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Drops pitter patter on the ground of PhoenixLand as the rain grew ever heavier. The sun had set but there was barely any moonlight shining through, leaving the area shrouded in darkness if it weren’t for the backstage light or the streetlights on the pathway to Wonderstage.
There on the stage itself were the 4 members of Wondershow, who sighed, seeing no signs of the clouds stopping. All seemingly tired and glaring at the rain. Well. Almost all.
Nene grunts. “My parents are on a date right now, I don’t want to disturb them. Any luck on your part?” She turned to Rui.
The purple-haired teen merely shook his head, showing a ‘sent at 8:34pm’ on his phone. “My parents are possibly still at work. Some of their research facilities have questionable service,”
“Right. ‘Cause government secrets,”
“Nene, you know better than anyone here my parents don’t work for the government. You’ve had multiple dinners with them,”
“And my suspicion only grew. What’s your point?”
Rui restrained a smile at the deadpan look shot towards him before turning his attention to their resident blonde. “Well, future star? How about your part?”
…
“Captain?”
Tsukasa stared out at the pathway of Wonderstage, seemingly entranced by something there.
“...Tsukasa-kun?”
“Hm-?” He snapped out of his gaze of the (frankly bland) scenery in front of them. “Oh, my parents are away on a business trip. I didn’t even call them,”
…Rui’s eyes furrowed in slight worry and glanced at the direction Tsukasa was staring at. Nothing.
What was that? The answer lacked his flair as well, as if thrown off guard by the question directed at him.
“Tsukasa-kun–”
Emu waved her phone frantically at her troupe, with a huge smile on her face. Rui shut his mouth at the abrupt interruption. “My brothers messaged back!! Someone will come pick all of us up!” She yelled, leaning to the left with a leg outstretched in the air.
“Gah, Emu…!” The diva covered both her ears. “I don’t need you yelling next to me,”
“But Nene-chan, the rain is SOOO loud! I have to be loud too!”
“Not right in my ears, Emu,” she sighed. “Glad to hear that, though. Thanks,”
Their director turned his attention away from their chairman, though the worried look didn’t fully leave his eyes. He puts on his usual sly smile when his eyes glances at Emu. “Did they care to mention what time our dear chauffeur will arrive?”
“Hmmm~ Yup! 10-ish or so!”
Nene and Rui’s neck snapped towards the youngest member. “Ten?!”
“Mhm!”
A tongue click came from Rui as he looked down at the floor, his left hand resting under his chin. “I guess it can’t be helped…” he mumbled. It's going to be a bit boring, however, with how low energy they're all feeling. He turned to look at his neighbour.
Nene, much to his surprise, resigned herself to such fate rather quickly, already texting her parents then turning her phone sideways. She steadied her mobile device on her knees that were pulled up to level her chest.
“None of you talk to me,” their diva levelled them a glare before a starting screen theme he’s heard multiple times before played from her phone.
“Nene’s out of commission,” Rui chuckled, his smile widening when Emu immediately ignored Nene’s request, sliding on the wall next to her and firing a million questions about the game she’s opened up. Nene merely let out a ridiculously long sigh as she answered none of them.
Rui’s shoulders shook with small laughter. “Fufu, It’s just you and me, then, Future star,” his gaze fell back on the blond, only to find him staring back at the pathway.
His eyebrows furrowed.
“Tsukasa-kun? Are you alright?” He asked, wondering what he was even staring at. His worry grew at the lack of response, before the prince checked his phone and started counting down.
“5,”
“Tsukasa-kun-”
“4,”
“???”
“3,”
“What are you-”
“2,”
“Hold on-”
“1,”
Tsukasa snapped his head back at the pathway, watching as every street light that illuminated it blinked off one by one, as if a domino came crashing. Well, all but one.
One street lamp remained in operation, which is the one directly in front of the Wonderstage’s seat entrance.
Nene looked up at the sudden lack of light. “Huh. I guess it’s 9pm already,” she said, before turning back to her match, with her shoulders slightly lowered. She adapted to Emu peeking at her side.
Rui’s racing heart calmed down after seeing Tsukasa’s bright smile at whatever was going on. Could he not have told them before he randomly counted down? Is this how Tsukasa felt whenever he kept vague about his inventions?
“For some reason, that lamp is connected to the Wonderstage, so as long as we keep the power on here, that lamp won’t shut!” Tsukasa informed no one in particular, seemingly proud and fascinated by this himself. Rui wondered why, so he did what any reasonable person would do. He asked.
