Loyal like a stray

[picturethat]

S T R A Y Taking in strays is, all in all, an understandable vice. The dips in between their ribs, those large and forlorn eyes, they can help you forget the claws and the teeth and the danger lurking beneath fur. But the habit's a knife edge; your efforts may not be rewarded with kindness (animal instincts aren't discretionary) and you may get bit despite what you've overlooked. A stray doesn't care about pity. All it can know is survival. These warnings apply to strays of the more human(oid) sort, too. But what may even more perilous with this type than any drawn blood is what you can get when they grow to trust you. You can earn their undying loyalty...or their love. Either from such a wild thing is a precarious path to go down, if you allow yourself to do it. Comment with your character, preferences, desired roles, etc. This meme has shippy undertones, but shipping is not required. Just mention if you absolutely don't want it. Reply to others. Thread!

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[zgok]

Kusakabe's head tilts first to one side, then the other as he watches Mafuyu, almost warning him against squeezing around the strings that they'd just finished tuning. He'd just have to walk back through that, or let Mafuyu figure it out by ear if he's messed up his adjustments already. That hadn't been the reaction he'd expected, at least not when it came to the explanation. The guy really was new to all of this, huh.

It makes Kusakabe wonder just where he'd gotten such a nice instrument, since Mafuyu doesn't seem like the type that would go out of his way to get something so fancy for himself and if the hollow-body was used, whoever had owned it before had taken incredibly good care of it. He's having a very similar train of thought to Uenoyama's, that perhaps it was a gift or something handed down to someone that didn't really know what they were doing.

He stops himself from saying the first thing that comes to mind: that the internet exists, that he could have looked up whether it could be fixed and maybe even learned how to do it himself from a tutorial. There's something bigger here that he's just not seeing, and given he didn't really pay attention to the rumor mill, he doesn't actually remember what weird possibly made up baggage Mafuyu comes with. So he just stares for a long moment, then straightens up again and waves for Mafuyu's attention. He'd go back to showing the other the basics for now, focusing on scales and how to move up or down the frets as required, what the different positions feel like as they're played through. The sooner he could do it by feel, he reasoned, the easier it would be to move on through chords, and then even simple songs.

He pauses when he feels a drip on the top of his head, looking up in time to get another on his cheek. How long had they been out here? Surely not long enough for it to open up again like it had been...

"Hey. Hey, Sato. This weekend I have time booked at one of the box studios. You could come, so you can hear what it sounds like over a speaker."

[inwinter]

Does he want to learn? The question seems to be lingering in his thoughts, even as Kusakabe himself seems to move on, an uncomfortable pill that just won't seem to go down. He knows the answer. Mafuyu does want to learn, but there's so much more to it than just that. Not that the blond would know anything about what's happened to him or why it's so difficult. Still, it's too soon for him to share that bit. After all, this is the first time that he's spent any length of time with Kusakabe. He wants it to end well, without him thinking that Mafuyu is strange.

So he pushes the thoughts from his mind and, instead, throws himself into what he's being taught. He repeats the things he's shown, bare fingers working against the metallic strings to form chords, to slide along them and transfer from one to the next. Honestly, Kusakabe is remarkably patient teacher. His explanations are easy to understand and the instruction is easy to recreate. It's...surprisingly fun. And just when he's starting to get into what they're doing, a raindrop pelts him on the top of the head.

Mafuyu stops mid-chord and looks skyward, a small frown tugging at his lips. It's too soon for it to end. Then again, if Kusakabe wanted to stay there all night, Mafuyu would happily do just that. If it were dry, that is. The sound of Kusakabe's voice catches his attention again, his gaze dropping down to meet his. The invitation immediately changes the normally subdued expression into something absolutely thrilled.

"I can?! I'll go!" He's just a step away from hugging Kusakabe, though it's likely not going to happen, due to still holding his cherished guitar. Either way, it's as if he's given him the greatest gift. He isn't even aware of how the guitars hook up or anything like that, but he's certain that Kusakabe won't lead him astray. "Thank you, Kusakabe-kun!" He pauses after a moment, then reaches into his pocket to fish out his phone. "Do you want to trade numbers, then?"

Welp. Kusakabe likely isn't getting rid of him so easily now. Feed a stray once and you make a friend for life.

