Chapter Text
Seiji woke up, started packing his and Nicholas’s bags, because he knew Nick would forget something, and accepted the fact that Nick would never know the things that Seiji felt on this trip.
——
Nick saw both of their bags packed in an orderly fashion, and knew that Seiji must be ready to leave this place. He probably hated Nick for the stunt he pulled at the beach.
——
Nicholas’s mom gave both of them hugs and told them they were welcome back any time.
Emmy told Nick goodbye, I love you, all of that, and she turned to Seiji, and she had him bend down so she could whisper in his ear.
“I read through his phone records. He likes you and was telling some kid Bobby about it, asking for advice. Just go for it and ask him out.” She flashed him a smile. “Goodbye, Seiji!”
——
The bus ride back to Kings Row was the quietest three hours of Seiji’s entire life. Nicholas sat right next to him, his shoulder pressed firmly against Seiji’s as the bus jolted along the highway, but neither of them said a single word. Seiji had a new ball of information he didn’t know how to deal with. Nick just kept his headphones pushed tight over his ears, staring blankly out the window at the passing trees. Seiji kept his hands folded tightly in his lap, his knuckles practically turning white as he stared at the floorboards. The easy, chaotic banter of the week had completely vanished, replaced by an agonizing, heavy wall of silence.
The closer they got to school, the colder Seiji felt. He was desperately mourning a bubble that hadn't even popped yet.
——
When they finally unlocked the door to their dorm room, the small space felt completely different than it had a week ago. The two narrow twin beds stood on opposite sides of the room, separated by a massive, empty expanse of hardwood floor.
Seiji dropped his suitcase by his desk, the wheels clicking loudly against the floor. He kept his back turned to Nicholas, instantly gripping the edge of his desk to steady his shaking hands. He knew what he was supposed to do now. He was supposed to unpack, sit down at his desk, open his training log, and pretend that the last seven days had never happened. He was supposed to go back to being the stoic, unbothered Seiji Katayama.
But his bed looked entirely too far away. It looked freezing.
Behind him, he heard the heavy rustle of Nicholas’s duffel bag hitting the mattress. Then, the room went completely silent again. Neither of them moved.
"Seiji," Nick’s voice broke the quiet, sounding rough and completely devoid of his usual energetic bounce.
Seiji didn't turn around. He couldn't. "Yes, Nicholas?"
"Are you... are you mad at me?" Nick asked softly. The bed springs creaked as Nick shifted his weight, his voice tracking closer as he stepped toward the center of the room. "About the beach. Or the bed stuff. I know I’m a lot to deal with, and your bags were packed so fast this morning, I just... I figured you couldn't wait to get away from my family. From me."
Seiji’s chest tightened so hard it genuinely hurt. He snapped, his rigid composure fracturing completely as he spun around to face his roommate.
"Do you honestly believe I am that shallow, Nicholas?" Seiji demanded, his voice dropping its formal rhythm, raw and cracking with frustration. "I packed the bags because you are incapable of remembering your own belongings. And I am not mad about the beach. I’m mad because..." He choked on his own breath, his face running hot as he looked at the empty space between their separate beds. "Because I do not want to sleep over there."
Nick froze in the middle of the room, his brown eyes widening in absolute shock. "What?"
"You heard me," Seiji hissed, crossing his arms defensively to hide how hard his chest was heaving. All his strict rules, his vows of silence, and his athletic focus were burning to ash. "I have spent the last four nights wrapped in your blankets. I have spent the last four nights listening to you breathe. And the thought of going back to this... this distance is completely intolerable to me."
Nicholas stared at him, his mouth slightly open, before a familiar, breathless smile slowly began to break across his face. “You mean… you wanna stay here and sleep with me?”
“Yes, Nicholas. That was my whole speech, wasn’t it? Your sister said you were telling Bobby about how much you liked me, and how I should just go for it. This is me going for it. Will you go out with me, Nicholas Cox?” He smiled at Nick.
“Hell yes I will, Seiji Katayama. Hell yes.” He stepped forward towards Seiji. “May I?”
“Yes.” He kissed Nicholas square on the lips, and he realized something.
He couldn’t wait for the night to come.