🫐𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 2𝓓 𝓫𝓸𝔂𝓼

Cute.

The only word he could think of when he saw Eijun.

The ten year old felt his chubby cheeks warmed up when he went out of their house for a day out only to see his cute neighbour... all bundled up in jacket and a scarf wrapped comfortably around his neck.

It was a midday in winter, and after checking the weather forecast for the nth time, making sure that there will be no snowstorm, Kazuya set out for a playtime with his friends.

He’s going to Mei’s, where the rest of his friends will be.

And upon opening the front door, lo and behold, the cute neighbour two houses down was all bundled up for a day out as well.

Eijun saw him and the grin he offered was so wide and bright, and Kazuya immediately looked away, hoping that his own scarf will hide the reddening of his cheeks.

He heard a small laugh behind him and he slightly turned to give his mother a pouty glare.

No need to tease him for his little crush!

Especially when said crush was rushing towards their house!

“Miyuki Kazuya! Miyuki Kazuya!” Eijun called out, the grin on his face widened and brightened up even more “Are you going to Mei-nii’s?!”

“Y-yes. Why?”

Eijun tilted his head to side, a thing that he always does and smiled cutely. “Let’s go together!” said the boy, his beautiful golden eyes sparkling.

“That way, you won’t get lost!”

Kazuya felt himself sweat drop, he wanted to voice out that Eijun was the one who was prone to getting lost but a part of him, the part that was unbelievably fond and crushing on the other boy (which was a huge part), decided to just sigh and allow himself to get dragged by the younger boy.

“Not that way, Ei-kun.” He voiced out, as he stopped walking and tugged on his arm that was in Eijun’s hold.

The younger boy flushed red, “I... I’m just testing you okay?! Of course it’s not this way!”

Kazuya sighed once more, resigned himself on guiding Eijun to the right direction so they don’t get lost.

If he wasn’t cute, he will tease him so much to the point that he will cry. But Kazuya was not that heartless to the object of his childhood infatuation.

So off they go to Mei’s house, with Kazuya tugging Eijun on the right direction every now and then.

───※ ·❆· ※───

It was almost five when they finished playing, Mei’s father offered to drive them all back, but Kazuya refused, telling the older man that his house was not that far and he’ll be fine walking home. Besides, his house were at the other side of the block compared to the rest of his friends.

And he also, low-key, wished to go home with Eijun. The younger boy was at the house next door, at his classmate Taiyou where his own group of friends were at.

He was disappointed, however, when after a few minutes of waiting he noticed that Eijun was yet to come out. They weren’t done playing, it seemed.

Kazuya huffed, stomping his foot on the snow covered lawn.

He wanted to go back with Eijun!

“Pfft.”

Kazuya flinched at the sound, turning around to find Mei grinning evilly at him. He gave him a glare, which was ineffective due to the blush staining his cheeks.

“Are you lonely, Kazuya? Is it because Ei-chan won’t be going home yet?”

Kazuya’s glare hardened which was, unfortunately, still ineffective “I’m not lonely!” he told the blonde.

“Anyway, I’m going home. At least I know the way back. Unlike someone we both know who will definitely get lost,” Kazuya then turned around and started walking to the gates “Goodbye.” He said with a huff.

Mei frowned before rolling his eyes, of course, Kazuya would use Eijun’s non-existent sense of direction as an excuse and not because he was crushing so hard on his favourite cousin.

He marched towards their neighbouring house, using the small gate that conveniently connected their lawn to their neighbour for a certain boy to use instead of the main gate. This was to avoid that certain boy of walking down the road and ending up knocking on a different house, again.

Mei was standing on the porch and was about to knock when the door was opened by Taiyou’s mother.

“Oh, hello Mei. Are you here to pick up Ei-chan?” the kind lady asked. Her smile was always gentle, that Mei wondered where Taiyou got his attitude from. Certainly not from his mother.

“Yes, auntie. I thought he could go back with Kazuya, while my friend is still not far off, they live close to each other.” Answered Mei.

The woman smiled and told him that he’ll get Eijun for him.

It wasn’t long before he saw his cousin bouncing off behind Taiyou’s mother with his group of friends following after his cousin like a litter of lost puppies, he always does that. Eijun sure was a people magnet without even meaning to.

Mei made an eye contact with Taiyou and the blonde could feel his blood rising quickly, the latter sticking out his tongue which annoyed Mei further.

He refused to retaliate, though. He don’t want to be rude in front of the kind lady who often gives him cookies and apple pies. Really, Taiyou must be adopted because there was no way the kind lady gave birth to him, even his father was nice.

“Did Kazu-kun went home already?” asked Eijun, drawing Mei’s attention to his cousin’s big bright eyes and away from whatever Taiyou was doing to annoy him.

“Uh huh,” answered Mei “You can still catch up to him, so hurry up!”

