Chapter Text
Mikaela was eight when he met Yuuichirou.
With nothing to do, Mikaela went outside to play at the playground nearby. He was planning on just riding the swing since he doesn't have anyone to play with. It was only 2 in the afternoon so a lot of his playmates are probably still taking their afternoon nap.
He saw a moving truck leaving and two men standing in front of a house that was on sale a month ago. The older guy looks like he's in his early twenties and the other is the same age as him. Apparently, they have a new neighbor two houses away from them.
Another man who also looks like twenty one or something, walked out of the house and retrieved two large boxes. "Oi Yuu! Don't go inside the house yet!"
"Ha?! Where am I supposed to go then?" The boy who's the same age as him grumbled.
"There's a playground two streets away. You can probably play with kids there." The other guy with silver hair who's been staying with the boy said as he carried the last two boxes and went inside.
"Run off now! Just don't get yourself killed or something." The other man with black hair said.
"WaitㅡGuren! Oi!" The boy could only look as the front door closed. With a frustrated groan, the boy started to walkㅡat the opposite wayㅡtowards the playground. Mikaela chuckled as he followed the boy. Once in a while, the boy would mutter something along with the lines Stupid Guren or Are you serious Shinya?!
When he realized they're too far already from the playground, Mikaela coughed. The boy turned around with confusion evident on his face.
“You're going the wrong way, you know.” Mikaela said, his lips curling into an amused smile.
A frown formed on the boy’sㅡYuu was his nameㅡ forehead. “Huh? Why do you care? Are you following me?”
He let out a small chuckle before answering. “I just happen to pass by you on accident. You’re going to the playground right? It’s that way.” He pointed at the opposite direction.
Yuu’s face turned red whether in embarrassment or irritation, he didn’t know but Mikaela couldn’t help but smile at how cute the boy looks with his face looking like a tomato. “I know that! I was doing this on purpose!”
The boy marched towards the right way to the playground and passed by Mikaela. Mikaela covered his mouth with his hand to stop himself from laughing. He followed the boy until they came across a two-way street. Yuu stopped and looked both ways, not taking a step from where he stopped.
Mikaela decided to stop teasing the boy and walked to the right. He can feel Yuu following him and muttering words under his breath again. Not long after, they finally arrived at the playground. It was a simple one with two slides, a monkey bar, two seesaws, four swings and a roundabout. Yuu sat at the swing but he didn’t move. He was only kicking the dust causing his shoes to become dirty.
Mikaela stood in front of him. “Why aren’t you moving the swing?”
For the second time that day, Yuu’s face turned red again. “Doesn’t it look like to you that I’m trying?”
Mikaela released a small oh as it dawned upon him. Yuu couldn’t reach the ground enough to move himself on the swing. Mikaela smiled and ran around to his back but before he can push the swing, Yuu stood up. “O-Oi! What are you gonna do?”
“I’m gonna push you since you can’t move it by yourself.”
“No thanks! I don’t want to ride in it in the first place.” Yuu crossed his arms on his chest.
“Is that so..” Mikaela sat at the swing Yuu left. “Then you can push me instead!”
“What makes you think I’ll do that?”
“Hmm I helped you find this playground so..” Mikaela shrugged.
Yuu frowned before grumbling out a “Fine.” Mikaela beamed as Yuu made his way towards the swing. He stood behind Mikaela and slowly pushed the swing. “Your name is Yuu, right?”
“How did you know that?”
“I heard that old man called you that.” Yuu suddenly stopped the swing. Mikaela moved so he can face Yuu.
“So you were eavesdropping, huh?” A smirk was plastered on his face.
“Nope. I happen to just hear him because you two were so loud.” Mikaela showed his tongue out.
“Potato, potato. It’s the same.”
Mikaela laughed and stood up. He extended his hand, as if to offer a handshake. “Hi. I’m Mikaela Shindo. Glad to be your acquaintance today, Yuu.”
“Pfft your name is a mouthful.” Yuu chuckled.
“Well what do you suggest then?”
“I’m gonna call you Mika instead. Your name’s too long and sounds too foreign. I feel like I’m gonna twist my tongue whenever I try to say it.” Mikaela laughed as an idea came to his mind.
“Okay, you can call me Mika, Yuu-chan.” A teasing smile showed up on his face.
As usual, a frown made itself known on Yuu’s face. “Yuu-chan? It sounds so weird! Call me anything else!”
“Na-ah! I’m not gonna change it, Yuu-chan.” Mika teased Yuu more by drawing out the name slowly and in a sing-song voice.
Mikaela just laughed and ran as Yuu tried to chase him, protesting about his chosen nickname for him.
Mika was twelve when he started to like Yuu.
But his young mind had thought of it as a platonic feeling rather than something that screams I’m falling in love.
Mika and Yuu have been friends for the past four years now. They go to the same school together, play video games at Yuu’s house, do their homework at Mika’s house and go to the playground to play with the other kids at their neighborhood.
Seems like inside the grumpy, frowning boy lies a soft, playful kid.
He watched as Yuu played with the other kids. It took Yuu at least three days before he could socialize with the others and join them in their game of tag.
Yuu’s smile was blinding. Sure, he rarely smiles but when he do, it’s as if the sun lost all it’s light and got sucked into the face of a child. Yuu’s face was readable most of the time and his face right now screams I’m having the time of my life to Mika.
