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The High School’s Gym echoed with the sounds of heavy breathing and footsteps on polished wood as Satoru and Suguru circled each other, their eyes focused on their opponent. Both pushed their limits, testing each other like they always did.
Satoru grinned, with his usual cocky, almost infuriating smile that he knew drove Suguru crazy.
“Come on, Suguru. Is that all you got?” he taunted, dodging a quick jab and moving in close, too close.
Suguru’s response was immediate, his expression hardened with the mention of the challenge. With a swift counter that Satoru barely avoided, their bodies twisting and turning with their usual display of power. For a moment, it seemed like they were equally matched, neither willing to back down. But then, in a split second of distraction, Satoru overextended, and Suguru took advantage, sweeping his leg out from under him.
Satoru fell, and before he could catch himself, Suguru was on top of him, struggling carrying them both to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The world narrowed to the space between them, mere inches apart, Satoru could feel their breaths mingling as they stared at each other, the adrenaline pulsing through his veins.
Satoru could feel Suguru’s heartbeat against his chest, strong and steady, in contrast to the wild thumping of his own. He should have laughed it off and made a joke about how they needed to work on their coordination, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, his gaze fell to Suguru’s lips, those thin lips that always scolded him and called his name many times. And before he could think better of it, he leaned in, brushing his mouth against Suguru’s in a fleeting, almost accidental kiss.
It was over in a heartbeat, but it felt like time had stopped for them. Satoru’s mind raced, a hundred thoughts colliding in the silence that followed. Suguru’s eyes widened, an expression of surprise flickering across his usually composed face. Neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, the moment hanging between them like a fragile thread that could snap at any second.
And then, as fast as the moment was created, it ended. They both pulled back, the spell broken. Satoru’s heart was still pounding, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. He could see the confusion mirrored in Suguru’s eyes, but neither of them acknowledged it. They simply got to their feet, brushing off the dust and straightening their clothes as if nothing had happened.
“Let’s call it a day,” Suguru finally said, his voice a little too casual, a little too controlled.
Satoru nodded, his usual bragging self slipping back into place like a well-worn mask.
“Yeah, sure. You just got lucky this time,” he replied with a smirk, trying to lighten the strange atmosphere that weighed around them.
But as they left the gym, side by side but somehow more distant than before, Satoru couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something he couldn’t quite put into words. And for once, the thought of it left him uncharacteristically silent.
. . . . . . ╰╮˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗╭╯. . . . . . .
The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the High School’s campus. Satoru and Suguru had just returned from a particularly grueling mission, the weight of it still hanging heavily in the air. They walked in silence, and Satoru couldn't help but notice how unusually quiet Suguru was, his usual confidence dampened by something deeper, something Satoru couldn't quite place.
He didn't like seeing Suguru like this, so withdrawn, so...distant. It was unsettling. So, without a word, Satoru nudged Suguru in the direction of the stairs that led up to the school’s rooftop. They climbed in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell. When they reached the top, the cool evening breeze greeted them. Quietude and solitude were met, contrary to the chaotic day they endured.
Satoru leaned against the railing, watching as Suguru did the same, his eyes fixed on the horizon, lost in thought as his hair and his particular bang waved from the wind. For a moment, Satoru hesitated. He wasn’t exactly the comforting type, his way of dealing with things was usually through sarcasm or a joke, but this time, he felt that wouldn’t be enough.
"Hey," Satoru finally said, his voice softer than usual. "You okay?"
Suguru didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained fixed on the sky, where the first stars were beginning to peek through the horizon.
"Just...thinking," he murmured after a while, his tone heavy with something Satoru couldn’t quite name.
Satoru shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to these kinds of moments, these quiet, almost fragile exchanges. But for Suguru, he was willing to try.
"About the mission?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Suguru nodded slightly. "It shouldn’t have gone that way."
Satoru frowned. He wanted to say something, something that would make Suguru snap out of it, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he found himself stepping closer, his hand reaching out to grasp Suguru’s shoulder.
