Clover

Bakeries were starting to close while arcades and karaoke centers just opened. Rei noticed a group of boys entering one of the centers, laughing about. It reminded him of the time he and the boys went on the insistence of Hagiwara and free food.

His apartment building came into sight not long after and just as he ascended the stairs, Rei paused. It was nearing midnight and Haro needed his attention. Rei also had many files and cases to deal with. The never ending pile of work and stress was weighing down on him, he could feel it.

He went down the stairs and outside again before he walked down the street.

The further he got, the faster he ran as the sky was getting darker with every step. His breath came in rapid paces and Rei was grateful for the exercise he got every day.

He didn't know how long he had been running for, but it must have been for a while because cars and people were getting less and less as the only thing filling the silence were his footsteps and his heartbeat ringing in his ears.

It had taken a long time before he finally reached his destination. Rei paused to take a breather and looked up at the building. It was towering over him and the only way up were the stairs.

He had hated them so much when he had climbed them three years ago, the loud creak of the rusty stairs sounding with each step. Rei had gone three steps at a time and complained internally while praying that he would never have to climb them again.

He would do it all again in a split second if it meant he could have said goodbye to Hiro.

Rei started his climb up the first flight of stairs. There were at least thirty flights or more, and he took his time. As he continued, his thoughts started to scatter.

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"Rei! I think we should start heading home now, the rain's getting heavier!"

Rei looked up from his books when he heard Hiro calling his name. He and Hiro had been at the library since school ended to revision and study before their final exams.

The rain was just a light drizzle when they first arrived but started getting worse over time till it was raining cats and dogs. Hiro had suggested for them to get home before it got heavier but Rei insisted on staying because the copy of a book he needed was there.

And also because Rei just wanted to spend more time with Hiro.

"Alright!"

He packed his stuff and walked over to where Hiro was standing, under the cover of the library entrance outside. Hiro turned as Rei approached him and Rei couldn't help but just smile when he saw him. Hiro always had that effect on him.

"My aunt's gonna give me a good scolding if I get myself all wet. I don't think the sun's gonna come out at this point and even if it does I won't be able to dry my uniform in time. So the logical thing is to wait for the rain to end. But if I get home late, then I would be in even more hot water."

Rei felt a pang of guilt as he stood next to Hiro on the steps of the library. He felt bad now, for Hiro's aunt was a kind and gentle yet strict lady if you got on her nerves.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault that I made you stay behind."

Hiro seemed surprised at the remark Rei made.

"No! Rei, its not your fault. You wanted to stay a bit longer so I decided to stay with you as well and that was my own decision, so don't blame yourself."

Rei had always liked his forgiving and carefree nature, but right now in this situation? It just made him feel even more guilty. Rei looked out to the rain. It seemed just barely lighter than before.

"Hey, Hiro?"

Hiro turned to Rei with a questioning look on his face.

"Hm?"

"What about we run back to your house?"

Hiro's blue eyes widened, god those eyes were beautiful, and he looked at Rei in confusion.

"Seriously? I thought you were more of a "clean" person, one that wouldn't get dirty if it wasn't compulsory or needed."

"Hey, I can get dirty if I wanted to."

"That sounds wrong."

"Whatever! That's not the main point anyways. So? You up to it? After all you did say your aunt would be even more pissed if you got home late."

Hiro seemed skeptical before he stretched and hugged his bag to his chest.

"Alright then, let's go with your plan."

Rei followed suit and as soon as they stepped out, the rain seemed much heavier than it had been.

Rei immediately felt his shirt become completely soaked and his socks getting drenched, which was something he hated. He turned and suppressed a laugh when he saw how Hiro looked.

He was hunched over his bag and his brown hair was plastered to his forehead. But he was smiling and that was what Rei was worrying over most.

"This is one of the most exciting things we've done in a while!"

Rei smirked before he started running down the street and gesturing fo Hiro to follow along.

"Even better than the time Takeshi set fire to the science lab?"

Hiro laughed at that, the sound filling the air and it made Rei's heart somehow lighter. The two teenagers continued to run in the rain, their footsteps pattering along the puddles on the sidewalk.

As they continued down the road, they were both laughing and were getting even more soaked by the minute. Soon, they reached a tranquil and quaint neighborhood. It was quiet there when they managed to get under the porch roof of Hiro's house and the boys were still laughing hard and showed no signs of stopping.

They caught their breaths after a few more minutes as Hiro slumped onto the couch on the porch while Rei sat down on the steps.

"Well, that was one heck of an experience."

Hiro opened his eyes at Rei's voice.

"We should do that again when we're older. I have a feeling that would be so much more fun for some reason."

"Yeah, anyways, how do I get home now?

Silence filled the air for a few seconds.

"I guess I could ask my aunt. Hopefully she'll agree and we can contact your fath-"

Hiro paused abruptly.

"Sorry. I forgot about tha-"

"No, its fine. Just don't tell your parents that I left home."

"Alright."

The two soon went inside and got an earful from Hiro's aunt before she let Rei stay over for the night and for dinner. While Rei was taking a bath, he heard Hiro's phone ringing. After a few moments, Rei heard a voice that was familiar. Takaaki Morofushi.

Rei had seen the man a few months ago when the siblings decided to meet up for lunch. He had the same winged eyelashes as Hiro and it was obvious they were siblings. Rei was impressed that they were quite close despite not meeting each other for a decade. He wondered how it would be to have a sibling.

"Nii-chan! How have you been?"

"Hello, Hiromitsu. Nagano has been treating me well. Yamato and Yui have been arguing constantly and the whole station have a betting pool on when they will finally get together. Most of us suspect in ten years time. How are you and Rei?"

