Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
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@zenokiller
fuyu wasn’t someone who got involved often with random people on the street. if he could go the rest of his life without speaking to anyone ever again, he would! but he can’t help but notice this guy staring into this store window for who knows how long now. it wasn’t like it was a neat store - it was a plain old electronics store but.. ugh. curiosity and all that.
so, he steps in next to the other and peeks into the window.
“ …what are you looking at? ” // @virusbuster
zenokiller:
this was .. nice . in a weird way . just bugging him about something small , nagging him for a normal thing people did . it was normal . and normal is what fuyu wanted more than anything else .
and he knew aki knew it wasn’t serious . there was no way he would actually be this mad over something like this . okay , well that was a lie . he totally would be if he was in the wrong mood . but he wasn’t right now ! so it was fine !
“ oh no you’re right . why would i think you would be on time for something you planned and you picked the time for ? ”
“Hey, hey, I just gave you the reason why and you’re still nagging me…”
But, this was nice, in some ways. Fuyu not nagging him would be a lot more concerning anyways. Guy had always been a mother hen sort, and just easily irritable. But in a funny joking kind of way. At least until more recently, but he could tell what kind of mood Fuyu was in pretty easily.
…he thinks.
They hadn’t been on good terms for years now, but–
“It’s not like we have a reservation, though! So we can just head in and grab a table.”
“ need i repeat that you picked the time. maybe you should be more aware. ”
his words were harsh, but he thinks he knows that aki can tell he isn’t all too serious about it. this was normal arguing. in the end, he hopes it stays like this for a long time – maybe forever. if it did, maybe he would believe in something out there that let him have the chance to just be normal with his best friend once more.
“ thank god we didn’t. they probably wouldn’t let us in if we did. ” he jokes, but his face stays the same as he opens the door for aki.
hi there!! fuyu needs to finally make friends and I need to finally stop being lazy. sooo
like this for a short-ish starter? ( cap 2 ! )
" could you at least pretend to watch where you are going ? "
normally , he would be more phased by the fact someone was floating . but he has been here for … a year ? yeah , something like that . so someone just floating was the least surprising thing . what was surprising was feeling them run straight into his back .
" at least then i can feel a bit bad about being mad . " // @love-shutdown
fuyu was never someone who would say outloud he was a music enjoyer . maybe it was easier now , without the revenge and tight deadline of zeno trying to be spread . it was easier to justify stopping to look through a music store and find something new .
though , his staring at cds meant he was in some kids way . oops . he will just move a little .
" sorry about that . " // @rad-weekend
hi there!! fuyu needs to finally make friends and I need to finally stop being lazy. sooo
like this for a short-ish starter? ( cap 2 ! )
zenokiller:
“ are you really late ? ”
it’s definitely not by much and it isn’t as if fuyu cared all that much . mostly he just wanted to bug aki more because … well , it was funny . in a ‘he wants to piss him off’ kind of way . but still funny .
not that he was going to laugh or anything .
he doesn’t offer a wave or anything , hands stuck in his pockets as the other walks up .
“ didn’t you pick the time ? ”
Great. Of course Fuyu was going to pick on him for just running a few minutes behind. Why wouldn’t he? Guy nagged him for every little thing he did!
But…that was familiar. And he could tell the other didn’t actually mean it to be mean - he was just poking fun. The way they used to, back before everything happened. In ways that wouldn’t immediately devolve into fights and arguments.
…still pissed him off, though.
“C’mon, it’s not like you expected me to actually be on time. You should know better by now! And besides, I…misplaced my arm brace and had to find it. So! It’s a justifiable late!”
this was .. nice . in a weird way . just bugging him about something small , nagging him for a normal thing people did . it was normal . and normal is what fuyu wanted more than anything else .
and he knew aki knew it wasn't serious . there was no way he would actually be this mad over something like this . okay , well that was a lie . he totally would be if he was in the wrong mood . but he wasn't right now ! so it was fine !
" oh no you're right . why would i think you would be on time for something you planned and you picked the time for ? "
"Still do."
Though it was probably an obvious fact, it was...difficult to tell if it was one Fuyu knew or not. It wasn't like they had been on frequent speaking terms for...a long time. In the facility, it was just because of work. All the praise they got as the two people with the most solid theories on how to cure ZENO, even if they were vastly different.
In the end, both of them were right. Fuyu more so - but they put the pieces together to find that cure together. It wasn't a longterm solution, but it was one they could use while looking for that answer.
