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“Ah, Toya-kun? Is that you?”
Toya’s hair swished as his neck snapped around, frantic, searching for the sound of the voice. Rui chuckled to himself, his hand covering his sly smile. He wondered how the younger man got around by himself. “Over here, Toya-kun.”
Toya’s eyes brightened at the sight of his elder. He made his way across the sidewalk, the sun beating down on his back. Rui’s smile faded as he approached into his smile lines.
“Ah, Kamishiro-san. Is everything alright?” Toya tilted his head to the side, his eyes wide, shining like a lost puppy’s in the streetlight. Rui clicked his tongue, sighing. His previously prepared words fell off his tongue and onto the sidewalk, splattering like ice cream. Rui closed his mouth and swallowed, biting his lip between his teeth. He rubbed his arm awkwardly.
Technically, Toya owed him a favor. And technically, Rui didn’t know what to say. How do you ask your underclassmen about their best friend, one that you may potentially have a crush on? Scratch that—Rui didn’t have a crush. Rui didn’t get crushes. It was impossible. So, no, he was merely intrigued, a little fascinated with Akito. That’s all.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“Kamishiro-san?”
Rui cleared his throat. “Ah, sorry. I must’ve gotten lost in thought. Speaking of that—your friend, Shinonome-kun. I was thinking and, ah—just—what type of candy does he like?”
Toya furrowed his eyebrows together, perplexed. He blinked away his confusion, replacing his expression with his normal dull, polite one. “Akito’s favorite candy?”
“Precisely.”
Toya made a face similar to that of disgust, his nose pulled to his brow as it twitched. “Uh, I can text him. One second, please.”
As Toya pulled out his phone, Rui awkwardly folded his arms, placing them overtop each other, sliding his hands underneath his armpits. He cleared his throat again, for the nth time. “Can we,” Rui started, but his voice trailed off as Toya continued to type. Another cough. “Can we, uh, count this as your favor to me?”
“Hm? What? Oh, sure, yeah,” Toya answered absently, looking up briefly. Students passed by every few minutes, parting around the two boys in the center of the pavement. Toya slid his phone into his back pocket with a shrug, his piercing eyes training back onto Rui. The elder knew there was no malice behind his sharp grey irises. “If that’s all you want.”
Rui shrugged as well, sticking out his lower lip into a pout as if to say, ‘ Meh .’ Toya seemed to understand the gesture.
“Do you want me to just text you his answer?” Toya sighed. “He probably won’t get back to me just yet, so...”
Rui chuckled. “That’d be perfect. Thank you, Toya-kun.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Toya shrugged again. He looked around awkwardly, his lips pursed. He sucked on his bottom lip audibly, a popping sound coming through his teeth. There was a long moment of silence where Rui stood, staring at Toya, who stared back, his bottom lip bursting between his canines. “Can I—? Can I, uh, ask why?”
Rui tilted his head to the side. “Hm?” he hummed. “What do you mean?”
Toya cringed. He sighed, pinching his nose bridge, and shifted from one foot to the other.
“I—” Toya started, but sighed again, cutting himself off. He scrunched his face, which Rui could only assume was from an internal bout of frustration, the words not coming, just like what happened to Rui moments before. Rui bit back his laughter. Toya was much more expressive—had a much more difficult time masking his emotions. Rui couldn’t help but find him endearing. “Why do you want to know? About Akito?”
“Oh!” Rui exclaimed, a smile finding its way to his lips. “I just want to thank him in my own... special way.”
Toya’s gaze lingered on Rui, skeptical. He seemed to be studying Rui. Examining him. Rui looked to the strangers on the sidewalk for help, but they passed by idly, murmuring, in their own worlds. Rui wanted to escape into their conversations, walk on by with them, and out of Toya’s judgmental gaze.
“Alright, whatever you say,” he said with a shrug, Toya’s piercing eyes fading into a cumulus cloud instead. Rui smiled, chuckling to fill the silence.
“Just let me know what he says, alright, Toya-kun? I’m counting on you~!” Rui sang, turning on his heel. He felt Toya’s eyes on him as he walked away, so he lifted his hand, tilting it outwards to the side in a wave.
Rui hoped to God that Toya wouldn’t disappoint him.
—🍬—
Akito was bored out of his mind.
Seconds seemed to slow into minutes. The clock hand ticked on so gradually that Akito was sure time was coming to a stop, just at the same torturous pace. He bit back a groan out of respect. And mainly so people wouldn’t stare at him.
Only five more minutes.
Just five more minutes.
Akito could manage that, right? His nails scraped against the underside of his desk, exhaling slowly. He had to.
