Choji couldn't stand to see Shikamaru like this. The boy was a total train wreck.
His hair was tangled and out of his well-known ponytail, his eyes were bloodshot, and his body wouldn't stop shaking. And Choji just stared. He didn't know what to say. He came to check on his best friend, and he knew Shikamaru wouldn't be in the best state, but this was just devastating.
Suddenly, Shikamaru's shaken voice broke the uncomfortable silence. "T-That bastard lied to me!"
"What do you mean, 'maru?" Choji asked softly and kindly, as if he was talking to a toddler.
"H-He told me he w-wouldn't leave me..." Shikamaru trembled. "BUT WHERE IS HE NOW? WHERE IS HE NOW, CHOJI?"
Choji flinched at the sudden emotion. Shikamaru was absolutely hysterical. He almost started crying along with him.
"IF HE WAS FUCKING TELLING THE TRUTH HE WOULD BE HERE! HE'D BE HERE RIGHT NEXT TO ME! BUT HE'LL NEVER BE AGAIN! N-Never again..." The Nara broke down and his best friend immediately embraced him.
"D-don't touch me!" Shikamaru cried. It made Choji's heart break. That's how the two always comforted each other. Through everything. Even Asuma's death. Sometimes, it wasn't necessarily wanted, but it was never denied. Sure, Shikamaru would show signs of annoyance, but still, he secretly felt better after every embrace. Choji still backed away from his best friend, despite his reluctance.
"D-Do you want me to leave?" Choji mumbled softly, just loud enough to the other to hear.
"No..." Shikamaru whispered, wiping his tears. There's no way he could stand being alone.
"Should I stay then?" Choji sat on the bed.
"No." Shikamaru said again, ashamed of how he was acting. He didn't want Choji to continue seeing him like that.
"Do you want to sleep?" The Akimichi asked.
Shikamaru shook his head, too tired to talk now.
"You should rest, at least. Come on." Choji
advised. His eyes widened slightly when the Nara's head met his shoulder. He hadn't expected his friend to go along with it, but he wasn't mad about it.
"I know you and Neji were close friends." Shikamaru flinched at the mention of Neji's name and the word 'friend'. "You don't have to be fine. I know you think you do but you don't. Not right now, at least. It won't make me care about you any less. It won't make anyone look down on you. I'm tired of people thinking it's wrong to feel! You're still the smartest person I know. You're still one of my favorite people ever. Nothing could ever change that." Choji's volume increased with every sentence and his voice cracked near the end. He was surprised the head on his shoulder didn't part.
"Choji..." was all Shikamaru could manage. Then, the Akimichi pulled the Nara into a tight hug. Shikamaru felt tears on his shoulder and soon the other felt the same thing. They were like that until the black-haired boy drifted off into a sleep.
He never told Choji that Neji and him weren't just friends. He didn't think he'd ever tell anyone because he couldn't get Neji's permission. And he never would or could.
