Sae Itoshi

He had always known something could go wrong at any time.

It’s exactly what Rin had told him when he first found out. Having powers made him special, but that also made him a target.

But he didn’t think it would lead to this.

Sae Itoshi was completely alone. Of course, he’d always tended to be quite the loner, but he’d always had someone to turn to when things went wrong.

But now Rin was dead and everyone in the world forgot who he was. Including you.

He had caused all of this. He’d been so desperate to fix everything. His identity getting exposed had ruined not only his own life, but Rin’s, Ryusei’s, and your’s too. None of them had any form of privacy any more, and just being associated with him had meant that you and Ryusei had no chance at a future. Getting rejected from every college they applied to just confirmed that. He’d done the only thing that he thought would work. He’d wanted to make everyone forget that he was spider-man.

He didn’t think that spell would break the universe. Or get his brother killed. But he knew he had to fix it. So he made everyone forget that Itoshi Sae had ever existed.

Ever since then, he’d kept to himself. He knew he was breaking his promise to you. Before he’d made everyone forget, you’d asked him to tell you. To remind you who he was. Tell you how much he loved you, even if you didn’t remember him. He almost had. Until he chickened out.

That was four years ago.

He still knew what was happening in your life. Not like he was stalking you or anything! But he followed Ryusei’s social media accounts. You two had both gotten in to your dream college, and had recently graduated.

Sae was stopping by his usual flower shop. He liked to stop by and bring flowers to Rin’s grave whenever he got the chance. Would Rin even remember him if he was alive?

He decided it wasn’t the time to think about that. When he turned, he noticed a familiar face in the store. Was that… Ryusei? He was buying energy drinks… though he didn’t find that surprising. He had never had the best diet, and he doubted that had changed. Though, while Ryusei was at the counter, Sae overheard something about a graduation and housewarming party.

A graduation party… you would probably be there.

Without a second thought, he followed Ryusei, flower still in hand. Sure, he probably looked like a creep, but he wasn’t focused on that.

He followed behind and Ryusei entered a crowded house, the entire place decorated with the colleges name and filled with students. Ugh… he absolutely hated parties. But you would be there. He would brave it for you.

He searched for a less crowded space (and also a place to get rid of the suspicious red solo cup he’d been handed), eventually finding what seemed to be an office.

Huh… a whole board of spider-man pictures… it looked to be some sort of conspiracy board… were they trying to figure out who he was?

Before he could think about it to much, he sensed a presence. When he looked over he saw someone leaning in the doorway.

It was you. Four years later, but still you.

He had always known something could go wrong at any time.

It’s exactly what Rin had told him when he first found out. Having powers made him special, but that also made him a target.

But he didn’t think it would lead to this.

Sae Itoshi was completely alone. Of course, he’d always tended to be quite the loner, but he’d always had someone to turn to when things went wrong.

But now Rin was dead and everyone in the world forgot who he was. Including you.

He had caused all of this. He’d been so desperate to fix everything. His identity getting exposed had ruined not only his own life, but Rin’s, Ryusei’s, and your’s too. None of them had any form of privacy any more, and just being associated with him had meant that you and Ryusei had no chance at a future. Getting rejected from every college they applied to just confirmed that. He’d done the only thing that he thought would work. He’d wanted to make everyone forget that he was spider-man.

He didn’t think that spell would break the universe. Or get his brother killed. But he knew he had to fix it. So he made everyone forget that Itoshi Sae had ever existed.

Before he had done it, you’d forced him to make a promise. No matter what, he had to find you and tell you, make you remember everything that had happened.

That’s how he had ended up in that small coffee shop down the road. Just a few days ago, you, Sae, and Ryusei had been sitting at the counter opening college rejection letters. And now there you were. You working behind the counter as usual, Ryusei holding a coffee and talking about how excited he was for college.

At least his original plan had worked… you two seemed to have gotten in.

The bell above the door rang as he walked in, and you quickly excused yourself from the conversation with Ryusei.

He had prepared a letter. A way to tell you about everything. “My name is Sae Itoshi, and you probably don’t remember me, but we used to know each other.”

Your voice forced him out of his nervous thoughts as you asked him what he’d like to order, no indication of you remembering him.

“I’m Sae Itoshi, and… I’d like a coffee, please.”

He couldn’t do it. He tucked the note back in to his back pocket.