Archive of Our Own

The wild, legendary night when Sakura defended his own honor and punched Endo in the jaw had eventually become old news.

Within a week, Class 1-1 was done with their teasing, Sakura had stopped screaming every time someone mentioned his failed date with Endo - I told ya! It was not a fucking date, you bastards! - and the classroom had settled back into its normal, constant banter.

Yes, everything seemed perfectly back to normal.

Except for the fact that Suo Hayato was currently facing a completely new and far more dangerous threat materializing right before his single eye.

Okay… he wasn't stupid, of course.

So it’s not like he didn’t know those two - the love of his life and Shishitoren's second in command - were getting close to each other, too close, honestly, but until Endo’s clumsy attempt at actually making a move on Sakura, Suo had been, quite naively, thinking something like, ok, we all are infatuated with him; how could we not? But it’s not like someone is going to try to date him for real.

Suo was talking about the entire teenage population of boys and girls in Makochi, and he firmly believed everyone could easily understand that none of them was good enough for Sakura. In the aftermath of Endo’s bruised cheek, though, it was like a few of them might have finally realized that Sakura was… one, very, very single and available, and two, not so averse to going on a date with someone who simply invited him out for dinner. So now literally everyone, male, female, and anything in between, could be a threat.

But it was much worse than that. Because this someone especially could be a truly dangerous one.

Togame Jo played on a different level entirely.

It had started subtly after the summer festival. Suo had already noticed the frequent buzz of Sakura’s phone. He had caught glimpses of those text messages that always seemed to have Sakura’s shoulders relaxing just a fraction. It didn't take a genius to figure out who the sender of those texts was.

But as said, Suo had been under the illusion that even though Sakura couldn't be his, it wasn't a tragedy, because he wouldn't be anyone else’s either, and Suo could pride himself on being Sakura's second in line and a very close friend.

But…

Unlike Endo’s erratic stunt, Togame could have a real chance. He was incredibly strong and a fierce fighter, and he was genuinely kind. Furthermore, he was an ally now, and he was someone Sakura admired.

Worst of all, it seemed Sakura actually liked him, if the glint in his eyes whenever he was around him was any indication.

So really, Suo should have foreseen the impending catastrophe.

And yet. Here he was, watching it happen helplessly.

"Ah, come on! I was really looking forward to it!" Kiryu groaned, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. "That new videogame I talked to you about drops tomorrow. You’re really gonna skip the sleepover, Sakura-chaaaan?"

Sakura, who was currently organizing his notebook with unusually careful focus, grunted without looking up. "I told you, I have stuff to do this Friday. I can't make it."

"Is it a secret mission?" Nirei asked, his eyes instantly sparkling with excitement. "Something Umemiya-san asked you personally?!"

"No, you idiot," Sakura muttered, "Togame just asked me for some help. I’m going over to his grandpa’s restaurant to help them fix the roof before the weekend."

The classroom didn't explode this time. No alarms started blaring. No one looked even slightly worried, and no one seemed to be bothered by Sakura’s easy admission.

After all, Togame had earned the respect of Bofurin, and the boys of class 1-1 viewed him more like a reliable older brother than an enemy by now. He wasn't lame anymore, as per Sakura's request, so no one was really surprised that the two had become friends over time. Suo wasn't surprised either, but yes, he was… annoyed. And concerned.

"Oh, Togame-san?" Nirei’s face lit up with genuine helpfulness. "Does he need more hands? We can all come help if he needs us!"

"No!" Sakura barked, a little too quickly. "He said... he said just me is fine. And I'm strong enough to handle it by myself anyway. I don't need you guys getting underfoot."

"Aw, look at our Captain, being… enough," Anzai chuckled, followed by other snickers and giggles from their classmates.

But across the room, Suo felt a cold feeling clawing at his chest.

It was a visceral dread.

Just me is fine.

Suo’s fingers tightened around his water bottle. He didn't say a word; his usual, placid smile was firmly in place on his face, but internally, his mind was reeling. He had seen the way Togame looked at Sakura, the profound reverence in his eyes. Togame wasn't just fond of Sakura; he was utterly smitten. As smitten as Suo was, probably.

And now, Togame was successfully isolating Sakura, completely bypassing his defenses by taking shameless advantage of his desire to be useful.

Okay.

Suo wasn't being fair, but he didn't like the idea of Sakura being alone with Togame at the restaurant. He let out a quiet, almost imperceptible sigh, his gaze drifting over to his captain. He watched the way the autumn sunlight caught the messy mop of Sakura’s white-and-black hair. He watched the sharp line of his jaw and the subtle softening of his eyes as he talked to Nirei about the dinner Togame promised him as a reward for his help.

A dinner Togame himself was going to cook for him.

Ah… it was a real tragedy, wasn't it?

Suo wanted to be the one making Sakura look like that. He wanted to be the one Sakura cleared his schedule for. But then, as he watched Sakura’s soft, sheepish smile, the harsh reality settled back in.

Togame could offer Sakura, other than engaging sparring sessions, also a family restaurant and a home-cooked meal whenever he felt like doing so. Besides, he was remarkably strong without fear of showing it, and he could also speak the language of food, which was the language Sakura was so clearly starving for.

And Suo? Suo couldn't even bring himself to eat a simple lunch in front of his classmates. Or to spar with Sakura, for that matter.

You really are a coward, Hayato.

Suo thought to himself, his smile turning brittle and tight as he looked away.

How can you expect to win him over when you can't even give him the one thing he needs? You are just hopeless… this way, though, you're surely going to lose him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Fixing the roof of the restaurant had been hard enough, but Sakura hadn't minded it at all. In fact, he had been thoroughly distracted for most of it.

When the fatigue had been at its peak, Togame had grunted, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and casually pulled his wet T-shirt over his head. Sakura had nearly dropped his hammer. He had stood there, frozen on the roof tiles, staring at the broad, muscled lines of Togame’s back and shoulders, completely mesmerized. Sakura had literally had to swallow back a sudden rush of saliva, his face burning as he forced himself to look away.

He wasn't blind, okay? Togame Jo was ridiculously handsome, and seeing him like that - shirtless - had sent a weird flutter straight to Sakura's gut.

Before they knew it, though, the work was done. Sakura had even helped in the kitchen, just washing the dishes and wiping the counter. Finally, the restaurant was officially closed, the front doors locked, and the heavy curtains drawn. Togame’s grandfather had gone home, and the only light came from the warm, amber glow of the lanterns.

Sakura sat at the counter watching Togame slide a huge, steaming bowl of ramen across the counter.

"Eat up, Sakura," Togame said, his voice low and incredibly gentle as he leaned his forearms on the counter, watching Sakura with a soft, lopsided smile. "You earned it."

