#fierysunrises

‘Ata, let’s go out after school,’ sounded so innocent, of course he would say yes without second thought. Especially since it was Kyotarou asking, and interactions with Kyotarou always did end up leaving a great impact on his life. Whether he wanted it or not. Whether he even was present in his life at the moment or not, and okay, maybe Ata’s decisions featuring his childhood friend were often very impulsive and had less thought behind them than Ibusuki would like to admit.

When the moment came for him to realize though, he was already in too deep.

Ata was sitting at the table in a local cafe, looking outside the window with his cheek resting on top of his hand. He had quite a good luck to be able to go out so early, and it made him feel unusually relaxed. The second boy, however, was missing. Kyotarou was taking his time getting their order to the table, which alone was strange enough: usually he would drown in comfort of a chair as soon as it was possible. But when Ata turned his head back to greet him, he was met with picture even stranger.

‘…What are the flowers for?’

Kyotarou looked up and down at the bouquet as if he hadn’t been the one to buy it. Eventually, he just shrugged and carefully placed it on the table between them.

‘Being the Fiore Kiss does something to you,’ he said, and added: ‘I think flowers smell nice.’

Although still being suspicious, Ata couldn’t disagree with that. Kyotarou, meanwhile, did the most logical thing for that moment, one of a few Ata had actually expected, and leaned against the wall in a napping position. He would rest his head on the table, probably, if it wasn’t for a portion of ice cream in front of him. However, he kept his eyes opened, and, although no attempt in starting a conversation was taken, they were directed straight onto the boy in front of him. This angle, surely, let him have a better look at Ata. Ibusuki wanted to frown, raising his eyebrow in question, but the truth was that being secured like this under Kyotarou’s gaze made him feel… really comfortable, in fact. They sat like this for a while, not exactly locking eyes. Kyotarou seemed to be admiring the picture as a whole, looking almost spaced out, while Ata was more focused on his face. He had spent so much time avoiding this gaze during the years, looking down at him like at an obstacle when had to, that now it felt as good as a breath of fresh air to admit that Shuzenji had beautiful eyes, calming despite their strong color, and that his messy hair somehow looked perfectly in place. Ata lowered his own head to take a spoonful of ice cream, and now the view on his friend was framed with flowers. He couldn’t help but think that those were the only things that made Kyotarou’s beauty justice.

‘…Have you always been this beautiful?’ Ata could swear he was about to bite his spoon in half. When he looked up, Kyotarou was hiding his face behind a yawn. Right after, he looked down to start eating as well.

The incomprehensible ‘w-what?’ left Ata’s mouth in a second, but no response followed. Kyotarou appeared to be looking unbothered as ever, although, now, it was harder to see his expression. Ata felt his face getting hotter, and oh, oh.

Keeping control of his life was a plan; a perfect work in progress, he wished he could say. But plans had a tendency to change: when Ata was six years old, he had been sure he would grow up with Kyotarou by his side so that they could start an art gallery together one day, or open a bakery for Ryoma. Soon after, he had wished to beat Shuzenji wherever he could just to teach him a lesson, only to end up falling for him in every sense. Shuzenji Kyotarou was a disaster, and Ibusuki Ata let this disaster bring him into that day.

So that was when Ata became alarmingly aware, and suddenly the air around was too open despite them sitting in a fairly crowded place. Kyotarou glanced up at him again, eyes filled with love Ibusuki was somehow too blind to notice last time.

‘Are we on a date right now?’ he blurted out, trying his best to keep his eyes on the other’s to see a moment the expression would change. Kyotarou only blinked.

‘I asked you out,’ he wasn’t sure if it the hints of worry were real or he just wanted to believe they were both equally nervous, ‘You didn’t say no.’

Ata shook his head, frustrated. Kyotatou asked him out. And not only had Ibusuki not said no, he’d said yes at the offer. Which was good, it should have been good. The frustrating thing was that Ata hadn’t actually considered it.

‘…I can take the flowers back, if you want,’ Kyotarou muttered, stretching himself out with another yawn. Ata let his impulses work and caught his hand with his own, getting Shuzenji’s attention.

‘N-no, I like the flowers,’ he opened his mouth to say more, but it only made the blush go deeper into his face. He took a moment to crumple his feelings into one ball on his tongue, ‘Fiore is…really fitting for you, too, I think.’

