Private A Friend In Need

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Post Invasion of Woostri
Kor’ethyr Academy
Dormitory

​

Class dragged on without one familiar face in attendance, and the concern gnawing at Naami only grew as the lesson wore on without a late appearance from Haro Aven . The zabrak's belongings were already put away, and he stood abruptly the moment their professor excused them, his legs carrying him past his still-packing and faintly chattering peers as he practically jogged toward the door. The boy briefly stopped at the gym, checking to see if his friend decided to skip class but still intended to meet him there, but no luck.

Making only one detour on his way to his next destination, Naami quickly punched in the numbers for protein cubes on the vending machine keypad. A brief pause, then he punched in the numbers for an additional item as well. Bending to scoop up the snacks, he started jogging again. The teen slowed as he neared some of the dorms, not wanting to appear too rushed or worried. Maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for Haro's absence from class; maybe he'd simply forgotten to let Naami know he wouldn't be joining for class or their customary workout that day.

Midday sun lit the courtyard the teen crossed through, and Naami caught sight of himself in the polished metal of one of the side doors he passed by. He took a moment to unclench his jaw, to relax his features, and tug loose the cinch of his robes a bit. Ever since they'd arrived back after the battle of Woostri, Naami had noted an unshakable tension in himself. He certainly hadn't been sleeping as well as he usually did and lately had a shorter fuse, as if his body was prepared for the next threat around every corner, coiled to strike out like a tightly wound viper.

Naami stopped outside the door, taking a long breath in and then out as he gave a short knock before entering. With a neutral expression but curious eyes, the zabrak called out in a low, friendly tone.

"Hey, Haro? Just checkin on ya— recorded the lesson and took notes."

He left off there, trying to keep it neutral, not wanting Haro to feel he was being accusatory and certainly hoping to avoid making the boy feel like he was making a bigger deal about a single absence than need be. Naami had just never known his friend to miss class and was genuinely wondering what had happened. There was also the fact that Haro had seemed rather distant since their return, which Naami certainly didn't intend to take personally… but the sudden withdrawal did sting a little after all they'd gone through.

 

[Haro Aven]

​

LOCATION: WILD SPACE > SITH HOLY WORLDS > KORRIBAN > KOR'ETHYR ACADEMY > DORMITORY​

TIMELINE: A FEW DAYS AFTER RETURNING FROM THE INVASION OF WOOSTRI​

OBJECTIVE: PRETEND EVERYTHING'S FINE​

TAGS: Naamino Zuukamano ​

​

Haro was back on Woostri again, or at least he was in his dream, as if his subconscious was caught in a cruel riptide that kept pulling him under, drowning him in the horrific memories the moment he fell into a deep enough sleep. He'd been able to compartmentalize and preoccupy his waking mind enough to pretend he was OK, but in the quiet solitude of night, what he'd seen, what he'd done, came back to haunt him in the form of vivid nightmares so real and so terrifying that he'd startle awake sweating, heart pounding, disoriented, but ultimately grateful not to be trapped there any longer. Unsure what else to do and concerned about appearing weak or suspicious, Haro had begun avoiding sleep all together and distancing himself from his peers the last couple days.

While sleep became more and more difficult for the teen to fight off, the nightmares were no less relentless. So, when he'd unintentionally dozed off at his desk in his dorm that morning, he found himself back on the battlefield of Gopsal, the oppressive roar of the wind and rain battering his subconscious. Destruction and death was all around him, but it was the anguished cries and mangled corpses of the troopers Naamino Zuukamano had dispatched with such cold merciless brutality that seemed to haunt him most. He'd known Naami was a Sith, an agent of the Dark side, and that he'd been to battle before, that he'd likely killed before, but to watch him in action was unlike anything Haro could have ever imagined. It terrified him, not because he feared Naami would hurt him – the Zabrak had made it clear in all but words that he would protect Haro with his life – but more because he now knew the damage he could inflict upon the galaxy if he continued down this path. But even that didn't scare him nearly as much as what he knew awaited him near the end of this torturous rerun – the moment Haro had taken a life for the first time.

The Galactic Alliance trooper had snuck up on the two of them while they were in the control room shutting down the datacenter's defense system. Haro had turned just in time to see them taking aim at his friend. He'd acted on instinct, without hesitation, and his powerful hand canon had delivered a lethal shot that had torn through the trooper's helmet and killed them almost instantly. This time though, within his torturous dreamscape, Haro's subconscious conflated his worst fear with the traumatizing event by forcing him to witness an alternative reality where it was Niynx Ioune that he had shot and killed – half of his familiar face mutilated by the fatal wound, vacant eyes frozen in phantom betrayal.

