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Nirei’s love is stored in his words.
It bleeds from his voice like ink bleeds on paper, echoes in every sentence he writes and every memory he pens down in his notebook. Nirei’s love follows the shape of his lips, and he’s never afraid to let it be loud. To be known.
Nirei rips the plastic of his onigiri open, taking a large bite with a happy hum.
He, Suo, and Sakura are on the rooftop today, having lunch together. Sakura has a bento box—he asked Kotoha to teach him some basic meals, and he’s been practicing by making his own lunch every day. Suo is nursing a cup of green tea, a few tea cakes in an unopened box beside him.
Not many students come up to the rooftop during lunch break, despite Umemiya always declaring it as open access. The climb up is pretty taxing, though Nirei personally feels that it’s always worth it. The view, the gentle breeze, and the warmth that this place exudes on its own—it’s comforting.
Nirei peers into Sakura’s bento again, curious about what’s inside. There’s some wonkily-shaped rice balls, folded tamagoyaki, teriyaki chicken, and surprisingly, a few pieces of broccoli.
“I thought you didn’t like broccoli, Sakura-san?” Nirei asks. It’s one of the first things he learned about Sakura, when he watched him push aside everything green on his plate during their first meal together.
Sakura shrugs, picking one up. “This old lady at the supermarket insisted I take some. I’m trying to use them up before they rot in my fridge. You can have it instead.”
Before Nirei can protest, Sakura pushes the broccoli to his mouth. His lips part on instinct, and when he chews, he hums at the flavour. “This is actually really nice! You cooked it well.”
Sakura purses his lips. “It can’t be that good…”
“It is! You should eat some of your own! It’s delicious, and you’ll have to tell me what you seasoned it with later, I have to write it down…”
Suo huffs out a laugh from beside him, dragging his attention over. “Nire-kun, you have to be more gentle. Sakura-kun will get embarrassed.”
“Shut up!”
“Eh?” Nirei looks between the two. It’s not like he was lying. The broccoli was pretty good. And he’s sure everything else in Sakura’s bento is just as yummy, especially if it was made by his hands.
He voices out just as much, and Sakura’s cheeks steadily redden, whereas Suo’s smile widens.
“Sakura-kun, let me try some of that too~”
“Bastard! You get your fingers away from my food!”
Oh boy. Nirei takes another bite of his onigiri, choosing to mind his business today. Lunch isn’t a time to be stressed out.
Their steps are synchronised as they make the journey home together, watching the sun set beyond the clouds, encompassing Makochi in a sweet glow.
Nirei’s shoulders still ache from their training session, and he knows it’s going to be worse tomorrow, but he feels satisfied all the same. Without Suo’s help, he really wouldn’t be improving the way he is now.
They stop by a convenience store on their way. Suo buys two bottles of chilled green tea, then hands one over to Nirei with a smile. “Here. For your hard work today.”
“Oh.” Nirei’s fingers curl around the drink, feeling the cold seep into his skin. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I have to reward my clever disciple once in a while for advancing so quickly.”
Nirei rolls his eyes at the teasing tone. They exit the store and continue walking together, this time an inch closer. “It’s not me. You’re a really good teacher, Suo-san.”
“Don’t be modest.”
“No, really!” Nirei nudges him, bringing Suo’s gaze to himself. “You’re so patient and understanding, plus you’re already an amazing fighter, it’s like second nature to you! I’m really glad I asked you to teach me, of all people.”
There’s a beat of silence, and for a moment, Nirei gets self-conscious, wondering if he’s said too much. But then Suo turns away, rapping his knuckles on the back of Nirei’s head, who yelps in response.
“You mustn’t dish out such compliments so freely, Nire-kun. People will think you’re easy.”
“I— what does that mean?!”
Suo’s lips curve up into a secretive smile, and he doesn’t reply. Nirei sighs, twisting his bottle of tea open and accepting that this is just one of those things about Suo that will remain a mystery.
Suo’s love is stored in his eyes.
It pools in his brown irises, held within his every gaze. The way his eyes curve with affection, the way they sparkle when he laughs, even the way they dim with rage—love, all of it. Though not so easy to be spotted, hidden by an eyepatch and a cool cover, Suo’s love is always unmistakably present.
Late afternoon, just a few minutes before school ends for the day, the sky outside greys.
Suo rests his chin on his hand, looking out the window. It’s hazy, clouds heavy and looming over their building. It’d surely begin to rain soon. Guess that means he’ll have to cancel training with Nirei today.