Kyotarou nodded, waiting patiently to let him finish. Ata sighed, letting go off his hand to take on a serious image.

It was a note stuck to a bottle, written in beautiful and clear printing. Ryouma stared at it in mild surprise. It was his favourite drink from when he was younger, a bottle of sweet strawberry soda. He took it out, smiling. It had been a while since he’d had this to drink, how nostalgic.

But… wait. Ryouma looked back at the note again. He should relax… did that mean he looked like he wasn’t relaxed? Did he look like that? That wasn’t good! It’s true he was more tired than usual lately… but how did someone else notice it? He put the drink and note into his bag, however, thinking that he’d drink it at home later. He couldn’t wait, really. It was something to look forward to.

Ryouma backed away from his locker. School was over for the day, and he had to go find Kyoutaro so they could walk home together like usual. Or rather, so he could help Kyoutaro walk home so he actually got home instead of finding a bench to sleep on.

He walked down the hallway, approaching the door to the defense club, when a sudden loud voice made him pause. He peeked around the corner to see a student standing there, looking down with shame, and Ata, his arms crossed as he scolded the student.

“You know that it’s against school rules to run and be rowdy in the hallway. What if you crashed into someone? Think about your actions next time.” His voice was strict and harsh, and seeing Ata with his pinched eyebrows like that… Ryouma found himself heading over to the two of them, his legs carrying him on impulse.

“Ata-kun, I’m sure he’ll remember that, don’t be too hard on him, alright?”

Ata turned to Ryouma, and his expression softened, giving Ryouma a small nod. Something about that small motion made Ryouma’s stomach do a few tiny flips. He smiled up at him. Ata immediately turned his head away again, way too fast, and Ryouma noticed the top of his ears had gone red.

While this happened, the student had already ran away.

“Kirishima,” Ata mumbled. “The student did something wrong, so please don’t interfere.”

“Oh,” Ryouma said, face falling. “I didn’t mean…”

Ata then turned back to Ryouma, his eyes a bit wide with regret.

“No, I’m sorry. I was just frustrated. I know you were just trying to help.”

Ryouma smiled again, feeling relieved.

“I’m glad. I don’t like seeing you stressed out, Ata-kun.”

There was a bit of an awkward pause, and Ryouma tried to think about something else to say. He and Ata didn’t get many chances to be alone together since HonoyaLand, where he and Kyoutaro made up, which meant that he and Ata got to be friends again too.

He had really missed Ata, more than he could express to anyone.

Ah, that’s it. A compulsion came over him.

“Are you busy now?” Ryouma asked. “We should walk home together. And maybe go somewhere?” It was a bit sudden, it was as if the words had come out without Ryouma meaning to say them. But he did mean them - he really wanted to spend time with Ata. He could feel his heart pick up speed, nervous, as he waited for Ata’s answer.

Ata looked a bit surprised, but he shook his head. “No, I’m not busy. I’m done everything I need to do for today. I… will. Walk home with you.” A small smile was on his face, and Ryouma beamed back.

“Great! It’s been a while since we spent time together just us.”

Now, Ata looked taken aback. “Just the two of us?” His cheeks went a bit pink, and Ryouma wondered if he had said something wrong. “I mean….” Ata continued, sounding irritated all of a sudden, “what about Shuzenji? You’re always with him, mothering him.”

“Oh,” Ryouma said, as he was reminded. He then felt a bit of regret. He wanted to spend time with Ata, but he also had to walk with Kyoutaro to look after him. He looked after Kyoutaro because he liked to look after his friend, but…

It was then when he heard some chatter, and he turned around to see the rest of the defense club exiting the club room. Nanao was teasing Ichiro, Ichiro was blushing, and Taishi was scolding Kyoutaro who was standing there, half asleep.

Ata was standing there, looking a bit put off, his arms crossed over his chest, frowning. And Ryouma made a split second decision. He walked up to his friends, and, flushing a bit, nervous, he asked them a favour. Something he usually never did.

“Is it alright… if one of you walks Kyoutaro home today?”

He sent a nervous glance back at Ata. He didn’t want Ata to leave without him.

