Chapter Text
Hinata had known Komaeda for about five years now. Ever since Kibougamine, where they both had successfully graduated and been given a chance to be able to move on in their lives and do something useful.
Komaeda didn't believe he could do those last things, but Hinata was sure he could. Komaeda's disbelief of that fact had brought them both here, sitting on a cold, uncomfortable booth in an nearly deserted diner.
They sat next to the window, which showcased a dismal, gray sky, and rain pouring down onto the streets, filled with drenched commuters and cars. One of the boys was looked out the window, silent, and the other was mumbling something about his job, fiddling with his utensils and occasionally dropping them, having to pick them up off the table and repeat the cycle.
His mumbling and fiddling stopped, which the other vaguely noted. This silence was interrupted by- you probably guessed it- Hinata once again, whose boyish voice filled the sorry excuse for a restaurant.
"Have you gotten a job yet?"
His answer was a simple shake of the head. This irked him, and he spoke again, in a slightly more irritated tone.
"Hey. You haven't spoken all day."
This time it was a nod, white hair bouncing almost playfully along with it.
This grated on his nerves more so, and he snapped a time or two, to see if he would turn, to which nothing happens. In a flash, he slams his hands down on the table, which catches the attention of both Komaeda, who finally turns, and the cashier, who wisely decides to glance away and pretend she's doing her job.
"Damnit, Komaeda. Talk to me for once. Please."
Komaeda simply stares at him like a deer caught in the headlights of Hinata's frustration. After a few, long moments of his bewildered gaze conflicting with the brunet's he finally opens his mouth to speak.
"My apologies, Hinata-kun."
But... that's it. An awkward silence fills the air once more.
"Look, is something wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, I assure you."
"You can tell me."
"If there was, I wouldn't like to bother you with such... trivial things."
"Your feelings aren't 'trivial'. They're important. Spit it out." Hinata growled, though non-threateningly.
Komaeda sighs, his airy voice filling the air again.
"No, I have not gotten a job. I haven't bothered with it, because I'm useless, Hinata-kun. I've said the same things since Kibougamine; I am and always will be but another person on the streets of Japan, and who has no skills and is worthless."
"You won't, and you aren't. You could make a difference, if you bothered to try."
"..."
"Please. Try, at least."
"For you, Hi-"
"Don't do it for me, do it for yourself. Stop doing things for other people."
Komaeda's usually cloudy eyes seemed to shine as he and Hinata exited the diner.