Chapter Text
"Ugh, it's sooo hot out today! Why does summer have to be so brutal?!"
"It's your fault for wearing a jacket, you know. Why don't you just take it off?"
"No way! It completes my outfit!"
"Then stop complaining. You're giving me a headache."
"Aww, so sorry, brother-kun! I could massage your temples for you!"
"...No."
If it's you, a massage would only make things worse...
Sunday - the perfect day for students to relax and catch up on schoolwork before the cycle began again come Monday morning. It was on days like these that Ritsu found himself with nothing to do, a thick veil of boredom shrouding over him for twelve straight hours. Sure, there was always homework to finish, studying to do, student council activities to review, but somehow Ritsu found himself working much more efficiently in the comfort of his own home. By the time lunch was finished, there was nothing left for the poor boy to do.
It wasn't like he had any hobbies to pass the time with, and the few people he might possibly consider friends were busy with their own plans. This week, too, even Mob was out of the house for the day, assisting that con artist with some emergency exorcism or something. Judging from the way Mob had sighed after the phone call with his master, it was safe to assume it was something fairly trivial that Reigen simply wasn't equipped to deal with. Whatever the case, the result was the same: Ritsu was once again all alone on the weekend.
That is, until a certain peppy esper kid showed up at the Kageyama household, all smiles as he asked to speak to the older brother. Somehow, Ritsu had felt a bit disappointed. "Brother is at his job today. He probably won't be home until dinnertime," he'd explained, noting how the boy visibly deflated at the news.
"Ah, I see. That's too bad! I even brought lunch and everything... though I guess it's my fault for not calling ahead," Teru mumbled to himself, clutching the folded cloth in his hands tighter as he thought. "It'd be a shame for all my cooking to go to waste, unless...," he trailed off, looking up at Ritsu with his big blue eyes almost pleadingly.
Ritsu eyed the parcel, quirking a brow in question. "What are you trying to get at, Hanazawa? I'm not in the mood for guessing games," he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the door frame. Teru's gaze followed his movements, and it made him slightly nervous, but he tried his best to hide it.
Teru's sulky expression quickly brightened, a hopeful smile gracing his soft features. "How would you like to come on a picnic with me, brother-kun? We could put down a blanket, maybe take a walk on the park trails... what do you say?" he asked, bouncing slightly on his feet.
Was he really so desperate for company...?
It didn't take long to formulate a response. "Sure. I've got nothing better to do at the moment," as soon as the confirmation left his mouth, Teru's shoulders drooped as he let out a sigh. Was he holding his breath?! "So, where are we going?"
"It's a lovely new park near my place! It's not too far, so we can just walk there," Teru said as he already began to turn back towards the street, glancing over his shoulder as if to reassure himself that Ritsu hadn't just been humoring him the whole time and wasn't really planning on joining him. When the latter didn't immediately slam the door, his features perked up. "Come on then, let's go! Don't want the food to go bad before we even get there, do we?"
You packed it in tupperware, didn't you...? Ritsu rolled his eyes and walked out onto the front steps, locking the door behind him.
So began their weekly picnic outings at the local park every Sunday afternoon. Ritsu honestly hadn't been expecting the older boy to return, much less ask for his company a second time. He had previously assumed Teru was only interested in hanging out with Mob, and that he had settled for Ritsu purely for convenience's sake. However, the next week, and even the week after that, Teruki returned to the Kageyama residence with a folded cloth bundle in hand, offering a leisurely picnic in the park to none other than Ritsu himself. He hadn't the foggiest idea why, but it seemed Teru genuinely enjoyed his company. Well, that or he was pulling some elaborate prank, but he didn't seem the type to waste time on such things (unlike a certain redhead).
Said teen let out a muffled groan to his left, and Ritsu turned to him in exasperation. "Seriously, just take the damn thing off. It's really not that big of a deal," he said, his annoyance evident in the tone of his voice.
Teruki lifted his head to meet the other's gaze. "Really?" he asked, expression unexpectedly vulnerable. "You're sure you don't mind...?" he trailed off, looking away.
