Archive of Our Own

The white, monotonous room has become more bland and blinding the longer Kamishiro Rui stays in it.

It’s suffocating, even if the only company he gets is the ever growing pile of uneaten hospital food in the corner of the room, and the flowers he gets from his mom, along with her visitations every week. At least they let him bring some books, otherwise he’d be stuck watering the flower as his only activity in his stay at the hospital.

“I guess we’re both alone huh…” He mutters, hands held onto a glass filled with water while he carefully waters the white tulips that sits pretty in its vase. The sound of the water pouring filled the empty rooms, as if it responded to him in silence. (He gets that a lot, he doesn’t mind it, he said to himself)

Seeing the flower getting watered made his own throat yearns for water, or any liquid. He’d get a cup of water too, if not for his knowledge that there are vending machines available just a few minutes walk from his room. Although the cold of October digs in his skin, he puts on his jacket and walks out. At least this way, he can find other entertainment outside of his isolation.

Hospital’s alleyways–no, hospitals are not Rui’s most favorite things. Its smell of alcohol, IV drips, and medicine filled his senses, making his feet walk faster towards the vending machine area. At this point, his favorite thing in the hospital would be that area, where he can eat Ramune candy his mom sneaked in and as well buy a drink or more snacks from the 3 vending machines available there. At least that way, he’d still eat something. His mom has been sending him homemade food and even that, he barely eats it.

Steps were stopped when he heard a squeak noise. Looking down, his eyes fixate itself on the toy he accidentally stepped on.

‘A fish…?’ Did he go the wrong way? Was he so caught up in his mind that he went to the children’s section of the hospital? 

“Ah! Sorry!” Rui’s thoughts stopped as he heard a young man’s voice, and Rui raised his head to see where the voice had come from.

His vision is filled with yellow to orange ombre, and it was so bright, he forgot he was still inside the building. Even his sense of smell has moved on from its alcoholic fragrance onto the boy’s scent. It's like lemons, Rui noted. He looks to be the same age as himself, though a lot shorter than him. The boy’s hand reached onto the toy Rui stepped on and gave an apologetic face to him.

“I am so sorry, I should've watched where the kids were throwing their toys around…” He huffed and sighs after giving the kids behind him a friendly sharp glare. 

“O-oh… it’s no… problem…” Rui couldn’t seem to talk. After talking towards only his mom and a flower, his brain couldn’t comprehend itself to talk to someone else. He couldn’t dare to make eye contact with him. 

“Okay, well i won’t be in your way then fellow comrade! Eh- oiii! Everyone sit down!” He said before turning his way back towards the kids. 

As much as Rui wants to intercept, his words didn't even make their way through his throat. He stood there dumbfounded, looking back at the strawberry blonde who now seems to be playing with children that are hooked up onto IV drips and bandages. 

For some weird reason, he wants to talk to the stranger more. His warmth spread to him even though they've only met each other for a few minutes and have exchanged nothing but a few words. He felt like he was supposed to meet him, somewhere else, and in other circumstances. What if it's their only chance to meet each other? Maybe he’s only a visitor, and Rui can’t see him anymore.

But wouldn’t it be better if he was a visitor? That way he didn’t suffer in this hospital as he rots, like he does. Why is he even thinking about this? Is this why even his classmates were avoiding him?

Stopping his thoughts before he spirals down into infinity, he decided to make his way towards the vending machines so as to not block the alleyway he was frozen onto. The smell of alcohol and the cold of October came back to him.

————

With a hard clank, a can of soda drops from the machine. Rui pops it open and sits on the cold cement under him. Maybe he should've gone for hotter drinks, considering he’s outside and even his breaths are visible. 

He looks up towards the dark, night sky. He can make out a few stars, though not many of them are even available. Maybe it was because of the pollution of Shibuya, or these stars are as tired as he is.

Strangely, looking at the stars made his thoughts go towards the boy. He admits that he felt envious looking at the boy playing freely with the children, but who is he to join them? He doesn’t even know his name.

He’s been lonely for most of his life. Being someone who made robots at such a young age, of course people would be terrified. He spent his days making robots rather than making friends, even straying paths with his childhood friends in the midst of it. 

He wonders if she’s doing better than him. He hoped so. He would’ve seen her this year since she would be attending Kamiyama like him, if he even went back to school that is. He felt awkward for suddenly not making contact anymore with her. Maybe he should apologize?

