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“Yuki!” Kumon called from the entrance of the dorms. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, yeah, give me a sec!” Yuki yelled back from the kitchen. “I’m grabbing a snack.”
Kumon waited patiently at the door for his friend, idly staring at the room full of people in front of him. It was a little overwhelming at first, but he got used to the crowded living room after spending quite some time at the company. He grew to like it in time, and became very fond of chaotic and chattery mornings like this.
Today, Yuki wanted to go shopping for fabrics and accessories for the upcoming play. With the rest of summer trope being busy, the tailor asked for Kumon to accompany him. They’d gone shopping together quite a bit and they both looked forward to spending time together, as much as Yuki might like to deny it.
The two of them headed down Veludo way, making their way to the shopping center. People huddled in scarfs and sweaters, desperately trying to keep heat in as a gentle fall breeze blew through the streets. Similar to their lively dorms, the streets were bustling with pedestrians; actors, directors, artists and business people alike. It was busy and loud just as it was welcoming and comfortable.
“Are you excited for autumn, Yuki?” Kumon asked as they walked. “The weather is getting colder.”
Yuki hummed in response. “I’m not very fond of the cold, but I’ve been thinking of new outfits I’d like to try with sweaters and scarves.”
“Ah~ that sounds just like you, doesn’t it?” Kumon smiled.
Yuki looked up at Kumon accusingly, sharpening his tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kumon laughed, putting up his hands defensively. Yuki was one to take things offensively, even if it was meant to be lighthearted. At first, it confused Kumon. But he grew to understand that it was because Yuki had been bullied one too many times for his interests and mannerisms.Like always, he met Yuki’s cold glare with a warm smile. “You’re always thinking of new outfits, Yuki. It’s really cool how you can just come up with them like that. You’re really smart, you know.”
Yuki furrowed his brows at his friend. As much as he wanted to keep a cold front, the warm and welcoming grin he was often met with made him fumble. He stared for a moment, before tearing his eyes away and staring straight ahead. “Right. I know, you don’t have to say it.”
Kumon laughed again, pocketing his hands and mirroring Yuki’s gaze. They walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way there, save for Kumon’s idle comments on the scenery or spicy curry shops on the block. He was quite the chatterbox in comparison to Yuki, though the tailor didn’t seem to mind. They somehow got along quite well despite their contrasting personalities. When they were alone, it seemed as if Kumon’s outgoing and loud energy became a little more mellow. In the same breath, Yuki’s snarky and defensive demeanor relaxed a bit. They fell in pace with each other without losing sight of themselves within the other. Perhaps that’s why they valued their time together more than others.
The two of them entered Yuki's favorite section of the local mall; a small corner on the second floor that held a variety of clothing stores. Yuki's first pick was always the fabric store, which had brandished various elaborate cloths used for creating professional pieces. Kumon, however, was a little more drawn to the store immediately next to it, which also happened to be Yuki’s second pick. The store was more for arts and crafts, holding quite a few sections for charms and metal clasps. The two of them visited the store together a few times before, making small pieces of jewelry with each other from the items they bought.
“Let’s go to the crafts store first!” Kumon said, walking over towards the second store. “I wanna see what kind of things they’ve got now!”
“Slow down,” Yuki grabbed Kumon’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. “We’re here for fabrics. You get sidetracked so easily, I might as well have let you stay at the dorms.”
“Ah, sorry, Yuki!” Kumon grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. Yuki didn’t miss the small look of disappointment that he tried to hide.
Once again, Yuki simply glared at him in response. He often found himself staring at the boy for a little longer than he meant to, trying his best to understand what was going on in his head. At times, he seemed far too airheaded to be thinking anything significant. But Yuki knew him better than that, and he was constantly swept up by the subtle expressions that only he picked up on. The quirk of his lip, the way his eyebrows turned down slightly like a sad puppy dog, or the way his pupil dilated slightly when he gazed at things he liked. Yuki was hyper aware of nearly all of it, though he couldn’t understand why.
Noticing Yuki’s intense gaze, Kumon lowered his guard, looking Yuki in the eyes. He leaned in just a bit, tilting his head to the side and observing Yuki’s face. “Yuki? Is there something wrong?”
Yuki let go of Kumon’s arm as he felt heat creep up his face. He turned away from the boy quickly, muttering under his breath. “We can go to the store after I’m done. Don’t distract me.” He began to walk towards the fabric store, leaving Kumon behind.
“Oh, okay!” Kumon said, running to catch up with the other.
