Chapter Text
<<Did this seriously just happen? I just want a peaceful day...>> Masachika thought.
to himself, but of course he just had to bump into someone, and not just anyone, Sabito Urokodaki, his long-time crush.
“Oh god, I’m so sorry about that!” Sabito said. Masachika was confused, he was the one who bumped into him after all.
“No, no! That was my fault”. Masachika quickly replied. The peach haired boy sighed.
“No, I’m the one who wasn’t looking. Here, let me help you”.
As Sabito helped him pick up the books he was taking to the library, he reminisced about their first meeting.
It was the first week of high school some years ago, right? Sabito and his friend, Giyuu, were lost, so they saw him, an older student who happened to be in their class. After all, he completely fluked a whole year due to him constantly worrying and taking care of his sick younger brother, who fortunately is fine now. Masachika had guided them around and quickly befriended them, at least he thought he did, I mean, he always hangs out around Sanemi and Obanai so he didn’t really talk with Sabito and Giyuu but they got along at the very least!
And well, can you really blame him for having a crush on Sabito for almost 3 years? His silky peach hair, soft lavender eyes- Masachika caught himself staring, realizing what he was doing he stopped himself, he can’t be thinking like that about a friend! Even if he has been feeling like that for some years now…
God and what are they doing now anyways!? He’s helping him pick the books he dropped because they bumped into each other!? This isn’t some cliché romance!
Although it wouldn’t hurt if it means Sabito is the love interest right? No! He cannot be thinking about this right now.
“You look kinda spaced out, are you okay?” Sabito asked, clearly worried for Masachika’s dazed state.
“D-don’t worry! I’m fine, really!” Masachika immediately blurted out, he felt his cheeks reddening.
“You’re red now, don’t give me that bullshit! If you’re sick just say it okay?” Oh great, Sabito noticed he was blushing. Great. Just what he needed. His crush noticing how he’s starting to resemble a tomato as he spends more time with him.
"Well, that’s all the books. Need help carrying them to the library? There’s quite a lot, even for you, Masachika".
“I’m telling you, there’s no need! It’s what I signed up for, being the library assistant and all”. He bore that characteristic carefree smile of his on his face, even though he was internally panicking.
“Well… Whatever you say, Masachika. But don’t overextend yourself. It’s not good for you. And we need you with full strength and energy at the basketball club later”.
Basketball club? What is he talking about? Oh right… Today is Tuesday, he had forgotten. He really is out of it, all because of this beautiful and kind boy in front of him.
“Yeah, yeah! Don’t worry! See you at basketball practice!” He left, rushing to the library with all the books in his arms.
.
.
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Later, during basketball practice, Masachika was still thinking about that previous encounter, Sabito noticed his strange behaviour but he thought it’d be best to leave him alone, Masachika would only avoid the topic and beat around the bush, as usual.
Once practice finished, Sabito approached the emerald green eyed boy, offering him a bottle of water.
“Here, I noticed you forgot your water bottle, as usual”. Masachika looked up at him, still sweaty from practice.
“Thanks”. He took a sip from the bottle Sabito gave him. He made a mental note to stop forgetting his water bottle but that probably was the fifth mental note on that this week.
…
An awkward silence… Both boys just stood side to side, none daring to say a thing.
Eventually, Sabito broke the silence.
“So uhh… are you free this weekend to hang out or something?”
“Yeah! I am!” Masachika’s face lit up, it’s not often that Sabito is the one asking to hang out, usually Masachika is the one reaching out.
“Then… Can we hang out at that one café we often go to with Giyuu to study? Giyuu told me he can’t hang out on the weekend and there’s something in English I don’t really get. Then we can properly hang out and I don’t know, walk around and talk…
I just really gotta understand that part and you’re the only one I can think of”.
Well of course he thought of him… His best subjects are all related to languages, he’s nothing like Sanemi, a maths beast, or Obanai with his chemistry… He likes to stick to his letters, numbers and equations aren’t his thing.