That's why he was reading this genetics textbook now. Because working with them, was the answer they got closer to in the last year of working together but not...talking about it. They needed to be able to talk about it.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice Fuyu sitting down next to him, but as soon as his presence processes he turns to face him, opening his textbook up a little more for the other to see.
"It's mostly going to be rebuilding the machine and focusing on genetics work now, right? Not that I expect people here to have ZENO but getting a head start just in case...and using the time here to find that solid cure..."
" right . "
yeah . why would that have changed ? aki didn't change all that much after all ... in terms of how he acted and what he liked . at least fuyu thinks . maybe he had just gotten used to it . maybe the past was fading from his memory ... but he didn't think that could happen . it was the best thing to ever happen to him , the past .
if that left him , he was sure nothing would ever be okay ever again .
but, he would fight it for now , leaving over to read the book being offered to him . in fact , he might even rest his chin on the other's shoulder - just to see better . clearly .
" yeah . i guess so ... i think that's a decent plan . i know how to rebuild it . "
he had no plan past this. honestly, part of him was hoping aki would ignore him - either on purpose or not. then he could say he tried, appease that part of himself, and go back to his dark room with the curtain closed.
but of course fate wouldn’t be so kind.
the moment he actually acknowledge him, fuyu froze up and his gaze shoots to the ground. okay um…. he is going to try to be normal and calm. normal and calm…and talk about. normal things.
taking a few steps inside, he takes a seat next to aki. not too close nor too far. just the right amount - like where he wanted their relationship to be. he is quiet for a little longer, before finally speaking up.
"….what are you reading? anything new?"
smooth, fuyu. but at least it wasn’t a weird topic that could lead to an argument.
hopefully.
zenobomber
"Um…”
Aki glances back to his book for a second, like he needs to remember what he was reading about so he could tell Fuyu about it properly, even though he didn’t need to. It wasn’t like he ever read anything other than this, aside from a rare occasional novel or manga.
“…just a textbook again. I mean, with us goin’ back to work and all, it’s good to brush up, isn’t it?”
This was awkward but…at least they weren’t fighting right away? That was good. He just wished he could talk about these things easily again, like he used to with Fuyu, without the weird tension.
shit .
this was the most awkward thing he’s ever done . but , this was a good step . there was no arguing ... no punching ... no ignoring ... but there certainly was a tension that could be cut with a knife .
they were trying though !!
“ yeah . probably . plus you did always like to read them . ”
he could.. sit next to him , right ? this was fine ?
zenobomber
Ack.
[ txt ] i forgot to actually say the name!!! that’s all!! you know i’m bad with this stuff. and it’s like one of the only ones there so its not hard to find.
Jeez, why couldn’t they have just called to figure this out? It would’ve been way easier that way! But he’ll take a moment to actually send Fuyu the name of the place he had in mind after his confirmation that he’d be there which…that was good.
That was a good thing. They were going to hang out without any prompting from all the crazy bullshit that had been happening in their lives. Without prompting from Tsugino, or Kochi, being here. Which…hadn’t happened in a long time.
[ txt ] see ya then
…even if he knew he’d probably be a few minutes late even with the decided upon time but…that didn’t matter, right?
“ are you really late ? ”
it’s definitely not by much and it isn’t as if fuyu cared all that much . mostly he just wanted to bug aki more because ... well , it was funny . in a ‘he wants to piss him off’ kind of way . but still funny .
not that he was going to laugh or anything .
he doesn’t offer a wave or anything , hands stuck in his pockets as the other walks up .
“ didn’t you pick the time ? ”
he needed to make more of an effort to talk to aki , to fix things . the two had been here for almost a year , they were living together - this was the least he could do he thinks .
how to do that ? he had absolutely no idea which lead to him just standing in the doorway of the library for a solid five minutes before doing anything . which was fine , aki was sucked into a book - he had no idea that he was standing here . so .. he just slowly makes his way in .
" maeno . hey . "
@zenobomber
Maybe Fuyu had been right when he first arranged for this house to be made, and they moved in. He rarely left the library, just like when they had been kids.
Though, he wanted to point out his habits were healthier this time. He was leaving to go take walks, to sleep in a bed instead of hunched over his desk, eating without needing a reminder - so it was fine if he spent a lot of time in here for that reason!
...probably. Maybe he'd at least be going out more if Tsugino was here. If he was having an easier time making friends. He felt like he was at least getting friendly with some people but it was hard to tell when the gap between acquaintances and friends had been crossed.
