Archive of Our Own ^beta

Win sighed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. He was irritated for the entire band practice. Tinn was sitting right there, watching them, like it was his rightful place. It made him antsy. Anxious. He didn’t like being watched by anyone who wasn’t an adoring fan. And Tinn didn’t quite seem to fit that description. He was only adoring towards Gun. 

Every time he caught Gun and Tinn sharing looks, he had to roll his eyes. Yo had a girlfriend, and she wasn’t crashing every band practice. So why did Tinn feel the need to insert himself every time? They wouldn’t die if they had to be apart for a few hours. 

If only they’d listened to him when he didn’t want to take away the dating ban. Since he was the only one who didn’t agree, they’d claimed majority rules and steamrolled over his opinion. It had been a few weeks since then, and he still wasn’t over it. Mostly because he was now an unwilling spectator to Tinn and Gun’s gross public displays of affection. He shuddered each time they so much as brushed fingers. At least Yo and Nook kept their relationship out of Win’s sight.

“I mean, doesn’t he have something better to do? He’s the school president, for crying out loud!,” Win complained to his latest victim, Por, as he packed up his things. As soon as practice ended, Tinn and Gun had rushed out, followed by Yo, who had to call Nook. The only one who stood faithfully by his side was Por.

“Are you talking to yourself?,” a voice that was distinctly more smug and irritating than Por’s answered him. 

He whipped his head around. In the spot Por had previously occupied, stood none other than Sound Saran. His hackles rose at the mere sight of him. “What? No. Por was just right here.” 

Sound snickered, a cruel grin curling about his lips. “He just left. He must’ve gotten sick of listening to your sorry ass. Can’t blame him.”

Win felt his irritation levels rising. It was inevitable to get annoyed where Sound was concerned. That was why he specifically avoided being alone with him. When the rest of Chinzhilla cushioned their interactions, Sound was slightly more tolerable. Maybe even pleasant, in those rare moments where he allowed himself to not be a stick in the mud. But when they were one-on-one, there was no stopping the impending storm.

“Just because you have no friends who are willing to listen to you, doesn’t mean I don’t.”

Sound rolled his eyes and turned away, dismissing his insult. And that only annoyed him even more. Sound loved acting like nothing got to him. Like he was some unbothered god on a pedestal who found much more interest in his guitar stand than in Win’s entire existence. 

Sound gently placed his guitar in its case, treating it with more care than he’d ever afford to Win, or any other human for that matter. “Get a grip. Nobody wants to listen to you yap about the dating ban anymore. You’re just jealous because you’ve never been in a relationship. You probably haven’t even kissed anyone.” 

His hands balled into fists at his sides. His nails dug into his palms. The slight sting only added to his growing exasperation. Sound always looked down at him. He was sick of being treated like he was lesser than, a mere bug underneath the mighty Sound Saran’s shoe. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been in loads of relationships. And I’ve kissed plenty of people!”

Sound raised a disbelieving eyebrow, looking vaguely amused. Like Win’s irritation served as his entertainment. “Really?”

“Obviously. I’ve been in more relationships than you, that’s for sure.” 

“Then why are you always looking like a loser, in the corner all alone?”

Win crossed his arms over his chest. “I stopped dating for the sake of the band.”

“How noble of you,” Sound said, with sarcasm dripping from his words as he pulled the strap of the guitar case over his shoulder. 

“You don’t believe me.”

“Why do you care what I believe?,” Sound scoffed and spun on his heels, headed for the exit.

He should’ve just let him leave. That way, he didn’t have to deal with his arrogance anymore. He could nurse his ego overnight while thinking of more insults to hurl at Sound later. He’d be better equipped to deal with Sound’s attitude if he had some good trash-talk loaded up in his arsenal. 

Instead, he found himself rushing for the door, blocking it with his body before Sound could leave. He gripped onto the door frame on both sides, digging his heels into the ground. “This conversation isn’t over.”

Sound’s eyebrows furrowed, and Win felt a momentary triumph over getting a reaction out of him. Then, Sound’s shoulder knocked against his. “Move.”

He stood his ground, refusing to move an inch. “Not until you admit that I’ve been in more relationships and kissed more people than you.” 

“You don’t even know how many relationships I’ve been in,” Sound hissed, as he grabbed Win’s shoulders and used all of his strength to try to pry him from his spot. Win felt his hands slipping, and he panicked. He couldn’t let Sound win in a battle of strength.

He raised his fist menacingly. “If you don’t stop trying to escape, I’ll punch your guitar!”

He didn’t know where that threat came from. He just knew that Sound cared about his guitar more than anything else. Harm to his precious instrument would have more of an effect than threatening to fight him directly. And for some godforsaken reason, he needed Sound to believe that he wasn’t as much of a loser as he assumed. He couldn’t have his reputation being tainted by this pompous jerk.

Sound released him and stepped back, tightening his hold on his guitar strap. “You wouldn’t dare. We can’t win Hot Wave without it.”

“You can play any old guitar. That one isn’t special.”

Sound took another step back, placing as much distance between Win and his guitar as possible. “This is why nobody wants to talk to you.”

“You’re the one with no friends, not me.”

“And who’s the one locking people in the practice room so he doesn’t have to be sad and alone?”

“I’m not sad and alone!,” he argued. His voice was a little whinier than he would’ve liked, so he cleared his throat. “Just admit that you’re the lonely one who has never kissed anyone before!”

Sound rested his guitar on its stand and surged forward. He grabbed Win by the front of his shirt, pulling him closer with surprising strength. His expression was twisted in anger, his eyes swirling with passion from mere inches away. Win couldn’t remember the last time someone was so close to him. “So what if I haven’t?”

Win’s breath hitched. Sound was so close that he could count his eyelashes. He could see every ounce of animosity that was seeping from his blazing eyes. His eyebrows were drawn together. There was a mole on the side of his nose that caught Win’s attention. Suddenly, he forgot what they were talking about. He blinked stupidly, wondering if Sound had more beauty marks that he’d never noticed. “Haven’t… what?” 

“Dated anyone. Or kissed anyone. What’s it to you?” Sound’s words were clipped, his tone low and dangerous. Briefly, Win felt a shudder wrack through his frame. 

It took a few seconds of stunned silence for him to register what Sound was saying. Before he knew it, a shocked laugh was escaping his lips. “The Sound Saran has never been in a relationship?!”

Sound’s glare was harsh enough to send a lesser man to an early grave. But Win simply raised his chin, challenging him. He grabbed Sound’s hand, which was still gripping his shirt, and squeezed it hard enough to hurt. “If you’re touch-starved, you can just say that. No need to manhandle me.”