“Of course I can help!” He smiled. “Just send me the time and what exactly you’re struggling with so I can properly prepare myself to get it through your thick skull!”
“Is Saturday fine?”
He nodded.
Sabito smiled, Masachika looked more focused and cheerful now, he was glad his friend was feeling better now, he was easy to uplift, give him some attention and he was back to his best self. It’s not like Sabito himself wasn’t eager to see him, he made up that lie about Giyuu being unable to hang out on the weekend since he really wanted to hang out with Masachika and Masachika alone outside of school… Even if he has to bring up school related issues to get it…
.
.
.
Masachika was at home, on a call with his closest friends, Sanemi and Obanai, both are very aware of Masachika’s crush on Sabito and kinda done of hearing him talk about Sabito whenever he has the chance, but hey, Masachika never hesitates to act as a wingman to them whenever they may need it so least they can do is suck it up and try to help him from time to time.
“It’s just a study session dude, why does it bother you so much what you’re gonna be wearing?”
“Please, you were worse than him when you had that one outing with Kanae, Sanemi”.
“Shut up Obanai!” Sanemi yelled.
“Someone’s embarrassed!” Masachika giggled, he’s been teasing Sanemi like this for as long as he can remember.
“Masachika I swear, when I see you tomorrow at school…”
“Hmm? Surely you aren’t planning to do anything bad to me now are you, Nemi? Kanae will be disappointed, you know?”
Sanemi went quiet.
“Wow. I can picture him getting red from anger right now. Great going Masachika.
He’s going to kill us tomorrow”.
“He won’t, he’s too afraid Kanae will think low of him”. He chuckled.
“So… your date on Saturday. What are you gonna do with Sabito?”
“…”
“Why did you just go quiet? You’re usually so loud, Masachika”.
“It’s because you called it a date, dumbass”.
“Nemi’s right! I-It’s not a date! We’re just hanging out!” Masachika came back from his silence, now he sees that study session as a date… He can’t think straight anymore…
“Imagine we started calling that study session you had with Mitsuri, Tengen and Kyojuro a group date! Wouldn't you get flustered!?” Masachika continued.
“I wouldn’t even mind it. Not like it’s far from reality considering how Tengen and Kyojuro were too busy studying each other’s faces the entire time”.
“Yeah, and I bet you followed suit with Mitsuri hmm?” Sanemi teased.
“I will not deny nor confirm that statement”.
“You’re a lovesick fool, you know that?”
“Masachika, look in the mirror, you’ll find an actual lovesick fool there”.
“Sanemi is right, at the very least we have hung out with them alone and we did not freak out like you did when you called us”.
“Yeah! You were all like ‘’AHHH GUYS WHAT DO I DOOO!’’ and also like ‘‘I DON’T HAVE CLOTHES PRETTY ENOUGH FOR THIS!’’. It was kinda funny”. Sanemi poorly imitated Masachika’s freaked out state he had at the start of the call.
“Anyways, back to the topic… What the hell should I wear…? I can’t look too shabby!”
“Just wear something nice but not too nice, you know? Just a shirt and jeans?
Something that suits you and doesn’t look too stupid on you. –If you want him to like you, make sure he likes you for being yourself”.
“Wow Sanemi, who would’ve thought something so smart came out of your mouth”.
“Shut up Obanai”
“Oh I hear his mother say that to him all the time, the Sanemi we know and love could never come up with that by himself after all!” Masachika joins in the teasing.
“Ah well… I’ll look around my closet and see if there’s something that ‘‘suits me’’ or whatever… If I don’t find anything, get ready to hear my whining for a whole week!”
“Is that a threat…?”
“Maybe!” he cheerfully said.
“It’s getting late, I gotta sleep”. Sanemi said. He’s got a strict sleep schedule, something unexpected from a rough around the edges guy like him, just like him taking his studies really seriously but it’s not surprising considering he has 6 siblings and wants to work as soon as possible to help his mother support the family.
