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It wasn’t easy being a sentient headband. Spannergon Headband-kun would know. They could have easily been left behind in the rain by an errant child, — or worse, thrown in the trash by a well-meaning parent — but Spannergon was lucky. They were found by Reki.
“Mom! Look! Can I keep it?!”
“Oh Reki, I don’t— Don’t put it in your hair!”
“I think I look cool! What do you think Koyomi?”
“Cool!”
Spannergon wasn’t sure what was happening. The child had put them on inside out. But then another pair of hands gently tugged them off the child’s head, and Spannergon caught a glimpse of bright red hair framing childish golden eyes, a bandage placed firmly across the child’s nose.
“Please, Mom?” Reki pleaded.
“Oh well… we’re gonna give it a thorough washing first. Then we’ll see.”
“Yay!” Reki cheered.
Spannergon thought for sure the mother was just saying that to appease her child until the child forgot, but to their surprise, they were sprayed with something that smelled like lavender and thrown into a load of laundry. Coming out smelling like fresh cotton and flowers, Spannergon was placed back on Reki’s head (right side up this time!) by gentle, motherly hands.
And, except in times of washing and illness, Spannergon rarely left their spot.
“Ow!” Reki shouts as his hands and knees hit the pavement after yet another attempted ollie.
Spannergon didn’t really have anything that resembled nerve endings but even they could agree. Ow.
“Wow! What a wipeout!” Reki’s friend called out, running over with cellphone in hand, catching every minute of Reki’s practice runs.
“Yeah,” Reki said, the grin evident on his face. “I really messed that up. Let me try again!”
And so Reki got back on the skateboard and tried it again. And again, and again, and again. He bailed more than he managed to catch himself, but each time he felt more sure he could do it. When he finally nailed it, flying over the orange cones and laughing with glee, Spannergon couldn’t be more proud.
It had started out as a curious “Can I try?” and quickly turned into Reki’s favorite pastime. Over the course of learning on a friend’s board, to building his own, skating became just as part of Reki’s identity as Spannergon was.
Spannergon was there when Reki bailed and nailed his first grind, his first 360 spin, his first Casper. Spannergon was also there when Reki’s friend shattered his collarbone and broke his femur, forcing him to quit skating. They were there when Reki had cried in the hospital bathroom, covering Reki’s eyes protectively until Reki could face the world once more. They were there when Reki managed to collect himself, look in the mirror, and vow that he would never quit skating, no matter how injured he got.
Spannergorn was there when Reki first walked into Dope Sketch to beg for a job, sending pleading eyes up to manager Oka as Reki bowed politely and made his case for employment. Manager Oka looked amused but polite as he said he’d think about it. Reki had stood up in excitement, taking Spannergon off to anxiously run the fabric through his fingers.
Then some kind of fox thing jumped off of Oka’s shoulder and snapped Spannergon from Reki’s hands! What had begun as a job interview quickly became a game of tug of war between Reki and the fennec fox, Sketchy. And though it was a close match, Spannergon had never been more grateful to Reki when the redhead won.
And so Reki (and therefore Spannergon) were quickly thrust further into the world of skateboarding, learning about and then joining ‘S’ with first a sticker, and then a pin.
Spannergon was content, reflecting Reki’s emotions; his joy, his determination, his victories. But his dominant face was the mildly worried one, reflecting Reki’s anxieties that he tried to bury under an easy smile and skateboarding knowledge.
Spannergon did wish that Reki had someone to share both his troubles and his excitement with. Someone who could actually talk at least.
On that front, Langa wasn’t that much of an improvement, though Spannergon was just as amused when the poor guy had fallen off the skateboard with that confused and irritated look.
Spannergon wasn’t able to get a good look at the new kid at school, as Reki always placed him on the left side of his head and the new kid sat on Reki’s right, but Spannergon could almost see him in the window’s reflection. And they had been surprised to see the boy again after school first falling off the skateboard, and then looking up at Reki in amazement and aw when Reki sailed over him.
Ah yes, Spannergon thought, this one will do.
If there was one thing Spannergon didn’t like about Reki’s skateboarding it was that sometimes he got injured.
Really injured.
