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Otoya is sitting on his bed, two hours before the annual New Year's party held at the dorms. Instead of getting ready, he's contemplating life.
Otoya has always gotten a kiss on New Year's, every year since he was five (from ages five to ten, it was a kiss on the cheek from one of his aunts)
but since then he has never failed to get that special kiss. Normally, Otoya will find a cute girl around Christmas, be nice and romantic with her, bring her to either his house, meet up, or go to the New Year party.
When the clock hits twelve and the New Year officially starts, Otoya will gently caress their cheeks, pull them to look at him, make direct eye contact, and lean in to seal the deal.
Simple, really.
For Otoya, the New Year's kiss is important because he believes it'll grant him great luck with the ladies for the new year.
Ever since he was young, he's seen his parents and his aunts and uncles, all with their partners kissing.
Otoya likes the whole deal with kissing someone special as a way of saying that there's someone you look forward to loving the next year as well.
Only for Otoya, a curse has been cast upon him. Because no matter what he does, any relationship he's had, and whoever he kisses on New Year's, they don't stay together for more than six days max after New Year's Eve.
Otoya has come to live with this fact, so it doesn't bother him that much anymore The only problem this year is that:
One: he doesn't have any girlfriend to kiss.
Second: he has a boyfriend?
This revelation only hit Otoya a few days before New Year's.
He does not know how to deal with it. He has many concerns, and the worst is If he kisses Karasu on New Year's, will they also not last ?
If it had just been some girl he had dated for a few months, it would be no problem. But Karasu -that 's a whole other story. Karasu is not only his boyfriend, but also his best friend. Otoya knows for a fact that he would not be able to survive the rest of college without Karasu. This is what Otoya has been most worried about, and the other things, Would Karasu want to kiss him in the first place?
Sure, they did `that thing´ (hooked up) when they first got dared to get together. But other than that, not much had changed between them. They have cuddled here and made out there, but they have never shared a romantic kiss?!
And now Otoya is panicking because he needs his New Year kiss, but he's too scared to kiss Karasu for many reasons. He can't just do it with someone else, that would be cheating! And yeah, Otoya knows he's done that once or twice, but he just doesn't want to, not with Karasu.
" Hey, dingus, what's got yer panties in a twist?"
A familiar voice calls out from behind Otoya.
Otoya's head snaps to look at Karasu standing behind him , and he's slightly concerned that he tore something in the process.
" Uhh , nothing, just, you know," he tries , not sure if telling Karasu what's on his mind is a good idea.
" Pfft, " a small laugh escapes Karasu's mouth as he plops down on the bed beside Otoya.
" Shut yer lying ass up, dumbass ! I can tell from a mile away that ye're thinkin 'bout somthin', so spill," Karasu says, looking amused at Otoya , who sighs in defeat.
" It's just, I always get a kiss on New Year, " Otoya says in a disheartening tone.
" And ?" Karasu questions, eyebrow raised.
" Well , I need one too this year," Otoya answers, lips forming into a disappointed pout.
" 'Need' is a little dramatic. But why're ya so depressed 'bout it? Ya have someone to kiss , don't ya ?" Karasu says, giving Otoya a knowing look.
Otoya's eyes light up. " Really? You would do that for me?!"
Otoya lunges forward and wraps his arms around Karasu's neck, his back twisting dramatically at the abnormal position.
" Do what? Ya gotta have a bunch of girls waiting to be yer magical New Year kiss?"' Karasu says with a smirk, his hand finding its place on Otoya's waist, pulling to try and save Otoya's back from dislocating.
Otoya's face turns into one of confusion , looking weirdly at Karasu.
" What are you talking about? You think I'm a cheater?!" Otoya exclaims, his hand switching from around Karasu's neck to instead push away on Karasu's shoulders.
Now it's Karasu's turn to look confused.
" What ? No offense, Toya, but I've seen ya having yer fair share of affairs throughout our time together, but what's that got to do with this?" Karasu asked, eyes narrowing.
" You think I'm going to kiss some random girl? ! " Otoya can feel his blood starting to boil, and it pisses him off. He's been angry before,
God forbid.
But never this mad, and especially not at Karasu. And over something so petty.
" Because I'm just a manwhore who can't keep it in his pants? And because you'd rather die than imagine this dirty mans humble lips, touching your precious lips?" Otoya snaps, fuming, as he abruptly pushes himself off Karasu and off the bed.
Karasu is too stunned to speak at Otoya's sudden outburst.
