Nothing Special
The way they met wasn't anything special. It just happened that it was late and the younger boy's shop was the only one open, not to mention the only one on campus. Being another distraught student on the verge of dropping out or being kicked out (which ever came first), Subaru was in need of a drink. The only problem was, there was no alcohol allowed on campus, and the guy didnt feel like trying to catch a mid-night cab to search for an open bar.
The shop sold all kinds of different drinks; coffee, soda, energy drinks, frappe's latte's, cappacino, almost any kind of drink you could think of. But no alcohol. So what, he wondered, was the use of even entering the shop if what he was looking for wasn't even there?
He decided a black coffee would be a decent substitute. He ordered the drink and sat at a table near the back.
"It's almost time for finals, shouldn't you be studying?" The boy asked as he brought the drink over. To Subaru, the boy looked hardly old enough to be a college student. He had an immature, colorful clothing style, bright blond hair, childish face and pouty lips. He was short and thin, but Subaru couldn't really say anything about that. He looked more like a first year in high school, if anything else.
"Shouldn't you be minding your own business?" He took the cup from the boys hands.
"Well, I'm on night shift all by myself...It gets lonely in here during the night." The boy pouted slightly. "Customers don't come in much, and none of my friends come to visit me..."
"Is it that they wont come visit you, or that you have no friends at all?" Subaru knew what he said was mean. Especially when the workers face dropped, his eyebrows pulling up. He turned the round try he held in his hands, biting his lip slightly like he was trying to hold back from crying. And, for some odd reason, Subaru was struck with a sense of guilt, which he didnt understand at all. He had been mean to hundreds of people before, many of them girl's who have literally started sobbing, and never felt guilty about any of them. So what made this kid so different?
"Well...I do have friends...I guess... Well, I have room mates..." He turned back around, toward the counter. "Sorry, I shouldn't be bothering you." And again, there was more guilt. The poor kid really didnt have any friends.
Subaru sighed heavily, feeling defeated by the guilt that wouldnt leave him alone. "You dont have to leave. You can keep talking, I guess. If you want to..." It didnt even take a second for the boy to return to the side of the table, a big smile spread across his face. He scooted himself into the chair across from me and made himself comfortable. For the longest time, the boy sat there, kicking his legs back and forth under his seat. Becoming annoyed by the silence and the boys staring, he asked. "What're you here for."
"You mean what I'm studying? I belong to the art program here!" The other was obviously proud of himself, the way he smiled. An Artist, Subaru thought. Working in a cafe, the way he talks and moves...he must be a fruit. "And you?"
"It doesnt matter. I'm dropping out anyway."
The boy looked shocked. "D-Drop out?! No no! You cant!"
"Why not? Im not the college type, anyway. After I fail the final, I'll be kicked out anyway."
"But if you dont fail, you wont be kicked out! All you have to do is study!"
"Why study? I'll just fail anyway."
The boy looked thoughtful for a minute, before the light bulb came up over his head. "I'll help you! I've finished my final project already, I have a ton of time! Then you wont fail!"
~*~*~*~
Subaru stared at the door in front of him. The nameplate beside the door had two names- Ohno and Yasuda. It was the right room, but he really didn't want to go in. He didn't want help from this kid. He wanted out of college. So why didn't he just turn around and go back to his own dorm? He tried, but the boy caught him before he could leave.
"You came earlier than I thought!" Yasuda smiled, sliding his key into the lock and opening the door. They stepped in, and the first thing Subaru noticed is, there was no floor. There were newspapers, palettes, paint brushes, ink, canvases, thrown on the floor in easy access of the short-haired man leaning over the canvas.
"Ohno, I told you I was having someone over today~!" Yasuda whined. "Couldn't you have done this in the art room?"
"Ohno gave a blank look. "Inspiration struck me here. If I move, the inspiration would leave too. Just go somewhere else."
"But theres no room in the library- everyone is studying there! Any quiet place is taken!"
Subaru really hated the idea that came into his head. And he really hated the fact it came out. "We could go to my room, then."
"Really? You're room mates wont mind?"
"...No." Though, if they did happen to come back while Yasuda was still there, they'd find some way to tease him about it, since he never brought anyone over. Yasuda happily followed him to his room, almost like he was excited to go to someone else's dorm. Well, he probably hasn't seen another one, and depending on the building yours is in, depends how it looks.
"Y-Yours..." He says, peeking into the room. "Yours is no better..."
"Does it really matter? Lets just get this over with already."
The studying lasted much longer than expected. Way too long, for Subaru's taste. It was almost mid night when Yasuda finally agreed to stop. Well. He didn't agree. He fell asleep. If Hina walked in right now, he'd definitly throw a fit. Subaru wanted sleep too, but he couldn't until this kid left. What was so hard about waking him up and kicking him out? Yasuda looked too cute, his head resting on the book he was reading from, his hand still holding the pencil, stopped mid-word, his lips parted just a bit, his hair covering his pink cheeks. Subaru threw his head back, smacking it accidently against the wall trying to snap himself out of whatever weird mode he was in right then. Yasuda was a BOY. Boys aren't cute! Boys aren't supposed to think other boys are cute! Then, he shoved Yasuda, out of frustration.
"Good luck on your test tomorrow." Yasuda said while leaving the door after fully waking up and gathering his things. The smile he had when he left stuck in Subaru's mind the rest of the night, annoyingly enough. No matter how many times he tossed and turned, it stayed right in the front, right in front of his eyes. Eventually, he just gave up, especially when Yoko threw something at him because he was making too much noise.
~*~*~*~
He sat in the cafe, head on the table, exhausted. The winter break was over. Yasuda sat across from him, smiling fondly. "It's nice to see you here~." he said, referring to the fact that, if Yasuda hadn't helped, Subaru would still be at home right now. In bed. Asleep. Doing what he wants. The morning of the exam, he considered failing on purpose. But because of the kid in front of him helping him for so long the night before, he really couldn't. And so, he's back at school, in the cafe, during Yasuda's midnight shift.
"Say..." Yasuda said, shifting the tray around. "Have you ever experienced love at first sight?"
Subaru almost choked on his drink. What was he talking about?! Who did he fall in love with?! He took pity on whoever the person was. But then, he never saw Yasuda staring longingly at anyone else, (not that he was paying attention), smiling so happily to, (not that he would notice), or being so close to anyone else but himself before. (not that he cared.) So, is the person he's taking pity on himself?!
"W-Why? Who is it??"
