Chapter Text
Kenma fights with the zipper of his suitcase as he tucks the sleeve of a hoodie inside. Packing has never been something he enjoys, not that he has to do it often.
"Are you okay over there?" Shoyo's voice sounds from the phone sitting beside Kenma as he struggles.
"I'm fine," he grunts, finally closing the suitcase. "I tried packing light but we're gonna be gone for a while and I need to fit enough books and games in here to not be bored."
"You're supposed to find ways to entertain yourself on the actual vacation!"
"Yeah, well, a beach resort onsen isn't my first vacation choice, Shoyo."
"Okay, fair."
Down the hall, he can hear his parents discussing plans for the trip they've been meticulously planning and waiting for. They've been saving their money for the better part of a year to take this vacation, and even Kenma isn't cruel enough to ruin it for them, regardless of it being nearly everything he hates.
Heat. Sand. Sun. People.
Nevertheless, he can't allow his parents to feel too let down for choosing a vacation that Kenma wouldn't enjoy, so he plans to play it off and possibly find some shady, quiet places to enjoy his books and games to pass the time. They're going to be there for a week this summer, which isn't too long in retrospect, but it won't feel short in a place like that.
"Maybe you'll meet a cute surfer boy or something," Shoyo jokes over the phone.
Kenma rolls his eyes. "I'd prefer if no one talked to me ever."
The next day, Kenma and his parents board a train to Ito. It's a short ninety minute trip, directly towards the coast. The scenery passing by blurs from shades of green and gray to beige and vibrant blues, capturing a beauty that Kenma has only seen in pictures before. Even though Ito is a town not far from him, he's never been outside his little prefecture in Tokyo.
His eyes fixate on the way the sand seems like lie on the ground in effortless waves that move along with the speed of the train. The ocean is clearer than he'd imagined, shining rays of light all around; a nearly ethereal sight that he can't look away from.
Maybe this vacation won't be so bad.
As the train comes to a stop, Kenma trails behind his excited parents as they find their way to a shuttle parked outside the train station, meant to take them straight to their hotel. His mother is bouncing with joy and his father is smiling gently beside her, carrying her bags and watching her with a happiness that Kenma doesn't see often amidst their busy day to day lives.
The air is salty, a bit windy, but so fresh that it feels like he has stepped into a completely different world. Tokyo's air doesn't feel nearly as nice; if anything, it's often more stuffy than indoors. Kenma takes in a breath of the fresh coastline air and silently hopes the rest of the trip proves to be as nice as this walk from train to shuttle is.
The hotel is nice from the outside, and located directly on the shore. Kenma notices there are a handful of onsen hotels in Ito, but his parents had to choose the one that's on the beach. People are down on the sand and in the water, laughing and relaxing while kids play and teenagers run around. Inside the hotel, it's quiet and peaceful, a gentle air about the place that's far more calming than Kenma had imagined it'd be.
"Allow me to show you to your room," the staff member offers politely, guiding the three towards an elevator.
The room they settle into is large and spacious, one bed near the balcony, while another larger bed is separated by a privacy screen around the corner. Kenma wanders around as his parents discuss what to do with their day, finding a way to open the balcony door and stepping out to see the view of the beach from up high. The room isn't too many floors up; the perfect amount to muffle any sound of passersby on the shore, but close enough to recognize them as they enjoy the sunny weather.
"Kenma, it's almost dinner. Let's go eat early."
The teen feels his stomach rumble and offers no reluctance, following his parents around the hotel until they find the dining area. There are a few other families and couples sitting at tables, to which the three of them follow suit. A kind server brings them starter soups and informs them on the menu for the evening before tending to other duties and leaving the three alone with each other.
With large windows all around on the main floor, the afternoon sun shines a soft, yellow glow through the dining area. Kenma polishes his plate as a shine from across the hall reflects into his eyes, catching his attention. A boy with wild hair carefully puts away clean chopsticks and Kenma can't look away.