Indeed, when the students are filtering out of the classroom, bags slung over their shoulders and ready to hurry home, Suo hears the first telltale rumble of thunder. It starts pouring just a few seconds later.
He’s almost outside of school, in the midst of switching his shoes, when Nirei and Sakura appear beside him. Nirei sighs, giving the outside a forlorn look. “I didn’t bring my umbrella today. I guess I’ll have to wait it out.”
“That rain’s not stopping any time soon,” Sakura points out, clicking his tongue. “We’ll just run for it.”
“Run?! Sakura-san, do you want to slip and break something?”
“I have an umbrella,” Suo interrupts, reaching into his bag. Though, logically, the three of them wouldn’t be able to squeeze under one measly umbrella. It’s barely big enough for two.
“We all live in different directions,” Sakura dismisses. “It’ll be fine. It’s not that far of a walk.”
“That’s how you get sick,” Nirei says with a shake of his head, but he’s already hiking his bag higher over his shoulder, as if getting ready to face his fate. Suo frowns, but before he can say anything else, the two of them are nodding at each other and marching out of school.
Seriously. He hopes they don’t actually fall ill.
When Suo finishes putting on his shoes, he makes his way out too, opening his umbrella and lifting it over his head. The moment he takes a few steps out, though, he comes to a stop, struck by the sight that greets him.
Up ahead, two silhouettes stand—barely visible from this distance, but Suo would recognise them anywhere. Nirei is holding onto Sakura’s hands, dragging him frantically, but Sakura stands his ground, tugging back as best as he can. At first, it looks like they’re fighting, but then Sakura’s face comes into view, and despite the pouring rain, Suo can see that he’s grinning.
They’re just messing around.
Suo walks closer until he can make out bits and pieces of their conversation.
“Sakura-san! It’s like you’re trying to fall sick again!”
“A bit of rain doesn’t kill anyone!” Sakura shouts back, barely audible over the roaring winds. He tugs on Nirei’s arms again, making them spin and kick up more water, and despite Nirei’s complaining, it shocks a laugh out of him.
Fools. They’re both fools. If they keep dancing around, they’re going to get mud on their pants.
Suo looks down at the ground himself, where puddles of water have formed and ripple with every droplet that disturbs them. He catches his reflection on the one right beneath his feet, and the soft look in his eyes takes his breath away.
Oh. He’s never seen such an expression on himself before.
“Ah! Suo-san, is that you?”
Suo snaps his gaze back up. He hurries over, tightening his grip on his umbrella the closer he gets. Sakura and Nirei’s clothes are soaked through by now, their hair sticking everywhere. “Seriously, I thought you two would have arrived home by now,” he says, pretending to be disappointed.
Nirei gives Sakura a half-hearted nudge, whereas Sakura’s grin remains ever-present. Suo rarely sees such a look on his face, so unadulteratedly joyful, not a care in the world.
…It makes sense that Nirei is the one to bring it out of him.
“Get under here,” he says, lifting the umbrella higher and letting the two flank his sides. Like he expected, they don’t quite fit, and he can feel the cold water seeping into his own jacket, but he doesn’t care. Not ever, when it’s these two.
Together, they briskly make their way to shelter, and Suo tries not to think about the sappy look in his own eyes or the way his heart pounds when he thinks about doing this over and over again.
Sakura’s love is stored in his hands.
From the hesitant touches to the firm holds, squeezing like he’s afraid to let go, Sakura’s love ripples from his hands in endless waves. He thinks it comes across as destructive, the dents he’d leave in his grasp, but some find those marks to be evidence of affection. To be badges of honour rather than the unsightly claw marks Sakura believes them to be.
And maybe, one day, Sakura can believe in the purity of his own love too.
Sakura bursts into the clinic with a lot more fanfare than he’d like to admit, his chest heaving from the fact that he ran all the way over here. His eyes scan the waiting room, and they meet Suo’s immediately, who’s seated with his back straight at the corner.
Sakura walks over, dropping into the empty seat next to him. “So?” he asks.
He doesn’t have to elaborate. Suo jerks his head towards one of the rooms. “Nire-kun went in about five minutes ago. Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.”
“Yeah,” Sakura murmurs with a flippant wave of his hand. “I’m sure he will.”
He says it like he’s comforting himself, but really, it’s for Suo. Suo’s pretending to be calm, because he always has to be like that, but Sakura can see the storm brewing in his eyes.
