Work Text:
The day today was unbearably sunny.
Akito Shinonome woke up, groggy and absolutely unaware as his arm reached out to his nightstand, barely grabbing onto his vibrating phone.
“Ugh… What's…” He murmured, raising his phone high into the air before seeing the flood of messages from almost everybody from his contacts. Suddenly, he was wide awake on this sunny morning. “Eh? What’s this?...”
All of the messages consisted of something along the lines of Happy Birthday!
Oh.
“Damn.” Akito muttered. “How’d I forget my own birthday?”
Even from people he didn’t speak to much gave him small birthday messages– it made him smile to think people even remembered him. He sighed and closed his eyes, relishing the feeling before getting up and starting his day.
The sun infiltrated his hair as he brushed through the ginger maze, setting down the comb and going out of his room when Ena was sitting near the countertops, a neatly-wrapped present with an orange bow displayed around it sitting on the counter. Ena glanced at him. “Oh hey, you’re awake.” She smiled, but it quickly contorted into a face of embarrassment as she got off her chair and grabbed the gift. “Happy birthday.”
Akito took the gift in his hands, mildly impressed. “You took the time to get me a gift? You’re so nice today.”
Ena looked away, embarrassed. “Me and Mizuki decided to pick something that suits you, so…”
And when Akito opened it, he agreed– a jacket, dark maroon and fit him perfectly. “How’d you guys get my size?” Akito asked.
“I’m your sister, how could I not know your size?” Ena replied. “Anyway, I made a post about you and everyone’s greeting you a happy birthday.”
She basically shoved the phone in his face– as she scrolled, emojis of party poppers and party hats were thrown around and Akito’s eyes widened. “Momoi? Hinomori Shizuku?” He took the phone and scrolled through.
I guess I… never really realized how many people supported me. Akito thought. He saw birthday messages from Mafuyu as well. Damn. This is crazy.
“Hey, could I have my phone back?” Ena muttered, leaning next to him as she watched the screen glow, but Akito mindlessly waved her off. “Akito—“
“Can I read all of them first?” Akito asked, glancing at her.
For once, Ena did not argue and sighed, a hint of a smile on her face. “Fine. But don’t drain my battery, okay? I need to call on it.”
“Of course…”
As Ena walked to the fridge, Akito scrolled through the seemingly never-ending messages and felt warm. Usually, he’d never get so caught up in things like his own birthday, but…
It was nice like this, once in a while.
Suddenly, his own phone rang and he was quick to let go of Ena’s phone and answer his. It was An Shiraishi.
“Heey! Akito!” Her cheery voice came through, and Akito winced. “Let’s meet in SEKAI in an hour. We want to catch up with you.”
“That’s… no problem.” Akito responded, unsure. “Are you planning something?”
“Nope.” An said.
…
“Everyone will be there. See you!”
The call ended, and Akito sat there, dumbfounded.
“They’re definitely planning something.” He muttered.
As they ate cake at the round-table, Akito leaned forward, grateful but sickened.
“I’ve already eaten so much cake today…” He muttered, using his fork to grab more cheesecake draped over with a syrupy blanket of strawberry cream. “But since Ken-san made it, I’ll eat it.”
Toya Aoyagi, his dear partner, one that he could suspiciously not stop staring at, smiled at him warmly. “Thanks, Aki.” His voice was melodic and soft. Something that Akito would relish for all of time. “We all pitched in and helped… But all I did was cut the strawberries.”
“You did a great job with the strawberries, though.” Kohane added.
An took another bite of the cake, “Happy Birthday again, Akito. I know you’re not too fond of really big gatherings so I thought that maybe just us would be good.” She grinned at him.
“Yeah, you were right.” Akito admitted. “I’m not used to many people celebrating my birthday.”
“Now that we’re here, we can celebrate it every time.” Toya murmured, his grey eyes sparkling.
Akito made eye-contact with him, and it felt like he was on cloud nine. Something felt so good about being around Toya it made him feel accepted. “Yeah.” He blinked, breaking his trance, “…Yeah, that’d be nice.”
“Where do you wanna go now?” Kohane asked. An gave her a knowing look before she hesitantly added, “You could… you know… Go to Weekend Garage to say thanks to Ken-san for the cake!”
