Archive of Our Own

It may have started when they met and hit it off immediately.

It could've been around then when Yukimiya first laid his eyes on the two easing in each other's presence despite meeting for the first time, the way their skills contrasted with the other felt so right that they couldn't lean away.

Maybe it was around then when Karasu looked at him for the first with his eyes straying on Yukimiya's dark brown hair, his smile widening as he glanced at Otoya for a hot second before looking back at Yukimiya, calling out words that could barely even register in his brain—he didn't even know it before he was making his way over to the two.

Everything changed around then, and Yukimiya didn't know what to think of it when he saw Otoya linger around Karasu's body, the want to continue, but it never did.

Yukimiya continued to see.

The next moments didn't make sense to him either when Karasu's lips started to tug into a sly smirk, and Otoya's eyes had played with a teasing glint, their mouths moved in the right ways, seemingly arguing with each other over something stupid, a friendly debate.

Friendly.

It was his first time having a situation like this, and for some reason, it felt like he'd always been here—a part of them.

When he saw Karasu nudge Otoya in the ribs, which caused him to wrap Karasu in a loose, playful headlock as they continued to banter, Yukimiya knew it'd be eventful if he decided to stay with them.

Which he did.

He didn't even mind it.

He continued to look at Karasu and Otoya, watching the way Otoya squeezed his arms ever-so-slightly which caused Karasu to faintly choke, his playful demeanour shifting into something more taunting as he got out of Otoya's hold and wrapped his fingers around his wrists, pinning him down to the floor with a sly grin.

The two stare at each other in this position, their smug and teasing glints in their eyes never fading as their faces are inches away from each other, and they let themselves linger around each other for a second too long.

Once Otoya was free from Karasu's hold, he sat up with a huff and his legs kicking in the air before crossing beneath each other, staring at Karasu with some sort of look that didn't go unnoticed by Yukimiya, "I should've listened to my mum's advice when she told me to be careful who I talked to in this place."

Karasu barked out a laugh, nudging Otoya in the ribs before following suit to sit beside him again.

Yukimiya wasn't stupid, he saw it all.

Since the first day, their first interaction, their first game, Yukimiya noticed them—It wasn't hard to, after all, they were the most noticeable out of everyone else.

It may be ironic when the two of them confessed that they thought the other was weird upon first meeting, but even more so that it didn't cause either of them to be cautious around the other, rather being curious.

Oh, god, they were forever destined to be best friends—no matter the universe, was there any other explanation?

Karasu's gaze lingered on Otoya for a second too long, and Yukimiya didn't fail to take notice of the hesitance in Otoya's eyes, the flicker of emotion fading away as he ignored it, it wasn't his problem as of right now.

He still smiled at him, and Karasu smiled back.

Yukimiya blinked, he didn’t look away.

When a sigh escaped from Karasu, his chin rested softly from beneath his hand, tiredly looking into the distance as he watched the replays of matches in the vast and void room, two presences with him that he didn't want either to leave.

The white ruffles of hair lean against his shoulder, and Karasu shifts his head to lean against them, their heads gently grazing atop each other as they continue to watch the videos, another sigh mixed with a yawn comes from Karasu, making the other chuckle.

"Aren't you tired?" Otoya snickered, uncrossing his arms but made no avail to move where he was sitting, seemingly perfectly content in his current position, "Go to sleep,"

A hum went through Karasu's throat, a silent refusal, "I'll be fine,"

With a huff, Otoya leaned into Karasu's body, "Sure, okay,"

It almost seemed like Otoya had wanted to get the last word, to always finish the conversation with the final and God—Karasu would've let him, he'd give it to him if he looked at him in the eyes and admitted that he wanted to have the last few words, there wasn't any doubt.

Instead, with a laugh, Karasu returned his words to him condescendingly, "Why are you talking? You aren't any better than me, that's for sure."

"Rude, didn't have to call me out like that," Otoya grumbled, his eyes tiredly looking towards the vast screen across the wall.

The two interacted like they knew each other for years on end like they'd been friends since the start and that the fleeting ideas of the other boy being weird hadn't existed—yet they took it as an opportunity to indulge in the other's antics, finding each other as the match they had needed, no longer needing to find anything else.

But they continued to hold onto Yukimiya's presence.

What a funny thought.

Glancing at the boy resting on his shoulder, Karasu's eyes slightly softened, his fingers tracing to his bottom lip to support his chin, the replaying games were becoming background noise as his other hand itched towards Otoya and the white hair ruffled in his view.

Karasu was pretty sure there wasn't another thought when his hand suddenly trailed to Otoya's hair, his fingers briefly touching the strands, swiping away a few bits as he continued to stare, his gaze not looking away—not even when Otoya's body stilled and slowly moved his head to stare right at him, their eyes locking.

He wasn't sure if he was seeing things if he saw the faint pink tinting Otoya's face.

Maybe it meant something else when Otoya's eyes widened with a flicker of regret, his head moving away from Karasu's look and back into the screen—it felt like something was screaming at him to move away from Karasu, but he couldn't, for once, it felt so nice.

"You think we'll have a good match tomorrow?" Karasu whispered, his tone soft and curious, though the question seemed only to be a placeholder for the silence.

And Otoya hummed, tiredly blinking as he never stopped staring, "Yeah, probably,"

Neither of them could remember who they were supposed to be versing, only focusing on their past plays and their most recent game—not entirely seeming to care about the future or the upcoming match with the countless possibilities; this seemed to be their only thought symbolised in their heads.

They don't exactly remember anything after that, the lights slowly dimming, and the screen is turned off as soft scratches briefly touch their scalps before a blanket draped over the two huddled bodies.

If it felt so gentle, how could they move away from it?

Otoya felt odd.

He wasn't—Ever since he joined Blue Lock, nothing felt so right yet so wrong at the same time.

Throughout his entire life, he was always aware that he only looked towards girls, there wasn't even a chance of an idea of Otoya glancing at another guy in that aspect, this is what he grew up with; the norm.

There wasn't anything else to this matter.

It was always girls and boys, boys and girls, there hadn't been a time when Otoya had been around something different.

And yet—

Karasu from this Blue Lock program randomly waltzed into his life, grabbed his hand and dragged him into his way of playing football because when they realised the other was so compatible with each other, it was just a matter of time before they had become an unstoppable duo—and they were.

It worked so well that they didn't think twice before any other games commenced; it was a relationship of convenience, just how they liked it.

Otoya had yet to let go of Karasu, and it wasn't any better when he realised he unintentionally started looking for another boy's gaze, silently waiting for him to join their circle so he could extend his reach, but never spoke up anything about it—he didn't fail to notice Karasu's similar thoughts.

It was just the three of them, and Otoya wanted to scratch something until it was torn apart.

"I'd kiss you," Karasu had randomly stated, his words were—seemingly directed towards Otoya, and he didn't know what to reply with, his eyebrows shooting upwards.

