@artfulfox | continued [☆]
Not getting an answer from one of his friends for a day wasn’t so strange, but when a week passed? And more? Akira had begun to worry, fretting that something might have happened while his attention was focused elsewhere. If he was going to be honest, it wasn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility that Yusuke was just busy, likely staring at a canvas or seeking out inspiration anywhere and everywhere. But ten days was too much; when Yusuke had finally shown up at Leblanc he almost felt weak with relief.
A heaviness weighed on his chest once he was finally able to get a good look at his friend, Yusuke’s exhaustion as evident on his face as though fatigue were his mask, rather than the face of the classic kitsune. Akira was more than willing to bet he wasn’t eating well either, but it was sort of ironic for him to preach the benefits of both resting and eating well when he couldn’t follow his own advice. If it weren’t for Sojiro forcing him to eat a decent meal every now and again he probably would find himself subsisting on quick snacks and the occasional diner meal. There just never seemed to be enough time to cook for himself, despite his abilities.
“--You don’t look fine.” And that would be it, his only comment on Yusuke’s appearance, no matter how heartbreaking he might be. Of course, that wouldn’t stop him from dishing up some of the curry bubbling away on the stove and setting it in front of Yusuke. Steady rains had kept customers off the streets and out of the café, allowing them access not only to the entire building, but to plenty to eat as well. At least he could offer that much, if nothing else.
Taking a seat at the counter, Akira turned his gaze down to his own plate rather than look at his companion, the faint beginnings of a wry smile tugging at his lips. Now it was his turn to outright lie, the words spilling out of him even as he considered just how foolish they were.
“I’m okay. It was just something stupid anyway; I forgot I’d even sent you a message.” Or had it been Ryuji, worried about Akira one late night after the trains had stopped running? The next morning he had woken up to several encouraging messages from other members of the Phantom Thieves, each of them offering the stock response of ‘I’m here if you need to talk’ among other, genuinely heart-felt words. Sequestered or not, Yusuke had probably received a heads up as well.
“...Did you want some coffee? I didn’t think to ask.”