He looks a similar age to himself, perhaps taller than Kenma, though. His hair looks as though it's all messy from the beach, and his smile is charming as ever as he walks through the guests seated at different tables. Kenma doesn't realize he's staring until the boy comes up to their table and Kenma's eyes grow wide, his lap suddenly much more interesting to look at.
"May I take your empty dishes?" The boy asks kindly.
Kenma's parents chuckle and smile politely, nodding and helping move their empty dishes forward.
"Kenma," His mom urges.
He looks up and the two boys make eye contact, causing a furious blush to bloom over Kenma's body. Embarrassed, he only mumbles a quick 'thank you' before pulling his phone out and immediately opening a text to Shoyo.
Kenma: you might be onto something. but also not
Shoyo: What does that mean?
Kenma: super cute boy
Shoyo: I have nothing to say except that you should trust me more often. Send pics if you can!!
Kenma: why would i be able to send pics ????? i'm never texting you again
Shoyo: Update me tomorrow!!!!
When Kenma looks up from his phone, the boy is long gone and the table before them is cleared away. His parents don't seem to notice a thing, and he takes the opportunity to excuse himself and head back to the hotel room where he can waste some time playing on his PSP by himself.
Kenma has known he's gay for a long time, but he hasn't told his parents. He doesn't think they'll disown him or anything drastic, but he doesn't want to find out that it could happen. The entire situation feels too heavy and daunting to deal with, and also he doesn't want to be bothered about his dating life right now. He's young and it doesn't even matter.
He's not interested in dating anyway. It's overrated and boring.
The evening slips away and Kenma receives a message from his mom that his parents will be getting massages and be away from the room for a couple more hours. With a silent cheer to himself, Kenma grabs a snack from the room's fridge and sits out on the balcony. The evening sun is nearly gone behind the ocean, blanketing the town in a deep blueish black with scattered yellow lights keeping the streets alive.
Salty ocean air remains the same as earlier, but is somehow softer on the nose without the sun and strong wind. Temperatures dropping lower as the sun disappears leaves for a comfortable atmosphere that Kenma rather enjoys as he relaxes on the balcony and watches the people down below. Some people are just arriving down at the beach, while most are packing their things and walking back up the sand.
His eyes travel along the sand below until he spots that familiar head of wild hair sprinting across the beach. Kenma gasps to himself and scoots his chair as close to the balcony's railing as possible, leaning over the edge, snack in hand. The boy runs towards the water and dives straight into the waves, crashing through them as if he does it every day of his life.
He laughs as he resurfaces, seemingly saying something to a friend several feet away. His laugh is obnoxiously loud enough to hear from the balcony, albeit contagious as Kenma feels a smile creep onto his own face. He watches quietly as the sun fades from the sky, the last of its rays shining into his eyes as we watches the boy below.
Kenma notices the boy talking to a friend and seeing them both point towards the sun and then out to where the rays are shining on the hotel room windows. He doesn't realize he's being too obviously nosy until the wild haired boy stares up at him and freezes his movements. Kenma curses and ducks, hiding behind the covering the railing upholds and silently hoping he wasn't actually caught staring.
What a way to end his night. Admiring a pretty boy… and potentially getting caught.
If Shoyo was here, he'd be laughing hysterically at Kenma's bad luck.
The next morning, Kenma wakes up to an empty hotel room and a note from his parents that they're going to the indoor onsen and he's welcome to join, but otherwise, they can meet up for lunch later. The teen gets dressed in comfortable clothes and finds his way towards the dining area to eat a late breakfast, sitting in the far corner in hopes to avoid the boy from yesterday.
As he eats the warming soup before him, someone joins him at his table, startling him. Kenma's heart sinks when he looks up.
The boy with the wild hair and contagious smile.
"Yummy soup?" He asks.