Which was how Spannergon found themself clutched tightly in Reki’s hand as Reki met his friends out in the hospital waiting room.
“It’s two weeks for a full recovery, but at least there’s no brain damage!”
The relieved sighs from those around them did nothing to relieve Spannergon’s own worry. They had seen that look in Adam’s eyes as he forced Reki’s head closer and closer to the ground. Adam wouldn’t have thought anything of seriously injuring Reki. Or worse.
Skating was supposed to be fun, but Spannergon was a little wary of what Adam thought fun was supposed to be.
After the clown guy dropped them off near Reki’s house, Langa walked Reki home, the energy from him a strange vibe of worried and excited. Spannergon was still clutched tightly in Reki’s fist, watching as Langa reached up and gently touched the bandages wrapped around Reki’s head.
“What’s wrong?” Reki asked. “Is it bleeding through again?”
“Blood?!” Langa jerked his hand away. “You were still bleeding?”
“Well, yeah, head wounds bleed a lot.” Reki sighed, reaching up to feel the bandages for himself with the hand holding onto Spannergon. Spannergon took the opportunity to glare at the bandages. They didn’t look nearly as cool as Spannergon did!
“Oh…” Langa sighed. “No, it’s just… you look different without your headband.”
“Oh?” Reki grinned. “You don’t think the bandages make me look cooler? ”
“No, they just make me worry.”
Reki’s grin faltered. “Oh… well… you don’t gotta worry about me, man! I’ve got a hard head.” He wrapped his knuckles on his skull to prove it but flinched when it must have aggravated the headache that must have been there.
“Maybe… or maybe your headband protected you a bit.”
Though no one could see it, Spannergon beamed. Yes! He was the best protector! Much better than silly bandages!
Reki laughed at Langa’s observation. “Maybe.”
They had reached the entrance to the Kyan household by now but still loitered outside.
“I’m still… sorry. It’s my fault that you have to race against—”
“It’s not your fault, Reki. Really.” Langa’s assurances were quiet, and again that spike of excitement rang in the air.
Reki didn’t seem too reassured. “I feel bad though. I got off with just a broken wrist and bruised ego. What if something worse happens to you?”
“Weren’t you the one who said that the harder you bail the better you’ll get?” Langa grinned. “So I’ll just get back up and get better.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to put yourself into situations where you will bail,” Reki muttered, holding up Spannergon to the light. “Maybe I should make you wear my headband. For protection.”
“I don’t think I’ll look as cool,” Langa said, “But I can hold on to it. For good luck.”
Spannergon was carefully pressed into Langa’s hands.
“Good luck. Don’t do anything reckless.”
“I promise.”
At least Spannergon was back on Reki’s head in time to go and enjoy the beach! Spannergon had been to plenty of beaches in the past, but this one felt different. They were with friends!
And Spannergon could now reflect Reki’s emotions properly. They’d like to see some dumb bandages do that!
“Ah, the man is so scary!” Reki cried out in falsetto, reaching out to hang onto Langa, who was still a little overheated from the sun. “Hey, did you hear me, I said he was scary!”
“Oh!” Langa quickly wrapped his arms around Reki. “Don’t worry bae, I’ll protect you.”
Spannergon turned his smirk onto the clown guy, reflecting Reki’s enjoyment out of the clown guy’s irritation.
“Idiots.”
Reki turned and Spannergon found cat-boy walking off.
Though Langa’s arms let go of their grip around Reki, Reki (and Spannergon) thought about them for the rest of the day. Spannergon felt his face reflect a blush whenever Reki thought about how warm Langa’s arms had been, how nicely they fit together.
And then Langa even turned back to find Reki when Reki wasn’t feeling up to racing! And he saved Reki from falling!
en“You saved me,” Reki said as they raced downhill, meeting Langa’s grin with one of his own.
Spannergon beamed with appreciative energy, though it quickly turned to fear when Reki turned and saw the pile of mud-covered men waiting for them at the bottom of the hill.
Spannergon was suddenly very grateful they didn’t have a nose with which to smell, though they could still sense Reki’s fear and disgust as he, Langa, and Spannergon were covered with stinky mud.
