Archive of Our Own

Putting a name on emotions is something Nagi's never been good at. Matter of fact, he's utterly hopeless when it comes to understanding what he feels.

He doesn't know why his heart races whenever a certain purple haired boy gets too close. Or why his face grows hot when he's singing Nagi's praises. It doesn't make sense that he feels butterflies swirl in his chest when his hair is ruffled with a tenderness he can't help but melt into.

It's all weird and unusual and maybe even a bit scary to a boy who's used to feeling nothing at all.

Realization dawned on him suddenly, as he slacked off in class, that he's in love. Nothing sparked the realization—it was completely random—but somehow he just knew. The gears turned or the stars aligned or something like that, he supposes.

He's in love. He's in love with his best friend and he has absolutely no clue what to do about it.

A crush would be one thing, Nagi could probably deal with that. Although, considering Reo a crush would be insulting. Completely head over heels maddeningly down bad in love with him is more accurate. It's kind of pathetic, really, Nagi feels his sanity slip every time Reo even looks at him with that look. The one where his eyes go soft and stare at him like Nagi's the only person in the world worth treasuring.

Or when Reo shoots him a smile, whether it be a cheeky smirk or a gentle one saved only for him, Nagi feels his heart thump so hard it's borderline painful. If it weren't locked away inside his chest, he probably would've gifted it to Reo long ago.

And there's the way they're always so close together. Reo giving him piggybacks, Reo hooking an arm around his shoulder; it's all so welcoming, so comfortable it feels like home. Tearing himself apart from Reo feels like taking away a piece of his own soul. That obviously means they're soulmates, no?

There's Reo's praise too; patting Nagi's head, calling him a good boy and–

Ah, wait, he got distracted again. Love is a hassle like that, he's come to learn. But, oddly enough, it's a hassle he's come to love, as well. He loves being in love; he loves every part of loving Reo.

Love, love, love, so much love Nagi doesn't know what to do.

So he ends up doing what everyone does when they have a question: turn to the vast and all knowing world of the internet.

He searches ‘what to do when you're in love’ and mindlessly skims through the top results. Nothing catches his eye so he follows his intuition and clicks the one he feels most drawn to.

When the article opens, his screen is suddenly covered in pink and glitter and lots of bows that are more obnoxious than appealing. Nagi's tempted to close the tab and find something else but he pauses.

This must've been written by a girl. He's heard that girls are masters at romance—meaning, he's in good hands.

He looks at the headline again; Guide to Love written in a flowy font. At the very least, it's worth a shot. Besides, it's not like he has anything better to do. And also, he's pretty desperate.

Laying curled up in his bed, Nagi reads his phone as if it were some kind of holy scripture.

1.) Listen to them! It’s important to show the person that you care about their thoughts and opinions. Make them feel heard; this way they will feel more drawn to talking with you.

Lucky for him, Nagi’s already got this one down. Reo always has something to say, always has a new story to share or a comment to make which Nagi listens to every time. He prefers listening over talking; that makes him and Reo a perfect match. It’s a huge bonus, too, that Reo’s voice is about as lovely as a lullaby no matter what he says.

2.) Communicate well! It’s essential to properly express yourself to avoid any misunderstandings or small arguments. Being honest about how you feel proves that you’re comfortable with them. You don’t need to immediately confess how you feel. Small admissions like “I enjoy spending time with you” or “You’re fun to be around” go a long way!

Nagi doesn’t have to worry about this one either. Reo understands him perfectly; so much so Nagi sometimes wonders if he's a mind reader. And he told Reo that he’s not a pain to be with, which translates over to 'you’re so perfect, I never want us to be apart'. Reo’s already aware of that. He thinks, at least.

3.) Spend time with them! Alone time is important, but also invite them places. Allow them to experience what it would feel like if you two were on a date. If they enjoy themselves, they may just find themself wanting more!

Nagi stares at his screen as he considers it. Outside of school and practice, they don’t really go anywhere else together. Of course, they often find themselves hanging out at Nagi’s apartment, but he doesn’t think that’s what the article is suggesting.

Inviting Reo somewhere… That’s doable.

Nagi turns off his phone and places it on his window sill, right next to Choki. It’s the middle of the night; stars scatter throughout the sky outside his window. He stares at the ceiling and eventually falls asleep imagining all the places he could go with Reo. For once, he’s sort of looking forward to something.

—

“Hey, Reo…” Nagi calls, looking up at him from where his head lays in Reo’s lap.

The rooftop is empty save for the two of them. It’s neither too hot nor too cold; exactly how Nagi likes it. He likes it even more considering the moment he's currently enjoying with Reo.

It’s lunch break and, while he didn't bring his own lunch, Reo is sharing his—feeding him small bites when he notices Nagi has finished chewing.

Nagi’s not hungry but Reo’s insistent in the way he refuses to take his chopsticks back until Nagi’s eaten what's on them. Really, it’d be more bothersome to convince Reo to stop, so Nagi ends up eating regardless of his nonexistent appetite. But then again, he can't complain because even though he doesn’t care for the taste of gyoza, it tastes awfully sweet when served this way.

