Chapter Text
Their fateful meeting happened on that enormous, long red bridge connecting the western and eastern parts of the city. It was a normal evening, the sunset in the west, the sky was a gradient of autumn foliage, the sea breeze blew lightly across the world. The young man in front of him had a long, light aqua hair — as if he just robbed the colors from the river flowing below them and the sea stretching across the horizon beside them so they had to borrow colors from the sky above.
Itto didn’t know who this person was, still, he couldn’t deny that the stranger was a very beautiful man. Very beautiful was actually an understatement, there was no appropriate word to describe his appearance. Dignified, graceful, elegant, charming, ethereal...heck, if there were 200 words that could be used to praise that young man’s beauty, he would all of it in ONE poem. Arataki Itto would never be known as a great poet in his whole lifetime sure, but at that moment, he felt that he was on par with John Keats.
That lovely face softened with a gentle smile, the Arataki boy felt his cheeks grow warmer at the sight. That stranger was...smiling at him, wasn’t he? Itto looked left and right, front and back; there was no one aside from them and the passing cars on the road. A part of his heart tingled at the fact that most likely that charming smile was indeed for him and him alone! Something awakened inside of Arataki Itto — feral, like a territorial bull.
Steady footsteps gained back his attention. By the time he faced back towards the stranger, he found that man had already invaded his personal space, so close that Itto couldn’t help but gasp and back a step. That guy really had the audacity to chuckle after being so rude, but Itto didn’t even feel the slightest of anger in his heart.
The pretty stranger stared up at him, aqua and crimson met like they were destined to be so. His alluring lips moved, forming words that Itto couldn’t understand. Not due to the language barrier, he simply didn’t understand it on a whole new level. Because...this was what the pretty stranger said, ever so sweetly:
Found you, Itto.
How was he able to understand what’s happening when he didn’t even know who this (extremely pretty, hot, pretty) man was?!
“Umm...Do I know you? Have we met somewhere before?” the high schooler asked, the frown only gets deeper when his interlocutor nodded accompanied by a gleeful smile. Itto dug through his memories as deep as he could reach, yet it was all for naught. He recalled nothing that the young man claimed, nor he was confident in his own memories at this point. There’s NO WAY for Arataki Itto to be THAT forgetful at this young age, especially when the person possessed beauty beyond that of the most popular women of his school! He hummed loudly, walking around the pretty youngster, inspecting every detail like he’s the world’s most famous detective. There was nothing out of ordinary about his casual clothing (plain white shirt with its sleeves rolled up to above the elbows, one button left undone, slim-fit khaki trousers, and a pair of black shoes to finish the look), nothing out of ordinary about his bodily features (no horns, no wings, no kemonomimis, nothing of fantasy element detected), his fair skin was smoother than a girl’s despite being somewhat seemingly a year or two older than he (Itto knew nothing, he just had that feeling) — he looked almost 100% human. Almost, because Itto still had that 1% room for doubt.
“I understand that you are still unable to trust me, so I can prove to you that we indeed know each other.”
Itto looked challengingly into the stranger’s eyes, smirking. “Oh? Go on, tell me what do you know about me or us.” There’s no way a weird guy like him knew-
“Itto of the Arataki family, you’re originally not from this city, rather, you came from a village near the Narukami Grand Shrine. I can even tell you the exact address but I do not wish to divulge that far for your privacy,” his eyes widened at that. “Your father was a dojo owner before moving in with you and your mother. He worked as a boxing instructor after that.”
“B-bah! That ain’t prove a thing! Anyone can look that up like you know, hackers in those movies!”
The blue hair beauty hummed in agreement and rubbed his chin. “Then, how about this… When you move here, you knew no one at all, you cried on your kindergarten’s first day because of that.”
“What-”
“Thoma was the first one to approach you and since then, you two are best friends,” he had the nerve to chuckle after a look on Itto’s baffled face, “It seems that you still do until now, I am happy to see that.”
“Still, that’s not enough! I’m not trusting you, not even by an inch!”
“Is it? Very well…” Why does this guy want me to trust him so much?! Why won’t he just quit already! “You’re also friends with Yoimiya, Sayu, and Sara. Speaking of that one, I remember you accidentally mistook her underwe-”
Itto frantically covered the young man’s plush lips with his two big hands, cold sweat rolling down his forehead and his eyes were opened so wide that they could pop out at any given moment! Archons, if Kujou Sara was here and heard about that from this stranger, Itto would have to order a tombstone with ‘Arataki [The Shameful] Itto’ carved on it and a plot of earth for his grave by tonight the latest… “Okay, okay! I believe you! Archons, how do you even know about THAT shameless thing!”
Despite Itto’s evident suffering from terror, the other man didn’t seem guilty. Was he a sadist? Maybe he was and Itto wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case. Pretty people often bear sadistic tendencies, his (self-proclaimed) eternal rival, Sara, was the living case. “I do, because I’m your wife.”
