Archive of Our Own

Kaoru huffs. They should have left half an hour ago. That obnoxious laughter is starting to grate on his nerves.

That Maeshima Kyou guy sits a little too close to Kojiro on the stairs of the dance studio. Worst part is Kojiro lets him. Lets those hands rest on his knee, on his arm, in his hair. And sure, Kaoru kind of gets it. They are classmates in ballet class. But thinking about that little fact only makes the anger pump faster through his body when he pictures Kojiro stretching on the floor, Maeshima sitting behind him, in front of him, helping and touching and getting even closer—

"I can't believe you skate, though? That's so cool." The guy even bats his eyelashes. Ugh. Kaoru rolls his eyes. Everybody make way, the king of subtlety has arrived. "You know, I used to skate, too."

"Oh, really? Cool!" There it is. That damn gorilla. Always willing to talk and befriend anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest in one of his hobbies. But now this means he shares not one but two things with this … nobody. Kaoru has warned him time and time again not to trust so easily, it's how they usually get in trouble. "Do you still practice?"

Maeshima laughs sheepishly. It's the first genuine reaction Kaoru sees from him. "Um, no. I quit when I started entering ballet competitions … It's been a while."

"Wanna see how rusty you are?" Kojiro smirks, and Kaoru wants to punch a wall. Or, even better, Maeshima's stupid, grinning face when he nods.

All three of them end up in the skatepark late at night. Which was Kojiro and Kaoru's original plan anyway, and yet, the evening couldn't be further away from what Kaoru imagined it would be.

He's perched on top of the half pipe, munching on the onigiri Kojiro made for them, while said friend holds Maeshima's hand to help him balance on the board. As if the guy needed help. He's been doing ballet for years! Pathetic. This whole charade makes Kaoru want to vomit.

Swallowing the last mouthful of rice, Kaoru stands and skates down the ramp. He reaches the bench where they left their bags and grabs a bottle of water, his attention perking up when Maeshima mentions his name.

"So, what's up with Sakurayashiki?" Kaoru's eyebrow twitches at the poor attempt at whispering.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, are you guys …?"

"Best friends?"

"Right, right." There's the usual scraping of wheels against pavement and then, "Oh, show me that thing again?"

Kaoru takes a sip of water. He isn't sure whether the sour taste in his mouth is from the umeboshi onigiri or not.

Maeshima becomes a fixture in their lives somehow, infiltrating their routine and free time like a water leak in the ceiling. No matter how many times one tries to patch it up, the sneaky little thing finds a way in again.

But it's Tuesday, so Kaoru skates down the street, on his way to the dance studio. Drivers yell at him when he weaves around the cars and buses, but he smiles regardless, looking forward to an afternoon full of skating. Ten minutes later, he's leaning against the wall just outside the front doors, mentally preparing himself, when fake laughter meets his ears.

Deep breaths.

"So, what are our plans tonight?" Ah, Maeshima is blond this week. Good, the horrible dye job goes hand in hand with his hideous personality. For the record, Kaoru tried. He really did. But while the other teen is all beaming smiles and gentle touches around Kojiro, he's nothing but snarky remarks and snide looks with Kaoru.

So without pushing off the wall, Kaoru drops his board, startling the other two. "Skating, of course."

"Kaoru!" Kojiro skips ahead to bump Kaoru's fist, telling him all about their class and apologizing for not packing any snacks.

"How dare you, ape?" Kaoru rolls his eyes and shoves Kojiro back, earning a laugh from his friend and a squint from their companion.

Their second year summer holidays come and go without much skating and a lot more dancing. Kaoru understands. Of course he does. Kojiro's class had an exhibition in August. What kind of friend would Kaoru be if he'd accused Kojiro of ditching him for Maeshima?

But it's mid-September now and Kaoru has skated exactly three times with Kojiro these past few weeks. They still talk, see each other at school and have lunch together, but lately Kojiro is always on his phone. Always smiling down at the little screen, typing, deleting and typing again. Biting his lip. His expression is decidedly too fond for it to be family. 

There's that anger again, sitting in Kaoru's chest, sometimes smoldering like a tiny campfire, sometimes blazing like a bush fire. But he won't pry. Kojiro will tell him when he's ready.

