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“You’re late again, Suguru,” Satoru states obnoxiously, the absolute judgment in his voice undeniable. Both of his classmates’ eyes flicker over to Satoru because since when did Satoru give a damn about punctuality? He literally just got here a minute ago himself.
Shoko stares at him irritably. It’s been a hot ten seconds since she finished giving her speech on tardiness to him, because she too, has work to do and waiting around for Suguru to show up to practice isn't on the list.
Suguru puts both his hands behind his head and puffs his chest out to stretch his back.
“Sorry,” he says and begins to roll his shoulders. It’s the most insincere apology Satoru has heard in his life and he’s given plenty of backhanded I-don’t-mean-it-at-all-and-fuck-me-if-I-don’t-do-it-again sorry’s himself.
Suguru starts rotating his neck, which lets out several loud cracks. A massive hickey on the side of his throat gets exposed, which, seriously? He could have at least covered that up before coming to training.
“Are you done yet, Sugru? Or should we turn today’s sparring lesson into a yoga class?” For the love of God, Satoru wants to grab his blindfold and tie it around his own mouth. What was up with him today? It’s not like he cared about Suguru’s new habit of late-night outings. It's fine. It's whatever. Satoru spent his night practicing Infinity so who’s the real winner here? The guy who (soon enough) can’t be touched or the guy getting touched by faceless hunks every night?
“Sorry.” The word sounds more like a sly fuck you to Satoru. Suguru jumps out of his malasana pose. “I’m all stretched and ready for you.”
Satoru almost chokes.
He grabs the bo staff out of the bucket of weapons and points it at Suguru.
“Let’s get started then.”
Despite the dark circles decorating his eyes, Suguru is as alert as ever and puts up a decent fight.
While they jump and dodge each other’s hits, a wave of unfamiliar, strongly scented body wash infiltrates Satoru’s nose.
It’s not a fair fight, by all means. At almost every second move, Suguru’s bruises on the neck are exposed and Satoru’s eyes get stuck on the little red dots decorating his skin. His brain forgets what he’s supposed to do, and Suguru hits him hard on the head as punishment.
By the time practice is done, Satoru is ready to find Utahime and bully her into sparring with him so that he can at least redeem himself a little.
“Heading out again?” Shoko asks Suguru as they put the weapons away for the day. Satoru stills in his steps and very unsuspiciously decides it’s time to retie both his shoelaces.
Suguru nods. “Want to come for a drink?”
“Isn’t it a gay bar?”
A shrug. “Lots of girls hang out there too. The guys don’t mind.”
The guys. The gang. The bros. Satoru almost pukes in his mouth. He might never have been to a bar himself but he doubts it could offer something Satoru couldn’t provide Suguru here at home. Karaoke? Satoru’s got the best voice, no doubt. Dancing? Watch these hips swing. He would even let Suguru crash in his bed and use his body wash the next morning. What could possibly entice Suguru to go to a bar filled with musky cologne-dipped strangers when Japan’s biggest heartthrob is standing right here in Jujutsu High?
“Can I come?” Nonononononono. Satoru did not just ask that.
Suguru turns to him in surprise, then, very coolly, shrugs. “Sure.”
Shoko beams and her eyes glint with excitement. “Awe, the three of us finally hanging out as full-fledged adults! Let me just get changed quickly, I’ll meet you back down here in about an hour!”
An hour? Was Satoru expected to dress up? The horror of being refused entry by the bouncer because he didn’t meet the dress code flashes in front of every six of his eyes. He’s about to run after Shoko for clarification when a hand grabs his arm to hold him back.
Suguru’s hand feels warm and strong. His tired eyes look at Satoru with concern. “Are you sure you want to come tonight? We can go to a different bar too. I know it’s not exactly your scene.”
A bunch of men throwing themselves at the person you love? Who'd want to miss that? Satoru lets out a carefree laugh. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine with your bar choice. Shoko seems excited to see it too.”
Suguru drops his hand and averts his eyes. Both of which Satoru wouldn’t have minded having on him for a little longer.
“Just… be careful, okay? Please don’t leave my side when we’re there,” Suguru asks quietly.
“As long as you don’t leave mine.”
Suguru shoots him an odd look and yeah that did come out a little threatening, didn’t it? Oh, well.
Satoru gives him an encouraging thumbs up. “Who’s ready to part-ay?”
Shoko barges into his room wearing a white slip dress, an aquamarine-coloured satin scarf, and silver drop earrings.
“Hurry up already!” She stares at Satoru, then shakes her head in silent disappointment. Wordlessly, she comes over and takes off his tie.
She proceeds to walk over to his dresser and empties out its entire contents on his bed. After a minute of looking, she decides to throw a black pair of skinny jeans and a light gray shirt at him.
The pants were stuffed in the back of his dresser for a reason. Satoru uncomfortably tries to adjust the fabric clinging a little too tightly to his firm buttcheeks. He absolutely hates the shirt too. He hadn’t realized it was a v-neck when he bought it. Hadn’t worn it once. The never-once-kissed skin on his throat feels like it’s screaming the word virgin to the world.
When Shoko and Satoru meet up with Suguru by the stairs. Suguru takes one look at him, presses his lips together, and then abruptly turns his head away.
“Let’s get going.”
“I’ll be pissed if you two leave me there alone tonight,” Shoko warns them before the train comes to a stuttering halt at their stop.
The little ball in his stomach that was tossing and turning during practice today starts expanding once more and pushes words out of Satoru's lungs he has no control over. Satoru huffs. “I’m not here to see my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Suguru asks with genuine confusion on his unfairly handsome face.
Satoru taps his own neck. Suguru licks his lips, probably reminded of his last night’s rendezvous. His eyes take on a dark glint.
“Oh, that didn’t mean anything.”
His eyes linger on Satoru’s neck. Heat rises to Satoru’s cheeks under Suguru’s scrutiny.
They depart the train and Satoru slides his arm around Shoko, pulling her close and whispering quietly into her ear: “I’ll give you five thousand yen if you let me borrow your scarf.”
“No, you’ll just spill sake on it and ruin it.”
Satoru pettily sticks his finger into her ticklish spot located just underneath her last rib. Shoko begins to giggle and forcefully pushes him almost into the street.
“Mei Mei would’ve said yes,” Satoru points out petulantly, feeling both outnumbered and unloved.
Suguru slows down his long, eager strides to allow them to catch up. “Said yes to what?”
“Nothing,” Satoru says at the same time Shoko shares the truth with him. Suguru looks absolutely mortified by the idea.
