Chapter Text
The next minute was a blur, immediately everyone began to stand up and broke into excited shouting. However both Rui and Tsukasa were speechless, almost in shock. This was… new for Tsukasa of course, he wanted to say something to keep himself from looking absolutely dumbfounded but nothing came out except a few flustered noises. No matter, he didn’t actually know what he wanted to say in the first place. He was pulled up to his feet by Toya, who whispered something of a good luck to him, but he could barely understand. His brain felt like it was going 100 miles an hour but at the same time he couldn’t feel anything at all. Tsukasa felt a tug on his hand and he looked up, seeing Rui in front of him. The purple haired boy stared at his feet instead of looking him in the eyes, seeming nervous.
“Tsukasa?” Rui mumbled, extending a hand towards him slightly. “Are you okay to go?”
“I… Er– I…” Tsukasa cleared his throat and nodded, gaining enough willpower to put his hand in Rui’s. He was sure it was trembling, but Rui took it anyway, gently squeezing it. He then pulled him along, Tsukasa was glad his feet knew what to do automatically because otherwise he’d fall and make a fool of himself just to top all of this. At least he wasn’t known for being graceful like the other boy. He thought he must have looked pretty silly anyways clutching his hand like a toddler.
A few seconds later and he was nudged into the closet, Tsukasa noted it looked so much smaller from the inside. It was just a little pantry where they kept their food, so a couple shelves took up most of the space. The pantry was only a bit wider than the doorway, so there was enough for about 2 feet of space between a pair if they were both pressed up against the walls. But, luckily it was long enough that he wasn’t being squished in tight between the shelf and the door. it wasn’t really meant to be stood in after all.
Tsukasa pressed his back against one of the walls, finally starting to process a little of what was happening. He was in a closet. Yes, that's right. Then, Rui was here too, he watched as the taller boy stepped in right after him. And, if Rui was here, and he was here, then that meant…
“7 minutes on the clock, have fun I guess,” Nene mumbled, shutting the door.
“W-Wait Nene–!” Tsukasa started, but then the handle clicked, and she was gone along with the light.
He took a deep breath, noticing how quiet everything had gotten. Tsukasa could hear the other boy tap the wall with his fingers, while he was barely able to see it in the dark. He felt itchy, his heart was tight and pounding in his ears, he wanted to get out. Rui must have been feeling just as uncomfortable as he was, because he could hear his breathing at a faster pace than normal. He swallowed to clear his throat, trying to think of something to break the ice. It felt as if they’d already been in the closet for an hour already, but it must have been no more than 10 seconds. Eventually, the both of them had enough and began to speak at the same time.
“Did you–”
“I’m sorry i–”
They paused again, Rui laughing softly under his breath, “You can go first, Tsukasa.”
He swallowed, smiling a little, “It’s just… I’m sorry… you should have gotten to go with someone other than me. It’s not like there’s anyone better than me of course, but I shouldn’t have eavesdropped!”
“Well, I’ve heard that talking behind someone’s back is rude, and that’s... that’s my bad. I shouldn’t have said things about you, or for you, er… or put things in your mouth… or...” The taller hummed, his usually graceful voice stumbling ever so slightly. “Nevermind, I wouldn’t rather go with anyone else anyways.”
“I get it, you know um… I should have said something instead of trying to run away,” Tsukasa nodded, getting a sudden burst of confidence. “But you should know better, putting words in your star’s mouth, huh! You weren’t even correct for half of it!”
“I… I wasn’t?”
Ah… oops-
Suddenly his cheeks grew bright red, and he tried to recover from completely exposing himself, “W-Well I wouldn’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind having a relationship, I can focus on being a star and a good boyfriend at the same time! It’s just a challenge I can overcome. And… and you totally deserve someone as amazing as I am! You’re just as amazing and pretty and gorgeous and talented, and I promise anyone would be glad to have you love them!”
“Oh… thank you… I don’t…” Rui paused, his mouth agape in a bit of embarrassment. “Anyone… including you?”
“Me? I– Well– I don’t suppose why not, but that doesn’t mean anything I swear! I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable! But um– that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t say anything, which means I would be lying about everything and then that would make you suspiciou– GYAAAHH!–”
Tsukasa suddenly screamed and Rui almost jumped out of his skin, “What’s wrong?”
“SOMETHING’S ON MY FACE! IT’S A BUG! IT’S A BUG! GET IT OFF!”
“Oh, a bug? I suppose there’d definitely be some spiders in here after all, just pick it off yourself,” Rui grinned.
