Work Text:
Shuumei-san, I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Is your class over?
From: Shuumei-san
Almost, the last group's giving their report now. Our professor praised ours, by the way! :D
That's great! Are you absolutely sure you don't want it to be my treat later? Since I invited you out and all.
From: Shuumei-san
Nope, we agreed that I'll pay for everything, remember? Just let me have this. I missed you a lot.
Fine. See you later! I'll be waiting by the gates.
From: Shuumei-san
"See you, Myaa-chan! Love you."
After typing an "I love you too," Miyano flipped his phone close and gazed through the train window. It's a little past noon, and Miyano's on a train headed to Sasaki's university. The brightness outside was an unusual view. After all, he's used to seeing an orange-glazed sky by the time he's out of school.
Sasaki's always the one to fetch his boyfriend. His classes end earlier than Miyano's, so when Sasaki doesn't have group work to prepare for, he picks up Miyano from school or goes straight to his house to hang out or study together.
Miyano indulges himself in the sweet action, but he also wants to return the favor. It's just a matter of when. He's busy juggling his studies and disciplinary committee duties. On top of that, he was recently tapped by their class president to join the cultural festival committee. Sasaki's understanding, having gone through the whole 3rd-year ordeal, but Miyano still felt guilty.
So when his school announced a half-day, Miyano jumped on the opportunity to invite Sasaki on a lunch date. Luckily, his boyfriend's Friday classes end at noon. The two agreed to meet outside Sasaki's university and dine in a newly opened pizza restaurant nearby.
Miyano eagerly hopped off the train once it reached the station. He smiled to himself, imagining Sasaki's blindingly bright smile once he'll see him. He would go over to Miyano like an overly excited puppy (Sasaki's cute like that). And then they'll have fun for the rest of the day. Maybe they can go to Miyano's house after, too.
He felt like a totally cool boyfriend right now.
Using a map app as his guide, Miyano finally reached Sasaki's university. It's massive. High stone walls surrounded the campus, with thick shrubs and colorful flowerbeds decorating the exterior. Students poured out of the wide-open metal gates. From the entrance, one had a clear view of the school buildings painted in an earthy brown color. It's surreal. Miyano recently made up his mind to attend the same college as Sasaki. And now he's standing in front of it.
Miyano's chest fluttered pleasantly. Going to college with Sasaki... He can't wait.
Sasaki's class should have wrapped up by now. Miyano leaned against the wall, eyeing the gates for a sign of his boyfriend when someone tapped his arm.
"Hello," a voice called out.
Miyano looked beside him, then up, because the woman who approached him was tall. She's pretty, with mermaid hair that shone under the sun. Her jeans accentuated her long legs. She's the same height as Sasaki, if not taller. Like a model.
He felt shy all of a sudden. "... Yes?"
The woman smiled at him sweetly. "I'm Sayaka. I attend this university. I've been observing you for a while and I think you're cute. Wanna talk over a cup of coffee?"
Oh.
Miyano was stunned. He knew being hit on in public was a thing. He just didn't expect it to happen to him.
But of course, his answer's as clear as day.
Miyano let her down gently with a smile. "I'm already dating someone."
He bowed, fully expecting the woman to leave. To his surprise, Sayaka had no intention of backing down. She inched closer to Miyano. "Too bad. I'm one of the popular girls around here. Any chance you'll break up with your girlfriend for me? I mean, I must be prettier than her, right?"
The blunt remark left Miyano at a loss for words. "I..."
"Sayaka!"
A man with crew-cut hair walked toward them. He's enormous, with tree trunks for arms threatening to bulge out of his black bomber jacket. Another college student, Miyano assumed. What's with people flocking to him today?
Once the man was in front of them, he didn't waste time giving Sayaka a nasty glare.
"Hitting on people behind my back now, aren't you?"
Sayaka rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, Kenji. We're in an open relationship. Only God knows how many people we sleep with while dating. I can hit on any boy I like."
"Yeah, but..." The man, Kenji, stared at Miyano from head to toe. The pointed scrutiny in his eyes made Miyano squirm.
"A boy?" Kenji asked incredulously. "You sure ‘bout that?"
Miyano's eyebrow twitched. He's been immune to offhand remarks about his appearance for a while, but Kenji's blatant insult was infuriating.
But Sasaki's coming soon. Miyano won't risk ruining their date by getting into a pointless squabble.
His phone vibrated in his school bag. He should settle this quickly. "Sayaka-san, I'm really not interested-"
Sayaka completely ignored Miyano and stood toe-to-toe with her boyfriend. "I like guys shorter than me and you're the only exception. You should be honored instead of pissing your pants whenever I ask someone out."