“You do not need a scarf.”
“Why? It’d bring out my eyes.”
Suguru doesn’t bother to agree or disagree with the statement. “Are you cold? We can stop somewhere and get you a coffee to warm up.”
“Let’s just hurry up and get there. Satoru can suck it up," Shoko decides for them.
Satoru spends the rest of the way aggressively bumping his shoulder into Shoko and avoiding her feet trying to trip him.
“They’re not going to let you in if you keep acting like children,” Suguru, the mature, hisses at them when they’re lining up by the door.
Shoko makes a point of ramming her elbow into Satoru’s ribcage. “Then we’ll go somewhere else.”
“The playground is always open and doesn’t demand a dress code,” Satoru points out like a true smart-ass.
They quickly move up the line. The bouncer skeptically takes their IDs. He nods Shoko in first, then Suguru. His eyes land on Satoru. “Glasses off.”
Satoru does as told and looks sternly at the bouncer, tries to mimic the stoic facial expression of his ID photo.
“You’re good.” The bouncer hands him back his ID card with a friendly smile.
Satoru skips inside.
Music is blasting so loud that it's impossible to hold a conversation without using some cursed energy. The air feels hot and sticky. Satoru's light gray shirt and Shoko’s dress seem to stand out like sore thumbs in the dim light.
“I’ll get us drinks if you guys want to grab a table,” Suguru shouts over the bpmh bpmph bmph of the bass being blasted through static speakers. “Satoru, what do you want?”
“Uh, uhm,” Satoru can’t for his life think of a single drink. Was it rock on the ice? No, that couldn’t be it. Porn Star? Margarita? Were those acceptable to order? “Do they have a drinks menu?” Satoru ends up asking meekly.
Suguru just sends him a soft smile, brown eyes warm and wrinkling at the corner. “I’ll just get you whatever contains the most sugar.”
Satoru gives him a thumbs up. “Sounds good to me!”
Shoko orders herself a beer, and isn’t that a perfectly common alcoholic beverage? Why didn't Satoru think of that before he completely outed himself?
It takes a solid five seconds after they sit at an unsteady, rocky, round table for a random man to slide into the empty seat next to Satoru.
“Wanna dance, beautiful?”
Satoru can’t help it. He takes a long sniff, pleased when he can’t smell the stark minty body wash that had stained Suguru’s skin this morning.
“He’d love to," Shoko answers for him, a devilish glint in her eyes. So much for her fear of abandonment.
The guy pulls Satoru out of his chair. His sweaty hand grabs Satoru’s as he drags him to the dance floor. Satoru freezes for a moment. He should’ve paid more attention to the people dancing when they first walked in. He quickly observes every single person's movement. A lot of grinding and people making out.
The guy starts to bend his knees, lazily swaying from side to side. His hand lets go of Satoru’s hand in favour to have it wrapped around Satoru’s waist where it lingers for barely a second before the sweaty hands continue gliding down Satoru’s ass, giving it a tight squeeze. So that’s what this feels like. Satoru lets himself be pulled closer and starts to pick up the swaying movement. The guy pushes his groin into him, grinding into Satoru's thigh.
Behind him, Suguru shoots him a dirty look and places the drinks on the table. Shoko immediately grabs her beer and starts chugging.
Satoru pushes the guy off with one hand. “My friend just came back with my drink. Thank you for the dance.”
The guy stares at him in absolute bewilderment. Satoru grins. He’s totally got this. He’s pretty much a natural at the grinding-hip-swinging move. Maybe he’ll ask Suguru for a dance later tonight just to show off his skill.
“You looked good out there,” Shoko shouts, half of the beer in her hand already empty. Now, if Shoko even compliments him, Satoru must have looked really good out there. He focuses his attention on Suguru, waits for a reaction.
Suguru doesn’t give him one, just slides the golden drink over when Satoru sits down next to him.
Satoru prudently takes a small sip. Sweet, thick liquid dissolves on his tongue. “I like this. What did you get? Can I try it?”
He steals Suguru’s glass and takes a large gulp. His lips immediately twist downward at the bitterness. “That’s gross. Shoko, let me try yours.”
He makes grabby hands at Shoko’s drink who makes a point of drinking the rest of her content down in one go while staring straight into Satoru's soul.
“You need to learn how to share," Satoru tells her flatly, content with sipping on his own drink for now.
His drink disappears almost as quickly as Shoko's. Satoru goes to stand up. “I’ll get the next one.”
“No. Shoko finished first, so she has to buy the next round," Suguru tells him.
Was that some drinking rule Satoru didn’t know about? He shrugs. He won’t protest if Suguru wants Shoko to pay for the next round.
Shoko shoots them both a dirty look then gets up and heads to the bar.
“What’s taking her so long?” Satoru complains, stealing more sips from Suguru’s glass because it’s too hot in here not to stay hydrated.
After another boring minute where Suguru won’t talk to him and they just quietly empty his glass of sake, Shoko returns.
This time, Satoru empties his drink first and stands up. “Shoko is disqualified from getting more drinks. No one here finds her attractive enough to serve her and I can’t wait another eternity for the next round.”
Shoko gives him the middle finger and kicks his shin under the table.
Satoru just shoots her a cocky grin in return as he stands up. "You know, you wouldn't be able to come close to touching me if I actually considered you a threat."
"I become a threat when I refuse to touch you and you're bleeding your guts out."
Satoru sticks his tongue out. Slightly, very slightly scared that Shoko isn't joking around and will actually let him suffer for an eternity before healing him the next time he gets injured.
“I’ll come with you.” Suguru decidedly stands up. His hand rests on Satoru’s lower back as they push their way through the crowd.
As soon as they arrive at the bar, the bartender’s eyes land on Satoru. “What can I get you?”
It's only after he's ordered Shoko's drink that Satoru remembers that he can just heal himself and doesn't need to be on Shoko's good side. He takes a sip of Shoko's beer, hating the taste of it. Maybe it's an acquired taste. The next sip will surely be more sweet.
“That’s how you do it,” Satoru singsongs when he slides Shoko’s (no longer filled to the brim) beer over to her less than a minute later. He’s starting to get why Suguru likes to come out here every night. This place is fun. The music is great. The drinks are fantastic.
Shoko stares at the half-empty glass, rolls her eyes and gives him a pissed-off look.
“Oh, c’mon Shoko, don’t be such a party pooper. Let’s dance!”
He grabs Shoko’s hand and she lets him pull him to the dance floor. Dancing with Shoko is much more fun than with that random dude.