There would be a total silence had the wind not blown past them. The Arataki boy froze on his spot, his fingers tightened on the other’s shoulders. It was apparent that the grip began to hurt him, but Itto failed to take note of it because his mind was totally blown by the proclamation. His struggle lasted for like an eternity before he snapped and shouted, “Y-YOU?! M-MY WI-WI-WIFE?!”
“Y-yes. I-Itto, it hurts...Can you p-please lo-”
On the contrary to what was requested, Itto shook the young man’s body roughly. “I-IT CAN’T BE! I MEAN, I’M STILL A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT! SEE HERE, THIS IS THE UNIFORM OF NARUKAMI HIGH! AND I’M PRETTY SURE I NEVER D-D-DO IT WITH ANYONE ESPECIALLY YOU! YOU’RE JUST A CREEPY STALKER!”
“I-Itto-”
“Wait,” Itto finally released the young man and took three steps back. “That must be it… The autumn cold is stressing my head and I’m starting to hallucinate. Maybe a sign that I’m having flu or something?Right, RIGHT?!” He slapped his own cheek and turned to his left, that man was still there. The pain was there, but he was still not convinced. So he slapped his other cheek, and again, and again, until both sides of his face were as red as his eyes and the pain was becoming too unbearable for him to have another slap.
The stranger was still there, standing on the same spot. If anything changed, it’s only the expression on his face that had turned into worry. “T-this ain’t a hallucination...at all?”
“That’s pretty rude, Itto. I’m real, and I will never lie to you. And you hurt yourself in vain…” the man stood in front of him and placed his hands on the stinging cheeks. They felt cold on his heated skin, like two packs of ice were touching him instead. “It must be painful. Let’s get you treated.”
The man took his hand and began to drag him away from the bridge, uncaring of the curious and judging looks from the surrounding passersby. Itto’s legs could only follow him, his mind still was still processing what happened just now. He realized that this was going nowhere if he didn’t know a single thing about this...bold stranger.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Ah, I apologize I forgot to tell you my name,” the stranger smiled as he looked back. “I am Ayato. Have you truly forgotten about me?”
Sadly, it didn’t ring a bell at all. “I...I’m not sure. Maybe I hit my head somewhere and you know, I got amnesia like in those dramas.”
“Haha, perhaps you did. It’s not like I knew everything about you too.”
For a persistent stalker who claimed to know EVERYTHING about him, this was surprising. “You don’t?”
“Yup, for instance…” Ayato stopped and locked their eyes on each other’s. What was that serious look for- “I am not sure if we are taking the right route to your current home, Itto.”
“Some wife you are, not knowing where we live,” Itto teased. “It’s the other way. Let me lead you instead.”
“Hahaha, it seems that I have failed my duty as your wife. Though...You seem to still exhibit some distrust on me now...you are okay with taking me to your home?”
“Well, you’re staying somewhere?”
Ayato’s face was painted in a tint of pink. “I-I don’t. I don’t have the funds needed to sustain such living expenses.”
“Huh? How the hell are you here then if you have not a single Mora on you!”
“That…” the blue-haired man tightened his grip on Itto’s hand, the eyes began to waver, so did his once confident tone. “I’m not sure myself.” He stared at the bridge, the shadows grew longer as the sun was being swallowed by the dark sea. “I don’t know how do I get here, but I was already there. I know my name, I know you, some parts of your life, yet nothing more than that.” Ayato faced Itto, this time he was the one who wore that perplexed look on his face. “I know it sounds unbelievable, but in all honesty, that’s all I can tell to you.”
Itto gazed into those shaking eyes. As much as he wished to not believe it, he could tell Ayato was not lying. He knew almost nothing about this man who claimed to be his wife, but Arataki Itto had a strong intuition and he would always trust it. As for the fact that he had seen so far, Ayato didn’t seem to mean him any harm, so he nodded in the end. “Well, sounds like I can’t leave you here like this. Let’s go to my house first. Then, we’ll talk about it.”
Ayato heaved a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Itto.”
“W-well, you should be grateful of me, Arataki ‘The Generous’ Itto!”
There was a soft chuckle coming out of the older man. “You never change, Itto.”
“Uh...That’s a good sign then. Anyways, let’s go. Shinobu’s going to kick me if I were late for the night shift.”
“Shinobu? Night shift?”
“It will be quicker if we just get home sooner. And one more thing,” Itto raised a finger. “Don’t introduce yourself as my wife or she’s going to send me to the police!”
“Hahaha~ I can’t promise you that.”
“Hey!” Ayato had walked off before Itto could reprimand him further. The Arataki boy sighed loudly and followed the other’s steps. He’s going to have a handful of things to be explained to his landlord later...
…
“I’m home.”
“Pardon my intrusion.”
The two sat on the wooden floor, taking off their footwear. A march of footsteps gained their attention, the more curious Ayato turned his face towards the source, while Itto knew who it was before even the first step hit the floor. A young girl wearing stripes one piece and a cute yellow apron with bear print all over it stood on the hallway, a long wooden spatula smeared in curry sauce in her right hand, a sour look on her face.
