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Hirano was on the way back from university to his apartment when he let out a tired sigh, thinking back on the week he'd had. Calling it exhausting almost felt like an understatement. Between lectures, assignments, and project deadlines, the past few days had blurred together into one continuous headache. Thank god it was finally over. For once, he could spend the evening doing absolutely nothing instead of staying up until two in the morning trying to finish yet another report.
Still, going back to his apartment wasn't exactly something he looked forward to, either. Having his own place should, in theory, be exciting and fun. Sleeping whenever he wanted, eating whatever he wanted, doing late night trips to the convenience store without worrying about curfew… You know, experience the freedom and independence of “adulthood” for the first time or whatever.
The reality was far bleaker than he'd imagined. Sleep happened whenever he could squeeze it in, meals were whatever was quickest between classes and assignments, and convenience store runs usually meant grabbing an energy drink before another all-nighter. The apartment never felt quite right when he was by himself. No matter how much time he spent there, it remained a place where he slept and studied rather than somewhere he belonged. Every night, he unlocked the door to the same stillness waiting on the other side.
Of course, everything felt different when Kagi was around. He had the keys to Hirano's place so he could show up whenever he wanted, but between basketball practices and entry exams, those visits had become far less frequent than Hirano would have liked.
Ugh, I wish I could see him right now, Hirano thought, getting the keys out of his pocket.
Just one evening together would be enough. He didn't need anything special—just Kagi sprawled on the floor doing homework, complaining about practice, stealing half of whatever snacks Hirano bought. Anything was better than another night spent alone in an empty room with his own thoughts.
As soon as he slid the key into the lock, he knew something was different. Hirano couldn't explain it at first. The heaviness that usually greeted him whenever he opened the door simply wasn't there. Instead, a familiar warmth sparked in his chest, spreading through him before he'd even stepped inside. His pulse quickened and, by the time he pushed the door open, anticipation was already bubbling beneath his skin.
He looked down at the genkan and saw a pair of shoes a few numbers bigger than his own. Hirano recognized them instantly, and his heart lurched so suddenly it almost hurt.
“Hirano-san, welcome home!”
Kagi was standing at the end of the short hallway that led to his one-room apartment, his smile so bright it was almost blinding.
Hirano inhaled and exhaled slowly, feeling the tension leave his shoulders while clumsily taking off his shoes. Then he crossed the distance between them in a few quick steps and wrapped his arms around Kagi without hesitation, burying his face against his neck. He felt like a dead battery being recharged, energy slowly returning after running on empty for far too long.
“Yeah, I'm home,” Hirano said as Kagi hugged him back tightly, pulling them even closer together. “Thanks, Kagi-kun.”
They stayed like that for some time. Hirano was usually the one who pulled away first, mumbling something embarrassing if the hug lasted too long, so Kagi found it strange when he didn't.
“Hey, Hirano-san, are you ok?” Kagi asked, pushing back slightly so he could look into his boyfriend's eyes.
“Yeah, everything is fine, don't worry,” Hirano replied, his mouth curving up ever so slightly. "I'm just tired," he admitted. "It's been a long week."
“Oh, I see,” Kagi said, letting go of Hirano and taking a step back. “I'm sorry to show up unannounced, I'm sure you just want to get home and rest. I'll just grab my things and…”
“No, no, no!” Hirano reached out and grabbed Kagi's arm before he could walk away, allegedly going to take his stuff and leave. “No, please, stay. Coming home and finding you here was definitely the best part of my week. I said you could come whenever you wanted, and I meant it. So just… stay for a little bit, ok?”
Kagi's eyes softened, then he grinned. “Ok!” he replied.
"Good," Hirano said, finally letting go of him, moving towards his kitchen. “I'll make us some dinner.”
“Eh? You don't have to go out of your way for me, Hirano-san! I don't want to impose, really.”
“Nah, don't worry about it. I was going to make something for myself, and it's no extra work to cook for two instead.”
“Ok, if you're sure…” Kagi said, moving back to sit on the floor, his homework spread on the center table.
Hirano shook his head with a smile.