“Ah… I messed up a lot huh….” White fog appeared around him as he spoke.

“I mean, with that soda, yes. It is very unhealthy for you, especially at night” Spoke someone with a familiar voice.

“I know… but it’s kind of refreshing–” Rui cuts himself off as he caught on something weird. “–H-heh?” 

Rui turns his head and is met with a familiar blonde. The boy from earlier crouched down beside him. “What are you… doing?”

“Well, the children are already asleep and I thought I saw you go this way! Then I found you here, drinking cola, at 9 PM, AND outside! You’re going to get sick!” The boy’s words are loud, but are filled with worries. Rui hasn’t heard someone talk like that for a while. 

“What were you doing… with the kids earlier?” Rui asked, in hope that it would divert the conversation’s topic away from him.

“Them? I would often put on small shows for them! I took inspiration from children's books that the hospital has! Earlier I did Little Mermaid, and one of the fish toys ended up being the one you stepped on. I know it was an accident, so it's not your fault!” Again, the boy spoke so many words compared to his own hums of affirmations. But he doesn’t dislike it. He enjoyed hearing him talk.

“What about you? Why are you out here? It's like, so cold…” The plan seemed to only work temporarily, so it went back to Rui.

“Well… i was thirsty i guess”

“You guess?” He asked.

“I don’t know if it was the isolation that made me go out or it was the thirst…” Rui answered.

The boy enthusiastically held onto both of Rui’s hands. “Well, now it's solved!” 

It left Rui dumbfounded. Only letting a few ‘Huh’ out of his mouth.

“Although the cold soda is very bad for you, it relieved your thirst right?” He asked, and received a nod from Rui. “And I'm here! So now you wont be so lonely anymore!”

The boy smiled brightly, and warmly. The temperature doesn’t seem to attack Rui’s skin and the warmth spreads into his body. It sparked something in him, and at that moment, he didn't fully realize what it was. The frozen world seemed to go back to normal when the boy released his now very warm hands.

“I’m going to go back now, before I get scolded again. It’s nice to see you…” He trailed off, making the signal of him asking for Rui’s identity.

“Rui… Kamishiro Rui…”

“Tenma Tsukasa! Tsukasa, written as ruler of the world! Tenma, written as soaring pegasus!” The introduction was way more grandiose than what Rui had expected. He lets him continue otherwise.

“It’s a pleasure to be acquainted with you, Rui!” The blond started off on a first name basis right away. Rui was surprised, but he won't mind it if he’s the one who gets to call him that.

With that, the blonde storms off the area and into the hospital building. Leaving nothing but the memories of their conversation together.

“Tenma Tsukasa…” Rui mutters.

The name engraved itself in his heart and mind as he’s back being alone. Though, this isolation no longer felt as suffocating as before, and his shoulder doesn't feel as heavy as it used to

————

Today, Rui decided to finally leave his room. 

Yes, he has been outside for a few times, but those were to either get more unhealthy snacks and drinks, and it doesn’t count according to his mother. He does have an objective, and that includes to find Tenma, the boy from last night, and was hoping to talk a few more. He found the boy to be very interesting. He hasn’t met anyone his own age in the hospital, so it was a relief to have someone at least the same age as him. 

He watered his flower before walking towards the children’s section, in hope to maybe find him playing with the children again. As expected, the strawberry blonde is currently reading a book for one of the children there. 

Not wanting to interrupt their time, he sat down beside him. Tenma didn't seem to notice his presence, so he kept reading the children’s book. 

“And so, Cinderella lived happily ever after with the prince!” He concluded, and received an amazed ‘woah’ from the child and a clap from both the child and Rui.

“Kasa-niisan, you’re so cool! I like it when the characters have different voices! I hate the mother very, very much, she’s evil!” The child rambled.

“Hahaha! Of course! I am a star after all and I can do anything!” Tsukasa boasts on himself as the child continues to ramble about the story. 

After being satisfied, the child went to the group of children who were about to start a game of hide and seek, leaving both the teenagers alone in the corner of the play room.

“That was impressive, Tenma-kun” Rui started.

“UAGH- Rui!? I didn’t know you were here?!” Screamed the blonde, before adjusting his volume after receiving hushes from the nurses.

“Well, I was thinking about what you said, uh.. Yesterday…” 

"What I said huh… Oh! Right!” Tsukasa puffed his chest, “Well, I am a star of his words! Hahaha!”

“What activity do you have in mind, Rui?” he continued.

