A Smoke Filled Room { OPEN }
Ryou Akiyama seemed to amble down the hall, though he clearly knew where he was headed. His hand came up to his mouth to stifle a yawn. Even though he was normally awake at this hour, he was rarely out and about. His practice for an upcoming tournament had ran late by mistake, so he had to either stay all night at the gym, or walk back to his dorm when he would normally be relaxing. Given midnight was a significant ways off, the choice had been obvious.
However, just because it wasn’t incredibly late, didn’t mean that Ryou had been expecting to see anyone else out in the halls. While he was surprised to see the other student walking, he had altered his path slightly so they wouldn’t collide. But, that didn’t come to pass. The other hall goer veered into him suddenly. The strong-looking student, ramming into the really-only-strong-in-his-arms Ryou, naturally knocked him into the wall, despite how brief the contact was.
And then the other had the audacity to tell him to get out of the way? At any other time of day, Ryou might’ve recognized the apparent weariness in the other’s voice and been more understanding. However, that wasn’t the case now.
“Well, I might’ve, if you knew which way you were going.”
He glared for a couple seconds, but then his face softened slightly.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here…you new? Are you lost?”
Turning his head to deflect the other’s harshness, he stared away, ashamed like a hound being scolded, hands in his pockets. He swayed slightly, uneasy on the false limb, only glancing up at Ryou for mere moments at a time.
Registering the question, difficult in his exhaustion, it took him a few moments to chew out an answer.
❝ ... No, I’ve been here for a while. I’m just usually across in that little bungalow over by the sports field, y’know? ❞
For a moment or two, he was too tired to continue, or explain further, or even move, he only stared, passive and depressed, until a sigh rattled his frame and he looked up at Ryou, meeting his gaze.
❝ Look, mate, I’m just- I’ve been in hospital for most of the past few months, I’m feeling a little dazed. I’ve had a long day, you’ve had a long day, could you tell me where reception is? I’ve been walking in circles for the past half hour. ❞














