Archive of Our Own

It all started with a calling on the bluest day of July.

The sky was painted in a perfect blend of azure, and under the warm sun were two boys in white tank tops, beading in pearls of sweat and squealing with laughter as one chased the other with a rainbow pinwheel, running beside the road. 

Rui watched them from above behind a locked window. 

Ring!

Behind him lay his lifelong companions: bits of pieces of gears, motors, electric clips, bolts, nuts, and screws, along with screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers, all littered across the bedroom floor that was layered with manuscripts of unseen shows. One of his fairy drones was positioned in the centre, its eyes dimmed grey as half of its chest was ripped open, revealing its myriad wires. 

Ring! 

Ever since the entire team of Wonderlands x Showtime was granted a short summer holiday (courtesy to Emu’s father), everyone had occupied themselves with a list of summer activities, and Rui was probably the only person without at least some form of a schedule. Cooped up inside a room creating robots and planning shows all day isn’t what people usually expect as a summer holiday activity, but it was fun enough for Rui. 

Well, not really. He was starting to get bored doing the same thing for the past five summers. 

And now Rui was spending his good time staring at the blue sky. 

Ring!

The phone next to him buzzed again, pulling his attention to the screen. Rui stared at the phone as it slowly crawled away from him with vibrations. 

Ring!

…he should probably answer the call. 

Rui glanced back at the mess he had created in his room and the tangled circuits within his new robot. That alone would probably take him another hour to finish. 

Well, might as well answer the call then. 

Rui caught the phone, swiped right, and brought his phone near his ear without glancing at who the caller was. 

Big mistake. 

“Hel-”

“RUIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!”

Rui flinched, and his phone immediately slipped away from his grip and plummeted onto the floor. There was still a muffled “RUI” scream from the phone, even after it dropped far away from his ear.

There was only one person who would scream with such intensity.

Still shocked by the shout, Rui picked up the phone with his hands trembling, putting it on speaker.  

“Tsukasa, can you not scream at the phone next time?”

“Oh! Sorry about that!” Tsukasa apologised with an embarrassed chuckle, “I was just wondering how my great director is doing so far!” 

Rui glanced back at the scattered metals on the floor. “I was…working.” 

“Hmm? Working on what?” 

“Something for the next show.”

“Really? That’s great! I didn’t expect you’d be willing to work during the holidays, though.” 

“Well, I have nothing special to do anyway.” 

Tsukasa went quiet for a moment. “Can I know what you are working on?” 

Rui grinned. “I’m not telling you.” He stood up and picked up one of the papers on the floor, a page of an old script Tsukasa had written for him. “That’s a surprise.”

A grunt could be heard from the end of the line. “I…honestly don’t know if I should be worried about that….”

“Oh, how cruel, Tsukasa~” Rui faked a gasp, “Do you really think so lowly of me?” 

“Aghh, you know that’s not what I meant!!!” 

Rui chuckled at the reaction Tsukasa gave. It was refreshing, teasing Tsukasa and hearing his comic frustration after staying alone for three days straight. Though, that didn’t answer a question Rui had.

“Tsukasa, why are you calling me all of a sudden?”

“...Oh!” 

Tsukasa exclaimed as if he had just remembered what he was supposed to do. “Well, I…I just wanna check up on you, y’know? I mean, I haven’t seen you for three days! Which didn’t seem like a lot but…as your leader and best friend, I want to see how my group mates are doing! Yeah! Because I’m so kind and all that. HA HA HA!” 

…well that was a bit odd. 

Even behind a screen with nothing but his voice, it was apparent something had changed in Tsukasa’s tone. He sounded cheery and dramatically loud as usual, but his awkward stuttering gave Rui a small brow raise. 

“You sure are, Tsukasa.” Rui said, flopping onto the bed with his phone beside him, “You sure are.” 

“Of course I am!! I am a world future star, after all!”

Rui hummed. The room was flooded with silence. 

“...Say, Rui,” Tsukasa started, “what else were you doing…besides work?”

“Oh, the usual things, I suppose.” Rui said, “Eat, fix robots, plan shows and sleep. Nothing much other than that. I don’t tend to busy myself during the summer.”

“That’s it?!” Tsukasa exclaimed, “Jeez, and people say you’re the weird one….”

“Hm? Does that mean you’re the weird one?” 

“What?! Stop twisting the words from my mouth!!” 

“Fufu, I was joking.” Rui laughed as he heard Tsukasa grumble, sitting up from his bed. “I just… don’t see the point in doing much during the summer, I guess….”

Rui trailed off as he glanced at the window again. The orange rays of summer poured through and seeped into the dusty grey floor. The sky had deepened into a vibrant blue, dotted with soft little white pieces of cotton candy that doted on children’s hearts. It was serene and clear, yet tempting, containing a sweet flavour one cannot resist, just barely separated from a piece of glass. 

It was just a matter of time before he finally appreciated summer and used it to its fullest. People have said to never waste your youth, and Rui had already used up 90% of it by spending time with no one but himself. 

Well, it’s not like people wanted to hang out with him anyway.

“Rui?”

Rui looked back at the phone lying next to his side. “Yes?”

There was a pause, a slight hesitancy, and Rui didn’t need to see Tsukasa’s face to sense it. 

“Actually, I lied.” 

“...Huh?”

“I lied…about why I called. Actually, no! I did call to check up on you, but…I had another reason.” 

Tsukasa’s voice was quiet, perhaps too quiet, two words Rui had never thought of describing Tsukasa at all. There was a faint shuddering exhale from the far end of the line — almost inaudible, yet Rui picked up on it. 

“I want to go on a trip with you.”

…Oh? 

“I actually had most of it planned. I was just checking up on you to see if you’re free.” Tsukasa mumbled in his eerily shy voice, “and since you aren’t that busy, I was wondering if… you’re interested.”

Oh. 

…Honestly, it was something Rui should’ve expected. It’s pretty standard for people to invite their friends on a trip during the summer, right? Tsukasa wouldn’t just check on him without a specific purpose, but Rui didn’t expect this as a possibility. Half the times he received a phone call from Tsukasa was either about the shows back at Wonder Stage or quick reminders and checkups, and the other half consisted of him prattling to Rui about a random topic he just wanted to rant about. 

So this was new. This was definitely new. 

“.....Did you invite the others?”

The phone went dead for five seconds. 

“W-well…to be honest, I didn’t plan on inviting them,” Tsukasa admitted. “I’m pretty sure Emu went on a trip with her family and Nene…I think she’s busy doing some vocal workshop thing...I think they wouldn’t be interested anyway, so….yeah. It’s just the two of us.”

For some reason, Rui found his friend incredibly suspicious. 

Of what? He didn’t know. It was just how Tsukasa spoke today…was a bit odd from his typical character. Tsukasa stuttering and having pauses in his speech only happens once in a blue moon — that is, if you can even see it with the way he hides everything. 

Even so, Tsukasa was telling the truth. Nene and Emu were not free as far as he knew. But the way Tsukasa mentioned how both of them were “probably” not interested in whatever he was bringing Rui to do stuck out to him…

It’s just the two of us.

It was as if Tsukasa was deliberately trying to only bring Rui with him.

Rui sprung up from his bed, grinning at the thought. For once in his life, he was this intrigued by a simple statement. 

Now, this is getting interesting. 

“Okay,” he answered, “but where are we going exactly?”

“Ah, so you’re in!” Tsukasa exclaimed, regaining some confidence after Rui’s interest. “Well, since you like to surprise me so much, I’m going to make that a surprise too! And so is everything we will be doing on this trip!”

“That…sure is a lot of surprises.” 

“The only thing I’m telling you is that it is a two-day trip, and I’m not going to spoil the rest. This is what you get for keeping almost everything you do a secret.” Tsukasa teased, then putting up his usually boisterous voice, “BUT DO NOT WORRY, RUI! You will feel the excitement of uncovering every event I have planned for you during these two days, and I promise you that I will bring an unforgettable journey to your summer life!” 

A two-day trip…with Tsukasa. 

With only Tsukasa. 

That alone piqued Rui’s interest. 

It could be with the way he phrased the trip. Rui already had an image in his mind: an adventure from a children’s treasure-hunting tale; Rui was the oblivious alchemist thrown into a new world, being led by Tsukasa, the ambitious knight, as they traversed new destinations and discovered treasures along the way. 

“Listen,” Tsukasa said, drawing Rui’s attention back, “I don’t want you to go through the summer holidays without at least enjoying some fun. I know we had a lot of stuff going on back at Phoenix Wonderland, and there will be even more challenges later on, but right now, let’s just not care about that.” Rui could picture Tsukasa pumping up his chest as he raised his voice again, “You will learn to understand the true enjoyment of the summer holidays! I, TENMA TSUKASA, will take you on the best holiday trip you will ever have in your entire life!”

The golden light rays pouring from the window illuminated half of his room as the sun burned passionately, contrasting with the deep blue sky it resided in. The bluish-grey floor scattered with gears, broken parts of metal, and manuscripts no longer mattered to him. Rui picked up his phone and stepped forward, the bright light shining on his face, as he unlocked the window. A hot summer breeze swept through the creaks, followed by the distant whistle of a free bird. 

Everything was calling to him, and Tsukasa started it all. 

“So what do you say, Rui?”

Perhaps this year, he could finally enjoy being an adolescent too.

“Sure.” 

“YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Tsukasa screamed for the second time during this phone call, and Rui could almost feel his ears ringing. Rui didn’t mind it, though. His friend deserved to be just excited as he was. 

“So, when is it?”

“TOMORROW!!”

“T-tomorrow?”

“YUP!” Tsukasa proudly announced before he went quieter again, “Well, unless you don't want to then…”

Rui smiled. The trees swayed in the breeze. “You know I don’t mind anything you decide, Tsukasa.” 

“I-yes, of course! Tomorrow it is!” Tsukasa stammered a little bit as he spoke, “Meet me at Shibuya train station at 11 in the morning, okay? And also remember to pack things for two days and one night. Oh, you would absolutely love this trip! I can feel it!! HA HA HA—oh, yes?”