By the time the chorus starts to play, Shoko has cheered up, bopping her head to the beat and sliding her shoulders left and right. Satoru gets a chance to show off his hip swings again to which Shoko bursts out laughing.
They dance until the song ends and the black skinny jeans cling to Satoru’s skin even tighter with sweat. Shoko takes her scarf off and throws it on the table. Satoru immediately snags it and ties it around his neck. Damn the heat, Suguru’s yellow bruise is practically glowing in the neon lights!
Suguru grabs them more drinks and Satoru almost falls into his arms when he returns. Whatever drink Suguru keeps getting him is addicting.
Satoru drowns the glass in one go.
“Holy shit, slow down," Suguru tells him warningly.
“No. I want more.”
“Jesus fuck.”
Shoko starts laughing. “I’ll leave you to take care of him. I gotta pee.”
She slides out of the chair and Satoru decides to lean into Suguru’s side. Satoru's fingertip pushes into Suguru's neck where he begins to outline the stupid bruise.
“Who gave that to you?”
“I don’t know. I never asked for his name.”
“Did you like it?” Satoru keeps circling around the delicate red lines. “I didn’t like dancing with the guy. Like, I get it, your dick is pushing into me, congrats. I could’ve turned on infinity and it would have felt the same way."
His forehead falls onto Suguru’s forearm that's connected to the hand playing with his glass on the table.
"I thought dancing like that would feel different,” Satoru admits with a heavy sigh.
Suguru's warm hand brushes the white hair out of Satoru’s eyes. He tugs at his arm. “Wanna dance with me?”
Satoru nods and stands up. He's not even that drunk. The room is just spinning a little. It’s not like he’s tripping over his own feet yet.
“I’m not even that drunk!” He loudly screams the words at Suguru so they can be heard over the music.
Suguru’s grip around him tightens. Satoru didn’t even realize that both of Suguru’s hands are holding him tightly and keeping him upright.
Suguru pulls him to the dance floor and Satoru lets his head fall on Suguru’s shoulder. He closes his eyes. His brain feels like it's tumbling around in his head. The rhythm of the song doesn’t match their steps. Suguru’s arms wrap around his lower back, rocking him gently back and forth.
Shit. He almost forgot. Satoru hasn’t shown his hip swing to Suguru yet!
“Watch this, Suguru. This is how you do it. This is how you should dance.”
Satoru lifts his head up and wildly swings his hips, pushing his pelvic up and down and carefreely swinging his arms to the beat.
Similar to Shoko, Suguru just bursts out laughing and there isn’t even a sign of an awakened bulge in Suguru's pants when he pulls Satoru back into his arms and carries him to their seats.
“Drink your water, Satoru,” Shoko orders him sternly, having brought three glasses of water to their table.
“I don’t need water. I want more of the sweet stuff.”
“I’ll give you my scarf if you drink this entire glass.”
Suguru looks confused at Satoru's already decorated neck. Satoru, oblivious, immediately grabs the glass and takes a few sips.
Drinking water is hard. He shoots a sad look at Suguru. “I want pizza.”
“We’ll get you pizza after you finish your water.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“I need to pee," Satoru announces loudly.
Quite frankly, he's close to pissing himself.
Standing is difficult. His head feels heavy. The bathroom is a stupid long distance away but Satoru manages to find it.
His stream of pee lasts for an unbalanced lifetime.
Satoru walks over to the sink, then rests his heavy head against the tiled wall.
A man walks over to join him, washing his hands in the sink next to Satoru. His eyes hungrily roam over Satoru.
"You look ready to get out of here."
Satoru gives him a sleepy nod. His bed would be nice and comfy. Much better than the cold tiled wall.
The man peels Satoru's forehead off the sticky wall. "I can give you a drive home, gorgeous."
Satoru studies the man more carefully. He's smart enough to know what the man's words imply. Satoru could get a drive home and ditch the guy, knock him out if he tries to follow Satoru up the stony staircase leading to Jujutsu. On second thought, the guy is quite attractive. He'd probably leave a few hickeys on Satoru's skin.
The man grabs Satoru's hand and pulls him close. His breath reeks of whiskey. His hand trembles as he lets his fingers card through Satoru's hair. Satoru doesn't like it at all.
Before Satoru can tell the man to fuck off. Suguru steps into the bathroom and pushes the guy's hand off Satoru. Suguru grabs Satoru by the arm and pulls Satoru away from the guy and into his own chest.
"What the fuck, man!" The guy yells at Suguru, his hand turning into a fist.
“Stay the fuck away from him,” Suguru says so vehemently, the guy immediately unclenches his fist. It's always so hot when Suguru’s voice goes deep and quietly mutters threats.
"You're alright? Sorry, that guy's a fucking perv. I should've gone to the bathroom with you."
"I could've handled it."
Suguru pulls Satoru out of the bathroom and motions Shoko to come meet them by the exit. "Let's go home."
"But you promised we'd get pizza!" Satoru whines.
"We'll get some on the way home. Don't leave my side again, okay?"
Satoru shoots him a defiant look. "Why?"
"Because every time I leave you alone for even a second, some guy is already trying to make a move on you."
"So? You're with other guys all the time."
"I can stand on my own two feet when I do."
Shoko catches up with them and pushes another bottle of water into Satoru's hands. "Why so grumpy?"
"I want pizza."
What he really wants is neck kisses but Satoru will be damned if he admits that to Suguru now.
Everything is too bright. Too many voices. An overload of sensations. Satoru’s headache threatens to break his entire skull. He can’t focus his cursed energy to regulate the flow of movement happening everywhere and all at once.
A plastic water bottle is repeatedly tapped against his forehead. “Drink.”
What are you doing here? He wants to ask but opening his mouth is guaranteed to result in him puking all over his bedroom floor.
He’s never drinking alcohol again. Ever.
Utahime leaves the water bottle resting against his cheek.
Satoru empties the bottle in one go. His throat feels incredibly dry. His head is pounding.
He immediately falls back to sleep.
“Urgh.”
Satoru blinks several times. His bladder feels full. He tries to sit up but the entire room is spinning. His head falls back down onto the pillow. His arm slides off the bed and he tries to grab the empty water bottle.
“What is it? Do you need more water?” Utahime doesn’t even bother looking up from the book she’s reading.
Satoru grunts. He tries to concentrate. His hand finally makes contact with the water bottle. He kicks off the bedsheets, realizes he’s still dressed in the too-tight black jeans and stupid v-neck.