Haro startled awake as Naami let himself into his dorm, jolting upright from where he'd been slumped over his desk and looking around in a moment of disoriented panic. Reminded that he was in his dorm back at Kor'ethyr, he tried to steady his breath and calm his pounding heart. He'd assumed the sound that had woke him had been his roommate and he didn't want to freak him out anymore than he already had the last couple of days.

"Hey, Haro?" His head whipped around to face the unexpected but familiar voice. "Just checkin on ya— recorded the lesson and took notes."

Naami would find his friend seated at his desk in the dimly lit room, clad in an average Haro outfit with cargo pants and a plain teeshirt, his mop of dark hair even more of a mess than usual, looking dazed but alert, clearly just woken up. There was a brief flicker of fear behind his faintly glowing eyes but it passed quickly upon recognition of his friend and shifted to confusion as to why he was there. He blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog of fatigue and think up a response, an excuse, a distraction.

"Oh, hey Naami." Haro tried his best to effect that same friendly nonchalance that normally came to him so easily but his voice was scratchy with fatigue and there was a general uneasiness to his demeanor. There appeared to be several half-finished or just-started projects strewn about all around him – sketches of schematics, a few small tools, the skeleton of a small device he appeared to be part way through building – as well as several crumpled pieces of paper, a few empty cans of energy drinks, a candy rapper or two. Upon closer inspection of the half-Kage boy, Naami could see that his lips were chapped, his eyes puffy and rimmed red with dark bags beneath them. He seemed to realize that the time must've gotten away from him and looked suddenly alarmed.

"Oh chit! Did I miss class?" He inhaled sharply through his nose, as if that might help clear his head, and ran a hand through his hair and looked around at the mess. He pushed for a little sheepish laugh and a pathetic attempt at a smile.

"Oh man, must've overslept. Was up working on a project way too late. Uh, did you say something about notes?" It was a poor attempt at a deflection but it was what he could manage for now until he could force his sluggish mind to come more online.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Blinking a few times to adjust his eyes to the change in light, Naami paused just inside the doorway. He took in the details of the small dorm, of his friend who clearly seemed to be having a difficult time. After the pause, he moved closer with no small amount of gentle caution. As if he was approaching a skittish loth-cat. He kept his voice calm and low when he answered, trying not to let concern creep in to the tone.

"Hey," he said again, drawing level with the boy's desk, "Uhm yeah, no worries- got the full lecture and notes for you."

Inquisitive eyes took a closer look at the contents of Haro's desk and his side of the room. It seemed the half-kage had been trying to stay busy. He knew the feeling. Though it also seemed that the boy had worse luck getting adequate sleep, though Naami's certainly hadn't been good of late either. All intuition and guesses of course, frankly it wasn't really his business... but he couldn't help caring.

"You..." he almost asked "you ok?' but the question trailed off.

Of course he wasn't. What a stupid thing to ask. Naami took a slow breath in and offered the snacks he'd picked up on his way over. The protein cubes had been for him, but after seeing the state Haro was in he guessed he also hadn't been eating properly. The guy needed proper nutrition, not just sugar for Darkness sake.

"Here, haven't seen you in the dining hall recently-" he figured out a better way to rephrase his earlier question with an offer instead.
"You need anything? Happy to help."

 

[Haro Aven]

The way Naami approached told Haro he probably looked worse than he’d hoped, which meant convincing Naami he was fine would be harder than he'd hoped too. Upon closer inspection of Haro's desk, Naami could make out what appeared to be blueprints for some kind of hoverboard that he'd been marking up as well as some cartoonish concept art sketches for what looked to be a small purple droid similar in size to Bodie emoting a little heart. What he appeared to have been working on before he fell asleep though was a half-written letter. His hand writing was a messy scrawl that was barely legible, especially with a cursory glance. Haro tried to rub the sleep from his face then noticed Naami looking over the contents of his desk and was about to say something to distract when Naami turned to him and handed him something. He blinked a couple times, just staring at his favorite candy bar and a pack of the protein cubes Naami always got for himself before their workout.

"You need anything? Happy to help."

