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“Hey there, starlight,” Hayato slid, yes, slid over to his friend, adding a little twirl before arriving. Eita gave him a tired smile, and Hayato felt the beat change. Ah.
Eita sometimes had days where he seemed… off. All of them could tell, but didn’t know what to do about it. It wasn’t like they were girls. No, he’s not being misogynistic, he’s being realistic. His little sisters have even commented about it. Girls could talk about their problems and they’ll immediately be supported. Boys however…
“You have to protect your sisters!”
“What are you, a girl?”
“You have to be strong. Men don’t cry. Crying is a waste of time.”
“When you grow up, you must provide for your family.”
“You have to be tough.”
They didn't exactly get that luxury. Of course, they could talk to each other, but never in the depths he’s seen girls have. It was internalized within them that they had to be strong. Showing negative emotions was weak.
He was never taught how to properly comfort someone with words. Mostly it was just a hug when he was sad, or an apology when his parents had been a bit too harsh. But never was he really accustomed to words.
His lola taught him how to tell from the eyes. How you can tell a person’s honesty just from looking into them. Eyes were windows to the soul. And through that window, through the foggy glass, Hayato could see that Eita just wasn’t home. Sure, he was here , but he wasn’t here-here.
If that made sense.
Probably didn’t, but it made sense to Hayato.
Eita wasn’t really looking at him right, the brown of his eyes duller, like floorboards instead of chocolate bloom. They didn't glint with the certain aura that followed the setter around. His eyes were empty.
Then they weren’t.
Eita blinked a few times, observing how Hayato seemed to have peered at him. Ah shit, I gave myself away . Someone seemed to be present in the house now. But that someone wasn’t Eita. there was a stranger there, forcing a light through the curtains.
“Starlight? Moonshine? You alright in there?” Hayato playfully hopped right into Eita’s line of sight, causing the setter to jump back slightly. Ah.
Hayato might seem dense, and that was true. But he wasn’t stupid. He could tell that something was bothering his friend. For a while now.
Oftentimes, Eita would just get quiet and hide away into his own world. Hayato had no idea how to pull him back into reality. He hated seeing his friends upset, and hated not knowing what to do. He wished that wanting to be real with his friends was considered weak.
But he had good friends, Eita had good friends. They didn’t care about the fucked up social norm society had attempted to force upon them. They didn’t care if there was judgement. Hell, they're Shiratorizawa. Who’d really judge them? They were a household name in Japan.
Internalization was a bastard.
Nope, Hayato. You’re going to help your friend and you’re going to do it your way.
“Tired, Eita?” Hayato dropped his impish antics, calling his friend by name. Eita blinked at him, before nodding.
“My sleep schedule is messed up,” he explained, exasperatedly running a hand through his hair. “Seriously fucked.”
“Language,” he half heartedly scolded. Eita rolled his eyes. “You know, I thought the eyebags were some new punk rock look you were trying to pull off. Would have never guessed it was the sleep schedule.”
Eita scoffed, pushing a hand into Hayato’s hair, lightly ruffling it. “Your sarcasm is appreciated.”
“I know it is,” smirking mischievously, Hayato dragged his friend by linking their arms. “Come on, Eita! I know just the thing to help you!”
Afterall, where Hayato’s words ended, his heart extended.
“Where are we going?” Eita didn’t fight against being pulled, arm limp in Hayato’s. The libero beamed at him.
“Me and you are going to have some Bro Time!” He lifted his arm up excitedly, tugging harder to get to his destination. His improv was simple. Take Eita to the clubroom so he could go and smother him in affection where he wouldn't be embarrassed. Eita had a reputation with the ladies, and who was he to take away his friend’s game?
Makes the competition more fun when they think they have a chance.
“Bro Time?” Eita wondered aloud. “What did you make up this time?”
“Bro Time,” he repeated. “Where I hang out with my bros.”
“Very to the point”
“I know,” Eita snorted at his response, before glancing back at him with a question.
“So what are we going to do?” he asked. Good question.
“Chill in the club room, sleep, eat,” his eyes darted back to the ash blondes eyebags. “Sleep.”
“You were not very smooth with that.” Eita rolled his eyes. He replied with a toothy grin.
“No need to be smooth in anything else when you’re here.”
In all honesty, Hayato forgot how they started this odd arrangement of theirs. When had they started the lighthearted flirting, the pet names? Don’t look at him for answers, he rarely knew where his phone was.
Shit, did he have his phone? He quickly checked. He did, thanks for asking.
As the two of them neared the club room, Eita fished out the key from the office. Right before entering though, Hayato had a flash of inspiration.
“Hey Eita,” he started. “Yeah?”
“What kind of key opens a banana?” Eita frowned. “What?”
“A mon- key!” Hayato exclaimed, receiving a very unimpressed look.
“You’re built like a monkey.”
“Hey—“
Eitas eyes were chocolate bloom, sweet to look at and rich in flavour. His skin was soft and smooth, tempting to just touch again. The way his facial structure seemed to just perfectly embody who he was, the slight flush in his cheeks—
“Anyone ever tell you you’re really good looking?” Hayato breathed out. Eita blinked, and Hayato blinked back. The two of them sat on the couch in the club room together, previously just engaging in a very interesting topic on— well, something.
