Chapter Text
A fifteen-year-old Rui stands at the edge of his schools roof, his shoes behind him alongside a letter and his phone.
He's been planning this for days— weeks, even. The way he was treated was simply too much for him to handle anymore.
Every day since he was a child there was something new for people to harass him for.
His name, his hobbies, his hair, his personality.
He's too tall, but not tall enough.
He's too smart, but not smart enough.
He's too kind, but not kind enough.
Not enough in any way.
He doesn't understand what made him so different than everyone else. What was it about him that people hated so much to the point of trying to hurt him?
He just can't deal with it anymore. The only one that seemed to understand him was the one the letter was addressed to, Akiyama Mizuki. His best friend.
But... surely she'll get annoyed with him one day too. Everyone does.
So, there he was.
His uniform flows in the wind, his hands gripping onto the rail firmly behind him. His eyes dart around below him, watching as nobody notices his presence. If they did, they didn't care enough to mention it.
His phone was ringing, but he was too dazed to answer it. Not like it was anything important. Once it stops, he takes a deep breath, one he hoped would be his last.
Just as his right foot lifted off of the concrete floor and hovered over his next path, the door to the roof swings open.
He didn't turn, he didn't care. His left hand lets go, his right fingers slowly mirroring them.
He closes his eyes.
"RUI!" Before he could fall forward, arms were wrapped around his chest, forcing him back into the rail with a loud thud, the wind being knocked out of him.
His eyes shoot open, only to see a familiar pink hair falling over his shoulder.
"Rui, please..."
The voice was just as remembered. It was Mizuki.
"M-Mizu...ki? How— how did you—"
"What were you thinking?!" She yells, holding him tighter. She uses all the strength she has to drag him over the rail until they both fall to the floor. She moves to sit in front of him, her hands gripping his shoulders.
"What the hell are you doing?!" She shakes him.
"I..." He looks away as he sees tears begin to stream out of his best friends eyes and onto his clothes.
"You— you promised me!" She sobs, her short nails finding a way to dig into Ruis shoulders. "You told me you wouldn't! So what the hell are you doing!?"
"...sorry" was all he could muster up the courage to say.
She pulls him closer by his collar, letting her head fall onto his shoulder, her sobs growing louder by the second. "Please... please don't go anywhere. I can't do this without you..."
As much as he hated being able to breathe, being alive, he nods. Mizuki didn't deserve that. He's all she has right now.
"Sorry..." He repeats as if it's the only word he knows.
She slowly pulls back, finally making eye contact. "It's okay. Just— please stay. I need you, Rui."
Ruis shifts his eyes once more as he hesitantly nods.
"Come on, then." He hears her force a quiet laugh, holding her hand out as the stands up. "Let's go shopping. You needed more materials for your drone, right?"
"Wh-what?"
"School's over." She smiles. "Let's hang out for a bit."
Rui looks from her face to her hand, unsure of if he should trust either. As one final tear falls from his friends eyes, he slowly raises his arm and grabs her hand.
She pulls him up and into a hug. "Thank you." She mumbles against his chest.
He doesn't return the hug, but replies much like before, "sorry, Mizu..."
She pulls back and turns to grab his things, placing his shoes by his feet. "Here, you'll need these."
He reluctantly puts them back on and grabs his phone from her hand. She holds on to the letter tightly, however.
"Mizu, I—" He reaches for it, but she refuses to give it to him. "Let's save this for another time, yeah?" She shoves it into her pocket and it of view.
"...yeah." His eyes fall, he's never felt worse than he did right then. He scared Mizuki, what kind of friend is he?
Before he could begin spiraling, Mizuki grabs his hand. "Let's go." She smiles up at him, the skin around her eyes red from crying.
He nods and follows her without another word.
She drags him along to multiple stores so he could search for items he needs for his multitude of projects. The entire time, he could see her constantly looking over to him, making sure he was still there. It remained that way until they reached the door or his home.
"Rui," she starts, grabbing onto his uniform from behind as he unlocks the door. "I'm sorry for yelling earlier."
Rui gets the door unlocked, but doesn't open it. He stares down at the doorknob, wondering why the hell she was apologizing. He should be the one on his hands and knees, begging for her forgiveness.
"I..." He sighs. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you..."
"I know you didn't. But... I meant it when I said I can't do this without you. Plus..." she weakly chuckles, "you gotta put on shows for me, remember? I'll be there for every one."
Finally, with that, he smiles. Albeit subtle, it was there. "Right... I did say I'd do that, didn't i?"
"Mhm," she nods despite knowing Rui can't see it, "you might not believe me at the moment, but... things will get better, Rui. Please don't throw yourself away like that."
"...you either."
"I won't if you don't. Sounds good?"
He turns to look at her. "What?"
"If you go, I'm going with you. It's that simple."
"Mizuki, you can't just—"
"I can, and i will." She cuts him off. "I know it's fucked up and selfish for me to say something like this, but... I'm serious."
"You..." Rui sighs, "...okay. I'll... I'll try my best."
"Thank you." She pulls him into one final hug for the night. "I love you. You know that right?"
Rui nods with an affirming hum. "I... love you too."
She tightens the hug for a moment before pulling away, a genuine smile on her face this time. "I know you do."
She takes a deep breath and lets him go. "Alright, goodnight Rui. I'll see you tomorrow."
He nods. "See you tomorrow, Mizuki."
She waits outside until he closes the door, making sure he actually entered the house instead of running off to some cliff.
She did, in fact, see him tomorrow.
And the next day, and the day after that, the next week, month, and even year after that. He was getting better slowly.
That is, until his first year of highschool, when they were separated due to their one year grade difference.