Work Text:
There’s nothing special in the way that Ryuu meets Io. It’s their first day at Binan High School and Ryuu just so happens to take the desk next to him. The other boy is staring intently at his laptop.
“Hey,” Ryuu tries.
Io glances sideways. “Are you talking to me?”
“Mm.”
Io stares a little longer, face totally blank. Then he smiles, lips turning up ever so slightly at the corners. “Hello. My name is Io Naruko – and yours?”
“Ryuu Zaou.” And he can’t help but deny that he feels a little better, now that he’s being acknowledged. He shuffles his chair a bit closer to the other boy, sneaking a glance at his laptop. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m just checking my account balance,” Io says dismissively, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
Ryuu leans closer, closer, until he’s close enough to catch a glimpse of the figure displayed on the screen. He splutters in disbelief.
“It’s real,” Io says before Ryuu can even get a word in. “What do you think?”
Ryuu twists in his seat to face Io, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “You’ve gotta be kidding me! Are you sure you’re a first year?”
Io inclines his head. “Just the same as you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ryuu says. “Do you come from a rich family or something?”
Io looks away for the first time since they started talking, shifting in his seat so that he’s facing the front of the class. “No, nothing like that,” he answers levelly. “Accumulating wealth is a hobby, so to speak. And you, Zaou-kun?”
Huh? Ryuu blinks. Me? How on earth is he meant to come up with anything remotely impressive after that? He stays silent as Io shuts the lid of the laptop and puts it away, then arranges his books and pens neatly on his desk.
Ryuu’s nothing special. He doesn’t do much of anything at all.
Well… there’s always…
“I’m a real chick magnet!” he exclaims, slamming his hand down on the desk. Io turns to look at him, faint surprise evident in his expression.
“You realise that this is an all boys school, right?”
“So what? That can’t stop me! I’ll show you!” He thumps his chest with his fist and nods seriously at Io, who responds with a raised eyebrow and another faint smile.
“Feel free to,” he says. His eyes are gleaming.
It’s not like Ryuu was lying, per se. He knows a lot of girls, that’s for sure. From his old school, from parties – he’s a pretty social guy.
But to go so far as to say that his dating history is impressive enough to match up to Io’s bank account balance? Laughable. And that’s really just not acceptable.
So he calls a few numbers, goes online and arranges some dates. They’re only casual, sharing ice creams in town or holding hands in the park or fleeting kisses on cheeks in the darkness of a cinema. He’s charming, sure, he knows that. Always has been. He’s magnetic.
But just like a magnet, he doesn’t only attract. He repels just as easily, closing off the moment the girl starts asking too many questions.
“Zaou-kun, I heard you and this other girl from my school went out on a few dates,” his date for the day – a girl with dyed-brown hair – remarks. She’s got her arm linked with his and her fingers dance across the back of his hand. It’s a pretty good day – the sun’s out and the air’s crisp. He’s walking her home from her school. It’s out of his way, but he promised her he would, so here he is. The girl turns her eyes upon him. “I get you’re only looking for something casual. But why?”
She’s a nice girl, Ryuu thinks. Smart. He smiles and feels brittle. “Other commitments, you know,” he shrugs.
“Like what?”
He looks off down the road. There’s another couple walking ahead hand in hand. “That’s a secret.” He offers her a cheeky smile and a wink.
She regards him, eyes sparkling. “You’re funny, Zaou-kun.”
A liar, too, he thinks. He wonders if that should make him unhappy.
“Hey, you want to take a photo?” he says, pulling his phone out before she even has the chance to say yes. He snaps a shot – it’s cute, the girl pulling a peace sign and poking her tongue out, Ryuu bent so he can get both their faces in the shot, his arm wrapped snugly around her shoulders.
“What was that about, all of a sudden?” the girl asks, not sounding all that concerned.
“It’s because the weather’s so nice,” Ryuu replies offhandedly. His eyes are on the screen of the phone. He waits until he sees the word ‘sent’ pop up next to the photo before he puts it back into his pocket.
He wonders if Io will be impressed, at all.
