#ler!nene

Coming over now! Hope you’re not busy :) <3 

The text she received from her boyfriend was not exactly uncommon. Rui was unpredictable at the best of times and Nene was grateful that the only real shock was his company. Comparatively, it was at least expectable. 

There were, however, pros and cons of living so close together though, she had hardly had time to quickly tie her hair up and make it to the living room before Rui was walking into it, looking more than a bit disheveled. His eyes were visibly more tired, complete with heavy bags under them and a forced relaxed expression. 

She raised her eyebrow. “Rui, when was the last time you slept?” 

“Oh, my dear it is truly so good to see you too!” He smiled sarcastically. 

His girlfriend was not impressed. “I’m happy to see you too, but you know what I meant.  Seriously, what’s going on? You look like a mess.” 

“Am I at least a handsome mess?” 

She glared at him and sat on the couch. Rui could feel her scathing stare from across the room. 

"Rui come here." She motioned to the couch, exasperated. 

"What is 'here' exactly?" He scrunched his eyebrows in faux confusion. "I mean I am here with you in that we're in the same room. I don't understand what else you're asking of me." 

Deflection. Nene naturally noticed immediately. Why couldn't he just let himself be taken care of?! "Rui Kamishiro, I swear to whatever is out there if you don't sit on this couch right now-!" 

"Okay, okay!" He held up his hands in surrender. "You don't need to be so demanding." 

Nene felt slightly guilty at her tone only until Rui swung a leg over and perched himself atop the back of the couch, feet on the cushions and a smug expression on his face. 

Without another word, she yanked on his leg, causing him to lose balance and fall right on top of her. The couple was a tangle of limbs and frustration, both moving to adjust to something even marginally more comfortable. 

After a few moments of wiggling and turning, they eventually settled with Nene laying nestled into the couch, her back to the back and her head on the armrest with Rui facing her chest in his arms. 

"If you're not going to tell me what's wrong, at least let me hold you for a little bit." She rubbed her back in a way she hoped was soothing whatever turmoil was in his head.

"Nothing is wrong!" 

"Wanna try that again?" She asked sternly. 

A look. Something on his face was mischievous and maybe a little... Eager? Anything was an improvement from before she supposed but it was definitely an unexpected change. 

“Not particularly, but thank you for asking.” And with a cheshire smile, he dug his hands into her ribs, right in front of him. He squeezed at random, leaving her guessing. 

To Rui’s delight, Nene instantly screamed. “You never were a giggler were you, sweetie?” He caught himself smiling right along with her. 

She shouted his name through her squeals and what might have been pleas. “Let me help you- you- you immature, stubborn-!” 

“Loving, kind, beautiful, intelligent man that you happen to find yourself in love with?” He suggested, earnestly unhelpful. After a moment though, he withdrew his hands. 

“Darling, I know I can be… difficult when it comes to receiving comfort, but I assure you all I need right now is your company. A distraction, I think, is best. You’re helping just by allowing me into your home and presence” His hesitation and rare lack of that infuriatingly endearing smirk made his claim substantially more believable. She knew him well enough to see the sincerity in his words. Sometimes stress and exhaustion was simply that. The best thing she could do for him was take his mind off of it. 

“And tickling me… helps you?” She tilted her head at him. 

He at the very least had the decency to make himself appear apologetic. “It’s more being playful and having fun with you. I just love to see you smile.” 

An idea burst into her head. What he needed was smiles and distraction, and what she needed was a happy boyfriend and maybe a bit of revenge. Two birds, one stone. 

Hesitantly, she started to poke at his sides with an impertinent air. “What if I did this, huh? Would you like it? Is this your idea of fun? This is what you did to me!” 

His cheeks immediately puffed up and eyes squeezed shut with repressed giggles and no response. 

“What’s that? Did you hear me?” Each poke was now accompanied by a little wiggle or scratch. He wasn’t pushing her away. A telltale sign. “I asked if you liked this! Are you too tired to talk? Tell me or I’ll stop!

What came out of his mouth was less words, more high pitched squeaking. 

“Your face is all red! Do you have a fever? I can’t understand what you mean by-” She did a poor but teasing impression of his squeaking. 

Just as Rui was about to attempt to compose himself, she blew a raspberry right into the crook of his neck. The floodgates burst open as he broke into real laughter. “Neh-ne! Hehe! I’m so-sorr-” 

“Oh you’re sorry now? You weren’t sorry when you did this.” She, much in the way he’d done to her sides, dug her fingers into his underarms. “To me.” 

Yet another similarity to their previous roles, Rui screeched and continued to plead. “I see the error of my ways! I’ve suffered enough!” 

“Suffering? You seem much happier than before, at the very least more relaxed.” She pulled her hands entirely away, relishing his immediate change from giddy desperation to disappointed pouting. “But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we should just sit here and do nothing.” 

Almost as if instinctually, Rui grabbed her wrists and pulled them closer to his body, his eyes exposing what would be a novel’s worth of begging for her to continue.

Nene simply responded by holding his hands. “This is nice, isn’t it?” She smiled knowingly. 

His pout intensified, even as his girlfriend reassuringly squeezed his hands.

“Y’know, looking at me like that isn’t going to do anything for you.” She mindlessly ran her thumb over the back of his lithe hands, continuing even after he let go of one, resting his own around her waist. 

Wordlessly, Rui reached his newly freed hand between them to poke at her stomach.