Nanao noticed, and laughed. “Of course, Ryouma-kun. Ichiro-kun, Taishi-kun and I will, right?” Ichiro’s eyes widened, turning to stare at Nanao as he nodded, while Taishi looked surprised. Kyoutaro opened his eyes, gazing at Ryouma, and then he turned his eyes to Ata and back, and then he smiled.

“Go, Ryo-chin. I can go with Nanao-san and the others today. And other days, too.”

“You never ask us for anything, senpai,” Taishi said. “So of course, we’ll be glad to help.”

Ryouma smiled gratefully at his friends. “Thank you.”

Nanao then smirked, leaning in a bit. “Now go enjoy your date~”

Ryouma gasped. “Wakura-senpai! It’s not-it’s not-”

Nanao waved him off. “Yeah, yeah~”

And then the four of them were gone.

Ryouma gaped, his cheeks red, as he turned back to Ata.

How did he know?!

Not that it was a date…

But it wasn’t that Ryouma didn’t want it to be…

Oh, great, now he was going to act all awkward, and Ata would be turned off…!

Ryouma laughed awkwardly as he approached Ata again.

“It’s all fine, we can go!” he smiled at him. Ata’s whole body language changed then, he relaxed, giving Ryouma a relieved smile.

“Okay,” he said. “Let me get my bag.”

When he disappeared quickly, Ryouma thought again how convenient it was that the student council room was right next door to the defense club.

He’d get to see Ata so much more often, especially now that they could be friends again.

The fact that Ryouma wanted to be more than friends was something he tried not to dwell on.

Ever since they were kids, Ryouma had always thought of Ata as special. Ata, who was so elegant, beautiful, and fun to be around, and he captivated Ryouma from first sight. Ryouma couldn’t help but be taken by him.

The three of them hung out and played together all the time, both in school and out, but there were times when Ryouma and Ata spent time together too, when Kyoutaro was sick, or sleeping. And those times were when Ryouma realized that the friendship he felt with Ata was different than what he felt with Kyoutaro. He wanted to be with Ata all the time, he thought about him when he was at home, and his heart raced when he saw him. Of course, he kept all that to himself, not knowing what any of it meant.

It wasn’t until he was older, and Ata was already gone, did he realize what his feelings meant.

It had hurt him a lot when Ata suddenly stopped being friends with Kyoutaro, and by extension, him. It gave Ryouma so many regrets. If only he had gone after Ata sooner that day in the baths, if only he had tried to make peace between him and Kyoutaro, even though he noticed Ata’s anger at him, at both of them… he had truly thought that Ata was just as mad at him, too.

It hurt him, when he saw Ata in the hall, sending him and Kyoutaro glares, only speaking to them when necessary. It was true that Ata didn’t seem as angry when they spoke on certain occasions, just the two of them, like the moment during the sports festival. He could see the softness in Ata’s eyes. It was like old times, almost. But then it went back to how it was, with Ata separate from him.

It filled him with yearning that he tried to hide, tried to push down.

All he wanted was to be Ata’s friend like he used to. Even though they couldn’t be more.

Because there was no way, that Ata of all people could love him the same way. In Ryouma’s mind, there was no way it could be true.

“Are you ready, Kirishima?” Ata’s voice suddenly broke apart Ryouma’s thoughts. He smiled sheepishly at him, trying to will the painful thoughts away.

Ata was here with him now. It was okay.

“Yes, let’s go!”

It was after they left the school building, did Ryouma say something he’d been thinking for a while.

“Ata-kun… if it’s okay with you, you can call me Ryouma again.” He scratched his cheek, feeling a bit shy.

“Oh,” Ata said, looking over at Ryouma. He looked a bit hesitant, but nodded. “Alright…” And, Ata’s cheeks flushed a bit in apparent embarrassment, as he looked away. “Ryouma.”

The way Ata said his name made Ryouma’s stomach flip a few times over, and he couldn’t help but blush, and he looked away too, not wanting Ata to see how red his face was. Something so simple making him react like this… it was only because it was Ata.

After walking a bit more, Ata suddenly stopped and nodded toward a building just ahead. It was a small Japanese restaurant. “Are you hungry, Ryouma? This is a great restaurant. Would you like go in? I’ll treat you.”

Ryouma had to stop himself from getting his hopes up. This really felt like date.

“Yes, let’s go in. If Ata-kun likes it, I’m sure it’s great.”

