Chapter Text
Akito didn’t consider himself much of a romantic.
It wasn’t exactly on purpose - seeing all the people around him talk about their crushes or significant others as if it were something they had thoroughly studied and knew each specific detail about was something he never truly understood, but wished he did. For years he harboured these feelings, and it only got more prevalent when his own sister joined in.
Each night, he’d overhear through their thin walls to the enthusiastic calls Ena would have with her girlfriend Kanade, or K as he frequently heard. Sure, it's a bit creepy to peep in on a sibling’s love life especially when it was composed of cheesy phrases dragged out like “K~ I love you!” or “I really can’t believe you’re my girlfriend!” and Akito couldn’t even imagine his sister giving any level of positive emotion near that when talking to him, but that’s what intrigued him so much. What is it about dating that’s so special? How can it completely change a person?
He’d think of that often. It’s something pathetic, really, he’s got better things to worry about like the fact he’s failing his most important classes or he’s got football training he’s falling back on. But all these things can coexist in his mind, and he feels like he’s got a solution. For just two of them, though.
That solution wasn’t exactly to force himself to catch feelings for some smart person and kill two birds with one stone - free studying, free partner - he can’t even think of a person that would apply to that, actually. Tsukasa? Way too much, just in general, and he’s taken by that green-headed girl anyway. Rui? Same reasons, except change the green to pink. An was clearly not an option as she was possibly the biggest lesbian Akito’s seen in his life - so the only one he’s left with is Touya, which took him about two seconds to think he wasn’t really a bad idea.
No, his plan was to set something up to make people (himself, really) believe he was dating Touya. It’d work for everyone - Akito gets to experience the stereotypical teenage dating life, people will talk about him more (everyone’s so obsessed with him, they wouldn’t stop once they found out he got a boyfriend), but Touya… he’d need to think this through a bit more to make it fair. He didn’t want to come off as some desperate-for-love loser (even though that’s exactly what he was), so he’d really have to set up some things if he wants this to not end horrendously.
The thing he wasn’t sure about is if he should tell him the truth as to why. Of course, if you’re dating someone, you should trust them enough to be honest with how you feel - but this wasn’t real (which also is something he might need to constantly remind himself of). He’d come off as vulnerable, weak. But at last, his brain as he was almost literally ‘sleeping on the thought’ decided it’d be the smartest idea to fib it.
Before he drifts off to sleep with Ena blabbering on her laptop as ‘calming white noise’, he recounts what he’ll do:
- Find Touya in school tomorrow.
- ‘Ask him out’.
- Let time pass.
- Fake a breakup, maybe?
Wasn’t exactly the smartest, but hey, he firmly believed what he was going to convince him with had to get him and since they’re already quite close, it’d be even easier. Memorising those steps, he lets himself fall asleep.
Akito imagined that the second he stepped into the school, all thoughts of Touya would wash away and he could attempt to focus on the classes he’s already performing poorly at. And of course, that didn’t happen.
If anything, all his assignments had become more difficult to an excruciatingly high scale ever since the mini-crisis he had the night before. Instead of properly processing the words, numbers, equations, and questions on his paper, everything somehow morphed into the name Touya. He wasn’t sure if this was something that came with having a crush - it couldn’t be that, just an awkward situation waiting to happen that was making him nervous - but he wondered anyway what was so great about having one.
There weren’t many people close to him that he could unload his stress about this to; An would laugh at him for centuries for being this pathetic, Tsukasa would accidentally spill to whoever was close enough to listen, and Touya was obviously off limits as he was the victim of it all. Regardless, he sighs and scribbles unintelligible nonsense on his worksheet, hoping it suffices.
Lunch break could not come any sooner.
He thinks he must have fallen asleep in class with how he bore how long it took to be dismissed. He didn’t, but a sense of grogginess looms over him nonetheless as he walks through the school halls aimlessly, trying to find Touya. His tranquillity is shattered by an obnoxiously loud voice directed right toward him.
“Ah, Akito! How wonderful it is to bump into you here,” Tsukasa beams like he means it, “Where are you headed?”
Akito’s tired enough, and shuts him down with a low ‘looking for Touya, but I don’t know where he is, and it’s fine’. It’s nearly the truth, but he wants to stay as far away from the Tenma as possible and hopes he’ll just walk away after hearing that.
“Go in the library, he’ll surely be there studying! You know, you really should do the same—“
“I get it! I’ll go there, thank you.” Akito feigns being pleased, a painful forced grin shaping his face. Being bothered by Tsukasa was apparently a mutual experience at that moment, as a shorter girl tugs on his jacket as if to say 'let's leave' with a face cold as ice. Akito thought his resting face was bad, but getting a good look at who he realises is Kusanagi made him realise he was nowhere near. He quickly stamps these thoughts away once he realises the girl is staring back at him, eyebrows furrowed disapprovingly. Not wanting this already awkward situation to continue, he tears himself away and walks off. He’ll just have to remind himself where the library is, first.
Entering the library for the first time in he doesn’t even remember how long is something he’ll definitely have to get used to if this stupid plan of his works. He’s still shocked at himself - he’s fallen this low that he’s about to ask his best friend to pretend to date him just so that he and others can stop thinking he’ll die alone. Just a normal day in the life of Shinonome Akito, apparently.
His eyes scan the room, looking for any dual-toned head stuck in some book. He definitely looks like he doesn’t belong in this room with just about everything he was doing; especially the fact he’d opened the door, walked in, and stood there not moving an inch. Thankfully it doesn’t take too long for him to notice Touya, doing exactly as presumed.
