Archive of Our Own

An left the quaint bakery with a small box of cupcakes in her hands. Their group was coming up on its third anniversary, and An wanted to have a small celebration. She told the virtual singers about her idea, and they all agreed with enthusiasm. Miku, Rin, and Len seemed to be most interested in decorating the SEKAI. While the other ‘responsible’ adults figured out the rest of the anniversary plan on their end.

An simply wanted to show her appreciation. She grew to love the group more than she could express, and was overjoyed to spend another year with them.

Yet, a tightness in her chest could not be shaken after she turned a corner. It was unsettling. Her eyes darted around, surveying the area around her for any danger. The anxiety spike was unusual in this type of situation. Yet, a familiar head of periwinkle and cobalt hair caught her attention.

Toya.

An gripped the box of cupcakes tightly and ran over to the boy who was slouched over. He desperately gasped for air, supporting himself with his hands on his knees. She could see tears falling from his cheeks and onto the pavement of the alleyway. The shuffling of feet made Toya’s head snap in her direction.

For the moment he was processing who was there, An was terrified. She had never seen such an aggressive look in Toya’s eyes. Hell, even during one of Akito’s outbursts, An had never had such a strong desire to run. Seconds pass while Toya crumpled back in on himself, sliding down the wall. He knew he wasn’t in danger with An around, and finally, let himself relax.

An set the cupcakes down on top of her bag and threw herself toward Toya, her arms wrapping around his broad shoulders. Toya shook in her arms. Silent but heart-wrenching sobs spilled from his lips. An pressed her cheek to his hair, rubbing his back gently while she hummed a tune. He may not confide in her, but An will always support Toya when he needs it.

Seconds grew into minutes, but Toya grew calmer nonetheless.

“You okay?” An breached, voice cracking after being quiet for so long. Toya pulled away from her, collapsing against the wall behind him. An could see his eyes were still gleaming with unshed tears, and his face was puffy from the strong emotions.

“I guess so,” Toya’s voice was thick from crying. An wanted to wrap him up in a hug again, but she wasn’t sure how much she could push that physical affection limit.

“You wanna talk about it?” An took off her jacket, tossing it on the ground next to Toya so she could sit with him. She didn’t fancy having to pick small rocks from her skin, so her jacket would serve its new purpose nicely.

“Just… It’s my father. Nothing unusual.” His tone was sharper than glass. An was nervous about trying to pry more information from him.

“I know you usually talk to Akito about this kind of thing, but I want to support you when I can as well,” An picked at her fingernails. The polish she applied a few days ago was already chipping. “I understand if you don’t want to fully tell me things. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know?”

“Thank you, Shiraishi,” Toya whispered. He shuffled around, turning to face her slightly. “You know my father and I aren’t on the best terms.”

An nodded, eagerly listening to whatever he was willing to tell her.

“He fights me about Akito. We argue over him a lot. My father thinks he’s a horrible influence and things like that,” Toya sighed, brows furrowing slightly. “Today was different. He dragged you and Azusawa into our argument. Defending Akito and our partnership is second nature, but something about my father coming after you two tipped me off. It was uncharted territory and I couldn’t stay calm.”

“What happened?” Toya’s lips pressed into a thin line at her words, gaze falling to the ground.

“I just ran.” He shook his head as if it were nothing. “I needed to get out and I just ran. I wound up here not long before you saw me.”

“Toya…” An reached over, placing her hand over Toya’s gently. She hoped it was enough to support him.

“I’m sorry you had to see that. I- It’s usually easier to get it together.” Toya laughed bitterly, clearly upset with himself.

“N-no! Don’t apologize! You said yourself things were different today,” An poked Toya’s forehead, getting him to look at her. “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. Easier said than done, but you did nothing wrong.”

Toya seemed lost in thought, eyes glazed over as he stared unmovingly at some posters. Quietly, An slipped her phone from her jacket pocket. Thankfully it wasn’t damaged from tossing her jacket earlier.

AN: akito.

AN: i think you may want to check on toya in person soon.

An didn’t expect an immediate response. But when the topic is Toya, she should have had different expectations.

AKITO: what happened

AN: his dad.

AKITO: if you’re with him bring him to my place

AKITO: he’s always more comfortable here

An shot back a confirmation, then aimed her attention back at Toya.

“I just messaged Akito,” Toya’s eyes flickered to her face. “He wants to see you.”

“I suppose I’m not getting out of this?” Toya mumbled, already standing up. An followed, her back screaming at her from the odd way she was contorted. Toya winced as he stretched his neck. It didn’t matter how healthy the two were, sitting on the ground always hurt.

“Not really. Akito will come to find you himself if he has to,” An gathered her things. “Mind carrying these?”

Toya finally noticed the box of cupcakes. He looked at them through the clear plastic top, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

“Sure,” Toya said. A lot remained unsaid, but An didn’t mind. She knew Toya wasn’t one to pour his thoughts to anyone.

But today was a strange day after all.

“Could I… tell you something?” Toya broke their comfortable silence early on. An snuck a look at him, and a faint blush on his cheeks was a cute surprise to her. The only one that could fluster Toya was Akito, and even then, An didn’t get to see it often. The two tended to keep such endearing exchanges private.

“Of course!”

“I like Akito.”

An stopped in her tracks, staring up at the boy next to her. His face was neutral. His skin flushing and eyes darting about, however, gave away his sincerity. Yet, An isn’t particularly surprised.

“Toya… I know that.” An watched as his eyes widened a fraction. “To me, it’s obvious. To Kohane and Akito…”

“They’re oblivious, yes.” Toya finished for her. He had seen the struggle An went through while trying to court Kohane. It took weeks of roundabout confessions before An told her flat out. Toya felt as if he was watching an intimate moment when Kohane realized what had been happening. But, he had promised to help Meiko clean the cafe and it wasn’t his fault An confessed right at the counter.

He kept his eyes lowered, but the cheery giggles and the sound of quick kisses left him feeling envious of what the two had.

“What’s spurring this on?” An encouraged. She had thought if someone between the two would ever confess, it would be Akito. However, Toya’s rare shyness was cute to see.

“I think I want to tell him soon,” Toya said. “We don’t keep secrets from each other, but I’ve kept this one for years. It’s been weighing on me too long, and I guess arguing with my father today just really expedited that feeling.”

“Years?” An’s jaw almost hit the ground. “You’ve been pining for literally years?”

“Is that weird?” Toya reached up, scratching the back of his neck.

“No! Just… I have no damn idea how you put up with Akito for years and then fell for him,” An cackled. “He’s great but also a pain in my ass.”

“I think that’s just a thing between you two,” Toya was chuckling softly for the first time since they met today. “He’s not that bad.”

“I see how you two look at each other. All sappy and shit,” An punched Toya’s arm softly, an uncontainable smile breaking across her face. “I’d love to see you two happy together though, Toya. I’ll be cheering for you.”

The two turn their attention to a loud noise coming a little up the street. An and Toya weren't far from the Shinonome residence.

“Ena!” The pair could hear Akito yelling at his sister, who was laughing loudly from the window. “Unlock the door or I’m pushing you and climbing in the window myself.”

“How about I don’t?” Ena teased. An and Toya broke out into a sprint when Akito shed his oversized jacket. He was fully prepared to enter his home through the window and take his sister down with him. Despite being younger, he was much bigger than she was and could easily tackle her if needed.

“Look! An and that cute boyfriend of yours is here,” Ena’s eyes glittered in a teasing way as she saw a furious blush creep up Akito’s skin.