“Yes, yes, I'm sure. What are you up to?” he asked, opening the fridge.
“Oh, just studying a bit. Mid-terms are close, so I can't fall behind.”
Hirano couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips, a quiet sense of pride settling in him. Kagi had never exactly been enthusiastic about studying. Back when they shared a room, Hirano practically needed to drag him to his desk some days. Still, with Hirano as his roommate, he didn't have much of a choice. Now that they were no longer together all the time, Hirano would be lying if he said he wasn't concerned about Kagi's ability to keep his grades up. It seemed there was nothing to worry about, though. Kagi was doing just fine on his own.
“I'll let you concentrate while I cook then,” Hirano said, filling a pot with water.
“Ok, but I have some questions that I could use your help with! Could we go over them after dinner?”
It's embarrassing how happy that made Hirano feel. He was proud that Kagi was becoming more independent. Really, he was. But hearing that he still had questions for him, that he still sought him out whenever he got stuck, sent a ridiculous amount of satisfaction through him.
Deep down—or maybe not that deep—Hirano liked being needed. Especially by Kagi.
“Of course we can.” Hirano replied, unable to keep the smile from his face.
Kagi resumed his homework, and Hirano started to chop vegetables. The room was quiet except for the scratch of Kagi's pencil against paper and the occasional clatter of pans from the kitchen. Still, it felt different from the silence Hirano had grown used to. Usually, the silence seemed all consuming, almost suffocating. Now, it felt less like emptiness and more like peace.
The scene was so domestic that Hirano couldn't help imagining it as part of a routine. Coming home to Kagi, making dinner, studying together, eating together… Sleeping together.
Hirano nearly nicked his finger with the knife, his thoughts wandering further than he had intended.
Soon, hopefully, he thought. At least, that was his plan.
“So, how was practice this week?” Hirano asked, sitting next to Kagi while blowing on a spoonful of curry that was still too hot to eat.
“Exhausting. We won't have morning practices starting next week because of exams, so Coach was extra hard on us.”
Kagi took his first bite and his eyes widened as soon as he tasted it. He swallowed almost immediately.
“Hirano-san, this is amazing! Did you really just cook this?”
“Hey, it's still hot! And you eat way too fast, that can't be good for you,” Hirano scolded, trying to ignore the warmth creeping into his cheeks. “It's just curry. It's not exactly difficult to make.”
Kagi either didn't hear him or chose not to listen, already taking another bite. Hirano quickly took a bite of his own food, using the spoon as an excuse to hide the smile threatening to spread across his face. “But… thanks. I'm glad you like it,” he managed to say.
They talked about their week, Hirano going on about group projects that never seemed to go smoothly, while Kagi dramatically complained about the absurd number of free throws his coach had put him through. They were living separate lives now, but it never really felt that way. Between texts, calls, and date nights whenever they could, they still felt close enough to be part of each other's routine.
After dinner and helping Kagi with his homework, Hirano glanced at the clock. It was getting late, close enough to curfew that they couldn't avoid it anymore, and he dreaded the feeling of what came next.
Having Kagi over was the highlight of his week. The problem was what came after, returning to an apartment that felt even emptier than before, like there was too much space for just one person. Still, there wasn’t much he could do about it yet.
“It’s getting pretty late, you should head out before you miss curfew,” Hirano said, unable to hide his disappointment. He didn’t want Kagi to leave, and he wasn’t trying to pretend otherwise.
“Oh… um… yeah, about that…” Kagi hesitated, clearly struggling to find the right words. This wasn’t something they had talked about before, and he wasn’t sure if he was crossing a line. Still, he had to ask.
Hirano furrowed his brows in confusion, waiting for Kagi to continue.
“I don't have morning practice tomorrow… So I was wondering if maybe I could, you know.” Kagi swallowed, gathering his courage. “If I could stay over tonight.”
Hirano's eyes widened, unsure how to react. Was that something he wanted? Yes, very much so, not a single drop of doubt about that. But it hadn't happened before because it wasn't possible. The dorm did roll call every night. If Kagi didn’t show up, they’d notice immediately, and it would turn into calls, explanations, and trouble he didn’t need.
