Chapter Text
“Shoto?”
Shoto comes out of his reverie when he hears Shu’s voice over the all-consuming feeling of their hands intertwined. He looks at Shu, who was gazing at him with a worried expression, the crease between his eyebrows neither soft nor hard, hair framing his face beautifully. Cheeks colored with a shy red, eyes still the same striking purple– Shoto cannot breathe, once again.
He stays silent, bringing their intertwined hands close to his lips, a touch of a kiss felt between their fingers. A sigh comes out of him while he closes his eyes, inviting the warm feeling of being in love flow into his veins.
“I like you,” He confesses.
“I like you,” He repeats.
“I love you.” He promises.
Shoto hears Shu’s breath hitch beside him, the hand holding his clutching him even harder, color rushing to his knuckles.
“I like you too,” Shu replies.
“I like you so much,” Shu repeats.
“I love you more.” Shu vows.
Their hands that once were on Shoto’s lips wanders back to Shu’s lap, a light pull— a confident request for Shoto to come closer to him. Shu’s other hand finds the buckle of the seatbelt and unfastens it, then swiftly pulls Shoto near, which the latter does by unbuckling his own seatbelt. He swings his legs on the passenger seat, trapping Shu’s legs with his own.
He sits on Shu’s thighs, making himself comfortable by grabbing the seat’s headrest, and he looks down— seeing Shu staring at him with a gaze so heated that it makes him want to melt.
Their position is sensual and intimate; Shoto’s hands travel to Shu’s shoulders while Shu holds Shoto’s waist. Indigo meets purple— glazed, as Shu pulls Shoto closer to him.
“Shoto,” Shu calls out his name. “Can I kiss you?”
Shoto nods. Yes, yes, yes. Please kiss me.
He feels Shu’s hand roam from his waist, playing with his ear, before he cups his cheek. Shu glances at Shoto’s lips, as if he was asking for permission once more, and Shoto only nods helplessly when he feels hot breath fanning his neck.
Shu prompts him to go closer— and he does.
Their lips meet halfway, the feeling of slightly chapped lips onto his, a simple press but Shoto melts and relaxes as soon as they kiss. It’s clumsy and messy, exploring each other’s mouths in a shy manner, both of them blushing when their tongues touch. They test the waters first, feeling like teenagers as they taste each other with how much saliva they’re exchanging.
They part ways after a few seconds of burning.
“Good?” Shu asks him, looking up for their eyes to meet.
“Yeah,” Breathless, he answers. “Good.”
He surges on Shu, wrapping his arms around his neck and goes in for another kiss. The car feels oh-so cramped right now, the AC not doing any justice to the heat they both feel, and the only thing on Shoto’s mind is to kiss Shu until he passes out.
Shu sighs on the kiss, Shoto taking advantage of it to prod his tongue inside his mouth. He moans, high and whiny, and he knows it does things to Shu with the way the arm around his waist tightens. He pulls away when he feels a bite on his bottom lip, saliva painting both of their lips once he gains consciousness.
He watches Shu who was smirking at him with half-lidded eyes, cheeks red and high on his wave.
“You look so pretty right now…” Shu slurs out his words, undeniably drunk on Shoto.
He pulls Shoto closer once again, nosing his shoulder and kisses him more on the juncture between his jaw and neck. Shoto mewls when he feels Shu suck on the skin, tingles running through his whole body as his thighs shake and lose strength. He knows the hickeys that Shu gives to him will stain him for days— maybe even weeks, and he knows that his pride would make him shameless about it.
Shu Yamino and all that he gives to him are rewards meant to be boasted.
Of course he’d show it off.
Shoto urges Shu to continue by tilting his head for easier access; to continue making pieces of art down his neck, shoulder, and jaw, to continue worshipping him as Shu lays docile on the passenger seat, and to continue branding his love onto Shoto’s body.
His throat rips out another moan when Shu carries him to a more comfortable position, big hands touching all of his sensitive spots as his lover still consumes whatever he wants from Shoto. Shu caresses his waist intimately, squeezing it from time to time to see Shoto’s adorable reactions— which were mostly mumbling (moaning out) his name and small curses.
