Work Text:
Friday's "Good Morning" (side A and B)
Makeup? Check.
Hair? Check.
Nails? Unchipped and perfect!
Daily horoscope? Said that everything was going to be fine and dandy!
Heart? Prepared and ready to go!
It was Friday, and today (today, Kashuu had resolved) he would finally admit to Horikawa that he had always liked him.
“Al~right~,” Gazing at himself in the mirror, Kashuu pats his cheeks twice before smiling. “What could go wrong?”
Apparently, many things.
~
I’m really sorry Kashuu-san! The LINE message had read, I won’t be on the train! I had to go to school extra early for class and student council duty! and Horikawa had the audacity to follow up with a cute sticker of a bunny rubbing its paws together apologetically.
“Ah— that’s how they get you, with the cute stickers,” Kashuu huffed, “Horikawa, so dangerous.”
Not that he was any better about those stickers. But, he had an excuse! It was a part of his cute charm! And even then! Horikawa had left him alone outside on the platform! Without any notice that he wasn’t going to be there!
(Well, maybe, Horikawa did mention it to him off-handedly but it’s not like Kashuu wasn’t paying attention to him. Yeah, he was paying full attention to Horikawa, especially with how brilliant he looks when he’s talking about a topic he likes or when his eyes light up all excitedly when he notices a cute little detail or when Horikawa takes his hand sometimes or when—oh god, no thoughts stop please—)
He puffs up his cheeks as he types out his answer.
Horikawa, you big dummy! Leaving me alone on the train! A mockingly angry black kitten sticker was sent right after and immediately, the application told him Horikawa was replying.
Sorry, sorry! We’ll stop by the bakery on the way home and I’ll treat you! <3
Immediately, his mind blanks on his answer.
A heart. He sent a heart. A heart. A h-
The train jerks forward — wow, was that stop always so harsh? — tossing Kashuu into someone else’s lap. Quite gracefully as well too. “Ah, I’m sorry!”
Maybe it was his bad luck, or maybe it was the world telling him, “not today, confession won’t happen today” but it had tossed him into the lap of his teacher—well, former teacher— “Okita-sensei! I’m so sorry!”
“Hahaha! Kashuu! It’s nice to see you again!” He was relieved, though the now spilt coffee that as surely staining Okita-sensei’s nice white office shirt brought up a problem.
“Okita-sensei, I’m really, really sorry!”
The older man had laughed, trying to wave him off, telling him it was fine and Kashuu, all the while, furiously blushing red, offered up his own handkerchief and an offer to buy the teacher another cup of coffee. And to pay for the shirt’s cleaning.
Well, there goes most of his allowance. And a bit of his lunch money. And a lot of his time.
Which…had resulted in him running late to school and sitting in an office with Horikawa. The scene would be familiar and if it wasn’t for the time difference, he’s usually there.
“Kashuu-san—” A loud whine cut off the student council president as his childhood friend slumped onto the table, head buried in his arms.
“Horikawa…! Why is my luck so bad? I ran into Okita-sensei this morning, and you know what happened with Okita-sensei to make things awkward, and I had spilled coffee all over him and I just…!” Another whine, which got the other to coo, reaching out to pet his head.
Humming softly, as Horikawa ran a hand through the other’s hair, Kashuu leaned into the touch contently. Oh, before he forgot; “Good morning, Horikawa.”
A smile, one that Kashuu would love to wake up to each morning, to see the brilliance of it, that is what he sought for. “Good morning, Kashuu-san.”
[Kashuu Attempt 1: Questionable? His smile was too strong.
It doesn’t stop him from saying very loudly in front of the rest of their little group that Horikawa does in fact owe him a crepe or two now. Because it’s going to be a date, ya’know. Though Kashuu doesn’t use the word date explicitly, but it’s highly implied!
Kashuu finds himself grumbling into a crepe later, as Yasusada inhales his dessert and tries to eat Izuminokami’s while Nagasone and Horikawa talk about the handling of the school’s recently revived kendo club. Looks like he’s not confessing today, not today at all.
...He isn’t bitter. Kashuu isn’t, especially when Horikawa smiles at him and his heart goes all thump-thump as a result.]
— —
It wasn’t unusual to find Horikawa Kunihiro at the school (right after the bells had rung, letting out the after-school clubs) sitting inside the student council room making corrections to paperwork (and most likely downing his… fifth? Sixth…? Cup of coffee for the day).
“Kunihiro-senpai!” A freshman called his name from the door, waving a piece of paper.
