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Now that they were on their island again, they were to go to school to catch up on any of the subjects.
Riku also knew Sora's secret.
When Riku came to him with plans to ask him out and confess, something else happened instead. Sora told him about Data Riku’s relationship with Data Sora. In which, he then admits he is gay, but scared. In the end Riku couldn't tell Sora, but he comforted him instead.
“Old Riku, remember what I said!” The data Sora said from Riku's phone.
Riku crossed his arms, “Just call me Riku.”
The data sighed, “Aw fine! Remember a paopu fruit or ice cream!”
Riku nodded, “I have several months, I will tell Sora.” He said confidently, however he was more than nervous right then.
Riku waited outside Sora's house. After what seemed a very long time he finally came out.
“Riku!” He was surprised he was there. “You're waiting for me? You're still my friend too..” Sora noticed as it had been a few days since they last spoke. And their last conversation was Sora revealing he is gay.
Riku smiled, “Come on!” He took a hold of Sora's school bag.
Sora blushed at the gesture. “O-okay”
Sora looked at his Gummiphone where the digitized Riku on there had made flashing words appear, You Can Do It
Carrying both his own and Sora's bag, he stopped in front of his classroom.
Oh, Sora realized they were already there. Riku smiled softly and gave him his school bag back.
“I'll see you soon,” he smiled. "Hopefully before school is over."
Sora looked at his Gummiphone. “He would do anything for you. I would for my Sora. Sora, I just know it, he loves you… I love you”
Sora turned bright red, still grinning. “W-well… uhmmm I don't think Riku sees me like that. He's so cool and he could pull about anyone. I don't think he would settle for me… b-besides,” Sora continued to twiddle. “W-what if he prefers girls? I didn't even know you could be with guys, so he could honestly be straight.”
The data in his phone sighed, “Was it not him who told you what being gay means? I'm sure he would accept you no matter what!”
Sora looked down, “Then what do I do?”
“Write a poem!” The data had an idea. With that idea, poetry Riku made in the past showed up on the screen. “I often tell my Sora poems. He says I'm good with words. And that's my Sora, that cute, excited guy talking!”
The data, Riku was blushing ever so slightly at his very own words, “Sora, trust me.”
Love you mend, never shall unravel
If cherish all through heart
But world's at stake prevail, rest your hurt
The truth will unveil
Strength of a vow, never forsaken
Against all odds, our love shall conquer all
The digitized Riku typed up immediately to show Sora.
“H-huh? I can't say that.” Sora was not good at words, nor did he know what the strange poetry had meant. “I don't know what any of it even means!”
Data Riku couldn't tell the future, but for some reason every poetry his ever said becomes useful for just that.
Protect someone you love and they won't change that feeling for you as long as you continue to cherish it with your heart. But when worlds continue to be at stake, you must face hurt through dreams, and the truth will be clear. Remembering the vow you once made makes them stronger that you will always protect and never forget. Against everything you protect and conquer the obstacles, love will protect all.
The data smiles shyly, “Alright, alright. Then what's the plan?”
Sora shrugged, “Don't say anything. I'll just pretend like I have been for years.”
The data hurt hearing this. “But myself, I know he feels—I feel the same. Besides, you can't keep a secret!”
Sora crossed his arms, “Hey! I sure can!”
“When you told the other me about how you like guys?” The data shrugged, just to prove a point.
“I wanted to! I didn't say I liked him. I didn't expect him to approve or anything. I thought he'd tell me I was wrong, but he…” Sora looked down, staring at his own hands, “Riku, he hugged me. He said it's okay. We stayed like that for a while. He even kissed my forehead.” Sora smiled to himself.
Sora sat down in class, still looking at his Gummiphone. Many of the students were staring at him. He and Riku were absent for about two years.
After all, no one knew why, so it did raise a few questions. Only few know what truly happened. It caused stares and their name to fly around through conversations. But above all, there were those with suspicions on the relationship of the two friends. It almost seemed too friendly for them.
No, they feared them anyone that was different.
Sora hated this, nothing made sense to him. Sure, it was nice to be free from saving the world for awhile but he'd rather fight some heartless than study this.
“Are you having trouble?” The data in his phone put on what looked like a pair of study glasses. “I could help, after all I'm basically an encyclopedia of everything there is to know about you and your journey.” The data sat back and relaxed, “I'm basically Riku with knowledge of everything the journal consists of and because I am so special to you that I got chosen to be the journal!” Now the data was smug about this.
Sora must have loved him so much. He was that special to him that Riku was chosen as the someone to be the embodiment of the knowledge while also remembering his childhood with Sora.
He once believed he was a fake, but no he is just as real as the one from this world.
Sora felt himself get red in the cheeks at this.
It was at that moment when he got his bag he heard the whispers. It was when the first dread began to start. “... It's Sora, that kid who skipped school and nobody says a thing.”
