Chapter Text
Ryuu is into Michi.
He knows he’s been into Michi for a good couple ‘a years now. But he hasn’t made a move (at least nothing more than a suggestive phrase or gesture Michi assumes is a joke, so then he also plays off as a joke), and hasn’t said anything about his attraction for his feisty right-hand man to anyone.
Not that he cares what anybody else thinks of his sexuality or who he’s into. Although, Ryuu does know that if he reveals that he’s into dudes, let alone Michi, it’ll definitely cause some kind of a stir throughout the gang. And he’s just not interested in bothering to explain what’s really his business to the dumb lot of ‘em.
More importantly, Ryuu could already tell that Michi likes him back.
Even more importantly, Ryuu could tell that Michi still doesn’t know Ryuu likes him.
The kicker is... Ryuu could tell that Michi doesn’t even know that he likes Ryuu.
And that’s just too damn hilarious not to enjoy.
...
The gang is riding back to base after another fun day of scaring some dumb helpless middle schoolers (Sho is apparently too busy staying after school with his nerdy tutor, but whatever, it's his decision).
As always, Ryuu and Michi ride side by side at the front of the gang, so Ryuu can easily steal a glance at unsuspecting Michi.
Well, not really ‘steal’ since Ryuu really doesn’t care about being caught or is trying to be sneaky in the slightest.
It wouldn’t even matter either way. Michi’s eyes are laser-focused on the road ahead, and his body is stiffly leaned forward on his bike as if he’s ultra concerned about safe driving. It’s cute how stupid he looks while trying so hard.
Ryuu could honestly keep staring at this view for the rest of his life. The fading light hanging low in the sky peeks from behind Michi’s hair (of course they’re not wearing helmets), whipping back strands in the wind like a sea of white flags.
In fact, Ryuu would love to see Michi surrender to him. But that’d be way too easy.
Eventually, they stop by a gas station and the gang loudly scatters throughout the tiny convenience store to snatch up their favorite snacks and sodas. As they’re all about to leave, Michi walks up to Ryuu by the drink section.
“What’s the hold up?” Michi demands, annoyed, but not really. That’s just his default tone of voice.
Ryuu hums, scanning through the selection of colorful drinks. “Seems like they don’t have my favorite soda.”
Michi scoffs. “Why wouldn’t they? Isn’t it like super popular?”
“Who knows?” Ryuu sighs and raises his hands up in defeat. “Ah well, I’m just gonna get water.”
“The hell? Wha’dya mean? There’s probably some in the back.”
Ryuu ducks down, trying to look behind the rows of drinks in the fridge. Then Michi yanks the back of his paper-thin t-shirt, making Ryuu have to stand back up before he rips it apart.
Not that he’d mind if he did. Just that Ryuu should stop accidentally destroying the few shirts he still has left before he has none. (Though not his fault that breaking into buildings or avoiding the police tends to mess up his clothes.) They may be mostly plain white tanks and tees but damn do they make getting ready in the morning a breeze and are cheap as hell.
Though, a part of him is curious to see what Michi’s reaction would be if Ryuu one day just gives up on wearing shirts altogether, and if it’d be just as entertaining as when he instantly gives up on anything else stupidly simple,
like letting a little girl escape, or finding his favorite drink.
“The back storage room of the convi, idiot. They always got more hiding somewhere.”
He blinks back to reality, and gives Michi a careless grin. “Sounds like a hassle, I’m just gonna head outside now.”
As he casually walks off, Ryuu hears Michi sputtering in offended agitation behind him, before making a resigned grunt at the end, and it takes some of Ryuu’s strength not to turn around to see the look on his friend’s probably angry-red face.
Then he hears Michi stomping away from him, instead of begrudgingly after him like usual. He shrugs and assumes that Michi is probably just in a pissier mood today.
But as he’s walking out of the store, he hears a commotion by the register. Now Michi is yelling at some poor old lady in a blue employee vest to get outta his way, before marching into a random door behind the front counter.
Ryuu chuckles and waits outside for Michi to return.
Not too much time has passed, but by then the sun has already set completely. And by then, the gang are restlessly waiting around by their bikes or making donuts in the parking lot.
Their ruckus and chaos is covered over by the dark (any overhead lights around the gas station have been smashed out by the gang throwing rocks at them previously), while the little convenience store’s lights blindingly shine out of its wide windows into the abyss like a tissue box-shaped beacon.
Just as some of the more patiently waiting members are getting antsy, Ryuu, casually leaning against his bike, holds a hand out for them to quiet.
“Any second now,” he says confidently. And that second comes. Bursting in the night.
Like an angel appearing from the clouds above with the brilliant rays behind him, softly floating down to the mortal world, Michi angrily trudges out of the convi with a single glass bottle of strawberry soda (that he definitely did not pay for lol) and shoves it against Ryuu’s chest.
Ryuu’s cackling laughter afterwards is then drowned out by Michi immediately getting on his bike and revving it up.
“C’mon! Let’s go!” he impatiently calls out.
The other members cheer and eagerly hop on their bikes, making no hesitation to ride off first. But Michi as usual, waits for Ryuu, even without looking back at him.
Ryuu smiles and takes this opportunity to walk up and press his cold drink against Michi’s warm cheek, causing the man to dramatically flinch away and yelp in an impressively high pitch.
He dodges right in time as Michi turns to try and punch him in the arm.
Ryuu laughs. “You not gonna let me drink it first?”
“No, we’re almost back at the base.”
“But ‘cha worked so hard to get it for me~” Ryuu dangles the drink in Michi’s face.
He casually swats it away. “It wasn’t hard, asshole, you’re just lazy.”
“Then could ya at least open it for me?” Ryuu gives him a cheeky grin.
“Open it yourself!! Why d’ya need me to open it for ya???” This time he lets Michi shove him back a little, all while Ryuu laughs and waves the bottle threateningly close to Michi’s face some more.
Michi swats at it again, then finally snatches the glass from Ryuu, opens it, gives it back, then turns away without another word.
The two fall silent and still when Ryuu doesn’t make a move from behind Michi to get on his own bike. But Michi doesn’t look back or try to drive off either.
Sounding into the empty parking lot, the strawberry liquid suddenly makes rapid bubbling noises in the bottle as Ryuu takes a painstakingly slow, purposely drawn out sip.
Gazing through the clear glass, he wonders if Michi’s exposed neck is turning pink from Ryuu looking through the red coloring of the drink, or ‘cause of something else entirely.
Who’s he kidding? Ryuu knows exactly what it is, and he’s savoring every drop of it.