[ the terse and bitter response makes it more than clear to riddle that it was, indeed, a bad thing to ask. while he can understand the rigors of drifting apart from one's friends, something as catastrophic as a fallout-- and one to the degree shu has apparently experienced with that other boy... admittedly, it's a bit beyond him. while it does occur to him that creative differences in the entertainment industry aren't uncommon, riddle has a hunch there's more to it than that. otherwise, shu would certainly have no problem writing his former bandmate off as another member of the vulgar masses.

the curiosity is almost physically painful, and riddle doesn't hide it in his expression, thoughtful and maybe even a bit reproachful since it's not like he wanted to spoil the mood. ]

...I see.

[ just as the king and queen of hearts were inextricably linked, riddle finds himself deflating a bit as well. he wonders how shu would feel if he told him that almost everyone at this party either hates his guts, fears him, or tolerates him to his face. that he's willing to bet that even trey, his king of hearts, still falls into one of those three categories even now.

it's just. shu is just so difficult to get along with-- and maybe this situation isn't so far beyond riddle's realm of understanding after all. he tells himself that's why such a minimal mention of someone who apparently can't stand shu anymore is bothering him more than it should.

thankfully the mention of these five eccentrics brings him back to wonderland. riddle would be lying if he said he believed that shu was less abnormal than his best friends. like what, is one of them a vampire or something?? is his homie a real life guardian angel kind of guy???? does he hang out with some literal umibozu-mermaid-poseidon abomination???? c'mon! ]

The Five Eccentrics... No, I wouldn't say that's a strange name for you all. It's certainly better than the Five Mediocres, or the Five Ordinaries, right?