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“Is that even an actual thing?”
“How did it even get up there?”
Sakura, Suo and Nirei could hear the confusion before they saw the source. When they rounded the corner they found fellow Furin students gawking at a large, bright green banner with Happy Brother’s Day! hanging across the front of the school.
Sakura squinted at the fabric. “What’s Brother’s Day?”
“Umm…I’m not entirely sure,” Nirei frowned, pulling out his phone as they walked. “Let me check.”
“Umemiya-san has referred to the town as his family before,” Suo smiled. “Maybe that’s what he means?”
“Maybe!” Nirei nodded. “Apparently it’s an international holiday celebrated on May 24th. This says the holiday apparently started in America and is a day to cherish and celebrate brothers, wether biological or not.”
The thought of acknowledging someone as his brother made Sakura’s face warm.
Suo tilted his head in thought. “I don’t recall any events being planned.”
“And I didn’t get any messages about it this morning,” Nirei added, scrolling through his contacts. “Maybe we’ll find out inside?”
“TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY!”
The members of Bofurin cried out, clapping their hands over their ears and jumping in alarm as Umemiya’s voice blared out of the loud speaker.
“For fuck’s sake!” Hiragi shouted in the background. “Stop yelling into the mic!”
“Sorry! I got too excited!” Umemiya laughed.
Sakura glared up from where he’d caught himself after Ume’s yelling had caused him to miss his chair. His face flushed at his classmates’ concerned looks as everyone righted themselves.
“But today is a special day,” Umemiya said. “Today is a day where we appreciate the brothers in our lives. I consider this town my home and everyone in it members of my family. By extension, I consider all of you my brothers!”
A blush framed Sakura’s face at the notion.
“Brothers are the ones we can count on and the ones we’re always there for,” Umemiya continued. “They are our friends, loved ones and family, and I feel truly in my heart that if you take a second to look around, you will find brothers in each other as well!”
Sakura felt eyes on him, but despite the warmth rising up his neck he chanced a look to see his friends grinning at him. Well, except for Sugishita. The pink on his face flared and he whipped his head back towards the speaker.
“Today I want you all to do something fun or share a delicious meal together if you can! Know you have everyone here at Furin. You all are amazing and make me proud every day. I am thankful to have you all in my life!” Umemiya cheered.
By the time he’d finished yapping Sakura thought he was going to start sweating he was blushing so hard.
“Told you so,” Suo whispered, smiling at Sakura’s fluster.
“You okay, Sakura-san?” Nirei asked.
Sakura nodded, unable to look at them. Having brothers in his friends? The warmth and comfort in his heart at the thought was almost too overwhelming to bear. His friends and the others he knew at Furin, even the friends he’d made in neighboring gangs made his days. But how was he supposed to be brotherly? Was it spouting off his feelings to an audience like Umemiya? The mere thought had him wanting to crawl beneath his desk. Even if he did gather the nerve, he had no idea what to say without making himself sound stupid. And asking how to be brotherly seemed almost worse—the last thing he wanted was to admit how bad he faired to those who meant something to him.
Why did Umemiya make a whole holiday out of this stuff?
“Sakura-kun?”
If he’d at least mentioned it before, he would’ve had more time to think!
“Sakura-san?”
Nah, who was he kidding, he’d still be fucked.
“HEY SAKURA!”
He jumped in his seat. “OI! What?” He snapped, rounding on the voice to find Kurita waving a hand in front of his face.
“You were totally zoned out,” Kiryu replied as Sakura smacked Kurita’s hand away.
“You looked really worried, too,” Nirei frowned. “Are you okay Sakura-san?”
“If you’re feeling out of it, I can make you a protein shake!“ Tsugeura offered.
“M’ fine!” He grumbled, blushing slightly. “What’re you yelling at me for?”
“Well duh, it’s our patrol day!” Anzai grinned.
“Yeah, you were the one who reminded us this morning,” Kakiuchi added.
“Oh.” Despite himself Sakura’s blush got worse. “Right.”
“Goodness, Sakura-kun, I thought you’d have the routine down by now!” Suo smiled.
“I do!” He glared.
Suo’s gaze took on a teasing glint. “Then why are you the only one still sitting at your desk?”