“Yes?” Horikawa looked up from his stack of paperwork, giving them a gentle smile. Ah, freshmen, he had remembered how it was to be at an entirely new school. The paper caught his attention and he patted a spot on the desk. “You can put it right here, and if you need help filling out the rest of it, you can ask me!”
The first-year, however, had gasped, mouth hanging open before they remembered to close it. The rumors were true. Horikawa Kunihiro, one of the top students of the school and beloved senpai of many, was??? So??? Pretty?? It was unfair having a sparkling, radiant senpai like him. But too bad that they didn’t know the truth; of how the “brilliant” Horikawa Kunihiro ran on little to no hours of sleep, was physiologically dependent on coffee, and often slept on top of his childhood’s friend’s lap during their short breaks. Often? He slept there a lot, as most of the student council knew.
With his help and guidance (along with lots of assurances that no, they weren’t disrupting or distracting him from his work; he always had time to help the underclassmen) the first-year was out the door in no time, smile ever so wide on their face.
Though, it took less than a couple moments before another person walked in, not bothering to knock on the door.
“Ho-ri-ka-wa!” Said individual kept writing, a familiar style of walking reaching his ears as they pulled up a chair on the other side of the desk. “Are you almost done? I’m bored… and we gotta go home soon…”
Kashuu plops his head down into his arms, looking at Horikawa intently. Pretty , Horikawa glances at him, still writing away. Sign the paper, move it onto the ‘done’ pile, take another paper, repeat. “Now, now, I’m almost done so just wait a little longer okay?”
The boy grumbles, clearly pouting underneath his arms. “Eeeeh,” and with another discontent whine, goes silent as Horikawa focuses on the last couple of papers.
He blinks. Once he realizes that Kashuu hasn’t been talking for the past several minutes, after the last paper had been checked (and reread, and checked again), Horikawa tilts his head. Oh, then, he should be able to say it now, when no one else can hear, and so he can practice for the day he finally gathers up his courage.
“Thank you for waiting,” he whispers, nuzzling the sleeping boy. Kashuu, pleased at the soft affection, hums in his sleep, a small smile tugging at his lips. Horikawa nuzzles him once more, silently giggling at how at peace Kashuu is. With a quick stretch of his wrists and cracking of his back, he picks up the stack of papers and gets back to work, filing away every permission sheet and club form.
After a couple papers or so, a jacket finds its way draped across Kashuu’s shoulders and the other just snuggles deeper into their arms. It’s quiet, peaceful, all kinds of perfect as Horikawa makes his way through a small mountain of backlogged work.
(He does eventually finish, gently shaking Kashuu awake and laughing all the while as he gets smacked lightly for making him wait too long.
“Don’t fall asleep on my shoulder on the ride home! My shoulder gets all stiff and weird and we’re already going home late!”)
(But they do fall asleep on each other on the ride home, sunset washing the town aglow in its soft golden light, and Kashuu tucks himself closer into Horikawa’s side.)
[Horikawa Attempt 1: Doesn’t count, Kashuu was asleep.
He finds it silly at times, that he can only come up with the excuse to say anything when the other cannot hear him. But how could he, when other seems so bright. Kashuu isn’t his— afterall he couldn’t be, not when their friendship already exists like this.
Horikawa smiles when the rest of their friends invite themselves along to their little crepe outing. Yasusada goes through a good chunk of his wallet for food, Izuminokami smiles and slings his arm around Horikawa’s shoulders already talking about something or the other, and Nagasone seems happy seeing all of them here together again.
And Kashuu?
Kashuu is always as he is. He’s a bit grumbly now, sure, but in a few moments, someone will make him laugh and something in Horikawa’s chest will squeeze, warming him from the inside out.]
Summer Festival Session
This was stupid.
Real, real stupid.
Real~ly stupid.
“What if he doesn’t like me in that way? Oi, Yasusada-!”
Kashuu yelps and jumps forward, obi on very very snugly. He can see Yasusada’s more than exasperated expression in the mirror and he’s sure if he turns around, it’ll become even worse. Then Yamatonokami Yasusada says something that he never thought he’d say (in very typical Yasusada fashion).
“Kiyomitsu, Izuminokami and I already thought you two were dating since our first year.”
And his face does its best on matching his eye color.
“W-what?” Ah, looks like he wouldn’t need to put on any kind of blush now. “What do you mean that you thought?!”
