Chapter Text
Satou Ryusei was not a romantic. He wasn't even interested in relationships. He much preferred to watch a football game or cause a stir wherever he went. He found love at first sight ridiculous.
However, when he met Matsuno Chifuyu, he was able to believe in love at first punch.
People says love hurts and his face hurt so damn much when Chifuyu hit him, so it had to be true.
Well, maybe it wasn't necessarily love right away, Ryusei didn't know much about it after all. However, he could tell himself that no one had ever made him feel like this before. He decided at first to call it "having a crush", which could quickly evolve into something more serious. And every day he spent with Chifuyu made him believe that he liked the boy a lot more.
His favorite activity was teasing Chifuyu. The more so that it was easy to get any satisfactory reaction from the boy.
He kept replaying Chifuyu's expression in his mind as he directly told him, "You're a very cute guy ♡ "
Oh, that blush. What he would give to see this more often.
It's very fun at first, slightly exciting. The new feelings were light, pleasant, not very binding.
However, everything changed when he realized that simple fascination turned into love. The moment Chifuyu came to save Ryusei. As he took the hits intended for Ryusei. When he told him what true friendship is, thus admitting that he considered Ryusei as his friend.
Then all the feelings hit him much more than any of Kojiro's punches.
Matsuno Chifuyu.
The idiot.
The beautiful, naive, brave, loyal idiot.
If it wasn't for him, it would probably be ended. If he hadn't found him, the members of Toman wouldn't have come to the rescue. At that moment, Chifuyu ensured his survival, the price of which was Ryusei's heart.
From then, Satou was more aware of his feelings.
He still teased him, but he did it more often. When he noticed Chifuyu at school, he would immediately appear by his side to annoy him a bit, hoping that he would blush cutely again. He also allowed himself more physical contact. Satou grabbed his neck and ruffled his hair. And when the nervous Chifuyu started to beat him, he did everything to make the fight last as long as possible. Which usually ends when Baji intervened.
Baji. Their mutual friend whom Chifuyu had a special adoration for. The younger boy followed him around like a puppy, craving his approval, and Ryusei was pretty sure that Chifuyu had romantic feelings for him.
Ryusei was not one to worry too much. Jealousy wasn't in his nature either, but he couldn't deny that Chifuyu's interest in another boy didn't sit well with him.
So he tried his best to get his attention in the way he knew best and was good at - irritating Chifuyu.
He was especially annoying when Baji was with them. Or rather, when Baji was with Chifuyu and Ryusei decided to join them, much to the annoyance of the dyed blonde.
That is, among others, during the lunch break on the roof of the school.
'' You should go back to that hair I did you, Fuyu. You looked like an adventure anime hero. I'd love to help you. Although your current styling as the main love interest in your beloved shoujo manga is very cute! ♡ ''
" Fuck off, you'll never touch my hair again! " The flushed boy said. " And get away from my manga! "
" Look, I'm touching your hair right now! " Ryusei replied, ruffling Chifuyu's hair as the younger boy struggled violently.
'' Don’t touch me! "
'' Can you stop flirting with each other? '' Baji said, pulling away his bento.
" We... we don't flirt, Baji-san! " Chifuyu refuted frantically, all red in the face.
'' I don't know, Fuyu, I'm definitely flirting with you. ♡ '' He said, jabbing the boy's shoulder with his elbow.
'' Shut up! Do you always have to mess around?! '' Matsuno drawled, snatching Ryusei and slapping his hands.
'' I'm always serious! Especially when it comes to you. ♡ '' He understood very well that the younger boy wouldn't take his answers seriously, but he didn't mind.
" Do you hear yourself?! " He shouted, now pounding Satou's shoulder with his fists.
Ryusei burst out laughing, grabbed the boy's wrists and started wrestling with him.
He absolutely loved touching Chifuyu.
" I'm ashamed to be around you two." Baji said, looking at his colleagues but keeping an appraising gaze on Satou longer.
Ryusei didn't like that look.
'' Baji-san! '' Chifuyu groaned. He always despaired when Baji criticized him, which always caused Satou conflicting feelings.
There were times when he missed when he never cared about anything. However, he never regretted falling in love with Chifuyu.
Even when his first love was staring at someone else.
There were times when Ryusei spent time alone with Chifuyu, especially when Baji stayed at school for tutoring. Though the dyed blonde continued to show his annoyance with Satou, he never flinched and accompanied him anyway, which made Ryusei feel things.
He cherished these moments the most.
" Chifuyuuuu <3 Come with me to my house to get my uniform."
'' Tsk, it wouldn't be such a problem if you brought your uniform to school. After all, you knew there was a Toman meeting today. " Chifuyu said, but he and Satou walked towards his house anyway.
'' I don't know another so committed guy who always has a uniform. You'll see, at this rate you'll quickly become vice-captain."
'' Shut up! '' The boy shouted, picking up the pace and an amused Satou ran after him.
In front of Ryusei's house, Chifuyu stopped abruptly.
" Your mom isn't home, is she?" He asked in a slightly concerned voice.
