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“Ohii-san?”
Jun had just returned from a brisk jog, entering the dorm room to receive little acknowledgment from Hiyori — rather, he simply sat on his bed with Bloody Mary in his lap, silently stroking her, fingers gently carding through her fur. Jun took this unusual quietness as a sign for concern.
“Is everything alright?” He asked.
Hiyori didn’t seem to pay much attention to his surroundings, absorbed in his thoughts with a faraway look. Jun was about to ask again before Hiyori spoke instead.
“Jun-kun,” he began, “do you hate me too?”
“What?” Taken by surprise, Jun wasn’t sure how to respond; seeing Hiyori’s somber expression, however, he tried to respond with sincerity. “Um, I really don’t know what you’re talking about, but you know I’m incredibly grateful to you, Ohii-san. I wouldn’t be here without you, after all.”
Hiyori looked up at him, their eyes finally making contact. “But what if I only chose you out of guilt? Just so I could feel better about myself, acting like some sort of holy savior after trampling on so many people’s dreams?”
Admittedly, Jun was having some difficulty following the conversation; still, now more-accustomed to his antics since their partnership, he quickly understood most of his words.
“Ohii-san, is this about that fine group of yours?” He asked. Hiyori didn’t respond, but Jun was fairly certain of his assessment and continued on regardless. “I’ll admit I don’t know much of what happened in the past, but whether that influenced your decision to take me in or not doesn’t change anything for me. I mean, when you first took me in, I was convinced it was all just some cruel joke or something, anyway. Even now, I sometimes think this might be a dream that’ll slip away from me at a moment’s notice.”
“Jun-kun…”
Sighing, Jun cursed at his inability to form the right words; he never was as charismatic or glib as Hiyori. “Goddamn. Look, I’m bad with words, but what I’m trying to say is, I really am grateful you extended your hand to a nobody like me, even if it was just out of pity or something. And even if you decide to abandon me one day, I’ll still be grateful that you let me stand on-stage with you, even if it was just short-lived. Seriously, I’m so appreciative I’d even commit double suicide with you.”
Hiyori looked at him with a pained expression. “Jun-kun, please don’t say that — won’t you value your life a little more? You’re not just a nobody to me, truly. You may not realize it, but you’re very important to me. I wouldn’t abandon you,” he said. Wondering aloud, he spoke quietly, “Jun-kun, is it my fault that you’re so insecure about your place? That you value yourself so little? By putting myself on a pedestal, crowning myself as your salvation, have I perhaps encouraged this mindset of yours? All this time, I’ve spoken of myself as the most brilliant existence, yet have my words cast a dreadful eclipse over you?”
Finding that his words seemed to worsen the mood, Jun frowned. “...Hey, sorry. I wanted to say something cool, but I guess I’m not too good with words. Talking’s more of your thing, after all,” he admitted sheepishly.
Briefly, he petted Bloody Mary and sat on the bunk bed, placing his hand atop Hiyori’s and taking his trembling hand into his own.
“Ohii-san, I won’t deny your personality might have some issues,” he laughed, “But I know now that you won’t easily leave me. I won’t ignorantly comfort you about your past and act like you didn’t hurt people, or pretend I completely understand what happened, but the Ohii-san I know is truly like the sun — so kind and radiant, always shining and indiscriminately spreading your warmth to every place it can reach. Your warmth reached even me, in the depths of the darkest, dirtiest alleyway, and even now, you continue sharing that endless love of yours with everyone around you. I really admire you, Ohii-san. Seriously.”
Hiyori smiled but shook his head slowly. “Jun-kun, you call me the sun, but isn’t that far from the truth? Rather, haven’t I unknowingly become that despicable Izanami? Thinking I was the sun, I blindly let myself be consumed by the flames. I hardly even know who I am anymore, but I’m certainly not that beautiful, bright existence you speak of. I so easily believed I could actually make a difference, when in fact I consumed that enticing bait and sentenced countless souls to death.”
Though Jun usually waited for Hiyori to initiate physical interaction, he was the first to reach out and pull him into a hug; his touch was tentative, unsure if he could really reach out his hands to hold the sun so easily, but when Hiyori reciprocated the action, he gained enough certainty to tighten his grasp. “You say you’re not the sun, but you’re the one who instilled light within me. Even now, it’s your radiance I reflect.” With slight hesitance, he added, “I know you didn’t like it when I said this earlier, but saying I’d commit suicide for you isn’t far from the truth. Unlike Izanagi, I’d actually go through hell and back for you.”
Separating from their hug, he remarked nonchalantly, “In any case, since when did you become Izanami? All this stuff goes way over my head, but aren’t you supposed to be Amaterasu or something? Well, anyway, you said it yourself in the first place — that Amaterasu’s made her own fair share of mistakes.” When Hiyori didn’t respond, he took it as a sign to continue. “Ohii-san,” he said, “you may have hurt many people as fine, but even though you plunged so many into an unforgiving darkness, you’ve also saved countless people, like me, with that kind light of yours. Even Bloody Mary here is proof of your kindness. You can’t brush off the past easily, just like I can’t fully move on either, but that’s why we’ll keep going higher. With you, I feel like I can break my limit and reach new heights, even if your brilliance will one day burn my wings. And if you can’t stand the hatred of the people you hurt, then that’s why you gotta shine brighter and earn their love back — I know that’s what you excel at, Ohii-san. You’ve earned even this stray’s love, after all.”
