Chapter Text
The stage was not her place, but the show must go on. She pulled on her costume and hurried to her spot even though her heart was pounding and the lights were bright enough she couldn’t even see the audience’s shifting shadowed forms.
And yet the terror in her chest was so real, when it finally sank in that she’d forced herself out onto the stage, that she was here, in a lead role against her will, and so completely and utterly unprepared, she realized she’d truly made a horrible mistake.
There he was, twinkling in the light, a smile on his lips so confident, his hand reaching out and taking hers as the ballroom dance scene began.
She had loved ballroom dancing, her and her dear brother had learned so many fun dances in the past. But he was a star. Not her. And now her own brothers best friend who’d taught him those moves and fun twirls was guiding her just as he’d guided him.
“You know no one would ever be able to tell you’re not him” whispered her brothers friend, twirling her and dipping her, the moves came naturally despite her fear, and she tried to focus only on him.
“Really? That’s not a nice thing to say to a girl” She whined slightly “hes hideous”
“you’re twins you have the same face-“ he snorted.
If he werent here-
she’d be nothing but a statue, frozen on stage, face burning with shame. She belonged backstage, amongst her beloved props, painting oranges to look like eyeballs or something not-
Here. Dancing in her brothers place.
“Which means I have every right to insult it-“ she scoffed quietly. The twos moves taking on a more agressive turn as she reached into her sheathe on her hip and pulled out the prop sword to begin the next set of moves she’d just barely learned the night before. How did she get dragged into these things?
She was such a pushover…
They were moving from dance to fight, the scene meant to be a battle and yet finding itself caught as something in between the two, swords clashing together- something sounded wrong when they collided. His expression unfaltering. His eyes were fire.
But she knew something was wrong.
why did the light glint like that on its blade?
Wasen’t it made of-
it pierced through her chest
The pain was warm and numb and the bright world was slipping into darkness.
His expression shifted to one of horror, all color draining from his face and the light leaving his eyes replaced only with fear and guilt.
“…someone- what happened?! How could-“
his voice becoming fuzzy.
She tried to recall hadnt- hadn’t she been in charge of the props?
Soon she couldn’t breathe, that natural panic whirling in her mind. Realizing her mistake far. Far too late.
“My..fault…mine..im sor..im sorry-“ she managed to say with her final sliver of breath.
She couldn’t let him take the blame.
She forced a smile on her face.
She thought she’d die if she went on stage- she diddn’t mean to take it so…
Literally.
She let her eyes slide shut.
At least it was her and not her brother.
At least…
There was warm sunlight on her skin…
She blinked in confusion…lifting her head.
She was slouched against a wall in the hallway where the window light could just reach her where she rested. She was somewhere safe? She couldn’t breathe.
She couldn’t breathe- she clutched at her throat, gasping and coughing.
Her hand fell to where the sword pierced-
She stopped. There was no blood. There was no sword.
And more puzzlingly, that was not her chest.
At all.
She looked down slowly, wheezing as she managed to get at least some wavering hint of breath in her lungs.
…huh. Not she. He. He blinked in confusion, he vaugely recalled the time that the costume designer threatened to steal his gender, he pursed his lips as he wondered if maybe witchcraft was real and in fact he should be much , much more afraid of the costume designer… the lack of oxygen to his brain was not helping.
he took a slow deep breath, okay. It was settling down. No sword in his chest… everythings okay. He can breathe.
Why is there some sort of prison monitor on his wrist? He lifted it to his face honestly in too much shock to really process what was going on.
It was some sort of gau-…gauge…
he squinted at the familiarity of the concept, but only from playing some rythm game he’d gotten too interested in- so much lore- so many characters- right this is from that Eichi gauge thing. Okay the drama club is screwing with him. He gets stabbed on stage and now they’re pranking him and stealing his gender? With witchcraft? Absolutely unforgivable this club is a freaking nightmare he did NOT consent to this now he’s going to have to share clothes with his brother which is actually worse than being stabbed his brother dresses like an absolute clown this is it the worst possible scenario.
He unbuttoned his shirt, yep, they straight up yanked his tits. All gone. He sighed in despair. At least hes not got a giant scar from being stabbed to death though- gosh why is he so thin too?
