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One Saturday afternoon, Akito walks into Weekend Garage to see An, Kohane, & Toya sitting at the bar counter with an assortment of beads and string in their hands.
“What are you guys doing?” he asks.
An turns around in her seat, colorful string decorating her wrists.
“We’re making friendship bracelets! Kohane and I are matching, see?” she gestures towards the string in Kohane’s hands. “You should come make some too.” An says, motioning towards the empty seat at the end of the bar.
“What are you guys, in third grade?” Akito sneers.
An rolls her eyes and continues back to working on her bracelet. Akito watches as Toya fumbles with something in his hands.
“Here, Akito, I made one for you.” Toya says.
“H-Huh? For me?” Akito stutters.
Before he can refuse, Toya hands over the orange-and-blue striped bracelet, a slight look of pride on his face. Akito immediately and wordlessly shoves the bracelet deep into his pocket, his face bright red.
“Anyways, are we going to start practice now or what?” Akito says coolly, not meeting Toya’s eyes.
“Sure thing!” An says, hopping off her stool.
Kohane puts down the string in her hands and follows suit, Toya doing the same.
Practice ensues as per usual, with each member exhausted by the end of it.
“That was a good practice.” Toya says.
“Yeah, totally! Kohane and I were even more in sync than usual. I wonder if it has something to do with the matching bracelets…” An mutters.
“I highly doubt it.” Akito says plainly. “Anyway Toya, are we heading home together like usual?” Akito asks.
“Of course.” Toya replies. They each pack up their things and get ready to head out the door, leaving just An inside the cafe.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kohane! Make sure to get home safe!” An says, running forward and pulling Kohane into a tight hug.
“Ah- yeah…” Kohane mutters, her blushing face plainly obvious.
“Alright, see ya guys.” Akito says, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking out the door. Toya follows close behind him.
As the two of them head home together, they talk idly about their next event, their plans for the rest of the weekend, how much schoolwork Akito has left to complete…
Before Akito realizes it, the two of them get to the intersection where Toya has to leave. On late nights like these, Akito finds himself missing Toya’s company more and more. The two of them wave goodbye and Akito heads down the street to his house, hands in his pockets.
Akito’s hand meets a tangled string in his pocket, and he takes it out. It’s the friendship bracelet that Toya had given him just before practice. Akito had always considered this sort of thing kind of cringy and embarrassing, but when it comes to Toya, it seems that he just can’t say no.
As he wraps the bracelet around his wrist, he notices a lettered bead on each end. The pair of beads spell out the initials A and T, a heart joining the two of them together as Akito fastens it around his wrist. Akito blushes slightly as he continues down the way to his house, arms swinging at his sides.