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Fu didn't like it when Zanka talked so badly about himself.
Ever since they became friends (after the nail clipper incident), he always heard him comparing himself to "geniuses”, blaming himself for being ordinary. Fu didn't believe it. He never had. Zanka was the strongest guy he'd ever met. He was amazing. The best. Zanka was determined, resilient, disciplined. He was kind and respectful. He was, quite simply, an incredible human being, the most beautiful of all. But it seemed like everyone saw it except Zanka.
Sometimes, when they got together with Team Akuta or the other cleaners to talk about past fights, Zanka would make passive-aggressive comments about himself, downplaying his own accomplishments. Fu would get angry. He wanted to punch Zanka. Open his eyes… help him understand… but he didn't know how. When he helped Zanka train (Zanka had asked him to) and saw him frustrated, he wanted to say all the lines he had in mind… but the words wouldn't come. He felt embarrassed. He tried several times… but still couldn't do it. He was about to give up.
"Then write him a letter, silly”. Hii blurted out.
Ooh… It was a good idea! That way he wouldn't have to tell him to his face, which reassured him a little.
"You're right, Hii. I'll write him a letter!".
And so Fu set about writing a letter to Zanka.
He thought about asking Rudo if he had paper and a pencil since he didn't. Luckily for him, Rudo did have the supplies. When the boy gave them to him, Fu thanked him and then locked himself in his room.
In his free time, he spent all his time in his room writing nonstop… he thought his hand would eventually fall off. He even stayed up late at night. He wanted to write something nice for Zanka and he would do his best to make it so. He wanted his words to touch the boy's heart.
After a few days, he managed to finish the letter. He read it one last time to convince himself to send it.
“Thank you for helping me… with everything. Since I met you, I feel like I can be stronger, more determined. That I can act on my own. Thank you for teaching me to be a capable person…
Zanka, you are a good human being.
You always think about others… but when will you start thinking more about yourself?
It frustrates me that you're always comparing yourself to others. I want to punch you, seriously.
Stop saying you're useless, that you're just ordinary.
YOU are amazing. The most amazing of all.
Zanka, you are so special. I'm sure the cleaners think the same.
You are the coolest guy my eyes have ever seen, and I will do my best to make you believe my words.
So please promise me that you will value yourself more. I know I'm not the right person to say this, but it's what my heart feels, and I had to let you know.
Let's work hard together! I assure you that the future will be bright for both of us.
Fu”.
He felt proud of himself; he had finally finished! And he was satisfied with what he had written.
"Hii, do you think what I wrote is okay?"
"Yes. Now stop overthinking it and give it to the boy”.
"Yes, sir!".
And so Fu began walking out of his room and stopped in front of his neighbor's door. He was there now; he just needed to give it to him. Give it to him… the idea of Zanka reading his letter scared him. What if his words seemed offensive to him? What if he got angry with him? He didn't want to lose his friendship with Zanka… suddenly, he felt like crying.
"I-I'm not sure about giving it to him anymore, Hii… what if he doesn't like it? I want Zanka to stay my friend…"
"Don't be an idiot. Zanka will NOT stop being your friend. Your letter sounds more like a love letter”.
"WHAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE? I'M NOT GIVING IT TO HIM!".
"But you like him, don't you?"
"H-HOW- I- WHAT ARE YOU- YOU-"
"Stop yelling. I'm just kidding, you moron. What you wrote in the letter is fine. Just give it to him already”.
"O-okay!".
He didn't even think about how he'd been yelling the whole time. Good thing no one was around, seriously.
Fu mustered up his courage and finally knocked on the door. Luckily, no one answered. After knocking several times, he confirmed that Zanka wasn't there.
"Put it under the door. He'll see it when he gets back”.
"Okay!".
Fu did as Hii instructed. He folded the sheet of paper and slipped it under Zanka's door.
He made sure it was on the inside of the room and then went back to his own.
"I hope he can read it soon..."
He didn't know how much time passed before he fell asleep. He hadn't slept well for days, forcing himself to stay awake to finish the letter. He let himself be embraced by the arms of Morpheus.
After a few hours, he woke up; it was already night. That nap had definitely helped him. He felt rejuvenated. He stretched and got out of bed, intending to go to the bathroom and take a shower. Minutes later, he came out of the bathroom. He had just started drying his hair with a towel when there was a knock at the door.
"Fu?"
It was Zanka's voice… he wanted to jump out the window and escape… He thought it would all be over just by handing him the letter… how foolish he was.
"Y-yes?", his voice was trembling, damn it… he felt his face burn.
