Archive of Our Own

Shit. How the fuck did this happen?

Goro stared at the bulletin board, internally cursing out every god he knew. Under his name, Akechi Goro, his score of 99/100 was brightly displayed for all to see. Including fucking Niijima Makoto, his supposedly helpful vice president and right hand. Unfortunately, all she did was propose a bet—if Goro didn't receive full marks on the next midterms, he was to confess to his crush, Amamiya Ren. How Makoto knew about Goro's...secret was outside of his reign of knowledge, but that didn't matter. Because Goro had been stupid enough to take the bait, and now it was his problem. He couldn't hide his score, since it was on the damn board...what the fuck was he to do now?

Shit. How the fuck did this happen?

Ren stared at the bulletin board, internally thanking every god he knew. He somehow managed to get full marks on his midterms, despite staying up late playing video games with Ryuji the night before. He didn't even touch any study guides his teachers gave out, opting to shop around Akihabara with his adopted sister, Futaba. Yet he was the only one in the whole school who got a perfect score? He looked around, wondering if there was some kinda mistake.

Students were panicking around him, while others were smiling smugly, and a good portion of them were praying their mothers wouldn't beat them. A few older students around him were giving him dirty glares, as if wondering why the hell this random second-year transfer kid scored better than all of them.

"Honestly, I thought Akechi-san would've  gotten a perfect score," a third-year girl told her friend.

Her friend almost jumped at the name, eyebrows knitting together with worry. "Aiko...lower your voice! What happens if he catches us talking about him?"

Ren cocked his head at them curiously. He'd heard of the rumors surrounding their student council's president. Supposedly, he was a very cold and intimidating person who loved sending people in detention and reporting them to teachers. Thankfully, he hadn't had an encounter with the man yet, but he'd seen the brunette in the halls before. And dare he say, Akechi was intimidating indeed. His face was always blank, and his responses seemed calculated and emotionless. Something dark was lingering under that polite façade, and Ren didn't plan on unearthing it.

"Speak of the devil," the student who had the green pencil case muttered under his breath.

Ren turned his head towards the direction everyone was staring at. There he was.

Akechi was standing right in front of the board, a two-feet distance circle around him created by the students. His uniform was perfectly ironed out as usual, not a wrinkle in his clothes. His hair was also perfectly flowy to his shoulders, not a single cowlick or flyaway. He didn't even greet his classmates, not that they greeted him in the first place. They seemed perpetually terrified of him, slowly inching away and heading back to class.

It sent shivers down Ren's spine, and he considered backing away with the rest of the crowd. Morgana climbed up his neck subtly, meowing comfortingly in his ear. As much as Ren appreciated his cat trying to calm his nerves, he took a step back and gently pushed Morgana down. If anyone found out about him, they'd both be in deep shit.

Speaking of deep shit, all the students around them had quickly scattered while Ren was preoccupied. Except Makoto, but she was as brave as fuck and the only person who could talk to Akechi without her head being bitten off. She shot Akechi a smirk before leaving herself, saying something about student council business.

Ren wondered what that was about, noting it down in his head. He'd ask her about it the next time they gathered for a study session. He slowly took another step back, staring at Akechi's back very warily.

Akechi finally turned around, his piercing eyes zoning in on Ren.

Ren gulped audibly.

Akechi raised his eyebrow, his face void of...anything. "Hello, Amamiya-kun. Congratulations on scoring so high," he acknowledged shortly. He put a hand on his hip, briefly scanning Ren from head to toe.

Woah. Sure, that voice is fucking terrifying, but why is it also so...smooth? And the perfect pitch as well, not too deep and not too high. Shit—focus!

An awkward smile painted itself on Ren's lips, and he nearly stumbled forward as he bowed slightly. "Um—thank you, s-senpai...congratulations as well. Third year tests are harder than ours, so...um...congratulations on scoring really high as well," he stammered out. He'd briefly considered using 'sir' instead of 'senpai' as to not get on Akechi's bad side, but decided not to sound like a kiss-ass.

Akechi's eyes widened just a fraction, before he toned it down again. He fixed his gloves, inclining his head towards Ren. "Well then, thank you."

Ren blinked. "Ah—um, I have to get to class soon, but it was nice meeting you, Akechi-senpai," he said quickly, preparing to leave. He believed he might be murdered if not. He'd half expected Akechi to pull a gun on him for even looking his way with how the other students reacted.

Akechi suddenly glanced up, taking a few steps forward. His hand reached out towards Ren, a few inches away from his arm. His lips parted as if he were about to say something, something flashing in his blank face.

Pulling back slightly, Ren bit his lip, trying to tame down the fear on his face and body. He took his hands from inside his pockets, ready to defend himself if Akechi stabbed him or something.

Akechi paused, his eyes darting down to Ren's hands. He plastered on a polite smile, taking a few steps back again. He shook his head as if to himself. "Ah, apologies. I'll be seeing you, Amamiya-kun," he cleared his throat, his voice briefly turning a bit deep for half a second. He abruptly turned around, stalking off to who knows where.

Ren froze in the same position and would've stayed there for a business day or two if Morgana hadn't scratched his neck lightly. He spun a 360* to see if anyone saw their...interaction or not, or if he was just going crazy.

The hall was deserted.

For the rest of the week, Ren couldn't stop staring at Akechi at every living moment. A fiery curiosity gnawed at him from within, mixed with cautious fear. It was as if Akechi was another specimen—extraordinary, beautiful, and highly dangerous. Maybe Ren was a fool, but the other boy pulled him in like a krill to an anglerfish. Except he knew the risks, and still charged in head-on.

The bell rang, nearly making him jump out of his seat. Blowing out a breath, he shook his head at himself and took out his lunch.

"Milk bread again?" Ann tossed her ponytail, fixing him a stern frown. "No wonder you're so shrimpy."

Ren got up from his seat, going over to her desk to flick her forehead. "No one asked you, diabetic." He shot her a tiny smirk, heading over to the door.

Ann narrowed her eyes at him, but followed him all the same. "At least I have variety! You eat the same thing every single day." She carried her lunchbox carefully, trying not to shake it as they walked to Ryuji's classroom to pick him up. There were probably cupcakes or something fragile inside.

"Sugar is sugar," Ren informed her savagely, sliding the door open. He saw Ryuji already walking towards them, waving and grinning.

"Hey guys!" Ryuji greeted cheerfully as he slung an arm over Ren's shoulder.

Ann poked his side, pointing to Ren. "Tell this kid that his lunch sucks and mine is better!"

Ryuji glanced between the two of them, his face set in a deadpan. "Not really. I'd rather eat bread than glucose."

"Look who paid attention during science class," Ann rolled her eyes, jabbing her elbow into Ryuji's rib cage.

"Ow! Fucking b—"

"Ah, hello, Amamiya-kun."

Ren turned around, his heart somersaulting like some Olympic gymnast from the voice. He fixed his glasses, needing something to fidget with.

There he was. Akechi was smiling at him again, giving him a small wave. "I was just heading over to the student council room. What a coincidence, isn't it?"

Ren nodded uncertainly, rubbing the nape of his neck. Suddenly the hallway was too small for the four of them. "Um, yeah." He mentally slapped himself in the face, trying to think of something else to say. He was sure Akechi was going to kill him this time.