Tsukasa got cut off midway through his talk by something, and it wasn’t until that moment did Rui found himself entirely immersed in Tsukasa’s voice. 

“Ah, I have to leave now. Saki wanted me to help her pack her stuff, and I have to help with dinner soon.” Tsukasa said, sounding a bit disappointed but nonetheless happy. “I’m gonna see you tomorrow then! Bye!” 

“Oh, bye Tsukasa—”

Tsukasa hung up.

Rui stared at the screen for a moment. Then he lowered his phone and glanced back to his room.

He was alone again, with a dissected robot in his cramped little room, back to where he had started.

Trains stations had always been dull. It was the same milky marble walls and blank pieces of metal. Bars of light shone from the ceiling, reflecting shadows of busy people traversing across the platform on the speckled floor. They came and went like a flowing stream, all carrying a destination and a single purpose, following the beats of repetitive beeping and turning of the turnstile gates. 

And there was Rui, standing near the gates supported by the pale wall, carrying a half-filled backpack.

People strode past him, unaware of his minor existence, and Rui’s gaze wandered around the lobby. It was a few minutes past 11, and Tsukasa still hadn’t arrived. Rui should just be patient, he knew this, but an uneasiness was bubbling inside him. Most of the time when he was alone outside, he was performing mini shows and balloon tricks on the streets or at least doing something.  

Maybe that’s why he hated going out alone. 

The unbearable feeling of watching everyone around him passing by, minding their own business while ignoring his presence, reminded him so much of a time he dared not to return. 

“RUUIIIII!!”

A bright voice boomed through the station lobby, catching Rui off guard and everyone else within a 10-metre radius. 

Tsukasa was running towards him, and already from a distance, his golden Hawaiian dress shirt was radiating in the summer light. The shirt was ripped open, exposing his white T-shirt underneath. There were a pair of star-shaped orange sunglasses on top of his head, bouncing and threatening to drop as Tsukasa ran without a care in the world. Tsukasa waved at Rui with the other hand tugging his backpack, almost hitting the people passing by him.

From far away, Tsukasa looked like he was shining from the crowd.

When Tsukasa got to Rui, he bent down and gasped for air. Rui grinned. 

“Oh my, it seems someone had a hard time catching the bus.”

“It’s not my fault — the bus decided to — delay itself!” Tsukasa blamed through gasps, “Also, I’m only late for —” he glanced at his watch, “—seven minutes!” 

Rui hummed, glancing at a monitor screen displaying each train’s departing times. “Let’s hope we can catch our train then.” 

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.” Tsukasa said, straightening his back now, “I think we still have some time!” 

Tsukasa looked the same when Rui last saw him, but he looked more….relaxed. His casual yet glamorous dress was deliberate as if he was about to go on a trip to a tropical country, yet in reality, he was just taking Rui somewhere else in Japan.

“That is quite a look you got there, Tsukasa.”

“I know right?!” Tsukasa beamed when Rui mentioned his outfit, “Saki bought the shirt for me, but I’ve never really used it. And now that I’m taking you on a summer trip, I have decided to dress suitably for the occasion!” Tsukasa readjusted his sunglasses and struck a pose similar to one of a power ranger. 

Rui chuckled. When Tsukasa entered the train station and called out his name, all that uneasiness vanished within a second. Despite being obnoxiously loud, Tsukasa still managed to bring a smile to his face. 

It was almost like magic. 

Rui immediately pulled away from the thought when Tsukasa held his wrist. 

“Anyways, I bought the train tickets already.” Tsukasa fished two train tickets from his pants pocket and shoved one onto Rui’s hand. “You don’t have to pay me for anything.”

Rui looked down at the crumpled ticket lying on his palm. 

“... we’re going to Yokohama?”

“Yup!” Tsukasa said, showing a wide, proud smile. “And I’m not telling you specifically where!”

Well, Rui didn’t expect that. He never imagined himself going somewhere this far from home…let alone anywhere aside from Shibuya or Tokyo. 

“We should better get going now. I don’t want to actually be late for the train!” 

Tsukasa tugged his wrist and dragged him to the gates. Rui blindly followed. Within that one second, he was paralysed by the gentle touch of warmth from Tsukasa’s hand. 

“Are you sure you know where we’re going?” 

They had just left the Yokohama station, and now they were on the main road, travelling to their first destination. Since it just happened to be noon when they arrived at Yokohama, Tsukasa promised Rui they were having lunch first.

…or so they were if they weren’t already on the street for thirty minutes. 

“Tsukasa, I think we should just eat somewhere else—”

“NOPE!” Tsukasa denied Rui’s offer, his eyes still glued to the google map of Yokohama displayed on his phone. “I have planned to go there for a specific reason. And I will not tell you until we get there!” 

Rui suppressed a sigh, yet he couldn’t help but smile. He would be pretty intrigued by Tsukasa bringing him on a trip arranged all by himself if Tsukasa wasn’t this stubborn in revealing where they were going. This whole time it felt like they were going nowhere but circling in a loop. 

“You’re lucky you didn’t invite Nene.” Rui said, trying to spot whatever restaurant Tsukasa might be bringing him to, “She would be very upset right now.” 

“Well, this is what I meant when I said Nene and Emu would probably not be interested-” 

Tsukasa stopped in his tracks. 

“...Tsukasa?”

Tsukasa squinted his eyes, then looked at his phone, and then he looked up again. 

“...I think…this is it.” 

“Oh?”

Tsukasa rushed to a restaurant near the street corner and looked up to see the banner. 

“YES!!! WE MADE IT!!”

Rui followed, looking up to where Tsukasa was looking. They were standing just below a tiny dome-like porch roof. One welcoming carpet away was a restaurant containing a bustling yet calming atmosphere, displaying its ambience through its vast portrait-like windows. The restaurant was built with almond-coloured wood, and with the help of a tiny sapling and several hanging baskets of ivy, it looked like a magical cottage that appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the city.  

“It’s a steakhouse!” Tsukasa said, gesturing at the banner above the restaurant like an exciting tour guide making a grand introduction to their tour’s first destination. “Toya went to this restaurant with his friends once when they went to Yokohama. He said it was a pretty nice restaurant. And I can guarantee you: no vegetables! Even if there is, you can just feed them to me.” Tsukasa pushed the doors open, announcing his presence to the entire restaurant with a tinkering of a small bell. “Feel free to order anything you like! I’ll pay for everything. I am a world future star, after all. As expected of me! HAAAAA HA HA HA HA!” 

With that loud speech, Tsukasa strode into the restaurant, and Rui followed. In truth, Rui did admire Tsukasa’s confidence, but he would never understand how Tsukasa ignored all the stares Rui was currently receiving. 

Then again, it wasn’t any different than what Rui usually got at school. 

It was still early, so there weren’t many people, yet the faint chattering and utensils clicking, accompanied by the soft pop music, was enough to make the restaurant more lively than it looked. The smell of wagyu beef mixed with butter and ponzu sauce wafted in the air, and it could make anyone drool in awe. The waiter brought them to a window seat, which allowed them to see the baskets of plants just outside the porch. Shortly after they ordered, she got them a slip of paper. 

Tsukasa looked at the receipt and cringed. “Did….did you just order the most expensive food here?”

“Hm? I thought you said I can order anything and you’d pay for it.”

“W-well, I did say that….”

When the food arrived, Rui did what every sane man does: dumping the putrid little green peas and carrots all on Tsukasa’s plate before enjoying his delicious meal. He might have burnt Tsukasa’s wallet from ordering the most expensive steak in the restaurant, but it was worth it. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the seasoning was balanced to the point of absolute perfection. Well, perfection might be an exaggeration, but to Rui, it was the ideal meal he would ever ask for on a trip.

“ —and then, when we all thought the jester would be sacrificed to the witches, lo and behold, the PRINCESS! OUT OF FREAKING NOWHERE! She just came crashing down from the skies, and with a huge flip she landed on the stage PERFECTLY. Then — we get to the climax —THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY!! All our characters fought against the Demon Horse, and at that moment, the Demon Horse’s minions came rushing through from the audience seats onto the stage —oh! It’s kinda like the zombie robot chase scene we did back at Wonder Stage!” 

Tsukasa was recalling the entirety of a comedy he watched with his family a few weeks ago, putting all his attention and energy into reenacting all the character’s voices and flailing his hands in the air, leaving his half-eaten steak untouched. Despite Tsukasa ruining the day of other customers around him by destroying their ears, his lively and vivid retelling of the show was similar to watching the actual play itself. 

Rui wasn’t focusing on the plot, though. Seeing Tsukasa so involved with and talking about a play he was passionate about was captivating enough. Tsukasa always had a bright aura radiating from him. Whatever he says or does, it somehow makes Rui smile even more. No matter how loud he is, Tsukasa’s voice is always like a tranquiliser that relieves Rui’s mood, which makes him sink deep into the sound of his words, to just focus on nothing but his voice. 

Your voice sounds so pretty.

Tsukasa’s dramatic speech was halted with an abrupt silence. He stared wide-eyed straight at Rui.

“...what?”

“What?”

“...What did you just say?”

Rui shot his hand to his mouth before he breathlessly chuckled. “Oh my, I said that out loud, didn’t I?” 

Ah, how careless he was! Slipping up about a tiny obsession that was meant to be a secret. But Rui didn’t regret it. No one would appreciate Tsukasa’s expressive and boisterous voice the way he would. 

Well, since the compliment was out, he might as well elaborate more on it.

“Your voice is really nice to listen to. When you are not screaming all the time, that is.” Rui expected an offended gasp from the other, but Tsukasa just continued to stare at him. “When you sing, you put so much energy into it, making the song fun and exciting. It always manages to make people smile in one way or another. But when you’re not singing, your voice still sounds so clear and…refreshing. It’s endearing to listen to you sometimes. Even if you are quite loud, your voice still stands out. It always makes me happy to hear you talk.”

