Your character is suddenly compelled to announce exactly why their life sucks. Other characters respond with sympathy, shock, pointing and laughing, whatever works.
[Her arms are wide open, ready for him to come in for the hug as soon as he turns around. She thought she was ready for the sobbing, too, but she was wrong. The way he says her name, the way he shakes, it tears holes in her heart. Fresh, fat tears fall down her face, but she's smiling still.]
Junpei.
[She starts to shake, too. And wheeze gently from how hard he's squeezing her. She nuzzles her cheek against the top of his head. His hat, whatever.
Then, whatever it was that had overtaken him a moment before starts to get to her. She feels an itch, something she can't avoid, and words start to spill out. Honesty, pure and plain, and try as she might she can't swallow it back.]
It was never as easy for me as it looked. I worked hard to make sure I never faltered, never showed weakness. For you, for all of you... but it started far, far before that.
After... after my parents died, when Aigis sealed Death in me, I... I didn't adjust well. I lost track of some of my humanity. I couldn't feel. I couldn't express. Nobody listened to me, and nobody liked me. Other kids were scared of me, and fear translated to hatred.
[No, no, no, she doesn't want to talk about this. This was about Junpei, not her, stupid selfish...]
I... I was desperate for someone to give a shit. To bother to notice I was in pain, if I felt anything at all. Just... for approval. I learned how to fake it. How to act. Make emotions look genuine even when I felt nothing.
[Deep breath. He doesn't need the details. Plow through it, Arisato.]
It got better, once I came back to Iwatodai... so much better... but I still hid behind the acting. I was... too scared to be anything less than perfect, that I might.... I might lose you all, too... And I didn't know how to do anything else... I don't know how to be friends with someone without just... being what they want me to be...
He's still crying, but he can still laugh a little. His arms relaxed-- just so she wouldn't hurt, but still held her tight. Listening to her.
...So having Death inside, all that time, really had fucked her up. It sort of made sense though, didn't it? How well she adapted to everyone, being... whatever everyone wanted, or needed. He'd had an inkling they both put on smiley faces to ward off anyone's concern, but...
He didn't realise it was so bad.
"...'m sorry. I really am... I... I was jealous, a lot of the time. Because I just wanted to be special to someone. So, I... I can get just wanting attention. I, I dunno which of us handled it better though..."
A little sheepish laugh, but he kept holding her. It's okay, it's okay... they both were total messes, but, at least they had one another, right?
"I... I just want you, Minako. I don't care if you have to figure out who that is... You're still my best friend."
[She clings tight around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder for a time. It's safe here, or it feels that way. Junpei always felt safe.]
I know, and I understand why you were, and I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't more honest. Sorry I didn't handle it better. Sorry I never told you how important you are and how much I relied on you.
[Why did she never tell him? He needed to know, he deserved to know. She's slightly muffled against his shoulder but she's sure he can hear her. Still she relaxes her clinging.]
You're special to me. [A wet smile.] You're my best friend.
[She pulls him down with a hand on one cheek, to kiss the other one.]
Y-you had enough going on... dealing with my whining was like, the least important thing you hadta worry about.
[He'd do his best to keep her safe... Even as his cheeks reddened, his own eyes clenched shut. Important... relied on...
God. He wished he could've seen that, back then. He was so desperate something big, he missed the more subtle clues. That was on him and his own immaturity.]
Y-you're really, really special to me too...
[That kiss surprised him, and he let out of a breath, a soft, sheepish laugh escaping him.]
T-thanks Minako... [...does uh, he kiss her back? Is another hug okay?]
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heavy headcanon warning ahoy
Junpei.
[She starts to shake, too. And wheeze gently from how hard he's squeezing her. She nuzzles her cheek against the top of his head. His hat, whatever.
Then, whatever it was that had overtaken him a moment before starts to get to her. She feels an itch, something she can't avoid, and words start to spill out. Honesty, pure and plain, and try as she might she can't swallow it back.]
It was never as easy for me as it looked. I worked hard to make sure I never faltered, never showed weakness. For you, for all of you... but it started far, far before that.
After... after my parents died, when Aigis sealed Death in me, I... I didn't adjust well. I lost track of some of my humanity. I couldn't feel. I couldn't express. Nobody listened to me, and nobody liked me. Other kids were scared of me, and fear translated to hatred.
[No, no, no, she doesn't want to talk about this. This was about Junpei, not her, stupid selfish...]
I... I was desperate for someone to give a shit. To bother to notice I was in pain, if I felt anything at all. Just... for approval. I learned how to fake it. How to act. Make emotions look genuine even when I felt nothing.
[Deep breath. He doesn't need the details. Plow through it, Arisato.]
It got better, once I came back to Iwatodai... so much better... but I still hid behind the acting. I was... too scared to be anything less than perfect, that I might.... I might lose you all, too... And I didn't know how to do anything else... I don't know how to be friends with someone without just... being what they want me to be...
no subject
He's still crying, but he can still laugh a little. His arms relaxed-- just so she wouldn't hurt, but still held her tight. Listening to her.
...So having Death inside, all that time, really had fucked her up. It sort of made sense though, didn't it? How well she adapted to everyone, being... whatever everyone wanted, or needed. He'd had an inkling they both put on smiley faces to ward off anyone's concern, but...
He didn't realise it was so bad.
"...'m sorry. I really am... I... I was jealous, a lot of the time. Because I just wanted to be special to someone. So, I... I can get just wanting attention. I, I dunno which of us handled it better though..."
A little sheepish laugh, but he kept holding her. It's okay, it's okay... they both were total messes, but, at least they had one another, right?
"I... I just want you, Minako. I don't care if you have to figure out who that is... You're still my best friend."
no subject
[She clings tight around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder for a time. It's safe here, or it feels that way. Junpei always felt safe.]
I know, and I understand why you were, and I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't more honest. Sorry I didn't handle it better. Sorry I never told you how important you are and how much I relied on you.
[Why did she never tell him? He needed to know, he deserved to know. She's slightly muffled against his shoulder but she's sure he can hear her. Still she relaxes her clinging.]
You're special to me. [A wet smile.] You're my best friend.
[She pulls him down with a hand on one cheek, to kiss the other one.]
no subject
[He'd do his best to keep her safe... Even as his cheeks reddened, his own eyes clenched shut. Important... relied on...
God. He wished he could've seen that, back then. He was so desperate something big, he missed the more subtle clues. That was on him and his own immaturity.]
Y-you're really, really special to me too...
[That kiss surprised him, and he let out of a breath, a soft, sheepish laugh escaping him.]
T-thanks Minako... [...does uh, he kiss her back? Is another hug okay?]