Neon Walls

The Astronaut

Suguru Geto: Come back. 

Suguru Geto: Family torture is done. 

Putting the hairdryer down, Suguru rubs his tired and irritated eyes. Even after a bath, his reflection looks horrible. Definitely not fit for a holiday celebration in town. This bathroom feels strange now, he’s spent many sleepless nights curled up on the cold floor here. 

Suguru throws on his sleepwear even though the sun hasn’t set. Black sweats and a gray long sleeved shirt. Without waiting for his friend’s return, Suguru practically burrows into his futon and closes his eyes. Today has left him twice as exhausted as his worst physical training with Yaga. 

Maybe he should be startled when Satoru pops into his bedroom from thin air. Probably would have worked in any other circumstance. An unsettling thought makes Suguru open his eyes, the fact that Satoru could do this same thing at the dorms if he felt like it. Picturing that is unsettling.

“Looking good! Glowing, really.” Satoru’s lanky frame peers over Suguru from where he stands. Suguru just pulls the sheet over his head, which seems to be accepted as an answer. Satoru laughs and steps back. 

Taking it upon himself to dig through the new DVD collection, Satoru settles on something and turns the TV on. “Excuse me, is this seat taken?” He laughs at his own dumb joke, gracelessly plopping down next to Suguru on the futon. 

Suguru grumbles from under the sheets. “Thanks. Don’t wanna talk. Sorry.” Unphased by the bluntness, Satoru pats Suguru on the shoulder a couple times. “That’s okay, want me to wake you up tonight? See if you feel like going out later?” A dull “Uh-huh” is all he gets in return. 

Nothing is happening, Satoru doesn’t need to do anything for Suguru to feel comfort. Just having him here is enough. Satoru is enough. All of the turmoil and uncertainty feels far away now that he is here to anchor Suguru. It makes him feel safe enough to let it go for now, and rest. 

_____  

Suguru stirs awake some time later. It’s dark outside, music and fireworks can be heard. “Hey, Suguru.” Satoru asks, not having moved a bit since Suguru fell asleep. He’s still cross legged on the other side of the futon, but now digs into a bag of cotton candy he probably got from town. 

“Hm?” Suguru mumbles while he sits up. “Is that a real thing or what?” Blinking away the remaining sleep from his eyes, Suguru looks to see what it is. A live news broadcast is showing New Years celebrations in other countries. We have cable? He thinks. Brushing the thought aside, he realizes what Satoru means. 

The program shows many people partaking in a ‘New Years kiss’ as the clock strikes midnight. The name scrolls by in cheesy bold text. “Well, clearly it’s a real thing.” He says. They’re watching the proof so he isn’t sure why Satoru asked. “Thanks, smartass. Not like I’d know.” Satoru stuffs his face right after. Imagining so much sugar crammed into his mouth like that almost makes Suguru shudder. 

“You’ve mentioned that. It was shocking to learn your charm hasn’t gotten you anywhere.” There’s a brief moment where Satoru didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. The way he perked up at the compliment before pouting is gold. Cute. Suguru thinks with a smile. “Dick, I didn’t mean the kiss thing.”