“Bony little beast. Bones and skin..” He muttered to himself- WHAT A NICE VOICe
Like marshmallows in your mouth- his eyes began to twinkle with joy, it sounded sort of familiar too! Finally, finally he could hit the notes in that one song- such a pretty voice-
He was DEFINITELy not trying to avoid the fact hes been stabbed and he was definitely not in denial about dying on stage. Everythings fine.
Everythings perfectly fine.
“Boop boop bop…boop …doodle doop…” he hummed to himself - what a nice voice…
So he hasent been stabbed! His gender has been STOLEN and replaced, but hes ALIVE and he can sing SO good now! If only he didin’t feel like someone had tied bricks to all his limbs!
He was still a bit delerious feeling, dizzy and giddy at being off the stage! Safe! Secure!
Why do those signs all have japanese written on them in this hallway anyways?
He was humming to himself struggling to rebutton up his shirt, testing out different noises he could make with his mouth while also wobbling terribly with every step and almost crashing into walls giggling to himself “im alive~ im alive! WooO!” he laughed to himself barely able to see straight YES hes alive THERES STILL HOPE
He punched the air, maybe this was it! A brand new chance!
Hold on this place looks really familiar- he strolled to a stop by the windows leaning on their frame staring out with curiosity at the courtyard.
“Oh dear”
He shut his mouth. Now hes fairly certain none of this Is real and hes clearly in a dream because he cant quite focus his eyes, his heads dizzy..hurting. And every time he blinks he feels like hes teleported. But this is DEFINITELY familiar.
There was even…someone taking a nap in the fountain.
Suddenly someones face was in front of him as his eyes refocused, he reflexively punched it expecting to be bitten or something as the last 15 times he’s suddenly had a face pop up in front of him it was his brother waking him up to bite him on the nose like the weird little freak he is.
The glass shattered and he realized, blinking as the world steadied itself , the pain in his hand as glass shards were left in it starting to ground him and bring him back to reality, that that had in fact…
Been a reflection.
He whipped around. No one was there…oh wait no someone was.
An incredibly alarmed looking person with…
Green…hair?
“What kind of weirdo has green hair?” he mumbled to himself the world starting to tip and go dark.
“Eichi what are you DOING Eichi-!” the glasses wearing green haired man shouted, rushing to catch him before he could fall backwards onto the broken glass, caught in his arms, he began to catch his breath…everything felt so horrible, it felt like he wasen’t attached to his body, like he couldn’t quite control it and like his sense of reality was in a blender.
“Oh. I understand…yes of course. I’m just dying arent I….so this is death…everything feels weird…please can you…set me down gently somewhere. I don’t think I know where I am right now and things are really strange…”
“what- what are you talking about…Eichi..I..” The person who looked like Keito spoke. He kept calling him Eichi- he didn’t care. He was just delusional and in the throes of death. Everything was collapsing within himself. If this was the sweet dream his mind would placate him with so he didin’t have to feel the sword that ended his life in his chest, he’d be grateful and try not to stumble around so much. He must be causing so much trouble on the stage.
Poor Keito, as he understood him to be , but knew he was just a delusion, gently set him on the floor and sat with him, trembling as he gripped him in his arms.
“Now you must understand- if im even speaking, I think im speaking. But if im not really then that’s okay. At least I tried-…but this was all one big mistake. I was never meant for the stage. I was so nervous…you only wanted to help me..”He sighed, clutching onto Keito for support, Keito trying his best to stay calm, one arm around him, the other frantically contacting 911.
“It’s not your fault I accidentally caused my own death so stupidly. I never meant things to go this way. So please. Have fun preforming with out me please. Please make this such a happy place and don’t mourn me too much. Every theater has a ghost. It would… be the happiest death I could imagine, if I could be this beautiful places ghost. Then I can still watch over you all..” He said softly resting his head against Keito.
“Youre- you’re not dying like this Eichi. Stop talking like that! I don’t know what’s gotten into you but you absolutely cannot die- not..like this- I know a lots gone wrong but…but-“ his voice was cracking, he looked so scared. So guilty.
“It wasen’t your fault.” Eichi- as he was being called, assured him. He didn’t care what his name was anymore.
“Thank you. I was so scared. But I deep down always wanted to be on stage, just once, before I died…thanks to you I really did it. Thank you…tell my brother I’m sorry…for…this.”He shut his eyes.