Sakura’s eyes widened and he glanced about the room. Everyone else had already left—well, except for his friends waiting for him.
Pink dusted his cheeks and he jumped to his feet. “I’m not! Let’s go!” He yelled, only for an impossibly firm grip on his shoulder to stop him in his tracks.
“Ack!” Sakura gasped. “Why?!”
“Probably because something is still bothering you,” Kiryu said, brushing pink strands of hair into a bobby pin.
Sakura’s face warmed and he looked away from them but didn’t move to free himself. Anzai, Kurita, Takanashi and Kakiuchi looked at each other. Suo tilted his head and Kiryu and Tsugeura frowned.
Nirei’s eyes widened in realization. “Is it about Brother’s Day?”
The blush spread to Sakura’s ears. Had he been that obvious?
The knowing and concerned looks on his friends’ faces only made it worse. They exchanged glances as Sakura clenched his fists.
“You guys…are great…” he muttered, his group looking at him in surprise. “But…”
“But?” Suo asked, relaxing his grip.
“I…don’t know how to be brotherly,” he finished, eyes dropping to avoid their disappointed gazes.
“What the hell are you even talking about!?” Anzai cried.
Sakura looked up just as everyone looked at him in amused bewilderment.
“Sorry,” Takanashi chuckled. “It’s just that you’re the most brotherly person here?”
“He’s right Sakura-chan!” Kiryu beamed.
“Wuh-HUH?” Sakura cried, turning a bright scarlet.
Nirei’s eyes glistened with joy. “You worry about us being safe more than we do!”
“And are always there to have our back,” Suo smiled, patting his shoulder.
All their happy faces felt like the sun to his soul, but the rate his blush was increasing he was going to catch on fire.
“Yeah! I’ve got to give it everything I’ve got just to keep up with you!” Tsugeura grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. “I want to be there for my little brothers too!”
Kurita pumped his fist in the air. “Hell yeah to that!”
“Hey, what do you mean little brother?” Sakura said, his eyes narrowing as he batted away Tsugeura and Suo’s hands. “I’m no little brother! Nirei is the youngest!”
Nirei’s eyes widened. “What! No I’m not!”
All eyes flew to him and he ducked his head under their gaze.
“But…Nirei-kun…you call us all so formally...” Suo frowned.
“Oh, we-well,” Nirei said, fidgeting with his hands as pink framed his eyes. “It’s just that I look up to you guys a lot and you help me get stronger every day. It means the world to me…”
Kiryu gave him a shoulder-hug and Anzai and Kurita gave him head pats as he giggled at their antics.
Sakura had almost turned just as pink as he watched the scene. Knowing that his friends and classmates felt the same as he did brought more comfort than he thought he’d known.
“Awe this is all so sweet!” Kiryu said, patting Nirei’s shoulder. “But now I can’t help but be curious, who is the youngest?”
“Oh! Let’s see!” Nirei cheered, opening his notebook only to stop on the first page. His eyes widened and he looked up at Sakura.
Everyone followed, making Sakura flush under their combined gaze.
“…Sakura-kun?” Suo asked.
“Huh?! No, the cutoff is April 1st!” He shouted, the color in his skin deepening as their surprise turned to awkward smiles and hushed snickers.
“Is it correct to assume April 1st is your Birthday?” Suo said with his ever peaceful smile.
Sakura squinted his eyes, flicking between his friends expressions trying to figure out sneakiness in his tone but finding none.
“Yeah, so?” he grumbled.
“Then that would make you the youngest,” Kiryu said, looking to Nirei. “Unless someone shares the same day?”
“Umm…I don’t think so,” Nirei frowned, flipping through the pages.
“That’s bullshit!” Sakura glared. “If the year starts on April 1st I have to be the oldest!”
“But it doesn’t,” Nirei blinked, squeaking and hiding behind his notebook when Sakura whipped toward him. “It starts on the 2nd!”
Would the others mess with him? Definitely. But Nirei?
He turned the information over in his head until he turned his back to them and hid his face in his hands.
“Awe, it’s okay Sakura-chan,” Kiryu smiled.
“Yeah!” Tsugeura nodded. “Times and dates and stuff can be super confusing!”
