Archive of Our Own ^beta

Suo has been acting strange for a while.

Unfortunately, despite the rapid developments regarding his social life and self-esteem, Haruka cannot figure out what's going on for the life of him.

"Sakura-kun." Suo will greet him every morning, nothing out of the ordinary. "Did you sleep well?"

Haruka will reply, which is where the conversation would normally end, but for a few weeks now, Suo listens to him grunt an answer and then leans down to stroke a hand through his hair or even deliver a kiss to his cheek. It's always a featherlight thing, barely a touch, tentative and sweet as though Suo is making sure Haruka's alright with it.

He doesn't see why he wouldn't be. Sure, it's a little weird and the first time certainly caught him off guard, but he can begrudgingly admit it's not unpleasant.

That's not all, though.

Suo has also been getting him gifts. It's September, so he knows it can't have anything to do with his birthday or any holidays, and yet, like clockwork, Suo will slip him little trinkets or snacks for nothing in return. The timing is always completely random, and Haruka can't figure it out for the life of him.

Of course, he always accepts. Who is he to turn down free food? But still, it's nagging at him.

He thought by now he would have a better grasp on friendship and community, and all the little intricacies that come with it, but it seems he's still got a lot to learn. It's not surprising, considering he's only been here for less than a year, but it is still frustrating.

Maybe this is a normal development? After all, he and Suo are quite close. Haruka would consider him and Nirei his closest friends, so surely this is just a social convention he is unaccustomed to. Though, he is aware that while Nirei treats him with affection, he does not go to quite the same extremes.

He's heard people speak about best friends, which seems to be a step up from regular friends. So perhaps this is simply a best friend thing and Suo is just trying to show him he cares.

Busy sorting through these thoughts, Haruka doesn't notice the object of his contemplations saunter up to his desk until he's standing right in front of him, clearing his throat. With a start, Haruka looks up.

Suo is a handsome guy, Haruka would have to be an idiot not to notice that. In the warm morning sunlight of early fall, his smooth skin glows a subtle gold and his maroon hair takes on a more reddish tone. His smile is soft and amused as he gazes down at his class captain.

"Are you alright, Sakura-kun?" He tilts his head, causing his earrings to sway gently to the side. "You were quite lost in thought there."

Huffing, Haruka leans back in his chair, affecting an air of nonchalance. Suo doesn't need to know what's been going on in his head.

"Yeah, fine", he shrugs.

Suo leans forward slightly, casting a shadow over Haruka's desk, his hands clasped firmly behind his back as they always are. Haruka sometimes envies Suo for his composure and cool confidence, but he knows by now that there's more simmering beneath the surface. He hopes to find out exactly what it is someday.

"Then, would you be able to spare a moment to speak with me after school?", he asks.

Does he want to give him another gift? Or is there something serious going on? Haruka doesn't think so, considering how calm Suo is, but with that guy one can never be too sure.

Well, it's not like he's got plans.

"Sure."

Suo's smile grows minusculely, but something's off about it. It seems almost strained, maybe a little nervous? No, Haruka's probably just reading it wrong. After all, Suo's an enigma on a good day.

"Lovely, meet me on the roof after classes then."

Absentmindedly, Haruka nods as the gears in his head begin to turn. What could Suo possibly want to tell him away from prying eyes? Is there trouble in town he doesn't know about? Is Suo in trouble? Surely not.

Haruka sighs and resigns himself to waiting. He won't figure it out anyway.

The day of classes goes by with little fanfare, Tamon team released from their duties with the final bell. They're not scheduled for patrols today.

As promised, Haruka finishes speaking with Nirei before bidding him goodbye and making his way up to the roof.

Suo had left the classroom before him, so Haruka is unsurprised to find him already up there, standing by the fence and reveling in the tranquility of Makochi. It's rarely this quiet, even with Bofurin's protection, so it's worth enjoying the peace until the next scuffle breaks out.

He allows the door to slam into the concrete wall to give Suo a warning but the boy doesn't flinch, somehow having sensed Haruka coming from miles away. Occasionally, Haruka wonders if there is something to that silly tale he tells about the spirit trapped behind his eye patch. His vice captain does seem to have some almost supernatural abilities.

"Yo", Haruka comes to stand next to him. The height of the roof makes him a little dizzy when he looks down, but the sight is worth it. The sun's been setting earlier these days, with the days getting shorter, so already the sky has been tinged a light orange. It reminds him of this morning, the colors similar as they bathe the two of them in their fiery glow. "So what's up?"

Suo doesn't turn to look at him as he speaks, his gaze fixed on the sparkling roofs of their town. There's a tenseness to his jaw that Haruka usually only sees in a fight, or when Tsugeura is talking. He wonders what could be agitating Suo this much, and what it has to do with him.

"Sakura-kun", he begins to speak, his voice quiet but steady, "I like you a lot."

Blinking, Haruka takes the words in. He frowns, confused. Friends like each other, right? He didn't think that was worth verbalizing, at least not under such circumstances. Did Suo bid him up here just to tell him this? Was he worried Haruka didn't know? Like yeah, Suo messes with him a lot, but never once has he doubted his friend's loyalty or affections.

Perhaps he just requires some reassurance? Even Suo presumably feels insecure sometimes.

"I like ya too", he says, the words a strange shape in his mouth but sweet against his teeth, "Duh."

He doesn't think it's a big deal, obviously they like each other, they're friends. And yet, Suo heaves a sigh of relief, the tension draining out of his shoulders and his face relaxing. Finally, he turns to look at Haruka, his features softened into something almost tender. Haruka's never seen him look so open, so vulnerable.

This must have really weighted on him. Haruka wonders whether his gruff and unrefined nature was too ambiguous for the other boy to be certain about their friendship. He vows to change that. Even if it's embarrassing, he does care about Suo and he wants him to know that.

"Really?", Suo says, less of a question and more of an awed whisper, "That makes me happy, Sakura-kun."

The emotional weight of this moment lodges itself in Haruka's throat, the air around them syrupy sweet and thick. It's a little too intimate, too much for him. Are friendships always like this? So intense? His heart thumps heavily in his chest.

"Y-yeah", he shrugs. He avoids Suo's gaze, the burn of his face nigh unbearable. "Me too, I guess."

A chuckle pulls his gaze back to Suo's face, gentle maroon eye a magnet for his attention.