They went in together, and Ata led them to a table. Ryouma was surprised when Ata pulled out his chair for him. Ata was being really nice to him, and Ryouma loved it… probably too much. It was something he wasn’t used to.

“I love the soumen here,” Ata was saying as they sat down together, across from each other. He had a smile on his face as he looked at the menu. “It’s the most delicious I’ve ever had. I’m sure you’ll like it too.”

Ryouma beamed. “I trust your taste,” he said. “Then in that case, can we have a dessert too?”

Ata chuckled. “You still like sweet things, huh?”

Ryouma laughed as well. “Of course. I didn’t change too much, Ata-kun.”

Ata’s smile softened a bit. “No, you didn’t. You’re still the same Ryouma.”

“Really?” Ryouma asked. “I must have changed at least a little…” he paused. “You’re still the same Ata-kun, too. Strict, and serious, but also… kind and caring, even if you deny it.” A small smile was on his lips as Ata’s eyes widened, his cheeks dusting pink.

“O-of course I’ll deny it!” Ata said. “I’m not…” he paused, seemingly obviously flustered by the comment.

“You are,” Ryouma insisted. “I know you’re kind, Ata-kun. How you reacted to Kyoutaro and I was just because you were hurt.”

Ata then became silent, staring down at the menu. It was then when the server came up. Ata then gave her their order. Two bowls of soumen, as well as a strawberry cake. Ryouma was surprised.

“How did you know I like strawberry cake?”

Ata smiled. “You liked strawberry flavours a lot when we were children, it’s not that much of a leap.”

Ryouma smiled. Him liking strawberry cake a lot was a more recent thing, after Ata had stopped being their friend. Ata was really smart to figure out his tastes.

“Thank you, Ata-kun. It’s one of my favourites.”

Ata smiled back, and then they engaged in some more idle chat while waiting for their food. When it arrived, Ryouma took the first bite of the soumen noodles and was pleasantly surprised. It really was delicious.

“You have good taste,” Ryouma said, mumbling through a mouthful of food.

Ata sighed, but smiled. “Chew and swallow first, or else you might choke,” he scolded lightly. “But yes…” he gazed at Ryouma in a particular way, an almost shy way that Ryouma couldn’t read too well, “I do have wonderful taste.”

Somehow, the way he said that made Ryouma’s cheeks go warm, so he lowered his head and continued eating, and trying to convince himself that this really wasn’t a date, no matter how it seemed like. Was it only him that thought that way…?

It had to be. Ryouma was very sure that there was no way Ata returned his feelings for him.

Just as he finished eating, both the soumen and the cake, he looked up to see that Ata was already done, and he had a troubled look on his face. It was easy to tell. His eyebrows were scrunched, and he was biting his lip. Ata then looked back over at Ryouma to see him looking, and his cheeks went pink.

Ata then visibly took a breath.

“I have something to apologize to you about.”

Ryouma didn’t expect that. “Me? About what? I don’t think there’s anything…”

“There is,” Ata insisted. And then he took a pause before explaining. “Before… when I was mad at Shuzenji. I took out some of my anger on you too. For that, I apologize.”

Ryouma was really surprised. Out of all things for Ata to say, he didn’t expect that.

“What do you mean?”

“I…” Ata looked like he was struggling with saying it aloud. “I wasn’t really that angry at you,” he finally said. “I was… how should I say… envious.”

Now, that Ryouma didn’t expect. His eyes went wide. Envious!? Jealous?! Ryouma really tried not to get his hopes up too much. But it was hard, when Ata was looking at him like that. His cheeks were a bit red, and the way his hair fell down in front of his face, Ryouma was mesmerized.

Ata was staring at Ryouma, and as if drawn in by impulse, Ryouma found himself leaning forward, reaching towards Ata’s hair, and brushing a piece of it out of his face.

It was only when Ata let out a gasp did Ryouma realize what he did. His own face went red.

“Ah-Ah-!” he stuttered, “Ata-kun, I’m sorry… it was an accident!” No, that was dumb! “It… I didn’t mean to do it on purpose…!” Not making your situation any better, Ryouma!

Ryouma shook his head, flushed. Oh, no! And what made this worse, was now that he had a taste - he wanted to do it again. He wanted to run his hands through Ata’s hair more…

“It’s… it’s okay,” Ata suddenly replied, looking down at the table. Ryouma could see his ears were red.

