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Even when Iori hates to admit it, Tamaki was his only “friend” for a while. Sure, even when he lives with his six other groupmates (one of them is his older brother), under normal circumstances, Iori thinks he wouldn’t befriend any of them. He’s not above anyone (even when he tries his very best to be closest to his idea of perfection), Iori is just, unfortunately, an awkward teenager.
God probably heard the prayers that he had never made in the first place and injected five strangers into his life, making it more chaotic than ever. Even someone who’s relatively timid like Sougo has a side that makes him somewhat close to someone who should be locked in a psych ward. But still, he’s still less likely to give Iori a headache compared to a few other members. They shouldn’t be in a psych ward but they definitely belong to a circus.
So, yeah. Thank you, God. Please do better next time.
What does it say about him when he’s grouped with them? Iori has no idea. He’s just doing his job and solving whatever problems that occur. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Maybe he’s a part of the circus now because he likes his group mates.
So why was Tamaki his only friend before Haruka also appeared in the picture then? Simply put, they’re the same age and they’re classmates. Tamaki just happened to have more chances to invade his personal space under those conditions.
Iori appreciates the effort but as a perfectionist, he has a lot to criticize his friend who’s messy, lazy and unreliable. But, as a person with enough decency, those opinions have been kept to himself as he also keeps Tamaki as a friend. And Iori has never overlooked Tamaki’s strong points despite him silently grading Tamaki’s personality and habits like an overly strict teacher.
In reality, it’s actually Tamaki who’s keeping him as a friend, Iori is self-aware enough to know that. They even hang out after class if there’s free time to spend. 17-year-old Iori has visited the arcade more often than his younger self, that’s for sure. It was him putting in the effort to maintain a somewhat friendly relationship with the blue-haired teen at first but now he genuinely enjoys it.
They can get a small treat at the convenience store before heading home after that. Tamaki’s one true love is King Pudding but they can get something else from time to time. Ice cream in summer is just fundamental, and sometimes Tamaki will ask for a bite of his ice cream. There are times when the taller teen doesn’t even ask and just leans in to chomp it off.
Iori would gaze at his friend judgmentally. Tamaki would back away and ask if Iori ever wanted to do the same.
The answer is no because Iori has his principles.
Summer also comes with rains that will drench you if there’s no preparation beforehand. And Iori always shares an umbrella with his forgetful same-age dormmate. Those few times are the only occasions Iori steals Tamaki's ice cream because he deserves it.
“You should eat more, Iorin. You’re too skinny.”
… God knows how much he wants to push Tamaki out to make him suffer from the pouring rain without the umbrella’s coverage. God should have sent him a better friend. Iori angrily chomps on the icy sweet treat again as they keep walking under the rain.
At last, they finally reach their dorm. The umbrella did keep both of them dry but it was a hot and humid day before the rain came so both teenagers could use a shower right now.
“You should shower first. I'll finish my homework.” Iori folds the umbrella before putting it in the umbrella stand where Tamaki's forgotten umbrella has been staying for the whole day, “I'll take both umbrellas with me next time since you keep forgetting yours.”
“Oh come on…” Tamaki frowns, “Can't you see how fun sharing an umbrella is?”
“What is fun about it?”
“I… Erm, it's easier to talk when Iorin is closer to me?” The taller teen ponders, “Yeah, that's logical!”
“You think that's enough to convince me?” Iori lets out a small chuckle.
“It's efficient too! I can hold the umbrella when your arm is tired and vice versa!”
“I have two arms and so do you.” Iori says matter of factly.
“... Iorin, you're no fun." Tamaki pouts, “Yama-san, Iorin doesn't want to be my friend.”
Yamato, who's been overhearing their conversation as he sits in the living room with an opened beer can in his hand, turns around to face them with an awkward smile thanks to the sudden involvement. Iori raises his eyebrows, expecting the oldest member of the group to back Tamaki up.
“Bring two umbrellas. What if Ichi's umbrella is broken one day?” Surprisingly, Yamato gives them a valid reply. But then, he adds, “You know, Tama, Ichi is what they called a tsundere. You have to, hmm, make him share his umbrella with you even when you have your own umbrella. I bet Ichi is willing to share, he just won't say that out loud.”
“T-That is completely incorrect!” Iori exclaims, “Nikaidou-san, are you drunk?”
“It's my day off.” Their leader shrugs, “But it doesn't change the fact that you're a tsundere… If you really hated it, you would have brought two umbrellas with you from the start without telling Tama.”
“I think Yama-san is right.” Tamaki speaks up.
