Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Oh my God, is that Senior Oh?”

“Aaahh he must be here for his boyfriend’s convocation! That’s very sweet of him!”

Sion only chuckled. It had been a year since he went through the very same graduation event, but it seemed like his popularity hadn’t declined even for a day. His eyes were roaming around for one particular person, while he was throwing smiles to some of his so-called-fangirls-and-fanboys who waved at him.

His smile became even wider when he started seeing a mop of jet-black hair that he had been looking for.

“Happy graduation, chagi, ” Sion said cheekily as he gave a large daisy bouquet to that person.

The owner of the said jet-black hair only rolled his eyes as he accepted the bouquet, “What are you doing here? And don’t you dare call me chagi , you know I’m still reserving that nickname for someone.”

“Ouch, how could you say that to your delivery man, Riku?” Sion pouted.

Riku laughed humorlessly, “Delivery man? Seems like everyone doesn’t think the same way, though.” Riku pointed his chin towards a group of giggling fangirls who kept on loud-whispering “Goodness, do you see that large bouquet? I heard daisy is Senior Maeda’s favourite flower, Senior Oh definitely loves him so much!”

“Hey!” Sion raised both of his hands, “This won’t happen if that someone of yours had enough guts to send this bouquet to you himself and didn’t ask me to say to you that this bouquet is from me instead of from him !”

Riku gaped.

“Really? He asked you not to say that this bouquet is from him?” Riku took a good look at the bunch of daisies in his arms. Blue and purple. He even got me my favourite flowers in my favourite colours. “Why… Why did he do that?”

“Beats me, Riku. Yes, he’s my brother, but I really can’t read him sometimes,” Sion shrugged. “He even insisted that I have to come because it would make you very happy. Trust me, I was so close to saying that you would be even way happier to see him than you would see me, if only you didn’t make me promise to keep this as a secret.”

Riku huffed, “That’s it. I’ve had enough. Is he going to be home today?”

Sion hummed for a second before nodding, “Yeah, I think I heard him saying to our mom that he’ll be at home for the whole day.”

“Please make sure he’s not going anywhere,” Riku said determinedly. “It’s time for Kim Daeyoung to face the wrath of Maeda Riku.”

Sion gulped. 

And prayed for his brother’s life at the same time.

_____

Maeda Riku got to know Kim Daeyong around a year ago.

It all started when Riku was about to start his final year project, and he found out that Sion, who was his senior and finishing his final year project at that time, shared the same theme of project with him. He quickly contacted Sion, and Sion asked him to come to his house because a lot of his project materials were kept there. 

(That was also how the rumours started brewing, that Riku started visiting Sion’s house to know his family better since they’re in a serious relationship - their words, not Riku’s)

Little did he know that he would fall (at the first sight, as cliche as it sounds) for the cute guy who opened the door for him.

“Hello! Are you Senior Maeda?”

Riku suddenly woke up from his trance, “Y-yes… how do you know my name?”

The cute guy chuckled ( is that snaggletooth? How could this cute guy be even cuter, that’s impossible?!? ), “Sion hyung told me one of his juniors would come over, but he’s now out with our dad, so he will be slightly late… is it okay with you?”

“No problem, no problem at all! I am not in a rush, so I’m all good!”

“Perfect,” The cute guy smiled as he opened the door wider, signalling Riku to come in.

“Please come in and have a seat! I just made some hot chocolate, would you like some?”

“O-oh…? Yes please, if it’s not too much of a trouble-”

“Oh, please, it’s not a trouble at all! When Sion hyung told me that his friend’s coming, I already thought of making some hot chocolate for the whole family anyway. Adding one more portion is definitely not a big deal! And it’s so cold outside, so I hope this can warm you up a little!”

(Gosh, he even made hot chocolate for his whole family? And he is so considerate to his brother’s friend who is literally a complete stranger to him? Where can you find this kind of guy nowadays, WHERE???)

“Wow, really, thank you, um… I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name earlier-”

The cute guy smacked his own head lightly, “Ah, silly me! I even forgot to introduce myself, where’s my manners? I’m Daeyoung, Sion hyung ’s little brother!” He shook Riku’s hand, then leaned over to whisper cheekily, “Although now that I’m taller than him, I don’t think I can call myself ‘little’ anymore, but ssssh don’t tell him that!”

Riku giggled, “No worries, your secrets are safe with me.”

