Work Text:
"Close your eyes."
Mafuyu gave the blond in front of him a look of confusion that Yuki met with a warm smile as the two stood on the rooftop during their break between classes.
"C'mon, Mafuyu. You know I won't be able to keep myself from showing you if you don't – and that'll just ruin the surprise!"
Sato let out a sigh, knowing that statement was true. If Yuki was going through the trouble of delaying showing him something, it must be important – or he was just trying to surprise him with a kiss. It wouldn't be the first time. And so, Mafuyu closed his eyes and waited for whatever it was Yuki had in store.
He heard the sound of something clinking before he felt a small weight against his chest as the other placed something around his neck. Yuki seemed to fumble a bit as if trying to secure something before his hands receded.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now."
Mafuyu's salmon hues fluttered open, immediately looking down as his hand reached up to find a twine necklace with a metal key attached. That stare of confusion returned before he looked up to see Yuki smiling at him.
"Yuki...I'm not a kid anymore…" Sato murmured with a bit of a pout on his face, feeling like the other was making some kind of statement about his forgetful nature.
A soft chuckle escaped the other male, "It's not yours." He said, the blond reaching a hand up to pull a similar key up from where it rested inside his uniform. "It's a copy of mine, so you can come over my place whenever you want."
Yuki had clearly gone out of his way to do something incredibly corny - he was a hopeless romantic, so it didn't surprise Mafuyu. But instead of reacting in a positive way, the ginger male simply tilted his head to the side in further confusion.
"We're neighbors...I can already do that," he replied, making Yuki bring a hand up to Mafuyu's cheek as the taller male leaned in closer. His hazelnut hues gazed into Mafuyu's eyes, that soft, warm smile remaining on his face.
"You only ever come over when I ask you first," Yuki said, resting his forehead against the others. "Surprise me someday, okay?"
Mafuyu blinked at the request before the blond male leaned back, turning around to walk over to the fence placed around the edge of the rooftop.
"I always want to see you, Mafuyu," Yuki said, a hand moving up to grip the chain-link fence as he gazed out on the schoolyard and surrounding sites. "First thing in the morning, during class, when I'm working on homework or doing chores...it doesn't matter what I'm doing." He turned his attention back over to where his closest friend stood. "I'll stop anything to spend time with you."
Mafuyu's heart skipped a beat in his chest. It wasn't really Yuki's words that made him feel this way, though. He already knew Yuki prioritized spending time with him – he made that clear every day since they were kids. The way he said it, though...how the gentle breeze ruffled his hair while he gave him such a sincere smile, those hazelnut hues focused on him...it was special. He felt special.
Mafuyu walked over to stand beside him, his own gaze now looking out at the school campus as he held onto the key around his neck. "...That's why I have to be the one to make sure you do other things, you know." He looked over at his friend. "We can't be together every minute of the day..."
Yuki's smile didn't fade, despite Mafuyu's words. "I know," he replied, glancing down at the key the other was still holding onto before looking out at the horizon. The sky was a serene baby blue color, but gray clouds could be seen dotting the sky in the distance. "I want to be, though. With you, every moment of every day."
Mafuyu watched the other, his grip on the key tightening slightly before he looked down. Entrance exams were coming up. They should be focusing on studying, not hanging out. Mafuyu was never fond of studying, and even if Yuki was a good student he got distracted whenever he was alone with him. Mafuyu must have had a serious expression on his face, because not long after the ginger male felt an arm move around his shoulder, pulling him in close before he felt Yuki kissing the top of his head.
"Don't overthink it, Mafuyu," Yuki murmured with a laugh. "It's fine if you don't feel the same way, or you'd rather me be the one to drag you over to my place." He ruffled his ginger locks before keeping his arm around his shoulder as he gazed out at the view. "Just know that I want to be with you, no matter what. And that I won’t turn you away if you sneak into my bed in the middle of the night to–"
Yuki's statement was abruptly cut off by Mafuyu holding his hands up to the other's mouth, his cheeks flushed pink as he glared at the other with furrowed brows. Just the sight of such an expression on Mafuyu's face made Yuki blink before leaning back to let out a loud, carefree laugh.
A small huff escaped Sato at Yuki's no-shame declaration of such a thing. Was that the whole reason he got him the key in the first place? "I'm never using this thing…" he murmured, hiding the key underneath his orange hoodie while Yuki recovered from his laughter.
