one big stupid family

It was anticipating, to be honest. To see what would happen now that they were getting closer…what will Wako’s reaction be? What will become of their little trio, who would want to sit next to who at lunch, who would hold hands with who? Would it be Sugata or Takuto in the middle, instead of Wako?

Whatever happened, though, the driver had no intention of leaving his partner. He’d stay by his side always, through thick and thin, to stand with him and keep him safe.  That’s not only what a Star Driver was supposed to do - protect those important to them without hesitation - but it’s what he wanted to do. As a friend. As…something more, perhaps.

And it's not like Takuto wanted to completely forget Wako, either; just...what if she didn't react well? After all, she had fallen for both of them. No, it wasn't like her to react badly to something such as two people being happy together, but there was always that possibility...considering the fact that the people that could be happy together were the two people she admired most as a woman. Who knew that it would end up this way, jeez.

Takuto would have no objections to speeding things up a bit for the sake of Sugata's curiosity. At first the redhead would be shy and obviously embarrassed, but he would relax and get into it. You couldn't expect him not to...being a driver required libido. Lots of it, too, to power something like Tauburn. If he really wanted to hide such a hunger for affection of sorts, it would take more than a sheepish exterior.

Though calm and collected on the outside, it was more than obvious to himself that he was nervous as fuck.

Takuto was never one for dates. He’d never been on one without a third person there. Come to think of it, he can’t recall a time when he’d been on a date period. For him to suddenly suggest to Sugata that they go out somewhere…that was a change. Of course, to others it may seem odd and uncharacteristic of the ruby-eyed male, but to him it made all the sense in the world. You…you go on dates like this with people you like, don’t you?

Sugata, although a typically collected young man, could not help but feel a certain sense of eagerness as he strolled along the sidewalk towards the local cafe.

Ever since his last talk with Takuto, it seemed like it was growing more and more difficult to get the encounter out of his mind. He had not expected his friend to make the comments that he had, and now it was all he could think about. And even beyond that, soon it was simply Takuto that couldn’t leave his mind; his flamboyant personality, his smiles and carefree manner of going about his life. Before he knew it, Sugata only wanted to see him more and more.  And perhaps it was why he was perfectly fine with going out with him tonight. More than alright.

Takuto didn't want to sound cheesy, but you could say he'd been doing the same. More and more he thought about Sugata. The sapphire blue haired man brought out seemingly every emotion in him; he made the driver mad, he made him upset, he made him happy, he made him feel sick with adoration and longing. They truly were opposites of one another, but at the same time, magnets that attracted and stuck together. They were some work of art.

Takuto had never imagined he'd be so nervous about hanging out with his buddy, though - after all, they were always together...just...with Wako there. Then again, Wako was like a barrier. A barrier that kept his feelings from reaching Sugata, and Sugata's feelings from reaching him. With her around, he never had a chance to be nervous.

Later, Sugata could press all he wanted; for now, what Takuto wanted was simply to keep him there, to hold him and reassure himself that he’d never leave again. Even now that Samekh was put to sleep and Kiraboshi had disbanded, the ginga bishonen couldn’t help feeling as though danger could always be around the corner. After all, even with Kiraboshi’s Cybodies gone, Tauburn remained; some crazy asshole descendant of Reiji (that wasn’t Takuto himself) could easily pop up and decide to attempt taking over the world.

Far-fetched, yes, but a possibility.

If at all possible, he wished that he could just grab Sugata by the hand and drag him onto the closest ferry headed towards mainland. As much as he loved Southern Cross Island, Tokyo was less of a threat than it. Wako…well. As rude as it sounded, Takuto was ready for a long break from the girl.

Sugata never thought Takuto could be such a worry-wart.

If the redhead spoke of any of his nervous thoughts out loud, he wouldn’t know what to think. Takuto was being particularly out of character today, and although he was still his honest self, he didn’t know if he could handle seeing him so tired and sullen for much longer. Of course, getting Takuto to relax and smile might take a little bit of effort -effort Sugata didn’t mind applying. After all that had happened, seeing his friend happy was all that really mattered at the moment. He had… truly done so much for everyone, perhaps for Sugata the most. He had -honestly- saved his life. This was different than how he’d protected Wako for so long.

Sugata would have been… gone. Forever.

And the fear from acknowledging that fact was beginning to settle in. However, Sugata pushed the feelings aside, knowing it didn’t do well to sit on such thoughts. Besides, he wanted to keep the mood light for not only himself, but Takuto as well. If anyone deserved to be care-free and at ease, it was him. He deserved it after so long, didn’t he? Yes.

Out of character he was, but hopefully not for long. To be honest all he needed was some rest, now that he had talked to Sugata; though, that didn't necessarily mean he was ready to leave his side.

Not yet.

His other eye winced when its other was examined, ruby irises gazing into topaz ones. "I didn't get much sleep last night. My sleeping schedule is screwed up beyond belief." He blinked. "...Sugata, you look tired, too."

Honest…? Perhaps.

There was, however, one thing Takuto was hiding from Sugata. Trying to hide, at least; perhaps now that he’s spilled his concern, it would be a bit more obvious. And it’s not like he’d deny it after beating around the bush…

The driver’s cheek pressed against his opposite’s shoulder, tears dried but that solemn, upset expression still plastered to his face. The slender hands entangled in his hair seemed to soothe him, reminding him in a way that Sugata was still here and listening to him, understanding what he was trying to say. You may be oblivious, Sugata, and reckless. But you’re a quick learner…or is it that you get me?

His honesty was what the girls liked about him.