“I think he's out of his mind. Alcoholism really ruined him.” Iori glares at the bespectacled man before pulling Tamaki inside by his arm, “Go take a shower or I won't help you with the homework later.”
“Fine. But I still want to use your umbrella and I mean it.” The taller teen sulks.
Iori doesn't ask why, he's afraid that something absurd would come out of his friend's mouth. He's also not against sharing his umbrella with Tamaki, they're friends after all. What he doesn't get is how stubborn the blue-haired is when it comes to them walking under one umbrella instead of two. Don't two umbrellas have better coverage than them huddling together under one?
But again, why did he even expect Tamaki to think about it logically? Maybe it was really more fun for him to walk slower to match Iori's pace as they said a few forgettable lines to each other about mundane things in their lives. Or they could talk about work. And people around them. Tamaki likes joking around and Iori feels like someone else other than him would appreciate those jokes more but he still appreciates the effort.
Tamaki sometimes hummed or mumble-sang their songs. And sometimes Iori joined in, either unconsciously or not. He's not Sougo so none of their under-the-rain duets can be considered official but it was just for fun.
Maybe it's fun. Maybe his friend is right.
“We will use yours when mine is broken.” Iori finally says when he opens the door to his room, “So don't forget your umbrella.”
“I won't.” Tamaki grins toothily at him in return, “Thanks, Iorin. You're the best!”
The best at what? Being patient? Iori doesn't think he's at that level yet and he doesn't have a plan to change that, but maybe it's okay to let his friend bring more fun into his life even when it comes with chaos.
He can adapt to that.
“Look at the sky.” Tamaki pokes his friend, whispering because they’re still in class, “It’s gonna rain again.”
Iori chooses to ignore Tamaki but still, his gaze does shift to the gloomy grey sky outside the window before his attention goes back to the lesson. Minutes pass, and the sound of rain droplets hitting the window starts getting more audible. The wind seems to be stronger than usual today.
When the teacher finally ends their final class for the day, Tamaki pokes Iori again. This time, the raven-haired teenager finally gives him the attention he wanted before, and the first thing that comes out of Tamaki’s mouth is…
“You ignored me.”
“You should pay more attention to your school work, Yotsuba-san.” Iori laments. He turns and sits sideways on his chair, facing the window, “... I don’t think we should go back now.”
“A storm huh? How inconvenient…”
Haruka’s voice suddenly arises. Iori turns around to see that the mint-haired has left his seat to join them, but he’s also fully prepared and ready to leave any moment.
“Isumin, you’re gonna get wet if you leave now.” Tamaki says matter-of-factly, “We can play games while we wait.”
Iori rolls his eyes at that. It’s always “we can play games” and never “we can do homework”. Tamaki definitely caught that reaction and so he playfully sticks his tongue out in return.
“Sorry, I don’t really have time for that right now. My manager is gonna be here soon.” Haruka looks at his phone screen, “Maybe he can give you two a lift since the other three are already waiting for me at the studio.”
“I appreciate the offer but maybe not today.” Iori replies, “You shouldn’t be late for work.”
“There’s a literal storm above our heads right now and you want Isumin to be punctual.” Tamaki points out.
“... Be safe.” Iori corrects himself.
“Thanks.” Haruka grins, “Have fun waiting here together. Are you two gonna share an umbrella under this weather?”
“Of course.” Tamaki blinks, “If a lightning bolt hits us, Iorin and I can die together.”
Iori and Haruka’s stares are intense enough to bore two holes into Tamaki. Haruka nods then walks away without even saying goodbye to them. Tamaki finally turns to the dark-haired teen right after Haruka leaves the classroom so they can have a staring contest that lasts for only three seconds.
“That was a really disturbing joke.” Iori pushes Tamaki’s face away as it keeps inching closer and closer, “Stop staring at me.”
“Iorin, let’s die together.” Tamaki pokes his friend on the cheek.
“Who are you? I don’t know you.” Iori shivers, “Don’t watch Nikaidou-san’s dramas. His characters aren’t good role models.”
“But his acting is so good! And that was what Gakkun's character said to Yama-san's character before they both fell from the 2nd floor's balcony into the pool together.”
Tamaki gushes, eyes sparkling brightly despite talking about a crime thriller drama where both said characters died of blood loss after that final scene and their blood dyed the pool water red. Of course Iori remembers that scene too, the overall atmosphere of that drama is so depressing that death seemed more like a relief than anything.
But they're only 17. It's not time to die yet.