It took Reki hours to wash it all out of Spannergon.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough, as evidenced when they returned home and Reki’s mother quickly confiscated Spannergon.
“Oh, Reki, what did you drag this poor thing through this time?!”
There were mud men, mom! They put mud on me!! Spannergon wished they had a voice to express these thoughts sometimes, but evidently, his neutral slightly worried face was enough to convince Reki’s mom to put them through the washing machine once more. After washing, she gently sprayed Spannergon down with that nice lavender scent. By school the next day Spannergon was back on Reki’s head.
The school window was the perfect mirror to catch Langa looking at Reki with this soft look every time Reki was busy doodling in his notebook.
But through the window, Spannergon could see dark clouds rolling in.
Spannergon stared up at Reki, their neutral slightly worried appearance looking more distressed as the Reki frowned, reaching out to pull Spannergon over his hair. It wasn’t done with the usual gusto and excitement of a new day. Spannergon felt… as if it was only done as part of a routine. Out of habit rather than out of love.
Reki then turned toward the mirror. “Man, this is so uncool.”
He pulled Spannergon over amber eyes, taking deep breaths as if trying to stop the tears from coming.
Spannergon stared at their own worried reflection. Reki had been like this since the night in the rain. When he tried over and over again to reach the star, only to bail every time. Spannergon could only listen as Reki grew more and more despondent until the rain started and Reki sadly pulled Spannergon off and stuffed them in a pocket.
From there, Spannergon could only hear muffled shouting, but he could feel Reki’s distress and Langa’s confusion.
And now—
“Reki, you almost forgot your bento!”
“Oh… thanks, Mom.” Reki picked it up on the way by and continued to school, avoiding the corner where he usually met up with Langa.
Langa arrived late, taking his usual seat and trying to make small talk with Reki. Spannergon could only see Langa’s reflection in the window though as Reki ignored Langa entirely.
As the days blended together, Spannergon was distressed to find themself off of Reki’s head more than on it. Always left in a pocket or on Reki’s nightstand.
Spannergon was beginning to feel a little left out themselves.
“You’re amazing, Reki!” Langa’s sincerity was clear in his face, and even as Reki turned away, Spannergon could still hear that sincerity in Langa’s voice as he continued to say all the things that he admired about Reki.
Even if Spannergon wasn’t connected to Reki’s emotions, they’d be blushing. As it was, Spannergon could almost feel all the white parts of their face turn red as Reki’s blush deepened. Langa’s words were just so sweet and true! Reki was awesome and amazing and so so smart, and Spannergon was glad that Langa couldn’t not only see it but verbally gush about it. To the point of making Reki flustered.
“Let’s add one more trick to our dap!” Langa offered.
“I’m into it!” Reki agreed.
The infinity symbol they formed seemed like the start of something much bigger, and, years later, Spannergon Headband-kun could proudly say that they had been there at that important moment.
The next time Reki faced off against Adam, (because of course, that jerk couldn’t just stay out of Spannergon’s field of vision), Spannergon could proudly reflect Reki’s determination to win. To face off against Langa in the finals. Every trick Adam tried to pull was thwarted by Reki’s drive and skill. Ducking at just the right time to dodge Adam’s attack, though Spannergon hoped someone thought to retrieve Reki’s jacket. He’d need that for school tomorrow.
But of course, Adam had to catch up just as Reki’s wheel gave out. Reki lost the race, but it didn’t seem to matter as the crowd cheered for him and Langa ran up to enjoy the moment with Reki.
“Ahh, did you even see what happened to Adam?” Langa asked quietly as they snuck back into Reki’s room long after the rest of the Kyan household had gone to bed. “You know. When you dodged his attack?”
“Huh?” Reki turned back, and even Spannergon did their best to look confused.
Langa hid a laugh behind his hand. “He tripped! Landed right in the mud.”
After a moment for Reki to process that, he burst into laughter. “Oh really?! Wow!”
They laughed together for a bit, trying to keep quiet until Reki turned suddenly and flinched. “Ow!”
“What’s wrong?” Langa hurriedly reached out to grab Reki’s shoulder, “Are you hurt?”