“Well…” Akito proceeded to stuff his face with more cake before responding slowly, “It is really good.”
An seemed to be so eager her eyes were gleaming as she shouldered her bag and guided Kohane to the door, “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
As Akito got up, following the two girls, Toya gently grabbed his hand, squeezing it and walking next to him. “Hey.” He mumbled. “Happy Birthday.”
Akito tilted his head, looking at him with emerald eyes, “Thanks, Toya.” He glanced at An and Kohane, “Are they planning something?”
“I’m not very sure,” said Toya.
“So they haven’t told you, either.” He muttered, squeezing Toya’s hand, “I wonder what they’re planning.”
“What do you think they’re planning?”
“Something stupid.”
He didn’t think it’d be that stupid.
As Kohane and An set up the mat on the floor of Weekend Garage, Ken-san helped them out beforehand by clearing out the different chairs and tables in their way, Akito and Toya stared at them, puzzled. “What is this again?” Toya asked.
An grinned at them proudly, “Twister. It’s exactly what the name says! You twist yourself!”
“Right…” Akito said. “There’s no way all four of us are going to fit on that one mat even if we bend ourselves.”
Kohane flattened the mat. “Oh, we didn’t mention I’m not going to be participating?” She mentioned, looking up at them.
“You’re not?”
“Nah. Just you guys and me.” An pushed them to the mat.
Kohane grabbed a microphone and took the spinner, “I’ll call out the colors and columns!”
“I didn’t very much agree to this.” Akito muttered as he set himself on the ground. Toya stood next to him.
“It’s fine. It’s nice to have some sort of bonding after all of the practice we’ve been doing the past few weeks, right?” Toya ruffled his hair, and Akito’s face bloomed with heat.
“I guess so.” Akito murmured distantly, and in the back of his mind, he thought, I don’t think I could win this. With Toya’s slim body and habit of stretching, he’s probably more flexible than me.
Akito took a deep breath. It was fine. He got this.
Even with all the pep talks to himself in his head, he was right about Toya being more flexible than him, and it was very much embarrassing.
“Are you guys okay?” Kohane asked worriedly. “Should I stop?”
“No!” An called out, gritting her teeth and she tried to ground herself with her palms, “It’s part of the game!”
Toya shut his eyes, clearly trying to focus as his head was facing up into the bright lights above as he tried flexing his shoulders. Akito groaned, moving his palm to the dot next to the left side of Toya’s face. “It’s fine, Kohane.” He managed– they had been in this uncomfortable position for the past few minutes, as Kohane was slightly concerned that one of them would get hurt, but honestly, Akito liked the challenge.
“I’m slipping, kinda.” An sputtered out.
Toya took a deep breath.
Akito’s other hand was placed against the right side of Toya’s face, and he felt the pressure. “Dude.” He muttered. “Is this my birthday present?”
“Yes! Cause we thought you’d enjoy it!”
“Okay, true.” He admitted, trying to shift his weight.
“You have to stop talking to me!” An gasped, “I’m gonna fall!”
“Good!” Akito gritted out.
An landed on the mat gently with a thud, and Kohane reached out a hand for her, careful not to disturb the current, very uncomfortable position Akito was in, and pulled her out of the game. “He totally did that on purpose.” She sighed. Akito frowned.
“Did Shiraishi fall?” Toya asked quietly, trying to maintain his footing with his eyes still closed.
“Y–Yeah.” Akito replied, suddenly realizing how close they were together. Their faces were inches away, and he felt his brain slowly turning itself into mash. “My arm is hurting.”
“Mine too.” Toya frowned, and it was silent for a moment, as if An and Kohane were watching a movie with a raging battlefield in it, before Toya sucked in a breath and opened one eye–
His eyes widened. Akito looked away quickly, embarrassed. “You’re–” Toya stopped himself, “Akito–”
“Can you lose on purpose so we can get out of this?” Asked Akito, facing him again with scarlet across his face.
An protested, “Hey–”
“It’s his birthday. Maybe let him win.” Kohane suggested.
“...Sure.”
Toya’s face was so pretty up close, Akito thought before Toya dropped himself onto the mat, exhaling with relief. Akito pried his palms off of the mat, still flushed from the position.