He didn't really have any friends here for that reason.
Fuyu...he wasn't sure if he counted. They interacted occasionally. Teamed up when something crazy was happening within the city. But things were tense still, and it was a rare day when they didn't have an argument trying to interact with each other.
And, with Fuyu's voice speaking up behind him, pulling him out of his book, he could only hope this wasn't the start of another one.
"Hey," he starts, slowly turning away from his desk so he could look at Fuyu. "What's up?"
he had no plan past this. honestly, part of him was hoping aki would ignore him - either on purpose or not. then he could say he tried, appease that part of himself, and go back to his dark room with the curtain closed.
but of course fate wouldn’t be so kind.
the moment he actually acknowledge him, fuyu froze up and his gaze shoots to the ground. okay um…. he is going to try to be normal and calm. normal and calm…and talk about. normal things.
taking a few steps inside, he takes a seat next to aki. not too close nor too far. just the right amount - like where he wanted their relationship to be. he is quiet for a little longer, before finally speaking up.
"….what are you reading? anything new?"
smooth, fuyu. but at least it wasn’t a weird topic that could lead to an argument.
hopefully.
zenokiller:
seriously? just how was this guy a genius?
thankfully, this was something fuyu actually wanted to do ( though he wouldn’t admit that ) so he will help. kind of.
[TXT] You look it up, idiot. Just send me the fucking address.
god. did this guy even know how to copy and paste? probably not. there is a long moment where he is sure aki can see he is typing on the other side. this could easily be his way out, a way to back out and not have to look at aki or be around him. but…
[TXT] Or just tell me the name of the place.
Look it up…look it up…
How did he do that…?
He flips through the apps on his phone for a moment, trying to figure out what Fuyu was asking him to do before he sees another text pop up. Right, the name of the place. That was a lot easier to do.
[ txt ] oh yeah
[ txt ] its this place in golden.
Fuyu would probably like it, he hoped. It wasn’t like he ever tried the spicy stuff, and he wasn’t picky with his ramen. But Fuyu wasn’t picky in general…so it’d be fine! Probably.
Either way, he sent him the name of the place and like the other had requested - they’d meet there at six, and everything would be fine.
he waits for him to text back, but decides to start getting ready anyways. by the time that happened, aki was sure to have figured it out by then. right?
maybe he was giving him too much credit. actually.
[txt] 'place in golden' isn’t really the name of a restaurant you know?
a joke. kind of? no, it really wasn’t a joke. it was pretty real. but, he was pleasantly surprised to see him have actually send him it all while he was pulling his shirt over his head. aki didn't know nor would he ever, but fuyu had the smallest of smiles at his phone.
[txt] ok. see you then.
he needed to make more of an effort to talk to aki , to fix things . the two had been here for almost a year , they were living together - this was the least he could do he thinks .
how to do that ? he had absolutely no idea which lead to him just standing in the doorway of the library for a solid five minutes before doing anything . which was fine , aki was sucked into a book - he had no idea that he was standing here . so .. he just slowly makes his way in .
" maeno . hey . "
@zenobomber
zenobomber
@zenokiller // mistified starter !!
Was it bad he was almost getting used to all the strange things going on in this city? Or, rather than used to it…
It was more like the strange ongoings were doing a lot to fuel his curiosity. Almost as soon as the mist rolled in, and the eclipse shone a bright red, he had wanted to adventure off into it to see what was going on. Which was apparently a “stupid idea” and “you’re going to get hurt like that, idiot” or something. What a boring approach!
Though that approach did at least get Fuyu to tag along with him. And even if he was being reckless wanting to explore, his gaze flitted around the mist carefully, waiting for something to pop out. Anything.
Anything…
Anything but the familiar blue braid he just caught a glimpse of, running further into the mist where he couldn’t make out exactly where it had gone.
“…Fuyu. Did…you didn’t see that too, did you?”
weird things happened here . fuyu knew this and he accepted this pretty early on . really there was nothing weirder than just showing up here .
if it were up to him , he would have stayed in and ignored the whole thing . but aki was going out there and the one thing fuyu could never do was ignore maeno aki’s stupid behaviors .
and so he followed him . like always . staying close and guarded as they walked through the mist but he stops dead in his tracks when he sees it - a blue braid .
no . no no no he can’t handle this .
a shaky breath falls from him , reaching out to grab onto aki’s shirt .