“Is there anyone else even close to mine?” Sakura mumbled.
“Yes, quite,” Suo said, smiling softly. “We are just days apart.”
“Three days to be exact!” Nirei seemed to sparkle as he flipped through the pages once more. “The rest of us have much larger gaps with me and Kiryu-san in September and August, and then Tsugeura-san being the oldest with a birthday in May!”
“What?!” Tsugeura cried. “When did you all get younger than me?”
Suo failed to stifle an annoyed glare, and Kiryu hid his smile with his sleeve.
“What day in May?” Anzai asked, looking over to Kurita.
“And which in August?” Kurita squinted.
Takanashi and Kakiuchi grinned at each other as Nirei flipped through his notebook.
“The fifteenth!” Tsugeura cheered.
“Mine’s the nineteenth,” Kiryu replied.
“Hell yeah! Still the oldest!” Anzai declared, holding up his hand. “I’ve got five days on you, Tsugeura!”
“Nice!” Tsugeura said, high-fiving him.
“And I’ve got–” Kurita squinted in thought before smirking at Kiryu. “Fourteen days!”
“I figured,” Kiryu shrugged. “It was the most likely outcome given the date.”
Sakura’s head span as he tried to keep track of who was older than who only for Nirei to pipe up.
“It looks like Kakiuchi-san and Takanashi-san are between Kurita-san and Anzai-san with birthdays in June and July!” Nirei added.
“What does all this stuff even matter?” Sakura groaned, his head beginning to ache.
“Hardly at all,” Suo replied. “We’re all in the same class in the end.”
“Though you do have to admit,” Anzai grinned. “It is a crazy coincidence that us four out age you guys.”
“Oh!” Nirei gasped, writing frantically. “You’re right! Well, except for Tsugeura-san.”
“True, true,” Takanashi nodded.
“Well, with birthdays all clustered in late spring, summer and early fall, it’s not that surprising.” Kiryu blinked.
“Sure, but it did get me thinking on the holiday, and while we do a pretty good job of backing each other up, there’s one thing brothers do that we’re slacking on pretty hard,” Anzai said.
“Uhh…” Sakura hesitated, looking between his friends. “What would that be?”
A sneaky grin overtook Anzai’s face. “Messing with our little brothers of course!”
His buddies mirrored his grin and Sakura bristled, narrowing his eyes but his friends only sighed.
“I thought this is what you were trying to do, Anzai-kun,” Suo said, shaking his head.
Kiryu put his hands up in a shrug. “Same, I’m not surprised at all.”
“What do you mean ‘try’?” Anzai asked, his smile growing as he crept toward them. “That’s absolutely where this is going!”
“Watch out,” Kiryu beamed. “There’s not really anything you can do to us that we can’t do to you!”
“Well said, Kiryu-san!” Nirei nodded.
Sakura’s eyes darted around at everyone’s increasingly sneaky expressions as they shifted to ready positions.
“What the hell is going on?!” he shouted, raising his arms in defense. “What are we squaring up for?!”
“Pfft! We’re not squaring up!” Tsugeura grinned, shaking out his wrists. “We’re making up for lost time!”
“Alright, what should we do?” Takanashi grinned, scrunching his face up in an exaggerated thinking expression.
“What if we catch them all and play with their hair?” Kurita smirked, only for Suo to stifle a laugh.
“How old did you say you were again, Kurita-kun?” He asked, making the others snicker.
“Who’s side are you on?!” Kurita cried, whirling on his buddies.
“Heh, I know what we should do!” Anzai smirked. “How about something you never grow out of?”
Sakura scrunched his face up in confusion and Suo blinked in curiosity. “And that would be?”
“No matter how grown up you get,” Anzai’s smile became wolfish, hands curling into claws with wiggling fingers. “You’ll always be hella ticklish!”
Sakura’s face flushed and Tsugeura, Nirei and Kiryu’s eyes widened.
“Oooh! Good idea, Anzai!” Kakiuchi said, tickling the air and grinning at Nirei and Kiryu’s nervous smiles.
“Oh, I agree!” Suo replied, the others whipping their heads toward him. “But who’s to say we’re not going to be the ones tickling you instead?” He mused, smirking as Kurita and Kakiuchi shivered.
