metaphor

Itsuki shook his head but Daichi still persisted whispering things like

"You can trust me, I won't leave you Itsukie..." and

"I just want to help even if it's only listening..."

both of which made Itsuki cry more.

Daichi held him tighter but still gently as the other kept crying saying

"I don't want to be alone again."

Breaking Daichi's heart even more.

"You won't be alone Itsuki... Is it to do with your past?"

And like that Itsukifroze, tears still streamed from his eyes but he didn't move for the most part leaving him completely frozen on the spot.

Daichi sighed pulling the other boy closer to him and whispering

"It's okay if it is, you don't have to tell me."

Itsuki quietly whispered

"Technically..."

in response after a moment of silence.

Daichi waited being able to sense Itsuki wanted to say something as Minki sat by their feet.

"I-I don't always act like a little k-kid ... I-I do it most of the time though b-because it- i-it... it-"

"It makes you feel safe."

Itsuki looked up at Daichi with tears still trickling down his face surprised.

Daichi raised one of his hands and wiped the tears from Itsuki's cheek before saying

"I know about littlespace Itsuki , or what ever you'd like to call it. And it's okay but what I don't understand is what you mean about a dead person."

Daichi spoke softly and understandingly but still expressed his confusion so Itsuki felt like he deserved an explanation.

"Big me may as well be a dead man... all of my big space stuff is behind that door..."

"so it was a metaphor... why are you a dead man though Itsukie?"

"B-because it's easier to acknowledge e-everything when in big space and b-bad thoughts can't help but cross your mind and I don't know how, after everything, i'm supposed to be able to be a functioning member of society. It's so h-hard and it's easier to just not want to existence s-so I may as well be a dead m-man."

Daichi's heart broke so he tried his best to comfort the boy whispering

"I'll help you figure it out then Itsuki , I'll help you however I can."

He pulled Itsuki back into his chest and just hugged him for a while until Itsuki eventually whispered

"Thank you Daichi ."

"Anytime Itsuki , is this the first time I've spoken to you in big space?"

Itsuki frowned slightly before replying

"Yeah... I'm sorry, I know i'm weird-"

Daichi interrupted him immediately saying

"You're not weird, you're amazing. Don't put yourself down like that."

Itsuki started to cry heavier again, saying

"T-Thank you s-so much , y-you don't know how happy hearing that makes me."

Daichi decided to ask

"Can I ask you something Itsuki ?"

getting a stuttered

"Y-yes?"

in response from Itsuki.

Daichi corrected himself then said

"Actually it's more of a request. I want you to tell me when something is bothering you so I can help, okay? Even if it's a little thing."

Itsuki nodded and hugged closer to Daichi again, being accepted by the older boy who returned the gesture.

"I just want you to feel comfortable around me Itsuki , okay?"

Daichi was starting to really care about Itsuki and he wanted to do everything in his power to help.

"Thank you Daichi"

"Huh? What for?"

Itsuki tightened his grip on Daichi's shirt before stuttering out

"E-everything."

Daichi let out a small sigh as he thought about how just the little thing of being there helped Itsuki so much and he couldn't help but want to wrap the other boy in a blanket and protect him forever whether or not he was in big space or little.

"Anytime. And about you saying you may as well be a dead man. That's a load of bullshit, there are people that care about you and you don't know how many peoples lives you've changed. I don't care about how strong those thoughts get, and I know how strong they can get and how scary it is, but I promise you whatever those thoughts are telling you it's not worth it and something better will come. Being a dead man means you can't warm peoples heart with your presence or brighten someones day with your smile."

Itsuki began to cry louder repeatedly whispering thank you as Daichi hugged him swaying slightly as a comfort.

After a while Itsuki eventually called out "d-dauchwie?"

Making Daichi move back a bit so he could see the slightly smaller boy before saying "Yes Itsukie."

Itsuki quietly whispered

"I sowwy..."

with a guilty look on his face.

Itsuki just practically confirmed the slight hunch to Daichi had that he was in little space.

Daichi immediately replied

"It's okay buddy do you want to play with some toys or do you want to stay like this?"

Little or big people still needed comforting.

Itsuki quietly requested

"This pwease."

Then proceeded to bury his face in Daichi's chest.

Daichi hummed in response and then they hugged for a while longer until both boys heard Itsuki's grandmother return shouting

"I brought food."

Causing them both to separate and go downstairs.