Read this without crying, I dare you.

-----

"She's alive, isn't she?" Ray asked, leaning forward on the chair, propping his elbows against it.

Yuugo's eyes widened for a single fleeting moment before responding, looking to the ground beside him. "No. She's long gone, Ray."

The ravenette clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. "You're going with that one, then? I'm not an idiot. Spill."

Yuugo took in a long, shaky breath, and for a moment Ray thought that the man would come clean. "Ray." The man spoke darkly, turning back to face the 15-year-old-boy. "She's gone. You're in denial."

"I'm not in denial-"

Yuugo pushed himself onto his feet with a sigh. "Idiot." He spoke, resting a hand on Ray's shoulder. "Accept it. There's nothing we can do."

Ray's jaw clenched and his face lay still, the only giveaway to his emotions besides the angry shine in his eye.

"-But I can still give you this." Yuugo turned back around and set the envelope down on Ray's shoulder. "Here. Open it when you will."

Ray grabbed the envelope with trembling fingers, holding it in front of him. He wasn't sure how long he stood there contemplating before stuffing it into his pocket.

-----

Pussy <3

——-

Yuugo walked into the large kitchen, swallowing drily. He stopped at the front and cleared his throat, waiting patiently while dozens of eyes turned towards him. As he scanned over the crowd, he grunted disapprovingly to see that Ray was absent.

The room was now dead quiet, and Yuugo could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. He cleared his throat once more before speaking, reaching into his jacket pocket with trembling fingers. "Y/N-" he felt the atmosphere tense as soon as he spoke the name, for although it was not taboo, whenever the name was spoken it carried with it a turrent of conflicting emotions- of memories and regrets... regrets always filled with the question "why didn't-?", "what if...?" And "I should've."

The eyes were all focused on his hand as he pulled out the second envelope from his pocket. He didn't need to speak any more words for them to understand. Several of the children became teary eyed right away, but all of them wanted for him to continue, no matter the fear many felt, worrying over the words the envelope might contain.

He carefully opened the envelope, willing his hands to stop shaking. He opened up the folded sheet of paper, his eyes trailing over the familiar handwriting. He took in a breath to speak, to even read the first line, but found no voice to speak. "I can't-" he muttered, fingers squeezing into the paper. Guilt racked his whole body, and he found himself even unable to read the first line. 

He wondered how much of this letter was a lie. It wouldn't be right for him to read it, knowing the truth.

Lucas placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'll-"

"I'll read it." A calm voice rang out, and all the eyes in the room turned to Hayato, the quiet black-haired boy, who was never seen doing much but reading. "Considering how all I do is read, I'm probably the best for the job." He spoke, a hint of humour in his usually sarcastic voice.

Everyone stared in momentary shock. He was the least-expected to speak up at this moment.

"Hayato-" Reina murmured but the boy gave her a somewhat-cheeky grin, walking to the front and gently taking the letter from Yuugo, who, after a moment's hesitation, handed it to the curly-haired ravenette.

Hayato opened the letter gingerly and scanned the first line, before he opened his mouth and began to speak.

"Hey, everyone. ...God, this is awkward." He spoke clearly without tripping up, bringing the words to life with his voice, his tone fluctuating in the way Y/N's would have, as if she were speaking the letter herself- although the voice was different. "- I don't even know where to begin. Right now, everyone is already asleep and I sit awake in the library, pondering over what to write.

I'm going to assume it's taken Yuugo a while to work up the nerve. You know how he is, the big softie." Hayato's eyes trailed to Yuugo, who's jaw was clenched as he held back tears. "You better not be crying right now, old man. I'll make fun of you."

"Shut up." Yuugo muttered, discreetly wiping away his tears.

"Predictable idiot." Hayato continued reading. "I hope it didn't take him over a year to read. He's not that big of a wuss... right?" A sad smile came over many of the kid's faces at the hint of humour.

"Yes it did!" Sherry exclaimed, raising her hand. "He was a wuss, just like you thought!"

Poppy shielded her tears along with several others, knowing that Sherry's response would never reach Y/N's ears.

"-but I guess I shouldn't spend this whole letter making fun of Yuugo. The reward for the promise was my life. I'm sorry for not telling you. But you would've found some other way to make the promise if I told you, right? And I couldn't have that! Sorry.

I hope everyone is doing well. Focusing on themselves, I mean. Have you all entered school? Is it fun? How are your grades? Did you speed-run it all in a year?

...Have you fulfilled your dreams as children? Has Phil gotten on a train? Has Sherry eaten a fluffy pancake?" Everyone's eyes widened as Y/N listed off many of the dreams of the children.  "Has Yvette explored a haunted house? Have Thoma and Lannion ridden a jet coaster? Has Nat gone to an opera? Have Marc and Alicia gotten their icecream buffet? Have Chris and Dominic watched a soccer game? Jemima's dream of a flower garden picnic sounds nice, too. What about Don's hot spring ping pong? Rossi's museum tour? Have Gilda and Anna gone shopping like the fashion queens they are?

