[RL - Touchy-Feely Virus]

[unknownrival]

Issei was not exactly at his most alert after waking up, and certainly not at his most alert after waking up after passing out from stress and exhaustion. (He really hadn't gotten enough sleep when he was at Shirou's house. That could have been a problem.)

Thus, when he noticed that he was curled up - snuggling, really - with someone who hadn't been there the night before, he wasn't nearly as startled as he should have been. Mostly, he was just confused. "...Is that you, Haruto?"

Comments

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"I do plan to go to University." he assured him, confidently, "Although, because of the Council, it seems I may have to take a year off from University to study a bit more..."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the student council. How is that going? ...They aren't troubling you too much, are they?" Issei asked, unable to keep the concern out of his voice.

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no more than usual." he replied, holding up his free hand, shaking his head gently.

"I'm the more normal one out of them all, so I'm used to being the butt of the joke at times..." he replied sheepishly.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Haruto's answer didn't relieve Issei. "They're your friends, aren't they? Why would they make fun of you? ...I don't think it's good that you've had to get used to that."

Without thinking, Issei rested his free hand on Haruto's shoulder. "I-if there's ever anything that's bothering you, and you want to talk about it without being made fun of, I'm always available to listen."

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

The concern in Issei's voice was rather stunning to Haruto. He knew they were his friends, but more often than not it was the ghosts doing their normal habits and Haruto reacting to them. What he was not accustomed to was amusing to the others around him.

He blinked at him, and looked at the hand on his shoulder then back up to Issei, giving a sheepish and small smile.

"T-thank you, Issei-kun... I will remember that." he replied softly.

...I assumed they were walking during this whole conversation, woops.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome. It's the least I can do."

They had come to another set of doors, which Issei opened to reveal a large, empty room. "This is the lecture hall; it doesn't look like it's being used right now. Other than the kitchen and dining area, you've seen the entire temple."

xDD tis fine

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

Haruto smiled at him and then looked into the room, leaning to look around. It was rather large and reminded him of the auditorium at his school.

"This is a large room..."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"A lot of monks live here, so we need it to be large," Issei explained.

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"That makes sense." Haruto replied, looking over the room and then back over at Issei.

"It must be interesting to live here."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"For me, it seems like it'd be interesting to live in a normal house," Issei replied with a shrug. "I don't know what it's like living anywhere else, so I couldn't say."

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't call my own home normal... my father is rather odd in his own sense..." He replied softly, looking down and then back up to the other boy.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"My father isn't exactly typical either, I suppose." Issei paused. "Um, would you like to return to the library now?"

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

Haruto hadn't expected anyone's parents to be remotely normal, by any standards. He blinked at him and smile softly.

"Uh, sure. Of course." he agreed, smiling.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei smiled at him in return, answering, "All right, then. Follow me."

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

Haruto smiled back and gave a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course. As the circumstances are, I can have it any other way." he replied, jokingly.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm sure some people might choose to be sick rather than touch their mortal enemies, but I'd rather keep us both in health," Issei replied, chuckling and continuing on his way.

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"Ehh, that's true." Haruto agreed, giving a sheepish smile and a laugh.

He smiled and nodded, laughing a little more loosely now.

"Yes, I agree."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad this virus isn't bothering you so much anymore," Issei commented as they reached the library.

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

Haruto gave a small shrug, nodding.

"It could have been much worse, I suppose."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"I don't know what I'd have done if it hadn't been one of my friends I was attached to," Issei replied. "Ah, here we are."

[president-omg.livejournal.com]

"I have a feeling my friends at school would be annoyed if they were stuck to me." he smiled, jokingly, and blinked up when they reached the library again beaming at the sight of the books.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"I... don't have that many friends at school, actually, so I can't say whether they'd be irritated or not." Issei smiled gently at him. "Please make yourself at home. I'll follow wherever you want to go first."