Work Text:
“Kujo-san, is everything alright?”
Kujo Tenn looks up from his phone screen, the smile he wore dropping to a more casual one as he clears his throat. “Everything’s fine. Why do you ask?”
Izumi Iori hesitates, eyes narrowing slightly. “Well…you’ve been staring at your phone nonstop today.”
And not just today. Iori notices it happening since the first shoot day. When they weren't filming, the center would appear distracted, to the point Iori found himself repeating his words on occasion during their conversations. Most surprising of all, Tenn almost seemed glued to his phone, always checking up on it and sometimes even smiled in a way that gets Iori cringing for reasons he can’t quite put his finger on. Quite the rarity, for the professional-to-the-extreme idol, Kujo Tenn and here Iori thought the other idol was a stickler for proper phone usage during work and on set.
Tenn blinks, slightly surprised. His eyes glance at his phone once more before he drops it into his bag. With a clear of his throat, the slight blush on his face disappears before Iori can even blink. “I’m sorry, I hadn’t realized I was doing that. Was I bothering you?”
“No…nothing of the sort.”
But Iori must admit that it’s been…fascinating, to say the least. The distracted gaze, the way he fidgets, the way he smiles when looking at his phone like he’d received the greatest news ever…Iori’s sure he’s seen some of his classmates acting this way but he can’t quite remember the reason why.
“Kujo-san, standby please!” One of the staff calls out.
“I’ll be right there!”
As Tenn goes ahead first, it suddenly hits Iori. His classmates had acted like this when they’d just made a new romantic partner.
He’d been cringing at how lovestruck the center is acting.
But could he really be….?
***
“Tenn-Tenn, you’ll like it here!” Tamaki grins as the taller boy leads him to a donut shop near their school. “It’s not as good as Iorin’s family’s stuff, but it’s a shorter walk. Isumin and I often stop by after school.”
“I see,” Tenn tugs his mask up his face, keeping his disguise intact so they could keep their outing nice and peaceful without being swarmed by excited fans. “Sounds delightful, but don’t eat too much, okay? You’ll get sick.”
Tamaki shoots him a thumbs up but it’s clear his mind is occupied with the shop. “They even have Ousama Pudding flavored donuts!”
No wonder he likes it so much.
“....And then Isumin’s favorite is…hmmm…what was it again?” Tamaki shifts his gaze to look behind them, at his classmate who’s currently lagging.
Haruka seems to jump a little, oddly taken aback by Tamaki calling out his name. The boy glances at Tamaki and then, hesitantly, at Tenn. There’s stiffness in the mint haired boy’s shoulders as he does so but Tamaki doesn’t think much of it. He knows that Haruka still feels just a tad bit awkward around Tenn. But that’s even more reason why the three of them going to this donut shop is a wonderful idea for them to get closer with one another as fellow dessert lovers. (Too bad Iori had work today.)
“I like…the p-pink glazed ones. With sprinkles.” He finally answers, cheeks burning slightly red and Tamaki wonders if he was embarrassed with his choice of flavors.
“Right, right.” Tamaki turns his attention back to the road, his steps slowing down just a bit for Haruka to keep up. “That one’s good. Though not as good as Ousama Pudding flavored.”
Tamaki hums a little, the theme song to Magical Kokona that had gotten stuck in his brain, a little spring in his step as he thinks about the donut. He doesn’t notice Haruka’s face becoming completely red as the pink haired idol whispers something into his ear.
"There's so many…" Tenn's eyes are wide with wonder as he looks at the display of his favorite treat in varying colors, toppings, and flavors. Tamaki has already grabbed a tray and starts piling up his favorite flavor, his eyes sparkling.
The donut shop is a sight to behold, for sure. It's really no wonder why the two (three, when all three of them are free) teens love going here. The shop seemed to pride itself in their selection of flavors, from basic to odd. The decorations aren’t bad either. The colors are bright and eye-catching, making you feel energized as you walk into the shop.
In the end, Tamaki bought 5 donuts (All Ousama Pudding flavor), Haruka bought three and Tenn bought two.
Tamaki glances at their plates. "You bought the same flavor."
Haruka blinks before looking down at his plate. Two matcha flavored ones and one pink glazed with sprinkles. Tenn had one pink and one matcha.
"Oh, we did." Tenn lets out a smile, his eyes look at Haruka. "What a coincidence. I guess we have the same tastes."
"...I guess so." Haruka clears his throat before looking away, his cheeks flushing.
