i'll love you 'til the day that i die

It happened in a train, near noon in the middle of July in the south of France. Which for those familiar should tell you something about how hot it was. For those unfamiliar it's pretty damn hot particularly for people like yours truly who do not take heat well.

The train was packed, which did not help the heat. I had eaten but a handful of nuts in the morning, which was a bad decision. I didn't have a seat, which isn't necessarily an issue. Usually.

But the heat and the lack of food (mostly the heat) made a bad combination. The lightheadedness fell on me like an anvil. Sudden. Heavy. I felt nauseous which was truly the worst part because is there a worse place to puke than in a packed train? I didn't think so and I still don't.

People noticed. I don't know if it was the swaying or maybe I had gone visibly pale but three different people got up to give me their seat. Or four. I don't know, but it was a lot. The rules of politeness and manners don't apply when you're afraid you're gonna puke so I very gratefully took a seat.

A woman gave me a chocolate biscuit, she said she kept this sort of thing in her bag always because her son has diabetes. Two people offered me water but I had my own which I did drink. Two other people offered me more food. A man offered me vitamins. I hesitated and he gave me the package so I could check for myself it wasn't, like, drugs. I am mildly ashamed to say that I did not hesitate for reasons of a stranger giving me medicine but because I thought the orange-flavored vitamins might not mix super well with the chocolate biscuit I was eating. For my defense, sensory issues can be bad and I already wasn't feeling well. But I did learn my lesson about trusting strangers with medicine. This one was trustworthy, but still. Man who gave me vitamins, kudos to you for making sure I knew it wasn't drugs.

People asked me if I knew what was wrong. Two older people gently chastised me for not eating enough in this weather. Several asked where I as getting off and were visibly relieved when I said my stop was soon. They kept subtly checking on me trough the train ride and several people waved goodbye when I got off.

All those strangers coming together without a second's hesitation when I felt unwell. When you think about it, that's, like, a low bar. Obviously if someone visibly wasn't feeling well I would try to help. But the way they all moved together and didn't wait for someone else to offer a seat or food or water. The way they kept checking on me. That's what I want to be like.

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Tashiro, Shirahama, and Niibashi were childhood friends.

We're talking elementary. Different junior highs.

They become estranged.

Niibashi's parents pulled him into something more private. Maybe after some bullying? Maybe because they finally came into money and wanted to give their son the best? Maybe they were trying out public school in elementary and wanted to move him once junior high hit to put him with more upper class individuals? Lean toward higher sights for high school?

Niibashi doesn't even realize it when they all end up at the same high school. Both Tashiro and Shirahama have dyed their hair. Tashiro might be more obvious once Niibashi gets a look, with those bright green eyes, but Shirahama? He's WAY taller and has put on lean muscle. Maybe he was a lil chubby kid when Niibashi knew him.

And how are Tashiro and Shirahama supposed to recognize the boy dying his hair magenta and wearing matching contacts?!

They aren't in the same class first or second year. They don't really interact. It doesn't mean one of them doesn't notice. Maybe Tashiro does, but doesn't tell Shirahama because he just kind of forgets to. Maybe Niibashi hears Shirahama's name when he goes to one of Kagiura's basketball games.

Shirahama is out of the loop.

Then, maybe there's some old story he's bringing up and he wonders aloud, "I wonder where Juu-chan ended up."

Tashiro nonchalantly says, "Uh, he goes to our school, dude."

WHAT THE HECK TASHIRO?!

Cue some throttling of Tashiro by Shirahama, a reunion of friendship, and a crush developed from childhood connection and young adult maturity with Niibashi and Shirahama.

Shirahama maybe has some old comics that Niibashi made as a kid. Niibashi has some keychain tucked away that Shirahama won for him at an arcade.

Okay prev... Would you settle for a multichapter fic?

Yeah, yeah, I feel you.

Can you imagine Hanzawa catching Sasaki getting in a fight in their second year?

Hanzawa who despises physical fights. Who has trauma seeing his brother with a bruise from the person who was supposed to love him.

Can you imagine Sasaki as friends with Ogasawara, and Hanzawa telling Sasaki he isn't surprised he's such a ruffian with the kind of company he keeps.

Anger. Frustration. A heated confession about the simmering hate Hanzawa has for Ogasawara's brother.

Sasaki doles out advice about not judging a book by its cover. The fight he was in was to help another student who had already left. Maybe they show up around the corner, watery eyed, thanking Sasaki profusely. Sasaki tells Hanzawa he shouldn't judge Ogasawara for the actions of another. He isn't his brother.

Hanzawa learns that Sasaki is very open regarding relationships. He doesn't think ill of anyone who diverts from society's expectations. Love who you love. Protect who you care for. Be the kind of person you're proud to look in the mirror at.

Maybe Sasaki starts to help Hanzawa see beyond his immediate judgement of others, helping him develop into the caring individual we eventually see. He introduces him to other so-called delinquents. Hanzawa begins to reevaluate disciplinary committee purview.

Visiting the committee's room, Sasaki and Hanzawa are laughing over some paperwork. Some ridiculous report filed about feeling slighted by a stray cat. They smile, they tease, they almost kiss...

But Sasaki checks to see that it's okay. He doesn't want to be another negative life experience for Hanzawa. He wants him to want this too.

And Hanzawa does.

CW: nosebleed (uncolored)