[zgok]

It's kind of amazing, how quickly Mafuyu can go from looking so spaced out and on the verge of falling asleep to veritably sparkling. It just has Kusakabe staring at him for a moment, before he takes the phone and inputs his contact, then messages himself to allow him to plug the other's number in kind. He hands the phone back in time for the rain to start really coming down, and he twists in place to gather everything back up.

"I'll send you the address for it ok?" He pushes himself up to stand as he says it, quickly collecting his guitar case and grabbing for the other's to get everything out of the rain as quickly as possible. They could at least hang out by the vending machines for a while until one of them needed to head home, and he had said that if Mafuyu wanted to pay him back that he could just get him a drink or something. Easy.

Staring out at the rain again from the overhang shielding the area around the machines, Kusakabe stretches his arms up over his head, groaning but just accepting that they were stuck getting rained on. His crossed arms rest atop his head, and he regards Mafuyu curiously. He's sure Tani could tell him something about this guy, but that would be rude, wouldn't it? Maybe he should just push and ask more questions. Would that go over well? Probably not. People didn't generally want their business pried into without a reason for it.

"Aaaaah man," he groans, quiet enough to maybe be missed under the sound of the rain.

[inwinter]

Mafuyu waits patiently for the information transfer, an undeniably sunny expression on his face in--well. It's probably the first time Kusakabe has ever seen him like this. Fingers brush over his as he takes the phone back from his and quickly pockets it, turning to slip the guitar into the case and shut it, securing his treasure from the rain. "Alright." He says in response to his comment, allow him to take hold of the case as they scramble to head to a dryer spot. "I'll look forward to it, then."

By the time they reach the shelter of the awning, his expression has faded into something a bit more neutral, though the sparkle remains in his eyes. The rain has soaked into his hair slightly, darkening the color, as well as his white school uniform shirt, the fabric just barely going transparent near his shoulders where it dampened. Oh. Right. He had promised to buy him a drink, hadn't he? Quickly, he fishes out his wallet and takes a few steps over toward the machines, looking over his shoulder at the blond once he arrives.

"What will you have?" He asks quietly, completely unaware of the internal dialogue that Kusakabe is having with himself. The sound of the groaning is missed, thanks to the rain pelting against the concrete. "It's my treat for the lesson."

[zgok]

Kusakabe's hands run back through the dampened fluff of his hair, dragging it out of his face briefly, then just letting it fall back into place. He shakes it out and looks back at Mafuyu again, then goes to hover at his side and point out the bottle of soda that he usually gets when he comes here. It's cheap, and he's content with it.

He watches Mafuyu curiously still, the peculiar contentment that came after that initial sparkly outburst. He's terribly cute, Kusakabe decides, but he doesn't know what to do with that idea just now. So he just sips at his soda when it's handed over, free hand tucked into the pocket of his jeans. He sort of wants to show the guy a song that he was working on writing, but it wouldn't sound right like this. He doesn't have backup or his pedal with him. Maybe later. Having a fresh set of ears on it might help him finish it.

"So where do you live anyway? I can get you home quick if the rain doesn't make the road super slick. It's gonna be cold though."

[inwinter]

There's a moment where Mafuyu watches Kusakabe's hands as he brushes them through his fair colored hair, silently admiring the way it falls right back into place. It must be incredibly soft to the touch, like a cloud or something like that. It isn't but a moment before Kusakabe is at Mafuyu's side and points out the drink he'd like. He quickly puts in the money and pushes the button, getting two of the same thing. It looks good enough, so he decides to try it, as well. There's not going to be any sharing this with Kusakabe, though. People think he's strange enough, as it is. He doesn't need his new acquaintance thinking the same thing.

The thought of that makes his heart hurt in strange ways. Maybe he really is lonely, after all.

The cold bottle is passed over to Kusakabe, seeming content to linger beside him for the time being. Mafuyu opens his own bottle and takes a sip, allowing the taste to roll over his tongue before swallowing. It's not bad. Silence lingers between them, though it feels strangely comfortable, the sound of rain filling the void. But it isn't long until the boy beside him speaks up, turning his head to look up at him. "Oh, not very far." Mafuyu says, rattling off an address, accompanied by a quick description of the area. "But..." He starts, something clearly on his mind. "I'm not in a hurry. Whenever I get home will be fine."