Sayaka and Kenji silently stared at each other. That's some complicated relationship right there, one Miyano didn't want to be involved with because 1) he has a boyfriend and 2) provoking a guy twice his size won't do him good.
Miyano took the prolonged silence as his cue to go. Sasaki's probably on his way already. He can find him just fine. Miyano inched to the side, careful not to catch their attention.
It failed. Kenji spotted his movement from the corner of his eye. He gave Miyano a once-over the second time.
"Well. I can't see how he's any better than me but..." Kenji's face morphed into a sneer. "Pretty boy can pass off as a girl. If we're the only people left in the world, maybe I'd take my chances. But I can't promise it."
Miyano fought the urge to roll his eyes. How conceited can this guy get? If they're the only two people left in the world, Miyano will stay single until he drops dead.
Not to mention Sasaki's leagues above him. In every aspect that mattered.
"Oh, please. I have standards," Miyano muttered unthinkingly and turned to leave.
He should have kept his tongue in check.
Large hands suddenly grabbed his shoulders. Miyano didn't fully register what happened—not even with Sayaka's abrupt yelling—until he's forcefully slammed against the wall...
... and punched in the stomach. Hard.
Sharp, searing pain bloomed on Miyano's abdomen and knocked all the air out of him. He heaved and coughed from the shock, more so from the pain. A thin string of saliva dripped from his lips to his clothes.
Miyano's head swam. What just happened?
"So full of yourself, huh, midget?!" Kenji bellowed. The vice-like grip on Miyano's shoulders kept him from keeling over. If looks could kill, Miyano would have died a thousand times already.
Miyano coughed some more. Shit, it hurt a lot. He sucked in a panicked breath. Stay calm, stay calm.
"Stop it!" Sayaka shouted, reaching for Kenji. "Do you have to do this every time?!" Kenji just slapped her hand away.
Every time? If this guy's that insecure about an open relationship, why do it in the first place?
And why are they so cold toward each other? Miyano can't wrap his head around it. He and Shuumei are not like that at all...
He tried to escape Kenji's immobilizing grip away but it was futile. He could only struggle as a small crowd gathered around them, whispering and murmuring. Miyano and his stupid mouth! His first ever visit to Sasaki's university and he's already stirring trouble!
"You think I'll let that slide?" Kenji growled. His hold shifted to Miyano's uniform collar. The fingers clawing on his chest were excruciating.
"I'm sorry," Miyano apologized weakly after another fit of coughing. His stomach pulsed with pain but it kept his mind clear. De-escalate the situation fast. "Could you please let go?"
Kenji's eyes narrowed. He pulled Miyano to him, forcing him to balance on his tippy toes. "Sorry doesn't cut it. You can take a punch to the face, right? Prove to me you're a man."
Kenji pulled one arm back and curled his fist. Miyano's blood ran cold. Is this seriously happening?
Time slowed. Miyano prepared for the worst and curled his own fists. An eye for an eye. Kuresawa once said that a punch to the stomach hurt" like a bitch." Now he knew how it felt— Kuresawa's right, it fucking hurt like a bitch— and he's more than ready to let Kenji get a taste of it once he lets his guard down.
Shuumei-san will be disappointed in me, he thought grimly. Miyano closed his eyes and braced for impact.
.
.
.
.
.
None came.
"Let go of him," a voice ordered.
The voice was so familiar Miyano could cry. But its controlled rage was foreign like it came from a different person altogether.
Orange appeared in the corner of his eyes as soon as he opened them. Sasaki now stood beside them with a murderous expression. His left palm intercepted Kenji's fist, with his right arm braced beside Miyano's head to absorb the punch's impact. Kenji's eyes widened in surprise.
"Who are-"
"I SAID LET GO OF HIM."
Sasaki didn't wait for a reply. He wrenched Kenji away from Miyano and shoved him in the chest with herculean strength. Kenji, despite being bulkier, stumbled a few steps back.
"Ah!" Miyano yelped from the sudden release. Sasaki wrapped an arm around his shoulder to keep him from tripping.
"Shu..."
Miyano flinched once he looked up. Sasaki's eyes glinted with an intense fury at his attacker, ready to pounce at any moment. He wasn't scared — he would never be afraid of Sasaki — but he didn't like it.
He couldn't stand seeing Sasaki upset.
To Miyano's relief, the anger in Sasaki's face melted away as he turned to him.
"Are you okay?" Sasaki asked, eyes reflecting bottomless worry. He rubbed Miyano's arm in soothing strokes. If people weren't watching, Miyano knew he'd show more concern than he already did.
