Work Text:
"Shinonome-kun, are you alright?"
Toya watched as Kohane approached Akito, who was sitting down on a bench, water bottle in hand. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his orange hair and pale face.
It was clear to Toya that he had been overworking himself yet again, trying to keep up with the rest of them; when in Toya's eyes, Akito is all he could ever dream of being.
An placed her hand on Kohane's shoulder. "Akito, if you really can't keep going–"
"I…I can keep going. Don't worry about me." Akito finally answered, his head still lowered. While his voice was just about the same to the common ear, Toya noticed. He heard the exhaustion in his voice, the weariness laced in his words. "Just give me a few minutes. We'll get to perform the last song, don't worry."
Toya was on the brink of panic. His friend, his partner, the person he loved the most, was sitting right in front of him, barely able to move. He suddenly recalled the events that happened a few months ago, with Arata Tono. How much Akito suffered, the amount of time and effort he had dedicated to practicing—it was all way too much for his body to handle. Day and night, even without Toya around; all so that he could catch up with the rest of the team. Even just the thought of it wrapped an iron fist around Toya's heart. It made him tremble.
Akito was one of the most skilled and experienced people in Vivid BAD Squad. He had no right to talk himself down like that. He reminded Akito of this regularly, but it had seemed that it wasn't enough.
Kohane looked wary, but nodded. "Alright, but Shinonome-kun, please tell us if you need help. We'd be happy to!"
"Right, and we need to watch each other's backs. No leaving each other behind!" An added, a firm look of determination on her face. "So don't be afraid to lean on us, alright?"
Akito took a deep breath and finally looked up, a gentle smile on his face. "A–Alright." He managed to stammer out, speech slurred because of fatigue. "...Thank you."
An nodded. "Me and Kohane'll go ahead to get the crowd going. You can catch up when you feel like it."
The pair left the backstage and presented themselves to the crowd. As the sound of enthusiastic cheer filled the venue, Toya took the opportunity and kneeled in front of Akito, looking up at him in despair. There was a brief moment of silence between them.
"...Akito." Toya said, softly.
"I know."
" Akito ."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Toya placed a hand on Akito's, gently intertwining their fingers. "Please, you have no reason to be doing this to yourself."
"I know that." Akito muttered. "...Never mind. I don't know. I want to believe you. But part of me doesn't. Why am I like this, Toya?"
He looked up at Toya, desperately. His eyes, often green and lively, filled with determination, were now lost, like a ship sailing across a raging ocean. Toya paused, trying to find the right words to say.
"It's okay that you want to improve, Akito." Toya replied, slowly; taking his time, making sure he doesn't say anything wrong."We all want to improve. But not like this. Please, you have Asuzawa and Shiraishi here with us. You have me ."
Akito couldn't bear the weight of his sadness anymore. He surged forward, letting himself fall off the bench, kneeling beside the blue-haired boy. The bottle fell out of his hands as he wrapped his arms around Toya's neck, pulling him closer.
"Why do you always know what to say?" Akito said, softly, his voice muffled in Toya's jacket. "Sometimes, I'm scared of how much you know about me."
Toya smiled to himself as he rubbed circles onto Akito's back. He slumped his head rest on Akito's shoulder. "That's because I'm your partner, Akito."
"...Thank you. And…" Akito stayed silent for a while, before whispering three simple words, even softer than before. " I love you. "
"I love you too." Toya said, as he hugged him tighter, as if never wanting to let him go. A relieved smile tugged at the corner of Toya's lips. "And I'll make sure you'll always remember that."
"Mmm." Akito mumbled. "If I collapse later, will you…?"
Catch me? Make sure I'm okay? Be there for me? Toya didn't know what he meant, but he was certain of one thing: whatever it was, Toya would do it. Anything to keep Akito safe. To make him feel better.
"Of course."
"Thank you."
Akito pulled away and stood up, taking a few more deep breaths. Toya followed suit, standing beside him with a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at Toya with a tired yet determined smile.
"Alright, let's do this, partner."
"And tonight's winner is…VIVID BAD SQUAD!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, waving their glowsticks around as the four stood on the stage. An and Kohane stood front and center, making sure the attention was on them, and not on Toya and his barely-conscious Akito. Toya stood with Akito's arm wrapped around his shoulder, trying his best to steady his partner and keep him from falling over. They waved and took a bow together.
Soon enough, the venue was cleared of the crowd. As soon as they were alone backstage, Akito collapsed, with Toya was just in time to catch him.
"Shinonome-kun!" Kohane exclaimed, immediately rushing to his side. She weakly grabbed ahold of Akito's arm. "Are you alright?"
"Not this again…" An mumbled. Though she had an expression of annoyance, there was a glint of worry in her eyes. She turned to Toya. "Toya, will he be…?"
Toya nodded as he carefully took a seat with Akito, gently setting him down. He let the ginger rest on his shoulder. "He'll be okay. I'll keep a closer eye on him now."
"Mmn…" Akito mumbled a short phrase of retort, but decided it was better to lean on Toya's shoulder as he buried his face once more.
