Stan/Simon

despite his laptop still being open on the table behind him, chihiro offers to walk you home. he quickly saves his work and stands up, a shy smile tugging at his lips.

“ah—i, um, i don’t mind. it’s not safe at night,” he says softly, the faintest tint of pink glowing on his cheeks. “and i like spending time with you.”

when you thank him, he gets flustered and starts fiddling with the hem of his sleeves, eyes bright with adoration from the praise.

kazuichi practically jumps at the opportunity to walk you home, even if he was just elbow-deep in grease ten minutes ago, his jumpsuit smudged and tinted from it.

he wipes his hands on a rag, grinning. “can’t let anyone bother ya when i’m around, right?”

halfway there, he walks on the side closest to the street and tries to act casual about it—but visibly blushes when you thank him for it.

“h-hey! no need to thank me or anything...but, like, also...you’re welcome...

fuyuhiko pretends he doesn’t care. “tch. i’m not walkin’ you home or anything. just...happened to be headin’ that way.”

except he definitely wasn’t heading that way.

you call him out for it and he scowls, face turning pink. “shut up. someone’s gotta keep you safe, dumbass.”

before you go in, he mutters, “text me when you’re inside. or else i’ll come back and drag ya out here.”

rantaro walks you home with his hands in his pockets and a soft, lopsided smile on his face. there’s something calming about being beside him— the silence is never awkward.

“you know,” he murmurs, “i always end up walking you home, huh?”

you smile at him. “you complaining?”

he chuckles, eyes crinkling. “never. it’s my favorite part of the day.”

kaito’s already outside waiting for you by the time you’re done, arms crossed and tapping his foot against the ground impatiently like a kid.

“you’re late! i thought you ditched me!”

rolling your eyes, you laugh. “it’s been ten minutes, kaito.”

“still! what if something happened to you?” he says, dramatic as always— even if he didn’t want to acknowledge it. but the concern is real.

he’s chatty the whole walk back, and just before you go inside, he throws a casual arm around your shoulders. “call me if you can’t sleep. i’ll talk to you ‘til you do.”

shuichi’s holding your bag for you—again— as you two walk under the dim glow of the street lamps. he keeps glancing your way like he’s trying to make sure you feel comfortable and safe enough.

“i-it’s not a bother,” he says quickly after you thank him. “i wanted to.”

he clears his throat and adds softly, “spending time with you...makes me feel less anxious. so really, i should be thanking you.”

you stop at your door, and before you go, shuichi hesitates— then gently reaches to hold your hand and gives it a brief squeeze.

you dug the knife into taka's skin at his words. you couldn't bear hearing him say their name. ever since chihiro's death, that name has brought you nothing but pain.

“shut up! don't say that name–! you don’t have the right to say that name–!”

you pulled back your knife, before thrusting it into the ground next to taka's face. but he didn't even flinch.

“you… you'll pay for his sins! i can't kill mondo, but i can kill you! and… i'll do it–! he took my best friend and i'll take his…”

“if this brings you peace… then do it”

taka still didn't seem to care. no, perhaps he wanted you to kill him. he didn't seem to care about his own life anymore. for a moment, you wondered if he suffered just like you did. that he wished he was dead, just like his best friend…

but then you tossed that thought aside and grabbed the knife again.

slowly, you wrapped both hands around it. you raised them, right above his chest. and then you waited. waited for something. something that would give you the strength to do it.

but you couldn't.

“FUCK–!!”

you screamed frustrated, tossing the knife aside. this was the perfect moment. all you had to do was drive your knife into his chest and it would've been over. but you couldn't do it. you couldn't kill someone. especially not taka.

tears began to roll down your cheeks.

“i knew you weren't a killer…”

taka slowly sat up. you could feel his eyes on you, but you had buried your face in your hands, as you couldn't seem to stop your tears.

“i… i never wanted to hurt you. i just want the pain to stop… i can't take this anymore…”

taka's head hung low as he heard your words. you were just like him. only that, in attempting to stop the pain, you tried to get revenge, while taka wanted to repent for his best friend's crime.

“i found my first friend in mondo… but when he died, i was all alone again. i can't forgive him for what he did… but a part of me wishes he was still here”

your sobbing only became worse at taka's words. you had felt like nobody could understand you. but taka was the only person that could. both of you lost your best friends that day…

“i wish… it didn't have to be like this…”

you mumbled out, as your tears began fewer with each passing minute.

“i wish they could've been friends… chihiro trusted mondo… more than he trusted me. if only they could've been friends…”

taka nodded quietly. he felt the same way. if mondo and chihiro would've been friends, none of this would've ever happened. perhaps, you and him would've become friends too.

“do you think… we could still be friends?”

“what are you saying…?”

taka paused for a moment.

“mondo and chihiro never got to be friends. but we could do what they can't”

it was silent for a moment. the tears in your eyes had dried, as you let taka's words go through your head. you could do what chihiro and mondo never could. but their wish for friendship could live on through taka and you.

“i'm sure we can be friend”

you finally broke the silence, smiling softly.

“i think that's what they would've wanted…”