Kagi saw Hirano hesitate and immediately regretted bringing it up. He thought he had, once again, moved too fast. He had the feeling they were on the same page, that Hirano would want this too, but maybe he was wrong.
“Only if you wanted to, of course!” Kagi added quickly, waving his hands a little as if to erase the idea. “It’s totally fine if you’re tired or not ready or— I mean, it was just an idea but really…”
“How?” Hirano interrupted the nervous rambling coming out of Kagi's mouth.
“Huh?” Kagi asked. “What do you mean, how?”
Hirano leaned closer to Kagi, looking deep into his eyes. Kagi couldn't read his expression at all, and that made him even more nervous.
“You have to be back for roll call, so… How would you stay here for the night?”
“Oh!” Realization suddenly hit Kagi. Hirano was just concerned, that was all. “I told my parents I would sleep at a friend's house so we could study together. They called the dorm, so they are not expecting me back tonight.”
“Kagi!” Hirano protested, giving his arm a half-hearted smack. “You can't lie to them like that! What if they find out?”
“Well, technically it wasn’t a lie. We did study together, and you are my friend. Well—boyfriend, but that’s just a detail,” Kagi said with a grin.
Hirano took a deep breath and forced himself to think clearly. He knew he should be the responsible one. He knew he should insist that Kagi follow the rules and go back to the dorm. He knew all that.
And yet…
Just one night wouldn’t hurt, right? Just one night together, after a long week, before everything ahead of them would be ok. They deserved it, right?
He had always been the responsible one, the one who put obligations first. But tonight, having Kagi around didn’t feel like a choice anymore. It felt like something he needed, especially with Kagi right there in front of him.
He moved even closer to Kagiura, their lips almost touching. He could feel Kagi’s breath catch, waiting.
“Just this once, okay?” Hirano said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Kagi grinned, and Hirano closed the remaining space between them.
Kagi’s hands cupped his face almost immediately, and Hirano gave in the moment their lips met. He kissed him back without hesitation, and Kagi answered just as quickly, fingers tightening in his hair as the kiss deepened.
There was barely any space left between them, and it still wasn’t enough. Hirano leaned in further, chasing more until Kagi shifted and they were both lowering onto the floor. Hirano braced himself on one forearm, the other hand gripping Kagi’s hip like an anchor.
Everything about Kagi felt overwhelming in the best way possible. The way his body felt pressed against his own, the way he tasted, the way he responded to his needs so easily. Hirano couldn’t imagine stopping, not even long enough to breathe properly.
Then Kagi hummed softly against his mouth, and the vibration ran straight through him.
It was too much all at once, and Hirano finally pulled back just enough to catch himself, breath uneven.
He looked down at Kagi—flushed, eyes half-lidded, completely kiss-drunk—and that only made things worse. Hirano could feel his restraint slipping further by the second.
This was already too much. He shouldn’t keep going.
“We should…” he started, his voice breaking slightly. Only then did he realize he was panting. He swallowed, took a slow breath, and steadied himself.
“We should probably get ready for bed.”
“Okay,” Kagi said softly.
But he didn’t move. He just stayed there, looking up at Hirano as if waiting for him to decide what came next.
He’s going to be the death of me, Hirano thought as he got up, still a little shaky, and offered Kagi a hand.
Kagi insisted on doing the dishes while Hirano took a bath, arguing that it was only fair since Hirano cooked.
“Come on, let me do this one little thing for you, Hirano-san!” he whined, pouting adorably as he spoke.
Hirano still wasn’t used to being looked after like that, but exhaustion must have been catching up with him, because he gave in more easily than usual.
By the time he got out of the shower, Kagi was just finishing up. Hirano retreated to his bed to wait while Kagi took his turn to freshen up, trying to settle the lingering warmth of the bath—and everything that had happened before it.
Then the bathroom door opened and Hirano looked up.
Kagi stood there in grey sweatpants, hair wet, and… completely shirtless.
