Chapter Text
Spring was a time of change. A time of rebirth. It was when graduates left their schools and new students prepared for the start of their school year. Even after having attended Yumenosaki for three years, Tsumugi Aoba wasn’t sure if he could properly explain his connection to that place. He had entered the school filled with silly ideals. Perhaps he still carried some of those ideals with him, but he knew he was different now than when he entered. He had managed to incite a revolution within these walls with the help of his beloved friends, but it had cost him his youth and the first real love he had ever had.
Ah, Eichi. He looked stunning up there at the podium addressing his fellow graduates. The burning love that Tsumugi once had for him faded over time. If Hiyori were to ask his question again, about if he was in love with Eichi, he would have to say no. There was love there, there would likely always be love there, but it was not the all consuming blind faithful kind of love it had been nearly a year ago. He had once told Hiyori that Eichi was number one in his heart, he couldn’t claim that anymore. Now it was the kind of love for something that once was and never would be. Looking down the line he could spot his fellow classmates out of the corner of his eye and see Wataru behaving oddly normal. Likely he had been bribed by Eichi in some way. It had been painful at first, but now Tsumugi could appreciate Wataru being there for Eichi when the rest of them weren’t, when they were too burnt out from being used and discarded. Tsumugi didn’t regret befriending Eichi, didn’t regret their time together, their revolution, their youth, or how Eichi had chosen Wataru. Perhaps the only thing he regretted was not fighting even harder for his first love.
Graduation was meant to be a time of nostalgia but Tsumugi hadn’t thought he would be swept up in it quite like this. His time with Fine, his time with Switch, the days spent in the handicrafts club room. It was all coming to an end now. He had worked with Nagisa and Hiyori’s new unit mates during Wondergame and had ensured that he and Switch would have a place after graduation. With his own two hands he would build New Dimensions up the same way he had done with Fine. He had learned his lesson along the way and wasn’t going to ruin his relationships again. Despite Knights being the true star of NewDi both of the graduating students of that unit we’re going to be in Italy most of the time and Madara was not interested in playing bureaucracy. It was oddly reassuring to know his friends trusted him to not muck things up with Eichi’s new idol utopia. Only time would tell if it all went okay.
The ceremony ended and the graduates started to mill about. Tsumugi congratulated Eichi on a well made speech before using Keito approaching as a good means of not continuing the conversation. Likely everyone was feeling nostalgic and he didn’t wish to dwell on the past too much with Eichi. Instead he made his way over to the senior members of Undead.
Seemingly sensing that Tsumugi was nearby, Rei reached out to take hold of his arm and pulled him closer, lazily draping his arm over Tsumugi's shoulders as he spoke with Kaoru.
“Oh, hi Aoba-kun,” Kaoru gave a slight wave. It seemed the year had really changed all of them. Tsumugi noted how close Kaoru stood to the two of them. Last year he would have scoffed at male interactions that were this buddy buddy. It made him smile to think Rei had been a positive influence.
“Hello, Kaoru-kun, Rei-kun. I hope I’m not interrupting,”
“Not at all. Kaoru-kun and I were just fretting over our clubs.”
“With Kanata-kun and I graduating I’m worried Souma-kun will find it hard to take care of all the marine life.” Kaoru explained, before running a hand through his hair. “Honestly, Kanata-kun really went above and beyond this year so we have a lot of critters and it’s a lot for one kid to handle.”
“Hmm, that’s true but I’m sure he’ll get more club members.” Tsumugi responded and thought of his own club. “I haven’t been to the handicrafts club a lot but I’m sure Mika-kun will be able to handle himself with Shu-kun and I gone.” Tsumugi was certain all of his kouhais would be just fine without his watchful eye.
“Rei-kun is worried Koga-kun and the twins will be lonely without him. I keep telling him it’s more like he’ll be the lonely one.”
Lonely, huh? Natsume might be lonely with his nii-sans and himself leaving but he would still have Sora and his classmates. Tsumugi smiled and leaned into Rei’s side, enjoying the warmth of his body. “I’m sure all of our juniors will be fine. We’ve prepared them the best we can. All we can do is hope we’ve left the school better than we found it for them.”
“Since when did Aoba-kun become so philosophical?” Rei teased him but squeezed his shoulder.
Tsumugi laughed lightly. “It’s true though right, Rei-kun?”
Everything they had been through had created a space where good hard working kids like Sora, Hinata, Yuta, Koga, Adonis, Natsume, and so many more were able to flourish and thrive instead of being snuffed out or bullied into submission. It had all been worth it, right? They had made things better in the end.
“Yeah, you’re right.” His response came and it made Tsumugi smile. They were still alive, they still had things they could do. As Hiyori would say, ah what fine weather.
“Ibara-kun,” It felt strange to be addressing his roommate like this but something had been on Tsumugi’s mind and since Ibara lived right here with him it was easier to ask him. Their other roommates were still at school so it was easier to get the third year to focus on him
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
Aha, Ibara and his weird nicknames. “I was just curious about something. Is Hiyori-kun okay?” The question might have seemed out of the ordinary under normal circumstances but things weren’t normal right now.