Yasuda blushed. "A-A guy from the culinary department! He's...He's really tall, and spacey, but...it's part of his charm!"
Subaru was relieved to know it wasn't him. He wondered then, though, why it didn't weird him out to find out the person Yasuda was after was a guy. It was probably just his character, anyway. "Well, yeah, I mean, who doesn't? Why?"
"I want to confess to him. But...I don't know how. I mean, I wouldn't say we were close...I mean, we only knew each other for a while and all...But he's such a good guy."
"Don't you have friends to ask?"
Yasuda glared a little. "You are my friend."
"I don't remember ever becoming your friend."
"Then why'd you come here? At midnight? When you knew I'd be working?"
"..."
He couldn't argue that. If they really weren't "friends" he wouldn't be here right now. He thought about Yasuda's request to help him. When was the last time he was trying to pick someone up? Certainly it wouldn't be in any way that would get Yasuda his guy. Maybe thats why, Subaru thought, he was single still.
"It would be embarrassing to just go up and say it to him..."Yasuda looked out the window. "Like I said, we aren't very close...Yet I can't help my feelings."
"Well unless you want to be considered a creeper by the guy, get close to him. What if he's not even...interested in people like you?"
Yasuda looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well..I guess some people would find me strange...I do dress a little...out there, you know? Maybe he doesn't like being noticed too much...With me he'd definetly be noticed..."
"Thats not what I meant!!" Why was he helping him again? He's clueless. "Look, just do that, and if things kick off just confess to him. That simple." Yasuda looked hopeful and nodded, before another poor lost soul walked into the cafe. Quickly Yasuda got up and took care of the customer, and Subaru decided it was time for him to leave anyway.
On his way back, he wondered what the strange, empty feeling was about. He realized when Yasuda told him he liked the culinary guy, his heart dropped a bit. No- thats just because it was another guy Yasuda was after- he's not used to that. Yet, he couldn't shake that small loneliness he was suddenly feeling. When they got together, he was sure it would happen considering Yasuda dragged him into a friendship without him knowing, Yasuda would surely spend all his time with that guy. But Subaru had other friends. Why should he feel lonely? Just because his friends go out on late night runs to parties and forget to invite him doesn't mean their not friends. They hang out. Sometimes. When their not busy with their girlfriends. Which is almost never. If that kid got in a relationship, he'd still talk to him in the cafe at night. Unless the other is there too. Then it's a lost cause.
He went to bed that night, fully aware that really, Yasuda was the only that said it was good to see him after break, and was the only reason he did come back.
~*~*~*~
Yasuda seemed to disappear during the days now. A few times since school resumed, Subaru and him ate together in one of the court yards. But Yasuda hadn't been around lately. Probably off with the Okura guy- Yasuda finally came out with the name. Subaru saw him a few times- he's definetly tall. But he's good looking. He didn't look like he was very fond of talking, either. Each time he has seem him, his mouth was shut. Yasuda wasn't a very quiet person, so would him being with someone so quiet work out? Why was he even worried about it?
Other times, Yasuda wouldn't leave Subaru's side. He would pop out of no where, a new idea about where to go after classes ended for the day.
"Shouldn't you be making dates with the other guy?" Subaru's brought up more than once. "He'll think you dont like him like that."
"Oh, no, we're quiet close!" Yasuda said, smiling at whatever was inside his head. "I'm waiting for the perfect moment to confess. Right now, he doesn't even know I like him! I've dropped some hints, but he's still clueless!"
"He must be dense, then."
Yasuda laughed a little. "Yeah, he must be." He skipped up ahead, stretching his arms out wide as a breeze came through. He really was a happy guy, that Yasuda. He had many rare traits you don't find in the normal human being nowadays. He had overflowing optimism, cared for everything he came across. He was kind, helped anyone who needed it. He would listen when you need someone to listen, talk when you need a voice to listen to. He was considerate, never rude. He always offered a smile, even in the most gloomy situations. These things are what Subaru gathered about him every time they met up. They are the things he admired about Yasuda, the things he was actually jealous of because he would never be able to be anything like Yasuda. He wasn't the guy to put himself out there to people. He wasn't kind, and didn't care much. So why would Yasuda want to be around a guy like him anyway?
"Opposites attract." Yasuda told him once. "Two totally different people are drawn together because they are different! Because they have new things to learn and experience! You can't live your life one way, you'll end up in a rut so deep you'll never climb your way out. You have to be open! Open to try new things. Like a new style! I new hair color. New books. New food. Like this!" Yasuda shoved his chopsticks in Subaru's face, holding who-knows-what between them. Maybe making changes in life wouldn't be a bad idea. Find a new outlook on life, instead of being annoyed and down about everything all the time. But eating something unknown was something he was NOT ready for at all. "People can change, you know? Just gotta put a little effort into it!"
Things started to change. The season was turning from a bitter winter to a warm, welcoming spring. Subaru's hard attitude softened a bit, while Yasuda seemed to glow even brighter. They started growing closer to each other, becoming more comfortable together. But of course, that would all end once Yasuda confessed his feelings to Okura.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What're you so happy about?" Hina asked. Subaru hadn't even realized he had been smiling slightly for the longest time after Yasu called him to meet up later. Quickly it faded.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, give me a break. Ever since you and that other guy started hanging around, you've been acting different. It's creeping me out. You even wake up with a stupid lookin' grin on your face." How could he help what he dreams? And so what if they had to do with Yasu? They were just happy dreams.
"You're just imagining things. Don't be stupid. That kid has nothing to do with me being happy or whatever. It's just a coincidence."
"Whatever you say."
"I'm thinking of confessing on the 14th." Yasu said, acting more jumpy and nervous than normal. "You know, with chocolate and that."
"You mean Valentine's day?" He nodded, getting shy. "Yasu, thats so lame and played out. Besides, that's cruel to the guy, don't you think? That would force him to have to get you something for White day, and if he wasn't already planning to give you something, it would be a big pain." Subaru looked back on all the times he had been given chocolates on the 14th by girls he had no interest in. When he didn't give one girl a return gift, she threw a fit in front of the whole class. Ever since, he learned to never accept something you weren't willing to give something in return for. And it's been a good idea since.
"But isn't it romantic?" Yasu started to swoon just thinking about it. "The most romantic day of the year! And it would be the relationships anniversary! Every year, that day would be even more special, only receiving chocolates and flowers from the one you truly love!"
"You don't need to buy the flowers, do you? You just pick them from that happy little garden in your head, don't you."
"Eh?"
