Work Text:
“Gah!” Tsukasa suddenly reaches for his over the shoulder bag. He opens it and scans through it. Rui tilts his head.
“I knew something was off! I forgot my textbook in the last class!”
“Ah.” Rui's hand goes up to his chin, smiling. “Do you need to go back and get it?”
Tsukasa sighs heavily. They've already gotten close to leaving school grounds, and he doesn't feel like going back in. Alas, he has to. “Yes… I have to do a few pages for homework, I need it.”
Rui chuckles lightly. “Fufu, then let's run back and grab it. The doors should all be unlocked, classes are over but the clubs are still going on.”
“You're right.” Tsukasa smiles, and he cheers himself up again. “It'll be a quick run back! Not a big deal in the slightest!”
He turns on his heel, closing his bag back up as he starts walking. Rui keeps pace with him, placing his hands back into his pockets. “What floor are we going to?”
“Second. It's right at the end of the hallway, near the vending machines.”
Rui looks up at the sky, looking into his memory. “Ah, yes I do remember. Ok, I know where we're going.” He nods.
Tsukasa is trying to rush at least a little bit, he wants to get out of school and start walking home already, but he can't in good conscience leave without the textbook he needs for his homework. Rui doesn't even have this class with him, so he wouldn't have the book. Even though, if he did, they'd have the same work to do, so he couldn't borrow it.
Actually, Tsukasa wouldn't really mind a group session where they share a book… and they sit close under Tsukasa's kotatsu and they both reach to turn the page at the same time, and bump shoulders…
Uh, anyway. Tsukasa visibly shakes it off.
Rui doesn't need to walk as hurriedly as him, with his long legs, but he tends to look very casual while walking, either way. His legs are too long for jogging to exist, he either walks or he runs.
Tsukasa doesn't want to stop moving, so he just checks over his shoulder to make sure Rui is behind him, then makes his way up the stairs. If he stops moving, he'll get tired, then his legs will start to hurt, and then he won't want to do it anymore. But he's determined to right this wrong and get back out of school quickly.
He's done for the day, and he doesn't want to spend more time than he needs to in these halls!
Especially, uh, alone with Rui, considering that little thought experiment he had earlier. That's not important right now.
Rui feels the need to continue their conversation from earlier. “So, how are your lines going? Get the hang of it yet?”
Tsukasa noticeably relaxes his shoulders now that they're back to a normal conversation. “Ah, yes! I did!” he turns his body halfway, not so much that he can't see where he's going, but in the way that he can still see Rui and look at him as he speaks. “I can't get a hold of the monologue just yet, but that's typical growing pains! I'll get it with enough practice!”
“Fufu, that's good.” Rui nods, and walks further upward to be closer to Tsukasa's side, that way he doesn't have to turn and walk so awkwardly.
“How are costumes coming?”
“They're going pretty well. Once we get outside again, I'll show you the designs I workshopped.” He gestures to his bag. “I've made the purchase for some special patterned fabric, and I'm going to stop by the store after school next week.” Rui's hit by an idea at that moment. “Ah, would you like to come with?”
Tsukasa nods once, enthusiastically. “Of course! I'd love to see the progress you're making and be able to see your vision closer up!”
Rui smiles. He looks forward. They're headed towards what he can see as a dead end, so they must be close.
“Have you gone to see that play yet?” Rui thinks for a minute, trying to remember the name of it. Tsukasa had mentioned it once, and Rui wants to prove to him that he was listening.
“Oh, not yet!” Tsukasa doesn't give him the chance to come up with it. “But I've bought my tickets! It's late night this Saturday, I'm excited for it!”
Tsukasa turns his head back away from Rui and looks down the hall, of which they're rapidly approaching the end of. There's only one class they haven't passed yet, and Rui assumed that was the right one.
“Ah!” Tsukasa suddenly stops, and Rui stutters to a stop next to him, when he realizes they're stopping. It takes him a second to figure out what's going on, but they must've missed the room, and now Tsukasa is trying to get around him and turn around and move forward and not hit Rui all at the same time. Rui tries to lean out of his way, but they both go the same direction, so Rui has to decide on the fly whether or not he's going to just stop and let Tsukasa walk next to him, or if he's going to try and lean out of his way again.
It confuses his brain, and evidently it confuses Tsukasa too. He pauses just like Rui does, a little too close in each other's personal space, both having decided to stop and let the other go around. Then Tsukasa goes to turn at Rui's left, and Rui tries to move at Tsukasa's right to get out of his way, but it's the wrong way. When his brain tells his legs to do something, it takes them a minute to do it, and when they finally get the memo, he ends up just getting tangled in Tsukasa's legs and accidentally stepping on his foot.
He loses his balance as Tsukasa pulls his foot away, and he makes the fatal mistake of moving his opposite foot up before he moves the one trapping Tsukasa's, and before he knows it, he's totally off balance and about to fall.