She squawked at the surprise before managing to pull herself away, burrowing herself backwards, further into the couch, halfheartedly glaring at Rui, who was looking far too pleased with himself. 

“You know, dear, looking at me like that isn’t going to do anything for you.” He repeated her own words back to her face, with a suddenly chipper demeanor, almost as if out of nowhere.He continued to poke sporadically, trapping her further and further into the plush folds of the couch. “What are you going to do about it?” 

Nene was stuck in between a rock and a hard place, or, more accurately, a cushion and a couch. On one hand, she could give Rui the satisfaction of letting herself be goaded into tickling him. The other option involved her getting tickled to death or suffocated in a couch. Death might be preferable if she really thought about her wisenheimer boyfriend in a self superior mood for too long. 

Luckily for them both, the assault on her belly didn’t leave much room for thought, only action. In a bout of strength that would have shocked them both had Rui actually been trying to fight her, she pushed at the hands long enough to wedge her body from her plush prison and straddle Rui’s waist. Nene looked dangerously down at him, all while he continued to prod, keeping her in a constant state of jolting and squealing. 

Exactly as she predicted, his face was radiating with the joy of his achievement. She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re nahat subtle- hehe-!” 

“Subtlety can be forgone in cases in which the alternative is still effective, no?” 

“Whaht are you even saying?” Nene laughed through her words, both from the tickling and fondness for the man under her. 

But just as he started to explain, she decided she didn’t particularly want to hear it (and maybe wanted to rush in) and rapidly squeezed his hips, rendering him unable to speak through waves and waves of laughter. 

Still not forgetting the original reason behind his visit, however, she asked, “How’s this for a distraction? Happy?”

“HAHAHA-ha-happyHEHE!” He agreed, the cackling around it speaking volumes more than the answer itself. 

She smiled to herself . Whatever made him happy. 

---

“So what do you think, Nene?!” Tsukasa shouted, after a few minutes. Nene flinched at being addressed all of a sudden.

“It’s.. an idea, alright..” She started, but trailed off. “But…”

“But..?” This caught Tsukasa’s attention as he slowed down his movements, intent on listening to her completely.

“I think if we reveal who the culprit was at the end… it might leave the audience feeling unsatisfied? It kinda.. takes out the magical feel to it…” She mumbled, feeling shy. “I-I mean, it’s a good idea but the kind of story we are acting feels like an open ending would fit better.”

Tsukasa was silent for a few moments and Nene wondered if he didn’t like what he said.

“Hah!” Tsukasa yelled out, suddenly, hitting his fist to his palm. “You’re right, Nene!”

Tsukasa pulled out a pencil and began marking on the script. Nene, on the other hand, watched. She didn’t respond to his words, but she could feel happiness swelling up in her chest. She was afraid he wouldn’t like her changing the script, but she forgot what kind of person Tsukasa was.

“There we go! How’s that?” Tsukasa exclaimed, handing her the script. She read over it and skimmed through the notes, before giving an approving nod.

“It’s good.” She said, giving it back to the other.

“Great! Let’s practice!”

“N-now?! Shouldn’t we wait until Emu and Rui come back?” She asked, though she stood up anyway.

“We’ll practice when they are here too, but no harm in getting a head start!” Tsukasa explained, standing alongside her. He stretched his arms up for a moment, but pointed at a certain scene. “Let’s start here!”

“Okay..”

——

And so, they practiced. Since Tsukasa was the star of the show this time, that meant there were more scenes were Nene wasn’t as present or kinda just… stood there awkwardly. She didn’t mind, though. She didn’t want a lead spot like Tsukasa, anyway. Still, the role she was in, as the main character’s magical fairy guide, was a bit more out there than her previous roles.

“Hi-yah!” Tsukasa shouted, thrusting his palm out to the side and…

“Ow!” Nene gasped, holding her nose.

“Nene! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do that!” Tsukasa all but lept at her, concern painted on his face.

“You..” Nene said, voice a bit nasally from covering her nose.

“How can I make it up to you?!”

“You idiot!” Nene let her impulses get the best of her as she pounced on Tsukasa, feeling a sudden desire for payback. She wasn’t exactly sure what fo do, thouugh, until she landed on top of him. Tsukasa, clearly not prepared for this uncharacteristic action, toppled over, landing on the sofa. A small squeal slipped from his mouth and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why. Nene looked down, her hands gripping each side of Tsukasa’s ribs.

“NenEHEHEHE?!” He blurted, but was interrupted by his own laughter. Nene didn’t really know exactly what she was doing, but now that she started, she felt she couldn’t stop.

“You need to be more careful wifh your actions.” She pouted, annoyed, but kneaded her small hands into the other’s sides.

“Whahahat ahahahare y-you dohohohoing?!” Tsukasa screeched, shocked and embarrassed. Nene felt embarrassed too, but she pushed that feeling away.

“Payback..” She said, simply, not trusting herself to say any more. It was hard to admit, but Tsukasa actually.. looked quite cute like this. She was used to his boastful smiles and laughter, but this.. felt more genuine, like a side of Tsukasa she rarely got to see.

“Pahahahay bahahack?! I sahahahaid I wahahahas s-sohohorry!”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have been so reckless!” Nene spat, pinching in between each of the bones in his ribs. His ribs seemed like a sensitive area, but they couldn’t ellicit anything more than giggles and Nene had the urge to incite laughter out of the blond.

Instead, she began squeezing at his sides, light and barely there, but enough for yet another squeal to pass Tsukasa’s lips.

