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Io’s battle lover suit was soaked by rain, hair sticking to his face, but he couldn’t even feel it. The coldness of his body had nothing to do with why he was shaking so badly.
He didn’t want to believe what he was looking at. His mind could simply not process it, because there was no way that his best friend was lying on the ground dead.
“R-ryuu…” He crawled towards that touch of pink contrasting against the grey pavement. It was such a bright color…
But the red blotches against the white of the suit were brighter.
Io's movements were weak, fearful, but persistent with the hope that when he reached the other’s side he would be alright.
He had to be.
“R-ryuu…” Io’s hand trembled as he reached out for the boy, arm buckling under him and falling for a moment before forcing himself back up and struggling to continuing his movement. “Ryuu…”
Then he had reached him, but the pink haired battle lover had not stirred. Io called out again, voice hoarse. His eyes watered against his will, because he was not going to cry. Because Ryuu would be fine. He’d be-
Io couldn’t look away from his friend’s face. His best friend, who was always so expressive, and fired up, and alive, was now…
“Ryuu...” Io gripped the boy’s shoulders, but the other did not react. As Io pulled Ryuu towards him, that broken body gave fully into gravity; limbs lulling limply and head falling back. Io gave a painful breath that was partly a sob.
“Ryuu! Ryuu! Ryuu!” He shook the boy desperately, tears finally falling freely from his eyes. “Please! Please! Ryuu!”
But there would be no answer from the body in his arms, and the realization hit Io with a terrible force. He cried out in more pain than he had ever experienced in his life.
“Io! Io!”
Ryuu shook his friend vigorously, but the boy was completely out of it. His eyes were shut tight as he whined and moved from side to side senselessly. Ryuu had never felt so frightened in his life.
“Please! Snap out of it, Io!”
The monster cackled over their heads, but Ryuu barely registered it. His eyes could only take in the pained features of his friend and the absolute misery in his voice. Every sound tugged violently at his heart, and although he wasn't aware of it his expression was quite similar to Io’s own.
“There’s no way to wake him! He will be stuck in his worst nightmare, forever!”
Ryuu cursed, a mixed feeling of blazing anger and freezing worry consuming him. He shook Io again more desperately.
“Wake up, Io! Please wake up!”
And then the green haired boy began to sob, and Ryuu thought he might actually die out of how heart wrenching it was. Tears were forming in his own eyes out of utter helplessness and fear.
“Io! Io!”
En cursed as he watched the scene, turning to the others.
“Let’s go!” He yelled.
“But Ryuu senpai-” Yumoto began.
“He’s too out of it! Come on!”
And certainly, Ryuu did not even noticed them jump towards the monster as he continued to shake his friend.
Io didn’t know anything could hurt this bad. His hands gripped Ryuu’s shoulders like a lifeline, almost as if he was scared that if he let go the boy would disappear.
But he is already gone…
Io chocked on his breath and could no longer tell the wetness of rain from tears.
“Ryuu, please…” He sobbed, nearing the other boy. He pressed his forehead against Ryuu’s, feeling the way his tears dripped onto the other’s face.
“Please wake up…” He whispered. Slowly, a hand lifted away from Ryuu’s shoulder and carefully cradled the boy’s cheek. “Please…”
He was leaning closer now, and there was only the ghost of a sensation on his lips before everything went dark.
“Io!”
Io’s eyelids fluttered, struggling to stay open. He felt out of breath, and his face was wet with tears. None of that mattered, though, when his vision cleared and the sight of a panicked Ryuu greeted his eyes.
“Thank goodness!” His shoulders sank in relief, and tears began to flow down what Io realized were already wet cheeks. Io’s eyes stared unblinkingly at the boy before him, hungry for the sight. He shakingly sat up, ignoring Ryuu’s advise to take it easy.
He wrapped his arms around the other boy, pulling him close.
“I-Io...”
The green haired boy silently buried his face against Ryuu’s neck, just basking in the other’s presence; the sensation of his body, the heat it radiated, the movement of his breathing.
“That was the most terrible dream…” Io murmured, holding Ryuu even closer. The other’s eyes widened. Io had seemed in such pain, had cried, begged, and sobbed: for Ryuu.
As Ryuu realized this, Io was hit with the memory of what he had almost done right at the end of that vision...
He blushed, feeling suddenly embarrassed and guilty. Before Ryuu could lift his arms to hug Io back, the other pulled away with difficulty. The pink haired blinked in slight confusion as Io refused to meet his gaze. Ryuu watched him for a moment before deciding he didn't care, and reaching for the other's hand. Io turned back to him as Ryuu gave it a light squeeze. Io's shoulders lost their tension and he smiled, letting himself be pulled back into that hug.