Or Kaoru will find out what's going on when he decides to surprise Kojiro at the end of his ballet class, the badly-shaped onigiri he rushed to make stashed away in his backpack. He's at the corner when he sees them. His best friend stands in Kaoru's usual spot, leaning against the wall, locking lips with Maeshima.

The visual's unexpected. Revolting. Wrong. 

Kaoru turns around and leaves, not knowing and not caring if they saw him. All the little moments, the small smiles, the blushing … everything clicks now.

The next day, Kaoru half-listens as Kojiro tells him all about his date with Maeshima. How romantic it was, how attentive he behaved, how they kissed non-stop. What prompted him to speak about it now isn't entirely clear. 

Kaoru hums, nods, and makes one-word comments when Kojiro's expectant and excited eyes meet his. He says goodbye to Kojiro at the school doors, his friend already on the phone with Maeshima the second he turns. 

It stings enough to slowly hollow out Kaoru's stomach. There's some realization there at the back of his mind that this isn't how most people feel about their friends, but the knowledge doesn't help, so Kaoru buries it along with any potential hopes and dreams it might drag up from the depths of his subconsciousness. 

Kojiro and he aren't … this. Whatever this is. They've never been. And with Maeshima in the picture, it probably won't happen either. At the end of the day, Kaoru will be happy if he can keep his best friend. 

But that's the thing about leaking water, isn't it? It permeates and ruins even the sturdiest of foundations. 

"Kaoru?" 

He looks up from the fingernail that dries a little too slowly. Right now, in the middle of the lesson, it's probably not the right time to paint his nails. But Kaoru gave up giving a fuck long ago and their half-blind teacher only cares about the first few rows, anyway. "Yeah?" 

"Will you come to the skatepark with me after school?" 

Kaoru smiles. Of fucking course he will. 

He wishes he hadn't come along once they arrive. The bitch himself is sitting atop a half-pipe and looks down at them with a disapproving frown. "Oh. You brought him. "

Kaoru would really like to raise both of his middle fingers and continue to roll backward out of the skatepark—but he's not here for Maeshima. And Kojiro obviously wants Kaoru there. So he settles for a raised eyebrow while his best friend laughs the comment off, clearly missing the tone, and tugs his boyfriend down to kiss him.

Turning away, just to drop his school bag on a bench, of course, Kaoru busies himself with his phone until the smacking stops.

Their afternoon is not the same. It's impossible with the addition of another person, especially one as insufferable as Maeshima. He's incapable of going a few minutes without interrupting them, asking Kojiro for a piece of advice on a trick he's so obviously not interested in nailing … He just wants Kojiro's hands on him. An excuse to steal a kiss, or two, or three.

And Kaoru could swear Maeshima's eyes find his on purpose every time Kojiro walks over.

Kojiro tries to juggle everything. School, ballet, cooking, skating, Maeshima. Some weeks, he manages to pack it all neatly. While others … "Sorry, Kaoru. Kyou called and said he's actually free today. Could we reschedule for tomorrow?"

Kaoru isn't exactly surprised. Kojiro and he see each other at school every day. And he wants to understand, he really does, but it stings anyway. "You have ballet tomorrow, though."

"Ahh, you're right! Let me see if he wants to go out then." Kojiro sends the message and pockets his phone, giving Kaoru his undivided attention for once. They spend the entire lunch period catching up and joking around. It's peaceful, it's normal, it—doesn't last long. Kojiro checks his phone when they sit down at their desks in the back. "Sorry, Kaoru." He doesn't elaborate, doesn't need to. Kaoru nods. He understands. As long as Kojiro is happy.

Today Kaoru doesn't really feel like skating alone. Kojiro and he were supposed to spend the afternoon together but, unsurprisingly, his best friend got a message from his boyfriend and … that was that.

Kojiro apologized, as usual. Made promises to reschedule, as usual. But Kaoru knows those rainchecks won't happen. Somehow, Maeshima will find out about their plans and butt his ugly head in. Because Kaoru is sure now. He has no hard evidence, nothing but a gut feeling, but oh, he knows. Maeshima is most definitely up to something.

