Chapter Text
The night is young even though the sun is long gone from the sky and Kenma rolls his eyes as his friends excitedly plan an impromptu trip out of town for the summer. College is treating him well; thankfully his roommate, Keiji, is similar to him in personality, so living with a stranger doesn't feel so strange anymore after a year of college. He stays put on the couch as Keiji, his boyfriend Koutarou, Shoyo, and his boyfriend Atsumu are on the floor surrounding Koutarou's laptop.
"What about this one?" Keiji points.
Shoyo gasps. "Guys! This is the one!"
"The third one looks the best," Atsumu states.
The group all take their turns arguing over which hotel to stay at while Kenma scrolls through his phone and pays them no mind. Whatever they end up choosing, he'll be fine going to. His parents took him on enough excursions as a child to be used to what others decide at this point.
"This one is cute, where is it located?" Koutarou asks.
"Yer' the one with the laptop, idiot!" Atsumu barks, snatching it. "Ito. It's in Ito and looks real nice! Whaddya say?"
Ito.
Kenma's heart beats heavily in his chest as he looks up towards the group. His eyes meet Shoyo's who is beaming at Kenma like a kid on Christmas. Kenma glares him down, daring him to not say a word out loud, to which Shoyo raises his hands in defeat.
"Kenma, what do you think? A week in Ito?" Keiji asks unknowingly.
His mind flashes back to the moment his parents had once said the same thing to him all those years ago. They could barely contain their excitement and Kenma truly had to feign a happy reaction at the time. He remembers being bummed and telling Shoyo he wished he didn't have to go.
As he looks around the group, all holding expectant expressions. Kenma just shrugs and gives a flat, "Sure, sounds fine to me."
Koutarou and Atsumu cheer and hoot, dragging Shoyo into the mix by proxy while Keiji focuses on pulling up additional details about a potential trip. All that going on while Kenma's mind is racing at a million miles per minute as he thinks about what could happen when he arrives at the same place he fell in love five years ago.
Would Tetsurou still be there? Would he work in town, away from the hotel? Would he work at the hotel itself like his dad?
Or he could've gone to college out of town, maybe he's even in Tokyo right now.
Kenma hadn't put much recent thought into where he could be right now; in his mind, Tetsurou and he are still the same young boys that kissed under the fireworks with no tell of what the future might hold. To think about Tetsurou being grown… shivers run down Kenma's spine at the thought. Is he still taller than Kenma? Stronger, bigger than before? Is his hair still as wild and his smile still as charming?
Then a sudden realization slaps Kenma across the face like a tsunami. Would Tetsurou even recognize him anymore? Would he care?
Kenma has changed pretty significantly since his second year in middle school. He has several ear piercings and a nose ring now, half of his hair bleached blonde and grown out past his collarbones. It's very likely Kenma has grown into a person that Tetsurou isn't even into, and that brings his stress about the situation right back around again.
He has half a mind to forget the trip and tell his friends he can't attend. They will have plenty of fun without him and they'll never know his years long, embarrassing, summer love story. But then the thought of his friends potentially seeing Tetsurou and not him settles in and he decides that would be a fate worse than death.
So on the trip he must go.
"Everyone has all their bags, right?" Keiji double checks for the third time before the train arrives.
The group collectively confirms all their belongings are together while Kenma stares helplessly into the distance in the direction the train will be taking them. To say he's nervous is an understatement. There's too many unknown possibilities that could happen, though he thinks the worst of all would be to arrive and just never see or hear of Tetsurou at all — never know what he ended up doing or becoming.
Before the trip, Shoyo had finally gotten Kenma alone for a night out and grilled him until he was blue in the face about being sure the trip was a good idea. They both remember how many months it took for Kenma to come back to reality and god knows what might happen this time around now that they're all adults.
When the train pulls into the station, they all pile on along with the other passengers, finding seats close to one another as they quietly chat. The scenery passing by feels familiar to Kenma, but foreign; the bitter taste of nostalgia that begs for attention regardless of the emotions it brings.
"Are you okay?" Keiji whispers to Kenma while the others are distracted.
"Yeah," he hesitates, wondering if he should tell Keiji or not. "Just some old memories here, is all."
