Chapter Text
5th August, Wednesday (17:30)
“I am not doing it.”
The person sitting on the other chair stammered. “Wh- huh?!”
“You heard m.” eYuujirou replied, his gaze fixed on his laptop.
It was a lazy afternoon, and Yuujirou was finishing whatever homework he had left before he comes back to his dorm. Supposedly, the first thing he wanted to do was collapse the moment he opens the door of his place because obviously he was so damn exhausted dead tired, mind you but then, this happened.
The well-known star of the basketball team–Shibasaki Aizou, if he tries to dig his memory hard enough–entered the library, strolling up confidently and taking a sit beside Yuujirou, who spared him no glance, not until the guy strikes up a sudden conversation.
“You're Someya Yuujirou, right?” Shibasaki asked.
Getting his full attention, Yuujirou turned to him. “Why?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“I don't take favors from strangers.”
“Ah, um, it’s just a little! And I promise to reward you.”
“I'm not interested.”
“Just hear me out, please?”
“Sure. You have ten exact seconds to speak.”
“Wh-?!”
“Ten.”
“Wait, that's–!”
“Nine.”
“Hah?! Hey will–”
“Eight.”
“Just- I want you to pretend to be my lover!”
“Sev...what?”
Shibasaki Aizou…He's one among the popular students in their campus. A real jock who, rumor has it, can't deal with women personally.
Yuujirou, on the other hand, was a college student barely living by. Barely existing. Even the teachers sometimes forget his name–but, well, who wouldn't? Who was he anyway to be worth remembering, a celebrity? Obviously not.
But who does this guy thinks he is? Yuujirou never even talked to him before, neither did he want to. He personally didn't want to. Sure, he was everything everyone could dream of, a large ball of shit sun that if you dare come too close, you'll overheat–or worse, blind your eyes. But how dare he? How dare he thinks that anyone will be willing to go with whatever shit he has to say?
How unforgivable.
So when Shibasaki asks him to be his ‘fake boyfriend’, rage immediately filled Yuujirou's. And of course he just had to shut him down the moment the request came out of Shibasaki’s mouth.
“But why?” Shibasaki whined. “I'm literally the perfect boyfriend anyone could ever ask for!”
“Why...? First and foremost, who are you?” Yuujirou asked, piercing a glare through the blonde's chocolate eyes.
“Wha-? You don't know me?”
“I know you.”
“Then what's with that question?”
“Second, what is a fake relationship anyways? It's totally unheard of.”
“What? No, it's not!” Shibasaki protested, pouting. “A fake relationship is where two people do the same things a real couple does but everything is completely pretend and not real.”
“Sounds messed up. Not interested.”
“What are you tal-”
“Third, do you even know me?”
Shibasaki looked completely baffled. “Well, you're Som–”
“You know my name, I get it.” Yuujirou interrupted, turning to him. “But who do you think you are, straight up asking a stranger whom you've never even talk to, to be your fake lover?”
“What? No way! We're from the same class!” Shibasaki frowned.
Yuujirou raised a brow. “Okay, your point?”
Shibasaki stammered, and Yuujirou got up, fixing his stuff.
“Hey, wait–!”
“This conversation is over. Goodbye.” the blue head ignored his quiet shouts and walked out the library.
Yuujirou walked through the halls, trying not to fall asleep on the way.
“Someya.”
He stopped on his tracks, turning to face the owner of the voice. It was professor Akechi.
“Akechi-sensei. Hello.” Yuujirou greeted with a small nod.
“Are you going back to the dorms?” Akechi asked.
“Yes, I just got back from the library.”
Akechi nodded. “Don't over work,” he said before walking off with a wave and Yuujirou watched him as he went.
What a strange person…
When Yuujirou returned to his dormitory, he immediately flopped onto his bed, burying his face on his soft pillow. God knew how tired his body was. He couldn't even find the strength to move one finger. Why couldn't he just stay in bed forever?
No, wait, scratch that. Why did he have to go to college?
