Chapter Text
Sunao wasn’t the type to mismanage his time, not usually. But by some cruel twist of fate, the one night he actually got some decent sleep, he ended up sleeping through his alarm like a log. He jolted awake, panic and adrenaline pumping through his veins as he scrambled out of bed—only for his vision to blur from the sudden movement, a groan of pain slipping from his lips.
Holding his aching head, he shuffled toward the bathroom. He needed to move fast if he didn’t want to be late—something he absolutely hated. Being the only one to show up late drew unwanted attention to him, and the last thing he wanted was to waste his friends’ time.
He quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face, running shaky hands through his fluffy hair in an attempt to tame it. He wasn’t sure what to wear, but the drop in temperature made warmth the obvious choice. Rummaging through his closet, he grabbed a sweater and jeans, quickly pulling the clothes on.
Stepping into the entryway, he slips on his shoes while scanning the room for his house keys. Spotting them on the kitchen counter, he snatched them up and hurried out the door. If he speed walked, he just might make it in time for their scheduled meetup.
The morning air held a sharp chill, a clear sign that autumn had fully set in. Each breath he exhaled formed a faint puff of white mist, fading into the cool morning air like smoke. The sky was overcast in a muted gray, casting a soft light over the quiet streets lined with trees in the middle of shedding their leaves. Shades of amber, rust, and gold littered the sidewalks, crunching faintly under his hurried steps.
By the time he reached the café, his friends were already seated. A wave of anxiety washed over him as his eyes landed on an unfamiliar face among them—and beside that stranger, a small child who looked oddly out of place with the group. With careful, hesitant steps, he made his way toward the table.
“Sorry I’m late..” He muttered, cheeks flushed—though rather it was from the cold or embarrassment, he couldn’t tell. Sunao slid into the seat next to Rei, offering a small ‘thank you’ as the boy shifted over to give him more space.
“No worries, we haven’t ordered yet.” Monika said, handing a menu to Sunao before casting a glance between Rei and the unfamiliar guy sitting beside her. It looked like they were having a silent conversation with their eyes—but whatever they were trying to say, Sunao couldn’t begin to guess.
Rei and Monika exchanged uneasy glances with the stranger at their table, silently urging him to do something. But if he noticed, he didn’t show it. He simply sat there, cheek resting in his palm, eyes drifting lazily over the group before landing on Sunao.
Maintaining eye contact with the stranger was uncomfortable—like the person was peering straight into his soul. Still, Sunao forced the most genuine smile he could manage and directed it towards the unfamiliar face.
“Sunao, this is Tobi. He’s a childhood friend.” Monika said, giving the boy—identified as Tobi—a nudge on the shoulder. He responded with an irritated glance in her direction. “Rei knows him too.” She added.
“Hi.” Tobi said plainly, his gaze fixed intensely on Sunao. “This is my sister, Ryuuko.” He added, nodding toward the little girl who had been quietly staring out the window the entire time. She only turned to face the group after hearing herself mentioned.
The little girl tilted her head as she studied Sunao, her eyes suddenly lighting up with curiosity. “You’re a strange pet.” The girl giggled—only to let out a sharp ‘ouch’ a moment later, shooting an annoyed look up at Tobi.
Sunao let out a nervous laugh. The whole situation felt painfully awkward, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, it seemed like Tobi was irritated by him—like his very presence was grating. He sank deeper into his seat, silently hoping that if he made himself small enough, he might go unnoticed.
Thankfully, the waiter showed up just in time to save him from the awkwardness hanging in the air.
“Good morning! Are you all ready to order?” She asked, wearing a polite, professional smile.
Rei sets his menu down with a bit too much enthusiasm, “I’ll have an affogato,” He said, then glanced at Sunao, before a smile spread across his face. “And he’ll have a latte.” He added, gesturing to Sunao next to him.
Sunao found himself smiling, quietly, as he looked at his friend. It wasn’t a grand gesture—just a small thoughtful act—but somehow, those meant the most. In moments like this, he felt seen. Like he mattered. Like the little things he loved were worth remembering.
