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Josuke Higashikata was a popular guy alright. His female fans never surprised him anymore. From the most innocent love confession to the blunt offer of deflowering one of them, the boy had heard it all. And all of it, he took it with a smile, a way of the hand, a thank you, I'm not interested, and a little apologetic bow.
But, at the same time, he was a kind hearted boy. So there were times when it became really difficult to say no.
And the little custom began one day, when one of the girls was celebrating her birthday. Her friends were congratulating her, hugging her and giving her cards and little boxes wrapped in pretty bows, but her eyes were on Josuke. So of course, the boy, who on top of everything was an absolute gentleman, smiled at her and wished her a happy birthday with a sincere voice.
To that, the addressed teen blushed intensely and approached him, and while fidgeting with her fingers she pronounced the funniest and most daring words Josuke had heard in a while, from someone so timid at least.
"Huh, Josuke kun. I-if it's not too weird I was wondering.... C-could I maybe have a little... K-kiss? As a birthday gift? You don't have to do it though!", She rushed to say, "it's just a thought..."
Now despite the bizarreness of the petition, Josuke admired a bit of bravery. So chuckling almost condescendingly but mostly tenderhearted, he leaned in and pressed his lips against the girl's red, warm cheek. The general gasp around him was loud, but he ignored it as he whispered a happy birthday again, and walked away gracefully, ignoring the commotion he left behind.
It was only natural that a new habit started. Day after day, girls followed him around asking him for smooches, but Josuke wasn't stupid. He could tell when a girl was honest about her birthday (carrying cards, bouquets and balloons), and when she wasn't. And even he knows everyone has only one birthday per year, unlike some of those girls who by now should be on their 60s, considering the amount of times they claimed their birthday gift.
And not only that; some asked for kisses for the weirdest reasons. "Josuke, I got a part time job! Can I get a kiss?", "Josuke, I went from an A cup to a B cup! Can I get a kiss? Also, you can try it...", "Josuke, my goldfish died. Can I get a kiss?"
For those occasions, Josuke had a simple excuse always ready. A kiss was something hard to deny, like a glass of water for a thirsty person, but he wasn't fond of people who abused his generosity. So, as much as he liked making people happy, he wasn't going to be taken advantage of.
It wasn't surprising though. Girls wanted him, that bit was obvious. Josuke got used to his routine and accepted his faith as the heartbreaker of the school, and life went on as normal.
Until someone managed to surprise him to levels unknown.
It was a day as many others, chased around the school at all times, wishing he was somewhere else, when a strong grip on his shoulder stopped him as he walked by. He froze and turned, and met the scariest face ever. Okuyasu Nijimura, the lone wolf of the school, the bully, the delinquent rascal who also lived around his peaceful neighborhood. Damn, damn. What did he do now? Was he picking up a fight?
"Yeah?", He asked, trying to sound nonchalant, "what's wrong?"
"D'ya have a minute, man?", The boy with twin scars across his face spoke low and threateningly, and Josuke gulped. He didn't remember doing anything to arouse a disturbance, but then again some of these bullies hated for the sake of hate. He didn't mind using his fists to defend himself and protect his angelic face, but he never really was after troubles. So he hesitated for a moment, trying to find what to say. Until Okuyasu added, releasing the grip, "no pressure tho".
No bully excused himself so politely, he reckoned, so he tried his luck and nodded, then followed the sulking boy to the back of the building. He could tell there were witnesses around him, checking every movement. He imagined some of his most loyal fans were ready to call a cop if needed, so he was more or less safe...?
Once they were alone, Okuyasu stopped in front of him, and clearly struggled with something. Josuke began to feel that this was less jeopardising than expected, and he was perhaps about to be asked for some sort of help. He waited patiently, until the other boy sighed dramatically, looking up, and holding the back of his neck.
"Man, this is real hard to ask...", He mumbled, eyes fixed on the sky, and Josuke said nothing. He waited, albeit feeling slightly awkward about the situation.
And then, finally, Okuyasu looked down, then to the side, and then finally met his gaze.
Wow, nice eyes there. Purple? Holy shit. Contact lenses? They didn't look like it. Nice...
"Huh... Man, I know this is damn weird but huh, ya see...", He said, softly, "... I kinda have no family. I mean, I have my dad but he's all... Weird and he doesn't know much 'bout was goin' on and stuff..."
Yes, Josuke now was certain that this was less threatening and mostly concerning. He leaned in with curiosity, paying attention.
"... Mom and big bro are dead, I ain't got no friends... 'm pretty damn lonely".