"Will you open the door, please?"
"Yes! Just a moment, please!".
He walked quickly toward the door and tripped in the process. He was making so much noise that it worried Zanka, and the boy began to force the door.
"Is everything alright?"
"Y-yes! I just dropped something!"
"Well..."
Fu unlocked the door and opened it. Shit. Had Zanka always been so tall? He completely covered his body. Suddenly, he felt small.
"H-hello Zanka..."
"Hello Fu... How are you?"
"Good! Thanks for asking. And you?"
"Yes... good too”.
"I'm so glad! Do you need anything?"
"Well- yes- I went into my room and found your letter on the floor... you wrote it, right?"
Damn. Damn. Damn.
"Yes… I-I wrote it… I was going to give it to you in person, but I couldn't find you a-and I slipped it under your door…"
Up until that moment, he hadn't wanted to make eye contact with Zanka. He couldn't look him in the face. From the heat he felt, he knew his face was red.
He looked up and discovered that Zanka was just as red as he was (or even redder). Zanka was blushing? Wow… he never imagined he'd see the boy like this.
They looked into each other's eyes and quickly looked away. Fu didn't know why, but a smile formed on his face. He put his hands to his chest. Neither of them said anything, but the moment felt so intimate, just between the two of them.
"Fu..."
He heard his name and looked at the boy. He let him continue.
"I want to thank you... I mean, for the letter. Really. Reading it made me think. I didn't know you felt that way, forgive me... for everything”.
"Why are you apologizing? I have nothing to forgive you for, you haven't done anything wrong. Like I said in the letter, spending time with you has made me a stronger person a-and I want you to feel the same way when you're with me..."
WHY DID HE SAY THAT? IT FELT SO CORNY. UGH. He wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
"I MEAN- IF YOU WANT! I DON'T NEED TO BE THERE! DON'T TAKE ME INTO ACCOUNT, OKAY? JUST FOCUS ON YOURSELF! IGNORE ME! REALLY! I-I MEAN- AGH”.
He hid his face in his hands. Well done, Fu, you're making a fool of yourself, damn it.
"C-can I hug you?"
He stopped thinking.
What the hell? Zanka had stuttered? And he wanted to hug him? HIM?
"O-of course”.
Suddenly, he felt Zanka's arms wrap around him. This was really happening. The boy rested his head on the top of Fu's head. He could feel his breath against his hair; his legs trembled. Fu wrapped his arms around Zanka's waist and leaned against the boy's chest. He closed his eyes.
"Do you really think those lovely things you wrote about me?"
"Of course I do..."
"Fu, do you think I'm cool?"
"Zanka... to me, you're the coolest guy ever”.
Zanka hugged him even tighter and placed a hand on Fu's head, trying to pull him closer to his chest. Fu tightened his embrace as well.
"Thanks, Fu... you know, you're cool too”.
Fu was content with life. If a meteorite fell right then, he wouldn't care. He was holding Zanka, and that was all he could think about. Zanka's scent, the boy's body against his, their hearts beating together… he would never forget any of this. He would never forget THIS moment. All those sleepless nights had been worth it.
"Would it be selfish of me to ask you to let me lean on you from now on?… Let me be by your side, Fu”.
Zanka and him. The two of them. Together. Alone.
"Nothing would make me happier, Zanka. I-I want to be by your side too”.
"Let's try to support each other, okay? We'll get better together”. Fu nodded against Zanka's chest.
They were still hugging, neither wanting to let go. Anyone who saw that scene would think they were confessing their feelings… and by anyone, I mean Enjin and Rudo, who had just returned from a mission (collecting more trash for Rudo) and stumbled upon the sight of Zanka and Fu embracing each other, seemingly intent on devouring one another. Rudo seriously wondered if those two were dating.
“What are you lovebirds doing?”
Enjin’s voice startled them. They abruptly separated and looked in the direction of the pair of eyes watching them.
Enjin had a mocking smile on his face, and Rudo stood with his mouth agape, blushing.
"Are you two... a couple?"
Rudo asked.
"NO!"
they replied simultaneously, making Enjin laugh.
After that day, everyone at the cleaners' headquarters knew what had happened between the two of them... In the days that followed, Zanka and Fu were the butt of jokes. Now everyone thought they were dating (Enjin was responsible for spreading the rumor). The funny thing was, neither of them seemed bothered by the idea. Riyo was the one making the most suggestive comments, like, "Here come the lovebirds”, or "Have they had their first kiss yet?", Zanka wanted to die. Fu just laughed shyly. The idea of being kissed by Zanka didn't bother him at all.