“NOHOHOHO N-nohohot thEHehere!”

Oh. This seemed like a good spot. Nene decided to linger there for a couple seconds, testingly trying different areas of his sides, different pressures, anything to see what gave her the most reactions.

“You’re so sensitive. It’s fitting for you…” She muttered, pressing at his sides like they were buttons on a controller.

“W-whAHAHAt is thAHAHAHAt s-sUHPOSehehed tohoho mean?!” Tsukasa cackled. “Just pihick sohohomewhere else!”

“If you say so.” And so, somewhere else became his stomach, including his belly button. She scribbled over his ticklish skin, though she could tell the clothing he was wearing offered some protection, but still drove him mad nonetheless.

“EhEHEHEHEh..!” Tsukasa shrieked, giggling and laughing. He seemed to squirm a lot, but didn’t put up much of a fight. Nene decided to store that in her mind for later, but then she thought about how stupid it would be to do that, so she erased it from her mind. (She would still remember.)

“Everywhere is just so.. sensitive, isn’t it?” Tsukasa blushed at that. It was true. Tsukasa was one of the most ticklish people she knew, even among her troupe, which were embarrassingly ticklish themselves. She was sure it was her and Tsukasa who held the record. Though, it was only Rui who knew about this fact compared to everyone being aware of Tsukasa’s ticklishness, through the fours’ countless tickle fights. Nene usually stayed out of those, though.

“Stohohohop..!” Tsukasa mumbled, through his laughter, holding his hands up to his face.

“…” Nene dipped her finger into his bellybutton. At least, as far as it could go through his clothes, and vibrated her fingers.

“AHHHAHHAAHA!”” Tsukasa laughed and laughed and Nene smiled along with him, resisting the urge to laugh to show him just how much she was enjoying this. But, she could indulge herself in a smile at the very least, she thought to herself.

“Ah, looks like you two had fun without us, huh?” Rui’s smirk could be heard in his voice and just like a cat, Nene jumped from her current position to almost all across on the other side of the room, her blush matching Tsukasa’s for being caught. Tsukasa stayed where he was, residual giggles leaving his mouth.

“Nene, you tickled Tsukasa?! No fair!” Emu pouted, though she seemed happy that they seemed to have a good time.

“Shut up..” Nene muttered, quietly, crossing her arms.

“Yeah, she got me pretty good…” Tsukasa sighed, the laughter and tingles finally leaving his system.

“I wanna tickle Tsukasa too!” Emu exclaimed, wiggling her fingers. Tsukasa only responded with a gulp.

“It has been a while, hasn’t it?” Rui pondered, almost as if he was feeling nostalgic.

“It’s only been two days!” Tsukasa squawked, panic and anticipation in his face, but before he could say any more, Emu was already tickling him, Rui following shortly after.

Nene just sighed and pushed her laptop out of the way. “It’s okay, Rui.” She really shouldn’t have trusted him with such a complicated meal. Especially after seeing his attempts to modify the rice cooker.

“Ah, at least we still have lots of soda candy!” He threw a handful at her as if they were rose petals.

Nene managed to catch one, which was impressive enough. “We must be doomed to never eat healthy.” Fidgeting with the wrapper, she freed the candy and touched it to her tongue, letting it fizz on her taste buds.

Rui laughed, rather pathetically, and his eyes trailed down to his lap. Nene glanced at him, then down at her homework, worrying her lip.

Rui was… well, Rui was as usual, these days. He used to be the only person Nene could talk to comfortably, now the air was cold and heavy, even with him.

She knew Rui had a hard time feeling normal. Even now, in middle school, his classmates still thought he was eccentric, dangerous even, and it was getting to him. Nene could feel he was slowly fading. Or maybe it was she who was drifting away.

Either way, what they were had changed since she joined her troupe, and she was lost on how to help him.

Nene stood to throw the candy wrapper away, passing behind Rui’s chair. She’d never been so conscious of the space around her in his house; it had always felt like an extension of her home.

The tension must have affected Rui too, as he fussed with the strands of hair that had escaped his short half-up ponytail. He pushed them behind his ear, only for them to fall into his eyes again. After watching him struggle for a few beats, Nene huffed and pulled his hand away.

“You’re getting it messy.” Combing through knots that had coiled around the hair tie, Nene gently loosened his ponytail. She put the tie around her fingers and started to gather his hair in the back.

Rui stilled at her touch, and his hands settled in his lap. “Thanks, Nene.” His leg bounced against the weirdly colored tiles that Nene had always made fun of.

You should take better care of your hair. The remark stuck on her tongue. Of course. I care about you. Nene’s mouth felt dry. All she could manage was a weak hum.

The silence dragged on. Nene began to question what she was even doing, clammy hands only mussing up Rui’s hair more.

As she pulled some of the wispy hairs on his nape into the bundle, Nene’s nails skated across his neck unintentionally. A yip and a shiver from Rui alerted her.

“Sorry, did I scratch you?” Nene shifted to look at Rui’s face. His eyes were squeezed shut and his mouth crooked. When Nene dragged a finger over his ear to tuck a hair behind it, he made the same squeaky noise.

As though a door had opened and a fresh breeze swept into the room, a smile pulled at Nene’s lips. “Aw, you’re still ticklish?”

Rui’s eyes popped open with a look of mild fear. “Uh… no?” he said, like a liar.

“Uh huh. Sure.” Nene flicked her nails up and down his neck. Rui jolted like he’d been shocked.