“Don’t you have a partner to get back to anyway?” Akito huffed, giving a brief wave to the pair approaching him.

“I do! Mizuki would love to know how their favorite li’l bro is doing,” Ena sang, leaving her brother and his friends behind.

The click of a lock opening could be heard.

“I forget your sister is equally as intense as you,” An shivered. “Thank goodness I only deal with one Shinonome consistently.”

“Hey, she’s my sister. Trash talk her elsewhere, Shiraishi.” Akito huffed, turning his attention to Toya. An could see his expression soften, he looked disgustingly infatuated with Toya.

“You alright, partner?” Akito asked. His tone was sweeter than An was used to hearing. She knew the two interacted with each other differently than outsiders, but seeing it so closely, An felt like an intruder.

These two were head over heels for one another. Yet, Akito and Toya thought they didn’t have a chance.

“I’ll head out! Gotta date with Kohane,” An stuck her tongue out at Akito once he made a face of annoyance. “You two have fun doing whatever it is you do.”

An winked at Toya before turning away completely. The action wasn’t missed by Akito.

“What’s that about?” Akito mumbled. “She never winks outside of photos. That was weird as fuck.”

“I was wondering why it felt ominous,” Toya said, ignoring her hidden meaning. “Probably just her way of showing she cares. I’m not sure.”

“Speaking of, what happened with that old man of yours?” Akito said. He grabbed Toya by the wrist, dragging him inside. His hold was loose on Toya, but still firm enough that he could feel his heartbeat thrumming under his skin. The two kicked off their shoes quickly. Once Akito was done, he dropped Toya’s wrist to lock the door back.

“The usual…” Toya said. Akito turned around with his hands on his hips. He stared at Toya closely.

“There’s more.”

“Yes, there’s more.” Toya shifted under Akito’s gaze. His jacket felt irritating to his skin, and his own hair annoyed him more than usual. Being observed so closely by Akito always set his nerves alight. Toya moved from the entrance and into the living area.

“… So?”

“There’s nothing you can do, Akito,” Toya fell back onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling from where he lay. “All it will do is upset me and make you angry.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Perhaps,” Toya felt the couch cave next to his hip, and warmth blossomed up his side. Akito was perched next to him, thigh pressed to Toya’s. He glanced over at Akito, who was raking his eyes over Toya. It was an analytical look; Toya knew he was looking to see if there were any injuries.

“I want to help you, Toya. I know I may not go about it the best way but-“

“No, Akito,” Toya cut him off at once. “You’ve helped me so much over the past few years. I will never be able to fully show you my appreciation. Don’t drag yourself down like that.”

“Move over,” Akito suddenly said. Toya expected a smart response from his partner but moved close to the backrest of the couch anyway. Akito twisted, laying down next to Toya. Their arms were sealed together until Toya linked them for comfort.

“You show your appreciation in ways others may not notice, but I always will,” Akito whispered. “You are important to me, Toya. Of course, I’d notice how you care for me.”

“R-really?” The phrase felt like Akito could see through Toya’s romantic feelings, but he also knew his friend was dense. It was nice to know Akito could see his efforts. His heart beat a bit harder at the revelation.

“Let’s just… take a nap,” Akito said, rolling onto his side to face Toya. “Ena’s been in a great mood today, so I’m tired from all the interaction. I’m glad she’s got some spirit back. I was worried about her.”

“I get it,” Toya shifted his arm to move behind Akito’s back, tracing small and unfocused shapes into the fabric of his shirt. Akito pressed his cheek to Toya’s shoulder before promptly passing out. The weight and warmth of Akito were welcome, even if Toya’s heart continued to race.

Maybe a nap wouldn’t be so bad.

— — —

“Hey-” Akito could feel someone pushing at his shoulder. He peeled his eyes open, squinting at the figure who was standing over him. The silhouette was blurry thanks to the overhead light. “Wake up, dumbass.”

“Enanan?” A sharp pinch to his cheek answered his question. He didn’t often use the nickname on purpose, but when he was sleepy or feeling unwell, the name would tumble from Akito’s lips with ease.

“It’s pretty much nighttime. At least get-up and have some dinner. Tell Toya to just crash here as well, I don’t like him walking home alone in the dark.” Ena said, ruffling Akito’s hair.

Akito went to move over, but arms around his waist kept him close. Toya groaned in his sleep, tugging Akito a bit closer. Ena laughed softly at the sight.

“He must’ve been exhausted…” Ena’s voice had an edge of concern, but she remained silent afterward. She kept whatever thoughts she had to herself. Akito doesn’t know whether to be grateful or nosy.

“I’ll wake him up,” Akito said, not very confident he could do so when Toya’s warmth was so inviting. His face was relaxed and soft. Toya hardened his emotions long before Akito met him, so seeing Toya in such a relaxed state wasn’t common. Toya was typically the first awake and last asleep between them. Akito didn’t have the pleasure of seeing him so vulnerable often.

“I’ll be in my room on a call with Mizuki and some friends. If you need something, you know where to find me,” Ena said, slinking off into the dark hallway in silence.

Akito looked back at Toya. He was able to push himself up slightly, drawing a hand up to poke at Toya’s cheek.

He whispered the other’s name a few times, and it didn’t take long for Toya to stir. Akito shivered at the loss of security when Toya drew his arms towards himself to rub at his eyes.

“How long did we sleep?” Toya asked. Akito could listen to him speak or sing all day. It was like a gentle melody, soothing and inviting.

“A few hours. Ena came to wake us up,” Akito sat up fully at last. His back hurt from the way he was sleeping, but he couldn’t help but feel it was worth it.

– – –

“Okay!” An planted her hands on her hips, pleased with the decor the virtual singers came up with. “Thank you so much for helping me with this.”

“It’s been fun!” Rin said. She and Len strung fun ornaments across the walls of the cafe and had some dangling from the ceiling as well. After sleeping off the worrying interaction with Toya, An was fired up for their anniversary. She knew Akito would take care of him, but she still wanted to know if he was okay.

She could always ask Kohane, who was currently with Toya. Kohane wanted his input on an album to buy, so they decided to head out to the shopping center early this morning. However, they didn’t hang out often. An didn’t want to bring down the mood between them.

“I texted the others this morning to meet here at three, but Toya and Kohane are always early so they should be here soon. Akito usually isn’t far behind either.” An said, her watch reading half past one. “How are we looking on the food, Meiko?”

“Perfect! I’m getting everything set out now, including those pretty cupcakes you bought.” Meiko called from the back of the cafe. Kaito came out, boxes of food stacked high in his hold. “Kaito will need some help.”

The twins took the hint and darted up to Kaito, dismantling everything he had stacked within seconds. Miku was doing some last-minute cleaning of the outside windows of the cafe. Her headphones were locked around her ears while she jammed to some music.

“Miku may be able to buy some time if Toya and Kohane get here first. They’ll wait until she notices them before they try and pass,” Rin mentioned. An had to say she was right. Toya and Kohane were not the ones to startle someone, even their closest friends. They both had stellar patience as well.

“She does take forever to clean windows because she hates the streaks that get left behind sometimes,” Len grumbled. “She’s missed warm-ups a few times because of cleaning things.”

“I appreciate that she helps clean unlike some of you,” Meiko said, pointedly glancing between the twins.

“Anyway!” Kaito said, smoothing down his hair. “Someone has entered the SEKAI.”

