Archive of Our Own ^beta

As usual, Ms. Anri’s choice in plays doesn't align with Nagi’s interests. Though, considering Nagi is only interested in gaming, sleeping, and Mikage Reo (not necessarily in that order), anyone would be hard-pressed to keep him engaged. Well, anyone except the Reo in question.

“Sleeping Beauty with a twist…” Reo reads the play’s working title out loud. He flips through some of the pages of the proposed script. “Ms. Anri sure has been getting more creative recently.”

Creative is a polite way to put it. While no one can argue with the fact that Ms. Anri’s management of Blue Lock Academy's theater club is impeccable, her ventures into playwriting are more dubious. Last semester's performance of The Nutcracker: War of the Rats was filled with so much political intrigue and military strategy that the students felt they were reenacting the Cold War instead of a Christmas story. Nagi was lucky to land the role of the Rat King’s advisor who died of poison in the first act. 

“Looks like the first half of the play follows the original story pretty closely,” Reo says. He glances over at Nagi, who is slumped over the desk beside him. “Do you know the story of Sleeping Beauty?”

“Not really,” Nagi replies around a yawn.

Vaguely, he recalls one of his elementary school teachers reading the story to the class, but even as a kid Nagi was a terrible listener.

“It’s a pretty classic fairytale. There’s a princess, she’s cursed by an evil fairy to sleep for a hundred years, and a prince shows up to break the curse with true love’s kiss,” Reo explains.

One of Nagi’s eyebrows raises minutely as he turns his gaze to the script. Reo, ever so perceptive, notices the slight change in expression and laughs.

“Wondering how Ms. Anri got Principal Ego to greenlight something like this?” he asks.

Nagi nods. He’s so glad that mind reading is one of Reo’s many talents. He watches as Reo flips through the script again, before stopping about 75% of the way through and pointing to a line on the page.

Reo grins as he reads, “Sleeping Beauty challenges the evil fairy Maleficent to a duel to the death.”

That probably isn’t part of the original fairytale? Though, apparently some old fairytales were very gruesome. Nagi thinks he would have paid more attention if those stories had been told in elementary school.

“Seems like in the final act there’s an intense battle sequence, ending with a dramatic scene of Sleeping Beauty stabbing Maleficent to death,” Reo says. “This is probably how Ms. Anri got the play approved. I’ve always thought Principal Ego would run some teenager death game if he could. Fits his whole ‘only one person can be the best’ mindset.”

“Think he’ll have the students kill each other on stage for realism?” Nagi asks, only half joking.

Reo snorts. “With the amount of paperwork he’d have to fill out afterwards? Nah.”

Nagi pauses and tries to imagine the scenario. In his mind, the only one filling out paperwork is Ms. Anri. He doubts that something as simple as busywork could restrain Principal Ego.

“Just in case, Reo shouldn’t audition for the evil fairy,” Nagi says.

His concern earns him an affectionate hand ruffling his hair. Nagi’s entire body sags under the touch, warm and content.

“Relax, treasure. As fun as being the villain is, I’m aiming for the lead role this time,” Reo says.

“Which one?”

“The prince, of course.”

“Reo should be the princess.”

Reo shoots him a confused look. “What makes you say that?”

The reasons are endless. The first few that come to mind include 1) the princess is named Sleeping Beauty, and who could possibly be more beautiful than Reo? 2) Reo deserves to be the star of the play, and 3) Reo would look incredible in a dress. These are all completely unbiased, based-in-fact truths.

“Just makes sense,” is all Nagi ends up saying in response.

Reo still seems unsure, but there’s a pensive expression on his face. He’s considering it. “Well, the script does say that Sleeping Beauty can be played by either a girl or a boy. The same rules as always apply.”

Nagi is very familiar with the rules Blue Lock Academy operates under. In this school, everything must be earned. A student’s entire school life is determined by how well they can excel. Whether it be academics, sports, or the arts, if a person cannot hone their talents and shine bright enough to steal another’s spotlight, they are effectively exiled. Such a cutthroat environment has never been Nagi’s first choice, but Reo was ecstatic when they both received invitations to the academy over half a year ago. And where Reo goes, Nagi follows.

Guided by that competitive mindset, roles in the theater club are only given to those that best play the part. Gender, age, experience, none of it matters if the actor has the skills to fit the role. Aiming for the lead in a play is both the riskiest and most rewarding spot on the stage.

“You seriously want me to play Sleeping Beauty?” Reo asks.

Nagi nods.

A chuckle bubbles up from Reo’s throat. “Alright, I’ll do it, but only if you agree to audition for the prince.”

Nagi whines and lets his head thump onto the desk. “That’s so many lines.”

“Exactly! We’ll be co-leads, Nagi. Won’t that be amazing?” Reo says. 

“Reo…” Nagi pleads, but it’s too late. Reo’s eyes are already glittering with excitement. 

“Honestly, I was going to suggest that you be Sleeping Beauty, but this works too. As long as we’re center stage together, I just know that no one in the audience will be able to look away.”

Reo turns and slides the script over until it lightly bumps against Nagi’s nose. Ignoring the pitiful noise that Nagi makes, Reo opens the script to the first page.

“C’mon, Nagi,” he says. “The auditions start today. We need to have our parts memorized before we even set foot in the clubroom.”

Nagi knows when to pick his battles. Sometimes, a short-term effort to resist the unpleasant is worth the long-term comfort. But when Reo gets fired up like this, trying to argue is like going head to head with a bulldozer. All Nagi can do is forlornly say goodbye to his peaceful lunch break.

There’s one major detail that Nagi’s simple brain overlooked when picking Reo’s part to audition for: the fact that Sleeping Beauty is awoken by a kiss. He honestly can’t believe he forgot something so important. Well, he can, actually. At the time, Nagi’s brain was far too busy conjuring up images of Reo as a princess to remember the plot of the play. But now, listening to Ms. Anri go over the script before they start the auditions, it all comes back to him. And for the first time in his life, Nagi is very concerned with landing a lead role.

“Alright, let’s get these auditions started,” Ms. Anri announces. She claps her hands together in excitement. “We’ll begin with those trying out for the role of Sleeping Beauty. Can everyone who is interested please line up at the front of the room?”

A clamor of activity erupts in the room. Chairs screech across the tiled floor, hurriedly pushed aside by eager students. Murmurs break out in the crowd left behind. They speculate on who will apply for which role, with some going as far as to make bets on the final cast list. None of the excitement registers in Nagi’s ears as anything more than the buzzing of mosquitos. Why waste time guessing when the answer will be revealed soon enough?

Nagi watches as Reo makes his way to the front. Confident and brilliant as always, Reo cuts a striking figure amongst all the other students. He isn’t even carrying his script with him. With the amount of highlighting and notating Reo did during their lunch cram session, Nagi wouldn’t be surprised if Reo has already memorized every line.

“Damn, purple bun’s shooting for the lead this time?”

Nagi pointedly does not look in the direction of that irritating voice. Unfortunately, Shidou doesn’t seem to understand (or care about) the concept of being ignored. He just slings an arm around Nagi’s shoulders and keeps talking.

“Y’know, I was thinking of auditioning for Maleficent, but now I might have to consider playing the prince,” Shidou says.

This time, Nagi does look at him. There’s a Cheshire-like grin stretched across Shidou’s face, and his eyes gleam with the telltale sign of a challenge. Nagi, not for the first time in his life, contemplates how to get away with murder.

“I’m going to be the prince. Reo and I will be co-leads,” Nagi says as he pushes Shidou’s arm off of himself.

Shidou cackles. “Never thought I’d see the day when our resident sloth has some fight in him. What, are you that excited to kiss your boyfriend?”

“Shut up,” Nagi grumbles, but he really can’t argue with that. Somehow, this only makes him even more annoyed.

“Wait, I just remembered–” Shidou pauses dramatically, his grin stretching impossibly wider. “–you and purple bun aren’t even dating. So, that means the role of the prince is fair game.”

Before Nagi can finish weighing the pros and cons of punching Shidou in the face, the auditions officially begin. Given the high standards Blue Lock Academy upholds, each performance is impressive in its own right. However, there are always those that stand above the rest. Chigiri captures the lofty yet noble air of a princess perfectly. His expressions communicate pride and dignity, a picture of privilege, while his tone is infused with an underlying kindness that cradles the listeners in warmth. Hiori takes a different approach, choosing instead to lean into Sleeping Beauty’s graceful and saintly personality. He acts with unmatched gentleness, yet is still able to make a terrifying switch to the intensity needed to carry out the princess’ revenge. Nagi can appreciate the technical skill they and others like them display before the club, but his attention is only ever captivated by one person.

When it is Reo’s turn to perform, he jumps into a scene that several others have tackled before him: Sleeping Beauty witnessing the state of her fallen kingdom. Instead of dramatically falling to his knees in shock or crying inconsolably, Reo’s face morphs into an expression one could only call haunting. His eyes are distant and unseeing, as if lost in a vision of the past. His grief is subtle but palpable. Trembling hands, uneven breaths that grow more shallow by the second, tears that fall yet make no sound.

“I remember them,” Reo says, no louder than a whisper. “The people of this land… My people. They were right here. I just closed my eyes, and–”

The final words are clogged in Reo’s throat. He reaches out towards something in the distance, grimacing in pain, before letting his arm fall limply back to his side.

“And now they’re gone,” he says with finality.

The rest of the students, enraptured, wait for him to continue. And, after taking a shuddering breath, Reo does. In an instant, Reo’s entire demeanor shifts. Gone is the hopelessness in his eyes, replaced by steely determination.

“No, that isn’t right.” Reo grasps his shirt right above his heart. “As the heir to the throne, I have a duty to carry on their memories, their hopes, their dreams. I am their sole proof of existence now.”

He whips around. In the real play, Sleeping Beauty turns to the prince beside her, seeking aid and comfort. Here, in this moment, Reo’s gaze burns through Nagi’s skin like a brand.

“I won’t allow my people to wallow in regret any longer. If you wish to stay by my side, then ask yourself: can my heart still beat while another’s bleeds? And when that blood spills, will I hold my sword to the wound?”

