Title:
In Silence
Genre: Drama, romance (?), mild angst
Rating:
G
Characters: Oishi, Ryoma
Word count: 538
Summary:
Oishi doesn't know how to communicate with Ryoma.
Notes /
warnings: This is not at all what I'd expected when I started
writing, but the bunny wrote itself without consulting me at
all.
"Girl trouble?" Oishi asked, sitting down next to Echizen.
Ryoma glanced at him momentarily, surprise flickering over his features before he resumed his scrutiny of the pavement. "Not really."
Ah, so it was girl trouble. Oishi felt a slight pang of jealousy as he asked carefully, "Is it Ryuuzaki's granddaughter?"
Echizen stared at him blankly for a few seconds as he tried to place a face with the name. His widened slightly in surprise as he realised whom his senpai was referring to. "No." He fidgeted as they sat together in uncomfortable silence, almost as though he wanted to talk but didn't quite know how to start. Abruptly he stood, the scuffing of shoes on concrete breaking through the heavy silence, and brushed the dirt off his pants. "Thanks, Oishi-senpai, but I'm fine."
Oishi watched him leave in silence. It was true Echizen had become friendlier and less antisocial and even occasionally started conversations on his own upon entering high school, but he was still no easier to read. Oishi wanted to help him with whatever was troubling him now, but he couldn't help if he couldn't understand what his kouhai needed, and Ryoma had never been one to admit to requiring assistance.
Sometimes he wished Ryoma trusted him more, but then, it wasn't as though Oishi had ever done anything to earn that trust. The two of them were just a senpai and kouhai who rarely saw each other except through club activities and who interacted with each other even more infrequently. Worse, Oishi had never even tried to change that situation in any way.
Still, he sometimes he wished Ryoma pretended to care a little more. But that, too, was really Oishi's fault -- how could the boy be more considerate of Oishi's feelings if he didn't even know of their existence?
Sighing, he let his head fall back against the cold brick wall and shoving has hands into his pockets to protect from the crisp, biting autumn air. His breath left in visible puffs of mist. It was too cold to spend lunch on the rooftop. He really should go back inside. Instead, he stayed where he was, relaxing despite the chilly air and icy brick at his back.
He felt as though he was beginning to understand why Ryoma seemed to like it up here so much. The bareness of colour and cold, grey weather served to numb whatever unpleasant emotions he experienced. It didn't make the situation feel any less hopeless, but it did serve to comfort him. Things felt simpler up here. It was easier to pretend.
Oishi closed his eyes. The world inside his eyelids was no warmer, but the sky was a deep, bright blue and there was sun and he could almost,almost feel Echizen beside him just where the boy had been a few minutes before.
This time when Echizen stood, it didn't feel to Oishi like his chest was being crushed. It didn't feel like anything at all as he watched Echizen adjust his cap, brush the dirt off his pants. This time when Echizen turned back to him, he couldn't see any sign of unhappiness on his kouhai's face.
"Thanks, Oishi-senpai, but I'm fine." I'm just waiting for you.
Oishi smiled.