“Hmm…I thought you enjoyed the wacky flavors.” Tamaki hums, already inhaling one of his donuts.
Tenn joins in with a slightly teasing tone., his eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement and mischief. “You did eat that soba flavored ice cream the other day.”
Haruka looks almost offended by the teasing. “It looked interesting!”
“It had a soy-based sauce topping-”
Oh, so they do spend time with each other, Tamaki thinks absentmindedly as he munches on another donut, eyes watching the other two talk (well , Tenn talks, Haruka pouts and complains about being bullied). He takes back the notion that Haruka is still awkward around the other center. He seems to be conversing just fine with Tenn, even leaning in super close to hear him speak.
Iorin: How did your donut hangout go?
Tamaki lets out a small smile, stops himself just outside the bathroom, and begins typing up a response swiftly.
Tamaki: went okay
Tamaki : join me next time
Iorin : ?
Iorin: You mean with Kujo-san and Isumi-san too?
Tamaki : noo i mean just you and me, iorin
Tamaki : is that cool with you?
Iorin : ....
Iorin : I look forward to it.
Tamaki looks up from his phone for a moment. He glances toward the corridor leading to the seating area but he doesn’t move on just yet. His thumbs type up another response for Iori instead. He shouldn’t waste too much time, but a little bit more shouldn’t hurt. Besides, those two had seemed civil enough so he really shouldn’t worry so much about their relationship crumbling to pieces.
At the very least, he trusts Tenn to keep everything from spiraling out of hand if it does come down to it (Isumin and his short temper not so much.)
When he returns to their table, Haruka is strangely flushed and Tenn is covering the lower half of his face with a hand, his cheeks also colored red and eyes looking away. Tamaki frowns, tilting his head as he studies the two of them with serious and concerned eyes. For a moment, he’s afraid that they’d been fighting but their expressions beg the difference.
“Shall we go?” Tenn clears his throat and looks at Tamaki when he sees Tamaki coming back, before the tall boy can even ask what’s happened.
“I think we should head home now.” Haruka follows up, a little too swiftly.
The younger idol stares at each of their suspicious expressions but ultimately nods before slinging his bag across his shoulders. “‘Kay.”
When Haruka begins picking up his things too, Tamaki notices something sitting on the corner of his lips. “Isumin, your lips.”
Haruka blinks, growing red across the cheeks, before grabbing a napkin from the table, rubbing them across his mouth quickly a few times until the stain disappears. How strange. He thought all of Haruka’s donuts were glazed. How did he get a smudge of icing on the corner of his lips? He sees a small box now dangling between Haruka’s fingers and concludes that he must’ve bought some extra ones for his grandma.
He doesn’t see Tenn, discreetly, wiping the unnoticeable bit of icing off his own lips.
***
Nanase Riku has always been a worrier, especially for his brother.
So, when he’d heard from Iori that Tenn had been acting strange during their shoot days, Riku wanted to immediately rush over to TRIGGER’s shared home, bang on the door and demand that his brother get enough rest before he collapses (If only Iori hadn’t pulled him back.)
Luckily for Riku, an opportunity to check up on his brother without it being suspicious or too much arises much faster than he’d anticipated. A joint session photoshoot where both would work in the same studio and could see each other up close and personal.
When the day arrives, Riku wastes no time in knocking on Tenn’s greenroom, determined to see what could possibly be making Tenn act as strange as Iori describes. There’s a moment of silence, then the sound of shuffling inside, followed by a loud thud of something falling onto the ground. Before Riku could even try to guess what happened, the door swings open revealing his very flustered brother.
Tenn, ever careful with their relationship, lets his eyes scan their surroundings to make sure nobody is there to eavesdrop on them. When he sees that the hallways are empty, only then does he let out a warm smile and gestures for Riku to come inside.
“Tenn-nii~! I came to- oh, I didn’t realize you already had a guest.” Riku stops in his tracks as he sees the person huddling on the loveseat with a pillow in their arms and their face buried into the soft fabric. “Good afternoon to you too, Haruka-kun!”
Haruka, however, doesn’t lift his face from the pillows. He gives a slight peek and a small wave but he presses the material against his face even more as if he’s hiding. Next to Riku, Tenn sighs. “Ignore him, he tripped just now so now he’s embarrassed.”
Oh….that was what the loud thud was . “That sounds….painful?”
“Are you going to keep making fun of me?” Haruka huffs annoyedly, his voice muffled by the pillow.
“S-Sorry!”