“Why are you so interested in it?” Rui’s eyebrow tilted up slightly, a teasing tone creeping into his voice as it usually does when he talks to the star. He has to admit, the glint of fascination in the blonde’s eyes was oddly endearing. He wonders how defensive Tsukasa would get if he presses on.
“Surely the mechanics of street lights is not that mind blowing to you-” Oh, now both his brows shot up as Tsukasa grabbed his sleeve and dragged him out into the pouring rain, both of them heading to the lamp post.
Rui considers himself a cool-headed guy. Sure, he gets surprised, but he thinks that not much could truly startle him. It’s not the first time Tsukasa has broken Rui.
“What- Tsukasa-kun?!” Rui all but yelled as he felt his shirt soak in the raindrops and his hair dampen. His leader’s steps stop as they reach the middle of the remaining light that shone.
“Rui, look,” Tsukasa pointed somewhere in the meadows. “The lights aren’t strong enough to light up all the flowers here, but the raindrops still reflected the little bit of light that reached it. It looks like floating dew,” he smiled as brightly as his eyes did. “It’s a natural stage, Rui. The spotlight, the atmosphere, the props. It’s all perfect. How often is it that the only place not shrouded in darkness is near the flowers? During rain?”
...Oh. Oh. What a nerd. Rui’s inner thoughts chuckled. He saw what Tsukasa meant, however. The light above them illuminated only a circle they stood on. As if a spotlight were focused on merely and only the two. The water drops on the leaves glistened beside them as well, providing additional lights. As if- As if a stage effect. It really was a natural stage. And of course Wondershow’s theatre connoisseur caught on to it.
Tsukasa’s hair was completely wet, as was his, but the other boy didn’t care whatsoever, merely pointing out all the details that he spotted from this venture of his. His eyes completely focused on the area around him.
Not Rui’s, however, because his were stuck only on the blonde, with his smile vanishing completely from his face. He… Wow, was he always this…mesmerising? The rain completely flattened his hair and yet it still looks incredible. His eyes shone just like it did after a successful show, when he sees the smiles they’ve created. The same joy. He looked away before he was ever caught.
“I never thought you'd be this passionate about a simple scenery,” he rubbed his neck, trying to play off the heat on his cheeks.
The star took an over exaggerated gasp. "Rui! I just told you why this scenery isn't simple! Were you even listening?!"
'No, you're a bit too much for me to focus on anything else' he grimaced. He didn't say that, obviously. "Ah, well, I guess being soaked in rain isn't great for my hearing," he sarcastically replied back, because anything genuine right now would kill him.
“Rui,”
The director turned towards the actor, head tilting as a reply.
“Dance with me,”
…
“...What?”
“It’s nature’s stage! The stars call upon one another!” His hand outstretched towards Rui, simply waiting for the other to reach out and grab it.
…What is going on…? Rui, for once in his entire life, could not think of a single thing. His mind completely blank and he swore Windows blue screen flashed somewhere in his head when he felt a gentle touch reaching for his palms, the star seemingly impatient for an answer.
How is he so warm in the pouring rain?
“So! How do we begin, my dearest director?”
His mind blanked for what seemed like the fifth time this hour. ‘My dearest- this boy is driving me insane’ Rui seethed in silence as he felt his face growing warmer by the second. Is it possible to combust in flames under heavy rain? All fatigue leaves his body as his mind focuses solely on the hand that held his.
Tsukasa stood still, eyes focusing on him. Rui’s silent seething was not as silent as he had first thought. Uh oh.
“...Are you o-” Tsukasa snapped his mouth shut as his gaze slowly lowered to their intertwined hands, before his eyes snapped back to search for something on Rui’s face. Whatever it was he found, he concluded that he had to let go of the other’s hands.
Rui took a sharp and disheartened inhale, but the rain drowned out any sound of it.
“Rui, I- Oh my god. I got so caught up that I- Shit, you’re wet. I’m wet. You’re probably still drained from practice too. You told me you didn’t like rain once but I just dragged you out here and- Oh, this is a disaster. I’m so sorr-”
“Tsukasa…?”
The star stopped mid-apology, waiting for the honorific to follow, like the director always used for him, but it never did. If Rui hadn’t been staring at his face the entire time, he would’ve missed how Tsukasa’s skin shade turned darker.
“...Yeah?”
He’s. Haha.
He’s just as nervous.
That calmed Rui’s nerves immensely, seeing he’s not the only one.
The blond tried to open up his mouth again before Rui grabbed both of his hands, intertwining them once more. “Let’s wing it. I want to see where it leads,” he said, almost softly.