Anyone who had been on the internet recently would have seen the infamous ‘Exile’ ultimatum that Nagisa had given to Hiyori not too long ago. Since then Eve had been picking up jobs left and right and whenever Hiyori or Nagisa were interviewed they seemed to have only hostile things to say to one another. Hiyori counted Nagisa as the number one in his heart. Certainly he must have been in bad shape if he was having such an open and public spat with his soulmate.
Ibara seemed confused by the question before realization dawned in his eyes. The young man knew that Tsumugi had once been in a unit with his current unit mates. Tsumugi wasn’t sure if Ibara was aware of the depths of their relationship but he likely pieced it all out together in that single question. “His Highness is throwing a tantrum. He’ll calm down eventually, it’s His Excellency whom I’m more concerned with. He’s behaving so peculiarly. Perhaps you could try speaking with him?”
“Me? Aha, I doubt Nagisa-kun would enjoy that.”
“Nonsense, you were once comrades, yes? I’m sure he would enjoy the company seeing as how I’m much too busy to spend time with him, trying to fix this Conquest debacle.”
Even if Ibara said that, it still felt strange to just reach out to Nagisa in order to check in on Hiyori. Instead he sent Hiyori a message on Whole Hands requesting a lunch date with him. If Tsumugi promised to take him somewhere with delicious quiche and sweet tea then he was certain Hiyori wouldn’t be able to resist. Tsumugi was proud of himself for being able to remember all the things Hiyori liked.
Hiyori agreeing to the date had been a surprise but the biggest surprise came when Tsumugi actually showed up for their date and Nagisa was with Hiyori. They were both dressed to be incognito. Nagisa had all of his hair up hidden under a hat and wearing a pair of fake glasses. Hiyori was wearing a hoodie and also fake glasses. Tsumugi tried not to think about how cute they both looked. Of course the first thing out of his mouth wasn’t a compliment on their looks, instead it was, “Neither one of you can ever make fun of my glasses again.”
The remark had Hiyori holding his stomach as he laughed. Tsumugi took the seat across from them, pouting. “...Hiyori-kun thought we should disguise ourselves.”
“That’s smart but I can still be cross with you both. So mean to me when we were in school. You both and Rei-kun and Eichi-kun too. Hmph. Keito-kun is the only one who understands the struggle of wearing glasses.”
Tsumugi’s little speech just had Hiyori laughing harder. “Ah, Tsumugi-kun, you’re still so entertaining. I missed you soooooo much.” He drew out the ‘so’ and it was enough to make Tsumugi cease his pouting and smile warmly at the two of them.
“You seem much better than your interviews would lead me to believe.”
“Hmph, I can’t believe you of all people would believe that scandalous tabloid news.”
“Are you trying to say the video of Nagisa-kun threatening you was fake?”
“...Acting.”
“Huh?”
“...Acting. I knew Hiyori-kun would understand and he responded the way I hoped he would. Ibara and Jun continue to think it’s real as does everyone else. Hiyori-kun didn’t want to leave Tsumugi-kun in the dark and I agreed because you’re our cherished friend.”
The feeling of both warmth and pride had Tsumugi smiling broadly. ‘Cherished friend’. He was so grateful to them both. More than that, it would seem Nagisa had continued to grow without him looking. The boy who could barely string together basic sentences was now on his way to giving Eichi-kun a run for his money with his monologues. Perhaps joining Dramatica had been a good choice for him.
“Thank goodness. I know Hiyori-kun loves Nagisa-kun the most so I had been worried.” He expressed which caused Hiyori to reach across the table and hold Tsumugi’s hand.
“Idiot. Like I’d ever let something as frivolous as his cause a rift between Nagisa-kun and I. We’re two souls connected by fate! The fabled Adam and Eve connected for all time as decreed by the heavens themselves!” Hiyori continued dramatically because Tsumugi laughed and squeezed his hand. “Enough about us through. This whole conquest thing has been such a bore. Have you fucked Rei-kun yet?”
The jarring change in pace mixed with the sheer straightforwardness of the question left Tsumugi sputtering. Hiyori still had a knack for keeping Tsumugi on his toes. “I-I, We, We’re not--”
“Dating?” Hiyori pouted, letting go of the dark haired boy’s hand to instead lace his fingers together and place his chin on top of them. “I thought I already gave you my blessing to pursue him during Summer live?”
“Aha, I wasn’t aware I needed your blessing.” Tsumugi replied, laughing lightly. An attempt to distract Hiyori and have him focus on the blessing part. Which failed.
“You like him though, right?”
Why was Tsumugi getting the strangest sense of Deja vu right now?