“Geh- Shino-”
Itto wasn’t given a chance to finish calling out her name when Shinobu swung the dirty spatula on his fluffy mass of white hair, staining its strands with thick curry sauce. Itto yelped, his shaky hands were reaching for the splattered curry on his head. The look on his face was priceless, Ayato thought to himself. “You’re late for dinner and for your night shift, Arataki Itto! I told you not to be late, right? You don’t even send me a text!”
“I-I’m sorry, Shinobu. Something urgent happened and-”
“Something urgent?” the landlord turned to look at Ayato who bowed down at her in return. “This is your urgent matter? What? Did you knock up this pretty lady two weeks ago? Didn’t expect you to be that bold, huh!”
“You got it wrong!” Itto rebutted, face aflame in embarrassment. “First of all, he’s a guy! Secondly, I’m not knocking him up or something like that!”
“Huh?” Shinobu inspected Ayato from the top of his head and down to the tip of his toes. Surely, while his build was slimmer than average man, the shape of his body still belonged to that of a man. “My bad, sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Ayato assured her.
“Still…” she returned her attention to Itto, “if you say this pretty dude is your ‘urgent’ matter, huh, so you’re leaning that way, Itto. Congratulations, you’re gay. One thing though, if you want to do something rated, don’t do it in this house.”
“HEY, HEY! STOP SAYING NONSENSE LIKE THAT!”
“Something rated?” Ayato tilted his head.
“Oh, you know...Well, you don’t, of course. The last time we had a gay couple living here, they were doing the ‘do’ in their room. Thing is, our walls are not that thick, and I got protests from the other tenants. I gotta kick them out for that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m against any form of love but I’m just reminding you guys to be civilized here.”
“I see,” the blue-haired youngster nodded in understanding. “Then, I will be sure to keep our voice down-”
Itto slapped his face, slowly dragging his hand down. He looked so defeated, he no longer held the title of ‘The Undefeated’. Not that he ever held that title in the first place too. “Do you hate me so much that you want me kicked outta my own house, Ayato...?”
“Oi, this is MY house, Mr.Arataki ‘The Late’ Itto.”
“I don’t hate you,” Ayato innocently replied. “In fact, I lo-”
“Alright, alright! S-Shinobu, don’t worry, we won’t do anything weird in my room,” Itto took the older man’s hand and rushed upstairs. “I will come down for the night shift soon, just give me some time, okay!”
The landlord stood in silence, resting the long spatula on her shoulder, and made her way back to the kitchen, there were still some customers left waiting to be served. “The restaurant’s about to be closed for the day, you idiot,” she mumbled.
Once inside, the room owner quickly locked the door, rolled out the round coffee table, and placed it on the floor before sitting before it himself. Meanwhile, Ayato was taking a tour in his room, admiring the very ordinary walls, messy desk, and the equally messy single bed. He sat on the bed like it was his, well, Itto did tell him to make himself feel at home, he’s just doing his thing.
“So...What would you like to talk about, Itto? I’ll be sure to answer all that you ask, but I can’t promise all your questions will be answered in the way you wish.”
“That’s okay,” Itto waved his hand dismissively and rested it on the table. “So, about-”
“Oh, let me make a tea before that. A good tea will smoothen the conversation. Please wait for a moment.”
Ayato unlocked the door and went downstairs. He returned into the room sooner than five minutes with a tray of two teacups and a small teapot. Just like an ideal housewife, he carefully placed the tea set on the table and poured some of the warm, light-greenish liquid into the cup before serving it to Itto, as well as serving himself a cup. He sat down on the tatami floor just across from the taller man.
“Uh...thanks,” Itto felt it should’ve been him who served the tea, but his mind was too jumbled up to even function properly. He took a sip, finding the taste to his liking. “This is good. It’s mild.”
“I’m glad that you like it. I made sure that the temperature and the timing when I pour the tea were right. I’ll make you another one later.”
“Y-yeah, thanks,” he set the cup down, leaned against the wall. “So, about your own memories...You said that you remember nothing else but your name and strangely, about me and my friends.”
“That is correct.”
“Uh...I will make myself clear then, Ayato. I don’t trust you...yet. But I know you are not a bad person and you are not trying to harm me or anyone I know. Still, you really scared me with that amount of information you have on me.”
“Fufufu, I understand that. I apologize for startling you.”
“Apology accepted. Next is...why would you claim to be my wife? Pretty sure I’m not married yet, I don’t even have a girlfriend or boyfriend yet!”
“Oh, interesting,” Ayato seemingly pleased with that revelation. “It means I’m your first. I am happy to hear that.”
“That’s not the main point!” For the umpteenth time, Itto slapped his forehead, he’s sure he’s going to suffer some light concussion from this. “What I mean is that why are you saying that!”
“Because…” Ayato’s eyes went onto the cup on his hand, the clear green surface reflected his woes behind that thin smile, “we promised that back then.”
“...I...do? We did?”
“You probably don’t remember it yourself. It is okay, Itto,” Ayato lifted his face up and stretched his lips. “I’m here, you’re here. That’s all that matters to me...to us.”
