Ekusu

I don’t have the plot fully developed but imagine Bird had to leave the team and had to join the Shiroboshi School by Omega’s side (self-sacrifice). But then boom… something goes horribly wrong while he’s there and he unfortunately dies. Then we have to see the reaction of Team Persona… the person’s reaction I wanna see the most is definitely Ekusu!

Okay so. While Bird was on Omega’s side he was being trained a different way to level up his skills. Eventually he’s being pushed to go all the way atop of the X Tower all on his own so Persona gets to see him do his matches and all. Tenka feels awful seeing the light slowly leave Bird’s eyes with each match he takes. Everyone wants to beat the fuck out of Zodiac and yank Bird back but they have to focus on taking them down first.

But then, Bird was dragged into Shadow Pro matches.

Chrome, having also been in the Underground, caught wind of the match and who Bird was battling against. As soon as he heard WHERE they were battling, Chrome BOLTED towards the scene. The place that Bird was in was notorious for being dangerous. Zodiac unfortunately thought this was a bluff and put Bird there to see “how tough” Bird could be.

But then Chrome was caught. Luckily for him Shieru had been searching for him (for some reason) and found him! Chrome urged Shieru to get someone else involved preferably the authorities but Shieru knew from the look on Chrome’s face that Bird had no time to wait around.

Shieru dashed towards the scene and he saw Bird… and he also saw the accident happen right before his eyes.

What was the accident? Idk man but seeing someone die in any way is already traumatizing and I don’t think I’d wanna go in detail anyways

But because of this incident, and Persona’s eventual win against Zodiac and everyone’s efforts to not let this slide under everything, Zodiac was exposed along with all those who worked with them.

Tenka stays at Komaba with Persona but she often keeps out of sight. Why? Because she feels like if she had never come to Persona for help, Bird would not have eventually gone with Zodiac and died trying to protect Persona.

Besides… Multi and Ekusu aren’t keen on looking at the person who brought this misfortune onto their close knit friendship with Bird. Especially Ekusu, who stares ahead and doesn’t say a word to Tenka.

Multi and Ekusu don’t share a room but they do often sleep in the same room together, mostly due to Multi having nightmares about Bird and nightmares about Ekusu being ripped away from her the same way. Ekusu prefers to be alone this entire time but he never says no to her to let Multi heal faster.

Chrome and Shieru both feel guilty about not getting there sooner but Shieru saw it actually happen so he’s under constant care and supervision of both Chrome and Shiguru. They can only be there for him because what the hell can they do now???

Multi eventually leaves Komaba for a brief period of time and joins Pendragon. Tenka well… she goes back to the Shiroboshi School to think about things. Where it went wrong. What she could have done. What else lies ahead.

Ekusu is left alone in Komaba with Taisho and Meiko but he couldn’t really care less

All he can think about is Bird

All he can think about as time passes is how Blading is just himself and a stranger again. Blading doesn’t involve Ekusu and Bird together.

It doesn’t matter how many times Ekusu yaps out loud to himself, they’re meaningless words that have nowhere to go despite their destination being the same boy Ekusu loved.

Ekusu remembers the day that Bird left, and how Bird looked at him with such fierce affection and confidence. Ekusu thought that the “I’ll see you guys in a bit!” was true because Bird, the most determined person ever, had never failed to keep his word before. Therefore, he could not break this promise… right?

Maybe if Ekusu had paid attention to the ache in his heart once Bird stepped foot outside Komaba Sushi, maybe if he’d made these feelings clear for Bird to see, maybe if that moment had stretched a little longer…

Even when Ekusu stands in front of where his best friend lies, Ekusu refuses to say goodbye.