He sighed, knowing that talking to Nagisa and Hiyori was safe. They didn’t go running to tell secrets and they were always supportive and loving towards him. He knows that if he had wanted to, he could have remained part of their romantic lives, but he had learned to be greedy and he wanted to be number one in the heart of the person who was number one in his. Romantic or not they were two of the people he was the closest with.
“Yes. I like him. A lot. I’ve always liked him. I guess Rei-kun was my Wataru-kun. Something unattainable, but unlike Eichi-kun I just accepted that reality and never gave Rei-kun much thought beyond a crush.” Rei had been the first boy that Tsumugi had ever been attracted to. The cool handsome bad boy of Yumenosaki. Tsumugi would be lying if he hadn’t had more than a few fantasies about Rei sweeping him off his feet and kissing him dramatically.
“So?” Hiyori insisted.
“So, the war happened and then other stuff happened and we’re friends and I’m happy with that.”
“Urgh, you’re hopeless.”
“It’s okay, really. I’m just glad that Rei-kun still wants to be around me. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he blamed me for all the bad things that happened but he doesn’t. He’s...amazing. He understands the way I speak. We’re in a circle together too. Every day with Rei-kun is fun. So don’t worry about me, Hiyori-kun, Nagisa-kun. I promise I’m slowly getting better.”
What Tsumugi had said to his old friends was true. Spending his time with Rei was pleasant. Even performing mundane tasks like researching for the Mystery Researchers was fun. Between the two of them they were able to keep their fellows entertained. Each of them had some knowledge of the occult and were all too happy to learn more.
“What about this for our next trip?” Tsumugi asked while passing the paper over to Rei. Their research session had started at the table but Rei had made a comment about the summer heat and how it felt cooler on the ground so they were now sitting on the floor of the library sitting side by side.
Rei took the paper and examined it’s contents while absent mindedly running his fingers through Tsumugi’s hair. It always became a poofy curly mess during the humid heat but Rei made no comment as he hummed. “Yes, we can take a train out and then walk the rest of the way. If it’s too late we can even stay over at a local inn.” Rei agreed and Tsumugi relaxed into his hand. “Aoba-kun?” He roused himself at the sound of his name. “Have you been sleeping well?”
“Aha, not to worry Rei-kun. Things have just been busy lately so I’ve been staying up more. It’s not a big deal.”
Despite his assurances Rei sighed and shifted his arms so that they now encircled Tsumugi and he was resting on Rei's side. “I’m sleepy. Let’s take a nap.” he said with no room for argument and he nuzzled the top of Tsumugi’s head. The bespectacled man couldn’t think of any good reason not to take a nap with Rei. He let himself relax in the other’s hold and the gentle breathing of the other lulled him to sleep.
Tsumugi was a workhorse. No one could ever deny that he was a hard worker. He sometimes took the long way around and made things harder on himself, but he was no slacker. Rei couldn’t say the same thing about himself. He had spent his fair share of time sitting on his laurels and slacking off. This wasn’t like that though. He was naturally bad at staying awake during the day, but the way Tsumugi would ignore sleep for work was worrisome and if pretending to be more tired than he was would force Tsumugi to nap as well then all the better.
Rei would continue to use this trick with Tsumugi either none the wiser or not caring enough to call Rei out on his tactics. They would start their time together doing whatever task they were assigned before he managed to convince Tsumugi that a nap was in order. Sometimes when he slept deeply enough Rei would move him to a more comfortable spot and continue to finish their task alone so that Tsumugi could get more sleep. It was easier to nap in the library or the offices with Tsumugi than it was to try and sleep in his dorm with Eichi being loud as hell anyway.
What had Keito been thinking when he placed him and Eichi in a dorm room together? Rei sometimes felt bad for poor little Aira, stuck between the age-old conflict of light vs. dark. Their jabs at each other weren’t nearly as harsh as they used to be. Rei had more or less accepted that his most precious friend Wataru had chosen Eichi and even if the others didn’t understand, it wasn’t their place to rain on his happiness. Likewise, Natsume had looked on in horror when Rei had mused once about his attraction to one Aoba Tsumugi.
Since graduation the oddballs didn’t get together as much as when they had all been in school together but a chance opening in all of their schedules had allowed Rei to plan a get together. It was more for Natsume than anyone else. Their poor littlest oddball was all alone at that school now and Rei wanted to ensure that Natsume still knew that he had a support system. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn when Shu of all people made an innocent enough remark.
“How are the cats settling into your apartment?” The question was directed at Natsume but it puzzled the others who all knew that everyone at the table had already moved into the dorms, Natsume included.
“Apartment?” Rei questioned and noted how Natsume’s face all at once grew as red as his hair.
“Shu-niisan! That was told to you confidence!” he protested, bringing a hand up to his face to hide it.
“Was it? Kagehira made no mention of your relationship being a secretive one.”
“Oya~” Wataru leaned in closer, excited at this bit of news. “Natsume-kun and Mika-kun finally noticed their obvious affections for each other?”
“O-Obvious?!”