“Senior Maeda, would you like to have marshmallows or whipped cream for your hot chocolate?” Daeyoung called from the kitchen.

“Uhm, whipped cream please, thank you,” answered Riku. “And it’s Riku hyung .”

Daeyoung’s head popped up from the kitchen door, “Pardon?”

“Riku hyung ,” Riku smiled sweetly. “You can call me Riku hyung .”

“Aaah,” Daeyoung smiled back just as sweetly. “That’s very nice of you, Riku hyung .”

Before this, Riku never thought of himself as someone who could get close with a new person easily, and it’s also a fact that can be confirmed by all of his close friends. Yes, he is friendly, he is polite to everyone, but his close friends can be counted with the fingers of only one hand. It’s generally hard for him to open up with, or find the ‘chemistry’ in someone new. Heck, he was not even that close with Sion, although they exchanged their greetings, hellos, and small chitchats on many occasions at their campus.

That didn’t seem to be the case with Daeyoung though.

It’s very uncomplicated, very natural to have a conversation with Daeyoung. He did all the questioning, and he always gave genuine reactions to all of Riku’s answers, as if he’s really interested in getting to know Riku better. It’s also probably one of Daeyoung’s charms, but Riku didn’t even hesitate to share some of his life stories to Daeyoung. About how he decided to live far from his hometown, about how close he is with his sisters, about the stress he’s feeling with his coming final year project, and Daeyoung, surprisingly, always said the right things, the right comments, even the right advice that could make Riku feel better.

(Ah, this is embarrassing. Who is actually the hyung here?)

Daeyoung, on the other hand, also easily shared some of his life anecdotes. That he went to the same university as Riku’s, but he just started his first year. That he wanted to join some of the university clubs, and he even asked for some suggestions from Riku. That he’s actually Sion’s stepbrother, which explains their different surnames, but they grew up together and they’re very close as brothers.

Riku found it nice to listen to Daeyoung’s stories. He even swore he could listen to them all day long.

When Sion finally arrived home, Riku almost forgot his first intention to come to their house, and he even almost cursed at Sion (in his head, of course. He still needed those final year project materials to survive, forgodsake) because he didn’t want his conversation with Daeyoung to end.

_____

Kuri-hyung 🐈‍⬛

Daeyoungieeeee

Are you on campus rn?

Daeyoungie 🐕

Yes Riku hyung

Why?

Kuri-hyung 🐈‍⬛

Turn around

Daeyoung turned around and, indeed, there was Riku smiling cutely while running up to him.

“Hi! Have you finished your classes?”

Daeyoung smiled back and nodded, “Yes, I am thinking of getting some lunch before I get back home. What about you, hyung?”

“Perfect!” Riku clapped his hands. “I just finished my classes too, and I know the perfect place for us to have lunch! Come on!”

Riku quickly took Daeyoung’s hand, and if after some time he decided to link his arm with Daeyoung’s without realising it, Daeyoung decided to stay quiet and not comment anything about it.

After walking for quite some time, they arrived at a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of ramen shop. It didn’t look very packed, but Daeyoung could smell the food from outside and gosh, it smells heavenly.

“One of my seniors from the Japanese club introduced us to this place sometime ago, and I fell in love with it ever since! This is the closest I could get to the authentic taste of the ramen I usually got in Fukui!” Riku said excitedly.

“Wow, really, hyung ? It must be really good then, I can’t wait to taste it!” Daeyoung opened the door and offered Riku to come in first, “After you, hyung .”

Riku smiled widely, as expected from The Gentleman Kim . “Thank you!”

“ Hyung ,” Daeyoung called Riku softly as they were standing together in front of the menu stand, “Everything looks good here, I don’t know what to order… Do you have any recommendations?”

“Oooh, since it’s your first time, you can try their tori paitan ramen, it’s their best seller!” Riku pointed at the menu excitedly. “I am getting the tantanmen, the spicy one!”

Daeyoung suddenly frowned, “ Hyung , you just recovered from your gastric last week, remember? Don’t you think you still need to be easy with your usual spicy foods?”

Ah.

He remembers.

“Oops,” Riku grinned cheekily. “I forgot about that. Okay, I am getting the same ramen as yours, then!” 

Daeyoung smiled and nodded, “Okay then! Hyung , it’s getting more crowded, do you want to have a seat first? I’ll wait for our ramen here.”

“Eh? No no Daeyoungie, I’m the one asking you to have lunch with me here, you’re the one that should have a seat!”

