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The day was cool and fresh, wind blowing through his dark hair, leaves getting caught in the never ending sky.
He basked into the feeling as music played through his headphones.
Walking up the stairs to the apartment complex, he looked at the bags in his hands again, making sure he didn’t forget something or grab the wrong item.
He nodded to himself as the strawberry yogurt and water checked out for the thousandth time.
Knocking in the door, he put his headphones in his backpack, still feeling a bit nervous about the situation he was in.
Or rather, volunteered into.
It was just a day after their first concert with an actual singer, Mafuyu wowing the audience, and even the band members with his song.
Unfortunately, he ended up getting sick from exhaustion and nerves, his nimble body getting the best of him.
So, Uenoyama offered to check up on him despite Mafuyu’s million- ‘Im okay,’ ‘Im fine, ’Don’t worry about me.’
So, here he was, in front of Mafuyu’s door, knocking for the second time because he was still standing outside for awhile after the first knock. But just as he was about to pull out his phone to call, the door creaked open slowly, the redhead’s soft eyes peeking from behind the wood.
“Uenoyama…” he smiled, opening the door fully to greet him, “You didn’t have to come.”
“I know. But I feel bad after pushing you to join the band and write a song.” Uenoyama assured, taking off his shoes as he walked inside.
Although he didn’t make it that far because Mafuyu started to slump against the wall, tired and weak from fever.
“Ah- Mafuyu, don’t fall in the hallway..!” he mumbled, picking up the other in his arms, “Ah, jeez.”
Mafuyu was taken aback from the kind gesture, but he didn’t complain about it. Rather, he closed his eyes as the taller gently placed him on the bed.
Uenoyama pulled the covers over the ill, grabbing some medicine from his bag and handing it to Mafuyu, “Let me get you some water.”
He walked into the kitchen, opening each cabinet till he found the one filled with glass cups. He went to the fridge, waiting as the water filled up, and he couldn’t help looking around the small apartment.
There were pictures of Mafuyu and his mom on the walls, and then there was one with another boy.
He seemed to be around their age, yellowish hair with piercings. A smug smile, Uenoyama noted.
Yuki.
He remembered the name.
From a strange friend of Mafuyu’s, but it didn’t seem to bring back good memories.
He lightly touched the photo, no feelings of jealousy or envy, but rather- Curiosity coursed through him.
Did he hurt Mafuyu?
Did Mafuyu hurt him?
How did they meet?
Where is he now..?
“Mafuyu, water,” he called, stepping into the room as the redhead sat up to take the medicine.
He placed the cup down when he was done, wiping the dripping water off his chin.
“Lay down.”
“Mn,” Mafuyu nodded, sighing as the cool sheets started to regulate his body temperature. The feeling like an oasis compared to the hot and stickiness he was feeling just a moment ago.
Uenoyama reached for his bag, taking out a cooling patch. He crouched down, using one hand to keep Mafuyu’s bangs away, while the other gently placed the patch on his forehead.
“When does your mom get back?”
“Later.”
Uenoyama, frowning from the vague answer, decided to sit down and at least wait till the other fell asleep.
I mean, he was kind of the one who pushed Mafuyu, even being the cause of his broken string right before the show…
So this was the least he could do, right?
He gently whisked the reddish strands of hair, soothing the other from his discomfort. Mafuyu smiled and rubbed closer, earning a small grin from the taller.
“Mafuyu.”
“Mm?”
“Your mom is very pretty.”
The redhead frowned, acting as is Uenoyama was suddenly into his mom. His mind always wondering to the wrong conclusions.
“Not like that, idiot. I was gonna say you got yours looks from her.” He watched the other’s demeanor soften, his eyes closing as the medicine started to kick in, “Do you have a dad?”
Mafuyu’s eyes opened, not really staring at anything specific. His face was flat, not really showing any emotions of joy or distaste, so Uenoyama had trouble determining if he misspoke or not.
“He’s… a bad man.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to-“
“Its okay. He’s gone now. Especially after what he did to mom.”
