[He supposes having his brother here was supposed to be some kind of comfort. Maybe it was the landlord's strange sense of humour, forcing them both to play 'house' with different roles. If someone wanted to take him, so be it. Ryousuke would learn to manage on his own. But Haruichi had games to win, a goal to reach, and a team to play for. He didn't have to be dragged into it too.
Even if Haruichi hid behind his hair, his feelings were sincere and plain to see. His stubborn, fixed determination, or his simple smile, all wrapped up with a blush and fringe of pink. Haruichi's fingers curling around the door frame -- Ryousuke sees that too. The way he lingers in the doorway.
Deciding to meet him halfway, Ryousuke gets off his comfy spot on the bed to prise the door open completely, tucking a doorstop underneath to keep it open between them.]
[ there are a lot of things he wants to say--a part of haruichi wants to curl up like a child and cry like he used to when bullies teased him when he was younger. it's not like it's the end of the world to have been, well, kidnapped, because it isn't, and many of his friends were here, but ryousuke would surely call him a baby for doing it. and he'd deserve it, too. but that feeling of being unsettled is banging around in his chest in a way that nothing ever does, and it's not like he'd call it 'scared', but maybe.. uncomfortable would fit better. it's obvious they're just supposed to accept this and move on, live like this until, what, they disappear? that's what eijun said happened to jun.
everything just feels off kilter, and it's part of why he's clinging to his brother. he's always clung to his brother, to be honest, and he knows that, but right now? right now, ryousuke is the only thing that feels even remotely like 'home' in this entire place. he never got homesick at seidou. why is he homesick now?
shaking his head, he moves his hand from the door, pushing them into the pockets of his pants and not moving out of his spot, even if his shoulders shift a little, ever the shrinking violet off the field. ] I'm okay. [ he says eventually, stubbornly, because he is, or he will be, or both or maybe neither. ] It's just...really quiet in my room, that's all.
[Ryousuke tilts his head over his shoulder, indicating to the room behind him. He'd originally retreated to the main bedroom to investigate, but it turned out it was bare as the rest of the house. No hidden cameras, no secret passages embedded into the walls. None of the mundane stuff either, like a change of clothes, or his collection of books, a mild annoyance over the greater, underlying annoyance that filled the room and overflowed into probably every corner of Holly Heights. So he'd distracted himself poring over the lease again, checking for anything he might have missed -- restlessness, was it called?]
I don't know about you, but some fresh air sounds good right now. [One hand holding onto the door for balance, he makes a show of pulling one leg back in a stretch, getting the blood flowing again. He's ready to go.] How about it?
[ grateful is haruichi's entire expression--it's hard to see what his face looks like most of the time, but his body follows, shoulders slumping in a little bit, lips opening instead of being pressed together a little in stress. even just the very suggestion of it settles something, and he nods, ending up smiling just a little bit, cheeks pinkening. ]
That sounds good, aniki. [ thank you thank you thank you, to his brother and to the landlord for making sure they ended up here together--haruichi can't imagine being taken anywhere without him.
he takes a step out of the way to let ryo through the door, but it's obvious that, like always, he'll follow. ]
[As usual, Ryousuke walks ahead, leaving a path for his little brother to follow. They've got this order down to an art form. Haruichi's entire being changes from a few words and acknowledgement from Ryousuke, and that fact is not lost on him at all. He doesn't have to look back to realise the weight of his younger brother's gaze is heavy on his shoulders. That's something he's always been conscious of, ever since he could remember.
He's mostly silent as they leave the house. Light footfalls but with none of the hesitance (because, really, when did Ryousuke ever move with hesitation?). Not so much in consideration of their fellow housemates, but he didn't feel like answering any questions about where they were going or what time they'd be back. It was a long overdue moment with his brother, and the time belonged to them alone. Kind of like when they'd sneak off as children, and Ryousuke would show Haruichi his favourite hiding spots, where to catch the biggest and most impressive beetles, or a rocky outcrop that - with a child's imagination - could almost be the surface of the moon. They'd return home with faces muddy with dirt and stones in their shoes, and a shared smile as their mother would exclaim over where they'd been. It was a secret shared between brothers.
The pockets of his pants are patted down to make sure he's got his keys, and they're off. They didn't have any bats to carry, or even a ball to play catch -- because what else would they do but baseball? It was the natural conclusion.]
