Chapter Text
Rui woke that morning to the familiar sight of the floor of his garage.
“Must’ve fallen asleep while working again…”
Fortunately, he was already dressed in his uniform, not bothering to take it off after yesterday. He probably smelled awful, but Mizuki wouldn’t mind. Maybe.
“Mizuki…”
He muttered their name under his breath as he sat up, rubbing at his eyes. He narrowly avoided a screwdriver lying next to his head. Cleaning wasn’t something he ever felt like doing - his mom would take care of it occasionally, but he hated how she always moved everything around.
Rui never lost anything in his room. He knew exactly where everything was. It might have looked like chaos to anyone else, but to him, it was solace. He could create anything here. His dreams could become real.
Not his dreams of having actual friends- but all the other ones.
Yesterday hadn’t gone how he expected, but today, he didn’t have classes on his mind. He and Mizuki were going to play together. Hopefully. Rui wouldn’t be surprised if they bailed on him. But he still held on to a scintilla of hope.
Grabbing his bass case, he headed out the door.
The sunlight hit him harshly the moment he stepped onto the front porch. He winced. Morning was always too bright. But the sound of another door opening had him turning his head.
Nene was outside.
A rare sight, especially since she’d switched to online classes. She blinked at him, and opened her mouth, probably to say something.
Rui didn’t give her the chance.
He spun around and hurried down the steps, walking fast in the opposite direction. Maybe it made him a terrible person, but he didn’t want to talk to her. Not now.
As he entered Kamiyama Middle, he didn’t even bother going to his first class. Instead, he walked through the back hallway to get to the stairwell that had nearly led him to his demise at least three times in his years here.
Mizuki was already there, waiting.
“Look who showed up on time,” Mizuki said, raising an eyebrow. “I’m impressed.”
Rui smiled at them. “Can’t lie, I was a little worried you wouldn’t even show up.”
“Touché.” Mizuki tilted their head. “Well, I guess we’re both disappointments.”
Rui smirked and set down his case next to Mizuki’s. “You’ve got some cute little keychains on yours. How charming.”
“Yeah, most people aren’t really into it. But I love cute stuff. Those were actually a gift from my sister,” Mizuki said with a shy smile, glancing down at their guitar case. “I brought something to make it easier.”
Rui tilted his head. “Yes?”
“Mini amp.” Mizuki pulled a small, worn amplifier out of their bag and set it on the ground between them. “It’s not much, but it helps.”
Rui blinked. “You brought an amp... for us?”
“Well, yeah. We’re gonna need it if we want to sound like a real band.” Mizuki’s eyes sparkled. “You first.”
Taking out his bass and looping the strap over his neck, Rui plugged it into the mini-amp and gave it a cautious strum. The soft hum of the bass filled the air, amplified just enough to make the sound feel alive. He glanced over at Mizuki, who was already tuning their guitar with focused determination.
Rui took a deep breath and began playing a simple riff - the same one from the previous day. Mizuki nodded approvingly, then started layering in chords, their fingers moving confidently along the strings. The two of them fell into rhythm quickly, the rooftop becoming their stage.
“I still can’t get over how good you are. Your music makes me feel something. It’s so odd…” Mizuki said, staring at Rui with wide eyes.
“Just like little old me?” Rui batted his eyelashes.
“Oh definitely. Odd music for an odd dude,” Mizuki said with a grin, still strumming. “Hey.”
“Hm?” Rui looked up.
“I never thought I’d actually play with someone else. I mean like… ever.” Mizuki looked down at their shoes.
Rui paused, plucking a single low note thoughtfully. “Me neither. I like playing with you.”
Mizuki tilted their head. “Why me?”
Rui shrugged awkwardly. “You just get it. You don’t look at me like I’m gross, or like I’m a monster. Everyone else makes fun of me. That’s why I stay up here.”
Mizuki nodded. “I don’t know what’s wrong with everyone else, but I’m glad I’m not them. You’re not a monster, Rui. You’re just... you. And that’s enough.”
Rui laughed. “You sound like my mom.”
Mizuki cackled, breaking into a full laugh. Rui joined in, their voices echoing off the rooftop.
They both collapsed back onto the bench, laughing until their stomachs hurt and their cheeks ached.
As they packed up their things, Mizuki smiled. “Same time tomorrow?”
Rui nodded, barely hiding his excitement. “Only if you think you can keep up!”
“Oh, it’s on.” Mizuki gave him a competitive look. “See you tomorrow, weirdo!”
Rui waved as they walked off. He started heading home, a sudden pep in his step.
The two of them kept meeting up. Every day.
One afternoon, Rui surprised Mizuki by bringing a mini amp he’d built himself - a compact, sleek device that hummed with quiet power. Mizuki’s eyes lit up with joy and disbelief.
“Where did you even get the parts for this?” they asked, genuinely impressed.
Rui shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You know me. I like to tinker.”
From that day forward, they fell into a comfortable rhythm. After classes, or whenever they could steal the time, they met on the rooftop or in one of the empty practice rooms.
Rui would carry his custom amp and bass. Mizuki brought their guitar. And together, they built their sound - patching riffs and beats, stumbling through renditions their favorite songs, and laughing at their mistakes.
Sometimes, they didn’t even play. They just talked.
They rambled on about the things they loved, their life problems, and their deepest fears.
“Sometimes I think people just don’t get me,” Mizuki said one day, gently plucking a chord on their guitar. “I love cute things, wear fun clothes… and people just make fun of me for doing what I love. When I look in the mirror, I don’t really see me there.”
Rui nodded slowly, feeling a familiar weight in his chest. “Yeah… I get that feeling. Like who you’re supposed to be and who you really are don’t always line up.”
Mizuki looked at him curiously.
“People have always treated me like some kind of monster. I’ve always been really smart, but people think the things I like and do are weird and dangerous. I would never hurt someone.” Rui smiled weakly.
Mizuki’s fingers stilled on the strings, their expression softening. “You don’t seem like a monster to me.”
Rui let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thanks. That means more than you probably think.”
They sat in silence for a moment, letting the ambient hum of the amp fill the space between them.
“People say stuff about me too,” Mizuki said, voice quieter now. “Call me things behind my back. Say I’m trying too hard, or that I’m confused, or doing it for attention.”
Rui’s jaw tightened. “That’s messed up.”
“They don’t get it. It’s not about attention. It’s about… feeling like myself. Even if it makes everyone else uncomfortable.”
“I get that,” Rui said, staring down at his hands. “I like who I am. I like the things I like. But it’s hard when everyone keeps telling you that you’re wrong for it. That you're just doing it for a reaction. That you’re a joke.”
Mizuki smiled faintly, meeting his gaze. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty cool.”
Rui looked at them, a genuine laugh slipping out. “Careful, that almost sounded like a compliment.”
Mizuki smirked. “It was.”
They did that every day.
Rui and Mizuki built something together, something sacred.
Until graduation.
Rui had gone off to a prestigious academy in a different city, an hour or so away. It was a huge opportunity. One he deserved. But it meant he wouldn’t have time to make the train ride every day. Mizuki knew that. Still, it didn’t make it hurt any less.
He said he would call. That they’d talk all the time. But the messages stopped. Slowly at first. Then altogether.
Maybe he forgot.
Or maybe he found better things to do. Better people. If he’d made new friends, Mizuki wouldn’t matter anymore.
What a drag.