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Serizawa sighed as he hunched over his desk and stared at his written agenda for the week, unable to believe what he'd written down for tomorrow afternoon. He knew he should be proud of himself, but right now the thought of it made his heart pound. As glad as he was to be an independent adult for once, he sometimes hated how often it meant confronting his worst fears.
"Oi, Serizawa!" Reigen called out, startling him from his thoughts.
"Y-Yes sir!" he said, sitting up immediately.
"What's gotten you so upset?"
"I'm not upset."
Reigen waved his hand at his laptop. "Well how am I supposed to concentrate on this graphic exorcism when you won't stop sighing?"
Serizawa almost sighed again before stopping himself. "Sorry, Reigen-san. I won't do it again."
A few seconds of silence later, Reigen peeked at him over his laptop screen. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know, it's pretty silly," Serizawa admitted, wringing his hands under his desk.
"Nonsense! Let me be the judge of that!"
Serizawa couldn't help but smile despite his nausea. Reigen often had that effect on him somehow. "Well, it's already flu season, so I thought... This year I should be responsible and get my flu shot."
Reigen beamed at him. "Good for you, Serizawa! Managing your own health is important!"
Serizawa felt his face turn a little hot. "Thank you, Reigen-san."
"So what's the problem with that?"
"Ah, well..." Serizawa laughed awkwardly. "I've... never liked needles..."
Reigen hummed in sympathy. "Do they make you pass out or something?"
"That's never happened to me, no. I think I just hate the thought of something so long and thin going through my skin, even though I know it's not dangerous."
"Ah, I see. That thought can be pretty terrifying."
Reigen's understanding, nonjudgmental tone encouraged Serizawa to continue. "When I was a kid, I tried to be brave about it, but my powers would still get violent whenever anyone came at me with a needle. Eventually, my mother just gave up, and my shots didn't really matter anyway when I ended up staying in my room all the time."
"Do you need to catch up on any vaccines, then?"
Serizawa's gaze lowered. "No, the President made sure of that."
Reigen huffed under his breath. He tended to do that whenever Serizawa mentioned the President. "How did that go?"
"I freaked out so much that the President, ah... ended up having to use his powers to restrain me?" Serizawa scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It wasn't fun at all, but it was the only way they could even get the shots in."
He didn't feel like mentioning how he'd cried like a baby the whole time, how his frantic pleas for them to stop had fallen on uncaring ears. He didn't mention how afterwards he'd rocked himself back and forth beneath his umbrella for ages, sobbing uncontrollably while trying to ignore the stinging pain in his shoulder. He also didn't mention how the same thing had happened when they'd drawn his blood for a standard blood test, except that incident had been so much worse because of how long they'd had to keep the needle inside his arm.
"...Is that so." Reigen sounded like he didn't care at all, but Serizawa gulped at the cold fury in his eyes. It was pretty rare for anything to genuinely piss Reigen off, and seeing that made Serizawa want to reassure him.
"I—I mean, it was only a last resort! It was for my own good, and he was right when he said I needed to grow up and take it—"
"Serizawa, it's not a matter of growing up." Reigen's voice was grave now, and Serizawa knew it wouldn't be wise to object. "You just have one of the most common phobias in the world. You're not childish, you know needles won't hurt you, but phobias are irrational like that. I also refuse to believe that it was for your own good. As important as vaccines are, you needed someone with patience, not someone to force you to take them. Hell, he probably made the phobia worse!"
"It wasn't a good experience, but I really hope not," Serizawa mumbled. "Now that he's not here to hold me back, I don't know what'll happen when I get my flu shot. I'd feel really bad if my powers threw people around and destroyed more stuff again."
Reigen waved his hand dismissively. "I wouldn't worry about that. You can control your powers super well now, even without an umbrella. Have some faith in yourself!"
"Th-Thank you, Reigen-san. But I really won't know for sure until the actual appointment..."
"Hmm," Reigen hummed to himself thoughtfully. "When's your appointment?"
"Tomorrow during my lunch break. It's at the clinic down the street."
"I see. Do you think it would help if you had someone there with you?"
