Chapter Text
It was a sunny day, perfect for a eight years old boy to go play outside with his friends. Unfortunately, it was not the case for Aiko. His parents just divorced, and he moved to a new city, where he knew no one. It was a sad day for the little boy, who didn't understand why all that was happening. He was in his room, looking at the window, hoping to see his dad coming and hugging his mom, like every day before.
- There is a park not far, do you want to go ? You could make new friends !
The little boy looks at his mom who's smiling. He does a small smile too.
- Yeah, I want !
He leaves the window and goes to put his shoes on, leaving the house to a better place with his mom. When he arrived at the park, there were not many people, every kid was at school. He starts playing alone, discovering the new park, when he heard someone crying.
- I told you to stop ! I don't want to hear you cry about that !
- B.. But Naho-
- No ! Shut up ! La la la !
- What ? Nahoya !
- You deserved it ! It's not my problem ! Cry louder if you're not happy !
- You just told me to stop !
- Finally you listen to me ! Too late, not my problem anymore !! Go to see your mother to complain !
Aiko stands here, looking at a blue and an orange head, the first one crying. What happened ? Why is this orange guy yelling at the blue one ? Did he hurt him ? If yes, he needs to defend the stranger. Without thinking more, Aiko took some stones and threw them at the orange guy, who's still yelling at the blue one.
- Oh Souya shut up or mom will- Aoutch ! What was that ??
- It's a stone. Someone threw it.
- Eh ?? Who did- AOUTCH ! That's my head !!
- It's the guy right there !
The twins look at Aiko, who planned to keep throwing stones.
- Throw one more and I'll- Aoutch ! Come here !!
He runs after Aiko, who is trying to escape the anger of the bully. He didn't plan that part ! Unfortunately, the stranger caught him and started to kick him.
- What ?? You want to fight ?? I bet you're weak ! Are you dumb to throw stones at me ?? Idiot ! Take that !
- You deserved it ! You made him cry ! You hit him right !?
- Huh ?? What are you talking about ? You're trying to brainwash me ? It won't work ! Stupid !
- I'm not ! I saw you, you made him cry !
The blue one arrives next to them.
- No, he didn't.
- What ? But you were crying and he was yelling at you !
- Ha ! Told you ! Take that now !!
- Nahoya, stop ! Let him alone ! He didn't hurt me, I jumped from the toboggan and he told me not to !
Nahoya stopped kicking Aiko, letting him stand up.
- Oh, he... He didn't hurt you ?
- Not at all ! He's kind !
- He doesn't look kind....
- You say what ?? Said Nahoya.
- Sorry to throw stones at you... I thought I would help him.
- Sorry you misunderstood.
- You should apologise for beating him.
- He deserved it ! He threw stones at me !! Oh, I'm Nahoya, and he's Souya, my little brother !
- I'm Aiko. You're hurting... It will leave marks on me !
- Next time think before acting ! I never saw you here before. You're not supposed to be at school ?
- No, I arrived yesterday. My mom said I go to school Monday ! Why aren't you at school ?
- It's funnier to be here ! Our mom doesn't know... Yet.
- You'll be in trouble for that !
- We're used to it, it's okay ! You want to play with us ?
- Yeah !
The three boys started to play together until a woman comes to the park, and the twins try to hide themselves. Aiko assumed it was their mother and hid with them. Not finding them, Aiko's mother starts to help her, and after some time, the three boys were found. Twins's mother was angry, of course, but Aiko's mother talked with her, presenting herself and her son, and the woman started to calm herself. Unfortunately, the twins and Aiko will not be in the same school, but their mother agreed to join them at the park on the weekends so they can play together.
Time passed, and it was finally Aiko's birthday. His dad seemed to have forgotten it, so the boy was obviously hurt. His mom tried to cheer him up, saying he will celebrate it with his friends from school Saturday, but Aiko was in a bad mood now. The whole week, he fought with his friends, and when the birthday party arrived, no one came. The parents didn't want their kids to go to a party of someone who beat them. Aiko was playing alone, convinced he will spend his birthday party alone, when someone knocked at the door. His mother opened, and two big hair head run in the house.