“Oh! You’re right Suo-san,” Nirei grinned. “We have the numbers!”
Mischievousness shone in Kiryu’s eyes as he wiggled his fingers back. “Come on, Sakura-chan!”
“What?! No!” Sakura cried, his blush growing. “Cut the shit, this is stupid!”
Before anyone could reply Tsugeura fell hard onto his knees.
Everyone flinched as the ground shook and Nirei jumped in fright. “Ts-Tsugeura-san?” When Tsugeura’s didn’t answer he moved to his friend’s side. “Are you okay?”
Silence lingered and smiles disappeared.
“Tsuge-chan?” Kiryu asked.
Tsugeura mumbled something under his breath and he leaned closer.
“What’d you say?” Takanashi frowned.
“Yeah, man, you good?” Anzai asked, his hands lowering.
Tsugeura took a deep breath and yanked Nirei and Kiryu into a rough hug. “HA HA!” He cheered, jumping up with one under each arm. “I said: ‘GOT ‘EM!’”
“Tsuge-chan! Why?!” Kiryu gasped, only for fingers to wiggle into his side. “Ahh! Ahahehehaha!”
“Ehehehe! Oho nohoho!” Nirei laughed, Tsugeura grinning as he gently scratched along his ribs.
“Nice, Tsugeura!” Takanashi grinned, moving towards the remaining pair. “Looks like we might not be so outnumbered after all!”
“What happened to having each other’s backs and all that shit?” Sakura snapped.
“Oh we have your back all right,” Kakiuchi smiled.
“Yeah, you guys are missing out on all the fun!” Anzai said, jabbing his thumb at Tsugeura.
Nirei laughed brightly, kicking and twisting in Tsugeura's hold while Kiryu flopped over and giggled toward the floor. The sound sent butterflies fluttering around Sakura’s insides and he could feel the heat creeping across his skin.
“That’s quite alright, I’m having plenty of fun spectating,” Suo replied.
“Uh, oh, is someone nervous?” Kurita grinned, wiggling his fingers at them.
“Don’t–Dohon’t mess with me!” Sakura growled, his face tinting pink.
“We don’t even have to touch him!” Kakiuchi smiled, repeating the gesture.
A bright blush and ticklish smile took over Sakura’s face. “Ahahassholes!” Sakura snapped, a few nervous giggles bubbling past his lips despite his efforts to look angry. Takanashi and Anzai joined in and he smiled helplessly. “You crehehepy mohotherfuhukers! Dohon’t doho that!”
“To answer your question,” Suo replied, smiling as Sakura clapped his hands over his eyes. “I am not nervous at all.”
“And why is that?” Takanashi asked.
“Because you can’t catch us,” Suo smiled. “Right, Sakura-kun?”
Sakura started, whipping his head toward Suo and blushing furiously in realization. “Ah yeah, r-right.”
“Awe come on, you guys want to play too!” Tsugeura grinned, speeding up the fingers tickling Nirei and starting to poke at Kiryu’s ribs.
Kiryu kicked in protest and Nirei squealed.
“Nohohaha! Nahat the pohohokes!” Kiryu giggled, only to squeak as they were replaced with ticklish pinches. “EEK! NOhohoho! Thahahahat’s WOhohorse!”
“I can tell by both your smiles that you want some tickles too!” Tsugeura called, taking a sturdy stance and worming his fingers under one of Nirei’s and one of Kiryu’s underarms.
“Sakura~” Anzai taunted, him and his friends smiling at the simultaneous scream and newly hysterical laughter coming from the captured duo. “Time to laugh your head off!”
Sakura blushed brightly and turned to tell off Anzai but he was already mid-pounce. Air caught in Sakura’s throat and a strangled shout left him as he grabbed Anzai by the shoulders and they crashed to the ground.
Suo’s eye widened at Sakura’s swift takedown and Anzai laughed maniacally.
“Can’t catch you my ass!” he snickered, hovering over Sakura and scribbling his fingers into his stomach, making the younger boy yelp and yank the tickling hands from his skin.
“Neheheh! Noho!” Sakura grunted, trying to push Anzai off only for him to smirk and put his full weight onto Sakura’s legs. “You! Youhou bahahastard!”
