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Kusumi sent an early morning message to the trio chat that he didn't feel well and wasn't going to make it to class. Kaji checked in now and again throughout the day on his class chats, but Kusumi's read notifications rarely showed up which meant he really didn't feel well. Even when he had a terrible flu once, Kusumi had been typing a delirious storm at his classmates the entire week. But the boy was equally as silent on text as he usually was in person. A little before the end of lunch Kaji sent off a private message, a needle of worry for his boyfriend rising up. It was probably nothing, a sudden cold, but as unbothered as Kaji pretended to be about things, it wasn't always the truth.
🎧 Do you need anything?
Classes went by uneventfully, Kaji sneaking glances at his phone when he had the chance. It wasn't until about fifteen minutes to school's end that it buzzed on the desk and flashed with Kusumi's icon.
🧢 Can you come over for a bit?
Kaji looked at the message curiously. It wasn't entirely unexpected. One usually wanted to spend time with their significant other — particularly when they didn't feel well. And Kaji had a robust immune system and rarely got sick, so he was pretty safe to be around. But it also wasn't like Kusumi to want to risk it either way. Before he could respond a second message followed and Kaji stared for several seconds letting his brain catch up.
🧢 Period cramps hurt the worst today.（>﹏<）
Period cramps? Wasn't that something for — oh. Realization dawned on Kaji like a blatant light bulb flickering on in a musty old basement. He felt a little stupid for the unfinished thought, but filed it away for later embarrassment. For all that Kusumi was still a boy, his body still had different parts and unfortunately, all the concerns that came with them. And Kaji realized very suddenly with a wave of anxiety that he was not even remotely prepared for what that meant.
🎧 Of course. School is almost over. I'll be there soon.
🧢 (✿◠‿◠)
Kaji mused to himself, losing the last bit of the lesson and barely noticing his classmates starting to file out of the classroom. He was tapping his pencil against the top of his desk, thinking. He was sure Kusumi needed supplies…of sorts, right? Things that would make him feel better. Kaji didn't have any idea where to start and he felt awkward admitting to Kusumi outright that he had no idea what he was dealing with. Moments like this Kaji had to wonder what it was like to have a sibling, if he had an older sister would he be better equipped or…
Enomoto waved Kaji down and he nodded back, mind still lost, barely glancing at his vice-captain.
"Hey man, a few of us are going to Pothos do you want to come?"
Kaji was already shaking his head before Enomoto finished his sentence. "I'm going to check in on Kusumi."
"Ah. Of course." Enomoto grinned, shaking his head.
The whole class knew about the relationship already, even though neither he nor Kusumi had said anything outright. One of the others must have seen them holding hands or something, Kaji didn't know, but he came to class one day only to be bombarded by questions he refused to answer. He and Kusumi had worn the deepest blushes for a week straight.
"Tell him I said feel better soon, okay?"
Kaji nodded. "Yeah…tell Kotoha the sa—" He trailed off, another realization dawning on him. That musty basement was getting a lot of light today. "…the same," he finished, unlocking his phone and searching for Kotoha's contact. She'd given it to him ages ago, mostly at the behest of Umemiya more than anything, but now and again he asked her for recipes or other help. This seemed like a topic she would surely know something about, right?
A little over an hour later, Kaji was stumbling up the staircase towards Kusumi's room, two store bags in his hand. The boy's door was open, Kusumi sprawled out on his bed wearing one of his favorite sweaters and some lounge pants, body half wrapped around a semi-large body pillow. Kaji knocked gently on his doorway watching the other's eyes open slowly.
Kusumi's face lit up when he looked over and caught Kaji's gaze, smile stretching across his features. Kaji still wasn't used to seeing such reactions to his presence — or at least he had never paid attention to them so closely before — so his cheeks warmed slightly, blushing faint crimson.
