Archive of Our Own

Akito couldn’t say a lot about himself that he was proud of.

But he could say a few things. He was proud of his partner, his teammates and their music. He was proud of his two sisters, an artist and an idol, no matter how often they all bickered or how terrible that goddamn dog was. He was also proud of who he was as a person.

Akito knew who he was and for all his weaknesses, he could be confident in that much.

And nothing would ever change that fact. Nobody knew Akito better than he knew himself.

There was something going on with Toya.

Akito could read it as clear as day, but for whatever reason, Toya wasn’t talking to him. The last time this happened, Toya had ended up being adopted by the Tenmas. And when Akito pulled a similar strategy, he’d almost practiced himself to death trying to beat Arata.

Clearly, neither of them could handle their shit on their own, so one of them had to buck up and get on with it.

And it looks like it was Akito’s turn. Damn.

“Alright, Toya, what’s going on?” Akito asked dryly. The two of them were on the roof of Kamiyama. The wind blew through Akito’s hair, but he didn’t shiver at all. His entire focus was on Toya, watching for any sign that his best friend was lying to him again.

“What do you mean, Akito?” Toya questioned, tilting his head to the side.

“I can tell you’re lying, dammit!” Akito snapped, glaring at Toya now. “You helped me last time so now it’s my turn to help you, so just fess up already!”

Toya’s eyes widened in surprise, accenting their silver color. Akito had just barely noticed that when Toya smiled softly. It was a smile Toya only ever used around Akito, and for some dumb reason, his heart skipped at the sight of it.

“I’m sorry to have worried you,” Toya apologized, dragging Akito’s attention back. “I’ve just been thinking recently.”

“Bout what?” Akito asked, curious but trying not to pry. If Toya didn’t want to share, he wouldn’t push…until it started effecting their music or Toya himself in a bad way.

“About…myself, I suppose.” Toya shrugged. He turned to the gate on the roof, staring out over the city. Akito wasn’t sure if Toya was doing it to avoid Akito’s gaze or just because he was seriously contemplating whatever was bothering him. Whatever the reason, he looked unfairly cool and Akito was honest enough to admit that to himself. “It appears that my fath-I mean, Aoyagi-san was not honest with me.”

“That’s a surprise,” Akito drawled sarcastically, unable to help himself. He sobered up right after though. “What did you find out?”

“Apparently, it is both possible to not realize you are not straight and much more common than he led me to believe,” Toya admitted, his voice soft and barely there.

The wind blew and Akito had never heard a silence ring so loud as this one did. The implication of Toya’s words…

Why was his heart galloping?

“Toya, are you-what are you saying?” Akito asked, fiercely shaking his head. He couldn’t assume. Assuming was absolutely the fucking worse thing he could do.

“I’m unsure of exactly what I am, but I do know that I am not interested in many people,” Toya admitted. He still wasn’t looking at Akito. “I have only ever felt something for one person in my entire life. Tsukasa-oniisan and Saki-oneesan call it demisexuality.”

“I see,” Akito whispered. For all that he knew Toya, he hadn’t expected this conversation at all. But no matter Akito’s own thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community, no matter the fact that he was straight, he would support Toya no matter what. And so, he smiled. “I’m glad you figured that out.”

Toya turned to face him at last. The wind blew once more, highlighting the distance between the two of them. Toya looked hesitant as he gazed at Akito, but when Akito nodded in confirmation, a smile grew on his face.

There it was, Akito’s smile, combined with sparkling eyes. Toya really did look best when he was smiling.

The bell signaling the end of their lunch period rung then, startling Akito out of his thoughts.

“We should return to class, Akito,” Toya stated, finally bridging the distance between them. Akito’s breath came easier at the sight of Toya coming back to him.

“Ugh, guess so,” he groaned aloud. Toya smiled in amusement and Akito was helpless from returning it.

Yeah, they were gonna be fine.

So Toya wasn’t straight, so what? He was still Akito’s best friend and that didn’t matter at all.

