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“It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”
Mitsuba dropped his deck of cards onto the ground where they were swept up by mokke and translucent purple hands unable to pass up the opportunity to cheat. The apparation was speechless, his voice stuck in his throat. Kou tried to salvage Mitsuba’s cards from the spirits before abandoning them shortly after with a grunt. He tossed his cards too and laid back, his head dipping downwards.
Kou’s eyes adjusted to seeing the world upside-down, not like it added much to the absurdity that is Mitsuba’s boundary. Mirrors decorated the tall walls, its many sizes trying their best to find a place to call home in this chaotic world they live in as they move like snails to different areas of Mitsuba’s boundary.
After Mitsuba usurped the position as Number Three, he had changed the boundary entirely into something that fits him more. Whether it was the Mitsuba in front of him or the previous one, the School Mystery refused to answer.
The tall tower with walls previously painted blue were replaced with more adorable white and pink wallpaper. Tiny hearts embellish the walls drawn by Mitsuba’s hands themselves. The School Mystery even went so far as to borrow furniture from the school, being very persistent that he needed these random objects to make the boundary more inviting for potential strangers that wander into it. One of them apparently being Kou’s lame-ass dirty baking utensils. The blond found it funny to see the ghost be covered in flour the next day however and let him keep them.
Mitsuba tried to fix the mirrors too, a book on interior design recommending him to use mirrors to his advantage and make the already tall tower look bigger. He was disappointed when the mirrors all had minds of their own however and moved out of their positions, unafraid of even Kou’s threats to exorcise them. Kou found his eyes sticking to one particular mirror being engulfed by the wall. Mitsuba said that it simply is moving to another place in the boundary if he recalled correctly.
“My… birthday?” Mitsuba stuttered, his voice returning slowly.
Kou hummed softly, wondering where the mirror would be now. Would it still remember where he was previously? Do mirrors even have memories?
“Ghosts- ghosts don’t have birthdays. We’re dead. Plus I don’t remember when my birthday was.”
“28th of March.”
Kou pushed himself into a proper sitting position, the blood rushing back down to his body. He gave Mitsuba a toothy grin.
“Your birthday is on the 28th of March. Yokoo told me.”
Mitsuba’s eyes shined, recognising the name. They had never talked before, or rather he had never talked to Yokoo before but he was happy someone remembered.
He wasn’t going to give Kou the satisfaction however.
“Creepy.”
Kou was about to consider exorcising the School Mystery before Mitsuba responded.
“But it doesn’t matter, ghosts don’t have birthdays. Thanks for remembering I guess, though I wish it wasn’t from some lame ass perverted exorcist.”
Mitsuba’s heart skipped a beat when he felt warm hands around his, Kou moving closer to him. The blond ignored the School Mystery’s jeer.
“Of course, it matters. It’s your birthday! We have to celebrate it.”
“We really don’t have to! I’m alright, and let go of me you per-“
Mitsuba swallowed his words when he saw the look on Kou’s face. A face he was too familiar with. His lips shrink to an almost pout and his eyebrows knit. It was more relaxed, more determined.
He wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Mitsuba sighed.
“Fine. Whatever. But just this once. Just this year and this year only, okay?”
Kou’s smile returned, even wider this time and his hands tightened their grip. Mitsuba pushed them away, his hand quickly covering the blush forming on his cheeks. The School Mystery was familiar with that smile all too well. It was one that was inviting and sweet. It was genuine. Something that separated the smiles Mitsuba gave to his.
“Just this once, you won’t regret it Mitsuba! Do your powers work on mirrors outside the school?”
Mitsuba raised an eyebrow. “I- I guess they do. Why?”
Kou pulled their hands together in a grip before pulling them both up.
“Kou- what are you doing?”
“I need you to trust me. Do you trust me?”
Mitsuba almost scoffed. “Of course, I do.”
“Then remember this. The 2nd mirror in the male’s bathroom of Shirohana park.”
“Shirohana pa- Why would you want to go there?”
Mitsuba’s question was met with a large grin as Kou spread his legs and took off into a sprint straight into a tall mirror at the end of the hall, the school mystery tailing along as Kou refused to let go of his hand. Loud bellows of laughter, joy and excitement drown out the screams of panic and vulgarities. Mitsuba tried to wiggle his way out but failed, his body forced to keep up with Kou or risk slipping and being dragged across the ground.
