#triggering hcs

TW: Discussion of Hifumi’s trauma + Doppo’s depression

Doppo and Hifumi were friends since 2nd grade. They were in the same class, but it wasn’t until the two of them sat out Sports Day together that they ended up close. Hifumi was too nervous to run a race, and Doppo had sprained his ankle so the two just sat everything out together. They sort of just bonded from there.

Hifumi was a quiet kid, but would always light up when Doppo was around. Hifumi would always save a space for Doppo at lunch, or share his snacks, despite how Doppo was a little wary of someone being so kind to him. Doppo found it really strange that someone so quiet would be so so so loud only around him.

It was in middle school that things got a little harder for the both of them.  They grew a friendship group around Hifumi’s popularity, but nobody else was as close as those two. People found that out when kids started to gossip about how annoying Hifumi was. Doppo would always say they didn’t need anybody else, and Hifumi never believed him until friends started falling away from them.

They were the sort that did everything together. Not because it’s more fun with the other, but that it was safer. Hifumi had his own anxiety about being the centre of attention, but around Doppo, he felt a little more normal since Doppo just treated him like a friend and not someone so popular. It always ended up that in school projects they’d be partners - whether it was luck or deliberately, they’re still thankful that it was only them.

It was in highschool that the incident happened to Hifumi and he didn’t show up at school for a whole month. Doppo blames himself for it. He’d come by every day afterschool with homework and would bring it back, but he never pushed Hifumi to get out of his room. It was only when Doppo said ‘school’s no fun without you’ that Hifumi started to pick himself back up again.

Doppo’s depression kicked up in highschool. Pressure just kept building up on him to do better for people around him and he didn’t feel like he could do anything. Yet Hifumi would always tell him that ‘you’re enough’, hoping that Doppo would realise that nobody was disappointed in him. It’s still something they’re working on today, but Doppo’s glad that at least Hifumi has his back.

Their professions were something they both laughed at. Coming out of highschool together, they chose to go to the same university so they wouldn’t lose that sense of security. Ending up where they were, there was no way they could’ve predicted things, but they’re glad that they’re stable together.

“Of course Doppo’s gonna be a salaryman! Look at how hardworking you are.”

“Well, someone as flashy as you’s definitely gonna be the number one host.”

The one thing that remained constant with the two of them is... how stupid they are at karaoke together. Ever since highschool, they’ve always had that tradition of going at least twice a month to blow off steam and literally scream in the booth. The old place that they frequented is still there after almost a decade. They joke a lot about how when that place shuts down, it’ll be a curse for their friendship. It’ll only ever be a joke to them, because there’s no doubt in their mind that they’ll be friends till the very end.