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Getting used to a ceiling above his head again is harder than Takumi had anticipated. During his first days at the academy he couldn't see himself ever getting comfortable with an open sky, but now that they're on the Satellite, he misses the sun shining on his face and the occasional rainy day.
It's not easy, but they get by. Takumi didn't expect everything to slot back into an easy mundane life. But the four of them make it work somehow. They're not rich, but they have a roof over their head and food in the fridge. It's enough for him.
It's been a couple months since their arrival on the Satellite, and it's today that Darumi is allowed to crack open the jar with savings. Everyone has been putting money aside for the occasion to celebrate.
They're going to the beach. Or, well, the equivalent of it. It's a large artificial beach resort, with a large sand beach and even automated tides.
It makes Takumi miss the coast. There's no fresh breeze here, as much as it tries to imitate the real thing. But they've been planning for this for months and he pushes the melancholic thoughts aside. He's supposed to have fun today.
It's their first vacation trip together. As close to it as it gets, anyway. He wants it to be a good one.
The girls went shopping last week for bikinis and Takumi was not invited. Not even to carry the bags. Yugamu said Tsubasa didn't want him to see hers before they got there. Didn't that stuff only apply to wedding dresses? It's not like Takumi is marrying anyone.
Takumi just put on his basic blue swimming trunks. Once he gets out of the changing cabin and catches up with the girls, he has to stop and stare. Tsubasa and Darumi are posing, signing peace and Darumi pokes out her tongue, arms wrapped around each other. Their two piece bikinis match — Tsubasa's red and Darumi's blue. Darumi is wearing a fishnet shirt over hers, and both of them have their hair bound up into ponytails.
"Yuck! Takumi is already getting hard!" Darumi calls out. "Takumi is going to perv on girls non stop!"
Takumi instinctively covers his crotch. "Th-that's not even true!" he yelps.
Tsubasa giggles. She covers her mouth, but Takumi can still hear it.
"Don't laugh, Tsubasa-sama! Takumi is already undressing Darumi with his lustful glances!" Darumi chirps.
"Am not!" Takumi hisses and screws his eyes shut.
Some people are looking at them. How embarrassing. He doesn't want these strangers to think he's some deviant pervert!
"What are you cuties doing here, hm?" Yugamu's voice reaches Takumi's ears and his hand briefly trails up his spine, sending goosebumps over his arms.
Takumi looks up and his mouth hangs open for a second. Yugamu is wearing a blue speedo that barely possesses enough fabric to cover him. His ass is basically in full display once he passes Takumi.
"O-Omokage! Can't you wear something normal?!" Takumi presses out.
Yugamu shrugs with a bright smile. "What about me is ever normal?"
Why is Takumi even surprised?
Sighing, he catches up to them. Darumi and Tsubasa walk arm in arm, but when Yugamu tries to hold hands with him, Takumi flinches away. Yugamu looks at him for a moment and sighs, before he walks ahead, shoulders drooped.
The beach is beautiful and clean, and yet Takumi almost longingly wishes there was some trash here like back at the coast. The scent of chlorine could never compare to the fresh breeze of the open sea. He can't believe he misses the trash there.
They walk past a group of people roughly their age and someone whistles. Takumi turns around defensively — the last thing he wants is anyone hitting on Tsubasa — but it seems the cat call was addressed to Yugamu. He turns around and waves, and one of the girls in the group shrieks and kicks her feet in excitement.
Takumi turns away. His face is burning and his heart racing. What's the problem? It's not like Yugamu is unattractive. Anyone could see that, and Yugamu can flirt with whoever he wants. So why does it gnaw so much at Takumi? It doesn't bother him! Not at all.
The girls run ahead into the water and Takumi settles on the beach to watch them play for a little while. It's pleasantly warm in the hall and music is playing. He leans back and closes his eyes to relax.
"Hey there, Sumino-kun."
Takumi looks up and finds Yugamu joining him with an ice cold bottle of cola.
"Where were you?" Takumi asks. Shamefully, he hadn't even noticed Yugamu was gone.
"Nowhere," Yugamu says and opens the bottle to take a sip, before offering it to him. "Thirsty?"
Takumi takes the bottle without thinking much and pauses. Yugamu's lips were on it. He just drank out of it. Takumi licks his lips and glances over to Yugamu, but he's not paying any attention. He's waving to someone sitting at the bar and Takumi nearly drops the bottle.
It's a guy with fiery red hair. He's more muscular than Takumi himself, and maybe a little taller. Takumi pinches a bit of fat on his stomach. It's true he's not that in shape anymore, but it's not like that's a bad look on him! He settled down, he's allowed to put on a bit of weight. He doesn't have to look built like that!
The stranger waves and Yugamu sighs.
"Well, have fun," Yugamu says and before Takumi can say anything, he's already walking over to the bar.
Angrily, Takumi gulps down the cola. The fizz rises up in his throat and drips out of his nose, sending Takumi sputtering. He groans and runs a hand through his hair. What's wrong with him today? He feels like he's the only one not having fun here.
