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You, Who I Write To

Summary:

Where Rui and Nene write letters to each other.

Notes:

I just HAD to make this after I read one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life.

So, I dedicate this to (and also some inspiration from!) This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Nene entered the classroom, a little apprehensively. Rui told her that a surprise would be waiting for her on her desk, so of course, she’d be suspicious. If he gives me some kind of bomb, I swear that Kamishiro is dead meat- Her thoughts stopped when she saw a white envelope on her desk, sealed in red wax and addressed with her name.

 

She looked around the classroom, making sure all her classmates were distracted. Not like any of them usually took notice of her, but in this situation, it was a good thing.

 

Taking the letter in her hands, she felt the wax seal, the design being a chibi-styled head of NeneRobo. She takes a double take to look around the classroom to make sure nobody saw her and thinks she has received a love confession before she quickly rips the seal off and takes the note out.

 




My green gamer girl,

 

I’m rather bored, so I’ve decided to start writing letters to you, and I’d appreciate it if you were to write back. Anyway, how are you doing today? Also, I can tell what you’re thinking right now; Why don’t I just text you?

 

I feel like there’s a certain romanticism to writing letters to someone you admire, isn’t there? And you really need to lessen your screen time…

 

So, please, write back to me.

 

Fondly,

 

Rui


 

♫彡*:・゚✧

 

Rui walks into his classroom and smiles when he sees a letter on his desk. Although there isn’t a seal or any kind of decoration, he at the very least appreciates that she wrote back.

 

He walked over and sat down, not caring about his surroundings as he opened the letter.

 


 

To Rui,

 

I’m not going to play into this… roleplay? Whatever you call it. And no, I did not think that. It’s like you barely know me… *sigh* I don’t need you to tell me to lessen my screen time, okay?

 

And to answer your question, my day is going just fine, thank you. But, could you please put these letters somewhere else instead? I’d rather not have you leave them on my desk.

 

I guess I’ll wait for your next letter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nene

 


 

♫彡*:・゚✧

 

Nene didn’t think Rui could get any more eccentric with this, but yet, he did. She received a hint from him on where his next letter would be located. She’d think he would be normal for once and put it in her locker, but no… Well, of course not, it’s Rui after all…

 

RUI

If you were to look for my next letter, it shall be placed where one rests their head every night.

 

NENE

rui wtf does that mean

 

RUI

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

RUI

Isn’t fun seeing how we can manipulate characters to make something completely different than their intended purpose? I made a little shrugging guy out of them!

 

NENE

pls stop

 

Nene sighed and turned her phone off as she looked in the most obvious spot.

 

She flipped the pillow around, and there it was– another cream-white envelope sealed in red wax.

 

NENE

how did you get into my house

 

RUI

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

She ignored his message and opened the next letter.

 




My magnificent mermaid,

 

No, this is not roleplay. I’m simply asking you to not be such a killjoy. (Which you were and still are.) Besides that, you might’ve asked me how I got into your house, and to that, I answer you with;

 

You really need to hide the spare key anywhere besides the welcome mat…

 

Regardless, I’m glad your day was well, I look out for you a lot, you know? I’m just concerned about your safety when I ask you to lessen your screen time. And I know, you’ll say something like “I’ve always been like this!” or “It’s fine! Jeez…” And sure, you can argue with that.

 

But I still wish you’d care about yourself more sometimes.

 

I await your next letter.

 

Love,

 

Rui

 


 

♫彡*:・゚✧

 

Rui smiles as he enters Phoenix Wonderland.

 

The next hint he received was a piece of paper he found on his desk.

 

My next letter should be where we practice. I couldn’t think of anything more creative.

 

Still, he appreciated her efforts.

 

He got to the Wonder Stage and noticed the backdoor was left open. She forgot to close it… Giggling to himself, he entered the backstage.

 

At first, nothing seemed out of place or abnormal. Everything seemed… relatively the same from their last practice session. He kept looking around until the sun began to set. And still, he can’t find anything– not a letter, a hint, or any sort of difference.

