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Ever since Anzai and the others taught Haruka how to play harmless pranks on people, he's found himself playing with Suo's stupid earrings on a regular basis.
They're mesmerizing, long and sparkly and swishing in the lightest breeze. Haruka has never seen jewelry quite like this before and they've been a point of fascination for him ever since he met the other boy, though he'd never admit it. Nowadays, they're just an expected part of Suo's ensemble — and Haruka would find it unsettling to ever see him without them — but even so, he can't stop himself from reaching out and touching them now that he knows he can.
Because Suo lets him.
It's not like Haruka ever actually manages to prank the guy — nor does anybody else. Suo has this uncanny ability to sense them coming, even from his blind side. The guy must have been through some sort of ninja training program, Haruka thinks often. Any other prank, whether it be cold drinks to the nape or a pen to the arm, are easily and swiftly avoided, yet whenever Haruka reaches out towards his ears, Suo remains in place.
"You're like a cat with its favorite toy", his vice captain teases him one day as the group is relaxing in the park and Haruka is once again watching the swinging tassels, sunlight reflecting off the deep red coral. It's almost the exact same color as Suo's eye and not for the first time, Haruka wonders where he got these earrings. Did someone pick them out for him because of this detail?
There's much he's yet to find out about Suo but those are thoughts for a different day. Right now, Haruka's honor is on the line.
"'m not a fuckin' cat", he grumbles and quickly retracts his hand. Still, the continued movements of the earrings draw his eye, watching with rapt attention. He still sees Suo's smug smile though, the asshole. "'s just like, interestin' or whatever."
"Mhm." Suo hums and tilts his head. The earrings move with him, tassels resting on his shoulder like hair. "Of course, of course."
Haruka bites his lip, annoyed by the flush taking over his face. It bothers him at times, how easy he is to embarrass and rile up, but it's a trait of his he finds it hard to change.
"Where'd ya get 'em?", he asks in an effort to divert attention from himself. And because he's genuinely curious.
At his words, Haruka sees Nirei perk up in his periphery, already reaching for his notebook. Suo's page is laughably empty compared to the others, so Haruka's other vice captain is always scrounging for more information about him. This is made considerably more difficult by Suo making up a bunch of bullshit all the time, of course.
"Oh, I haven't told you?", Suo's eye grows wide in fake surprise. Haruka groans in anticipation of whatever ridiculous story they're going to get. "They were given to me by the emperor to thank me for my loyal service!"
Figures that Suo wouldn't tell them. He never mentions anything personal, no truths about himself that aren't accidentally revealed by virtue of him hanging around them. They don't even know where the guy lives, or with whom.
Haruka rolls his eyes, unwilling to engage in this any further, and brings his attention back to the earrings in question. He wonders, not for the first time, whether it hurts to get them done, and how it feels to wear them. Are they heavy? They don't really look it, but it's still additional weight on his ears. How strong are ears even? Do they tickle Suo's neck when he fights?
"Did it hurt?", he mumbles. It's a subconscious act, the words out before Haruka knows he's going to say them. Suo raises an eyebrow.
"When I fell from heaven?"
Haruka smacks his shoulder. Or, well, he would have had Suo not swiftly moved out of the way at the last second. That slippery snake — Haruka will get him one day!
"We both know ya crawled up from hell", Haruka glares, "I meant the fuckin' earrings."
With a chuckle, Suo returns to his previous position, one of his hands raised to touch the jewelry as he considers the question. His fingers are long, elegant, much less calloused and cut up than Haruka's own. The golden tassels swirl around one of them like a dragon climbing up a tower, reminiscent of the picture books Haruka used to see through shop windows.
"I don't remember it well", Suo finally answers. For the life of him, Haruka can barely believe he's getting a genuine response. "But no, I wouldn't say so."
A sly smirk is directed his way.
"Why?", Suo shifts ever so slightly closer to him, "Are you interested, Sakura-kun?"
The question is unexpected enough that Haruka doesn't react to Suo's attempt at riling him up for once. Suo deflates a little when, instead of exploding at him, Haruka furrows his brows in thought. Is he? Interested? He didn't think he was, jewelry has always seemed impractical and frivolous to him as a fighter. Yet, Suo is far from the only Furin boy who indulges in such frivolities, many of them sporting fancy hairstyles, jewelry, or elaborate outfits.