“I’m home!” Akito called as he entered the Shinonome home. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t call out when he came home as loudly as he did. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice because-

“Samo-chan, no!”

Akito practically leapt onto the couch as the beast his sister for some insane reason called ‘Samo-chan’ attacked him.

“How many times have I told you to keep him in your room?!” he scowled, glaring at Minori as she held Samo-chan back from reaching him.

“You’re never home at a consistent time, Akito! If I kept Samo-chan locked up all day, he’d be lonely!” Minori whined. As if he understood her, Samo-chan barked in agreement.

“Better he’s lonely then me getting mauled,” Akito countered. He watched the dog carefully as he stood up from the couch, moving slowly. “I still think you’re insane for keeping him.”

“But he’s so cute!” Minori stuck her tongue out. Akito scoffed, but before he could say anymore, Minori continued to speak. “Ah, how was practice today, Akito? Kohane-chan was really excited.”

“It was fine, same as always.” Akito shrugged.

It wasn’t even a lie. They’d gone to Sekai to practice as they often did, only this time they ended up working with Kaito and Rin, since Meiko had Miku and Len tied up in the café. It had been quite a funny sight, especially when Meiko had leaned into her drill sergeant tendencies with Len.

But Akito had been distracted throughout practice. And he couldn’t even say why.

He’d just…been watching Toya, closely. Maybe he was still worried about Toya? But he’d come out to An and Kohane no problem, which was never a fear considering An was as sapphic as they got and Kohane was exploring herself.

But Akito had still been so off, to the point of ridiculousness. You’d think he was the amateur instead of Kohane with the way he was acting. Not that anyone said that to him.

At the end of the day, Akito was always his own worst critic.

“Hm? Akito? What’s wrong?” Minori asked. When Akito glanced at her, her eyes were filled with concern. “Sorry, it’s just…you looked really far away and the last time you looked like that, well…”

“I ended up overworking myself,” Akito sighed. Minori and Ena had gotten as close to hovering as they could when he’d been spiraling over Arata, but neither had been able to get through to him, not like Toya, An and Kohane had. He ran a hand through his hair. “I…don’t know what’s wrong. I’ve been off since Toya told me something today.”

“What did Toya-kun tell you?” Ena asked, startling Akito. She was standing at the base of the stairs, evidently having just come down. She glared when he looked at her. “What? I was just coming down for a snack and overheard you. Now spill.”

“Why’re you being so damn pushy?” Akito grumbled.

“Because she likes Toya-kun!” Minori smiled.

“More than she likes me,” Akito scoffed.

“No argument from me,” Ena smiled sarcastically. She made her way to the kitchen and came back moments later with a plate of small cookies she liked, offering them to her siblings by setting them down at the table. “Well? Talk, Akito.”

“Pushy,” Akito muttered, even as he moved to the table and accepted a cookie alongside Minori. Treats like this were how they showed their care, after all, and he’d be an idiot to turn them down. “Look, Toya just told me something about himself that neither of us knew before and I’m happy for him, but I also feel…weird.”

“Weird how?” Minori asked, cocking her head to the side. The beast was at her side, laying his head in her lap.

“Like…there’s a pit in my stomach,” Akito confessed, hating himself even as he spoke the words.

“What’d he tell you? You don’t usually get this twisted up with Toya-kun,” Ena said, her brow furrowed. Akito couldn’t blame her, Toya had been one of the few parts of his life that he never really got frustrated over. Angry, yes, but never frustrated. He’d always understood Toya and that meant he never felt the burn of frustration on his tongue.

But now he did and he had no clue why.

“He…told me he’s demisexual,” Akito whispered. Minori gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth. Ena barely reacted at all.

“Oh, I’m so happy for Toya-kun!” Minori beamed. “It’s so difficult to figure things like that out, I’m so glad he could!”

“Eh?” Akito asked, surprised. He hadn’t been expecting that reaction at all.