There was silence. Pure silence. Even the chattering and music seemed to dim, and nothing was moving except the delicate green leaves swaying in the wind outside. 

Tsukasa was stunned. His body wasn’t moving an inch. Rui wasn’t even sure if he was breathing.

“Tsukasa?”

That snapped the blonde back to reality. “Oh-um-I uh-that’s very kind of you, Rui.” He turned the other way, staring at the window now. “Th-thank you…”

Despite his face turning to the other side, the sunlight from outside revealed a pink hue on Tsukasa’s cheeks. Rui smiled as the two continued to eat without saying anything, letting the tinkling sounds of cutlery continue to fill their blank conversation. 

“.....you too.”

Rui looked up. “Hm?”

“You…have a nice voice too,” Tsukasa muttered, in a voice so small it was uncharacteristic of him. “It’s…so calming, but it also wields power. And you never seem to go off pitch….” 

Tsukasa tried to turn his head away from the window and face Rui, but his eyes still darted towards the side, his fingers slightly fidgeting.

“It’s-it’s like–how do I say this…it’s very contradictory,” Tsukasa explained, putting up his smile to cover his nervousness. “You never thought someone could have a soft voice yet be so strong in vocals. And somehow…you have the perfect balance of it.” Tsukasa paused, finally putting his gaze onto Rui. “....I like it.”

Rui sat still.

Despite things moving next to them, it felt like everything had stopped, unable to break the moment. Second by second, a temporary bliss bloomed in his heart and slowly engulfed it whole — it was happiness, coated by a sweet dash of excitement, and Rui felt like he had gained everything he’d ever wanted.

Tsukasa likes my voice. 

“...Thank you so much, Tsukasa!”

Tsukasa’s cheeks got redder, but he continued to put his goofy smile on his lips. “Y-You’re welcome, Rui! Ha ha ha….” 

The lively jazz music continued to ring through the restaurant, and the plants just outside the window danced to the rhythm of the summer breeze. Rui giggled, playing with the food on his plate with a fork, as he watched Tsukasa digging his head deeper into his meal, failing to conceal his blooming red cheeks.

After a short ten-minute bus ride, they checked in at a hotel. Tsukasa did some quick registration, got the keys and entered their hotel rooms for the first time.

“I’ve checked the photos of the rooms this hotel has, and it isn’t so bad, so I picked it here.” Tsukasa said, flinging his shoes off as they both entered the room, “As I've said, I would pay for everything, and you don’t have to pay me back. WOOOO!!” He ran across the room and launched himself onto the closest bed, plummeting into the white mattress. 

Rui walked over and sat on the other bed. Tsukasa booked a room with two separate beds, but it wasn’t as cramped as Rui thought. There were at least some spaces in the room to walk around, which was already wide enough compared to most hotels in Japan. Outside the large windows, concealed by a layer of a silky white curtain, was a view of the city and the baby blue sky. 

It definitely looked a lot more expensive than other hotels.

“Tsukasa, you’re so nice to me. This is amazing.”

“............................o-oh, well, of course I am! I am a future star after all!!”

Tsukasa had his face pressed against the sheets, so Rui couldn’t see his reaction, but from the seven-second delay of an answer, he could tell Tsukasa was stunned by his comment again. 

The rest of the afternoon wasn’t anything too spectacular. Tsukasa brought Rui out for some brief shopping, and Rui took this opportunity to scour all the candy shops and every animal-themed store he could find. Tsukasa claimed their next event would be so grand that both needed time to mentally prepare themselves. Of course, with the way Tsukasa disguised everything as a surprise, Rui didn’t know what he was preparing for. Still, the shopping trip left him quite satisfied (he returned with packets of soda candy and a small platypus keychain), so he didn’t complain about it. 

Time flew quicker than he expected, and now Tsukasa was blindfolding him. 

“Is this really necessary?” Rui asked, tugging the black cloth that covered his eyes. His other hand was extended for Tsukasa to drag his body along. 

“YES! This way, you would be even more surprised by my surprises!”

“Well, I’m certainly surprised I haven’t bumped into anyone yet.” 

“OF COURSE YOU WOULDN’T!!!! I am the BEST leader you can imagine! Under my leadership, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT —oh, be careful to your left.”

The next thirty minutes consisted of the two of them repeatedly walking and stopping (and almost tripping over ten times) until they reached their stop, and Tsukasa finally took Rui’s blindfold off.

“Ah, finally I can see the light. It really started to feel like I was getting kidnapped.” Rui said with a chuckle.

“Seriously? Even then, I wouldn’t do it in front of that many people. I’m not stupid.” Tsukasa huffed, putting the blindfold in his backpack. “Anyways, WE’RE HERE!”

Rui looked up, and the first thing he saw was the flashing golden lights piercing his eyes. As he squinted, the lights began to take shape, forming several yellow lights and a banner with its edges lined with tiny light bulbs. 

It’s a theatre.

“We’re about to watch a popular play that was all over the internet recently! I heard you were interested in it, so I bought two tickets!” Tsukasa shoved another piece of paper inside Rui’s hand again. “It just so happened to be touring in Yokohama this week, and I thought we could watch it together.”

The play Tsukasa brought him to see was known to have shocked the entire realm of theatre arts in Japan, but that was all the information Rui got about the play. It could’ve been two weeks ago during rehearsal when Rui mentioned he was interested in watching it, though that was more of a saying than a goal. Rui never planned to watch it during the summer, let alone planning to do anything. 

Somehow, Tsukasa still remembered.

“RUI!” Tsukasa called out his name. He was already halfway inside the theatre, standing far away. “WHY ARE YOU STILL STANDING THERE? THE SHOW’S ABOUT TO START!”

Somehow, despite the shouting, Tsukasa glowed under the orange fluorescent lights like a single bright star in the silent dark sky, and he looked absolutely stunning.

To tell the truth, Rui had never been this emotional about a play.

He didn’t cry for it. Rui doubted if he had ever shed a tear for fictional media before, but that’s beside the point. This play was different. From the very moment, the raw footage of war and suffering was displayed in front of him, seizing him with utter hopelessness. It was fake, Rui reminded himself, but part of him was convinced it wasn’t. The play was a cry for help to the audience, and Rui could do nothing but watch as the tragic tale of two siblings struggling to keep their tight bond together and surviving in a world threatening to tear them apart. 

The brother let out a soul-crushing scream, weeping and shaking his sister to open her eyes, and a wave of intense heavy emotions all compacted onto Rui’s chest. The ash-white stage was dazzling, to the point it was painful. 

Then, a sniffle. 

It was nearly inaudible, muffled by the drama on stage, but it was close. Close enough for Rui’s ears to pick it up, to snap him out of fiction. 

Rui glanced at the blonde sitting next to him. 

Tsukasa’s figure was shrouded in darkness; his golden hair was the only thing Rui could make out. The front of his body was exposed by the white light emitting from the stage, revealing he wasn’t watching the play at all, having his head turned away from the light. His right hand clenched into a trembling fist, fingers digging into the skin. 

Another sniffle.

Rui was sure where it came from this time. 

“...Tsukasa?” 

Tsukasa flinched at his name being whispered next to him, turning his head away even more. Rui bent over to look properly at Tsukasa, but he scooted further to the side, hiding his face.

Oh.

Tsukasa was crying. 

Rui froze at the realisation. 

It shouldn’t be a shock to him; he had seen Tsukasa bawl his eyes out before, though the chances were relatively low. But most of the time, Tsukasa cried when he was overwhelmed by happiness or gratitude, proclaiming with a loud voice how much he loved everyone or how happy he was, and he would at least be smiling.

This wasn’t it. 

Tsukasa hid his face away from the blinding light, away from everyone’s viewing, sniffling quietly as if that would suck up his tears. 

This was the first time Rui saw Tsukasa actually being sad.

“Tsukasa,” Rui tried again, “are you alright?”

Tsukasa didn’t respond, only covering his face with his hand, trying to muffle himself, but none of his attempts to hide his tears worked as a cracked sob escaped his mouth.

With that, Tsukasa gave up completely, and he was straight-up crying.

“Ah-”

Rui was at a complete loss, staring dumbfoundedly at Tsukasa. The confident and ambitious leader many admired and looked up to was now breaking in front of him, his cheery persona was crumbling down, seized by a genuine wave of emotions. Despite how normal, how fitting it was to cry over a tragic performance, Tsukasa still had the urge to hide it in front of his best friend as he tried to scrub his unending tears clean from his face, erasing the evidence that showed a shred of weakness. 

And Rui couldn’t bear to watch it anymore. 

Tsukasa needed space, but he also needed comfort. Rui wanted to reach out to him, to bring him into an embrace, to shower him with whatever comfort he could provide, to reassure him, telling him “It’s okay to cry, even if it’s for a play. Just let it all out” — but Rui doubted it would make anything better. Tsukasa wanted to escape from anyone witnessing his tears, and with how he shifted further away from Rui, he probably wanted anything but someone to be close to him.  

Still, Rui tried, even with the tiniest approach. 

He lifted his arm and moved it to the side, with the entire motion fueled by hesitance, and laid his hand on Tsukasa’s clenching fist.

It was a gentle, loose hold that was easy to wriggle free from if Tsukasa didn’t want the touch. Rui didn’t know if this would make things better or worse, but it was the best way he could think of — a soft touch of comfort which was secure and assuring enough without being too invasive. Tsukasa’s hand was still shaking, but his sobs seemed to die a little. His fingers were uncurled one by one, loosening his fist as he opened his palm. Rui looked away. Staring at Tsukasa would probably add too much pressure, but he continued to feel Tsukasa’s hand, his movements, his heartbeat…

The two stayed like that for the rest of the show, and no matter how much Rui tried to concentrate on the play, his focus would divert back to Tsukasa, the gentleness of his skin, the warmth of his palm. It was warm enough to melt the tension between them, to refill the emptiness of the tragic play, and all of a sudden, it felt like nothing else mattered — it was as if the play and the audience weren't there anymore, and instead, it was just the two of them, sitting close together in a theatre, with their fingers gently intertwined, isolated in their small world created by a single touch.

