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"Rui! NO!"
Rui's signature cat grin was plastered on his villainously shadowed face as he raised the pillow above Tsukasa, preparing to strike. His groupmates were all giggling around the duo, watching with entertained eyes. Tsukasa's eyes, meanwhile, were narrowed in frustration, but try as he might, he could not hide the traitorous sparkles of joy that danced around in them. It was fun getting to play around with Rui like this, getting to know Rui even better, becoming closer friends. It had been even more fun seeing Rui open up to so many people the past few days. Tsukasa was proud, so proud he thought that maybe losing yet another pillow fight to Rui wouldn't be a tragedy.
Just as the pillow was about to hit, the door to the room they were in slammed open. Their classmates gasped and immediately looked away from the scene, as if they had not been involved. Rui paused and turned around to get a look at who had interrupted. Both his and Tsukasa's eyes widened when they saw their very angry supervising teacher glaring daggers into them.
The next thing the two infamous students knew, they had been guided to a sort of "timeout" room. It was the exact same as the last room had been appearance wise, except now there were no other classmates. They were in solitary confinement in order to "think about their disruptive actions." Their teacher gave one more disapproving look before sliding the door shut with a quiet bang. A few painful silent moments passed, but then the two boys slowly turned their heads towards each other, as if they were puppies who had just been scolded. When they made eye contact, they grinned before breaking out into a tumultuous laughter. Tsukasa lightly pushed Rui's shoulder, causing him to stumble back a bit.
"Of course you have to go getting us into trouble on the last day of the trip, Rui!"
"Me? Oh Tsukasa, if I do remember correctly, you are the one who initiated yet another pillow fight."
"I wouldn't have if you didn't cheat at that card game!"
The content of their words might have sounded hateful, but the smiles on their faces betrayed any notion of real annoyance.
"I suppose we've gone a little overboard." Rui feigned a look of guilt by pouting his lips and gazing at the ground. To Tsukasa, he looked exactly like a cat who had just been sprayed by water for jumping on the counter. It made him giggle. Rui brought his head back up to look at Tsukasa again.
"You know, it's been kind of refreshing."
"Refreshing?"
"The trip, I mean. We all went to different places together. Me, you, Shizuku, Airi, Mafuyu, all the other classmates. We watched a parade together. We played games together. Maybe we got into some trouble, but we also got out of it. It's just been so exciting, as if I'm getting ready for a show!"
Rui was beaming.
"I just really enjoyed spending time with everyone."
"Rui..."
Tsukasa hadn't been expecting Rui to get so serious all of a sudden. He blinked and opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. He let Rui continue.
"It's all thanks to you, isn't it?"
That certainly was not what Tsukasa had anticipated him to say next. He looked taken aback, which was unusual for him.
"...Me?"
"Since I started spending time with you, it seems to others that I have begun to laugh a lot more. Little by little, more people want to talk to me. Less people are... scared of me, I guess. I think I've changed a lot. I've done things that I normally wouldn't do, like come on this trip in the first place. Or ask to take that group picture with everyone earlier."
Tsukasa was completely zeroed in on Rui. Usually he would say it's because he's a great listener, naturally! This time, though, he was just mesmerized by what Rui was saying—about him!
"I never thought I could understand the people around me. However, ever since you found me on that rooftop—ever since I started doing shows with everyone on the Wonder Stage—my ways of thinking changed. I want to know people now, I want to laugh with people."
Rui's gaze was so very soft, Tsukasa rarely ever got to see this side of him. It filled his heart with... something for sure. He could not tell what it was because his whole body felt, well, warm, and it would be hard to pinpoint any single thing he was feeling. This was too much.
"So, Tsukasa... For giving me the chance to change, thank you."
Rui, I think that's where you're wrong.
"It's not just thanks to me, Rui. No matter how many opportunities I gave you, you yourself were always the one that was willing to change those parts of you. It's not about me, you are the reason that you are where you are now." Tsukasa took a step closer to Rui and placed a stern hand on his shoulder, flashing him a reassuring smile.
Rui looked surprised for a bit, but again let out a quiet giggle.
"Indeed, that may be the case."
The room went quiet again. Tsukasa retracted his hand, it felt cold now. Rui found what Tsukasa had said hard to believe.
I'm sorry, Tsukasa, but it really is all you. Truly, Tsukasa, you give me so many smiles. Those smiles make new friends and relationships, don't they? Everything on this trip that will become a pleasant memory for me, it's because of you.
They stared at one another for a bit before Rui cleared his throat.
"Tsukasa, why don't we wake up early tomorrow, before everyone else. We could go walk around the mountain, maybe watch the sunrise. What do you think?" The room was suddenly really hot. Rui's palms clammed up.