He wasn’t talking about the dance at all. From the glint in his eyes, Tsukasa caught on to his implications.
Would he… back out?
Before he could truly doubt himself, the other took one step backwards and started to lead the first act. The director smiled and let himself be dragged away in the hands of the prettiest boy he knew.
Their hands were laced together awkwardly between them as they tried finding their steps. It was a mess, with both of them refusing to talk. Only small laughs and winces.
“Ow-”
“Sorry!”
Were often heard, their feet not yet familiar with each other’s steps.
Something bold came over Rui after they got into a… comfortable-ish pace, readjusting his hands in a way to pull the star closer. A yelp was heard from Wondershow’s chairman when he was pulled forward.
Tsukasa let out a small huff of laughter, sounding both shocked and…relieved? at the little change. The blond takes multiple steps back after that, causing their hands to outstretch but not letting go. Before quickly taking multiple moves back to close in on Rui, closer than when he left. His steps were not graceful at all, however, with a mischievous smile on his face. Oh, Rui knew he was up to something.
…He looked cute. With a smile like that. He rarely sees Tsukasa plotti-
He spits out water that had been splashed in his face as Tsukasa stomped on the puddle under them.
Rui looked up at him, shocked and flustered, with a smile tugging at his mouth. But his ego tried to only act incredulous instead. The hand that held him gripped tighter as he heard loud, genuine laughter out of the star’s mouth. Not the boisterous one he always did, but a carefree, nearly childlike one.
Oh no. His stomach is doing flips at that sound. He gulped behind his smile and splashed back, but got it on both their faces instead.
Raspberries were blown to rid them of that muddy taste. It didn’t help how badly they both were giggling, the mud dripping off their appearances. Rui pulled Tsukasa closer again, spinning him as if a suitor in a ballroom.
“So formal, and for what?” Tsukasa spoke, a teasing tone seeping in his voice. He pulled his director along with him. Rui could feel the moment the nerves left Tsukasa, as his movements grew ever more confident. And with that string of anxiety broken, Rui felt at ease as well.
Funny, isn’t it? How Tsukasa so easily dictates Rui’s emotions. How Rui leeches off the star’s feelings. He felt like the moon basking in the sun’s light as he himself grew beautiful in the presence of the other. Rui is a selfish jerk, because not for a single second did he feel guilty about it.
Their steps never escaped the street’s spotlight, now taking turns leading each other through their respective dance. Tsukasa’s steps are bold and quick, causing them both to stumble from time to time as he skips across the pools of water on the ground.
Rui’s, however, are calmer. More thought out and articulate. Whenever it was Rui’s turn to guide their hands, it led to a slow dance of sorts.
Their shirts were completely soaked now, the fabric sticking to any skin on its wearer as gravity pulls its weight down. Neither of them held back their laughter at every misstep or every unexpected splash.
Rui didn’t know how he got here, but here he was. Inches away from the star he so desperately wished to call his. Both of their smile wide and silly. They slowed down with the rain, realising that the moon’s light had shone through the clouds. It…stopped sooner than any of them had imagined.
How long had they been out in the rain for, anyway?
The raindrops took longer durations to fall and now Rui could truly feel how drenched they both are. He couldn’t bring himself to care, however, because at some point, his hands placed themselves on Tsukasa's waist, pulling him so close that their chest had met each other.
Rui ponders.
One head tilt. An inch forward, and Rui would be able to taste what he dreamed of at night. Just…one move.
He hadn’t realised how long they’d stopped moving for, his eyes flitting back up to Tsukasa’s own. He hadn’t even noticed when he had started staring at the other’s lips.
Whoops. The moonlight shines as bright as the streetlight now, and without the rain blocking any view or sound anymore, he heard a shaky exhale inches away from him. Tsukasa looked to the ground but his hands stayed on Rui’s chest.
Wait. His hands are on Rui’s chest. Oh god, he’s burning up badly. He saw Tsukasa’s ear, dusting bright red as he looked down and avoided eye contact. Rui can’t say much about it though, because that would make him a hypocrite.
He’s pretty sure he’s about to either a) Spontaneously combust. Or b) go down with a fever. Because his entire face is burning.
…Scratch that, Rui is a huge hypocrite as he adopts his smirk back on his face. “Aww, Tsukasa-kun? Are you embarrassed?”
Tsukasa’s head snapped back up, giving Rui the full view of what he can now confidently say, is a flustered Tsukasa. It’s so unfair that the cutest boy ever is inches away from his face.