“Ah, I don't have anything specific that I want to do… i’ll let you choose Tenma-kun” Rui honestly didn’t think he’d get this far. He expected that the boy would simply ignore his existence and move on, like others. 

“I know what to do, but first…” Tsukasa points his fingers to Rui, which surprised him. “Since I get to call you Rui, you can call me Tsukasa!”

“That would be awkward wouldn't it?” Rui has never called someone by their first name other than his childhood friend, so it would be hard to get back in that routine.

“You let me call you Rui didn't you? It would only be fair if you do the same! Come one! My name isn’t that hard!”

“Ah, alright… Tsukasa-kun…”

“That's a step forward! Great job Rui!” He smiled.

Rui didn't expect to be praised for calling someone by their first name. It’s certainly a new experience. Not that he hates it.

“What are we about to do, Tsukasa kun?”

“Hehe… we’ll be playing questions and answers! Basically, you get to ask me anything and I'd answer it! It works the other way around too!”

‘So we are just talking…’ Rui said to himself, but seeing the blonde’s excitement he doesn't have it in him to bring that up. “That's amazing Tsukasa-kun, who’s going first?” 

Hearing that, Tsukasa brings out a coin from his pocket.

“We’ll flip this! The first one that got the side they chose would be the first to go! I chose the head!”

“I’ll be tails then” 

And so, Tsukasa flipped the coin, before inevitably failing with his shaking hands. Rui offered him help and managed to actually flip the coin instead of just throwing it mid air. Rui’s heart racing, he didn’t know if it was the excitement, or his anxiety. 

The coin flipped perfectly, and it landed on tails. As if the gods are mocking him

“Ooh Rui, i get to ask you questions!” Tsukasa said, enthusiastically as ever.

“Ask away, Tsukasa-kun…” Rui lets his cat smirk out, as to hide his ever hastily beating heart.

"Hm… what’s your hobby?” Tsukasa starts off simple, and easy. That's good.

“Hobbies… I've been reading mystery novels recently. It’s very nice to see Sherlock Holmes solving cases, y'know?” It was half a lie. 

Rui enjoys reading, yes, but he doesn’t want anyone to find out he used to build robots. He and others have decided that it’s dangerous, and he doesn’t want Tsukasa to be endangered by his own creation. Even his mom gave him this weird expression whenever he brought up that he doesn't want to invent anymore. He just hopes Tsukasa doesn’t catch up to it.

“How about you, Tsukasa-kun?” It was his turn now.

“I like acting! That's why I enjoy telling stories here!” Acting huh… Rui remembered when he used to enjoy musicals and often built props for it. He wonders where his love for acting has gone. 

One of the children went towards them, after listening in a bit into their conversation. “That’s true!! Kasa-niisan is very amazing! He goes pwah pwah! And fyuu fyuuuh!!!” The child said as he did some poses.

“Hahaha! Of course! We’re talking about me after all!” 

“Kasa-niisan, can you make balloon doggies?” Another child came over them, holding a long balloon with her small hands.

“Balloon animals? Sadly I have never tried that before…” Tsukasa gave the girl an apologetic smile. 

Balloons. Rui used to love them. How it floats up to the sky, and how colorful it was. Though hesitant, he offered to help.

“I think i still remember how to make them”

Hearing that, Tsukasa and the little girl’s face lights up. “Rui? You can? Well, give the balloon to him, little miss!”

From a single dog balloon, to a giraffe, an elephant, and so on. More and more children eventually gathered around him. He hasn’t been around this many people, although they are children, the praise they gave was heartwarming and someone Rui never would've thought he needed.

Even Tsukasa was to the point that he wanted to learn how to make balloon animals, and Rui patiently taught him how to. After a few hours, the room is filled with balloons and happy children, including the two teenagers in it.

“That's impressive Rui! I didn’t know you had such talented hands! I bet you can even make robots with it!” Tsukasa has said it. Rui doesn’t know how he managed to connect balloons and robots in the same sentence. 

Rui did feel something familiar during his time making animal balloons, how he focuses on the balloon’s delicate surface and its complexity to turn it into animal shapes. It’s like how he’d carefully coded his robots and put in its parts and how delicate the material is, in order to not break the robot.

Maybe telling him won't hurt anyone. It’s just words after all. 

But words were the one that hurt him in the first place, isn’t it?.

“I used to make robots, that's why i know a thing or two on how to put things together” Rui braces himself for what Tsukasa would say. Would he be scared? Disgusted? 

