A small time frame had passed now that his older brother was gone. A note, and that was it. He had run back to the entrance to not find them there. Note, he was still in his pajamas when he got there. He broke a pillar and walked away. So much for a personal goodbye. He was wondering how he would fill the time. Yeah, Uzu kept him a bit on his toes, and he hoped it was likewise the other way around. But… One of the bigger changes had happened. He had moved location, still exclusive and on the grounds. But way more to the edge, where he had an extra room too. A room he had no idea what to do… So as a form of income, he let someone else stay there. He got only one application, strangely, and went with that.
Ryota now had a roommate called Tsukki. Being the AiT that Ryota was, he was careful about the man. He remembered how his first words to him were, ‘Is that even legal?’ Tsukki had odd times, almost 24/7. He would be gone before dawn, returning long after Ryota had gone to bed. He often carried a scent of damp earth, something faintly metallic clinging to his clothes… Other times, he would vanish mid-afternoon. Only to reappear hours later. Never… was he leaving with a bad, a work attire, nothing…
Ryota did not pry inside the man’s life, but he had grown so curious that one time, he tried to be casual, not mentioning or asking. He would leave leftovers on the kitchen counter, with the tea set up and only needing to boil. Hoping at one point for a conversation with his roommate. Even the cat liked the man, but the questions got more and more. Tsukki often remained quiet but appreciative. He offered cookies sometimes in return for the drinks and often gave a small smile.
One night, while Ryota was studying in the living room, he heard the key going in the keyhole. Tsukki was back home. Ryota studied him for a second; he looked more dishevelled than usual. His jacket was torn at the shoulder, there were streaks of mud on his cheek, and not to mention he was limping on his left leg.
“Long night..?” Ryota asked as he placed the study materials to the side. Tsukki sighed, a hand running through his white hair. “Something like that… a… difficult client..” Tsukki paused, leaning against the doorframe. “That person needed to lift a very old burden.”
“A burden..? Like a mental one?” Ryota asked, curiosity reaching a peak. Tsukki shook his head and answered. “More physical, he put on a good fight.” A wince left Tsukki as he shifted his weight. “So you got hurt,” Ryota observed, noticing the subtle tremor in Tsukki's hand as he went for a glass of water in the kitchen.
Tsukki’s eyes went to his leg. “This.. Is just a minor strain, nothing too serious.”
Ryota saw the way that Tsukki carefully lowered himself onto the couch, avoiding putting any pressure on his leg. “Let me see.” Ryota sighed, moving towards him. “I ain’t a healer, but I can tell a sprain when I see one. You are limping..” He sounded slightly annoyed as he got close. Tsukki was hesitant, but slowly extended his leg towards Ryota. Ryota gently pushed the fabric back and looked at the flesh. There was no visible bruising or swelling, which was a surprise. Tsukki flinched when Ryota barely touched the calf muscle, confirming the pain he was feeling.
“It feels… tight, but not surface. It is deeper within. “ He said while poking it very softly. “You should probably put ice on it. Tsukki gave a soft huff before shaking his head. “This ain’t a simple sprain, Ryota.” Tsukki then closed his eyes, and Ryota felt a strange, cold shiver pass through the air. Quickly followed by something warm and pleasant.
Tsukki got close to his own leg, and a faint glow came from Tsukki’s hand as he rested it on the sheen. Ryota blinked. What was happening right now? Slowly, Tsukki got up and took a tentative step before walking around. The limp was gone.
“What was that?” A direct question came from the red-haired person before Tsukki answered in an apologetic tone. “A little self-care. As I said, it wasn’t a simple sprain. Sometimes the afflictions I deal with leave echoes. Can be physical or mental. This one was just… stubborn.”
‘Yea right.’ It was when Ryota huffed in his mind. “And you just healed yourself.” He spoke under his breath, still watching the man in front of him. Tsukki nodded on that. “I heard that, and yes… It is part of the job; you cannot help others if you are broken yourself.” Ouch… that remark left a bit of a nasty taste in Ryota.
Ryota stood rooted on his spot, eyes fixed on Tsukki as he went to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water before downing it in one go. “Appreciate the concern, Ryota, but sometimes… A bandage or ice cannot fix a problem.” Ryota still watched the man, did he.. Placing all the puzzle pieces together, he slowly started to form the picture, this man. He was an underground healer for the poor; he was something more, something ancient and powerful. The “wild and fascinating ride” he’d anticipated suddenly felt far more profound, and perhaps, a little dangerous.
“What exactly are you..?” Ryota kept whispering at this point, and before Tsukki made his way to the bedroom, he turned around. Ryota saw how tired he now looked. “Just… A person trying to mend what is broken.” He said before adding. “But sometimes, what's broken isn’t just flesh and bones.”