“And they did those stunts by themselves.” Iori still finds the dedication to their roles impressive despite the gruesome nature of that scene.
The taller teen looks out of the window, “It was also raining in that scene. I should have asked Yama-san if the rain was fake or not.”
“I didn’t know you’re into cinematography.”
“Not really… Do you remember the scene when they’re both in the pool and you can see the water's surface from underwater? The more blood leaked into the pool water, the more rain droplets hit the surface…”
Not even the rain can dilute their blood. Throughout the whole story, the hero’s only successful attempt was the murder-suicide that ended the killing streak of the villain but also put his own life to an end. It was also raining the first time they met each other in that alley, when the murderer disguised himself as a victim just for a chance to play with the hero, like blood looking forward to absorbing raindrops even when it meant there was a chance of it being diluted into nothingness.
There was no visible blood when people figured out their corpses the day later. The heavy rain finally did its job for once.
“Should I be worried when you chose to think about that scene?”
“I just thought it was romantic.” Tamaki turns to Iori, “Or maybe it was just because Yama-san and Gakkun played those characters.”
“... I heard there's a bonus scene in the Blu-ray release so I get why you see their characters' relationship as romantic.” Iori looks back at his friend, “But why would Nikaidou-san and Yaotome-san's relationship be… more than friends?”
“... You don't see it?” Tamaki hesitantly asks.
Iori nods, “I suppose I'm not as close to Nikaidou-san as you are.”
“... Or you're just dull when it comes to that kinda stuff.” Tamaki looks away.
“Pardon me? If it's not something I'm involved in then of course I wouldn't be able to see it. I have other things to pay attention to, like our group, my homework and your homework.”
“Why mine??”
“Because I want you to graduate.”
That much chit chat was enough. Iori turns his back at Tamaki, opening his notebook to work on his assignment because based on the way the raindrops hit the window, the wind is still too strong for them to walk home without getting wet. Or, even worse than that, they might risk destroying their umbrellas.
“Fine. I'll do my homework.”
He hears Tamaki mumbling behind his back. But then Iori feels his waist being poked, and since he's ticklish, the word he was supposed to write down has become a squiggly line.
“... I'm not going to share my umbrella with you today.” Iori frostily declares.
"Nooooo! I'm sorry!”
[Yamato]: Are you two still at school? Want a lift?
[Tamaki]: Yama-san is driving?
[Yamato]: Nah, but I met Yaotome at work today. Gotta pick up something from the dorm before I go hang out with him
[Tamaki]: Like a date?
[Yamato]: …
[Tamaki]: You two are dating right?
[Yamato]: Onii-san has no idea what you're talking about.
[Tamaki]: You can't keep avoiding it like this
[Yamato]: You should already know that I'm good at avoiding stuff.
[Tamaki]: [angry Kinako sticker]
[Yamato]: It will be easier to sweep it under the rug if this whole thing doesn't work out.
[Tamaki]: Noooo!!! I don't want to see you two getting a divorce!!!
[Tamaki]: I need positive role models in my life. Please don't divorce Gakkun
[Yamato]: We're not married??
[Tamaki]: To me you two are
[Yamato]: … Tama, you're stressing onii-san out
[Tamaki]: Good! Don’t divorce Gakkun!
“... Why are you showing me this?” Iori rubs his temples.
“To prove that they’re dating!” Tamaki grins toothily, ”I’m right so you better reward me something.”
“I’m not obligated to that.” Iori raises his eyebrows, “How’s your homework?”
“... Iorin is a meanie.” Tamaki pouts.
Iori has heard that too many times before to be offended anymore. He just plainly says “You still have time to do your homework while we wait for Nikaidou-san and Yaotome-san to pick us up”, and Tamaki’s response to that is to plant his face onto the open textbook on his desk.
“Either you do it now and I help you or I will not open my room’s door for you when we get back.”
“You need to try harder to encourage me.” Tamaki grumbles, not looking up.
Iori thinks, then reaches his hand forward, placing it on Tamaki’s fluffy head of hair. He pats on it twice.
“Was that enough?”
“... One more head pat, please.”
Iori obliges. After that final pat, Tamaki catches his hand before it can leave, making Iori flinch a bit. Their eyes meet when Tamaki finally looks up from his desk with a pleased grin on his face.
“Iorin is actually really gentle sometimes.” Tamaki keeps holding Iori’s slightly smaller hand in his hand, “You’re always willing to share your umbrella with me. And your ice creams too.”
“I can’t risk letting you get sick from your own carelessness.” Iori replies, “And I am not willing to share my ice creams with you, you ice cream thief.”