“Yeah! I remember how difficult it was for me, after all!” Minori answered. “What about you, neechan?”

“Probably about the same.” Ena shrugged. “It was probably trickier for Toya-kun, though. After all, it’s harder to realize you don’t feel something than it is to realize you do.”

“Ahh, right…” Akito trailed off, a bit awkwardly.

“You forgot that we’re queer, didn’t you?” Ena deadpanned. She crossed her arms, shooting Akito a disappointed look.

“Ehhhhhhh?!” Minori cried, her hands coming up to her cheeks. “Akito! How could you have forgotten I’m a lesbian and Neechan pansexual?”

“Just wasn’t thinking about it.” Akito shrugged, still feeling off balanced.

It wasn’t even a lie, he had forgotten about their sexualities. It was just such an engrained part of both Ena and Minori, Akito was simply used to thinking of them in that way. Toya…he was just different.

Akito couldn’t put it into words well, it’s just how he felt. Comparing Toya to his sisters was like…comparing a tsunami to a hurricane, completely impossible.

“So if you’re fine with us, what’s so different about Toya-kun?” Ena questioned bluntly, meeting Akito’s gaze head on.

“I…don’t know,” Akito confessed.

“Akito…” Minori whispered. She reached out, her hand covering his to comfort him. Akito would never admit it, but it did help. They were always pulling him to shore, his sisters, just as surely as he did the same for them.

But this didn’t feel like something he could talk about with them. He pulled his hand out from under Minori’s and stood. Not even Samo-chan’s bark could distract him.

“Thanks for the cookies. I’m going up to my room,” he said, turning his back on them and making his way up the stairs.

“Akito!” Minori called after him, but Akito didn’t stop.

Something was wrong, but he wasn’t gonna find his answers here.

The next day proved no different from the last and Akito was starting to get frustrated with himself. If he kept fucking up like this, they’d never surpass RAD WEEKEND and Akito would rather admit he loved his sisters in public then be the reason they fucked up.

“Hey, Akito, can we talk?” An asked as they wrapped practice up. Clearly, she’d been the only one brave enough to ask him to his face. Kohane looked petrified to ask while Toya just had the sad puppy dog face going on.

“Sure,” Akito agreed. “You two head back without us.”

“Um…if you’re sure,” Kohane hemmed, playing with her fingers nervously.

“I am.” Akito nodded.

“Then…we’ll see you tomorrow,” Toya agreed. His eyes were still too concerned, too puppy like. “Message when you both get home.”

“Of course!”

“Got it.”

An and Akito answered in unison.

“Then…good night, everyone,” Kohane smiled. It was still a bit nervous, but Kohane was typically nervous, so Akito wasn’t too worried.

With their goodbyes said, Toya and Kohane both stopped Ready Steady, vanishing instantly.

As soon as they were alone, An turned to face Akito.

“Alright, what’s going on?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Are you still practicing too much?”

“No, you know I stopped that,” Akito sighed, shaking his head.

“Then is it about Toya?” An guessed. When Akito fell silent, she narrowed her eyes. “Akito, I swear to god-”

“It’s not because he’s demisexual!” Akito cut her off, glaring at her now. “Fuck, An, I’m not homophobic! I just…”

“Just…?” An prompted.

But Akito didn’t have an answer and the silence would’ve hung over them far too long if they weren’t interrupted by Kaito stumbling into the alley they were in.

“Oh! Sorry! I thought I heard you all leave!” he apologized, a bit sheepish. Akito was pretty sure he was gonna snap at the VIRTUAL SINGER if he didn’t suddenly clap his hands together. “Well, since you’re here, how do you two feel about exploring?”

“Exploring?” An questioned, surprised.

“What the hell are you talking about, Kaito?” Akito sighed. “We’ve already explored, I doubt there’s anything new to find.”

“Hmm…you never know until you look, after all,” Kaito smiled. “Besides, if you two come with me, I’m less likely to get lost. I think Rin and Len might be very mad at me if I miss our lesson again.” He gave a sheepish laugh as he spoke.

