Nunchi Goya

“I will never not be strong enough again.”

Yuuji, Nobara, and Megumi walked down the sidewalk toward the training field. Megumi, sullen as ever, Nobara poking fun at Yuuji from around Megumi only glancing up for agreement and overtly ignoring any disagreement from him.

Yuuji was always liked, no one had ever really tried to pick an actual fight with him, him and he had people that liked to hang out with him but there was always a wall. He was always there. Just never actually apart. That was fine. He could just enjoy the view. Nobara laughing, Megumi’s faint smiles every once in awhile.

“I’m gonna kick your ass today, Yuuji.” Nobara stuck her tongue out at him. Megumi rolled his eyes.

“Only if it’s a match of cursed energy.” He reminded her. He always reminded her and everyone else. As if to remind Yuuji himself that he had his strengths too.

Up ahead the sidewalk slimmed out, only enough room for two, at least comfortably. Yuuji started to fall back, to walk behind. The consequence of being inconsequential. He was fine watching his friends when he needed to.

Megumi’s hand closed around his arm and pulled him forward, squishing closer to Nobara who moved over to the very edge so that they could all walk together.

Yuuji started at Megumi’s hand for a few seconds and then back to him. He was staring ahead, but he must have felt Yuuji’s gaze because he glanced at him. Yuuji couldn’t help but smile as Megumi held onto him, keeping him at his side even if they were all squished.

“Don’t walk behind me.” Megumi dropped his arm. “If you’re my friend, you’ll stay beside me.”

Tamotsu: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Ren smiles bright as the freakin sun

Ren: Kind

Tamotsu. grin falls.

Tamotsu: I don’t reccomend it.”

Kaiyo *glances irritated at Tamotsu*

Tamotsu: How much sugar and milk can i add into my coffee before its no longer coffee?

Kaiyo: Tamo… the limit does not exist

Kei stares at Ren

Ren and Kei stare at Iku

Kei: it's a good question

Iku squints

Iku: is the threat of salmonella all it takes to stop you?

Ren shrugs

Ren: I don't want to get salmonella

Iku: picking too many fights gives you salmonella

Ren *alarmed*: it does

She can’t help but smile with him

I couldn’t either. the second I saw it, I couldn’t look away.

Kei (the distant one) watching the friends he never dared to dream of

Kei: I’m not really a happy person… its- its kind of hard to be happy sometimes

*Iku and Ren exchanging glances, sitting up to listen to their friend*

Kei: *nervous laugh*

Kei: My brain won’t let me. but… with you guys around.

Kei *glancing between Ren and Iku*

Kei: I feel like… like I can do anything… everythins a little bit easier with you guys.

*Ren and Iku giving him the chance to say everything he wants to before moving*

Kei: I do.

Iku: What about your parents.

Kei: What about them?

Iku: you’re what? Ten? Eleven?

Kei *snaps*: twelve…

Kei: who takes care of you?

Iku: I took care of me.

Kei: Well… I took care of me

Kei: yep

Iku: they said no.

Kei: also yep

Iku: ... So you made mac n’ cheese

Kei: go on.

Iku: and they came down and took a bowl of it! Which you-

Kei: took my mac n cheese back from that btch and told them to make their own damn cheesy noodles.

Iku: but Ren asked for some...?

Kei: *throws hands in sir*

Ren: Mama didn’t raise no fkn btch, we keep going

Iku: Nononono, mamma raised a btch, lets go

Ren: Mama didn’t raise nobody actually, my mom was absent.