Ritsu only stared in confusion. "What? Why would I mind? I'd rather you not die of heatstroke while I'm sitting right next to you," he meant it as a joke, an attempt to lighten the suddenly tense mood. He was never as good with words as the charismatic Hanazawa, but the words seemed to have their intended effect.
"So it's okay if I die somewhere else?" he responded, a lilt to his voice that made Ritsu smirk. "Here I cook all these nice things for you, and you wouldn't even mind if I died! You wound me, Ritsu."
It was like a truck full of every embarrassing moment in his life came crashing into Ritsu in that one instant, and all at once he was at a loss as what to say. Teru, whether intentionally or not, had just referred to him by his first name. His first name. He still didn't even call Mob by his first name yet! Was it just a slip-up? Did he say it on purpose knowing he wouldn't be expecting it? Not to mention...
...I cook all these nice things for you...
Ritsu had never put much thought into the gesture before, but now... now that Teru himself had just said it outright, he found himself uncharacteristically flustered. That first time really was just a coincidence, but every lunch after that...
Teruki, standing alone in his kitchen, pouring over recipes and ingredients, considering which dish Ritsu might like, what he might dislike... did he ever feel nervous before they met up? Did he ever worry Ritsu wouldn't like what he prepared?
Teruki, spending his time thinking about Ritsu... does he look forward to these outings as much as he does?
Teruki, spending time with Ritsu every weekend... surely he has other friends to be with; does he really like him so much that he willingly spends precious free time by his side alone?
"O-oi, Ritsu? Are you still with me?" Teru's voice broke through the cloud in his mind, and Ritsu flinched involuntarily, face heating up as he acknowledged the other.
"...You, uh. You're calling me Ritsu now?" he asked tentatively, words just barely forming in his mouth.
Teru stared blankly for a few moments before his eyes widened, mouth opening silently in distress. "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't- I won't call you that if you don't like it!" he all but squeaked out in rapid apology. His cheeks took on a pinkish hue, but it was probably just the lighting. Probably.
Ritsu was speaking before he even processed anything. "No, actually, I want you to call me Ritsu," he nearly didn't recognize his voice with how soft it came out, but he truly meant what he said. He wanted Teruki to see him as Ritsu Kageyama, not Shigeo Kageyama's little brother.
Teru froze entirely. His expression was absolute incredulity as he examined Ritsu's eyes, searching for any sign of insincerity. The pure honesty he found only deepened the rosy hint of his cheeks, and he gave a lopsided smile as he laughed nervously. "Really? I... wasn't expecting that. But, uh, if that's what you'd prefer then... okay! Then, Ritsu, you can call me Teruki. Or Teru if you'd like, I don't mind either!" he stammered, words tumbling out of his mouth in a way Ritsu had never heard from the typically suave boy before. It was actually endearing in a way.
"Of course... Teruki," Ritsu replied, smooth and even, like he'd been saying if all along. For a moment it looked like Teru might spontaneously combust, with the way the corners of his lips twitched and his hands curled into sweaty fists, but he quickly set to work regaining his composure. Ritsu couldn't help but smile fondly at his friend's response. He'd been smiling a lot lately around him.
The remainder of the picnic settled back into the usual rhythm; the two talked about random topics, ranging from school to cooking to fashion. Teru had finally removed the offending jacket, which now sat bundled neatly next to the picnic basket, easily forgotten despite his earlier resistance. Time flowed so smoothly between the duo, something Ritsu greatly appreciated; like this, he didn't have the time to worry or dwell on darker thoughts. Conversations between them were always engaging and always full of sly humor.
"What's with you and your clothes, anyways? It's not like this is some special event; you don't need to dress up every time," Ritsu commented, shifting on his side and resting a hand next to his thigh for balance.
Teru turned to him, feigning offence with an exaggerated gasp. "What, you don't think this is something special? I want to look my best for my dear friend!" he said, Ritsu choking on his drink at the bold statement.
He gets dressed up... for me?
