Chapter Text
Kiyotaka Ishimaru and Mondo Owada, or as the two claimed they were known as, the ‘bestest bro’s ever’ had reached a milestone in their friendship. It was the second term of the school year, the term in which a year ago, a hellish endurance contest fuelled by the two’s clashing egos had resulted in the greatest promise between men the world has ever seen to be formed.
Today marked their bro-versary, as they liked to call it.
It was a tremendous feat for the two men. Neither of them had managed to maintain such a strong friendship for so long; with Mondo’s temper and sour attitude often causing irreparable damage to his previous friendships, and Kiyotaka’s lack of friendship in the past as a whole. The two of them were stoked to have managed to maintain their strong bond for so long without experiencing as much as a quarrel! The two of them never fought, it just wasn’t the bro way! If by some rare chance that they were to squabble, it was over meaningless things. Like that time in winter when Mondo had yelled at Taka for suddenly holding his hands when they were out in public. Or when Taka had made an insensitive comment that he later learnt had hurt his best bro’s feelings when he was only trying to comfort him.
By communicating with one another about their feelings and helping each-other through their weaknesses; those being Mondo’s unfamiliarity and discomfort with receiving affection from others and Taka’s tendency to be blunt and socially impaired, the two were able to get a better understanding of each-other, thus strengthening their relationship even further and proving that friendship between men is in fact stronger than that of a woman’s! Ha, ha!
Their lack of conflict greatly astounded their peers and teachers too! If you were to ask anybody who the most iconic (insufferable) duo in the school were, the ‘bro’s’ were bound to be mentioned with a fond (annoyed) sigh.
It was strange. Just a couple of months ago. They hadn’t been able to STAND each other. They would get into fights all the time, to the dismay of anyone who was unfortunate enough to have gotten caught in the crossfire when they were just trying to get to damn class.
What was even stranger to some of their peers was how after all this time, the boys had yet to actually have a sleepover together.
“You guys seriously haven’t had a sleepover yet? Weren’t you the ones who said that ‘friendship between men is stronger’ or whatever?”
Aoi Asahina, Mondo’s opp, had said in a mocking tone. He never wanted to have a girl as an enemy, trust me, he was all for respecting women, but somehow Hina always managed to say things that got him riled up.
“Who’s to say that we ain’t had a sleepover before huh?!”
“Taka literally said two seconds ago that he’s never been a sleepover before! Plus, he got all pissy when he saw Sakura leaving my room the first time we had a sleepover together.”
“I presumed Sakura to be a man! W-Which, I am extremely sorry for assuming by the way!”
“….It’s alright.” Sakura continued to eat her rice.
“And regarding the concept of ‘sleep-overs’ as a whole, I just don’t really understand the appeal.”
Hina twirled her donut around her finger as she spoke, “Yeah, because you’ve never been on one!”
Mondo crossed his arms with a scowl. Great, way to make him feel like a shitty friend. Why had they even sat with these chicks again?! Oh, right, Taka somehow gets along with the two of em. Hina, he doesn’t understand, but Sakura, as scary as she appears, was actually alright by his standards.
“Is it really so bad that we haven’t slept in the same room before? The idea of it seems a little unnecessary if I’m being honest.”
“Taka, you do know what sleepovers are don’t you?”
“Well, I assume it is what the name entails. I don’t really see what difference going on ‘sleep- overs’ will make on a friendship. Friends sleeping in the same room just doesn’t sound as appealing as you girls make it seem, in fact, I think it sounds quite bland”
Sakura, who had been quietly allowing the three to bicker, spoke up.
“I have to disagree with you Taka. The name alone is quite misleading, for it is not the act of sleeping that makes the occasion memorable, but the time spent with friends before it.”
“Time spent before sleeping?”
Just as Taka lifted his brows in curiosity, a twinkle shone in his eyes, just as they always did when he was preparing to lock onto new knowledge. Of course, to the untrained eye, all of this is unnoticeable by Taka’s LESSER friends, but of course Mondo noticed, because that’s just how much of a good bro he is.
“Yeah! It’s really fun! You and your friends get to play games, do each-others makeup, eat donuts, watch movies…. It’s like a right of passage in girl world! And it’s exactly what makes friendship between girls so great!”
“R-right of passage?! Wow… I have so much to learn about friendship!”
Geez, this is all making Mondo look bad! He knows his bro has never experienced friendship before, and he’s never even offered him to stay over at his house?! Shit! What kind of friend is he?!
Suddenly Taka’s hand shot up in the air.
“Permission to ask a question?!”
“Geez Taka I’ve told you this already, you don’t have to do that!” Hina blushed.
Heh, it ain’t so funny now that she’s the one blushing at Taka’s sincere formalities now is it?
“Say what ya want bro.”
“Alright then! I do have one concern with what you said regarding sleepovers that I think will ruin my experience as a whole.”
“That is?”
“Amongst the activities you listed, I can’t help but feel concerned by one of them.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you see, I don’t really feel comfortable with getting my make-up done, and I am concerned that if I choose not to participate in that activity, that Mondo’s sleep over experience will be ruined because of me”
Even Mondo had to give him a ‘are you deadass?’ look. He knows his bro has trouble keeping up with key points in conversations, so he tries not to let his bro see his judgemental look. He is still trying after-all. That didn’t stop the girls from giggling a little though. Those better not be condescending giggles…
“Those were just examples of what you could do! Every friend-group does it different! Though if it’s you two having one I imagine that Mondo will just have you styling his hair for a few hours or somethin”
“IS THAT ALL YOU THINK I DO?!”
“You spend HOURS hogging the shower styling that damn hair!”