- Hey ! Say hi before !
- Hi Madam !
- I'm sorry, we're late. I hope it's still okay if they stay, they're very excited for the party. Oh, was I wrong on the hour ? Why is there nobody ?
- Oh, don't worry for the late, at least you're here. The other parents all cancelled, Aiko was not very kind with the kids this week...
- Yeah, I see. I have the same ones at home... It can be difficult sometimes.
- It is... Especially because of his father... Do you want to stay ? I can make you a coffee.
- Oh I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll be back at 6pm if it's okay ?
- Of course, have a good day !
- You too. See you later boys ! And you better be kind with her !
The twins were not listening to their mother, too occupied to play with Aiko, who was so happy to have them today. Finally, they spent the day with just the three of them, but it was fine like this too. And at the end of the day, Nahoya and Souya stay for the night so Aiko could enjoy being with them even more. At the end, it was probably his favourite birthday party, he doesn't even care about his father anymore, it was just him, Smiley, and Angry.
Years later, Nahoya and Souya enter into a gang. They were proud to be a part of the Tokyo Manjikai, and wear the uniform everywhere the first days. Seeing them enjoying that much and how cool was the uniform, Aiko finally joined it too. Step by step, the twins became the leader and the second of the fourth division, making Aiko an unofficial third one. He was truly happy to be a member too, feeling like he's in a second family. And that was for the best for him, his father becoming more and more absent every year.
At 15 years old, he thought a lot. He thought about his father, about his friends, about what he likes. He found himself looking longer than usual at Souya, in every situation. He even surprised himself, hoping Souya would smile or just look at him. He wondered why his heart was beating a bit faster when they were close, when Angry almost touched him. It thought a lot about that, about him. He talked to his mother, she was very helpful and supportive. He understood his feelings, but now he needed to accept it. To accept he likes boys, especially one of them, that it will be hard, that some people wouldn't accept it and even be violent. He knew his friends wouldn't be like that. He was hoping that. They will all be supportive, right ? After all, it doesn't change who he is. He thought again, does he need to tell them ? But he decides to keep that secret. Not because he was scared, or ashamed, but he didn't feel the need to tell them. They will find out on time, and if the time is when he will date a boy, then it will be like that.
When he started being at peace with himself about his sexuality, Aiko felt way better. He continued his life in the secret of his feelings, but being a natural flirty, it was somehow a fail. In fact, hiding his sexuality to his friends was a fail. He continued to flirt with Souya as a joke, until that one day where he and Nahoya were alone.
- You should ask him for a date, you know ?
- What ?
- You should ask Souya for a date.
- Eh ?? Why would I do that, it's not like I was, I don't know...
- In love ?
- Yeah...
- Are you serious ? It's so obvious man ! You flirt with him all the time !
- I flirt with everyone, even with you, dumbass.
- Yeah, like once a week ! Not every day ! And your eyes don't lie.
- Is it that obvious..?
- A blind could see it.
- So you mean he already knows ??
- He suspects something, but he's not sure. He doesn't want false hope, you know.
- False hope ?
- Just ask him for a date, trust me.
Aiko trusted Smiley. After all, he's his best friend, he wouldn't tell him to do that if he had no chance. He thought about how he should ask, or what they could do if he accepts. Finally, he asked him out, and Souya accepted. They will go to watch a movie. They keep it secret, not wanted to Nahoya to tease him about that every day. But when the day came, they met Nahoya, and because none of them wanted to say it was a date, they end up accepting Nahoya with them. Some days after, Smiley asked why he still didn't asked his brother for a date, and Aiko told him what happened. Nahoya laughed so hard he fall on the ground, and promised to always remind him of that. Hopefully, they did a second first date, and this time Nahoya knew about it. After the date, they end up at Aiko's house, watching a show so they would not be in an awkward silence. Slowly, each in turn, they started to be closer to each other, trying to make a move, until they both initiate a kiss.