Although Uenoyama was itching to ask questions, to dig a little deeper into Mafuyu’s mysterious past, he restrained himself knowing the redhead was bad at communicating. He had to be patient.
However, Mafuyu didn’t seem to think it a sensitive topic. Plus, he liked Uenoyama, so he trusted him.
And whether Uenoyama regretted kissing him or not, he still decided to show up at his door.
So… that was a good thing, right?
“He was abusive,” Mafuyu explained, looking at the distant window where the trees rustled, “I think… I’m messed up because of him, though”
“Messed up..?”
“Dad used to tell me I was better off keeping my mouth shut. I couldn’t speak around him… and I got used to not speaking at all.”
“Mafuyu…” Uenoyama mumbled, his hand palming the other’s cheek, his heart almost breaking for what he went through.
“I think that’s why I don’t speak much. But, my mom had it worse. So I don’t really complain or vent about it.”
“Mafuyu, you know- I don’t care if it happened a long time ago. You can still feel sad or- hell - just feel something for it. That’s not something you should have gone through.”
Mafuyu chuckled as he sat up, arms reaching for a hug. One which Uenoyama gave into without hesitation.
“What’s your family like, Uenoyama-kun?”
“Ah- why..?”
“I want to know more about you.”
Uenoyama sighed, joining Mafuyu on the bed as he laid down and let the other rest on him.
One of his hands was behind his head, the other ruffled through the red-tinted hair, “My dad is a bit of a nerd, but he got me into music, so I appreciate that a lot.”
“Your mom?”
“My mom works away from home a lot, but she brings gifts and spoils us, I guess. Also, my sister always looked out for me, even if she’s a jerk sometimes.”
Mafuyu nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips as he imagined the somewhat chaotic family. And he didn’t envy Uenoyama, he didn’t feel upset or jealous that he never had what they did.
He only felt joy.
Like when you read a book about something so lovely, even if it’s not real or something that could happen to you. It’s still a wonderful experience.
Uenoyama sat there enjoying the silence as the other started to drift to sleep.
His eyes fighting to stay awake, but in the end, he gave in and let the taller ruffle through his hair.
“Mafuyu, where’s your dog?”
“The neighbors’s kids wanted to play with him…” he softly responded.
Uenoyama smiled as he leaned in to kiss his forehead, short but sweet.
And he knows that he hadn’t addressed the elephant in the room, the fact that he kissed him yesterday after the opening song.
The fact that he had feelings for him this whole time, and it all exploded after the song of somebody else’s love story was sang.
The fact that he wasn’t in that love story.
But he wanted to be.
“Mafuyu, we’ll treat you to barbecue later, how does that sound?”
“Mm, your treat?”
“Yeah, my treat,” Uenoyama smiled, something Mafuyu didn’t see everyday, so he basked into the warmth and comfort.
After another ten minutes, Mafuyu finally drifted asleep, his fever starting to go down as his body took action to fight back.
Uenoyama played with the loose strands of hair before he got up, leaving a note by the food in the fridge, and one on Mafuyu’s nightstand for when he woke up.
He smiled lightly before he placed one last kiss on Mafuyu’s hand.
“I’ll see you later…”
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Mafuyu awoke to the sound of the clock ticking, his eyes blinking away his drowsiness as he sat up.
Gently, he peeled off the cold patch, sighing as he felt his body become cooler.
He looked off to the side, glancing at the yellow sticky note which he grabbed from the nightstand.
‘I have to go, but let me know when you feel better. And maybe we can do something tomorrow,..? Your pick.
Thanks for joining the band.
Your song was beautiful.’
Mafuyu smiled as he brought the note to his lips, almost as if Uenoyama was right here in front of him.
Looking at the window, the sun started to set, the trees blowing, the clouds swaying.
He picked up his phone, calling the first contact on his list.
“Uenoyama-kun,” he spoke softly, “Tomorrow, lets go to the beach…”