A/N: This is the last chapter, minna-san! Thanks so much to everybody who followed the story up to this point! -heart- To be honest, I'm kind of insecure about my writing style in this entire fic. x.x It seems clumsier than usual and when I beta-read the last chapter for like the third time just now, I found many obvious mistakes that just convinced me there's tons more in it as it's submitted now. I hope you guys can look past them (as well as my dumbass ending) and enjoy it nonetheless.
"Thank god!" Tsurugi sighed as he halted in front of the pension Tenma lived. "We made it alive. I'm never doing this again. You're dangerous!"
Tenma hopped off the bike and smiled embarrassedly. "I'm sorry, I really had a good time, though. You cycle so fast!" He praised, impressed.
"Oh, well, it's nothing," Tsurugi muttered. He motioned for Tenma to take over the handlebars of his bike again.
"Thank you," said Tenma, taking the bike. "I really had a good time today, Tsurugi," He blushed but refused to look away. "P-Perhaps we can do it again sometime?" He mentally crossed his fingers.
"Another outing?" Tsurugi smirked.
"Uh-ah, well. Uhm… " Tenma frowned and his mouth opened and closed a few times, but no real words came out. "Uh…"
The smaller boy looked really cute, flashed through Tsurugi's mind. Tenma was blushing, biting his lip and his large blue eyes looked up at him before lowering them again, embarrassed.
"I mean… Uh… " Tenma struggled with the words.
Tsurugi decided to put him out of misery and flashed a calm smile. "Tenma. The night's still young. Why don't you put away your bike so we can go for a walk?" He figured that was a good way for Tenma to rearrange his train of thought, and mere seconds after the suggestion, the brunet agreed.
"O-okay," he nodded. He rushed off for a moment, his face still as red as before. Unlike him, Tsurugi felt more at ease. He wasn't sure what the issue on Tenma's mind was, but he had had a lot of fun with him today, and that wasn't all. Tsurugi truly felt like this outing had helped the two of them get closer, as well as erase yesterday's tension that already seemed so far away. He now understood why Shindou and Kirino had suggested a trip to the zoo... but he still wasn't sure why they had resorted to following him and Tenma around. Did they think they wouldn't be able to handle it? They weren't little kids or anything.
It turned out to be the perfect time to ask the suspicious couple in person. Barely after Tenma had left, Tsurugi picked up a rustle in the bushes behind him. When he turned around and the rustle abruptly stopped, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "... captain. Kirino-senpai. You're in there, aren't you?"
Shindou and Kirino gulped before they rose from their hiding place, their heads lowered in guilt. Shindou had disposed of his sunglasses, but Kirino was still wearing his straw hat, as well as his light-green dress. When the first thought that occurred to Tsurugi was that it suited him far too well, he couldn't help but smirk. "I didn't know you were into cross-dressing, senpai."
Kirino went red and shot his boyfriend a dark stare from under his hat, forcing an awkward chuckle out of him.
"Ah-hah-hah..." Shindou placed a hand on the back of his head. "Well, we weren't supposed to be recognized..."
Tsurugi crossed his arms, his smirk fading. "That brings me to my point: what the hell were you two doing, following us around like that? I appreciate your effort to help us get along but it's not like we'll start fighting as soon as you look away."
"We know that," Shindou said quickly, "we just... We thought it's better to be safe than sorry. We wanted to make sure you'd have a good time."
"And from the look of it, you did," Kirino added, and he nodded towards the giraffe keychain, which Tsurugi had attached to the chain that hung onto his belt.
Tsurugi felt his own cheeks grow warm and automatically averted his eyes. "Yes, well..." he started, not sounding completely confident anymore, "... w-we still could've handled it by ourselves."
Shindou smiled friendly at him. "We apologize, Tsurugi. We didn't mean to invade your privacy. Call it... looking out for another. It's what friends do."
Tsurugi nodded quietly, but perked up when he heard approaching footsteps and looked at his seniors again. "Tenma's coming back!"