Itto felt that he should make a rebuttal of that statement, but he decided against it after seeing those eyes. He went silent soon after, thinking of something, a solution that might help them to clear all these misunderstandings. Ayato’s memories were the key to this puzzle, and there should be a way to retrieve those that he lost. Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped out of his mind. That’s right, Arataki Itto wasn’t alone, he had them!
“Oh yeah, you’re saying you knew Thoma and the others?” Ayato nodded as an answer. “Great! You should definitely meet them!”
“Why?”
“Well, you knew us. My memories might be bad, sure, but theirs are better than mine! Maybe, they can help us!” Ayato opened his lips to say something, but he seemed reluctant about it. Itto didn’t realize the sign and continued, “You’re lucky that we planned to meet up tomorrow.”
“I see. I’m looking forward to meeting them as well.”
“I bet you do! Now that all matters are settled, you should get a bath. You bring any change of clothes with you?”
A blush crept onto his cheeks and Ayato shy away. “I...I don’t have that.”
“...What? Wait, you’re kidding?”
“I’m not. I only have this set of clothing on me.”
“On top of not having a single Mora, you…” Itto sighed. “Urgh, I don’t have any clothes of your size. Guess you either wear that until we can get you some new clothes or-” he froze as if he had bitten his tongue. His face began to redden, his brain was screaming with unholy thoughts that shouldn’t have appeared. Maybe they should, he’s still in that puberty phase after all. But still, STILL…!!!
“Itto?”
“Argh! D-damnit!” the student stormed off to his closet and took out a set of blue pajamas from the bottom drawer and handed it to Ayato. “J-just wear this for tonight! It’s not your size, but it’s the smallest one I have here!” The guest was just staring at the set of pajamas so Itto had to take the initiative. “J-just take it! I don’t want you to catch a cold tonight!”
Ayato received the pajamas and a spare towel before heading for the bathroom at the end of the hallway, leaving the redfaced Itto alone in his room, struggling alone with his unholy thoughts that seem like a diehard stain Thoma always complained to him.
Inside the bathroom, the blue-haired man took off his clothes and picked up the neatly folded pajama, pressing the soft cotton fabric onto his face. He smiled into it, breathing in the scent that he recalled so well; a scent that traveled from the past faraway behind them.
“You really never change, Itto.” He whispered into the article and put them back on the provided standing hanger, turning on the shower, then washed off the dirt and pollution of the city from his pale body.
Itto was typing something on the phone by the time Ayato returned into the room. Most likely a conversation with someone, the highest probability was Thoma was the person on the end of the line. The newcomer deduced it had something to do with him, it piqued his interest, so he decided to peek at the ongoing conversation.
[Bro, what u gonna do if someone u don’t know just came to u and said he’s ur wife?]
[Huh? Wdym, Itto?]
[Just answer it dude!]
[I’ll be shocked ofc. Why r u asking me this? Something happened over ur place?]
[SOMETHING DID ALRIGHT!]
[Whoa chill. So wassup?]
Itto was about to finish the reply and hit the ‘send’ when Ayato’s reflection showed up on his screen. The young student yelped and abruptly turned around, the poor phone was almost flung away in the process. Ayato was still smiling like he always did, his eyes glint with mischief and interest.
“I see that you’re very close with Thoma, Itto. You two are basically inseparable troublemakers.”
“S-since when- wait. You’re reading, aren’t you?!”
“A gist of it. But don’t worry,” he placed a finger in front of his own lips, a playful smirk stretched on his pretty face, “your secrets are safe with me, Itto~”
“...I don’t feel safe when you say that.”
Ayato giggled and sat down on the bed, drying his wet hair. Itto typed a reply to his best partners-in-crime and left the phone in his bag. “Don’t you try anything funny with my phone while I’m taking a bath and working downstairs, okay?”
“Mhmm, I won’t. I promise.”
Itto gave him a distrusting look before going out for a shower. He’s a proper man that values elegance despite how unruly he looked. No one would ever guess Arataki Itto cared for his own appearance so greatly, one could ask him the best shampoo for certain hair damages and he would gladly recommend which product should they buy.
As he sunk into the warm bath, he dived into his memories. Today had been a really long, tiring day; their school was preparing for an autumn festival and he had to help his class with the preparation, the bus line that he used to take suddenly had a problem today that he had to walk back home on his two feet, and he met this beautiful stranger who claimed to be his wife out of nowhere and knew about him so much that he began to doubt he knew himself the best. In all honesty, Itto wasn’t sure he had any spare energy left for the night shift, maybe he should ask for a day off.
He dived in deeper, but instead of becoming clearer, the sea became darker and darker. Itto was still adamant that he never met Ayato before, and it was Ayato who suffered from amnesia and mistook him for the ‘Itto’ he was actually looking for. Maybe he should also ask that prodigy detective Heizou for help, who knew he could find anything about this strange man. In the meantime, he should crosscheck with his own memories. He had heard that high fever or traumatic experiences might also lead to memory loss. He remembered there was one time he was hit with a life-threatening fever many years ago, it could have been the reason why he forgot about the blue-haired lad.