Rei chuckled. “I think it was more obvious on Kagehira-kun’s part in your defense, Sakasaki-kun. But congrats anyway. You two are a good match for each other.”
Shu was nodding along. The eccentric artist held both his own doll and Natsume in high esteem.
“What about you, Itsuki-kun?” Rei mused, hoping to help Natsume get his revenge and inquire about Shu's love life. “How is Sena-kun settling into Venice?”
Shu sputtered around his tea. Taking the napkin offered to him from Kanata. “We are quite fine, thank you.” he huffed, his cheeks dusted lightly but not as easily embarrassed as their little Natsume. “We have both settled into Venice and Paris quite nicely. Now why don’t you try your stunts with Wataru and Kanata.”
“Hibiki-kun and Shinkai-kun are all too willing to gush about their boyfriends.” Rei pointed out and the others nodded.
Wataru gave a mock gasp, dramatically clutching his heart. “And here I thought my chance to tell you all how well my darling Eichi-kun is doing had finally come.”
Kanata smiled, humming whimsically. “I don’t mind. Everyone already knows that Chiaki is the best." He spoke matter of factly but no one at the table was going to try and deny it. Chiaki was a truly good person who had helped out each of them at one point or another. “What about you, Rei?”
“Yes, yes,” Natsume jumped on this change of direction. “You haven’t told us anything about your love life. I was certain that you had a thing with Hakaze-senpai but he started dating Nito-senpai after graduation.” The glance they all sent Shu’s way at the mention of Nazuna did not go unnoticed but the man continued to drink his tea, seemingly unbothered by the topic of his ex getting together with someone else.
“Kaoru-kun is my dearest friend. He is certainly easy on the eyes but he’s bad for my heart.” Rei chuckled before resting his chin in his hand, absentmindedly swirling his tomato juice with a straw. “If I tell you, you’ll be cross with me.”
Natsume narrowed his eyes before gesturing to Wataru. “Unless you also are in love with the student council president I don’t see how any of us would be cross.”
Rei looked around the table at each of his nearest and dearest friends. After everything the oddballs had been through they were okay now. They didn’t need Rei to be there to smooth things over and ensure that they were all okay. Everyone was happy. Perhaps he too could finally be honest with himself and be happy. He sighed, “Alright, alright, if you must know. I’ve liked this boy since he came in during his first year. He was sweet and naïve and not afraid of big bad Rei the demon king.”
“First year?” Kanata mused and tilted his head. “Koga?”
Rei shook his head. “No, no. This was my first go through as a second year.” he joked, seeing as how he repeated his second year.
“Someone in our grade.” Wataru thought aloud, humming. “Not Kaoru-kun, none of us I presume?”
Another laugh. “I would have told you a long time ago if I fancied one of you. I fear even if I told this boy directly that I loved him he would just laugh and think I was joking with him.”
They all glanced over when Shu suddenly placed his teacup down and stared at Rei in a mixture of dawning realization and mild horror. “No.” he gasped before it was echoed by Natsume when he too realized who Rei must have meant. There was only one person who didn’t fear Rei’s reputation, spent a fair amount of time with him while they were in school together, and would laugh off any attempts at flirtation the man sent his way.
“Aoba?”
“Senpai?!”
“Ooooo, Predecessor-san. No wonder Rei was worried.”
The rest of their time together had been half about grilling him for his interest in Tsumugi and half spent trying to assist him in trying to figure out the right way to confess to him. Natsume had been in shock that Rei had liked Tsumugi for such a long time, but was after a while, the one most eager to help him.
“Personal outfit?” Rei leaned over to see the picture on Tsumugi’s phone. “Miss Anzu is helping you, yes?”
Tsumugi nodded. They had been doing more planning for their next Mystery Researcher trip when Tsumugi had gotten excited about the development of his outfit and asked if he could show Rei. The navy haired man was sitting in front of Rei between his legs, his back resting on Rei’s chest. “I had first suggested a bird mascot costume but it was rejected,” he laughed.
Rei shook his head, of course Tsumugi would request something so strange. “Good, otherwise Takamine-kun might have taken a liking to you and I’d rather not have to fight one of Shinkai-kun’s precious children.” Rei remarked, wrapping his arms around Tsumugi’s waist which caused the other boy to laugh.
“You’re so silly, Rei-kun.” Dense, dense, dense. He was so fucking dense it was driving Rei crazy.
“So you went with a blue bird motif instead of a blue bird costume?” Rei asked, not releasing his hold on his waist.
“Hmm, I guess Mitsuru-kun’s outfit was inspired by what made him want to become an idol so I asked Anzu to do the same for me and give me wings.”
Rei rested his chin on Tsumugi’s shoulder. His voice was soft when he responded. “It looks like a Fine outfit.” he wasn’t sure why he had said it. It wasn’t like he was still jealous of Fine. Hiyori and Nagisa were busy with themselves and Eichi was committed to Wataru. Certainly Tsumugi didn’t still pine after his former unitmates?
