In The Meantime... (Various x Reader)

second chances 🔆 shōya ishida

⚠️ WARNING: MENTIONS SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION

THIS IS IN NO MEANS MEANT TO ROMANTICIZE MENTAL ILLNESS. Suicide is a very serious issue. Shōya is a character who suffers from depression and suicidal thoughts, and I tried to handle it in a respectful way. Please do not think romanticization is my intention with this one shot.

🔆 If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-273-8255. It's an international number, so it should work where ever you are (:

- - -

Shōya gazed at his workbooks floating in the murky water. The Spring air was hot and the water was warm in the most unpleasant way. His skin began to itch from the wet leaves stuck to his face. He didn't even bother to swat away the gnats flying around his head.

Somehow, it fet the same way he did inside. Dejected, unwanted, wrong...

As he stared at his notebook, ink spilling off the page, Shōya couldn't help but wonder: was that how he made Nishimiya feel, too?

"Ishida,"

He looked up at the girl who called out to him. Her eyes glinted with curiosity and a look Shōya couldn't quite recognize. It was (Y/N) (L/N), a girl who was in his class. She was often the victim of many of his friends bullying escapades. Even Shōya was guilty of being rude to her. In his defense, his friends thought she was weird. So that meant Shōya had to, as well.

(Y/N) crouched down right at his eye level. She only held his gaze for a moment before she took note of all his belongings floating in the water.

"What the heck happened to you?"

Shōya pulled himself to his feet. He began to gather his things. "What do you care?" He mumbled.

"You know, I don't really." (Y/N) stood, too, and began to help him pick up his things. She was careful to keep herself out of the fountain. "Just thought I should ask." She held out his books to him.

Shōya couldn't believe she was being nice to him. After all, he'd been tormenting her and her friend for the past few months. His entire class knew what he did, so she could just as easily take his place within his friend group. Nothing was stopping her.

He figured she could have no good intentions in talking to him and snatched his things from her hand. "Well, it's none of your business." Shōya began his walk home, prepping himself for what his mother would have to say. As he passed by (Y/N), he was careful to nudge her shoulder. A leaf of his stuck to her shirt.

"Nishimiya is gone 'cause of you." (Y/N) turned to face him just as Shōya stopped walking. "You hurt her so bad she had to go to another school. The whole class turned away from you and your friends left you in a fountain."

Shōya looked at her over his shoulder. (Y/N)'s cheeks were flushed, and he thought it was from the heat, but when he was the gleam in her eyes, Shōya knew it was because she was angry.

"Yet the first thing you do when someone is nice to you is be mean again."

He shoved a hand deep in his pocket, hunching himself over like it would protect him from the truth. "Quit talking like you know me."

"You deserved everything that came to you. I hope you realize that. And I hope you feel bad about it, too."

Shōya knew she was right, but he didn't want to hear it. He began to walk away, but (Y/N) latched onto his arm.

"I'm not finished!" She said, pulling him back and forcing him to face her.

Shōya couldn't hide his shock. Seeing her hand wrapped around his wet sleeve made him wonder if (Y/N) was as disgusted by the dampness as he was. She dropped her hand to her side.