Eyeing his phone, Mahiru could have sworn he lost track of time and ended up with little to no sleep. By the time he decided to stop mulling over one thing or the other, dim slivers of early sunlight begun to let themselves down onto his bedspace, touching the blanket he had discarded, now hanging over the edge of the bed. He was lying on his back, awash with a hint of excitement and tons of optimism as he got up and decided to just get this over with.

He zipped his guitar case and clicked the lock over the holes of both zippers while he was still shaking the water out of his hair. He threw on the nearest jacket he could find, slipping into his pants before fixing up three large folds from the hem of each leg, going up. His adrenaline rushing, the brunette exited the small apartment, calling out to notify no one in particular about his early departure.

His uncle hadn't dropped by in a long while, although the normalcy of the situation had caused most likely the both of them to stop keeping track of the days Shirota Tooru wasn't home. Besides, Mahiru couldn't exactly complain; he was well aware of his uncle's busy adult life, which prompted him to stay out of his business.

He checked his phone for the time. It was still a little past five, and the skies were beginning to light up with the vigor of the approaching summer season. Mahiru liked summer. There were a lot of things to do, places to go, and the laundry dried up faster. It wasn't as restricting as rainy days when clothes would be damp, the smell of improper exposure to sunlight going along with it. Winter was fine, although costly on the heaters. Tokyo's hot summers weren't as torturous as those in Egawasaki, so he could make do with minimal electricity.

He again checked the information he managed to procure from a person on the internet who claimed to have been Kuro's classmate in highschool. He couldn't possibly imagine why the former vocalist of Sloth shut himself up in a desolate corner of Yokohama, although Mahiru would know in less than an hour. That was what had him giddy from evening to earlier this morning; he'd found Sloth's Kuro, a friend he'd been missing for so long.

He was simply lucky to have come across someone Kuro knew from his former school, who also coincidentally moved to Yokohama to continue his education in Kanagawa University. At first, Mahiru was reluctant, as it sounded far-fetched; an online persona from a public highschool with a little bit of bad opinions thrown here and there, attending a superior university in the next city over? He was wary of scheming gangsters who led you to isolated alleys, either beating you half to death or recruiting you. His class pictures he sent over the internet smoothed out the last of Mahiru's reluctance.

He just wanted to take any opportunity he could. He was going to see Kuro again after what felt like a year to him. He would've stuck his nose somewhere else if only he'd been informed of the former vocalist's plans, or if they'd properly talked the excommunication over, but no. He had been teetering over the edge of a cliff for long enough, and as they say, distance works wonders. He didn't know Kuro as much as he knew Sakuya or his other childhood friends, but he just felt a strong connection to the older male. They were complete opposites, he could tell that much just by watching the performance, but they just seemed to get along so well over the course of their short-lived friendship. Well, another popular saying dictates that polar opposites attract.

Guess he had a lot to support his thoughts.

Stepping out of the train station, he stretched his limbs. Not only had he neglected today's classes, he'd also surely evaded his promise to meet his friends infront of the newly-opened game store before they headed to class. He brought out his mobile to inform them, typing a short message saying he had to run an abrupt errand.

That was about thirty minutes ago, and at six-forty-five, he was currently sitting cross-legged on the floor of an apartment owned by a greatly lethargic teenager. He knew Kuro was out of the limelight— also extremely lazy— but he didn't expect this current situation to greet him. He looked around the clattered little space around him and the notebook still lying by the door, where it had landed after being thrown. The older individual settled down infront of him after kicking away a stack of plastic containers— cup noodles?— to make enough space for himself.

They stared at each other before Mahiru said, "So you're a NEET?"

Kuro's shoulders went up, his head sinking lower down his slouched frame as his expression turned even more bitter.
"It's a fact, but it still hurts my feelings, you know?"
"Because you haven't been talking to anyone and I'm the first one to say it?"
"Please get out."
"I'm a guest!" the brunette protested, throwing his hands up in disbelief. Kuro simply sighed and ruffled his hair in frustration.

"You're being troublesome, you know?"

Mahiru was silent, although his thoughts were unreadable.

There was a brief stretch of silence before he slowly began to address his cause.

"So," he drawled, the weight of the situation finally getting to his nerves in the moment of calm. "How's it going? I was worried 'cause you suddenly stopped talking to me. Then the next thing I know, you guys called it quits. I thought, at first, you split up because of uni and all, but seeing you now, I don't know what to make of it."
It started as an awkward greeting, but by the time he stopped to catch his breath, his concern was concluded with an honest period. He continued.

"It's not as if I'm judging you or anything, don't worry. I'm just surprised. Do you— don't you want to get back with Sloth?"
Kuro stared at Mahiru, even darker bags marring the skin around his vibrant red irises. Detecting the hopeful look in the younger teen's face, Kuro felt his brows furrow as he narrowed his eyes, not knowing what he was to say to this boy who unbelievably chased him all the way. Although, he rather questioned the fact that this boy wanted to be his friend more than the former.

"Your fault," he thought for the second time in less than an hour.

He wondered when he'll ruin this person's life... if he hadn't already.

The former vocalist propped an elbow against the edge of his knee, leaning over to rest his chin on his palm as he diverted his stare to someplace else other than Mahiru's eyes— nauseatingly filled with hopes and dreams and a fuck-ton of sunshine and shonen anime bulshit. He didn't have the heart to deal with this. Rather, he couldn't bring himself to have the guts to face a vitalic effigy of innocence. Naivety and optimism terrified him, the sentiment spreading both for himself and for the other party.

"Your fau-"

"Nope."

Mahiru blinked.

"We're done. Those guys have lives, man, and bigger fish to fry. Unlike me and my dilapidated shack surrounded by chrysanthemums I'm too proud to sell, they've mapped out their futures like good little kids." Kuro had said more than he intended to. Maybe the brunette was right in assuming the effects of solitude were getting to him. Even so, he continued. "We split up because of the usual reasons; school, work, parents, that stuff. Thankfully none of us created girlfriend drama. Or boyfriend. I don't judge."

He could see the cogs in Mahiru's brain slow down, then regulate.

"I see," the latter stated, unconsciously mimicking Kuro's sitting position. "It must've been a tough decision to make, huh? I'm sure you fought hard to keep the band together."

Before his smile could fully form, Kuro stood up with such great effort and walked towards the door.

"Fun fact, I had the last word." he opened the door and gestured for Mahiru to step out of the apartment.

"You... suggested disbandment?"

"Yes. Now go to school."

the story's moving~ yes, nox, very, very slowly. hope you enjoyed the chapter; i try to make good conversation. i would be glad if you'd tell me what you think of the dialogues! too exaggerated? bland? see you next week (๑・ω-)～♥"