Life Will Change (Ryuji x Akira AU)

Chapter 4 - Trust

Akira's POV

"So... how long has all this been going on for?" I ask Ryuji.

"Uh... a few years or so," he responds. We're eating lunch right now. He was sitting alone, as he supposedly always does, so of course, I had to sit with him.

"So you all just... accept that? You don't even try to put up a fight or report this?" I ask. He looks at me like I have two heads or something.

"There's no point, really. No one believes me. No one really cares. It doesn't matter anyway," He says.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter? You're pretty much being tortured here!"

"But if they all pick on me, then everyone else gets left alone." Then it finally hits me. So that's why he's letting this happen. He's trying to protect everyone else. Through all this, despite everyone treating him, he's thinking of everyone else. This idiot. I can see I'm not getting anywhere though. Guess at this point I should just change the subject.

"Okay, so then how about this. What do you like to do after school?" I ask him.

"I usually just go straight home," He says.

"How come?" They can't hurt him more after school right?

"Well, it's not like I have any friends to do anything with."

"What about that Ann girl? Your supposed soulmate?" He looks hesitant to answer.

"Well she used to be fine with me and we'd do stuff all the time. But... I didn't want her to get hurt because of hanging around me," Still putting others before himself. Dammit. I want to scold him, tell him not to focus on others so much but... I just can't bring myself to do it. It seems like the belief that he can be of some help to everyone else is the only thing keeping him going, I can't take that away from him right now.

"Alright, well, how about this. Is there anything you would like to do after school?" I ask him.

"Well, I guess... it'd be really great to go for a run sometime, a fun run outside..." His face brightens up for just a moment, then he remembers something. "But I haven't in a while and honestly I don't know if I should. My leg's hurt and all so... I can't really do that," He starts sounding depressed again so I try changing the subject.

"Alright, well how about anything else?"

"Well, there's this one ramen shop I used to really like. Although I don't really feel like I'd wanna go there right now. Might ruin it for me if I don't enjoy the food,"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just... I haven't really been too into food since this all has started happening. I just sorta eat enough to stay healthy. Not much purpose otherwise," So even food has been ruined for him. Okay, this also isn't getting anywhere.

"Okay, how about this then. Let me find a nice place around here to hang out, and you and I can do something together," I tell him. He seems worried about how to answer.

"You don't have to if you don't feel up to it, I just wanted to see if I could help in some way?" I tell him to reassure him. He probably feels like if he says no I'll be angry with him. What have these bastards done to this poor guy? And yet he still looks out for them. Damnit, he's such an idiot... so why do I find that really engrossing? What is it with this guy? He's such an idiot but I can't bring myself to find fault in that. It just makes me want to help him even more.

"W-well... I uh..." He's stumbling over his words. That'd be kinda cute if not for the reasons behind it.

"You know, never mind, forget I asked. I'm not gonna make you do anything you don't want to, and we can still hang out here if you're okay with that?" I tell him. Clearly, he doesn't trust me enough to be around me too much. I'm gonna let him go through at a comfortable pace. I'm not gonna be a person for him to fear. I'm gonna earn his trust, no matter what it takes.