thanks."
"You're welcom- ah. Isn't that... Zenji's doll?" Subaru pointed out the ominous doll floating by Haku's side as he laid the tray and their tea down.
"Yep. I'm left to babysit while Zenji is flocking over to his new crush."
"...crush?" When did that happen-
"That was poorly explained, uhh.. I wouldn't say crush but he's kinda been visiting Mortkranken for a few days now, in the morning and night just for one person. Of course it's not Jiro but that's only one of the reasons for his visits." The vice-captain sighed while grabbing his tea.
"Oh my.."
"If you're wondering who's the lucky guy, that would be Yuri."
"Oh...! That's-"
"A recipe for disaster, I know."
"...not what I'm trying to say..."
"Haha, I can tell. Though if Yuri had any idea of what Zenji was doing, he'd probably be taken to a hospital himself." And with his previous experiences with the doctor... It's just a possible outcome.
"He seems really motivated though, and I've been noticing how much more happier and romantic sounding the poetry he recites are. I think it's... cute?" Not that he has any experience to ever doing any of those. They seem sweet though if Yuri had known.
"Oh I don't hear the end of it, you have no idea." He just hopes Zenji doesn't end up doing anything too risky to out himself as that was his wish, but he trusts in him to be careful enough. Though would Yuri figure it out...?
{ 4 }
After another night of restless research, Yuri had told Jiro to retire to his bedroom early so he doesn't overwork himself and get another attack. He can accomplish the last bits of their work on his own, and so here he was, alone at his desk while overlooking the data gathered.
... Though as he continued Yuri was getting increasingly tired once again, which concerned the spirit right beside him.
"Oh my dear doctor... You should really get some rest, I'm sure this last bit of your work can wait until morning." Although he understands the dedication, it's been two nights already!
But Yuri does seem like he might pass out on his desk again, at least it isn't the metal table... Zenji should prepare him a blanket while he isn't looking.
And so, Zenji returned to the room with the spare blankets he tried to pick up previously. Some time has passed after that day, he's hoping he can finally pick it up and bring the doctor some comfort!
Zenji reached his hands out to the blanket...
... It slightly phased through again but with some contact!
"Ah! I must try again." Determined to bring the blanket to Yuri, Zenji attempted it a few more times before he finally could hold onto the blanket with ease.
"Aha! I've done it! Now he'll be able to rest a little easier with this."
After exiting the room, Zenji peeked out from one of the containers to see if Yuri had passed out while he was away.
And just like that, Yuri did in fact pass out, in his hand was one of the papers with their research, and his position was far from comfortable...
"Oh dear... You really need to use your own bed more. The comfort of a bed is a feeling that can be unmatched!" He has no use for a bed or sleep anymore, but it would be nice to lay in one again.
Zenji approached the sleeping doctor and was about to try and move Yuri into a more comfortable position... Until he realized he probably couldn't and shouldn't try that if he didn't wish to wake him up again.
So he grabbed the papers and organized them so they wouldn't be damaged while he was asleep. Once that was done, Zenji finally wrapped the blanket around Yuri and he couldn't help a gentle smile now that he's finally done what made him start this goal in the first place. And he just might continue it too!
"Rest well, my dear doctor."
Zenji softly whispered while his hand gently brushed Yuri's bangs up. Of course, phasing through it, but not enough to wake him up. Anyways, he'll leave to let him rest now, his younger brother must be worried back in Hotarubi.
~~~
"Jiro, was this blanket your doing?"
"No."
"...huh." Did someone else clean his desk and gave him this blanket while he was asleep?
{ 5 }
During his trip back to Hotarubi, Zenji had overheard something that had happened between Mortkranken and Frostheim, this worried Zenji if it had anything to do with the two doctors.
"I'll make a quick stop there to check if they're okay..."
Zenji made his way to the ward and while he was nearby, he witnessed two Frostheim students run outside and pass by the poet.
"Woah!? Where are you two going in such a rush?"
He returned his gaze to the entrance of the ward and flew close enough to peek through the door.
Ah! The honor student was here, and Jiro seemed to be fine all that's left was Yuri, who seemed to have an indifferent expression on him. Zenji couldn't get a proper read on him, or the situation.
"That was cruel... Are you okay, Yuri?" The honor student spoke up, breaking the silence between the three.
Yuri didn't respond at first, until his lips began to quiver and something had dropped from his cheek.
Zenji made sure to cover his mouth to not alert the honor student of his presence during this moment. He wasn't expecting Yuri to start crying all of a sudden...
"Yuri..." Was all MC could say as they stood in silence with Yuri's quiet sobbing being the only noise in the room.
It took a few minutes for Yuri to calm down and compose himself a bit.
"I'll need a few minutes, you two get ready for our museum visit soon." Was all he said before walking out of the room before any of them could stop him.
For Zenji though, he took this time to go and see what Yuri would do just so he could make sure he was alright.
~~~
"Forgive me for intruding..." He muttered to himself as he found Yuri sobbing and muttering curses to no one inside his room.
Though it was Zenji's first time here and he'd love to take in the details of Yuri's room, now wasn't exactly the time. From what he's gathered, the trio would need to leave soon and whatever had happened really broke Yuri...
"My dear doctor..." He got close to Yuri's side with an expression of sympathy.
"I may not know of what transpired before I arrived, though I know you're strong enough to break through whatever it is clouding your mind."
"You cannot hear me, but I do believe you can solve this mission with that magnificent intellect of yours!"
... Ah, still no use...
MC and Jiro are gonna be waiting for him, he can't take too long here... He must do something.
*Those damn Frostheimers... They've got him crying now. God this was so humiliating... He's certain Jiro wouldn't speak about it, but what about MC? What would she think... And worse, what if they end up telling her more about what happened last year...?*
That made him even more sick in the stomach, would she change her mind about him...? Just like-
His train of thoughts stopped once he felt something soft press on his forehead. Wait...what?-
Yuri looked around his room, there was no one but him. What was that... and why did it feel like...
*Ah- no, no.. some studies have shown that when nostalgic people hold onto a memory they're attached to, they're able to sense the same feeling of that memory as if it was happening all over again.*
Was he thinking of *her* then? Not once has she entered his line of thought in a while. And Yuri was no nostalgic man!
He's been getting the same sensations for some time now, but this was something else.. what could it be??-
"Yuri. Are you still there?"
"Ah?! Jiro.. y-yes, I'll be out in a moment."
He'll have to put his current thoughts aside ... And wipe his tears.
.
.
.
If only Yuri could see the ghost he's been curious about, listening nearby the window and seemed happier now that Yuri stopped crying. He doesn't know it, but he's got another person that believes in him.
The Hyacinth Of Hotarubi @hanatoumahi - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
