#teruemi

Shigeo is special; Teru can’t really put into words how much the boy means to him. He’s kind, and endlessly patient, and gentle and sweet and caring and generous and wise beyond his years and every single adjective Teru can pick out of the dictionary to describe how much he adores Shigeo. Teru wouldn’t be the better person he is now—or at least trying to be—if it wasn’t for him, after all. One might even say it’s inevitable that Teru would fall for him—and boy did he. Hard and fast and brutal.

Like this, in their dreamy little bubble concealing them from the outside world, everything feels perfect.

Or at least it would be, if a certain somebody isn’t here to intrude herself into their peaceful, personal, incredibly intimate moment. Ah, well. This isn’t the first time, anyway.

Teru looks over at Emi, trying to disguise it as a casual glance around. Emi, however, turns out to be far more observant than she lets on, andimmediately catches his eyes. She flits them hintingly at Shigeo, and levels him with a look that reads, Plan: Hit-And-Run, is it a go?

Teru flashes her a back a look that reads, Target acquired, commence plan.

They’ve discussed it beforehand; Teru’s aware of Emi’s feelings towards Shigeo, and she’s equally aware of his. They’ve been playing a silent game of it now, trying to win Shigeo’s affection whilst the boy remains completely oblivious to their rivalry. It wasn’t until Emi decided to confront him about it point-blank one day did they finally address their problem: Shigeo seems to show equal affection—Teru does not want to say camaraderie—towards them both, and there really isn’t any way to tell if he favours one of them more than the other. 

Which is why they’ve come up with a plan. His mind replays a recollection of events that lead up to this point, landing onto a recent conversation they had just moments earlier before Shigeo steps out of the school gate: 

“Alright. Are we still doing it?” Emi says, stealing furtive glances at the gate where Shigeo is surely to appear soon. 

“Of course we are. Unless you’ve chickened out and changed your mind?” 

Emi draws herself upwards, like a bird puffing up its feathers in offense. Teru snorts. “Of course not!” she says. “You haven’t forgotten what we planned, though, have you?” 

Teru lays a hand on his chest in exaggerated indignancy. “Of course not!” 

“Okay.” She hesitates for a bit, and then leans closer in a comically conspiratorial manner. “But just in case—” She inhales, “Here’s what will happen. When we reach the three-way intersection, you know the one?” 

“Yes. Shigeo takes the middle, mine is to the right, yours left.”

“Yes, that one. Now, when we reach there, right before we split—” She pinkens a little, pausing, before clearing her throat. “We both pull in to kiss him on the cheek at the same time, and then run off. Whoever he chooses to chase gets to have him. Got it?” 

Teru hums affirmatively, low and determined. “Got it.”

His mind snaps back to the present as Emi speaks up. 

“Ahh, that math test was a pain, wasn’t it, Shigeo-kun?” 

Shigeo turns to Emi, nodding. His face morphs into an expression akin to how one would look after a near-death experience. He looks like he’s seen the darkest horrors of the world. Teru’s seen him look less horrified facing an evil spirit with an appetite for human flesh in the rare few Spirits and Such cases he’s invited to come along with. “I wish I studied more for it…” he says. 

“I’m sure you did your best, Shigeo-kun! Give yourself some credit.” Teru chirps at him, and he knows he’s barging into a conversation that he isn’t exactly a part of—initially at least—but it’s worth it when Shigeo pinkens a little and stutters a thank you. In his peripheral vision, he notices Emi pulling a look of concealed irritation. Satisfaction swells in his chest at that. 

“How about Body Improvement Club?” Teru asks him, and maybe he’s a bit desperate for attention, but he has to grab what he can get before Emi yanks it out of his fingers again. “I can certainly see the progress already.” 

Shigeo’s face darkens further, and Teru resists the urge to lean forward and land a peck on the pretty dusting of pink over his nos—

“I can definitely see it, too! You’ve really come a long way, Shigeo-kun. In that marathon, I was impressed by your determination! It’s definitely paying off.” Emi interrupts his train of thought.

Shigeo looks the same shade as a tomato now, looking shyly at Emi as he whispers, “Th-thank you, Emi.” 

Emi sends Teru a dirty look behind Shigeo’s shoulders, who is too busy being flustered to pay attention—the oblivious thing, why does Teru need to fall for someone who just won’t realise?—and oh, Teru sees now. 

Two can play this game. 

“I absolutely agree! I really admire your dedication,” he gushes, “Though I’m not surprised. you always put your heart into everything you do, Shigeo! It’s very admirable.” 

Shigeo looks about ready to explode. 

“Th-that’s very nice of you to say, Teru–kun… I-I appreciate it, th-thank you.” 

Ha. Teru flashes a victory grin at Emi. Take that. The look of dismay he gets back is dangerous for his pride. 

He looks back at Shigeo, who is adorably flushed and fidgeting with the edge of his gakuran, head lowered to cover his eyes slightly with his low-cut bangs. 

God, Teru wants to reach down and plant a little kiss on his cheek… But he has to wait. 

They’re so close, and Teru can feel Shigeo’s body warmth and his comforting aura, and it’s just the two of them under the setting sun—and, well, he supposes, also Emi. 