Suo's expression, while still horribly soft, has returned to more familiar territory now. There's amusement in his gaze again, a mischievous uptick to his lips. It allows something in Haruka to settle as well.

"You're awfully adorable, aren't you, Sakura-kun?", Suo takes a step towards him. Haruka isn't expecting it, so he loses his balance for a second and stumbles. The fence catches him. This whole scenario feels vaguely like a scene in one of the manga he's seen Kiryu read before, but he doesn't remember the context of it now.

"N-no!", he frowns, unable to let that statement stand. Haruka is well aware of the fact that his friends tend to liken him to a stray cat, and while he can't in good faith deny these allegations, he won't stand to be called adorable. He's not a child.

Suo chuckles again, his voice rich and amused. It's a nice sound, Haruka's always liked Suo's voice.

Swiftly, Suo brings a hand up to cradle Haruka's burning cheek. It's an oddly sweet gesture, though his grip is firm, fingers digging into the skin a little. It doesn't hurt, but it's a near thing. Haruka wonders if Suo can feel the heat radiating off his face. He must.

"Allow me", Suo's hand trembles just the slightest bit as he leans down the few centimeters that separate them to bring his face impossibly close to Haruka's.

Confused and honestly a little dazed, Haruka is unsure of what to do. What does Suo want? Their noses are touching and he can feel the other's moist breath on his lips. It's strange, but even more so is the fact that Haruka doesn't mind it. He even finds himself craving more, wanting Suo to come even closer. For a fraction of a second he wonders if Suo is going to kiss him.

He doesn't know much about kissing, has never watched a lot of movies or read many books. He's seen people do it a few times, but it's rare. Japan isn't exactly known for its public displays of affection. Still, what else would two people do with their faces this close?

Suo seems to be waiting for an answer to an unasked question, and while Haruka doesn't know what he's agreeing to, he trusts Suo with his life, so he gives the smallest nod.

It's enough for the dam to break, Suo's lips indeed crashing into his own, hesitant and urgent all at once. Haruka has never done this before, never even really thought about it, always having had other things on his mind. And while it's a new sensation, overwhelming and bizarre, he can't say he minds it. There's something intoxicating about being this close to someone he trusts, their mouth warm and real against his own, a soft hand holding his face in a way no one ever has.

Suo uses that hand to tilt his head just so, their lips slotting together in a way that causes a tingle to travel all the way down Haruka's spine to the tips of his toes. He feels rather than he sees Suo's other hand come up next to him, holding onto the fence.

It's a bit intense, and definitely not something he would necessarily want to do with his other friends. Maybe this is part of the aforementioned best friendship?

When they part, Haruka finds himself breathing quite heavily. There's a sticky warmth in his chest, cloying and sweet where it crawls up his throat. It's hard to regain a regular breathing pattern, Suo's pretty face still too close to his own.

"Let's get breakfast together tomorrow", he suggests in his haste to end this strange moment. His thoughts have turned to static, he needs space. "At Pothos."

Smiling, Suo agrees and finally backs away. Haruka's legs still feel like jelly but it becomes a lot easier to breathe.

"I'll see you then, Sakura-kun." Suo's mouth twists into something almost like a smirk, a twinkle in his eye. "Get home safely."

With that, he makes his way to the door with measured steps before vanishing into the darkness of the stairway, leaving the roof deserted sans a befuddled Haruka.

Friendships are weird. But since he's been here, everyone's been teaching him to accept affection and to open himself up to new experiences. This was incredibly new and different, but it certainly wasn't bad, so who cares if it's not particularly conventional? Or who knows, maybe it is! It's not like Haruka has much of a framework for this type of thing.

Maybe this is a perfectly normal thing for best friends to do. After all, he's seen Nirei kiss people on the cheek, and Tsubaki does it all the time too! He's even seen Tomiyama and Togame kiss, and on the mouth at that! So it's definitely not just a romantic thing, meaning that as long as it feels good, he shouldn't worry about it too much.

Satisfied with the conclusion he's come to, Haruka makes his way home.

From then on, it's as though a switch has been flipped.

Every morning, Suo texts him. He brings him breakfast and touches him and kisses him. Haruka doesn't mind, his body much more receptive to physical affection these days, but it's still unfamiliar ground. It makes him feel awkward again, reminiscent of his first weeks in Makochi when his guard was all the way up, abrasive and terrified.

It's only been a week since the rooftop, and Haruka is just leaving the apartment building to make his way to school when he spots Suo standing on the sidewalk.

"What'cha doin' here?", he asks as he shuffles up to his friend.

Suo turns to him with a smile, two to-go cups in his hands, one of which he hands to Haruka. The action is accompanied by a kiss to his cheek. Undeterred, Haruka sniffs the cup. Hot chocolate.

"Good morning to you too, Sakura-kun", Suo chuckles, "I thought we could walk to school together."

Haruka sips his drink as they begin their short journey.

"Sure", he agrees easily. Suo, for all his quirks, makes for good company.

He has noticed, in the short time it's been happening, that Suo isn't this affectionate in the company of other people. Of course, he still touches Haruka way more than anybody else does, but he doesn't kiss him when it's not just the two of them. It would strike him as odd if Suo wasn't such a private guy.

Though, he can't help but wonder whether Suo does this with other people too, away from prying eyes. On the days he's not walking with Haruka, is he picking up Nirei? Does he kiss him goodbye? Does he hold Kiryu's hand when the two of them are left alone while the others engage in their regular shenanigans? Something about the thought bothers him immensely.

It's not like he doesn't want Suo to have other friends, that'd be ridiculous and hypocritical. No, he just feels like this is…special. He's never gotten to be truly special to anyone before, to have something he shares with only one other person.

"Hey", he glances at Suo out of the corner of his eye, "Do you…"

This is stupid, right? What kind of question would that even be? What if he scares Suo off with his possessiveness and he stops doing all of this? Maybe he's not doing it with anyone else right now but, if Haruka's too weird about it, he'll replace him with someone else?

"Sakura-kun?", Suo stops in his tracks. Concern furrows the even line of his brows as he reaches out for Haruka's hand, pulling him in. It's a bit awkward, both of them still holding onto their cups, but something about the feeling of Suo's hand in his calms him down. His brain feels much less scrambled already, his worries deemed unnecessary.