There’s a pause as Reo waits for the scripted reply of the prince. The words float to the top of Nagi’s mind unbidden. Captured by those violet eyes, Nagi silently mouths, This sword no longer serves me. It will bend to your command until the moment it breaks.

Fondness blooms across Reo’s face, warm and sweet as spring. “Then it’s a promise.”

His performance concludes with a round of applause from the audience. Underneath the humming fluorescent lights of the clubroom, Reo is positively radiant. He smiles, all teeth and eyes squinted into crescents. Even as the next person steps up to audition, Reo doesn’t disappear. He never melts into a crowd, formless and faceless, like Nagi does. No, Reo is the North Star in the night sky. Others’ light pales in comparison to his everlasting shine.

Needless to say, Nagi tunes out the rest of the auditions. His mind wanders into a fantasy of Reo as a noble king and Nagi as his humble knight. Together, they protect the peace of their land from all who dare challenge them. Eventually, daydream-Reo decides that ruling alone is too boring and asks for daydream-Nagi to be his lawfully wedded husband. It’s a beautiful autumn wedding.

“Nagi.”

The voice of real-Reo pulls Nagi out of his thoughts. He blinks owlishly up at the boy before him.

“The auditions for the prince are about to start,” Reo says. He grabs one of Nagi’s arms and tugs. “Hurry, or you’ll miss your chance.”

Oh, that would be a problem. Instead of the usual fussing, Nagi allows Reo to pull him to his feet without a word of complaint. Nagi starts to walk towards the front of the room, before pausing to look back at Reo.

“What’s the hardest scene to perform?” Nagi asks.

For a second, Reo only stares at him. Confusion is visible in the way his eyes search Nagi’s face for… something. A sign of illness, perhaps?

“Um, maybe the final love confession? It’s hard to be passionate without coming off too cringey,” Reo says.

Nagi nods. “Got it.”

With Ms. Anri’s choice of dialogue, it will definitely be cringey regardless of who delivers the lines. Nagi has never actually confessed his love to anyone before, but it doesn’t sound that hard. Honesty is the only thing that matters, right? He joins the small crowd of students at the front and waits for his turn. Among them, of course, is Shidou, who quite literally leaps at the chance to perform an action scene for his audition. His entire body exudes confidence, just bordering on cockiness, and every movement is fierce. Even without the presence of a weapon, there is a clear sense of danger. The ferocity is balanced by carefully calculated restraint, which is a relief to everyone watching. Shidou’s fighting prowess is well known to the student body. It is also well known to Principal Ego, who has threatened to expel Shidou more times than anyone cares to count.

After Shidou’s aggravatingly impressive performance, Nagi stops paying attention. None of these NPCs have a chance at standing on stage alongside Reo. Still, they think they do, and maybe Ms. Anri thinks the same. He’ll just have to show them all how wrong they are.

When Nagi’s turn arrives, he doesn’t waste time with setting up the scene or reviewing the script. He simply moves to a position where everyone in the room can see him and acts. As always, acting comes as easy as breathing. His posture straightens, his eyes go soft and warm, and a sweet smile tugs at his lips. It’s all a mimicry of what Nagi imagines a lovestruck fool looks like, but it appears organic to the audience. Had this been any other audition, Nagi probably would have left it here. But today, he’s resolved to work hard.

The ambiguous “love” in Nagi’s mind isn’t enough to capture the tenderness that this scene calls for. The prince’s unending devotion is something Nagi can personally relate to, so he supplements some of his own yearning into the act. And the object of his affections is right there, waiting for the confession of a lifetime.

“Sleeping Beauty,” Nagi starts. His voice is quiet, reverent. “Your quest for revenge may be over, but what of our partnership? Our promise still stands, does it not?”

Nagi’s gaze sharpens with an unshakeable resolve. He sees Reo draw in a short breath.

“What I swore to you was not limited to aiding you in avenging your fallen kingdom. My devotion is eternal. You asked me once if my heart can still beat while another’s bleeds, and I answer you now with this: my heart will only beat beside yours.”

There is a lull in which Nagi’s expression shifts again. This time, his smile is fragile, tentative, fearful of the possibility of rejection. Yet his voice when he speaks next is impossibly fond.

“To me, you are the everblazing sun. You shine so brilliantly that it’s all I can see, and all I want to see. I will never wish for night again. How could I return to the dark and the cold after meeting you? Such a life is worse than death.” Nagi takes a deep breath, pretending to steady himself. The next words come out softly but sincerely. “I love you, Sleeping Beauty. So, please, let me stay by your side. As long as you want me, I will be yours.”

Throughout this entire monologue, Reo’s face has gone from light pink to a deep rose red. He appears completely captivated, unable to look away even as embarrassment burns all the way to the tips of his ears. Nagi finds it incredibly adorable. It’s almost enough to distract him from his role, but Nagi stays strong. Breaking character would be a surefire way of losing his spot as the prince, and all this hard work would be for nothing. Even worse, Reo would have to kiss some loser who doesn’t deserve to even breathe the same air as him. So really, Nagi is doing this for Reo’s sake. Definitely no ulterior motives.

With that, all of the auditions for the role of the prince are over. Nagi plops down into the seat beside Reo, who now refuses to look him in the eyes. That won't do.

“Reo,” Nagi drags out the name in a whine. “I worked hard, so praise me.”

He rests his head on Reo’s shoulder and waits. A small laugh, fond but slightly higher pitched than usual, escapes Reo’s lips. Soon enough, Reo gently combs his fingers through Nagi’s hair.

“You did amazing, treasure. I'm sure you'll be cast as the prince,” Reo says.

Nagi closes his eyes to relish in his reward. “Mm, and Reo will be the princess.”

Reo goes quiet for a moment, before answering with a chipper, “Of course.”

Satisfied with a job well done, Nagi settles in to nap through the rest of the auditions. In doing so, he doesn't see the blush that has crept its way back onto Reo’s cheeks.

The day the cast list is revealed, Reo hauls Nagi to the theater clubroom as soon as school ends. Some of their peers have beaten them to it, huddled around a single sheet of printer paper stapled to a bulletin board. Anticipation buzzes through Reo’s veins. Unable to wait a second longer, he squeezes his way to the front of the crowd. Finding his name is easier than expected. It’s listed at the very top. And right below it is…

“Nagi!” 

Reo calls out for his partner, but it isn’t necessary. Nagi is right behind him, always nearby, and focused solely on Reo.

“You got the lead,” Nagi says without an ounce of surprise.

Reo’s grin is blinding. “No, we got the leads. We did it, treasure!”

He throws one arm around Nagi’s shoulders and tugs him in close. There is no resistance from Nagi, there never is. He simply allows himself to be pulled and melded to Reo’s side as if he belongs there. Really, there is no “as if.” The only person who could fit so perfectly is Nagi.

Reo turns his head to gauge Nagi’s reaction to the news. The expression on Nagi’s face can’t be considered excitement, but he does look oddly relieved. Well, Nagi was pretty motivated while auditioning for once. Maybe he is looking forward to co-leading in a play as much as Reo is.

“You have some nerve stealing my role.”

The two look to their left to find Chigiri standing with his arms crossed. He lightly elbows Reo in the ribs.

“Sorry, princess,” Reo says with a laugh. “Guess I’m the new beauty of the theater club.”

“You wish,” Chigiri scoffs. He glances back at the cast list before grimacing. “On second thought, you can take the lead this time, Reo. I’d rather be expelled than have to kiss Nagi.”

Reo’s brows scrunch in confusion. “Huh?”

Before his mind has time to piece together where the topic of kissing Nagi came from, Chigiri waves the script in front of his face. Reo swats it away.

“What, you forgot your role already? Even with all of Ms. Anri’s crazy changes, this is still a love story in which you–” Chigiri points emphatically at Reo, then directs his finger to Nagi, “–and your beloved prince share a kiss on stage.”

For a second, Reo’s head is an empty space filled only by static. Once Chigiri’s words settle in, though, they cause Reo’s brain to have a nuclear meltdown. In the back of his mind, the implications of co-leading with Nagi have been plaguing him for days. Reo has done his absolute best to ignore any thoughts of pretend love confessions or staged kisses. But now, he is suddenly forced to face the reality of it. His grin freezes in place, the exuberant joy of before replaced by tension and uncertainty.

“Right,” Reo says. He nods his head, more to confirm it to himself than anyone else. “Yeah, that’s no problem. Why would I audition for the role if I wasn’t prepared to kiss someone?”

This is only half true. Yes, Reo is fully prepared to kiss someone in the name of acting. Outside the context of the roles, a kiss means nothing. But is he prepared to kiss Nagi? What will Reo do if his barely contained feelings manage to slip into their facade of love? The realism of his character would be phenomenal, but his poor heart might not be able to take it.

“Reo, are you nervous?” Nagi asks.

Reo automatically shoots him a reassuring smile. “Of course not. We’re actors, a little kiss scene is nothing.” He pauses before asking, “Are you nervous?”

Nagi hums and hooks his chin over Reo’s shoulder. “Not really, just might need more practice than usual. I’ve never kissed anyone before.”

A strangled wheeze leaves Reo’s throat at the same time Chigiri rolls his eyes.

“Reo will help me, right?” Nagi says, his tone lilted and pleading.

The unease curdling in Reo’s stomach settles momentarily, washed away by the comforting familiarity of being needed. He turns to face Nagi and lightly squishes his cheeks.

“Don’t worry, Nagi. I’ll make sure we ace this performance just like we always do,” Reo says.

Nagi leans into the touch with a content hum. “Reo is the best.”

“God, you two are disgusting,” Chigiri says. “Just make sure I never see this ‘practice,’ okay?”

Reo’s only response is to chuckle awkwardly, while Nagi sticks his tongue out at Chigiri. The redhead in question appears to be mere seconds away from strangling both of them. He runs a hand through his hair, takes in a deep breath, then lets it out as a sigh.

“In all seriousness, congrats on getting the lead roles. I know you both have been working hard,” Chigiri says.