“NO NO– YOU’RE MAKING IT WORSE! GET IT– TAKE IT PLEASE RUI!” He squeezed his eyes tight, freezing in place.
“My my… hold still then, let me grab it,”
Rui chuckled lightly, stepping forwards so that he could see him easier in the dark, until they were only inches away. It was close enough that Tsukasa’s frightened whining was right up in his ear. He smiled to himself, watching his scrunched up expression as he nervously waited for rescue and leaned a hand on the wall, right next to his head. He gently caressed Tsukasa’s forehead with one hand, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. He noticed a small little house spider had crawled its way up to Tsukasa’s cheek, (Rui’s eyes softened a little as he noticed how warm it felt). The spider had probably come from somewhere on the wall, he gently picked it off, returning the poor little creature to the shelf.
“Did you… did you get it?” Tsukasa whispered, opening one eye. “Is it gone..?”
“Mhm… just a little spider. Should I check for more?” Rui replied. “Hehe… Who knows, you could have a whole infestation right behind your ear.”
“Don’t say something like that Rui! You know I hate bugs!” He whined, looking away again. “You’re such a… a… oh– just do it in case! A star can’t be a spider’s home!”
Rui giggled, gently lifting up his chin with his fingers. He squinted in the dark, jokingly examining him for any more spiders. He didn’t think there’d be any more anyways, all that screaming would have scared anything off. Tsukasa meanwhile, was almost about to wet his pants. He could barely even keep up the usual starlike persona out of being both embarrassed by their proximity and being still terrified from the spider. Why’d he have to touch him like they were about to–
“Oh, there we are. There’s a whole nest behind your head Tsukasa,” Rui suddenly gasped. “My my, look at all those spiders!”
“WHAT!?” Tsukasa yelped, quickly grabbing onto him and squishing his face into Rui’s chest. “Ruiiii, tell me you’re lying!”
The taller boy started to laugh, patting his head, “You got me, you got me… or did you?”
Tsukasa whined, grabbing his shirt tightly in his hands. Rui smiled, threading his fingers into his blond hair.
“Don’t worry, I’m kidding. But… I ought to apologize for the amount of lying I’ve been doing tonight,” He then muttered, causing Tsukasa to freeze up with his sudden change of tone. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just didn’t want to tell the others before I could tell you.”
The blond went quiet, his throat getting tight from the sudden nerves that filled his stomach. He almost ended up having his voice crack as he replied, voice soft against Rui’s chest.
“Tell me… what?”
Rui paused for another second, then cupped his hand instead around Tsukasa’s face, raising it gently again. Tsukasa’s eyes widened as he looked at him, desperately trying to search his expression in the dark. Shit… shit was this it? Was this what he was hoping for? Or maybe everyone had just put him up to it and he was getting made fun of outside the closet as they spoke. Rui wouldn’t do that to him and yet… All of a sudden this was something so odd to him.
Sure, Tsukasa could grasp the existence of vocaloids existing in a reality made from his feelings and dreams, but Rui and him in the closet together? Something he’d imagined and thought about for ages was so different in reality. He didn’t dare say anything else in case it would ruin the mood, but he wanted to ask him so many questions it hurt. It hurt in his heart, and his head, and he was so tired he just wanted to faint on the spot. Rui took note of his sudden distress, speaking again to ground him.
“Tsukasa,” He whispered, voice husky and quiet against his ear. “Can I… kiss you..?”
Suddenly, none of those questions mattered anymore. An answer quickly tumbled out of Tsukasa’s mouth, so easily that he almost couldn’t believe it had come from himself.
“Please…”
Rui happily sighed, closing his eyes and leaning in towards him. He hesitated for only a second, seemingly thinking it over, before committing completely to his move. Their lips pressed together softly, just a small clumsy peck in the dark, but Tsukasa immediately felt his stomach fill with butterflies. It felt so warm and soft and just everything he imagined him to be. The first only lasted a few seconds before Rui pulled away for a breath, but he quickly leaned back in, unable to hold himself back anymore. He peppered Tsukasa in kisses, gently pulling him in closer. The blond sighed against his lips, pressing his hands against Rui’s back in a soft hold, doing his best not to fall over.
Tsukasa had no idea what he was supposed to be doing, was he supposed to kiss back? Were they just going to kiss like this the rest of the time? …HOLY FUCKING SHIT HE WAS KISSING RUI. Or no— Rui was kissing him. Rui… really liked him. He liked him enough to kiss him, multiple times. He liked him enough to ignore the terrible trembling of his whole body and the way his lips were a little too dry. He liked him enough to kiss him even though he was sure he smelled super sweaty from stressing out so badly. Rui liked him. But even Rui couldn’t ignore the sniffling and the sudden tears that fell down Tsukasa’s cheeks.