“Well… he did throw me to the ground a few times… and the wall…” Reki winced and turned to lay down on the bed. “I’m a little bruised but I’ll be okay.”
“Reki…” Langa sat on the edge of the bed, laying a hand gently on Reki’s back. “You want me to take a look?”
Reki turned just enough that Spannergon could catch a glimpse of Langa’s worried expression. “There’s probably blood. You sure you—”
“I can handle it if I can help you feel better.”
Langa’s voice was determined, so Reki rolled his sweatshirt and shirt up enough to reveal the marks on his back. Spannergon couldn’t see it, but he could feel the pain in Reki’s voice when he let out a quiet noise as Langa gently touched the wounds.
“Hang on, let me get a washcloth.”
Over the next few minutes, there were few words, only gentle touches and quiet noises of pain as Langa quickly cleaned Reki’s back, placed bandages on the deeper cuts.
It wasn’t until soft snores resonated through the room that Spannergon (and Langa) realized that Reki had fallen asleep. Langa appeared in Spannergon’s field of view for just a moment as he walked back to the bathroom to dump the water and the washcloth.
“...mmm Langa?” Reki muttered in his sleep. “Don’t go…”
Spannergon frowned as best as they were able. Was Reki still hurting over what Langa did? Reki seemed to have forgiven him, but—
Langa walked back into the room, and Spannergon suddenly felt a wave of protectiveness wash over them. Reki was still hurting a bit! And it was Langa’s fault and—
“Hmm? Reki’s headband… that’s kinda a scary look.”
Spannergon’s jaw dropped (well, metaphorically. Their jaw as always dropped). Could Langa… perceive him?
Spannergon didn’t have much time to unpack this new revelation as Langa suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips to Reki’s headband, right on top of Spannergon’s shocked eye. Then he shifted lower to gently place his lips on Reki’s cheek.
“Good night Reki. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, Langa turned out the light and ducked out the window, the sound of his wheels hitting the pavement fading away as he skated home.
Meanwhile, Spannergon was still a bit shocked. Langa kissed Reki?
Langa kissed Reki!
Spannergon suddenly wished they had arms and legs so they could drag Langa back here and explain himself, what the heck—
“Love you… Langa…” Reki murmured in his sleep, one hand coming up to cup the cheek Langa kissed, his fingers barely brushing against Spannergon.
With a (literally inaudible) sigh, Spannergon calmed. They’ll figure it out for themselves eventually.
Spannergon would make sure of it!
“Re-eki!” Langa covered his mouth, trying and failing to cover his giggles. “Reki, your face!”
“ Your face!” Reki countered, trying to muffle his own laughter with his sleeve. “Shhh… Mom’s asleep!”
Langa tried to stop immediately laughing but burst into another round of chuckles when Reki raised an eyebrow.
Spannergon was also laughing inaudibly, though the joke had long been forgotten. Something about Reki’s face after he had won the race against Langa in the early morning. It had been fun, and a well-earned victory when Reki crossed the finish line first, only to immediately turn so he could catch Langa as the other boy lept into his waiting arms once more. Just like after Langa’s race against Adam, they had fallen to the dirt, lost in their own world.
“C’mon, you can just sleep here… The girls will probably be up before long, but I told mom I wanted to sleep in a bit. No work today and all.”
“Kay,” Langa agreed, wasting no time in throwing himself onto Reki’s bed. Reki followed close behind and soon Spannergon found themself facing a head full of blue hair and wide-awake blue eyes.
“Reki… I’m not tired.”
“Me neither,” Reki admitted but still cuddling closer to Langa. “Guess we’ll just have to lay here then. Quietly.”
“Okay,” Langa whispered, a smile still playing on his lips. “Whoever can stay quietest gets to pick where we go to lunch though.”
“Deal,” Reki agreed.
“Oh, well, you just lost,” Langa smirked and Reki immediately pounced on him.
“What the hell dude?”
Langa’s laughter was breathy and quiet as he half-heartedly batted away Reki’s attempts to tickle him.
“Like we weren’t going to Joe’s anyway,” Reki pointed out.
“Ah, true…” Langa smiled, and Spannergon practically felt Reki’s heart skip a beat.