“…what brother?” eichi you’re completely delusional-“
he passed out before Keito could say much else.
He awoke in the hospital, the beeping of the machines. Feeling simultaniously significantly worse and significantly better. For one he felt his sense of reality stable again, he actually felt attached to his body. And he was in fact, not dead.
Now then, he was no longer babbling nonsense and waxing poetic because he WANTED to at least give a DECENT death speech if hes going to DIE like that dear GOSH he had to hes a theater kid,-
Even if he has stage fright- cough-
He felt a tad ashamed, really, acting so erratically and strange…
Oh GOSH he’d opened his shirt-
He looked down frantically to make sure he hadn’t just mid death ripped his shirt off or something in his delusionary state but in fact, it was just slightly unopened. Still no sword wound.
“Eichi you’re finally awake…you scared me half to death with that speech! What was that about are you trying to drive me crazy!?” Keito scolded him. Eichi lifted his head in confusion before realizing…
oh dear no this was much worse than death. That was Keito hasumi. Which means that..
This is…to his great despair…his very own isekai nightmare scenario.
Now Eichi really couldn’t recall EXACtly what he’d done when he first woke up, quite frankly he was feeling rather terrible and everything was a blur. He’s pretty sure he broke a window though and scared Keito. He might have broken Keito’s glasses. Did he? Maybe. Maybe not. He punched someone or something. No matter what was going on he’s pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to do that. What had he done? He wasn’t sure . Nope. No clue.
But he did know whatever he did. He messed up…
Eichi laid his head back down and shut his eyes. Maybe if he played dead keito would go away and he could avoid a conversation about what he did. His face was already burning with shame and his mind filled with horror over everything that had just occured. This was worse than any stage.
“Eichi? Wake up- you’re freaking me out. More than you usually do-“ Keito huffed.
He wondered if perhaps he’d ALWAYS been Eichi and if he had just had a strange dream, but he was fairly certain he wasen’t…
“I’m sorry…”He mumbled quietly. Keito stiffened, glad to hear SOMETHING out of Eichi but why was he apologising.
Eichi quietly reached up and did his best to button up his shirt. He had a lot to deal with if he’s actually Eichi- whatever the truth was…
He was afraid to open his eyes. He was sure if he actually looked at Keito again he’d forget how to speak or something.
“Thank you Keito…I was…quite scared. I thought..I really thought someone had stabbed me in the chest. I’ll pay for the window repairs”
“Well at least you remember the window…” Keito said, he was watching Eichi with pursed lips. Something seemed wrong with how he was acting, there was nothing closed off about him in the normal sense. But he was …being strange. Like he didn’t want to even look at Keito right now.
“…you said a lot of incredibly stressful things while breaking that window, I hope you have some sort of explanation” Keito said.
Eichi shut his mouth. Don’t look. Dont open your eyes.
He tried to speak, take a deep breath…
okay. How could he explain himself. There were things he really didin’t intend to say- let alone to poor Keito. So much for maintaining the status quo and playing along. Things were about to get so complicated…
“I think I may have said a lot of strange things I’m not entirely sure what you’re talking about- I confess, I was so dazed I thought I was a girl who’d had her gender stolen away somehow. You really shouldn’t think too much about what I said please-“ He requested.
“…you did mention a brother and I’m sure you don’t have one of those.” Keito sighed. “Okay I’ll believe you for now but…that was disturbing don’t do that to me again okay? Or at least don’t add punching a window to it next time-“
“…I don’t think I’ll ever do something like that again, so don’t worry…that wasn’t…normal for me” He assured Keito.
“…do you need some time to rest?” Keito offered “I can take over duties if you’re not rested. I know you had a live planned later this afternoon. Should I cancel it?” Keito asked. He sighed, knowing Eichi almost never did. He wasn’t the type.
“Could you please.” Eichi requested.
Keito stiffened slightly, pursing his lips. Was Eichi nearing the end or something?
The idea twisted in his chest like a knife.
“If you’re sure. I’m glad you’re finally chosing to rest for once.” Keito sighed standing up. “I’ll go inform the other members of fine” he said, trudging towards the door, Eichi snuck a peek with one eye open.
