Chapter 3: Venting

                                    

                                          
Just as you promised, you messaged Ryuzaki every once in a while when you were away. Sometimes you even called each other. But the conversations seemed a bit one-sided. He always wanted to know about you and what you were doing. When you would ask him about his day, he would just tell you it was "good." But sometimes he would tell you little things about himself. For instance, whenever you called each other he was always eating something. Usually, it was some kind of cake or sweet. Most of his opinions he shared with you revolved around this fact, especially if he was eating something you had never heard of. Ryuzaki would always convince you to try it. You had to admit, he had great taste. 
                          
	He would always listen to your long rants about all of the idiotic things your peers and teachers did, and to the ones about things that didn't make any sense to you. But though his voice was monotone and tired he still seemed to genuinely care and listen. He would occasionally ask you questions, remark with an "I see", or the rarest of all soft chuckles. 
                          
Today was an ordinary day, just like any other. Except for the fact that you had been cast in your first play. It wasn't a big role, but you were still happy. That evening you called Ryuzaki to tell him the news. As you pressed the call button on his contact you could feel the excitement bubble up to your lips as you waited to let the news out of them, bringing the corners of your mouth into a smile. The ringer beeped a few times until you heard a ruffling sound from the other end.
                          
"Hello?" You called.
                          
"Hello." Ryuzaki answered.
                          
"Um, so I got in!" You said with joy. "It's not a very big part, but I didn't expect to get in at all if I'm honest."
                          
"Congratulations." He answered. "That certainly is exciting."
                          
"Thanks."
                          
"So what kind of part is it?"
                          
"Okay, so I have a little part. I'm just in a few scenes scattered throughout the show. Well, it is 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' so I guess you could say that for all of the characters." You begin your spiel. "I'm one of the fairies that don't speak. But I get to kinda dance around in other parts of the show. I don't know, that's just what I heard."
                          
"Well, that sounds like fun." Ryuzaki replied as he ate another bite of his food, talking while chewing.
                          
"What's on the menu today, my dude?" You inquire, noticing the slur of his speech.
                          
"Oh, It's uh- sugar"
                          
"Well yeah, I mean I assumed. Knowing you." You chuckle. "But like what is it?"
                          
"I told you. Sugar." He repeated. "Sugar cubes."
                          
"Wait- are you serious?"
                          
"Yeah?" Ryuzaki was unsure of himself. "Why, is that bad?"
                          
You let out a small laugh in disbelief.
                          
"Uh, yeah! That's not healthy for you."
                          
"To be fair..." He defends. "Is anything I do healthy? I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
                          
"Well, I can't help it. Sometimes I do worry about you." You begin. "I just want to make sure you're ok, and that you enjoy your life to its fullest. I'm not saying you should stop eating this stuff, far from it. Treat yourself, you know? But just make sure you're not malnourished and that you're getting sleep. Trust me, you'll feel much better."
                          
"I suppose," Ryuzaki says. "But why is it that you care for me so much? I haven't done anything for you."
                          
"You've let me call you every day after school ends, just so I can rant to you about anything that comes to my mind! You've taken so much time out of your life to listen to my pointless ramblings that I feel nobody else would care to listen to. I just sometimes wish you would let me into your life a little more because everything you've told me about only eating junk food and never sleeping makes me worry about you." 
                          
Ryuzaki says nothing. You feel the slight awkward guilt trickle up your body.
                          
"I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm being too judgy. I'll drop the subject if you want."
                          
"No, you're right. It's just, I've never heard anybody other than Watari say that to me before. It's different." Ryuzaki sighs. "My mind works differently from other people. At least that's what I like to think. I suppose old habits die hard."
                          
"No, I'm sorry Ryuzaki. I just went off when I didn't know much about you. I don't know what your world is like, or how your mind works, and I'm curious about it all."
                          
"You are?" His speech quickened by the slight panic of not knowing what to say.
                          
"Well, yeah- I mean, I felt it ever since I first met you. You're just so- ugh how do I put it..." You take a slight pause, searching for language that would get your mind across. "You're very fascinating."
                          
"(y/n), I have two things to say." He takes a slight breath. "First off, I have a reason I don't talk about my current life as much as you want me to. I know it must sound ridiculous, but it's the truth. But if it means that much to you, then I'll tell you someday. Just not now. Second, I never thought about it this way, but how you worded it was absolutely perfect."
                          
"And that would be?"
                          
"I find you fascinating as well, (y/n)."