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Koito never thought he would be spending his 21st birthday on the Karafuto mission. Especially not alone in the woods with Sugimoto.
When Tsukishima let it slip that it was Koito's birthday, he must admit that he couldn't deny himself the opportunity to experience a little luxury.
Tanigaki even went out all out and bought a cheap wine for the occasion, and the four of them, with some spare time on their hands, spent the night getting a bit tipsy. The four of them were already beginning to sober up when midnight hit.
Tanigaki was the first to pass out, and Tsukishima announced he was too tired from the day's journey to keep awake. The two of them slept in their tents, out like lights within seconds, leaving Koito and Sugimoto sitting around the fire.
Koito was still full of too much energy to sleep, even if he was being left alone with Sugimoto. He felt warm by the fire, and couldn't bring himself to retreat back to the cold tent.
I don't want to steal Tsukishima's blankets again, Koito thought, but he has more body fat than me so...
"What is that?" Sugimoto mumbled, snapping Koito from his thoughts. The man was slumped with a log against his back. His skin was turning bright pink, but Koito could not tell if it was from the alcohol or from being so close to the fire.
"Tsukishima bought me these chocolates for my birthday," Koito explained, pulling out the chocolates from a velvet case.
"Those look fancy. A bonbon for the bonbon."
"Very funny," Koito replied dryly.
"I guess I can't expect you to share."
"Of course not! They were a gift for me, I wouldn't share my chocolate with a brute like you. Your tastebuds probably aren't refined enough to appreciate the flavor."
"If you eat all of them you might get as big as Tanigaki. One less could make the difference."
Koito glared at him before sighing reluctantly.
"Fine. Take one."
Sugimoto reached over and grabbed a single chocolate from Koito's hand.
"Wow, you're so much sweeter when you're drunk, Second Lieutenant Koito."
"I'm not drunk! I sobered up just fine by the time you and Private Tanigaki were dancing around like fools."
Sugimoto ignored the comment. Koito was always looking for reasons to insult him. He ate the chocolate expecting something of rich quality, but the chocolate was sweet, light, and smooth. The flavor reminded him of something long ago.
"What kind of chocolates are those?" He asked wistfully.
"They're tea chocolates."
"I didn't know that was a thing."
Koito held up the box and Sugimoto's eyes went wide and he sat up.
"I have had this before! They are worth a lot of money! I remember when I was a kid a girl I knew used to buy them, and she would trade me chocolate for a kiss."
"A chocolate for a kiss?"
"Yeah, just dumb kid's stuff." He hummed to himself remembering his childhood years fondly. The years before his family got sick. "It was my first kiss too."
"Was it worth it?"
"Of course! Chocolate and kiss, doesn't that sound like a good deal to you? I'm sure growing up you probably had a lot of girls after you."
"Well, you're wrong. I ... never got along very well with any of my classmates. I was never interested in girls anyway."
"Oh, I guess I should have known that."
"What's that supposed to mean, Private?" Koito sneered.
Sugimoto sunk down further near the ground, his hat tilting to cover his eyes as if he was going to rest.
"I'm talking about you not being interested in girls, but I guess hearing you didn't get along with many people makes sense too."
"Hey!" Koito dejected.
"You're a very open book, Lieutenant Koito."
Koito was silent as he slid the tray of chocolates back into their box.
"So you've never had your first kiss?" Sugimoto asked suddenly. His voice was so quiet, that Koito barely heard him.
"That's none of your business."
"That answer speaks for itself. Although I find that hard to believe, I'm sure there had to be some willing guys in the Army. You're a brat, but you're pretty so some guys like that."
"Why do you care? Maybe I'm saving my first kiss."
"Why would you do that?"
"It's supposed to be special, idiot!"
Sugimoto laughed and Koito pouted unsure of what was so funny.
"You're such a romantic. We have that in common."
"Really? You don't act like it."
"No. I really do love romance." Sugimoto's smile was so big and genuine, Koito had never seen him look so... soft. "First kisses aren't as big of a deal as you think though. Not like losing your virginity."
"I guess you're right" Koito continued to pout, "...but I would rather not talk about this anymore." He swallowed so hard, that he thought Sugimoto could hear the sound.
