Masamune gave a sudden start when a small, thin hand wriggled its way into his, all fine bones and long fingers. The thought of who exactly was doing something as simple as holding his hand made his face warm. He let his boney fingers slowly curl around the other's, cradling them in a loose embrace, as if they would suddenly move away if he clenched too tightly or moved too quickly. He let out an inaudible breath at the exhilarated feeling in his chest. Who knew that something as mundane as this would make him feel like he'd run a marathon?

"Senpai..." A quiet voice stumbled out. Glancing over to his side, Masamune took in those pink cheeks and wide eyes and heart-shaped face and his heart tripped over in his chest, falling over that crack known as "love" and dropping down into an abyss he never wanted to even try to escape from.

"…?"

"…uhm…" That small body squirmed around in the grass, those cherry blossom lips pursing into a nervous frown. "…t-tomorrow's your birthday, right?"

How did he know that? A cool breeze whooshed through his black locks, disturbed the long blades of grass that waved gently in the wind, the small purple flowers that moved around as if in a hypnotic dance. "Yes…" Masamune answered slowly, quietly, strangely anticipating what his kouhai would say next.

Would he want to spend the day with him? Would he get him something? His heart swelled, overfilled, spilled over with love and affection for the person lying beside him. Anything from him would be enough. Anything at all; Masamune would treasure it until he died.

"W-well…I was just…wondering," his tongue fell over the words heavily, "…would you want to…go somewhere?" And those eyes immediately shuttered closed, waiting for the inevitable rejection that would come with his stupid, stupid question. Masamune had to fight to not tighten his grip on the other's hand. He couldn't believe it. He…wanted to spend the day with him…on his birthday.

"…where would we go?"

Green emeralds widened, a look of complete and utter wonder overtaking them. Pale cheeks flushed and lips trembled. "R-really? Y-you want to spend your birthday together?"

Don't be so fucking eager, Masamune. Like a dog, which he hated. So he shrugged, feigning indifference; with the blank expression he greeted everyone with most of the time, it was easy to pretend he didn't care either way. Being too eager would only scare him, his little kouhai, away. "…sure."

There was an odd snuffling noise from next to him. He turned his head, and, shockingly, a small hand was clamped over a quivering red mouth, and beads of water were trailing down soft cheeks.

"…hey, what're you crying for?"

He gasped faintly and removed his hand from his mouth. "S-sorry, senpai. J-just…I'm just really happy." Lips curved into a wavering smile, and Masamune had to take a literal breath; it was so, so beautiful. His smile was so beautiful. This kid…he was so easy to please. Then again, wasn't he as well?

They were both so ridiculous, but maybe that was why they fit together so well.

I'm so, so happy, too, Ritsu. I'm so happy you wanted to spend time with me, that you thought of me first. I love you, I love you, I—

"…love you," he muttered under his breath, his breath catching in his throat when he realized he accidentally said that out loud.

"S-senpai?!"

"…"

He was fully crying now, hiccupping noises rising out of his throat, tears racing tracks down his cheeks as he tried in vain to wipe them away with one hand. Neither of them had bothered to take his hand away. "…y-you m-m-mean that, s-senpai?"

Masamune could only nod minutely.

Ritsu let out a laugh in his high 15 year old voice, and it sounded like the most wonderful thing he'd ever heard. "I…I love you too, senpai. So much."

Leaning in, Masamune pressed a warm kiss to his love's forehead, feeling the skin heat up underneath his lips and resting his head against soft brown hair, oddly comforted at the physical contact between them.

"S-senpai, maybe we could go see a movie or wander around window-shopping or…" His excited chatter continued on as Masamune half-listened on, smiling to himself.

Ah, yes.

This was what it felt like to be in love…

A/N: This is one of my favorites. I like the writing style and detail I put here.

-ChemicallyEnhanced