Taiyou’s mother gave Eijun his scarf, wrapping it around his neck and handing two paper bags of brownies. “Here, Ei-chan. Take these with you, the other one is for your friend. Have a safe walk home.”

“Thank you aunt Mina! I’ll visit you again!” Eijun told her, hugging her waist.

Mrs. Mukai laughed softly “You’re always welcome, Ei-chan. Hurry along now, tell your mom I said hi, okay?”

Eijun said his farewell to his friends, as energetic as ever, and his friends returning the gesture, though some of them were a little less enthusiastic than the rest.

Mei lead his cousin out, pointing at Kazuya who was still wasn’t that far, the boy probably sulking.

“Over there,” said Mei as he pointed ahead of them, “Just call his name and he will definitely stop walking and wait for you.”

“Okay! Thank you, Mei-nii!” Eijun hugged his cousin, planting a kiss on his cheek. He was always affectionate to his loved ones, albeit being so loud and rowdy most of the time.

Mei nodded his head, “Un, sure. Take care. Now run.”

Eijun did as he was told, running after the Kazuya and shouting his name.

“MIYUKI KAZUYA!!! MIYUKI KAZUYA WAIT FOR ME!!!!”

Kazuya was pouting, though he will absolutely deny it when asked, as he walked down the road, stomping his little feet once in a while to show the whole world how displeased he was at the moment.

It wasn’t everyday that he will get the chance to go home with Eijun, since the younger boy was always surrounded by a bunch of kids who were attracted to the boundless energy and beautiful smiles the boy offers.

He heard his name being called, which sounded so much like Eijun’s. He looked up at the sky and glared, his amber eyes blazing from behind his glasses.

“The world is mocking me,” he grumbled, mitten covered fists were clenched tightly as he continued to glare at the sky. “Either give me Ei-kun or feel my wrath.”

The drama that a ten year old can pull off sure is amusing.

He was then surprised when someone tackled him from behind, causing him to momentarily lose his balance before quickly regaining his composure and end up with his face on the cold ground.

He was ready to glare at his offender when he came face to face with the object of his affection.

“KAZU-KUN! CAUGHT YOU!”

Kazuya’s face immediately turned red at the nickname, especially when Eijun snuggled up at him, he felt more warmer than his padded jacket could ever offer.

“Wha– E-Ei-kun...”

Eijun let go, standing beside the other boy who looked a bit red than normal. He tilted his head, then he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the other boy.

Kazuya felt like he was going to faint, so... he may have not predicted this as an inclusion of ‘going home with Eijun’ package.

“You feel kinda hot... are you sick?” Eijun whispered, his voice laced with worry. Forehead still pressed against Kazuya’s.

The older boy weakly pushed the younger one, taking off his now foggy glasses with shaking hands and wiping them before putting them back on.

“N... no... not rea–”

“Ah!” Eijun suddenly exclaimed, pointing a finger on Kazuya who, had it been anyone else, would bite the offending finger off. But since it was Eijun, he will let it slide. He reasoned that the younger boy was still a little too young to remember proper manners and will slowly teach it to him.

“YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR SCARF WITH YOU!” exclaimed the younger boy, Kazuya visibly winced at the volume but Eijun either ignored or didn’t noticed at all.

Kazuya became alarmed when Eijun suddenly started removing his own scarf, the younger had always been a good Samaritan, one of the qualities that Kazuya liked and hoped won’t fade away as they grow older.

“I probably left mine at Mei’s, but it’s okay. I don’t feel cold at all,” he frantically told Eijun.

“Nope. You’ll catch cold!” said Eijun as he finally removed his scarf and stepped closer to Kazuya. “You can’t catch a cold because I can’t make a chick-chick soup yet!”

Kazuya’s face showed confusion “Chick... chick soup?”

Eijun nodded his head eagerly “Yup! Chick-chick soup! You know, the one with chickens and stuffs!” he explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Oh... uhm... okay.” Kazuya mumbled when he realized that Eijun meant chicken soup, not that he understand why the boy would want to make him a ‘chick-chick soup’ but it was very kind and sweet of him.

Eijun wrapped his scarf around Kazuya, and the bespectacled boy’s face flushed once more when Eijun also wrapped the scarf around his own.

“See? Mine is long enough for the two of us!” Eijun said with a proud grin, as if what he did would solve the world’s major problems.

Kazuya felt his mind about to get fried.

Never once did he ever thought he will be sharing a scarf with Eijun, much less wrapped in one scarf with the boy whose eyes were incredibly gold sparkling brighter as the boy looked at him with a bright wide smile plastered on his face.

Kazuya could feel the butterflies doing back flips in his stomach, and it was making him feel so warm and giddy at the same time.

“Eijun’s effects on people should never be underestimated.” Kazuya thought, momentarily clutching the soft knitted garment around his neck.

Their journey back home was filled with soft pleasant humming from Eijun, and the warmth that their shared scarf offered.