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“Tsukasa-kun,” Rui called gently, breaking into his boyfriend’s thoughts. “You’re going to wear a hole through my floor if you keep pacing back and forth like that.”
“I’m not pacing!” Tsukasa halted mid-step, immediately crossing his arms as if to save face. “Stop belittling my preparation! I am merely ensuring I’m in prime condition for this…very serious endeavour!”
“Ah, my apologies.” Rui’s eyes sparkled with restrained laughter. “I didn’t realize this required such extensive groundwork. Only the best for the brave Tsukasa Tenma, I suppose.”
Tsukasa's face lit up at the praise, though he quickly tried to mask it with an unimpressed scoff. “Obviously. I am nothing if not well-prepared. And besides, I thought you might need a bit of time to prepare yourself, too. Precision is key here, you know.”
“Oh my, how thoughtful of you,” Rui said as he held back a chuckle, his gaze softening as he watched Tsukasa cross the room for what must’ve been the twentieth time, arms folded with such determination it was almost convincing. Almost. “You know, you’re allowed to feel a little nervous. I’d be more surprised if you weren’t.”
“Nervous?” Tsukasa huffed, forcing a laugh. “Who said I was nervous? I’m just…bracing myself! That’s all.”
Rui could see through him all too easily, though. Tsukasa’s hands twitched, his gaze flicking toward the piercing kit resting by Rui’s side, only to snap away as soon as he realized he’d been staring. For a boy who had marched up to him only days ago at school, announcing the idea with all the grandeur of a royal decree (insisting that it would add to his “aura of magnificence”), he was looking remarkably jittery.
It was adorable, really.
“If I recall correctly,” Rui pointed out, his eyes twinkling. “This was all your brilliant idea, remember?”
“And it’s still a brilliant idea, I’ll have you know!” Tsukasa huffed, crossing his arms a bit tighter. “I’m simply…preparing my mind for an intense transformation! You wouldn’t understand!”
“Wouldn’t I?” Rui tilted his head, feigning ignorance. He patted the bed beside him, the spot he’d been waiting for Tsukasa to sit in since he first walked in. “Then enlighten me, oh mighty one. Tell me why you’re still pacing around instead of gracing me with your presence here?”
Tsukasa’s gaze flicked from the bed to Rui’s soft, expectant smile. He took a breath, cleared his throat, and then marched over to the bed, sitting down with exaggerated firmness and looking anywhere but at Rui.
Or rather, he sat for about half a second before immediately springing back up, feigning interest in the distant corner of Rui’s room. “Actually, I think the lighting here is…suboptimal. Perhaps we should, uh, reposition?”
Rui bit back laughter, genuinely charmed. “Or, we could just do it right here where everything’s set up?” He gestured to the bedside table, where the piercing kit lay neatly, along with an ice cube in a bowl, some rubbing alcohol, and a few gauze pads.
“Oh…well….” Tsukasa hesitated, swallowing hard as his gaze flickered between Rui and the corner, “I suppose that’s reasonable…”
“Very gracious of you,” Rui murmured with a teasing smile. He watched Tsukasa as he strode forward and, with exaggerated decisiveness, sat down beside Rui on the bed once again. “Alright! I’m ready! Let’s…let’s get this over with!”
Rui’s smile softened as he reached for an ice cube, holding it up between his fingers. “I promise it won’t be as scary as you think. Though if it helps, you can keep glaring at me like that.”
“I am not glaring!” Tsukasa blurted, then quickly straightened, attempting to look unfazed. “Proceed, Rui. I am entirely ready.”
Rui chuckled, scooting closer as he held the ice cube up to Tsukasa’s ear, his free hand gently tilting Tsukasa’s chin to the side to give him better access. “You’ll feel a little cold first,” he murmured, pressing the ice to Tsukasa’s earlobe.
The shock of the cold made Tsukasa’s whole body tense, and Rui felt him suck in a sharp breath, his hand instinctively gripping the edge of the bed. He looked endearingly vulnerable, with his wide eyes and barely restrained flinch.