Tamaki finally lets go of the other teen’s hand but that grin still stays on his face, “I will do it again.”
“Your ice cream crime will be punished one day.”
“By who? The ice cream god?”
“No. I’ll simply slap your ice cream out of your hand.”
Tamaki pouts, “That’s wasteful, Iorin. I will give you that ice cream.”
“You weren’t willing to share your King Pudding with me, how can I trust you with this?” Iori chuckles, “Was this your plan so you wouldn’t have to do your homework?”
Tamaki’s phone rings, announcing their leader’s arrival.
“... I didn’t do it on purpose. Please help me with my homework later.”
And since Tamaki looks like a giant sad pup, Iori can’t help but give his friend another head pat.
“Only because I don’t want you to end up becoming my underclassman.”
It’s still raining when they have to walk to the car so they once again share an umbrella. But since Tamaki brings his today, Iori’s umbrella gets to stay in his school bag for once.
“King Pudding umbrella.” Tamaki giggles.
“Does everything you own have to be King Pudding themed?” Iori looks up at the custard yellow umbrella, “I prefer something cool and sharp.”
“Let me tell Yama-san to make you boring lunchboxes from now on then.” Tamaki turns to the other teen, grinning mischievously.
“... Can’t you just let me keep my ideal image in peace?”
“No. I’ll find you the cutest Roppu-chan umbrella.”
Iori bites his lower lip, trying not to think about the chance of him possessing said umbrella. Tamaki laughing heartily at his reaction makes Iori want to pinch him but that would make him just as childish so he looks away instead.
“Hey…” Tamaki breaks the silence after just mere seconds, “What do you think about Yama-san and Gakkun dating?”
“What opinion should I have other than being concerned about the chance of them getting caught…” Iori lets out an inevitable sigh, “It’s even riskier since they’re leaders of two different groups… The press would have a field day…”
“I-I didn’t ask about that! Snap out of it!” Tamaki nudges his friend the moment he realizes Iori is stressing himself out with his own thoughts again, “I think they look good together.”
Iori nods, “They’re both good-looking.”
“Not that either!” Tamaki nudges Iori again, which earns him a threatening glare from the raven-haired, “I mean they always look like they’re having fun when they’re around each other!”
“Maybe you’re more observant than me when it comes to this kind of thing…” Their gazes meet for a moment when Iori turns to the taller teen, “If you couldn’t tell, I was quite offended by how you knew nii-san has been romantically involved with Rokuya-san before me.
“It was because they started being more subtle with the flirting you know? Like they were playing the long game so everyone can adapt to their relationship easier once they announce it.” Tamaki grins, “But yeah, you can call me Detective Yotsuba Tamaki—”
“I have no intention of doing that.” Iori deadpans.
“One day you’ll need my help… That is if you allow yourself to abandon your principles to tolerate someone who fell for you.”
Tamaki nudges Iori for the third time. And this time Iori finally retorts by pinching Tamaki’s forearm, giving the taller teen an unimpressed look when he yelps from the sudden pain.
“... I’m not that inflexible.” Iori sulks a little bit, “I think I adapted just fine.”
“Yeah, Iorin did well. I like hanging out with you now.” Tamaki lets out a soft chuckle, “Would you be mad if I said you got cuter?”
“Yes. Very.”
Iori doesn’t hesitate, and that means Tamaki has to yelp loudly again from his forearm being pinched, earning them a few curious looks from others.
“The same spot?? Really??”
“You nudged me thrice. I will pinch you once more so be prepared.”
“That’s very uncute of you!” Tamaki pouts.
Iori smiles at that, “Thank you very much.”
He totally doesn’t feel insulted at all.
As if knowing the leader of your group is dating the leader of your rival group isn’t awkward enough for Iori, God has somehow decided that today is the day he got to see them making out with each other.
Why they made out in the car was not something he wanted to ask, but TRIGGER’s leader is more than willing to explain it as if one-half of the people in the car aren’t avoiding bringing it up.
“Sorry you had to see that. Nikaidou pissed me off.”
Yamato opens his mouth, “Was it my fault—”
“Yes. Why on Earth would you think that what we have will one day be swept down the rug??”
“You’re Yaotome Gaku—”
“You should already know what type of person I am if you kept bringing that up.”
“... Let’s talk about this later. There are kids here.”
“I don’t mind it. Please talk to each other.” Tamaki raises his hand like he’s sitting in class.
“Yotsuba-san, they need privacy.” Iori pulls Tamaki’s hand back down, “But yes, please talk to each other in private. And… do those stuff in private too. Please think about your groups and managers.”