"Wh—As a girl, right?" Otoya let out a chuckle, taking fun in this awkward situation and didn't want to overthink it, he was starting to get used to Karasu's random comments—rather it'd be weird if he didn't randomly spew out sentences for the whole world to hear, "I get it,"

Instead, Karasu just hummed, shrugging his shoulders while putting the tip of his water bottle to his lips, taking the last few sips of his drained bottle before looking at Otoya with a genuine tint in his eyes, though he also seemed kind of tired, "I guess,"

His confirmation should've been comforting to Otoya, there should've been a sigh of relief rushing down his body and throughout his veins as his mind became lighter with ease, no longer in a deal of stress and torment with his mind, but hearing such a comment made Otoya's heart slightly burn with disappointment, and he didn't get why.

"I'd still kiss you right now," Karasu didn't look away from Otoya, like he was expecting an event to happen beneath his feet, and Otoya didn't know how to feel.

Hearing such a statement made Otoya's heart jump, like a yearning feeling, exploded in his heart and—and, oh, it hurt.

It's a sin.

Otoya blinked, forcing his gaze away from Karasu while he didn't look away despite the sharp flinch that came from Otoya, both of their breaths hitched.

"Don't be stupid," Otoya huffed, his voice softer than usual as his brain circled endlessly with thoughts—he didn't like this feeling, he needed it to go away, immediately.

Karasu didn't say anything briefly, a gentle sigh escaping his throat and a quiet inhale of air, "Okay."

His hand lightly grazed Otoya's white hair, his fingers itching towards the few green strands because it was so beautiful it hurt Karasu's soul like he wanted to kiss every inch of it and let the hair breeze into the air.

And Otoya couldn't lean away.

It felt so warm, but it was a sin.

For the first time in his life, Otoya felt conflicted. His chest swelled up with emotions that could burst into flames any second and his heart was suddenly so aware to his brain that it felt like they were one—Otoya could barely differentiate the two at this rate, and it was so sudden.

It had to stop—something had to keep his brain distracted so he could stop feeling such a thing—and his eyes strayed across the field, darting from one person to another object before they stilled upon Yukimiya.

From where he stretched and adjusted his glasses occasionally, the ball beside him staying put until it was required, and oh Otoya just can't look away from his best friend.

It felt like a spell, like Otoya couldn't help it at all—as if it was against his will yet Otoya didn't resist the urge.

When Yukimiya turned his head around, blinking towards his general direction before shooting that warm smile Otoya had grown addicted to with a quick wave that caused Otoya to blink again, snapping out of his gaze; he barely even noticed the fact that Karasu wasn't any better than him.

Otoya was in trouble—so much trouble.

Karasu had always been the type to observe.

It was something that he had adapted from childhood where he’d learned that noticing the small details could be the difference between blending in or standing out. And so, he noticed things—like how Yukimiya’s laugh was a little sweeter when Otoya made a joke, or how Otoya’s eyes lingered a bit longer when Yukimiya was distracted.

Karasu noticed, and not too long after, he began to notice his feelings, too.

It came on slowly, like a big tide was coming in, but small waves of awareness rippling at the borders of his consciousness.

In the beginning, it was only an appreciation for his friends because they were close, the three of them—bonded by football and long nights of talking about everything and nothing.

But then, Karasu caught himself lingering on how Otoya’s white, silky hair lit beneath the dimmed lights, finding a way to make the shitty lighting look so sweet, or how Yukimiya’s fond and beautiful smile could brighten anyone's day, even in the worst of the worst moments, his smile was an exception.

And, to be honest, Karasu wasn’t entirely shocked when he finally realised that he was in love with them.

More-or-less, it felt like it was the completion of a puzzle he hadn’t even recognised that he’d been piecing together for all this time.

Figuring these facts out wasn't anything mind-breaking or something that harshly tugged at Karasu's heart, rather, it felt that there was a sense of contentment instead, a quiet acceptance.

After all, this was just how things were, and Karasu didn’t mind it.

He didn’t essentially grow the need to act upon it—not when he was already happy with the three were currently at. Their friendship was already so perfectly balanced, that there wasn't a chance this would be able to be built again if he wrecked it, Karasu wasn’t willing to risk it.

Karasu was content to love from a distance if it meant keeping what they had.

Nonetheless, that never stopped his heart from skipping a beat or two whenever he felt Otoya brush his rough fingers against him, or his chest from tightening when Yukimiya gave him one of those fond, lingering looks that didn't fail for Karasu to melt into the warm gaze.

The realisation could never stop the warmth that bloomed in him whenever they shared their laughter between themselves, or with the ways his thoughts would occasionally drift to a 'what if?'––Karasu was always sure to be careful so he could keep those thoughts to himself, to bury them deep beneath his relaxed demeanour.

He wasn’t afraid of his feelings, but he wasn’t about to risk what they had.

Not yet, anyway.

The stars that littered across the night sky shone beneath, giving a nice shine for everyone to see, to get a glance of.

Yukimiya hummed, the cold breeze flowing into his hair and ruffling them against one another, feeling the nice rush of air as he continued to look at the beautiful sky; seemingly not paying attention to the two boys playfully wrestling with the other.

It's like they found a purpose in poking fun at each other, the constant urge to get under the other boy's skin never failed to be known.

Maybe it was stupid, but nothing else could be said—they knew it, Yukimiya knew it.

It kind of felt sickening.

"You need to learn how to shut the fuck up," He could hear Karasu say sharply, a nudge following soon after as a muffled cackle came from Otoya, no doubt giving a fake glare in retaliation.

"Me? I do?" Otoya sounded like he had just heard the most absurd thing known to man—as if Karasu had just accused him of the worst crime he could ever do, and with a loud scoff, he continued to speak, "You're the one who needs to shut up! We're going to get caught if you keep fucking talking that loud, jeez."

He was referring to the fact that the three had sneaked out of the Blue Lock building, honestly, it wasn't exactly hard to do so, Karasu had easily found a loophole to escape and Otoya wasn't one to be left yet, rather wanting to indulge in such activities.

And, honestly, Yukimiya didn't know what he was doing here either.

It wasn't exactly expected, but he wasn't entirely surprised, he was still friends with them, after all, he just didn't see himself joining in on their antics.

If you told Yukimiya this a few weeks ago, he wouldn't have believed it at all, either set on believing that the two would never invite him to such an event or that he, himself, would decline the invitation as he was solely focused on football and not wanting to derive his attention from it a single bit.

Yet, here he was, sitting on a rooftop with two boys he holds dearly to his heart because he just can't bring himself to say no.

A relieving sigh escaped his lips, taking in the fresh air rather slowly as he continued to gaze at the stars, maybe there'd be a shooting star for him to wish upon, wouldn't that be so sweet? He let the endless taunts and bickering behind him continue, the teasing going and leaving an infinite cycle. He wasn't exactly sure how long it took for Karasu to groan in defeat finally. Yukimiya could faintly overhear his body shifting and standing up abruptly, his hands moving to dust his clothes off.

"Ugh, bastard," Karasu had a tint of sarcasm in his voice, and Otoya only chuckled, revelling in Karasu's unamused reaction as he slowly took a few steps backwards, "I'm gonna get water, you guys want some?"

He tilted his head to the side, watching the way Otoya tiredly nodded before shifting his gaze towards Yukimiya, who was still relishing in the stars' beauty.