A very roundabout way of saying that he isn't quite ready for their time to come to an end. But, again. Mafuyu doesn't want to come across as strange or clingy. He fidgets in place, looking away from Kusakabe to the bottle in his hands, as if it might hold the answer as to what he should do.

It doesn't.

[zgok]

If Mafuyu's loneliness shows, Kusakabe doesn't comment on it. There's a lot that goes under the radar, and he isn't the type to call it out unless it seems important to do so. The gentle attempt to keep them from setting out though, that makes him smile, a private little thing that settles naturally on his face. He doesn't look back at Mafuyu immediately, just sipping at his soda for a moment.

Standing out here with someone else, just being quiet and existing in the shelter of the awning, makes him feel just a little bit nostalgic. The chill of the breeze makes him glad that he'd brought his sweater, but he could imagine that Mafuyu is cold. So he moves until his arm rests against the other's and leans his head back against the wall. Dark grey eyes go half-focused on the clouds overhead, and his arms fall to his sides with the bottle hanging from his fingers.

He hums quietly, a gentle sort of tune that could be sweet or sad, lending itself to the atmosphere of it. The lights start coming on the longer they stand and wait for the rain to subside, the song underscoring the gentle ambience of the rain.

[inwinter]

Being damp in the rain certainly does make him feel a bit chilled, but it's not enough that Mafuyu would complain about it. It's not uncomfortable enough that he's actively focusing on discomfort, until he feels the brush of Kusakabe's sweater against his arm. His eyes shift to glance downward at Kusakabe's arm, realizing that he's shifted closer to him on purpose. Is it because of the rain? Whatever the case, Mafuyu is grateful. Inching closer, he lets his chilled arm move back behind Kusakabe's a bit, letting him act as a sort of shield from the chilly rain. The movement, however, causes his fingers to brush against the blond's ever so lightly, immediately curling inwards towards his palm to keep from bumping into him again.

Kusakabe is kind enough to help provide him a little warmth from the rain. He's not trying to make him uncomfortable thanks to accidental contact from his fingers. He's not trying to hold his hand...Right?

The soda is brought back to his lips and he takes a drink of its contents, bringing it back down to his side after. He's looking out at the pouring rain--until Kusakabe starts humming. His head turns toward the blond, watching him intently as he hums a little tune, the sound pleasant to his ears. It's a mixture of things, though the sound is warm, causing a fluttering in Mafuyu's chest. Finally, after listening to him for a little while, he speaks up, his voice soft and full of admiration.

"Kusakabe-kun is so cool." The look on his face as he speaks suggest that, yes, he's being serious. "Is there anything that you can't do?" Mafuyu is absolutely impressed.

[zgok]

While no, Kusakabe wasn't going to try and hold his hand when they've only just met properly, he wouldn't really be in a position to turn it down, at least in his own mind. He's no stranger to just letting himself be close to others though, personal space intermingling easily. He holds his soda between his fingers by the neck as he muses on the rain and the song that he's trying to work the kinks out of at least in his own mind, and would have been content to continue doing just that if Mafuyu hadn't spoken up.

He makes a slightly bewildered sound at the sudden assertion of his coolness, and blinks at the sparkly look directed at him from so close. With a soft sort of smirk, Kusakabe just takes another swallow from his soda then caps it and lets it hang once more, resting against his shoulder.

"Is it really that special? I play on my own a lot so maybe I'm used to doing that. Or, I just don't really think about it."

[inwinter]

"Of course it's special." Mafuyu insists, watching the little smirk that's formed on Kusakabe's face. While it hadn't been his intention say so to please him, he can't say that seeing the look on his face doesn't suit him. "Not everyone can sing. Even less people can make songs that make you feel anything." He continues, lifting the hand holding the soda to his own chest, over where his heart would be located.

"It felt warm...and a little bittersweet." It's a simplistic description, but Mafuyu isn't the best with expressing himself. "It was moving." His lips form into a small smile, glancing away from Kusakabe to some random spot in front of him. Thoughts of what the song might sound like and the feeling of the finished product drift through his mind, leaving him with a feeling of anticipation. He hopes the blond does end up finishing the song.