“EEHehey! Neneheaha!” he shrieked. He hiked his shoulder up to his cheek and tried to reach for Nene’s quick fingers.

Nene chuckled by his ear; Rui’s real laugh was far more boyish than his personality would make it seem. “I forgot how much you sound like a fox.” She wormed her fingers under the collar of his shirt, making him yip again and proving her point.

“I dohohon’t! Ahaha Neneehee! Nahat the eheahahears!” He shook his head, melting against the back of the chair.

Nene sighed fondly. “I’m just talking, Rui,” she breathed while she leaned in closer to his ear, now red and warm. “Your ears are too sensitive.” He wailed and rubbed his ear on his shoulder.

Nene’s hands scaled down his spine and crawled between his shoulder blades. Rui barked and jumped, scrabbling for her assailing digits and pleading for a timeout. Nene ceased only when he threw his head back over the top of the chair, and she was exposed to the full display of his broad smile and rosy cheeks.

Becoming aware of the smile that had grown on her own face, Nene quickly wiped it away.

Once Nene unhanded him, Rui slouched forward until his head landed on the desk. “Ha… Nene, you’re crueler than you look.”

“Sorry.” She rested her hands on the back of Rui’s chair. “I guess I just haven’t heard you laugh in a while… I missed it. A little.”

Rui hummed, surprised, and Nene felt her face grow warm. “Is that so?” He sat up and turned around to grin at her. “Hehe, the same goes for you!”

“Huh?” Nene tilted her head.

Rui wiggled his fingers, so childish but somehow… “I haven’t heard you laugh in quite some time either.” Rui dug into her sides, squeezing and squishing. Electricity that fizzed from his rough fingers like soda candy shocked a squeak out of Nene. She curled into herself and dissolved into bubbling giggles.

“N-Nohoho! Ruhuhihihi!” Nene lightly gripped Rui’s wrists, trying to squirrel away from the hands scribbling up her sides. A fuzzy feeling flooded her nerves as she squealed and laughed more heartily than she had in a long time.

“There it is, the laugh of a little mermaid.” A cat-like smirk lifted Rui’s face. “Are you still ticklish here, Nene? Here too? Oh wow, I’m barely moving my fingers and you’re laughing!”

“AHAhaha! Ruhuhihi you suhuhahahuck!” Nene shoved at his face and kicked at his knees. She managed to hit him once, and he winced as though really in pain.

“Ow ow ow, that hurt!” He pouted ridiculously. “You’re such a meanie, Nene.” Evilly, he kneaded his fingers into her ribs, and Nene squalled and tightened her grip on his wrists.

Her face was warm with joy, and her ribs were starting to hurt from her laughter. “You’rehahaha the mehehehean one! PffftaHA hypocrihite!” Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground, finally escaping Rui’s evil fingers.

Heaving in air, Nene clutched at her ribs. Rui laughed at her from above.

“You’re winded already?” Rui smiled. Nene whacked at his leg.

“You’re, hah, no athlete either.” As she shifted to glare up at him, she found Rui kneeling in front of her, wearing a candid smile and a glimmer in his canary-yellow eyes that spoke of nostalgia.

“Nene,” called Rui, suddenly solemn. “Did I tell you how happy I was for you when you joined that theatre troupe?” He glanced down and bumped their knees together. “You made your dream come true.”

Nene inhaled. She counted the clover patches on her cardigan sleeve and picked at a loose thread. Breathing out, she faced Rui directly. “It’s thanks to you. If… If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with theatre.” I’m sorry I left you alone. Rui looked up at her. Nene found herself staring into the same eyes she’d known since childhood. “It’s our dream.” You’re not alone.

Then their eyes broke apart. Eye contact was too much for either of them.

Rui laughed. “Well, when you put it like that...” He brushed back his loose hair, which Nene realized she had forgotten to fix.

She giggled. “Your hair. You need to cut it.” She reached for a lock and tucked it behind his ear. Instantly, Rui stiffened then melted into the ground, squeaking and giggling at the simple touch.

“Neneheheehee! You’re beheing a buhuhully ahahagainaha!”

“I’m not even doing anything,” she said, fluttering her nails against the shell of his ear.

___________________________________________

Shizuku x Tsukasa x Nene x Rui (romantic)

Lees: Tsukasa, Rui

Lers: Shizuku, Nene

Warnings: Tickles!

___________________________________________

The lovers were all gathered up over at the Tenma's household, hosting a movie marathon for valentine's day. They were all cuddled up on the couch, Shizuku and Nene on each extreme while Tsukasa was snuggled up against Shizuku. And Rui well... he was currently bugging Nene by laying his lanky body on top of her.

"Ugh... Rui get off!" Nene complained with a spraweled Rui all over her lap, trying to push him off but the bastard wouldn't budge.

"You can't make me~" he taunted her like some cocky toddler, sticking his tongue out playfully. Nene could only grumble at him.

"Oh yeah? Wanna bet on that?" suddenly, Nene's frustrated expression was overtaken by a teasy smirk, 'causing Rui to feel a wee bit nervous. But he still managed to keep up with his confident demeanor.

"I bet you 10 kisses that you can't get me to move~" he slyly smirked up at her, feeling like he had the upper hand.

Nene looked a bit flushed, before grinning down at him devilishly "You're on". With that, she quickly shot her hands down to his stomach, playfully scribbling wherever her fingers could reach.