Tsukasa tightened his grip, and Rui snapped back to reality at the sudden intimacy. He glanced at Tsukasa, who was gazing blankly at the stage as if he was wandering somewhere else.

Then the play ended, and the curtain drew. Tsukasa finally took the courage to face Rui, and on his tear-stricken face was a wide smile. 

“Thanks.”

The audience cheered as the actors and actresses bowed, golden lights casting onto their stage. They were still holding onto each other's hands, and there was a flicker in Tsukasa’s eyes. 

A fervid heat was rushing to Rui’s face.

Dreams are hard to predict sometimes. The same goes for nightmares. Once you go to bed, you are allowing your subconscious to run wild, dictating whether you will sleep peacefully or have a horrible day the next morning. Of course, other factors may increase the chances of getting one, but it generally relies on pure randomness to encounter it. 

As for Rui, he wasn’t so lucky. 

Because when he woke up in the middle of the night, there was fear. Fear was the first thing Rui felt, as his eyes shot wide open, followed by the feeling of sweat coating his forehead and throbbing pain in his chest.

He panted a few times, gasping for air, and his eyes met with a looming darkness.

Then there was nothing.

It was a nightmare. 

The same nightmare haunted him for most of his childhood, plaguing his dreams and ruining his sleep, becoming more vivid and violent as the years passed. And his subconscious decided to pick this night to haunt him. 

It had been a while, and Rui thought he had gotten over it. He had misjudged himself.

He lay dead-still on his bed, his heart palpitating and his chest heaving with every shaky breath he took, while the flickering red light from the smoke detector lurking on the ceiling stared back.

The darkness was consuming him. 

Rui sat up, feeling the numbing pain in his chest fading away as the tension drained out of him, and he rubbed his face. His body was still trembling, from the cold or the fright, he didn’t know. All he knew was he wasn’t going to sleep any time soon.

Kicking off the covers, Rui got off the bed and slipped into his slippers before he froze. There was another bed with a dark body lying on it.

……Oh right. It’s Tsukasa.

Rui stared at Tsukasa’s sleeping back, and he was still as stone. He couldn’t hear a single thing aside from the whirring sounds of the fan from the air conditioner. Tsukasa is very quiet when he is in a deep sleep, contrary to what almost everyone thought, to the point you wouldn’t notice his existence.

You genuinely wouldn’t know if he is asleep or dead until you check his pulse. 

Rui slapped his cheek. Get a hold of yourself. You’re not ten anymore. He took another few deep breaths, then observed Tsukasa for a while, and sure enough, his body was rising and falling along with his chest, breathing.

…See, he’s totally fine.

It’s just a stupid nightmare.

Nobody’s dead.

You’re not alone. 

....…So why, after all these years, it still haunted him?

The thought of being abandoned in a world of chaos, with nobody going to help or save him, as he was trapped in his own misery, suffering without the ability to reach out to his loved ones. 

Why, despite having all the best people around him, he still feared being left behind?

Rui sighed. He was supposed to be enjoying this summer trip Tsukasa brought him. Yet somehow, his mind refused to let him relax, and now he’s probably stuck being awake, waiting for another two hours before sleep finally arrives. 

“Hgnnnnnnnn…”

Rui jumped when Tsukasa suddenly let out a groggy whine, and the covers shifted, with Tsukasa sloppily rolling his body to the other side. Was he waking up? He sat on the bed staring at Tsukasa for a few seconds, thinking that he might get up any second, but his eyes were still glued shut. 

Ah, what a shame. If only Tsukasa were awake. It’d be boring to wait for two hours without sleep. 

Tsukasa’s face was visible amidst the darkness, and Rui could not leave his eyes away from him.

He should’ve done something to kill time. He could have drank some water, taken a light shower to relax, watched the view of street lights from the windows, or just scrolled through his phone to find something to binge-watch on youtube for the next three hours. 

Instead, Rui got up from the bed with light steps, stood in front of Tsukasa, and watched.

Tsukasa was so deep in slumber; his eyes softly shut, his hair was dishevelled, bangs loosely caressing his eyelids, and his plump lips were slightly apart. His body curled into a tiny ball like a golden Manx kitten in a basket, drifting on the sea of dreams. It was a breath of fresh air, seeing Tsukasa so serene, so soundless, contrasting to whatever chaos Rui had witnessed in his nightmares. Perhaps everything that happened a few hours ago, with all the play’s tragedy and the tears, was really just a dream. 

Rui didn’t know how long he stood there just watching Tsukasa sleep. A part of him berated how creepy he must’ve looked, but he could care less. Looking at Tsukasa’s face was all he ever wanted. 

…Tsukasa looked stupidly adorable.

So, so adorable.

Rui saw many unseen facets of Tsukasa just from today alone. First his flustered side, then his vulnerable side, and now his cute sleeping side. The entire trip was just like a dissection experiment on Tsukasa, as more and more facets were being peeled away from him, revealing his true self…and somehow, it wasn’t enough. Rui wanted to know more, to get closer. Close enough to feel Tsukasa’s feelings, close enough to feel his heartbeat and breathing, and close enough so he wouldn’t have to fear being alone anymore. 

And with a sudden instinct, without him even realising it, Rui stretched out his hand, and he was playing with Tsukasa’s hair.

It started with only a few strands of hair dangling from Tsukasa’s bangs. Rui flicked his finger to see Tsukasa’s hair bounce back and forth, slowly revealing more of Tsukasa’s eyes. He ran his index finger down Tsukasa’s fringe lightly, and it was soft, almost delicate, like barbs from the golden feather of a phoenix. His heart tingled every time Tsukasa’s hair brushed against his fingertip, washing his mind with a light bliss. 

One finger turned to two, and two turned to three, and by the time Rui realised it, he was full-on petting Tsukasa. Tsukasa stirred slightly, groaning, and Rui giggled at the noises he made, gently ruffling his hair like petting a sleeping puppy. 

Then Tsukasa’s eyes shot open. 

Rui retracted his arm away in reflex, taking a massive step back.

The blonde pushed himself up from his bed with a whine, rubbing his eyes. He looked up with a groggy haze to find Rui’s golden eyes staring at him.

“...what’s wrong?”

Rui managed to muster up a fake smile, the usual one he always had, but his entire body was boiling. He cleared his throat a little, “Oh, nothing I was just-” 

He could lie. He could just lie about all this to save himself from sinking into the fiery pit of embarrassment, and he’ll never need to admit that he liked touching Tsukasa’s hair and watching Tsukasa sleep like an absolute freak. 

Rui told the truth anyway.

“I was just…curious…how your hair felt.”

Tsukasa stared at him. Dead in the eyes.

“...So you woke me up for that?”

“Well, I actually didn’t think you would wake up since you’re sleeping so peacefully.” Since Rui admitted to his deed, guilt started to pool in. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

That triggered something in Tsukasa’s mind, and his blank stare lit up, “Oh no no! It’s fine. I-I don’t mind. I-” He paused, then lowered his head, his voice immediately got quieter, “...I…don’t really mind you…doing that again.”

Tsukasa looked down at the bed sheets while Rui stood there, dazed. 

….Did Tsukasa…like it?

Did Tsukasa like me touching his hair? 

Maybe Rui was reading too much into it. Tsukasa just woke up after all. But everything that just happened sounded something straight from a weird dream. Really, what just happened? What was that all about? Ah, it’s too confusing for a sleep-deprived violet-haired eighteen-year-old to handle. 

“...maybe next time,” Rui said after a few delayed seconds. 

They said nothing to each other for a while. Rui didn’t know how long. He stood awkwardly next to Tsukasa’s bed while Tsukasa gazed at the TV, yawning between his daydreams. The room was still shrouded in pitch black, though now that Rui had adjusted to the darkness, it was more of a murky black purple. 

Tsukasa was the first to break the silence.

“So…why are you awake all of a sudden?”

“Oh. Well, it’s nothing much.” Rui sat back on his bed, “...just woke up from a nightmare.”

Tsukasa frowned. “...wanna talk about it?”

….should he?

Maybe he should. It was about time anyway. No one knew about his night terrors besides his parents, and he had never brought it up since he reached twelve. It was childish to be scared of something merely a fragment of his corrupted imagination. Rui could imagine the judgemental eyes hidden under a façade of pitying words from people who listened, scoffing at a freak in secret who wouldn’t get over a stupid little nightmare.

But this was Tsukasa. 

Perhaps it would be different.

“...It was a nightmare…or a type of nightmare I always had when I was a kid, though I still dream of it from time to time. Each one had a different setting, but the end result was still the same. And this one tonight started with…an apocalypse of sorts? I don’t really know. When it started, all I could hear was sirens blasting everywhere and thousands of people screaming on the streets. And…I didn’t even know what was happening. It was like watching the entire world crumbling below me. And then, all of a sudden, I was in my room, and I couldn’t breathe.”

Rui glanced at Tsukasa, who stayed silent the whole time, letting Rui’s troubles flow out of him. There wasn’t an ounce of judgement in his eyes, only a faint yellow glimmer of warmth.

“I think…my house was on fire….yeah, that’s probably it. I was trapped in my room, my house was on fire, and I could barely breathe. The flames were creeping just outside my door, ready to swallow me. I tried calling for help, but dialling 119 didn’t work, and it was dreadful. ‘I’m going to die,’ I thought, ‘I’m actually going to die', but I didn’t want to die alone. I couldn’t die alone, so I called everyone I knew. I tried calling you, my parents, Nene and Emu, Mizuki, just anyone....” 

Rui trailed off as the memory flooded back into his mind. He remembered his voice, cracked with tears, begging each one of his friends and family to pick up so that he could at least hear their voice one last time. 

“No one answered me.” Rui said, smiling bitterly, “I can’t remember what happened after that.” 