It’s hot in the room. Satoru takes his shirt off and unbuttons his pants.
Utahime seems completely immersed in her book. She could at least glance a look at him when he’s already stripping in front of her.
The shirt and pants get kicked off the bed. Satoru uncaps the water bottle and pulls down his pants.
“Woah, what are you doing?”
Satoru points his sweaty dick to the neck of the bottle and lets his stream flow free.
Utahime makes a gagging noise as if she’s the one currently suffering from immense nausea. “You’re disgusting.”
Satoru screws the cap back on the bottle, tosses it on top of his discarded clothing pile and goes back to sleep.
The third time he wakes up, Utahime pushes a bowl of lukewarm soup at him.
“Thanks.” His throat hurts.
He’s never taken this long to finish a meal in his lifetime. Every bite threatens to result in vomit.
“Where’s Shoko? I need her to fix my head.”
“She already said she won’t help you. Life lessons and all. You need to learn from your consequences.”
Satoru lifts up the metal spoon and debates piercing it into his forehead. He’s not sure if his own reverse cursed technique would fix just the wound or his headache too. His head is still pounding. He tries ramming the spoon into his skull but his own technique stops him by default. Maybe it’s best to wait.
“How come you’re here?”
“Suguru was worried you’d puke in your sleep.”
Then why isn’t he here with Satoru now instead of Utahime? As if she can read his thoughts, Utahime adds: “He left early this morning to go on a mission.”
“How’s it feel?”
“What?”
“How’s it feel to finally be assigned an important mission? The bodyguard of the Six Eyes.”
Utahime throws her book at him.
“Can we watch something? I’m bored and I’ll puke if I move even an inch.” Suguru glances at the back of the book and its printed synopsis.
The Throws of Passion
After graduating from university, Lea expected luxury and living in the big city. What she didn’t expect was returning to her hometown and taking care of her family’s restaurant. To make matters worse, her high school sweetheart, Joe, has become the restaurant’s manager.
Can Lea keep her heart guarded this time or will she step back into old flames of desire?
She’s been burnt once before. She swore to herself she’d never let it happen twice.
Satoru snorts and picks up the book, flipping through the pages. “His once boyish face had matured into a handsomely chiselled jaw and high cheekbones. Thick, black stubbles now decorated his full lips. But his eyes were the same green as always,” Satoru theatrically reads out loud.
“You should go back to sleep if you’re not feeling well.”
“You should go out into the real world if you’re so thirsty.” He flips to a new chapter: "His lips pressed warm, sweet kisses into my neck. “Joe,” I managed to breathe out. His body was pure flames, burning my skin as he pushed himself into me."
“Stop reading that!” Utahime calls out frantically, running over to the bed to grab the book from his hand.
They play keep away for a few minutes before a new wave of dizziness takes over Satoru. Utahime, draped on all fours on top of him, picks up the book in victory.
“Why do you read that crap anyway?” Satoru asks, his face pushed into his pillow again.
“Because knowing you has killed any sense of romance I used to have.”
Satoru stays silent. Was he just not romantic enough for Suguru?
With one quick move, he snags the book from Utahime’s hand away again.
“Stop being such a child and give it back, Satoru!”
“You just complained I lack any sense of romance so don’t demoralize me for trying to learn.”
Utahime makes a very unpleasant face.
Satoru sits up straighter and stares at her. “What is it now?”
“Your breath is horrendous and you stink.”
Satoru smiles happily. “If I shower will you lend me the book?”
The shower is a more advanced task than he’s prepared for. Still, in just his boxer briefs, he crawls on all fours to the shower room, Utahime follows him grudgingly, carrying his towel and bar of soap for him.
“Where’s your shampoo?”
“Don’t have any. I ran out a few days ago.”
Utahime gives him that disgusted look again. “Go shower, I’ll be right back.”
When the first splash of water hits his skin and Satoru lifts his arm to adjust the shower head, the wave of his own body odour finally hits him. He gags in the shower and then scrubs every dead skin cell off his body.
Utahime throws his towel at him and then orders him to sit on a small plastic stool.
“You really need to condition your hair, Satoru. Feel how brittle the ends are! No wonder your hair’s been looking so dull lately.”
Utahime rinses his hair and drops a small amount of peachy-scented shampoo on her palm that she massages into his scalp. The massage feels incredible. A million remarks assemble on Satoru’s tongue, ready to be let free and make fun of Utahime. He keeps his tongue in check and stays quiet, enjoying the peace treaty between them.
Once cleaned, Satoru returns to a neatly made bed with clean bedsheets. The content of his dresser that Shoko had emptied the night prior is neatly folded and colour-coded.
“It sucks that you decided to become a sorceress. You would’ve been such a good maid, Utahime. The level 4 curses you fight don't change the world nearly as much as this would.”
After that comment, the peace treaty is over and Utahime declares Satoru well enough to be left alone. Satoru settles to watch a movie in his room and munches on the leftover pizza he finds in the fridge.
Suguru doesn’t knock when he barges into Satoru’s room. Not that he needed to knock, Satoru could sense him standing in front of his door. But Joe just knocked on Lea’s childhood bedroom door and now they’re sitting on her small childhood bed eating donuts he baked for her and isn’t that too much to ask for?
Suguru comes to sit on his bed empty-handed. “How you feeling?”
“Better.”
He’s back to normal. He probably should get out of bed now and practice his technique. But Lea just kicked Joe out of the room (the donuts were not enough of an apology) and now Lea is lying in bed lovesick and Satoru is lovesick and his misery is craving the fictional company.
“Did the soup taste alright?”
Satoru’s attention slips away from the screen. “Did you make the soup for me?” Like Joe baking the donuts for Lea. He didn’t think Suguru was that good of a cook.
Suguru shoots him a look. “No, I was out on a mission all day. Utahime made it.”
Satoru should’ve known. Utahime really missed her calling.
“What are you watching?”
“Throws of Passion.” Lea is walking around the town with her best friend looking solemn. “Are you going out tonight?”
The hickey on Suguru's neck is even uglier and more prominent today.
“Don’t think so. I’m pretty beat from that mission."
Satoru’s heart gives a standing ovation at Suguru’s decision.
Suguru points at the TV. “Why’s she crying?”
“She just found out Joe is engaged to her high school nemesis.”
“Is Joe the guy on the right?”
“No, that’s Mikael. Joe is the one with the blue shirt. I know, it’s confusing. In the book he has green eyes and dark hair.”