"Sakurayashiki-kun?" Kaoru startles. The girl—Harada? Ugh, he's useless without Kojiro around to remind him of their classmates' names—is eyeing him curiously. "You done sweeping?"

Ah, right. He was doing that, wasn't he? One of his tasks during cleaning duty. He looks down at the floor and shrugs. It seems clean enough. "Sure."

"Great, I'll take the brooms back to the closet then. Can you take the attendance book back to the teacher's room?" Kaoru nods and she's off, humming under her breath.

With a sigh, Kaoru picks up the book and wanders the mostly empty hallways. It's almost funny to see how stunned the teachers are when Kaoru walks into their office. He can't really fault them, though, having skipped most of his assigned days or traded with other students who 'generously' complied to his terms. Bowing, he leaves the silent room and smiles after closing the door, ready to crack a joke but stops at the last second.

He has no one to share it with.

His heart is heavy as he walks back to the classroom for his bag. There are still some people around, but they're mostly students who stayed late cleaning, using the library or doing club activities. Nothing like how busy the building is in the morning. It's … strange to walk around without Kojiro by his side. And the sinking feeling in his stomach tells him more than he'd like.

It's too late now. Kaoru shouldn't have taken him for granted.

The next few weeks are the same. Kojiro cancels more often than not. It's as if he doesn't even realize he doesn't spend any time with Kaoru anymore.

Still, Kaoru nods. "It's … fine." It's hard to get the words out. "What about Saturday? I heard that new action movie we wanted to see is finally coming out and—"

"Sorry, Kaoru." Kojiro's expression is pinched when he raises a hand to scratch the back of his head. "I kind of promised Kyou I would go with him." Kaoru stares, and then he's packing up his lunch before he even has time to process what he's doing. "Kaoru? Where are you going?"

"Somewhere I'm actually wanted."

Emotions flicker in Kojiro's eyes until his face hardens. "What's that supposed to mean?"

And he can't help himself; Kaoru huffs. "Seriously? You gotta ask?" His friend remains unmoving, lips pursed as he looks up at Kaoru, who's standing a few feet away now. "Think back to the past month and tell me how much time we've spent together?"

"What are you talking about? We're always together—" Kaoru laughs. But it's hollow. "Why are you laughing?"

"Again, think back. How many afternoons did we spend together, by ourselves, without your precious Kyou hanging off of your arm?"

It's Kojiro's turn to huff now. "That's what this is about? Really, Kaoru? Grow up, will you?"

The sting of the words spreads until it's an open wound, festering right in the middle of Kaoru's chest. His patched-up heart manages to escape, though only to get stuck in his throat, beating a hundred miles a minute. "Fuck you."

It's ice-cold between them after that. Which, sadly, isn't all that different from the last month for Kaoru.

Life carries on, school still sucks, and Kaoru hangs out with the guys they met through skating. He avoids their questions about the missing member of their gang somewhat easily, but the main problem is that without his best friend there, what even is the point? Skating's lost all its meaning without Kojiro standing by his side.

Kaoru is going back home after another night out with 'friends' when his phone buzzes in his pocket. Frowning, he opens the message from an unknown number and almost bails. 

Unknown number
Kojiro forced your number on me. If something happens to him. Ridiculous. What would happen to him? He's a human rock. Anyway. I thought I'd make good use of it. 

Unknown number
[ Image attached ]

Kaoru stares at the photo. Why the fuck would satan's unloved child text him a selfie, with his head full of air and shit, piled comfortably on one of Kojiro's ridiculous pecks? There's no way he'll answer that, no way he'll even save the number—

Unknown number
Sorry baby, I know you like him. Everyone with eyes knows. I mean, everyone except Kojiro, but … I mean why would he even look at you, right? You're pathetic. 

Kaoru? Pathetic? He will make this little worm eat his own fucking teeth. Pathetic. Maybe he should answer, after all. But Kaoru doesn't even get the chance to. 

Unknown number
Do you miss him? I know I do when he isn't around. Luckily that doesn't happen a lot these days :) but I was wondering how you and your little embarrassing crush are doing. 

