He stood like the last light on in a row of lamp posts on a night when visibility was nearly impossible to find.
Aiichiro always seemed like the sweetest gem in the world, the kindest torch, as he moved towards his future.
He wasn't perfect, but he definitely was loyal despite every tear and every shout.
Nitori sat down beside him, feeling the ice cream slowly begin to melt in his hands as he handed one over and smiled up at Rin as if the world was perfect in this moment.
Rin smiled back at him, small as it was, and began to savor the rich taste of the ice cream on his lips.
"I'm happy." Nitori murmured as if it wasn't obvious as he stared up at the sky, already imagining what tomorrow might bring.
"Me too." Rin decided on rather than tell him that he already knew, felt Ai lean closer, sweeter than the ice cream ever could be.
"Can we go on a walk together tomorrow or a run?" Ai asked, deciding not to mention that the day after Rin would be in Australia, and they'd have only simple means of staying in touch until they could visit each other again.
"Sure." Rin shrugged, leaning slightly closer to Ai, loving the gentle feel of simply being closer to him.
Ai leaned closer, knowing that he couldn't find the words even now to say goodbye and that tomorrow he'd have to.
He just didn't want to begin to say those words and didn't want to feel the distance of how far away they'd be.
Ai wondered if perhaps he could lean just a bit closer and feel Rin's lips on his, cold from the ice cream, and fall further in love before time pulled them apart again for a little while.
When Rin paused, most of his ice cream gone, Ai couldn't resist leaning forward, leaning in, and capturing Rin's lips in his.
Ai smiled, feeling that heart of his beat faster and faster as he pressed closer, feeling the delicate casing of falling further in love with this feeling, the way Rin's lips though slightly chapped were soft against his and the way he could feel Rin's heart meet the beats of his own heart.
He couldn't help but stay as close in that kiss as he could though they both pulled away when their ice cream started to drip down on to both of them, making Ai laugh.
The younger one of the two could barely press his 'I love you' back, feeling the way it rumbled in his chest and begged to be let loose,
Ai could only smile for now though as he knew that he wasn't ready to tell Rin yet as he waited for the time when he didn't and couldn't stop it, the time where it fell out just for Rin for the first time and could imagine how easy the next few times would be then.
He had faith in them, knew that Rin would try like he would too to make this work no matter what happened or how far apart they were; he leaned closer to place a quick kiss on Rin's cheek before turning back to his still dripping ice cream and savoring the sweet taste that it left on his tongue.