Chapter Text
Nothing had really changed in their second year of school. But it sure felt like everything had.
Okay, there was the team—one where he was even on a first-name basis now. He clicked his tongue.
Damn you, Minato.
“Kacchan sure is moody today~” Nanao teased, sprawled out on his bed, phone in hand. He had been there for an hour, playing his stupid game and chatting with his stupid fangirls.
Really, everything was the same.
Same club. Same Kyūdō.
Fair—he had gotten better since Masa-san started teaching them. And the team? Somewhat decent. Competition-worthy.
His eyes darted from the pitch-black sky outside to light peach. Soft hair that bounced with every laugh, bangs hiding his eyes. But Kaito knew they crinkled—they always did when he laughed. Fingers clicked, tapping away, almost enough to drown out the static in his ear.
Yeah. Same room. Same Nanao.
Everything was the same as it had been a few months ago.
But somehow… nothing was.
He sat at his desk. Pen in hand. Papers in front. Mind far, far away.
Red eyes followed Nanao’s every move. How he rummaged through the bedsheets like it was his own room. Half a year ago, Kaito would have chided him. Forced him to clean up that mess. Now?
“Why are you still texting with them?” Kaito spat, planting his chin into his palm—mostly to keep himself from doing something stupid. Like throwing that damn phone against the wall.
He could already imagine the thud. A beautiful sound, almost like a tsurune. Gone would be all the annoying fangirls.
He could also imagine Nanao’s smile falling into a pout. Then shock. Then anger. And Kaito couldn’t have that.
Peach-pink eyes didn’t even look up. “Why wouldn’t I? She’s cute. The date Saturday was fun.”
Kaito’s chin slipped off his hand. For a second, the static overtook him. He couldn’t hear anything outside. Nothing but the hammering of his heart and the hum in his ear.
What?
Red, dilated eyes snapped up, searching for peach. Nanao was already looking—brows drawn tight in confusion.
But… that was good. Wasn’t it? Nanao’s attention was on him. As it should be.
So why was his pulse so fast? Why couldn’t he breathe?
Like a lump blocking his throat. Strangling him. Letting only the bare minimum of air through.
“Kacchan? You okay?”
Stop looking so cu—
“Dumbass. I’m fine.” What was he thinking? Had he gone crazy? He buried his chin back where it belonged, head tilted toward the window, watching the damn stars or whatever else caught his attention. Anything was better than him. It’s not like he cared what his cousin did. Or looked. How ridiculous would that be?
Silence.
Kaito shoved his chin even deeper into his palm. “Didn’t know you had a date,” he added after another beat.
Nanao was already back to his phone, fingers clicking eagerly. Each tap echoed like a tiny arrow through the air. Every single one hit.
“Oh. Yeah. We went to the mall.”
Kaito’s muscles tensed—from shoulders to fingertips—like he was holding his kai just before release. His gaze locked with a razor-sharp focus onto the window frame, not daring to move an inch.
But nothing came. More clicking. More soft giggles. More stupid rustling of sheets. But no words.
What the… That was it?
No explanation? No details? What did they do there? What store did they visit? Did they—? Ah, whatever.
Kaito chewed on the inside of his cheek, leg bouncing.
He could go to the mall too. Most girls were scared of him, but maybe with one of the guys. Ryohei? Definitely not. Minato? He would murder him. Seiya? Too.
He could ask one of the girls. Have a nice day. Pretend to smile. How would Nanao feel then? Hearing that he had a great time at the mall with a great girl?
His leg bounced harder. Such a fast-paced rhythm that even a car would be jealous. He didn’t care. Not one bit. Nanao could do whatever he wanted.
So why the hell did he feel like this?
It had been like this for a few months now, and it only got worse. Was he ill? Maybe allergic to something? Looking at his team… Maybe stupidity.
It had to be stupidity.
Another sweet chuckle echoed from the side.
Kaito’s left eye twitched. He almost bit down hard enough to taste iron. Taking a deep inhale, he forced his leg to stop. And slowly—like he was about to find a wild tiger in his bed—his eyes darted to the side.
No tiger.
Just a white wall with a few stray photos on it. Messy dark blue bedding with sprawled out lime-green on top. Nanao had rolled onto his back, showcasing his hoodie in all its neon glory. Phone held up high. Grinning like a freaking child on Christmas morning.
“What now?” Kaito barked.
Nanao didn’t even flinch. He redirected that grin toward Kaito—beautiful and bright and clear, like a spring day. A little dip in his cheek, white teeth on full display.