Them? Dating? Since their first year? Sure, Kashuu’s known Horikawa since their younger years (even longer than he’s known Yasusada, but that gap of a grade year always made it a little difficult to match up schedules with the other), but dating? He feels as if he’s burning.
Yasusada, seemingly sensing Kashuu’s slurry of emotions; “Ah, I think I hear my phone.” Neither of them do, yet Yasusada walks away, more casually than he should. “Nagasone-san might be calling to check plans.” Which causes Kashuu to throw his own tiny fit.
“Yasusada, come back here right now and tell me! Explain yourself!”
Turns out that Nagasone did eventually call Yasusada, after Kashuu had caught up to him and they had squabbled until the phone rang, in the tones of a familiar sounding theme song. While he was consolidating plans with Nagasone (though Kashuu had some doubts that they would be sticking to those plans anyways, festival food always brought out Yasusada’s legendary glutton side), Kashuu turned this way and that, looking at himself in the mirror. He felt the same exact way as he did last week, when he was supposed to confess. Though this scenario is perfectly fine too! Festival confessions are just as romantic and nice as classical confessions! And they’ll get to see fireworks! It’ll be like a first date as well, an all-in-one package!
“You can do this,” he told himself. “If it already looks like the two of you have been dating since your first year, then it can’t be too hard to confess right?”
And he felt ready enough to confess— when they were walking out the door and down to the shrine; when he was waiting for Horikawa (and he guesses Izuminokami and Nagasone as well, but they were going to walk around with Yasusada in effort to get Kashuu to confess tonight); and when he was chit-chatting with some of the girls from his class, he was ready to confess later that night. Though Horikawa always had to throw him a curveball and also show up in his own yukata and, well, Kashuu’s mind just stopped working for a moment. It’s a simple yukata, in navy blue, which he knows is a color that Horikawa is fond of, but it’s just so different seeing him in something that isn’t so sleek and formal. When the other’s pellucid eyes catches Kashuu’s, his heart squeezes.
“Kashuu-san! Sorry I’m late!”
“You’re still early, by ten minutes.” I just came early since I got super nervous as it got closer to our meeting time.
“Oh, wow.” Kashuu tilts his head, blinking twice. Horikawa gestures towards his yukata and has the audacity to look like he’s had his breath stolen away by some silly yōkai. “You’re super pretty.”
Okay, now his breath has been spirited away. He looks off to the side, flourishing, yet feeling a little flustered.
“I’m going to feel a little intimidated walking next to you, Kashuu-san.”
That single phrase pushes some courage into Kashuu’s heart. He walks forward, taking Horikawa’s hand in his. “That’s silly, com’on, let’s go before there’s too many people. I want to walk around before we see the fireworks.”
While they’re walking into the shrine, towards the steadily growing lights and noise, Horikawa never once pulls his hand away.
—
“Hiro-kun, Hiro-kun, look, look!”
Kashuu hadn’t meant for the childish nickname he had come up for Horikawa when they were in elementary school slip out, but he was having so much fun, surely it could be excused for tonight (besides, it looked like the other boy didn’t mind at all, smiling ever fondly when he heard the name).
“It’s amezaiku ! Do you remember when we were kids? We’d always get matching ones!”
Horikawa tiptoes until he can see over the crowd of spectators watching the vendor work at his craft, pulling and stretching sugar until an animal sprung from the once formless shape. “Mhm, then our younger brothers would always ask for them since we’d never be able to keep the goldfish we caught from the goldfish scooping stall.”
“Nostalgic memories…” Horikawa still held onto Kashuu’s hand, never letting go except for when they bought a snack they needed to hold with two hands (curse you Blue Hawaii shaved ice, but it was too hot so they really needed a colder snack). “How much time do you think we have before the fireworks? Should we start finding a spot?”
Horikawa, being the sensible one of the two, had a watch on. “Hm, I think we should be good— Ah.”
By some miracle (or was it really), the fireworks had started early. They had both perked up at the sound and Kashuu had laughed, pulling the other along towards the bridge he had spotted by the riverbank earlier.
They stand there, watching the night sky light up. The silence between the flares grow a little awkward and there’s suddenly a twist in his gut. He’s getting nervous, again, but this time it’s much worse than it was earlier that night. He can’t be doubting himself now, he can’t. They’ll be friends no matter what, even if this confessional goes awry. They’ll be friends. Those days they spent together, so many days where Kashuu couldn’t count how many good memories he had made with Horikawa, he realized somewhere along the line that he really did like the Horikawa Kunihiro he’s known since he was a child. He likes him so much that it hurts his chest.
