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“Sakura-san, are you okay?” Nirei asked the boy who was gazing out the classroom windows with no focus. “You seem bothered by something. Did you eat your breakfast?”
The boy blinked, pulled out of whatever distant thought he’d drifted into. His fingers tightened around the edge of his desk. “It’s nothing. Just drop it, okay?”
Nirei frowned, unconvinced. “You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“That thing where you look like you’re about to fight someone.”
Kiryu’s mouth made a little ‘o’ shape before speaking. “Sakura-chan’s very distracted today. Are you still thinking about the fight? It’s been a while—”
“Oi, it’s not about that. I’m fine.”
Oh, he’s not okay.
He ruffled his own hair, openly irritated at the questions being thrown at him right now. He can’t even eat while waiting for that idiot’s message. His eyes keep darting to his phone.
Sakura tells himself to calm down, to be more patient, but the seconds stretch endlessly. He feels like he’s going insane.
Sakura has not seen Suo.
Not once today.
Not even waiting at the gates.
Not even a text.
It was past lunchtime, and it was very out of character for Suo not to be there in time for patrol. He’s not in some kind of trouble, right?
Tsuguera walked back to where they were sitting after finishing his workout. “Don’t worry, Sakura! I’m sure Suo’s just busy with something, you know?”
“He’s not like that. He doesn't do that."
Nirei could hear the unease in Sakura’s voice. He noticed the way Kiryu perked up at Sakura’s comment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines. “What do you mean?”
They were met with silence. Nirei felt the weight of those words. Even Kiryu, usually unreadable, gave a slight nod, as if acknowledging the truth in them. The pause that followed hung heavy, each of them waiting. The three were uncertain whether to speak or let the silence carry the meaning. But Tsugeura insisted on the topic.
“Oh! What’s he like then?”
Sakura couldn’t take any more questions. He could feel his face flushing with embarrassment.
It was because every time someone mentioned Suo, every time they teased him about “special treatment,” all Sakura could think about were those stupid little things Suo did. The ones that shouldn’t mean anything but somehow felt like too much.
݁ ˖Ი𐑼⋆
“Sakura-kun, drink this.”
It was six in the morning when he noticed Suo standing there pretending it was usual to offer someone boiling tea at six in the morning. Sakura wasn’t even cold. But Suo has this habit of hovering just near enough to take care of him without ever admitting it.
Sakura blew on it, and Suo’s shoulders eased. “Thanks.”
“It’s good for waking you up throughout the day.” The other smiled a little while fixing the lid of the thermos, his eyes still focused on Sakura.
Sakura took a sip and tasted a bit of honey. His eyes widened slightly, the sweetness lingering longer than he expected. He glanced at Suo, who was watching him, and felt a flutter he couldn’t fully name. “It tastes a bit sweet. Not bad.”
Suo nodded. “I remember you didn’t like the tea the shop gave us the other day, so I added honey for you.”
“Oh.” Sakura tried to sound uninterested, but his voice came out softer than he wanted. “You… didn’t have to.”
“I know,” Suo said simply.
Sakura looked away, heat creeping up the back of his neck despite his best effort to stay composed. The honey tea wasn’t the only thing making his chest feel warm.
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“He didn’t even let me!” Tsugeura dramatically yelled. “I mean, seriously! After all that effort, after standing there like a fool waiting… nothing! Not even a tiny sip!”
“Calm down, Tsuge-chan,” Kiryu muttered, “it’s just tea.”
Nirei was still confused about something as he wrote in his notebook. “He actually remembered that?”
This made them stop talking. For a moment, the room was quiet, the kind of quiet that made them notice the little things they’d been overlooking.
“Yeah,” Sakura said softly.
Tsugeura let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Man, that’s Suo for you,” he admitted, though there was a hint of admiration in his voice.
Nirei’s brow furrowed as memories surfaced. The way Suo would quietly slide his own gakuran over Sakura when he forgets his before patrol, the way he subtly led conversations to cheer him up, the times he lingered just long enough to make sure Sakura was okay.
Oh.
“It’s not just the tea or small stuff. I just don’t know what it is..”
The three exchanged glances, a slow realisation settling over them. It wasn’t grand gestures or loud statements. Suo’s care was quiet and always focused on Sakura.
“What else, Sakura-chan?”
˖Ი𐑼⋆
It was raining really hard, and the whole class was in the middle of a fight against an unknown gang. Sakura can see Nirei calling for backup in the corner of the street while the others charge at the other members of the bunch, leaving the boss to him. Sakura was observing the situation of the fight when he felt a hand gripping his wrist, pulling him closer.
