rockhop | MAILBOX!

He did?!

[ looks up to meet his eyes and there's only good will in them. he feels a small tingle of hope in his stomach. maybe nagisa's right. why else would senpai call...? ]

Uh huh.

[ smiling back at him. that's a better look than the sad crushed puppy face. ]

You're still special to him! Nothing could ever change that. Not me, or Haru-chan and the others, or anybody else. So you shouldn't give up.

...

[ he's so right. ]

I gave up, didn't I....

[ acting like that in front of senpai and everything. ]

You just had the wrong idea, that's all!

[ squeezing his shoulders encouragingly. pep up little remora ]

What must senpai think...? I let him down!

[ he pulled such a diva act that senpai might not take him back at all. stares right at nagisa but actually all he sees in front of him is a dark future without senpai. his eyes start tearing up again. ]

I put my phone on silent!!

[ what a world. ]

Call him back! He's probably still waiting.

[ maybe. either that or he's still busting his ass working off all his silly baby girl nerves. his head tilts a little, then he leans in to give Nitori a squeeze. ]

And don't cry!

[ encouraged, he wraps his arms around nagisa tightly. ]

I CAN'T DO THAT NOW! He's probably going to ask you to help him from now on and I don't want to ruin that!

How could I? You've been looking forward to it, haven't you, Hazuki-senpai?!

I—

[ well, yeah, sort of. he'd like to be someone's Most Important Person, and be all they ever need, that would be pretty romantic... but unrealistic. he stares blankly over Nitori's shoulder, the arms around him going slack for a second.

Nitori is better at that kind of thing, anyway. he starts squeezing again, bending one leg up behind him. ]

You know if he asked me, I'd just ask you anyway! You're the professional. So it would be easier to just cut out the middleman, wouldn't it?

[ it's almost ironic that such a thing would bring them closer to each other, but nitori has never been more grateful to have a sibling. ]

T-That's so kind of you, Hazuki-senpai...

[ calling him a senpai professional. not everyone would take that as a compliment but nitori sure would. ]

It's the truth!

[ biiiiiiiiig hug. this is what siblinghood is supposed to be like(?!?!?!), all crying and hugging it out over dumb gay sharks instead of dragging them by the skirt and stuffing them in the clothes dryer and then turning it on for a full minute and then telling on them when they crawl out and throw up all over the rug. ]

It just wouldn't be right if you weren't doing what you do best, y'know?

[ ohmygod nagisa. bonding over embarrassing senpais beats that any day. ]

I know now why senpai chose you! At first I had my doubts because you can be so childish and that isn't really senpai's thing, but it's obvious now. Hazuki-senpai is such a gentle person!

I'm sorry for ever doubting you!!

[ attempts to crush him. ]

[ crap, now he's getting emotional, too. not about to bawl, or anything, but he does sniffle grossly, crushing Nitori right back ]

Ai-channnnnn, you're gonna make me cry, too!

[ what he said just now was pretty offensive but apparently no one cares. sniffs. ]

P-please don't cry!

[ after this he'll need to bring up the whole "ai-chan" thing. ]

[ it's because he can admit to childishness without batting an eye. another sniffle, then he eases up a little. ]

I'm just happy I have a little brother like you.