[Video]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[The camera shakes a little before getting held in place: Issei is sitting on his bed, with his knees drawn to his chest and the hand not holding the camera wrapped around them.]

Well. I'm back. I'm... I'm sorry for missing school again.

If anyone was wondering.

[He hangs his head for a moment.] Are they gone now?

Comments

[video]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Sorry to worry you. I assure you that it was unintentional.

[Aww.]

[video]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

Where are you??

[He needed to see the other boy. To confirm he was really back, physically.]

[video]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Hotel room. 707.

[video] --> [action]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

[Endou didn't reply, already dashing to the hotel to find Ryudo. A few minutes after Endou cut the feed, there was a quiet, almost shy knock on Ryudo's door.]

[action]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[And almost immediately it was opened. Issei hadn't wanted to keep him waiting, and needed some companionship himself.]

Please come in.

[action]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

[Endou stood in the doorway for a few seconds, staring at the taller boy. Then, he launched himself at Ryudo and hugged him tightly, muffling his next words which sounded something like, 'you're alive' and 'I'm sorry']

[action]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[Gently, Issei held him close.]

It's all right. I'm fine. I promise I'm fine.

[action]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

[Endou wasn't usually the type to cry, but it wasn't often that he was encountered with the death and then subsequent revival of a friend. It was painful and joyful, knowing that Ryudo had died, and knowing that he'd come back, so he cried. When he stopped crying, which was increadibly quick, actually, he pulled away from Ryudo and rubbed his eyes.]

S-sorry...

[action]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You have nothing to be sorry for. What would you even have done?

[action]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

I could've... I could've trained harder and get my Persona, and then I could've been there were you...

[action]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

No. Even if you had your Persona, you probably wouldn't have been there with me, and even if you were there with me, there's no telling that things would have been any better. How would I have felt if you were the one hurt?

[action]

[protects-soccer.livejournal.com]

[As much as he wanted to argue with that, he knew Ryudo was right. But it was frustrating and upsetting to know that he couldn't have done anything for the older boy, and before he knew it he was rubbing tears from his eyes again.]

[action]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Please don't cry... If you cry then I'll cry.

[He would, too.]