Chapter Text
“Nene, I think I’m… dying.” Soliloquized Kamishiro Rui to his childhood friend Kusanagi Nene.
Said girl sighed, rolling her eyes while waiting for her co-op lobby to fill.
“You’re not dying, dumbass. You’re just pathetically down bad for Tsukasa of all people. Honestly, I’m so tired of it.” She groaned, the game starting and her attention starting to shift. Rui frowned, lying his head back on the foot of Nene’s couch and bumping it against her leg. Nene grunted in annoyance, kicking his head from her place on the couch. She kept fiddling with her game controller.
“Neneee~! You need to help meee~” He continued to whine, wiping away crocodile tears from his face. Nene sighed, finishing her game in record time and beating the other players. She reluctantly placed her console down. She looked down at his pathetic stature on the floor of her room. She just had to help him now…
“Just tell him. It shouldn’t be that hard. You don’t need to make it all dramatic like ‘ohh Tsukasa-kun!! Will you be the Romeo to my Juliet and save me from this hole of despair?‘ or whatever you theatre freaks say.” She mocked, lying a hand atop her head and changing her voice to have a more light lilt akin to Rui’s.
The director frowned in thought again, musing over her words. It was true, he didn’t need to over complicate it. But still… he wants the most positive reaction. And of his research so far, Tsukasa didn’t seem to reciprocate his adoration, a very important variable for a successful confession.
“Hello? Earth to Rui? Did you hear what I said?” Rui perked up at Nene’s voice, remembering that he was at her house, not at his special brainstorming corner (yes, he has that).
“Yes I did… I think that’s a great idea. All thanks to our diva of course~ You’ll see, I will no longer be a pathetic sack of potatoes, but a real man with a boyfriend!” He said in faux confidence, sweat dropping at Nene’s piercing gaze.
—
Rui was early to class. He spent about 30 minutes alone in the classroom and fidgeting with the sleeve of his teal cardigan. He didn’t have the mental capacity to focus on building robots. Eventually Tsukasa entered, announcing his presence to the class and sitting down next to Rui, as the teacher wasn’t present yet.
“HELLO RUI!!!!! It’s so good to see you again! How was your day yesterday??” Tsukasa began to ramble, a bright smile on his face. Rui was already mesmerized and it had only been a minute.
“Aaa, hello Tsukasa-kun! It’s wonderful to see you in such high spirits.” Rui replied, attempting to play it cool. “I had fun yesterday, chatting with Nene and working on my lovelies~” He cooed, Tsukasa giggling.
“I’ve never met anyone call their creations ‘lovelies’ but I’ll admit it’s endearing.” Tsukasa said fondly, and Rui felt the blood rush to his cheeks. “Well the most important part of creating is to put your love and care into it…” Rui mumbled, still flustered. Tsukasa giggled more, and Rui was completely smitten.
His mouth was in a large smile, his laughs creating a beautiful melody. The light from the window was framing his face in an almost ethereal aura, his blond hair gleaming. He could even take notice of his freckles that were covered with a thin layer of cover up and his golden eyelashes due to their close proximity. Rui was absolutely sure he looked like a tomato. Tsukasa was beautiful.
“I love you…” He whispered softly, too quiet for anyone to hear.
“Hm?? Did you say anything Rui?” The star asked, his giggles subsiding and his head tilted to the right.
Oh my. Rui truly couldn’t stop his heart from beating out of his chest.
He ran away, too flustered to utter a word other than “sorry.”
—
“You what?” Nene asked after school that day, smacking her forehead. “I should’ve known you’d fail…”
Rui shoved his face into Nene’s canary plushie, not paying attention to her cursing. He really messed up. He just- ran away! He wasn’t even able to face him at lunch, he ate lunch with Mizuki instead… he couldn’t believe he just left Tsukasa hanging like that. What did Tsukasa do after that? Sit and eat lunch alone? Oh, Rui was even more horrible for—
“-and you couldn’t even make it to practice.” Nene ended her rant, shaking her head. Rui slowly lifted his head from the plushie, still curled up in a ball. He rested his chin atop it, looking at Nene.
“Sorry.” He mumbled, looking down at the green couch. Nene was right. He failed.
Nene sighed, placing her hand on his head and patting it.
“Honestly Rui, just do what you feel is right.” She said, running fingers through his hair. Rui always liked when she did that, it calmed him down.
He can remember a time when he was younger, when he had been kicked out from some pretend family game in the playground. Nene had left the game as well, and when they got to Rui’s house she gave him the biggest hug and carded her fingers through his scalp.
“Those kids are meanies,” she declared, “and you’re a nicey.”
“Are you sure…?” He said through his tears, and she nodded.
“I’m very sure. Besides, you’re my bestest friend in the whole world.”
Rui’s eyes widened. He cried more.
He really did miss this. He’s glad they’re on good terms again.
“Thank you Nene…” He whispered, his eyes beginning to fall shut. She hummed a song, and just like that he was out cold.
He didn’t notice how Nene pulled out her phone, sending a quick message to a certain pink-haired girl.
—
Tsukasa stared at the empty rooftop in confusion. He wasn’t very hungry anymore.
He fiddled with the letter in his hand. He guessed it could wait another day.
Or never, Rui was mad at him now.
He frowned. This wasn’t star-like of him at all.
He stood up, and went to help somebody. He needed to stop thinking.