Chapter Text
It was late at night, approximately 2 am when Naruto finds himself in the same empty hole he tried so hard to get out of for the past couple years. No matter what he did or who surrounded him, he just can not shrug of this feeling of unbearable emptiness eating him alive every night.
It seems bearable at times, for example when he is out with his friends, eating ramen, singing karaoke or clubbing. But this high does not last. It never does.
He starts searching his bed for his phone, careful not to yank it off the be as he is violently shaking his blanket. It announces its presence with a soft thud at the end of the bed revealing its position.
“Fuck” he mutters under his breath as he sees the time. I either skip again or look and feel like a zombie was the first thought that Came to his mind as he saw the digits showing an unpleasant number. Again.
Most of his nights look like this. He tries to go to bed early, puts on some using and pressing shuffle on his playlist, knowing the silence of the world and the noise of his own thoughts would consume him. It works for a brief moment but not long enough to actually fall asleep. Sooner or later those thoughts manage to creep up on him and he will start Spiraling endlessly until it is almost morning. This night was no different.
Don’t get him wrong though. He is not depressed. How could Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki, an orphan who has never met his parents and only knows the comfort of solitude be depressed? He chuckles when he thinks of it that way. Fortunately for him he grew up in mostly nice foster homes and actually got adopted when he was 6 years old, but still: How is life worth living if the people who gave it to you aren’t in it anymore? Or never were.
He rubs his eyes as he opens his phone to kill some time. Can’t sleep anyway might as well distract myself right? He scrolls through social media Looking at the pictures his friends posted: The last study session in the library, getting ice cream at the McDonald’s drive through and partying on Nejis birthday.
He notices how he’s in almost every one of these pictures making him feel guilty for the way he feels most of the time. How could he feel so lonely and empty when he had such an amazing friend group who always looks out for him? Maybe not in the way he actually needed them to but still. They never fail to make him laugh, always invite him out or just ask him to hop on the Minecraft server.
Him already feeling bad combined with the feeling of guilt makes his heartbeat beat faster almost as if he was starting to panic. He decides to close Instagram and went on his universities website.
Welcome to Konoha University!
He is not the best student but social media does not seem like a great distraction right now, might as well do something productive. He scrolls down and reads unimportant information. New professors hear a new extracurricular activity there. He even finds out that his college even has its own gym which actually made him happy.
He scrolls down further until something catches his eye:
Attention juniors! Don’t know where your classes are or when you’re taking the next exam? ( Or maybe just looking for some fun?) Don't worry, start socializing!
It was an add for some lame ass forum the university made so could chat with other people from this school. As if anyone actually does that
Naruto thought to himself.
After hesitating for a second he clicked on the link and was attacked by a colorful website filled with group chats which were ready to be joined.
Names like “Group therapy but its organic chemistry” for the medicine majors and “Brutalims enjoyers “ for the art majors made him physical cringe. Reading “Defenders of bad decisions” made him thankful for being a law major. It was not half as bad as the others, although the group therapy one was kind of funny.
One thing caught his attention though. It was a big red button in the middle, which made u chat with a random user. He hesitated for a second but then after one second he made up a username and clicked on it.
As if anyone’s online this late at night he thought to himself, except for him of course. He starting regretting signing up for this and was just about to hit the “leave” button when he saw three bubbles appear:
Donttalktome32 is typing…
What a stupid username he thought, although his wasn’t better.
< Hi
Off to a good start. He thought about what to reply. Should he play it casually or be a bit more playful? He decided on the second option.
Ramenwarrior77 is typing…
> Kind of ironic the name, isn’t it?
Too bold? Should’ve he just said hi back? The stranger didn’t even give him enough time second guess himself as a new message already appeared.
< That’s for real life otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
Well that went well didn’t it?He can’t help himself and lets a small laughter leave his mouth. “ This is so fucking stupid” he mumbles as his finger are simultaneously moving across the screen again.
> Well I don’t even know who you are so I can’t promise anything lol. what are you doing up this late anyway?