The sound of amazement made Rui open his eyes and properly face Tsukasa.

“WOAH!! That's amazing!! How come you've never told me that?!” Again, he earned a few stares and hushes from the nurses.

“Because that’s… weird?” Rui even asked himself, why did the others run away?

“It's not weird, it's amazing! It's spectacular! Oh my god, can you build one here?” Building one in the hospital? As much as he is a genius, he never has considered it to be something he can do. 

“I-i don't think the hospital is going to handle that well”

“What if it's something small? I don’t think they can do anything about it” With a nod from Rui, they both start to plan what to make. 

"What if it can enhance the children's experience with my storytelling?"

That sentence along with Tsukasa has sparked something in Rui.

With Rui explaining some mechanism for him and Tsukasa offering ideas for it. For some reason, Rui feels at ease and warm whenever he’s near Tsukasa.

When his mother had come to visit, Rui asked her if she could somehow get some parts into the hospital. He received wide eyes and opened mouth from his mother, but instead of rejection, he’s met with a warm hug and an approval. That night, mrs. Kamishiro swore the light in her son’s eyes came back, and she cried tears of joy as she arrived home.

————

Rui’s halfway into finishing his robot, and his stay in the hospital is near ending. He can finally stop making Tsukasa visit him and actually hangs out outside, freely and away from the isolation of the blinding, white room he was trapped in for 3 weeks. 

They've been meeting each other since their first encounter. They spent their time talking about theater, music, robots, about anything and about nothing. Even if it would end up with Rui's ever so flowing ideas and Tsukasa's booming voice that can make him banned from the hospital, they enjoyed each other.

The robot they were planning to make is one that can serve as multiple things. As its main purpose is to recreate a scene from whatever story they want, it can also serve as a camera, a recording device, a tv, a wifi, anything they have in their fantasy can be brought to life with his hands. Even Tsukasa had to keep Rui grounded with his fantasy because of how many dangerous things he was planning. He had made the design as a dog, and he made sure to put dog-like features in its code.

“Tsukasa-kun?” 

Today, when he arrived at the children’s playroom, he didn’t see Tsukasa. At first he thought that maybe he had gotten there too early, and maybe Tsukasa was on his way to the hospital. So he sat and continued to build the small robot he had brought. He had a few children coming to see him, and question him with curiosity. Rui has grown to answer them, and he adores their excitement towards his creation. Tsukasa would express the same emotion as them.

He starts to think about Tsukasa. He wonders, why did he visit the hospital regularly? Tsukasa never really talked about himself much. He can't blame him though, he himself never really exposes to Tsukasa why he’s in the hospital in the first place. He doesn’t want the sympathetic, pitying face to look at him ever again. It hurts him as much as it supposedly hurts others.

Tsukasa talked about his siblings a lot, like Saki-chan who’s attending Miyamazuka and is a great keyboardist in her own band, or Toya-kun who has such an amazing voice and his amazingly strong morals that led him to his freedom. Maybe one of them is here? But he loved them so much he doesn’t want to share that to people?

He starts to go through his hair, how it replicates the sunset sky so well with its blonde to reddish pink hue, and his gold eyes that stare at his own yellow ones. How he’d often opted to use long sleeves and boasts of himself. Far from his own personality.

How it contrasts himself a lot with his own purple and cyan streaks, like the sun, and the moon. But Tsukasa himself would insist that he is the star, and Rui’s the moon. He doesn’t have any complaints about it, he actually quite enjoys that version a lot more.

Ah, he kept thinking about him. He can’t wait to show his progress to Tsukasa.

His mind stopped when he heard a bunch of nurses and doctors run past the alleyway, muttering names that are so familiar to him.

“Tenma Tsukasa room 088, emergency code blue”

The sound of the small robot hitting the floor and its parts flying everywhere doesn't even sound significant to him.

He quickly got up to his feet, and ran behind the doctors and nurses, towards what was supposedly Tsukasa’s room. 

Rui hoped that he misheard, that it was someone else’s name. Tsukasa never said that he was the one who’s sick. Tsukasa would never lie to him. No, he didn't lie to him. He didn't. even tell him. Was he simply too distrusting to be told of that fact? Was Rui too caught up to his robot that he didn’t notice Tsukasa’s sometimes hard breathing and shaking figure?

As the doctors went into the room, a sign that said 088 was present in front of him.

