Chapter Text
Yuu was seventeen when the constants in his life aren't constants anymore.
Three weeks after Mika left for Tokyo, it was Yuu’s time to leave for Akita.
“Oi, brat. Make sure you didn’t forget to bring your briefs and boxers.”
“What the fuck, Guren?”
“Just checking. I don’t wanna drive for two hours just to bring you your spare underwear.” Guren shrugged, a smug smirk plastered on his face.
“Stop teasing Yuu, Guren.” Shinya slapped Guren’s arm. Hah, serves him right. “Do you already know who your roommate is, Yuu?”
“Not yet. But he might already be there since school will start on four days.”
Shinya gave a silent hum as his answer. After zipping his luggage, Yuu stood up to get his shoes.
“Why are you two still here? Don’t you have any work?”
“We’re going to send you off, stupid.” Guren scoffed. “You have a brain, brat. Use it.”
Yuu scowled, “Wow, I can feel your love for me. Thanks.”
Shinya just laughed at their exchange. He didn’t bother to interrupt them since this is going to be their last day of barking up on each other’s ass. And even though Guren rarely shows it, Shinya knows the man is going to miss his nephew.
“Hurry up or you’re not going to catch the train, Yuu.”
Yuu stumbled on zipping his backpack, “Shit.”
The ride to the station was full of Guren trying to lecture Yuu on independence while Yuu replies with his snarky comebacks and Shinya just teasing the two on their denial on missing each other.
“You sure your not going to need more money, Yuu?” Shinya asked.
“Well, there’s this game that’s gonna be released onㅡ”
“Shut up and get your ass on that damn train, Yuu.” Guren cut him off.
Yuu laughed, “Yeah, fine. I’m gonna miss you too, Guren.”
Guren was shocked for a moment until Shinya tapped his shoulder and gave him a teasing smirk.
“Whatever. Just visit on your vacation and come back in one piece.”
“He says he’ll miss you too, Yuu.”
Yuu gave them a final laugh and waved his hand as a good bye and made his way into the train.
Yuu arrived at the university dorms at six thirty in the evening. He didn’t bother to get his keys when he saw his roommate’s surname was already pinned on the board next to the door.
Saotome? Yuu placed his own surname beneath it and proceeded in opening the door.
Their dorm room was simple. There are two beds and two desks beside the beds. A door leading to the bathroom was placed at his roommate’s side.
Yuu walked towards the unoccupied bed, the one on the right. He removed his shoes and placed his bag that contains his gadgets and important belongings on the desk.
The door to the bathroom opened and a guy with brown hair and dark green eyes came out. He was shorter than Yuu and has a lanky built body.
“Oh! Have you been here too long already?”
“No, I just arrived minutes ago. Saotome, right?”
“Yep but you can call me Yoichi. You are?”
“Yuuichirou Hyakuya. But call me Yuu instead. I’m in architecture.”
Yoichi sat at his bed while Yuu started unpacking his things from his luggage. “Wow. I’m in engineering, by the way, civil.”
“How long have you been here, Yoichi?” Yuu started putting his clothes on the cabinet at the foot of the bed.
“I’ve arrived two days ago. There isn’t a lot of people yet. Seems like most students are going to arrive one day before classes start.” Yoichi shrugged.
Things are quiet between them after that. Yuu continued to arrange his things while Yoichi started scribbling something on his notebook.
Yuu really isn’t one who can start a conversation with someone he just met that’s why he thanked God when Yoichi’s phone started to ring, breaking the unbearable silence between them.
He busied himself with setting up his study desk, trying not to eavesdrop on Yoichi’s call. After a minute, Yoichi stood up after the call ended.
“Yuu-kun, I’m going to head out for a while.” Yoichi said before opening the door. Yuu only nodded his head as a response.
After he was finished putting all his thing out, he sprawled himself on the bed and pulled his phone out from his front pocket. Mika’s classes have started two weeks ago so he limited his messages on Mika’s vacant periods (he has a copy of Mika’s schedule and although he denies it, he already memorized most of it) and at the end of Mika’s classes.
But Yuu couldn’t resist since he was getting bored and he wanted to let Mika know he’s already here in his university.
