"Do you think it is our duty to protect non-sorcerers?"
You look up from your textbook, startled. It's the first time he has talked for the entire two hours you've been sitting outside under a tree, studying together. His voice tore you right out of your studies about cursed barriers.
"What do you mean?" you ask carefully.
The evening breeze makes you shiver as you wait for his answer. He notices and pulls off his jacket in swift movements. You open your mouth to protest; he's been looking a bit sick for a while now, you noticed, and you don't want to be the reason he catches a cold. But he gently puts his jacket over your shoulders and ruffles your hair. You murmur a 'thank you' under your breath and look down, desperately trying to hide your blushing cheeks.
He settles back and it takes a few moments until he speaks up again.
"Do you think that some people are born stronger than others so they can protect them?"
You gnaw on the end of your pen as you contemplate.
"I think nature requires balance," you answer, ultimately. "If there are strong individuals, there must be weak ones, otherwise there wouldn't be a power scale. And since humans are meant to live in communities, it only makes sense for the strong to protect the weak. So, yeah, that's what I'd say."
He doesn't say anything, only staring off into the distance, and it makes you worry. Just as you are about to ask what's bothering him, he opens his mouth.
"But what if the weak ones are the reason all these problems exist in the first place?"
You calmly close your book and place it next to you in the grass and turn your body to him.
"What's going on? I know you're not just asking hypothetical questions. Is it about the Star Religious Group? The one from the Star Plasma Vessel mission?"
Your voice is soft, even though you are alarmed over his change of attitude in the last few weeks. He's gotten more withdrawn, going on solo missions without telling you or Satoru, and the shadows under his eyes are telling you all you need to know about his sleep deprivation.
"It's alright," he suddenly smiles and the knot in your stomach tightens. "It was just a thought I was pondering about. Of course, we need to save as many people as possible."
You are not convinced in the slightest. Suguru looks like he is ready to move on, but he's certainly caught your attention now.
"Suguru, are you a jujutsu sorcerer because you want to protect humans or because you were born strong and therefore you think you must protect them?"
The look he gives you is nothing short of perplexed.
"I..." He looks stricken, and you start shivering for a different reason now.
"I've been worried about you for a while now," you admit. "I feel like you're...lost."
You lean over and lightly cup his cheek with your hand. His skin is cold, and you lightly stroke it with your thumb.
"I'm fine," he assures you whilst watching you like a hawk, his eyes darting over your face.
Your senses sharpen under his close observation, and you become increasingly aware that he's moving closer. Closer than friends are supposed to be.
"I don't believe you, Suguru," you quietly say. "I'm going to keep asking until you tell me the truth. I know you're not 'fine'."
"You shouldn't worry about me so much," he murmurs and brings his hand to his face to cup yours.
He gently removes it from his cheek and your heart plummets.
"I'm not sleeping well, but I'm seeing Shoko for that. I promise you, I'm fine."
The smile he gives you reminds you of a funeral.
"I need to talk to you."
You try to keep up with Satoru's steps, but he continues walking like you're not currently talking to him. You are fast, no question, but his damn legs are much longer than yours.
In a blink, you stand in front of him, hands on your hips and pissed off.
"Huh? Is someone here?" he asks and, like a jerk, turns left and right, pretending not to see you.
He makes a show of looking down and spotting you. "Ah! There you are. Sorry, you're so small, it's so easy to miss you!"
You roll your eyes and grab his arm, not in the mood for jokes, and pull him into an empty classroom. You firmly shut the door after making sure that you are alone.
"I'm worried about Suguru. Like, really worried," you blurt out before he can open his mouth and undoubtedly say something incredibly inappropriate.
When he notices the somber look in your eyes, he thankfully shuts his mouth and leans against the door.
He crosses his arms. "So, you noticed, too."
A statement. Not a question.
Your eyebrows furrow. "Of course, I did. It's hard to miss. He-"
You hesitate, your mind wandering to the conversation you had. The way he talked about non-sorcerers unnerved you. Like he thought they were lesser than him. A hassle to protect.
If Satoru notices your trembling lower lip, he doesn't mention it. Instead, he pulls out a chair and sits down with a heavy sigh.
"He's been acting weird," he mutters, "I've been on a lot of solo missions, so you probably know more than me."
You shake your head. "He just – disappears. Doesn't come over to talk, or hang out, or even watch a movie in silence. I had to ask him to study with me to spend time with him, and he didn't speak for two hours."
Suguru isn't the silliest, or the most talkative person out of the three of you, not with Satoru in the equation, but he doesn't prefer being on his own most of the time. His sudden determined loneliness scares you more than you admit.
"I can talk to him," he offers, and you could have kissed him. They are as close as brothers, but you are often saddled with the emotional burden of their friendship.
You breathe out in relief. "I don't know if it's just me, but I think he wants to protect me from something. Maybe he'll tell you if you ask."
"Protect you from what?"
You pause, biting your tongue when you realize what you implied. You don't want to tell him what Suguru said in case you misunderstood. Speaking your worries out loud would only make him look bad.
"Nothing," you quickly assure him, although he doesn't look convinced, and open the door again.
"Promise me you'll talk to him, okay?"
Haibara Yu's dead body arrives a day later. You sob into Suguru's unmoving shoulder as he holds you.
When you look up, tears obstructing your eyes, you recoil from the unveiled, pure hatred in his eyes. It makes you step away from him like you burned yourself, sputter out an excuse, and leave the mortuary in hasty steps.
You should have known back then that this was the beginning of the end.