"Sure," Yukimiya smiled, not wanting to look away just yet, "That'd be nice, thanks Karasu,"

Karasu flashed the two a smile, throwing a quick thumbs up before swiftly making—or breaking in his way back into the building, sneaking in ways that should probably be classified as illegal; but if nobody knew or was getting hurt, why should it bother anyone?

As he left, the silence slowly overtook the atmosphere, yet it wasn't awkward, in a way, it felt comforting.

It didn't take long for Yukimiya to feel Otoya's presence moving around, subtly making his way to plop his body beside his, crossing his legs together as his arms leaned behind him, giving his upper body leverage to also steer into the night sky, somewhat mimicking the way Yukimiya's body was situated in.

"It's nice out," Otoya breathed out, his expression holding a smile that barely tugged on his face.

Yukimiya hummed for the nth time, barely thinking about anything, wanting this to be an escape route for all his problems, but he could never ignore Otoya and Karasu—he couldn't even try, "It really is, how long have we been out here for?"

"'Dunno," Otoya just shrugged, barely even thinking about it twice, "Maybe for a few hours already, but it's so worth it,"

"You can say that again," Yukimiya responded with a chuckle, nodding along to Otoya's words while he continuously stared at the stars, his brain making up shapes and images as his brain suddenly raced with thoughts.

Yukimiya felt peaceful, it was cool and sent shivers down his spine constantly with goosebumps covering his arm like a sleeve, but it felt so nice, and the situation was far too satisfying that Yukimiya didn't care at all, after so long in this competitive building and expectations, it was quiet.

The fact that Otoya was right beside him helped factor the feeling as well; not to mention that Karasu would be returning soon, it was like the night was perfect.

He didn't want this night to end, not at all. If there were an option for him to freeze time for a few hours, then Yukimiya would click it without hesitation to let this moment continue.

Yukimiya let out a soft breath, a small dust of fog appearing before his eyes as he never stopped looking at the night sky; the way the moonlight would shine onto the land, fragments hitting the roof and straying across his torso and gusts of cool wind would brush against his hair and ruffle it up in the best ways possible.

The actual moon was even prettier, the crescent shape with the shadows hiding the rest of the moon shone in the sky, showcasing the piece's details for everyone to see, and the stars all around covered the black canvas, giving a night another purpose.

A fond smile tugged on his lips, pulling his knees close to his chest so he could wrap his arms around his legs, keeping his body warm.

"Beautiful…"

Yukimiya faintly heard a breathless voice from beside him, like their words were stuck in his throat and he could barely get them out with a husky tone, almost as if the person had been thinking about it for a long while, and Yukimiya couldn't help but chuckle, his smile widening as he nodded along.

For a brief second, Yukimiya shifts his head to lock eyes with Otoya, the player already looking at him with a glint in his eyes that Yukimiya doesn't even register, his long strands of hair continuously straying against his forehead and his voice soft, "Isn't it?"

He didn't notice the subtle gulp from Otoya, the way his eyes didn't even glance at the moon for a second before a meek nod came from him, his words barely containing breaths and were almost as if they were quick and hitched against his tongue like countless thoughts were happening behind,

"…Yeah."

That's all Otoya could come up with, and Yukimiya resumed looking back at the night sky—and Otoya didn't look away.

With the way Otoya's gaze never shifted from Yukimiya once in the time frame when Karasu left, it was almost sickening yet humorous, Otoya wasn't sure on either.

The white moonlight made Yukimiya's eyes shine in the best way possible, how the stars were visibly littered in his dark eyes, giving it an effect that his eyes were his personal canvas for him to paint on, and it was so gorgeous, it nearly hurt Otoya, and he couldn't wrap his head around it.

Just like his hair was perfectly shifting with the wind, acting as if the wind was a paid actress to contribute to this whole factor. The sweet smile quirked on his face, so subtle yet aware that nobody could look away—it felt like a spell.

Otoya couldn't believe it, not a single bit.

Because how can someone so angelic be a sinner?

No words could come out of him.

“Something on your mind?” Yukimiya asked suddenly, his voice gentle but curious, most likely catching onto the uncommon silence from Otoya, neither of them was used to this sort of situation.

Otoya hesitated, his gaze starting to become fidgety but he didn't realise it himself before he became fixated on the dark horizon, no longer having the courage to stare at Yukimiya anymore as he replied, “It’s—nothing, really,”

He tried to lie; keyword: tried.

Whilst he mumbled, there was an obvious tightness in his tone from the way his throat constricted against itself, making his voice more strained than usual, a contrast to his regular way of speaking, and Yukimiya could easily pick it up within a second, because, how could he not?

Yukimiya slightly tilted his head and his calm smile that was plastered on didn't fail to make Otoya feel encouraged to continue, his tone soft and teasing, though a hint of concern laced between them, “You’re not very good at lying, you know,”

Otoya let out a small laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he felt the tension easing ever-so-slightly, “Yeah, guess not,”

A low sigh escaped his mouth, another cloud of fog forming for a brief moment before he ran one of his hands through his hair, ruffling the white strands across each other and creating a comfortable mess, leaving the isolated bits of green hair to be the lightest bit tussled.

Otoya's mouth suddenly felt dry, and he carefully chose his next words, though his sentences were beginning to slow as hesitance only grew—Yet, Yukimiya was always willing to wait with him, "Have…Have you ever felt like...you're not who you're supposed to be?"

The corners of his teeth slightly ground against each other, "Kinda like—you were told your whole life that you were supposed to be one way, but then... you start to realise that maybe that's not who you are?"

Yukimiya glanced at Otoya, his eyes locking with Otoya's green ones, and he didn't fail to notice the harsh conflict laced all around Otoya's eyes, the light in them slightly dimming—it didn't take long for Yukimiya to catch on that this was more than just idle musing, it was so much more, "Are you talking about yourself, Otoya?"

His voice was soft in all the right ways, there was no way Otoya could lie to him. So, without a second, he nodded, his hands moving to fidget in his lap instead.

"It’s just…" With a bite to his bottom lip, Otoya wasn't entirely sure what to say anymore, but he trusted Yukimiya more than he trusted himself, and that's all he needed to be aware of, "I don’t know, man…I’ve—I've been thinking about…stuff.”

Yukimiya only nodded, allowing moments for Otoya to take in for him to elaborate.

After a few more beats of silence, Otoya finally spoke again, though his voice lower, almost hesitant, “Do you like…ever think about… what’s normal? Like, what you’re supposed to do, who you’re supposed to like?”

It didn't take long for Yukimiya’s eyes to soften after the solemn question, Otoya could witness the understanding settle across Yukimiya's expression, and a bitter feeling hit Otoya's heart, yet, in a way, it also felt warm, that he couldn't complain about it, not just yet.

“Hm," A hum went through Yukimiya's throat, taking time to think about the question before answering it gently, "I guess I think about it sometimes. But, then again, I also think that ‘normal’ is what people are used to. It doesn’t have to define who you are.”