Shindou and Kirino smiled in unison. It didn't go by unnoticed that Tsurugi now called his friend by his first name.
"We'll get out of your hair now," Shindou promised him, and he bid Tsurugi goodbye before he took Kirino by the hand and started walking away.
"Good luck," the defender added at the last moment, which made Tsurugi blush even more for some reason. Good luck with what? They were just going for a walk...
"I'm back," Tenma announced, mere seconds after his seniors had rounded a nearby corner. Looking at his innocent expression, Tsurugi figured he had no idea his seniors had just paid him a visit.
"G-good, let's go," he replied, wondering where the composure from just now had gone. The fact that Shindou and Kirino had practically been tailing them all day made him feel self-conscious. If they knew the two of them weren't going to argue first chance they got, then why did they go to the trouble of following them around? Was there more behind that "looking after" part Shindou mentioned? It was just a simple outing... but his seniors treated it, if anything... like a date.
Tsurugi widened his eyes. It was nothing short of a date. He and Tenma had gone out together, held hands at a few points, and Tenma had even surprised him with a present. That's why he felt so peculiar around him... and so happy. Because their outing had been more than just rekindling their friendship. Apparently aware of his strange feelings towards the brunet, Shindou and Kirino wanted them to be in more than just a platonic relationship. Their surprising amount of effort to get the two back together made complete sense now. Those sneaky little...
Tsurugi, lost in thought, didn't know whether to curse or thank his upperclassmen. It was when he was suddenly taken by the hand that he looked up, meeting Tenma's kind-hearted smile. "I'm ready," he confirmed, gently squeezing Tsurugi's hand in his own. The single gesture made his heart speed up.
Tsurugi cleared his throat and stumbled: "R-right, of course." The two of them started to walk, not saying anything else. As they wandered off into the quiet night, both Tenma and Tsurugi were caught up in their own thoughts. Little did they know that they were quite similar: while still trying to find the right words, Tenma wondered if Tsurugi harboured identical feelings to his own, and Tsurugi did the exact same thing in regards to the brunet. Now that he acknowledged that he enjoyed being so close to Tenma and finally figured out why, he wanted to know if these feelings were one-sided... or if more might blossom between them, like Shindou and Kirino wanted it to.
The boys perked up when they neared the centre of the city, preoccupied with the crowd that surrounded them. They both held each other's hand extra tightly, which resulted in a shy smile from both sides.
"Didn't you want to tell me something earlier?" Tsurugi asked, and Tenma's smile turned a lot more awkward at the sound of those words.
"A-ah, well..." he stuttered, not knowing where to start, but he quickly changed the subject when the colourful lights of a ferris wheel distracted him. "... a ferris wheel! I love ferris wheels! Can we go on it, Tsurugi?"
Taken aback lightly, Tsurugi mumbled a "S-sure" and became more certain that Tenma was deliberately avoiding the issue when the brunet tugged at his hand to drag him along. It wandered to the back of his mind as well when they entered a gondola and it left off with only the two of them inside. Tsurugi almost instantly realized how intimate the act of sharing a ferris wheel ride was and lowered his head as to avoid eye contact, but that turned out to be unnecessary.
Not very surprisingly, Tenma grew more psyched as their car gained height, gazing out the window with a big smile. "You can see the entire city from here!" he chimed, looking at Tsurugi and back outside again. "It's so pretty..." he added, flashing a peaceful smile. The enchanting sight of a dark city, lit only by street and house lights, was indeed a beautiful sight. Beautiful and... romantic.
