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Shou honestly couldn’t tell you why he’s out this late at night. Maybe he was restless, his mind unable to grasp the safety he found himself in after so many nights in the dark world. Maybe he was tired, the lighthearted chattering of his friends grating on the silent night. Either way, he finds himself walking slowly in the dark as cool breeze brushes against him. Even in the winter months, Duel Academy hardly ever gets truly cold. His jacket easily fends off the chill. The sound of the ocean wraps him like a familiar blanket, muffling his thoughts.
Shou isn’t sure how long it took him to realize what he was doing— where exactly his subconscious led him. Probably too long. Damn it Shou. He sighs and presses on as the red dorms gradually come into view. Probably the first option then. As complicated as things got between him and Judai, he could never shake off the safety his brain associated with Judai.
If Shou was more awake, he probably would’ve said he didn’t expect Judai to be awake. He’s been spending all of this time in the dorms to rest, it only makes sense he would be asleep at this hour. But there he is, sitting on the ledge just off the path and staring endlessly into nothing. As he approaches Shou hesitates. He doesn’t want to, not really, but he’s tired and lonely and the edge of his anxiety is muffled by the haze of the ocean. (As he draws closer Shou notes that Judai is almost always on some high ledge these days. He’s pretty sure thats new.)
Shou mumbles a “hey”, just barely audible.
But it’s enough, as Judai instantly flinches and spins around. Suddenly, his shoulders drop, as he exhales, “Oh. Shou.”
Judai turns back around and drapes his legs off of the ledge, though still eying him. Shou takes this as an invitation to lower down beside him, though a little further from the ledge.
After maybe a minute, Judai breaks the silence. “Why are you here, Shou?”
Shou shrugs, “Couldn’t sleep.”
Judai only hums in response. A strand of hair falls in his face, but he only continues to stare blankly at the crashing waves.
Shou turns his eyes back to the waves. “How about you?”
Judai opens his mouth to speak, before pausing. Shou catches a glint of blue in his eye before he sighs and shakes his head. “Same reason,” he says with an edge of defiance, “Couldn’t sleep.”
The waves crashing against the ledge are slowly growing irritating. The muffling comfort, restricting. “Are you telling that to me or to them?”
Judai’s lips quirk up, “Both.” The silence drags on for a second before he adds, “I forgot you knew.”
Even before Judai had burst out of his shadow duel firmly declaring his fusion with Yubel, Shou knew something was different. Something about Judai now feels inhuman in a way. Maybe its the faint traces of blue and orange hidden in his eyes, (Shou can’t help but remember the piercing gold) or the sharpness of his gaze, or even his disheveled bangs, perpetually growing longer. Or maybe it’s just his presence. Judai feels dangerous, now. Like a sharp edge, waiting to cut. (Distantly, Shou knows exactly who that knife is pointed towards. Still, he can’t help his unease.)
The silence is so, so loud. “The rest of the school is wondering why you’ve disappeared.” Shou mentions, keeping his tone noncommittal.
Judai’s grip on the ground grows tighter. “They can wonder.”
Shou sighs and turns to face Judai directly. “Why won’t you just talk to us. You didn’t even tell us you fused with Yubel. You only said it cause of those darkness guys.”
Judai looks down. “It wasn’t important.”
Shou lets his sharp disappointment slip into his tone. “Judai.”
Judai doesn’t even look at him, just continues staring.
The sound of the waves grates on his nerves. It was a bad decision to come here. Still, with only the moon and waves as his audience Shou feels some fake sort of boldness. “We didn’t go through hell and back just for you to pretend we don’t exist, Judai.”
Judai does flinch at that, before leaning forward as if to get a better look at the water below. Shou distantly notes that the normally restless teen has been deathly still this entire conversation. The strand of hair is still there, hanging in Judai’s eyes. When Judai does reply, it’s hardly a murmur. “You wouldn’t have had to if not for me.”
Shou sighs. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”
Judai doesn’t reply. The silence stretches on for a very long time. The waves continue crashing rhythmically against the cliff as Shou feels the distance between himself and Judai stretch on endlessly. After an eternity he stands, and begins to walk away. Judai doesn’t look back.
He stops just before leaving, back still turned. “Yknow, none of us hate you because of what you did… what happened. But it would be nice if you showed up at least every once in a while.”
Even without seeing him, Shou hears Judai’s stuttering exhale. Still, Shou isn’t surprised when the waves are his only response. He lets the sound wash over him as he slowly walks back to the blue dorm. His mind clouds once more, and Shou doesn’t even have the energy to be grateful about it.
The night stretches on. Shou doesn’t think about it.