The red eyed idols' fears were dispelled a little when Tsumugi waved his hand dismissively and laughed. “Perhaps, that wasn't my intent though. Perhaps Anzu got inspired by our former outfits? Aside from the blue bird motif and asking for wings I told her that I wanted to become someone’s dawn. I want to be the light that can pierce through someone’s darkness. That’s the type of idol I want to be. I want my music to create a spell that can dispel the darkness in someone’s life if only for a moment.”
“Tsumugi…” Rei trailed off, Tsumugi was already the sun. He wasn’t painfully blinding the way Hiyori was but he was the sun nonetheless. No, perhaps not the sun. A star maybe? Something that twinkled just as brightly as the sun but was easier to look upon and didn’t leave Rei feeling scorched.
Before he could try to verbalize any of this though Tsumugi was turned to look at him, his neck craned to look in Rei’s thought loss eyes. When Rei focused back he was staring into those amber depths and forgetting everything he had wanted to say. “W-what?”
Tsumugi smiled, “You called me Tsumugi.”
Ack! Dense, dense, dense. Dense and dumb and adorable and driving Rei to the brink. “I did no such thing, Aoba-kun.”
“No fair, now you’re treating me like a stranger again.” He complained, huffed as he pushed himself up to a standing position, untangling himself from Rei's body. “I need to go to my fitting,”
He left and Rei lifted his hand to his chest where the weight and warmth of Tsumugi still lingered. Being in love was scary. It was vulnerable. Rei had played with plenty of hearts during his younger years and thought nothing about breaking them. Now with the idea of his own heart being laid before someone else and having it shattered made him pause. He truly was the most pathetic one.
When Rei’s own feature outfit was announced he had gotten those closest to him around to figure out the best kind of design. He had not managed to bridge the gap with Tsumugi since his ‘stranger’ comment. When Anzu left with her ideas he decided to bring up the topic with those gathered. Ritsu had already left but Koga and Adonis remained. He explained the situation and lamented the fact Tsumugi seemed to be angry with him.
Adonis nodded thoughtfully but it was Koga who spoke. “Tch, of course he’s pissed. Natsume hates it when ya call him by his last name too, ya damn bastard.”
“Huh?”
“I’m still not the best at this but…” Adonis fidgeted, shifting his weight. “Souma calls everyone by their last name. I think he mistook Adonis for my last name when we first met because I hadn’t mastered Japanese naming yet and called myself Adonis Otogari instead of Otogari Adonis. I’m glad, because it means I’m the only one that Souma calls by first name. It feels special.”
Koga nodded along while Adonis spoke. “That, that right there. Good job, Adonis.” Koga crossed his arms glaring over at Rei. “Didn’t you get all giddy when Hazake-senpai called ya Rei-kun at repayment fes? You already know it makes Aoba-senpai happy when you call him by his first name and then cause you’re such an idiot you just go right back to his family name. Honestly, I thought adults were supposed to be smart.”
Naturally, Rei had gotten excited when Kaoru had finally felt close enough to him to call him by name. He didn't realize that Tsumugi might feel the same way. Natsume too. Hmm, he would have to reflect on his ways. In his attempts to be the doting old grandpa, he had managed to alienate people that he held closer than others.
“Thank you, Adonis-kun, Koga-kun.”
“Urgh, don’t thank us you creepy bastard. Just go make up with him already and stop brooding. You two have been disgusting since first year. It’s about time one of you makes a damn move. God.” Koga got up after his little rant and Adonis got up to go after him.
Rei blinked but wasn’t able to think very much more about what Koga said because Anzu was back.
Thankfully Rei didn’t have to wait very long to try and fix things with Tsumugi. They had a program together for the Mystery Researchers and Rei asked Tsumugi before the program if he would walk back to the dorms with him.
After the program wrapped up Nazuna headed back to his college dorm. While the rest of them milled about, Rei had noticed Anzu waiting for him and told Tsumugi to wait while he spoke with her. He was easily able to fix the problem of not having a photographer for his personal outfit shoot.
“That’s Rei-kun for you, always ready.” Tsumugi remarked when he had gotten off the phone.
The black haired man chuckled, pocketing his phone. “Has Yuuki-kun and Shinkai-kun gone home already?”
“Hm, yeah. I told them that I was waiting for you.”
“Ah, that makes me happy, but before we can go home we must walk our dear little Anzu home.”
Despite any protest the producer might have given, Rei and Tsumugi were both proper gentlemen and Rei was actually grateful to have a third person around for a little bit. It allowed them to talk about meaningless things as they dropped Anzu off at her house. “See you tomorrow,” Rei waved, excited for his shoot.
“Are you nervous?” Tsumugi asked as they started walking back toward the dorms.
“Excited. Miss Anzu has crafted my outfit well and I know the photoshoot will go splendidly. What about you? Were you nervous?” Rei had managed to look at the photos taken of Tsumugi. He may or may not have even bought a few copies of them.
