[Nanashi's home early because there's no school and he promised he wouldn't run away anymore.]

Hey, Jouhei! We can spend the day together. It's been a while since we've done something like this.


[that's cuz he was being a lil shit, BUT OKAY ENOUGH OF THAT. LET'S GO SEE SOME CATS.]

[ it's definitely because nanashi was being a LIL SHIT but it's okay. as long as nanashi doesn't run off again, it's all good. jouhei lowers his phone and looks over at the garbage child ]

What do you want to do?

Let's go see the animals today!

[Jouhei's really smart. It's not easy to get into a vet clinic. He worked hard to get there and Nanashi admires him for it.]

I could learn a thing or two from you while I'm at it.

[ ah, yes, that seems like a good idea. they should get that cat for nanashi sooner than later and if they're both free then they might as well hit up the shelter. jouhei will stand up, put his phone into his pocket, and adjust his cap. he will get his keys and wallet before they step out and he nods at nanashi. ]

Do you want to work with animals?

[ you know, maybe this is a good time to ask if nanashi wants to do anything after high school like what does he want to study or do. if it's something that jouhei is familiar with, he definitely would want to help ]

I dunno if I'd be good at it.

[He doesn't seem very confident in himself. Animals can be hard work.]

In school they said that I was better with books and writing. We can always try first? Is that okay?

[That way they can back out if it isn't a good fit.]

[ another nod. he'll start ushering them out of the apartment so they can start heading to the shelter. ]

It's okay to try. That's how you'll learn.

[ he doesn't want to push nanashi into doing anything that he doesn't want to do. he just wants to offer suggestions if nanashi doesn't really have a point of guidance ]

I only knew I wanted to work with animals because of the farm that our grandparents own.

[ the grandparents that jouhei stayed with. since he was young and in much better physical condition than two elderly farmers, he was tasked with doing a lot of the labour work and also taking care of the farm animals and pets. ]

You lived on a farm for a long time. That means you already had the experience you needed!

[Nanashi goes in to poke Jouhei's side. ]

Maybe I'll work at the animal shelter for the summer. Then I'll go back to school in fall.

[ jouhei responds to the poking by ruffling nanashi's hair a little. this will be a frequent thing ]

I can get you a job at the clinic if you want it. Or the dog sanctuary.

[ not that nanashi can do anything more than either clean or look after the animals for a bit but it's better than nothing. also, earning clean money is probably better than their family's dirty money ]

[ Ruffling the hair again.....! Nanashi's starting to get used to it so it's okay. ]

Can I work beside you? I'll do my best.

[ He doesn't want to work too far from Jouhei's place. Yeahh, clean money is better. Get that yakuza blood money out of here.]

It won't be for too long.

As long as you don't mind waking up early.

[ as in waking up at 6am or even earlier ]

I can wake up early, that's okay.

[He says that now but................Nanashi may regret this.]

What time do you usually leave in the morning? You're always gone by the time I wake up.

6AM.

[ do you regret this already, nanashi ]

[ YES...HE DOES.]

That's earlier than I thought. You don't ever sleep in, Jouhei?


[ What kind of person can always wake up before 6am and not sleep in once? ]

Why would I?

[ he asks like this is some foreign concept. who is this man??? ]

You only get a few hours of sleep that way.

[So he has to sleep early all the time.]

Geez, I feel tired thinking about this.

Not if you go to sleep early.

[ have you ever thought about that, nanashi??? ]

[NO OF COURSE NOT.]

I messed up my sleeping schedule a while ago. Going to sleep early is harder than it sounds..

[Sweats. How is he going to fix this.]

How bad is it?

[ it's not that hard if nanashi sleeps at midnight because that means he could get about five hours of sleep. it's fucked up if nanashi sleeps at, like... 3am or something ]

Bad? I always sleep for more than 20 hours....

[SOMEONE's got depression. ]

Do you think I should go see a doctor later?

... you should definitely see a doctor.

[ because wtf man ]

Is this because of your body...?

I'll go call them and ask for an appointment.

[Nanashi nods quietly.]

Yeah. I thought I caught something weird at first. Know any good clinics?

I'll ask around.

[ someone's bound to know one that's good ]

How long has this been happening?

A few weeks. I pass out without meaning to.

[Nanashi frowns. Sorry he didn't tell you sooner, cousin. He had issues. ]

I'm becoming more like the guy in my memories? He grew up in some kind of nuclear wasteland. That dude was always sick with something.

[So retrospec's at it again. He wishes that they didn't have to deal with their past lives at all.]

[ at any other time, jouhei might have pinched him but he's just glad that nanashi is sharing things with him now. he'd rather know and not dish out any consequences if that's what it's going to take ]

... nuclear wasteland?

[ this is his way of asking for more deets ]

Yeah. From what I remember there was a huge war. Missiles kept raining down from the sky until someone decided to block it off with a huge rock. It was dark all the time and there was toxic waste everywhere.

[So he gained the effects from that in this life. This is too detailed so Nanashi can't be making any of this up. He's thankful that Jouhei's willing to listen regardless.]

I get so scared sometimes. It feels like it's just a dream and then it's not.