Sugata was typically an intuitive man, but Takuto proved to be a difficult boy to read at times. There was something about his previous words that sparked a theory in the back of his head, but the blue-haired male wasn’t going to press right then and there. At least, not if it didn’t go down that route.

A faint, humored smile managed to find its way onto Sugata’s lips despite the fact that Takuto still seemed to be dwelling on less than pleasant thoughts. He didn’t have to see the other’s face to know that even if his tears dried, his expression was still dismal. In that regard, Takuto was like an open book. His expressions gave many of his emotions away, but that wasn’t always a bad thing. However, even if the redhead hadn’t yet brightened, Sugata found himself beginning to relax. Perhaps the closeness brought him some comfort.

Later, Sugata could press all he wanted; for now, what Takuto wanted was simply to keep him there, to hold him and reassure himself that he'd never leave again. Even now that Samekh was put to sleep and Kiraboshi had disbanded, the ginga bishonen couldn't help feeling as though danger could always be around the corner. After all, even with Kiraboshi's Cybodies gone, Tauburn remained; some crazy asshole descendant of Reiji (that wasn't Takuto himself) could easily pop up and decide to attempt taking over the world.

Far-fetched, yes, but a possibility.

If at all possible, he wished that he could just grab Sugata by the hand and drag him onto the closest ferry headed towards mainland. As much as he loved Southern Cross Island, Tokyo was less of a threat than it. Wako...well. As rude as it sounded, Takuto was ready for a long break from the girl.

The ginga bishonen’s expression softened into a troubled frown, eyes widened and shiny with wetness, sniffling and raising a wrist to wipe his cheeks.

He’d definitely feel awkward for this childish behavior later. Really, it was kind of silly.

“You didn’t realize because Wako was always there. It was always her. We were both so focused on the fact that as a Shrine Maiden, her safety was golden, that you failed to see your importance. But I’m surprised my drastic actions didn’t make you realize at the last minute, even so…” He murmured, choked sobs escaping between sentences. Carefully he lurched forward, a mess to top all sobby messes, to grasp the sapphire-haired man’s shoulders and drop his forehead to his collarbone.

Sugata wasn’t particularly used to facing someone who was crying, much less a person who happened to be… male. He didn’t consider Takuto weak for it, simply honest. As usual.

He was always honest in everything he did, and it could be quite… endearing…

Everything Takuto spoke of was no doubt true. The two of them never took their minds off of the girl, off of Wako and her importance in everything that had been happening. Perhaps he had forgotten to mind himself in all of this, to take care of himself. Ah… no. Not perhaps. He had forgotten. Had it always been like this? Watching Wako, worrying over Wako, thinking about Wako… It might be a good time to take a look at himself and wonder, How long until I think about myself? And it wasn’t until Takuto arrived that he thought to let that idea pop into his head; because he was now aware that Takuto looked at him, too, not just Wako.

“Listen to you,” Sugata murmured, hands resting on Takuto’s head, carefully grasping the boy’s hair. “Fussing over me in such a way… You’ll give people ideas.”

Honest...? Perhaps.

There was, however, one thing Takuto was hiding from Sugata. Trying to hide, at least; perhaps now that he's spilled his concern, it would be a bit more obvious. And it's not like he'd deny it after beating around the bush...

The driver's cheek pressed against his opposite's shoulder, tears dried but that solemn, upset expression still plastered to his face. The slender hands entangled in his hair seemed to soothe him, reminding him in a way that Sugata was still here and listening to him, understanding what he was trying to say. You may be oblivious, Sugata, and reckless. But you're a quick learner...or is it that you get me?

“I can’t believe this! Just how daft are you?!” The male shouted, ruby red eyes filling with tears, threatening to spill over at any moment.

No. Wako was never enough. She’ll never be enough.

“Every day I fought to keep her safe. Every day I put myself under stress and pain to make sure she made it through the day in one piece. But you know what, Sugata? In the end, there was something more important than Wako that I had to save. Didn’t you see it? The way I slashed her Cybody in half in the blink of an eye? Didn’t you hear her screaming?”

Takuto was… crying…

Sugata slowly looked over his shoulder, turning to face the fuming boy and furrowing his brows in the faintest betrayal of confusion. That didn’t make sense… 

Yet there he was, shouting at him and saying things Sugata never thought he would ever even think, and it caused the blue-haired man’s head to whirl. He was often a composed man, someone who could grasp a situation and respond to it with ease, but it seemed that this time was different. Takuto possessed thoughts and feelings that had been unnoticed by Sugata. So how on earth was he supposed to reply to such statements calmly? Simply? 

He couldn’t…

The ginga bishonen's expression softened into a troubled frown, eyes widened and shiny with wetness, sniffling and raising a wrist to wipe his cheeks.

He'd definitely feel awkward for this childish behavior later. Really, it was kind of silly.

"You didn't realize because Wako was always there. It was always her. We were both so focused on the fact that as a Shrine Maiden, her safety was golden, that you failed to see your importance. But I'm surprised my drastic actions didn't make you realize at the last minute, even so..." He murmured, choked sobs escaping between sentences. Carefully he lurched forward, a mess to top all sobby messes, to grasp the sapphire-haired man's shoulders and drop his forehead to his collarbone.

"I can't believe this! Just how daft are you?!" The male shouted, ruby red eyes filling with tears, threatening to spill over at any moment.

No. Wako was never enough. She'll never be enough.

"Every day I fought to keep her safe. Every day I put myself under stress and pain to make sure she made it through the day in one piece. But you know what, Sugata? In the end, there was something more important than Wako that I had to save. Didn't you see it? The way I slashed her Cybody in half in the blink of an eye? Didn't you hear her screaming?"