Finally, he reached out and accepted the snacks, looking up at Naami with round glassy eyes. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hug his friend, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep the tears at bay if he did. There was also a part of him that wasn't sure if he should even feel that way about Naamino Zuukamano . It was impossible to say what was really going on behind those icy blue eyes but, to Haro, Naami looked to be doing just fine after the invasion, functioning normally, attending his classes, going about his daily life as if he hadn't personally slain dozens of people just days earlier. During the trip back to Kor'ethyr, during the immediate aftermath of the battle, Haro had been so sure that Naami had been deeply effected by what he'd done, that he'd felt remorse like Haro. But he'd since questioned his own read, wondering if he'd been projecting what he wanted to be true about the boy he was coming to care about perhaps more than he should. Haro averted his gaze, fighting back the sudden welling up of emotion, damming up the tears and swallowing the lump in his throat before clearing it so his voice wouldn't crack when he spoke again, forcing a mask of "I'm totally fine, just tired" onto his face and into his tone.

"Ahem. Thanks, man. But uh, you really didn't have to do that. I can take care of myself." His tone was friendly but in a generic way, as if he was being kind and cordial just for the sake of it, without any of the depth of how much they'd been through together.

"I'm fine, really. Just super busy. Been taking on some extracurriculars and trying to amp up my projects. Figured it'd look good on the resume y'know?" He tried another smiley expression on and this time the lie came easier. He put the package of protein cubes on top of the letter and fidgeted with the candy bar but didn't open it, grappling with the idea of eating. The truth was, he hadn't had much of an appetite at all since he'd gotten back so he'd only been able to stomach his favorite flavors and only when he was super hungry.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

For a few moments, it was like they were back on the Vorpal Fang, checking in on each-other and having each-other's backs. Though it made his chest ache again to have Haro look up at him like that, there was a brief moment of reassurance that his buddy still wanted him around. The moment was ephemeral though and it was as if Haro suddenly shut a door in his face.

Naami's brow knit together, his mouth twisted in a small contemplative frown.

"I know you can…" he started to say quietly.

But Haro doubled down, lying casually to his face. More— he was dismissive, as if he didn't have time for Naami. The zabrak tensed, arms crossing so the clench of his fists would be hidden. Why did this hurt so much? It shouldn't be a big deal, Haro was entitled to his time alone. So what if Naami mistakenly thought they were finally bonding…

"Why are you lying to me?"

He blurted suddenly, his normally fine-mesh filter suddenly full of holes. A fully formed scowl pulled at his ink lined face and his nostrils flared.

 

[Haro Aven]

A flicker of panic passed over Haro and his fake smile faltered and fell away at the blunt callout. None the wiser to Naami's inner thoughts and suddenly feeling cornered in his own dorm, it was Haro's turn to be confused and frustrated. His friend's icy scowl bearing down on him made it clear he was upset with him and that triggered Haro far more than it should have–perhaps because he was so tired, perhaps because he had unwittingly begun to really care what Naami thought about him, perhaps both. A part of him wanted to appease Naami, to apologize and seize the opportunity to tell him why, to tell him everything so he didn't have to carry the weight of it all anymore, but he couldn't so he leaned into the anger and prideful defensiveness that flared up in him instead. His brow knit together and he frowned, the look over he gave Naami suddenly and uncharacteristically harsh and judgemental as a rush of defensive thoughts empowered him in defiance of the accusation. How dare Naami come into his dorm and accuse him of lying when he's just trying to be ok, just trying to cope with taking someone's life because that actually means something to him. Little did Haro know, his piercing green eyes amplified any emotion he projected through them and this was no different.

"I'm not lying to you," Haro bit back with a scowl of his own, surprised at the vitriol in his tone. He hated how it felt to say it aloud and he recoiled, like a dog who'd growled a bit too viciously and immediately felt guilty. Not only did it sound stupid and petty and so clearly untrue but he also found he really didn't want to speak to Naami like that. He hadn't even spoken to him like that when Naami had treated him far worse in the past, so why now? Why did this accusation feel like so much more? Despite his regret though, Haro found it difficult to back down after committing to his defense, hollow though it was.

"I told you, I've just got a lot going on. You don't have to take it so personally."​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The way Haro suddenly glared back, a searing gemstone blast of judgment that made Naami feel extremely vulnerable. As if he'd undergone a psychic attack, the biting tone to his friend's words made his head rear back. Contrary to other humanoids, tipping one's chin up to expose the throat was a sign of deference or respect for zabrak. Unconsciously Naami wanted to insist with body language that they were not fighting about this.

