Chapter Text
“Oh come on, it’s a history test, not English! Why is all the text so small…” A certain blonde angrily mumbled, staring intently at the sheet of paper on his desk.
He couldn’t read it no matter how hard he tried.
To him, it was embarrassing having to put these on, but the star had no choice. With the way his eyesight was at the moment, reading long stories or a contract, for example, were feats in itself. One, he usually paid no attention to fine print. Two, he doesn’t waste time, even for a contract in a show.
He sighed, putting on the black, circular shaped rimmed glasses. Tsukasa actually thought he looked good, but the main problem was that he wasn’t used to wearing them just yet. The irritation on his nose and the occasional headaches were something he didn’t like, but had to deal with.
‘Thank Miku I brought them today, didn’t think I’d need them but here we are.’ He chuckled to himself, reading the first question and beginning the test. ‘Hah, I wonder how Rui will react to this.’
The alchemist was about halfway done before he started staring at his classmate.
‘Oya, interesting.’
The words were stuck in Rui’s mind, setting him off the social studies test he was taking. He looked at the star from afar, his face adorning a set of glasses the alchemist hadn’t seen before. His orange-yellow eyes were focusing on the piece of paper he had been given, reading the question carefully yet silently.
“Okay, uh, it’s not 3, deefinitely not 4… maybe 1? Ah, no, 2 seems better.. Eh, let’s go with that,” the star mumbled, not knowing that curious yellow eyes were watching him from a distance.
He looked nice, Rui thought, observing Tsukasa as he tried to understand the questions in context. Rui wondered why he wore them, maybe it was for style, maybe for focus, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He would have to ask him later about the importance of said glasses, as the alchemist remembered the test that was on his table. He pushed his own glasses back, avoiding them to fall off his face. ”Tsukasa-kun is working hard, I’ve got to do my best too.” He got back to work and soon finished the test, being able to get some much needed rest after.
The bell rang, allowing students to escape from the classroom to lunch. Rui took this opportunity to pull Tsukasa aside, and ask the burning question he had for him.
“So Tsukasa-kun, why do you wear glasses?” The alchemist asked him.
Startled that he noticed (but not at all surprised), Tsukasa blushed, “Please don’t tell anyone..”
He chuckled, “That doesn’t answer my question, but it was interesting to see you hard at work. Can’t tell Nene or Emu then? What a shame.”
“Ah yeah, I guess you’re right, I’m not gifted at being smart like you are. I’d rather not let them know because it is very embarrassing having to wear those, which makes everyone think I am a nerd, which I am not!”
“Oya, so you admit being a nerd?”
“RUI. I’m not a nerd.”
“We’re all theatre nerds at heart, embrace the nerd Tsukasa-kun~”
The star nervously laughed. “Sure.”
“But seriously though, if you don’t want to tell me why, that’s alright. Glasses or not, Tsukasa-kun is a world future star, right?~”
He smiled at that, “I guess. It’s just really hard for me to read small letters, so I have reading glasses. I have no idea why my sight is so bad though.”
“Fufu, I’m the same.”
Tsukasa’s jaw dropped, both a surprised and shocked undertone behind it. “Seriously? Why didn’t you say that?”
“Same reason, but also because it wasn’t important. If it helps, I think we have similar glasses.”
“Hah, that doesn’t help one bit, but thank you for your honesty.”
(With that, Rui found out Tsukasa never noticed the alchemist wearing his own glasses during that test. What a shame :’) )
The duo soon made it to the rooftop, before realizing they had gone together.
“Ah,” they both uttered when they did.
Rui nervously scratched the back of his head. “Since you’re already up here, why don’t we have lunch together?”
“Of course! My luncheon will be enjoyed with a majestic view of my surroundings!”
(Cue Rui panicking because he doesn’t know what he meant by that)
They ate in silence, enjoying their food. For once, Rui didn’t have any vegetables in his lunch, and was quite overjoyed by it, yet the silence they shared was a little uncomfortable. They had always talked in Wonder Stage or even SEKAI about their dreams, or just about anything that came to mind. This was semi-recent to him, yet Rui couldn’t articulate why.
The star turned towards him, looking confused by the sudden change in emotion. “Rui, are you okay?”
He snapped back into reality. “Ah, yeah, I was just..thinking.. is all.”
“About what? The preparations for the play are going fine! I’m almost done with the cape we need for it,” Tsukasa beamed excitedly. They may or may not be doing a Little Red Riding Hood play.
“No no, not that, but that’s nice to know! I was just thinking about the silence. It’s nice.”
“How so?”
“Uh..I guess we usually talk a lot, so whenever we’re just sitting here minding our own business, it’s different, but nice nonetheless.”
One..two..three…
“I didn’t mean to tell you to shut up~”
“TOTALLY didn’t read it like that.”
Rui chuckled at that. “You like to think too much into things Tsukasa-kun, not that it’s a bad thing.”
The star sighed, “I could argue you do the same.”
“Whatever you say~”
One..
Tsukasa started staring at Rui, the other oblivious.
Two..
He finally notices.
Three..
Now they’re staring at each other, the wind blowing softly in the background.
“Oh.”
~~ some apologizing later ~~
The alchemist yawns, stretching in the process.
Tsukasa chuckles, “Did you stay up late again?”
“Yeah, I was finishing up the props for the play. They’re almost done, but I seemed to have stayed up too late. If it’s alright, can I rest for a bit, at least until lunch is over?” Rui explained.
The star smiled, “Of course, but if you do not wake up I won’t hesitate to leave you here.”
He laughed at that, “If I can help it. Goodnight, Tsukasa-kun.”
“Goodnight, Rui. Sleep well.”