Tsukasa softened. “Rui…”

“It felt so real.” Rui sighed, running his fingers through his hair, “My nightmares were less vivid as a kid, but just now, I genuinely thought I was going to die. But…” He smiled, “...seeing you next to me calmed me down a little.”

Tsukasa gave a small smile back.

“I think…what terrified me the most wasn’t just the events in the dreams, but rather the end,” Rui said, reminiscing the countless times he experienced a nightmare. “I was always alone in the end. All the people I love are gone and…I had to deal with everything alone.”

Being alone was a part of Rui. It was probably ingrained within him since he was a child that people would always leave him no matter how hard he tried. They would get to know him, realise what kind of person he really was, and reject him like everyone else. Even if he had found loyalty in his friends, Rui still doubted when they would start to abandon him. And the thought of it seeped into his sleep and plagued his dreams. 

One day, all his friends would be gone. One day, he is going to be alone again. And one day, his nightmares would become true.

What if he becomes alone again when Wonderlands x Showtime is gone?

What if he remains alone long after he enters adulthood? 

Would he be alone on the day that he dies?  

What if—

“I get it.”

Rui snapped away from his thoughts as he looked up to find Tsukasa hugging his legs close to his chest. Tsukasa leaned his back against the wall, facing towards yet distancing further from Rui.

“I…used to hate being alone. Every time I was alone at home, it was usually because my parents took Saki to the hospital, and….”  Tsukasa hesitated. Words were hanging on his lips that he couldn’t say. “I don’t think I got used to it until now.”

Rui blinked. It felt…weird hearing Tsukasa speaking so timidly.

“Y’know, Rui,” He said, “there’s another reason I brought you here.” 

Tsukasa laid his head on his knees, muffling his voice. “Just two days ago, Saki told me she was going to her friends’ house for a sleepover party, and she’ll be away for a few days. I didn’t mind her going. She deserved to enjoy her life after all these years…But my parents were busy with work, so they would also be away from home, leaving me alone at my house.” He averted his gaze, “And-and I know this sounds selfish, and I don’t blame you if you do, but I just…I can’t stand being alone again. It just…brings a lot of bad memories.” 

…Ah. So that was the reason.

Rui knew Tsukasa wouldn’t suddenly bring him on a trip without a hidden intention, but he didn’t think this was it. Tsukasa was never a person associated with being alone. He was confident, outspoken, and at least more sociable than Rui. But then again, humans weren’t that simple. There was a side of him… several sides of him that no one would ever know, yet Rui saw it. The play cracked Tsukasa's persona, and Rui saw an authentic side of him, breaking down into tears over a fictional character as if he saw himself on stage, being left alone and losing all the ones he loved. 

Tsukasa was also alone. For how long, Rui would never know.

But maybe….Tsukasa wasn’t so different from him after all. 

Tsukasa cleared his throat. “Sorry for rambling. You probably didn’t want to see me like this.”

“I don’t mind, Tsukasa. You don’t need to apologise.” Rui said, giving him a reassuring smile, “Thanks for telling me.” 

Through the black-purple darkness, Tsukasa was smiling back. He shifted closer to Rui once again, leaning forward.

“Were you surprised to see me crying?”

“...Well, crying wasn’t unexpected since we were watching a tragedy.”

Tsukasa laughed, a scornful laugh at himself. “God, now that I think about it, it was embarrassing.” He rubbed his face as if hiding his shame. “I knew what I was getting into when I bought those tickets. I thought I would hold it in, but the play reminded me a lot about Saki and me…and seeing the younger sister dying in her brother’s arms… I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Tsukasa, there’s nothing wrong with crying.”

Tsukasa stared at Rui. He looked…slightly bewildered, but there was also a look of relief, almost the same ease he had on his face when he thanked Rui in the theatre. 

…And now Rui could only think about the moment he willingly held Tsukasa’s hand during the play.

The two stayed quiet for a while. Tsukasa dozed off while Rui was occupied with that moment, with Tsukasa's touch, his warmth, and then the final smile he gave him repeatedly circling in his head. Why was he so obsessed with that moment, anyway? It felt nice, sure, but it didn't make any sense at all. 

Rui waved his hand slightly, forcing himself to break away from his thoughts. “I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“Oh, it’s fine!” Tsukasa waved his hand, somehow his mood jumping back to his lively persona, “A future star like me wouldn’t be bothered by such minor inconveniences!” 

“You should go back to sleep. I’ll try not to bother you.”

“What about you?”

Rui sighed, “Considering I just had a nightmare, it’ll probably take me a while to get used to sleeping again.”

Tsukasa frowned. “But then you wouldn’t have enough energy for tomorrow’s events!”

“Yeah…I don’t think there’s much I can do, though.” Rui climbed back into his covers, “It’s fine, Tsukasa. I’ll manage it. Besides, you should get some sleep too—”

“Well, why don’t you sleep with me?”

Rui froze. And so did Tsukasa. They both stared at each other. 

“...what–”

“I MEAN- NO THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT! I-UH- ONLY IF YOU WANT TO! I JUST-” 

Tsukasa became a jumbled, loud mess, and Rui burst into laughter. Seeing the confident, fearless leader completely seized by embarrassment was undeniably entertaining. 

“I’M SORRY! I’M SO SO SORRY! I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAY THAT I-I JUST…thought that…since you have a nightmare…maybe you wanna….” Tsukasa’s voice kept dropping quieter and quieter until it was barely audible. “.................cuddle? ”

Cuddle.  

Cuddling, on a bed, with Tsukasa.

Something Rui never thought was even an option. Yet, when Tsukasa had presented the request, Rui’s eyes lit up, feeling the blood pumping under his skin. 

He didn’t know how much he secretly sought a hug from him.

“AGAIN, ONLY IF YOU WANT TO! I don’t want to force that on you! It’s just when I was a kid, I used to comfort Saki like this, and I thought it might help you, but you don’t have to if you-”

“Sure.”

Tsukasa froze, dumbfounded by the quick reply. “....you… you’re sure?”

“Yeah.” Rui shrugged with a delirious smile on his face. “I don’t see why not.”

“Oh.” Tsukasa stared at Rui, unable to form a word. “Oh-okay.”

Even in the deep darkness, Rui could picture Tsukasa’s face flushed in a light red. 

How cute.

He got up and drowsily walked towards Tsukasa’s bed, gesturing for Tsukasa to back away a little. “Move a bit further for me.”

“Oh- alright…”

Tsukasa scooted a little backwards as Rui crawled onto the bed. He grabbed one of the extra pillows on the bed and placed it next to Tsukasa, pulling one of the thick covers over his body. Tsukasa was still frozen, staring wide-eyed at Rui as he snuggled next to him.

“....Tsukasa?” Rui mumbled.

It took Tsukasa a few seconds to snap him out of his daze. He coughed. 

“S-sorry.”

Tsukasa paused for a few seconds, contemplating how to position himself, before sluggishly laying down his body next to Rui, gently shifting under the covers. Then, with trembling uncertainty, Tsukasa wrapped his arms around Rui’s waist, pulling him close. 

“......... y’okay with this?”

“Hmm.”

Tsukasa was warm…perhaps a bit too warm, as he enfolded Rui’s torso, draining away the heaviness compressed on his chest and melting the forlorn feeling in his heart. It was such a comforting embrace, so intimate and familiar, and Rui felt like he was a child once again, shielded from the horrors of his mind as he was cradled in someone else’s arms, safe and secure. It occurred to Rui just how much he had yearned for this, how much he wanted to be this close to someone and just be in Tsukasa’s presence. Two lonely individuals sharing a close bond connected by a single affectionate touch amid the purple darkness, and suddenly things weren’t so lonely anymore. Tsukasa had blinded Rui’s senses; his breathing, the tingling sensation of his hair, the scent of lemon shampoo emanating from his clothes, all of it exuding and enveloping Rui with a paradisiacal felicity, tempting him to sink deeper and deeper….

….until there’s nothing but a calm, serene blackness.  

It was as if reality and dreams were blended together when Rui woke up to Tsukasa’s scent. There was a muffled humming of Tondemo Wonders from the bathroom. 

Which was shortly followed by Tsukasa screaming. 

“RUIIII GET UUUP IT’S TIME TO GOOOOOOOO~”

Tsukasa strode to the bed, towering over Rui, who was shrouded in thick bed sheets. 

“Hnnnnnnn…” Rui mumbled, hiding deeper into the sea of covers, “...five more minutes….”

“NOPE!” With a wide swing of his arm, Tsukasa flung the covers away, revealing Rui exposed to the cold under the air conditioner. “It’s time for our next location!”

Rui let out a yelp as the light blinded his eyes. He blocked his vision with his hands, squinting to look at Tsukasa’s beaming face. 

“Come on now, Rui! It’s been two hours! Don’t make me physically drag you to the bathroom!!”

Rui refused to budge, and it took him ten minutes to finally be thrown into the bathroom after Tsukasa struggled to haul him out of bed, begging him to cooperate during the process. Rui couldn’t blame him. He was more impressed by Tsukasa’s willpower to drag his 180cm friend to the bathroom.

Besides, it was Rui’s fault for wanting to hear Tsukasa’s desperate pleas. 

“Are you enjoying our trip so far?” Tsukasa questioned Rui the second he got out of the bathroom.

“Yeah,” Rui answered, “it wasn’t what I expected, but it was fun.”

“Hmph! Of course! I plan to make you enjoy summer to the fullest, as expected of the greatest future star in the world! HA HA HA HA- AAAHHH!!”

Tsukasa pumped up his chest and attempted another heroic pose, only to trip on a shoe and smash his head towards the cabinet.

Rui chuckled. Tsukasa was in a good mood, no doubt. He was extremely loud as usual, babbling about how fantastic their trip would be in the next few hours, yet there was an extra layer of lightness in his tone. It was as if he had let himself go. Despite embarrassing himself in front of his best friend, Tsukasa was looking at Rui with an excited grin.

