Chapter Text
Moving from Canada to Japan was a huge change in Langa’s life. There were so many differences between the two countries. Even though his mother is Japanese and he grew up with Japanese culture at home there was still a pretty big cultural shock once he moved. There was also a slight language barrier. English was his first langue - he did speak Japanese with his mom but he’s not that good with the more complex parts of the langue.
Given that Langa’s best subject was English both his mom and Reki suggested that he tutor a few classmates that struggled in the area, including Reki. This is how he ends up staying after school for about an hour and a half every Wednesday tutoring Reki and Himari and Asahi (two of their classmates.)
This Wednesday was a little different from his normal ones. Reiki had to talk with their math teacher after class about their most recent test. This caused Langa to be unfocused while tutoring Himari and Asahi. He was worried for Reki. He was strong but getting yelled at by teachers always had a way of making him shine a little less.
“Hey Langa, are you alright? You seem distracted,” Himari had asked during their tutoring session.
“Yeah I’m fine,” Langa had responded, definitely not sounding alright.
“Ok…” Himari replied, uncertain.
They had gone back to studying after that. And it wasn’t until the thirty-minute mark that Reki finally joined them.
He trudged into the room looking dejected and it broke Langa’s heart. He wanted to go and kiss away the frown lines that had no place being on his boyfriend’s gorgeous face. He was, however, aware of the other two people in the room, so he stayed seated.
“Hey, how did it go?” Langa settled on a less obvious means of comfort.
Reki didn’t even respond to him, just walked over to where Langa was sitting.
In an attempt to ease his boyfriend, Langa placed a hand on Reki’s forearm and squeezed lightly. Reki leaned into the touch. He then pulled out Langa’s chair and proceeded to sit on his lap so he could hide his face in his boyfriend’s neck.
Langa made a small noise of surprise but soon hugged Reki, rubbing comforting circles into his back.
“It’s ok, love. I’m here,” Langa spoke very softly. He knew how much Reki loved the pet name and was rewarded with Reki snuggling into his neck more.
The moment was interrupted by a cough and Langa was once again aware of the fact that there were two other people in the room. This prompted Langa to look up from his boyfriend to where Himari and Asahi were seated across from them. Both of their faces were different shades of red, likely embarrassed by the very obvious display of affection.
Langa wasn’t so much as embarrassed as he was scared. He was deathly aware of what people like him and Reki and be treated like if they aren’t accepted.
Memories of his childhood in Canada flooded back to him. Him being excluded on the playground in elementary school, kids teasing him in the halls of his middle school, and, worse yet, the physical pain the kids at his old high school caused. His arms tighten aground Reki instinctively; he’d do anything to protect Reki from that.
Himari and Asahi caught on to Langa’s defensive behavior and were quick to assure him.
“Don’t worry we’re ok with the two of you dating,” Asahi said.
“Yeah, and we won’t tell anyone,” Himari continued.
The calmed Langa, but only slightly. He’d heard those words before, only to wake up to find that quite a few of his contacts had blocked him and refused to talk with him at school. This was part of the reason he had been significantly better at snowboarding than at making friends. Well, that was until he met Reki, gorgeous, beautiful, shining Reki.
The uncertainty also didn’t go undetected by the two people he had begun to consider his friends.
“We promise not to say anything,” Himari assured.
“Mhm, otherwise we won’t be able to pass English this semester,” Asahi provided.
Reki hugged Langa tighter and whispered, “It’s ok my love,” to help further ease his worries. Finally, Langa calmed down.
“Right yeah… Do you want to get back to studying?” Langa said, still a little unsure.
“Sure!” replied Himari.
They continued to study while Reki napped in Langa’s lap.
- - -
“Alright that’s it for today,” Langa said cleaning up his textbooks and notebooks, “you guys did well today.”
“Thank you, Langa,” Asahi responded.
“Yeah! We’d be lost without your help,” Himari stated.
“Totally!”
“It’s no problem,” Langa said. Reiki was still asleep in his lap and he frankly didn’t have the heart to wake him up.
“You two are really cute together, you know?” Himari said, looking at Langa’s sleeping boyfriend.
Langa didn’t respond instead, he buried his face in Reki’s shoulder trying to hide his blush. This caused Himari to giggle. “Well goodbye and thank you again!”
A small nod was all she received as Langa was still hiding in the space between Reki’s neck and shoulder. With that Himari and Asahi left.
- - -
Langa continued to sit with Reki on his lap for about a half-hour before the latter started to stir. “Hm… Langa?”
“Good morning, sunshine. Did you sleep well?”
“Mmm yeah.” Reki lifted his head and pulled away to look at Langa’s face. “Is the study session over?”
“Yup, Asaji and Himari left about half an hour ago.”
“Thirty minutes ago!? Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“‘Cause you were sleeping so peacefully and I know you need it.”
“Ugh, Langaaa you’re too sweet!” Reiki exclaimed burying his head into the former’s neck once again.
Langa chuckled lightly at his boyfriend’s embarrassment. “No, my love.”
Reki let out a small squeak.
“We should head home though,” Langa stated, “it’s getting late and our moms will worry.”
Reki lifted his head and met Langa’s gaze. “Yeah, your right.” They got up and collected their things.
After they had cleaned up the classroom they started their ride home, gliding down the streets side by side.