"Gyah! W-wait! Nene not thahahat!" as expected, Rui quickly felt into a hysterical giggle fit. Trying his hardest to remain still on her lap, but he couldn't help twitch and squirm at each ticklish touch.

"Please, you saw this coming a mile away" Nene smirked as she snuck her hands under his shirt, making Rui flop around like a fish out of water.

"Nahahaha! I-I'm sahaharry!" he tried to plead at her, his cheeks already burning red, but Nene didn't buy that apology.

"Hmm... I dunno... Should I really stop?~" she then softly wiggled a finger inside his navel, causing him to shriek and weakly kick his legs out.

"WAH- HAHAHAHAHA! WAIT- OKAY! OKAHAHAY!".

"Okay what?".

"I-I'LL STAHAHAP B-BOTHERING YOHOHOU!".

"Mm..." Nene got lost in thought for a moment, observing her flustered boyfriend. His head was all thrown back, eyes squeezed shut, flushed cheeks to oblivion, and who could forget about that blinding smile? As much fun as this was, she didn't want to kill him so after a bit she finally showed some mercy. Opting to softly rub at his tummy to comfort him.

Rui instantly sucked in as much air as he could, curling up all tired from the tickles. Once he recovered, he looked up at her, a sly smirk on his face. "You didn't get me to move, so now you owe me 10 kisses~" he did the kissy face up at her, causing Nene to let out a flustered groan, hiding her face behind her hands. Rui being the tease he is only chuckled in reply, wrapping his arms around his grumpy girlfriend and softly kissing the front of her hands.

"Aww, how cute~!" Shizuku cooed from her side of the couch, watching the playful scene between her partners always brought a smile to her face. She squeezed Tsukasa tightly in her embrace, the blonde happily nuzzling against her chest. "...Makes me wanna tickle you too~" Shizuku giggled innocently as her fingers began to walk up Tsukasa's sides.

"S-Shizuku, w-wahahait!" Tsukasa started to frantically giggle, his cheeks slowly turning into a cute, pink color.

"It's so cute how ticklish you are~" Shizuku smiled as her fingers softly danced under his arms, making Tsukasa squeal and thrash around on her lap.

"NAHAHA! N-NOT THEHEHERE!" he instantly tried clamping his arms down as tight as he could, but nothing could get Shizuku to relent on her tickly torment.

"Ahh coochi coochi coo, Tsukasa-kun~" Shizuku playfully teased into his ear, making Tsukasa somehow squeal even louder. "Aww, I forgot how ticklish your ears are~" Shizuku giggled against his ear, making Tsukasa giggle all bashfully.

"S-stahahap thahahat!" he let out a playful whine as he covered his reddened face behind his hands.

"Oh alright, but only because I love you~" Shizuku placed a soft kiss at the side of his neck, earning a cute squeak from her boyfriend. She giggled at his reaction as she went back to holding him lovingly. The blonde quickly taking in deep breaths.

After that whole tickling session, both boyfriends were completely exhausted. Each of them having falled asleep on one of their girlfriends laps, the movie long forgotten.

___________________________________________

Rui sighed for the bazillionth time that day, plopping right back down on the bed after having gone over to his door and grabbed the doorknob. He had ended up not opening the door, noticing his fingers were ever so slightly trembling. 

As he stared up at his ceiling in the dim light, his little inventions piled up everywhere around him, the purple-haired boy could not help but be frustrated at himself. 

He knew what time it was. If he didn't leave now, he would be late for rehearsal. And he was usually the first one there. 

If the others had specific questions about the tech... Rui wouldn't be there for them. But he couldn't confront Tsukasa. At least, not before figuring out what was going on with himself first. 

Why had that one joke Tsukasa made yesterday affected Rui so much, when he'd completely brushed off much worse insults by complete strangers at school? Rui Kamishiro of all people was sulking in his room because of some stupid joke? This whole situation has got to be some stupid joke. And Rui had tried laughing at it, laughing it off. But it sounded far too bitter, and the feeling that came along with it was far too uncomfortable. 

"Rui! If you don't want to take it seriously, then leave!" 

At least, Rui thought it was supposed to be a joke, as the words echoed through his mind again. 

Maybe Tsukasa had just had a bad day, or maybe it was a really bad attempt at a joke, but the intention hardly mattered when a single quiet sob broke the silence. It surprised Rui enough to stop and think yet again. No tears ended up coming out, but he was only increasing in frustration. Why had one line affected him so much when he felt fine the previous day? 

Admittedly, Rui already knew the troupe could probably manage going on without his ideas. It's something his classmates had made abundantly clear from a young age. No one really needed his ideas. Sure they might be different or funny or ambitious, but everyone in his past could always make something just as good without them... they'd all said.

That night, Rui couldn't sleep no matter how long he tried for. He tried everything short of sleeping pills, since he didn't have any. In the end, he ended up pulling an all-nighter working on his next mechanical project to take his mind off of whatever was going on. It worked for the night, but... 

Rui remembered he had to go to school still. He might not pay attention because he can learn it on his own and get the homework done relatively quickly, but attendance was attendance. 

Even at school, his classmates observed Rui being a different kind of strange. Instead of scribbling ideas and mumbling to himself, he was oddly spacey, staring outside at the sky and taking several minutes longer to realize that class had ended. 

Not to mention, he timed his pathing to completely avoid Tsukasa, not even taking the opportunity to get into any messes or trouble. Even the teachers, who knew the way Rui was, were getting a little concerned. One even approached him in the hall and asked if everything was okay because "You haven't done a single disruptive thing, and you look kind of down." 