Suo's hand is warm and impossibly soft against the callouses of Haruka's own. Martial arts does seem to have its advantages.

"Just", Haruka bites his lip as he feels a blush light up his face full force, "The, uhm, the kissing. Right. Do you…do you do that with other people too?"

God, the earth could swallow him whole right now and he'd thank it. Talking about your feelings and communicating with your friends, as Umemiya always tells him to do, is great in theory. But in practice? A humiliation ritual. Maybe it's not too late yet for him to leave again.

He's kidding, obviously. Haruka never wants to leave Makochi ever again, now that he's found what he has. Still embarrassing, though.

In front of him, Suo is clearly stifling a laugh. Great.

"Sakura-kun…", he raises an amused eyebrow, "Of course not, what do you take me for?"

Confused, Haruka blinks. Is it so far-fetched that he thinks Suo might do with his other friends what he does with him? He thinks it's a fair question.

"Sorry", he mumbles, not sure what he's apologizing for, "Jus' wondering."

Suo giggles. It's a tinkling sound, one he doesn't hear often. Haruka must really have said something hilarious.

"Oh dear", Suo finally places his cup down on the brick wall they've stopped next to and winds both of his arms around Haruka's waist. It makes him blush even deeper, the position new and intimate. Haruka doesn't really hug people, hasn't reached that level of comfort with his new friends just yet. "I don't want to kiss anybody else, don't worry. I only like you."

That's a little much, Haruka thinks, and not true. He knows for a fact that Suo at least likes Nirei and Kiryu too, and maybe some of their other classmates. Still, he appreciates the sentiment. The knowledge that he is special to Suo, that he doesn't share this type of intimacy with anybody else, is relieving.

Haruka fumbles with his cup as he sets it down as well, his movements heavy-handed and awkward. He doesn't want Suo to think he doesn't return these feelings, so despite his brain screaming bloody murder at him, he tentatively places his hands on Suo's shoulders. It's not quite a hug, he knows, but it'll do for now.

"Uh", he meets Suo's eye with difficulty, "M-me too. Or whatever."

There's a calculating look on Suo's face, his eye bright and sharp, a disorienting contrast to the fond smile on his lips. The expression's gone as soon as it arrived, quickly replaced by Suo's typical calm demeanor.

"I'm glad", he says before casually leaning in to kiss him.

They've done this a few times now, but it still catches Haruka off guard. Suo's lips taste like tea where they press against his, the sandalwood scent of his shampoo and the crispness of his cologne filling the air around them. Haruka breathes in deeply and relaxes into the gesture, their point of contact a comfort no words could provide.

"Let's go", Suo whispers against his mouth as they part, the shape of his words pressed into Haruka's lips, "Can't have our captain be late."

The next day at school, Haruka decides it's time for him to be proactive. A stable friendship requires the efforts of two people, after all, so if he lets Suo initiate all of their best friend affections or whatever, then what does that say about him? He can't let Suo one-up him, so even if it's a daunting task, he wants to initiate things too.

But how?

He doesn't think about it much anymore with his other friends, casually resting a hand on Nirei's shoulder or playing with Kiryu's hair. But this is a step further, right? Is there etiquette pertaining to best friends that he doesn't know about? He considers asking someone for advice, but quickly decides against it. He can figure this one out for himself, how hard can it be?

An opportunity presents itself when Azusawa appears at their classroom door.

"Yo, Sakura!", he calls, "You got a minute?"

Haruka nods in his direction before getting up. He'd been sitting in a circle with his friends, chatting away their lunch break, so it's easy for him to turn just slightly and lean down, planting a quick kiss on Suo's lips before he leaves.

It's awkward and clumsy, his palms sweating and Suo completely unprepared, but he does it. Without waiting for a reaction, he quickly scuttles away. Azusawa looks surprised, his eyes wide and mouth open. Haruka pushes his fellow captain out of the room and lets the door slide closed behind them just as he hears a bunch of yelling break out.

"What's that about?", he mutters to himself as he stares at the other boy in exasperation. What's up with him?

"Hey, Azusawa", he raises an eyebrow, "'Sup?"

Azusawa finally seems to reboot, a bright grin taking over his face.

"Right, sorry!", he quickly begins to explain the change in patrol routes he's suggesting, the topic a matter of only a few minutes.

"I'll discuss it with my vice captains", Haruka nods at him when they're done, already turning around.

"Cool", Azusawa nods, "And congrats, by the way!"

Haruka blinks.

"Huh?"

"You know, you and Suo! Happy for ya, dude!"

With that, Azusawa walks away, humming a little tune to himself and leaving Haruka to stand there like an idiot. He doesn't see how this is anybody's business, no one congratulates Nirei when he hugs Suo. Haruka sighs. Maybe he'll never understand this town.

When he steps back into the classroom, it's eerily quiet. Too quiet. They must have been talking about him. Were they also saying weird stuff to Suo about this?

Weary, he approaches his friends again, stomach twisting in knots at the expectant grins on their faces. Suo somehow looks both miffed and smug.

"A'ight?", he asks them with feigned casualty. He didn't mean to make a scene and draw this much attention to himself, it leaves him feeling kind of unmoored.

Before his classmates can say whatever it is they're clearly brimming with, Suo grabs hold of his hand and drags him down into his abandoned chair. He doesn't let go of him, instead squeezing his hand tightly and giving him a small, reassuring smile.

"Yeah", he says. His voice is kind and reassuring, but the undertone is steel. A clear warning to the rest of their class to not contradict him. "All good."

"So, you and Suo, huh?", Kiryu smirks at him when they're on patrol later, "Good on you guys."

It seems Makochi, or at least Bofurin, places a great importance on Haruka advancing his friendships, so he just nods. Maybe best friends is a more special status than he'd given it credit for before. Or maybe his friends are just nosy fuckers.

"Thanks", he murmurs.

"How did it happen?", Kiryu continues to needle him, "Who confessed?"

Oh. It seems Kiryu, and perhaps his other classmates, have come to the wrong conclusion. He should've thought of that. Kissing isn't something only best friends do, the others must have read something more into it.

"Oh, no", Haruka shakes his head, a little uncomfortable, "It's not like that."

Kiryu blinks. His pink bangs are pinned back from his face with little hair clips shaped like fruits.

"What do you mean?"

"Well", Haruka shrugs, "We're best friends."