Finished unpacking n now im bored as hell
Yuu tapped send and threw his phone on the bedside table. He rolled over and lied on his stomach, thinking of what he’s gonna buy for dinner later.
His phone vibrated from the table. Yuu frowned thinking it might be Guren or Shinya but he was surprised to see it was Mika instead.
Haha poor Yuu-chan. Why don’t you talk to your roommate?
Hes out n i dont know what to talk about
Sucks to be you, I guess
Oi! as if u already have a friend there. knowing you? youre still a loner even after 2 weeks of attending uni
Sorry to disappoint you but my roommate is actually Lacus’ cousin and he’s almost in the same classes as I have. :p
Yuu laughed at Mika’s text. It’s been three weeks of just texting and calling each other (if Mika isn’t that busy) and he missed Mika’s snarky comebacks.
Y are u even replying? dont u have a class?
Nope. Prof canceled our class so I’m free for the rest of the day.
By the time Yoichi returned, Yuu was still sprawled on his bed holding his phone. Yuu didn’t noticed the time. It was nine in the evening already. He and Mika have been texting for two hours now.
“Want to get some dinner, Yuu-kun?” Yoichi asked him.
Yuu sent a quick ‘I’m gonna eat dinner. Brb’ to Mika before locking his phone. “I thought you already had dinner since you went out, Yoichi?”
“I haven’t yet. I went to my friend’s dorm at the other building and stayed there for a while.” Yoichi took his wallet that was on the drawer of the bedside table. “So does curry sounds nice?”
A month after school started, Yuu and Yoichi had gotten along just fine. Yuu discovered Yoichi is actually good at math and with Mika not here, he started asking for Yoichi’s help in his classes instead.
One thing about Yoichi is that he has this friend he keeps on going to. He often spends the night on his said friend’s dorm since his friend doesn’t have a dorm mate. This night is one of those nights.
So you’re alone there again?
Yeah yoichi went out an hour ago and its already 10:30. hes probably gonna spend his night there again.
Poor, Yuu-chan
Stop saying that stupid!!!!!
Yuu stretched as he finished his last school work on a Friday night. It wasn’t typical for him to finish it on a Friday night and not on Sunday night but he thinks it’s because he doesn’t have anything to do so he might as well do his school works.
He beamed as he had an idea run through his mind and quickly texted Mika again.
R u busy???
It took a while for Mika to reply but he responded with a no.
Can i call u? video call??
They never had video called on the two months they were apart. Just an exchange of text messages or three hour phone calls if ever the two of them aren’t that busy. Mostly, it was Mika who was busier among the two of them and Yuu often was the one who initiates the call.
Sure. You call?
Yuu grinned at the thought of seeing his best friend again. Surely, two months wouldn’t have done him a lot of change but still, it was the longest they haven’t seen each other since they became friend when they were eight.
He opened the his FaceTime app and quickly called Mika. It rang five times before Mika accepted the call.
At first all Yuu could see was a white ceiling until Mika focused the camera on his face.
Holy fuck
He took back everything he thought about Mika not changing just a couple of months. Mika’s hair grew longer that he’s sporting a low messy ponytail. His unruly bangs grew so long, half of his eyes were covered. He had bags under his eyes and he became paler than he already is.
Although he looks haggard because of all the studying he did, he still look……good.
Mika must’ve saw how unruly his bangs are and combed his hand through his hair. The bangs that were covering his eyes got pushed back. Yuu finally saw Mika’s blue eyes. Despite of all the other changes in Mika’s face, his eyes were still the same bright sapphire hues Yuu gets lost in sometimes whenever they talk and Mika holds his gaze longer than Yuu can take.
“Woah…” Yuu spoke after he came to his senses that he was staring too long at Mika. “Your hair is a mess.”
Mika chuckled, “Nice to see you too after two months, Yuu-chan.”
Yuu felt his heart thrash against his chest after hearing that low chuckle and seeing Mika’s lips curling up. He thought it was because of the last time he saw Mika like this was two months (felt like forever though) ago.
“So, why’d you call? Missed me too much, Yuu-chan?” Mika flashed him a teasing smirk.
“I just don’t have anyone to talk to, you shit.” Mika laughed at the cuss. “Also, annoying you is a great hobby of mine.”
“Sure, Yuu-chan. I miss you too.”