Keiji hums in acknowledgement. One thing Kenma can always depend on when it comes to Keiji is that he doesn't need to ask many follow up questions. Their conversations can be short and to the point of understanding, and right now it's obvious Keiji realizes that Kenma will tell him more if he wants to. Thank god for Keiji.
The train ride feels shorter than he remembers as he silently watches the tall buildings transform into smaller ones, and the roads fade into dirt and sand with the blue ocean in the distance. Getting off the train, the group looks around a little confused on where to go next, but Kenma just silently gestures towards the shuttle he once took several years ago.
Shoyo and Atsumu cheer as they clasp hands and jog towards the shuttle with Koutarou and Keiji trailing behind them. Kenma feels like he's about to explode as they take the short shuttle ride towards the hotel.
As they step out of the shuttle and onto the sidewalk near the front of the hotel, he realizes absolutely nothing has changed about the place. The entrance looks the same, the beach from where they are is adorned with the same greenery and trees, the staff at the front desk are almost all the same from what he can remember. With hopes now high, Kenma's nerves ease.
The group ventures up to their rooms, all of them having split the cost of three rooms to make it more fair for Kenma not sharing with anyone. He tries not to think about being the fifth wheel all the time, but this trip isn't going to make that very easy. By the time they all settle in, the day is getting late and they all head down to the dining area for dinner together.
"This place is so nice! I bet the food is delicious!" Shoyo exclaims as they sit down.
"It really is," Kenma confirms.
Atsumu raises, "Kenma, have ya been here before?"
"Years ago, with my parents."
"Nice, Ken! So it's like a return vacation for you!" Koutarou chimes in.
"Sorta, yeah."
Their dinner comes and goes and Kenma sees no sign of Tetsurou, though truthfully it's unlikely that even if Tetsurou was still around, that he'd be bussing dishes like he did back in high school. The group decides to go get dressed to head down to the beach for a night swim, and when they finally make it outside, Kenma is hit with another wave of nostalgia. The salty ocean breeze and warm air hug him like a blanket that he didn't realize he missed so dearly.
He thinks of that blue seashell that Tetsurou had given him all those years ago and how it sits pretty on his desk in his dorm room. The beach is nearly empty, only a few people scattered across the sand as the five friends laugh and spend time together. Kenma is able to pull himself out of his reminiscing just enough to be present with his friends, although the thought of Tetsurou never truly leaves his mind.
By the time they retire to bed for the night, Kenma sits alone on his room's balcony, looking out at the night sky and how it so effortlessly connects to back to the ocean beneath it. The stars are different out in Ito, brighter and easier to admire compared to Tokyo. The stars remind him of the last evening he had spent with Tetsurou: the fireworks in the sky and the tender kiss shared between young boys that changed the trajectory of their future, or at least Kenma's.
The memory feels like it's eating him alive as he sits alone outside his room and so he quickly stands up and starts walking towards that third level balcony, regardless of reason.
Opening the door to the balcony has his heart beating wildly, but it quickly deflates when no one is there. With a heavy sigh, Kenma moves to overlook the balcony, leaning on the railing to see the ocean from a different view than what his room's balcony provided.
"Oh, sorry for interrupting. I'll just-"
Kenma whips around, startled at the voice behind him and then freezes.
Tetsurou?
That's Tetsurou. Holy shit, Tetsurou is hot.
"I-" Kenma stutters.
"Wait, Kenma?"
Nodding, Kenma steps forward to get closer to the lights near the doors. Tetsurou's expression is filled with shock, not moving a single inch except for his heightened breathing and flitting eyes as he looks at every part of Kenma that he possibly can. The air between them is thick, tension nearly tangible as they stare at each other for the first time in years in the same spot they last saw one another.
"This can't be real. Maybe I had too much to drink…" Tetsurou mutters as he turns to go stand at the balcony's edge.
The moment he leans over the edge, though, he spins back around and walks right up to Kenma, gently cradling his face in his hands. Kenma's mind is as blank as a white sheet of paper, the only thing existing is Tetsurou and the emotions raging between them both. A day that he never thought would come is happening and he's not even sure what to do about it.
"I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," Kenma whispers.
