Chapter Text
It was nearly sunset when Umemiya and Hiragi made their way through the front gates of the school; gravel path crunching softly under their feet. They were heading to the gymnasium each carrying several white boxes between the two of them.
The two older teens had to leave early into the clean up, due to a situation that needed their attention. However, it was moments like these when Umemiya was immensely grateful to have such a reliable bunch of little brothers.
He couldn’t help but smile fondly, as an image of the boys flashed in his mind. This year had been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but every time, his underclassmen stepped up to the plate taking everything head on.
It also meant Hiragi was going through twice as much Gas-kun 10 than he normally would.
To be honest, the gym’s messy state was something that was bothering Umemiya for a long time. With the students using it as their training area, the clutter and dust served as a huge safety hazard that tormented him daily.
Afterall, it was his duty to ensure the safety of those he led, and just imagining someone getting hurt due to something so preventable weighed heavily on his conscience.
He really had been meaning to do it himself for a long time now, but being the leader of Bofurin meant he didn’t have as much free time to do some of the housekeeping as he would have liked.
Hence, the special mission he entrusted the group first year students to handle.
“I wonder how the project is going along. Do you think they’re finished by now?” Umemiya gleefully turned to Hiragi, a big smile painting his face.
The other’s face, however, twisted into a scowl as he seemed to consider the question, “You’re assuming the boys have the attention span to stay on track.” Hiragi sighed like a stressed single mother. “Wouldn’t be surprised if those brats managed to burn the whole place down by now.”
Amused by Hiragi’s usual pessimism, Umemiya laughed. “Oh, come on. Have some faith! They’re a good group. I'm sure the place is gonna be spotless!”
As the pair approached the gym building, they heard the younger boys before they saw them. Laughter and cheers were faintly leaking through the closed windows and doors of the building.
This elicited a sigh from Hiragi, one hand already reaching to grab more medicine while the other balanced boxes. “I knew those slackers would goof off without us there”.
“Sounds like they're having fun! I wonder what they're up to!” Being drawn to the laughter and fun, Umemiya hurried his pace to the door. With the boxes in his hand, he awkwardly fumbled for the handle.
“Now, just wait a damn minute!” Hiragi scolded, jogging a few steps behind the other. “You’re gonna drop all the food!”
By this time of day Hiragi’s patience was just about spent and his stomach rolled at the anticipation of what the first years were up to behind the closed door.
More laughs and cheers could be heard, and this only increased Umemiya’s urgency.
“Come on! I wanna see!” He whined as he continued to struggle to hold the cargo and find the door handle.
His desperation only grew as more sounds of cheer could be heard from inside. Giving up, Umemiya shoved his boxes in Hiragi’s arms, nearly doubling the other’s current load.
Hiragi stumbled and nearly fell as he readjusted to the sudden change in weight, cursing at his best friend. “DAMN IT UMEMI–!”
With his hands now free, and totally–not–ignoring the Tamon Team leader, Umemiya flung open the door.
With it finally open, Umemiya clambered in the entrance and was greeted to the sight of Class 1-1 crowding around one of Makochi’s newest residents.
“Hey! I said, ONE. TURN. EACH!” Sakura yelled, wearing his signature blushed face as he tried to fend off his pleading classmates.
All urgency bled away at the sight. Umemiya’s eyes softened as he looked at the younger boys’ antics; a feeling of fondness blooming in his chest.
When Sakura first arrived at Bofurin, Umemiya could tell right away that the boy needed support. Sakura was strong – that much was obvious to anyone – but there was something fragile behind that tough-guy act.
What most people didn’t understand was that Sakura’s strength was forged through endurance, and Umemiya understood that from the day Sakura fought Togame.
If he was being honest with himself; he held Sakura a little closer to his heart than most. He considered all of the town his family, and the Bofurin guys as his little brothers, but there was just something about the heterochromatic boy that screamed for Umemiya to keep a closer eye on him.
Umemiya only had a few seconds to sit with that thought before his attention was pulled away.
“Oh Umemiya! You’re back!” Nirei waved from the other side of the gym, blissfully ignoring the pleas and cries of his fellow classmates.
Looking past Umemiya, Nirei spotted Hiragi struggling trying to carry everything into the gym. “Hiragi! Do you need some help!?”
The blonde quickly scurried to the struggling upperclassmen, taking some boxes to lighten his load. The two worked to spread the goods across the last couple tables still remaining in the gym.
“Looks like you guys are having fun!” Umemiya states, finally venturing further into the gym.
“If you call beating back these beggars fun, then yeah, I’m having a blast!” Sakura sarcastically interjected.
“Tragic… to be cursed with admirers.” Suo said, bowing and shaking his head in fake sorrow.
“Shut up! You’re enjoying this way too much!” Sakura yelled back.
The white haired boy couldn’t help but laugh as he approached the ‘beggars’ in question.
He would have to ask Sugishita for the full story later.
“Hey, did you guys get anything done?” he said between chuckles. The rest of the class straightened up regardless of Umemiya’s relaxed manner.