He can’t tell whether it's the food or the delighted smile Reo rewards him with that leaves a warmth bubbling in his chest.

Reo takes his own bite of food using the same chopsticks that he fed Nagi with. It’s an indirect kiss; the thought makes the warmth swell and rise to Nagi’s face, a light blush spreading over his cheeks. Okay, so the feeling is definitely because of Reo, not the food.

Reo swallows, then looks down at him. “What’s up, Nagi?”

What is up, Nagi wonders as he stares into mesmerizing purple eyes. There was something he planned to say but all thoughts left his mind the moment Reo’s gaze met his own. Admiring Reo always takes priority.

He sits there dumbly for a second before finally blinking himself out of his bliss. Oh yeah, Nagi remembers now.

“After school, we should go to the arcade, Reo…” he says softly. Nagi’s never invited anyone anywhere. He’s never cared, nor wanted to; but Reo’s always been an exception.

The longer he goes without an answer, the more Nagi feels like he's been laid bare.

He did just ask out Mikage Reo, the school prince, when he himself is a nobody. Maybe Nagi doesn't even have the right to spend so much time with him, but he can't help but be greedy and want more.

Reo’s taking his sweet time and Nagi’s holding his breath like it's his last. What if Reo’s thinking of a way to turn him down gently? Nagi might die. The fear of rejection creeps into his mind, silently weighing on him as he stares anxiously at Reo.

He notices, then—Reo’s lost in thought. He’s thinking, thinking, thinking, as he always seems to be. Nagi doesn’t get it, isn’t it just a simple yes or no?

When Reo finally crosses his arms, there's an offended look on his face.

“You’re trying to skip out on practice today, aren’t you?” Reo accuses with a huff.

Oh, so that’s where all that thinking has led him.

“Huh… No, I…” Nagi mumbles but goes quiet when Reo pokes a finger on his forehead.

“You can’t fool me, treasure.”

“But…” Nagi frowns as he stares up at the boy he loves. Reo’s already convinced himself he’s right, so trying to argue otherwise is practically useless. Nagi settles on a sigh. “Okay, boss…”

It wasn't exactly a rejection—probably closer to a counter—but regardless of what it's called, it wasn't a yes.

Nagi watches Reo with a pout on his face. He's tempted to handcuff them together and drag Reo everywhere with him—he wouldn't have to ask him out if Reo was literally stuck with him. That way, they could do everything together, as the partners they are.

Ah, and if they were handcuffed, then they'd have to sleep together too. Nagi could spend every night snuggling Reo like his life depends on it. That sounds nice.

Nagi's fantasy is suddenly interrupted when a soft hand brushes his bangs out of his face.

“You look lost in thought,” Reo observes, tilting his head to the side. “What's on your mind, Nagi?”

Nagi swallows. He can't let Reo know he's some kind of weirdo freak.

“Nothing…” he lies, because what would Reo think of him if he heard the truth? Nagi'd rather die than mess up their relationship.

—

Nagi lays in the grass, his arms splayed to the sides as he pants heavily. The sun is scorching; it's way too hot to be practicing outside. How long have they been out here now? Everyone else has already gone home.

“Reooo…” Nagi whines, putting extra emphasis on the ‘o’ in hopes of seeming too cute to be tortured like this. He sits up and shoots Reo the biggest and most beady eyes he can muster—Reo almost always succumbs to this tactic of his. “Haven’t we practiced enough?”

Unfortunately, Reo doesn’t take the bait. He stands with the ball under foot as he rests a hand on his hip.

“There’s no such thing as enough practice. We’ve only been out here for two hours!” Reo kicks the ball his way, soft enough for it to roll to a stop at the lazy striker’s side. “C’mon, Nagi!”

Nagi sighs and drags himself to a sitting position. He feels like a zombie rising from the dead.

Reo’s so weird, the things he says always sound so crazy to him. Nagi had enough practice the moment they took out the ball. And only two hours? Who does Reo take him for? You’d think by now he knows Nagi’s limits. Two hours is far beyond that.

He’s about to drag himself to his feet when Nagi notices his shoelaces are untied. It’s an easy fix; he obviously knows how to tie his shoes—but he doesn’t. Instead, he flops back down on the grass.

“Reooo,” he cries while wiggling his feet. “Cleats are untied. Can’t move till it’s fixed.”

He lifts his head to gauge Reo’s reaction and is pleased to see the Mikage heir already coming to his aid. Before he knows it, Reo’s crouched down at his feet, taking the laces in his hands.

“You really are the biggest baby ever,” he huffs disapprovingly. It should be mocking, but the adoration shining in his eyes makes it anything but. Reo looks really happy; all he’s doing is looping some string around his fingers and tugging it together but he somehow manages to look like he’s doing so much more. Nagi doesn’t get it but it makes him feel special—like he has some magic touch that makes Reo enjoy even the simplest of tasks.

“There,” Reo says once he’s finished. Nagi’s tempted to reach down and untie them again. Before standing, Reo stares at his cleats a while longer. “They’ve gotten pretty worn out by now, haven't they?”

It’s the same pair Reo bought for him when they first began playing together. He’s right—the shoes are clearly tattered and dusty, nowhere near as nice as they once were. Nagi thinks back to that day and an idea pops into his head.

