#splendid work

He was often told he had anger issues, and he did when he was a kid, but since befriending Akira he had calmed down. Or, he liked to think he had. 

But this was the final straw- or whatever the English phrase was. He was too pissed to think about his English lessons. 

Morgana had insulted him one too many time- called him useless and stupid and a bunch of other shit that never failed to get under his skin and worm its way into his head. 

He had snapped, cussing Morgana out before storming off, down and out of LeBlanc and onto the streets of Yongen. Somehow, he ended up in the city, desperate to get as far away from the others as he could. 

He just needed to cool down- he had seen the way Futaba flinched away from him, the panic in Yusuke’s eyes when he started shouting. Even Ann had backed away a bit. He had scared them. He had scared his friends, the people he swore to himself to protect- 

“Sakamoto-kun?” 

Ryuji looked up from the ground, pausing his frantic pacing. “Okumura-senpai?” 

Haru Okumura stood in front of him, carrying a small white bag. Well, that explained what she was doing out so late. 

“What are you doing out at this hour, Sakamoto-kun?” Okumura-senpai asked, tilting her head slightly. Ryuji looked away- he couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. 

“Uh- takin’ a walk... And I toldja you can call me Ryuji, Okumura-senpai.” 

He didn’t have to look at her to know she was smiling. “And I told you that you can call me Haru.” 

“Uh- right. Sorry, Ok- Haru.” He scuffed his foot on the path, stuffing his hands into his pockets. His knee was effin’ killing him, the usual dull ache amplified into a sharp stabbing that only happened when he ran. He shouldn’t have run. 

“You never answered my question. Why are you out so late, Ryuji-kun?” Haru asked, her voice softer. His chest hurt. Why had he run? 

“...Had an argument. Lost my cool a bit ‘n stormed out,” he mumbled. He looked up to see Haru moving closer, resting her hands on his shoulders. 

“What was the argument about?” She asked. He sighed, letting himself relax. Haru wouldn’t judge him for what he said. He was safe with her. 

“It just- got too much, y’know? Mona kept effin’ talkin’ shit about me and everyone else just let ‘im! It’s like I’m nothin’ but a damn punching bag sometimes. I lost my shit and started yellin’ at Mona a bunch and ran away before anyone else could say anything. It was probably an asshole move, but I’m so tired of bein’ called a useless stupid monkey that I really don’t give a shit about that anymore.” 

He hadn’t realised how heated he was about the whole thing until he was allowed to talk about it- as soon as Haru asked, he couldn’t hold back from talking about it. 

Haru scowled. “Do you need me to speak with them?” She asked, her tone sending chills down Ryuji’s spine. He knew exactly what she meant- and it didn’t exactly entail a friendly chat over coffee. 

“No-! No, it’s-” He stopped himself mid-sentence, sighing. It wasn’t fine, not really. Even Ann’s lighthearted jokes about him being stupid ate at his self-esteem. It hurt, more than he cared to admit. “...come with me to talk to them later this week. I’ll, uh- text you when I’m ready.” 

Haru’s expression softened immediately, and she pulled him into a hug. Her arms were looped around his neck, his head resting on her shoulder. “Of course I will be there for you, Ryuji-kun. Just let me know when you’re ready, okay?” 

Ryuji nodded, hugging her back. “Yeah. Uh- thanks, Haru. You’re a good friend,” he mumbled. Was he crying? He couldn’t tell. He needed to get home soon or his ma would start to worry. 

“You ought to get home. Goodnight, Ryuji-kun.” Haru released him, a small smile on her face. Ryuji couldn’t help but grin back, his chest significantly less tight than before. 

“G’night, Haru.” 

That night, Ryuji checked his phone. Several missed calls, a bunch of unread text messages, and multiple new voicemails. 

He ignored them all, sleeping better than he had in a while. 

So....I cried. But then again, who hasn't? 

I hardly cry reading fics but this was just so sad ;A;

I can imagine Kyungsoo's big round eyes staring up at Jongin every time they meet, with Kyungsoo stuttering and asking Jongin who he was. And Jongin would reply with a smile that holds a mixture of emotions: joy, concern, sadness, disappointment etc as he answers his hyung.

I can visualise them in each other's company, talking about today and tomorrow. I can picture Jongin telling Kyungsoo that he need only to remember tomorrow and leave yesterday to Jongin. But by the time tomorrow comes, Kyungsoo will be questioning about Jongin skeptically again.

I can see Kyungsoo trying hard not to fall asleep because once he does, he cannot remember. He cannot remember Jongin, cannot remember the promises they made, cannot remember the memories they created together...

I can picture Jongin trying his best to hang onto that last bit of his life just so he can see Kyungsoo a little more. And when he ran away from the hospital one day to look for Kyungsoo, with that small glint of hope, only to have himself forgotten again. His dejected face just keeps haunting my mind.

I can imagine Jongin's shock when Kyungsoo remembered something, though unbeknownst to Kyungsoo. And I can picture his face, with a light smile before he leaves and Kyungsoo doesn't remember him, on a conscious level at least.

I can visualise Kyungsoo lost in his world where nothing moves on for him yet he knows he's missing something extremely important during that period of stagnant time. His confused, forlorn look. His unknowingly aching heart... And I wonder if Jongin (in the story) sees it from where he is after he left and if he was keeping watch on Kyungsoo then; even though his hyung doesn't remember him in his mind but in Kyungsoo's heart, he was once there.