Sound ripped his hand away like he was burned. “Who would want to touch you? Disgusting.”

Win only grinned. No amount of angry Sound scowls and biting insults could ruin his mood. He finally had something over Sound Saran. He had proof that Sound wasn’t some perfect being who was good at everything he did. He won. 

His reward came in the form of an uncomfortable Sound who realized he’d said too much in the heights of his anger. 

“I finally know why you always have a stick up your ass.”

Sound’s ears were burning red, betraying his embarrassment as he looked off to the side. “Fuck off. I’m too busy with music and acting to care about relationships.”

“It’s okay to admit that nobody can stand you.”

Sound scoffed, but still didn’t look at him. “Speak for yourself.”

“I bet your standards are too impossibly high. Of course, nobody could be good enough for Sound Saran. You think you’re some higher being that deserves a bed of roses.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to. It’s obvious in the way you walk around like you’re better than everyone else.”

“That’s because I am better than everyone.”

Win felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. “Or maybe, you do like someone. But they really couldn’t stand your annoying ass. Did poor Sound Saran get rejected?” 

Sound finally met his gaze, but Win wasn’t prepared for what he saw there. It was only for a moment. Just one small spark of emotion that Sound didn’t mean for him to see. But Win was paying such close attention to Sound that it was impossible to miss.

For a split second, he saw a flash of hurt in Sound’s eyes. Like Win had hit a sore subject. Then, his usual defenses slipped back into place, like nothing happened. “Nobody rejected me.”

He studied Sound’s guarded expression. His eyebrows were drawn together pensively, and his lips were drawn back to show off his teeth, like he was prepared to open his mouth and bite Win if he said one more word.

But Win was never one to shy away from the opportunity to mess with Sound. He got his kicks from tempting fate and poking the bear.

“Then, you didn’t ask them out yet.”

“Is dating all you think about?”

Win grinned. “You’re scared of getting rejected. Your inexperience makes you think you’ll suck at kissing and dating.”

“Shut the hell up!,” Sound snapped, as he snatched his guitar up and pushed past Win. Quite literally. He manhandled Win out of the way, so that Win’s back hit the doorjamb. 

“That hurt, fucker!,” he called after him, but Sound pretended not to hear. 

He’d pushed Sound past his boiling point for the day. But he’d learned that Sound was a loser who’d never dated anyone, and that was the finding of a lifetime. Worth it.

Sound had been acting strange ever since their one-on-one conversation. 

For one, he was no longer being snappy during practice. Even though Gun was the leader, Sound was always bossy in the way he gave suggestions for improvements to everyone. It annoyed Win to no end, but he couldn’t deny that his tips were helpful. 

But he hadn’t been interjecting his opinions at all. Not even when Yo made an obvious mistake and braced himself for a scolding that never came. After they finished the song, Sound just stared blankly at his guitar, as if it held the secrets to the universe. 

The problem was, they kinda needed Sound’s guidance to improve before the competition. If he wasn’t going to whip them into shape, then how could they perform to their fullest?

Sound had been stealing glances at Win that were anything but discreet. Win could feel those intense eyes burning holes through him, but he didn’t know what to do about it. Because the stares didn’t seem aggressive. If anything, they were appraising. Curious. Like he wanted to inspect Win inside and out. 

It was a little unnerving. And not in the way Sound’s presence usually unnerved him. Rather than make him gear up for a fight, the looks just had him tensing up, like he was one step away from making the wrong move and he didn’t want the other shoe to drop.

Despite all of his staring, Sound made sure he was never alone with Win again. That meant he was rushing out of the practice room as soon as possible, which had all of Chinzhilla confused, considering he was the most dedicated musician of them all.

What confused Win even more was how everyone turned to him after the fifth day in a row of Sound’s odd behavior and barraged him with questions: “What’s wrong with Sound?” “Did you say something to him?” “What did you do?”

He didn’t have any answers. His mind just kept swinging back to the last time he was alone with Sound. That second of pain that had made itself known in Sound’s eyes, before the world righted itself and Sound fled to avoid the situation.

He was just messing with Sound, but maybe he’d stepped over an invisible line that he didn’t know was there. His teasing must’ve really hit Sound where it hurt. 

“Whatever you did, fix it. We can’t win Hot Wave like this,” Gun urged after their latest practice. 

He didn’t know how to fix things. One thing was for sure, he had to get Sound alone again. 

On the seventh day of this strange behavior, he’d hatched a plan. He told the other Chinzhilla members to slowly trickle out of the practice room about thirty minutes before practice was supposed to end. They gave varying ridiculous excuses, from Yo’s “I have to go watch a movie with my dad!” to Por’s “My mom wants me to go water the plants.”

Sound simply sighed each time. He didn’t even argue, just continued to practice without a word. That was another sign that something was really wrong. Usually, he’d argue that they needed to get more serious about practice. 

Before he knew it, only Win, Sound, and Gun were left. That was when Sound noticed something was amiss. Win could tell, because his eyes swept the room and his jaw clenched when his gaze landed on Win. Like he was realizing that they were a little too close to being alone again, and his fight or flight response was already starting up. 

Win could see the gears turning in Sound’s head. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had Sound’s reactions mostly figured out by now. He’d spent enough time watching him to know what that look in his eyes meant. He was about to stuff his guitar in its case and hightail it out of there before he could be boxed in with Win. 

He couldn’t allow that to happen. He turned to Gun and nodded his head towards the door, a signal that Gun needed to hurry and make his excuse before Sound could escape. 

“I have to go help my mom run the shop!,” Gun said, already beelining for the door.

“Wait!,” Sound said, as he set his guitar on its stand. He tried to rush to the door, but Win intercepted him. He didn’t know if he could win against Sound in a battle of strength. But one thing he could do was wrap his arms around Sound in an attempt to hold him back. 

Sound froze for only a second. Win could feel how his entire body went rigid in shock, before he came alive again. “Get off me!,” he complained, trying to squirm out of Win’s arms. But Win only tightened his grip, hooking his chin over Sound’s shoulder as Gun rushed out. By the time Sound got to the door, with Win still clinging to him, it was already firmly locked. 

Gun called through the door, “Work things out! I’ll be back later to free you!”

“This isn’t funny! Gun, get back here!” Sound managed to pull one of his arms free of Win’s tight embrace and tugged on the door handle, frantically trying to pull it free. But it wouldn’t budge. “Since when does this door lock from the outside?!”