Akechi seemed to take his lack of words as a sign that the interaction had ended. "Well, I'll be seeing you again," he answered lightly, resuming his path.

"Right—goodbye," Ren blurted out nervously, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Akechi merely waved over his shoulder, going over to the stairs. His uniform perfectly complimented his naturally perfect figure as he walked, tight around his shoulders. He ascended the stairs easily, disappearing behind the wall.

"You're staring pathetically again," Ryuji stage-whispered in Ren's ear.

A deep sigh left Ren's mouth as he rubbed a hand over his face. "I need to be better than this."

Ann patted his shoulder consolingly. "No, I think you're doing great so far! You really got that teenage angst and pitiful longing in your eyes."

"Look who paid attention during literature class," Ryuji mocked unabashedly.

Gray eyes stared into yellow ones. Gray eyes blinked. Yellow ones blinked.

"Augh, forget everything I said," Ren buried his face in his hands, groaning. He paced around the rooftop of the school again, hands in his pockets. He focused on Morgana, who was licking himself clean.

"But...I just don't understand," Ren sighed, crossing his arms tightly. "He's pretty, but he's so...terrifying. Honestly...if he ever made a move on me, I think I'd be scared of him no matter what...it doesn't help that he glares at all my friends! I think he hates everyone except Makoto-san..."

Morgana meowed in response, jumping off the table and rubbing against Ren's leg.

Ren kneeled down, picking him up in his arms. "You probably want your lunch, huh?" he patted Morgana between the ears, walking over to the table again and setting him down. He took out a tiny container of cooked salmon, placing it in front of his cat.

"Let's not talk about him," Ren mumbled dejectedly, sitting down in the chair and watching Morgana scarf down his fish. "Hm...what to talk about...well, the last game I played with Ryuji was fun. I kept dying, though. I need to get better on my own so I can beat him next time..."

The door creaked open, and Ren jumped out of his seat in alarm. His head whipped over to the entrance to—oh my fucking God, no way. His chair fell down with a clang!

Akechi walked in with a book in his hands, peering over to see what caused the noise. His eyes widened slightly as they flickered from the cat to his owner. "Oh. Hello, Amamiya-kun." He walked over to the fence, setting his bag down next to his feet and continuing to read.

Ren's stomach dropped to the courtyard, and he froze up in shock and horror.

There is no fucking way. What are the chances??! Why does it have to be him? And how was he so quiet going up the stairs? I usually always hear whenever someone's coming up—oh my God.

"Um—this isn't what it looks like," Ren attempted weakly, tugging on his bangs. He patted Morgana's head shakily, trying to calm himself with the soft fur. He was so fucked.

Closing his book, Akechi cocked his head at Ren, still expressionless as usual. "Then kindly inform me," he suggested tonelessly, pushing himself off the wall and crossing the roof over to him.

Ren instinctively took a step back, Morgana jumping on top of his shoulder. He shoved his hands deep inside his pockets to hide the fidgeting. "Well...I found Mona on the street one day, and his leg was stuck on a wire. I got it out for him, and he kept following me home. I guess I just decided to take care of him then and there," he recalled with a tiny smile, turning his head to let Morgana lick his cheek. "Mona won't let me leave for school unless I bring him, and the one time I left him back home, he destroyed my room." He bopped Moraga's head with a finger, preoccupying himself to escape reality.

Akechi stared at him, unblinking. Those piercing wine red eyes peered into his soul, unwavering. "Ah. I see."

An awkward silence followed, with Ren glancing away and Morgana glancing between the two boys with an unamused face.

Ren rubbed the nape of his neck anxiously. "Um...are you going to report me?" His record seriously couldn't take another hit, having been expelled from four different schools since he started junior high. Or perhaps Akechi was so angry that he would kill him right there. There were no witnesses anyway, and he could just shove Ren's body over the roof to make it appear as though he killed himself.

Thoroughly intimidated by his own thoughts and the older boy, Ren avoided eye contact, tensing up as he prepared for the worst. He slowly inched back, adrenaline thrumming in his veins.

Akechi cleared his throat, prompting Ren to wince and look up worriedly. Akechi scratched his cheek with a finger, being the one to shy away from eye contact this time. Although his facial features never changed, he seemed just a bit sheepish.

What...he's kinda cute like this...

"I see no reason to report you," Akechi affirmed politely. "As long as you are not actively causing a disturbance in your classes or with other students, I see no justification to take away your...pet."

What. Am I hallucinating?

"You're kidding!" Ren sucked in a breath of disbelief, a huge smile spreading across his face. He set Morgana down on the table, eyes growing wide as he stared at the other boy.

Akechi tilted his head, his eyes catching the noon sun. They sparkled for a very brief moment, as if the curtain had been opened and the light had finally reached the interior. Even the iciness in his aura had  warmed up considerably. He shrugged a shoulder. "I am not."

"Oh my God—thank you," Ren beamed cheerfully at him, a strange warmth forming in his chest. "Seriously—I can't get expelled from another school again—so thank you!" Without thinking, he impulsively closed the distance between them and grabbed Akechi's gloved hands, squeezing them.

For once, Akechi's icy mask fully fell and shattered on the floor. His cheeks darkened into a beautiful deep pink, his mouth dropping open. He quickly pulled his hands back as if they'd been burned.

Oh fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck Ren you're such an idiot—Ren you fuckhead dumbshit—

"Fuck—I'm so sorry, Akechi-senpai, that was so out of line, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, pleasedon'tkillme!" Ren nearly screamed and backed away, almost tripping over his feet. He bowed until he was a perfect 90* angle, praying that Akechi wouldn't shoot him for real this time. A wildfire had taken over his face, burning bright red.

Akechi cleared his throat. "It's quite alright, Amamiya-kun. Please, straighten up. There is no need for any apologies," he reassured, although his voice was still as cold as usual.

Ren glanced up hesitantly, noticing how the other was avoiding eye contact again. Akechi's expression wavered again, like a computer glitching from too many open tabs—too many facades waiting to be worn. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, his face was back to the collected formality.

He checked his watch, nodding to himself. "Ah. I must leave for a student council meeting."

Still flushing darkly, Ren nodded back awkwardly. "O-oh. Thank you again, Akechi-senpai," he stammered out, bowing down again. He felt Akechi's heavy gaze on his frame, something frigid creeping up his spine.

But then something light brushed the top of his hair, hardly noticeable. A hand, touching the top layers, but never his head.

"It's fine. I'll be seeing you."

Then Akechi departed smoothly, turning his heel and collecting his bag and book. He slung his bag over a shoulder, holding his book with his other hand. Ren was pretty sure he flipped to the correct page as well, without needing a bookmark.

"Shit," Ren turned to Morgana, completely alarmed. His stomach shot right back up from the courtyard, taking place of his heart that sunk down. "He's hot. He's actually so hot. And attractive. And very interesting."