Has Hayato written a best-selling book? Has Reina become a top-scientist? Has Daisy raised her own flower garden? Has Chris explored engineering? Has Niko become a doctor, and saved a life? Has Hannah seen her family grow old? Has Poppy cosplayed Cookie Monster? God, what the hell, Poppy. But you better stick to that dream. Send me pictures, HAHA." 

Hayati paused, the drips of ink before the next words showing how long Y/N had paused while staring at the letter so far before continuing.

"...Has Emma ridden a giraffe? Is Norman living with Emma and Ray? ...Has Ray seen the Mona Lisa or the Sagrada famillia?

...I hope so. Because it's my dream to see you fulfil all of yours. Is it selfish to want you to live on without me?"

It was something about Hayato's voice breaking, the cold, monotone boy, losing his always present cool as he read, that caused the whole group's composure to begin to crack.

They could've created a whole 'nother ocean with the amount of tears they cried.

"Can you do that for me? Can you fulfil your dreams for me?"

"Yeah." Emma hummed quietly, her voice carrying throughout the whole room as her tears spilled down onto the table.

"Can you try to be happy for me?"

"Yeah." Emma hummed once again, more tears sliding down her face.

"And one last thing... can you take care of-" Hayato paused as he saw the scratched out word. Although he could no longer read what it said, he knew the name that lay underneath without needing to. "-take care of eachother for me?" He finished.

"Yeah."

"Be good, everyone. And Alicia, stay out of my cookies, you little rascal. I'll come back to haunt you if you do much as touch them." The eyes in the room turned to the little girl sitting at the table, tears pouring down her face.

She took in a deep breath and wiped her tears. "OKAY!" She yelled, more tears spilling out from her closed eyes.

"Thanks for all the memories I was able to make in person with you. And I know you still have questions. Sorry I can't answer them any more.

Don't worry about me! I'm probably besties with Satan right about now. I know he's got a special place for me in hell." Hayato's eyes scanned the next crossed out line, the words "See you later" written underneath. He swallowed his emotions again, reading on. "Peace out homies, Y/N."

The room was filled with an insufferable silence afterwards, their regrets rising to the surface once again, the very air they were breathing suffocating. Because they knew there had to be more. But there wasn't.

"OKAY!!" A voice suddenly exclaimed, and everyone turned to Zack as he slammed his hands on the table, standing up with a cheerful grin on his face, although one wouldn't need glasses to take notice of his puffy eyes from crying. "Let's get to work, everyone! We've got dreams to fulfil!"

"That's right!" Gillian stood up next, with a kind, mothery smile. "Who's first? Because I don't know about you, but I'm down for some shopping!"

"Yeah." Norman smiled, rising to a stand as well, his dark circles painfully obvious on his pale skin.

"Let's begin!" He helped Emma beside him stand, facing her and gently wiping her tears. His eyes crinkled in pain as he saw the shadow slide passed the hallway, knowing full well who it belonged to.

——-

Yuugo glanced up, lifting his head from his hands as someone knocked at the door. In the doorway stood Hayato awkwardly, letter held in between his thumb and forefinger.

"Here." He murmured, handing the letter to Yuugo. "...there was an extra part for you."

He then left without another word, gliding back down the hallway as if he were a ghost.

Yuugo stared at the letter and chewed on his lip, scanning down to the bottom.

His eyes widened as he read, shining brightly with tears. He let out a quiet groan and placed his face in his hands, completely silent.

"ARGGGG!" He yelled suddenly, ruffling his hair frustratedly. He stood up from his chair so suddenly it fell to the floor, the letter falling to the ground. "LUCAS, PACK YOUR F*CKING BAGS!" He yelled, pushing the door open. "WE'RE GOING ON VACATION!"

"A- a what?" The voice of Lucas called in confusion from another hallway.

"Well, my dream was to marry Dina! Seeing as I can't do that any more, I've decided we're going on vacation to a tropical island!"

Lucas stared at Yuugo for a moment in shock, before his eyes softened. "Okay." He spoke softly. "I suppose my dream is already fulfilled, then."

"Hm?" Yuugo grunted as they walked. "What was your dream?"

"Not telling." Lucas grinned.

"HAHH?!" Yuugo yelled, shoving his shoulder into Lucas'. "No fair!"

Lucas stuck out his tongue. "So?" He spoke after a moment. "Why a tropical island?"

"That's easy!" Yuugo exclaimed. "No self-sacrificial brats! Lot's of beer! No one to eat my cookies! And finally, milfs!"

"Milfs...?" Lucas raised an eyebrow before turning back up ahead. "...fair enough." He tapped his chin.

"...so what was your dream?"

"Not telling~"

"I want to stay friends with Yuugo forever. -Lucas"

——-

The poor, forgotten letter, lay on the floor of Yuugo's room, face down.

"P.S." ; the other side would read at the bottom. "I'm sorry for making you bear this burden, Yuugo. Thanks for being the father-figure I never knew I needed. I love you, dad. Make sure you fulfil your own dreams too. Don't wait for me."

"I'm trusting you, Y/N, and whatever batshit crazy plan you've got brewing."

-----

Well?

1912 words.

~~