Very sad. Josuke scolded himself for letting his judgment be influenced by appearances, and promised he'd help this guy however he could.
"... And huh, I know this is super lame but like... Huh, ya see..."
Come on. Come on, Okuyasu, I will help you.
"I-it's kinda my birthday today..."
Okay?
"... A-and I was wonderin' if huh... I-if I could like... G-get one of those kisses... Ya give?"
Oh.
Oh!
O-oh...
Time seemed to stop. His eyes fixed on Okuyasu's face, his confusing demeanor. The imposed bluster, the thug facade crumbling down and exposing a blushed, pouting teenager, hunched over himself, hiding his trembling hands in his pockets. Josuke's heart pounded in his chest, louder and louder, and he found out he didn't have a proper answer. Or a decent thought, for all that mattered. Nothing, just the sight of Okuyasu's mortified face avoiding his gaze, humiliated but willing to set every discomfort aside for the sake of a crumb of affection on such a special day.
And then those purple eyes fixed on him again.
"Sorry, I guess it was too weir-"
"No!"
Josuke stopped him, grabbing the other boy by both arms, holding him still. Okuyasu looked back at him surprised, and again, silence followed. Now both were red and their pouts twitched awkwardly, but they were at least mirroring each other's embarrassment.
"It's not that weird", Josuke spoke finally, letting Okuyasu go for the sake of embracing himself, looking aside, looking like the timid boy he definitely wasn't. "I-I'll do it".
"Oh. Okay", the other teen replied, scratching his cheek and swallowing audibly.
Now, the moment of truth. Josuke took a deep breath and licked his lips. Okuyasu gazed at him, their eyes met again.
Very gently, he placed his hands on Okuyasu's shoulders. Sturdy boy. He leaned in. A whiff of cologne filled his nose. He leaned in even closer. Tobacco, laundry softener. His eyes closed and his lips pressed against Okuyasu's surprisingly soft cheek. One second. Two. Three. Four, five, six, seven. He moved backwards and whispered a soft "happy birthday", into his ear, and swallowed hard when Okuyasu shivered. Their eyes met again, and damn, they were so close! And then, Okuyasu did something that made Josuke reconsider everything he thought he knew. He smiled. Even the sun wouldn't have blinded him as much as that smile did.
"Thanks, man", he whispered back.
And that was it. Okuyasu moved back and nodded again, as a thank you. He walked away, turning to wave a bye bye a couple of feet away. But Josuke stayed there for a long time. His heart was pounding like crazy, and his legs didn't respond. So that's how it feels, huh?
And the rest of the day, he couldn't think of anything else but Okuyasu. His smile. His scent that seemed to be impregnated in all of his being. His beautiful eyes. The indentation of his scar against his lips. His lonely, handsome self spending his birthday alone in that big, dark house.
No, he couldn't. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't be Josuke Fucking Higashikata if he did. So, as soon as the school day ended, he searched for Okuyasu frantically, ignoring all the girls that crossed his path and called his name.
He found the boy walking alone towards their neighborhood. And only then Josuke realized how unhinged his behaviour was. Then again, it surely took Okuyasu a lot of gut to ask for the greeting. He might as well find his own bravery himself, and be the one asking someone out.
For the other's benefit, of course.
He took a little jog to reach him, and Okuyasu turned before he could call out his name.
And again, one of those blinding smiles.
"Oi, Josuke!", He exclaimed, and the pompadour boy never felt so happy to be addressed, "how is it goin'?"
"Yo", he panted, smiling back as he recovered his breath, now walking towards him, more nonchalantly. "So, I've been wondering. It's your birthday, right?"
"It is", a nod, and a shy smile. (Cute?)
"Let's go out, then!", And then he blushed, and shook his head, "I mean, let's hang out! For your birthday. Let's celebrate your birthday, man!"
Every insecurity, every inch of embarrassment, everything was worth it. Because the way Okuyasu's eyes widened, sparkling with the slow formation of tears... That was an image Josuke would treasure forever.
"Y-yer not jokin'?", The boy asked, and Josuke grinned.
"No way, man. No. Let's go wherever you like", and then, the forbidden words, but how little he cared about it, "it's all on me".
Josuke had never gone to a date. So he didn't really know the difference between a date and just hanging out with a guy. But in his head, little it mattered, he realized. He didn't care if this seemed like a date. Because he was so happy, and so was Okuyasu. And they had so much fun. They went to a fantastic Italian restaurant, and the chef himself sang the happy birthday in Italian for Okuyasu, as he brought them a cake. They went to the arcade, then to the shore, and then they just walked back to Okuyasu's place, where they shared the rest of the cake and kept talking about the many similar interests they had. And how amazing it was.