“Thanks for the advice, Izumi-otouto.” Gaku’s mood does get better when there’s something to distract him from their love quarrel, “But I will resolve it here, I hope you two don’t mind.”
“I mind.” Yamato mumbles.
“I’m still mad at you and we will do something about that tonight. But, answer me this. You do love me, right?”
Silence. Iori covers his whole face meanwhile his friend’s mouth is fully agape from the unabashed question from the former holder of the most desired embrace to the person who’s embraced by him. Iori’s guess is that their leader was instantly knocked out by the embarrassment alone. After a while, they finally hear Yamato’s voice again.
“... Yes.”
“That’s the only thing I need to know. I love you too so stop thinking about that safer option of locking yourself away.” A smile finally blooms on Gaku’s face, “It’s worth it to risk it, I promise.”
After what can be considered a smooth resolution, Iori finally uncovers his face. He turns to check on his friend whose mouth was open wide enough to fit a boiled egg in to see Tamaki staring at him, with his mouth already closed of course. There's something slightly unfamiliar about the way those blue eyes are locked onto him at this very moment, and Iori's only wish right now is for him to be actually as dull and oblivious as Tamaki assumed.
But maybe he's reading too much into this. Iori still tries to untangle the perplexity conveyed in Tamaki's blue eyes nonetheless, he will cling to any hints of uncertainty if it can help him convince his friend that they better be just friends.
Even when he has nothing against them being more than that.
“Iorin, you're staring at me.” Tamaki finally says after being the one breaking the eye contact.
“Staring contest. I won.”
Iori casually replies before giving Tamaki the third pinch. Tamaki doesn't yelp this time and instead just looks at Iori again before they both agree to turn away and look outside the car windows where the summer rain was still pouring down on top of them.
After doing the dishes with Tamaki that night, Iori goes back to his room with Tamaki quietly following him. He finally stops at his door and turns around to face his friend.
“If you need me to help you with your homework, shouldn’t you have your homework with you?” Iori points out the obvious.
Tamaki blinks, “Can’t I just borrow your note then copy it?”
“If this is a joke, no. If this isn’t a joke, absolutely not.” Iori deadpans.
The blue-haired was just jesting anyway so he returns to his room with no complaints whatsoever. Iori decides to wait outside instead of entering his own room first and he gets to see Tamaki leaving the bedroom with not just what he needs but also a bag of rabbit-shaped marshmallows.
“Hehe~”
“We just had dinner not long ago.”
Tamaki gives Iori the bag, “I know. We can share it after I finish my homework.”
“Are you sure you can finish your homework tonight?”
Iori opens the door and turns on the light before letting his friend get in. He knows they don’t have that many assignments today, hence why he could finish all of it in less than an hour, but the absentminded Yotsuba Tamaki definitely didn’t notice that detail. His little prank does earn the reaction he expected as Tamaki starts looking at him with sad puppy eyes.
“Iorin, please let me copy your homework.”
“No. Have some faith in yourself.” Iori decides to go forth with the joke, “I’m here to help you.”
“... Okay.”
Tamaki looks so defeated by the time he sits down so Iori rips open the bag to hand him a piece of marshmallow. Tamaki opens his mouth to fetch it from Iori’s hand instead of using his hand, and that’s when Iori finally tells him the truth.
“I lied actually. We don’t have that much homework.”
“AT?? IOIN?? OW OULD U??”
Iori can still understand Tamaki’s words even when his mouth is blocked by a big piece of marshmallow, and he can’t help but chuckle at the sight before quickly going back to his normal composition. He grabs a piece for himself and bites off the marshmallow bunny’s ear. He’s not barbaric enough to stuff his face with it, and the bunny is too cute to be consumed that way anyway.
“I’ll be checking your answers though.” Iori sits down at the low table in his room, something that was purchased for the sole purpose of helping his friend study since them occupying the living room might inconvenience other members, “Do your best, Yotsuba-san. I’ll be reading meanwhile so just let me know when you need help.”
Tamaki pouts, “Please feed me every 10 minutes.”
“15 minutes.” Iori sets the timer on his phone, “You can have a break after three marshmallows.”
“So marshmallow is a measurement of time now?”
Iori clears his throat, “That’s such a weird thing to say.”
“Come on, you almost laughed at that.” Tamaki grins, “I’ll just call you Iorin-sensei when I need your help. Is that okay, Iorin-sensei?”
Iori looks at his friend oddly.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Please just do your homework already.”