Otoya felt himself beginning to frown as uncertainty filled his gut, the next words a bit more hesitant as nothing in his mind made sense, “But…growing up, it’s—I've always been told that liking girls is the only thing I should really like—consider? And if I felt anything else, it was just my brain being stupid, and, I never questioned it, you know? It was just…the way things were.”

Yukimiya didn't say anything else, taking in the implications that Otoya wasn't finished yet, and he was intently listening to every word that escaped the boy.

“But…” Otoya’s voice wavered, his fingers curling into fists to get rid of the fidgety feeling running across his arm, “Now, it's like my whole world has been flipped upside down. I…Ever since I've met you and Karasu, I’ve had these—thoughts I never thought I would. And it scares me.”

The confession hung in the air between them, feeling raw and vulnerable.

And then, Otoya felt a reassuring hand softly placed against his shoulder, another shiver going down his spine but instinctively warming up to it.

His thumb gently caressed the back of his shoulder, and Otoya didn't know what to feel, “You know it's okay to feel scared, right? It would never change the fact that it's not wrong. You’re allowed to feel confused.”

“But what if it’s wrong?” Otoya responded within a second, barely giving Yukimiya's reassurance a chance due to his mind being a trainwreck for so long, his voice was almost a whisper now, “What if everything I’ve been taught was right, and I’m the one who’s messed up?”

Am I messed up?

Yukimiya shook his head, his brown hair shaking side to side, and Otoya caught onto every detail, even the firm grip on Otoya’s shoulder. Still, it felt oddly comforting that Otoya borderline hated it, because why could he like something like this? How can he warm into this feeling?

He does, regardless.

“You’re not messed up," It only took four genuine words from Yukimiya to make it feel like Otoya's world had shifted, even just the slightest bit, "What you’re feeling isn’t wrong. It’s merely different from what you were taught to believe. But, it doesn’t make you any less valid.”

Otoya felt his teeth sink deeper into his inner lip, his gaze dropping to his hands, continuing to fidget in his lap as slight nods came from him, it was almost as if he didn't believe Yukimiya.

"I…I grew up in the type of family where everything was set out for me, you know? Just, go to school, play football, get good grades, and eventually...find a nice girl to settle down with. That's just how it was supposed to be. But now..." His sentence began to trail off, struggling to find the right words, "Now I'm not too sure."

Yukimiya didn't say anything, letting Otoya sort through his thoughts. While his past reassurance lingered in the air, he remained quiet. He knew that this was more than just a delicate moment, it was something that required patience.

And he didn't mind waiting.

"I've never really questioned it before," Otoya sighed, his voice tinged with frustration as he felt like this conversation had only gone in loops, but he continued, "I've always just…did whatever I wanted, you know? Like going with the flow because doing what I was told was easier. Then you two came along, and now everything's confusing."

Karasu and Yukimiya.

Them.

Another sigh escaped Otoya, running a hand through his hair, "I know I already said this, and you told me it isn't, but genuinely, It’s like you two flipped everything upside down—because, suddenly, I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before, and it scares the hell out of me. 'Cause what if it’s wrong? What if I’m wrong?"

This time, Yukimiya only hummed, taking in Otoya's doubts and fears with a fondness he'd never felt before.

"Why would anything be wrong with how you feel?" Yukimiya quoted, briefly starting to base it off his own experiences with underlying implications, "Liking someone, no matter their gender, isn't. It's really just love. And…love isn't something you should be ashamed of."

Otoya could feel the bottom of his gut starting to believe his words bit by bit, but when he looked at Yukimiya, his eyes were filled with doubt, "Wouldn't it be…unnatural? Isn't it a sin?"

"Do you believe that?" Yukimiya asked gently.

Otoya felt his breath hitch, his eyebrows furrowing together as he slowly took in the simple question. It wasn't—he didn't particularly believe in all the religious stuff he was brought up with, not entirely how his family did, he merely followed along and accepted that there were sins and there was good, something to look forward to.

His chin gently pressed against his knee, pulling it close to his chest as mumbles were the only thing that could come from his mouth, "I don't know,"

And he didn't, Otoya truly didn't know anymore. Because beliefs were such a foreign concept to Otoya, even if he grew up with it all around him, it still felt new and different—that there was something Otoya couldn't put his finger on, but he never questioned it until now.

He didn't like sinning so he didn't upset his family and followed the religion he was brought to believe, but if it meant that Otoya could love Karasu and Yukimiya, Otoya wouldn't mind being a sinner.

"What matters most is that you’re true to yourself, you don't have to live for someone else's expectations, that's not who you are," Yukimiya hummed once more, the comforting weight spread on his shoulder didn't move anyway, and Otoya was glad he didn't.

Otoya swallowed hard, his throat feeling constricted with emotion, the words taking a deep toll within, "And…And if being true to myself means disappointing them? Hurting them?"

As much as he didn't believe in the ways his family did, they were still so dear to his heart.

Yukimiya’s expression softened, "Sometimes, to be true to yourself, also means making hard choices. And you deserve to be happy, to love who you love freely without the daunting fear or shame, because if they love you, truly love you, they’ll understand."

Otoya closed his eyes, taking a deep breath through his mouth, letting the cool air rush through his body to give it the relaxed tension it needed. It was the first time in a long while that he allowed himself to sincerely think about what Yukimiya was saying; to live a free life where he didn’t have to think twice about how he felt because of the constant fear, where he could be with Karasu—and maybe even Yukimiya—without a sense of guilt.

"It’s still so new to me, I don't know what else to say," Otoya confessed tiredly, his eyes opening again to the sight of the vast night sky, "This whole time I've been used to running away from matters that didn't fit right with my kind of vision, and now that it's with you and Karasu, I don't want to run anymore."

"And you don’t have to run," Yukimiya smiled, his hand removing its touch from his shoulder to gently fix tussled strands of Otoya's hair, "Not anymore, at least. You can take your time, it might take a while to figure things out, and that's okay—as long as you don’t deny yourself the chance to be happy, Otoya. You deserve that."

Otoya finally met Yukimiya’s gaze after all this time avoiding the warm, brown eyes, and he couldn't help but instantly melt into them, the fear in his eyes slowly giving way to something else—something that felt like hope, “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Yukimiya told him with a reassuring smile, his fingertips slightly grazing Otoya's cheek before fully pulling away, “You aren't gonna be alone. Karasu and I will be here for you, no matter what. I promise.”

And, for a long moment, Otoya didn’t say anything. He couldn't say anything, all words had left his mouth as the feeling of Yukimiya’s words settling in his mind gave a comforting weight, offering the type of solace he hadn’t realised he was constantly looking for. It took another second or two before he nodded, a small but genuine smile tugging at the edges of his lips.

"Thank you…" Otoya breathed out, relishing in Yukimiya's gaze before tentatively looking away to gaze back into the moon and stars, no longer bothering to check if Yukimiya had looked away from him, "I needed to hear that."

He was sure Yukimiya replied with something, but his mind had entered a state of peace that he hadn't felt in ages, so he never registered it.

They sat together for a while longer, the weight of the conversation gradually lifting, replaced by a sense of understanding and quiet acceptance while the starlight razed across their bodies. Otoya knew he still had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt he wasn’t facing it alone.

And that made all the difference.

