[ Both of them could be forgiven for drifting off to sleep, for how long it takes Haruaki to come up with an answer.
It's not a lesson that was taught to him by one singular person. It feels like a lesson that slowly built up throughout his life, then exploded onto the scene when he came to Hyakki Academy. It's simple, too. It shouldn't keep hitting him in the face, and yet–
It's happening again in this strange world, too.
Haruaki's voice comes whisper-quiet through the darkened bedroom. ]
No one is alone. Even when it feels like you are, maybe even for years... there are people out there who care about you, and who would be sad if you got hurt, and if you're patient, you'll keep finding more of them.
[ Be reckless in a way that won't worry anyone dovetails nicely into it. It would be so easy for Haruaki to just be reckless if he still was as intensely lonely as he was growing up, or living as a futon ghost at the shrine with his family.
But Principal already knew him. Akira and Yamazaki and Ibara already knew him. Miki and Hatanaka already knew him...
It feels silly now that he was ever so lonesome. He had people waiting for him to reappear in their lives, even if they didn't know it at the time either. ]
It doesn't sound like it would be a hard lesson to learn, huh? It's definitely a nice one! But I guess if you're so used to thinking or feeling a certain way, something like that can take a while to sink in.
What a very Haruaki-like answer. Akira's heard bits and pieces about his life before the academy, but it's still so difficult to imagine this man somewhere he hasn't wormed his way into the hearts of every single person he meets, even if it takes one or two tries. He just seems so...so intrinsically built to be connected to those around him.
But not everything in life is a straight road, is it? We're born in odd cities, in odd families, among odd neighbors. Maybe not everything slips into place as well as it should right away. ]
Mm, I can see how that would be hard to really internalize.
[ He spent an awful long time waiting himself, after all. If a certain someone hadn't come along his own ability to connect would have... ]
I'm glad you did, though. You of all people should know how dear you are to so many of us around you.
[ If he had his hands free, he'd literally wave it off. As it stands, he only squeezes Akira where he's holding him, one hand still at his nape, the other tucked up against his chest where he balls the fabric of his sleep shirt into his fist. ]
You compliment me way too much, Akira-kun! I'm just lucky to have everyone in my life now, that's all...
[ It's not that Haruaki doesn't realize his own importance in their lives. It's just that he can't go around thinking like that. It's totally antithetical to how he's always been!
He rears his head back just enough to knock his forehead against Akira's, a light bonk, then grinds it there. ]
Those were nice questions, huh? I'm glad we do this.
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no subject
Mhmm, you can think about it all you like. I'm not falling asleep until you tell me.
[ Bold words for someone with sleep slipping so sneakily into his voice. ]
no subject
It's not a lesson that was taught to him by one singular person. It feels like a lesson that slowly built up throughout his life, then exploded onto the scene when he came to Hyakki Academy. It's simple, too. It shouldn't keep hitting him in the face, and yet–
It's happening again in this strange world, too.
Haruaki's voice comes whisper-quiet through the darkened bedroom. ]
No one is alone. Even when it feels like you are, maybe even for years... there are people out there who care about you, and who would be sad if you got hurt, and if you're patient, you'll keep finding more of them.
[ Be reckless in a way that won't worry anyone dovetails nicely into it. It would be so easy for Haruaki to just be reckless if he still was as intensely lonely as he was growing up, or living as a futon ghost at the shrine with his family.
But Principal already knew him. Akira and Yamazaki and Ibara already knew him. Miki and Hatanaka already knew him...
It feels silly now that he was ever so lonesome. He had people waiting for him to reappear in their lives, even if they didn't know it at the time either. ]
It doesn't sound like it would be a hard lesson to learn, huh? It's definitely a nice one! But I guess if you're so used to thinking or feeling a certain way, something like that can take a while to sink in.
no subject
What a very Haruaki-like answer. Akira's heard bits and pieces about his life before the academy, but it's still so difficult to imagine this man somewhere he hasn't wormed his way into the hearts of every single person he meets, even if it takes one or two tries. He just seems so...so intrinsically built to be connected to those around him.
But not everything in life is a straight road, is it? We're born in odd cities, in odd families, among odd neighbors. Maybe not everything slips into place as well as it should right away. ]
Mm, I can see how that would be hard to really internalize.
[ He spent an awful long time waiting himself, after all. If a certain someone hadn't come along his own ability to connect would have... ]
I'm glad you did, though. You of all people should know how dear you are to so many of us around you.
no subject
You compliment me way too much, Akira-kun! I'm just lucky to have everyone in my life now, that's all...
[ It's not that Haruaki doesn't realize his own importance in their lives. It's just that he can't go around thinking like that. It's totally antithetical to how he's always been!
He rears his head back just enough to knock his forehead against Akira's, a light bonk, then grinds it there. ]
Those were nice questions, huh? I'm glad we do this.