“Mhm,” he hums and looks up at Reo expectantly. “Reo should buy me new ones.”

Reo practically glows.

“Of course!” He nods immediately, a wide grin stretching ear to ear. Then—more to himself than Nagi—he giggles, “Nagi wants new cleats so he can keep playing soccer with me!”

The excitement looks perfect on him. Nagi might just start asking for a new pair every week.

Reo grabs his hands and pulls him up to his feet. Nagi already misses the comfy grass but it's okay because at least he got to hold Reo’s hands.

“Alright! I’ll buy you new ones right away! Foot size 28.5cm, I know what to look for!” Reo turns towards him knowingly. “Don’t worry, you won’t have to do a thing. I’ll get you the best cleats ever!”

“Ah… I was thinking we…” could go together, he wants to add but the words die on his tongue as Reo continues talking cheerfully.

“I’ll find us matching pairs! Silver for you and gold for me again! Hm… or maybe we could try something new? There’s this—” Reo meets his gaze and pauses, a frown slowly replacing his blinding smile. “Nagi? Is something wrong?”

Nagi blinks. Oh no. He didn’t mean to get rid of his smile. Anything but that.

“No, it’s nothing, Reo,” he says quickly, almost a little too quickly because the words sound hasty. It causes Reo to stare at him skeptically. “I’m just…tired,” he adds.

Nagi heaves a relieved breath when Reo's smile returns. The shorter boy hooks an arm around his shoulder.

“We can be done soon, then,” Reo offers. He snags a nearby ball under his foot and rolls it back and forth. “And I'll bring you those new cleats tomorrow!"

Nagi hums in response while keeping his thoughts to himself. The urge to say something eats away at him but he can’t bring himself to speak when Reo already looks so happy. Ruining that is something he doesn’t want to risk.

He never imagined roping Reo into hanging out would end up being so difficult.

—

“Whatcha playin?” Reo asks, leaning into his personal space, not unlike a cat desperate for attention. Nagi knows he himself is spoiled, but Reo has a needy side sometimes too.

Which, this time, is kind of Nagi's fault for neglecting him—opting to play on his phone and laze in bed as Reo scrolls through his own phone (probably a stocks app, Nagi always sees him using those). Clearly, he's grown bored of that, though; given the way he's practically resting against Nagi's side, peeking at his screen as if it’s the only interesting thing around.

It's all so adorable. Nagi wants to roll on top of him and go limp. It's a random desire, he's not sure where it comes from, but he's sure he'd enjoy Reo's bickering as he attempts to push him off.

Nagi leans into him as well, soaking in his touch like a sponge. They’re both laying on Nagi’s bed, holding themselves up on their elbows as Nagi clicks away at his video game.

“Minecraft,” he answers, his eyes staying fixed on his screen. He’s currently fighting off a group of mobs; it’s night and he’s far from his spawn, if he died and lost his stuff that would be a huge hassle.

“Can I play?” Reo asks, a sweetness to his voice that's all too tempting.

“No,” Nagi answers easily, just as he always does.

He's not trying to be rude—no, never that towards Reo—he's actually saying this for Reo's own good.

Reo loses interest in things very easily, this Nagi knows well. It's not like he'll enjoy playing for long before finding it boring. Then, he'll think Nagi is lame for playing such boring games. It's a lose lose.

“You always say no,” Reo huffs, rolling on his back with a sigh. “Why not?”

“‘cause,” Nagi answers simply. He plans to leave it at that, but Reo kicks at his feet until he's given a proper response. “Reo will get bored.”

“At least let me try!” Reo whines, rolling back onto his stomach to stare at him with shimmering eyes. “C'mon, Nagi! Just once!”

The white haired boy shakes his head. On the screen, his character is fighting off a hoard of zombies and skeletons. He clicks away, skillfully using his shield to deflect shots while also efficiently fighting back the mob.

Reo goes quiet for a moment; Nagi can see him pouting in the corner of his eye. So cute…

“I'll give you a reward,” the Mikage heir chimes, grinning as his trump card is deployed.

Nagi is a strong and, at times, stubborn man. But really, anyone would fold after hearing such a gracious offer. His ears perk up like a dog hearing his favorite word.

Nagi glances towards him and he's met with Reo's cheeky face. He knows damn well he's won this battle. (He always does.)

“Can it be anything?” Nagi asks, despite knowing it's a yes—it always is, but still, he needs to make sure Reo knows Nagi can request whatever he pleases, even if it seems weird. He already has something in mind. A reward that includes going out together, arcade machines, and maybe, if he's lucky, a bit of hand holding too.

“Whatever my treasure's heart desires!”

And just like that, Nagi can refuse him no longer.

“So we just need to beat the ender dragon?” Reo confirms, idly kicking his feet in the air behind him.

“Mhm…” Nagi nods, the character on his screen mining stone in a cave.

After quickly briefing Reo on the rules, Nagi set out to find some iron to make them both equipment. Luckily, they spawned near a village, so he left Reo there and is having him loot the houses.

