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There once was a fool living in a certain place.
The fool, with good intentions, taught his older brother how to skate.
His brother was amazingly talented, and in no time he had risen to become a star in the figure skating world.
The fool looked for a new place in skate-leading.
But his brother turned up there, too.
The fool made a pact with his brother's one-time rival, Kensei Maeshima, and even got the team at Ionodai involved in his fight against his brother.
The fool is me, the brilliant Hayato Sasugai-
The man who would learn that everything in his world would be taken away by his older brother, Reo Shinozaki.
Hayato couldn't help but think this as he watched Reo take away yet another thing from him. He shouldn't be surprised, really. It'd always been like this. He got used to it quite a long time ago. Didn't really have a choice.
Being inferior to your older brother in every aspect of your life was definitely not a nice feeling. It was a gross feeling that tired you out. Sure, Hayato got used to it. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt when he was the one that had to live on his own while Reo lived in a big mansion. With their dad. Or that it didn't hurt when Reo got praised by everyone when Hayato was the one that'd introduced him to skating.
It'd started when they were little, when they were still close. Inseparable brothers. Reo would always take Hayato's toys, his snacks, the blanket he slept with when he took a nap. Everything. Reo was competitive from an early age, but the way he shamelessly took everything from Hayato had gotten annoying pretty quickly. Although, Hayato had to admit that his competitiveness was what had gotten Reo where he was today; a successful, popular, rich, talented skater. Loved and feared by many.
Including the person Reo had suddenly shown a great interest in: Maeshima. Because of course he would try to take him as well.
Of fucking course, Hayato thought as he stared at his older brother. Reo and Maeshima were talking about god knows what. He'd stopped listening a while ago. He just stared, slowly lowering his gaze from the back of his brother's head to his skates. To Maeshima's skates. To their skates together.
He sighed and glanced at his own feet. Shoes. No skates. No surprise of course, but it still stung. If only he hadn't gotten injured.
If only.
He quietly turned around, hands in his pocket, and headed for the exit.
If he hadn't gotten injured, if he was still skating now... He would have been no competition for Reo either.
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"Maeshima, what are you doing on the roof?" Asked a familiar voice. Hayato and Maeshima both turned around, medal still in hands, to see Reo standing in the doorway. Hayato felt a surge of anger rise in him. Why couldn't Reo just leave them alone for one godforsaken minute? Was he really that determined to steal Maeshima from him?
"You said you were going to the bathroom, but you took quite a long time so I went to find you."
Hayato tightened his hold on his side of the medal's ribbon, face completely unchanged.
"Can't even go two minutes without him now, brother?" Hayato said with his usual plastered grin. Reo didn't reply. Didn't pick up on Hayato's anger either as Maeshima made a move to follow Reo back inside. Hayato still hadn't let go of the medal. He stared at the ground, teeth clenched. Didn't he and Maeshima just talk things out? Why was he this paranoid again?
Hayato failed to notice the quick glance Maeshima shot him before he let go of the medal. It dropped a little, now that the weight wasn't supported by two people anymore.
"I'll come pick that up tonight." Maeshima said with a big smile. "We're sharing it, after all."
Hayato stared at him. But before he could reply Maeshima'd reentered the building, disappearing from his sight. Reo lingered a few seconds, shot Hayato a look and followed Maeshima inside. He sighed as he put the medal in his pocket.
Reo was obviously after Maeshima. And knowing him, he'd try to get what he wanted sooner rather than later. Which meant that everything could be different when Maeshima came over tonight. That is, if Maeshima liked Reo back. But why wouldn't he? Reo was attractive, talented, rich, Maeshima wouldn't be the first guy to have fallen for him. Plus, he'd been obsessed with beating him since forever. Hayato really didn't stand a chance.
He rested his arms behind his head and turned his gaze towards the sky.
"Ah well."
All he could do now was pretend he was okay with it until it became the truth. That was how he usually coped. And it worked.
He left the roof, didn't spare another glance at the ice rink, and made his way home. He wasn't in a hurry, Maeshima wouldn't come over for another couple of hours. Which meant he had enough time to prepare dinner. One of the many skills he did have and Reo didn't. Hayato lived on his own while Reo lived in a big mansion, personnel ready to serve his every need. How did Hayato know this? Because he'd seen it with his own two eyes. Every time he visited his brother, back when he still did, he was surprised by how little Reo had to do himself. It was borderline absurd.
Of course Reo had to spend the time he gained by not doing any chores, on his training. Something Hayato couldn't do anymore. So maybe it was only fair...
