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Watarai’s steps slowed subconsciously as he walked along the quiet street, plastic bag in hand, the convenience store’s light fading behind him.
The late afternoon air was warm, filled with the faint scent of blooming flowers from neighbouring gardens. It was one of those weekends that felt relaxful, the kind where the hum of distant bikes and the chirping of birds seemed comforting.
He hadn’t planned to stop by Hioki’s house. Really, he hadn’t. He had only gone to the store to grab a drink and a few snacks, nothing more than that. But as he passed Hioki’s street, a thought slid in, uninvited.
He’s probably just at home doing nothing. I could check on him.
Watarai shook his head, chuckling quietly to himself. “Asking to hangout with someone isn’t a crime.”
Still, his steps slowed. The closer he got, the more his chest tightened. And then he reached the front porch, hesitating just for a moment before raising his hand. He knocked.
The sound of his knuckles against the wood echoed faintly, breaking the silence. He immediately wished he hadn’t, feeling the seconds go by slowly. From inside, he could hear movement, soft footsteps, a quiet shuffle, and then the door opening.
Hioki appeared in the doorway.
Watarai blinked, momentarily caught off guard. His breath hitched. Hioki looked different. His hair was a little messy, and he was wearing Watarai’s dark hoodie, the sleeves hanging past his wrists, paired with baggy shorts that made him look relaxed, casual, at ease in a way Watarai rarely saw.
Hioki’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of Watarai, and for a moment he froze, one hand still on the doorknob. “Oh!” His voice was a little higher than usual. “Watarai..?”
The sight of him made Watarai’s chest tighten. He wanted to laugh, to hug him, to disappear all at once. “Is that my hoodie?” He asked, words slipping out before he could stop them.
Hioki’s gaze flicked down to himself, then back to Watarai. A faint shadow of panic crossed his face before fading into blush. “Ah..This?” He tugged at the hem of the hoodie, awkwardly. “You left it here the other day. I didn’t think you’d come by today.”
Watarai held the bag tighter. “I wasn’t planning to. I just- I was at the convenience store, and I thought maybe you’d want to hang out.”
Hioki’s expression softened. He looked down at the oversized hoodie, slightly embarrassed. He tugged at the sleeves as if to cover his hands, glancing at Watarai uneasy. “Oh- I see. You came here just for that?”
Watarai scratched the back of his neck, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Guess I did.”
Hioki shifted slightly. “Well... Come on in then!” He said, stepping aside to let Watarai enter.
Watarai stepped inside, removing his shoes carefully, the door clicking softly behind him. The house smelled faintly of laundry detergent, a slight comforting scent that made him feel strangely at ease.
He took a cautious step closer to Hioki. “Do you wear it often?” Watarai asked, trying to keep his voice casual, though it felt tense.
Hioki hesitated, nodding. “... Yeah.” He admitted softly. “Sometimes, it's just warmer than my usual hoodies..”
Sometimes. Not every day. Not all the time. But enough to matter.
Watarai felt a small tug at his chest he hadn’t expected. The hoodie brushed lightly against Watarai’s fingers as he adjusted the sleeve for him. Hioki flinched slightly but didn’t step back. “I didn’t know I left it here.” Watarai said. His voice barely rose above the silence of the room. Hioki’s gaze dropped, ears pink. “I didn’t think it mattered.”
“But..” Watarai said softly. "At least it’s keeping you warm.”
Hioki’s lips parted slightly, and his eyes flicked up to meet Watarai’s. “Yeah.”
Watarai took a careful step closer. “I didn’t know I mattered in this sort of way.” He spoke quietly, letting the space between them shrink. Hioki looked away, but Watarai caught the faintest curve at the corner of his lips.
“You can’t just look that good in my hoodie and expect me not to notice.” Watarai added, voice low and teasing.
Hioki gasped from the boldness. “Eh?..”
Watarai laughed quietly, the tension easing slightly. “Just kidding.”
Hioki’s eyes flicked toward the bag Watarai had set on the table. He gestured slightly, inviting him to put it down. Watarai placed it carefully, then stepped back, checking out Hioki’s form, draped in oversized fabric that made him look almost fragile.
Sunlight filtered through the window, gliding through Hioki’s hair and the folds of the hoodie. He toyed with the sleeve, brushing it absentmindedly against his wrist, and Watarai felt a little thrill of intimacy.
“So..” Watarai said, breaking the silence, voice casual but soft. “You want to actually hang out with me?”
