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The sides of the road were colored in white, the clouds in gray, matching the scarf around Yoshiki's neck. Snow was falling.
'Hikaru' had no scarf on, if it was up to him, he would get rid of the jacket too, the changes in temperature had no effect on him the way they did on normal humans.
On the other hand, Yoshiki was freezing.
"Watcha gonna do when ya get home ?"
"Imma study, the entrance exams are coming ."
"Didn't ya say yer family ain't home ?"
Yoshiki nodded, eyes following the snowflakes disappearing into 'Hikaru's hair, they were the perfect same color.
He did wear a light blush when he felt 'Hikaru' wrap one arm around his shoulders, their cold cheeks touching and warming up.
"Gotta stay with ya then, ain't no way i leave ya in this cold all alone~"
"The house is warm ..."
Yoshiki did not retort, in fact, he was glad 'Hikaru' will spend the evening with him.
Once at home, they got rid of their coats and shoes then turned the heater on, the house didn't take long to warm up.
Yoshiki wasted no time to get into his task, putting all his books and notes over the table to study, not minding 'Hikaru' who went through his stuff, looking for a Manga to read- or no, this was not the only thing he was looking for.
"When am i ever gonna find the porn magazines ya hide in yer room ???"
"Ya can't find something that doesn't exist ."
Both were disappointed for different reasons. 'Hikaru' picked a random Manga, sitting on Yoshiki's bed to read it, his attention split between the book in his hands and the boy sitting on the floor, focused on his studying.
'Hikaru' soon switched positions, he was laying on then bed, then sitting up, then laying again, then putting his legs against the wall, then he gave up.
"Imma do some studying too ."
It seemed as if it was only his excuse to stare at Yoshiki's face because here was 'Hikaru', sitting by the table, with his notes by his side, yet he chose to cage his pen between his nose and upper lip, chin rested on the table, eyes fixated on the boy facing him.
"Yoshiki ..."
"Mmh ."
"What's gonna happen if ya do well in yer exam ?"
"Imma study in Tokyo ."
"So yar gonna live there ?"
"I'll stay at my aunt's in the first days then i'll move out to live on my own ."
'Hikaru' was pressing his lip against the pen to get it to move, his eyes on Yoshiki the whole time.
"Yoshiki . "
"Yeah ..."
"Won't ya be lonely, living there all on yer own ?"
Flashbacks of when he had this same discussion with Hikaru crossed Yoshiki's mind, he eyed 'Hikaru' for a second, considering the request he has been thinking of for a while now, but decided to keep it to himself.
"Still better than staying in this village ."
He drove his attention back to his notes, trying to focus on his studying again, but 'Hikaru' didn't seem to want to let him.
"Yoshiki-"
"What again ?"
"Looking at ya from down here, i get to see how long yer eyelashes are ."
Yoshiki was startled by the sudden confession, part of him felt pleased, while the other was embarrassed. He brought his face down, in an attempt to hide his blush.
"That ain't- "
He didn't even get to finish his line when the power went out- leaving the two of them in the dark, the little light that entered from the window wasn't even enough to lighten the edges of the bed.
"A power cut ???? Aaah that's the worst ! I didn't even charge my phone !"
'Hikaru' checked his phone and the battery was at 3%, adding to his frustration.
"Ya didn't charge it last night ?"
"I was so sleepy when i put it to charge, i didn't notice the charger wasn't plugged ..."
"That's so 'Hikaru' coded ."
Yoshiki let out a chuckle, turning the flashlight of his phone on to continue his studying.
"Yar seriously gonna study with the lights off ??"
"Right, i gotta text my parents in case my battery dies too ."
"Where did they go ?"
"To a friend of theirs ."
As soon as he was done sending his text, Yoshiki was back to his notes, trying not to mind 'Hikaru's eyes on him. His flashlight lightened only his surroundings, the rest of the room was complete darkness and the wind added to the snow outside wasn't of help with the eery atmosphere.
"Did ya know ? Impurities love to lurk in the darkness ."
This sent shivers down Yoshiki's spine, he fell for it, eyeing his surroundings before he stares at the one who was grinning from ear to ear.
"If one was around i'd sense it ..."
"None is around cause they're afraid of me~ ya should bow down and be grateful to 'Hikaru'-sama for keeping them away from ya~"
'Hikaru' was acting all mighty, even adjusting his voice to his character, but Yoshiki did not seem to be fazed, returning his attention to his books.
"That role doesn't suit ya ."
"Right ........."