Keito hasumi…the person he could probably rely on the most in this strange Isekai world.
He needed to treat him well.
Eichi’s limbs still felt heavy, especially his bandaged up arm, but he sat up, and clambered out of bed. He smiled slightly to himself, even though this body was sick and pained-…in a strange way it still felt stronger than his body from before that was so unused to most forms of activity besides a few…strange hobbies he’d picked up.
It was elegant, and taller, but so thin- had he not been eating right? His stomach felt so empty…time to figure out how to get some food!
He strolled out the door soon finding it possible to steady his steps well, admiring everything curiously as he made his way through the halls. Slipping out soon from the hospital, and eagerly making his way towards the school. It was a bit of trouble , and quite the walk, but he managed- admiring the campus all the while. The unnatural vividness of an anime world was pretty stunning, everything was beautiful. It was winter, snow blanketing the world and soft and pretty. The cold felt no less unnatural, like it was in every inch of his bones, as much as it hurt, it felt good to breathe, to live, to be here in such a beautiful place…
Compared to a sword in the chest it was bliss itself. He slipped into the schools entrance, admiring the bright and beautiful posters on the walls, so glad everyone was busy with club activities at this time of day or at least done with their work so they weren’t wandering about seeing him wandering about like a tourist, instead most were resting, training, or off shopping and dining, enjoying their afternoon…
Now then where to first- he could go to the cafeteria-
he pursed his lips. He wasn’t sure what Eichi’s dietary restrictions were…
So he should probably go somewhere no one would find it suspicious if he ate something strange, then see if he doubles over and collapses in agony! Worst case scenario he dies and at this point he was starting to wonder if maybe that would just let him try a different character than Eichi to be, he didn’t particularly want to test it, but he wasn’t so scared now that he’d done it once.
Or he could potentially go to someone he knows wouldn’t blab to everyone what’s wrong with him or that he’s having memory problems. Or even better-
Convince them to order FOR him. Someone who he KNOWS knows his dietary restrictions! Yes…he can scheme like Eichi too! Maybe he’ll survive this just fine!
He gave a soft chuckle to himself, since the hall was empty, it tempted him to try to do a little evil laugh-
but he glanced around and slipped into the nearest mens bathroom first instead to do his evil laughter, besides…
He wanted to look at his face.
He strolled in and stopped to stare in the mirror. He looked a bit emaciated, but pretty, with hair like soft morning sunlight and the prettiest of blue sad little eyes, and his own naturally shy demeanor was slipping through adding a sort of cherry on top of his cuteness. He looked more like he belonged in the bunny group of the school than fine- but he supposed, he deserved to look a little sad and pathetic. He felt sad and pathetic. He might get a little pity.
He tried a few expressions, a stern frown. Anger. Joy. Mischeif. Smug- curious. Eyebrow wiggle.
And then he cleared his throat and gave his best evil laugh, putting his whole chest into it, leaning his head back and cackling, it sounded so intimidating even with his pretty voice- what a good voice-
He grinned gleefully and did a little twirl to admire himself more
“wow! So evil- so cute. Muhuhu- yes, you’re going to do something so very evil- so manipulative. Yes you are. You’ve got this, aaaa-…im so cute…” He giggled cupping his own cheeks.
“…what the heck dude” said a baffled voice as one of the bathroom stalls opened “that was like, really freaking weird even for you”
Eichi froze up, his face turning beet red. It was Kuro…
He looked so much more intimidating in person, like being faced with a tower of muscle and death.
Eichi visibly trembled and quickly buried his face in his hands mumbling
“…positive affirmations?” he croaked out.
“Positive- ..yeah okay whatever, who or what are you manipulating this time…”Kuro sighed going to wash his hands deciding this was NOT his problem but that he better at least find out so he knows what Keito’s freaking out about in like a day or two.
“…well- …you see…what I was doing…this is going to sound incredibly silly- I was…”he trails off.
How on earth is he supposed to explain this huh!? Who’s going to believe him!?
“…I confess, I sound deranged. But I was actually making dinner plans.”
“Yeah no okay that does sound pretty deranged what does that have to do with manipulation can you please not be so vague like seriously ya know keito’s going to send me like a fifty page email about this later if you do anything too weird-“
“it’s not that serious its not! You- you see the truth is- I’m having some memory problems and I thought it would be clever if I found someone who knows what I can and cant eat and convinced them to …”he sighed.