"Suguru… You know, It’s not your fault," Satoru said, as he fixed his glasses, his voice firmer now, more certain. "You did everything you could. You always do."
Suguru finally turned to look at him, and for a moment, they simply stood there, the world falling away as they held each other’s gaze. Satoru could see the doubt lingering in Suguru’s eyes, the way his usual confidence had been shaken. He wasn’t sure about the outcome of this but it was in that moment that Satoru made a decision, one that surprised even himself.
Without giving it much thought, Satoru leaned in and pressed his lips against Suguru’s in a quick, almost hesitant kiss. It wasn’t like the last time, this one was deliberate, a small, silent reassurance that things would be okay.
When he pulled back, Suguru looked at him, his sharp gaze flickered with something unreadable passing through his eyes. But then, almost imperceptibly, he smiled—a small, genuine smile— that eased some of the tension in Satoru’s chest.
“Thanks,” Suguru said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Satoru grinned, the usual confidence returning to his posture as he took a step back. “Don’t mention it. You know we’re always here for each other, as the strongest.”
They stood there for a while longer, side by side, watching as the last of the daylight faded into night. The kiss was there, not forgotten, but they pretended it was. Even though deep down, Satoru knew that something had shifted again between them, something that was taking its own shape and couldn’t be ignored forever.
. . . . . . ╰╮˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗╭╯. . . . . . .
It was a rare day off for Satoru, and even more rarer day because it was also Shoko’s and Suguru’s day off too. They had decided to spend it in Satoru's dorm room, indulging in a horror movie marathon. The room was dimly lit, with the flickering light of the TV screen casting shadows on the walls. Shoko sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, while Satoru and Suguru lounged on either side, comfortably sprawled out on the pillows.
The movie they were watching was supposed to be scary, but instead, it was laughably bad. Every few minutes, Satoru found himself making some sarcastic comments about the poor representation of magic or the ridiculousness of the supernatural phenomena depicted. Suguru followed him on his criticism. It had become a running commentary, with each of them trying to outdo the otherpoving a point.
"This is so unrealistic," Satoru snorted as a particularly cheesy scene played out. "I mean, who actually believes this stuff?"
Suguru chuckled, nudging Satoru with his elbow. "Yeah, right? And don’t even get me started on those so-called 'curses.' They didn’t even do their research."
Shoko, who had been silently enduring their banter, finally let out an exasperated sigh.
"Are you two going to let me watch this movie or not?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing at them.
Satoru grinned, cheeky as always. "Come on, Shoko, you can’t honestly be enjoying this."
"Actually, I was," she retorted, rolling her eyes as she got up. "But since you two won’t shut up, I’m going to get a drink. Maybe you’ll have finished your little critique by the time I get back."
With that, she grabbed her empty soda can and headed out the door, leaving Satoru and Suguru alone in the room. The door clicked shut, and for a moment, there was silence. But it didn’t last long.
"You know," Suguru said, turning to Satoru with a playful glint in his eye, "you were pretty rude to Shoko just now."
Satoru raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Me? Rude? You were the one talking just as much."
"Maybe, but you started it," Suguru shot back, smirking.
Satoru huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine. Next time, I’ll just kiss you to shut you up."
Suguru blinked, Satoru saw the moment the comment momentarily caught him off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. But then, Suguru grinned, leaning in slightly. "Is that a promise or a threat, Satoru?" his voice particularly playful and challenging.
Satoru’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Why don’t you find out?"
Before Suguru could respond, Satoru leaned in and pressed his lips against Suguru’s, intending it to be a quick, playful peck. But the instant their lips touched, something shifted. Satoru felt Suguru’s lips parting and the kiss that was meant to be a joke suddenly felt like anything but.
The kiss was brief, but lasted more than their previous ones, Suguru’s lips tasted like chips and were very warm. The sensation was enough to send a jolt of electricity through him. Satoru pulled back first, his heart inexplicably racing. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the playful atmosphere from earlier now replaced by something heavier, something neither of them wanted to name.
Suguru was the first to break the silence, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Well...that was unexpected."
