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1.
Akito's been living (somewhat) easy after graduating high school – that is referring to his nice, free dorm, which he got in addition to his scholarship – and not his inevitable struggle to do the schoolwork.
And this was until his roommate moved in. Someone who Akito hates the most. And possibly fears.
Rui fucking Kamishiro. His senior, from when he was still in high school, as well as his former.. (God, does he have to admit that..?) crush. He initially thought it was a fleeting thing, but feeling the way his heart stuttered when he saw the other boy again for the first time, maybe not.
He grew out his hair – it sits just above his shoulers now, and is tied back into a low ponytail. It suits him.
Dare he say, even makes him a bit more attractive.
– Wooow, who said that?? Totally not Akito.
He's on his phone, just like Akito was a second ago until he heard keys jingling in his door. He thought it was the administrator, but lo and behold, one ridiculously taller Rui Kamishiro stands before him, texting away.
Then, he looks up and Akito swiftly pretends as if he wasn't staring, looking back down at his phone. What was he about to tell An again..?
Fuck it. He needs to tell her about the current situation.
[ evillest lesbian of all time ]
akito: an.
akito: you will not fucking believe who just walked into my dorm.
an: omgg no wayyy who!!
akito: fucking kamishiro.
an: HA good luck with that, loverboy
akito: I GOT OVER IT. i don't like him anymore.
an: you sureeee? idkkkk....
akito: yes i'm sure. fuck off
an: kay! mizuki's calling anyways, and who am i to refuse my adorable partner affection!
akito: you're disgusting
an: love you too bestfriend! byeeeee
With that, he sighs, and looks at Kamishiro again, only to find him looking already with a somewhat surprised expression. You don't see that very often.
"Huuh, Shinonome–kun, I didn't expect to see you here!" Rui says cheerfully, and God, his voice is nice. Akito feels his heart rate pick up just from hearing the name roll off his tongue.
What the hell is wrong with him? He's over it. Definitely over it. No lingering feelings. None. Not at all.
..Who is he kidding? Obviously, he still likes him. His abnormal reactions are evidence enough. And he has to live with him? Worst semester ever.
"Um, yeah, likewise," Akito says rather bluntly, and Rui's grin only widens. Hell's up with him..?
He sits his bags down on the floor next to the bed adjacent of his, then takes a seat on the bed itself, hair flopping about as he does so.
Then, he leans over and starts unpacking his stuff. Books, books, more books, and.. yep. Robots. Drones, anything you can think of. Akito heaves out a sigh.
"Please tell me you aren't gonna be working on those while I'm trying to sleep." he says, and Rui lets out a small giggle. His laugh is nice. Why Akito is so comfortable admitting this to himself? He has no idea.
"Ehehe~ It seems I'm caught. I do tend to work on these at what Tsukasa–kun would call.. ah, 'ungodly hours of the night'?" Rui says giddily, and that catches Akito's attention.
"Tsukasa–senpai?" he asks, suddenly curious. Rui brightens at the mention, which makes Akito internally grimace. He is not jealous, damnit.
"Ah, yes.. I was originally living with him in an off–campus apartment out of the goodness of his heart, but.." he trails off, suddenly embarrassed, if it wasn't noticeable by the pink tinge of his cheeks.
Akito raises an eyebrow. Now he's really interested. "But?"
"..He kicked me out for that very reason." then Akito bursts out laughing.
"He– he kicked you out?" Akito gets out between laughs, and Rui lets himself be laughed at. He supposes he deserves it for all the teasing he put Akito through when they were still at Kamiyama. And boy, was it alot..
"Yes.. sad, isn't it? However, my wound has been all soothed now that it means I get to room with you!" Rui exclaims, tucking his hands under his chin and smiling wide at him.
..Huh? Because of Akito, who told him to screw off whenever Rui approached him but also proceeded to go along with his newest wacky plan to, like, destroy the school?
Suddenly, Akito's at a loss for words. His cheeks go hot, and he knows he's probably blushing right now. Damn.. he's completely in denial. He is totally, completely, irrecoverably in love with this guy.
"Fufu~ Shinonome–kun, are you okay? You're rather red." Rui teases, and now Akito knows that Rui knows what he's doing; flustering Akito on purpose.
"I'm great, whatever. Just don't annoy me too much, and I'll be fine. Also, maybe don't work on your robots at the ass crack of dawn? Thanks." Akito says, opening up his phone again to immediately text An about his current predicament.