Haruka isn't as untouchable as Suo though, and he prefers it that way. He gets hit a lot in fights, taking kicks and punches to every part of his body, and he knows earrings would make for a prime target. No one can get close enough to Suo to rip out his accessories, but Haruka wouldn't be so lucky.
Still, the idea won't budge from his thoughts, forcing Haruka to keep returning to it. He rotates it in his mind, the mental image of himself with earrings, trying to gauge how he feels about it from every angle.
It'd be fun to try, maybe. He's never done anything to modify his appearance, valiantly refusing to dye his hair or wear contacts to assimilate no matter what it cost him. Earrings would be different, they wouldn't take anything away from his appearance, instead adding something new. He wouldn't have to wear long ones either, so it'd be safer in a fight.
The more time passes, the more appealing the idea becomes, and Haruka thinks it might be quite cool to get his ears pierced. But how to go about it? The obvious person to ask is probably Kiryu, who's got several ear and facial piercings and could point Haruka to a trustworthy shop easily. He'd definitely also tell him all the right ways to take care of them and all that jazz.
But Suo was the one who brought this up, so Haruka feels compelled to speak to him first. He's also not sold on going to a shop and letting some stranger touch and stab him. A shudder travels down his spine at the thought. Yeah, no matter how much his friends might vet someone, Haruka doesn't think he's arrived at a point in his life where he'd be comfortable with that yet.
Honestly, he's a little worried he might try to bite the poor piercer's finger off, shameful as it is to admit.
"Yo, Suo", Haruka eventually works up the courage to talk to him when classes let out that Friday. They're at the school gates, Nirei having gone with Tsugeura to Muscle Power, and Kiryu focused on his phone.
"Yes, Sakura-kun?", his friend replies breezily, already stepping in the direction of Haruka's place. Seems he's going to be walking him home then.
"Who, uh -", he scratches his head, "Who did yer earrings?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Haruka can see Suo turn to look at him. The smirk on his face makes Haruka keep his gaze straight ahead.
"Why do you ask?"
Frustrated, Haruka blows air out of his nose. He wishes Suo wasn't so evasive all the time, how private of a question could that have possibly been?
"Curious", Haruka shrugs, "Kinda wanna get some."
It's stupid to feel embarrassed about this. There's nothing weird or wrong about wanting to get his ears pierced, especially considering he's talking to Suo, but still. There's some sort of strange, inherent shame connected to any expression of desire — no matter how trivial — that Haruka has yet to unlearn.
Suo smiles, and it's much less cunning than before. Haruka finally turns his head to meet his gaze.
"They'd suit you well", his friend says, "I'm sure Kiryu-kun has some recommendations."
Ugh. Of course Suo would say that, considering it was also the first thing Haruka thought of. That's not what he wants, though.
"'m askin' you", Haruka mutters, "Not Kiryu."
That seems to stop Suo in his tracks for just a second. It's odd, sometimes, the way Suo reacts when he's singled out like this. As if he doesn't believe himself to carry any weight, as if he doesn't think he's important enough for his friends to care about his opinion. Which is stupid as hell, since Nirei literally asked him to train him, and people ask him for strategic advice and homework answers all the time.
One day, Haruka wants to crack this guy's skull open and dig around inside.
"Well", Suo responds once he's resettled into his usual self, "I can't recommend anyone."
"Don't want a stupid shop anyway", Haruka shrugs, "Some stranger poking holes in my ears? No thanks."
Suo laughs, and Haruka figures that makes sense. It's a little dumb, isn't it? To say he wants to get his ears pierced but not be willing to actually let a professional do it.
"I could do it for you", Suo suggests with an easy confidence that has Haruka gaping like a fish, "If you want."
Huh? Haruka supposes that's an option. Some people do their own piercings at home, right? It should have been something that occurred to him earlier but he can't berate himself now, too distracted by Suo's offer. His face burns.
"W-what!?"
They've reached Haruka's apartment complex by now, standing together at the bottom of the stairs. The setting sun behind Suo makes for an annoyingly pretty picture, his auburn hair set aflame and those goddamn earrings twinkling in the waning light. The smile on his face is somehow both fond and mischievous.
"It's not unheard of", Suo shrugs, "I can do it."
And he seems so convinced, so self-assured, that Haruka can do nothing but nod. Despite himself, despite the fact that he virtually knows nothing about Suo — and has seen him almost beat an unconscious dude's face in — Haruka trusts Suo implicitly. If anyone was going to get close enough to him to shove a needle through his ears, it might as well be him.
