Chapter Text
The department store’s warm lighting buzzed faintly overhead. Kaede Kashima led the boys, her teenage son Hiiragi and his friend Mafuyu Satou briskly through the clothing section, a folded list in one hand and Hiiragi’s hoodie slung over her arm.
“Try these next,” she said cheerfully, passing Hiiragi a set of soft, charcoal-gray sweatpants and matching hoodie. “You’ll need something comfortable for lounging—and they match. Isn’t that cute?”
Hiiragi took the clothes with a smirk. “You’re really going all in today, huh?”
“Mafuyu-kun is staying the weekend while Satou-san is away at her tournament. I’m not sending anyone to bed in holey T-shirts and worn-out socks,” she said matter-of-factly, then turning to Mafuyu,
she said “Yours are already in the fitting room. Go try them.”
Mafuyu glanced down at the bags already in his hands, then at Hiiragi, uncertain. “It’s… kind of a lot.”
Kaede smiled gently. “I know. But let me spoil you a little, okay? I like doing this.”
Mafuyu hesitated. “You already bought us underwear…”
“Exactly,” Kaede said, completely unfazed, holding up two identical packages of simple, well-made boxer briefs. “And they’re the good kind, too. No complaints.”
Hiiragi snorted. “We’re gonna match, Mafuyu. We’re officially a uniformed unit.”
Mafuyu flushed slightly, but said nothing as he followed Hiiragi to the fitting rooms.
Later, after they’d tried on the loungewear and gotten a thorough nod of approval from Kaede, she steered them straight into the jeans section.
“Wait—Kaede-san, really, you don’t have to—” Mafuyu said, trying again, arms now full of clothing.
“I want to,” she said, her tone light but firm. “And I’m not about to let you walk around in jeans that barely hold up in the wash. Trust me, these will last.”
Kaede turned toward him with a kind smile, already pulling another package of socks off the rack. “Don’t worry, Mafuyu-kun. I told your mother I was going to take you shopping.”
Mafuyu blinked. “You did?”
“Mmhmm,” she said breezily. “She said you’d never ask for anything yourself, so I had full permission to go overboard.”
Hiiragi smirked. “She really said that?”
Kaede grinned. “She did! Now go try those on. You’re going to look great.”
Yuzuki, who had wandered over at that point with a drink in hand, leaned down to whisper to Hiiragi with a grin, “Just let her do it. Resistance only makes her stronger.”
By the time they returned home, the boys had a full shopping bag each. Kaede ushered them into the living room before disappearing into the kitchen.
“Just relax. I’m making curry.”
They did as told, the new clothes tucked away upstairs in Hiiragi’s room. A while later, the scent of rich spices and simmering meat filled the house.
When Kaede finally called them to the table, it was already set with steaming bowls of curry rice, sliced salad, and cold barley tea. Yuzuki was setting out fresh fruit with his usual relaxed air.
Mafuyu sat between Hiiragi and Kaede, still feeling the softness of the new hoodie he now wore—Kaede had insisted they change into the matching set. It was too much, but…
It was also warm.
“So,” Kaede asked as they started eating, “how’s the band going these days?”
And just like that, the day’s whirlwind of shopping settled into something quieter—shared food, easy talk, and a feeling Mafuyu hadn’t known he’d been missing. He was so used to it just being his mother and he, except on nights that Hiiragi or Yuuki was over. Dinner left everyone comfortably full, the savory scent of Kaede’s curry rice still lingering in the air. The table had been cleared, replaced with small cups of barley tea and a plate of neatly sliced apples and oranges.
Kaede sat across from the boys, her expression relaxed but attentive.
Hiiragi leaned back in his chair a little, his tone casual. “We’re getting ready for the school talent show. It’s in three weeks.”
“Oh, that’s soon,” Yuzuki said from where he stood, leaning against the kitchen doorway. “Are you playing something new?”
“Yeah,” Hiiragi nodded. “Yuuki wrote a new song just for it. We’ve been practicing almost every day after school.”