Sakura didn't need to be told twice; he was definitely starving, and his mouth had already started watering. He broke his chopsticks apart and took his first bite. The rich, savory pork broth was simply delicious. It wasn't like the intimidating, refined, and expensive food Endo had offered him. This was different. This ramen tasted like care. It was a recipe passed down with love, and Sakura was enjoying it like he enjoyed the quiet after all the fighting of his days.

Sitting there in the dim, empty restaurant, just the two of them, Sakura felt an overwhelming sense of peace. He ate happily, completely basking in the safe intimacy of the moment.

When Sakura finally set his empty bowl down with a satisfied sigh, Togame didn't move. He stared at him for a long moment and could only Sakura stare back, feeling a strange tingle in his stomach. Yes… Togame was handsome, and the way he was looking at him…. Sakura was not used to being looked at like that, so he remained perfectly still as if not wanting to ruin the moment.

When Togame reached out, his large, calloused thumb gently wiping a little drop of broth from the corner of Sakura’s mouth, Sakura held his breath.

"Do you know how special you are, Haruka?" Togame murmured, “...you are so special to me.”

Slowly, giving Sakura every opportunity to pull away, Togame leaned across the counter. Taking his time, he slowly closed the distance, his hand coming up to cup the side of Sakura's neck.

When their lips met, Sakura didn't punch him. Instead, Sakura let his eyes close and savored the taste of Togame’s lips. The kiss was incredibly sweet; Togame’s mouth was soft but firm, pressing against his with such an aching tenderness that it made Sakura’s head spin. For a few long, quiet seconds, Sakura actually leaned into it. His hands reached out, his fingers lightly gripping the fabric of Togame’s black T-shirt, reciprocating the kiss, letting himself feel the physical thrill of being kissed by someone so strong and attractive.

But as the seconds stretched, the initial jolt of physical excitement began to settle. And in the quiet of his own mind, Sakura realized something.

His heart wasn't pounding like crazy in his chest. His stomach wasn't doing flips. No butterflies, no thrills.

Okay, it was nice. More than just that, and it was nothing like Endo's attempt at stealing a kiss from him. That felt uncalled for, unwanted, unexpected, and not in a good way.

This was… respectful, reassuring and even pleasurable.

Sakura liked the warmth of this kiss - the first one in his life - and he liked the deep, tingling sensation it enticed, but... it was just a physical response. He looked at Togame and saw a friend, a wonderful, incredible guy who had treated him with nothing but kindness, someone strong and reliable, but he didn't see his person.

Sakura was inexperienced when it came to romance, but one thing he knew. That when he found the one… he would just know.

Togame pulled back just slightly, his green eyes heavy with an intense, blooming affection that actually frightened Sakura a little.

Because… Togame was falling for him. Really falling for him. And Sakura knew, with absolute certainty, that if he let this go on, if he let Togame kiss him, he would end up breaking his heart.

Gently, Sakura placed his hands against Togame’s chest and pushed him back.

Togame blinked in confusion, but he immediately let his hand drop from Sakura's neck.

"Togame..." Sakura started, his voice uncharacteristically soft, his mismatched eyes wide and entirely honest.

"Wait…”

“Okay, Sakura. Of course...”

Sakura just wanted to be honest, but it wasn't that easy. Yet. Togame deserved that much at least.

“Look, you have been nothing but kind to me… and, well, you're like, seriously… hot. So I... I was curious about what it would be like to kiss someone as strong and cool as you."

Togame’s jaw tightened just slightly.

"But..." Sakura swallowed hard, looking down at his own hands in his lap, his fingers twisting together nervously. "I don't think I feel that way about you. I mean… I really like being with you, you know… hanging out or sparring… but... I don't… You know…"

The silence was almost suffocating, and Sakura felt a sudden spike of panic closing up his throat.

Did he just ruin everything?

“So…"

Sakura bravely looked up and met Togame's eyes.

"You think I am cool now, uh?”

...

What?

Frankly, Togame's question and his light, amused tone were the last thing Sakura expected. Togame's expression was… complicated to read in full, but he was smiling.

"Um..." Sakura whispered, his voice suddenly sounding incredibly small.

“I thought that was clear… You kept your promise, right? And now I like you… and I want to be your friend… but…"

Togame stared at him for three agonizing seconds. Then, a soft, breathless laugh escaped his lips. Before Sakura could understand what was happening, Togame reached across the counter, caught Sakura by the shoulders, and pulled him into a rib-crushing hug.

"I like you too, Sakura, and if what you can offer me is your friendship, I will gladly accept it," Togame mumbled into Sakura’s hair, his grip tight and fiercely protective.

“O…Okay… So will you cook for me again?”

Sakura whispered, returning the hug. For some reason, he didn't want to let go, not until Togame said nothing had to change between them.

"You think I only make dinner for the people I'm trying to date? This restaurant and my home will always be open to you. Always."

Sakura let out a shaky sigh of relief, burying his face into Togame's shoulder for just a second, letting the warmth of the embrace wash over him.

Yet, as he walked home alone a little later, a lingering emptiness tugged at his chest.

Endo had been a complete fiasco, and Togame’s kiss had been sweet, but it hadn't clicked.

Yet, Sakura felt he craved those kinds of emotions and physical sensations you can read about in shojo manga. They were nice, and… new. Something Sakura had never known he wanted. They were something he couldn't express with words, and that always made him blush furiously. But, surprisingly, he craved them nonetheless.

Will I ever find the right person?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The morning sun filtered softly through the windows of Café Pothos, catching the gentle swing of Suo’s earrings. Usually, these pre-school mornings were filled with Kotoha’s cheerful humming and Sakura's aggressive devouring of an omurice.

Today, however, the café was oddly quiet.

Sakura wasn't eating. He was sitting at their usual table, a half-eaten plate of omurice neglected in front of him. He was propping his chin up with one hand, staring blankly out the window, his mismatched eyes looking heavy, lost in a labyrinth of his own thoughts. He didn't look worried; he just looked... pensive.

Across the table, Suo watched him. The polite, serene smile was still on Suo's face by sheer force of habit, but underneath it, he was admittedly anxious. He had spent the entire weekend twisting in a knot of his own making, agonizing over what was happening at the restaurant. Now, seeing Sakura this detached, Suo’s feelings were shifting from jealousy into genuine worry.

"You're remarkably silent today, Sakura-kun," Suo said softly, trying to sound like his usual self. "Kotoha-san went through the trouble of making your favorite, yet you've barely touched it. Are you feeling unwell?"

Sakura blinked, pulled out of his trance. He looked down at the toast, then up at Suo. For once, he didn't immediately snap or yell. He just let out a slow, heavy sigh.