Reki’s hands stopped trying to tickle Langa, and instead were holding on to his shirt, almost afraid the other boy would disappear. “Hey… Langa? Do you remember what I said in the car… on the way to your beef with Adam?”
“Huh?” Langa’s head tilted. “You wanted to talk about something right? But wasn’t that just about our beef?”
“Er… yes and no… Kinda?” Reki’s face heated up and Spannergon felt the familiar blush mark appear below their own eye. “I wanted to ask you something else too.”
“Yeah?” Though the smile never left Langa’s face, his eyes became serious. “What is it?”
“Um… would you…” Reki’s hands spasmed and suddenly he reached up to pull Spannergon down to cover his eyes, his face heated and red. He held Spannergon there for several moments, trying to find the words.
Eventually, they just exploded out.
“WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO ON A DATE WITH ME?!”
Reki’s voice practically echoed around the room. Since Reki still had his eyes covered, only Spannergon could witness the way Langa’s eyes widened in surprise as the words registered in his brain. Then they melted into something so soft and tender Spannergon felt their own threaded heart skip a beat.
Leaning in slow, Langa placed his hands over Reki’s shaking ones. Then his lips pressed against Spannergon’s shocked face before he gently pulled Reki’s headband up so it revealed his eyes.
“I’d love to go on a date with you.”
A half groan, half surprised sound escaped Reki’s lips before the redhead finally managed to meet Langa’s eyes. “Really?”
Langa nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! I— well, I was gonna ask you the same thing. If I had won that is. It was the bet I made with myself.”
Reki let out another of those surprising sounds. “I— I made the same bet with myself. And then I won!”
“I’m glad,” Langa said, leaning in to press his forehead to Reki’s. “I was a little nervous, so I’m glad you had the courage to ask.”
Reki turned to avoid Langa’s gaze. “Courage? I practically chickened out from nerves.”
Langa hummed in response, placing his lips to Reki’s cheek. “Can… can I kiss you?”
That got Reki’s attention once more and he turned to meet Langa’s gaze. “Huh? Uh… sure? Yeah!”
Even as close as Spannergon was, they couldn’t tell who leaned in first, just that they suddenly had a much closer view of Langa’s blue hair than ever before.
This was fine. Not that Spannergon was being squished or anything.
Spannergon suddenly felt fingers trying to lift him from Reki’s head.
“Reki…” Langa whined. “Can I run my fingers through your hair? It’s so soft… and your headband keeps giving me weird looks.”
Reki’s laughter was contagious as he leaned in again to capture Langa’s lips. “Sure. Whatever you want.”
Spannergon barely heard the words before they felt Reki’s own practiced hands pull the headband from red hair and—
Did Reki just throw Spannergon? To the floor?
Spannergon didn’t even have to pretend to be shocked. This was unforgivable! This was—
There was a loud bang as the two on the bed suddenly collapsed against the headboard, their breathless chuckles filling the room.
“Langa!” Reki protested, but his protest was soon cut off as Langa must have kissed him once more. There was another bang as something hit the wall, then—
Crash!
“Shh… My mom—”
“It’s fine,” Langa reassured him, and the room descended into breathless laughter and quiet kisses once more.
At least… for Reki and Langa. For Spannergon, they were wrapped beneath two skateboards that had fallen when the headboard hit the wall. They were still fuming in annoyance at being tossed to the floor.
Dishonor! Yeti take notes! Dishonor on Reki, dishonor on his skateboard! Spannergon fumed, even as Langa’s Yeti skateboard merely sighed in exasperation, and Reki’s angel cat buddy practically vibrated in excitement.
Spannergon sighed. They supposed there were worse places to be.
“We need to find a place near both our Moms though… and maybe with a garage?”
“We’re not gonna find an apartment with a garage,” Langa pointed out. “Or if we do it’ll be expensive.”
“Okay, no garage… but maybe an extra room?” Reki turned his eyes on Langa, and Spannergone reflected the pleading look they knew was in Reki’s eyes. “Please? So I can keep building skateboards?”
“Of course,” Langa grinned, leaning in to place a kiss to Reki’s forehead. “Like that was ever in doubt.”
