Chapter Text
It wasn't long until the coughing started. Langa had experienced what seemed like a buildup. Each cough he gave (although it did not seem to be that often at first) seemed almost superficial as nothing came up even though it felt as though something should. His lungs felt almost tight and full. Not thinking anything of it, Langa continued his normal everyday life. Skating with Reki, school, and S. It seemed almost calmer there than before, with Joe and Cherry practically running it, it had grown in a way to be safer. ADAM seemed to even calm down, as he tended to make an appearance from time to time. Reki and Langa still hung out most of the time, but for a while, something had seemed different, during his final skate with ADAM Langa had come to terms with his love for his best friend. But Langa had also resigned himself to the fact that it would never happen, he wasn’t a girl and the other had never given the inclination that he was into the other sex. Langa was not overly optimistic about Reki ever returning his feelings.
It was right after Langa’s skate with ADAM; he was so happy and free more so than he had felt in a long time. Before he had met Reki life seemed bleak and hopeless. He could barely handle living in the place his dad once lived life to the fullest. Where his father taught him everything he knew about snowboarding, and where his father died. The longer Langa stayed the more and more he felt as though what had happened was his fault that nothing would right the wrong that he did. Of course, no one of it was his fault as he would realize later, that accidents happen; and the dangers are always present no matter what sport that you would choose to do. For a long time, each time that he even glanced at his snowboard, he would be plagued by a flashback to that day… He never told his mom, knowing that she would become worried more than she already was. But Reki had changed that; Reki made that feeling of emptiness and self-loathing disappear. It had been the first time in a long time that didn't feel shame. Just his presence brought about that feeling of peace. Along with encouraging him and helping him to fall in love with skateboarding and the fun that surrounds him. Langa had long since come to the realization that he is gay. It hadn’t been too hard for him to come out to his family, it was more accepted in Canada, his parents had both been extremely supportive. Langa knew that Okinawa was not as open to accepting the LGBTQ+ community as what he was used to. It had taken him a while knowing this fact to come out to his friends, but after his beef with Adam it finally seemed like it was time, riding on the adrenaline high, he sat in the back of the car with Reki. Langa took a deep breath, silencing everyone in the car, “Langa?” Joe asked from the front of the car.
Langa looked at Reki, who had a questioning look on his face. Langa took another deep breath before deciding just to be blunt with it “I’m gay” Langa hadn’t realized that he looked away from everyone but quickly turned his head to look at the one person he was most afraid of having a negative reaction from. Reki’s face seemed shocked and guarded. Langa saw what he believed to be disgust in his eyes, but to everyone else, it seemed like a fearful yet hopeful look. From that moment Langa knew that he could never tell Reki of his feelings no matter what happened.
The other reactions proved positive Miya laughed which broke the tense silence that plagued the car “I’ve known that since the moment I met you.”
Langa turned to look at Miya a look of amusement and awe clear on his face before Miya decided to speak again, “for all its worth I consider myself to be Pansexual and Ace" He wove his phone case around in one hand, a smirk across his face.
Joe spoke up again after being silent through most of this interaction “I’m Bisexual, meaning I like both men and women” he seemed to say this more for the benefit of others in the car. Reki proceeded to stare at Joe in awe as if he never knew that that was an option.
Cherry then decided to speak shortly after joe had finished, as most of the car seemed to be shocked, besides Miya who seemed to have an ever-present shit-eating grin on his face, almost as though he already knew all of it. “Well since I can’t let the Gorilla have all the glory, I consider myself to be Gay as well.”
Shadow who had been decidedly quiet throughout this received stares from others in the car, it took him a moment to realize that they were waiting for him to say something “What are you looking at me for? “he asked in a weird almost accusing tone, one that made many of the others believe that he was hiding something. After a tense moment, he spoke in a higher tone “IM STRAIGHT” he adverted his gaze from those in the car.
Miya scoffed before saying in a kind of haughty tone, “yeah right, you out of all of us are the only straight. You just haven’t realized your gay like all of the rest of us”
It was that moment Reki in a higher tone of voice spoke up “Hey I’m not gay, I’m straight too…” although to most in the car it seemed as though he was just scared of actually admitting it. Well, everyone besides Langa who had felt his stomach drop at that. From that moment he decided to ignore the conversation, looking out the window he became lost in his thoughts. Completely missing the rest on the conversation
This caused Miya to turn his head to look at Reki with a look of pure disbelief, “yeah right. Look me right in the eyes and tell me that you wouldn’t date, like let’s say, Langa?” Miya smirked at Reki.
Reki looked at Miya, opening his mouth as if to reply, before taking a moment and actually thinking about it. After a few moments of an unbreaking look that Miya was giving Reki.
Reki finally sighed, “I...” he paused a moment, getting lost again in his thoughts ‘it had to be difficult for Langa to admit it... I mean he risked everything... His friendships and perhaps even S, because he wanted us to know. Reki thought, before deciding that it wouldn’t be so bad that everyone here would know. It wasn’t like he was going to lose any friends over this. not like the last time he had told someone his secret.
Joe coughed getting Reki’s attention, “if you're straight your straight, but you don’t have to be afraid of telling us... Out of everyone we understand your fears, each one of us had to come out to someone at some point; and the first time is always the hardest... sometimes it’s better to rip off the band-aid and say it aloud. Even if you’re unsure about your sexuality figuring it out can sometimes be easier when talking out to someone” everyone besides Langa looked at Joe. While they all agreed with what he said in their own ways, they were surprised that he would have been the one to say it. At least as carefully as he had said it.
Reki took a deep breath before opening his mouth and saying in a quiet tone. yet still loud enough that everyone paying attention would be able to hear, “I am bisexual... I like both guys and girls...” Reki sighed and with it, it felt as though a giant weight was lifted off of his shoulders, in this moment looking around at the others he felt accepted.
After a few moments, the car went over a large bump in the road jolting everyone in the car, but it jerked Langa back into reality. Langa turned his head just in time to catch Reki turning his head to look at Langa with a bright smile on his face. Langa returned it with a small smile of his own. It was at this moment that he realized; he could never tell Reki of his true feelings. Langa knew it could potentially ruin their friendship, should he ever find out. One thing that Langa never wanted to lose was the one person who had made his life worth living and brought life to such a dark time in his life. After he had almost lost him over ADAM, Langa was not willing to risk it again.