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Reki was in love with his best friend.
He was in love with his small smiles, and his big ones too. He was in love with that silky blue hair that he let Reki’s sisters style from time to time. He was in love with his deep blue eyes that Reki could stare into for hours–blue like the summer showers he used to play outside during. He was in love with Langa’s tenacity and fearlessness, even if he definitely had some gray hairs already just from the shit he had gotten into.
But cut and dry. He adored him.
The problem, however, was how to tell Langa.
The truth was, as much as Reki loved Langa, he was the biggest airhead on Earth.
Langa hadn't noticed even one of his advancements! Not the new board he made him for his birthday with stronger parts, not the times he let Langa have half of his lunch whenever it was some Japanese food he didn't know, not the snacks and drinks he always bought him at the convenience store whenever he happened to be there, just cause he knew they were Langa’s favorites.
Langa always just gave him a “Thanks so much, Reki!” or a “You’re the best.” or, clearly Langa’s personal favorite, “You’re amazing.” with a smile, and moved on.
Reki wasn't sure what else he was supposed to do.
So he had mostly given up on trying to tell him anything. Langa was never going to pick up on it and… it was frustrating, honestly. Trying so hard for nothing.
Not that he stopped with the presents. No, Reki was in far too deep with that.
Reki laid his head down in his workshop one afternoon, fiddling with his pencil. One of his headphones fell out of his ear, falling to the desk with a soft thud. It softly blared out whatever sickening pop song had come recommended on Reki’s playlist. He didn't care enough to switch it.
He sat up again, staring down at his notebook. Math homework. Yuck.
He glanced around his workshop, his mind apparently already frantic to get him thinking about literally anything else. This landed him on Langa’s skateboard design pinned on the cork board in front of his desk. He never quite took it down after making Langa his new board. Curse his five-tasks-at-a-time brain.
He unpinned the peice of notebook paper, staring down at it. Which gave him another idea, and had him googling something on his phone.
And yeah. It was confirmed that he did essentially make Langa a wonky snowboard with wheels on it. Funny.
Langa loved it though. Loved skating.
Wait. Could Langa want to go snowboarding again? Is that one of the reasons he likes his board? Cause it looks like a snowboard?
It certainly wasn't impossible. But could Reki even pull that off if he tried? Where in Japan did it even snow enough for that? Where could they even buy snowboards?
Well the latter question was solved easily enough. With the dimensions and a youtube video, Reki could figure it out.
And google did have the answers for everything.
So he got to work.
~♾️~
Langa had the most amazing best friend in the entire world.
He was smart and dependable, strong-willed, beautiful. He made Langa happy and always got him–and the rest of their friends–to laugh. He loved Reki’s smile and his pretty, firey amber eyes, and the way he was always up for a challenge. He liked his hair, long and unruly, that Langa could dig his finger’s into and untangle for hours in the rare case that Reki was hyperfocused enough on something that kept him relatively stagnant.
Most of all, he loved Reki’s ability to give all of himself. Whether that be to his newest board commission, art project, or–Langa’s favorite cause–Langa himself.
Langa could always tell when Reki was in the midst of putting his all into something. He’d go quiet while he intensely sketched into that notebook of his, music blasting through his earbuds. He’d spend hours like that, pouring over every detail, making sure it was perfect.
And he was doing it again, right there in Langa’s room. Reki had announced it when they got to the apartment, an “I’m working on something” as they wandered up the stairs. Then Reki sat against Langa’s wall, plugged in his headphones, got out his book, and hasn't moved since.
It was kind of interesting, seeing him like that. He could be the pinnacle of human concentration but only when they werent in class.
Reki’s brows were furrowed, obviously trying to work through some issue he encountered–It was the same look he sported when they were in math class and the teacher was spouting absolute nonsense–and his headband was just starting to slip off. Every couple minutes another tuft of hair or two would fall into his eyes, pushed away with only a aimed blow of air. An aimed blow of air from those lips. Pink and full and just a little chapped. Bitten on and scarred from how much he messed with them.