"A'ight, I guess", Haruka shifts his feet, "D'ya need me to get anythin'?"
It seems a little unfair to let Suo do all the work, as there's no way Haruka's going to be able to pay him. What would one even need to pierce their ears at home? It can't take that much, right? Haruka should be able to go buy a needle or whatever.
"Don't worry your pretty little head, Sakura-kun." With a chuckle, Suo ruffles his hair. Haruka attempts to grab onto his wrist and teach him a lesson, but his vice captain evades his advances with ease. "I'll take care of it!"
Before Haruka can react, Suo has taken off down the sidewalk — noticeably in the direction they just came from —, waving goodbye to Haruka over his shoulder.
Well, Haruka thinks as he stomps up the stairs, No going back now.
There's a knock on Haruka's door the next morning.
He's not expecting anyone, so he's still dressed in only a white t-shirt and his briefs when he opens the door to Suo's grinning face. At least he didn't just waltz in this time.
"Sakura-kun!", the other boy trills as he steps into the apartment, not waiting for Haruka's permission to do so, "I brought the supplies!"
Still sleepy, Haruka blinks several times before shutting the door and turning around. He glares at Suo, who's busy toeing off his silly kung fu shoes, a bag clutched in his left hand.
"Now?", is all he manages to ask through the haze his mind still is. Usually, he's much quicker to wake up, always ready to be alert in case of danger, but it seems his brain does not consider Suo a threat. Stupid.
"No better time than the present", Suo taps his chin as he seems to think, "The bathroom should be best."
Haruka has two choices. Either he fights Suo on this and goes back to bed no matter what tricks the other boy decides to pull, or he just lets this happen. Sure, he had no idea that it was going to happen today, especially considering they only talked about it last night, but he does want to do it. So whatever.
"Could've at least texted", Haruka mumbles but diligently leads Suo into his cramped bathroom. He's not sure it's the ideal place for this, as the room is already claustrophobic with one person inside. Two people, and it becomes quite cuddly.
There's not enough room for both of them, Suo's stomach pressing into Haruka's back where they stand trapped between the door — not even fully open because the thing's broken —, the toilet and the bathtub.
Undeterred, Suo drops the bag he's holding and grabs hold of Haruka's arms to maneuver him into a sitting position on the toilet seat. Haruka lets it happen.
"There we go", Suo nods to himself and sits down on the edge of the bathtub, mere centimeters separating them, "Sit tight."
"So, uh", Haruka feels hot under the collar, the room appearing even smaller to him than ever before, "How's this all work?"
For some reason, he finds it difficult to look at Suo directly, instead focusing on his pretty hands as he empties the mystery bag. It contains a packaged set of what Haruka presumes to be needles — though they look strange —, some disinfectant wipes, a pair of simple studs, a pen, a piece of cork, and a lighter, for some reason.
Haruka really hopes Suo doesn't burn his fucking ears off.
"I'll explain while I do it", Suo hums, "Do you still want to?"
A bit late to ask, but oh well. Haruka nods.
Without another word, Suo has his fingers on Haruka's ears. It's a strange sensation, sudden and startling and oddly intimate. Haruka doesn't think anyone's ever touched his earlobes, and he'd never realized how sensitive they were. Suo's hands, cool to the touch and unnaturally steady, brush against his neck as he attempts to draw on the soft skin, eliciting goosebumps to break out all over Haruka's body. His breath hitches despite himself.
"I made a dot here to determine the placement", Suo finally explains, "Check in the mirror if it's alright."
Haruka does just that, standing up on shaky legs to look at himself in the tiny bathroom mirror. The lighting in here is terrible, the light bulb old and flickering, so Haruka's reflection looks sickly and weird, not helped by the sleep still written into his features.
He focuses on his ears instead of making faces at himself, and ascertains that the little black dot Suo drew looks just fine. It's not like there's too many places an earring could go.
Having made his assent known, Haruka sits back down.
"We'll do this ear first", Suo talks as he tears open the plastic package holding the needles, digging one out, "It'll be quick."
The needle, now that Haruka can see it better, appears to be hollow. He eyes it warily, unfamiliar with its appearance and function. As always, Suo notices immediately and quickly assuages his concerns.
"They're piercing needles", he explains, holding it up closer to Haruka's face, "The earring goes in this side, so it can easily be placed in the hole I'm going to make."