After that, they were officially dating. When they told the Toman, they weren't surprised at all, and Nahoya just said "Told you it was obvious". The start of the relationship was more complicated than expected, Aiko was too scared to make Nahoya feel abandoned if he spent too much time alone with Angry, or cuddling him in front of his brother. After a talk, he felt less guilty for his relationship so it continued in a good way.
In the same year, his mother got sick. She had cancer. Quickly, she ends up at the hospital. Kaito spent a lot of time at the twins' house, or they came to his so he was not alone. It was a really hard time for him, but he could count on his friends. But finally, when he was 17 years old, she died. He needed to move out to Nagasaki, where his father lived. Hopefully, he didn't need to move immediately, he had a month left in Tokyo. He skipped school almost every day, he wanted to spend time with all of his friends, not listening to stupid lessons. He almost lived at the twins' house during this last month, and when he was not there, he was at Mikey's or Mitsuya's house. Even if he slept in the same room as Angry, he had his own bed. When the last day came, it was a pretty rough day for everyone. The Toman decided this day was for Souya, and him only. Of course, he also spent the evening with Nahoya, it was the last one together after all. Aiko didn't sleep in his bed that night, but with Angry. He felt so grateful to met him and dated him, but he also cried to leave them, and Souya felt the same. This night was not as perfect as they imagined, but as long as they were with each other, it was the most important. The next day, the Toman came to say goodbye. When his dad arrived, ready to leave, it was... Cold. No one talked at first. The Toman knew his dad was absent, and for what Aiko knew, he was also homophobic. Before leaving, they did a last group hug, hiding Aiko and Souya kissing for the last time before a long time.
The first weeks were hard, but he still talked a lot with everyone. When time passed, slowly, he only talked to the twins, and almost one year after, they didn't talk anymore. He kept the sweatshirt Souya gave him last night, making sure to put his deodorant on every time he stopped smelling the scent. When he needed to, he put the sweatshirt to a human shaped pillow he made and hugged it, trying desperately to feel the same feeling as when he hugged Souya. At the same time, he started making songs. He was pretty popular in his new school, and when he finished school, he started making small shows in bars or places like that. His father was against that, it's not a real career, but he respected the contract they made: he does nothing except writing and recording on YouTube if he wants to, but when he's graduated he can do whatever he wants. His father made this contract hoping Aiko will change his mind, but he didn't.
Thanks to his YouTube channel, he started becoming famous time by time. He didn't know at this time because no one dared to send a text, but the Toman heard about his youtube channel and supported him from Tokyo. After some years, he started to grow quickly, and started to do first part shows, making him more famous, until he could do his own shows.
Years after years, Aiko's popularity grew up, but even if he's often to Tokyo for his shows, he still didn't talked again to any old members of the Toman. Maybe he's too afraid to confront them again, afraid of not being at his place anymore, afraid to not have the family he had before. Every time, he thought about them, about him, about ho he could go back in their life, or at least try to. At every show, he hopped to see them in the public, that the security guy will come and say "someone pretend he know you, something about Toman or I don't know what. Do you know what it is ?", and see his old friends behind the security guy. He hopped more and more about it, searching them in his public like his life is depending of that, until the day he had enough. After his show, he took his phone and search for a ramen restaurant, and walk to it. When he arrived, everyone was leaving, the two chief washing the dishes and storing the chairs. He entered anyway, and find Nahoya, back to him.
- Huh... Hi
- Sorry, we're closing
- Ah... I heard you have the best ramen in the city, and after a show like that I'm craving it. You can't make an exception ?
- Like I said, we're closing.
Nahoya turns back, and freezes for a second.
- Aiko ??
- I guess it's me, yeah
- Fuuuuck no ! Souya ! Come here !
When he heard his name, Souya came into the room, and freezes too. Aiko looked at him, happy but nervous, his stomach tickling him. He fell in love, once again. And he knew at this moment he would fall again every time. He cleared his throat, and with a strangled voice, said:
- Hey... It's been a while...