"No. I'm fine," Sakura murmured, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He picked up a piece of toast, turning it over in his hands without taking a bite. "I was just... thinking."

"Oh? Really? So early in the morning? Are you sure it's a good idea?" Suo teased gently, trying to coax a familiar, angry retort out of his captain.

It didn't work. Sakura just kept staring at the food.

"Mmm”

Well… this might be way worse than Suo thought.

“What’s wrong, Sakura-kun? Is something worrying you? You can tell me, you know that.”

“I know, but… No… not really. It's just…" Sakura started, his brow furrowing as he struggled to find the right words.

"Suo... Liste… How do you know if you feel differently for someone… I mean for someone in particular? Someone... special?"

Suo’s breath hitched in his throat. He kept his smile steady, but his fingers tightened imperceptibly around his teacup.

"What do you mean, Sakura-kun?"

"Like..." Sakura muttered, his cheeks coloring a faint, dusty pink as he looked away, staring intensely at a knot in the wooden table. "For example… When someone cooks for you... It’s nice, right? Like they’re looking after you. It’s like... a way of showing care. Or… affection, or whatever. And it makes you feel really good inside. Like… warm?"

Suo felt a sharp pain pierce his heart. Hearing Sakura describe Togame’s love language so beautifully was disheartening. But Suo had to keep smiling.

"Yes," Suo managed to say, his voice perfectly smooth despite the ache in his chest. "Food may be a way for people to express their affection."

"Right. That's what I thought," Sakura whispered.

"But... Also, touching another person is a way to show that you care, right? I mean, like Umemiya when he ruffles my hair or… or Nirei when he clings to me during patrols or Kiryu when he hugs me… Or… you know when someone kisses you…"

Sakura froze.

Suddenly, but still too late, his brain caught up with his mouth. He realized exactly what he had just said out loud.

A catastrophic, burning crimson erupted across Sakura's face, instantly traveling all the way up to the tips of his ears. His eyes went wide with pure panic as he dropped his fork as if it had burned him.

"Whatever! Forget I said anything! It’s stupid!" Sakura shrieked, his voice cracking spectacularly as he violently shoved his chair back. The legs scraped loudly against the floorboards.

"Sakura-kun..." Suo started, his single eye widening in shock, his mind reeling as he tried to piece together the cryptic, terrifying implications of what Sakura had just said.

Did Togame touch him? Did they kiss?

"We're gonna be late! We have to go to school right now!" Sakura yelled, grabbing his jacket and practically knocking his chair over in his desperation to flee. Without waiting a single second, he bolted for the café door, the bell jangling furiously above him as he slammed it open and ran out as if his ass was on fire.

Suo was left sitting alone at the table, blinking in confusion.

Slowly, he set his teacup down, the thoughts in his mind swirling in absolute chaos. Apparently, Togame had made a move, but... But Sakura’s reaction wasn't the one Suo expected.

Sakura sounded confused, preoccupied to say the least.

Suo stood up then, stepping out of the café to follow his captain to school. As he watched Sakura walking a few steps ahead, Suo knew he wasn't ready to give up so easily.

Togame may have kissed Sakura, but it wasn't over.

Not yet.

For the last few weeks, Suo had thought the worst of it was over.

He had kept his eye firmly on the situation, monitoring his captain’s every move, the fluctuations in his mood, his reactions, and even his weekly schedule. It seemed that Sakura’s weekend visits to the restaurant hadn't increased, and that the frantic panic he showed after his cryptic confession at Café Pothos had slowly leveled out into his usual baseline of grouchiness and feral scowls.

So Suo had almost allowed himself to breathe.

But in the end, his relief was short-lived. Because then it had to be Momijikawa’s turn to ruin his peace, right?

Of course it was.

Momijikawa Sakae and his damn bentos.

It all started a few days after Momijikawa's grandma's funeral, but back then, Suo underestimated the gravity of it. Such a big mistake, even though he had been rather distracted first by Endo's and then by Togame's shenanigans.

It was lunchtime, and Suo was quietly sitting at his desk, his chin propped in his hand, a mildly bored smile plastered over his face.

A smile that was 0% true, or okay, maybe just 10/15% true. He didn't really appreciate spending the lunch break with his classmates, but that day, he hadn't found a credible excuse to disappear for half an hour or so.

The classroom was a loud, chaotic mess of moving desks as his classmates prepared to fully enjoy their frugal meal together as usual. But Suo’s entire universe had narrowed down to the desk directly in front of him, where Sakura was currently staring down at a wooden bento box - that was nothing like frugal - with an expression that bordered on religious awe.

"What… I mean… Why?"

Sakura mumbled, his mismatched eyes wide as he looked at the perfectly arranged tamagoyaki, octopus wurstel, tuna rice balls, edamame, and grapes.

"You... you made this?"

Standing just before the desk, looking calm, amused, and low-key smug was Momijikawa. He offered Sakura a small nod and an honest, genuine smile.

"Yeah," he said softly.

“For... For me?”

"Mmm,” Momijikawa hummed noncommittally.

“I just made too much again... So I thought I would bring some for you… But it’s better if you eat it now, Haruka. I'll see you later, okay?"

Haruka.

Behind his mask of placid indifference, Suo was internally screaming.

Momijikawa had called him Haruka - again - and somehow didn't get his head ripped off his body.

Of course, Suo knew already that Momijikawa had claimed the right to call Sakura by his given name for himself, a right that he did not earn in any way, in Suo's humble opinion. Anyway, Sakura, the same Sakura who would violently threaten to break the jaw of anyone who breathed too loudly in his direction, was casually letting that boy be just so… impudent.

"That looks incredible, Momijikawa-san!" Nirei exclaimed out of the blue, making Suo startle imperceptibly. The blond vice-captain leaned over from his own desk, looking at the bento with curious eyes.

"I wish I could join Sakura-san for lunch, but I have to run these reports down to the third-years before the end of the break!"

"Do you want a rice ball to take with you, Nirei?" Momijikawa offered with an easy smile.

"Aw, no, don't worry, Momijikawa-san! You made them for Sakura-san, after all, so I shouldn't eat them… but I'll grab a quick granola bar on the way! See you guys later!" Nirei stood up and, waving frantically, sprinted out the classroom door.

Momijikawa then turned his gaze, landing directly on Suo. His expression was entirely devoid of malice, which somehow made it ten times worse. "Do you want some, Suo? There's plenty, and I am sure Sakura wouldn't mind sharing some with you."

Suo took a brief but deep breath before speaking, schooling his expression in one of friendly gratitude.

"Ah, thank you for the generous offer, Momijikawa-kun," Suo replied, his voice as silky and polite as usual. "But I’m afraid I’m rather used to skipping lunch. My stomach is quite fickle during the day, you know?"