“Geez, what was your first hint?” Akito drawled sarcastically.

“Sure, Kaito! We’d love to join you!” An grinned. She grasped onto Akito’s elbow, giving him no chance of escape.

“When did I agree to this?” Akito muttered.

“Right now!” An beamed.

“Great! C’mon then, let’s go on an adventure!” Kaito grinned, as brightly as he had when he’d found the ice cream in Meiko’s freezer.

Akito sighed, resigned to his fate.

They spent what felt like hours walking all over the streets of the Sekai, with Kaito exclaiming at every piece of graffiti he found as if it were his first time seeing it.

Then again, maybe it was, but that didn’t make this whole thing less of a pain in the ass.

“Wow! This one is amazing!” Kaito gasped, stars in his eyes as he gazed up at the latest art they’d found.

“It’s just graffiti,” Akito sighed.

“Doesn’t mean you have to ruin his fun,” An huffed, puffing out her cheeks as she crossed her arms.

“No.” Kaito shook his head, drawing the two’s gaze. He turned to look at them with a smile. “It’s not just graffiti. It’s a part of your Sekai, meaning that it comes from all four of you. It’s a part of your hearts and that makes every piece precious.”

Akito’s cheeks were burning and he scowled down at the ground to hide that fact. Given An’s giggle, he most definitely failed.

“Oh? What’s this?” Kaito gasped. Akito let out a quiet sigh. No doubt, it was another piece they’d seen already.

“Which one, Kaito?” An asked. She gasped when Kaito, probably, pointed it out to her. “Oh! I don’t think I’ve seen this one before!”

“Me either,” Kaito smiled. “Akito, would you also like to see?”

Akito was tempted to scoff, but he held his tongue. If it was one of his, there was no reason for either of them to recognize it as his work. He wasn’t gonna say a word. But even still, he humored the two, glancing up to see the graffiti that caught their interest.

And his breathing stopped.

The graffiti was a landscape that started as winter on the left and gradually became spring on the right. And as the season changed, the single figure walking in winter gained companions, until there was a large group running in spring. The details were unbelievable, the colors telling the story so easily, Akito didn’t even have to guess at what it was.

It was also a graffiti art that hadn’t been here before. And Akito knew that because the graffiti next to it was his, done a bit before Toya’s court case started.

It hadn’t existed before the trial.

“Interesting, isn’t it?” Kaito said softly. When Akito tore his gaze away from the graffiti, Kaito was smiling in an almost mature manner. “You can know Sekai like the back of your hand, but there will always be surprises waiting for you to find them. All you have to do is look.”

“Yeah…” An agreed, her eyes shining with wonder.

Akito couldn’t look anymore.

“Oh, shoot, what time is it?” Kaito cried. “I have to meet Rin and Len!”

The three of them ended up running through the alleyways, all the way back to Crase Café. But even though they were late for the Kagamines’ lesson, Akito didn’t say a word. His mind was too focused on Kaito’s words from before.

You can know something well…and there were still surprises to be discovered.

Did…did Akito truly know himself as well as he thought?

…He didn’t know anymore.

“Oi, idiot,” Ena snapped, slamming her hands on the kitchen table. “Snap out of it.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Akito scowled, glaring down at the homework he was attempting to do on his own. It wasn’t going well.

“Sure you do, you’ve been ignoring Toya-kun since we talked. And don’t try to deny it, I know you have been,” Ena argued. She pointed a perfectly polished nail directly between Akito’s eyes, forcing him to go cross eyed.

“What, you’re having Akiyama spy on me now?” Akito glared. The last thing he needed was Akiyama reporting everything he did at school back to Ena, even if they didn’t show up every day.

“I didn’t ask them to, they asked me what the hell was wrong with you,” Ena corrected. “You’re not attached to Toya-kun’s hip, they knew instantly something wasn’t right.”

