The day had been strange.

Shu wasn’t the most attentive to subtleties — he moved at his own slow, spacey pace — but even he had noticed how Kio had been more withdrawn over the past few weeks.

Not that Kio was loud or overly expressive to begin with… but now there was this strange weight hanging over him.

"Getting tired of me already, huh?" Shu wondered at one point, resting his chin on his hand as he watched Kio clean up at the café after their shift. It wasn’t a dramatic thought — more of a vague passing one that settled in the back of his mind. He didn’t show it. Just tucked it away.

When Kio replied with a flat tone that he’d be free later, Shu suddenly said: — Then… I’ll come over today.

Kio stayed quiet for a moment, maybe processing. Shu rarely said that on his own — it was usually Kio who invited him. Even tired, Kio just nodded. He didn’t have the energy to decline gently like he usually would. Part of him thought, "wouldn’t be right to refuse when he’s actually taking the initiative."

They left together.

The walk to Kio's apartment was quiet... but not that comfortable kind of quiet between people who get each other. It was heavy. Off. Shu didn’t say anything. But he noticed.

When they arrived, the cold outside made Shu shrug off his coat with a sigh. He was used to this place by now — he’d been there a few times. Without much ceremony, he went to take a shower. Kio had already laid out some clothes for him.

When Shu came back, hair a bit messy and eyes as lazy as always, he plopped down on the couch while Kio brought over a bowl of hot soup.

They sat in silence again, the TV playing something random in the background.

Shu picked up the bowl, blew on the soup before sipping, and casually said: — …Mm. This is good.

Kio, his eyes quietly tired, replied in a soft voice: — My mom taught me.

Shu paused mid-motion with the spoon for just a second.

He didn’t say much in the moment. He didn’t know the full story. But the way Lin said it… it carried weight.