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Riku stared at himself in the mirror. It's been a week since the datas decided to live rent free in their Gummiphones. “How could I face them? I keep avoiding Kairi, Sora, and just everyone.” Riku spoke to himself.
He felt his long hair, “I'm pathetic. I broke everyone’s trust. I don't understand how they can even stand to be around me."
The data who happened to be listening frowned sadly, “That's not true. I think you're cool and I'm sure the Sora you know thinks so too cause you're my—well our friend.” Sora jumped up and showed a picture from his own mind, “Remember the meteor shower? You promised to protect me and I was super happy cause you seemed so cool that day. You're always so strong.”
Riku smiled a bit at his words. “I'm surprised you remembered. I think Sora forgot.”
“I did forget about it once, but then something made me remember it.”
“You're terrible.” Riku smiled a bit playfully.
“Hey!” Sora pouted from behind the screen, “I have a lot going on. A lot happens, I just forget some.” Then Sora decided to change the subject, “I think Sora likes you to— I mean I love my Riku. He just doesn't realize it himself.”
“H-huh?” Riku stepped back, “Where did that come from?”
Sora put his hands behind his head and grinned, “Well you know, you seem so sad. I feel like you're constantly hurting. But hurt is good, it just means you're strong.”
Riku didn't know how to exactly respond to that. But he shook his head and said that delusional thought of his that always kept him up at night, “No, he likes Kairi.”
“Nuh uh!” Sora vocally disagreed, “I don't see her that way. I don't think your Sora does either. Maybe at one time, but I didn't understand it myself.”
“How is being with other me….?” Riku whispered a shy question.
He honestly wondered how it was for Sora and how it would be to be with Sora.
“It's fun!” Sora was jumping up and down in excitement as he got to tell Riku all of these things “It's like your current relationship with your Sora, but we're always together and holding hands—” He paused, “wait you already do that. Instead we hug and kiss more than we used to. Riku took me on a date once and recreated a meteor shower by coding it in! It was so fun!”
Riku smiled, but he was blushing lightly from the fact that what he always wanted was right in front of him and maybe it could happen. “I'm going to cut my hair.” Riku decided. He held up the scissors.
“What? But it's so long and pretty! I asked my Riku if he would grow out his hair and he refused!” Sora pouted and crossed his arms.
Riku laughed, “I want to show a new part of me— as if I've been reborn, so I'm cutting my hair.”
Snip.
“Oh, your hair looks amazing! It's like a new you! Sora would definitely love it!” Sora nodded, giving Riku advice. “Wait, I know! You should ask your Sora on a date!”
Riku froze and stared wide eyed at him. “What? No, I couldn't possibly!”
“I'm sure he would love it! You could give him a papou fruit!” Sora grinned, “Did you know they taste citrusy, a bit sweet, yet sour? I tried one with my Riku once. You should give him one!”
“What…” Riku paled, “No! Besides, he wants to share one with Kairi. They drew on our secret cave just that.”
Sora smiled patiently, “Because I thought I was supposed to. Listen, Your Sora definitely likes you. I was talking to my Riku the other day and he thinks he does.” He grins, “Now ask him on a date! Give him some paopu fruit or ice cream! I heard someone talking about Sea Salt flavored.”
Riku smiled, “Okay… I.. I'll ask him if he wants ice cream.”
“Clarify that it's a date too!” He yelled from his Gummiphone which was sitting on the dresser.
Riku stared at himself and just thought, Would he really like me?
A few steps.
Riku took a deep breath. Why did he have to mention it was a date though?!
He probably didn't feel the same and it was just some glitch with the data Sora!
Riku leaned against the papou fruit tree. Coincidentally, a papou dropped from the tree and into his hands.
Sora, he thought. This paopu fruit, let's share a paopu fruit.
Then afterwards we can get sea salt ice cream, your favorite. Salty yet sweet, remember?
He felt himself breathing hard. He hated this. He didn't want to change anything. He was content the way he was having unrequited feelings for his best friend.
“Riku?” A voice interrupted his not so hetero thoughts. He almost got started.
“Oh! Sora…” He shrugged that thought away. “You've been preparing for the exam right?”
Pretend to be hetero, pretend to be hetero.
“Well… uh I was! But I was talking to the digitized you! He's so fun to talk to and he also likes talking about his me like how—”
“Woah!” He interrupted his words, “That version was talking to you about the digital version of you?” He's going to find out…
“What did he say?”
“Riku, what are gay people?” Sora grinned innocently.
Riku wanted to hide desperately, he wasn't ready. But he didn't think he'd ever be.
Well Sora, the truth is that I'm actually gay. I like guys not girls. And I also like you.
No.. that wouldn't work.
Gay people are when two people like each other but instead of a girl and boy, they are two girls or two boys. I'm gay too by the way.
Just thinking about it made him too nervous. His heart rate went up and he felt panicked.
“W-why do you ask?” Was the only thing he managed to say.
How lame, he thought to himself. Of all things, he only said that.
“Well digital you said he and digital me is. Well he did say something about bi but by what? By you or by the islands or something? I didn't understand it at all!”
Riku couldn't help but smile at his oblivion and confusion so he let out a chuckle.
“Hey! You're laughing! Riku!” He crossed his arms, pouting.
“Being gay is… when umm so think of King Mickey and Queen Minnie for instance, they're not gay.”
Was he really using them as an example?
“And Sora, they would be known as straight because in their relationship they are both male and female.”
Sora furrowed his eyebrows, “Straight… Huh? Then what is gay?”
“I'm getting to that. Being gay is the opposite… uh when two females are in a relationship… or.. or uh two males I guess could work too… haha” Riku wasn't even looking at Sora when he said this. He rubbed his head.
“Wait..! That's possible!?” Sora exclaimed with bright wide eyes.
“So I guess he meant it literally a week ago when he said that. Wouldn't he be with a digital Kairi though?” Riku instantly regretted his words after saying that.
“Riku.” Sora made sure he was looking at him by shifting closer to his best friend. “He probably didn't see her that way. Because I don't really see Kairi like that.. or at least anymore.”
Riku blinked.
He didn't?
“You don't?” He asked in a quiet voice.
“Nope. In fact, I think I'm gay!” He grinned proudly, still unsure what it exactly refers to.
“Oh.. oka… WAIT what!?” His eyes went wide. “Sora?”
“That right… I'm… I don't think I just like girls.” Sora looked down at his hands when he said this.
There was fear in his eyes.
“And how does that make you feel?” Riku asked Sora in concern.
“I'm gay. But I'm a bit scared. What would everyone else think?” Sora looked up at Riku with sad eyes.
“Oh Sora..” He wrapped his arms around his best friend, “It's going to be okay. If they don't accept you, then they aren't your true friends”
Riku suddenly felt confident.
Sora would always accept me
He felt less nervous, but he's feeling scared and sad now.
He couldn't tell him now.
Riku kissed Sora on the forehead, “It’s going to be okay.” He rested his head on Sora's.
“You promise?” Sora asked, even if it was a bit childishly.
“I promise.” Riku automatically responded. They stayed like that for a while with both of them together, head on top of the other, and their eyes closed.
Riku walked back into his room.
“You didn't do it.” The data Sora stated.
“What?” Riku turned abruptly to him.
“Your expression says everything. What happened?”
“Sora told me he was scared. I couldn't just drop that on him. He said he was gay. You were right.” He looked out the window and sighed, “But I'll tell him soon. In a few months we will be taking our exams after all.”
The Sora made of data nodded, “But if you don't before the exam, MY Riku will tell him.”
He understood.