"Haha...! You don't have to. But if you ever want to, you have my full permission," Yuki said, gazing back at his friend in amusement. “You know, to cuddle.” He added with a small smirk as if to make a point that he hadn’t meant anything more than that.
Mafuyu simply let out a sigh as the school bell chimed, signaling class would be starting soon.
Yuki turned away from the fence and took Sato’s hand in his own before leading the way over to the door leading off of the rooftop. While Mafuyu was tugged down the stairs by Yuki, he felt the small weight of the key underneath his uniform bouncing ever so slightly against his skin. Mafuyu moved his free hand up to keep it secure, a familiar warmth spreading through his chest as his closest friend pulled him back to their classroom.
Mafuyu lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling with a blank expression on his face.
Ever since high school began, he had been spending less and less time with Yuki. They had gone to different schools, after all, so it was no surprise they didn’t see each other as often. But even then, they were still neighbors. Neighbors who previously saw each other every day.
Mafuyu’s hand moved, tugging the twine necklace that rested beneath his shirt up to bring the key attached to it into view. The key Yuki had given him that breezy afternoon on the school rooftop.
“I always want to see you, Mafuyu.”
Yuki’s words played through his mind as his salmon hues gazed at the gift intended for Mafuyu’s use. He had told him back then that he was always on his mind. That he would stop anything to spend time with him…
“Oh, Mafuyu! Yuki’s working tonight.”
“Sorry, Mafuyu. Yuki’s at band practice.”
“That boy hardly spends time at home anymore! I’ll let him know you stopped by.”
Every time he had tried going over to surprise Yuki, he had been out. Mafuyu rang the doorbell, only to be greeted by the other boy’s mother or no one at all.
Sato gripped onto the key, the metal digging into his hand. He hadn’t used it yet. It felt wrong to enter Yuki’s house without seeing his bright smile as the other greeted him at the door. He had grown too accustomed to the sight, and now that it wasn’t a daily occurrence, his heart ached to see it again.
He let go of the key, letting it fall to his shirt. What use was this thing if Yuki wasn’t home in the first place? Did he expect him to just...wait in his room, alone, for however long it might take for him to get back from work or practice?
Maybe he should have used it sooner.
Mafuyu never did surprise him back then, when he was at home.
Mafuyu’s vision glossed over - not with tears, though. He never cried easily, and now was no exception. Instead of letting his emotions out the way most people would, he allowed his vision to shift out of focus as a barrage of questions overwhelmed his mind.
Was Yuki moving on now that he was in high school?
People usually drifted apart when they separated like this, didn’t they?
“Don’t overthink it, Mafuyu.”
Yuki’s words from that day returned to his mind as if trying to reassure him even if he wasn’t there. But it didn’t make the empty feeling in his chest go away. He felt like a gap was growing between them – that Yuki was stepping forward into a future that didn’t include him.
Mafuyu turned onto his side, the key slipping down onto the bed as he closed his eyes and hugged his pillow tightly.
It lacked a comforting warmth he had grown familiar with over the years, though.
He did it.
He finally did it.
Mafuyu snapped at Yuki for prioritizing everything else in his life over him.
Only...he didn’t feel any better.
The ginger male stood on the platform of the train station, his head lowered and his gaze stuck on the tile floor. His hands were clenched into fists by his side, the sound of Yuki’s footsteps after he walked away replaying in his mind.
Why?
Why did he leave?
Didn’t he understand that he wanted him to stay?
That he wanted him to invite him to band practice, just once?
“Hey, Mafuyu…”
Instead of Yuki’s voice, Mafuyu heard Hiiragi’s. But he didn’t want to talk to anyone else right now. And so, instead of looking back at his other friend the ginger-haired male ran away in the other direction. It wasn’t even towards home, because there was a possibility of running into the person he just fought with on the way there. If he couldn’t be around him, then he didn’t want to go home yet.
“You know I’d do anything for you.”
Mafuyu’s feet thudded against the ground as he ran down the platform.
“I’ll quit playing music.”
His fists clenched more as he maneuvered his way around people to get out of the station.
“Why don’t you believe me!? I...”
His narrowed eyes remained on the ground as he kept pushing forward into the bitter cold air.
“I can’t live without you!”
“Fine, then would you die for me!?”
Those were the last words he spoke before Yuki walked away. He hadn’t even given him an answer. It was a stupid thing to ask in the first place, but…the Yuki he knew before wouldn’t have hesitated to reassure Mafuyu that he would do anything for him – even a ridiculous thing like that.