According to Nirei’s voice message, he accidentally stumbled his way into a street fight and got shoved against the wall. The gang didn’t pay him much attention since he wasn’t in school uniform, but the push was rough enough to need him a trip to the clinic.
A few minutes later, Nirei exits the room, a brace wrapped around his right hand. His eyes light up when he spots them as he hurries over, relief evident from his voice. “Suo-san, thanks for waiting. Sakura-san! I didn’t know you were here!”
Suo hums, giving him a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “What’s the damage, Nire-kun?”
It makes Sakura click his tongue. “Can you not sound like you’re going to kill someone?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Whatever. It’s not like Sakura doesn’t understand—this quiet rage boiling under his skin. He hates seeing his friends hurt, but Nirei getting hurt in particular sets him off in a specific way.
Well, judging by the tight grip Suo has on his knees, Sakura isn’t the only one pissed as hell.
They leave the clinic together, both of them flanking Nirei’s sides while Nirei tells them what the doctor instructed. He sprained his wrist, apparently, and has to rest it for two weeks before coming back for a checkup.
“Aren’t you right-handed?” Sakura asks, looking at the black brace again, hugging Nirei’s hand gently. “You won’t be able to write.”
“Ah, well… I’ll just have to use my left for a while. It’ll be fine!” At the same time, Nirei hikes his bag higher up his shoulder.
The sight makes Sakura uneasy. He knows Nirei isn’t dying, but he shouldn’t be carrying something when he’s injured. Without a second thought, Sakura tugs the bag off his shoulder, slinging it around his own instead.
Nirei’s eyes widen in surprise. “Oh! You don’t have to—”
“It’s fine,” Sakura insists, walking a step faster to hide the embarrassment coating his cheeks. “Just— rest properly, okay?”
Ugh. He’s not good with his words. Suo laughs, saying something else—probably much better words of comfort than whatever Sakura can come up with, and Nirei smiles back like he can’t help it.
Sakura twists his body with a ragged gasp, barely dodging Suo’s blow. He scatters back, keeping his knees bent and watching for his next move.
Training with Suo is always a challenge. Not only is he a majorly defensive fighter—never making the first move even when he has an opening—his expressions are hard to read. Sakura has to rely on instincts to be able to fight him, but that’s one of the good things. It hones something he rarely gets the chance to practice.
They trade a few more blows, and Sakura’s gaze slowly zeroes in on just his opponent. The rest of the world becomes a blur, and every missed punch makes his blood rush. He needs to be faster, more evasive, better—
Finally, Sakura lands a heavy punch on Suo’s steady palm, hard enough to send a trembling wave of shock through his body and force him to stop. Suo doesn’t look as disheveled as he does, but he’s breathing has grown a little more unsteady, and his eyes widened for a split second before Sakura hit him.
“You’re,” Sakura pants, “ridiculous.”
Suo lowers his palm, shoulders dropping. “And you’re always a tough opponent, Sakura-kun.”
Sakura scoffs, but he doesn’t reply, stuck on the way Suo is hiding his hands behind his back. Which isn’t exactly weird—Suo always stands like that, like someone’s grandpa—but something about his stance just feels wrong.
So Sakura reaches out, hooking his fingers around Suo’s wrist and dragging his hand towards him, palm flat and open, facing upwards.
“I knew it,” he mutters when he sees the deep red of Suo’s flesh. It’s probably a bruise, but Suo somehow never looks visibly hurt, so maybe they won’t. Still, Sakura presses his thumb there, massaging the area, and Suo doesn’t flinch, but he doesn’t pull away either. “Stop acting so unbothered all the time. D’ya need ice?”
“It’s hardly a big deal,” Suo replies, but his voice is soft and tinged with an emotion Sakura can’t name. “It’s cute that you care, though, Sakura-kun!”
“Bastard,” he bites back, and yet, he doesn’t let go either, nor does he deny it.
The word love comes in various, differing forms for many people. Some believe it to be an all-encompassing concept, found in every nook and cranny of the universe. Others feel that it’s something you build from the ground up. But no matter what it is, within it, within the idea of love itself, there is—
Nirei, whose voice captures it in all its intensity,
Suo, whose eyes hold it like a tender secret,
Sakura, whose hands carry its devastating weight,
And the three of them, who found each other, and who will stay by each other’s side for as long as time allows.