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“Who are you texting?” Fuyumi jumped nearly hitting Touya with her head, while he looked over her shoulder down at her phone. “You don’t send heart emojis.”
“Hahah!” Natsuo sat up from the floor on his own phone, scrambling over look at it, instead Fuyumi stood up quickly gaurding her phone. “Fuyumi! Who are you texting?” Eyes darting between Touya still leaning over the cushions, eating his elbows on the back, their younger brother rolling onto the couch.
“Just… a friend.”
“Who is she?”
“He… he’s a nice guy.”
“Boyfriend?” Touya throws it out not believing it himself.
“No- well! He hasn’t said anything about that!”
“Ha! Wait- really?!” Touya slapped Natsuo’s legs to make room on the couch for him to sit down. “So you have a boyfriend, it’s fine… as long as dad doesn’t find out.”
“Are we even allowed to date?” Natsuo questioned the two older siblings, Fuyumi turning to Touya who shrugged, Natsuo kicking him lightly. “Not that it ever stopped you… anyways, Fuyumi! That’s nice! Why do you look so nervous than? Touya has a better poker face than you.”
“I’m not nervous! I was just surprised!”
“By? What are you texting about to be so shocked?”
“You surprised me Touya! It’s nothing anyway! He’s just telling me he’s going to the movies today and we’re talking about it.” She explained, scrolling up on her text thread.
“Without you?” The oldest questioned tilted his head, keeping his eyes on her.
“It’s a superhero movie, I don’t keep up with those. I planned on going over to Kimi’s to work on a project later anyway.”
“It’s Friday.”
“So?” She questioned him, Touya shook his head crossing his arms.
“Nothing. Makes sense you’re working a project later, dad let us skip today to get us to like him. Have fun.” Natsuo whipped his head at his brother for changing the subject, Fuyumi thanking him walking out to her room. “He’s going to see another girl.”
Natsuo sat up crossing his legs leaning in to whisper incase Fuyumi returned. “What? Why do you say that?”
“It’s Friday. He does it on a day knowing she wouldn’t be at school to see him? Everyone goes out after school on Fridays.”
“…you don’t know if that means there’s a girl.”
“Why not include Fuyumi in it if there wasn’t a girl? Doesn’t that still mean he’s hiding her?”
“…” Natsuo turned his head thinking about it, he’s only 14 but he even in his grade the girls and guys are all over each-other. Flaunting off, letting everyone know who they’re talking to and who they’re dating. “Touya I don’t like this.”
“We should go.”
“Where?”
“To the movies. See if he’s really with someone else.”
“What?!” Both whipped their head down the hall that led to where their bedrooms were, leaning forward to whisper. “We don’t even know what he looks like or what movie he’s seeing.”
“There’s only one superhero movie showing… let me find out where.” Natsuo attempted to stop his brother, reaching out, only for him to move faster, stepping down the hall knocking on Fuyumi’s door. “Are you changing?”
“Oh! Yes- why?”
“I was just curious. If you’re too shy to bring him around, can we at least get an idea on what he looks like?”
“What?! Uh! He… he has blonde hair! He’s really nice, Touya! We go to the same school! It’s not a big deal that he’s going to a movie without me either if that’s what you’re thinking! It’s the theater that’s close to school! He’s really just going with a friend!”
“Okay! Natsuo and I are gonna go out to eat real quick. The nanny is still out with Shoto so you’re on your own for a bit!” He called out, running to Natsuo motioning to follow him. Quickly grabbing his jacket while Touya stepped into his shoes at the entry way.
“Oh! Okay! Have fun!”
Fuyumi went to a different school from Touya, both their schools were in complete opposite directions, leaving Natsuo and Touya looking on their phone to find the closest theatre near it.
“The Spider-Man showing is in 10 minutes, her school just let out that’s where he’s going to be.” Touya looked up from his phone, following Natsuo lead the way across the crosswalk.
“Man… what if he is? Do we tell her?”
“We have to find him first- there.” Touya slapped Natsuo’s arm leading the way through backed out double doors followed by another pair of glass. Entering the budilinh was dark, smelled like popcorn, noise bouncing off the wall from an arcade somewhere in the back and a bowling alley attached. They walked over to the employee behind glass, pulling their dads credit card out paying for two tickets. Touya read the ticket leading the way to to the corridor where they would hand their tickets off.
