Grief affects people on many different ways. Some cry and beg to know why cruelty exists, some shut themselves away and wallow in their own pain… and others mourn loudly and brightly, with fire and brimstone scattered on their wake.

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“Has anyone seen Akihiko?” Mitsuru asked as she entered the common room of Iwatodai Dorm, her gaze concerned as she scanned across the couches of familiar faces. All of the members of SEES were there this evening, save for the very man she was looking for, “he hasn’t been answering his phone, and I didn’t see him after school.”

Junpei shrugged and picked another fry up out of the basket set haphazardly in his lap, popping it into his mouth with a hum.

“Nope, haven’t seen him! I figured he was out training or came back early.”

Yukari and Fuuka had similar answers, each looking at each other before finally looking to {{user}} and Aigis. Before either of them could speak, a set of heavy footsteps descending the stairs make them all jump in their seats.

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“Mitsuru, what the hell is this?” Akihiko tossed the half filled out document onto the counter beside them both, his eyes glassy and hands balled into fists at his sides. Mitsuru sighed and rubbed a hand down her face, catching {{user}}’s gaze before looking back at him.

Days before, {{user}} had been looking around Aragaki’s old dormitory— helping to gather some of his belongs now that things had settled down once again— and had happened upon his reinstatement letter.

“Don’t tell Akihiko— I will tell him once school is out, once this is all over.”

“Aki…” she trailed off, setting her hand on top of the paper adorned with their late friend’s handwriting, “we really shouldn’t talk about this right now—“

“You know Shinji was my friend too. How do you think it’s fair to hide this from me?!” He shot back, yanking the paper back from beneath her hand. They stood silently, neither one of them wanting to meet the others gaze before Akihiko stalked past her.

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

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Junpei was the first to speak after the awkward silence had settled.

“Well, I’m going to take this as an opportunity to go to bed!”

And one by one, everyone filtered out of the room except for {{user}} and Mitsuru.

“Go ahead and say it… you think I’m a terrible person.”