And Rui was smiling. He always does, but this time it was different. It always felt different when it came to Tsukasa, especially today when the morning sun was shining particularly golden on Tsukasa’s rosy cheeks. 

His happiness escalated even more, when Tsukasa brought him to a platypus exhibition at a local zoo.

“Wow…”

Rui squished his entire face on the glass, enraptured by the most fascinating natural phenomenon in the world. The platypuses paddled in the emerald waters contained in a glass tank, populated with thick wooden branches of green leaves, climbing on rocks glossing with moisture under the dim light on the surface before diving into the water again. The once little creatures on a small monitor screen were now in front of him, alive and moving, open for everyone to witness their wondrous existence. 

Rui’s child self must be squealing right now. 

Tsukasa stood next to him, looking around the exhibition area. “This place sure is dark as hell….” 

“Oh! There’s actually a reason for it!” Rui sprung around and spat out a platypus fact the moment he got the chance. “Just like many animals, platypuses are nocturnal, meaning that they mainly stay awake during the night, and to let the visitors able to see the platypuses, the zoo decided to turn the clock around, intentionally making the exhibition darker so that the platypuses think it is nighttime, and they would be willing to come out and play. Isn’t that a neat tactic?”

Tsukasa nodded while humming, eyes glued onto Rui as he spoke. Rui could tell he was focusing on something else. 

Tsukasa glanced back at the glass tank, watching the platypuses splash water all over the place as they swam clumsily. “I still don’t really understand your infatuation with platypuses. They look…weird.”

Rui let out an offended gasp. “Don’t say that, Tsukasa! They’re adorable! Despite being mammals, they have a bird-like appearance and lay eggs while at the same time living both in the water and on land. It’s almost as if they created a new kingdom through their existence. That’s what makes them special.” 

“Well, I would never understand it!” Tsukasa crossed his arms, scorning the creatures in the tank. “If anything… you’re more special than whatever those platypuses ever would.” 

“Fufu, Tsukasa, I’m so flattered~” Rui replied playfully, “You've been so nice to me recently. What’s up with that?”

“W-what do you mean? I’m always…nice.”

“I know.” Rui smiled at Tsukasa’s nervous stutter, “I promise I'll repay you for everything you’ve done for me during this trip~”

“First of all, I don’t expect anything in return from this, and second of all, please don’t. ”

There was a pause. Aside from the splashes of water and the faint chattering of the people around them, they both stayed silent.

Until Tsukasa made a bold move to hold Rui’s hand.

“Let’s… let’s just go to the next section, shall we? I’m kinda tired of staying in the dark for so long.” 

Rui numbly nodded to Tsukasa’s request, allowing Tsukasa to drag him from one section to the other. Everything was a blur at that point. From the moment they stepped out of the zoo gates till they got to their next stop, Rui could focus on nothing but Tsukasa’s firm grip. It bothered him just as much as a buzzing bee chasing him in circles, yet somehow the chase was more thrilling than terrifying. 

Tsukasa was just so nice to hold onto. 

“CHENG CHENG!!!! Welcome to Chinatown!!!!!!!” When they got to their next stop, Tsukasa bent one knee and swung his arms at the paifang towering above him. Its pillars were painted in bright red, and the beam joining the two posts was decorated with golden carvings of Chinese calligraphy, dragons, mythical beasts and intricate patterns, supporting the roofs scaled with colourful tiles.

And then there’s the smell of food. 

“I hope you’re hungry,” Tsukasa said, hopping back to eagerly tug Rui’s hand, “Because we’re going to have a feast over here!”

Tsukasa ventured into the streets like an explorer ready to traverse a terrain he had discovered, and Rui followed his lead with the admiration of an apprentice. The streets were flooded with people scattered around the road with various dotted colours. It was like entering a Chinese palace, as a string of rotund red lanterns wobbling in the air stretched far into the street, hanging just above their heads. Tsukasa then went off on another tangent about shows and musicals he wanted to see, and he was so close —Rui could feel the heat radiating from him.

Something had changed between them.

It was hard to form the words for it, but something about being with Tsukasa throughout this entire trip made Rui feel more…..emotional. Whatever Tsukasa did, whether it was caressing his hand, giving him a compliment, laughing with genuine lightheartedness, patting his shoulder, or hugging him and just being close to him, it always tugged some strings in Rui’s heart. It had always been like this, actually, but it was more obvious now. Tsukasa was no longer just a friend, nor was he the leader of Wonderlands x Showtime; he had shed light on a hidden piece of him for Rui, and there was nothing to hide anymore. 

Tsukasa was just Tsukasa, a boy different from Rui in so many ways, yet so similar. 

“AHHHHHH!” Tsukasa screamed, half spitting a dumpling onto his palm, “HOT!!!!”

“Be careful, Tsukasa.”

Tsukasa blew hard on the poor half-bitten dumpling. His cheeks were puffing up, flustered by his embarrassing way of swallowing an entire boiling dumpling into his mouth at once. 

Rui poked another dumpling with a wooden skewer from a tiny plastic container and took a soft bite at the dumpling’s skin, the warm and bubbling soup slowly pouring into his mouth. It had a rich and savoury taste and could easily warm people up with contentment. 

…though it wasn’t as effective as looking at Tsukasa’s blushing cheeks.

“...Why are you smiling at me like that?”

Rui slapped his mouth shut with his hand, which failed to conceal his chuckle. “Fufu~I’m sorry, Tsukasa. It was the way you screamed just now! It’s too funny~” 

“Uegh, well, being funny is my talent after all….” Tsukasa admitted, “But I can’t help it! They smell delicious!” 

“They look and taste delicious too. Street food is really something, isn’t it?” 

Rui watched Tsukasa eat the rest of the dumplings, and somehow, even with the most common activities like eating, he still found himself staring at Tsukasa doing it, and Rui didn’t know what to feel anymore.

Everything that Tsukasa did, no matter how common or unusual it was, always ended up making him extremely happy.

“We should probably get going soon….” Tsukasa said after they had finished their dumplings, “We can go get your deep-fried squid and then we have to go to the middle of the street. There is a trendy shop there, and NO! I am NOT telling what they sell because that is going to be another surprise and —”

Tsukasa paused mid-way through his sentence. His eyes landed on a promotional banner beside a shop opposite the street.

“Is…is that…”

Tsukasa squinted his eyes. It took him a while to realise what it was.

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Tsukasa howled in excitement. “IS THAT MORE MORE JUMP THEMED RED BEAN BUNS??! OH MY GOD!!!”

It only took a few seconds to completely change the great future star’s attention, and Tsukasa had completely abandoned Rui and ran off to the shop in the distance.

Rui blinked a few times before bursting into giggles. He couldn’t really help it; seeing Tsukasa’s little run and squealing with joy over street food was just too precious. 

The laughter died down, and now Rui was by himself again. Everything went back to a typical silence.

…He supposed he could just get the fried squid himself. 

It took just a few steps to arrive at the shop, and there was already a faint oil sizzling. A middle-aged man with a trim beard and a ponytail was behind the cooking counter, giving Rui a broad smile. 

“Ey, kid, what do you want for this fine afternoon?”

“Just one deep-fried squid, thank you.”

“What ’bout that boy who just ran off? Y’sure he didn’t want any?”

“Oh…you mean…Tsukasa?” Rui turned around and tried to spot the golden-haired boy, but he was lost in the sea of people. “He should be fine.”

Has he been watching us this whole time? Rui asked himself as the man got into work, with the smell of oil slowly wafting through the air. He peered over the crowd to the other side of the street, searching for Tsukasa again. Now that he was left alone, Rui had a weird feeling of impatience. The street no longer looked that colourful as more people packed the streets, muddling the colours into a fleshy brown. The lanterns were still glistening a bright red under the beating sun. 

“Is that your boyfriend?”

Rui snapped his head at the man, gawking. 

“What? ”

“Oh, pardon me for assuming. I was just curious!” The man replied with an embarrassed chuckle as he continued to prepare the food, “A lot of couples come in here, y’know? All sorts of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you two were one.” 

The man rambled about the countless couples visiting his shop, but Rui was listening to none of it. None of it was being processed in his head because the only thing rewinding over and over again like a broken tape was this one word, this one foreign and peculiar word belonging to the darkest depths of his mind—

Boyfriend.

And then, it finally dawned on him.

“So,” the man asked again, packing a paper box with a perfectly golden squid inside a plastic bag, “If you don’t mind me asking, are you two…dating?”

The answer was no. Rui knew this. He and Tsukasa were friends and nothing more.

…but they weren’t just friends either.

Before the trip even started, Rui had already questioned Tsukasa's odd behaviour. Tsukasa had brought Rui on a trip designed to please him; he had complimented Rui, got flustered by his remarks, held his hand and opened himself up for Rui. Hell, they even cuddled on the same bed, for Christ’s sake! But no, they were technically still friends, right? Because —

— Because…

Rui paused; the memories of his interactions with Tsukasa flooded in. All those moments where he had every physical contact with Tsukasa that always ended with him puzzled about his own acts and feelings, and all the times he had seen Tsukasa on stage, glowing under the light directed by him, a proud smile on his face as he sang, danced and acted with all his heart to the audience —to him — it all made sense.

Everything was burning up.

“I don’t know.” 

That was the final answer. Rui didn’t know. He didn’t know anymore. 

“Well, y’bout to find out soon, aren’t you?” 

The man grinned, handing the plastic bag to the confused teen in front of him. 

Rui scrambled while giving the payment leaving the shop with a fried squid in a plastic bag held by his hand and a cascade of emotions surging through his entire body. So much, there was so much of it, and Rui couldn’t comprehend them all. 

How could he just realise it now?

The fluttery warm feeling he felt when Tsukasa touched his hand or sat closer to him, even when their fingers barely brushed; the intense happiness and affirmation he felt when Tsukasa complimented him, even if it was a minor detail; the serene euphoria of having Tsukasa cuddling close to him and being in his arms; the highly-detailed attention to Tsukasa’s physical features, his eyes, his hair, his voice, his everything—

It was evident from the start. 