If Sound hadn’t been so preoccupied lately, he might’ve noticed that Gun and Win switched out the doorknobs during their lunch break. Alas, his odd absentmindedness had been his own downfall. 

Sound tried to twist the doorknob a handful of times before he gave up with one last frustrated curse. 

He realized he was still holding onto Sound. His body was surprisingly warm. He wasn’t sure why that came as a shock to him. Sound was a human, like anyone else, so of course he was warm. 

Slowly, he loosened his embrace. He stood up straight, taking his chin off Sound’s shoulder. Sound was already looking at him. 

His face was so close. Too close. His eyes were deep pools full of an emotion that Win couldn’t quite name.

“Win?,” Sound asked, surprisingly quiet and missing his usual hostility. Win could feel the warm puff of Sound’s breath against his lips, and it shocked him back into reality. 

He dropped his arms like they’d been burned and took a step away, placing space between them for his own sanity. “Well, we’re locked in here. We might as well talk.”

Sound was quiet for a moment, observing him. He tried to stand up tall and give off the illusion of confidence, like his heart wasn’t still in his throat from that second of closeness. The silence was filled with unanswered questions on both sides. 

“What are you playing at?,” Sound asked when the suffocating silence went on for a second too long. 

“I’m not playing anything, Sound. I just want to talk to you.”

Sound froze again. Something shifted in his expression. His rising anger settled into a cautious surprise. “Talk about what?” His words were clipped, still holding onto his guard like it was a lifeline. And Win had to find some way to get him to drop those high walls and let him in. 

It wasn’t an easy feat. But the others had tried to get Sound to return to normalcy, to no avail. Win was their last hope. 

“I’m sorry for what I said before.” The words felt like they were scraping at his throat on the way out. But he kept his tone even. Sound stared at him, inspecting his face for any falsities. He kept his expression open and honest, as best as he could. 

“You’re sorry?,” Sound said slowly, confused and still guarded.

Win choked down his ego, which was urging him to start an argument by insisting that he hadn’t done anything wrong in the first place. But he had done something, somehow, even if he didn’t know exactly what it was.

“Yeah. I’m sorry.” He choked the words out again, even though he felt like his insides were getting scooped out as his throat closed up around them.

Sound observed him like he was a science experiment, his suspicion abating. He didn’t say anything else. The silence went on for a beat too long, and tendrils of panic were taking root in Win’s chest. He didn’t know how to act when he was alone with Sound. 

“Do you accept?,” he asked, desperate for the strange atmosphere between them to return to the quiet animosity brewing in the background that he was used to. 

“I guess,” Sound shrugged, looking off to the side again. He seemed to do that whenever he desperately wanted out of a conversation. “I didn’t really care in the first place, so…”

He didn’t know Sound could be such a bad liar. Still, the acceptance loosened the tension in his chest. He relaxed, and he felt like he could breathe again. But his work wasn’t done. Sound still looked withdrawn, and he was too quiet. There must be a deeper problem that a surface-level apology wouldn’t fix. 

“You can tell me what’s wrong. We’re…,” he hesitated, unsure of the word choice. Friends seemed like too much. They weren’t close enough for that. “Bandmates.” He settled on that. It was true enough, without trying to force a closeness that wasn’t there. 

Sound shook his head. “Don’t push it. Just call Gun back and tell him to let us out.”

He should do that. But that made entirely too much sense, and Win wasn’t in the habit of doing the smart thing. 

“Is there someone you like?”

Sound was so still that Win started to think he was holding his breath. “Why do you care?”

“It’s a genuine question. Call it a team-building exercise.”

“Team building, my ass.”

Bizarrely, Win found his lips twitching upwards in the corners, threatening to smile. Sound was finally starting to sound like himself again. “How about this? If you answer the question, then I’ll answer it, too. So we’ll be even.”

That caught Sound’s attention. He’d surely love having sensitive information to hang over Win’s head. 

Sound looked to the door, which was still locked. He heaved a heavy sigh that seemed to signify his surrender. He knew they wouldn’t be let out until they’d squashed this issue between them. 

“Fine, if it will get you to shut up.” Sound shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. He looked down at the ground, grumbling something to himself that was too quiet for Win to hear. A few seconds passed before Sound straightened his stance and forced himself to meet Win’s eyes. 

“There is someone. I know I shouldn’t like them, but… I can’t help it.” He swallowed, his confidence waning as a raw vulnerability appeared in his eyes. “They make me feel something I’ve never felt before. I’m always too busy working and practicing to get to know people well. I just want to have a normal teenage experience for once.” 

Oh. Now Win felt bad for laughing at Sound’s inexperience. Maybe Sound’s life wasn’t as grand as he tried to make it seem. Beneath the mighty Sound Saran, this strong figure who was perfect at everything, was a young man who was lonely. Who struggled to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders. 

Sound was still looking into his eyes. An understanding passed between them. Sound was letting him in, just a little. Trusting him with this information. “What about you?,” Sound asked, his voice strained. “Is there someone you like?”

He looked so expectant. Win didn’t want to disappoint him with his lackluster answer. But he could only offer honesty. “No,” he admitted quietly, like it was a shameful thing. He’d only come up with the agreement to get Sound to spill his guts. What he’d do after that, he didn’t know. He wasn’t someone who thought ahead before doing something.

He didn’t know if he was imagining the disappointment swirling in Sound’s irises. Resignation was clear across his face as he looked away again and let out a quiet sigh. “That’s what I thought.”

He looked defeated. He resembled a sad, stray dog who was begging for table scraps. But for some reason, Win didn’t take any pleasure in it. The usual animosity that lingered around the edges of his consciousness when Sound was in the same room as him had melted out of him, replaced by pity.

At the end of the day, Sound was his bandmate. In a weird way, he’d grown to appreciate what Sound brought to the band. And once upon a time, before they were Sound and Win, they were SoundAbout and WinnieThePooh. Not that Sound would recognize that username. He was simply one among hundreds of Sound’s viewers. But Win would never forget how he used to watch every new video with a smile on his face, even picking up some tips from them. 

But that was before he actually met Sound. Now, as annoying as Sound was, he was used to his presence. He’d become accustomed to the fired-up, motivated, high-strung Sound who needed everything to be perfect. Not this sad, wilted version who had the fight sucked out of him. It was unnatural. It made everyone uncomfortable.

Guilt gnawed at his chest. He felt like he should give something in exchange for the vulnerability Sound gave him. 

“I can help you.”

He could see Sound’s guard snapping back into place like clockwork. “Help me, how?”

“I’ll teach you how to kiss.”

