Chapter Text
It was maybe about 11:00 pm when Inahata decided to get out of the house and go to the convenience store to buy some food. He wasn’t really feeling like cooking tonight so he put on a coat and made his way.
As he walked, he could see some poles with some flyers. Some were advertisements and some were about a new movie coming out, but his eyes landed on one that seemed placed there recently. It was a flier about someone missing, and that someone was Natsuki Subaru.
He couldn’t help but let a sigh escape his lips. It’s been a year since he disappeared and from what he heard, nothing new was ever found. “The guy just disappeared out of nowhere,” the rumors said. A heavy feeling weighed on his chest. Maybe, just maybe, if he continued talking to him after that day, maybe if he hadn’t ignored him, maybe-
He took a deep breath, and let it all out.
There was no point in worrying and making up all these what-if scenarios in his head. Natsuki Subaru has been missing for a year now, probably dead even. Nothing he could do would ever change that. All he could do was hope that they would find his body so Natsuki-san’s parents could get some closure.
He sighed and entered the store.
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He spent a long time in the store. He wanted to try something different but ultimately ended up choosing the same thing he normally does, tonkotsu. He sighed, a bit disappointed in himself. He exited the store and returned his money to his wallet, then waited on the sidewalk as cars and trucks drove by.
As another car passed by, he caught a glimpse of someone wearing orange and green across the road. Was he imagining things? He hadn’t seen anyone walk there…More cars drove by, interrupting his thoughts. He shook his head. I’m seeing things… he thought. It made sense though. He hadn’t been sleeping properly for like, this past year.
“Where am I?”
Inahata heard. The voice was familiar, but he couldn’t exactly remember whose… Okay, so he wasn’t hallucinating. Maybe he really just didn’t notice somebody wearing bright orange across the street walking on the other side. At least he can confirm that his horrible sleep schedule wasn’t affecting his eyes or anything.
When all the vehicles had finally passed, he looked up, took one step forward, and immediately froze.
There stood across him a guy his age wearing a bright orange scarf, green jacket, grey button-up shirt, and a pair of leather boots.
A familiar face he had not seen for over a year.
Someone who he had believed to be dead.
“Natsuki-san..?”
Maybe the lack of sleep really was getting to him.