Nobita looked up in surprise. The last person he expected to join him was Dekisugi. He'd always been the smart and popular one of the class, and Nobita felt like a shadow compared to him.
"Uhm, sure," Nobita mumbled, trying to hide his surprise. He made some space for Dekisugi to sit, shifting uncomfortably on the dusty ground.
Dekisugi took a seat next to Nobita, the silence between them palpable. The wind blew gently, filling the air with a sense of tension. Nobita didn't have the courage to directly look at him, instead, he focused on his food.
Dekisugi, on the other hand, had his azure eyes on Nobita, a mixture of emotions swirling within him - guilt, curiosity, and a hint of longing.
After a few moments, Dekisugi finally decided to break the uncomfortable silence. "It's been a while since we talked to each other, huh?" The words sounded like a question but more of a statement. Nobita could feel the weight behind them.
Nobita nodded lightly, still unable to meet Dekisugi's gaze. "Yeah..yeah, it has."
Another awkward silence fell between them before Dekisugi spoke again.
"How have things been going, Nobi-kun?"
Nobita shrugged, his shoulders tense. "Same old, same old," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. But his eyes darted around, avoiding Dekisugi's intense gaze.
Dekisugi hummed, nodding slowly. He could sense the unease in Nobita. He knew there was more to the story. "You don't have to act tough around me, you know," he said quietly.
Dekisugi's words hung heavily in the air, and Nobita shifted nervously. Dekisugi was right, they weren't close. Not like they used to be. Years of separation had created a barrier between them.
"It's not about acting tough..." Nobita muttered, still avoiding Dekisugi's eye contact. "We just.. we're not close like we used to be," he continued, the words tumbling out awkwardly.
Dekisugi sighed softly. He knew what Nobita meant. Their friendship had deteriorated over the years. And Dekisugi couldn't help but blame himself for it. If only he had reached out sooner, tried to maintain their bond...
"I know," Dekisugi admitted, his voice softer than before. "I'm sorry for not staying in touch..."
Nobita finally looked up at Dekisugi, surprised by his apology. He hadn't expected him to acknowledge their falling out so openly.
"It's... It's fine," Nobita said after a moment. "I didn't reach out either."
There was another pause before Dekisugi spoke again. "We were good friends once, right, Nobi-kun?" he asked, his voice nostalgic.
Nobita chuckled half-heartedly. "Yeah, we were. Until you became the golden boy of the class."
Dekisugi winced slightly. He knew Nobita's words held a hint of resentment, and he couldn't blame him. Dekisugi had become the top student, the one everyone looked up to. And in the process, he had left Nobita behind.
"It wasn't intentional-" Dekisugi began, but Nobita interrupted him.
"I know," he said, his tone sharp. "Doesn't make it hurt any less.. does it?"
The words hung in the air, heavy and stinging. Dekisugi felt the pang of guilt in his chest. He hadn't realized how much his success had alienated Nobita.
They sat there in silence for a moment, neither of them knowing what to say. Dekisugi fidgeted with the empty protein shake bottle, his eyes focused on nothing in particular.
YOU ARE READING
Bewitched By You
Fanfiction!! Friends to lovers trope !! Nobita had grown used to the fact that Shizuka-chan did not have any romantic feelings for him, though her rejection left him sore. In order to ease his nerves and avoid being found out, he would often try to avoid Shiz...