Fiddling with the sleeve of his oversized jacket, Kiryu makes a contemplative noise.

"Uh huh", he tilts his head, "But?"

Haruka rolls his eyes. It's not that confusing, is it?

"But nothing. Ya think we're a couple or somethin', but we're not."

This causes Kiryu to grind to a halt. Haruka turns around when he no longer feels him beside himself, his friend's green eyes fixed on him in confusion.

"You kissed."

Haruka nods, a little defensive.

"Friends can kiss."

Kiryu blinks. Once. Twice. It seems the idea won't compute, which Haruka thinks is ridiculous. He saw Kiryu kiss Nirei on the forehead just yesterday.

"I mean, yeah. I guess…", Kiryu scratches his head, his strawberry clip coming undone, "But does Suo know that?"

What's that supposed to mean? He says as much.

"Just…", Kiryu bites his lip, "Does Suo know you're kissing as friends?"

"Best friends", Haruka corrects him. Maybe this is where the confusion lies.

"Right", Kiryu nods slowly, "Okay."

Goodheartedly, Haruka rolls his eyes and begins to walk again. He wants to get patrol done with, Suo and him have plans tonight.

"Friends kiss all the time", he reminds Kiryu, "Suo and I've talked about this."

Kiryu Mitsuki

Dude.

Your boyfriend doesn't know you guys are dating.

Hayato sighs as the message comes through, the phone vibrating against his thigh. He'd been trying to do the abysmal amount of homework Furin students are assigned, but his thoughts have been drifting off all evening.

His friend has just confirmed what Hayato had been suspecting for a few days now. It indeed seems like his lovely Sakura is completely unaware of what is actually going on between them. Hayato thought he had been abundantly clear on the rooftop there, they kissed for crying out loud! But he supposes he should not have underestimated Sakura's level of inexperience.

It's not his fault. There's no blame to be placed here, not really. Sakura's awfully traumatized, until Makochi the majority of his contact with other humans had been at best unpleasant, and at worst downright painful. Of course he doesn't know how to identify the thin, blurry line between friendship and romance. Of course he would assume that kissing is an amenable act between friends, who would have taught him differently?

Frustrated, Hayato puts his pen down to run a hand through his mussed hair. He should have been clearer in wording his intentions, but even he gets nervous sometimes. Considering that Sakura kissed him back and continued to go along with every romantic act Hayato initiated, he thought they were on the same page. Turns out they aren't.

What should he do about it now? This is a delicate situation, Sakura is easily overwhelmed and Hayato would prefer not to make him feel stupid or inadequate. He also worries that Sakura doesn't actually reciprocate his feelings. What if he's honest with him and loses what they currently have?

It's a terribly selfish thought to have, Hayato knows he shouldn't take advantage of his friend's innocence like this. And yet.

Yet, it's awfully tempting to do so.

If Sakura is going to figure this out eventually, and Hayato knows he must, then is it so wrong for him to enjoy the illusion for a little longer? Of course, he would cease his actions immediately if Sakura were to express the slightest discomfort, but so far it's been quite the opposite. Sakura has shown not only enthusiasm but even jealousy, so a small, persistent part of Hayato hopes to perhaps inspire a realization of feelings on Sakura's end if he keeps this up.

It's not an unrealistic idea.

With an undignified groan he'd never let anyone else hear, he lies back on his bed, hands clasped in contemplation. He could text Sakura right now, or pull him aside tomorrow, and come clean. Tell him there's been a misunderstanding, that Hayato doesn't want to hold his hand and kiss him as a friend, but instead would move heaven and earth to be allowed to call himself Sakura's boyfriend.

Or he could continue as they have been, bet on blissful ignorance and enjoy this for as long as it's granted to him.

Their classmates all think they're dating after Sakura's little stunt, so he knows his days are numbered. Kiryu might have been subtle enough not to induce any big realizations on Sakura's part, but he doesn't expect Anzai or Kakiuchi to be the same once they dig their claws into him.

Sighing, he closes his eyes. He already know what he's going to do. He has known all along.

Me

Yeah, I know.

Leave it to me.

Kiryu Mitsuki

🤨🤨🤨

Haruka regrets every single one of his life decisions that have led him to this.

He just wanted to ask Umemiya about something insignificant, he can't even remember what it was now. But then their leader insisted Haruka sit with him for a moment so they can talk, and now it's too late to turn back.

"Look", Umemiya crosses his arms. He's got his serious face on. "I know you don't have parents who can have this conversation with you."

Overwhelming dread begins to grow in Haruka's stomach. He doesn't know where Umemiya is going with this, but he knows he won't like it.

"What conversation?", he hisses.

Maybe he shouldn't ask, should fake a sudden emergency and leave. But for some godforsaken reason, he's kind of curious.

Umemiya clears his throat and pats Haruka on the head a few times.

"Well", he says, "When two people really like each other, they will eventually want to do certain things."

Haruka blinks. What?

Umemiya nods to himself, clearly intent on getting this conversation over with while pushing through his own discomfort.

"You seem confused", he points out.

Shrugging, Haruka lets his gaze roam the rooftop. There's Sugishita by the planters, dutifully watering them without a care in the world, and there's the fence where Suo and him kissed for the first time. Awkward and confusing as it was, it's a fond memory for him now. He hopes Umemiya doesn't keep him for too long, he was hoping to get some alone time with Suo before the next class starts.

"Kinda", Haruka finally admits, "Like no offense, but what's this about?"

Umemiya puts his hands together as though he's praying, before destroying Haruka's life with one simple word.

"Sex."

It's probably a world record how quickly Haruka's face turns a flaming red, his ears metaphorically releasing steam like a volcano about to erupt. There's a ringing in his head. This is the worst day of his life, and Haruka has been through a lot.

"Right", he coughs. His throat feels terribly dry. "Bye."

Hastily, he makes to leave but Umemiya expertly blocks his escape. He drags him back with a hand fisted in the fabric of his Furin jacket. Once a symbol of unity and pride, now a hindrance and a traitor.

"What the fuck?", he growls at the older boy.

Haruka misses the days he admired the faceless leader of Furin, strong and determined, kind and innovative. Now, he wishes he'd never met this man at all.

"I know this is uncomfortable", Umemiya sighs, "But it's important. I don't want you to get hurt!"

