[Day 2, Night: Tsumugi]

[purrtagonist]

[so it's the evening of their second day in murder school! and Akira, ever the daredevil, slips out of his room despite the dangers associated with same to locate someone he trusts for. . . uh. "lovey dovey couple's time."]

[and the first person he stumbles across? Tsumugi, still mourning in the ashes of the torched library. there's an awkward pause when Akira walks on this sight, and he takes a tentative step forward. . .]

Tsumugi?

[he keeps his voice low, so as not to startle him]

Comments

[fineprinted]

[ don't mind him, he's just sweeping the ashen floor, picking up burned-up bits and pieces of books and putting them aside. tsumugi almost jumps fifty feet into the air when akira calls for him, though. ]

Eek--! Oh, A-Akira. Hello.

[ he holds on to the brook rather tightly. ]

Um, good evening?

[ it's past midnight, you goof ]

[purrtagonist]

[the library is a total lost cause, so Akira feels a small twinge of guilt when he sees Tsumugi still trying to clean up the mess. instinctively, he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, sheepish]

Good night.

[he corrects with a huffed laugh]

You know you don't have to do that, right?

[fineprinted]

Oh, right. It's kind of hard to tell what time it is, since the windows are all boarded up.

[ a sad smile as he continues to sweep as if he's the only chimney sweeper in the world. ]

I know, but... Someone has to clean this mess up, at least. Old habits really do die hard.

[purrtagonist]

. . .

[a h]

Need some help?

[Akira isn't one to give out services for free, but. he sort of feels like the library getting torched in the first place was ppppartially his fault]

[fineprinted]

[ #justcastmatethings ]

Ah, if it's not too much of a hassle! [ he does brighten up, at least. ] There's another broom leaning on the wall over there - we just need to gather all these ashes and dust into one place first before dumping them somewhere.

[purrtagonist]

[#JUSTCASTMATETHINGS]

We might just need to dump it in a trash can near the kitchen. I don't think there's anywhere else to put it.

[nevertheless, Akira grabs a broom and gets to work sweeping the ash into piles. and, remembering something Ichigo had told him earlier. . .]

Will you be okay? Ichigo said you were pretty upset.

[fineprinted]

I was thinking the incinerator? But it seems they don't have it here... Odd.

[ tsumugi pauses in his sweeping as akira asks, forcing a smile yet again. ]

I will be. There are more concerning things to worry about anyway. Akechi-kun only did this to test the raccoon's limits, is all.

[purrtagonist]

[HA HA. . .]

[Akira pauses in his sweeping, frowning down at the blackened floor, before he continues. he told Ichigo and Dazai, so. . . doesn't Tsumugi have the right to know, too? not that he wants to go spilling Akechi's secrets (not that he will; they aren't his to tell, and like hell he wants the detective to be burdened by labels here, too), but]

I'm not sure about that. I think part of it was just pure frustration. [pauses] And that part may have been my fault.

[fineprinted]

Your fault? Why would you think that?

[purrtagonist]

[a small sigh]

Akechi and I are from the same place. I told him something about events that occurred at home, and-- [ugh]

I think he took it pretty badly.

. . . he might have also misconstrued the advice I gave him yesterday, too.

[fineprinted]

Oh dear... I never thought he can be so fragile.

[ inhales

b o i ]

If you don't mind me asking, what exactly did you tell him?

[purrtagonist]

[BOY. . . Tsumugi doesn't even know the half of it]

[Akira gives him a lopsided, apologetic smile]

Sorry, but I don't think I can say. I can't give away all of his secrets; it isn't my place.

[fineprinted]

I respect that. Though that might be the reason why he burned this place down... Despite committing this kind of deed, I still feel bad for him somehow.

[ he returns the apologetic smile with his own as he sweeps, sweeps sweeps. ]

I was hoping that some books would've survived all this. Something that isn't outright porn, at least.

[ IT WAS SO GROSS, AKIRA.... TSUMUGI IS NOW BLIND ]

[purrtagonist]

. . . yeah. I do, too.

[he mutters that under his breath, although Tsumugi will still likely be able to hear him. but anyway! after a moment? he shakes his head]

[. . .]

[and then he considers something]

Ah-- I have one book that survived, actually. Would you like to read it sometime?

[fineprinted]

Of course! What book is it?

[ IS IT HIGH FANTASY... ]

[purrtagonist]

[CRIME FICTION]

"Phantom Thieves: Menace or Miracle?"

[. . . yeah. it's his book. it's Akechi's book. he's kind of not saying that though, in hopes that Tsumugi will read it and not. figure that little detail out]

It's a pretty interesting read.

[fineprinted]

[ CLOSE ENOUGH..........?!

no not really, but tsumugi looks delighted all the same. ]

Phantom Thieves...! What an interesting concept! Thieves who dress up flashily, jumping from one building to another to steal from the rich to give to the poor, while avoiding the watchful eye of the law... they're like modern-day Robin Hood! It all sounds so romantic... ☆

[purrtagonist]

[THERE ARE FANTASY ELEMENTS AT LEAST. . .]

I think you'll find that it is.

[this is much, much better than watching Tsumugi sadly sweep the library ashes]

Come find me tomorrow and I'll let you borrow it, okay?

[fineprinted]

I'll take you up on that offer then. Thank you. ♪

[ a short bow. at least he's stopped mourning? thanks akira. ]

[purrtagonist]

[VICTORY]

Anytime, Tsumugi.

[uuugh he's becoming way too altruistic, he thinks. but people like Tsumugi just look so sad that it's hard not to want to do something to make them feel better]