Hirano's brain short circuited.
“Ahh, that shower was amazing! The water pressure here is so much better than the dorms, it felt incredible!” Kagi said brightly, as if he hadn’t just completely derailed Hirano’s ability to function.
“Yeah…” Hirano answered automatically, though he hadn’t processed a single word.
Kagi moved toward the center table to put away his homework and Hirano’s eyes followed, hypnotised by the way his muscles contracted with every movement. When Kagi turned toward the kitchen, the sight of his bare back did nothing to help Hirano regain his ability to speak.
He knew Kagi had a nice body, a result of all the hours of training and running he put in. But knowing it and seeing it like this were two very different things. And worse, this wasn’t some accidental glimpse or stolen look while Kagi was changing. This was Kagi, fully on display for Hirano to appreciate.
He swallowed, suddenly very aware of how warm the room felt.
“Did you…” Hirano started, surprised that his voice came out steadier than he felt. “Did you need anything? A toothbrush, deodorant… a shirt?”
He didn’t even notice when he stepped closer. His body moved before his thoughts could catch up, drawn in like it had already made the decision for him.
“No, I brought everything I needed. Thanks, Hirano-san!” Kagi responded, filling a cup with water from the sink.
Hirano stopped right behind him, Kagi’s back still turned toward him, unaware.
For a moment, he just looked at him. Kagi was standing there in his apartment, shirtless, completely at ease, like he had no idea what he was doing to Hirano just by existing like that.
Before he could think better of it, his hand lifted. His fingers brushed along Kagi’s back—light, testing, almost disbelieving.
Kagi startled, the glass in his hand trembling slightly before he set it down and turned.
“Oh, sorry, you just caught me off guard…” he started, but his words trailed off when he saw Hirano’s expression, eyes wide and a shade of blue darker than usual.
Hirano wasn’t hiding anything anymore. His gaze was fixed, intense in a way that felt unfamiliar even to himself, like restraint had already slipped.
Kagi swallowed, feeling like a prey surrounded by his natural predator.
He loved it.
“Can I touch you?” Hirano asked, voice lower, rougher than usual.
“Yes,” Kagi hissed, eyes closing in anticipation.
Hirano’s hand returned, more certain now, sliding against Kagi like he was finally allowing himself to do what he had been holding back all evening. He traced him slowly, as if he was trying to burn it to his memory. His fingers moved down to Kagi's abdomen, drawing a sharp breath from the brunette's mouth, shivers running through his spine.
Then, a single drop of water dripped from Kagi's hair, slowly running down his neck and landing on his collarbone. Self control be damned, Hirano leaned closer to Kagi until he was close enough to lick the water drop.
Kagi's grip tightened on the edge of the counter as soon as Hirano's tongue met his body, the only thing he could hold on to as he felt his knees failing. He didn’t know what made Hirano start acting this way, but he knew he wanted more.
Hirano’s hands were now spread across Kagi’s abs. He started to press open-mouthed kisses along Kagi's neck, gradually working his way up to his ear. Kagi couldn’t breathe, but he felt like he would die if Hirano stopped touching him. He tried to catch his breath, but the dizziness didn’t fade.
When Hirano nipped his earlobe and pulled slightly, Kagi let out a helpless whimper. Hirano's fingers gripped on his abdomen in response, and Kagi felt his composure completely crack.
His hand shot up to Hirano's hair, pulling until their mouths were connected and Kagi could finally get a bit of release of all the tension built up inside him. He kisses Hirano deeply, holding onto him like his life depended on it. Hirano's hands moved to his back, his fingernails slowly digging into Kagi's flesh.
It was all too much, Kagi could feel Hirano everywhere but he still felt hungry for more. He risked grabbing onto Hirano's hips, lifting his shirt slightly so that skin could meet skin. When he finally touched Hirano, he was almost expecting him to flinch and pull. Instead, Hirano leaned into the touch and moaned into Kagi's mouth.
Hirano froze.
