Hello My Old Heart

Summary:

Takashi thinks of the half-empty book upstairs, guarded by a ward strong enough to make the chuukyuu\u2019s eyes water from the backyard. The secret that only half the people in the room are aware of. The wall between himself and everyone else that he built stone by stone by stone, to keep them\u2014 and himself\u2014 safe from inevitable hurt.

\u201cYou don\u2019t even know me,\u201d Takashi blurts.

Nishimura sits up. Kitamoto makes a grumbly noise and starts extracting himself from blankets. Shibata says \u201cNo no I finally got comfortable, Tanuma, come on,\u201d but Tanuma is moving, too.

Ogata says, in a kind, careful voice, \u201cNatsume, of course we know you.\u201d

\u201cNot everything,\u201d Takashi insists, feeling his heart start to move a little faster. \u201cYou don\u2019t\u2014 you don\u2019t know everything.\u201d