Goro calmly closed the door to the roof, then proceeded to sprint down the flight of stairs and rush into the nearest bathroom. He slammed his book into his bag, giving no fucks on whether the pages were ripped or bent. Making sure no one was around, he locked himself in the stall with a bang, pressing his head against the door.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck shit fuck fuck—

He violently ripped off his glove, staring at his right hand. When Ren took his hands, his thumb had slipped past his gloves and pressed against his skin, underneath his uniform. There was no visible mark, but a brand burned in his skin, imprinting the memory in his mind. He hadn't allowed physical touch, skin-to-skin contact, ever since he entered junior high. Yet...the soft, slightly warm brush...Goro didn't want to admit it, but he wanted more.

Goddammit. Ren was so confounding. He walks around campus with that quiet and unassuming look, but he's so adorably shy and nervous around me, and so confident and mischievous with his...friends. How many sides does this boy have?

Goro was well aware that he sounded like a hypocrite, but the raven-haired was just so extraordinary. Whenever someone important and new appeared in his life, Goro knew exactly what to do. A perfect, well-timed smile there, a light laugh, a compliment—hook, line and sinker. Under his influence and admiring him in seconds. But Ren? For once, he had no idea how to act in front of the complicated boy. It frustrated Goro enough to want to slam him against the wall and kiss him stupid.

What the fuck—no, I don't! Goro stared at the dull gray of the door. I'll have to be more careful from now on. I can't have Amamiya getting any knowledge about this...ridiculous crush.

It had been two days since the incident with Akechi. Ren promised himself that he was over it, that it wouldn't hold him back from anything. It was just a little spontaneous meeting, and there should be no worries. So why had Ren been dreaming of dark red eyes and light brown hair for two nights?

Ugh, shut up, Ren, he chided himself as he shouldered his bag. He climbed up the stairs lethargically, already regretting the following study session with Makoto and Yusuke. Why he had agreed to work on homework with two of the smartest kids in the school was still baffling to himself. But thankfully, they'd settled on the library being the location instead of the student council room. A certain someone couldn't risk running into a particular council president.

Well, here goes nothing. At least Ren had Yusuke to fool around with. He walked in the quiet area, rolling his sore neck. He's spent yesterday night bent over his desk making lockpicks and little glitter bombs he named 'Happy Bomb'. They would prove to be useful in pranks and other shenanigans.

Gray eyes scanned the area for Yusuke's familiar bright blue hair, and quickly found it in near the windows, in the back of the room. Ren trudged his way over, yawning in his hand.

I'm so tired...I should've slept earlier instead of staying up until two, but—BUT HOLY SHIT—! Is that Akechi-senpai?

The usually empty seat next to Ren's had been occupied, with someone already there. Someone with brown hair to their shoulders and a blue vest. Fuck, it was Akechi. He was already pored over his homework, pencils and books neatly arranged in such a polished manner that nothing invaded Ren's space.

Ren hesitantly approached the table, knuckles white around his bag strap. "Hey guys."

"Hello, Ren," Makoto smiled at him calmly. "I believe you've met Akechi before?" She gestured across the table to the other boy.

"Um—yeah," Ren forced out a grin in return, taking his seat. He almost fumbled with his book as he pulled his supplies out of his bag. The fear from when they first met had diluted down to a wary anxiety. Kill him or not, Akechi was still his upperclassmen and a very respected person by nearly everyone in the school.

Akechi glanced up from his papers, turning to Ren politely. "I hope you don't mind me taking this seat. I understand that you originally had no knowledge of my attendance. I had none as well, until Niijima invited me last-minute."

Was it just Ren's imagination, or did Akechi side-eye Makoto as he said the last part?

"Oh, uh, it's fine," Ren smiled faintly at him, debating on whether or not to wave. The end result was him raising a hand to his chest and twitching it slightly. He wanted to throw himself out the window.

Thankfully, all Akechi did was nod and go back to studying.

"Was there something specific you two wanted to work on?" Makoto addressed the two second-years, raising an eyebrow at Ren.

"Perhaps the historical dates," Yusuke suggested with a small frown. "I have trouble memorizing all of them."

Ren grinned at him across the table. "Yet you remember like, all the colors and shades in a color wheel or template or whatever."

Yusuke shook his head. "That is completely different."

"Suuureeeee," Ren goaded with a smirk, leaning forward and placing his chin on his hand. "Go on, tell me more."

Yusuke gave him a deadpan, as if unamused by Ren's tactics. "Well, firstly—"

"Both of you, get to studying," Makoto ordered flatly, rolling her eyes. "Ren, stop distracting him."

Ren snickered under his breath, but reluctantly opened his book. He read the first chapter and answered a few questions before glancing to his right.

Akechi, having been silent the entire time, was still studying. And he was fast. His hand hovered above the pages as his wrist moved so quickly it seemed as though it was still. Elegant, loopy swirls made up his neat handwriting, all in a straight line.

Ren finished two more pages before sighing deeply. "Why did I agree to this again?"

Makoto gave him a look over her poster project, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "At least try to act your age."

The table creaked under the weight of Yusuke leaning over to observe Ren, their face seven inches apart. Everyone in the table stared at Yusuke questioningly except Akechi.

"Uhhh, can I help you?" Ren leaned back, quirking an eyebrow up.

Yusuke nodded seriously, quickly retreating to dig out his sketchbook. "Yes. I must ask you to star in my next masterpiece." With intense vigor, he slammed his materials down on the table and began sorting out his supplies feverishly.

"What?" Ren grinned teasingly, folding his arms. "You're telling me I'm pretty enough to be a model for the most famous, aspiring artist of the century?"

Fully invested and inspecting his planning sheet, Yusuke scribbled down ideas and sketches. "Yes. I've concluded that you will be a fantastic model for my next piece."

Akechi finally broke away from his homework for once, raising an eyebrow. His expression was still blank, but something about those eyes made Ren shiver just slightly.

A hand cut in front of Yusuke's sketchbook, and Makoto narrowed her eyes at both of them. "Is this just some plan to get out of studying?"

Ren shrugged, winking at her. "Of course not, Makoto-san! Why would you ever think me capable of something like that?"

Makoto rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Listen, Ren. Just because you got full marks on the midterms doesn't mean you can get a big head and slack off. And Yusuke. Of course, in art you have a decent score, but you're practically failing arithmetic. Now, you two study like you're supposed to instead of me hovering over like your mothers, got it?" She scolded firmly.

The two winced and nodded at her, reluctantly doing what she told. Ren flashed them both one last impish grin before scrutinizing his book again.

It wasn't long before Ren got bored again. He subtly shifted his books to the right, glancing over at Akechi.

His position hadn't changed, but the stack of completed homework certainly did. His deep eyes never once stopped moving, darting between passages and his own written paragraphs. The afternoon sun bounced off his hair, lighting the medium shade. His long eyelashes cast the faintest shadows over his cheekbones, and his lips were oh so pink and soft.

Makoto cleared her throat, causing Ren to grimace sheepishly and turn towards her. She nudged her head towards his untouched math book.

Ren pouted a bit, opening his book and taking out scratch paper. He hated math, like any other normal person. But he diligently worked like a good student, mostly out of fear that Makoto would chide him again. It wasn't long before he was met with a difficult question. He redid the thing three times, getting different answers each round. And the area near his ears were starting to throb from his glasses. Great.

He looked up to Makoto for help, but she was texting someone. Probably Haru, from the dreamy smile on her face. Ren decided that now was not the time to bother her. He couldn't ask Yusuke, since the other's math was even worse than his. The only option left was...