"Nothing. Anyway, I didn't think you would be so into material things."
"Ah, well, that's not it at all. I mean, sure, those things are nice, right? But really, I would be happy just to be with him on that day. Because, if you just look for chocolates or gifts, then it's not really the person you're in love with, is it? Because those things can't say feelings like a person can. We don't even have to use words. Just small gestures can say more. But because the 14th is the day of love, it's the most romantic day besides Christmas." Yasu always had the perfect answer for everything. He thinks things through before just blurting them out and making a fool of himself. Or did these thoughts just come naturally to him? Surely, this person in front of him couldn't be real. There's just no possible way there is someone like that. But here he is.
"If you could have any kind of chocolate, what would it be?" Yasuda asked, tilting his head slightly. "Just for a reference?"
Subaru thought a minute. He'd never been asked something like that. Usually, girls would just buy whatever, and it would normally be super sweet stuff, he's sick of it now. "Dark chocolate, then." He decided. "Not all guys like sweet stuff, you know. But shouldn't you ask Okura that?"
"Ah, yeah, you're right, huh? I was just curious about what kind you like." He smiled away again, rubbing the back of his head.
His confession was just days away. Would this be one of the last few times they'd be able to just sit like this and talk? Would it all stop anyway, since he would have confessed and didn't need Subaru's advice anymore? Either way, he felt like it was coming close to the end.
~*~*~*~
Yasuda had the 14th off of work.Someone else would be standing in for him during the mid night shift. Even so, Yasu stood inside the cafe, taking his time to stick the tag on just right. Finally, he was finished. He held the small box in his hand, admiring his work. It was wrapped in plain red wrapping paper, nothing shiny, nothing showy. He didn't even tie a ribbon on it, in case it would look too girly. When he looked at the name on the tag, he couldn't help but smile, getting excited. It was almost time. He still wasn't sure about how the other felt about him. He never could ask him straight out. But that was okay. He would take the chance. He would risk the friendship they built slowly.
The bells on the door chimed, and Yasu crouched down to the floor, hiding behind the counter, when he noticed there wasn't just one person, but two.
"Really, Subaru, how can you be friends with that guy?" Hina asked. "He's so weird."
"I don't know. He's not that bad."
"You never talk about people like that. You'd normally be annoyed by people like that. What, do you actually like this kid?"
"Don't be stupid!" Subaru said quickly. "I just felt sorry for him. I teased him a bit when we met about not having friends. He really doesn't have any others, beside's me and that Okura guy."
"That's no surprise. You hear what people say about him. And you know what happens when you talk to the weird kid- they never leave you alone! Really, I feel sorry for you. You'll never get rid of him."
"Yeah, I will. As soon as he asks out that guy, he'll leave me alone."
"Well aren't you lucky! Those type of people are usually so hard to lose!"
Yasu felt his heart clench listening to their words. He knew what other people thought about him. He was okay with that. He didn't need other peoples approval. But he thought him and Subaru were close. True friends. He couldn't believe he was hearing him say that stuff about him like everyone else. All along, he was just a burden. Someone who wouldn't leave him alone. Even though he put all his feelings into making them friends, as far along they came, even though he tried his hardest to get to know him, to get to know his feelings, to get to the point he was at today, it was all a waste. He bit his lip as his heart fell further, tears starting to fall down his face. Who was he kidding? No one would ever like someone like him. Never have, and never will.
Soon, Hina left, complaining that there was no one there to even take their order. When he thought Subaru's back was turned, Yasu stood up, taking the chance to leave. But he was caught, anyway.
"How long have you been here for?" Subaru asked, almost worried that Yasu had heard everything him and Hina had just said.
"Oh, uhm, I just got here. I came through the back room...had to check our stock and all..."
"Are you crying? Ah, you confessed, didn't you? What'd the guy say?"
"...He said..." Yasu started slowly. He really hated how dense Subaru was being right now. "...He said he didn't like me. I guess it was because I was around him too much...I thought we were friends, but I guess, being around him was a burden."
"Yasu.." He wanted to reach out to Yasu, to comfort him somehow. He was the one to tell him what to do, anyway, so it was partly his fault. But when he did, Yasu pulled back. He said he just wanted to go back to his dorm and left in a rush, not noticing the box fall out of his coat pocket. Subaru went over and picked it up, wondering whether it would be better to give it back or just keep it, since it wasn't much use for Yasu to keep it.
At first there was nothing out of the ordinary on the box. But as he looked it over, it wasn't Okura's name he saw on it, but his own name. Why the hell, he thought, was HIS name on it? To Subaru, this made no sense. Slowly, though, things started to click, like why Yasu would make more plans with him than Okura, why he was becoming so close to him, why he asked him what he liked. Yasu was doing what Subaru told him, but to a different person. And not once through the whole thing did Subaru realize it.
More importantly, he understood why Yasu was upset. He was right there when he and Hina were talking, Subaru stupidly thinking Yasu wouldn't have heard, either himself or because someone else told him. He didn't mean what he said. If Hina hadn't been with him, he wouldn't have said all of that. He thought it wouldn't matter in the end, since when his other friends got in a relationship, they cared more about that person and left him alone. And how could he admit to Hina anyway that he liked Yasu? No, it wouldn't have been that hard. If Hina didn't like it, who cares? It's his life, he'll like who ever he wants. But because of his stupid actions, it really didn't matter. He screwed himself over, and worse, hurt Yasu in the process.
~*~*~*~
For some reason, Subaru thought he would see Yasu the next day. He thought since Yasu lied about being rejected, he would come back around and pretend nothing had happened between them. Yasu didn't show up even once that day. Not during the break, not after school, not even in passing. Subaru went out of his way just to try to run into him. He went all the way to the art building and never saw him, and he wasn't that easy to miss. There were no texts, no calls, and Subaru felt too bad to leave one himself.
At around 10 o'clock, when the night shift started, he went to the cafe. He generally knew Yasu's work schedule, and knew he had requested the previous day off, so he had to work today.
Instead, there was someone else in his spot behind the counter. "Can I help you?"
"Isn't Yasuda supposed to be working?" Subaru walked closer, seeing the name tag read 'Okura', and his first thought was 'He speaks'.
Okura gave a small smirk. "So you are, I'm guessing, the one he's always talked about?" So they really were friends. And Yasu talked about himto Okura. Imagine that. "No, Yasu asked me to stand in for him. It was my day off, too. But he seemed really upset, so I couldn't say no."
"You know where he is?"