[ following ryousuke is rote at this point. it's what haruichi has always done for as long as he can remember--from the moment he took his first baby steps, he was always chasing after his big brother. haruichi looked at ryousuke with wonder in his eyes because to him, he could do anything. even now, years and years later, he knows his brother isn't infallible but that doesn't stop him from thinking so anyway, doesn't stop him from following in his footsteps because he just wants to be as great as his brother has always seemed to him, a back that felt just two steps out of his reach, no matter how far he ran.
all haruichi's ever wanted is to emulate his brother, to have just an ounce of his confidence and his poise, a pound of his baseball skills. he wants to do him proud, wants to surpass him, wants to earn his acknowledgement for succeeding at things--for being good like he is, for carrying on the reputation of the kominatos in seido. in times of doubt, in times of stress--as being kidnapped to a strange town might just be --haruichi will always look to ryousuke's back as a place that feels more like home than anything else in holly heights.
he follows him quietly, even subconsciously hooking his thumbs in the front of his own pockets, letting ryousuke lead them wherever they need to go. words don't matter so much, and haruichi doesn't speak often--he's content to let ryousuke lead the way, confident in the fact that his brother just read his mind. that he knows where he needs to go--what he needs to get away from for just a little while. ]
[As much as some might like to speculate, Ryousuke is, in fact, not a mind reader. He's just always been conscious of others, the image he projects onto them, how they choose to perceive him, how simple words and actions can touch and influence people - another extension of being the older brother. Watch someone closely enough, and their motivations become clear as day. Of course he'd know what Haruichi wanted. How could he not? It's the game they both love so dearly, and the little brother he loves even more so. The two things that shaped him are undeniably intertwined together. Relationship status: It's Complicated.
(Ryousuke would, in a heartbeat, give up that first love for Haruichi.)
Even though baseball is sometimes a lot more pain than pleasure, he has a hunch the sports centre might be under the 'pleasure' district. He pulls out the red key, swivelling it in the lock until it clicks, and stands back as the gate swings open.
It's evening, and most people would be in their homes, or out for dinner, and the murmur of voices travelling from the restaurants outside are their only companions. It's only until they pull up in front the sporting facility does Ryousuke look to Haruichi, the lights from the building casting a soft glow over his expression.]
Oh, so they have one of these here.
[Like his feet didn't lead them there. Like he hadn't intended this all along.]
[ haruichi follows ryousuke dutifully, the shadow chasing at his heels he's been since the day he was born. he'd never really been a strong kid--not strong of personality, not strong of temperament, not hearty or even particularly healthy--but ryousuke always was. the reason haruichi looked up to him was because, simply, he'd been something to look up to. ryousuke never let anything stop him and haruichi wanted that. he wanted to be as talented, as smart, as eloquent, as strong in every meaning of the word. he wanted to be good enough to be recognized and to achieve everything ryousuke was, because sometimes his brother seemed like a star just inches out of haruichi's trembling, reaching hands, and sometimes the distance felt like he was back on the earth with his head craned to the sky.
baseball is another thing he could imitate him with. from tomatoes to scary stories, haruichi had always followed his big brother, but one day he gripped a baseball bat to be like him and realized he loved it all on his own. it made things different. suddenly, he didn't just want to earn ryousuke's admiration--a part of him wanted to surpass him. get better. be faster. be smarter. be stronger. somewhere deep in him he knows that overcoming him might be the only way he could get his acknowledgement at all.
ryousuke's not the most loving brother in the world, at least not outwardly, but it motivates him, drives him to love him even more. love, admiration, ambition--its a messy cocktail that belongs to the kominatos, a difficult time being a younger brother for as difficult as it is for ryousuke to have him.
the sports center's softly lit and open even at night, and haruichi looks up at it, his hands curling a little in his pockets as his heart swells just a little--practicing with his big brother. what else could he want?
softly, he makes an "mm" noise of affirmation, nodding his head. the answer is quiet but the smile on his face speaks volumes, doesn't it. ]
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no subject
Even if Haruichi hid behind his hair, his feelings were sincere and plain to see. His stubborn, fixed determination, or his simple smile, all wrapped up with a blush and fringe of pink. Haruichi's fingers curling around the door frame -- Ryousuke sees that too. The way he lingers in the doorway.
Deciding to meet him halfway, Ryousuke gets off his comfy spot on the bed to prise the door open completely, tucking a doorstop underneath to keep it open between them.]