Akechi. But I can't ask him—! He'll bite my head off. Or think I'm an idiot. Well I think I've proved that by now—okay, no negative thoughts! Just ask him. And if he calls you an idiot, at least only Makoto-san and Yusuke are here to witness!

"Um...Akechi-senpai?" He whispered quietly, half-hoping the other boy didn't even hear him. Not wanting to interrupt the fragile silence in hovering around their group, he carefully leaned towards him slightly. He mentally prepared for anything possible...although Akechi had been a bit surprising recently. He actually hadn't killed Ren.

Akechi turned to him, raising an eyebrow. His hands were a little twitchy, but Ren just assumed that was because he'd been writing for a while. "Yes?"

Ren took off his glasses, rubbing the back of his ears with a finger. "Um...I have no idea how to do this one. Which is funny 'cause normally I'm fine with calc and stuff...it's just this word problem that tripped me up." He placed the frames down on the table, careful not to smudge the glass.

A short silence followed, and Ren peered up at Akechi questioningly. The student council president was examining his face, his expression a strange mix of what looked like fascination and something masked underneath those layers of walls.

"Akechi-senpai?"

Akechi blinked, shaking his head. "Ah—apologies, Amamiya-kun. Is it alright if you repeated your question? I was merely...it doesn't matter."

Ren nodded confusedly, running a hand through his hair to straighten it. "Oh...um, yeah. I'm just having problems with this question. I have no idea what it wants, even though I'm fine with equations and stuff." He fixed his glasses back on, brushing his dark locks out of the way.

A loud thumping sound rushed into Ren's ears as Akechi leaned closer to study the circled problem. He realized it was just his heartbeat, pulsing everywhere. Akechi's head was nearly 4 inches away from his own, bent over and trying to read the inked words despite the eraser smudges all over.

"Oh, I see," Akechi nodded, making no move to back away. He spun his pencil in his hand to righten it in a move that was unfairly sexy. It made Ren wonder what else he could do with his fingers—no, bad.

Ren's cheeks turned bright pink from his thoughts, and he forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford to look even more like an idiot. "So, uh, what am I doing wrong?"

Akechi circled a few things swiftly, pointing to them. "Well, you've decoded that this calls for an integral expression," he began, gesturing to Ren's scribbles for work. "The first time you used a derivative, which is why you received different answers. But did you remember to write dx?"

Ren tilted his head, squinting at his math. "I don't think so. But it doesn't really matter, does it? 'Cause it's just like, something to use to remember what to do and stuff."

A small smile graced Akechi's lips, temporarily breaking Ren's train of thought. "It matters. In exams, points are docked off and since you're rushing in the time limit, there's a high chance you will make a mistake in regards to which variable you're integrating with."

I...didn't understand that at all...but the basic gist is that don't forget the dx and also you're dumb as fuck. But...he explained that pretty well. And...and he smiled at me!

"Right...thank you, Akechi-senpai," Ren managed to actually grin at him without a hint of fear. He took his cat-shaped eraser, rubbing out his old work and starting a new equation. He began writing frantically, wanting to be done and finished with this.

But Akechi surprised him once again. "Your work appears decent enough. Just pay more attention to the details in the process and you'll do fine."

Ren gazed up with wide eyes, caught off-guard.

Akechi quickly glanced away, returning to his own side of the table. He didn't acknowledge Ren, but his cheeks turned light pink.

What...why would the cold, apathetic star student compliment some nobody like me?

"Well, bye guys! I'm done for the day!" Ren nimbly stood up, shoving his materials in his bag with lightning fast speed. A few seconds later, that fluffy black hair had disappeared down the stairs.

Goro's eyes trailed Ren as he left, his pen freezing. Taking a deep breath, he mentally prepared for the shit Makoto was about to give him.

The poor table once again complained from the weight of someone practically pressing themselves on it. Makoto leaned over, arching an eyebrow at the other boy. "You had your chance, didn't you? Yusuke literally left early for an art exhibition. You had half an hour."

Goro narrowed his eyes at her, ignoring her speech. "You set me up, didn't you?"

Makoto didn't deny anything, simply packing up her belongings.

"I'm telling you, this is important!"

Ren folded his arms sternly, raising an eyebrow at Futaba. "More important than your history test?"

Bright red lights reflected off of her glasses as she furiously clicked her mouse. "Yeah. If I wanna save my reputation, I've gotta beat this game today, before midnight. And I've barely started!"

Ren groaned dramatically. "And I thought I slack off all the time." He wanted to reach through Haru's phone screen, grab her by the scruff of her neck, and drag her back to school.

"Yeah, there's no stopping her," Ryuji consoled matter-of-factly. He patted Ren's shoulder.

Sumire walked over to him, smiling brightly and handing him his forgotten milk bread. "Here you go, Ren-senpai! Don't worry about Futaba-chan, I'm sure she'll be fine."

Ren took it gratefully, grinning at them both. "Thanks."

Yusuke went over to where Haru was, asking her about the new plants arriving on the roof. He began pointing to different areas, chattering about where each of them could be put for artistic purposes. Haru looked a bit overwhelmed, but Ren reckoned that she was fine.

"At least you're not the one getting chewed out by Boss," Ann pointed out comfortingly, taking a bite of her crêpe.

The shining sun was bright, but there were drafts of cool wind. The wind was even stronger on top of the roof, even a bit chilly. The perfect temperature ever, enhancing Ren's mood. "You're right," he shrugged, smirking at Futaba through the screen. "Besides, why am I mothering you? Haru and Makoto must be rubbing off of me."

Haru broke off her conversation with Yusuke to turn to him, worry knitting itself into her features. "Am I motherly? Oh no, it must be annoying, right? I'm—"

"Shit—no, no, no," Ren interrupted frantically, shaking his head. "It's not bad, Haru-san, I promise!" He crossed the roof to where she was, searching for a way to soothe her. Touching her anywhere, even shoulders or anything would certainly guarantee a death sentence from Makoto, so he settled on patting her on the head. "I'm just, uh, not motherly."

Ryuji snickered, sitting on the table. It rocked slightly, almost tipping the phone over. It was propped up shakily by a water bottle, bound to crash any second. "We should start calling you 'Mom' at this point."

"Do it and I'll rip your vocal cords out and shove them up your ass," Ren smiled at him innocently, violently tearing the packaging off his bread.

Ann shivered, frowning at him. "Ugh, you sound like what Akechi-senpai would sound like if you ever got him mad."

"If you ever managed to enrage Akechi-senpai, I doubt you would live to tell the tale," Yusuke warned her, pausing in the middle of his sketch. Setting his pencil down, he switched to his set of paints. His supplies were stuffed everywhere in his uniform, in pockets Ren didn't even know they had.

Sumire swept her long hair over her shoulders, as if it was a scarf protecting her. "Is he really that scary?" she asked with a certain kind of frightened curiosity.

Haru put her hand on her hips, gazing at everyone on the roof. "You know talking about people behind their back isn't right," she reprimanded gently.

"But Haru-san, he's so terrifying," Futaba protested as she finally tore her eyes away from the game. There must have been a cutscene playing or something boring.

Haru adjusted her sweater, sighing to herself. "I can't argue with you there, unfortunately."