Tenma suddenly refrained from saying anything further. He remained seated calmly and looked at Tsurugi again, who still refused to return eye contact. Tenma lowered his glance and blushed when he saw their knees were touching. He took a quick peek at Tsurugi's face and his eyes widened slightly when he saw his cheeks were red as well. He couldn't help but feel a small amount of hope again, and just like he had done before, he treasured it dearly. How he wished Tsurugi would return these feelings lingering inside of him... How he longed to always be with him the way he had today... Tenma knew the only way to put a halt to this burning curiosity was to just confess his feelings. The complete loss for words, as well as his total nervousness, held him back before... but their current position, alone at the top of a ferris wheel, gave him more confidence. He just had to say it. Yes. All he had to do was say it outright. Those three words were all he needed. Tenma was no longer afraid, or at least not as much as the other day. Their outing had convinced him that Tsurugi liked him as a friend in the least... a close enough friend to entrust his true feelings to, even if they were one-sided. They had already reached half of the ride... If he wanted to confess, there was no better time than to say it now.
Tenma looked up and clenched his fists on his thighs. "Tsuru—" ... and received a kiss on the lips. Silencing him. Startling him. He petrified completely. His heart seemed to stop, and his brain suffered a temporary breakdown. It was only when Tsurugi pulled back, when he could see his whole face, that Tenma realized what just happened.
"T-T-Tsurugi..." Tenma's eyes were wider than ever, and his cheeks felt like they were at the verge of bursting. It was like his body started living its own life, as his finger pointed from Tsurugi at him and back at Tsurugi again, and aside from occasional Gibberish stammering, the red-faced brunet didn't manage a single sound from his lips.
Tsurugi, blushing at least just as much, didn't know what to say either. He folded his hands on his legs and admired them for a moment, quietly, before he lifted his head and flashed a smile. A shy, modest, very unusual smile for the tough-minded ex-Seed.
"... that... was what you wanted to tell me, right...?" he inquired unsurely.
When Tenma realized that was all he had to say and that he was really supposed to give an answer now, he desperately tried to get his act together, but that only made it worse. Tsurugi's kiss repeated itself over and over in his mind, and it was impossible to forget the soft touch of his lips brushing against his own. Tsurugi had just done what Tenma desired from him the most... It was unbelievable. He wasn't dreaming, was he? A light slap on the cheek made him realize he wasn't. No, Tsurugi was still sitting in front of him, beaming that awkward smile, waiting for an answer.
Tenma gave one the best way he knew how. If he couldn't speak, he was going to act. He stood up, trying not to let his shaking legs force him back down, and leaned in to wrap Tsurugi in a tight hug. He threw his arms around his back and pressed the other boy close, burying his red face in his chest similar to the way he had done in the zoo. Tenma once again smelled that scent that could only belong to Tsurugi... Tsurugi, who had just kissed him. Tsurugi, who had just made him happy beyond belief with one simple gesture. A gesture that made his entire life.
Tsurugi felt rather surprised at Tenma's sudden embrace, but when he realized what it meant, he automatically relaxed in the other boy's arms. He returned the hug just as tightly, almost reluctant to let him go. Tenma hadn't answered his question in words, but this action said enough... it said everything. It confirmed the fact that his feelings were mutual. Tsurugi couldn't believe he was able to feel this happy about something as intimate, complicated and embarrassing as love. He opened his mouth to say something, but Tenma was ahead of him, muffling his words in his shirt.
"Tsurugi... K-Kyousuke... I... like you. I really, really like you..."
All Tsurugi could do was smile at this point. Smile, and try to keep his racing heart from dancing across his chest. At last, he understood why Tenma had tried to avoid him recently... and the reason filled him with more and more joy by the second. Tsurugi lifted one hand and gently ran his fingers through his friend's hair, as a way of comforting him.
"Idiot... You wouldn't have hugged me if I didn't," he pointed out, and his smile evolved into a smirk when Tenma moved up and looked at him with a pout.
"Those words cost a lot of effort!" he retorted, but he calmed down when Tsurugi's hand slid from his hair to his cheek, stroking it lightly.
"I know," Tsurugi whispered. He really knew. Tenma had actually mustered enough courage to admit his feelings, but he was more reluctant to say something so embarrassing, unable to voice his own desires. That was why, instead, Tsurugi took Tenma's chin in his fingers and leaned in for a second kiss. This time, Tenma returned it happily.