Through the windows, he saw a glimpse of a strawberry blond that’s limp, unmoving on the white sheet of the hospital bed being connected with wires and other equipment Rui doesn't even know.. He hoped to see his face before a nurse closed the door and the window's blinds. 

“Kamishiro-senpai?” A feminine sound was heard behind him, and there he saw the same ombre of blonde and pink, tied into twin pigtails, sitting on the chairs with pink puffy eyes. 

“Ah… you know me?” He asked, and he received a nod.

“You seem tired, you can sit here” She notices Rui’s ragged breath after running all the way from the children's section to his current location. He accepts the offer as he himself didn't even notice how his feet felt tired to stand.

Rui looked at the girl. She looks like what Tsukasa has described her to look like. Although her ‘joyful personality’ doesn't seem to match Tsukasa’s stories. Well, different situations affect people a lot, he can't blame her for not being happy at this moment. He recalled her name being Tenma Saki.

Uncertain of the name, Rui decided it would be more polite to ask “So… you are…” Rui starts off.

“Tenma saki. Tsukasa-nii’s younger sister. He has told me many things about you” Rui knows how hard she's taking this. But her eyes told him that it's not their first time.

“I do hope he didn’t say anything bad haha…” Rui attempted humor, to maybe lift the situation. Saki laughed, even if it sounded tired, he took it as a win.

Silence enveloped both. Not knowing what to say, or what to do. It’s hard to see someone important to you currently fighting to even breathe inside the closed off wall in front of them. 

He felt the guilt of not noticing sooner why Tsukasa was in the hospital in the first place, for not noticing how his smiles look forced and how on some days his loud booming voice sounds hoarse. Maybe it was how his skinny hands shook and how he barely moved around the room?

“Tsukasa-kun never told me he’s ill" Rui admits.

“He doesn’t like how others looks at him with pity, that's why he hid it well”

“Huh…” They weren’t so different after all.

"Tsukasa-nii cares about his surroundings a lot, but he need to start caring about himself more

He helped me reunite with my bandmates, and he helped Toya-kun to finally release himself from his father's strict rules." She smiles, a lot more genuine than the polite smile she offered Rui earlier.

"That's… amazing" Rui is genuinely amazed with what Tsukasa is capable of. Even with how much he's done for the children too. Especially the fact that he is terminally ill, struggling to even breathe in the middle of it.

"He's the best brother I could've ever asked for.

i just wished he can see that too "

That night, the two bonded with silence as they waited for any news of their beloved.

————

"Rui! Welcome to my abode!" Tsukasa greets Rui upon his entrance to his room with his hoarse voice, and his skinny hands connected to the iv drips that are held onto a notebook and a pen. His face is pale (his whole body is dangerously pale), oxygen mask strapped on him and eye bags under his eyes. Despite his sluggish movement, his voice is still as bold as ever.

"Tsukasa…" Rui looked around the room. Many books are stored inside a suitcase under the bed, and the room itself is decorated with some photos of, what he assumed, Tsukasa and his loved ones. A calendar stood on the bedside table looking so much stronger than he is. And the television playing a recording of a musical that Tsukasa himself couldn’t attend.

It's been a day after Tsukasa stopped breathing and sent a panic through everyone, and inevitably telling Rui his reason for being in the hospital in the first place.

"I'm writing scenes on what we can do with your robot! i bet it's going to be amazing– cough -" A cough interrupts him, and Rui quickly goes to bring an already available glass of water to the table for him.

"Tsukas-"

"I'm sorry Rui, I never intended for you to see me like this, haha…." His laugh felt weak, a whole 180 from his usual boisterous laugh. "Not much of a star now, am i?"

Rui shook his head as he sat on a chair beside his bed. "It's not your fault, none of this is your fault…"

"I know, I've always known … But I can't help feeling like I could've done something…" He coughs, painfully.

"I was planning to keep this up until you're out, I'm sorry Rui" Tsukasa should stop talking before he hurts himself more.

"I should've–"

"Tsukasa-kun." Rui raised his voice, its bold yet quivering. Tsukasa raised his head and looked towards Rui.

"You want to know why I was here in the first place?"

Rui has decided that if Tsukasa shares his secret, then he himself should too.

"You don't have to talk abou–"

"I tried to kill myself, and i failed"

Silence and thick atmosphere filled the room. They both hate it, a lot. But to Rui, it has to be done.