“To order for me so I don’t eat something I cant have and get really sick..”He mumbled confessing his shame. Face red and burning. He was going to go live in the sewers.
Kuro blinked slowly. Honestly he wouldn’t have believed him but Eichi looked so red faced and ashamed- …in a way kuro had never seen him look before- that he actually kind of looped back around to half believing him.
“…I’ll ask Keito to text me your allergen list and say im making you a bento. You look awful, come back to my room and ill even make good on my lie and make you an eichi-friendly kinda bento, sound good?”
“Kuro you are the kindest, most amazing person in the world, I will die for you” Eichi sighed fondly wiping a tear from his eye.
“Please dont.” Kuro sighed shaking his head. That would be the most inconvinent thing he could POSSIBLY do for kuro quite frankly. “Can you maybe try communicating with Keito more clearly instead he cares a lot about you ya know. He gets like, sick worrying about ya…”
“…communicating?” Eichi’s face scrunched up in disgust and despair.
“Yes. Communicating. Don’t give me that face- you’re acting so weird today…”Kuro muttered “is this what you’re really like when you’re not acting like the smug student council jerk-“
“Im a multifacetd individual?”
“yeah yeah whatever cmon multifaceted individual lets get you some food before ya faint-“
He paused and took Eichi’s wrist, and gave him a pinch for a moment and watched how fast the skin returned to place.
“And I’ll make some tea. You’re dehydrated.”
Eichi’s face heated up and he looked down shamefully, heart racing- dear gosh someone was making PHYSICAL contact with him, was running away still an option?
Kuro grabbed ahold of Eichi’s wrist and began tugging him along like he was a wayward child, and Eichi stumbled a moment before being able to catch up. Glancing up at Kuro, he felt his heart settle strangely. Like this was supposedly a normal thing. How could this be happening. The only people he lets touch him are his brother, his parents, and like, the man who accidentally killed him. Thus far it’s never been a great thing to have physical contact with other people, and quite frankly he wasn’t really sure if he was ready to try it this quickly-
Meanwhile Kuro had the strangest feeling budding in his chest. He caught himself looking back at Eichi who just- as much as he tried to see him as Eichi something was clearly just wrong? It was like someone was wrapped in Eichi’s skin. It left Kuro kind of unsettled.
He just couldn’t quite place what was going on with his perception of this guy- it was all wrong.
Especially when Eichi looked up at Kuro, those big scared eyes, yet so much gratitude and softness.
Kuro’s heart twisted. It was like a time a few months ago when some girl was being hassled by thugs outside the campus while he was shopping for cloth..
He’d chased the thugs off. Walked her to her car- and she’d looked at him that same way…
which wasn’t an expression he ever expected to see on the emperor himself.
“Whats with those big sad eyes-“ Kuro squinted. He sounded scary enough Eichi almost decided to take his chances and speed off down the hall-
Eichi hesitated for a moment and pursed his lips.
“…im a sad…sad little man Kuro “ is the best response poor Eichi could think of. He wasn’t good with strangers.
“…Okay good enough reason” Kuro replied, he hoped the man was being weird due to hunger and dehydration-
he led him back to his dorm room and there Kuro was qickly setting to work on the food.
It was about then Eichi noticed something scowling at himself from a corner.
Something with pink hair wrapped in a blanket with deadly eyes.
Eichi’s eyes grew wide.
He went pale with fright and he immediately began looking for a place to hide.
“How DARE you come into my Dorm KURO EXPLAIN YOURSELF how DARE you let this FILTH into my ABODE” the furious pink haired puppet master himself shouted jumping up from where he stood clutching his doll in his hands.
“Dudes dying over there, hes super dehydrated and hungry, he’s not okay. So im feeding him. Look I get you two have beef but its got nothin to do with me and hes my guest. He wont be here long. He’s…got some special food needs so like, im makin him a meal he can actually eat that tastes decent for once.” Kuro huffed “You two aren’t going to cause me trouble while-“
Eichi had begun crying while Kuro was speaking.
“Great now look what you did” Kuro groaned in defeat. Shu hadn’t actually done anything.