* * *
After they were done shopping for fabrics, Kumon booked it for the shining arts and crafts store just a few feet away. In contrast to the fabric stores' elegant maroon coloring, this store had white marble walls and white tiles, along with large white shelves with hooks that presented little charms and bracelets. In the center of the store was a round glass counter, where an assortment of rings were displayed. A polite looking cashier stood in the center, smiling at them as they walked through the threshold.
Like always, the two of them walked through the store, pointing out certain charms. Both of them silently took note of the ones the other commented on, storing the memory away in hopes of surprising each other with another gift. Throughout the store, Kumon would get overly excited about cute baseball charms or necklaces. Yuki would halfheartedly pick on him, throwing him a few sharp comments here and there. It was a casual, comforting exchange that made them both relax more and more by the second.
The pair wandered to the very back of the store, which was lined with long shelves that climbed the wall. On the shelves were large ring display boxes, with a variety of promise rings. They weren’t nearly as expensive as the ones by the front counter, but they definitely weren't like any of the others presented at the store.
“Promise rings?” Kumon read aloud as he peered over a section of them. “These are really pretty, Yuki!”
He felt Yuki’s presence at his side as they both observed the rings. His mind temporarily wandered as Yuki’s hand brushed against his, and he consciously fought the urge to lace their fingers together. Kumon wasn’t a stranger to skinship, but subtle touches from Yuki made his skin hot. He pulled his hand up, pointing at a ring to distract himself from the jolt in his stomach.
“Look, this pair is our birthstones, isn’t it?” He said, pointing at a pair of red promise rings. They were labeled as ‘July stones’, with a small sub-labeling that read ‘Ruby’. The smaller ring had a band of rose gold with a circular ruby at the top, and the larger one with a thicker band and an oval-shaped ruby. Both gemstones were lined with a ring of diamond, giving them an extra bit of shine.
Kumon picked the rings up, slipping the obviously larger one on his ring finger. “It fits perfectly!” He said, turning to Yuki and brandishing the new ring.
“I see that,” Yuki said, gently grabbing Kumon's hand and pulling it down. Kumon internally malfunctioned as Yuki inspected the ring, watching how it shined in the light. He gingerly took the smaller ring out of Kumon’s hand and put it on his own finger, tilting his hand around to see its full beauty.
Kumon stopped to watch as Yuki looked at the ring. The lighting of the room was much brighter than the fabrics shop, making Yuki’s features glow just a little bit more. His amber eyes shone in the light as he lifted his hand up, trying to catch the shine of the rings in the right moment. Kumon couldn’t help but wish that Yuki looked at him the same way he was looking at the ring right now, eyes full of wonder and admiration.
“...It fits like a glove.” Yuki said, still looking at the ring. “These are really pretty for that price. I almost don’t believe it.”
“Maybe it’s meant to be,” Kumon said jokingly, trying to pull himself out of his stupor. “I mean, what are the odds that these two fit us perfectly? That’s gotta mean something, right?”
Yuki snickered in response, giving Kumon a playful glance. “That’s so cheesy.” He leaned closer, checking the price again. “Yeah, this is really affordable. I’ll have to buy it next time.”
Kumon watched as Yuki took the ring off, placing it back in the holder. He turned towards his friend, tilting his head slightly as he noticed Kumon’s lingering gaze. “What are you looking at?”
“I’ll buy it.” Kumon picked the ring back up from the slot and slipped his ring off his finger. “There’s no guarantee they’ll be here later.”
“Hey, wait!” Yuki said, but Kumon had already started towards the counter. Yuki followed him in a rush. “Don’t go spending your money on me like that!”
“It’s for both of us.” Kumon smiled politely at the lady in front of the counter as he pulled out his wallet, ready to pay for the rings. In all honesty, he didn’t know why he felt the urge to buy them so abruptly. Maybe it was because of the way Yuki looked at it, or the way it fit them both so perfectly. Either way, he felt like this impulsive purchase was worth it. “We both liked it, so what’s the harm in getting them?”
Kumon faced Yuki with his usual bright and cheery smile. After he purchased the rings, he turned to his friend, offering him the ring. Yuki gave Kumon his left hand, who stared at it for a moment. Blushing, Kumon fumbled with the ring as he slid it onto Yuki’s finger. He slipped his ring back on his, smiling softly as he looked at it.
“You’re stupid for that, y’know,” Yuki said, trying to hide the smile on his face. “You didn’t have to buy it for me.”
Kumon laughed cheerily. “I know, I know. It looks so cool on you, though.” The two of them walked silently out the store, both staring at their new pieces of jewelry. The two walked close together, pressing their bodies against one another to avoid the cold. Every now and then, Kumon would look to his side, noticing the way Yuki smiled at his ring. Kumon’s heart fluttered, and he felt as if he was floating.
Next time, he thought as they exited the mall, I’ll buy you an even prettier one.