Forget-Me-Nots

[oneblackcat]

PSL with Chi. AU Omi/Nagi.

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[unkinder]

[Nagi's upbringing hadn't been a conventional one compared to most his age. Orphaned since birth, raised in orphanages all his life. He'd been more than a little disgruntled growing up, feeling abandoned by not just his birth parents but by the world at large. He couldn't seem to connect with anyone, and those who tried simply didn't understand. Nothing felt like it was truly his, and that he was just allowed to exist in space at any given time before he ended up someplace else. Even his name- Nagi Naoe- was given to him by the orphanage that he'd been left at the doorstep of. Because of this, he grew up somewhat stunted and struggled to form relationships with those his age. He got shuffled around in the system quite a bit, from facility to foster home and back, not really enough time to get to know anyone besides. It wasn't until the cusp of his 16th birthday that he'd been put into a foster home to prevent him from living out his last childhood days in the orphanage with no guarantee he'd be adopted any longer since parents generally wanted younger children, or babies.

That year, he'd been sent to an actual school for the first time, and it was dreadful as he'd expected. His quiet demeanor, the fact that he rarely ever smiled and often kept to himself drawing or toying with a gameboy...people either avoided him uncertainly at best or bullied him at worst. Despite this he did well in his actual studies since he was actually quite intelligent...and that seemed to make him more of a target than not.

It wasn't all bad, though. Moving to the school and being put into foster care aside, Nagi did have a single person in his life he could call someone he cared about. Someone...dare he say, was his friend. Omi Tsukiyono, who above all his other classmates took it upon himself to try to get to know Nagi on his terms. He didn't ignore or avoid him or pick at him for being "strange". He was just...nice, and took notice of his interests without being overbearing about it (for the most part). It was bizarre and most of the time Nagi didn't know how to handle Omi's kindness, but it was something he did appreciate. On the cusp of graduation just a few months off, he was the one Nagi felt made dealing with being here worth it.

Then, on the way to school one morning, someone had sped through an intersection just as Nagi happened to be crossing the street. He didn't make it to homeroom, and it wasn't announced to his class until the end of the day that there had been an accident.

Miraculously, he wasn't killed. He was, however, in pretty bad shape. Broken ribs, some internal bleeding...a concussion, for sure. He didn't actually wake up until a few days had passed, but from there his condition stabalized. He'd been heavily disoriented upon waking up, though he could at least answer some basic questions...he knew his name, and he knew that he was in a hospital. But that's all he knew.

He couldn't name his school, or his foster parents, or even any friends he'd ever known. Nobody had come to visit him yet that he'd been awake for though, so maybe that wouldn't apply.]

[oneblackcat]

[ It started with a simple question.

The new kid was shy; everyone could see that. To some people, that was a signal he didn't want company (after all, if you wanted to be friends, didn't it make sense to be friendly?). Omi thought that seemed awfully lonely. Did anyone truly want no friends at all?

He approached Nagi one day while he was occupied with his Game Boy, his own console in hand. "Mind if I join you?" He asked with a smile, and sat beside him, passing several minutes mostly in silence, playing his game.

Playing in silence together built to light conversation, to introductions, to an invitation to hang out sometime. Over time, he got to know Nagi as someone intelligent, analytical, quietly nerdy, and more sensitive than he outwardly seemed. Over time, they became close-- closer than Omi ever would have guessed when he decided all those months ago to give the guy a chance.

The day of the accident, Omi didn't think much of the absence at first-- Nagi must have gotten sick or something. It wasn't until the afternoon, when the principal visited the classroom with the announcement, that his stomach turned over. Most of the class wasn't as affected, though they did at least have the decency to be subdued.

Part of him wanted to visit Nagi right away-- a big part of him-- but with Nagi being in such a critical condition, visits from anyone outside immediate family were a no-go for the first few days. He heard there wasn't that much being missed since Nagi was pretty much nonstop unconscious, but that was beside the point. The point was to be there.

Finally, the nurse on duty allowed him in. Omi braced himself at the door to Nagi's hospital room, knocked quietly, then cracked the door open and slipped inside.

He probably should have braced himself harder.

Of course it's unsurprising to see Nagi bedridden, bruised and battered and bandaged and hooked up to all manner of machinery. He almost died. He's lucky to still be alive at all. But the sight of him there, just starting to recover from such a close brush with death; the pungent scent of antiseptic in the air and the puffs and beeps of the equipment tracking vitals and supporting recovery. It's a lot to take in and then pretend not to.

Nagi looks awake, sort of. Omi gives him the best smile he can muster, but it's pained and awkward. ]

Hey... Gave us a scare there. I'd ask how you're feeling but... that seems like kind of a stupid question right now. Can I get you anything?

[unkinder]

[With as disoriented as Nagi still is, the nurse that had been keeping an eye on him makes sure to inform him that he has a visitor long before Omi arrives. Nagi's expression doesn't really change a whole lot knowing this though, not particularly surprised by having visitors (he's been in intensive care, after all), but also having no clue who to expect when they arrive.