"You're so nosy when it comes to everyone else, but you won't share anything about yourself, why is that?"
"You said I was an open book. What you see is what you get, I don't need to explain anything to you."
"It's because you think I'll make fun of you, isn't it?"
Koito sighed, and looked across the fire into his eyes which peaked slightly under the hat.
"I have been in love since I was sixteen. I just...never really thought about anyone else. That's all."
Koito got up from the log and began to walk away, sporting a new blush on his face he tried to hide further into his coat, hoping that if Sugimoto saw it he would think it was just the cold.
"Wait, Lieutenant Koito!"
Sugimoto jumped up suddenly and grabbed his wrist, turning him around with a jerking motion and suddenly they were nose to nose, unbalanced as if one of them was going to fall.
"What?" Koito gasped lightly.
He couldn't even register the spark in Sugimoto's eyes or the gentle "I'm Immortal Sugimoto" chant under his breath before there was a pair of lips brushed softly against his own.
"KIIIIEEEE !!" Koito screamed and pushed at his chest as a reflex. "Why did you do that?!"
"It's a gift. For your birthday."
Sugimoto was so calm.
Maybe he stunned himself. His eyes were still wide, like a deer caught in headlights.
"You can't steal someone's first kiss and call it a gift, dumbass!" Koito's face was all bunched up in frustration, and his eyebrows furrowed deeply.
"It was just a little peck, if you don't want it, just pretend it didn't happen."
Koito looked down and noticed Sugimoto was shaking slightly, and it wasn't because of the cold.
He was nervous. He had to hype himself up just to do that.
"You're right," Koito smirked, suddenly feeling very pleased he was able to make someone like Sugimoto so jittery. "It was just a little peck. You're probably too scared to give me a real kiss anyway."
"What?!" Sugimoto growled.
"Keep your voice down! You're gonna wake up Tsukishimaaa and Private Tanigaki!"
"After that scream, you just let out? Hypocrite. You're teasing me."
"Maybe it's a challenge."
"Well, I'm not falling for it."
Their faces were so close, and Sugimoto looked so embarrassed. Koito couldn't help himself and kissed him hard.
Before he knew it, Sugimoto kissed back with a hidden passion he hadn't felt in a long time. The two of them continued like that for several minutes, standing in the snow, gripping onto each other's coats like a lifeline. Koito decided to pull back suddenly, and wiped the trail of spit from his mouth. Both of them were breathing heavily. Sugimoto had the urge to kiss him again, for as long as possible.
"Forget it. It's no use." Koito mumbled.
Sugimoto glared at him confused. He thought it was going pretty well, why would he...
"You don't even have any facial hair." Koito sighed solemnly. He clumsily tucked his head into Sugimoto's chest. Sugimoto was only an inch or two taller so the angle was awkward. He was just tired but something about it still felt warm and affectionate.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sugimoto answered. The forest around them was still so silent, but his ears felt like they were ringing.
"How am I supposed to pretend you're Lieutenant Tsurumi if you're so clean-shaven?"
"IS THAT THE ONLY REASON YOU KISSED ME?!" Sugimoto shouted angrily, but Koito didn't budge his head from his chest. His eyelashes fluttered closed.
"The kiss wasn't horrible though," Koito mumbled something else in Satsuma-ben that Sugimoto couldn't understand.
"Are you even listening to yourself?! I want my kiss back!"
Koito lifted his head from Sugimoto's chest and looked him in the eyes. His expression was completely normal as if nothing had happened at all.
"You can't get your kiss back! It was a gift! Returning a gift the day it is given is tacky, Sugimoto Saichi. Don't you know anything of proper etiquette?"
"Then return it tomorrow."
"You're an idiot."
"Forget it! This never happened! I'm going to bed!"
Koito chuckled to himself, amused by Sugimoto's angry self-conscious face as he stomped off towards the tent.
Sugimoto stopped suddenly at the entrance before turning back one last time.
"What did you say earlier?"
"When?"
"You said something in Satsuma-ben."
Koito gave a sly confident smirk.
"I said 'I even kinda liked it.'"