“Wait!” He stopped turning his head back to Natsuo, who turned to the concession stand. “No drinks?” He squinted at him for a moment, pulling the silver card back out of his pocket , handing it over, stepping aside to wait for him. Watching people who were entering through the doors, he began to recognize a few wearing the same uniform Fuyumi did. “Done.” Natsuo returned grinning, handing the card back, carrying a drink for both of them along with a small popcorn for himself. They handed their tickets off to a man who instructed them to Room 8, opening the door, the lights were still on as the trailers played. “I thought it would be more full…”
“Me too..” Touya whispered back, as it was less than halfway full. Heading up the stairs to find a spot where they could see everyone sitting. “This makes it easier…” There were groups of people, however they were older than Touya. Along with people watching on their own, younger teens. Touya reached his hand in to steal some of Natsuo’s popcorn, not finding a blonde that was with a girl, one on one.
“This is a good thing isn’t it?”
“Yeah… but doesn’t that mean he lied?” He questioned, sipping his drink hearing his brother hum contemplating. Taking out his phone to scroll for a bit, opening Fuyumi’s contact, ready to text her and ask if her boyfriend had a change of plans. Hearing someone apologize as the lights dimmed, two blondes walking to towards them. Natsuo fucking his legs in and Touya following, making room for the two to walk through. Touya eyed the two passing them, one returning a glance back. They seated themselves two seats down, a bit rude considering they could move further away from them by the lack of people in the auditorium.
Both were wearing Fuyumi’s school uniform colors.
He turned to Natsuo who returned the same speculative look. Turning his brightness all the way down, enabling dark mode as the movie started, typing on his notes app.
‘You think so too.’
‘Yes.’
‘We should question them.’
‘What. No. The movie started.’
‘We can whisper.’ Touya erased that message and typed again. ‘I can whisper.’ Natsuo made a face at that, taking his brother's phone to type out a reply. While he did that Touya himself could overhear the two guys talking to each-other, at least Natsuo and him were silent.
“Excuse me- hey, we’re all supposed to have our phones off.” He felt one the the guys whisper into his ear, Natsuo facing the phone screen down in his lap. Touya turned to see the taller blonde smiling at him, pointing to his phone his brother held.
“Ahh, sorry man. I have no idea what’s going on in this movie. I haven’t watched any of the others.” He whispered back, coming off as friendly as he could. The blonde made a face at him, the other blonde looking over his friends shoulder. Touya thinking quick, grabbing his drink and phone from Natsuo whispering to him. “Sit next to him.”
His brother gave a panicked look, Touya stood, walking over smiling at the two. Walking past the first blonde who spoke up to sit next to the other on the right side, plopping down whispering loud enough for Natsuo to hear him. “Hey, I’m Touya. What’s your name?”
He may have been leaning a bit too close to the blonde even for him, he just needed to memorize as many small details about the guy as he could. Amber eyes, bushy eyebrows, slightly tan skin, is he wearing makeup? Leaning against the shared armrest between them, the blonde had pressed himself completely back against the chair. Touya could see and overhear Natsuo introducing himself to his friend on his left.
“Hey… Keigo.”
“Keiko?” Touya tilted his head in an attempt to hear the guy more clearly, maybe Fuyumi would go for someone shy. The blonde cleared his throat, straightening up.
“No.. Keigo.”
“Cool. I don’t watch these movies. So I’ll be talking to you.” The blonde— Keigo, only nodded, sitting as still as possible from what Touya could see. In response he leaned back against his own seat to watch him out of the corner of his eye. This is the body language of a guilty person. Is he so stiff because he could see how similar they looked to Fuyumi? Aware that he ditched Fuyumi for a friend.
It has to be! Touya could see him turning his head to try and look at him! He moved forward again, invading Keigo’s space. “Do you like these movies?”
“Mhm.” Keigo gave a curt nod, Touya squinted at him by how tense he still seemed to be, looking over at Natsuo who shared a look. The blonde next to Keigo placed his hand against his friends shoulder, pushing him back leaning across to smile at Touya.
“He’s quiet… shy.”
“Mm..”
“I’m Taishiro, your brother said you guys don’t usually watch these.”
“That’s right.”
“Hah, you guys have a lot to catch up on.” Taishiro nodded, retreating back to his seat, lightly slapping his friend's arm. Touya in turn, shifted back into his seat pressing his foot into the empty seat in front of him. He was better off sitting next to Taishiro who he could press for questions, instead he got the one that was too nervous to talk. From the corner of his eye he could see but not hear the two blondes whispering to each-other, Natsuo unaware chewing on popcorn. He leaned back, taking his drink sipping on it.