“Shu–” He wails, tugging on Shu’s hair, thighs tightening while Shu licks a strip behind his ear. “Wait…”
Shu hums, pulling away to rest his head backwards until he hits the seat. His lips are puffy; still smirking and cocky as he raises his eyebrows for Shoto to resume talking. A slap on the shoulder and a glare are what he receives, Shu preventing himself from chuckling when he sees the expression on the face of his lover.
Shoto heaves out a weighty sigh, his arms once again going around Shu’s neck, placing his head on broad shoulders.
“Are you sure this is your first kiss?”
“I’m pretty sure, yeah.”
“What the fuck…” Shoto groans, nuzzling his face more on the shoulder he’s leaning on.
“What?” Shu laughs, trying to lift Shoto’s head up to perceive his reaction. “Was I good?”
Shoto finally raises his head to look straight at Shu with the most unreadable face, arms still placed around Shu. He only scoffs, rolling his eyes fondly before kissing Shu on the cheek.
“Yes. You were very good. Very… very good.” He answers, peppering Shu’s face with kisses.
Shu idly plays with Shoto’s hair on his nape with the hand behind his back, feeling the soft strands of hair glide along his skin as Shoto kisses him more.
The sunset feels a little warmer now, with the weight of his lover heavy on his lap, the scent of fresh lavender wafting around him encompassingly— the space of the car seeming to be a little too cramped for all their love to fit.
After this experience, Shu realizes many things.
One is that he is terrifyingly, undoubtedly, and very much in love with Shoto.
Another is that he wants to spend all of his time with him; to grow old with one of the most genuine and lovely people he has met.
And the last is that red and purple definitely compliments his pale skin. Especially on his neck.
Shoto drives them home— home is Shoto’s condominium near university, where his older sister, Bao—which Shu identified as one of the new workers at the cafe, though not meeting formally—crashes once in a while. Getting out of the car, Shu feels electricity run through his whole body when Shoto comes to his side to grasp on his arm while looking like a lost puppy.
“Hmm?” Shu raises an eyebrow, confused as to why Shoto is sticking himself by his arm.
Shoto has always been fond of skinship, a little clingy but Shu doesn’t mind it, basking in the way Shoto gravitates close to him whenever they hang out. And now that their feelings are reciprocated, Shu honestly isn’t ready for what’s to come. His heart cannot take more than he has already gotten.
“I just— you know…” Shoto mumbles as they walk towards the elevators.
“What is it, Shou?” He turns his body around to place himself in front of Shoto, flicking his eyes from the buttons on the elevator to prancing indigo eyes. He examines the eyelashes fluttering, the way it constantly brushes Shoto’s cheeks when he blinks, and it brings Shu to madness when Shoto looks up from those long lashes, peering at him with the most beautiful gems.
“Can you stay over— stay over the night? I know you have work tomorrow and you have to wake up early and shit, since you work the morning shift and it’s a Wednesday which means that it’s going to be packed when you don’t prepare early in the morning— I know you, Shu; you like to prepare before going the café opens and I’m just— ah…”
Shu moves forward to trap Shoto on the wall of the ever-silent elevator, hands placing themselves on the handle. The two centimeter gap between their height is nothing when Shu leans over to steal a kiss from Shoto, soft lips bumping chastely, and Shu smiles in between the kiss when Shoto freezes up and hurriedly clasps the jacket he is wearing.
“I’ll stay,” Shu pulls away until the only thing that touches each other were their noses and hot breath. “For you, I’ll stay.”
“What…? But your work—“
“You asked for me to stay, so I’ll stay.” He whispers to Shoto, a rendezvous only the gods are meant to hear.
