BETWEEN WORLDS | Ryohei Arisu x Reader

When We Thought It Would Last Forever

I walked beside Arisu in comfortable silence, not feeling the need to fill the space with words. It was one of those moments where everything felt easy, natural, like we had known each other for so long that no conversation was needed.

"Are they always like this?" I asked, nudging him lightly with my elbow, as Haeru and Karube continued their argument about which snack was the best.

Arisu glanced at them for a second, his lips curling into a small, amused smile. "I've gotten used to it," he said with a casual shrug, but I could tell there was more to it. He wasn't bothered by their constant bickering; in fact, I think he enjoyed it. There was a warmth in his gaze when he looked at them—something that told me he cherished these moments, these small bursts of chaos.

"It's actually kind of fun," I said, my voice teasing as I watched them argue. "You know, when it's not me stuck in the middle of it."

Arisu's laugh was soft, almost like a secret shared between us. "I'm sure you're not as bad as they make it sound," he teased, nudging me back playfully.

I couldn't help but smile at the way he always seemed to know how to make me feel better, even with the simplest of comments. "I think I'm a pretty good referee when I need to be."

The walk to Arisu's house was long but not uncomfortable. The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over everything, and for a moment, it felt like time had slowed down. I could hear the chatter of the others ahead, but the world around me seemed quieter, more peaceful. It was one of those moments where everything felt perfect, like everything had lined up just right for me to be here, walking next to Arisu.

When we arrived at his place, it was the same routine. Chota and Karube immediately claimed the couch, their game controllers in hand as they argued over who would play first. Haeru joined them, trying to follow along but mostly laughing at the ridiculousness of the game. I stood back for a moment, watching the scene unfold, and then my attention shifted to Arisu.

He was in the kitchen, setting up snacks, and there was something so calming about the way he moved graceful, deliberate, like he was in his own little world, but it was a world I felt welcome in.

"So, movie night again?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe, watching him as he worked. He hadn't noticed me yet, too focused on the snacks, but I didn't mind. I liked watching him like this simple, unguarded.

Arisu glanced up and smiled when he saw me, his eyes lighting up just the way they always did. "Of course. You can't have movie night without snacks."

I watched as he tossed me a bag of chips, and without thinking, I caught it with one hand.

"You spoil me," I said, laughing lightly, but there was something more to it. It wasn't just about the chips. It was about how easily he made everything feel special, how effortlessly he made me feel seen.

"No problem," he said, his tone casual, but there was a softness there, a quiet affection that lingered in the air between us. I smiled back, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything was just right.

We all sat down to watch a movie, but as always, Chota fell asleep halfway through. His gentle snores filled the room, and Karube, not one to let an opportunity go to waste, began teasing him relentlessly. Haeru just laughed, shaking her head.

"Every time," she whispered to me. "I swear, it's a miracle he stays awake for anything."

I smiled at her, but my attention was elsewhere. My gaze kept drifting to Arisu, the way the dim light from the screen caught the angles of his face, making him look even more like he belonged in some dream. It was a silly thought, but that's how it felt. Everything about him felt like something I wanted to hold onto forever.

After the movie ended, we all decided to bake cookies. It was Haeru's idea, of course, and it seemed like a fun, casual way to pass the time. But as expected, things went hilariously wrong. Flour was everywhere, sugar covered every surface, and by the time the cookies were in the oven, we'd made a mess of the kitchen.

"Well, that's a wrap," Haeru said, grinning through the flour on her face.

"I think we just set off the fire alarm," I said, laughing, staring at the cookies that were definitely not going to win any awards for culinary excellence.

"We might need a fire extinguisher," Chota added, leaning against the counter, his face contorted in laughter.

We scrambled to deal with the smoke, but even in the chaos, there was something undeniably special about the mess. The way we all came together to fix things, the way we laughed through it all—it made everything feel a little less serious, a little more fun.

By the time we were done cleaning up, it was already getting late. The group was heading out, and I was walking with Haeru to the station. Chota and Karube had already gone ahead, but Arisu stayed behind, walking quietly beside me as we reached the platform.

Everything felt different now. There was an unspoken tension in the air, a quiet shift that I couldn't ignore. Arisu was standing closer than usual, his presence more noticeable, his body language subtle but intense. It was like he was waiting for something, or maybe I was. Either way, I could feel it the pull between us, something that hadn't been there before, or maybe something I had only just started to notice.

When the train arrived, we boarded, and the crowd pushed us even closer together. I instinctively reached for the overhead strap, and as I did, I ended up leaning against Arisu. His shoulder was just there, and before I realized it, my head was resting against him, the warmth of his body making everything else fade into the background.

He stiffened slightly at first, but then he relaxed, shifting his arm so that it was closer to me, as if offering me some quiet reassurance. The train hummed around us, the sound of the wheels against the tracks a comforting rhythm. For a brief moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. There was no one else on that train, no one else in the city. Just the two of us, caught in this quiet moment.

"Is this okay?" he asked softly, his voice barely audible over the noise of the train.

I lifted my head, looking up at him. His eyes were soft, searching mine. There was something in them
something I couldn't quite put into words, but I could feel it. He was asking permission, but he didn't need to.

"Yeah," I whispered, my voice just as soft, just as unsure, yet somehow confident. "It's more than okay."

And in that moment, everything clicked. It wasn't just the physical closeness. It was the way he made me feel, the way I felt in his presence, the way everything about him felt right. Something had changed between us, something subtle but undeniable. It wasn't just a quiet shift in the air; it was something real, something that both of us had been waiting for. And neither of us said anything more.

As the train rumbled on, I knew that this was a moment that would stay with me forever. It wasn't just a memory it was the start of something new, something unspoken but powerful. Something that I wasn't sure where it would lead, but I didn't mind. For once, I was content just letting things unfold, because in that moment, being with Arisu was enough