An whipped her head around to see Toya and Kohane where she assumed they would be. Miku, headphones still mounted on her head, was wiping at the windows with focus. Behind her, Toya and Kohane awkwardly shifted their weight between their feet. An could see Kohane tap Toya’s shoulder. He leaned down to let her whisper something to him. A small chuckle, only seen from the shake of his shoulders, resulted in a cheery smile from Kohane. She darted around, finding two stray mics nearby. An recognized it as the twin’s mics.

“What are they planning?” Rin squinted out the windows. “Are they… gonna connect to Miku’s headphones?”

“They’re gonna do more than scare her, they’re pranking her!” Len clutched at his stomach, doubling over in laughter.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” An wouldn’t have expected this outcome. Still, everything was neatly organized aside from some minor things.

A quick high five was exchanged between Kohane and Toya before they switched their mics on, set to connect to the headphones Miku was using. They were originally on Kaito’s DJ setup, opting to connect the mics to his headphones to better mix instrumentals on the fly as they sang.

An could see Miku stop for a brief moment before Toya and Kohane opened their mouths with a large inhale. Her hands came up to the headphones, about to pull them off to check what was going on.

Which led to possibly the most atrocious sound An had ever heard.

Miku stumbled backward, directly into Toya’s chest as she ripped the headphones from her head. Kohane and Toya burst out laughing and scampered off when Miku started chasing them around outside. She managed to get Toya first, jumping on his back and ruffling his hair beyond the point of saving. Despite being pranked, her smile was probably the brightest An had seen in a while. She released Toya, sights set on Kohane next.

However, another guest arrived just in time to be tackled by Miku in full force. An could hear the air leave Akito’s body upon Miku’s impact with his chest.

“What the fuck did I interrupt?” Akito wheezed, Miku still laughing as she helped him get up. “When did you gain the momentum of race car what the hell?”

“Ask your boyfriend and Kohane,” Miku glared at Toya, sticking her tongue out at them both before swinging the door to the cafe open.

“Boyfriend?” Akito muttered to himself. He was used to An’s teasing. Every time they would be caught hugging or maybe staring at one another a second too long, An would wiggle her eyebrows and make obnoxious smooching noises. In comparison, Miku was never one to tease about it.

“We pranked Miku!” Kohane grabbed Akito’s wrist in one hand, and Toya in the other. She dragged them both inside. “Did you guys see?”

“Absolutely,” Rin and Len chimed in. Len’s face was red from laughter, and Rin’s efforts to not laugh were in vain upon seeing how badly Toya’s hair was tousled.

“Did Miku try to scramble your brain?” Akito said, following Rin’s line of sight.

“Possibly,” Toya smiled. “She didn’t do a very good job.”

“Get down here,” Akito said, beckoning Toya closer. Akito raised his hands to Toya’s hair, gently combing through some of the larger knots. He was aware of An’s ever-growing smirk but did his best to ignore her. She was a menace when she wanted to be.

Toya’s gaze was stuck to the ground, but Akito could still see the moonlight gaze through his thick eyelashes. His sister momentarily invaded his train of thought, noting how nice some mascara would look on him. He promptly kicked Brain-Ena out for her unnecessary additions.

“Have you ever, like, styled your hair?” Akito asked. “It would look nice pushed back or something.”

“Not particularly,” Toya murmured. “Saki would often play with my hair growing up. She always said mine was cooler since her brothers was like her own.”

“Sounds about right,” Akito finally worked through all the knots as softly as he could. A gentle rustle left the strands hanging as they had been for years. “Let me guess, you had to help her with her hair as well?”

“Of course,” Toya said. “Tsukasa would take too long with grand styles and trying not to hurt her at all. I only ever helped her with braids really. Tsukasa was never good at them.”

“You have bigger hands than he does, braids are easy for you,” Akito grumbled. “Ena would try to get me to help her, but my fingers are too short to do it without pain after a while.”

“Put your hand up,” Toya said, and Akito did so without a word. Toya pressed their palms together, lining up their hands. Akito huffed, seeing just how much of a difference there was between them. Toya wasn’t much taller than he was, but his hands were slender and elegant.

“Alright, loverboys.” An said, clapping her hands. “Either hold hands or get some cupcakes I want to make a speech.”

Toya’s ears turned pink, slipping his hands into his pockets as he strolled over to the table with all the food. Akito couldn’t help but notice that Toya was cute when flustered.

But, it’s normal to think your friends are cute, right?

An was objectively pretty. Her hair was well maintained and she smiled a lot. She often smelled like citrus or like the beach. Kohane was also rather cute. Her eyes would twinkle when she would nail down a complicated choreography, and she would laugh over the bickering matches between Akito and An. Akito wasn’t blind, his friends were pretty.

Yet, Toya felt different. He was tall with a lithe build, eyes the color of the stars, and enchanting dual-toned hair. His smile was rare but always made Akito’s heart stutter. It didn’t help such breathtaking smiles were often directed at him. Toya’s hands were soft despite the deeply ingrained callouses on his fingers. Classical music training took a toll on his hands, but they still remained smooth and elegant.

Toya’s voice complimented his own well. He found his partner’s voice to be comforting. He-

“Akito was so mentally far from this SEKAI it wasn’t even funny,” Miku muttered to Kohane. Akito heard it, snapping from his thoughts. “Look at the coffee machine. There was no reason for it to turn blue except someone’s feelings are growing.”

“Hm,” Kohane titled her head to the side, unsure of what to make of her words. Akito kept his gaze forward, he didn’t want Miku to know he had heard her.

“Whatever, they’ll figure it out soon enough. You and An brought about many pink and purple things anyway,” Miku sighed, falling down into a chair of her choice as she dug into a snack she picked off the table.

“Happy anniversary to Vivid BAD SQUAD!”

– – –

“Holiday shows may be my favorite now,” Kohane said, her smile brighter than ever before. “That energy… I’ve never experienced anything like it!”

An wrapped Kohane up into a hug and jumped up and down with residual energy. Akito could hear Toya laugh softly next to him.

“It was perfect! We’ve come so far,” An’s eyes were full of emotion and pride, something that Akito mirrored at this moment.

“This was our best show to date. We deserve to be proud of this one,” Toya spoke up, pushing his hair back and away from his face.

That simple action shouldn’t have caused Akito’s stomach to knot in such a way.

Toya’s smile was radiant. It was small if you didn’t know him, but to Akito, it was one of the most beautiful smiles he had seen. The makeup dusted around his eyes and the glitter on his skin caught the light perfectly. Akito didn’t know whether to thank or wrestle Kohane who suggested the look. All paired with the rare occurrence of Toya’s face being on full display, Akito was gone.

His body reacted in a familiar but strange way. Being on stage made his heart race, his palms sweat, and his stomach drop in the best way possible. Yet, he was experiencing the same thing now in a different context. He felt nervous and tongue-tied for the first time in ages. Akito redirected his gaze back to Kohane and An who were chatting away.

“Let’s go, partner,” Toya said in Akito’s ear. It startled him, not noticing when Toya had gotten so close. Then, a large hand pulled at Akito’s, causing him to trail behind Toya who was making a move for the exit nearby.

“Looking for fresh air?” Akito’s thankful his voice didn’t break.

“Of course,” Toya tested the doorhandle before shoving the thing open. The evening air of a cool spring evening was like a luxury after a show. Both of them basked in the feeling.

Akito’s eyes wandered back to Toya. For reasons unknown, he felt compelled to keep observing his partner.

Toya was more than just a partner. Friends for five years, schoolmates, performance partners, and something Akito can’t put his finger on. He knew almost everything there was to know about Toya.