Hioki laughed quietly, warm and soft. He gestured toward the couch. “Come on!”
Watarai grinned, stepping forward. The hoodie, the baggy shorts, the quiet house, and the teasing warmth of Hioki, it all combined into a moment that he didn’t want to end.
The room was warm from the late afternoon sun, soft golden light spilling across Hioki’s living room. Watarai had set the snacks on the low table, but neither of them had touched much yet. Hioki sat on the couch after him.
Watarai shifted, trying to appear casual, though his gaze kept drifting to the hoodie.
It really affected him.
The sight was adorable, but before he could get lost in it, a loud clatter erupted from the table. “Oh! Sorry!” Watarai exclaimed, having knocked over a small packet of chips while shifting. The bag spilled across the floor, sending a few rolling under the couch.
Hioki froze, eyes wide, then he laughed. “You’re clumsy.” Trying not to sound amused but failing.
“I- Yeah, sorry.” Watarai said, crouching to gather the chips. As he reached under the couch, Hioki leaned forward and accidentally tipped a bag of cookies off the table with his sleeve. They tumbled to the floor.
“.. Why is this happening?” Watarai groaned loudly, half laughing, half annoyed. Once Watarai let out that groan, Hioki froze, and his brain stopped. Completely blank. Hioki’s eyes then flicked up nervously, hiding a grin behind his hand. “I didn’t touch it!”
“You did!” Watarai said, smirking despite himself. “And somehow you make it look intentional!”
Hioki laughed, embarrassed. “I didn’t, I just moved!”
Watarai shook his head, chuckling. “You’re ridiculous.”
Just then, the faint sound of voices drifted from the hallway outside. Watarai’s ears perked up immediately. Hioki stiffened beside him, a small flush of goosebumps creeping up his neck.
“Uh.. Watarai.” Hioki whispered, tugging at Watarai’s sleeve. “My family is here. Let's go to my bedroom..”
“Your room?” Watarai asked, tilting his head.
Hioki nodded quickly, glancing nervously toward the door. “Yeah, come on.” He whispered urgently, stepping toward the hallway, then back toward Watarai.
Watarai followed without question. Hioki moved faster than usual. They reached his bedroom door and slipped inside, closing it softly behind them. The hallway’s noises faded, leaving only the faint hum of the air and the soft light from the window.
Hioki sank onto his bed, and Watarai perched on the edge, careful not to overwhelm him.
They finally grabbed the snacks again, but this time, Watarai accidentally dropped a drink on the floor, sending it rolling toward Hioki’s feet. He jumped slightly, flinching. “Careful!” Hioki yelped.
“I am being careful!” Watarai replied sheepishly, crouching to retrieve it. “Sort of..”
Hioki’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Sort of.?”
Watarai managed to sit back without further incident, and for a moment, the room was quiet. Then, Hioki grabbed a cookie and tried to eat it gracefully, but it crumbled in his fingers, scattering crumbs on the bed.
“Why does this keep happening?” Watarai muttered, smirking. “You’re supposed to be skilled at food.”
Hioki blinked, chuckling. “I usually am!” he said softly, brushing crumbs off the hoodie. “It’s fine.”
“You’re adorable so it’s okay.” Watarai said quietly, though he immediately regretted saying it aloud. He tried to tuck the words into the back of his throat, but Hioki’s ears had already burned pinker.
“.. W-What?” Hioki stammered, looking at Watarai in shock.
Watarai chuckled quietly. “It's true.” He admitted, reaching for a chip and holding it out to Hioki. Their fingers brushed, and Hioki looked at Watarai slightly, but didn’t pull away.
“Thank you, but I could’ve grabbed it myself!” Hioki said, smiling, but Watarai could hear the faint amusement under it.
“Don’t want to tire you out.” Watarai replied softly, settling back and watching Hioki eat the chip. Then, without warning, Hioki leaned slightly forward to reach for a cookie, knocking a small pillow onto Watarai’s lap. Watarai looked down at the pillow, watching it slide onto his lap. Hioki covered his mouth, embarrassed.
“Ah, That was an accident!”
Watarai laughed quietly, brushing it off. “It’s fine, don’t worry!” He said, though his chest warmed at the awkwardness. Hioki fidgeted with his sleeves, embarrassed but not moving away.
They spent the next hour in this rhythm, small clumsy accidents, subtle teasing, gentle brushing of hands, and soft laughter. Hioki never looked completely at ease, but he stayed close. Watarai noticed every little movement, every subtle glance, every breath.