What the fuck? Who does this bitch think he is? Kaoru will break his kneecaps. He will spit in the asshole's face. If he has to, he will incarcerate this piece of cancer by lighting his house on fire and—

Unknown number
[ Image attached ]

Kaoru stares at the picture of Kojiro and Maeshima kissing. The demon has the gall to smirk at the camera, eyes open and everything, but Kojiro … Kojiro seems genuinely happy. 

So Kaoru won't do anything at all. 

Initially, he thought, if he didn't bother replying, Maeshima would tire and stop harassing him. Initially. But every odd morning or evening proves his hopes are in vain. 

The fucker uses their chat log as a diary. Everything is sugary sweet, at least as long as Kojiro is involved. But even though Kaoru knew the little bitch is insane, it's shocking to see the level of crazy he displays. Venomous bullshit leaks almost constantly into his words, leaving Kaoru with his hackles raised. But even though he's usually an incredibly direct person with a … well. Let's say he doesn't mind violence too much. But even with all those predispositions … Kaoru refuses to answer. He's proving a point here. Not that it deters Maeshima. 

SubhumanDumpsterslut
If you ever wondered what he tastes like

Kaoru stops reading there. Not because he never wondered. Well, so far he actually hasn't but that's beside the point. He's kinda interested in learning. But not by second-hand experience. Nah. Nope. Abso-fucking-lutely not.  

SubhumanDumpsterslut
You know, I like it when he's behind me and

Hell, no. This is Kaoru's personal Disney movie and he won't let the bitch fuck up his rating. Sure, he might look like the loser of his own fairytale right now, but once he gets his revenge on the evil step sister … Despite himself, Kaoru grins. And for a while, he refuses to think about Maeshima sharing intimate details of his—of their lives. But when he gets his damn goodnight message … it's time to take action. 

SubhumanDumpsterslut
He talks about you sometimes. So silly. As if a loser like you deserves this man. As if there's anything between you two, ever has been. 

SubhumanDumpsterslut
You could text me back from time to time, you know? I'm sure Kojiro would like to see your name on my phone. I told him we text. Even though he's not talking to you right now, it makes him so stupidly happy we get along :) My god the man is dense as fucking oatmeal. Still, doesn't mean he should play with human trash like you. A delinquent. Yikes. Why have a street walker when you can bed a prince? I'm sure you agree he's better than you. That I'm better than you. That's why you aren't answering, you finally found your place in the world :)

SubhumanDumpsterslut
Good night, bestie <3 

Kaoru takes a deep breath. He changes the contact name. And then, he starts talking screenshots. 

You
I thought you should know how your darling talks about you. 

It doesn't take long for Kojiro to answer, which is probably rare these days with how much energy his leech of a boyfriend is sucking out of him. 

Kojiro
What the absolute fuck?

Ah, that is uncommon for him. Kojiro is known for keeping his cool even in hot-headed situations, so … that's a bit of a surprise for Kaoru. The next message even more. 

Kojiro
I don't really care how he talks about me but what the hell is he saying about you? Why would he do that? You guys are friends? This … what? 

You
Sorry to burst your bubble but we've never been friends. He's been like this from the start. 

Kojiro
That makes no sense. I saw you guys together. He was always sweet to you!

You
Was he? Or was he just sweet to you?

Kojiro
Okay but if he's the evil problem here then why did you delete all your responses? 

You
I didn't. I just never replied. 

Kojiro
Yeah, sure. That's why he keeps texting and making fun of you … Kaoru I'm not that stupid, you know? 

You
Maybe you are. Read the messages. None of them imply any reply from me, do they? He's just talking to himself. If you don't believe me, ask for his side of things. I can't wait to hear the little snake try and explain himself. 

With that, the chat falls silent. 

"Kaoru." 

No. He doesn't want that, doesn't need it right now. Kaoru steps out of the classroom and turns the other way. The route to go to the bathroom is longer, sure, but he'll still make it in time for their next class in ten minutes. And even if he won't, who cares? He's been in school more often in the last few weeks than the months before combined. What else would he do? Skate? Without Kojiro? Bullshit. 

