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toya had never really been one to mind the cold of winter. but instead of being outside in the frigid weather, toya was happily curled up on the couch in the shinonome family’s living room, watching a movie that was playing on their tv. normally, he’d feel a bit tense in the living room, knowing that someone could walk by at any moment, but akito’s dad was out on a trip to an overseas art exhibition, and ena and her mom had gone out on a shopping spree together, and wouldn’t be back for a few hours yet. akito, who had originally invited toya over, helped him pick the movie, but despite his partner’s best efforts to stay awake, he’d fallen asleep within an hour. now, his head was resting on toya’s shoulder, and toya really couldn’t be happier.
toya originally came over to celebrate their six months of being together. it was a very special occasion for the both of them, and he and akito had been equally excited. they’d planned a special day together to hit all of their favorite places, and they’d both been eagerly awaiting the date for a week or two now.
however, when the day of their date came around, he’d gotten a call from akito. akito was sick, and he could hardly leave his bed, let alone go on a date or go to practice. he’d always been more prone to getting sick in the winter, so toya wasn’t exactly surprised, but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little dismayed their date couldn’t happen. however, he told akito to stay in bed and get some rest, and that it was a good thing akito wasn’t pushing himself. they could always reschedule their date to another time, after all. toya was about to hang up and leave akito be, but akito told him to wait. he’d very quietly admitted that even if toya couldn’t go out on a date with him, he still missed toya, and wished they could be together. hearing akito so vulnerable was what made toya aware of just how sick he was - that, and he tended to get clinger when he was sick. toya found it endearing.
though toya told akito many times that he was sick and needed to prioritize his rest, and that it was okay that their date wasn’t happening today, a very sleepy-sounding akito insisted that it would be okay if toya came over anyway. according to akito, there was no one else home, so what was the harm? and so, against his better judgement, toya had set off for the shinonome house.
when toya arrived, akito had been awake (though just barely). he’d admitted that he’d been home alone all day, and that he hadn’t eaten anything at all. toya, who was immediately worried by that information, told akito that he was going to make some chicken noodle soup to get something in his system. akito insisted he wanted to go with, so toya helped him down the stairs and onto the couch, where he fell asleep as toya followed the chicken noodle soup recipe on the can to the best of his ability. when he’d presented it to akito, he enjoyed it, so toya considered his cooking a success.
he’d sat with akito as he’d had his soup, absentmindedly telling him about a mystery novel that he’d read earlier in the week. toya could tell that akito wasn’t paying much attention, but that could be attributed more to the sickness than anything.
when akito finished the soup, he began to talk about how cold he was, and so toya made it his mission to seek out as many blankets as he could to keep him warm. akito ended up on the couch looking very warm with all the blankets, and though he’d stopped shivering, he now seemed sad. toya asked why he was sad, and then akito replied with something that still echoed in his mind, even now.
“i’m warm, but… it just doesn’t feel complete without you, y’know? you complete me, toya. did you know that?”
akito sounded very tired when he’d spoken the words, and toya doubted he would remember them very clearly when he was more conscious and feeling better, but they’d really resonated with toya, more than akito would ever know.
he completed akito… he didn’t know if anyone had ever said that about him before.
toya knew how it felt to be completed by people. tsukasa and saki made him feel complete when he was younger. they’d provided him a safe place to go to when it felt like home was unbearable. an and kohane made him feel complete. they’d accepted him as a part of vivid bad squad, and as a unit, they’d been through highs and lows together. toya didn’t know what he’d do without them in his life. the various friends he’d made at school made him feel complete. they were always showing him things he’d never experienced before, and they drastically improved his life in ways they didn’t even know.
of course, toya treasured everyone in his life. but, when it came to making him feel complete, they all paled in comparison to akito.
toya wholeheartedly believed that he wouldn’t be who he was today if it wasn’t for akito.
akito, who had taken him in at his lowest and been nothing but kind and accepting, even though toya knew nothing about street music.
akito, who had always been by his side when things got tough at home, telling him that vivid street would always be a safe place to go.
akito, who always encouraged him that his feelings took priority, and it was okay to do what he wanted if conforming became unbearable.
akito, who could always read him like a book, and knew exactly how to comfort him if he was feeling down.
toya didn’t realize how much he was smiling until his face began to hurt, but he found himself unable to stop. akito brought toya so much joy that he couldn’t even begin put it into words. toya considered himself truly lucky to have someone like akito in his life.
the person in question stirred at toya’s side, blinking awake as he lifted his head up to look at his boyfriend.
“toya…? did i sleep through the movie?”
the movie…
it was only then that toya realized the movie wrapped up awhile ago. had he really been lost in thought for that long? the black tv screen staring back at him told him all he needed to know.
“not all of it. you were awake for the beginning, remember?”
akito took a minute to consider the possibility, and then he nodded.
“i remember the beginning… i think so, at least.”
toya couldn’t help the breath of amusement that left him. sick akito was always a bit fun to talk to, though he’d never admit this to akito himself.
“do you want me to play this movie again, or do you want to watch a different one?”
“i dunno…”
akito’s words trailed off as his head fell back against toya’s shoulder. toya smiled softly, running his fingers through akito’s hair.
“are you tired?”
akito nodded. there was a long beat of silence before akito spoke again, as if he couldn’t quite figure out the words he wanted to say.
“but i’ve been sleeping for so long… we could’ve done something for our six months, but i slept all day. ‘m sorry, toya.”
akito sounded the most upset toya had heard him all day, which was impressive, because he’d certainly been a bit pouty on the phone before toya agreed to come over. akito really had wanted to go on this date. it was sweet how much he cared about making the day special.
however, no amount of care would make akito’s exhaustion disappear in an instant. akito was doing the most that he could, and toya wanted to make sure he knew that.
“you don’t have to apologize. you’re still sick, akito. once you’re well rested, we can go on a proper date.”
“do you promise?”
the slight waver in his voice showed toya just how important this date was to akito, and it also showed him just how bad his partner felt about having to postpone it. toya answered akito’s vulnerable question with a confident answer, just to show how much he meant his words.
“i promise.”
toya felt akito relax at his side. it wouldn’t be long before his partner was out cold again, toya was sure of it. before akito fell asleep, toya leaned down, gently pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“good night, my love. sleep well.”
“mmm… g’night toya. love you.”
toya could hear the smile in akito’s voice, and his heart almost skipped a beat. he really did love the boy next to him, and there was no better opportunity than now to voice it.
“i love you too, akito.”
as akito closed his eyes again, toya put on another movie at a low volume to help him sleep, continuing to play with his hair. slowly but surely, akito drifted off into yet another peaceful sleep. toya couldn’t help but smile. even in his exhausted state, akito had a way of making toya feel valued in a way that no one else could, and toya wouldn’t trade that feeling for the world.
it was funny, toya thought. it was so cold outside, cold enough that akito had gotten sick. it was ironic, then, that his heart had never felt warmer.