For some reason Daichi complied to Itsuki's game choice so ended up letting the other, thankfully, light boy ride on his back as he did laps around the room until he eventually collapsed on the bed with Itsuki still attached to him.
Itsuki giggled and patted Daichi's hair, flattening it out as he complimented
"You'd make a good horsie."
Daichi didn't know if he should be complimented or insulted but he knew it probably wasn't in a mean way considering how soft Itsuki had been around him so far.
Itsuki climbed off of Daichi's back, falling back onto the bed next to the other boy with a chuckle.
They talked for a while longer before a knock was heard at the door which caused Itsuki to run towards, and inevitably into, the door.
"Password?"
"Yellow?"
"Nope."
"Mochi?"
"Nuhuh."
"Hmm... what about snacks?"
"Yay Gwannie is so smart, come in."
Itsuki opened the door for the elderly lady and let her in.
Daichi noticed that she was trying to balance the tray and ruffle Itsuki's hair so he got up and held it for her.
She smiled at him as she said
"Thank you dear. Have you both been having fun?"
Itsuki quickly nodded saying
" daichwie is a weally good horsie."
causing the elderly woman to raise a confused eye brow.
Daichi attempted to casually explain saying
"We decided to start the project after we got to know each other a bit better so we've been talking and... playing? for a bit."
She chuckled as Daichi's confusion towards the end didn't only come across in his voice but across his face as well.
She turned back to her grandson, with a half teasing and half serious tone in her voice as she said "itsukie sweetie, I hope you haven't been running Daichi ragged."
Itsuki shook his head quickly thinking he might be in trouble even though he clearly wasn't.
His full demeanor changed and it looked like he was about to cry until he felt a head rest on his own and hands on his shoulders.
Daichi tiredly said
"He really has but I don't mind if it's Itsuki and as long as he shares his snacks with his old, tired friend ."
as he used Itsuki to support himself, partially to comfort the other obviously tense boy and partially to just have something to lean on.
Shockingly after the surprise Itsuki relaxed and managed to calm himself down a reasonable amount but he still didn't say anything.
Mrs Park softly asked
"Are you okay sweet heart?"
to Itsuki and the other slightly nodded in response.
Daichi rubbed the others arms as he said
"Let's get you full of energy with snacks then we can play until I have to go home, sound good?"
Itsuki looked at him before reluctantly nodding and sadly walking over to the bed.
Mrs Park whispered
"Don't worry he'll be fine sweetie."
before leaving the room with a gentle "Goodbye."
Itsuki stared at the food Daichi had put down prior and Daichi went over to it, moving it over to the bed where they were sitting.
he waited for Itsuki to eat something but he just sat there in silence, slowly getting more distressed.
Daichi frowned slightly before reaching forward slowly and ruffling Itsuki's fluffy hair.
Itsuki looked up at him sadly with a genuine pout on his lips as sadness took over him.
Daichi was going to tell him to eat up and try to avoid it but didn't.
Instead his body did something different to what his head was telling him to do and he was pulling Itsuki closer to him until the slightly smaller boy was wrapped securely in his arms.
Itsuki slowly hugged back and his grip on Daichi's shirt was getting tighter and tighter until his hands formed small fists.
He wanted to cry but he told himself he wouldn't, instead treasuring the hug since it had been a long time since anyone had comforted him when he felt how he was since he had gotten into the habit of sending his grandmother away.
It wasn't that she wasn't there but more like he didn't want her to be, for everything he felt he knew his grandmother was too so the more mature part of him removed himself from the situation normally so she didn't feel even a fraction of what he did because he loved her.
But he had to admit being in Daichi's gentle arms was a nice change.
Itsuki felt himself slowly getting lost deeper and deeper into thought as his mind went back to the place it had been when so many things happened and changed in his life, with the anxious feeling gradually growing within him.
Itsuki didn't want to think about it so pulled away sharply and stuffed the first thing his hands grabbed, off the snack tray, into his mouth.
He kept looking down as Daichi looked at him surprised at the sudden movement.
Daichi could tell that something major was wrong and his heart couldn't help but ache for the other boy.
Itsuki could tell that Daichi was feeling sad too like his grandmother did even though he didn't know the story or what exactly was happening so he just picked up a sandwich and moved it towards Daichi.
He watched the elder expectantly until Daichi ate it.