It’s now. Kashuu has to tell him now. They can’t stay as friends anymore, not with these feelings. They have to die and then they can go back to being friends, or they can live and Horikawa reciprocates.
Tugging at Horikawa’s sleeve, he forms the first word of four words ( “I’ve always liked you” ), then with perfect timing, the finale of the show goes off.
Horikawa smiles, so very sweetly.
“I like the fireworks too, Kashuu.”
[Kashuu, Attempt 2: Lesson learned, never confess when there are loud noises.]
A Confession Rehearsal
Enough stalling.
According to the original date Kashuu had wanted to confess on to the present day where he currently stood in the student council room, it had been almost three weeks of delays. Even the worst had happened within that time— Yasusada has somehow got it through his thick head that Kashuu had liked-liked Horikawa, Izuminokami had tried numerous (failed) attempts to get his two senpai together, and Nagasone (the man graduated three years ago, why was he still around in the club room anyways) had even attempted to get them on a date together (where the former had to “unexpectedly” ““leave”” “““because he had family matters to attend to”””).
But he was totally going to confess today. Of course. Yes. Absolutely. Nothing could go wrong.
The timing was perfect; the sun was just starting to dip down in the sky, Horikawa had just finished his work, and no one was around to ruin his confession. Better yet, there was a gentle lull in conversation that’s prime to be filled with words (because who really needs to fill out and file all these student documents).
“Say, Horikawa, what would you do if I got a boyfriend?”
Said person looks back at him, spins his pen in the fancy way that Kashuu had never figured out how to do, and blinks once, twice, before humming thoughtfully.
“I’d be happy for you, Kashuu-san. It’s what all those confession rehearsals have been for, right?”
(Kashuu doesn’t miss how Horikawa can’t meet his eyes when he says that.)
“Mn? Yeah…you’ll still let me practice right?”
“Of course Kashuu-san. It was very surprising the first time you told me.”
They both scribble something down, not exactly connecting to anything they’re doing at the moment.
(Last time was super surprising for them both. Mostly because of Kashuu’s nerves but Horikawa had gotten a confession the day before, giving him a fright. So he resolved at that moment to make that incident that last time that happened—
“I’m sorry this is so sudden and all but,” Kashuu could feel the heat creeping up onto his cheeks, “But I’ve liked you for a really long time!”
“Eh?! Kashuu-san,” For once, as Kashuu fought against all common sense to look away from Horikawa to save the rest of the dignity he had. Since he didn’t, he saw the mostly lovely bloom of pink against Horikawa’s cheeks.
“I…” Kashuu trailed off, eyes glancing off to the side, “I…!”
“You…?” Horikawa tilted his head, his fringe barely brushing past his eyes. (Gosh, those eyes, Kashuu adores those eyes; clear and ever changing, like the sea but without its volatile bite. Right now, they dance with something that Kashuu can’t exactly name, but it flutters around in his tummy as well.)
“I’m just kidding!” The laughter that forces itself out of Kashuu’s mouth sounds fake and high-pitched to his own ears. Plastic. He leans forward, hiding his hands (his hands always did tell how he felt, despite trying to end that habit all those years ago) behind his back, wry smile working its way onto his lips. He dislikes this, dislikes how painfully shy he is when it comes to confessing. “Did I get you good? Did your heart skip a beat? Did my confession rehearsal sound alright?”
“Kashuu-san…” Horikawa looks relieved? No, that’s not it. It’s something bittersweet and the sunny ocean he adores fades and softens into sea-glass. “Are you finally getting serious? Whoever it is will be really lucky.” And he smiles, so softly that Kashuu curses silently to himself.
Rehearsal? It’ll be a rehearsal till the day he dies!
“Yeah, I can’t wait!” Kashuu forces a laugh, trying to lighten the situation, “Anyways! Are we going straight home today? You promised to take a break from student council work today.” He leans forward, looking at the other questionably when Horikawa diverts his eyes, looking sheepish. “Horikawa!”
The other smiles, lifting up a piece of paper to cover his growing embarrassment, “Sorry, I just have this one to do. It’s very important.”
And Kashuu deadpans, taking the page from Horikawa, scanning it over. Yeah, he’s doing this one for him, Horikawa needed a break. “Nope, plus,” he pops both p’s and pokes a finger into Horikawa’s chest, “You haven’t been sleeping properly again, ri~ght?”