Hearing his friend’s sincere sentiments draws Reo’s lips up into a smile. “Thanks, Chigiri. Make sure to give it your all too.”

“Like you need to tell me. I’m going to outshine you two the moment I step on stage,” Chigiri says. Then, he turns and waves over his shoulder. “I’m off to go find Kunigami. We’ve got our own parts to practice for.”

“Don’t have too much fun,” Nagi says.

In response, he receives a death glare from Chigiri and a bark of laughter from Reo. Nagi pettily chooses to ignore the former.

“Let's see how everyone else did,” Reo says as he shifts his focus back to the cast list.

Kunigami and Chigiri have been cast as the King and Queen respectively. Originally a fairly minor set of roles, Ms. Anri's changes make them significant components of the plot. Specifically, their deaths at the hands of Maleficent help spur Sleeping Beauty into her quest for vengeance. Speaking of, the role of Maleficent goes to none other than Isagi. Given his outstanding performance during the auditions, this comes as a surprise to no one. Well, except maybe Rin, who is currently glaring holes in the back of Isagi’s head. Reo finds Rin’s name listed under the group of good fairies, alongside Bachira, Aryu, and Tokimitsu. An odd group, to say the least. But if there's one thing Reo has learned here at Blue Lock Academy, it's to trust the process.

“Looks like you get to kill Isagi,” Nagi comments.

“You say that like it’s a treat,” Reo says with mirth.

Nagi just nuzzles further into Reo’s shoulder. It isn’t hard to tell what he’s thinking about in this moment. Reo, too, remembers the major falling out the two of them had shortly after entering Blue Lock Academy. The catalyst for it all had been Isagi’s spectacular acting skills, which sparked a fire inside Nagi that Reo so desperately wished he had ignited instead. That, paired with a disastrous amount of miscommunication, pushed Nagi and Reo away from each other for an entire semester. During those few months (which Chigiri loves to refer to as the Divorce Era), Reo might have been delighted at the chance to commit faux murder. Now, though, he’s moved past all of that. Probably.

“Enough about that,” Reo announces. He is not going down that rabbit hole today. “Let’s get to rehearsing, okay?”

Without waiting for a response, Reo leads Nagi out into the hall to find an empty practice room. The tiny, poorly ventilated practice rooms offer a semblance of privacy for the students to go over their lines in peace. According to some school rumors, there used to be locks on the doors to prevent disruptions. However, the locks had to be removed after some unsavory incidents occurred. Reo prefers not to know all the details.

They finally manage to find an empty room towards the end of the hallway. Inside, the room is furnished with a single plastic chair. Reo pushes it into a corner to give them more space, before the two boys sit across from each other on the floor.

“Where do you want to start?” Reo asks, his script open in front of him.

Nagi hums, considering. “I don’t know. The beginning?”

“You mean the scene when we first meet?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, that’s–” Reo cuts himself off abruptly. Their first meeting is when the prince wakes Sleeping Beauty with a kiss. Reo frantically skips forward a few pages to find something less harrowing. “Actually, let’s start with this.”

Nagi leans forward to see what Reo is pointing at. He stares at the page for a moment, before raising his gaze to meet Reo’s.

“The part where Sleeping Beauty and the prince work together to kill a beast?” Nagi asks.

Reo nods. “It’s a very important bonding moment for their characters. After the fight, the two of them eat the beast’s flesh for a celebratory dinner. Then, they turn its hide into cloaks to keep them warm during their journey across the frozen wasteland.”

“But fight scenes take so much effort,” Nagi whines. He leans against the wall behind him, letting his head thunk dully against the drywall.

“I think fight scenes are fun. It feels good to get your body moving,” Reo says.

“If I move too much, I’ll die.”

“Stop being dramatic.”

“I’ll dieeee.”

“Just humor me, okay? If you do well on this scene, we can practice whatever part you want next.”

This catches Nagi’s attention. He doesn’t move from his slumped position, but his eyes glint with interest.

“Okay, but Reo can’t go back on his word,” he says.

Reo chuckles. “When have I ever?”

“Mm, guess you’re right,” Nagi says. He lazily reaches for his script. “Ready.”

A grin spreads across Reo’s face. He’s looking forward to seeing Nagi’s performance, but what he’s most excited for is to see the scene that has motivated Nagi so. Something about this play resonates with Nagi in a way Reo has never seen before. More than anything, he wants to understand everything there is to know about Nagi Seishiro.

What Reo does not expect is for Nagi to choose the kiss scene. The initial shock causes Reo to tense involuntarily. Though, after thinking about it for a moment, it makes sense. Nagi said before that he needs extra practice with this scene due to his lack of experience. He’s just trying to improve for the sake of the performance. Suddenly, Reo feels selfish putting his own comfort above Nagi’s valiant efforts at growth. In actuality, shouldn’t he be rewarding Nagi for being so diligent for once? Reo can’t allow his struggles with certain nonplatonic feelings to get in the way any longer. He needs to push himself just as much as Nagi is.

“So, you’ve never kissed anyone before?” Reo asks.

Nagi shakes his head. “Never wanted to.”

That sounds about right. Not once has Nagi expressed any interest in romance or intimacy, much to Reo’s chagrin.

“But you know what a kiss is, right?” Reo just has to ask. He can never be too sure when it comes to Nagi.

“Yeah, I’ve seen it on TV and in games. Oh, and in manga,” Nagi replies.

Reo smiles because the alternative is crying. All of those contain such idealized versions of kissing that they offer next to no practical knowledge. Looks like they’ll have to start with the basics. Luckily, Reo can use his own kissing experience (mostly from past theater productions) to guide Nagi in the right direction.

“I’ll lead the first kiss, then. Just pay attention to what I do and try to replicate it afterwards,” Reo says.

Nagi nods with an uncharacteristically determined look in his eyes. Under such a gaze, Reo feels terribly shy, but he refuses to let it show. He’s an accomplished actor. Getting embarrassed during standard practice would damage his reputation.

Reo scoots forward until his and Nagi’s knees touch. The warmth that seeps through this small point of contact feels different from all the casual touches he and Nagi have shared in the past. It sends Reo’s nerves into high alert, akin to a fight or flight response. Except, the only danger here is internal. Reo takes a moment to ground himself. The carpet beneath his hands is scratchy, and the silence of the room is broken periodically by the sound of distant chatter from the hallway. Most importantly, Nagi is sitting right in front of him, expectant and waiting.

Reo leans in.

The kiss is light, a simple pressing of lips together. Reo slowly moves his lips to introduce Nagi to the concept of motion in a kiss. Passion can only be communicated through active participation, after all. Though, true passion doesn’t look as restrained as this. Oh, how Reo wishes to show Nagi the depths of his affection. Recognizing the danger of those thoughts, Reo breaks the kiss mere seconds after it was initiated. He sits back on his heels, cheeks pink, and tentatively checks Nagi’s expression for any signs of discomfort. Instead, all he sees is that same focused look from earlier.

“That’s a pretty basic kiss,” Reo explains, averting his gaze to an unremarkable spot on the wall. “You can give it a try now, if you want.”

“Okay,” Nagi says.

He shifts to lean closer to Reo. For a moment, Nagi hesitates, before he lifts a hand to gently turn Reo’s face towards him. Logically, Reo knows that this gesture is only done to make it easier for Nagi to kiss him. Unfortunately, Reo’s brain is anything but logical at the moment, and the tenderness of the action nearly makes his heart explode. 

Soon, Nagi closes the gap between them. His kiss is no more than the faintest brushing of lips. The uncertainty Nagi feels is clear, but there is also an underlying sweetness that takes Reo by surprise. Even the briefness of the kiss makes it all the more tantalizing. The moment Nagi pulls away, Reo has to fight the urge to chase after him.

“Was that good?” Nagi asks, his breath fanning against Reo’s lips.

Reo forces an encouraging smile onto his face. “It was a great first attempt. But you should be more sure of yourself, Nagi. People aren’t going to believe we’re in love if you kiss me like that.”

“Then, how should I kiss Reo?” Nagi asks.

Like you want me, Reo wants to say, but thankfully doesn’t. Instead, he answers with, “A little more firmly, and remember to move your lips. Good kissing takes effort, so you can’t just sit there and let your partner do everything.”

“Huh.” Nagi considers all of this information for several seconds. Surprisingly, he’s taking this seriously. “Okay, I think I get it. Can I try again?”

“Sure,” Reo replies, even though his heart is still pounding from the last kiss. This is all for the sake of the play, Reo reminds himself. It doesn’t quite manage to calm his racing pulse.

When Nagi leans in this time, it’s completely different. He does so with unexpected fervor, something Reo isn’t prepared to match. As a result, their noses bump together awkwardly, and it takes some time to adjust to a more comfortable position. Once they do, though, the kiss becomes all consuming. Nagi has his hands cupped under Reo’s jaw, keeping him in place as he firmly presses their mouths together. Reo all but melts. He struggles to guide Nagi into the rhythmic, practiced motions of a staged kiss. This steady, slow, yet intense pace is so very Nagi-like that Reo wants nothing more than to lose himself in it. Would it be so bad if he did?

They finally separate once their lungs ache for air. Reo draws in breath after breath, yet it’s never enough. His chest feels so constricted, like it can no longer hold the sheer volume of his yearning. He knew kissing Nagi would be tough, but this is agony. Even so, Reo wants to do it again.

Nagi stares at him expectantly, and it takes Reo a second to realize he’s waiting for praise. The sight causes Reo to chuckle softly.

“You’re incredible, Nagi. You really can do anything you set your mind to,” Reo says.

“Reo’s the same way,” Nagi replies.

That’s what Reo thought most of his life, too. Recently, though, his view has changed. The one thing he can never do is act on the feelings he harbors for Nagi. The possible repercussions are just too severe. Their little charade of being star-crossed lovers will have to do.

“Honestly, you don’t need any more practice for the kiss scene. What you did just now will be more than good enough,” Reo says.

Instead of the usual joy at being relieved of practice, Nagi looks disappointed. His large, dark eyes droop as if Nagi had just been told his favorite mobile game is discontinued. Reo stares at him, confused.

