Memories Of An Old Friend (satosugu)

Chapter 1

Seeing an old friend again was actually a reason for joy. A place where only positive emotions fit, perhaps a little melancholy or regret. Satoru, however, only felt a huge hole inside him. As if his stomach had been ripped open, a huge hole torn through his torso, and all he could do was stare at the attacker in front of him, in pure disbelief that this hole had been caused.

Suguru in front of him looked nervous, looking from one direction to the other as he waited for a response from Satoru. He didn't feel ready to say anything, as if his brain was paralyzed with reactions. Anger won out, however, fueling his muscles to move and his body to gasp for air.

"Is this a joke?" he whispered.

Suguru seemed confused, "What?"

Satoru repeated louder, his hands clenched into fists and he took a step towards the other. Suguru, didn't flinch, held his gaze with blank confusion.

Minutes, hours, perhaps an entire infinity had passed between that moment and when they had met again. Satoru just wanted to stroll through the city, gasping for air and peace, when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

First he recognized the smell of the other person, then the long black hair blowing in the wind. When Satoru turned to the face of the person he was talking to, the world seemed to blur before him. The corners of his mouth twitched as he listened to the voice of the actual stranger.

"Can you please help me? I think I have a problem" Satoru's expression fell at the following words, "I've lost my memory"

The white-haired man didn't believe him and dragged him harshly into an alley while the other complained indignantly. And now they were here, in this place, while it slowly trickled down from the sky, people walking past them as if they were just ghosts. Satoru felt his whole body catch cold, his insides turning over once in his entire body.

"You can try that trick on someone else!" he hissed at Suguru.

But Suguru didn't drop his façade. He put on a cautious smile, as if he was trying not to upset a stranger. His eyes narrowed, strands fell out of his ponytail and covered his hair. It was at this moment that Satoru paused and took a closer look at the other person in front of him. The anger and shock slowly died away, having been released into the air with the previous words and now dissipating there like cigarette smoke.

Suguru looked terrible. His eyes red, body hunched and loose clothes filthy and not at all made for the cold temperatures of these seasons.

"I'm sorry. Apparently we know each other" he paused as Satoru scoffed in front of him, "I'm not lying though."

At this point, Satoru didn't know why Suguru would try to keep up such a ruse for so long. So he sighed, cringing as an uneasy feeling slowly gnawed at his very soul.

"You can't remember m-" Satoru quickly corrected himself, "anything?"

As Suguru shook his head, trying to put on a charming smile, Satoru's face darkened. He didn't know what was worse at that moment. To have been abandoned by the person you loved the most or to have been forgotten. He knew that whatever gods existed, they had cursed him long ago. However, this was the worst trick they had ever created.

"Are you hurt? You look terrible," Satoru took another step back towards the other.

A faint embarrassed laugh fell out of Suguru's mouth as he looked towards the other.

"I don't think so. Although maybe I have a concussion. After I woke up I threw up and the aftertaste just won't go away" to add to his disgust at this statement Suguru shook his head vigorously and sighed.