“Well, it’s neither of your damn business,” Akito snarled, grinding his teeth. Ena remained unruffled, staring down at him with a less than impressed expression. He’d had enough. “I’m out of here.”

This time, Ena didn’t call after him as he made his way upstairs. Minori, however, had no such qualms.

“Akito?” she called when he made his way upstairs. “I heard you and Ena-neechan arguing, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just drop it.” Akito glared at her.

Minori didn’t even flinch, instead crossing her arms as she met his gaze head on.

“Clearly you’re not if you’re acting like this,” she stated, before letting out a sigh that sounded far too similar to Ena’s for Akito’s sake. “If you can’t talk to us, would you try someone else?”

“Why should I bother?” Akito scoffed.

“Because we’re worried about you. And sometimes, a new perspective is just what you need to solve a problem,” Minori explained. A smile grew on her face. “I mean, when I thought giving up was the answer to everything in life, Haruka-chan proved me wrong and gave me a new direction. Maybe you just need someone to do that for you.”

“Yeah, like there’s anyone who could do that,” Akito muttered under his breath as he entered his bedroom, collapsing on his bed.

He doubted anyone else knew what this felt like. Not knowing your own self after spending years thinking you did…

It was a haunting feeling.

Akito really should not have been surprised when he was kidnapped by Akiyama at lunch, but he couldn’t prevent the widening of his eyes when they opened the door to his classroom and physically dragged him out before he could offer a single complaint.

“What the hell, Akiyama?” Akito groaned as the two of them made their way to the roof.

“What~? I just wanted to spend time with you, Otouto-kun!” Akiyama grinned. It was the smile they always wore when they called out to Tsukasa while Akito was nearby. Which meant this was nothing good.

“Uh huh…not at all because Ena asked you to check one me,” Akito deadpanned a second before they reached the roof.

“Technically, Ena didn’t ask me. I just saw you being all sad and distant.” Akiyama shrugged, finally releasing Akito only to turn and face him, their hands tucked behind their back as they tilted their head in concern. “So? What’s up?”

“And what makes you think that you could understand?” Akito scoffed, crossing his arms. He was not going to fold that easily.

But then, Akiyama’s eyes changed. Before, they had been concerned, yet still full of light and teasing.

Now…now their eyes were cold and deadly serious. It was a look Akito could remember so vividly on Ena’s face when she had her bad days, the days where he and Minori would constantly check on her, monitor the bathroom and confiscate anything that looked dangerous.

It was a look that terrified him, haunted his worst nightmares and yet he would never forget it.

“From the little context Ena gave me, I think I understand better than you think,” Akiyama stated. There was barely any inflection in their voice, as if they were a machine instead of a person.

Akito shivered.

“Let me guess, she told you Toya came out as demisexual,” he said, trying to sound normal. He doubted he actually managed it though.

“Yeah,” Akiyama confirmed, sounding closer to their normal self. They had a small, sad smile and there was a light in their eyes. Akito quietly breathed a sigh of relief. “And it was after that you started getting all wiggy. Care to fill in the blanks?”

“It’s just…hearing Toya say that he was demisexual, that he only was just able to figure it out…I dunno, I’m just starting to think I don’t know myself as well as I thought,” Akito admitted, stuffing his hands in his pockets. The wind blew, but Akiyama stood close enough that Akito wasn’t cold.

“What kind of thoughts have you been having, Akito?” Akiyama asked in the softest voice Akito had ever heard them use. There was no teasing, no judgement, no flatness. Just…care and concern and so much empathy that Akito felt his eyes burn with tears.

“Just…I can’t stop watching Toya, and every time I look at him or see him smile, I…I feel like my heart’s about to give out. But I never felt like this around-I’m not…I’m-I can’t be-” Akito couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t say the words.

It felt too big, too terrifying to admit. The wind blew around him, as if ready to sweep him into a tornado of his own emotions.

But then there was a hand on his shoulder. He turned, only to find Akiyama meeting his gaze head on.