“Ah,” Suguru exclaims, displaying very little interest and not following up with any more questions. He grabs the last slice of pizza from the box and quietly chews on it (Satoru microwaved it for too long and the dough is now grossly gooey).
Mikael and Lea walk around the lake in the town's park talking about their personal struggles when Mikael stops walking and pulls her into a kiss.
“Who do you think she’ll end up with?” Suguru asks.
“Mikael, of course,” Satoru answers confidently. Utahime swears Lea ends up with Joe so it’s probably going to be the opposite.
As predicted, Mikael and Lea end up getting stuck in the restaurant together during a hurricane and share a passionate night.
Satoru uncomfortably wiggles around in his bed, realizing it's the scene he read a few paragraphs of in the book. The one with the neck kisses. Suguru doesn’t seem bothered by the very graphic sex scene currently on screen.
Satoru lets the scene continue playing, closely observing Suguru. No reaction. No awkward forced conversation to distract from Lea’s pornographic moans, no averting his eyes. Fucking hell, Suguru could at least scratch his balls or something.
Satoru pauses the movie and decides it’s time to get up.
“I’m going into town, want to come?”
Suguru stares at him perplexed. “It’s two in the morning.”
“And the new donut shop opens in four hours. People start lining up at five in the morning. Why not skip the line and get there first?”
Satoru grabs a black sweatshirt from his dresser and puts on a pair of dark, worn-out jeans. The scarf he stole from Shoko sits on top of his dresser. Recalling Suguru’s protest over him wearing it last night, Satoru wraps the silk scarf loosely around his neck out of spite.
"Are you coming or what?"
Suguru stares at him, eyes wandering down to the scarf.
"Nah, I'm going to sleep."
"You do look like shit. Some sleep might help."
Satoru won't be offended by the rejection. If Suguru wants to stay out all night with strangers but not him, well, then that's that. Satoru won't bother getting him a donut. He was even ready to pay for Suguru's breakfast and coffee. Well, nevermind that.
Utahime accepts the box of donuts with a skeptical look.
"What's this for?"
Satoru shrugs, switches his weight on the balls of his feet. "Just accept them."
A mean smile forms on Utahime's face. "What's it for, Satoru? Say it. It doesn't count if you just throw the gift at me."
Ugh. This sucks. Satoru lets out a dramatic sigh and stares at the blank wall. "Thank you for taking care of me yesterday and dealing with my shit." He's never mumbled something so fast in his life.
"Aaaand?"
"You were right about Lea ending up with Joe."
"What?"
Utahime stares at him in confused surprise.
"No, say that I'm the best and you owe me one."
"I don't owe you anything. That's what the donuts are for."
"The donuts were a thank you. You still owe me a favour. I wasted an entire day on you."
Satoru walks away, waving his hand at her.
"Whatever. I'll just come with you on your next mission and save your life for the umpteenth time."
"I don't need your help!"
It's raining. Satoru drops the other two boxes of donuts on the wooden bench inside the gym.
"What are those for?"
Shoko curiously drops her weapon and runs over to check out the donuts. Suguru is nowhere to be seen.
"Donuts," Satoru answers curtly. Irritated because Suguru can't bother showing up on time. Satoru himself was late by ten minutes. Suguru is being extra late.
"Is it just the two of us today?" Satoru asks. He won't straight up ask if Suguru is coming or not.
Before Shoko can answer, the door to the gym opens. Wet hair, a wet white t-shirt, and black sweatpants clinging to his muscular thighs.
"It's piss pouring outside," Suguru shakes his head, pellets of water fly from his hair like a beautiful bird soaring out of the water.
"You look like a wet dog," Shoko points out nonchalantly, staring unimpressed at the puddle of water Suguru dragged in.
Why didn't Satoru think of that? He'd stopped the rain from hitting him using infinity. What a dumbass move on his end. He could've worn a white shirt and showed off his abs too.
Suguru takes his shirt off and throws it on the bench next to the boxes of donuts.
"Cool, who brought the donuts?"
"I did!" Satoru exclaims loudly. Annoyed that Suguru doesn't even remember their conversation last night.
"Oh, right. Thanks, man."
Suguru grabs a donut out of the box and starts eating it. Icing smears around the corner of his lips and sticks to his fingers. Suguru licks them off and wipes his mouth with his thumb. There's still a corner of icing he misses that Satoru cannot stop staring at. The dumb hickey is finally starting to fade and has turned into an ugly shade of brown.
After practice, Suguru disappears. Shoko gets called to the morgue. Satoru eats donuts in his room and steals The Flames of Passion (a sequel to the New York Bestseller) from Utahime's room because the movie to the sequel isn't out yet.
Lea does choose Mikael in this one. Satoru was right after all (except for the last ten pages where Mikael dies and Joe calls off his wedding). Satoru finishes the book very bothered. Team Mikael should've won.
Satoru visits Mamaichi in his office to make sure Satoru is informed when Utahime goes on her next mission. Upon hearing Satoru will be joining her, Mamaichi signs them up for a mission first thing tomorrow morning.
"So what's this curse?" Utahime asks on the way there. None of the cars are available and they're stuck traveling by train.
"No idea."
"You signed us up for a mission and you don't even know what we're executing?"
Satoru leans against the metal wall. "What does it matter?"
"So we can prepare to fight it!"
Satoru shoots her a sly, cocky smirk.
Utahime grunts in frustration.
"Oh oh!" Satoru excitedly points at the poster taped to the wall.
Utahime stares at the Flames of Passion Now playing in theatres! poster.
"I want to see it! I didn't know it was playing right now!"
Utahime rolls her eyes but she can't fool Satoru. She wants to see the movie just as badly. She, too, has no one to watch it with. They're in the same situation and as long as no one talks about it, they're solid.
"Fine, but let's get this mission done first."
The movie theatre welcomes them with the scent of buttery popcorn and a warm shelter to hide from the incessant rain.
"Everyone thinks we're a couple," Utahime states, annoyed, staring at all the heads turning as they make their way to the ticket counter.
Satoru throws his arm around her waist and pulls her in close. In a seductively low voice, he mutters: "You're way too old for me."
Utahime throws his arm off. "Why are you watching this with me, anyway? Why don't you go on a real date with someone?"
Satoru shrugs. "This is me returning my favor to you. I know how badly you want to see the movie and how no one wants to go on a date with you."
Utahime looks slightly hurt by that comment.
Satoru can't think of a single apology that doesn't involve saying something nice to Utahime.
"I'm pretty sure I'd get rejected too if I asked someone out on a date," he admits quietly.
