Day 23: Men's Showers, Evening Shift
His nurse had babbled like usual all the way to the showers, asking if he wanted a haircut (no), if he'd made friends (yes), and if the young man he'd been sitting with was one of them (definitely yes). It was annoying to play the cheerful patient role, but it made sure she didn't ask too many really invasive questions. Ritsuka had to remind himself that she was only doing her job, and it wasn't her fault that he and Seimei were in this mess.
When they arrived at the showers, no one was there yet. Communal bathing was nothing to Ritsuka, who was used to bathing with his sibling anyway, so he quickly went to the closest shower after bidding his nurse goodbye. Once there, he stripped, folded his clothing neatly around his journal (he refused to be away from it even when the nurse asked), removed the shower head, and turned on the water. Sitting down on the stool provided, wash cloth over one leg, he watched the water splash against the tile as it started to heat up. It made a comforting sound, ringing hollow in the empty room.
The emptiness meant he could think for awhile about what Seimei had said at lunch. Despite his earlier agreement, Ritsuka knew he needed to think things out. He knew he shouldn't betray Seimei and go against his request, but something felt off. He just didn't know what that something was yet.
When they arrived at the showers, no one was there yet. Communal bathing was nothing to Ritsuka, who was used to bathing with his sibling anyway, so he quickly went to the closest shower after bidding his nurse goodbye. Once there, he stripped, folded his clothing neatly around his journal (he refused to be away from it even when the nurse asked), removed the shower head, and turned on the water. Sitting down on the stool provided, wash cloth over one leg, he watched the water splash against the tile as it started to heat up. It made a comforting sound, ringing hollow in the empty room.
The emptiness meant he could think for awhile about what Seimei had said at lunch. Despite his earlier agreement, Ritsuka knew he needed to think things out. He knew he shouldn't betray Seimei and go against his request, but something felt off. He just didn't know what that something was yet.