"Thank you." He says, pulling himself from his thoughts. "This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

[zgok]

It doesn't take much to make Kusakabe happy, to be honest. He's a low effort kind of person in most aspects of his life and if he really sat and thought about it, he might realize that that was why his relationships never seemed to last.

Listening to Mafuyu talk about the way the melody made him feel, Kusakabe turns it over in his mind. The lyrics coming together in his mind for the song were trending more and more in that direction, scattered though the thoughts are. He hadn't meant to start writing what was coming out, but in the end maybe it was for the best that he put the memories down in a way that helped him move on from the way things had faded away.

He looks a bit taken aback at the thanks, and he blinks at the other boy, then just breathes a quiet chuckle and nudges his elbow against the arm tucked between his own and the wall.

"Then we'll do it again. Maybe I'll be able to play the song for you over the weekend, if you come to practice."

[inwinter]

Kusakabe can't possibly know what kind of a boon this is to him. While it's nothing significant from the outside, for Mafuyu, it's been a relief to focus on something other than his own thoughts. His own self-hatred and suffering. Kusakabe's presence is light, like a ray of sunshine on a spring day and, despite the clouds looming overhead and the rain pounding against the pavement, Mafuyu feels anything but melancholic.

How long has it been since he's actually looked foward to something?

He gives a little nod of his head, a lovely smile tugging at the corners of his lips after feeling the little nudge of the boy's arm against his own. "I'll definitely be there. I'll look forward to hearing it." He says, excited about the possibility of hearing a new song. Truth be told, he isn't familiar with much music, but with the sound of Kusakabe's voice, he'd listen to anything the boy sang. Or played.

The hiss of rain against the pavement seems to be growing quieter, the grey clouds overhead slowly parting. This causes Mafuyu's expression to turn a little more subdued. It seems as though their time is drawing to a close. Or, well...His excuse for keeping them from their destination.

[zgok]

Even as the rain starts to fall off again, Kusakabe finds himself reluctant to go back out to the lot to find his bike. He likes this, just standing and having a quiet conversation and watching the ripples in the puddles and the look on Mafuyu's face as he lights up over what feels, at least to Kusakabe, like a small favor. He does straighten up though, and tucks the half-full bottle of soda under his arm to carry while his hands are stuffed into his pockets.

He doesn't want to go, but they have to, at some point. They need to go have supper, and plan for the weekend, and he'd have to make sure that he had some beginner material around to hand off to Mafuyu so that he could try and learn a little bit on his own. He certainly seems enthusiastic enough to try, at least in the here and now.

With a long stretch, arms over his head and his sweater riding up enough to glimpse the angles of narrow hips, Kusakabe groans and finally steps away from the wall, only to stand on the edge of the dry place under the awning.

"I can take you home so can get something to eat. And now you have my number, so you can text me. Or message me on Line." He looks back at Mafuyu with his arms propped on top of his head, posture leaned back in a way that should have been pretty unstable, though he seems comfortable enough.

[inwinter]

It's been a while since he's actually been reluctant about leaving someone's presence. While he doesn't know Kusakabe very well, there's something magnetic about him that draws Mafuyu in. Yes, the music is a huge part of it. But there's something else he can't quite put his finger on. And, surprisingly enough to Mafuyu himself, he finds himself already looking forward to the next time they meet. It can't come soon enough.

Mafuyu can't help it when his eyes fall to Kusakabe's slender waist and hips, drifting over the small portion of exposed flesh. He quickly tears his gaze away, cheeks heating up just a bit to a lovely pink shade. It's something he'll blame on being a teenage boy. Either way, he's quick to wave it off mentally and turns to pick up his guitar, turning away from Kusakabe in an effort to hide his face while he lets the blush fade.

"Okay. I'll text you, then." Once his guitar is safely strapped to his back once again, he turns back around to face Kusakabe, a very slight smile tugs at his lips. "I've had fun today. Thank you again for everything."

[zgok]

Kusakabe could be described as unkempt when it came to the way he let his clothes lay around him, a little too big for his slender frame and never tucked in or rolled up properly, the heels of his sneakers frequently stepped down and socks that were never an appropriate color. It just adds to the aesthetic of him, fluffy and casual, moving as if carried by gusts of a a breeze. He shrugs his guitar case up a little more secure onto his shoulder and leads the way back out to the bike at a jog though the rain is really nothing more than a sprinkle. Cold, but they'd be fine for the ride back to the neighborhood Mafuyu had told him about.

