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Ryuji tried on the glowing, blue like the night sky dress for what was the fifth time that day. Everything had to be perfect for the big night.
The LGBT+ youth community he and Yusuke were a part of was hosting a huge event, with local musicians from the group performing, along with actors, artists and more. It was the first time they were attempting something like this, and Ryuji was proud to be participating in it.
Pre-performance jitters were already taking over, a slight shaking of hands as he zipped the back of his dress. You got this, Ryuji. He proceeded to give himself a pep-talk in front of the full-body mirror. Everything’s going to go according to plan.
He was in the lead role, along with Yusuke, who had taken the role of a mysterious wizard, while Ryuji had the role of a wandering traveller. The two characters are very much in love, and one might think Ryuji would have a hard time to portray the character accurately through his acting, but that wasn’t the case. His very hopeless crush on the other main actor and also his best friend make him slip into the role of a person in love, a piece of cake to him, since he’s experiencing the exact same thing.
When the teacher had complimented him about being perfect for the role, and that he was a natural he only brushed it off as beginner’s luck, embarrassed to be praised for it. It felt like cheating, in a way, since he wasn’t really acting, was he? Sure, he delivered the lines from a script, but the longing looks and affectionate light touches all came natural to him.
If anything, one could say he was acting when he pretended not to feel this way about his best friend. There were two good things about this. People apparently thought he was a good actor, and he got to be a bit more touchy than usual with Yusuke, which, after today’s night ends, he doesn’t know how he’ll keep himself from being all over him from then on.
He wasn’t as anxious about the acting part as he was about the dancing bit at the end of the performance. Ryuji really doubted the idea in the beginning, but after a painful amount of practice, the duo perfected their technique. The procedure had been torturous, what with the routine being so complicated while he had to somehow manage being Yusuke’s partner. If it wasn’t for their solo practices on weekends, Ryuji would probably be tripping all over his legs.
And here they were, minutes before the big moment, each man concealed in their dressing room, unable to see each other. It’s bad luck to see your co-star before a performance!, their director had yelled when they picked up their costumes and Ryuji couldn’t help but feel like he was getting married.
Ryuji wouldn’t fall for such prejudices, and so, after having worn his dress and fixed his make up, he took off for the dressing room right next to his. There was no way he could get to the stage without seeing Yusuke first. Even if it’s just for a second.
He sneaked out of his room, secretively tip-toeing around, hoping he wouldn’t get noticed by the director, or any other members that might snitch on him. Would anyone snitch on him if they saw him, really? Probably not. No one wanted to keep up with the director’s rule, everyone thinking of their ways a bit excessive.
When he reached the door with Yusuke’s name tag, he wasted no time and immediately knocked. When he received no answer to his hammering, he pushed the door and he instantly regretted all of his life choices.
Inside the room stood Yusuke, seated on a cushion in front of his mirror, wearing his robe costume, his back exposed. Ryuji felt a tingle down his spine, and pondered whether he should just bolt since he wasn’t noticed by the other man just yet, but decided against it. If he was going to die from anxiety either way, he’d prefer it be by Yusuke’s side, and not on stage in front of an audience.
So he walked inside, Yusuke still not aware of him somehow, and closed the door. It took him a scratch of his neck for Yusuke to grasp his presence in the room.
“Ryuji! I thought we were not allowed to be in each other’s presence before our performance.” he said, a surprised expression on his features. He was looking at him from the mirror, his back still comfortably exposed, to Ryuji’s distaste.
He tried to look anywhere else that wasn’t his unsheltered skin. He really tried.
“I know. I was just feelin’ nervous, and I had to come see you. You always have a way of calmin’ me down, ya know?” he definitely wasn’t feeling calm currently, though.
“I must admit, I don't really mind your intrusion. Could you please help me tie this robe first? I am really struggling with it.” he gestured towards the loose threads of his robe, which were probably the means of covering his back from the rest of the world.
“For sure. Gimme this.” he grabbed the threads and started tying them, his hands brushing lightly against soft skin. His eyes locked with Yusuke’s through the mirror. They were stuck in a trance momentarily, until a loud bell echoed outside and they were broken out of their state.
It was almost time.
He finished tying up the cloth in a knot, a bit of skin still visible, but that was the robe’s stylistic route, he supposed.
“You got this. You got this.” Ryuji took a few deep breaths.
“Are you telling me that, or yourself?” Yusuke questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Both?” he laughed.
The play finally came to a start, with Yusuke appearing on the stage first, and after a few scenes he joined in. The entire plot felt like a studio ghibli movie, and Ryuji lost himself in the magic of that universe for a while, along with Yusuke’s eyes.
It went on smoothly, no mistakes from any of the actors, and the play was already nearing its end. The audience seemed to be enjoying the show, judging from the recurring clapping once and again, and their fixed glazes.
The play was finally over, leaving the two protagonists completely alone on stage, ready for their dance routine. There wasn’t any music playing in the background, only natural noises such as birds chirping, the blowing wind, the sound of footsteps hitting the ground.
They synchronized with each other instantly, so many hours of practice feeling as if they were worth it. Their bodies were in sync with each other, their eyes transfixed in concentration.
Ryuji successfully made that hard jump he had been struggling with for so long, and he heard loud gasps from the audience as he fell into Yusuke’s arms. He felt so proud about nailing that jump, and it was almost over, just a few steps more and they’d be done. Ryuji enjoyed every second of it. He wondered if the show was recorded, because he’d definitely have to watch it with Yusuke.
But when Ryuji went for the final pose of the day, with his arm resting on the other man’s back, Yusuke bowing from behind, Ryuji bending over as well, he didn’t expect for his leg to slip just a little, so that their faces were closer than anticipated. So much so that, to Ryuji’s utter humiliation, his lips were comfortably placed on top of Yusuke’s.
Frozen in place (he couldn’t break the pose just yet), Ryuji panicked, as anticipated. His head was probably the greatest shade of red there is, and his hand holding Yusuke’s waist trembled just a little.
After a few seconds had passed, none of them were moving still. Instead, Ryuji felt the other’s lips shift just a little bit, and that’s when his heart really started acting up.
What is happening right now? Is Yusuke kissing him? Is he moving his lips on purpose? Are they going to still be friends after this?
The audience started clapping once again, this time incredibly loud, and the two finally grew apart. Ryuji hesitated to look at his friend for a moment, but his curiosity beat him to it.
The only thing he saw was Yusuke’s shy smile and then he knew that they were going to be okay.
He smiled back. He really wanted that recording to be real.