Okura stared off for a minute, and Subaru couldn't tell if he was thinking, spacing, or just doing it on purpose so he wouldn't have to answer. "To tell or not to tell...Would it hurt Yasu more...I wonder."
"Please, just tell me."
"Actually, I don't know. He called me from his cell. You should check in his dorm."
"Yeah, okay, thanks a lot for the help." Subaru said sarcastically. But he went to Yasu's dorm anyway.
"He's not here." his room mate said. "Haven't seen him all day. He did come back last night, but I was asleep. I don't know where he would be if he's not at work."
Subaru was at a loss. He didn't know anyone else to ask. Really, there was no one else to ask. Campus was huge. There were too many places to look. And how did he know he didn't go all the way home? But Yasu would have to show up some time. He couldn't just disappear forever.
But when the thought hit him that he actually COULD, he started to get worried. Yasu wasn't the kind of person to pull some stupid stunt, but that didn't make the worry lessen. He pulled out his phone and found his number, surprised that the call went through and Yasu picked up.
"Hello." Yasu answered quietly.
"Where are you?! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"No one really wants me around...so..."
"Tell me where you are."
"But..."
"Look, Yasu, obviously if I've been looking for you, all freakin' day I might add, I want you around!"
"But yesterday-"
"Just tell me."
"Maybe you should just look harder." Hearing the dial tone on the other end just pissed Subaru off. What the hell was with that kid! He's trying to apologize, and Yasu gives him THAT kind of treatment?! Sure, he was a jerk, but thats to much!
Subaru shoved his phone back in his pocket, annoyed and ready to give up, and turned around to go back home. But behind him, blocking his way, was Yasu, scaring him half to death, not because it was Yasu, but because he came out of nowhere.
"Wh-Where the hell'd you come from!"
Yasu pointed over to a bench not too far away. "I've been there the whole time. You've passed here probably 10 times before now and passed me right up."
"You SAW me and didn't say anything?!"
"You should be more observant."
There was a long moment of silence. Subaru couldn't tell whether Yasu was angry, sad, upset, what. He couldn't look at Yasu, not after saying what he had the night before.
"I'm sorry." Yasu mumbled. "You didn't want to be my friend. I shouldn't have shoved it onto you. And I mean, you showed up every night...so I thought...I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone from now on. You don't have to worry about that anymore..."
"...Thats what I was worried about."
"I know, thats why I said-"
"No, you don't know." Subaru interrupted. Yasu looked at him confused. And he had the right to be. It didn't make much sense. Yasu knew what he knew, that was Subaru didn't want to be around him any more. That he was worried about not getting rid of him, while it was the complete opposite. He searched for the right words. He didn't want to screw up again. "Yeah, I was worried about you leaving me alone. I didn't want you to. I know I'm contradicting myself here, but what you heard last night wasn't the truth."
"Then what is the truth?"
Subaru sighed, already feeling embarrassed about what he was going to say. "I thought, once you went out with Okura, you'd stop talking to me. I mean, since you'd have him, there was no use for me. Sure, I didn't like you at first. And yeah, you did pretty much force yourself on me. But I guess I got used to having you around. It was...actually fun. I looked forward to getting up in the morning, just because I'd get to see you.
"About what I said, Hina started it. If Hina wasn't there, I wouldn't have said any of that. But I thought everything was ending, so what was the harm? It didn't really help that I did have...feelings for you. I wasn't really ready to tell anyone, and Hina asked if I liked you. It was just a stupid way of defending myself."
"Are you embarrassed of me? Is that why you couldn't admit it?" Yasu looked slightly hurt, confused. "Even to admit we were friends? I know I'm different than others. I know I stand out. I know people talk about me. But that doesn't stop me from being who I am. If I like someone, no matter who it is, if they liked me back, I'd want to shout it to the world. Because that's what love is. Feeling proud of who you like, no matter what. If you made a fool of yourself every day, wore the most ridiculous outfit, or acted totally insane, if that's how you were, I wouldn't care. Because as long as I knew who you really were, that's all that would matter.Because thats the most important thing, don't you think? Being true to yourself. Because if you can't be honest to yourself, you wont be honest to others."
If the world could be full of people like Yasu, the world would be a better place. If everyone thought like that, there would be a lot less hate. A lot less hurt feelings. If Subaru could have just been honest and told Hina the truth, him and Yasu would be together right then, instead of trying to explain and fix everything.
"It's not easy for everyone to be so open like you. These feelings...I never had them before. I wasn't embarrassed of you. I couldn't admit it because it took me so long to realize it myself. That, for some reason, this annoying kid I met that pushed me into studying, forced me into friendship, and made me help him out with a stupid crush, became the center of everything I thought about. That I couldn't close my eyes once and not see your smile. That I couldn't keep a stupid smile off my face whenever you sent a text, even if it really said nothing at all."
Subaru felt his face turning red. He didn't want to admit all of that. He pretty much just confessed to him. But when he saw Yasu start to smile, he didn't feel so bad about it.
"I didn't know you thought about me so much." Yasu started to blush as well.
"You weren't supposed to!" He tried defending himself. "It just slipped out!"
"Sure. Sure it did."
Even though spring had come, nights were still chilly. Yasu hugged his coat around himself tighter, and Subaru stuck his hands in his pockets, noticing he had left something in there. He pulled out the box Yasu left behind. Holding it out to Yasu, he said, "How 'bout you start over, and do it right."
At first Yasu seemed unsure, not knowing exactly what that meant, but he took the box anyway. He looked down at it, remembering how much care he put into wrapping it. It would be a shame to put it all to waste. He laughed quietly to himself, feeling totally silly, before stepping closer and holding it back out to Subaru.
"Even though it's a day late...Please accept this. I put my whole heart into it, and I hope...You can return my feelings too?"
Subaru couldn't hold in his laugh. Yasu stared at him. He knew he felt funny about giving the box right back after taking it, but that was his true confession! Those were his feelings!
"You call that a confession?? Wow, Yasu."
"I-I've never done it before! How can you laugh at me like that!"
"Don't worry. You'll never have to do another one again, anyway." Subaru smirked a little, walking past Yasu back toward his dorm.
"E-eh? What's that mean?!"
"It means, you'll never have to make another confession after this one. Or, you better not, not while I'm still around." Subaru turned, holding his hand out for Yasu to take. Yasu smiled warmly, taking his hand, lacing their fingers together. Subaru wasn't the only one who experienced new feelings. For Yasu, it was his first time having feelings returned to him, even though it wasn't exactly like he saw on T.V or read about. It was special, just for him. Because he knew it was the first and last time he would hear a confession from anyone else. He didn't need one from anyone else. Not while Subaru was still around.
