Work Text:
Takashi doesn’t hate rain, on the contrary, there’re reasons as to why he chooses to love it. The pitter patter sound it makes when the water drop hits his umbrella, the smell of petrichor, and also the winds touching his face gently. It’s cold sometimes and he sure hates if his shoes are soaked or his pants wet, but the soothing effect of rain already gives him makeup for all those things. He likes one particular rain, the one that most likely drags for a long time with little drop. Not enough wind or thunder to call it a storm and more than just a drizzle. Takashi prefers the gray cloudy sky over the bright and shiny blue one. Mostly because the gloomy weather somehow calms him, it’s like the world giving him a space to breathe, to take a break. He loves rain, and there’s no denying that.
Until this one particular person is slowly making him want to take his words back. Maybe the scorching hot and blaring sun with the clear skies would be much more bearable. Maybe. Takashi didn’t remember when it started, didn’t know where it began, and definitely wouldn’t bother to care. It’s just happened.
It’s been pouring since the tenth period and the sky doesn’t seem to clear up anytime soon. The school gate filled with blooming umbrellas and before he could open his own, a familiar voice suddenly appeared out of nowhere right beside him.
“Mitsuya! Can I join you?”
Takashi hides his urge to flinch, he should know better to be aware of his surroundings. Especially with this one upperclassman he has who always comes up unannounced. Seems like Takashi would never get accustomed to Ran's presence. To be honest, someone like Ran is a type of person who Takashi tried his best to avoid. Well, he doesn’t like trouble and absolutely despises the idea of him getting involved. He could solve any problem with a cool headed and fair solution, yes, and staying out of any potential damage is much more favorable, and Ran Haitani really gives off the vibe of someone who brought problems anywhere and anytime he walks. But to blame his contradiction upon everything, he finds himself allowing it.
“You don’t bring an umbrella? How odd.”
“I left mine at home.” Ran took one step forward and turned his body facing Takashi. “Would you mind sharing with me? Just until the station,” Ran pleading “please.”
“Why don’t you walk home with your brother?”
“He’s already with Sanzu,” Ran gave him a wry smile. “One umbrella with three full grown teenagers is a little bit…”
“Rindou forgot his umbrella too?”
Ran nodded, his two tail braided hair moving along with his movement. Takashi eyed him suspiciously.
“You don’t have anyone beside me? Maybe Iza–”
“No.”
By the fast answer Ran gave him and how persistence he tried to persuade him, there’s certainly something going on. He really wanted to say no, but the sight of Ran Haitani slightly pouting gives his resolve away. Damn it .
“Okay, come here.” Takashi tried his best not to sound annoyed.
“Thanks, you’re the best.”
No, Takashi did not get butterflies by the glowing smile slowly forming on Ran’s face in front of him. Of course not. Yet, the loud beating of his heart says otherwise. Takashi mutters a soft curse, muted by the sound of rain.
“Let me hold it.”
So, Takashi hands his umbrella, allowing the older boy to invade his personal space. Just this once, Takashi thought. Kindness wouldn’t hurt anyone, right?”
No, he was so wrong.
The problem is, they did it a couple times after the first. He occasionally found Ran already standing on the entrance building. It’s like he is deliberately waiting for him, just so they can walk together under one umbrella.
But the thing is, it occurs over and over it turns into a habit. Takashi would subconsciously wait for a minute longer for the older boy to come and greet him, then ask him the same question, ‘Can I join you?’
Well, Takashi never expected he can be close with Ran through this. The station is not really far from their school so they always have small talk to kill the silence during the walk. It isn’t like Takashi is one of Ran’s closest friends, but he understands Ran better than before. If he was willing to throw his pride away, he would’ve likely said that he came to love knowing Ran from the little time they shared.
“Don’t you think this is futile? Half of your shoulder is drenched.”
For once Takashi mentioned it to Ran. They just arrived at the station entrance, trying to dry some of the wet patch forming on their clothes, which is useless considering this time the rain accompanied with such strong wind.
“Nah, s’fine. Look, the rest are dry.”
Takashi just shrugs it off, if Ran says so then be it. Plus it’s by his own choice, and Takashi walks home trying not to think about it.
~0~
The first time Ran had the idea how to get close with Taka was when he saw the younger boy offer to share an umbrella with one of his friends or his underclassmen. Perhaps if Ran asks nicely Mitsuya will let him. So, Ran made it his personal mission to purposely leave his umbrella behind or tossed it to his brother.
“Hide it inside your bag! Don’t let Mitsuya know, faster!”
“Yes… yes…” Rindou gave him a half-hearted response.
“Now!”
“I can hear you clearly, no need to shout.”
Ran yelped from the flicking on his forehead. No, Rindou doesn’t understand, it’s a crucial matter. What if Mitsuya knows and he hates Ran for it, no, just thinking about it already makes his stomach curled in horror.
“I know that face, stop being overly dramatic.”
~0~
Saying that Ran’s action didn’t affect his surroundings is less likely to be true, because with how often Ran goes home with Takashi, resulting in Rindou spending a lot of time with Sanzu after school. Not that Sanzu complained, it just piqued his interest a little.
The first time he noticed something’s going on was when he found two umbrellas inside Rindou’s bag. He tried asking Rindou why but the only thing he got was a muttered word about Ran being whipped.
Not after several days ahead, Sanzu got his answer. Not once did he find Ran and Takashi walking towards the gate together in one umbrella.
“Why did you never say anything about them dating?”
