Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You’ll be assigned to tutor Shinonome san.”

“Huh?” The two classmates sounded in unison. “Him?”

“Yes, your grades are failing and if they fall any further, you can wave goodbye to staying on the school football team.”

“But the team needs me!” Akito exclaimed, fists clenched in anger. However, the teacher looked unphased by his attitude.

“And that is exactly why I have assigned Aoyagi san here to tutor you. He is the top student in class and I’m sure he will pick you back up to speed.”

“But sensei-” The boy spoke up, his tone close to a whisper. He pushed up his glasses as he tried to fend himself from the impossible task.

“You wanted the testimonial right, Aoyagi san?” The teacher cut him off before he could speak. “For your testimonial, I would need to write about your class participation. However despite your spectacular results, you have kept yourself reserved and I have nothing to write about you. Furthermore, your role as the president of the library club is outside of class as a co-curriculum activity, a separate testimonial.”

Touya pursed his lips. His body posture withdrew back and nodded obediently. “Understood sensei…”

“I don’t care what after school arrangements you make, I will only let you two off when Shinonome san achieves a C in the final paper this year.”

“A C!?” Akito exclaimed again while Toya only stared into blank space in despair.

The athlete was a good 2 grades away from a C.

Furthermore, students are barely able to go up a grade in a single year.

“Study on the weekends if you have to. Did I make myself clear?” The teacher raised his brow at him.

“Yes.” He huffed.

“Good.”

~

“So,” Akito looked up and down at his classmate. The hunched shoulders, fingers clenched around the books in his hands. “Where do we study?”

“Uhm…” Toya’s eyes stayed on the ground. “I…was thinking about the school library.”

“Okay, cool.” Akito nodded, waiting for the nerd to follow up with the timing. “So, I’m free at 4pm.”

“Okay, I’ll be there.” He mumbled so softly Akito could barely hear him.

“...alright see you.” He spun on the pad of his feet and walked off.

“...bring…see you.” Toya sighed, feeling his heart bang against his chest at the interaction. If Toya were to be truthful, he was scared of Akito. Intimidated to say the least, someone to be so bold and outspoken, Toya felt like he would be the embodiment of trouble. Often enough, he had already heard of the numerous girls that had crushes on him. Rumors often float around of him having several girlfriends. To get involved with a troublemaker, Toya just wish it would not escalate to a matter on his student records.

~

The whistle blew across the fields as the ball landed within the goalie posts. Cheers erupted from the small crowd that gathered at the stands watching the school team play. Toya covered his ears with a sigh. The loud noise, hot weather, how could anyone like this.

It was 4pm and Akito’s soccer practice had yet to end so Toya was forced to sit and wait for him. He could see the head of orange hair running across the fields in a celebratory performance from where he sat. He runs fast, Toya noted, he will be sure to never challenge him in any sport. Though Toya would never ask for such a challenge, he could hardly throw a ball in a straight line. He followed the soccer team from a distance as they went to the locker rooms to get changed.

“Hey, there’s someone following us.” One of them spoke loudly. The whole group turned around towards Toya, making him stop in his steps in embarrassment.

“Isn’t that Aoyagi Toya from the other class?” Another spoke as a snarky reply.

Toya groaned, tugging onto the sling of his bag. “I’m here to look for Shinonome san. It’s past 4pm.”

The entire team turned towards the ginger who looked oblivious. “Huh?- Oh! Shit, sorry I forgot. Can you wait for a while? I’ll go get cleaned up and then meet you.” Akito waved at him and the group went into the locker room.

Toya groaned, looking at his watch with the hour pointing at 5.

~

“You’re suppose to move the ‘y’ over.”

“What is it? I can't hear you.”

“This is a library where you're supposed to keep your voice down.”

“Not until I can’t hear a single thing you say. How are you going to tutor like this?” Akito groaned, slamming a fist down on the table. This earned a wince from the bluenette along with an angered face.

A rare expression.

“Excuse me, this is a library.” The librarian stood up from the counter and announced loudly for all to hear. “If you cannot keep your volumes low, get out.” She seemed to be frustrated from how much noise the two were already making.

Toya sighed and fumbled with the books, trying to keep them in his bag.

“You want to study elsewhere? How about your place?” Akito suggested.

“My place?” Toya’s movements paused. “Uhm, how about yours?”

“Sure, if you don’t mind.”

~

Toya finds out that the Shinonome house was actually quiet and empty. The opposite of what he expected from a boy of brash manners.

“My parents are out, sister has night classes so she’s asleep in the day. No one’s going to bother us.”

Lessons were uneventful but also unproductive. Akito’s attention keeps getting dragged away every few minutes. Be it folding the scrap paper laying around or Akito bugging Toya with questions about his life to which Toya reluctantly replies. Toya felt very hopeless at their progress. They had barely even managed to get through a section.

“Are you tutoring me next week?” Akito asked while he flung a paper ball off of a plastic ruler.

“Tomorrow. I am tutoring you everyday.” Toya replied.

“Everyday!?” Akito exclaimed.

“You need to pull up your grade, do you think revising once a week is enough? Please.” Toya huffed and packed up his stuff. “What time are you free tomorrow?”

“4.”

“Is that your soccer practice?”

“Yes?”

“Does it ever end on time?”

“...no.”

Toya sighed, pressing 2 fingers at the sides of his head. “Then I will wait for your soccer practice to end, then we head to your place to revise, okay?”

“Finee.” Akito whined.

~

“Hey let me ask you this.”

“What?” Toya was getting irritated.

“Is there a reason why we don’t study at your place instead?”

“Why did you ask?”

“You always stay until 6.30, no more and no less.”

“Rather observant, could you put that into your homework? Ow-” Toya rubbed on the spot where the paper ball hit his head.

“Headshot. Don’t want to go home?”

“Why would it matter to you?”

“I’m just interested.” Thwack, another ball hits his head much to his annoyance. “I know nothing about you, other than your coffee addiction.”

“Save it, you’re here to learn about math, not me.”

“You cheeky bastard.” Akito laughed and went over.

~

Toya reached home promptly at 7pm sharp. The delicious smell of baked fish wafted through the house. Firing up the painful hunger pangs in his stomach.

“Ah, you’re home. Can you help me set the table?” His mother asked, carefully plating the fish into the serving tray.

“Yes mom.” Toya nodded and went ahead. He remained quiet when his father came out of his study. Probably finished writing another arrangement for the orchestra.

“Toya.”

“Father.”

They greeted each other and remained silent. There was an uneasy tension between them. Toya peeking looks at his father for any signs of discontent in the wrinkles of his face.

“How was work today?” His mother asked as they all sat around the dinner table.

“There had been some rough patches at work today.” He shook his head with a heavy sigh. “There was feedback about the old sound system.”

“Oh, I thought it was a reputable model?”

“It is but something’s wrong with it. They’re having a check on it and there’s going to be a big delay.” He shook his head.

“Oh, that’s a bother. How about you Toya?”

“Nothing much happened.” Toya replied, eyes studying the bits of white fish meat on his rice.

“You’ve been coming home later than usual.”

“I was tasked to tutor a classmate.” Toya explained and his father tsked in return. “Waste of time when you can be studying your own revision.”

“It was for my class participation.” Toya reasoned. “I needed it for…” His voice trailed off. “My testimonial for university.”

“Have you decided which one?” The fierce judging glare of his father made him feel small.

“N-no.” Toya shook his head.

He waited for his father’s retort. However, the old man just shook his head and turned back to his food.

~

"Have you ever liked any of the girls you dated?"

"Eh, I think I liked some, most of them are fine." Akito shrugged. "They're persistent as fuck, it was annoying so I agreed. Did one of my exes bother you or something?"

"No but I remember how annoying it was. It was obvious you didn’t like them back." Toya replied in a disappointed tone.

"I mean they wanted to date me! Imagine someone stalking your ass home and then dropping paper notes at your doorstep.”

“When you put it like that.”

“And then when they confess, I don’t want to make them cry so I accept.” He huffed. “Besides, they’re easy to please, just give them a flower and they're really happy. Go on a couple of dates, have some fun here and there. Then when they don’t feel like I’m giving enough, fight, break up."

"Woah, that sounds so cold and heartless."

"You wouldn't get it."

Toya rolled his eyes.

"I even did the do-"

"Ew, I don't need to know that."

"I thought you'd be interested in these kind of things."

"Why would I be interested in these kind of things?"

"Eh, you keep quietly staring at people. It's creepy."

"When there are two people audibly kissing out loud in the room you are in, it is incredibly hard to ignore.”

“Have you never dated?”

“Who would want to date me?”

Akito pulled himself up and pushed away the side of Toya’s long bangs. “I thought you were good looking enough to get at least one girl interested, you’re just so quiet and timid.”

“Hey-” Toya pushed his hand away, the long fringe fell back and covered his eyes.

“And creepy.” Akito smirked. “Oh, and a nerd.”

Toya rolled his eyes.

~

Although the two were bickering and teasing each other during the tutoring sessions, they did not acknowledge each other when passing by in school despite being in the same class.

The only time the student body had even known the two talked was when Akito was playing ball with some others of his clique and Toya had the unlucky fate of meeting the ball.

The impact from the ball was strong enough to make Toya fall over in the middle of the cafeteria, his books spilled out from his clutches. The crowd snickered at the sight.

“Hey watch where you’re going!” One of them laughed at Toya.

Toya kept quiet and quickly gathered up his books.

Then Akito was holding one of them, holding it in Toya’s face. “Guess you couldn’t keep your eyes off me huh?” He teased. His face was a few centimeters from the taller boy, pressing the fallen book into his arms.

“You wish, Shinonome.” Toya replied. A heat emerged from his cheeks at how close he was.

Akito was popular with the girls for a reason, Toya understood that. He does look handsome.

“You wish.”

~

Toya does not understand what the appeal was with this sport. However, since he had time to kill, he decided to watch the ginger’s games. His eyes followed the boy around the field, watching how the opponent tried to steal the ginger’s ball. Akito was fast enough to catch on and do a quick passing of the ball to his team member.

And then,

Akito tripped over the opponent’s stuck out leg. Toya winced as he witnessed Akito fall onto the ground harshly.

~

“Is your knee ok?” Toya asked. He noticed the boy was limping the entire walk home.

“I’m fine. Just a small scratch.”

“The band aid is as big as your face and I don’t think your face is small at all now is it?”

Akito tsked. “You don’t need to bother so much about it.”

“It looked like a tough game, your team managed to score a goal from it.”

“Heh, thanks,” Akito grinned. “You were watching? Like what you see?”

“You play so roughly, you’re going to be seriously injured one day.”

“Jeez, quick to rub in the salt. Hey, what’s the point of living so scared? If you don’t live a little, you won’t know anything.”

“At the rate you’re playing, you’re wasting your time instead of studying.”

“Shut the fuck up! I know I’m stupid but I don’t need your smartass to be rubbing against me all the time.” He pushed on Toya’s shoulder in an attempt to punch but he wobbled on his working leg.

“Careful.”

“I don’t need your snarky ass.”

“I wasn’t being sarcastic.”

Akito ignored Toya the rest of the journey.

~

“Excuse me,” Toya spoke. “You’re sitting on my desk.”

The delinquent stopped talking and turned to Toya, rubbing the sole of his shoe harder onto the plastic surface of the chair. “Oh this is your desk? You bought it?”

“Please don’t deface school property.”

“Since you’re such a smartass, why don’t you bring it up to the principal?” He laughed, the other delinquents started to stand around them.

Toya cursed internally, this is what he gets for getting too close with these people.

“Go cry about it to him, my wussy chair got dirty!” He spoke in a whiny voice, mocking him.

“That’s enough.”

The entire class turned to Akito standing in the doorway, all in shock that the ginger was even speaking up for Toya.

“Leave him alone, he’s not worth it to make fun of.” Akito continued. Nonchalantly putting his bag at his desk as if he was oblivious to the entire world turning heads towards him. The athletic yankee Shinonome Akito standing up for the class nerd Aoyagi Toya?

“Tsk, he was interrupting us.” The boy kicked the chair down and got off the table. “Say anyways, you free after school?”

“No, I’m busy.”

“You have no time nowadays, oh, is it you’ve got a new girlfriend?”

“Nah.”

Toya was thankful that they left him alone afterwards.

~

Akito said nothing but let out a huff when he walked towards the school gate to see the split blue hair boy waiting for him. As he walked out with the bandage still wrapped around his knee, Toya followed.

“Thanks for the help, this morning.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Akito replied.

“You defended me and I’m sorry about what I said yesterday.” Toya spoke.

“Whatever.”

Toya frowned at the dismissal of his apology. During tutoring, Akito’s attention remained unattainable with his eyes wandering off somewhere, be it the window where the birds chirped or on the eraser dust rolling on the table. It was quieter without his extensives retorts at Toya.

~

“What’s wrong Shinonome!? What’s wrong with you?” The coach yelled at the boy standing at attention infront of him. “Your leg has already healed but your kicks are still shit. What the fuck is that pass? What are you, playing with ghosts? You’re useless on the field!”

‘That’s not true.’ Toya thought to himself internally, hiding behind a pillar when he overheard the fight. Soccer practise was suppose to end an hour ago and Toya had watched all his teammates left the school compound. Since he did not see any signs of the ginger, he thought that he should find him instead. He had known the soccer team’s training was tough but to this extent? It’s not like anyone’s dying or lives are at stake. What was the big deal? They’re just playing for fun.

“Your teacher is asking me to pull you off the team and right now, I’m starting to think that’s a good idea. Have you even been practising?”

“Coach I-”

“Can it Shinonome, if the next match you don’t bring a win, I’m benching you.”

“No sir please-”

“Out!”

~

“Shinonome san?” Toya spoke as he went into the locker room. It was empty except for the ginger crouched down in front of his locker. His back turned towards him.

He heard a quick sniffle. “What is it?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Akito wiped a towel across his face. “We’ve got tutoring right?”

“Well, yes.”

“I’m ready. Let’s go.” Akito huffed and walked past Toya, heading for the door. Toya sighed and followed.

~

“We don’t have to study today if you don’t feel like it.” Toya spoke, watching the boy’s eyes trail up and down the paper countless times, trying to make sense of the words. However, nothing was getting into his head with his thoughts clouding his mind.

“You don’t have to give me pity.” Akito replied harshly.

“You won’t be able to solve the question if your head is messy with thoughts.” Toya nudged the tissue box to Akito. “You should blow your nose.”

Akito gave an angered look.

“Think of it as me keeping my table free from your germs.” Toya replied.

Akito huffed and took the tissue.

“I saw what happened earlier at the soccer field.”

“Stalker.” He remarked. “You should have minded your own business.”

“I thought it was admirable.”

“The fuck?” Akito turned to him flabbergasted.

“Your coach was blaming all sorts of things on you. First of all, whatever he said isn’t true, even I could see that you are a valuable asset to the team. You devise tactics on the spot to score goals. He kept scolding you but you listened and kept it in. You didn’t quit on the spot.” Toya spoke. “I can’t do that. All I do is run away. Even right now, I’m avoiding my father, that’s why I don’t want to go home.”

The room felt still.

“At school, I don’t even stand up for myself but you’ve got so much guts. I admire you for that, Shinonome san.”

“Eugh gross don’t say it like that, nerd.” Akito shrugged it off and turned away, rubbing his eyes. “You make me sound like someone honorable.”

“Well, it took me some time but I do find some qualities of yours honorable.”

“Stop it, please.” He had a disgusted face with all the compliments. “Especially when you’re using my family name.”

“Hm, then how about this, I admire you, Akito.”

“Eugh, fine. If you won’t stop, ‘Akito’ is fine.” He waved his hand covering his face. “Then I’ll just call you ‘Toya’.”

“Okay, I’m fine with that.” Toya grinned, glad that the boy’s mood had drastically turned for the better. “Let’s stop studying for today, do you have anything we can do? What do you have around here?”

“Eh, I’ve got a gaming console.” Akito went off to pull the modem buried under the stacks of clothing.

“Ohh, I’ve never played.”

“harh? You haven’t?”

“I’ve only been to arcades.”

“Okay, let me teach you.”

~

“You have a game next week. You need to finish this by today.”

“But I can’t think of anything!” Akito whined, floundering his arms around.

“Your training sessions are going to overrun your study sessions so you need to finish these up first.”

“Toyaaa.”

“Akito,” Toya huffed. “Your pen has stopped moving. Do you need me to come watch you during your soccer practice?”

“Heh, you want to see me? I caught your eye, haven’t I?” He teased.

“I’ll be calling you an honorable student from the benches.” Toya grinned. “Along with using your family name.”

Akito’s face turned white.

“I think it’ll sound pretty grand.”

“You wouldn't dare.”

“Would you like to see?”

Akito scoffed. “Tough.”

~

“Great, you’re finally done.” Toya announced, taking the paper from Akito’s hands. The boy cheered out, fists punching the air as if he had won the lottery. “For the week…” Toya rolled his eyes. “You haven’t even taken your exam, you shouldn’t be celebrating so fast.”

“But I’m done for the week! Wahoo!” Akito laughed. “Hey, we should celebrate.”

“Huh? We?” Toya blinked at the suggestion.

“Yeah, hmm, let’s go to the arcades or something, you like to play those right?”

“Well, yes but it has been quite some time.”

“Chill, it’s like those things where you must relieve the stress before exams right? There were studies on those.”

“I don’t think those apply to you if you’ve been relieving stress everyday and not studying.”

“Hey, Toya,” he raised his finger. “But I did study!”

“Only for this week did you finish on time.”

“So that’s why tomorrow, we should go to the arcade. You on?” Akito grinned widely at him.

Toya had never been invited out for fun before. He had always gone to arcades because he was alone. To pass up this chance…

“Come on,” Akito playfully chides. “Life’s short. You should live a little.”

“Uhm, okay. I’ll ask my father.”

“Great!” Akito leaned back on his chair, his body locking into vacation mode. “Ah this feels wonderful.”

Toya shook his head in disappointment.

~

‘You should live a little.’ Those words kept bugging Toya’s head throughout dinner. The last time he had been to the arcade was so long ago.

He raised his head to look at his parents. Mouth apart as he was about to ask the question.

Then he saw his father’s stern cold face.

His lips glued back shut.

‘Maybe another time. Would there be another time?’

‘Life’s short. You should live a little.’ There goes his voice again playing on replay.

“Is there something you wanted to say, Toya?” His mother spoke up.

“Uhm.” Toya felt bile building up in his stomach.

Maybe this was a bad idea after all. He can just tell Akito he cannot make it. He’s just a friend after all. Distant friend? Can he call him a friend?

‘Woah you learn so fast.’ Akito was cheering for him when they played the console games together. ‘You’re so good, we should go to the arcade one day.’ He laughed. Toya thinks it’s a genuine laugh.