“B-but… you don’t like people touching your hair…”

Ata then looked up at Ryouma, his face turning a bit darker, as he clenched a fist on the table.

“If it’s you, it’s okay,” Ata murmured, voice quiet, but Ryouma definitely heard him, and now his heart was spinning a million miles a minute. Just what was he supposed to think about this? Ryouma was going to combust and collapse right here on this table right now.

Ata was going to let him get the wrong idea… Ryouma hid his red face in his hands, and he tried to calm his breathing. But he had no luck with that. He finally lowered his hands to see Ata was still staring at him, eyes full of something Ryouma couldn’t place, but… it made him want to keep looking into them.

He blushed again. Ata then seemed to blush again too, his eyes widening, as if he realized he said something he shouldn’t have, and Ryouma really was going to die here, wasn’t he?

“J-just forget I said that…” Ata suddenly said, turning his head away sharply.

Ryouma didn’t want to forget it. But he didn’t push it again. Instead, the topic of conversation was still nagging at him, since it got interrupted.

“Ata-kun… you said you were envious… of… of what?”

Ata’s head snapped back to Ryouma and he let out a big sigh.

“I… I already cleared the air with Shuzenji, about our falling out… and I’m glad we’re friends again, even if the grudge didn’t completely go away… but after HonoyaLand, and what I learned there… I realized I didn’t tell you the whole truth either. And… and if we’re going to be friends again… we should be honest.”

Now, Ryouma was really confused. And really curious. What was Ata getting at here? “About what?”

But he had to admit, the word friends stung a bit, when he wanted to be so much more than that.

“When I got betrayed by Shuzenji,” Ata continued, “and you continued to stay by his side, enabling him… I was frustrated. I thought you were choosing his side over mine.”

Ryouma shook his head frantically. “No!”

Ata looked at Ryouma, a questioning expression on his face. “No?”

“No,” Ryouma insisted. “It wasn’t like I was on Kyoutaro’s side.. I didn’t know you thought that..”

Ata looked down. “You always did so much for him, even after… you always let him get away with his slothful lazy ways, always taking care of him… always paying attention to him… I thought you chose him. So, in my anger… I was unfair to you.”

The way Ata said that caused Ryouma’s heart to start to pound heavily. Did Ata really… think that?

“No, no, no!” he blurted out. “Kyoutaro’s my friend, but you’re also my friend. I didn’t choose him over you - you-you’re…” he flushed. Ata was different. Kyoutaro was his best friend, but Ata was… more.

“I thought you were mad at me too,” Ryouma continued, “I did notice… I did notice you. I always did, but… I didn’t know if you’d have wanted me to talk to you.”

The look on Ata’s face was so heartbreaking, Ryouma wanted to go over there and give Ata a hug. He had to really stop himself.

“I’m sorry,” Ata said again. “That’s what I wanted to say. I never apologized to you for how unfair I was. I was never truly mad at you… I just wish you had chosen me.”

Ata flinched then, as if it was hard to admit that. With the way his voice wavered, Ryouma could tell he hadn’t wanted to admit that part.

“It’s okay,” Ryouma said softly. He reached over to put a hand over Ata’s, which was on the table. Ata looked up, wide-eyed. “I should’ve done something more. I noticed when you were hurt… and when you separated yourself from us… and I didn’t do anything. I could have tried to fix it a lot sooner, or at least tried to talk to you more. I’m sorry too, Ata-kun. For making you think I wouldn’t be on your side. And for not making more of an effort. Because being apart from you was horrible.”

Ata then looked up at Ryouma again, a soft smile forming on his face. And with the way his cheeks were still pink, Ryouma was shocked speechless. He’d never seen anything so beautiful before.

“You need to smile more,” he blurted out.

The smile fell from Ata’s face. “H-uh?!”

Ryouma gaped. Oh, why did he keep doing this? And now he was aware he hadn’t removed his hand from Ata’s yet, so he flung it away, heat flooding his face again.

“I-I mean, a smile looks good on you, you’re always so stressed and busy… you should relax and smile more.”

Ata then smiled again, chuckling. “I think it’s you who needs to relax.”