Hiyori was still silent, and Jun wondered what else he could say. However, he suddenly broke into a lively laugh. “Fine weather, indeed! You truly have grown, Jun-kun. I’m proud of you.”
“It’s thanks to you, you know, Ohii-san.” Jun explained, “Really, you’ve changed me in so many ways. Since you found me, I’m no longer the same vengeful mutt as before. You showed me the light and helped me a lot, you know?”
Briefly closing his eyes and placing a hand on Jun’s cheek, Hiyori hummed, “I’m glad you see it that way.”
“Yeah, ‘cause it’s the truth. I don’t know where I’d be without you.” Jun placed his own hand against Hiyori’s face. “Even the sun has days where it doesn’t shine as bright. But regardless, I’ll always admire you and be grateful for the fact that you decided to share your light with me in the first place, even though you had your own things to deal with. I mean, I still don’t really know your situation, but back then, I could hardly see past my own troubles, and I just saw you as some spoiled rich kid that wanted a toy to play with before getting bored. But even though I doubted you, and sometimes still have my doubts, you continue to reassure me and lend me your light.” He huffed softly, as though scoffing at his own words. “Seriously, I’m not too good with words, and even now I don’t know what to say, but I really do appreciate you, Ohii-san. Like, in the ‘I love you’ sense.”
Hiyori’s lips immediately turned upward. “Jun-kun, Jun-kun, you’re so silly sometimes,” he giggled, pressing his forehead against Jun’s. “Of course, that’s what I like about you, though. You’re so loveable and endearing. Even if you say funny things, I’m quite fond of you, you see.”
“Really, now? You’re the one who says ‘funny things,’ Ohii-san, and now it’s rubbing off on me,” Jun retorted back, though it lacked any bite.
“Of course, of course,” Hiyori joked, “I’m the silly second son of the Tomoe Foundation, after all.”
“Hm,” Jun seemed to consider this for a moment. “Nah, you’re more than that, Ohii-san.” Before Hiyori could start rambling or possibly tease him for his seriousness, he spoke again with slight hesitance, “Hey, Ohii-san…Can I kiss you?”
“Oh?” After a moment of surprise, Hiyori smiled, laughing. “Jun-kun really has changed so much!” Closing his eyes and waiting for Jun to kiss him, he almost wanted to kiss Jun himself out of impatience; still, he refrained as he wanted to help Jun gain more confidence in himself — though that didn’t stop him from continuing to chatter. “You know, when I first took you in, you were so turbulent, don’t you think? Jun-kun is so different now, though — it’s really quite a pleasant surprise!”
“Goddamn. Geez, I get it already, Ohii-san,” Jun gritted, embarrassed and slightly irritated. Still, he was glad Hiyori was in a better mood now.
Leaning forward, he softly pressed his lips against Hiyori’s with slight apprehension, but when he nearly pulled away after only a peck, Hiyori laughed again, wrapping his arms around Jun and taking the initiative to deepen the kiss. Somehow, when it came to Hiyori, there was no one-upping him.
“Jun-kun,” Hiyori smiled, pulling away, “Thank you for being my partner.”
“Ah?” Jun responded, “I should be the one thanking you for letting me stand beside you, Ohii-san.”
“Hm? That’s certainly true, but the sun can’t simply shine on its own, you know! After all, the moon takes over to illuminate the night.” Fingertips running through Jun’s hair, he added, “Besides, the sun gets lonely by itself. In the end, it’s the moon that’s surrounded by countless bright stars, so maybe the sun is always desperate for the beloved moon’s affections — could it be that the sun always seeks the moon’s light rather than the other way around?”
“Huh,” Jun tilted his head. “Not sure I really understand? But I mean, from a scientific standpoint, that’s totally wrong. Maybe you can’t see ‘em, but stars still exist in the daytime — not to mention the fact that the moon reflects the sun’s light?” He shook his head, leaning into Hiyori’s touch. “Well, whatever, I’m not one to get caught up in that sort of stuff.”
Hiyori let out a soft laugh, and they sat in a comfortable quietude. Contentedly humming a short tune, however, Hiyori was the first to break the silence.
“Jun-kun?”
“...Hm?”
“Won’t you kiss me again?” Hiyori moved closer, resting his hands atop Jun’s and looking at him expectantly. “Jun-kun, Jun-kun~ ♪”
“Ah, geez.” Jun briefly averted his gaze. “You’re so embarrassing, Ohii-san.”
Despite his words, Jun eagerly closed the distance between them once more as their lips connected. Of course, Hiyori had the audacity to giggle into the kiss, an act both irritating and endearing to Jun; as annoying as his laugh was, Jun couldn’t help but also love hearing it. After all, no matter how irritatingly hot the sun could blaze with its relentless rays, he would still continue to chase after its light; perhaps it was foolish to do so, but Jun couldn’t be bothered to care, especially when the sun always seemed to shine so brightly in front of him.