“It’s okay, Akito,” they stated, full of conviction. “I know it’s scary. It’s petrifying, actually. But it’s not impossible. Just take your time if you need it. Nobody’s saying you have to figure it all out right now. Hell, I’m still figuring it out. But you don’t need to be so harsh on yourself. The way you’re feeling is entirely your own and it is real. And it’ll all be okay someday, even if that’s not today.”

Those words weren’t a cure, they were barely a bandage.

And yet, Akito could feel his breathing come easier than it had been. It wasn’t like the tornado had stopped, but it had…settled for a moment.

It was exactly what Akito had been needing.

“Thanks, Akiyama,” he whispered, reaching up to touch their hand gently.

“Aw, you can just call me ‘Mizuki’, Otouto-kun!” Aki-Mizuki grinned, the seriousness of the moment they shared completely gone. “And hey! Once you figure everything out, let me know! We’ll go shopping together!”

“I’m not going just to hold your bags,” Akito scoffed.

“No, no! Of course not!” Mizuki shook their head. They gently folded their hands over their heart as they continued. “It’s just…I want to be the one to buy you your first pride item.”

A lump formed in Akito’s throat and his heart rate picked up to a too terrifying speed.

But even then, he felt…safe, here with Mizuki. The words were sincere and they touched a part of Akito’s heart that he was starting to realize he’d neglected.

“Alright…Mizuki,” he smiled.

Somehow, Mizuki’s wide smile seemed to grow even more before they tackled Akito, holding onto him so tightly, he could barely breathe.

“Yay! Then it’s a platonic date, Otouto-kun!” Mizuki beamed when they pulled back, their ponytail practically bouncing with their movements.

The bell for their next class rung then.

“Ah, shit!” Akito cursed. He hadn’t even realized they’d been up on the roof for so long. “Come on, we’re gonna be late!”

“Nah, you go on, I’m going home!” Mizuki grinned. “I just came by to talk to you, after all!” Sure enough, when Akito looked back, Mizuki wasn’t wearing their school uniform, but a frilly red dress that brought out the pink in their hair. “Later, Otouto-kun!” And with a wink, they casually walked down the stairs to leave the school.

Akito could only shake his head before he ran all the way back to class. The last thing he needed was An catching him.

In the end, it was Kohane who gave him the push he needed.

“Oh, Akito-kun!”

Akito turned as he reached the Scramble Crossing, only to find Kohane running up to him from a short distance away.

“Yo,” he greeted. He looked her over, his brow furrowing when he saw how much she was panting. “Did you run here from school?”

“Yes!” Kohane answered through her panting. She didn’t speak again until her breathing had evened out, at which she straightened up. “I wanted to talk with you before practice, so I ran!”

“You know you could’ve messaged me, right?” Akito deadpanned. Seriously, did she think he was that unreachable?

Kohane, apparently, didn’t want to answer that question.

“Akito-kun!” she insisted, her fists clenched in determination. “Do you like Toya-kun?”

“Huh?” Akito asked, confused. “Uh, yeah, of course I do.”

“Do you think he’s handsome?” Kohane continued.

“What is this, twenty obvious questions? Yes,” Akito sighed.

“Do you like his smile?”

“Are you really gonna keep doing this?”

“Akito-kun!”

“Okay, okay, yes!”

“Do you want to kiss him?”

Akito’s breath stopped entirely and he was left gaping at Kohane for several minutes. He was pretty sure they missed the crossing sign, but neither of them moved a centimeter. The moment felt heavy and important, a thunderstorm on the horizon, just waiting to begin the downpour.

But despite his lack of breath and pounding heart, there was only one answer in Akito’s mind. One that he wanted to say but couldn’t.

The words wouldn’t come, just like whenever Ena or Minori had a bad day and all he did was yell at them. He had never been good with words, not even for something like this, something that many say is important.

And yet, Kohane smiled.

