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Graduation wasn’t quite what Langa had been expecting. He had been told that it was different in Japan than it was in Canada; that there wouldn’t be any cheering or cap throwing. He was fine with that, he didn’t really care about those things. What he hadn’t expected was that it would be so long , and what he hadn’t considered was that Reki wouldn’t be sitting anywhere near him.
Students, teachers, and administrators went on and on with their speeches, and Langa bounced his leg impatiently. All the students had received their diplomas an hour ago, but Langa felt like it may as well have been a month ago. His butt was asleep, and his brain was screaming with boredom. He kept glancing at Reki, many rows in front of him—his bright red hair made him easy to spot. He was sitting up straight and looking at the speaker on stage, like he had been doing the entire ceremony. Langa put his head back and stared at the lights on the ceiling. He knew Reki had to be just as bored and antsy as he was, he was just hiding it better. He had a whole family watching that Langa knew he wanted to make proud.
Langa cracked his neck and looked ahead again, trying to stay still, but he found his eyes once again drifting to Reki, this time catching him glancing back at him as well, he grinned and quickly faced the front again. Langa smiled softly. He could hardly believe it had already been a year since he and Reki had officially started dating. It felt like yesterday, and forever all at the same time. He felt an itch in his fingers, had he ever gone so many hours without touching Reki? Even before they had become a couple, they were always touching. He was impatient and beginning to feel like this ceremony was designed specifically to torture him. He just wanted to get outside again, take a breath of fresh air, and grab Reki’s hand as they left school for the last time. He closed his eyes and lost himself in his thoughts.
Reki forced himself to stare at the stage as speaker after speaker stood at the microphone and sat back down, only to be replaced with another. His eyes were unfocused and he wouldn’t have been able to repeat a single word any of the last 5 people had said to the crowd, if asked. He shifted in his seat, bouncing his leg and tapping his fingers. He was bored and restless, and anxious. Very anxious. He couldn’t wait for the ceremony to end, but at the same time, he wouldn’t mind if it went on just a little longer. He had been keeping a secret for the past year, ever since that night he took Langa aside at S.
Shadow had a beef with some guy he couldn’t remember, he knew he had it won before it even started, so Reki took a deep and steadying breath and tugged at Langa’s sleeve; motioning with his head for him to follow, and leading him away from the crowd to an empty area. Looking into Langa’s eyes, he remembered he had lost his nerve.
“Is something wrong?” Langa had asked, concern etched into his face. “Do you want to leave? I’ll take you home.” Reki felt the warm affection flooding him and before he had even realized it, words were tumbling from his lips.
“I’m so in love with you.” He smiled. “Langa. I’m in love with you.” Langa had stared at him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Reki had thought he looked beautiful. Like the day they had met, when Reki had ollied over him. He had turned back to look at the boy he had been trying to impress, and he wasn’t sure what expression he had expected to see on the pretty new student’s face, but he was certain it wasn’t the unsuppressed awe he saw displayed. Reki had felt the butterflies for the first time then. He felt them again now, fierce and unrelenting. Not taking his eyes away from Langa’s, he grinned.
“It’s okay. If you don’t feel the same, I mean. Nothing has to change, if you don’t want it to. I’m happy just being with you.” Langa came back to Earth with that, grabbing Reki’s face in his hands.
“Say it again?” He had asked, eyes shining.
“I’m in love with you.” Reki repeated. Now that he had said it once, it came easily. Even if Langa would never love him the same way, it felt amazing to tell him. Langa closed his eyes tightly and pulled Reki into a hug, burying his face in his shoulder. Reki could feel him shaking lightly. He wrapped his arms around Langa and mumbled against him.
“I-I’m sorry if I upset you, or something.”
“No!” Langa choked, pulling back, “No, Reki!” He wiped the tears from his face. “I-I feel the same! I love you! I love you so much! How could you ever think I wouldn’t feel the same!” Reki recalled how his legs had felt weak hearing Langa return his words. He pressed his forehead to Langa’s and they both laughed.
“Would you wanna...uh...be together? Like, a couple? With me?” He had asked, between their giggles.
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
Reki smiled at the memory. Easily the best moment of his life so far, he decided. Ever since that day, he had started saving every paycheck, only leaving enough spending money for him to get A&W a couple times a week after S. After that night, he had decided that by the time they graduated, he would have enough saved to rent an apartment, and he was going to ask Langa to move in with him. Light applause shook him from his thoughts, and he looked around the auditorium. The students and parents were politely clapping, and the Principal had taken the microphone, announcing his congratulations and dismissing them. The graduates stood, bowed, and began filing out of their rows and making their way toward the exit, to meet their families outside. As Reki’s row made their way down the aisle, he saw Langa standing, waiting for his row’s turn. He was still, but Reki could tell he was barely keeping his vibrating energy under control. He smiled fondly at him as he passed. Finally making his way out into the sunlight, he took a deep breath and felt the tension draining from him.
“Reki!” His mother called, hurrying over as quickly as she could, with the twins clinging to her hands.
“Reki!” Koyomi reached him first, hugging him tightly. “We’re so proud of you! I thought for sure you’d never survive sitting still that long.”
“I almost didn’t. I’m pretty sure I died a few times.” Reki laughed, ruffling her hair as Masae walked up beside them.
“Oh, my little baby. You’re all grown up.” Her lip wobbled. “I’m not going to cry, I promised.”
“Mo~m!”
“Well, you are! And you’re going to be moving out. A place of your own. I’m so proud of you.”
“I-I don’t know if I am yet. Langa might say no…”
“Of course he wont, stupid.” Koyomi said.
“You don’t know-AAH!” Reki screamed as he felt his feet leave the ground. Langa spun him around and held him in a princess carry.
“Reki, we did it!” Langa laughed, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“Langa! Put me down, my whole family is watching!” Reki felt his face glowing with heat as Langa lowered his feet back to the ground, keeping his hand around his waist.
“Congratulations, Reki!” Nanako called, as she hurried to catch up with Langa, as the Kyan family gave him their congratulations.
“Thank you, Hasegawa-san.” Reki said as she hugged him.
“Langa, I need to ask you something.” Reki said, touching his hand to get his attention. “I’ve been saving up, and-” Reki paused and bit his lip.
“Reki, I need to ask you something, too.”
“Oh.” Reki sighed, a little relieved. “Okay, you go first.”
“Will you marry me?”