“Come on, I’m only trying to tickle your belly!” Anzai grinned, making Sakura turn as pink as his namesake.
“Dohohohon’t cahahall it thahahat!” He cried, his strength lessening with each giggle.
“Awe then what about tummy?” Anzai smirked, inching his fingers closer. “Tickles for your tum tum?”
“Yohohou fuhuhucking weheheheirdohohAH! AHAHAHA!” Sakura cackled, throwing his head back as Anzai raked his nails down his middle.
“See? All better!” Anzai teased, laughing at the wobbly half-glare his victim attempted before bursting back into hysterics.
“And then there was one.”
Suo’s gaze snapped toward the voice to see Takanashi, Kurita and Kakiuchi sneaking toward him.
“It’s your turn, Suo!” Kakiuchi said, grinning at how his smile became a little strained.
“Don’t think we forgot about you,” Takanashi added.
Suo forced himself to relax. “No need to trouble yourselves.”
“Awe, but we’re feeling left out!” Kakiuchi replied, him and Kurita circling around to his right and left.
His leg tensed to step back but that would trap him closer to the wall. He needed to go forward.
The trio started to close in and he couldn’t help but death-grip his hands behind his back. He needed to wait until the absolute…last…second!
His assailants hadn’t even finished reaching before Suo cut between Takanashi and Kurita and stood at the center of the room.
“Oooh!” Kurita grinned. “Looks like Suo wants to play after all!”
“Only entertaining you and your childish antics,” Suo replied, but he couldn’t tear his eyes from their hands.
“We’ll see about that!” Kakiuchi snickered, trying a scribble to his neck only for him to duck back and narrowly sidestep Kakiuchi’s pokes.
Suo chanced a glance toward the door only to yelp. The fingers that prodded his ribs were grabbed and before he could think he’d splayed Kurita flat on his back.
“OKAY THATS IT!”
Nirei looked up amid his giggles to see Takanashi and Kakiuchi chasing Suo around the room with playful fierceness in their eyes while Anzai continued to tickle the daylights out of Sakura.
“Wait, wait, hold on!” Suo said, his peaceful smile overwritten by a wobbly one. “You were the ones who started this!”
“But you throw your brother to the ground!?” Takanashi asked, throwing his arms wide to block him in while Kakiuchi dodged around the desks Suo tried to put between them.
“Over a little rib tickle?” Kakiuchi smirked, wiggling his fingers.
“N-Noho!” Suo replied, clapping a hand over his mouth a second too late.
Takanishi’s grin doubled in size. “Uh, oh, Suo! Was that a giggle I just heard?”
With more fluttering around his insides, Suo didn’t dare open his mouth. Until Kurita barreled toward him on all fours.
“AH! WaHAIT wait wahait!” Suo cried, scrambling around and over furniture.
“Wow, they’re going crazy!” Tsugeura awed, shifting his hands to Nirei and Kiryu’s sides.
“WAhehehahaha!” Nirei squealed, trying to twist away from Tsugeura’s fingers.
Kiryu flailed, laughing at tickles and Kurita chasing Suo like a gremlin. “I’m dyhiHIHIHING! I’m dehehehehead I’m dyhyhyhying!”
Tsugeura chuckled, his grip loosening slightly. “You’re okay!”
Nirei’s eyes widened in realization and he squirmed with purpose.
“I haven’t even gotten your worst spot yet!” Tsugeura snickered.
“Yehehehehet?!” Kiryu cried. “Tsuhugehehe!”
Tsugeura opened his mouth to reply and fingertips suddenly scribbled across his knee. The result was a squawk and a surprised jump. “WAH! Wahahahuh?” He looked down to see Nirei’s hand squeeze above his kneecap. “EEHehehe! Nirehehehei!”
“Yehe! Yehehes!” Nirei cheered as Tsugeura’s grip loosened further, letting his other arm slip free and using both hands to lightly scribble behind his knee.
“AHAHEE!” Tsugeura yelped, leaning to the side to pull Nirei up and away from the spot. “NOho! Dohohon’t tickle!”
“Yeheheah rihight!” Kiryu cried, pulling his arms from Tsugeura’s loosened hold and feathering his fingers on the back of his thigh. “Youhou tickled us first!”
