Yuri answers all of Kotetsu's calls at first, once the older boy leaves. It's not as exciting as seeing his papa on TV, but it's still exciting! They even talk about Mr. Legend while on the phone sometimes - he couldn't be happier.
Then, his father starts to change. It becomes harder to pick up the phone and talk to Kotetsu. Listen to the older boy talk happily about things, not realizing it's fixed. Not realizing what Mr. Legend is doing behind closed doors.
Eventually, he stops picking up.
After his father dies (after he becomes a murderer), they move and change their number.
But he never forgets Kotetsu, never tosses the charm he made himself to the side. He thinks about him, as he studies to become a judge. As his pain grows and festers and he finds himself hearing the voice of Thanatos more and more.
When he realizes Kotetsu is Wild Tiger, it stings. He kept their promise, but Yuri did not. At least, not in the eyes of Kotetsu. He supposes Kotetsu didn't keep his promise, either. After all, he tries to save even murderers.
Even those who you should not turn a blind eye to.
He hurts Kotetsu, when he refuses to leave it be. Vanishes into the flames and decides he must let go of Kotetsu. Of the little boy he met years ago. Kotetsu is now simply Wild Tiger, an idiot hero who gets in his way.
And who he often has to assign fines to, because he puts people first. Yuri feels something bitter in his throat rising when he thinks of it. Of how naive Kotetsu's idea of the world is, despite it all.
He tells himself to let go, but the world has other plans for him.
It's mere chance he runs into Sky High - Keith Goodman - once again. Even more of a chance that he happens to be speaking with Kotetsu. He thinks of trying to escape, but Keith is loud and oblivious to many things.
He knows he'll be called over if he tries; knows both Keith and Kotetsu will follow if he ignores.
"Wi- Kotetsu!" Keith chirps, gesturing towards Yuri. "This is Justice Yuri Petrov. Have you two met?"
"Y-" Kotetsu swallows. "Nope, not once. Definitely don't see him in his whole judge get-up all the time because of property damage. You two friends?"
"I suppose you could say that!" Keith says, though Yuri doesn't agree. "A shame you don't know him, though…"
"Yeah, well it happens," Kotetsu says, continuing to lie horribly. Was he that bad at it when they were kids? Yuri supposes he never had to find out. "I guess I'm… meeting him now!"
"Yes, pleasure to meet you," Yuri lies, his own ability far and beyond Kotetsu's. "However, I'm quite busy."
He pulls out his phone and, oh, how he wishes he'd already let go enough to get rid of that charm. It's that stupid sheep charm that makes things go from awkward to downright impossible for Yuri to handle. After all, he's not expecting Kotetsu to recognize it - it's not as if he ever recognized him before.
But his eyes widen when he sees it and he pokes at it. Yuri frowns and pulls his phone away.
"Did ya make that yourself?" Kotetsu asks, a certain edge of hope to his voice. "It looks handmade."
"...I made it as a child, nothing to concern yourself with, Mr…?"
"Kaburagi, but I have a feeling…" He pulls out his own phone and points to the matching tiger he made all those years ago. "You'll just wanna call me Kotetsu."
"It's been a while," he says despite the way his stomach churns. "Tell me, how goes that promise?"
"Well," he grabs Yuri, hugging him close. Yuri freezes as Kotetsu almost nuzzles up to him and whispers in his ear. "You know Wild Tiger, yeah?"
"I should be harder on you in the future," Yuri says, struggling to act surprised. "Seeing as I actually know you. I wouldn't want people thinking I'm biased."
"That's not fair!" Kotetsu pouts, still hanging off of Yuri. "Shouldn't you be nicer now that you've realized?!"
"Like I said," Yuri replies, trying to push Kotetsu away from him as casually as he can. "I wouldn't want people thinking I'm biased."
"You don't have to go harder on me, either!" Kotetsu huffs. "And here I was thinking we were friends."
"We knew each other for a couple of weeks," Yuri points out.
"And called all the time before you dropped off the face of the earth," Kotetsu shoots back. "Not to mention our promise - hell, you mentioned it first."
He has to force himself not to flinch. "I suppose I did."
"How's it going on your end, anyway?" Kotetsu tilts his head to the side, a smile on his face.
It makes the lump forming in Yuri's throat all the harder to swallow down. But he swallows it, and does his best not to give anything away. Kotetsu and Keith are both quite oblivious, so he has hope.
At least, this time. Kotetsu is unrelenting, now that he knows Yuri is in his grasp… Yuri knows he'll never let go.
"I broke our promise," he finally says. "I couldn't become a hero."
Kotetsu hums, rubbing his chin. "No NEXT powers, huh?"
Yuri nods, to avoid a voice crack he knows is just around the corner. He wants this conversation to be over, before Kotetsu realizes he's not talking about careers.
"Well," Kotetsu claps a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "Being a judge is a way to be a hero, too! I think you're keeping the promise pretty well."
Yuri can't even bring himself to reply to that. "I should really be going."
"Ah, yeah! I'll stop by the courthouse some time to visit as just plain ol' Kotetsu!" He chirps. "Man, we have a lot of catching up to do!"
"We do," Yuri nods, before excusing himself.
He doesn't turn back, even as he hears Kotetsu explaining their history. The history he had planned to leave behind.