When he finally drops Mafuyu off at home and takes back his guitar that he'd had the other holding onto, he lingers outside for a moment, waiting until the door had closed before starting on the meandering drive back to his own place. Not a long way, but it was getting dark by the time he made it back and now he had to deal with his sister fussing at him for driving in the rain. Like it wasn't something he did whether she liked it or not.

Back at school the following day, he handed over some old books of guitar tabs and took the time to help Mafuyu download a tuning app for his phone so that he would be able to practice doing that, walking him through it then assuring him that it would be easy after he got used to it. And the day they're due to head into the city proper to take up space in the box, Kusakabe is already there, standing outside the building in a thick sweater, his hair tied back in a soft scrunchie and a cigarette in his mouth. He raises a hand in greeting when he sees that the other boy has made it, then digs into the bag resting at his feet to toss a warm can over so that at least Mafuyu had something to drink while Kusakabe finished his smoke.

"I tried to talk Takaki into coming so we had drums but he was busy with cram school, so it's just gonna be us."

[inwinter]

The ride home isn't quite as wet as the drive over, but the wind does make him shiver a little against Kusakabe as they go. There's still an uncomfortable nagging within him, a reluctance to let the day with the blond go so easily, but there would be others. After arriving at his house, he thanks Kusakabe again and heads inside, pausing by the entrance to watch from the window until the boy is gone out of sight.

And, surely enough, Mafuyu is the one who seeks out Kusakabe from his classroom, only to be given the books from Kusakabe. He's grateful for the help, in all honesty. He's been spending a bit of time at home trying to practice the chords that he's been shown, but books will certainly help. The payment for Kusakabe's troubles? A fresh packaged bread from the cafeteria. It gets a couple of looks from classmates, seeing as Mafuyu is a slightly more new addition to the school, but he doesn't seem to mind it.

Finally. Finally the day comes to head to the practice studio. It's something Mafuyu has been looking forward to since Kusakabe invited him to tag along. He shows up promptly, dressed in a simple white sweater with the sleeves pushed up and a pair of black jeans. It's an easy outfit to throw together, but he wears it well, complete with the black guitar case that seems to always be looming over Mafuyu's back. He makes his way up to where Kusakabe is standing and offers a little smile, taking a brief moment to look the boy over.

"Hello, Kusakabe-kun. I hope you weren't waiting too long for me." He takes the warm can from him and holds it between his hands, feeling the warmth spread pleasantly through them. After a moment, Mafuyu cracks the can open and takes a drink. "Oh, alright then. What will we be doing today?" He asks curiously, holding the can out toward him to share.

[zgok]

The can is regarded for all of half a second, before he takes it and sips from it himself. He would offer a smoke, but he's pretty sure Mafuyu doesn't.

After returning the drink and putting out his cigarette, Kusakabe nods inside and holds a keyfob up to the door to let them in. "I told you we were going to see how we sound hooked up to an amp. It'll give you a better idea of how you sound when you play and you're not playing acoustic." He goes on as he leads the way down a short hall plastered with different band posters and flyers, explaining that guitars like the ones that they used generally needed speakers and effect pedals to really get a good, full sound out. He keeps it as simple as he really can, but he admits that eventually he might like to go to school specifically for music if he can manage to get into one of the local universities. He's not the brightest student, but it's clearly something that he cares a lot about.

He ends up perched on a slightly wobbly stool with his instrument ready to be properly tuned, and makes short work of explaining how and why to plug in the amp in a certain order. No sense in destroying their eardrums right off the bat. And then he looks up, shaking his bangs back from his face, and smiling back at Mafuyu.

"So, hey. Is there anything you really want to try and learn to play? Frusciante or maybe Segovia?" He starts in an idle tune, formless but pleasant, almost like an idle fidget to keep his fingers occupied. It would swing around into a sequence like he'd hummed that day in the rain.

