Chapter Text
“...are you… think he…”
“...don’t worry, it’s…”
‘What are they talking about…?’
His eyes slowly open after hearing voices quietly chatting not too far from him. Apparently, he’s laying on a bed in a white room, why?
Slowly scanning the surroundings, Saki is here, sitting on the corner talking with someone. He looks at the other silhouette, a man with clearly unkept hair, purple and blue shine by the rays coming from the window behind him. Who is he? He can’t seem to recall.
Suddenly, there’s a throbbing pain on the back of his head, the sunlights are worsening it a bit. He moves his arm to cover both eyes as he groans. A cluttering sound can be heard almost immediately.
“Onii-chan!”
“Tsukasa!”
They both shout in unison, a bit too loud to his ears, even a future star doesn’t have their best days, he thinks.
“Oops, I think we shouted too loud. I’m sorry!” - She silently exclaims - “I’ll go call a doctor, so Rui-kun, please close the curtains and check on him. It might take a while.”
“…Saki…” - That’s all he manages to say before she dashes through the door. ‘Don’t run! It’s dangerous, you know that!’ - It’s what he wanted to say, well, it’s a bit late now.
‘Doctor… oh, and so his name is Rui.’ - Tsukasa takes a mental note.
Makes sense now, his head hurts like crazy and, looking downwards, he's wearing a hospital gown as well. What happened? Did he hit his head that bad? But the last thing he remembers is… nevermind, nothing comes to mind right now. Anyway, why is there a stranger inside his room? Maybe Saki knows him, or maybe he works here, but not as a doctor, his clothes are too unique, so…? Maybe, even asleep, his powerful aura managed to lure him! Haha, that’s something he's truly capable of. Or maybe, hmm…
As Tsukasa analyses the situation, clearly not paying attention, a tall shadow starts approaching him. And now the man is getting near the bed… a bit too near… wait- his face is too close! And he’s holding his hand now! What??
Rui, his name, holds Tsukasa's hand like it could break at any moment. He kisses his knuckles after admiring the blonde for some time in absolute silence. His face is clearly distressed with a sight of relief, a kind tiny smile can be seen.
And now as if any of this even matters, Tsukasa isn't getting why the heck that dude is kissing and caressing that much, but experiencing those things just after waking up prevents him from reacting the way he wished.
The man pauses his affection as he looks to the other.
“Tsukasa-kun… Thank goodness…” - Rui starts, his voice shaking as their eyes meet - “I’m so sorry… I promise I’ll do the chores for now on, I mean, forever!”
With a guilty sigh and now averting eyes, his voice gets even lower - “I promise not to get oil on the floor, I'll wipe it pristine clear before you notice… Please don’t try cleaning the living room again… And- I'll let you get mad at me! When you’re better of course. I’ll take care of you and our things for now…”
He kisses the hand again, cupping his face on it, staring for a moment with an… interesting expression. Tsukasa just stares at the incredible, and so legit, affectionate act, unable to move by being caught off guard.
This Rui acts so emotional! Maybe he's aiming to be an actor as well, because Tsukasa never knew someone so touchy in his life. Saki hugs him sometimes but that’s a whole another level! Maybe this is his cue to learn romantic theatrics for his career… aaand now that's making him a bit embarrassed, because this guy looks so genuinely miserable that he can do nothing but let him continue, no adlibbing here can help. And if it's real… it would be too unstarlike to not offer his hand as comfort after all, that's right. Totally.
“I’ve bought non-slip socks as well. Also, there’s a really good pillow Nene recommended, Emu bought it for you and it already arrived, so… when you’re discharged, you can lay on the bed and I’ll pamper you just like a star deserves, fufu~.” — His smile is so fond and genuine that you can see there’s something behind it. But Tsukasa can’t grasp what it is, he isn’t in his best shape, ok?
“Ah… But I had to get rid of the carpet for now, it's in my workshop. I couldn't throw it away since you loved it so much.”