"We've been fine. Me and Rei just ran back from the library in the rain! It was so much fun, and we were soaking wet when we finally got home."

"Did both of you dry up? What were you thinking? Imagine if you guys got sick, how mad would Aunt Yuki be?"

Rei stepped out of the shower then, shaking the droplets of his hair and tossing on one of Hiro's shirts.

"Nii-chan, both of us are fine. Anyways, it's time for me to get to sleep before Aunt Yuki comes and murders me, bye!"

"Goodbye and goodnight, Hiro. Stay healthy and safe."

Just as the call ended, Rei exited the bathroom and lay down on the futon beside Hiro's bed.

"Who were you calling?"

Hiro set his phone down on the nightstand and switched off the light. Rei could only make out the faint silhouette of his best friend in the dark.

"Takaaki. He asked us to take care of our health and the Nagano Police have a betting pool just for Uncle Yamato and Aunt Yui on when their going to confess their feelings to each other."

Hiro settled down into bed and pulled his blanket up over his waist. Rei turned and closed his eyes. He was tired, the good kind, the kind that came from happiness and doing stuff that is actually enjoyable.

"Hiro?"

"Yeah?"

Rei could hear the drowsiness and exhaustion in his voice.

"Do you think we'll be friends forever?"

"Mhm, of course. Why wouldn't we? Nothing will end our friendship."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Alright. Goodnight, Hiro."

The only reply Rei got was the faint snoring from him. Rei sighed and snuggled into the futon and fell asleep in mere seconds.

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The rooftop was cold as Rei opened the door. He realized just how spacious it actually was, compared to last time, when the only thing that was in his mind at the time was his body.

Rei looked towards where the middle of the rooftop was. It was clean now, the police had done a great job at cleaning it. Every time he closed his eyes, the sight just comes back into his mind.

Rei walked over to where Hiro had once lay and looked over the wall covering the view. It was beautiful. Tokyo had always been beautiful if you had the time to appreciate it. He and Hiro used to always find abandoned building and climb to their roofs. They would chat about their days and laugh about them.

As Rei stood there, he felt his throat tighten. His vision started getting blurry. Was he crying? A tear slipped out from his eye before he could stop it. Then another and the whole wave of sadness overwhelmed him. Sobs tore out from Rei as he sobbed and cried for his best friend.

The last time he had cried this badly was when after Rye left. He had buried his head into Hiro's shoulder and cried and cried. Now here he was again, three years later, except without the faint warmth of Hiro.

Rei didn't know how long he had continued on for. All he knew was that when his vision finally started clearing up and his eyes were swollen and puffy, he felt better in a way.

He bent down to the same place where Hiro sat and took a single moonflower out from his breast pocket. Its white petals spread out and it was thankfully still perfectly fine despite the rocky journey here. Moonflowers symbolized hope and light. Hiromitsu meant vast light or widespread fullness. Hiro was like the hope and light in Rei's life before it was taken away.

"Goodbye, Hiro."

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The sound of rhythmic licking and the faint rough feeling on Rei's arm woke him up. He sat up and stretched, taking in his surroundings. Haro was sitting on his chest and licked his cheek once before jumping off the couch and into the kitchen.

Rei's neck felt stiff from sleeping on the couch but he couldn't help it. He had been so tired after yesterday night's events that he just decided the couch was closer than the bed and fell asleep.

He got up and went through his daily routine like usual and changed into some clothes that he felt fine with. Rei got out his cleaning supplies as well before heading out.

The graveyard was quiet and the two graves stood side by side. After Rei prayed, he quickly gave both graves a through clean and bowed one more time before leaving. He put a bush clover on Hagiwara's grave and a pine blossom on Matsuda's.

Bush clovers represent melancholy, a flexible mind and unrequited love. Pine blossoms showed steadfastness and prosperity. Rei was surprised by the results he had gotten when he first researched what all their names meant and how accurate they actually were to the person.

A quick walk over to Date's grave where he gave the same treatment and then left a sunflower. There were no particular flowers which represented Date but he chose a sunflower because they stand tall and follow the sun everywhere. Date was always the father of their group and always respected the law and police force like a sunflower and its sun.

Rei went back home and made himself a quick breakfast before setting out for work at Poirot Cafe again.

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When Rei finally got home, it was already past midnight. He took a quick shower and tried to fall asleep, but the adrenaline from the BO missions always got him too alert to fall asleep.

Haro was no help as well, the white dog asleep and snoring on the tatami mat. Rei was about to force himself back to sleep when he noticed the guitar in the corner. He never played with it often now though, Rei was trying to preserve the fingerprints of Hiro.

He got up and strummed a few notes on it. He shut his eyes and started playing a faint melody that he never really forgot over the years.

"Rei, your fingers are in the wrong position! Their meant to be here, not there."

Rei's eyes shot open as he looked around. He swore he heard Hiro. Whatever, the fatigue must be catching up to him. Rei set the guitar back down on its stand before he went to sleep.

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Haro was happy his owner was finally sleeping. Seems like whatever the brown-haired guy said to him helped him a lot. Haro flipped himself onto his belly and trotted over to where the brown-haired man was and demanded belly rubs.

The man smiled at him and gently rubbed his stomach before putting a finger to his lips, the gesture so alike to what his owner did when Haro was being noisy. Then the man scratched him behind the ears before leaving.

Haro wagged his tail a few times before he leapt up on the bed, snuggled into his owner's stomach and fell asleep.

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I wrote this in two days because I was just so bored. If you found any grammar, vocabulary or spelling issues please tell me! I need writing advice. Anyways, Canva is great for designing banners hehehe