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Kohaku had never gone to school.
Most of the time that didn’t really bother him—that’s just how it was when you were born an Oukawa whose only purpose was to do dirty work.
After all, why would an Oukawa go to school? The Suou heir having multiple specialized tutors made sense, but Kohaku Oukawa? The most he got were some defense lessons from his family where he learned to take someone’s life without flinching. Nothing to write home about, really.
…But he’d be lying if he said he didn’t sometimes wish that he wasn’t bound by his family business. That he could be like other kids his age attending school instead of spending most of his childhood locked up in his room. Honestly, the only things he knew about school were tidbits he gathered from the internet. Mostly complaints from Rabu-han.
But the grass was always greener on the other side. And, although he didn’t admit it often, Kohaku wanted to be a normal teenager as well.
What was simply an everyday fact for Kohaku, was major news to Aira.
“You’ve never been to school?!” Aira exclaimed in shock one day. “Like, at all??? Even primary school… really?? Hah??”
Kohaku leaned back in his chair, taking a long sip of his milk tea. They were just eating together in the ES dining hall when Kohaku had casually told him.
“Mm… Family circumstances and all, ya know?”
Kohaku wasn’t surprised that Aira didn’t know. They definitely talked a lot online, but Kohaku wasn’t allowed to divulge much personal information in those chats (even though he might’ve really wanted to). Kohaku supposes that’s another reason he especially treasures their conversations now.
(Though, truth be told, there were some things that Kohaku refused to ever tell Aira. He didn’t know what he would do with himself if he ruined such a bright personality with his own filth.)
Aira hummed in understanding. “I wonder what it must be like, not having any Geometry homework…”
Kohaku laughed. “Ya used ta complain ‘bout yer homework in my dms all the time!”
“H-hey! School is very hard, you know~! Well, Hiro-kun doesn’t even struggle at all… He just enrolled and yet he understands everything so well already,” Aira groaned into his hands.
Kohaku put down his drink, grinning, “Ya say you hate school, but yer voice gets so affectionate anyway. Must be nice huh…?”
Aira peeked at Kohaku through his hands, admiring the way Kohaku’s eyes crinkled in such a ravely way when he smiled. Then, a strange idea formed in his mind.
“Kohakucchi, could you come to my dorm with me?”
—
Holding his hand, Kohaku followed Aira blindly to his dorm. He didn’t have the slightest clue as to what Aira had planned. And the giggling and constant reassurance that, “Sakuma-senpai and Tenshouin-senpai are away right now, it’s alright~!“ felt a little troubling too, as if Aira were up to no good…
Or maybe that was Kohaku getting a little too hopeful. Rabu-han wouldn’t do anything like that, he was sure.
His suspicions were mostly confirmed when, upon arrival, the first thing Aira did was dash into his closet. After a little shuffling, he came out, holding his Yumenosaki uniform in his arms.
“Mmm~ we should be about the same size! Kohakucchi, could you try this on?”
Kohaku blinked. “Wha?”
“I know this is super sudden, but I just wanted to see what you would look like in the uniform…is this alright?”
Kohaku couldn’t say no, not to that pleading face. “Alright, Rabu-han.”
Aira immediately brightened, shoving the uniform in his hands and giving him space to change.
It smells like Rabu-han, Kohaku thought to himself as he held the clothes. Like somethin’ sweet.
Kohaku attempted to put on the uniform. The pants were easily enough to slide on—they were around the same height. But the real trouble came with the buttoned shirt and the blazer. He wasn’t sure what to button and what to leave alone. For most of his life, Kohaku wore loose traditional clothing, so he was still adjusting to the modern clothing that most people wore. Honestly, Crazy:B’s outfit was already a challenge for Kohaku to put on; he had to ask for help putting it on more times than he’d like to admit. He fiddled helplessly with the buttons.
Even after all that time he spent outside his home, he still wasn’t used to modern clothing. It was a bit embarrassing.
“Uhm, Rabu-han, could ya help me with the buttons,” Kohaku asked, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment. To ask this of Rabu-han of all people…
“Oh, of course!” Aira walked over to where Kohaku was changing. Aira noticed how the collared shirt Kohaku wore was mostly unbuttoned, exposing part of his chest. Kohaku was still fidgeting with the lower buttons even after asking for help. Aira averted his gaze in embarrassment—he shouldn’t stare so hard at his friend’s chest right?
Kohaku’s expression was pinched in concentration as he continued to attempt to button his shirt himself to no avail.
Kohakucchi’s so ravely~, Aira thought to himself. He gets prettier and prettier the more I look at him…
“Kohakucchi, I’ll do it for you,” Aira said, placing his hand over Kohaku’s. Kohaku looked up at Aira, meeting his soft gaze. Aira was so close to him… He was a bit embarrassed, but relented anyway, letting Aira fasten the buttons for him.
Admittedly, it was a strange feeling as Aira buttoned each button one by one, traveling up his chest slowly but diligently. Occasionally, Aira’s hand would brush his skin as he worked, and Kohaku’s mind would race in a panic. Kohaku’s chest was flooded with a jumble of indescribable emotions. He just prayed that Aira wouldn’t hear how loud his chest was thumping at the moment.
Ah, this stupid crush of his.
As for Aira, he’s been in close proximity to Kohaku before, but being this close with Kohaku’s chest kind-of bare as well… this was not good for his poor heart.
After what felt like an eternity, Aira finished fastening the buttons on the collared shirt. Aira then swiftly grabbed his red tie and tied it on Kohaku. Finally, he moved to put on the uniform blazer for him. Aira usually wore a sweater on top of the collared shirt too, but chose not to give Kohaku that sweater since he didn’t really need it.
Kohaku was short-circuiting at this point and just let Aira slip on the uniform blazer without much difficulty.
“Hmm~ There, I buttoned your blazer as well…!” Aira took a couple steps back, sighing in admiration.
“Ah~ just like I imagined! You look so, so pretty in the uniform…! I’m so glad it fits! So rav~ely,” he praised.
Honestly, Kohaku felt a little ridiculous in the uniform—it was a bit hard to move in as well. But, seeing how excited Aira was, he didn’t complain.
“Thank ya,” Kohaku sighed, fidgeting with the seams. Realistically, he knew that if he ever decided to enroll in school, he wouldn’t be wearing Yumenosaki’s bright blue blazer and red tie. If anything, his agency probably would’ve thrown him into Reimei or Shuuetsu Academy. He was already rooming with Jun Sazanami anyways—it wouldn’t make sense to attend Yumenosaki.
Still, he let himself indulge in a fantasy for just a moment.
Sitting at a desk next to Rabu-han, watching as he zoned out from the class lecture. Eating lunch on the rooftop with him. Walking from school with Rabu-han… Maybe they were holding hands as well, talking about their day like normal teens would.
It’s a nice dream, Kohaku admitted to himself.
For a moment, Kohaku wished it were real. But, of course, reality was harsh and there were certain things that wouldn’t change no matter what. Kohaku would never have a normal life. That’s just how his life was.
“Um…?” Aira started. “Are you alright? You’ve been quiet for a while…”
Kohaku closed the space between them, wrapping his arms around Aira.
“E-eh? Kohakucchi, are you alright?!”
“Mm, thank ya so much,” Kohaku mumbled, a natural smile forming on his lips. “I dunno what I’d do without ya.”
At the very least, Kohaku was free now. He finally had a say in his life. He had companions who cared for him and accepted every part of him. He had Crazy:B, he had Rabu-han…
Maybe he couldn’t be normal, but at least he could find comfort in the arms of the one he loves.