“Yes, sir!” Tsugeura responded. “We were just finishing up and taking a little break.” The class nodded their heads in unison.
“I gotcha. Thank you for your hard work.” Umemiya said, giving his juniors a slight bow. “Whatever, you guys didn’t get done. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Thank you, Boss.” The class responded in unison, reciprocating Umemiya’s bow.
With the younger boys being officially dismissed; everyone slowly dispersed, effectively saving Sakura from the mob he was fighting against earlier.
“Oh!” Umemiya started, earning back the first years’ attention, “Don’t forget to grab a treat on your way out!”
Hiragi and Nirei popped open the white boxes, revealing rows and rows of colorful and absolutely delicious looking Mochi.
The boys’ mouths watered as they were drawn to the now open boxes.
“No way! Is this from Mochi no Mori!?” Anzai asked, disbelief lighting up his face. “How did you even manage to get this!?”
Hiragi answered first, “A fight broke out in front of the store. It was packed with civilians waiting outside, so Kaji texted us asking for backup.” He shrugged. “Seems the place has been struggling keeping their customers safe from low-lifes looking for an excuse to cause trouble.”
Sakura clicked his tongue as he listened. He hated missing out on fights, it always left a bad taste in his mouth. If he had known that was where the upperclassmen had gone, he would’ve been right on their heels.
“As a thank you,” Umemiya continued. “The shop gave us a TON of their yummy sweets! And as my ‘thank you’ to you,” the leader gestured to the group of first years. “I brought them all back for you to enjoy!” his smile was blinding.
With an open invitation, the students immediately crowded the table, mouths watering. Everyone was excited to finally try the new treats.
“Sakura, what flavor’s your favorite?” Nirei asked as he studied the seemingly endless options.
“I don’t know. Never had ‘em.” The class captain responded nonchalantly.
“W-what!?” the shorter boy stuttered in shock. They knew Sakura lived under a rock, but not even Mochi? Just what other things has he missed out on? Nirei was already mentally drafting a list of things they’d have to introduce him to.
“Matcha’s my fave.” Kiryu chimed in, pointing to the row of green colored sweets, each dusted with a thin layer of powder.
“I’m a strawberry guy myself.” Tsugeura said around a mouthful of Mochi, his cheeks already puffed out.
“Don’t speak with your mouth full.” Kiryu scolded, dodging the bits of Mochi flying out his mouth.
“Nah, lychee’s the best.” someone said.
“Sakura! You’ve gotta try this one!” said another.
Pretty soon, the table was filled with lively chatter, and the number of suggestions was beginning to overwhelm him.
“I don’t remember asking you guys!” Sakura yelled trying to curb their enthusiasm. Looking at the selection’s variety made his head spin. Why did there have to be so many flavors of the same thing?
Between all the boxes, there had to have been at least twelve different flavors. There was no way he’d be able to make a decision with this many to choose from. He didn’t even know where to even start.
“Hey Sakura,” Suo called from behind the boy, “Why don’t you try that one first.”
Reaching over Sakura’s shoulder, Suo gestured to a row at the very end of the line up.
“Oh, that’s perfect!” Nirei claimed as he moved to gently place the recommended treat on a plate to present it to him. “It’s a Sakura Mochi!”
How convenient… Sakura thought as he sized up the desert.
The first thing that he noticed was that it didn’t look like the rest–shocker.
Most of them looked like colorful balls dusted in powder, the Sakura Mochi however, was uneven and more clumpy in shape. It looked like pink-colored, wet sticky rice smashed together, with a leaf wrapped partway around it.
“Do you… eat the leaf?” Sakura asked, skeptical and mildly put off.
“Yep! The whole thing!” Nirei replied with a smile.
Now, if it had been Suo, Sakura probably would have thought they were messing him, but he knew Nirei wouldn’t steer him wrong– at least not knowingly.
Without much more thought, Sakura popped the whole thing in his mouth.
Flavor exploded in his mouth, with a mix of sweet and, surprisingly, salty flavors he’s never experienced before. There was an earthy sweet filling that became more pronounced as he chewed.
It was good.
Surprisingly good.
His friends watched him chew with expectant looks in their eyes. He felt the blush heat the tip of his ears as he tried to swallow it down.
Man, this is kinda hard to eat. He thought to himself as it seemed like it was taking forever to break down the sticky sweet. The guys were still waiting for his response as he continued to chew.
Giving up, he raised a hand to cover his mouth, “...It’s good.” he managed, his blush darkening.
The silence only lasted a moment as class smiled at their precious grade captain.
“Now this one!”
“No! This one next, Sakura!”
“Don’t forget this one!”
Soon the gym air was filled once again with shouts of the rowdy Furin first years.
Umemiya and Hiragi watched the first years from the side, smiles soft and eyes warm. Even in all the chaos, laughter, and sticky fingers, a sense of pride settled over them. They would do anything to preserve this kind of peace.
Umemiya had entrusted a lot of responsibility to these kids, and it was the little moments like this that reminded him that, sometimes, the simplest joys were worth protecting more than anything else.