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A figure stood on the roof of Yumenosaki Academy. It was strong, lively, and confident — everything that Eichi wasn’t. Normally, the aforementioned would pay no attention to something as seemingly trivial as that, as the roof was a common hangout spot for the students, but that man was nothing ordinary, and definitely anything but trivial.
Wataru Hibiki wasn’t just another slacking student, someone Eichi could just ignore and avert his gaze from; Wataru Hibiki had a unique charm, from his heartfelt performances to his looks. Ah, how otherworldly he looked practicing his lines in that very setting each day — whether basked in the gentle warmth of sunrises and sunsets, the bright light of noon, the delicate darkness of the evening, whether cloudy or sunny — Wataru was nothing short of bewitchingly gorgeous.
And whenever he was capable of going to school, Eichi would take his place in the school's courtyard, and listen to the tragedy of Juliet of Verona, to the comedy of Jack Worthing, to the many unfamiliar melodramas and tragicomedies, all acted out with utmost precision and attention to detail — from the accentuation, through emotions, to body language — each and every factor was carefully interwoven with another one, creating a perfect net of a performance.
His long, well-maintained silver hair was slightly disheveled, courtesy of the wind, yet that only added to his free-spirited character, since his body continued to move with the very same vigor it did early in the morning.
That day, Wataru noticed Eichi for the very first time. Their gaze locked with one another in pure interest, amused and fierce eyes meeting the ones that were wide and filled with admiration.
Eichi would do anything to get closer to him, to close the ever-present distance between the two, was what he promised to himself that day, with a plan already brewing in his head.
✦✧✦
At last, graduation was fast approaching. Everyone seemed to be lost in their work, including the future of their units (but that was no longer a problem, as the idols would soon find out, Eichi could take at least that much off their shoulders), constantly in a rush. Eichi was no different, with the heavy workload regarding both ES and wrapping up his position as the Students Council’s president, both piling up to no end.
As he walked up the stairs, Eichi was made all too aware of how the school roof was off-limits and how he was the reason for such a precaution to ever exist in the first place. He sighed as he opened the heavy door and took a short walk to the edge. He leaned against the railing, feeling the refreshing winter breeze, which served to calm him down.
He made mistakes, as well as enemies. People got hurt as a result of his revolution; he was aware, and he wanted no more than to atone for his sins. Humans are prone to cutting off all tragedy and misery from their lives, and the Yumenosaki students were no exception, despite their unconventional method of doing so.
Eichi looked down at the cenotaph. Would it even have stood had he never declared War?
“Eichi, you wound me; despite everything we’ve gone through, you are not thinking of me right now, are you?” Wataru, as always, appeared unannounced, seemingly out of thin air. “You won’t even grant me the wish of as much as a reaction, how cruel! Do tell me, however, my dearest Emperor, what business do you have here?”
“Your timing was all too sudden. I stiffened up, and that’s about enough to deem me surprised, is it not?” Eichi’s expression was unreadable, voice wavering.
“Don’t tell me, you’re considering jumping off, having achieved your biggest dreams?”
“Ah, nothing of the sort. I would prefer not to end up with my name engraved on this Cenotaph, among all those losers.” He sighed and turned to face Wataru.
Even after all that time, after all the wounds Eichi had dealt to him, he still shone, just like a star, under the pale night. His gaze, focused on the other, was slightly blocked due to the mask adorning his face. Eichi’s own eyes travelled to look into Wataru’s, quickly finding himself lost in them.
“Wataru,” he blurted out, “what plans for your future have you there? Do you wish to stay by my side, as an idol, or is your destiny that of a devoted actor? Losing you — ah, how terrifying it is.” Eichi hummed, focusing his eyes on something in the distance, instead. “Just when I yearn for you, pine for you, struggle to live without you, you’ll disappear,” he continued, his tone more certain than it was mere seconds ago, “I know you will be forced to cut one of those things out of your life; not even you are as inhuman as you make yourself out to be. Two jobs of this caliber will kill you. Don’t you agree with me, Wataru?”
Wataru opened his mouth, but before he could even start, Eichi rebounded from his short pause and picked up back from where he left off.
“Was that your revenge, I wonder? To pretend to get close to me, grant my selfish wishes, turn a blind eye to my actions, and worst of all — abandon me in the end? Not much unlike the Bluebird of Happiness, you’ll slip away from my bare hands, a testament to your free-spirited nature, leaving a near-fatal wound in your wake. If that is so, I must applaud you, Wataru Hibiki of the Five Eccentrics, my enemy.”
“Is that your interpretation, despite all those days we’ve spent by each other’s sides? That is, my beloved, a great shame,” Wataru’s voice had the slightest tint of disappointment to it, noticeable even under the thick, sincere layer of concern. “I was confident I could show you a happy, fleeting dream. And yet, I ended up being outdone by my predecessor. I’ve been acting subpar all this time, haven’t I? His performance was magnificent, and I was sure I could follow his script. I thought I could bring myself to leave, as well.”
“Does that mean...?” Eichi’s head shot up, gaze locking with the other once again, suddenly looking nothing short of hopeful.
“If I simply said yes, you surely would not believe me. If I were to make you experience my own feelings firsthand, however…” rosy lips moved as their owner thought out loud.
“Ah… Was the Bluebird found by Tyltyl and Myttyl the real thing, I wonder?” With a soft chuckle, the mask came off, Wataru’s face finally presented to Eichi in its entirety.
“The real thing?-”
“My body ached with the need to be the real thing, the Bluebird you never got to keep that is. However, I ended up being far more authentic than my role model, is that not Amazing?” The actor’s voice dropped to a near whisper as he spoke. “So, let me present the very essence of my being, rather than using words. Would they even sate you, I wonder?”
Quickly, suddenly, and with practiced ease, he set himself on one knee. One of his arms was placed on his chest, right over his love-filled heart, the other, with mask in hand, extended towards Eichi.
“Eichi, here. Please accept this.”
“A… mask? Is that not part of your private collection?” The blonde had confusion written all over his face, rightfully so, as noted by the actor.
“Indeed. This is me, my vessel, and I offer myself to you whole.” Wataru’s tone didn’t falter; it was as genuine as ever, perfectly matching the soft smile spreading through his lips.
“What kind of riddle is this?”
“I love you,” Wataru finally confessed, clearly not amused by Eichi’s cluelessness.
After a quiet hitch of breath, only silence followed. Their eyes, however, remained locked, compensating for the words unsaid. Eichi’s gaze was unsure as ever, still searching for any malice or insincerity behind Wataru’s words, the latter only gawking in reply. Surely enough, that served to soften the look in the blonde’s eyes, as well as put a subtle smile on his face.
He reached for the mask, an action equal to an acceptance of the declaration of love, eyes never straying away from the embodiment of pure beauty in front of him.
Were they lovers now? None of them was sure, and none of them needed to be; now that the die has been cast, the certainty of a stable future spent by each other’s sides was more than enough.
They both had been through a lot. And yet, it was just the beginning, as they would soon grasp.