“You’re staring again,” Akito was brought back to the surface after drowning in his thoughts. Toya’s words were like cold water splashing onto his senses. “You looked pretty spaced out.”

“Sorry, just thinking,” Akito mumbled. He felt heat rise to his face after Toya had caught him.

Why was he acting like he had a schoolgirl crush? It was only Toya after all.

Rough fingertips grazed Akito’s jaw. Toya had angled his face upward to inspect him up close. The slightly rough texture of his hands against Akito’s jaw elicited a shiver from the shorter. He hoped Toya wouldn’t notice. It wasn’t often he took the initiative of closing the distance between them, so Akito tried to keep himself calm.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Toya whispered. His eyes caught the moon glow beautifully, reflecting like opalescent pearls.

Was Toya always this ethereal?

“Yeah, man,” Akito laughed. “Just wiped.”

“You were livelier than usual,” Toya’s smile turned a bit brighter. “I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, Akito.”

“R-really? I’m just- We’re just doing what we should be!” Akito waved his hands, averting his attention elsewhere.

“We are, but compliments to a long way. Especially when they’re sincere. Your words of encouragement keep me going so I hope it’s nice for you too,” Toya admitted. Akito couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled from his chest after seeing Toya fluster himself.

“I appreciate it, Toya. I really do,” Akito slung his arms around Toya’s neck in a split-second decision. Toya’s words left Akito flustered, but he couldn’t bring himself to tease the other in return.

Toya stiffened in his hold but relaxed in a few moments, lacing his own arms around Akito's waist. Even after a show, Toya smelled like brewed coffee and vanilla.

“To many more shows together, Toya,” Akito gripped his partner tighter, unwilling to let go of him and the warm feeling brewing in his chest.

“To bigger and better,” Toya whispered.

— — —

“Toya!” An whined, her voice loud enough to grate on Akito's nerves. She was clinging to Toya's sleeve with a deep pout. “Please play some basketball with me.”

“I’m not athletic,” Toya could barely be heard. He sounded unimpressed with An’s request. “I’ve never been one to play sports. Akito is right there-”

“I’m sure you’re better than you think. At least entertain me and let me teach you something?” An clasped her hands together looking up expectantly. Toya closed his eyes and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“He’s gonna crack,” Akito muttered to Kohane who was sitting next to him. Her hair was tied into a rare bun, keeping all the hair away from her face. Akito had his own hair pushed back with one of An’s stupid headbands. The frilly designs and appliques weren’t his style, but it was too hot to complain. “He has a hard time telling you two no.”

“Really? I’ve never noticed…” Kohane set her phone down, brows scrunching in thought.

“It’s not a bad thing, it’s gotten him out of his shell a bit more,” Akito chugged some more water. It was extremely hot today so their training was limited. For their own health, they didn’t do much work on choreo. Instead, they opted to work on their more vocally complicated pieces.

“He should feel comfortable telling us he doesn’t want to do something, though,” Akito glanced over to Kohane. She seemed rather upset at the news.

“If he really wanted to get out of something, he would tell you no. He’s deathly afraid of heights and I don’t think any amount of begging could get him off the ground.” Akito had seen Toya struggle through situations quietly. He hated as he watched his friend internally crumble and panic, but refuse to let others see a weakness.

“Alright, I’ll play,” Toya caved in. An immediately launched into action, stealing Toya away and dragging him to a nearby court. Akito could hear An rambling off a list of rules to Toya.

“Shinonome…” Kohane turned to face Akito. “Can I ask you something?”

“Hm?”

“If I cross a line, just tell me! But, how would you describe your relationship with Aoyagi?”

Akito blinked at her for several seconds, trying to understand where her question was coming from. She had no ill intentions but he still was curious.

“Well, we’re partners and best friends,” Akito said. He’s said it dozens of times, maybe even hundreds. Yet, now, the words felt wrong on his tongue.

“You don’t look too sure,” Kohane said. Akito sighed, dropping his head into his hands. “Did- Did I upset you?”

“No, Kohane, you didn’t. It’s just- complicated?” Akito didn’t understand his own feelings.

“Would you say… you’re a better version of yourself with Aoyagi around?”

“Of course,” Akito answered immediately.

“Do you miss him when he’s not around?” A nod.

“Do you like him?” A choke.

Akito felt his face flare up as he rapidly waved his hands around.

“N-no! It’s nothing like that!” Kohane tilted her head just a bit. Akito turned his gaze forward but was met with the very subject of this conversation.

Toya was practicing and imitating whatever An was showing him. His features were light and relaxed, which was a sign he was enjoying himself. He could hear An’s resonating voice as she cheered him on when he succeeded, and gently corrected him when he struggled.

“You’re smiling, Shinonome.”

“What’s the point of this conversation, Kohane? It’s not that easy even if I do like him.” Akito knew there would be consequences for the group if things turned sour between them.

“It doesn’t have to be hard. If you like him, then that’s what matters! The SEKAI agrees.” Akito whipped his head around to look at Kohane.

“What do you mean?”

“The SEKAI has changed just a bit. Instead of having separate things, the SEKAI has started to create things for you two specifically. It started to do the same with An and myself a while back.” Kohane explained. “Like did you not notice the pair of mics turned blue and orange recently?”

Akito thought hard about the SEKAI and its appearance when he was last there.

“Kohane is right. I can sense something changing.”

Kohane and Akito jumped in their seats but recognized Miku’s voice quickly. Akito took out his phone to see Miku peeking at them from his screen.

“You’ve been listening?” Akito chewed at his bottom lip and scratched at the back of his head. If Miku knew, then all the virtual singers knew. Rin and Len would tease Akito just as much as An does if they found out.

“I have. I've been trying to figure out how to help point you in a good direction. Seems Kohane beat me to it!” Miku smiled sweetly. “The SEKAI is a creation of all four of your feelings. If two feelings are in alignment, the SEKAI seems to respond.”

“Like how?”

“Kohane mentioned the mics, but the very foundation of the SEKAI has changed. It’s warmer, brighter, and cozier. I've never seen a SEKAI change quite like this.”

“So you think it’s a mutual thing?” Kohane asked when she leaned over Akito’s shoulder to see Miku clearly.

“I do, but there’s nothing I can do to convince Akito. Just… listen to your heart for once. You trusted that instinct when you heard Toya sing for the first time. Why not trust yourself now?”

And with that, Miku disconnected.

“Wow,” An jogged up to them, sweating profusely. “Toya’s a quick learner.”

“I’m also just much taller than you. I don’t have to use as much energy,” Toya’s lips were curled into a small smile. “That was fun, Shiraishi.”

“I’m glad but now you’re stuck occasionally playing basketball with me,” An yanked a towel from her bag and dabbed at her face and neck. Kohane handed her a water bottle as well.

“I’m fine with that.” Toya sat down next to Akito, pressing their thighs together. “Thought I heard Miku?”

“I-Yes! She wanted to let us know how the SEKAI has been changing as we grow! I didn’t understand a lot of it…” Kohane picked at her nails, and Toya could see a faint blush across Akito’s skin. Before he could get a better look at him, Akito jumped up onto his feet.

“I’d say we’ve been out for long enough. If we stay out any longer someone’s gonna get heat stroke,” Akito couldn’t help but run his hands through his own hair, tugging the headband off in the process. “We could stop by the SEKAI?”

He couldn’t divert attention from the SEKAI or it would look suspicious, seeing how he enjoys hanging out in that cafe. Akito was also growing curious about the changes Miku mentioned.

“As long as Meiko lets me chill in her freezer for a bit I’m down.”