“I…”

What happens if he tells Akito he can’t go?

‘Hey, what’s the point of living so scared? If you don’t live a little, you won’t know anything.’

What would Akito do? He wouldn’t back down.

“I got asked to go to the arcade tomorrow.”

“Oh, with a friend?” His mother smiled delightfully.

“Yes, he said it would be good to relieve some exam stress.”

As expected, his father shook his head in disappointment. “Running from your studies too. What’s next?”

“Let him have some fun. He’s getting too pale, your son needs some sun.” His mother remarked. “Is this your classmate?”

“Yes,” Toya nodded. “He is the classmate I’ve been tutoring.”

“Mixing around with bad company. I should’ve put you in another school.” His father comments.

“I think he can teach me some stuff.” Toya rebutted. “Things that teachers can’t teach.”

His father huffed. “How rude. Taking back to me. Did he teach you that?”

Toya frowned. “No, but, I’ve been studying a lot and I think I need a break.”

“You had your breaks between your shows too.” Toya’s mother hummed. “It’ll be good for him.”

“Fine. You can go. Don’t come home late.”

“Thank you.” Toya felt his anxiety lift off his chest. He had thought that his father would be furious.

~

Toya played with the hem of his jacket. Trying to figure out if what he was wearing was too formal.

“Hey Toya!”

Although, the voice of the boy immediately dispersed any worries he had. The big grin on his face that seemed like it could do no harm. The bright coloured street clothing matched the coloured streaks in his pushed back hair. “Woah, man, I’m not used to seeing you wear like this.”

“Is that bad?”

“Nah, you look nice.”

“Thank you,” Toya smiled, his cheeks had a light shade of pink from the compliment.

“W-well-” Akito suddenly straightened up. “Let’s go, shall we? Is there any machine you want to start with?”

“Oh, I do!” Toya perked up.

They were soon seated in front of the puyo puyo machines. The green and silver round mascots of the game flashed lights around them as Toya’s quick fingers secured each falling shape into a slot.

“You play this game a lot?” Akito asked, questioning why Toya had matched up the coloured balls into rows of 4.

“Hmh,” Toya nodded without taking his eyes off the screen. His eyes were so focused on the sequence that he had barely noticed Akito staring at him from time to time. Toya’s long bangs were pushed behind his ear, revealing silvery eyes that needed a full crystal clear view of the screen. “And there.” Toya smiled.

As the round ball linked up and disappeared, it set up a chain reaction causing the fallen balls to coincidentally match up with the surrounding ones. The score continued to pile up at such a speed that the entire gameplay paused in order to carry out the game animations.

Akito’s jaw dropped as the number of chains recorded kept going up. “What the- 11!?”

“Hmm, could have been better,” Toya took note.

“Better!?” Akito exclaimed. “Even higher than 11? How much did you play this game?”

“Quite a fair amount.” Toya replied. “I like it a lot.”

“Amazing…”

“Thanks.” Toya chuckled and Akito swore his heart skipped at how cute he sounded.

They played a few rounds of a shooting game. Although Akito had played through every stage of it, Toya automatically took the lead doing headshots of the NPCs in a matter of seconds.

“Woah you’re really good!” Akito laughed. “Teach me some tips some time.”

“Sure.”

However, Toya still lost to Akito when it comes to machines that require any ounce of athletic ability. He failed to even throw the bean bag to the nearest hole.

“Woah, I’m actually impressed.” Akito watched the beanbag topple out of the lane.

“Hn, I’m sorry.”

“Hey, we are here to have fun. I’m just surprised ‘cause I have never seen anyone did it before.”

They ended the day at a cafe that Akito suggested. It was strange to Toya. The cafe had a wide variety of sweet treats and desserts. He did not see the boy to have such a sweet tooth.

“Don’t tell anyone but I like this place.”

“I didn’t expect this.” Toya flipped through the menu.

“See anything you like?” Akito asked, seeing his eyes looking through each item one by one. “You can say whatever’s on your mind.”

“Hmmm usually I get black coffee.”

“Gross, that’s so bitter. You and your coffee addiction.”

“I’m surprised you knew I like coffee.” Toya chuckled again and the ginger’s cheeks turned red.

“Well- you always get one in the middle of the day. Uhm, we could go to another place if you don’t like anything here.”

“Oh, it’s alright. I’ll have a latte and some cookies. I may not love sweets but I can still like them.”

Akito let out a breath of relief. It was interesting to witness the boy have a little hop in his step when he entered the cafe. A delinquent in the middle of a fancy sweet cafe was not something you would expect to see but Toya found it endearing.

There was a certain sparkle in his eyes when he saw the tower of pancakes coming to his table. Layers of warm fluffy goodness doused with syrup and a generous swirl of whipped cream.

The waitress smiled at Akito and set the food down. He must come here quite often.

Toya watched the clock on his phone, the time soon reaching 6pm, he had hoped the day would not have to end but alas…

“I’ll see you in school.” Akito waved.

Toya smiled and waved back. “I’ll see you then. Don’t be late.”

~

“Here,” Toya handed a vitamin drink to Akito. “That was a good game.”

“You were watching?” Akito sounded surprised and took the drink with a grin. “I didn’t see you.”

“I had nothing to do and I know how to keep myself hidden.”

“Sorry for making you wait.”

“I will accept the winning medal as an apology.” Toya hummed.

Akito laughed. “Alright, I’ll win one for you.”

~

Toya watched the match playout from the balcony of the 2nd level in the school. Students had gathered around the football field to catch a glimpse of the game. Cheering at each goal scored by the school team.

Toya found himself glued to the ginger, smiling each time Akito had the ball and kicked it straight into the goal. The team gathered around Akito in celebration before heading to their spots for the next playthrough.

Akito’s eyes looked around the crowd and then stopped when they landed on the split blue hair boy. Toya gave a small wave from the balcony, earning a grin and a big wave from the boy.

He quickly tucked his hand away before anyone could notice Akito was waving to him.

However, as the games progressed, the opponents were tougher.

Some even played dirtier, Toya spots. Legs jutting out aimed to trip the other players, balls aimed towards the hands that would cause disqualification. Dirty tricks.

There was a particular team that kept shooting looks to Akito’s team, having lost their game to them. One of them swiftly kicked a ball.

Toya’s hand gripped onto the railing as he watched the ball torpedoed through the air. “Akito!-” He yelled out to no avail.

The ball collided with Akito’s head with a loud boom. He barely made a sound before he collapsed onto the floor. Whistles were blown and screams from the stands were heard.

Toya rushed down from his spot. Murmurs surrounded him as he pushed through the crowd gathering around the boy.

“Give him space!” The coach yelled out as the first aid rushed to Akito’s side.

The two soccer ball teams gave each other threatening looks, one was going to start a fight if not held back by his teammate.

The culprit was sat down by their team’s coach, giving an earful.

Akito was rushed to the medbay. Toya was forced to wait aside as a crowd formed around the Nurse’s office. Time seemed to be slow.

When the first Aiders came out, Toya dashed in. “Is he okay?”

“Toya?” Akito spoke surprised to see the boy here.

“A small concussion. Some rest and if he doesn’t have a headache or vomit in the next 48 hours, he will be fine.” The nurse replied and sighed. “You boys give me so much paperwork.”

The nurse left them alone.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Just a slight headache.” Akito replied. “I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about me. I don’t want to miss the games though.” He groaned.

“Your health is the utmost priority right now.” Toya frowned and pulled over a chair.

“And the placing too…eugh…fuck I got injured what if coach pulls me off the team.”

“I’m sure he won’t. You helped the team score so many goals today. I doubt they would pull you off, well, other than to let you recover.”

“I feel fiinee.” Akito was about to get off the bed but Toya quickly held him down.

“Akito, no.” He says with determined eyes. “I’m making sure you rest.”

“Toya, I’m fine! I can move!” Akito huffs, trying to wiggle out of his grip. If it were normal circumstances, Akito could easily flung Toya’s body off of him but his head was dizzy at every movement he made. He laid down in bed and groaned.

“Aoyagi Toya?”

Both of them froze at the sudden presence of the school team. Well the distance between them seemed rather near.

Toya quickly let go of Akito and turned away. Akito cleared his throat.

“What are you doing here?” One of them asked.

“I was just checking on Akito from the injury.”

“Akito?” They repeated, surprised at how he was talking on a first name basis.

‘Shit.’ Toya thought to himself and was about to make up another excuse.

“Toya’s just checking on me, anyways, did we win?” Akito cut in. Trying to relieve the awkwardness in the air.

“Oh yeah we won!” The team cheered and crowd around the bed. “You were so fired up in your last game!”

Toya watched and quietly slipped out of the room, letting them have their fun. He sighed quietly to himself and looked around. Finding himself alone, like how he always was.

He watched Akito get wheelchaired out to the podium for a group photo with the others. Eyes wary of whoever was near him. He could only relax when Akito was wheeled back into the medbay, medal hanging around his neck.

“Toya!” The boy called out to him and gestured for him to come inside.

“For you,” the boy held up the red ribbon.

“You’re giving me your medal?”

“I promised.” He laughed.

“But Akito you won it.”

“Well, I won it for you. Please take it.”

Toya rubbed the giant metallic coin in his hands. His heart warmed. ‘He won it for me?’

“Thank you.”

“No problemo.”

Akito patted the side of his bed and Toya sat down, pushing his long bangs aside to get a better view of the reflective surface. The carved words of the winner on the plate.

“It’s really pretty and shiny.”

“Hmh,” Akito nodded, all the while glued to those soft silvery eyes that were gazing upon his medal.

“Oi Akito,” the coach came in, interrupting their conversation. “Who do I call to pick you up?”

“Oh, I can get home by myself just fine.”

“No, what if you fall? I’ll be bringing him back to his place sir.” Toya replied.

“Alright, good. Rest up Shinonome, don’t do anything while you’re recovering.”

“Yes sir.” Akito nodded. “Toya, you really don’t have to.”

“Well, this won’t be the first time I’m going to your place after school. It’s not a big deal.”

The school grounds were empty when Akito and Toya finally decided to leave. Toya hung the medal around his neck as he held Akito up by his side. The ginger head leaned onto him as they walked.

“I’m sorry you can’t join your teams’ celebratory party though?”

“Hm? Oh that’s fine, I think I’ve celebrated enough.”

‘Seeing you happy was enough.’

When they got home, Toya helped him unpack his things while he showered and got ready for bed. It was well past 6pm. He was surprised that the Shinonome household was quiet. Neither his parents or sister had realized he was out late.

“Don’t you need to get home?”

“I dropped my mom a text, it’ll be fine.” Toya shook his head.

Toya tucked Akito into bed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? But I’m not going to school.”

“I’m visiting after school silly.”

“Why?”

“To pass your homework.”

“Eugh nevermind, don’t come.” He pouted. “And I thought it was for me.”

“If you don’t rest enough, I will definitely be making you do your homework.” Toya grinned.

“Fine fine I’ll rest.”

“Goodnight Akito.”

“G’night Toya.”

~

“You’re home late.”

Toya opened the door to the living room where his father sat on the couch. Blood ran cold as Toya closed the door behind him. The stern cold stare made his stomach drop empty, ripping all the joyous thoughts of Akito from today.

“I’m home. I’m sorry I was late for dinner today.”

His father let out a tsk and shook his head. “Do you know what time it is?”

“It’s 9pm, father.” Toya replied. Standing with his back straightened.

“And what were you doing out so late? It is dangerous out at night and you have to wake up early for school tomorrow!” He scolded, voice raised ever so slightly yet it was able to make Toya tremble. “What was so important that you did not come home!?”

“I-I was taking care of a friend, father.”

“You don’t need to bother about your friend. They won’t help you with anything. How could you put your friend over your own safety!?”

Toya did put Akito’s safety above his own. His fingers moved itself into messaging his mother that he would be home late. His legs continued to stand by the office, determined to make sure Akito gets home safe and sound.

“I-I care about him a lot.” Toya squeezed his trembling hands. “I’m sorry for coming home late, father. I promise I won’t do it again!” His face was red, teared brimmed his eyelids at how he pushed himself to talk to his father. Pented up emotions made it hard to breathe but the medal that sat in his bag gave him the courage to stand and he finally bursted.

He always had anxiety talking to his father ever since that fight. He never wanted to fail him.

His father only sighed. “Don’t do it again.”

That was all he said as he left the room.

~

When Toya entered his class, he was greeted by whispers and looks from his classmates. It swelled his gut on the inside. Was it because of the tournament yesterday? He slipped up multiple times but rumor is it now?

“Aoyagi Toya.” One of the delinquents sat on his desk again. “Are you offering any services?”

“No.” Toya replied monotonously. “Please get off my table.”

“Are you and Akito doing some sort of business here?” He neared Toya’s face, teasing him trying to edge out a reaction. “I mean I know Akito likes to play around but damn, for someone to do his homework too?”

Toya’s hand clenched up into a fist. What nonsense is he talking about? “What are you implying?”

“Oooh, did I get it right? You’re doing Akito’s homework so that you can get Akito’s attention. Ohhh I didn’t expect you to be this sort of person-”

“Enough.” Toya cut him off. “I’m only tutoring Akito because I was assigned by the teacher to do so. Nothing more.”

“Harhh? Touched a nerve? Maybe that’s why you were all handsy with him yesterday~”

“What do you mean?”

“In the medbay, you were practically all over him~”

Shit that spreaded?

“Oh so it is true!”

No, that's a lie. That’s not what really happened but he could not open his mouth. He wanted to run away.

“No and get off my table.”

“Oh what are you going to do then?”

“GET OFF!” Toya yelled in his face.

“Class.” The teacher knocked onto the whiteboard with the duster. “To your seats. Now.”

The delinquent smirked in Toya’s face before getting off. His shoulder pushing into his harshly.

“Class is about to start. Aoyagi san I expected better from you.”

“I’m sorry, sensei.”

“Now let’s get started with class.”

~

“Are you okay?” Akito frowned upon the first glance of him. Toya never looked this pissed off and uneasy.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I brought you some snacks.”

“Oh Oh yay! Thank you!” He chirped, attention immediately diverted and Toya was thankful for it. The anxiety from what happened in the morning and the fight with his father melted away. “I’m going to keep your homework here on your table. You don’t have to touch it until you’re back in school.”

“No problem!” Akito replied, stuffing his face into the sweets.

“Did you eat anything for the entire day?”

“Hmm, no, I have just been sleeping.” He talked with his cheeks filled with cream. “I don’t feel dizzy anymore.”

“That’s good. You won’t need to go to the hospital then.”

“Oi Toya, you haven’t replied to me.”

“Hm?”

“Did anything happen to you?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“Please, Toya, I may have only known you for 6 months but I can read you well now! Now tell me.” Toya never knew the boy could sound so caring and gentle yet so adamant.

“Okay, I will but after you’re better.”

“But I want right now.”

“You’re still recovering.

“Promise?” Akito sighed.

“Promise?”

~

“Hi! Aoyagi san?”

Toya jumped at the voice of a girl who was tapping on his shoulder. “Ah- yes?”

“Are you and Shinonome san dating?”

“What? No.” Toya shook his head.

“Oh! That’s great!” She let out a breath of relief but Toya. His answer felt so wrong and her reaction disgusted him. “I wanted to give this to Akito. Could you give these to him? Ahhh when I saw the ball hit his head I was so worried.”

Toya glanced at the basket decorated with ribbons. Not only does he have to be Akito’s tutor, he has to be his suitor’s wingman? His messenger? “Who are you?”

“W-who am I?” She sounded surprised. “I’m *** from the cheer team.”

“Oh, sorry, I’m not familiar. Akito has never talked about you before.” Her name bleeped out in Toya’s brain.

“That’s alright! Could you help me pass this to Shinonome san though?” She put on the most pleading smile.

Toya wanted to toss the basket away. “Sure.” But he wouldn’t.

“Oh, thank you!”

~

“Woah who’s that from?”

“Uuhh some girl from the cheer team.” Toya set the basket down. “She wanted me to bring these to you. Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?” He glanced at the remote controller in the center of the room.

“Yes I was.” Akito put on the most innocent smile. “Let’s eat!” He took the basket and looked through the contents.

“Woah a note.” Toya spotted the pink paper that sat at the bottom of the basket.

Akito took it out and briefly read through it. “Dear Shinonome san, yada yada yada think I like you.”

Toya rolled his eyes at it.

“Yada yada hitting your head yada yada enjoy your sweet and date me.”

“Did she really write that?”

“No but that’s what she meant.” Akito folded the letter up and threw it into the bin. “I’ll reject her tomorrow. Let’s feast!” He sat down on the floor and laid out the food. “Which do you want to try first?”

“This one,” Toya pointed to the dark chocolate. Actually entertaining Akito’s antics for once. Something in his gut just makes him want to show the thrown away letter to the girl but not out of pity.

“You haven’t told me what happened yesterday.”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“But Toya, you promised.” Akito pouted at him. He did not know it was possible.

“I said when you feel better which means good enough to go to school.”

“Dawww I don’t want to wait anymore.”

“Well, you have to.” Toya shrugged.

“I’ve slept enough!”

“Okay, let’s eat then.”

“Yay!”

~

“Shinonome san!” A girl went up to him. “Good to see that you’re feeling better.”

“Oh, hi.”

“Did you receive my gift?”

“Oh yeah, I did. Toya passed it to me. Thanks but I’m not interested.”

“Wh-what? Why?”

“I’m just not interested.” Akito shrugged.

But the girl scoffed, not taking no for an answer. “It was ‘cause of Aoyagi, wasn't it?”

“No, he didn’t do anything.”

“He likes you or something.”

“Why do you think that?” Akito asked. Actually curious.

“I heard he was all over you at the medbay after your soccer match. All handsy and touchy and stuff. But you two aren’t dating right?”

“What.” Akito was fuming. “Who said that?”

She shrugged. “I-I mean- Screw that guy right? He’s such a creep and really is.”

“No, he isn’t.” Akito slammed his locker shut and stomped to his class.

~

Akito was fuming.

“Akito! Welcome back!”

“What did you do?”

“Woah that’s the thanks I get?”

“What did you tell people about Toya?”

“Oh,” he grinned like he was proud. “About him? Just that he’s a creep that touches people in the medbay. That’s all-”

“The fuck did you just say?” Akito nearly pounced on him before he was held back by the other 2 delinquents.

“Woah chill dude, we’re not asking you to share him around. We don’t want him, but! I am failing my class. Mind putting me in for a good word for some good fucking and grades? Help a brother out.”

“Don’t talk about Toya that way.”

“Oh- Getting a bit touchy there? I wanna know how that nerdy boy is like in bed-”

The whole class gasped as a punch landed square on the delinquent’s cheek. A fight breaking out, causing the two to be sent straight to the medbay with the principal.