It's nothing. [Is it worrying?] What's wrong?
no subject
everything just feels off kilter, and it's part of why he's clinging to his brother. he's always clung to his brother, to be honest, and he knows that, but right now? right now, ryousuke is the only thing that feels even remotely like 'home' in this entire place. he never got homesick at seidou. why is he homesick now?
shaking his head, he moves his hand from the door, pushing them into the pockets of his pants and not moving out of his spot, even if his shoulders shift a little, ever the shrinking violet off the field. ] I'm okay. [ he says eventually, stubbornly, because he is, or he will be, or both or maybe neither. ] It's just...really quiet in my room, that's all.
no subject
[Ryousuke tilts his head over his shoulder, indicating to the room behind him. He'd originally retreated to the main bedroom to investigate, but it turned out it was bare as the rest of the house. No hidden cameras, no secret passages embedded into the walls. None of the mundane stuff either, like a change of clothes, or his collection of books, a mild annoyance over the greater, underlying annoyance that filled the room and overflowed into probably every corner of Holly Heights. So he'd distracted himself poring over the lease again, checking for anything he might have missed -- restlessness, was it called?]
I don't know about you, but some fresh air sounds good right now. [One hand holding onto the door for balance, he makes a show of pulling one leg back in a stretch, getting the blood flowing again. He's ready to go.] How about it?
no subject
That sounds good, aniki. [ thank you thank you thank you, to his brother and to the landlord for making sure they ended up here together--haruichi can't imagine being taken anywhere without him.
he takes a step out of the way to let ryo through the door, but it's obvious that, like always, he'll follow. ]
no subject
He's mostly silent as they leave the house. Light footfalls but with none of the hesitance (because, really, when did Ryousuke ever move with hesitation?). Not so much in consideration of their fellow housemates, but he didn't feel like answering any questions about where they were going or what time they'd be back. It was a long overdue moment with his brother, and the time belonged to them alone. Kind of like when they'd sneak off as children, and Ryousuke would show Haruichi his favourite hiding spots, where to catch the biggest and most impressive beetles, or a rocky outcrop that - with a child's imagination - could almost be the surface of the moon. They'd return home with faces muddy with dirt and stones in their shoes, and a shared smile as their mother would exclaim over where they'd been. It was a secret shared between brothers.
The pockets of his pants are patted down to make sure he's got his keys, and they're off. They didn't have any bats to carry, or even a ball to play catch -- because what else would they do but baseball? It was the natural conclusion.]
no subject
all haruichi's ever wanted is to emulate his brother, to have just an ounce of his confidence and his poise, a pound of his baseball skills. he wants to do him proud, wants to surpass him, wants to earn his acknowledgement for succeeding at things--for being good like he is, for carrying on the reputation of the kominatos in seido. in times of doubt, in times of stress--as being kidnapped to a strange town might just be --haruichi will always look to ryousuke's back as a place that feels more like home than anything else in holly heights.
he follows him quietly, even subconsciously hooking his thumbs in the front of his own pockets, letting ryousuke lead them wherever they need to go. words don't matter so much, and haruichi doesn't speak often--he's content to let ryousuke lead the way, confident in the fact that his brother just read his mind. that he knows where he needs to go--what he needs to get away from for just a little while. ]
no subject
(Ryousuke would, in a heartbeat, give up that first love for Haruichi.)
Even though baseball is sometimes a lot more pain than pleasure, he has a hunch the sports centre might be under the 'pleasure' district. He pulls out the red key, swivelling it in the lock until it clicks, and stands back as the gate swings open.
It's evening, and most people would be in their homes, or out for dinner, and the murmur of voices travelling from the restaurants outside are their only companions. It's only until they pull up in front the sporting facility does Ryousuke look to Haruichi, the lights from the building casting a soft glow over his expression.]
Oh, so they have one of these here.
[Like his feet didn't lead them there. Like he hadn't intended this all along.]
Wanna hit?
no subject
baseball is another thing he could imitate him with. from tomatoes to scary stories, haruichi had always followed his big brother, but one day he gripped a baseball bat to be like him and realized he loved it all on his own. it made things different. suddenly, he didn't just want to earn ryousuke's admiration--a part of him wanted to surpass him. get better. be faster. be smarter. be stronger. somewhere deep in him he knows that overcoming him might be the only way he could get his acknowledgement at all.
ryousuke's not the most loving brother in the world, at least not outwardly, but it motivates him, drives him to love him even more. love, admiration, ambition--its a messy cocktail that belongs to the kominatos, a difficult time being a younger brother for as difficult as it is for ryousuke to have him.
the sports center's softly lit and open even at night, and haruichi looks up at it, his hands curling a little in his pockets as his heart swells just a little--practicing with his big brother. what else could he want?
softly, he makes an "mm" noise of affirmation, nodding his head. the answer is quiet but the smile on his face speaks volumes, doesn't it. ]
no subject
He smiles, reaching towards his little brother, two fingers outstretched to poke him in the forehead.]
I'm sorry, Sasuke. Maybe next time.