“You smell nice.”
He turned slightly, Keigo giving a grin while Taishiro held a hand over his face. Compensation?
“…thanks.”
“…sorry, it’s hard to talk in a theatre.”
“We can later.”
“Oh-! Oh, cool.” Keigo nodded, Touya could see movement on his left but decided to ignore it. He couldn’t question this guy if he was going to be weird.
The movie was too fucking long! Touya was checking the time on his phone to see how much longer they would have to wait. Catching that the end credits began rolling down standing up as Natsuo did the same, Taishiro speaking up. “Oh, there’s usually another scene.”
“…I’m going to wait in the hall.” Touya really couldn’t take having to sit through anymore of the movie, walking with his drink, hearing Natsuo follow him out. Once he exited he could hear his brother hurrying after him.
“They both go to her school, both blonde. We got their names but we don’t know her boyfriends name.” Natsuo noted, finishing the rest of his drink, tossing it in the trash bin as Touya texted Fuyumi.
“I’m asking her now. We need to find out what year they’re both in.”
“I don’t think they know we’re related to her. They would’ve said something, unless they don’t know her.”
“She’s not texting back… I think we’re better off asking if they’re dating anyone.”
“What?! I’m 14! How am I supposed to get that?!”
“Chill out, we just talk to them. You got the easy blonde too, the guy next to me was telling me about my smell.” Natsuo made a face at that, the brothers turning, hearing the door to the showing open. The one who sat next to him Keigo, hurrying out first, pausing seeing them.
“Hi.”
“Hello… your friend?”
“Oh, he’s coming…”
What was with this guy?!
“My brother and I wanted to play games. Do you guys have somewhere to be after this?”
“Nope.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for your friend? Taishiro.”
“Right.” Keigo nodded, waiting along the wall as people slowly poured out the blonde looking up at the three wished for him. “Let’s play games.”
Turns out Taishiro was just as into games as Natsuo was, which isn’t saying much. Natsuo was 14. They were pretty deprived from everything at home except a television and their phones. Touya could feel Keigo’s eyes on him again, Natsuo was supposed to be questioning Taishiro too!
“Keigo. What year are you?” Touya sipped his drink he hadn’t finished yet looking over at the blonde, they were the same height. A basic enough height for Fuyumi to be interested in, she would probably find Taishiro’s taller build more attractive.
“I’m a second year, you?”
“Third.”
“That’s cool, you’re almost done. Do you go to our school? Kofu?”
“No. I go to Yokosuka.”
“Oh… that’s a private school.” Touya watched as the blonde straightened his back up again, he couldn’t ask anything if Keigo was going to get antsy at everything he said.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure they have a pricey tutition so they can get all the religious folks’ money.”
“Haha… you’re religious?”
“No, dads… transitional, but no.” At least he got Keigo to laugh, he could overhear Natsuo and Taishiro talking about Mortal Kombat characters. That’s not what the line of questioning should be, they’re supposed to be helping Fuyumi! “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Again, Keigo is frozen, staring straight ahead. Touya is sure he could be one of those guys who pretend to be statues outside by how still he is. “Uhh no… do you..?”
“No. Does Taishiro?”
That got a reaction out of the blonde, a bit of a confused one, his face scrunching up slightly. Interesting, does he know they’re related to Fuyumi? Touya could see her having a crush on a guy like Taishiro, physically he was attractive. “Uhh.. yeah?”
“Oh.” Touya mused Keigo’s answer over, sipping his drink watching the two play. Did Fuyumi have the guts to ask a guy like Taishiro out? Touya admits, he's impressed.
“You’re close with your older brother?” Keigo pulls him back, finishing off his drink squinting at him.
“I’m the older one.”
“Oh! He’s just bigger than both of us. Haha, I thought you were younger.”
“Nope. How do Taishiro and you know each-other?” He needed to get more details for Fuyumi.
“Ah, we play baseball.” Touya nodded, waiting for Keigo to go on— except he doesn’t. He should’ve tossed Natsuo at this guy… Touya was done trying to drag a conversation along looking around to see if there was anything else interesting, looking back at Keigo.
“Are you intimidated by me?”
“N-no!” Good enough.
“Dance with me.”
“Wait- what?! I don’t dance…” Keigo shook his head following Touya who was already walking in the direction of a bigger game. A large screen, two dance pads and handle bars attached.