“What are you thinking about?” He was greeted by Suo’s raised eyebrow. Sakura clicked his tongue and turned around quickly when he heard someone fall behind him.
“I can handle myself.”
Suo smirked and leaned closer to him, “I am aware, Sakura-kun.”
Sakura stiffened. “Then why are y-you so close r-right now!?”
“I’m not..close.” Suo’s voice dropped, amused. “I’m just watching.”
Okay, too close. Sakura can’t handle the way Suo looks at him, like he is studying him. Sakura hates that. Hates how exposed it makes him feel because if Suo figures out what’s really going on under Sakura’s skin, he absolutely won’t let it pass. Suo’s the type to push and tease until his defenses crumble. The type to corner him with nothing but a grin and the truth.
“This bothers you, Haruka-kun?”
“It doesn’t,” Sakura lied way too quickly.
Suo’s smirk deepened. “Right.”
And Sakura hated that his face felt hot. And he hated even more that Suo caught it because Suo always noticed what was going on with him.
˖Ი𐑼⋆
“I think I saw that the other day,” Kiryu said, like he wasn’t about to ruin Sakura’s entire life.
Sakura froze. “Saw what, dumabass?”
“You were making that face.”
He nearly choked.
Kiryu sighs, uninterested. “Oh, relax. I’m not judging you.” He tilts his head, studying Sakura the way only someone annoyingly sharp can. “Just saying! Whatever you are hiding? You’re not hiding it as well as you think!”
“I’ll kick you out! I’m not hiding anything!”
“Uh-huh.” Kiryu’s voice is in disbelief. “Sure.”
Sakura can’t process all the information laid out in front of him. His brain is stuck spinning in circles. Suo is getting too close, Suo watching him like he knows something, and now Kiryu is casually dropping the fact that other people are noticing too?
Kiryu clicks his tongue. “Sakura-chan, you look like you’re about to explode.”
“I’m fine,” Sakura mutters, except he absolutely isn’t. His head feels stuffed with static, like one wrong word will make everything spill out.
Nirei straightens, giving him a long, almost sympathetic look. “Sakura-san, you don’t have to figure it out right now, you know. Just stop pretending there’s nothing to figure out.”
“What?!” Sakura miserably ruffled his hair. “That does not help at all.”
If anything, it makes Sakura feel even more cornered because the moment he stops pretending, he has to face it. Face Suo. Face whatever mess is bubbling inside his chest every time Suo looks at him like that.
Sakura drags a hand down his face. “This is ridiculous.”
“Probably,” Kiryu shrugs. “But it’s still happening.”
A familiar voice suddenly said, “What is ‘happening’?”
The room suddenly went silent. Sakura’s soul nearly left his body. That voice!
He turned his head around towards the classroom door, and there stood Suo. He was smiling. Which made it so much worse! He was overthinking whether the boy had heard their conversation or not. However, before even answering him, the others went to the boy wearing an eyepatch, asking where he had been all morning.
“Alright! I am fine, everyone. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He was smiling at their other classmate’s greetings before going towards the four of them near the classroom windows.
Suo glanced between the three of them, gaze lingering on Sakura for a second longer than necessary. "What is 'happening'?" he repeated pleasantly.
Sakura felt his entire face heat up. “Nothing.”
"Oh?"
"Nothing!"
"Interesting." Suo was behind him now. He felt Suo lowering himself closer to Sakura, his earrings tickling his ear. “Because it sounded very important.”
"It wasn't."
"I see."
"You don't."
"Then explain it to me."
"I don't have to explain anything!"
Suo's smile widened. Across him, Kiryu clicked his tongue and looked away, one hand covering the lower half of his face. His shoulders gave a suspicious shake.
"Kiryu," Sakura warned. That only made Kiryu's eyes crinkle.
"Oh, I'm not doing anything."
"Liar."
Anything was better than standing here while Suo looked at him with that knowing smile. Because Sakura didn't even know what Suo knew. Had he heard something? Did he suspect something? Or was he simply enjoying Sakura's suffering?
The worst part was that Sakura couldn't tell.
He knows Suo was still watching him.
"You're awfully flustered today, Sakura-kun."
“Asshole! I am not flustered!”
Then Kiryu finally lost the fight and laughed.
˖Ი𐑼⋆
“Sakura-kun.”
They were already done with patrol, but Suo insisted on walking him home. He noticed the way Kiryu raised his eyebrows when he heard Suo declaring that he’s gonna walk Sakura all the way.
“But Suo, your way is in the opposite direction?” Nirei asked, innocently. Sakura can see the way Kiryu’s eyes switch between the two of them, but in the end, they landed on Suo. He can’t see his vice-captain’s expression.