Rui seemed to be rather caught off guard by that sudden concern from a teacher, even laughing a little bit at that. 

"I appreciate the concern," he did not, "Yeah, I'm fine, just haven't been getting as much sleep as usual." He explains it away, going on his way before the teacher could respond. 

- 

Rui continued to avoid going to a couple more rehearsals without any better reason than 'I have to work on the tech for the show' over text, and it was strange for the rest of WxS. 

To Tsukasa, it was strange because Rui was always so invested in the rehearsals. Yet, now he's working a lot more on his machines than anything. 

To Emu, it was strange to not have someone to bounce fun ideas off of. Someone to understand her noises and back her up that it's a good idea. 

To Nene, it was strange because she knew that Rui wasn't the type to miss rehearsals. She knew he was the type to take shows very seriously in every aspect. And Nene's concern was the most concerning. If she was concerned with Rui not showing up without an actually good reason, there was something wrong. 

Nene tried not to worry anyone, but after a couple more days of this completely avoidant behavior, she said to Emu and Tsukasa, "I'm sure it's nothing too serious, but just in case it is, I think it's best if I go talk to him first." 

The others nodded. Out of all of them, Nene knew Rui for the longest and probably knew him best. 

Once Nene got back to her own place, she figured she might need backup, because nothing she's seen Rui go through had made the boy hole himself up in his room and avoid everyone. So she called the only sociable person in her and Rui's childhood friend group (and in fact the last member of said childhood friend group), Mizuki. 

Mizuki had met Rui on the roof of the middle school he went to. They were just as odd as he was, society had decided, so they became friends with Rui. While he and Nene were still friends, Nene had to go to a different middle school. 

Rui's mannerisms had basically settled in by middle school, so Nene and Mizuki were the two most qualified to read Rui's expressions. 

"Nene-chan!" Mizuki's voice chirped through the speaker, "We haven't talked in a while! How have you been?" 

"I'm okay," Nene responded, "But, I need your help with something." 

"Not even a 'how are you' back??" Mizuki joked with a giggle, then got back on topic, "What's up, Nene-chan?" They knew Nene wasn't much for conversation. 

"Rui's been acting really weird lately and I might need you to come help and see what's wrong… you know how stubborn he is…" Nene did sound pretty concerned. 

"Eh?! What's he doing??"

"He's just been avoiding us, especially Tsukasa, and he's been avoiding talking to us beyond greetings and pleasantries…" 

"..." Mizuki was silent for a while, and Nene wondered for a second if they'd disconnected… until they spoke again, "... especially Tsukasa-kun?"

Nene nods… then realizes Mizuki can't hear a nod, "... yeah." 

"He's in his place, you said?"

"Yeah, I'm headed over now."

"Alright, I'll be there as soon as possible!" 

Nene hummed in affirmation, hanging up the phone, then headed out to head to her neighbor Rui. 

-

Rui was working on machinery again, concentrating ability lessened due to the lack of sleep, but still working on machinery. At least it was getting done. 

When he heard a knock at the door, Rui jumped for a moment. He had sat there for a moment before he heard a familiar voice come through the closed door, "Rui!" That was the loudest he'd ever heard Nene be, "Open the door, Rui… I need to talk to you." 

Rui hesitated. He knew what she would want to talk about. 

“… I’m coming!” He called back, nonetheless. He knew he could trust Nene to keep quiet with what he told her, so he put the parts of his machinery he was dealing with down onto his workbench in a specific order so he would know what was where later, and then finally opened the door. 

The first thing he was greeted by was Nene’s concerned gaze. Rui realized he probably looked pretty tired too, but he still smiles at his childhood friend, “To what do I owe the pleasure, Nene-chan?” 

“You know what I’m here for, Rui. Why have you been avoiding anything to do with Tsukasa lately?” The question causes Rui to pause, trying to determine how he should explain it to Nene, and she took that as wanting to come up with an excuse, “And don’t you dare say it’s nothing.”

It seemed that the long pause was the perfect length of time for Mizuki to arrive. 

Since Rui was facing out the door still, he noticed them first, “Eh? Mizuki?” Nene glanced back at the newest arrival, to which Mizuki responded with a smile and a giggle, “Yup! That’s my name! Don’t overuse it! Let’s all go inside to talk!” They gently nudged until the three of them were inside Rui’s messy room. 

Mizuki went straight over to Rui’s bed and sat on it and Nene followed suit. Now they were both staring at him expectantly. 

“Well this is just like old times~” Rui chuckles, attempting to change the topic. He couldn’t necessarily just shove these two out, and he figured if anyone should know, it should be the two people he trusted most not to judge him. 

“Rui,” Mizuki spoke first, rather sternly, “you’re making them worry for you, what’s going on recently?” Nene nods in agreement. 

“… well…” Rui hesitates, a slight red coloration tinting his cheeks. This was hardly noticeable at the moment, but he was avoiding looking either of the other two in the eyes. 

“… it’s… not exactly nothing, but it is ridiculous and highly unusual…”

“If it’s bothering you, we won’t judge,” Nene spoke up this time, “and I won’t laugh, though I can’t say the same about Mizu.” 

“Hey!” Mizuki gently elbowed Nene with a giggle, “I’ll try not to~” they joked to lighten the mood. 

Rui relaxed a little, chuckling just a bit, but ultimately said nothing yet. 

