Chapter Text
Valentine’s day was just around the corner!
Rui Kamishiro, unlike many others, never had a partner in his entire life.
Sure, he had a lot of close friends, but…it was never really the same.
Come to think of it, has he ever felt that sort of soulmate connection with anyone? Afterall, he completely 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 out during his middle school years.
But, there was someone now.
𝘛𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘮𝘢
Rui doubted if it was morally correct or not to have these kinds of feelings for your best friend but, no matter how hard he tried, he could never shake off this inexpressible admiration and fondness that he had for that boy.
He thought of confessing many times but the thought of being turned down by the person he loved and adored the most…? That was 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 his worst nightmare and beyond. With all the rejection Rui faced throughout the years, Tsukasa was the perfect person for him. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦, hence Rui laid low.
As much as he was internally grateful for his friendship with Tsukasa, he didn't know how much longer he could go without telling him. The guilt of not confessing but at the same time the fear of rejection was eating him alive…….
The boy gloomily took another bite of his lunch, as he was making his way to exit the rooftop.
A pink-haired girl could be spotted, sprinting up the stairs while looking at their phone with curved lips.
…………………….
Rui opened the rooftop door but a girl was right in front of him not looking where they were going!
BUMP!
“O-oh! I’m sorry!”
“Wah~ I’m sorry too- Oh wait, Rui! How long has it been since we’ve last seen each other?!" exclaimed, a very cheerful Mizuki with a grin reaching their eyes.
”Hello Mizuki….” Rui replied, rather hesitantly.
“Is something wrong, Rui….? And also, are you not with Tsukasa senpai today?” the pink hair girl questioned, with a concerned look on their face.
Mizuki could read Rui through as if he was a book. Rui wanted to tell Mizuki about what was bothering him but at the same time realised that Mizuki was in a good mood. Not wanting to ruin it, he decided to avoid the question.
“I’m alright…Tsukasa just had to attend a meeting with his committee. By the way, what’s with the bubbly mood today?” Replied Rui with a smile, trying to change the subject of the conversation as he didn't want to worry them.
With sparkling eyes, Mizuki replied, “Oh me? Well, I got a date to attend on valentine's day~""My girlfriend even said we can go clothes shopping later sometime!” Replied Mizuki, fidgeting with their ribbon.
“Oho~ well good for you then!”
As much as Rui felt disappointed that he didn't have his own partner yet, he was still very happy for his friend.
“What about you, Rui? You’ve been single for ....as long as I've known you.”
Mizuki was pretty curious even if Rui was… pretty attractive by Kamiyama standards, his personality scared people off.
“Well…i..uh…”
“Seriously~ this year too, Rui? C’mon you gotta have someone that you feel deeply connected with.”
Mizuki’s eyebrows were clearly furrowing but their lips still managed to maintain a smile.
Someone…that Rui felt connected with? The first person that came to mind was Tsukasa. Someone that wouldn't judge him for his creations and was instead enthusiastic when it came to testing them and acting out his directions….ok maybe Tsukasa wasn't ALWAYS that enthusiastic as being shot into the air with a modified German sticky grenade was maybe not always practical…but nevertheless, it was still something which no one had ever done for him before.
Not even Nene!
Rui loved everything about that guy. His charming hair ombre…his sunset eyes which always had a glint of enthusiasm to them…His beaming smile which was easily brighter than any other star in the entire galaxy ... .No, the whole cosmos. His odd clothing choices…The way he’d move his pen while writing notes…Heck, even his comically loud voice! Rui wanted to kiss him…Wait what?
Yeah it was not normal to have these kinds of feelings for your “best friend”.
“Rui, you’ve been staring at that wall for a while. Please don’t tell me you have feelings for a goddamn wall-”
“Tsukasa-Kun.”
“TSUKASA SENPAI???”
“Well....he’s the first person that comes to my mind…”
“HE’S THE PERFECT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!”
“OMIGOSH AHHH RUI IM SO FUCKING PROUD OF YOU ALL THESE YEARS SPENT BEING AN OUTCAST AND YOU FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE!!!!”