Sound’s eyes widened. His mouth dropped open. For the first time, he looked dumbfounded. “You… want to kiss me?,” he choked the words out like they burned his throat.

Win could feel his cheeks darkening at the insinuation and rushed to explain. “I don’t want to kiss you. But, I will. So you can gain confidence and ask them out.” Surely, if Sound got to date his crush, he’d be in tip-top shape for Hot Wave. 

Sound closed his mouth and swallowed around nothing. He was still stunned. “You would do that? The thought of kissing me doesn’t make you want to throw up, or something?”

He sat with the idea. He ran it around his head, turning it this way and that. Him. Kissing Sound Saran. The person who always got on his nerves. The person whose glare always found him across the room.

The person who he was rapidly learning more about, and who now stood in front of him with his expression twisted in shock. He’d never seen Sound looking like that before. He was curious to see what other expressions Sound could make. 

What was the worst that could happen? 

He always wondered what it would be like to kiss Sound. Only because he’d had his fair share of staring at Sound’s lips as they formed insults aimed towards him. It was normal to wonder that about friends. Not that he’d ever wondered the same about the other Chinzhilla members…

At the very least, he could use Sound’s bad kissing skills as blackmail material.  

“I won’t throw up. It can be our secret, okay? I won’t tell anyone.”

Sound looked suspicious. “Why would you do that for me?”

“Your speech inspired me. I want to help you.” 

“Bullshit.” 

“Okay, fine. I want you to go back to your usual annoying self, so we can win Hot Wave.” He beckoned Sound to come closer, but he was rooted in place. “Come here.”

Sound swallowed around nothing, still not moving. “Right now?” 

That didn’t sound like a refusal. Win moved towards him instead. “Do you want my help or not?”

Sound blinked slowly, stuck in some trance. It only made Win more anxious. Even though he was supposed to be the teacher here, he felt nerves blossoming in his chest once Sound was within kissing distance. For all his talk, he couldn’t imagine what kissing Sound would actually be like. 

“Why do you look so nervous?,” he asked, hoping Sound didn’t point out that he was just as nervous. 

“You’ll be my first kiss,” Sound said with a quiet voice. That was an insane thought. He felt a shudder that was equal parts thrill and fear run through his body. 

Here goes nothing. 

“Kiss me,” he ordered, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt, despite the slight waver in his voice. He had to gauge Sound’s skills to figure out how to help him. He closed his eyes and waited with bated breath. Sound could leave him standing there, with his lips slightly pursed, waiting for a kiss that would never come, just to embarrass him. 

But he didn’t. Win felt a warm press of something against his mouth; Sound’s lips, soft and hesitant. The touch was gone just as quickly as it came. It was nothing more than a second-long peck. Not even long enough for Win to enjoy it.

Not that Win wanted to enjoy kissing Sound. 

When he opened his eyes, Sound’s eyes were wide and his cheeks were going red. He looked two seconds away from a breakdown. If he didn’t want Sound to fly off the handle and go banging on the door to be let out, he had to calm him down. 

Win rested his hands on Sound’s shoulders, hoping the touch would soothe him. It was strange, to be touching Sound in a friendly way. At the same time, it sent a thrill through his body. Because Sound had always been untouchable in his mind. Yet, he was allowing Win to touch him. Sound didn’t pull away or try to avoid his hands. “Good. That’s a start. But I barely felt anything. Try kissing me harder.”

“Okay,” Sound breathed out, his gaze stuck on Win’s mouth. But Sound took his advice a little too literally. This time, his lips were harsh and unyielding. He felt like Sound was trying to swallow his mouth. A few kisses like that would surely make his lips swell up. Win couldn’t even try to kiss him back. It was like his lips were being held hostage. 

He pulled away. “Not that hard. Are you trying to kiss me or beat me up?”

Sound actually looked embarrassed. Win felt crazy for thinking he looked cute right then, with redness creeping across his cheeks and eyebrows that were turned upwards in the middle. “Sorry.”

Win gave his shoulders a squeeze. “It’s okay. Don’t try to eat my face. And don’t leave your hands hanging at your sides. It’s awkward.”

“What do I do with them?,” Sound asked with a rare openness. He looked like a lost puppy. Win didn’t even want to make fun of him. 

He grabbed Sound’s hands and placed them on either side of his neck. Sound’s palms were warm, and the touch heated him up in ways he didn’t care to admit. “Just pretend I’m the person you like. Don’t be too gentle or too harsh.”

Sound nodded once, then pulled him closer by the grip he had on Win’s neck. This time, when their lips touched, he felt a spark. 

It didn’t take long for Sound to find his groove. His lips were neither too harsh nor too soft. They slid against Win’s in that perfect middle ground that had Win melting like putty in his hands. One of Sound’s hands moved to the nape of his neck, and his fingers played with the short hairs there. Apparently, that was Win’s weak point, because he felt his knees go weak. 

It was strange. He was being kissed by Sound, his supposed enemy. But once he got past the weirdness of it, it was surprisingly… nice. Pleasant. 

Win even got to kiss him back this time. He gripped onto Sound’s hair, lightly tugging on it as he tilted his head to the side and deepened the kiss. Sound allowed him to take the lead momentarily, before seamlessly taking the control back from him and kissing him until he was breathless.

There was a second where their lips separated as they took a much-needed breath break. Win knew that should be the moment the kiss ended. But Sound didn’t follow that same logic. He tugged Win back in, tilting his head the other way to kiss him from a different angle. Win made a surprised noise against his mouth, but didn’t pull away. His head had gone fuzzy and cloudy from all the kisses. He could hardly think anymore. 

He may have kissed people in the past, but it had never been like this. It never made him feel like he was seconds away from floating away from his elation. The endorphins rushed to every part of his body, making him feel alive. He could feel his blood pumping through his veins as his heart worked double-time, his fingers twisting in Sound’s hair.

When Sound broke the kiss, a twinge of disappointment came alive in his chest. He didn’t want the kiss to end. 

“Like that?,” Sound asked, like a puppy that was eager to please. Sound’s hands were still on his neck, his touch so warm that he felt like his skin might burn. His dyed-grey hair was mussed up by Win’s fingers, sticking up at odd angles that would make what they’d just done obvious to anyone who saw him. 

It took him a few seconds too long to register the question. “Yeah. Just do that and they’ll be blown away,” he spoke between his heaving breaths. His heart was beating fast, like he’d just been running in circles rather than getting the daylights kissed out of him.

He always knew that Sound was objectively attractive. He usually detested that about him. It was just another thing for him to hold above everyone else’s head. But that simple fact had never been truer than it was at this moment. Because Sound’s cheeks were a delightful shade of red, and his lips were even redder. His pupils were blown wide, like he didn’t want to miss a second of Win’s expression. 