It was just like when they first met.
Mitsuba looked at the blond, baffled to see his eyes close. He had complete trust in Mitsuba, trusting him with his own life. He felt his blood rise to his cheeks before closing his eyes too. Kou took one big step and fell headfirst into the mirror, pulling the School Mystery along with him.
When Mitsuba opened his eyes, they met cool blue ones. The mirror tossed them out onto the floor, Kou’s large body on top of Mitsuba’s petite one, their hands still intertwined. They were so close to each other, hot breaths tickling each other’s noses. Mitsuba could smell incense- Kou mentioned before that he lives near a temple he prays to daily.
Their chests brushed against each other gently as Kou took deep breaths, a small red blush forming on his cheeks. Mitsuba wanted him to bend down closer, his eyes locking on the thin lips he would stare at for days wondering when he could taste them again.
“Mitsuba, I-“
The School Mystery escaped his daze, blaming it on the overpowering aroma of fresh incense and pushed his lover off him.
“Sorry about that. Umm, I didn’t mean to do that.”
Kou closed his eyes for jibes that never came. He flashed a smile realising this and urged Mitsuba to get on his feet. The School Mystery slapped his red cheeks before rolling his eyes, his voice cracking.
“Yeah sure you didn’t, pervert. What do you want to show me anyways?”
Mitsuba trudged to the exit, his heart beating loudly in his chest as he approached the exorcist. He let out a soft peep when he felt Kou’s hand around his once again. The blond gently placed the hand on the cold metal doorknob.
“Push.”
Mitsuba nodded, his hand turning the doorknob and opening it.
Bright light flooded the dimly lit bathroom as Mitsuba’s eyes adjusted to the shift. The world painted a more idyllic environment different from the gloomy bathroom, warm sunlight bathed the two as the delicate smell of flowers overwhelmed them. Neatly kept grass tried to paint a verdant environment stretching deep into the park, but fail to as above the grass lied a whole new different picture. One of soft pinks and oaky wood. Tall cherry blossom trees littered the park creating a canopy where light dances as it hits the ground below. The branches twisted and turned, going as long as the light will take them too.
It was beautiful. Mitsuba leapt out of the door, leaving Kou behind as he sprinted to see the trees up close.
“Cherry blossom trees! They’re so pretty and big and pink and oh god, they’re so beautiful. Picture. I need to take a picture!”
Mitsuba whipped his head to face Kou, small tears in his eyes. He had never seen cherry blossoms in his life. And he wanted to remember this moment. How they looked like. How tall they were.
Kou only smiled seeing how ecstatic Mitsuba was and pointed to a tandem that had a small basket attached to its front leaning against the bathroom stalls. He cupped his hands to shout, oblivious to the glares from everyone else.
“We’ll do that later. I wanna show you something first.”
Mitsuba’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. This wasn’t the surprise? He had no idea what else could beat this but he wanted to find out. Kou pushed the tandem onto the bicycle trail, sitting on the frontmost seat. Mitsuba quickly followed suit, wondering if he still knew how to cycle.
Kou threw a helmet to Mitsuba’s hand, the school mystery staring at the offending object with distaste.
“Kou, I’m dead. I don’t need this. Trust me.”
Kou gave a small pout, the bright blue helmet reflecting the sun’s rays. It was a childish look and one that Mitsuba could live without.
“Yeah but I bought this one just for you so please? I didn’t want any leaves in your hair.”
“Yeah but my hair is going to be even messier if I put it on.”
Kou’s pout turned into a small frown and Mitsuba hastily put on the helmet with a big whine. It was the least he could do considering that Kou had done so much already and it wasn’t even the big surprise yet.
The exorcist let out a small thanks and a thumbs up before turning to face the front, pedalling as fast as he could straight into the belly of the park. Mitsuba grabbed onto the handles till his knuckles turned white, realising that pedalling would only slow Kou down. He cursed at his unmuscular body before gritting his teeth.
The tandem was travelling at break neck speed, enough to let even a spirit like Mitsuba worried. Mitsuba would admit however that it was exciting. The wind hitting against his skin as the colours in the world soon turned to blurs of pink and green. And when he looked straight in front of him, he could see Kou taking deep breathes as he cycled for the two of them.