“Very,” Tsumugi laughed. “I couldn’t sleep a wink and I kept checking my horoscope to ensure that I was going to get good luck.”
That certainly sounded like him. Rei laughed. “The photos came out nice. Certainly that means your luck was good.”
“Hmm, I pleaded with Natsume-kun to create a special good luck charm for me. He worked with Anzu-chan and that’s how I got my feather earring.”
“Oh, I see. So it was a good luck charm filled with love from your kouhai. Perhaps next time I could help craft you a good luck charm filled with love.” Rei mused, looking at Tsumugi from the corner of his eye as they walked.
Tsumugi laughed nervously. “I could always use more good luck charms, but you don’t have to do that Rei-kun.”
“I want to, Tsumugi.”
The boy paused when his name was spoken. Rei watched him, feeling his insides trying to climb up his throat. He glanced at Rei, looked like he was going to say something but then turned back and kept walking. Rei wasn’t sure what else to say and Tsumugi didn’t say anything either until they got back to the dorms.
“Thank you, Rei-kun.” Tsumugi said as they got to his dorm. It was dark now. Keito would scold them for getting back after lights out if they were caught in the hall. His words made Rei smile but that smile turned to a confused look when Tsumugi didn’t open his dorm door and instead started patting his clothes searching for his key.
Rei covered his mouth with his hand to muffle his laughter when he realized that Tsumugi must have left his key back at the TV studio and it was no doubt locked up for the night. “Perhaps you really do need another good luck charm.” he remarked before taking a hold of his hand and pulling him down the hall to his dorm room. He lifted his hand to his lips in a sign of being quiet when Tsumugi opened his mouth to protest.
Rei wouldn’t get another chance like this. How could he possibly pass up the opportunity to have Tsumugi in his bed for a night? It was so much better than their naps. Rei was grateful for his enhanced night vision that allowed him to enter his dorm silently and guide Tsumugi to sit on his bed while he went to his dresser to get out pajamas. Rei changed quickly before going back to Tsumugi. He removed his glasses, placing them on the nightstand, before pulling off Tsumugi’s shirt without protest. Rei put his nightshirt on Tsumugi and took that moment to appreciate the sight of his crush dressed in his clothing before returning to the task at hand and getting Tsumugi out of his pants and helping him get into the pajama bottoms.
Under normal circumstances Rei wasn’t one to sleep during the night. Having Tsumugi snuggled up next to him in his bed, wearing his pajamas, and breathing softly, made it even harder to fall asleep. All Rei wanted to do was stay in this moment forever. The young man had been easy to persuade into sleep. The rock idol quickly learned that playing with the boy’s hair had the instant effect of making him feel sleepy. Rei stores this knowledge away in the confines of his mind as well as the look of Tsumugi in his bed.
Rei had to be up early the next morning for his photoshoot and managed to wake up before his roommates. He slid his way out of bed without disturbing the still sleeping Tsumugi. He couldn’t help himself and managed to snap a picture on his phone now that the daylight provided better clarity. He would have liked to stay there longer and wait for Tsumugi to wake up but he had to get ready and meet up with his photographer.
The shoot went better than expected and when Rei returned back to the dorms he found a lone Tenshouin. “Sakuma-senpai.” Eichi’s voice was the last thing Rei wanted to hear right now.
“What is it, Tenshouin-kun?”
“Why was Aoba-kun in your bed this morning?”
“Why? You jealous that he’s finally moved on from you?” Rei wasn’t sure why he said that but it quickly shifted the already tense air between them. In retrospect this was a fight that had been building between the two of them for a while.
“The silly distractions Aoba-kun chooses to engage himself with are his affair. My only interest is in having an impressionable young boy like Shiratori-kun being shown your intimate affairs. If you’re going to whore yourself out to Aoba-kun at least get a hotel.”
It seemed Rei had struck a nerve but Eichi’s word choice riled up Rei all the more. “Sounds like jealousy to me. Maybe next time I'll fuck him so hard you'll hear it in your dreams, Tenshouin-kun.” he retorted childishly and threw his bag on his bed before facing Eichi head on, arms crossed. “You had that boy dancing in the palm of your hand for so long. You knew he loved you. You never even had the decency to reject him outright. What Tsumugi or I do in this room or anywhere else is none of your business! You lost the right to worry about him when you threw him away!”
Eichi’s glare intensified and Rei wished that he would stop being a coward and actually throw a punch. It would be a short lived feeling but for that moment, Rei really wished he could deck Eichi back into the hospital.
“As if you’re any better, senpai. You’re such a slutty flirt that Aoba-kun can’t even tell if you actually like him or if you’re toying with him. You should worry less about the past and whatever slights you might think I have caused and instead focus on the present and how your own actions are hurting him. You know what they say about glass houses.”
Eichi had a point and it pissed him off. Before either of them could keep this going or escalate it their third roommate entered. Aira paled, instantly noticing the air between the two of them. Before he could say anything Rei grabbed the door and opened it wider so he could slip past and leave that stifling room.