Sora held his head down, with a smile on his face as usual. He pretended not to care, but people often talked about him and he couldn't help but listen.
“If I did, everyone would care. And he's not even the brightest.” The voice of the guy who said this just shrugged, “He's probably off just trying to copy Riku.”
“He always looked up to him. Remember those two— always together?” Another voice piped in, “Seriously, it was really queer.”
The last word struck Sora with coldness as if being like that was an awful thing.
Continue to smile, he thought. Smile like nothing's wrong.
This ship is run on happy faces
It's fine.
Everything is fine.
Sora's Gummiphone vibrated in his pocket. Data Riku was trying to snap Sora out of it. He wanted to help him.
"Someone should warn poor Riku that Sora has a stupid gay crush on him." The first guy laughed. Then the other shared his laughter.
“Did you see him this morning? He couldn't even carry his own bag. He just HAD to get Riku to do it.” This time it was a female who spoke up. And her words caused the other to laugh all around too, “That popular, smart, and pretty best friend of his. He's dragging Riku down. Now Riku has been working hard while he was away, he definitely went abroad for a while.”
Sora looked at his hands. He felt frozen. He was just going to leave the classroom. Hurry up and leave, he thought.
“Definitely a slacker.” The first voice added, “He only feels bad for him. He's just a dead weight.”
After the last sentence, Sora went out. He went far off. He didn't want to drag Riku down.
He's not a dead weight!
It wasn't Naminé's fault! It wasn't his fault Riku gave up his form to wake him up.
That was…
Riku did that for him, so was it his fault after all?
Riku would always have his back no matter what. He would do the same. He was precious to him.
And maybe that's why he felt the way he did.
He kept running.
He didn't want to trouble Riku anymore.
His Gummiphone kept vibrating.
He ran into Kairi.
“Sora?” Kairi looked at him, “Are you okay? You look like you've been running. Hey it's almost lunch. Riku was looking for you, he said—”
“I… I'm fine.” Sora looked down those words, echoing into his ears. He didn't want to trouble Riku any farther, “Tell Riku I'm busy! I don't want to see him okay!”
He ran off again.
This time when he finally stopped he was at a bench. He took out his Gummiphone and saw an angry Riku.
He looked so cute, he thought. He shook his head though. “Um hi?”
“What do you mean you don't want to see me? You're not busy. Sora?” The data version wanted an answer.
Sora said nothing.
It was silent for a while until he finally spoke up in a quiet voice, “He deserves a better friend. I just cause him to get hurt every time. Back when it was just the two of us he got hurt because of me. If I was strong enough to move out of the way from Xemnas’ attack…" Sora sighed, "He always picked up the slack for everything.”
The data shook his head, “If Kairi said I want to see you then go see him. Those people know nothing! They don't have a clue about Keyblades or other worlds. You saved tons of people and did so many incredible things. You do!" The tiny Riku in his phone kept lecturing Sora, "You always do and you know Riku way better and I tell you, you're not bothering him. I love you! I love my Sora and I love you. And you know what my Sora told me, Riku loves you! He didn't want me to say anything but I had to. Because knowing myself, he'll never do anything unless you do something first.”
Sora stared at the Gummiphone. “He… Riku loves me?” Sora's eyes widened as his face flustered in red. He touched both of his cheeks with his hands at that statement. “He does? No… that couldn't be right, I don't think… As a friend, right?”
“I forgot how oblivious you are.” Riku just laughs to himself. “He loves you because you are my—his most precious friend but also way more than that. You are his world and everything. He loves your attention so much, you have no idea.”
Sora just stands there, unable to focus. Riku actually loves him.
He doesn't love anyone else?
He always thought Riku likes girls.
I guess he wasn't as good at perceiving his interests as he thought. “But Riku, those people said… It's weird if we are—”
The data shut his eyes, “They don't matter. Not everyone is good. People will try to mess with you or even trick you. But Sora, Riku doesn't care about that. Because you are my— our most precious person.”
Sora looked over at him. “Okay.” He smiled.
Riku always knew how to make him feel better.
“I hope Sora isn't too mad at me.” The data sheepishly thought about how he told Sora that Riku loves him.
“I could never stay mad at you.” Sora quietly reminded Data Riku.
He nodded, “Ah, that's right.”
“You know, I wish you were actually here too.” Sora said out loud. "It would be so much easier."
Then it was that idea that gave Sora an idea.
As long as anyone have a heart they can venture anywhere and become vessels.
Mickey has gone into the dataspace. If Sora brought his heart to a vessel then he can be here with them.
That's it!
“Riku, just you wait! Soon you and Sora will be here too!”
That's when Riku widened his eyes.
He didn't think it was ever possible, but it was.
He made a quick call to the ex organization member, Ienzo.
Soon everything will be ready.