“It’s okay if you can’t say it. But I think you should tell Toya-kun how you feel,” she said. “Even if you never define what you are, that doesn’t matter. I don’t know if I’ll ever figure out what I am, but that doesn’t make my feelings any less real.” Her cheeks were bright red and Akito knew she was thinking of An, but he couldn’t bring himself to tease her. “So…talk to Toya-kun!”

“You’re…pretty determined, ya know?” Akito laughed sheepishly. Kohane laughed slightly, her cheeks somehow turning an even brighter red. “But…thanks, Kohane.”

“You’re welcome, Akito-kun!” Kohane beamed.

Akito could tell Toya was nervous as they made their way to a small alleyway on Vivid Street. Because as much as Akito would’ve preferred the privacy of Sekai for this, he didn’t want Rin, Len or Kaito popping up out of nowhere. So instead, he pulled Toya into the alley.

“Akito, what’s wrong?” Toya asked. There was a waver in his voice, though Akito suspected only he and Toya’s siblings could have heard it. “Did I do something?”

“No, you did nothing, I’m just so fucking stupid,” Akito sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “Look…I don’t know how to say this, so…can I touch you?”

Toya blinked, clearly surprised, before he nodded.

“Yes,” he answered.

Akito moved slowly, as slowly as possible, reaching up to lay his hand against Toya’s cheek. Toya’s eyes widened and his cheeks tinted pink. It was unfairly cute and Akito was surprised to find that the thought felt…normal.

“Akito?” Toya whispered, his voice more breath than anything else.

“This okay?” Akito asked. If anything made Toya uncomfortable, he’d drop this whole thing entirely, no questions asked.

“Yes,” Toya confirmed.

Then, just as slowly, Akito leaned closer until there was barely a meter between them. Toya’s cheeks darkened even further and Akito could feel his heart racing.

This was it.

He took a deep breath in and closed the gap.

Toya’s lips were soft and Akito couldn’t stop himself from moving closer. This felt like a world of difference from any kiss he shared with any girl. His nerves were sparking in a way Akito had never thought possible, and yet he knew it was something he could easily become addicted to.

Toya surged forward at the same exact moment, his hands grasping onto Akito’s waist and holding him as closely as possible. He deepened the kiss and Akito thought he’d drop to the ground from oxygen deprivation, Toya overload or both.

Akito grasped onto Toya’s neck with both hands, tempted to just grab onto his hoodie and pull him even closer, until nobody could tell where Akito ended and Toya began.

But oxygen, sadly, was a necessity and Akito pulled away panting as hard as Kohane had been earlier that day. He stared at Toya, who looked as breathless as he did, his face permanently stained pink.

“Akito…” Toya whispered.

And suddenly, the words were so easy to say, under the force of Toya’s gaze.

“I think I’m gay,” Akito gasped.

Toya stared at him for several minutes in dumbfounded silence. He then proceeded to laugh his heart out, pulling Akito so close that his face was buried in Toya’s neck.

“I’d hope you weren’t straight considering you just kissed me,” Toya whispered, his breath dancing against Akito’s ear, causing him to shiver.

“Yeah, well, looks like both of us took a while to figure it out,” Akito whispered back. It was a surreal moment when he felt Toya shiver against him.

“I like you, Akito.”

The whispered words made this whole thing a reality and though Akito was still scared, he knew now that he’d be fine.

After all, he had Toya with him and the two of them could do anything together.

“I like you too, Toya.”

It took some time to figure yourself out completely. That was a lesson Akito had learned well now.

But eventually, everyone gets there in the end, even someone as dense as Akito, in his sisters’ and An’s words, which he would never admit to agreeing with. Not that he does, he absolutely does not.

But…he could admit that he was blind to himself in more ways than one.

He did end up going shopping with Mizuki and they quite excitedly presented him with many rainbow colored accessories for him to wear. Akito ended up picking an earring, sliding it in place of one of his studs.

He’d gone home and looked at himself in the mirror for a long time that day, not that he’d ever tell anyone that.

But yeah. It took some time, but Akito knew himself.

And if nothing else, he always knew Toya even better than himself.