Finally, Watarai leaned back. “You know..” He said quietly, “You look really comfortable in that.” Hioki’s ears burned hotter. “It’s nice.” He muttered, voice small.
Watarai smiled softly. “I mean... You look more calm, and relaxed. Different from school.”
Hioki glanced up, caught Watarai’s eyes for a brief second, then looked away. “Thanks.” Hioki slightly smiled, voice barely above a whisper.
Hioki was still sitting on the bed casually. Watarai sat cross legged beside him, munching quietly on a cookie, occasionally glancing at Hioki. They had been quiet for a while, enjoying the calmness after their clumsy snack disasters. Suddenly, for no particular reason, Watarai tilted his head and smiled at him.
“You look really good in that hoodie.”
Hioki gave him a blank look. “What do you mean ‘really good’?” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“I mean it suits you. Cute” Watarai added casually, whispering the last part. But for Hioki, “cute” set something off in his brain. His chest tightened, thoughts tangling into chaotic nonsense.
He called me cute.
It’s only us here!
Why is he looking at me like that?
What if I look ridiculous, I can’t breathe!
“I can’t breathe!” Hioki blurted suddenly, waving his hands as if that could make the world vanish.
Watarai blinked, cookie halfway to his mouth. “... Excuse me?"
“I said- I can’t breathe..” Hioki repeated, voice high, sinking a little further into the bed as if hiding could undo the embarrassment. Watarai leaned forward, a subtle grin playing at his lips, stifling a laugh. “You can breathe perfectly fine, Hioki. I can hear you breathing.”
“I’m not!” Hioki protested, then froze mid word. “.. Maybe I am! No, wait- I’m not!” He flailed briefly, then accidentally laughing at himself. Watarai laughed as well, letting his hand brush against Hioki’s shoulder, innocently, or maybe not entirely innocently. “You’re so adorable.” He said lightly.
Hioki froze again, the word had doubled the heat in his ears.
“You’re really cute when you panic.” Watarai muttered, leaning just a little closer, the tip of his fingers brushing against Hioki’s arm. Hioki yelped, flinched, and then buried himself deeper into the bed.
“I can’t breathe! I mean-” Hioki muttered rapidly, words tumbling over each other, almost nonsense. “What's even happening to me!-”
Watarai chuckled quietly, nudging him gently. “Okay, okay... Slow down. You’re fine. It’s just me saying you look cute. That’s it.”
Hioki’s body stiffened at the word “cute” again. “It's just.. Your voice saying that..” He paused dramatically, then whispered. “I can’t see..”
“You can see.” Watarai said, leaning slightly closer, letting the warmth of his shoulder nearly touch Hioki’s. “And I’m saying that you’re cute, because it's true. Don’t worry”
Hioki froze, then suddenly began muttering to himself. “I can’t..”
Watarai reached over lightly, tugging a sleeve just enough to see Hioki’s eyes peek out. “So cute.” He said in awe, trying not to laugh outright.
Hioki’s eyes widened again, trying to hide behind the fabric. Just as Watarai leaned closer to Hioki again, the bedroom door creaked open.
“Oh!.. Watarai?”
Hioki’s mother peeked in, spotted the two of them on the bed, Watarai leaning a little closer than Hioki liked, and immediately realised it was nothing serious. She gave a small, knowing smile and quietly stepped back out, closing the door.
“Oh my..” Hioki muttered, face pinker than ever. Watarai smirked gently, brushing back a strand of hair from Hioki’s face. “Don’t worry so much.”
Hioki groaned. Watarai leaned closer again, just enough to let his knee brush Hioki’s. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay. Nothing to worry about.”
Hioki nodded cautiously, muttering under his breath: “I need to calm down..”
Watarai smiled softly, letting the gentle warmth of the room wrap around them. “I like this version of you.” He whispered, letting his words hang, teasing, and bold, just enough to make Hioki nearly roll his eyes.
Watarai didn’t move closer or say anything else. He simply stayed where he was, letting the quiet stretch between them. The soft hum of the evening, the fading light, and the subtle warmth of being near each other seemed to fill the space.
Hioki caught Watarai’s calm expression, then looked away quickly, still embarrassed. His breathing slowed, just a little, as he leaned slightly closer to Watarai without realising it, letting the tension melt into something softer.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Watarai ate quietly on a cookie, careful not to break the peace, and Hioki fidgeted just enough to feel the steady presence beside him.
And in that shared silence, everything felt complete. No words were necessary. Just the closeness of the two of them, together, quietly existing in their own little world.