It takes him maybe a split second to realize he's falling and that he can't do anything to stop it, but it takes his face slamming against Tsukasa's for him to realize that he's taking Tsukasa down with him.
He can't stumble forward with Tsukasa in front of him, so he is forced to accept the fact that they're falling, and, as Tsukasa shouts in surprise, Rui reaches his left hand out and holds the back of Tsukasa's head.
They both had the same idea.
It all happens in just a few seconds.
They hit the ground around at the same time, and even though tsukasa landed on his bottom, he caught his upper body with his elbows, and it looked painful. Just as painful as Rui landing on his knees, on either side of Tsukasa's legs, and on his wrist.
He's still holding Tsukasa's head.
They'd both had the same thought: don't let Tsukasa's head hit the floor. Rui had used his arm, forcing him into very close quarters with Tsukasa already, but it doesn't help that Tsukasa had the same thought, and caught himself on his arms.
They land and settle inches away from each other, and Rui has to kneel there processing what's happening for a moment. It all happened so fast, and with this outcome, he barely remembers how they even got here.
Tsukasa is less confused, because he wasn't the one who fell, he just got taken down. His face gets so hot, he knows he's blushing from ear to ear, with his close Rui is to him right now. He can feel his breathing, hot against his face, and see his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath and regains his composure. He can see the tiny little jittery movements Rui's eyes are making, struggling to find a comfortable place to land.
Tsukasa can't help but breathe sort of heavily. Rui's hand cradles the back of his head, and he hasn't let go. Tsukasa swallows thickly.
What is going on right now? Where did this come from!?
His mind moves at a mile a minute, trying to piece together all the right information and make a mostly correct inference on what he's supposed to do
There's no way something like this at a time like this was just a coincidence, right?! And they're just sitting there, totally still, and silent, and staring! Instead of trying to get up! Or even saying anything at all! Should he try to say something and break the silence?
He doesn't know what to say except for to apologize, but he wasn't the one who fell! Sure he could've communicated better, but he wasn't really imagining this to be the outcome!
This had to be on purpose somehow! A ploy! Rui knew they would be alone down here, he came in with me instead of waiting outside, he's the one who fell on top of me! Is this a big thought out thing?! I never thought I would be anywhere close to being in this situation!
But why would he do any of this!?
…
Does he want to kiss me??
Rui still doesn't say anything. He finally lands on looking at Tsukasa's nose, red for one more reason other than flush, as a tiny bit of a blood droplet sits at the end of his nostril. Rui's heart clenches, but he can't do anything about it. If he picks his hand up, he'll fall, and he's not sure how much of Tsukasa's weight he's holding with his other hand, his mind is too busy short circuiting to make that distinction.
Was this on purpose somehow? Did Tsukasa think this out? Not his nosebleed of course, and maybe not even the fall, just, this closeness?? The closeness so close he can hear Tsukasa's breathing, so close he can see his belly move up and down as he also breathes through trying to process the situation.
Did he forget something on purpose, did he forget something at all? Was he trying to get me alone with him? Did he somehow predict this all to get close? But why? What would he…
Does he want to kiss me?
Rui feels like the best thing for him to do is just go for it. This closeness is tantalizing and the position is a little less than platonic, and he wonders if the sharp turn and confusion was really all a thought out act by Tsukasa to get them in this place.
All he can hear is the sound of the two of them breathing.
The coast must be clear.
He inches towards Tsukasa's face, and observes his eyes open wide immediately. He backpedals, starting to speak, so that he has an escape route. “S-sorry. I wasn't really- paying attention..” he can't remember the last time he was so not sure in his tone, or so weak with his words. He's so close he can see the way Tsukasa's upper lip trembles as he works up a response.
He moves closer too.
“N-no, it's alright…” if Rui is moving closer, then he will too – but is this really happening, and should he really let it happen!!? Not that he's thought about this or anything, but it feels like this isn't how this sort of thing should be done!
Going off of romance manga isn't a good way to live your life, which is exactly why he never expected to be in this situation! Ever!
Rui moves closer again, by the slightest bit, testing the waters. Tsukasa leans forward, tilting his head up towards Rui's. They're so close, his heart is pounding.
Rui moves too much closer for Tsukasa to still feel comfortable with his eyes open. He doesn't mean to shut them as tight as he does, but once he's free from the utter embarrassment of having to look up at Rui in such a way, he doesn't really mind how tightly closed they are.
He feels like he's both embarrassed and feeling second hand embarrassment at the same time. He didn't know you could do that. He doesn't see Rui inch closer to him anymore, but it doesn't matter.
He closes the gap.
Tsukasa takes a big breath in through his nose as their lips meet. He's a little bit surprised at how much it makes him feel, both physical sensation wise and internally. He kisses him back, putting a bit of effort behind how he presses and molds his lips to Rui's.
He's never kissed anyone before, though, so he doesn't know what he was expecting. Or what he's supposed to be doing. He doesn't know what it's supposed to feel like, if he's overreacting or underreacting.
