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“My apologies for making you stay, Wanko,” hums the older, right before they take a sip from the juice box their companion had given him when they both left the campus. “Although I must say that I wouldn’t mind if you had gone home without me.”
Amused, Rei’s lips curl into a smile when their ears catch an “As if! ” coming from the younger musician.
“Ya almost looked dead when ya woke up, Vampire Bastard,” he explains nonchalantly, although the other already knows that Koga cares more than he looks like. “‘N I didn’t mind practicin’ while makin’ sure yer really fillin’ up those forms that Bourgeoisie asshole made ya. I’m the one who’s gonna be pestered if ya didn’t do it, not ya.”
A gasp, then placing the juice box hand over their heart to accompany their mock surprised expression. “And here I thought that you were there simply to accompany your precious Sakuma-senpai…”
Rei doesn’t need to look at Koga every time they fish for certain reactions from him, already knowing what expression his face would form. But at the same time, they are drawn to the way his rosy blush is visible up to the tips of his ears, how his lips stammer, finding the proper words to say. Koga Oogami truly is someone that catches their full interest.
“O-oi, Vampire Bastard,” he finally speaks out in a mutter, one finger scratching his own cheek while he does so. “Yer starin’ too much…”
With a hum, Rei shakes their head. “I’m only admiring the beautiful face of my dear Wanko, Wanko.” Then they face him, now aware of the smile they have on their face and keeping it there. “Is it not right to appreciate living works of art such as yourself, dearest?”
“Again with the pet names, seriously…” Though their surroundings are dim, only accompanied by the working streetlights around them, Rei could still tell the darkening blush on Koga’s face. I don’t see you protesting about it, Koga.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask. The question “Do you hate it?” leaves their mouth as soon as they have sipped the last contents of their drink.
Ruby eyes peer around their surroundings, about to let go of Koga’s hand (since when have they been holding hands?) to throw away the small carton but felt the grip on their connected hands tighten.
He lets go after a few seconds, his head turning away from Rei’s direction. Rei holds his hand once they return, feeling the younger one lock their fingers together.
Then he answers, and they hear him even with his attempt to keep his voice as low and soft as possible. His effort is futile; the path they’re taking to go to Koga’s apartment is one that only a few people take.
But it’s not like Rei wouldn’t pass up the chance of hearing Koga say his response for a second time, so they ask him to repeat his reply again.
This time, he denies it with “…Nothing.”
Perhaps I would get a chance to know about Koga’s thoughts again next time, The third year muses to themself. They then got pulled in the direction of their lover after he tugged his hand, soon noticing the reason when Koga pointed at the sleeping cat.
Once out of earshot from the sleeping feline, Rei catches the wolf complaining, “‘N how many times do I gotta tell ya to quit callin’ me ‘Wanko’?! Seriously, do I look that much of a dog t’ya?!”
“Appearance-wise, no,” Rei admits, giving Koga’s hand a tiny squeeze as thanks for not letting them step on a defenseless animal.
If they should ever admit to a public audience, his physical appearance does resemble a wolf, if the said wolf is 174cm tall, perfect to be spoiled with forehead kisses but prefers not to be so. The current lighting does not do his looks justice, as it seems, but they didn’t have a hard time comparing his silver hair to the moon above, how it might not be special at first sight but when illuminated becomes an object of great interest to the vampire.
His fangs, too, is an object of interest. They’re sharper than theirs, which sometimes makes them question if he’s the blood-sucking vampire in the relationship. Other than the sharp fangs as proof, the way he kisses them is overwhelming; like they were being preyed on.
Not that Rei themself would mind, though they assume that their fellow unitmate would rather not see them give each other backstage kisses right after a performance judging from his looks of disgust.
Koga’s overall inexperience when it comes to kissing and relationships is obvious as well. There was a time when he admitted to never having felt any sexual or romantic attraction to anyone. The second year followed up by saying that he has a preference in getting to know his partner first before developing a long-lasting relationship with them, and Rei wasn’t an exemption.
It took them time before the wolf agreed to date them, but it was all worth the wait.
Rei didn’t realize that they had been lost in thought until they caught Koga’s golden eyes staring at them, waiting for some continuation to their statement. “Personality-wise, however…”
“Continue yer crap ‘n I’m lettin’ ya rot outside my apartment ‘til I walk Leon tomorrow morning.”
“Koga!”
“Finally gotcha to call me by my name, Sakuma-senpai.” A cheeky grin decorates his face, clearer now when illuminated by the multicolored LED lights that they are passing by.
Their cheeks feel warm with both embarrassment and adoration… They were called ‘Sakuma-senpai’ by the person they loved the most… How long has it been since the younger used that nickname on them that wasn’t accompanied with a tone of disappointment, of hurt that he had to see someone so special to him lost themself after Yumenosaki’s needed ‘War’?
