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[jinbeizame]

it's yamazaki. leave a message.

〝 AUDIO 〝 TEXT〝 ACTION 〝

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audio; takes ur inbox virginity

[rinsecure]

[Set after receiving Makoto's text.]

Yo, Sousuke. Did you get the text I forwarded?

audio; oh rin, oh~

[jinbeizame]

No. [ probably. there's a good chance he just can't actually find the study hall room. ] What message?

audio; I'll be very gentle~

[rinsecure]

[Sousuke pls... will they have to plan a search party to rescue you...]

About meeting up in the study hall. Those guys from Iwatobi are also here, so I guess Makoto is trying to get us all together in one place. Probably safer than wandering around school by yourself. [And getting lost... Sousuke, he knows what's up...]

audio; you don't have to be~ ;D

[jinbeizame]

[ no.......

yes....... ]

All of them? [ give him props, he only sounds mildly disinterested. at least he's not actively disliking any of them anymore. also, rin, he totally catches onto that safe comment.]

Wouldn't all of us sticking together make us a bigger target? [ totally not because he has no idea where that room is. nope. you'll never take him alive, rin. ]

audio; backdated to july 14th

[rinsecure]

[Eyyy have a Rinrin rin-ringing on your phone.]

Hey. I found someone to help with your arm. He wants to meet you after class.

audio; ew gross

[jinbeizame]

[ s i g h ]

It's fine.

[ by which he means, 'it's healing i don't need to see anyone' ]

audio; .... ;A;

[rinsecure]

[Does it sound like he cares???]

No, it's not. It still hurts a lot, doesn't it?

action; backdated to after meeting with the healer

[rinsecure]

[The talk with Shigeru had gone as smoothly as possible, given the circumstances, a little like a doctor's appointment; he had given them the rundown on the 'treatment' Sousuke would have to go through and how often they would have to meet, if he wanted to heal as soon as possible. There would be some pain involved in the process during their sessions, too, but it's all part of regular recovery.

The not so regular part is that Shigeru isn't so much a doctor, but rather, a healer with mysterious powers, abilities that are not readily available back in their own world, and the treatment would be a whole limb reconstruction from scratch. Not your usual physical therapy session.

So here they are, back in the auditorium, trying to ignore the elephant doing cartwheels in the room. Rin can't blame Sousuke for being reluctant to accept this help, but he doesn't want to let him give up, doesn't want to let this last light die out before giving it a try. It's his responsibility, in a way, to do everything in his power to restore Sousuke to his full potential-- because he tried to nurture that hope in Sousuke's heart before, and because even now, he can't help but still dream of swimming with his best friend, side by side, out of this school.]

... well. At least there were no wands involved.

[A small joke, an attempt at breaking the tension. He's a little scared of Sousuke's final answer, and were this any different, Rin wouldn't even give him a chance to protest, would steamroll right past any lingering doubt with something along the lines of "when are you going to start the treatment?" but things have changed, his questions have changed. They have changed.]

What are you going to do?

[jinbeizame]

[ reluctant is almost an understatement, all things considered. sousuke has a history of doctors, a history of therapy, working out, breaking down. it's not so much of a stretch, with his track record, and his suspicion is founded. he hadn't even wanted to go see this guy - normal doctor or no - but rin had convinced him, rin could always convince him.

he doesn't even know why he bothered fighting.

but they went, talked to the guy with magical healing powers. sousuke was pretty obviously not convinced, and it probably came off a little rude, but he listened. a lot of it was the same 'it will take time, there will be some pain, you have to be sure this is what you want to do'. he blinks and sees himself back in the hospital back home, those little white, personality-less rooms. doctors who know his file but not him, who suggested stop swimming if you want to live without pain. it makes him angry, in a way, but rin noticed. would bump his knee.

it's almost ridiculous how much easier it was with rin there.

but then it was done, and they went back to the auditorium, and the silence was heavy, awkward. he knows where rin's opinion stands, knows what rin is expecting, and sousuke is waiting for rin to say something. for rin to push him. he prepares himself to fight it, at least initially, but then rin mentions the wands and then rin asks him and it throws him a bit for a loop. ]

I'm not...sure. [ he leans back against the wall, eyes down on the ground. ] It's kind of weird, that he can make a whole arm.

[rinsecure]

[Rin knows what Sousuke is leaving unsaid, knows that "kind of weird" doesn't even begin to cover what he must be feeling over the entire ordeal. In all honesty, even Rin isn't entirely convinced yet.