Kenma hums, unable to speak in front of the pretty boy. Equal parts embarrassed and nervous, he continues eating and pretends his new company isn't even there. Surprisingly, his behavior doesn't sway the boy's efforts as he keeps talking to Kenma, seemingly unbothered by his non-responsiveness.
"Not much of a talker, I see. My name is Tetsurou," he smiles, taking a bite of his food that Kenma now realizes he has in front of him. "You don't have to tell me yours if you don't want to, it's okay."
The clouds in the sky move just enough to leave the sun shining annoyingly over Kenma, which he attempts to ignore now that he has company sitting in front of him. Tetsurou stands up and silently pulls the window shade down, continuing his meal amongst the quiet hum of the dining area. His hair is just as wild as yesterday, and Kenma wonders if it's always like that. He wants to ask, but it'd be rude, so he refrains and eats quietly.
"Your parents are having a great time, I've noticed. I take it it's just you and them. I'm the same way, it's just me and my dad. You haven't started high school yet, right? I thought maybe you'd be a middle school second year. I'm a high school first year, by the way."
Kenma nods, observing how Tetsurou begins rambling the longer he's talking to him. It's endearing and makes his heart swell, regardless of how much he's reprimanding himself in his mind.
"You should come down to the beach later today! I'll be out there with my friends, but there will be a nice place for you to sit in the shade." Tetsurou smiles widely. "To the right of the hotel, there's a volleyball net. Around 3pm!"
Without giving a yes or no to Tetsurou's offer, Kenma sets down his empty bowl and the taller boy stacks it with his own and stands. Someone then calls his name from down the hall, so he gives Kenma a wave and jogs off with their dishes in hand, leaving the younger boy to wallow in his feelings of this stranger who has seemingly found him to be the most interesting part of this resort. Kenma shakes his head and pulls out his PSP, finding a quiet corner to waste away a few hours before lunch.
"Are you gonna go?" Shoyo asks.
"I don't know… it's gonna be outside."
"He said there would be a shady spot for you to sit. He already knows you so well!"
"Shut up, he doesn't even know my name."
"You haven't told him your name?!"
"Stop yelling. I haven't even spoken to him. He just found me this morning and started talking. You know how I feel about strangers."
Shoyo giggles on the other side of the phone which makes Kenma preemptively rolls his eyes. "But this stranger is cute and nice to you! Maybe you'll get your first kiss this summer."
"Okay I'm done with this conversation. Bye."
"Bye, loverboy!!"
Kenma pockets his phone and sighs before walking out the front entrance of the hotel and slowly pacing towards the right. He's wearing black shades as he navigates towards the shadiest parts of the sand, spotting the corner of a volleyball net as Tetsurou had mentioned earlier. His nerves kick up the closer he gets, especially when he arrives and sees Tetsurou in all his sweaty, half naked glory.
Kenma: i need to be sedated
Shoyo: I bet he's super hot!!!!! Send pics!!!
Ignoring his friend's response, Kenma paces up towards the side of the net and finds a shaded seat to sit in, silently opening a game on his PSP. The game goes unplayed as Kenma stares at the volleyball game in front of him, specifically at Tetsurou, until the wild haired boy spots him and beams a bright smile.
"Hey!" He waves, signaling to his friends to take a break. Tetsurou jogs over and plops down next to Kenma.
"You came!"
"Mhmm," Kenma hums.
"I'd offer for you to join the game, but I don't think you want to and that's okay. I'll keep taking breaks to see you though!"
He runs off once again, continuing the volleyball game. Kenma rests where he is, not paying an ounce of attention to his PSP as he texts Shoyo and ogles silently.
Tetsurou is tall and strong, the summer sun has tanned his skin to a golden tone that shines gloriously in the sunlight. A high school boy is interested in him and even though Kenma feels like a fish out of water, he'll happily sit to the side and go where he's invited when the boy is kind and happy to see him. The afternoon passes slowly but leisurely as the two boys go about their time in close proximity.
