Chapter Text
Once the afternoon bell rang, the infirmary door rattled noisily on its hinges as Taiga flung it open with a beaming grin. He could hear the school nurse railing off a familiar set of warnings and platitudes for safety while putting together an overused and under-stocked first-aid kit while a class 1-4 student thanked him for his efforts. He flashed a grin over his shoulder, charging into the crowded hallway with the force of a raging bull. It would only be a matter of time before his target got away, and he couldn’t miss this opportunity. Fleeting cries of his name trail after him as he weaves through the throng of ambling passerby, some of whom leaped out of his path by flattening themselves against the walls or windows, even pushing their friends aside in a desperate attempt to save them from being flattened.
Taiga barely remembered to offer an apology, heart slamming against his ribcage as the measure of his cardio workouts was put to the test. His hand smacked against the staircase railing as he vaulted over the side, nearly colliding with two chatting students who were utterly unaware until his shadow cast over them. “Coming down!” He yelled over their startled cries, squeaking indoor shoes scrabbling over the narrow steps for purchase as they knocked one another over like dominos. When he landed, he tossed an apologetic smile over his shoulder before leaping down the last flight of steps.
A paralyzing, bone-throbbing ache ran from his soles to his knees as he braced himself against the aftershocks in a low crouch. Honestly, movies made it look so much easier to jump and land this way and that. Murmurs of bewildered awe arose from the crowd, the onlookers giving him a wide berth while he pushed up to his feet and looked around. The first floor’s graffiti-covered walls suffused in rosette pinks and washed-out orange, giving the colors in the old artwork an intense and saturated color. Middling afternoon sunlight slanted through the windows, lukewarm where it brushed against his cheeks as he raised his head, squinting against the brightness.
“Tsugeura.”
He turned his head, lips forming a little ‘o’ at the sight of Sakura walking toward him with his hands entrenched in his pockets.
“Oh, it’s you, Sakura-kun.”
A quick head swivel and incline to peek past him revealed no Nirei or Suou with him. Taiga surprisedly huffed through his nose, setting his hands on his hips with a wide smile. It was a little unusual, considering those three had been practically inseparable since the start of the term, but he couldn’t blame Sakura for wanting to branch out on his own sometimes.
That was the beauty of growth and self-improvement, after all.
When Sakura stopped at least an arm’s length from him, Taiga noticed the twin gauze strips over his left eyebrow and a tiny bandage peeking around the right side of his jaw.
“What’s up?" He asked, "Looks like you finished earlier than me. That cut doesn’t hurt too much, does it?”
Sakura snorted harshly, spatting, “Hell no,” like he'd tasted something foul and was desperate to get it off his tongue.
Taiga tilted his head, eyeing Sakura's scowling lips and the faint flush to his cheeks. At least with a little color in his face, he couldn't be doing too bad or hiding any wounds.
It was shocking though! With how fast Sakura moved during the brawl, Taiga hadn’t noticed anyone managing to land a glancing blow on him. Although, it wasn't like he had much time to think of how the others were faring with how many bodies were being thrown his way by Kiryu. Nevertheless, by the swagger in his step, it looked like the injuries hadn’t affected Sakura at all. So, why did he seem so upset?
Flushed cheeks, dilated pupils, a relaxed stance. Could this mean…?
Sakura sighed heavily, pulling a hand from his pocket to scratch lightly behind one of his ears. And to Taiga's surprise, the curve of it was also tinged a subtle shade of pink. “But hey—”
“Wait," Taiga thrusted out a hand, palm up to stop him. Sakura startled at the sudden yell, his shoulders tensing while his feet spread a few centimeters apart into a stance. Delight curled in Taiga's chest as he curled his fingers down until only his forefinger was pointed at Sakura. His bruised cheek smarting as he grinned triumphantly, and said, "I know, you’re ready for the fight we talked about earlier, right?”
Sakura's face fell, brows knitted together and nose scrunched slightly as he squinted at him. "Hah?"
The passerby slowed their steps at what they overheard but quickly hustled to one side or the other to avoid being caught in the fray. His excitement burned like hot coals in a brazier, stoked by the memory of Sakura's bobbing and weaving as he fought. How his fists struck with precision as if every part of his body was a well-oiled machine. Who knew how much training he endured to move so fluidly?
