Work Text:
Tsukasa hadn’t heard from Rui in a long time. At least, he hadn’t heard Rui’s voice in a long time. After Wonderlands x Showtime disbanded to pursue their goals, they all went separate ways. Emu stayed at Wonder Stage, Nene went to a prestigious academy in England, Rui had gone off to an engineering school on the other side of Japan, and Tsukasa was in America.
While the troupe may have split up, they were still best friends. Whenever they had free time they would text or call each other in the group chat, and once in a while they planned trips back to Phoenix Wonderland to meet up again.
“Is Rui-kun not here again?” Emu asked sadly, leaning against Nene’s shoulder.
“I guess not,” Nene said as she pat Emu’s head.
“That little- we barely get any time to see each other, and he’s skipping out again? We haven’t seen each other in over a year!” Tsukasa huffed, annoyed at Rui’s actions. Rui was always the least active in the group chat and never joined any calls, either. The last time they planned a meet up was half a year ago, and Rui hadn’t shown up then, even though he clearly said he missed them all as well. Now everyone was meeting up again, and once more Rui was a no-show.
“You know what? It’s fine, we’ll just have so much fun without him!” Tsukasa declared, standing up. “Come on! Let’s go to a karaoke place!”
“Gasp, karaoke?! I love karaoke! It’s sooo wonderhoy-ful!! Always so vooosh! And kawow!!” Emu exclaimed, hopping up and following Tsukasa. She paused, turning back, where Nene still sat.
“Nene-chan? Aren’t you coming?” Emu asked, tilting her head.
“Oh…! Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking…” Nene quickly stood up and followed the two. Emu frowned, sensing something was wrong.
“What is it? You’re not all happy-smiley like usual…” Emu said, frowning.
“It’s nothing… just worried about Rui, that’s all,” Nene assured, holding Emu’s hand comfortingly.
“Yeah… me too…” Emu drooped for a moment, thinking about Rui.
“Emu! Nene! Hurry, the bus is coming, I can see it!!” Tsukasa exclaimed with a touch of panic.
“Waah, we have to hurry! Nene-chan, let’s run!!” Emu grabbed Nene’s hand.
“W-Wait, Emu-!!” Before she could protest, Nene was quickly being whisked away by Emu.
“Ahh, I’m so tired…” Tsukasa muttered, slumping over in the couch.
“You? Tired? I thought you were the unstoppable Tenma Tsukasa, a man of infinite strength and stamina,” Nene muttered with an eye roll, air quoting the overly long and complicated title.
“Yes, that’s exactly right!” Tsukasa exclaimed in pride, completely unaware of Nene’s sarcasm. “But I’ve been singing by myself for the past hour… why don’t any of you sing?”
“I’d rather watch you strain yourself sing, it’s funny,” Nene said, though in a joking tone.
“I like watching you sing too! You’re so cool and wonderhoy when you sing, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu exclaimed. Tsukasa couldn’t help it as his pride ballooned inside of him, causing him to quickly rise from his seat.
“Well then, I suppose it can’t be helped! I’ll just have to keep singing for the next hour as well!” he declared with a haughty laugh.
“Good work feeding his ego,” Nene muttered, sighing.
“I really can’t continue anymore…” Tsukasa groaned, now dramatically collapsed on the ground.
“Aww, you were so fun to watch, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu said with a touch of sadness.
“Yeah, you really were,” Nene commented with a bit of a snicker. She quickly dropped the sass, though, to help Tsukasa sit up and give him some water.
“I guess I’ll sing next… can’t let the hours you spent on this karaoke room go to waste.” Nene stood up, going over to select a song.
“Ooh, Nene-chan is gonna sing! Tsukasa-kun, let’s cheer for her! Here, I have bells!”
“No thanks… I’m gonna go get some more water,” Tsukasa said, gesturing to the empty cup on the table.
“Okie dokie! But come back quickly, Tsukasa-kun, or you’ll miss Nene-chan’s performance!!” Emu warned.
“Jeez, don’t hype it up like that…” Nene muttered, the tips of her ears reddening.
“I’ll get back whenever I do,” Tsukasa said with a wave of his hand before leaving.
“Ahh, the air is much cooler out here!” Tsukasa exclaimed in relief as he sat on a bench under the moon. He sat for a long time, catching his breath and enjoying the view of the city. He was having fun hanging out with his old troupe, and already he was feeling the sorrow of parting ways tomorrow morning. He shook those feelings away, about to stand up and rejoin the girls, when his phone rang.
“Eh… Rui?!” Tsukasa nearly dropped his phone in surprise. He quickly picked up the call before it would stop ringing.
“Tsukasa-kun,” Rui greeted him with a small smile. Tsukasa’s eyes nearly widened in shock at the sight of his old director.
“Rui!! We haven’t heard from you in a whole year!!” Tsukasa yelled, so loud he could hear his own voice echo back in the call.
Rui laughed, then said, “You’re still just as loud as the last time I saw you.”
“ You’re still as sly as I remember you,” Tsukasa said back, not quite sure himself if that was meant to be an insult or a compliment.
“How’ve you been? Sorry I haven’t gone to see you or the others in so long, I was busy,” Rui apologized.
“We’re fine, just going on with our lives as usual,” Tsukasa shrugged. “I’m actually with them right now, they’re inside. Wanna go talk to them?”
Tsukasa was already starting to stand up when Rui suddenly shouted, “No!” Startled, Tsukasa quickly fell back into his seat.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. Just… don’t call them over. I just want to talk to you,” Rui said, his voice softer now.
“Alright…” Tsukasa sighed. He wanted to ask Rui why, but something held him back from questioning the boy. Feeling a little awkward, he tried to bring up a new topic.
“So, any specific reason why you called me?” Tsukasa asked.