But still, it hurt. His heartrate spiked, his jaw clenched tighter and tighter, the room suddenly seemed too small, claustrophobic even. Everything his body was doing felt like he was preparing for a fight.

"Fine," he grunted between gritted teeth, turning away from Haro's desk to look at him sidelong.

"Just tell me it's none of my karking business , alright? If you respect me at all, just tell me to leave you alone— don't lie about being ok…"

Then he turned to leave, since clearly he wasn't welcome and Haro was too busy.

 

[Haro Aven]

Naami's words struck Haro like a punch to the gut, a battering ram of guilt shattering what was left of his defenses. An irrational panic welled up in him when Naami turned to leave, this time rooted in something far deeper than being caught in a lie. A fear that sourced back to his earliest memories, a fear of abandonment, of being alone, of not being good enough to be loved.

"Naami wait." The words stumbled from his lips before he could think. He realized after the fact that he'd shifted in his seat toward Naami and reached out to grab his wrist before he could get too far. For a handful of heartbeats, he just stared at his friend's wrapped hand, keenly aware of the damage hidden beneath the moon blue cloth, looking utterly distraught. Then he finally released his wrist and looked up at him, beseeching.

"I don't..." He paused after his voice cracked, deciding he should be more clear about what he wanted because Naami deserved that much at least, so he tried again.

"I want you to stay. Please. I'm sorry." His voice was barely a whisper by the time he apologized. He looked away, ashamed, his vision blurring with the tears he'd fought so hard to hold back.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

His instinctive response to the grip on his wrist was to become pliant and backtrack half a step, turning fully to face Haro. Despite the sadness and pain he was feeling, Haro had already earned the zabrak's friendship and Naami didn't hesitate to answer his plea to stay. The boy's hand remain outstretched even as his companion's fell away.

"Alright-" the words cut off, Naami felt his chest tighten as Haro was overwhelmed with emotion.

Naamino sat on the foot of his friend's messy bed, his own eyes wide as he realized just how much pain his friend must be in. The zabrak just sat quietly for a moment, then reached out to lay a hand over Haro's heart- a gesture he knew from childhood. Something solemn that his kind did to recognize the distress of another.

"I'm here, ok? I'm not leaving..."

He didn't really know what he was doing, but he tried to say what might feel nice to hear if their roles were reversed. Naami scooted a bit closer, perched on the very edge of the bed, trying to show with his body language that he was right there for his buddy.

"Thank you, I-" the words felt foreign, and he wasn't sure why but he said them anyway.
"I'm sorry too."

 

[Haro Aven]

For a long moment, Haro couldn't bring himself to meet Naami's eyes so he didn't see his friend's response but he could feel the shift in him. He felt him draw near, heard the ache in his voice, but the relief the reassurance brought Haro did nothing to stop the upwelling of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. He squeezed his eyes shut as if he could will the tears away but just winced as the guilt and fear and confusion battered against his crumbling defenses. Then, he felt the press of Naami's hand against his chest and, for a moment, it was as if he was physically holding the pieces of his heart together. Finally, Haro met his eyes, their gazes level now that Naami was seated on the edge of his bed.

"I..." I'm sorry I lied to you, I'm sorry I've been lying to you. I'm sorry I helped the Sith win the battle of Woostri, I'm sorry I killed for them and will probably have to again. I'm sorry, Niynx. I'm so sorry.

He looked down and shook the thoughts from his head, then wiped the tears from his eyes.

"I um," he sniffed, "haven't really slept... since we got back."​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The zabrak just listened solemnly. When eye contact was forthcoming again, the intensity of it gave Naami pause but he stayed resolute. Eventually his hand fell away from Haro's chest, the gesture suddenly feeling overly intimate. He didn't regret showing support to his friend but he definitely felt a little awkward about it.

Naami nodded at the admission, it made sense. He hadn't been sleeping great either, having to wear himself out entirely before he could fall asleep and noticing that he certainly wasn't feeling as well rested since Woostri. It had been the same after Bescane…

"That makes everything harder, huh?" Naami commiserated, his voice still soft and as friendly as it'd ever been.