He had to if he wanted to figure out why the fuck Kamishiro Rui had texted him.
Three simple texts had come through his phone the night before. Only three, but that was three more than average, and enough to send Akito into fight or flight, essentially.
Okay, maybe not fight or flight, but he was surely on edge.
Akito’s phone burned a weight in his front pocket. Yes, he answered Rui’s texts. Maybe not to Rui’s satisfaction, but Akito answered. The thing was: Akito liked all sweets. He couldn’t pick a favorite. If you asked, he’d pick what he was craving at the time. And at the time, he happened to be craving candied fruits alongside gummy worms.
Akito Shinonome
the fuckt?
I like all candy.
if you really wanna know, i want some candied grapes atm
His messages burned into the back of his mind, distracting; a massive highway sign that would have Akito swerving off the road, probably.
The lunch bell rang. Akito launched himself from his seat and ran across the classroom, into the hallway, and down the stairs. Two stairs at a time, his feet clobbered against the tile, arms waving by his side to remain steady. The lunch yard was still barren, practically empty. In all fairness, Akito sprinted to the spot where Rui and Nene had been sitting lately, determined, even if he didn’t want to face Rui. His message was too vague. What the ever-loving fuck does ‘meet me at lunch; I have a small present’ mean? It wasn’t Akito’s birthday. He didn’t do anything gift-worthy. What did Rui want from him?
Akito figured it wasn’t worth thinking about standing. He plopped down on the ground, back to the tree, and started to munch on his sandwich.
“Shinonome-kun!”
Looking up, Akito found Rui and two-thirds of his gang walking toward him. He swallowed and nodded in acknowledgment. Not too interested. He couldn’t seem too desperate to know the reason behind Rui’s antics.
“Yeah?” Akito said, covering his mouth with his arm. Tsukasa seemed to be dragging Nene along, his heels dug into the dirt, back facing Akito as Rui made his way toward the tree. “You texted. I came.”
Something about Rui’s smile was unsettling for Akito. His stomach fluttered. Maybe he was just hungry.
“Thank you for coming, Shinonome-kun. I wanted to give you something.” Rui sat on his calves, perched on his knees as he opened his bento box. Akito couldn’t help but steal a peek at the mouth-watering meal. And the delicious, candied fruits that took up a large portion of the box. Akito licked his lips and Rui chuckled. “Does it look tasty?”
“Oh, what?” Akito furrowed his eyebrows, clearing his throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Rui’s eyes were heavy on Akito.
Akito took another bite. A big bite, at that. He stuffed his mouth with the sandwich to avoid Rui’s intense gaze, staring at his hands.
“You can have some,” Rui offered. “That can be your present.”
Akito choked.
What the fuck was his gift supposed to be originally? Why was Rui so relaxed about the entire thing? Where were Tsukasa and Nene when he needed them? Akito’s mind spun. He hit his chest as he coughed, and out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Rui’s eyes widened.
“Are you okay, Shinonome-kun?” Rui pushed himself onto his knees. Panic settled in.
“I’m fine!” Akito said, muffled by his stuffed cheeks. He swallowed harshly. “I—”
He cut himself off. Rejecting Rui’s candies would be flat-out rude. Akito showed up at his request, it was the least he could do to follow through and accept Rui’s present.
“Yeah. What fruit do you have?” Akito exhaled after a moment, finally daring to make eye contact with Rui. When he did, Rui’s eyes lit up. The elder bit back a grin as he picked up his lunchbox.
And something in Akito shifted. He wasn’t sure why, but he blushed when Tsukasa and Nene looked their way, eyes wide, his face hot.
—🍬—
Rui was a little more than interested in Akito. He could admit that.
“How’s your little experiment doing?” Tsukasa nudged Rui with his elbow. The purple-haired boy was too absorbed in his phone to listen to a single thing that came from Tsukasa’s mouth. Akito had texted him back.
Shinonome-kun
hey. Thanks for the candies.
Rui stared, open-mouthed. Tsukasa huffed.
“Earth to Rui? Hello?!” Tsukasa reached up and shook Rui by the shoulders. “Hey! Pay attention to me!”
Rui blinked. “Yes, our dear star? How may I be of assistance?”
Tsukasa’s brow flattened at Rui’s sarcastic tone.
“Can you focus? Please?” Tsukasa sighed. There was a long pause. Rui’s shoulders were up to his ears, on guard, as he stared at the screen instead of the boy talking to him.
“Why are you so obsessed with him anyway?”
Rui scoffed and sputtered. Suddenly, his face felt hot as he turned on his heel to face the troupe leader.
“What are you talking about?” he demanded, but Tsukasa wasn’t intimidated.