Mitsuba bit his lip. He was so close. If he just pushed his body a bit more, he would be able to wrap the blond in a small hug. The School Mystery gripped and let go of the handles repeatedly before groaning and thrusting his body forwards, letting his body float as cold sleeves wrap themselves around Kou’s neck.
His body was so warm. It was like a furnace, heating up Mitsuba’s cold innards as he moved to feel more of this warmth. He wanted it to be closer. Kou smelt like comfort. Tsukasa and Natsuhiko had such acrid smells and Sakura had a subtle sweet smell of perfume but Kou had the strongest aroma of them all. It was a smell that Mitsuba could trust and fall asleep to, that he could give his all to and expect it to be reciprocated. It was unique only to Kou.
The School Mystery pulled Kou closer to him and buried his head in the blonde’s soft neck. He stayed like that as pink petals fell onto the ground, moving to hug his legs around Kou’s waist and floating slightly off the seat.
He thanked the exorcist under his breath for keeping silent all the way to their destination.
🌸🌸🌸
“I need you to close your eyes.”
Mitsuba was shocked hearing Kou make such a request. The two cycled down the long winding dirt trail deeper into the forest, the path becoming bumpier the further they went. The exorcist then stopped the bike abruptly in the middle of nowhere, parking it between two oak trees. He grabbed Mitsuba’s hand and gently pushed them off onto their feet.
He had the same toothy smile plastered on his face, excited to see the School Mystery’s reaction to his surprise.
“You’ll love it. Trust me.”
Mitsuba snorted, closing his eyes. “I doubt I could anymore but good luck I guess.”
He stood there holding Kou’s hand gently, waiting to be pulled to somewhere else. But the blonde did not move. Mitsuba opened an eye, his orb meeting Kou’s face.
It was neutral. No creases, no folds, it was perfectly… neutral. He was thinking which Mitsuba thought was a very rare sight to see.
“You- you complimented me.”
Mitsuba almost bit his tongue in surprise. “I- I suppose it was. But that’s not really a compliment-“
“No. I know what you’re going to do. You’re going to insult me and tell me some other weird and oddly specific stuff that isn’t true and I’m telling you right now that it doesn’t matter because you love my surprises and that’s what matters.”
The School Mystery giggled a bit.
“I was going to say that you have really pretty eyes and that that was a compliment.”
Seeing Kou’s face turned beet red was hilarious and payback for all the embarrassing stuff the blonde would say to the School Mystery.
“Now go. Show me what else you have in store for me.”
Kou smiled and pulled Mitsuba by the hand, using his other hand to push the bushes in front of them aside. He laughed when a stray twig still made its way to the School Mystery’s face however.
“Open your eyes.”
Mitsuba relaxed his muscles as he took in his surroundings. It was so different from the park, there were deep in the forest, far away from civilization. It was quiet and desolate, so quiet he could hear his heart beat in his chest as tall green trees bordered the area where a field and a large pond lay in the centre. And right in the middle of the clearing, where land meets water sat a huge cherry blossom tree, its petals slowly making its way onto the calm water under it. The school mystery could also make out a small quaint wooden boat right by the tree.
“What are you waiting for? Don’t you wanna go see the outside world beyond the school for once?”
Mitsuba nodded and walked to the centre of the field before laying down letting the grass swallow him. Kou giggled and went back behind the bushes, taking out the containers he stored in the basket on the tandem. He returned to see Mitsuba making grass-angels.
Placing the containers right next to the elated School Mystery, the exorcist removed his shoes and sat cross-legged on the fresh soil.
“Is that food?”
“You bet. One for me and one for you! I made them both early in the morning before school so I hope you enjoy them!”
Kou handed Mitsuba a soft yellow box with a lion on it, obviously meant for someone a lot younger. He wasn’t going to complain however, not after everything he did. Opening the box, Mitsuba was greeted with warm smoke. He could smell the tender chicken marinated in sweet teriyaki as he quickly but with style downed his meal.
