Chapter Text
Mitsuki Kiryu/Kyotaro Sugishita | Rarepair
They hadn't noticed at first, it was casual and something everyone was used to by now. Kiryu had always been the most affectionate out of all of them in their group. He got along with everyone in the first year, talked with anyone as if they had been friends forever.
Sometimes asked questions that were a little too personal but not to harm anyone, only to get to know them better. Kiryu always had a way with conversation that made people wonder what he was getting out of it.
He truly had no ill intention, only to make light conversation and when the pink-haired boy didn't have the energy, he would put on his earbuds and play games on his phone to pass time.
Kiryu had the look of not caring for anything, with his doe-like features. Soft eyes, warm smiles and his gentle laughs. The piercings on his face were to deceive others that never took him seriously, he had so much to say but gave out so little at times.
So this was no different from the group, when Kiryu would come up to any of them and wrap his arms around them, stand too closely in a conversation, or even share a drink with someone else.
Tsugeura was the one Kiryu mostly stuck close to, they messaged each other daily. Random conversation would come up over the main conversation in their group only they would understand.
He would encourage Tsugeura with his bad ideas, pull out his phone and snap photos of their ridiculous moments and send them to the group chat. Kiryu had even visited Tsugeura’s house a few times to casually hang out on the weekend when they didn't have to go on patrol or do school work.
But the first time Kiryu was casual with Sugishita came with no surprise. The group was taking a break from repotting some new plants that Umemiya had brought the other day, they all took a seat at one of the picnic tables with drinks and a few snacks they were saving.
Kiryu had asked the taller boy to open his bottled green tea. Because for some reason he couldn't, handing it over to him.
Sugishita took it without much thought and twisted the cap and gave it back without a grunt.
Kiryu thanked him with his sweet voice and took a sip, returning back to whatever the group was talking about just seconds ago.
The second time it happened, eyes stayed on them for a little longer.
They were outside on the other side of the school, not far from their track field. A nice breeze had started that early evening, the bushes that were planted out there were waving in the wind. And the boys were huddling close whilst Nirei showed them all a video of someone reacting to a film that had just come out.
Going on about how they should all go to the theater to see if it was worth the hype, asking them when they were all available. The small group had become closer in the past few weeks and Nirei was getting everyone on board, surprisingly.
Sugishita hadn't responded and was leaning against the concrete wall, looking out in the distance. Could have completely ignored the whole conversation if it wasn't for Kiryu, who had aimlessly taken a few steps over to him to rest his head against his lanky shoulder. "We'll be there, right Sugi-chan?" Kiryu responded.
They didn't even look at each other, Sugishita didn't even move a muscle to get away from the younger boy. All he did was hum back and continued to look on from afar, as Kiryu let his whole body relax from that point on, and Nirei was the one that took notice first.
Nirei took great attention to detail, could tell everyone's mood by the way they stood. Could feel the change of anyone's demeanor, so this wasn't anything different to him. He knew how affectionate Kiryu could be, but this was something new.
He took a second glance, some seconds more and then went back to watching his video. Suo did the same, letting out a quiet laugh that no one caught. Tsugeura was very much used to this. They put their focus back on the video until they eventually had to head home.
The third time, Sakura was the first to notice. They all agreed to meet at a park close to Tsugeura's place, Nirei and Suo got there first and soon after Tsugeura. Some ten minutes passed when Sakura came from the other end of the park, they were tasked to take the south side of the city this time. Second years were sent off on something short notice and couldn't take that part for the time being.
It wasn't long after when the last two showed up, all four could see from afar Sugishita's tall form and right next to him was Kiryu's. Sakura could care less for details, but the way Sugishita held something in his hand caught the boy's attention.
The taller boy was one to never carry anything with him, never had extra luggage with him, wallet and keys always in the back of his pants pocket. He was the last person to ask to carry anything for anyone, but there he was, holding Kiryu's school jacket in hand.
It was one of the warmer days of that week, there were complaints about being outside but nothing more. They had to get through the day without protest from anyone, they weren't middle schoolers anymore.
When the two boys finally arrived, Sugishita tossed the jacket over his shoulder to free his hands. Kiryu greeted the rest and apologized for being late, no one mentioned anything but Sakura kept his eyes on Sugishita. Wondering how unbothered he looked with someone else's stuff on him, he never liked sharing or giving a hand unless Umemiya had ordered him to do so.
But Sakura brushed it off not long after, too busy keeping everyone in check as they made their way through the city. Captains never had time for rumors or nonsense from other students, there was nothing concerning about what was going on between Sugishita and Kiryu.
By the fourth it didn't matter what was going on between the two. Nirei and Kiryu wanted to get drinks from the new shop that opened at the mall. So they all were dragged along to enjoy their Friday evening inside a busy center, people window shopping and parents taking their kids to the arcades.
They all ended up in the area with all the claw machines and capsule toy machines. Tsugeura was attempting for the second time, since Suo had said how easy those games were. Suo and Nirei watched him fail again and put more money in, hoping the third time he'd finally be lucky.
On the other side, Kiryu had asked Sugishita to get him one of those bunny stuffed animals everyone has been carrying around. He didn't need to ask twice, watched as the taller boy concentrated really hard on the game in front of him. Took him less than a minute as the small claw held onto the toy and carefully moved to drop it off.
Kiryu did a little cheer and thanked Sugishita as he squeezed the stuffed bunny in his hands, whilst next to them Sakura struggled to win his toy from the claw machine. Sugishita watched for a while and let out a snicker, feeling triumph in his own win. The group left soon after with Kiryu being the only one going home with a prize.
No one wanted to bring it up, it had gone on far too long and it was rude to ask now.
Suo had mentioned that there was a new restaurant opening up in the city, that they should all go check it out. It didn't take much convincing for the group to agree on the day, even Sakura looked interested in going with them.
It was an old style teppanyaki restaurant, dimly lit and with a fresh smell of citrus and grilled meat. They all filled into a booth, looking at the menu right away, so many options to begin with. They eventually had what they wanted as a group and began ordering, the sounds of the tender meat searing on the grill. The smoke rises, clinking off their drinks and chopsticks, as they pick at the side dishes on the table.
Everyone talked over each other as they ate at the same time, ordering more vegetables and noodles. They took turns cooking the meat and taking pieces off the grill, Sugishita had already taken three thick pieces and decided to give Kiryu one of his pieces and also place another one from the grill on the younger boy's plate.
Kiryu looked over to him and smiled shyly as he took the slices of meat and ate. He shared his rice with Sugishita as they waited for more, distracted in their own world.
Sakura attempted to clear his throat in all of this, being the one sitting right across them. It was so obvious at this point but Sakura couldn't bring himself to say it out loud, not with how red his face became the more he continued watching.
Sugishita, with an annoyed look on his face, stared right back at Sakura. Just giving the other boy a few seconds of his time to give his attention right back to Kiryu. It brought a laugh out of Suo as he noticed as well. "It's a bit rude to stare, Sakura-san." Suo said with mirth.
If Sugishita didn't mind, Kiryu knew it would be okay to hold onto their feelings for as long as they could.