“I’m telling Meiko to lock the freezer then.”

“Akito!”

— — —

“Have those two made any progress?” Miku jerked her head towards Akito and Toya who were chatting outside the cafe. “Not sure how many more blue and orange things I can deal with popping up.”

“Give them time, Miku. They’re still young,” Meiko said, brewing coffee for the Vivids. “An and Kohane weren’t much better.”

“Akito and Toya already act like they’re dating. I mean look at them!“ Miku pointed to the two who were smiling fondly at one another. “That’s not a smile between bros.”

“Toya has liked him for quite some time,” An said, gratefully taking the warm cup of coffee into her hands. The cafe was always a bit chilly. “He mentioned he wants to confess but he also seems nervous about causing tension between them.”

“Shinonome feels the same way!” Kohane said. “It seems he only recently realized it though.”

“From what I can tell, it only happened within the last few weeks. But when he realized it, things started changing rapidly.” Miku sighed. “Toya may have fallen first but there’s no doubt Akito fell all at once.”

“Akito does nothing half-assed. Seems he can’t even loosen up over his own feelings,” An’s face scrunched watching the two outside continue to smile and laugh. “Only Akito can get Toya to laugh like that.”

“He has a pretty smile. At least someone gets to see it,” Kohane sighed. “We still see him smile way more than we used to so I won’t be selfish!”

“You could always give them a push in the right direction,” Meiko said. She leaned against the counter, keeping her eyes fixed on the two boys. “They seem genuinely happy around each other. Gentle pushes in the right direction can help them out.”

“Ugh, they just need to make out already,” An groaned as she dropped her head onto the counter. “I’m tired of the weird tension.”

“They’ll get it together soon!” Kohane rubbed small circles over An’s back. “What could we do to help them?”

“First, have either of them been in romantic relationships before? If they’re entirely new to such feelings it could make this process slower,” Meiko asked. She was busying herself with cleaning a few dishes that had been used.

“Not that I know of,” An said. Miku hummed in thought, closing her eyes.

“I can’t sense anything to do with a relationship from either of them,” Miku’s breathing was slow and controlled as she dove deep into the SEKAI’s inner workings. “The only people that elicit strong positive feelings are each other, with An and Kohane following behind. There’s a few other names, but nothing as prominent as each other’s.”

“How can you tell all of this?” Kohane asked. She gleefully filed away the fact Toya and Akito thought so highly of the second half of their group.

“Miku has the strongest connection to a SEKAI. As it’s created from your feelings, she can filter through those various feelings to get the answers she needs. She doesn’t do it often, but this is a unique situation.” Meiko explained.

“They’re so disgustingly in love,” Miku mumbled before her eyes opened again. “I felt like I was watching something too intimate and it was just feelings.”

An looked back out at the two. They were sitting on a bench, bodies pressed together as they chatted about who knows what. Gesticulating wildly, Akito had brought out another laugh from Toya. An can’t help but smile at the two.

“We can’t trick them into a date, they already hang out alone so much they wouldn’t notice it,” Kohane muttered.

“What about playing into Akito’s jealousy?” Miku offered. An and Kohane looked at her curiously. “He’s extremely protective over Toya, but Toya is the same towards him. However, Akito is very easily jealous. He doesn’t like when strangers try to get Toya away from him and alludes to them being closer than friends. Most people will assume if you’re grabbing someone by the waist and telling a stranger to scram, you’re defending your romantic partner.”

“Oh? But I don’t want to accidentally hurt Akito,” An said. “He’s a pain in my ass but I don’t want to upset him.”

“Some girls in my class have a crush on Aoyagi! They’ve seen him perform and think he’s super handsome and mysterious. But… I also don’t want to lead them on and have them confess when I know he isn’t interested.”

“You could do something anonymously,” Meiko chimed in. “Perhaps like sending him flowers or something with pick-up lines.”

“We could send them to Weekend Garage! I can get my dad in on it so when Toya stops by, he can show them to Toya but not reveal it's us!” An cheered.

“Toya likes flowers anyway. He’s a romantic at heart,” Miku said.

“Thanks for the idea!”

– – –

“I cannot believe I’ve been wrangled into a middle-school level scheme,” Ken sighed, wiping down the countertops before the evening crowd comes in. “But, I digress. I’ll help you out. Those two have been dancing around each other for long enough.”

“Thanks, Dad,” An said, setting a small cluster of flowers near the cash register. They were neatly wrapped and smelled amazing. She and Kohane spent a while trying to find suitable flowers for this occasion. She’s not entirely sure of the meaning of the flowers, but the florist took every word they said to heart when creating the small bouquet.

“They should be here soon!” Kohane dashed through the door. “They’re just down the road but hard to miss anyway.”

“You didn’t have to run,” An chuckled at her girlfriend’s eagerness. She tossed a cold water bottle from the cooler, and Kohane started gulping it down with no questions asked.

“I wanted to be here for their reactions to the flowers!” Kohane whispered excitedly when she finished drinking the water. An could almost see her vibrating in anticipation.

“Yo!” Akito announced loudly, only second to the bell ringing as they opened the door.

“Hey, you two,” Ken called them over as soon as he noticed them. “Had someone drop these off for you, Toya.”

Ken gently pushed the flowers toward Toya, who stared on in confusion. Toya and Akito approached the counter where the flowers were.

“Flowers? Are you sure they were left for me?” Toya asked Ken. An could see Akito wracking his brain for any useful information immediately.

“Yep, left them for you specifically. They asked to remain anonymous, so I will respect their wishes.” Ken said, trying not to sigh at what An was planning. If they weren’t careful, it could have some serious backlash.

“Oh,” Toya picked them up with newfound gentleness. Akito’s brows were pinched and paired with a pout.

“They’re gorgeous,” An said. “I saw them earlier and asked my dad about it. He didn’t say anything to me either.”

“Does Aoyagi have a secret admirer?” Kohane’s eyes were full of wonder. An had no clue Kohane could be such a convincing actress.

“Probably,” Akito finally spoke up, his tone less than pleasant. “I hear a lot of girls talk about him. Too many to narrow down the field.”

“Do you like them?” An asked. Toya was still looking at the flowers, while Akito stood behind him, doing his best to figure out the sender behind it. She quite liked seeing Akito in such a confused state.

“They are pretty. I really like them,” Toya admitted.

“Flowers would mean even more if you knew who they were from,” Akito huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Shinonome,” Kohane caught their attention. “You seem upset?”

“N-no! Nothing like that,” Akito cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’m just thinking about how Toya deserves a more forward admirer. They shouldn’t be worried to admit their feelings to someone like him.”

“Those are some wise words coming from you,” An said flatly. Akito only responded with a snort. “I think it’s romantic. Come on, Toya! I’m sure we can find a vase of some type to put those in for now,” An said, smiling dazzlingly.

Toya wordlessly caught up to An, leaving behind Kohane and Akito.

“Are you sure you’re not upset, Shinonome?” Kohane sat on a stool, patting the one next to her to encourage him to sit down. He all but collapsed into the seat. “You look… defeated.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised he’s getting gifts. He’s… a great singing partner. Anyone would be lucky to have him as a romantic partner.” Akito propped his chin on the heel of his hand, leaning against the countertop with a sigh. “Maybe it’s a sign to leave it alone.”

“No!” Kohane responded. Her sudden shout shocked Akito. “I-I’m sorry! I just know you’re interested and I don’t want you to give up. Not when I think your feelings could be reciprocated.”