- Yeah... How are you doing ?
- I'm hungry as hell, but yeah, I'm fine.
- Oi, Naho, why didn't you serve him yet ??
- Hey, why aren't you going to cook too ? I'm in shock !
Aiko laughed, and the twins served him a bowl of ramen in the closed restaurant. They talked for two hours, about how their life was now, and what happened for the past 8 years. He felt so good to be here. He was afraid that everything had change between them, but instead it was like he never leaves. While talking, he learned how supportive all the Toman was in his career even if they stopped to talk to each other, and how they defend him when his sexuality was almost revealed to the public by a rumor. After a long talk, Nahoya proposed him to stay for the night. After all, they live just above, it will be better than going back to the hotel.
- Oh you're still living together ?
- No, we have two different appartements. We were lucky to found them
- Seriously ? Yeah, you were pretty lucky. Okay, I'm staying !
Nahoya yawned loudly.
- I'm going to bed, I'm too tired ! Good night guys, don't forget to close the back door Sou' !
He leaved them alone, and soon after, they both leaved to Souya's appartement. He took his shower, his show was exhausting, and go back to the living room.
- Where do I sleep ?
- Take my bed, I'm taking the couch.
- Are you sure ? I can sleep on the couch, you know
- Yeah, don't worry. I'm waking up early, I don't want to bother you
- Okay, yeah. Where is your bedroom ?
Souya showed him and stayed at the door.
- Are you sure you don't want to sleep here ?
- Do you want me to stay ?
- I... Kinda expected that, yeah... You know, like... The sleepover
- Sleepover, yeah. Okay, if you want to.
Aiko smiled and they both went to bed. And it was so awkward.
- So... Hum... Do you like my songs ?
- Yeah...
- What's your favourite ?
- Yumeko, for sure
- Really ? Why ?
- I don't know, I just... Always felt good hearing it. Like it's reasoning with me. Does it make sense ?
- It does. I'm glad you feel like that, because it was about you...
- Wait, really ?? He said, blushing.
- Yeah... It's not the first version, I censured them to make it like... Straight, you know
- Why Yumeko ?
- Because you're my dream.
A silence fell, but not an awkward one. They both felt nice, looking at each other, laying in the bed. Their hands touched each others, then their lips... It felt so good, so revitalizing, like their life started again, but times paused at the same time. They were together, and they both missed that so much. And at the end, they fall asleep in each other's arms.
The next day, when he woke up, Aiko was alone. 10am, Souya left him, he didn't know when. He was here, alone and naked, in his bed. Yesterday was relieving for him. He turned his head and saw a note from Souya, saying he can stay in bed if he wanted to or come to the restaurant. He smiled when he saw a heart at the end. He looked at the ceiling and started to think, but instead of when he was 15, he didn't think too much this time. He took his phone and uploaded a song named Oni, the exact same one as Yumeko, but the original version, and posted a tweet. Quickly, the internet was talking about the song and his coming out, but they could talk how much they wanted, today was the first day of his new life, a life where he can freely be himself, where stopped caring about what the other could think about him because of who he loves. He arrived at the restaurant and hugged Souya from behind.
- Hey guys
- Oh, hey, looks like I did well by leaving you together yesterday. So, are you guys dating again ?
They both looked at eachother, and smiled.
- Yeah, we are
- So once again, it's because I forced you to make a move, huh ? You should thanks me to helped you dating each other two times, seriously
- Oh shut up ! You just wanted to feel superior, bastard !
Nahoya laughed.
- Maybe a little bit, but see, this time I made sure to not ruined your date
- You're still with that ?? It's been eight years man, grow up !
- I told you I will always remind you of that !
- Stupid clementine...
- By the way, we saw your new song. Pretty good, really. I wonder who inspired you
- Mmh, yeah, I wonder. Who could it be ? Do you like it ?
- Yeah, definitely !
- I like this version better
Said Souya with a small smile, before kissing him.