“M-Me?! Embarrassed! Ha Ha! You wish! My footwork was incredible throughout the whole thing! Star worthy, even!” He laughed, his face moving slightly closer. Oh, oh shit. Okay, no, Rui can’t keep up his nonchalance if Tsukasa’s this close. His cheeks felt like it harnessed the power of the entire sun.
A slow clap from a distance saved him from Tsukasa’s gaze, however, with Nene staring at them. A tired look on her face, (Rui saw the vague amusement, though.) Emu joined right after that, directly contrasting Nene’s with rapid sharp applause.
“Nice one, you two. That was gross,” Nene yelled out. “It’s 9:48 already. Get your ass back up here. We need to close the lights,”
They’ve been dancing for 48 minutes?! Oh, wow, it felt so much shorter than it was. He wished time was a lot less consistent because Rui, reluctantly, let Tsukasa’s waist go. He felt the chairman’s hands fall away from his chest as well.
…He couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“Come on, Rui,” Tsukasa grinned, though it looked slightly strained. Maybe, maybe Tsukasa felt slightly disappointed as well. Hopeful thinking.
They both rush up the stage where they’re greeted by an enthusiastic Emu.
“WAHH! You both were so WONDERHOY! Tsukasa-kun looked SOO happy and he jumped and he skipped and and!! Rui-kun too! Emu’s never seen Rui-kun so graceful! Tsukasa-kun! Can we pleaseeee put a dance like that in our next show? It was so PRETTY!” She basically yelled, holding Tsukasa’s shoulders and swaying him around.
“UEGHAAA EMU! GET OFF ME!” He struggled to rip himself away from the pierrot’s death grip. Rui couldn’t help but muffle a laugh. He heard light footsteps approaching them.
“I couldn’t find a towel but I do have these extra blankets we usually use during winter,” Nene came out of their dressing room holding up two bundles of fabric.
“The costumes for our ‘Letterbox’ play is the simplest outfit we have. Still in the back wardrobe, I think. I haven't checked yet. Here, have these first,” She handed them both the blankets that she held. “I’ll run and check,”
Rui smiled at his best friend. ‘What a softie, huh, Nene?’ he thought to himself.
She popped out of the dressing room once again. “It’s still here. Get changed, you two. You’ll catch a cold,” the green-haired teen glared.
“HAH! Our diva cares after all!” Tsukasa bared his teeth with a proud smile, finally getting Emu to let go of his shoulders as he rushed behind Nene who Rui noticed turned slightly pink.
“O-Of course I do, idiot!” she hissed. “Both of you are huge pain in my ass, but you’re still my friends,” Nene’s tone softened. The response must’ve not been what the star had expected if the wide-eyed look he gave her was any indication.
Nene pushed Tsukasa into another room with his set of costume. “Get! Changed! You always nag me about my habits. My turn to scold you about your health!”
“ALRIGHT! Alright! Jeez, Nene! I’m off!” the blonde grumbled as Rui heard a ‘click’ as the door was locked, Tsukasa’s footsteps retreated to what he presumes is a farther corner of the room he was forced into.
Nene then dragged Rui into a different area, a more secluded one. “Get changed, Rui. I’m turning around,”
Rui blinked. “...You can just…leave,”
“You have that look. The I-want-to-talk-but-I’m-scared-to look. And I know damn well you won’t spill with Tsukasa around,”
Rui stayed silent as he took off his t-shirt and dried himself off with the blanket.
“...Nene?”
All he heard back was an affirming sound.
“...I think. I think I’m in love with Tsukasa,”
She scoffed. “Well, duh. Someone could spot your crush on him from a mile away,”
Rui flinched. “No, Nene,” he said, voice strained as if he’s about to burst into tears. “I’m in love with him,”
…
Nene let out a worried sigh. “You’re sure?”
“I feel like combusting whenever he’s less than 2 metres in my radius,” Rui frustratedly put his arms into the sleeves. “I cannot for the life of me imagine any future for myself without him there by my side the entire time. If that’s a simple crush, I’d actually die if I fell in love,” he grumbled.
“...have you finished changing?” Nene asked.
The director buttoned up the collared shirt and sighed. “Yeah,”
Nene turned around and poked him in the chest, making direct eye contact. “What do you want to do about it, Rui?”
The purple-haired teen stumbled back at the sudden hostility, leaning away from his childhood friend. “I-I don’t,” Rui looked to the ground, defeated. “I don’t know…I don’t want to lose what we have right now, Nene. I can’t bear the thought of losing him,” he grimaced.
