Chapter Text
Reo was angry.
This is sort of a surprising statement, especially considering the fact that Reo Mikage is usually a rather level-headed, calm, down-to-earth kind of boy. He never really let his silver-spoon, Richie Rich life get to his head— Especially because he now had his best friend Nagi Seishiro attending the same high school as him.
But that Nagi Seishiro, he called his best friend, was actually the reason he wanted to tear out all his hair, cry himself to sleep, and punch a hole into someone’s head all at once.
“Um… So you're not gonna fill me in on what’s going on?” Reo snapped out of it as his close friend Chigiri’s voice cut through his daydream.
“Huh- fill you in on… oh, that.” Reo’s voice retreated as he realized what the red-haired boy meant.
“Yes, that. Stupid. You and Nagi were inseparable, but now, you guys don’t even look at each other, and that’s an insane 180.”
“We weren’t… inseparable." Reo awkwardly almost whispered as he looked to the side, desperately trying to avoid his friend's debilitating eye contact.
“Oh yeahhhh totally, and I don't have red hair, you idiot”
Reo was taken aback by the sudden, harsh sarcasm, but then he laughed.
“Chigiri, you're a real prissy guy, huh”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Chigiri was very blunt and cold at times, but Reo knew he cared,
Reo took a deep breath and then let it all out in a big sigh.
“Ok, fine. It all started last week.”
-last week-
It was a nice day outside. The weather was perfect, and two best friends were walking to school together in the morning— as always.
“So then, Reo, I dreamt about rolling a 5-star character on the first try. Do you think if I dreamt it, it's bound to happen in real life?”
Reo sighed, “Sure, maybe. It’s not gonna be my fault once you somehow spend over 200 dollars if you lose the 50/50, though.” He smiled.
“That would never happen. I’m a game god for a reason. The games. They listen. To me.” They then arrived at school and went to all their classes (they shared their full schedule) before lunchtime.
As Nagi and Reo were leaving their class and heading into the hall to get food from the canteen, they were stopped by Isagi and Bachira. Reo liked Isagi. He was a nice guy, and to be honest, one of the normal ones out of this whole school, so he was pretty enjoyable to talk to.
Behind Isagi was Bachira, his best friend. Definitely not one of the normal ones in this school, that’s for sure— but still… nice… at least Reo thinks so. “Yo Nagi, Reo! We’re on our way to pick up our new schedules for the new class switches! Wanna come with us?”
Bachira also came forward with a big yawn and a stretch, “That’s the best thing about the beginning of the year, switching classes. Finally, we’re free from our assigned ones!”
Reo was a bit confused, “Oh, maybe you can go with Kunigami or Rin or something because Nagi and I didn’t switch our-“
“I switched my classes, Reo.”
Huh..?
Reo wasn’t so sure whose voice that was; it sounded like Nagi, but there’s no way.
Maybe Isagi is starting to just sound like him; they are close friends after all!
Then Isagi spoke, “Oh, so you did switch it? Reo, you… didn't?"
What, what, what? I didn't what? Switch classes?
Why would I? I have my whole schedule with Nagi, so it’s fine really-
“The office said I was the last student they could take into the classes since it was popular. I tried asking for another spot, but it didn’t work out.” Nagi responded.
Isagi picked up on the weird atmosphere around them starting to form and turned to Reo, “Oh, alright. It’s ok, uh- Reo, wanna tag along? We can also pick up lunch on the wa-“
“Nagi.”
Reo said while looking at Nagi through the purple strands that were loosely falling in front of his face.
“Yes, Reo?”
Reo just wanted to punch that stupid, bored-looking expression off of Nagi’s face.
“What do you mean by ‘switch’?”
“Well, I’m switching 4 of my classes because I wanted to take the Video Game design class, which ended up messing up my whole-“
“And… you didn’t tell me.”
Isagi was getting the vibe that he should try to step in, but the air in the room was too overpowering for him to even get a word out.
…
If only that ability to ‘read the room’ transferred to Bachira, too.
“Well, he probably just didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to follow him or something”
Nagi’s eyes went wide at Bachira’s unexpected comment.
He turned to Bachira, “Wait, no—“ He then turned back to Reo, panic filling his face, “Reo, that’s not—“
“I’ve heard enough… I’m leaving.”
Reo’s eyes were barely visible behind the natural shadow now cast over them by his bangs. He turned around and started walking in the exact opposite direction of the 3 other students.
Isagi panicked as he glanced at Bachira and Nagi and then back at Reo walking away.
“Ah, Bachira! You shouldn’t be saying stuff like that!” Isagi scolded as he held Bachira’s shoulder.
Bachira, being Bachira, just shrugged and stuck out his tongue, “Oops, sorry Nagi! I learned my lesson. I just said what I thought you meant.”
Isagi now turned towards Nagi, “Nagi! You should’ve tol-“
But Nagi’s face at that moment told Isagi everything.
And just like that, Nagi was running after Reo down the hall.
.
Reo now heard a familiar voice behind him, calling his name.
“Reo… Reo… Reo!”
Reo stopped for a second just to respond, “Shut up. You’re like a bug that won’t go away.”
Nagi paused as he still wore that somewhat stone-cold expression on his face.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I-I… I just—“
Reo turned around just enough to glance at Nagi’s face. “You just what? Didn’t want me to know sooner so you can tell me in front of our friends and make me look like an absolute idiot?”
“No, No.. I was being too selfish. I’m sor-“
As Reo watched Nagi’s face move to say those words, he noticed that his… ‘friend' still wore that poker mask expression– the only difference being that his brows were just slightly furrowed now.
Wow, he seriously doesn’t care. Just look at that face.
...Stupid Nagi.
“Yeah, Yeah. Just don’t talk to me.”
Reo said coldly as he walked off without looking back