Chapter Text
The sun was starting to dip, honeyed light stretching shadows and softening colors at the edges. Hikaru sat on the curb in front of the corner store, one knee drawn up, a half-finished Papicco dangling lazily from his fingers.
Yoshiki were next to him, silent, like he always got when his brain was off somewhere else. Hikaru didn’t mind.
The cicadas were going at it in the trees again—loud, relentless.
Hikaru took a bite of the ice cream, not because he wanted to, but because it seemed like the right thing to do. He didn’t love it. He didn’t hate it either. He just filed the sensation away, somewhere in the part of his mind where he kept things he didn’t quite know what to do with.
“Yoshiki, you should’ve gotten the soda one,” he said suddenly, turning toward you with a lopsided grin. “This one’s gross.”
Yoshiki didn’t laugh like he usually did. He didn’t even smile.
That was strange.
Hikaru didn’t mention it, though. He just tilted his head a little and went back to watching the puddle forming at his feet. It was getting bigger.
He liked this. Sitting beside Yoshiki. Eating cold things. Letting the sun press against his back like a warm hand.
Yoshiki was looking at him now. He could feel it even before he turned his head. A different kind of stare. Focused. Heavy.
“You’re not the real Hikaru, are you?”
He blinked. Once.
Then again.
Something twitched beneath his skin.
He tried to smile again, but the muscles didn’t pull right this time.
Was he melting?
No. Not really.
But his insides were oozing out, as if parts of him were detaching in tiny ways he couldn’t control.
“I’m supposed to be a perfect copy of him,” he said.
As he spoke, his voice—Hikaru’s voice—wavered at the edges, like an old cassette left out in the sun, just a little warped. He saw Yoshiki inch back, so he hastily wrapped his arms around him, like a hug might fix whatever was breaking.
"Please don't tell anyone. I don't want to kill you."
The cicadas screamed louder.
Slowly, hesitantly, Yoshiki's arms came up around Hikaru. 'Maybe it's okay,' he thought. 'If I just pretend. I need him. It's not like anyone else will notice, right?'
(Here's the continuation of ep 3 because fuck writing credits :))
Yoshiki cupped Hikaru’s cheek, pulling his face towards his. Tears rolled down Hikaru’s cheeks, and Yoshiki wiped them away with his thumb.
Hikaru smiles slightly. "I know I'm not him.. just using his body... but maybe- but maybe I'm enough."
'Maybe he is enough.' Yoshiki thought, returning with another smile.
Slowly and hesitantly, Hikaru leaned in, their lips grazing eachother. Yoshiki could feel his face burning red. Hikaru laughed, the sound soft and sweet and genuine.
"You're cute when you blush." Hikaru teased, pressing his lips against Yoshiki's. Yoshiki's eyes fluttered shut, leaning into the kiss with a soft moan.