jida | ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ʀʜʏᴍᴇs

ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ʀʜʏᴍᴇs

[ The four months since the castes were reversed have been... strange, mostly because of how strange it isn't. It was easy to adjust to walking around Tanagura freely, since he'd done it in Midas all the time. It was easy to adjust to the way he and Eichi's responsibilities and schedules had changed. It was easy to adjust to being actually in charge of Eichi now, instead of just managing his life for him.

Truthfully, it's actually kind of nice to be an Elite instead of a Mongrel, and that's what makes it so strange. Because Eichi is miserable, because Eichi can't adjust, because he's never felt quite so helpless about actually fixing a problem that Eichi is facing. Giving him the majority of his monthly wage hadn't helped. Letting him keep his bedroom hadn't helped. Leaving the apartment exactly the way it was (except for his) bedroom hadn't helped. Making it easy for Eichi to keep in touch with his other Elite (well, Mongrel now) friends hadn't helped - if anything, Tori's miserable sobbing coupled with Yuzuru's thinly veiled mania in the face of the swap probably made things worse. It's frustrating and he hates it and that's why he's shopping.

Not because shopping make him feels better, mind, but because Eichi's birthday is soon and maybe a gift with more meaning to it beyond 'please feel less depressed soon' will be helpful. Thus, Keito has tracked down and traveled the one pottery shop in the whole city that still makes their wears by hand. A cute new tea set will definitely make him happy, and if it doesn't then Keito will just throw him off the balcony and--

Why is Eichi here?

It takes Keito a second to realize that it is Eichi standing across the street from the shop (it's been so long since he's seen Eichi fully if a bit sloppily dressed), and once he does recognize him Keito is staring at him with a mix of confusion, horror, frustration, and somehow also relief. Because Eichi is up and moving around and not full starfish on the floor, but of course he decided to celebrate his return to normal function by immediately putting himself in an incredibly dangerous situation. Of course.

Keito charges across the street in a flash, heart racing just from anxiety. He grabs Eichi by the wrist, gentle enough to not hurt him but firm enough that he won't be wiggling away any time soon. ]

What are you doing here?!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh?

[The bracelet begins to buzz, and this Eichi sees no problem with trying to answer it. He's certainly on his way to Yumenosaki, just to check, and since he's able to borrow clothes that the other Eichi wears, he's decided today to take whatever has a hoodie, or some sort of sweater he can get away with trying to hide his hair with. That's not suspicious at all, and he seems to think hiding his pet bracelet is the better choice.

But now, it's buzzing, and he's not sure what to do, poking at it repeatedly as he speaks to himself.]

Is this a phone call of some sort? I was told to poke it, but I don't know how it might work... Poke, poke~. Ah, is this Keito, then? Don't worry, I haven't been—

[And then, he manages to end the call?]

Eichi! Eichi, you have to--

[ ... He hung up.

The easiest way for Keito to express himself right now would be wordless, frustrated screaming. Keito refrains, however, and settles for breaking into a jog instead. It's... not very fast, in all honesty, but it's faster than any Eichi can manage for any amount of time.

Of course, he's going to leave his behind like this, isn't he? Keito glances over his shoulder. ]

Rei agreed to wait for him at Yumenosaki, right? Then we'll just have to hope he doesn't draw attention before that.

[ ... Yeah, that's not going to happen. Keito jogs a little faster. ]

[ Eichi can feel his skin crawl everytime an elite looks at him, but he swallows it down and ignores it, refusing to let it show on his face. He was an elite for most of his life, and it isn't hard to project that air outwardly enough if he doesn't remotely feel it. He doesn't like not having any power in the situation, but it's fine; he has Keito, he has the protection of being officially registered.

The other Eichi doesn't even know enough to have this feeling of a loss of control, to feel anxiety in the pit of his stomach whenever anyone shoots a knowing look at the fallen Tenshouin heir. It's dangerous enough that Eichi won't let it get to him. ]

Rei's on his way, but you might get there first.

[ Eichi considers for a second, and then -- ]

It's fine to leave me behind; I know how to use the laws to my advantage. I'll be safe until you can get him. That much is still within my power, at least.

[ Running, not so much. Not when the air is so cold and he hasn't been out of the house in weeks. ]

[ Strictly speaking, it's probably safer to prioritize Eichi-kun over Eichi. Eichi-kun has no idea what to do in this place, no idea what to expect or how to react if an elite approaches him - doesn't even know who's best to call if he gets into trouble aside from Keito himself.

But even though Eichi is Eichi, this is Eichi. Keito falters when he makes his offer, glancing back at him with a frown. ]

Are you sure...?

Yes. [ The smile Eichi gives Keito is convincing -- it's the smile of the heir to the Tenshouin family; the smile of the Emperor, before the castes swapped and Eichi spent a solid two months laying on the floor of his room doing his best imitation of a starfish.