Yuujirou sighed. Well, I'm here now...
Just as when he was about to close his eyes and drift off to sleep...a knock came on the door. Yuujirou groaned and tiredly got up from his bed, heading towards the door.
“This better be important…”
Yuujirou opened the door.
“Hey–”
–only to close it again, putting the lock on.
That guy actually followed me here...?
“Wait! Someya!”
Yuujirou didn't say anything.
“Open the door, come on!”
“Go away!” Yuujirou shouted back.
“Just listen to me!”
“Why don't you ask someone else?!”
“I can't!”
“Why not?!”
“Err, well– they don't want to!”
“That's not my problem!”
“Eh-?!”
Yuujirou opened the door, glaring. “Look, I'm too tired to be dealing with your crap right now, Shibasaki. And I have no reason to agree being your fake lover whom you'll eventually break up with within a month or less. Goodbye.” and with that, he slammed the door close.
Yuujirou sighed and completely collapsed on his bed. Maybe he's just bothering me for today...hopefully. He yawned and closed his eyes, falling asleep...until he remembered he had a shift to go to.
Yuujirou groaned and got up from his bed again.
____________________
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side, as Yuujirou was at the cafeteria that day when he met Shibasaki Aizou again.
“Hey.” Shibasaki greeted as he sat in front of Yuujirou with a food tray in hand.
Yuujirou took his study glasses off and looked up from the science book he was reading. This guy absolutely doesn't know what ‘give up’ means, huh?
“I'm not changing my mind.” Yuujirou says.
“But–”
“I'm not about to lose my virginity over some jock who I don't even know.”
Shibasaki spluttered, his face turning red, “We're not doing any of that!”
Yuujirou rolled his eyes. “I'm still not doing it. And go away, I'm studying.”
“Why are you even studying at lunchtime?”
“I'm not hungry.”
“Liar,” Shibasaki slid his tray in front of him. “Eat.”
“Do you actually eat vegetables for lunch...? What are you, a vegetarian?” Yuujirou asked, eyeing the salad.
“I can cook any type of food, mind you.”
“Like what?”
“Well, roast beef!”
“I bet it's dry.”
“Says you!”
Yuujirou laughed and took the non-vegetable food on the blonde's tray.
“So–”
“No.”
The next few weeks, Shibasaki followed him everywhere. And unfortunately, Yuujirou failed to hide from him, gaining a lot of attention from everyone.
“18,000 yen! I'll pay you exactly 18,000 yen a month!” Shibasaki exclaimed, trying to catch up to Yuujirou who was speed walking to his classroom.
“What do you take me for? A gold digger? No.” Yuujirou shot him an annoyed look and started running away.
“All dates are on me!” Shibasaki tried again, this time while Yuujirou walked to his club.
“I don't go out, sorry.” the blue head replied, covering his ears and ignoring the stares the students were giving them, him.
“If you go out with me, you won't have to deal with bullies anymore, and plus, I can help you with math!” Shibasaki offered when Yuujirou was studying in the library.
“Who said anything about math? And what do you mean bullies? I'm not aware of that.” Yuujirou glared at him.
“Huh?!”
“Quiet down!” the librarian hissed and they both turned away from each other.
“Don't you ever quit?” Yuujirou asked while Shibasaki was following him like a dog on the way back to his dormitory.
“Unfortunately, quitting isn't in my vocabulary. So–”
“I can and will shove a cake down your throat.” Yuujirou threatened.
24th August, Monday (07:19)
“I didn't know you and Shibasaki were a thing.”
Yuujirou grimaced as he bit on a sour part of his cake.
“And we're not. What gave you that idea?” he asked in disbelief.
“You're not? Like, for real?” Mona asked back, flabbergasted.
“Yes, for real. Why would I date him anyway?” Yuujirou took a sip on his drink.
“Because you're gay.” she smirked.
Yuujirou deadpanned. “Okay...and so?”
