Work Text:
"Where's Tsukasa?" A particular girl with grayish-green hair asked the two members in front of her.
"You haven't seen him either?" The purple haired boy questioned.
The two girls in front of him shook their heads in unison, worry overcoming each of their faces.
"This isn't like him. He would've shown up. Or texted that he's going to be late. Or, or-"
Rui's face contorted into a look of betrayal; hurt. Why was Tsukasa not here? Was he giving up? Was he making his dreams come true without them? The thoughts bubbled and filled his mind, paining him mentally to even imagine. Nene could tell this well.
"It's okay, maybe he... got sick? Or, or maybe he's just busy and can't text us at the moment? Or maybe he's in an area with no cell service. You can't keep jumping to horrible conclusions like you are right now." Nene placed a hand on Rui's arm comfortingly, looking at him with a reassuring smile. Rui sighed. His childhood best friend always knew how to calm him down, even just a little bit.
"You're... you're right, thank you, Nene."
-
A crack, a step too hard, and then a shatter. That's when the connections started growing weaker and weaker, like a WIFI signal that you're slowly walking away from. He tried to stop them, tried to reach for them and keep them right there with him, but he wasn't fast enough. He could only watch as the precious stars, containing his dearest memories with his troupe members, began to float away, fade in the distance. Never obtainable.
He tried so hard this time! He thought he could- he thought he finally was able to keep these dear memories close to him. But he couldn't even do something like that. He tried desperately and uselessly to grab those memories, despite the fact they had already disappeared from sight.
It'd only be a matter of time until those memories were completely forgotten, erased from him.
-
Another practice, and Tsukasa once again didn't show up. The entire troupe looked worried as they scanned the entirety of PXL, looking desperately for the energetic and outgoing boy they knew as Tsukasa Tenma. But his vibrant blonde-to-peach hair was nowhere to be seen throughout the entire park. The entire group worried greatly, anxiety evident in each and every one of their faces.
Emu gripped at Nene tightly, causing the taller girl to jump slightly. It was then they realized the tears in Emu's eyes. "W-WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO TSUKASA?? WHAT IF- WHAT IF HE NEEDS US- NEEDS OUR HELP- AND WE'RE JUST SITTING HERE WAITING FOR HIM?!" Emu wailed out through broken cries and tears. Nene crouched down to the floor with Emu and brought her tear-stained face up towards her own, kissing the girls cheek gently.
"Shh, shh... I'm sure nothing has happened to Tsukasa, Emu." Nene spoke as comfortingly as she could, trying to hide the anxiety in her own voice. Emu couldn't help but cry into Nene's chest, each shake and wail for Tsukasa only breaking Nene's heart more. She loved Emu. Seeing her like this was shattering for her.
Rui didn't move. He stood there wondering. He stood there thinking.
Him and Tsukasa were incredibly close, and they typically shared a lot more than most people would with just a mere friend. Secrets, life stories, romantic acts of affection.. Rui thought back to one point when they were hanging out. The day was normal. They had spent the day at the mall. They were cracking jokes, and within the middle of it, Tsukasa had joked, "Better make sure I don't forget that one!" in reference to a pretty damn good joke Rui told him. Rui didn't think much of it at the time in their giggle haze, but he couldn't help but wonder, was Tsukasa hinting at more? Was Tsukasa hinting to memory problems? Rui's head spun with thoughts, 'that explains why we had to explain some things to him before', 'that explains why he always forgot when I'd be coming over'... it all seemed to make some sort of sense, and once he had put those two and two together, he hissed through his teeth, muttering a "shit!" before running off, away from the two girls. Nene had watched him run off, Emu still lost in her uncontrollable sobs.
Rui ran to Tsukasa's home, it was the only logical place for Tsukasa to be in his head.
He banged on the door until he heard footsteps. The doorknob twisted and the door pulled away from Rui, showing ..
"Tsukasa!"
"R-Rui," Tsukasa slammed the door on Rui in a panicked manner. What Rui didn't know, was the the last words Tsukasa remembers him saying to him was 'You can't become a star', and those words... they were heartbreaking words. They completely crushed Tsukasa.
