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Weddings are supposed to be a joyous event. A couple finally comes together, stating they will stay together until death do them part. It's not an easy decision to make, at least not in the early stages of a relationship. Only those who are truly willing to live their lives together complete this ceremony.
Kirino never thought he'd take part in a wedding so soon. Not to mention his best friend's wedding, too. It almost feels so sudden. One moment, they're playing soccer together, hanging out at Shindou's place, talking about their future, and the next thing he knows, Shindou is getting married.
He should have seen this coming. He had long ago. Yet, he tried to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could have been at the altar with him. Instead, he was chosen to be his best man. It's an honor, one he takes pride in, but...it's not something he could easily accept. As much as he loves being by his side, he wanted to be the one accepting his love.
Ibuki had taken that role instead.
The pink-haired man wants to be happy for him- them, but it's hard when he sees the way they interact. Ibuki makes Shindou smile in a way that he has never seen before. Despite their bickering, there is never any real heat; they never escalate. If they do fight, they make up within a few minutes. Then there's the way Shindou looks at him. There's that sparkle in his eyes, a shine that lights up only for Ibuki. Not him.
Most of the wedding was a blur for Kirino. He remembers bits and pieces; the kiss at the altar stood out in his memory far more than he wishes. He was more focused on trying to put up a believable smile and not ruin his best friend's special day.
It's easier to relax during the reception. He is no longer in the spotlight, no longer beside Shindou. The married couple are the stars of the show, dancing the night away with everyone else.
Kirino stays away from the dance floor. He keeps to himself at a vacant table, busying himself with food. Pretending he's eating keeps others at bay. And the one person that he wants to come get him, never will.
"Hey Kirino!"
The man instantly puts on a smile when he hears that energetic tone of voice. Even after all these years, Tenma is still as happy and optimistic as ever.
"Tenma," he greets the other man, waving to him. "You're not dancing?"
"No." He shakes his head. "Well, I was a while ago. Shinsuke wanted to take a break, so I was going to wait for him before heading back. Are you waiting for someone too?"
It's an innocent question that stings far more than it should. Kirino gulps and gestures to the half-eaten plate.
"I want to finish eating before dancing. And I should let it settle, too. Can't let the food go to waste, you know?"
"Oh, you're right! Maybe I should have finished my plate before I got up..." The brunet glances over to his table as if to see if his remaining meal is still there. Before he can look back at Kirino, his gaze settles on the dance floor.
"Aren't they the perfect couple?" Tenma says with a smile. "I've never seen anyone so happy together. I'm glad they got married!"
Kirino feels another stab at his heart. He knows that Tenma isn't doing this on purpose. He's always been oblivious, a bit dense to anything not related to soccer, even when they were younger. It must be easy for him to be happy for Shindou. Kirino doubts that Tenma would ever be in a dilemma like his.
"Yeah...the perfect couple..." Kirino agrees while he grips onto the tablecloth. He hopes that Tenma doesn't notice the restraint he's placing on himself. It's getting harder and harder to keep this smile up.
Thankfully, Shinsuke calls out for his best friend ,and Tenma excuses himself. Kirino watches him walk off and lets out a breath he'd been holding for far too long. He unclenches the tablecloth, flexing his fingers now that they're free.
As much as he wants to support Shindou, he can't take this any longer. Tenma's words left their mark, cementing the reality he lives in. His gaze focuses on the dance floor, watching as Shindou and Ibuki dance together. At most, he could imagine himself in Ibuki's place. That only makes his heart hurt more.
When no one is looking, he excuses himself from the reception. He makes sure no one catches him on the way out, making his escape plan perfect.
"Kirino?"
Unfortunately, today is not his day. Of course, someone would spot him when he is at his lowest.
Kirino takes in a breath and rubs his eyes. Tears were silently falling down his face. He hadn't realized when this happened, yet he couldn't bear for anyone else to see. Especially not him.
Kariya stands behind him. The younger man tilts his head as his sharp eyes take in the other man's form. Kirino usually stands tall, with confidence, even when he needs to fake it. This time, he isn't. He's slightly hunched over, his shoulders trembling. Usually, he would scold Kariya for one reason or another, but there wasn't even a response from him.
Kirino can hear his footsteps approaching. As much as he wants to run away, he doesn't. It would make things more obvious, make him look more pathetic for crying at his best friend's wedding for the wrong reason. The only thing he can do is turn his head away when Kariya approaches him from the side.
There's silence at first. A strange silence between them. There's always been some bickering due to Kariya enjoying pushing his buttons. Maybe silence is better, so he doesn't end up lashing out at the poor man for bottling up his feelings.
"Kirino...you can let it out," Kariya says in a whisper. It's so soft and unlike him that he almost has to ask him to repeat it.
He doesn't need to ask when Kariya ends up putting his arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Immediately, Kirino clings to Kariya as if he were his lifeline. He ignores the comment about getting his suit wet and ignores how he's crying like a baby on his shoulder. He just needs to get these feelings off his chest.
Tears continue to fall for a few minutes. His sobs slowly turn into quiet sniffles. His eyes feel sore from crying so much. It's hard to believe how much he let out on Kariya of all people.
"Feeling better?" Kariya asks.
"Yeah..."
"Do you...want to go somewhere else? Away from here?"
A part of him feels like this is a trap. There's always something up his sleeve whenever he's offering kindness. Then again, he's grown up. Sure, he still gets on his nerves, but he isn't as bad as he used to be.
Besides, he really doesn't want to deal with any pranks or teasing right now. At most, he would like to just go home and call it a night.
Kirino slowly lifts his head off his shoulder. He's surprised to see the other man without his signature grin on his face. Instead, he looks genuinely concerned.
"Yeah..." Kirino nods.
The pink-haired man takes in a breath and brushes away lingering tears. He knows that he looks like a mess. If he stays here, things will only get worse for him. Without another word, he takes Kariya's hand in his, letting him lead him away from this heartbreaking wedding.