[pvt. Introducing Tsukki. An NPC used in Ryota's story. Maybe later created into an action NPC.]
[Topic entered and left]
[MFT: 250+]
Ryota now had a roommate called Tsukki. Being the AiT that Ryota was, he was careful about the man. He remembered how his first words to him were, ‘Is that even legal?’ Tsukki had odd times, almost 24/7. He would be gone before dawn, returning long after Ryota had gone to bed. He often carried a scent of damp earth, something faintly metallic clinging to his clothes… Other times, he would vanish mid-afternoon. Only to reappear hours later. Never… was he leaving with a bad, a work attire, nothing…
Ryota did not pry inside the man’s life, but he had grown so curious that one time, he tried to be casual, not mentioning or asking. He would leave leftovers on the kitchen counter, with the tea set up and only needing to boil. Hoping at one point for a conversation with his roommate. Even the cat liked the man, but the questions got more and more. Tsukki often remained quiet but appreciative. He offered cookies sometimes in return for the drinks and often gave a small smile.
One night, while Ryota was studying in the living room, he heard the key going in the keyhole. Tsukki was back home. Ryota studied him for a second; he looked more dishevelled than usual. His jacket was torn at the shoulder, there were streaks of mud on his cheek, and not to mention he was limping on his left leg.
“Long night..?” Ryota asked as he placed the study materials to the side. Tsukki sighed, a hand running through his white hair. “Something like that… a… difficult client..” Tsukki paused, leaning against the doorframe. “That person needed to lift a very old burden.”
“A burden..? Like a mental one?” Ryota asked, curiosity reaching a peak. Tsukki shook his head and answered. “More physical, he put on a good fight.” A wince left Tsukki as he shifted his weight. “So you got hurt,” Ryota observed, noticing the subtle tremor in Tsukki's hand as he went for a glass of water in the kitchen.
Tsukki’s eyes went to his leg. “This.. Is just a minor strain, nothing too serious.”
Ryota saw the way that Tsukki carefully lowered himself onto the couch, avoiding putting any pressure on his leg. “Let me see.” Ryota sighed, moving towards him. “I ain’t a healer, but I can tell a sprain when I see one. You are limping..” He sounded slightly annoyed as he got close. Tsukki was hesitant, but slowly extended his leg towards Ryota. Ryota gently pushed the fabric back and looked at the flesh. There was no visible bruising or swelling, which was a surprise. Tsukki flinched when Ryota barely touched the calf muscle, confirming the pain he was feeling.
“It feels… tight, but not surface. It is deeper within. “ He said while poking it very softly. “You should probably put ice on it. Tsukki gave a soft huff before shaking his head. “This ain’t a simple sprain, Ryota.” Tsukki then closed his eyes, and Ryota felt a strange, cold shiver pass through the air. Quickly followed by something warm and pleasant.
Tsukki got close to his own leg, and a faint glow came from Tsukki’s hand as he rested it on the sheen. Ryota blinked. What was happening right now? Slowly, Tsukki got up and took a tentative step before walking around. The limp was gone.
“What was that?” A direct question came from the red-haired person before Tsukki answered in an apologetic tone. “A little self-care. As I said, it wasn’t a simple sprain. Sometimes the afflictions I deal with leave echoes. Can be physical or mental. This one was just… stubborn.”
‘Yea right.’ It was when Ryota huffed in his mind. “And you just healed yourself.” He spoke under his breath, still watching the man in front of him. Tsukki nodded on that. “I heard that, and yes… It is part of the job; you cannot help others if you are broken yourself.” Ouch… that remark left a bit of a nasty taste in Ryota.
Ryota stood rooted on his spot, eyes fixed on Tsukki as he went to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water before downing it in one go. “Appreciate the concern, Ryota, but sometimes… A bandage or ice cannot fix a problem.” Ryota still watched the man, did he.. Placing all the puzzle pieces together, he slowly started to form the picture, this man. He was an underground healer for the poor; he was something more, something ancient and powerful. The “wild and fascinating ride” he’d anticipated suddenly felt far more profound, and perhaps, a little dangerous.
“What exactly are you..?” Ryota kept whispering at this point, and before Tsukki made his way to the bedroom, he turned around. Ryota saw how tired he now looked. “Just… A person trying to mend what is broken.” He said before adding. “But sometimes, what's broken isn’t just flesh and bones.”
[pvt. Introducing Tsukki. An NPC used in Ryota's story. Maybe later created into an action NPC.]
[Topic entered and left]
[MFT: 250+]