Cough! Cough!
Katsuma turned his head sharply, taking a step back as he covered his own mouth. This was bad—really bad. He looked Mahito up and down, scanning him for injuries, open wounds, or any sign of illness.
Nothing was visible, but with the approaching storm clouds threatening rain, they couldn't stay out there. If Mahito got sick and possibly died, Katsuma would be alone. He'd be back to scavenging through the trash dumps, trapped in Meteor City, facing a bleak and possibly short future.
Katsuma made up his mind. Grabbing Mahito's hand, he began to pull him forward. "C'mon, I know a nearby tavern where we can get shelter from the rain!"
Caught off balance, Mahito stumbled as Katsuma pulled him along, his face bouncing over rubble and dirt, leaving a trail of face imprints. "Katsuma-kun, I have legs!"
Mahito protested, but Katsuma ignored him, racing ahead like an Olympic sprinter toward the tavern, cutting corners down alleyways and narrow streets.
Mahito let out a series of "Oofs!" and "Owies!" as he was dragged along. The rain still caught them, their clothes soaked through, but the entrance was now in sight.
The two dove through the entrance mainly Katsuma as they finally reached the dilapidated diner, Katsuma released Mahito's wrist, allowing him to crawl to his knees.
When Mahito looked up, his mouth was full of dirt and trash, which he promptly spat out. "Katsuma, I feel worse than if you'd just let me get rained on!" he groaned, clutching his stomach.
Katsuma gritted his teeth, watching Mahito carefully before he placed a reassuring hand on his back—though it only reached mid-back at best. "Aw, come on, it's just a little dirt between the teeth, nothing too much."
Guiding Mahito into the back of the diner, they made their way to a narrow hallway. Katsuma soon found a small storage room, just big enough for Mahito to lay down flat. He ushered Mahito inside, who flopped onto the floor and shivered slightly. Snot bubbles formed at his nose as his face flushed red, his fever worsening. Katsuma couldn't help but snicker at the sight.
Sometime later
both Katsuma and Mahito were huddled together in the tight storage room. Katsuma had cleared out shelves and other clutter to make space, moving everything into the hallway. He laid out his supplies on a mat, keeping them close at hand. Mahito was wrapped snugly in a blanket, shivering with a faint sheen of feverish sweat.
"AAAAACHOOOOOO!"
Mahito sneezed loudly, spraying Katsuma in the process. Katsuma deadpanned, wiping the snot off his face."Oops, sorry, Katsuma-kun. You just happened to be right where my face was pointing!"
Mahito said, his expression completely oblivious to Katsuma's irritation.
Katsuma just sighed, resigning himself to the blame, and settled in quietly. Mahito turned to him with a curious, slightly serious look. "Hey, Katsuma-kun…"
Katsuma glanced over, noticing that Mahito seemed unusually hesitant as if he wasn't comfortable asking whatever was on his mind. "What's up?"
"Why are you so eager to leave Meteor City?" Mahito asked, his voice raspy from his sickness. "You've lived here your whole life, right?"
Katsuma's expression shifted, uncomfortable with the question. He avoided Mahito's gaze but finally nodded. "Well, yeah, I've lived here my whole life… but I don't want to for the rest of it."
Mahito tilted his head, listening intently as Katsuma continued. "Day in, day out, I wake up, hunt for food in the trash, steal from the already poor, and fight for my life. No one should have to live like that. It's… primitive. There's no joy in just surviving every day. We all deserve better."
"Better how?" Mahito asked, blinking curiously. "How do you even know the world outside is any better than this?"
Katsuma turned to face Mahito, his expression more serious than Mahito had ever seen. "I don't know if it's better, but… it's about hope. I want freedom. I want to explore the world, learn more about it, and maybe even find out who I really am."
He looked down at his hand, clenching it tightly. "So until I can prove the world is worse than this, I refuse to settle down in a place where being uncomfortable is the only choice."
A brief silence fell as Mahito processed Katsuma's words. He puffed out his cheeks thoughtfully before asking, "So… you think leaving this place will change who you are despite you being just a kid from Meteor City?"
Katsuma met his gaze, determination burning in his eyes. "I hope so, and I won't know until I try."
Mahito chuckled softly, though it ended in a raspy cough. He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough, huh?"
Katsuma nodded, giving Mahito a small smile. "I guess we will."
Outside, thunder rumbled, and the sound of rain filled the air, some of it even seeping into their small shelter. They sat in silence for a while, letting the rain's rhythm fill the room.
"I'm gonna check the dining area, and see if there's anything edible left," Katsuma said, standing up. He knew there wouldn't be any good food here—most of it would have spoiled or grown toxic from mold. Mahito didn't protest, chalking it up to Katsuma needing a bit of time alone.
Katsuma walked to the front desk, rubbing his eyes, fatigue weighing down on him. As he leaned against the counter, he looked up and froze.
"Gasp!"
Figures cloaked in darkness stood before him, some crouched on tables, others standing with eerie stillness. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating their silhouettes as they stared directly into Katsuma's eyes.