Serizawa tilted his head in confusion. "What would they do if they can't hold me down?"
Reigen shrugged. "Y'know, act as moral support. Talk with you, tell you you're all right, that sorta stuff."
"Oh, but I don't know anyone who'd be willing to do that..."
"You've gotten to know some supportive people this past year, haven't you?"
"I have! But Kurata-san and Shigeo-kun both have school, my friends from night school have work, and I don't think Dimple would help, no offense to him..."
There was a heavy silence before Reigen coughed a little. "Erm, you don't think you're forgetting someone who also has his lunch break then?"
It took Serizawa a few seconds to process this before his eyes widened. "Oh no, you don't have to do that! I wouldn't want you to waste your break on something silly like this—"
"Serizawa, I really wouldn't mind! What kind of boss would I be if I didn't make sure my employees were taking care of their health?!"
By now, Serizawa felt like he was as red as a tomato. "Reigen-san, you're too kind..."
Reigen just swept his hand across his blond bangs. "Nonsense! I'm going with you, and I'm making sure everything goes smoothly! Just trust me!"
As Serizawa waited for his turn, he couldn't help but bounce his knee as he tried to breathe deeply, just as he'd learned from Reigen.
"Do you want me to be next to you, or do you think you'll be okay on your own?" Reigen asked.
Serizawa hesitated, twiddling his thumbs.
"I really wouldn't mind either way. My job is to support you, after all!"
"Then... could you stand next to me? Would they let you do that?"
"I'll make sure they do! Just leave it to me!" Reigen flashed him his radiant smile, and Serizawa chuckled weakly.
"Sorry, I feel like a child."
"It's fine, it's fine! Don't worry about anything like that!"
"I bet you already got your flu shot done, huh?" Serizawa asked.
Reigen held his chin thoughtfully. "Oh yeah, uh, I got mine done a few weeks ago..."
"How did that go?"
"It wasn't too bad! My arm hurt a bit, but you know! Anything to help avoid the flu, right—?!"
"Serizawa-san?"
Serizawa looked up and saw a masked nurse beckoning him over. He gulped and stood up, walking to the empty chair like it was an electric one. Reigen was quick to follow him and remain at his side.
"It'll be super quick!" Reigen kept reassuring Serizawa as he sat down and took off his dark-blue suit jacket. He was about to fold it in his lap, but Reigen took it from him and draped it over his own arm.
Serizawa felt rather embarrassed by how much Reigen was helping him out here, but he couldn't think about that as the nurse asked him which side he wanted the shot in. He was tempted to say neither and bail, but he had a strong feeling that if he did, he would never try this again. Plus, Reigen had gone out of his way to support him—he couldn't just give up when Reigen believed in him this much.
"The left," he mumbled before pulling up his sleeve, tensing at the sudden chill as the nurse swabbed his shoulder with alcohol.
Reigen shifted over to his right before clapping a firm hand over that shoulder. "Just keep your eyes on me!" he said with a grin. "Trust me when I say you're gonna be okay!"
Serizawa turned his head and nodded, focusing on Reigen and his fearless voice and that warm hand squeezing him supportively. This felt so much better than that constricting force holding him in place like a snake with its prey, tightening further despite his body trying so hard to thrash its way free.
"You're doing great! Just keep looking at me and don't look at what they're... doing..."
Serizawa closed his eyes and tried not to wince as he felt the painful prick of the needle entering his flesh. It stung for a bit, but then the pain quickly receded as the nurse pulled away.
"All done!" she said brightly before sticking on an adhesive bandage.
Serizawa blinked and turned his shoulder to stare at it. That was it? It was all over? He looked around and saw that everything was the same, and that his powers hadn't lashed out at all.
"Oh, I did it," Serizawa mumbled before giggling under his breath. "Reigen-san, I did it!"
Reigen's hand left his shoulder, but he didn't say anything, not even a grunt of acknowledgement. Serizawa was about to process how unusual this was for Reigen when he suddenly heard a loud crash behind him and the nurse shrieking.
