recolle | [closed] something important.

WHO: Shin Asuka and Souji Narukami
WHERE: Some place by a river.
WHEN: Early October
WHAT: (Backdated) How Shin Got Over his First Crush.
WARNINGS: Probably sappy, but there's definitely going to be some punching involved.

♪♪♪

[ It's been several weeks since Shin decided to stay at a friend's place. And while he did text Souji every once in a while. It's just to tell him that he's ok and not dead, but he still needs more time. Either ways, the mood between the two of them had pretty much got really awkward. Shin only nodded at Souji in recognition whenever they run into each other in University, that sort of thing.

It's not until a certain day that Souji will notice that there's a letter left probably really early in the morning when Souji's asleep. The words written there are short and to the point, but it's unmistakably Shin's handwriting. ]

` Meet me within the woods. I got something to tell you.

- Shin. `

[ That's slightly cryptic, but well... If it's Shin, it can't be all that bad, right? ]

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[ the past few weeks have been hard on souji. shin's a very close friend of his (his very first friend) and to have their relationship strained like this, it's difficult. he knows that it's nothing that he can do asides from giving shin some time and space so he does his best to abide by that, ensuring to keep all communication siding only from shin's side. they've only really talked through a text here or there so when souji wakes up to a letter from shin, telling him to meet him in the woods, he's surprised. when did shin come home? what does he want to talk about? why in the woods? ]

[ well, souji won't know the answers unless he actually goes so he gets dressed and heads out to the forest. ]

[ Shin's just sitting around by a tree within the wood as he's just picking on words to say to Souji. To be honest, his plans is really to just say what he wanted to say, but since he's too awkward for those kind of direct talks, he's just waffling a bit. After all, they're on this weird edge with their friendship, and this can only go one in two ways.

Also because talking in the wood is more dramatic or something. Shin was slightly tired when he wrote that letter.

Either ways, when Souji arrives, he's going to stand up and approach him. ]

...Yo.

Hey.

[ souji gives him an acknowledging nod and stops, just a few steps away from shin. normally, he's more talkative and he probably would have asked how shin was doing, what he wanted to talk about, but he stays silent instead. he wants shin to lead the conversation in whatever way that is most comfortable for him. ]

Alright, I'm going to just get this straight out because we all know I'm shit at being subtle when it comes to awkward topics.

[ Shin sighs as he tries really hard to keep eye-contact with Souji. This whole love shit is really complicated and he's not the one in a relationship, either ways. There's nowhere left to go, Shin asked for this meeting to happen, so he's going to just make do with it.

Somewhat. ]

I kind of don't want my feelings to get in the way of our friendship and stuff, which was why I left for a while and at the same time seeing us being this distant hurts me too, since we're supposed to be friends, and this ain't a thing friends do.

[ Shin seemed to be rambling, a fact that he noticed as he sounded more frustrated as he kept speaking in circles. Alright, fuck words. ]

Ah, fuck it, you know what? I'll probably be speaking in circles for a while, so let's just cut to the chase.

[ BEAT. ]

Souji, punch me in the face.

[ souji just listens, almost nervous on what shin might have to say (what if they won't be friends anymore) but then the last part throws him off so much that he can only say one thing: ]

... what?

Yeah.

[ Shin nodded, the stupidity of his request didn't escape him, but at the very least it did reduce his nervousness somewhat. The next sentences at least flowed slightly more smoothly than before. ]

I'm happy, proud even that you got to get that happiness you've always looked for. That you finally found someone that'll stay with you to the end. That your brother's here with you rather than being separated. And at the same time, disregarding my crush on you, I felt kind of jealous.

[ Maybe that's what his crush on him was about, that he felt that maybe if Souji's with him, his life will automatically get better. ]

Here I am, just plugging my life away and probably getting fucked over with memories of a life I want and don't want at the same time. And even if you probably have painful memories, I know that you're strong enough to get over it. You're strong like that.

[ There's a short silence. ]

I think, what I really wanted from my feelings for you is for us to be equal. For you to acknowledge me as a person you can stand side-to-side with, as partners.

That's why I want you to punch me, just knock these sappy sentimentality out of me already so that we can get this over with!

[ souji stays silent throughout, listening and the confusion behind the request fades. it's hard to read what emotions or thoughts that might be running through him as he keeps a blank face. he doesn't say anything for a few seconds after shin finishes as well but when he does, his tone is serious ]

... all right. I'll do it but only on one condition and that is if you punch me back.

[ there are no jokes here. souji is 100% serious and he completely means what he said ]

I should have realized how you were feeling. We've been friends for so long that I should have figured it out but I didn't. Instead, I was focused on my own things while you were going through all this. I was probably even making things worse for you, with the way I was ignorant, so it was cruel. You're my best friend, Shin, my very first, and what I did was unacceptable.

So if we're going to do this, then you need to hit me as well. Knock some sense into me and show me that we really are equals.

[ There's a bit of silence that followed this. Well, he wasn't expecting Souji to do this too, so Shin's going to just... nod at the request. ]

...I'm not really sure on how to hold back my current strength, you know. You sure you're going to be okay with that?

[ Because if he is, then, the only thing left to do is to get equal with their fists man. ]

[ he nods in return ]

Yeah, I want you to come at me with everything you got. I'm not going to hold back either.

[ he could equip one of his personas that resists physical attacks but that's not fair. he wants to be equals on this ]

...Alright.

[ He's going to crack his knuckles. As much as he doesn't like punching a friend in the face, Souji genuinely asked for this, and Shin also asked for his face to be punched in by his friend.

If there's anything that tells Shin that Souji's as stupid as him sometimes, it'd be probably this. People would say that this is such a stupid anime moment, but then again, their friendship were built on these tropes, amusingly enough. ]

Here I go! Ya better grit your teeth!

[ HE'S GOING TO JUST FUCKING DECK SOUJI IN THE LEFT CHEEK. ]

[ And this is why Souji and Shin get along so well. Regardless of whatever shit they're going through and whatever strain that might put on their friendship, at the end of the day, they're always going to make up to each other with it. Even if that means they have to resort to punching each other a bunch of times. ]

[ Souji takes a step back as Shin punches him in the left cheek but he stays rooted and upright. ]

Worry about yourself instead!

[ rocketttttttttt PUUUUUUUUUUUNCH right to shin's left cheek as well ]

[ Shin also was staggered a bit by that punch, since both of them never got into a fistfight until today, Shin never realized how strong Souji is physically compared to his old self. Either ways, Shin's definitely still up as he's going to just go ahead and freaking FINAL PUUUNCH Souji's right cheek now. ]

I've seen Commander Dark Slap moments that are better than your punch, Souji Narukami!

[ despite getting punched and yeah, his lip is split now, he has a small smirk. for shin to bring up a kandam reference here in a fight of all places, he can't help but laugh and make a reference as well ]

Ha, with the way you're punching at this moment, Shin Asuka, Kagaribi is crying her heart out!

[ he throws a punch to shin's right cheek ]

[closed] something important.

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