Warning: This touches the subject of death. I've had this drabble in the back of my mind since I started this collection, but shoved it away cos I thought it was too sad. Earlier this month (it's AUYeahAugust), I saw the prompt "immortal" floating around, and while this isn't an AU, I decided maybe it was fitting, now. Thank you for reading. :)

Shiemi was worried about him.

All day, Rin hadn't smiled or laughed. That alone was enough to tie her stomach into knots—it seemed that Rin's default state was happy, so when he wasn't she was immediately concerned. What had him so down to elicit such melancholy in his eyes?

After cram school, she decided to approach him. His shoulders were hunched, hands in his pockets as he stalked toward the fountain. She gathered her courage, marching stiffly after him. Shiemi was his friend, darn it! She would do her best to put whatever was plaguing his mind to rest.

"H-hey," she greeted.

"Hey," he replied with a smile that was false.

"Are... are you ok?" she asked immediately, and then mentally winced. Should she attempt small talk first before jumping into this? Should she be more tactful? This was so difficult.

Rin's gaze drifted skyward. "Yeah. Just got something on my mind, I guess."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Then, hastily: "I—I mean, you don't have to, I just know th-that it makes me f-feel better to talk about things when they're bothering me, is all!"

"Thanks, Shiemi."

There was his answer: He didn't accept or decline, but her offer to listen still stood strong. She sat quietly by his side, watching the clouds roll by, slow and lazy. It was silent like this for several minutes, until eventually, Rin expelled a shaky breath.

"I'm not fully human," he whispered.

Shiemi blinked in surprise, now staring at him patiently.

"...eventually, Yukio will die," he went on softly. "And Suguro, and Shima, and Konekomaru, and Izumo, and... and you."

Shiemi's eyes softened. Yes, it was true that no human lived forever, not unless something supernatural intervened. But what could Rin possibly—?

Oh.

Oh.

"Rin..." she murmured, sadness tinging her voice.

"One day, you're all going to be gone, and I'm going to be here." It seemed like he was trying to be indifferent, but the crack in his voice betrayed him. "I don't want that. But I don't have a choice."

Shiemi wasn't sure what to do. She couldn't say she understood because she didn't. She couldn't say that it would be ok because it wouldn't be. Rin would survive everyone else, and what would be there for him when they were all dead? She couldn't even imagine how painfully lonely and terrifying the realization must be.

She opted for reaching and gently squeezing his shoulder, silently offering comfort. There wasn't anything she could say that would make him feel better. Rin leaned into her touch, glassy-eyed and biting his lip.

I'm so sorry, she thought, fighting back her own tears.

Even in her mind, the words felt so empty.