“Alright, see you tomorrow!”
“Night”.
Masachika and Obanai chatted for a while before deciding to sleep.
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The rest of the week proceeded as usual and in a blink of an eye, Saturday arrived.
“What are you making such a fuss about, Masachika?” Fuushi asked, he’s Masachika’s younger brother, he knows all about Sabito but Masachika forgot to tell him about his hangout with him. Or maybe he didn’t forget and just didn’t want his younger brother teasing him about it.
“I uhmm… I’m gonna help Sabito study-”
“Oh so a date?”
“Don’t put it like that! I’m just helping him study and then we’ll just walk around or something…”
“Then if it isn’t a date why are you making such a fuss?”
“I am not making a fuss”.
“Yes you are. I mean you’re all over the place. Ah whatever, I hope things go well on your date with Sabito or whatever”.
“I told you it isn’t a date!”
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Masachika nervously approached the café they were supposed to be meeting at, he ended up going for a plain green shirt with short sleeves and black jeans, nothing too out of the ordinary for him. He glanced between his phone and the street, checking if Sabito is around or if he’s texted him.
Today 17:12
im here
Today 17:13
Oh I’m still gonna take 10 minutes, bus
got delayed
Today 17:13
dont worry, take your time ^^
ill go to the bus stop to wait for you!
Masachika looked up from his phone and headed to the nearby bus stop, he still felt nervous but this is just to study, he has to keep it together.
Sabito arrived 10 minutes or so later, his hair is tied up like whenever there’s basketball practice, Masachika likes it when his hair is down so he was a little
disappointed. Sabito is also dressed casually, a yellow hoodie and wide jeans, it suited him, at least that’s what Masachika thought to himself.
“Hey”. Sabito greeted him.
“Hi! How are you doing?”
“Good, I mean I’m hanging out with you after all”.
Masachika’s heart skipped a bit <<Calm down… It’s normal to be happy if you’re hanging out with a friend… This doesn’t mean anything…>>
“Well, let’s get going!”
Four minutes later, they were at the café, he remembered this is the café Sanemi works part time at, he hopes they won’t run into him… He’s gonna be a pain in the ass later if they do end up meeting him while studying. They make their orders, Masachika a cappuccino and Sabito a short coffee.
“So, what is it you don’t understand?”
“It’s these past forms, I don’t really get when to use one or another”.
“Oh! Don’t worry, I know they can be a pain sometimes! But once you get how to use them, they’ll be a walk in the park!”
“So you see, the present perfect continuous is used for actions that started in the past and are still going to this day, for example… ‘‘I have been struggling with maths for the past years’’. You form it by using ‘‘have’’ or ‘‘has’’ depending on the subject followed by ‘‘been’’, your main verb with the -ing termination and finally the rest of the sentence! Meanwhile the present perfect simple is used for recently completed actions like ‘‘I have drank my coffee’’. It’s similar to the present perfect continuous except for the fact that you don’t use ‘‘been’’ and that your main verb should be in its past participle”.
“As for the past perfect simple…”
Masachika continued explaining the different past forms in English, occasionally giving Sabito exercises to make sure he got it down right. Sabito on the other hand, was a little distracted, he found it cute how Masachika was so passionate for something as simple as past forms in English, his eyes always light up when it comes to something he enjoys doing and if he’s being honest,
Masachika’s smile whenever he’s like this is like a ray of sunshine that lights up his day no matter what.
Once Sabito finally understood it and they were taking a walk out of the café, Sabito called Masachika’s name.
Masachika looked at him.
“Yeah?”
“Are you considering becoming a teacher or something in the future?” Sabito asked, eager to know more about the boy walking beside him.
“Huh? Me!?”
“You were so good at explaining those things to me and you looked so passionate while doing so too. Then I had that thought”.
