I had the idea in my head at work, planned out the message, and then I wrote this story around it. Just a little something…
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All is dark.
If Ritsuka glances at his closed curtain, he can make out faintly blurred street lights, the sounds of the living city beyond his window. But where he lies, in his bed, his world is quiet and lonely.
It doesn't have to be this way. His phone rests beside his pillow, the white screen bringing light into the dark. Soubi brought light into the dark, the dark of Ritsuka's life, and he can do it again… a few pushes of a button and Ritsuka is staring down at the letters, at the message he just typed.
"Tell me you love me."
Click. The sound is slight, but seems to prompt a beacon of hope amongst the silence. It was a demand; a pleed; please, Soubi, I can't sleep. I need to hear from you.
Ritsuka was fully awake now- fully alert of the distant hums of the city, of happy people, sleepy people, people waiting just like he was. Waiting for an answer. A declaration of adoration through text message, perhaps, just like he was.
The room colored red and, for a moment, he didn't know what to make of it. His phone. Soubi had replied. He sat up hastily, eyes eager to receive the awaiting message.
"Is that an order?"
Ritsuka stared, hands fumbling to retrieve a blank screen. What was the right answer? What would Seimei say? What would the old Ritsuka say? No, this wasn't like mother. He wasn't Seimei. He could make up his own mind.
"No."
That was all. Message sent. He couldn't bear lie back down, stare at his roof and walls and know somewhere, Soubi was still awake. Maybe he was painting. Maybe he wasn't alone. Maybe, he was on his balcony, smiling down at his phone…
Red fireworks amongst the black night. He looked down at the phone in his hands, at the brilliant, blood-red sparks worn on its front, at the message it no longer hid.
"Good night, Ritsuka. I love you."
Ritsuka closed the phone, resting it again beside his pillow and turning to face it. If he wanted to, he could text him back. If he wanted to, he could call Soubi right now and see his face through his curtains, know his world wasn't all so lonely anymore.
Knowing that, the night wasn't as dark.