The fence isn't that high, Haruka thinks, maybe if he runs fast enough he could climb it and throw himself off the roof before Umemiya catches up to him. He stands no chance against him in a fight as of right now, but he's short and skinny enough to make a break for it.

"So, the first thing we should discuss is consent. No sexual act should be -"

"Stop!", he yells. He's afraid he might explode with just how hot his whole body has become, he must be blushing all the way down to his feet. "Shut up."

Umemiya is not deterred by his outburst in the slightest. Damn his gentle nature.

"It's important", he stresses again, "Now that you and Suo are a couple, it's not unreasonable to think -"

Oh God.

"Wait", Haruka holds up a hand before this devolves any further, "Suo and I aren't dating."

Fucking hell. He's blushing up such a storm he's genuinely worried he's going to go into cardiac arrest. Can that happen? Just the thought that Umemiya…That he thought him and Suo would…It's too much to even think about, the images in his head horribly inappropriate for the time and place.

Wait. Why's he even…it's not like he wants to do stuff like that with Suo, right? Just because they kiss doesn't mean they would also do other stuff. That's definitely not something friends do, even he knows that. So why…

Ugh. Whatever. He's not indulging this any further. Teenage hormones are weird and confusing, that's all.

He tunes back into the conversation just as Umemiya seems to gather his bearings.

"But", he scratches his head. His meticulous hairstyle is coming apart, white strands falling into his frowning face. "Everyone says you are. I saw you guys kiss yesterday."

Haruka groans. God, why does everybody think this? It cannot be that strange for two friends to kiss each other. These people are so aggravating.

"So what? We're friends, it's fine."

Umemiya doesn't look like he gets it, just sitting there with vacant eyes for a moment before he coughs awkwardly. A nod, then he shakes his head before nodding again.

"Sure, if you say so", he mutters, his cheerful demeanor momentarily disrupted by sheer befuddlement, "Still. If you won't listen, then at least take these."

And as if this whole scenario couldn't get any worse, Umemiya reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a flat black box. Squinting, Haruka can make out that it says condoms. He cringes, spluttering.

"What!? N-no, what the fuck", he jumps up from his seat. If he listens closely, he thinks he can hear the universe laughing at him.

Umemiya sighs, clearly done with this conversation as well, though he's wrestled his usual smile back onto his face.

"Just", he forces the offending item into Haruka's hand, "Take them."

For just a second, Haruka really considers throwing himself down the stairs as he scurries away, vowing to never return to the rooftop without backup ever again.

"Suo", he hisses the second he finds the other boy, swiftly pulling him into an empty classroom, "We need to do something about this."

His vice captain blinks at him. He's clearly caught off guard, though he hides it well.

"What seems to have occurred, Sakura-kun?", he asks in his usual manner. He seems to have recovered from his surprise very quickly, already leaning back against one of the desks with a sort of regal nonchalance Haruka has only ever seen Suo pull off.

"This", he bites out. Without looking at it, he throws the box at Suo, who catches it easily. The sight of it pulls a dry laugh out of him, the other boy clearly amused by the "gift". Though Haruka can sense something else in his demeanor as well. Anger? Not quite. He can't place it.

"Where did you get these?"

With pink cheeks, Haruka hastily recounts the events that just transpired. Suo listens without betraying a single emotion, his focused gaze burning holes into Haruka's face.

"So yeah. Everyone seems to think we're…ya know", he finishes lamely and shrugs.

Somber, Suo nods. He places the incriminating box on the table he was leaning on before standing up straight. His mouth is pulled into a tense line, his eye dulled.

"I see. Do you want to stop, then?"

Haruka blinks. Stop? He thinks about it for a second. It makes sense after all, to suggest this. If they stopped acting like a "couple", if they stopped kissing and holding hands, then nobody would think they were dating, ergo no one would attempt to give Haruka the talk.

It seems an easy solution, almost too easy. And yet, the thought burns behind his eyes, a rock dropping into his stomach. He doesn't want to stop. He likes kissing Suo, likes it a lot more than he ever thought he would. He likes holding his hand, likes when Suo puts an arm around his shoulders and presses tender kisses into his hair. He enjoys his good morning and goodnight texts, his fond smiles and infuriating teasing. The way things are between them is good.

"N-no", he shakes his head, "That's not…"

Suo bites down on his lip at Haruka's reply, but not quickly enough to hide the way his lips tick upwards into a satisfied smirk. Bastard, he's probably amused by this whole thing. Suo loves fucking with people, doesn't care what anyone says or thinks about him as long as it's not true. Of course this wouldn't bother him, Haruka wouldn't be surprised if he had told people they were dating himself.

"Well then", Suo takes a step forward, crowding into Haruka's personal space. It's not unwelcome. "I suppose it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, does it?"

Suo has a point. It's not like he's offended. Dating Suo wouldn't be a bad thing. Honestly, he thinks it would probably be quite nice. Despite his awful personality, Suo is a good guy, very attentive. He'd make a decent boyfriend. So who cares if people misinterpret their relationship?

"Right", he nods, "Though, if Umemiya tries to do this to me again, you will have to answer for it."

The disgusted expression on Haruka's face pulls a chuckle out of Suo, who keeps taking steps towards him, forcing Haruka to back away lest they bump into each other. He comes to a stop when the back of Haruka's thighs meet the edge of a desk.

"Fine by me", Suo mutters, clearly distracted. His gaze is fixated on Haruka's lips, bitten red after the stressful day he's had. He swallows.

Technically, this is what he wanted. Some alone time with Suo before class. However, it feels a little strange, knowing they're about to kiss. Haruka wants it, of course, but he's more aware than ever of what it would look like to an outsider if one walked in right now. He claimed he didn't care, and he doesn't want to, but that's easier said than done.

The conflicting thoughts are quickly banished from his head when Suo takes the plunge, his hands coming to rest on the desk on either side of Haruka's hips, and his mouth meeting his own in a soft press of lips.

God, this feels so good. Haruka immediately feels his shoulders drop, his stance relaxing so much he leans most of his weight back against the rickety desk. Closing his eyes, he allows himself to get lost in the sensation of Suo's smooth lips moving against his own, the sharp smell of his cologne a welcome distraction.

They part way too quickly, Haruka letting out a truly mortifying whine as he attempts to drag Suo back in by the lapels of his Furin jacket. The other boy laughs, short and derisive.