Mitsuba always knew his lover was a fantastic chef and he did not disappoint. Everything tasted fresh and made with so much love, even the rice had so much flavour. It was savoury and sweet, something the blonde knew Mitsuba loved dearly. The exorcist could only gleam as he scarfed his own food too.
Kou slapped Mitsuba’s sneaky hand away from his food before giving in to the apparition’s puppy face. He couldn’t resist the big doe eyes.
He growled however when Mitsuba took two whole slices of his chicken, demanding an arm wrestle. The School Mystery being the weakest of the two lost almost as fast as it began and quickly snatched Kou’s box before he could say anything, running away as fast as his legs could carry him.
His eyes soon made contact with the boat by the pond and jumped in, protecting the box with dear life. He scooted to the very end, his back touching the wooden tip as the boat slowly drifted away deeper into the pond. Kou not wanting to lose his lunch, ran and jumped barely making it into the boat.
“Give it to me Mitsuba. You lost, fair and square!”
“Your challenge wasn’t fair and square! You knew I couldn’t win from the start!”
“Doesn’t matter you had your lunch so please let me have mine!”
The two bickered even longer, oblivious to the fact that the boat was drifting deeper into the pond before Kou turned his head around and groaned realising they were stuck.
“No, my plan! Oh god, this wasn’t what I had in mind.” Kou pouted, his eyes glued to the bushes they came from.
Mitsuba could only chuckle, picking up one of the dozens of floating petals on the serene water and perched them on Kou’s palm. He laid back even deeper, enjoying the shade the tree towering above them provided shining specks of light on their cheeks. He was just happy he could spend his day with Kou.
He turned his attention back to his lover who was much calmer now, his gaze soft as cold blue eyes met dark pink ones.
“What did you have in mind anyways, Kou?”
The blonde bit his lip. “I had a small ukulele in my basket… I wanted to sing a song to you as we floated around on this boat.”
Mitsuba held in his cooing at how romantic the scene was to him. “You could play the ukulele?”
“I taught myself just for today. I can only play one song however.”
“And what is it?”
Kou stuttered, mumbling to himself. His cheeks turned red again. “H-happy birthday.”
Mitsuba chortled, unable to hold himself back.
“Hey, shut up. It was more endearing in my head, alright! Look, just help me push the boat back. You can float right?”
Mitsuba nodded before getting up and walking towards Kou. He got down on all fours before turning and laid his body back down again, his head on Kou’s lap.
“I could, but I think this is much better.”
Kou was blushing, his body stiff as Mitsuba hummed the tune to Happy Birthday. “You may not have a musical instrument, but you have me and I guess that’s better than nothing right?”
Kou gulped before inhaling deeply. “You will always be better than anything I ever have, Mitsuba.”
The blonde laughed seeing how acrid the atmosphere became with how cliché his words were.
“Just sing already you lame traffic earring.”
Kou cleared his throat and combed Mitsuba’s soft hair before singing under the afternoon sky.
His voice was clear and vibrant. It was obvious he was trying to have some fun changing the tune of the song so it sounded more unique. In all honesty, his voice was average, the bottom of the top but to Mitsuba, he found the voice melodious and perfect. It was soft, as if Kou was trying to get a baby to sleep.
Mitsuba cheered when he finished his song, Kou scratching his head sheepishly before realising the missing chicken strips from his box.
“Mitsuba you bastard. I’m going to end you I swear to god!”
Kou grabbed Mitsuba’s shoulders and pushed him off the boat into the water, jumping in shortly after.
Mitsuba swam up, spitting water out before shouting enraged. “Why did you do that? You wanted to see me wet didn’t you? Someone as cute as me get all wet right in front of you. Was this your master plan? Pervert!”
Mitsuba rubbed the water off his eyes before being hit with a splash and his lover exploding into a fit of giggles.
“You should have seen the look on your face. Serves you right for being such a pi-“
Kou found himself too swallowing water as Mitsuba returned the attack. “Finish that sentence I dare you.”
The blond coughed the intruding liquid out before raising his head up, a wicked grin on his face. “Oh yeah, and what are you going to do about it?”
“You don’t want to know.”
Mitsuba stretched his hands and neck, ready for a full-on battle to commence. Kou followed suit.
🌸🌸🌸
“You didn’t bring spare clothes to a picnic near a pond? Seriously?”
