Chapter Text
The quiet, peaceful school days, staring out the window as the sun begins painting the skies, a gentle yet chilly evening breeze. He sighs. He never thought he'd see the day when he was free—and it was all thanks to him.
Junpei's still seated at his desk, waiting for his saviour—now his friend. His best friend. His 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 friend. Junpei feels grateful everyday: when he sees another morning; when he sees his mother laughing; when he doesn't have to hide his bruises from her; when he's able to sleep soundly every night. He could never be happier than he was now.
The door clatters open. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴. "You're here," he gives a smile and is greeted by an even brighter smile.
"Of course!" He rests his weight on one leg with his bag over his shoulder. "Ready to go?"
Junpei nods and he stands. Making his way to him, he suggests, "Y'know, you don't have to pick me up everyday." But he doesn't mean it.
He laughs. It rings like bells. 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺, Junpei thinks. "What're you talkin about? I want to." His stomach tingles. They begin walking through the corridors. "Besides, I like spending time with you," he adds, his voice softening. The tingles are spreading. Junpei is elated, he can't stop his heart from picking up the pace.
"Really? So do I." He means it. The smile he gives reaches his eyes, wrinkling at the corners.
He's rewarded with a blissful smile, his whole being seeming to light up—probably from the rays of the setting sun illuminating the sky—and Junpei's boy—with gentle colors—of pureness. "See? It's 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭!" The tingles are getting warmer and spreading quicker amd quicker. His heart is jumping too hard it hurts.
𝘖𝘩, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦.
Junpei is never happier.
He laughs, "That's right!" He hopes his boy can see the look only he gives him, too.
The little space between them enclosed and his boy holds his hand without a moment's hesitation, squeezing firmly. He squeezes back just as so.
"𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳." He'd heard his female classmate say. He couldn't agree more.
A peaceful and pleasant silence drifts in the air—which they share half the time. The other half is spent talking their days away: about everything and anything; walking everywhere and anywhere; looking here and looking there; drinking sweet and eating spicy; playing arcade games and at the park. All lovely memories. Junpei cherishes every last bit of time shared with his boy, even the shortest ones.
Time goes by just as quickly as when they went about their days talking and laughing. He doesn't want him to go, yet. He never does. He wishes, everyday, that he'd stay with him here.
Unconsciously, he squeezes the hand in his as they near their parting point. His boy always seem to know what he's thinking and what he wants. He tugs Junpei's hand. "Hey, I'm gonna stay over again today, okay?" Pearly whites incomparable to the light he's shone on Junpei's life.
𝘈𝘩, Junpei realises, yet again. There really was a rainbow after the rain. Except, what he receieved instead was the sun. Bright, strong and warm.
He can't help but laugh.
𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺.
"Of course! Any time, Yuuji!"