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Sakura Haruka was what you would call a rookie actor, even though his acting skills were otherworldly for the countless directors that he met throughout the years. His career began when he was too young and too vulnerable, as an alternative to roaming the streets looking for a fight with whoever looked his way. This was how Sakura put some food on the table, bought necessities and lived, until he met his manager and one of his best friends, Suo Hayato.
How to describe Suo? Cunning, mysterious, a little shit through and through. The young man smirked, looking at his phone and to the group chat completed by his other best friend and current assistant, Nirei Akihiko.
They were a triple deal package, if you wanted one, you got the three of them, no questions asked.
And why was he reminiscing of his past like and old man at barely nineteen? Well, he got an important part in a field he never explored before: Romance. And who was his partner? None other than the famous Togame Jo.
The older by two years man danced around his mind since they shared set on the production of Wind Breaker, a series about gangs, friendship and good people, a series that made Haruka feel like he was reliving some of his nasty past again but with the twist of making friends and lasting relationships along the way…
But going back to Togame, he remembered that fight scene between the two of them and for god’s sake, the boy didn’t imagine the chemistry shared with every rehearsed punch and shove, the way their eyes met and their voices went almost emotional when the scene reached the perfect climax, being one of the most popular scenes in the Wind Breaker fandom, they truly loved Sakura and Togame’s interpretation of their favorite manga pair.
Heh, they liked them together----
Nope, he wasn’t gonna go there, not now, not when he was being informed about the new project which left him speechless as Haruka thought Togame was going to be his love rival not his FUCKING LOVE INTEREST?! HUH?!
It was funny that someone thought they were a good match for a romantic movie as a couple… two grown ass men who looked out of a high school gang but who knew. He wasn’t a director so he couldn’t really form a professional opinion on the matter.
Sakura always trusted the people choosing roles, Suo told him they knew more than he did, so why waste time going over and over through that path?
He was going to do it even though the situation seemed to be a hard challenge for the boy, but hey, he was Sakura Haruka and he never, ever backed down from anything.
Besides, they got along swimmingly, so much that the boy was happy to think about all the time they were going to spend together, however Sakura refused to admit he might have developed a crush on Togame since their time at the Wind Breaker set. At least to the world or his best friends, his mind was another realm full of romantic feelings and exploding heart balloons while he and Togame Jo lived happily ever after.
The movie, which is a classic romance cliché of the gang leader that ends up in love, picking senseless fights with the new guy at school but ending up with a crush on him, discovering those feelings along the way and whatnot, which was very much relatable to what Sakura felt when Togame’s character in Wind Breaker called him by his name in the middle of that fight scene, with that slow paced voiced he had… the boy wondered if this would be the same.
Sakura truly asked himself if he was going to be able to endure the other’s gentle nature in a romance setting even if it was a fake one.
Although Togame’s respect and care for him was genuine…
Deep breaths, he had up until tomorrow to figure out himself and put up a front to refrain from give out his true feelings to the older boy.
It was going to be a challenge, no doubt, and Sakura Haruka never, ever backed down.
*****
Mornings like these were a gift for Sakura as he woke up from a good night of sleep in the hotel room, without feeling beat up or tired, but more like super rested and calm for what was about to come during this faithful day.
As calm as he could be when he was going to see Togame again, after a year of only exchanging texts and memes over Line. It's not like he was desperate, but at least the boy could admit to himself that he looked forward to their first day on set.
He sighed, looking back to the mirror not really convinced with his attire nor appearance but that was just him, Sakura never felt appeased by his looks, much the contrary.
A few preparations, calls from Suo and Nirei telling him he was going to be late and a mock breakfast later he was ready for whatever was about to come his way.
Sakura Haruka was never afraid of anything, he was a immovable force with enough determination to face his fate…
Until he saw Togame, eyes brightening at the sight him… was Sakura imagining things already?
The first time in set was also the first time Sakura saw Togame in a year and damn, his hair was longer as he grew it for this new character and that gentle smile of his…
“Sakuraaaa, long time no see, I’m so glad you’re here, I was getting nervous, hehe ~ “ That sweet slow talker already put his perfectly soft voice to use, soothing Haruka without knowing from the way he was pronouncing his name, how he was talking to him in a friendly yet gentle tone Sakura noticed he didn’t use with everyone.