Satoru swallowed, trying to act nonchalant even as his mind raced to make sense of what had just happened. "Yeah, uh...just trying to prove a point."
They both fell silent again, the weight of the moment hanging between them like a thick fog. Satoru could feel his face heating up, and he quickly looked away, focusing on the TV as if the movie had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
A few seconds later, Shoko returned, a fresh can of soda in hand. She took one look at them and raised an eyebrow. "Wow, it’s actually quiet in here. What, did you two finally run out of things to say?}"
Satoru forced a laugh, shrugging as he settled back into his pillows. "Guess we just realized how not so terrible this movie really is."
Shoko didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press the issue, plopping back down on the bed and resuming her position. The movie continued to play, and Satoru tried to focus on the screen, but his attention kept drifting to the boy beside him. He found himself studying the profile of Suguru’s face, the way his hair fell over his forehead, the subtle curve of his lips, the way his dark bright eyes flickered with every scene.
Something inside Satoru tightened, a strange mix of confusion and curiosity that he didn’t quite know how to handle. He forced himself to look away, but the image of Suguru’s face lingered in his mind, becoming harder and harder to ignore.
. . . . . . ╰╮˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗╭╯. . . . . . .
The classroom was bathed in the soft, golden light of the late afternoon sun. Satoru, Suguru, and Shoko sat together, listening to Yaga’s instructions with varying degrees of interest. Shoko, as usual, was calm and composed, almost uninterested, taking in every detail that was explained with quiet focus.
Satoru, on the other hand, lounged in his chair, legs stretched out lazily, a candy in his mouth as he twirled the empty wrapper between his fingers. Suguru sat beside him, his expression unreadable but with a slight tension around his eyes that Satoru didn’t miss.
Yaga’s voice was steady as he gave out the assignments.
"Shoko, you’ll be heading to the medical area to continue refining your Reverse Curse Technique. Satoru, there’s been some unusual activity in a rural area in the north. I want you to investigate and report back with any findings. Suguru," Yaga’s gaze shifted to the dark-haired boy, "you’ll be dealing with a Grade 1 curse in Tokyo. It’s in a crowded area, so be cautious."
When the class wrapped up, Shoko was the first to stand, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. Don’t go getting yourselves killed, okay?" she said with a wry smile.
Satoru grinned, toying with the candy in his mouth. "Come on, Shoko, you know we’re too stubborn to die."
Suguru offered her a small smile as well, but Satoru could see the strain behind it. "Take care, Shoko. We’ll see you soon."
The trio walked out of the classroom together, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. As they reached the point where they would part ways, Satoru and Suguru turned to say their farewells to Shoko. She gave them a final nod before heading off in direction to the medical wing, leaving Satoru alone with Suguru in the dimly lit corridor.
Satoru glanced at Suguru out of the corner of his eye. He could feel the tension radiating off him. Suguru had always been uncomfortable with exorcising curses, especially ones that were strong enough to manifest in heavily populated areas. Satoru knew how much these missions weighed on him, and the thought of being apart for a week only made it worse.
They walked through the empty halls, the sun dipping lower on the horizon, Satoru made up his mind. The silence between them was heavy, filled with a lingering worry. When they reached a particularly deserted stretch of the corridor, Satoru stopped abruptly, grabbing Suguru by the arm and pulling him into a quiet corner.
Suguru looked at him, surprise flickering in his dark eyes. "Satoru, what—"
But before he could finish, Satoru closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against Suguru’s in a kiss that was anything but accidental. This time, it wasn’t about teasing or playing around. It was something more, something deeper that Satoru wasn’t quite ready to name.
The kiss was slow, a tentative exploration of feelings that neither of them had fully acknowledged or maybe didn’t want to, until now. Satoru’s lips moved gently against Suguru’s, and after a moment of hesitation, Suguru responded, his lips parting slightly to allow the faintest brush of their tongues. The taste of something sweet lingered on Satoru’s tongue, and he realized belatedly that he still had a strawberry-flavored candy in his mouth.