Eichi has direction now, which means there isn't anything that can stand in his way, and certainly not in the ritzy wards they're still living in. ]

I'll be fine, so go be certain that you can say the same for the wayward and misplaced ruler. ♫

[ He looks so certain about what he says, which just serves to make Keito even less certain about leaving. But Eichi has a point, too - he can't just leave the other Eichi unattended. ]

I won't be long.

[ And with that promise Keito takes off. He's not very fast, but at a flat out sprint he's much faster than Eichi, and he can maintain that pace for much longer. He'd fall well behind Souma or Kuroh, but when he's chasing down a sickly heir then it works.

Works just in time, no less. Keito rounds a corner, breathing hard and his speed flagging, just in time to see Eichi cornered by a pair of elites who look far, far too interested in an unattended blond, pet or otherwise. That's enough to give him one last burst of speed. ]

Eichi!

[ He sounds... mad, mostly, but there's a distinct thread of worry there as well, ]

[It is just in time. Eichi still doesn't know how much of a threat people can be against him, and his pride won't let him think he can just be stepped on so casually (metaphorically) like this. He says something that irritates at least one of the elites, since when he gestures in that Extra way with his hand, his wrist is grabbed, and he looks even more offended by that.

Then he hears Keito's voice. His expression eases up a bit, glancing between the two elites to see him.]

Keito? [It is him, and so Eichi looks back at his raised wrist, lifting his chin like he's the top of society and not some lost mongrel.] You see? Now, won't you let me go before you create any more problems?

[How to not handle things: a lesson Eichi is teaching himself and should be glad Keito is here for.]

[ Again, Keito isn't very fast, isn't very strong, and isn't very physically imposing in any sense whatsoever. He doesn't have to be strong to grab the other elite's wrist and yank it away from Eichi's, however, and he doesn't have to be strong to verbally lay into the guy, either.

A brief back-and-forth occurs between the three of them, the gist of the conversation being that Eichi need to mind his place, but he's Keito's pet so Keito is the one who gets to decide what happens to him. Throughout the course of the fight any input from Eichi is flat out ignored, and Keito takes the time to forcibly slide himself between the two and Eichi.

For a moment longer things are tense, but then the two decide that an attended mongrel is a much more annoying target than an unattended one. The two withdraw mumbling ominously but attempting nothing else.

All that's left for Eichi to deal with is Keito himself, who waits until they've withdrawn before he whirls around and unleashes his bad mood on Eichi instead. ]

What were you thinking?! I told you it was dangerous!

[It's more irritating than he thought it would be, standing here and forced to listen to three men treat him like an object. Even Keito, in order to win the conversation, says things he'd never expect him to say. Decide what happens to him?

By the time he's turned on, he's nearly pouting himself, frustration visible on his face.]

I was able to make it this far, wasn't I? I'm well aware that I'm not capable in a fight, but I'm more able to hold my own in a conversation than you might think. I would have been fine.

[He literally thinks this...] You worry too much, Keito.

[ Of course he doesn't see why it's dangerous. Of course he thinks he would have been fine. Keito looks like he might explode, but he manages to keep himself from screaming. ]

You would not have been fine! They could have done anything to you and no one but me would have stopped them!

[ Really, it's just like Eichi to ignore warnings about something being dangerous, but even Keito is at a complete loss for how to emphasize how risky this was. Maybe Eichi can help... ]

You stopped them, didn't you?

[Ah, he's really like a kid, saying things like that. "Well, I wasn't caught, though!" Or something along those lines. Even he's aware that it comes off childish, but as he glances back in the direction he'd been heading, he still feels like he wants to see Yumenosaki with his own eyes.

He misses it.]

Besides that, it was Keito's strange buzzing bracelet that drew attention to me in the first place.

[ When Eichi catches up, his cheeks are pink with the exertion of running in cold weather. He isn't wheezing, exactly, but he doesn't look like he's completely free of adverse effects from the chill -- but it's fine, because when he gets there, Keito already has Eichi (and something of a crowd of onlookers). ]

Eichi-kun. [ Eichi slows as he draws closer, inhaling through his mouth to try and get his lungs to cooperate. He's fine, he'll be fine, a brisk jog in spring never hurt anyone-- much-- ]

You should count yourself lucky that Keito found you; I sent Sakuma Rei after you, at first.

[ It's a brief chastisement and also a warning of how serious it is, for Eichi to leave, if Eichi is getting Rei involved from the get go. ]

And what if I hadn't gotten here in time?

[ But then Eichi points out that Keito's earlier call is what had drawn attention to him and Keito suddenly looks (and feels) a bit conflicted about it. He knows logically that not getting called wouldn't have necessarily saved Eichi, just like he knows that if it weren't for the call he may have caught up before anything happened at all. It's not a comfortable conflict to have with himself.