“Shoto. Look at me,” Shu cups Shoto’s face. “I’ll grant every wish you want to come true. You want me to stay? Sure, I’ll do it. You want me to wake you up every morning? Okay. You want the coffee I always make? I’ll gladly make it for you every time you want it. Do–”
“Do you want me to kiss you?” Shu patiently waits for an answer, reveling at the way Shoto says yes with only his eyes. He obliges, pressing his lips once again against Shoto’s, exhaling in his mouth as he reciprocates the kiss with a play of tongues, licentious but benevolent.
For a split second, Shu feels like he’s been a victim of Dionysus himself, the experience of being drunk apparent every time he kisses Shoto. The feeling is a cross between a curse and a blessing, his self-restraint slowly being worn away but it gives him the chance to see Shoto in his most promiscuous form; of wine and aphrodisiac guised as a human.
The soft chime of the elevator stopping at the floor where Shoto resides is the sound that makes them refrain from debauching themselves, Shu hitting Shoto once in his waist for him to get sober as he was driven low on the wall by Shu.
“Let’s go home, Shoto.” Shu tugs on Shoto’s hand, keeping him close to his body.
By the time they find themselves in front of the door, Shoto clambers to find his keys, slotting one to the doorknob to let themselves in. Shu squeaks when Shoto hastily pulls him inside, the cold air of the place hitting him in the face.
“You’re awfully calm about this,” Shoto huffs, voice low and stern, and now their previous positions are switched; Shu now being the one who is trapped against the wall by Shoto.
“Shou, I can’t even breathe right now.” Shoto’s eyes narrow, and Shu is all too aware of those sharp and observing eyes, getting a little dizzy in the process. The purple haired boy only hums, raising his chin as he glares at Shu Yamino.
A finger traces Shu’s neck, its touch slow and careful, until it stops at Shu's chin, raising it to maintain eye contact. Shoto presses his knee in between Shu’s legs, arms going around the shorter’s neck again to close their distance.
“Baby,” Shu’s eyebrow twitches, placing his hands on Shoto’s hips. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t know, darling. What am I doing?” A smirk forms on Shoto’s lips, intentionally dismissing the obvious choice of kissing Shu as their lips touch ever so slightly. Shu trembles, knuckles turning white; a deafening contrast to his red bitten lips.
Shu Yamino has never felt this aroused in his life before. The view—Oh, the view!—is killing him slowly; the picture of his lover draping himself on his body while taking off his jacket, measured movements and calculated touches carefully performed. His body feels hot, the hair on his arms standing when he feels a hand go under his shirt.
Fuck. Shu swears, a rare thing for him to say. He’s going to be the death of me.
“You think you’re hot shit, huh?” Shoto suddenly pulls away from Shu, a smirk apparent on his face when he fixes Shu’s garments. A tease, a slight sneak of what’s to come, and a withdrawal. He pats Shu’s shoulder like nothing happened, leaving Shu dumbfounded by the door.
A tick appears on Shu’s face, the expression of fond annoyance seen as he burns up from Shoto’s advances. He still feels Shoto’s hot breath on his neck and the hand that wandered under his shirt, heavy and relentless, and Shu wonders what he will do about the excitement he’s experiencing through his bones.
The steps he takes to finally see Shoto again are buzzing, the feeling of something prickling his calves strongly perceived at every thump of his feet on the cold floor. Slowly, he closes in, distance between them gradually decreasing, and when he finally rounds the corner, he sees him once again–
Imagine this: You are a barista in a café when someone enters, their clumsiness making them fall over and get your attention. You see them, slightly attracted at the way they presented themselves. You fall in love just a little bit, but you won’t give in to the feeling just yet, because it is unfamiliar to you. You bring them their order, placing a free croissant too on their table. They smile. They smile.
But now imagine this: You are walking down a hallway, turning to a corner when you see them. Now, you have already memorized their appearance. You fall a little deeper in love, welcoming the feeling with open arms. You walk towards them, a hand to the waist, a kiss to the cheek. They smile. They smile.
A sense of Deja vu passes through Shu Yamino as he kisses Shoto once again, recalling their first encounter at the cafe.
He feels like both the best and worst man in the world.