Taiga balled his hand into a tight fist, and he punched it his empty palm. Anyone who would have witnessed the fight between Sugishita and Sakura would know how electrifying Sakura's fighting spirit is. Combined with his virtues, he was a man among men, and more than a worthy opponent.
“Are you sure you’re not too worn out though?" Taiga asked as he began to shift his feet into a stance, "There’s always tomorrow; sleeping off the pain and then getting back up is the spirit of y—”
He let out a soft huh when the glimmer of the setting sun caught his attention. Faint wisps of yellow-pink scattered across the tops of muted grey buildings with a warm, rosy glow. It was beautiful, as most sunsets were, but he couldn't help feeling as if he forgot about something.
Pink roses?
“Hey," Taiga's shoulders jumped at the sudden shout, knocking him out of his thoughts and drawing his focus back to Sakura who glared at him irritably with his teeth bared in a snarl and fists clenched at his hips. "Would ya just let me talk?!”
He looked poised to throw a punch, though considering how his hands trembled at his side, Taiga guessed he was holding himself back. Sakura's eyes drifted left and right before sliding shut with a loud sigh, his hands falling at his sides as he shifted from one foot to the other before turning around.
“Fuck it," he grumbled, waving beckoningly before he started down the hall. "C'mon.”
Bewildered, Taiga stared after Sakura, or more importantly at his nape's soft pink tinge which was barely visible over his blazer's collar. The thought stewed in the back of his mind to ask whether Sakura needed another trip to the infirmary. Was it normal for someone to blush this much?
He must be a pretty sensitive guy, Taiga thought with a thrilled huff as he hurried down the hall after Sakura. A few students, likely eager to catch a hint of what would happen between two of the strongest in Tamon's first-year class, tried to follow them but a well-placed glare from Sakura along with a terse, "Get lost", nearly cleared out the hall behind them. Taiga tucked his hands in his pockets, giving Sakura a little space as he trudged ahead, leading him through the side-door that opened to a walkway connecting the main building to the gymnasium. Instead of walking toward the double-wide doors, though, Sakura turned sharply to his left.
Where is he going?
Taiga hustled after him, his lips turned up into a smile though he stole glances at the sky and peeked down at his cellphone now and again. “Not to rush you," he said after tucking his phone away once Sakura ducked behind the utility shed behind the gym. "But is this gonna take long?”
“You got plans or somethin’?” Sakura said with a grunt, folding his arms with his back pressed to the shed's dented wall. He looked around, examining the open track field and the distant building as if searching for something, or checking to see if the coast was clear.
It was mysterious, and interesting. Sakura never failed to surprise him with all of his little tricks.
“Mm, not yet,” Taiga said, folding his arms across his chest as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, hip cocked slightly.
When Sakura looked back to him, he raised a brow and grumbled, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Though before Taiga could explain, Sakura shook his head, batting the would-be answer out of the air. “Forget it. That's not what I brought you out here for…" He trailed off then, staring more-so more-so at his feet and the sparse patches of grass growing out of the dirt and clay field. Assuming he would need time to gather his thoughts and cool his head, Taiga leaned his shoulder against the shed and waited.
Sakura was such an interesting guy. Emotions cycled across his face faster than a highlight reel, and the glinting afternoon light set his skin aglow, making him look a lot softer. It was like he was made of cherry blossoms. Taiga bit back a chuckle, but it thrummed deep in his chest as he averted his gaze when Sakura shot him a glare.
It really is the springtime of youth, huh?
After awhile, the flinty glare subsided, and he heard Sakura speak in a voice barely above a whisper, "I was gonna ask - are you alright?”
Taiga blinked, looking at him from the corner of his eye. “Huh?”
Sakura gritted his teeth, digging the toe of his sneakers into the dirt. “All the shit Kiryu was talking about," he explained after blowing out a sigh, "It didn’t… bother you, did it?”