[ evillest lesbian of all time ]
akito: i would like to apologize for my continuous lapse in judgement.
an: you talked to him again and realized that you never stopped liking him, didn't you?
akito: maybe
an: and he's moving in for real?
akito: and he's moving in for real.
an: yeah, good luck with that. seriously must suck
an: i'm soooo lucky that i confessed to mizuki a loooooonggg time ago and now we are happy and in love! loser
akito: kys
an: whateverrrrrrr! feel free to call or text me for any advice dealing with romance and one kamishiro–senpai! toodles! (ﾟ▽＾*)☆
akito: sure. whatever
Akito sighs again and lets his phone drop onto his chest. This really sucks, doesn't it? Cooped up in a dorm with his former, or rather, current crush.
He can feel Rui's eyes boring into him, but he doesn't look up. Meeting his eyes now will only make Akito spiral.
Seriously, how will he survive?
2.
When he returns home after some particularly rough classes, Rui is there sitting at his desk, glasses on and typing away. He took up mostly online courses, only ever actually leaving for school related things in the afternoon. He's mostly here all day.
Akito knows he looks a mess; he was nearly late this morning, so his hair is messier than usual and he definitely has eyebags cause he stayed up so late mixing that song.
Thankfully, Rui did not bear witness to any of that since he was asleep the whole morning. Perks of being a primarily online student, Akito figures. The smart bastard. Why didn't he do that?
Upon entering, Rui swivels in his chair to greet Akito, and his eyes widen in shock.
"Oh, my.. Akito–kun, you look.." he points out awkwardly and Akito drops his bags on the floor. That's another thing – somewhere along the way, they reached a first-name basis. Probably when Rui came home late and on the verge of tears and Akito (begrudgingly) (not really) comforted him. Since then, Rui's been way more comfortable around him.
"I know." he says with a yawn. Damn, he really is tired. He shrugs his shirt off, and then he remembers that Rui is definitely still in the room.
Rui (horribly) tries to mask his staring, and his face turns a deep shade of red. He quickly turns back around in his chair and goes back to working, and Akito makes his way into the bathroom.
Jeez, that was embarrassing.
Akito quickly changes into some loose pajamas and walks back into the room, still drying off his hair with the towel. He immediately notices that Rui has migrated from his desk to his bed, aimlessly scrolling on his phone.
Rui diverts his attention to Akito and drops a fucking bomb on him like it's nothing. With a smile, no less. "Akito–kun, would you like to lay here? As I was going to say earlier, you look incredibly tired. On par with me, perhaps,"
Joking about his health isn't very funny to Akito, and while normally he would refuse and probably shout a few insults, he really doesn't give a shit right now.
"Sure, wouldn't hurt." he says, voice gravelly. Damn, he needs some water. Rui brightens up at this, and places his phone on the nightstand at the side of his bed. It doesn't register at this moment, but he catches a glimpse of some.. interesting texts from Tsukasa.
[ Tsukasa ★ ]
Tsukasa: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU THINK YOU LIKE HIM?? THIS IS SO SUDDEN??
Tsukasa: ANSWER?????
He couldn't bother to care right now, so he stores it in the back of his mind while he crawls into Rui's bed. This isn't unfamiliar; they've done this plenty of times.
Yet every time Rui looks at him like that, Akito swears he might fall deeper. God, that is so fucking cheesy. Why is he like this?
He lays his head on Rui's chest and wraps his arms around his waist, hugging him as close as possible. Rui chuckles above him, and he can feel every vibration. His heartbeat's nice to listen to.
"Akito–kun looks quite similar to a koala right now, don't you think?" he teases. Akito really isn't in the mood right now. Ugh, this guy..
"Shaddup. Go to sleep, or something. Or don't I dont care at this point. Just let me get some damn rest." he says tiredly. He yawns again before he feels Rui drape a blanket over the two, and drifts off to sleep.
But not before hearing Rui's whispered goodnight. He allows himself to smile, just this once.
He'll deny it if it ever comes up, though.
3.
Tonight is not a great night for either of them. VBS' night show didn't go too well, and Rui is drowning in work with no time finish it. They're both sleep deprived, so they called in sick today.
Akito is currently occupied playing some idol rhythm game (not that he'd admit it; it being that he actually likes cute stuff.) and Rui is.. doing what Rui does.
Suddenly, his voice breaks through the silence. "Akito–kun, are you hungry?
He hums thoughtfully before answering. He is, but he doesn't really want to get up right now. "Yeah."
"Then, would you like to accompany me to the café that just opened down the street? I think they have cheesecake. It's your favorite, isn't it?" Rui asks, and Akito's demeanor immediately changes.
"Shit. I'm sold. Let's go." he says, immediately getting up and swinging the door open, tucking his phone in his pocket.
They're walking down the street and Akito can't help but stare at their hands, just a couple inches apart. Twist his hand and move it just a bit closer, and he can hold Rui's.
Rui seems to notice this, too, because he then takes Akito's hand and intertwines their fingers. Akito's eyes snap up to him, and he smiles softly. It's official. Rui Kamishiro will be the death of him.