All it took was a glance at Rui’s hands that were clenched in fists for Mizuki to realize the two of them needed to help him relax more so he would speak more freely. They looked at Nene and mouthed one single word. Nene nodded, understanding what they must do. 

“Rui,” Mizuki got his attention first before reaching out, grabbing Rui’s wrist, and pulling him onto them after turning him so that his back was against Mizuki’s front, arms held to his sides by the beat hug Mizuki pulled him into, their legs wrapping around his legs. 

“Eh?! What are you-?”

“Now, Nene~!”

Nene had instantly jumped up off of her place on the bed and got in front of Rui, devious fingers moving his shirt up and wiggling her fingers up and down his abdomen. 

“Pfft-!” Rui wriggled around in Mizuki’s grasp, but his ticklish nature caused him to noodle his limbs as he squirmed, shaking his head as if it would help him hold back his laughter. It worked at first… until Nene moved to his sides. 

“Nahaha- Mihizuhuhu! Nenehehe! Why ahare you dohoing thihihihihs-…?” Rui’s struggles renewed in their intensity as the ticklish sensation spread through his sides.

“Well, we need you to relax, Rui~,” Mizuki explained, “You know you don’t like to speak your mind when you’re so tense~” 

Nene sees how Rui’s bright smile was plastered on his face as she tickled him, cheeks flushed at the prospect of being so helpless as he was being tickled. 

While this was torture to him, Rui still had just barely enough mental capacity to not throw his head straight back so he avoided bonking Mizuki in the face when Nene's hands moved up his sides, as far as Mizuki's arms across his chest allowed. 

But he really cracked when Nene wriggled her hands into Rui's armpits by moving her hands out and to the other side of Mizuki's arms.

"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA- NEHEHE AHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAHAP PLEHEHEHEHEHE-" Rui just about died, his laughter fading out into a silent laughter with tears in the corners of his eyes. 

Only then did Nene stop tickling him, smiling down at her very ticklish friend. 

Mizuki giggled, letting go of Rui and watching as Rui slid down to the ground in a fit of residual giggles. The two of them smiled at Rui, sitting back into his bed and letting Rui catch his breath. 

After he could breathe properly again, Rui chuckled a bit, "... thanks, guys."

"Our pleasure, Rui~" Mizuki smiled.

"Now will you tell us?" Nene adds, also smiling.

"Fihine, yes," Rui stayed sitting on the floor with his back against the side of the bed and both friends messing with his hair, "... it's just that, Tsukasa-kun said something the other day, and I really couldn't figure out why it affected me so much…" he conceded. 

Mizuki and Nene hummed in thought in unison. 

"And besides that, how do you feel about Tsukasa-kun besides that?" Mizuki knew what questions to ask, Nene thinks. 

"Well… he's just so bright and engaging, and just about everything he does is like a show in and of itself… and it…" Rui paused for a moment, "... it makes my heart feel like it's gonna beat out of my chest when he smiles at me…" Rui pauses again.

When Nene looks down at him, she sees his face is bright red. 

Mizuki looks at him as well, "... ne, Rui…" he looks up at them, "... have you ever thought that maybe it's because you're falling in love with him?" 

Rui froze, tensing for a few moments.

"Eh-?!" He was definitely blushing more somehow. He was literally a tomato. 

-

The next day, they had rehearsal again. This time, Rui went to Wonderstage. Nene met him just outside and she was also just getting there. 

"Ne, Nene," Rui got her attention, "I thought about it last night and… would you mind pretending to finish a last minute errand with Emu for maybe the first half hour?" 

She smiled knowingly at him and nodded. 

When Rui and Nene showed up at the stage, Tsukasa and Emu were there early. 

Nene ran on ahead and asked Emu for help running an errand, and said to Tsukasa, "You stay here." Very subtle. 

When Tsukasa saw Rui, the brightest smile came across his face and he basically tackle hugged the taller boy, though he made sure not to tackle him too hard. And Rui hugged him back, stumbling back a couple steps with a giggle. 

"RUI! Why'd you avoid me so much?? Did I do anything wrong??" Tsukasa's expression almost immediately turned to a frown as he looked up at Rui, still hugging him. 

"Well… just a little… but thanks to that, I figured something out. So it's not a big deal, Tsukasa-kun~" Rui explained.

"Tell me what I did, Rui, so I don't repeat that mistake! A world future star cannot be hurting the troupe he leads!" Tsukasa insisted, finally letting go and pulling back. 

Rui chuckled after a short pause, "Will you allow me to tell you my realization first, Tsukasa-kun?" It was a genuine question. 

Tsukasa tilted his head a little (like a curious puppy, Rui thought) and confusedly said, "... oh, okay." 

"... I took several days off…" Rui took a breath, avoiding eye contact, "... I was thinking a lot about something, and Nene and Mizuki helped me realize that I'm in love with you, my star. Your smile, your hair, your style… even how you hated bugs, but you still tolerated me telling you all about them… I… I'm in love with you, Tsukasa Tenma." 

The final confession caused his voice to tremble as he felt the tears in the corners of his eyes. 

The silence was deafening in the moments that it took Tsukasa to take in all of what Rui had just said. 

It took so long that Rui looked back at him with a concerned, "Tsukasa-ku-... mph-!" 

But he was cut off when Tsukasa rushed up to him and pulled him down into a kiss. 

Was this really happening? Tsukasa Tenma, the brightest and most accepting person he knew, was kissing Rui Kamishiro? 