Instead of going to Tsumugi’s dorm he went to Koga’s. He needed a safe space to cool his head. Koga was all too willing to let Rei in. Neither one of them talked much. Rei didn’t want to talk and he knew Koga wouldn’t be able to help him anyway. He just needed to calm down. Koga got out his guitars and the two of them played together with Leon laying down beside them. Music needed no words. Sometimes it was okay to just let the instruments say everything for him and get his emotions out.
When Tsumugi had woken up to Eichi shouting at him he thought for half a second it was a nightmare until he realized it was real. He had been quick to explain the situation of his missing key card and the huge misunderstanding Eichi was having. After all, ‘There’s no way Rei-kun would want me like that.’. Eichi had gotten a strange look in his eyes when Tsumugi had said that but it seemed to work because he had been allowed to leave and get back into his own dorm with Ibara’s help.
Tsumugi managed to get back to the TV studio and reclaim his key without incident. When he returned to the dorms he found Tatsumi standing in the hallway instead of going into his room. “Tatsumi-kun?” Tsumugi questioned as he drew closer. The two of them weren’t particularly close but Tsumugi worried he had forgotten his key the same way he had just now.
“Oh, Tsumugi-san.” Tatsumi smiled at him.
“Are you locked out?”
“Oh, no, no, not at all. I’m just giving Koga-kun some time,”
“Huh?” Tatsumi gestured him closer and then Tsumugi could hear the guitar riffs. They sounded...sad. Almost forlorn. Without words he could feel the heartbreak in those lines. Was Koga okay?
“It seems Sakuma-san and Koga-kun are having a moment and I can’t bear to interrupt them.”
“Rei-kun?”
Tatsumi nodded and Tsumugi closed his eyes to listen better to see if he could tell which guitar was Koga and which one was Rei. He had been to enough Undead lives to get a feeling for the different ways they played. He thought back to last night when Rei had said his name and didn’t correct himself. Could it be… He shook his head. “Have a good day, Tatsumi-kun.” he waved and headed back down the hallway to his own room.
After that Tsumugi didn’t see Rei as easily as he had before. Despite being in a circle together Rei always seemed to favor Kanata during their get togethers. He couldn’t bring himself to try and pull Rei to the side. It was going to be winter soon. It would be two years since Hiyori and Nagisa left to attend their new schools and left Tsumugi alone. Except he wasn’t alone. Even then, he had Rei. Tsumugi tried to steel his resolve, telling himself that he was going to say something to Rei before the trees lost all of their leaves.
Little did he know that Rei had his own plans. Not even two weeks had passed since Tsumugi had slept in Rei’s bed when he entered the office space rented out to the Mystery Researchers and only found Rei there. It had been the first time the two of them had been alone together since they had fallen asleep together.
“Oh, Rei-kun. You’re here early. I’m surprised Kanata-kun isn’t with you.” Tsumugi laughed nervously as he removed his bag and jacket and set them on the back of a chair.
“I told Shinkai-kun, Nito-kun, and Yuuki-kun that our meeting was canceled this week.”
“Eh? W-why didn’t you tell me? That’s mean.”
Rei was sitting across the table from where Tsumugi had deposited his stuff but he got up now and moved around the table. “Because I wanted to see you, Tsumugi.”
“Y-You see me all the time, Rei-kun,” He pointed out, looking out the window and trying to figure out if this was another prank or something.
“With others, yes. But I wanted to make a space for just us,” Rei continued and reached out, cupping Tsumugi’s cheek and making him look at him instead of out of the window.
Shit. Rei was stunning. Even under the worst of circumstances he was beautiful, but he was close, he was warm, and it vaguely reminded Tsumugi of that time when Hiyori had stormed out and Rei had been there to check on him. Of course, he had also threatened to murder him. He wasn’t doing that now though. He was worrying into his bottom lip and Tsumugi had a flash thought of how those lips might feel. Would they be warm or cold? Chapped or smooth? He turned his eyes back up to Rei’s before the other could notice his indiscretion and tease him for it.
“W-Why?” he finally squeaked out when he realized Rei was waiting for a response.
He sighed and leaned closer, his other hand taking Tsumugi’s and curling his fingers around his. Tsumugi stood stock still, too stunned to really figure out what Rei was doing. Rei breathed in the boy's curls and laid a kiss on his head. “You’re so dense.” Rei wasn’t the only one to have told him that to him and suddenly everything seemed to connect in Tsumugi’s mind.
He gasped and his fingers twitched, tightening around Rei’s. “Don’t.” he breathed, his heart thudding painfully in his chest and he felt tears budding in the corner of his eyes without meaning to. “Don’t tease me, Rei.” His heart couldn’t take it. Eichi, Hiyori, Rei. How many more times could his heart be played with before it finally gave out?