“We’ll both have a mocha.” Monika said shortly after, nodding toward Tobi beside her. The group then shifted their attention to the youngest at the table, waiting for her to place her order.
The little girl scanned the menu with wide, curious eyes until something caught her attention. “I want hot chocolate!” She exclaimed, holding up the menu and eagerly pointing to her choice.
“Can we also order a muffin, two donuts, a sandwich, and..” Monika paused, glancing at Sunao as if asking something silently. He gave a small shake of his head, and she nodded in response. “Just that, thank you.”
The waiter nodded as she took down their orders, quickly jotting them onto the notepad in her hands. Once finished, she gathered their menus with a polite smile. “We’ll have your orders out shortly” She said before turning to leave.
Once the waiter was out of sight, Rei leaned against Sunao’s shoulder, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “So, why were you late Sunao?” He asked with a hint of curiosity. “You’re usually the first here.”
“I overslept..” He muttered, eyes dropping to the table. Suddenly, the texture of the wood seemed incredibly fascinating—definitely worth his full attention for the rest of the day.
The overly dramatic gasp that followed made Sunao look up, only to find Rei and Monika gawking at him like he’d grown a second head. “You actually slept?!” They cried in unison, startling him enough to nearly jump out of his seat. Okay, so it was rare—but it wasn’t that unbelievable. Probably.
“Why do you not sleep?” The little girl—Ryuuko, apparently—asked with innocent curiosity. The table fell silent, and for the second time that day, Sunao found himself in awkward eye contact with Tobi. It was clear he was just as curious, and for some reason, that only made Sunao more flustered.
He considered his words—someone her age probably wouldn’t grasp the concept of insomnia. With that in mind, Sunao simply says, “I have a hard time sleeping.”
Ryuuko nodded in understanding, then turned to Tobi with a sly grin. “My underling’s basically useless without his sleep.” She teased, drawing a snort of laughter from Rei.
“Knock it off.” Tobi said with a warning tone, prompting Ryuuko to stick her tongue out at him in playful defiance.
Sunao had absolutely no idea why this girl was calling Tobi her underling—and hold on, didn’t she call him a pet earlier? The realization hit him like a second wave of confusion, leaving him more lost than before. What kind of dynamic was this?
Moments later, the waiter returned with their orders, placing each item neatly on the table. Before the last dish had even settled, Ryuuko was already reaching out with both hands, eyes wide with anticipation as she eagerly snatched up the nearest cup she hoped was hers.
“Ryuuko, have some patience.” Tobi scolded, frowning at her lack of manners. His eyes narrowed as he added, “That’s not your drink.” Before letting out a sigh and effortlessly taking the cup from her hands.
Ryuuko let out a dramatic whine of protest, only for it to vanish in an instant—replaced by a squeal of joy as Sunao nervously slid her hot chocolate over like a peace offering.
The rest of their time at the café passed smoothly, wrapped in a gentle, comfortable rhythm. Rei helped Sunao work through a few homework problems, his words muffled now and then by bites of the donut he was happily devouring. Across the table, Monika had brought her Switch, letting Ryuuko sit beside her to play. The little girl was fully engrossed, her laughter bubbling up every so often, while Tobi sat quietly nearby, observing the two with a distant calm, occasionally taking small bites of his muffin.
The café around them radiated warmth—soft lighting, the faint hum of background chatter, and the aroma of coffee all blending together to create a cozy, relaxed atmosphere that gently settled over the group.
Sunao brought his latte to his lips now and then, more for something to do than out of thirst. Still, the uneasy sensation lingered—like eyes were on him. His fingers tightened slightly around the cup. He didn’t want to look up, didn’t want to confirm the suspicion tugging at the edge of his thoughts. Was Tobi staring at him again? And if he was... why? Did he do something wrong without realizing it? The not-knowing gnawed at him, quiet and constant.