The look in Kohane’s eyes reminded him of when she made her vow to perform with An and surpass RAD WEEKEND. The unfettered confidence and energy gave him just a bit of hope.

“I don’t even know if he’s into guys, Kohane. We’ve never talked about romantic interests or anything.”

“Then the flowers are a great place to start!” Kohane wanted to spill everything she knew, only wanting happiness for both of the boys in their group. Yet, she knew it wasn’t her place. “Figure out how to ask if he would prefer they be from a girl or a guy. You’re a smooth talker, Shinonome. I believe you can do it.”

“I’ll try to bring it-”

“I’ll leave them here for tonight,” Toya said, returning to his spot near Akito. “My father would ask too many questions.”

“Aw, I get it,” An pouted. She set the vase near the register, filling it with water before slipping the flowers in. “They liven the place up though, so I won’t complain with the cute addition for now!”

“Want to stop by my place for food?” Akito said, glancing up at Toya.

“Sure,” Toya hesitated for a moment. “Would it be too much to stay the night?”

“Not at all!” Akito hopped up, slapping his partner’s back before heading towards the door. The confidence Kohane shared with him was still pulsing through his body, he didn’t want to let the opportunity slide by. “Bye, you two!”

Akito watched Toya fumble over a farewell before darting out behind him. Akito could see Toya shiver as the cool evening air hit his skin. It was rare his partner didn’t have his jacket. With no second thought, Akito peeled off his oversized jacket to hand to Toya.

“You’re cold so don’t even try to tell me otherwise,” Akito cut off the spiraling train of thought he could see Toya having.

“Thank you, Akito.”

Toya shrugged on the jacket, sinking into the warmth it already held. They settled into silence for a while as they walked to Akito’s home. The silence wasn’t unusual between them, but an awkward air hung around them.

“Who do you think sent you flowers?” Akito breached. He would never admit he was jealous, but his groupmates knew him too well. They already know without him having to say it.

Especially Toya.

“I’m not sure. I can’t think of anyone,” Toya kept his eyes on his shoes, lightly kicking the rocks that were scattered across the pavement.

“You think it was a girl or a guy? That could narrow it down pretty fast,” Akito mumbled. He was a bit nervous about asking Toya his preference, even indirectly.

“Hm?” Toya's eyes widened, landing on Akito’s face. “I- Good question.”

“Okay… would you prefer they be from a guy or a girl?”

“Just ask me directly, Akito. I don’t mind.” Toya chuckled. “Do you really not know?”

“N-no? Why would I?” Akito huffed, feeling his stomach twist when Toya smiled.

“You know me best,” Toya said, stopping abruptly. He turned to face Akito and entered his personal space with confidence. Toya’s face was mere inches away from his own. “Take a guess.”

Akito could hardly breathe. Toya in such lighting was too pretty to handle. His heart hammered against his chest and his mouth suddenly was dry. Akito couldn’t help but wet his lips, and surely couldn’t help but notice Toya’s gaze drop to the movement.

Years ago, when they first met, Akito never would’ve guessed Toya could be so forward. His time spent with the team and overcoming a hurdle with his father caused Toya to make bounds of progress quickly. Akito was proud of his partner, even when facing him so intimately.

“You would prefer them from a guy, right?” Akito silently prayed he was right.

“See? You already knew,” Toya reached up, brushing the hair from Akito’s eyes. Akito swallowed thickly. His fingers grazed Akito’s skin. The coolness of his skin was a welcome contrast to Akito’s own steadily warming cheeks.

“Just a guess,” Akito mumbled. Toya slowly leaned back, scratching the back of his head.

“I’ve never really been into girls at all,” Toya continued. “It’s just always been other guys that caught my attention.”

“Some have caught your eye before?” It was news to Akito. He thought he knew his partner well enough to notice something like this, but apparently not.

“Kind of? I mainly thought they were attractive. I've not let myself really fall for anyone…” Toya trailed off, eyes darting about.

“I see.”

“It’s only happened once,” Toya said, sighing deeply. “A very handsome and kind boy I met a while back. A little bit mean when he needs to be but has only ever been understanding and proud of me.”

Akito’s heart stopped, restarted, and promptly stopped again. He may be dense, but he isn’t that dense.

“I-”

“Let’s keep going? I’m exhausted,” Toya said. He started walking again, eyes twinkling under the moonlight. The breath Akito had been holding rushed out all at once. He was suddenly dizzy after his partner moved away.

Akito knew he could’ve confessed at this moment. It was the perfect moment. Toya seemed to be interested as well. Yet, something prevented him from doing it. Was it cowardice or his own pride getting in the way?

Aoyagi Toya was the most beautiful person Akito had ever had the pleasure of meeting. His words and voice were soothing, his aura comforting, and his personality shined as brightly as the moon. Yet, he could be fierce and defensive when needed. On the evening of their reconciliation, Toya raised his voice and laid his emotions bare for Akito to see for the first time.

That was the moment he truly began to regret ever hurting Toya, for letting Toya ever feel as if he wasn’t meant to be by his side. He is rational but deeply emotional. Akito hadn’t been in touch with his own emotions for so long.

Perhaps that's why it took him so long to understand what he felt for Toya wasn’t platonic. He loved his partner and best friend without hesitation, yet he could not tell Toya these things just yet.

Akito needed to be sure of himself before pursuing Toya. He wouldn’t be able to survive the guilt if he lead Toya on, only to realize his feelings were fleeting.

“You coming?”

– – –

“I’m broke, Kohane,” An said, her words muffled as she pressed her face into Kohane’s shoulder. “No more flowers. I didn’t think they were this stupid. It’s been days.”

“I think we just need to seriously talk to one of them! Aoyagi should be here soon. Shinonome wound up wrangled into soccer practice from what he said in the group chat,” Kohane said, equally deflated against her girlfriend. She twirled the ends of An’s hair between her fingers. “Were we this bad?”

“We got together a little bit after we met in the grand scheme of things. Those two have known each other for five fucking years.” An groaned obnoxiously. She could feel Kohane laughing at her.

“Am I interrupting?” A mellow voice called out. An wiggled in Kohane’s hold to face their visitor. “You two are quite cozy.”

“Of course! When you land yourself a boyfriend you can have a walking furnace too,” An smiled, nuzzling deeper into Kohane’s embrace. A short burst of laughter and a tiny smile from Toya was a welcome response.

“I… attempted to confess. I think it went over Akito’s head, though,” Toya said, dropping his bag beside a barstool. “Maybe it isn’t time yet.”

An and Kohane stared for several seconds before Kohane loudly wailed.

“What do you mean attempted?” She asked. An could tell Kohane was ready to pull her twin tails out.

“I mainly dropped hints that he was the guy I was interested in, but he didn’t respond.” Toya huffed sharply before running his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure if he didn’t get it or was ignoring it.”

“Aoyagi, I promise he’s just dense!” Kohane squirmed out of An’s grip to run over and bring Toya into a hug. “I can’t say more but just… don’t give up, okay?”

“He’s told you something, hasn’t he?” Toya brought his arms up to hug Kohane in return. She was much smaller than Akito who was really the only person he hugged, so it was a bit awkward. The sentiment was comforting and made him feel loved, but the action itself left an aching stretch in his back.

“Shinonome did, but it’s not my place to say unless he does something ridiculous.”

“This counts as ridiculous to me, Kohane,” An said, ruffling both Toya and Kohane’s hair. “He’s one dense motherfucker.”

Kohane finally pulled away from Toya. Her expression twisted in thought.