Who is also looking at Shigeo with a face that likely mirrors his own. 

Emi catches his eyes, and he feels the crackle of tension between them that Shigeo is still blissfully ignorant of. He huffs out an agitated puff of breath, and breaks eye contact in favour of looking ahead to where they’re walking. He feels Emi’s eyes boring through his head for a few long seconds before she, too, looks away. 

In the distance, he sees the street diverge into that three-way they mentioned. Their walk is drawing to its tail end, but—he sends Emi another look, receiving a determined one back—this is just the beginning of their plan. 

Five…

His heart thuds wildly in his chest like a hummingbird trapped in a cage. He can feel it drumming in his ears, drowning out every other sound.

Four…

They draw nearer and nearer to the intersection. Teru feels like he’s about to pass out. 

He looks over at Emi, who looks ready to combust and is… slightly vibrating? Shigeo, he notices, looks like he’s composed himself from his flustered state. 

Three…

Alright. This is it. They’re about to reach the intersection. Teru might vomit. He might scream. He might genuinely, honest to god, collapse on the road out of sheer anxiety. 

But he’s agreed to the plan, and dammit, Teruki doesn’t want to lose this. 

Two…

He gives Emi one last look. Emi gives a curt nod back. 

One.

They both pull forward at the same time to plant a kiss onto either side of Shigeo’s cheek. 

Teru’s heart bursts into fireworks and rainbows and confetti. 

Just as soon, he pulls back, lightheaded and practically unable to breath, refusing to look at anything.

He squeaks out a “See you!” just as Emi says “Bye!” an octave higher. 

And then he runs, feeling on top of the world. Surely Shigeo is chasing him. Surely.

He runs faster in long, confident strides. Any day now, Shigeo will call his name, stop him, flushed and beautiful under the sunset and practically glowing, then ask him about that kiss and—oh, Teru giggles—pull him into another. 

Any day now! 

Any… 

Teru slows down. 

He frowns, panting. He doesn’t hear any footsteps behind him. 

He turns around. 

He stares.

Nobody’s there. The road is empty. Shigeo didn’t follow him. 

Hot licks of fire burn him from the inside, turning the beating muscle he calls his heart into ashes. Dejection, shame, and something like grief wallow up his throat.

Shigeo didn’t choose him. 

—

The next time the three of them walk home together again is just a day after The Incident. Teru feels ashamed and, admittedly, a little depressed, but seeing Emi smile at Shigeo as they walk side by side… He can’t help but feel happy for them. They look good together like this. 

Where does he fit in that? 

Teru swallows the lump in his throat. Why is he even here in the first place? Did they want to tell him how they’re… a thing now? Does Emi intend to show off her winning? 

Just as he considers making an excuse to run off and walk home alone, Shigeo clears his throat. He looks at the boy, whose face is a curious thing between nervous and determined. 

“Um, Teru, Emi, there’s… something I need to ask you guys.” 

Teru’s brows furrow in confusion. Emi’s similarly so. 

“The other day… when we, um, walked home together…” There’s a hint of red blooming on his cheeks. And then he blurts out, “Y-you both kissed me and then ran off. And I… Why?” 

“Wait,” Teru says, “Wait, what?” 

He looks over to Emi, who is blinking rapidly. She stops, pauses, frowns, and then softens a little. “Shigeo-kun…” she says, “Did you… follow any of us after that?” 

Shigeo looks very, very embarrassed. “I-I didn’t know what to say! Or do! I-I mean, I like you both and I— I didn’t… I just—” He shrinks into himself, “I just stood there until the sun set. Ritsu had to come pick me up,” he admits. 

Teru’s jaw unhinges itself. 

Oh. 

Oh.

Teru laughs; loud and boisterous cackles. He sees Emi stifling her own giggles with a hand, could barely make out the flustered jumble of confused words from Shigeo. 

“Oh god,” Teru says, “Oh god.”

Emi’s giggles subside and end with a small, amused sigh. “Well… So that’s what happened.” 

She and Teru share a look. This time, they’re gentle. 

“Maybe we should talk about this another time, Shigeo-kun,” she suggests. 

Teru nods. “Yeah.” His eyes don’t leave hers. “Maybe we should.”

—

LATER

Emi sighs. “Oh, well.” She turns to Teru. “I guess we both failed, huh?” 

Teru heaves a heavier sigh. “Yeah…” 

Emi nods sympathetically. “A dense one, isn’t he?” she chuckles. Teru chuckles back. 

“Yeah,” he agrees, “God, yeah.” And then he looks askance. “It’s a part of his charm, though.” 

Emi hums in agreement, a fond look on her face. 

“Maybe we should… hang out sometimes,” she offers after a while, and Teru notices the hesitance there. “Share our woes of unrequited love over some parfait, or something.” 

Teru lets slip an entirely involuntary chuckle. He’s a little taken aback by the offer. “I mean,” he shrugs, “Yeah, sure. Crushing over Shigeo is frustrating.” 

Emi looks surprised at his response, but Teru chooses not to read into it. Instead she chuckles back, says, “Tell me about it!” and gives him a smile.