Rui had a crush on Tsukasa. 

He had a crush on Tsukasa. 

“RUIII!” 

Tsukasa was rushing back with a half-bitten red bean bun and a large plastic bag hooked on his other arm. He was beaming, so bright and blinding that Rui was tempted to shy away. Was he heating up in embarrassment, realising that his best friend, his crush, was standing before him? Or was he burning up because all those bottled-up emotions were finally released, slowly overtaking his entire body?

“I bought a bunch of MORE MORE JUMP red bean buns! They are all fan-made products, but they really look like they’re officially made! LOOK!!” Tsukasa opened the plastic bag wide, displaying the countless red bean buns with the MORE MORE JUMP logo printed on it and some printed with symbols of the members. “I’m gonna bring some to Shizuku right after this trip! She’s gonna be so happy seeing these!” 

Rui said nothing but nodded blankly. 

….and Tsukasa caught on to it in an instant. “Hm? Rui, what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.” 

His voice went hoarse, and Rui cleared his throat. It wasn’t helping when Tsukasa was staring at him questionably with those large eyes. 

God, he’s so beautiful.

“...Alright. But if anything’s wrong, just tell me, okay?” Tsukasa said, this time in a much more comforting voice, which was not helping Rui ease the fluttering in his gut at all.

“Well, in any case, we should get going now. Come on!”

And Tsukasa took the opportunity, right in the middle of a shipwreck of emotions, to hold Rui’s hand lovingly.

It was at this moment of sudden touch, that it struck through Rui’s heart, spiked his heartbeat, and completely seized him with an agitated shock. 

Too fast. Everything was moving too fast, too fast for Rui to see. Because just two days ago, Tsukasa was still his best friend, a friend Rui cared too much about, and now all of a sudden, Tsukasa was his crush. The realisation struck too late, and Rui finally snapped his eyes open, witnessing himself ascending too close to the blazing red sun, its holy rays burning him with unending mercy — and it was too much, too confusing. Tsukasa was so close, and his hand wasn’t warm anymore it was overwhelmingly hot —

And he flinched. 

He flinched. His arm jolted upwards like it was in reflex, pulling away from Tsukasa. Tsukasa’s hand was left bare in the air, awkwardly empty.

“I—”

Blood was rushing through every single part of his entire body. Tsukasa’s affection was suddenly too much for him to handle. But why? Why did he even flinch in the first place? Tsukasa wouldn’t hurt him, right? Why did he do that? Why was he suddenly afraid? And afraid of what —

Raging questions were tossed in one by one, all left unanswered, but when Rui snapped at Tsukasa, his gaze was enough to tell him what he had created.

Tsukasa stood uneasily. He put down his hand, surprised and perplexed at what had just happened. A half smile was on his face, but that was slowly fading. 

Then there was regret. 

The regret of moving too fast, the regret of not asking, and the regret of possibly causing discomfort to his best friend.

Rui saw all of it and wanted to scream about how wrong he was.

You did nothing wrong, Rui wanted to yell out. It was just too quick, and I wasn’t expecting it. Not right after everything else. 

But he said nothing. And neither did Tsukasa. They stood in the middle of a roaring street in complete silence.

The crowds shifted past them like a slow murky river, and they were the two rocks sticking out from the stream. Shouts of the street vendors and shops dominated the street, which was getting increasingly annoying by the passing second. The lanterns hanging in the clouded sky were a harsh, bright crimson.  

Did I mess up?

Rui had heard himself repeating that same exact question in his head for almost four hours, and he had still yet to find a cure to stop it. The night was falling. The smoky blue sky was shrouded in thick clouds, and the countless streetlights glowed in a pale white below. 

The day was coming to a close, followed by this short-lived trip, and it was going to end on an awkward note.

Rui could feel Tsukasa’s presence. He was sitting next to him, yet somehow it felt like he wasn’t there at all. Small talks and awkward silences had plagued their conversation since that moment in Chinatown, and the two hadn’t spoken when they got onto the bus. 

It was almost laughable how a five-centimetre distance could feel so far.

It was also laughable how much damage a flinch, a stupid hand reflex out of the sudden could do within just a brief second of the action. Rui had built up, with careful precision, a delicate castle made of poker cards, and all it took was a careless jolt of a muscle to cause the entire relationship to disassemble itself back into nothingness. 

Now Tsukasa would hold himself back. Now everything was awkward. Now they’re back to where they’ve started. 

Idiot.

This entire time, all those feelings of euphoria, the skip of a heartbeat with every touch of his hand, the heat rushing when staring lovingly into his eyes, the admiration of his confidence, his demeanour, his attitude, his looks —

Why had he only realised it now?

Why when everything was over?

Rui wanted to slap his own stupid reflection in the window. 

Kamishiro Rui, you are a natural-born genius of everything other than how to recognise your feelings. You are a creator of machines, stories, and shows, but when it comes to your intimate connections, you ruin them.

In the end, you are lonely for a reason.

You have no one to blame but yourself.

“Rui.” 

Rui jumped, quite literally from his seat in the way a cat jumps at the sight of a cucumber. 

“Y-Yes?”

Tsukasa wasn’t really looking at him. He was just blankly staring at the seat in front of him. Rui pulled himself out of the pit of self-loathing and peered over to see which stop they were at. 

They were supposed to get off now.

“Um, Tsukasa?”

Tsukasa didn’t move, and neither did Rui. He watched as the bus gates closed and the bus stop was left behind them, fading until a small dot.

Tsukasa was still gazing at the seat before him, but it wasn’t without purpose. It was as if he was zoning out anywhere but at Rui’s direction, and Rui couldn’t read what he was thinking. Eventually, when Tsukasa did look at him, there was a faint glare in his eyes. 

“Rui, I have to tell you something.” 

Rui gulped.

“I’m not…I wasn’t originally planning to go where we are heading, but…now I think it’s for the best,” Tsukasa smiled timidly. “I think you would like it.”

Tsukasa was fidgeting his fingers. They entered a tunnel, and darkness fell inside the bus, yet the faint yellow light from the tunnel lights flashed on Tsukasa’s face. 

“We’re going to the aquarium.” 

The aquarium was shaded in a thick navy blue. The lights, the walls, and the tanks all imbued a colour of the sea, with occasional flashes of ripples and shadows of sea animals reflecting on the walls. It was quiet, aside from the low burbles of liquid and the clean reverberation of their own footsteps. It was cold, too, with brief winds from the air conditioning currents, but not freezing. 

Rui strolled through, admiring the creatures swimming in the tank, free yet trapped simultaneously. How conscious these sea creatures were of their existence, he wondered. Do they feel trapped, knowing they could go far yet restricted by their environment? Do they still believe they were in the deep blue sea swimming freely without restrictions, oblivious to the millions of people viewing them daily?

Perhaps Rui was overthinking. Fish were just animals, after all. 

“Rui.” 

Rui froze. He spun around slowly, facing the boy he had a crush on for God knows how long. Tsukasa was a few steps away, his face cast in a turquoise light. 

“I’m sorry.”

Rui blinked. “...What for?”

“For making you…uncomfortable,” he confessed, “I….didn’t know I went too far.”

“It’s okay, Tsukasa, really. It’s nothing.” Rui reassured, almost too quickly. He didn’t want Tsukasa to hold himself back anymore. “It was just…unexpected. I didn’t mind it at all….”

Tsukasa seemed to recognise Rui's thoughts as he relaxed a little, walking one step closer to him. There was still some distance between them, but Rui didn’t mind. They continued to watch the sea creatures swim in circles, fluttering their fins and gliding in the waters. 

“....Do you remember the day we first met on the rooftop?”

It was a random question, quite out of nowhere, and Rui turned to Tsukasa. His eyes were still fixated on the tank, blue light filled to the brim. “I remember that day the sky was…particularly blue. I don’t know. It was just that type of blue you would normally see in travel photos, and it was so vibrant and clear. That’s what I first saw when I went up there. Just the prettiest sky I’ve ever seen, and then there you were.” Tsukasa smiled, turning his gaze to Rui. “I understand why you always went up to the rooftop.” 

“...I was…always there because it was so quiet,” Rui said, smiling back as he reminisced about that memory from almost a year ago. “To be honest, I didn’t think you would actually come. I thought you would’ve given up searching.”

Tsukasa laughed dryly, “Honestly, if I didn’t see you there, I would’ve.” He crossed his arms around his chest, his hand rubbing his sleeve. “But then, I did find you there, recruited you, and boom! Wonderlands x Showtime was made!”

It was probably unintentional, but Tsukasa took a step forward, and Rui stepped back. Again, he didn’t know why. The person he once craved for affection was now the person he was running away from. 

Why was he even nervous? It was just Tsukasa, wasn't it?

Tsukasa stopped in his tracks as if he sensed the tension in Rui’s gaze. He frowned, and there it was — a silent yet desperate look.

“I...I wanted to say thank you!”

For a moment, Rui forgot how to breathe. 

“You changed me for the better. I was…honestly such a jerk back then. I only focused on myself, and then I was nothing but mean to Nene, but you called me out on it, and you hurt me in the same way I have hurt others.” Tsukasa admitted. It was genuine, raw, finally letting all his hidden thoughts pour out of his mind. “You were cruel enough to tear the truth out of my eyes, to make me see how stupid I was! And you were right! I would never be a star. Not until I found my real purpose, and I did. And…I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today if it wasn’t for all of that, so…I thank you.” 

Tsukasa took another step forward, his voice stern yet slowly becoming more and more emotional, and Rui stood still, watching the sincerity flowing from his determined eyes, still bright and glimmering in the dark. 

“....Sometimes, I wonder how much things would be different without you. Wonderlands x Showtime would’ve never existed without you, and I wonder if I would fall back into old habits and...forget everything again. The things you did for us, whether it is writing shows or directing our plays, all those shows that bring smiles to the people who watch us wouldn’t have succeeded without you, and I—”

Tsukasa cut himself off. 

