Chapter Text
Makoto just stared at the ocean, panting from his mad dash. Catching his breath, he just felt…angry. Angry that for the past 3 years, Mitsuru had been lying to him! He had been there when S.E.E.S. was just getting started! He was there when Aragaki had left! He was aware of Mitsuru’s secretiveness before, but to keep something like this from him!? Mitsuru knew. She knew how close he was to his parents before the accident. How, even after becoming friends (kinda) with Akihiko and Aragaki, he was still distant for fear of getting hurt like that again. She had known this. And she never said anything.
“Hey.”
Takeba. The girl who had just joined a few months ago.The girl who had managed to get them past the first floor of Tartarus. She had saved him so many times. A debt he knew he could never repay. He sighed, “Hey.”
“Do you…wanna talk about it?”
He wanted to say no. He didn’t want to let anyone else in. To experience that betrayal again. But…there was something about Takeba. Something that made him feel…able to open up. It took a moment, but eventually he began speaking, “You remember back in the hospital? When I told you about my parents?”
“Yeah…”
“After losing them, I was placed in the same orphanage as Akihiko. In fact, he was the only one who really approached me. Everyone else was too scared of the boy whose mother blew up a school. I knew the rumors were bullshit, but hearing them then…it pissed me off,” Makoto then turned to face Takeba, her soft, brown eyes meeting his, a look of genuine concern. After a brief pause, he continued, “When Mitsuru first approached us, I had no intention of associating with her at first. But then I figured if I could get close to her, I’d be able to find out what really happened that night. And tonight, I did… Only to find that for all this time, I’ve been fighting for nothing. I hate her…” Makoto balled his fist as he broke eye contact, “I hate how she gets at least one parent still around while I have nothing! Her family is the reason that I’ve felt so alone all my life, dammit! She should be the one suffering right now, not me!” Turning back, he saw Takeba’s expression had fallen, a hint of sadness now tugging at his heart strings, “I…I’m sorry. That’s not right of me to say.”
“You’re hurting. I understand what that’s like.”
“Will you stop that!?” Makoto snapped, walking up to her and gripping her shoulders “What is it with you, huh? Are you expecting to save me or something!? I told you before, that ship sailed long ago! I’m beyond anything anyone could do for me!” Makoto’s vision began to blur as the teardrops descended, “Please, for your sake and for mine…stop. Stop trying to look for whatever it is you think you see. It’s not there…”
Takeba stood there, staring back. He half-expected to have been able to chase her off with his outburst. Or at the very least, she’d slap him. What he hadn’t expected, however, was for her to hug him.
“The hell’re you-?”
“It’s okay to feel hurt and lost. I’ve felt that way for so long too.”
“What changed?”
“I met you. And the others.”
Makoto snickered, “You’re really something else, aren’t you? Lemmie guess, Mitsuru put you up to this?”
“I came of my own accord.”
“Doubt that… But…thanks.” Makoto then returned the gesture, holding Takeba there for what felt like an eternity. He closed his eyes, taking it all in. The scent of the ocean. Takeba’s embrace. For the first time in a long time, he was content. Happy, even! And just as he was about to speak again, “Yo, Yuka-tan, Makodude! You guys still out here?” Makoto quickly pushed Yukari off as she understood, turning to see Junpei, “What’s takin’ you guys so long, huh? It’s almost midnight and the Dark Hour’s gonna start!”
“Oh, right,” Makoto dryly responded, “We should get going then, Yukari.”
“Right.”
As Makoto went on ahead, Junpei stood there for a solid few seconds before speaking again, “Did-Did he just call you by your first name?”
“I think he did.”
“Did I miss something?”
“Not really,” Yukari said as she began walking back.
“Bullshit! I’ve known him for two years and he still calls me Iori! H-Hey, Yuka-tan, wait! At least give me a hint!”