If that so...he should have forgotten about his other friends too since it happened not long after he settled in. But he didn’t; he remembered Thoma and all the mischiefs they committed, he can recall all those (one-sided) rivalry he had with Kujou Sara, the bug fights he had with Sayu, and watching fireworks made by Yoimiya’s family with all of his friends. So why...Why Ayato was the only one who didn’t come into the picture? Like...he was an anomaly that didn’t fit in his memories.
He leaned onto the edge of the tub and reminiscenced of his childhood. The green and pink foliages of Araumi, the blowing winds from the mountains and the seas, the old ruins scattered around the area, and the loud, happy, yet lonely waves of laughter he knew so well…
Itto finished his bath half an hour later. By that time, the store had closed down, since he did nothing today, Shinobu made sure he’s going to work a double shift on Sunday. He usually would whine about it, but today, he accepted his ‘punishment’ obediently and headed back for his room.
He found Ayato had fallen asleep on his bed, snoring softly. It must had been a draining day for the guest too, Itto didn’t have the heart to interrupt the peaceful sleep he was having. He carefully spread the blanket and covered the lithe body. Several strands of blue hair had their tips touching those slightly opened lips, so he tucked them back to where they should be. He stared at the sleeping man, admiring the features. Truly, Ayato was such a pleasing sight to see, it was like having clear water clean one’s eyes. He then left for the closet and dragged out a spare futon. Usually, it was used by Thoma when he’s having a sleepover here. It seemed that the blond Mondstadtian had to bring his own futon if he were planning for a night in his room.
Itto laid on the flat futon and rested his tired soul on it. He would leave the rest to the Itto of tomorrow and had a peaceful sleep tonight.
Oh, if only he could had a FULL NIGHT of peaceful slumber...because Ayato wasn’t letting him as he found the older man slept on the SAME futon as he was, with ARMS AND LEGS slung over HIS body by the time he woke up! He must have moved some time in the middle of the night because the last time he checked it was 10 p.m. before he floated to dreamland. He failed to wake Ayato up or shift away from this awkward, suggestive position before his landlord came in, and as expected, all that Shinobu had to say to him was:
“Sorry for the interruption.”
Loud scream coming from the mouth of Arataki Itto woke everyone in the house. Thankfully, it included Ayato himself. Unfortunately, the guest was PRETTY shameless by offering the poor highschooler a hearty giggle.
Arataki Itto should have called the funeral parlor last night. He felt he was dying from the sheer embarrassment he had suffered in less than 24 hours.
…
The place the group of friends was meeting was at the center of the city called Hanamizaka Square. It was the heart of the entertainment district surrounded by tons of fashion and food brands, three skyscrapers towering around it.
“Whoa, Hanamizaka looks different from the time I was here.”
Itto looked away from his screen at that statement. “When you’re here?”
“Yes. I believe that this skyscraper hadn’t existed at that time. What is it built for?”
At that time...by that, it should be a year or two since he moved here. “That building is for Tenryou Corp., it's Sara’s family business. I think she said it's...a technology company. Though, she never tell me the specifics.”
“Oh, that is surprising. You’re friends with such a powerful person, Itto.”
Didn’t he said he knew about Sara but now he’s acting as if he didn’t? To be fair, Sara told him when he asked her the same question too, it was during the tower’s construction phase. That should be narrowing down some questions, yet on the contrary, it birthed even more of it!
“Huh, yeah, you can say that. It makes me kinda proud to have her as my rival.”
Ayato hummed happily as he took a seat on the stone bench, looking up at the high office tower. “I wonder if I made you proud.”
“Did you say something?”
“Ah, no, nothing. Just some random musings you don’t have to worry about.”
“I see…” Itto decided to check on his phone, seeing five new notifications pop up on the screen. He faced forward and walk away with Ayato tailing just behind. He waved his right hand high the moment he caught the sight of his friends, who replied in the same fashion.
“Sorry we’re late! Something happened with the subway so we had to take the bus!” The two troublemakers did their signature highfive; slapping their right hands fro and back thrice, brofisting twice, and lastly hit the back of their lower right arms together.
“I just got here myself! Uh, I mean, we.”
His friends blinked at the mention and looked at who’s standing beside the tallest man. Ayato waved his hand and bowed down slightly, greeting them in a more formal manner. Thoma tiptoed to Itto’s side and lightly elbowed his muscular arm. “So, this is the ‘wife’ you told me about last night?” he whispered.
“Y-yeah. He’s creepy, right?”
“You kidding? He’s pretty, holy shit. Can’t believe you just turned away his proposal last night. What a shame!”
“But you said you’d be crept out too!”
“No? I said I’m surprised, but I’m not crept out by it especially…” he glanced at Ayato for a flash second and winked at his best friend, “if the dude is this pretty!”
“...I thought we’re soulmates.”
“Well, at least we’re best friends and troublemakers, aren’t we?”