“All I did was lOOK AT HIM IS THAT NOT ALLOWED EITHER!?” Shu was about to throw hands. Kuro would probably have won but Shu really didn’t care right then.
“I’m just- im just really sorry..im sorry…you’re one of my favorite Idols and I’m so sorry for everything. I’m sorry…” Eichi was sniffling and hiccuping, he hadn’t meant to start crying. But he thought a little too hard about how miserable poor Shu had been.
“You better believe im one of the best idols - i-..it’s hard to keep yelling at you stop sniveling like a worm! You’re acting completely out of character- how am I supposed to work with this-? You deserve to sob and beg for my forgiveness at my feet - but since when do you actually do so!?” Shu sputtered.
Eichi quickly got on the floor and laid his head down as low as possible
“I can- I can do that if it makes you feel better…”Eichi choked and sniffled “I’m sorry…nothing I can do can fix what happened. But I really thought you were so amazing. I know it didn’t go well. I know your perfect preformance- your…your art you worked so hard on got messed up. I was scared you’d be lost forever after that. I’m sorry. Nothing I can do can make up for it. “
“Eichi what the heck…he..he really is acting weird. Keito said he passed out earlier and was talking pretty crazy but this is-…” Kuro said quickly trying to pull Eichi off the ground and back to his feet, wiping his tears.
Eichi couldn’t make up for what his other self did but maybe immediately sobbing on the ground could at least un-tick off shu?
Shu looked…
A little dazed. Confused.
“…you’re finally dying and trying to make peace with everyone or something arent you. Well it wont work. I’ll never forgive you you sick little freak” Shu huffed “and neithier will Mademoiselle “ is what he was saying.
Untill he stopped and took a better look at Eichi.
His expression shifted and became strange and deeply troubled.
He stumbled back slightly.
Something was very. Very. Wrong.
He couldn’t place it for once, for once he didn’t know exactly what was wrong. But the way Eichi held himself, the tone of voice and the manner of speaking and the words he chose. The ruffled apperance, and everything about him-
the wariness and confusion.
Shu realized no. That’s not Eichi. He doesn’t know what that is…
But that thing isint Eichi Tenshouin.
His heart sank with dread.
On one hand he was kind of amused to think something horrific had happened to Eichi, but someone wearing his skin? Or something?
Or maybe some sort of ghost posessing him-
maybe one of those poor students he’d ruined the lives of?
Shu squinted. He analized him, the way he stood, the strange glances he was giving Kuro…
Yes he got the impression this wasn’t a student from yumenosaki. This place looked unfamiliar to him didn’t it. He seemed almost awestricken.
Yet he’s aware of exactly what he’d done to Shu… and felt the need to apologise.
Shu wasn’t sure exactly what was going on. But he let himself slip into a calm demeanor.
“Fine. If you’re going to apologise to me I’ll accept it. But you know. It’s weird…to apologise for something you didn’t do”
at first the false Eichi looked confused. Before fear filled his eyes for a moment-
Then-
Relief?
Like some terrible secret had just been spilled and he could finally relax.
Eichi smiled weakly in relief. Already caught? He should have known the perfectonist would have caught him but so quickly? He barely had a chance to even try to fix things.
“Go ahead and feed this creature. I don’t care what it is. As long as It causes me no further trouble. I have some work to do. I have a feeling I won’t have any more trouble out of Eichi from now on… but do try not to cause me trouble or I will make sure everyone understands your true wicked nature. Now then…Suddenly I feel…inspired” Shu smirked smugly, strolling off with a skip in his step.
“…Okay that was weird. Sometimes I feel like I might be the only normal person at this school…”Kuro muttered, tired of dealing with vague and ominous nonsense but at leats he could go finish cooking over on the hot plate…
Eichi settled down and watched, Kuro looked over the list of foods. “I’ll send you the list, it’s pretty exhaustive. But like, half of it is him scolding me for not bringing you back to your hospital room” Kuro shrugged.
Eichi paused as his phone pinged, taking it from his pocket, and clicking on the message…huh. Quite a few messages from wataru. And now several from keito and a few missed calls. And the list from kuro.
He hesitantly opened Keito’s chat as he said “thank you Mr Kuro” She said, earning a strange look from him.