Quiet drifted between them with the lonely cry of a crow somewhere oft in the trees. Utterly floored, Taiga turned his head and stared at Sakura's slightly puckered lips and furrowed brow. The way his eyes nearly flicked away as if he couldn't bear to lock eyes any longer, only for a twitch in his cheek and a stubborn set of his shoulders to keep him in place, like he was making himself stay still. It was earnest, and Taiga bet Sakura was pretty uncomfortable which was a little touching since he was pushing himself out of his element for Taiga's sake.
The least I can do is give it some serious thought.
Looking back on their restaurant hang-out, a twinge of guilt nibbled at his nerves when that pale and shivering face came to mind. He hadn't noticed it until Kiryu stood up, blocking his view of her. He was a little shorter than Taiga, slighter in constitution too, but in an instant he filled up the entirety of Taiga's world and broke it apart piece by piece. When he looked up at the sky, the pale feathery clouds floating aimlessly by dyed a rosette pink by the setting sun reminded him of Kiryu's hair as it slid across his shoulders with ease. Pulled back from a face devoid of its usual serenity, Taiga couldn't help but think that the blank, almost threatening stare didn't belong on Kiryu's face.
Eyes bereft of the sparkle of a win, or the placid joy from listening to music, bore into Taiga with the gravitas of how deeply he'd messed up. And then, he noticed her. The girl hunched over in an attempt to make herself small and unnoticeable while his shadow loomed over her, pushing her further against the wall.
Trapping her there.
Horror kept his feet rooted to the ground, unable and unwilling to block or deflect the brief lecture levied on his head. It was more than deserved for how much he scared her.
I couldn't apologize enough.
The grating scuff of dirt being dragged back and forth drew Taiga out of his thoughts and back to the ground. His brows raising at the deep rut Sakura somehow managed to dig with just the toe of his now scuffed sneakers. His face had taken on a scarlet hue, and he'd seemed to utterly abandon the idea of looking at Taiga, instead speaking aloud.
Oops, guess I thought about it a little too long.
"—I know he was looking out for her; just cause ya look intimidating doesn’t mean you are. I’m sure as shit not scared of you after that weak ass punch laid you out. And being loud’s just a thing; I don’t get why you do it, but it’s not that bad.”
Taiga's lips parted with a little sigh of realization before pressing together, quirking into a grin. He laughed sheepishly, startling Sakura into whipping his head around to look at him.
"What?" Sakura barked, his eyes narrowed and fists clenched at his sides as if he were ready to throw a punch.
And Taiga felt like fighting was the furthest thing he wanted from him, at least for now. His heart was too dazzling a sight to bludgeon black and blue. Letting his arms fall, he reached out and patted him squarely on one stiff shoulder.
“Y’know, you’re a good guy, Sakura-kun!"
Sakura's face smoothed out, eyes squinted and head inclined slightly. His soft huh drowned out as Taiga kept patting his shoulder, talking happily, “Worrying about my heart and all, your spirit must be pretty kind.”
Sakura stared, his fists slowly opening and the shoulder underneath Taiga's palm relaxed for a fraction of a second before jerking back. "Get off!" Sakura shouted, taking two shifting steps back from him. His breathing picked up, twilight elongating the shadows painted across his face from the shed's shade. “I-I just didn’t want you bullshitting through our fight by having your head somewhere else!”
Taiga reached out for him, apologies and reassurance on the tip of his tongue but before they could part, Sakura was already turning his back and marching away.
“When we go at it, give it your all. If you half-ass it, I'll really lay you out.”
Drawing back his hand, Taiga huffed with bemused admiration. He cupped his hand around the side of his mouth, calling after Sakura's retreating back, “I wouldn’t give anything less!"
“Good!” Sakura shouted back without looking at him, the pink hue bordering his collar darkening slightly in color as he walked under the setting sun.
He really is a nice guy.
Taiga cupped his hand around his mouth, shouting, “Sakura-kun!", and when Sakura turned his head slightly, he waved his hand in a wide arc.
“See ya tomorrow!”
Sakura's posture grew rigid before he turned away entirely, walking stiffly almost woodenly back to the main building. Taiga lowered his hand, smiling to himself as he started to turn away, only to stop and glance back when he noticed Sakura's hand raised in a barely-there wave.
The birds roosting in the trees startled, taking flight when he laughed, charging after Sakura with a lighter heart.