"Yeah, right. All these girls are shooting death glares at me."
"I don't care about them."
Utahime is too nice to ask any follow-up questions. Satoru would never have admitted this much to her otherwise.
He pays for the popcorn and their drinks. A group of schoolgirls oggles at him and he gives them a quick wave that makes them burst out into giggles.
When the movie ends with Mikael dying in the hospital, Utahime lets out a quiet sob. The lights in the theater turn on and half the audience's red eyes are exposed.
"Want my glasses?" Satoru asks mockingly. Utahime's eyes are unattractively swollen and red.
Satoru doesn't expect her to nod and, displeased, hands his glasses over to her.
"You look kinda badass with them on."
"I am badass."
"Tell that to the snotty napkins."
It's dark out and the city life is bustling. Satoru wonders just how much Utahime can see through the heavily tinted glasses. Apparently enough to make out an izakaya.
"Want to go for a drink?" Utahime asks on a whim.
The memory of his hangover is still too prevalent. Still, Satoru doesn't want to spend another night alone in his room while everyone else is out.
The place Utahime leads him to is less crowded and quieter, serving actual meals.
Satoru orders himself food and some water.
"Hey, isn't that Suguru?" Utahime asks.
Satoru follows her glance and stares out the glass pane window. And, yeah. That's him alright. Laughing with his arm around some stranger.
They stop to kiss and isn't that public indecency? Shouldn't that be illegal?
To Satoru's absolute horror, they're walking toward the bar.
"Suguru!" It's too late to shush Utahime. She really can't read the room, can she?
Suguru whispers something to the stranger before approaching their table.
The stranger stares at Satoru.
"What's up with the glasses?" Suguru asks, voice slurring.
Both Utahime and Satoru shrug.
Suguru gives them a lopsided smile. "I thought you two were on a mission."
"We finished early and went to the see Flames of Passion and then came here."
Suguru shoots him an odd look. "Well, uhm, I should head back."
"Wait," Satoru slides his water over to Suguru.
"Drink this before you go."
"Thanks, Satoru."
Suguru staggers back to his date.
"Should we take him back home? He's pretty drunk."
"He's fine, Satoru."
"How do you know?"
"He comes here all the time."
Satoru looks at her in disapproval. "Why'd you drag me here if you knew he'd be here?"
"Does it matter that he's here?"
Satoru stares at her.
"We're all worried about him," Utahime admits quietly.
Just as she says it, Suguru slides into the chair next to Satoru. His date exits the bar.
"Cool if I hang out with you two?"
Satoru silently slides his plate of untouched food over to him.
Suguru looks at the noodles, at Utahime still wearing his glasses, then at Satoru sitting across from her. "I'm not crashing your date, am I?"
"Ew." Utahime doesn't elaborate.
Her reaction offends Satoru just enough to say: "I'd rather date you than her."
Suguru stares at him quietly. Satoru can feel his face turning red and so he begins to babble to distract from it. He tells Suguru all about their mission, making sure to praise Utahime for not tripping over her own feet this time and her brave little shriek when she ran into a spiderweb or-
"That's enough, Satoru."
"She's so modest," Satoru grins at Suguru.
Suguru takes another sip of water and then rests his head on Satoru's shoulder.
"I miss going on missions with you."
"Me too."
I miss you in general.
“So why’d you bring me to that bar?” Satoru asks Utahime the moment they drop Suguru off in his room.
Utahime shrugs.
“What did you mean by we’re all worried about him ?”
“You know what he’s been like lately."
"Like what?" Satoru thought it was just his jealousy making him worry but perhaps there's a more solid reason.
"He's just acting so closed off and barely spending any time with us anymore. I mean, I get he wants to experiment and stuff but it's just concerning when he chooses random hookups over us every single night, y'know?"
Oh, does Satoru ever know.
"Yeah, I should check to make sure he won't puke in his sleep. Can you give me that recipe for the soup you made me?"
Utahime gives him an odd look that slowly transforms into a soft smile that reaches her eyes.
"Do you want help making it?"
"Nah, if you can do it, how hard can it be?"
Suguru looks like his old self when he's sleeping. Face relaxed, breath slow and steady, arms wrapped around the spare pillow tightly, hugging it into his chest.
"That’s not the point of the spare pillow, you dumbass," Satoru whispers quietly before dropping into the simple-designed wooden chair.
The moment Suguru's eyes flutter open, Satoru is by his bedside, ramming a spoonful of soup into Suguru's mouth.
"What is that?" Suguru asks, food sloshing grossly in his mouth, refusing to swallow it.
"Instant noodles."
Suguru gulps the broth and slimy noodles (because Satoru may have slightly overcooked them) down. Satoru sits down on the edge of the bed, satisfied with himself for being such a good caretaker.
"I asked Utahime for her hangover soup recipe but it didn't make any sense."
"Probably just didn't make sense to you."
"You can't be mean to me when I'm taking care of you," Satoru declares hypocritically, knowing full well that if it hadn't been for Utahime's infinite level of patience, she would have stopped taking care of Satoru the moment he'd woken up on that terrible, terrible morning.
Suguru gives him a lopsided smile. "You can't just leave me alone when I need to be taken care of."
The quirky reply is on the tip of his tongue but just as Satoru is about to respond, a massive boulder squishes it down and out comes: "Why don't you call one of your nameless friends to take care of you? Maybe you should spend some time with your actual friends so you don't end up getting stuck alone when you need us."
Out of all the counterarguments he imagines, what Satoru doesn't expect is for Suguru to shrug and say: "You can leave if you want to."
Satoru doesn't move. He shoots angry daggers at Suguru.
He can’t leave now. It's been months since they last hung out alone together. The quick check-in when Satoru was hungover doesn't even count.
Suguru is the first to break their staring contest. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that.”
Satoru pushes the soup into his arms. "Eat up. It tastes like shit when it’s cold."
With that, he gets up and leaves the room.
Satoru doesn't hold back during their next training session. Fuck Suguru and his unhealthy lifestyle. While Suguru was going around collecting neck kisses, Satoru improved his technique and he will beat Suguru mercilessly with it.
The blue energy flares up around his fingertips. He's got Suguru in his blindspot now. All Satoru has to do is extend his arm and land the blow on Suguru's shoulder.
He spreads his fingers, lifts his elbow, stretches out his arms- then stops just an inch from Suguru's shirt.
The moment of hesitation immediately results in a counter-attack and Satoru somehow ends up on the ground, facing the gray morning sky and feeling the dew grass soaking his uniform.