"Relax", he grins against Haruka's lips and kisses him again. This time, he does something he's never done before, and pulls Haruka's bottom lips between his teeth, nibbling on it just a little. It shoots electricity straight up Haruka's spine, the sensation new but far from unpleasant. He didn't know kissing could be like this.

In an attempt to get even closer, Haruka's lips fall open the tiniest bit. Slow but determined, Suo licks carefully into his mouth. It's weird and slimy, the feeling of Suo's tongue between his lips and against his teeth, but it also causes a fire to spread throughout his whole body, his breath hitching. It's good, he wants more.

"This okay?", Suo pulls away to ask, making sure to keep barely any space between their faces so Haruka doesn't knock their heads together in an attempt to get him back.

Haruka rolls his eyes. Clearly, he was into it. Suo is so stupid.

"Shut up", he growls and tilts his face up, trying to catch Suo's mouth again. It's addicting, kissing like this. He thinks they should do it all day.

It seems Suo's not done catching him off guard yet, as the next thing he does is grabbing Haruka by the waist and hoisting him onto the desk. It's not a particularly tall desk, nor is Haruka very heavy, but it still makes him lightheaded for just a second. Suo has no mercy though, continually attacking his mouth with his tongue and teeth. A drop of saliva is making its way down Haruka's chin but he couldn't care less.

He tries to keep up with Suo's movements for a while, tries to give back as good as he gets, but it's such an overwhelming sensation, and it feels so nice, that he eventually just lets himself fall into the rhythm of it, enjoying Suo's ministrations instead of trying to match them.

The bell eventually pulls them apart.

It's a jarring sound, old and tinny and just a little too loud. They break the kiss, panting heavily. Haruka revels in being taller than Suo for once, the angle making his features look unfamiliar and funny.

"Let's go", Suo pats Haruka's thigh before stepping back to adjust his jacket, running a hand through his silky hair. Haruka swallows.

Right. Class.

Togame is the one who causes the whole thing to fall apart in the end.

A part of him, Haruka thinks, knew the whole time that what they were doing wasn't exactly friendly. Maybe, subconsciously, he knew what Suo was trying to say that day but was too afraid, too insecure, to take it at face value. Perhaps he's not yet grown quite as much as he'd like to think.

But we're not at this point yet.

It's the Saturday after the condom debacle, as Haruka has dubbed it in his head, that he decides it's been too long since he's seen his Shishitoren friends. Togame had told him to come see him anytime he needs advice, so he might as well take advantage of that. Of course, Haruka doesn't know if he's actually going to ask the other boy about any of this, but the point stands.

The streets beyond the tracks are eerily quiet during the day, the shops boarded up and deserted. It reminds him of the first time he came here, only a few days into his life at Furin, desperate to prove himself with his fists. Strange, how quickly things change.

Shishitoren is milling about the property of the abandoned cinema, some of the boys sparring with each other, some just sitting down and chatting. He finds Tomiyama easily. Despite his size, his presence is larger than life.

"Sakura-chan!", the leader bounces on the balls of his feet, clearly excited to see him. He's so different now compared to the boy he was when they first met, all empty eyes and cruel fists. Haruka is glad to see him much improved. "What brings you here? You want something to drink? Sako-chan! Get Sakura-chan a bottle too!"

Haruka waves his hand in dismissal, he's here for a reason and won't let himself be deterred. He'll come by to hang out another time.

"Nah, 's cool. I was tryin' to find Togame, is he around?"

"Oh, yeah!", Tomiyama smiles at him, "Kame-chan's up on the roof, think he's taking a nap but feel free to wake him up!"

Indeed, Togame is lying on the roof when he gets there, his back on the scuffed concrete. That can't be good for him, but Togame doesn't seem uncomfortable.

"Yo", Haruka taps him with his foot before going over to lean against the railing, watching as Togame's eyes open, blinking up at him. He smiles lazily, a warm and comforting expression.

"Sakura", he drawls his name like he's got all the time in the world, "What brings you to our humble abode?"

Haruka shrugs. "Just hangin' out."

Togame raises an eyebrow but doesn't question him. It's not like they never do this, the two of them make sure to meet up every two weeks or so to just chat, so Haruka's presence isn't anything out of the ordinary. But something else is.

"That's not your usual style", Togame points out when he finally gets up and joins Haruka at the railing. They spend a moment just looking down at the courtyard, the other Shishitoren members roaming around. He can see Tomiyama from here, sitting on who he thinks is Wanijima's shoulders. "The jacket, I mean."

Oh, right. Suo had come over the evening before. The two of them had watched a movie, then may or may not have lost some time kissing, so that when it was time for Suo to leave, he accidentally left his changshan behind. It really isn't Haruka's regular style, but the black and white design of it isn't far outside of his usual color scheme and something about it just spoke to him, so he put it on over his shirt today. It still smells like Suo, a whiff of tea leaves and sandalwood hitting his nose every now and then.

He runs a hand down the wooden buttons in contemplation.

"It's Suo's", he admits.

Togame's eyes widen just a fraction, his mouth falling open into a little o-shape. It's clear as day what he assumes.

"I see", he gathers his bearings and smiles, "Since when has that been going on?"

Frustrated, Haruka sighs.

"That's just the thing!", he groans, "Everyone thinks we're dating!"

Togame considers this for a moment.

"And you're…not?"

Shaking his head, Haruka figures he might as well air out all of his vexation.

"No! We're best friends, so sometimes we kiss. And like, hold hands 'n' stuff", he runs a hand through his hair, messing up the bi-colored strands, "And now everyone thinks we're a couple! And like, it's not as though that's a bad thing per se, Suo's great! 's just not true."

Togame opens his mouth to speak, but Haruka's not done yet.

"And fucking Umemiya even tried to give me the talk! How awkward is that? He gave me condoms, Togame."

At that, Togame laughs. It's loud and boisterous enough for the boys in the courtyard to hear. He hopes they don't ask him to relay the story later.

"Oh man", Togame wipes a tear from his eye, "That's quite the predicament."

Haruka spreads his arms, nodding as if to say Right!?.

"So, when you say you guys kiss…", Togame eyes him up and down, "What do you mean by that? Like, on the cheek or?"

Blushing, Haruka fiddles with the shirt. The material is cool and smooth against his skin, impossibly soft. No wonder Suo never breaks a sweat, these Chinese clothes are awesome.