After 15 minutes, Iori puts down his book to reset the timer. He actually appreciates how Tamaki waits until the phone alarm goes off to ask him about the problems he couldn’t solve instead of interrupting his reading session. Tamaki then munches on the marshmallow as Iori uses a pencil to neatly summarize what his friend needs to remember in order to answer the skipped questions.
“Thanks, Iorin-sensei.”
“... Can't you just go all the way and make it formal?”
“I don't know any Izumi-sensei. Only Iorin-sensei.” Tamaki picks up a light blue marshmallow from the pack and hovers it right in front of Iori's face, “Iorin-sensei, you forgot to eat your marshmallow.”
“Thanks—”
The fluffy marshmallow gets squished when Tamaki presses it against Iori's lips. Iori widens his eyes a bit, it's not totally unexpected but he's still caught off guard. Tamaki keeps it there, waiting for him to bite into the cute sugary bunny. Iori knows he has more than one choice but he lets himself go with the flow this time.
See? He's not inflexible. It's not that unusual for group members to feed each other like this either, their leader even once drunkenly tried to feed Iori and that only strengthened his belief in how alcohol would only put one in undesired situations.
Tamaki goes back to work on his assignments as Iori sits there, slowly munching away the sweet treat before he can return to his book. It takes about 1.5 hours (or 6 pieces of marshmallow if that's the measurement of choice) for Tamaki to finally cheer aloud that he's done. Iori looks up to see Tamaki stuffing his mouth with two marshmallows like he's been starving.
“Yotsuba-san, slow down.” Iori puts down the book and reaches for the sweet treat as well, “You can have the rest of the bag for yourself. I’m full.”
“Nah, I want to share it with Iorin-sensei.” Tamaki lazily leans down the table, “I’m sooooo tired. I’d rather practice for 6 marshmallows than study for that long…”
“Please consider using your brain to think more frequently.” Iori deadpans.
“Have you considered that I just don’t like schoolwork?” Tamaki pouts, “Let me be flawed, Iorin-sensei.”
“At least try to pass the tests.” Iori lets out a sigh, “If you can pass them the first time, you won’t have to take more time to study and retake them.”
“But I got better, didn’t I?” Tamaki grins, “Thanks to Iorin-sensei.”
Iori picks up his friend’s still open note, “... Do you enjoy calling me that?”
“Do you not enjoy being called that?” Tamaki asks back.
“I don’t hate it, but it’s weird.” Iori turns to the previous pages, “Can you help me get my note? I can’t remember all of the answers.”
“How can you have the confidence that all of your answers are correct?” Tamaki mumbles.
“Because I pay attention in class.” Iori deadpans, “And I understand the lessons.”
“... I can’t do that so I’ll choose to trust you then.” Tamaki goes through the notebooks in Iori’s school bag and checks the label, “This one, right?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Iori then manages to simultaneously go through the textbook, his friend’s notebook and then his own. Tamaki sits there, waiting, eating more marshmallows like his stomach is a pitless hole.
“This… This… This…” Iori mumbles, using the mechanical pencil to mark the wrong answers, “Do you not understand them or was it just carelessness?”
“... I was confused, but maybe I didn’t pay enough attention.” Tamaki looks at Iori with sad puppy eyes for the second time tonight.
Iori resists the urge to give the big pup a head pat by looking down at the textbook, “Let’s go through those parts together.”
“Iorin-sensei is the best.” Tamaki grins, “Do you want more marshmallows?”
“... Maybe not.”
“You’re not going to gain weight.” Tamaki hovers a piece of marshmallow in front of his friend’s face again, “And Iorin is already lean enough.”
Iori looks at the cute sugary bunny waiting to be devoured in front of him, then turns to the one trying to feed it to him. Tamaki shakes the bunny marshmallow a bit.
“The rabbit is having a seizure.”
“And you want me to end its life?”
“It’s for the best.”
Iori rolls his eyes before accepting his fate of being Tamaki’s accomplice. That’s too much sugar for a day, he thinks to himself as the life of the unfortunate marshmallow bunny with a mild case of seizure ends in his mouth.
But it’s not time to grieve, it’s time to help Tamaki finish his homework. And his friend does try extra hard to pay attention. Just like Tamaki said, he did get better, and no matter what the thing that has been motivating him is, Iori thinks the taller teen deserves more praise.
“Yotsuba-san did well.” Iori finally says after Tamaki has done fixing the mistakes in his homework.
