“Please do,” Jun said, then quietly added, “Thank you, I’m sorry.”
His thumb hovered over the end call button. Maybe this hadn’t been such a great idea after all. With whatever state Shoji was in, he probably wasn’t going to approve of Jun involving their elder brother. He dreaded seeing what messages he must’ve gotten during the call, and if he didn’t hear about it now he sure would hear about it later…
But things were the way they were now. Jun hung up.
Chosaku yawned and punched Shoji’s number. Someone picked up, but Chosaku could hear nothing over the din of voices and headache-inducing music. “Go outside, Shoji,” he tried to shout, but knew Shoji wouldn’t be able to make out the words. Still, after a few fraught minutes, the hubbub started to recede and Shoji’s voice became clear. Well, clear-ish. It was clear it was him. The individual words, definitely a betrayal of diction.
“Why are you texting Jun at three in the morning?” Chosaku pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to will the developing ache to pass.
“He’s got something I want,” came the reluctant response.
“And you have to have it right this moment? What is it? I know you don’t speak to Jun unless you have to, why couldn’t you call me?”
Sullen silence on the other end of the line.
“Well, if you can’t tell me, clearly it’s not important, and it can wait until you’re sober and Jun’s awake.”
“Did I teach you to mumble? Speak up.”
“Tie pin. You gave it to him. When he started at Academia. I wanted it and you gave it to him and it’s mine and I want it.”
Chosaku rubbed his face, tired and confused. “You have plenty of tie pins. Just pick one up when you get home. You’re not likely to be presentable enough to need one right now, anyway.”
“Well, you can’t have that one, it’s Jun’s now.”
There was no reply, but a faint hint of someone sniffling.
Chosaku sighed. “I’ll buy you a new one, okay? I’ll pick it out tomorrow. Just come home right this instant and stop bothering Jun, or you won’t get anything.”
“...knew you liked him b-” the words cut off as the call ended at Shoji’s end.
Chosaku heaved a sigh and redialled Jun’s number.
“Hello, Jun? I’ve spoken with Shoji. You won’t have any more trouble tonight.”