The shop sold all kinds of different drinks; coffee, soda, energy drinks, frappe's latte's, cappacino, almost any kind of drink you could think of. But no alcohol. So what, he wondered, was the use of even entering the shop if what he was looking for wasn't even there?
He decided a black coffee would be a decent substitute. He ordered the drink and sat at a table near the back.
"It's almost time for finals, shouldn't you be studying?" The boy asked as he brought the drink over. To Subaru, the boy looked hardly old enough to be a college student. He had an immature, colorful clothing style, bright blond hair, childish face and pouty lips. He was short and thin, but Subaru couldn't really say anything about that. He looked more like a first year in high school, if anything else.
"Shouldn't you be minding your own business?" He took the cup from the boys hands.
"Well, I'm on night shift all by myself...It gets lonely in here during the night." The boy pouted slightly. "Customers don't come in much, and none of my friends come to visit me..."
"Is it that they wont come visit you, or that you have no friends at all?" Subaru knew what he said was mean. Especially when the workers face dropped, his eyebrows pulling up. He turned the round try he held in his hands, biting his lip slightly like he was trying to hold back from crying. And, for some odd reason, Subaru was struck with a sense of guilt, which he didnt understand at all. He had been mean to hundreds of people before, many of them girl's who have literally started sobbing, and never felt guilty about any of them. So what made this kid so different?
"Well...I do have friends...I guess... Well, I have room mates..." He turned back around, toward the counter. "Sorry, I shouldn't be bothering you." And again, there was more guilt. The poor kid really didnt have any friends.
Subaru sighed heavily, feeling defeated by the guilt that wouldnt leave him alone. "You dont have to leave. You can keep talking, I guess. If you want to..." It didnt even take a second for the boy to return to the side of the table, a big smile spread across his face. He scooted himself into the chair across from me and made himself comfortable. For the longest time, the boy sat there, kicking his legs back and forth under his seat. Becoming annoyed by the silence and the boys staring, he asked. "What're you here for."
"You mean what I'm studying? I belong to the art program here!" The other was obviously proud of himself, the way he smiled. An Artist, Subaru thought. Working in a cafe, the way he talks and moves...he must be a fruit. "And you?"
"It doesnt matter. I'm dropping out anyway."
The boy looked shocked. "D-Drop out?! No no! You cant!"
"Why not? Im not the college type, anyway. After I fail the final, I'll be kicked out anyway."
"But if you dont fail, you wont be kicked out! All you have to do is study!"
"Why study? I'll just fail anyway."
The boy looked thoughtful for a minute, before the light bulb came up over his head. "I'll help you! I've finished my final project already, I have a ton of time! Then you wont fail!"
~*~*~*~
Subaru stared at the door in front of him. The nameplate beside the door had two names- Ohno and Yasuda. It was the right room, but he really didn't want to go in. He didn't want help from this kid. He wanted out of college. So why didn't he just turn around and go back to his own dorm? He tried, but the boy caught him before he could leave.
"You came earlier than I thought!" Yasuda smiled, sliding his key into the lock and opening the door. They stepped in, and the first thing Subaru noticed is, there was no floor. There were newspapers, palettes, paint brushes, ink, canvases, thrown on the floor in easy access of the short-haired man leaning over the canvas.
"Ohno, I told you I was having someone over today~!" Yasuda whined. "Couldn't you have done this in the art room?"
"Ohno gave a blank look. "Inspiration struck me here. If I move, the inspiration would leave too. Just go somewhere else."
"But theres no room in the library- everyone is studying there! Any quiet place is taken!"
Subaru really hated the idea that came into his head. And he really hated the fact it came out. "We could go to my room, then."
"Really? You're room mates wont mind?"
"...No." Though, if they did happen to come back while Yasuda was still there, they'd find some way to tease him about it, since he never brought anyone over. Yasuda happily followed him to his room, almost like he was excited to go to someone else's dorm. Well, he probably hasn't seen another one, and depending on the building yours is in, depends how it looks.
"Y-Yours..." He says, peeking into the room. "Yours is no better..."
"Does it really matter? Lets just get this over with already."
The studying lasted much longer than expected. Way too long, for Subaru's taste. It was almost mid night when Yasuda finally agreed to stop. Well. He didn't agree. He fell asleep. If Hina walked in right now, he'd definitly throw a fit. Subaru wanted sleep too, but he couldn't until this kid left. What was so hard about waking him up and kicking him out? Yasuda looked too cute, his head resting on the book he was reading from, his hand still holding the pencil, stopped mid-word, his lips parted just a bit, his hair covering his pink cheeks. Subaru threw his head back, smacking it accidently against the wall trying to snap himself out of whatever weird mode he was in right then. Yasuda was a BOY. Boys aren't cute! Boys aren't supposed to think other boys are cute! Then, he shoved Yasuda, out of frustration.
"Good luck on your test tomorrow." Yasuda said while leaving the door after fully waking up and gathering his things. The smile he had when he left stuck in Subaru's mind the rest of the night, annoyingly enough. No matter how many times he tossed and turned, it stayed right in the front, right in front of his eyes. Eventually, he just gave up, especially when Yoko threw something at him because he was making too much noise.
~*~*~*~
He sat in the cafe, head on the table, exhausted. The winter break was over. Yasuda sat across from him, smiling fondly. "It's nice to see you here~." he said, referring to the fact that, if Yasuda hadn't helped, Subaru would still be at home right now. In bed. Asleep. Doing what he wants. The morning of the exam, he considered failing on purpose. But because of the kid in front of him helping him for so long the night before, he really couldn't. And so, he's back at school, in the cafe, during Yasuda's midnight shift.
"Say..." Yasuda said, shifting the tray around. "Have you ever experienced love at first sight?"
Subaru almost choked on his drink. What was he talking about?! Who did he fall in love with?! He took pity on whoever the person was. But then, he never saw Yasuda staring longingly at anyone else, (not that he was paying attention), smiling so happily to, (not that he would notice), or being so close to anyone else but himself before. (not that he cared.) So, is the person he's taking pity on himself?!
"W-Why? Who is it??"
Yasuda blushed. "A-A guy from the culinary department! He's...He's really tall, and spacey, but...it's part of his charm!"
