Chapter Text
Mondo found it was quite hard to take his eyes off of the guy for whatever reason. He didn't know why. There was just something so entrancing and so endearing about that stuck-up asshole.
Contradictory to that earlier statement, Kiyotaka was Mondo's best friend. By all means, every moment spent together was all smiles and warm hugs. Very warm hugs. Mondo had come to find that Kiyotaka's body heat was actually quite suffocating at times - not exactly in a bad way either. But I digress.
Despite being his best friend, though, Taka wasn't exactly the sweetest of sweethearts out there. He had a knack for keeping his peers in line, yes - that was certainly something he excelled in. Socializing, however, was definitely not his greatest feat. He happened to be quite blunt and at times unknowingly rude when chatting with people. On the topic of informalities regarding socialization, Mondo also noticed the way Taka's jaw quivered and locked up at the mention of anything even slightly ludicrous in nature, aka anything sexual. Not that it appeared in conversation. It did make his brow twitch in simple curiosity when Taka's cheeks flushed whenever Mondo suggested they hang out sometime, perhaps head to the movie theater for some R-rated films. They didn't go out a lot, though, so Mondo wasn't exactly lying about that. They were best friends, but they were also apart most of the time. Not by Mondo's choice, either.
While also carrying on his belt the ability to be one of - if not the - best moral compasses out there, Taka was a busy-body for sure. It was always a gamble whenever Mondo came to school, because he wasn't sure if he'd catch Taka as bright and perky as one of the rays of sunshine beaming down on Earth's grass, or if he'd find him slumped over in his desk, asleep. He was beginning to actually worry about him now. Well, more than usual at least. Mondo always worried about Taka, he supposed he was just more concerned than usual. He had never missed a single day of school, not even to take a mental health day, and yet his eyes would occasionally appear as dark as his father's and his hair a greasy, spiky mess.
Speaking of Taka's father, Mondo knew him quite well, but that was only because he was a former juvenile. Twice, actually. He was sure he could recognize that policeman in a bustling crowd - probably because of his height. Maybe. The man was a staggering 6'5" after all. Taka must've taken after his mother, because from what he knew, he was only, like, 5'7" or 5'8". He didn't actually know his mother, but perhaps he'd get to meet her one day. Perhaps.
Today was one of those greasy, bug-eyed Ishimaru days. He came walking into the classroom at 8 A.M. after making his rounds around the corridors, forcing the classroom to stand at attention when the teacher followed behind. Mondo casted him a worried glance that came out in the form of furrowed brows and flared nostrils. The words he wanted to ask him consisting of why's and how's bubbled in his throat, but he swallowed them down and waited until Taka sat down in his seat. Mondo leaned forward, brow cocked, and he was pretty sure Taka got the hint as well.
"The hell's up with ya today? Y'alright, kyoudai?" Mondo addressed him, and Taka simply shook his head.
"I am fine," he started, "I simply stayed up too far into the night studying. Nothing to worry about." The prefect flashed Mondo a smile, which he normally would've found charming and sweet, but regarding the situation at hand, he did not. Nice try, Ishimaru.
"You look awful, Taka." Mondo looked him up and down and frowned. "You'd really oughta use one of yer mental health days. You haven't taken one yet, so you still got plenty more left."
Mondo still had more he wanted to say, but Taka cut him off with the raise of his hand. "No."
"But-"
"No."
Mondo's brow twitched. He was a stubborn asshat, almost every friend of his knew that, but there was only one person who could combat that stubbornness, and that was none other than Taka himself.
"I'll force ya someday," Mondo leaned back and crossed his arms, facing the front of the room. "I swear, Ishimaru."
Taka scoffed uncharacteristically, which made Mondo practically snap his neck to look at him. Clearly Taka was also caught off guard by his words, now lodged in his throat.
"No, you won't," he corrected himself.
"Whatever, Ishi." Mondo shrugged, and that was that. Class went on as normal, and by the end of it, that scoff still hadn't left Mondo's mind. It was just so out of the ordinary for the moral compass tight-ass to make a noise so undignified like that. Leon would definitely be getting an earful later on.
The end of the day eventually came. Rather quickly, too. Mondo flagged Taka down in the hallways as usual and started his leisurely walk with him towards the exit on the other side of the building, ignoring the rest of the students who sped by. They weren't running, so Taka kept his mouth shut, but Mondo could still tell he was irritated with them.
"Hey, sleepyhead." Mondo grinned, nudging Taka's side. Taka wanted to look offended, but the way the corners of his lips turned upwards slightly gave his amusement away.
"I'm not tired," Taka offered up as a rebuttal, "I'm just.. you know."
Mondo tilted his head. "What?"
"I'm a little stressed after the week I've had, let's just say that."
"Oh, really now?" Mondo pushed down the urge to say "I told you so" like an asshole, and instead opted to comfort his stressed friend. "It's Friday."
"Right."
"Means it's the end of the week-"
"School week."
"Right. End of the week."
Taka frowned.
He continued, "Since we don't got school tomorrow, I was wonderin' if you wanted to hang at my place for a bit. Might help ya relax some."
Mondo could tell he had piqued the prefect's interest by the way his brows flattened out. "Today?"
Well, he hadn't expected him over that day. He still had to tidy up if he wanted his place to appear even remotely presentable to Taka, but hell. He just couldn't say no to him. Taka had his heart in his grasp now, it seemed.
"If yer not busy."
"I'm always busy," Taka replied, leaving Mondo with an uncomfortable weight in his stomach. Taka seemed to notice Mondo's general malaise, so he cleared his throat and elaborated. "I mean, I'm a student, aren't I?! I have to keep busy. However, I wouldn't mind spending some time with you this weekend."
Mondo pumped a fist in the air and wrapped an arm around Taka's waist, pulling him into his body. "Hell yeah! Thanks a bunch."
"Do not mention it, kyoudai!" Taka beamed, and Mondo's heart did something resembling a kickflip in his chest. It took strenuous effort to tear his eyes away from Taka's glowing smile to focus on walking and perhaps not tripping over his feet. "I'll head over there after I pack my things. As long as that's okay with you, of course."
"Sounds great, man."
"Alright!"
By now it was time to part ways. Taka gifted Mondo with a hug, squeezing him joyously, before releasing him and heading out the west door to where his bike sat in its rightful rack near the entrance. "Goodbye, kyoudai!"
"See ya, Taka!"
He waved and turned on his heel, heading the other way. He smiled like a giddy child opening their gifts on Christmas. Forever he would cherish Taka's bright smile and the tight bear hugs he gave to him. Taka wasn't the sweetest of sweethearts, but he certainly was something special. Yes, Mondo decided, he could live like this.
That thought, however, would be incredibly short-lived, especially since the night they were about to have together would be nothing short of remarkable.