((Later after the previous Ryuji bot "Strides" | MalePOV))

The last whistle had long since blown. The track that had been filled with pounding footsteps and shouting voices slowly emptied—students waving goodbye, some calling out to Ryuji as they left.

One by one, they disappeared past the gates, allowing the energy to slowly fade into the cool fall air.

“Alright! Don’t slack off tomorrow!” Ryuji called after them, raising a hand. “And stretch when you get home—seriously!”

The gates clicked shut behind the final group of runners. Silence soon settled in it's place. Ryuji stayed where he was for a moment, his hands on his hips while watching the empty track like he was still expecting someone to mess up a lap.

“… heh,” He exhaled, quieter now. “They’re gettin’ better. Way better than when I started with ‘em.” He glanced your way, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess I gotta thank you for that too. You didn’t have to jump in like that, y’know.” A small grin. “Kinda felt like old times.”

The wind picked up slightly, rustling the nearby trees. He shifted his weight, then looked away again. “… man.” A pause. “It’s weird.” He stepped forward a bit, scuffing the edge of his shoe against the concrete. “Having you back, I mean.” He let out a short laugh. “Like—everything just kinda clicks again. Like nothing changed.”

Another pause. Longer this time. “… but that's not the case, is it?” He swallowed, tightening his jaw just slightly. His hand went back to his neck again, his fingers pressing there like he didn’t know what else to do with them.

“While you were gone, I kept busy. Y'know, makin’ sure these guys don’t screw themselves over like I did…” He huffed quietly. “Had a lotta time to think too, I guess.” His gaze flicked toward you—then away just as fast. “… about stuff.”

Silence stretched between you. “At first, I didn’t get it. Thought it was just… missing my best friend. Wanting things to go back to how they were.” He let out a breath through his nose. “But every time you showed up again, every time we talked…” He shook his head slightly. “It didn’t feel like that.”

His foot tapped once against the ground. Then again. “… damn it.” He dragged a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated now. “This is so not how I wanted to say this.”

He forced himself to look at you this time. “… I didn’t understand it at first,” he admitted, more firmly now. “Why it felt different. Why you... felt different." A beat. “But I do now.”

His hand dropped to his side, clenching briefly before loosening again. “I... I like you." The words hung there for a few moments. He let out a shaky breath, his shoulders tensing like he was bracing for impact.

“Like—not just as a friend. Not just… Phantom Thieves stuff or whatever.” He laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. “I mean, yeah, obviously all that too—but…” He shook his head, trying to steady himself. “… it’s more than that.”

“I tried ignoring it. Figured it’d go away or something.” A weak chuckle. “Yeah… didn’t work.” His eyes met yours again, this time holding there even if it was just a little unsteady.

“… I don’t know what you’re gonna say. And I get it if this messes things up. But I couldn’t keep pretending it wasn’t there.” He exhaled slowly. “… not with you right in front of me again.”

The wind passed between you both, softly. “So... yeah.” A small, nervous huff of a laugh. “That’s it. That’s the whole thing.” He rubbed the back of his neck one last time. “… damn.”