"Why'd you not hit him?" Shoko calls over to Satoru.
Suguru, too, cocks his head and looks down at Satoru with a funny expression. It takes a moment for Satoru to realize the funny expression is pure white anger.
"What? Think I can't handle your attack?" A strong, warm hand grabs around his arm and pulls him back to his feet. "Don't fucking give up when you can still fight. And you better not hold back this time!"
Three massive curses land on the grass beside Suguru.
Satoru grins. "Bring it on."
Exhausted and sore, Satoru eventually stands triumphantly over Suguru.
Shoko has long left the training field.
Suguru got him good a few times but it was nothing Satoru couldn't handle. It's been a long time since Satoru was able to go all out. The missions he's been on lately have been an absolute bore. Suguru definitely didn't disappoint.
Satisfied with himself, Satoru drops down to the grass beside Suguru.
He laughs at Suguru's face, half covered in mud, half bloodied.
"I'm the best, you can say it now."
Instead of complying, Suguru kicks him weakly in the leg.
"I'll beat you next time,” but he's smiling through the exhaustion. "What'd you want?"
"What do I…?"
"For winning. You get one wish."
Oh. Satoru likes this new rule. A kiss. Is his first thought, but no, he wants Suguru to wish for Satoru to kiss him.
"A date."
"A date?"
"Not like that," Satoru lies quickly. "But just one night where you and I hang out together."
"Oh," Suguru sits up and faces him. A guilty expression takes over his features. "I'm really sorry, Satoru. I-" He quickly looks away and studies the short grass blades.
Was he rejecting him? Is Satoru so low on the list that they can’t even spend one night together?
"You shouldn't have to ask for that as your reward. I know I've been kinda absent lately but you're still my best friend. I shouldn't be this fucking hard to reach."
"It's cool."
"It's not. Just beat me up if I do it again, okay? Do you wanna go to the movies tonight?"
Satoru shakes his head. "No movie." He doesn't want to waste his night sitting silently next to Suguru. He wants to look at him. Talk to him. Make him smile.
"I know what we can do!" Satoru calls out excitedly.
"What is this?"
"A bento-making studio!" Utahime had gushed to him about it once.
Suguru looks around skeptically. "So we're just making lunches shaped like anime characters?"
"Yup! I'm going to make a Digimon bento." A little too excited, Satoru runs off and storms over to the cookie-cutter section. He grabs a heart-shaped one "by accident" and proudly returns with his findings to where Suguru has picked out a small table.
It's late in the day. After they'd both showered (separately) and gotten dressed (Satoru had thought about calling Shoko for fashion advice but settled on a plain hoodie and jeans), they found the studio empty except for the two of them.
The employee had looked up briefly upon their entrance and explained the steps to them before returning to her spot behind the counter and scrolling through her phone. Soft, Ghibli music is playing from the speakers. It's nice and warm in the room. Satoru smiles, heart pounding in his chest as he takes the seat across from Suguru.
Suguru slides an empty container over to Satoru. "I got you the orange one. There's a bunch of different shaped containers but I figured we could pile the most food into the rectangular-shaped one. I can't wait to eat it, I’m fucking starving."
Satoru shoots him a reprimanding look. "This is art. Don't think about destroying it when you haven't even started."
Suguru sticks his tongue out then -and Satoru's chest might explode- grabs the heart-shaped cookie cutter and starts slamming it into the kiwi slices.
"What's your theme?" Satoru asks casually.
"Dunno. Do I need one? Who's that artist that had like those crazy looking haphazardly thrown-together paintings?"
"Err, Picasso?"
"Right!" Suguru laughs excitedly. "I'll do an abstract bento box."
One hour passes. Two. Satoru's stomach begins to rumble working with all the food. Suguru seems to snack on more food than he's putting into his box.
"Oh, yours actually looks good," Suguru compliments and Satoru beams. His Agumon made out of sweet potatoes is looking pretty artistic.
"I'm almost done. I just need to fill this corner up with something."
"Want some of my kiwi hearts?"
Satoru's organ heart aches. He shrugs casually. "Sure."
Their bento boxes filled and looking pretty, they stroll around the evening streets until they "stumble" upon a park with Satoru purposely leading them to an empty bench.
"Next time we go, I'll make a theme too," Suguru tells him, jealously staring at Satoru's bento box.
Next time. Butterflies awaken and flutter in Satoru's stomach.
"It does look badass, doesn't it?" He almost feels bad for destroying it but his stomach has as much appreciation for art as Suguru and lets out a loud protesting rumble.
"You wanna eat mine and save yours for later? I'm sure Shoko and Utahime want to see it too," Suguru offers.
"You're not hungry after eating half of the studios' snacks?" Satoru teases.
"Oh, shut up."
Suguru pushes his heart-shaped kiwi bento box into Satoru's lap.
"Thanks for tonight. I had a lot of fun."
"What would you rank it?"
"Tonight?"
Satoru nods around a heart-shaped kiwi sitting lovingly on his tongue.
"Like a three out of ten. Usually hanging out with you is a low one so- I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Stop throwing food, you’re wasting the blueberries, Satoru! Ten out of ten, best night ever!"
Satoru flashes his teeth at him, grinning absolutely satisfied with himself.
"Any limitations on my wish?" He asks.
"Your wish?"
"You said tonight doesn't need to be a wish, which means I still have my victory wish to cash in."
"Oh. Nah, no limitations, just don't make it too fucked."
"It’s just a question I want answered,” Satoru squishes a blueberry.
"Sure, what's up?"
“Why'd you stop hanging out with us?"
Suguru stares at him quietly, a serious expression on his face. "I- fuck, I don't know."
Satoru raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
"You're right, I do know, I just- I guess I just needed a distraction."
"From the missions?"
"Kinda."
They both fall silent. Suguru begins to quietly chuckle. "Mostly because I kept feeling weird around you."
"Why?" Satoru asks, suddenly a bit scared to hear the answer.
A shrug. "I dunno. I thought that by hanging out with other people it would go away but it didn't and today you made me realize that by avoiding you I was hurting you, so to sum it up, I was just being a fucking dumbass."
Satoru has an itching feeling, but, for once in his life, he chooses caution over jumping to conclusions.
"What did you think would go away by hanging out with other men?"
"You know what." Suguru reaches over and grabs Satoru's hand. He forces his palm open and then drops something inside.
Satoru glances at it, then smiles.
A kiwi heart.
"Sorry for making things weird between us. I still want us to be friends."