Tetsurou's eyes dart from Kenma's eyes to his lips, around the outside of his face and back to his eyes. Brows knit, his face shows more than any words could be said and it seizes his heart.
"I have a lot of questions," Tetsurou starts. "But can I kiss you first?"
He can only nod quickly as they both surge forward, lips colliding and moving perfectly in tandem. It's soft, but passionate and full of feelings that have been building up over years and years. Kenma grasps at the taller one's shirt, pulling him closer as Tetsurou's arms wind around the small of his back.
Their chests are pressed flush against each other and lips beg for more, more, more.
Tetsurou slides his tongue across Kenma's bottom lip, to which he grants access, reveling in the closeness he's been dying to experience with Tetsurou for so long. Their kiss lasts for an unknown amount of time; just the two of them in each other's arms for the first time in years with no worry about the world around them in that moment. When they separate, Kenma leans his forehead on Tetsurou's chest.
"When did you get here?" Tetsurou asks.
"This morning."
"How long are you here for?"
"A week."
"Parents again?"
"No, my friends."
Tetsurou pulls Kenma over to the bench. Sitting next to each other, Kenma really sees how sharp his features have become with age. They're both still young but he looks much more mature and handsome.
"You'd really like them, honestly." Kenma smiles thinking about how well Koutarou and he would get along.
Nudging his side, Tetsurou smiles. "I'd love to meet them, then. What have you been up to?"
"College. It's kind of a drag, but I met some cool people. What about you? I didn't even think you'd be here, if I'm being honest."
"Mmm, originally, I was going to go to college out in Tokyo."
"But?"
"My dad got sick. I've been helping out around here ever since."
Kenma hums, thinking about how sprightly his dad seemed only five years ago. "Do you wish you could've gone to Tokyo?"
"Nah," Tetsurou shakes his head. "I think I wanted to try going to Tokyo to find you, but I realized it'd be pretty impossible. Besides, this is my home, you know?"
"Find me?" Kenma laughs lightly.
"Don't laugh! I haven't been able to get you out of my mind for five years. But I guess that'd be awkward to hear if you don't feel the same…"
"No, I do," Kenma retorts quietly. "…feel the same, that is."
Standing up with a chuckle, Tetsurou moves to lean over the railing, letting Kenma follow suit in his own time. They stand together in a comfortable silence with all of the previous tension gone. Now it's only them, the quiet night sky above, and the soft ocean waves below.
Side by side, the night feels more like home to Kenma than Tokyo ever has, and maybe that's because Tetsurou is next to him.
Bang, bang, bang.
"Kenma! Are you alright?!" Shoyo calls, banging on the door to his hotel room. The group has been up and ready for a while and Kenma still has yet to show face or respond to anyone's messages.
"He isn't already awake and downstairs, is he?" Atsumu suggests.
Keiji and Koutarou snort. "No way he's up earlier than us."
Shoyo knocks on his door one more time when it suddenly opens a measly few inches, his face barely showing. "I'm awake. I'm fine. Go to breakfast without me and I'll be down soon."
He quickly shuts the door and leans against it with a deep breath. His eyes fly over to a snoozing Tetsurou on his bed, the white sheets a stark contrast to his tanned skin. Sunlight seeps in through the windows making him glow so beautifully that the sight burns into Kenma's mind; a breathtaking way to start his day and hopefully one he'll get to keep having over and over.
"See ya soon, then!" Atsumu shouts from the other side of the door.
When Kenma hears their footsteps fade away down the hallway, he rushes back over to the bed and slips underneath the blanket to lie down against Tetsurou's bare chest — a home he's quickly become accustomed to overnight. Tetsurou's breathing picks up ever so slightly and Kenma lifts his head to watch the exact moment he wakes up, his golden eyes blearily focusing in on the blonde beside him and his smile slowly growing.
"So last night was real," Tetsurou confirms, his morning voice slow and thick like honey.
Nodding, the blonde buries his face further against the muscled chest he lies on and feels those strong arms envelope him, pulling him up and on top of his body. Kenma starts giggling as he looks up to rest his chin on his arms over Tetsurou's chest with their eyes meeting. Everything about the moment is more than Kenma could have ever imagined.