Itto heaved his first sigh that day, he felt like he was betrayed by his best man just now. Ayato was introduced to each of his friends, fortunately, the blue-haired man didn’t pull a stunt as he did to Shinobu last night. But, he did confuse the group by saying he was familiar with them all, that the five of them were called ‘Arataki Gang: The Peace Busters’, and there’s no need for introduction. Sara threw a glance at Yoimiya and Sayu and they both nodded once before approaching the new addition to their group.
“Hey, Ayato, since you’re new here, we can show you around while these three bought us the movie tickets!” Yoimiya cheerfully said. “There’s a good popcorn stall over there, me and Sayu were going to buy some from there. You should come with us!”
“Ah, I will have to pass. I want to-Y-Yoimiya?”
“Off we go! The more people the merrier! Let’s go!” Yoimiya winked back at the three and dragged off the confused Ayato off the scene.
The three of them walked towards the ticket booth as they initiate the conversation they had been waiting to discuss. Of course, the topic was Ayato and his mysterious appearances. Sara was the one who opened it with a question this time, “So, I heard the gist from Thoma. You said that you met him yesterday and he told you that he knew not only YOU, but also US, correct?”
“Yup.”
“Wait, if you said he knew you so well then…” Thoma’s tone turned serious as he turned to his white-haired friend, “D-did he knew about that?”
“Yeah! Scary, ri-...................” the two stopped their conversation right there the moment they felt a grim aura wrapping around their necks.
Sara dragged a long sigh. “...Arataki Itto, I don’t know what kind of creepy stalker problems you got yourself into this time. But this also considers the breach of my privacy, therefore, I shall take him to the custody of the Po-”
“No! Wait, wait!” Itto panickedly tried to calm down the Kujou family’s adopted daughter. “Look, Ayato might be a creepy guy for knowing so much about us but he didn’t mean me or any of you harm! If he wanted to hurt any of us, I wouldn’t be standing here!”
“That doesn’t disclose his intention. There’s still a possibility he is orchastizing something behind our backs, you blockhead ‘oni’!” Sara hissed in clear annoyance. “Look, we don’t know a single thing about him, we’re basically sitting ducks. Why can’t you be any more useful, Arataki?”
“Oi, oi, that’s harsh,” Itto scratched his head with a hand. “I did interrogate him last night, okay? I’m not that dumb. But he said he didn’t remember anything else, ‘sides, Ayato said he’s not going to lie to me.”
“And you trust him just like THAT?!” Sara snarled dangerously. It was an understandable reaction, she was a very private person, knowing someone she wasn’t familiar with knew about her that lot must have triggered her defensive instincts. “I will show you how to interrogate someone the right way, you fool!”
“Sara, wait!” he grabbed her wrist and forced her to face him. “You’re always the calmest among us, this isn’t like you!”
“This isn’t like me?” she harshly yanked his hand off. “How do you feel when some freak knew who you are? Don’t you feel threatened? Don’t you feel attacked? Do you feel safe after knowing that?!”
“I-”
“You’re always the stupidest among us, Arataki! Let me handle this matter personally, all you need to do is just sit there and watch-”
“I [AM] Arataki ‘The Stupidest’ Itto alright!” Itto roared back, face flushed. “But I won’t let you hurt Ayato! Not until we’re sure who he is!”
“You-!”
“Guys! Guys!” Thoma pushed the two away from each other, there’s no way telling what would happen if they were to take a step closer to each other. “Calm down, okay? We’re in public, and I can see them coming back from the popcorn stall now! Just...just set this aside first, yeah? We can talk about this later after we cool off.”
“Look, I know none of us liked it when this happened, I understand this feeling as I feel the same about the situation too. But, as you said, we knew nothing about Ayato, what if he was telling the truth?”
Sara said nothing and walked back, Itto did the same and relaxed his stance. Thoma lived up to his name as a ‘fixer’ indeed.
“From what Itto told me last night, I think there’s only one solution left for us to do,” he looked at his two friends and at the incoming Ayato. “We have to help him to remember about himself.”
“Sounds easier to be said than to be done,” Sara mumbled, but she had regained back her composure. “However, I must agree with you this time, Thoma. There’s nothing else we can do for now. Thank you, Thoma, for stopping me. And...I apologize for my rudeness, Arataki.”
“I-...I’m sorry too for not understanding your feelings.”
“No, you did,” she replied. “It was me who was blinded by my...insecurities.”
“Must be pretty tough to be up there huh, milady?”
Sara posed a thin smirk. “Watch your tongue, Fixer.”
“Aye, aye.”
Sayu was the first to reach them with two buckets of popcorns, followed by Ayato and Yoimiya who brought one bucket each. The popcorns Sayu bought were the usual caramel and salt flavor, Yoimiya bought the spicy seaweed flavored and Ayato chose the special new seasonal flavor. The popcorns in Ayato’s bucket had thin red-orange-yellow powders on them, it matched the colors of the trees planted in the square.