Ann perked up, taking a step towards her. "Wait, Haru-san, you're in the same grade as him, right? What do you know about him?" she asked curiously, a bit excited. "No one knows anything about the student council president."

Haru laughed awkwardly, tugging her skirt over her leggings. "Well, we haven't really talked," she said sheepishly.

"But?" Ann prodded, setting down her lunch. She smiled at Haru sweetly, patting the shorter girl's shoulder. "You can tell us anything, senpai! You know we're all supportive."

Ren fixed her a deadpan for guilt-tripping Haru, but Ann simply shot him a glower back.

"Um..." Haru hesitated, tilting her head as she thought. "I believe it was after Ren left the other day. He'd been helping me with the garden," she began, pointing to the onions growing off to the side. "Akechi-kun had walked in a few seconds after he left, asking about the plants. He must have needed to survey the garden to make sure it was okay, but..." Haru rubbed her arms as though a sudden gust of freezing wind blew on her. "He was so much colder than usual, and I think he was glaring at me as well."

What? Ren's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. But...wasn't he actually kinda nice?

"Oh..." Ann softened at the sight of Haru shrinking down a bit, and she hugged the tiny girl tightly. "It's okay, Haru-san! He's gonna have to get through us and Makoto-san! And you know she's the only one he tolerates!"

Sumire jumped up from where she was sitting, going over to the girls and joining in on their group hug. "Ann-senpai is right, Haru-senpai!" she added with a shaky, but determined smile.

"Yeah," Ryuji agreed adamantly. "Besides, don't mind him. Akechi's always been a stuck-up stick-in-his-ass bitch anyways."

Ren rubbed the nape of his neck in slight perplexion. "I mean...he's been pretty nice to me so far. That's weird. Maybe there was some kinda misunderstanding?"

"What's a misunderstanding?"

Makoto walked through the door to the rooftop with someone behind her, probably done with her student council meeting.

Everyone's jaws simultaneously dropped as Akechi followed her, his usual monotone face on. He was staring at his phone, holding both his and Makoto's bag in a hand.

"Nothing, Mako-chan," Haru smiled at her, walking rather quickly towards her girlfriend. She hugged Makoto around the waist, burying her face in her shoulder.

Makoto blinked in surprise, but laughed quietly and wrapped her arms around Haru. "Okay? What's up, sweetheart?"

Ryuji was still occupied with the fact that Akechi was a few feet away from them both. "Speak of the devil," he whispered in Ann's ear.

Yet it was pretty loud. Loud enough that Ren heard, and so did Akechi, from the way his gaze cut straight to Ryuji.

"Why're you all silent?" Futaba demanded suspiciously, her eyes glued to her computer screen.

Yusuke cleared his throat, possibly saving them all from an awkward silence. He took Haru's extra phone and began striking up a conversation with her.

"Anyways, the meeting's obviously over," Makoto announced simply, her fingers stroking through Haru's fluffy hair. "And I brought Akechi to help with the plants."

Akechi glanced up from his name being mentioned, scanning the area. He walked over to the table, placing both bags on top of it with a hand still working on his phone.

Ryuji's jaw dropped to the floor for the second time while Ren's heart skipped a beat.

"As long as I am able to choose the position of the plants, I'm fine with this!" Yusuke called over from where he was debating with Futaba.

Akechi shrugged a shoulder. "Anything's alright by me,"  he said quietly, settling a few feet away from Ren. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that everyone was staring at him as though he'd just been revealed as Japan's No. 1 mass murderer.

The others regarded each other awkwardly, as if prompting them to speak first.  Brave, brave Yusuke was the first to break the silence, resuming his screaming match with Futaba. Makoto began asking Haru about her day, and the others gradually grew used to Akechi's presence.

Ren tuned out Ann and Ryuji's conversation in favor of observing the student council president. Akechi appeared a bit bored, his thumb never pausing as he tapped the screen. Maybe he was lonely? Very unlikely, since Akechi didn't give the impression that he was the type of person to care about that. Or maybe that was simply the image he wanted to cast out.

Either way, Ren found himself inching towards Akechi slowly.

"Damn," Ann marveled quietly. "He's got balls of steel, doesn't he."

Ryuji nodded wordlessly, probably praying for his friend's life.

Ren ignored them both, approaching the older. He left a good few feet between them, not wanting them both to be uncomfortable. "Hi, Akechi-senpai," he greeted with a grin, trying to appear confident.

Akechi looked up, his eyebrows raising in surprise. He immediately placed his phone in his pocket, putting a hand on his hip. "Hello, Amamiya-kun."

Racking his brain for things to say, Ren figeted with his bangs as if that would give him answers. "How was your day?"

Now Akechi was truly shocked, probably wondering if Ren had brain damage in the span of five minutes. "It was fine. How was yours?"

"It was alright," Ren shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "The weather's nice." He tilted his head, trying to decode Akechi by his body language. But of course, he was a hard one. A cold, yet polite face, devoid of any emotion. His stance was casual enough, but radiated authority and order.

Akechi nodded with a small, meticulous smile. "Yes, I agree. Perhaps we are more alike than I previously thought."

Ren's stomach fluttered. A light pink flush spread on his cheeks from the way Akechi gazed at him as though he was the only person in the world that mattered. Maybe Ren really did need to see their school therapist from the way his mind wandered.

"I'm guessing you love spicy food?" He took a shot in the dark, raising an eyebrow with a grin.

Akechi rolled his eyes, the first show of emotion. "I take back my words."

Ren laughed quietly, covering his mouth with a fist. He could practically imagine the stoic boy choking on a red takoyaki, his pale complexion turning red. Nothing seemed better than a flustered Akechi. 

Akechi smiled as well, a bit wider than last time. And a bit more genuine as well. "Why don't we see how truly similar we are?" he offered coolly.

Ren blinked, not believing his ears. "Wh-what?" His brain imagined different scenarios, getting more and more creative with each passing second. He told it to shut the fuck up.

"Are you free after school this Saturday?" Akechi took a step forward. Was it just Ren, or did his lips curl up into a faint smirk? "We could play darts. I know a particularly impressive place."

Ren nodded eagerly, perhaps a bit too eager. He fixed his glasses with shaky fingers, trying to stay collected. "Sure, I'd love to."

Akechi nodded back, pulling his gloves on tighter. "Alright, then. May I have your number, to give you the location?"

Ren's cheeks burned as he dug his phone out of his own pocket. "Oh—um, yeah," he stuttered, giving it to Akechi.

The other boy quickly typed in the number before handing the phone back to him. "Thank you. I'll be seeing you at 11 in the morning—is that acceptable?"

"Yep! I can make it," Ren confirmed, taking the phone back. Their fingers brushed briefly, sending not sparks, but a fucking thunderbolt up Ren's spine.

"Hey! Watch it, Ryuji!"

They both turned their heads to where the others had already started moving the new plants in place. Ryuji nearly took out Ann's head by tossing a fertilizer bag.

"We should probably go help them," Ren snickered as he grinned up at Akechi.

The brunet gave him a half-smile back, nodding. "Of course."

"I told you it was a good idea." Makoto glanced over at Goro, smirking triumphantly.