During Wind Breaker, the bicolor haired boy noticed the change of demeanors coming from Togame as he spoke with different people: With Tomiyama it was that of a stressed mother of a problematic child, super gentle and caring; With people like Umemiya it was friendly and careless… with Sakura… he couldn’t pinpoint the tone he was being spoke with.
His mind said Togame liked him, that his voice went soft with something more than friendship but he knew better than to leave his lovesick heart do the thinking and contaminate his brain, so Sakura discarded it, even though it was evident he got special treatment from the older one.
And the poor boy was so lost in himself he didn’t reply immediately, making Togame chuckle and pat his head.
“Are you there, Sakuraa?” He said, smiling down at him.
“Y-Yeah, of course I am, stupid!” A blushing Sakura blurted out making Togame’s little chuckle transform into a full-blown laughing fit, alerting the people around them and their director, who snickered like he knew something.
Togame seemed happy and content with that as a greeting but he didn’t “Sorry, guess I’m nervous too…” The boy confessed, scratching the side of his neck and enjoying the way the older one still patted his head insistently but softly, as if this was the natural course of action for their dynamic.
A dynamic Haruka himself didn’t know how it started: It was simple, just Togame initiating some sort of innocent physical contact to “help” Sakura feel less nervous back on their last shared set. He did this before the big fight scene and that helped him so much to calm down and do an amazing job up there.
Maybe he was, as per usual, overthinking everything.
“Guys, I guess it’s time for you check this little baby up! ~ “ Their director interrupted them, earning a glare and a grunt from Sakura who took his copy of the script grumpily because Togame’s hand wasn’t in his head anymore, where according to him, it belonged.
Speaking of the script, oh god…
The story of a high-school gang leader who picks up on the new first year student because he looked different and out of place, but falling in love slowly with his unmannered ways and outbursts, much like Sakura himself.
For a moment, Haruka thought it was going to be easy since his character was pretty much like him, a hot headed boy with no fear nor regrets about his lifestyle but then, many, many scenes in which they had to kiss, peck and make out, which was a problem on itself, there was one in particular that entitled FEELINGS to be confessed and showed from Sakura’s part, and he was a mess.
Parting from the fact he now knew they were going to make that kind of Boys Love movie, kissing Togame wasn’t on his 2025 bingo card, not in a million years and, besides feeling all warm and fuzzy inside he was nervous as fuck.
What if Togame hated it? What if he regretted and dipped out after reading the script, knowing he had to get all lovey dovey with Sakura? Oh man…
But, of all scenarios dangling from a thread in his head, Sakura never imagined to see Togame smiling at the papers and then at him, getting his lips to smile even wider than before.
Of course, Togame knew this wasn’t the boy’s forte so he giggled, getting closer to Sakura, nudging him.
“This is going to be hard on both of us, y’know, I’ve been in romantic series before even as an extra with a partner but damn, never like this, let’s take our time reading and digesting the script, okay?” He reassured the younger boy, his slow pace now coming in handy as Sakura breathed in and out, allowing himself some slack and replying “Obviously” to his now partner in crime.
“In fact, I have an idea, if you’re up to it!” Turning around to fully face him, Togame excitedly used a sing song voice to announce what he thought was the best of the ideas “We should room together, practice as much as we can and we would be saving money from expensive hotels and I know you don’t like them so much…” The older of the two offered a simple solution and Sakura was a mess inside, because rooming with his crush? A thousand times yes! But it was going to be so hard to act normally around the other.
But Togame offered help outside work, to room together near the location while they discovered how to navigate this kind of genre that was new to both of them and he couldn’t say no to such a good combination.
This wasn’t about his crush but the kind of production that could raise his career more, that would open more doors for him and more.
So he said yes without thinking much about it, earning yet another blinding smile from Togame, who giggled once more and said he was going to ask Suo-san to arrange their living situation, since he was knowledgeable about this whole thing as a manager.
The script reconning day after that went by in a blur as well as the rest of the moving, but given the fact Sakura didn’t have much to begin with, it was easy to move to the tiny apartment for two with Togame, who looked suspiciously happy with all the arrangement.
But it was about to be awkward because the older of the two reminded Sakura about their most embarrassing scenes on the goddamned script, however, Togame didn’t come to him with empty hands but with a plan, one risky plan to end the awkwardness between them once and for all and to give their all in these lead roles they luckily landed.
This was for their careers’ sake.
“A what?!” Never mind, the hell?
