Chapter Text
Sousuke takes in the giant box sitting on the bottom bunk before taking in the unnerving grin on Rin’s face.
“What is that?” He asks, not really all that curious, but the box was about as large as a grown man, and if Rin was going to be keeping a human body in their room, Sousuke would like to be aware.
“A present,” Rin tries to say casually. “For you.”
Sousuke notices the tapping of Rin’s fingers at the corner of his elbow and how his smile is just a little too strained.
It’s not Christmas. It’s not Sousuke’s birthday. And it certainly wasn’t appreciate-your-roommate-day-HEY-HERE’S’-A-GIFT. Though Sousuke wouldn’t mind if such a thing existed.
He eyes Rin.
“I’m serious. Open it.”
Sousuke sighs, walking over to the bed and finding himself obliging obediently. Not that he had a choice in the first place. This was Rin, afterall.
The box was a simple, naked cardboard, embellished only by a blue ribbon that Sousuke figured Rin carefully laced himself. He pulls at the blue string and lets it collect on the sheets. When he finally lifts the lid open, his eyes first land on the shine of wood, then on the strings, readily taut to sound.
Whoa.
It was over a month ago when Sousuke had offhandedly mentioned to Rin that he wanted to try and play the guitar; it was met with a sneer and a comment on how his fingers were too large for playing instruments. Remember that mess with the flute in grade school?
Yet, here was Rin giving his musically-challenged hands a guitar. Sousuke fumbled for his tongue. “Rin?”
“Yeah? You like it?”
“How - why?”
Rin shrugs. “It’s no big deal. I just happened to walk by this second-hand shop when I saw that and thought -” He clears his throat.
“- thought of you. What you said, I mean. Figured if wanted to learn the guitar, you’d need something to play with first. Of course I didn’t buy anything fancy or expensive because knowing how you handle instruments with those big fat hands that baby’s gonna be a goner in a week. But still, I want you to take good care -”
“Rin.”
“What?”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to treasure it.”
Then Sousuke gives him one of those rare smiles.
Maybe that was what Rin was after.
He turns away from him and to the mess on Sousuke’s desk. He could feel heat rising up the back of his neck.
“Like I said. It’s no big deal.”