What Langa wouldn't give to run his thumb over those lips. To feel them. To kiss them. To kiss Reki.
He really wanted to kiss Reki.
But he held back, grabbing and sipping from his water instead.
“Reki?” He asked, a fairly feeble attempt.
No response.
Langa turned to face him, “Reeeki”
Some j-pop song was blaring from his headphones. Way too loud to hear Langa over.
Langa stood up, beginning to wander over, but right as he was going to peer over to see what Reki was working on, Reki pulled the notebook close to his chest, pulling his earbuds out in one go.
Langa blinked. Then again.
“What?” Reki asked.
“Uh… I was going to ask if your hungry.” Langa said, “What are you working on?”
“Nothing important,” Reki answered without missing a beat, “I could eat.”
“Wait-”
“Do you want to order A&W? Ramen? Or maybe something from Sia la Luce?” Reki asked, already having moved on.
Langa didn't move on with him though, “Not important?”
Reki gave him a look, “It’s not! It’s just a project.”
“All your projects are important. Both to you and me.” Langa protested.
“This one’s not!”
“You always rant to me about your projects. You love talking about them. I love hearing about them.” Langa argued
Reki sighed, hard and long, like Langa was the one acting weird.
“It’s classified.”
“...What?”
Reki nodded very matter-of-factly, “Classified. You're not allowed to know.”
“Bullshit.”
“You’re just jealous you don't know about the super secret project. Now, am I ordering A&W?”
Unfortunately, Langa’s stomach answered that question for both of them.
~♾️~
It happened at S a couple of nights later, fairly randomly. Someone challenged Reki to a beef.
Something about him being Snow’s friend and having to prove himself? Langa didn't really catch what. Not that he cared–as long as his best friend was happy and fairly unscathed, Langa didn't mind who he skated with.
As long as he kept skating with Langa after, that is because… Langa wasn't sure what he’d do if he lost Reki.
Or… lost him again, that is.
Langa didn't want to think about their fight right now.
Reki was getting ready, hyping himself up and tuning up his board. Langa sat next to him.
“Ready?” Langa asked.
Reki nodded, flipping his board over. He looked at it for a second and then over to Langa’s. He picked the blue skateboard up, examining it.
“So… how similar to snowboarding is this board anyway?”
Langa paused, considering. The way his board went along was way more similar than the standard he started with but…
“It’s okay.” Langa finally answered, “Definitely not the same, but all and all pretty similar. The friction’s all different and your stance.”
“But… similar?”
“Similar.”
Reki hesitated with his next words, weighing them in his mind.
“Can I try it out?”
Langa’s mind went blank.
What?
“In… a beef?”
“Why not?”
Langa loved Reki–way more than he could fathom–but holy shit was he insane?
“Are you sure?” Langa asked, “I mean… you’re awesome so I bet you could do it but…”
“Sure! What's the worst that can happen?”
Running up to Reki after the beef with Adam. Blood. So much blood.
Langa’s lips straightened into a grim line. Reki frowned.
”Hey…” Reki took a step closer, lightly punching his chest, “I got this.”
Langa wanted to pull his hand close and kiss it.
He wanted to pull the whole boy close, really.
And those eyes…
He can’t say no to those eyes.
Langa nodded trepidatiously and Reki smiled, hooking an arm around his neck, “You won’t regret a thing bud!”
He hoped not.
~♾️~
Reki rolled the board under his foot trepidatiously. He examined it from the top for a moment, before putting his backfoot on it. He barely wobbled.
Yeah. He’s got this!
Probably.
Reki figured it’d be way more embarrassing to get to snowboarding with no clue what he was doing. It’s not like he cared too much about the beef itself; and now with Langa’s board? He definitely didn’t expect to win. Just to try it out.