“Mm… not exactly. I guess I just missed hearing your voice,” Rui said with a light chuckle. The tips of Tsukasa’s ears had gone red.
It didn’t take long for the two to start a naturally flowing conversation. All the awkwardness from earlier dissipated as if it had never been there.
“Oh, I just realized that Emu and Nene are still waiting for me,” Tsukasa said suddenly. “I don’t want to make them worry, I think I’ll be heading back now.”
“Oh, alright,” Rui said. Somehow, his expression seemed a little stiff.
“You sure you don’t want to talk to them?” Tsukasa asked again.
“Yeah… I just wanted to talk to you, that’s all,” Rui affirmed softly. The two were silent for a moment, just staring at each other through the screen.
“I guess I should go now,” Tsukasa said, standing up.
“Alright…”
Rui paused.
“Hm?” Tsukasa lifted his head. “Were you gonna say something, Rui?”
“Ah, it’s nothing,” Rui quickly said, waving his hand in dismissal. But again, he hesitated.
“Tsukasa-kun…”
“Yes?” Tsukasa was a little worried now.
“I… I have to tell you something…”
“What is it? You can tell me anything.”
“I…” Already Rui could feel the guilt. The sharp pain he would feel as Tsukasa’s face portrayed betrayal and hurt.
“I think it would be better to show you,” Rui finally said. He turned the camera around, revealing the large lake below him to Tsukasa; and Rui’s lap resting on the bridge railing.
Tsukasa felt his fingers go cold.
“Rui… why are you sitting up there?” His voice was shaking.
“I wanted to tell you sooner… but I was afraid that you would hate me if I did.”
“Rui…”
“I just… I can’t anymore, Tsukasa-kun… I can’t.”
“Rui, I…”
“I’m sorry. I know this is really sudden. And that I’m going to hurt you. But I thought that you deserved to know… why I won’t be answering any more of your calls.”
“Rui, listen to me, I-”
“You can’t change my mind, Tsukasa-kun. I’ve already long decided that this was how it was all going to end. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”
“Rui!!” Tsukasa yelled. “Listen to me!!”
Rui could see his trembling arms.
“I’m really sorry, Tsukasa-kun… I can’t say it enough times to convey how much I mean it,” Rui said with a sorrowful smile. Tsukasa bit his lip, choking back tears.
“Rui!! Don’t move!! I’m going to come to you!! And I-I-!” Tsukasa didn’t end up finishing his sentence as he failed to contain his tears.
“I turned off my location. And I’m not going to be telling you where I am. I’m sorry.” Tsukasa’s eyes widened when he saw Rui standing up.
“RUII!!” Tsukasa screamed. His fists were clenched so tight he was bleeding.
Rui could feel his eyes glossing over. “I’m really, really sorry, Tsukasa-kun… and thank you, for everything. I truly loved being with you. I… loved you… Tsukasa-kun…” Rui set down his phone.
“RUI!! DON’T YOU DARE MOVE!! STOP IT!!!” Tsukasa’s throat was hoarse, but that didn’t stop him. He couldn’t see anything through the endless tears that continued to pour. He didn’t notice the crowd that started to form from his desperate screams.
“Tsukasa-kun…” Rui’s voice was soft. Or maybe it was far away. He couldn’t really tell.
“Tell the others that I loved them too, okay? That I was grateful for them… I love you, Tsukasa-kun. Thank you for being in my life.”
“RUII, STOP!!! PLEASE, STOP!! I CAN- I CAN FIND A WAY TO HELP YOU, OKAY?! WE- WE CAN FIX THIS, WE CAN FIX EVERYTHING, JUST- PLEASE!! RUI!!!”
“...”
“...Rui…”
“...Please…”
“...Don’t leave me..”
“...”
“...”
“..”
".."
"."
“.”
.
.
.
.
.
“...Rui…?”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Epilogue
As soon as she heard the screams, Nene ran outside. The screams didn’t end even as she reached the source. People were gathered around, whispering and staring as Tsukasa kneeled on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably and screaming his lungs out. Tears and blood were mixed on his face as he held his head in his hands.
“Tsukasa!!” Nene kneeled down next to him, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him. He didn’t stop and kept wailing even as his throat was so sore it almost felt like it would bleed.
Nene, being both extremely panicked and worried, did the only thing she could think of. She slapped Tsukasa across the face. The crowd instantly hushed, startled by the loud noise.
“What is wrong with you?” Nene scolded, though her voice was shaking with both worry and guilt. Tsukasa was silent, so silent compared to before, it was almost deafening.
“Tsukasa…?” Nene asked in concern, shaking his shoulders.
“Rui…” Tsukasa’s voice croaked out, misery and despair woven into his voice.
“Rui…?” Nene felt a chill at Tsukasa’s words. “What happened to Rui? What…”
Emu came running outside. “Nene-chan!! What’s happening?” Emu asked, plopping down beside her.
“Eh?” Emu noticed Tsukasa’s phone. It was off to the side, the screen all wet. She picked it up and wiped it off, then noticed that the phone screen was on Rui’s contact page.
“Did you call Rui-kun just now?” Emu asked. Tsukasa didn’t say anything.
“Tsukasa-kun?” Emu became worried.
“Emu…” Nene took her hand gently, comfortingly. Emu didn’t like this one bit. Something was wrong, clearly wrong; but what?
“I’m sorry, Emu…” Nene’s eyes were glossy and her voice full of heartache. That alone already made Emu want to start crying.
“Nene-chan, what’s wrong? Tsukasa-kun and you… why are you both crying?” Emu asked quietly. Just the sight of her two friends in such sorrow made her heart shatter, her chest was tight with pain.
“Rui…” Nene closed her eyes, a single tear squeezing its way out.
“He… isn’t with us anymore… he’s gone, Emu…”