THAT MEMORY WASN’T ONE HE COULD EASILY FORGET. After having escaped that, feeling more refreshed than he’s ever felt might he add, there was something permanently cemented within it. Rin had been there and fortunately, safely rescued alongside the memory of his friends. It seemed that no matter the outcome, both of them would’ve made it out okay but he wasn’t going to chance it. That, and what she had said then– well. It’s weighed on his mind since then. He heard her, loud and clear, all before the explosion and all before they could all be safe. His heart pounded so loud out of his chest and even recalling it now, made his heart swell with overwhelming adoration.
The aftermath of that was awkward and tense. Ryuji, ever the fool, had wanted to reassure her sooner but instead, thought it better to wait until he could find the right time to return her feelings. He didn’t say anything to outright reject her or deny her, but whenever she’d appear before him after that dream, he’d get tense and embarrassed, and on occasions, ran away. Admittedly, he could’ve handled it better, maybe even had SAID something, but he was so worked up with giving her all he’s got, he refused to let it end on a memory that was from his past.
That’s right— what Ryuji wanted for Rin, for them- was to have a brand new memory to call their own. Here, he decided, would be it. (Later, if all went well, he’d have to personally thank the hosts.)
She stands before him, snapping Ryuji out of his thoughts, and with the other so close, that heart clenching feeling seizes him. He wants to hold her close already, not caring who’s around to see. He recomposes himself when she pulls away, turning his gaze as he tries to hide an almost lovesick smile.
“Thanks, Rin. Some blacksmith I am.”
At her offer of food, Ryuji nods and follows along, small talk filling the air between them. It never ceased to amaze him how easily they fell into conversation, what little things they could talk about and never get bored. He even snags the last deviled egg and makes a dumb face at her, just to get her to laugh and get a reaction. It was just so…natural. He wanted to do this forever, if he could. In the end, he didn’t eat that much, afraid that if he overate, he’d get a stomachache. The setting around them shifted as folks readied themselves for another dance and performance. Nervously, he shoots up, his expression almost unreadable.
“Hey, wanna go stand on the balcony with me? After all that soda, I could use some cool air to wind down, you know? Did you see the garden? I wonder if they have those like, hedge mazes or whatever.” Before he turns to walk off however, he extends his hand to her, offering her an uncharacteristically shy smile. “Rich people…they seem to have all the fun.”
The longer that they spend together the easier it becomes for Rin to push what had happened to the back of her mind, falling back into tandem with him, almost amazed at how easy it is. They’ve always gotten along since the very beginning, when the city had first thrown them together under the strangest circumstances and remained inseparable ever since which in and of itself was a miracle; so many people from this place came and went. Here one day and then gone the next. Even Len had been one of them. But no matter where she turned, Ryuji was always there. Reliable and strong; thoughtful and kind. Whether it was to support her, or cheer her up or even just to make her laugh much like how he had been doing throughout the night, he had slowly become a consistency in her life that she hadn’t even realized she’d been yearning for right up until the moment where her feelings had grown so strong that it was difficult to keep them shoved away day in and day out.
Obviously she wasn’t very good at keeping secrets. But even so, the other hadn’t seemed to hold it against her and at the very least was kind enough to let her down gently by not outright turning her confession down as she had come to assume. He knew how awful she was when it came to rejection, after all, and she’d never take it lightly. And though painful as it may be to come to terms with the knowledge that her feelings ended up not being reciprocated after all, she much preferred having him by her side as a friend than to not be there at all.
Once the excitement of the night slowly begins to dissipate does her nerves return tenfold, worried that Ryuji is about to make a swift exit and head back home when he rises up only to balk when he extends his hand for her. She stares down at his open palm quietly, heat rising to her cheeks as a wave of hopefulness wells up within her unexpectedly. But the blonde is quick to disregard the action– he probably just doesn’t want her to get lost in the crowd. The mention of the garden catches her attention quickly, though. A welcomed distraction as she becomes intrigued at the very idea of it.
“No, I didn’t notice it when I came in. Do you really think there might be a maze? Let’s go, then! I want to go explore it together if there is!”
She’s all too eager to reach back out, grasping his hand and rising to her feet as well with a laugh, “That’s not true, Ryuji. We have plenty of fun ourselves just the way that we are.”