The lights came on and both skaters got ready. They launched off as soon as the old traffic light turned green. Reki was immediately wobbling, turning left and right as he did. How the hell did Langa ride this thing straight?!
He sped down the hill, struggling to keep balance. Shit, he gave his best friend a death trap of a board!
Reki barely made it halfway through crazy rock—a feat in his personal opinion—before he came crashing into a bush on a hard turn. The board rolled into the wall next to him and stopped uncarringly, turning a little as it did, obviously to taunt him. He slowly sat up, rubbing his head.
Reki patted himself down quickly. He was sore but… nothing major. Good.
It was only a moment before Langa was at his side on his scooter. The taller boy crouched down to him.
”Reki! Are you alright?!” He asked, craddling Reki’s face in his hand.
”I’m fine.” Reki murmured through squished cheeks.
He couldn’t help but lean into his hands a bit. Langa had nice hands. Absently, he wondered how they’d feel around his waist.
Or around his-
Nope! None of that! This is his best friend. He’s not going to think about his best friend giving him a handjob! Get a grip, Reki.
”Are you sure?” Langa asked, “Looked like a bad fall…”
“I’m sure. I’m okay.” Reki said, smiling a little up at him.
Langa smiled back, all soft and sweet. Langa did this funny thing where he smiled so much more with his eyes than his lips. It made Reki want to kiss him.
”You’re amazing, Reki,” Langa murmured, “Absolutely amazing.”
Reki flushed, glancing away. Langa looked at him too much sometimes.
“Jeez… I’m just sorry I made you such a death trap. How do you ride that thing?” Reki asked.
Langa shrugged, “I don’t know how you ride standard.”
“Your board’s a death trap. I should’ve made it safer…”
”You made it custom for me. Then you tried to ride it for the first time during a beef.” Langa said, “If I tried to ride your board for a beef I’d get beat up too.”
Reki glanced back at it. Langa ran his thumb across his cheek.
“The board’s perfect” Langa said, decidedly softer, “Just like you. Okay?”
Reki wasn’t quite sure what to say to that.
”I’m not-“
”Yes. You are.”
Silence.
”We should go.” Langa said, dropping his hands rather reluctantly as he stood and ending the argument before it could even start.
”Right.” Reki murmured, standing.
Langa grabbed his board, handing it to Reki to hold onto. Reki sat behind Langa and he swears Langa stopped breathing when his arms loosely wrapped around his waist. They drove back quickly.
”I’d probably be a shit snowboarder” Reki murmured absently, resting his cheek on Langa’s shoulder.
He felt Langa shrug, “Maybe. But you could probably pick it up as fast as I picked up skateboarding.”
”You think?”
”I know.” Langa said, “Reki… you’re amazing.”
Reki just sighed and rested his forehead on Langa’s shoulder.
~♾️~
Langa nearly screamed when he got home that night. He did not say that to Reki. Calling him perfect while holding his face?! It was basically a damn marriage proposal!
He flopped onto his bed, letting his eyes fall closed. He’s such an idiot.
Then again, Reki didn’t realize a thing. He just stared. Like Langa had said something crazy.
Which… Langa had, but even though his deductive reasoning skills were subpar at best—he knew he and Reki thought it was crazy for two different reasons. Fortunately (Unfortunately?) Reki didn’t realize a thing about what Langa actually meant.
And the next day, they were clearly back at square one as they met up at a convenience store after school.
”Want those strawberry pocky sticks you like?” Reki asked, like nothing had happened. Langa just nodded absently.
The two perused quietly. A comfortable silence between them. Obviously, last night didn’t have any of the effect he thought might be on Reki.
“Not getting your Kit-Kats?” Langa asked.
”Trying to save money.” Reki explained, “For a thing..- a project.”
Langa blinked, “What kind of project?”
Reki glanced away, rubbing his neck, “It’s… hard to explain.”
”Okay… sure.” Langa said.