Satisfied, Haruka motions for him continue, watching closely as Suo pulls out the lighter and carefully holds the flame up to the tip of the needle.
"Sterilizing it", he smiles at Haruka, "Don't want you to get an infection."
As he does that, he motions for Haruka to pick up the disinfectant wipes.
"Clean your earlobe with one of these."
The sensation as Haruka rubs it on his ear is cold and grainy, but as earlobes aren't particularly large, it's a job quickly done. When he looks back at Suo, the other has killed the flame and seems satisfied with his needle. Seeing Suo's unwavering hands and easy smile, Haruka feels himself relax, turning pliant as he waits for the next step.
Suo's not going to fuck this up, he's certain of it.
"Mhm", Suo hums in contemplation as he shifts this way and that, drawing close to Haruka's ear with the needle several times but never letting it touch him. "I can't get a good angle from here."
Thoughtful, Suo stands up and crowds into Haruka's personal space without a single warning. All of a sudden, the other boy is towering over him, nudging one leg between Haruka's own to get even closer. For a second, Haruka feels lightheaded, forgetting what it is they're supposed to be doing. What the fuck, Suo?
"This is better", Suo mumbles above him, "But…"
Then, he leans down, some of his weight resting on Haruka's thigh. Their faces are still not level, but Haruka now finds himself staring at Suo's jaw in place of his chest, cheeks flushed a painful red as his vice captain is laser-focused on his stupid ear.
Physical proximity has always been a difficult topic for Haruka, and while he's gotten accustomed to his friends touching him — friendly pats, holding hands, even hugs — he's never been this close to any of them for such a prolonged amount of time. He finds himself reacting strangely, dizzy and awkward and clammy as the warmth radiating off of Suo's body and the smell of his cologne permeate Haruka's senses.
"Perfect", Suo quips, fully oblivious to Haruka's struggles, "Ready?"
"Yeah", the word comes out strangled. Oddly, Haruka feels like he's underwater, a buzzing in his ears and sparks of electricity shooting through his veins. His heart is beating too fast and he wonders if he's going to pass out.
The next second, a short-lived but sharp pain startles him out of the trance he was in. It seems Suo has pushed the needle through his ear, the piece of cork pressed to the other side to catch it lest he stab Haruka through the neck. How considerate.
"Alright?", Suo asks. If Haruka were to pay better attention, he'd notice that while Suo's body remains unmovable, his breaths are coming out faster than they ordinarily would, his voice the slightest bit strained. Unfortunately, Haruka is focused on his own racing pulse and shaky hands, and therefore misses it completely.
He nods.
With the utmost care and precision, Suo continues to pull the needle through his ear. It smarts, and the skin is hot and tingly, but Haruka's suffered far worse. In comparison to the injuries he sustained during his fight with Endo, this is child's play.
"I'm pulling the end of the needle through now", Suo warns him, "It's where the earring is so it'll hurt a bit more."
Haruka almost nods again before remembering that he probably shouldn't jostle Suo right now, the other leaning a good bit of his own weight on Haruka as he's literally leading a pointy object through his skin. It's an almost nauseating thought, the idea that someone has just put a hole through his body, touched a soft, unmarred part of him and essentially claimed it. He'll never be able to look at this piercing and not think of who put it there. Somehow, it's not as disquieting of a thought as Haruka feels it should be, rather comforting instead.
Maybe it's the fact that this is something permanent to remember Suo by, the boy who's always so careful not to leave a mark. It makes Haruka feel strangely victorious.
The fastening of the earring does hurt but once again, it's nothing Haruka can't bear with ease. He grits his teeth as Suo puts the stopper on it, and then he's done. With his usual elegance, Suo stands up straight and takes a step back, leaving Haruka alone in his personal bubble once more. He expects to feel relief now that he's able to breathe and think again — at least a little — but to his own mortification, finds himself disappointed.
God, what is happening to him?
"Take a look", Suo encourages him, clearly amused by Haruka's unmoving body and frozen expression. Great, now he looks like an idiot.
In order to remedy this, he quickly gets up and turns to look in the mirror once more. There, in his earlobe that he doesn't think he's ever paid as much attention to as he has today, sits a small, understated stud. It's perfectly centered, the skin around it an angry red, and Haruka finds he quite enjoys the sight of it.
Unbidden, a smile pulls at the corners of his mouth and he nods at Suo through the mirror, the other boy watching carefully from behind him.
"I like it", he says.
