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Middle school. Never easy for anyone (surprise, surprise), right. His middle school was just as rough as anyone else's- but he's not in middle school anymore, so it doesn't matter. But he does still have a crush on this boy that went to middle school with him.
"I don't know what you see in him to be honest.. He seems like a douche." Tsukasa says, watching the blond-haired boy in question. (Tsukasa thinks he looks like a less interesting version of himself.)
"He's cute, okay! He's got kindness in his eyes.." Rui replies.
"..Cute isn't the word I would use. Douchy, maybe. But not cute." Tsukasa says. It's not new news to Rui that Tsukasa doesn't like his crush. "You never told me his name anyways."
"Really? I've liked him since before we even met, and I haven't told you his name? It's Takahashi." Rui explains, smiling at Tsukasa.
He's short, maybe a few centimeters shorter than Tsukasa. His hair is tied back in a short low ponytail- but it's barely long enough to be tied back. Tsukasa and Rui had watched as it was being tied back, loud laughter coming from the crowd.
"He's like the millionth Takahashi I've heard of. You couldn't pick anyone more interesting?" Tsukasa chides.
"Who else would I pick? I like Takahashi-san because he's my type. I like him because I know he'll never like me back. I like silently admiring him!"
Tsukasa frowns. "Doesn't it hurt to like someone you can never have? I could never.." Tsukasa mumbled.
"Hey- You're yet to tell me who your crush is!" Rui commented.
The rest of that lunch period was spent distracted- Rui trying to decipher who Tsukasa could possibly like, (with no prior knowledge on any of his crushes before. Tsukasa was just closed off in that manner, he supposed.)
Too caught up in playful bickering, the two failed to notice.. someone.
—
Tsukasa's phone rung loudly on his bedside table. Now, who was calling him before he went to bed? Everyone knew he started settling in around this time..
The contact name "Director <3" with the picture of none other than Rui himself stared back at him.
"Ru-"
"TSUKASA-KUN!" Rui interrupted, seeming very excited.
"Eh? What's got you so excited?" Tsukasa asked, moving around his room to sit on his bed.
"I got– Eeee, I'm super excited! I was checking my locker as I was leaving school after practice," (He ended up returning to collect a screwdriver that had been confinscated.) "And I've got a love letter! Oh, Tsukasa-kun! You'll never guess from who!!"
Tsukasa frowned a bit. He didn't know why– He should be happy for Rui, he seems really excited. Yet..
"Who was it?" He asks, trying to sound as interested as possible. He was not jealous, he could be jealous later. For now he was Rui's supportive friend.
"Takahashi-san!!" Rui cheered, and Tsukasa could practicly see his grin.
"Wow! I'm very happy for you, Rui.! I'm gonna go to bed now, but I wish you luck with your love letter! G-.." Tsukasa paused. What was he doing? "Good night!"
He didn't give Rui a chance before hanging up. Why did he feel like crying? And how come he was so jealous? His phone was going off– It was Rui, for sure. He reached over, turning his notifications to silent. He'd deal with the repercussions of hanging up early tomorrow.
He'd come up with an excuse. He wouldn't tell Rui he was jealous of stupid Takahashi, because he wasn't. He.. Wasn't jealous.. That someone else.. Had the guts.. to confess to Rui… before him.
"Saki." He mumbled to himself, standing from his bed and going to the door of her room.
"Knock knock..?" He mumbled.
"Come in!" Saki cheered.
When Tsukasa walked in, she was sitting on her bed with her computer. Ichika was on the screen, but it was clear the rest of Leo/Need was in the call as well. Saki glanced at him, seeming to understand that she needed him.
"Ah, I'm sorry, but somethings come up! I'll see you all tomorrow, byebyee!" Saki says, smiling.
"Oh, that's okay!" Honami smiles.
"Sleep well, Saki-chan." Shiho mumbles.
"Sweet dreams– Remember to take your medicine and–" Ichika went on a breif tangent.
"Love you all!" Saki declared, before closing her computer.
She set it on her desk and sat up, patting the bed beside her.
"Something's bothering you. Is it about Kamishiro-kun again?" Sakk asked, staring at Tsukasa intently.
"Ah, you've caught me.." Tsukasa mumbled.
"What's the matter?"
"W-Well. You know how he has this crush? When he was leaving the school after practice– because he needed to pick something up –there was a love letter in his locker. From his crush." Tsukasa explained, frowning. "I want to be happy for him– but I just.. I'm jealous! That someone else," He paused to collect himself. "That someone else got to confess to him before me!"
Saki hummed thoughtfully.
"A sudden love letter from a crush he's never spoken to? ..That's.." Saki shook it off. "It's okay to be jealous, onii-chan. I would be too, especially because Kamishiro-kun likes this guy. If I'm honest, this isn't looking good for you. I still think that, even if he ends up getting with this guy, that you should tell Kamishiro-kun how you feel. He deserves to know.." Saki decided.