A couple minutes pass before Nagi has a basic set of iron tools for him and Reo. He has enough iron for an entire set of armor which he'll give to Reo. He should be fine without it. He has enough for his own chest plate which'll be more than enough for him to work with.

“Nagi, why can't I trade this person these apples?” Reo asks, turning towards him with furrowed brows. Nagi glances at his screen to see him trading with a farmer at the village.

“You took those apples from their chest.” Nagi blinks. The items he has aren't nearly enough to make a trade—not that any of them are worth it, though, they’re all pretty much scams.

“They don't know that,” Reo says simply. “Besides, three apples for some bread is clearly a good deal.”

“‘s not how it works Reo…”

“Whatever. Stupid villager,” Reo grumbles and Nagi can hear the noise of the villager being punched from Reo's screen.

Ohp, Reo's done it now. Before Nagi has time to warn him of what he's done, Reo's already suffering the consequences.

“N-Nagi, why’s this thing chasing me!?” Reo yelps, his character desperately sprinting around his screen, jumping all over the place as Reo randomly spams buttons.

“Reo, you—”

ReotheElite was slain by Iron Golem

They both fall silent as Reo's taken to the death screen, all his loot scattering at the spot he died.

It's pretty funny. Nagi almost laughs aloud. He can't remember the last time he's genuinely laughed, nor if he even remembers how. But with Reo, he's come close.

Nagi turns towards Reo and feels the faintest smile tug at his lips. His tiny eyebrows are pulled together, a frown on his face as he stares at his screen in disbelief. It's super cute.

“That was rigged,” he complains, letting his phone fall flat on the mattress. “There's no way those things are beatable.”

“They are, Reo just sucks,” Nagi teases, which earns him an offended half glare. “I kill those all the time,” he adds, because he feels like bragging. Iron golems are actually rather easy to kill, but Reo doesn't need to know that.

“Really?” Reo asks, staring at him with amazement. “You'll have to show me next time then!”

Next time? Nagi blinks at him. “Reo's not bored?”

“Nope!” The Mikage heir chirps, smiling as he ruffles Nagi's hair. In a soft voice, he adds, “Playing with my treasure is always fun.”

Ah, Reo's petting his head. Reo's petting his head and it feels so heavenly. Nagi leans into it, craving his touch as he always does. Reo's hands feel like sunlight against his skin, warm and bright and an essential to life.

He wants more. Nagi always wants more and he never wants it to stop. He's greedy but how could he not be when someone so perfect offers it to him so willingly?

“As promised, you get a reward,” Reo says, then, with a grin, and Nagi doesn’t hesitate in answering.

“Gimme a massage, Reo,” he mumbles, laying flat against the bed.

“A massage again? You always want those,” Reo notes, but doesn't deny him; he’s already sitting up on his knees and leaning over Nagi's back.

“'m sore…” Nagi answers, closing his eyes with a hum as Reo begins rubbing his shoulders. He's not sore in the slightest, but that's a better answer than saying he wants Reo's hands on him.

This is the life, Nagi thinks as he enjoys the relaxing pressure Reo presses onto his back. His hands are strong and gentle, firm against him in a way that’s careful not to hurt. Nagi wants to hold them, intertwine their fingers and kiss Reo’s knuckles. Hmm… maybe he can hold Reo’s hands when they go out together—

Wait. Nagi freezes. Fuck—he wasn’t supposed to ask for a massage. But the moment Reo’s hands were carding through his hair, he lost sight of everything else that wasn’t that addicting warmth.

Damn him and his desire for Reo's touch. How does one manage to pass up an opportunity as easy as this? Well, there goes his free date ticket. This is worse than sleeping through a video game event and missing the rare item.

In the end, at least he’s getting a massage. He can’t bring himself to be too upset when he’s currently experiencing pure bliss. The longer it goes on, the closer Nagi is to falling asleep.

After some time passes—fifteen minutes? Twenty? Nagi doesn’t know; it all went by way too quick—Reo lets go of him as he huffs out an accomplished noise, satisfied as he stares at Nagi, whose eyes are closed and is practically drooling on the mattress.

Reo giggles, ruffling his hair gently, before crawling over him, excusing himself to the bathroom. Nagi whines as he watches him go, pouting when Reo is out of sight.

He rolls on his back, staring at the ceiling and thinking about Reo’s pretty face and pretty words.

He had said playing with Nagi is always fun. Nagi blinks, wondering if that's really true. It didn’t sound like a lie, but he doesn’t see what Reo sees in him. Reo could have anyone and anything, is Nagi really enough? Thinking is such a hassle; it leaves an icky feeling in his chest that he wants to scratch away.

When Reo returns, he makes his way to Nagi’s fridge and grabs himself a water; he doesn’t ask, he already knows he doesn’t have to. As the fridge door is open, Reo incredulously stares at its contents before turning to Nagi.

“You haven’t touched any of the food or ingredients I put in here,” he huffs, with a disappointed shake of his head. “You need to start eating actual meals.”

“Hm…” Nagi hums, acting as if he’s thinking it over before sticking out a hand expectantly. “Reo, gimme a jelly pack…”

“I said actual meals! Jelly and bread don’t count.”