After playing for a while, Tetsurou bids his friends farewell and holds out a hand for Kenma to grab. "Wanna go get a snack?"
And who is Kenma to say no? He nods and takes Tetsurou's hand, a bolt of electricity shooting through his body from his fingertips where he touches the larger, rougher hand, all the way down to his toes that touch the sand as he stands up. They pace inside and the company of the older boy starts growing on Kenma.
"Kenma," he says quietly, glancing up at Tetsurou who now is looking down at him with wide eyes and pink cheeks. From playing in the sun, obviously.
"Kenma," Tetsurou repeats. "I like that name."
"Are you on vacation too?"
Tetsurou's surprised look washes away with the question and he straightens up. "Nah, my dad works in the kitchen. He's friends with the hotel owner and has been running the kitchen since before I was born. So we live here."
Kenma nods quietly, taking in the new knowledge that Tetsurou lives here and is at this hotel permanently. It's likely he goes to school in town and his friends down on the beach are locals, but he must come across hundreds and thousands of travelers every year. Kenma is likely no different than everyone else he meets.
"This way," Tetsurou calls as he gestures for Kenma to follow him around a corner.
They enter a door in a hallway that looks like he's not supposed to enter, and he'd be correct. The two boys walk into the hotel kitchen; large, clean, and adorned with tiled floors and metal table tops. Tetsurou notices Kenma's hesitancy and holds his hand out, but Kenma shakes his head and just stands a bit closer to him as they walk through the large kitchen.
"Papa!" Tetsurou announces his presence as a man comes into view.
He's tall, like Tetsurou. Short, but messy hair, and a few tattoos peaking out from under his rolled up sleeves as he kneads some dough on the counter. He looks a lot like Tetsurou and Kenma wonders if Tetsurou would have tattoos like that when he got older too.
"Tetsu! And friend. There's a snack in the right fridge you can grab."
"Thanks!"
"Thank you," Kenma squeaks.
Nothing else is said, and it seems like Tetsurou's dad doesn't plan on saying anything to Kenma. A man of few words, unlike his outgoing son. With a large breath of relief, the two boys leave the kitchen and find a quiet corner out on the main patio to sit and enjoy their fresh fruit and cookies together.
Time with Tetsurou feels easier the more they meet up and Kenma wonders what it would be like to have someone like this all the time at home. Someone who would spend time with him at school in ways that aren't like Shoyo prefers. Shoyo is a great friend, Kenma's best friend, but he's far too energetic to sit down with Kenma for very long and just relax. Here at the resort, Tetsurou finds places to sit with Kenma, talks about what it's like growing up living in a hotel, listens to Kenma's complaints about school in a big city.
Tetsurou takes Kenma back to the volleyball area the next day and teaches him how to play volleyball. He's instantly jealous of Kenma's innate ability to keep track of the game and the players, but cheers for him every step of the learning process. Kenma lets Tetsurou have a go at his PSP, showing him how to use the controls and watching with horror as he tries his very best, only to do absolutely terrible.
"You're not very good at this," Kenma mumbles as he sits next to Tetsurou, leaning on his arm to see the screen in his hands.
"I've never played video games before! How am I supposed to get my fingers to hit these tiny buttons at the right time?!"
Another day, Tetsurou takes Kenma around the streets surrounding the hotel with a promise that they won't wander too far since Kenma is supposed to stay at the hotel. Kenma sees open market stalls and kind aunties greeting him as they pass and the atmosphere is so relaxing that he wouldn't mind being here all of the time. The town feels slow-paced and as raw and real as life comes; showing the ins and outs of daily life without sugar coating any of it.
Kenma learns so much about Tetsurou's life here in Ito while doing his best to explain what it's like being in a city and going to a much bigger school. The older boy takes Kenma to the rooftop of the hotel, finds hidden quiet places to relax, stops for snacks and learns what Kenma likes most… it's truly an experience that Kenma could have ever imagined possible.
