Chapter Text
Joe followed Kaoru along the sidewalk, book bag heavy in his hand. It was a gorgeous spring afternoon. The scent of cherry blossoms perfumed the breeze, tiny petals drifting across the warm pavement like snowflakes.
“It’s a stupid idea,” Kaoru said. “Why is our school having a prom? It’s so...American.”
Joe sighed. “You don’t have to go, Kaoru. It’s just for fun, and you clearly have no concept of fun.”
“Rude,” Kaoru said. “I had a calligraphy booth at the bunkasai. School festivals are fun. And they’re traditional.”
As they passed in front of an office building, the glass door opened. They slowed to let people exit: two boys their own age, one with cobalt blue hair. Despite their youth, they wore expensively tailored suits and carried leather briefcases.
“Let me carry that for you, Mr. Ainosuke,” the dark-haired boy said. The blue-haired one handed his case over without a word.
They crossed the sidewalk quickly, heading for a sleek black car. The dark-haired one leaped forward to open the passenger door.
Ainosuke smiled. “Good boy.” He reached out and scratched his fingertips under the chin of the dark-haired one, as if he were a pet.
The dark-haired boy blushed. Ainosuke smirked and ducked into the car. The dark-haired one shut the door, ran around to the other side, and hopped in. The car sped off.
Joe and Kaoru exchanged glances. “Unhealthy relationship,” Kaoru observed, in a superior way.
“What do you know about it?” Joe was happy to argue about a fresh topic.
“I understand relationships.”
“Oh yeah? Since when?” Joe laughed. “How many people have you dated?”
Kaoru flushed. “I…prefer to concentrate on things that matter. Dating in high school is a distraction.”
“Yeah, a fun distraction.” Joe grinned. “I’ve dated tons of people, so if anyone’s a relationship expert—”
“If you’ve had that many relationships, you must truly suck at them.” Kaoru tossed his braid over his shoulder. “You either can’t get anyone to stick around, or you’re a tool who plays the field. Either way, I’d make a way better boyfriend than you.”
Joe stopped dead. “Excuse me?”
Kaoru turned to face him. “You have more experience, but you’re also a dumb gorilla with tapioca for brains,” he said, as if it were obvious. “I’m the creative type. I’d use imagination.”
“Oh, please. It doesn’t take imagination to be good at dating,” Joe said. “It takes…um…romance.” His face grew warm.
Kaoru crossed his arms. “Romance is dependent upon creativity. Without that, it’s only trite clichés. And you don’t have a creative bone in your body. I can picture you now: ‘Duuuh, you’re hot. Wanna make out?’”
Joe growled. He stepped closer, getting in Kaoru’s face. “I could out-boyfriend you with my eyes closed.”
Kaoru smirked. “Guess we’ll never know, will we?” He turned and strolled down the sidewalk.
Joe glared at the back of his infuriating pink head.