“It’s okay hyung , really,” Daeyoung smiled as he lightly pushed Riku towards the seating area. “It’s time to brush up my Japanese skill with the uncle here anyways!”

Riku huffed, “Okay then, I’ll be waiting over there.”

Riku felt some warmth seeping in his chest as he was watching Daeyoung talking and laughing with the friendly uncle who manned the ramen shop. He could see that both the uncle and Daeyoung enjoyed the conversation so much, and how bright Daeyoung’s eyes were when he realised that he’s able to hold a full conversation solely in Japanese. And why am I starting to imagine him having a nice chit chat with dad back home… Shut it, Maeda Riku!

“Oh my goodness, hyung , this is really good! This is definitely going to be my most favourite ramen from now on!” Daeyoung brightened up as he slurped the noodle and sipped the soup of his ramen.

Riku chuckled, “Wait until you taste the one in my hometown, you’ll fall in love with it so much that you won’t find other ramen to be as tasty anymore!”

Daeyoung was stunned for a second, “Eh? Your hometown?”

Riku nodded enthusiastically, “Yes! I am so going to bring you to my hometown, we’ll get the best ramen and other nice foods, I’m sure you’ll love them!”

Daeyoung prayed so hard in his heart that Riku wouldn’t be able to see the blush that started forming on his face.

“Oh!” Daeyoung suddenly piped up, “Do you know that Sion hyung loves ramen so much too?”

“Hm? Sion hyung ?”

“Yes! You should bring him here too hyung , he’ll love it so much, trust me!”

Riku let out a soft sigh.

Can’t you see that I want to only bring you here and you alone, Daeyoungie?

_____

Living alone isn’t so bad, sometimes.

But when you’re sick, that’s when living alone sucks.

After checking his body temperature and finishing half of his tissue box to wipe his runny nose, Riku officially declared (to himself) that he’s down with a cold.

This is what happens when you didn’t have enough sleep, and you still insisted on running home through the rain , Riku scolded himself in his head.

After sending messages to his lecturers to inform them about his absence, Riku was about to sleep the day away….

…..until his phone suddenly rang.

“Hello?”

“Riku hyung , are you at home? My mom just made some fresh kimchi, and she asked me to share some of them with you.”

“Yes, Daeyoungie, I am at home, and please send my thanks and regards to your mom, she’s the best.”

“Um, hyung , your voice sounds different… Are you sick?”

“Um, yeah… it’s just a usual cold though, nothing to worry about-”

“ Hyung , please send me the passcode of your door. You just stay in bed, okay, don’t go anywhere.”

Riku laughed wetly, “Okay, Daeyoungie, I am definitely not going anywhere.”

Riku was about to fall asleep when he suddenly felt a cold hand touching his forehead softly.

He opened his eyes and smiled weakly, “Hi, Daeyoungie.”

The younger frowned, “You’re burning, hyung. Have you eaten anything? Have you taken your medicine?”

Riku shook his head lightly ( ugh, the headache ), “No for both.”

Daeyoung gasped in surprise, then he quickly stood up, “Where do you usually keep your medicines, hyung ?”

“Shelves in the kitchen, third from the left.”

“Okay, you stay here. I’ll make you some food and prepare your medicines.”

Riku (finally) really fell into a deep slumber for around half an hour, before Daeyoung softly patted his head to wake him up. He cooked a plate of kimchi fried rice for Riku using the kimchi from his mom, and prepared a cup of hot honey lemon water, not forgetting Riku’s fever and cold medicines.

“Wow,” Riku commented as he chewed the fried rice slowly, “This fried rice is good, Daeyoungie. Even my sick taste buds know that it’s good stuff.”

Daeyoung smiled as he spoonfed Riku another spoon of fried rice, “Glad you like it, hyung . It’s my mom’s recipe, and she usually cooks this for me every time I feel unwell, because I like this more than soup.”

Riku hummed in agreement, “I can see why, this is so much better than soup, sometimes they get tasteless on my sick taste buds. I am so going to ask you to make this fried rice every time I am sick, Daeyoungie.”

Daeyoung chuckled, “Yes hyung , anything for you.”

Riku finished his fried rice and the honey lemon water in no time (although he whined a bit when Daeyoung asked him to take the medicines, but Daeyoung patiently persuaded and helped him to take the bitter pills). Daeyoung was about to bring the pile of plates and cup back to the kitchen when Riku suddenly caught his hand.

