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When Okuyasu walked into his house that morning, Josuke immediately noticed something was different. It wasn’t like when Okuyasu wore a different colored tank top under his uniform, or when he changed cologne - it was much more.
In lieu of his usual straightened hair, which was styled into a small pompadour, Okuyasu wore his hair in neat, braided rows, which laid close to his scalp. Josuke stood in the middle of his stairs and just looked, absorbed the drastic change. Okuyasu noticed him on the stairs a few moments later, giving Josuke a small wave.
Ms. Higashikata peeked out of the kitchen to see why the boys weren’t talking yet, and her eyes locked onto Okuyasu’s head. “Oh, um, hello, Okuyasu. You changed your hair!”
Okuyasu laughed awkwardly, reaching up to scratch the back of his head like he usually did, before freezing his hand and resting it on his neck instead. “Uh, yeah. Avdol-san helped me with it.”
Josuke finished coming down the stairs, and stood next to his boyfriend, looking at his hair. It looked so… pretty . Neat. He had never seen anything quite like it in his 17 or-so years of life. “I like it.”
Okuyasu looked over at his boyfriend, and Josuke noted the shock on his face. “Really?”
“Yeah, dude! What is ‘t called?”
“Avdol-san called them canerows, but he said they’re also called cornrows. Depends on the area. It’s a protective style.”
Josuke furrowed his brows. “Protective style?”
Okuyasu seemed to almost get a little… worried? Scared? “Uh, people with hair like mine ‘n Avdol-san - Black people... Th- We have ways to wear our hair th’ keeps it strong, and not lose it’s curl, ‘r coil.” Okuyasu looked down at the floor. “Avdol-san was shocked. I guess straightening my hair every morning was really bad for it. ‘Ve been doin’ it like that for years now, too.”
Josuke nodded, still not really knowing what exactly that all meant, but Tomoko called for them to come eat something before they headed to school. Both knew better than to argue.
***
“So… Avdol-san ‘n you are gettin’ close?” Josuke asked, walking beside Okuyasu. They were just barely away from the house.
Okuyasu let out a small laugh, before replying, “Yeah! He’s… very helpful.”
Josuke really hoped he wasn’t being too pushy as he asked, “How so?”
Okuyasu glanced over at Josuke, before saying, “Lots’a ways.” He seemed to contemplate something before continuing. “D’ya mind if I get a little… emotional for a sec?”
You’re almost always emotional, babe. “Nah man, I don’t mind.”
Okuyasu stared straight ahead as he started to speak. “My mom died when my bro and I were young, you know that. Dad never taught us shit she would have… like how to take care of our hair. She was Black, you know.”
Josuke nodded. “Like Prince.”
Okuyasu’s face didn’t change much at that. “Yeah, I guess. Avdol-san has been teaching me things I never got to learn. Proper products to use ‘n shit.” Josuke could see the tears forming in Okuyasu’s eyes. “I went int’ S-City with him. I… People always treated me weird. I always thought it was my fault, but they were like that with Avdol-san too… People are mean around here, man.”
Josuke stopped, and Okuyasu glanced at him, a confused expression mixed with the tears that had escaped. “People ‘re mean to ya for your skin color?”
Okuyasu nodded.
Josuke could feel the anger rise in him. “Fuck, man, why didn’t you tell me? Fuckers used to make fun of me - called me ‘half’ ‘n shit.”
“Shit, they call me that! Meaner shit too, though.”
Josuke took a few breaths, forcing himself to calm down. “Well, I’ll make damn sure no one pulls that again.” He pauses, before adding, “Your hair really does look cool, though.”
Okuyasu grinned, before throwing his arm around Josuke’s shoulders. “Thanks, man. Not as cool as y’rs though.” For the first time, Josuke didn’t entirely agree with that.
Regardless, Josuke smiled, bringing his hand up to thread his fingers with Okuyasu’s, leaving their hands on his shoulder. Okuyasu released Josuke’s hand though, and Josuke felt a pang of disappointment in his chest as Okuyasu moved his arm from Josuke’s shoulder, until he felt a hand in his own again.
“If y’r gonna hold my hand, at least be a man about it.”
Josuke laughed, and they made their way to the school, hand in hand.