Interesting.
Ryusei knew they met when Chifuyu came to their house to search for Satou when he was kidnapped. His mother mentioned his "extremely charming and interesting colleague".
But he didn't care how their conversation went.
'' She should be, why are you asking? Just don't say my mom intimidates you." He asked teasingly.
To his surprise, Chifuyu didn't deny it.
'' Your mom is quite... intense. And she says weird things ."
Intrigued, he grabbed Matsuno by the sleeve and quickly pulled him inside.
'' Mom, I’m home! If you want to say hello to Chifuyu, do it now, because we're about to leave soon! '' He shouted at the entrance, taking great satisfaction from Chifuyu’s nervousness.
His mother appeared in the hallway.
" Oh, you bring your cute friend with you." She said with a smile.
Chifuyu blushed slightly. And Ryusei was slightly annoyed that he wasn't the reason of the blush.
'' Good… good afternoon! I'm sorry for the intrusion! ''
'' You don't have to apologize, you're always welcome here. You still don't have a girlfriend, do you? Because, you know, my proposal is still valid.''
Oh. Ryusei already guessed that his mother had been hitting on the boy recently and probably even proposed marriage to him, because she liked to torment various men in this way. He felt his muscles tense.
However, he tried not to show it.
" Mom, don't torment Fuyu. It's my job." Ryusei told her, ruffling Chifuyu's hair, who only quietly told him " Stop it." Apparently, he didn't want to make a scene in front of his mom.
A flash of enlightenment appeared on the woman's face. After all, she knew him best, so she guessed her son was jealous.
Shit.
When Satou took the boy to his room, Chifuyu still had slightly red cheeks, but his eyes narrowed, making him look like an annoyed cat. Cute.
'' Maybe I should think it over. If I was with your mother, you'd call me daddy, you'd have to listen to me and respect me."
Ryusei was speechless for the first time in his life. Did Chifuyu hear himself and how ambiguous did that sound? No, definitely not. Chifuyu was sweet, innocent, and didn't think of Ryusei in those terms.
But Ryusei often imagined Chifuyu in various close-up situations, and now all the visions hit the boy with double power, causing his cheeks to burn.
Seeing Ryusei's reaction, Chifuyu looked at him shocked, then started laughing.
" Hahahaha! Seriously? Is this the only thing that triggers your reaction? If I had known, I would have tried something like this before."
Satou took a pillow and hit the boy hard with it.
" Motherfucker" He said.
" Not yet, but that may change in the future." The boy replied, still laughing.
Ryusei loved teasing Chifuyu because his every reaction was unimaginably cute. However, he had no right to complain when the teasing went the other way as well, when he saw how much fun Chifuyu was getting from this. The laughing boy was lively, carefree, happy.
He was beautiful.
Ryusei couldn't ask for more at that moment.
And since he was himself, he made a comment to him:
" If you so badly want to have your first sexual experience with my mother, why don't we call her and tell her everything? " The horrified look on Chifuyu's face was worth interrupting his joy. Ryusei opened his mouth wide to call out to his mother. " Moooo..."
Chifuyu lunged at him, pinning him to the floor and covering his mouth with his hands.
'' No, stop! I'm not laughing anymore, don't tell her anything! ''
Satou thought it was funny how quickly Chifuyu could get embarrassed. Taking advantage of being stronger, he pushed the boy, causing him to now lie on the floor and Ryusei above him. This caused Matsuno to go into warrior mode and start attacking him.
Ryusei had fought in many battles, but no victory could compare to these entertaining skirmishes with Chifuyu, which he felt were full of lightness, wonderful tension and chemistry.
He wanted to believe it was a two-way feeling.
He wished those moments were more frequent.
" Boys, I know you're having a good time, but I don't think I'd rather hear how good it is." His mother exclaimed.
They both jumped away from each other blushing slightly.
" Take your uniform and let's go." Matsuno said without looking in his direction.
Ryusei didn't argue with him for the first time.
When Ryusei came home the same day after a fight with another gang, he knew that his mother would not let him rest. While she wasn't interested in Ryusei’s problems (unless it was something extremely serious, like when he was badly beaten after the kidnapping, and it only sped up her earlier decision about their family's future), love affairs had always been her favorite hobby.
'' You didn't say that you had any crush. I could have guessed we had the same taste in boys." She said at the entrance.
This was to be expected.
" I don't know what you're talking about. " He tried to brush her off, but she just raised her eyebrows.
'' Really? This Chifuyu of yours is very cute, I'm not surprised you like him. It's a pity that I have to let him go, but you know, my son's boyfriend is untouchable. ''
Ryusei tried to laugh, even though it sounded fake even to his ears. And yet, laughing at everything was in his blood.
'' He's not my boyfriend. And you probably don't stand a chance because I doubt he'd be interested in much older women, but you can dream."
'' Why isn’t he? You have my genes! How could he not fall under the spell of the Satou family?" She asked surprised. "And for your information, I'm still young, I'm 18."
" How long are you eighteen? " He asked with raised eyebrows.