And they both knew what he was talking about.
“You can, like, tell me, you know,” Tsukasa continued, still annoyed. “There’s nothing I can judge you about here. I, too, like men—”
Rui felt like a hissing cat, the hairs on his back standing up straight in the air. “That’s not what it’s like!”
Tsukasa’s brows furrowed further, but this time, in confusion. “Then what is it about?”
Rui cleared his throat and balled his fists as if he was preparing to answer with grace, with ease, to show Tsukasa that what he felt for Akito wasn’t in the realm of gayness, romance, or whatever the fuck he may have been implying.
And then his jaw fell open, slack. No words came out.
“Are you going to answer, or just stare like a dead fish?” Tsukasa huffed.
Rui opened his mouth wider to refute but was interrupted by his notification bell.
Shinonome-kun
wyd.
“You’re right,” Rui choked out as he stared at the short message from Akito. He could practically hear Tsukasa’s ego exploding in size, but he wasn’t paying attention. “I may like men. And I have to go.”
Rui started to gather his items, ignoring Tsukasa’s protests and bombardment of questions. Emu poked her head out from behind the curtain, her pink bob fluffing behind her.
“Are you guys okay in here?” she asked, blinking at each tossed item. Rui shrugged in response while Tsukasa groaned, huffing loudly.
“No! We are not!” Tsukasa shrieked as Rui stood up, opening his arms to Emu. She eyed him suspiciously but wrapped her arms around him like normal, squeezing him tightly. He exhaled shortly. “Get back here and face your problems!”
Rui turned as he let go of Emu and grinned. It was the same damn smile that scared Akito off in the first place. Tsukasa furrowed his eyebrows.
“I am. I stole your Pocky, and I’m going to see him,” Rui said plainly, turning on his heel once more and exiting the stage.
He couldn’t help but chuckle as Tsukasa screamed behind him.
—🍬—
Akito glared upon seeing Rui. “Don’t you have practice?” was the first thing he said, scoffing. Rui smiled sweetly, covering his heart with his hand, Pocky tucked away into his backpack. It was strawberry-flavored.
“I came at your request, as you did for me,” Rui said and bit back a grin at the way Akito’s face lit up red.
“Didn’t beg you to come,” Akito protested under his breath, kicking at the dirt under the bench. He looked up, still glaring. “Are you gonna sit, or?”
Rui chuckled. He shrugged off his bag and padded over to the bench where Akito sat, arms crossed, eyebrows flattened. He bowed as he sat, and Akito shifted to the side awkwardly. Their thighs still touched, though they didn’t have to be touching. There was enough room, even still, but with Akito’s legs spread as wide as they were and Rui’s tall stature, it was a bit impossible for them to not touch. The bag sat on the opposite side of Rui, next to his foot, and his hip dug further into Akito when he reached for the Pocky.
“So,” Rui said, his voice trailing off. Akito was staring at his hands.
“What’s that for?” he pointed to the candy in Rui’s hands. Rui flipped the box over once, twice.
“Ah! I brought this for you,” Rui smiled, handing it out with both hands. Akito swallowed audibly, thickly. The tips of Rui’s ears felt hot. “As a thank you.”
“What for?”
Akito’s tone was flat, but his voice trembled.
Rui cleared his throat. Now, he was starting to get nervous. One gift was fine. Two? Maybe he was pushing it. Maybe he was to be found out, seen as gay. Hell, Tsukasa saw it—why wouldn’t Akito?
“For hanging out with me,” Rui confessed. “It means a lot to me, Shinonome-kun. Just— take these, alright? Have a good evening.”
Rui pushed himself off the bench and walked away. Away from his feelings, his problems—away from Akito.
—🍬—
Akito felt a bit guilty.
He couldn’t tell you why , though.
It was a sinking feeling deep in his chest, his gut. It felt like a hole inside of him, never-ending. Like the void of space, the black hole of time, he let it consume him. He didn’t touch his messages with Rui. Akito did what he had to do then came home and let the guilt eat away at him.
He couldn’t tell you why Rui had grown on him. Moss on a tree, like mushrooms. He hadn’t been aware of it. He wasn’t sure how it happened, either. But at some point, Akito realized that Rui was important to him.
And that realization sent him to the bathroom with nausea.
He wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, either.
Rui hadn’t texted him, either. Akito felt funny about that entire thing, too. Like a lost puppy. Like a dog begging at the door, locked out. Rui had left him out in the cold and didn’t seem to have any intention of letting him inside for the night, either.
Akito tossed his phone onto the bed. His hair dripped onto the floor; towel wet around his shoulders. The familiar text notification of the VBSGC came through, and Akito sighed, picking up his phone once again.