They talk in class every day. It’s kind of a surprise to Ryuu – he’d pegged Io as someone to keep to himself and complete his work dutifully. Sure, Io’s incredibly attentive when the teacher’s speaking and always seems to have an answer whenever called upon. But he seems to put the same amount of attention into reading the notes Ryuu flicks him and composing replies that are far too elegant.
hey did you notice the teacher’s shirt has the price label sticking out of it? lol, Ryuu writes one day before slipping the note onto Io’s desk.
Yes, and she paid far too much for a shirt of such poor quality. The fabric seems rather cheap and it’s overall a poor colour scheme. I can’t help but feel sorry for her, is Io’s reply.
It makes Ryuu smile.
He notices that Io doesn’t bother to interact much with anyone else. He’s not sure if it’s because Ryuu’s the only one who actually talks to Io anyway or if it’s because Io considers him a friend, but that’s sort of nice too. At the very least, Ryuu’s the only one who Io starts conversations with.
“Ryuu-kun, just how many girls have you dated?” the other boy asks one day as they’re packing up and preparing to leave school for the day. Neither of them have joined any clubs yet, so they often walk part the way home together.
“You can’t expect me to have kept count,” Ryuu says. He knows, though. He’s been on dates with sixteen different girls since he met Io. “And just call me Ryuu, remember?”
Io nods slowly, thoughtfully. “It is rather impressive, in a way. I wonder what it is about you?”
“What do you mean?”
Io’s looking at him now, twirling a pen between his fingers. Ryuu feels distinctly like he’s being analysed, like Io’s trying to form some sort of equation that will equal Ryuu. “Ah, don’t worry,” he says finally. “I think I understand.”
“Understand what?” Ryuu asks hotly.
“Never mind.” Io smiles to himself and pockets the pen. “I suppose I needn’t have asked about how many girls you’ve dated. When it comes to people, it’s not quantity that counts, is it?”
“Stop changing the subject!”
They walk the halls together, Io deflecting all of Ryuu’s questions. Ryuu knows his face is going pink like it always does when he gets worked up, but Io’s just being so frustrating with all his tiny little smiles.
“Are you hungry, Ryuu?” Io asks as they reach the front gate.
“Well, a bit,” he admits.
“Come on, then.” Io’s walking a little ahead of Ryuu at this point. He glances back. In that moment, there’s something so very attractive to Ryuu about the picture he paints – bag slung over one shoulder, head angled in such a way that the sunlight strikes his eyes, makes the colour of his skin a little warmer.
Ryuu follows wordlessly.
It’s an incredible surprise to Ryuu when Io pulls out his wallet and pays for both of their orders – Ryuu’s slice of cherry cake and Io’s cappuccino. He’d been rustling around in his pockets, quite ready to pay for himself, but Io didn’t even give him a chance.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he protests once he’s over his initial shock.
“No, I didn’t,” Io agrees. “Come on, let’s go sit down.”
“Let me pay you back!” Ryuu shoves a handful of spare change at the other boy, but he’s already heading off in search of a table, not even sparing a glance.
Once they’re sat down and Io’s politely refused the handful of coins several times, Ryuu admits defeat and pockets the lot of it again. “But why?” he asks. “I thought you were obsessed with money.”
“Perhaps I am, to some extent,” Io replies, nodding his thanks to the waitress that places their orders in front of them. “Paying for your cake hardly puts a dent in my savings, though.”
“I saw you pick one yen off the ground the other day!” Ryuu says through a mouthful of cake. God, it’s delicious.
Io stares down into his coffee. “Well, it was there.”
“That makes no sense,” Ryuu mumbles.
“Your womanising ways make little sense to me, either. I won’t complain, though, not if it’s something you’re proud of.” Io takes a sip, closing his eyes and letting out a tiny noise of content. Ryuu watches the way his throat works as he swallows.
“I never did say how amazing you are, did I?” he says, voice pitched low so the people at the adjacent table won’t be able to hear. “You’re so accomplished and you’re only a first year. You should be the proud one here.”