His life since that first trip several years ago has consisted of a culmination of daydreams where Tetsurou was a permanent character in his story. He's existed in this moment many times over and over again: the morning sun, the skin to skin, the soft, low voices whispering gently in the bubble created by deliberate intimacy that binds their hearts to one another. Time stays frozen around them as the world slips away and no one else exists except them in that moment.
The two lie in bed for a while longer, not bothering to move an inch between kisses and shared stories of their years apart. Sometimes those stories lead to adjacent childhood recollections, wrapping them up in a sphere of understanding where the puzzle pieces of their lives are slowly being put together. Kenma never tires of memorizing the details on Tetsurou's face with every expression he makes as he tells story after story.
"Did I imagine someone banging on the door earlier?" Tetsurou asks.
Kenma groans and buries his face. "No, that was real. My friends were wondering where I was."
"Mmm, don't wanna get you in trouble now."
"Don't worry about it. I take it you work today?
Tetsurou nods, rolling them over and hovering above Kenma's smaller body. With a few soft kisses around his face, he stands up and stretches towards the ceiling, leaving Kenma to stare at him happily from the comfort of the bed. Surely, he'll wake up from this dream in the morning.
"I'll be in the kitchen until after dinner today. Can we meet up afterwards? I can take you and your friends to a good bar in town, maybe."
"That sounds great."
Just before he leaves after getting dressed, Tetsurou walks over to Kenma with his hand open and empty. Kenma looks up from his phone quizzically until it dawns on him what is silently being asked. He quickly opens a new text and hands the phone to Tetusrou who smiles charmingly and types something before handing it back. Kissing Kenma lightly on the lips, he waves goodbye and leaves the room with Kenma lying on his bed wondering if that all really did happen, staring at his phone.
Tetsurou: Can't wait to see you tonight❤️
Kenma: i can't believe i have to tell my friends about you now
Kenma: they're going to think i've gone insane
Tetsurou: How long have you known them for? None since you were younger?
Kenma: well, one of them has been my best friend since grade school. he knows about you and is sure to embarrass the hell out of me
Tetsurou: Perfect, then I can't wait even more ;)
Kenma: whatever
After far too long of avoiding his friend's and dealing with his hunger, Kenma wanders downstairs to the dining area to see them all still sitting around a table with empty plates and bowls. He sits in the empty seat, ignoring the heavy stares from everyone as he orders his food and takes a sip of his water.
"Was there someone in your room this morning?" Shoyo breaks the awkward silence with a question that everyone was thinking.
Kenma chokes on his water, eyes wide and looking around at his friends.
"That obvious?"
"Yes," everyone agrees in harmony.
"Jeez, calm down. Is it really so crazy of a thing for me to do?"
"Yes," they all chime in again.
"Wait!" Shoyo shoots up out of his seat, shock and realization dawning over his features. Atsumu looks up at him with concern while Koutarou and Keiji watch silently from their seats. "It was that guy! When did you meet up with him?! How did you even know he would be here? What's his name again? Did he actually spend the night with you? TELL ME EVERYTHING!"
Shoyo's eyes are wide as he leans across the table, inches from Kenma's personal space with a crazed look in his eye. Kenma doesn't blame his reaction either, considering this has all been over five years in the making. He honestly expected Shoyo to run laps around the room the moment he figured out what was really going on.
"Sho, honey, sit down!" Atsumu gently guides him back into his seat, rubbing a hand against his back softly as he does so. "What the hell are ya going on about?"
The ginger looks to Kenma, silently asking if he can explain to everyone what's going on, but Kenma shakes his head no. Before Shoyo can protest, Kenma clears his throat and sits up a bit straighter, grabbing the group's attention. With a deep breath in, he recalls to everyone the history of Tetsurou and how he knew the person that was in his hotel room that morning.
"His name is Tetsurou." Kenma finishes his script.
Nerves run through his body as he realizes the entire story sounds ridiculous and farfetched; something out of a movie that doesn't actually happen in real life. The group of friends all look at Kenma with different expressions. Koutarou is smiling widely, Keiji's eyes are wide, Shoyo's face is alight with joy, and Atsumu seems to be the only one with concern on his face.
"Am I the only one who's worried this guy might be a murder?!" Atsumu exclaims.