“NAHAHE!” He laughed, leaning back the other way only for Nirei’s knee tickles to resume. “GUHUHUYS! NOHO! I’M GOHOHONNA–”
Nirei and Kiryu’s shouts joined his as all three of them crashed to the ground. They all groaned from the impact, Tsugeura just barely catching himself from landing on top of them.
Suo heard the guard drop from the exit and swept back toward it, not daring to turn his back to his assailants. He deflected all their scribbles, pokes and jabs like he would in combat, his smile becoming more confident as their attempts grew desperate. Suo was only one step from freedom when an impossible weight settled above his ankle. He looked down wide-eyed to find Tsugeura grinning up at him, his hand holding his leg in a firm grip. His gaze snapped up to three wickedly smiling faces and six sets of spidering fingers. Suo threw his arms up and his gasp ended in a panicked shriek as Kurita, Kakiuchi and Takanashi tackled him into the hall.
“GOTCHA!” Kakiuchi yelled, trying to finally tickle Suo’s stomach only to be poked there himself. “EHE!”
“You’re only making it worse for yourself!” Takanashi grunted, him and Kurita grappling for Suo’s arms as Kakiuchi gently scribbled his middle.
“EhehEHA! NOHOhoho!” Suo cried, kicking his legs in protest only to loudly squeak when Takahashi spidered his hand up to his neck. “EEHEE! PLEHE! PleheheHEASE!”
“After talking all that shit?” Kurita snickered.
“And causing all that trouble?” Kakiuchi added, lightly dragging his fingers up Suo’s side and making him hiccup in his laughter. “If you ask me you’re getting off easy!”
Suo laughed in reply, trying to kick at Kurita as he gently scribbled under Suo’s arm.
“I’ll say! You fucking decked me!” He smirked.
“Sounds like we got all of you!” Anzai snickered, poking and squeezing any tickle spot he could reach while Sakura just laid there, all energy to fight gone as giggles spilled out of him.
Anzai looked up as Tsugeura wrapped Kiryu and Nirei into a big bear hug and wiggled his fingers into their necks and shoulders. The air filled with their giggles and Tsugeura’s chuckles added to the mix as they tickled him back in an attempt for release.
“Well, I’d say it’s time for the big finale!” Anzai stilled his fingers and smiled with glee as he pushed Sakura’s shirt away from his stomach. “Ready?”
“Wuhuhuh? Whuhut thehe hehehell?” Sakura glared, only for Anzai to take a comically large breath and blow the biggest raspberry onto his belly.
Sakura erupted into loud, desperate cackles as he pushed Anzai’s head away.
“Are you telling me you don’t like raspberries?” Anzai laughed. “You’re turning the same color as them so I figured you would!”
Sakura clenched his blushing hands into fists and swung at him. “IHIHI’M GONNA KIHIhihill yohohohou!”
“Awe, you can’t do that to your big brother,” Anzai replied, flashing the cheekiest grin as he dug his fingertips under Sakura’s arms.
Sakura didn’t deny it, but only because he was laughing too hard, and definitely not because of how happy it made him that someone wanted to be so silly and gentle with him.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!”
Before Sakura could process the shout, the underarm tickles stopped and he was pulled up into a hug.
“Senpai!” Anzai cried, patting Sakura’s head. “Our little brothers were bummed out and we were just cheering them up!”
Sakura looked up to see Kaji fuming in the doorway and his face burned.
“Guys have been worried and looking for you! ” Kaji shouted, making Nirei and Tsugeura flinch as he rounded on the Suo and the others in the hall. “Let him go and get off your asses!”
Sakura blushed down to his neck as he fought out of Anzai’s embrace. Tsugeura finally released Kiryu and Nirei and they helped him up. Anzai snickered in amusement as he stood, offering Sakura a hand. He huffed, but took it anyway. Kaji caught Sakura’s gaze and the slightest blush tinted below Kaji’s eyes as he turned to leave. Everyone moved toward the hall, dusting themselves off as they moved after their senpai to catch up with the rest of their team.
“So,” Anzai whispered, flashing a grin. “That was fun.”
Heads shook and sighs and huffs filled the space, but it was evident from the smiles on everyone’s faces that they all agreed.