He walks off and past a bunch of people, but Kojiro is hot on his heels. Until he isn't, because some fucking dimwit decides to interfere. "Yo, Kojiro! Dancing along the hallway? Hey, idiot, are you still doing ballet, or …?" Kaoru waits, but there's no noise except for a small confirmation from his best friend. "That's so fucking lame, you know?" 

This is his out. Kaoru's opportunity to turn his back and leave. Kojiro can't follow him, not when the gentle idiot allows those fuckers to corner him. 

"You should play with the girls, you know? Ballet is so fucking gay. Are you gay, Kojiro?" That doesn't even make sense. Yes. Kojiro is gay. He has a boyfriend, fuck's sake. They aren't even hiding it. "I also heard you're friends with that delinquent Sakurayashiki! Isn't he super scary?" 

Kaoru should go. But instead he hesitates and bites his lip. What will Kojiro say? And that's when he realizes it doesn't really matter. No one should talk to Kojiro like that, no matter if they are friends or not. So Kaoru calmly goes to the wall-mounted baseball trophy the school received for some bullshit he doesn't care about and rips it off the wall. With a metal bat in hand, Kaoru walks over. School doesn't matter. His reputation doesn't matter. Kojiro does. 

"Do y'all have something to say? I heard some losers talking shit." He places the bat on his shoulder with a little smile. He's alone with Kojiro within seconds. 

"You have to stop risking yourself like this! You will get hurt!"

"Why should I listen to you?" Now that it's just the two of them, he isn't sure this was a good idea anymore. He wants to return the baseball bat, even though he can't reattach it to the wall, but Kojiro reaches for his arm and pulls him back. 

"I know you do this for my sake in the first place." 

Took him long enough to realize that. Kaoru does most of the things he does for Kojiro. And he likes it that way. Well, as long as Maeshima isn't involved. "What if I say no?" 

Kojiro opens his hold a little, giving him room to retreat if he wants to. As if. "Please, Kaoru, I'm begging you. Or at least talk to me. You don't have to go through this alone. You're my best friend. Right?" 

Kaoru pulls his hand back. "Break is almost over." They both know he'll probably go home. Alone. 

That was his intention, at least, until he gets yet another message from his new 'bestie'.

Maeshima Kyou
You'll regret your decision

The text sits there, along with all the others, for the entirety of lunch period. Kaoru doesn't turn his head when Kojiro comes back into the classroom but he doesn't need to. The discreet sniffling and forced laughter are enough.

Kaoru bristles with repressed anger all throughout their afternoon classes. He wants to ask what happened but the guilt swirling inside him is answer enough. His screenshots caused this.

School finishes, and Kojiro leaves first. Kaoru takes the long way home, trying to clear his mind of the events of the day. He skates by the park, more out of habit than anything else, but he's glad he does when loud voices reach him.

Worried, Kaoru races toward the source of the commotion. And the scene he finds is surprising to say the least. Instead of the usual making out, Maeshima is yelling while Kojiro stands there, shoulders tense and fists shaking at his sides.

"Kojiro! What's going on here?" Kaoru stops in front of his friend, effectively shielding him from Maeshima. Kojiro's eyes are filled with a myriad of emotions … confusion, anger, guilt. So Kaoru takes a step forward and raises his hand, tentative, afraid. "Kojiro?" 

"Excuse me, this is none of your business, dude."

Kaoru turns and stares Maeshima down, all the frustration and rage from the last month finally bubbling out. "Not my business?" He takes a step forward, and Maeshima is at least smart enough to take one back. " Not my business?" His legs carry him closer to his target and Kaoru obeys, raising a hand to—

"Kaoru! No!" His friend's hand grasps his wrist.

"Kojiro, let me go." A sigh escapes him.

"No."

"Kojiro—"

For some reason, the dumbass in front of him tries to intervene. "You don't even know what's going on—"

"Shut the fuck up for once." Kaoru doesn't even glance at Maeshima as he speaks, turning around to face Kojiro again. "Explain."

"W-what?"

"What happened? You were yelling."

Kojiro averts his gaze and bites his lip. Is he embarrassed? He opens his mouth but Maeshima beats him to it. "You know, it was reeeaaally low of you to show him those messages. That was between you and me, bestie. " He spits out the last word as if it's an insult. And from Maeshima's mouth, it is. "It's been bad enough Kojiro kept trying to text you. What for? Do you even know how hard it was, to keep him from doing the dumb thing and running after someone who doesn't deserve him?" 