Best, because Shoto loves him. Because he feels like he’s been blessed by the gods by bringing Shoto into his life. Of Shoto liking and loving him back, because who would’ve known! That he—Shu Yamino—would find love in the place he loved. He wishes he met him sooner; this radiant being, all caring and all loving—
But he also feels like the worst, because of that ugly and selfish desire to keep Shoto all to himself prominent and loud in his head. The honest wish of Shoto only looking at him, the craving of Shoto’s body only linked to his, and the abhorrent urge to— Eat. Him. All. Up. His deepest hungers were finally swimming to the surface for all of the world to see, for Shoto to see.
His thoughts break when he feels a bite on his neck, looking down to see the culprit lightly nipping his lightly purpling skin. He didn’t know how they ended up in the kitchen with Shoto propped up on the counter, legs swinging happily before it intertwined to trap Shu in between. Shoto’s arms are stretched behind him, thighs plush and soft on his hips, and he just might go crazy with how much of Shoto was touching him.
Shoto sucks on his collarbone one more time before he raises his head, slowly blinking as a smirk forms on his red and puffy lips. “Payback for earlier.” He says, proceeding to embrace Shu, humming a tune as he fiddles with his fingers.
The kitchen is now filled with silence, save for the melodic humming Shoto is doing, the quiet surgence of air from the air conditioner chilling their feet. The rumbling of Shoto’s throat is felt on Shu’s neck, a ticklish sensation flooding the surrounding areas, bringing him to flinch and wrap his arms around Shoto a little tighter. He hears a chuckle jingle in his ear before it strays away and Shoto is now facing him once again, soft lips curled to a smile that gives him a soft glow.
A God.
The light from the ceiling makes him shine in Shu’s eyes; of glowing hair and dashing cheeks, of a smile that rivals every single thing brighter than the sun, of irises colored a royal indigo.
“What’s got you so quiet now?” He hears Shoto’s deep voice call out to him. Shu cannot move; not when a God is staring straight at him. And speaking to him. “Hmm?”
Shu blinks—one, two, three—before he feels his emotions wash all over him. He knows tears are pooling in his eyes, threatening to drop any moment now; it’s getting harder to keep himself together, his walls are breaking down, his hands are shaking, his lips are trembling, and his heart is beating— the pitter-pat that once was quiet, now loud and blaring in his chest.
The tears that flow down on his cheeks are warm, and it drops down to the floor; continuously, like a flowing river.
“Shu?” He sees Shoto’s eyes widen. “Why are you crying?” His eyebrows crunch in worry, though a fond smile is still present in his face. Shoto gently cups Shu’s cheeks, thumbs wiping the tears that wets his face more.
Four times in his life, Shu Yamino has cried like this.
Once, in the arms of Mysta Rias, when his friend showed up sobbing in the clinic to visit him after he fainted, and it startled him to the point that he started crying as well. Seeing tears on Mysta Rias hurt him more than the fact that he’s in a terrible position, and he can’t help but hug him back just as tight, just as secure, and just as full of relief.
Another was in Luca Kaneshiro’s car with Ike Eveland, a memory that was bad enough to make him want to erase it in his mind. Ike Eveland scolding him and Luca Kaneshiro’s quiet and solemn presence in the car was a terrible match for all the pent-up frustration he has— and it led him to lash out on Ike Eveland with sour words he would not want to utter again in his life. Ike’s frightened eyes were the last thing he wanted to see, and it didn't help that Luca’s reassuring hands were stroking up and down on his back as he heaves, heaves, and heaves, manic eyes trying to find a way to make Ike Eveland like him again.
It was in Vox Akuma’s apartment where he broke down the third time, receiving a birthday cake his friend baked for him out of nowhere. It was a slow moment, his attention from his laptop switching to the smell of smoke coming out of the kitchen. Curious, he followed it and he saw Vox Akuma lighting several candles with a small cake decorated with purple, pink, and yellow. He only realized it was for him when Vox sang the birthday song, the moment all-tender and shining, and tears just came out without his permission.