It felt like an eternity, and when Tsukasa finally pulled back, Rui had to catch his breath again. There were tears streaming down Tsukasa's face. 

"Sorry, Rui, I-... I never knew you felt the same way…! I fell in love at some point and I didn't know when and… and I didn't say anything because I thought it might weird you out and I didn't want to lose my precious director because of uncontrollable emotions and-... and-"

Rui giggled and pulled him back into a hug to stop him from his rant, and of course, Tsukasa reciprocated. 

-

They didn't realize how long they'd been standing there hugging until Tsukasa finally pulled back again and asked, "... so… what was it that I did…?" 

Rui hesitated for a moment before responding, "... it was just… your remark about me not being serious… it… it really shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did so…" he fades off, looking away from Tsukasa again. 

The blond looked like he finally understood.

"Ah! I never got to apologize to you for that! I felt really bad after saying it, but I never got the chance be-... but it's still my bad. I'm sorry, Rui."

Rui chuckled, "It's alright, Tsukasa-kun~ after all, it's how I figured out my feelings for you, my precious star~" 

As the evening orange and pinkish hue of the sun going down struck down, a young male had watched it set gloomily. Events of his past flashed before him, making his eye's water as he wondered what he ever did wrong to deserve such cruel treatment? Let alone how badly treated his friend, Mizuki, was from her own school mates.

His mind kept flashing these memories, before being snapped back into reality as a worried Emu shook his shoulder worringly, "-ui, Rui, are you okay? Can you hear us?!" She worringly yelled, being settled as Tsukasa told her about his sudden realization. "Thank gosh, we were so worries, in fact, I was more worried!" She puffed her cheeks out childishly, "Y-You!? I was more worried then you were!" Tsukasa muttered, earning a gasp from the pink haired girl, before she could yell more, Nene had held her hand into her's, "Please, let's not forget the reason we are here." She reminded, Rui chuckling as he earned an apology from the two.

"What'd you need?" Rui asked curiously, smiling a bit as Emu gave him her usual 'special hugs'. "Rui.. you were crying." Tsukasa reprimanded, rubbing his back soothingly, "We came in a hurry because you seemed so panicked, you don't have to tell us, but, let us help you in any way possible."

The three gave him the most sweetest and genuine smiles, I mean, how could he not let them help? Their so sweet and willing, so, he trusted them. "Well, I have a request if you're.. willing to... at least." He said, averting his eye's as he said so, earning the curious gazes of three little munchkins. "Go ahead, we don't judge!" Emu said enthusiastically, eye's sparkling in joy as she enjoyed making those she loved happy. "I know, it's just that, it's really really silly." He laughed a bit, rubbing the back of his head shyly.

This had got Tsukasa to realize, "Oh? You want the kitchi-kitchi-cure?" He couldn't help but tease him, the two other's smiling as Rui blushed and turned his head away, earning the three's loud and coordinated awes, when he went to turn away, Nene had gently placed his back against her chest, holding his arm's, Tsukasa and Emu giving him the wildest of grins, finger's inching closer towards his already quivering torso. "Oh my, already anticipating this, hm?~" Emu couldn't help bit chuckle after the long whine she heard from him afterwards, "Alright, alright, we won't tease you any further."

That was obviously a lie, they didn't stop, if anything, it continued.

Finger's descended, a pair of thumbs rubbing at each pair of ribs and the other tracing random numbers and shapes onto his side's, these two places were mainly his giggle spots, and to know he trusted them with much more. "Who's the most ticklish on this land?~" Tsukasa cooed, "Yohohou, twahat!" Was how the purple haired male replied, giggling harder as he heard the 'offended' gasp leave the ginger, "How dare you! As a matter of fact, I'm not the one who's crazy ticklish riiight~"

And as the suspense settled in, Rui gaffawed, scrunching his shoulder's up defensively and letting out a surprised snort as offending finger's skittered under his chin, as if he was petting a cat, "Here~!" He grinned, using his free hand to scribble around his neck, "GYAHAH! YOHOU BUHULL-EHEK!?" He snorted once again, throwing his head back as he moved to tickle behind his neck and back under his chin each time they went back to being exposed.

"Ooo, what about.. here?~" Emu holding his leg out and squeezing his knee, earning the most sweetest squeal to release from him, "Aww! Does Rui love his kitchi-kitchi-cures?~" Nene decided to tease, scribbling at his highest set of ribs, wanting a piece of the action. "I-IHI- YOHOU KNOHOW I DOHOHO!" He whiner, sinking into the warming embrace of gentle yet such mean tickles. "I mean, of you can't handle i-" "IHIHI CAHAN, PLEHEASE!" Rui called, Tsukasa and the other's laughing in aww, Tsukasa ruffling his hair in praise, earning a wider smile in his laughs. "CUHUHUT!" He called, the three immediately stopping, "I'll get you some water!" Emu said happily, zooming away like the little road runner she was. Tsukasa and Nene on the other hand stayed and helped calm him down, hugging him and giving him back pats.

"Did we go too far?" Nene asked worringly, Rui shaking his head, "No, you stopped when I asked, also, uhm." He then muttered, Tsukasa narrowing a bro, "Repeat please?" He asked, "Agh, could we also do that.. more often?" He looked at him hopefully, Tsukasa and Nene aweing, before Rui flushed as Miku smiled, "That was so cute, don't worry, just sending it to Kaito!" She said with a smile, lacing a grin behind it.