They kept looking around. Langa picked out another snack or two. Some Hello Pandas and one of those marble sodas. He never got over the novelty. But when he put his stuff down at the cashier, Reki took out his wallet and started pulling Yen notes out.
”Hey, aren’t you trying to save money?” Langa asked.
”I mean… yeah.” Reki replied.
”Then why are you trying to pay?” He asked, pushing the stuff away from Reki, as if that’d stop the handing of Yen to the cashier.
”Cause I’m buying you stuff, obviously. That’s a normal expense.” Reki said.
Langa blinked. Then again. He couldn’t deny that he let Reki pay for snacks more often than not—even after almost a year, he was still never quite sure how much was too much to pay for things in Japan. Reki helped a lot with that—but for Reki to consider it a normal expense?
Well, Reki did get him snacks like… all the time. Whenever he could, really. Things he wanted Langa to try or ones he already knew Langa loved.
Reki… sort of supplied Langa with most of his calories for the day.
Reki was so amazing.
Langa must’ve been dumbfounded for a while, because when he blinked back to reality, Reki was calling his name and the snacks were paid for.
”T-thanks, Reki.” He murmured, taking the bag.
”Don’t mention it” He responded, giving him a smile as they stepped out of the store.
They skated to school quickly and when they did, Langa grabbed his arm.
”Seriously, Reki, thank you.” Langa said, “You’re amazing.”
”For buying you snacks? Jeez dude, get better standards” Reki joked with a grin, “Of course I’m going to buy you stuff, man. You’re my… best friend.”
Langa had to swallow when he met Reki’s eyes because it all at once became a little too hard to breathe. Just like it had last night when Reki’s arms wrapped around him, and he leaned onto his shoulder like Langa was a damn pillow.
”Right.” Langa murmured, “Thank you.”
Reki nodded, turning away and letting the tension dissipate. Langa could already feel his legs giving out.
~♾️~
For all of one week, Reki was really busy. He was either working extra hours at Dope Sketch or in his workshop working on something that Langa wasn’t allowed to see yet. But it was funny how one week felt like an eternity.
The waiting and Langa’s impatience didn’t work well together. Langa tried calling and texting in vain tons of times, hoping Reki would put his stuff down for long enough to answer. They always eventually come—usually around 9 or 10. It meant Reki had stopped for the night… or was taking a break before pulling an all-nighter, there was no real in between. Langa could always tell which one by how much Reki would sleep in class the next day.
But finally, the day came. The next Saturday was the start of an extended school break, and Reki texted Langa asking if he wanted to come over. He was knocking on the garage door within the next five minutes.
Reki opened it a little and slipped out, smiling.
”Okay. I have a surprise for you. Ready?” Reki asked.
Langa nodded, and let Reki put a hand over his eyes. He was led into the garage and sat on one of the stools, nearly toppling over due to his lack of vision. Reki replaced his hand with Langa’s one and Langa heard him take a few steps back.
”Okay. Open!”
Langa dropped his hand. His jaw dropped with it.
Because against the desk were two brand-new snowboards and some… definitely used snowboarding gear.
Reki’s been working on… this?
”You made… snowboards?” Langa asked.
”And that’s not all!” Reki said, opening his beat up laptop.
He pulled up to a slideshow. The first slide had a blue background and a selfie of the two of them with bright lettering with some super-long title that Langa, with his poor Japanese, really didn’t want to try reading.
Luckily, Reki handled that part.
”This is the Reki Langa super sliding snowy vacation plan! Or the RLS2V, for short.” Reki explained.
”Wouldn’t it be the RLS3V?”
”Moving on!”
The next slide had the same blue background with photos of Langa… snowboarding?
”How’d you get those?”
”Asked your mom. But anyway! Here’s you! Snowboarding! See? You’re so good at it but… we live in Okinawa now, so you can’t do that anymore.”
Another slide change. Now pictures of him and Reki skating.
”So you switched to the superior sport of skateboarding! You even got your own personal customized Kyan Deck!”