" Eighteen, of course." She replied confidently. After a moment, she added. " Are you planning to confess your love to him before we move out?"
Well, moving out. They hardly touched the subject. No one expected their family beauty salon to have financial problems, but it did. It was to remain closed until their financial situation improved. Luckily, his mother got a job offer at another salon.
On the other side of the country.
His mother promised that she would come back and get her beauty salon back, but neither of them expected that to happen before Ryusei graduated.
" Oh, you don't have the minimum of romance in you." She sighed. However, he could see from her that she got sadder. "It's a pity that this is the story of your first love."
Ryusei, unusually for himself, didn't say anything because he agreed with her completely.
Satou was surprised that Baji told him to meet him on the roof of the school after school. He was hoping Chifuyu would come with him, but apparently, Baji didn't want him to be there when they were talking.
'' What do you wanna talk about? As for something for Toman, let it wait until tomorrow, tonight there is a match against..." Satou didn't finish as he felt Baji's fist on his face. His captain often spoke in fist language.
'' What have I done again? I don't remember anything." He asked, massaging the hit spot.
" Stop messing with Chifuyu!"
What?
'' What? ''
" Maybe I'm stupid, but I'm not an idiot." Baji said. Satou couldn't help but laugh. '' But Chifuyu is an idiot. A dense one and he doesn't even know you're flirting with him. Give him a break. Or for once in your life, be serious about how genuine your feelings for him are. And I know they are because you're not as subtle as you think.'' Satou wasn't laughing now.
'' I do not know what you mean. '' He lied and saw from Baji's skeptical expression that he didn't believe it. Yet he continued. '' A little flirting never hurt anyone and means nothing. I don't understand why you're so concerned about this now. Are you in love with him or what? " He asked, both wanting and not wanting to hear the answer.
Surprisingly, Baji didn't deny it. But he didn't confirm it either.
The lack of a clear answer did not please Satou. He felt himself getting nauseous.
'' You don't have to worry anyway. I'm moving out in a month." He spoke as if his absence would solve any problem.
He felt the fist hit his face again.
'' Could you stop now? '' Ryusei groaned.
" And could you inform me about such things?! I'm your captain! And you are my vice-capitan! "
" Fuyu will gladly take my place." He answered.
Now Baji looked furious and attacked Satou more seriously. It wasn't like the fight he'd had with Chifuyu in the last few weeks. This one was much more intense, as if Baji wanted to force some sense into Satou's head.
Ryusei was about to hit him back when he stopped his fist and instead of punching him in the face, he grabbed him while looking deep into his eyes. Baji froze.
" Please." He croaked, not recognizing himself. He had never been so serious in his life, which surprised also Baji. " Take care of him while I'm not here."
All the air left Baji in an instant. Apparently, he was moved by the fact that the boy's feelings for Chifuyu are so deep that he could do something like that.
'' I promise.''
That was enough for him.
" You're moving out and you didn't say anything? " Chifuyu shouted, punching him on the shoulder.
Of course Baji had to tell everyone in Toman, after all he was the captain of the first division and Satou was his vice-captain, so it would be appropriate to inform the rest that he was leaving and probably won't be back, rather than disappearing without saying goodbye.
Although the last time Ryusei went missing without a word, only Chifuyu cared enough to decide to look for him.
'' Who would have thought that Fuyu would care so much? Be careful, or I'll think you love my company and will miss me. ♡ " He said amused, with his palms up.
'' Why should I care if an asshole like you plans to leave without a word?! I don't give a shit! '' He shouted, but it was obvious that it wasn't true.
Ryusei felt his chest tighten. He knew that the boy cared about him, and this knowledge made all feelings towards him even more intense.
'' You're an idiot!" Chifuyu screamed, continuing to beat him.
Ryusei grabbed his hands and joined the fight. Matsuno was so involved in the fight that he probably couldn't hear Satou answering him quietly:
'' I know.''
The whole Toman threw him a farewell party the day before he left. He appreciated that so many people wanted to say goodbye to him. There was a special bond between them and he wanted to spend some time with each of them, but even so, his gaze landed all the time only on this one boy who was somewhere nearby during the whole ceremony.
He didn't expect Chifuyu to cry at the end.
'' I didn't think you'd care so much about me leaving, Fuyu! You must like me a lot. Don't worry, the feeling is definitely mutual. ♡ '' He said lightly, but he was convinced that a million butterflies had just taken off in his stomach.
Matsuno wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
'' Shut up! Of course I did! You're a pain in the ass, but you're not that bad. We're friends after all. "
Ryusei's heart felt immensely warm.
He vaguely remembered how every gang member hugged him goodbye, because Ryusei focused the most on Chifuyu's body warmth, when the younger boy whispered "Good luck" and "Just don't think I'll miss you", to which the other boy laughed, saying, that he will miss him too. He didn't want to let go of Chifuyu, but he had to. He wanted to be with him forever, but now he had to go.
And Baji promised him that he would take care of Chifuyu.
Ryusei believed that his first love was in good hands.