Everyone directs their attention to him, slowly all nodding their heads. Shoyo speaks up, putting his hand over Atsumu's. "Babe, you don't know the lore and the years I've been waiting for this to happen. Only Kenma and I really know! It's incredible!"
Kenma clears his throat. "I think you guys would get along with him, honestly. And he said he would show us the best bar in town after he's off work tonight."
Atsumu glares at him. "How do you know he actually works here, huh?"
Just as Atsumu doubts him once again, a server arrives at the table with Kenma's food, including a small bowl of fresh fruit that wasn't an option on the breakfast menu. The server smiles and tells Kenma that the head chef hopes he's well and gifts him the fruit, free of charge. He kindly thanks the server and the turns towards the group, his cheeks growing red when they're all smiling at him.
"See," Shoyo leans towards his boyfriend. "Everything is fine, I swear!"
Giving up on his skepticism, Atusmu rejoins the group's conversation as they carry on with their morning, treating the entire Kenma-meets-his-long-lost-summer-love debacle like a normal occurrence. Kenma breathes a sigh of relief, snacking on his fruit as they all discuss what to do with their day.
As the afternoon settles in the air, the sun hanging lower in the sky, the group of friends all wait down in the lobby of the hotel. They're dressed to spend a night out on the town, as Kenma had said that Tetsurou would take them all out to a bar. Obviously, Kenma hadn't done anything like this the last time he was here because he was so young, but he's excited to see some of the streets Tetsurou had once taken him around all those years ago.
Regardless of his excitement, Kenma's nerves are through the roof as they all wait around and Shoyo seems to notice fairly quickly as he pads over and nudges Kenma with his shoulder.
"It's gonna be alright! Forget Tsumu's negativity, I threatened to leave him at the hotel by himself if he pulled anything tonight," Shoyo chuckles.
"He's fine, I know he's just a skeptic. I'm honestly just worried things will be too good and I'll have to leave again… It's fine."
Keiji steps over to offer a few words. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Kenma nods in agreement, just as Tetsurou walks out of the elevator with searching eyes. He looks much taller in the light of the day, with black pants that elongate his legs. His button up shirt is open several buttons at the top and Kenma is sure he's going to implode from the raw sex appeal he's giving off without even trying. When Tetsurou finally spots him, his face lights up, showing his handsome smile that adorns his sharp features which makes Kenma blush.
As he walks over, Shoyo chokes on air and whisper-yells, "That's him?!"
"Shut up, yes."
"Kenma!" Tetsurou greets him happily with a hand around his waist and a hug that's far too intimate for them to just be friends.
He cleans up well and his cologne is subtle, but strong enough to smell as Kenma nuzzles into his chest for a moment, drinking in the feeling of having their bodies so close once more. He hears someone clear their throat behind him and jumps, remembering his friends are watching. Turning around, Kenma puts a hand out and gestures towards each person as he introduces them all to Tetsurou.
"And this is Tetsurou," he finishes.
"Pleased to meet you all," Tetsurou smiles charmingly, then turns to Koutarou. "Love the hair, by the way!"
"Thanks! It's all natural, baby! Yours is quite the sight too, I see."
"Also as natural as can be," Tetsurou jokes back.
The two of them continue chatting and laughing, which instantly lightens the mood and relieves Kenma of all his anxiety. He knew they'd get along well, but it was hard to envision it all the way, so thankfully he's in the clear on that front. Atsumu soon joins in on their conversation as Keiji, Kenma, and Shoyo all stand to the side and watch them endearingly, until they start to get a bit too rowdy, which makes the younger ones push the three of them outside.
Tetsurou finds his way back to Kenma and smoothly takes his smaller hand in his, letting everyone know which direction they'll be walking as they all couple up and talk about the town around them. They listen to Tetsurou tell funny stories, and convince him to take them down the long route through the evening market so they can look at all the local items for sale. Keiji has a lovely time looking at the handmade pottery and Shoyo wishes he could try and take home every snack he sees.
With a promise to return on their last evening of the week, the group finally finds their way to the bar Tetsurou swore to take them to, and it doesn't let any of them down. It's closer to a pub than a bar, with old wooden floors and decorations that look like they're engrained into the walls, but the music is lively and the bartenders are all younger, leaving the atmosphere feeling homey, but sprightly.