“I don’t know what he’s doing,” She muttered to herself. “What’s he waiting for?”

“Shiraishi,” Toya broke through the momentary silence. “You can stop with the flowers now, too.”

“Oh no!” An dramatically draped herself across Kohane’s shoulders. “I’ve been found out! Whatever shall I do?”

“Why is An already being dramatic?” Akito called out as he entered the cafe.

“You’re here early?” Toya could see his hair was still damp, clinging to his skin. He was still breathing heavily as well.

“Practice wrapped up pretty quick,” Akito said, settling down beside Toya. With a loud sigh, Akito leaned into Toya. He rested his head on the other’s shoulder, relaxing completely. “I’m beat.”

“I’ll make you some coffee to liven you back up!” An said, but not before pinching his cheek tightly. Akito weakly swatted at her arm, grumbling about her being rude before settling back onto Toya.

– – –

“You’ve still not confessed to Toya?” Ena said. She dragged him out for pancakes way earlier than even Akito would’ve liked. He was amazed his sister was awake, but there was a chance she hadn’t even slept yet.

“What’s it matter to you?” Akito grumbled, stuffing a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. If this shop didn’t have fantastic food, Akito would’ve blown her off most likely.

“You’ve been… distant.” Ena’s brows scrunched in thought. “You seem wistful? No… Ugh, I’m not good with words. You just aren’t yourself right now. Like you're stuck in that peanut brain of yours.”

“I feel fine, though. I don’t want to say anything and ruin what Toya and I have going on,” Akito said, purposefully ignoring her sad attempt at an insult. He grabbed his cup of coffee, sipping the still piping hot drink slow enough to not burn himself.

“I thought you’d say that,” Ena sighed. She picked up her phone, pecking out a message before sending it. “Calling for backup.”

“Backup?”

“What’s up, li’l brosef?” A sudden warmth collided with Akito’s side. He glanced over, and a headful of pink hair tied to one side told him enough. Akito glared at his sister.

“Good morning to you too, Akiyama.”

“Just call me Mizuki!” They scolded, poking Akito’s side with an acrylic nail.

“When you finally call me Akito I’ll consider it,” Akito said. His grouchy attitude was foiled with the suddenness of calling over a waiter. “Can we get another cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes?”

“You- I’m just fine, li’l bro.”

“You’re here, you might as well eat. I’ll pay for it.” Akito dove into his plate of pancakes once more. “Now, Ena. Wanna explain?”

“I’ll explain, I am the backup after all,” Mizuki said. “That Toya boy is your partner, right? He’s pretty.”

Akito glanced up at Ena, unsure of what to say to Mizuki. She shrugged her shoulders before sipping her drink.

“That’s Toya, yes.”

“You like him, right?” Akito hummed in confirmation. The waiter finally delivered another cup of coffee and pancakes for Mizuki to enjoy. “What’s keeping you from telling him? And don’t give me any bullshit answer.”

“You can think it’s bullshit all you want, I just don’t want to lose him. I almost did once and I don’t want it to happen again,” Akito was irritated. He didn’t mind An and Kohane’s input as they were all part of the same group, but outsider input was not what he wanted.

“What makes you think you could lose him? You two are joined at the hip and are better together. Toya recognizes you as his partner, his best friend, and any other positive title that exists. You have nothing to worry about. Talk things out, Akito.” Mizuki slowly added some cream and sugar to their coffee, adjusting it to their taste as Akito thought hard.

“He hinted that he could be interested in me, but what if I read the situation wrong?” Akito put down his utensils, rubbing at his temples instead. “I don’t want to make him uncomfortable watch him just tolerate it like I know he would! He’ll deal with discomfort and anxiety and sadness alone if he doesn’t want to hurt someone else. I don’t want him to feel that way because of something I’ve done.”

“You two fought before,” Ena said. “You punched him in the fucking face before. And still, you two managed to come out of it stronger than ever!”

“I don’t want to hear it from you!” Akito hissed. He dealt with memories of that night often enough on his own. Akito didn’t want to hear Ena, of all people, chastise him for it.“You argue with your group mates all the time. I’d swear you hate ‘em all if one wasn’t sitting right next to me.”

“Watch your mouth, Akito.”

“Hey, hey,” Mizuki said soothingly. “Shinonome temper really is a thing, it looks like. Both of you just take a breather. Enjoy the rest of your pancakes and coffee. We have all day.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been so quick to bite.” Akito sighed. “You didn’t need to get dragged into this, Akiyama.”

“Hey! I said your name earlier, why won’t you just call me Mizuki?”

Bubbling laughter slowly filled the table once more, easing the tension surrounding the trio.

– – –

The conversation with Mizuki and Ena left Akito in a daze. After Ena and Akito’s brief argument, they settled back down quickly. Their words and advice weren’t much different from what Kohane said, but he would reluctantly admit it was nice to talk to them about it. His mind was settled, but all he could think about was Toya now.

In a moment of either stupidity or bravery, as he strolled back in the direction of his home, Akito quickly phoned Toya. His partner, ever so punctual, answered before the third ring.

“Hey, Toya,” Akito sighed. “Doing anything important today?”

“Not really. You need me for something?”

“If you’d like to hang out that’d be nice. Just bored. It’s always nice to talk to you anyway,” Akito admitted. Even without being in front of Toya, saying such things left his skin warming. He smiled upon hearing laughter coming from the other end of the call.

“Sure. We can meet at the park? Just let me shower and I’ll be on my way.”

“Alright, man. I’ll go on over, it’s a nice day so I may practice before you show up.”

“Always so hard-working… I’ll be there soon. Bye, Akito.”

“See ya, partner.”

After ending the call, Akito huffed a sigh of relief. It would be easy enough to get lost in practice until Toya arrived, he always felt he needed to work harder to keep up anyway. Toya’s classical training paid off even in their chosen path. Akito needed to put in double or triple the effort just to meet Toya’s performance. He didn’t mind the extra work, Akito could see it pay off in the way the crowd would cheer harder or when Toya’s eyes would linger on him just a bit longer.

He found a quiet corner of the park and let himself get lost in the music. Akito tuned out everything that wasn’t going to improve his practice, and maybe he zoned out just a bit too much as well.

The next time he looked up and focused on his surroundings, he could see Toya propped against a tree with two water bottles in his hands. Akito could feel the sweat running down his neck. He scrambled for his phone immediately. It had been almost two hours since he called Toya.

“How long did I keep you waiting?” Akito asked breathlessly. Toya extended a bottle toward Akito in silence. He let Akito choke down as much water as he needed before moving over to sit on the bench.

“Not long. I saw you go through the ending two or three times. You were really into it, I didn’t want to interrupt.” Toya said. Akito slouched down beside Toya. His body was heavy from the short practice, and it was simply because his mind was in other places.

“I’m glad you came,” Akito whispered. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Alright.”

“You remember the night you got flowers at Weekend Garage?” Akito studied Toya’s expression. The other simply nodded, looking at Akito as he waited for him to continue.

“It was strange to receive flowers, so yeah, I remember.”

“You know who they were from, don’t you?” Akito felt Toya would’ve been more surprised if he truly didn’t know the sender. He was far too calm and never brought it up again. If it was a mystery, he would’ve been set on finding the answer.

“It was An.”

Akito blinked rapidly, bolting upright as he took in the information.

“Was it… a setup?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a bit dense, Akito,” Toya said in possibly the fondest tone he could’ve mustered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Akito wasn’t upset with Toya, but he wanted to understand his motives.