"I was bullied, because of my robot and how I talk, and how my classmates were… scared of me. Eventually they found out that it was me who was scared of them. They took that advantage, and i…" He took a sharp breath, in hope that any of the oxygen he inhaled gives him the strength he needs.

"I couldn't take it anymore… it was so much- too much…" he finishes. He felt cold hands reach to his cheek to shed his tears. Since when did he cry?

"I… am so sorry, Rui…" Tsukasa looks at him with that look of pity he always hates. He didn’t even ask ‘why did you tell me this? ’ or ‘that’s what you get’ . Instead, He accepts it, and he actually wants to help him. That itself made his chest hurt, yet it's warm.

He chose to continue amidst his sobs, "But, I met you…

You taught me that the world isn't as gray as I initially had thought. How one day, it all will be better soon, and i get to be as bright as you”

There it is. Rui finally told someone about it. Tsukasa looks at him, wide eyes, with something the genius couldn't even describe. He doesn’t know if it's positive, or negative. He doesn’t care anymore, he just wants to finally say it.

"You know… I've always wanted a normal life" Tsukasa moved his gaze towards the window, and onto the view of early November’'s snow.

"I want to go to school, to meet Toya, to go shopping with Saki, maybe go on an acting gig, maybe become a class representative,

And maybe, meeting you…"

Tsukasa clenched his thin fists onto the white sheets of the hospital's blanket.

"Sometimes I envy you, Rui. I'm sorry for never actually seeing you" he laughs, again.

"You're wrong, you did see me Tsukasa, actually you saved me" Rui stood up from his seat, making a screeching noise from the chair. Gaining Tsukasa's gaze that was staring at the window.

"You saved me, in every way you could. You saved the children, you saved Toya-kun, Saki-chan,

Now let us save you "

Tsukasa was hesitant, hearing those words was a whole new experience to him. He accepts it, nonetheless. 

"Thank you, Rui…"

————

“Rui! congratulation on your release~” 

“Ah, Mizuki! I see you skipping school huh…” 

“Pfft, nah. I’ll just simply be late today”

Today, Rui is discharged from the hospital. Even though his stay isn’t as long as Tsukasa’s, he admits that it felt so long to wait for his release day. It made Rui even more impressed by the blonde’s strength and how he’s able to handle years in this monotonous room. 

Akiyama Mizuki, Rui’s old friend, came to visit him on his last day. They both shared the same isolation and humiliation, though it seemed like they had gotten the help they needed far earlier than Rui. 

He knew how much burden had been dropped after comparing the current Mizuki, to the old Junior High Mizuki he once knew. He was very glad of their improvements.

They had brought a bouquet of flowers, and it seemed like they were the ones that had helped his mother to pick out flowers he’s been receiving (They chose to keep it a secret until Rui’s out, such teamwork they had). Today’s flower is purple Hyacinths, kept securely inside a paper blanket. He accepts them carefully.

“These are beautiful, Mizuki… Thankyou” He offered them his usual Cheshire cat smile.

“Of course! It would only be fair to give you flowers even after your release!” They laugh, and it infects rui as they both laugh inside the room.

They talked a bit, about their past, on their journey towards happiness. And to Mizuki’s surprise, Rui finally had plans for the future, how he wanted to reconcile with Nene, bring Tsukasa’s dream into reality, and reignited his interest in theater and inventions. They were so proud of Rui’s growth.

“Oh yeah, speaking of Tsukasa, I need to see him before I go”

“Ehh, you’re not going to visit him once you're out?” Teases Mizuki.

“What do you think I am? Oh woe is my heart, dear friend” Rui poses in a dramatic pose as Mizuki laughs at his antics.

Mizuki’s hand points towards a box Rui’s holding aside from the bouquet. “You finished the robot?” 

Rui smiles. “I did, of course I did . It’s for my star after all”

At room 088, knocks were heard, and the door was opened, revealing a double colored hair young man, in his Kamiyama high uniform. 

“Ah, Kamishiro-senpai” He said

“Oya, you must be Aoyagi-kun? Tsukasa has told many things about you” Rui smiles with his Cheshire cat grin.

“Yes, you may come in. I need to leave for school, I am sorry for the brief meeting” Toya bows before tidying his uniform.

“It’s alright Aoyagi-kun, have a safe trip” With that, the younger man goes off, before meeting Mizuki in the alleyway, and gets dragged by them towards who knows where.

“Ahem…” A cough is heard, nothing as serious as before, “Are you going to just stand there, Rui?” 