“Thanks, Iorin-sensei.” Tamaki closes his notebook, “Maybe I won’t be bothering you as much if I did a better job at taking notes…”
“It must be a mess in there huh?” Iori deadpans, pointing at the other notebook Tamaki brought with him to his room, “Can I see?”
“Do you want to?” Tamaki mumbles.
The anxiety spreads to Iori, “How bad is it?”
“... I doodle in my notebook.”
“Not that bad—”
“On every page.”
“What?”
“That’s how I kill time. Most lessons are boring.” Tamaki looks away.
Iori lets out a long sigh, “... Our teachers will cry if you tell them that.”
“I guess so…” Tamaki pokes Iori, “Are you disappointed in me?”
“Not really.” Iori still picks up the notebook, “I guess it’s one of the things I can tolerate since you have neither need nor intention to excel in class. I can let you borrow my school notes, you still have to do the homework by yourself though.”
“You’re making me feel guiltier you know…” Tamaki pouts.
“Even when I’m enabling you?” Iori lets out a chuckle, “Yotsuba-san, you’re not just a member of IDOLiSH7. You’re a part of MEZZO” too. Your plate is full.”
“Iorin…”
“So I can be flexible to keep you doing as good as you can in class.” Iori opens the note, “I’m breaking my principles for you. Are you pleased yet?”
Tamaki replies by giving him a big hug. Everything happens in the blink of an eye. Iori, being caught off guard, drops his friend’s notebook.
He manages to catch it mid-air and the notebook hangs onto his fingers by its corner. Tamaki also turns to that direction, still clinging to Iori despite how it’s now a side hug instead.
Iori casually flips through the pages and he must admit that his friend has some really cute, no, cool doodles. Tamaki even drew a Kokona fanart on one page, which he might or might not have privately sent to the one Kokona enthusiast they know. Iori ends up skimming through most of them to check what was written or drawn today.
“Wait, Iorin—”
And on that page is an Aiaigasa.
“I can explain.”
With his name and his friend’s name written side by side, under the umbrella.
“Are you and Yotsuba fighting?”
“No. What makes you think so?” Iori looks up from his notebook.
Haruka raises his eyebrows, “I haven’t seen you two talking to each other at all today. And it’s already the afternoon.”
“... It will last longer than that. We’re not fighting though.” Iori turns around to see Tamaki absentmindedly looking out the window, “Right, Yotsuba-san?”
“W-What?”
“We’re not fighting.” Iori repeats his words, “Isumi-san is worried about us.”
“I-I’m not worried!” Haruka furrows his eyebrows, “You two didn’t have lunch together so I had to have lunch by myself too because I didn’t know who I should sit with!”
“We can have lunch together tomorrow. I don’t think I will have anything to say though.” Iori returns to facing his own desk.
“Is this a divorce?” Haruka jokingly asks.
Iori tenses up severely for a moment.
“Please don’t say that in public. People might get the wrong idea.” He looks up at Haruka again.
“Oh.” The mint-haired nods, “Solve it out before tomorrow’s lunch then.”
“You know it’s not possible—”
“Don’t care. Good luck.” Haruka deadpans before walking away.
Iori lets out a sigh. If only it’s that easy. It was a sleepless night for him and from the dark circles under Tamaki’s eyes, he was not spared from sleep deprivation either. He feels bad for leaving his friend on a cliffhanger like this but what else can he do?
Yotsuba Tamaki is his closest friend. Iori has grown to be so comfortable with this proximity without ever questioning it. He thinks he has no need for romance but the warmth Tamaki brings into his life has become something he will long for once it goes away… Is liking someone the same as having a favourite thing? Wanting to keep them around for the physical and mental comfort they provide?
He suddenly recalls the conversation they had just yesterday. To Tamaki, it’s just as simple as that. Almost too simple. Iori thinks a close friendship can grant more than enough happiness.
Shouldn’t that already be enough?
It’s been consistently raining almost every afternoon. The rainy season is especially burdensome when both of them have forgotten their umbrellas, possibly due to sleep deprivation.
“What do we do now…” Tamaki laments, looking up at the grey clouds.
They look at each other for a moment. It feels weird standing just a few steps further from each other compared to normal, when their shoulders brush against each other because they have to squeeze together under an umbrella. And now there’s no umbrella to keep them close anymore.
“I’ll ask if anyone can bring us an umbrella.” Iori takes out his phone.
[Iori]: Is anyone free right now? Yotsuba-san and I forgot our umbrellas.
[Yamato]: Tough luck. None of us are at the dorm right now.
[Tsumugi]: I can pick you two up! I’m still at the office though…
[Yamato]: It’s rush hour right now. I think Ichi and Tama should just wait for the rain to stop.