Mitsuba shielded his eyes as Kou took his clothes off and squeezed as much water as he could out back into the pond before donning them back on. They were still damp and crinkled with a faint scent of pond water.
“Hahaha, yeah sorry. I didn’t know it would lead to us jumping into a pond.”
“You mean you pushing me and jumping into the pond.”
Kou rubbed the back of his head as Mitsuba rolled his eyes. As an apparition, he can’t get wet thankfully. One of the few bright sides he supposed.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
“You just wanted me to see your full moon, didn’t you? You lame ass traffic earring pervert.”
Kou rolled his eyes, used to the oddly long insult of his before remembering something. He scampered back into the bushes, leaving Mitsuba stranded for a few minutes. The blonde returned with his hands behind his back causing the School Mystery raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
“What is that behind your back?”
“Close your eyes again. Please?”
“A-again?”
Kou gave Mitsuba a resolute look, his heart on his eyes. Mitsuba hesitantly agreed.
“Now put your hand out.”
The apparition’s body shivered. “Hand? You’re going to do something perverted to me aren’t you? I knew it! You’re definitely going to take advantage of someone as cute as me in this isolated spot far away from society so you can do lewd things to me!”
“Just do it! I won’t do anything bad I promise.”
Mitsuba inhaled deeply before letting his hand out, Kou carefully dropping something rather sizeable on it to which the apparition shrieked at. He opened his eyes ready to blast Kou with more accusations before stopping himself.
He was now holding a neatly wrapped white box with pink ribbon- his favourite colours. A birthday present.
“Kou, you shouldn’t have-“
“Open it! I hope you love it.”
Mitsuba held back a tear or two as he pulled the ribbon and lifted the cover. He was silent as he gingerly pulled the camera inside the box. It looked similar to his old camera, even having the same label he had on his old one. The apparition fiddled with the settings, his jaw dropping at how pristine the image looked. This was much more expensive than the old camera he had previously.
“Sorry about breaking your camera… Back then. I tried to go to stores all across town to repair it and none of them could fix it. I even followed my brother on that mission in Busan to visit stores there but to no avail. So, I asked my friends and umm a bunch of camera nerds, and oh! Old man Hiro and they all said this was the best camera out there for nature taking. It has umm, frame sensor, and umm, night photo taking capabilities and umm… some sort of good resurrection thingy? Resofusion? Something like that!”
Mitsuba was speechless. “Kou, this must have cost a fortune. How did you even scrape the money for one?”
The exorcists gave a sheepish smile and turned the camera over, showing the small handwriting on the underside of the camera: K + M
“I- umm made it with them. It’s a custom-built camera. We all played a part! I assembled the lens. It was really hard because they’re so fragile but the end result was seeing you smile so I was more than happy to-“
Mitsuba silenced the blonde with a kiss, pulling their faces together as the camera lay on the soft grass. They stayed like that frozen in time as the birds above them chirped. Mitsuba deepened the kiss, feeling how good and warm it was to be near to his lover. His hands travelled downwards and met Kou’s, intertwining together. He could smell it again. Incense. But now he could smell what was previously so subtle.
The overpowering smell of dew and autumn leaves. Hope and hard work. Dedication and courage. The smell Mitsuba could not live without.
Mitsuba broke the kiss, his eyes teary.
“You idiot. I love it but you could have just bought me some old second-hand camera and that would have been fine.”
“But I wanted this to be a special gift for you… Happy birthday Mitsuba.”
Mitsuba rubbed the tears off his eyes and sniffed. Kou was too good for this world.
“So what is your first picture going to be? Birds? Flowers? I hope it’s not bees again.”
The School Mystery grabbed his camera, knowing fully well what his first image would be.
“Smile, Kou.”
The blonde was shocked. He had never expected this to happen. “Me? I thought you liked taking photos of nature?”
Mitsuba hummed, deep in thought. “Maybe. But I don’t know, this just feels more important to me you know? Now smile.”
Kou flashed the biggest smile he possibly could and raised his hand into a peace sign, the photographer waiting for when the cherry blossom petals fall at just the right spot before snapping a picture. He made a small cheer when he viewed the photo again before turning the camera so Kou could see it.
“You look amazing Kou.”