[inwinter]

Mafuyu watches quietly as Kusakabe takes a drink, then takes it back when it's offered. He takes another drink, turning to follow the blond into the building as he opens it to let them inside. Right. The amp. There's been so much information going through Mafuyu's brain that it had slipped his mind what he'd been told. As they head down the hallway, he takes note of the vividly colored band posters, advertising different shows that they would be appearing at. He wonders, absently, if Kusakabe's band would be doing any live shows. It's a question he makes a mental note to ask about later.

His attention turns from the posters and back to the boy ahead of him as they enter the room, listening to him talk about going to school for music. "You can do it, Kusakabe-kun. I'm sure of it." He adds, quietly. From what he's heard, the boy has real talent. Then again, Mafuyu doesn't really know a whole lot about music. Not yet. He just knows the nameless song that's been haunting his thoughts, as well as the bits he's caught from when Yuki was in the band with their friends.

Once in their room, he settles his guitar case on the ground and opens it, pulling the cherry red guitar from its case. The strap is slipped overhead, resting on his shoulders in such a way that supports the guitar. Then, he moves back to a seat near to Kusakabe to listen to his explanation of how guitars are properly hooked up to the amps. It's something he's never done before, nerves gnawing at him a little. What if he does it wrong?

The little smile that Kusakabe gives him eases his nerves a little. Though, the next question he asks earns him a completely blank look. Silence lingers in the air between them as he contemplates what he's said, honestly having no idea what Frusciante and Segovia are. So, Mafuyu says as much. "I...don't really know." He admits, fingers curling around the neck of the guitar. "I don't know much about music. But there's a song that keeps playing in my head constantly."

Yeah. This doesn't sound like you're a crazy person at all, Mafuyu.

[zgok]

Generally when someone talks music with him they have more of an idea of how they want to sound than this guy apparently does. A band or a genre they like, or an artist like one of those that he'd rattled off. But the starting point of just "I have a song in my head" is...well, it's not nothing. Sometimes he started from a vague sequence of notes that sounded nice when he put them together in his mind.

"Mmh...alright. Can you play any of it for me? I can write it down." After all, he'd learned that Mafuyu couldn't actually read music very well, so if he could offer to do it himself maybe he could use it to teach the other boy.

[inwinter]

Kusakabe doesn't seem too encouraged with his answer, even though it's the best answer he can give at the moment. Still, he asked, so he must want to know, right? "I can't play it, but I can hum it for you." He says, letting go of the guitar's neck to settle his hand on his lap. Mafuyu's eyes fall closed, taking in a breath as if to center himself. He doesn't have to think about the melody. It's never far from his thoughts.

His lips part then, and the sound that comes from them is nothing short of stunning. It's vastly different from how Mafuyu comes across typically. Where he's normally closed off, keeping his true thoughts and words to a minimum, his singing voice is incredibly expressive and skilled. There are no words to this song, just a chorus of lalala's, no name for it, even. But the sheer emotion behind it is raw, revealing a heartache in that skilled tenor voice that is far beyond what anyone his age should know. It's just a bit of the song in his head, but he shares this with Kusakabe.

After he finishes singing, Mafuyu's eyes flutter open, turning his gaze over to the boy. His expression turns back to pleasantly neutral, despite the nerves gnawing at his stomach. He hopes it's good enough. "That's what it sounds like." Mafuyu finally says, shifting nervously on his seat.

[zgok]

Whatever Kusakabe had been expecting, maybe a few bars from something he recognized, a quick, embarrassed delivery, this very clearly wasn't that. He had been moving in the hopes of retrieving a pad and pen to write, but had frozen, usually sleepy-looking eyes widening, lips parting almost helplessly. Every professional bit of advice he might have had about Mafuyu's breathing or the way he projects is lost as something grips him dead in the chest, like the boy has just put a hand around his heart and squeezed.

When Mafuyu looks back at him, tears have already welled and fallen, thin tracks down his cheeks to drip off his chin. Cool as he might seem, Kusakabe feels so much and it just...comes out. But clearly he's aware of it, as he paws at his face, taking a long moment to try and real it back in.

"Hold on, hold on a minute," he murmurs, scrubbing his fingers over his face then turning a little frown of consternation on Mafuyu. "You said you couldn't play much but you never said that you could sing, even a little."