It was a lie, of course. His stomach wasn't fickle; it was his mind that was just… complicated. But as Suo watched Momijikawa shrug and finally head toward the door, he felt a sickening kind of fear crash over him.

By refusing to eat in front of others, he was the one setting the boundary. He could have shared this homemade meal with his Captain for once, but no… he couldn't let himself enjoy something so mundane like a bento prepared by a generous schoolmate.

Suo excused himself, saying he needed to go to the bathroom, and then quietly exited the classroom. He couldn't stay there and look at Sakura happily stuffing himself with the food Momijikawa cooked for him.

He just hoped, back then, that it could be a one-off and that Momijikawa would stop being so… invasive. Oh... How wrong he was...

But that day, closing the door behind himself, he didn't see Sakura looking at him with a deep frown and a flash of sadness in his eyes.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A few days later, Suo and Sakura were walking toward Pothos after school together with Nirei as usual, but for some reason, Momijikawa joined them too. He had come to Class 1-1 to retrieve the empty bento he had brought to Sakura again, and Sakura, of course, invited him along.

"Hey… Sakae," Sakura said, his face adorably flushed already.

"Thanks for bringing me lunch today as well. You didn't have to.”

“Oh, I know… but I made too much again. It seems I don't know how to cook in small portions.”

It was a poor excuse, but Sakura couldn't bring himself to argue with the other boy.

“Anyway… That… that was the best ginger pork I've ever had. How did you even make it?"

"Ah… I used a bit of grated apple for the sauce," Momijikawa explained without a smidge of arrogance. "I can make it for you again sometime. Honestly, I wouldn't mind making a bento for you every day."

"Oh? It would be too much…”

“It wouldn't… and I am offering, right?" Momijikawa cut him off. "Making one or two is the same for me, don't worry. For tomorrow, I was thinking about some chicken? I wanted to try making some tsukune? What do you say?”

“Ah… Okay? I mean, are you sure it wouldn't be a bother?"

“Of course, I am sure.”

Sakura grinned then, before turning around to say something to Nirei.

Suo, walking just a step behind, closed his eye behind his long bangs, his smile finally slipping into something more strained.

This time, the threat had come too close, too invasive, and, for sure, too stubborn.

Suo could only admit defeat and hide somewhere to lick his wounds.

^^^^^^^^^^

A few days later, Sakura was eating his rice slowly, too slowly, his eyes fixed on his desk, trying to ignore the stares of approximately twenty-five other teenagers pretending not to watch them.

He hated having lunch in his own classroom with Momijikawa. Sure, since he had been providing him with a bento every day, it seemed just fair to eat together. But usually, he’d drag him up to the rooftop or vanish into the second-year hallway where it was quieter. Today, instead, the autumn air was too biting, so here they were. A few desks away, Anzai and the others were boisterously playing a card game. Kiryu was shoving his phone under Tsugeura’s nose, laughing loudly at some video, while Nirei and Suo were hunched over a desk, murmuring about the evening patrol shifts and writing down the updated roster.

Everyone was giving Sakura and Momijikawa space to enjoy their lunch. They were being… respectful.

Well, Suo couldn't help but feel resentful about his classmates choosing today to become so attentive to their Captain’s boundaries. Still… Sakura looked slightly embarrassed, a shade of pink already dusting his cheeks, and Suo was there, torturing himself, wondering what was going on in that pretty bicolor head of his.

Now... it was a good thing that Suo couldn't read minds. Because if he could, he would have probably freaked out.

What Sakura was thinking was making him incrementally become redder by the minute.

Sakae is really incredible… and so good at cooking. He is a great fighter, so fucking strong, right? And we have so much in common, I can always talk to him, and he never seems bothered to spend time with me.

Sakura glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Momijikawa was always calm, but not the same type of “calm” as Suo. He was a little rough around the edges, just like him, but there was an innate gentleness to him that Sakura found completely addictive, and he was honest to a fault,p. Their entire dynamic felt comfortable in a way Sakura wasn't used to. When they had fought each other back, it hadn’t been about territory, or pride, or defending their town. It had been a raw conversation through fists. It had been their way of asking Who are you? I want to know you better.

Sakura liked what he had learned about the other boy, and Momijikawa had also understood Sakura's sharp personality and his motives. They both understood each other's anger, the defensive walls, and the desperate, burning desire to protect something meaningful. Momijikawa had accepted him, he who was an outsider, and they had slipped into a comfortable rhythm without any of the exhausting push-and-pull Sakura usually faced.

Besides... he has a really nice body, Sakura thought, his cheeks warming up a bit.

And even his face is handsome.

Sakura found himself following the masculine line of Sakae’s jaw, his pointy chin, and his nicely shaped ear. Sakura especially liked the boy's eyes, though. There was so much depth in those eyes, so many unspoken emotions, but at the same time, they were so transparent.

Momijikawa was slowly eating his grilled mackerel, a peaceful expression on his face.

Sakura was eating too, and the food, as always, was amazing, made with the utmost care.

Sakae is always kind, and he truly understands me. I think he… cares about me. Or else he wouldn't bring me lunch every day. Is... is this what a relationship is supposed to be? Am I supposed to try to date him?

Sakura had only ever kissed Togame out of curiosity, but maybe it would be different with someone who truly knew him.

"Haruka," Momijikawa’s quiet voice broke through his thoughts, smooth and steady. "Are you busy tomorrow evening?"

Sakura blinked, swallowing his food. "Huh? Tomorrow? Uh, no, I don't think so."

Momijikawa tilted his head, his soft gaze completely unwavering. "Good. I want to cook a full dinner for you. You should come over to my apartment."

Sakura’s breath hitched. A sudden, intense wave of self-consciousness hit him, his cheeks burning a furious red. Going over to a guy's house felt entirely different from sharing a bento box at a school desk. And he remembered the first time he went there... The first time Momijikawa cooked for him.

"Like... just us?"

To double-check, Momijikawa raised his voice slightly, calling across the classroom toward the vice-captains' desks. "Nirei. Is Haruka clear of any duties tomorrow night?"

Nirei snapped to attention. "Eh? Oh! Let me check, Momijikaw-san! So tomorrow is Thursday... Right… yep! Sakura-san is completely free after four o'clock!"

Momijikawa turned his eyes back to Sakura. An incredibly fond and satisfied smile on his lips.

"Perfect," Momijikawa said softly, "it’s a date, then."

Sakura let out a sharp, choked gasp, his brain instantly short-circuiting as his face, which had already gone from pink to red, erupted into a catastrophic crimson now.

"A d…d… date?!"

SNAP

The sharp, plastic crack echoed violently from the front of the classroom.

Every single head in Class 1-1 whipped around toward the sound.