His latest was with Petra Gurin, a simple hug from the one he regards as his sister easily breaking down everything he had put up before that moment.
And now, another one for the books, Shu Yamino crying in the hands of Shoto; the one he loves, the one he will cherish, and the one who will remain familiar to him at the end of his days.
What would you do if your love loved you back?
Shu Yamino does not know. He’s helpless in the hands of love.
“Hey, hey, darling,” Shoto whispers, tapping Shu’s cheeks to gain his attention. “Stop crying now…”
Shu makes a small sound, pushing his face further in Shoto’s palms, savoring the warmth it gives. It makes Shoto chuckle fondly, placing his forehead to Shu’s, hoping to quell whatever his lover is feeling.
“I love you,” The sentence comes in between sobs.
“I love you, Shoto.” The mentioned man nods and smiles.
“I love you so much.” Shu says, a wet laugh coming out of his mouth.
“You’re making this really hard for me, Shu.” Shoto suddenly confesses. “You’re going to make me cry!”
They laugh together, Shu finally calming down as Shoto plays with his cheeks.
“Hey, Shu? Did you know?”
“Hmm?”
“I think I wanted to love you the moment you gave me that croissant. Weird, right? How can a piece of croissant make me want to love someone? I’ve asked that to myself before.
“Now, I realize, maybe it’s because a stranger gave it to me, someone who didn’t know me, someone who was capable of loving or hating me— and I didn’t know which answer I would get unless I got to know them. Maybe it’s because I isolated myself too much these past few years that I haven’t got to experience love that goes on for ages.
“Shu, maybe it was because it was you who gave me that croissant; it was as if you gave me a part of yourself, a part of yourself you wanted me to love. But as time passed by, I discovered that I wanted to love all of you— I even prayed so that our paths would cross, isn’t that funny? I wanted to be by your side so much that I begged the gods to even see a glimpse of you.
“You are so good, Shu— and it makes me feel things. You are so good that I wanted to be good too. You are so good that it made me love you.
“From now on, until there might be a time where we are forced to refrain from loving— I am yours, Shu Yamino. I am foolishly yours, forever and always.”
Shoto pauses, memorizing the way Shu looks at him, startled and eyes wide, it seems like he was taken-aback, color notably rushing to his cheeks, warm and heated in his palms.
“I love you too, Shu. I’m glad I’m here.” Shoto looks back to Shu, hoping Shu’s purple eyes reads and understands the love stored in his own indigo ones, for him to comprehend all the words Shoto has never said and cannot form into intelligent sentences.
And Shu does, answering Shoto’s words with a sweet kiss. A kiss born from smiles, saliva passed like it was honey, tongues like innocent children playing— it was all Shoto could have asked for.
“Now, c’mere big boy. Stop crying! You still have to fuck me—”
Shoto wakes up earlier than Shu the next day.
First of all, his ass hurts. Who knew someone so sweet and so kind can have a beast lingering inside of them? Shoto didn’t, remembering how much he begged Shu to stop teasing and edging him; making him see stars every time he gets his high.
Second of all, sex with Shu Yamino was so fucking hot. The way Shu held eye contact most of the time, a smirk present on his lips every time Shoto opened his eyes to look at him. The slow escalation of his thrusts to a crescendo, until Shoto was a crying mess while Shu was chasing his moment, unrelenting and strong.
(Shoto cannot remember how many times he came last night. He stopped counting when he reached the 6th time.)
The constellation of kisses Shu left on his back and neck was the thing Shoto loved the most last night, still reeling from the tingling sensation he felt; and it was like Shu Yamino was putting him in his place, to be someone who receives Shu’s love wholly.
He sighs with a giddy smile on his face, turning to look at his lover who was still sleeping soundly.
Shu looks positively beautiful, the creases between his eyebrows now relaxed and nowhere to be seen, hair tousled in the bed, forming a mock of a halo, lips still so red and kissable— Shoto wants it all to himself; greed appearing in his system.