Fortunately, his Eichi shows up before the conversation can get much further, leaving Keito to turn with a relieved look on his face. Everyone is here and safe, then, and even if people are staring no one would dare to try something with him around. Even so, he doesn't relish the idea of lingering. ]

Let's just go home.

Sakuma-senpai?

[He says it like he doesn't understand at first, completely oblivious to the struggle he's caused Keito while he focuses in on this. Even Eichi hurried here in this way? That makes him slow his thoughts, his frown more subtle as he considers it.

After a few moments, he sighs to himself, looking back towards where he'd been headed. Yumenosaki... Maybe another day. For now, it seems it really is better to just trust their judgement.]

I'm sorry to have caused you both trouble. I had thought you'd allow me to leave and come back had you discovered it, but it seems I created a panic, instead, didn't I? I hope you'll forgive me.

[He's still bothered, but now he's just wondering how things Really Are, eyes glancing around to some of the Elites still staring.]

I'll go back.

[ Eichi slips his hand down, reaching out and threading his fingers through the hand that mirrors his own. It's comfort for him as much as it is for the other Eichi; they're both safe, and they're intact, and two Eichi's are better than one, so they'll be fine.

The knowledge lets Eichi breathe just a little easier. ]

Sakuma-san, to me.

[ He never went to school with Rei -- Elites and Mongrels aren't allowed that by any measure unless they're kept as pets, and even then -- but he still has a degree of respect for the... man. Vampire. Manpire. ]

Keito, do you think it would be safe to keep going to the school? [ And before Keito can immediately shut that down -- ] With the three of us, it should be safe enough, and seeing it will do it much more justice than our explanations.

[ Sakuma-senpai? He's older than them, sure, but like Eichi says - he's just -san as far as the two of them are concerned. This other Yumenosaki is a weird place - though maybe not such a bad one, if Eichi-kun wants to see it so badly.

The idea of going to see the school does almost get an immediate rejection out of Keito, and even what Eichi says next doesn't do much to sooth his worries. Still, the longer he thinks about it the more it makes sense. He's not exactly thinking of it in terms of shattering Eichi-kun's hopes, but if it helps the reality of the situation sink in... ]

... Entering is too dangerous, but we can at least go look from afar.

[ There, that should be fair enough, and perfectly safe for all three of them. ]

Really? It's really fine?

[The hand in his own is certainly a comfort to them both. He squeezes it lightly, tugging it lightly towards himself in a small display of affection while his other hand reaches out to catch one of Keito's. He'll bring it towards their joined hands, if he can get away with it.]

Even Keito bent a little for this? Fufu, thank you. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart. No matter what you say it is that I'll see, until I'm able to picture it, my very own Yumenosaki Academy won't disappear from my mind.

It's been too often now that the student council president has left things in vice president Keito's hands instead, you know? He'll be drowning in paperwork and so stressed that he won't be able to think. If possible, while I'm able, I'd like to relieve him of that.

Though I know it's not possible here... Could we crush this idea completely so it doesn't plague me? That's all I want, so viewing it from afar should be just fine.

I can't picture your Yumenosaki... it must be wonderful, if you want to go back so strongly. [ Eichi can't imagine. Keito was bogged down with paperwork even without being in a place like Yumenosaki... But if their Yumenosaki was a little less the way that it is, maybe it wouldn't be so bad...?

It still feels like it might always be the sort of school that would kill Eichi, but who can say. If this Eichi liked it, it must not have been so bad...?

But it's easy to head towards Yumenosaki -- it's not hard to find by any rate, and with he and Keito on either side of their newly-found Eichi, it feels much safer and much more secure. Eichi doesn't mind it. Yumenosaki isn't exactly dangerous in the same way as wandering, and especially not with Keito there, so...

They'll be fine. ]

I don't think it will take much to crush any familiarity. [ For better or for worse. ]

[ Eichi surely know by now that he can get away with nearly anything, yet even as Keito allows his hand to be dragged to the two of them (and gives them both a squeeze as well) there's an unhappy cast to his expression. For an instant he'd thought that the chance to so thoroughly discourage Eichi would be nothing but a benefit, but now he suddenly feels uncertain. If he loves his Yumenosaki so much, surely this one will just be a disappointment. ]

It's fine.

[ That's all he can say in the end as he leads the two of them back towards the train. He's quiet and thoughtful on the ride over, speaking when spoken to but otherwise not broaching any subject of his own except for when to point out that they need to change lines and finally depart.

Yumenosaki is bound to be unrecognizable to Eichi-kun. It's located in more or less the same location as the one he knows, but rather then the slightly sprawling school campus it's nothing more than a sleek steel, glass, and concrete cube. What little there is in the way of grounds doesn't feature anyone milling about or enjoying themselves. The only way in or out of the building seems to be just past the front gates, which are manned by guardsmen and closely monitored.

