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Fuyuhiko was beginning to get pissed off by these damned flowers. It had started with one petal he had coughed up during lunchbreak - Fuyuhiko had rushed to the bathroom ignoring the worried stares from both Kazuichi and Hajime. Now, the petals being coughed up had progressed to whole blooms and blood.
It was fucking irritating. And what pissed Fuyuhiko off more, was that it always interrupted his ability to hang out with his crush friend, Ajax. Ajax was the Ultimate Cover Artist and Fuyuhiko's best friend.
Fuyuhiko had eventually figured out what in the world was happening to him through researching his symptoms online. A few Google searches and reading medical articles later, Fuyuhiko knew he had a previously thought to be fictional disease, Hanahaki.
Today, Ajax was coming over to Fuyuhiko's dorm. The Ultimate Yakuza had cleaned his room top to bottom. He had put up all the weapons and made his bed, with the help of Peko of course. It was 5:30, about 5 minutes before Ajax said they would be coming over.
So, of course, the stupid cough acted up again. Fuyuhiko felt it crawling up his throat, and he barely made it to the bathroom connected to his room before the coughing started.
Fuyuhiko's hand flew to his mouth, coughs – harsh and violent – splattered blood and flowers into his hand. The purple sprouts of aster fell onto the ground as Fuyuhiko's knees buckled.
The Ultimate Yakuza struggled to breath as the flowers came out of his throat. Fuyuhiko squeezed his eyes shut, then he heard the door open. Shit.
"Fuyu? Dude, you in here?" A familiar voice called. It was Ajax. Fuck.
Fuyuhiko forced himself up and shut the door. "B-be right out!" Fuyuhiko called, his voice tight and harsh. Fuyuhiko opened the toilet bowl, hacking up aster and blood.
Red spread in the water, contrasting harshly with the purple blossoms. After what felt like forever, Fuyuhiko quit coughing and stood up on shaking legs. He readjusted his tie and looked towards the door.
Where the shocked Ajax stood. "D-dude, what's going on-?" Ajax whispered, their eyes wide and hands shaking.
"O-oh, shit! Um, it's nothing. Just a fucking cold... yeah," Fuyuhiko muttered the unconvincing lie under his breath. Fuyuhiko's hazel eyes darted away from Ajax's concerned red ones.
"That's not 'just a cold'..." Ajax responded hesitantly. The taller boy walked closer, tilting Fuyuhiko's head up. "What's actually going on?"
"I-I've got Hanahaki disease," Fuyuhiko replied hesitantly before continuing, "It's 'cause I like someone who doesn't like me back.
The grip on Fuyuhiko's chin tightened ever so slightly. "For who?"
"Nobody important..."
"It is important if it's killing you."
Fuyuhiko's eyes widened slightly, and he swallowed more flowers trying to surge up his throat. "It's... it's you, alright? You're the one I fucking like."
"Fuyu... why didn't... why didn't you just tell me?" Ajax asked, a soft chuckle escaping their lips.
"Why didn't I-? Why do you think, you bloke! You're... you're you, and I'm me! I'm the heir to a fucking yakuza clan!" Fuyuhiko answered, pushing Ajax away.
"I like you too." Was Ajax's response after the moment of tense silence. Suddenly, it felt a lot less tense between the pair.
Suddenly, Fuyuhiko's chest seemed lighter when those words slipped from Ajax's mouth. His lungs no longer felt tight and constricted.
"Y-you do?" Fuyuhiko whispered, not bothering to try and force up his rough demeanor.
Ajax smiled widely as he responded, "Yep. And I have for a while, I just thought you'd reject me."
"Y-You bloke, I'd never reject you," Fuyuhiko muttered, though his heart kept racing despite the insult.
"Can I kiss you?" Ajax asked, stepping close to Fuyuhiko once more.
Fuyuhiko's mouth felt dry, his eyes flicked down to Ajax's lips before he nodded. His eyes fluttered closed when Ajax's warm lips met Fuyuhiko's. Maybe things would be alright, maybe they wouldn't.
But at least Fuyuhiko would have the idiot – his idiot – by his side through it.