Tsukasa hoped his acting skills were able to cover for the emotions that just surged through him. His voice rose to an unnatural volume, even for him. He had never been asked to watch a sunrise before, by anyone!
"That! Sounds wonderful Rui! I would be happy to!"
Tsukasa felt Rui's eyes burning into him.
"Well then, shouldn't we get some sleep? It would be unfortunate for us to wake up too late for the sun's rising." Rui cocked his head to one side, his eyes shining out from the dim lamp lights of the room.
"Here!?"
"Well, I don't think that teacher is going to lift our timeout anytime soon. He probably means for us to spend the rest of the trip here until we leave tomorrow." Rui dramatically whined and placed the back of his hand on his forehead.
"So you're saying that by sneaking out early tomorrow morning we'd essentially be misbehaving yet again?" Tsukasa raised an eyebrow at Rui.
Rui grinned, his eyes narrowing, "I don't recall saying that."
Tsukasa groaned, no matter how much he disapproved of Rui's dastardly plans, he could never deny him.
"Well, as long as we don't get caught. RIGHT, Rui?"
Rui shrugged. "It's about the journey, not the risks! You of all people should know this~"
Tsukasa rolled his eyes, "Alright! Alright! Let's just get to bed."
They had settled into where they would be sleeping for the night, two futons next to each other on the floor of the room. Tsukasa had long since fallen asleep. Rui, on the other hand, had always experienced problems getting to sleep. As a result, he was left awake to stare at Tsukasa's sleeping face. Though, he figured that was not such a bad thing. Tsukasa was a snorer, but while most people would be annoyed by that sort of thing, Rui looked forward to experiencing Tsukasa in this state. He regarded Tsukasa's... certainly unique snores as an endearing trait of his. He nudged his futon a little closer to Tsukasa's, just so he could get a better look at his troupe leader. His good friend. Wait, why did that term sound wrong to him? They were friends, were they not? Rui shook these thoughts away, instead focusing in on Tsukasa again.
Tsukasa had freckles, which most people did not notice. They were very faint, after all. Of course, Rui had always noticed. They spanned across Tsukasa's cheeks and forehead, and Rui often found himself distracted by them during practice at the Wonder Stage... along with other aspects of Tsukasa. How was he supposed to focus, when the sun was hitting Tsukasa so graciously? His eyes drifted all around Tsukasa's face, taking it all in. He wanted to savor this view forever. He ended up back at the moonlight-highlighted freckles that he loved so much.
Loved?
Rui's stomach twisted, and he could feel his heart drop. His face went cold.
Oh.
Rui thought back to their conversation earlier, how much fondness he had expressed for Tsukasa. How much time he had spent with Tsukasa lately. How much he thought of Tsukasa. How he had felt that Tsukasa had, essentially, saved him. How he had originally only came on this trip because of Tsukasa. How much he... loved Tsukasa.
Oh, he loved Tsukasa.
That's what that feeling that had recently been building up inside of him had been. He felt... sick? But not in a bad way. It was a weird sensation that he could not place a finger on. Nervousness, maybe? And now he was supposed to watch the sunrise alone with Tsukasa tomorrow, with this knowledge? Oh, how was he going to do this? He sighed and observed Tsukasa again, as if he could not look away for more than a second. Tsukasa stirred in his sleep and mumbled quietly, a hand poking it's way out of the futon. His palm was facing up.
Rui redirected his attention to Tsukasa's hand. He took a breath before lifting his own hand, hesitating before covering Tsukasa's. He gripped slightly. His heart was beating throughout his head and his ears. He swore other students could probably hear it in other rooms. He was eventually able to calm himself, and soon enough, his eyelids started to ache. He slid them closed, his last sight being Tsukasa.
The next morning had been hell for Rui, and that was no exaggeration. He could no longer act normal around Tsukasa, lovesickness had completely taken him over. He wanted to enjoy this morning so bad, and he was, but he also felt so awkward and scared. Tsukasa had taken notice.
They were seated on a flat rock near the mountain's river, skipping rocks as they waited for the sun to come up. The stars were still shining brightly, and only a faint shade of orange could be seen on the horizon. Rui had barely said a word the entire morning, and Tsukasa's curiousity was peaked, alongside concern. Rui never acted so... shy. He had to do something! What if something had happened that made Rui upset!
"Rui! I care about you, a lot. I just thought I should let you know. I'll always be here for you, okay?" It was said in his loud, star befitting voice.
Rui blinked, turning his face away from Tsukasa in an attempt to hide the way his eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets. Why did he have to say that?
"Rui...?"
"Sorry. Um, yes. I mean... thank you, Tsukasa." He plastered a fake smile on his face before turning back towards Tsukasa. "That means a lot, really."