"Not exactly…"

Togame nods a few times, clearly contemplating the information he's accumulated.

"So let me get this straight", he looks Haruka in the eyes, "You guys kiss on the mouth, you hold hands, you wear his clothes and you're…not dating? Did I get that right?"

Well, if he says it like that…

"You and Tomiyama kiss all the time, I've seen it!", he defends himself, "And sometimes he wears a Shishitoren jacket that's way too big for him. 's yours, right?"

Togame nods, suddenly very serious, and places his large hands on Haruka's shoulders.

"Sakura, my dear friend", Togame sighs, "Choji and I are dating."

Oh.

That was the only example he had of platonic kissing. He's seen many people kiss each other's cheeks and foreheads, but the lips do seem to be reserved for romance after all. Unless it's just little pecks maybe? He's sure he's seen girls kiss each other like that before.

Not that this applies to them, considering he could still feel the weight of Suo's tongue in his mouth if he tried.

Fuck. They are dating, aren't they?

Togame takes pity on him.

"Tell me everything."

And Haruka does. He starts with his and Suo's hazy, almost dreamlike rooftop conversation, tells him about the kissing and the casual intimacy and even, with lots of heavy blushing, about their very recent make outs. Even just talking about it like this puts a lot of things into perspective. Haruka thinks he might be stupid.

"Sakura…", Togame pats his head, "That's not being friends. Suo clearly likes you."

Yeah, he's starting to realize that.

"Do you like him too?"

Does he? It's a laughable question, considering he spends hours of every day fantasizing about Suo's hair and his eye and his mouth and his hands. Considering he keeps smelling his changshan and waiting for his texts, his heart skipping a beat every time his phone vibrates. Fucking hell, he has a huge crush.

This is humiliating.

"I'm a fucking idiot", he groans. How is he supposed to face Suo again? Or Kiryu? Or anyone? They must all think he's completely inept, he must have hurt Suo's feelings. Goddammit.

"Hey", Togame murmurs, "It's alright. You wanna be with him, right? Nothing has to change, you just gotta talk about it and clear up the misunderstanding. You're essentially already dating him, bud."

Haruka bites his lip, insecurities festering in between his ribs like weeds.

"What if he doesn't want me anymore?"

Chuckling, Togame throws a heavy arm around his shoulders.

"C'mon, Sakura. The guy is clearly head over heels for you, you've got nothing to worry about."

He nods. Can Suo forgive him for his ignorance though? His naiveté?

"There's not that big of a difference between friends and best friends and boyfriends", Togame shrugs, "Don't overthink it, just enjoy yourself."

He needs to talk to Suo.

"Yeah." He grants Togame a grateful smile. "I gotta go."

He doesn't know where Suo lives.

Obviously, he was aware of this beforehand, and Suo's extreme need for privacy is something they'll have to address once they're actually dating, but for now this means Haruka's plan is at a sudden standstill.

Technically, he could wait until Monday but the need to clear this up right now is too pressing, he would only lose sleep over it.

So he does the next best thing, which is sending a text.

Me

Hey, can I come over?

We need to talk.

Haruka cringes at his wording. If Suo was easy to rattle, he might accidentally give him a heart attack with this. Thankfully, the guy's cool as a cucumber on a bad day.

A reply comes through quicker than he expected.

Suo Hayato

I can meet you at the park in half an hour.

Yeah, figures he wouldn't send him his address. It was worth a try though, he thinks, as he changes course to the local park. It's a short walk from where he's at, so he settles on a bench to wait for his friend. More than his friend, as it turns out.

Looking at the park's greenery, children playing among color changing leaves, it's hard to picture brutal fights taking place here during the Noroshi conflict. God, that reminds him that he has several unanswered texts from Endo. He shudders at the thought.

Endo Yamato

Yo Sakura, you wanna hang out sometime?

Takiishi and I are visiting Makochi soon, d'ya wanna meet up?

[cat.jpg]

Look at this weird cat lmao

How are you, Sakura?

If Haruka had known giving Endo his number would lead to this, he never would have agreed. The guy needs some serious help. He sighs, when an idea suddenly pops up in his head. It's a little evil, but he'll just blame that on Suo's bad influence.

Me

I have a boyfriend.

He quickly locks his phone and slides it into his pocket, sure he's about to be spammed to hell and back. Still, a small smile tugs at his lips at the truth of it. Or, well, he hopes it will be the truth very soon. Ugh, this is a very confusing situation.

Since he's got the time to spare, he should probably think about what he's going to say. He set this all up running on pure emotions, but Suo's a cerebral guy. What if Haruka's inaptitude and awkwardness is too much for him? What if he thought they were dating and now Haruka is going to break his heart or embarrass him? Does Suo ever feel embarrassed? What a dumb question, Haruka scolds himself, he's just a normal guy too. Fuck, he's going to make a mess of things.

For a second, he seriously considers not bringing it up at all. Now that he knows, he could simply keep going, right? They're finally on the same page, technically, so Suo would never have to know for how long they weren't. But no, he sighs, that's not fair to either of them. And if Suo really likes him, it will be alright.

It has to be.

Because he can't lose this. He never thought romance was in the cards for him, hell, he never thought friendship was, but now that he has it, he doesn't want to let it go. Either of it. Suo's companionship and support and unwavering loyalty is just as important to him as his soft mouth and sweet words and the feeling of his arms around him. What if Haruka fucks up so badly he irrevocably destroys all of it? What if Suo wants nothing to do with him after this?

In moments like these, it almost seems like his old life was easier, no friends or boys to worry about, no complicated social dilemmata to navigate. And yet he knows that's not true. For the first time since he was born, Haruka's actually content with himself, with his life and where it's going. By now he's learned that sometimes growth, both personal and of the relationship variety, requires discomfort or even pain.

Still, knowing that it will probably be fine, that Suo is a good person who won't abandon him over something like this, doesn't make the wait any easier to bear. His leg is bouncing, his face preemptively flushed.

It's a little funny all things considered. He already knows Suo likes him back, he confessed first, by all accounts they've already been dating for weeks. And yet.

"Sakura-kun", Suo's voice bursts the little bubble he's found himself in. Haruka blinks heavily, his reality expanding to include his surroundings once more. Suo is standing in front of the bench, a tight smile on his lips as he looks down at him with barely concealed concern swimming in his visible eye.