" Fucking whatever ! As you said, I've got lots of girls just waiting to get some of this. So I'll just kiss one of them, or whatever." Otoya says, making his way out of the room.
" And it's not like I wanted to kiss you or anything!" Otoya shouts before leaving the room, making sure to slam the door real good to emphasize his anger.
Otoya was so fucking pissed.
it was actually really frightening. Because he's never felt like this or acted like this, and worst of all, he sounded like the girls he dates, all needy and moody and broody and angry, getting mad and causing a scene.
Otoya was terrified.
And he needed to talk to someone. And there were only two people in this entire school whom Otoya could rely on in this situation.
" What the actual fuck?" Reo asks, looking at Otoya standing outside his dorm. " One word: RelationshipproblemandithastodowithKarasu. " Otoya says, looking at Reo.
" Oh ! Oh my god, I thought the day would never come!" Reo says, sounding a little too happy, considering this had to do with a problem.
" Come in ; Chigiri's here too." Reo says, moving aside and inviting Otoya inside.
Otoya gives him a nod to give some kind of acknowledgment . Then walking inside,
"OH MY GOD, OTOYA?!" Chigiri exclaims as he comes out of his room.
" Hey. " Otoya says, greeting the other boy.
"I would not in a million years have ever even dreamed of imagining having the privilege to so much as have the thought of thinking you'd come here to get advice. " Chigiri says excitedly, looking at Otoya, then at Reo.
" Come sit." Reo smiles, pointing at the fancy dinner table in the middel of the room, clearly not paid for by the dorms.
Otoya goes to sit, and once the two other boys do , they look expectantly at Otoya.
" So first of all, tell us what happened." Reo started. Otoya takes a deep breath. was he really about to tell the biggest gossipers on campus his most embarrassing experience of all time?
"I always get a kiss on New Year's. " Otoya says. Fuck whatever happens after, he needs to get his head straight before the New Year party tonight. Or else he doesn't know what to do with himself.
Chigiri rolls his eyes. "I would have never guessed. " Reo gives him a stern look, and Chigiri goes quiet.
" Yeah, well. It's important to me, and I always do it, but this year I don't have a cute girlfriend , but a big hairy , gross man with a sexy smirk and a horrendous haircut. " Otoya explains, and as he starts talking about Karasu, he can feel a sour taste in the back of his mouth.
" That's wild." Chigiri comments.
" Oh my lord, Chigi, let the man speak."
"Okay, so you don't have a girlfriend to kiss, but you have Karasu; you're not going to kiss him?" Reo asks. Otoya shrugs.
"I was thinking about it ; it's just, I'm a little scared. " He admits, his eyes falling to look away from the probing eyes of the men in front of him.
" What ? You're afraid ? Of what?" Chigiri asks, looking genuinely confused, though it's hard to tell from where Otoya's looking.
" The curse. " He answers. " The curse ?" Reo says, unamused, glaring at Chigiri.
"Yeah, the fucking curse . Whoever I kiss on New Year's , we don't last more than six days max after New Year's , and no, I'm not crazy, it's happened every year since I was ten.
" Otoya says, wining as he tries to explain without sounding batshit crazy.
" You're sure that's not just because, I don't know? You only want them for the kiss?" Chigiri says blandly , giving Otoya a slightly disgusted look. "...okay, that's not fair to say. I loved them all, it just didn't work. We kiss, then we stay together. She gets boring and annoying. I tell her so, and then we break up." Silence engulfs the room the second Otoya finishes that sentence. The silence is broken by Chigiri's hysterical laughter and a big sigh from Reo.
" Oh my god, there's no way!" Chigiri says, out of breath as he says it between laughter.
" Yeah, that's the stupidest, most narcissistic thing I have ever heard in my life "
Reo says, his eyes looking tired and his tone dry.
" What ?" Otoya asks, confused.
" Are you fucking stupid? That's just you! You 're the problem! It's because you don't really love them that you end up not working . You ..." Reo just looks like he's about to die and at the same time explode. And Chigiri just continues to laugh as Reo hides his face in his hands, and Otoya looks confused at the both of them.
" You're saying it's my fault?" Otoya asks. " Yes, you fucking idiot, it's your fault!" Reo says, his voice coming out like a cry, trying to get the words through Otoya's thick skull.
" You know what ? I hope you get that. Now that better not be the reason you're here." Reo says, his sanity hanging by a small thread.