“Hmm, I’ll let you answer that.” He smiled, and Hayato blushed. I just asked the person with a literal fanclub if someone has told him he’s attractive. Dumbass.
“Well if they haven’t, I’m glad to tell you that you are.”
“I see.”
“No dude you’re seriously majestic looking.”
“Hm.” Hayato huffed, before climbing onto his friends lap, straddling him. He grabbed the setters face with both hands, making him look at him.
“You’re a pretty bastard, got it?”
“What’s with the sudden interest in my face?” Eita tilted his head, and Hayato tilted his right back.
“I’ve always had an interest in your face. You’re hot as hell. Deadass.”
“Well then, you’re warm.” The setter replied.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re like my sunshine, literally. You brighten my days, make me happier.” He continued, grin creeping on his face. “Like that song!”
“The english one?” The libero asked. Leave it to Eita to randomly bring up music.
“ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,” Eita sang softly, tugging Hayato into a hug. “ You make me happy, when skies are gray.”
He knew the next lyric, and joined his friend in a duet. “ You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. ” They shared a smile, and Eita squeezed him again, whispering. “Please don’t take, my sunshine away.”
“Your sunshine isn’t leaving anytime soon, starlight.” He reassured, hugging his friend back even tighter. Eita let out a dry laugh.
“I’m sure you aren’t.”
Hayato slid beside him on the couch, grabbing Eita’s arm and wiggling so he was under it. Tiredly, he plopped his head down on the other's chest, nuzzling softly into his shirt.
Eita exhaled softly, shifting so they were both more comfortable. The setter seemed to be getting drowsier by the second.
“You think it would be okay if we just, I dunno, slept here?” Hayato murmured faintly. Eita hummed tiredly.
“Already asking to sleep with me before asking me out? Forward aren’t we?” Eita laid his head back, relaxing into the couch frame.
Hayato raised his head, and their eyes met. Gently, his pressed his lips onto his friend's jaw, who tensed slightly.
“Sunshine?” Eita whispered. Hayato blinked hard and fast, his actions now catching up to his brain. I just kissed my friend.
“Kissing the homies goodnight you know?” He barely managed to save the beat, and Eita gave him an amused chuckle. The setter pressed his lips onto the crown of his head, and pulled away.
“There. Reciprocated.” Drowsiness curled behind his eyes, pushing his head back down. His body no longer felt the need to fight against gravity.
The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping.
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
“Oh my gosh–”
“When’s the marriage?”
“Oh my gosh–”
“They look comfortable.”
“Oh my gosh.”
“Re-chan, you're really pushing the repetition.”
A soft shutter sound was heard, evidence that someone had just taken a picture. Hayato stirred, hugging whatever he was clinging onto just a little bit tighter. A chorus of exclamations rang out, a bit too sweet for a squad of highschool boys.
“Have a nice sleep, senpais?” Shirabu’s normally monotonous voice had a tinge of amusement in it, and Hayato took a second to consider his words. Oh, I’m not sleeping.
He felt remorse as the realization that he would have to wake up dawned upon him. He had to open his eyes and face reality.
But I’m comfy!
Assholes.
Begrudgingly, he pried a single eye open. The familiar sight of a pale neck was the first thing he saw. Trailing his eyes upwards, he traced the sharp jawline of his friend, seeing the same gray hair he’s been acquainted with for the past two years. Eita’s eyes were still shut, and he could still feel the slow, peaceful breaths on his forehead.
He’d stare at his friend for longer, but an awkward cough interjected his observation.
“You comfy there, Hayato?” Jin rose a brow, amusement evident in his features.
”Asshole.” He grumbled, throwing his hand out to flip his roommate off. Jin flipped him back with equal energy. Another awkward cough rang out, interrupted once more.
“Goshiki is right here, senpais.” Taichi informed blandly. Shirabu rolled his eyes from beside him.
”He’s fifteen. He’ll be fine.”
“Okay and he’s seeing his senpais pull some vulgar gang signs, back in my day I would be at a lost for words.” Taichi whacked the shorter setter, who smacked him right back. Beneath him, Eita finally blinked away. He looked much more well rested than usual, and a calm uptick on the corners of his mouth was present.
“Morning pretty boy,” he greeted, giving him a dreamy look. Eita let out a tired croak.
“It’s not morning.”
“Time is an idea made by someone in the Renaissance, its morning somewhere.”
”What the fuck?” There it was, the daily ‘what the fuck’.
At the cost of what Jin might say his ‘dignity’, Hayato managed to cheer up his friend. And isn’t that what really mattered? He didn’t really have a dignity to begin with, nor did he care for shame. Shame is for cowards.
Sure their relationship was one that the general public may raise a brow to, but who were they to care?
Maybe they had a tendency to push the boundary between platonic flirting and sappy honeymoon couple.
But, kissing the homies goodnight isn’t gay, that’s established.