Ryouma looked baffled. “What?”

“Oh, nothing.” Ryouma didn’t know what that was about. But then Ata was paying for their food, and Ryouma didn’t even have time to object to that.

Ryouma then got up and followed Ata.

They left the restaurant, Ryouma felt a lot better after their talk. Even though his feelings for Ata were starting to overwhelm him. The fact that this whole outing felt like a date didn’t help. Nor did the fact that Ata was standing so close to him, that their shoulders brushed as they walked. And the way that Ata blushed when Ryouma had touched his hair wouldn’t leave his mind.

Ryouma was brought out of his thoughts when Ata suddenly stopped, and he reached over to touch Ryouma’s wrist.

The contact startled Ryouma, and he gasped. Ata gasped too, and his cheeks went red. “I’m sorry- I-”

“No, no,” Ryouma said, feeling like his heart was going to jump out of his chest, “I was just surprised. What is it?”

Ata was looking over to a small playground across the street. Ryouma instantly recognized it, and his eyes lit up. It was a playground he, Ata, and Kyoutaro had played at together multiple times. But most of the time, he and Ata played together while Kyoutaro napped on a nearby bench.

“Shall we… go check it out?” Ata asked, smiling softly at Ryouma. Ryoma nodded. Without thinking about it, he grabbed Ata’s hand, and pulled him safely to the other side of the road, towards the play structures.

“R-Ryouma?” Ata gasped out, as Ryouma pulled him over. He dropped his bag onto the ground, grinning.

“Come on, Ata-kun, let’s get on!” Ryouma called to him excitedly as he started to climb up to a platform. He looked down at Ata, who was looking around, seeming hesitant and embarrassed.

“But… we’re not children anymore. Isn’t it strange? What if someone sees us?”

“Nobody’s here,” Ryouma said. “It’s still fun! It’s okay. Come join me. Please?” he looked down at Ata, who was staring up at him, looking to the ground and back up at him.

And then Ryouma held out his hand to him.

Ata glanced up at the hand, and then after a moment, gave a sigh, and smiled. He dropped his own bag next to Ryouma’s, walked up, and took Ryouma’s hand. And then Ata climbed up onto the play structure next to him.

Ryouma smiled, squeezing Ata’s hand, and still trying not to hope too much that this was really a date. Ata wasn’t looking at him, but he could feel Ata squeeze back.

Ryouma then moved over, let go of Ata’s hand, and went to move across the handlebars.

He immediately fell.

Pouting, he turned to look up, and then watched with awe as Ata moved across them flawlessly.

“Amazing, Ata-kun!” Ryouma cheered.

Ata dropped down, blushing. “It’s… it’s nothing,” he said.

And then they spent more time together like that. It was full of nostalgia, but also… fun. Being with Ata like this. With them both smiling and laughing.

This day was already permanently etched into Ryouma’s memories.

After a while, of running around a bit, and playing on the slides, both of them were breathless, and laughing together. And they both, a bit tired, ended up sitting side by side on a swing set. Ryouma started to swing, while Ata stayed where he was, stretching out his legs.

Ryouma kept sneaking peeks over at Ata. He couldn’t help himself. He saw the way Ata was smiling softly, the wind which had picked up gently blew his hair to the side. It was a beautiful sight. Ryouma’s heart was beating really fast. In fact, he was so distracted watching, that he nearly fell off the swing.

Ryouma accidentally ended up letting go of one of the sides, as he yelped, tilting backwards, one hand gripping the chain, but unsteady.

Ata was upon him in a flash.

He quickly ran behind Ryouma, grabbing at his shoulders before Ryouma accidentally slipped off.

Dizzy, Ryouma blinked at Ata, and even though Ryouma’s vision was spinning, he could see that Ata was staring down at him with horrified concern.

“That’s why I thought this wasn’t a great idea-!” Ata scolded. “We’re not children anymore. This was unrowdy!”

Ryouma laughed. “I’m fine, though,” he said. “Thank you, Ata-kun.” He smiled up at him. “It was fun… it’s true that we’re not children anymore, but it’s okay once in a while, right?”

Ata sighed again, he helped Ryouma back into a sitting position on the now stopped swing, and he walked over to the other side of Ryouma, standing in front of him.

“I suppose,” he ended up saying, still studying Ryouma critically. Ryouma enjoyed the attention, though.