“Reo’s a meanie…” Nagi whines, sticking out his lips in a fake pout. He’s actually not bothered at all when Reo fusses over this; he likes when Reo looks out for him. Being cared for feels nice, especially from someone you love. At that moment, a light bulb dings in his head. “If Reo wants me to eat better, he should take me to a restaurant.”

“A restaurant?” Reo’s head tilts to the side. “Right now? Are you really that hungry?”

“Uh…Yeah…?” Nagi tries. He’s really not, but if it’ll get Reo to go out with him then so be it. “Reo, ‘m starving…might die…”

Reo blinks, tiny eyebrows raised as he mumbles to himself, “Oh wow, Nagi’s barely ever hungry…” Then, with a determined flare, he throws his hair in a small pony tail and clutches his fist fiercely, as if he were going into battle. “Alright! Nagi, what do you want to eat?” Reo asks, staring at him expectantly, a bit of urgency in his gaze.

“Uh…” Nagi doesn’t know why he’s so fired up, but it’s cute nevertheless. “Whatever Reo wants is good.”

“Perfect!” Reo chirps, opening cabinets and taking out a bowl, along with other numerous ingredients. “This is an emergency, there’s no time for a restaurant!”

Ah, Reo’s making food here… that kind of defeats the entire purpose of Nagi saying he’s hungry, but that's okay, Reo seems excited about it so Nagi doesn’t mind. Plus, with Reo cooking meals for him like this, it kind of feels like he’s Nagi’s wife.

Nagi watches him the entire time—he watches Reo crack an egg into the bowl, watches him measure flour in a cup, watches him mix the ingredients, and then pour the batter onto a pan. By now, it’s obvious he’s making pancakes.

After a few minutes pass, Reo calls him over and Nagi plops down at the counter. A plate of pancakes topped with powdered sugar and swirls of whip cream on the side is placed in front of him—they look perfect, almost as if they were made by a professional chef.

“Voilà!” Reo beams, chin held high and his hands on his hips. “Eat up, my treasure!”

Nagi stares at the plate in front of him. He quite likes pancakes because of how easy they are to chew—something tells him that's part of why Reo chose to make them. It smells delicious, he wonders if they were made with love.

“Can Reo feed me?” Nagi asks, giving his biggest puppy dog eyes.

Reo—who’s sitting across from him with his own plate in front of him—sighs, but it’s obviously one of endearment. He cuts up Nagi’s pancakes before bringing a small bite to his mouth. Reo smiles when Nagi takes it, giggling as he says, “You couldn’t feed yourself to save your life.”

Nagi hums around the food in his mouth. It’s yummy, really yummy. The pancakes are fluffy and soft, they practically melt in his mouth. When he swallows, he mumbles, “‘s good, Reo…”

Reo glows at the praise. He always looks so shiny—Nagi sometimes worries he’ll go blind for staring too long. (He still stares anyway.)

The rest of the meal is filled with Reo explaining how he took an interest in cooking before eventually growing bored when it got too easy. Nagi can’t say he’s surprised; Reo’s amazing like that, and these pancakes are nothing short of perfection.

“Ah, you’ve got whip cream on your face,” Reo says suddenly. Before Nagi has time to react, Reo reaches across the table and is wiping the side of his lip. His hand lingers a fraction too long and Nagi feels his brain short circuit. And the cherry on top: Reo licks the frosting off his finger, smiling as he huffs, "There!”

Nagi might just die. Seriously, his heart’s pounding so hard he thinks it may be a heart attack.

This entire night feels nothing short of a dream. He may not have been able to go out with Reo, but he’s not complaining in the slightest.

—

School and practice have both ended, and Nagi’s left lying in bed with a heaviness weighing on his chest. He’s lonely; he misses his partner.

Reo was supposed to come over, but a meeting came up with his father so he couldn’t. Surely it’s over by now, no? Reo did say it shouldn’t take long.

Maybe Nagi could text him… But what would he say? “Come over”? Isn’t that kind of lame? Reo’s usually the one to invite himself over. Why does this have to be so hard? All he wants is to spend time with Reo; it’s not like he’s asking for his hand in marriage—no, of course not, that’s obviously for later down the road.

Nagi looks towards his window and sighs. “Choki, what do I do…”

He stares at his cactus friend but no answer comes. Nagi doesn’t know what he was expecting; Choki’s the best, but he’s never been very talkative. That is—until Choki reveals the answer to him, an idea springing in Nagi’s head like a received notification.

Nagi sits up, grabbing his phone with haste before opening Reo’s contact.

Nagi :
im gnna buy a new pot 4 choki
will Reo come help look?

It’s perfect. Choki’s a genius; he really is Nagi’s son. He gives the cactus a high five (gentle poke) and mumbles an ouch when it hurts more than usual.

“Don’t sulk cause I’m using you as an excuse to hang out with Reo,” Nagi huffs as he glares at the plant. Choki’s so childish sometimes.

A moment later, his phone vibrates with a ring. Nagi opens the message at record speed.

   Reo <3 :
A new pot for Choki?
Did something happen?

Ah, he didn’t expect Reo to ask about the details… It’s okay, he can just make something up. He really wants Reo to come with, no matter the cost.

