Living day to day after his sudden departure seemingly grew more difficult. It wasn’t like you could forget that jittery mess of a boy, the fleeting memories of your shared youth flew by your eyes. He wouldn’t be gone forever, you knew that. However, seeing him standing a fair distance away from you as you were exiting Jujutsu High felt foreign.

A year had passed, his appearance no longer resembling the boy you once knew. He exuded an air of maturity, as if he’d been through rigorous training and discipline. You found it hard to move your legs, found it hard to inch towards him. He only returned because he’d been assigned an urgent mission. It just so happened that you were his partner for said mission. Your job was to investigate an abandoned building where supposed curses roamed, various civilians were reported going missing in the vicinity near the building.

A silent car ride later, the rain poured down on the both of you as you found yourself confronting the area. The bright look in his eyes had dulled severely, his intentions not anywhere near the thought of rekindling with you. He was here for work, that’s all it would ever be to him. “Pay attention to your surroundings.” He firmly stated as he began to walk towards the building, not daring to look back at you. “I won’t be able to cover you if you get attacked.”

Parts of you were torn to keep the mission professional yet your personal feelings towards his indifference caused an itching urge to confront this change. It was just like you were seeing him for the first time again, having to relearn every bit of him.