"Not sure what'll help you… But I try to keep busy, to make my body as tired as possible so my mind can't— well, y'know…"

He gestured vaguely toward his temple in a cog spinning motion. There was a brief rueful smile that touched his face. Acknowledgment that nothing was really ok but that he intended to soldier on, to be there for Haro so they could soldier on together.

"Uhm— anyway, I…" winter storm eyes dropped to his own hands which fell back into his lap as he found the words.

"I have a really tough time when someone says one thing but they mean something else. Just— maybe it's weird of me to ask but, could you just… say what you mean clearly? And like, I dunno, I get that sometimes we have to be sly or guarded. I really do. But…"

His eyes rose again shyly. He knew he was rambling, knew maybe Haro was regretting asking him to stay. This probably wasn't helpful to him at all, when all he probably wanted was to get some damn rest. Naami carried on before he could overthink his way out of it.

"When it's just us, can you try to just level with me? Even if it's to tell me to buzz off. Really, it would help and… we've been through enough together to have that, right?"

 

[Haro Aven]

The sympathy and kindness he found in Naami's response genuinely surprised him. He searched Naami's eyes for the mocking or judgement he might have once expected from the Zabrak but he found only commiseration and a desire to help a struggling friend. Haro visibly relaxed a bit more into the moment, daring to trust the support being offered. He nodded as he considered what Naami shared about staying busy and wearing himself out, glancing at the mess on his desk again. He certainly had tried to keep his mind busy but maybe there was wisdom in exerting himself physically and wearing out his body too, though he couldn't imagine trying to work out right now. The thought reminded them that the two of them were meant to hit the gym together today, that they would've been doing that now if it weren't for Haro's state. He was about to mention it but it was clear Naami had more to say, so Haro just listened as the boy struggled through his next words. It was still surreal to see this shy, unsure side of Naami but the show of vulnerability was effective in lowering Haro's guard further and allowing him to be even more receptive to his request. In fact, he found he appreciated how direct and straightforward the expression of Naami's needs were. Haro managed a small but warm smile at that last question, his glittering eyes softening a bit.

"Yeah... Yeah, I can do that," he agreed with a nod. Then he glanced down at his hands.

"I guess, I was... worried, about what you'd think if you knew I was... I don't know, not ok? Since you seemed to be fine." There was no bitterness in the admission, just observation which honestly sounded much less reasonable to him when he said it aloud.

"But umh yeah, I'll try to be more clear next time. Thank you... for asking for that, for being here, for this." he gestured meekly with the candy bar and offered another weak smile

"I really appreciate it." He paused for a moment, searching Naami's eyes, a hint of curiosity and concern behind his crystalline gaze.

"Are you... ok? Like, after battles like that... do you ever...?" He copied Naami's gesture toward his own temple in the cog spinning motion.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

He gave a little nod of the head at Haro's initial acknowledgement, but shy eyes went wide as the boy went on. Naami hadn't expected that ramble to be quite so well received. He certainly didn't think he'd be thanked for it.

The zabrak's Adam's apple bobbed, his ears pinned back just slightly in surprise, and his expression revealed a flood of contemplation. In truth, he looked a bit like a startled charhound puppy for half a moment. This newfound loyalty he felt toward Haro suddenly being tested by yet deeper vulnerability.

Naami blinked and looked away, one of his hands rising to his temple where forefinger and thumb pinched the base of one of his large horns briefly. A gesture Haro might soon learn was a bit of a nervous tell. His hands clasps back in his lap and the zabrak again regarded them.

"Uh... Yeah-" his voice quiet and uncertain, "I'm, err- Well, I'm alive."

He shrugged, as if that was explanation enough for whether he was "ok" or not.

"But, yeah it's really hard sometimes. To- y'know, to feel normal again."

He huffed a sigh, suddenly frustrated with himself. Realizing that he was very nearly doing the thing he asked Haro not to do!

Azure eyes rose back to collect peridot as Naami took a steadying breath.

"I'm not really 'ok', but I want to be, so I try hard to be. If that makes sense? I-" there was suddenly a lump in his throat and he had to pause again to stop his voice from doing something that would make this even harder.

"My first time... going to war," his first time killing someone, "Was with the Diarchy, on Bescane."

He left it there, let the implication hang in the air, solemn and empathetic. Uncertain of himself but also grateful to be talking about it. He'd continue to share but also didn't want to go on rambling, so he waited.