The one saving grace is that it can be monitored safely from afar. Keito doesn't let either Eichi get any closer to it than the rooftop seating of a cafe that sits directly across the street from it - though even then, the school is set far enough back from the road that sussing out specific details is still tricky. ]

[It's nice to get this cooperation, and on the rather quiet train ride closer, Eichi can tell that the both of them are grim about this for a reason. It's heavy, the silence, and Eichi has to keep a frown from slipping into place. It's the same as usual, his eyes separated from the constant smile on his lips.

Especially now, in this cafe. He'd tried to be patient, to stay in his seat and watch, but it's not close enough. He can't tell what this is at all...? So, he gets up only to walk to the window, abandoning his tea to stare at the strange building across the street.]

From the outside, at least, it doesn't look the same at all. Isn't this a prison...?

[Despite his smile, it's making him a little sick. The reality of being so far from his own home is heavy, isn't it? He may have Keito here, but this Keito already belongs to another Eichi. It's such a strange thing.]

It isn't dissimilar. [ Eichi looks at his own tea for a long moment, and then looks back at the other Eichi. They're both working with incomplete information, nothing but preconceived notions to crowd out everything else from their mind, make everything that much more of a struggle. It's hard for Eichi to understand, but he thinks he can get the feeling of it, if not the specifics. It isn't hard to read the atmosphere.

If he could, he would have preferred the other Eichi to never see Yumenosaki. It must be like raining on his parade. ]

The "students" there are carefully monitored and tracked, with very little freedom allowed to them. [ There are reasons that Eichi isn't there, reasons that Eichi never considered sending any of his pets there. Even someone as rule-abiding as Keito wouldn't come out the same, and all the changes that Eichi could have forseen are exactly what he doesn't want to happen. ]

This is the sort of thing that our society is built on. It might be rotten to the core, but it's still ours, until we manage to overthrow it.

[ Ah, maybe he shouldn't speak such treasonous thoughts outloud in public. ]

[ At least Keito hadn't expected Eichi to stay in his seat. That makes it a little less worrisome when he insists on venturing closer, though Keito still gets to his feet to follow after him. He's not about to be careless with his safety when they're so close by. He nods in agreement with Eichi's assessment of the situation. ]

Calling it a prison must feel accurate to those inside.

[ He hesitates for a long moment, weighing the pros and cons of saying this next part. It doesn't take long for him to decide. ]

Fushimi was sent there by Himemiya's parents before things were flipped around. If you want more details, I don't think he'd mind telling you.

[ He feels slightly bad for revealing a bit of Yuzuru's past like that, but it isn't like it's a secret among those that know him. It's rarer for the pets of wealthy families to not go. Keito is aware that he's an unusual exception. ]

Yuzuru was?

[That's even more worrying. The Yuzuru of this place— is he alright, then? Is everyone alright? He really wonders what would have happened if he made it all this way alone, in a city like this. Or if he would have even made it at all.

His heart feels heavy, and for once it's not his health weighing down on him. He may seek out Yuzuru to ask him about this, but right now, he's not sure he can take it. He stays at the window for another quiet minute before he returns to his seat, wrapping both hands around his tea like it's his only comfort.

Despite that, he puts on a small smile.]

Thank you, for allowing me to come here to see. I only wish that I could share my own Yumenosaki Academy, as well.

I hope that we'll be able to see it one day. [ Eichi slides his chair closer to Eichi-kun, easy and as comforting as he can manage. Physical contact isn't much, but it's certainly something that Eichi longed for back in the long nights he'd spend in the hospital -- at least until he had Keito there to stay with him. ]

Yuzuru-kun has adapted remarkably to the change. Touri cried for weeks, of course. [ Eichi says it lightly, like he himself wasn't rendered immobile and depressed at the change in his status -- but whatever, it's details, he's fine now, right? Right. ]

This sort of place must seem uniminaginably terrible, if your world was so full of lighthearted happiness, but I assure you that for those of us who were raised here, it's simply... the way things are.

[ And then, a little more brightly: ] I intend to change it, of course.

[ THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T DISCUSS IN PUBLIC: TREASON, but it's fine. ]

[ Keito lingers at the window half a moment longer before turning back, briefly distracted by thinking Eichi didn't have any room to comment on Touri's poor reaction to the change.

Then Eichi makes that comment and Keito nearly trips trying to sit down. ]

Eichi.

[ It's unlikely that anyone heard, but still. The principle of the matter is that talking about it in public at all is terrible idea. Keito settles himself into his chair with a disgruntled expression. ]

In any case... places like Yumenosaki are the reason it's dangerous to be out alone. Some people have taken the switch as an opportunity to show more kindness than was shown to them. Others see it as a chance to pay back wrongs twice over.

ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ʀʜʏᴍᴇs

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