“A date, various dates and couple behavior study, Sakuraaa” Togame repeated since apparently, the other didn’t get it correctly the first time.
Sakura’s mind was in short-circuit with all the mental imagery of them having dates, mimicking their characters on the loving, honeymoon phase after all the teasing and fights between them because thank god, this being a gang themed BL movie, a fight was a given for a few scenes.
Togame simply proposed to spend time together regularly, get used to each other’s touch since Sakura was so jumpy when it came to being physical outside of a fight and get to know each other more than they already did.
It sounded like a good plan and it had him nodding and blushing like crazy for the next few minutes until the bicolor haired boy calmed down.
He wasn’t a teenager anymore, this should be easy for him!
“Don’t worry, we’ll get through this and why not, get all the nominations for the next film festival! ~ ” Togame dreamed big and Sakura should learn a thing or two about his current partner.
And that’s how they spent the first few days, between set filming and going out on little dates that Togame had a tendency to naturally lead, not that Sakura minded, but there was something about the taller of the two, that drove him crazy with confusion.
Or maybe that was his heart jumping to stupid conclusions again.
No but it was confusing, especially after one particular day.
They were watching tv on the couch and eating something, rehearsing a few stray lines here and there when Togame proposed an even more daring plan for them to make it work during the most intimate scenes… he suggested to practice their kisses…
It wasn’t a bad idea per say but thinking it over again and again, kissing Togame out of character was REALLY a good idea for his ever-growing crush? Would he have to draw the line more often than not?
But if they didn’t practice, then he’d be too nervous on set, maybe the older of the two was right and they needed to get use to each other fully so, reluctantly, Sakura swallowed the lump forming in his throat and agreed, all red faced over the breakfast Togame made for them early that morning and he was now too nervous to finish.
Well, he was gonna finish it because the other made it.
He was so fucked.
*****
The morning after that idea, Sakura began to panic and with a reason because Togame, without much of a warning more than a “good morning” peached his lips and smiled, reminding him of their agreement the previous day.
That cheeky bastard.
And it started like this, with little pecs while sitting on the couch, a light brush of their lips while mimicking one of the scenes in which the characters kissed on the gang leader’s couch after patching up from their first fist fight. A rapid kiss from Sakura’s character that melted Togame much to the boy’s ignorance of the other’s feelings.
Because the thing was that Togame felt as whipped as Sakura, he fell in love with the bicolor haired boy during the recording of Wind Breaker, spending time with the other came as easy as breathing and he was so happy when told his co-star for his first BL movie was none other than his dear Sakura Haruka.
For him, Sakura was the one to show him what it meant to truly love someone with all of their traumas, personality traits and fears, all the negative over positive traits that to him, only added to the other’s character in beautiful ways.
Sakura was to Togame the sweet taste of ramune after a hard day of work, the relief in his bones after a good bath, the light of his life after a bad day, he was fucked and the bicolor haired boy was ignorant about it because, much to Togame’s bad luck, Sakura was an oblivious one.
The older of the two laughed mid kiss, making Haruka blush and push him away while he whined a capricious “Sakuraaaaaaa ~ ”, seeing him squirm on the couch all fuming and red to the ears.
“I’m sorry, I was remembering something funny, let’s continue” He said and kissed Sakura all over again with little pecks and were those same little pecks the thing that helped him get into it as he liked the feeling of kissing someone even though this was middle school pecking but damn…
“S-Sorry, it’s my first kiss so it can be a bit awkward” he said to Togame who was looking at him in absolute shock.
Togame himself kissed for the first time this way too, acting for a secondary role on a teenage series, and having that in common with Sakura was both strange and comfortable.
Like they were connected by something else once more. He didn’t feel this way since they acted together for Wind Breaker and Togame told Sakura as much, watching him laugh with relief, finally shaking his nerves to keep going.
They vowed to repeat their small kisses until Sakura’s nerves went down and it served them so well because their first scenes were amazingly interpreted.
Firstly, the fight. Sakura was a fucking natural at fighting so the choreography wasn’t a big deal for him. Air kicking, punching and so much more that it didn’t come hard for Togame to act the amazement his character was feeling right now, along with more complicated heart matters that he had to convey through fighting back his partner and look dumbly in love with him as the script asked him to.
Secondly, there was the first kiss between their characters.
It was after the fight, both boys agitated and adrenaline filled but patching each other up in the aftermath.