Subaru was relieved to know it wasn't him. He wondered then, though, why it didn't weird him out to find out the person Yasuda was after was a guy. It was probably just his character, anyway. "Well, yeah, I mean, who doesn't? Why?"
"I want to confess to him. But...I don't know how. I mean, I wouldn't say we were close...I mean, we only knew each other for a while and all...But he's such a good guy."
"Don't you have friends to ask?"
Yasuda glared a little. "You are my friend."
"I don't remember ever becoming your friend."
"Then why'd you come here? At midnight? When you knew I'd be working?"
"..."
He couldn't argue that. If they really weren't "friends" he wouldn't be here right now. He thought about Yasuda's request to help him. When was the last time he was trying to pick someone up? Certainly it wouldn't be in any way that would get Yasuda his guy. Maybe thats why, Subaru thought, he was single still.
"It would be embarrassing to just go up and say it to him..."Yasuda looked out the window. "Like I said, we aren't very close...Yet I can't help my feelings."
"Well unless you want to be considered a creeper by the guy, get close to him. What if he's not even...interested in people like you?"
Yasuda looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well..I guess some people would find me strange...I do dress a little...out there, you know? Maybe he doesn't like being noticed too much...With me he'd definetly be noticed..."
"Thats not what I meant!!" Why was he helping him again? He's clueless. "Look, just do that, and if things kick off just confess to him. That simple." Yasuda looked hopeful and nodded, before another poor lost soul walked into the cafe. Quickly Yasuda got up and took care of the customer, and Subaru decided it was time for him to leave anyway.
On his way back, he wondered what the strange, empty feeling was about. He realized when Yasuda told him he liked the culinary guy, his heart dropped a bit. No- thats just because it was another guy Yasuda was after- he's not used to that. Yet, he couldn't shake that small loneliness he was suddenly feeling. When they got together, he was sure it would happen considering Yasuda dragged him into a friendship without him knowing, Yasuda would surely spend all his time with that guy. But Subaru had other friends. Why should he feel lonely? Just because his friends go out on late night runs to parties and forget to invite him doesn't mean their not friends. They hang out. Sometimes. When their not busy with their girlfriends. Which is almost never. If that kid got in a relationship, he'd still talk to him in the cafe at night. Unless the other is there too. Then it's a lost cause.
He went to bed that night, fully aware that really, Yasuda was the only that said it was good to see him after break, and was the only reason he did come back.
~*~*~*~
Yasuda seemed to disappear during the days now. A few times since school resumed, Subaru and him ate together in one of the court yards. But Yasuda hadn't been around lately. Probably off with the Okura guy- Yasuda finally came out with the name. Subaru saw him a few times- he's definetly tall. But he's good looking. He didn't look like he was very fond of talking, either. Each time he has seem him, his mouth was shut. Yasuda wasn't a very quiet person, so would him being with someone so quiet work out? Why was he even worried about it?
Other times, Yasuda wouldn't leave Subaru's side. He would pop out of no where, a new idea about where to go after classes ended for the day.
"Shouldn't you be making dates with the other guy?" Subaru's brought up more than once. "He'll think you dont like him like that."
"Oh, no, we're quiet close!" Yasuda said, smiling at whatever was inside his head. "I'm waiting for the perfect moment to confess. Right now, he doesn't even know I like him! I've dropped some hints, but he's still clueless!"
"He must be dense, then."
Yasuda laughed a little. "Yeah, he must be." He skipped up ahead, stretching his arms out wide as a breeze came through. He really was a happy guy, that Yasuda. He had many rare traits you don't find in the normal human being nowadays. He had overflowing optimism, cared for everything he came across. He was kind, helped anyone who needed it. He would listen when you need someone to listen, talk when you need a voice to listen to. He was considerate, never rude. He always offered a smile, even in the most gloomy situations. These things are what Subaru gathered about him every time they met up. They are the things he admired about Yasuda, the things he was actually jealous of because he would never be able to be anything like Yasuda. He wasn't the guy to put himself out there to people. He wasn't kind, and didn't care much. So why would Yasuda want to be around a guy like him anyway?
"Opposites attract." Yasuda told him once. "Two totally different people are drawn together because they are different! Because they have new things to learn and experience! You can't live your life one way, you'll end up in a rut so deep you'll never climb your way out. You have to be open! Open to try new things. Like a new style! I new hair color. New books. New food. Like this!" Yasuda shoved his chopsticks in Subaru's face, holding who-knows-what between them. Maybe making changes in life wouldn't be a bad idea. Find a new outlook on life, instead of being annoyed and down about everything all the time. But eating something unknown was something he was NOT ready for at all. "People can change, you know? Just gotta put a little effort into it!"
Things started to change. The season was turning from a bitter winter to a warm, welcoming spring. Subaru's hard attitude softened a bit, while Yasuda seemed to glow even brighter. They started growing closer to each other, becoming more comfortable together. But of course, that would all end once Yasuda confessed his feelings to Okura.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What're you so happy about?" Hina asked. Subaru hadn't even realized he had been smiling slightly for the longest time after Yasu called him to meet up later. Quickly it faded.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, give me a break. Ever since you and that other guy started hanging around, you've been acting different. It's creeping me out. You even wake up with a stupid lookin' grin on your face." How could he help what he dreams? And so what if they had to do with Yasu? They were just happy dreams.
"You're just imagining things. Don't be stupid. That kid has nothing to do with me being happy or whatever. It's just a coincidence."
"Whatever you say."
"I'm thinking of confessing on the 14th." Yasu said, acting more jumpy and nervous than normal. "You know, with chocolate and that."
"You mean Valentine's day?" He nodded, getting shy. "Yasu, thats so lame and played out. Besides, that's cruel to the guy, don't you think? That would force him to have to get you something for White day, and if he wasn't already planning to give you something, it would be a big pain." Subaru looked back on all the times he had been given chocolates on the 14th by girls he had no interest in. When he didn't give one girl a return gift, she threw a fit in front of the whole class. Ever since, he learned to never accept something you weren't willing to give something in return for. And it's been a good idea since.
"But isn't it romantic?" Yasu started to swoon just thinking about it. "The most romantic day of the year! And it would be the relationships anniversary! Every year, that day would be even more special, only receiving chocolates and flowers from the one you truly love!"
"You don't need to buy the flowers, do you? You just pick them from that happy little garden in your head, don't you."
"Eh?"
"Nothing. Anyway, I didn't think you would be so into material things."