“I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Jeez,” Mona rested her chin on her palm. “I mean, he's popular.”
“He's popular, and that's good for him.” Yuujirou sighed, “However...that won’t change the fact that he’s annoying and that I don’t want to date him, okay? Stop it with the rumors. Girls can have him for all I care.
“Why? I mean, everyone would pay to have him.” Mona says in a matter-of-fact tone.
“So? Well, how about you? Would you pay to date him?” Yuujirou took another bite of his cake as Mona clicked her tongue. “He's a good person, and I obviously know that.”
“Then, what's the problem?”
“Just…”
Yuujirou shook his head, “...never mind.”
Mona faltered for a moment, understanding where the conversation was about to head to if he continued. They continued to eat in silence.
____________________
29th August, Saturday (17:14)
“Um excuse me, do you have today's cookbook?” a voice called out from behind.
“Oh, yes,” Yuujirou stood up from the box of books he was fixing to turn to the person. “It's–”
He paused.
“...what are you doing here?” Yuujirou asked with a deadpan.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Shibasaki replied. “I need today's cookbook.”
“I work here.” the blue head searched through the book shelves to find the book.
“I didn't know.”
Yuujirou rolled his eyes and handed him the book and replied, “Of course you didn't.” before moving to fix another stack of books.
“Hey...uh, you free after this?”
“Why?”
“Well, I want to take you somewhere.”
“If it's somewhere dangerous, I–”
“It's not, jeez, stop over thinking.” Shibasaki furrowed his brows.
Yuujirou considered for a moment.
“Okay, fine. But you're buying me dinner.”
“Deal.”
“Since you're gonna stay here,” the shorter male picked up some stack of books and placed it on Shibasaki's hands. “Help me, will you?”
“Huh? Hey, wait! I haven't paid for my book yet!” Shibasaki protested, struggling to balance the books.
“You can pay it later, for the meantime,” he took Shibasaki's book. “I'll hold it so you won't have to worry about people claiming it.”
“When does your shift end anyway?”
“Fourteen minutes before I clock out.”
“Eh...!”
“Is there a problem, darling?” Yuujirou asked in his most flirty tone.
Aizou froze, eyes widening. His face was red all over, and Yuujirou couldn't help but laugh. He fell for it, good.
“Are you–”
“Just kidding, I'm still not agreeing.” Yuujirou stuck his tongue out and walked through the sections, ignoring Shibasaki's protests.
After his shift, Yuujirou hung his apron and clocked out of work.
“So, where are we going?” Yuujirou asked once they were walking outside.
“To the super market...and somewhere else,” Shibasaki replied.
Yuujirou raised a brow. “And that is...?”
Shibasaki brought his index finger to his own lips, as if shushing. He smiled playfully. “It's a secret.”
Yuujirou didn't say anything after that.
Eventually, they ended up fighting over what fruits to buy. (“Put that down! It's not fresh!” “They're all apples! What's the difference?!” “Have you ever eaten fruits before?!” “No– well, I have! Once, when I was seven!” “Huh?! You're not healthy then, moron!” “Who's the moron?!”) And Yuujirou had him buy two boxes of chocolate milk. They're literally all apples don't trust Shibasaki's suggestions.
“Where are we going with this anyway?” Yuujirou huffed when they walked out of the market.
“Okay, fine...to my older brother.” Shibasaki answered honestly, and Yuujirou couldn't help but notice something's up with the blonde's tone.
“You have a brother...?”
“Yeah,” Shibasaki laughed a little. “He was the one who suggested me the university we're both in. Ken said their basketball team was great.”
“Ken?”
“Ah, err, my brother's name.”
“I see…”
Yuujirou thought back to their first meeting, when Shibasaki first asked him to ‘fake date’ him.
...but why does he need one, and why him of all people? Does Shibasaki even know him? Yuujirou was sure he was barely remembered by anyone, except his friends, that is.
It doesn't make sense…should I ask him?