She always knew how to treat Tsukasa, not building him up with hope– being literal with him.
"Thanks Saki.. I appreciate all you've done for me.. Now, we should go to bed! Don't forget all the things Ichika-san told you not to forget! I love you very dearly! Sleep well!!" Tsukasa declared, hugging Saki before standing up and returning to his bedroom.
He was still so jealous.
—
Tsukasa-kun! My greatest apologies, but during lunch today I'll be meeting with Takahashi-san! I promise to have lunch with you tomorrow and tell you about how it went~ Wish me luck! ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა
Tsukasa read over the text, sighing. Looks like he'd be eating alone today. Maybe he should try and join Nene. If he's alone for too long, he might end going insane.
Okay! I'll see you at practice, good luck!
It felt bland.
—
Tsukasa didn't see much of Rui all day. Not abnormal– it's not like they had any classes together, but still annoying. He was itching to see the director. Usually he'd see him once in the morning, at lunch, and then when they went to practice. Maybe more, if he went over to Rui's house.
Today Rui was not with Nene in the morning. And he (obviously) wasn't at lunch. Nor was he at practice, when the end of the day finally came.
"No one's seen Rui?" Emu asked curiously.
"Nope." Nene says. "What about you Mr. Star. You're practically attatched at the hip. Have you seen him?"
"What? You live by him! No, I haven't seen him!" Tsukasa declared.
"... Emu and I are gonna start practice. Under his doormat, there's a key. I just texted you his adress," Nene waves her phone. "Go check on him."
Tsukasa puts the directions to Rui's house into his phone.
"Why me?" He asks.
"Just go." Nene replies, shoving him towards his stuff. "If you find him, don't bother coming back. Practice will be over by the time you get back."
Tsukasa sighs, collecting his things and heading toward the nearest train station to get to Rui's house.
—
He stares at the house. It's like every other time he's been here, but something about it is so menacing this time around..
He fishes under the doormat, finding the key and using it to enter.
"Hello! Rui?" Tsukasa calls out, starting towards the garage door.
He goes to push it open– but it's locked.
"Rui?" Tsukasa asks, tapping at the door.
He hears some shuffling, maybe a sniffle. So Rui is here.
"T-..Tsukasa-kun…?" Rui asks, voice unusually weak and thin.
"Rui? Are you okay? Can you let me in?" Tsukasa asks.
"I'm afraid.." An unmistakable sniffle. "I'm afraid I can't let you see me like this. Go back to practice, okay..?" sniff.
"No way am I leaving you when you sound so upset!" Tsukasa looks around.
There's a set of keys in the keyholder. The Kamishiro family labels all their keys– and these are labeled "Garage." Aha! Tsukasa nabs them and spins around, using them to open the garage door. He hangs them back in and enters the garage.
It's messy– per usual. He sets his stuff on the nearest clear surface and closes the door. On the jouch is a trembling bundle of blankets, and on the floor in front of it is a tub of ice cream. It's melting.
"Rui..?" Tsukasa asks quietly, assuming the bundle of blankets is him.
"Tsukasa-kun.." Rui mumbles, hiding away under the blankets. "Please leave.." He whispers.
Tsukasa walks over, sitting beside Rui.
"I came all the way here to check on you. What's the matter?" Tsukasa asks.
Rui doesn't respond, but he pulls the blanket down. He looks.. Disheveled. His hair is messy, and his usally neat red eyeliner is messy. His eyes are a little red, and there's a bruise on his cheek. It looks like he's been crying, but more importantly– it looks like someone hit him.
Tsukasa reaches out, the backs of his fingers brushing against the bruise on Rui's cheek. He turns around to face Rui.
"Who–"
"Don't point it out.." Rui wails, hiding away in the blanket once more.
Tsukasa frowns, finding the edge of the blanket and tugging it away from Rui. He tucks himself under it beside Rui.
"You can't just run away this time. You swore you'd try and open up more, same as me, right? So, what happened?" Tsukasa spoke softly, wanting to reach out and cup Rui's cheek. He refrained.
Rui sniffled weakly, grasping Tsukasa's school cardigan shakily. "It was a joke." He whispered, tugging Tsukasa a little closer
"One of his friends overheard me talking about liking him and they decided to play a cruel prank on me." Tsukasa's brows furrowed in concern. "He told me.. He loved me… but then.."
Rui's eyes watered, and he dipped his head into Tsukasa's chest. He let out a weak sob. Tsukasa wrapped his arm over Rui, patting his head.
"No one's ever gonna love me, Tsukasa-kun."
"Oh, Rui.. That couldn't be further from the truth." Tsukasa's heart twisted at the pained sob Rui let out.