Kaede’s eyes flicked between the two boys, noting how easily they sat together—comfortable, familiar. “Is it more upbeat or slower?”
Mafuyu answered softly, “Kind of in between. It builds.”
“And the lyrics?” she asked, tilting her head. “Did you write those or did Yuki write those too?”
Hiiragi glanced at Mafuyu before replying. “Yeah, Yuki wrote them. He’s been on a roll lately.”
Mafuyu added, “They’re really good. Personal, I think.”
Kaede smiled, sipping her tea. “You all seem to be very in sync lately.”
There was a brief pause. Mafuyu looked down at his cup while Hiiragi just smiled faintly.
Yuzuki watched them for a beat longer than necessary, something unreadable in his gaze. Then he said lightly, “You two make a good team.”
Mafuyu’s ears turned a bit pink, but he didn’t look up.
Hiiragi reached for a piece of apple, voice easy. “Thanks. We’ve come a long way since we first started.”
Kaede smiled, but there was a subtle curiosity in her eyes—a kind of gentle, quiet knowing she didn’t voice. “Well, I think we’re all looking forward to the performance.”
Yuzuki nodded. “We’ll be front row. You’d better not chicken out.”
Mafuyu gave a small, awkward smile, while Hiiragi laughed. “No chance.”
As the conversation moved on—Kaede asking about school, Yuzuki cracking a mild joke about their band name—the moment passed. But the warmth lingered, the way it does in a house where the lights are soft and the people genuinely care. And as Mafuyu sipped his tea, he felt something he hadn’t expected to feel in someone else’s home: safe.
Hiiragi’s room was quiet now, dimly lit by the soft glow of the hallway light spilling through the slightly open door. Outside, the Winter night hummed faintly through the windows—cool and a bit windy.
They lay close under the futon, fresh from their shared bath, skin still warm and soft from the steam. Mafuyu was on his back, eyes on the ceiling, his hair still a little damp. Hiiragi lay beside him on his side, head propped on one arm, the other hand resting gently on Mafuyu’s stomach.
He moved it slowly in idle, soothing circles—absentminded but affectionate. Mafuyu didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he was quieter than usual, relaxed in a way he rarely let himself be.
“Dinner was good,” Hiiragi said softly, his voice low so it wouldn’t carry past the door.
Mafuyu nodded. “Curry was really good.”
There was a pause. Hiiragi’s fingers brushed lightly beneath the hem of Mafuyu’s pajama shirt, warm against bare skin.
“They really like you, you know,” he added, almost casually.
Mafuyu turned his head slightly. “Your parents?”
Hiiragi nodded. “Yeah. Mom especially. She always lights up when you’re around.”
Mafuyu was quiet for a moment, then said, “They’re nice. It’s… easy, here.”
Hiiragi smiled to himself. “She thinks we’re dating.”
Mafuyu blinked, his eyes flicking toward the ceiling again. “Oh.”
Hiiragi’s hand stilled, resting flat over Mafuyu’s belly for a moment, then resumed its slow rhythm. “I didn’t say anything. She didn’t ask directly. Just gave me that look.”
Mafuyu was quiet again. Not startled, not upset—just thoughtful.
“…Does it bother you?” Hiiragi asked, voice careful.
Mafuyu shook his head once. “No.” Then Mafuyu turned his head slightly. “Are we… dating?”
Hiiragi glanced at him, one brow lifting just a little. He shrugged. “I guess so,” he said, almost amused. “We kiss a lot.”
Mafuyu considered that, eyes drifting back to the ceiling. “Mm,” he murmured. Then, quieter: “I like kissing you.”
Hiiragi smiled and shifted closer, his fingers brushing lightly beneath the hem of Mafuyu’s shirt again. “Then maybe we are.”
Mafuyu let the words settle. He didn’t need more than that—no big talk, no definitions. Just Hiiragi, right there beside him, warm and close and sure.
“Okay,” he whispered.
Hiiragi let out a small breath, not quite a laugh. “And I like it, too. Kissing you.”