“Hm? Yes, hyung ?”

“Don’t leave me, Daeyoungie,” Riku pleaded. “Stay here.”

Daeyoung smiled softly, “I’m not going anywhere, hyung . I’m just going to put these back in the kitchen. I promise I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Daeyoung stayed true to his promise.

He was sitting at Riku’s study desk, typing quietly on his laptop, probably doing his assignments (and how am I only realising now that serious Daeyoung is hot? ). Riku smiled a little and let out a tiny whine as he stretched his arms.

“Oh, hyung , you’re awake?” Daeyoung left the desk and sat next to Riku on his bed. “How are you feeling, hyung ?”

Riku smiled wider, “Much better, at least it doesn’t feel like I have a ton of bricks in my head anymore. What time is it, Daeyoungie?”

“It’s around six p.m. hyung , I am glad you managed to sleep well,” Daeyoung quickly took Riku’s thermometer and pointed it on Riku’s forehead. “Your temperature has gone down a lot too… see, this is why you need to take your medicines!” Daeyoung smiled cheekily.

Riku lightly pinched Daeyoung’s arm, “No, this is not because of the medicines! It’s because of your fried rice and your mom’s kimchi!”

Daeyoung laughed, “Wow, thanks hyung , I feel really honoured.”

Their small moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Daeyoung hurriedly went to the door to check who the guest was and opened the door.

“Hello, Maeda! Wow, the final year project has finally knocked you down, eh?”

“Eh? Sion hyung ?” Riku’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why… Why are you here?”

“I… I asked him to come, hyung .” Daeyoung piped up quietly.

“He said my visit would make you feel better, I’m no doctor but I think I can try!” Sion said cheerily.

Riku let out a long sigh.

Seriously, Daeyoung, when will you stop being like this? It’s hard to see you keep pushing me away. Is it because I’m a burden for you? Do I bother you too much? Is it… because you don’t feel the same way that I do?

“Um, Sion hyung , I need to get some groceries, I used up quite a lot of Riku hyung’s ingredients to make the fried rice just now, I think I need to replenish the fridge,” Daeyoung took his phone and jacket. “I’ll… I’ll leave you two to it.”

“Oh, okay! Don’t worry, Riku is in good hands!” Sion said as he sat down at Riku’s study desk.

“ Hyung , I’ll go first okay?” Daeyoung said softly to Riku.

Riku frowned and caught Daeyoung’s hand. “Don’t go for too long… come back here later, please.”

Daeyoung smiled thinly, “Okay, I will. Sion hyung will take care of you well, don’t worry.”

As Daeyoung closed the door and left, desperation made Riku tell everything to Sion, including his feelings for his brother that got deeper with each passing day.

_____

Sion really made sure that Daeyoung didn’t go anywhere that afternoon after Riku’s convocation (he even asked their mom not to give Daeyoung any outside errands that day, and when Sion mentioned Riku’s name as the answer to their mom’s ‘why’, their mom nodded in understanding).

Daeyoung was lying down on his bed, immersing himself in the songs listed in his personal playlist that reminded him of Riku, when his mom called him downstairs because he had a guest.

“….Riku hyung ?” Daeyoung almost couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the said guest. “Hold on, aren’t you supposed to have a celebration lunch with your friends? Why are you here? Do you need anything?”

“You,” Riku stood up from his seat and walked to Daeyoung who was still standing near the stairs, not even once breaking their eye contact. “I left early, because I need you .”

Daeyoung swore he could almost see flames in those black, round eyes.

The eyes that he always loved to stare at, the eyes that he never minded getting drowned in.

“But… hyung ? What do you need me for? Is everything okay?”

Riku sighed, “Can we talk in your room, please?”

Daeyoung looked taken aback, but he nodded nevertheless, “S-sure, you can follow me.”

Although he had visited Daeyoung and Sion’s house numerous times, this was Riku’s very first time to come into Daeyoung’s room. The room was, indeed, so… so Daeyoung . It’s simple, neat, with one keyboard sitting at the corner, and several pictures as well as a few knick-knacks of memories on top of his study desk.

It smelled so much like Daeyoung too, and it was so comforting it calmed him down.

“Do you want to sit on the chair or on the bed, hyung ? Don’t worry, I just changed the bedsheet yesterday-”

“I want to sit next to you.”

Daeyoung gulped, then he offered Riku to sit on his bed before he sat next to him, but Daeyoung still kept a good distance between them.