Win didn’t know what expression he was making. He was struck stupid, and his face probably reflected that. He was always told that he was a bad liar, because his face gave away his emotions, even as he tried to bury them deep inside. He didn’t know what Sound saw in his eyes, but he seemed to like whatever it was. Because he smiled. A soft, genuine smile that Win had never seen before. 

Win’s heart squeezed. Something shifted in his chest, clicking into place, a void being filled that he didn’t even know was there in the first place. 

He knew right then and there that he was doomed. 

The next day, Sound was back to his old bossy self. Gun patted him on the back and thanked him for “whatever you did to get Sound back to normal.” He didn’t ask questions, which Win appreciated. He wouldn’t have any easy answers. 

But now, Win was the one who was avoiding being alone with Sound. Because he’d felt a little too much during that practice kissing session, and he wasn’t ready to confront it. He’d rather let it fester inside him until it fizzled out and went away. He’d rather pretend that he didn’t think about Sound’s lips every time he closed his eyes. 

Ignoring the problem wasn’t working. It only took a few days for Sound to approach him after practice. “Can I talk to you?” His gaze flickered over to Gun, then Por. “Alone?”

The rest of Chinzhilla cleared out of the room in record timing, abandoning him. None of them wanted any part in whatever Sound and Win had going on. They probably thought they were going to fight again. But Win knew better. They wouldn’t be fighting. The looks Sound had been giving him were even more intense than before, and it wasn’t how someone looks at their enemy. 

Win gave an awkward laugh, trying not to make it obvious that his heart was already beating out of his chest. “What is it?”

Sound looked him up and down, quietly observing him. His lips twitched in the corners, like he was fighting a smile. “I think I need more practice.”

“More practice?,” Win squeaked in surprise. 

Sound nodded, taking a step closer to him. “Just one session isn’t enough. How can I be sure that I’ll kiss them well enough?”

Win felt vaguely like he was being cornered. But he wasn’t. The door wasn’t locked this time. He could turn around and leave if he wanted.

But this was all his idea in the first place. And as Sound looked at him with a quiet spark of hope and expectation in his eyes, he found that he couldn’t deny him. 

What was once more? If he was going to teach Sound, he should commit to the bit. For the band. 

“Okay. Just one more-” He didn’t even get to finish his sentence. Sound surged forward as soon as permission was secured. He grabbed Win by the neck, just as he’d taught him, and kissed him. 

Sound’s lips slid perfectly against his, and everything felt right. Win felt whole again. The yawning abyss that formed in his chest since their last kiss, was filled.

Sound was eager. It felt like Sound was devouring him, but in a good way. In a way that set all of his nerve endings on fire. He could feel himself giving in. He kissed Sound back, allowing himself to enjoy it. His hands found Sound’s shoulders, squeezing them lightly. 

Sound was only encouraged by the touch. He deepened the kiss, focusing all of his attention on Win’s bottom lip. Which left Win kissing Sound’s plump top lip, as he struggled to breathe. It felt more like Sound was the one teaching him how to kiss. Because despite Sound’s concern, just one session really was enough for him to learn exactly how to make Win go weak. 

The kiss went on for longer than could be considered normal. It felt like time stopped, allowing them to be frozen in their little bubble of bliss. As long as Sound’s lips were attached to his, nobody else existed. The world was theirs. He was put on this planet solely for Sound’s kisses to wake something inside him that he didn’t even know was there. Something gentle and needy. Something that yearned for Sound to come closer, to kiss him harder, to never let him go. 

When the kiss had run its course, Sound was the one to pull away. Sound stared at him, one of his hands raising to cup his cheek. His thumb rubbed circles over Win’s freckled skin as he smiled again. He somehow looked even prettier when he smiled. Win drank it in, allowing that pretty smile and those charming dimples to soak into his being. It made him want to kiss Sound over and over, just so he could be on the receiving end of that smile more often. 

“Same time tomorrow?,” Sound asked. And Win really should’ve denied him. There was no reason to drag out these practice sessions. But Sound just looked so hopeful and happy, excited to get better at kissing. Win didn’t have the heart to reject him. Even if it meant handing himself over to Sound without a second thought. He was hypnotized by Sound’s kisses and his blinding smile. 

Win let out a shaky breath. “Yeah, okay,” he said, his voice as trembly as he felt. 

He was surprised when Sound kissed him again. A short, sweet kiss. It was more like Sound was pressing his smile against Win’s mouth, sharing his happiness. “See you tomorrow,” Sound said, then left with his smile still intact. 

He wondered if Sound would be smiling all the way home. Because of him. Somehow, kissing him put Sound in a good mood. 

He raised his fingers to his lips, tracing them. They were tingling, starting to swell up from Sound’s actions. The ghost of Sound’s smile pressed against his mouth haunted him long after he’d left. 

They developed a pattern over the next few weeks. They’d lag behind as the other Chinzhilla members packed up after practice. Sound would suddenly need to tune his guitar. Win would suddenly go searching for new guitar strings. They’d mill around until the rest of the band was gone.

They didn’t even bother with pleasantries anymore. As soon as they were alone, Sound would cross the room and start kissing him, like it was his birthright to have his lips against Win’s. 

And Win was even worse. Because he never pushed Sound away. Not even when Sound had him backed against the wall, pinned in place by his body as he kissed Win like his life depended on it. That was the position he found himself in now. He leaned into the kiss, like a plant seeking warmth from the sun, instead of away from it. He couldn’t help himself. He knew Sound wasn’t thinking about him, but he was surely thinking about Sound. 

He knew it was messed up. He was a stepping stone in Sound’s kissing journey. He was sure that whoever Sound would use his skills on later wouldn’t appreciate knowing that those same lips had been pressed against Win’s so many times. 

A sudden strike of guilt had him breaking the kiss. “How are things going with your crush?” 

Sound’s pupils were blown wide, the way they always were when they kissed. “Good.” His response was short and clipped, as he was much more interested in pulling Win back into another kiss than continuing the conversation. 

But that single word had settled uncomfortably in Win’s chest. What did he mean by good? Was he already making moves on that person? Was he getting ready to confess soon?

Win really wanted to keep the kiss going, but he knew he shouldn’t. Those lips weren’t for him. His feelings were a jumbled mess in his chest. Even Chinzhila was noticing that things had changed between them. They didn’t fight with the same level of annoyance anymore. They’d even laugh together, sharing secretive smiles when nobody was looking. 