Mizuki immediately pounced forward and squished Rui as if he was some sort of super-squishy plush toy. Rui heard a few cracks in his body but nah, that wasn't important.
All that was important was that there was someone accepting Rui’s situation…
Mizuki was always there for Rui ever since he was in middle school.
They’d share everything with each other as they had no one else during their middle school years. But now…? They both had people who accepted them with open arms.
“Then why don't you confess to him??”
“What if he says no…?”
“Oh Rui…you've always been like this ever since we've met each other. You can never truly know unless you actually tell him y’know!?” Replied Mizuki, with a glint of mischief in their eyes.
“Yeah but…what if he leaves right after? What if everyone else sees me as a weirdo again? I can't risk that happening…!”
“Don't worry Rui, you can't stay like this forever ... .I know it seems scary but it is really worth living with a heavy burden in your heart like this..?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Well you see Rui…”
“Think about it. If you never end up confessing to Tsukasa-senpai, won’t there be a big burden on your heart? That is the guilt of never spilling out your feelings! I understand why you like Tsukasa as much as you do. I too have someone who reached their arm out to me and gave me another chance, the feeling that I could be accepted after all those years of rejection”
“So you’re saying…?”
“Yeah Rui, it’s better if you tell him. I’ll help you and always be there for you” Replied Mizuki, with a warm smile.
“Thank you, Mizuki…”
It was warm moments like that would cheer Rui up. Tsukasa was the reason for most of his warmth…That guys has given him so many reasons to smile-
The door behind them creaked open.
“Ugh finally, a place in the rooftop where there’s no people-”
A wild Mizuki Akiyama and Rui Kamishiro have been spotted
“Heya~ li’l bro, Toya-Kun! It’s been quite a while since I've seen you guys!”
“Hello Akiyama, Kamishiro senpai.” Replied Toya, with an awkward smile. Toya thought it was just gonna be him and Akito but turns out he was wrong.
“Geh.”
Akito was always annoyed by Rui. Whether it was his stupid antics, or inventions.
“Hello Shinonome-kun, Aoyagi. What brings you both here today?”
“We’re here to…hide from a few specific people….”
The ginger was polite with new people but pretty sloppy around people he knew well.
Rui remembered that Akito and Toya were pretty popular, hence the large fan-following and a whole lotta simps. They were trying their very best to keep the fact that they were dating hidden away from the rest of the school, so unnecessary drama wouldn't be caused. Oh and also because toya’s father doesn't like men kissing men. But they necessarily weren't good at it. Accidentally hugging each other, holding hands…….
“Are those matching earrings!???” squealed, Mizuki. “I’m gonna get a pair for me and enanan too~””
Mizuki LOVED cute accessories and cute things in general. She’d scavenge for places that sell cute things and visit them with Ena on the weekends.
“Yeah…i didnt want to wear it at first but Toya here kept insisting that i wear it…” The ginger replied, with flushed cheeks.
“Well, I think you look really cute in these, Akito….” Replied the blueberry boy, with a warm smile across his face.
“Oh, c’mon Toya~ li’l bro looks like he’s gonna explode with your remarks!”
What a great day! Almost everyone Rui knew had a partner. Everyone except himself! Rui swore if one more person were to appear out of that fucking door and comment about their partner, he would tear that thing into smithereens and shove the bits down that person’s esophagus-
The door ominously creaked open.
Standing right there at the door frame, a very joyous An Shirashi could be spotted.
“Heya everyone! Mind if I sit with you guys for lunch?”
“Looks like the whole gang is spawning in huh…” Akito spat out, rather unamused.
Rui was holding onto the bench for dear life, trying his best not to snap.
If An was here, aka the infamous girl kisser, she definitely had something of her own to share about her partner. This was something Rui definitely did not need given his own situation where he’s stuck between confessing and retaining his current relationship.
“Hello, Shirashi. What's up with the mood today?” Toya asked, curiously.
“Oh it's nothing! I went on a date with my squishable hamster girlfriend Kohane yesterday!”
Seriously, what was with this streak of people talking about having fun, talking about their partners in front of Rui? All this stuff just made him feel more awful…..
˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
“Yup! And so Kohane screamed for her dear life as the ride kept going higher and higher, followed by 5 loops in the sky! She looked so adorable after everything, You should've seen how she clinged to me with that face!”
An exclaimed, with a mouthful of rice.
Everyone was enjoying themselves, talking about their cherished partners. Surprisingly, even Akito joined in. Rui couldn’t take his mind off of Tsukasa. Rui adored everything about that boy.
He wanted to chime in with his own comments about Tsukasa too buuuut….they weren’t dating yet. And he couldn't risk Toya being Toya and accidentally spilling everything to Tsukasa.
How long is this gonna go on? Is it gonna end up in a way Rui never expresses his feelings to Tsukasa and they’re left at the back of his heart for the rest of his life??? What was he so scared about…???
“Ruiiiii! Why are you so quiet??? Say something~!”
Mizuki started patting Rui’s back a little harshly.
“Seriously Akiyama? No way would Rui out of all people get a partner. What WOULD you expect him to say?” Said bitterly, the Walmart Ed Sheeran.
“Well….”
Rui was at a loss of words for that statement.
“HEY! I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE’S PLENTLY OF PEOPLE THAT APPRECIATE RUI AT THIS SCHOOL! There’s me, to some extent Nene, Tsukasa senpai and uh ....”
Mizuki put their finger up to their cheek and awkwardly paused.
“My statement has been said, clear as day.”
Akito shrugged.
“Akito, you’re not helping!” screamed Toya, in lowercase. This is Aoyagi Toya we’re talking about! He'd never scream at anyone, especially his own cherished boyfriend.
An chimed in with a sort of serious expression.
“Do none of you guys seriously think Tenma senpai likes Kamishiro senpai?”
“Wait what…?”
“Shirashi, this is Tsukasa Tenma we’re talking about. The guy who’d faint at the thought of kissing someone, the guy’s too-”
“Oh wait.”
“You’re actually onto something”
Toya said, as he stared at the wall.
“Tsukasa…do you think he…𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦..?”
Rui was at a loss of words with the revelation.
“I can 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 agree with An for once. She probably has a point here, I knew there was something up with the way that guy would cling to you and compliment you. I honestly have no idea why you guys didn’t confess yet.”
Shortly after, the sounds of An Shirashi kicking Akito and yelping noises could be heard in the background.
“But Tsukasa senpai is probably too dense for his own good. What do we dooooo~”
Mizuki mentioned, shaking Rui's hand.
“I think we should start off with how exactly we’ll make Tsukasa senpai realise his feelings. Like say, taking him out for example?”
“Wait ... .you guys …..actually want to help me….?” questioned a very disoriented Rui.
“Yup! I can't just leave 2 boys who have feelings for each other not said out loud y’know!”
Replied Mizuki, with a bright grin.
“Tsukasa senpai helped me a lot when I was younger. This is the least I can do to pay him back.” Toya replied, with a warm smile.
An dragged Akito by the back of his collar to the others and commented with a cheeky grin, eyes clearly sparkling with a special glint. “Heck yeah! It would leave a bitter taste in my mouth if 2 boys who clearly loved each other never spoke about their feelings out-loud! Akito was so damn nervous when he was confessing to Toya, and spent an entire month planning things out! I’m sure if you try hard enough, Tenma senpai will understand his own feelings!”
“What was the need for you to say that out loud!?” Akito replied harshly, yanking An’s hair.
“YEEEK!” An yelped, pinning the ginger on the cold, concrete floor.
“But it was funny~”
“You guys! We won't get anywhere if we keep going on like this. How about we come up with a proper plan!?” shouted Toya, but in lowercase of course.
“Yeah! But lunch is about to end. How about we meet up in an empty classroom tomorrow, after school?” added Mizuki. With the usual glint in their eyes. But this time it was different. As if they were planning something…
“Well, I'm aboard with the plan as long as it makes you all shut the fuck up.”
Sometimes Rui wondered why Akito had to be so cold.
Rui was glad that people were actually trying to help him. But at the same time, he was scared of Tsukasa rejecting him. But rui thought to himself to brighten up the mood, “if I never say it out loud how will I know?”
Regardless, Rui had the support of other people which was more than enough to brighten up his mood.