Then it turns out to be...a boy. Someone who looks to be around his age who is immediately addressing him as if they're friends. Which leaves Nagi feeling strange and uncomfortable right from the get-go, considering the fact that he can't even recognize his face.

Nagi's always been a master of the poker-face though, so any discomfort he feels doesn't quite reach his face. Instead he just looks quietly tired, very much still out of it.]

Ah...no. I'm fine.

["Fine" being relative, here.]

I was not expecting anyone.

[oneblackcat]

[ Not expecting anyone? At first, Omi can't quite believe his ears, and looks at him in confusion. Then he smiles and brushes it off. He's got to be misunderstanding Nagi. ]

I guess I did come by without notice. Sorry; I'll text next time.

[ He pulls one of the chairs over close to Nagi's bedside and sits down. ]

Have you had any of the food here yet? Or do they have you on liquids?

[unkinder]

[...Okay, definitely this guy knows him in some capacity. And could Nagi remember more while still lacking knowledge of who Omi was, he might be inclined to just bluntly inform him that he has no idea who he is. Right now though, he’s not yet processed how he should approach that...or how he should approach not recalling anything, really.

It’s scary, plain and simple. Even the doctors hadn’t really talked to him yet about his acute memory loss other than instructing him that the most important thing for him to do right now is rest.]

I have these, right now.

[He comments blandly, flexing his right hand where an IV is taped against his wrist.]

But I think...they said I could start eating when I felt like it.

[oneblackcat]

[ The IV isn't a surprise; they had to keep him hydrated and on some kind of sustenance while he was unconscious (and god but it's hard to think about Nagi in those terms, so close to just being Gone). ]

That's good. At least you don't have to wait. Although it would be understandable if you don't feel like food for a while. I've heard it's common to not have much of an appetite here, especially for the first few days.

[unkinder]

Mm...

[Nagi just gives a soft sound of acknowledgement at that, because in all honesty he really isn't in the mood to eat right now. He's more interested in trying to wrack his brain for any clue as to this boy's identity, the weight on his chest growing as he realizes he just...can't remember. Not him, not what happened...nothing.]

They said there was an accident.

[He continues matter-of-factly, unceremoniously shifting topics.]

I don't remember it.

[oneblackcat]

[ It isn't a pleasant subject Nagi shifts to, but it is an important one. Omi isn't sure how common it is for someone to not remember such a thing, but it seems reasonable here. If Nagi is bothered over the lack of memory for such a critical life-changing event, Omi wants to reassure him.]

...It happened really fast, and you probably didn't see the vehicle before it hit you. There may not be anything about it for you to remember, if it sent you immediately unconscious.

[unkinder]

[That makes sense enough, right? So he gets hit crossing the street, probably hard enough to knock him out immediately. Then he just sort of didn't wake up due to the shock until a few days had passed...]

I suppose that doesn't really matter now anyway.

[It's the aftermath he's going to have to deal with. The longer he studies Omi, and really takes in his expression- noting his sincere worry- the more Nagi realizes he's not going to just be able to keep pretending he's got his head on straight here, even if the idea that something's that wrong with him isn't one he's eagetr to confront.]

...is anyone else supposed to be coming? Other than you.

[Like family, he guesses. It's probably a weird question for Nagi of all people to ask. There's no one else in the world for him to expect.]

[oneblackcat]

[ That Friday, as promised, Omi comes by again after school. At least this time he's more prepared for what waits on the other side of the hospital room door. He knocks quietly and pokes his head in, checking to make sure Nagi is awake before coming fully inside. ]

[unkinder]

[Nagi was due to be released from the hospital in a few days. He'd still need to rest at home thanks to his numerous very broken bones, but he'd all but recovered from the concussion he'd suffered, sans the whole amnesia problem plaguing him currently. There was, unfortunately, nothing that could be done about his memory...it would return with time, or it wouldn't. The doctor's really couldn't say one way or another.

What's perhaps encouraging to Omi is that when he leans in, he'll find Nagi leaning back against his pillows with his gameboy in his hands. After a moment, he looks up to the other boy as he steps in.]

So you came back.

[oneblackcat]

[ Was there a doubt in Nagi's mind? Omi doesn't think there should have been. Even if Nagi didn't take his word for it, he left his Gameboy here. ]

Looks like that came in handy. [ He says, nodding his head towards the console. ]

[unkinder]

[Perhaps it's just not something Nagi really put much thought into. There's a lot he's had to think about over the past few days, so unintentionally stealing someone's gameboy wasn't high on the priority list.

He inclines his head in turn, pausing the game with his thumb before speaking.]

It makes the long nights much shorter.

[oneblackcat]

That sounds like a good thing.

[ Omi can only imagine how long a night must feel when you don't remember anything about who you are or what you've lived. ]

What've you been playing?

