Page 93 of Pandion

“Are you sure?”

“Why? Oh…” Seimei must have stopped projecting, and no one was dampening the link. Had he decided it was time or was there something wrong?

“Are you so tired you’re projecting to me without realising it?” Satoru frowned. “Sure, I’ll wash your hair for you.”

“What?” Was Seimei making requests on its own? It must have been doing fine to be concerned about the hair. “No, you don’t have to. I’ll do it myself…” Kagesawa reached to borrow Hase-sensei’s shampoo, but as soon as he lifted his arms, shooting pain made him regret it.

“Lean back, and I’ll do it.” Satoru grabbed a stool and the shampoo and started lathering.

“Ow, watch it—!”

He was being careful, but the port area was incredibly sore. Even just moving the hair aside was painful.

“Maybe I should cut it all off and wear a hat instead…”

“No,” Satoru objected, subdued. He proceeded to wash it so gently, it was barely noticeable. The soft scalp massage helped to resolve the headache Kagesawa had been experiencing.

“Thank you,” Satoru appeared to be replying to something. Perhaps it was time to clear things up before they got more complicated.

“Could you repeat what I projected to you?”

“All right.”

“Out loud, please.”

“‘This is a lovely massage.’”

“Could you project something to me?”

“What do you mean? Something specific? I’ve been projecting to you all along.”

“Oh? Well, can you ask me if I’m all right and repeat the answer out loud?”

With Satoru behind him massaging his scalp, he couldn’t tell how this was received, but after a moment of silence he replied, “‘I have some frayed tendrils, but nothing I can’t fix or grow back.’”

“That’s a relief.”

“Um, Kagesawa…”

“Say hello to Seimei for me. Not to be confused with Ayano Seimei. We’re still working on the details.”

“Holy shit, what?” Satoru backed away in surprise. He had indeed completely forgotten.

“Did it say something?”

“Yes. Who exactly have I been chatting with?” Satoru fell silent for a moment. Kagesawa could feel Seimei working on something, but none of it was audible to him.

“Can you ask if there’s something I should do to fix this? Maybe there’s something left in the port opening? Fujitani inserted someth— OWWW HGNN!”

Satoru had removed it with one swift pull.

Did you have to be so rough about it?!Seimei’s voice was suddenly very bright and echoed in his head.

“Sorry. It was hanging from the side, so I thought I’d quickly yank it off. Didn’t the nurse take a look at this?” Satoru showed him the piece he’d pulled out. Then he froze. “You didn’t see the nurse, did you?”

“I—”

“I told you to… you didn’t hear any of it?”

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