After a while, the group decided to call it a day. They all chipped in to cover the bill, then gathered their things before stepping out of the café. The moment they were outside, they were met with a light autumn breeze, sharper than it had been this morning. Sunao instinctively shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunched slightly as he breathed in the cool, earthy scent of fall that lingered in the air.
“This was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.” Monika said, breaking the quiet as the group stood outside. Her words drew everyone’s attention, and she gave a small smile before turning to leave, waving over her shoulder. It looked like Tobi lived in the same direction, because after giving Rei and Sunao a brief nod, he took Ryuuko’s hand and followed after her.
“Bye-bye!” Ryuuko called out, glancing back at the pair with a beaming smile as she waved enthusiastically, her small hand fluttering in the air while Tobi gently tugged her along.
They waved back at the small girl, Rei’s gesture relaxed and easy, while Sunao’s was noticeably more hesitant. Once the others disappeared from view, he and Rei quietly began their walk home.
The walk home was calm, wrapped in a quiet stillness that settled comfortably between them. The only noise was from the trees above, rustling softly in the wind.
“Rei..” Sunao began, gently breaking the comfortable silence between them. “About Tobi...” He trailed off, unsure how to phrase what he was thinking without it coming across the wrong way. It wasn’t that he believed Tobi had any real reason to dislike him—but there was definitely something about the guy that felt.. intimidating.
Rei gave him an encouraging nod, and with that bit of reassurance, Sunao found the courage to keep going.
“Did I do something to upset him? I don’t know.. It just feels like he doesn’t like me.”
When the silence stretched for a moment too long, Sunao glanced up—nerves stirring, only to be met with the soft, reassuring warmth of Rei’s smile. He didn’t know exactly what he’d said to earn it, but something about that expression settled the unease inside him, like a silent reminder that he wasn’t alone. Not anymore.
“He doesn’t hate you.” Rei said gently, giving Sunao’s shoulder a playful nudge. “Trust me—I’d know. He’s just.. guarded, you know? But his heart’s in the right place.”
Sunao thought it over in silence. In some strange way, he could understand Tobi—maybe even relate to him. That distant edge, the walls built so high no one dared to look over them. It felt.. familiar. But he’d never say that out loud. He could hardly admit it to himself, let alone compare someone else to the tangle of contradictions he carried inside.
Eventually, their paths split, each heading in a different direction. After exchanging quiet goodbyes, Sunao continued the rest of the walk home alone, the fading sounds of Rei’s footsteps slowly swallowed by the stillness behind him.
By the time he made it home, the exhaustion that had been simmering beneath the surface finally burst—like a shaken soda can. He unlocked the door and nudged it open with the side of his foot, barely paying attention. The keys landed somewhere with a soft clatter, forgotten the moment they left his hand. With heavy steps, he dragged himself to his room and collapsed onto his bed, face-first, as if the mattress was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.
He’d just lie here for a while—let his body sink into the mattress and his mind drift—until it was time to drag himself up for work. Sleep probably wouldn’t come, but this was the next best thing.
~~~~~~
Sunao wasn’t entirely sure how he’d even made it to work. One moment was a blur, and the next, he found himself standing behind the counter as if on autopilot. When awareness finally caught up to him, a long, weary sigh slipped past his lips. He tried—really tried—to focus on his job, on the rhythm of familiar tasks. But it was difficult when his head felt thick and muffled, as if someone had stuffed it full of cotton and left no room for clarity. Every sound felt slow, every sound felt distant, and the world seemed just a bit too far away to fully grasp.
Time slipped through Sunao’s fingers without him realizing, the minutes blurring into hours until, almost suddenly, his shift was over. The walk home felt like drifting through a half-formed dream—streets and buildings passing by in vague shapes, his feet carrying him on instinct alone.
By the time he stumbled into his apartment, the fog in his head had only thickened. He couldn’t remember if he’d made it all the way to his bedroom or if he’d collapsed somewhere along the way. What he did register was the world tilting unnaturally, shadows creeping in at the edge of his vision. The floor seemed to sway beneath him, his body flooded by a dizzy, weightless unease—then, everything went dark.