'Yuuri, over here!' Minami shouted, waving his arms frantically in the air, motioning Yuuri over. Yuuri couldn't hold back a shy smile as he watched Minami awe at him as if he were a god. He still didn't quite understand it and none of his friends had given him any help.

(Minami's often flushed cheeks should have been indicator enough)

Yuuri wrapped his coat carefully around him, the bulk of it enough to protect him from the cold. 'Please tell me why we picked to hang out in the park when it is this cold.' Takeshi complained, his only protection a thin, black bomber jacket that probably let more rather than less wind through.

'Don't complain, it's your fault for wearing that stupid jacket.' Yuuko chastised, Takeshi huffing in reply.

'What are we doing here anyway?' He groaned, scowling.

'It's a welcome Yuuri back celebration!' Minako cut in, her voice slightly too upbeat for Yuuri to bother listening in to. And then, realisation struck.

'Welcome Yuuri back celebration!?' They all nodded, facing him (apart from Takeshi, who seemed determined to remain scowling).

'We hadn't seen you in so long and you seemed really down lately so, we're here to say that whatever is happening, we are always here! And we also want to say welcome back to the group because this time, we are not letting you eat alone in the lunch hall no matter how much space you need.' Yuuko gave a pointed look at Minako, who had clearly been the one to vouch that they let Yuuri come to them. What a great plan that had been.

Yuuri was at a loss for words, that was tech sweetest anyone had been to him in so long. Although, the guilt that nagged him all so quietly suddenly became much more perceptible. He had forgotten about these guys. Who just forgot about their friends? He felt terrible.

'Oh no, Yuuri! Don't get so down! We don't mind, you needed your space and we let you have it.' Trust Yuuko to know exactly what was going through his mind. Yet, despite being dulled, that voice was still there telling him that he didn't need space. He needed people and he had still ignored them.

He had been so focused on Viktor, Yurio, his powers.

'What have you been doing without us anyway?' Takeshi was still scowling and Yuuri couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. Not that he was scared, he had seen Yurio growl enough times to never be scared but intimidation was a whole different spectrum.

'Heh, well, that's quite a long story, actually.' Yuuri mumbled, scratching the back of his head nervously. No one said anything. They kept their eyes on him and that was enough urging for Yuuri to break. He needed to tell someone and these people had already earned his trust. He wouldn't tell them everything but he needed to get a few things off his chest.

'You know Mr Nikiforov?' He asked, getting four nods in reply. Despite being friends, none of them were doing Russian and would have only seen Viktor. 'Um, he's been helping me with a few things. Namely my power.'

There was an audible gasp coming from Minami, who looked like he was mid-worship. 'Are you finally going to tell us what your power is?!' He clapped his hands together, leaning forward as if every word he spoke was sacred. Now, this was what scared Yuuri. Being worshipped was something he had never had before. Even Viktor didn't worship him, per se. Or, so he thought.

'Um, not exactly but I told Viktor something and I'm going to tell you but you can't tell anyone. Enough people in the world know about it already and I'd rather it didn't spread.' They nodded, their faces set and determined.

'I was born without a power. Yes, I was that boy you heard about on the news. There were no pictures so not many people know it's me but yeah, it is. That was until a couple weeks ago. We're still trying to work it out seeing as I developed it so late. There have been a few problems and that's really what got me so down along with a breakup on top of that-'

'You were dating someone?!' Minako interrupted, placing both of her hands on Yuuri's shoulders, shaking him lightly. 'Tell me who it was!!!' Yuuri laughed nervously. Yurio was well known around the school...but not in a good way.

'Yuri?' More of a question than a statement but the point was proven either way. A collective gasp came from around the circle and Yuuri had to hold in a laugh as he heard whispers of 'did he just say Yuri...as in Yuri Plisetsky?' and 'YURI!?'

Yuuri released a breath and looked up to meet the onslaught of eyes watching him. 'Repeat?' Yuuko asked, her face looking more fearful than anything.

'Yuri. As in, Yuri Plisetsky.' Another gasp echoed around the huddle and Yuuri couldn't help but let out a quiet, breath-filled laugh.

'The angry little Russian kid?' Minako assured, her eyes as wide as saucers. Yuuri let out another quiet laugh and nodded, more sure of himself. He forgot how people he had told. He had been wrapped up in his little world so much that he had forgotten about everything else.

He didn't let himself dwell on the selfishness of that fact.

'OMG! I can't believe you, Yuuri! Why!?' Minako broke out, frantically checking over Yuuri as if Yurio had recently injured him. Laughing again, Yuuri gently pried her off.

'It doesn't matter, it's over now. We're still friends but just that. I think he likes Otabek anyway.' Yuuri spoke as if it didn't matter, it didn't. Not yet, anyway.

'You like boys?' The statement shook Yuuri down to the core. He forgot how few people knew that too. He wasn't even sure of it himself yet. His brain was so confused. But, then again, he had gone out with a boy, that said as much as it needed to didn't it?

The voice was Minami and despite Yuuri's fear, it sounded more like he was proud of it than against it (though, there was a disappointment that Yuuri couldn't quite wrap his head around).

'Yeah, I do.' Yuuri said, scratching his head again- a nervous twitch. The group just smiled.

'That's great! I'm glad you could tell us!' Minako smiled, wrapping her arms around Yuuri, quickly pulling away again. Minako was definitely not a hug kind of person.

The chatter then returned to normal and Yuuri felt himself relax again. He was glad that they hadn't made a big deal of it. He had told them and they had accepted it as if it was nothing. Because that's what it should be. No big deal. Yuuri couldn't be more glad for it.

It was getting late and when Yuuri looked at the time, his phone screen blaring into his eyes causing him to wince slightly, he saw it was just passed eight o'clock. He would have to return home soon. He sighed, he didn't want to go home. In all of this, he had forgotten for a while about the rest of his life and he had had his first slice of peace he'd had in a while.

'Do you and Mr Nikiforov know each other well then?' Minami asked, the conversation seeming to have died down as Yuuri lost himself to his head and now all attention had been diverted back to him and he couldn't help but blush at the thought of telling them.

What was he even supposed to say?

'Um, yeah, I guess. He's helped me a lot and I see him a tonne so yeah...' Yuuri trailed off, unsure of his words. His words came out stilted, the gaps between word awkward, his pauses slightly too long. His friends grasped onto this and once again, he was caught under the rapid fire of their speculation.

'Something has to be going on here! Omg! This so so exciting!' Yuuko squeaked, excitedly clapping her hands together.

'He's a teacher, Yuuko! Of course, nothing's going on, right Yuuri?' Minami asked, his eyes pleading and wide. It was still a surprise that Minami was any older than ten.

Yuuri's nod came a little too late.

Minami's eyes opened further. 'This is a day of revelation!' Yuuko squealed again, reeled in by the drama. Yuuko had always been a gossip, only coming after the king of it- Phichit Chulamont. She didn't spread rumours but she did harbour plenty of vital information about vital people in the school, despite not being that popular overall.

'Tell us the details, Yuuri! Pleeease.' She begged, coming closer, leaning on her hands to try and move closer, her eyes wide: a real life puss in boots act being performed. Yuuri complied and told the story, missing out what he needed to. Everything from the crush to the clues of reciprocation to Yurio and then to their little lunch time chats.

He amazed everyone and for the first time in so long, he felt like he belonged somewhere. These people were his friends and he was finally beginning to believe it. He wasn't going to abandon them anymore.

He had another group to rely on and for what was coming, he would need it.

word count: 1522

published: 21.07.17