~

“You again? So troublesome.” The nurse shook her head upon seeing the ginger. “How many times do you want to be here, do you think I do this for fun?” She chides.

They were both going to be put on suspension until Toya went to have a talk with the principal.

Akito turned away when Toya entered the room. Ashamed.

“You just got back and you’ve already gotten yourself in a fight.” He sounded disappointed.

“It’s no biggie, didn't hit my head.”

Toya just sighed and went over. “Did you get hurt?”

“No, of course I didn’t. I’m stronger than HE IS!” He shouted across the room. Both boys threw a middle finger at each other.

“Ow-”

“Is this a bruise?” Toya held up Akito’s arm.

“No, I painted it on- Ow Toya!”

“I’m just massaging it. It’ll heal faster.” He replied. “I heard about the fight. Thank you, again, for defending me.”

“You weren’t supposed to be dragged into this anyway.” Akito mumbled, turning away from his face. Olive eyes glued to the slender fingers massaging his bruise.

“You’re going to revise twice as hard today,” Toya replied. “You missed a lot of lessons.”

“Okay,” Akito replied without much fight.

“I also bought you some snacks.”

“Huh?” Akito looked up. His one weakness.

Toya took out a strawberry flavored pocky sticks with a smile. “Let’s eat.”

“Okay.” Akito nodded, quickly sitting up.

When they went back to class, there were whispers but everyone quietened down as Akito shot death glares around the room. Akito and the delinquent kept glaring at each other throughout the day but did not speak a single word.

Akito was benched from soccer practice due to his injury, his coach advising him to take a week break before getting back to the field much to Akito’s dismay. He watched from the sidelines as his teammates ran circles around the field.

He spots Toya watching from the 2nd level of the school. He gave a small wave and Toya waved back.

“Heh,” Akito smiled.

No one bothered Toya ever since that day.

~

Toya’s words paused as the fingers pushed back the long fringe behind his ear. There was a moment of silence at how out of the blue Akito’s action was. He looked like he was in a trance.

“Uhm it was bothering me.” Akito replied and forced his eyes to look back down on the textbook.

“Oh, I didn’t know.” Toya replied. “Sorry about that.”

“Nono it’s fine, it wasn’t that much of a bother I just found it distracting- I mean- your hair was covering your eyes and I wanted to see them-” Akito groaned. “Just- ignore what I said.”

Toya looked confused.

Akito cursed himself internally. Why was he stuttering so much? Why’s he caring so much about what he says? Is he actually having a crush? No way. No fucking way. Not now of all times. Is this karma?

“Okay, let’s continue.” Toya nodded and they fortunately carried on.

~

Akito would not stop turning his head to look at Toya in class. It was actually distracting and irritating when he wanted to listen in class and prove to his tutor that he can indeed finish his homework on his own. He wanted to make him proud that he can handle math!-

That sounds odd.

And a bit pathetic, it’s just math. Akito can clearly do better. How else can he impress Toya?

He wonders in class, attention forever lost on the split blue hair.

~

“Here let me clean it up for you.”

Akito could yell for days about how his heart stopped when the taller one came near him and wiped the cookie crumbs away from his lips. They stared at each other for a moment, Akito’s cheek still in Toya’s palm. His heart banged against his ribcage until he couldn't take it anymore. He tiptoed up, moving closer to the boy. Lips brushing against his. A sweet chaste kiss.

Toya’s eyes widened in shock. Frozen still in place.

Akito looked at it for a moment and cursed internally. “Fuck I’m sorry-”

The hand pulled his face back. Toya crashed his lips on him sloppily. Akito grunted and pushed back against him.

“To-” His voice muffled under the kiss. His self control came off and he put his hands around Toya’s head. Trying to guide him around the kiss.

When Akito dated girls, he would be the one to initiate the kiss. He would also be the one leading it, doing the tonguing.

But Toya started this kiss and it made him tickle.

Although Akito could feel Toya trying to navigate his first kiss, he thought it was cute feeling all the exploratory nibbles on his lips.

He tried to take over the lead, to show Toya how it would be done. He tried to push his tongue into his mouth.

But Toya fought back.

The moment he felt Akito’s tongue greeting him, he pushed it back fighting for dominance. It made Akito let out a soft moan.

Akito felt a bump poking him from below.

And he felt giddy with excitement. Like he was proud of this achievement.

This was probably karma. He thought as he was soon pushed to bed with his legs apart.

~

Clarity hit Toya like a truck when he realized they were both undressed from the pants down. The buttons on their shirts being undone. He panted as he stared at the hickeys laid around the delinquent’s neck and the wet mess.

“Is everything okay?” Akito asked, pushing the long fringe behind Toya’s ear. Cheeks and ears flushed red. His hair beaded with sweat. “If you don’t want to, you can stop.”

Such a gentleman.

“How do I do it?” He asked.

“Uh good question,” Akito removed his hands from Toya’s cheeks and pushed himself up, trying to think through his hazy mind. “That drawer there, there's lube and condoms.”

Toya moved fast. “Okay, I think I know how to use those.” He was soon back in position. Akito blushed at their size difference.

“Uh- one more thing.” Akito felt vulnerable, actually feeling anxious.

“Yes?” Toya asked, concerned. Starting to lay his legs back on the bed.

“Uhm- I’ve never done this direction so I need to be stretched and-” Akito turned away ashamed. “Can you be gentle?”

Toya blinked at the bewildering request, pressing a reassuring kiss on his forehead. He never expected the ginger would react this way. “Of course I will.”

~

“Akito?” Toya gently nudged the boy whose hand stopped itself half way across his body.

“Hmm…tota…” He muttered drowsily. Eyes trying to force themselves open and fight against the exhaustion.

“I’ll clean up.” Toya whispered and took the cloth from his hands. As the tissue left his fingers, the boy gave into sleep.

Toya smiled fondly and pecked his forehead. He quickly cleaned up the mess. Then having clarity hit him like a truck again.

He just fucked Shinonome Akito. Woah he’s just like the others. But he actually fucked Shinonome Akito, something he never expected to do.

“Hmm.”

Toya looked up at Akito sleeping soundly with his lips agape. He looked cute and such a rare sight. He guessed he was the only one who gets to see Akito like this and it made him giddy. Akito looked so precious. He wanted to protect him.

Toya gently stroked his hair. “I-”

He stopped himself. Eyes wide at what he was going to say. That can’t be right. No way. Akito of all people?

He would probably laugh in his face if he found out.

Who initiated the kiss anyways? He probably just wanted to get off.

It would be typical of his behavior, it probably means nothing to him.

Toya packed up his stuff and left.

~

Toya was a literal pain in his ass. Akito thought to himself when he woke up the next day. He remembered passing out right after wiping himself up. Woah he was fucked by Aoyagi Toya.

Physically and emotionally.

He tried to stand. His legs wobbly and jelly-like as he shifted one foot in front of the other pathetically. “Damn it Toya.” He was lucky it was the weekend.

~

As the next school day rolled around, the soreness in his bum had eased up considerably. The hickeys around his neck lightened up, they were easy to cover with the high collar jacket anyways. However, if they were any higher, Akito would be calling up Toya to his house to help apply concealer to cover them up.

The school day went on as per normal, Akito was used to hiding the marks in the changing room anyways.

“Are you feeling okay?” Toya asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’re limping.”

“You noticed it?” Akito stopped in his tracks. He thought he was good at covering up, no one asked him anything.

“Well,” Toya pushed up his glasses. “It’s not very obvious but I’ve watched you at soccer practice long enough.”

“Eh? Coach didn’t say anything.”

“Uhm, he sent me looks.” Toya mumbled.

Akito’s face went white. Somehow, having his own coach indirectly chide Toya for it was far worse than the time he was scolded for coming in late after an intense makeout session with his ex.

“Was I too harsh?”

“No no you’re fine.” Akito waved his hands. “Uh- let’s talk at home.” He muttered, seeing other students come out of the school gates.

Toya stepped closer, as a way to offer assistance now that the soreness in his ass felt more prominent now that he was thinking about it and the way he walked.

“I’m fine-” Akito muttered.

“Okay-”

“...” The silence was too awkward. “So, read any books lately?”

“Ah.” Toya perked up immediately.

~

Was he bad in bed? Akito thought to himself. Toya looked so worried when they got back to his room. Or was this just Toya’s nature of caring?

“You weren’t harsh.” Akito told him. “It was my first time so it hurts a little.”

Toya frowned, looking like a guilty puppy.

“It isn’t your fault!” Akito exclaimed. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, I didn’t prep myself.”

“I shouldn’t have done it…”

“Hey!” Akito cupped his cheeks with both hands. “It was your first time and you did fine. I wanted to do it too.”

“You did?”

“...Yeah.” He replied and quickly pulled his hands back, rubbing his neck sheepishly. “Uh let’s get on with studying right?” This may be the first time Akito was looking forward to studying.

Neither of them brought up that day again. Albeit it did hurt Akito’s ego, was he bad in bed? Or did he sound bad? However, judging from Toya's avoiding eye contact, he thought that maybe Toya was the one who was ashamed that it was him. Well who wouldn’t be?

~

“You’re going to university right?” Akito asked. “Where are you going?”

“Oh,” Toya turned to him at the question. “University of Tokyo.”

“Woah, big smart school. Suits you.” Akito commented. University of Tokyo. 2 hours train ride from wherever they are. He likely won’t see him again after graduation.

“Have you figured out what you are going to do?”

“Nah.” Akito shrugged. “Maybe take up some jobs. I’m a stupid person, you know.”

“No you’re not. You’re actually smart in other ways.”

“Toya, not this again.” Akito groaned.

Toya dragged his chair to pull Akito over while Akito dragged his chair in an attempt to get away.

“Have some more faith in yourself.”

“Me? I’m the most faithful person there is.” Akito chirped.

Toya rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Akito.”

“How can you say that when you won’t even look me in the eye?”

“Huh?” Toya looked guilty again.

“Yeah I noticed it,” Akito said bitterly. Pushing himself away from the boy. “Shinonome Akito is nothing, you don’t need to pretend, I’ve heard it countless times before.” He grumbled. “I’ll get you that C grade, don’t worry, you don’t need to fuss about anything else Toya.”

“Akito…”

“...”

Ah, he’s actually hurt. Toya sees the redness around his eyes but Akito hates vulnerability.

“I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” Toya spoke. “I didn’t do it because I looked down on you or anything. I was scared.”

“Tsk. Scared?” Akito clenched his fist. “What? That I’ll wreck your table?”

“Because I like you.” Toya just blurted it out.

“...harh?” The tears immediately cleared up.

“I’m scared because I like you, Akito. I’m new to this thing and I don’t know if you like me or not.”

‘I don’t want to get hurt, Akito.’ Toya kept the last part in.

“You like me?” Akito let out a laugh much to Toya’s dismay. “How?” He witnessed as the first tear drop rolled down his cheek. “You can’t be serious, what is there- I have nothing.”

“No, you’re Shinonome Akito and you have so much to offer.” Toya moved forward and wiped away the tear.

“Stop saying that!” Akito exclaimed. “You’ve got so much, good grades, nice home, you’ve got your whole future waiting for you. You deserve it! But why me? You deserve someone better-”

“Is me loving you such a painful thought?” Toya asked. Wiping another tear. “That’s making me sad too, Akito. How can you say such a thing about the person I like? Why can’t you see what I see?”

Akito sniffled. “The fuck Toya how are you saying these so easily?”

“I learned it from you, to say whatever’s on my mind.” Toya smiled. “You trust my judgment, don’t you?”

He nodded.

“Then I’m sure you’re enough for me to like.”

Toya watched the boy rub his eyes, redness building up. He opened up his arms hesitantly, thinking if it was the right move to do. Akito let out a laugh and pulled him forward into a hug. Toya wrapped his arms around him, a hand in his hair.

“I like you too.” Akito mumbled softly into his shirt. Fingers tugged onto the creases. “I mean it. I really do.” His head looked up at the taller. Hair messy from Toya’s stroking. “I want to kiss you again.”

Toya bent down, meeting his lips for another gentle kiss. Lips pressing against each other gently for a sweet reunion.

“I’m new to this dating thing though.”

“There’s a first for everything, you’ll be fine.”

“Can we keep it a secret first?”

“Sure, Toya.”

~

In school, they acted distant and normal, save for some sneaky glances here and there. Since Toya was already watching Akito’s soccer practice and labeled him as a creep, no one blinked an eye when they were more openly seen walking home together.

“Are you focusing?”

“Yes.” Akito nodded, eyes glued to Toya’s face rather than the book.

Toya sighed and pecked his forehead. “Now focus.”

“Okay!” Akito turned back to the book as if he was re-energised by the kiss.

~

It started with studying, Toya swore, and it ended up with both of them lying in Akito’s bed. Fully dressed! He tells himself to save the situation. Akito had a tiring soccer practice, asking for some time to get a refreshing bath first before joining Toya for revision.

His boyfriend’s (ooo HIS BOYFRIEND) fringe was damped with water, sprawled messily all over his forehead snuggled under Toya’s arm. He looked adorable, Toya thought to himself.

“Look at this video.” Akito lifted his phone up to show Toya a short clip of a cat stealing fish off of a table.

“Aw, that’s cute.” Toya chuckled. With his ear on his chest, Akito blushed at how close he was.

A while later, Toya watched the scrolling slowed. He looked down to see the ginger’s eyes slowly fluttering close. ‘Today must’ve been tiring’ Toya thought. The phone dropped on to his stomach, hands held still.

“Akito?” He whispered. “Are you asleep?”

No reply.

Toya carefully placed the phone on the side table and pulled Akito closer in bed. He sent a quick text to his mother before pulling the blanket over them. He watched the boy sleep soundly. Pressing a peck, he cuddled to sleep.

~

“Eh? Toya?” He froze in his spot, the cogs in his brain jamming.

“Morning Akito.” Toya waved and then frowned. “Why are you turning away?”

“It’s a nice haircut.” Akito replied, his entire body facing the wall.

“You don’t like it?”

“Nono I do!-” He turned around and stopped his words, catching himself. “I mean it’s nice you finally cut that long fringe.”

“Thanks,” a light blush dusted his cheeks and Akito’s heart exploded. He could see more of his face now. ‘Aoyagi Toya, why are you killing me in school!?’

“Eh Aoyagi san?”

Akito heard the whispers of a few girls walking by. They were talking about Toya as per usual but instead of with malice, it was in shock and awe. They squealed among themselves before running off.

“Why the sudden change in hairstyle today?” Akito asked.

“I thought that Akito liked it when my fringe is pushed back so… I trimmed my fringe a little. Is that okay?”

“Of course it’s okay, it’s your hair.” Akito grumbled, the tips of his ears burned with embarrassment. “You look nice.”

“That’s great. I hope Akito focuses more on his class.” Toya teased.

“Oh you bastard.” Akito huffed. “I’ll get that C grade for you.”

~

“Uhm excuse me, Aoyagi san?”

“Hm?” Toya turned around to see a junior from the library club holding a box of chocolates with a letter. “You want me to pass this to Akito?”

“Uhm no, it’s for you.” She replied.

“For me?” Toya blinked. Someone pinch him.

“Yes!” She nodded. “I wanted to confess that I’ve looked up to you for a long time. Could you please accept it?”

Toya looked at the box of chocolate and put on the most polite smile he could conjure. “Thank you for the thought and gift but I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”

The girl frowned. “Why? Please just give me a chance!”

“I’m sorry but I-” I see where Akito deduced they were persistent.

“I’ll do anything for you, Aoyagi san!”

“E-eh please not so loud.”

“This is my declaration of my love to you!”

“I’m sorry but I can’t. I’m not interested.” Toya tried to calm her down. “I cannot accept your gift. I have my heart for someone else and it would be unfair to you too.”

“Then- what do I have to do?”

“Nothing.” Akito popped up. Walking over to Toya’s side. Straightening his back to make her feel like he was towering over her. “Toya already said no.”

The girl looked visibly scared at Akito.

“Akito, it’s okay. Take it easy on her.”

“Okay Toya,” Akito replied and gave her a glare. “Now leave us alone.” He smiled. “Please.”

The girl ran off.

“Understand what I mean now?” Akito smirked.

Toya sighed. “I guess. Was cutting my hair all it took?”

“Nah, I saw right through it from the start.”

Toya rolled his eyes with a smile. “Of course you did.”

~

“If I hadn’t confessed, would you have dated her?”

“Of course not.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Look who is in bed with me right now.”

“I mean figuratively! What if-”

“Enough what ifs.” Toya pecked his lips. “I love you, Akito.”

“Gah-” Akito covered his face. Blushing red.

~

Akito felt a tug on his collar and he instinctively pulled it back up. However, it was too late, the entire soccer team could see the fading concealer of the hickeys on his neck.

“Hey-”

“So you were fucking Aoyagi Toya!”

“Hey- no I wasn’t-”

“Stop lying! The whole school is already talking about it.” Another laughed.

Akito groaned at it.

“So who’s sucking dick?”

“You’re the next when I’m done with you-” He was immediately held back before he could do anything. “Let go!”

“You’re so protective of Aoyagi, it’s so obvious.” Another one comments.

“Can’t believe someone like Aoyagi is dating Akito.”

“Can’t believe Akito is dating someone like Aoyagi.”

Akito groaned. “Enough with it already. This one’s serious.”

“Ooooooh.” They all say in unison.

Toya noticed that more heads from the team turned in his direction. Jabs were made at Akito here and there too. He looked more irritated.

~

“Did they find out?” Toya asked.

“Yeh, I’m sorry.”

“Was it because of yesterday?”

“What? No. Don’t apologize for yesterday.” His face turned red. “It was good. They were already predicting this for a long time. They promised they won’t bother you. I hope.”

“Their sense of comradery is confusing.” Toya noted. “However, does that mean I can kiss you in school now?”

“Harh?”

~

“Morning Toya,” Akito happily walked over to the taller person who had the most handsome smile as he looped an arm around Akito’s waist. “Morning.” He pecked his lips.

Right off the bat, people were already whispering around them but Toya was happily nuzzling his boyfriend’s face.

“Toya! That tickles.” Akito laughed.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

“I regret ever having either of you.” Akito’s mother scoffed as she put the stacks of paper into her bag. The luggages stacked tall in front of the door for another business trip. “You have a no better father too. Never home. Why bother having a husband if he can’t even drive you to the bloody airport.” She muttered loudly.

Akito’s sister, Ena, let out a soft groan and gathered up the shopping parcels addressed to her. She tried to make an escape into her room before their mother could say anything more.

“What’s with that attitude?” The woman turned to her at the response. “Ena, you keep spending money. If you keep this up, I am going to cut off your money and kick you out of the house one day! You’re already doing night classes and your art classes are expensive! Why can’t you be better? What an older sister you are to your younger brother.”

