Reiji wasn't quite sure what switch flipped in him.

Per the usual agenda, Ranmaru and Camus had begun their unending arguments. Over what exactly, this time he had no idea. Reiji couldn't find it in himself to care enough to stop it this time around, so now they were at each other's throats. Ranmaru seemed too close to actually throwing a punch in the count's direction, meanwhile Camus stood tall and too proud on his front.

Reiji's mind was scattered, though. Instead of trying to focus on what was going on around him, his mind led him astray. The yelling began fading into background noise as memories from a past that felt too much like yesterday flooded his vision.

Laughing down the Saotome Academy hallways with his three best friends in tow, Reiji could almost hear their laughter... his laughter.

This wasn't the first time this week it happened, and only after he was refocused did he notice Ai's shifted gaze. Reiji smiled as best he could towards the other, flashing him a grin that only seemed to deepen the other male's frown further. The air having become too stifling so suddenly, Reiji laughed awkwardly as he all but ran towards the door. His hand fell into the bowl at the counter, grabbing the all too familiar key ring as he made his escape.

How fitting that the weather outside matched his exact mood. He hadn't even heard the rain, yet it took those five seconds he needed to get to his car for him to become drenched immediately.

Reiji pushed back his now soaked bangs, wasting no time as he shoved the key into the ignition and threw his beloved car into reverse.

He needed to be away from them... from the constant reminder of him.

There was no reason to think about it all again now. It wasn't some kind of anniversary yet... There wasn't a role depicting anything similar to those events lined up for him... So what was it? What did him in?

Reiji drove and drove and drove... The highways were all but empty with the now torrential rains pouring from the sky, washing out side streets and sidewalks. Not a soul would dare be caught walking in such a storm. The windshield wipers on his car were at their fastest, pushing back against the seemingly endless falls pounding against them.

That particular kind of drive would stress anyone out. However, Reiji found himself at ease. Having complete control in such a chaotic situation where anything could go wrong cleared his mind entirely. After all, it was hard to focus on crushing guilt and years of pain when a car as reliable as broken scissors had to tread water like a motorboat.

Though longer than most trips, Reiji still felt like the drive to the Byobugaura Bay was too short.

Reiji drove past the lot to the end of the dirt road before he shifted the gear into park. He was quick in exiting the vehicle, doing his best not to get the interior wet despite how drenched he knew he'd end up anyway. Better safe than sorry.

His legs took him beyond where his mind wanted up until he was staring down one of the steepest cliffs there as the waves assaulted the rock formations below. With the rain swooshing around him into the now flooded fields, Reiji closed his eyes as he listened to the crashing below him. The rain bled through the thin layer of his denim jacket with every second that passed, soaking him to the bone not too long into his endeavor.

It was between the monsoon and the tsunami-like waves, Reiji oddly felt at peace again. Here, his mind shut itself off completely.

And then he caught himself wondering.

What if he followed his fears all the way down?

How long had he been hiding behind his smiles and pranks? He had grown so quickly as an idol because of it... His opportunity given to him from the President was because of his ability to switch from being capable in switching his personality to fit each and every job handed to him. After all, Reiji had promised him that he would be the best. He had to be for him...

Now, here he was. Was it really alright for him to sing right next to the very person made just to satisfy someone else's selfish desires? Their likeness... Their voices... Some days were harder than others, and Ai could definitely tell.

It wasn't as if the others cared if he came back.

Reiji closed his eyes as he tilted his head up towards the sky, the numbness settling in his chest overflowing into the rain on his cheeks. He didn't move so much as a finger as he stood there, his life hanging in limbo much like he felt his career was.

It wasn't until the rain let up and the waves settled back into the shoreline that he shifted his weight and turned back around to his car. Reiji looked as if he had swam fully clothed with how soaked through he had become, sloshing his way back into the driver's seat as he made up his mind to go back.

The drive to Quartet Night's apartment was silent, save for his now ragged breathing as the chill settled in. Despite the heat in the car being at full blast, he could still feel the hammering of water at his back. Surely he would spend a month sneezing.

Hesitantly, Reiji parked his car in the lot of the apartment complex as he wrung his hands in worry. Would he be alright enough to endure the screaming from before? Could he handle the sharp attitudes and withdrawn expressions once more?

Keeping the words of a long ago friend in the back of his mind, Reiji still pushed himself out of his car and locked the vehicle behind himself. He'd have to explain himself anyway. There had still been light filtering in through the dense sea of clouds before, and now they were all but a memory as the moon lit up the night.

Before Reiji could even finagle the key into the lock, his silver eyes met wide cyan ones as the door flung open before him.

"Reiji, you're back."

Reiji could see the audience gathering farther back inside the apartment.

"Ai-Ai... I..." What could he even say? "I just want you to know that this is me trying."

Instead of the vacant almost nostalgic expression from before, Reiji was met with a lighthearted smile from their youngest member.

"I know."