Goro rolled his eyes, completing his paperwork for the afternoon. "Fine. Thank you, Niijima-sama."

Makoto shrugged, stacking up all the club papers in one neat pile. "Just don't fuck anything up and we'll call it even."

Fast-forward a few months. Ren'd discovered the many sides of Akechi, and like the fool he was, loved every single side. His cold school persona, his charming work persona during that one time Ren succeeded in pleading to see Akechi's office (Ren was still elated over the fact that they were that close), and the slivers of Akechi's 'real' self that he kept hidden, even from Ren. The way his eye just barely twitched with annoyance when Ren won at billiards, the way his polite tone hid barely concealed annoyance when speaking to other students, the small ticks and triggers that led to Akechi fumbling and struggling to uphold his uptight personality. The tiny smiles and laughs he allowed when he thought Ren wasn't paying attention, his heavy gaze that followed him in the hallways, the way he swore like a sailor when he thought Ren couldn't hear...Ren was more determined than ever to crack the infamous president, one way or the other.

Sure, his friends would chide that he's hopelessly obsessed with possibly the most dangerous person in their school, but he'd beg to differ. As annoyed as Akechi was with him sometimes, he'd never actually aim to hurt the other boy. Frighten, yes, but not hurt.

"Amamiya?" Akechi inquired as he waved a hand in front of his face. He raised an eyebrow unamusedly, a hand on his hips.

Ren looked up with a small light pink flush, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Um—yeah! Sorry, you can start us off," he laughed nervously. He'd played darts with Akechi a million times before. So why was he always so nervous?

Akechi cast him a tiny smile before walking up to the line. He effortlessly threw three bullseyes in rapid succession, barely even glancing at the target.

Ren couldn't stop his mouth from dropping open. He was always so amazed by his Akechi, the way he was so elegant and cool. He couldn't stop himself from gazing at Akechi as if he was the only person on Earth, eyes full of wonder and adoration.

Akechi turned back in slight confusion, tilting his head at the dartboard. "Your turn."

Ren blinked, snapping out of whatever trance he was in. His neck burned with embarrassment. Fumbling with the darts in his hand, he nearly tripped as he stumbled up to the line. His stomach dropped to the basement as color spread from his neck to his cheeks.

He glanced back to see if Akechi saw him fuck up. Of course he did. The other was observing him with another faint smile, except this one...nearly reached his eyes.

No. Shut up and focus, Ren told himself. He took a deep breath and threw his darts.

Although he had improved quite a lot ever since he started with Akechi, he wasn't as good as him. He mainly attainted bullseyes, but missed a few and instead landed in the 1 or 20 zone. Goro picked up for him, shooting triple 20s and such.

And as always, Akechi found a way to end their game of 701 stylishly. He achieved a three in the black with his right hand. The things this boy did to Ren's heart...

"You're so cool, Akechi-senpai," Ren grinned at him widely as Akechi handed him all the darts. He went to give them back at the register, but not before glancing back.

Akechi's face was bright red, and his grin nearly matched Ren's. He quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.

Cute. Awww, Akechi-senpai's so cute!!

Ren just about skipped back to their corner, making sure his footsteps were loud enough so Akechi wouldn't be startled.

Akechi turned to face him, his expression already composed and his skin back to the pale shade. How he managed to collect himself so fast was still extraordinary. "You understand you aren't required to address me formally, Amamiya?" he smiled sweetly, tilting his head.

Holy shit, the things he does to Ren's heart. He practically had cardiac arrest from the way Akechi's eyes sparkled playfully. It was as if he was trying to get him back for flustering him earlier...

"Uh—um, is 'Akechi-san' alright?" Ren stuttered, his voice an octave higher than normal.

Akechi's smile turned a bit...real. As if a layer of plastic had lifted off of his masks, exposing just a hint more of what lied underneath. "You might as well call me by my first name," he teased lightly, putting a hand on his hip.

Ren flushed lightly, debating on the outcome. The worst that could happen was if Akechi never talked to him again or killed him. So Ren decided to make his move. It didn't mean that he was the face of confidence, but he tried to sound somewhat less of a stammering mess. "I...could call you 'Goro-san'?" he suggested quietly, giving his best doe eyes, bright silver and wide.

It was well worth the risk. Akechi's mouth dropped open as he slapped a hand over it, coughing. He turned his face away, clearing his throat. "Y-you're free to call me whatever you like," he shrugged, attempting to brush it off. "Why don't we play another round?"

Ren smiled at him innocently, catching on how quickly he changed the subject. "Sure, Goro-san," he agreed affably.

Goro froze for a half a second again before he abruptly turned on his heel. He fled the scene to grab the darts again.

Cute. Again. Augh, he's so cute!!! A large smile broke Ren's face in two.

Goro returned swiftly, his skin back to his normal shade. "Would you like to start this game?" he offered courteously, as if he wasn't blushing like a pining fool moments ago.

Shaking his head, Ren gestured to the dartboard. "Nah. Be my guest."

The game was very similar to the last one. They both played extremely well, competition running through their veins in the place of blood. Goro threw his darts perfectly. Ren may have stared at Goro's figure for too long while he was up there.

The game ended on Goro's turn, with him having to throw a triple 20 with his last dart. He was in the middle of throwing it, preparing his toss.

Ren decided to give his upperclassman some encouragement. He tilted his head with a gentle smile, clapping his hands softly. "Go, go, Goro-san!" he cheered quietly.

Goro's mouth parted slightly, his cheeks rapidly gaining the familiar pink color. His fingers trembled slightly, and the dart flew off outside of the board. That had never happened before, ever. He never fumbled in front of Ren.

Ren shrugged, still smiling calmly. "It's getting pretty late, anyways. We're both probably dying of hunger at this point," he reasoned matter-of-factly. Then he lit up, raising up his index finger. "Oh! Why don't you come over to my place? I can make us lunch!"

The world instantly turned a happier, brighter place when Goro nodded hesitantly. Maybe he was still in a shocked daze from when he actually busted at darts, but Ren wasn't willing to take any chances. He led Goro to the station and to Yongen-Jaya in record time.

"This is the area you live in?" Goro asked mildly as he was led through the streets. He walked as though he'd been there a million times, confident, but not arrogant with the perfect amount of energy.

Maybe Ren was just lovesick. "Yep! Here's my place!" Ren laughed nervously, pointing to Leblanc. He thrust open the door for Goro, letting him walk in first.

Then Ren stepped through the door easily. "What's up, Dad?" he waved at Sojiro with a wide grin.

Sojiro merely sighed in half annoyance and amusement. His eyes strayed to the boy who was right next to him, raising an eyebrow. "What a fine young man. Is he a friend of yours?"

Ren turned back to grin at Goro widely, gesturing to him with a hand. "Yep. He's Akechi Goro-san, the student council's famed and beloved president."

Goro arched an eyebrow at him, before plastering on a polite smile. "He's exaggerating, sir—I'm afraid I'm not as popular as Amamiya-kun puts it. I'm pleased to meet you."

Sojiro waved at him, busying himself with preparing some drip coffee. "I'm Sakura Sojiro, but you can just call me Boss."

"Anyways," Ren cut in with a smirk, "you can have a seat over there on that chair." He pointed to the one right in the middle, lines up against the counter. 