" No, it's actually because I got mad at Karasu in a very lame way," Otoya says, looking down at the table. Chigiri and Reo both let out a gasp and then look at each other.
" You what?"
" What happened?"
They say in unison.
Otoya looks up at them. "I was telling him about the New Year's kiss thing, and he goes like, ' but ya already have someone to kiss, don't ya?'" Otoya explains, trying his best to impersonate Karasu's voice and dialect.
" And I thought that maybe he was talking about himself , but then he says, ' because you're a playboy who can kiss whoever ,' or something , and I just had this really bad feeling in my stomach and got really sad, and then said some mean things and left . " Otoya grimaces as he remembers the earlier events.
" You're sad because Karasu didn't even acknowledge that fact that the two of you are together and that you wouldn't cheat on him and that you were genuinely not sure what to do," Reo asks , sounding genuine , his face falling into one of understanding.
"And then he goes and says somthing some insensitive things, that makes your feel like he doesn't even see himself as a candidate, for the new years kisser role, " Chigiri supplies, sounding a bit more teasing.
Otoya blinks at the words. That's exactly how he felt. He really came to the right people. Otoya nods.
" And you're ashamed that you got sad?" Reo asks , his voice calming and gentle.
" Yeah , it's just, I've heard this kind of thing from my exes, and it's those things that always made me break up with them " Otoya says, now feeling guilty.
" It's okay, Otoya. I get that you're not used to these feelings . But it's okay, just make sure to tell Karasu how you feel," Chigiri says, now also being more understanding and nice , which Otoya appreciates.
" Thanks , I really needed that. I'll make sure to do so tonight " Otoya says, smiling at the two before checking his phone. " Fuck, I gotta get ready!" He exclaims as he sees the time, it's 9: 30, and the party's at 10.
"I haven't changed yet," He says, panicking to get his things and rushing to the front entrance.
" You better kiss that guy tonight, or I'll charge for this session and tell Kiyora! "
Chigiri yells after him teasingly.
" Says the one with the boyfriend that's not even here," Otoya shoots back, getting a scoff from the other before closing the door and rushing back to his dorm.
It's about 10:20 when Otoya enters the cafeteria, now party central.
Gold and black decorates the room, making it feel fancy and almost making Otoya forget the god-awful meals he has had to eat here.
Otoya's alone because that traitor Kiyora has ditched him in favor of Kurona.
Otoya wishes he could be mad, but seeing his friend get the guts to ask Kurona out or at least ask him to go with Kiyora to the party was worth it (yes, Otoya is an amazing and forgiving friend). He's also alone because he had too little guts to just call Karasu and apologize before the party.
But it's no biggie. Otoya has lots of friends he can hang out with , like Yukki or Hiori. Whom he luckily finds not long after arriving, the two standing with Isagi and Bachira talking.
" Hey, guys!" Otoya greets as he makes his way towards the group.
" hey Otoya , where yer boyfriend at?" Hiori teases, looking at his lack of Karasu. Otoya only laughs awkwardly.
" He 's jealous, acting like a baby somewhere. He thinks I'd cheat on him," He answers kind of truthfully. 8 sets of eyebrows rise at that.
" Yeah, ain't no way ! We all know you're the petty one of you two! What did he do?" Yukki asks , and Otoya curses at the way he's kind of right.
" He said I'd have lots of girls to kiss when I was telling him about how I always kiss someone on New Year's but didn't know what to do this year," Otoya says, feeling a little bad for going around telling damn near everyone. " Damn , must suck having your boyfriend telling you to go kiss some random chick, " Isagi says, wincing and looking at Otoya with pity.
" Boys with a boyfriend, who they got through getting dared by Shidou to confess, making him your wing man. have no right to speak, " Otoya says sarcastically, giving Isagi a irretated look.
Isagi only giggles at the comment. " Nah, but real talk, ya better get yer man, 'cause he's been looking at ya, hun," Hiori says, glancing behind Otoya.
Instinctivly , Otoya turns to look at who he's looking at, only to find Karasu staring right back at him, drink in hand.
The second their eyes meet, Karasu turns his head away. Back to some conversation with someone Otoya doesn't recognize.
"huh, I don't know, he looks really comfy over there," Otoya says flatly. And turns back to the group. Yukkimya sighs.
" you're just next level petty," He says, looking unamused at Otoya , who only rolls his eyes. "he was the one being mean, I have the right to be petty, so he better get his ass over here and apologize on his own," Otoya says, unaware of the pout forming on his lips.
Why was he like this ?