“I’ve only done it well once. I’ll definitely forget between now and the play’s opening,” Nagi says.

“That is a fair point…” Reo mutters. The point of practice is not only to master a skill, but to maintain that mastery. “Okay, I’ll work this scene into our practice schedule. How often do you want to rehearse it?”

“Daily.”

“Daily!?”

Reo sputters in shock for multiple reasons. Firstly, when has Nagi ever wanted to practice anything daily? Secondly, Reo is going to lose his mind if he has to kiss Nagi every day.

“Is that no good?” Nagi asks, somehow managing to look even more pitiful.

“No, that’s–” Reo pauses, clears his throat, and starts again with more composure. “I’m glad to see you putting in the effort to improve, Nagi. How about this? We can spend a few minutes at the end of our regular practice sessions to go over this scene again.”

Nagi instantly perks up. “Okay, let’s do that.”

This should be manageable. All Reo has to do is go through the motions like usual, then give Nagi a kiss or two at the end of the day. In a way, Reo needs the practice too, just for very different reasons. While Nagi learns how to kiss (strictly for acting purposes), Reo can build up his resistance to Nagi’s kisses. Like all other aspects of their partnership, it’s mutually beneficial.

Turns out life is a lot more enjoyable when you get to kiss your best friend every day. It’s been three weeks since the roles were announced, and practice for the play has continued as usual. The only difference is that Nagi gets to steal Reo away once club activities are over for a special kind of practice. One that he very much looks forward to.

Today, they’re rehearsing with Chigiri and Kunigami. Reo shares quite a few scenes with them in the beginning of the play, but Nagi’s character never gets to meet the King and Queen. Because of the whole “getting killed at the end of the first act” thing. He honestly has no reason to be here, but when has Nagi ever complained about getting to relax? 

“I liked that adlib you did earlier, Chigiri. Think we should ask Ms. Anri to include it in the script?” Reo asks.

He and the others are huddled together to review today’s work. Nagi, meanwhile, sleepily watches from his spot in the corner.

“It might be worth mentioning. I only said it because the Queen’s actual line feels flat here,” Chigiri says as he points to a line in the script. “This is the last interaction Sleeping Beauty has with her mom, after all. It should leave an impact on the audience.”

Reo nods enthusiastically. “I was thinking the same thing.”

The rest of the conversation becomes white noise as Nagi rests his head in his arms. Even when full of excitement, Reo’s voice is the most soothing sound in the world. Nagi could take a nap right here. He probably does drift off at some point, because the next thing he knows, there’s a familiar shadow cast over him.

“Nagi, it’s time to go home,” Reo says softly.

Nagi blinks several times, readjusting his eyes to the bright fluorescents in the room. Reo helps him to his feet, and Nagi sways forward to lean his entire weight against Reo’s side. This, too, would make a great napping spot.

“Come on, you can sleep more once we get back to the dorms,” Reo says.

Nagi nods, ready to ask Reo for a piggyback ride, when a thought strikes him. Suddenly, Nagi is awake and alert. He straightens so quickly that Reo jumps in surprise.

“Whoa, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nagi move that fast,” Kunigami comments from behind them.

Reo ignores him, too busy fussing over Nagi’s abrupt change in behavior. “What’s wrong, treasure? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, Reo. I just remembered we haven’t done our practice yet,” Nagi says.

Chigiri raises an eyebrow at him. “Did you seriously sleep through the whole thing? Practice is already over.”

“No, I mean my practice with Reo,” Nagi says.

“Your practice with…” Chigiri trails off, before the realization hits him. He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re still doing that?”

Reo’s cheeks instantly redden. He seems to be at a loss for words, which is weird because Reo always knows what to say. Guess Nagi has no choice but to speak for them both.

“Yeah, what about it?” Nagi asks.

Before Chigiri can answer, Kunigami shoots the three of them a perplexed look.

“What are you guys talking about?” he asks.

Chigiri turns to him with an expression far too weary to warrant the situation. “Nagi and Reo have been practicing kissing for the play.”

“Oh,” Kunigami says. It takes a second for the words to fully sink in. When they do, he only looks more confused. “Why?”

“Because Nagi is down horrendo–”

“Because I don’t know how to kiss. I’ve never done it before,” Nagi quickly cuts Chigiri off, earning him a glare from the redhead.

“That's surprising,” Kunigami says.

Chigiri snorts. “No, it's not.”

Kunigami opens his mouth to refute this, but closes it almost immediately. They all know it is, in fact, very on brand for Nagi to be a kiss-less loser. Kunigami is just too polite to admit it.

“So,” Chigiri starts, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “How's it been going?”

“I still need a lot more practice,” Nagi replies.

“Uh-huh. And what do you think, Reo?” Chigiri asks.

Being called by name snaps Reo out of whatever thought spiral he was in. He awkwardly clears his throat, before slowly saying, “Nagi is… doing well. There have been improvements.”

“You must be an experienced kisser to teach someone like Nagi,” Chigiri says teasingly.

Reo waves away the comment offhandedly. “I wouldn't go that far. I've just done a few kiss scenes for other plays before.”

Upon hearing this, Nagi instantly wilts. So, he wasn't Reo’s first? How many people have come before him? It shouldn't matter since Reo is his now and forever, but Nagi feels a stinging in his chest that won't go away. Something needs to be done about this.

“Reo, let's go home,” Nagi whines.

He wraps his arms around Reo’s waist and squeezes. It helps alleviate the stinging a little bit, but it's not enough.

Reo turns his head to look at him. “Huh? I thought you wanted to practice?”

“Changed my mind,” Nagi says.

Really, he just wants this conversation to end. As for practice, Nagi has other plans.

“Alright, then let's go,” Reo says. He gives Nagi a pat on the head, before turning back to Chigiri and Kunigami. “We'll see you guys tomorrow.”

“See you,” Kunigami says.

Chigiri offers them a parting wave. With that, Reo and Nagi leave the clubroom. The walk from the academy to the dorms is not particularly long, but it seems to stretch on forever to Nagi. On top of being tired from the effort it takes to walk, Nagi feels strangely restless. He just wants to be home, where no one can disturb his time with Reo.

When they finally reach their shared dorm, the first thing Nagi does is collapse onto a bed. Reo's bed, specifically. This isn't unusual, so Reo pays him no mind as he goes to their small kitchen area to grab a water bottle. 

“Nagi, you want something?” Reo calls.

“No, thanks,” Nagi replies, half muffled by the pillow his face is smushed against.

Water in hand, Reo sits down on the edge of his bed. He unscrews the cap and takes a few gulps. Then, he casts a glance towards Nagi’s prone figure. “I know you're tired, but hydration is important. Here, at least have some of my water.”

Who is Nagi to refuse such a generous offer? He moves into a slouched yet upright position and accepts the propositioned water bottle. This is an indirect kiss, right? Nagi thinks to himself as he brings the bottle to his lips. He slowly sips at the water. It doesn't taste any different than usual, but the fact that it's Reo’s somehow makes the water feel special.

“Hey, Reo,” Nagi starts.

“Hmm?”

“Let's practice.”

“Right now?” Reo asks incredulously. “What happened to changing your mind?”

“The water gave me more energy,” Nagi says.

It's a weird excuse even to his own ears, and Reo confirms this by giving him a skeptical look. Nagi is nothing if not stubborn, though. He's sticking with this, no matter how bizarre it sounds.

“If you've got more energy, then you should go over your lines. We didn't get the chance to rehearse your scenes earlier,” Reo says.

That is a perfectly logical thing to do for most people, but it's not what Nagi wants. Fortunately, he knows exactly how to sway Reo. Nagi puts on his “sad puppy dog” look, making his eyes wide and glossy. The effect is immediate. Reo looks torn between wanting to maintain discipline and giving Nagi the world. He's still staying strong, though. Looks like Nagi will have to pull out another tactic.

“But Reo promised that we'd practice the kiss scene every day,” Nagi says.

Promises are something Reo does not take lightly. Neither does Nagi, and that's why he's so sure they'll be together forever. That promise from long ago still stands to this day. Now, Nagi is relying on the sanctity of another promise to get as close to Reo as possible.

“I did say that, huh?” Reo shakes his head with an amused smile. “Alright, c’mere then.”

Nagi grabs Reo’s arm and tugs. At the same time, he falls backwards onto the bed, resulting in the two of them now lying side by side. Reo appears startled, but Nagi gives him no time to adjust. He closes the distance between them in an instant. The now familiar feeling of warm, plush lips against his own finally soothes that sharp pain in Nagi's chest. If only they could be even closer, even more connected.

Oh, wait. He could try that thing they do in movies.

To test the waters, Nagi sticks his tongue out to lightly lick Reo’s lower lip. Reo responds by momentarily tensing, before he presses more fervently against Nagi. Well, that's encouraging. Nagi has no idea what he's doing, but that hasn't stopped him before. People have always said he's a quick learner.

This time, Nagi draws Reo’s lower lip into his own mouth. He laps at the lip like it's the sweetest candy. Tempted by the taste, Nagi can't help but nip Reo every now and then. Every time he does, Reo lets out a little pleased noise. He's so cute. Nagi can't believe a former nobody like him is allowed to have this.

Minutes pass, before they finally separate to catch their breaths. The distance between them is still minuscule. If Nagi wanted, he would barely have to move to resume the kiss. Looking at Reo’s blushing face and sappy smile makes Nagi really, really want to.

“Where'd you learn a trick like that?” Reo teases.

“Movies,” Nagi answers honestly.

Reo laughs, but not in the mean spirited way others might. No, his laugh is always warm and bright as the sun’s gentle rays. One of Reo's hands balls in the front of Nagi’s shirt and pulls until their noses bump together. There's a determined look in his eyes, the same kind that appears with a particularly interesting challenge.

“I'm the one that's supposed to be teaching you. I can't let a movie show me up, now can I?” Reo says.

Nagi's eyes are wide with anticipation. “What’s Reo gonna do?”

“Close your eyes.”

As always, Nagi does what Reo commands. With his eyes closed, every nerve in his body seems to be ready to catch fire from the tiniest spark. Nagi's heart beats to a wild tempo. It's exhilarating. It's addicting.