He ends up joining the girls for a swim but can't help wishing Yugamu would come along. He's just third wheeling Darumi and Tsubasa at this point. Neither of them pay much attention to his sulking.
Yugamu doesn't show up when they have fast food for lunch and also not when Darumi shows up with popsicles that make her tongue blue.
Takumi isn't entirely sure why he's so upset but he decides he's had enough. If he doesn't say something he's going to explode.
He makes his way over to the beach bar and finds Yugamu still there, running his finger around a glass while chatting with the guy from earlier.
"Hey, Omokage?" Takumi pipes up. His voice sounds awfully high pitched and he cringes.
"Sumino-kun? Did something happen?" Yugamu asks.
Takumi rubs his wrist. "I need to talk to you. Can you come along?"
Yugamu shares a glance with the other guy and pats Takumi's shoulder. "Of course. I'll be right back."
Takumi balls his fists and marches angrily through the sand, kicking it up as he walks. Yugamu falls a little behind and Takumi eventually stops when he feels they're far away enough.
"Who is that?" Takumi asks and nods back to the bar.
Yugamu glances over his shoulder and hums. "Ah, he invited me for a drink. Do you think he'll put a little something into mine while I'm not looking? Eheh... That takes me back to the time I did speed dating sessions. I can still remember all the bruises from that night! Ngh... Don't remember much else from it though."
Takumi raises an eyebrow. He feels like there's something to unpack here. Maybe another time. Right now he's not sure where his head is.
"So, what did you need me for?" Yugamu continues, unbothered by his previous nonchalant statement.
Takumi grits his teeth. "I... I wanted us to have fun together here," he starts. His voice comes out hoarse. Takumi would love to punch himself. He sounds like he's close to tears. He isn't!
Yugamu tilts his head. "But I am having fun."
"Well I'm not! You're not even here!" Takumi blurts out. "You aren't even joining me!"
Yugamu's expression turns level. He crosses his arms and purses his lips.
"Are you jealous, Sumino-kun?"
"That has nothing to do with that!"
Or maybe it does. Yeah, maybe it does. Takumi hates it. Takumi hates someone else looking at Yugamu, someone else talking to Yugamu, and what if Yugamu decides he's better off elsewhere? What would Takumi do if he came home one day to a crumpled note that Yugamu moved out? His chest aches at the thought and angry tears prick his eyes. His lower lip wobbles as he tries to form words.
"If that's everything—" Yugamu says.
He's about to turn away as Takumi leaps forward, grabs his wrist and lands with one knee down in the sand.
"Omokage Yugamu!" Takumi calls out, loud enough that several heads turn towards him, "I want to spend my life with you! Please... Stay by my side."
Yugamu stares at him. He blinks, slowly brings his hand up to cover his mouth and turns red in just a few seconds.
"Sumino-kun... Do you have any idea what you're saying?" he asks quietly.
Somewhere, Takumi can hear people clapping, but he ignores it.
"I'm serious!" he insists. "I... Can I invite you to a drink? I'm not putting anything in it when you're not looking, a-and you can remember it tomorrow!"
"Takumi is finally going for it!" Darumi hollers. He'd be bale to pick out her voice in any crowd. When did she get here?
Takumi refuses to take his eyes off Yugamu.
"I want you!"
"Heh..." Yugamu's hand slowly droops and reveals a wide smirk. "Eheh... When you're so passionate, how could I ever resist?" Yugamu drops to his knees, wraps his arms around Takumi and cradles him tightly. "I wouldn't even mind if you had your way with me!"
"Omokage, I can't breathe!" Takumi whines.
Yugamu nearly crushes him in his arms and presses a wet kiss against Takumi's cheek. Then he pauses, his lips brushing past Takumi's ear.
A slow exhale, warm breath tickling him, and Yugamu talks so softly that Takumi isn't sure he's not going to melt right here.
"I've always only wanted you," Yugamu whispers.
Takumi's heart skips a beat. Yugamu still likes him! Maybe he's not moving out at least.
"Takumi is so greedy!" Darumi calls out. "Picking up a hottie on the beach other people would kill for!"
Yugamu releases his death grip on Takumi and he looks up into the smiling faces of Darumi and Tsubasa.
"Took you long enough. Poor Omokage," Tsubasa notes.
Takumi frowns. "What?"
"He still hasn't figured it out!" Darumi rolls her eyes and grinds her nail against her temple.
Yugamu laughs and pats Takumi's head, while offering him his hand to help him up.
"That's quite alright. Thanks for your help, Darumi-chan."
"Darumi would've liked if Yugamu got abducted honestly," she shrugs, "She would have liked to see Takumi's face over ransom demands! Whatevs."
"Hold on, what does that mean?!" Takumi asks and promptly gets ignored.
Darumi hops on Tsubasa's back, excitedly steering her back to the water. The crowd that has formed around them disperses, leaving Takumi somewhat dumbfounded by what just went down here.
When Yugamu's hand brushes Takumi's this time, he reaches out and grabs on. Yugamu glances at him and bites his lip, blushing again.
Yugamu does not return to the bar.
He looks happier. Takumi feels happier. Whatever that means, he'll probably figure it out later.