The Coolest!! (An)
hey. we're all worried abt you. hit us up when you get a chance? :(
Another pang of guilt. Akito scowled at his phone. He sniffed.
God, he should really call.
Akito clicked on An’s contact.
“An?” There was silence on the other end of the line before An sighed, clicking her tongue.
“Akito, what’s wrong, dude?” she groaned. She sounded exhausted. “You’re stressing me the fuck out.”
Akito chuckled softly. He set his phone on his bed, turning it onto speakerphone, then grabbing the towel around his neck and working at his orange locks. “I’m sorry,” he admitted as he ruffled his hair. “That wasn’t my intention. Ever.”
An sighed once more. “I know. I know it’s never your intention, but you do.”
Her tone was teasing, yet affectionate—like an older sister’s.
“Tell me what’s up.”
Akito gulped. He hoped it didn’t pick up over the phone.
“It’s about... a boy.”
“Toya?” An offered, a suggestive lilt in her voice. Akito snorted.
“Love him to death, but no,” Akito said, “we’re just fine, anyway. And this is a boy I have, um, how do you say? Feelings—?”
“You like someone that’s not a girl or Toya,” An deadpanned in utter disbelief. “Sorry. I’m not being supportive, am I?”
Akito bit his lip, dropping the towel to the floor. He chuckled softly. “Not really, no. Sorry, An.”
He heard her sigh dramatically over the receiver. “You don’t have to tell me who it is. Just know that he’s stupid if he doesn’t like you back.”
“I appreciate that,” Akito’s voice broke. He sniffed. Tears pricked at the back of his eyes. Akito shook his head, plopping down on his mattress. It creaked underneath him, bouncing under his weight. “Sorry. I just—it’s weird. This whole thing is weird. He keeps bringing me gifts and—”
“Do you think he’s flirting?” An suggested.
Akito felt sick all of a sudden; as if his world was spinning.
“I should... go,” Akito said slowly as if he were testing out the words on his tongue. He can practically hear An’s confusion on the other line. Maybe it’s the hum of his air conditioner. He quickly hung up his phone and flopped over onto his stomach. He groaned into his pillow, kicking his feet violently. They hit his mattress with loud thuds which were muffled by his quilt.
He didn’t know why this felt bad, wrong. Maybe if Rui didn’t like him back, he could digest the fact he liked men a bit easier. He could chop it up into fine pieces, dust-sized particles, and brush it under the rug for later. Maybe college. Maybe a different time, when he could process it in a way that didn’t feel nauseating. Like life or death.
But Rui did like him—well, maybe. Akito couldn’t be too sure.
He just had to find out, then.
—🍬—
Rui couldn’t be too certain, but something seemed off about Akito.
Whenever he saw the orange-haired boy around, he seemed to be glaring, like, harsher than usual. And when Rui approached him, Akito ran. Literally. He ran away from Rui, turning on his heel and sprinting in the opposite direction.
Rui couldn’t be too certain, though.
“He’s avoiding you, y’know,” Nene said with a sigh, her hands on her hips.
Rui stopped ruffling through the box for whatever Tsukasa sent him looking for. “I beg your pardon?”
Nene looked around, balling her fists at her sides as she huffed once again. “I said ,” she insisted, “that Akito is ignoring you. Is that what’s got you all upset?”
Rui’s palms flattened against the sides of the box, thumbs tapping rhythmically. He couldn’t see Nene, but he could hear the smug, knowing look on her face. He inhaled slowly.
“I’m well aware. Thanks,” Rui said flatly. His knees popped as he stood up. “I’m going to fix it—soon.”
“Soon,” Nene mimics. Rui hums in response, walking around Nene with the prop Tsukasa asked for. She mutters something under her breath then starts to follow the taller. “And when will ‘soon’ be?”
“Why are you interrogating me?” Rui stops, and Nene almost bumps into him.
“Because.” Nene crosses her arms, “I care about your friendships and potential love interests—”
“Would you please stop?” Rui pleaded, turning around to face Nene. “Stop caring. Stop it—”
“I am your friend. Of course, I care—”
“Well, you don’t have to for the time being. I’m all good. Thanks! Appreciated!” Rui squeezed Nene chastely and shoved her in the direction where they were headed. Nene protested as Rui pushed her along, but he kept talking, drowning out her voice.
“What are you two... doing?” Emu asked with eyes squeezed tightly in confusion. “What are you arguing about now?”
“Something gay, probably,” Tsukasa muttered as he directed Emu in the opposite direction. “Pay them no attention.”
Rui’s ears felt hot. Nene had that same knowing smile.