No, he knew he wasn't alone, and that left a sense of clarity to form in his mind. He wasn’t entirely sure where this journey would take him, but for the first time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—it would be okay to follow his heart; that he would be able to face it—not with fear, but with the support of his friends by his side.

Friends.

Could he let the two be something more?

His breathing stopped, and he heard movements behind him reoccur to signify that Karasu was back with the gift of drinks sitting in his hands—Otoya decided to dwell on it later along with other bits from the conversation he just had and grinned at Karasu with a wave.

The night had gone far too quickly, and now Otoya was lying flat against his bed, his head laying across the pillow with his hair ruffled across the cover as his mind raced with endless amounts of thoughts.

He couldn't stop thinking about the conversation he had with Yukimiya.

It was strange, per se.

Because—Even if Otoya comes to accept that it's okay to like another boy, would it be fair to the other?

All this time, every relationship he had shared with a different girl, it never ended up well because Otoya didn't treat them right, and now that he's found people to share love with, he doesn't understand how to express how he feels.

Has he ever been able to?

Love was a strange concept, and maybe Otoya's never properly felt it—or in the way that he could show the people he cares about that the feelings are there, and if that's the case, Otoya feels like it's better off if he leaves his daunting feelings to the bottom of his stomach and never think about it again.

In retrospect, what would the point be if he loved someone else if he didn't understand love himself?

All he knows is that he cares for Karasu and Yukimiya on unspeakable levels that it almost seems embarrassing to admit, but there shouldn't be any shame that he likes them.

Love isn't something you should be ashamed of.

Otoya replays the conversation over and over again like a chant, it was almost sickening, yet it was true.

And if Otoya decides to shake it all off in his head and decides to deal with it the next day, that's his business—and if dealing with it means spurting it out the second he talks to Karasu, then that's also his business.

He didn't think twice about it when he swore that Yukimiya and Karasu were in his dream.

The day after Yukimiya’s heartfelt conversation with Otoya, there was an undeniable change began to brew between Karasu and Otoya, and Otoya spent the entire night reflecting on his feelings and Yukimiya’s reassurances.

Everything was starting to make sense to him now, it was clear as day that he was grappling with something he could no longer ignore—his love for Karasu—for both of them.

When the sun dipped below the horizon, radiating a warm glow over the Blue Lock facility for a nice shine, Otoya found himself face-to-face with Karasu. They were alone in their usual corner of the building, where the soft hum of the air conditioning filled the silence. The room smelled of grass and the faint sound of other players practising in the distance.

Karasu was sitting on the edge of the bench, fixing the cap of his water bottle as Otoya stood across from him, not being able to sit beside Karasu he could feel his heart racing, the beats increasing as seconds passed. The conversation they were about to have had been brewing in Otoya's mind for the past day, and now, it was only a matter of time before he mustered the courage to speak, to confess.

“Otoya,” Karasu suddenly spoke with his eyebrow raised, and a curious expression perked on his face as he broke the silence, “You’ve been oddly quiet today, you know that? Is everything alright?”

Otoya took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves while his hands slightly fidgeted against each other, his tone merely shaky as this was the first time in his life that he finally confronted troubling thoughts instead of ignoring them, “Actually, Karasu, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

And when Karasu looked up, his curiosity piqued, Otoya realised it was now or never, “What’s up?”

Otoya’s mind raced, but he focused on Karasu’s eyes, which had sparkled with genuine interest. This same warmth, this familiar unwavering support, made Otoya’s resolve stronger.

“I’ve been thinking…about us—about how close we’ve become.” He swallowed a lump down his throat that he wasn't even aware was there, his lips suddenly felt dry.

Karasu tilted his head slightly, his hair shifting with the wind as a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lip, like there was a silent communication between the two boys as he expected more to come from Otoya—no, he knew that there was more to it, Karasu was aware of more things than people know, “And?”

“And…” Otoya hesitated, but he pushed through, what would be the point if he stopped now? With his heart pounding, Otoya didn't stop, “I think—I think that I’ve fallen for you.”

Otoya watched how Karasu’s eyes widened in surprise before a grin formed on his face, the understanding, cheeky smile with his gums shining to the world that he was so familiar with spread across, giving Otoya a sense of relief as he didn't stop watching Karasu.

"You think?" Karasu's words were borderline breathless, yet his tone was laced with a hint of tease that Otoya could feel his shoulders no longer tensing.

A responding unamused smile came from Otoya and a huff shortly followed as he lightly nudged Karasu with a look, his eyes glinting with fondness that felt so warm, Otoya was no longer sure if this was wrong anymore—No, it wasn't, it only felt like it, and Otoya was completely fine with feeling like he was in the wrong if it meant being with Karasu.

"No," Otoya huffed, but the smile on his face was something he couldn't deny, "I know so,"

It seemed so cringe that it felt right.

He didn't even realise that he used Yukimiya's reassurance as a way to accept.

Karasu only chuckled, their fingers starting to graze atop each other as he took a step closer towards Otoya, slowly closing the distance between them, and for the first time, Otoya didn't step back, allowing Karasu into his personal space with the light words escaping his soft-looking lips, "Good, because I definitely know that I feel the same way,”

Otoya’s breath caught in his throat as Karasu took another step, finally closing the distance between them as he felt Karasu's roughed-up fingers intertwine with his own, sending a cold shiver down his spine but didn't let go, “You have?”

It felt addictive.

“Yeah,” Karasu admitted softly, a new side showing to Otoya, and he wasn't even mad about it, “I just didn’t want to make things awkward between us, I wanted to stay friends—no matter what.”

Otoya’s eyes couldn't help but ease into Karasu's, he seemed so stupid that he loved it, the tension in his shoulders slowly starting to ease, “Lately, I’ve been conflicted about my feelings and my thoughts, but I realised I can’t deny them anymore.”

And then, Karasu slowly reached out, his hands gently cupping Otoya’s face and his dirty and roughed fingers reminded Otoya that this was right, "Thankfully you didn't, I'm more than happy that you told me.”

Before Otoya could reply, Karasu slightly leaned in, and so did he.

When their lips met, it was tender and warm. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, frozen just for the two players standing on the field.

The kiss was gentle, it explored through things Otoya had been looking for all this time, the warmth he called a sin was now filled with the affection they had held back for so long.

When they pulled away, Otoya was the first to lean his forehead forward until they touched, and a light giggle came from Karasu before he whispered, his hands moving to hold Otoya's contrasting ones, having a firm touch, “Let's take things slow, alright? We'll figure things out slowly, together.”

Otoya nodded without hesitation, a smile finally breaking through his previous anxieties, “I’d like that.”

Ever since that heartwarming evening, the dynamic between Otoya and Karasu subtly shifted, but it was something no one could deny. They became more attentive to each other’s needs, their glances lingering just a second longer from before, but no longer with the need to hide it, not to mention that their touches were slightly more deliberate.

The playful banter they once shared now carried an undercurrent of affection that Yukimiya couldn’t help but notice.

Yukimiya watched from the sidelines, something he was entirely used to, and he didn't mind it a single bit if it meant it was for Karasu and Otoya.

