Work Text:
The summer night was thick with heat, the sliding door half-open to let in a faint breeze. Yoshiki sat by the edge of the tatami, legs folded neatly, pretending to be absorbed in his manga. Hikaru lay stretched out beside him, his chin propped in one hand, eyes half-lidded but alert, watching Yoshiki instead of the book.
“You know…” Hikaru’s voice broke the silence, low and mischievous. “We’re kind of behind.”
Yoshiki flicked his eyes up from the page, frowning. “Behind what?”
“Kissing.” Hikaru’s grin widened when Yoshiki immediately stiffened. “Everyone else has probably tried it already. But us? Nothing.”
Yoshiki’s ears flushed pink. He snapped his manga shut and glared. “Why are you even thinking about that?”
Hikaru shrugged, rolling onto his back. “Because it’s summer, and I’m bored. And because it’s true.”
Yoshiki muttered something under his breath and tried to focus on the book again, but his hands trembled slightly on the cover. Hikaru noticed, of course he did, and leaned closer, his voice dropping to something teasing but almost sincere.
“We should practice.”
Yoshiki nearly dropped the manga. “Practice?! With you?!”
“Why not?” Hikaru’s tone was perfectly casual, as though he’d suggested they share a snack. “It’s not like it would mean anything. Just, you know better to mess it up with me than someone else.”
Yoshiki’s heart thumped painfully against his ribs. He knew Hikaru was teasing, he always was, but something about the way he said it made Yoshiki’s chest tighten.
“I’m not… planning to kiss anyone else,” Yoshiki muttered, almost sulking.
There was a beat of silence. Hikaru’s grin softened into something quieter. “Me neither.”
Yoshiki’s throat went dry. He stared down at his hands, struggling to form words. “…Even if we did, it would be..” He paused, then mumbled, “…weird.”
“Not if you don’t think too hard about it,” Hikaru replied smoothly, shifting closer. Their knees brushed. “Just close your eyes and-“
“Don’t say it like that!” Yoshiki interrupted, his cheeks getting redder than a tomato.
Hikaru chuckled, the sound low and warm. He tilted his head, studying Yoshiki’s flustered expression. “You’re cute when you get worked up.”
Yoshiki scowled, trying to look annoyed, but the tips of his ears betrayed him. He wanted to shove Hikaru away, but instead he found himself frozen as Hikaru leaned even closer, so near Yoshiki could see the flecks of gold in his eyes.
“…Just once,” Hikaru whispered, voice softer now. “Call it practice.”
Yoshiki’s breath hitched. Every nerve screamed at him to push back, to make a sarcastic comment, to do anything. But instead, his body betrayed him. He leaned forward, eyes fluttering shut. Their lips brushed, brief and clumsy, the kind of kiss that lasted less than a heartbeat but burned hotter than fire.
They pulled apart quickly. Yoshiki’s face was crimson as he turned away, hugging his knees. “…That doesn’t count.”
Hikaru blinked, then broke into a wide grin. “Good thing about practice…” He leaned in again, his voice playful but his eyes unwavering. “…is you do it more than once.”
This time, when their lips met, Yoshiki didn’t pull away so quickly. Hikaru kissed him gently, patiently, until Yoshiki’s stiff shoulders relaxed and his trembling hand reached out, hesitant at first… before clutching at Hikaru’s sleeve.
When they finally separated, Yoshiki was breathless, his chest heaving. He glared weakly, though his lips were still tingling. “…You tricked me.”
“Did I?” Hikaru’s smile softened into something that wasn’t teasing at all. “Or did you just want it as much as I did?”
Yoshiki’s words caught in his throat. His gaze darted away, but he didn’t let go of Hikaru’s sleeve. The air between them hummed with everything they hadn’t said.
And though Hikaru didn’t push further, the truth lingered there—sweet, undeniable, no longer hidden behind the excuse of “practice.”