"Sorry I took so long, I stopped by the store for some things…"
Kusumi sat up slowly, yawning and pointing an inquiring finger at the bags in Kaji's hand. Kaji nodded emphatically, feeling that weird anxiety bubbling up in his stomach. What if it wasn't enough? His hands started shaking for some reason, opening the first bag and looking inside.
"I got some chocolate. Pain meds — I wasn't sure which would be best so I got you two types. He pulled out one of the bottles and shook it, before putting it back. "Um…a couple different brands of pads…" The blush on his face was growing hotter. "Kotoha gave me a few recommendations, I didn't know…" He coughed. "I didn't let her know who it was for or anything but…"
He trailed off again. He was talking too much and too fast, feeling like if he paused even a second he wasn't going to speak again. Kaji dug his hand around into the second bag, pulling out a medium sized strawberry plushie.
"Oh! And this is a weighted warmer or something, like a heating pad? Kotoha said it helps a lo—" A soft melody interrupted Kaji, the boy's voice dying in his throat as he snapped his head up in shock and horror. Kusumi was laughing at him.
He wasn't angry with his boyfriend, but he was still quick to grow defensive, face exploding with deeper warmth, "'Sumi, what's so—"
"Kaji…" Kusumi always said his name so soft and tenderly, the shy boy's voice a rare melody that made Kaji spin every time he heard it. There was a gentle smile on Kusumi's face as he left his bed, reaching out to wrap his fingers around Kaji's wrist. He didn't look upset or disappointed with him so why…
Kaji let Kusumi pull him forward, the shorter boy balancing higher to place a kiss to his cheek. He turned his phone screen towards the blonde, showing off the message he'd hurriedly typed up.
Thank you but I didn't need all this. Just you silly.
"O—oh…" Kaji's voice shook and despite the lingering feeling of embarrassment that would eventually settle into a funny story between them, he felt much better. Kusumi tugged at his wrist.
"Cuddle me, please?" the boy asked, and Kaji couldn't imagine saying no to a voice as sweet as Kusumi's.
Kaji nodded, humming his agreement as he followed the other back to the bed. The blonde settled down first, laying back almost against the wall and opening his arms for Kusumi to roll into almost immediately. Kusumi's favorite way to cuddle with Kaji was with his head against the other boy's neck or collarbone, with at least one arm of Kaji's wrapped around Kusumi's shoulders while his other usually ran his fingers through the boy's hair. Sometimes they were completely silent, other times Kusumi hummed a soft tune sending vibrations not unlike a cat purring through Kaji's chest. No matter what, it always felt comfortable to Kaji, the boy never wanting to be anywhere else than right here in this moment.
Today Kusumi trailed his fingers across the collar of Kaji's hoodie, soothing himself with the soft textures much like Kaji did on a bad day. Kaji could see the faint outline of Kusumi's eyes drifting shut behind his bangs, his humming growing weary and faint until it went silent altogether. Kaji didn't know how cuddling helped Kusumi's cramps — or if that was how it worked at all. But all that mattered was that he was here right now with the boy he loved, wanted and loved in return. Kaji was careful not to shift too much as he leaned forward to kiss the top of Kusumi's head, a curious hand brushing the other's bangs away so Kaji could see his sleeping face.
A fond smile etched itself across Kaji's lips, moving his thumb gently back and forth across Kusumi's cheek. Kusumi moved the hand that had fallen still at his collar, not opening his eyes even as he laid his hand across Kaji's and held it there. Kusumi's hand was slightly cold and a little dry, and Kaji almost imagined he could recognize its shape anywhere. Kaji exhaled a slow breath.
"I love you…Kusumi."
Kusumi's lips upturned in a silent smile and his hand squeezed over Kaji's tightly before relaxing back to where it had been. Kaji listened as the boy's breathing grew steadier, his own eyes growing heavy with drowsiness in quiet. But just a little after he closed his eyes, right before he drifted into sleep, he thought he felt Kusumi's fingers grow tight around the fabric of his hoodie.
A soft, shaky breath reminded him, "I love you too."