Chapter Text
"You're leaving?"
Naegi looked up at the boy standing in front of him in disbelief, scrambling his mind for some sort of rebuttal that would make Togami need to stay.
"My father wants me to go with him to the United States for a year... maybe two."
Togami couldn't help but avert his gaze as to not meet Naegi's. Telling his dearest friend that he had to leave him for such a long period of time was difficult for the both of them, even more so as it was a decision sprung onto Togami only a day before he had to leave for the trip.
They had come to the playground as they always did, often playing together while their parents were off doing whatever parents did when they weren't taking care of their children (work, in this case). Ever since there was a new playground built close by, the other one had practically been abandoned. From that day onward, Togami and Naegi designated it their sanctuary. Although they both had other friends, they didn't dare to tell them about this place. It was too important to the both of them, and by inviting more people to hang out there it would easily lose its meaning.
Still, telling his best friend down such important news still killed the mood as much as inviting new people did.
Eventually, Togami glanced over at the other boy, concerned. Now it felt too awkward to not be looking at him. Naegi sat down on one of the swings and held his hand up in an attempt to shield his face from Togami's view, but he could still tell that he was on the verge of crying. Geez, he really hated seeing Naegi like this... it was so uncharacteristic of his usual smiley, cheery self. He usually always had some funny comment to make about even the worst situations, but not all he was doing was crying.
Togami couldn't bare to let it stay that way. He sat down next to him on the other swing, still looking over at Naegi.
"But don't worry, Makoto. We'll see each other again!" Togami's answers had always been short and blunt, but even something of this magnitude caused him to try and comfort Naegi with the most reassuring words he could muster the courage up to say. Anything more and he probably would have bursted out crying, too.
"But who will I hang out with at the playground with once you leave?"
Togami didn't even want to think about that, either. This place was important to the both of them, and he sure as hell didn't want Naegi to stop enjoying the seclusion of this place while he was gone.
"You can guard it until I come back! You'll be the best guard ever, and I'll be back before you know it. It'll be like I never left."
Togami knew that all of these words he was saying only had hollow meaning, but saying them in the moment might still give Naegi a little bit of hope; and that's all Togami really wanted right now.
"Do you really think so?"
That little bit further that Togami had pushed in order to make Naegi happy had worked, seemingly. Albeit surprised to see the other make such a quick recovery, Togami stayed quite optimistic as to not cause Naegi to cry again.
"Yeah, I'm sure of it."
***
It was the day. Togami had been instructed by his mother to dress in his nicest clothing, stay as expressionless as possible and maintain a professional state of interaction with his father. His own father.
It felt more like he was dressing for a boss rather than his own dad, but of course he would never be permitted to say such a thing aloud. If Togami did, he'd probably be exiled from the family as most of his other siblings had been.
What a dreadful thing to think about.
Right as he was considering running away then and there, a black SUV pulled up into the driveway and his mother ushered him toward the car door. Well, this was it.
Right as Togami was approaching the car though, Naegi came running at him — seemingly as fast as he could, too.
"Byakuya, wait! I have something to give to you!"
Once he had gotten Togami's attention, Naegi smiled brightly and came to a stop with the other boy's assistance.
"I have something to give to you— wait, are you wearing a suit?" Naegi spoke through wheezes, but that didn't stop Togami's fancy clothing from taking his notice.
"Erm... yeah." Togami flushed a bright red color. Boy it was embarrassing to be seen in such fancy attire, especially when it was for something like meeting your father. Normal boys didn't need to do this. Regardless, dressing in such formal attire was something that Togami was completely new to. Well, all of the Togami children were always held to impossible standards anyway — it was unsurprising that dressing "nicely" would be on that list.
"That wasn't my point, sorry. I wanted to give you this." Naegi held out a letter with something tucked inside of it.
"Open it when you get to America. Oh, and try to enjoy yourself without me." Naegi lingered in front of Togami. Honestly, he didn't mind whatsoever. He wanted to savor every last moment he had with Naegi, whether it meant standing in silence or playing in the playground by themselves again.
Sadly, he could only dream.
The only thing greeting him once the boys had both said their farewells was Togami's stern father waiting for him in the car.
He doubted that his father even remembered how old he was, or even his name. Will all of the children he had, he was simply just labelled as "one of the good ones" in his father's eyes... but maybe that was enough. All he needed to do was get past this year of staying in the United States and he'd be back in Japan.
Just like he'd told Naegi, he'd be back before he knew it.
"... It'll be like I never left."