Serizawa jumped out of his seat and whirled around, only to gasp in horror. "Reigen-san—!" he yelped, rushing to the body now collapsed on the floor. He frantically rolled his boss over, panicking at his sickly pale face and how limp his body was as he cradled him in his arms.
"Are you okay?!" Serizawa babbled without thinking as Reigen's head lolled to the side. "What happened?! Are you sick, did you get cursed?! Please wake up and talk to me!!!"
The only thing keeping Serizawa from losing it entirely was the low groan coming from Reigen's throat, showing that he was alive. His eyelids fluttered, and Serizawa couldn't help but brush the blond hair from Reigen's face with shaking fingers, encouraging him to wake up in a desperate voice.
Reigen finally cracked open his eyes, dazedly looking up at Serizawa. It was rather unsettling to see, given how alert they usually were.
"...Reigen-san?"
Reigen blinked for a few moments before turning his head to look at his surroundings, still out of it.
"Hey, can you hear me?"
Reigen looked back up at him. "Oh... hey," he mumbled sluggishly. "Wasn't expecting that t'happen..."
Serizawa choked up in relief and, without thinking, pulled Reigen up to hug him tight. "You scared me! I told you not to do that again!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to this time..." Reigen muttered before suddenly wincing and clutching the side of his head.
Serizawa stopped hugging him and drew back in alarm. "Oh no, does it hurt really bad? Thank god we're in a clinic, but why isn't anyone...?
Serizawa looked around, only to see a few nurses standing behind a brilliantly purple barrier he must have subconsciously put up around himself and Reigen. He blushed and dropped it, grateful that they didn't ask any questions about the barrier in favor of checking on Reigen—maybe they were used to esper quirks by now.
"Why don't you go sit down over there?" one of the nurses said, guiding Serizawa back to where he'd waited for the shot before giving him the suit jacket Reigen had dropped.
"Is he going to be okay?" Serizawa asked, watching as Reigen was led somewhere in the back. ( "Nooo, I'm fiiine..." he heard the man moan.)
"Don't worry, we'll take care of your friend! You just wait here, okay?"
Serizawa didn't even feel like correcting the nurse about what Reigen was to him—boss or friend, how could he not worry? Fainting wasn't normal. How had Reigen gone from his usual upbeat self to passing out on the floor seconds later? Was it a serious health condition? Was Reigen dying ?
After everything they'd been through, Serizawa couldn't lose Reigen to some unforeseen illness....
The minutes felt like hours as Serizawa waited, hugging his jacket to his chest while rocking back and forth to soothe himself. Then he realized someone was standing right in front of him, and he blinked at the familiar gray suit before reeling up out of his seat.
"You're back!" Serizawa said happily.
Reigen gave him a smile that was far too weak for Serizawa's comfort, though the color had thankfully returned to his cheeks. "You good to go?"
"Y-Yeah, but what about you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some ice for my head, but I'm fine."
Serizawa was about to protest this claim, but Reigen pointed at his arm.
"Are you so proud of yourself that you want to show the whole world you got your flu shot?"
Serizawa realized that in all the commotion, he'd forgotten that his sleeve was still pushed up over his band-aid. He squeaked in embarrassment as he quickly pulled his sleeve back down before putting his jacket back on.
"That wasn't a sarcastic thing," Reigen said with a chuckle. "You should be proud of yourself for getting it done even though you were so scared!"
The victory felt weak after Reigen's incident, but Serizawa nodded. "I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done it without your help," he admitted. "Thank you so much."
Reigen waved his hand dismissively. "You just needed a little moral support, is all. Now come on, let's get back to the office before our lunch break ends! I have some pain meds too if you need them."
"But Reigen-san—"
Reigen didn't wait for Serizawa to finish his statement as he walked out of the clinic, leaving his employee no other choice but to leave the rest unsaid as he followed him.
It was clear that Reigen didn't want to talk about it, despite Serizawa's concern. Serizawa felt like he was probably overreacting. After all, was it really any of his business? Did Serizawa have a right to know the truth about what happened despite Reigen's right to privacy?
