Chapter Text
Sakura’s intention was to bring the umbrella back to Nirei, to the first person ever to give him a sliver of kindness.
He couldn’t dare ask for me, take more than he got, yet Sakura was greedy.
The minuscule amount of affection he’s gotten wasn’t enough, he wanted more, needed more.
Luckily for Sakura, Nirei was the type to give more and that fueled Sakura’s greed, his desire for something beyond loneliness.
“Sakura-san! Would you like to come over?” Nirei smiled, opening the door out of Pothos, letting Sakura exist first.
Sakura whipped his head back at Nirei, who looked like the image of an excited golden retriever, and Sakura swears he sees a tail wagging.
“Huh?” Sakura stiffened, gobsmacked at the proposal. “Come over?”
“To my place, we can hang out.” Nirei nodded enthusiastically, beaming out a bright smile.
Sakura squinted, it was odd. Every time Nirei smiled, Sakura felt a warm feeling brewing in his stomach.
It was warm, inviting, and… safe.
“Uhh…” Sakura felt his ears heat up, clenching his pants. “I… don’t think your parents would want someone like me to come over…”
Even if Nirei was blindly too kind and accepting for his own good, people with eyes, real eyes could see what Sakura was.
The way his eyes were two different colors, bleak darkness in his right eye, the other that held blazing heat. His hair an unnatural bifold into two shades, white and black. Making him look less human. More like an animal, a monster, an atrocious creature that belonged in the shadows, hid away to never to be seen.
People that saw Sakura, saw what he was, what he perceived to the public only saw a monstrosity, an abnormal thing, a pitiful thing cursed with such a disgusting appearance.
People only saw Sakura as what they deemed him to be.
“Sakura-san, I’m inviting you over because I want you to come,” Nirei huffed, his hands gripped onto Sakura’s shoulders, making him flinch at the sudden contact of Nirei’s soft, thinly fingers around him. “And for my parents, they’re not home if it makes you feel better.”
A flash of woe hit Nirei’s eyes, his smile wilting ever so slightly at the mention of his parents not being home.
“They’re usually away, and I tend to be alone most of the time,” Nirei sighed, a somber smile on his face. “And… you’re the first friend I’ve ever made… in a long time…”
Friend?!
Sakura didn’t expect to hear those words, his whole body burned red, hotter than magma. “I-… wha-…?! We’re friends..?!”
Nirei jolted back, releasing his hands, face a bright pink. “I-… I’m sorry..! I just-… I thought.., we could be…”
Sakura gulped, his heart ramming out his chest. He couldn’t speak, mouth dry as he stared at Nirei with puzzlement.
Why would he want to be friends?
Friends with someone like him?
“I’m sorry!” Nirei bowed, his body a 90 degree angle. “You-… you probably don’t want to be friends with me…”
“Wha-?! W-when did I say that?!” Sakura yelled, his whole body was crimson red, his hands shook violently. “I never said I didn’t want to be friends with you..!”
Nirei lifted his head up, glossy teary eyes. “You do..?”
Sakura froze a bit, his eyes staring back at the warm hazelnut irises reflecting his own eyes.
Whoa…
His stomach knotted together, fluttering of butterflies as his heart rammed his rib cage too hard, making his gasp for air.
“I-… I guess it’s fine,” Sakura breathed out, his hands still shaking, his heart drumming so loud, fearing Nirei would hear it. “To-… to be friends..”
Immediately, Nirei smiled, his smile was so wide, revealing teeth and a crinkle under his eyes. It was so dazzling, so warm, and so sincere that Sakura didn’t know how to feel.
He felt uneasy, uncomfortable, puzzled, but above all, he felt so… so damn happy.
A type of joy, a type of elation he’s never felt in his life. It was enough to swallow him whole, enough to numb his senses, break down his walls, and allow Sakura to reach out his hand to someone for the first time and this person was willing to hold his hand back without any trace of fear or revolt.
Everything Sakura went through, everything he experienced, everything he thought he knew about people faded away. All his expectations, his fears, his boundaries were shattered because of this blonde boy.
“Let’s go, Sakura-san!” Nirei reached out a hand, his smile still as big, eyes a tad glossy yet it held so much bliss.
Sakura inhaled a breath, slowly reaching over to Nirei, a tremble to his fingers as it made contact. Nirei’s hand raveled with Sakura’s, interlacing their fingers.
So damn warm…
“Yeah, let’s go… Nirei…” Sakura muttered, his head low, a pink blush painting his face.
Nirei’s eyes widened, a giggle escaping his lips. “You said my name!”
“S-so what?!” Sakura grumbled, his lips twisted to a half scowl.
“Hehe, I’m just so happy!” Nirei replied, his hand squeezed Sakura’s slightly, a coral blush faintly on his cheeks.
Sakura could only stare at the blonde, following him blindly as Nirei directed them to his house. He felt breathless, his heart quivering in fear and delight as for the first time, someone has treated him human.
Unconsciously, he held Nirei’s hand tighter, terrified it’ll slip away.
Sakura’s greed has totally consumed him and he wasn’t willing to let go of this light, this blazing fire, this warm sunshine in his life.
He wouldn’t let go of Nirei.