"How about we all stay at my dad's place for tonight?" An offered, as she took Akito's bag and slung it over her shoulder. She handed Toya's bag to Kohane, which she took into her hands. "It's closer, plus, we can help carry your bags while you carry Akito."
Kohane nodded, an encouraging smile on her face. "Mhm! I'll let my parents know, I'm sure they'll be fine with it!" She affirmed, enthusiastically.
"Alright, thank you both." Toya said. "I'll give Akito's sister a call later. You guys can go ahead."
Kohane and An nodded at him and exited the venue, leaving Toya with a barely conscious Akito. Toya placed one of his arms behind Akito's neck, and another behind his legs, carrying him bridal style.
"Ah…Toya—" Akito stirred in his rest, suddenly alerted by Toya's movements. His half-lidded eyes looked up at Toya. "You didn't have to—"
His eyes are really pretty. Toya thought, subconsciously. He shook his head. Now is not the time for this.
"...Shh. It's alright." Toya whispered as he walked out of the venue. "You're not being a bother. I'd like to do this for you, just once."
Akito was silent for a while, before he sighed and leaned closer to Toya's chest, burying his pale face in the taller's shirt. "...Okay. Thank you."
It was around 9pm when they went to sleep.
"Alright, you two, get some rest." An said; though it sounded more like she was ordering them to. Her hands were placed on her hips, a stubborn look on her face. "And Akito—"
Akito, who was seated next to Toya on a cushioned sofa, looked up from his cup of hot chocolate. "Yeah, I know." He said, glumly.
Toya turned towards An and Kohane. "He'll be alright."
Kohane nodded. "Okay. Good night, Shinonome-kun, Aoyagi-kun."
An smiled. "Your room's just down the hall. Good night."
Toya watched as the two disappeared into the stairway. He was thankful for the hospitality of both An and her father, Ken—he was still quite sheepish about the fact that they were having some sort of an unplanned sleepover. Luckily, Ken was kind enough to agree to it.
"Toya." Akito said, softly, abruptly interrupting Toya's thoughts. He turned over to him, watching as Akito slowly spun a spoon around in his hot chocolate."I'm sorry I had to put you through all that trouble."
Toya shook his head and put a hand over Akito's. "It's alright. You've done so much for me. It's only right that I repay you."
"Still…" Akito sighed, his head falling from its usual position. His orange hair created a curtain around his pale face. "I'm an idiot. I don't know what washes over me. But when you or An or Kohane…when you're performing beside me, you just seem…better."
"Akito." Toya scolded gently. "You have no right to put yourself down like this."
"Do I?" Akito looked up at the blue haired boy helplessly. "I'm being nothing but a burden for you guys to deal with. Can't you see that?"
"No." Toya said, firmly. "It's true: me, Azusawa and Shiraishi have our own qualities. They shine in ways I don't, and vice versa. It's the same for you, Akito."
Akito scoffed and took a sip from his mug. "I highly doubt that."
Toya sighed. He scooched closer to the Akito and let his head rest on his shoulder, warmth seeping into his cheeks. "What would it take for you to realize how amazing you are, my love?"
"Ew." Akito said, chuckling. There it is, Toya thought, as a smile found its way to his lips as well. The smile that I adore so much.
"Do you not like me calling you that?"
"It's not so much I don't like it." Akito stammered. "I just…it feels weird."
Toya chuckled. "But really, you're amazing, Akito. You're beautiful, in ways even words can't explain."
"H—Hey. Stop that." Akito said, playfully pushing Toya's head off his body. "Where did this come from?"
"I want you to feel loved." Toya confessed, a simple expression of encouragement on his gentle face. "I want you to recognize how unique and skilled you are."
Akito's eyes slightly darkened. "...That might take a while."
"Then I'll wait." Toya whispered.
"..." Akito gazed up at him. "And if it takes forever?"
"Then I'll wait forever."
Akito stared at him for a few minutes, his green eyes bearing deep into Toya's gray ones. For someone as expressive as his partner, Toya couldn't read the emotions hidden underneath his sullen eyes. They were flickering, unable to decide, constantly shifting and changing. But there was a spark of hope that shone somewhere deep in those deep eyes of his, a small shine of determination.
"Thank you." Akito said, after a while, as his eyes softened. They were still fixed on Toya, still hanging on, trying to get a grip on himself.
There was still so much Toya wanted to say to him, about how talented and amazing he is, about how much he's thankful for all he's done for him—so many things, that Toya could spend hours going on and on, desperately trying to describe the man he loved so much.
However, words fail him as Akito leaned forward and embraced him once again, his hands pressing into his back. He could feel how much the smaller trembled—and it hurt him. It hurt to see him like this. All he could do is hug him back, burying his head into Akito's shoulder.
He could barely hear Akito's soft voice muffled in his chest. "Can we stay like this, for a while longer?" He asked, barely a whisper. Not wanting to be heard by anyone else except the boy in his arms. "Just…hold me, for a bit."
Toya felt a familiar warmth rise to his cheeks, but he didn't care. His lips pressed into a gentle smile as he held Akito closer.
"Of course."