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If Sakae can claim to be adept in any art, it would be culinary. He doesn't consider himself an artist, though, not really, much less a photographer, but his camera roll is packed to the brim with photos he's taken. There's nothing particularly prolific or skilled about anything he's photographed, but they almost all share a common subject: Haruka.
It started in their second year, after a group training session; Haruka and a few of his friends were gathered around, seated by the front steps and laughing, tired, sweaty, but happy. Haruka's laughter had caught Sakae's attention from where he stood with a few of his classmates, and he had found himself taken by the sight. For the briefest of moments, he debated if it would be inappropriate to take a candid photo of Haruka without his knowing, but with Haruka's face alight with mirth and time running against him, Sakae made his move and took the shot.
Even now, on a different phone, Sakae still has that photo. Haruka was embarrassed, of course, because he wouldn't be Haruka if he didn't take find some chagrin in being focused on, but Sakae refused to delete the picture.
From that particular moment on, Sakae decided to start a collection. Their second year saw him taking more photos of Haruka, all unrehearsed, all plainly, honestly Haruka— Haruka at his desk, sidetracked by something someone had said to him, Haruka flushed a deep red over something silly that Sakae no longer remembers, Haruka playing with his phone while stretched out on Sakae's couch. He's not entirely sure why he decided to start capturing Haruka in digital like this; after all, he's not really a skilled photographer and what he's captured over the years is hardly art, but. Maybe it's sentimentality, that trait Haruka likes to tease him over. Maybe it's a need to capture a moment in all its sincerity and commit it to memory for a time down the line when memory might not come so easily.
—-
In their third year, they got pulled out of Sakae's apartment for a night out in a nearby city. Sakae has no photo evidence of the actual outing, but he does have a photo he's particularly fond of as Haruka got ready to go out. Being who they are and were, "getting ready" didn't involve much effort, but Haruka did put in a little effort to look presentable (though Sakae always thinks he looks presentable), and the picture Sakae managed to capture saw Haruka frowning at his reflection as he looked over his button-down shirt with critical eyes. It's a very Haruka image, cute as hell with a frown that almost looks like a pout; even now he can be temperamental about the strangest things.
—-
For graduation, a huge handful of their classmates had gathered at Pothos to celebrate. Again, like with the outing to the city, Sakae has no pictures of their graduation, but he sure as hell has a photo of Haruka— Haruka seated between Kiryu and Nirei, chatting without knowing Sakae had his phone aimed at him. There isn't anything particularly remarkable about this photo; Haruka wears a beautiful, animated grin, but nothing about the photo really conveys, "we just graduated." Be that as it may, Sakae can't bring himself to delete the picture, not just because it's Haruka, but also because it does represent a memorable moment in their lives. By that point in time, Haruka had grown accustomed to Sakae taking pictures of him without his noticing, and while maybe he didn't love it, he at least let Sakae have that little joy.
—-
After graduation, Haruka went straight into the working world while Sakae pursued university. With university, came a change of scenery, life in a new city, miles away from Makochi and everything Sakae had ever known. He can admit without much pride that not a lot of things scare him or leave him nervous, but the move hours from all he had ever called home was one of those things that got to him. Haruka hadn't been very keen on moving either, having unpleasant memories of life outside of Makochi, but he was, and is, more devoted to Sakae than he was nervous about leaving.
They spent the first night in a not yet unpacked apartment. Seated on the couch in a bare living room, surrounded by boxes, they ate a meal of takeout ramen and commiserated with each other over their anxieties about this new life they'd started. The day had been long, between travel and moving everything they owned up several floors, and their late dinner was an exhausted one, so soon after he had finished eating, Haruka fell asleep on the couch against Sakae's leg. Photos of Haruka asleep were few and far between, mostly because while Haruka eventually got used to Sakae taking candid photos of him anywhere and everywhere, he was still particularly fussy about being photographed asleep. But this was a milestone, a major change in their shared life together, it deserved commemoration… even if he'd missed the chance to capture a moment while they were both awake. So on Sakae's camera roll from years ago, Haruka lies dead asleep against Sakae, hand under a rucked-up shirt and mouth slightly open. The sleep of someone who, while nervous about what the road ahead may offer, still felt safe where he was.