At the same time though, Serizawa couldn't stop thinking about all the possible reasons for Reigen's fainting, most of them being some terrible disease that didn't fit a young, relatively healthy man like Reigen. Reigen had fainted in front of him once before in the aftermath of Shigeo's incident last January. He remembered that terrifying moment—his utter relief that Reigen had survived the impossible seemingly dashed to pieces when the adrenaline finally wore off and all of his injuries caught up to him.
At least Serizawa had known why Reigen had passed out then. But right now, Reigen was leaving him in the dark, allowing his anxieties to fester. If it wasn't serious, then why couldn't Reigen just tell him? After all this time, did he still not trust Serizawa?
He stewed on this for hours until he just couldn't take it anymore.
"Reigen-san," Serizawa murmured after their last client of the day left the office.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, but I need to know what happened earlier."
"...You mean what happened to the cursed houseplant just now? It just needed more purified water—"
"Stop it, you know what I mean." Serizawa couldn't hold back the blunt annoyance in his voice. He cared deeply for Reigen and treasured his company, but sometimes the man really got on his nerves.
Reigen quietly put down the document he'd been reading. "...Serizawa, I promise I'm fine."
"Why should I believe you?"
"When have I ever lied..." Reigen cleared his throat right before Serizawa shot him an exasperated glare, realizing the same thing. "Yeah, okay. That's fair. But I promise, I'm in perfect health and it won't happen again."
"Then why did you suddenly faint like that? Why can't you just tell me?"
Reigen hesitated, his eyes full of confliction as he fought some internal battle in his head.
"I'm sorry if this is too forward of me," Serizawa said, staring down at his desk. "I know you're my boss, and you're an adult who can take care of himself. But at the same time, I've had enough of worrying about you. After what happened last January with Shigeo-kun, I just..."
Serizawa trailed off, and Reigen gave a guilty sigh. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were that worried about me."
You never do, Serizawa thought bitterly.
"To tell you the truth, I fainted for a very silly reason, and it's a little embarrassing to admit."
Curious, Serizawa looked at him.
Reigen laughed weakly. "Fine, fine. The truth is... I might also have a phobia of needles...?"
"Oh." Serizawa blinked, and then his eyes widened. "Oh!"
"Yeah, I really didn't think that phobia extended to watching other people get injected with stuff. Again, I'm sorry for scaring you, but I'm genuinely fine now."
For a moment, Serizawa wondered if this was yet another lie, but the way Reigen was trembling in his seat felt too honest. Plus, it fit what had happened earlier. Serizawa sighed as relief washed over him, but now this revelation prompted another question.
"But wait, how did you get your flu shot done?"
"Haha..." Reigen rubbed his hands together anxiously as he shifted his eyes. "I might've lied about that...?"
"Reigen-san."
"I know, I know, I panicked, I'm sorry! I just wanted to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal so you'd feel better!"
Of course Reigen would do that. Most of his lies arose from his desire to help others, whether for good or for worse.
"Are you going to get your flu shot eventually?"
The flustered shame on Reigen's face answered his question. "I actually haven't gotten mine ever since I stopped living with my parents. Every year, I just hope for the best, and sometimes I get unlucky and end up sick for ages."
Serizawa gave him a sympathetic look. "That's awful, I'm sorry."
"Nah, I only have myself to blame," Reigen grumbled before cursing under his breath. "Ugh, I really don't know why I faint like that! The internet said it's because of an extreme stress response, but I honestly don't feel that stressed. One time in high school I thought I was fine, but then 10 minutes later I was still on the floor! It's just so stupid!"
The way Reigen was ranting now made it impossible to miss how mortified he felt about this phobia. Perhaps Reigen felt like his pride had been wounded, but Serizawa only felt a strange sense of fondness for him now. As much as he admired Reigen and his extreme confidence, it was nice to remember that he was human .
"You don't get to tell me it's stupid after what you said yesterday," Serizawa said kindly. "It's an irrational fear, and you can't control how you react."
"Okay, well, I still feel ridiculous."
"I understand, but I wish you'd treat yourself with the same understanding you had for me."
"Ugh..." Reigen sighed. " Fine , I guess. So are you happy now?"
"...What do you mean?"