Nagi :
i accidentally knocked him over and his pot broke

There, that should do it. Now Reo’ll say yes, right?

He stares at his phone, waiting patiently for Reo’s response. The message is marked as read, but even after three minutes pass, no reply comes.

Reo is usually fast to get back to him; he responded almost immediately to the last text, so what changed? Oh no, is Nagi being ghosted? What if he never hears from Reo again? He doesn’t know what he’d do. He thinks his world would come crashing down.

Does Reo somehow know he lied? Is he mad? That sounds like hell… If Nagi made Reo angry, he doesn’t think he’d ever forgive himself.

Nagi rolls over on his bed, face scrunched as he’s left to wonder what went wrong. This sucks. It feels like every second that passes, a tick of his HP is being chipped away. He hates it. Why does love have to be so hard?

He looks to Choki, hoping another answer will dawn upon him but nothing comes. He gives Choki another poke—not sure if he’s looking for comfort or a distraction. It does little to ease his aching heart, so he pricks his finger again and again until he feels a bead of blood pool at the top. Nagi sighs and drops his hand on the mattress beside him.

He feels like all his progress in a video game was just lost. Not just any video game, but his all-time favorite; he doesn’t want to play anything else.

This isn’t like him—when did he get so lame? Nagi’s not one to overthink, yet, here he is. Since meeting Reo, so much has changed. His heart was awakened, and with it, so many new emotions. It’s all so weird.

He’s staring listlessly at the ceiling when he hears a faint rattling outside his apartment. Nagi looks over just in time to see the door burst open; he can’t help the way he jolts—geez, he wasn’t expecting that. Nagi blinks stupidly when he sees Reo—hair disheveled and panting slightly—standing in its frame.

“I came as fast as I could,” Reo blurts, stepping into the room and Nagi notices he’s holding a tiny plastic container. His face is tight with worry, panic painting his eyes as he asks, “Is Choki okay?!”

Nagi’s brain still hasn’t caught up; he half thinks he might be hallucinating. Reo’s standing in front of him now—Nagi pokes a finger on his chest to find out he is, in fact, real.

“This was the first thing I could find,” Reo explains, holding out the small container. “Choki can use this in the meantime as we find a new pot.”

Nagi stares at him. There’s a lot he wants to ask, but he just settles on a confused: “Why’s Reo here?”

Reo stares back. “Huh? Well, you said Choki’s pot broke—without one, he’ll die.” He says, a frown on his face.

Then, Reo’s gaze flits behind Nagi, to where Choki sits on the window sill—completely unharmed, in the same pot he’s always in. Both relief and confusion fall over his face.

“Choki’s just fine…” Reo mumbles, head tilting to the side. He looks between Nagi and the cactus like a puzzle he can’t seem to comprehend. “Why did you…”

“Reo looked really worried…” Nagi says, in lieu of an answer. “I didn’t know Reo cared that much for Choki…”

There’s a slight pause as Reo seems to consider his words. Nagi watches him the entire time. He’s tempted to reach out and brush the stray strand of hair out of his face.

“Honestly… I kind of don’t,” Reo admits, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. He sits on the mattress beside Nagi before continuing, “But he’s important to you. If something happened to him you would be sad, no?”

Reo’s staring at him with such soft eyes. Nagi feels his face grow hot. His lips part, but he doesn’t speak for a long moment because he’s not sure what to say.

“Reo came so fast because he was worried… for me?” Nagi eventually whispers; he doesn’t mean to sound so small, but his voice betrays him.

Reo nods and offers him a smile. He places his hand over Nagi’s where it’s resting on the bed. The touch is so gentle, so tender, that Nagi almost pulls away—afraid it’s too affectionate.

“I would do anything for you, my treasure.”

Nagi Seishiro isn't an emotional person. Or at least—he wasn't. Right now, he can't help the way his eyes sting and his chest feels so incredibly warm. His heart’s beating so hard it almost hurts.

When he feels his lips begin to tremble, he leans into Reo, hiding his face in his chest as his free hand comes up to clutch the fabric of his shirt.

This boy—the man of his dreams—is willing to do so much to keep him happy. The love coursing through Nagi is overwhelming; he’s drowning in it, but he only wants to sink deeper.

Most people ignore Nagi completely. Not even his parents care to consistently check up on him. But Reo, Reo, he—

“Reo…” Nagi mumbles against him, his voice uncharacteristically shaky. He squeezes Reo’s shirt, never wanting to let go. He can feel Reo tense under it all.

“Nagi? What happened—A-are you crying?” Reo splutters, hand awkwardly hovering in the air, unaware of where to put it. Reo’s gaze is boring holes into the back of Nagi’s head but he doesn’t look up to meet it.

After a few seconds pass, Reo takes a deep breath and rests his hand in Nagi’s hair, brushing through it delicately, his other hand still atop Nagi’s own.

Reo doesn’t say anything else. He simply sits there, holding Nagi as he sniffles into his chest.

Nagi loves him. Nagi loves him so much it hurts.

—

A few days have passed and Nagi isn’t any closer to having gone out with Reo. It doesn’t even have to be a date, just a simple hangout would cut it, but he can’t even get that, it would seem.