 

[Haro Aven]

In his delirious sleep-deprived state, Haro found this unexpectedly, awkwardly vulnerable moment shared between them to be rather surreal. As Naami slowly peeled back the layers of his stubborn stoic exterior, he revealed something that warmed Haro’s heart and deeply confused him all at the same time. Naamino was a Sith, a killer, a Darksider. Haro wasn't supposed to have found this among the Sith, this camaraderie, this sympathy, and he certainly wasn't supposed to care like this. Yet, as he watched and listened, he couldn't help but be pulled in by the inexorable tide of those stormy blue eyes that stared back at him, brimming with emotion.

Despite the empathetic ache, Naami’s admission that he wasn’t really ok brought Haro a sense of relief, and he nodded reassuringly when Naami asked if it made sense.
"My first time... going to war… was with the Diarchy, on Bescane."

The implication wasn’t lost on Haro and he remained silent a moment longer, wondering if Naami would elaborate. Then, suddenly, unexpectedly, pushing through the weight of the crushing sadness, Haro suddenly felt angry, as if the pressure of all his feelings had found an outlet in something to blame. It just wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that Naamino was being used as a weapon for the Sith order. Sure, he had technically made the choice to be involved but what choice did he have really? He sought answers to the chaos of war that had gotten his parents killed and he was fed the lies that killing in turn would somehow bring him resolution. He was just a kid. They all were–Lesh, Haro, even Lysander–and they were all being used as weapons of war. The Jedi were just as guilty of it. Niynx had been even younger than Haro when he’d been exposed to far worse in the name of the Order. Haro’s gaze fell to his hands.

“It just keeps replaying in my head. Like a nightmare, but it’s there when I’m awake too,” he winced just slightly, as if the memories were banging at the door of his mind. “It’s just worse when I’m asleep.”

“Was it like that for you? After Bescane?” He asked after a pause, finally finding Naami’s eyes again. “Was it… any easier after Woostri?”​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Naami's brows scrunched together with concern at Haro's description of what he was going through. He realized it didn't really work that way for him, that he wasn't really followed around by images, nor haunted by replays of what he'd gone through and done. Not usually.

The zabrak seemed to store the memories of war in his body; tension in the shoulders, hairpin trigger at any sign of trouble, the general sense of never being safe- the feeling that any moment could be his last if he let his guard down. He maintained the eye contact that Haro sought, though he found it difficult.

"No..." a little shake of that heavy head, "Uh-" he loosed a small mirthless chuckle.

"No to both questions," He clarified, "Doesn't happen that way for me- its more like. Dunno, it's like my body doesn't think the fight is over, even though I know I'm safe again. And- No, it... it's still hard, after Woostri."

Finally he released a breath and his eyes dropped away, looking around the room. There was no judgement about the state of the place. Naami felt like he could see Haro's mind displayed here, scattered and cluttered, parts of it neglected while fixation overtook other corners. He turned back to his friend and decided to take a chance on an idea he might hate.

"Would uh- would you wanna go for walk? like-" he grew suddenly uncertain, but pressed on, "I mean I know you're busy and also might not feel like it, but I think a walk in the sun could do us both some good, yeah? Not a march either, I just mean a walk around campus."

He gave a chagrined little smile about the "march" clarification, as if worried Haro would jump to the conclusion he was being a hard-ass.

 

[Haro Aven]

Grateful and more than a bit relieved that his more personal questions had been so well-received and even answered with more openness than expected, Haro nodded along to Naami’s explanation. He could relate to that feeling of being unable to turn off that fight or flight, but his eyes grew pained again when Naami admitted it was still hard for him.

Haro sighed, unsure how to respond and afraid more tears would be forthcoming if he tried, so he just shared silence and his gaze followed Naami’s to the room around them. It was messier even than it normally was. Not dirty per say, but disjointed, disorganized, unkempt.

Naami broke the silence with an unexpected invitation to walk around campus with him, and Haro felt a little pang of guilt again at the mention of how “busy” he knew he was. He didn’t think Naami was bringing it back up to make him feel bad though, and going on a walk with his buddy in the sun did feel like a great idea. Honestly, he was just really glad Naami still wanted to spend more time with him, even after he’d shown such vulnerability.

Haro returned Naami’s smile, pouring as much of the gratitude and warmth that he felt for his friend into the expression as he could, despite his extreme fatigue.

“Yeah… that sounds nice.” He paused, his next words trying to convey his appreciation for their interaction as a whole and not just Naami’s invitation.

“Thank you.”​