Yuu froze at Mika’s voice. He didn’t know why he was reacting like this towards Mika’s words. It isn’t the first time Mika said I miss you to him. They have exchanged that phrase so many time over the years. He didn’t know what made this one so different than the others.
He can feel his face turning red, “I-I don’t miss you, bastard!” Mika just let out a hearty laugh. “Stop laughing! I’m gonna end this call right now!”
“Fine, fine.” Mika covered his mouth in an attempt to stop himself from laughing.
They talked about a lot of things. How Mika’s professors are the kinds of professors who’s currently living a bitter life and gets satisfaction on seeing their students suffer. How Yuu became close to Yoichi after that horrifyingly awkward first week. How Mika eats alone whenever his and Lacus’ vacant aren’t at the same time. How short the distance Yuu is walking everyday from their university to his dorm. How Mika often forgets to buy those weird red tonic juice he drinks whenever he’s planning to stay up all night. How Yuu haven’t eaten curry ever since he arrived here in Akita.
And it hit Yuu. Because those things are the routines they did together back then. They always eat together during their break even though Mika is in the advanced class. They always walk home together even though Yuu sometimes have club activities after school. He always was the one who reminds and accompanies Mika whenever he needs to buy at the only shop that has that product across town. Mika always was the one who would tease him for his addiction to curry even though he also have the same addiction to the said food.
“Yuu-chan? Are you asleep?”
Yuu opened his eyes, unaware that he had closed them when let his thoughts run astray. He saw Mika’s blue orbs staring at him with a hint of worry. And he just drank all of what he can see right now. The strands that are framing Mika’s face, his tidied room that can be seen through the camera, all the papers that are laid on Mika’s desk.
But most of all, he drank Mika’s features. The bags underneath his eyes, the small blemish on his forehead peeking through his bangs, the frown on his eyebrows, his pink parted lips, his…..Mika.
“I really miss you, Mika.”
This time, Mika was the one who was caught off guard. Yuu thought Mika was gonna be all smug and mock him but he was surprised at his reaction.
Mika was shocked, his eyes wide, his parted lips parted even more, a gasp was stuck in his throat, his ears turning pink but Yuu couldn’t see it that much since it was hidden by his hair.
“I-uh… I miss you too, Y-Yuu-chan.” Mika coughed and cleared his throat.
He didn’t know why but Yuu felt something had changed in Mika’s demeanor after that. Yuu mostly did all the talking while Mika stared at him with a faraway look. When the clock stroke on quarter to two, they decided to it was time to sleep since tomorrow is a school day and bid each other a good night.
Yuu sprawled his body all over his bed while holding his phone on his chest. His eyes staring at the ceiling while he tried to recall everything that happenedㅡeverything that he feltㅡon the duration of their video call. His heart speeding up as his mind wandered around all the possibilities he could think of.
Something’s not.. right.
Yuu was eighteen when the past haunted him.
It was the night after their prelims exams. Mitsuba, his block mate, invited him to a party held by her girlfriend at her place two streets away from their university.
Yuu jumped on that offer since it’s been too long since the last time he went to a party plus it’ll be kind of a celebration for having survived the hell week.
Yoichi, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling the same as he was. All he wants to do is to have a long fifteen hours of sleep after committing to a three hours sleep every night until hell week ends.
“C’mon, Yoichi! It’ll be fun, I promise.” Yuu assured his room mate slash close friend.
“Yuu-kun, I don’t wanna.” Yoochi pouted and buried his body more on the thick comforters of his bed.
A knock interrupted Yuu’s pleadings. Just after he undo the lock, the door was opened and Mitsuba walked straight unto Yoichi’s bed.
“Oi, Yoichi. Get dressed, we’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”
“Whaㅡ Mitsuba? What are you doing here?”
“Dragging your ass out of bed, what else.” Mitsuba leaned her body on one leg and paced an arm on her hip.
Yoichi groaned and started to get up, dragging his feet towards the bathroom door but before going in, he fired a question to Mitsuba. “Is Kimizuki going?”
“Of course. When did he miss a party like this?” Yoichi just sighed and closed the door.
“Kimizuki?” Yuu asked.
“Oh, his friend from the other engineering block.”