Maybe that article he read was cursed. He shouldn’t have put his trust in all those pink bows.

It’s a Saturday; Nagi spent his morning lazing around playing random video games to pass the time. After seeing a character with purple hair, his mind circled back to Reo and he’s back on his how-to-hang-out dilemma.

What’s something Reo can’t possibly say no to? Nagi thinks it over and the answer comes very quickly: soccer, obviously.

But does he even wanna play soccer on his day off? Nagi’s pretty comfy right now… Hmm… He does miss Reo a lot, though… Reo would probably end up giving him a piggyback too, which is the comfy-est of all things comfy. Eh, whatever; beggars can't be choosers, he supposes.

So, he pulls out his phone and sends Reo a message.

Nagi :
Reo lets play soccer together

Okay, so maybe it’s kinda cheating because he doesn’t think Reo has a mechanic that allows him to deny soccer, but Nagi’s desperate.

No more than thirty seconds pass before Nagi watches Reo’s typing bubble appear—he already feels less lonely knowing Reo is on the other side of the screen. The typing bubble disappears for a moment, then pops up again. Nagi blinks when it vanishes just as quickly—then it's back again the next second.

Nagi sighs. Reo’s overthinking again, isn’t he?

Eventually, Reo’s response comes. He agrees with an exclamation mark, a time, and a place to play. After many failed attempts, Nagi’s invitation is finally a success.

For once, Nagi’s excited to go practice. He gets ready with the hint of a smile on his face.

“Why’d you wanna play now?” Reo asks as he spots Nagi waiting for him at the field. Nagi showed up before him, which is a first. “That’s not like you at all…”

The field they're at is near a park—one with cherry blossom trees adorning the sides. With Reo standing underneath them, an orange-turning-blue sunset painting the sky behind him, he looks ethereal. His gaze is fixed on Nagi, curious eyes looking him over as he awaits an answer. Nagi finds himself unable to look away.

Nagi asked Reo to hang out and he showed up. Reo’s here for him—only him.

He opens his mouth to respond but finds he can’t speak.

“I-uh…Uhm…” Nagi fumbles over any word he tries to say—he feels like a loser. He gives up on speaking and looks away, rubbing the back of his neck as if he didn’t just blunder his entire sentence. Thankfully, Reo doesn’t seem to mind.

“Is it cause you’re finally enjoying soccer?” Reo says, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close. His smile is wide and blinding. He’s way too close—Nagi feels his head swirl. “Hehe, looks like someone’s finally having fun!”

Nagi’s heart is racing. His mind is too, which is a first. He’s experiencing a lot of firsts right now. One of them being the overwhelming urge to kiss Reo and forget about anything else.

He doesn’t, though; he has enough self-restraint (very little, but it’s there) to stop himself.

The next two hours go by with lots of running, passing the ball, and Reo’s praise and laughter. It’s as equally wonderful as it is tiring.

—

“Reo, will you go to a cafe with me?” Nagi asks, staring at him with the same heavy lidded eyes he always wears.

“Huh?” Reo blinks, the question having come from seemingly nowhere. The hand that was carding through messy white hair pauses.

“I said, will Reo go to a cafe with me?” Nagi repeats while leaning into his touch, a silent plea begging Reo not to stop.

It’s the middle of lunch break and Reo has just finished ranting about a boring business trip his father is taking him on in a week; he’d decline if he could, but it’s not his choice—it never is when it comes to the Mikage title.

Practice was cancelled due to the rain, and it’s not like Reo’s busy today. Even if he was, he would’ve made time for his treasure, but it's just…since when does Nagi make plans? It’s a little scary. Did a body double switch with him when Reo wasn’t looking?

He studies his partner, those gray eyes are as honest as ever—maybe even a little desperate, too? If someone really did switch with Nagi, Reo would be able to tell in a heart beat. He’s probably just being paranoid.

“Sure, that sounds like fun.” Reo nods, ruffling his hair and giggling when Nagi’s eyes sparkle. Even if it is an odd request, Reo’s chest feels fuzzy knowing Nagi cared to invite him.

That's how Reo ended up here: sitting in a cafe booth, staring skeptically at the lazy genius across from him.

A large selection of goodies covers the table: croissants, cinnamon rolls, macarons, and other similar pastries. Maybe Reo went a little overboard, but imagining Nagi’s face when he tried them all got him excited—especally the lemon bars. Reo bought a bunch of those; Nagi is currently nibbling on one, and seeing the satisfied shimmer in his eyes—a quiet approval showing it’s to his liking—makes every penny spent worth it.

Reo hasn’t touched a thing, though, being too absorbed in watching Nagi—both cause he’s the cutest person Reo’s ever seen, and because he’s trying to figure out what he's playing at. He can’t help but be on edge when Nagi made the effort to willingly leave the house. Is he sick? Does he want something? All Nagi needs to do is ask, but the suspension is killing Reo.

“Nagi, you’ve…been acting kind of weird lately,” Reo eventually says, watching him carefully in hopes of gauging his reaction. Nagi stays as unphased as ever. “More than usual, I mean. You’re always weird.”

Nagi stares at him blankly, something flashing across his face but Reo can’t tell what emotion it’s supposed to be. After a few seconds pass, Nagi softly mumbles, “Is that bad?”

