Chapter Text
They only truly meet under the guise of fireworks, marking another festival in the making.
Heizou finds him on a distant shore, a wrecked child then. The waves swept around his trembling frame, as if to offer means of comfort. Unsuccessfully, either way. He continued to ache, a mass of genuine distress.
This was someone raised under the famed Kaedehara Clan. He nearly scoffed at the idea, knowing it. He guessed quickly it was because of the fireworks, in all of their destructive beauty. A burst of color exploded, overhead, and yet it brought not an ounce of joy.
He inexplicably finds himself at Kazuha’s side, despite that earlier disdain. The waves continued to sweep around both of them. Heizou paused for only a moment as to question it, but he tapped the ronin’s shoulder anyway.
Kazuha flinched away, as if he could barely handle being touched. Heizou insistently grabbed his wrist, anyway.
“Come on, now. Everyone’s looking for you, you know.”
He winced again at the sound of fireworks, a persistent ache. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, then. Kazuha couldn’t even bear to look in his direction, an eclectic mix of fear and shame. His ears rung to an extreme degree, bordering on painful.
Heizou finally scoffed at that. Insensitivity proved to be his biggest urge, it seemed. There’s not a hint of hesitation as he pulled the other boy onto his feet, as if he’s grown impatient. “I volunteered to look for you, so let’s go.”
Kazuha had barely any room to resist, especially when he’s suddenly dragged along the shore. His response came in the form of a small sniffle, when any actual words escaped him.
That was too much for Heizou, even still. There’s a pause, rough and abrupt. He scrambled to search through his pockets, omly so that a handkerchief could emerge in his grasp. A deer was embroidered upon the fabric, as if to prove it meaningful. There’s another annoyed noise, before he frustratedly held it out. “Don’t cry like that. I’m gonna tell everyone, otherwise.”
He sniffled again, regardless. “You’re quite cruel, Shikanoin … ” Kazuha whispered, through that fading disconcertion.
Heizou grumbled at this, with an attempt to not be annoyed. “Are you gonna take the handkerchief or not?”
Kazuha merely nodded, before reaching to accept the handkerchief with trembling fingers. The soft fabric brought a small comfort, and he weakly smiled in Heizou’s direction. He wiped away his tears, silently, calmly, as if he’s no longer distressed.
Heizou looked at his smile, briefly.
Ah. The fireworks had only begun.
Kazuha slipped his hand back into Heizou’s own, and he’s acutely aware of its warmth. “Thank you for coming for me.” He whispered, softly. His plight was briefly forgotten amidst that small show of kindness, as indirect as it was.
Heizou looked away, with a childlike bashfulness. It’s truer to him more than anything else, especially now. “What … What are you thanking me for? Consider it my detective training, if you will … ”
The ronin giggled at this. “Really? I might say you’d make a good detective, then.”
He grasped Kazuha’s hand tightly, as if inherently embarrassed. Heizou grumbled to himself again. “You’re laughing at me, though! I took the time to find you and you’re laughing at me!” His expression briefly turned to something bordering on hurt, although mockingly so. He’s suddenly fuming, then. “You weren’t even that hard to find, with all of your … ”
A pause, he drifted off.
Kazuha looked at him expectantly, as if he wanted to hear what he was going to say. “You were going to say something mean, weren’t you? I would’ve called you cruel, if you didn’t stop yourself.”
This only made Heizou fume more, until he’s very visibly pouting. He released Kazuha’s hand. “I’m leaving you behind, then! If you think I’m so cruel … ” He exclaimed, and he’s already turned away from the other with crossed arms. There’s a huff, accentuating that declaration of frustration. He still wasn’t even able to make a single step in the opposite direction, despite that claim.
It was all comical in a sense, in Kazuha’s own perspective. He laughed again, except it’s also a means of distraction. He’s fully smiling now, as he reached to gently tug at the fabric of Heizou’s kimono. “Stay with me a little longer. I’m not quite ready to go back.” It’s a gentle plead, and Kazuha had already anticipated the answer.
Heizou had no intention of actually leaving, they both knew. He forfeited without any issue. “Ah. I guess I shoulda asked if you were okay … ” He muttered, and his cruel streak faded only slightly then. “ … Sorry.” He added, except it’s a miracle if the ronin heard him.
“I’m alright, really. I just need a moment.” Kazuha responded, quietly, softly. His voice still trembled slightly. “It gets rather crowded during festivals, that’s all.” He added, gripping the fabric tighter as if it were another plead.
“I’ll stay a bit longer.” Heizou assured. He’s unable to see it, but he’s certain Kazuha smiled at this. A genuine part of him wished he was smiling, at the least. A part of him wished the fireworks would stop, or that they had spoken sooner.
They sat back upon that shore, already wrapped up in conversation and the gentle lull of the waves. Kazuha had already determined things weren’t quite so bad. His ears had stopped ringing, even if an aftermath of that panic lingered.