... He wonders if Rui has kissed anyone before him, either...
But either way, he shifts his weight onto one side and hesitantly brings one hand up, tentatively moving to hold Rui's cheek. He can't see, so he just guesses, and flinches away when he initially touches Rui's skin, but gets comfortable holding him quickly.
Aside from the butterflies fluttering in his stomach and the hot, nervous pit in his gut, and all the engines in his brain firing on all cylinders to keep up…
It feels right.
Rui is still holding his head still. He tightens just the tiniest bit, dragging his fingers against Tsukasa's scalp, and it gets him to relax, even if he can feel his fingers trembling, if only for a moment.
Rui pulls away, and his eyes flutter open. Tsukasa had hoped he'd closed them. Rui looks at him with wide eyes, and Tsukasa has trouble opening his eyes all the way, preferring to catch his breath lazily. All of his attention is zeroed in on Rui, processing, feeling, really letting the spontaneous events sink in.
Then,
“Oooh,”
That teasing, childish ‘x and y sitting in a tree!’ sort of tone that sends an actual shiver down Tsukasa's spine.
“My bad!” and a mischievous little giggle.
Rui whips his head around, and Tsukasa looks over Rui's shoulder behind him.
An closes the classroom door behind her, flashing a cheeky grin at them.
Neither of the boys had heard her open it, or had heard her in general. How did she pull that off--
How long has she been standing there?
“Sh- Shi- Shiraishi!” Tsukasa exclaims, finding it hard to do anything else. He snaps the back of his hand away from Rui's face and up to hide his mouth, as if that'll do anything, as he tries to think of an excuse. “Wait! It's not what it looks like!” he sputters.
“Nah, I see~! Sorry for interrupting you! Just don't stay past when the clubs close!” as she starts to walk backwards and towards the stairs, she points at the two of them and winks. “You both should know when your time's up!”
“Shiraishi, this is a misunderstanding!” Tsukasa sits up a little bit, but he's far too late. An is gone, turned on her heel and ran off giggling like, well, like a schoolgirl.
His cheeks get a burning, embarrassed red again.
Rui turns back to look at him after An turns the corner and disappears from view. He can hear her footsteps echoing for another moment in the stairwell. Tsukasa's face gets even hotter now that Rui's eyes are on him again. His brows sort of pull together.
Why did that just happen?
Why did he do that?
“That… that was…” Rui starts, while still in the process of turning his head. “U-unlucky.” he finishes, clearly referring to An showing up, and not anything else Tsukasa was scared he may have been referring to when he started this sentence.
It's awkward. It's so awkward.
He has to say something.
“R-right. Um.” he feels too flustered to speak, he can barely figure out what he wants to say, nevermind actually form the words coherently.
He doesn't think he can comprehend this. And- and is this what's best for the troupe? Does he have the right to decide? He doesn't know what this means for the two of them, but he knows either way it probably won't be good for the Wonder Stage…
You could cut the tension in this room with a butter knife right now.
“We.. Rui, can we.. forget about this..?” he stammers. “A-and, and just go home..?” He feels a bit cruel for saying it, but it's the only way to save his ego now. He thinks he'll die if anything else embarrassing happens today. Or even this week. This is all so much and he can't deal with it. He can't deal with it still on the ground, surely.
“Y-yeah, of course.” Rui fully, finally, lets go of his head and gets up on his knees. He kneels straight up for a minute, but then puts one foot forward and stands. He holds his hand out, and Tsukasa puts one foot on Rui's to help him get the leverage he needs to stand as he grabs onto his wrist.
Tsukasa pulls himself up, then stands there with rigid shoulders. He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know what he can say.
“I… I still.. need to get my books.”
Rui blinks, and perks up like he was just brought back to earth. “R-right. Um. I'm… gonna..” he turns his head, looking down the hallway. Then he glances back at Tsukasa, who can't take the pressure.
He makes a break for his correct classroom door, nearly slams into the door before he realizes it's open, snatches up the book he forgot, then takes off down the stairs.
Rui watches him go as he raises up his hand and touches the back of his neck. He swallows.
His lips still tingle lightly, just with Tsukasa's memory.
Rui doesn't think he'll be able to forget about it. Not now, not ever. He doesn't even know how well he'll be able to.
Just in the second he hadn't seen Tsukasa, when he walked out the door again, all Rui could imagine was his lips on his own.
It was…. so incredible…
What's he supposed to do about this, and how does he even start to interpret Tsukasa's reaction?
Well, Rui hasn't ever not been one to totally ignore his feelings and pretend like the things bothering him aren't there.
Maybe he can just pretend to forget about it, pretend that it didn't happen, and just spend the rest of his days imagining kissing tsukasa again whenever he sees him.
…
And he's sure that nothing will go wrong as a result of An catching them.
This is a foolproof plan.
Pushing things under the rug hasn't ever failed anyone before, right?
It'll be fine. He's sure.
It'll be fine…
…
It'll be fine.