#osayuu

Yuuma dangledhis legs on the edge of Tamakoma’s rooftop, tilting his head back up into thesky. There was no Replica here to document tonight for their records, notanymore, so Yuuma stared up at the sky as hard as he could. If he tried hardenough, maybe he could burn the sight into his memory, something to tellReplica when they meet again. He had been saving up these little moments eversince the invasion, little stories to regal Replica with and be added intotheir records alongside all the other nations they have travelled through.

Behindhim, the door creaked open, and Yuuma turned to see Osamu awkwardly jugglingtwo steaming mugs as the door to the roof thumped shut behind him. “Goodevening,” Yuuma called out, almost standing up to help; but Osamu steadiedhimself without any intervention, walking up swiftly to Yuuma’s side.

“Goodevening,” Osamu replied, handing one of the mugs to Yuuma. “I heard fromRindou-san that you’re up here.”

Yuumahummed equivocally, cupping the mug between his hands.

“Thatbook Rindou-san gave you to read, The Little Prince,” Osamu added, straight tothe point. “I read it too.”

Yuumaturned his head so he was looking Osamu straight in the eyes. “Is that whyyou’re here?”

“Yeah,”Osamu said. “It’s an interesting book. Do you think the author could be aNeighbour? Or knew Neighbours? That’s why Rindou-san wanted you to read it,right?”

“Hmm,”Yuuma said, remembering the complicated smile on Rindou’s face when he hadhanded the book to Yuuma, not long after the invasion. ‘I heard you readPinocchio,’’ he had said. ‘Something to think about.’ Yuuma wasn’tso sure he was talking about the possible Neighbour origins of the author. “Thestars that the Prince travelled through could be a metaphor for theNeighbourhood I guess.”

Osamufrowned at him. “You don’t care that this could be another friendly Neighbour?”

Yuumashrugged. “He’s already dead.”

“He’s missing,”Osamu corrected. “They never found his body. Maybe he returned to theNeighbourhood.”

“Maybe,”Yuuma said.

Osamublinked, visibly flat-footed. “I guess you don’t care, huh.”

Yuumashrugged again. “It doesn’t really matter whether he was a Neighbour or not. Idon’t know what nation he came from, or if I could have known him; we have noties.”

“I guessthat’s true,” Osamu said, a little uncomfortably.

“Being aNeighbour or not doesn’t mean anything,” Yuuma said, not understanding why itmattered so much to Osamu. “You matter, you and the rest of Tamakoma, and thepeople of Border, and all the other people I have met. We have establishedties, like that book said. You have tamed me.” He remembered his early days onEarth, just a few short months though it felt so long ago now, back when heknew nothing - not even of his good fortune in meeting Osamu.

Osamumade a face. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Butit’s true.” Yuuma smiled impishly. “And I’d like to think I’ve tamed you too.You and Chika and Jin-san and Konami-sempai and everyone in Tamakoma. I wouldcry for you.”

“Thanks,”Osamu said awkwardly, smiling a little.

“Itprobably won’t come to that though,” Yuuma mused, tilting his head back up tothe stars.

Osamu’sarms came up around Yuuma carefully, his mug still in his hand. “You have tamedme. But that’s why I don’t want to cry for you. I don’t want to be reminded ofyou by anything except you yourself.”

Yuumacould feel Osamu press his forehead against the nape of Yuuma’s neck. It was acommendable attempt at reworking the book’s words, and not something Osamuusually did. Yuuma leaned back into his embrace. “But when the snake comes forme…”

“Don’tgo,” Osamu said fiercely. “Don’t go with him even if he comes for you. Don’tlisten to what he says. We’re the ones who’ll take you to Replica.”

Yuumalaughed. “Is Replica supposed to be the Rose?”

Osamu’sarms tightened around Yuuma. “I thought that was a good metaphor.”

“It’snot a bad metaphor,” Yuuma said soothingly, “but Replica isn’t really anythinglike the Rose.”

“I guessnot,” Osamu admitted. “But that means you don’t have to go with the snake.”

Yuumabrought his free hand up to grasp at one of Osamu’s arms around his chest. “Iwon’t have a choice when that happens. But…I would like that to happen afterI see Replica again. I won’t die for Replica, Osamu.” He didn’t say, butI would die for you.

Osamu’shead shifted, a heavy weight on Yuuma’s shoulder. “I’ll make that happen. I’llmake sure you see Replica again. I promise.”

Yuumamoved his hand from Osamu’s arm to his head, patting gently. “Thank you,” hesaid. And then, because Osamu’s embrace was warm, because the night was lonely,because Yuuma was weak, he asked, “I know you don’t want to, but will you cry?When the time comes, will you cry for me?”

Yuumafelt Osamu twitch, he turned to see the corners of Osamu’s mouth turning downunhappily. He didn’t say anything though, and Yuuma let the silence spoolbetween them, unwilling to be the one to break it.

“…Iwill,” Osamu finally said, softly and a little desperately. “And I will laughtoo, when I look at the stars and am reminded of you.”

He wasblushing so heavily that Yuuma could see it even in the dim light of the stars,and Yuuma couldn’t stop his mouth from lifting up in a smile. He pressed hislips to Osamu’s to hide it, he didn’t want Osamu to think he was laughing athim.