”Kyan Deck?”
”I’m working out the kinks on the brand name.”
Langa had to grin. What was happening?
“But…” Reki said, switching the slide to one with lots of photos with stock images of sad people, “You haven’t even had the option to snowboard in a little less than a year because of the lack of snow here. And even if you said you weren’t snowboarding in Canada, I know you probably miss it. I mean… Come on man. You did it for 15 years and not even a little bit of longing to get it back? I don’t buy it. Not with how dramatic and sappy you can get.”
Langa wasn’t sure if it was a rhetorical question or not. He just slouched a little in his seat. Reki switched the slide again.
”So I came up with a solution! It snows in this town called Nozawa. It’s on the mainland, around the central area.” Another slide switch. A map pointing to the city, “There’s a ski resort there and…”
One more slide switch. A drawing of Reki and Langa on snowboards on a mountain. Reki grabbed something off of his desk, handing it over to Langa.
Two plane tickets.
Oh.
Oh!
”You…”
”Yeah.” Reki said, smiling, “We would leave Monday and come home on Friday. No time zone changes, obviously, but that means no jet lag. And the trips are short flights, I promise. And I made our snowboards… They even look like our skateboards! See? Obviously you should check to make sure I made them right though. Oh! And I figured you wouldn’t have any gear, so I thrifted some for the both of us and… and yeah. Hotel’s booked too. And I already have day passes for the ski resort. I couldn’t get rooms at the resort because they were really pricey but… yeah.”
Langa stared blankly. He stood, going over to the snowboards and running his hands over the one that was his.
”I… I don’t know what to say.”
He must’ve gotten his tone all wrong, or Reki was really overthinking this whole idea, because he immediately went onto solutions.
”We- we don’t have to go! I-I can cancel everything if you want! Shoot- This was such a bad idea wasn’t it? Do you even want to go snowboarding?? I mean I assume you would but with your dad and everything… Shoot you’re not ready yet are you? Fuck, I’m so stupid! I’ll cancel everything, sell the equipment or something- This whole thing can be a wash! I won’t bring it up again, I-“
”Reki!” Langa exclaimed, once he had the power of speech come back to him.
Reki stopped cold, fidgeting nervously and biting those beautiful lips of his. Langa went over, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.
”I love it.” He said, “I love it so much. I really want to go snowboarding with you. I want to teach you like you’ve taught me and…” Langa’s Japanese skills really weren’t keeping up with his brain.
”You don’t want to cancel?” Reki asked.
”No. Not at all.” Langa said, pulling back, just a little. One of his hands cupped Reki’s cheek and Reki leaned into it how he did at S that night and Reki stared right at him, eyes shining just a bit, “I can’t believe you did all of this, Reki. This is incredible and… I’m really happy. Thank you. You… You’re amazing, Reki.”
Langa watched as that gleam faded and was rapidly replaced with one ten times worse. A sob was pulled from Reki’s lips as he stuttered back a step.
“Sorry!” He nearly shouted, shutting his eyes and turning away, “Sorry…”
Langa stood there in shock. Why was Reki crying?!
“Reki?!” He asked and quickly approached, a hand hovering above his shoulder, “Reki? What's wrong?” He tentatively put his hand down, “Was… Was it something I said or.. What is it?”
Reki shoved his eyes farther into his elbow, vehemently shaking his head.
“No.. I- I figured you.. you’d say that.” Reki said, taking a deep, shaky breath.
“I called you amazing because you are amazing.” Langa said, stepping in front of Reki. The other hand tried to pull his arm down, “Do you not believe me? Or…”
“I just-” Reki let his hand down, but shut his eyes, trying to take a deep breath.
Langa let him, reaching out and gently wiping away the stray tears that were still slowly falling and making their journey down Reki’s perfect beautiful face.
“I don't just want to be your amazing friend, Langa.” He finally murmured.