“If you didn’t tell Toya to fall, I’m pretty sure he would have won.” An pointed out.
“Yeah, sure.” Akito muttered, but distantly, he agreed with the girl.
As all four of them helped to fold the mat and put all of the chairs and tables back in their original place, they all agreed on doing some karaoke before they all went their ways.
“You get to pick the songs today.” Toya patted his back.
Akito smiled, picking up the microphone, “With pleasure.”
“Happy Birthday, Akito!” An and Kohane cheered together.
“I know I’m not very big on these…” Akito tested the microphone. “But thanks, you guys.”
And as he sung his heart out, he didn’t mind how Toya Aoyagi wrapped an arm around his waist.
With some careful communication at the end of the day, Toya was able to spend the night at Akito’s house, as they walked there with the moonlight showering them with beauty.
“The stars are bright today.” Toya noticed as he looked up.
Akito glanced up. “Huh… you’re right.”
As they passed a few stray cats, they soon made it to Akito’s house and they stumbled in, the ginger seeing a note taped on the dinner table–
I left to go do some things. I have a feeling you will be having Toya over here tonight.
-Ena
“Right…” He muttered. Toya ventured into his room and happily crashed himself onto his messy covers.
“Your bed is very comfy.” Toya noted, looking at the blue teddy bear tucked in the corner of the room– a small gift given to Akito by him at a session in the arcade. He patted it on the head. “You still have this? I wasn’t sure if you were just going to store him somewhere in your closet.”
Akito blushed. “No… He’s soft.”
Toya laughed, but as Akito crashed into the bed with him, he quieted.
“Something wrong?” Akito asked.
“No, it’s fine.” Toya responded hesitantly– it looked as if words were starting to come out of Toya’s mouth, but they died reluctantly. “Akito…”
Akito sat next to him, stretching his arms, “You know you can tell me anything, dude.”
“Yeah, I know.” Toya whispered. “I… have a gift for you.”
“Hm?”
Toya sat upright, the blanket covering his legs as he reached into his pocket and took out a small plastic bag, and inside was some small, steel hoop earrings, decorated with a sharp star in the middle. “Can I put these on you?” He asked.
Akito’s eyes locked onto his, speechless, “I…”
They looked at each other, and it felt so silent Akito’s light breathing could be heard. Crimson was starting to form. “Yeah, sure.”
As Toya took the earrings out and worked into putting it on him, his slim hands brushed against Akito’s cheek, and Toya swallowed. “There.” He mumbled, putting the last one on.
Toya brushed his hair behind his ear warmly. Akito stared at him. “Does it… Does it look good on me?”
The taller took in a breath, their face inches away. “Yes, Akito.” He whispered in the darkness of Akito’s room, “You look so good.”
And if it was like magic, the back of Akito’s head was pressed against the wall as Toya kissed him, hand roaming to his torso.
And out of all the gifts, cakes, and messages he had gotten, this had to be the best gift yet.
Toya’s lips were so soft, Akito grasped his neck and felt himself just melting into the moment, caring about nothing else but Toya Aoyagi. He pulled away, a soft gasp leaving his lips. “Were you planning all of this?” Akito quietly asked, flushed.
Toya blushed. “...Yeah. We’ve been friends for so long–”
“I know. I’ve always wanted to do this.” Akito whispered, and he felt Toya shiver. “I just… wasn’t sure if you liked me back.”
The blue-haired smiled weakly. “I was so nervous you wouldn’t reciprocate.”
“I didn’t, did I?” Akito kissed him again, a small laugh escaping both of them before they pulled away again, “And also, sorry for the whole Twister thing back at Weekend Garage.”
“I was freaking out, honestly.” Toya admitted.
Akito’s earrings glimmered in the moonlight. “Me too.”
As more silence blanketed them, instead of going in for another kiss, Akito went forward and hugged Toya, burying his face in the crook of his neck. Toya’s arms wrapped around him until–
Toya’s eyes widened as he heard a small sniffle out of Akito. “Are you… crying?”
“N–no.” Akito pulled away, laughing while wiping his eyes. “This is amazing.”
Toya placed a hand on Akito’s face and wiped away the tears with his thumb, and whispered, “Happy birthday, Akito. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And in this moment, Akito’s soul could have never been any brighter.