Fortunately, Nagi doesn't have to wait long to be rewarded for his obedience. Reo's lips are on his again, but this time Reo is the one doing the licking. He runs his tongue along the seam of Nagi's lips, and when Nagi lets out a content sigh, something unexpected happens. Reo's tongue slips inside Nagi's mouth. At first, it's an odd feeling. Soon, though, the strangeness melts into the warm buzz of pleasure. 

Reo's tongue eagerly explores, licking everywhere from Nagi’s teeth to the roof of his mouth. It's an entirely new way of kissing, one that feels hungry and possessive. And suddenly, Nagi realizes that he's starving. He brings a hand up to the nape of Reo's neck, tugging him impossibly closer. As he does so, Nagi experiments by moving his tongue in tandem with Reo’s. They both shudder at the sensation. The kiss quickly evolves into a struggle for control, with both parties wanting to simultaneously devour and be devoured by the other.

It all comes to a head when Nagi sucks on Reo’s tongue. He isn’t sure why he does it, it just instinctively feels right. The action causes Reo to moan into his mouth, which is definitely the hottest thing Nagi’s ever experienced. Nagi makes to do it again, but Reo abruptly pulls away. When Nagi blinks his eyes open, he sees Reo sitting a good distance away from him on the bed. Reo’s lips are red and kiss-bitten, with a thin trail of saliva going from one corner of his mouth to his chin. Pupils blown wide and flushed from the tips of his ears to beneath the neckline of his shirt, Reo looks more beautiful than he ever has. Nagi wants to see this sight every day for the rest of his life.

“That’s enough practice for today,” Reo says. His gaze travels to the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. “It’s getting late. How about I go grab us something to eat?”

“Want me to go with?” Nagi asks.

Reo quickly shakes his head. “No, it’s alright. Just stay here and rest, treasure.”

“‘Kay,” Nagi drawls. 

To anyone else, his tone would sound flat and uncaring, but Nagi knows Reo can tell he’s happy for the chance to laze around. Nagi rolls over to grab his phone from where it was haphazardly thrown onto the mattress and boots up one of his many games. Behind him, he hears the rustling of fabric as Reo stands from the bed. Footsteps grow more distant, the lock on the door clicks, then the hinges quietly squeak as the door is pushed open. Before Reo can leave, a thought pops into Nagi’s mind.

“Reo,” he calls without looking up from his game.

“Yeah?”

“Your hair’s a mess.”

Reo runs a hand through his hair and, upon finding tangles that could put Nagi’s permanent bedhead to shame, he groans. He hurries into the bathroom, takes one look at his reflection in the mirror, and instantly stills. Nagi pays little attention to all of this, but he does cast a glance Reo’s way when he finally emerges from the bathroom. Now, Reo’s hair falls perfectly around his face, freshly combed and restyled. However, the slight swelling of his lips and the pinkness that remains on his cheeks serve as proof of their extensive practice session.

With a heavy sigh, Reo plops down on the edge of Nagi’s bed. He holds out a hand and says, “Pass me my phone. We’re ordering takeout.”

The next day, Reo doesn’t go to afterschool rehearsal. He gives Nagi the excuse that an important shareholder of Mikage Corp. is holding a meeting to discuss the company’s stocks, and Reo has to be there. In actuality, there is no meeting today, but Reo desperately needs some time to himself. There are so many thoughts rattling around in his skull that it has physically given him a headache. Distancing himself from the source of these thoughts is the best thing Reo can do right now. Though, he does feel bad as he watches Nagi’s slumped figure head towards the arts building. 

The car Reo called arrives shortly after he and Nagi part ways. Reo slides into the backseat and looks towards the driver’s seat. Ba-ya turns her head to offer him a small but sincere smile.

“It has been a while, Young Master Reo. As always, it is a pleasure to see you,” she says.

Reo smiles back at her. “It’s good to see you too, Ba-ya.”

“Where shall I take you today?” Ba-ya asks.

Honestly, Reo has no destination in mind. He just wants to get away. He hums consideringly for a second, then replies with, “The closest park. I could use some fresh air.”

Ba-ya, polite as she is, does not point out that Reo could get the same air by strolling around campus. She does, however, send Reo a glance that speaks louder than words. She knows something is up. Reo vehemently pretends not to notice.

Once the car pulls out of the campus parking lot and begins its journey to the park, Reo relaxes a little. He leans back in the seat, sinking into the leather upholstery. Despite his best efforts, Reo’s mind drifts to the kisses he and Nagi shared yesterday. It was so unlike any of the kisses they exchanged before. Nagi is always an intense kisser, someone who effortlessly demands attention with every press of his lips. Yesterday, though, Nagi kissed him like Reo was his last meal, and Nagi wanted to savour every bite. Just thinking about it sends heat blooming in Reo’s cheeks. And the most embarrassing part? Reo was totally into it.

He had only wanted to tease Nagi a bit with the whole French kissing thing. Reo didn’t expect Nagi would actually pick up the technique and use it against him. Is Nagi even aware of what he did? How it utterly destroyed Reo? Reo stifles a frustrated groan by burying his face into his hands. Poor Nagi was just following Reo’s instructions, he probably has no idea how intimate they were. Guilt and shame rise in Reo’s throat like bile. He shouldn’t have lost control like that. The last thing Reo wants to do is take advantage of Nagi in any way, yet that’s exactly what happened. He fulfilled his own desires under the guise of practice.

Reo spends the rest of the drive wallowing in self-hatred. In fact, he’s so stuck in his own head that he doesn’t notice the car has stopped until Ba-ya calls his name. Reo startles and looks up at her. Ba-ya’s lips are pressed into a thin line, and her eyes reflect a deep pool of concern.

“Young Master Reo,” she starts. Her voice is measured and soothing. “If there is anything troubling you, I would be more than happy to aid you.”

“Thanks, Ba-ya, but this is something I have to figure out on my own,” Reo says.

“Independence is an admirable trait. Though, there are valuable perspectives that can be gained by confiding in others. Sometimes, what we think we know is only a fraction of the truth,” Ba-ya says.

Reo lets the words simmer in his mind. He supposes that getting an outsider’s advice won’t hurt. Still, there’s no way he can look Ba-ya in the eye and share the depraved details of his makeout session with Nagi.

“I’ll consider it,” Reo says. He gives Ba-ya a warm smile. “Thank you again for the support.”

Ba-ya bows her head politely. “I’m only doing my part to preserve Young Master Reo’s happiness.”

After bidding each other farewell, Reo exits the car. The park he has arrived at is spacious and full of lush greenery. Multiple groups of people are gathered together underneath various trees. Some are hosting picnics, while others relax in the grass with children or pets frolicking nearby. Reo starts down a cobblestone path that winds through the park’s grounds. He walks, paying no mind to where or how far he goes. The spring sunshine paired with the occasional breeze makes for perfect weather. For a moment, Reo thinks about how nice it would be to have a romantic picnic by a lake with Nagi. As soon as he catches himself planning out the logistics of doing so, Reo shuts that line of thought down. He doesn’t fully toss it aside, though. It might be worth revisiting later.

Once he grows tired of walking, Reo settles down onto one of the many benches scattered around the park. The bench sits beneath a canopy of trees, offering both a shady spot to relax and a gorgeous view of the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Reo watches the shifting patches of light for several minutes as he debates what his next step should be. Nagi would be upset if they stopped practicing the kiss scene. He’s been working so hard for once, and Reo can’t bear to dampen Nagi’s motivation just because his stupid heart won’t be quiet. Plus, the practice has actually helped. Nagi has only gotten better with each session. Which is actually the problem here. He’s too good. It always feels so amazing to kiss Nagi that Reo loses all sense of reason. Sometimes, he even forgets that all of this is fake.

So, canceling practice is out of the question. Reo could try setting limits on what Nagi’s allowed to do during practice, but he doubts that either of them would remember those limits in the heat of the moment. Besides, and perhaps most frustratingly, Reo doesn’t actually want to impose any restrictions. He wants to continue to kiss Nagi every day. He wants to kiss him outside of practice, whenever the urge comes up. Reo has always been so casual with his touches and physical displays of affection that Nagi probably wouldn’t even bat an eye. Most likely, Nagi would assume it’s just a normal thing friends do.

Reo closes his eyes and lets his head thunk against the back of the bench. He’s getting nowhere with this. It feels like his brain is spinning in circles inside his head. Suddenly, Reo thinks back to Ba-ya’s wise words from earlier. Valuable perspectives can be gained by confiding in others, Reo mentally repeats. If that’s true, then there’s only one person that might be able to help. Reo fishes his phone out of his pocket and quickly scrolls through his contacts. When he locates the desired name, he hesitates for a second, before resolutely pressing the call button. It rings two times, then a familiar voice crackles through the phone’s speakers.

“Reo? Aren’t you–”

Reo instantly shushes Chigiri. He can sense the annoyance radiating from the other end of the phone, but this is an important matter that must be discussed in secret.

“Is anyone nearby right now?” Reo asks.

“Weird question, but,” Chigiri pauses, presumably to look around the area. “No, doesn’t look like it. I stepped out to take this call, so it’s just me in the hall.”

“Perfect. I have something extremely important to tell you,” Reo says.

“What is it?” Chigiri asks.

Reo takes a deep breath then lets it out slowly. “I’m in love with Nagi.”

He’s never said these words out loud before. Somehow, setting them free feels like exposing his heart to the elements. It’s terrifying, yet there’s an inexplicable lightness in his chest. Reo waits nervously for Chigiri’s response.

Apparently, the response is a loud bark of laughter.

“What? Why are you laughing?’ Reo asks. A mixture of embarrassment and anger swirls in his stomach.

“Sorry, I just… Hold on,” Chigiri takes a moment to stifle the last of his laughs. “Reo, you seriously called me just to tell me that? Everyone knows this already.”

The churning in Reo’s stomach freezes with a sharp pang of panic. “They do?”

“Uh, yeah? You’re not subtle at all. I think the only person who hasn’t picked up on your obvious crush is Nagi.”