“ yeah . b-but there is no way it’s real so let’s just go . ”
zenobomber
“Geez, you’re taking it too seriously!”
Though it wasn’t like he minded, even with his complaints. He knew Fuyu cared about him still, though their display of their mutual concern for each other was…with no better way to say it, kinda fucked up lately. Lots of yelling and silent judgement - but it worked for them. Arguing wasn’t ever an unfamiliar concept, just a colder one in the past few years.
“I just want to actually have books in there again so I’m going to do some cleaning. It’s…weird, to see it empty.”
It had always been full - overflowing, really - thanks to his father. The man loved his books, something that had been passed down to his son. Aki knew the books that had been there, and the way they had been organized like the back of his hand. Some would be hard to find…others, the sentiment wouldn’t be the same thing. Tears, creases, and wear wouldn’t ever compare to fresh crisp pages.
Especially not with one specific book/
“If anything I don’t want to smell your nasty corpse in the spare bedroom because you’re locking yourself in there!”
“ it’s not too serious when you’re a serial offender, you know? ”
he cared. he hated that he cared so much. but what was he going to do? he was already ass as pretending he didn’t care. in fact, he cared so much that it hurt to think about it. not that he would ever tell aki this. it was better to keep it to himself, easier. for both them.
“ i take care of myself, asshole. ”
not well. but who was counting. his arms cross, letting out a sigh. his next offer.. he will probably regret... but.
“ ... i’ll go with you to the bookstore. it feels weird to me too to see it so empty. so... i’ll help you carry some books. and i’m not doing it for you either, got it? ”
zenobomber
Oh, fuck.
That worked.
There was a sort of stunned disbelief on his face as he watched Fuyu’s text pop up on his screen, speaking agreement in going out for food. Together. That was something he never quite managed to master unless they were both hungry enough after work to not care, or they had some dumb work event to go to.
Or, more recently, Kochi brought them together. They didn’t really have work events anymore, after all, being unemployed. Self-employed.
[ txt ] uh
…though, he might ruin his chance with this one.
[ txt ] how do i do that
Who knew not really knowing how smartphones worked would be his downfall!?
seriously? just how was this guy a genius?
thankfully, this was something fuyu actually wanted to do ( though he wouldn’t admit that ) so he will help. kind of.
[TXT] You look it up, idiot. Just send me the fucking address.
god. did this guy even know how to copy and paste? probably not. there is a long moment where he is sure aki can see he is typing on the other side. this could easily be his way out, a way to back out and not have to look at aki or be around him. but...
[TXT] Or just tell me the name of the place.
zenobomber
He had been taking his time, looking around the estate.
Soaking in all the little things that were the same, and all the things that were different. The little dent in the counter from when he tried to cut open some fruit without using a cutting board. The worn out wood of the shelves in the estate’s library. The books that were missing, and the almost hauntingly absent presence of a little girl, sneaking around the corners.
The fleeting glances of a blue braid turning the corner, that wasn’t really there.
When Fuyu approaches where he’s looking over things in the living room, he glances over to him and…
Right. Tensions were still high. Even if they had sort of started getting along again, it wasn’t really ever going to be the way it once was. Living with Fuyu was better than living with a stranger…but it’d be a little hard not to bug him every now and again, if they were living together.
But…maybe it would be. This estate had always been a little too large, and a little too empty feeling. Maybe they’d manage to avoid each other.
“…right. Well, I’ll probably just stick to the library for the most part, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
Though that could be something to worry about, given his track record with locking himself away in that library before. Fuyu knew what that statement could mean better than anyone - but really, he just wanted to try and rebuild the collection of books in there. Tidy things up. Make it feel a little more familiar.
“ you’ll stick to the library ... ”
he repeats the words quietly to himself before letting out a loud sigh . why did he even care enough to sigh at it ? he knew the answer but he hated the it . he hated that he could easily remember the small boy he had found on the verge of death that one night here and could even more easily imagine the same thing happening to the older him .
this place was too familiar - like a weird old ghost haunting him . he used to love this place , to escape here and spend time with the boy next door he adored with all his heart . now it just hurt . now it just reminded him of things he would never have again .
“ look . if you’re in there for more than two hours at a time , i’m going to come drag you out of there . i don’t have the time to worry about finding you disregarding yourself again . if you just want to make it feel more like how it used to , i will help with that . but no locking yourself in there . ”
eh . this was sounding like he cared too much .
“ ... i don’t really want to smell rotting corpse because you didn’t leave the place. ”