But like everything else, the date had to come to an end, and Josuke had to say goodbye. When they were at the door, ready to part, Okuyasu squirmed embarrassed, wiping his already wet eyes.
"Dude, thanks so much for today. Nobody has ever done somethin' so nice for me. Yer...", A sigh, "yer amazing, bro".
Easy, heart. Easy.
He practically melted, unsure of what all these sensations meant but so happy to experience them. Without thinking much about the consequences of his actions, he wrapped Okuyasu in a tight hug, relieved to feel the immediate positive reaction of the other, who hugged him back tight enough to break a bone in a less brawny person than Josuke.
"My pleasure. I had a lot of fun. Let's do it again. Happy birthday, man".
"Thank you, Josuke. Thank you so much".
And that was the start of the best, if not first, friendship of Josuke's life. He became inseparable from the other boy, and everyday was a great one when they could spend it side by side.
The custom of gifting kisses continued, but for whatever reason, Josuke found less and less pleasure in doing so. Not because they felt bad. But because... Of something else.
Because each time he kissed a cheek, it wasn't Okuyasu's. And for some reason, it hurt.
As their friendship developed, they began to close the gaps between them, ignoring the boundaries of personal space to fuse it into one ambiguous thing that surrounded them. But there were lines Josuke never dared to cross, despite how much he yearned for it.
He found himself unconsciously licking his lips whenever he gazed at Okuyasu's mouth, he found his heart skipping a beat when Okuyasu's eyes met his when they were too close to each other. He found himself lingering in a touch longer than it would be normal, and causing more and more accidental touches between them.
Okuyasu never seemed to notice, or at least he didn't mind. But he didn't seem to be particularly inclined to indulge him.
That, until the day arrived.
Josuke's birthday.
He was nervous to appear in front of his bro, but he did, and it was worth it. Okuyasu's beautiful smile as he hugged him and greeted him was enough of a gift. But still, he wanted more.
All the cards, the presents, chocolates, letters he got meant nothing. He wanted just one thing. One single thing that he didn't dare to ask. But it was the one last chance.
When the day came to its end, and they walked back home, Okuyasu kept talking about what they would do the next day. Maybe dinner at the Italian restaurant, maybe bowling or something stupid. Maybe they could go to an amusement park or to a pet shop where they could pet kittens and puppies.
Josuke was so focused on their hands and how their knuckles brushed against each other occasionally.
And then, when they reached the stone arch close by Okuyasu's house, they stopped. Josuke's heart was frantic. And Okuyasu kept talking about silly, cute things.
Josuke took a deep breath.
"Oku..."
"Yeah?"
It was now or never.
"... Th-there's something I wanted to ask", he mumbled, blushing furiously as he looked away.
"Anythin', bro!"
"... Well... ", Damn, it was difficult, "... C-can I get... A birthday........................... Kiss?"
There. He said it.
He closed his eyes as he waited for an answer. He didn't dare to look. It was so embarrassing, mortifying even.
But Okuyasu wasn't answering, so he forced himself to look up.
He was red. Eyes widened like plates, and his lips were rounded, shaped into a very small "o".
"A k-k-k-k-kiss?", He asked finally, pointing at his own face, "from m-m-m-m-m-m-me?"
"Only if it's not too odd!", Josuke added fast, waving his hands. But in that moment, Okuyasu grabbed both his hands, and they both froze for a moment, staring into each other's eyes.
"It's not", the scarred boy replied at last, "I just... I didn't expect you to... Hum, well, whatever".
Josuke didn't know what that meant, but in any case, it didn't matter. Their hands were linked for some reason, and Okuyasu wasn't rejecting him.
"Okay", he sighed at last.
"Okay...", Josuke whispered as he offered his cheek, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Okuyasu was getting closer and closer.
And then, he realized how he felt. The warmth in their linked hands, the expectation, the sheer bliss. And just as Okuyasu's lips were about to press on his cheek, he turned his face, and their lips met.
A second. Two. Three. Four, five, six, seven. Eight, nine, ten.
Their kiss broke. They stared into each other's eyes.
"... H-happy birthday, Josuke...", Okuyasu whispered, rubbing the tip of his nose against Josuke's.
And hell, it was a happy one.
"Thank you, Oku...", He whispered back, cupping Okuyasu's face with a hand. He cooed when he felt an arm wrapping around his waist, and a sigh died in another kiss, a different kind, a deeper one.
Life was still full of surprises.