Suo beamed, “I know. I just don’t want anything to happen to our dear Sakura!”
“O-okay! Then, I’ll see you guys tomorrow!” Nirei waved and nodded in Sakura’s direction and went with the others.
Sakura waited until the others were a few steps away before turning to Suo. “You really didn’t have to.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Suo tilted his head, hands tucked behind him.
Sakura clicked his tongue and looked away. Talking to Suo was impossible sometimes. It felt like every conversation somehow ended with Sakura getting flustered while Suo looked perfectly calm.
The two walked side by side down the quiet street. Usually, Sakura would've preferred walking alone. Before coming to Furin, he always had. But lately? Lately, he didn't mind when Suo was around.
"You were gone earlier."
"Was I?"
"Don't play dumb."
Suo laughed softly behind him. He felt a hand pull him back for a bit. Irritated, he rolled his eyes before looking at the other boy, whom he didn’t notice was way too close to him already. “Are you mad, Haruka?”
“What?” Sakura’s eyes widened. He also saw the other study his reaction before looking back into his eyes. He doesn’t answer but asks, “Where'd you go?"
"Somewhere." Sakura shot him a look.
Okay, he’s extremely irritated now. All the worrying all morning, the unanswered calls and texts are getting into him. Now, this menace is trying to get him riled up. “Is that even an answer?”
He pushed Suo away before running. Or at least, Sakura tried to. His feet barely made it two steps before a hand grabbed the back of his jacket.
Sakura clicked his tongue and yanked forward. “Let go.” The words came out harsher than intended. No. They came out exactly as intended. Sakura spun around fully, finally facing him. The sight of Suo standing there so casually after disappearing all morning only made his irritation grow.
No calls answered.
No texts answered.
Nothing. He wasn’t like that! And now he was acting like this was a normal day? These thoughts somehow irritated him even more.
Suo caught his hands again before holding them both together and kissing his fingertips. “Haruka. Are you still with me?”
“Stop acting clueless.”
The other boy blinked. “I'm not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Am I?” Sakura stared at him.
He was doing it on purpose.There was no way he wasn't. For someone who talked so much, Suo somehow managed to say absolutely nothing.
“Why do you care so much?” The question caught him off guard.
His eyes immediately snapped back to Suo. “What?”
“You seem unusually interested in my whereabouts today.” Sakura felt his eye twitch. He’s so annoying!
“You ignored me.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You ignored everyone.”
“Did I?”
“You know you did.” Suo hummed thoughtfully as if genuinely considering it. Sakura wanted to throw something at him.
“Do you know how annoying you are?”
“I've been told, Haruka.” His vice-captain was smirking again. Suo's arm settled around his waist, keeping him close, while Sakura eventually gave in and rested his forehead against the other boy's chest. The steady rhythm of Suo's heartbeat reached his ears.
“Something happened back home. I needed to check on them.”
Sakura stiffened slightly. That explains it. He doesn’t ask anymore. Suo doesn’t talk about his hometown or family. The details always stayed vague. Just enough information to satisfy curiosity, before the conversation quietly moved elsewhere.
Sakura had noticed that a long time ago. So he didn't ask.
Not now.
Not when Suo had already chosen to tell him this much. Suo seems to understand this, too; he felt him ease more into their embrace. For a while, neither of them spoke. The morning's frustration felt distant now.
Sakura learned early on that if Suo wanted to tell him something, he would. Prying never got anyone anywhere with him. Which meant whatever happened had to be important. The thought made the irritation he'd been carrying around all day loosen its grip. His fingers curled slightly into the fabric of Suo's uniform.
"Everything okay now?" For a moment, Suo seemed surprised by the question. Then his expression softened.
"Yeah," he answered quietly. "Everything's fine." Sakura nodded.
“You know,” Suo started. Sakura groaned immediately.
“Please don't.”
“I haven't said anything yet.”
“I know that tone.” The laughter rumbling through Suo's chest made him regret staying this close.
“You really were worried, Haruka?”
Sakura buried his face further into his chest. “Shut up.”
“Twelve calls.”
“Shut up.”
“Nineteen messages.”
“Suo.”
“And three voice notes.”
Sakura finally pulled back just enough to glare at him while the smile on Suo's face only widened. For someone who had disappeared all day, he looked entirely too pleased with himself. “I'm serious,” Sakura warned.
“Mm.”
“Stop bringing it up.”
“I'll try.”
“You're lying.”
“I am.” Sakura rolled his eyes.
Then, after a brief pause, he sighed.
“Just... don't do that again.” The smile faded slightly.
“Okay.” This time, there was no teasing. Just a simple promise. And somehow, that was enough.