"It's true! No– Nobody– Nobody will– ever.. Because– I'm not pretty, or nice, I'm a weirdo and I'm annoying, and people shy away from me for a reason! Because– I'm not good enough– I'll never..!" Tsukasa hushed Rui.
"Rui.. I know there's someone out there that loves you. Don't just lose hope because one stupid douche played a cruel prank on you. It hurts me to see you so sad and saying that no one will love you, because–" Because I love you. The words remain unsaid.
"Because..?" Rui looks up, hopeful.
"B-because you mean a lot to me.." Tsukasa mumbled.
Rui sighs.
"But you don't love me." Rui chokes out. "Because no one–"
"I do!" Tsukasa cuts him off.
"Huh..?" Rui asks.
"I.. I love you, Rui! I think you're pretty, and you're really smart, and I would trust you with my life– I love everything about you, and it hurts to see you sad because I want to see your stupidly pretty smile that gives me butterflies everytime I see it.. So. Don't say that nobody would love you.. because I love you…"
What did he just say? Goes through both of their thoughts.
"..This has got to be a joke.." Rui mumbled.
Tsukasa shakes his head shyly, burying his face into Rui's hair with embarrassment. Well, he hadn't ment to say all that.
"Pretend I never said all that.." Tsukasa whispered.
"I don't think I will." Rui replies, and Tsukasa can see the smug smile on his face.
"Ugh.." Tsukasa withdraws from the touch in favor of making an attempt to slide off the jouch.
Rui's hands find his cardigan, dragging him down as he rolls over. Tsukasa ends up on top of Rui's chest, the two of them tangled up in the blankets.
"You're in love with me?" Rui asks.
"Of course I am." Tsukasa replies, burying his face into Rui's chest.
Rui smiles, wrapping his arms around Tsukasa. He's warm, rarely does Rui get to have Tsukasa-kun this close. He's warm and he's in love with Rui. He's warm and he's so Rui's type that it almost hurts a little.
He'd never told Tsukasa about another crush blooming beside his affection for Takahashi. Someone kind, and sweet, without blond hair fading into peach at the tips, and golden eyes that shone with so many emotions.
"Tsukasa-kun." Rui calls.
"..I know. Just– hurry up and tell me you don't like me so I can go home and cry, okay..?" Tsukasa whispers, sounding much smaller than Rui thought was possible for Tsukasa.
"Tell you I don't like you? Do you take me for a liar, Tsukasa-kun? I'm hurt.." Rui teases.
Tsukasa's head pokes up with irritation.
"Don't tease me.." He bristles. "D-Don't get my hopes up."
Rui watches Tsukasa's composure shatter. It seems he's not the only one that's going to be vulnerable tonight.
"Don't cry." Rui commands, and Tsukasa shakes his head, rubbing at his eyes.
He sniffles once. Then again. He's crying. Who knew he was so sensitive?
"D-Let me go.. I– sniff don't want you to see me like this.." Worlessly, Rui pulls Tsukasa a little closer, brushing a kiss against his forehead.
"You know you're my type, right Tsukasa-kun?" Rui asks, rolling them over once more so they're on their sides.
"You like cute boys.." Tsukasa protests, letting out another weak sniffle.
Rui feels bad. Letting him suffer for so long. By the way things look, Tsukasa's been feeling for a while.
"You are cute." Rui says, pondering what to say next. "Tsukasa-kun. You know, if things had gone how they were supposed to I was going to turn him down." Rui says.
"..Why?" Tsukasa asks, hope shining in his eyes.
"I found a star. He lights up my life– He's funny, and super cute, and he's got the biggest smile that makes me feel all warm inside. His hair is super soft, and everytime I tell him so, he turns a cute pink. He's got this purple star hairclip he bought because he said it reminded him of me, and it makes me so happy whenever I see it. I love holding him in my arms, I love him, Tsukasa-kun." Rui says, pressing another light kiss to Tsukasa's forehead.
His face is bright red, and he looks a little confused. He's not crying anymore. That's good.
"You.. Like me..?" He asks, seeming dazed.
"Ah, how couldn't I? You're just too cute, Tsukasa-kun!" Rui exclaims, using one of his hands to squish Tsukasa's cheek, smiling at the whine of protest he gets.
They fall into playful banter, like normal. Like always. No matter what, they'll always have eachother. Tsukasa reaches to cup Rui's cheek.
Tentatively, he leans forward. His lips brush against Rui's, before he pulls Rui closer by the back of his head.
He tastes like ice cream. Tsukasa thinks. He's so soft.. Rui grins into the kiss before pulling away for air. He looks blissed out, grinning like an idiot.
"I love you, Tsukasa-kun." He declares. "My star."
"I-I love you too.. I.. Always will.." Tsukasa whispers, face flushed.
Rui smiles. He's cute. Really cute.