Goro nodded back, pulling his gloves on tighter as he walked over.

"What are you two doing?" Sojiro asked suspiciously, raising his eyebrows. "You hardly ever bring a friend alone and at this time."

A slight blush overtook Ren's cheeks as he regretted coming out to him and Futaba. "I'm gonna make us lunch, since it's late," he explained patiently, going behind the counter and taking an apron. He glanced around. "No one's here, after all."

Sojiro sighed again, shaking his head. "I'm going to buy some cigarettes. Just don't make a mess, alright?"

Ren grinned cheekily at him, running a hand through his curly hair. "I never do."

Sojiro chose to ignore it, already heading towards the door.

"Amamiya, you know how to cook?" Goro asked as he took out his book from his briefcase. His eyes were a bit wide as he gazed from the stove to the second-year.

Ren nodded with another smirk, adjusting his glasses. He went to wash his hands, talking a bit louder over the rushing water. "Yeah! And just call me Ren, since I'm already calling you Goro." He prepared two cups of coffee, placing one in front of Goro.

Goro's eyes flicked up from his book for a half a second before darting back down. "Of course, Ren." His voice sounded tighter, raspier when he said the other's name. Unlike his usual, smooth voice, it hinted at something a bit closer to his natural tone.

It was a simple fact. A fact that Ren jotted down in his mind as he was taking ingredients out of the fridge. He'd grown used to unconsciously noting down Goro's behaviors and ticks ever since he stopped fearing for his life around the student council president.

"If I may ask, what is your relationship with...Boss?" Goro asked from the counter, casually. If Ren were any other person, he wouldn't notice the way Goro's voice lilted just slightly towards the end of the question. The way Goro's eyes were just slightly above the page of his book, indicating that he was paying attention more than he'd admit.

Ah. Ren shook his head reassuringly, a small smile on his lips. Mixed with fond reminiscence and just a hint of regret. "Well, it's a long story," he began lightly, stirring the pot diligently. "I had a...not so good family, so I ran away from it when I was 11." He'd certainly excluded a few things, but that wasn't information Goro needed to know. Besides, there was no use dwelling on the past.

"Anyways, I remembered that my parents had a friend in Tokyo," Ren continued simply. "I stumbled into Leblanc, hoping that Sojiro would take me in. I offered to help around the shop and babysit Futaba, along with doing some other chores. He was originally super annoyed, but," Ren flashed a quick grin at Goro, "it's been six years and now Sojiro loves me!" He added the last part mischievously, holding red pepper flakes over the pot.

"Don't you dare," Goro said flatly, narrowing his eyes at Ren.

Ren smirked in more ways than one. Sure, he'd delivered his tragic backstory, but he'd successfully distracted Goro from pitying him. "Oh, and Futaba's so adorable," he informed the other seriously as he stirred the now-fragrant curry.

"Sakura, right? First year?" Goro confirmed. He seemed to be digging through the endless files in his mind, putting name to face. The book was long forgotten, forsaken on the counter.

"Yeah. She's such a sweet little kid." Ren washed up the rice and started the rice cooker, well aware that he was talking about her as if she were five instead of fifteen.  In some ways, she was still a kid in Ren's eyes.

Goro nodded silently, his gaze somewhere else. Ren could practically see the cogs in his brain turning, enveloping the new information and turning it over and over again, sifting through it thoroughly.

Ren let him. He checked the curry and rice, then washed his hands and stood behind the counter. He waited for Goro to speak, already used to his periodic silences where he would plan his next words.

Finally, Goro looked up with an even more unreadable expression. Except it wasn't void of emotion. In fact, there were so many different emotions flashing over his face, overlapping and indiscernible. "I'm...happy that you found your family, yet I am truly sorry you had to suffer for 11 years," he stated tightly, glancing away. His left hand was in a fist. "If it makes you feel any better...I myself struggled with an unusual upbringing."

Ren cocked his head at him, blinking. Concern flowed through his body like water, and he resisted the urge to reach out and cup Goro's hand. But Goro would probably just push him away further, and Ren couldn't risk that.

He went to collect the bowls for their lunch, loading the curry and rice up until it was almost overflowing. He brought the bowls over to the counter, placing them in front of Goro and the seat next to him. "Is...is it okay if I pry?"

Goro kept his eyes firmly on the book collecting dust. "I was raised by a single mother. She committed...suicide when I was seven," he said shortly, as if rehearsed a million times to erase any hints of underlying feelings. "I'm living off the scholarship and, of course, my part-time job."

Ren's eyes widened, his heart aching for the boy. He walked out from behind the counter, rushing over to where Goro was sitting. He racked his brain for something to say as he slowly took a step forward. "Goro-san..." The courage to brush his palm lightly over Goro's fist finally came, and in another impulsive move, he laced his fingers with the other's. "I'm so sorry."

"It's nothing," Goro swiftly dismissed, before Ren had even finished his sentence. "It's fine. I've moved on, after all. It was a long time ago."

Ren smiled at him gently, sitting down next to him. He squeezed Goro's limp hand, bringing both hands around it.

Goro still didn't turn his way, taking a bit of curry as a sign that the conversation had ended.

Wait. Ren had been too focused on their heavy conversation to even register what was happening.

Goro-san's eating the curry I made?? Holy shit! What if it tastes bad? What if I undercooked it? Does he like it? All the other customers had no problem when I took over...but Goro isn't like anyone else at all...

He tried focusing on his own food, carefully scooping the exact same amounts of curry and rice for a balanced bite. The urge to just peer over was overwhelming, but he tamped it down.

"Ren..."

Ren whipped his head towards him so fast he nearly got whiplash. "Yeah?" he asked airily in a failed attempt to sound casual. He even took a bite of curry, pretending it wasn't that big of a deal.

Before he saw Goro's face. He almost choked on his mouthful.

Those wine red eyes were fucking sparkling. Glimmering, shining, flashing, whatever the fuck you wanted to call it. But they were alive and livid and full of something akin to actual fucking joy.

"Did you really make this yourself?" Goro asked quietly, his lips in one of the most genuine smiles he'd ever made. It was as if all the masks he wore had slipped off and shattered against the wooden floor, the shadows and edges in his face melting away. Goro's face wasn't new. It hadn't changed. But it was different from the face Ren had spent months burning into his eyes. It was lighter, bubblier, and much more real.

Zero words left Ren's mouth for around a full minute while he gaped at the radiant boy in front of him. Jaw completely dropped, a hand slapped over it haphazardly. Eyes wide, burning from being opened for far too long without blinking. Mind blank, devoid of anything but Goro's smile.

Goro's cheeks slowly turned bright red as the seconds passed, painting his entire face adorably. He shoved a hand in front of Ren's face, waving. "Hello?"

"Ah—um! Yeah, I made it myself," Ren rushed out squeakily, feeling as though a bucket of ice water dropped down on him as he snapped back to reality. "You know I help Sojiro around, right? Well, I guess I just wanted to learn more stuff, since I'd be on my own for college and the rest of my life." He laughed nervously, two octaves higher than his normal chuckle. "But my skills obviously aren't as good as Sojiro's."

