003: Happy birthday to me? (Backdated to Feb 2nd)

[sharknado_swimmer]

If the days here are the same as back home, then...

Happy birthday to me, huh?

17 doesn't feel that much different than 16, I guess.

[Action]
[Rin hasn't gone out of his room much today. Totally not brooding, of course. He's left the door open a crack so not-Haru's bunny can hop in and out. Said bunny nuzzles against his hand and he scritches his ears absently.]

Not like I'm not used to being alone on my birthday...

Comments

[aqueousliving]

[A small shake of the head. That's not the problem. Haruka's gaze dips to where the bunny is all cuddled up to Rin.]

He'll get fat if we feed him too much.

[Jealousy Rivalry over Mackerel's affections? MAYBE. Haruka's gaze lifts to Rin's face, though, keeping a vaguely concerned eye on Rin's response.]

[sharknado_swimmer]

[Rin shrugs and lifts the bunny up, eyeing the twitching nose and soft belly.] Seems he's fat enough already.

[He holds Mackerel out, offering him to Haruka. He still hasn't been smiling at all, even less than usual, though he'll be unlikely to say anything.] He seems to like it in here, I don't know why.

[aqueousliving]

[Haruka's gaze flickers over the rabbit before taking Mackerel in his arms. Is it his imagination that Mackerel seems a little heavier...? Mackerel squirms, trying to get at the carrot top still in Haruka's hand.

Haruka, however, pays the bunny no heed, speaking directly to Rin--]

He thinks you're moping.

[sharknado_swimmer]

[You get a raised eyebrow for that one, Haruka.]

Moping? I don't mope. [Liiiies.] Besides, there's no reason to, huh? I mean, I'm only stuck in a weird place with wings on my back with a guy with amnesia or something. [He smirks, but it's not really a humorous smile.] And the dates are all screwed up here because the calendar on this thing says it's my birthday. How funny is that?

[aqueousliving]

[I don't have amnesia, but the thought stays stubbornly in his head. It's quickly replaced after Rin's next words. It's his birthday?

Haruka lets Mackerel take the carrot top from his hands.]

Ah. So you wanted a party.

[Haruka had also been thrown off by the time difference when he arrived. Unlike Rin, his birthday had been skipped.]

[sharknado_swimmer]

[Rin sits up completely, a shocked look on his face.]

I didn't say that! Who needs a party, anyway? Hmph.

[He folds his arms and looks sidelong at Haru. A party. Really.]

I don't care. We can just get something besides mackerel for dinner, maybe.

[aqueousliving]

[Mackerel looks up at the sound of his name, but continues to gnaw on the carrot top while nestled in Haruka's arms.

Haruka still isn't really used to this Rin. The Rin he remembers most clearly is the Rin who had pushed him to join the relay, of course. But he continues on.]

What do you want to eat?

[It's said sincerely.]

[sharknado_swimmer]

[Rin looks fully at Haruka, trying to gauge whether he's being serious or not. Finally he shrugs and stands up, shoving his hands in his pockets.]

I dunno. Meat of some sort. Can we find that in the store here? Maybe even just some burgers or something.

[The idea of going out and actually doing something is making him a little more cheerful already, though he's trying to play it off.]

Maybe you can show me that swimming simulator you talked about too.

[aqueousliving]

[So serious. Now that Rin is up and moving, Haruka crouches and lets Mackerel onto the floor. Since Mackerel has a carrot top to gnaw on, he doesn't protest and continues to bite on it noisily.]

If we can't, the guys next door have some.

[Probably. All he knows is that Jean and Marco keep food in their rooms and that's Weird. Haruka's expression remains the same flat expression when he says his next words, though--]

Sure, if you can keep up.

[A challenge??]

[sharknado_swimmer]

[A challenge! Rin grins at seeing a bit of the Haruka he knows coming back.]

Shouldn't I be saying that to you?

[aqueousliving]

[Haruka turns. It might be hard to read his expression and demeanor, but a part of him is glad for the response.]

Let's go.

[...Another part of him, deep down, is worried about a repeat of that race in middle school, but he focuses on the task at hand, which is getting his swimming stuff ready before Rin!!

U ready to go, bro?]