Win was used to this new version of them. The version who gravitated towards each other during practice, who found excuses to be alone together, and who kissed like they couldn’t stand not having their lips touching for two minutes. And he knew how wrong that was. It wasn’t a part of his mission. He was taking advantage of the situation by allowing their practices to go on for longer than necessary.

He broke the kiss again. “Wouldn’t they be upset if they knew how much you’ve kissed your bandmate?” 

Sound wasn’t really listening. He was too busy watching Win’s lips as they formed around the words. “Nah. He won’t be upset.”

That was the first confirmation that the person Sound liked was a boy. It felt like important information. Now that he thought about it, when did Sound even have time to meet with a mysterious guy? He was always busy with band practice and acting workshops. 

“How do you know that?” 

“Less talking, more kissing.” And Sound pressed forward again, sealing their lips together like that was where they belonged.

Sound had gotten a lot more demanding with his kisses, like he wanted to stake a claim on Win. But Win couldn’t allow himself to see it that way. Because at the end of the day, he was nothing but a stand-in.

But it was hard not to get feelings involved when he’d accidentally taught Sound exactly how he liked being kissed. Sound used his diligent lessons against him in the worst way. He had one hand on Win’s waist to keep him close, the other on Win’s neck as he deepened the kiss. All of their practice meant his kisses stole Win’s breath away. He cursed Sound for being perfect in everything, including this.

With each secret meeting in the band room after everyone had gone home, it became increasingly obvious that there was nothing left for Sound to learn from him. Realistically speaking, Sound had already learned enough just from the first session. And yet, they kept ending up attached by the mouth like this. 

It made him feel special. And maybe a part of him drew a sick sense of satisfaction from knowing that he was Sound’s first kiss. Nothing could change that. Even if Sound kissed a hundred people after this, Win would always be his first.

He wanted Sound to keep kissing him. To forget all about whoever he’d had a crush on in the first place and focus on him, instead. Sure, they made for an unlikely pair. But since this arrangement started, they got along so much better. They no longer spent precious practice time fighting. He felt comfortable around Sound in a way he’d never felt with anyone else. 

Worst of all, he wanted Sound to want him. Sound’s heart may be reserved for another, but Win had laid claim to his lips, and that was all he had going for him. And so he clung onto that claim like it was a lifeline. 

But it was only a temporary claim.

It was too late. He was addicted to kissing Sound. He had to put an end to their arrangement, before it destroyed him. Before he ended up falling in love with someone who never actually looked twice at him. Someone who didn’t see him as more than a mannequin to practice kissing techniques on. 

Win pulled away to catch his breath. But Sound didn’t stop there. He pressed a kiss to one of Win’s cheeks, and his heart stopped. Sound had never tried to kiss him there. But now, he was landing kisses all over his cheeks, soft and warm lips pressing against his freckles.  

“What are you doing?,” he asked, his voice weak and his arms even weaker where they rested around Sound’s neck. Sound didn’t answer. He just kept kissing over his cheeks, gentle and warm presses of lips that made Win’s heart ache. Each kiss made the crack in his heart spread further, until his feelings threatened to spill right out of his chest.

He felt… worshipped. Owned. 

He wished those soft, reverent kisses were really for him. He wanted Sound to cherish him. To take care of him. 

“What are you doing?,” he asked again, more insistent this time. 

Sound finally pulled away. The entire galaxy was shining in his eyes. He was looking at Win like he was important. Something that mattered. “This kind of kissing is important, too, Win.” 

“Do you really need to practice that, though?”

Sound actually whined. He’d never made that noise before. His fingers played with the short hairs at the nape of Win’s neck as he nuzzled their noses together. “Come on, Win. Let me keep kissing you.”

Win was struck dumb again. He had Sound Saran, nuzzling him and practically begging for another kiss. He felt like he’d been transported to an entirely different universe. One where Sound’s kisses were reserved solely for him.

Wait, wasn’t Sound supposed to be imagining him as someone else? Didn’t using his name kind of defeat the purpose?

But then, Sound’s lips were on his again, and all coherent thoughts flew out of his brain. He succumbed to temptation. Sound was the siren that called to him with his deceptively melodic voice, urging him to jump off his tiny raft in the middle of the ocean.

What was waiting for him there, he didn’t know. All he knew was, he had to get as close to Sound as possible, pushing against his chest to feel his body heat and kissing him like he’d die if he didn’t have those lips against his. 

He was in too deep. 

When Sound had finally had enough kisses, Win was left with tingling lips and a red face. He pressed his palms against his cheeks, trying to cool them. “You should confess to your crush on Valentine’s Day,” he muttered, trying to sound more confident than he felt. That was the best way he could think of to hurry things along, before he got swept away in a torrential downpour of emotions that he couldn’t come back from. 

How was he supposed to look Sound in the eye, after knowing what his lips tasted like? 

Sound’s expression turned oddly serious. He examined Win’s face, as he always seemed to be doing lately. Cataloguing his reactions. Learning the deepest parts of his psyche.

“Okay, I will.”

He didn’t know why the agreement felt like a stab to the gut. Maybe some naive part of him thought that Sound might give up on this mysterious person he liked and let Win into his heart instead. 

Stupid. 

“Do you think he’d like these?” Sound showed him a picture of a box of chocolates that he had saved on his phone for some reason. Win only looked at it for a second. He didn’t even register what he was seeing. 

“Yeah, probably,” he muttered, looking down at his scuffed shoes. 

The concept of not kissing Sound anymore didn’t sit right with him. Dread blossomed beneath his ribs. What would happen once Sound had a boyfriend? The unexpected comfort that had bloomed between them would go up in smoke. They’d return to being mere bandmates who clashed like territorial bulls. 

None of this would mean anything. 

It was never supposed to mean anything, anyways. He was the one who’d deluded himself into believing differently. 

He was venturing into dangerous territory. If Sound was a rose, then his soft lips were the petals that made Win lower his defenses. But the thing about roses was, they always had thorns. And he was putting himself in the perfect position to get poked by them. 

He just needed to push Sound towards his mystery guy, and he’d stop thinking about him so much. 

As he lay in bed that night, with nothing to occupy his mind but the sound of his breathing and his thoughts, he found himself replaying the feeling of Sound’s lips against his. He could almost feel the phantom pressure against his mouth, the ghost of Sound’s kisses that woke something inside him that was never meant to be roused. It was almost like the threat of their kissing practice coming to a halt caused the memories to embed further into his brain, burying themselves so deep that they could never be dragged out again. 