[unkinder]

Tetris.

[He replies simply, as if that isn't the most...generic sort of game he could have chosen to play. But maybe it's the best for him right now. It doesn't have a story or require intense thinking, just focus and concentration. It's repetitive enough too that it's kept Nagi from having to think about things too much, wondering what else he's forgotten.]

Did you want it back?

[oneblackcat]

[ Somehow, that answer doesn't surprise Omi. Tetris is superficially simple, but playing it well requires strategy and quick thinking. It's the perfect level of mental stimulation for relaxing without becoming disengaged. ]

You can keep it for now, unless your family's brought your own here for you.

[unkinder]

They haven't yet.

[Perhaps they saw him with Omi's and didn't think to. A lot has been on their minds since the incident, Nagi can tell that much even if he can't remember them, either.

Nagi turns the gameboy over in his lap for the time being so he can focus all of his attention on Omi, his expression as usual a bit difficult to read. Though...perhaps now that his memory is gone, it's easier to track him than it once was. He has no preconceived notions about anything, so it's hard to keep everything off his face.]

I must be missing a lot of school.

[oneblackcat]

[ Omi visits Nagi a couple more times before he's finally allowed to go home and, with that event, Omi collects his GameBoy. They agree to meet that Saturday at 11 in front of the school. All of the businesses that were targeted towards their age group wanted to be near the school, which made several of their usual hangouts within walking distance of there. Besides, of all the places they saw each other, that was where they spent the most time. It was where everything began; it seemed only right to start there again.

His mom drops him off a few minutes early, and he takes a seat on one of the benches lining the courtyard in front of the main entrance. It's much quieter since it's a Saturday, but there are cram sessions going on in some of the classrooms, so it isn't deserted either. ]

tags this back 8 MONTHS LATER

[unkinder]

[Omi will probably recognize the car that pulls up shortly after he arrives. It's a old but respectable van, seeing as how Nagi had several "siblings" that weren't actually related to him beyond being in the same care of his foster parents. All of them orphans, but not all of them necessarily from the same place. They had spoken to him a little since returning home, but it was abundantly clear to Nagi that they didn't know how to act around him, so he decided then not to try to press interactions. He had even less of an idea what his relationship was like with his family than with Omi as it was...

He's dropped off with a pair of crutches he uses to balance himself when his mother helps him out of the car, one of his legs still wrapped in a cast all the way past his knee. Other parts of him are still bandaged, with bandages peeking out from beneath his collar from where his broken ribs were still mending. Honestly he probably would do better being in a wheelchair, but actually getting up and moving around was ideal if he could do it. For some reason, Nagi had been adamant about wanting to exercise independence from the moment he somewhat could. His parents didn't argue, assuming he could without hurting himself.

Omi would keep an eye on him, that much they trusted in as she watches from the window as Nagi slowly hobbles his way to the bench where Omi is.]

I made it.

<3!!

[oneblackcat]

[ It's hard to see Nagi like this. When Omi visited him at the hospital, it wasn't quite real yet just how different it was going to be for Nagi doing something as simple as walking around. It's not that Omi regrets agreeing to meet him, but for a moment he wonders if there's really enough of a chance something about today will jog Nagi's memory for it to be worth the amount of trouble his friend is putting himself through.

He stands to greet Nagi, taking a moment to flash a smile and wave at his mother before she drives off, just to reassure her. It's quite the gesture of trust to let Nagi be out and about in his condition-- moms could get pretty overprotective, after all. ]

I'm glad you did. It must feel good to be out of the hospital.

[unkinder]

It is...refreshing.

[That's to say the least. He's been breathing the fumes of a santized hospital area for a while now.]

I never imagined I would miss sunlight this much.

[oneblackcat]

I believe it. It was pretty stifling in that room.

[ Omi hadn't thought about how hard it would be to be stuck indoors that long until Nagi said it, but it made perfect sense once he does. He'd miss being in the sun, too. ]

There are a few places nearby I thought we'd go. Let me know if you want to stay at any for a while.

[ It's Omi's way of acknowledging Nagi's strength and energy might require resting in between their stops. He thinks it might be uncomfortable to admit to when Nagi is used to not needing to rest so regularly. This way, it doesn't have to be voiced. It can be as simple as Nagi having an interest in seeing more of a place, at least on its face. ]

[unkinder]

[It’s yet another inkling of how much of a friend to him Omi must have been before. It really throws Nagi off, but not long enough for it to be noticeable. He just inclines his head slightly.]

Where are we going first?

[oneblackcat]

Are you hungry? There are a couple of options if you are. Otherwise, we'll start with the bookstore. Most of what they carry is manga, but they have a few other things too, like cram guides and young adult novels.

[unkinder]

I've eaten breakfast, so I'm okay for a while.

[They can grab some lunch later.]

A bookstore... [He murmurs after that, thoughtful. Did he read books often before? He can't...quite recall.] Do you like books, Omi-kun?