Yuujirou took a breath and turned to Shibasaki–whose features was bathe in the color of the beautiful sunset, and for a very brief moment, Yuujirou thought he was really handsome. Shibasaki looked like he was deep in thought before Yuujirou spoke.
“Hey.”
Shibasaki blinked for a moment, and then turned to him. “Hm?”
“Why do y–”
But his words were cut short as he heard something coming their way.
“Watch out–!” before Yuujirou could process, Shibasaki pulled him into his arms and he forcibly shut his eyes.
A blurred out memory appeared on his mind, and somehow, he felt like this had happened before.
As the speeding motorcycle passed by them, Shibasaki shouted: “Watch it, bastard!”
Seconds passed.
“Someya? You good there?” Shibasaki was soothing his back.
Yuujirou, still shocked from the incident, gave a little shaky nod. Shibasaki gave him a disbelieving look and held his hand.
“Come on, let's go,” Shibasaki says with a tone so gentle.
They continued to walk. Yuujirou was still shaking, and Shibasaki noticed, of course he would–who if not him?–and the blonde squeezed his hand, reassuring him. Reminding him that it was gone...it was no longer there- that he was safe now.
I feel like I'm having a strange feeling of deja vu…
They walked quietly until they reached their destination.
“A Hospital...?” Yuujirou blinked, sitting at the waiting area.
It was the same Hospital his mother said he was born in, or so. He looked around and there were patients and nurses walking, or hurrying. A person–that he assumed got into an accident–laid on the stretcher, oxygen on his mouth, the medics were rushing him to the operation room.
But why a Hospital...?
Yuujirou paused, the dots connecting on his head, his eyes widening.
Unless…?!
“Sorry for the wait!” Shibasaki's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Yuujirou looked up at the blonde, who was smiling innocently at him.
“Let's go?” Shibasaki asked.
“...yeah.” the blue head got up, “Where are we going?”
The blonde closed one eye with a mischievous smile. “Just follow me.”
Shibasaki started walking ahead, and Yuujirou trailed behind him, still deep in thought.
Brother… Hospital…
They got on the elevator, it was quiet, and only the elevator music was playing. Not until the blonde spoke up.
“Someya.”
“What?”
“Have you changed your mind?”
“You're so annoying.”
The elevator opened, and they got out, it was a quiet floor–and even Shibasaki became quiet.
They stopped at a certain room.
“Someya.” Shibasaki took a long breath, and Yuujirou turned to him. “Can you listen for a bit?”
“What is it?”
“When…” he paused, and then shook his head. “No, it's nothing. Sorry.”
It's not nothing and Yuujirou knows it. Shibasaki was the worst at lying. He didn't say anything though.
Shibasaki opened the door and he entered, with the shorter male following behind. The room was quite big. There were two people in the room, one girl with purple hair and golden eyes. And-
His gaze landed on the person near her.
There, on the Hospital Bed, laid a male (probably around the same age as her) with peach colored hair...resting.
“Ah, Aizou-kun, you're here.” the girl with purple head stood from her seat, giving a welcoming smile. “Ken just fell asleep a moment ago.”
“Arisa-san...good afternoon, thank you again,” Shibasaki greeted her back, his tone grateful, and they walked towards them. The blonde placed the basket of fruits on the table.
Yuujirou blinked. They're on first names basis...? Upon coming closer, the girl–Arisa, noticed the person behind him.
“Oh, you brought a friend? It's rare for you to bring one.” she commented, turning to Yuujirou. “I'm Takamizawa Arisa. It's nice meeting you…?”
Ah...
Yuujirou punched himself mentally for addressing her by her first name.
“Ah, um,” he gave a small bow. “Someya Yuujirou. It's nice meeting you too, Takamizawa-san.”
“You can call me Arisa.” she reassured with a warm smile, and Yuujirou wondered what her relation with the Shibasaki family is.
“Arisa-san is my brother's fiancée.” Shibasaki informed.
…oh.
