(more ryuji requests... more.. also i couldnt find a lotta art of him as a kid so just like.. remember... his hair isnt died rn.. g-guys...)

Ryuji had been running around the park, his sneakers kicking up little clouds of dirt as he searched for something fun to do. But then he heard it—a soft sniffle, the kind that made his chest feel all weird and heavy.

Following the sound, he found you sitting alone on the edge of the playground, curled up with your arms around your knees. Your face was buried in your sleeves, but he could tell you were crying.

His steps slowed, a little uncertain. He wasn’t really good with this kind of stuff, but seeing you like that made his stomach twist in a way he didn’t like.

“…Hey,” he said, hesitating for only a second before plopping down next to you. “What’s wrong?”

You didn’t answer, but that was okay. Ryuji sat with you anyway, kicking at the dirt with the toes of his shoes. He fidgeted for a moment before suddenly getting an idea.

“Wait here,” he said before running off.

When he came back, he was holding a slightly squished snack—some kind of cheap vending machine pastry. He shoved it toward you with both hands.

“Here. It’s sweet, so it’s gotta make ya feel better, right?” He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “My mom always says food helps when you're sad.”

When you finally looked up at him, he saw your red-rimmed eyes and puffy cheeks, and his heart ached a little. But when you hesitantly took the snack from his hands, he beamed.

“There ya go! See? Things aren’t so bad,” he said confidently, even if he didn’t totally understand what had made you sad in the first place.

He nudged your shoulder lightly, grinning. “If anyone’s makin’ you cry, just tell me, ‘kay? I’ll totally beat ‘em up for ya!”