Today is the day.
That's what I tell myself as I get out of the shower, nearly slipping on my own wet feet. It's Ryo's 15th birthday, September 18th. The day that my best friend was born.
The day I'll spill out all my feelings and just hope to god he'll say the same.
Chances of that are low, though. I'm the boy he's been friends with since he was three, so it's gonna be the most weird shit ever for him. I'll also have to hope his father doesn't hear me, or I won't be able to hear anything in the next 24 hours through my coffin.
This place isn't the most accepting of boys like me, don't think they ever will be.
I put my shoes on and fix my uniform shirt, the most boring color white that could bore.
Its my first time really wearing our new uniform, and I can't lie, it's pretty underwhelming.
But it's not like I'm in some Shoujo anime with perfectly tailored outfits anyways.
I kick on my shoes, which my mom just used the rest of her extra money on to buy.
I grab my backpack, double-checking that I didn't forget the one thing I can't mess up today—Ryo's gift. It's nothing fancy, just a small notebook with a cover he'd like, something to scribble in when he's got that distracted look on his face. But I've written a little note inside, something I hope will make him smile… or maybe make him look at me the way I've been dreaming of for months now.
The walk to his house is longer than usual because my brain refuses to stop running. Every step is a reminder that in just a few minutes, I'll be standing in front of him, heart hammering, palms sweating, trying to say something that's been bottled up since forever. I practice it over and over in my head, each version slightly better than the last—or so I tell myself.
I reach his doorstep, and the place seems quieter than usual. His parents are usually arguing about how they could do better and how Ryo needed to suck up his own feelings and just go to cram school to get his grades up.
His dad, Mr. Rushimura, is apparently heir of some big company, and fell in love with Ryo's mom, native to
Itasano.
The two moved out here to be with Mrs. Rushimura's family, and I think Mr. Rushimura has regretted that decision their whole 20 years of marriage so far, as most of their arguments are about them "not being in the right place for their status".
I already know my face is beet red as I take my first knock. No answer.
I knock again. The door opens very slowly and I feel like I'm about to crap myself on the spot.
"Ry-"
"Oh, Hayato, sweetie…"
What the-
I look up, and standing before me is Ryo's grandmother, her eyes red and bloodshot with a tissue in her hand.
"Ms. Sato, what's wrong..? Wheres Ryo?"
"Oh, god— they left…they took all their stuff and just-left…I didn't even know myself…"
My heart drops to my ass.