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That weekend, Shujin’s second years and Yusuke went together to the beach, to relax and forget about their responsibilities for a single day.
After spending some time in the water and relaxing on the sand, they decided to play volleyball. Four people got separated into two teams: Ryuji and Ann, Yuuki and Akira. Ryuji and Yuuki were pretty decent players, so it was only fair that each of them got paired up with one of the other two, who were… Well, they tried their best.
Yusuke politely refused to join them, saying he would rather observe and sketch their game.
“If you draw me, make me look cool,” said Ryuji.
“Certainly,” said Yusuke with a smile.
So, soon the game began. In less than a minute, it became clear Yuuki was giving it his all, so Ryuji did the same, not holding back. He wanted to win, sure… But part of him also wanted to show off to Yusuke, which wasn’t an uncommon thing. Whenever they were in the Metaverse, Ryuji wanted to look as competent and reliable as possible—to all his friends, but especially to Yusuke. There was something about him… Something that made Ryuji want to be his best self, so Yusuke would like and admire him. He would never admit it out loud, but seeing his smile whenever they finished an enemy together was the most gratifying thing for Ryuji.
So, he gave his all during that game as well. Yuuki was small but fast, and if it wasn’t for Akira’s clumsiness, he might have defeated Ryuji. But, thanks to Ann’s help and Akira’s failure to control the ball, Ryuji managed to score the final point that led to their victory. Ann raised both hands high, and Ryuji high-fived her while Akira pretended to cry—probably so Yuuki would comfort him.
As they approached, Yusuke received them with a slight smile. “Congratulations on your victory.”
Ann raised her hand in a peace sign. “Piece of cake.”
“That was fun,” said Yuuki. “It’s been a while since I played like that.”
“Yeah, thought I had no chance for a moment there.” Ryuji patted Yuuki’s arm. “You’re a menace.”
“Thanks?”
“An adorable menace,” Akira added.
Yuuki lowered his head, red as a beet. Those two never changed… Instead of pointing it out, however, Ryuji moved his attention back to Yusuke.
“Did you draw anything?” he asked.
“A few sketches.”
“Lemme see!”
He moved closer to Yusuke, looking at those new pages in his sketchbook. Different moments of their game, some more realistic, some stylized to the point it seemed they had come out of a fantasy or sci-fi comic. Yusuke always made him seem like a hero in his drawings, and Ryuji couldn’t deny he was happy to know that was how his friend saw him.
That guy was amazing… Ryuji tried not to say it every time, but he sure as hell thought it. Be it when he was fighting in the Metaverse, or giving life to incredible drawings like those, or just being the good friend that he was to Ryuji… Yusuke was like no one else, capturing all of Ryuji’s attention, admiration, and affection in a way he never thought possible.
“So cool, man!” He threw his arm over Yusuke’s shoulders. “You’re the best.”
Yusuke smiled. “I appreciate your words.”
Ann, on the other hand, observed those drawings with a slight crease in her brow. “These are great, but…”
Akira looked at her with a barely contained smile. “You noticed it too, didn’t you?”
“Yes…”
Ryuji turned his gaze at them, a little lost. “Noticed what?”
“Most of these are drawings of Ryuji,” she said.
“Huh?” Yuuki followed their eyes. “Oh… You’re right.”
He hadn’t noticed it until the others pointed it out, but it was true. Most of Yusuke’s drawings were either of him, or centered on him. The realization made his heart race a little.
“I apologize for the favoritism,” said Yusuke. “But Ryuji’s form is quite impressive when he plays.”
Ryuji grinned, proud. “See? I’m impressive.”
Ann lightly kicked his shin. “Impressively annoying, that is.”
Akira still had his eyes on that sketchbook, seeming lost in thought for a minute. “Yusuke… Can I take a look at your other drawings for a minute?”
“Why, of course.”
Akira turned the pages, scanning their contents with his eyes, a hint of amusement on his face. “I see…”
Ann and Yuuki joined him, one on each side.
“Ah…” Yuuki’s eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment. “So this is how Ryuji looks when you’re fighting? That’s cool…”
Akira pouted. “I’m sure Yusuke made him look much cooler here.”
Yusuke shook his head. “Quite the contrary: I could never come close to transcribing such a magnificent sight to paper.”
Akira raised his eyes from those pages, looking at Yusuke. “You… really like Ryuji, don’t you?”
Yusuke slightly tilted his head. “Don’t we all?”
“Yes, but…” Akira sighed. “That’s not what I meant.”
Not really wanting to hear what he did mean, Ryuji moved closer, pulling Akira into a side hug. “Well, thanks for the love, man.”
It was enough to make Akira grin. “Always ready to give you more.”
They shared some of their usual bromantic love with a tight hug, some pats, and some weird noises, while Ann and Yuuki rolled their eyes at each other.
“Say, Ryuji…” said Ann in a provocative tone, once they were done. “How do you feel being Yusuke’s favorite model?”
“Pretty good, actually.”
She slapped her forehead with a groan. “They’re both so dense…”
Yuuki nodded. “It’s painful to see…”
“And we have to watch this every day,” Akira added.
“Oh… Now I feel bad for you.”
“What are you guys mumbling, there?” Ryuji sighed, dismissing his own question with a wave of his hand. “Ah, never mind it…”
Ryuji brought his hand to his face, drying the sweat from his forehead with it. It was so hot… As if reading his thoughts, Yusuke reached for his bag, taking a water bottle from it, offering it to Ryuji.
“Here, have some water.”
“Thanks, man!”
Ryuji drank from it, then Yusuke did the same while the others watched.
“You guys know what they say about sharing a bottle, don’t you?” said Ann with a barely contained grin.
Ryuji looked at her. “What?”
She groaned. “Don’t make me say it…”
Well, judging by the reaction, Ryuji had an idea where she had planned to go with that comment. “What’s with you guys, today?”
“Nothing, forget it.” Ann opened a wide smile. “Anyway, I’m melting… How about some ice cream?”
“Sounds good!” said Yuuki.
The three of them shared slight mischievous grins, as if plotting something.
“Do you guys want some?” asked Akira. “You can wait here, we’ll bring it to you.”
“Yeah!”
“Yes, please.”
With their response, the three walked away, between whispers and small laughs. Ryuji groaned to himself: truth was, he already knew what his friends were trying to tell him—and he had the feeling Yusuke did as well. The thing was, he still wasn’t ready to say out loud what they wanted to hear. Without commenting on it, he sat by Yusuke’s side.
“You look pleased,” said Yusuke.
“Always fun to play like that. Especially with friends.”
“I see.” He smiled, pleased. “It has been quite enjoyable to me as well.”
Ryuji observed him for a moment. “But, y’know… It’s nice to be alone with you, too.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Happy to hear that, Ryuji leaned slightly in Yusuke’s direction, and Yusuke responded by doing the same, their arms lightly touching before their hands did.
He was aware that the feeling they shared was something special, even if neither of them ever vocalized it. But it didn’t bother him: Yusuke seemed content by his side, and that was all that mattered. Reassured by the knowledge that neither of them would leave, they could take as long as they needed to figure out their feelings, one step at a time.
And that process, by itself, was quite nice too.