Then there were those cheek kisses that made him feel worth something. Like Sound was bestowing his adoration to his sun-kissed skin. He never knew how badly he needed to be showered in Sound’s attention until he’d become accustomed to it. He didn’t want to go without it again.

As long as he should live, he’d remember what it felt like to kiss Sound. Even pressing a pillow over his face and hiding under his blanket couldn’t smother the memory from his brain. 

Sound Saran was the bane of his existence.

Valentine’s Day came. Win was antsy all morning as he got ready for school. He was anxious for whatever the day may bring. 

If all things went to plan, Sound would confess to his crush and earn himself a boyfriend. And Win would never feel those soft, warm lips against his, ever again. 

And that was a good thing. At least, he was trying to convince himself that it was. Because that was the end goal all along. His own feelings didn’t matter in the situation. He’d done all this to help Sound find his happiness, so he could perform to his fullest. 

Morning came and went, and he didn’t hear any news. He didn’t know if he would. Even if Sound had secured a boyfriend, would he bother to tell Win about it? Were they even friends now, or just kissing partners? 

His heart ached in his chest. He didn’t want to be just kissing partners, or even just friends. But he’d take what he could get.

He went through his day on autopilot. He was going through the motions, just waiting to hear something from Sound. But the only times he saw Sound during the day were when the rest of Chinzhilla was around. There was no reason for them to be alone, unless they were hanging back in the practice room after everyone else had gone home. 

The memory of their kisses would stay locked in that room forever. 

What made things worse was that, as he stalked the hallways like a zombie between classes, waiting for the inevitable to happen, he had to see happy couples everywhere he looked. People were passing out candy and teddy bears to their loved ones. Heart-shaped stickers were being placed on everyone’s shirt. Win got a few, mainly from Chinzhilla. But none from Sound. He must’ve reserved his stickers for the person he liked.

The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. He just wanted this day to be over.

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket right after his last class ended. Surprisingly, it was a text from Sound. They’d exchanged numbers during one of their dizzying kissing sessions. Sound insisted and Win didn’t argue. He was pretty sure Sound could ask him to do anything when he was drunk on kisses, and he’d agree to it. That was how down bad he’d become. 

He was itching with the need to know if Sound had followed through with his plan.

Sound: Where are you?

Win: The hallway. Did you confess yet?

Sound: Come to the storage closet closest to the practice room. 

That didn’t answer the question at all. He should’ve known. Nothing was easy where Sound Saran was concerned.

Still, he rushed along to the closet Sound mentioned. It was an odd request, but he didn’t even question it. He was just eager to see Sound. 

When he reached the closet, the door opened and a hand shot out, grabbing onto his shirt. He was pulled into the closet, and the door quickly shut behind him.

Space was limited. They had to squeeze in close. Sound’s hands automatically found his waist, and Win sucked in a sharp breath at the tender touch. 

“Hi,” Sound said with a smile, as his thumbs rubbed invisible lines over the sides of Win’s waist. His hands were warm, burning Win through his shirt, and his smile was enchanting. Win couldn’t stop himself from cupping Sound’s cheek and poking his thumb into his dimple. 

“Hi,” he said, short and breathy. Sound’s eyes glazed over as he glanced at Win’s lips, and he knew what that look meant. He knew, and yet he did nothing to stop Sound from leaning in and connecting their lips. 

Other people were leisurely walking around the hallways, getting stickers put on their shirts, and he was kissing Sound Saran in a storage closet. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

Oh well, what was one more kiss? One last hoorah before he had to say goodbye to Sound’s lips for good. He may as well savor it. He wrapped his arms around Sound’s neck, pulling him closer. Sound let out a pleasantly surprised hum and kissed him harder as his reward. 

If this was their last session, he had to make it count. More often than not, he allowed Sound to take the lead during their kisses, so he could learn. That was his excuse, anyways. Really, he just liked getting the daylights kissed out of him by an eager Sound. 

But this time, Win took the initiative, tilting his head and kissing back just as hard. He moved his lips against Sound’s like he wanted to devour him. And, well, that wasn’t far off from the truth. He wanted to keep Sound all for himself, and he made that clear in the way he kissed Sound from every angle possible. 

When the kiss ended, Sound panted into the limited space between them. His lips were puffy and red. Win had done that. A flash of possession bit at his chest. “You were really into that, huh?,” Sound asked.

Win felt his ears going red. He was embarrassed at his own neediness. “Shut up.”

There was a single overhead light that Sound must’ve turned on. Sound had a ton of heart-shaped stickers on his shirt. He felt an ugly swell of jealousy at that. He fisted his hands in the back of Sound’s shirt, feeling some of the stickers crinkle in his hands. “Well, aren’t you popular?”

Sound only grinned, unbothered. “Jealous?”

“Who in their right mind would be jealous of you?” 

Sound raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything else. Instead, he looked Win up and down, like he was absorbing the sight of him. Win was struck with a sudden discomfort. He let go of Sound and took a step back. Not that he could put much space between them, considering how packed tight the closet was. “Did you confess?” 

Sound’s grin lingered. It felt like he was seeing right through Win. Peeking past the curtain that Win was trying so hard to keep closed. “No.”

He felt a sickening sense of relief. Like Sound still belonged to him, at least for a little bit longer. And he hated that selfish, greedy part of him. “Are you chickening out?”

“No. Just waiting for the right time.” 

And just like that, the relief was replaced with a cold dread that filled his veins with ice. He was half-hoping that Sound had changed his mind about confessing. Okay, maybe more than half. Which was ridiculous, because this whole thing had been his idea in the first place. After all the work he did, it would be a waste if it all amounted to nothing.

But it wouldn’t ever be a waste to Win. Their weeks of sneaking kisses would stick in his mind for a lifetime. 

He swallowed down his grief for a relationship that was never meant to form. “Did your crush give you a sticker?”

Sound shook his head. This guy didn’t seem to treat Sound well enough. He didn’t know how lucky he was. Win would treat Sound better, if he was given the pleasure. 

“Sorry, man.”

“You should be.” 

“What the hell does that mean? I was trying to be nice and you-,” Sound cut him off with a kiss. His hands curled harder into the back of Sound’s shirt, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. It was so wrong, because Sound was supposed to be confessing to his crush, not kissing someone else. Sound was biding his time, using Win as his practice dummy to ensure his confession went over smoothly. 

And Win allowed himself to be played like a fool. Anything to extend the tantalizing warmth against his lips. 

Sound mercifully gave his lips a break, only to press kisses over his cheeks again. Every gentle caress of lips against his skin sent a jolt through his heart. “Sound, it’s Valentine’s Day. Save this for the person you like.”