[Tamaki]: Maybe we should bring three umbrellas from now on
Iori looks up from the phone to turn to his friend. Tamaki puts away his phone before returning the stare. It stays that way for minutes with the sound of falling raindrops in the background.
Iori finally breaks the silence, “Guess we’ll be waiting.”
“We have another choice actually.” Tamaki says, “Run to the nearest convenience store and buy an umbrella.”
“... What if I just want to run back to the dorm with no umbrella?” Iori asks.
“Are you serious?”
“It’s something I’ve always been wanting to try.” Iori murmurs, “Just this once.”
Having the cold rain water cooling himself down is probably… not what Iori needed. But it's true that he wanted to do it at least once, and throughout the years he had plenty of chances to do so yet it never happened until today.
And he's regretting it already. He's soaking wet from head to toes and nothing in his school bag is safe either. He had plenty of reasons why he shouldn't do it and all of them are correct, but he also feels more alive than ever breaking the restrictions he set for himself.
Just this once.
“Iorin!” Tamaki runs right next to him, “I think the rain is stopping soon!”
“Good.” Iori replies, “... Let's slow down a bit. I ran out of stamina…”
Tamaki also slows down upon hearing that, matching their paces as they walk together, still a few steps away from each other. Iori manages to catch his breath shortly after the break but he doesn't feel like speeding up for now. He has this one choice to savour it and he will do it. Tamaki seems to have realized it too because he's grinning at him.
“Iorin is so reckless today.”
“Just today. We need to bring three umbrellas tomorrow.”
“So you agree that my idea is good?”
“No.” Iori chuckles.
Tamaki pouts, “Then why did you mention it?”
“I thought your joke was funny.”
“... I'm still not used to you complimenting me you know?”
Iori ignores that. He stays silent, observing the sky, the clouds and the gradually halting rain. Gloomy grey clouds start to vanish as they already poured down into the heavy rain that drenched both of them, and since it's close to dusk, bits of yellow and orange are starting to spread on the sky.
The rainy season will end soon. He will miss sharing an umbrella with Tamaki once the rainy days get left behind them.
“Yotsuba-san.”
“... Are you going to reject me right now?” Tamaki hesitantly asks.
“No. I just want to ask you how you know that you want us to be more than just friends.” Iori finally turns to face his friend, “Maybe you can help me understand it because I think I'm more confused than anything.”
“I'm not experienced either, Iorin.” Tamaki blushes a bit, “Would you believe me if I told you that one day I just realized how much I want to kiss you?”
If he doesn’t mind Tamaki kissing him then does it mean they should be together? Iori can't help but stare at his friend's lips, wondering if they would taste like Tamaki's favourite dessert, even when his friend hasn't consumed any King Pudding today.
“I don't think I would mind it.” Iori whispers, “Maybe I can keep my reckless streak this way.”
“... Iorin, you look really kissable right now. I’m not gonna hold back.”
But he has to hold back. They both have to hold back until they reach the dorm lest any paparazzi get the chance to snap a photo. It's one of the things Iori is most afraid of.
Yet they can't even wait that long. They're still in the yard and the rain still lingers. Their lips touch and the first thing they both feel is the slight coolness as their body temperature has dropped from the cold rain. Tamaki kisses down as gently as he possibly can, restraining himself from showing the built-up monthslong longing. But then Iori pulls him in closer, and that unfortunately ruins any bit of self control he has left. He even bites Iori's lip and the noise coming out of his friend's mouth at that moment makes Tamaki fear for possible reactions he can't control.
“... What do you say?”
Iori looks up at Tamaki. He looks unkempt from both the rain and the kiss yet that makes him more kissable than ever. But before Tamaki can ask for another kiss, Iori suddenly lets out a tiny gasp.
“Yotsuba-san, look. A rainbow.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Why would I lie to you?”
Tamaki looks up. The rain is no more and on the now clearer sky there's a vivid rainbow crossing the orange hue sky. It's beautiful but…
“... Can I kiss you again?”
“There's a rainbow right now and that's all you can think about?”
“I need confirmation that you didn't regret that first kiss.” Tamaki pouts.
Iori lets out a fond chuckle, “Yes, you can. You did well, Yotsuba-san.”
“I'll only get better.”
Iori can feel Tamaki grinning against his lips. He tries to humble that smugness by pinching the other teen but their lips already meet again. Tamaki softly nibbles on Iori's soft lip before biting on his with a less gentle force.
“Iorin, why are you still a meanie?”