Rei pulled back to stare into his eyes. “Tsumugi,” he breathed before leaning down. Tsumugi closed his eyes instinctively expecting to feel the brush of lips on his, he wouldn’t fight it. Even if Rei just wanted to play with him for a bit it was more than he thought he would ever get. Instead, the lips landed at the corner of his eyes and the lips were followed by a warm wet and kinda disgusting tongue.
“R-Rei?!” Tsumugi squeaked but all Rei did was move to his right eye and do the same, taking away the tears that had threatened to spill over. When he was finished with that he laid his forehead on Tsumugi’s, their breaths spinning between the two of them. Tsumugi stared at him wide eyed.
“I’m not teasing you, Tsumugi. I’m not here to play with you. I don’t want to be your rebound or your fuck buddy.” Rei took in a shaky breath and Tsumugi felt it within his own lungs. “I love you, Tsumugi. I have...for so long.”
“W-what?” That didn’t make any sense. No way. Rei had, of course, teased him a lot during their time in school, perhaps even more than he had teased others, but certainly there was no way Rei had liked him this whole time.
The hand on his cheek moved to his hair curling some of the strands around his finger. “I admit, at first I just flirted with you because it was fun.” he laughed breathlessly. “You were so quick to fluster. You made it so easy. Somewhere along the line I thought your flustered blushing face was the cutest thing in the world. I wanted to see you more and more. You were never scared of me, never intimidated. Even when I pushed you off the school you just laughed and never hated me. I--I had never met anyone like you before, Tsumugi.” Rei had broken eye contact, staring down at their joined hands.
Tsumugi noticed the hesitation there and gave his hand a squeeze. “But?” he prompted and brought up his other hand, lightly tapping his fingers on Rei’s chin. The gesture made him smile.
“But,” he breathed again, slow and measured. “I knew you loved Tenshouin-kun and you were dating Tomoe-kun. I figured if either one of them made you happy that it wasn’t my place to be a homewrecker. By the time I learned how unhappy you were, it was too late.” He closed his eyes, as if remembering an awful time. “You were heart broken and I knew if I said anything I might become a rebound or you would think I was just playing with you again so I waited and I waited and I hoped that you would be okay but when I thought you were finally okay I had waited so long and I got...scared. What if, after all this time, I finally said something and you never viewed me like that? Being in love is the scariest thing in the world. It means giving myself over to someone else that can kill me in an instant.”
Tsumugi listened intently, not interrupting and just processing all of his words. “And now?” he asked, voice tight.
“And now. I’m terrified but also relieved.” He laughed and opened his eyes again. “I’ve bared my heart and soul to you, Aoba Tsumugi. I love you. I love you so much. You are my dawn.”
“R-Rei….” Tsumugi couldn’t help the way he sobbed out the man’s name. It was too cruel, far too cruel. To learn all this time that his first crush had liked him back for all of this time. What stupid little children they were. Another person might have thought of all the wasted time, all the time that had been spent being ‘enemies’, but not Tsumugi. He knew that everything Rei and him had been through had shaped them as people and that the Rei before him now would be someone else if things had gone differently. He really did take the long way around didn’t he? It was okay though, because he always ended up right where he was supposed to be in the end.
Tsumugi closed the distance between them. Kissing Rei was better than any fantasy Tsumugi had ever had about it. He was warm and soft. Each kiss led to the next, breathing each other in and clinging to one another. By the time they parted Tsumugi’s glasses were halfway off his face and they both paused to catch their breath.
“So?” Rei asked as Tsumugi fixed his glasses, staring into twinkling red eyes.
“So, what?”
Rei chuckled. “I told you I love you and you didn’t answer.”
Tsumugi pouted, “I thought the kissing was the answer.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
A shy pause. “I love you, Sakuma Rei.” Tsumugi finally said. God, it really did make him feel elated to say it. His smile was wide and he giggled with pure giddiness. “I liked you before I even knew I liked boys yet.'' he admitted, playing with Rei’s collar.
Rei gave a mock gasp, chuckling. “Are you saying I was your gay awakening?”
“Well, yeah! I mean come on, you were my cool sexy senpai. I’m sure you were a lot of people’s gay awakening,” Tsumugi protested but Rei was having too much fun rubbing his sides and nuzzling into his neck.
“I was your gay awakening~” he cooed happily. When Rei was this happy, Tsumugi didn’t have the heart to be mean to him.
“Yes, yes, why does that make you so happy?” While he wasn’t gonna rain on Rei’s parade he was confused.
He could feel Rei’s smile against his neck. “Tenshouin-kun was your first love and Tomoe-kun was your first boyfriend. I just wanted to be your first at something.”
Fucking hell, the way Rei’s words squeezed at his insides. Tsumugi blushed as he ran his fingers through Rei’s hair. “There are still lots of other firsts you can have,”
Apparently that was the right thing to say because Rei looked at him, a mischievous grin in place and eyes sparkling. “Oh?~”
Tsumugi couldn’t find it in himself to regret his words when Rei was so happy. “Rei, will you be my boyfriend?”