They pulled away slowly, both of them breathing a little harder than before. Suguru’s face showed a faint blush, his eyes searching Satoru’s for some kind of explanation, some words to make sense of what had just happened.
But for once, Satoru found himself at a loss. He had nothing clever to say, no quip to deflect the intensity of the moment. Instead, he simply looked at Suguru, hoping that the kiss had conveyed what he couldn’t put into words, his concern, his support, his... something more .
Suguru broke the silence first, his voice quiet and a little unsteady. "Your kiss...it tasted sweet," he murmured, a small, almost shy smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Maybe it’ll help me forget the bitterness of the curses."
Satoru blinked, then realized what Suguru meant. He let out a small, nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, yeah, I guess I forgot I had that candy in my mouth."
Suguru shook his head, the blush still lingering on his cheeks. "It’s okay. I think I needed that...more than I realized."
“See you in a couple of days,” Satoru said as he cleared his throat trying to sound more confident than how he actually felt.
“See you too, take care, Satoru” Suguru’s way of mentioning his name was extremely soft, Satoru felt his face heating up again.
For a moment, they just stood there, the silence between them now comfortable. Then, with a final, lingering glance, they both turned and continued down the hallway, each heading in their own direction, toward their separate missions.
Satoru walked away, he found himself touching his lips. the taste of strawberries still lingering. He didn’t know what would happen in the next few days, but one thing was clear; something between him and Suguru had changed, the shape of that unnamed thing between them more clear in his vision, and there was no going back.
. . . . . . ╰╮˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗╭╯. . . . . . .
The campus was quiet at night. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the grounds as Satoru and Suguru walked side by side. It had been almost two weeks since Satoru had returned from his mission, and though he maintained his usual sarcastic demeanor, there was a subtle tension in his posture, a restlessness that even his sharp wit couldn’t completely mask.
Their missions had kept them apart for what felt like an eternity, and now, finally, they had a moment of solitude. The long day of classes had drained him, but the familiar comfort of Suguru’s company made the fatigue bearable.
Suguru spoke in his usual calm, measured tone, recounting the details of a new curse he had captured. "It’s a tricky one," he was saying, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight. "It lures people inside an illusion making them think they’re safe before it strikes. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it before."
Satoru listened, or at least he tried to. But his mind was elsewhere, focused on the way Suguru’s lips moved as he spoke, the way his voice seemed to resonate with a soft tone, it was relaxing. The past two weeks had been a blur of activity, but now that they were together again, Satoru couldn’t shake the feeling that had been building inside him, the need to close the distance between them, to feel Suguru’s warmth against him..
Without warning, and without a word, Satoru acted on that impulse. He stopped walking, reached out, and gently grabbed Suguru’s arm, pulling him closer. Suguru turned to him, eyes wide in surprise, but before he could say anything, Satoru leaned in and pressed his lips to Suguru’s.
This kiss was different from the others, there was no hesitation. It was intense, raw, and filled with a longing that Satoru hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. He kissed Suguru deeply, his hand tightening on Suguru’s arm as if afraid to let go, afraid that this moment might slip away like all the others.
Suguru’s initial surprise melted into something else—acceptance, perhaps— or maybe something more. He let out a soft, surprised gasp, his breath hitching as Satoru’s lips moved against his, claiming him in a way that left no room for doubt. Suguru’s hand instinctively reached out, grabbing Satoru’s arm to steady himself as he leaned into the kiss, his eyes shut.
Satoru could feel Suguru’s heartbeat through the thin fabric of his shirt, the rapid thudding mirroring his own. He deepened the kiss, exploring the now familiar and addicting taste of Suguru, savoring the way their mouths fit together so perfectly, feeling Suguru’s tongue swirling beside his. Satoru knew, in that moment, that he was more than just fond of Suguru. He was captivated, and enthralled by everything that made Suguru who he was.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing heavily. Suguru’s cheeks were flushed, his expression a mix of confusion, shyness, and something else, something that sent a thrill down Satoru’s spine.