“Well now that you mention it… I haven’t really thought about it… I’m just not so sure about my future, you know?” Masachika blushed a little at the compliment from Sabito, he isn’t really used to compliments on the first place.
“We’re in our last year, you should be thinking about it a little more”.
“I have been thinking about it! I just haven’t really found anything I really really like enough to dedicate my whole life to!”
“What about you then?”
“I’d like to be a marine biologist”.
“Yeah, I can see that”. Masachika smiled.
“But seriously, you’d be a great teacher! You’re great at explaining things, you seem to like it and you’re so kind and bright, I’m sure students would love you!”
“Are you sure about that…? You must be exaggerating” Masachika still doubted him, no way he’s as good as Sabito says he is.
“Oh, come on! I still have yet to meet someone who hates you, trust me when I say
this Masachika, you’d be a great teacher!”
“Alright, alright… I’ll give it a thought but no promises!” Masachika smiled, with that gentle and warm smile of his. Sabito liked that smile, it was such a genuine and beautiful smile, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud.
They kept walking around and talking about things like a basketball match they’d have soon, school or even their friends’ crushes. Masachika had tried to get something about who Sabito likes, or if he even likes someone, but he was unsuccessful, Sabito’s feelings remain a mystery to him.
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Fuushi was the first one to greet Masachika when he got home, of course his question was related to Masachika’s so-called date with Sabito.
“So, how did your date go?”
“Fuushi, I told you this was no date. Just a study session”. Masachika was starting to get annoyed with all these people calling it a date, it only made him overthink things and he didn’t like doing that!
“But it went well I guess”. He said.
“Oh? Care to explain in detail? Did you kiss?”
“What!? We aren’t even dating! And besides, he probably doesn’t like me back! Or be
into guys for that matter!” I mean, what are the chances a guy like him is into guys? Especially one as plain as Masachika considers himself to be!
“I can ask Makomo. They’re siblings so surely she knows!”
“Don’t”. Fuushi goes to class with Makomo but they aren’t particularly close. It’d be weird if Fuushi suddenly asked her about that topic… It’d be weird even if they were friends! What the hell was his brother even thinking!?
“But aren’t you curious?” Masachika looked down, it is true, he is really curious about it but he won’t admit it to his younger brother.
“I said no”. The last thing he wants is Sabito finding out he really wants to know who he likes. What if Sabito starts to suspect him and his crush!? He’s surely going to find it weird and start avoiding him! He doesn’t want that…
He felt his phone buzz in his pocket.
“Fuushi shut up for a second, okay?”
He checked his phone, it’s Sabito.
Today 20:46
Just got home
Thanks for helping me with English
I really appreciate it
Today 20:46
no problem at all!
im really glad i could help you! ^^
Today 20:47
Let’s study together some other time
alright?
You make explanations really easy
for me to follow
Today 20:47
yeah sure!
mind if i invite some other friends?
some of them could use a helping hand
and I was planning to do a study group
session with them anyways
Today 20:47
Alright
who though?
Today 20:48
Sanemi Kanae Obanai Mitsuri and maybe
Shinobu too even if shes younger than us
shes really smart and she probably knows
more than us lol
Today 20:48
Can Giyuu come too?
Today 20:48
yeah sure why not
i hope Nemi doesnt try to kill him lmao
Sabito chuckled at this, Sanemi has always disliked Giyuu, it’s not that they don’t
get along, it’s closer to Sanemi not liking Giyuu’s gloomy behaviour.
Today 20:49
Nah, I’m sure Kanae and you will
keep him on check
Today 20:49
we will try to but this is Nemi were
talking about haha ^^
“Your boyfriend?” Fuushi asked
“Did you book your next makeout session?” he smiled teasingly.
“What!? No way! We aren’t even dating! And where did you even get that idea from!?” Masachika was starting to get tired from his brother’s teasing, he’s the one who teases Fuushi, not the opposite!
“You’re red, you know that?” he enjoys teasing Masachika back, just some revenge for all those years Masachika spent teasing the hell out of him.
