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a year ago was the year that he lost his star, though it is very hard and depressing not having the enthusiastic and obnoxious tsukasa around, he and the rest of the troupe kept making their shows and decided to continue wonder x showtime, and eventually being able to learn how to move on. not only for their own sakes, but for tsukasa's too. today, he wanted to visit him, telling him how much they've improved over the year.
he was hit with the cold wind reminding him that it is December. it was also December when tsukasa eventually passed. he walked calmly, hearing the cars and the noise of the snow that he steps on, he was wearing a scarf and was still wearing his school uniform. "meow?" he stopped and looked at the noise, it was a white cat, and it was holding some sort of keychain. the keychain shines brightly, rui gets closer to the cat and crouches, "hey there little guy" as he was petting the cat, the cat puts the keychain to the ground, and pointed at it using its paws, as if it wants rui to take it.
he takes the keychain and stood up, bringing the ornament closer to his face so he could look at it more clearly without snow blocking his view, the star was shining, reflecting the lights thats near him, it reminded him of someone. he smiled softly and looked down to the cat who was circling his legs, he gives it one last pet before putting the star in his pocket and continued his journey to the star's funeral. as he was walking he noticed how warm he feels, as if someone is hugging him ever so tightly.
when he arrives he noticed the little sister of tsukasa, saki tenma. she seemed to have put a flower bouquet near the headstone, rui's heart sinks, he knows how much saki has been effected by her dear brother's death, but rui checks up on her every once in a while, she was always grateful whenever rui came and visits her and even consider rui close. she also learned how to move on, but she's still saddened by the thought of her brother not being there for her anymore. or that she wont be able to see him ever again. rui noticed how saki's hand was shaking, so he decided to come over and calm her down.
"it'll be okay, saki" saki's hand suddenly stopped shaking as she looked who was putting their hand on her shoulder, "ah rui! you scared me.." she said with a smile on her face "and i know it'll all be okay, but... it gets lonely too you know.." rui walked next to her so he could see the grave more clearly. "i get it, but I'll also be here, not only me but everyone of your friends" he looked at saki with a warm smile on his face, she sighed with a smile on her face, now showing more warmth than coldness.
the two stood in a comfortable silence for a little while, that was until saki broke the silence "ah!" she said as if she just remembered something, he looked curiously at her, "here, me and my parents found this and that this letter is for you... its from tsukasa" rui's eyes widened, his hand trembled in his jacket's pocket, eventually he took the letter gently, looking at the back of the letter. "tsukasa tenma ☆"
----
its been a couple weeks since he received the letter, he wasn't ready for the emotional damage he's going to get, but as rui walked home from school, he searched for the letter, it was in his backpack, placed nicely in the front pocket. he gets the letter out and took a deep breath.
"dear rui kamishiro"
they were right about the letter being for rui.
"its kind of weird to write a whole letter for someone who you were just with..." rui blinked, feeling his heart burn a little "you're the worst. dumb, crazy, weirdo" he smiled, 'why would you write a letter just to insult me?' rui shook his head and started reading again "when i first meet you, i was just a lonely kid, i saw you and mizuki on the rooftops, you guys were like peas in a pod, it would be too cruel for me to interrupt a beautiful friendship."
"while i was still in middle school, i had to take operations, surgery or whatever those are, i heard my parents crying, and then i realized how little time i had in this earth. i completely missed out on the middle school life experience, so i couldn't talk or confront you." rui's eyes started to burn a little, but he keeps on reading
"but i ran away.
i remembered wanting to be a star and make everyone smile." the wind picked up behind rui, and he continues reading with a calm face "i do NOT want to go to space filled with regrets, so i tried doing everything that i can. i tried singing, i tried to play piano, i buy plushies and goes to the arcade with saki and touya but.."
"and then i meet you, again! this time we're actually talking. your hair wasn't as messy as it is in the past, you've gotten way taller too! still, your dumb, crazy, weirdo... but im happy that i found you, really!" rui's grip on the letter slowly tightened, he was really trying not to cry.
"when we had our fight that day, i was really hurt by your words, but it made me remember why i want to become a star! I'm really thankful its you who reminded me."
"but, i keep on lying to you, to everyone, that im fine. really im not fine at all.. i know that i could collapse at any moment." rui stopped reading and found himself stumbling over to a place where he and tsukasa would occasionally meet up
after looking at the place, he continues reading "please apologize to saki for me, shes the greatest sister anyone could ever ask for. and im really sorry that she have to deal with her brother being gone. but with leo/need being around, im sure she'll get over it quickly."
"please apologize to mizuki too, i dont want them to feel like im taking you away from them, im sure that they would feel a little low if someone just took your best friend like that... and apologize to everyone i know, they all mean so much to me, i dont think i can even describe it in one word." rui frowns at the letter, feeling the warm but bitter words hitting his chest.
"since we first meet, you were meaner, and denser, and more stubborn, and more crazier
And softer. and more masculine. and sweet. remember that one time when we were going back in time because we need more tsukasa's? it was a crazy day, we ended up using robokasa or whatever its name is!" rui's smile started to show even more as he reads "ah, and when we almost blowed up the school? or when we sung twinkle twinkle little star as i played it on my piano? i loved every single moment we had together." if rui isn't smiling before, was definitely smiling now. "that one time, when we acted as romeo and Juliet, there was a spark there somewhere, i know there is."
"its strange, im an actor but my cherished memories is when im with you or the troupe, these are such forgettable scenes, its weird isn't it?"
"its not forgettable at all." rui responded.
"what do you think? do you think that i was able to become a star?"
"i think so." he said with a smile
"i wonder if i ever became your star."
"yes, you did"
"i wonder if you'll still remember me."
"of course i will."
"please don’t forget me."
"even if i forget, you'd probably haunt me anyway."
"promise me you won’t forget me."
"i promise."
"I'm glad it was you. hope this reached you, rui kamishiro."
"i love you, i love you, i love you!!!!!!!!" rui's eyes widened, his ears turning red as he continued reading.
"thank you for being there for me, thank you for your encouragement, thank you for everything. im sorry i hit you so much. im sorry i keep on yelling at you. im sorry for being stubborn. im sorry i was a coward. im sorry i was so selfish"
"im so so so sorry!!" he heard a voice infront of him, he was near a train track and tsukasa was on the other side. the wind made his hair flow like an angel, rui felt his eyes glistening but no tears are able to get out. "and.. thank you, again."
"... signed, tsukasa tenma" he said muttering under his breath. he was smiling, he couldn't stop doing so. "rui!!!" he snapped back into reality when a train passed, he looked behind him to find nene and emu running to him, "we have planned to go to a cafe in a few minutes idiot.." rui smiled softly at them, "yea, thanks for reminding me."
the three of them walked to the cafe they wanted to go to, rui looked at the sky, someone told him that whenever someone died, they'll turn into a star in the sky. he took out the star keychain and hope, that tsukasa has finally become a star. out there, in the endless universe. where he could shine as bright as he wants.