Chapter Text
"I'm sorry.." Tsukasa breathed out as tears started to fall from his eyes. He never thought it would come to this. The thought of Rui catching him in such a vulnerable state always hit his head like a semi truck. He knew there was always a possibility that he would see him with the box cutter.
"Tsukasa, you.. I.. why?"
Why? Rui asked him why? What does he mean by that? Why was he on the floor? Why was he bleeding out? Why does he have scars all over? Why does he hurt himself? Tsukasa didn't know. And he didn't want to. All he could do was turn his head away due to the fact that he couldn't face the look on Rui's face. A face that was both disgusted and distraught at the scene.
"let–let me get you the.. the.. first aid kit."
"No, wait, a glass.. a glass of water before that."
"Or–or, maybe a hug?"
Rui tripped and stuttered all over himself to try and comfort a bleeding, emotionless husk of a being Tsukasa was right now. He had just gotten home from his part time job but Tsukasa needed his comfort right now because; His eyes were almost lifeless and he was getting paler by the second. All he could muster up to say were the words I'm sorry, which he repeated until his hoarse voice turned into painful breaths of air. In his trembling hand was the box cutter, all bloody.
"I'll just get this knife away from you.."
The purple haired boy slowly took Tsukasa's trembling hand in his and took the yellow and black box cutter away and slid the sharp downward. The whole time, his other hand warmed up Tsukasa's. He didn't know Tsukasa went through this. And he hated himself for it. They were roommates, friends even, and he didn't even notice what his friend was feeling?
"All this time.. you were hurting, Tsukasa-kun," Rui started, his voice filled with guilt and pity, "I wish I could've helped you sooner." he wiped Tsukasa's slowly falling tears with his hand. Tsukasa didn't look as bright as he was at the start of the year. His bright smile, his bright energy, just his overall presence that brings a smile to your face, all dimmed.
The blonde boy tried to force a smile out and raise himself up from the blood stained floor but to no avail. His body and soul were too tired to even get up. Only for Rui's arms that were wrapped around him to give him the warmth he desperately needed.
"It was hard.." Tsukasa croaked out, his throat desperately in need for a glass of any liquid that would refresh him right now. "After what happened with Saki." His tired eyes turned glossy as he reached for the box cutter.
A few months ago, Saki was running late for Tsukasa's surprise birthday party. It was all organized by her, but finding the perfect gift wrapper turned out to be quite a struggle. She didn't have a bike or a car, so she had to walk the shortcut through the dodgy part of town. Long story short, Tsukasa's sister got into a misunderstanding that led to her being shot. The shot was at point blank and she was pronounced as dead on arrival.
After Rui heard the name of Tsukasa's sister, he nodded and let out a sigh. His arms were still around the boy and he didn't let go until Tsukasa calmed down. After which Rui gave him a glass of lemon water for him to drink while he cleaned his marks. He applied an oinment to help with the stinging and also gave him a paracetamol.
"Let's get you clean, okay?" Rui led this emotionally exhausted boy into the bath and gave him time alone. Although, he wasn't sure if he needed it. Nor if it was safe, but he needed to clean up the blood before it stained the wood floors so they wouldn't lose their deposit.
The evening had been an exhausting, confusing one. Rui realized he hadn't noticed his friend was hurting and needed help. Professional help.