'Hikaru' crossed his arms on the table then rested his chin on top of them, his eyes never parting off Yoshiki, he noticed him bring his hands to his face, blowing into them, only now realizing that it must be cold for him.
"Isn't the heater off with the power cut ?"
"Yeah, it's getting chilly .. lucky ya, ya don't feel these stuff ."
"I still miss summer, i don't like winter, it's such a lonely season ..."
By lonely, 'Hikaru' meant the sight of Yoshiki, sitting there all on his own, with snow falling in the window behind him, only darkness wrapping him when the flashlight turned off.
"Even my battery died, i should've known, the flashlight consumes lots of it ."
Yoshiki stared at the window behind him, the light would soon fade away, he then brought his knees to his chest in an attempt to warm himself, getting back to the summer comment.
"I'd rather have an eternal freezing winter than ever go through another summer ."
"Ya hate the summer heat that much ?"
'Hikaru' laughed, a fake laugh, deep down, he knew it wasn't about the heat. Let it be the orange color, or the summer season, whatever made him remember Hikaru's death, Yoshiki despised it.
There had to be a way to cheer Yoshiki up. 'Hikaru' stared around the dark room, until an idea crossed his mind, which he directly put to execution.
"Lemme sit next to ya ."
Yoshiki looked up but couldn't see him, he didn't question his offer, keeping silent when he felt 'Hikaru's foot touch him to find where he was, and then came hip against his, 'Hikaru' sitting by his side, way too close for Yoshiki's heart.
The hip wasn't all that touched him, soon came the arms that wrapped around him, pulling him close.
"What's that for ?"
"Let's cuddle to keep ya warm ."
Yoshiki couldn't argue against that cheerful tone, he was thankful there was no light, else 'Hikaru' would see how Yoshiki's cheeks turned to different shades of red.
"Or should i wrap ya in my insides ? They'll keep ya warmer ..."
'Hikaru' didn't think twice of his suggestion, it was out of pure instinct, unintentionally wanting to take advantage of the situation but Yoshiki was quick to reject the offer.
"Yer insides are cold ."
"Yet whenever i wrap ya in them, ya come out face red and panting from the warmth ."
"That ain't true-"
Yoshiki snapped back way too quickly, which was enough proof that 'Hikaru' was right but 'Hikaru' being himself, he didn't give it much thought, another idea crossing his mind.
" 'll be better if we cover ourselves in yer blanket ."
He didn't wait to pull the blanket from the bed, covering their bodies with it, then he wrapped one arm around Yoshiki's right elbow, snuggling to him and sharing their body warmth.
Yoshiki didn't want to overthink the non existent space between them, even when he felt cheek against his.
"Yer face is cold ... ah, got an idea !"
To Yoshiki, 'Hikaru's ideas were only worsening the situation, he now used the blanket to cover the both of them from head to toe.
"No part of ya will be cold like this ."
Just like his heartbeat, 'Hikaru' could also control his body temperature, elevating it and breathing into Yoshiki's cold hands to keep them warm.
It worked. If anything, it worked more than it was supposed to. Yoshiki felt as if he was suffocating inside the blanket, not from the warmth, but from his thoughts, his feelings, he wanted to run away.
"I think- it's better if i keep my head out of the blanket ."
"But yer face will get cold ."
Yoshiki did as he said, pulling his head out. He could feel 'Hikaru's hands on his cheeks, he could sense 'Hikaru's breath on his face, yet the way he imagined their proximity could never equal how it was in reality-
Because here was the light back, and Yoshiki could perfectly see how there were only few centimeters between their faces, and mouths ...
Both teens had their faces turn to tomatoes as they stared into each other's eyes, it felt like it lasted a second and an eternity till Yoshiki decided to react, pulling 'Hikaru's hands from his face to turn it the opposite way.
'Hikaru' also found himself staring the other way, he may not understand the feelings but he could guess what that proximity meant.
They both jumped from their places when they heard the door downstairs get pulled open. Yoshiki's parents and little sister were home.
"They're back s-so ... it's time i go home ."
'Hikaru' didn't wait to pack his things, knowing he had to leave to ease the awkward tension between them.
"See ya tomorrow ."
Yoshiki didn't say a word, he watched him shut the door, he heard him greet his parents downstairs, rejecting his mother's offer to have dinner with them. He then breathed out, he will just act like nothing happened in the next day, as he always does.
His body on the other hand, could never forget the warmth it registered when 'Hikaru' was next to him, and the cold he felt now that he was all alone.