Io blinks at him. “Thank you.”
Ryuu just wishes he didn’t have to feel so insignificant in comparison.
The amount of time he spends out and about is getting a little bit out of control. If he’s not with a girl, he’s lying on his bed texting and trying to figure out how to sort double bookings and wondering if his bank account’s going to be able to handle paying for any more movie tickets this week. His homework lies ignored on the desk across the room.
It’s sort of at the point where he doesn’t actually know any more girls to ask out. At the point where there are rumours going around about him, that he never dates for real, that he’s all about fun and cares nothing for substance. Maybe it’s true. He wonders if he should sign up for an online dating profile.
He doesn’t send Io pictures anymore – it’s probably annoying to get photos every day. Ryuu doesn’t even bother to take the photos. He used to do it on every date.
Being on dates is just sort of… a hobby now. A game. He gets points in the form of smiles and laughter directed at him, of kisses and long, clinging hugs, lingering touches and fingers wrapped around his. They want to be with him even though they know they don’t get to keep him.
It’s kind of amazing.
So why does it never feel like it’s enough? Why does he never feel like he’s winning?
“Perhaps it’s not my place to ask.” Io’s being much more polite than usual, standing a careful distance away from Ryuu – it seems almost measured – with his hands clasped in front of him. Ryuu’s writing a text, trying to explain to a girl that he can’t hang out with her without explicitly mentioning that it’s because he has to resit a test. “Have your grades always been this low?” Io continues once Ryuu makes it clear he’s not replying.
“No,” he answers shortly.
“Do you perhaps… want my help?” Io’s offer is a gentle one, tentative. Odd from someone usually so self-confident.
“It’s okay.” Ryuu hits send and worries at his lip. Hopefully she’ll take his apologies well. “I’m too busy.”
“Fully booked, huh?” Io says. He shrugs and turns around. “Well, I’ll see you later then, Ryuu.”
His voice is off. Rueful, Ryuu thinks.
Some guy in their year’s putting on a party, so Ryuu turns up, thinking maybe he’ll meet some new girls. He didn’t realise that the party would be exclusive to students of Binan High School.
He takes a gulp of some cheap beer a guy he didn’t even recognise offered to him. It’s not terrible. He leans back against a wall and watches the proceedings of the party with a lazy eye. Not much is going on. There’s a whole lot of guys around. It’s kind of just like school, except they’re milling around a large lounge and there’s alcohol involved.
“Zaou-kun,” a boy who reminds him a bit of a mouse says, taking hold of his arm. “Is it true you’re dating fifty girls at once?”
“Kind of,” he replies, honestly. “They understand the arrangement.”
The boy stares at him, all wide eyes. “Wo-ow.”
Ryuu wonders if, to this boy, he looks as impressive as Io does to him. He glances around the room before leaning down to murmur in the boy’s ear. “Do you want to try it out?”
“Huh?” The boy’s voice is practically a squeak. His ears are flaming red. Ryuu’s lips curl up in a lazy smile and he lets the tips of his fingers slide down the boy’s cheek. He’s cute.
“Ryuu!”
He’s never heard anyone say his name so sharply. He turns, abrupt, and sees Io shoving his way through a group of boys playing cards on the floor, definitely coming right towards him. Ryuu drops his hand from the boy’s face.
“Io? I didn’t think you’d be here,” he says. He feels a little dazed.
“I definitely thought you’d be here. I was looking for you. Weren’t you checking your phone?” Io sounds pretty annoyed. The mousey boy looks back and forth between them, shifting uncomfortably. Ryuu bites his lip.
“Hey, look, I’ll see you later,” he says to the boy, lifting his hand in a wave. Then he takes hold of Io’s arm and walks him to a quieter part of the house. They end up in the laundry. Ryuu hoists himself up to sit on top of the washing machine and checks his phone. Sure enough, there’s several messages from there – a few from girls and the rest from Io.
“I didn’t think parties were your thing,” he says.
“I thought I might as well come, since I heard you were coming.” Io suddenly looks uncomfortable, frowning at the tiled floor.