‘Wait, he’s just not stopping! And that’s so much information that I'm starting to get convinced! What chores? I don’t remember having a carpet that I loved. Also, who’s Nene and Emu? I mean, WHO ARE YOU-’ — Rui took so long to say everything, taking so many pauses, that Tsukasa could muster all his strength to reply:
“I don’t understand what’s going on… I'm really sorry, but… do I know you?”
After saying that, an uncomfortable silence appears for a few seconds that seemed like hours, why isn’t he responding? The man is looking at him with an indescribable expression. Was he rude? It wasn’t his intention! Saki says that his memory is not the best! So when he regains his one hundred percent composure, he’ll surely make it up to him, since he looks devastated and it kinda seems like it's because of him and socks, carpet and oil.
“...Tsuka-” - The phrase gets interrupted by the sound of the door.
“The doctor is here! Can he talk, Rui?”
“Ah… I mean, I talked most of the time.” - He replies in a slow pace, unsureness vivid in his voice.
“Saki, I’m confused. What happened? And who is he? Your friend? I think he may be mistaking me for someone else.” — Tsukasa continues, already replying to the question and completely ignoring how Rui genuinely poured his heart out just a few minutes ago.
“What?”
There’s another moment of silence.
“Why is everyone getting silent after I speak?” - Now Tsukasa is a little distressed.
“Hello, Tenma-san. How are you feeling?” — The doctor is quick to interrupt their small silent session. — “It seems that your memory was affected as well, we might need to do a few more examinations.”
“Huh? What?”
“As Kamishiro-san mentioned when you were admitted, you suffered a concussion after falling in your house.”
“You were going to clean the oil I spilled while carrying my gears. It happened so fast, you slipped on the carpet and fell backwards. If only I…”
“This type of accident is a bit usual, Kamishiro-san. Most types of fabric don’t go well with some floors. But as a good notice, don't worry, amnesia is not uncommon and tends to recover at a maximum of three months. Rarely more than that.”
“Three months…” - Okay, now looking at him, he looks even more miserable than before.
“For now, we’ll conduct another row of tests as protocol, to ensure there aren’t any other lesions and symptoms. But the initial procedures didn’t show any results to be afraid of. I’ll let you both talk with the patient while we gather the necessary tools and rooms.”
As the doctor closes the door, there’s a long sigh. Saki and Rui stare at each other, then at Tsukasa, then to each other again, and then at Tsukasa-
“So, from what I understood, I was at your place?” - Tsukasa stops the back and forth staring competition, trying to assess whatever information he gathered.
“Onii-chan, you moved together years ago. What is the last thing you remember?” - Now Saki is the one doubting his starlike memory, of course he remembers everything!
“Uhhhh… the last thing I remember is…” — Tsukasa uses 12000% of his brain now — “Getting ready to go to Phoenix Land’s audition?”
“...”
“...”
“... What?” - Tsukasa is getting a bit tired of these pauses.
“That…” - Rui starts.
“That was…” - Saki semi-completes
“Wasn’t that about 10 years ago?” - Rui asked in an extremely calm tone, way too calm. No, wait, he’s making a face again.
“WHAT???” — Saki screams, waving her arms — “But- But that was…! I don’t even know how to explain from the start! So many things happened! You forgot too much!!!”
“Tsukasa-kun… I think it’s better to go slow with things because you just woke up. But for now, yes we do live together, for about 7 years. We also work together, as an actor and I’m your director.”
There have been too many moments of silence since Tsukasa woke up. And that’s way too unusual, knowing how the blonde has a loud and boisterous aura revolving around him and his everyday life. Now he’s the one who’s not moving, mouth agape, not blinking. But, when looking properly, there’s a sparkle in his eyes that takes everyone aback, stopping the panic that started to arise a moment ago.
He suddenly lowers his head, and it somehow makes Rui even more anxious thinking he’s beginning to die from brain hemorrhage or something. Sometimes even the smartest people can’t think rationally when their loved ones are at stake.
“Tsukasa!! Are you okay?! Does it hurt too much? I need to call a nurse!” - Rui quickly gets up and prompts himself to reach the door.
“I- I…” - Tsukasa starts, now acting his best as a broken radio.
Another pause, now he's the one doing it.