Friends?
The stupid ball in his throat emerges once more. Before Satoru can think, he's already said the words out loud: "But I love you. I don't want to be just friends."
Suguru stares at him wide-eyed. "You do?"
"Why'd you think I hated seeing you disappear every night?"
"Oh, I thought I was just reading too much into it."
Satoru happily throws the kiwi heart into his mouth and quickly swallows it down. He's ready to be kissed now. He squeezes his eyes shut and patiently waits.
One. Two. Three seconds pass.
"What's wrong? Did you get something in your eye?"
Heat rushes to Satoru's cheeks. He quickly flutters his eyes open again.
"It's gone now."
Suguru gives him an odd look. He whistles through his teeth. "Do you wanna go for a walk?"
Satoru nods and they both stand up. Suguru grabs his Digimon bento with his right hand, Satoru holds Suguru's lunch box with his left hand. Hesitantly, Suguru grabs Satoru's free hand.
Satoru doesn't know what to do with his fingers. Knows they're supposed to interlace but he doesn't know which way. It feels weird at first. Suguru shoots him a shy, nervous smile then adjusts their handholding.
Satoru's thumb rests over Suguru's index finger. His grip is warm, the skin around his fingers dry.
They walk around the city, and eventually, the feeling of Suguru's hand begins to feel natural and Satoru relaxes, and begins to talk. Every time they stop somewhere Satoru's stomach does a little flip of anticipation but the pull of his hands, the feeling of Suguru's warm palm and long fingers on his lower back, the soft lips pressed against his, never comes.
Despite the confession and the hand-holding, there's a tinge of disappointment in Satoru when they arrive back at the school.
"Well, er, I have a mission tomorrow morning," Suguru tells him.
Satoru nods. "Yeah, me too."
As soon as Suguru drops him off at his room and disappears into his own room, Satoru sprints down the hallway to Shoko's room.
"Shoko! I need you, it's an emergency!"
"Who's dying?"
"I'm dating Suguru!"
"Wait, what?! How did that happen?"
"He gave me a kiwi heart and I told him I love him and then we held hands but we didn't kiss and I don't know why. Do I not look like I'd be a good kisser?"
"You told him you love him? Did he say it back?"
"No."
"Did he ask you to be his boyfriend?"
"No."
"...Satoru."
Oh no. Oh no. Oh nononono.
Had Satoru really misinterpreted the situation? Had the whole night just been Suguru holding his hand out of pity because Satoru confessed and Suguru hadn't even meant it that way? Had the kiwi heart been meant to showcase Satoru's love and Suguru was avoiding him because he didn't know how to reject Satoru? That whole friendship comment had that been Suguru asking Satoru if he could chill out with his romantic feelings?
Before his brain can explode with embarrassment, Satoru sprints out of the room and barges into Suguru's room without knocking.
"Hey, I was just gonna come see you. I took your bento box by accident."
Suguru, shirtless with loose sweatpants hanging low on his hips, hair open and effortlessly falling down his shoulders.
Satoru stares at him breathlessly.
"I don't want to be just friends," Satoru admits. "I want to hold hands and I want to play with your hair when I'm bored and I want to kiss you and wear your hoodies and fall asleep on your shoulder and I want to go to loud shitty clubs and pull you close and dance and- and, if that's not what you want then it's cool because I kinda accepted it a long time ago and today felt more like a dream anyway so you really don't need to be nice and pretend y like me back."
A deep exhale. He can't believe how flawleslly he rapped that whole thing.
Suguru smiles softly and grabs him by both hands, pulling Satoru to sit down on the bed.
"You're cute enough without that feverish blush and speech about your feelings." Suguru squeezes his hand. Shoots him a smile that melts Satoru's rapidly thumping heart. " I've had a crush on you since the day we met. I literally haven't been able to be around you ‘cause I kept falling harder and harder for you to the point where I couldn't think about anything else and I didn't want to put you in an awkward situation and ruin our friendship."
Instead of finishing his confession with a sweet kiss, Suguru flicks him on the forehead. "I love you too, dummy."
"Then why didn't you kiss me? You're supposed to kiss after the first date," Satoru argues petulantly, pressing his lips together.
"Close your eyes."
Satoru does so, hesitantly. Calloused fingertips brush a strand of hair out of his face. Slowly, the hand trails down the back of his head, and brushes over his ear, until it eventually settles on the nape of his neck.
Warm breath begins to ghost over his face. Satoru’s heart is pounding in his chest. He’s tempted to tweak one eye open but no he can’t risk screwing up this moment. Suguru told him to close his eyes and he’s got more experience and probably knows what he’s talking about so Satoru should just listen and-
Warm, soft lips gently make contact with his own. A sigh. A release of breath Satoru has been holding, quietly escapes.
Suguru begins to move his lips, coaxing Satoru’s open and then there’s a warm tongue inside his mouth and Satoru can taste the kiwi on Suguru’s tongue. The validation that this is him, this is Suguru, kissing him, guiding Satoru's head so that their lips meet at the perfect angle. Suguru's other hand holds him by the waist and it feels like a one-armed hug but so much better.
Suguru pulls away slowly and it feels like waking up from a dream - something that lasted forever but in reality was really just a few seconds.
A shy smile spreads his puffy lips and creates little dimples on his cheeks.
“Does that make us boyfriend and boyfriend now?” Satoru asks meekly.
Suguru shakes his head. The smile on his face is unwavering. “Nope. We need to do at least ten more of those first.”
Satoru laughs. Warmth spreads through his tummy and he knows what do now. His hands confidently wrap around the back of Suguru’s neck, slowly pulling him closer until their lips find each other again.
“That’s nine.”
“Are you sure it’s ten kisses and not twenty?”
“One hundred!” Satoru exclaims with a laugh.
“Mhmm that might take us all night.”
Satoru pulls him eagerly back into his arms again. “Probably. I’m a very slow kisser.”
Suguru smiles between their next kiss. “Slow in general.”
“Hey! If you’re mean to me I’ll stop kissing you.”
“No, you won’t.”
And Suguru’s right. Satoru can’t see himself ever leaving those lips.
“What happens when we reach a thousand kisses?”
Suguru pulls his lips away and presses them into Satoru’s neck. Satoru holds his breath. This is it. This is the moment he’s going to get his first neck kiss.
“Probably get married.”
Suguru’s lips press into the side of Satoru neck, sealing the kiss and sucking very gently on the delicate skin.
His first hickey.
Satoru's going to have to change his wardrobe to v-neck shirts only.