“Mika? What are you looking at?” Mika jolted as he looked in front and saw Akane looking at the direction he was looking at. Akane was stuck above the ground at the other side of the seesaw while Mika’s feet are touching the ground.
“N-Nothing! I was just thinking about something.” Mika slowly stood up to Akane lower Akane until she can already reach the ground.
“Oi Mika! Enough with the seesaw! We need one more to play tag!” Yuu shouted from the other side of the playground.
Mika sighed as he started running towards the Yuu.
Mika was fourteen when he realized his sexuality.
It was a Sunday. His and Yuu’s unofficial Gaming Day. Due to his aunt (more of like a big sister) having work on Sundays, Mika spends his day at Yuu’s house and leaves when Krul is coming home.
After being friends with Yuu for six years, the Ichinose household is already considered as Mika’s second home. That’s why he didn’t bother knocking at the door since it wasn’t locked (most of the time).
To say that Mika was shocked at what he saw was an understatement. From the door he saw Guren and Shinya, Yuu’s guardians kissing.
He doesn’t have a problem with seeing people kissing since people do that all the time. But it’s different when he saw two people of the same sex kissing.
Shinya seemed to notice him and was the one who broke the kiss. Waving at him as a greeting. “Yuu’s upstairs in his room, Mika.”
Mika unfreezed from his spot, “Uhm G-Good afternoon Shinya, Guren. I’m going to uhm go upstairs.” Stiffly, he all but ran towards the stairs and not bothering to knock, again, opened the door to Yuu’s room.
“Woah Mika! Why the heck are you running?” Yuu was already seated in front of the computer, Mika’s seat already prepared beside him.
Mika racked his brain for an excuse, “I j-just want to! You know I need to get ready for tomorrow’s test in Physical Education.” That was the dumbest excuse, Mika. A test, really?
Yuu seemed to doubt his answer but just shrugged it off. He continued setting up the game they were about to play as Mika made his way towards the seat next to Yuu.
They started playing once Yuu finished logging in their accounts. Even though Mika was doing good at the game, his mind is still stuck on that scene he saw earlier downstairs.
Mika cleared his throat and asked, “Yuu-chan, are both Shinya and Guren your uncles?”
“Nope. Guren is my uncle. He’s my Mom’s younger brother that’s why we don’t have the same surname.” Yuu answered easily. His eyes not leaving the screen.
“And Shinya?..” Mika trailed off. He already had an inkling of what Shinya’s relationship is with Guren but he still wanted to ask Yuu for confirmation.
“Oh, I never told you about that, huh? Shinya is Guren’s boyfriend? Fiancé? Whatever. They’ve been together since they were in High School. They never told me about those things but as long as Shinya’s living here, they aren’t breaking up or something.”
Mika nodded. His eyes going back to the screen just in time to see his character winning against Yuu.
Yuu groaned and glared at Mika. “Why are you so good at this? I’m the one who owns and plays this game more often than you. This is disrespect.”
Mika laughed at how hard Yuu tries to look angry with his glare but he ended up looking like a kid who didn’t get the toy he wanted.
“It’s not my fault I’m better than you.” Mika shrugged.
“You piece of crap.” Yuu grabbed his shoulders and started to shake Mika’s body while saying the words unfair! or traitor!
But Mika couldn’t focus on that. Instead, he felt as if time stopped and he could only see what’s in front of him. Yuu’s face so close to his, not more than four inches apart and it gets even closer whenever he pulls him closer just push him again.
Mika was focused on Yuu’s green eyes. Up close he can see what shade they are, the tiny specks of brown, the long the lashes surrounding his eyes are. At that moment all he could think about was Yuu.
Yuu. Yuu. Yuu. Yuu. Yuu.
Mika was brought back to reality when the hands as his shoulder disappeared and waved in front of his face.
“Oi Mika, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Mika blinked, “What am I supposed to say, Yuu-chan?” Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Before Yuu could reply, Mika already cut him off, “Well today’s match I’m the complete victor but I’m afraid I have to go home now Yuu-chan. I look forward to beating you in the next game Yuu-ch-an.” Mika drawled out. He stood up and quickly made his way to the door.
“Oi! Waitㅡ I want a rematch! Oi Mika!” Mika closed the door and as fast as he could, went home with his heart beating three times faster than it’s usual.
That night Mika couldn’t help but ask Krul about what she thinks of same sex relationships.
“They aren’t as different as straight couples are. I mean, they basically do the same things. It’s just that we’re not used to seeing gay couples as much as we see straight couples that’s why sometimes it surprising or shocking or whatever.”
Krul might have been surprised at his question but she didn’t show it.
At fifteen, Mika accepted it and came to the conclusion that he indeed, if not in love, likes Yuuichirou Hyakuya, his best friend.
At fifteen, Mika came out to Krul that he likes people of the same sex.
At fifteen, Mika was waiting for Yuu at their meeting place after school. When Yuu arrived, he wasn’t alone.
A girl with purple hair, smaller than Yuu was standing beside him. She had the same uniform as them but Mika haven’t seen her before.
Yuu cleared his throat, “Sorry for not saying this earlier but Mika, this is Shinoa Hiragi. She’s in the same year as us, in Class B. And she’s my girlfriend.”