“Oh. That’s… okay, I guess.” 

Relief rushes through Reo like a tidal wave. Sure, it’s still embarrassing that his carefully kept secret isn’t actually a secret, but as long as Nagi doesn’t know then it’s fine. He can deal with that.

“If that’s all you wanted to say, then I’m hanging up. I’m supposed to be rehearsing with Bachira’s group right now,” Chigiri says.

“Wait, Chigiri,” Reo pleads a little too desperately.

There’s silence on the other end of the line, but no disconnection sound has rung yet. Reo takes this to mean he should hurry up and confess what the real purpose of this phone call is.

“I need your advice on something,” Reo says.

“And that is?”

“Regarding my, um, practice sessions with Nagi.”

“I’m not teaching you how to kiss your boyfriend better.”

“No, that’s not–” Reo stops, his thoughts momentarily derailed. “Nagi isn’t my boyfriend.”

“Right. Anyway, what do you actually need help with?” Chigiri asks.

“It’s hard to explain,” Reo starts. His brows scrunch together as he carefully thinks through what he wants to say. “Things got a little… intense yesterday.”

“Ew,” Chigiri says flatly.

Reo chooses to ignore him and keep talking. “And now I’m wondering if I let it all get too out of hand. Nagi just wants to practice to improve his acting, but I keep taking advantage of the situation. I like him so much that I can’t help it. That makes me a pretty awful person, though, doesn’t it?”

For a moment, there’s only silence. Then, a long, heavy sigh comes through the speakers.

“So, what you’re saying is you’re scared Nagi will think you’re horrible if he finds out how much you like kissing him?” Chigiri asks.

“Yeah,” Reo quietly admits.

Chigiri mutters something unintelligible. Whatever it is, he sounds like he’s on the verge of losing his mind. “Reo, has Nagi ever looked uncomfortable after you guys kissed?”

“I don’t think so.”

“And when you cancel practice, how does he respond?”

“I can’t cancel practice. Nagi is really motivated to improve, and he looks so sad when I mention not practicing.”

The silence on the other end is deafening. Slowly, with the patience of a saint, Chigiri says, “Then maybe, just maybe, Nagi likes kissing you too.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous, Chigiri.”

“No, I’m serious. Think about it, won’t you? When has Nagi ever done anything he doesn’t want to without complaining? Hell, when has he ever asked to do something?”

Reo goes quiet as he reflects on his time being friends with Nagi. It is true that Nagi will whine and complain about anything he deems too troublesome, which ends up being most things. As for the play they’re working on, Nagi hasn’t seemed particularly interested in practicing any scenes except for the one where he and Reo kiss. But that’s because it’s the only scene he really needs to practice, right?

“I guess it is a little strange that he’s so intent on practicing only the kiss scene,” Reo says. “But Nagi’s always been weird. I can never tell why he does what he does, and that’s what makes him so interesting.”

“Look, all I’m saying is Nagi surely has his motives. It’s up to you to figure out what they are,” Chigiri says. Just then, the sound of objects crashing and shouting in the distance can be heard. Chigiri curses under his breath. “I need to get back now. Hope this conversation helped.”

“I think so. Thanks, Chigiri,” Reo says.

“Good. I’ll take a trip to my favorite cafe as payment.”

Reo chuckles. “Sure thing.”

With that, Chigiri hangs up. Reo does feel somewhat better after talking to him, but there's still a haze of confusion clouding his mind. What possible motives could Nagi have? Reo dares not entertain the idea that Nagi simply wants to kiss him. Just the thought has his heart rate accelerating dangerously. The last time Reo had assumed Nagi’s devotion is as deep as his, that Nagi would never choose anyone but him, he'd nearly broken when faced with the truth. Reo can't put himself through that kind of pain again.

And yet, he hopes. The traitorous part of Reo's mind that is swayed far too easily by his heart clings to the hope that Chigiri is right. Maybe all of this goes beyond Nagi’s usual strangeness and is purposeful. Maybe he wants the same thing Reo does. A rueful smile stretches across Reo’s lips. He must really be a masochist, because no matter how many times Nagi burns him, Reo will always jump back into the fire. The warmth he's seeking is too wonderful to resist.

About a month into production, the members of the Blue Lock theater club receive the finalized version of the script. The working title has been replaced with Sleeping Millenium . Ms. Anri says this title is in reference to the thousand years Sleeping Beauty is unconscious for, before awakening to a dystopian future beyond her comprehension. Aside from a few tweaks to the dialogue and the shortening of a couple scenes for pacing purposes, the script is largely the same. What isn’t the same, though, is Reo.

Ever since they made out a week ago, Reo has been acting off. He still indulges Nagi with practice every day, but any attempts to involve teeth or tongue results in the session immediately ending. Nagi knows when he can and can’t push his luck. Rather than trying again and again to deepen the kisses at the risk of making Reo too uncomfortable to continue, Nagi will take the more simple kisses. He just doesn’t understand what changed between then and now.

Another odd thing is that Reo and Chigiri have been hanging out more often than before. They’ve always been good friends, chatting together about trendy things that go way over Nagi’s head, but there’s something different about their interactions lately. They speak in hushed tones, huddled up close away from anyone else. And whenever Nagi tries to join them, Reo looks startled for some reason. Like he’s afraid of Nagi hearing their conversations. Honestly, the longer this goes on, the more it irritates Nagi. He’s the one that’s supposed to know everything about Reo, not Chigiri.

Nagi lazily flips through his copy of the finalized script. It seems none of his lines were affected, so he’s spared the extra work of relearning scenes he’s already practiced. Satisfied, he casts a glance over at Reo. They’re seated next to each other, as usual, but Reo’s attention is fixed on Chigiri. The redhead makes some vague gestures with his hands, and Reo frowns in response. Weird. Are they having silent conversations now? It seems Nagi will just have to entertain himself until they’re done.

Unfortunately, Nagi’s phone is dead due to a late-night gaming session and forgetting to pack his charger this morning. With his typical method of passing time out of the question, he has to get creative. Nagi really isn’t good at that, though. He tries to think about anything that might be interesting, but the only viable option is sitting right next to him. Caught up in a conversation with someone else. Nagi slides down in his seat, posture so horrible he appears more shrimp than person. He must look pitiful, right? So, why hasn’t Reo noticed yet?

Nagi’s patience lasts all of ten seconds. He looks over at Reo again, who’s mouthing something at Chigiri and waving his hands. Those hands are so pretty, with perfectly manicured nails and a visible softness to them. Without thinking, Nagi reaches out and grabs one of Reo’s hands. A gentle warmth radiates between their palms as Nagi presses them together. When he runs his thumb over the back of Reo’s hand, the skin there is as smooth and soft as the satin pillowcases Reo likes to use. 

“Nagi?” Reo says, confused.

Finally, Nagi has his attention. He doesn’t respond, too focused on repositioning their hands so that their fingers interlace. Since Reo’s hand is only a little smaller than Nagi’s, their fingers fit perfectly together. It feels as natural as if Nagi was holding his own hand.

“What are you doing?” Reo asks.

“Holding your hand.”

“I can see that. But why are you holding my hand?”

“Reo has nice hands.”

“Um, thank you..?”

Reo sends a pleading look Chigiri’s way, but Chigiri just snickers.

“Oh, would you look at that? I’m late for my rehearsal with Isagi,” Chigiri says as he stands from his chair. “Good luck with practice, you two.”

Once he leaves, Reo has no choice but to focus on Nagi again. At first, Reo’s eyes pause on their connected hands. Then, with a tinge of red on the tips of his ears, Reo meets Nagi’s gaze.

“Do you like holding hands, Nagi?” he asks.

Nagi hums, considering how to respond. “Anything with Reo is fine.”

“I see,” Reo says. He goes silent for several seconds, a conflicted expression on his face. When he speaks again, it’s barely audible. “Even kissing?”

Nagi is momentarily taken aback by the question. “Huh?”

“Forget it, I’m just saying nonsense,” Reo says.

His gaze is fixed on the wall now. Even though a smile plasters itself onto Reo’s lips, it lacks its usual joyfulness. What it means is a mystery to Nagi.

“Reo,” Nagi calls. He wants Reo to explain what’s happening. Why does he look like that?

“Sorry, treasure. I must be tired from studying so late last night,” Reo says. In the blink of an eye, he regains his usual cheery demeanor and grins brightly. “Now that we have the final version of the script, we can really focus on getting our parts down. Here, let’s go through it together.”

Nagi responds with a simple, “Sure.” 

Reo seems excited to work on the play, but that weirdness from earlier still bugs Nagi. If Reo says he’s tired, then I guess he’s tired, Nagi thinks to himself. There isn’t any need to prod further because Reo will tell him if it’s something important. Now that it’s just the two of them, Nagi finds peace in going through the usual motions. What makes it all the better is the fact that they’re still holding hands.

Two days later, Nagi spends his time at the theater club helping Isagi and Bachira assemble the castle backdrop for the play. He certainly didn’t volunteer for this position. His hands are sticky from gluing together pieces of foam carved to resemble wooden windowsills, and Bachira has spilled paint on him at least four times. Nagi doesn’t care if his clothes stain, but Reo will be troubled when he does the laundry, so that’s a bother.

Thinking of Reo causes Nagi to sigh. Earlier, Reo ran off with Yukimiya to go over the costume designs. Nagi was deemed unnecessary for the task, given his complete lack of taste when it comes to clothes. So, he ended up on set dressing duty.

“What’s wrong, Nagi? Got your fingers stuck together again?” Isagi asks.

“No,” Nagi replies as he taps at a piece of foam to see if the paint’s dry.

“Oh, I bet he’s sulking because Reo’s not here,” Bachira chimes in.

Nagi is not sulking. Maybe.

“You guys are usually attached at the hip,” Isagi says. He offers Nagi a small smile. “It’s good to take a break sometimes. You don’t want to be too dependent on him, do you?”