“Relax. It’s just to numb your ear a bit so that the piercing won’t hurt as much,” Rui said softly, his thumb brushing gently over Tsukasa’s cheek as he continued applying the ice.
“Of course I knew that,” Tsukasa stammered, though the faint flush on his cheeks suggested otherwise. “Do you really think I’d be thrown off by a little ice?”
“Oh, I would never question your bravery, Tsukasa-kun.” Rui’s voice was filled with a teasing warmth, and he couldn’t help but grin as he watched Tsukasa attempt to keep his expression neutral. The blush on Tsukasa’s face deepened, and Rui could feel the warmth of it radiating through his hand. “Besides, you look rather…cute like this.”
Tsukasa’s eyes widened, and he gave a startled cough. “C-cute?! Rui, please, you must be mistaken!” He cleared his throat loudly. “Majestic, perhaps. Or dashing. But certainly not…cute.”
“Oh, my apologies. Majestic it is, then.” Rui couldn’t help but smile; the boy was trying so hard to keep up his tough act, but the way his breath hitched when Rui brushed against his skin was far too telling.
“If you want to stop, just let me know,” Rui said softly as he set the ice aside, letting his fingers linger on Tsukasa’s ear for just a moment to ensure it was numb enough. “This isn’t about being brave or proving anything—it’s about doing something you want to do. You know I‘ll love you the same, matching earring or not.”
Tsukasa’s cheeks went bright red, his jaw working as he tried to come up with a response. “O-of course I know that!” He sputtered, barely holding his voice steady. “But I assure you—I’m absolutely certain, so don’t you dare try to—ah…!”
Rui couldn’t hold back his laughter this time, the soft, genuine sound filling the small room as he dabbed an alcohol wipe gently along the curve of Tsukasa’s ear. “Tsukasa-kun,” he said, amused, “it’s just alcohol. Surely a future star of the stage wouldn’t get jumpy over that?”
“I was merely…testing your accuracy, Rui!” Tsukasa declared, visibly flustered as he fidgeted under Rui’s amused gaze. “A real professional wouldn’t have…reacted.”
“Is that so?” Rui’s smile widened as he finished cleaning the spot, then reached into the kit for a pen to mark where the piercing would go. “Then let’s see if you pass your own test. Just stay still for me, alright?”
He leaned closer, bringing the pen up to Tsukasa’s ear to mark the spot where he’d pierce when—
“WAIT, WAIT! H-HOLD ON A SECOND!!”
Tsukasa jerked back as the pen touched his ear, eyes wide with panic as he slapped a hand over it. His other hand clutched the edge of the bed, knuckles white. Rui froze mid-motion, blinking in surprise before a soft laugh escaped his lips.
“Tsukasa-kun,” Rui said, his voice warm and teasing as he held up the pen, “it’s just a pen. I’m only marking where the piercing will go.”
“Oh…right.” Tsukasa coughed, glancing anywhere but at Rui as a deep blush spread over his cheeks. “I knew that, obviously,” he mumbled. But his shoulders remained tense, his bravado clearly beginning to falter.
Rui watched him in quiet amusement, noticing the way Tsukasa’s usually bold, confident persona was starting to unravel under his own nerves. Rui’s expression softened, and he clicked the pen shut with a quiet sigh. He set it down carefully before reaching over to place a reassuring hand on Tsukasa’s bouncing knee.
“Tsukasa-kun,” he murmured gently, giving his knee a comforting squeeze, “maybe we shouldn’t do this after all.”
“Huh?!” Tsukasa’s head whipped back to face him, eyes wide with something close to panic. “Why not?!”
Rui’s hand remained steady on Tsukasa’s knee, his thumb tracing a small, calming circle. “I can see that this is making you nervous,” he said with a small, understanding smile. “The last thing I’d want is for you to feel like I’m pushing you into something you’re not ready for.”
“No!” Tsukasa blurted out, grabbing Rui’s wrist, his grip firm but a little shaky. “I—I want you to do it, Rui. I really do.”