It's almost 12, and Otoya has no one to kiss.
Sure, a few girls have come onto him throughout the night, but he just couldn't get himself to even think of kissing them. He was with Karasu, whether or not the other boy acknowledged it or not he wasn't sure.
Otoya felt a pang of something ugly in his stomach. He was being so petty and possessive, and for what? Yeah, they were dating, but... they didn't like each other. no, they do, but not love.
They don't love each other; they're only together because of that dare . If not for that, Otoya would just be with some cute girl right now.
And now, as the crowd gets ready to count down, Otoya looks down at his phone; it's 11:57.
He sighs. Guess he won't get a kiss this year. But is that really that bad ? Maybe he doesn't need to have good luck with the ladies next year. He could just hang out with Kiyora, thrid wheel him and Kurona.
maybe Kiyora will get the lucky love next year. That wouldn't be that bad ; Otoya could give it to him just this once. He glances at his phone again; 2 minutes to go.
Otoya looks around at the numerous couples laughing, beign all romatic and in love. He doesn't want to look at it, so he walks at a rather fast pace outside to the small yard.
He's panting slightly; he hadn't realized he'd been running. He takes a second to catch his breath. As his breath slows down, he can hear the faint sound of voices counting down from 20.
( weirdos ) he thinks.Turning to look back inside. Only to see his one and only best friend making his way toward him carefully.
Otoya stiffens. "what are you doing here?" Otoya asks; it comes out less cold than he had wanted.
"I see ya didn't find any girl," Karasu says calmly as he ignores Otoya's question.
Otoya can feel himself get more annoyed at the words. "I guess not. doesn't look like you got any either," Otoya spits the words out with more spite than necessary.
The countdown still faintly ringing in his ears.
10
9
"no, I didn't," Karasu says, still walking towards Otoya, making eye contact while doing so.
The intensity makes Otoya swallow down a knot forming in his throat. And he suddenly remembers what he talked to Reo and Chigiri about.
8
7
6
"i- ehh about what I said earlier, I'm sorry or whatever, " Otoya bites out through his teeth, feeling the need to just get that out of the way.
5
" it's fine. I don't think any of those things about ya, just so we're clear," Karasu says, now standing right in front of Otoya, little to no space between them.
Otoya's eyes dart around, trying to avoid Karasu's gaze, a gentle one that Otoya does not know how to handle.
"good to know," He chokes out.
4
3
"and-" Otoya starts.
But he stops abruptly as he feels Karasu's fingers graze the underside of his chin, pushing them to make Otoya's face tilt up at Karasu's.
And soon Otoya's eyes follow in confusion.
And when he does, his breath hitches. Karasu is looking at him gently, his deep blue eyes calm and cringly staring into Otoya's green ones.
" I'm glad ya didn't find a girl,"
Karasu says, and officially knocks all the air out of Otoya's lungs.
2
"me too," Otoya somehow maneges to answers. And as he does, Karasu's eyes somehow look even softer at him before they close and Karasu leans in.
Otoya's taken aback, but not long before he hears the echo of cheers as the countdown hits.
1
And then his whole mind goes blanck as a pair of soft lips meet his own, and before his mind can keep up with what's going on, his body is already reacting, melting into the kiss, closing his eyes, and shifting his head to better meet Karasu's lips.
He feels one of Karasus hands make its way to cup his cheek, and the other hold tightly onto his hip. Otoya's own hand reaches around Karasu's neck and meets Karasu's hair, which is down for the special occasion. Otoya runs his hand through the smooth locks, feeling small bits of hair gel still haning on. But ignoring it in favor of deepening the kiss. They stay like this for some time, completely lost in the moment.
having to break apart for air. Otoya looks up at Karasu through his lashes, his eyes hazy as he looks at the other man. a smirk tugging at Karasus lips as he looks at Otoya.
"good thing ya had yer boyfriend around, or else ya might not have gotten yer kiss, huh?" Karasu says with a sly tone, the smirk somehow growing wider as he speaks. Otoya scoffs.
"he had me worried , telling me to go get some girl, thought he might not want me," He says, trying to sound sarcastic , but a hint of truth slipping out as he glances away. Karasu, surprised by the vulnerability in Otoya's voice, drops the hand from his cheek to instead engulf the other in a comforting hug. "ya wish, yer're stuck with 'im for at least one more year now," Karasu says, his voice barely above a whisper.
Otoya feels his cheeks heat up at that , and he tightens his grip.
"I think I can live with that."