"Tsu- Tsukasa, please. Let me in. Can we talk for just a minute? Please?" Rui pleaded through the door, one hand on the door and the other on the door frame. "Please. Just for a minute is all I ask."
After a minute, Tsukasa opened the door, but only slightly. He opened it enough to where they would be able to talk and see each other, but Rui could not come inside. "..W-What?"
"This is going to be quick, and I'm sorry. You can believe me, you can not. That's.." Rui grimaced at the thought of losing Tsukasa because he didn't believe him. "That's entirely your decision, and whatever it may be, I won't try to sway you towards one or the other. Alright?" Tsukasa nodded. "Alright, so..." Rui explained everything, from them apologizing after that argument, to all the shows they've done since then, how much they've all grown!.. Tsukasa even seemed invested- like he believed Rui, which was good. He wanted Tsukasa to believe him. He couldn't lose Tsukasa. He- He couldn't.
Tsukasa nodded, before putting a finger up for Rui as if to say 'give me a second', shutting the door and sliding down the wall. He curled up slightly, thinking. His head hurt with how much he was thinking. He had to admit, it did feel like he was missing something these past few days, but he had no idea what. He sure didn't expect Wonderlands x Showtime to be that thing he was missing. But, in a sense, it made him feel relieved? To know that's what he was missing.
After a minute, he stood up and opened the door completely, his smile encapsulating Rui.
He had Tsukasa back.
He threw his arms around the smaller boy and held him incredibly close, causing the blonde to jump slightly. Before Tsukasa knew it, he was back on the ground with Rui crying in his arms. He didn't know what to do for a moment, but then he wrapped his arms around the taller boy, rubbing circles into his back. "I'm, I'm so glad you'll be back. I missed you- We ALL missed you!" Rui cried out, holding onto Tsukasa tightly.
"Even Nene?"
"Even Nene."
Tsukasa couldn't help but tense up slightly, knowing even after how he yelled at her that one day, she still cared.
After a few minutes, Rui calmed down, Tsukasa turned to Rui, "Are you good to go now?" Rui nodded, picking himself up and then helping Tsukasa up. They smiled at each other gently.
"Can I.. Can I kiss you?"
"Eh?"
"Uhm, it's just. uh. Before, we were. we were dating... I don't know if you want to keep dating, but-"
"I want to keep dating you!" Tsukasa yelled out quickly.
Those words took Rui by surprise, but he couldn't help the smitten smile that formed on his face as he gently lifted Tsukasa's chin, now looking face to face. He then leaned down and kissed Tsukasa on the same cherry-flavored lips he always had. He pulled up and then looked at Tsukasa, apologizing profusely. He just kissed him without getting an answer to if he could kiss him. "No, No, it's alright! Rui it's alright I promise!" Tsukasa said quickly, kissing Rui in a desperate attempt to get him to stop apologizing. It seemed to work, because Rui shut up.
Hand in hand, the two of them walked to PXL, where they were met with Tsukasa being tackled to the ground in a hug by Nene and Emu.
"TSUKASAAAAAAA!!!!!!! WE MISSED YOU SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU OKAY?! WERE YOU NOT FEELING WONDERHOY?!" Emu asked in her usual loud tone, tears threatening to drip down onto Tsukasa's shirt despite her happy expression.
"You.. could say that, yes!" Tsukasa chuckled as he pulled the childlike girl into a tight hug before standing up while helping her up. Nene was next to hug him, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
"Idiot.. we care about you... if you're not.. feeling well, just tell us."
Tsukasa nodded, hugging Nene back. "You're right, I should've just told you guys. I .. I sincerely apologize."
Nene sighed, smacking Tsukasa over his head whilst he was bent over, "It's fine, dummy." The two of them chuckled.
Then it was Rui. They walked towards each other and met in the middle. They stared at each other for a moment before embracing each other in a tight hug,
"I love you."
"I love you too."