Was talking about this with a friend on Discord, but thought to post it here as well. A change of pace from what I usually write since I've been thinking of this pair for a while.
Atsushi and Ichimatsu have taken to confiding in each other as the "losers" within their friend group, mainly venting about how difficult keeping a facade up can be. It's not like they don't want to be around their more upbeat friends, but it would be nice if there weren't any pressure to be "cool" 24/7. They get fairly close, and in some ways you might even say they're each other's closest friend, but only in private.
Hang outs together started as a time for them to decompress, often involving listening to music or reading manga together on the rooftop or in the park, but on a particularly dreary day, they opened up about their lives. Ichimatsu's worries for the future, Atsushi's depression; it was easy to talk to each other about it all. So things naturally took a turn: Atsushi started thinking of Ichimatsu as charming and compassionate; Ichimatsu thought of Atsushi as wellspoken and modest. The comfort of each other's company made them feel safe, so of course they started developing feelings. But they're both dumb teenagers, so romance just wasn't that simple.
On a day just like any other, Atsushi tried kissing Ichimatsu. He probably should've asked first, but he's nervous and he didn't know what to do, and oh god, what now?? Ichimatsu was having a panic attack in front of him and he had no idea what to say to calm him down. He tried to call any of Ichimatsu's brothers, but that only further agitated his friend. Somehow though, Ichimatsu found it in himself to calm down enough to run off. Atsushi worried, of course, especially since he was still gasping for air, but he knew better than to run after him (he really should've though).
After that, Ichimatsu didn't turn up to school for a week. No one in their friend group knows why, but they don't talk about it; Ichi's brothers refuse to say anything about it. Atsushi could feel glares on him he went, but he wasn't unsure if that's just his paranoia, or if Ichimatsu's brothers blabbed about it behind his back. When Ichimatsu did come back though, he was the same as he's always been. "I just had the flu," he said with a laugh, but even stupid, oblivious Atsushi could still see how forced it was. From then on, Ichimatsu pretended he barely ever knew him, but he can't say he blamed him. Still, it hurt that no matter how much he begged for one final conversation, the only response he got back was "What am I supposed to say? Figure it out on your own."
So he did. They never hung out again. They both felt like they don't deserve to, but Atsushi never knew that. He forced himself grow resentful so can finally move on, and look where that got him: much farther than some lowlife NEET. Ichimatsu never even gave him a chance to apologise. Never said anything else to him, just completely abandoned him when they both most needed an actual friend. Being subhuman it what Ichimatsu and his fucked up brothers deserve, but although Atsushi relishes in his downfall, he sometimes still wonders if Ichimatsu misses him, too.
But none of that matters now. The reunion's in a couple days, and he has to look his best; no point getting wrinkles over it. He'll show everyone how successful he's become, even without Ichimatsu by his side.