Suo was still standing perfectly upright next to his desk, his posture elegant, his smile frozen onto his almost expressionless face. But between his fingers, the pen he had been using to write on the patrol logs had been violently, ruthlessly snapped in half. Dark blue ink was slowly bleeding out across his palm, dripping onto the paper beneath it.

"Oh dear," Suo murmured, without looking up, his single visible eye completely hidden beneath the shadow of his bangs. "It seems I used a bit too much force. My apologies, Nirei-kun. We'll have to start this over."

The entire classroom went dead silent. Even the guys playing cards froze, instinctively swallowing hard as an almost demonic aura began to roll off the vice-captain.

Momijikawa was the only one who wasn't looking at Suo.

“Ahahah, it's just a saying, Haruka.” Momijikawa chuckled, “there is no need to spit the food all around.”

Sakura pouted, looking back at the boy sitting across from him.

“I am not spitting the food.”

“Are you sure?”

Momijikawa reached out and collected a few grains of rice from Sakura's chin with his thumb, earning another lovely blush from him and a glare.

“Oh, just fuck off, Sakae…”

Momijikawa chuckled again, but then Sakura returned his eyes to Suo, feeling a weird, tight knot form in his throat. As he watched his vice-captain calmly wipe the ink from his hand, Sakura just couldn't tear his eyes away.

^^^^^^^^

Momijikawa’s apartment was small, spartan, and smelled intensely of ginger and soy sauce. It was the apartment of a boy who had learned to take care of himself out of necessity, as Sakura did, but still felt like a real home should feel.

The dinner had been incredible, even though simple; just a rich, hearty soup with pork belly and tons of perfectly fried karaage. They had talked and laughed over the antics of Class 1-1, and Class 2-1 as well, slipping into that effortless comfort they always shared. Somehow, Sakura felt closer to Momijikawa than almost anyone else. Well, not closer than Suo or Nirei, but still, it was different in some ways.

As the empty bowls and plates were pushed aside, though, the air in the small room shifted.

Suddenly, it grew charged with a new kind of tension.

Momijikawa’s intense gaze was fixed on Sakura’s mouth, and Sakura felt the urge to wet his lips. So he did it, quickly darting his tongue out.

"Haruka," Momijikawa murmured, getting closer, "can I try something?"

Sakura swallowed hard, his heart speeding up in anticipation.

Fuck… This is it. It's happening.

And Sakura was curious, okay? He wanted to know if kissing Sakae would feel different from how it felt with Togame, so he nodded, his hands gripping the fabric of his own pants.

"Yeah."

When Momijikawa leaned in, he wasn't gentle like Togame. He just went for it, pressing his lips to Sakura's, firmly, eagerly, tilting his head just right.

Sakura let out a soft gasp, and Momijikawa used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding in, catching Sakura completely off guard. Sakura’s eyes opened wide before fluttering shut with a tiny moan. He just let himself be overwhelmed by the physicality of the kiss, his hands flying up to grip Momijikawa’s shoulders, pulling him closer.

It was clumsy, intense, and fueled by a sudden rush of heat. Momijikawa’s hands, usually so gentle, quickly became desperate. He slid them beneath the hem of Sakura’s T-shirt, his calloused palms meeting the bare skin of Sakura’s tiny waist.

Sakura shuddered at the contact, a sharp, electric jolt shooting up his spine.

Oh, he thought, his brain completely melting. Oh, god.

Momijikawa’s touch felt good; his hands were warm and strong, and Sakura trembled as goosebumps covered his skin. But then, he opened his eyes, meeting Momijikawa’s intense, focused face.

And suddenly, that spark that was igniting him from within flickered out.

The grip of the other boy’s fingers under his ribcage felt amazing; the warm touch was addictive, but inside Sakura’s chest, there still was an echoing emptiness. He didn't feel that magnetic pull toward the other boy he thought he would feel. He felt like he was trying to force a puzzle piece into a slot where it didn't fit.

Before Sakura could even figure out how to pull away, Momijikawa pulled back, looking back at him with a confused expression. His hands, still buried under Sakura’s shirt, went completely still.

After a few awkward moments, Momijikawa's forehead went resting against Sakura's shoulder and then painstakingly slowly, almost reluctantly, he pulled his hands out from under the cotton fabric and sat back.

Sakura scrambled up as well pulling his shirt back down, his face bright red and his lips swollen.

"Sakae...? What…"

Momijikawa looked at him with a conflicted, bittersweet expression. He let out a long, shaky breath and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry, Haruka," he said softly, for once being the one to blush more between the two of them. "But it... it feels weird."

Sakura blinked, the adrenaline slowly bleeding out of his system. "Weird?"

"Yeah." Momijikawa offered him a sad, incredibly honest smile. "You're amazing, and just so… beautiful… And looking at you... touching you... It shouldn’t feel like this… I thought it would feel different, but I don't know why…"

Hearing the words out loud sent a profound wave of relief washing over Sakura’s entire body.

"Yeah," Sakura whispered, his voice cracking slightly as he offered Momijikawa a small, genuinely grateful smile. "Yeah, you're right. I felt it too. It's... it's like we are too… I don't know… too close?”

“Umm, maybe… close like family?”

Sakura blinked just once.

Oh.

There it was, him having his second epiphany in the span of a few minutes.

Impressive, right?

“I… I think I get what you mean... You do feel like family. And I... like it.”

Momijikawa laughed softly, reaching out to gently ruffle Sakura’s messy black-and-white hair.

"Then let's keep it that way. We're family, okay? And I'm still packing your bento every day."

Sakura grunted, swatting his hand away with a fond scowl.

"Tch. Whatever. Do what you want."

Momijikawa laughed again and then stood up to clear the table. Sakura let out a soft sigh and then stood up as well to help him wash the dishes, talking about the next day's schedule and other trivial stuff about school.

^^^^^^^

Back to his sparse apartment, Sakura lay flat on his back on his futon, staring up at the ceiling, his hands resting lightly over his stomach.

By all logical accounts, he considered, tonight should have felt like another failure. He had gone on a date - because yes, no matter what Momijikawa said, the homemade dinner was meant to be a date from the beginning... Ah, Sakae thought he was so smart, right? - and it hadn't worked out. Yet, Sakura didn't feel an ounce of regret.

Trying things out with Momijikawa had been nice. The sudden heat low in his stomach, the wet friction of their lips, the rough but gentle grip of Momijikawa’s hands under his T-shirt… Sakura's skin still felt hypersensitive with the lingering memory of nimble fingers sliding up his ribs. Honestly, he didn't regret letting Momijikawa kiss and touch him. It had taught him something about himself.

Something important.