Togame’s character laughed and praised the new kid in town for his skills and performed a pained “ouch” after Sakura’s character placed a cotton drenched in alcohol in the middle of his “bleeding” nose.
But here was the thing with all of these aspects about acting, the emotional one wasn’t going at all well for Sakura who struggled himself to be honest with his feelings in real life, also Togame asked for time since after this particular key scene there was another one in which, apart from confessing, they had to make out like desperate teens in heat.
The older of the two suggested they up their game at home and start kissing with intent so Sakura wouldn’t feel as nervous and so they did, omitting of course this tiny detail to their director, partially hiding the reason they were leaving this particular scene for later and not today, as it was arranged beforehand.
The man, their director, wasn’t surprised Sakura needed time to process how to come up with a good confession since he knew the boy had some issues with it, so he let it go, allowing Togame to manage his co-star so they could bring up their best game until then.
“Let’s take a break, the fight was amazing, I trust you’ll bring even better acting for the rest of the film!” The director said, patting the boys’ backs and laughing with his stomach like an old man.
He was so nice to them, they needed to do better.
*****
Back at home, there was this comfortable silence between Togame and Sakura as they showered, ate dinner and now watched tv comfortably sitting on their couch.
That’s why Togame decided it was time to bring up his next idea to Sakura. He casually suggested they up their game while having time at home and start kissing with intent, so Sakura wouldn’t feel as nervous when the big confession scene came along.
It was hard for Sakura not to blush ‘till the neck and sputter some non-sensical blabbering until he calmed down because his crush was asking him, plainly, to make out?!
Okay, deep breaths Sakura, you got this.
This is your only chance to make your dreams come true, don’t fuck it up.
“I m-mean, we’ve been practicing the kisses and it went well today s-so, I don’t see why not” The bicolor haired boy tried to sound so cool but failed miserably, earning a sweet smile from Togame.
The other, who expected Sakura to reject the idea was now overjoyed with happiness. There was some truth to his words though, he wasn’t doing this only to kiss the younger of the two, no, but to help him as well!
“Then, let’s start? Come here…” Togame decided to start reading his dialogue that was conveniently placed on top of the coffee table, giving Sakura time to read his part too.
After that, everything became blurred lines and cloud like brainless thoughts.
At first it was overwhelming for Sakura so pushed Togame with both hands to his chest every time he needed air and Togame was in cloud nine, kissing his crush without a care in the world, putting his best techniques to use and making the poor boy feel overwhelmed more often than not.
It wasn’t his intention to push Sakura over the edge, he just was that excited to be finally kissing the way he always wanted to kiss the boy since they met.
To Togame, Sakura was a light of hope, a tender reminder that he could actually feel love towards another human being and that he wasn’t worthless.
Sakura asked him to be cool on stage, in character, and he took that as a fucking vow, swearing to become the coolest human being to sweep Sakura off his feet and make him his.
He had no elaborated plan nor scheme, but getting the other used to his kisses maybe, a tiny voice said, maybe will make him fall for the taller boy.
But what Togame didn’t know was that Sakura already fell in love with him, almost at the same time.
What a pair of dumb boys, pinning for each other in secret…
After kissing for so long, they stopped shy of midnight, realizing they’ve been at it for at least two hours and of course, blushing awkwardly since they looked absolutely wrecked.
“Uhh, maybe we should sleep…” Sakura eloquently offered.
“Yeah, let’s” Togame equally replied, smiling brightly like a dopey turtle, Sakura thought.
Maybe it was his imagination and the fact he was still dreaming about the kisses, but Sakura liked to think he didn’t imagine how Togame smiled at him, genuinely like he was smitten with him.
****
“Sakura…” An agitated Togame called, hands roaming around his back and waist, kind of surprised he wasn’t pushed away like usual.
Because it was on their third day practicing that Sakura finally got used to their practice arrangement and started to kiss back with intent, something Togame didn’t expect but it was welcomed anyways.
Somewhere along the afternoon it was very obvious both of them were enjoying this make out session, be it Sakura’s tiny sounds or Togame’s hums… or the fact the younger of the two practically crawled onto Togame’s lap unconsciously, arms around his neck to keep kissing like his life depended on it “Damn…” He said, red in the face and actually smiling the cocky way Togame loved so much before diving in once more.
And just like that, their desperate make out sessions became a pattern until it was time to film.