----
Haruka's first day of work saw him as a bundle of nerves. He'd remarked that it was ridiculous how his body and brain reacted to things.
"I can fight huge guys that are stronger than me," he said, "But I'm sweating because I have a job?"
Sakae had laughed, but it wasn't really an unfair assessment— this was a move full of firsts for the both of them. Some part of Sakae wanted to break his streak of only capturing Haruka on camera when he wasn't aware and make him pose in front of the door like he was a proud mother taking a picture of her child's first day of school, but he knew Haruka wouldn't have it, and he likes how Haruka looks when he's paying attention to other things. So while Haruka busied himself putting on his shoes, Sakae had taken a photo. Sometimes, when he's focusing, Haruka sticks his tongue out, and Sakae catches the moment whenever he can.
—-
A year into living in the new apartment, Sakae suggested they make use of the porch and bring in some plants, preferably edible plants. Haruka was amenable to the idea— in some ways, it was reminiscent of home and the garden they'd all helped with over the years even after Umemiya graduated. Sakae prioritized herbs, while Haruka, still not in love with vegetables, chose a few that he found least offensive to his palette. As the spring bled into summer, their efforts began to pay off, and at least once a day, they'd spend a little time out on the porch tending to their tiny garden. One of Sakae's favorite photos is simply Haruka crouched in front of a pepper plant, pruning it. Again, while he doesn't consider himself an artist, nor his photos art, there was something about the scene that felt soothing and perfect for capturing.
—-
They have a cat. Initially, when they had talked about adopting a cat, Sakae had his heart set on a black and white one, but Mochi, grey from nose to tail, wiggled her way into their life with a soft mew and a gentle paw on Sakae's cheek. Sakae isn't ashamed to admit he melted a little inside. She's a lively thing, barely two years old and full of too much energy— she races through the house at odd hours of the morning like she's on the hunt, climbs up everything, and chases Haruka and Sakae's toes as they walk. Haruka adores her. He's set aside a half hour of his day solely devoted to entertaining Mochi, which sometimes involves toys on strings and sometimes play wrestling.
"She's not a dog," Sakae teases sometimes, and Haruka sticks his tongue out and wiggles Mochi's butt at him. She nips his hand as a warning and he just laughs.
Inevitably, pictures of Mochi begin to populate Sakae's camera roll, though not quite enough to compete with his Haruka collection, but there's a definite overlap. He's lost count of how many photos and videos he has of Haruka playing with her. Nowadays, Haruka doesn't mind Sakae taking pictures of him asleep, for which Sakae is immensely grateful— how else would he capture moments like this: Haruka stretched out on the floor by the couch, sound asleep with Mochi, on her back like a little person, lying up against Haruka like his tiny twin. Sakae has a few like this, Haruka and Mochi in matching sleeping positions, a big cat and a little cat. His favorites. His family.
——
Haruka gets home from work late, greeted by Mochi at the door chirping at him, and Sakae asleep at the kitchen table, textbook and spiral notebooks open in front of him. Smiling softly to himself, Haruka picks Mochi up and walks over to the table, holding the cat in one arm and reaching out to touch Sakae's arm with the other, but he stops short of making contact. Sakae commemorates so much of their life in digital, but he's absent from so many of the pictures. Perhaps revenge motivates him a little bit in this moment, but an overpowering affection squeezing at his chest also informs his decision to set the cat down quietly and take out his phone.
Sakae would likely never use the word "cute" to describe himself, but right now, Haruka can only think that the sleeping man in front of him is unbearably adorable. He takes the picture, forgetting his shutter sound is on, and while he manages to get the shot he wants, Sakae stirs from the sound.
"Welcome home, Haruka," he says, sleep heavy on his voice. Haruka kisses him. As he pulls back, he goes back to his phone and sets a new background.
"Thanks, Sakae," he replies, grinning to himself as Sakae is sound asleep on his phone wallpaper.