The blonde blushed once again at the compliment before holding the camera closer. He really did look good in that photo, all thanks to Mitsuba.
“This looks great Mitsuba! You’re really cool. I want to see more, you wanted to take photos of the cherry blossoms, right?”
Mitsuba nodded. “You bet. And you’re helping me take them.”
🌸🌸🌸
Soon the world shrouded in darkness as the sun set. The pond reflected the dark night sky, embellished by bright stars and the full moon. The two lovers laid beside one another on the field away from the shady tree that obstructed their view, grass tickling their backs. Mitsuba snapped a quick shot of the sky with his camera before setting it down.
“You really like taking photos, huh Mitsuba?”
The apparition turned his head to the side facing Kou, enjoying how the moonlight gives his face a gentle glow. He looked so beautiful.
“Yeah, I guess I do. I don’t want to forget any important memories… not like they were much in the first place. But I still want to remember them all.”
Kou turned, letting his eyes meet Mitsuba’s. The moon played tricks with their eyes, almost as if fairies danced and held orbs of the moon’s ethereal glow. The blonde slowly caressed his lover’s cheek. Mitsuba cleared his throat.
“Thank you.”
Kou snapped from his daze, his hand dropping onto the ground. “H-huh?”
“For today. My birthday. Thank you.”
“Oh, don’t mention it.” Kou scratched his cheek with a finger awkwardly. “When I heard it from Yokoo the other day, I knew I had to celebrate it. It took me a month to prepare everything and find this spot but it was worth it. I’m just so happy that you’re… well happy! You never smiled and laughed so many times before and I just love-“
“A shooting star!”
Mitsuba pulled Kou up so they both sat straight before pointing to the shooting stars above them, racing to the other end of the world, its tail shimmering on the night sky. It reminded them of the night in Mei’s world.
But this world was real.
“Quick, pervert! Make a wish! Maybe a new stylish earring? The one you have looks terrible.”
Kou squinted before closing his eyes. Mitsuba could only wonder what he wished for, but he knew it was bad luck to ask. He looked at the star as it travelled to god knows where. The star left a trail as it zipped past, shiny bright stardust. Even as the star left, people could still remember that it was there, that it existed because of what it left behind.
And just for a quick second, Mitsuba wished he was just like that star.
The School Mystery squeaked when he felt a warm hand on top of his.
“You alright, Mitsuba?”
Mitsuba nodded. But stars had easy lives. They never had a care in the world. They have no difficulties, nothing hampering them from moving around. Mitsuba always had a hard life, however. Nothing ever worked out for him and he died unsatisfied. Even in death, he was unlucky. But he never stopped moving. Never stopped trying to fulfil his one wish.
And it came to him in the form of a blond exorcist. Ironic, isn’t it? That it was an adversary that granted him his wish. Even as the world had played the cards against him from the start, here he was with his friend turned best friend turned lover. Just like shooting stars, Kou never had a worry in the world. He never doubted Mitsuba from the start, always striving to be with him.
Even when he pushed him away, Kou kept trying again and again.
“Mitsuba, it’s your turn to make a wish.”
Kou had a worried look on his face. Mitsuba smiled and pulled the blond in for another kiss.
Mitsuba grabbed the boy and refused to let him go. Not now, not ever. He was hungry for the sweet taste of Kou’s lips, his hunger unable to be sated for a long time. His scent flooded his nose, dew and autumn leaves overpowering the incense. Kou returned the kiss, deepening it to depths the couple had never taken before. Raw passion and intense admiration were displayed in grunts and moans. They savoured the kiss, neither party willing to give in to this battle of emotions. Whatever Mitsuba gives, Kou was quick to return.
Unlike stars, their paths crossed.
Kou was the one who broke the kiss, gasping for oxygen that Mitsuba knows he does not need. A trail of saliva linked their lips before snapping in two.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The two exchanged smiles.
“You should really make a wish. Before it goes away.”
Mitsuba hummed. “I think I’ll pass.”
Kou’s eyes widened. “Wait, why?”
Mitsuba pointed a finger at his chest, pushing his hair to the side, a sudden burst of confidence inside of him.
“Because you’ve given me more than any shooting star ever will.”
Kou smiled and kissed Mitsuba again under the shooting night sky.