Thoma slipped in with the brightest smile, wanting to prevent Ayato from noticing the somber situation between the two rivals. “Is this the popular Momiji Manju everyone is talking about? You’re so lucky you get to buy that! Heard it sells out in speed of light.”
“Mhmm, it’s the last bucket for today. Ah, Itto, I think you will like the flavor too. It’s not overly sweet, has the tang of azuki too.”
Yoimiya and Thoma looked at each other and whistled loudly, making Itto realize what they meant. T-These two tease I swear!!! “S-sure. We can try it later.”
Ayato seemed pleased with the answer. “So, which movie are we going to watch? Have you bought the tickets yet?”
“A-ah, that-”
“We haven’t,” Sara answered him like a professional, as expected from one of the Tenryou Corp’s stock heirs. “There are several recommended movies so, we thought it will be wiser to discuss it with you all.”
“Ah, I don’t have preferences. I will be happy with the movie Itto picked for us,” Itto’s face grew even redder at that, his thumping heart was begging Ayato to stop embarrassing him. “But yes, I agree. We should discuss which movie is preferable to all of us.”
“Yeah! Let’s do that,” Thoma pointed at the large screen hanging on the building’s front wall, introducing each title with the synopsis he had read on the net. The anime movie of two lovers separated by time and space seemed to intrigue the group the most, and it was one of the most successful movies in Inazuma, so they chose to watch this one. The tickets were bought and they entered the theater not long after, sitting on the assigned seats.
Something’s not right. Why was a stranger sitting by his left side when it should have been one of his friends? Itto looked at his friends who shot him a knowing look and even encouraged him with thumbs up, heck, he should’ve known what they were planning behind his back! If there’s someone he shouldn’t trust at this point, it should be his traitorous friends! He gulped and faced Ayato who looked at him like an excited puppy.
“I’m glad that we got to sit beside each other. We can eat this Momiji Manju popcorn together without troubling the others.”
Some supportive friends they were! Some ‘Peace Busters’ they were indeed! Itto begrudgingly noted this and swore to exact vengeance later on. The movie started, so Ayato opened the popcorn bucket and placed it between them, and a large soda drink on the provided drink holder. It was an awkward situation for the ‘Oni’ of the group, in contrast to how the blue-haired man was clearly enjoying this moment of togetherness. He grew parched, his throat felt dry; was it due to the Momiji popcorn? It had to be. So Itto took the paper glass and drank some of the refreshing, cold soda. He caught sight of Ayato taking a sip from the VERY SAME straw of the VERY SAME glass he just drank from a minute ago! T-the audacity of this guy!
Wait a min, Itto came upon a realization, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, d-does this means that w-we j-j-just sh-share our first…
His eyes rolled towards Ayato, under the changing dim lights he saw those sweet lips curved. Something cold touched his right hand, on it he found Ayato’s own hands, softly caressing his rougher skin.
Arataki Itto felt his soul ascended to Celestia and he failed to absorb the content of the movie at all. Poor guy didn’t know whether he was suffering from endless torment, or was he enjoying the thrills of seishun.
The movie ended in two hours and the group walked out of the theater in excitement, with Yoimiya and Thoma being the most passionate ones to the point they were crying from the intense emotions, Sara was extremely intrigued by the plot and concept, Sayu was just using the theater to sleep as usual. The four of them noticed something strange and they didn’t have to ask what the oddity was. Among all six, Itto was the most silent today, his face was the reddest of all, he was akin to a perfectly boiled lobster walking on the land. What about the newest member? He looked like he was on cloud nine with that smile and cheery atmosphere that if they were anime characters, there would be flowers floating around Ayato by now.
For lunch, the Arataki Gang: The Peace Buster chose to dine in one of the nearest foodcourts. After placing their orders through the machine, the group split into two; Itto, Sayu, Yoimiya and Sara were tasked to find a table or two, while Thoma and Ayato grabbed the ordered foods from the stores. After minutes of searching, they finally found a long table with seats enough for the six of them. The four settled down while waiting for the other two to come back.
“You’re enjoying your little date just now huh, Arataki? Good for you.”
“Awww! I never thought Itto would be the first one among us to have a date! It was with a very pretty guy even! I’m jealous!”
Sayu dozed off, again.
“Do I look like I’m enjoying that? I can’t even process the movie we just watched!”
“Hmm, red face, acting like a virgin in love, zero brain cell, and stupidity are the four signs of falling in love. So yes, you were enjoying this. You should thank your best friend, Thoma and Yoimiya.”
“Hehe~”
“Urgh...If any, I will get the two of you for this shame…!” Itto grumbled and slumped face-first on the table.
“Oh come on! What’s with that sunken look? Cheer up, Itto!” the Naganohara girl slapped his back. “You two are so compatible, you know! Like, you’re married for at least twelve years already!”
“We aren’t!” he barked back. “You all just love to tease me. I’m the leader of this gang, in case you forgot.”
“Mhmm, and we’re just being the good, supportive lackeys! Go, Boss, he’s pretty and smart, you should get his hand in marriage!”