The evidence was obvious, from the smears of purple under clear blue eyes, and the travel mug of coffee that he carried in his other hand. And the very slight shaking that he had noticed when Horikawa thought no one else was looking. Horikawa opens his mouth in an attempt to protest, but Kashuu beats him to it first, holding up his hand. He stays silent, letting him finish. “And, you’ve probably had more than enough coffee today too. The work is still going to be there, even after you’ve rested up. And , you’ve got the rest of the council to rely on. They can shoulder your burden too, it’s not just you.”
Kashuu brushes off the invisible dust from his pants before he sits down and pats his lap. “Horikawa Kunihiro, I am requiring you to take a nap!”
Unbeknownst to Kashuu, internally Horikawa was fighting a war with himself. The other’s lap looked more than inviting and he hadn’t slept, but the paperwork was super important too. Eventually, he lays down, head cushioned by a lovely pair of pillows— thighs — and promptly falls asleep.
Kashuu brushes a strand of hair behind Horikawa’s ear, smiling fondly. “Have a nice nap Hiro-kun.”)
He can still salvage this! Taking a deep breath, Kashuu stands up.
“Horikawa, I really—!” Though he never gets to finish his sentence when Izuminokami of all people races down the hall in what he thinks is Hijikata-sensei's spinny chair screeching 'SKATE FAST, EAT ASS MUTSUNOKAMI! I'M GOING TO WIN'.
Said student council president is already halfway out the door ready to chase his junior down when another blur — Mutsunokami — comes rushing down the hall as well. Things fall into place and for better or for worse, Kashuu pulls Horikawa back into safety (and consequently, the other loses his balance at the sudden jerk back) and into his arms.
This, this is becoming more like a shoujo manga and Kashuu doesn’t know how he feels about it. There are flowers and sparkles and he can just see the "doki doki"s along his vision's edge.
"A-ah, um..."
He doesn't need to worry about saying anything though because Horikawa beats him to the point.
"Thank you Kashuu-san!"
(While still in his arms, looking up at him with painfully beautiful blue eyes.)
Because Kashuu Kiyomitsu isn't an impolite person, he properly helps Horikawa to his feet. After a couple moments of fretting over the other, Kashuu pats Horikawa's cheek with a small "all done". Perhaps it's a trick of the eye and heart, but Horikawa's face is a little bit pinker. It ends up not mattering though since Mr. Student Council President still chases after Idiot 1 and Idiot 2 because "If Hijikata-sensei doesn't catch them, then I will!"
(Later, after Idiot 1 and Idiot 2 have been captured, Izuminokami pulls Kashuu over to the side to ask if Kashuu had finally admitted his feelings. Kashuu has to physically restrain himself from grabbing the younger boy by the lapels of his coat and shaking him silly.
"Aizu Kanesada, you absolute idiot bastard."
"O-oi, Kiyomitsu, don't blame me, blame Mutsunokami for dragging me into that race with him!"
"Excuses! Everything was perfect! Then you happened! I thought you were on my side!"
“I am!”
“I thought I was your second favorite senpai!”
“You are!”
“I thought you told me that you were helping me!”
“Well, I got him into your arms, right?”
“Yes, but that’s besides the point! You know how he feels about immediate disciplinary action against misconduct!”
“Ah. So you didn’t…?”
“No!”
Of course he didn't tell Horikawa Kunihiro!)
[Kashuu, Attempt 3: Why did he trust Izuminokami of all people to be a good wingman?]
Interlude (Side A)
Kashuu doesn’t like being alone. Yes, he has his little brother. Yes, Yasusada lived two houses down. Yes, it was perfectly fine to visit friends during school vacations. He tapped idly on his phone, opening and closing LINE, looking at the last message he had sent to Horikawa. The other had told him he wouldn’t be able to see any messages (as the mountain did not have any service, at all).
He pouts, looking at his nails in an effort to distract himself from the disappointment he felt for having to push off his confession to another day. Might as well repaint them, right?
(Kashuu pays no attention to how he grabs two colors instead of his usual red, one nail on either hand painted a familiar blue.)
So much for telling Horikawa his feelings this week.
Interlude (Side B)
Horikawa sits cross-legged on the tatami of a rented room. There’s no such thing as a complaint that exists in his mind at the moment. It’s taken up by what-if’s and should I’s and how he wants to take Kashuu to see the view of the sky here, how he wants to lead Kashuu around the hiking paths that he’s been walking on since his childhood, Kashuu, Kashuu, Kashuu.