“I don’t need you to point that out for me, okay?”
"Wow, I didn’t know tomatoes could talk!" Fuushi smiled.
“You… Ugh whatever. I’m out!” Masachika left the living room and went to his room, hoping his brother wouldn't follow him there.
.
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“Hey, stop checking your phone and come help me make dinner, will you?”
“I’m coming already, Makomo let me off the hook for a second, alright?” Sabito left his phone on the table and went to the kitchen to aid her.
“So, who were you talking to?”
“No one”.
“Was it Kumeno?”
…
“Seems I hit the spot”. Makomo smiled.
“Do you ever mind your own business?” Sabito asked, his sister always asks him that type of question for whatever reason.
“I do. I just want to know what my older brother is up to. Oh yeah! You went out with him today! How did it go?”
“It was fine. We kinda just talked once he finished explaining all that English stuff to me. He’s really smart when it comes to that stuff you know? But he always downplays himself whenever you compliment him. He worries me sometimes with how he always does that and cares so much for others but never himself.
Sabito thought about his friend, how he’s always so kind, caring and bright but how quick he is to completely act like he’s worth nothing when in reality, he means a lot to so many people, not just him but Sanemi, his brother and many others too”.
“So he’s similar to Giyuu isn’t he?”
“But they also act like polar opposites…”
“I see… Can’t you try and talk to him or something of the sorts?”
“I’ve already tried to… He’s actually much more stubborn than Sanemi is…
“Sanemi? Oh! The white haired hothead… I didn’t know there could be someone more stubborn than him!” Makomo recalled what Sabito had told her about his friend group, specifically Sanemi Shinazugawa.
“Well there is and it’s none other than Masachika Kumeno… Sanemi’s stubbornness must have rubbed onto him.”
“Maybe it’s the opposite and Shinazugawa got his stubbornness from Kumeno”.
“That’s a possibility too” Sabito felt as if he were forgetting something when he remembered.
“Hey so, does Shinobu Kocho go to your class?”
“Yeah, she does. She’s my best friend, I talked to you about her. Why do you ask?”
“I’m going to a study group next week or so and she’s also tagging along. According to Masachika, she’s smarter than all of us”.
“Yeah that makes sense. She’s the smartest person I know after all! And also the prettiest! I’m sure she’ll teach you guys more than you will be able to teach her”.
They continued preparing dinner and talking for a little while. Once they finished and had dinner, Sabito checked his phone and saw a notification from Masachika.
Today 21:02
this is kinda out of the blue but can I ask
you smth?
so the thing is my brother goes to class
with your sister
i think
and I was wondering if you could ask her
if she knows how he’s doing
his name is Fuushi Kumeno remember?
im just kinda worried for his studies, he
doesnt really mention it and beats around
the bush whenever I try to get something
out of him! ><”
Today 21:31
Sorry for not reading this before
But sure I’ll ask her now
Today 21:35
THANKSSS
youre a lifesaver :D
Today 21:36
She says he’s doing fine
That he’s been getting along with his
classmates more now and is more bright
Sounds like he takes after you
Today 21:36
im so glad!! thank you so muchh
and i wouldnt say he takes after me
hes just like that
even if he often acts cold hes always
been a piece of bread underneath!
but i dont think i had much of an
influence on him ^^”
Today 21:36
No way
I’m sure you did end up influencing
him
You’re stuck to him almost all of the
time, there’s no way something of you
hasn’t rubbed on him or smth
and Makomo says that they once
asked them who is the person they look
up the most too and according to her
He said “my older brother”
Its bc you’re so nice to everyone
and that you’ve helped him get along
with others or that’s what Makomo says
at least
So don’t downplay yourself like that, okay?
Today 21:37
he really said that?
i had no idea…
thanks Sabito
oh and thank Makomo too for me!
Today 21:37
I will
Gotta go
Good night
Today 21:37
good night!! ^^