It didn't take long for Yukimiya to sense the shift in their relationship; it was the way Karasu would gently brush his fingers against Otoya’s arm whenever he spoke, or how Otoya never failed to find mindless excuses to be close to Karasu during practice, even if they sounded stupid.

The way they acted together wasn't anything friendly anymore; there was something underlying their dynamic that had taken on a new, tender quality, it was something romantic.

During training sessions, Yukimiya caught himself observing Karasu and Otoya more often.

He didn't fail to notice how Karasu’s eyes softened whenever he glanced at Otoya, even for the quickest moments, and how Otoya’s smiles seemed to contain a more genuine feeling and he looked brighter than ever. It was clear that something had changed between them, and Yukimiya felt a bittersweet pang in his heart.

It felt wrong.

There was a singular evening when the three of them sat together in the common room as they usually did, but Yukimiya silently watched as Karasu leaned towards Otoya, sharing a quiet, intimate conversation that could be sensed from miles away, it felt like he had been interrupting this special moment.

The two were seated close, their knees briefly touching as the fabrics of their clothes grazed atop each other, their voices were low yet full of warmth.

Yukimiya tried to push aside the lump in his throat and focus on their happiness.

Don't get Yukimiya wrong, it wasn’t like he wasn’t happy for them. In all actuality, he was genuinely glad to see them so content, it was something that both of them had deserved after so long, but the sharp pang of unspoken feelings and the realisation of his situation left a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

As days passed, Yukimiya found that his feelings were becoming increasingly apparent to him, and the sight of Karasu and Otoya together, their love blossoming so visibly, only didn't help with his mess of feelings.

So, one night, he decided to take some time alone, to reflect on his emotions and let his mind be at ease.

Yukimiya carefully slipped away from the commotion of his shared room with other players and quietly sneaked to the rooftop, a slight sense of déjà vu from previous memories.

The second he walked onto the rooftop, he witnessed the stars above provide a calming light as he sat on the edge, legs dangling over the side, the environment giving him the peace he'd been yearning for the past couple of days. Cool sets of breezes brushed against his bare face, offering a moment of solace.

His thoughts swirled together like the clouds above. All this time, he had been holding onto his feelings for Karasu and Otoya, though, he knew it was pointless now, and whilst the heartache was there, he didn't necessarily complain.

They were happy, and that's all Yukimiya needed.

Solemnly, he began to think about all the moments he had shared with them, the laughter and the sense of belonging. He thought about his position in their lives. It felt like it was both a privilege and a pain to witness the happiness being shared between them while his own remained unspoken.

With a deep sigh, Yukimiya shut his eyes, allowing the cool air to soothe his mixed-up emotions. He knew he needed to let go of some of his expectations and accept the reality of the situation. It's difficult, yet it's a necessary step towards finding his own peace.

Was it selfish to want more?

And he sat there, lost in thought, Yukimiya couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for the three of them—if they even had one together if he was even going to be a part of them when they grow.

Yukimiya stopped thinking, and he let the night go by.

Surprisingly, when Otoya had confessed to Karasu, he was shocked, but not in the way one might expect. It wasn’t necessarily about the confession that had caught him off-guard—he always had an underlying thought that there was something between them, something waiting to be acknowledged.

But, instead, he was shocked by the suddenness of it. The confession had happened so unexpectedly that it threw him off balance.

However, as soon as the words were said out loud, hanging in the hot air between them, there was an overwhelming sense of relief rifling through Karasu, some bits of weight leaving his chest the second he heard them.

Karasu loved Otoya, and there wasn't a point in hiding it anymore since Otoya knew, and the best thing about it all was the fact that Otoya felt the same.

Getting together with Otoya was as if their relationship had shifted into something familiar yet entirely new.

Whilst their relationship hadn’t changed dramatically—Otoya not changing from his carefree attitude and still allowing himself to get dragged into the mischief Karasu brought—there was no doubt that there was a softer implication between it all; it was a softness that wasn't there before.

Whenever they gave each other subtle touches, there was the comforting warmth they both craved. It was when they looked at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking (they were).

The laughter never left, and neither did the endless teasing, but now, there were undeniable inklings to signal that there was more—a feeling of tenderness being shared amongst the two, it was that they had spoken of the love they shared.

Karasu was happy, truly happy—an emotion he had been waiting to feel after all this time.

It was perfect.

So why didn't it feel like it?

Was it because every time Karasu had seen Yukimiya smile so brightly, it made the sun seem dim?

The gentle sweetness swam deeply in his eyes, a bit so tempting that Karasu couldn’t help but continuously look into them. The gnawing felt that there was something—or rather, someone—was missing.

Don't get Karasu wrong, he loved Otoya to the point it was unbelievable, and there was no doubt about that, but he couldn't deny that he also loved Yukimiya. And as time continued to pass, the more he realised that he didn’t want to keep those feelings separate.

Karasu was never the type to shy away from what he wanted, but this time, it was different.

It no longer was about him; it was about the three of them.

And it wasn't too hard for him to pick up that Otoya felt the same. He could see all the ways Otoya’s gaze lingered on Yukimiya for a little longer than usual, something Karasu was far used to; not to mention he noticed every time Otoya would unconsciously soften his smile whenever Yukimiya laughed at one of his stupid jokes.

There was no doubt that Otoya felt it too, the feeling of a desire to drag Yukimiya into whatever they had between themselves, it wasn't anything about needing to fill an empty gap or to complete a picture hanging on the wall—no, it was far from that.

Otoya and Karasu needed Yukimiya to be a part of them—he was the sun of their world, and they didn't want to lose their light.

Soon enough, Karasu caught himself observing Yukimiya closer than usual, picking up the slight details of how his eyes would waver on them when he thought they weren’t looking and how his smile would falter for the briefest second before it came back.

And looking into it, Karasu knew, that from the bottom of his gut, that because of how important Yukimiya was to the two of them, neither could be truly happy without him by their side.

They weren't going to say anything just yet, they had to be careful.

There wasn't any way they could suddenly expose this to Yukimiya, especially if it was out of the blue.

No, Yukimiya deserved more than that.

He had all the right to be loved to the fullest, for it to be out to the world without the slightest bit of hesitation, and Karasu was more than eager to make it come true, it didn't matter how long it would take, as long as it happened, he didn't care.

Because, for the first time, Karasu wasn’t satisfied with being close.

He wanted it all, for all of them, and Karasu was more than aware that they could make this work.

And it was simply because that love isn't just about two people—it was about the three of them, together.

Silently, Karasu hoped and hoped that when the time finally came around, they would find a way for all of them to be together. Whilst there were more to come, the building excitement scratched inside Karasu's gut as he anticipated to see where their hearts would take them.

It was the night after the rooftop when Yukimiya rejoined Karasu and Otoya, and all the realisation he contained last night didn't help as it became clear as day how Karasu and Otoya looked at each other, their ways of speaking becoming fonder with each word, the sign that they were so in love hung over them like it was red light for Yukimiya.

Otoya glanced at him for a second, eagerly telling him to get closer as Yukimiya only smiled at them, his heart swelling with happiness for them despite his lingering sadness.