A few days later, Kenma sits at dinner with his parents a little more cheerful than usual, but still not giving a single thought of mentioning this new friend he's made.
"May I take your dishes?" Tetsurou chimes as Kenma is sitting across from his parents.
At the same time he asks, Tetsurou sets down a small bowl of fresh fruit in front of Kenma, much like the ones he's consistently gotten for their midday snack from his dad. Kenma blushes at first and then realizes his parents are sitting in front of him and his eyes go wide. With a quick glance to Tetsurou, silently begging him not to act like they know each other, the older boy straightens up knowingly.
Kenma's parents thank him and hand over a few dishes and Tetsurou courteously says, "Fresh fruit is good for kids after a warm soup." Which makes the two adults nod and continue their previous conversation with each other.
Walking off with the dishes, Kenma watches and Tetsurou turns around once he's behind his parents and sends a wink Kenma's way. It's not that he doesn't think Tetsurou is a fine person for his parents to meet, honestly he thinks Tetsurou would get along with his parents a little too well. It's truly just the possibility of coming out and potentially spoiling a vacation his parents have been planning for many, many months. It's not in the cards.
What a tragedy it'd be if they found out Kenma is gay and they weren't happy about it, all while being at a beach resort in Ito. Horrifying.
Kenma: i can't believe i had to meet this guy here i'm so mad
Shoyo: Awww, shape up Kenma! Just pack him in your suitcase
Kenma: like he'd even fit
"Kenma, sweetie, is there anything you'd like to do before leaving tomorrow afternoon?" His mother asks.
Tomorrow.
The teenager sighs, his heart growing heavy as reality comes crashing down. He's known the entire time he's been here that they'd only be here for a week, but it feels cruel now that he's grown attached. Kenma mentions they should go to the outdoor onsen the hotel has up high one more time before leaving while he snacks on his fruit.
Tetsurou wanders back over through the dining area one last time to gather dishes from the neighboring tables, indiscreetly passing by Kenma and dropping a small piece of paper on the ground next to him. Kenma glances down at it, up at his distracted parents, and then drops his phone, picking up the paper at the same time as his phone.
Meet me at the volleyball nets at 2 :)
Stuffing the note into his pocket, Kenma and his parents head to their room to prepare for the visiting the onsen one last time before their vacation ends that now feels much too short.
He had previously assumed the week long trip would feel torturous and take forever to end, but here Kenma is, wishing it lasted longer and feeling like he didn't get enough time with Tetsurou. After the onsen, Kenma excuses himself from his parents and head towards the nets like the note had said. He smiles gently when he sees Tetsurou sitting on a chair in the shade with none of his friends around.
"Kenma!" He shouts.
Tetsurou sits up as the younger boy walks over and stop in front of him, their height difference not leaving Kenma a whole lot taller than a sitting Tetsurou.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," he blurts out. "Sorry, there was probably a better way to say that."
He watches as plethora of emotions fly across Tetsurou's face. Shock, upset, sadness, all ending up with a small smile. "Well then we better make today count, huh?"
Kenma feels a weight of worry lift off his shoulders as he smiles with a nod. Without a moment to waste, Tetsurou takes Kenma's smaller hand and pulls him across the beach. The two boys spend time down by the water finding seashells, which Tetsurou finds a gorgeous blue one that he gives to Kenma. They get ice cream at the local shop down the street from the beach and walk around together while eating it.
The entire afternoon, the older boy takes Kenma to do as much as he can think of in the time they have, holding that charming smile on his face the entire time. Kenma is so taken by him that he hardly notices it's time for him to meet up with his parents for dinner.
"Gotta go so soon?" Tetsurou asks, nudging Kenma jokingly.
"Sadly."
"Will you meet me on the third level balcony at 8 tonight? There's one last thing I wanna show you."
