Chapter Text
‘Happy New Year!’
The clock finally struck midnight, signalling fireworks to erupt from a far distance. At the same moment, the Kyan family had tackled Langa down with a huge group hug. Langa choked from the shock as he tried to remain in his stance. When the surprise factor washed away shortly after, he reciprocated the warm embrace.
They were all found at the backyard together with a small preparation of food sprawled on a table. The hug then broke into smaller exchanges.
Even in such a homey atmosphere, Langa couldn’t help but feel a small part of himself a bit down because of his mom’s absence. Unfortunately, she had to take night duty.
‘I know that look. I said I’m fine, Langa!’ his mother complained from the phone that laid forgotten from one hand.
Langa jumped. He forgot he was in face time with her, given that he was too busy watching the others idle around each other, occasionally picking assortments of food. Without realising, he probably spaced out during his watch.
They traded greetings before ending the call for Nanako to continue her work.
Before he fully shoved his phone to his pocket, he felt a buzz sound. He checked to find out his mom sent him one message.
:Enjoy yourself, alright?
:Yes, mom.
Before Langa was even able to put his phone back again, he was met by a sudden pull by Reki from his hand, encouraging him to join the small celebration.
Langa squeezed it tight, determined to never let go.
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Hours had already passed by. If it weren’t for the twins feeling drowsy they would’ve continued playing game after game till sunrise.
Reki and Langa gave the toddlers a goodbye as they hopelessly resisted Masae’s grip from dragging them back to bed with a yawning Koyomi tailing behind them.
As the backdoor slid to a close, Reki lifted his gaze to the sky where a faint blue tint covered the sky.
“Let’s watch the sunrise at the rooftop, Langa.”
“Mhm.”
He let Reki take the lead again. Both snatched some leftover sodas as they made their way to the ladder that reached over the canopy.
After helping each other up, they perched gingerly on the red tiles.
The redhead took a swig and exhaled with content. “Man, that hits the spot.”
Langa followed a drink from his own bottle and sighed, letting the refreshment cool him down.
The town slept under the awakening sky with its soothing silence lingering between dimly lit houses and buildings. White noises of nature were carried by the cold breeze, letting the crickets chirps and the rustling leaves a chance to be heard by the two skaters.
As Reki continued to acknowledge each bit of his surroundings, Langa’s skateboard seemed to have caught his eyes as a memory sparked in his mind.
“Remember when you taped your feet to the skateboard on your first beef?” Reki recalled, a smug look forming in his face. He could see Langa’s ears turn as red as his cheeks.
“Oh, shut up.” A fist was jokingly bumped to Reki’s arm.
Langa rolled his eyes as Reki kept on chuckling from the memory.
“Well, atleast I didn’t got hit by a car and was brought to a love hotel,” he defended, giving Reki a side stare who then choked from his own laugh upon hearing that.
As the sky continued to saturate, both skaters kept on recounting events from the past year with light comments and arguments inbetween.
The sun had already risen from the horizon when their last light quarrel finally died down. Langa stood up with Reki on gaurd behind him as he tried to balance himself from the uneven surface.
Langa stole one deep breath of the warm air that hugged his skin. “Last year was great.”
Although what’s only infront of him was the back of his figure, Reki could hear his beam from the trace of his voice.
Langa’s head then turned to face his best friend, his wide grin confirming. “Because of you, Reki.”
Reki stayed enamored from his statement. His mouth gaped half open and his hazel eyes did not break contact from Langa’s.
Now, Langa had fully turned towards Reki, stature upright and expression flustered by stern. “That’s why I’m gonna make it up to you this year. This year, I’m gonna be more honest with you.”
Reki snorted, confusion still evident. “Pfft. So you weren’t completely honest with me before?”
“You could say that,” he answered with a timid smile.
Reki leaned his back with a sigh, “You are not making any sense.”
“Let’s make—” Langa took a couple steps closer until he slipped on the last. Reki pulled him tight in fast response making Langa tumble above him to prevent him from falling from the rooftop.
“A promise,” Langa gasped. His face was inches closer to the other who was further taken aback.
“Another one?”
“Yeah. I mean if you want—”
Reki whipped up his hand between them, initiating a pinky promise. “If it means skating infinitely with you, I promise to be completely honest with you from now on,” Reki declared with eyes closed. Despite his playful smirk, his tone was genuine.
He gave Langa a raised brow as he hesitated. After that short moment, he sighed in defeat and wrapped his pinky to Reki’s while mimicking the same words, slightly gibberish from the fast talking.
“Take it seriously, man! You’re the one who started this,” Reki pointed out with a frown. “Say it again! But slowly and seriously.”
“I am serious,” Langa argued but Reki didn’t buy it.
That left him no choice but to repeat his words once more. “I, Hasegawa Langa, promise to be completely honest if it means skating infinitely.”
“That’s even worse than last time!” Reki mocked.
“I’m being serious!”
“I know. I know. Jeez, don’t get too worked up,” Reki waved off with a snicker. He gave an audible exhale and gave Langa an content smile.
They gave the hand promise one last assuring squeeze and let go.
Without any heads up, he instantly pulled Langa close enough to fling his arms to him making both of them topple. Langa slipped his hands under Reki’s head before they hit the tiles.
“Okay, that actually hurt,” Reki groaned as his back was still hit.
“That was dangerous, Reki,” Langa scolded.
“That’s rich coming from you,” he scoffed. Not waiting for Langa’s response, he tugged him to another aggressive hug.