"Ah, well, that's not it at all. I mean, sure, those things are nice, right? But really, I would be happy just to be with him on that day. Because, if you just look for chocolates or gifts, then it's not really the person you're in love with, is it? Because those things can't say feelings like a person can. We don't even have to use words. Just small gestures can say more. But because the 14th is the day of love, it's the most romantic day besides Christmas." Yasu always had the perfect answer for everything. He thinks things through before just blurting them out and making a fool of himself. Or did these thoughts just come naturally to him? Surely, this person in front of him couldn't be real. There's just no possible way there is someone like that. But here he is.
"If you could have any kind of chocolate, what would it be?" Yasuda asked, tilting his head slightly. "Just for a reference?"
Subaru thought a minute. He'd never been asked something like that. Usually, girls would just buy whatever, and it would normally be super sweet stuff, he's sick of it now. "Dark chocolate, then." He decided. "Not all guys like sweet stuff, you know. But shouldn't you ask Okura that?"
"Ah, yeah, you're right, huh? I was just curious about what kind you like." He smiled away again, rubbing the back of his head.
His confession was just days away. Would this be one of the last few times they'd be able to just sit like this and talk? Would it all stop anyway, since he would have confessed and didn't need Subaru's advice anymore? Either way, he felt like it was coming close to the end.
~*~*~*~
Yasuda had the 14th off of work.Someone else would be standing in for him during the mid night shift. Even so, Yasu stood inside the cafe, taking his time to stick the tag on just right. Finally, he was finished. He held the small box in his hand, admiring his work. It was wrapped in plain red wrapping paper, nothing shiny, nothing showy. He didn't even tie a ribbon on it, in case it would look too girly. When he looked at the name on the tag, he couldn't help but smile, getting excited. It was almost time. He still wasn't sure about how the other felt about him. He never could ask him straight out. But that was okay. He would take the chance. He would risk the friendship they built slowly.
The bells on the door chimed, and Yasu crouched down to the floor, hiding behind the counter, when he noticed there wasn't just one person, but two.
"Really, Subaru, how can you be friends with that guy?" Hina asked. "He's so weird."
"I don't know. He's not that bad."
"You never talk about people like that. You'd normally be annoyed by people like that. What, do you actually like this kid?"
"Don't be stupid!" Subaru said quickly. "I just felt sorry for him. I teased him a bit when we met about not having friends. He really doesn't have any others, beside's me and that Okura guy."
"That's no surprise. You hear what people say about him. And you know what happens when you talk to the weird kid- they never leave you alone! Really, I feel sorry for you. You'll never get rid of him."
"Yeah, I will. As soon as he asks out that guy, he'll leave me alone."
"Well aren't you lucky! Those type of people are usually so hard to lose!"
Yasu felt his heart clench listening to their words. He knew what other people thought about him. He was okay with that. He didn't need other peoples approval. But he thought him and Subaru were close. True friends. He couldn't believe he was hearing him say that stuff about him like everyone else. All along, he was just a burden. Someone who wouldn't leave him alone. Even though he put all his feelings into making them friends, as far along they came, even though he tried his hardest to get to know him, to get to know his feelings, to get to the point he was at today, it was all a waste. He bit his lip as his heart fell further, tears starting to fall down his face. Who was he kidding? No one would ever like someone like him. Never have, and never will.
Soon, Hina left, complaining that there was no one there to even take their order. When he thought Subaru's back was turned, Yasu stood up, taking the chance to leave. But he was caught, anyway.
"How long have you been here for?" Subaru asked, almost worried that Yasu had heard everything him and Hina had just said.
"Oh, uhm, I just got here. I came through the back room...had to check our stock and all..."
"Are you crying? Ah, you confessed, didn't you? What'd the guy say?"
"...He said..." Yasu started slowly. He really hated how dense Subaru was being right now. "...He said he didn't like me. I guess it was because I was around him too much...I thought we were friends, but I guess, being around him was a burden."
"Yasu.." He wanted to reach out to Yasu, to comfort him somehow. He was the one to tell him what to do, anyway, so it was partly his fault. But when he did, Yasu pulled back. He said he just wanted to go back to his dorm and left in a rush, not noticing the box fall out of his coat pocket. Subaru went over and picked it up, wondering whether it would be better to give it back or just keep it, since it wasn't much use for Yasu to keep it.
At first there was nothing out of the ordinary on the box. But as he looked it over, it wasn't Okura's name he saw on it, but his own name. Why the hell, he thought, was HIS name on it? To Subaru, this made no sense. Slowly, though, things started to click, like why Yasu would make more plans with him than Okura, why he was becoming so close to him, why he asked him what he liked. Yasu was doing what Subaru told him, but to a different person. And not once through the whole thing did Subaru realize it.
More importantly, he understood why Yasu was upset. He was right there when he and Hina were talking, Subaru stupidly thinking Yasu wouldn't have heard, either himself or because someone else told him. He didn't mean what he said. If Hina hadn't been with him, he wouldn't have said all of that. He thought it wouldn't matter in the end, since when his other friends got in a relationship, they cared more about that person and left him alone. And how could he admit to Hina anyway that he liked Yasu? No, it wouldn't have been that hard. If Hina didn't like it, who cares? It's his life, he'll like who ever he wants. But because of his stupid actions, it really didn't matter. He screwed himself over, and worse, hurt Yasu in the process.
~*~*~*~
For some reason, Subaru thought he would see Yasu the next day. He thought since Yasu lied about being rejected, he would come back around and pretend nothing had happened between them. Yasu didn't show up even once that day. Not during the break, not after school, not even in passing. Subaru went out of his way just to try to run into him. He went all the way to the art building and never saw him, and he wasn't that easy to miss. There were no texts, no calls, and Subaru felt too bad to leave one himself.
At around 10 o'clock, when the night shift started, he went to the cafe. He generally knew Yasu's work schedule, and knew he had requested the previous day off, so he had to work today.
Instead, there was someone else in his spot behind the counter. "Can I help you?"
"Isn't Yasuda supposed to be working?" Subaru walked closer, seeing the name tag read 'Okura', and his first thought was 'He speaks'.
Okura gave a small smirk. "So you are, I'm guessing, the one he's always talked about?" So they really were friends. And Yasu talked about himto Okura. Imagine that. "No, Yasu asked me to stand in for him. It was my day off, too. But he seemed really upset, so I couldn't say no."
"You know where he is?"
Okura stared off for a minute, and Subaru couldn't tell if he was thinking, spacing, or just doing it on purpose so he wouldn't have to answer. "To tell or not to tell...Would it hurt Yasu more...I wonder."