Teruki merely smiled at him, turning back to his half-eaten lunch without another word. As Ritsu struggled to clear his throat, Teru passed his fork from his right hand to his left, innocently laying his now empty hand squarely in the space between the two of them. He only spared the other a sideways glance. "Hey, I'd rather you not die from choking while I'm sitting right next to you," he commented mockingly, chuckling to himself at his own joke. How does this guy manage to say the most embarrassing things?
Ritsu brought a hand to his chest as he cleared his throat, confident that he was no longer at risk of another coughing fit. He glared at Teru's profile, catching the smug look on his face without fail. Butterflies were dancing so passionately in his stomach that he found it difficult to continue eating, but the silence between them was quickly becoming unbearable, so Ritsu forced the food into his mouth to avoid speaking. Teruki just continued to gaze down at the food left on his plate, taking the occasional bite. His eyes trail down his figure, Ritsu silently laughing to himself as he recalled Teru's earlier fashion panic, when he finally noticed something that hadn't been there before. Teru's right hand, dead center in the empty space between their legs. For some reason Ritsu can't quite name, he becomes fixated on the sight, momentarily forgetting his frustration in favor of contemplating this new development.
It's just... there. Just sitting there, right in the middle of them, just asking to be held. Ritsu's hand twitches as he resists the urge to reach out, the logical side of his brain providing a lengthy list of reasons not to do it, but with Teru, Ritsu found that logic wasn't as enticing as it usually was. With him, Ritsu could say things that he would never say normally, could act and think in ways he had previously scoffed at. Just being with him like this, he felt at ease with himself, and wasn't so afraid of speaking his mind or letting himself relax. He had only ever felt so content around his brother, but even then, he and Mob were just too alike; they both hid their feelings, and they both didn't speak to others very much. Teruki, on the other hand, was the definition of a social butterfly. He had a comfortable presence, and the way he spoke to people was so casual and so honest that it was hard not to open up around him. Not to mention, he had been so patient with Ritsu. He waited until Ritsu thought of what he wanted to say, and if he simply wasn't in a talking mood, Teru would do all the talking for him, telling stories and recounting events in his life with a flair that could make even algebra interesting.
Okay, enough with the excuses. He really, really wants to hold that hand.
Slowly... slowly... don't startle him...
Ritsu's gaze flickered erratically from his shaking hand to Teruki's face, careful not to be caught in the act. He had never really held hands with anyone other than his brother, but the sight of that gentle hand so close to his own was undeniably tempting. He could already feel the flush of blood rushing to his face as he managed to scoot his hand closer and closer to his ultimate goal. His shoulders were painfully tense, and he was sure he would look ridiculous to any onlookers, but he was determined to finish what he had started, no matter the risk of possible rejection.
But then the tip of his pinkie finger brushed against the side of Teru's hand, and his skin is so smooth it sends a jolt of electricity up his arm and straight to his chest, causing him to recoil reflexively. Ritsu's heart was beating impossibly hard against his ribs as he strained himself to sit perfectly still, refusing to look at the other for fear that their eyes would meet. It's nothing to worry about! He could easily pass it off as an accident! A little brush of a finger isn't anything to be suspicious of, right?
That was a close one... he should really just give it up and go back to finishing his food. Except...
I really want to feel that spark again.
When did he become so invested in this? Why does he even want to hold Teruki's hand so badly in the first place? That isn't something friends normally do, is it? Ritsu gulped, questions and uncertainty filling his every thought as he once again placed his hand on the blanket, sliding towards Teru's own just a bit faster than before. Teru is a touchy kind of person, that much is obvious. Maybe he wouldn't mind doing something like that, even if they're only friends. Only... friends...
He stopped just short of making contact, a grimace settling on his face. Who is he kidding? Teruki is so popular with all the girls he's around, it's so obvious he has no interest in-
"Oh, for crying out loud!"
Teruki's sudden outburst startled him, but what really grabbed his attention was something he truly hadn't been expecting. Namely, the fact that Teru had closed the distance between their hands himself, his fingers sliding comfortably between his own trembling ones. Ritsu's face was pure crimson as he gaped up at Teru, who was looking back at him with an expression that could only be described as fond exasperation. "Seriously, I put my hand there on purpose you know. Are you really so shy that you can't even take the hand that's given to you? Here I thought you were the charismatic brother," Teru teased, leaning in towards Ritsu so that their elbows touched. "It's okay. I want you to hold my hand," he said, the use of Ritsu's own words only adding to the latter's upset state.