Sakura liked being touched. He craved it, even. He wanted the intensity, the breathlessness, the intimacy, the thrill of letting himself go in someone else's arms, but he wanted it to mean something different.

Something more.

He wanted a spark that made his chest… detonate with desire, not just a comfortable, familiar warmth.

Sakura rolled onto his side, pulling his thin blanket up to his chin. His body was exhausted by the emotional roller coaster of the past few weeks, and a pleasant, deep drowsiness began to pull at the edges of his consciousness.

As his thoughts began to blur and slip into the territory of Dreamland, his mind naturally looked for a safe place to rest.

It didn't drift back to Endo’s fancy wagyu beef.

It didn't drift back to Togame’s comforting, late-night ramen.

It didn't even drift back to the domesticity of Momijikawa's apartment.

Instead, a completely different image materialized behind his eyelids.

He saw an elegant stance and shining, golden earrings. He saw a pristine white changshan.

He saw a single, brilliant red eye crinkling at the corner, and a devastatingly polite, if not a little enigmatic smile that always seemed to exist solely to rile Sakura up.

He saw Suo.

Sakura’s foggy brain didn't quite understand why the vice-captain had suddenly invaded his thoughts. He was too tired and probably food drunk to analyze the way his chest gave a distinct flutter at the memory of Suo’s melodic voice. Sakura could even weirdly feel the phantom pressure of Suo’s hand resting on his lower back, a habit he seemed to have taken whenever they were somewhere too crowded. He was too sleepy to put the pieces together. He just knew that thinking about Suo felt consistent. No matter how chaotic Sakura's life got, or how confusing his thoughts became, Suo was always just... there, standing right beside him whenever he needed a hand to get back to his feet or the right word to keep him grounded.

Sakura finally let go, slipping effortlessly into a deep, peaceful sleep, with a soft smile resting on his lips.

Suo Hayato knew exactly how to take a step back without making much noise.

It was a skill perfected over years of keeping people at arm’s length. He would maintain his smile polite, his posture elegant, his movements graceful, so that no one would notice he was, in fact, retreating… until the space between them had grown too big to be bridged.

Of course, he never neglected his duties. When the bells rang, he was right beside Nirei, leading the patrol teams, answering his classmates’ questions, and speaking in that same reassuring, melodic voice that Class 1-1 had grown used to relying on.

And he didn’t snub Sakura, their captain, either. Suo was too smart to make such a silly mistake. His intentions would have been too manifest then and, most importantly, he didn't want Sakura to notice the growing distance too soon.

But the moment the official duty was over, Suo just vanished.

He no longer walked by Sakura’s side toward Café Pothos at the end of the day. He no longer lingered by Sakura’s desk early in the morning before class started just to tease him a little and make his cheeks blush as usual.

He simply stepped out of the scene, clearing the stage for Momijikawa.

But it wasn't a selfless sentiment, not entirely. It was mostly self-preservation.

Even though Momijikawa wasn't in their same class, Suo still had to watch his own personal hell play out every day. He watched Sakura and Momijikawa sharing their lunch. He watched them laughing over some inside joke. He even watched them spar behind the school, grinning at each other as if they were having the time of their lives.

And probably they were.

After all, they were dating. And so, Suo was a tormented soul, suffering constantly, quietly, and entirely in secret.

Or at least that was what he thought.

Until Kiryu ambushed him.

"Hey Suo-chan… Are you okay? You’ve been… quieter lately. Are you not feeling well, maybe?"

Suo didn't flinch, or let out a sigh, or allow his annoyance to transpire from his face. The classroom was mostly empty already, so Suo tilted his head, his single visible eye morphing into a crescent as he looked up at Kiryu with one of his perfectly fake smiles.

"My, Kiryu-kun. Are you worried about me? Oh, but I can assure you, my health is quite robust."

Kiryu didn't smile. He leaned back against the adjacent desk, crossing his arms, his green eyes narrowing down to inquisitive slits.

"You know, Suo-chan? I’m not Nirei. So I will be blunt. I’ve been watching you for two weeks, and I know you’re avoiding Sakura… the question is… why?"

"You are wrong. I am not avoiding him. I am just giving our Captain the space he needs," Suo replied smoothly, getting ready to leave. "He has... other engagements to occupy his personal time now. It would be rude of me to intrude, don't you think?"

"Other engagements? You mean Momijikawa-san?" Kiryu let out an incredulous scoff.

"You're always so clever, Suo… but when it comes to him, you are really stupid."

Suo’s smile froze, his single eye shining with a dangerous glint.

"Kiryu-kun. I suggest you choose your next words with care."

"Or what? You'll snap another pen?"

Kiryu countered with a defiant grin.

"I don't know why it has to be me to break the news to you, but… They aren't dating, Suo-chan, and you really need to go and talk to Sakura."

Suo slowly shifted to face Kiryu properly, getting a step forward to reduce the distance. It was a menacing stance, but Kiryu wasn't intimidated.

In any case, it didn't matter what Kiryu was saying. Suo wasn't going to reach out, exposing his ugly and possessive feelings. If he talked to Sakura, and Kiryu was wrong... the rejection would destroy him.

"Thank you for your concern, Kiryu-kun," Suo said, keeping the polite, cold smile in place. Then he turned around and started walking toward the door with measured steps.

"But I have no intention of doing such a thing.”

He said without looking back, and then he was off.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For Sakura, the realization didn’t hit him all at once. Because, okay, he had been distracted… often lost in his thoughts. But then he started to see it.

The inexorably growing distance.

At first, he thought he was just imagining things. But by the second week, the truth was impossible to ignore. Suo was like… ghosting him? No, not really ghosting. More like avoiding talking to him whenever it wasn't absolutely necessary and making excuses not to spend time with him after school.

It wasn't that Suo was being mean or rude. In fact, that was the most frustrating part. Suo was perfectly polite, perfectly helpful, and perfectly… icy-cold.

Every time Sakura tried to get closer, Suo would seamlessly slide away. He’d remember a chore he had to help a senpai with, or he’d politely refuse to go to Pothos because he had to go back home and run some mysterious errands for his family.

The harder Sakura tried to close the distance, the further Suo slipped away.

And damn it, Sakura missed him.

He hadn't realized how much he relied on the small, stupid things he shared with Suo every single day until they were gone. He missed the way Suo would casually rest a hand on his lower back to guide him through a dense crowd, a gesture that used to make Sakura bristle but now left his skin feeling strangely cold in its absence. He missed the quiet, constant presence on his side, their shoulders brushing against each other. He missed the hypnotic glint of those golden earrings in the sunlight, and the way Suo always knew exactly what to say to calm him down when he was about to blow a fuse because of his temperament.

He even missed his teasing, or the way he would look at him just to make sure he was okay after a fight.

