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Ryunosuke tries not to be bored while Kazuma trains. He tends to bring cheesy novels to read, but on this particularly blazing afternoon, he has forgotten one. So he must entertain himself in some other menial way. He finished his dango (that Kazuma had graciously purchased for him) a good twenty minutes ago and left the stick firmly between his molars.
For a while, he pulls absently at the grass under him. It’s soft enough to lay on but too coarse to make some sort of grass whistle. He probably shouldn't make one anyway, considering the hard concentration in Kazuma’s brow. The constant swish! swish! swish! of Karuma’s blade through the air is noise enough. He’s precise like that, accounting for the exact note the sword will make as it moves.
As he leans back in the grass, he finds a wildflower, and picks at the petals for a moment. Were he some young maiden, perhaps he would pull it to his chest and think of some handsome samurai fighting for the well-being of the realm. Dashing and strong with a commitment to honor, he rides in on a stark white horse, family sword at his side.
Yet he is not in some estate house waiting for his samurai to return from his mission, but instead is on the ground of Yuumei University with his best friend, hoping he finishes soon so he may get out of this sweltering heat.
He rolls over and changes his perspective of the flower, but right-side-up, it seems much less appealing. He leaves it be, deciding against picking it and against plotting out some dramatic romance novel in his head, and flops back to the ground.
Ryunosuke then decides, blatantly, that he is bored out of his mind. He can stare at the dull walls of the training field, out behind the campus and close enough to the dorms to be considered useful. He can stare at the magnolia tree peaking just over the walls. He can stare at the sparrows flittering between branches, plucking leaves to take back to their nests.
And then he gets bored again, and his gaze falls to the only real movement in the area, which is Kazuma, concentrating too hard on his silly sword.
The late afternoon isn’t an ideal time for one to be exercising, particularly exercising outdoors. It’s annoyingly hot out, and there are usually many people about, and Ryunosuke is starting to get hungry again. Kazuma has so many classes though, and so much work to do, that it’s honestly the only time he can manage.
Still, Kazuma is meticulous, and has to follow through with his training regime. However many sword swings per day, however many pushups per day, however many squats, however many trial readings... Outside, in the beating sun, even.
Kazuma certainly spends enough time outside, but his skin is still like milk. Or rice powder, perhaps. Does Susato press him each morning, with a delicate compact in her fingers? The powder would block the sun, but doesn’t account for how nothing shifts when Ryunosuke touches Kazuma’s cheek, or his arm, or his chest. Nothing sticks to his fingers besides sweat, which he doesn’t even mind that much.
He has been the same porcelain since they met, despite Ryunosuke’s own fluctuating skin tone. The summer beats into his skin, and the winter leaches all color out of him. Kazuma, though, Ryunosuke has never seen change.
Kazuma takes a break from his routine, heaving a huge breath. His skin is flushed on his shoulders and his cheeks, dusting the high planes of his body. He finally notices Ryunosuke examining him.
Kazuma eyes him then, strange and fond with a sideways turn of his eyebrow, "What are you looking at, partner?"
Ryunosuke thinks for a minute. He has the stick from his dango dangling in his mouth. Kazuma watches the movement.
“You, I guess.”
“Mm? And am I that interesting to you, partner?”
Kazuma smiles like a fox and walks over to Ryunosuke. He blocks the sun from where Ryunosuke sits, framed by a corolla of sunlight.
That’s not going to blemish his skin either, Ryunosuke thinks.
“Only sometimes,” Ryunosuke says as he takes the stick out of his mouth, “It’s more fun to watch you fumble over a tongue twister than a sword.”
That brings a flush to Kazuma in a more fun way. He sputters, indignant, defending his family's (sword’s) honor. Ryunosuke laughs and sits up straight and just looks at Kazuma. He’s comfortable under his gaze, like he enjoys being admired, like a preening bird, as he looks back with so much fondness.
“Would you like to go back to the library? I still have a case I need to review.”
Ryunosuke groans, and Kazuma’s hands plant firmly at his waist.
“You have an essay to work on too, don’t you?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to work on it!”
“Then perhaps you just need some proper persuasion...” Kazuma muses. “How long has it been since we went to that taiyaki place, partner?”
Ryunosuke reaches out for Kazuma's hand, then grips it tight and hoists himself up. He hums, as if he doesn’t already know. “Why, I think it’s been just a little under a week.”
He’s exaggerating. It’s been three days. Kazuma knows this, and also knows that three days is truly a little less than a week. He exhales out his nose, chiding in the most subtle way he can manage.
“Then, if you finish your essay, we can go,” Kazuma says.
Ryunosuke goes agape. He pushes his hand into Kazuma's rice powder face, but Kazuma just laughs. His laugh is deep, and it fills whatever room they’re in, and even out in this training field, Kazuma's laugh surrounds them. He pulls Ryunosuke’s hand off his face, and Ryunosuke can feel the callouses on it. Countless hours of work, buried into his skin, in an arrangement Ryunosuke doubts he’ll ever forget. Or the glint in Kazuma's eyes when he notices that Ryunosuke is staring. Again.
Ryunosuke averts his eyes, the heat rising to his own face.
“Shall we go then, partner?” Ryunosuke says hurriedly.
He takes a step ahead of Kazuma, and Kazuma laughs again, lighter this time, less all-encompassing. He catches up to Ryunosuke in a half-step, and Ryunosuke curses his longer legs. As he falls in tandem with Ryunosuke, Kazuma's hand brushes against his knuckles. A quiet request. Ryunosuke thinks about rolling his eyes, in some sort of counter-chide to Kazuma's nagging with his own neediness, but he decides against it. Kazuma can take only so many ego bruises in one day, after all.
And, when presented with the opportunity to hold his partner's hand, he will always certainly take it. No matter where it may lead.