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“So this is where it all started…”
Rei sounds genuinely impressed, and Rosho thinks with a snort that a human emotion must be trying to finally crawl its way out of their third. Sasara leans over the railing, looking at the city lights below. It’s beautiful, serene in a way that Rosho hasn’t stopped to just appreciate in a long time. The stress of…well, everything was starting to hit them even harder, but the heights of Tsutenkaku remind Rosho where they came from; where Dotsuitare Hompo came from. This is their city now, and Rosho is ever grateful that Sasara would allow them to stay by his side, because there’s no partner Rosho wants more than him.
And yet, it isn’t just them anymore. They’re violently reminded of this when Rei (albeit gently) pushes past them to join Sasara in gazing over their city. “I dunno if I’ve ever seen it from this view before.”
“Pretty damn unforgettable, huh?” Sasara asks, gesturing widely before windmilling his arms as if he’s going to fall off. To Rosho, it’s pretty obvious that he’s joking; but Rei actually reaches out a hand to grasp Sasara’s. “Woah, hey! No need to worry, Rei! I’ve got it under control!”
“Don’t scare the bastard like that.” Rosho mutters, finally striding forward to join their teammates. “He’s old enough to have a heart attack from it.”
Rei laughs, clapping Rosho on the back. “Ya wound me.” His voice shakes extremely subtly, and Rosho shares a glance with Sasara. Had he actually been that worried?
“Cope harder.” Rosho responds, biting but not truly serious and they have to try their hardest not to let a small snort of a laugh slip through. Sasara doesn’t hold back like they do, that angelic laughter ringing out and blanketing the city in pure, unadulterated joy.
“You two gotta loosen up! Yer so mean to each other all the damn time.” Sasara scolds. Rei at least has the decency to wipe that dumb grin off his face at that, lighting a cigarette that really just feels like an excuse to avert his eyes from his teammates.
“It’s…affectionate.” Rosho replies, not exactly sure whether they’re lying. “Like us.”
“I don’t deserve to be in on that, teach. Ya know I’m not about to be offended. I’m the third wheel, y’know.” Despite him punctuating his sentence with a wink and a smirk there’s some air of hesitation around him, almost palpable and Rosho reaches out to touch it without really knowing what he’s doing.
“If ya were a third wheel I woulda ditched ya at ground level!” Sasara claims, teasing but sincere.
“Ditchin’ me in the ol’ ditch, huh?” Rei laughs. Rosho piles on, used to this old rhythm of falling into a routine when things get too real.
“That’s below ground level, technically. Subterranean.” They put in, hoping Sasara picks up what they’re putting down.
“Well shit, Rosho, we ain’t about to leave him driftin’ at sea!”
“That's the Mediterranean. ” There’s that satisfaction, the feeling of euphoria that hits when a joke lands. It wasn’t their best, obviously, but even the brief banter alone has Rei and Sasara laughing, leaning on each other and trying to take in air. It’s a sight that, if Rosho cares to consider their own feelings for even a brief second, they would do anything to see for the rest of their life.
At that, Rosho shivers, and they’re not sure whether it’s the cold wind that’s started blowing since the trio climbed Tsutenkaku or the sudden rush of emotions. Maybe it’s both.
“…Y’know, I was serious about you not being a third wheel.” Sasara says, voice uncharacteristically small and timid. “Y’wouldn’t be with us-uh, here with us, I mean, if you were. I don’t trust just anyone, and Rosho especially doesn’t.” He laughs, but there’s a lack of humor in it and it feels like more of an attempt to fill the silence between them.
“Well, Rosho doesn’t trust me one bit.” Rei points out, and Rosho turns to look at him. The truth is…they do, but they’re not the best at expressing it. Ever since he’d gone out of his way to repair their relationship with Sasara, their respect and faith in their 3rd has grown and while they still don’t know anything about Rei there’s a strange knot in their throat that makes them realize that they want to.
“I…wouldn’t go that far.” is what Rosho settles on, and both Sasara and Rei look to them, expressions so similar and almost happy that they can’t help but smile softly as well. “You both know I’m not the greatest at expressing how I feel.”
“Cheers.” Rei snorts, lighthearted. Rosho rolls their eyes playfully.
“Shut up. My point is, I got a lot more positive things t’say about you then I did not too long ago. I just…don’t know how to say them yet. I will, one day, but not now.”
Sasara quirks his eyebrow, before a grin splits his face and he wraps his arms around Rosho’s waist. “Aww! Rosho luvs Rei!”
Rosho feels themself flush bright red, and Rei looks down at the city with a cough. “Don’t just say shit like that!”
Sasara looks up, fixing Rosho with a knowing look. “Just ‘cause you ain’t about to admit it doesn’t mean I don’t know,” he whispers, and Rosho wriggles from his grasp. They don’t love Rei. They aren’t even finished sorting out their feelings for Sasara- they aren’t about to have another crisis. Even as they recall the night that they let Rei crash on their couch, the night where he had been the most honest with them both…no. Not yet, at least.
Rosho shivers again, definitely from the cold this time and Rei looks at them, concern in his gaze. “You cold, teach?”
Rosho shakes their head. “‘M alright.” Sasara seems to be, though, having only worn a shirt and jeans up here, so Rei raises his arm and brings his coat over Sasara, enveloping him. Well, on second thought, Rosho’s hands are a bit numb. “…maybe not.”
Sasara smiles and yanks Rosho forward, and Rei swoops them under his other arm. Warmth envelopes them, and for a moment they are truly at peace, there with their team. Subconsciously, they nestle into Rei’s side, close to falling asleep but keeping themself awake only because they’re still at the top of Tsutenkaku.
“Looks like teach drifted off.” Rei whispers when Rosho shuts their eyes, seemingly convinced that they’ve fallen asleep. “I’m a real lucky guy, Sasara.”
Sasara hums. “Why’s that, huh?”
“No reason.” Rei replies, shifting a bit. “Y’wanna stay here with them? I can go.”
“What? No, how many times do I gotta say it tonight? You’re one of us. No more of this dippin’ out to do God knows what with a buncha shady dudes, m’kay?” Rosho tries not to laugh, but they agree with their partner-try as they might they can’t stop wishing they got to see more about Rei. “I care about ya. Rosho, too, even though they don’t really know how to say it yet like they said earlier. So quit it with all the lone wolf shady shit an’ just live the good Dotsuitare Hompo life!”
Rei is silent. Rosho is silent. Sasara sighs audibly, pushing into Rei’s side further if the way all three get jolted a bit is any indication. “God, I need a drink.” His voice comes out raw, so real that Rosho almost feels bad. “Sorry, Sasara, it ain’t nothin’ to do with you or teach. Just myself.”
“We’re here for you.” Rosho says, aloud without meaning to. Rei looks down at them, startled for a moment before his face settles into a real, genuine smile.
“I know, Rosho.” Rei breathes, carried along the wintry wind that chills the sky above Osaka, Dotsuitare Hompo’s kingdom, and in that single fleeting moment Rosho lets themself believe that this, this weird patchwork quilt of human beings, is love in its purest form.