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“Are you sure you’ll be alright, Sakuya?” Tsuzuru looks up from dishwashing to his troupe leader with a little bit of a furrowed brow. “You can room with Masumi and I if it’s too quiet for you tonight. I know Itaru-san and Chikage-san are more than willing to offer you some room too, but… You know how Itaru-san is with his games.”
He hands the now washed plate to Sakuya, and the Spring Troupe leader nods in reply with a reassuring smile. Beginning to dry the plate, Sakuya carefully dries it with a towel as he replies.
“Mm! It’s only until Citron-san and Guy-san get back, so I should be okay!”
The two Zahrans had been called back to their country for some unexpected business, and with such opportune free time within the company’s hectic schedule, the duo wouldn’t be missing much in their absence. It certainly was a change to not have Citron’s chaotically wonderful energy or Guy’s calm and ever-relaxing presence around, but they would get by until they returned from their trip.
As Sakuya sets the plate into a nearby cupboard, he returns to Tsuzuru’s side. “They’ll only be gone for a day or two, so I can manage!”
Tsuzuru gives a small understanding grin in return as he hands Sakuya another plate to dry.
“Alright, but, you know where our room is just in case.”
“Mhm!”
Eventually, Sakuya and Tsuzuru finished their dishwashing duties, exchanging goodbyes with a hush before returning to their separate dorms.
It’s a bit jarring when Sakuya opens the door to Citron and his own dorm room, flicking the light switch and basking in how… Large and quiet the room was.
Maybe it was because he was alone in that room, but Citron always made the room so small. Extended arms and an ever powerful presence distracted Sakuya from how much open space the room had, and even he hesitates to step into the room.
As he walks over to his own desk, littered with scripts and notes, the boy ponders against the silence… His own thoughts are much quieter than he realizes. The shuffle of his feet against the carpet, the flapping of pages as he turns over paper after paper… Had it always been this quiet in this room?
Sakuya pouts to himself, wondering… It was already getting late, and the kinder part of himself didn’t want to disturb Masumi when he had lots of classes for the semester and the overnight crusader that Tsuzuru was. As much as he cared about Itaru and Chikage as well, Itaru during his late night game raids were just a tad intimidating, and even he had a schedule to maintain with his own job. Chikage, on the other hand, was a businessman who had much on his platter. Add on the fact he’d hate to bother any of the other members from the other troupes… Even so, a small part of him wants some form of company.
But who?
Sakuya begins organizing the papers into neat stacks as he ponders the answer to his question.
At least… Until the notable vibration of his phone breaks the silence. He blinks surprised ruby hues, setting down a stack of notes as he picks up his phone to get a better look at the screen.
He’s surprised to find his LIME notification is from…
Azuma sighs softly, lowering his phone once the message is sent.
His text is just a simple hello, a little check-in to see how Sakuya was holding up. While there’s not much to a simple set of words like that, let it be known to Azuma alone that he was being a tiny bit selfish.
How could he not?
Guy was never the most talkative man, but even so, Azuma finds comfort in the fact he was another presence to indulge with. With him and Citron off in Zahra, though it may only be a few days, that left Azuma with the room to himself.
It stirs a bittersweet feeling, a sort of subtle grip within his chest when he remembers that sort of feeling when he first joined Mankai Company. Growing so used to Guy’s company, he can’t help but laugh at himself for getting too comfortable. Now that he was alone, it never hit Azuma how much just his mere presence, knowing he was around, put him at ease.
A flicker down to his phone, and Azuma is surprised, yet relieved that a bubble shows up on the screen. Sakuya’s typing back no doubt, as he waits for the message to show up.
i’m doing okay, azuma-san! it’s a bit quiet though… ^^;
An expected response… For both of them in a certain regard.
Azuma faintly smiles to himself at the mutual feeling that he’s certain Sakuya shares, taking his time in typing his next text before pressing enter.
Surely Sakuya wouldn’t mind if he asked something of him… Taking care of two birds with one stone, perhaps? Even if Sakuya didn’t realize it yet, or perhaps he did and was eager for a chance to jump on the opportunity.
The older man guesses it’s the latter, because Sakuya’s text bubble pops up as soon as it’s sent over. A short one-word text of a simple yes, Azuma can’t help but chuckle at the enthusiastic sort of desperation that a single word contained.
And even then, Azuma can’t help but be a bit happy to hear such a quick response. He combs a hand through his ponytail before he sends a final message.
Take as much time as you need to gather your things. I’ll be waiting. <3
A few minutes pass, and Sakuya sneaks down the hall of dorm rooms. There’s a plethora of faint sounds he can hear behind the closed doors: heavy snoring, a shuffling of sheets or paper, and the hushed yet frustrated mumbles of his fellow troupe members to name a few.
Reaching the top of the stairs, he waddles almost shyly towards Room 206, a pillow and blanket in hand along with the clothes on his figure. Best not to bring too much and intrude; Azuma was kind enough to offer him some company while Citron would be away. The young man has to wonder if Azuma felt the same way about Guy being gone too.
Well, he wouldn’t be able to wonder longer as he stands before the door.
Sakuya gulps, shuffling his feet and staring up at the door a few more moments before he hesitantly raises his fist. There’s a few beats of silence as he contemplates his decision one final time… Before he lightly bumps his knuckle against the door a few times, a quiet knock.