Reki cheered and Spannergon suddenly found themselves upside down as Reki raised his fist in celebration.
Having outgrown even Spannergon’s well-worn elastic, Reki now wore the familiar headband as an armband. They now spent their days with Reki and Langa as they skated through Okinawa, looking for an apartment to start the rest of their lives: University for Langa and skateboard commissions with night classes for Reki.
“Okay, well what about here—”
Langa’s suggestion was cut off by a sudden cry by one of the twins.
“I didn’t do anything!” Chihiro called out.
“Oh no…” Reki sighed, reaching out to instinctively catch Nanaka as she ran by. Lifting her easily, Reki tried to calm her down. “What’s wrong?”
“The tea— Teacher!” Nanaka tried to quiet her sobs, rubbing her hand under her eye. “She keeps calling me Chihiro! And I’m not .”
“No, you’re Nanaka,” Reki agreed, trying to placate her with a smile.
Nanaka sniffed, still rubbing under her eye. “Yeah, but the Teacher forgets. Cause we look alike.”
“We even pointed out that our hair was different,” Chihiro added, grabbing at Reki’s pant leg.
“Oh? Well then…” Reki hummed in thought before something seemed to come to him. He passed Nanaka over to Langa, who took the girl with just a hint of hesitation. He had gotten better at handling the girls when Reki’s babysitting duties threatened to cut into boyfriend time. The solution was clearly to just have Langa help babysit.
Spannergon was just reflecting on how well Langa calmed Nanaka when they suddenly found themselves untied from Reki’s arm.
“Here we go!”
Spannergon was placed gently on Nanaka’s head, holding her auburn hair back in a similar way they used to do for Reki.
“Now you look so different the Teacher will have to know you’re Nanaka!” Reki grinned, and wow, it was so weird to see it from this point of view. “And if she still calls you Chihiro, just tell Headband-kun to glare at her. Since it glares at Langa all the time.”
“It really does, Reki!”
Only when Langa deserved it.
Nanaka gasped, then squirmed until Langa placed her back on the ground. Running up to her sister, Nanaka, gently touched Spannergon. “What do you think? Do I look cool?”
Chihiro’s eyes were wide. “Yeah! Cooler than big brother even!”
Nanaka’s excitement was evident in the way she jumped. “Yeah! Reki’s only cool when he skates.”
“Hey!” Reki protested while Langa laughed. “I’m cool all the time!”
But his voice faded as Nanaka and Chihiro ran into another room to show their other sister Nanaka’s new headband.
Spannergon felt their threaded heart fill with pride. Reki trusted him to watch over his family!
And Spannergon would not disappoint. He was the best headband ever!
— Epilogue —
“I can’t believe you convinced Nanaka to let you borrow that for the wedding.” Reki’s voice was filled with unbridled joy, even as he teased Langa for the ‘pocket square’ peeking out of his dress jacket.
“Of course! Headband-kun had to be here.” Langa grinned and patted the pocket where Spannergon peeked out, his one eye bright with excitement. “It’s our something borrowed, something blue.”
“Something what now?” Reki grinned. “This one of those Canadian things? Is that why I had to put new trucks on our skateboards?”
Langa nodded. “Something old, something new.”
Reki hummed and shook his head a bit before leaning in to kiss Langa gently. Spannergon found himself squished between the two but they didn’t mind so much now. They kinda missed these two dorks in love and Spannergon was proud to be part of the ceremony.
“Hey! Don’t get carried away kissing until after the ceremony,” Joe teased from where he was escorting Cherry outside to the seating area.
“I just fixed your hair!” Cherry chided, “Don’t mess it up again!”
Reki grinned nervously, waving at them as they sat down. “So… you good to go?”
Langa reached out and took Reki’s hand. Under his arm, Yeti skateboard was ready as well, a blue bowtie now painted on his white fur. Reki’s angel cat buddy wore a matching red bowtie.
Spannergon was ready!
“With you, I’m ready for anything,” Langa answered.
Yes, Spannergon thought as the two skated down the aisle. I must be the luckiest headband in the whole world to be found by Reki.