~ One week later ~
The morning light forced itself through the curtains of Shindou's room, and Kirino wearily opened his eyes. He needed a moment to remember he was lying in Shindou's bed, but he woke up completely when he realized he was looking straight into the eyes of his boyfriend, who greeted him with a warm smile.
"Good morning," he whispered, and he reached out to play with the Kirino's untied hair. He really did love those pink, charming, beautiful locks.
"Good morning," Kirino replied, quickly smiling as well. He scooted closer to wrap an arm around Shindou's waist, and Shindou gladly returned the gesture as he leaned in for a morning kiss. The two of them had fallen asleep without a top due to the summer heat, and happily shared the body warmth of their connected chests, united in a tight embrace.
Kirino finally mustered the will to end their extensive cuddling session after more than twenty minutes had passed. He sat up, stretched, almost gave Shindou a nosebleed with that action and asked: "Is it okay if I use your shower?"
"You know the answer to that," Shindou replied, but the suggestive look on his face made Kirino think twice.
"... is the answer "Yes, of course", or is it...?"
"It is "Yes, of course", but... only if you invite me along," Shindou clarified, and he grinned when the already present blush on Kirino's face intensified. It wasn't the first time they would be taking a shower together, but everytime it was merely mentioned, Kirino grew rather shy and preferred to let his boyfriend lead. It was his shower, and his house, after all.
"Fine," the pink-haired boy agreed, "but you'll have to do my back in return." He gently poked Shindou on the nose, making him smile.
"I'll be glad to," he answered softly, and he took Kirino's hand in his own to give it a gentle kiss.
Just as the boys entered Shindou's private bathroom with a clean change of clothes, the brunet's cell phone rang on his nightstand. Shindou sighed and walked to his bed, making a mental note to shut that thing off when he and his boyfriend were together. When he picked up and heard Tsurugi's voice, he beckoned Kirino to let him listen along to what their teammate had to say.
"This brings back memories..." Kirino flashed a grin as he, Shindou and Tsurugi lingered outside the entrance of an amusement park, not far outside of town. Just like the week prior, the three of them were waiting for the last member of the group before entering a park.
Tsurugi looked at him in confusion, not realizing the couple had been keeping him company back then, but Shindou smiled and asked him: "How have you been Tenma been?"
"Yeah, you should really give us an update," Kirino insisted before Tsurugi could answer. "Neither of you told us anything after that night."
"Consider it a punishment for stalking us," Tsurugi stuck out his tongue. He kept his hands in his pockets and looked away to fend off Shindou and Kirino's pleas, but he perked up with the other two when they heard a familiar voice.
"Ooooi! Sorry for being late!" Tenma came racing on his bike and put it away before he hurried over to the others, flying straight into the arms of his new boyfriend.
Tsurugi chuckled and gave him a tight hug, swinging the boy around once before Tenma let go of him. The two gave each other a quick peck on the lips and the taller boy whispered: "Nothing less from you, Tenma."
Shindou and Kirino looked at them and then each other, equally surprised. They had concluded that whatever happened between Tenma and Tsurugi was a positive experience, as both boys seemed surprisingly cheerful afterwards, but to see them like this... acting like they'd been a couple for months... Realizing their plan had worked out even better than they hoped, the boys gave each other thumbs up, paired with a wink.
Tsurugi glanced at them and raised an eyebrow. "When you're done praising yourselves, can we get into the park already?"
Shindou crossed his arms, sharing a grin with Kirino. "Hey, you have to admit things are fine between you again thanks to what we did. Otherwise, you wouldn't have invited us here."
Tsurugi looked away and pointed at Tenma. "His idea. He thought we needed to thank you for your help."
Tenma nodded eagerly, making Shindou and Kirino smile.
"That's very sweet of you, Tenma," Kirino commented. "We're just happy to see you two are so close now."
"Thank you, Kirino-senpai!" Tenma chirped, and he took Tsurugi by the hand before leading him and his seniors into the park.
"Let's have some fun, all together this time!"
- END -