“You don’t have to.” He can’t force the guy to play with him, conversation was hard enough. Dancing? Yeah right. He started the first round hearing Keigo step up to the elevated platform with its colorful block floor lighting up. “Pick a song.” Touya hopped off to throw away his drink, returning watched as Keigo continued scrolling on the screen.
“I don’t know any of these. I think I clicked ‘worldwide’ options.”
“Any of them works.” He reached over to click a song, Keigo trying to do the same by accidentally, clicking the level ‘difficulty’ after the screen had refreshed from whatever song Touya had clicked.
“Oops.”
Touya adjusted his footing on the colorful platform, hearing music start blaring as he followed the steps of the arrows that lit up on the platform. The screen of the dance game in front of them showing the same movements for them, it was a lot more arrows in different directions than Touya would’ve expected from a game in an arcade. Oddly updated enough to include hand and arm movements on the side for extra points, he was aware some newer consoles had that feature. But a game in a movie theatre arcade? He’s even more surprised Keigo was keeping up, Touya could step and dance around with whoever tried dragging him in. Keigo just seemed quick enough to fall into step with every move the game demanded.
“You just said you didn’t dance.”
“This is hardly dancing.”
Touya looks down at Keigo’s legs and back up at the colorful screen, catching their scores on the left and right top corner of the screen. Reading ‘PLAYER 1: 1609’ and ‘PLAYER 2: 1609’, neither of them had missed a beat, neither was overwhelmed by the blaring foreign music, lights. Ridiculous amount of steps they had to quickly stomp down on the platform for it to detect or the upper body that the sensor, he could now spot on the center top of the screen reading their arm movements. Waiting for a second where their arms weren’t given any direction, quickly shoving Keigo to the side letting out a laugh as he fell behind in points.
2308 and 2197.
“Hah!”
“What?! That’s not fair.” Keigo quickly stomped down a few times, falling back into steps. Reaching his arm out, noticing the red that flashed to the side when the sensor detected a wrong movement. “Crap- Are you ticklish?”
“What?” Touya shifted along, stepping forward and back feeling a hand wiggling around his neck cringing. Ignoring it the best he could, feeling more like he was being scratched or Keigo was looking for something on the collar of his shirt. “Egh! You can’t mess me up like that- I’m not ticklish!”
“What?!”
It’s possible he was at some point as a baby and just grew out of it. If he had grown up an only child maybe he would be, but having no personal space from Natsuo and naturally pushing and shoving against one another for years.
“How are you not ticklish!” Touya took the small lead he had to push at Keigo again, laughing hearing him stumble a bit. Before a finger poked his side harshly, similar to the same way Natsuo did. Missing a few steps allowing Keigo to catch up.
“Ass!”
“You started it!”
They finished the game and Touya immediately felt fingers poking at his side again, stepping off the platform, twisting his upper body instinctually. Keigo following along hopping off the games lit up floor. Hearing the machine roll out a line of small paper linked, pink tickets. “I’m not ticklish-!”
“What kind of person isn’t ticklish? That’s crazy.”
“Im used to being manhandled, I’m not ticklish.”
“You made funny faces being poked at.”
“That’s different! Your fingers were all over my neck!”
“Touya! You guys won tickets!” Natsuo reached over, taking the connected trail of tickets from the machine, handing them to Taishiro, hearing a ‘be back!’. He followed the two watching as they dug their hands into their pockets, pulling more tickets out placing them all on a counter for the employee to count.
“So you like to dance?”
Oh yeah. He should question Keigo a bit more before heading home to ask Fuyumi if her boyfriend was Taishiro or Keigo.
“Yeah. Do you guys go out a lot?”
“Who- Taishiro and I? Hah! Sometimes? Mostly with the other guys on the team. I only showed up today because he didn’t want to sit in the theatre alone.”
“But he has a girlfriend.”
“Well- I was told she didn’t want to come. So I did instead.” Touya hummed listening, staring at Keigo’s slightly perplexed face at Touya’s line of questioning. But all Touya could think was- holy shit Fuyumi! Taishiro?! I have to step up.
“Give me your phone number.” He should ask for it, but he doesn’t want Keigo to get any more flustered or stutter in a way he seemed to be doing at that moment. Wide eyes locked on Touya who pulled his phone out, unlocking it, switching over to contacts for Keigo to add himself. It takes a moment for him to reel himself back into the moment, taking Touya’s phone and adding his number.