“Ah! Since you're both here, I'll go buy some food...make yourself comfortable, Someya-kun.” Arisa grabbed her wallet from the table beside the bed.
“It's alright. Please call me Yuujirou.”
Arisa smiled, “Okay, Yuujirou-kun,” she then walked towards the door, “I'll be right back, please watch over Ken while I'm gone.” and the girl closed the door.
Right after she left, Yuujirou sat on a chair and Shibasaki sat at the end of his (brother's) bed.
They were silent for a moment before Yuujirou spoke.
“She seems nice.”
“She is,” he paused for a moment before adding: “She's the only one who I talked to.”
“Oh.”
Shibasaki laughed, “Hey, why can she call you Yuujirou while I can't?”
The blue head rolled his eyes. “Fortunately, she's nice enough to let me use hers, so it's just normal I'd do the same.”
Yuujirou looked over to the other Shibasaki on the bed. “So, he's...”
“My brother,” Shibasaki finished for him. “He's sick, and was admitted a few months ago.”
“So then...why did you bring here?”
Shibasaki sighed, “I...need to tell you why I need a fake relationship.”
He had a reason?
“It was my brother's request.” he started, “He said he wanted to see me being happy with someone before he-” whatever word he had on his lips died down before it could come out. Yuujirou waited patiently. But Shibasaki hesitated. “Err, never mind, anyways...he kept on bugging me about it. My teammates already had girlfriends, they suggest that I talk to other women, but...well, you know how that goes.” his face faltered. “And so…”
“...well, why me?”
Shibasaki paused. “Why you...?”
“Yeah...I mean, we didn't even know each other even up until now.” Someya replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Well...” Shibasaki smiled a little, “I do know you.”
“No, you don't.” Yuujirou rolled his eyes, and then he got an idea. “What's my dog's name?”
Shibasaki stammered, and Yuujirou laughed. “See?”
“That's not fair…!”
“It's totally fair.” Yuujirou says smugly.
Aizou sighed, exasperated. “Brat…”
The blue head smirked. The door opened, and Arisa came in with a lot of food and drinks in hand and Shibasaki stood up to help her.
Yuujirou looked down. He then looked over to Shibasaki's brother.
A relationship, huh...
____________________
29th August, Saturday (20:00)
After the visit, Arisa waved them goodbye and thanked Yuujirou for coming. They walked quietly with the moon following from way up the night sky.
Yuujirou knew he had time to think it over.
Shibasaki needed a lover even if it's not real...all that for his brother's sake.
Would he do that for an important person in his life...? He probably would. If it was for his mother, then he'd do it too.
I've only been in an actual relationship once, but...
Yuujirou shook his thoughts away. No, he doesn't need to remember that. He absolutely has no reason to be remembering any of that. It's all in the past now. It's no use reminiscing. He's in the present, and that's all what he needs to focus on.
He's out of your life now. You don't need to worry anymore.
This is his only opportunity. And hell knows how much regret will leave him if he let it passes.
“I've decided.”
Yuujirou stopped walking and so did Shibasaki.
“Huh?” the blonde turned to him, confused.
“Shibasaki Aizou,” a gust of wind blew, blowing their hairs gently.
Yuujirou went over to Shibasaki, who blinked at him. He smirked and grabbed the blonde by his shirt, forcibly pulling him down. Yuujirou shut his eyes before pressing his lips against Shibasaki's soft and slightly chapped lips.
He held back a smirk when he felt Shibasaki tensed, Yuujirou can feel the latter's face becoming warm. But the kiss only lasted for seconds, and he pulled away within moments.
Shibasaki being completely flustered and flabbergasted at the same time was definitely worth it though.
Yuujirou took Shibasaki's hand and intertwined their fingers together. He grinned.
“Starting now, you and I will be taking care of each other. Got that?”
Shibasaki looked at him, surprised. Then, he grinned back and squeezed Yuujirou's hand. “Of course,” Yuujirou squeezed back.
“Yuujirou.”
“Aizou.”
And so, their deal began.