#blueveines

It was late at the moment. While Kaede normally didn’t pay mind to that if she was still busy; she was actually trying to sleep, yet after a near hour or tossing and turning in bed, she just couldn’t. A sigh of defeat leaving her, she changed out of her pajamas and threw on a simple shirt and shorts, along with a light jacket. Maybe a night stroll through the nearby park would help to make her sleepier, she thought to herself.

Just as she was about to get up and leave her dorm, a thought crossed her mind: if Shuichi was still up... maybe the could take a stroll together. “.......” She gulps nervously at the thought, since it’d be with the guy that she’s been crushing harder and harder on. To the point that... she’s sure she’s in love with him. Not that Shuichi knows that, yet... which makes the thought of asking him all the more nerve-wrecking.

Quickly shaking her head, she paps her cheeks and exhales. “N-No chickening out... just text him, already!” She tells herself, before taking out her cellphone. Another exhale, she goes to his contacts and starts typing:

{ TXT: Shuichi! 💞 } hey, Shuichi. ...are you still up? I  can’t sleep, so I was going to take a walk through the park. if you want, maybe...

{ TXT: Shuichi! 💞 } ...we can take a stroll together? it’s okay if not!! I know it’s real late, and you’re probably busy... but just wondering!!!

thinking before he speaks, is not a strong suit. has never been a strong suit. likely never will be. he’s impulsive and abrasive, and it makes him harsh at times, even when he isn’t meaning to be. a moment’s irritation is liable to who knows what spilling from his mouth.

and this time is no different.

he’s watching goro work on yet another case - how many is he even balancing right now? and asking incessant questions about the justice system and it’s all so stupid and complicated and unfair. he’s got no clue when the last time goro slept was, and for what? some bullshit case a jury might cast out even if the person is guilty? it plucks at his impatience - at the rebellion that lives in his heart.

it’s not goro’s fault the system is shitty and broken. it’s built to benefit self serving rich assholes. but something about watching goro work himself to the bone over this shit pisses him off. when the thieves were around - that was change in action! their justice was swift and public!

the whole court and investigation system seems so patronizing. he hates it, hates watching goro tirelessly uphold it, saying nothing as he’s handed more than he can reasonably do, lets himself be taken advantage of because the system is stupid and shitty and he’s trying to help people. and ryuji knows he’s trying to help - he does. but damnit he’s pissed seeing goro tied to some shitty bureaucracy.

he’s opening his mouth before he can think better of it, and regrets it instantly. watches the way the blood seems to leave his companion’s face, the way his hands shake, and his eyes seem to glisten more than they should. he fucked up. again. he’s always such an impulsive fuck up.

“ wait - man, i’m sorry. that’s not what i meant. “ ryuji is already back tracking, guilt swelling in his chest. this is a new goro, and he hates it - hates to see it because of his own stupid, shitty impulsive words.

“ don’t - don’t leave. “ the use of his surname stings more than he’d like to admit. “ i wasn’t thinkin’, okay? it’s not about you. ” he finds himself hovering, goro probably doesn’t want to be touched right now. damn it.

“Wait, so you just grew a body?!”

Akechi let out a soft exhale and his finger looped around the fabric to loosen his tie, to ease the pressure. Hot summer air had been trapped inside the train and made the inside of the vehicle stuffy. Nothing unusual for Tokyo, even this late in the evening. It was a bit embarrassing however, since it was so packed he ended up squeezed against his company. He chose not to comment on the fact that the heat of Kurusu’s body didn’t help in this weather.

A visit to the jazz club had turned into some fun and lengthy conversations alongside iced drinks. They had agreed on making their way to Shibuya station together, since that was where their paths parted. But despite the hours they had spent together, Akechi felt a certain unease tightening his chest, as if he wasn’t done here yet. It was a Friday evening, so staying out a bit longer wouldn’t necessarily interrupt his routine, but still... it had been quite enough already for today, correct? 

Once they were freed from their fiery prison and arrived in front of the subway’s gates, he shifted from foot to foot, clasping the case in his hand. They had been awfully quiet on the ride. His gut told him Kurusu had something to say too, but...

“ Kurusu-kun. I ‒ ”, he stopped dead in his tracks as he caught himself about to make a proposal. They were getting too close, weren’t they? He shouldn’t.

               Realizing she had a crush on Yukiko was probably one of the hardest realizations she had come to. The signs had been there for years -- Her protective almost co-dependent relationship with Yukiko that could only be solved through a Shadow’s intermission was one. The fact that she and Yukiko still spent so much time together following that was another. How often she brought Yukiko up to the point where the other party was clearly tired of it when she was not there definitely counted. 

And the sinking pit she got in her stomach whenever a boy showed true interest in her. She called it jealousy of Yukiko’s natural beauty and elegance at one point in her life and said it was only because they didn’t see Yukiko’s faults that they were so enamored. Yet, when her little quirks were pointed out as lessening her charm she was suddenly angry. Everything that made up Yukiko was special, was unique, and completely beautiful and -- Chie was head over heals for her. 

It had been that way for a while now, she couldn’t pinpoint any right moment where it started, maybe it had always been there. Now, she felt like another cog in the wheel of people who felt something for Yukiko... She supposed the only difference was she knew Yukiko far better than any of them. But Yukiko’s shadow said it herself : She was no longer Chie’s prince because Chie could not rescue her. What a joke she felt like using that as any kind of reasoning, a time Yukiko just wished everyone would forget. 

She had prepared a text to Yukiko’s number that she had every intention to delete but just as she fidgeted nervously in place her thumb accidentally hit the send button instead of the backspace.

sms Yukiko: Hey Yukiko, can you come meet me at Samegawa Riverbank ? It’s a little urgent.

Chie could only scream receiving a scolding from downstairs from her mother. No no no no ! Wasn’t there any way to recall a message ! Nope nope nope she could only try clean up.

sms Yukiko: I mean not urgent ! haha you don’t have to come.