Natsuo returned typing something on his phone while Taishiro returned reading something off of a card. “We didn’t win anything enough for a prize, so they save dig on a card- quick! Picture.” Touya felt his arm get nudged with more force than there should’ve been, nodding pointing to Keigo while Natsuo did Taishiro both smiling. So Fuyumi could point out which was her boyfriend, ‘I don’t have a girlfriend’ Keigo or Taishiro, who Natsuo should’ve been questioning.
“You guys were fun! Bye!” Natsuo waved the two off as Touya started walking, taking Natsuo’s phone looking at the picture. “Okay! So Taishiro is a fourth year, he plays baseball, and he has a girlfriend named Mei.”
“…that’s not Fuyumi.”
“I know… it’s why I got the picture, to ask Fuyumi to point out which one is her boyfriend.”
“I got Keigo’s number before the picture, I wasn’t getting much out of him. He’s a lot quieter than Taishiro, but he kept denying having a girlfriend.”
“You did what?!” Fuyumi covered her face to hide the blood rushing to her face.
“We went to check on your boyfriend real quick. Fuyumi… we think he’s seeing someone else-.”
“-or keeping you a secret, Fuyumi you’re not a secret.” Touya finished taking Natsuo’s phone, unlocking it, opening the photos gallery, and finding the last picture with the blondes. Flipping the phone over to show his sister.
“Why are you guys with the baseball team?! Oh my gosh! What did you do?!”
“Fuyumi one is seeing another girl and the other won’t admit he’s dating you, he looked guilty the entire time.”
“Neither of them are my boyfriend!” Touya and Natsuo share a look, turning back slowly.
“You said he was blonde, with a friend seeing the Spider-Man movie. They’re the only two from your school that were blonde and there together with a ‘friend’. Fuyumi if you’re embarrassed-.”
“I’m not! Oh my gosh! My boyfriend is named Rin! He wasn’t going right after school! He’s at the showing that’s playing right now!”
“…you’re not dating Taishiro or Keigo? If I ask Keigo right now would he-.”
“You got his number?! Oh my gosh! You talked to Taishiro too?! Do they know you guys are my brothers?!” She cringed, covering her face falling face down onto the couch.
“….so, we just sat hung around some random guys for over two hours for nothing?”
“Why would you guys do that?!”
“Because you’re boyfriend is weird! He should be out with you- it’s Friday! That’s when everyone goes out!”
“It’s Touya’s fault! He convinced me-.”
“Natsuo!”
xxx: hey
xxx: it’s touya
xxx: my bad for being
so weird I guess
xxx: I thought you were
dating my sister
xxx: my brother and I went
looking for my sisters
boyfriend to find out if he
was seeing someone else
xxx: in my defense you
were guilty as fuck
xxx: why were you so jumpy?
xxx: you looked ready
to panic at everything
xxx: you’re impossible to talk to
xxx: OH MY GOD
xxx: IS THAT WHY YOU KEPT
ASKING ME ABOUT TAISHIRO??
xxx: I THOUGHT YOU LIKED HIM
xxx: YOU MADE ME NERVOUS
xxx: I THOUGHT YOU LIKED
ME AND I THOUGHT YOU
WERE PRETTY JUST TO
THINK YOU WERE
TRYING TO GET WITH
TAISHIRO
xxx: YOU HAD ME SO
CONFUSED AND CONFLICTED
xxx: I WAS JUMPY
BECAUSE YOU'RE
ATTRACTIVE
xxx: RANDOMLY SITTING
NEXT TO ME
xxx: IN A DARK ROOM??
xxx: HELLOO??
xxx: you’re gay?
xxx: I COULD BE
xxx: IF YOU HAD TRIED ASKING
MAYBE YOU WOULD KNOW
xxx: WHY ELSE WOULD I GIVE
YOU MY NUMBER!?
xxx: how would I know
xxx: your form of flirting
was ‘you smell nice’
xxx: I WAS NERVOUS
xxx: TAISHIRO TRIED
HANGING AROUND YOUR
BROTHER SO I COULD KEEP
TRYING TO TALK TO YOU
xxx: you’re bad at that
xxx: STOP
xxx: I KNOW !!
xxx: you didn’t want my
number for real?
xxx: maybe
xxx: you’re no Taishiro
xxx: still cute I guess
xxx: I do like guys
xxx: COOL COOL
xxx: SO WHAT ARE YOU
DOING THIS WEEKEND?
xxx: I’m free, if you’re as
jumpy as you were today
xxx: I’m going to mess
with you