“Well—no, it’s—it’s not bad,” Reo stammers, waving his hands in the air dismissively, suddenly feeling like a villain for making Nagi doubt himself. “It’s just—it’s not like you to take the initiative.”

Nagi lets out a small “oh”, before looking down at his hands. He’s silent for a moment, and the longer nothing is said, the more Reo feels like he messed up. Panic creeps up his neck and he's about to quickly change the subject when Nagi brings his gaze up to meet Reo’s.

“I…” Nagi starts, and maybe Reo’s going crazy, but is he blushing? “I like being with Reo.”

Reo blinks, a bit taken aback by both the words and his honesty. A fuzzy feeling swirls through Reo’s chest when the words finally process in his mind. That’s—that’s so cute… Reo wants to squeeze him. But he doesn’t say or do anything yet; he stares at Nagi as if he might change his mind and take it back.

He doesn’t—no, he doubles down.

“I would be with Reo all the time if I could.”

It just got really hot all of a sudden. Reo’s face is burning so he looks away from the source causing it.

“Y-you don’t have to go that far…” Reo mutters sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck just to keep his hand busy.

“Huh? But it’s the truth,” Nagi says easily, as if he didn’t just make Reo’s heart do a somersault.

“Well, I…” Reo begins, he wants to look Nagi in the eyes as he speaks, but Nagi’s staring at him so intently, so earnestly that Reo looks at the lemon bars on the table instead. “I like being with you too, I like it a lot.”

Normally, words are easy for Reo. Right now he feels like he can speak at a 5th grade level at best. He sneaks a glance at his treasure and his eyes are shining so brightly, Reo’s tempted to reach for his phone and take a photo.

“Then will Reo go out with me again?” Nagi looks as excited as a dog waiting for their owner to throw a ball.

“Of course!”

“On a date?” The ball was thrown and brought back, with the dog's tail wagging at a terrifying speed.

“Yup!” Reo nods out of habit. “Just say the time and place and I'll be there—a date!?”

His brain just short circuited. Reo heard wrong. There’s no way he didn’t.

So many emotions race through him that he’s dizzy. He’s happy, so happy—he’s been wanting this ever since he laid eyes on this genius. But he’s confused too; since when did Nagi care to date? With him, nonetheless? It’s so much to process at once, Reo can’t keep up.

“Does Reo not want to…?” Nagi asks, then, and Reo’s brain kicks back into action.

“No! I mean, yes? I-uh—” Reo’s head is spinning so fast he doesn’t even know what he’s saying anymore. Nagi’s staring at him and Reo’s pretty sure he’s holding his breath. Not wanting to keep him waiting, Reo shouts in a haste, “Yes, I want to do it with you!”

Chatter from nearby tables dull, and Reo feels a few heads turn their way. Yeah, Reo’s ready to accept his fate. Just kill him or something; he doesn’t even care anymore. The humiliation is so bad, he’s tempted to just get up and leave.

“Okay, Yay. Cool.” Nagi says, his tone a pitch higher than usual.

When Reo lifts his head to look at him, Nagi’s staring down at his own lap. His cheeks are dusted a pretty pink, and his bangs almost hide the small smile tugging at his lips. Reo’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open; he gets lost in the beauty of it all.

The sweet smell of the pastries is strong in the air, Reo half forgot they were even there. He leans his back against the cushion behind him and takes a deep breath.

Nagi asked him out, Nagi is smiling, and Reo? Reo is so giddy with excitement he can’t help the way he bursts into giggles.

Reo’s still riding on the excitement of being asked out, but a few minutes have passed and they’ve fallen back into their usual chatter—by that, he means, he’s doing all the talking while Nagi listens.

They’ve barely dented the food on the table; it’ll take a lot of bags to hold it all. Neither of them care, though, too focused on staring at the other with hearts in the air.

Reo’s in the middle of a sentence when he’s cut off by a worker lingering near the end of their booth.

“Are you two finding everything okay?” The girl asks in a sugary voice, holding a tray against her chest with a charming smile. Her gaze is focused on Nagi, looking him up and down with a look in her eyes that makes Reo’s own eye twitch. He might just be imagining things, but Reo swears she just stepped closer to him too.

“We’re doing fine. Thanks.” Reo says coldly, not bothering to hide the venom dripping in his tone. The girl flinches before quickly walking off. Reo watches her until she’s long gone, then scoffs.

Seriously, isn’t it obvious Nagi is already his? What more does Reo need to do to get people to back off his treasure?

Maybe he should handcuff them together, that way no one would dare come between them. Reo could show the entire world Nagi belongs to him and only him.

That sounds nice actually—being handcuffed to Nagi. They’d go everywhere together… even sleep together… Spending every night basking in Nagi’s warmth, wrapped in his embrace, sounds like heaven.

“What’s Reo thinking about?” Nagi asks suddenly with an innocent tilt of his head, jolting Reo out of his fantasies.

“Nothing!” Reo says way too quickly, laughing awkwardly under Nagi’s curious gaze.

Whoops, he got carried away. He can’t let Nagi know he’s a freak.