early deathday post, open to his cr from anywhere, game or psl

[goatsongs]

[Starting around the 15th of October, until the 22nd, Chuuya starts acting weirdly.

He doesn't want to be alone, ever. He won't go as far as physically clinging to you, but he'll make up excuses for joining you in whatever you're doing, even if it's as boring as watching grass grow. He's not as argumentative or bristly as he usually is.

He overeats, to the point of being bloated, and if he's questioned on it he gives a pained expression and changes the subject.

He doesn't drink alcohol. Not even one drop.

Whether you're in the National Library, or the City, or Yokohama, or anywhere - this is all alarming behavior for Chuuya. It might be time to ask him if something's going on.

Or you could just yell at him for bothering you for the third time in as many days, that's fine too, but don't be too surprised if you bring him to extremely uncharacteristic tears.]

Comments

[goatsongs]

...I'm not going to stop you, but you know people get paid to do that, right?

[aquaticrush]

So I'm causing trouble? I'm sorry. Um, is there anything I can do to help you out?

[goatsongs]

You're not - it's fine. Things are fine. Do you just want to check out books?

[He doesn't want her to think she's being a pain and try to leave.]

[aquaticrush]

[Blinks. He's not yelling?]

Um, okay. I'm... glad things are going well? Has all your work been okay?

[goatsongs]

[Not yelling. Quieter than usual, actually.]

It's been normal. Nothing interesting to report there.

[aquaticrush]

Oh... Nothing big happened? I was worried that you'd stayed up all night.

[goatsongs]

I slept more than usual, actually.

[aquaticrush]

Oh! Um, that's good, I think. Healthy? Maybe. Um, I'm sorry, I'm not really good at this, I can look at books or something if you like.

[goatsongs]

I'll go with you. I can - help you around the library or something.

[That's what library organization systems are for...]

[aquaticrush]

I don't want to be a bother...

[But she stops, and she shakes her head after a while.]

Um, okay. What have you been looking at lately?

[goatsongs]

Poetry that was published - recently.

[He was going to say 'after I died', but he can't. Not today.]

[aquaticrush]

That sounds interesting! [hesitates] What's wrong, Nakahara-san?

[goatsongs]

Why do you think something's wrong?

[Other than 'literally everything about his behavior recently'.]

[aquaticrush]

Um, I don't want to presume, I swear! Just, um. I'm a little worried. You usually get upset when I mess up.

[goatsongs]

So you're worried because I'm not mad at you?

[retasu find better friends]

[aquaticrush]

...that sounds silly when you put it that way, you're right.

[goatsongs]

It's not that silly. It just makes me feel like an asshole.

[He can't actually tell her to get better friends, because he doesn't want her to leave him alone.]

[aquaticrush]

You really aren't that bad. Being a ghost has to be hard on you.

[midorikawa retasu, able to try and be nice to everyone... probably]

[goatsongs]

[Ah. She's trying to be nice, he knows, but the reminder of his status as a ghost - and naturally, the death that caused it - makes him go pale and wide-eyed.

He tries to speak, but all that comes out is a stammer.]

[aquaticrush]

[squeak] I'm sorry! I don't know what I did, but I'm really sorry! Please, what's wrong?

[goatsongs]

[Retasu didn't do anything wrong, and when Chuuya manages to bring himself back into the present enough to make words come out again, the first thing he tries to do is explain-]

My deathday - it's today.

[That's why all of this.]

[aquaticrush]

[Retasu gives a little gasp. She nods sadly and wrings her hands.]

I'm so sorry. I should have known. I didn't mean to bother you.

[goatsongs]

You don't have to know which of the 365 days of the year is my deathday.

[Even in this state he thinks that's ridiculous, though his expression is more wry than anything.]

[aquaticrush]

But... Um. Are you sure you don't need any help around here?

[goatsongs]

...Just don't leave me alone.

[That's all the help he can ask for, but he desperately needs it.]