Work Text:
Yuji stared at the math test, the big red F circled in bold marker.
He wasn't surprised.
He was used to it.
There was a quiet "yes!" and a fist pump from the corner of his eye. Nobara. Yuji glance at her paper, unsurprised to see a B dancing mockingly at the peak of her paper from her spot next to him.
Tears pricked Yuji's eyes and he turned away, refusing to let them fall.
He was the strong one.
People relied on him.
The same chant replayed in his mind: I don't really matter. As long as my friends are happy and get good grades then everything is fine. Nobara totally deserved that B.
I deserve the F.
...
Later, in choir class, Yuji's day worsened. The choir was starting to learn the sheet music for Viva la Vida by Coldplay, a nostalgic song on his behalf. And boy, did he really, really want to sing the tenor part- they had the melody, after all. Halfway through class, Yuji went up to the chorus teacher. Softly he asked, "Is it okay if just for this one song I'm a tenor? You know, since I'm technically a tenor but there's a bass shortage so I've been put as bass..."
His teacher shook her head; a sad smile played across her face. "Unfortunately we don't have enough basses, so you'll have to be a bass for this song as well. Sorry, honey."
Yuji already knew this was going to be the answer. Feeling bile rise in his throat, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Softly crying into his hoodie, Yuji stayed there until the bell rang, the golden sun casting dark shadows on his face, keeping his savory tears from drying.
He knew he was being selfish. This was a stupid thing to cry about.
Racing to catch up to Megumi, he dried his tears, his face still a little stiff.
"Must suck being a bass," Megumi, a tenor, commented.
Yes, it fucking does, Yuji thought. "Mhm," he said quietly.
"The tenors have the melody and stuff," continued Megumi.
I'm aware. PLEASE stop rubbing it in. "...yeah."
...
Yuji, absolutely drained from his dentist appointment after school, did NOT want to deal with anything.
Especially not his report card.
And especially not his mom yelling at him.
"These grades are horrible."
"How could you not turn in a whole assignment?!”
“We need to work on your time management skills.”
“I’m not letting you use your phone or the TV- that seems to be the problem.”
“If you’re bored, go read a manga or something.”
“As your parents, we need to have a chat with your teachers, especially in history and math, to find out what's wrong.”
“English is supposed to be your best subject!!”
“I don’t think you’re applying yourself enough in history.”
All he could do was sit there, take it, and bite back the vicious tears that were soon to follow.
Yuji stumbled up the stairs to his dusty bedroom, barely shutting the door before he sank to the floor, silent tears streaming down his face and racking his body. His mom left to take care of an errand, and the second he watched his mom grow to a speck in the distance on the road, his silent tears turned to sobs, choking him and rendering him unmovable, leaving him coughing and gasping on the cold, bare, hardwood floor. He slowly flipped open his old computer, tears blurring his gaze, and pulled up the group chat he had with Choso and Todo.
Im a failure, he typed, shaking. My report card was shit
No don't say that! Choso responded immediately.
Todo was quick to follow with a how?!
I got C's on everything... my mom's rly pissed... Yuji desperately look around for a box of tissues, his nose starting to become blocked. Not seeing one, he instead dived for a half-used roll of toilet paper, the roughness of the material on his nose grounding him a little. I cant stop sobbing
Hey, hey, it's okay little bro, Choso typed.
Let it all out, added Todo. Dy want us to leave ya alone?
NO, Yuji texted, breaking into another coughing fit as his tears splattered to the ground like blood from a wound. PLZ! ..plz dont go-
Dw, we're not going anywhere, Choso replied with a heart emoji.
Thank you guys...
Of course, anything for our little bro! Todo's words meant the world, as did Choso's. We'll never leaev <3
If we called you do you think you'd feel better? Choso asked politely.
Yuji froze, a million thoughts racing through his mind like Johnny Joestar on his horse. What if they hate my sobbing? What if they think it's ugly? What if something's wrong with me? What if I'm overreacting? What if-? What if-? What if-
my phone was taken away, Yuji answered. also im still sobbing
Why does it matter if you're still crying? Todo countered.
...idk
Yuji, listen, texted Choso. We love you, okay? <3
We'll get through this together, no matter what! Todo continued.
Yuji's heart swelled with emotion. He buried his eyes, still leaking, into the side of his bed, calming his rugged breathing. The once stormy waves cleared just a bit, and a rainbow peaked through the hazy fog of his mind. Yuji wasn't going to be truly happy for a while, or maybe forever. But he had his brothers. He knew they would never fail to make him feel appreciated.
Thank you, he texted, still shaking a bit with emotion. Thank you so much for everything it means the world.. I love you <3