Nagi stares at Isagi as if he just said the stupidest thing in the world. Which he just did, actually. Why would Nagi not want to spend every second of his life being spoiled by Reo? That would be like depriving an angel of access to heaven. Isagi seems to pick up on Nagi’s disagreement, because his smile shifts into a sheepish expression. He wordlessly goes back to arranging fake flowers in a vase.

“Hey, I’ve been wondering, what’s up between you and Reo?” Bachira asks.

“What do you mean?” Nagi says, confused.

“Y’know, like, are you two a thing?”

“A thing?”

“Yeah! A couple, lovers, whatever you wanna call it.”

“Oh.” 

Nagi blinks a few times. Of course, he’s thought about his relationship with Reo many times. They’re more than friends, that’s for sure, but it isn’t like they’ve made anything official between them. Or maybe they have? When they swore to be together until the end, that’s basically a proposal. Plus, they call each other partners. That could mean all sorts of things.

“Probably,” Nagi finally responds.

Isagi raises an eyebrow at him. “You don’t know?”

“Reo and I are together, and that’s all that matters,” Nagi says.

“Yeah, but there are certain things that only couples can do,” Bachira says. He grins and waggles the brush in his hand, splattering grey paint onto his shirt. “For example, kissing.”

“Eh, but we kiss every day,” Nagi says.

Isagi sputters. “Every day?”

“Congrats! Remember to invite us to the wedding.” Bachira gives Nagi an enthusiastic pat on the back.

Ignoring how a handprint-shaped paint stain is now on his back, Nagi nods. “I will.”

“Wait, wait, so you and Reo are actually dating?” Isagi asks.

“I guess so,” Nagi replies. Then, he pouts. “But recently Reo’s been spending a lot of his time with Chigiri. And he won’t tell me what they’re always whispering about.”

“Ooh, Reo’s having an affair?” Bachira teases. The glare Nagi shoots him sends a shiver down Bachira’s spine. He raises his hands placatingly. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding!”

“Now that I think about it, Chigiri did mention he’s helping Reo out with something. I think he said it’s a ‘conflict of idiots’ or something like that,” Isagi says.

“Reo has a problem?” Nagi asks.

“Seems like it,” Isagi says.

Nagi can’t believe Reo would turn to Chigiri for help before even telling him what’s wrong. Sure, Nagi isn’t the most reliable person in the world, but he hates to see Reo suffer. Whenever Reo is upset about his parents not supporting his dream, or exhausted from trying to balance all the responsibilities he has, Nagi is the first person Reo goes to for comfort. So, why is this problem any different? Nagi thinks back to a few days ago when Reo had that odd expression on his face. Is that what Reo looks like when he’s hiding his troubles?

For the remainder of the day, Nagi says nothing. In fact, he barely even complains when he burns his thumb with the hot glue gun. Nagi is too lost in thought to notice the pain until Isagi frantically pulls the glue gun out of his hands. Isagi must notice something is off, because, for once, he doesn’t push Nagi to keep working. Instead, Isagi suggests Nagi take a trip to the infirmary to get his burn checked out. Not one to argue with a free break, Nagi goes.

On the way to the infirmary, Nagi passes by the costume room. The door is propped open, allowing the whirring of sewing machines to flood out into the hall. Light chatter fills the air as well, with voices both familiar and foreign. Nagi pauses to peer through the open doorway. As if magnets drawn to polarized metal, Nagi’s eyes find Reo in an instant. Reo is leaning over a table with various squares of fabric sprawled across it. He picks up a baby blue square and runs his fingers over it, most likely testing the quality of the fabric. As he goes to set it back down, Reo looks over his shoulder. Without needing to search, he meets Nagi’s gaze.

“Nagi!” Reo’s face lights up in delight. Just as quickly, though, his lips tug down into a frown. “You’re covered in paint.”

“Bachira,” Nagi says simply.

“Ah,” Reo understands, no explanation needed. “Did you finish the backdrop already?”

Nagi shakes his head. “Not yet. I burned myself, so I’m heading to the infirmary.”

Reo hurries over to him and immediately starts to search for signs of injury. “What happened? Where are you hurt?”

“I was using a hot glue gun and got the glue on my thumb,” Nagi says.

He holds out his hand for Reo to inspect. The bright red mark on his thumb aches dully, but the pain is manageable. However, when Reo’s face scrunches in obvious concern, Nagi can’t help but fish for sympathy.

“You poor thing, look how red it is. It must hurt so much,” Reo coos as he cradles Nagi’s hand in his own.

“It does,” Nagi agrees. His eyes go wide and watery.

“Let’s get you to the infirmary. Hopefully one of the nurses is still here,” Reo says. Then, he turns to call out, “Sorry, Yuki, I need to leave for a bit. I’ll come back once I get Nagi’s injury treated.”

Yukimiya waves offhandedly. “Don’t worry about it, I can finish up on my own. We’ve already got most of the fabrics picked out, so I’ll put in the orders for the bolts.”

Reo smiles appreciatively. “Thanks.”

He leads Nagi out of the room, still gently holding Nagi’s hand. When Reo realizes this, he quickly asks if he’s hurting Nagi, to which Nagi shakes his head. If anything, Reo is making the pain better. The feeling of warm, delicate fingers against Nagi’s skin is far more distracting than the ache of the burn.

Since the academy’s infirmary is in a different building than the arts rooms, they have to take a trip across campus. The sky is streaked with shades of orange and pink as the sun begins its descent below the horizon. Although it isn’t properly evening yet, the temperature has already started to drop. Springtime fades to the cloying remnants of winter, breezes suddenly too sharp to be pleasant. Nagi nuzzles into Reo’s side. Not because he’s particularly cold, but rather he wants to bask in a heat more potent than the sun’s. Reo smiles and brings a hand up to ruffle Nagi’s hair.

When they reach the infirmary, Reo pushes the door open and waits for Nagi to go in first. All of the curtains in the room have been drawn shut except for one, which allows a single beam of orange light to slice through the otherwise dark space. Not a single soul can be seen in the room. Only sterile white beds and the glistening glass of the medicine cabinets welcome their arrival.

“I guess all of the nurses have gone home already,” Reo says. He goes over to one of the medicine cabinets and pulls at the door, only to find it is locked. “Great, I can’t even get something to treat you with.”

Nagi plops down onto one of the beds, wrinkling the freshly made sheets. He watches as Reo searches around the room some more. No matter which medicine cabinet Reo tries, they all stay firmly shut. He does, however, manage to locate a clean gauze strip in one of the desk drawers. After considering if this could be of any use, Reo takes the strip over to the sink on the opposite wall and runs it under cool water. Once the gauze is fully soaked, Reo wrings out the excess water, then brings it over to Nagi.

“Let me see your hand,” Reo instructs.

Nagi wordlessly obliges. Reo kneels down to get eye level with Nagi’s hand. He takes great care in wrapping the gauze around Nagi’s thumb. He pulls it just tight enough for the damp gauze to lay flat against the burn, but leaves it loose so as not to put pressure on the injury. When he finishes fixing it in place, Reo looks up at Nagi.

“I know it isn’t much, but cold water is supposed to help soothe burns,” Reo says. He lightly runs his finger along the edge of the gauze. “Is it uncomfortable? I can adjust it, if you’d like.”

“No, it’s fine,” Nagi says.

He vaguely feels like he’s in a dream. The fading sunlight casts a warm haze over everything, and Reo’s eyes catch the glow like fire glinting off of amethysts. By anyone else’s standards, Nagi’s injury is so minor that it barely warrants attention. Yet here Reo is, tending to a simple burn with nothing but sincere concern. Sweet, considerate, beautiful Reo. He’s perfect. Nagi really wants to kiss him.

So, he does.

Nagi leans down to place a chaste kiss on Reo’s lips. Reo tastes faintly of the melon bread they shared after classes ended today. Nagi wonders if he tastes the same. He hopes he does. When he pulls away a few seconds later, he’s met by Reo’s wide-eyed stare. A dusting of pink has settled atop his cheeks. Haloed in golden light and blushing prettily, Reo truly resembles a sunset sky.

An awkward chuckle rises from Reo’s throat. “Nagi, you shouldn’t practice when you’re injured.”

“But I didn’t use my hand,” Nagi points out.

“Still, that’s…” Reo trails off. 

He looks like he wants to say something, but the words won’t form. That complicated expression appears on his face again. This time, Nagi knows that it means Reo is troubled.

“Something’s bothering you,” Nagi says.

Surprise flashes in Reo’s eyes, before he lowers his head to hide his expression from view. “Is it that obvious?”

“Reo’s always been very expressive,” Nagi answers.

“I guess so,” Reo says with a dry laugh.

Nagi stares at him, waiting for Reo to elaborate, but he never does. The longer the silence between them stretches on, the farther Nagi’s heart sinks.

“Reo won’t tell me?” he says.

Reo jerks as if he’s just been shot. Then, he curls in on himself even further, arms wrapped tight around his torso. Quietly, Reo says, “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.”

“But you can tell Chigiri.”

Nagi’s voice comes out harsher than he meant it to. Somehow, his disappointment and worry morph into something else once they try to escape into the air. Something accusatory. Reo’s head whips up, revealing red-rimmed eyes and a grimace twisting his lips.

“Because Chigiri won’t hate me,” Reo snaps.

Initially, the words don’t register in Nagi’s ears. He blinks owlishly at Reo, who glares up at him. Why is he angry all of a sudden? What is Reo even talking about?

“I don’t hate you,” Nagi says. In his confusion, it sounds more like a question than a statement.

“You will. If you knew, you would hate me, Nagi,” Reo says with absolute certainty. He shrinks back as the ferocity drains from his body. “I don’t know what I would do if you hated me. So, please, just don’t ask.”

Nagi ponders how to respond. He’s missing something here, he knows that, but Nagi can’t figure out for the life of him what it is. Things were perfectly fine a few minutes ago. What happened? Nagi burned his hand, Reo wrapped it in gauze, Nagi kissed him, then Reo started acting weird. After reviewing the chain of events over and over in his head, Nagi comes to a conclusion that feels like dropping a stone into the pit of his stomach. He must be the problem.

“If Reo doesn’t like kissing me, then we don’t have to do it anymore,” Nagi says sullenly.