Kenma watches as his friends wander off in different directions, leaving Tetsurou to turn around and weave his hands around Kenma's waist. "What's your drink?"
"Anything is fine, just not something gross."
Tetsurou laughs loudly. "What's considered gross? Beer?"
Kenma nods. With a kiss to Kenma's cheek, Tetsurou takes his hand and leads him to the bar, where he greets the bartender like a friend and then asks for some drinks. Kenma watches how confident Tetsurou is, just like he was at a young age. His hair is still the same and the way he carries himself is all too familiar, only now he looks all grown up and has become the type of man people dream of having or becoming. Tetsurou turns to hand Kenma a blue drink that looks questionable, but after a small trial sip, he approves with a nod.
The song changes to something more sensual and slower paced, drawing everyone's attention as the crowd of dancers and bystanders all search for a partner to dance with. Kenma looks around and takes a deep breath, a quick chug of his drink, and then grabs Tetsurou's hand to bee-line it straight for the dance floor. Tetsurou is quick on his feet, instantly wrapping his arms around him without skipping a beat, their hips swaying in sync. The alcohol warms Kenma's veins along with Tetsurou's body pressed flush against his back, feeling so perfectly aligned.
As the evening sky turns to dusk, and eventually to black, the group of friends let loose and have fun in that little local bar together for as long as the night will allow. Their trip back to the hotel is far funnier than the trip there as they all stumble, shush, and admonish each other all the way back to the hallway where their rooms are. With loving, drunk hugs between them all, the separate into their own rooms for the rest of the night as long as the sun is hiding behind the ocean.
Kenma wakes up with a splitting headache, his ears softly ringing as he blinks his heavy eyes open until he sees the bed is empty next to him where he had thought Tetsurou fell asleep with him the night before. The sun is high in the sky, likely late morning by now. He sighs as a sadness sinks deep into his chest until he finally sits up and looks at his bedside table. There he finds a glass of water, pain pills, and a note.
Had to work, I'm sorry! Meet me down by the volleyball nets at 3? Bring your friends
His sleepy and heavy disposition quickly turns for the better as he finds his phone and sends his friends a message about the plans, expecting them to answer whenever they're able. Kenma and the group spend the afternoon outside after a meal, playing volleyball and resting along the side of the net in the shade, just as he had once before. He finds himself in a blissful state of happiness, choosing to not think about what will happen in a few days when it's time for their vacation to be over.
"I'm scared," Kenma whispers in the dark of the hotel room, nuzzled up against Tetsurou's chest.
He doesn't have the guts to look him in the eyes as he admits the hard truth he's been burying since his arrival. Kenma isn't someone who openly expresses himself often, so the words are hard to let out, ones that he has fought with himself to say since he spent that first night with Tetsurou. Then, he feels the hand Tetsurou has around his waist tighten as he places a gentle kiss to Kenma's head.
"Me too," he responds.
It's quiet, only the far away sounds of the ocean crashing against the shore can be heard amongst the beating of their hearts and way their breathing falls in sync as they lie there.
"Kenma," Tetsurou starts. "I want... more. I want more with you." His voice rises as he speaks, holding back tears, probably. Kenma feels his chest rolling with anxiety and emotion. "I'll move to Tokyo, if I have to."
This makes Kenma sit up and look at Tetsurou incredulously. "You can't do that. Your whole life is here, your dad, your friends. Be reasonable, Tetsu."
"I am being reasonable!" Tetsurou sits up all the same. "Sorry, I'm not upset at you at all. This is what I've been waiting for, searching for. It's you, Kenma. No one else matters as much as you do."
Kenma feels a surge of emotion rush through his body, his soul, as he looks up at the man he's quickly fallen in love with. "I can't ask you to do something like that."
"You're not asking me. I want to and I'm gonna do something that I want. C'mere," Tetsurou gestures for Kenma to come closer, taking him into his arms as he sits back against the headboard of the bed. "I've been wanting to go to Tokyo anyway. Maybe get a job as a sports promoter. We can always come back here in the future, but I want to live my life in a way that makes me happy, and Kenma, you make me happy."