"W-wait, don't tell me... you were waiting for me to make the first move?!" Ritsu exclaimed, making no effort to move away. "I'm not- I'm not exactly the affectionate type!"
Teruki grinned, the way he did when they first met on the street months ago, and Ritsu held his breath. "Yet you were practically dying to hold my hand, weren't you? I could see the way you were blushing, Ritsu," he laughed, eyes shining as he took in the other's red face in closer detail. "You're so cute without even trying."
"C-cute?! I'm not cute!" Ritsu stammered, only causing Teru to laugh harder. Ritsu watched the way his shoulders shook, listened to the sound of his laughter, and god his entire body feels like it'll melt right then and there. Before he knew it, his lips had curled into a genuine smile, soon after followed by bubbling laughter rising from his chest.
They must have looked like quite the pair, giggling and holding hands like a bunch of silly schoolgirls, but honestly neither of them particularly cared about what anyone might think. Ritsu hadn't been able to laugh like this in so long... he'd nearly forgotten that he was capable of such a thing. His eyes were closed as he lost himself in emotion, and when he opened them, he was met with the striking stare of icy blue eyes. Teru had stopped laughing at some point, and was now just staring at Ritsu with something like wonder in his expression. Ritsu cleared his throat indignantly, eyebrows furrowing as he returned Teru's look. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sorry, it's just that I've never actually heard you laugh before," he explained, never once taking his eyes off of Ritsu's face. "It's a nice sound. You should laugh more often."
"Stop saying things like that so casually! It's so embarrassing...," Ritsu whined, resting his forehead on Teru's shoulder in order to hide his expression. He definitely wasn't used to feeling so vulnerable. Teruki chuckled softly, shifting to a more upright position and leaning his head against Ritsu, closing his eyes in contentment. The close proximity was so entirely foreign to Ritsu, but... it was definitely not unwelcome. In fact, sitting like this, with the sounds of nature surrounding them, with the warm wind enveloping them like a veil, Ritsu felt a level of calmness he'd have never thought possible.
They sat like that for what felt like hours yet was likely only several minutes, Ritsu's head cradled against Teruki's shoulder, Teru's cheek resting atop spiky black hair. Between them, Ritsu's hand had twisted to allow them to fully entwine their fingers, so much so that they could feel each others hearts beating through the thin layers of skin. It was a moment out of time, like the world around them stopped existing, or it had simply decided to focus entirely on them in that moment and nothing else. Nothing else mattered, and it was absolutely perfect. But perfection never lasts very long.
Teruki lifted his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lungs and blowing some of Ritsu's hair. Ritsu, too, brought his head up, and Teru gave him an apologetic look. "Ah, we should probably clean up now, huh?" Teru chuckled, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah, probably..." Ritsu muttered, unwilling to pull away from the warmth Teru provided him. But they really couldn't stay like this forever, and Teru likely had other plans with other people anyways, so for now, they would have to part ways.
Reluctantly, the two slipped free from each other and began the task of cleaning up the leftover food and containers. They didn't speak, but the silence this time was more comfortable than anything else. A few times, Teru caught Ritsu's gaze as they moved about the blanket, and he smiled in admiration as the other averted his eyes every time. No matter what you say, you really are adorable, Ritsu.
As the last of the containers was stacked away inside the basket, and the blanket was brushed off and tied securely around it, the two espers stood facing one another, neither wanting to leave and abandon the moment between them. Ritsu kept his head down, focusing on the grass stains on his shoes as he waited for what would happen next. I don't want to go home to an empty house...
Thankfully, Teruki found the courage to break the silence, extending his right hand in offering. "Would you like to go on a walk before we head home?" he proposed, tilting his head to the side playfully.
This time, Ritsu did not hesitate to take what was given to him. "...Yes. I'd like that."
Maybe they should get together more often.