#seiniisan

As usual, Youji was standing in the same spot, at the same time, with the same song playing in his ears through his headphones. And, as usual, the same face appeared before his vision, the same smile, the same wave. When he removed an earbud, the same voice came to his ears, saying the same words they always said.

"Good afternoon, Youji!"

Youji turned off his music and blinked at Makoto, murmuring a soft hello in response as his friend came closer and settled next to Youji. “Ready?”

"Yeah."

Together, the pair walked to the hamburger place they always went to. This lifestyle became routine after Youji came back to school from his sickness, as it has been for a handful of weeks. Youji was not aware Makoto was planning on changing up their routinely habits, but Makoto was a little skittish, a little too excited and not holding it inside very well.

Youji noticed his twitching but decided to ignore it. Makoto would talk about it later, Youji assumed, and he simply listened to Makoto talk about his day- how he fell asleep in math, the way he somehow aced his English test- maybe it was luck?- the way his friend Takashi tripped over his shoelace in the middle of the hallway in front of the girl he likes. All mundane topics Youji could hear but not truly listen to, and he liked that. It felt warm and calm in their atmosphere, despite the occasional stutter and apology from Makoto.

He wondered why Makoto was slightly nervous, but nevertheless they got to their favorite restaurant and feasted on cheeseburgers.

Makoto talked rumors and Youji listened, inquiring random details and humming to show interest. Once they were finished, they left with their sodas and walked towards the train station.

There was, for an unstated reason, a lack of people. Usually, crowds were bustling past, but Youji could not quite understand why these people were gone today. Makoto noticed it too, and decided the world was working in his favor.

"Youji," Makoto said a little shakily through the usual constant stream of sentences he spoke. At the sound of his name, Youji’s gray eyes turned to see Makoto, frozen in place and grabbing the handle of his bag tightly. He looked relaxed at first, but when they made eye contact, Makoto scrunched his eyebrows and flushed when his stomach turned.

'Why is he so beautiful?'

Makoto shuffled his feet and looked up again, determined to go through with his plans.

"Youji, I want to tell you something really important," he licked his lips and squeezed his fists. He tried not to focus too hard on how Youji’s silky black hair seemed to glow with the setting sun, how his pale skin seemed so soft, how it was free of all blemishes and was practically flawless…

"I…" Makoto paused and finally decided to just do it.

What’s the worst that could happen?

"I like you a lot, Youji," he said softly, carefully. "I… thought about it for a long time, and I want to…" He stumbled over his words, nervous at how Youji seems to not have moved or even changed expression. "I… want you to date me. Is that something you’d… want to do with me, too?"

It was all out, and Makoto could only hear his pounding heart despite the leaves rustling in the trees and Youji’s silence. Youji turned more to face him, a single click as his shoe it the pavement, followed by more clicks as Youji came closer. Makoto’s heart sped up with his footsteps, but even when Youji stopped, Makoto’s heart continued to race, his face got warmer at the lack of distance between them.

"Y-Youji?"

His friend’s eyes seemed infinite; deep and passionate as he stared at Makoto, and Makoto just noticed the deepening pink on his cheeks.

"Makoto," he murmured, and Makoto nearly flinched at his own name.

"Yes?"

After a moment of silence and racing hearts, Youji broke their eye contact and looked at his feet shyly. He wasn’t sure, but Youji moved his head a little.

Makoto tilted his head. “Is that a yes…?”

Youji nodded again, quickly, but Makoto understood. He lifted Youji’s face in his palms- his face was just as soft as Makoto had been imagining all this time- and he took only a moment to study Youji’s face, his lips, his eyes, his eyelashes and hair… and he leaned in, pressing their lips together gently.

Youji was stunned at first, but he had been secretly craving the same attention from Makoto as well. He had always been bad at showing emotion, and he never put forth the effort into interacting with others, but he spent his time with Makoto for a reason.

If he didn’t think Makoto was a good person, he wouldn’t hang out with Makoto. If he didn’t love Makoto, he wouldn’t be by Makoto’s side every day.

Youji’s face turned redder as they kissed deeper, and he felt he made a small noise when Makoto’s tongue met his, but he had no control over the embarrassing ways his body responded, and he simply kept his eyes closed and enjoyed the moment while it lasted.

Makoto nearly swooned at the way Youji tasted- simple and sweet, like vanilla, with a tint of the 7-Up he was drinking. He never wanted to stop, but he pulled away after their bodies were pressed close together and the way they grabbed each other was borderline desperate.

After a couple deep breaths, Makoto smiled. “I’m so glad, Youji,” he sighed happily and gently brushed some hair from Youji’s eyes. “I… was afraid you’d hate me.”

"Never."

Only one word was spoken- quietly, and quickly- but Makoto stopped and it was enough to feel like the wind had been kicked from his chest.

Youji could never hate him?

He then felt lighter than air, and a big, goofy smile spread on his face as he threw his arms around Youji, pulling his new boyfriend in close to him. Laughter erupted from his throat, and after soft protests and blushing, even Youji began to smile. 

The day seemed normal at first, but Youji was glad as he held Makoto’s laughing form that it wasn’t. It was better than normal and it was all he had dreamed of…