Another sigh before Haruka drops the material away from his face. He stares up at the twins with flushed cheeks from his embarrassing fall. The three of them fall into conversation afterward and Riku almost misses the small red mark on Tenn’s neck.
“Tenn-nii,” Riku examines it closer. “Did you get bitten by a mosquito or something?”
As if on cue, Tenn’s hand immediately lands on the prominent red mark sitting on the side of his neck. The usually put together idol is lost for words, lips opening and closing before blurting out a pitiful lie of an answer. Behind Riku, Haruka presses the pillow into his face and looks like he’s seconds away from screaming into it.
Once the two of them are left back alone does Haruka let out a groan into the pillow in his arms. Meanwhile, Tenn closes the door behind him and lets out a small relieved exhale.
“Too close for comfort.”
Haruka peeks from the pillow pressed against his face to look at Tenn. The red mark on the idol’s slender neck just looks even more obvious now that Riku spotted it. “You should cover that with some makeup.”
As Tenn sits by the vanity table, hands gently applying makeup to camouflage the mark, Haruka studies him. His gentle and elegant gestures, the way his eyelashes touch his cheeks, his fingers gliding across makeup palette and skin. The younger idol looks away when he begins blushing deeply.
Some would say that TRIGGER’s center is perfect in all aspects from looks to talent. Though Haruka thinks of himself quite highly too, he isn’t immune to the occasional insecure thoughts and feelings.
“Tenn,” Haruka calls out, pressing his face into the pillow again. “Are you really okay with keeping…. our relationship a secret like this?”
Tenn pauses, looking at Haruka through the mirror. Then he turns around in his seat to face Haruka and smiles. “I am. Because I want to respect your wishes.”
Right. How can they forget that Haruka was the one who wanted their relationship to remain a secret, at least for a while.
“But you…” You’re perfect. You’re supposed to belong to everyone and yet it’s like I’m selfishly keeping you to myself. “I feel like….like I’m a terrible person for asking that of you.”
Haruka almost wants to take back the words when he sees Tenn’s expression shifting to one of concern. Great job me, now you’ve gone and done it. What a fantastic boyfriend you are.
Tenn rises from the vanity table chair and settles next to the mint haired boy sitting on the loveseat. Gently, he pulls the pillow away from Haruka’s grip and stares into those eyes. The brightness and certainty in Tenn’s eyes make Haruka pause, his heart jumping in his chest.
“Do you love me?” Tenn asks simply.
Haruka doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.” The pink haired idol smiles again, holding the other boy’s hands and Haruka lets their fingers intertwine. The warmth transferred between their joined hands eases Haruka’s heart. “I love you too and that’s why I want to be by your side. That’s all I need. Even if this remains forever a secret then I don’t mind as long as we’re together.”
Haruka looks down at their hands and squeezes Tenn’s heartfully, like a silent gesture of gratitude. Those words tug at his emotions, acting like some sort of bandage for his insecurities and anxieties. Why had he been worrying for so long? Tenn is right. They’re by each other’s side and that should be all that matters.
He flicks his gaze up at Tenn sheepishly but then wraps his arms tightly around the older idol’s neck. He feels Tenn’s arm wrapping around his waist and his other hand combing through his hair gently like he always does.
“Thank you.” Haruka whispers, just barely audible.
They stay in an embrace for some time. When they finally pull away, it’s almost natural for them to lean forward one more time before their lips slot against one another. Haruka smiles against Tenn’s lips and lets his hands settle just below the other idol’s ears, thumbs brushing Tenn’s cheeks and his soft pink strands brushing against the skin of Haruka’s fingers.
Haruka leans in more and when he pushes his lips just a little bit harder than before-
“Tenn-nii, sorry, I forgot my scarf here. Iori and Tamaki are also - “ A shocked gasp from three people followed by incoherent sputters followed by the door of the greenroom slamming close and a loud “WE'RE SO SORRY!”
It takes a few moments for the two to digest what just happened.
“...we forgot to lock the door.”
Oh no.
Haruka’s hands press against his face as he lets out an embarrassed alien noise from his lips. Tenn presses his eyes shut, asking (and berating) himself why he hadn’t locked the door.
“H-Haruka? Are you okay?" Tenn gulps, nervously eyeing the other boy. “I’ll immediately go and explain to them-”
“No.”
Haruka lets out a shaky breath, slowly calming himself down, and finally drops his hands away from his face. His heart is still pounding a mile away in his chest but he looks up with certain eyes.
“It’s fine. I think…I’m ready.” A big inhale and exhale. “I’m ready to stop keeping our relationship a secret.”