“Shikanoin. You’re really going to be a detective?” He’d asked, dipping his fingers within the tide’s depths.
“Ah. Do you doubt me?”
Kazuha shook his head, adamantly. “Not at all. I’m still certain you’d be a good detective.” He assured, as if to repay the bit of kindness he’d received. He’s smiling for sure, this time. He’s laughing, even. “I can count on you to find me again, in that case.”
Heizou returned to displeasure, quickly. “I didn’t want to find you in the first place!”
The ronin laughed again, and it’s the warmest Heizou had seen him thus far. “Why did you, then?”
A pause. Heizou couldn’t even fathom a proper response, and he’s entirely bemused beyond any reasoning. His face quickly reddened, a return to his childlike embarrassment. All that was offered was a blank stare, in lieu of an actual answer.
“I was able to trip you up so easily.” Kazuha giggled to himself, still. He leaned in closer with that beat of confidence, as if to mess with him. “It means you cared for me, that you came out here.” He whispered. “I might even consider that a sign of friendship, since you also didn’t have to stay.” That smile was suddenly, entirely too bright, as if to overshadow the fireworks themselves.
Heizou remained silent through the endeavor, as if he’s fully astonished. His eyes gleamed in a certain way, that only proved an unfolding captivation. This boy had entirely and completely confounded him, as if he’d never been so helpless.
“You didn’t disagree.” He entertained, continuing to smile in that joyous way. “That makes us friends, no?”
“Who’d want to be friends with … ” Heizou couldn’t finish the question. Something about the idea hurt, in a way he couldn’t exactly place just yet. “Forget it. I think we should go now.” He then deterred, as if he’s suddenly bothered.
Kazuha only hummed at this, and so he stood up again. He’d stopped smiling.
They walk back in wretched silence, in a way that was troubling to both parties. All that remained was the distinct sound of fireworks, which brought back that sense of dread within Kazuha’s stomach. It felt like he was alone again, in a worsening sense.
It was the peak of summer, and nothing felt colder still.
That ache persisted, until they’ve reached the outskirts of Inazuma City. It was as crowded as it ever was, as Kazuha had expected. His only comfort that he tugged at Heizou’s sleeve again, though it’s without response.
It hurt more that he wasn’t denied, even. A small hope flickered in his chest instead. It would’ve been much too cruel to snuff it out, he knew. He inexplicably clutched that sleeve tighter, until it’s more than a means of navigating the crowd. It’s his lifeline.
Everything blurred around them, until even the glow of the lanterns became imperceptible. All of the festival’s commotion returned to him, until it’s all a discordant mass. He’s overwhelmed, simply. Kazuha’s ears started to ache again. He helplessly drifted along behind Heizou, until he’s separated himself from everything else.
Kazuha wasn’t here anymore, because his vision blurred around the festivities, and all that he heard was a jumble of noise that he could hardly distinguish. He wasn’t even certain he was still holding onto Heizou’s sleeve, a consequence of his senses overloading. The swarm of people, the mix of joyous conversations and the sound of fireworks in the distance. Everything blended, terribly.
The next thing he knows is being hugged, and that sense of coherency returned to him.
Ah. Ayaka was crying onto his shoulder. Kazuha could still barely understand what she was saying through those tears, and he couldn’t even manage to hug her back. He blinked slowly as everything came back to him again. That’s only when he realized he had started to cry at some point, as if everything was truly too much. All he knows is that she was worried, and it was only worse then.
Ayato stood nearby as well, with a similar sort of concern that went unsaid. He’d worried them, and that was always worse. He quickly made that decision that they should leave, because he knew. Ayaka is already quickly pulling him along, and he gave hardly any resistance. That’s when he looked behind him, as if to search for Heizou’s figure again.
That’s when he froze, because Heizou still stood in the middle of the path. Hurt clearly unfolded in his expression, and that only contributed to Kazuha’s own distress. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to say anything to Heizou, and it ached more than ever.
Heizou wouldn’t have that, though. It was always his nature to rebel, especially against fate. He knew him and Kazuha weren’t meant to be friends, or that they had no reason to meet. He knew that he didn’t care. He knew he’d never made a friend before.
He knew he had to chase after Kazuha, for the first time.
“Kaedehara!”
He already had Kazuha’s attention, without even speaking. There’s a moment where all of them froze, as if perplexed entirely. Kazuha swore his heart soared, for just that split moment. His troubles were forgotten. He smiled, weakly, because it meant he was free.
“We’re friends! You hear me?” Heizou shouted after him, then. “This means we’re friends!”
Kazuha nodded in return, and it’s as if he’s practically beaming. It’s the happiest he’s looked this entire time, even after everything. “Find me again, then. I’ll be waiting for you, Shikanoin.” He answered, weaving that same joy into his words. His smile grew, simply.
It still didn’t match Heizou’s grin, in that moment. A genuine epitome of summer, painted across his features.
Kazuha laughed to himself, before he had departed for home. He’d started to love summer, slowly.