[It's kind of like that, isn't it? No one ever is born into the role of rebellion; there's always a turning moment. Always some sort of pinpoint precision where there's a point of no return, and once that threshold is crossed, it changes a person. Ryuji stopped caring what people thought about him long enough ago that it almost doesn't register who he was before he broke his leg.
(somewhat untrue though; as much as he tried to change his outward appearance and renounced societal values, he always retained a soft heart and the urge to defend the downtrodden. But if people didn't care to see that in him, he didn't have to care for them. There was no room in him to respect a world that didn't respect him.)
And when, or if, that conversation ever happens between him and Akira, Ryuji will be ready for it. They'll realize how much they have in common, and yet how little they do at the same time. Either way, he'll embrace Akira and support him. Those who are misunderstood will always get Ryuji's attention- and maybe, by then, Ren and Ryo will have buried the hatchet. If not, then, well, these two idiots will have to do it for them.
In the meantime, he recoils his hands back as they're slapped. Holy shit, that's a lot more than he expected out of the dude. Ryuji rubs the back of his hands, taken aback by how red they actually are. Call him a bit masochistic, but this at least quelled the urge to have his knuckles run into something- a dumb boy who gets into fights at the drop of a hat and enjoys the ever loving hell out of them. Placated in his own bout of self destructive habits, he raises an eyebrow at Akira.]
Damn, man. Do you do those hand crunches on weights? You know, the spring loaded ones? I dunno what they're called, but I had one back at home.
[It gave his hands something to do when he was reading manga, working two fold in keeping his attention in line. Later, when he had met Makoto and started earnestly caring about school, he found himself doing the same thing when reading his textbooks. Even if he didn't retain a ton of information, he wanted to do better because his team expected it of him. Ryuji always wants to rise to the challenge when it's given.]
Haha... that was one of my favorite songs when I was a kid. I think I tortured my mom with it. [Sad, thinking about her. He misses her so much already.]
That's the type of game I play. I may not win every skirmish, but the long con is the goal, here. [There's a cheeky smile to be had here, and an outstretched hand.]
never apologize
(somewhat untrue though; as much as he tried to change his outward appearance and renounced societal values, he always retained a soft heart and the urge to defend the downtrodden. But if people didn't care to see that in him, he didn't have to care for them. There was no room in him to respect a world that didn't respect him.)
And when, or if, that conversation ever happens between him and Akira, Ryuji will be ready for it. They'll realize how much they have in common, and yet how little they do at the same time. Either way, he'll embrace Akira and support him. Those who are misunderstood will always get Ryuji's attention- and maybe, by then, Ren and Ryo will have buried the hatchet. If not, then, well, these two idiots will have to do it for them.
In the meantime, he recoils his hands back as they're slapped. Holy shit, that's a lot more than he expected out of the dude. Ryuji rubs the back of his hands, taken aback by how red they actually are. Call him a bit masochistic, but this at least quelled the urge to have his knuckles run into something- a dumb boy who gets into fights at the drop of a hat and enjoys the ever loving hell out of them. Placated in his own bout of self destructive habits, he raises an eyebrow at Akira.]
Damn, man. Do you do those hand crunches on weights? You know, the spring loaded ones? I dunno what they're called, but I had one back at home.
[It gave his hands something to do when he was reading manga, working two fold in keeping his attention in line. Later, when he had met Makoto and started earnestly caring about school, he found himself doing the same thing when reading his textbooks. Even if he didn't retain a ton of information, he wanted to do better because his team expected it of him. Ryuji always wants to rise to the challenge when it's given.]
Haha... that was one of my favorite songs when I was a kid. I think I tortured my mom with it. [Sad, thinking about her. He misses her so much already.]
That's the type of game I play. I may not win every skirmish, but the long con is the goal, here. [There's a cheeky smile to be had here, and an outstretched hand.]
Truce?