Tsukasa was not convinced by this charade.
"Are you... okay? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, I've just noticed that you're, well, quieter than usual." His voice had become serious.
"It's nothing! Really, I'm probably just tired."
Tsukasa moved his face closer to Rui's, inspecting closely. Rui had never been the type to blush easily, and at this moment he was so grateful for that.
"I..." Rui started.
Tsukasa wrapped his arms around Rui, engulfing him in a comforting hug—One of the ones he usually gave Saki when she was having a bad day. Rui and Tsukasa had only hugged once before—Rui's birthday a few days ago—and Rui wished that this would happen a whole lot more. His main love language was physical touch, after all. The reminder of the word love made him shiver for a second.
"You don't need to speak, Rui. You don't need to say anything until you're ready." One of Tsukasa's hands was threaded through Rui's hair, while the other was gently running up and down his back. Tsukasa was rested on Rui's shoulder, slightly nuzzling into the side of his head. Rui inhaled sharply, as if he had been sobbing.
"Tsu..." He couldn't finish that, his throat felt as if it was closing up.
Tsukasa pulled back, smiled at Rui, and then turned his attention back to the incoming sunrise as if nothing had happened. Rui must have been staring at him for minutes before he decided that he was ready to speak.
"Tsukasa, would it be alright if I kissed you?" He silently cursed himself, who words it like that?
Tsukasa didn't move, he just kept staring at the sky. Rui was genuinely convinced for a second that Tsukasa had not heard him. That was until Tsukasa turned towards him, and Rui could see his reddened cheeks in the light of the oncoming sunrise.
"If... you would like. I mean!! I'm not opposed to it! Are... you saying...? Is this what...?"
Rui was staring directly at Tsukasa, he nodded. Tsukasa fully turned his upper body towards Rui.
"Okay!"
His confidence was there in his voice, but even Rui could see through that. Tsukasa was nervous.
Rui scooted closer and also turned himself towards Tsukasa.
"Are you sure this is okay?"
Tsukasa nodded enthusiastically, it seemed that his nervousness had turned to excitement in seconds.
The old Rui wouldn't have believed him. The old Rui would have never even said anything in fear that he would scare Tsukasa away. But the old Rui was gone. The new Rui had nothing but trust left in him for the boy in front of him.
He leaned closer, trying his hardest to will himself to do this. Even though it was basically confirmed at this point that Tsukasa reciprocated his feelings, he still found it hard. He watched as Tsukasa's eyes flickered down to his lips before meeting his own eyes again. They were so bright, and Rui got lost for a second. He had forgotten what he was here to do. Tsukasa just sat there, patiently waiting for Rui. Long minutes passed of them just looking at each other, and they were both okay with that. Finally, Rui inched forward again. Their foreheads were touching. Their hair was laced together. Their hearts were beating out of their chests. They could feel each other's soft exhales on their lips. Rui wanted to savor this forever. However, he wanted even more to finally kiss the boy that he has just discovered he was in love with this whole time. Little did he know, Tsukasa had known of his own feelings for even longer.
Rui tilted his head and pressed forward again, their lips were barely a centimeter away from each other at this point. He stopped there to raise a hand up to cradle Tsukasa's jaw. His thumb rubbed against those freckles. Tsukasa's eyes were half lidded now, wanting to see everything Rui did up until the moment their lips made contact. Tsukasa clutched his hands on Rui's chest, pulling at the fabric there. Rui used his hand to direct Tsukasa's jaw. Slowly, softly, their lips finally connected. Rui slid his eyes shut, dismissing the sense of sight so that his other four senses could have full feeling. The kiss was deep, passionate, sweet. Their feelings for each other were made beyond clear without needing words. Tears started sliding down Rui's cheeks. He had convinced himself early in life that he would never feel this kind of affection.
Rui pulled his lips away with a soft click and buried his face into Tsukasa's neck, wetting it with tears. He gasped softly, choking down small sobs. Tsukasa pulled Rui against him and rocked him gently, fingers circling cautiously through Rui's hair. Rui wrapped his arms around Tsukasa's torso and let himself be lulled to serenity. Even when Rui had stopped crying, Tsukasa still held him.
"I'm sorry, this isn't like me." Rui said once they had settled.
Tsukasa laughed gently. Rui had genuinely never heard his voice this quiet before. He didn't even think it was possible.
"And this isn't like me either, but I guess we all discover things about ourselves from time to time, don't we?"
"It's a little embarrassing."
"Good thing it's just us."
Rui smiled against Tsukasa's neck.
"I love you, Tsukasa."
Tsukasa turned to kiss Rui's forehead.
"I love you, Rui."
The two losers had missed the sunrise.