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Sometimes, Hideto forgot Taichi had gone through it too.
It’s not easy to remember, after all. For any of them. Taichi was a big part of their experiences, yes, but only in the parts that weren’t very traumatizing for them (At least, for them in the Alias 3). It was easy to forget that they were traumatizing for Taichi instead.
Taichi was also younger than them. By two years for most, and three for Mari. To adults, it wasn’t a lot. Hideto’s own parents had the same gap after all. But seeing him in a middle school uniform that they had grown out of years ago was...Well, it was hard to see him as the cloaked and confident child warrior that had once brought them to their knees.
Hideto wasn’t a complete idiot. And neither was Taichi. He knew Taichi knew this, and that he had figured it out quicker than Hideto. It had taken him an unknown amount of time, but Hideto had eventually noticed that he left the group earlier than usual yesterday. He was ashamed to admit it might have taken him longer to do so, had Rei not been worried about it.
I’m just a little worried about Taichi. He’s been acting weird the past couple weeks, and he left early today. Has he mentioned anything to you?
He was even more ashamed to admit it took him that question to realize it had been weeks since he’d last had a conversation with the brunet.
It was hard sometimes, to remember about him. But Taichi was their friend, and they all needed to do better about treating him like it.
~