It's then that Kenma feels a tear slip down his cheek and he realizes he's crying. Crying because Tetsurou is so fervent in his desires; he's honest and sincere and wants Kenma around, and that feeling is indescribably incredible. He clutches Tetsurou close, letting his tears flow as he feels all of his fear and trepid anticipation leave his body, slowly being replaced by all of Tetsurou's love and support.
"You think we could do it?" Kenma asks quietly.
"I'll make sure it happens. On my honor."
Tetsurou lifts Kenma's chin to show his smiling face, his eyes rimmed red just the same as Kenma's own. "You're crazy," Kenma chuckles.
"And you love it."
The next morning, the group of friends gather downstairs in the lobby with their bags and heavy hearts, not wanting to leave and go back to college. The trip was far more fun and exciting than any of them had anticipated, which is all thanks for Kenma and his new boyfriend. Shoyo hangs close to Kenma as they all get ready to leave, because he knows he'll feel the brunt of the post-vacation depression, considering how he was last time.
Shoyo once told Kenma that he was never the same after that vacation in middle school. He was a bit more sad and down, never fully committing to many social things, nor wanting to go on another vacation with his parents afterwards. Kenma notices how much more clingy Shoyo is acting as they wait in the lobby for Keiji and Koutarou and he nudges him in the same way he usually receives.
"I'll be okay this time." He smiles.
"How do you know that? I'm just worried about you because I love you, that's all."
"I'll tell you on the train."
He gives Shoyo a small smile that eases the red-head's nerves. Just as Keiji and Koutarou arrive downstairs, Tetsurou jogs out of the kitchen and up towards the group with a wave. He offers to walk with them to the shuttle as he takes Kenma's hand and chats with the others about when they should come back and visit. As they give their bags to the shuttle driver, who packs them in the undercarriage, Kenma stands to the side with Tetsurou.
"Everything is gonna work out. Call me when you get home?"
"I will."
"I'll talk to you later, then."
"Bye, Tetsu."
One Year Later
"Is he really coming today?!" Shoyo jumps as he helps Kenma put the last of his things away in boxes.
His college dorm with Keiji has run its course after their lease ended and Koutarou asked Keiji to move in with him. After he proposed. If it was anyone else proposing at such a young age, Kenma would be concerned, but they're truly a match made in heaven and he has no complaints.
"His train gets here in thirty minutes."
"You guys have really been through it all! Now we can all go on triple dates!"
"Sure thing," Kenma chuckles, gathering his bag and keys and heading out the door with Shoyo.
They walk through the city until they pass by Shoyo's apartment building, where Kenma drops him off with a wave goodbye and a promise to call him later in the week. As he paces down the sidewalk towards the nearest train station, Kenma's nerves skyrocket. It's not the first time Tetsurou has visited him by this point, but it's the first time he's permanently left his hometown and Kenma would be lying if he said he didn't feel responsible for such a life change as that.
But true to Kenma's feelings for Tetsurou and his loving demeanor, all of his nerves disappear the moment the train arrives and that wild hair and charming smile come into view. He waves a hand in the air to grab the taller one's attention, and once they lock eyes, the world freezes and Kenma's lungs are filled with air.
He doesn't care if there's a crowd of people around them, he doesn't care about decency, all he cares about is Tetsurou.
Kenma runs jumps into Tetsurou's arms. Their lips colliding as Tetsurou catches him effortlessly, kissing him with that familiar fervency Kenma loves so much. Every weekend visit, every holiday trip, an entire year of video chats and long phone calls are all over with now. A tidal wave of relief washes over the pair as they embrace each other with a new level of emotion and adoration for each other.
"Let's go," Tetsurou whispers in his ear as he puts Kenma down and takes his hand.
They grab his bags and drop them off at Kenma's dorm that's ready to be moved out of, then leave just as quickly as they arrived. Their walk downtown isn't too long as Kenma explains to Tetsurou all the places they're passing by and which ones he plans on taking him to. They finally arrive at a building with large lettering above it that says Tokyo Homes: Rent, Buy, Sell.
"Ready, Kitten?" Tetsurou smiles down at Kenma, who's looking up at him all the same.
"More than ready. Let's go."