“I’m not getting that!” Itto had to change the course of the conversation or else he would only embarrass himself further. “Okay, while we are talking about Ayato, I guess we have to get help from that detective.”
“Do you mean Shikanoin Heizou?” the ‘Oni’ nodded in confirmation. “I don’t personally like to have business with him on a personal level, but there’s no helping it in this case. Shikanoin is the best one when it comes to investigations, I will not deny his talent.”
“Oh, yeah! He’s very smart! He’s like Sayu, but more diligent!”
“Hey...I heard that…”
“Anyways,” Itto leaned in. “Sara, I’ll leave it to you. I’ll just...uh...avert Ayato’s attention away from this.”
“Wow, our Boss is so kind he is willing to be a decoy,” the ‘Tengu’ of the group smirked mockingly at the ‘Boss’. “Very well, I can’t promise you the results, though.”
“However small the information is, it should be helpful. Thank you, Kujou Tengu.”
“You’re being extremely formal today that I doubt you’re the real Arataki Oni.”
“Oh, shut up.”
Lunch came afterward and they enjoyed a hearty meal together. The group discussed the movie they just watched and the possibilities of another sequel in the future, then about their school festival’s preparation, as if the tension never existed in the first place. Time flew by so quickly without their notice, by the time they left the foodcourt, it was already four in the evening. The group bid their farewell and dispersed towards their own destinations. Ayato never left Itto’s side, always faithfully walking at the same pace as him.
“Do you enjoy the hangout, Ayato?” Itto asked. There’s still a long way to go even if they rode the bus, a little conversation between them wouldn’t hurt.
“I do,” the reply was airy, signifying his good mood. “I feel as if...it has been a very long time since the last I had so much fun with you all.”
“Glad to hear that,” the taller man crossed his arms at the back of his head, resting his whole weight on the bus’s seat. “So...do you remember something?”
The smile on that enchanting face didn’t die down, it only changed its meaning. “I’m...I’m very sorry, Itto. I couldn’t remember a thing.”
“That’s a bummer, but it’s okay. We have the time so just take it slowly, yeah?”
“I will,” Ayato nodded. “Thank you for sticking with me.”
“N-no need to thank me for that-” a mass of blue hair landed on his upper arm, a weight pressed against him. “Hey…”
“Itto, I...I feel that I don’t want to remember what I have forgotten,” Ayato tightened his fist on Itto’s t-shirt. “I’m...I’m afraid that bad things will only happen if I remember everything. I feel that I might lose something…someone important to me.”
“Ayato…”
“I...I don’t want to lose you.”
His heart sunk, it felt as if a sharp blade pierced through his chest and ripped off his beating heart, tore through his soul. Seeing that solemn look on that pretty face, hearing that saddened tone filled with anxiety and insecurity…
“It would be better if I don’t re-” Ayato’s words were cut off as Itto grabbed his shoulders, the movement was so sudden that it surprised the smaller man. “I...tto…?”
“Look, you have to remember, Ayato. I don’t want to see you struggling and keep on being confused like this. No matter what you remember, no matter who you are before becoming the person I met on that bridge...you’re still you, and I’ll always be here for you, okay?” the grip loosened and the hands slid down, circling themselves around the older man’s body. “So...please, don’t say something stupid and saddening like that. Memories are very important, you know!”
“Itto…” the blue-haired lad closed his eyes, surrendering into the warmth emitted by the larger body. “Very well. Please bear it with me a little longer. I will be sure to remember all the memories I lost in no time.”
“That’s the spirit!” Itto grinned widely, fully spirited. “Right, I think I know where we should start. I have to work on double shift tomorrow so I’ll be free at noon. We should go to that place tomorrow!”
“That place?”
“It’s a secret! No spoiler, OK?”
Ayato’s eyes glistened, he nodded thrice. “Please take me there.”
“With pleasure! So just don’t stress your pretty little head now, yeah?”
The other gasped. “Did you just admit I’m pretty?”
“U-uh…” Itto threw his face to another direction. “Y-your face is pretty.”
A pair of hands squeezed his cheeks, Ayato was pouting behind him. “Nonsense. I know I’m pretty and you admit it even.”
“Puh-phhhffffttt!!!”
“It pleases me to hear your compliment, Itto,” he retracted his hands and leaned on the ‘oni’. “Thank you.”
“Y-your welcome, I guess.”
The rest of the ride was silent because one of them was sleeping. Itto stayed wide awake, watching the night sea stretching along the roadside. Many thoughts were running in his head like hundreds of marathon participants, but it all puffed into thin smoke the moment he sensed a movement and found Ayato had shifted his position, leaning even closer to him. From this angle, the sleeping Ayato looked cuter than the previous night, Itto hurriedly hid the lower half of his face. He turned away from the cuteness, afraid that he would make unholy noises that might wake the other up.
I ____ you.
He didn’t know how to reply to those words...yet.
Not now, perhaps soon, or maybe later, he would give him the appropriate reply.
Until then...they both had to be patient.
.
.
.
[To Be Continued...]