Kaoru struggles in Kojiro's hold again, ready to show Maeshima all twenty-seven bones of his hand from up close, very up close. But there's no fighting his best friend. Kojiro is by no means a violent person, but he is strong enough to act like one if he has to. 

Maeshima, honest to god, tries to flip his hair, even though it isn't nearly long enough to do so properly. The damn asshole really relied on Kojiro protecting him, huh? Maybe he's placing a little too much trust in his boyfriend here. Maybe not. Maybe Kojiro is just good like this. "How long have you even known each other? A few years? It can't be that long if you're still puppy-crushing hard on him. And if it didn't get through your thick skull that Kojiro here has no interest in a loser like you." 

Kaoru takes a deep breath. Violence can be a very effective answer to a lot of problems. But maybe Maeshima is right. Maybe he has to look the truth in its ugly eye. So naturally, he turns and stares at Kojiro. "So?" 

"So?" 

"Tell me."

"Tell you what?" 

Again, the damn brat interrupts, laughing from across them. "Awww, see, he doesn't even get it when you ask him directly. Come on, baby. Drop this lowlife and let's go. I decided I'm no longer mad." 

"Wait." Kaoru doesn't give Maeshima any more attention. Instead, he fully focuses on Kojiro. " He was mad at you ?" 

"Of course I was! He wanted to read my texts!" 

Kojiro looks away, shame making his features twitch, as it seems. What the fuck? No. This is all backwards. "He's manipulating you. Don't you see?" 

"He doesn't manipulate me, he loves me!" 

"DOES HE?" Kaoru makes use of the momentum and tears his wrists out of Kojiro's grasp. "Does he love you and accept you and take you the way you are? Does he even know who you are? How much you love baking and swimming and riding your bike during the time when the sun sets, even though it stings your eyes? Does he know your grandmother's name or the stickers on your table? Under your bike? The way you like to style your hair when your parents aren't around to see it? Does he—"

"Oh my gooooood. None of this matters. I make him happy. He makes me happy. End of—"

"NONE OF THIS MATTERS?" Kaoru spins to stare at Kojiro. "Are you sure you want to be with someone who thinks none of this matters?" 

"Is this … are you … Kaoru, are you trying to force me to decide between the two of you?" 

Kaoru shakes his head. No. Kojiro made his choice a long time ago and Kaoru accepted it. Loved him, even when he wasn't loved back. Because at this point, he's accepted this is what the fluttering in his gut means. He's in love with his best friend and the idiot doesn't care. But Kaoru is fine with that. Has been for a long time. Because his happiness isn't focused on himself. All that matters is—

"You know what? That's a brilliant idea." Maeshima squares up what little shoulders he has to offer. He might dance ballet, too, but he's not even close to Kojiro's build and Kaoru never cared enough about the brat to learn why. It doesn't matter right now, either. Nothing does except the look in Kojiro's eyes. 

"You want me to choose?" 

"Tell the lowlife how you feel." 

Kaoru shakes his head again. Enough. Enough of this. He's tried and tried again, but he's running into a brick wall here and has been for weeks. Months? He cups Kojiro's cheek. "You don't have to choose. I will never make you." He gives him a little pat instead of the kiss he wants so much and turns. But before he leaves, he bows to Maeshima. "Your royal highness can have him." Then he gives Kojiro one last look. "But I will always be there, if you need me. If you want me to or not." 

And with that, he ends that chapter of their story.

Not daring to look back at Kojiro, Kaoru grabs his board and walks away, biting his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. He's at the edge of the skatepark when Kojiro finally speaks. "Kaoru."

Kaoru doesn't stop. He can't. If he does, he'll run back. Kojiro doesn't deserve this. Neither of them. But he'll step back if it makes it easier for Kojiro. Only for Kojiro.

"What? Let the lowlife go, you don't need—"

"Kaoru!" Kojiro's tone is resolute, so Kaoru glances back. It's like déjà vu. Kojiro's standing in front of Maeshima, body tense. "I choose Kaoru." 

