Chapter Text
It was the Shiraishi family's usual dinner. Akemi was on her phone. Miss Shiraishi had told her for the 100th time to put the phone away, but she didn't listen. Mr Shiraishi was content with his meal while Akihiko and Kazuki were chatting, not paying attention to the chaos around them.
"So, Akihiko, Kazuki, aren't you excited for summer break?" Mr Shiraishi had asked his two sons
"Of course! I cannot wait to throw away the textbooks and only read comics!" His youngest responded
"Don't take it so lightly.You'll probably have homework'' His mother intervened, he should be responsible enough by now
"Don't worry, mum, I'll help him. Right, Kazuki?" As an older brother, it was obvious Akihiko would take his part, and Kazuki was grateful for it
"Right, big brother!"
"Ah, damn it!" Akemi exclaimed, ''I wanted to do something together. But no, you have homework.." She rolled her eyes, her father, however, smiled
"Dear, should we tell them?"
"Well, we better do it now than later."
"Tell us what?" The youngest asked first, impatiently
"Since Akihiko did so well on his final exams.. your mother and I wanted to take a family vacation. We have been saving up for a while."
"Hell yeah! Count me in!" Akemi rolled with their plan, it was about time they did something fun!
While Kazuki was also on board with it, he chose not to show it. He turned his face to the side, only eyeing them, his eyes, however, seemed to sparkle. "..Tough, where are we going?"
'We'd like to visit America, what do you think?'
Akihiko started smiling uncontrollably
"I'm all for it!" Akemi was quick to react
"It would be nice!" So was Kazuki
Akihiko, however, didn't react
"Akihiko?" His mother turned to his side
"Why are you smiling, bunny?"
"Oh, it's nothing, I was just thinking that Harumi lived in America before coming to Japan to study."
"Why don't you invite him to join us, then?" His mum proposed
"Wait, really?" Akihiko turned to his other parent
"I don't see why not, he seems like a good kid."
Kazuki lowers his head, it was his chance to spend some time alone with Akihiko. He likes Kurose, it's not that but.. he might steal all his brother’s attention again
"Kazuki, are you alright?"
"Y-yeah! If Kurose is coming better to ensure he doesn't set something on fire, you warned me not to let him next to the stove."
"Ah, right, I'll keep an eye on him! You can help me, too, I bet he is too much for just one to handle. What do you think?" Akihiko smiled at his younger brother
Kazuki put his hand to his forehead, imitating a salute. "Roger!"
Akihiko started grinning
"I'll ask him tomorrow, after the last day of school."
It was a bright day at Suisa Academy, the birds were chirping and the sun was out, melting the students' brains while the principal held his looooongg speech on the campus. The students kept complaining about the heat and the principal's voice but not Akihiko, his smile was brighter than usual and it was also genuine. His head was not filled with thoughts of heat or complaints about the principal, his head was filled with Harumi and nothing else, it made him feel impatient and Akihiko is not usually impatient, he is, in fact, very calm and patient. Something about today made him unable to wait any more seconds, he wanted to see Harumi, that's the only thing he wanted right now. Today was the last day, both Suisha's and Higasa's students were overjoyed with the thought of summer break and so was he, but they had to be extra careful today. The city will be overflowing with the two academies' students and they cannot risk getting caught, otherwise, all their efforts would be in vain. And so, with one more thought of Akihiko's getting halfway to his brain, the principal finished the speech and a crowd full of students was running to the school gates. Akihiko got caught in all of it, being pushed and barely managing to get out alive.
He almost forgotten! Oh, how could he?
He had to meet up with Furuta, Ono, Yamomoto, and Ueno to wish them fun on their break. He rushed back to the campus, hoping that they hadn't left yet. Fortunately for him, they were still there, Ueno and Yamomoto were lying on a bench, Ueno's head leaning on Yamomoto's shoulder, and Furuta and Ono were next to the fountain arguing over a game Ono played until one moment ago when Furuta stole his phone.
“Um, hey guys!” Shiraishi waved at the couple
“Oh, hi Shiraishi” Yamamoto greeted in response
“Hey, Shiraishi! What are you still doing here?” Ueno asked while tilting her head to the side.
“I wanted to wish you a fun summer break but I got pushed to the gate by the crowd..” The school’s ‘bright knight’ scratched the pack of his neck.
“Can't blame them tho. I can't wait to leave, I'm just waiting for my drive.” The gossip enthusiast complained
“Oh, I see. What about you, Yamamoto? Are you waiting for your drive as well?” Shiraishi directed his attention to his old teammate.
“Uh, about that..”
“We're going to my place, Ryouhei promised my parents he'll come with us on vacation.'' Ueno intervened, seeing her boyfriend's attempt at explaining.
“Oh. I see.”
‘Wait. Would Harumi think I invited him because I want us to get together????? No, that can't be it, he would not think that, right? Right??’ Shiraishi screamed internally
“Yo, Shiraishi! What's up?” Ono came just in time to say goodbye to his friend, his teammate, and to the blonde.
Furuta followed Ono, but he noticed something strange “Hey bro, why are you so red?” he asked
“Oh, it's n-nothing, -really! Don't worry about it!”
“Did you two tease him about his girlfriend or something?” Ono took this opportunity to bring back the long-forgotten subject, which he didn’t forget at all.
"No, we didn't. Mari just said we're going on vacation."
"Oh, I see how it is" Furuta teased "You also want to take your girlfriend on vacation~"
"W-what! I told you guys I don't have a girlfriend!"