“I am, dumbass.” Sound leaned in for another kiss on the lips before Win could even register his words. But Win didn’t want to keep falling harder and harder for someone who was already reserved. He knew that by the end of this, his heart would be wounded beyond repair, while Sound got to live his best life with his future boyfriend. 

That was fine. He should at least save some of his dignity, this close to the end of things. Win turned his face away, rejecting a kiss for the first time. Sound’s lips landed on his cheek, before he realized that Win had dodged his advances. 

Sound’s eyes flashed with hurt as he pulled away. For the first time in a long time, Sound was placing distance between them, however minuscule that distance was. “Do you not want to kiss me anymore?” 

Sound adopted a pitiful frown, and he looked like his heart was breaking in real time. This was all wrong. Sound wasn’t supposed to be hurting like this. Win was the one who would end up broken, while Sound thrived. 

“That’s not it.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Sound didn’t fly off the handle and start a fight. Instead, he stood quietly, waiting for Win’s response. He was willing to listen. They weren’t just bandmates who fought all the time anymore. They were… something else. Something that came along with trust and patience. He’d come to expect Sound to watch him with quiet acceptance rather than raise his voice in argument. He didn’t even know when exactly that had changed. It was a quiet shift, animosity giving way to comfort in a way neither of them could’ve predicted. 

Win couldn’t turn back time and return their relationship to what it once was. He wouldn’t want to, even if he could. But the least he could do, was preserve a tiny bit of his self-respect and ensure they could stay on friendly terms. 

“These kisses aren’t for me. Not anymore. Actually, they never were, and I-” His words died in his throat. Because Sound’s eyes were blazing infernos, a passionate fire lit in them that was so bright that he had to look down at the floor lest he get burned up and crumble to ash. “I don’t want to accept them on someone else’s behalf anymore.” 

He braced himself for an impact that never came. Rather than being met with anger or disappointment, all he got was a deep sigh. “You really are an idiot,” Sound said, with an odd touch of fondness in his voice. 

“Why are you insulting me? I thought we were past that.”

Sound softened. He ran his fingers through Win’s hair. “We are.”

Win was still looking down at the ground. He didn’t look up, even when Sound started rummaging around in his bag. He would’ve made fun of how ridiculous Sound was, fumbling in this small space to pull something out of his bag. But he didn’t have the heart for it. 

“Look at me,” Sound coaxed, and the warmth creeping into his tone made Win want to listen.

When he looked up, he saw that Sound was holding the box of chocolates he’d shown Win before. The box was in the shape of a heart. It was cheesy. Sound wasn’t the type of person to be cheesy. But he was, just this once, for the sake of being romantic. 

Sound’s cheeks were dusted red when he held the box out towards Win. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” 

Win looked at the box. Then back at Sound. Then back at the box. “Uh… isn’t this for the guy you like?”

Sound nudged the box into his arms. “Yeah. That’s why I’m giving it to you.”

It took Win a few seconds too long to understand what he was getting at. He could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he processed the soft, almost shy look on Sound’s face. The way his hands trembled a bit around the box. The pink that was creeping across his cheeks, softening his expression even further. He’d never seen Sound looking so… gentle.

A matching flush rose to Win’s cheeks, until he was sure he was the same color as the heart-shaped box that he took from Sound’s trembly hands. He felt like he might explode if Sound kept looking at him like that, like Win’s face held all the answers to the universe. His eyes were seeped in adoration and his lips twitched in the corners, like he wanted to smile but he didn’t know if he was allowed to. 

“Oh.” That was all he could say. He could hardly believe it. He’d spent over a month letting Sound Saran kiss his lips until they were numb, all in the name of giving him the confidence he needed to confess. He just wasn’t aware that he was the one Sound was confessing to. He’d spent a whole lot of time feeling guilty for no reason. And just as much time being jealous of himself. 

Sound shifted his weight from one foot to the other, betraying his nervousness. “Do you have anything less stupid to say?”

He held the box of chocolates against his chest, like it was something precious. Because it was. It represented Sound’s heart, which he was handing over to Win. Which meant its rightful place was being pressed against the left side of Win’s chest, where his heart was beating for Sound. “I like you, too.” The relief of letting the truth flow out made him feel lighter than air, even as shyness crept into his senses.

Sound’s lips twitched again, but this time he allowed them to form a smile. “I know.”

“Arrogant much?” 

Sound’s smile deepened as he took a step closer. “Anyone else would’ve figured it out by now, but you’re a special brand of stupid.”

“Is that how you flirt? It sucks.”

“No, this is how I flirt.” He leaned in and pressed a small, short kiss to Win’s lips that left him wanting more. He stroked Win’s hair, his thumb lingering against his hairline as he looked at Win from up close. There were stars in his eyes, tiny galaxies shining just for Win. “So, did my flirting work?”

“Yeah. Only because you learned from the best.” Win carefully shoved the box of chocolates into his bag, then turned back to Sound. He ripped a heart-shaped sticker off his shirt and stuck it on Sound’s, right where his heart sat in his chest. “Happy Valentine’s Day. Now, your crush gave you a sticker. Happy?” 

“Gross,” Sound said, but he was smiling harder than Win had ever seen. Tendrils of joy were sweeping around his irises, and dimples pushed into the apples of his pinkened cheeks. He was beautiful. Win rested his hands on Sound’s cheeks, rubbing his thumb in idle lines against Sound’s skin. He allowed himself to touch Sound in ways he never had before. The barriers between them were completely dissolved. 

Sound’s gaze dropped to his lips. “This means I can keep kissing you as much as I want now, right? Since you’re my Valentine, and all.” 

“Is that all you think about?” 

“Maybe. But I can’t help it.” He leaned in close to Win’s ear and whispered against it. “You look pretty when you’re kiss-drunk.”

This time, Win was the one who pressed his lips against Sound’s. Partly to hide his shyness, and partly just because he wanted to. Sound had been the one to take the initiative so many times. Win wanted him to feel just as needed.

But Sound refused to be a passive partner. He shoved Win against the shelf, perhaps a little too roughly. Not that it hurt Win or anything, but things started falling from the shelf. They laughed between giddy kisses as cleaning objects rained down around them like confetti to celebrate their union.

Now that he knew the kisses were for him, they felt different. Better. He felt like his lips belonged against Sound’s. And maybe they always had, even when he didn’t know it yet. 

As their kiss dissolved into them just pressing their smiles against one another’s, Win knew one thing for certain. He only wanted to kiss Sound Saran for the rest of his life.