Nobita lifted his gaze, meeting Dekisugi's eyes for the first time since their conversation started. He could see the guilt, the regret etched so clearly on Dekisugi's face. He really did care, he realized, an odd sense of comfort settling over him.
His eyes softened as he spoke again, his voice a little softer. "We both messed up, didn't we."
Dekisugi let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Hearing Nobita acknowledge their shared responsibility, it felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. He nodded silently, his expression solemn. "Yeah," he agreed quietly. "We did." He paused, then added hesitantly, "I... I never meant to hurt you. I hope you believe that, at least."
Nobita's heart ached at the raw honesty in Dekisugi's voice. The depth of the sorrow, the genuine regret... he knew in that moment that Dekisugi was sincere, that he truly regretted the pain he'd caused. He forced himself to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "I...I do believe you," he admitted. It was true, despite the lingering fear and doubt, despite the memories of pain and betrayal.
Dekisugi could feel a small flicker of hope ignite within him. The words he'd longed to hear, confirmation that Nobita believed him, that there was still hope for their friendship. A small, tentative smile tugged at his lips. "I... I'm so sorry, Nobi-kun," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I wish I could take back everything, every mistake, every wrong step we took."
Nobita felt a pang of sympathy at Dekisugi's words. The regret, the remorse, it was clear as day in his eyes, his voice. He wanted to reassure him, to say it was okay, but the words lodged in his throat. It wasn't okay, not completely, not yet. The silence stretched between them, heavy and filled with all the unspoken things. But, beneath the pain and the hurt, a flicker of possibility lingered. A future, somewhere down the road, where they were friends again.
“Would you allow me to hug you?”,
Nobita paused, taken aback by the sudden question. He looked at Dekisugi, his heart feeling like it was stuck in his throat. He could see the vulnerability in Dekisugi's eyes, the uncertainty.
He swallowed, his mind warring with his emotions. A part of him longed for comfort, for that familiar touch, the reassurance that things could be okay again. A part of him was still wary, still guarded by the pain of the past.
Finally, he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah."
Dekisugi felt his heart lurch in his chest. He was not expecting that response, that yes. But he wasn't going to waste this chance, not this time.
He took a step forward, closing the gap between them. He moved slowly, giving Nobita the chance to change his mind, to pull away if he wanted to. But Nobita didn't move, he just stood there, watching with wide, uncertain eyes as Dekisugi drew closer. Finally, he reached out, carefully wrapping his arms around Nobita in a gentle embrace.
Nobita felt his breath hitch as Dekisugi's arms encircled him. The touch was tentative, gentle, like Dekisugi was afraid he might break if he held too tightly. For a moment, he froze, unsure of how to react. But then, as the familiar warmth and comfort washed over him, he let out a shaky exhale and relaxed into the embrace. His own arms tentatively returned the hug, hands clenching the fabric of Dekisugi's blazer.
Dekisugi felt the tension drain from Nobita as he returned the embrace. A wave of relief washed over him, making his knees feel weak. He held onto Nobita tighter, a choked laugh and a shaky exhale escaping his lips. "I've missed this. Missed you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I've missed you so damn much, Nobi-kun."
Dekisugi's heart felt like it was swelling in his chest. He held Nobita a little tighter, afraid to let go, afraid that if he loosened his grip, he would wake up and find this was all a dream. "It... it can be like that again, right? That... that bond we had, the friendship..." He trailed off, holding onto the hope in his heart.
Nobita was quiet for a moment, his mind wrestling with that question. There was a part of him that desperately wanted to believe it, to trust that they could rebuild their friendship. But the fear, the hesitation, it was still there, lurking in the back of his mind.
He pulled back just enough to look up at Dekisugi, his expression troubled. "I...I want to believe that," he said slowly. "But... it's not that easy, is it? All that... all that hurt, it just doesn't disappear over night."
Dekisugi nodded slowly, his expression laced with sadness. He knew Nobita was right. The pain, the anger, they didn't just disappear. They left scars, emotional wounds that took time and effort to heal.
"I know," he said softly. "I know it won't be easy. But... but I'm willing to put in the work, to make it happen. If... if you are."
They walked together to their homes, Dekisugi lived two blocks away from him, although the same route was there to be taken by them both.
Nobita mumbled, “Shizuka-chan has rejected me.”
Dekisugi felt his heart sink at Nobita's statement. He knew how much Nobita was still hung up on Shizuka, and hearing that she had rejected him... it was a blow. He let out a slow exhale, his arms still looped around Nobita's shoulders. "I... I'm sorry to hear that," he said quietly. "Are... are you okay?"
“......”
Dekisugi felt his heart ache as Nobita's silence. It was clear that he was struggling, whether it was the rejection or something else, he didn't know. He squeezed Nobita's shoulders gently, trying to offer some comfort. "Hey... it's alright," he said quietly. "You don't have to bottle it all up, you know? You can talk to me."
Nobita was quiet for a long moment, his expression a mixture of pain and vulnerability. But then, slowly, he spoke, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"I... I just... I thought..." He paused, his throat bobbing as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "I thought I could have a chance, you know? That I could be with her, be happy with her."
Dekisugi felt his heart clench at Nobita's words. The pain was evident in his voice, the raw vulnerability that he rarely showed. He squeezed Nobita's shoulders again, offering what comfort he could. "I know you wanted that," he said softly. "You always did." He let out a slow exhale, his mind racing with the implications of Nobita's words. Did this mean... did he still have feelings for Shizuka?
This question stirred something in him, was it... jealousy?
Nobita let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh in the silent hallway. "Yeah, I did," he agreed, his voice laced with a hint of self-deprecating humor. "Guess I was just stupid to hope, huh? Stupid to believe I could have something like that."
Dekisugi felt a pang of sorrow at the self-deprecating tone in Nobita's voice. He wanted nothing more than to soothe that pain, to assure him that he wasn't stupid for hoping, for feeling. But the words caught in his throat, tangled in the complicated web of their past. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "You're not stupid," he finally managed to say. "You're... you're human. You wanted something, you hoped for it. There's nothing wrong with that."
Nobita let out a bitter scoff. "Is there not?" He asked, a hint of anger creeping into his voice. "Look where it got me. Rejected. Again. How much more times do I have to get my heart ripped out before I finally learn my lesson?"
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...