The thought doesn’t hit him until a little bit later, when he opens up his notes app to cross off his to-list when he discovers a detailed itinerary that describes a nice, relaxing trip to the beach for himself and the person who never seems to leave his mind. Then and there, he realizes he typed it out in worry.
Maybe he should bring up the topic with Kashuu soon. A trip isn’t a bad graduation gift at all. Especially if it’s with someone one holds dear.
Confession’s Rehearsal (Side B)
It was impressive that he could juggle both kendo club and student council at the same time. Sure, he usually ran late to kendo, but he wasn’t captain and his clubmates knew of his situation anyways. Club, unlike student council, gave Horikawa room to think a little more. The motions were methodical, easy to fall into a pattern, then sparring roused his mind, letting it run through any and everything as he fought with both instinct and logic. Club passed quickly, as it always does, and he finds himself in front of his locker, hand pressed to an invisible bruise on his chest.
"Ah- It still hurts."
Izuminokami gives Horikawa a once over because a Horikawa saying something hurt means that there's something wrong. He never says anything when something’s hurting him. Never. And also ever since Izuminokami figured out that his senpais liked each other, they’ve both been so weird. He opens his mouth, closes it, puts his hand to his chin to think about his words, and reopens his mouth just to say - "Maybe you should ice it."
It's met with a pause and then a bit of laughter. "For tightness of the chest? Wouldn't heat be better? But I suppose Kane-san is right too since my heartbeat is a little fast..." Horikawa's words trail off as he mumbles, weighing the options of various treatments while Izuminokami tries to put together the situation.
Which takes him all of five seconds. And no hand motions to try and further his thoughts. Not at all.
"Oi, Kunihiro, aren't those emotions?" Really, it’s hard to remember that Horikawa is a dense brick when it comes to his own emotions. Reading others? He’s perfect. Himself? Not so much. The other male blinks. "Like, this happens when Kiyomitsu's around?" A nod. "And it hurts a little more when you don't see him for a while?" Another nod. God, Horikawa is experiencing a couple's separation and he’s not even properly dating Kiyomitsu.
...
"Kunihiro, I'm not stupid - pretty smart actually," (He gets a "Of course you are Kane-san!" as a reply), "but those are emotions."
And Horikawa smiles as he always does, good natured and happy. “Kane-san I would know if I…” Suddenly he stops, deep in thought.
“Kunihiro…?”
“I’m alright! Don’t worry about it Kane-san, thank you for your help!” Horikawa cuts the conversation there and not wanting to press it further (because invoking the wrath of a Horikawa pressed too far is something that Izuminokami has yet to experience), Izuminokami nods and asks if Horikawa’s free for tutoring some time later in the week.
—
Horikawa forgets about his conversation with Izuminokami until he’s about to go to sleep (at four, almost five am, forgive him Kashuu, he’s got to study for those tests). It comes as a realization all at once, enough so that it wakes his younger brother up in the room over.
(Yamanbagiri Kunihiro looks at the wall, nods once and goes back to bed. It’s always nice when his older brother realizes that he can be a bit selfish.)
I like Kashuu Kiyomitsu, the boy I’ve known since my childhood, that Kashuu Kiyomitsu. The Kashuu Kiyomitsu who gets shy and insecure about his looks and if he’s loved. The Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who’s a bit rash but has a cute demure side. The Kashuu Kiyomitsu who’s smarter than he looks like. The Kashuu Kiyomitsu who cares for others in his own way. The Kashuu Kiyomitsu who—
“I like Kashuu-san.”
He sits up in bed, hand pressed to his chest.
“I have to go tell him right now—”
Wearing slightly more normal clothes? Check.
Hair okay? It’s brushed.
Phone with flashlight? Charged and ready.
His heart? Ready to tell his feelings.
Time? It’s… it’s five am now, but urgency takes over time! Horikawa unlocks his phone, looking down at the time and the background that Izuminokami had set earlier that day. It’s the purikura that he’s all too fond of. Kashuu had done most of the customization, adding cutesy stickers and doodles and sparkles to be it all kira-kira (“and it’s super cute!” Kashuu had said happily, looking up at Horikawa from his handiwork). With a fond sigh, he opens up LINE, reading over the last messages from the notifications he didn’t read while studying. There are some messages, like from Yasusada asking when the next club tournament is, a study group asking to meet up before another test, and one from the person on his mind, wishing him a good night.
Oh, that’s right. Most people sleep on a normal schedule.