After walking for another 5 minutes, they reach the café and Akito begrudgingly lets go of Rui's hand. He would say he misses the warmth, but Rui's hands are cold to the touch.
They sit down and wait for the waitress to situate them while they look over the menu. Akito is obviously ordering the cheesecake, but Rui seems conflicted.
"Oi, Rui. You alright?" Akito asks, concern touching on his tone. He wants to maybe, yknow, touch his hand or something for reassurance but that's just.. too sappy. He might die before his hand gets even halfway across the table.
Rui looks up from the menu with bright eyes. His easy smile is in place again, but Akito can't help but feel like it's fabricated. "Hm? Oh, I'm fine."
Akito raises an eyebrow, but leaves him alone for the time being. He can always coax it out of him later; they both have emotionally suppressing habits, so they have to help eachother. Or something.
"Hi, what can I get you?" the waitress asks, walking up to their table holding a notepad. She looks familiar..
"Mm, I think I'll have.. Ah – Nene?" Rui says, sounding genuinely surprised. He looks it, too. It's rare so Akito photographs it in his brain and tucks it away in a mental file.
"Rui? And.. Shinonome, right? I hear that you've been rooming with him.. I feel sorry for you." she sympathises, and Akito laughs. Rui pouts at him, feigning hurt.
"Uwah.. Akito–kun, how mean! After everything I've done for you.." he wails, connecting their hands again, both this time. That's all it takes to shut Akito up. Despite his hands being cold as hell, it doesn't take long for Akito's face to get warm. And in front of Kusanagi, too..
Speaking of Kusanagi, she's looking between the two with a knowing smirk on her face. Are they that obvious..?
"Oh, shut up, you big baby." Akito releases Rui's hands and turns to her, relaying his order. "I'll have the cheesecake, please."
"Rui?" she says, and both her and Akito turn their attention to him. He is seemingly snapped out of a daydream and aplogizes for spacing out.
"Mm. I think I'll share with Akito–kun~" he declared. Akito's jaw dropped.
"Oh no you will not–"
"That's settled, then. It'll be out shortly." Nene confirms, and she has lost about 10 points in his book.
(20, if he saw her mouth "You're welcome" to Rui as she walked away.)
"Rui. What the hell." he demands as he turns to the boy in front of him, who is all giddy and smiles. Actually, that's kind of.. cute.
"What? Not up to sharing? How rude~ I'm paying, afterall. I think it's only right." he expressed. "Wah, Akito–kun loves cheesecake more than I!"
Akito's face gets warm again at the mention of him loving Rui. He is so.. so... so Rui, sometimes. He crosses his arms and leans back into the booth behind him.
"..And if I don't?" he murmurs, just loud enough for Rui to know he said something, but not to know exactly what.
He perks up at that. "What was that? I didn't hear."
Akito feels the heat creep down his neck, and he knows that he's probably beet red right now. Agh, this is so frustrating! Why is it that Rui, of all people makes him act like this? It's so gross!
"Akito–kun?" Rui coaxes.
"Forget about it." he snaps, coming off meaner than he intended. "I didn't say anything."
Rui leans back, as well, but he looks a bit sad this time. He purses his lips, but doesn't pry further. Did he mess up? Did Akito actually.. make him sad?
Fuck, he didn't mean to snap like that.
Nene brings out the cake now, and sets it between them on the table, walking away again. In an attempt to apologize – or something, – Akito scoops up a piece with the fork and holds it out to Rui. He looks away as he does this, saving himself the embarrassment, but also missing out on Rui's shocked face.
"Huh?" Rui squeaks, very apparently caught off guard.
"..Are you gonna take it or not? You have 5 seconds."
Rui graciously accepts, taking the bite off of Akito's fork. He absolutely melts tasting the delicious flavors on his tongue. Akito has taste, indeed.
They finish it off like that, alternating bites while Akito scrolls on his phone, and Rui looks at him the whole time.
Akito might really be going crazy. I mean, the first bite of his cheesecake? Is he insane?!
4.
Yeah, Akito is pretty sure that he's in love with Rui. I mean, what else could explain the way he gets all giddy when Rui hugs him, or talks to him, or says his name, or.. I think you get the point.
An has been on his case for weeks now, continuously asking for details about their relationship. Even Akito doesn't know exactly what they are.
Friends hold hands sometimes, right? That's normal.
On the other hand, friends probably don't lovingly embrace eachother on rainy nights when the other, or both of them are tired and don't want to think anymore.
It's kind of hard to put that into words.
So, rather than giving her the specifics, he's rather vague. Her reactions are funny, but he also doesn't want An to rush and label them, either.