“You mean… the one he’s spending some nights with?”
“God, you make it sound so dirty, Yuu. That’s his childhood friend, you shit.”
“I didn’t mean anything from that. You are the one who’s thinking dirty things.”
Mitsuba just scowled and lied her body on Yoichi’s bed. Her hands underneath her head. She didn’t even bother to take off his shoes bit they weren’t touching the sheets anyway.
After ten minutes, Yoichi came out of the bathroom wearing a button up shirt tucked inside his fitted pants. He was drying his brown hair and retrieved his shoes underneath his bed.
Yuu started to become excited. He really wants to take a drink. Ever since that video call with Mika, he’s been having these weird thoughts on his mind. Like how he wants to run his fingers through Mika’s growing hair and how he wants to stare at his blue eyes for hours.
Yuu shook his head and pushed those thoughts away. Following an arguing Mitsuba and Yoichi on the way to Mitsuba’s girlfriend’s house.
“I’m telling you, Kimizuki is already bat-shit crazy drunk when we arrive. It’s already been two hours since the party started and we know Kimizuki can’t hold out longer than that.” Mitsuba said.
“Give him a little faith, Mitsuba. Plus he knows I’m coming so he’ll try not to get drunk at least before I arrive.”
“Wait, hold up. I thought you aren’t supposed to and you don’t want to go, Yoichi?” Yuu asked him.
Yoichi’s face started flaming up, though it isn’t noticeable since it was dark. “W-Well, I texted him before I took a bath and he replied with an ‘okay’.”
Mitsuba shot a teasing glance at Yoichi’s face but didn’t say anything about it. While Yuu didn’t bother to analyze his words once he heard the blaring sound from the speakers.
To say that the house was huge is an understatement. It was a fucking mansion. Those ones you see being used on television dramas by elite families. The road in front of the house was filled with parked cars. Some Yuu can distinguish by having seen them at their university.
Once they got inside, the smell of sweat, alcohol and mixed perfumes welcomed Yuu. The living room was made into a huge dance floor with lights blinking around the room. He saw a DJ at the corner beside the stereos. Peope were dancing, grinding even to those who are near to them. Not minding if it was a stranger or not. The party at Narumi’s house pale in comparison to this.
Mitsuba led them upstairs where the party is a little tame compared to the one below. The music is chill but still danceable for those who are on the dance floor. There were a lot of couches and tables for beer pong had been set up.
“Woah. You have one fucking rich girlfriend, Mitsuba.”
“Why, thank you.” Another voice joined them in. The girl leaned into Mitsuba and pecked a short kiss on her lips. She was a lot of inches shorter than you. Thin but not skinny. Her purple hair was shockingly familiar and was turned up into a braid.
When the girl pulled away, Yuu got a clear look on her face and oh fuck, no.
“Shinoa?!” The girl turned her head at Yuu, only noticing him and Yoichi now after snaking her body on her girlfriend.
Shinoa’s eyes turned wide the same as you Yuu and her lips parted in shock. “Yuuichirou?!”
Yoichi looked at them in confusion, “Wait, you know each other?” The question was also etched on Mitsuba’s face.
When she got over her shock, Shinoa laughed loudly and a smirked turned up on her lips. “We don’t just know each other. He’s actually myㅡ”
“Wait, Shinoa!”
“ㅡex-boyfriend.”
Well, fuck.
After explaining to Mitsuba and Yoichi how they had that former relationship status, Yuu can already feel a growing headache when he hadn’t drank even one glass for the night.
“What the fuck? That really happened?”
Shinoa just laughed and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. “I also can’t believe I’ve been in a relationshipㅡ” her mouth turned up in disgust, “with that guy.”
Yuu scowled, “That guy is sitting right here. Also, you were the one who confessed and said that we should date.”
Shinoa shuddered, “Yes and that was the greatest mistake I did in my entire life.”
Mitsuba and Yoichi laughed at the two doomed people. Their laughing stopped when a tall guy with pink (of all colors?) hair made his way towards them and stood beside Yoichi.
“How long have you been here?” The tall guy’s voice was deep and he was wearing glasses. Something was clawing on Yuu’s mind as he stared more on the guy’s face.
“Not too long. You aren’t drunk yet? I told you so, Mitsuba.”