Before he knew it, Ata was lifting up one of his hands to inspect it. “Not even a scrape…”

Ryouma flushed a bit, Ata was holding his hand!, but nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry so much.”

Ata paused. “Of course I worry about you! Even when we were apart, I worried. About you… about you working yourself too hard… about how straining it was to take care of Shuzenji… if you got sick…”

Ryouma found himself freezing in place. Ata was still holding his hand, and now he seemed a bit distant, like he was lost in thought.

Ata then dropped his hand, and turned away from him.

Ryouma got up from the swing suddenly, and before he knew what he was doing, he was wrapping his arms around Ata. He really didn’t know what had come over him; but what he did know was that the way Ata turned away was filling him with a queasy and almost desperate sensation - he didn’t like it.

And not to mention his feelings for Ata were overwhelming him. They had all day… he’d been in love with Ata for a long time, after all. Spending all this time together, while great, had also been so hard for him when he was holding back his true feelings, his true feelings he feared weren’t returned.

With all of those feelings adding up inside him, he couldn’t stop himself from hugging Ata tightly from behind.

He heard Ata let out a shaky breath of air. “R-Ryouma…?”

Ryouma’s face went hot, but he didn’t let go.

“Thank you,” he said, voice strained. “I’m saying that a lot, aren’t I…?” Ryouma took in a deep breath. “Thank you for worrying and for caring about me…”

Ata’s body was warm, and Ryouma’s face just went warmer because of it. He was sure he looked like a tomato. But he wasn’t done speaking.

“But I want to make it up to you… I care about you too, Ata-kun, so much. So much I want to show you how much…. No matter how long it takes, even if it’s forever.” And then he held Ata tighter.

Ata now trembled underneath Ryouma’s hold. “Ryouma…” Ata said, voice shaky. “You’re… you…”

Ryouma then suddenly dropped his arms, taking a step back. What… what was he doing…?! Wasn’t that too much?

“Um, Ata-kun…” Ryouma stuttered, embarrassed. Hadn’t the way he just said those words sound too … romantic? Did he just go too far, with that and the hug?

But Ata slowly turned around, and Ryouma froze. Ata’s face was red, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times.

Ryouma then realized he and Ata were standing way too close. His eyes went to Ata’s lips, and he realized that he wanted to kiss him so incredibly much. The impulse that came over him was so strong, he ended up taking one more step closer.

Ata’s eyes were wide, and he was staring at Ryouma.

“Ryouma…” Ata’s voice sounded a bit high pitched. He looked down, gazing from Ryouma’s head, down to his lips, and back up, his own face mirroring Ryouma’s in colour, and Ryouma couldn’t back away now.

They were so close, and Ryouma, he wanted this, wanted Ata, badly, for so long, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“I like you, Ata-kun,” he said in a rush. “I like you so much… I don’t know what do do with myself.”

Ata’s face changed a bit, his eyes went wider, his mouth opening a bit, but then it slowly morphed into a smile, and before Ryouma knew it, Ata was stepping closer, and leaning down, and kissing him.

Ryouma kissed him back, his hands moving up to Ata’s shoulders, as he tried to press in closer. Their first kiss - it was amazing. Ata’s lips were soft, so much softer than he ever could have imagined. And warm. Ryouma felt the sensations from his lips, all the way down to his toes.

His hand ended up moving away from Ata’s shoulder, finding itself in Ata’s hair, moving through soft strands. And then his eyes widened. “I-is that okay?” he asked, flustered, against Ata’s lips. Ata only nodded, and Ryouma’s eyes fluttered closed again.

But because they both needed to breathe, the kiss ended not long after that.

They pulled away, beaming at each other. Ryouma tried to catch his breath, unable to even believe what was happening. He hadn’t gone on this outing with Ata with the intent to confess to him, but… somehow it had gone that way.

Ryouma looked over at Ata, who was blushing so badly, he was looking to the side, biting his lip a few times. It was truly adorable. Ryouma giggled.

Ata then turned to look at him, looking shy, but still smiling. “I… I didn’t know you felt that way,” Ata said. “If I known, I would have…”

Ryouma shook his head. “I… I should’ve confessed to you a long time ago, if I knew too…”

Wait. Ryouma froze, panicking. He was making assumptions. Ata had kissed him, but he never said anything else…

Ata, as if realizing what Ryouma thought, grabbed his hand, smiling up a thim, still looking shy. “I’ve liked you since we were kids,” Ata admitted.