Sanzu can see Takashi had his hand holding the umbrella a little higher to accommodate Ran’s height. Ran being the beanpole that he is, crouched his back a little so his frame can fit to the little space that they share. They seem engrossed in a conversation, which of course is dominated by Ran and Takashi just nodding to whatever the older is saying. It’s like they are locked inside their own world. The display of such a domestic and affectionate act in front of him nearly made him puke. Too wholesome. He wouldn’t even be surprised if one day one of them announced their relationship.
Rindou raised both of his eyebrows, silently asking who Sanzu meant by ‘they’.
Sanzu gave a nod to the couple far away in front of them. “Your brother and Taka.”
“No, they weren’t.”
“What? But they always go home together these days.”
“Ah, he’s still trying.”
Sanzu only gave a soft ‘oh’. To tell the truth, it is kind of rare watching Ran looking so soft and giving a smile that is not the one Ran always has when underestimating someone, full of pride and smugness. Maybe Takashi is a good influence, after all.
“Do you want to bet on them?” Sanzu asked.
“All your lunch money for a week.”
“Deal.”
“Prepare yourself to lose.”
~0~
By some fate–or Takashi prefers to call it his carelessness–it’s his turn to forget his umbrella. There’s no way he would run through the heavy rain, so he got stuck. Well, the universe is clearly playing with him, because he’s not alone. Obviously he would find Ran standing near the shoe locker. Ran laughs at him for being clumsy, then suggests they just wait and sit on the staircase. It’s already long after school hours and the hallway is empty. There’s nothing Takashi can do anyway, so he follows.
For once this time is a little different. They are both surrounded by silence, Ran didn’t initiate any conversation, so he doesn’t, and that’s giving Takashi a time to think.
Even if Takashi tries to avoid it, what they do is bother him. Takashi’s not that oblivious, he gets a glimpse of Ran's intention. Rationally speaking, Ran could have called his brother to come get him or just go home earlier with anybody else, but he didn’t. It is clear as day that Ran wants to be with him. Oh, Takashi should stop flattering himself before a blush can crept on his cheeks.
It’s not until the sun nearly sets down that the rain subside. Still drizzling, but they’re gonna be fine nonetheless. So they decide to walk. It is their first time walking home without an umbrella and without a reason to be close. But it did, every step is like a torture for Takashi. All because their shoulders would touch occasionally and their knuckle would lightly brushed. Takashi hates to admit he’s restless, hates to say it to himself that he wants to touch Ran, to grab his finger and interlocked them. Shit. Knowing Ran, it has a high chance he is doing it on purpose. Takashi chose to put his hands in his pocket.
They took a little detour to the convenience store to get a fill, but before they walked far, they did not expect the second pour. It suddenly started to rain harder and before Takashi could come up with anything, he grabbed Ran’s wrist, guiding them while running towards his place. The logical part of his head reasoned by the fact of how close his house is to where they are, rather than to the station, but the little voice of his heart worries about Ran’s wellbeing.
There they are, standing in the entrance looking like a wet rat. Both Takashi sisters quickly grab towels for them. Takashi asked Ran to stay for a while, lent Ran his clothes, and asked to join them for dinner. It’s because he thinks the rain won't stop any time soon, Obviously not because he doesn’t want Ran to go home yet. Takashi is starting to be good at denying, day by day.
So, after the four of them are done eating and spend the night joking around, Ran excuses himself right after Takashi’s mother comes home. They have a little argument.
“Let me accompany you until the station.”
“No, it’s already dark, I can go by myself.”
They settle in the middle, exactly at the park near Takashi’s house.
“Thanks for the shelter Mitsuya.”
Ran gave Takashi that smile, the one when he slowly pulled the edge of his lips. It seems genuine, a fondness if Takashi wants to delude himself. Ran is so gorgeous it makes thinking so hard he doubts himself over and over again. To say that he charmed with Ran beauty and fell for him as a person is something he has been denying. So he braced himself and asked Ran himself.
“You know I would gladly say yes if you ask,” Takashi said, averting his gaze to hide his embarrassment.
Takashi can hear Ran choked a little by what he said, yet Ran recovers quickly. The older boy laughed and scratched his own nape. Ran’s cheek flushed pink and it’s not helping calm Takashi already beating heart.
“Would you wait until graduation for me?” Ran exhaled, “I assure I’m serious with you, but let me finish–” He adds bashfully.
“Just don’t cheat with anyone.”
Ran chuckle. “There’s only Mitsuya, here.” He pointed to his temple. “And of course there is always Mitsuya, here.” Ran adds while tapping his heart, giving Takashi his shit-eating grin. Ran looks so pleased with himself pulling a reaction from Takashi, but two can play the game.
Takashi grabbed Ran’s collar, standing on his toes and landed a kiss on Ran's cheek. “Be careful on the way, good night.”
The grin plastered on Ran’s face slowly fading, replaced by his mouth opened and closed like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the word. Ran touched his cheek with his finger. Blinking the daze away and trying to focus on the younger boy who looks at him from his lashes.
“It’s not fair, Suya,” Ran said with a pout. But, the look Ran gives Takashi is full of adoration.
Takashi shakes his head and pushes Ran to start walking home. It’s getting late and Takashi doesn’t want to make Ran miss the train.
“On second thought, I want more.”
“Wait till graduation.”
Ran groans, sounds like he is starting to regret his choice.
Takashi waits for Ran who is walking backwards while waving both his hands and giving him goodbye kisses until he disappears through the corner. Well, maybe waiting is nothing if he can be Ran at the end.