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“You like it here, don’t you? Kagutsuchi-kun?”
“Of course I do, Mister Embersteel.”
“Good, good. That’s what I like to hear.”
He pat Yuma on the head and smiled. An expression that was cold and calculating.
“We’ve made great progress with you. Soon that progress might even bear…results.”
The imposing man turned and walked out of the room. The door to the - calling it a bedroom was generous - shut with an audible click. Yuma stifled a sigh lest he be seen by the always active security system.
He winced and examined his arm; a mess of bruising and poorly wrapped bandages. Nobody ever listened to him about this (then again, why would they? he was their property after all.).
The only one of the scientists that seemed to care any was Ms. Neoglow. He liked Ms. Neoglow. She always gave him friendly smiles and would make sure his wounds were treated after each “research session”. Even though he was never conscious during these, they still hurt like hell afterwards.
Ms. Neoglow was out today, though. So back to stinging cuts and dull bruises.
He let himself fall backward into a lying position and closed his eyes. Sleep was an infrequent thing, and it was inconsistent when he could get it at all. While he still could, he should really-
His eyes opened to a warm glow and a woman speaking urgently to someone.
“Hey, now. What did I just tell you? Don’t move. You probably have a concussion or worse. Hey-!”
“Yuma!?”
He looked over at Yakou, who was now very much awake, and waved awkwardly.
“I-i’m right…here. Um. Please listen to the nice lady.”
The lady shook her head, but she was smiling to herself.
“At least someone here has some sense…and it isn’t even the teenager!”
Yakou looked confused at the unknown woman and glanced over at Yuma. Yuma shied away from the eye contact and gestured vaguely towards her.
“U-um. You asked me to go get help so. I did.”
“Where are we exactly?”
He looked to the woman for help and she stood up, dusting off her apron as she spoke.
“This is my restaurant’s loft. My name is Dahlia Feathergale. Your kid brother here came into the shop in a panic saying you got hurt.”
“Uh. He’s not my-”
“And while I was dealing with your injuries, he told me all about the situation. I take it you two need a place to stay and you need a job, correct?”
Yakou nodded slowly, wincing at the persisting pain in his head. Dahlia nodded.
“Good. You start the second you’re all healed up.”
Yuma raised his hand awkwardly.
“U-um. What about me..?”
The woman laughed lightheartedly.
“What about you? You’re a little thing, you can’t legally get a job anyways. And besides, it’s…probably not safe for you to be out there in the first place.”
“Huh?”
“Nothin’ sweetie. You should probably go back to sleep, it’s late.”
“O-oh. Okay.”
He curled up on the small cot he’d been given and pulled the hood over his head. Even though he felt bad about taking it, he couldn’t deny that the hoodie the older boy had given him was comforting, especially in an unfamiliar and terrifying situation. The woman gave one last stern order to Yakou about leaving his injuries alone before exiting the room and turning out the light.
He jumped when he heard Yakou address him.
“I’m so sorry for putting that on you, Yuma.”
“I- I don’t mind-”
“No, it was wrong of me. I don’t even know what the alternative would have been but…I still shouldn’t have put the responsibility of finding help on you.”
“You were literally unconscious.”
“Well, yeah, but-”
“It’s fine, really. U-um. We should probably go to bed now.”
“Yeah. ‘Night.”
“...”
Nobody had ever told him “goodnight” before. Not even Ms. Neoglow. Then again, she wasn’t on the night shifts anyways.
He curled further into himself, stifling a sigh. Even though he was far away from those security cameras, he still felt as if he couldn’t truly relax.