𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 ☼ 𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚

IV

tobio and shōyō have been visiting the graveyard together since that day they first became friends. they'll meet at tobio's house, which turns out to be nothing but a short walk away from shōyō's own; they'll cross the streets and reach the church, and each day they come, they tell a new story about the people they're visiting. today the sky was a creamy gray, foreshadowing mother nature's next storm, so they chose to make the visit quick.

the shorter boy brought his taller friend to natsu hinata's stone, and he hummed softly before saying, "hi natsu. i really miss you."

tobio wondered if he should say hi, too, but thought better of it. this was shōyō's time, he decided.

"i brought a friend today. his name is tobio. you would've loved him, he probably would've loved you, too," shōyō sniffled. he looked at tobio and then reached over to grab his hand, lacing their fingers together and squeezing. "he's really nice. he's the only friend i have since you left."

tobio couldn't help but attempt to blame the sun that was shining over his head for making him sweat, making him feel warm and fuzzy and smiley. the sky was still dark, though...

"remember that one time i brought my old school friend kenma over? we haven't talked in a while. he's busy with his new boyfriend. i know you liked him, though... he was cute. but tobio here, oh, natsu, you would've adored him. he sings and he reads and he really likes ice cream, just like you. you guys would've been best buddies..."

tobio squeezes his friend's hand three times as he chats it up with the air, a little custom he'd had with his mother; shōyō didn't know it meant anything, but to tobio it did. for now, it was just for comfort. one day shōyō will know what it really means, tobio thinks, as he watches little silent tears fall as he talks to his sister.

"okay. alright. well, we have to go somewhere else now, so i guess i'll wrap it up," the boy chuckles, wiping his wet cheeks with his free hand, "um, i miss you a lot and i hope wherever you are that you're happy, and that i'm always thinking of you. love you, natsu. i'll come back soon."

tobio could've sworn the sun was shining, but maybe the light was coming from shōyō. his bright hair, his sparkling smile, everything about him radiating warmth- the resemblance was uncanny. his mom always used to say, "even in the darkest times, the sun still shines." maybe that's what she meant.

"hey,"

"yeah?" shōyō answered, not looking away from the milky stone.

"i'm really... proud of you."

"for what?"

"for living through this, i guess, i- i don't know. i know how hard it is, and you're handling it really well. i'm really proud of you, and... well, i guess i just wanted you to know that. yeah."

shōyō chuckled sweetly, looking at tobio with all the admiration in the world. stepping back, he started to pull the boy with black hair towards his mother's plot and crooned, "keep telling me those things and i may just fall for you, tobio. come on, it's gonna rain soon."

as tobio followed close behind with a face tickled pink, he thinks maybe that's not such a bad idea.