But that's where their synchronicity ends, and they walk parallel to each other, in opposite directions. Sousuke is far more pragmatic, the type to spare no effort in order to pursue his goals, but also the type to quit when all reasonable evidence points to failure; he sees a wall he can't climb, and stops. Rin is the dreamer, the one filled with endless hope even when faced with the impossible, obstinate and unstoppable; he sees a wall, and if he can't climb it, or go around it, then he'll blast right through it.

So it's easier for him, of course it's easier for him to close his eyes and believe in this miracle, and ignore all the pain he won't have to feel in the flesh, and silence that nagging feeling that even despite all this trouble, it might not work, the pain of building up hope only to have it obliterated next. He can't blame Sousuke for not wanting to go through all that again, can't blame him for being scared.

But he can't let this chance go without giving it a try, either.]

It's not the weirdest thing we've seen here. [It's said with a shrug, muttering, barely audible, as though self-conscious of what he's saying. Self-conscious of what he's about to push for.

He heaves a sigh, closes his eyes to focus on how to say it, on how to not make it sound like he's still only taking from Sousuke, without giving much in return. As it turns out, it's harder than he hoped.]

If you go through with it, you won't be alone. [He lifts his head, looks Sousuke dead in the eye, unblinking. Firm, but not unyielding.] I can't feel the pain in your place, and I can't guarantee that this will work, but I can promise to be there for you, for as long as it takes. I won't leave you, not this time.

[He knows company and support alone are not enough to offer-- he'll never have enough to offer. But it's more than he did the last time Sousuke needed him, and the only thing his friend has asked of him back then, so he figures it's a good place to start.]

audio;

[rinsecure]

[Following the entire fiasco that was Rin's attempt at knocking some sense into Rei and having to physically coerce him into joining the group as a last resort, Rin has to call upon the only person he can trust to be responsible in this group.]

Sousuke. I need help.

[Please don't pay attention to any potential yelling in the background, no one is in any immediate risk of death. Yet.]

audio;

[jinbeizame]

[ see, there are many things that might cause sousuke to panic about a call like this. things like 'i need help' and the background screaming being key points in this possibility for panic.

as it stands, there are also a few things that clue him in to the fact that nothing is actually, honestly, horror-school wrong. ]

I can meet you. Where? [ and, of course, he kind of can't ignore the yelling in the background, can he? ] Is that Ryuugazaki?

audio;

[rinsecure]

Yeah, it's Rei. We're by the open broom closet outside the-- [Hang on, he needs to choke Rei a little harder-- hear those strangled noises yet? Good.

Okay, we're back.]

--outside the auditorium. You know where that is, right? [Well. By Sousuke's usual standards for directional memories, anyway.]

audio; forward-dated to the 14th because I can

[rinsecure]

[GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE, hope Sousuke enjoys being woken up at goddamn early o'clock by his phone rin-ringing.]

Yo, Sousuke! Happy birthday!

[He's going to be there with you soon, bro, he just had some preparations to do before class.]

audio; kshjdfljshdlfkjsd

[jinbeizame]

{ there is sudden ringing and sousuke is about ready to murder literally everyone in the near vicinity.

but he does manage to answer it, pulling it up to his ear just as rin's voice comes out. ]

Wha- what are you talking about? [ sousuke has no idea what day it is, sorry bro. ]

audio;

[rinsecure]

[Too bad this is only a voice call, or else Sousuke would be treated to a grin from ear to ear.]

Ah? Having a slow start today, huh? Fine, genius, I'll give you five seconds to wake up and check the date on your phone.

9/14 text & audio technically

[kissyou]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I hope Rin is doing something nice for you

[ Kisumi's lackluster present is him serenading him with the happy birthday song in his voicemail inbox ]

[jinbeizame]

well see
he woke me up early b/c of it
but i havent seen the present

thanks btw

[kissyou]

I'm counting on him to make it good.
if he doesn't tell me
I will come and give you all of my physical love

[ Hugging. Clinging. Things of that nature, despite his questionable way of wording ]

action; because I don't need no permission

[rinsecure]

[To say he was immensely thankful to see Sousuke's arm finally healed would be an understatement. The bad memories from the past months haven't faded - they never really will, he knows - but it's good to be able to be more like himself again around his best friend, to be able to joke and sass and occasionally knee him in the leg without a visible reminder of everything they'd been through-- Sousuke more so than him.

