āĀ itĀ wasĀ realĀ forĀ me.Ā ā @rei from kazuki
their time with miri was fleeting . rei didn't realize just how much she changed his life until she was already gone . the apartment was quieter and less lived in , the moments of solitude more frequent . both he and kazuki acknowledge the loss ; neither of them had to say it aloud for the other to know . as he stands in the doorway looking at kazuki he can hear the break in his voice , the soft admittance spoken like defeat . in moments like this miri would go to papa kazuki and cheer him up . the small of her slotted perfectly in his arms and a smile would pull on his face . unfortunately miri wasn't here to do it . he leaves the confines of the darkened bathroom to meet him in the kitchen , all of him tense and unsure on how to approach . ā kazuki ... ā he says cautiously , a mild assurance in his tone . both of them were grieving in different ways and yet rei found it difficult to meet him halfway in their journey of living without her . he reverted into himself and pushed him away ; the glue that held them together was gone and the stark realization that they'd never see her again suddenly hits .
' it was real for me , ' he hears kazuki say again , louder this time . it happens so fast . he walks up to him to wrap kazuki in a hug , the warmth of him a temporary comfort for the hurt they both feel . at first rei feels awkward . he never hugged kazuki before , let alone done anything intimate of the sort , especially in moments of crisis . but kazuki needed him right now , and if rei was being honest , he needed him just as much . the top of his shoulder is met with something warm and wet . through his peripherals he can see kazuki crying quietly , his body shaking as if trying to stifle the dam of emotion pouring out . ā it was real for me too ... ā rei says quietly , earnestly . his arms tighten in a hug , a soft exhale made into the nape of his neck . this is what miri would do ...