“Shut up!” Ena yelled back at her. “I’m already doing everything I can!”

Akito remembers that Ena was 2 years to graduating high school.

Their mother continued complaining. “You barely do anything around here. The moment I leave you guys at home, the house has become such a mess. It’s like no one cares about this place. Just treating it like a hotel.”

“Mom, Ena’s already working hard.” Akito spoke up trying to defend his sister.

On the inside, he pleaded for his mother to stop provoking his already emotionally unstable sister. However, the cry fell on deaf ears. “You see, even your LITTLE brother is trying to talk for you. Do you have any shame?”

“JUST SHUT UP! OKAY! I’M USELESS GOOD FOR NOTHING!” Ena screamed out and carried the box to her room. Slamming the door shut.

“Do not slam the door! You did not pay for it!”

“Mom!” Akito groaned. Rubbing his face into his hands. “Can you stop-”

“What? Are you blaming me? After all I’ve done for you two!” Their mother retorted.

He wished he never opened his mouth. Akito took that as his cue to take out his earpieces and make his way straight to his room.

“Akito! Where are you going? You're failing in school and you could care less about it! Men are so lazy and useless. Curse me for having such a life. For meeting your father and having the both of you.” She yelled at the ginger who continued his beeline to his shelter. “All you do is stay out late, hopeless! You're good for nothing, why can’t you be better?”

That was the last comment Akito heard before he closed the door. He trudged onto his bed and pulled the sheets over himself.

~

Akito opened the door to the silent house. The only company being the convenience store bag of cup noodles that is his dinner. He went over to the glass jar over the counter and fished out a ten, leaving the other piece for the sibling he could barely call his older sister anymore.

He knows she is in her third year but there were days she never comes home after night school. Probably loitering around the city. He hardly knows where she is anymore. Or even who she is.

He trudged up to his room, passing by the other occupant’s door with a flickering light at its threshold.

It was midnight. He went for a quick shower, washing away the sweat and wet mess in his boxers. The looming exhaustion from the previous activity yearned for his body to hit his bed face front. Maybe dinner can be forgotten.

His stomach growled.

Maybe not.

He pushed himself to rush out the hot steamy cup of noodles in his bedroom. With the moon as his nightlight, he slurped the salty broth down his throat. A dinner by himself.

He never had dinner with his family in a long time. Much less seen their faces. Perhaps he saw his older sister’s face a couple of times when she finally leaves her room to get water or school. His parents? Occasionally.

They were always busy with work. One would be overseas on a business trip while the other stays overnight in the office to finish up any remaining meetings with the other side of the earth. When both parents are at home, it would always be fights. Akito could not make himself point his finger at what it was. With the plates tossing and insults hurled, maybe he chose to forget about it. Perhaps that was what his sister did too.

It hurts less that way.

He knew his sister chose to pursue arts. Whether that was a good idea is up in the air. He had never seen her paint anything more than an arm hung up on a noose by its wrist. He could only presume she burnt out and gave up.

However, his parents do earn a good amount to afford such a living for both of them.

Now, Toya sits on the other side of the makeshift floor table. A small spread of fried meat on skewers displayed between their bowls of rice.

“Hmm I’m getting hungry.” Akito rubbed his hands together.

“Don’t need to wait for me.” Toya chuckled and placed the yakitori in his bowl. “Just start eating.”

“Hey- remember to get your own-” Akito cuts in and pushes one skewer to his.

“I will, I will.” He smiled and pulled the skewer out of the meatballs for Akito.

Dinner was now filled with luscious rice bowls and lit up by the comforting warmth of his partner.

~

“What are we going to do when you graduate?” Akito asked while they were heading for another study session. “You’re going to move away right?”

“Well, yes, I’m going to be moving to the dorms.” He pressed a peck into his hair. “We can call everyday.”

“Wouldn’t you be too busy studying?” Akito frowned.

“I’ll make time for you.” Toya pressed his forehead onto his, squeezing the ginger’s hand with their fingers intertwined. “We can make it work. We can try.”

Akito nodded. “Okay.” He looked at ease with the answer. However, he was preparing for the worst.

~

“Hm…” Akito moved himself around Toya’s cuddle to face him. They were bundled under the thick blanket in Akito’s room after Akito pulled out a single set of finished practice papers with a proud grin as a surprise. Toya was elated, over the moon, looking like he saw Santa Claus himself.

Thus, the entire time slot meant for studying was changed to a cuddle session as reward.

Toya was focused deep into reading this light novel that got released. He told Akito he could stay a while longer but with how immersed he was, Akito was sure he would lose track of time. “Toya.”

“Hm?” Toya replied with his eyes stuck on the words on the pages. The other free hand stroking the colourful streaks in the ginger’s hair. Akito thought how interesting it was for the class nerd and reserved classmate is very physically affectionate.

“You already decided on University of Tokyo right?” He asked.

“Well,” Toya then set a bookmark between the pages and put the book aside. “Yes.” Now Akito has his fullest attention. “Why?”

“How is the place like?”

“Oh,” Toya shifted around and fished out his phone, all while keeping Akito under his arm for cuddles. “It’s big, they have a huge library.” An enthusiastic smile formed on his lips. Akito pulled himself up higher to listen better. “Look at this.”

“Woah.” Akito briefly glanced at the rustic architecture. “That looks like something you see in palaces. Why is it so grand? Isn’t it a library?”

“Hmh, they’ve got a lot of limited access restricted research books there.”

“But no light novels.”

“Of course not,” Toya chuckled.

“I think it’s missing out.” Akito huffs. “Novel-less libraries, what else does it have?”

“They’ve got 8 museums.”

“MUSEUMS?” Akito blinked in shock. “They’ve got that much money?”

“Well, it is a university based for research purposes so of course they got some place to display all the work done in the years. Not all the museums are near the campus anyway.”

“Show offs.” Akito tsks and lays back on Toya’s chest who looked amused at the boy’s remarks. “Not even a soccer field?”

“Hmmm let me see. I’m pretty sure they do.” Toya showed him another picture of the arena. “But it’s not near the campus. I think someone donated it to the university.”

“At least it’s big but so far? No wonder you nerds barely get exercise.”

“I think I’ll get my fair share.”

“Huh?” Akito turned quizzically at the boy. “How come?”

“Because I’ll still be chasing after you.” Toya hummed, a charming smile on his face.

The love arrow struck Akito’s heart. His cheeks blushing red. “You will?” His eyes turned away in shame. Not expecting such a pickup line.

“Of course. Anything for you.” He pecked his cheek.

“Toyaa.”

“Hm? Want more?”

“No!- it's past 6.30pm.”

The boy jumped out of bed.

~

Akito paused at the extra pair of shoes at the doorstep. Toya glanced at the loafers. The suspicion he had piqued his interest.

He could not tell if he was anxious to see his boyfriend’s parents, or disappointed he could not have some privacy with him that day.

“Are you okay?” He noticed that Akito never talked about his family despite them living together on paper. Of all the times Toya had stayed in his house, he had never seen any of them except for Ena’s figure from afar.

“I don’t think today is a good idea.” Akito replied.

“Would it be better if I went in too?” Toya asked. A thumb gently rubbing his fist. “I don’t mind staying for you.”

Akito pursed his lips. Having second thoughts. “I’m not sure…it’s not going to be exactly nice.”

“Well, I’m in this with you, you just have to tell me to stay.” Toya gave a reassuring smile.

Akito hesitantly nodded. “Okay…” Leaning onto the taller for some support before opening the door.

Toya noticed the man with brown hair sitting on the couch. Looking relaxed as he watched the news channel on TV. He did not bother to turn around towards the door when they entered. It was only when Akito had greeted him did he even give the slightest of acknowledgements.

“Welcome home dad.” Akito greets after a moment of silence has passed.

“You’re home early.” His father remarked.

“I’ve got tutoring.”

“You? Tutoring people?” He sounded like he heard the biggest joke. He finally got up and faced him. Face immediately changing to delight upon seeing the neatly dressed split haired boy.

“I’m the one being tutored.” Akito corrected. “This is Aoyagi Toya, he’s my assigned tutor.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” Toya bowed out of habit, having to put on exemplary behaviour whenever he met with his father’s friends or colleagues. “I’ll be tutoring Akito for his end of year exams as assigned by our teacher.”

“Ah, Akito is such a big burden. He needs so much work. Thank you so much for your help. I apologise if he caused you any trouble at all. Please if you require anything, do ask.”

Toya finds him to be the typical charismatic business person while Akito takes a deep breath to sooth his simmering anger.

“Oh, thank you for the hospitality.” Toya smiled kindly. “Akito has been working hard on his studies and I believe his efforts will show.”

Akito shivered at it. Although it had been months, he was not used to Toya complimenting him in front of people. However, it was sweet of him to defend him in front of his father. “Okay, me and Toya are going in.”

“Treat our guests nicely, Akito.” His father reprimanded. “Your classmate here is already nice enough to tutor you. Don’t you go about troubling him when you are a handful as it is.”

“I-” Akito groaned audibly with a huff. Stopping himself from exploding at his father. “I will treat him well.” He repeated himself in a forced calm tone and hurriedly pulled Toya into his room.

~

“What’s that for?” Akito turned to him when he dropped a peck on his cheek.

“I wanted to give you a kiss.” Toya rested his head in his arms. Watching Akito do his work.

“I love your kisses Toya but you’ve been giving me 2 for every question I did.”

“Do you want to give you three?”

Akito blushed red. “I-I mean. You can- I won’t stop you-” His words were cut off as Toya neared his face again. His lips pressed onto Akito’s dessert loving chubby cheeks. Enjoying the ginger’s flustered reaction each time. “Jeez- you’re so clingy-” He mocked. Since when did affection from Toya make him melt this badly? Perhaps it always did.

“GET OUT!”

They both jumped at the yell coming from the other room.

“With a daughter like you, I’m so disappointed.” His father’s voice boomed throughout the house. Toya thought this all felt too familiar.

“SCREW OFF! I DON’T NEED YOU, LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Akito groaned at the loud yelling commotion outside. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.” Toya shook his head, proceeding to rub his thumb over Akito’s clenched fist.

“Watch your tone, we have guests. You’re such an embarrassment. If you could only be more like-”

“JUST GO AWAY!” She yelled and the door slammed shut. Toya could feel the slight vibration on the floor.

“Maybe we will end tutoring early today.” Akito suggested. “You want to head home?”

“I can stay for a while more.” Toya reassured. “You don’t look so well.”

“I’m fine.” Akito rebuts, rubbing the corners of his eyes.

“We can watch a movie together. How about that?” Toya suggested.

“Okay.” Akito nodded.

~

It’s raining.

The gentle droplets on the window pane are ever louder. The muted blue sky is blocked by grey thunder clouds.

“Are you able to get home?” Akito asked, watching the boy pull one of his hoodies over himself.

“I’m sure I can, don’t worry about it.” Toya shook his head. “I wish I could have stayed instead.”

“Your parents wouldn’t have let you either Toya,” Akito chuckled at the stubborn suggestion.

“Ah, it’s late. Are you heading home?”

The 2 boys turned towards Akito’s father who walked out of his study upon hearing the door open. The boy immediately silenced himself.

“Yes,” Toya nodded.

“Ah, but it’s raining. We must have an umbrella for you somewhere.”

“Oh, it’s alright-”

“How about we call a driver for you?” He suggests.

“Nono, it’s alright.” Toya tried to graciously rejected the offer.

“Nonsense, it's the least I can do.” The man pulled out his phone, dialling up a ride for the boy. A disappointed sigh escaped his lips. “Akito, I told you to treat our guest better.”

“I did! He was fine with going home like that!” Akito spoke a tone louder than he had intended which only earned another look of disapproval from his father before he looked away to talk to the other end of the line.

Toya took a peak in Akito’s direction, whose brows pulled together with his shoulders tensed. Hands clenched up into fists shaking as he suppressed his rage. It was only a matter of a few spoken words and the boy was already close to exploding.

The ride arrived rather fast. Toya gave a goodbye to Akito and he was soon driven off into the night. The heavy droplets of rain drowned out the night radio blasting music. He took out his phone and stared at the contact.

‘Are you okay?’ He texted the boy.

He watched status go from ‘Seen’ to ‘Offline’.

Toya frowned with bile piling up in his stomach. ‘Text me when you can.’

‘Let’s call tonight.’

~

Toya did not receive a scolding when he reached home. His parents were rather puzzled at the lavish car dropping Toya off at their doorstep. Then, his mother was more worried about the wrinkles that developed his forehead aafrom his constant frowning in worry.

“Are you okay?” His mother asked. “It was raining so heavily.”

“I’m okay. Thank you, mom.” Toya watched his mother help take the satchel off his shoulders. His family was never one to be physically affectionate but he could always understand through their subtle actions. That was why he was so scared of his father in the first place, he never wanted to disappoint him.

“It was raining so heavily and you’ve arrived home late, you better explain yourself.” Harumichi spoke. “You worried your mother sick.”

“Your father did not want to sit down when I told him to. If he paced around anymore, our wooden floor is going to have trenches.” She teased him in hopes of lightening the mood. “But where were you, Toya?”

“The same place, we were just studying longer than intended and then it rained. His father got me a ride home.” Toya replied with half the truth.

“Oh? How nice of him.” His mother nodded. “Come let’s have dinner. We shall repay his kindness another time.”

Toya glanced at the dinner table. A family eating together. “Okay, thank you mom and I’m sorry for worrying you father.”

“Be more wary next time.” He huffs.

~

‘I’m fine.’

‘That’s great! Do you want to call?’

‘Okay.’

~

“Can you meet me at the locker room instead today?” Akito asked Toya. His cheeks puffed up as he chewed on his food. Toya found it cute. They started having lunch together after Toya kissed him in school, everyone knows they are together, why hide it anymore? So Akito went ahead to eat with him instead of his usual group. ‘A changed man’ some would whisper.

“Sure.” Toya nodded. “Is there a reason why?”

“I want to change where we have our tutoring sessions.”

“Alright,” Toya immediately agreed without prodding. “But we can’t go back to the library right?”

“Hmmm there are some school benches.” Akito replied.

“Sure.” Toya leaned forward and pecked his forehead, making the boy’s face turn red.

“Seriously now?” Akito muttered, covering his heated face. “We’re in the cafeteria.”

“We’ve done it before.” Toya pouted. “You don’t like it?” He teased.

“I do!” Akito huffed.

“Hmm,” Toya rubbed his thumb under Akito’s eyes. “Are these eyebags?”

“Eyebags?” Akito tried to pull back.

“Eh? Makeup? Hmm concealer?” Toya pieced it together. “Have you been getting enough sleep lately?”

Akito rubbed the back of his head. “Uh, yes I have.” He glanced around, trying to think of an excuse. "It is just hard to sleep nowadays because my father's at home.”

“Oh.” Toya nodded at it. “Are you anxious?”

“I won’t say I’m anxious,” Akito waved his hand off. “Besides that means I can stay up to finish some extra revision…” His voice trailed off. He wanted to keep it a secret that he had been studying extra hard for Toya.

Toya smiled but let out a sigh. “I’m glad you’re revising but sleep is important too. Try not to stay up so much, okay?”

“I will.” He nodded.

~

‘I’ll get you that C.’ Akito remembered the promise he made so clearly. It was the whole reason they met each other in the first place. He could not ruin this for Toya.

The teacher had called Akito aside to talk about his marks in the latest quiz. He had hoped it was good news but with the setting he was pulled into, it was unlikely.

“You need to do better Shinonome san.” The teacher spoke to him.

“I’m trying.” Akito gritted his teeth. Hearing those damned words again. No matter how much effort he puts in. It never shows.

“You managed to just pass the test this time round, which is an improvement compared to your previous score of 10.” The teacher continued. “But you need to push yourself more.”

“What do you think I can get?” Akito asked instead. “At this rate I’m at, what do you think I can get?”

“Well, if you maintain your hard work, you can pass the exam.” The teacher replied.

“That’s it? Just a pass?” Akito repeated.

“It is hard enough for students to go up 2 grades. You’ve managed to go from a 10 to passing, I think it’s already very good.”

Akito felt his stomach drop. Blood running cold with his heart banging against his chest in fear. He never cared that much but it’s important now. Of all times, it’s important, it needs to-

“Shinonome san,” the teacher nudged him, seeing his eyes dazed into the paper. “I might have asked you to do better but this, it’s an improvement.”

But it isn’t enough.

“What about Toya’s testimonial?” Akito asked.

“Hm, Aoyagi san’s testimonial still depends on your grade. Afterall, the admission board would only take note if a failing student managed to jump grades that much.” The teacher watched the expression on his face. “Just keep working hard.”

“Could you change the deal? Like, for me to just get a pass or something?”

“No Shinonome san, I can’t let you go off freely. You need to put in more effort.”

“But I am!” Akito nearly shouts, trying to keep his emotions in check.

“You’re not trying hard enough.” The teacher replied instead. “Keep working on it, understood?”

“Thank you, sensei.” Akito muttered.

~

“Make sure you treat that boy well.” His father commented as Akito got ready for school. Not even a single ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good luck with school’ or ‘Good to see you, son’ or ‘Have fun today’.

“How long are you going to be around before you go off again?” Akito asked in rebuttal.

“I’m staying for a month. A short break.” He replied with his work laptop turned on at the dining table. “That boy is well brought up and he was so well-spoken. His parents must’ve been from a good background. You need to make a good impression and learn from him.”

“I think I liked it better when you weren’t around.”

~

Toya bent down, peeking into Akito’s view as they walked. “Akito?”

“Hm?”

“Were you listening?”

“Harh?- I- I’m sorry, was thinking about soccer practice.”

“Hmmm, was it about your kick?”

“My kick?” Akito sounded.

“You looked very out of it today, are you worried about your next match?”

“Worried? Hah!” Akito straightened his back and puffed out his chest. “I’ll win that match if it’s the last thing I do.”

Toya chuckled at it, seeing Akito regain his usual manner. “Why don’t we head to the arcade today?”

“Harh?” Akito hesitated, turning to him at the peculiar suggestion. “Arcade?” His heart felt uneasy. The guilt of his grade weighed down in his stomach. It doesn’t feel right. Not now. Not when he performed so terribly. He doesn’t deserve to go. Toya doesn’t deserve this sort of boyfriend.

“We just finished an exam. I think you should celebrate.” Toya hummed. Keeping note that the boy wasn’t so elated at the idea like before. There wasn’t that skip in his footstep at the mention of leisure. The corners of his smile doesn’t enthusiastically perk up. He wondered if he’s losing interest. Does Akito not want to hang out around him anymore? Did the boy only want to keep Toya around? Was it like what he thought?

