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Ding dong!
“‘M coming!” Josuke yelled from down the hall, his voice gruff from sleep. He dragged himself up from his bed with a groan. He trudged down the corridor, rubbing his eyes. Who was at the door? Why? What time was it? He’d wanted to sleep in today…
He turned the handle, and opened the door. He squinted as the sunlight flooded in, his eyes taking a short moment to adjust.
“Oi, Josuke! Are you ready for school yet?” Okuyasu stood in front of the door, schoolbag slung over one shoulder, his usual wide grin on his face. Light bounced off the golden pieces of his uniform, making him glitter like some divine being about to take him somewhere heavenly.
Josuke blinked twice, yanking his thoughts back to reality. “We don’t have school today,” he stated, though his words were upturned as if he were asking a question.
“We don’t?” Okuyasu’s head tilted slightly, his brows furrowing a bit.
“No, remember? They told us at that assembly the other day. I think they’re renovating something.” He leaned against the doorframe, covering his face as he yawned.
“Oh, alright,” Okuyasu said, his voice flat. “I was too busy thinking about how to beat you in F-Mega,” he joked. Well, Josuke thought he was joking. Maybe he was serious, though. Josuke couldn’t help but smile at the thought. It was a very Okuyasu thing to do.
“Well, I guess I’ll go then,” Okuyasu said as he started to turn. Josuke could almost describe him as crestfallen as he began to walk towards the pavement.
“Wait!” he said quickly.
Okuyasu spun back around.
“You could stay, if you want, since you’re already here,” he offered a smile. “We can hang out and play video games. Maybe you’ll finally beat me,” he challenged, his expression turning into a good-natured smirk.
“Yeah, sure,” Okuyasu returned Josuke’s grin. He could hear the happiness returning to his friend’s voice as he walked back inside.
“Cool,” Josuke said, flinging his arm over Okuyasu’s shoulders as they walked to the lounge. “I think Mom’s already gone to work,” Josuke said, sitting down in front of his console, “so we have the house to ourselves.”
“Nice,” Okuyasu replied enthusiastically.
“Here ya go, man,” Josuke said, handing Okuyasu a controller. “Whaddya wanna play?” He asked.
“I dunno,” Okuyasu said, leaning back. His gaze drifted across the room. He had been here so many times it was as familiar as his own place, if not more. That’s why he noticed two new objects leaning against the wall, next to the screen.
“I didn’t know you played the guitar,” Okuyasu said, sitting back up.
“I don’t,” Josuke gave a small laugh. “They’re new controllers I got for a game called Guitar Hero. Wanna try it out?”
“Of course!” Okuyasu agreed.
“Alright, cool,” Josuke smiled. He got up, grabbed the guitars and handed one to Okuyasu.
Okuyasu turned it over in his hands. “Wow, looks pretty flash,” he said.
“Heh, thanks. By the way, it’s easier if you stand up to play,” Josuke said, bowing his head as he put the guitar strap around his neck.
“Oh, okay.” Okuyasu rose to his feet. “So, Josuke, how do we play?”
“Right. All you gotta do is push the different colored buttons with your right hand as they appear on the screen, and strum with your left when you push the buttons.”
Okuyasu gave him a look that he knew all too well.
Josuke chuckled, a grin breaking across his face. “Okay, I’ll show you, man.”
He took a step towards him, taking Okuyasu’s right hand in his.
“You use this hand to press these buttons, alright?” he said, positioning each of his friend’s fingers over a button.
“But, Josuke, I’m left-handed,” Okuyasu pointed out.
“I know,” Josuke replied. “You strum with your dominant hand.”
“Mhm,” Okuyasu nodded, trying to ignore the pleasant feeling of his friend’s warm skin against his. He wasn’t listening to what Josuke was saying. How could he, when he was so close to him?
Josuke took his left hand. “And this one goes here,” he placed it on the switch where the strings would be if it were a real guitar. “That’s where you strum. Got it?”
Okuyasu froze. He still had no idea what he was doing. But Josuke had just explained the game to him. Would it be weird if he asked him to explain it again? Probably. He’d just have to wing it.
“Yup,” he said as convincingly as he could. “Let’s play!”
“Alright!” Josuke smiled. “What song do you wanna do?”
“Oh, does it have Prince?”
“Of course! Prince is my favorite!”
“Awesome!”
“Any song you wanna play in particular?”
“Hmm… 17 Days is pretty good.”
“Ooh, niche! I’ll put it on,” Josuke smiled, his face lighting up. Okuyasu thought he looked great when he smiled.
He navigated the game’s menu with ease, pushing the buttons and strumming the guitar like he’d been playing this game for years. Okuyasu never understood how Josuke picked things up so quickly. He supposed it was just another amazing quality of his.
He found the song, and selected it.
“You ready?” He asked Okuyasu, a competitive smirk pulling at his lips.
“Yeah! Let’s do it!”
“Alright!” Josuke pushed a button on his guitar.
Okuyasu pulled his gaze from Josuke’s beaming face to the screen, and waited for the promised buttons to appear.
And waited…
And waited…
“Uh, you gotta press ready, too, ‘Yasu.”
“Oh, my bad.”
His eyes darted across the screen for a few seconds, settling at the bottom.
Green to select.
He looked back to his side of the menu. He strummed down twice, and pressed the green button.
All in all, Okuyasu thought Guitar Hero was a solid game. It was fun hearing his favorite songs, and it was fun to play them (or to attempt to, in his case). The best thing, though, in his eyes, was seeing Josuke having a good time.
He tried his best to play the game, but his timing was absolutely awful, and his button-mashing was almost painful to watch.
“Aw, c’mon, ‘Yasu,” Josuke teased when the song was over. “Did you even pay attention when I was explaining it to you?” He gave Okuyasu a playful nudge with his elbow.
Okuyasu felt heat creep up his cheeks. He knew it was impossible that Josuke knew he was thinking about how much he liked being close to him, but still…
“Oi, man, cut me some slack! It’s my first time!” he said on impulse, suddenly defensive.
“Oof, jeez, okay. Didn’t mean to have a go at’cha, man,” Josuke said, his grin fading as he took a step back.
A sudden pang of guilt hollowed out Okuyasu’s guts. “S-Sorry,” he rushed to fix his mistake. “I didn’t mean to yell at you.” He’d never meant to wipe Josuke’s gorgeous smile off his face.
“It’s all good. I shouldn’t have made fun of ya,” Josuke avoided Okuyasu’s eyes, instead looking at the floor or his guitar. “I could explain it again, if ya want.” Okuyasu could've sworn he saw a little red flush his friend's cheeks.
Okuyasu thought for a moment. He knew what he was doing now, he just happened to be a bit bad at it. He didn’t need it, but he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to get close to Josuke.
“Okay, yes please,” he said, trying his best to feign reluctance.
“Alright,” Josuke’s smile returned.
Once again, he stepped close to Okuyasu, taking his hands again as he talked, leaning close enough to feel his friend’s presence, but not enough to touch.
One day, he would find the courage to get closer, and to tell him how he really felt.