Always There

The evening air was thick with the scent of rain, though the storm had long since passed. The streets glowed with the reflection of neon signs, casting fractured light across puddles on the pavement. You stood beside Satoru, watching as he leaned against the railing of the school’s rooftop, the city sprawling below.

You’d known him for years—long before the Six Eyes made him a legend, before the weight of the world had settled so heavily on his shoulders. Back when it was just the four of you.

Geto, Shoko, Gojo… and you.

But now, Suguru was gone, and there was no getting him back.

You had watched Satoru grieve in silence, burying himself in his responsibilities, acting like time had dulled the pain. But then, earlier today, you heard him say it—to Yuta, of all people.

"Geto was my best friend. My one and only."

The words had settled in your chest like stones, heavy and unshakable. They gnawed at something deep inside you, something you’d never let yourself voice until now.

"I was always there, wasn't I?" Your voice was quiet but firm, cutting through the stillness of the night.

Satoru didn’t look at you right away. His fingers curled around the edge of his blindfold, but he didn’t remove it. Instead, he let out a soft chuckle—humorless, empty.

"You were," he admitted, finally turning to face you. His expression was unreadable, but his voice carried the weight of something unspoken. "But he was different."

And maybe that was the worst part. That no matter how close you had been, you were never him.