"What are you talking about?" Maeshima takes a step forward with each new word, his voice getting louder, too. "You can't choose him! Don't you see he's just left? He's clearly giving up on you! He doesn't care."

Kojiro tilts his head. "You don't get it, do you?" He chuckles as Maeshima gapes like a fish out of water. "Leave. We're done."

"But Kojiro—"

"Leave, Maeshima."

"You heard him." Kaoru is next to Kojiro in an instant. It takes all his willpower not to smile as Maeshima grabs his bag and finally walks away. But he would be lying if he said he wasn't gloating inside just a little bit.

He points a finger at Kaoru from a safe enough distance and says, "You'll pay for this!" Kaoru huffs and flips him off, his purple nailpolish shining in the afternoon sun.

Once he's sure the bitch is gone, he drops his board and faces Kojiro. "Hey." His friend slumps against him, forehead tucked away against Kaoru's shoulder, even though they're practically the same height. "You okay?"

A nod and then Kojiro's arms are circling his waist. "I will be." Kaoru rests his hands on Kojiro's broad back, moving them up and down, up and down. He doesn't know how long they stand there like that, engulfed in each other's warmth. Eventually, though, Kojiro sniffles and moves his head back enough to look at Kaoru with misty eyes. "I'm sorry."

Kaoru gives him a small smile. "I'm sorry, too. I … I shouldn't have let it get to this point. I should've—"

"No, no. It's my fault. You warned me. I just … didn't want to see the signs, I guess." Kojiro shrugs and takes Kaoru's wrist again, guiding them to the top of a short half-pipe. They sit side by side, their shoulders and thighs touching, and Kojiro's head is resting against Kaoru's shoulder again.

Neither speaks for a long while, just enjoying the quiet—or how quiet it can get next to a park with a playground, that is. Still, it's peaceful as Kaoru wraps an arm around Kojiro, the last bit of tension in his friend's shoulders finally evaporating. They never needed many words. At the end of the day, their preferred means of communication has always been through skating.

A light bulb goes off. "Hey, what do you say to a little race?"

"What?" 

Kojiro's sleepy tone and hazy eyes make Kaoru's insides turn to mush. He smiles and shakes him a bit. "Come on, enough with the sulking. First one to get here from the edge of the park?"

That puts the spark back in his friend's eye. Good. "What does the winner get?" 

"Mmm, let me think." Kaoru gets down and grabs his board, Kojiro following wordlessly. Tapping his chin, Kaoru leads them to the entrance of the park. At the end, he shrugs. "Don't know. Whatever you want." It doesn't really matter to him. If Kojiro wants something, Kaoru will happily provide it.

"Deal."

"Okay. Ready ... set … go!" They are off in a flash, running the first few meters before jumping on their boards and weaving their way through small pockets of people mingling around.

Kojiro's laughter has always been contagious, and soon enough, Kaoru joins in. It's a mistake, though. He gets distracted when he looks over at his friend and almost crashes into a trash can. Regaining his balance costs him precious seconds, and Kojiro wins their friendly competition.

"Yeeees!" Kojiro's breathing as hard as Kaoru, both of them sweating as they fist bump. "Soooo, I won."

"I saw." Kaoru rolls his eyes and waits.

"You said I could get whatever I wanted, right?" And oh, that smirk is dangerous. In more ways than one. Kaoru swallows and nods. "Tell me the truth, were you jealous?"

Kaoru stares, then huffs. "As if."

"Kaoruuuuu," Kojiro sing-songs and pokes his cheek, which only makes the heat in Kaoru's face rise faster. "Kaoruuu, come on!" He averts his gaze, and Kojiro stops his teasing, although he stands his ground, their chests almost touching with how close they are. "Okay, you don't have to tell me—"

"I—" Kaoru swallows and looks back at his friend. There's a soft smile on his face, as if he already knows the answer. Considering everything that's happened, though, it's probably true. "I'll tell you, just not right now?" It's too soon. Too raw. They need to mend things first—

Kojiro kisses his cheek, his eyes shining in the twilight, and Kaoru's brain short-circuits. "I'll wait, then. But I will always be there, if you need me. If you want me to or not."