And of course, Shoto always gets what he wants; to steal a kiss from the sleeping beauty laying on his bed. And steal he does, leaning to kiss Shu straight on his lips, pressing his to Shu’s own chastely in hopes to not wake him up.
Shu doesn’t wake up, fortunately, still sleeping peacefully with a comforter placed atop his bare torso. Noticing how Shu would not wake up anytime soon, Shoto rolls off the bed, grabbing a sweater to cover his bruise covered chest, and heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the both of them.
In the time that Shu and Shoto have spent together, the former was always the one making things for the both of them. It doesn’t help that Shoto was always busy with his studies, regularly fretting about memorizing terms, Shu quizzing him often with a cup of coffee in his hand.
So, Shoto wanted a change for once— for him to be the one to make something for Shu.
He already mastered—at least he thinks he does—his and Shu’s favorite brews of coffee. He knows Shu likes his coffee natural, for the normal kick of espresso apparent when drinking it, contrasting his own taste for coffee, creamy and mostly accompanied with sweet additives.
While waiting for their coffee to brew, he busies himself with cooking an egg roll, scrambling his eggs in a bowl and cooking it in scallion oil, the appetizing scent of egg wafting all over the room, and maybe even stretching towards the room where Shu is sleeping.
It was when he was flipping the egg when he felt arms wrap around his waist, smelling the familiar scent of freshly washed linen and powder, indicating that Shu was now awake and hugging him, placing his nose on Shoto’s neck comfortably.
“Good morning,” He greets him, leaning his head back to place a peck on Shu’s hair. “I’m making breakfast for us.”
“G’morning, baby.” Shu groans in Shoto’s neck, still overtaken by sleepiness. “Smells good.”
“Well, I hope it does! I don’t make breakfast for us, and I usually just make a sandwich in the mornings, so…”
“Mhm, because I’m the one who makes breakfast for you.”
“Shut up.” Shu’s giggles are heard, breath tickling Shoto’s neck.
“Aren’t you supposed to go to work today?” Shoto inquires as he is about to feed himself a spoonful of egg and rice, utensils abruptly dropping down to his plate as he remembers Shu’s schedule.
Shu sees Shoto distressed, of his sharp eyes forming into big circles, of his voice going a little higher, calmly watching his lover while drinking his coffee. “You’re so cute,”
“What the fuck!” He watches him flutter around his seat, a flustered expression seen on his face as he covers it with his hands, seemingly shy about Shu watching him.
“I took the day off today; texted my manager once you passed out— by the way, with all the bragging you did last night, you certainly did not last as long as I thought you would.” Smiling, Shu places down his mug to smile at Shoto who was saying incoherent words.
“I was— that’s, you know! I was just, um… Shut up, Shu!” Shoto huffs, picking up the spoonful of egg and rice for him to eat.
Shu feels himself sober a little, eyeing Shoto’s neck and everything below it, amused at the pops of color stained on pale skin. He recalls the way Shoto was laying compliant, writhing and obedient on Shu’s commands but never failing to tease him at times, his snarky and mischievous side evident even during sex.
“Uh huh, sure…” Shu nods, pretending to oblige with Shoto’s complaints from being flustered. Then, he smiles, almost like he cannot help but do the action when Shoto is in the room. “We’re going out today, dress warmly, okay?”
“What’s the occasion?” Shoto asks, voice full of curiosity.
“I’m introducing you to my sister.”
“Wait, Shu, I’m nervous…” Shu feels Shoto clutch his hand, sticking close to him as they walk towards the student council room.
“Don’t be, baby. She’s just my sister?” He replies, turning to Shoto in worry and amusement. “She’s nice!”
“That’s the point! She’s your sister and I’m nervous!” Shoto whines, although whispering it to not catch attention. He’s playing with Shu’s fingers, a ploy of his habit of fidgeting to repress all the anxiety he is experiencing.
Shu only chuckles, tugging him forwards to the door of the room they are supposed to go in, to which Shoto stumbles.
When Shu opens the door, Shoto is welcomed by a baby-faced girl wearing a beige cardigan atop a plain white blouse and brown long skirt. His indigo eyes meet big baby blue ones, which blinks at him in surprise before creasing to a smile.