< I could ask you the same thing.
What is he supposed to say now Oh yeah sorry I can’t fall asleep because I’m getting eaten alive by the feeling of unbearable emptiness and loneliness and I can’t talk to anyone about it not even my friends because I don’t think they would understand because I’ve spent years building this facade of a happy me because I do not even know myself why I feel like this.Yeah. No.
> Couldn’t sleep. Wbu???
< Same
< Wyd?
Even though they’re messages are as simple as thy could be, he can feel himself ease into this situation. There was something comforting in knowing that there was someone else on this campus, even in his dorms, right now who lays awake in bed and chooses to spent his time chatting with him. It gave him a weird sentimental rush and in the blink of an eye and he finds himself typing again.
Ramenwarrior77 is typing…
> Texting with you dummy :P
He giggles at himself I’m so funny .
< You know thats not how I meant it.
> Hahaha I know was js trying to be funny. Not doing much js couldn’t sleep and was listening to music. Wbu?
< Same.
< What were u listening to?
Dontalktomes messages sounded kinda cold. Short and simple. But he still hasnt left so thats a good sign. right? .
Naruto takes a moment to think and then decides to just name the first thing that comes to his mind
Ramenwarrier77 is typing…
> Idk stuff like The Neighborhood or Radiohead. I almost listen to everything but I’m pretty sure those two are my favorites! What kind of music do you listen to? :)
He waited for a few seconds before those three dots appeared again making him feel quite content as he is enjoying his conversation with this stranger. Even though they’re kind of cold and don’t say much he feels as if he can talk to him with ease. Well, he’s assuming it’s a him, not sure why though. Something about them seems familiar.
Donttalktome32 is typing…
< Cool. I also like Radiohead.
< My favorite song of theirs is All I need.
Naruto LOVES All I need!!!!! It’s his favorite song as well. That has to be his soulmate he thought to himself.
> NO WAY. I LOVEEEEEEEE All I need!!!! No way there’s actually one cool person at this school.
< Lol.
> Wowwww hes showing emotions!! Mysterious Donttalktome stranger.
< Bold of you to assume I’m male. Which I am. But still.
So he was right all along. Now he was not sure how to play it. He felt like he could actually joke and mess with him, even though they’ve been only chatting for a few minutes. His answers seem uninterested but deep down Naruto can feel that he’s enjoying this as well, even if it’s just a little bit.
> Hahaha sorry for jumping to conclusions, I hope I didnt offend you. Seems like a new bromance is born :P
< First of all, Ew. Don’t use that word. Second of all, sure.
This made Naruto giggle once more. What an idiot . But he felt quite happy knowing he found someone to talk to. Even if it wasn’t much, he could feel himself relaxing, letting go of all the stress that clung onto him until now. He knew that he could just talk to his already existing friends, but it felt strangely good to just get to know someone else without the pressure of them already knowing your current “personality”. He could just be himself now without any expectations, and without any pressure as they’re identities remain anonymous.
It was beginning to get quite late. They’ve been texting for a while now, neither of them showing interest in ending the conversation. Until a message from Donttalktome appeared.
< I think I need to gts now. I have classes early.
> Ohh :( Same ig. Talk to you tmrw??
< Yes. Good night.
> Good night :))
Donttalktome32 left the chat.
Ramenwarrior77 left the chat.
He looks at the time. 3:46am already He should really go to sleep now.
He raises a hand and puts it on his chest right above his heart. He can’t help but smile at the relieved feeling he is sensing in his heart. He hasn’t been able to let himself relax like that in such a long time, always feeling that odd feeling of loneliness and emptiness once he lays down. But tonight was different, thanks to the stranger.
He could actually distract himself and not only that, he could be himself and talk to someone else who maybe felt as lonely as he did in the middle of the night.
A sense of comfort rushes over him at that thought. He puts his phones to charge and checks once again if he set an alarm for the morning.
He closes his eyes and a faint smile appears on his lips and not long after he drifts off into a sleep so good hasn’t felt in weeks.