There was nothing more Yukimiya wanted for the two people he cared about the most—their happiness.

He no longer minded the deep sense of longing in his gut, the quiet yet sharp ache that never failed to remind him of the feelings that he kept bottled far inside him, the fear of messing up the established friendship they'd built had come too far that Yukimiya was fine with being content with how things were.

(Yukimiya wasn't, but he convinced himself he was).

And, oh, how Yukimiya wished he could be a part of their happiness.

What if?

A bitter sigh came from Yukimiya, but he never stopped looking at them.

The training session for the day had been gruesome for all teams, and as soon they all got the okay to leave and have their personal time, it was like a snap for the three of them—Otoya, Karasu, and Yukimiya—to meet up at one of the free fields to only collapse onto the grass, chests heaving from exertion.

Training took a while, and the sun had already been setting to leave a nice, warm glow to shadow over the Blue Lock facility, and it felt like the world had been slowing down, just for them.

It's almost as if Otoya and Karasu were being held by an invisible thread by the way their bodies naturally drifted closer to each other. As they slowly catch their breaths, their shoulders briefly touch, and neither moved away.

The quietness lingered in the air, another showing of the comfort that had bloomed from their new realisations.

After countless moments of laying flat on the spiked grass, there was an unspoken agreement to finally get up, and as they stood to make their way to the benches, it was in an instant that how Karasu and Otoya naturally fell into their step beside the other, their shoulders never stopped brushing against each other with the familiarity that grew from the past weeks.

Yukimiya trailed slightly behind, only the briefest steps slower because he realised how easy it was for them to fall into this type of routine, and he didn't want to interrupt this.

It only took a second for Otoya and Karasu to plop down once they reached their benches, slight laughter escaping from them as they stayed by each other's side, not making a move to lean away for the briefest moment.

Yukimiya hadn't joined them just yet, he was hesitant to know if he should join them, thoughts swelling of consideration if he should leave to let the two have their own moments, to let them have the space they might've needed after so long.

And the sight of Otoya's head leaning against Karasu's didn't help, Yukimiya eye's drifting to where their hands casually brushed, it made his chest tighten with a stinging ache.

He knew he was happy for them—how could he not be? They were his best friends, the people he cared about the most and the joy he gained from seeing the two in this type of way was something that couldn't be beaten.

But he couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling that he was only intruding at the time, a part of him felt like he was looking into something he shouldn't be, like he didn’t quite belong in these quiet, intimate moments they now shared.

However, there was the slightest bit of resistance hanging in Yukimiya's heart.

He didn’t want to leave.

How could he just pull away from the bond they had built together?

So, after a few more moments of inner debates, he reluctantly sat down beside them, but he made sure to keep a slight distance between them to give them room, but not too much so he could still be close enough to feel connected with the two.

Not that it would've mattered.

The moment Yukimiya had settled onto the bench before he could even cross his legs atop each other, Karasu immediately noticed the gap he had placed between them and his hand instinctively reached out, his arm draping around Yukimiya’s shoulders and pulling him close.

“Now, where do you think you’re going?” Karasu teased, his voice was light as usual, but with an unusual firmness to imply that there was no point in trying to argue against him, only an unstated affirmation that Yukimiya was supposed to be there with them, no matter what.

It didn't take long for Otoya to catch onto the situation, a warm smile tugging on his face as he added onto Karasu's light tease whilst scooting over so that Yukimiya was now nestled between the two, “Yeah, Yuki! Don’t leave us hanging,”

Yukimiya could feel the sudden warmth of their bodies pressed against his, though it was comforting, and it helped ease the irritating tension that was previously brewing inside his chest.

But, even so, Yukimiya wasn't sure what to say, if he could even speak.

Several moments passed before Yukimiya allowed himself to finally lean into Karasu's warmth, Otoya’s hand instantly finding its way to his once he realised the subtle ease, giving a gentle squeeze to the back of his hand for the warmth of reassurance.

Yukimiya tried to ignore the bitter-sweetness that had lingered in the atmosphere, but it was easily done for him as it was soon softened from the exhilarating sense of belonging.

It was clear that Karasu and Otoya wanted him there, not for him to be a placeholder or as a second thought because of pity, no, he was there because he was important, an essential part of them that he had to be there for whatever the three were building together, and if he wasn't there, it wasn't right.

None of them were sure how long they sat there for, just them sitting on the bench with the comforting silence hanging above them with the occasional teasing remarks or the far-off calls of other players.

It didn't take too long for the sun to dip even lower, casting long shadows and replacing the orange sky with a black canvas with stars splattering all across, giving the down a beautiful glow along with the bright moon, a small sense of replication coming between the three as cool air went down their bodies.

Fondly, Yukimiya let himself be at peace.

He was able to sense the unspoken promise that lingered in the air, and he was sure that Otoya and Karasu had also caught on as well, a promise that something was to build up to more, that there was a promise to bring them even closer than they already were.

Soon enough, the world practically faded behind them, the other noises being muffled and ignored as they solely focused on each other's presence—and Yukimiya couldn’t help but think about what it would be like if that kind of moment came to be. The idea had both elated and scared him, but as of the moment, Yukimiya was content to stay put, being kept close by his two best friends, feeling like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

The next day passed and went, heading to another end of the day as Yukimiya was sitting down on the bleachers with Karasu and Otoya lingering about, their bodies not sitting with the slightest bits of hesitation, this seemed kind of familiar—Yukimiya didn't think about it, but it most likely had to do with the growing anticipation that had bloomed from their last interaction.

Yukimiya looked at them, and he could clearly notice the exchanged glances Otoya and Karasu gave each other, the typical playful personalities had been replaced with a sense of seriousness that made Yukimiya's gut sort of turn, an uncomfortable feeling starting to gnaw inside his gut like it wanted to eat him alive.

He wasn't entirely sure if it was the anxiety talking or if it was true, but the moment seemed to hold something heavy, that something wild was about to happen, and Yukimiya could only shift in his place nervously.

“Hey,” Yukimiya breathlessly starts, desperately trying to break the silence because he was honestly starting to get sick of it by the second, “You guys okay? You two seem…off?”

Otoya slowly took a deep breath, his eyes flickering between him and Karasu as he began speaking, his usual composure giving way to a rare vulnerability, “Yukimiya, we—there’s something we’ve been meaning to tell you,”

Karasu nodded along to Otoya's words, only increasing the anxiety building in Yukimiya's heart. But both of their gazes were steady and gentle throughout, “It's been on our minds for a bit, and we definitely don't want to rush into anything, but we feel like it's time to finally tell you."

Yukimiya could feel his heart skip a beat. The weight of their words got heavier by the second as it hung deep into the air, not helping with the daunting ideas and thoughts of negative indices that could happen in the next second, but he tried his best to brace himself for what was to come.

"Alright…" Yukimiya let out a quick breath, his fingers slightly digging into his palm as his words were a tad bit slow, "What is it?"

Otoya and Karasu exchanged another look, silent words going between them for one last confirmation that they were actually going to do this, and they both agreed on it.

