Kouchisei wilted inside his bedroom. Denying he was a coward, or a target, might one day make him bitter. Miscomprehending his range of emotions was definitely overwhelming, and if he could tolerate one of them he hoped to handle more. His fingers would twirl his cellphone and one would slid to snap open but then close the clamshell facade.
It was amazing how quickly he was changing. Ignoring it. Rationalising. even. That as much as he wanted to handle it he was flummoxed, and he frowned at the door because he wasn't a fan of people, really. This was not a normal situation. He was hoping till the end that he'd at least get the courage to ring his father and say "bring me home".