“I gave you hints. I wasn’t particularly being subtle. The more hints I gave you the more oblivious you became, it seemed.” Toya sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “An eventually took it into her own hands with the flowers. She never told me why but I did find out it was her doing.”

“How was I supposed to know what you truly meant? It could’ve been anything, and you know that!” Akito said. He raised his voice and immediately wanted to slap himself. He shot up to his feet, and Toya matched him. Their small but noticeable height difference made Akito feel overwhelmed. Toya’s height wasn’t often imposing, but if he was upset, he felt like a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m sorry I can’t be forward!” Toya shouted back at Akito. The red-headed man froze at the outburst, unsure what to say in return. “The thought of you walking away from me if I told you hurt me more than I could have ever imagined. I’d rather push away my own feelings than lose you. If I lose you, then I lose our dream as well…”

Akito stared at Toya.

He was emotional. Tears were welling up in Toya’s eyes, his voice wavering and hands shaking. A subtle tremble of Toya’s lips felt like a stab to his heart.

“Toya- I’m sorry,” Akito tried to lessen the distance between them. However, with every step forward he took, Toya stepped backward. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I promised myself to never do it again, and here I am, making you cry.”

“You still haven’t said anything,” Toya’s words struck him like lightning. An unforgiving shiver crept down Akito’s back. “If you have no plans to say anything then just fucking leave.”

“No!” Akito lurched forward, grabbing Toya’s wrist in his hand. “Let me gather my thoughts, please?”

Toya relented, his gaze softening as he watched Akito work through his thoughts.

“I’m not as good with my feelings as you are,” Akito took in a shaky breath. “I didn’t realize what I was feeling until a few months ago. I kept thinking I wanted to be by your side because you were my partner, but it wound up going deeper than that.”

Akito hesitantly reached out to grab one of Toya’s hands. He paused for a moment in case Toya decided to snatch his hand away, but instead, Toya gently took Akito’s hand within his own. The redhead stared down at their hands. He wanted to memorize how they looked in contrast to each other like this.

“How come you didn’t say anything that night after the flowers? I thought my hints were clear enough,” Toya whispered. The park was quiet enough that his voice was carried by the wind with ease.

“I didn’t want to be wrong. I was scared.” Akito admitted. Toya’s eyes blew open for a moment, recognizing Akito’s confession to fear. He knew his partner preferred to stomp out all fear and anxiety.

“I see.”

“You’re… the best person I could ever have by my side.” Toya tilted his head in confusion. “Every day I wake up knowing I’ll get to speak to and hang out with my friend, my partner, and someone I love. I know if I stumble you’ll be there to catch me and help me stand again. I know if I’m ever deep in my own head you’ll help pull me out. You are my perfect match, Toya.”

“I-“

“I love you, Toya. I was scared then but not now. I will proudly stand here and tell you I love you. Even if you don’t return those feelings, you deserve to know.” Akito finally breathes a sigh of relief after getting everything off his chest.

Toya’s silence and shock were a bit concerning. However, it did slowly fade to his more neutral expression. With a few steps forward, Toya put them chest to chest. Akito’s breath caught in his throat.

“I love you too, Akito.” Toya leaned in a bit closer, brushing their noses together. “May I kiss you?”

Akito answered by pushing up on his toes to press their lips together. His hands came up to tug on Toya’s collar. A warm weight came to rest on Akito’s waist, Toya’s fingertips pressing harder as he responded to Akito’s kiss.

It was clumsy, of course. A first kiss was never perfect, but the sheer emotion and desire were enough to turn their minds hazy. Akito angled his head a bit, allowing for a deeper kiss when Toya parted his lips. When their tongues met, Akito felt as if his nerves were ignited. Every press of their lips, the slide of their tongues, and fleeting touches kept him consumed in all things Toya.

Toya pulled away, panting heavily. Akito could see his skin was flushed, matching his reddened and slick lips. His hair was still impeccably neat. Akito made a mental note to fuck it up the next time they kiss.

He wanted to see Toya let go and let himself enjoy something fully. However, now was not the time to get sidetracked.

“Will you be my boyfriend?” Akito asked. Toya laughed softly, brushing his fingers along Akito’s cheek.

“Thought I was going to have to ask you myself,” Toya pressed a quick peck to Akito’s lips.

“I could really get used to that,” Akito muttered aloud. He was too late to bite his tongue on that thought. However, another kiss from Toya soothes his worries.

“I could too.”

— — —

“You’re both so smart in different ways but you’re both very stupid,” An deadpanned. “But I'm happy for you. It took you long enough.”

“See, Aoyagi! I told you not to give up! I wanted to tell you how Shinonome felt but it wasn’t my place…” Kohane was smiling brightly at the two who were holding hands under a table at Crase Cafe.

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Akito groaned. “It would’ve been embarrassing to try and tell him afterward if he already knew.”

“Okay, but you weren’t subtle at all.” An pointed an accusatory finger toward Akito. “Ever since I met you two, you stared at Toya quite a lot. Like a lovesick puppy, it was cute!”

Akito made a choked noise, swatting away An’s finger.

“Rude! I did not stare,” Akito slouched down into his seat. In doing so, his legs spread further apart to make sure he didn’t slide out of the chair completely. Toya’s thigh was pressed to his own. “I was just observing my partner at the time.”

“Aoyagi,” Kohane tapped on Toya’s hand which was resting on the table. An and Akito were still bickering. Toya tore his gaze away from the lively duo, paying attention to Kohane. “You look really happy. I’m glad you and Shinonome worked things out.”

“Me too, Azusawa,” Toya couldn’t help but feel his heart swell when Kohane’s radiant smile was directed at him. He knew An and Kohane were a perfect match upon seeing them together for the first time. Kohane’s warm and soft personality contrasted nicely with An’s more assertive and emotional one.

Akito, on the other hand, was hot-headed and temperamental. Easily swayed by his own emotions and destructive thoughts, he can become reclusive or flat-out despondent. Toya could see all the brewings of his emotional outbursts, but could also see how much love he had for his friends.

If he truly didn’t like An, he wouldn’t smile as enthusiastically as he did when she would nail a difficult line during a performance. If he truly thought Kohane couldn’t keep up, he wouldn’t offer her sound advice and offer to practice with her more.

Toya sometimes wondered what Akito saw in him to propose being partners. Akito always praised him outright and was a pillar of support when he needed it. It took a while for Toya to feel confident doing the same in return, but they brewed a healthy partnership together. He hoped it would carry over into a romantic relationship as well.

“You’re staring,” Akito said, drawing Toya from his thoughts. Toya quickly glanced around, not seeing An or Kohane anywhere around. “You zoned out for a bit. An and Kohane just headed out to help Ken clean up for the evening.”

“Oh, sorry.” Toya glanced down at their hands which were intertwined.

“No need to be. Want to head to my place? I’m beat,” Toya could see the exhaustion on Akito’s face.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Akito grinned, pressing his lips to Toya’s in response. His free hand came up to rest on Toya’s cheek, lightly kissing his lips over and over again. Toya wanted to deepen the kiss, but he was unsure if he could take that step. He didn’t want to take more.

“Get out of that pretty head of yours, Toya,” Akito murmured into their kiss. “Kiss me as you’d like.”

“I’m worried I might get too… interested,” Toya admitted. His face grew warmer under Akito’s touch. Toya could feel Akito was smiling now.

“I get it. Let’s head back then. We can always continue later,” Akito said, tone shifting into something more playful.

Toya knew he was lucky to have someone like Akito by his side, and he would always be grateful to him.