Work Text:
It was a day like any other…
Mostly.
Harumi Kurose and Akihiko Shiraishi, two boys from different schools who had become close friends over the past few months despite the ongoing rivalry between their schools that went way back, were currently studying together in the latter's room.
At least, that was what Aki was trying to do. He had spent what felt like hours now working on homework, reading thick textbooks until the words began to swim in front of his eyes, and trying to figure out complex equations. Nothing made sense at all, not even the supposedly simple exercises.
Harumi glanced Aki’s way. “You look a bit worn out.”
Aki's eyes widened. He had always tried to follow his self-imposed rule of “don't ever let anyone see you looking not as good as your best”, and he had just failed at that again?
How many more times was he going to screw that up?
He rapidly forced a smile. “Nah, I'm fine!”
Harumi just silently stared at him as if to say “I don't believe you for one single second”.
Aki's face fell a bit. Of course Harumi wasn't going to fall for that. Harumi had this irritating (but also endearing, though Aki wasn't going to mention that out loud) way of always seeing right through him.
Harumi reached over and plucked the pencil out of Aki's hand.
“Wh- hey!” Aki protested, reaching for the pencil.
Harumi easily held it out of his reach. “You need to take a rest.”
“I'm fine! I don't need rest,” Aki argued.
Harumi squinted. “You're practically falling asleep right now.”
“I'm fine! I'm almost done with my homework.”
“Dude, you have three more pages after the one you're working on.”
“Exactly, I'm almost done!”
Harumi squinted at the other boy. “It won't kill you to take a break, you know. Working yourself to the bone, on the other hand, will.”
“I'm fine, really!” Aki replied hastily, though even he could admit that he was starting to sound like a broken record.
“You've said that at least three times now, and it doesn't make me believe you any more.” Harumi poked Aki’s forehead.
Aki felt his heart skip a beat from the sudden gesture.
He quickly chalked it up to being tired from studying. That was all it could be, right?
What else could it be?
He didn't even have the mental energy to try and figure that one out right now.
…Maybe Harumi was right and he did need to take a break.
No, you can't afford a break, he thought. You need to work, work, work. What would Daiki say if he knew you were tempted to take a break?
Harumi stared at Aki for a moment as if studying him. “Why are you not taking a break?”
“Uh…” Aki suddenly fell silent.
Harumi quickly picked up on the drastic mood change. He had a feeling he knew why Aki was so reluctant to give himself any sort of break, but he wasn't sure if he should bring it up.
It was a sensitive topic, after all.
But all Harumi knew was that something definitely wasn't right. This wasn't just Aki’s usual “I want to stay on top of my work” attitude. This was something more.
Aki risked a glance at his friend, debating on whether or not he should tell him the real reason why he was refusing to allow himself any rest.
Harumi held his gaze.
Aki sighed, deciding that there was nothing to lose if he opened up a bit. Harumi already knew about his older brother and his…less than pleasant disposition, after all. “It's…I don't know. Every time I'm tempted to take a rest while working on homework or I try to take a break, I see and hear him in my head.”
“Your brother,” Harumi said. It wasn't a question.
Aki nodded, shutting his eyes.
A swarm of thoughts began to flow through his mind once again. Thoughts of how he was a letdown to everyone in his life for not working as hard as he could be, thoughts of the time his little brother expressed disappointment in the way he spent so much time studying with Harumi, thoughts of how his older brother Daiki would look at him with that disappointed stare if he knew what was happening, thoughts that he was wasting Harumi’s time when his friend could be doing literally anything else besides hanging out with someone as useless as him.
For what wasn't the first time and definitely wouldn't be the last time either, Harumi felt a sense of anger flow through him. He had never liked his friend’s controlling older brother even before he had the misfortune of meeting him and truth be told, he also hated how Shiraishi was always so quick to defend the glasses bastard.
But he also understood, in a way.
For better or worse, Aki and his older brother were family.
Regardless, family wasn't meant to treat each other the way Daiki had treated Aki, and Harumi had a feeling that he likely wouldn't ever forgive the controlling prick for hurting his best friend like that.
Harumi thought about what might be best to say here for a minute, then he shifted his gaze back over to his friend. “Aki?”
Aki opened his eyes and looked at the other, trying to fight off the anxiety and guilt that he knew was showing in his expression.
Harumi held his gaze. “I can't make you forget about what the glasses ba- your brother said and I can't make you stop caring about him either. I know it's not that simple. But he's horrible for making you feel like you have to work yourself to the bone and burn yourself out to have any value. I get that you want to do well in school, but you already do. And if he can't see that, then that's on him. You're not lazy or useless for needing to take breaks sometimes. That's just part of life. You can't get things done without letting yourself get some rest sometimes.”
Aki felt a smile slowly begin to overtake his face. How did Harumi always seem to know just what to say to help him?
“So take a break right now. Am I clear?” Harumi poked Aki’s forehead.
Aki chuckled, rubbing his forehead. “Okay, okay. I'll take a break.”
“About time, you workaholic,” Harumi commented.
Aki made a face. “Like you're any better.”
Harumi stuck out his tongue. “At least I'm good at recognizing when I need to take breaks.”
“Hey! Low blow.”
“Just saying.”
Aki laughed, already beginning to feel a bit better from the reassurances of someone who had unexpectedly become one of his best friends in such a short amount of time.
He loved every moment he spent with Harumi, whether they were studying, playing games, reading, or just spending time together.
He only hoped the white-haired boy felt the same.
As for Harumi, he was silently relieved that he had successfully gotten Aki to take a break from overworking himself at least for a few minutes. He truly did worry about his friend sometimes.
But for now, he could relax with the knowledge that Shiraishi was both taking a break and also appeared to have relaxed a little.
Around that time, Aki’s older sister Akemi had entered the room and offered a plate of some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies alongside two glasses of milk. “Here you go, guys. I figured you might need a snack break.”
The boys smiled. “Thank you!”
Akemi chuckled and handed them their snack. “You're welcome.” She then gave a small wave and turned around to leave, closing the door behind her.
The boys eagerly took the milk and cookies and began to chow down ravenously.
“Your big sis makes the best cookies in the world,” Harumi sighed contentedly as he bit into a warm cookie.
“Right?” Aki agreed, eating his own cookie.
The two of them sat back and relaxed together, enjoying the nice treat.
Aki wasn't sure if he was ready to admit it to himself, but he was already beginning to feel better after having allowed himself to take a little break and refuel both his body and his brain.
As for Harumi, he was glad that the boy who had quickly become his best friend was finally letting himself relax a bit.
It may have taken a while, but it was a step in the right direction.