With a big grin that, for a reason Haruka can't determine, doesn't quite reach his eye, Suo claps his hands together.
"I'm glad! It suits you wonderfully", Suo's hands are on him, pushing him down by the shoulders so that Haruka is seated on the toilet again, "Let's do the other one."
Right. Haruka has two ears.
He'd almost forgotten that it wasn't over, that he'd have to do all this again. It's not like the piercing part is that bad or anything, it's Suo. His presence, his closeness, his careful fingers and lilting voice — it's all too much. Haruka feels himself blush as Suo repeats the steps on his right ear, his body so close to Haruka's own that even though he's expecting it this time, his eyes almost go cross-eyed from the assault on his senses.
It's not like Suo is imposing, he doesn't smell bad nor is he pushy or overtly touchy. No, he's just doing what Haruka asked him to do in the most practical way, and here Haruka is making it weird. He wants to pretend — keep pretending — that he doesn't know why his breath hitches at the proximity, why his heart is doing somersaults and his palms are sweating rivulets down his wrists, but even he's not stupid enough not to guess at the reason.
So he likes Suo like that. Okay. He can deal with that. Maybe. Hopefully.
Haruka takes a deep breath, trying to ignore the sensation of Suo's fingers and the pen on his skin, and tells himself that he only has to make it through this one more time. It'll be a quick thing and then Suo will leave, and Haruka can freak out or wallow in self-pity or whatever else he feels he has to do in peace. A crush isn't the end of the world, right? Haruka has never had one before, but he's sure he'll figure it out. It can't be harder to manage than becoming grade captain in his first week at a new school.
"-kura-kun?", Suo's concerned voice finally reaches his auditory cortex. Haruka startles, immediately glad that Suo's not yet holding the needle.
"Sorry, what?", his voice comes out too strangled to pass off as casual. He cringes.
Suo leans down farther to look him in the eye. "Are you okay, Sakura-kun?"
Swallowing, Haruka nods.
"Do you want to see the placement?" Suo asks, thankfully accepting his non-verbal response.
"Nah", Haruka replies. He just wants to be done with this. "I trust ya."
Above him, Suo's chest heaves with a deep breath before he leans away for a moment to prepare the needle. Haruka takes the opportunity to collect himself, closing his eyes. He's going to have to learn how to act normal around Suo real fucking fast. Sure, Suo won't always be this close to him, but they spend nigh every waking moment with one another. Haruka cannot afford to blush and lose his head every time Suo turns to look at him or puts a hand on his shoulder. Not only would that be majorly humiliating, but also just plain impractical.
"Thank you for your trust, Sakura-kun", Suo hums in a voice that doesn't manage to sound as cheerful as he must have been hoping for. Instead, Haruka detects a strange melancholy in it. "Get ready."
The warmth of Suo's body once again invades his space as the needle is pushed through his other ear in one swift motion. Haruka barely notices the pain this time, too focused on steadying his breathing and fighting down the blush threatening to deepen on every patch of visible skin. Suo's so soft and solid against him — almost on top of him — the material of his shirt brushing against Haruka's arm and his silky pants tickling his bare legs. It's strange, almost, for Suo to be so real, to feel his weight and heat and smell his scent. A human being, despite what he pretends to be.
In a flash, the second stud finds a home in Haruka's ear, and Suo clears his throat. He hasn't moved yet, and Haruka has to actively suppress the urge to touch him, to reach up with clumsy hands and grab. Images invade his mind, things he's never even thought about before but now finds himself wanting desperately. It's embarrassing, this loss of control over his thoughts and desires, but it's also oddly freeing.
"Done", Suo's voice is breathy above him. Is he nervous too? Haruka doesn't think he's ever seen Suo nervous, didn't know he could be. Which is stupid, in hindsight. He watches as the other boy swallows, his jaw tense, and then — so unexpectedly it causes Haruka to gasp — Suo's hand wanders from his ear to his face.
Softly, the contact featherlight, Suo cups his cheek, his pinky digging into Haruka's neck just below his jaw. Time freezes, as does Haruka's brain, thoughts taken over by nothing but Suo, Suo, Suo. Pathetic, embarrassing, silly. He doesn't move though, too curious to see what Suo is going to do. Too hopeful that he might do what Haruka's been wishing for.
Could Suo — against all odds — like him too?
With trembling hands, Haruka decides to be brave and latches onto Suo's tangzhuang, the material silky between his fingers. Suo's ensuing gasp acts as encouragement and Haruka uses his grip to pull.
