Genre: Angst
Summary: Arisu loves you, and you loved him too. But not all couples get a happy ever after.
Warnings: Language, Major Character Death, Suicide
Word Count: 2.5k
Borderland does NOT exist in this
yes this is a vent fic no idc deal with it
italics = flashback
Arisu Ryohei was madly in love with you since the 10th grade when you first became friends with him because you saw him playing a video game you knew on his phone at lunch by himself, and he only fell harder the more he got to know you. He had never had a relationship before, and he figured there was no point in trying with how big of a loser he was, so he kept his feelings tucked away until he graduated high school with you. He loved you so much that he couldn't play video games that put much thinking into it because you were always on his mind.
And one day it all changed.
Ryohei never thought you loved him the same way he loved you, which was why it was such a shocker for you to announce your feelings first to him.
"Arisu!" You called out, walking up to him at the bar where Karube worked.
Ryohei turned his head upon hearing your cheerful voice, and a smile lit up on his face unconsciously. "Hey, Y/n," he replied.
You slid into the seat beside him and looked up at him, "I have to tell you something, but don't freak out, please," you said to the male, glancing over at Karube who gave you a thumbs up before going back to Ryohei.
"Uh okay," Ryohei nodded slowly, his expression changing to worry rather fast.
You grabbed two pieces of paper out of your pocket and handed one to Ryohei with your eyes closed, "I'm in love with you, and was hoping you'd come with me to the Esports gaming event that's happening in a few weeks," you told him so fast you don't even know if he understood you.
Ryohei's eyes grew wide when he barely heard what you said, and his entire face heated up when he fully processed everything. He grabbed your hands with his and when you finally opened your eyes again, he was smiling at you. "I've been in love with you too, since 10th grade. I'd love to go with you!" He responded happily.
"Really?" You asked, looking at him surprised.
"Really," Ryohei answered before leaning in and kissing you.
Ryohei swore he'd never felt so happy before then when he went to the Esports gaming event with you and you two were official. He had never gone to an Esports event, so the fact that this was both his first time going to one and with his first partner, he practically cried on the car ride home because of how happy he was. Every day after that Ryohei was happy, even if his father belittled him to the point where he was on the verge of giving up, one second with you would change his whole attitude and mind, resorting back to happiness the moment he sees you, all of his sadness fading away like you were his own personal angel.
To him, you were the best thing that could've happened to him. He was grateful for that, and you knew it. He was always with you and grew more confident when with you even to the point of defending you against creeps that were trying to get with you even if it meant he got his ass beat.
You two moved in together after a few months of dating, mostly because Ryohei needed to get away from his family which you understood having met them once before and only once. Since that day Ryohei was genuinely happy, instead of only feeling happy when he was with you, he was happy whenever he was able to be. Which was something entirely new to him since his younger brother was born, he was in the shadows. Forced to stay in his room when guests came over to talk to his brother and praise how great he was at everything and how Ryohei was a disappointment for his age. He didn't know what it felt like to be genuinely happy again, not just at specific moments in life. But to fully enjoy it.