"Please, just tell me."
"Actually, I don't know. He called me from his cell. You should check in his dorm."
"Yeah, okay, thanks a lot for the help." Subaru said sarcastically. But he went to Yasu's dorm anyway.
"He's not here." his room mate said. "Haven't seen him all day. He did come back last night, but I was asleep. I don't know where he would be if he's not at work."
Subaru was at a loss. He didn't know anyone else to ask. Really, there was no one else to ask. Campus was huge. There were too many places to look. And how did he know he didn't go all the way home? But Yasu would have to show up some time. He couldn't just disappear forever.
But when the thought hit him that he actually COULD, he started to get worried. Yasu wasn't the kind of person to pull some stupid stunt, but that didn't make the worry lessen. He pulled out his phone and found his number, surprised that the call went through and Yasu picked up.
"Hello." Yasu answered quietly.
"Where are you?! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"No one really wants me around...so..."
"Tell me where you are."
"But..."
"Look, Yasu, obviously if I've been looking for you, all freakin' day I might add, I want you around!"
"But yesterday-"
"Just tell me."
"Maybe you should just look harder." Hearing the dial tone on the other end just pissed Subaru off. What the hell was with that kid! He's trying to apologize, and Yasu gives him THAT kind of treatment?! Sure, he was a jerk, but thats to much!
Subaru shoved his phone back in his pocket, annoyed and ready to give up, and turned around to go back home. But behind him, blocking his way, was Yasu, scaring him half to death, not because it was Yasu, but because he came out of nowhere.
"Wh-Where the hell'd you come from!"
Yasu pointed over to a bench not too far away. "I've been there the whole time. You've passed here probably 10 times before now and passed me right up."
"You SAW me and didn't say anything?!"
"You should be more observant."
There was a long moment of silence. Subaru couldn't tell whether Yasu was angry, sad, upset, what. He couldn't look at Yasu, not after saying what he had the night before.
"I'm sorry." Yasu mumbled. "You didn't want to be my friend. I shouldn't have shoved it onto you. And I mean, you showed up every night...so I thought...I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone from now on. You don't have to worry about that anymore..."
"...Thats what I was worried about."
"I know, thats why I said-"
"No, you don't know." Subaru interrupted. Yasu looked at him confused. And he had the right to be. It didn't make much sense. Yasu knew what he knew, that was Subaru didn't want to be around him any more. That he was worried about not getting rid of him, while it was the complete opposite. He searched for the right words. He didn't want to screw up again. "Yeah, I was worried about you leaving me alone. I didn't want you to. I know I'm contradicting myself here, but what you heard last night wasn't the truth."
"Then what is the truth?"
Subaru sighed, already feeling embarrassed about what he was going to say. "I thought, once you went out with Okura, you'd stop talking to me. I mean, since you'd have him, there was no use for me. Sure, I didn't like you at first. And yeah, you did pretty much force yourself on me. But I guess I got used to having you around. It was...actually fun. I looked forward to getting up in the morning, just because I'd get to see you.
"About what I said, Hina started it. If Hina wasn't there, I wouldn't have said any of that. But I thought everything was ending, so what was the harm? It didn't really help that I did have...feelings for you. I wasn't really ready to tell anyone, and Hina asked if I liked you. It was just a stupid way of defending myself."
"Are you embarrassed of me? Is that why you couldn't admit it?" Yasu looked slightly hurt, confused. "Even to admit we were friends? I know I'm different than others. I know I stand out. I know people talk about me. But that doesn't stop me from being who I am. If I like someone, no matter who it is, if they liked me back, I'd want to shout it to the world. Because that's what love is. Feeling proud of who you like, no matter what. If you made a fool of yourself every day, wore the most ridiculous outfit, or acted totally insane, if that's how you were, I wouldn't care. Because as long as I knew who you really were, that's all that would matter.Because thats the most important thing, don't you think? Being true to yourself. Because if you can't be honest to yourself, you wont be honest to others."
If the world could be full of people like Yasu, the world would be a better place. If everyone thought like that, there would be a lot less hate. A lot less hurt feelings. If Subaru could have just been honest and told Hina the truth, him and Yasu would be together right then, instead of trying to explain and fix everything.
"It's not easy for everyone to be so open like you. These feelings...I never had them before. I wasn't embarrassed of you. I couldn't admit it because it took me so long to realize it myself. That, for some reason, this annoying kid I met that pushed me into studying, forced me into friendship, and made me help him out with a stupid crush, became the center of everything I thought about. That I couldn't close my eyes once and not see your smile. That I couldn't keep a stupid smile off my face whenever you sent a text, even if it really said nothing at all."
Subaru felt his face turning red. He didn't want to admit all of that. He pretty much just confessed to him. But when he saw Yasu start to smile, he didn't feel so bad about it.
"I didn't know you thought about me so much." Yasu started to blush as well.
"You weren't supposed to!" He tried defending himself. "It just slipped out!"
"Sure. Sure it did."
Even though spring had come, nights were still chilly. Yasu hugged his coat around himself tighter, and Subaru stuck his hands in his pockets, noticing he had left something in there. He pulled out the box Yasu left behind. Holding it out to Yasu, he said, "How 'bout you start over, and do it right."
At first Yasu seemed unsure, not knowing exactly what that meant, but he took the box anyway. He looked down at it, remembering how much care he put into wrapping it. It would be a shame to put it all to waste. He laughed quietly to himself, feeling totally silly, before stepping closer and holding it back out to Subaru.
"Even though it's a day late...Please accept this. I put my whole heart into it, and I hope...You can return my feelings too?"
Subaru couldn't hold in his laugh. Yasu stared at him. He knew he felt funny about giving the box right back after taking it, but that was his true confession! Those were his feelings!
"You call that a confession?? Wow, Yasu."
"I-I've never done it before! How can you laugh at me like that!"
"Don't worry. You'll never have to do another one again, anyway." Subaru smirked a little, walking past Yasu back toward his dorm.
"E-eh? What's that mean?!"
"It means, you'll never have to make another confession after this one. Or, you better not, not while I'm still around." Subaru turned, holding his hand out for Yasu to take. Yasu smiled warmly, taking his hand, lacing their fingers together. Subaru wasn't the only one who experienced new feelings. For Yasu, it was his first time having feelings returned to him, even though it wasn't exactly like he saw on T.V or read about. It was special, just for him. Because he knew it was the first and last time he would hear a confession from anyone else. He didn't need one from anyone else. Not while Subaru was still around.