If Togame weren’t so oblivious he didn’t realize Sakura felt the same as him, with a hopelessly desperate crush until they were face to face on the final scene of the movie, with a red Sakura in character, holding Togame’s character uniform lapels with intense determination as he finally had the “guts” to confess, he would’ve enjoyed the upcoming scene more.
They were amazing, the director said, congratulating them on their first big movie and inviting them to a non-alcoholic toast on the set, something that served to mellow down the tense atmosphere only Togame and Sakura were capable of feeling in this very moment.
The kiss was, for a lack of a better word, dreamy as fuck. Togame could feel Sakura’s soft lips devouring him with determination, the same one he always carried himself with on and out of the filming set, the one he respected so much.
After that, the rest of the day went by a blur as neither of them could stop thinking about the scene, how this kiss was so different from the ones they shared over and over at home. It was more intimate and followed up after a confession which Sakura wasn’t sure it was acted or not.
Who was he kidding, the bicolor haired boy wasn’t acting, he just used the scene to spill the beans on Togame without consequences but he wasn’t sure their relationship remained the same as the tension grew the more people left the set.
All until they were alone and, Togame of course was the one breaking the awkward silence for him.
“It was good, you did so good, congratulations Sakuraa” He drawled in his leisure tone of voice, smiling to the shorter one who was clearly flustered now.
“Shut u-up, you did good too, let’s go home” It was too much complimenting for Sakura so he escaped the best he could from the situation, offering to go home and boy, even though they walked around fast, the way to their place seemed longer than other days.
Togame seemed unaffected on the outside but he was nervous, not knowing why Sakura looked like he was upset and his oblivious mind didn’t realize it was because the excuse to kiss everyday existed no more.
Sakura hated that they weren’t going to make out and hug anymore when they came back home and what was worse, the short lease was almost up since they finished filming.
His world was crumbling apart and he, for the first time, wanted to do something about it.
Even though the tension was palpable right after they arrived and the perfection and love from their last scene was lingering in the air, for a single moment, Togame resigned himself, believing Sakura was such a good actor for conveying a hard confession to the point he fell in love over again and planned to celebrate him with his favorite food until they were alone at their place, and the younger of the two, tired of hiding and pinning and right to his impatient nature, did the same as in the key scene, pulling Togame for a searing kiss the moment they were safe in the confines of his shared apartment, which was responded back in kind.
“Sakur---” He tried but was shushed by the shorter of the two.
“Shut up, you drive me nuts!” Sakura impatiently gritted through his teeth, kissing him over and over.
And they kissed so much it was a miracle the lack of air didn’t kill them and when it was time to separate, Togame held Sakura by his waist, smiling blindingly like a dumb boy in love.
Well, he was, no offence taken.
“You aren’t mad at me for kissing you under the guise of practice? ~ “ He confessed cheekily, kissing Sakura’s reddening cheeks.
“I accepted because it meant kissing you, asshole, don’t get ahead of yourself, tch” An equally daring confession left Sakura’s lips as he allowed the kisses, happily squealing on the inside at how tender Togame was.
“Sakura… no, Harukaaaaaa” And there was his name, his given name in that slow talker’s voice he loved so much. Sakura was so doomed.
“Stop that, asshole!” He retaliated and blushed furiously all over again.
“Haruka, I love you… do you love me too?” Ah, he was dreaming, wasn’t he?
Sakura took a deep breath, realizing the seriousness of the situation and kissing Togame’s lips with a small peck. Then…
“Of course, you idiot, stop asking stupid questions”
Togame smiled and he thought his face was gonna hurt later because of how big he did it but he didn’t care, he was happy, the happiest he’s been in literal years.
“You’re so mean to me, maybe I should think about iiiiiit ~ “ The taller boy playfully started swinging them around, fascinated as Sakura’s blush went only deeper but his attitude was nothing like usual, he was calm and dare he say, happy.
“Tch, tch, tch” Sakura clicked his tongue but his body said he was enjoying the attention.
“Stop clicking your tongue, you’re gonna make me kiss you again” Togame warned and then Sakura clicked his tongue again, blushing like a maniac while expecting Togame to fulfill his promise.
They didn’t know what destiny had in hand for them but they knew that whatever the world had prepared for their careers and life, they will be together hand in hand, being a source of eternal support for each other.
This is just the beginning of their beautiful and cliché love story after all!
Fin.