"Oh", he adjusts his position on the bench, nervously pulling at the hem of the borrowed changshan, "Hey."

"Nice outfit", Suo smirks at him as he sits down, their thighs touching. If the Sakura from a year ago could see him now, essentially melting at the touch of another human being rather than recoiling, braced for a fight, he would probably lose it. The thought almost makes him chuckle. Would, if he wasn't so anxious.

"Uh, yeah", he scratches at his neck, "Thanks."

With a sigh, Suo's practiced expression falls. Seems like it's time for business.

Haruka takes a deep breath.

"What's the matter, Sakura-kun?"

"A'ight", he steels himself to look Suo in the eye, his face set in determination, "Here's the thing…Isittruethatwe'redating?"

Suo blinks.

"I'm sorry", he says, "Could you repeat that?"

Frustrated, Haruka leans his head back to look at the sky. Thick, fluffy clouds have begun to cover the sun, the air cooling down the slightest bit.

"Are we dating?"

Silence.

Too anxious to wait for Suo to speak, Haruka keeps going.

"Because like, I didn't know. Not that I don't want to, I do! I really do. I just didn't realize ya were…confessing to me? And then the kissing, I thought it was just somethin' friends did? But then everyone thought we were dating and I was really confused 'cause Togame and Tomiyama kiss too, but turns out they're a couple! So I think I might be really stupid."

He draws in a big breath. That was messy, but at least it's all laid out in front of them now. He can only hope Suo's willing to pick up the pieces.

What he wasn't expecting was for Suo to laugh. Maybe he should have, but it still stings a little.

"Wait." Suo must see the dejected expression on his face, as his chuckles quickly die down. "You're not stupid, Sakura-kun."

The other boy puts a hand on his leg, the touch warm and comforting. Daring, Haruka puts his own on top of it, their fingers intertwining.

"I don't blame you", Suo sighs, "I should have known to be clearer with you. After everything you've been put through, it's no wonder you didn't want to assume. I'm sorry."

"No!" That's not what he wanted at all. Suo didn't do anything wrong. "I'm sorry. It can't be nice to find out yer boyfriend didn't realize ya were even dating…"

"Well, about that", Suo bites his lip, "I already knew."

Huh?

"What d'ya mean?"

"Well," Suo lifts their united hands up to his face, dropping a soft kiss on Haruka's knuckles. "It didn't take me long to figure out the misunderstanding. I should have cleared it up right then and there, but I suppose I was a little embarrassed too. So really, I'm the one who must apologize for taking advantage of you to satisfy my own desires."

Haruka frowns.

"Ya didn't take advantage of shit", he grumbles, "If I didn't like it, I woulda said so…"

And he means it. While they might not have been in agreement about the classification of their relationship, Haruka enjoyed everything they did, so it's a non-issue. After all, the difference between friend and boyfriend is just one word, the emotional aspect matters much more.

"I'm glad", Suo says.

They sit in silence for a moment, both lost in thought, but impatience soon makes Haruka jittery again. What does this mean for them now?

"So…", he tilts his head at Suo. The other boy just smiles. "Are we datin' then?"

There's clear relief hidden in the way Suo's jaw relaxes just the slightest bit, in the crinkle of his eye and the folds of his smile. He hums.

"Since my heartfelt confession went over your head the last time, I think it's only fair if you ask me properly", Suo grins at him, "Don't you think?"

The mischievous little devil. Haruka glares at him but ultimately, it's not that high of an ask. If all he has to do is ask Suo out, already knowing he'll say yes, he'll gladly do that. What's a little more embarrassment on a day like this?

Smiling, he gets up off the bench, pulling Suo along by their connected hands. Wordlessly, he drags him down to the little pond that borders the park's property, the surface a gleaming gray. There's a few ducks swimming in it, the area mostly deserted. At this time of day, there's usually only kids in the park, and the playground's on its other end.

They come to a stop by a large tree before Haruka turns to look at his companion.

Suo is breathtaking in the waning afternoon light, the cloudy day far from dimming his beauty. As it always seems to be when he looks at him, Suo's gaze is soft, his smile fond. If Haruka squints, he can make out the faintest pink tinting his cheekbones and the tips of his ears. His earrings are swaying gently in the breeze.

"Suo Hayato", he figures he may as well lay it on thick, "I really like ya. Like, it turns out I've got an absolutely gigantic crush on ya. 's really embarrassing actually."

Suo chuckles at his words, his grip on Haruka's hand tightening.

"Yeah?"

Haruka nods.

"Yeah. So do ya wanna be my boyfriend or whatever?"

Not exactly elegant, but he feels it suits him well. Suo knows what he's getting into, he will hardly be expecting a sophisticated gentleman.

Piece of shit that he is, Suo tilts his head as though in contemplation. He even taps the index finger of his free hand against his chin, humming obnoxiously.

Haruka kicks him.

With a laugh, Suo drops the act. He lets go of Haruka's hand to loop his arms around his shoulders, dropping a kiss against Haruka's forehead before he replies. His lips are smooth and cool to the touch.

"I'd be honored, Sakura-kun."

It's strange how relieved he feels, a weight lifting off his shoulders, the existence of which he'd been unaware of. He knew Suo would say yes, but there was the tiniest bit of doubt in his mind still.

Tired of all the talking, Haruka winds his own arms around Suo's waist and captures his lips in a tender kiss, hoping the action will communicate all the words he failed to say. It's a balm on his soul, the kiss made even better by both of them being in the clear about the situation. He's kissing his boyfriend, what a crazy timeline he's fallen into.

Suo's hands are cradling his face when they part, his breath almost cold on Haruka's burning face. He wonders if the blushing will ever decrease, or if he's destined to walk around like a traffic light for the rest of his life.

"You're lovely, Sakura-kun", Suo murmurs as his thumbs trace slow circles on his cheeks, "I'm truly lucky."

Haruka almost defies him. How lucky can he be if Haruka didn't even realize they were dating for so long, leaving Suo in what was essentially a one-sided relationship? He keeps his mouth shut though, something telling him Suo wouldn't agree.

"Shut up", he mutters instead, quickly leaning in to kiss Suo again, lest he say something else embarrassing. He's the lucky one, he thinks to himself, but that's a thought he's not yet willing to say out loud.

He'll tell him one day.