The blonde groaned, “Damn, now I have to pay you five bucks.”
“You betted on me? On what grounds?”
“Well, I said you’ll be already drunk by the time we arrived and Yoichi betted the opposite and tada, you’ve failed me, Kimizuki.”
Snap. “I remember now!” Yuu’s shout had caught Kimizuki’s attention. He turned and stared at Yuu’s face, eyes enlarging as a memory started to play in his mind.
“You were that asshole back at Narumi’s house two years ago!”
Kimizuki’s mouth curled into distaste, “I could say the same to you, asshole.”
“What the fuck is going on here now?” Mitsuba interrupted them before they started biting each other’s ears off.
It took them a lot longer than telling about Shinoa and Yuu’s connection since they always have a side comment to the other and that ensues another bickering only to be stopped by either Shinoa or Yoichi.
“It really is a small shitty world. Who would’ve fucking known.” Shinoa mused.
“I can’t believe you flirted with Kimizuki’s little sister, Yuu.” Yoichi laughed.
“That was a long time ago and I was drunk, okay? I didn’t think she wolud be that younger than me.” Yuu defended his self after getting his past opened up for the second time around. What is this? Flashback Friday?
“Ahh, the glorious days of straight heterosexual Yuu. That is an interesting thing to reminisce about.” Shinoa smirked.
“You mean, your straight heterosexual days. You’re the gay one here, Shinoa.”
“Oho? What about your precious Mika, Yuu-san. I haven’t seen him around, isn’t he with you?”
Yuu furrowed his brows, “What do you mean by that? And also Mika is studying in Tokyo. He isn’t in the same university as we’re in.”
Shinoa put a hand on her chest as if to demonstrate her surprise. “You two aren’t together?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? He’s in Toㅡ”
“I mean like together together? Boyfriends? A couple? Fucking each other?”
“What the hell, Shinoa?!” Yuu reddened at Shinoa’s crude words. “What shit are you trying to pull?!” He glanced quickly at their surroundings, only noticing now that Kimizuki and Yoichi disappeared off to somewhere and Mitsuba was in the pool table playing billiards.
“You know I assumed it because when we were together, all you say about is Mika this and Mika that and I shrugged it off as something about being best bros thing. You don’t even plan our dates on Sundays because of your so called Gaming Day with Mika” Shinoa shrugged as if to emphasize her thoughts. “Plus Mika is like the only guy who sticked with your dumb ass over the years and mind you, you’re a tough one to handle.”
“But when we ‘broke up’ and my mind got opened about my real sexuality, I couldn’t help but assume you like Mika more than a best friend and you’ve already figured that out over the years.”
Yuu was silent, slowly taking all Shinoa’s words. There was a blooming fear on his mind, his chest getting heavier as he thought of this possibility and all he could think is no.
“Wait, you haven’t realized it yet?” Shinoa started laughing so hard she started dangling towards the edge of her seat. “My, Yuu-san. I didn’t think you would be thisㅡI don’t know. Slow? Dumb? Dense?”
Yuu started burning up. All the emotions stirring in him caused him to blurt out a: "I'm not gay, Shinoa!"
"Oh, you aren't?" Shinoa's mouth shaped an O in mock surprise.
"I'm leaving." Yuu stood up only to be pushed back again on his seat by Shinoa.
"Waitㅡ" Shinoa laughed, "Bullshit. Tell me Yuu, when was the last time you've gone on a date with a girl? Or when was the last time you even got attracted with a girl?"
Yuu tried to rack his brain for an answer. But nothing came into mind. The last time he can remember was his last date with Shinoa before she left Sendai. And that happened four fucking years ago.
"See? It's written all over your face, idiot. Accept the fact that you are gay and gay for your best friend."
"Shinoa!" Yuu exclaimed. His face is becoming beet red from Shinoa's teasing.
"Facts only, Yuu-i-chi-rou." Shinoa teased, drawling out the syllables of his name.
Shinoa must have been joking but Yuu couldn't deny that her words didn't make him drink more than he planned to. Didn’t make him stay up at night, thinking about everything he had done in the past years. Why he never got a girlfriend after Shinoa or why he had never gone on a date with someone else.
He didn't want to admit it but Shinoa's words actually made him think.