“Shu, good morning.” Her voice is light, Shoto notes, like a melody of a recorder.
“Nee-san,” Shu greets the girl back, fondness found in his voice. “Good morning!”
Shoto gapes, looking back and forth at the girl and his lover, “Nee-san…?”
Shu jumps a little, pulling Shoto closer to him and the girl, intertwining their hands once again. “This is my sister, Petra Gurin. We’re not related by blood but I consider her as one,” He introduces the girl who was named Petra Gurin to Shoto, a lilt found in his voice, clearly happy about the two of them meeting. “Nee-san, this is Shoto—”
Shu delays his answer.
“My boyfriend.” He finally says, dropping the word without any care in the world.
“Boyfriend?!” Petra suddenly exclaims, a hand coming up to her mouth to hide her shock. She pointedly looks at Shoto, eyes going up and down as if she was examining him, and Shoto feels like he’s being skinned alive by how nervous he is at the moment.
Shoto hides his own shock when Petra comes closer to him and Shu, petting him in the head, although having to tip her toes to reach his height. “Shoto, welcome to the family! You can call me your sister too!” She giggles, leaning towards Shu who was grinning brightly at her.
“Okay, N-Nee-san…?” He tries, embarrassment getting the best of him when he utters the Japanese words Petra wanted him to say. The siblings chortle at his cuteness, the air of awkwardness turning comfortable as Petra exchanges stories with Shoto.
It was when Shu excuses himself to go to the bathroom that Petra calls him. The girl pulls a chair beside him, pleasantly settling herself before smiling at him.
“Don’t be nervous! I’m not going to make you break up with him, you know. It’s just…” Her expression turns soft, almost fond and full of affection. “Shu is someone who prioritized his work and studies above everything else, while of course his friends were still there, it was obvious that he wanted to go hang out with them, but he always put his work and studying first.”
She sighs, “That boy, always exerting himself until he can’t move anymore. That’s why I didn’t think he would find someone he likes— I guess I was too focused on the version of Shu Yamino being missing in action in every student council meeting these months that I didn’t acknowledge the fact that he is human too.”
“Shoto,” Petra turns to him fully, patting him on the shoulder. “I’m glad Shu met you. He looks happier than he was, and I’m sure that it’s because of you.”
Fuck, Shoto feels so happy.
“Thank you, Petra. I… I’ll do my best to make him happy.” He answers teary-eyed, earning a small laugh from the girl.
“I’m counting on you, okay?” Petra smiles, Shoto nodding in agreement, promising himself and his new-found sister to take care of Shu Yamino.
The door opens to Shu Yamino looking fresh, his expression light and elated. He notices Shoto and Petra beside each other, instead of their initial position of Petra being in front of Shoto.
“What were you guys talking about?” He scrunches his eyebrows, sitting on the chair on the other side of Shoto, sandwiching him in between him and his sister.
“Nothing!” Petra chuckles, picking up the mess of papers on the table as she stands up and occupies herself with her duties. Shu shares a glance with Shoto, to which the latter only smiles at him.
“Shu, I’m gonna take care of you forever, okay?” Shoto blurts out on the walk home.
Shu looks at him confused, “What prompted this?”
“Nothing really, just wanted to say it!”
“Did Petra say something to you while I was out?” Shu frowns, tightening his grip on Shoto’s hands, which were swinging happily to Shoto’s own volition.
“No, she didn’t,” Shoto laughs. “I’m studying to be a Physical Therapist, darling. Is it really that weird for me to say it?”
Shu hums, “When you put it like that…”
“Mhm! I’m gonna take care of you and you make me coffee in exchange. Pretty good trade, right?”
His lover nods at him with a similar smile on his face, turning to steal a kiss on the cheek which he reciprocates with a kiss too, but on the lips.
“I love you, Shoto.” You make every moment worthwhile.
He says to his love.
“I love you more!” I’ll make sure you savor every moment we have together.
And his love replies.