You really don't know what you've got until it's gone, Sakura thought bitterly, staring down at his untouched bento on the rooftop. Even Momijikawa's incredible food didn't taste the same lately.

Sakura sighed loudly, not noticing Momijikawa staring at him.

The problem was that he didn't know what he had done wrong. Had he offended Suo? Was Suo angry at him? Disappointed?

The uncertainty was eating him alive.

“Hey, Haruka… you good? You don't like it?”

Momijikawa was looking at him with a concerned frown.

“What? Oh… no, sorry… I am just not very hungry today.”

“Ah… should I be worried about it? Are you sick? Or… is something on your mind you want to talk about?”

Sakura looked at his friend, his eyes dull with sadness. He didn't really want to talk about it. Not yet, not until he figured out what was wrong and if it was his fault.

“No… nothing… don't worry about it.”

“Okay…” Momijikawa conceded, opening his own bento.

“But if you need help, or if you want to talk… I am here.”

“I know… thanks. I just need to figure something out on my own.”

Sakura finally grabbed his chopsticks and started eating with less appetite than usual.

Momijikawa looked at him a moment longer and then started eating too.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Um, Sakura-san? Are you okay? You’ve been spacing out for like five minutes..."

Sakura blinked, snapping out of his trance. Nirei was still standing next to him, holding his notebook, looking at him with genuine concern.

They were waiting near the school gates for the others after their patrol shift with the idea of going to Pothos to grab something to eat all together.

Suo had already told Nirei he would go home instead… and Sakura knew it was just another crappy excuse.

Of course, he was pissed off.

"I'm fine," Sakura grunted, kicking a pebble while shoving his hands in his pockets.

Nirei chewed on his lip, looking unsure if he should press further.

"Is it... did you and Momijikawa-san have a fight? I know relationships can be tough at the beginning!"

Sakura violently choked on his saliva, coughing into his fist until his face turned a bright red.

"W…What?! Relationships?! What the hell are you talking about, Nirei?!"

"Huh?" Nirei blinked a couple of times, visibly taken aback.

"Well... you know. Because you guys are dating?"

"We are not dating!" Sakura yelled, his face burning hot. "Sakae and I… We’re just friends! Why would you think that we were dating?"

Nirei froze, his jaw dropping as his brain desperately tried to reconcile the rumors - and the proof he had gathered and written down in his top secret notebook - with Sakura’s indignant face.

"Wait. You aren't... you're really not together?"

"No! What the hell?!" Sakura threw his hands up in sheer exasperation.

The blond vice let out a weak, strangled gasp.

"Oh no... Oh, wow. Oh, dear god. Then… Suo-san... Oh fuck..."

Sakura’s entire body tensed up instantly at the mention of Suo's name - and also because Nirei never swore and really… what did Suo have to do with this?

“What? What about Suo? What about him?"

Nirei quickly clamped both hands over his mouth, his eyes darting around as if looking for a manhole to jump into.

"Nothing! Nothing, Sakura-san! I didn't say anything!"

"Nirei," Sakura warned, towering over him. "Tell me. What does Suo have to do with this? Why has he been avoiding me for the past two weeks? You know why, don't you?"

Nirei swallowed hard, slowly lowering his hands, looking entirely miserable. He looked up at Sakura, his expression torn between loyalty to his captain and worry for his co-vice-captain.

"I can't tell you, Sakura-san," Nirei said softly.

"It’s not my place. If you want answers... you just really need to go and talk to Suo."

"Ah?? Talk to him?!" Sakura burst out angrily, the frustration of the past weeks finally exploding out of him. "I've tried to speak to him! Every single time he smiles, makes some polite excuse, and turns his back on me! It's like… it's like he hates me!"

Nirei looked down, letting out a weary sigh. The silence stretched between them for a long moment before Nirei finally looked back up, his eyes steady and serious.

"He doesn't hate you, Sakura-san. Trust me. He really, really doesn't."

“And yet, he won't talk to me. I have tried…”

"Sakura.” Nirei cut him off, dropping the honorifics. “You just need to try harder.”

Sakura didn't know what to say, so he kept silent.

^^^^^

Okay. Nirei might have a point, but

Sakura knew only one way to solve a problem when words failed.

So, the following day, he waited for Suo under the bridge near where he usually trained with Nirei. It was already late afternoon when the vice-captain finally appeared, walking with that infuriatingly composed grace. Sakura stepped directly in front of him without saying a word. He just dropped his jacket. squared his shoulders and raised his fists.

Suo stopped, his single eye blinking slowly.

"Sakura-kun. What are you doing?"

"Cut the crap, Suo," Sakura growled, his mismatched eyes burning with weeks of pent-up frustration. "If you won't talk to me, then fight me."

Suo’s expression didn't shift one bit.

"No. Move aside, please. I need to go home, it's late."

"No! I said, fight me!"

Sakura lunged, throwing a fast right hook. He didn't aim to seriously hurt Suo, but he needed him to engage in the fight at least.

Obviously, Suo merely swayed to the side to dodge the blow.

"I won't fight against you, Sakura-kun," Suo said quietly. “Now, move aside.”

Suo's voice was so cold that Sakura’s arms fell to his sides. The fight drained out of him, replaced by a helpless wave of defeat. He was just about to give up, to let Suo walk away and probably disappear from his life entirely, when a scream resonated in the air.

"Help! Somebody, please! My sister!"

They turned their heads toward the desperate cry for help. A young boy was leaning precariously over the riverbank, pointing frantically at the rushing water where a small bundle of pink fabric was struggling in the current.

Before Sakura’s brain could even process what was happening, Suo didn't hesitate. In one fluid motion, he tore off his uniform jacket and kicked off his shoes, diving into the water headfirst. Sakura didn't have a good relationship with water, so he could only watch Suo reach the little girl, wrap an arm securely around her chest, and bring her back to the bank.

Sakura was there instantly, grabbing the crying girl by the arms and hauling her onto the grass, handing her over to her sobbing older brother. Then, he reached down to grab Suo’s forearm, pulling the soaking-wet vice-captain out of the river.

Suo collapsed to his knees on the grass, coughing, his white changshan clinging transparently to his skin. But Sakura immediately noticed something else.

The leather patch that usually covered Suo's right eye was gone, washed away by the river.

But before Sakura could get a look, Suo let out a gasp and slammed his hand over the right side of his face. Sakura reached out, but Suo flinched away from his reach, suddenly looking smaller and terrified.

"Don't," Suo choked out, his voice trembling as he kept half his face hidden. "Don't look..."

Sakura took off his own jacket, threw it over Suo’s shivering shoulders, and grabbed the boy's discarded shoes.