He held Rui’s gaze, determination sparking behind the nerves in his eyes as a faint blush spread across his cheeks. “This is… this is important to me. It’s a mark I’ll have forever, and I want you to be the one who does it.”
Rui felt his heart flutter, his amusement dissolving into a warm, tender fondness as he took in Tsukasa’s flustered but resolute expression. Tsukasa’s sincerity lingered in the air between them, and for a moment, Rui could only stare, feeling his own cheeks warm slightly.
Tsukasa seemed to notice Rui’s stunned silence, and his eyes widened slightly before he quickly cleared his throat, backpedaling in the way Rui knew all too well. “A-and also, obviously, I’ll look amazing with it! You know, the piercing will just enhance my already impressive aura—like I said!” He laughed a little too loudly, trying to hide his embarrassment behind that familiar, dramatic facade. “Yes! That’s what I meant—just, I think it will look cool! Very…fashionable!”
Rui’s lips twitched with amusement as he watched Tsukasa flounder. Before Tsukasa could bury himself further, Rui reached up and placed a gentle hand on Tsukasa’s shoulder, his eyes warm with understanding. “Tsukasa-kun…” he murmured, leaning forward just enough for his face to rest against Tsukasa’s shoulder. “You…” Rui paused, a soft sigh escaping him as he felt the tension in Tsukasa’s shoulders slowly ease under his touch. “You’re really…something.”
Tsukasa went stiff for a second, his breath catching as Rui’s words sank in. He hesitated before, ever so carefully, he let his own arms wrap around Rui in return. “…Don’t make a big deal of it,” he muttered, voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just a piercing…”
A soft chuckle escaped Rui, and he pulled back slightly, his eyes brimming with fondness as he brushed a thumb over Tsukasa’s cheek, his touch gentle. “It’s not just a piercing when you say it like that.” He paused, his gaze soft and filled with something Tsukasa couldn’t quite name. “Thank you for trusting me, though.”
“R-right…” Tsukasa cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly unsure of what to do with the sudden shift in atmosphere. He straightened up, trying to regain his composure but unable to keep from glancing shyly at Rui, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just…don’t mess it up, alright?”
Rui let out a quiet laugh, eyes crinkling with warmth as he gave Tsukasa’s knee a reassuring pat. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Though—you’re absolutely sure you don’t want a professional to do this instead?”
Tsukasa swallowed, feeling his heartbeat speed up again, but he managed a small, determined nod. “Yeah. I mean…if it’s you, I’m not as scared.” His voice dropped even softer, just barely audible. “You make it…easier.”
The admission hung in the air between them, and Rui’s eyes softened, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. Tsukasa could feel his heart thumping loudly in his chest, and his nerves were strung so tight he wasn’t sure if he’d manage to sit still. Rui, however, seemed perfectly calm as he picked up the needle, his hands steady and practiced. He shifted closer, angling Tsukasa’s face gently with a touch under his chin, his gaze meeting Tsukasa’s in a reassuring smile.
“All right, Tsukasa-kun,” Rui murmured, his voice soft as velvet. “I’ll count to three, and then—”
“Wait!” Tsukasa blurted, his voice coming out slightly higher than usual as he clenched his eyes shut. “Do you really have to count? Counting makes it worse! Can’t you just…just go for it?!”
Rui’s lips quirked in a soft, amused smile. “No counting, then. But I still need you to hold still for me. Think you can manage that?”
“Of course, I’m perfectly calm,” Tsukasa replied with a quick, anxious laugh. “I—I'm not nervous at all! Do I look nervous?”
Rui chuckled, his fingers brushing Tsukasa’s cheek. “Not at all,” he teased lightly. “Just… keep breathing, all right?”
Tsukasa swallowed, glancing away from Rui’s face and right back at the needle. “Fine…just don’t make it hurt. You know, like, not even a little,” he added, fidgeting slightly.