Langa’s eyes widened, “Is this about the same thing as our fight? Because if so I’m not trying to make you feel bad! I think you're so cool! I want to skate infinitely with you! And only you, Reki!”
Reki sighed, opening his eyes and turning his face to the side, “No, Langa, it’s not-”
“Then tell me.” Langa begged, “Because we promised no hidden feelings like this and you're scaring me, Reki.”
Reki took a deep, measured breath. Langa’s throat burned from how long he was holding his own.
Until finally, Reki spoke.
“I’m in love with you.”
And Langa’s brain crashed.
Air quickly filled his lungs as he took in the realization. Reki glanced down with what seemed like shame.
“I-I’ve been trying to show you for months… buying all those snacks, making you all these new boards and parts. I mean… I love doing those things for you anyway but… I started doing them more and more and just… you never realized. So I thought a big gesture might help but… It didn't. And now I’m crying like an idiot after I’ve just confessed my love like… an idiot.” He chuckled dryly, pressing his palms into his eyes, “I’m sorry.”
Reki likes him. Oh my God Reki likes him!
Oh my God Reki’s liked him for months.
“No!” Langa quickly shouted, “Don't- Don't apologize! You’re not an idiot. At all, I mean… I like you too. A lot. I didn't realize the gifts were like… signs. I thought just… you do that for your friends because you're just incredible and amazing and selfless and-” Shoot. His Japanese was failing him again, “I thought like- with telling you what I think about you, you’d get how much I like you! Like- I tried to confess that night we made up at the skatepark but it just… didn't work? It came out all wrong. And I always use the wrong words and-” Langa took a deep breath, “I get it. And I love you too.”
Now it was Reki’s turn to be jaw dropped and speechless.
”You… You like me too?”
”Yeah..” Langa breathed, “A lot.”
Reki was hugging him in an instant. Langa hugged back tight. They held each other for a moment. Reki’s shoulders began to shake with sobs. This time… seemingly of relief.
Reki hiccupped, ”I thought-“
”Yeah, I know.” Langa said, pulling him closer, “Me too.”
Langa’s own tears slipped a little as he felt Reki melting into him. He let his shoulders drop too, burying his head right against Reki’s.
And they stayed like that for a while.
~♾️~
Langa’s inspections had been fairly quick. He stood on the boards, leaning with them, and did a couple of bend tests with them. They weren’t the most stable things in the world, but for simple snowboarding like they were planning, they should be just fine.
And that’s how Reki and Langa found themselves walking together through Naha airport.
”A two hour plane ride while leaving for a week feels so stressful… how did you manage a 20 hour connecting flight knowing you were moving?” Reki asked.
”Uhm… Noise canceling headphones and a responsible adult.” Langa explained.
“We only have one of those. And it’s the less useful one.” Reki murmured.
”Noise canceling headphones are plenty useful.” Langa narrowed his eyes, “Have you ever been on a plane?”
”No.” Reki answered honestly.
”It’s… taxing.” Langa explained, “Just be lucky you have no jet lag to deal with.”
Reki grinned, plucking one of Langa’s earbuds from his ear and putting it into his own. Langa didn’t complain. He was listening to some English song. Reki couldn’t catch most of the words.
“What’s the song about?” Reki asked.
“Love.” Langa said softly, smiling with that beautiful soft smile of his.
Reki grinned, leaning onto his arm a bit as they walked. Langa took his hand, slowly lacing together their fingers.
”Bet it’s not about idiots like us though.” Reki said and Langa laughed.
Langa glanced over at a small in-airport restaurant and back at Reki.
”Want food? I’m buying.” Langa said.
”Are you sure? Airport stuff is expensive…” Reki murmured.
Langa smiled, “I got it. Come on.”
Reki smiled as he was pulled along towards the restaurant.
”Hey Langa?” Reki asked when sitting down with him, “You’re the best. Seriously amazing. I love you.”
Langa smiled, leaning in to put a soft kiss onto Reki’s lips.
”I love you too.”