Chapter Text
Kamishiro Rui knew he was disliked, it's not like the other students tried to hide it.
Getting tripped in the hallway, paper balls and open milk cartons being thrown across the room with perfect aim to land on his head every time, called slurs and all sorts of names, getting beat up in the bathroom, whatever they could think of... they would do.
However, he never showed any discomfort. He acted as if nothing was happening. Even with the obvious bruises and scrapes, he smiled. He never fought back, he never told adults, he simply took it.
All of the others thought he enjoyed the torture, that he was some freak masochist that got off on getting hurt.
But that wasn't true.
He hated it. He hated himself. He doesn't know why he lets them do it. Maybe he deserves it.
More often then not, he'd have thoughts of hanging himself in the gym with the volleyball net or jumping off the roof just to prove a point.
But he didn't.
He continued to take it. He continued to do his own thing and act like everything was alright. It's his final year at that school anyway. It'll all be over soon.
Today, though... things were different. They went too far.
The second he sat down at his desk, paper was thrown. The second he stepped into the bathroom, he was attacked and thrown against the sink. The second he started eating lunch, it was swatted away from him and stepped on.
The second he ran to the roof to finally get it over with and jump, he froze.
There was a kid already up there, quietly eating their lunch.
'Why today?' He thought.
There was never anyone up there. So why today. Of all days, why today.
"Need something?" The kid spoke up. They sounded defensive, like they wanted him to leave.
Rui shifted his gaze away. "No."
"You gonna jump?" They asked. It rolled off their tongue casually, as if they were asking about the weather.
Rui remained silent.
"Ah, so I'm right." They exhaled. "Well, I ain't gonna stop you." They take another bite of their sandwich.
That got Ruis attention. He looked back at them with furrowed brows. "What?"
"What you do isn't my business." They shrug.
"You're just... going to watch me kill myself? You're not going to tell me not to?"
"I mean, if that's what you want, yeah."
"But, why—"
"Kamishiro-Senpai," They cut him off. "If you actually wanted to, you would've done it by now. You don't really wanna die, do you?"
"...Huh?" He swore this kid was trying to get on his nerves. Who just says something like that?
"If you really wanted to jump off the roof, you would've ignored me and just done it." They put their lunch away and to the side.
Rui scoffs. "And how do you know that?"
"I did the same thing last year."
Rui stares at them blankly. "You... did?"
"Mhm. Told myself i was gonna jump, ran up here, saw a random ass kid, and chickened out."
"...Why are you telling me this?"
"Dunno." The kid swings their legs off the bench and stands up. They grab their lunch bag and walk towards Rui. Just as they pass him to reach the door, words Rui never expected to hear slipped through their lips.
"It ain't worth it. Just go home." The door opens and slams shut behind him, leaving him alone.
Rui simply stares at where they sat before, processing their words.
Just go home.
He slowly walks to the fenced off edge of the roof, looking over to the courtyard below. All the students enjoying their lunches and conversations without a care in the world.
Just go home.
He grips the fence, his knuckles whitening with each ounce of strength he puts into them. His breath becomes ragged and forced, anger filling his bloodstream.
Just go home.
"Damn it!" He kicks the fence and turns around, sliding to the floor.
He wanted to jump. Why couldn't he? Why was he scared? He was prepared to do it, ready to leave the world as he walked up the stairs. What changed?
'Just go home.'
The words repeated in his mind like a mantra, like it was something to be remembered.
Three simple words. There was no way that's what changed his mind. Some kid he's never met before telling him to go home? Ridiculous. All he could do was laugh.
He laughed into his hands, sounding like a madman. He felt like he was going insane, maybe he was.
Either way, there was no way he was going about his original plan. He just... couldn't anymore.
He was scared.
"Fine! I'll go home." He huffs before standing up and trudging down the stairs. Lunch period was ending, he needed to be quick. The moment he reached the bottom floor, he ran.