Rui tilted his head, a glint of fondness in his gaze. “Don’t worry, Tsukasa-kun. I’ll be gentle,” he assured him with a warm smile. “Now…are you ready?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Tsukasa took a deep breath and gave a small nod. “…Yeah. I’m ready.”
“Good.” Rui’s voice softened further, his breath warm against Tsukasa’s cheek as he leaned in close. The quiet tension between them thickened with each passing second, filling the room. Tsukasa swallowed hard, trying to focus on anything but the needle and his own nervously buzzing thoughts.
Yet, just as he opened his mouth to say something—maybe to make one last attempt to stall—Rui surprised him by closing the distance between them, his lips pressing softly, gently against Tsukasa’s.
A soft, startled sound escaped Tsukasa, and his breath hitched, his eyes wide in surprise. Rui’s touch was feather-light but sure, a warmth that slowly melted away his nerves. Tsukasa’s shoulders relaxed, tension slipping from him as his eyes fluttered shut, letting himself lean into the kiss.
When Rui finally pulled away, Tsukasa’s face was a deep shade of pink, and he blinked, still catching his breath, dazed. “R-Rui…” he murmured, barely processing that his hand had lifted instinctively to touch his lips, as if to confirm that the kiss had actually happened.
Rui gave a small, secretive smile, lifting his hand back to Tsukasa’s cheek and gently cupping it. His thumb brushed along the skin just below Tsukasa’s eye, his gaze fond and soft. “Now, just stay like that for a second, alright?” he murmured.
Still dazed, Tsukasa gave a hesitant nod, finding himself unable to look away from Rui’s warm eyes. In the next instant, Rui’s other hand moved with a deftness Tsukasa didn’t even register; he felt the barest pressure—so delicate he wasn’t sure if it was the needle or just his own mind playing tricks on him. And then, the faintest pinch, so quick it almost felt imaginary, like a tiny prick from a pin. By the time he blinked in surprise, the sensation had disappeared completely, leaving only a slight warmth lingering against his skin. Rui pulled back, a tiny gold star glinting from his fingers as he secured it in place.
“There,” Rui murmured softly, his voice just a breath against Tsukasa’s cheek. “All done.”
It took a moment for Tsukasa to register the words, his mind still catching up to the fact that he hadn’t felt anything more than that initial pinch. He blinked, looking up at Rui with wide, astonished eyes, his hand instinctively lifting to touch his earlobe. “W-wait… did you—?”
Rui’s lips curved into a pleased, almost smug smile. “I told you I’d make it quick and painless.”
Tsukasa stared, his fingers hovering over the new piercing in disbelief. “You mean… it’s…already done?” He looked at Rui as though he’d performed some kind of magic trick, his eyes wide and almost childlike in their awe. “But I didn’t even feel it! I thought…I thought it would hurt a lot more than that!”
A quiet chuckle escaped Rui’s lips as he took in Tsukasa’s reaction, his gaze soft with a mixture of amusement and affection. “I promised you it wouldn’t hurt, didn’t I?” He tilted his head, inspecting Tsukasa’s face with a warm fondness. “I wouldn’t let you go through any unnecessary pain. Besides…” He reached out to adjust a stray lock of Tsukasa’s hair with gentle fingers. “You looked so calm just now. I didn’t want to break that.”
Tsukasa’s face flushed, a mix of amazement and embarrassment coloring his expression as he continued to touch his ear, feeling the faint warmth of the piercing. “I…I don’t believe it,” he muttered, half to himself. “You tricked me…with that kiss! I was completely distracted!”
Rui raised his eyebrows in feigned innocence, his voice lilting with gentle amusement. “Tricked you? I’d say I simply found the most efficient method.”
A flush crept up Tsukasa’s neck as he crossed his arms with a huff, though the corners of his mouth betrayed a small, grudging smile. “You… you’re unbelievable, you know that?” He muttered, shaking his head slightly, still unable to believe how smoothly Rui had pulled it off. “Using such… underhanded tactics on me…just absolutely unfair.”