He just got home, so he tosses his phone on the bed and waits for Rui to finish changing in the bathroom before he goes in to shower himself.
As Rui leaves, he hears Akito's phone buzz and gets curious. It's a message from Shiraishi, another one of his former-juniors.
..Pfft. 'Evillest lesbian of all time'?
2 notifications from: [ evillest lesbian of all time ]
an: wait. so ur telling me you went on a fucking CAFÉ DATE WITH HIM???
an: there's no point in denying it anymore, loverboy.. i'm like 99.99% sure he likes you back
..Huh?
Rui's pretty sure that this is about.. him? And.. 'loverboy'..?
Akito.. likes him? Romantically?
It's not much of a shock, afterall, he had been speculating it for some time now, but deciding not to bring it up for lack of a response. However, now that his suspicions are confirmed, it's entirely different.
He hears the shower water stop running and quickly shuffles over to his bed, trying to make the least noise possible.
5.
Well, now, Akito's pretty sure that Rui is aware of his.. feelings.
For starters, he's been slowly shying away from Akito – which on average he would be happy about, – but he's been irritated as ever. He's told An as much, but she has no clue on how he could have found out, either.
Things are already complicated between them, and Akito thought what they had was fine, as long as he could be close to Rui.
..That sounds so corny in his head, but for lack of better words, and all that bullshit.
With nothing better to do, cause Rui probably hates him now, he opts for writing lyrics for VBS' new song.
It turned out to be a love song. He pretends not to know why, but he idly thinks of a purple haired boy and cheesecake slices.
+1
Rui is.. he's conflicted, to say the least. He's been unintentionally making tension between him and Akito since he acidentally found out about the romantic feelings Akito harbors towards him.
He's had several chats with Nene, Tsukasa, and Emu. Even Mizuki. They all encouraged him to go for it. While yes, he does do things for and with Akito that he wouldn't with anyone else, he isn't completely sure that he likes Akito in that way.
Even so, he's willing to give it a shot. If Akito will allow him, of course. It isn't set in stone yet that Rui really will fall for him entirely, but he wants to try, at least. If it makes Akito happy, especially.
He's on the way home from his afternoon classes when Akito shoots him a text. He wants Rui to hurry home because.. they have to talk?
From what Rui's heard, that's the worst text to recieve in a relationship – which they aren't in!
(Yet, at least.)
When Rui does enter their dorm room, Akito is sitting on his bed scrolling through his phone, per usual. At least that's normal.
"Rui," he greets rather coldly. That didn't hurt at all. He pats the spot next to him. "..You probably wanna sit down for this."
He sets his bags and things down at the door, and sits next to Akito, as asked. His head nearly touches the roof of his makeshift canopy, so he has to kind of lean into Akito.
Akito clears his throat and begins speaking without sparing him a glance. Ouch.
"Rui," he starts. "I want to get this out the way immediately before I say anything else, cause I'm already aggravated as is. I'm really trying to show restraint."
If his aggressively furrowed brows and deep frown were anything to go by, he is definitely upset. And to think, Rui made him this mad. His lips curve into a frown of his own.
"I like you. I'm probably in love with you, actually," Akito says through gritted teeth, and Rui's face brightens significantly. He knew, but hearing it straight from Akito is an entirely different experience. "I have been.. since my 2nd year."
Now that comes as a shock. Three whole years? How did he not notice sooner?
"Before you say anything, don't tell me you feel the same just to make me feel better. I don't care if you reject me." he informs before Rui can even think to respond.
"Akito–kun, this.." Rui murmurs, just loud enough for Akito to hear. He sees the other boy shut his eyes tight, preparing for the worst. Rui sighs. "Could you.. look at me, perhaps?"
"No can do."
"Akito–kun, please?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Akito."
His head whips towards Rui, face a deep red from his ears to his neck. Does Rui really have this effect on him..? It makes his own face feel hot, as well.
He slowly places a hand on Akito's chin, tilting it towards him. His eyes flicker down to his lips, and his whisper is almost lost on Akito when he leans in.
"This should work.." he murmurs.
Rui kissed him. Rui is kissing him. He tastes like soda candy. Typical, but he isn't complaining. Rui's hand moves from his chin to the side of his face, pressing further into him. It's everything and nothing all at once, and Akito is, surprisingly, here for it.
They part for air and Rui smiles at him – except this one is brighter than the rest, and it affects Akito, as well.
"I think that just about covers everything I needed to say, right?" Rui whispers, and Akito nods slowly. He's still coming down from the never-ending high that is Rui Kamishiro.
"..Yeah." Akito agrees. "Why the hell didn't you say that from the start?"
Rui giggles softly. "Why? Do you want me to perhaps, say it again?"
"Shut the fuck up and kiss me, you weirdo."
"With pleasure."