“I’M A REAL ACTOR?” — His eyes are truly shining right now. That was a great, loud and healthy voice projection. — “AND YOU’RE MY DIRECTOR?” — Now he’s looking at Rui with admiring eyes. — “At first I even thought you were an actor trying to cheer me up! It felt so real!”
Not dying from brain hemorrhage, thank God, Rui thinks as he releases the door handle. He already noticed that Tsukasa doesn’t remember a single bit, even about their marriage, which was around three years ago, so he just decides to play along to not further distress his star. But even then, he’s a little happy that Tsukasa got so energetic about a part of his dream becoming reality.
“Yes, but for now you’re on temporary leave due to the accident, so you need to stay at home.” — Rui pauses and cuts eye contact. — “Ah- But if you think that you’ll feel more comfortable with your parents…”
“NO! HE’S STAYING WITH YOU!” - She abruptly cuts his phrase.
“Hey! Don’t I have a say in this?”
“Absolutely not! You guys look like you’re sewn by the hips! When I see you or Rui-kun, the other is nearby somewhere!! And Rui-kun knows you like the back of his hand.”
Saki is quick to cut whatever idea he was getting, she has already heard from her brother that his husband has a tendency to create easier routes, for others, not for him at all, and now she’s experiencing it firsthand.
“I’m sure that the familiarity of being together for ten whole years just makes him the perfect person for you! Also your stuff is at your house.” - She gives her point and crosses her arms, deciding for the boys and ending the discussion.
“I guess she’s very on point. It’s been like that since high school.” - Rui was a bit taken aback by how bold she was, but still smiles tenderly when recollecting the memories. It's true that Tsukasa can't seem to let him go anywhere by himself, and it's the same for him, he just loved his presence too much.
‘That much? We're probably really good friends to know each other since then. And I trust Saki, actually, I've never seen her being so adamant about something, she isn’t even giving me a choice!’
A battle between him and his sister always means there's already a winner. And it's her.
Confused and not in the best condition to argue, he just accepts. Maybe he'll ask her what was that later, about what made her so pushy when he just suffered an accident!
“Well… I guess I don’t have many options. I don't want to bother mom, dad and Saki too, so I'll stay where I already was.”
“It's not about bothering! We're visiting you, alright? You'll understand when you're completely recovered.”
As the day passes, the staff conducts the visual and cognitive exams. Looks like there’s nothing else that severe besides an incredible ten year gap of forgotten memories. Which is good, but that also included missing the entire existence of Rui, his highschool friends and beloved ex-troupemates, his achievements to stardom and even the SEKAI, by extension.
That made him unable to get back to work for the meantime. Which is unacceptable! But the doctor, Saki and Rui all seemed to simultaneously agree on focusing on his recovery. Rui already managed to contact their superiors and rearrange actors, avoiding further complications, which made Tsukasa a bit relieved, but not to the point of ignoring his incompetence that gave such problems to his director. At this point, he’ll just try to make up for his missed time at home, practicing and trying to not get on Rui’s nerves, if he, by any chance, got frustrated as well.
“You’re scheduled to be discharged tomorrow at 9am and I’ve already handed your prescriptions and medical statement to Kamishiro-san.” — The doctor gets up from the chair and invites Rui and Saki to listen by the door. — “As for the post-recovery, I recommend that you focus on slowly reintroducing your usual routine, which Kamishiro-san can assist, but with caution, as to not overexert yourself.”
“And what about returning to work?” - Tsukasa is quick to ask the only thing he could think of when he was younger.
“Well… your medical statement gives you a three months leave to make sure you’ll be fully recovered. That means, memory wise, since your work revolves greatly in memorization and the memory gap affected most of your working years. However, if you do make progress quicker than estimated, you’re allowed to get back gradually.”
“I understand… thank you, doctor.”
With a sad smile and no grand purpose for the next three months, Tsukasa waits for the doctor to leave and close the door. His mind is extremely blurry, he admits, if only he could make his brain work properly… But if he doesn’t even remember who is that Rui that directs him, then what else has he forgotten? He can only wait to get home.