He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against the blond’s, “Is this… are you okay..?”
Tsukasa almost wanted to laugh at the proposition, why wouldn’t he be okay? This was the best day of his life! He… he was so happy. And yet, the tears began to fall faster. He let out a choked sob in reply, unable to speak, and buried his face in Rui’s shoulder. The other stiffened up, but held him tighter and awkwardly tried to rub his back. Tsukasa sobbed into Rui’s shirt, both of them embraced in silence.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have… I…” The taller boy mumbled after a moment, not sure what to do.
“No no I’m— snf- I’m fine, really—“ Tsukasa cried, wiping his eyes. “It’s just… I’m so thankful— you scared me, you idiot! I’m happy, I swear!”
“You’re happy? You liked it?” Rui sounded almost dumbfounded, staring at him as if they hadn’t just kissed. “Usually when you’re happy you’re more… to quote Emu… flippy flappy zoooom—”
He snickered, pulling his arms over Rui’s shoulders and interlocking his fingers, “It’s more a relieved happy, not a… whatever Emu said. I did like it, I liked it a lot! I just, I never thought you… we…”
“Go on?” Rui mumbled, leaning in to press soft kisses against Tsukasa’s neck as he spoke.
“I… I just… I know I’m a star and I’m the best at everything so of course you’d like me! But I was worried... I don’t know, it’s stupid of me to get scared over a crush… You’re amazing, you’re so smart and talented, everyone thinks you’re so cool without even trying, even if you scare people off sometimes… That’s why…”
Tsukasa bit his lip, sighing softly as Rui’s head raised again, leaving him feeling bare. His cheeks glowed a soft red as he spoke again, knowing that he was staring at him now.
“I like you… no, I love you…” Tsukasa pulled him closer into an embrace, speaking straight from his chest. “I love you… I love you so much… I love you everyday we’re together, every show we perform, and every time you look at me. You’re all I ever need, possibly even more than being a star. I just need to know you feel the same, that you… that you want me too. Outside of just kissing in the closet this once, you know?”
Rui was quiet. Tsukasa, fearing for the worst, could feel the closet growing smaller and smaller around them. He wished he could see Rui’s expression in the dark, maybe then he’d have some sort of reassurance or warning for what he would say. It was foolish to be nervous, but he still couldn’t believe this all was happening. Even a star needs confirmation sometimes.
Rui’s hands pressed against his waist, gently snaking underneath the fabric of his shirt. The feeling of his narrow fingers cradling his bare skin was enough to drive a man mad, but Tsukasa kept his composure, taking a deep breath.
“Rui..?”
Rui’s voice shook with a rawness the blond had never heard before, “I… I do too… I love you Tsukasa… god, I love you so much, it’s more than I can handle… I don’t know if it’ll ever be as much as you love me, but I'll love you as well as I can. I love you… I need you… ‘Kasa…”
Tsukasa barely could speak, completely red in the face, and eventually he didn’t have to. Rui kissed him again, this time however, it was a little less sweet and nervous. Tsukasa groaned against his lips as he was pressed against the wall, lips locked in a hungry and desperate embrace. His yellow eyes fluttered shut as he gripped onto Rui’s hair, trying to somehow hold them closer to each other. Rui sighed soft words through his lips between hasty gasps for breath, hands grasping at his back trying to hold him.
“You’re beautiful my star… you always have been.”
It was messy, impromptu, but it was love. It was their love and it felt just like them, he couldn’t have asked for more.
Tsukasa softly whined as Rui’s knee pressed between his legs, effectively pinning him to the wall completely. Then his whole stomach burst into butterflies as he pressed kisses to his jaw, slowly pulling his hands up Tsukasa’s shirt until it had almost lifted completely off his stomach.
“Rui… nh… Rui…” He softly gasped, panting against his ear. “I don’t… I don’t think–”
Suddenly, Tsukasa froze mid sentence as he heard the closet door open and light filled the room. He immediately went pale as a ghost as he made eye contact with none other than his guests who honestly looked as shocked as he was. Tsukasa could barely react as he gaped at them, however Rui seemed to not have noticed at all.
“Your time’s up. God, can we stop letting the homos in the closet?” Akito groaned, looking disgusted.
“GAH— NOTHINGS HAPPENING!“ Tsukasa screamed, shoving Rui roughly off of him. He toppled over completely caught off guard, hitting the floor with a stunned expression. His widened yellow eyes flitted from Tsukasa to the doorway, having only noticed then that the room was much brighter than before. The blond covered his quickly reddening face as he apologized profusely.