It didn't feel fair though.
Hayato unlocked his front door and quietly made his way to the kitchen. He considered trying a new recipe, but realized that he wasn't in the mood for trying new things. He needed something familiar. Something easy he could make without having to think about it.
Would Reo and Maeshima still be at the rink right now? Had Reo confessed his feelings yet? Did he even have feelings for Maeshima? But what was that look he gave him then? Did he take him home, show off his mansion before showing him his giant bedroom? Would Reo press him against-
Hayato tightened the hold on his chopsticks when suddenly the doorbell rang. He immediately got up, thankful for how the sound pulled him away from his train of thought.
Not that these thoughts were anything new, but the distraction was nice nonetheless. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans as he made his way to the front door, almost tripping over Shiratama. When he opened the door he was met with the sight of a familiar face.
"Maeshima."
"Hi." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Hayato stared at him, needed a couple of seconds to pull his act together, but finally spoke up.
"I thought you would be at the rink still. Did Reo beat you too many times?" He leaned against the doorframe nonchalantly, satisfied look on his face. He was too good at this, really. The whole 'hiding your true feelings' thing.
Plus, he could actually see this happen. Reo beating Maeshima one too many times, bragging about it, and Maeshima storming off. Maybe that did happen. Maybe Reo'd grabbed Maeshima's wrist as he tried to run away. Maybe he'd kissed him then. Maybe he was just here to tell him that.
Hayato's expression didn't change.
"Are you going to let me in or not?" Maeshima asked finally.
Hayato dragged his eyes back up to Maeshima's gray ones. He was lingering on the answer for too long, so instead he just nodded and got out of the way. Maeshima immediately entered and closed the door behind him, leaning against it. Hayato really wanted to know what'd brought him here this early.
He also really didn't want to know.
Before he could turn around and make his way back to the kitchen, Maeshima spoke up.
"I have to tell you something."
Crap. Hayato's heartbeat quickened immediately. He didn't turn around as he answered.
"Is that so? Did Reo do something?" He glanced over his shoulder. Maeshima was still leaning against the door, eyes locked on his own shoes. He didn't seem surprised by Hayato's words.
A flush of anger welled up as he turned around and marched back over to Maeshima in two big steps.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?!" The volume of his own voice surprised him.
"I'll kill him if he upset you again." Maeshima's eyes found Hayato's. He looked... determined?
"He didn't hurt me. He said some stuff that made me realize some stuff."
Hayato blinked as he leaned back (when had he gotten that close?). Leave it to Maeshima to be as vague as possible. The first 'some stuff' had to be Reo's confession. Then the second 'some stuff' was...?
Had Maeshima only realized he liked Reo after Reo'd confessed to him? He wouldn't put it past him to be unaware of his own feelings. Reo must've confessed right after Hayato'd left. That sneaky bastard. Well, he did prefer that over having to actually be there when he confessed, so he didn't really have anything to complain about.
Hayato balled his hands into fists as he clenched his teeth. He should have acted faster himself. Why hadn't he? Because he was scared? Scared of getting rejected? How stupid and unlike him...
"Reo confessed his feelings to me." Maeshima said at last.
Hayato let his hands fall to his sides as a familiar feeling of numbness filled his veins. He was so used to this, so why did it hurt every single time?
He forced a grin like smile. "Really?" He turned slightly, ready to head to the kitchen. To get away from Maeshima. "What did he say?"
The normal thing to ask was probably what Maeshima'd replied, but Hayato wasn't ready to hear that yet. Maeshima made a move to follow Hayato as he answered. "He told me that he'd liked me for a while now," Hayato eyed him from the corner of his eyes, "and that I probably hadn't noticed because he's bad at expressing his feelings."
Well, he was not wrong there. Reo'd always been awful at expressing emotions. It was funny, really, how Reo tried his best to show his true feelings, often without success, while Hayato had mastered hiding his. He knew exactly how to act, respond and behave to hide what he was really feeling.
"And he wanted to know if I'd consider going out with him." Hayato stopped in his tracks and let out a laugh despite of himself.
"What's so funny about that?" Maeshima asked as he crossed his arms. "Is it so hard to believe that someone would have a crush on me?"
"Hhmm, I guess not. You do have some good qualities."
So many.
Hayato swallowed thickly to force the words back down his throat.
"So you're dating my brother now? I guess you're my brother-in-law then?" He turned his gaze to Maeshima's face again. There was a small blush spread on his cheeks. Hayato couldn't help but stare at him. He must be head over heels if he was blushing.
