"You're starting to learn from experience, good job," Inori says, voice dripping with sarcasm, before he shakes his head then turns around and remembers Subaru is there. He throws a glare at the alpha but doesn't say anything.

"...what?"

"You staying here?"

"He's my best friend, I'm coming to the hospital with you."

"Hm."

The car Tōkan got sits three comfortably, and they're soon at the hospital. The pain's mostly faded to the dull ache of a recent bruise which is further evidence for the theory that it's not serious.

The doctor they see agrees with that but also agrees that getting it checked anyway is a good idea. "You've no idea how many alphas I've got coming here with problems that would've been much easier to treat if they'd come earlier," she sighs fondly, probably being herself an alpha. "Good on you."

"It was his idea," Tōkan says, hiking a thumb in Inori's direction. "I didn't want to come."

"Oh, well, good job finding someone who won't just let you get away with it." She squints at Inori. "Is he an omega?"

"Ma'am, that is both irrelevant and none of your business," says Subaru dryly. She purses her lips but doesn't say anything and gets to setting an X-ray machine up for Tōkan.

"I don't need you to stand up for me."

"I'm not standing up for you, I'm just irritated that she was making assumptions."

?

"She initially thought you were an alpha because clearly only an alpha could stand up to another alpha like that, omegas are too meek and submissive and would never gainsay their partners."

"I am not—"

"I am aware, Yamada, that's part of what makes it irritating."

(Tōkan just watches this exchange with a small grin.)

Inori keeps staring at Subaru for a while longer, and Subaru just holds his gaze, holding his chin high, until Inori turns away to grab his phone and start tapping at it.

They get the X-ray in short order and everything is, as expected, fine; "It'll take more than a little scuffle to really hurt a healthy young alpha like you," as the doctor says, which causes Subaru to grimace again.

"That one was strictly biological," says Tōkan as they're walking out. "Alphas are on average much more physically resilient than betas or omegas."

"I know, but I feel like six people ganging up on us and using you as their personal punching bag is a lot worse than 'a little scuffle'."

"I suppose."

"For someone so bent on these social justice issues you sure are pretty forgiving of anyone you see doing anything bad."

"Hate the sin, love the sinner?"

"If I hadn't seen you in a fight before I'd have said you're too agreeable for your own long term health."