Rui laughed, reaching out to tousle Tsukasa’s hair gently. “Unfair or not, it worked, didn’t it?” He gestured toward the mirror across the room with a soft nudge. “Why don’t you go take a look? See for yourself.”
A look of realization crossed Tsukasa’s features as he practically leapt to his feet, striding over to the mirror, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of the new piercing—a tiny, shining gold star resting perfectly on his earlobe. He turned his head slightly, catching the way the light glinted off of it, casting a faint, subtle glow.
“Well?” Rui asked, getting up off the bed and making his way over to where Tsukasa was standing. “Does it look as dazzling as you imagined?”
“Ha! Of course it does!” Tsukasa proclaimed with a large grin as he continued to stare at the earring, any prior nerves completely vanquished. “It suits me so well, doesn’t it? Like it was meant to be here all along. Not everyone can pull off a look this bold, but naturally, I manage it flawlessly.”
Rui couldn’t help but smile at Tsukasa’s enthusiasm, watching him preen in the mirror with a little more confidence in his step. “Well, of course,” he mused, a teasing glint in his eyes as he stepped closer. “Only the most spectacular piercing for the most spectacular star.”
Tsukasa’s grin softened, and he glanced back at Rui with a slight, proud tilt of his chin. “Well,” he began with a haughty tilt of his chin, though his cheeks were still faintly pink, “I have to say… you did quite a commendable job, Rui. Though, of course, I trusted you completely,” he added quickly, his hand absently reaching up to touch the piercing again. “But still, I think you deserve some credit for pulling it off so… smoothly.”
Rui’s smile turned a touch playful, though he kept his gaze steady and sincere. “Oh? Completely, you say? So, that wasn’t you trying to stall every other minute?” He tilted his head, feigning curiosity.
Tsukasa’s expression immediately morphed into one of defiant indignation. “What? Stalling? Me?” He scoffed, crossing his arms and raising his chin in a proud tilt. “I was completely calm the entire time, Rui. Any signs of…of nerves you might’ve thought you saw were purely a figment of your imagination.”
Rui laughed softly, clearly unconvinced. “Is that so? So the pacing, the dramatic sighs, the constant glances at the needle—none of that was real?” He tilted his head, an amused grin on his lips. “Because I could’ve sworn I saw someone turning an interesting shade of pale just a few minutes ago.”
Tsukasa cleared his throat, turning back to the mirror and adjusting his hair as though unaffected. “That’s…not entirely accurate! I was simply keeping you on your toes so you wouldn’t mess it up. A bit of extra motivation.”
Rui laughed, stepping closer again to wrap his arms around Tsukasa’s waist from behind, pressing his forehead against his shoulder to stifle it. “Well, in that case, you make an excellent director,” he began, his voice muffled against Tsukasa’s sweater. “And, for the record,” he murmured, “I was honored you let me do it.”
Tsukasa rolled his eyes with a fond smile, nudging Rui’s head with his shoulder lightly. “You’re making it sound far too serious,” he grumbled, though his gaze lingered on his reflection with a soft admiration. Then, unable to keep his excitement contained, he added, “But really…it does look perfect, doesn’t it?”
Rui chuckled, his eyes gleaming with both amusement and pride. “It’s exactly as it should be. Just like I imagined,” he said softly, his gaze meeting Tsukasa’s through the mirror.
Tsukasa looked at Rui in the reflection, his chest warming at the fond look in Rui’s eyes. “You know,” he said, trying to sound casual, “I might even trust you with more of these…artistic endeavours in the future. Only because you’ve proven yourself, of course.”
Rui’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Of course. I’ll consider it a great privilege,” he murmured. “After all, it’s only fair that the most spectacular star shines a little brighter.”
Tsukasa felt his face flush deeper, but he stood a bit straighter, glancing back at the piercing one more time. “Well, then…thank you, Rui,” he mumbled, quieter than his usual tone but with a sincerity that was unmistakable.
Rui chuckled, his gaze softening as he looked back at Tsukasa. “You’re welcome, darling.”