“…uhhh. You’re welcome” he focused back on the sizzling food on the plate in front of him.
It was all things like
Eichi where are you
Eichi I came back to the hospital room, you weren’t in fact, in your hospital room anymore. That bothers me Eichi. EICHI. Eichi answer my calls. Eichi. Eichi are you alive?
Eichi I am following your footsteps through the snow. Eichi when I find you-
Eichi pursed his lips…
Keito was hunting him down now-
Eichi squeaked and almost threw his phone as it began to ring again, he fumbled it for a moment before hitting call and immediately keito was scolding him-
Eichi sat there in a daze, being lectured for his recklessness and kuro glanced at the phone.
“Is it on speaker phone-?”
Eichi shook his head. Keito was just that mad thats all- Kuro was mildly impressed by Keito’s ability to reach such levels of rage and distress via phone call.
“KURO DO YOU HEAR ME I order you to immediately wrap Eichi in a blanket he’s been wandering barefoot through the snow -“
oh woops-
Eichi glanced down at his feet- he’d been…not really paying good attention.
“On it boss” Kuro said, setting the food aside and turning the heat down to low before going to get a blanket from his bed, plopping it around Eichi’s shoulders.
He realized then his limbs had all felt so…numb. He began to shiver and tremble and everything hurt again- before slowly melting back down into some sort of comfort, he shuddered and trembled, had he really gotten so cold he’d…stopped shivering? That fast? He had barely noticed the shivering before- well he was Eichi…the guy must have the temperature regulation abilities of a lizard-
“There you go. Yeahh…you definitely needed that. He’s wrapped up Keito. Don’t worry” Kuro said “come join us ill make you somethin too”
“fine but only because I have to walk him back to the hospital after this…” Keito was panting on the other side, Eichi could hear the schools entrance door open over the phone and suspected Keito was firmly on his way.
Kuro started setting up the bento boxes, cooking up a little extra for Keito.
It was simple enough. Some stir fried vegetables and meat, though he was particularly heavy on the meat for Eichi. He was careful with exactly which vegetables and such, and he’d used just the right amount of salt and pepper.
Eichi’s mouth watered and he could hardly contain himself, but he waited all buried in the nice warm blanket waiting for Keito.
Keito arrived in quick time thankfully, throwing open the door, panting and visible worry in his eyes, relaxing only once he saw Eichi in good shape. He sighed and shut the door, slowing down finally and slipping out of his indoor slippers at the door, and heading to the table to sit down and start inspecting Eichi.
Eichi was prepared this time, time to face kei-
Nevermind keito’s gripping his face. Eichi involentarily shut his eyes at the mere idea of eye contact with Keito not to mention PHYSICAL cONTact what is WITH THESE PEOPLE AND TOUCHING HIM. Keito checked his temperature with a hand on his fourhead, pinched his cheek. Checked his pulse. His hands wandering to wherever a hint of life could be studied before he finally calmed down and settled down with them, making sure to tuck Eichi’s blanket tighter around him as he did so.
Eichi felt himself relaxing, lowering his head, though he kept his eyes shut, his heart and cheeks were warm, a bit flustered by the sudden contact, but he was calming down now, and more than that he felt…releif. It felt strangely homey. Like he belonged here with these people… Maybe physical contact’s not that bad? At the very least it was proof someone cared…
“…sorry for worrying you.” Eichi lowered his head to rest it on Keito’s shoulder.
Keito tensed up for a moment but soon relaxed, reaching up to give him a little pat on the head. Eichi…could handle head pats.
“It’s fine. If you’re that desprate for food…just ask me to go get you something next time” He frowned “since when do you go hunting down kuro for business like this?”
“Ehh…actually he wasn’t exactly hunting me down. He was just…acting kinda weird in the bathroom and I figured his blood sugar was low, and he turned out to be pretty dehydrated.” Kuro explained pouring them all some tea.
Eichi smiled gratefully, kuro had sort of weakened the flavor by throwing in some ice, but Eichi was grateful since it meant he could drink it right away, which was great given how dry his throat felt. He sipped at it gladly. Relaxing significantly now that he had something so lovely as some green tea to enjoy…kuro had even dribbled in some lovely golden honey…Kuro is the best husband. Keito’s a lucky man.