Of course he didn’t expect that Riku would shift closer to him, and held his hand some more.

“Why didn’t you come to my convocation today?” Riku asked sadly. “I was looking for you.”

“I… I am sorry hyung , I-I had something to do this morning,” Daeyoung scratched his head. “But… Sion hyung came to your convocation, right? He came to see you! And I saw his bouquet for you, it’s so huge!”

Riku sighed.

He knew Daeyoung so well that: one, he’s so bad at lying; two, he could be damn stubborn if he wanted to.

“Daeyoung, look at me,” Riku shifted his sitting so that he could look at Daeyoung’s eyes properly, “How many times do I have to tell you that I wasn’t waiting for Sion hyung , I was waiting for you . I wanted to see you , not Sion hyung .”

Daeyoung was lost for words. “But, hyung… ”

“Daeyoung, I know you’ve heard this a lot of times, but you never listened ,” Riku said desperately. “Now tell me, how else should I tell you that I like you ? So that you can really believe me, that it’s you that I like?”

Silence ensued.

Daeyoung gaped, “You… you like… me?”

“Yes, Daeyoung. I like you, I like you so much it even hurts me sometimes when you keep pushing me towards Sion hyung,” Riku sighed again, “I can’t understand why you keep doing it, unless it’s because you don’t like me back-”

“No hyung, I do,” Daeyoung whispered, “I do… I do like you back. I like you too.”

Riku frowned, “Wait… you like me too? Then… then why do you keep pushing me towards Sion hyung? I don’t understand…”

It’s then Daeyoung’s turn to sigh, “Hyung, how long have we known each other?”

Riku hummed, “A year or so, I believe.”

“Hyung, I know you’re such a strong guy. You live far away from your family, you are such an independent person, and I admire you a lot for that,” Daeyoung looked deep into Riku’s eyes. “But somehow, I feel that, deep inside, you need someone who can take care of you well. Someone older, someone more mature. You need someone as equally amazing as you, to take care of you… everyone also says how much of a good match Sion hyung and you are, so…”

Riku was stunned.

How selfless can this man be?

“Yes, you’re right. I know I can be too independent sometimes, but deep inside, I yearn to be taken care of. I know you can see that I want someone to love me and be my anchor, someone that I can equally love as much too,” Riku tightened his hold to Daeyoung’s hand, “But can’t you see that I want that someone to be you?”

Daeyoung was speechless.

“Daeyoung- ah , remember when I didn’t even tell you that I was sick, but you could notice from my voice when you called me, and you straight away went to my house to take care of me and nurse me back to health? And all other times when you noticed that I was homesick and you brought me to my favourite ramen shop without me having to say anything to you? You never fail to notice everytime I’m sad or in a bad mood, and you will always tell me jokes, funny stories, or sing to me because you know that I love your voice so much and it always makes me feel better? 

Daeyoung, you’ve always been taking care of me, so perfectly, I don’t think it could get any better, especially with anyone else.”

Daeyoung looked down, “But… but I’m younger than you-”

“And that doesn’t make you any less perfect for me,” Riku cut Daeyoung off. “I don’t care what everyone else says, but don’t you think we are such a perfect match? Don’t you think we look good, and we are good, together?”

Daeyoung looked at their intertwined hands, and he was mesmerised by how Riku’s small hand was engulfed in his big hand perfectly. He looked at the mirror right in front of them, and his tall stature just fit perfectly next to Riku’s smaller stature. He thought about how Riku could always understand him well, how he always tried his best to get to know Riku, and how they matched so well when it came to preferences, things they liked and disliked.

They are perfect together, no matter what everyone says.

“Yeah, hyung, I can see that,” Daeyoung smiled as he looked at Riku’s face. “I can see now that we’re perfect for each other.”

Riku’s eyes brightened, “So, Kim Daeyoung, can we just end our misery and be boyfriends, please?”

Daeyoung laughed lightly, “Yes, please, I like the sound of that… boyfriend- hyung .”

Riku laughed as well, and he immediately jumped into Daeyoung’s waiting arms.

It’s so warm, so comfortable…  This is definitely how home feels like.

“ Hyung .”

“Hmm?”

“Can I… can I call you chagi ?”

Riku smiled widely as he looked up to see Daeyoung also smiling sweetly at him, “Trust me, I’ve been waiting for you forever to call me that.”

_____ 💕 _____