Work Text:
Day 5: AU / Canon-Divergence
The morning after the Setsubun Festival, Yuta pokes his head into Hinata's room to find the bed neatly made and his brother missing. The air is weirdly stale.
Yuta's first thought is that he's downstairs, cooking breakfast or doing chores or getting up to general mischief. But when he checks, the house is silent and unbothered; everything is suspiciously spotless. Hinata's shoes are gone from their spot by the door.
Hinata must've gone out for groceries, then, even if it's a bit early. Even if they usually go together. Even if Yuta had expected them to spend the day together after everything that happened the night before.
Yuta heads back upstairs with a slump to his shoulders, lips pursed and torn between being angry and crying. He's about to duck back into his room to go back to bed, normal sleep schedule be damned, when some invisible force tugs him back towards Hinata's door. After a moment of consideration, he follows it.
Without even an ounce of grace, he plops on to Hinata's bed, grabbing one of the pink pillows to tuck behind his head. He's about to start scrolling idly on his phone when something else catches his eye.
There's a stack of papers on Hinata's desk.
...And a familiar pair of hair clips.
Yuta swallows thickly, a foreboding chill running down his spine. Approaching the desk just makes the feeling worse, and when he grabs the topmost paper, his hands are shaking. The hair clips slide off and hit the desk with a soft clink.
In handwriting that mirrors Yuta's except for the slant of the letters, the papers read:
Hi Yuta-kun! (At least, I'm assuming you're the one reading this, since Dad never enters our rooms. If this *is* Dad, please give this to Yuta.)
So...I'm not really sure where to start. This is a lot harder when you're older and not just doing it on a whim. I guess it means I've grown up? I hope I have, otherwise this whole living-on-my-own thing might be hard.
Right, living on my own. That's what this is about.
I'm sorry that you've had to put up with me for so long, but with this, you'll finally be free of the burden that is me! It might be hard at first, but I think you'll really come to see what a blessing it is to be just one instead of two-in-one. Just give it a few days! You'll forget about me in no time.
Make lots of friends, okay, Yuta-kun? I know lots and lots of people will notice you without me there to clog up their vision. Try to be nice, just like you were before you entered your rebellious phase. Though I guess I don't need to tell you that, since the only reason you're going through a rebellious phase right now is because of me... I guess that means everyone should welcome the return of nice-Yuta! That'll sure be a sight! Maybe you'll even smile like you used to. I wish I could be there to see that too, but...it's just not possible.
Oops, split some water there! Hopefully you can still read this after it dries. If not, sorry, no returns or refunds! This is a permanent one-time payment of me, in exchange for the eternal happiness and individuality of you! Valid from now until forever!
...Sorry. I wanted this to be more serious, I really did, but...I just can't seem to find the words.
You know I love you, right? More than anything in the world, Yuta-kun. You've been by my side since before I was born, and I've loved you every single moment since then.
But you've been stuck with me for just as long. I've been like a leech hanging off your side, sucking away any chance of you being *you* and not just a copy of me. And since you could never be honest and cut me off entirely...
I'm being a good older brother and doing it myself. Consider it my last gift to you, my beloved Yuta-kun.
Please make sure to take care of yourself, since I'll no longer be there to do it myself. That means eating stuff that isn't just spicy instant noodles, and not staying up late to play video games. And make sure to keep up your grades in school! I know you struggle sometimes, but I'm sure your classmates would be willing to help if you just asked. Make sure to depend on others, okay? They all care about you, more than you will ever understand.
...
One last time, just because I don't think I'll ever get the chance to say it ever again:
I love you, Yuta-kun.
Goodbye.
From your loving Onii-chan <3
The rest of the day is a blur: one minute Yuta's in Hinata's bedroom, tears and snot running down his face, the next he's out on the streets in his pajamas, calling out for Hinata until his voice is hoarse. He tries Hinata's phone but it's deactivated. He frequents all of Hinata's favorite spots but he's nowhere to be found.
Yuta phones everyone he knows, begging them for any clue to Hinata's whereabouts, but nobody is of any help.
When their dad gets home from work later that day, Yuta turns on him and yells at him, blaming him for his brother's disappearance—but the man is pathetic, shrinking in on himself and eyes going wide when he realizes what Yuta's saying. Yuta leaves him to go upstairs and bury his head in Hinata's pillows, begging anyone who's listening that Hinata will show up the next day like nothing happened.
…
He never does.