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There are two things Satou prides himself in. One is his skills of baking which he takes very seriously. And his creations is always met with wonderstruck eyes. The second is that he is the only responsible one in his friend group. Consistently avoiding trouble as best as he can. This, however, was not one of those times.
He clings on to his childhood friend’s middle for dear life as Yokoo zips through the bike path of the beach. The sea salt air whipping through his dark brown hair and past his ears. Why did he allow Yokoo to be the one in charge of the bike?
“Yokoo-kun, slow down!” He cries.
“Hm?” His tawny haired friend turns to face him. “Don’t worry Satou, we’ll beat Kou and Sousuke ~!” He closes his eyes and smiles at him all too bright.
Despite his best friend’s smile effortlessly makes Satou’s heart dance to a weird rhythm, there was something else occupying his mind right now.
“Yokoo-kun, you idiot! Keep your eyes on the road!” But it was too late. The bike hits a crack and skids to the edge of the pavement, causing them to topple down to the sand with a heavy thud.
Satou groggily pushes himself to sit up, dusting away the sand on his hair and clothes. “Yokoo-kun are you-” Next thing he knows Yokoo jumps at him.
“Satou, are you hurt?!” Yokoo’s light brown eyes are wide like saucers. He holds Satou’s shoulders, leaning too close to his face and worryingly scans for any visible injury. “I’m so sorry, I should have been more careful!”
He prays that the heat crawling on his cheeks and the tip of his ears aren’t visible for his friend to see. “I- I’m fine!” He says a little too quickly, voice a higher octave than normal. He feels guilty for being pleased with having Yokoo’s undivided attention at him. “Wh- what about you?”
Yokoo’s shoulders ease down a little once he sees no injury on the other boy and sits back down. “I’m okay ~” He lets out a sigh, but his eyes is still dyed with guilty colours and his hands didn’t let go of Satou’s shoulders. “I’m still sorry though, I promise to make it up to you, Satou.”
Before Satou could speak, the sound of a bike coming to a screeching stop catches both their attention.
“Are you both hurt?! Do I need to call an ambulance?!” Kou quickly asks, looking down at them. Parental side in full swing. Mitsuba behind him, arms clutching on to the blond, visibly shaking and pink hair all dishevelled from the wind.
“We’re alright!” Satou replies with a reassuring smile to calm Kou. “Just got carried away with the race.”
“Maybe that’s enough bike races for one afternoon.” Kou dejects.
“Well, I’ll say.” Mitsuba finally speaks, trying to smooth his hair. “You two dumb jocks’ competitive streaks nearly got us killed! Look at what you did to my cute face, lame traffic earring! You owe me!” If Kou wasn’t the one holding the bike in place, Satou knew Mitsuba would have kicked him.
“Um, I saw an ice-cream truck nearby, we can return the bikes and go there?” Kou offers, rubbing the back of his head.
“Oh, that’s a great idea ~!” Yokoo chimes. “I’ll buy you ice-cream as an apology, any one you want ~!” His hands slips down to grasp on to Satou’s hands, holding them up close to him. Yokoo’s twinkling eyes and wide smile warmly reminds Satou of colourful birthday cakes. Bright, cheerful, and sentimental. Familiar because they have been friends since they both could toddle yet never dull because Yokoo never fails to dye Satou’s days with vibrant food colourings.
“Uh, su- sure!” Satou gives in. One because he doesn’t want to dim Yokoo’s light. And two because he can’t say no to sweets.
“Yay ~!” Yokoo throws his hands to the air. Satou can’t help but mimic him.
They return the bikes and head to the ice-cream truck. Chin resting on one hand while the other arm crossed underneath it, Satou evaluates his choices. Mitsuba made Kou pay for his fudge ice pop, a good choice though he can tell Mitsuba was influenced by the chocolate dip and sprinkles decorating it, rather than the flavour. Kou bought himself a chocolate popsicle, a bit plain but always a classic. Just as Satou thinks he found the best choice; he feels weight in top of his head and hands holding his shoulders.
“Found anything yet Satou ~?” He can hear Yokoo’s excited smile, looking over his head at the menu sign.
“Yeah, I think I did.” Satou manages to say despite his heart beating loudly in his ears. He gestures at the picture of a sundae. It’s a little simple vanilla cream but the toffee and chocolate syrups really brings the whole sundae together. Not too sweet, not too plain. It’s the best choice.
“Ah ~! Okay, I’ll buy you that and we’ll share ~!” Yokoo lets go and heads to the cashier.
“Wait, share?” Satou asks, taken aback and cheeks heating up more than before.
“Yeah~!” Yokoo pauses. “…Is there a problem with that?” Concern growing on his bright expression.
“N- No! Of course not, Yokoo-kun!” Satou tries to mentally calm the butterflies fluttering in his ribcage down. It’s perfectly normal to share ice-cream with your best friend, right?
Yokoo smiles in return and Satou could have sworn he saw faint blush sprinkled on his cheeks. He comes back with the sundae and two wooden spoons to share, offering to hold it for him as they walk closely together. Satou tries not to think too much on how elated and comforted he feels having Yokoo by his side.
He spots Kou and Mitsuba in front of them trying to take small bites out of the other’s desserts when they think the other is not looking. He chuckles at their antics. Ready to say a quip to Yokoo, however, he only turns and catch the other boy trying to steal from his side. Satou lets out a half-hearted ‘Hey!’ as the other bursts into a fit laughter but doesn’t stop trying to sneakily yet poorly steal spoons off his side away.
After playing a few rounds of volleyball and visiting all the shopping booths, the sun finally dips into the sea and the neon lights of the streets and rides on the pier illuminate the beach. Pop music begins to play on the speaks and children’s laugher echoes through the pier.
“Hey, Satou ~?” Yokoo takes Satou’s concentration away from the dessert jewelleries he was admiring.
“Yes?” Satou makes a mental note to buy some for himself later… And maybe gift one to Yokoo.
“I had fun today with you ~!” He beams brighter than the streetlights. “Oh, and with the others of course!” He hastily adds with a nervous laugh. “Minus me crashing the bike ~!” He begins fiddling with his hands. A nervous habit of his.
“I had a great time too!” Satou laughs and is probably blushing at how adorable a bashful Yokoo is. “And the ice-cream made up for your accident. Though next time warn me, so I’ll duct tape pillows on me for armour.” Satou comments.
Yokoo burst out laughing at that, cheeks dyed red. “You’ll look even more like a cute mini marshmallow ~! Guess I’ll have to crash bikes more often then ~!”
“P- please d- don’t, I was jo- joking!” Satou stumbles with his words and almost trips on the pavement. Did Yokoo just call him a cute mini marshmallow?!
“I know, I know ~!” He waves his hand and bumps the other’s shoulder.
“Hey guys!” Kou calls for them. “The pier is open! Last one there pays for the first ride!” He says then dashes with Mitsuba hand in his who yells profanities at him to slow down.
“Better not let them beat us ~!” Yokoo jogs in front of Satou and offers his hand with the kindest smile Satou has seen him in. As if he is the one who hung stars in Yokoo's sky. “Do you trust me not to let us crash again ~?!”
Satou smiles back and takes his hand. “Just don’t get distracted again.” He teases.
The other boy hums. “I’ll try ~!”
Satou links his fingers Yokoo’s and they dash to catch up with their friends. The little race filled with hearty laughter and less hearty shouts from a certain pinkhead. In the end, Satou and Yokoo made it last, mostly because Kou unfairly got a head start, but Satou didn’t mind. As long as Yokoo was by his side, bright like firework candles, nothing can dim him down.