“I just thought you would be going to hound the lessons on me since finals are even closer.” Akito replied. “But I’m most definitely up for some arcade.” He pushed himself to interlock their fingers into a hold.

Akito knew Toya loved the arcade. Akito knew Toya loved spending quality time.

He will force himself to smile brighter.

~

The two cuddled against each other on the school’s rooftop. It became one of the common spots for them to have their lunches at. Somewhere quiet and spacious, most of the time it would be just the time of them save for a senior who would set off explosions and watch at this bird’s eye view.

“My father’s going to stay for around a month.” Akito sighed.

“Aw, damn it.” Toya pouted and nuzzled into his hair. “I can’t love you in bed.” He pressed his lips against the shell of his ear.

“Toya!-” Akito squeaked, blood rushing into his ears, face and most importantly between his legs. “Don’t think my neck has any more space.”

“I’m sorry.” Toya pouted innocently.

“It’ll just be a month.” Akito repeated and wiggled around to get into a more comfortable position. “Anyways, I’m hungry. Why’d you ask me to come empty handed?”

“My mother wanted to thank you for the ride so she made an extra lunch for you.” Toya took out the extra lunchbox in his courier. The ginger’s eyes widened in hunger.

“Ohh thank you!” Akito’s hands swooped the box up from Toya with a blink of an eye. “Hmm this smells nice. What is it?”

“I’m not sure. She said she tried making something new today. Something she thought boys would like.”

“Aw that’s so nice of her.” Akito leaned against him. Carefully opening the lid to reveal the delicious hamburger heartwarmingly prepared by his boyfriend’s mother. “Oh that looks yummy.” He licked his lips. Anxiously waiting for his boyfriend to also open his box for them to start eating.

“Oh, she has never tried making burgers before.” Toya held the warm bun in his hands. ‘She must’ve been so happy for me to find a friend.’

“Let’s eat.”

Akito took the biggest bite into the burger. Humming in delight at the taste. He could tell that it was made with care and thought, a juicy patty of meat meticulously pan fried doused in sauce with vegetables added in to balance the fattiness out.

He could hardly remember the last time he felt this warmth. He rubbed the end of his eyes.

‘Make sure you treat that boy well.’ His father’s words replayed in his head.

The taste of the burger went dull on his tongue. He forced himself to finish it and cupped Toya’s cheeks in his palms. Leaning forward to press a harsh kiss onto his lips.

“Hm?-” Toya sucked in a breath at the surprise attack. Letting the boy press him against the wall. “What was that for?”

“That’s for kissing me so much during my study session the other day.” Akito replied, licking his lips to prepare for another kiss. “I have to give you another one in return, and then return your kisses three folds.”

Akito remembers how Toya would watch him endearingly after each kiss, no matter how much Akito shields his blushy face away in embarrassment.

“By the way, does she know about us?”

He pursed his lips and shook his head to which Akito nodded in understanding.

“Oh, remember the testimonial that teacher promised you?”

“Hmh.”

“How much do you need it?”

“Well, it’s pretty important because it’s the last one I need.”

“Oh…okay.” Akito nodded, leaning back down to avoid any followup questions with another kiss.

~

Toya disliked physical education. In the past, he may have envied his classmates for being able to go on outdoor excursions and he would be left out but the sun was burning upon his skin and he had to run laps around the track? Sure, he agrees that he has less stamina compared to Akito and would lag behind the majority but why not exercise in a very much air conditioned school gym? Fortunately, it was the only subject on his card that would be a Pass or Fail.

Akito is a good motivator. The boy made it look so easy when Toya felt like he was ready to faint on the spot if he had to do another 100m. Of course Akito has to be a fast runner, he is on the school’s soccer team.

“You okay?” Akito slowed down beside the taller. Sweat dripping down his hair soaking on to his white school tee. Toya wondered how the dye of his neon strands don’t stain his shirt.

“Fine-” Toya pants out, looking as pale as white sheet. “Just a bit more and I’ll be done.”

“Maybe it’s my turn to tutor you in this.” Akito smirked mischievously.

Toya just rolled his eyes in reply but let out a laugh. “Maybe.” He nodded. “Maybe I do need help.” It sure does feel humiliating when his boyfriend is yards in front. He doesn’t want to lag behind. “I don’t know how you do this-” Toya could barely speak. “And you still run in the morning.”

“Some mornings.” Akito corrected. “Have nothing better to do.” He shrugged. “You wanna join? It can be your start.”

“Okay-” Toya pants before stopping in his steps to catch his breath.

~

“I’ll meet you after I get changed.” Toya pressed a peck on Akito’s forehead.

“Toya no, I’m sweaty and disgusting.” Akito lightly paws on his shirt. “At least let me go wash up first.”

“Okay, I’ll kiss you again later.”

Akito huffed, having been receiving the neverending train of kisses lately. “Okay, Toya. Okay.” He went out and Toya continued to wipe himself down in the locker room.

“Did you see her staring at Akito earlier?”

“Who?”

Toya’s ears pricked up at the conversation happening at the other side of the locker wall.

“That blonde girl, one of Akito’s exes?” The voice continued to elaborate. “Uhh the one he dated last year.”

“Oh that one, she’s still jealous?” Another laughed. “She’s really hot though. Arghh I wanted to hit her up but Akito beat me to it and that’s like the third one. He’s way too fast.”

“Heard he rejected that cheerleader chick.” Another chimed. “Such a loss, she was so hot too.”

“I think it was that time he settled for Aoyagi, wasn’t it?”

“Oh yeah. I wonder how long they’ll last. I bet one more month.”

“Nah, I would give it 2 weeks. Akito loses interest fast after they do the thing.”

“How many times do you think they’ve done it?”

“I saw Akito with new hickies the other day.”

“I bet they do it on the rooftop.”

Toya let out a soft huff and left.

~

“Hey,” Toya walked up from behind and towered over the boy seated on a stair ledge facing the school field. Each foot placed on each side, wedging the boy with his legs.

Akito broke out of his thoughts and looked up at the taller. “Hey.”

“I was looking for you.” He squints with sceptical eyes, trying to take a better look at the boy. “Thinking about something?”

“I was just thinking about how next week is the last game I’m going to play.”

“I’ll be watching you more closely.” Toya recites. “Right here closer to the field. Closer to the field.”

Akito smiled at the thought.

“I won’t be hiding anymore. You will see me right here in my uniform.” Toya hummed.

“Thanks, Toya.” He reached up to pull the face lower. Toya obliged and crouched down. Sharing a sweet gentle kiss between them. “Hm, my number one fan.”

“I’ve been watching from the start. I won’t miss it.”

“I’ll win another medal for you.”

“I’m counting on it.” Toya nuzzled into his cheek.

Akito giggled and felt his throat seize up. Thinking back to the grade on his paper written in red ink. Would he be able to actually give him what he promised?

He would be so disappointed. Akito doesn’t want that. It’s the one thing Toya needed from the start and Akito could not even give it. He’s going to leave.

“You’re frowning.” Toya rubbed a thumb on the end of his lips. “Are you okay?” Eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Was it too much?”

“What? Nono.” Akito shook his head. “It isn’t you.” He takes Toya’s hand into his lap and draws circles in his palm.

“Then, what is it?” Toya asked, ready to listen.

“...it’s nothing. It’s fine.” Akito shrugged it off with a laugh.

Toya could only trust his words. “Okay,” he snaked his arms around his waist. “I trust you.”

Could you? Akito thought.

“Because, you’ll tell me. Right?” He asked. “You’ll tell me if it’s anything important.”

Akito pursed his lips and nodded. “Yeah… I will.” He felt undeserving of the intertwined fingers.

Toya embraced the physical affection Akito was trying to show, albeit the stressed tension in each line on his face. He don’t look as excited or happy like he used to. Toya appreciates him trying to put in effort with each small gesture but he knew something was off.

~

“Score!” The couch announced. “Good job Shinonome.”

“Thanks!” Akito shouted in reply from across the field, having kicked the ball across the entire playing area into an immediate goal. With the final soccer competition coming up, their coach was putting them into extra practice sessions. His body had been beaten to undergo drill after drill, ensuring that his athletic ability is in tip top shape to compete in the final competition.

He should’ve been thrilled. By now, his mind would have been fixated on training his body to push to its limits. To give it his all, configuring strategies around the box. Working on his kicks and strength in his legs.

However, he could hardly focus. His mind was running miles per hour, he felt like his head was out of the playing field. Thinking about the turmoil weighing his mind further down.

He mentally kicked himself in the head, trying to get his mind to focus back on the game as the ball was thrown back onto the grass. This next soccer competition would be his last.

This would be the last.

What’s going to happen after?

They’re all going to graduate from highschool soon. Toya’s going to reach further heights and move away.

He knows Toya promised to keep in touch but would they end up like his parents? Meeting once in a blue moon between work breaks only to quarrel. Their supposed happy reunions turned ugly complaining about what was not there.

“SHINONOME!” The couch yelled out his name for missing a kick. Akito cursed to himself.

~

Toya frowned as he watched Akito miss the ball. Something is off with him and he can’t tell what. It’s worrying to see someone who was known to be aloof to be off his game.
Lately, he feels that the boy was purposely avoiding him for who knows what reason. Was his love really fading? Was there any love in the first place? He tells himself to give the benefit of the doubt because he learnt that Akito’s not particularly great at being vulnerable.

“How is it at home?” Toya asked, drawing circles with his thumb as they held hands.

“At home? The same as you saw.” Akito shrugged.

“How’s your sister?”

“She hasn’t been home.” He shrugged. “Or at least, hadn’t seen her but that doesn’t matter. She’s probably fine.”

“Does she avoid the house for the same reason?”

“Probably.” Akito nodded.

“What if you move out too?”

“Huh?” Akito snickered at the bewildering suggestion. “Move out? To where?”

“You can move in with me in the student dorms. It’s not just students there you know?”

“No, I can't move out.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t have the money.”

“You already said you were going to work. I’m sure it covers it.” Toya held his hand. “I can help you too.”

Akito pursed his lips. He wouldn’t. Not after what Akito might give. He’s not worthy enough for Toya. Maybe he would be holding him back if he followed. “Toya, it isn’t that easy. I can’t just leave here.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.” Akito turned and pulled his hand away. Avoiding eye contact from the boy. “I can’t move in with you after highschool.”

He can’t leave his sister behind either. Not when she’s like this. His family is like this.

“You can’t?” Toya mumbled something under his breath. “Do you at least want us to last?”

“Harh?” Akito spun back. Where did that come from?

Toya was trying so hard not to compare himself to how Akito treated his previous exes. How each time he would lose interest and slowly give little attention. “Do you want me around?”

“I- Yes, of course I do.” Akito nodded. His heart screamed. This can’t be happening but Toya looked heart broken.

“You don’t look happy when I kiss you anymore.”

“No, I still love them.”

“You’re hiding something from me.”

“I-” Akito shook his head. “No, I’m not, I swear.”

“You’re lying again. Akito, I don’t know how I can keep this up. Do you actually want me around? You don’t look as interested anymore. You don’t even look my way. You’re not focusing on work. You’re avoiding me, just like how you did to other girls.”

Akito never meant for it to look that way.

“No! It’s not! It isn’t like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Can we just push this aside?” Akito groaned. “I don’t want to talk about it but it’s not. Look, I’m sorry about it. I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’m just another play thing to you, aren’t I?”

“No! You’re not! This isn’t like that- just- Forget it!” Akito nearly shouts. Hands clenched up in fists.

“Fine.” Toya huffed. “If you want to forget about it, sure.” He took his bag.

“Listen, Toya.”

He left.

“...fuck. great job you idiot. You’re so stupid.” He scolded himself.

~

“Watch where you’re going.” Akito snaps at his team member for bumping against his shoulder in the locker room.

“Eh? Someone’s being feisty today.” His member retorted. Noticing the hot temper, he decided to just tease the ginger a bit more. “Why? Big baby being upset about his boyfriend troubles?”

“Watch your fucking mouth!” Akito bit back. “I already said don’t bring Toya into this.”

“Awww why?” No one knew that the rumours were true. “Scared that he’ll leave?-” He yelped as Akito threw a punch.

~

You’ve done it again.

Akito hates this.

The disappointed sighs directed at him. The shaking of heads upon his presence.

The medbay beds were now the closest thing he had as friends.

He massaged at the bruise on his arm while his teammate had a growing mark on his cheek.

‘He deserved it.’ Akito tells himself as reassurance.

Until he spotted the split blue hair entering the room. Olive eyes glued back down on the bruise spreading across his arm.

“What did you do?” Toya asked.

“Threw a punch.” Akito shrugged. “At least I didn’t get hit in the head.”

“Stop joking around.”

“I’m sitting right here, unmoving.”

“Akito, this is a serious matter. You just earned yourself a week suspension and I can’t talk you out of it.” Toya groaned in a stern voice.

“You don’t have to.” Akito mumbled.

“What in the world Akito.” Toya spoke flabbergasted. “What’s gotten into you? Finals are coming up. How are you going to study like this? Your soccer competition is coming up too. It’s your last one, Akito. Why didn’t you think before throwing the punch? I know you can do better Akito, I’ve seen you do better.”

Akito pressed his nails into his skin.

“Weren’t you looking forward to the game?” Toya asked, his voice cracking in disbelief. However, he was just met with silence as Akito sat there absorbing it all.

“Akito, talk to me.” Toya prods. “Look up and talk to me. I know you’re good at taking it all in but I want you to talk to me. I thought you trusted me.”

“I do.” He finally speaks. However, eyes remained glued down.

“Okay, tell me. Please. What’s bothering you?” Toya sat on the bed in front of him. He pleads. “I know you hate opening up but please tell me, I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I? I can rely on you and you can rely on me too.”

“Did you know you saved me? That day when you asked me to go to the arcade, I only managed to talk to my father because of you?” Toya gently stroked his hair. “You were the first to be there for me and I want to be there for you too. So please talk to me too.”

The ginger doesn’t answer.

Every moment. Every touch.

It feels like punishment.

He shouldn't be here. He should have left..

Akito doesn’t dare to look up.

But Toya came.

Toya reached for his hand, pulling it up to his lips for a chaste kiss. “I’ll see you at your place tomorrow. Then we’ll talk okay? Promise?”

Toya patiently waited.

One thing he was good at.

Waiting for Akito.

Waiting by the school gate everyday to walk home together.

Waiting for him to turn and notice him watching from the high levels.

He can wait.

Akito hesitantly nodded, his eyes remained down.

Toya squeezed his hand and pressed a kiss on his forehead. “I love you.”

He then left.

~

Toya attempted to do his research before going to the boy’s house. He tried talking to his teammate or the group of delinquents but they never gave an answer. Just taunts and threats.

Toya rang the doorbell. He was immediately greeted by the boy’s father.

“Ah, hello again. Are you here to tutor Akito?”

“Yes.” Toya nodded. “It’s essential that he gets his revision.”

“Oh you’re too nice. Akito’s such a handful. My apologies for all the troubles he had caused. Would you like anything?”

“No, it’s alright. Akito has his ups and downs but he does have his good intentions.”

“That boy never learnt proper manners. Please if he does anything that troubles you, do tell me. Anything to lessen your burden.”

“I’m sure he won’t.”

“You don’t need to lie. That boy has been causing trouble since the day he was born. Waste of good oxygen I would say.” He laughs, expecting Toya to laugh along.

“Shinonome san apologies for my rudeness but Akito is hardworking. You may not see the qualities in him but please give him the support and praises where credit is due.”

“Ah, you’ll see eventually.” He waved off. “I know my own son.”

Making toya irritated. Why isn’t he listening?

“Anyways, that lazy bum has been in his room.”

“Thank you.” Toya dashed for it. Knocking on the wooden door. “Akito?”

He hears shuffling inside.

“I’m coming in.”

The room had not been this messy before. Chairs damaged with cracks. Papers strewn all over the floor.

“I’m sorry.” Akito stood at the centre of it. “I can’t. I’m not good enough.” He grunted and punched down on his table.

“What isn’t?” Toya quickly closed the door before the father could make a comment about the noise.

“The grade. I can’t.”

“The grade? Oh.” Toya blinked “oh Akito. It's okay.”

“No it’s not- I know it isn’t-”

“I’ll ask the teacher for a compromise.”

“I already did!- I-”

“I’ll figure something out, Akito, it’s okay.” The boy dropped his bag and approached the crying boy. “It’s not the absolute end of the world. It was hard enough to jump-”

“But you need it.”

“I’ll find something.” Toya replied. Holding his arms out for the boy to come into the hug. “It’s okay-”

“No- Stop!-” Akito stepped away. Gritting his teeth. “Why aren’t you mad at me? Be mad at me. Everything I’ve done, it’s never enough. It’s never good.”

“Akito.” Toya frowned, watching the tough exterior break down bit by bit. Each tear met with an aggressive shout. It was scary, Toya admits, no one likes being yelled at. “Why would I be mad? I know you tried your best and you did great.”

“But you need-”

“Stop, I never said you were never enough, Akito.” His voice turned stern. “If the grade isn’t attainable then, I don’t need it.” Toya spoke. “I don't need the testimonial, Akito. I’ll find another way. Remember I was the one that talked you and your friend out of detention the first round, of course I can figure something out with the principal.” The boy pulled him into an embrace as the boy grunted into his shirt. Toya gently drew circles on his back as he heaved. “I will find another way, you did your best.” He pressed a gentle kiss on his temple. “Akito, you’re so much more. You need to understand that. No matter what anyone says. Even your parents, you’re worth so much more.” He whispers, all foreign to the ginger.

Akito’s anxiety about the grade gradually faded away, although within the taller boy’s arms, guilt settled in instead.

‘Of course he can…he’s Toya…I’m so stupid. I worried him for nothing.’

‘How can I keep up?’

‘Am I holding him back?’

Toya drew circles on his cheeks and rubbed the tears at the corner of his eyes. “Akito you mean so much to me. You’re so wonderful you don’t even know…” He frowned and gently pinched on his chubby cheeks. “What are you thinking about now?”

Was he so readable?

Toya sighed and nuzzled into his forehead. “I can’t read your mind but I want you to rely on me too, Akito.”

Akito’s eyes turned away again, avoiding the confrontation. But his arms clung onto his shirt so tightly.

“I know it’s going to be hard but I want to be there for you too, remember?” Toya tries to give a smile.

“Akito is amazing. He can play soccer so well.”

“He is a good speaker, he can get anyone on his side easily.”

“He is so rebellious he isn’t afraid to show himself and try new things.” Toya stroked the dyed pieces.

“Akito has these cute eyes when he looks at pancakes.” He chuckled.

“Most importantly Akito cares a lot about me and I care about Akito too.”

“I love you, Akito.” They swayed at the spot as the boy cried out tears.