Kenma looks up into Tetsurou's honey-colored eyes and nods, trying to avoid holding a sad expression as he accepts. When they part, Kenma feels lower than he had that morning and can't even bother to hide it from his parents. Dinner is over quickly and Kenma tells them he's going on a walk before bed. They offer to go with him and he declines, saying he wants to have one more moment of time by himself before they travel tomorrow.
The time is just after 8pm when he finally gets away from his parents and Kenma rushes up to the third level and quickly pads out to the balcony. Tetsurou sits on a bench off to the side, staring out at the navy ocean, the sun long sunk behind its border.
"Tetsurou," Kenma calls as he walks up to him.
"You made it! I knew you'd come."
Kenma smirks a little and sits next to him. "You were worried I'd ditch."
"Was not!"
"You were, I can tell. But I'm here."
They sit in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company. Kenma watches the soft waves of the ocean as he revels in the heat radiating from Tetsurou's warm skin as their arms sit flesh against each other. His breathing is even and flows like the water, calm and collected.
"Maybe we can come back next summer," Kenma mutters, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. Maybe."
Kenma feels at a loss, unsure of what to do when he hears the sound of a firework in the distance. He looks up to see a magnificent show of light in the night sky and then turns towards Tetsurou who's smiling down at Kenma.
"Is this what you wanted to show me?"
Tetsurou nods, his smile growing as Kenma's surprise is evident. The younger boy stands and walks to the edge of the balcony to admire the fireworks show that begins to take shape. All types of colors and patterns litter the sky as Tetsurou explains that Ito does regular fireworks shows during the summer.
The two boys stand next to each other, their shoulders and arm pressed up against the other as the fireworks continue to explode in the sky, lighting up the sharp features on Tetsurou's face, which Kenma is now terribly distracted by. Tetsurou looks down at Kenma at one point and the dark of the night hardens Kenma's bravery; he doesn't look away.
"I'm gonna try something," Tetsurou mumbles as he leans closer.
Kenma naturally leans closer all the same and soon their faces are so close that he can feel Tetsurou's breath fanning on his nose. The heart in his chest beats wildly as he's closer to any person than he has ever been, but he wouldn't change it for the world. A large firework shoots up into the sky and the golden hue of light shines brilliantly in the night as Tetsurou closes the gap between them and kisses Kenma tenderly on the lips.
He expects it to happen, but the moment it really does happen, Kenma feels like he's floating. Nothing in the world can top the feeling of Tetsurou's lips on his. The kiss is soft and short, not nearly as long as it feels. When the golden firework fades away and the night wraps around them like a warm blanket, Tetsurou brings Kenma in for a hug.
A soft, comforting, loving hug.
It's nicer than a Shoyo hug; more encompassing and tender. It feels more meaningful than a hug from his parents too. Kenma doesn't let many people hug him or touch him at all, but he wishes, as his cheek is pressed snugly against Tetsurou's chest, that this never ends.
"Cheer up, Kenma! Now you have a summer romance to dream about for the rest of your life. Maybe when you have kids in the future and one of them asks 'when was the first time you fell in love?' You will reminisce on your week-long trip to an onsen hotel in Ito!"
Shoyo's attempt at lifting Kenma's mood is fruitless. The usually quiet teen is more down than he's ever been, left wondering if he'll ever get to see Tetsurou again.
The days feel longer without the perfect company, and the rest of summer vacation drags on in torturous rhythm as Kenma does nothing but play games, hang out with Shoyo, and dream about Tetsurou. When school picks back up, he gets caught in the whirlwind of life; thoughts of the boy back at the beach in Ito making home in a corner of his mind.
The trajectory of his life had begun to play out in a way that intrinsically interfered with his daily thoughts, digging deeper each time those memories would resurface. Images of coastline sunsets and seashells filter in his field of vision from time to time, reminding him of the moments when he felt happiest.
A boy living a life he had once found little joy in, finally found what seemed to be missing, only for it to be snatched away so quickly.
Kenma hadn't expected much from the vacation his parents dragged him to, but that week in the summer gave him things he never saw coming.