The train journey had been a long one. It would have been even longer if he had stayed awake for the whole trip. Yu had finished his schooling in his home town and had finally decided what he wanted to do with the next few years of his life. His parents had been making plans to move overseas permanently, but Yu decided that that wasn't for him.
To be honest, he didn't actually have a plan exactly; it was more of a good idea. All he knew was that his time spent in Inaba had been the best and that he couldn't wait to get back there. His parents had been more than understanding, giving him plenty of money to go towards a house and some of the bills. So, so far his plan involved staying at Dojima's until he found a unit and then finding a job…somewhere. He had done some odd jobs before but now he needed something more substantial, something that could actually pay the bills he would get in his near future.
Yu leaned back in his chair. Honestly, he wasn't fussed with what job he got because he knew that whatever the little town threw at him, he could handle it. He just wanted to see his friends and for that, he would work anywhere.
When he finally arrived at the station he was glad to be able to stretch his legs properly. Just when he thought he could get some fresh air-glomp. Gah! He was surrounded!
"Senpai, why didn't you tell us you were coming back?" Rise squealed in his ear. Standing in front of him to kiss his cheek.
"Oi, share him 'round." Chie demanded, claiming his left arm and holding on whilst Yukiko grabbed his right.
"Do you know how hard we had to pester Dojima san to get the info from him." Yosuke said with mock irritation, clapping him on the back.
"Wah ha ha, I missed you so much sensei! You stayed away for so long." Teddie sobbed, tears falling freely from his huge eyes. He squeezed his way past Rise to hug him around the waist quite tightly, sobbing even harder. Naoto looked concerned as Yu's eyes bugged out and he found in hard to breathe.
"Are you ok senpai?"
Considering that all this happened within 10 seconds, Yu could only manage to choke out "help!"
Realising that they were squishing their friend, they all let go. Teddie took a little longer than the rest and had to have both Chie and Yukiko pull him off his sensei. Fresh air.
"Does that mean I get a turn now?" he looked past his friends to see sweet little Nanako tapping her foot, waiting for her turn.
"Go give your big bro a hug." Dojima said, walking back from the car parked a little ways away, obviously giving everyone else time to say hi.
Nanako had gotten bigger since the last time he saw her and her hair was longer, but she still gave him the same hugs that she used to when they were living together. Yu squeezed her tight and leaned back, half lifting her off of her feet.
"Ah! Put me down! You're as silly as ever." Nanako laughed.
Dojima clapped him on the back and pulled hum in for a rough hug as soon as Yu let Nanako go. It was nice to be back…but something wasn't quite right.
"Alright, you've said hello, let's give the kid a break." Dojima scolded. "I only told you he was coming because you forced it out of me but that doesn't change the plan. We're gonna head home so Yu can rest, then we go from there. You can make your own plans after that." Dojima rubbed the back of his neck. Obviously he'd been given a lot of harassment from his friends and was looking forward to a rest too.
"Right, you heard the man. Now, where did my bag go?" Yu looked around. He could have sworn his bags were only a foot away, resting on the platform next to his feet. Now, there was just concrete.
"Kanji already helped me put them in the car." Dojima said, fishing in his pocket for his keys. After finding them he said, "Alright, let's go home."
"Alright partner, we'll text you in the morning to make plans." Yosuke said.
"Yeah, see you senpai." Rise said, giving him another kiss on the cheek.
After they had said their goodbyes and he had settled himself in the car next to Nanako, he realised what had been out of place. Kanji hadn't said hi. He voiced his concerns with Dojima, whose face turned quite tense as he concentrated on the road. Dojima had taken to Kanji like a kind of uncle, once he learned he wasn't getting into trouble anymore, he figured the guy needed a hand in case someone miss judged him again.
"Kanji's not been himself recently; he's going to need some time."
"Did something happen when I was gone?" Yu asked, worry etched into his voice.
"His mum slipped down some stairs in the winter…she can't walk anymore." Nanako said sadly. Yu could feel the pain surrounding the conversation; he could only imagine what it would be like for Kanji.
"Kanji has taken on a lot, he's looking after his mum when she needs it, minding the store half of the time and he's got a second job. He's trying to get together some extra money so that they can renovate the house so its wheelchair friendly. Poor kid has been so busy he's lost himself. Even in his free time he hasn't been hanging out with his friends, he just keeps to himself. It's not healthy." Dojima rubbed his eyes, pulling into the driveway. "He said he felt out of place, that he didn't want to ruin the mini welcome back party, so he went home."
"But I missed him too. I would have liked to have said hi." Yu sounded disappointed. Were the guys keeping in touch with him via phone, or had they just left him to it. It was horrible to imagine coping with something like that all on your own. Yu knew you could act tough, but really what he needed now was a hug and someone to tell him 'it will all be alright'.
"I know," Dojima grabbed one of his bags whilst Yu grabbed the other and they headed inside, Nanako following behind. "It's almost as if he's ashamed of himself and doesn't want anyone to see it. Maybe just give him some time."
'I will give him until tomorrow.' Yu thought. If Kanji had been like this for a while, then it was time to sort things out. He knew he couldn't change the Tatsumi's situation but maybe he could make Kanji feel better in himself. Hopefully, with time and effort, the old Kanji would come back.