He wanted that reassurance. He needed to hear Yuki tell him that he could go to practice with him, that he could stop by on his breaks at work...that he could be a part of the steps he had been taking so he wouldn't feel forgotten.
But he hadn’t.
He had only suggested dropping everything else for him.
And that was what hurt most.
As he hurried down the street, he felt the weight of the key bouncing against his chest beneath his uniform. What had become a familiar part of his wardrobe, something he hardly noticed anymore, had suddenly made itself known again when he least wanted to feel it.
Mafuyu slowed to a stop a couple of blocks away from the station. Shaky breaths escaped him as he brought a hand up to his neck, pulling the key up out of its hiding spot beneath his uniform. He gripped onto it, the metal edges digging into his skin.
Why did he even wear it still?
Yuki was never going to be home for him.
So why was he clinging so tightly to a promise that had been made in middle school?
It was stupid.
He tugged at the twine, wishing for the fibers to snap from the resistance. For him to be able to let go of this ridiculous, self-interested notion that Yuki still cared for him just as much as the day he had given it to him. That he could tear it off and throw the key as far away as he could…!
But it didn’t let him.
The twine remained intact, slightly digging into the back of his neck as he tugged on the key.
Mafuyu hung his head, letting the key slip from his grasp as it fell back against his collared shirt.
But what good would it do there?
Silence.
That was what met Mafuyu when he returned home from school.
Of course, that was what he had hoped for. He made sure to avoid running into Yuki, Hiiragi, or Yagi on the way home by staying late at school to help the students who were tasked with cleaning duty.
He couldn’t help but glance up towards Yuki’s window as he walked the path leading up to his own door, but he saw nothing.
No light.
No sound.
Nothing.
Was that surprising? No. It had become a daily occurrence the past few months. Yuki had a lot of responsibilities.
He could be at work. Or practice. Or simply hanging out with his friends.
Mafuyu moved his gaze down to the ground before entering his home, kicking off his shoes, and heading to his bedroom.
Two days had passed since he fought with Yuki.
Each day had felt a whole lot emptier, and all of his thoughts had been stuck on that stupid fight.
And yes, it was stupid.
He had let his emotions bubble up and spill over onto the one person who had always supported him.
Mafuyu entered his room, dropping his bag onto the ground before collapsing onto his bed.
“I’d do anything for you.”
Yuki’s words resurfaced in his mind after Mafuyu’s declaration had made that happy-go-lucky smile of his fade away.
Why had he been so upset?
Why did he have to be so terrible at expressing his emotions?
Why couldn’t he say what he actually wanted Yuki to do?
Mafuyu was frustrated with himself. He had never been able to express himself clearly. But that had never been a problem with Yuki.
Yuki was the one person who always seemed to know what he was thinking, even when he hardly knew himself.
Had that unquestionable bond frayed once they started seeing each other less?
Was that part of why it hurt Mafuyu so much? Because, despite Yuki trying to understand, he didn’t inherently know?
Had he started to expect too much from Yuki?
Mafuyu's hand moved to take his phone out of his pocket. He had put it on silent to avoid the barrage of messages Hiiragi had sent him after the fight. But he still found himself checking occasionally if only to see if Yuki had tried reaching out. It looked like he was continuing to give him space though.
On the other hand, there were new notifications from Hiiragi. He had already cleared the earlier ones out from his phone, but these were sent today. He was about to swipe the notifications away, but the preview text made him pause.
» I'm seriously worried, mafuyu
Mafuyu’s finger remained on the screen, the notification half-swiped away.
Hiiragi was worried? About him?
Furrowing his brows, the ginger male went to his messages to read whatever else Hiiragi had sent.
8:12 » hey
8:12 » have you heard from yuki?
8:18 » mafuyu, answer me
9:25 » yuki isnt at school
9:26 » he wont answer me or shizu
12:02 » just like you apparently
12:04 » seriously, mafuyu. answer me
16:27 » he bailed on practice too
16:32 » he isn't usually like this, you know that
17:12 » i'm seriously worried, mafuyu
Reading the text messages made an uncertainty bubble up within him. Hiiragi was right, the only time Yuki had skipped school was when he and Mafuyu had both taken a day to spend time with each other. And he certainly wasn't the type to bail on band practice, of all things.
Mafuyu got up from his bed, walking over to the window that faced Yuki's house. The windows were still dark.
Was he even home?
