Work Text:
Shidou sauntered down the street, one hand stuffed lazily into his pocket while the other held a croissant he’d picked up from a local bakery. Flakes of golden pastry scattered as he took a bite, and he brushed them off his shirt with an absentminded grin. The early morning air was cool and crisp, sunlight dappling through the leaves as he made his way toward the Itoshi household. He was meeting Sae so they could walk to school together but had woken up quite early today so there was no rush.
Arriving at the familiar door, Shidou tapped the bell with his elbow - his mouth too full of croissant for an instant greeting when Sae's mum opened the door, her kind smile a welcome sight.
“Good morning, Mum Itoshi,” Shidou greeted with a slight bow, quickly swallowing his mouthful of food.
“Good morning, Shidou,” she replied warmly, stepping aside to let him in. Her gaze landed on the remnants of his breakfast. “You should’ve saved your money and just eaten with us. You know you’re welcome anytime.”
Shidou flashed a toothy grin. “Ah, but if I ate too much of your cooking I’d never leave. You’d have to adopt me.”
She laughed, swatting his arm lightly. “Oh, you flatter me. But you’re always welcome here, you know that.” She gestured toward the staircase. “Sae’s still upstairs getting ready, but he shouldn’t be long.”
“Got it, thanks!” Shidou chirped, already making his way up the stairs two at a time.
As he approached the second floor, a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. Instead of heading straight to Sae’s room, he stopped at the next door over and gave it two quick knocks. Without waiting for a response, he cracked the door open and poked his head in.
“You alive in here?” he asked, voice dripping with faux curiosity.
“Bug. Get the fuck out,” came the immediate and venomous response.
The voice belonged to Rin, though Shidou couldn’t spot him at first. The room was dimly lit, curtains drawn, with clothes and football gear strewn haphazardly across the floor. Rin’s absence from view only added to the room’s chaotic aura.
“Erm… who’s talking?” Shidou squinted dramatically, stepping inside despite the obvious hostility radiating from the room. Before he could take another step, something soft and heavy smacked him square in the face - a hoodie, hurled with uncanny precision.
“Shidou, get out!” Rin’s voice carried the sharp edge of genuine annoyance.
“Damn, damn! Okay, I get it!” Shidou yelped, throwing the hoodie back in the general direction it had come from. “I just came to say good morning. Good morning, by the way!” His grin was unshakable, even as he backed toward the door.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Rin muttered, finally emerging from the depths of his wardrobe. He looked as disheveled as his room, his hair sticking up in unruly spikes. The scowl on his face deepened when his eyes locked onto Shidou.
“Love you too, lil’ bro,” Shidou added cheekily, winking as he darted out of the room before Rin could retaliate.
Behind him, Rin growled something unintelligible, but Shidou was already halfway down the hall, laughing under his breath.
Shidou didn’t bother knocking as he barged into Sae’s room, swinging the door open like he owned the place. Sae didn’t even flinch. He’d heard Shidou coming long before he even started chatting up his mum downstairs.
“Rin loves me so much. It’s uncanny,” Shidou declared, flopping onto Sae’s bed like a lazy cat.
Sae turned to him with a deadpan expression, barely pausing as he adjusted his collar. “Don’t leave crumbs in my room.”
Shidou ignored him, stretching out dramatically before letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Finally Friday,” he mumbled to himself.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to—”
Before Sae finished his sentence, a pillow smacked Shidou square in the face. “—lay on my bed with your outside clothes.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Shidou said, though his wide grin betrayed any sincerity in his apology.
Sae shook his head and went back to fixing his uniform. “Do you know how late you have to be for me to get here and still find you getting ready?” Shidou teased as he sat up, brushing nonexistent dust off his pants.
“I’m on schedule,” Sae muttered, giving him a pointed look. “You’re the one who’s early for once.”
“For once? You wound me, Sae-chan.” Shidou clutched his chest in mock pain, the grin on his face growing even wider.
As Sae focused on styling his hair in the mirror, Shidou got up from the bed and began slowly pacing toward him. Sae caught the movement through the reflection and raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with irritation. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Walking,” Shidou replied innocently, taking another deliberate step.
“Well, stop it,” Sae deadpanned, turning back to the mirror to adjust a stubborn strand of hair.
Shidou, of course, ignored him entirely. He stepped closer until he was right behind Sae, then casually wrapped his arms around his waist. He rested his chin on Sae’s shoulder, their faces now side by side in the mirror.
“You’re so pretty, Sae-chan,” Shidou murmured, his voice growing tender.
For a moment, Sae said nothing, his hands continuing their work. They stood there in a quiet embrace, a rare moment of peace between them. Finally, Sae mumbled, “…Thanks.”
Shidou grinned. “You should keep your bangs down for once. Just for one day.”
Sae scoffed, rolling his eyes. “That’s like asking me to walk outside without my legs.”
Shidou burst out laughing, squeezing Sae tighter as he chuckled into his ear. “You’re so dramatic, Sae-chan.”
“Dramatic?” Sae shot back, arching an eyebrow. “What if I told you to walk around without those two strands of hair dangling in front of your face all the time?”
Shidou paused, genuinely considering it for a moment. “Okay, fair point. You win. You’re right.”
“I’m always right,” Sae said matter-of-factly.
Shidou snickered, lightly pinching Sae’s side before walking over to the desk and grabbing Sae’s school bag. “Alright, enough of this. Let’s gooo! I’ve got art first period and I am not trying to be late. Chop chop!” He began pacing impatiently, his energy as uncontainable as ever.
Sae sighed, rolling his eyes. “I’m almost ready. Close the window for me, would you?”
Five minutes later, they descended the stairs together. Sae’s mum was seated at the kitchen island, sipping her morning tea, while a polished and composed Rin sat at the dining table, scrolling through his phone as he ate.
“You clean up fast, Rin-Rin,” Shidou remarked incredulously. Rin, without looking up, ignored him entirely.
Sae approached his mum and kissed her on the cheek. “There’s no football practice today, so I’ll be home in time for dinner.”
She smiled warmly. “That’s good to hear. Why don’t you two wait for Rin to finish so you can all walk to school together?”
“I’m good,” Rin said flatly, barely glancing up.
“Yeah, no,” Sae added without hesitation.
“Hell nah,” Shidou snickered, shaking his head.
Sae’s mum sighed, her disapproval evident, but she didn’t press the issue. Shidou grabbed Sae’s arm and practically dragged him toward the door after Sae quickly grabbed a fruit on his way out. Rin, meanwhile, continued eating without sparing them a second glance.
Truthfully, Rin would rather die twice than be forced to walk to school with those two lovebirds anyway.