~

Both the coach and Toya went to have a talk with the principal to try to get the boy out of suspension just for the soccer game.

“Hate to admit it, but I don’t wanna risk a loss just because Shinonome isn’t on the team.”

“I know,” Toya nodded at the coach. “After a few observations, I realised he was a key player in the games. That was why you were so tough on him.” He thought back to his upbringing. “I understand that. Let’s just hope the principal let’s him off again. This is going to be tough.”

~

Akito did not know how or what Toya did but he was allowed back to participate in the school’s final tournament. He thanked Toya with so many kisses followed by “please I’ll do anything for you.”

“Hmm how about another gold medal?” The taller replies with a peck.

There he was. His boyfriend was sitting on the bleachers, watching Akito's game up close. Out of hiding in the sea of white uniformed students.

Toya gave a wave, to which Akito enthusiastically waved back with both arms.

Toya blew an air kiss towards him. Akito blushed profusely red before he blew a kiss back shyly.

“Here is your gold medal my prince,” Akito placed it in his palm. “Another gold medal as promised, say, you could make a shrine out of me when you move out.”

Toya chuckled. “Oh this will be part of the awards collection that I’ll be making in my dorm. My roomate just have to deal with it.”

~

The exam period soon passed by, much to Akito’s relief. The gruelling nights he stayed up late to catch up on last minute revisions, to Toya calling him at 2am to urge him to sleep just so the boy has enough sleep to push through the paper.

“Toya? Why are you calling me?”

“Did you sleep?” Toya sounded tired on the phone.

“I will soon. Toya, isn’t it late? Why are you calling me?”

“Same for you Akito,” he paused and let out a quiet yawn. “Wanted to make sure you’re sleeping too, you sound pretty wide awake.”

“You didn’t have to check on me, I’m just doing up some last minute revisions.”

“We revised for a good while today, no? You should get some shut eye.”

“Okok.” Akito sighed. “Goodnight Toya.”

“Goodnight Akito.”

Silence filled the line as Akito waited for Toya to hang up.

“Are you going to hang up?”

“I was waiting for you to hang up first.” Toya chuckled. Akito could hear the ruffling of his blanket as he shifted around in bed. “Hmm? Well? Are you blushing?”

“No!” Akito sputtered, covering up his red cheeks that the boy could not see.

“Anyways, you didn’t go right to bed, are you worried for tomorrow?”

“A bit.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Toya spoke. “I can talk to you till you go to sleep.”

“What if I sleep in?”

“You’ve never once did that.” Toya chuckled. “You wake up early for your jogs. I’ll head to your house tomorrow to pick you up if you’re worried. Just lean on me abit.”

Akito groaned on the other line. “I want to revise a bit more.”

“Okay, 2 minutes, then you better head to bed.”

“Okay.” Akito huffed. He set his phone down and got right back to work.

There were some soft tapping sounds coming from his phone, it was probably Toya idling around on his phone.

“2 minutes is up Akito.”

“Aw, that was fast.”

“Hmh, and now time to get some shut eye.” Toya soothed.

“Fine.” Akito sighed and made his way to his bed. Toya having a satisfied sigh as he heard the creaking of his bed as he got on. “Comfy?”

“Hmh, just missing you.” Akito mumbled, snuggling his face into a pillow.

“I miss you too.” Toya made a kiss sound on the phone.

Akito huffed. “Muah.”

~

Akito knew that Toya had said it numerous times before. That the grade that comes out of this won’t affect his application but to have a disappointing result after all they have been through, Akito had hoped it would at least show.

“You did great!” Toya excitedly pressed a kiss on his forehead followed by cupping his cheeks up. He was going to gift kisses and pecks to his red boyfriend in the hallway. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Yeah, but it's like 2 marks off from a C.”

“But Akito, your marks improved so much, I’m so proud!” Toya grinned so wide. Eyes shining so bright.

Akito was enamoured by it. “I-I guess…” He turned away and rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Uh how about yours?”

“Oh,” Toya pulled back and took out his paper to get a look at his grades. “All As.” He felt a kiss press upon his cheek.

“As expected.” Akito hummed. “Your application is going to be successful, there’s no doubt about it.” His expression then changed again, back straightening up. “Uh, Toya, remember about that thing you mentioned? About moving out?”

“Hmh,” Toya nodded. “Why? What is it?”

“I’ll talk with my sister first.”

“A talk with your sister?” Toya tilted his head. “Eh? You’re really agreeing on moving out with me?” Toya grinned so wide again his cheeks could hurt. Although he was elated for Akito to finally agree to moving in with him, why bring up his sister all of a sudden?

“I need to talk to my sister first. But after that, I’ll follow you.” He continued. “I promise.”

“Okay!” Toya happily nuzzled his hair. Trusting Akito to work things out.

~

Akito hesitantly knocked on his older sister’s door. He was answered with silence before he knocked on it harsher again.

“What is it?” The familiar voice snapped at it.

“I’ve got something to tell you.” Akito replied.

“What is it?” She asked, sounding fed up with her attention being away from her monitor any longer.

“Can I come in?” He asked. There was hesitance in the strange request.

“Come in.”

It hasn’t been that long since Akito stepped into her room. The other timers were when he had to step in between her and their father. The state of the room never changed, cute frilly pink clothes strewn around with makeup and paint brushes.

A centrepiece up on the display, her current working piece. He knew that she still painted but was not sure how frequent she would be.

“Spill it, I don't got all day.”

She looked at him. He had expected for her brows to be pulled together in irritation but they weren't. She was waiting for him to open his mouth.

“Well?”

There was a hint of anger but Akito had managed to go as far as standing in her room. A sacred place so near yet closed off from his eyes for years.

“I’m thinking of moving. Moving out.” He speaks, eyes drifting to the dark oak wood shelves drilled into the walls. Artbooks arranged neatly on the shelves. Filled canvases scattered around the wooden floor. It all changed but it still felt the same. Paint brushes soaked in cups of water. The toxic smell of paint drying.

“Oh?” Ena blinked. “Oh.”

“...yeh.” His head turned to the window, the sky glooming dark as the sun started to set. A golden ray of light shone upon the dried paint splotches on the floor. “I’m thinking of moving out next year.”

“Okay, then why are you telling me?” Ena tsks with envy.

“I thought you should be the first to know.”

“Okay, thanks.” She replied with pursed lips. Unsure how to navigate around their strained relationship. “Just go then.”

“Okay.” Akito nodded. This conversation feels way too short for such a heavy matter. This could be the last time they have a chance to talk. Though somewhere Akito wished that they never needed one even if he stayed. “...you’re not going to ask where?”

“Okay. Then where?”

“I’m following Toya to his dorms.”

“Who’s Toya?”

“My boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” She repeats exasperatedly.

“The blue hair guy you've been seeing lately.” Akito rubs his neck bashfully. Smile lines creased into rosy cheeks.

“Oh.” Ena replied as if that wasn't the biggest news drop. “Okay.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be? You’re leaving this god-forshit place.” She tsks again.

“I…thought you would be angry.” He replied. Something he learnt from Toya. Talk it out.

“Angry?” Ena tsks, her fist clenching up. Just like old times, Akito thought, this was the surface of the older sister he knew back then. Before doors closed shut and locked. “Who says I’m angry!” She nearly shouts and slams her fist down. “If you want to go, just go for all I care!”

Her nails would be sharp and fresh from manicure. His skin would be littered with bleeding scratches.

He takes it in. He takes it all in for the sake of the family. For the sake of his older sister he once looked up to.

“Eugh, why would I be angry? It’s your choice.” But her hands were kept in fists. Not leaving the desk. Claws kept away. “I won’t control where you can go.”

“But…” Akito sighed. “What about you?”

“About me?” She scoffed.

“Will you be okay?” He pulled onto the hem of his shirt. This was all too raw. Too raw for them. He was tiptoeing around eggshells the moment he called for her attention and now he was walking with his feet flat on the ground.

Sometimes I don’t see you come home till late at night and I get scared, even now when I’m older.

Sometimes I’m scared you won’t yell at me from your room anymore.

Sometimes, I’m still the little brother trying to help his older sister. Following around splashing puddles. Holding up the giant umbrella that was too big for his body.

“Will I be okay?” Her anger turned more towards confusion. “Why wouldn’t I be okay? Akito. I'll be fine.”

She’ll be fine. That was what she said.

A pool of anxiety relieved itself in Akito. He never knew he had it. Day by day, with each word his father throws at Ena, the pool gradually fills up drip by drip.

“Go live your life.” She continues. Her gaze softened for a moment. This all feels so wrong after never having a proper conversation in years. “I won’t say anything or do anything to stop you.”

‘Will you be okay?’

“You don’t need to worry about your older sister so much.” She too turns away, finding the empty portrait hung on the wall more interesting. A blank frame that used to house a happy family photo. “I’ll be fine, just take care of yourself.”

She then huffed. “Anything else?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“Kay, leave. I’m busy.” She spun her chair back around.

‘Busy doing what?’ He thought of asking. Perhaps this could be the first step in mending their ties. They could be close again.

“Kay” was all he muttered and turned for the door.

Once best buddies with crayons in their tiny hands.

Maybe the fewer words, the better.

~

The process was surprisingly smooth. When Akito individually told his parents that he would be moving in with Toya, they were both very happy for him to move out of the house. Akito thought it was because of how renowned Toya’s family name is. He had hated how his parents had switched their attitudes to accommodate Toya’s schedule when it came to picking him up but he was thankful that neither of them stopped him. No one had to know they were going to be kissing.

The dorms were a drive from their home but it was still convenient to get around by a long train ride. Nothing too drastic of a change from their current life.

The only person Akito had given his address to was Ena. He simply sent it with a few words. ‘Here is the address if you need it.’

‘Thanks.’

Of course, that was all the replies he received from her and no matter how little words they were, he was thankful for it. She never visited but Akito was content to see her post about her art online again.

Akito looked over their little rented apartment. It was a bit small and cramped with a single standing shower but it was everything to him.

“I’ll go carry the rest of the luggages up.” Toya hummed after checking that the lock was working normally.

“Wait, let me help you.” Akito laughed. Running along behind him.

He’s excited.

Chapter Text

"Hey, do you have a minute?"

"Oh? Sure." Toya turned to his classmate.

"Do you mind if we partner up for this upcoming assignment?" The girl asked with a sheepish smile.

"Oh," that would save Toya a lot of trouble in asking the professor for help. "Sure. Do you have a research topic in mind?"

"I was thinking about 'Presence of Pictures increases the chances of a positive response."

Toya raised a brow at the bizarre topic. The module was to be for the Human Behaviours in Society. How humans would interact in it.

"Pictures?" Toya tapped on his chins. "I have never heard of this before."

The girl blushed and hid half of her face with her book. "I-I had thought of it as an observation. People who have pictures in the window of their wallets tend to give a more positive response when you talk to them." She replied. "Like when they are rushing to get their card out, they are less likely to have an extreme negative reaction, or face it with a more positive light."

Toya stared at her and nodded. "Well, that makes sense but isn't it only when the picture is of something positive?"

"Hmm." The pigtailed girl pouted her lips. "O-oh I'm sorry, I didn't think this through."

"Oh, it's alright. That's why it's a research topic afterall." Toya pushed his glasses up his nose bridge. "I would be happy to team up with you for the project. I could think of some variables we can play with."

The girl perked up. "Thank you so much! I have so many ideas we could do-" She was ready to pull the whole list out.

"But first, you haven't told me your name."

"Oh!" The girl blushed again, embarrassed. "My name is Azusawa Kohane. Nice to meet you!" She put her hand out, a fluffy pink scrunchy around her wrist. Toya took the hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you too. Shall we meet after school at 3pm? I have something on at 6."

"Sure!" The girl giggled.

~

Toya overlooked the scribbled paper riddled with statements and scribbles. A fruitful discussion on a simple item of 'pictures'.

"I think our plan is clear." Toya set the paper down onto the bench table. "Great work."

"Thank you so much for your help!"

"We are a team in this. Of course I have to do my part too." Toya replied. "It's a simple thing but yet you picked it up and could experiment so much on it. It's impressive."

The girl blushed again. "Th-thank you!"

Toya's phone screen lit up on the table. Showing a message notification on a plain blue wallpaper. "Ah, I have to go. I'm late. Shall we execute our plan tomorrow?"

"Sure!" The girl nodded. "I'll see you then in the elderly home."

"I'll see you too." Toya nodded and pushed all his items into his bag in one swift swipe. Thumb sliding across the screen to unveil the message from Akito.

'My shift is up, on the way home. Want me to buy anything?' The speech bubble reads, coming out from the default profile picture of a human silhouette.

'Hm, I'm feeling like eating yakitori today.'

'Okay, I'll pick those up, the usual chicken?'

'Yes please :) Thank you Akito.'

'No problem'

Toya's footsteps quickened his way back home. It was a familiar warm routine now. Akito would always reach back at the dorms first after his shift because of how near it was, Toya would reach home after to have dinner already laid out on the table.

Again, today Toya placed his shoes beside the neon yellow striped black sports shoes on the shoe rack. "I'm home." He calls out.

"Welcome back." The familiar sweet voice echoes from inside. The ginger rose from the sofa to the door to greet his boyfriend. "You're slightly late today, was the bus stop crowded again?"

"No, it wasn't." Toya shook his head. "A discussion for a project overran and I forgot the time. Thanks for waiting for me." He smiled and snaked his arms around Akito's waist.

"Hm? No problem." Akito chuckled and returned the gesture. "But your food is going to get cold if you had been any later."

"I'm sorry about that." Toya pouted. "I will be sure to remember the time next time."

"Don't worry about it." Akito smiled as Toya pressed a kiss on Akito's cheeks. "Come on, let's eat dinner."

"Wait one more kiss." Toya mumbled.

"Okay okay." Akito sighed and faced the boy, leaning in to press a quick one on his lips. "Now let's eat."

~

"I don't really like to harp on the past." The old lady told the 2 university students. "But this is the only picture I have with my husband so I keep it here. It's the only picture I really have around here." The old lady gestured around the dull room. "I had wished cameras were more frequent back then. But then again, he isn't someone who likes to show affection."

"I see." Kohane nodded. They had chosen to interview this lady first because while the other patients barely had any decoration, hers had a single photo frame. "I'm glad that you have this picture to keep a memory of him by."

"Me too," she nodded. "I had kept it in my wallet and nearly lost it once. Never brought it out again after that."

"What if you scanned it to make a digital copy?" Toya asked, staring at the black and white copy.

"Ah, I could but I hadn't had the time or know how to do it." She replied.

"What if we helped?" Toya continued. Kohane nodded along. "Nowadays, it’s easy to get high-tech technology! I can help you do a digital scan with my phone and make it sharper!"

"Oh that would be nice, thank you so much." The old lady gave a hearty chuckle.

~

Toya got shaken up as Akito snuggled beside the taller on the couch. "You okay?" Akito laid his head down on the other's lap. Eyes peering curiously at the slightly wrinkles on Toya's forehead.

"I was just thinking about schoolwork." Toya replied. "We met an old lady today and she only has one photo of her husband."

"Oh," Akito nodded. "Well, maybe they didn't have many cameras back then."

"That was exactly the reason." Toya nodded. "It was a young photo too, I think they didn't take any when they got older." He gently ran his fingers through Akito's curled puffy hair. "But my team partner is going to make a digital one for her and surprise her with colours edited in."

"Oh that's so nice of her." Akito nodded at it. "But you still look upset. Is there more?"

"I pity her." Toya replied.

"Well, does she seem happy?"

"Yeah." Toya nodded.

"Then I think she's doing fine." Akito nodded. Remembering how he did not even take a picture with his family when he left. He has not seen them for a couple of months already. Only a couple of texts here and there. "We don't need everything."

"She does seem happy with just her photo, but she was happier when she could have a digital one too." Toya lightly pinched his boyfriend's chubby cheeks.

"Oi."

"Want to go out for pancakes tomorrow?"

"Su-" Akito then paused himself. "Ah yeah, forgot to tell you, the cafe's boss is extending my shifts."

"Oh?"

"So I'm going to end later than 8 now." Akito frowned. "But I'm getting paid more."

"Oh, that’s great." The extra finances would definitely help them. "I'll be the one to getting us dinner now."

"I could still pick it up after my shifts." Akito pouts.

"Your feet would be extra tired by then, let me do it." Toya smiled and pinched his cheek again.

"Oi-"

"How about pancakes on Saturday instead?"

~

"Thanks for your help again!"

"We are partners in this, you don't have to thank me." Toya chuckled. “We are at the final lap of the project. I am glad that we are able to churn out the results this fast.”

“Me too!” Kohane giggled. “We should take a photo to commemorate our submission!” She pulled her phone out, encased in the pink tinted phone case was a polaroid stuck on the back. Toya faintly caught the silhouette of 2 people. The girl raised her phone up with the selfie camera open. Toya glanced at the preview screen and awkwardly raised his fingers up in a ‘peace’ sign, copying what Akito would have done if he had his picture taken. Usually, it would be when Akito was dating the girls and they wanted a photo.

In high school.

Woah that was a long time ago.

He watched the screen flash and a border formed around the photo, shrinking into the gallery at the bottom corner.

“Nice! Thank you Aoyagi san!” She opened up the photo for viewing. “It looks good!”

Toya thought otherwise, he looked to be awkwardly posing in it. “I do have something to ask you, Azusawa san.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Is there a particular reason you wanted the research topic to be about pictures?” Toya asked.

“Oh! Well, photography is my hobby, you see.” She picked on the edge of the jelly phone case. “And I wanted the research topic to be related to something I’m really passionate about! So, that’s why I wanted to have a study on pictures in relation to happiness.”

“Oh, that’s interesting. I should have guessed that you like photography.” Toya hummed, the skill level she exemplated in editing the old woman’s photo should have been enough. “Do you have any photos to show?”

The girl immediately perked up. “I do!” She flipped open her gallery again, opening a certain album labelled ‘Scenes’. They flipped through the numerous photos of trees and leaves. The composition and lighting of each one translated into a story that made Toya look with awe.

And then there were numerous photos of a certain girl with a gradient blue hair. Golden eyes are always smiling so brightly and fiercely at the camera. She looked like a model.

“Who is this?” Toya asked.

“Oh.” Kohane then turned blushing red. “This is An, she sometimes models for me.”

The girl from the polaroid.

“She’s my girlfriend.” Kohane muttered softly.

“Oh.” Toya was all he replied. She has that many pictures of her girlfriend? Toya mentally flipped through the gallery on his own phone. So far they had been of notes and study materials. Black and white. Not a speck of orange anywhere.

“Do you mind it?” Kohane asked timidly.

Toya shook his head. “Not at all.”

“Oh, thank you so much.” She muttered, relieved. “Uh, I was actually going to find a cake for her today. Do you have any recommendations?”