Awe and relief washed over Ryouma at the same time. “R-really? Me? Of all people?”

Ata frowned. “What does that mean? You’re amazing, Ryouma.”

Ryouma was going to combust at any moment now.

“No, you’re the amazing one, Ata-kun! You’re so smart, fun to be with, and talented, and beautiful… I could never keep my eyes off of you.… ever since we were kids.”

Ata looked taken aback, but he smiled. “You’re the only one to think so - everyone thought Shuzenji was better than me.”

“No,” Ryouma said. “It’s true that Kyoutaro was good at things instantly, but I could tell how much effort you put into everything… you really worked hard for it all, It’s one of the things I like and admire about you, Ata-kun.”

Ata blinked, and then he put a hand over his face.

“R-Ryouma… stop. I don’t think… I can handle this much more… my heart is pounding too fast. I never thought I’d ever feel this happy.”

Ryouma’s heart jumped, excited and flustered at seeing Ata this way, and he nodded frantically. “I-I get it! I did mean what I said though…” Pause. “And… me too.”

Ata lowered his hand, and then they both smiled at each other again. “This was a very good first date, for first dates… not that I have any experience with them.”

Laughing giddily, Ryouma squeezed Ata’s hand.

“I had thought… no, hoped this was a date the whole time.”

“It definitely was,” Ata agreed. Ryouma kept staring at Ata, realizing yet again that this boy was now his. They had mutual feelings for each other. After all his time pining and yearning over him, it was still so hard to believe.

Ryouma really wanted to kiss Ata again.

But after he thought that, he realized how breathless and parched he really was.

“Ata-kun, do you want a drink? There’s that vending machine over there.”

Ata bit his lip, shaking his head. “I actually have drinks here.” He moved over to his bag, opening it, and lifting two drink bottles. He handed one over to Ryouma. Ryouma’s eyes went wide. It was his favourite sweet strawberry soda. A flash from earlier overcame him.

“Ata-kun… that was you?”

Ata looked a bit embarrassed, but nodded. “Yes.”

“Thank you,” he said, blushing. “That made me really happy. But… why do you think I need to relax?”

Ata shook his head, sighing. “You have to deal with a lot, Ryouma. The whole of your club… not to mention Shuzenji. You’re always taking care of everyone. You’ve always been like that. You should relax sometimes, and take a break from it.”

Ryouma smiled, looking down. When Ata had said how he worried about him before… it had felt good, as this did.

He looked back up. “But what about you? You’re the president of the student council. You have a lot on your plate too. I’d say you need to relax just as much as me. I don’t want you to overwork yourself.”

Ata smiled. “Maybe so… but…” he looked a bit shy before leaning in a bit closer to Ryouma. “Maybe from now on we can help each other learn how to relax.”

Ryouma immediately smiled. He grabbed Ata’s hand, and tugged him in closer to him. And then, because he could do that now, he leaned in to kiss Ata. His hand once again ended up in Ata’s hair as they kissed, Ryouma really couldn’t help it.

Ata’s hand ended up wrapping around Ryouma’s waist gently, pulling him in.

And they stayed like that, only taking a break to breathe, until the sun began to set.

The next day, there was another gift in his shoe locker. But this time, it was different than before.

Ryouma pulled out a box of chocolates shaped like a heart, and then promptly blushed. On the side, there was a note, with perfect, beautiful handwriting that made his heart flutter and feel so full and excited for every day to come.

To Ryouma. Let’s relax together again soon. ♥ Ata

It was how it always was. Some playful banter (that was almost always pretty serious on Nakamaru's part, though sometimes he just let himself fall "victim" to Taguchi's energy and play along.) What Taguchi had asked him really surprised him, reminding that he could be quite the mysterious person sometimes."Are you flirting with me?" Taguchi had asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows, and it caused Nakamaru to stop on the spot, having to consider his next response."I was only commenting on your long legs--I don't see how that's flirting. In fact, it must be a bit of an inconvenience." He dismissed with a wave of his hand, doing his best to hide his embarrassment with his comments.