"I won't. But you're freezing. Come on, my place is only a 5-minute walk," Sakura said, his voice surprisingly gentle, leaving absolutely no room for arguments.

While Suo stood up, Sakura made sure the kid and the little girl were okay before grabbing Suo by his forearm and tugging him along with him.

Suo meekly followed him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sakura’s apartment was spartan and almost empty, but the small heater worked, and right now, that was all that mattered.

Suo was sitting on the edge of Sakura’s futon, dressed in a pair of Sakura’s oversized grey sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. He still had his hand pressed stubbornly over his right eye.

Sakura joined him, kneeling in front of him, with a small first-aid kit in one of his hands and a steaming cup in the other.

He placed the cup on the floor, then proceeded to cut a square of medical gauze, layer it, and pull off a strip of medical tape.

Then he looked at Suo.

"Move your hand."

Suo hesitated, "Sakura-kun, I..."

"Look, you were amazing before…" Sakura said, “What you did… was just incredible. So now move your hand, Suo. I’m not gonna judge you."

Slowly, Suo lowered his hand without looking at him.

Sakura just got to work, his expression steady, his fingers moving with unexpected tenderness as he taped the makeshift patch over Suo’s scar, securing it against his cheekbone and brow. Once it was done, Sakura sat back on his heels and handed Suo the cup of green tea he had made for him.

The gentleness Sakura was showing him seemed to do what his fists couldn't.

It cracked Suo’s defenses.

"I am sorry," he whispered, his hand slightly trembling around the chipped cup. "For my behavior these past few weeks. But it's not your fault if that's what you're thinking. I just have... a problem, I guess you could say. And it's something I need to solve on my own."

"That’s bullshit," Sakura stated flatly.

Suo blinked, his single eye looking up in shock.

"I thought we were friends," Sakura said, crossing his arms across his chest. "If you have a problem, you let me help you solve it."

Suo let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

"You can't solve this, Sakura-kun."

"Try me."

Suo didn't answer, but looked down, his entire posture making him look painfully small.

Sakura had never seen him like this. He groaned and reached out, gently taking the cup from Suo’s hands and setting it on the floor again. Then, he took Suo’s left hand with both his hands.

Suo flinched slightly at the contact, but Sakura held on, his thumbs lightly tracing over Suo’s knuckles.

"Okay, I don't know if I can really help you or if I am just mouthing off again, but Suo… I missed you," Sakura admitted, his cheeks burning, as he bravely kept his eyes locked on Suo's face. A delicate shade of pink colored Suo’s cheeks, but he still refused to look back at Sakura. Sakura started playing with the other boy's long, elegant fingers, then.

For once, he was the one touching Suo; he didn't even know whether it was to comfort him or because he needed it himself.

"You know? I have always liked your hands. Well… I like a lot of things about you, Suo, and I cannot stand to see you like this. So please, let me help you… whatever it is… I am here, okay? The past few weeks have been awful… I… I don't want to lose you."

Suo’s breath hitched as he stared at their joined hands.

"Sakura..." Suo whispered, "please don't do this. Because I... I like a lot of things about you too. So much so that I am quite certain Momijikawa-kun wouldn't appreciate it."

Sakura frowned, his brows pulling together in confusion before the realization hit him.

"Sakae?" Sakura squeezed Suo’s hand tight. "So it's this… Nirei…”

Suo’s head snapped to look up at him.

“Nirei? Did he say something?”

“No… Just that I need to talk to you. But maybe you should know that Sakae and I aren't dating."

Suo froze.

"But..."

"Look… He’s my friend. Nothing more." Sakura insisted. "Okay, I was confused for a bit. But it's not him that I wanna date.” Sakura took a deep breath, shifting closer so their knees bumped. "In fact, I recently realized that I… I like someone else."

Suo stared at him, his visible eye wide, too scared to let his hopes rise.

"Sakura… Wait…? What are you saying?"

Sakura didn't wait for him to overthink it.

He leaned forward, closing the final gap between them, and pressed his lips firmly against Suo’s.

And okay… this was different.

Like a lot different.

It wasn't like his kiss with Togame, and it certainly wasn't like his kiss with Sakae. The moment their lips met, the spark he had been longing for detonated perfectly in the center of Sakura’s chest. The kiss was slightly hesitant at first, but then Suo let out a soft breath and finally kissed him back.

Suo’s hands came up, wrapping around Sakura’s waist, pulling him flush against his chest. Sakura gasped against his mouth at the sudden proximity.

Even Suo's touch was entirely different.

It wasn't just comfortable; it was safe, familiar, and thrilling all at once. Sakura brought his own hands up, tangling them in Suo's damp hair, deepening the kiss, chasing that addictive heat until they were both completely breathless.

When they finally broke apart, resting their foreheads together, Suo let out a breathless chuckle, his thumb gently swiping across Sakura’s flushed cheek. "I suppose... you were talking about me?"

"Yes, idiot," Sakura mumbled, his face buried in the crook of Suo’s neck, trying to hide his blush.

Suo laughed again, the sound light, now, finally genuine. He pressed a soft kiss to Sakura's temple.

"Okay. I want to date you as well. And I am sorry… I really am, but I thought…"

"It's okay," Sakura interrupted him, a stupid grin spreading across his face against Suo’s collarbone, “I get why everyone got the wrong idea… but it has always been you, Suo. Just… It took me a while to understand. I am sorry… but don't ever try to ghost me again, okay?”

Suo sighed softly, his arms tightening around Sakura’s waist.

"Okay… but…” Suo hesitated.

“What?”

“Nothing important.”

“Hey… Talk to me.” Sakura insisted, looking Suo straight in the eye.

“It's just… I am no good at cooking. I can hardly make water boil."

Suo paused, as if scared of the consequences of his admissions.

"And... as you can see, I have… issues."

Sakura reached up, gently brushing his thumb over the edge of the gauze patch he had made.

"I can cook for us, don't worry. Sakae is teaching me the basics," Sakura said firmly, a fierce light in his mismatched eyes. "And as for your issues... we'll deal with them. Together.”

Suo seemed to ponder Sakura's words, then he smiled and it was a smile of relief and gratitude.

“Okay… it sounds… nice. And you know what? I think I am a little hungry now.”

“Uh? Really? Okay .. I can make some miso soup... if you want? And I have some mapo tofu leftover… sorry, I don't have much…”

“It sounds lovely, Sakura-kun.”

“But before I go, could you… Could you just hold me for another few minutes, Hayato?”

Suo gasped at hearing Sakura calling him by his first name, and then relaxed again.

“Of course, Haruka. I can hold you as long as you need.”

“After dinner too?”

“Sure…”

“Until tomorrow then.”

Suo smiled, squeezing Sakura's smaller frame, making him giggle.

“Yes. Until tomorrow.”