Reo’s expression turns bewildered. “What?”

“Every time we kissed, it seemed like Reo enjoyed it too, so I thought it was fine,” Nagi explains. He wilts like a flower deprived of the sun. “But since it bothers you, I’ll stop.”

“Wait, I never–”

“It’s okay, Reo. I get it.”

“No, you don’t.” Reo rises to his feet and clutches at Nagi’s shoulders. His eyes are wide and desperate. “I… I did enjoy it. And that’s the problem. I’ve been taking advantage of you this whole time.”

Nagi opens his mouth to ask what exactly Reo’s been taking advantage of, but he doesn’t get a single word out. Reo just keeps talking.

“I really did want to help you at first. I was so happy to see you motivated about practice for once. But then things escalated, and kissing you felt so good, and it was… it was everything I ever wanted.” Reo sucks in a sharp breath as tears well in the corners of his eyes. “You understand now, right, Nagi? I wasn’t kissing you for practice, I did it because I wanted to.”

“Oh. Cool,” Nagi says.

Reo stares at him incredulously. A single tear slides down his cheek. “You don’t hate me?”

“No? Why should I?” Nagi asks.

He’s pretty sure he’s following everything Reo is saying, but Nagi is still extremely confused. Clearly, kissing isn’t the thing bothering Reo. So, what is the issue?

“Because I kissed you with ulterior motives,” Reo says slowly, as if spelling it out for a child.

Nagi blinks. “Me too.”

“Huh?”

“I like kissing Reo.”

“...why?”

“I like Reo.”

Reo huffs, seemingly torn between amusement and frustration. “Nagi, friends don’t kiss each other. Just because you like me, that doesn’t mean we should be so intimate.”

That isn’t what Nagi meant, and he’s surprised that he even has to clarify something like this. Reo understands him better than anyone else. How could he not understand that Nagi is hopelessly in love with him? It’s not like Nagi’s been trying to hide his feelings.

“No, Reo.” Nagi tugs on Reo’s shirt imploringly. “I like you.”

For what must be a full minute, Reo stares at him in silence. Watching Reo right now is akin to waiting for a computer screen to buffer. The anticipation makes Nagi feel unusually antsy. With each passing second, the meaning of Nagi’s words becomes more clear to Reo. His expression shifts from confusion, to realization, to disbelief in a fascinating display that could not be replicated by even the most skilled actors. All the while, a scarlet flush creeps from Reo’s cheeks to the tips of his ears.

“You like me,” Reo repeats faintly.

Nagi nods. “And Reo likes me too, right?”

“Wha– How do you know that?” Reo exclaims.

“We’re partners,” Nagi replies simply.

Reo lets out a laugh so hysterical it almost sounds like a cry. He shakes his head, sending strands of violet askew. Nagi reaches out to gently brush a few back into place.

“God, I can't believe you just confessed to me in our school’s infirmary,” Reo says. He makes it sound like a bad thing, but he's grinning.

Nagi shrugs. “Now is as good a time as any.”

“But I had this whole plan. I wanted to take you on a proper date, but I couldn't call it a date, and I would only confess when the mood was right. There was going to be live music and a five course meal and–”

“I don't care about any of that stuff,” Nagi cuts in to stop Reo's rambling. “It wouldn't make me like Reo more than I already do.”

The manic look on Reo's face melts into a tenderness like no other. The way his eyes crinkle with fondness and his lips curve sweetly into a smile has Nagi’s breath catching in his throat.

“You're right, Nagi. It wouldn't make a difference,” Reo says.

He leans down to plant a kiss on Nagi’s forehead. Even after Reo pulls away, the phantom sensation of his lips leaves Nagi’s skin pleasantly tingling.

“A spur of the moment confession is very like you, Nagi. My treasure is always full of surprises,” Reo says.

Nagi gazes up at him, absolutely starstruck. Although his expression remains fairly neutral, Nagi has never been so overwhelmed with emotion before. The fluttering in his chest leaves Nagi’s entire body feeling light as air. It’s as if a pair of wings have sprouted out of his heart and carried it away into Reo’s caring hands. That’s the only place it belongs.

“So, does this mean we can still kiss?” Nagi asks, because his brain has gone offline.

Reo laughs again, this time bright and affectionate. His answer comes when he surges forward to enthusiastically press their lips together. Here, in this dimly lit room smelling of antiseptic, a kiss overflowing with love is shared.

Two and a half months pass until, finally, the opening night of Sleeping Millennium arrives. A flurry of activity throws the backstage area into barely organized chaos. Voices overlap with one another, all shouting different directions or calling for assistance from other cast members. The actors, having just finished changing into their respective costumes, gather together to do one last run through of their lines. There’s just one problem: the two leads still aren’t here.

“Come here, Nagi. Your cloak is crooked,” Reo says.

Nagi crosses the dressing room to where Reo is standing. Once he’s close enough, Reo fiddles with the clasps on the cloak until the fabric drapes evenly over Nagi’s shoulders. Of course, correcting one part of the attire reveals several more areas that need fixing. Even the simple button up shirt Nagi is wearing has multiple buttons in the wrong holes.

“Honestly, it’d be faster if I dressed you from the start,” Reo comments as he gets to work.

“Reo should do that next time,” Nagi says.

A teasing grin stretches across Reo’s face. “What would you do without me, Nagi?”

“Dunno. I don’t have to think about that,” Nagi replies.

Reo’s smile softens. Nagi’s response, as simple as it is, carries the hefty weight of their promise. Just like the oath that binds Sleeping Beauty and her prince together, Reo and Nagi will be by each other’s sides until their last breaths. Speaking of Sleeping Beauty, they have a play to perform. This isn’t the time for Reo to get swept away by his own affections.

A few minutes later, Reo finishes adjusting Nagi’s costume. He really does look like a prince. The top is a white button-up with sleeves that puff out, only to cinch and ruffle at the wrists. Paired with it is a white cravat decorated with a gold brooch, sleek grey pants, and, of course, the burgundy cloak that pulls the whole look together. A fake sword hangs loosely at Nagi’s hip. Luckily, realism was sacrificed for safety this time.

“You look great,” Reo says while giving Nagi a pat on the chest.

Nagi very obviously sweeps his gaze across Reo from head to toe. “Mm, Reo looks better.”

“I am playing Sleeping Beauty, after all.”

Reo turns to observe his reflection in one of the dressing room mirrors. His costume has a more dainty appearance, in homage to the original Sleeping Beauty being female. A pale blue corset covered in flowery lace hugs Reo’s waist. Underneath it is a white blouse, the sleeves of which bubble at the shoulders before slimming down the rest of his arms. Reo’s pants, colored in the same blue as the corset, have wide legs that flow with a skirt-like appearance. It’s a beautifully designed costume, even if it doesn’t align with Reo’s usual tastes.

Nagi comes up from behind to wrap his arms around Reo’s waist. Then, he gives it an experimental squeeze.

“So small,” Nagi says, sounding almost amazed.

Reo chuckles. “That’s what corsets are for. I’m just glad that they made it so I can still breathe in this thing.”

“Think they’ll let you keep it once we’re done with this play?” Nagi asks.

“Why would I want to keep it?” Reo questions in return.

Nagi goes quiet and squeezes him again. Reo has no idea what Nagi is trying to communicate, but he appreciates the affectionate gesture nonetheless. Reo raises a hand to run through Nagi’s hair and immediately stops himself. The hair and makeup team would kill him if he ruined their work right before going on stage.

The peaceful atmosphere of the dressing room is suddenly disturbed by a knock at the door. Reo hesitates for a moment, before gently removing Nagi’s arms from his waist and walking over to the door. When he opens it, he’s greeted by Kunigami’s concerned face.

“Everything okay?” Kunigami asks.

“Yeah, why?” Reo says.

“You two have been in here for a while. Chigiri sent me to check up on you guys because he was afraid of what he might see if he went himself,” Kunigami explains.

Reo rolls his eyes. “What kind of degenerates does he think we are?”

“The kind that snuck off during dress rehearsal to go make out,” Kunigami says.

The memory of that particular escapade causes Reo’s cheeks to flush with color. Okay, maybe he can see where Chigiri’s concerns are coming from.

“Anyway, we’re ready to go. How much time is left before the curtains open?” Reo asks, desperate to change the topic.

“Like five minutes,” Kunigami says.

“Shit, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Reo turns to Nagi, panicked, and tugs him forward by the hand. “Come on, it’s almost show time.”

“I don’t even show up until the second act,” Nagi whines, but he follows after Reo willingly.

Reo grins over his shoulder. “Don’t go off and find a corner to nap in. I want you to watch me every second I’m on stage.”

The sleepy look in Nagi’s eyes fades, replaced by a glittering focus. “I will.”

In the distance, Ms. Anri calls for everyone to take their places. The excited murmuring of the audience can be heard from here, sending a thrill up Reo’s spine. He wants to put on a performance that will blow each and every one of them away. Though, even if the audience was completely empty, Reo could put on the show of a lifetime so long as Nagi keeps looking at him like this. Like Reo created the universe and deserves to be worshipped for it.

“I’ll be waiting for you, treasure,” Reo says.

He leans in to give Nagi a parting kiss. Sweet, tempting, and packed full of expectation, the kiss lingers for several seconds. Behind them, their peers respond with a mixture of exaggerated oohing and gagging sounds. Reo chuckles in an attempt to cover up his embarrassment, but Nagi looks as unaffected as ever. His gaze never wavers from Reo’s. That steady indifference instantly soothes all of Reo’s nerves.

The telltale click of stage lights flaring to life resounds. Immediately, a hush falls over the audience, and anticipation hangs thick in the air. Reo moves to take his place beside Chigiri and Kunigami, who share encouraging smiles with him. 

This is only a temporary separation from Nagi. Soon, they will reunite under the glow of the spotlight, pouring their hearts and souls out for the world to see. It won’t be scary. Nothing will be, not anymore. In the stage play of life, they have just entered a new act. Reo is ready for whatever their story entails next. After all, he’s been promised a happy ending.

He takes a step forward.

The curtain rises.