They lay in silence, the warmth between them quiet—not loud or uncertain, just real. Hiiragi’s touch was steady, grounding. Mafuyu’s breathing evened out, slow and soft.
After a while, Mafuyu spoke again, his voice quiet. “The song feels right. Yuki’s lyrics, I mean.”
Hiiragi nodded. “Yeah. They’re heavier than usual, but… honest. I think it’ll hit people.”
Mafuyu hummed in agreement. “I want it to.”
“It will,” Hiiragi said, and it wasn’t just encouragement. It was belief.
Outside, a breeze passed through the trees. Inside, Hiiragi shifted a little closer, just enough for their legs to brush under the blanket. Mafuyu didn’t move away.
“Let’s do our best,” Hiiragi whispered.
Mafuyu nodded again, eyes slipping closed. “Yeah.”
Hiiragi’s fingers hesitated for a moment at the edge of Mafuyu’s waistband, then slipped beneath the soft fabric, tracing slow,careful circles against his skin. Mafuyu let out a long, quiet sigh, his eyes fluttering closed as a wave of warmth spread through him.
Hiiragi’s breath hitched slightly, and he shifted closer, careful not to rush, letting the silence stretch between them like a fragile thread.
“You okay?” Hiiragi whispered, voice low and steady in the dark.
Mafuyu turned his head just enough to catch Hiiragi’s gaze, eyes soft and steady. “Yeah,” he murmured. “It feels nice.”
Hiiragi smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of damp hair from Mafuyu’s forehead. “Good,” he said, voice barely above a breath.
For a few minutes, Hiiragi’s hand moved gently—never hurried, never insistent—his touch a quiet promise, an unspoken comfort.
Mafuyu’s body relaxed completely beneath him, the tension that often knotted his shoulders slowly unraveling. He shifted slightly, curling his hand around Hiiragi’s wrist, holding on—not out of need, but out of wanting to stay connected in that quiet, shared space.
Hiiragi’s fingers traced lazy patterns across Mafuyu’s skin, his eyes never leaving his face. “I’m right here,” he whispered, “whenever you want.”
Mafuyu opened his eyes fully then, a soft smile curving his lips in the dim light. “Thank you,” he said simply.
They stayed like that all the night, reveling in the warmth under the futon.
Hiiragi’s fingertip moved slowly, deliberately, tracing a path that made Mafuyu’s breath catch just slightly. The warmth of their closeness filled the room like a quiet, steady hum.
“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” Hiiragi whispered, his voice soft but sure. “I just want to be here with you.”
Mafuyu’s eyes met his, a small, vulnerable smile playing on his lips. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly.
Hiiragi’s hand stilled for a moment, then resumed its gentle motion, careful not to rush, letting the silence between them be filled with understanding.
“Thank you,” Mafuyu breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. “For this.”
Hiiragi smiled, leaning in to press a light kiss to Mafuyu’s temple. “Always.”
They stayed like that for a while longer, wrapped in the quiet warmth of each other’s presence, the soft rhythm of their breathing the only sound in the room.
Hiiragi shifted slightly, leaning closer until his lips brushed softly against Mafuyu’s. The kiss was gentle, slow—like a quiet promise shared in the still of the night.
Pulling back just enough to meet Mafuyu’s eyes, Hiiragi smiled softly. “I like playing in a band with you,” he said quietly, “but I like doing this with you even more.”
Mafuyu’s breath caught, his cheeks warming as a small smile tugged at his lips. “Me too,” he whispered.
Hiiragi rested his forehead against Mafuyu’s, their breaths mingling. “We’ll take it slow,” he promised. “Together.”
Mafuyu nodded, feeling the steady warmth of Hiiragi beside him.
The room was warm, dim, filled only with the sound of their quiet breaths and the occasional creak of the house settling for the night. Hiiragi leaned over and kissed his cheek, just once, then let his forehead rest lightly against Mafuyu’s temple. “Goodnight, boyfriend.”
Mafuyu closed his eyes. “Goodnight.”