.

.

.

Thoma

"Let's see... People say that I'm a 'fixer' in Inazuma. Though they also call me an outsider... I guess that's true."

You

"Fixer?"

Thoma

"Yeah, like... Like I'm approachable. Which is good! I love being approachable."

"And... I've heard some say that though I'm an outsider, I've been able to adapt to Inazuma's social life pretty well. I love socializing!"

He said, with a bright smile.

You got off your bed and sat beside him on the cold, hard floor.

You

"I like talking to you."

"I can see that you love being approachable. And that you love socializing."

Thoma

"You like talking to me?..."

He asked with a slight grin on his face.

You

"Mhm."

You nodded.

Thoma

"You're nothing like what other people say."

He said, turning around on the floor, so he was now sitting right in front of you.

You

"Oh... I don't really know about that."

Thoma

"What do you mean? You're not big and scary; you're not mean and cruel."

You

"Hah! People say I'm big and scary?"

Thoma

"Yeah! They were totally wrong, I know, right?"

You

"They're describing me like a monster. Real funny."

Thoma

"Mhm... Real funny."

You

.

.

.

"Well I guess they're not totally wrong about the big and scary part."

You told him, as you began to fidget with your fingers, picking at your nails.

Thoma

"Hm? But you're not?"

You

"That's because you're the first person, aside from me, that's taken a step in this cave."

"You're the only person that I've chosen not to kill."

"You haven't seen what those corpses have."

Thoma

"I guess you're right, but for some odd reason..."

.

"I'm not afraid of you at all. I know what I  saw—there were plenty of bones and corpses."

"But I'm not scared."

You

"Really?..."

Thoma

"Really."

"Here. I pinky swear."

He took your hand and wrapped his pinky around yours, making a promise. Your touch-deprived self felt warm on the inside as you came into contact with his silky skin.

You

"..."

"What?"

Thoma

"... Pinky swear? Pinky promise?"

You

"Huh?"

Thoma

"You don't know?..."

You shook your head confusingly.

Thoma

"Huh."

.

"A pinky swear is like... A promise that you absolutely cannot break. Your vow is bonded and sealed by doing this."

He wrapped his pinky around yours once again.

You

That warm feeling again.

Thoma

"Understand?"

You

"Mhm. I understand."

"So... You pinky swore that... You aren't scared of me?"

Thoma

"Yes. That means I mean it, truly."

"I'm not afraid at all."

His pinky was still interlinked with yours.

You felt Thoma's pinky leaving, but you didn't let it go.

Thoma

"?"

You

"Can you keep it there for a little while?"

You asked him.

Thoma was crisscrossed on the floor, and you were sitting right in front of him, embracing your knees. Your pinkies remained interlinked.

Thoma chuckled.

Thoma

"Sure. I'll keep it there for as long as you like."

You

"Okay."

 .

.

.

Thoma

"Uhm... Y/N?"

You

"Yes?"

Thoma

"How long have you been living down here?"

You

"... Quite a while."

"A few years."

"I don't know. I lost count."

.

.

.

"After she left me, I've been stuck down here since."

You said blank-minded. Your eyes were fixated on the floor below you, staring off into space.

Thoma

"... She?"

You

"Huh?"

Thoma

"Who is she?"

You

"What?- Nobody. Forget I said anything."

You shook your head, quit spacing out, pulled your pinky away from Thoma and climbed back into your bed, getting all cozy again.

Thoma

"Y/N-"

You

"Goodnight, Thoma."

You cut him off.

Thoma looked at you for a while before laying on the rock-hard floor, using one of his shirts folded up as a pillow and another as a blanket.

.

.

.

-THE NEXT MORNING-

Thoma

"Y/N?"

He shook you awake.

You

"Hm?..."

Thoma

"I have to tell Ayato where I'm going, or else he's going to be worried, okay? I'll be right back, it won't take long."

You

"Okay."

Thoma

"We'll start looking for the gemstone as soon as I get back."

You

"Okay..."

You were still tucked in nicely under the sheets when you watched Thoma run straight out of the cave. You got out of bed and prepared to take a bath in the nearby lake.

-MEANWHILE-

Thoma

"My lord!"

Thoma exclaimed, rushing right into the residence.

Ayaka

*Sigh* "He's in his room. Where the hell have you been, Thoma?"

"Sleeping with someone again instead of housekeeping?"

Thoma

"I sort of uhm... Got caught up in something."

Ayaka

"Like what? Getting screwed?"

Thoma

"Oh, come on, don't be like that, Ayaka."

Ayaka

"You leave to go get Ayato milk tea, and Yoimiya is the one to deliver it for you? Seriously?"

"She said you were busy with something. And I think we all know what that 'something' is."

Thoma

"It's not like that, Ayaka... I was seriously caught up with something! And it wasn't getting my dick sucked this time!"

Ayaka

"Then tell me! Tell me what you've been doing all night!"

Thoma

"I-" *Sigh*

.

.

.

"It's... I can't. It's classified information."

I can't tell her a single thing. I can't tell anyone.

Ayaka

"Un-fucking-believable. Ayato's quite literally been feeling like shit for days, and you're out there fucking people up."

Ayato

"Thoma?..."

And there he was, standing weakly by the door of his room.

Thoma

"My lord!"

Ayato

"Where have you been?"

*Cough!*

He fell to the floor, dropping on his knees.

Thoma

"Oh jeez..."

Ayaka

"Ayato!"

Thoma and Ayaka both hurried up to Ayato and helped him up.

Ayaka

"Help me get him back in bed."

As he lay in bed, Ayaka and Thoma sat by his side.

Ayato

"Ugh..."

Thoma

"I'm assuming you aren't feeling any better, my lord?"

Ayaka

"Well, no shit, Sherlock."

Thoma

"..."

Ayato

"If anything... I think I'm just getting worse..."

Ayaka

"I'll go get you a cold towel, okay?"

Ayato

"Mhm..."

Once Ayaka left the room, Thoma was able to speak to Ayato without any interruptions.

Ayato

*Cough* "Where have you been?... Why didn't you come back?..."

Thoma

"I got caught up in something, my lord. I sincerely apologize."

"I promise you that I didn't leave you to sleep with someone. I didn't drink last night either."

"But... I don't think I'm staying here for long."

Ayato

"What?..."

"Why so?"

Thoma

"I have to help somebody find something valuable to them."

Ayato

"... So you're leaving.

"Again."

Thoma

"Yes. But it's for a reasonable cause, my lord. I will try to get this done as soon as possible. I'm sorry."

"I will still visit you as much as I can."

Ayato

"Alright then."

*Cough*

Thoma

"I advise you to go see a doctor. It's just getting worse, my lord."

Ayato

*Sigh* "Ayaka already took me to one."

"I've been taking these stupid... Over-the-counter medications."

*Cough*

"They don't know what's wrong with me."

Thoma

"Seriously?... They're doctors; they should know!"

Ayato

"Unfortunately, they do not."

"They advised us to go see the doctors down in Sumeru... Apparently, they have a rich source of treatment."

"The only concern is how I'm going to get there and the price. It's been said to be expensive."

Thoma

"Well, I'll save up! I'll figure something out for you, my lord, I promise.

.

"Again, I'm very sorry for this inconvenience. I'll see you soon."

"Please, drink lots of water and get tons of rest."

Ayato sighed, knowing that Thoma was abandoning him once more. Thoma walked out through Ayato's window, frightened to face Ayaka and tell her he was leaving again.