He walks to him, pulls a chair from under the table in front of him and has a seat. When he replayed this exact moment in his head a hundred times over, Touya would drop his book and reply with an eager ‘Akito!’ and place all his focus onto him. He'd tell him of the plan he still was quite embarrassed about but not without a few warnings and an occasional 'please, I'll do anything', and Touya would agree to it and they could both move on with their day. But when it actually comes to it, he's lost for words.
Touya does put his book down, which is at least one step done. Akito isn't sure how to say his words, both with it being a library (Touya would probably reprimand him for being a decibel too loud) and also the fact he doesn’t know where to start.
“Touya,” he whispers, possibly a bit too quiet for him to hear, “Any chance you could do me a pretty big favour?”
“Sure. What is it?”
Akito’s fingers land on the table between them, dully drumming to distract himself. “Could you, uh, pretend to date me for some time? I know it sounds really dumb, and I know this is more than just some favour, but listen—”
“Calm down, you’re so loud, ” Touya diffuses ever so solemnly, muttering that last part under his breath. “Why?”
“‘Cause— I like you a lot, and I maybe might have told a few people we’re already dating, and it would be weird if we don’t act the part?” He knows he’s lying, but God is he an award-winning actor for how well he’s keeping his face emotionless.
Touya winces. He wants to snap back with ‘why the hell did you do that?’ but it seems the both of them already knew that would be said.
“I know it’s stupid, and I very much am for that, but please. You’ve gotta help me out here.”
Touya sighs before replying, “I’m surprised you like me. Fine, but what do I get out of this? You put yourself in this situation, you know.”
Akito still hasn’t thought of that part yet, or how to say anything to the fake confession’s reply. “Uh, anything? I just panicked and came to you, I didn’t really think rationally,” he trips over his words.
“I know you don’t,” Touya unnecessarily affirms, “Okay then. Anything. What do I have to do?”
“Maybe just… hold hands with me, be close to me, stuff like that? I’m not experienced, I’ve no clue.” Akito says, knowing full well Touya isn’t either.
Touya ignores that last comment. “Don’t you think there’d have to be more than that if you want people to think this is real?”
“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think you’d be fine with it.”
“We’re ‘dating’ now. I should be fine with everything, and you should too.”
Somehow, the way he hears those words as if Touya was destined to bestow him with that information makes his heart stutter. He clicks his tongue, “Good, then I guess this starts now.”
“How long did you say this was for, again?”
“I didn’t, you decide. That’s the amount of time we get to practise a break-up.”
“We’re practising dating too, you know, but… a few days?”
“That’s too short. How about two weeks?”
“We have a holiday in between that time.”
“Even better! It’ll be more convincing.” Akito finalises, realising he sounded a bit too enthusiastic with what he just said (and the whole thing in general).
“Alright then. Two weeks, I’m your ‘boyfriend’.”
Akito reaches over to hug Touya, and thinks it’s actually a better idea to try what he’d been afraid of doing this whole time. So instead, he bends across the table, kissing Touya on the cheek.
“I do hope you'll get better at that.” Touya snarkily mentions.
“Shush.” Akito flushes a light red, gathering himself to leave. Just as he pushes open the door, it all hits him like a ton of bricks.
He really just did that. His stupid ‘plan’ (whyever did he keep calling it that) worked. He’s going to walk around school with his best friend - ‘boyfriend’ now - and be seen as a couple. It’s all real. And again, his heart skips a beat imagining that. Does he manage to do any work the rest of that school day? Just as much as he cares about it now - none.
Dinner at the Shinonomes’ was never eventful. Almost each evening, there were the two siblings quietly having their food sat across from each other, occasionally breaking the silence with a rude observation. They both believe they get along despite that.
“What are you so happy about?” Ena remarks through the food in her mouth.
“How can you tell?”
It’s a dumb question, really. Akito is eating like the plate’s gonna run from him with a genuine grin deep set on his face. He did think it was rational to ask, only for the fact Ena wouldn’t ever look at him.
“Is everything you say stupid?” she sighs, half-joking, “Just tell me. I know something happened, you’re never this happy around me.”
“Didn’t need to say that last part, that’s not true,” Akito (untruthfully) assures, and it takes all the life in him to truly lie to her face, “I have a boyfriend now.”
Ena sets her fork down, leaning back in her chair before responding; “Really? The pathetic boy I’m looking at right now who’s afraid of dogs and can’t eat carrots without acting like a baby has someone who enjoys his presence so much they’ll date him?”
“You aren’t any better than me, I swear you’re nocturnal. Isn’t this your breakfast?” he mumbles, knowingly completely off-topic just to piss her off that much, “But yeah, I do. It’s that Aoyagi kid too - he’s really smart, you know.”
“As if I’ll know him,” the older Shinonome conveniently disregards the jab at her sleeping schedule, “Good for you, I guess. I hope he gets your grades up.”
“Why does every—tch, whatever.”
That interaction was probably the most they had talked to each other in weeks. A few minutes of silence with the occasional sound of cutlery scraping porcelain resume, and Akito’s zoned out far enough to not notice Ena has put both her plate and herself away already. It’s fine, he’s got what’s on his mind off his chest and all he needs is for the day to be over.
Just like his sister, he sets his plate away and retreats to his room, collapsing on his bed. He should probably change but his lack of doing anything all day tired him out, and he isn’t bothered enough to get out of the covers he’s already entangled himself in.
He pauses to think about where he’s at now. About 24 hours before this moment, he thought up this crazy idea and only regarded it as some classic idiotic thing he does. But now it’s real, Touya’s okay with it (even suggested more, and he’s still trying to decipher why), and he can’t believe himself.
This was going to be a long two weeks.