But they decided to keep their relationship with their trusted loved ones. For now, at least. That meant subtlety in public.
Miyano knew how much he cared either way. Fondness filled his chest. He nodded reassuringly. "I'm fine."
Across them, Kenji had recovered from the surprise intervention. Sasaki shielded Miyano with his body.
"Care to explain why you were about to punch my friend?" Sasaki's tone was dangerously low.
Kenji smirked. "Oh, I already did. You should have seen him. Couldn't stop coughing and shit."
Alarm bells rang in Miyano's head the instant Sasaki lunged forward. He quickly caught his sleeve.
"Don't," he whispered.
Sasaki brimmed with rage. His entire body vibrated with anger, from shaking fists to quick, shallow breaths. Miyano rested his forehead on Sasaki's shoulder. He'll never forgive himself if his boyfriend gets hurt because of him.
"Please don't," Miyano pleaded one more time. That did the trick. Sasaki took a deep breath.
"Fuck off before I kill you," Sasaki warned icily.
The threat ruffled Kenji's feathers. He walked towards them, chin held up high. "I haven't seen your face before. A first year? You've got guts picking a fight with a senior, hm?"
"And you inflicted violence on a high school student," Sasaki spat callously. "I can call the police on you right now."
Kenji raised an eyebrow, daring him to do so. But before Sasaki could reach for his phone, Sayaka finally spoke up.
"Wait!" Sayaka stepped in between them. She pinched her nose bridge and sighed. "I'm sorry. Kenji here got jealous and started bullshit because I talked to your friend. He does this every time. I should have known he'll do it again. We're leaving now."
"Sayaka," Kenji protested, "you heard what that midget said-"
Sayaka cut him off with a harsh glare. "WE'RE. LEAVING. Don't embarrass us any further. Fuck..."
Kenji gave one last menacing look before allowing himself to be dragged away.
Sasaki wordlessly watched them disappear into the distance. Once they're gone, he turned to Miyano with a somber expression. He gently held Miyano's wrist.
"Where did he hit you?" Sasaki asked softly.
As if on cue, Miyano's stomach throbbed sharply again. He ignored the soreness with a smile. "The stomach. But I'm really fine, Shuumei-san. I can take a punch."
Sasaki smiled, albeit skeptically. But it didn't last a second. Miyano's chest seized up when Sasaki's face twisted at something he saw. He followed his gaze and gasped at what they overlooked.
Miyano's clothes were wrecked.
The neckline of his blue sweater vest was loose and stretched. His white uniform lost two buttons, and the collar looked like it had gone through a storm. But it's the mess of red peeking out of his collar that shocked both of them. Fingerprint bruises marred the exposed skin on his chest. Judging from how Kenji grabbed his shoulders earlier, there's bound to be more underneath his clothes.
Apart from his stomach, which will likely sport a fist-sized bruise in a sickly purple shade for the next few days.
The whispering from the crowd didn't cease. Miyano hung his head in shame. He couldn't make out their words, but he didn't need to. His brain supplied unpleasant words on its own.
It's supposed to be a happy day. You just had to go and ruin it.
You're giving Shuumei-san a hard time.
YOU'RE A HORRIBLE BOYFRIEND.
Shame engulfed Miyano in flames, leaving a burning tightness in his chest. The loud voices in his head merged into white static.
Sasaki gently held his shoulders. He leveled his worried gaze with Miyano's. "Yoshikazu, breathe."
Miyano closed his eyes and took shaky, deep breaths. He focused on the sensation of Sasaki's warm hands and gentle voice to ground himself. While doing so, he heard light footsteps approach.
"You should take him to the clinic. He's pretty shaken."
"Ugawa..."
"Just explain the situation. They'll understand. I'll dispel the crowd for you."
"Thank you. Myaa-chan?"
Miyano slowly opened his eyes. The guy who talked to Sasaki already had his back on them and was shooing the crowd away. Sasaki wordlessly covered Miyano with his cardigan and wrapped an arm around him. The two weaved through the crowd on campus and promptly reached the university clinic.
The doctor inside instantly attended to them. She guided Miyano to the bed and asked him what had happened. Miyano recounted what spurred the fight, where he got hit, and where he felt pain. Sasaki didn't say a word. He didn't need to. His expression already showed everything he's feeling.
Afterward, the doctor asked Miyano to take off his clothes. But before he could do so, he started to tear up.
Miyano squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want to see his boyfriend's distraught expression. Or maybe he deserved to see it if only to drive the stakes of guilt deeper into him.
The doctor flashed a comforting smile. "I'll give you two some time alone." She then stepped out of the privacy screen.