The realization hit him all at once, panic taking over. Not about how close they had become, but how completely he had stopped thinking. For the entire evening, he had let himself act on impulse. He had stopped weighing consequences, stopped second-guessing every feeling, stopped being the responsible one for once.
And part of him loved it. That was the problem.
Hirano pulled back slightly, searching Kagi's face as though it held the answer to thoughts he couldn't untangle. His chest felt tight, heat and embarrassment and guilt tangled together until he couldn't tell one from the other. Kagi immediately noticed the change.
"Hirano-san?"
Hirano opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn't know how to explain it. How could he admit that he wasn't scared of what had happened? That he was scared of how much he'd wanted it?
Kagi's expression softened. Slowly, he lifted both hands and cupped Hirano's face. The gesture was so familiar, so gentle, that some of the tension slowly drained out of Hirano.
"You don't have to look so worried," Kagi said quietly. "I know you."
The words were simple, but they landed harder than anything else could have.
"I know how much you think about everything. I know how hard you try to do the right thing all the time.”
Hirano looked away. Being understood so completely felt far too exposing.
"And I know you're probably overthinking this too."
That earned a reluctant huff of laughter. Kagi smiled, as he always did at the sound.
"It's okay, Hirano-san. It's okay to want things, to throw caution out the window once in a while,” he continues, voice steady and certain. “It's okay to let yourself be happy sometimes, too.”
Hirano felt his throat tighten. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Kagi gave him a moment to absorb the words before leaning forward and pressing a brief kiss to his forehead.
"I love you," he said, his hands tightening slightly against Hirano's cheeks. "Not because you're responsible, or because you're always taking care of everyone. I just love you."
Hirano closed his eyes and took a slow breath, like he was finally allowing himself to rest inside the moment instead of analyzing it. When he opened them again, Kagi was still there, watching him with the same unwavering affection.
He silently thanked every deity he could think of for bringing Kagi into his life.
"I love you too, Kagi-kun," Hirano said softly.
“What time do you need to get up tomorrow?” Hirano asked, setting an alarm on his phone.
They were already in bed, tangled together beneath the covers. Kagi had draped himself over Hirano without much care for personal space—an arm slung across his chest, a leg loosely hooked over his side, holding on in a way that felt more instinctive than intentional.
This wasn’t anything new. It wasn’t like they had never shared a bed before when they were roommates for a night or two. But it was still rare, their dorm bed usually too small for both of them.
Kagi wondered if that had been why Hirano had chosen a double bed instead of a twin.
“I don’t have any classes or practice tomorrow morning, so it doesn’t matter,” Kagi murmured, face pressed against the curve of Hirano’s neck.
“Me neither,” Hirano replied after a moment, setting his phone down, no alarm needed.
Hirano’s hand moved almost on its own, finding Kagi’s hair and threading through it slowly, the motion unhurried and absent-minded in the most comfortable way.
Sleep was already starting to pull at him.
“I can’t believe I get to sleep in and wake up next to you,” Kagi said, voice muffled where he was still pressed against him. “I wish we could do this every day.”
Hirano exhaled softly. He was thinking the same thing.
“Well,” he said quietly, “you’re almost done with your last year. After entrance exams and graduation… we could.”
Kagi smiled against his neck, already drifting.
“Not really every day though,” he mumbled. “It’d be impractical to go back and forth all the time…
His voice trailed off, sleep creeping in before the sentence fully finished.
Hirano let out a quiet laugh, and Kagi stirred slightly at the sound.
“What? What’s funny?” he mumbled.
Hirano covered his mouth with the back of his hand, but the smile didn’t go away.
“Kagi-kun,” he said softly, “you really are a dummy.”
“Eh?” Kagi blinked, only half awake.
“That was me asking you to move in with me after graduation.”
Kagi opened his eyes, now fully awake. He looked up at Hirano, still smiling, waiting for his answer as if there had never been any doubt.
Who was he even trying to fool? Of course he was going to say yes.
He leaned up just enough to close the space between them, giving Hirano a slow, unhurried kiss.
When he pulled back, he didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, Hirano-san,” he whispered, like it was the easiest answer he had ever given. “Let’s live together.”