In very unlike Horikawa Kunihiro fashion, he flops onto his bed, turns onto his side and curses his own obliviousness. Did he make Kashuu wait a long time? God, why didn’t he ever realize that he liked Kashuu in that way? When did he start liking the other boy? During middle school? When he got his first confession? Oh my god, he had liked Kashuu since middle school. Had the other been dropping hints about his affections towards him? Wait, did he ever stop to think if Kashuu does like him back?
“Matters of the heart are complicated,” Horikawa says into the quiet night.
Within a couple hours— after several exams, a couple runs into and out of the student council room, and covering for another student’s library shift— honestly, he should’ve listened at gotten a bit more sleep. The moment Kashuu comes into sight, he switches gears a becomes a man with one singular mission. Horikawa takes the other’s hand and leads him right to the student council room, and coaxes him to sit.
“H-Horikawa…?”
“I really…” his voice trails off, drowsiness already tugging at his eyelids. Kashuu’s lap looks super inviting right about now…
“You r-really what?” Ah, was Kashuu blushing? Reddish-pink’s a good color for him. Too bad Horikawa can’t tell him, since he’s already dozing off the instant his head touches the other’s lap. It takes Kashuu a couple moments to realize that the other had fallen asleep, but who could blame him? He smiles softly, gently petting Horikawa’s head. “Stupid, I told you to get a proper night’s rest.”
[Horikawa Attempt 2: Fell asleep.
Which was probably for the best, confessing to Kashuu while tired didn’t seem to be the most proper way to express his feelings. Though, the time he put into practicing what he wanted to say was kind of, sort of wasted. It’s hours of sleep he won’t get back, but for Kashuu, it’s pretty worth it.
“I like you Kashuu. Really like you. The ‘want to be by your side for a very long time’ like you.”]
The World is Falling in Love
The day starts normally. Except—
“Damn it , ” Kashuu repeatedly curses under his breath, juggling five things at once while his mind worked on six other things. It’s not often he wakes up with such a word as the first thing he says for the day but today had to be a special case.
He’s late for school. Again. Thank god that Horikawa already knows he’ll be late for today (even though it’s over the time he said he’d be coming into school, but nonetheless). Thank god that there’s no one else at home to hear how he throws open and slams his closet and vanity in quick succession. In the rush to get out the door and to keep looking at least semi-okay, Kashuu proceeds to forget exactly what he wanted to do once he got to school.
Later, during one of their class breaks, something crinkles in one of Kashuu’s pockets. Fishing it out, he has half the thought just to toss it. The other logical half, instead reasons to open it and it’s exactly what he expected it to be.
— Don’t go straight home after school, there’s something I have to tell you. —
One thought immediately crosses his mind and it’s the one he had forgotten in his rush to get to school. Today was the day he was supposed to confess to Horikawa, once and for all. No backing out, even if he doesn’t look like his usual self.
“What are you fidgeting about,” Yasusada whispers, leaning back very obviously.
“As if I fidget any more than you,” Kashuu replies, shoving most of Yasusada’s fluffy mass that he calls hair, out of his face. Yasusada makes a face that Kashuu can’t exactly see, and attempts to flick more hair into the other’s face. In response, Kashuu scoots his desk back and sticks out his tongue. With the apparent lack of an object behind him to properly balance his leaning, Yasusada flails for a moment before letting out a relieved sigh as his chair stabilizes.
“Ki-yo-mi-tsu!” There it was, Yasusada’s very specific pronunciation of his name when something was off.
“What? You did say you needed to work on balance.”
And Yasusada scoffs, turning around this time, and pinches his thigh, causing him to yelp.
—
On a similarly normal day, of the same day, Horikawa Kunihiro got ready in the morning, already knowing that one Kashuu Kiyomitsu would be late for school. It’s not often he doesn’t ride the train with Kashuu in the morning, but it allows him to get to school earlier than normal.
There are days where he’s gotten teased for spending as much time as he does in the student-council room but he can’t help it. It’s too ingrained into his habits and the room is one of the best places to get work done. The room’s also one of the best places where he can see the rest of the student body trickle into school and he’s able to hear the chatter of students as they attempt to settle in for morning classes. A familiar gait has him glancing between the door and his work until the culprit (Izuminokami) pops his head in.
“Kunihiro,” He starts.
“Good morning Kane-san,” Horikawa replies.
“Mh, yeah, good morning. Do you think you can help me with math? Why did they add letters into math, I don’t get it.”
The younger male had always struggled with maths, and Horikawa had always been happy to help him. Even if he told himself that he wouldn’t as much anymore, he’s always been soft on Izuminokami. The time between now and the start of classes isn’t great, but as Horikawa looks over the sheet of equations, it’s all things he remembers vividly.