Though it’s more appropriate for them to look away after being easily embarrassed by the other, they find themself staring at him more. I’ll call you ‘Koga’ as many times as you want just for you to keep smiling.
Koga’s happiness has become one of Rei Sakuma’s priorities after being saved by him. Compared to their other priorities, this is the only one that they won’t consider themself burdened from.
Rei is more than willing to guide Koga in whatever path he chooses for himself, and at the same time will always be there for him whenever he needs their presence, the same way he is to them. Anything to get Koga to smile more for the rest of their lives.
The 19-year old vampire has been the protagonist of the wolf’s story for a long time. Now that he has detached the idea of them being an immortal being in his mind, they wouldn’t mind being a side character for him forever.
‘Forever,’ huh…
“Say, Koga, what do you think about marriage?” Rei suddenly asks. Now that they’re walking in busy streets they have a reason to remove their gaze from Koga other than the possibility that he’ll react… differently.
“Marriage, huh… Shit’s pretty stupid if ya ask me.”
They feel their heart drop.
“I see…” Of course Koga wouldn’t be interested in a topic such as marriage. He isn’t the type to have much thought about matters deeply related to romance, so his opinion shouldn’t be too surprising. “…Pardon me for asking such a question—”
“Only ‘cuz ya gotta spend a shitton of money just to brag ‘bout yer relationship.”
They blink. Rei turns their head to give Koga a quizzical look when they notice that he looks serious. Like he’s giving his answer more thought.
Rei keeps silent, letting him continue.
“I mean—bragging rights, sure, I get it. I’d fuckin’ tell the world that ya simp for me ‘n I love how fuckin’ soft ya can get ‘specially when yer ‘round cats ‘n bunnies despite callin’ yerself a ‘Demon King of the Night’ for shits ‘n giggles but spendin’, what, like a million yen just so ya can get a grand celebration to tell people that I can fuck ya without those religious fuckers faintin’? It’s just a waste of money!”
“...How you can say that whilst walking down the busy roads near Yumenosaki where people can hear you is the question I’d like answered next, beloved…” They say in a soft voice, now the one wishing that they wouldn’t be heard by their partner but knowingly failed by the laughter they earned from him.
It soon dies down once Koga’s apartment complex is within sight, feeling their connected hands swinging as they approach it. “But the thought of bein’ with you forever ain't bad, Sakuma-senpai.”
Their cheeks feel warm—even warmer compared to earlier, now accompanied by the goosebumps on their skin. Their cheeks hurt from smiling, red eyes darting from a random object to another one from their surroundings, looking at anywhere but Koga (which was difficult considering that he is now leading the both of them up the stairs to his own unit) and where their hands are connected (again, difficult when it’s literally right in front of them).
Rei is aware that Koga can say cheesy and embarrassing things sometimes but this, this. They can only take deep breaths to calm themself down, to calm the fast beating of their heart.
Even now, the third year isn’t… quite used to reacting excessively over something positive. Being with Koga might help them get over it, but Rei themself still needs to get used to this.
With all their attention on steadying their breathing, they fail to notice that Koga has entered the flat, now most likely calling out for the young corgi who surprisingly didn’t welcome them by the door. The vampire only got out of their joyful trance when they were tackled by said corgi, who seemed to take an interest in their face and started licking them all of a sudden.
Their own little commotion outside lasted for a few minutes, ending with Rei letting out their soft chuckles every once in a while. Koga lightly scolds Leon when they all enter, saying that he’s causin’ problems with that flute kid next door and that this is the third time this week ‘n it’s only Thursday! C’mon Leon I thought we decided to be a pack of wild wolves! that… did not help with Rei’s chuckling session.
Leon wasn’t even listening to Koga chastising him, immediately going for the refilled food bowl to feed himself once he’s been lowered on the floor.
Rei was just in the process of removing their sweater to make themself more comfortable when Koga walked up to them, giving them a kiss on the cheek before saying, “We ran out of noodles.”
Koga has put on a different shirt now, probably one for indoor use but still decent enough. The said wolf being in his natural habitat was the reason why they were caught off-guard, not because of anything related to the clarification the second-year gives him afterward.
If “No more noodles. Wanna make ramen. Need noodles. Bonsai freak on the fifth floor has noodles. Love ya. Make sure Leon takes a bath before I return.” could be considered a proper explanation.
Koga had approached Leon already even before they tried to reason that they don’t mind eating anything else but ramen, interrupting his feeding time and visibly making the corgi upset. Hushed words of “Don’t… secrets… Bastard… Okay? ” towards Leon pique their interest, making a mental note to do something about that later.
Koga excused himself again before leaving the apartment, leaving them and Leon unattended.
With him out of the way, Rei approaches Leon, careful not to disturb him. That doesn’t seem to be the case when they see that their rubs are welcome to the corgi.
“Say, Leon-kun. How about we get close enough for you to tell me Koga’s guarded secrets before he returns? ♪”