Work Text:
“Have you seen Toya anywhere today? No? Okay… thanks anyway.”
Akito Shinonome huffed, unable to find his partner anywhere— Toya Aoyagi almost never skips or misses school.
At first at the start of the day, he had shrugged it off and used work to subdue his worries from overwhelming him, but the past few hours have been cruel because Akito doesn't know where in the world he went. Even worse, today was a busy day— he had after school duties.
He saw a familiar green-haired girl carrying a book. Akito rushed over to her. “Ah… Kusanagi?”
She was startled, almost dropping her books. “Sh-Shinonome.” Nene managed.
“Sorry for just scaring you… have you seem Toya anywhere today?”
Nene tightened the grip around her books, “Aoyagi?… No, I haven’t seen him around anywhere. I’m sorry.”
“Okay…” Akito muttered, starting to walk away. “Thanks, though.”
“Yeah…”
Damn it, where is he?
It was nearing the end of the day, so once it ends he could call him while going to his after school duties.
Akito didn’t want to assume, but he was a little afraid Toya’s father had done something— either way, Toya wasn’t here, which made Akito worried. Worried enough to ask people he doesn’t usually talk to where Toya went. He grumbled.
The day soon ended, and Akito walked out, immediately reaching for his phone and dialing Toya’s number…
“Toya?”
“Akito…” A familiar but strained voice came through. Akito shoved a hand into his pocket while the other hand held his phone up to his ear.
“Where have you been? I’ve been worried.”
Toya was silent. “I… I missed school today.”
Akito glanced around. “Don’t tell me…”
“No. Not at all, It’s just…”
“I got sick.”
…
“L—look, I’ll be alright Akito—“
“What do you mean you’re sick!?” Akito Shinonome yelled into the phone worriedly. “Is your father getting you meds? Food?”
Toya Aoyagi laid his head back as he sneezed, feeling his body shiver feverishly. With a hoarse voice, he murmured, “I mean… he’s out right now, but I can handle this myself, Akito.”
“How’d you even get sick?” Akito asked.
Toya flushed. “I don’t know, but trust me Akito, I can—“
“Hold on, I have things to do.” Akito interrupted. “After school duties…”
Toya stopped. “Ah.. right. I’ll see you.”
“Drink a lot of water, Toya.”
“Yes…”
Akito stopped the call and groaned— seriously, Toya got sick? He didn’t blame Toya, but now he was worried that Toya had caught a cold. Now they wouldn’t be able to go anywhere and he probably couldn’t even kiss him.
He sighed deeply, entering the library.
Maybe if he could just get these done quickly…
Akito rushed himself to the convenience store, eager and willing to buy a few of Toya’s favorite drinks and food.
He bought a black coffee along with some warm chocolate chip cookies, and a few bottles of water just in case Toya needed it. Hm… would he need some cough drops and this syrup medicine?
Akito bought it just in case. He called Toya again as he ran with the plastic bag full of supplies and goods.
“Akito? Where are you? It sounds loud…”
“Is your father back yet?” Akito asked, slightly out of breath as he kept running quickly. The plastic bag was noisy in the wind.
“No…” Toya sniffled as he grabbed another tissue from his counter.
Akito’s eyebrows furrowed. “How are— how are you feeling?”
“Cold and hot at the same time.” Toya responded.
“…I’ll be right there.”
“What? Akito? You—“
Akito put his phone back into his pocket as he saw Toya’s house. He checked the plastic bag to make sure he didn’t drop anything while bolting here. “Toya!” Akito called as he knocked.
He heard some shuffling and the door swung open. “Akito—?”
Go back to your bed, I’ll help you.” Akito said, trying to regain his strength as he had just ran. Toya was shocked.
“You… ran all the way here?” He asked, sneezing. Akito winced as they got to his bed and he carefully laid Toya on it. “What’s in the bag?”
“Coffee, cookies, water, and medicine.” Akito responded, taking it all out and plastering it all around Toya’s nighstand. “Here, drink some water.”
Toya blushed. “You bought this all for me?”
Akito glanced at him. “Well yeah… obviously! You’re sick, Toya.”
Toya took a sip of water, his head leaning back. “…Thanks, Akito.” He sneezed again and he shivered. “It’s… so cold but hot…” He murmured. Akito held his hand.
“I don’t know what I could do to help, but…” Akito made him drink some medicine and treated him to some cookies. “I hope this helps you feel at least a little better Toya.”