“I won't, my star” Rui closes the door and goes to the bedridden Tsukasa Tenma’s side.

“Ahem! Rui! I, as the future star that conquers the world, shall give you a congratulatory present! Its brilliance is as high as mine!” Tsukasa said, with puffed chest and pale hands behind his back, holding onto something.

Rui decides to play along. “And it is?”

A book is presented after getting out of Tsukasa’s back. It looks packed, and on the hardcover there is a paper with the title ‘congratulation’.

“Open it!” Rui did as Tsukasa said.

It's a homemade pop-up book. Once opened, it revealed a cute chibi drawing of Rui holding a soda and a robot on both its hands. Decorated in ribbons, glitter glue, and many paper cutouts made his own cutout less lonely. A doodle of a star is seen on the page, with the name “Tsukasa” written on it, complete with an arrow pointing at it.

“Oh wow, this is… amazing… Tsukasa-kun, since when did you make this?”

“Well, after your confrontation, I decided to properly welcome my friend into the outside world! Well, i don't know if ‘welcome’ would be a fitting word, but anyway I made it! Saki and Toya helped me a lot!”

 He rambles on how Saki taught Tsukasa how to draw like Animes he saw on the TV and manga she brought, and Toya helped him put everything together, how they ended up almost filling the room’s wall with glitter glue. 

“Well, congratulations, Rui” Tsukasa’s bright smile somehow made his own pale skin with IV drips and oxygen mask brighter. Despite the room’s blandness, it made his own chest more colorful.

“Thank You… so much, Tsukasa-kun” Today, Rui’s smile reached his eyes. The gift reminded himself of the reason for his visit.

“Oh yeah, Tsukasa. The robot is finally done!” Rui puts the book down on his lap and bring out the box he has under the floor, and onto Tsukasa’s lap.

Tsukasa excitedly opens the box and before he even opens it, the robot dog comes jumping out of the box. It wags its tails as it lets out a robotic ‘woof’s 

“OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING- coughs ” Rui handed him a glass of water, before Tsukasa continued to ramble on about how amazing the robot and Rui is.

That made him realize how he likes to watch others smile, and he wishes he can make more people smile just the way Tsukasa has smiled to him. 

“I can connect it with my device and that way, we can always talk even without your phone, Tsukasa-kun” Rui explains

“Ah right, we’ll be apart” Tsukasa kept his smile, though upon realizing the fact, he caught himself feeling a bit down about it.

It’s not like Tsukasa doesn’t want Rui to be healthy, to finally get out of the suffocating hospital, no. He just never really realizes that Rui won't be able to visit him much because of his school and personal project Tsukasa was sure he'd indulge himself.

He can’t hang out with him all the time as they entertain the sick children, or hang out on the hospital’s rooftop to see stars, or just the normal trip towards the vending machine that ultimately ends up with Tsukasa scolding Rui for his picky eating habit.

Tsukasa’s thought stopped as he felt the taller boy hugs his frail body gently, as if he held too tight he’d break, but if he lets go he’d slip away and never come back.

It’s scary to be in the middle of life and death everyday, but because of his loved one, it has become bearable to survive and see their smiles as he wakes up.

He need to treasure that moment,

Because someday, he probably won't even wake up for good

“I’ll visit you, my star. Let me know and I'll come to you, whatever the circumstances would be” Rui exclaims, genuinely. His eyes shut, to hold off the tears that are threatening to slip.

“...I will” The star dug himself onto Rui’s gray sweatshirt, returning his hug. Although not as strong as Rui’s, but definitely not less genuine.

“I hope you heal from your wounds” Tsukasa lets go, looking at Rui not with his usual bold smile, but a soft one he rarely puts out.

“I hope you get better, Tsukasa-kun. Thank you for everything” The purple haired teen returned his smile before taking his bag off the floor.

“Goodbye Rui”

Rui stops in the doorway, looking back at Tsukasa.

“This isn’t goodbye, Tsukasa-kun. It's an ‘i’ll see you later’ “

“Pfft- alright, Mr. Director, see you later”

“See you, my star”

The white, monotonous room has become more bland and blinding the longer Kamishiro Rui stays in it. He is very glad to be able to leave it. 

Today, he may not have a fresh start, he may have to restitch every wound he has on others and himself, he may still be in isolation.

But today, Kamishiro Rui has grown, and he plans to bring his brightest star with him. 

彡☾☆彡