"Then why did you put her nickname 'Harumi <3'?" ..That's right, Ono saw when Akihiko texted Harumi during the principal's speech
"Th-Thats not what it means! Harumi's just a friend..!" He tried to reason, although he was pretty sure his cheeks unlocked a new shade of red that had yet to be discovered
"Are you childhood friends or something?" Furuta asked
"Um, no. Why?"
"Just saying that people get on first-name basis only after years of knowing each other, you must really like her if you told her you want her to call you by your first name and vice versa" He explained
"..Actually" Shiraishi hesited "I was not the one who came up with the idea"
"What?? She asked you???" The blonde guy grasped his collar. "Damn, that's a win. She's a keeper." He said as he let go of his grip, facing to the side. Perhaps he was jealous?
"Thanks..?" Shiraishi was trying to decipher Ono's emotions until a thought hit him, "..WAIT, What Time Is It!?"
"12:29, why?"
"Oh, God, I'm late! BYE HAVE A FUN BREAK EVERYONE!!"
And like a tornado, Shiraishi Akihiko left.
"Oh, young love." Furuta teased, although his victim had disappeared
And so Aki ran as fast as he could, and that is really fast, after all it hadn't been so long since he quit the track and he was their soon-to-be ace. He managed to get to the train station at 12:39, exactly one minute before the train arrived. He took the train and waited for Harumi at their spot.
Harumi made his appearance not long after, he waved at Aki and smiled, a smile that lighted Aki's face and made his heart beat even faster. ‘It's because of the running’ he told himself. He could not make a better excuse and he didn't want to overthink it, he did not want to think about the actual reason his heart was pounding at the light speed. Yet he started thinking.
It had been a couple of seconds since Harumi waved at Aki, but Aki was still unfazed by everything around him. He had not spoken a word and seemed to be in a trance.
Harumi got closer and waved his hands in front of Aki's face: “Hello? Earth to Aki? I'm going to steal your lunch if you don't wake up to reality”
“‘Wake up to reality’?”
“Nothing goes as planned in this cursed wo–” Aki covered Harumi's mouth before the edgelord could finish his anime quote
“Stop it, you meme lord!”
Annoyed, Harumi placed Aki's hand off his mouth. “Fine, I'll stop.”
“Good.”
“You're no fun, bunny.”
Aki started to stare down, seeming like he was spiraling again, trying to find the right words to ask Harumi. Is it the right time to ask? Should he even ask? What if Harumi thinks it's weird to go with their family? Wait. Harumi said he doesn’t want to go back to America..what if he feels uncomfortable if he asks..?
“Hey! Are you good? You know I was just teasing you..” Like always, Harumi sees right through him
“It's not that..” He hesitates
“Then what is it?” Harumi leans closer
Suddenly becoming hyper-aware of their surroundings, Akihiko asks “Could we go to your apartment first? I suddenly remembered this was not the best place to be-”
“Ah, right.” The silver agreed
=At Harumi's=
“Soo, mind telling me what's on your mind ?” Harumi was direct as always
“My family wants us to go to America”
“That's cool, why do you seem so down tho?”
“I'm not down, not at all, just..” Akihiko decided to explain “..they want you to come with us.”
“..And you don't want that?” The mushroom head had tried to reason
“Of course I do, it's just.. the thought of them spending time with you and saying stuff, it's just embarrassing!” Said Akihiko as an excuse not to make Harumi uncomfortable
“I can refuse if it makes you feel uncomfortable.” Clearly NOT what Aki wants.
“No! No! It's fine. I want that! I want you to come with us! I mean-” The brunet had stopped, his face getting redder.
A second of respiro, in which Harumi got an idea
“So you want me to come with you so you will brighten my days, oh bright knight~?” Harumi grinned while holding his hand out to Aki
“It would be my pleasure to make the Ice Prince’s frozen heart finally melt~”
Akihiko had no idea of what he just said, he just said it, and now he felt his cheeks heat up even more because of the words that seemed almost.. ALMOST AS IF HE WAS FLIRTING!! When did his monotone ‘Kyaa’ (that imitated Harumi’s) get to THIS??
Harumi stood there, as shocked as Akihiko that he heard him, of all people, say that. His eyes were wide and his cheeks turned pink.
“W-wow, I didn't know you had it in you” He managed to say, his cheeks still hadn’t recovered from the shock. Yeah, it has to be from the shock.
‘I didn't know either’ Akihiko thought to himself.
“Anyway, it will be my pleasure to test your bold statement, good luck on ‘melting my heart’” Harumi grinned
“W-what..? So you want to join us? For real??” Akihiko uttered while still in shock
At that moment all Harumi could wonder about was his friend’s social cues: Is this really the part he can't believe after I told him good luck on ‘melting my heart'? ..whatever.
“Yes Aki, for real. Unless you chickened out, that is.”
“No! Of course not, my invitation still stands!” Said Akihiko, still hardly managing to speak through his embarrassment.
“Pff- good then. See ya.. Wait, when are we going? And where?”
“Ah, right, I didn't tell you, sorry! We're going to Boston next Sunday.”
“No way! That's my hometown! I could introduce you to my parents and favorite places!” Harumi said excitedly
‘He doesn’t seem uncomfortable’ Aki thought to himself while letting off a small smile “That's awesome!! I can't wait! See you on Sunday!”
"See ya!"
And so Akihiko left and Harumi went to bed.
‘I can't believe I agreed to go with him without knowing where and when! So cringe–’ Harumi thought to himself.
‘Whatever, I guess I don't mind it even if it's a bit cringe..’