Before Yukimiya could think about anything else, Yukimiya felt a warm weight atop his fidgety hand, and he could instantly recognise it was Otoya's, an attempt to reassure him.

“Yuki, we—" Otoya swallowed a lump down his throat, his eyes filled with determination and an odd sense of fondness, "Karasu and I…We realised that our feelings for you go beyond friendship,"

Yukimiya's breath hitched, they couldn't be serious.

Otoya gave another squeeze, and he continued to talk, not allowing Yukimiya to respond just yet, "We love you, Yuki, we want you to be a part of something more, together,"

His words settled deep into Yukimiya's heart, the confession seeming surreal and it felt too perfect to believe, leaving Yukimiya to blink rapidly with words leaving his tongue as his mind swirled in endless thoughts, but his heart was beating faster by the second, racing in speed.

"A—Are you serious?" It was the only thing Yukimiya could come up with, his eyes widening as his voice was breathless and airy.

Sincerity filled Karasu's eyes as he gave Yukimiya a few more confirmation nods, his body leaning towards his, “We are, I promise. We didn't want to hide it anymore, and if you feel the same, then we want you to be a part of us, too,"

Yukimiya's heart raced even harder, he could his own heartbeat pounding in his chest as his blinking halted for a hot second, his initial shock began to make way to a feeling mixed with disbelief and hope, and when he lifted his gaze to meet theirs, the genuine emotion that couldn't be ignored, long and shallow of deep affection that was always lurking beneath had now been exposed.

“I…” Yukimiya could barely talk, the words immediately getting stuck in his throat as they trailed off into silence.

Before anyone knew it, Yukimiya's eyes began to well up—not from any sadness, they were coming from a place of relief and pure joy, nothing about happiness with a lingering bitterness, no, it was just joy, and Yukimiya couldn't help but become overwhelmed with the amount of emotions shaking his head.

Otoya gently squeezed Yukimiya's hand, his heart slightly breaking in seeing the tears showing at Yukimiya's waterline that were threatening to spill, but he knew it was something positive with the way Yukimiya's eyes lit up.

"This wasn't supposed to be a big confession, we just wanted to be honest because that's what you deserve," Otoya smiled, bringing his hand away from Yukimiya's to gently place against his cheek, giving a warm caress, mimicking the way Yukimiya would hold him in past interactions, "We care about you, so much, and we want to share our lives with you,"

Yukimiya was still struggling to find the words, but he didn't have to worry much about it once he felt Karasu's arm wrap around his shoulders to wrap him in a warm embrace, providing a sense of comfort with gentle reassurances, "Don't decide right now if you can't, we just wanted to tell you. Take your time,"

For the first time, Yukimiya leaned into Karasu's touch without a second thought, all the tension and bits of confusion had been wiped away once he felt the genuine warmth and love seeping from the two.

A soft, tender smile quirked at the corner of his lips, the bottom of his teeth briefly showing as he nodded slowly, his voice in a whisper, yet it was still clear to showcase that he was being genuine, that no lies were being laced with his words, "Okay, I'd like that,"

Whilst the world seemed to blend within each other like it was holding its breath, the future seemed bright to all of them, a future with a bunch of possibilities as their bond would deepen with every shared glance and gentle touch, they've finally found the final piece to their happiness, it was pure.

Perhaps they knew Yukimiya too well, because they had yet to say anything else, they caught on fairly quickly that Yukimiya had a few more words to share, like he'd been waiting for something to happen for so long.

"You know, I'm really glad you guys told me," Yukimiya sighed, his voice picking up in volume ever so slightly and now with the lightest bits of teasing and content, "I'm surprised you didn't pick up earlier, I'd be more than happy to be with the both of you,"

Neither of them could barely get a word into Yukimiya's response as his arms swiftly moved to pull Otoya in a warm, tight hug. His arms wrapped around him to give a closeness between the two for a comforting veil, curing any type of tension that was scratching beneath Otoya's chest as he reflexively relaxed into Yukimiya's hold, and for once, the flow felt like home.

His head lifted ever-so-slightly to look into Yukimiya's eyes, a brief look to his lips before back into the brown warmth, a silent asking, and Yukimiya nodded without a second word, his hand moving to wrap around Karasu's, not wanting him to leave.

Otoya leaned in, and before either of them knew it, their lips touched, the kiss was sweet and gentle, it was so full of tenderness and the warmth of promise that it felt like Otoya's breath had been taken away just a few seconds in—and he couldn't get enough.

Just before Otoya could entirely give in to the kiss, Yukimiya reluctantly pulled away gently, his eyes flickering with an apology before they drifted towards Karasu, his smile still so soft it could warm anyone's heart.

Karasu had been watching the two with a sense of content swelling in his heart, they were finally complete, and he didn't want anything more.

But once he noticed Yukimiya's look, he decided to give into the first lean and come closer to the two, his smile widening as Yukimiya placed his gentle lips against his, the kiss spreading warmth and a feeling of comfort throughout his body—this was the contact that Karasu had longed for, a moment of just pure affection shared between the three of them.

And he finally got it.

Yukimiya pulled away from Karasu with a soft and airy giggle, his smile still holding the soft contents but it was so clearly full of joy that both boys couldn't help but replicate his type of smile, and before they knew it, Yukimiya instantly wrapped his arms around them both.

Yukimiya kept them close to him, the roles reversing for the first time, and the three were tangled in the warm embrace of Yukimiya, and each of them savoured the affection.

There was a slight surprise hitting Otoya and Karasu once they felt Yukimiya's arm hug them, but they relaxed into it almost immediately, their hearts pounding with immense happiness as they shared one last glance with pure contentment, it finally felt like home.

They relished in the warmth of Yukimiya, their bond blooming into something unbreakable as their hearts were entangled with imagery of love that none of them would trade for the world—they were each other's world.

They held each other close, and none of them was sure if the stars were shining a bit brighter today or if the moon seemed to be prettier, but nonetheless, the newfound happiness between the trio was something they would hold dear, no matter what, they'd make sure of it.

Together, they'll look into the future, they now know that they have found something special in one another.

Love.

They didn't want the night to end.

“This,” Otoya suddenly spoke, his voice soft and the lightest bit muffled as he relished in their warmth, "This is perfect, I wouldn't trade this for anything."

This wasn't a sin.

This was love.

Karasu didn't hesitate to nod, shifting his head to speak clearer but his gaze never left the two, his eyes full of tenderness, "Yeah…We've got something special, let's not change that,"

Yukimiya smiled as another light giggle escaped his lips, unconsciously holding the two tighter to him, but it was not like they would say anything about it, if anything they leaned into Yukimiya's hold, and it made his heart full of warmth, "I don't think I'd change anything about you two, nothing at all,"

And they continued to sit there, holding each other in their arms as the unspoken promise to hold a future that was filled with an immense amount of love and joy hung in the air, a silent promise and hope lingered above, and the three of them were more than content with the newfound happiness, it was something beautiful.

Love was beautiful, and so was the moon.

The stars continued to twinkle above their heads, rays of their light flickered onto their bodies as they hummed in each other's comfort, their hearts being intertwined in a love so deep that they wouldn't even consider changing.

None of them wanted to leave, so they didn't.