He noticed his phone screen light up in the reflection of the window, moving to check it. He half expected a message from Yuki, but it was only Hiiragi again.
17:32 » about time you check your phone
17:32 » now check on him and makeup already
Mafuyu could practically hear Hiiragi's tone through the message. But he could tell that worry was still there – especially if he was keeping tabs on whether or not Mafuyu had read his messages.
The ginger let out a small sigh, his salmon hues moving back up to the dark window of Yuki's house. Was he there?
If he hadn't gone to school or practice, then it was more likely than not. Though the darkness suggested otherwise.
Mafuyu did feel bad for what happened during their fight. If it was still bothering Yuki, then he should apologize. Maybe even try to explain what was actually bothering him.
The ginger male didn't bother replying to Hiiragi. He just slipped his phone back into his pocket before grabbing his coat and navy scarf. After putting his shoes on, he headed out into the frigid winter air.
The walk from one yard to the other was a path so deeply ingrained into Mafuyu that he didn't even have to look where he was going to get there. His salmon hues were slightly out of focus again as they stared at the ground, his heart beating nervously in his chest with each step he took until he had reached Yuki's front door.
He brought his hand up to the doorbell, his finger hesitating. Instead of ringing it (more than once, as he usually preferred), his hands shifted underneath the thick fabric of the navy scarf he wore, searching for the clasps on the twine necklace.
He had been waiting too long to return to the way things used to be, instead of embracing the inevitable changes that were taking place in both of their lives.
In typical Yuki fashion, he had already run full steam ahead towards a future he was passionate about. Maybe it was about time Mafuyu joined him – without waiting around to be dragged along as he had in the past.
Click.
A perfect fit.
The ginger male pushed the unlocked door open, greeted by the Yoshida residence's dimly lit entryway. It was a lot more different from being greeted by Yuki's bright smile, but there was no way he would see such a thing again until he apologized and the two made up from this stupid fight in the first place. And so, Mafuyu walked through the doorway.
“Yuki?”
His soft voice seemed to echo throughout the empty home. It didn’t appear like anyone was home. But when the ginger male looked down, he could plainly see Yuki’s shoes in their usual spot by the door, one sneaker haphazardly on its side.
Slipping off his high-tops, Mafuyu stepped into the home. It felt strange to be entering on his own like this, but the ginger male didn’t want a ridiculous argument keeping him from spending time with Yuki. If Hiiragi was right about Yuki skipping school and practice, there had to be a reason for it. Maybe he had a cold, or…maybe their fight was affecting him too.
He quickly scanned the living room and kitchen on the first floor, not finding his boyfriend in either of the rooms. He had a hunch that Yuki was upstairs, but then again, his room looked dark from the outside. Maybe he was sick and resting?
Despite that thought, Mafuyu couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Yuki’s home had always been a lively place to visit. Whether he was stopping by to work on homework, watch movies, or eat take-out, Yuki had always been around to brighten the space with his upbeat attitude.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on that, though.
Mafuyu walked over to the stairs, placing a hand on the railing as he tried to listen for any indication that his boyfriend was up there. A sneeze, a strum of a guitar string – anything.
But no. The home only felt eerier with each step Mafuyu took up the stairs.
"Yuki…?"
Mafuyu called the other's name again as he neared the second floor, seeking some kind of response to break through the foreboding silence that had taken over the house.
Was Yuki ignoring him on purpose?
Was he angry with him?
Mafuyu wouldn't accept that. Even if he had said something stupid. He wanted to apologize and go back to the way things had been before...to a time where he wasn't questioning Yuki's feelings for him.
But there was no response.
The door to Yuki's room was slightly ajar, without any sort of light coming through as Mafuyu slowed to a stop in front of it.
He felt his heart pounding against his chest as he gazed at the slight crack left between the door and its frame. Why did he feel so nervous all of a sudden? It wasn't like Yuki to be so quiet. When he was sick in the past, he always cheered up when Mafuyu stopped by – even if it was just to bring over notes from class.
Is that why he had such a bad feeling about this situation?
Mafuyu shook his head. He was probably fast asleep. All he had to do was sneak into bed with him, like he had said back on that rooftop, cuddle up to him...and everything would be fine.
He clenched his fists, working up the courage needed to open the door. He didn’t know exactly what to say to apologize for what happened, but he hoped Yuki would understand him better now that they had both had time to cool off.
With that reassuring thought in mind, Mafuyu opened the door.
“Yu—”