The view got blocked. Nanao leaned on his elbow, shoving his phone in Kaito’s direction.
“Look. She sent me a cute cat meme!”
Kaito didn’t look. He was this close to really throwing that damn thing against the wall. By god, he wanted to hear that breaking sound. So bad. Instead, he swatted his arm away.
He didn’t need some dumb cat meme from some random, dumb girl. “So what? She your girlfriend now? You do anything with her?” he snapped with a scoff.
That… That wasn’t meant to leave his lips. It was none his business. But the words came out faster than he could overthink them.
No problem. He played it cool, biting his tongue just to keep his composure. Shoulders down. Chin high. He didn’t care.
But… The worst part? Nanao didn’t deny it instantly.
Kaito’s muscles tensed. Iron flooded his mouth, but he swallowed it down.
“Hmmm~? Done? ...Like kissing?”
Nanao’s full attention snapped onto him. Intense peach that bore into red—like it could devour him whole, leaving no trace of existence in his wake. Kaito froze.
The screen on Nanao’s phone was still lit. His game ran on, greens and blues and symbols dancing around. It vibrated. Another message.
But Nanao didn’t react. His phone lay loose in his hand, completely forgotten.
Soft hair spilled over the mattress as he tilted his chin even higher. His bangs slipped aside, revealing more of his round cheeks. A honey-sweet, sly grin pulled at his lips—what was that?
It was different. Not the usual teasing one. Not the one he always threw around like a joke.
Kaito could tell. Of course he could. He’s known him his whole life.
And he hated it.
Why was that smile so different?
“You…” His voice gave up. Nanao… Kissing…
With a giggle, the bouncy man rolled onto his side. The intense stare broke, and Kaito was finally able to breathe again. Why had he been holding his breath?
When Nanao’s feet touched the ground—soft and quiet—it felt like a gong to Kaito. Loud. Deafening.
What was he doing? It didn’t matter.
He crossed his arms over his chest, scoffing like all this was beneath him. Chin raised. “You’ve got some guts. Running around, playing cutesy with fangirls when you don’t even hit half your shots.”
Nanao simply smiled back. He looked smaller like that, hands nestled between his knees, rocking gently on the tips of his toes.
“Huuuh~ But I hit more than you~,” he countered, all too casually.
That’s it.
“WHAT?!”
Kaito jumped to his feet, towering over his all-too-smug cousin sitting on his bed, ruining his sheets, stealing his time. Time he could be spending doing literally anything else. Maybe studying. …Okay, maybe not.
Before he could open his mouth to unleash another wave—Nanao was faster. Like a squirrel on a sugar rush, he popped up in one smooth motion and leaned in. Close. Too close. Not close enough.
Their noses met. Lips hovered—almost brushing but not quite touching.
Kaito panicked.
He stumbled back. With his heart loud enough to be heard all the way to China, he took a step backward. Bad idea.
His legs tangled with the wheels of his chair, and he lost his balance. Pathetic. Like a sack of rice, he plopped unceremoniously into the cushion.
“Wha—” he squeaked. Embarrassingly high.
Nanao only laughed—light, carefree. A teasing grin tugging at his lips, just like always.
“Oh, if you could see yourself, Kacchan~”
Without breaking eye contact, he walked backward. Hands clasped behind his back, steps casual, until he reached the door. One hand found the knob. The other flew up in that ridiculous “Merhaaa~” pose—fingers in a V at his forehead like some kind of dramatic goodbye.
And Kaito? He couldn’t do anything.
Shock-frozen. Heart hammering.
Where the hell was the oxygen in the damn air?
When the door swung open, Nanao glanced back with a smirk. Eyelids low. Voice playful—no, challenging.
“Don’t worry, Kacchan. I wouldn’t kiss someone who can’t even beat me in Kyūdō. Merha~”
Then the door clicked shut behind him.
“NANAO!”
Kaito leaned forward, panting like he had just run a marathon. But his voice was back. Loud and proud—though a little unsure at the edges.
He didn’t even know if Nanao heard him. And even if he did… Did it matter? If his head popped back in through the door—would Kaito even know what to say?
His fingers brushed over his lips. He could still feel Nanao’s breath there—warm and light. It tingled. Why?
Bullshit.
His hand slammed onto his desk, grabbing the nearest pencil just to snap it in half.
It was teasing. Only that. And a challenge.
Kaito cracked his knuckles. A dangerous grin tugged at his lips.
Oh, he wouldd make sure to show Nanao his place.