[inwinter]

There's a bit of panic that settles in when Mafuyu sees the tears running down Kusakabe's face, his hand immediately stretching out toward the boy as if to try and brush his tears away. But the hand stops short, his expression mostly clouded over with tiny bits of concern forming in the way that his brows draw together. Seeing him this way actually hurts. He hadn't meant to cause him to cry...

"Kusakabe-kun, please don't cry." His voice is soft and small, concern showing itself there, despite his expression being more measured. It's a strange thing, seeing someone show how they feel so openly. Not only that, but Kusakabe doesn't seem ashamed of it in the least. There's a sort of envy that gnaws at his gut, at being able to express one's self so easily. It's been over a year since Yuki died, and Mafuyu himself still hasn't been able to cry for his loss. Though, seeing Kusakabe like this, a strong urge to dry his tears somehow wells up within Mafuyu's chest. To protect him from pain.

Ah. Maybe Yuki felt this at some point. An odd thought.

The hand falls back into his lap, though his gaze stays trained on Kusakabe's face as he watches him rub his face and turn that frown Mafuyu's way. Mafuyu blinks a couple of times in surprise, then replies, simply. "You didn't ask." There's a pause as he wonders why it's made the other boy frown. "I didn't think it was important."

[zgok]

"Hah?" Kusakabe stares at him openly, face still reddened after the admittedly mild outburst. He reaches to poke Mafuyu in the chest over the body of his guitar. Where the hell was this guy when Zgok was all planning to go their separate ways? Now all that was left was Kusakabe and occasionally a friend willing to play with him, and nobody else in the school cared about it on the level that he did. It was miserable, trying to figure out how he wanted to play by himself.

"You could be good! Like, really really good! C'mon, sing it again." He fishes around himself for his phone, setting it between them to record the sound and trying to match the notes with his guitar. He was good at matching pitches between the vocal and instrument, hearing it and holding it in his head. It builds quickly, and he's able to put together a slightly fuller melody built off of what Mafuyu has already presented. He looks up for approval, shaking his hair out out of his face again. His own offer to share what he was working on is by the wayside, at least for the moment.

[inwinter]

The poke to his chest makes him blink again, surprised at the little action. He doesn't get it. Why is Kusakabe so outraged? For Mafuyu, being able to sing has very little to do with learning to play the guitar. Guitar is more complex, chords and fingering positions making it seem like a completely different animal than just singing a melody. No one has ever really asked him to sing seriously before. Not even Yuki, when he was in the band.

He could be good? There's a little bit of embarrassment that creeps up on Mafuyu, though it doesn't show on his expression. Kusakabe is asking him to sing again, his eyes shift to the phone set between them. If it gets him to stop crying, maybe it wouldn't hurt. "I don't know about being good...But okay. I'll believe you." He says quietly. He takes a moment, then begins singing the melody again, and instead of closing his eyes, he keeps them on the blond sitting beside him.

And here Kusakabe is talking about being good. His ability to match what he's singing on the fly is nothing short of incredible. If anyone has the potential to be really great, it's him. The song sounds completely different now that Kusakabe is fleshing it out, causing excitement to tear through him, like ripples on a pond. When Kusakabe looks up for approval, Mafuyu is leaning in a little closer, that sparkling look back in his eyes again. "That...that's amazing, Kusakabe-kun. I didn't know it could sound like that." He says, nothing short of awe in his voice. "I was right. You're the coolest."

[zgok]

Kusakabe's posture shifts and he leans his weight on his hand on the edge of the stool, leaning in a mirror to Mafuyu.

"It's not a lot yet but it could be really cool. If you want to play something though you should figure out how you want it to sound and try to work your way toward that. This is a good start." He looks more enthusiastic as he says it, even leaning far enough to nearly upset his stool until he has to catch himself. He puts a foot down and stands instead, adjusting his guitar and striking an easy chord as if to try and reset.

"Ok! So let's riff a little right?" It occurs to him a moment later that Mafuyu probably doesn't even know what that means, so instead he just moves and plays a harder chord that leads into that fragment of a song, calloused fingers running along the neck of his instrument in a natural sort of flourish. He gestures his pick at the other boy when he's finished. "Hey, hey play that second chord under it ok?" He remembers his books like the back of his hand really, having an idea what might sound nice under it that Mafuyu could play along with to fill out the sound.