Sasaki kneeled in front of the bed as soon as the woman was gone. He cupped Miyano's cheek worryingly.
"Why are you crying, Myaa-chan? Do your bruises hurt a lot? Should we go straight to the hospital?" Sasaki's voice rose in panic when Miyano still didn't stop crying. "Just say anything so I'll know what's wrong. Please. I'm scared for you, I don't know what-"
"I embarrassed you!" Miyano cried out.
The clinic was quiet save for Miyano's sniffling. He rubbed his eyes furiously, his anger mainly directed toward himself. "People will talk about you. That guy will probably terrorize you every time he sees you. All because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I'm sorry." A pathetic sob escaped his lips. "A-and the pizza... The limited edition pizza's only available until today. We can still go. I'll need a change of clothes-"
"Shh, Yoshikazu. C'mere." Sasaki sat beside him and pulled him close. Kissing the top of his head, Sasaki guided Miyano on his shoulder and let him cry.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Sasaki whispered. "The woman, she clearly didn't respect your boundaries. And that guy's an asshole. He insulted you and even physically hurt you. You're the victim."
"There's a voice inside me saying that you shouldn't have talked back. But I also know how it feels to be judged based on appearance. You're lovely as you are, Myaa-chan. I'm proud that you stood up for yourself."
Miyano looked up to Sasaki. His tear-streaked face must be heartbreaking to look at—it's the first time he had ever cried in front of Sasaki after all, but even if it was, Sasaki didn't show it. Miyano felt his heart grow lighter as his boyfriend wiped his tears.
It's okay to stand up for yourself. You're fine as you are.
Sasaki wiped the last of his tears. They finally stopped falling. "It's not your fault, okay?"
"Okay," Miyano said, and he believed it.
"And don't worry, I'll be fine. Ugawa Sora, that guy who approached us, knows virtually everyone in uni. I can ask him where that senior always hangs out and avoid those spots." Sasaki grew quiet for a moment. "Or I could hunt him down and punch his-"
"Shuumei-san!"
Sasaki chuckled. "Just kidding. But I'll kill him if he touches even a strand of your hair next time. So don't cry anymore, okay? You didn't ruin anything."
"Okay. Thank you." Miyano felt much better now. "Ugawa-san's your friend, right?"
Sasaki was taken aback by the question. "I... guess so? It just sorta happened. We were walking together and he spotted you being manhandled in time. I really owe him one. But that guy, he's perceptive. He might be onto us now from the way I reacted earlier."
"Do you trust him?"
Miyano sensed his boyfriend's hesitation. It might be too early to ask these things, but eventually, they'll arrive at the crossroads wondering whether to continue hiding their relationship from the people around them. At least to the people growing closer to them who are unaware of their relationship.
Someone like Ugawa.
"He's not a bad person," Sasaki spoke with a hint of fondness. "But I still don't know if I can trust him with us."
I hope you'll get there, Miyano thought. "Once you trust him enough, I don't mind if you tell him."
Sasaki smiled and nodded. After ensuring that Miyano's entirely calmed down, Sasaki stood up from the bed and kissed his forehead. "Sorry, but we should skip the lunch date. You're hurt. First, let’s get the doctor to check your injuries and tell your mom about what happened. And maybe..."
"... while you get patched up, I can buy that limited edition pizza and fetch you new clothes? If nothing's seriously wrong and you're clear to go home, we can have a house date and watch movies. But if you want to just rest for today-"
"A house date sounds great," Miyano assured him. He definitely needed to destress after all that mess. He was sore from his injuries, but nothing a few days of rest can’t fix. Hopefully.
"We should have it at your house. I want you to be fully comfortable. Also..." Sasaki covered his mouth with the back of his hand, something he did out of habit when hiding a blush. "Can I sleep over? I really want to be with you today."
Sleepover. They've never done that before. Miyano felt heat rush to his face.
He loved the idea.
"I'm sure mom wouldn't mind."
Hours later, Miyano's mom was greeted by an endearing sight. A movie played on the TV, albeit with its volume lowered, but no one's watching it. Miyano was sound asleep on the couch, his head resting on Sasaki's lap. His boyfriend petted his hair as he fondly watched him sleep.
Miyano's mom panicked after hearing about what happened through a phone call. She almost bolted out of the office then and there, but Sasaki quickly assured her that everything’s alright, that the doctor concluded Miyano would be fine after some rest. He also said that he'll escort Miyano home and stay with him.
She and Sasaki smiled at each other as soon as their eyes met.
Miyano's mom will forever be grateful that her son found someone who loved him dearly.