“I have some candies in my bag. Since that’s, like, your thing with him,” Nene sang. Rui’s hands trembled.
“What flavor?”
“Chocolates~”
“I’ll be going, then,” Rui sighed, defeated. Nene’s giggles were piercing. Rui wanted to hit her with something, but he knew better. In less than a second, she ran to her bag to dig out the allusive chocolates she spoke so highly about. Rui exhaled a long sigh as he waited, kicking at the dust on the floor. Nene was back in a second, chocolates in hand, practically vibrating.
“Good luck,” she whispered as she handed Rui the box.
“With what?” Rui tilted his head to the side.
Nene shrugged. “Whatever it is that you and Akito have.”
—🍬—
“What’d’ya got there?” Akito called out, pointing to the box in Rui’s hands.
“Nothin’ much,” Rui shaded his eyes from the setting sun with the box, squinting up the hill at Akito. His figure stood tall atop the high ground. “You’re not busy?”
“I had a bit of time,” Akito answered as he jammed his hands in his pockets, head turned to the side. “You wanna come watch the sunset? ‘s pretty up here.”
Rui swallowed. His throat felt drier than the desert, than a pile of sand itself. His feet moved underneath his body slowly as he climbed up the hill. Akito had disappeared from his sight, presumably to sit and watch the sun, but all that did was flip Rui’s stomach repeatedly. He exhaled shakily.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Akito said, breathless, as he stared at the sun before them. The sky was filled with a mosaic of colors, beautiful pastels. Oranges and purples, yellows and pinks; all sorts of colors filled the sky, merging together behind the clouds. Rui’s shoulders fell, lax.
And then he looked down at Akito. His eyes were wide, starry, mouth slightly parted, as he stared, awestruck.
“Yeah,” Rui answered, though he wasn’t looking at the sun, “it is.”
Akito looked up, grinning. “Come sit.”
Rui’s heart skipped a beat, but he obliged, plopping his body next to Akito’s. He placed a decent amount of distance between them, just in case. Just to be safe.
“I have some more candy,” Rui said, almost like a confession, small. “O-only if you want!”
Akito scoffed, though he laughed. Rui couldn’t tell in the golden hour, but something told him Akito was blushing, too.
“What kind?” Akito asked, licking his lips. Rui’s heart felt like a kickdrum in his chest, beating at 200 beats per minute.
“Chocolates, I—” Rui turned to grab the chocolates, cutting himself off as he mumbled. Akito’s laughter continued softly under his breath, shoulders shaking, grinning wide. As Rui turned back around, chocolates in hand, Akito huffed.
“Why are you so obsessed with giving me shit?” Akito blurted.
Rui froze.
“That sounded bad, sorry,” Akito shook his head. “I like it. I just don’t get why .”
All Rui could hear was his heartbeat in his ears. He felt like he was drowning.
Akito’s lips moved, but Rui couldn’t hear him.
“I like you,” Rui confessed, tinnitus ringing in his ears. He looked down at his feet, legs pushed out in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
For a long moment, it was silent. Akito didn’t speak. He stared ahead at the sunset, seemingly processing the words that came from Rui’s mouth. All Rui could hear were the insects around them, the tinnitus in his ears, and Akito’s soft breathing.
“Why are you sorry?” Akito asked. His hands had fistfuls of grass poking between his fingers. Dirt remained under his fingernails; paths drawn in the earth with the same shape as Akito’s fingers.
“It’s a bit silly,” Rui confessed, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I feel like I’ve made you come here.”
Akito sputtered, laughing incredulously.
“I told you it was silly,” Rui sighed.
“No! No,” Akito coughed. Rui looked over and saw his ears were bright red, illuminated. “I just, uh—I know what I want. Your dumb chocolates didn’t change much for me.”
Rui exhaled through his nose. His eyes watered.
Then, Akito turned his cheek toward him, to face him. Rui opened his mouth to protest, eyes wide, but Akito pressed his lips against Rui’s quickly in a chaste kiss. Rui’s eyes turned into the size of the sun itself before he sighed, melting into the kiss, into Akito—into the sweetness of his lips.
Akito pulled back with a soft sigh. “I’m pretty sure I liked you without the candies,” he whispers, hanging his head, forehead resting on Rui’s shoulder as he laughs silently. Rui doesn’t say anything—simply basks in the afterglow of it all. “I still like you. I’d like to go on a date. If you’re down.”
“Yeah,” Rui croaked out. “I’d love to.”
“Sweet,” Akito grins, raising his head and pressing another kiss to Rui’s cheek. “Text me when and where. I’ll bring candies this time.”