“I —” Another pause, “ —I…care about you. A lot. I don’t know if you know that, but you are very important to me. I’ve always thought that my problems were insignificant to be brought up, so I never told anyone. I just thought everyone would be disappointed in me, but —” He nervously chuckled, “—here you are.”

Tsukasa was just an inch away from him. He was holding Rui’s arms with both hands, and Rui could feel all of it again: his touch, his warmth, his everything — and oh, how much he missed it. 

“You mean everything to me. I…” Tsukasa started again after a long silence, almost whispering, “I like — to be there…for you. If you need it.” Despite being under the blue light, his face blushed with a vibrant pink shade. “I…just…”

And then, as if the red curtains were flung open, Rui finally saw the whole picture. 

It all started with a phone call on the bluest day of July, a day so similar to when they first met. Tsukasa brought him to Yokohama, to places only Rui would like, and planned everything just to make him happy. His blushes, his stutters, his hesitations, his pauses, his laughs, and of course, all of his affections that he had shown to Rui, starting from the train station all the way till last night on a single bed, the tension of not knowing Rui’s feelings…all of it, the bits and pieces of his feelings, ultimately led to this moment in the deep blue aquarium, the moment of truth —

From the very start, there were suspicions. Suspicions that even Rui didn’t understand. But he knew one thing: Tsukasa had nothing in mind other than him. 

Behind the veiled window was a clear blue sky. Always there, always waiting. 

Tsukasa took a shaky breath.

“...You are amazing, Rui.” 

Rui put his hands on Tsukasa’s shoulders, leaned down, and kissed him. 

Heat was the first thing he felt, along with his racing heart, accelerating at a pace threatening to scream in excitement. It probably lasted a few seconds, but time poured away from them as if melted by the heat rushing through his veins. Rui could feel everything; Tsukasa’s lemon-scented hair, his hitched breathing, his body, his passionate yet desperate touch, his entire being, and it all came surging into Rui’s mind from just the gentle touch of his lips, melting the borders of time and reality, as his chest burned with an emotion solely dedicated to being experienced with Tsukasa—

Rui had never been more alive. 

He had no idea when he pulled away. But when he did, he let out a small gasp, hearing his blood running miles through his body. Rui's eyes fluttered open, filled with desire and admiration, and there he was — a dumbfounded Tsukasa, blinking hard as if trying to test whether what just happened was a vicious prank played by a fever dream, with roses blooming on either side of his cheeks. 

Rui could finally say what had been bugging him for weeks. 

“You’re so adorable when you blush.” 

Tsukasa was still frozen, his face gradually recovering from the heat, but his eyes were sparkling, budding tears of relief. 

“Rui….”

There was a still moment before Tsukasa was unshackled from his puzzlement as he leapt onto Rui, hugging him with such intensity like he had been waiting for this exact moment of his life. Rui flinched, before he melted into the embrace with a softened grin as Tsukasa nuzzled his head in his chest. 

“I need you to thank you too, Tsukasa.” 

Rui spoke, voice silently echoing through the blue hallway.  “I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today if it wasn't for you. I wouldn’t have been able to perform on stage, meet all of you, let alone become the person I am today if it wasn’t for you.” He moved his hand upwards and patted Tsukasa’s head, running his fingers through Tsukasa’s soft blonde hair. “I would still be the lonely alchemist I once was.” 

Tsukasa continued to stay in place, burying himself into Rui’s body and finally letting himself indulge in something he had been yearning for the past eight months. He lowered his arm and searched for Rui’s hand, holding it tight. The two stood still in the aquarium for a while, sharing each other’s presence and warmth together amidst the blue light. It was a clear, vibrant blue as the light ripples of the water danced away, the fish swam without a care of their presence, and there was nothing but the sound of the calming waters. It was just the two of them, alone in their found world, and Rui felt he was finally part of something — a bond that tied two lives together, even if it might be temporary, even if the road ahead of them was a terrifying mystery, at least…

At least, for now, Rui wasn’t alone by himself anymore. 

It all started with a calling. 

The sky was a vibrant blend of azure. Several boys in white were running along the road, holding colourful pinwheels that spun along the free wind, squealing in laughter. 

Rui watched them from above behind a window. 

Ring! 

There were pieces of gears, motors, electric clips, bolts, nuts, and screws, along with screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers, all littered across the bedroom floor. Stacks of manuscripts of unseen shows were scattered all over his room. 

Ring! 

Yesterday was Wonderlands x Showtime’s first rehearsal after their short summer vacation break, and they were already off preparing their next brand-new show. Tsukasa had proposed an ambitious new project for the troupe, and they discussed the script together while they tested some of Rui’s new drones the rest of the time. Overall, everything had returned pretty much the same.

….though Rui doubted that things would really be the same again. 

And perhaps that’s a good thing.

Ring! 

The phone buzzed again. 

Rui turned his gaze back to the vibrating phone, still attempting to crawl away from him with its vibrations.  

Ring! 

….he should really answer the call now. 

It’s not like he had anything to do this afternoon. Rui was busy finishing up the fairy drone he had made a few days ago, so now he was left with nothing on his hands. 

(Besides, he already knew who was calling him.)

Without glancing at the caller’s name, Rui swiped right and brought the phone far away from his ear.

Smart move. 

“Hello?”

“RUIIIIIIIIII!!! Long time no see!!!!”

Although Tsukasa screamed slightly quieter, his voice still boomed through the room. Rui giggled wildly, putting Tsukasa’s call on speaker as he plopped himself on the bed. 

“Tsukasa~ we just met at rehearsal yesterday.”

“I know, I know, but still! Can’t I just check in with my teammates more than once?” 

Tsukasa sounded as lively as ever, and Rui could picture the bright smile on his face. “I just want to say I love those cute drones you made,” Tsukasa said, “especially when they started singing like real fairies! Their voices sound so perfect! How did you do that, by the way?”

“Well, it was pretty easy,” Rui started to explain his process, “All I did was I logged onto an editing software, where they allow users to auto-generate specific speech sounds and assign them with a music note so that they can sing some random vowels and consonants. I just find all the sounds that form the words of the song’s lyrics, and then—”

“Okay, stop, stop. I…don’t need to know anymore.” Tsukasa interrupted before Rui even reached the middle of his speech, “I forgot that you would just ramble non-stop when it comes to this stuff.” 

“Oh, Tsukasa~” Rui dramatically sighed, “All I wanted was to share my hard-working process, and yet you didn’t even let me finish! Oh, my day is ruined. What a miserable betrayal~”

“Ughh, quit being so dramatic!” Tsukasa grumbled, “I didn’t call you just to hear you ramble about machines!!” 

Rui giggled. His cheeks were a bit warmer than before. “Well then, is there a particular reason why you called me?”

Silence. 

“......Wellllllllllll….” 

Tsukasa dragged his sentence, his voice getting muffled by some...movement noises. Rui could be hallucinating, but he swore he heard a bird’s chirp distorted by the terrible call quality on his phone. 

“...Why don’t you come down here and see for yourself?”

…Oh?

Rui stared at his phone for a good second before sprung up from his bed, kicking some scrap paper on the ground and poking half of his body out of the window. The summer breeze blew through his bangs, and the sun beamed on him.

He looked down at his front door. Although he couldn’t see it clearly, there was a brief second where he saw some scruffy golden hair.

“...Oh my…”

In the next second, Rui rushed out of his room and slid downstairs, dashing to his main door. The door swung open, revealing the most excellent future star, the soaring pegasus in the high clouds that dreamed of spreading happiness to the world.  

“HIIIII RUI!!”

Tsukasa stood in front of him, wearing his usual jacket and T-shirt, one hand lifting a shopping bag and the other waving fondly at Rui. 

“Tsukasa?” Rui questioned, more dumbfounded than excited, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I thought it would be a great surprise!” Tsukasa beamed, “Here! I bought you a present!”

Tsukasa lent him the large bag, and Rui hazily received it, lifting up what was inside. It was a plushie. A platypus plushie holding a tiny bottle of soda candy. 

The perfect recipe for an ideal gift.

“Why thank you,” Rui grinned, admiring the gift in his hands like a champion trophy, “you surprised me indeed.”

Tsukasa grinned before reaching his hand through his backpack. “I actually planned to go somewhere this afternoon!” He fished out two slips of paper. “I got extra tickets for an action movie!”

“And I’m assuming that is also a secret?”

“Yup! After all, a star has to bring you the best smiles and surprises!”

Tsukasa wore a massive grin, and Rui finally took a good look at him.

Despite being under the candescent sun on the hot summer afternoon, Tsukasa was shining brightly as a star alone, even brighter than any other planet in the entire cosmos. Nobody would understand Tsukasa’s loud and buoyant persona, let alone see a charm in him, just like a sparkling star in faraway space was half-hidden from the eye during the summer afternoon. Yet, there he was, standing in front of Rui, beaming with joy. 

Tsukasa was determined to bring happiness to everyone, and today he dedicated his time just to make one smile.

“So, what do you say?”

Rui met Tsukasa’s gaze, full of anticipation. From the moment he caught it, he knew Tsukasa was looking for a specific answer — a reaffirming cue written within their relationship’s silent, tacit code.

Rui knew exactly what it was.

“Is anyone else coming?”

“Nope!” Tsukasa responded, his smile glistening under the golden sun. 

“It’s just the two of us.”

Rui smiled back. That was his cue to hold Tsukasa’s hand, accepting Tsukasa’s offer as Tsukasa led Rui onto the road. And once he did so, everything changed —the light breeze welcomed him with open arms, the orange summer sun radiating warmth to the streets, as sparrows whistled while gliding through the winds, and lush trees swayed and hustled in ease. Rui was not in his cramped grey room anymore; he was running, guided by a fearless captain as they traversed along the road, passing the group of children laughing like wind chimes as he held Tsukasa’s hand, his chest budding with fresh excitement, with all those years of isolation, of loneliness becoming a distant memory, and Rui had never felt so light, so sincere, and so free —

The sky was particularly blue that day.

THE END