“Oh my god– RUI ARE YOU OKAY?! I’m so sorry–! Um– Um– Don’t panic! I’ve got this under control!”
Rui stared for another moment before beginning to laugh softly, rubbing his now sore behind, “My, you scared me Tsukasa… I’m alright.”
Laughing it off did not make Tsukasa feel any better.
An held out her hand towards Akito, gesturing towards him as if wanting something to be placed in it, “Pay up Shinonome; they kissed, so I win!”
“That’s not fair, you encouraged it,” He grumbled, putting a wad of cash in her hand. “This was meant for Toya you know, I hope you’re happy–”
“I am!” She giggled, counting the bills in a mocking tone.
On the opposite side, their own troupe members were staring at them in amazement and relief respectively. Tsukasa didn’t think he could be anymore embarrassed at the situation.
“Finally… I was getting sick of you two dancing around each other for months…” Nene sighed, rubbing between her eyes.
“Does this mean you two are dating now?! Wonderboy-friends?!” Emu gasped, clutching at her hand tightly.
“N…NO! Maybe?! Uh– Possibly? I guess if Rui wanted to, I couldn't object!” Tsukasa exclaimed, starting to feel a little dizzy from all the blood rushing to his face. “St-Stars can’t be picky! …But please don’t tell Saki she’s gonna kill me–”
Rui smiled at that, getting up from where he had fallen. He wrapped an arm around Tsukasa’s shoulders, pulling him closer to steady him. The blond softly whined behind his teeth, looking up at him. Rui seemed oddly happy for once, the sort of cat-like smile he usually wore felt more genuine than ever and pink dusted his cheeks. He wasn’t as proper as usual, his hair had become even more of a mess and his clothes were all in need of fixing. He didn’t know Rui could look even cuter after coming out of a closet.
“Hehe… well I don’t think I could object to spending my life with a star like you. Not after what a beautiful confession you gave me,” Rui’s eyes stared down at him, completely filled with adoration.
Tsukasa tried to stutter out a response, but after a moment of trying he resorted to just whining even louder and digging his face into the other boy’s neck to hide it. He’d decided it wasn’t worth it to speak on anything anymore, there was no damage control possible now. Plus it didn’t help that actually getting to see him properly made his brain malfunction all the more. Rui hummed, rubbing his back gently and pulling him into a hug. The blond smiled, feeling his warm skin against his own. (Akito gagged loudly at them, ending up getting an elbow from Toya.)
“Is that a yes then..? Or do I have to tell you how much I love you again?” Rui whispered the second sentence, the words pressing against Tsukasa’s ear so only he would hear.
He responded in a teasing tone, “I dunno… I might need a little more persuasion…”
“Oh? Then excuse us everyone, we’re going to need the closet for a little while longer—“
“Rui!” Tsukasa raised his head and exclaimed as he started closing the door again. “I was joking! There’s spiders in here— RUI I HAVE TO BE THE PARTY HOST!”
“Aw… 7 more minutes couldn’t hurt, don’t you have to please all your guests?” Rui smiled, pressing a soft kiss onto his lips to silence him.
The blond groaned in exasperation, “…Just 7 minutes. Then we’re out, promise?”
“Promise. Promise to kiss me without knocking me straight on my ass this time?”
“After embarrassing me like this… I can’t promise that,” Tsukasa grinned.
Rui’s voice immediately switched to an overdramatic pained voice, “Oh god… what a horrible thing. Tsukasa Tenma was caught kissing a boy, he had to commit assault and battery…”
“Pft— Stop it! They probably can still hear you! You know a star cannot be charged with crimes like these!”
“I think we’ve driven them away with how gay we are, can we kiss yet?”
Tsukasa hummed, caressing his hands against Rui’s face and pulling him closer, “What do you think, my director?”
The taller boy chuckled softly, leaning back into another kiss. Tsukasa smiled against his lips, kissing him back softly; this was it, he didn’t think he would ever be so happy again in his life. His heart was almost ready to explode with excitement, he’d have to tell everyone! Miku Kaito and the others, Saki who was going to kill him for not going ahead with their very romantic asking out plan, was there anyone else? Well, it wasn’t as if anyone else mattered at this point, he had Rui now. And for now, that was going to be enough.
–
The others stood outside the door, almost dumbfounded. Kohane had almost started steaming from secondhand embarrassment and Toya seemed amazed at Tsukasa’s newfound charisma. Akito was still sporting his disgusted look of course. Emu was the first one to pipe up, the least shocked out of all of them.
“Who wants to tell Sakiii!” She giggled.
–