"You think I have good qualities?"
... What?
"What?" Hayato asked, eyes locking with Maeshima's.
"What?"
"Maeshima, why are you here?"
"To pick up the medal." Hayato didn't respond, forcing Maeshima to continue. "And to tell you your brother confessed to me and that I turned him down." Hayato's eyes widened a little. "And that his way of describing what it's like to have a crush on someone made me realize that I'm in love with you. So if you could grab our medal that would be great."
Hayato froze on the spot. Did he hear that correctly?
He must have misheard.
"Right. I'll grab the medal then." He spoke slowly.
What was this feeling? Relief? No, that wasn't quite it. This felt... lighter.
"Did you even hear what I said? I'm in love with you." He sounded slightly irritated as he repeated himself. The dim light that came from the kitchen made Maeshima's eyes stand out in the dark hallway and it was all Hayato could focus on. Those eyes, always watching people, always learning from others. All this time those eyes weren't focused on Reo... but on him?
Happiness. What he was feeling was happiness.
Maeshima scratched his head. Hayato'd been quiet for too long now.
Then he let out a small laugh, surprising even himself. He took a step forward as Maeshima took a step back.
"Why are you laughing now?! If you don't-" Maeshima got cut off as Hayato wrapped his arms around him, burying his face in the crook of Maeshima's neck. Maeshima froze, but weakly grabbed the back of Hayato's shirt after a few seconds. "What are you doing?" He mumbled.
Hayato hummed softly. "It's nice to be wrong sometimes." He couldn't show Maeshima his face right now, his expression showing too much.
They stayed like that for a few moments. Until Maeshima couldn't keep quiet anymore. "So, does this mean you're in love with me too?" Hayato snorted, his breath tickling Maeshima's skin. Then he finally leaned back and pressed his arm against the wall, trapping Maeshima. "I wonder about that." His usual grin was back on his face. And Maeshima was definitely blushing now. He frowned and crossed his arms before speaking up again.
"What do you mean it's nice to be wrong sometimes?"
Hayato leaned in a bit closer, until their noses were almost touching. Maeshima grabbed fistfuls of Hayato's shirt as he stared into his eyes.
"Oh, that was nothing."
"It didn't feel like nothing."
Hayato wanted to kiss him so badly.
"Your big mouth has gotten us in trouble often enough, I think I deserve some sort of reward for dealing with that all the time." He said all of a sudden. It wasn't a lie, really. Maeshima needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut. The amount of times he (almost) started fights could not be counted on the fingers of one hand. Luckily Hayato was always there to smooth things over. (Although, he had to admit that he was quite often the reason Maeshima got agitated in the first place. He knew exactly how to rile him up.)
But right now, the comment was probably more desperation on Hayato's side. Desperation for Maeshima to stop talking and finally let Hayato kiss him.
Maeshima smiled then. Softly.
"I don't like Reo," Hayato widened his eyes a little.
Ah. So he'd figured it out.
And then he was saying too many things at once. How he'd probably liked Hayato for months now and that he should've realized sooner. That Hayato was the reason he returned to the ice, that he was the reason the team'd won. That he loved hours spent with Hayato, loved seeing his face when he got to school. How knowing that Hayato was watching him always made him want to do better, made him want to aim higher.
"And you have cute hair."
Hayato was dumbfounded for a few seconds.
"I don't like Reo," He said again, "I like you."
Hayato felt like he could cry.
Instead, he whispered a soft "Good boy" against Maeshima's lips before he captured them in a soft kiss.
It was a stupid reply, he was aware of that. But how was he supposed to respond to that?
Maeshima's grip on his shirt loosened and he wrapped his arms around Hayato's neck, pulling him closer. Their lips moved against each other gently. Hayato sighed almost unnoticeably as he cupped Maeshima's cheek. A warm feeling spread through his body from the places he was touching Maeshima.
He was kissing him. Because he liked him back.
Hayato couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto his lips. He was positive Maeshima could tell, but he didn't care. Not enough to stop anyway.
He pressed one final soft kiss to Maeshima's cheek before leaning back, both their faces a nice shade of pink.
"So I guess I'll grab that medal for you now." He teased, voice a little husky. "Unless you want to stay for dinner." He added as he pressed his forehead against Maeshima's. Maeshima just nodded against him, but it was enough for Hayato to let another smile color his face. He quickly pulled away from the wall and dragged Maeshima to the kitchen by his hand.
"Great, so you're staying."