After some time, Tsukasa thought Rui would be uncomfortable laying against a metal gate; Rui had put his head on Tsukasa’s shoulder by this point, and the star was a mess, wondering what to do. They had about 30 minutes left in their break, so they were alright on time, but probably not enough time for a nap.
“You’re gonna kill me one day, you sly inventor.” He laughed dryly.
He decided to transfer the inventor to his lap, hoping he would feel more comfortable.
In their school, lunch break was longer. They had about an hour for lunch, compared to 30 minutes in other schools. After Nene got done with lunch, she would check up on Rui. The songstress knew that most of the time, Tsukasa ate lunch alone, so when she walked to the rooftop after she had finished, she was surprised to see the star with Rui outside, caressing his hair, looking with a careful gaze.
She smiled, but there were questions left unanswered that she needed answers to.
“First of all, when did you get here? Second of all, did Rui stay up again?”
He chuckled, “We were talking on the way out of class, and I ended up following him to the rooftop. He invited me to join him, so we ate lunch together. And yeah, he did stay up, he was working on props last night.”
“Ahh, that sounds about right. Emu stayed home for the same reason,” Nene replied.
“Emu probably kept him company and ended up staying awake until late, I think.”
“Yeah, she would. Do you mind if I join you guys, until lunch ends?” She asked him, who nodded, gesturing to his side. The songstress sat there, putting her head on his shoulder. She quickly picked up her phone and sent a text to Emu, who had been eating lunch at their apartment as well. She soon got a call from her, accepting it.
“NENE, WONDER- ohh, yeah sorry.” The dreamer was at a table in the kitchen when she called Nene, quickly forgetting what she had just told her about being quiet.
She chuckled,” It’s fine, just be quieter okay?” The songstress brought her phone further away from her, the camera being able to capture Tsukasa and Rui as she did.
“Ah, Emu! I hope we didn’t disturb you,” the star quickly apologized, as she comforted him. “It’s fine Kasa, I just got done washing dishes! I asked Nene how Rui was, and she asked me to call her! He looks so peaceful right now, that’s good~”
“Yeah, he wanted to take a nap, we still have time during lunch break so I’ve been letting him rest,” Tsukasa replied. “How are you doing over there?”
“I’m doing okay! I slept in for a while so I feel SUPER energized!~” Emu continued, “but man-, you guys look peaceful too! I wish I could go there and join you, I feel left out of this..” she moped a bit, to which Tsukasa and Nene chuckled.
“We’ll try to make up for it when we come home, don’t worry. We’ll see you later, Emu!”
“Okay! See you later guys!” Emu goes to press the end call button, but is interrupted by a whisper on the other line, in shock when she heard it completely.
“Tsukasa, Nene, Emu..I love you all.”
Of course they knew Rui was asleep. They also knew that they all loved each other so. But, to be acknowledged by a person who was asleep in front of them.. Was way too adorable in their eyes. Tsukasa practically forced himself not to squeal in that moment.
The three of them smiled, “We love you too, Rui.”
The dreamer grinned, “NOW I’m going for real!” she exclaimed as she hung up the call, leaving the remaining trio on the roof.
The songstress was fiddling around with the small ponytail Rui had tied that morning, combing through his hair like the star had done previously. On her face was a serene smile, one that she rarely wore. Her head was still on Tsukasa’s shoulder, comfortable in the moment she was in. Nene soon felt a small peck on her forehead, a peck she presumed Tsukasa had done. She gave him a confused look. “What? Can’t I give my girlfriend a kiss?” he remarked, looking at her confused as well.
“I just wasn’t expecting it, dummy,” was the only response.
Silence came again. Nene soon fell asleep, feeling way too content from the slow breathing and faint wind that hung in the air. Tsukasa wanted to fall asleep too, but he knew he couldn’t. School surely wouldn’t stop for their sakes.
He admired them, who were peacefully drifting off into a different dimension. He suddenly felt his eyes get heavy, but before he could fall asleep… the bell rung.
They had five minutes to get to class.
Tsukasa woke Nene first, who woke easily, but the problem they had was Rui. Their solution? A thermos! It was a thermos Rui had brought with hot water inside. Being a cold human being all the time, the solution was to bring something warm to wake him up. They put it on his neck, which woke him up shortly after.
R: “Ow, that was hot.”
T + N: “That was lukewarm..”
First they headed to Nene’s classroom, the two third-years waving her goodbye as they headed upstairs. Before they entered the classroom however, the alchemist stopped them.
“What’s wrong, Rui?”
He opened his school bag and fished out a glasses case, specifically Rui’s own glasses. He opened the case, shocking the star. “Tsukasa, put yours on as well.”
“What?!”
“Come on, this is embarrassing for me too..”
Tsukasa relented, finding his own glasses case. “Remind me why we’re wearing these?”
The alchemist’s only response was, “To look educated!”
He shot Rui a look. “I’m doing this for your sake, got it?” He opened the case, to which Rui grabbed it and swapped it with his. The alchemist put the black glasses on Tsukasa’s face, Tsukasa blushing a bit in the process.
“That..was uncalled for,” was the only thing he could say, the blonde was a stuttering mess.
“Your turn, Tsukasa-kun~” Rui playfully replied, Tsukasa trying (key word: trying) not to combust. He did the same thing with Rui, putting on the alchemist’s glasses on his face. “How do I look?”
“Good. How about me?” he replied.
R: “Amazing as always, my star~.”
T: “Rui, please, stop. Seriously where is this coming from?!”
R: “I just wanted to make you feel comfortable about wearing glasses by making myself wear my own glasses. Simple as that~”
T: “Thanks Rui, but you REALLY didn’t have to.”
R: “Oh I did. Let’s go!”
Hand in hand, they walked into the classroom.