“Cake?” Toya tapped on his chin. “I know of a bakery, the cakes are pretty good. I want to drop by there too. Want to follow?”

She grinned wide. “Yes please!”

~

Kohane was elated to find a black forest cake in the cafe. Berries topping each dollop of white cream. A nice concentration of wine to even out the richness of the chocolate. An absolute delicacy. Kohane fished out the remaining coins in her wallet, determined to obtain the prized possession. Toya tapped his card on the reader, getting a slice of cheesecake cake for his own.

They chatted as they walked towards the station together. Having felt relieved and comfortable finally having a friend in a quiet class of studious students. Most of the time everyone would leave immediately after class, saving any time for social interaction. And when it came to group discussions or pair work, it would usually be the students sitting in their own silence. It was a disadvantage that came with a class of introverted nerds.

Toya entered the clothing store, Kohane followed behind him.

“Welcome.” A voice greeted them, the person had his back turned towards them as he arranged clothes on the racks.

“Hi Akito.”

The boy’s back snapped up straight so fast, an enthusiastic smile replaced the customer service look on his face. “Toya, you didn’t tell me you were coming.” The ginger walked over and gave the taller a tight hug.

His eyes then laid on Kohane standing behind him. He quickly pressed his lips onto Toya’s cheeks for a quick peck. Definitely earning a surprised reaction from the girl. “Who is this?”

“Oh, this is Azusawa Kohane, my assignment partner.” Toya replied, a hand snaking around Akito’s waist to close around the hug.

Akito’s eyes narrowed at the cake box in Kohane’s hands. “Oh? You went to get cake?” He says in the most neutral way he could.

“Hmh.” Toya smiled and held up the cheesecake. “Passed by there just for you. Is your shift ending soon?”

Akito’s face immediately lit up and licked his lips. Stomach softly growling at the temptations of the sweet dessert. “Aw Toya.” He tiptoed to give another peck on his lips.

“Shinonome kun don’t makeout with customers on your shift.” The boss chided over the cashier.

“Got it boss.” Akito did a salute and turned back to Toya. “Soon. Give me 10 minutes then I’ll be out there with you.” He then turned to Kohane. “Nice to meet you.” He puts a hand out towards her. She naively shook it. “Nice to meet you too! I didn’t know Aoyagi kun had a partner! Everyone thought he was single.”

“Oh, really?” Toya tilted his head in confusion. “Why is that?”

“Well, you didn’t have anything that says you have a partner like keychains or photos. Some people set it as their wallpaper.” Kohane elaborated. “But it is not surprising that Aoyagi san has a partner, you’re quite handsome and the talk of the class.”

“He is,” Akito nodded and cupped Toya’s cheek, thumb lightly rubbing under the eyes. “And he is very much taken.” Akito put both his arms around Toya’s waist, almost protectively. Eyes looking down upon the pigtailed girl.

“Now that I see it, I’m surprised about Aoyagi kun’s type.”

“Hey, what's that supposed to mean?” Akito huffed.

“I thought he would go for someone more reserved, quiet.” She looked over them again and smiled brightly. “But I think you two are perfect for each other.”

Akito did not expect to receive the compliment, nor did he expect to feel bashful over it.

“Aw, thank you Azusawa san,” Toya laid a peck on Akito’s head. “I believe I’m very blessed to have Akito.”

“He-hey-” Akito pulled away, eyes sheepishly looking away. “I should be the lucky one…”

Kohane giggled. “Maybe I can introduce you to my girlfriend one day!”

Akito then looked confused. She was not here to steal Toya? “You have a girlfriend?”

“Hmh!” She giggled and enthusiastically held up her phone case, showcasing the polaroid on the back. “This is my girlfriend, isn’t she so pretty and cool?”

The two boys leaned in closer to take a look. The other girl on the polaroid had gradient blue hair, dressed in a styling crop and high waisted pants.

Akito nodded. “Yep…good taste.”

Kohane giggled and blushed.

“How long have you two been together?” Toya asked.

“Oh, a little while after we graduated from highschool, it took some time for us to actually get together. How about you two?”

“Hmmm,” Toya tapped on his chin. “Since highschool.”

“Oh! So you’re high school sweethearts.”

Sweethearts? Toya thought. He wouldn’t exactly call themselves the typical highschool sweethearts back then.

“Sweethearts.” Akito repeated and shrugged. “Well Toya definitely tasted sweets- Ow-” Toya bumped him on the shoulder but Kohane just chuckled.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Kohane waved at the two boys. The boys waved back as she left the store. Toya turns his attention back to Akito. “Tasted sweets?”

“Wasn’t I?- Ow.” He earned a whack on his head.

“Won’t bother you at work, I’ll meet you later okay?”

“Okay, see you.” Akito gave one last tight squeeze.

~

Akito slung his bag over his shoulder, steps skipping towards the glassdoor where Toya’s silhouette is. After they had graduated from high school and moved in together, Akito put himself through an abundance of job applications. He was desperate to get a footing of his own even though Toya said he could give him some allowance too. Toya had even suggested setting aside some time for Akito to join a football club in the schools around the neighbourhood but Akito was adamant about putting the rest of his free time into work, even if it meant forgoing his hobby.

‘I’ll keep my stamina with my runs.’ He excused.

It did make Toya sad. Afterall, he saw it himself how football makes the boy. However, he promised that in the near future, he would take up some work himself so that Akito could return to his hobby. Until then, the first medal Toya received continued to hang on the shelf.

“Otsu,” Toya greets, pulling his boyfriend into a quick kiss. “Good job with work today.”

“Otsu.” Akito hummed into it, pulling the taller’s head down for a slight more taste. “Thanks for the cheesecake dude.”

“Dude?” Toya chuckled and nuzzled his nose. The two swayed by the roadside. “I thought you agreed that we are highschool sweethearts.”

“Well you did taste sweets, didn’t you?”

Toya smacked his butt with a huff. “Naughty.”

“Gonna punish my foul mouth?” Akito pouts in a soft bratty tone.

Toya blushed at it and pushed his head past his ear. “Getting jealous earlier were you? Kissing me in front of my classmate.”

“You can’t blame me.” Akito huffs. Pressing his face into his shoulder, ears dusted pink. “Who knows who’s going after you in school and I’m not there so they don’t know to back off!”

Akito squeaked as he felt teeth nibble on his ear.

“You’re so sweet. Let’s get home.”

~

Akito thought they could have some special times to themselves once they reached home. Afterall, he was in the mood for it and he was sure Toya was too. However, they were greeted with the basket full of laundry they had procrastinated on for the week. Toya gave a disappointed sigh, having wished he could push this aside for one more day but alas, dirty laundry comes first.

“Come on.” Akito nudged, “the faster we clear, the faster we can eat dinner. Takeout?”

“Hmh.” Toya nodded, going alongside him to tackle the clothes.

They worked in comfortable silence, sorting the laundry into the whites and coloured. Then ironing and folding the freshly washed clothes into neat piles. Storing them away into the small narrow drawers. Akito took the liberty of hanging up their jackets, sneakily taking a sniff of Toya’s.

When they moved in together, it was Akito that first wrote down the rules regarding the responsibilities in living in a house. It was then realised that Toya was clueless on what it takes to leave out in a dorm without his parents. Akito took the time to teach Toya each step, the specific washing instructions of wool, to the different types of detergents in cleaning the floors.

It was tough at first, Toya had trouble even cooking up a single egg, Akito was running full speed to the kitchen upon the smell of smoke. Only to find a half cracked egg sitting pitifully in a burning pan. An embarrassed Toya staring at it with guilt.

Over the months, they learnt together. Toya loved it when he picked out Akito’s habits. For example, how he liked to eat the vegetables on his plate first before his fried meat cutlets. Akito relaxes his shoulders when Toya helps him blow dry his hair. Subtle orange curls bounce on his head as they dry.

“Akito, the food is here.” Toya called out, setting the takeaway boxes on the coffee table in front of the TV. “Are you done yet?”

“Almost,” Akito replied, quickly rolling up the remaining pair of white socks. Each ball has a dash of marker stain in either orange or blue colour. He quickly settled down beside Toya on the coach. “Ohh what are we having today?”

“Curry rice.”

“Ohhh,” Akito rubbed his hands together. “Don’t mind if I do.”

They had their dinner together. The TV playing a late night show with the volume on low. The laughter of the audience playback filled the silence as the two chewed on their food. Occasionally, Akito would lean against Toya as he rested. Winding down from the long day at work.

“How was your day today?” Akito asked.

“It wasn’t really eventful but me and Azusawa’s project is wrapping up soon which means the term break is coming and I’m excited for it.”

“Oh, that’s cool.” Akito nodded. “Planning anything for the break? Or anywhere you want to go?”

“Oh maybe this museum, they are having an exhibition on one of my favourite books.”

“Is it the sailor one?”

“Hmh!”

“Sure we can go. Do I need to camp for the tickets?”

“They haven’t released the information yet. I’ll tell you when I get them.”

“Sure thing.”

“How was your day at work?”

“Nothing unusual,” Akito shrugged, shifting the position of his legs. “A karen came in today to demand a refund on ripped jeans that were designed to be ripped.” He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Oh, that must have been horrible.”

“It was fine, I managed to solve it rather quickly.” He continued. Fingers lazily playing with the Toya’s hair, a braid forming out of the blue.

“I’m going to shower first.” Toya pressed a kiss on his cheek.

“Hmm okay, I’ll clean the dishes.” Akito leaned in.

And then Toya laid another one on the other side of his cheek. His breath tickled his skin. Akito giggled. Putting both hands to cup on his cheeks, making him face him. Eyes getting lost in his boyfriend’s beauty

“I love you.” Akito whispered.

“I love you too.” Toya smiled and leaned in for another kiss.

Akito hummed into it and wrapped his arms around Toya’s neck. Pulling him deeper into the kiss ever so desperately and Toya obliged. He slipped his hands under Akito’s shirt. Holding on to his hips. Thumbs gave a little rub on his sides. A soft moan vibrated from his throat.

They could go on. Toya thought as he grinded their groins separated by their pants. Another soft moan arose from the ginger’s throat.

The TV covered the sound of their sloppy wet kisses.

“Akito.” Toya pulled away from the kiss. “Shall we?” He pants to which Akito ferociously nodded and pulled his collar back down for another makeout session.

~

“You’re holding up much better than before!” Akito chuckled, jogging at a slow pace so that Toya could catch up with him. The taller was panting with each step but it was less tiring than before.

“I-...am-...so unhealthy-”

“You’re at a much better pace than last last week.”

“I- didn’t expect- skipping- just one week- would be this bad-”

“Hey, you’re doing great! A quick 10 minute jog before you put your head back in the books for your exams. All that blood is going to get up there in no time!”

“Akito-”

“Hm?” Akito went for a slow jog.

“Sorry- I’m slowing you down-”

“No, you’re not. This is my warmup. Besides, its more fun to exercise with someone.”

Akito looked ahead on their path. “We’re almost done. Just a bit longer Toya.”

He turned to his boyfriend, whose skin had turned pale with sweats running down the sides of his face. Toya was tired, he knew, but silver eyes looked forward. Feet pushing itself in front the other.

Toya laid down on the ground when they passed the finishing line. Panting as he tries to catch his breath.

Akito towered over him, looking unphased from the light jog. “Doing okay bud?”

“Bud?”

“Buddy.”

“I’m your boyfriend.” Toya huffed and nudged on his ankle as a joke but it came off weak.

Akito laughed.

“You keep calling me dude when we sleep too.” Toya groaned. “We’ve kissed.”

“Right, sorry about that habit.” Akito bent down and pressed a kiss on the sweaty cheek. “Ready to head back for your books?”

“Not yet.” Toya replied, not moving away from his spot on the ground. “Let me rest a bit more.”

“Okay.” Akito sat down beside him, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

Akito wondered how Toya gained some definition of abs in his lower abdomen, else, how would he have annihilated him in bed so hard? He must have snuck off to the gym or something.

~

“Akito?”

“Huh?” Akito turned towards the familiar voice. Surprised to find that it was the former delinquent from highschool. The one whom he constantly fought with back then. He remembered the punches thrown. “Oh, hi, I didn’t expect you here.”

They exchanged a courteous smile.

“Me neither, how have you been?” The boy put a hand out as a greeting, Akito accepted the handshake.

“Good, how about you? What are you doing around here?”

“Oh, I’m here for a day trip to chill. You?”

“Oh,” Akito blinked. Well, he did not really tell anyone about his plans for after highschool. “I moved here some time ago.”

“Ohh, no wonder I don’t see you around anymore.” The boy replied. “You barely post on your socials so it was like you went out of touch and disappeared.”

“Yeah,” Akito nodded. He hesitated for a moment. Would he judge? Doesn’t matter, they have all graduated and grown. “I actually moved in with Toya.”

“Ehh??” The boy gasped in shock. “You’re still together? That’s much longer than any of us have. I still keep in touch with the others. None of us could date for more than 6 months.” He joked.

Akito let out a laugh. “Well- Good luck.”

“But I’m not so surprised you two are still dating.” The boy continued. “You two really looked fitted for each other back then. At least one of us is doing well.”

“Oh?” Akito did not expect that. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, thanks?”

“So, Aoyagi san is a good boyfriend hm?” The boy smiled.

“He’s wonderful.” Akito replied, a loving smile emerged from his lips. “He’s caring and kind. I love him for it.” He glanced at the plastic bag in his hands of newly released novels released from the bookstore. “Toya’s really patient with me and I always feel warm with him. Like he is home. He helped me move out from that place too when he didn’t really need to. He’s the best thing I could ever ask for.”

“Of course, he has to. You’re his boyfriend too, no?” The boy spoke up. “That’s sweet of him though, saving you. I’m glad that you escaped.”

“You?” Akito asked instead. There was a reason every troubled student was the way they are.

“Drunkard father had been put into jail.” He replied. “Living with my mother now but it’s so much better.”

“That’s great. Happy for you.”

“Happy for you too.”

“Catch you next time?”

Akito nodded. “I’ll see you.”

~

Toya was practically running towards the ginger upon seeing him at the school gate, waving at him from afar. The boy had a similar reaction upon lowering his phone down. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he saw his boyfriend running over. Toya’s classmates were gawking at Akito, stunned at the way the quiet reserve classmate reacted and at the fact that the boyfriend had rebellious streaks in his hair.

“Hello Akito,” Toya hummed and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing a peck on his head. “I didn’t know you were coming. Did you skip work?”

“I asked for an off today cause I wanted to surprise you.” Akito chuckled. “Did you forget?” He raised up the bag in his hands. Toya nearly shrieked at it. “Oh the new volume is released today! The limited edition too! Akito, you didn’t have to.”

“You were studying so much for your exams that you forgot about it but you had been talking nonstop about it months ago and since you said that there would only be 100 copies, I took leave to make sure I was first in line.” He smiled proudly.

“No wonder you headed off earlier than me today.” Toya gasped.

“Your exam ends today right? Want to head home to read?”

“Yes it ends today, oh Akito thank you!” Toya gave the boy another tight hug, giggling as they spun around with Toya nuzzling against his cheek. “I can’t wait to read it. You’re the best!”

“Alright alright-” Akito laughs, trapped in his boyfriend’s arms. He relaxed into them to savour the moment.

“Let’s celebrate! How about the usual cafe we would always head to?”

“Eh? You don’t want to read your novel now?”

“I’ll do that tonight! I want to thank you first. It’s to celebrate the end of my exams too.” Toya fished out his phone to open the camera app. “Wait, I want to take a photo.”

“Eh, a photo?” Akito shifted himself to be under Toya’s arm.

“Hmh, is that okay?”

“Of course it is.” He chuckled.

Toya tries to manoeuvre the phone around to fit both of them in frame. However, it seemed like a tough challenge. How should he pose?

“Here let me help.” Akito took the phone, changing the photo ratio and configuring a few settings. He holds it up in his hand. “Do you want to show the book?”

Toya enthusiastically nodded and held up the bag. Holding it close to Akito’s face. Akito angled his face slightly, making Toya giggle at the preview screen.

“What is it?”

“Hm? Nothing.”

“Hey!”

“I’ll tell you later.” Toya chuckled.

Akito sighed and snapped the photo.

They made their merry way to a cafe. Ordering a set of spaghetti and baked rice. It was not any special cafe whatsoever but they had patronage there enough due to how convenient the location was between Toya’s school and their home.

“How was your exam?” Akito’s finger gently nudged onto Toya’s on the table, slowly intertwining their fingers.

“They set it rather tough this time round.” Toya lightly drew a circle over Akito’s thumb in the hold. “None of the questions were repeated from the previous years and not all the questions were all within the textbook. I’m glad that I managed to cram the 3 literature books the lecturer recommended from the start of semester. I was able to complete the paper because of them.”

“Harh? Testing stuff out of the books? That sounds so hard. How would you even know?”

“The lecturer did drop hints throughout the lectures.”

“But some people don’t attend the lectures.”

“Hmh, so they may have missed out on the crucial information.”

“Eugh, university is so tough.” Akito raised his other hand and patted on Toya’s head. “You’re enduring so much pain. Thank you.”

Toya chuckled. “With you here, it’s much easier. Thank you for buying the book for me, were there a lot of people queuing?”

“Hmh,” Akito nodded. “I had to stand in line before the store could open. 5 minutes after I got in the queue, there were a lot of people queuing up behind me. They had to hand out queue numbers and I guess a lot were shocked because someone asked me if I was actually queuing for the book.”

Akito recalled the stares he got from a few of the girls in line. Since he was out of work that day, he had decided to wear something more to his style and donned on a few more earrings on his ears with a bracelet on his wrist. A fashionable red and black printed shirt and baggy cargo pants. Maybe it was because he looked more edgy and looked to be out of the author’s demographic to be interested in a sci-fi trilogy novel.

“Someone asked for my number too.” Akito laughed.

“Oh, what did you say?”

“Told her I have a boyfriend of course. I wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for you.”

Toya started to play with the bracelet. Noticing the blank metallic piece at the centre of it. “How did she react?”

Akito laughed. “She tried to hide her disappointment and said ‘oh, sorry.’ Ran off so quickly in embarrassment.”

Toya chuckled.

“Oh, remember the kid I punched in high school?”

“Hmh.” How could he forget?

“I saw him today. We talked for a bit, I told him that I moved in with you and he was amazed.”

“Amazed?”

“Hmh, he said we look fitted for each other in high school.”

Toya grinned, lifting up the back of Akito’s hand to lay a kiss. “What do you think?”

“Well, I can’t see myself with anyone else other than you.” Akito mumbled, cheeks turning rosy. He was sure that the workers at the cafe were used to their affectionate antiques by now.