The memories won't fade, but neither will the knowledge that their friendship has been put to test and made it through. Separation couldn't break them, and hardship had built their bonds anew, stronger than ever. That was his silver lining.

So here they are, walking across the halls and making idle chatter, almost as though nothing had changed. Almost, because when they stop outside the pool room, Rin hesitates, gives a sidelong glance at the arm that wasn't there, not too long ago. Sousuke hasn't been to this room since it was first discovered, and much like everything else in this school, the place seems to have a strange effect upon those who first walk into those grounds-- and while normally this wouldn't be a problem to a swimmer, he's not sure Sousuke is completely healed. What if he's still in pain...?]

Uh. Maybe you should wait out here.

action; bless

[jinbeizame]

[ sousuke is certainly thankful for whatever magical healing rin had convinced him to take part in. of course he'd been wary of it at first, but the way that he's able to have this back - that little twitch where his fingers move, being able to pull up his arm and have something there - it's amazing. in an almost embarrassing way, that he wouldn't tell a soul, but true.

and he's glad for the way it's given rin a chance to breathe. sousuke isn't stupid - he's noticed how his best friend will sometimes get quiet, eyeing the stub or the bandages or the place sousuke's hand should be. it's been awkward, and difficult, but they've worked through it. their friendship had lasted through it. and that should say something, shouldn't it?

it does, as far as sousuke is concerned. and the fact he's basically as good as new is something that has been on his mind lately. of course, his muscle mass has fallen to the wayside - an awful diet and a lack of training playing major roles in that. but he has an arm, his shoulder doesn't hurt. there's not a whole lot more he can ask for.

he follows rin almost blindly, making their idle chatter like they can, now. like they do. it's not until they stop, and rin is suddenly shifted his focus (hesitant and a little awkward) that sousuke realizes where they are. he stares at the door for a moment, then back to rin, his expression unchanged except for a slight, small smirk. ]

Rin. [ sousuke picks up his arm and looks down at his palm, curling his fingers a bit before closing it in a lose fist. he knows why rin is hesitating, why he's saying it, but- ]

You know, I'm pretty much healed, right? [ he looks back over, wondering if rin understands what he's saying. ]

action; does the hip roll

[rinsecure]

[He does.

He does, and it shows in the way his brows hook all the way up, as though Sousuke's words had been news to him-- and, to an extent, they were. It shows in the way his breath hitches, and his chest quivers, and how he tenses up for a moment, then another, as many as it takes to process the information, until every last painful memory - their last race, the door, their reunion, the healing sessions - has flashed past him, until they're just a dot in the distance, and all that remains is the clear, vivid image of the Sousuke standing before him now, whole and ready to chase after his dreams.

It shows in the way his eyes well up, and how the tears spill forth, lighting up a brighter path down his cheeks-- because, for once, they don't come from a place of darkness and despair.]

Yeah, of course I know that...! [There's a sob choked up in his voice, and he turns to face the opposite side as the back of a hand gruffly tries to dry off his tears, stifling a sniff behind fabric.] But I mean, you can't go in without a swimsuit... The room will make you wanna jump in, and you don't want to be in your uniform when that happens...!

[It would've been a nice save, if Rin hadn't been otherwise painfully obvious.]

Backdate hell to 9/15 give him a day to cleanse his mind

[kissyou]

I hope your birthday was okay and that you didn't ... work Rin too hard
He was complaining so much about how you were
It's hard to type even now.
Just be safe, okay?
I know it's probably hard in this place and we're teenagers so hormones are harder to stop
but I care about you both so please wrap before tapping
it's also easier for clean up I hear? IDK about this one tho

bless

[jinbeizame]

[ . . . . . . .

honestly sousuke probably takes about ten minutes or so just to read over this message. he has literally no idea what it's supposed to mean. part of him wonders if it's just kisumi playing some kind of trick, but even then???

what the actual fuck kisumi. ]

what

[ that's it that's all he's got ]

[kissyou]

Rin told me all about your birthday plans together?
I was kind of surprised he wanted to go into such detail with me
He was always kind of shy, so I was really touched.
It was like our friendship leveled up
Even if he was talking about ripping clothes off with his teeth and ... how you were too.

[ And then he pauses, finally thinking about it why about that question ]

omg he didn't tell you he told me?
was it suppose to be confidential?
I screwed up. He'll never confide in me again