Motioning for the other to sit and take out a pencil, he writes out the equation again on a separate piece of paper. “Alright so, for this equation, you just got to…”
And that’s also how Horikawa forgot what he wanted to do today as well.
It also takes him until the next class break to discover a scrap of paper between his notebooks.
— I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a while, wait up for me, okay? —
Immediately, his mind takes him back to last week, where he fell asleep on Kashuu’s lap. He hadn’t meant to, not at all. But Kashuu was the only person who was willing to let him borrow his lap as a pillow. That day, he was supposed to admit to Kashuu that he finally realized what he was feeling for him.
“Kunihiro-senpai, are you feeling okay? You’ve been staring off into space for a bit.”
“I am, don’t worry about it! I’ve been cutting back on coffee so maybe that’s starting to affect me.” Horikawa waves his hand, trying to laugh away the worry.
“Please tell us if you ever need help! Kiyomitsu-senpai told us that it’s important to tell you that so you don’t forget!”
“Thank you for offering your help.” And the first-year representative is dazzled by their dependable senpai once more. Though Horikawa couldn’t help but feel a bit bad, they were in the same function yet he couldn’t recall their name at that exact moment. However, that wasn’t Horikawa’s current issue. The more major problem though was coming soon.
If only he could google ‘how to properly tell Kashuu your affections for him’.
—
“Do you think they found them?”
“I wouldn’t put it past Horikawa, I stuck it in between his notebooks while he was tutoring me!”
“But he probably knows that it’s you who stuck it in there though.”
“They’ll be more preoccupied with how to tell each other.”
“Yeah, you’re right dad.”
“Don’t call me that, I’m not that old.”
“Whatever you say dad.”
Whoever walked past the landing between the second and third floor bore witness to Nagasone Kotetsu pinching both Izuminokami Kanesada and Yamatonokami Yasusada.
—
The day ends uneventfully and Kashuu finds himself idling on the school’s rooftop. It was actually going to happen, he was actually going to tell Horikawa. He’s too lost within his thoughts, practicing his confession softly to himself to make sure he’s gotten every word down that he misses the hurrying of footsteps coming towards him.
“—shuu-san. Kashuu-san!”
Horikawa comes out of nowhere, taking both of Kashuu’s hands in his own. A startled noise escapes him and he takes a reflexive step back.
“Kashuu-san, I’ve always been very grateful that I got to know you. I always try my best because of you, you know.”
“Eh, Horikawa, what are you saying—”
That would’ve been where Horikawa would normally cut off to explain himself more thoroughly, but with how earnest he looked trying to tell Kashuu something that obviously seemed important, how could he stop?
“Seeing your face would always cheer me up, hearing your voice would always make me happier. Before I knew it, I couldn’t look at anyone but you. I wanted to be by your side more, I wanted to see you blush more, I wanted to make you happy by telling you that you look cute today and in the future, but Kashuu, to me, you always look cute. Today, tomorrow, for as long as the world goes on, you’ll always be cute to me. Whenever I talk to you, I want to become a better person and I want to become someone you can lean on. I really like you Kashuu, I want to date you, want to spend more time with you.”
What gets Horikawa to stop talking is the dripping of moisture on their entwined hands.
“Ah, Kashuu, you’re crying.”
Yes, he’s crying. Of course he is. They’re the tears of years and years of pent up pining and the relief that his feelings are reciprocated. He’s happy but the tears won’t stop coming.
“Shut up, you’re crying too, you know… Telling me you like me like that. Of course I’m going to cry, I worried so much about the right way to tell you but you beat me to it.”
Kashuu might be smiling, but Horikawa can’t tell because he’s brought up their hands to cover his mouth.
“Haha, I guess you’re right, but Kashuu, no more tears, come on, let me wipe them away.”
One pair of hands fall away from each other while the other remains tightly in grasp. Horikawa busies himself with Kashuu’s tears and Kashuu with Horikawa’s.
“Hiro-kun, let me give you something.”
“Kashuu, you don’t have to give me anything, you know this already.”
“Heh, but I want to though.”
That’s when Horikawa sees a brilliant smile through Kashuu’s tears, genuine and happy, harkening to a smile that reminded him of their younger days.
And then Kashuu kisses him, a simple kiss, nothing too complicated. Horikawa can barely comprehend the kiss, much less kiss back, but he manages it somehow.