Toya sighed, sniffling as he drank some coffee, “I already felt better when I saw you, Akito.”
Akito reddened. “You and your little romantic lines…” He mumbled, looking down. Toya smiled. “Can I feel your forehead for your temperature?”
After pressing his hand against Toya’s forehead, he knew Toya was right— he was too warm, and just by the looks of it Toya looked weak and tired. “Dude, you gotta rest.”
“That applies for you, too.” Toya muttered in a daze. He ate another cookie. Akito handed him a tissue.
“Yeah, yeah…”
…
“Thank you, Akito. For doing all of these things to make me feel better.” Toya softly said. “All of this was great.”
“You need to get better, anyway. We won’t be able to practice…” Akito looked away. His face felt warm like the current state of Toya. “Go sleep. I’ll help out here, and it doesn’t look like your father is coming home any time soon.”
“I love you so much, Akito…” Toya mumbled.
Akito smiled.
And this time, it was truly genuine.
“I love you too, Toya.” Akito kissed his forehead, face inches away from each other. “Please don’t get sick like this again. I was worried.”
“I’ll be fine.” Toya reassured him, and his eyes fluttered closed.
Akito looked around. What should he do?
He thought back to the many times Toya had won bags and bags of plushies from claw machines, and he would always say:
“I think my father would get upset if I bring them home. So I give them to others, like you and Ena.”
Akito rolled his eyes when he remembered Ena— she had gotten so much plushies from Toya her bedroom wasn’t even a bedroom anymore— it was basically a showcase room full of bunnies, bears, and stuffed cats. Akito had a collection as well, but he kept it in an open drawer.
His eyes caught something strangely bright behind one of the pillows, and he tilted his head in curiousity before taking it out—
Akito smiled.
Ah. It was the orange bear that he had won. Toya had given him a blue bear as well.
So it represents us.
As he watched Toya’s chest rise up and down softly, he put the bear near Toya’s face and tucked him in. “This is cute.” Akito mumbled.
He should just get comfortable. Akito sipped on a water bottle while humming, looking at Toya.
He wondered how he’d ever deserved him.
Toya woke up groggily.
He was feeling slightly better. He tried to adjust his sleeping position, but hit something at the bottom—
“Oh… right, you’re here, Akito.” Toya yawned. Akito tilted his head.
“You feelin’ better?” He asked. Toya nodded, but it was uncertain.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go to school tomorrow. I feel weak with this cold, and I’m afraid it might hold me back.” Toya admitted. Akito nodded like it was no big deal, but in reality he was now dreading school tomorrow since Toya wasn’t going to be there. Akito handed him a water bottle that was almost finished.
“I want to stay with you more…” Akito muttered. Toya smiled as he sipped on the drink.
“No worries, Akito. I’ll be alright.” Toya tried to breathe with his stuffy nose.
“That sucks.” Akito pointed out. “Being sick is the worst. Don’t push yourself to come to our practices. And don’t push yourself to argue back with your father. Take it easy.”
“Me and my father are trying to understand each other, but it’s… difficult.” Toya replied quietly. “He may be strict and cold, but he is still my father. I can’t hate him.”
“It’s hard, right?” Akito shrugged. “But you’re right. He’s your father. You can’t be mad.”
Toya set down his water bottle and hugged the orange bear. “You took this out of the pillow?”
Akito flushed. “It was cute.”
Toya laughed, then sneezed.
“It’s gonna be a long day for you…”
“I know… Are you gonna stay longer?”
Akito looked to the door in wonder. “Probably. I do have to get home soon or Ena will scold me.” Akito said hopelessly. Toya scratched the bear's head.
“Even if you guys are sometimes upset at each other, you both still care. That’s nice.”
Akito reddened. “Well, yeah… she’s my sister.”
Toya sighed, tired eyes trailing to Akito, “It’s like me and my father.”
Akito stared at him.
“I guess so.”
“Remember, don’t push yourself!” Akito whispered, his tone dead serious. Toya leaned himself against the wall weakly.
“I won’t, Akito.” He sighed. Akito gave him a thumbs up. “I’ll pay you back by paying for pancakes once we go out again.”
“Nah. It’s fine.”
“I’m willing to,” Toya smiled. “It’s for you, anyway. If you buy all these things for me, paying for breakfast won’t be a bad thing at all.”
“Thanks, Toya.” Akito kissed him on the forehead. “I made Ena delete the pictures, by the way.”
Toya laughed. “I love you.”
Akito smiled,
“I love you too, and get well soon, you idiot…”