“I wouldn’t be surprised…and stranger yet. I admit part of this shook me so badly because on my way here- I ran into Shu…” Keito frowned.
“…he was in a great mood” he said quickly growing grim, his yellow eyes darkening.
“…oh you thought he found like, Eichi dead layin around somewhere didint’cha” Kuro sighed “nah , Eichi like, flopped down and begged him for forgiveness and shockingly …Shu just accepted it. It was pretty weird”
“what???” Keito frowned “so you are still acting weird- “ Keito huffed “I knew I shouldn’t have let you out of my sight…”
Eichi peeked one eye open hesitantly, testing looking at Keito…
It was a little overwhelming, he was really there- in the flesh- he shut his eye again. He’ll have to practice looking at keito for a while wont he- the pains of being a hopeless fangirl over the plainest normalest man alive.
“You think that’s wild, he even cried” Kuro sighed “you’re not kidding about Eichi being weird…still, it’s kind of nice- I mean. He did really owe Shu an apology and all. I havent liked all this scary evil overlord stuff hes been doing”
“…I mean it might be an improvement. But it seems more like some sort of psychological break than a sign of him improving as a person” Keito muttered pushing up the bridge of his nose. Eichi huffed slightly at them talking like he’s not even there.
“Maybe I don’t want to be the bad guy anymore. How can you be so unsupportive of me. Don’t you want me to be a good person?” Eichi pouted slightly pulling his blanket more over his head with one hand and sipping his tea with the other…it felt grounding and real.
This really was happening. He probably should get an actual strategy together- and not just another meal strategy…
Keito scoffed “thats enough talk, your foods getting cold.” Keito said, and Eichi felt something touch his lips, his face heated up and he choked a little almost dropping his tea cup, he peeked one eye open, and saw that Keito was…feeding him?
He froze in place. Stiffening completely and feeling like a stuck statue. This was it. He’d never move again. Keito hasumi had just killed Eichi Tenshouin 2 by feeding him.
“Eichi. “ Keito insisted, Eichi creaked his mouth open and did his best to chew and swallow it, frozen on the spot. What was he supposed to do!? The only person who’d fed him like this was his brother! What was he some sort of baby bird-?
Keito just- kept feeding him, after a moment Eichi relaxed a litlte and shut his eyes again so he could just focus on the food and pretend its definitely not Keito Hasumi feeding him. Think about your brother. Its definitely, tottaly, your brother feeding you. THIS IS FINE.
Nothing was fine but Eichi was a master of being in denial.
Nothing had been fine since the second he stepped on that stage.
He suddenly choked on the next peice of food. Choking and coughing, keito quickly trying to pat him on the back, it had gone down the wrong pipe thanks to the horrible thought of
Oh gosh, Eichi’s a famous idol. He has to go on stage again eventually or HIS ENTIRE CAREER IS OVER and worse yet hes in charge of things like SPEECHES and telling PEOPLE WHAT TO DO and being a public figure! He has to go on the news sometimes! He has to do interviews! He felt dizzy, he swallowed down the food but he’d worked himself up so badly he was in a coughing fit and now Keito was freaking out. It took a few more firm slaps that made Eichi feel like if he dididnt calm down soon Keito was going to start doing mouth to mouth or something and the last thing Eichi could survive right now is 1. More physical contact with keito or anyone else for that matter and worse good old reason number 2. Having his ribs broken.
So he coughed a few more times before taking a few deep breaths and …somewhat calming down. He gave a weak laugh and doubled over.
“Sorry”
“im starting to Really hate that word” Keito grumbled “can you at least breathe now?”
Eichi nodded… but the image was still blaring in his mind, he unconciously touched his chest where that sword had pierced.
The image flashed in his head, and it made his chest hurt, every time he thought of the stage.
…he was so screwed.
What could he possibly do to fix this? He cant just run away from the stage-
He’s kind of trapped in this lifestyle now so what could he do-…
he could…seek some help right? Theres someone who knows this school better than anyone- someone who’d helped Eichi before and…he suspected would be willing to help again despite all that had gone wrong.
Someone Eichi needed to set things right with to fix this tragedy.
He doubted he could go home. But hey-
maybe there was some hope. Besides wasn’t that special person in a band full of magic users now? Maybe they’d know a thing or two about getting Isekaied?