“Oh.” Ryuu fiddles with his phone case, snapping it open and shut. He might get a new one. The edges of the material are fraying.
“What were you doing with that guy?” Io demands suddenly, meeting Ryuu’s eyes square on. There’s always something thrilling about making eye-contact with Io. He has an unwavering gaze.
“I don’t really know. I’m sort of drunk,” Ryuu explains. He looks at his hands. One holds his phone and the other is empty. “Wait, where’d I put my beer?”
“Never mind that,” Io sighs. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
“Wait, how come? It’s not even that late!” Ryuu protests, slipping off the washing machine and taking Io by the shoulders. “Let’s stay! Do you want a beer? I’m sure we can find another one–“
Io gently detaches Ryuu’s hands from his shoulders, holding onto one of his wrists. “I think you need some time with yourself,” he says so quietly, so seriously, that all Ryuu can do is nod and allow Io to guide him outside, hand still curled around his wrist.
Io walks him all the way home and patiently helps him inside before nodding his farewell and heading along the road. Ryuu watches him until he’s faded into the darkness of the night, thinking about all the times he’s done this for a girl.
He’d always at least given them a peck on the cheek.
“What is it about dating girls that’s so fulfilling?”
Ryuu’s finally taking Io up on his offer to help him study – it’s incredible how simple the concepts seem when explained patiently to him by the other boy. They’re in Io’s room. It’s – how can he put it? – a nice and incredibly organised living space. No matter how hard he strains his eyes, there’s not a speck of dust to be seen. It’s certainly a place that gets him in the right mindset for study.
What he didn’t sign up for was these probing questions. There seem to be an awful lot of them.
“I don’t know,” he says. He’s chewing the tip of his pen, so his words come out a bit muffled. “It’s just what I do.”
“You don’t have any girlfriends though, as far as I can tell.”
“Nope.” He scrawls down an answer to the maths problem Io’s presented him with and hands it over. Io scrutinises it before nodding.
“Good. I think we’re done for today.”
“Oh, thank god.” Ryuu stands up, stretching his arms high above his head, shirt riding up with the motion. Io glances up from the sheet of paper. “Mind if I chill on your bed?” Ryuu adds, yawning.
“Go ahead.”
So Ryuu flops on the bed, stretching out on it like a cat. Io, after some hesitation, sits on the edge of the bed by Ryuu’s legs.
“Doesn’t it get tiring, catering to the whims of others all the time?” Io asks after a long period of comfortable silence.
“You’re still talking about that?” Ryuu says through another yawn. “I guess? Gotta do it, though. I won’t be able to keep up with you and your money otherwise. And this is all I’m good for.”
“What?”
Ryuu props himself up on one arm so that he can look Io in the eye. “It’s like I said. I’m not good at much. I guess the fulfilment comes from knowing… at least people want me.”
“Is it really that fulfilling?” Io asks. His voice is very quiet.
“Is being rich all that fulfilling?” Ryuu challenges.
Io glances to the side, out a window situated above the bed. “Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Don’t you ever feel like there’s something you’re missing?”
They look at each other in a loaded moment. Ryuu reaches for Io, takes him by the arm, pulls him down so they’re lying next to each other, face to face.
”I know people want me,” Ryuu says softly. “There’s not always value in it.”
“Would you say that there’s any value,” Io whispers, “In me wanting you?”
Ryuu blinks at him, smiles slowly. “You’re the expert when it comes to value, aren’t you?”
“Believe me, I’ve tried. I’ve tried to understand.”
Ryuu wraps an arm around Io’s back, nudging him closer. “Then don’t understand,” he says simply, and brings their lips together. Io’s eyes slide shut and he sighs against Ryuu’s mouth, his hand finding its way into Ryuu’s hair, combing through and tangling it.
Ryuu knows that even now he won’t stop dating around, just as Io won’t stop making money. But there’s a new understanding, a seed planted.
All that’s left is to grow. Ryuu thinks, as he pulls back to see Io’s reddened lips and his glowing cheeks, that that won’t be so hard at all.