Past students, teachers, classrooms he was meant to be reporting to in a matter of minutes. It didn't matter.
He needed to leave.
On his way out, all he could think of was that kid. Were they even real? Were they a figment of his vivid imagination? He doesn't know, nor does he really care. He just needs to go home.
So he did.
When he approaches his house, there was a car in the driveway. Mom was home... great.
He loves his mother, he truly does. She's been nothing but supportive of him since he was a child. But... if she saw what he was becoming... would she still be? He's been avoiding her for weeks. She doesn't deserve to see him like this, it would tear her apart.
Luckily, his room was the familys garage, he wouldn't have to go through the house. When he closes his door, he leans against it and sinks to the floor once more.
"I can't keep doing this..." He felt the all too familiar, painful feeling forming in his throat. Tears begin to well up in his eyes, blurring his vision.
Much like every other day after school, he breaks down. He sobs into his knees, gripping at his arms as they wrap around his legs, leaving marks on his elbows.
When he finally calms down, he crawls over to his bed, slumping into it and curling up under the covers as always. Hiding away from everyone and everything.
He doesn't fully know how long he was there before he hears a knock at his door.
"Rui..? Are you in there..? Your school called..."
Mom.
She can't see him like this. He stayed silent.
"Sweetheart, I'm worried about you. Can you please talk to me?"
Nothing.
"Rui... I'm coming in. I just... need to make sure you're okay."
He hears the doorknob turning. Instead of protesting or yelling at her to stop, he curls up further, making himself as small as he can.
"Oh, sweetie..." The second the door opens, she lets out a worried breath. His room was messier than usual, a disorganized mountain of discarded projects. Normally, it was considered an organized chaos, everything had a place.
Not anymore.
She seemed to find his hiding spot as he hears careful footsteps walking towards him. When they reach him, his mattress dips down as she sits at the edge.
"Rui... please talk to me. Why did you leave school? Are you feeling sick?"
She could just barely make out the movement of him shaking his head under the blanket.
"Then what's wrong? Did someone say something to you again?"
She knows he got bullied back in elementary school, but she never knew how far it went in the past few months. She thought it was still harmful words and insults.
He contemplates for a moment. He'll probably have to tell her eventually, right?
He gives in and slowly lowers the blanket to look at her. The lower the fabric goes, the more bruises she could see.
"Oh, my baby..." She immediately feels herself choking up. "What happened to you?" She carefully brings her hand fo his face, gently rubbing the injuries to try and soothe the pain.
The soft, caring touches makes him break down for a second time, quickly latching onto her and he continues to sob into her shirt.
She wraps her arms around him and rubs small circles on his back. "It's okay, Rui..." She whispers.
"I can— I can't do it anymore." He cries. "I'm tired, Mom."
"I know baby, I know... I'm sorry." She holds him tighter, afraid to let him go.
Once he's finally calmed down, they separate with quiet sniffles.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He wipes away his remaining tears with her thumb.
He shakes his head.
"That's alright. Just... please know that you can come to me when it gets too much. I worry about you, Rui."
"I— I know... sorry..."
"It's okay. Can you promise me something?"
He stays silent, letting her continue.
"Please don't do anything you'll regret. You know what I mean by that, yes?"
'It ain't worth it. Just go home.'
"...Yeah." His eyes fall. Maybe... he should thank that kid. If they didn't tell him to go home... his mom wouldn't have known about this, she probably wouldn't have seen him again. The last memory she would have of him would be yelling at her to leave him alone after a stressful day of school three weeks ago.
He should thank them.
"Thank you." She finally lets out a sigh of relief. "I love you, Rui. You know that, right?"
He nods. "I love you too, Mom..."
"I know you do." She smiles. "Come here, let me patch you up." She stands and waits for him to join her. He does after many seconds of arguing with himself. She gives him pain meds, cold packs, everything he needed to feel better.
He should really thank that kid.