"You got me to confess my super embarrassing secret, hooray! Are you glad you found out your boss passes out at the sight of needle injections?! Does that make you feel better about yourself?!"
Serizawa's face fell. "...Reigen-san..."
Reigen shook his head. "Sorry, sorry, I'm being such an asshole."
Serizawa just smiled sadly. "I think you should apologize to yourself for that."
"Easier said than done. I just really wish you didn't have to learn about that. It's not something I tell people for obvious reasons."
Serizawa chose his words carefully. "If you think I'm looking down on you, I promise I'm not. Not only would that make me a hypocrite, but I don't think I could ever do that. In fact, I'm honored you trusted me with your secret."
Reigen crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. "It was embarrassing just telling the nurses earlier, but I guess it's only fair for you to know the truth after what you told me yesterday. I hope you're not worried anymore, at least."
"Much less so, but..." Serizawa glanced at his agenda on his desk. "...Do you think you'd ever be up for getting your flu shot again?"
Reigen snorted. " No. I think I decided years ago to just never let a needle touch my skin again, and I don't see that ever changing." He looked up and saw the pitying look on Serizawa's face. "Hey, we can't all be brave like you!"
"What I did wasn't brave, I still needed your help—"
"Give me a break ! You were terrified of needles, but you still made that appointment all by yourself, didn't you?!"
Serizawa blushed. "...Yes."
"Exactly! So don't you dare tell me you weren't brave when I could never ever have the guts to do something like that!"
"Don't say never. You told me that everyone can change, right?"
Reigen grumbled under his breath again, something about how those words had come from Mob first and that Serizawa shouldn't throw them back at him.
"I'm not trying to force you. That would be... bad." The thought itself made Serizawa's stomach churn, and he started to comprehend why Reigen had been so mad yesterday. "But getting the flu is also bad, and I heard that even if you don't get sick, you could still pass it onto other people."
"Appealing to my sense of morality, are you?" Reigen said with a smirk.
"It's something to consider. Every day you meet clients and interact with me, Kurata-san, and sometimes Shigeo-kun. There's always a chance you could pass something onto us."
"I mean, I already knew all of that. That doesn't change the fact that I always chicken out of it in the end, even if I do end up making an appointment."
"But what if I was there with you?" Serizawa blurted out. "You being there helped me today, so...!"
Reigen's eyes widened before he tugged at his collar, smiling shakily. "Th-That's very nice of you, Serizawa, but I don't think that'll stop me from fainting. I would know cuz..." He cleared his throat and mumbled the rest. "...My mom used to sit next to me and it still didn't work."
Serizawa tried to hide his disappointment (Why was he disappointed at all?). "I see. Then what if you got your shot while you were lying down? That might help with the fainting."
Reigen chewed his lip, looking like he wanted to melt into the floor now. "...Maybe."
"...But?"
"Having to ask for that would be really embarrassing."
"More embarrassing than me needing you to stand next to me?"
Reigen groaned and flung his hands in the air. "When did arguing with you get so hard? I never lost an argument before you!"
"I think I learned from the best," Serizawa said as he couldn't help but giggle.
"Y-You—!" Reigen's indignant face flushed red so fast, Serizawa almost thought his head would explode. "Fine! Fine, I'll make an appointment. Happy?"
"If that's what you want, then yes."
"No, that's not what I want! But you managed to convince me I should try anyway, and maybe I was also a bit inspired by what you did today!"
Serizawa's mouth dropped open. "Wh...?"
Reigen's chair creaked as he crossed his arms and leaned back with a huff. "You heard me! Is that so bad?!"
"N-No, but..."
Serizawa... had inspired Reigen? He was so used to things being the other way around that all he could do was sit there in stunned silence.
"You know what, if you believe I should try it that much then why don't you make the appointment?! Pick a day we don't have anything planned and do it for our lunch break at the same clinic."
Serizawa blinked before reaching for the office phone. "Of course, sir. Would you like me to join you for moral support?"
Reigen made a flustered sound and hid behind his laptop screen. "If—If you want to!"
Serizawa chuckled under his breath. "Of course I do."
I'll always do, just as you did for me.