They end up in a weird position, kind of uncomfortable, with Suo's other hand grasping Haruka's shoulder and his knees bend, hovering over Haruka's legs in a way that must look quite funny from the outside.
For a minute, they just stare at each other, Haruka fully aware that Suo must be able to feel his fluttering pulse and shaky breaths with the hand still holding onto his jaw. Suo's not faring much better though, as Haruka can feel his legs tremble ever so slightly, his breaths coming out as pants. It's undoing to see Suo like this, the iron grip on his self-control slipping as he tries to make sense of Haruka's intentions.
Feeling like he should say something, Haruka attempts to speak.
"T-thanks", it comes out as a whisper and he regrets it immediately. Suo seems unperturbed though, continuing to stare into Haruka's eyes as if he didn't even hear him, lips slightly parted. What Haruka would give to know what's going on in his head right now. He can almost feel the calculations the other boy must be frantically running through.
"Sakura-kun", Suo finally speaks. His voice is raspy but controlled, still steady. "I -"
In a moment of clarity, Haruka realizes he doesn't want to hear what Suo has to say. The other boy is never honest and Haruka is afraid that if he lets Suo talk, he'll find an excuse to put distance between them again, reestablish their previous dynamic with a well-timed joke and a perfect mask once again placed upon his face. Desperately trying to avoid that, Haruka pulls on his shirt once more and cranes his neck up, capturing Suo's mouth in a clumsy kiss.
He has no clue what he's doing. His face is hotter than his freshly pierced earlobes, his heart erratic and limbs shaking like leaves, but he remains steadfast. Suo's incoming words are smushed between their lips, the kiss open-mouthed and awkward, almost painful in the way their teeth and noses meet. Still, Haruka thinks this could be good, can feel a tingle move up his spine at the contact. If only he knew how to make it good.
Suo pulls back from him before he can figure it out, and Haruka's about to stumble over his words and apologize if he has to, when the other boy dives right back in. It seems Haruka has managed to smash right through Suo's inhibitions, as when their lips meet next, it's amazing.
Suo's grip on his face is firm and almost painful, but Haruka likes it. Haruka allows himself to be maneuvered, his head tilted the way Suo wants it. Perhaps as a reward, the other boy finally lets his body rest on Haruka's legs. He's not quite in his lap, part of his weight still held up by one foot on the ground, but it's a new, terrifyingly good sensation nonetheless. Haruka feels like he's flying as their lips meet over and over again, the two figuring out how this works at breakneck speeds, soft giggles and heated pants exchanged along with saliva and dry pecks.
At some point, Suo's tongue enters the fray and it surprises Haruka enough for him to accidentally hit the flush button with his elbow. The sound is almost enough to destroy the mood, but only almost. It's a bit gross, the feeling of someone else's tongue in his mouth, but it's not actually bad. Not one to be outdone, Haruka returns the favor, messily exploring the ridges of Suo's teeth and nibbling on his bottom lip. It draws a barely noticeable groan out of Suo, and Haruka thinks he never wants to do anything else ever again.
He never knew he could have such an effect on someone, especially on Suo. Cool, calm, collected Suo, always so aloof, so untouchable, now kissing Haruka breathless and making little noises against his mouth, fingers digging into his face so hard they might leave bruises. How refreshing, how exciting.
Eventually, they do part and it suddenly makes everything feel horribly awkward. Under the artificial light of his crappy bathroom, the two of them exist a step apart as they attempt to catch their breaths, disheveled and flushed and undignified. Haruka stares, he can't help it, at this version of Suo he's never been privy to before. Selfishly, he doesn't want to let him go.
"U-uh", he coughs to make his voice sound less breathless but it doesn't work, "Stay for tea?"
Haruka cringes, body melting in its effort to merge with the toilet seat. His earlobes pulsate.
Across from him, Suo shuffles his socked feet but already appears remarkably put together again. His shirt is rumpled, and his lips puffy and red, but he's got his hands folded behind his back, a semblance of his usual smile back in place. It lights a fire in Haruka's chest — anger, surely — at how clear of an act this all is. He doesn't want this Suo right now, he wants the Suo that's willing to stab him and sit in his lap.
This might become a problem.
Still, Suo doesn't turn tail like he expects him to. No, in a surprising turn of events, he chuckles and nods, slowly packing up his bag of piercing supplies before he responds.
"I'd love to, Sakura-kun."