Nene’s face softened and, man, did that calm Rui down. “That’s normal. But think back to the thing you were doing in the rain just then. What did you feel?”
“Elated,”
“If I called you and Tsukasa ‘friends’, how do you feel?”
Rui thought about it. She was just stating a fact. Rui and Tsukasa are friends. But…
He thought about it for a bit longer.
“...Weird,”
Nene’s mouth tugged slightly upwards. “The whole idea of romance is weird. But you felt happy holding him, right? Why not chase that?”
“What if it’ll ruin us?! What if- what if he doesn’t-”
“I will smack you if you finish that sentence, Kamishiro Rui. You stared at him dead in the eyes as you held his waist, god, you both are disgusting, and saw that man turned 5 different shades darker. You think he doesn’t feel the same?” she raised an eyebrow, the tired look on her face returned but this time with a stubbornness he doesn’t often see in the diva.
Rui…can’t answer that. Because he felt it too. He’s not stupid.
He knew Tenma Tsukasa liked him back.
…but did he love Rui the same way Rui loves him? That’s what he’s scared of. What if Rui’s going too fast and he scares him away? Tsukasa was the first person to accept all of him without hesitation. Even Nene was slightly scared of him when they first met. Tsukasa…Tsukasa looked at his creations and saw the intentions behind them. Matched the passion Rui shared. Rui felt seen whenever Tsukasa comments on his outlandish ideas with outlandish ideas of his own.
He felt complete. To ruin that would ruin Rui-
He hissed as he felt a flick on his forehead and glared at the index finger in front of his eyes.
“Stop thinking and start acting. You’d both be miserable if you don’t talk,”
…Nene’s right. She always is. But Rui’s not ready right now. He’s tired and drained and still mildly damp. He doesn’t trust anything out of his mouth.
He smiled at her with a silent gratitude. “I will. You’re right, Nene. I will. Just…not tonight,”
“Not tonight. But soon,” she glares. “This whole pining thing going on is reaching its boiling point and I don’t think I can handle seeing it eat you both alive. I will kill someone if that happens. Do you know how sappy you get every time he gets brought up in our conversations? It’s gross, Rui. Gross,”
“I didn’t know you were homophobic,”
“I’m not. I’m just a hater,”
He barked out a laugh. “Fair enough,”
Click!
The door of Tsukasa’s changing room opened as he brushed the dust off his costume. “Ughhhh, a star like me shouldn’t have to wear clothes this…musty!” he grumbled.
“Who’s fault is that?” Nene's eyes drooped as she stared at her leader.
Tsukasa spluttered in lieu of a response.
The songstress rolled her eyes and walked out the backstage. “I’m going to help Emu shut off the lights. You two have fun,”
Footsteps left the room and now the two boys were left together. Silence consumed them for a good half a minute before any of them even moved.
…
“So-”
“Uhm-”
They stared at each other.
Before bursting in laughter at the ridiculously awkward situation. Rui never thought he’d be able to experience butterflies in his stomach, but expectations were always broken when it came to Tsukasa. “You talk first,” Rui smiled.
“Okay. Okay!!” Tsukasa seemingly hyped himself up. “So! I- Uhm. Alright. I don’t…trust myself to not say something absurd right now,” Tsukasa looked down, hands rubbing the back of his neck as his cheek dusted red again. Rui muffled a laugh. ‘You and me both,’ he thought.
“But. But I know that we’re…something. I’m not…ready to figure it out yet. Not tonight, at least,” the star glanced up shyly, with a small, hopeful smile on his face. And man, the butterflies in his stomach must’ve flown up his heart with how badly they were fluttering.
Rui grinned back. “We are. Something, I mean. Definitely not just friends?”
“Oh, that’s- haha. That’s out of the window now,” Tsukasa gave a soft, genuine laugh. “Not just friends, definitely,”
“Okay,” the director couldn’t help but laugh as well as his own words were thrown back at him, a confirmation of his feelings. This is really happening, oh wow.
“So-”
“Tsukasa! Rui!” Nene yelled out from the stage. “Our ride is here!”
The two boys glanced at each other, both dusted in red but the smile not once leaving their face. They grabbed their soaked clothing (along with the blanket because Nene would kill them if they didn't wash it) and joined the girls outside.
And if their hands intertwined in the car as they struggled to stay awake, well. No one had to know.
A loud sneeze echoed throughout the Tenma household.
…Tsukasa and Rui would have to postpone their talk another day. For now, video calling each other, both sick in bed, was enough for them.