Chapter Text
It was a hot summer day. Ruki was watching a little boy playing with a dog from the window. The boy seemed around 9-10 years old. He was running and laughing while the big-white pole bear-looking dog followed him wherever he ran and laid down, opening his tummy.
“Cute, right? Can I sit here?”
Ruki got startled as he felt a slightly impatient touch on his left shoulder trying to gain his attention. He moved his eyes from the window to the boy standing next to him. His eyes blinded by the sunlight, he tried to look up. It was Sho.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course! Please do!”
He moved to the right seat, making room for Sho to sit down, relatively making himself smaller to avoid any awkward skinships.
Sho let a surprised and rushed “oh!” out when the bus started moving before he had a chance to get settled in his seat. He had to grip Ruki on the shoulder to save himself from falling flat.
Seeing the boy’s eyes getting bigger and an arm reaching out to hold him, Sho apologized while sitting down.
“Sorry about that, Yu-Yuki-kun, right?”
Ruki turned his head to the floor this time, hoping to hide his smile, cheeks, and ears that just started getting red. He replied trying to gather his confidence, Who was this person shaking and trembling while getting shy really?
“It’s Ruki, Shiroiwa Ruki. We take the same English class.”
Ruki answers giggling a little.
"Oops, sorry. I’m not good with names so please don’t take it personally. I remember your face though!”
Thinking he almost calmed down a bit, Ruki got another shock by Sho remembering his face, at least. It’s been almost a month since classes started. But Ruki had no balls to introduce himself to Sho out of the blue, even though his roommate Ren hadn’t stopped talking about this ever since Ruki mentioned that he had a crush.
“I mean, who can forget it honestly? But how many times are you going to apologize? Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too! Quite confident I see?”
Sho reached out his hand, waiting for Ruki to shake it.
Totally not near you, I’m literally dying right now. Ruki thought to himself, still reaching out to shake hands with him.
He didn’t try to hide his smile this time. His big ass smile appeared when Sho’s hand embraced his, almost covering it completely. His hand was hot and a little sweaty, Ruki thinks it was probably because he ran to the bus to catch it. He could feel confidence radiating from him, he’s the one who led the handshaking. He shook his hand twice, strongly, yet Ruki could tell he was still being gentle, not gripping his hand completely and leaving a space between their palms.
After their handshake, Ruki went back to looking outside from the window, also trying to come up with an excuse to start a conversation with Sho. He let out a noticeable sigh, unconsciously. This was the most that they’ve talked and he didn’t want it to end this soon.
Noticing the boy sighing next to him, Sho offered one of his earphones to him.
“Wanna listen to some music? You look bored a bit.”
His hand reaching out for the earbud Sho’s holding, Ruki tried to explain, stuttering a little.
“No no I’m not bored or anything I-“
It’s great that you’re here how can I be bored?
“Okay let’s listen!”
Ruki put the earphone, moving slightly closer to Sho.
A song Sho chose was playing as the bus sluggishly moved between the forest with tall and mighty trees. Ruki slowly felt the arms of sleep embracing him. After his little fight to keep his eyes open, Ruki gave in and Sho found himself with the boy next to him sleeping on his shoulder.
After half an hour which felt like five minutes to Ruki, they arrived to the campus, and he was woken up by Sho’s voice calling his name.
“Ruki! Wake up, we arrived. Rukiiii? Ruki-kun?”
Getting his head up from Sho’s shoulders and rubbing his eyes, Ruki murmured a little thank you to him.
“No, it’s fine! You slept like a baby almost during the whole ride!”
Replied Sho, to Ruki’s thank you.
“I’m getting off first, see you in class, Ruki-kun!”
Sho left, leaving a mesmerized little Ruki behind.
“See you, Sho-kun”
Ruki stayed where he sat, waving his hand behind the boy who was slowly disappearing from his eyesight. Having the same big smile he had when they shook hands.
Hold on. I need to tell Ren. I need to tell him so bad, he thought.