“I want to live the rest of my life with you.” Toya replied.

Akito mumbled something under his breath. He could never get used to such words from Toya. Like they were in highschool again trading kisses during tutoring sessions.

“Here are your orders,” the waitress came over with a tray of 2 plates. The two immediately separated their hands to let the girl put the food down on the table. “Enjoy your meal.”

Akito licked his lips and stirred up the spaghetti in the sauce. He spun his chopsticks at the centre of the plate, gathering several strands to feed it into his mouth-

A snap sound went off. Akito glanced at Toya holding his phone up, snapping a quick photo of Akito eating.

“Eh? Delete that-”

Toya’s chuckle turned into a sad tragic pout. “Oh, but you looked so cute.”

“Kek-” Akito choked on his food at the adorable face. How Toya was able to flip from handsome to downright soft and innocent was a mystery. Furthermore, whether the boy was actually upset about deleting the precious photo or picking on Akito’s naive feelings, he could never tell.

“Okay, don’t delete it. You can keep it.”

The pout dissolved into cheers. Akito sighed at himself.

~

It once again started as a simple kiss, but Toya kept going down his lips and trailed to his neck once again. The love marks from 2 days ago remained prominent on his skin. Pushing the dangling metallic earrings aside, Toya pecked each one.

“Again?” Akito gasped through panting breaths.

“Is that okay?” Toya innocently looked up at the boy who was already propped up on the kitchen counter.

Well, with that face, who was he to deny another round? “Okay.” His shirt strewn on the floor once more.

~

Akito stirred in his sleep, pulling himself closer to the familiar warmth in their shared bed.

“Is it too bright?”

He hears Toya whispers but sleep tugged on his eyelids. He wanted to fall back into the deep slumber. Akito felt fingers stroke through his hair. A big comfortable shirt around his body but his legs were stark naked under the comforter.

Akito tries to mumble something through the brain fog, sensing the small glow of light through his eyelids. His muscles and thighs ached from how intense it was mere moments ago.

“Sorry about that.” He hears.

Akito felt around where he was hugging. Toya wasn’t sleeping?

He opened his eyes to a blurred vision of the nightlight clipped on the newly bought book.

He blinked his eyes in disbelief.

Aoyagi Toya was calmly reading his newly attained limited edition trilogy novel after annihilating his boyfriend’s ass over the kitchen counter.

And the audacity to look so innocent and sweet?

“Did I wake you?” Toya asks with worry etched in his voice as if his boyfriend was frail enough to get blinded by the small LED clip-on lamp. As if he was not making him sob into the pillow a few hours ago.

“A bit, why aren’t you sleeping?” Akito nudged the book away. “Isn’t it late?”

“It’s only 8- oh it’s 2am.”

“Toya.” Akito chides, pushing the book away from his hand. How is he not tired from how intense it was? What is this guy’s mysterious stamina? “Come on, sleep. It’s not good for your eyes to read in the dark.”

“I’m sorry for waking you.” Toya turned the light off and cuddled beside him.

“It’s okay.” Akito pressed a kiss on his lips. “Get some sleep. Love you Toya.”

~

“Look at this.” Toya giggled as he raised his phone. Excited to show Kohane the candid picture he took of his boyfriend eating spaghetti. “Isn’t he so cute?”

“That’s sweet.” Kohane replied. “Did you two go on a date recently?”

“Oh, we didn’t. This was lunch yesterday.” Toya smiled dreamily as he zoomed into the picture. The entire screen was just the face of the dessert loving boy.

“I think I saw him at the schoolgate! He dressed very fashionably.”

“He has good taste in clothes.” Toya elaborated. “Most of my clothes are picked out by him.”

“He sure knows how to dress people well.”

Toya nodded. “I think he actually likes dressing people up, even though he doesn’t say it. He has a keen eye for pieces. This whole outfit I’m wearing was all from the clearance aisle. Less than 20!”

“Oh, he is so good at what he does.”

Toya nodded enthusiastically.

“Do you two go on dates a lot?”

“Dates?” Toya paused and thought about it. He does go out with Akito a lot. Are those dates? But dates are considered special. If he goes out with Akito everyday, that doesn’t make it special does it? “We go out a lot, are those dates?”

“They can be if you both think it is!”

“Hm..” Toya thought about it even harder, a dejected frown forming. “I don’t think we have.”

“Eh? Aoyagi kun don’t be sad! You two look so joined to the hip. I’m sure that you have hung out so much that they aren’t even dates anymore!”

“But- it’s not special is it?”

“Well- how about anniversaries?”

Toya frowned even more, making the blonde panic. “It’s alright Aoyagi kun! Not everyone celebrates anniversaries or have dates. It just shows how much you two stay with each other!”

“I’m a terrible boyfriend.” Toya sighed. He kept missing the small simple things. First it was the lack of a proper wallpaper. Then it was how they had never made any ‘couple’ stuff like engraved keyrings. Finally, the lack of proper dates. “I’ll make it up to him!” He suddenly sits up, all determined.

But how? He thought.

Kohane was frantically waving her hands about.

~

“Akito, you are free this weekend right?” Toya asked his boyfriend over dinner.

“Harh? Yeah. I got no work this weekend. You want to head somewhere?”

“Hmh!” Toya nodded. “I got a family friend who works at a theme park, Phoenix Wonderland?”

“Oh, I heard of that place. It’s pretty popular right?”

“Yes, and he gave me a pair of tickets.” Toya replied. “I was thinking if we could pay him a visit to one of his shows and explore the park.”

“Sure.” Akito nodded. “Are we queueing early? Do you need me to pack breakfast for the queue?”

That’s so sweet of him.

“Hmm,” Toya thought about it. “Let’s queue early so we can see the entire park. Have you been there before?”

“Once or twice.” Akito shrugged. “When I was a kid, I remember wanting to go on all the rides but I was too short.”

“Oh, that must’ve been a long time ago.”

“Hmh,” Akito nodded. “I could only go on all the kiddy rides. I had really wanted to go on the big roller coasters. Those look very thrilling.” He reminisced. “I remember Ena was crying about wanting to buy one of the stuffed toys but my father relented.” Akito wonders where the plush went.

“Oh, then you can try them this weekend!”

“There’s one problem though.” Akito set his fork down. Looking at Toya with a bewildered face. “You’re scared of heights.”

“Eh?” Toya blanked, completely forgetting about that fact amidst the planning. “Oh no, I’m going to ruin the date.”

“...harh?” Akito dropped his spoon at the comment. “Ruin? The date? Toya, what are you talking about?” The boy looked erratic and disbelieving.

“I was thinking about our relationship lately.” Toya pouted. The entire sentence was already making Akito panic with his face turning pale.

“Is it something I did!?” The boy pleaded, looking like an injured puppy.

“Nono!” Toya waved his hands. “I was thinking…we don’t really do couple things together. I wanted the world to know how wonderful of a boyfriend Akito is, how we are together but, I don’t have anything to show. Other couples have matching keychains, dates, pictures together…so I thought that we could have a date at the theme park. Then, I can give Akito a perfect date. I was really happy when you said that you wanted to ride the roller coasters there but…I’m going to be ruining your fun.”

Akito let out a heavy sigh, going over to hug Toya’s head into his chest. “Toya listen, I love you for you. I don’t need any of the lovey dovey stuff for you to show me that you love me. I’m really happy with our simple life you know?” He lifted up his chin. “I wake up and can kiss my boyfriend good morning before heading to work. Then when I come back, he is there waiting for me with dinner and the warmest of hugs.” He rubbed his thumb under his eye. “You won’t ever ruin anything for me because I love doing everything with you. Running, eating, even doing laundry together. I don’t need flowers, dates, anything. All I need is you.” He nuzzled into the split hair. “You have no idea how lucky I am to even meet you.”

“But the roller coasters-”

“It’s just a roller coaster. I can ride it on my own if I want to, Toya.” He leaned in a peck. “You’re so sweet, planning a date for me?” He giggled. “What did you have planned?”

“Oh!” An enthusiastic glint came back in his eyes. “I was thinking about having takeouts for breakfast but you brought up the packed food and I thought that would be great! I haven’t eaten your sandwiches for a long time.”

Akito chuckled. “You like them?”

“They’re delicious!” Toya nodded.

“Okay, I’ll make them extra special this weekend. “How about this? I’ll make the sandwiches for us to queue in the early morning and then I’ll follow the plan you made for our special Pheonix Wonderland date, how about it?”

Toya’s eyes glimmered with joy. “You’ll come?”

“Of course, Toya planned it for me. I want to see it too.” Akito chuckled. “I’m actually- really excited.”

“Me too!” Toya jumped in his seat. “Can we match clothes?”

Akito blushed at the idea, he does find it embarrassing but to match with Toya… “I’ll come up with an outfit for both of us. Do you want to follow the theme?”

“I want us to buy headbands there so, I think if Akito style us on how he likes it, we will look great!”

“Okay then.” Akito chuckled. “I’ll prepare the clothes. Can’t wait for our special date,” he paused, “sweetie.”

Akito pronounced the word so foreign and out of place that Toya burst out laughing.

~

Akito laid out the apparel on their bed. Toya skipped out of the showers to put on their matching clothes. A mixed combination of orange and blue on short sleeved shirts and a jean vest layered over them.

“You can put the phennyland pins on the vest pockets.” Akito smiled. “Short sleeves because it is going to be hot today.”

“It’s so pretty!” Toya pecked his forehead. “Does Akito like to see me wear layered clothing?”

“You look good in anything.” Akito rolled his eyes. “But I am excited to match with you.”

“Are you going to wear your fingerless fishnet gloves?”

“Oh right, I haven’t had the chance to wear them. That’s a good idea.” Akito headed over to the drawers.

They got to the park when the sun had just risen. However, queues were already snaking long from the gate. They sat down in the queue on the warm concrete ground. Toya opened up the lunchboxes, gasping at the sandwiches which were cut into shapes of animals. “Aw, it's so cute.”

“Can you tell what they are?” Akito leaned on him, watching Toya carefully pick out the food. He held one sandwich up, 2 pieces of bread sandwiching ham, cheese and a sauce.

“Is this a rabbit?”

“Hmh.”

“It’s so cute, how could I eat it?”

“Because it’s tasty.” Akito chuckled.

“Wait before that, I want to take a picture. It’s so cute.” Toya took out his phone once again. The camera opened up to selfie mode. To which Toya sneakily took a photo of Akito.

“Hey-”

“This one’s the cutest.” He chuckled.

After a whole hour of waiting, the lines had started moving as the park opened. Everyone chatted up with anticipation at the lines moving closer and closer to the ticket gates.

The couple sought comfort with each other to handle the dense crowds. Fingers intertwined in their holds to make sure they do not loose each other.

However, with Akito’s orange hair, it would be hard to lose him in the crowds.

They passed through security smoothly, Toya was jumping on his toes when they came across the big sculpture of the park’s mascot, Phenny.

“Photo?” Akito nudged him.

“Yes please.”

They took a few selfie shots. Both smiling into the camera with Phenny in the background. Toya then sneakily turned to Akito’s face and lay a peck on his cheek. The phone snapping a photo of Akito’s blushing and surprised face.

“You’re so sly.” Akito huffed.

“TOYA!”

They both jumped at the loud shout from across the crowd. A blonde guy with pink tips in his hair waltzed over, waving exaggeratedly at his boyfriend.

Is that?

“Tsukasa senpai!” Toya grinned.

“Toya! It had been so long.” The two shook hands. Akito looked over his bright clothing.

“Akito, this is my family friend I talked about, Tsukasa senpaii. Tsukasa senpaii, this is Akito, my boyfriend.”

“Oh, hello.” Akito greets. “Thank you for the tickets. I can’t wait to see your show.” He puts on a customer service smile.

“Why thank you! I hope that you’ll enjoy the show. Toya’s boyfriend, hm? Thank you for taking care of him thus far.” Tsukasa shakes Akito’s hand with a firm grip.

“I can’t wait to see the show!” Toya chirped enthusiastically. “I heard that you’ve grown a lot as an actor, Tsukasa senpai. The stage’s star? I’m so proud!”

“Why thank you Toya,” the actor took a bow in the middle of the crowd. Making Akito glance around awkwardly at everyone staring at them. “I will be sure to put on the best performance for you!”

“Oh, Tsukasa senpaii could you help me take a photo of me and Akito infront of the Phenny statute?”

“Of course! Anything for you!”

~

Toya scrolled through his photo gallery all satisfied. Having gained tons of photos of him together with Akito. They had taken a photo at every photo spot and landmark they passed.

In the photos, Akito’s head wore a red Phennyland headband that they got from the gift shop. The penguin mascot poked out of his ginger hair. Akito was reluctant to wear it throughout the day but having been attacked by Toya’s puppy eyes. He was smittened. Toya thought Akito looked absolutely adorable in it.

He then puts his phone back in his pocket and turns to the real thing. Cupping his cheeks for the hundredth time throughout the day. “Akito you look so-”

“Eugh not again.” Akito sighed, having his cheeks squished around in his boyfriend’s palms.

“‘Nuf about me being cute.”

“But you are!” Toya chuckled. “I have the world’s best boyfriend.”

“Hmmm.” Akito just groaned in response. Having been showered with affection non-stop. He was reaching his limit. “You want to go for a ride?”

“A ride?” Toya blinked, tilting his head innocently.

“There is a car ride where you can shoot at targets to get the top score. I think if you get past a certain point, you'll win a prize.”

“Oh!” Toya grinned. “Let’s go!” He bounced on his toes.

~

It turns out, the ride was fairly popular and the queue to the ride was an hour long. However, the areas where the queue lines were had displays lined up all over the walls, detailing a storyline that they were going to help ‘Mr Phenny’ send out all the gifts to each area of the theme park. The buggy cars had 2 toy guys on the holders, a control panel between them and a screen to display the points.

“We will be competing with each other too.” Toya read through the instructions. “It looks like the red ones score higher.”

“Do you have a plan?” Akito asked.

“I’m not sharing it with you.” Toya chuckled.

“Alright, alright, it’s a game on then.” Akito smirked and picked up the toy. “You ready partner?”

“Ready.” Toya’s eyes focused in the dark tunnel as their buggy moved forward.

The two went into competitive mode the moment the first target showed up in front of their buggy. Both pushing against each other’s shoulders to get a good aim at the targets popping up.

“Oi-” Akito huffed as Toya slyly hit another target from under Akito’s arm. He may not be athletic but his gaming skills were far superior to Akito's no matter how much he played. Before Akito could even pull his trigger at the next one, it blinked the colour blue as it got hit by Toya’s gun. Toya angled his wrists around the gun swiftly with one eye looking through the top of the gun instead of the viewfinder.

Their scores flickered every second. The numbers scoring higher and higher.

~

“Congratulations! You win a Big Phennyland plush!” The worker handed the 45cm plushie over to Toya.

Akito huffed at the score with his arms folded. Suppressing a sad pout. “I’ll beat you one day.”

“I can’t wait.” Toya smiled and pushed the plushie into Akito’s arms. “This is for you.”

“Harh?-” Akito yelped and quickly hugged onto the plushie before it could fall onto the ground.

“I saw you eyeing it earlier when we walked past the ride. You wanted the plushie, didn’t you?”

Akito’s eyes widened as if his deepest darkest secret was found out. He huffed and slowly embraced the soft plush into his bosom. His cheeks as red as the fabric. “You could tell?”

“I hope you like my gift.”

“Of course I do.” Akito huffed and pulled onto his shirt. Tiptoeing to press a quick kiss on Toya’s cheek. “Thank you.”

~

Akito walked around the park with his arms full. One hugging onto his newly attained Phennyland plush, the other hugging Toya’s arm. His head comfortably laid upon Toya’s shoulder. You could say he was in bliss.

“Akito.”

“Hm,” he lazily tilted his head up. “A photo?”

Toya nodded. The boy idly lifted the plushie higher in his hug without complaint.

~

“Can we get one more thing?”

“Sure, what is it? Oh.” The ginger rolled his eyes. “Of course we can. If you can find a better design.”

~

“Wait, let me show you something.” Toya nearly leapt from his seat reaching for his phone. Kohane moved over to get a closer look. “What is it?”

“Me and Akito went on a date last weekend!” He chirped. Pressing onto the album icon labelled ‘Phennyland Akito date’ with a 4 digit counter for the photos.

Kohane’s jaw dropped at the number.

“Oh, how was it?”

“We had fun!” Toya pressed on the first one. A picture of the breakfast box Akito had prepared popped up on the screen. “Akito made food kus to eat while we queue. Look, he even made them animal shaped!”

“Oh, that’s so sweet.”

“He is!”

He scrolled the photos.

“This is us in front of the Phennyland statue.”

“This is us.”

The boy continued to scroll on his phone, re-iterating each moment that was captured to the girl. “Look how cute he is.” Toya cries as he showed a picture of Akito with his face smothered into the large Phennyland plushie.

“It looks like you two had a lot of fun-”

“Oh! And look!” Toya raised up the new blue keychain that was dangling on his phone. It was a blue Phennyland plushie with two names engraved around the keyring.

“That’s cute.”

“The Phenny has a magnet in its mouth so it can kiss Akito’s Phenny!” He explained excitedly. He went on to show Kohane the newly transformed wallpapers of his phone. Each one a new picture of Akito in some way. Be it hugging the Phenny plush or a selfie of the two.

“I can’t wait to plan the next one!” He grins.

~

Toya dropped by the clothing store once again, staring at the window display to look at not the mannequin but at the ginger courteously helping a customer around the store. The orange Phenny keychain dangled from his belt loop. It made Toya sing with pride.

He took out his phone, the blue Phenny popping out with it. His lock screen of them hugging each other lit up, showing the time to be 5 minutes till the end of his shift.

It was the longest wait ever. Akito waved goodbye to his boss and the cashier, making it out of the glass door with a warm smile. Arms raised to pull Toya into a hug.

“Hi Toya, sorry for making you wait.” Akito tiptoed and pressed a peck on his cheek as an apology.

“It’s alright. It was not that long.”

Akito raised up the side of his hip. “Look, I brought Mr Orange Phenny to work today.”

Toya lowered his phone, letting their magnets in the mouths of the phennys pull towards each other. Making it look like the two phennys were kissing.

Akito laughed. “The keychains really are cute.”

The two went home, happily chatting away with their fingers interlocked.

“Toya?”

The two froze in their spot. Akito quickly pulled his hand from Toya’s grasp. Chills crept down his spine, stomach dropping in fear.

Toya turned around towards the voice, facing his nightmare.

The woman stood behind them with a pastry box of baked goods. A surprised expression on her face. Is that disappointment? Anger? Despair? Toya could not tell. Her eyes remained widened, looking from their formerly intertwined hands to Akito then back to Toya.

“Mom, I can explain.”