“My hair ain’t gonna style itself ya know!”
Sakura coughed, once again politely asserting herself into the conversation. “In any case, it is a wonderful experience Taka, I believe that you will enjoy it greatly.”
“Hm… well I have to admit, the way you two have described it makes it seem like a good time! But of course there’s no point in me thinking about it to much, there’s no way my bro and I will be doing that anytime soon-“
“SAYS WHO?!”
“E-excuse me?”
“Listen bro, we’re havin’ a sleepover, TONIGHT! And it’s gonna be the best damn sleepover you ever go to, YOU GOT THAT?!”
Now, he had actually said that all on a whim. It was embarrassing that the two of them had never actually had a sleepover, in fact, the whole time the girls had been talking about it, the more Mondo himself had wished that he and Taka had been on some of their own. Because admittedly…. It did sound like a lot of fun. PLUS, he had to prove to Hina that the two of them were capable of planning a sleepover, and by extension, proving that a bond between men will ALWAYS be better than those shared with women.
But of course, Taka refused the suggestion at first.
“Mondo you can’t just make plans without consulting your parents beforehand! It would be disrespectful!”
The phone call he later had to endure with his mother went as well as he had thought it would. It was a Friday, so really, it was the perfect day for the two of them to have this sleepover, since Taka wouldn’t be as concerned about missing school the next day since it was the weekend! The problem with that however, is that his ma worked late on Thursdays and was already getting sick of his gang members causing a ruckus in their home (often when they had not been invited mind you).
After much shouting on the other end of the line, she had finally agreed. “He better not say nothin’ about the mess, ‘moutta fact, he better not make a mess neither, or he’s outta here, you got that?!”
“Yes ma…”
He could hear Daiya muffled laughter on the other end.
After Mondo had loudly (and overly exaggerated) his announcement that it was ‘Okay’ for his bro to spend the night and that his mother would ‘LOVE’ for him to come over’
Taka became increasingly more willing to participate in their ‘sleep-over’.
Well, willing was an understement. He was actually very ecstatic, as evident by his inability to keep himself still from the excitement he felt throughout the rest of the day. When Taka had said he had never been on a sleepover before, that was really a half truth. He had been camping once with a group of boys for a week back in middle school, where he had been forced to learn the ability to sleep with one eye open throughout the night. But this was different! He knew for a fact that Mondo wouldn’t play any pranks on him!
That day the two of them were just as insufferable to their peers, if not, even more so. The whole school quickly learnt of their plans for after school since the two of them were unable to roam the halls quietly.
“Im so fuckin excited man, it’s gonna be so much fun!”
“I cant wait either Kyoudai! I have never been on a proper sleepover before!”
“That makes it even better dude! Trust me, I’m gonna make this the best sleepover ever for ya! I’ll even get us a bunch’a snacks for us!”
“Oh Mondo, there is no need! You spoil me too much!”
“Oh my GOD. Guys we get it! You’re finally having a sleepover, now can you gaybos keep the flirting to yourselves? You’re gonna make me hurl”
Leave it to Leon to ruin a fond moment.
It felt like a lifetime had passed until the school bell signalling the end of the day had finally rung throughout the school. Mondo’s last lesson had been cancelled before-hand, so he made a quick errand to the store. Unbeknownst to Taka, Mondo had bought the two of them a ton of different snacks, including chocolate bars, popcorn and sodas, and most important of all, sweets! Taka was sure to love that! When Mondo non-chalantly returned to the school, he made a point to hide all of the items he had bought into his jacket pocket before finding his bro, who was waiting for him outside of his dorm room.
“Ah Kyoudai, there you are! I heard that your lesson had been cancelled so I assumed you must have returned to your room. No matter. I have just gotten off of the phone with my father and he would like to know the details regarding our plans.“
Mondo shoved his hands down his pockets, taking great care as to not causing the packets to crinkle as he did so.
“Huh? Like what we’re gonna do? That sorta thing?”
Shit. Mondo hadnt actually thought that far ahead. He was the type to just act on impulse, he preferred to just go with the flow you know? He just figured the two of them would come up with the plans once they got to his house.
“Well, I’m sure he would like to know that too, but I was actually referring to the times and such. What time would you like him to drive us to your place?”
Yikes. Mondo doesn’t do too well in cars. Cramped spaces always put him on edge, and the idea of having to meet his bro’s dad in a situation like that was enough to make him start precipitating.
(Heh, you like that? Mondo’s vocabulary is advancing thanks to his bro!)
“Oh uh… well I kinda just figured we’d take my bike. S’much faster to get to my house that way yknow?”
Plus… his bro hasn’t actually been given the opportunity to take a ride on his hog yet, and this was a special occasion in of itself! It would be the perfect opportunity to show his bro what makes riding so great!
“Oh right, okay then! And what time do you suggest he picks me up tomorrow morning? My father would feel more at ease if he is the one to escort me home if that’s alright with you, of course that is not a jab at your excellent driving skills!”
“Yeah I get that. Uhh whatever time is best for you’s fine, I guess. As long as it ain’t too early though”
“Define ‘too early’.”
“If he comes knocking at 6 a.m my mom’ll kick his ass”
“Oh uh, right okay! Well what time do you suggest he comes by then?”
“I dunno… like… 10 ish?”
“Mondo I don’t think my father will be too pleased with having to wait for so long to pick me up from your place, he works efficiently and hates wasting the day”
“Well shit I dunno! Is 9am good enough for ya?!”
“Yes that is better! I will tell him that then!”
Shit. He’ll have to give his family a heads up. They’re gonna be so pissed they gotta wake up early.