And after a few moments… Sakuya startles a bit when the door opens. On the other side is Azuma, donned in a silk robe and pajamas. When ruby clashes with gold, the older chuckles softly and opens the door wider. “Come on in, Sakuya.” Azuma coos. “I’ve made some tea for the both of us if you’d like some.”
The Spring Troupe’s leader nods, a small smile on his face as he heads inside.
“Thank you for the tea, Azuma-san.” Sakuya sets the cup down gently, bowing slightly with a slight flush to his cheeks as he twiddles with his thumbs. “And um, thank you for allowing me to stay the night! I hope I’m not intruding still…”
With a wave of his hand, Azuma shakes his head and smiles warmly. “Nonsense. It’s not intruding if I invited you after all. Besides, both of our roommates are off in Zahra, so it wouldn’t hurt to have an occasional change in scenery, hm?”
As Azuma sets his own cup down on the low table, he flexes his arms back before relaxing once again before continuing. “You must be rather tired from worrying about Mister Prince and Guy while they’re in Zahra, so… Hopefully my presence is enough to put you at ease.”
The silver haired man rises from the sofa then, sighing contentedly before looking down at Sakuya. The boy’s brows furrow noticeably before his expression lightens up, the smile growing just a bit more meek as he nods. “It does! But um… Are you sure it’s alright for me to sleep here, Azuma-san?” He asks, scratching at his head with a worried tilt of the head.
Of course he’s worried about being too much of a bother even despite Azuma’s demeanor, a small part of him wondering what thoughts lie beyond the surface… But Azuma nods in response as he walks towards his bedside ladder.
“Think of it as a sleepover.” A subtle upward tug of his lips and the man laughs softly. “I suppose it’s not of the same magnitude as that of the entire Spring Troupe, but I’ve had my fair share of sleepovers. Only if you’d like to though, Sakuya.”
A slow rise from the sofa, and Sakuya slowly makes his way beside Azuma… He takes a good amount of time peaking up at his eyes. Golden like the sweetest honey, they sparkle behind the waterfall-like cascades of his hair. Silence barely begins to settle before Sakuya breaks it, eyes softer as he speaks.
“Mhm, I’ll be okay! … I want to help out Azuma-san too however I can.”
The words warms Azuma’s heart, a hand pressing itself to his chest lightly as his eyes go slightly wide in awe. The boy was as selfless as ever, even turning a situation solely based on him around to cater to others… He can’t help but chuckle, the laughter like a melody as he begins to climb the ladder.
“Fufu… You’re already doing great.”
It takes a short moment before Sakuya and Azuma lay underneath the covers of Azuma’s bed… Close. The embrace feels something akin to the ones Citron would always give him. Motherly, and yet it feels much more different than the ones he was use to, something stirring in his chest as Azuma’s arms encircle him.
Even Sakuya was a bit worried when Azuma spoke of it prior. The job of a sleeping partner was flustering to say the least at first, but after listening to his stories…
Sakuya lifts his head from the crook of Azuma’s neck, blinking a few times to meet his gaze.
“Azuma-san?”
“Mhm?” Azuma can’t help but note the wide-eyed youth, how Sakuya’s eyes sparkle with a child-like glee as he speaks.
“You’re really warm.”
“Fufu, am I?”
“Yes!” Sakuya settles back down again, a soft sigh escaping him as he snuggles up beside the older man. Hushed words slip past his lips. “Not that it’s bad! But I guess hugs are usually warm… It felt like this when the Spring Troupe slept on the stage.”
Azuma pats at Sakuya’s back with a gentle hum. “Sleepovers tend to be rather warm in general, I’d think.”
“But I never really got hugged when I went to sleep before…” Sakuya contemplates quietly. “… Maybe when I was a baby? I don’t… Don’t remember too much, aha…”
There’s a hint of something in Sakuya’s voice that Azuma… Resonates with.
A careful tug forward, and Azuma lets Sakuya rest closer toward him. Now more flush against a welcoming heat… The faint memories of his youth come to his mind, cradled in either of his parents’ arms. He can’t help but allow himself to indulge, resting his head close to Azuma’s chest. The steady thump of his heartbeat causes him to take in the moment for a few seconds, a pure kind of comfort.
Sakuya hesitates to speak, a meek smile on his face that the older cannot see. “… But, thank you for this, Azuma-san.”
The younger one’s arms wrap about Azuma to return to the embrace.
“At least while Citron-san and Guy-san are gone, I’m happy that I have your company, and I’m happy neither of us will have trouble sleeping while they’re away.”
As amber hues stare off into the distance, listening to Sakuya then, feeling him hug him earnestly, Azuma wonders if Sakuya is aware of the effect his kindness has on him. Unknowingly quelling his anxieties, sparing him from troubling anyone else, and at his age…
A soft laugh rings in Sakuya’s ears as Azuma muses.
“You’re a very sweet boy, Sakuya.”
Azuma’s fingers run through Sakuya’s ruffled tufts, the once unsettling silence now wrapped about them like a blanket before the two decided to break it the last time for the evening.
“Good night, Sakuya. Sweet dreams.”
Drowsiness traces Sakuya’s words as he continues to card his fingers through his hair. “Sweet dreams, Azuma-san…”
Another whispery giggle, and Azuma continues to lull Sakuya to sleep, soon enough following with that gentle warmth carrying the both of them off into a peaceful slumber.