"You..." Suguru started to say, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. Instead, he simply stared at Satoru, his gaze searching, as if trying to decipher the meaning behind the kiss.
Satoru knew that they were both terrible at expressing their feelings with words, he, with his sarcasm and bragging, and Suguru, with his quiet reserve. But in this moment, Satoru didn’t need words. He could see the understanding in Suguru’s eyes, the silent acknowledgment that passed between them.
With a small, almost shy smile, Satoru shrugged, trying to play it off with his usual nonchalance.
"I just... felt like it," he said, though he knew Suguru wouldn’t be fooled by the casual tone.
“I missed you too, Satoru,” He knew. Of course, he knew. Suguru always knew what Satoru was really thinking, even when he himself didn’t fully understand it.
They resumed their walk, the silence between them was comfortable, filled with the lingering warmth of the kiss. Satoru found himself glancing at Suguru more often than not, watching the way the moonlight danced on his features, the way his lips were still slightly parted as if he could still feel the kiss.
Satoru didn’t need to say it, but he knew that Suguru had understood the message loud and clear. No matter what words they couldn’t say, no matter how terrible they were at talking about their feelings, they had this.
. . . . . . ╰╮˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗╭╯. . . . . . .
The weeks had flown by, and with them, Satoru and Suguru had fallen into an indulgent routine of kissing whenever they found themselves alone. It had evolved into something more natural, more confident, and above all, more consistent. Each shared kiss seemed to perfect itself like everything else they did together, and both enjoyed the comfort of this new dynamic, where words became unnecessary.
Still, they were careful. They made sure no one was around, keeping their secret under lock and key, just for them. After all, they couldn’t risk being discovered so easily.
One day, after class, Shoko was the first to leave the classroom, leaving them alone. Satoru seized the opportunity, as usual, to strike up a light suggestion. "What are you doing this weekend? Want to play a video game together or go out to the city for a bit?"
Suguru shrugged, his eyes gleaming with the same calm that always characterized him and a gentle smile. "Going out sounds good."
Satoru nodded, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. "We can do both then. First, we go out, and then we play some Digimon. The other day, I stayed up until 4 am playing alone, and it was boring without you."
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a pair of warm lips press against his own. Suguru had kissed him, and although Satoru was still a bit surprised every time Suguru took the initiative, he couldn’t deny how much it thrilled him. He laughed softly, a low, genuine smile under the kiss. They parted for a bit and then he grabbed Suguru by the edge of his uniform’s collar to kiss him again.
The kiss deepened, and with each passing second, their lips moved in perfect sync, something achieved after weeks of diligent practice. They had found their rhythm, surrendering to the moment with a natural ease that had become second nature to them.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Geez, as if you don’t have two damn rooms where you could make out. Do I really have to watch you do it here too?"
Satoru’s heart skipped a beat, feeling how he was abruptly pulled away from the kiss. Suguru’s expression was one of surprise, his cheeks flushed, and though Satoru usually had thick skin, he couldn’t help but feel a touch of embarrassment. He coughed a couple of times, trying to regain his composure.
"No, it’s not what it looks like…" Suguru tried to explain, but his voice came out weak, almost shy.
Shoko, however, let out a laugh, shaking her head with amusement.
"I think it’s exactly what it looks like. I already knew, I just didn’t want to make you think otherwise. I don’t care, just make sure you’re really alone next time." She emphasized.
Suguru let out a relieved laugh, a sound that made the tension in the air immediately dissolve. Satoru laughed too, his shoulders relaxing.
"Alright, Shoko. We already know you’re a professional killjoy."
"Whatever you say," Shoko responded with a shrug. She walked over to her seat, pulling out what she had come back for; her pack of cigarettes. With a casual wave, she headed towards the door, adding in a teasing tone,
"Just remember to lock the door next time."
When Shoko left the classroom, Satoru and Suguru remained silent for a moment before they both burst into laughter. Although Satoru realized they had been caught, something was comforting in knowing it was Shoko who had found out. After all, if anyone was going to discover their secret, it was best that it was her.