"Actually," Goro interrupted with a rare smile, "your skills are far above average." He resumed mixing his curry and rice until every single grain was covered in sauce, pretending like he hadn't just dropped a bomb on the younger.

Ren stammered for words, covering his face with an equally red hand. He cleared his throat roughly, taking a gulp of coffee. "Um...do you cook, then?"

"Unfortunately, I do not," Goro replied lightly. "I'm far too busy for work and studying, as well as my duties as the president of the student council. I find that a quick microwave meal or instant noodles suffice." He took another bite of curry, deflecting Ren's attempt at eye contact.

Appalled grey eyes widened as Ren shook his head. "That's not healthy," he pointed out worriedly. He thought for a moment, trying to come up with something. Then a lightbulb went over his head. "Oh! I can cook for you! Every day." He flashed an enthusiastic grin at the other.

Goro cocked his head with a small, amused smile. Utter disbelief and a hint of bewilderment lightened his frame even more. "That's impossible. You don't know where I live, and I'm sure both of us have busy schedules. On top of—"

Ren shook his head again, leaning towards him slightly. "That's not a problem," he countered warmly. No matter what, he was going to help Goro. "You can just drop by here and I'll whip something up for you, on the house."

A tiny exhale, almost a laugh, escaped Goro's lips. "I'm far from worthy of getting in trouble with Boss for," he insisted a bit difficulty. His voice had become somewhat strained, his fingers twitching as they adjusted his vest.

"It's fine," Ren objected determinedly, instinctively leaning forward. More. He wanted more. More of Goro's walls broken down, more than just slivers of his real personality, more of his face, his voice, his attention, more, more, more.

The conviction in the boy's eyes took Goro's breath away. He looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with a literal star. "Why would you...do something like that for me?" he asked quietly. His tone expected an answer his heart didn't want to hear.

What...? Ren did a double take, his spoon nearly falling from his limp hand. Completely off-guard, his ears burned as he tried coming up with a heterosexual answer. "Ah...um, because we're friends," he explained with a wide smile, a bit nervous albeit happy. His fingers came up to twist that strand of hair again, suddenly very shy.

Goro tilted his head endearingly, leaning forward cautiously as if to test the waters.

Ren immediately sucked in a sharp breath and leaned back slightly. He couldn't move too far, since he'd tip over from his chair, but he kept a nice distance between them. Either that or his heart would burst into flames. Actually, the second option didn't sound half bad if it meant that Goro would never find out about his feelings.

"'We're friends'?" Goro repeated slowly, tasting the words on his tongue. Another inch between them, swallowed up. "You would do this for all of your friends?"

Ren turned his head away, unable to look at him directly. Answers popped up in his mind, all of them incongruous and unbecoming of himself. He was going to pull out all his hairs at this point. His fingers fidgeted with everything within reach, his hair, his glasses, his collar.

Adorable. Ren was simply adorable, wasn't he? All flustered and a stammering mess, just for Goro's eyes and Goro's eyes only.

He allowed the younger boy a few seconds of reprise before leaning forward again, a hand on the counter for support. "I asked you a question, Ren," he smiled sweetly. "Would you do this for all of your friends?"

Oh, how he loved watching the other squirm.

The way Ren stared at the floor, leaning away with his handsome face all red and hot was doing things to his heart. His panicked, beautiful gray eyes, hidden behind that clear glass—Goro wanted to rip the damn glasses off. See his unmasked eyes again.

But he was a hypocrite, wasn't he?

"N-no," Ren squeaked as he brought a hand up to his face, covering the lower half. He was so obviously overwhelmed, looking anywhere but at Goro's eyes despite them being seven inches from his.

Goro slipped off his chair, taking a step towards Ren and pressing against the other's chair to get even closer. To be as close to Ren as possible. "And why is that?" he asked in a simple, flat tone.

Ren nearly fell off his own chair, elbow almost tipping his forgotten bowl of curry over. He stumbled over to the booths, leaning his back against the side of one for support. He was so twitchy that Goro half expected him to flee at any given moment.

But Goro closed the distance between them yet again, observing Ren and his face and every living thing about him. He was blushing far too hard for just a nervous junior near his upperclassman.

I have to confess to Ren one way or another, don't I? That fucking dare. God, it's all Ren's fault, isn't it? This insignificant attractive little brat had to smile so pretty all the time, now Niijima believes I have a crush on him. Which...I do, of course, but that's no one's business. Yet I would have been perfectly fine watching from afar, or interacting with him slowly, becoming his friend...nothing more than his friend...although, perhaps—

"G-Goro-san?"

The prompt reminded Goro that he'd spent a tad too long staring deep into Ren's eyes. "Can you answer one question for me, Ren?" he asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.

At Ren's hesitant nod, he smiled just slightly. "Do you like me?"

Ren's mouth dropped open, his already red face turning maroon. He cleared his throat as if that would return him any drops of lost dignity. "Wh-what do you mean?" His hands pulled at his shirt collar nervously, stretching the fabric.

Goro kept his eyes strictly trained on Ren's. "You're a smart boy, you know what I'm talking about."

A small choked noise escaped Ren's lips before he covered his face with a hand, whipping his head away. "I...there's no point in denying, is there?" he said softly. "I'm guessing you already know I like you."

Goro smirked widely, something twisted in his heart expanding and growing delightfully from how flustered Ren was over him. "Good." He pressed a light kiss against Ren's forehead, relishing in the tiny squawk emitted from the boy underneath him. He ruffled Ren's hair affectionately. "It seems as though I also have feelings for you."

Mentally, he checked off the debt he owed Makoto. The vice president never said anything about Ren confessing first.

But...if Goro was being honest, it wasn't that bad at all, really. It was safe to say Ren was more than worth it to humiliate himself for a few weeks trying to win his attention. Who was Goro kidding. He'd humiliate himself for the rest of his sorry life it that meant Ren would just glance his way.

Ren walked towards the student council room, picking Goro up from his meeting. The brunet had planned for them to play billiards in the afternoon, then visit Jazz Jin for a few drinks and a nice, long debate. A perfect date, if you ask Ren.

Striding through the halls, he easily maneuvered his way to the room. After just two weeks, it was routine for him to greet Goro every day after school in that classroom.

Goro was already waiting for him outside, giving Ren a small smile as the other approached him. "Hello, Ren. How was class?"

"The usual," Ren shrugged with a wide grin. He was about to say something, maybe taunt Goro about their upcoming game, before Makoto-san exited the room.

"Oh. Hello Akechi-kun, Ren," she nodded at them both, shouldering her bag. "What are you two doing?"

Goro raised an eyebrow at her, pulling Ren closer by the waist. "What, I can't greet my boyfriend?" he asked in a deadpan.

Ren's cheeks flushed at the bold action in the middle of their school hallway. "Goro—"

Unfortunately, Goro didn't allow him to finish the sentence before he pressed a chaste kiss against Ren's lips, pulling away as fast as he'd leaned over.

Ren's face burned even hotter in response, for once wishing he didn't have his glasses on so he could facepalm. He simply pinched the bridge of his nose, glancing over at Makoto apologetically.

The shorter girl just smiled in half exasperation and smugness, raising her hands. She signed two nines, a slash with her sideways palm, and a hundred.

99/100.

Looking back from across the hall, Ren wondered what that was about.