 

He was about to text Nene for another hint until he noticed a rose fall from the ceiling. He bent down and picked it up, noticing a tiny piece of paper attached to it with a string.

 

Look up.

 

And so he did and saw the letter, taped to the ceiling.

 

“Oh, Nene… This is already creative enough.” He said to himself, smiling like an idiot as he picked up a nearby stool and retrieved the letter.

 


 

To the alchemist,

 

Please stop breaking into my house.

 

And… thank you. I care a lot about you too, and… you don’t need to worry, I’ve been taking care of myself a little more lately.

 

Thanks to you.

 

But, you have to take care of yourself more too, okay??

 

Yours,

 

Nene

 


 

♫彡*:・゚✧

 

Nene wouldn’t want to admit this to anybody, but she really is enjoying this letter game between her and Rui. At first, she thought it was yet another dumb and silly idea Rui had, then it quickly became… fun? Yeah, fun.

 

She found herself blushing, getting all giddy waiting for his next letter. More than normal too.

 

Of course, it was a little bit of a hassle to go out of her way to find these letters, but it was usually worth it once she found them.

 

Today, her hint was “Where we used to play.”

 

And she knew exactly where this was.

 

A cool breeze was in the air as she walked through Kamiyama Street. When she finally arrived at the area, she couldn’t help but feel nostalgic, remembering when she and Rui used to fool around in this playground.

 

Now, it’s a little old and rusty, but at the very least somewhat safe. Not a lot of people go here, so it wouldn’t be too hard to find the letter.

 

Almost instantly, she found a little piece of paper sticking out of the sand. She crouched and dug a little until she was able to pull it out. Yet again, it was another white envelope sealed in red wax… except the pattern this time was a heart.

 

Nene swore her heart had skipped a beat.

 




My dearest songstress,

 

I won’t.

 

And… I’m glad. For a lot of things, actually, but… really, I’m glad for you in general. We’ve both been through a lot, haven’t we? But, in all seriousness, I have a lot of things to thank you for too. I don’t think I would be the same without you being there for me throughout all these years, all this time.

 

You’ve grown up a lot too, haven’t you?

 

I hope we stay like this– all of us.

 

In love and memories,

 

Rui

 


 

♫彡*:・゚✧

 

Rui receives the most obvious hint he has ever received.

 

NENE

rooftop

 

That was the last message Nene texted him. He wonders if she really did run out of creativity this time, but he doesn’t want to judge. So, he obliges and heads up to the roof after his classes end.

 

While he walks up the stairs though, he feels a certain feeling infiltrating his body. His heart beats irregularly, his stomach flips, and his cheeks burn red as his thoughts flare.

 

He doesn’t exactly know why he’s feeling like this, but his gut has a weird feeling that this letter won’t be like the others…

 

So, he makes the final step and opens the door to the rooftop and is instantly met with a breeze that prickles his skin.

 

In the middle of the floor lies the letter.

 

A little heart sticker and his name addressed on it.

 

He steps in front of it and picks it up.

 


 

My director,

 

I’d like to thank you for… well, everything. But just… for being there. Even if we sort of didn’t talk that much in that time of our lives, we found a way back to each other anyway.

 

Thank you, for making me join this troupe, for NeneRobo, for encouraging me to continue my dream…

 

I think I can say the same for you, how I wouldn’t be the same person without you.

 

You’ve done so much for me, so… I want to be there for you like you’ve always been there for me.

 

…And I think I have something to say to you.

 

Please look around.

 

Love,

 

Your mermaid.

 


 

He turns and is met with the very girl who wrote the letter he was holding in his hands. Both of them smiling, looking into each other’s eyes with fondness.

 

He drops the letter and walks towards her.

 

The note fell out of the envelope, some text had been written in the back that Rui didn’t read.

 

P.S.

 

I love you.

Notes:

can someone please do this with me