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It took him a few months to realize the feelings he had.
Tsukasa huffed out another sigh, standing in front of his mirror as he tried on yet another set of clothes he wasn't completely satisfied with. Normally, he would have a set of clothes pre-planned for any occasion, whether it be something as grand as his ambassador work at another town's (or country's!) amusement park, to even something simple as going to the store for his sister when she wanted a specific type of ice cream that they had run out.
(He would never call that simple, though. Anything for his sister would be an honor to do, and he prides himself in making her as happy as she deserves to be.)
But today, it was another story. It had only taken him a week or two, but he had finally perfected his stellar script that he made himself, for the very important questioning for Rui if he was free to hang out on this very day. One might say that he could have just asked him and not make it a big deal, but no, no! It needed to be planned, to be carefully written and practiced in delivery, so he wouldn't stumble over his words and give up to try again another day.
(That may have happened before, but he has been really trying to forget that specific memory.)
In the end, despite the strange face Rui had made, he agreed with that sly smile of his--the blonde wished he could understand the secret meaning of those smiles. They easily ranged from Rui having an amusing thought to the same man planning to shoot him into outer space. Making his own emotions vastly ranging from excitement to fear, depending on what the purple haired man hand thought up in that brain of his. Either way, Tsukasa definitely felt a tad nervous, but a yes was a yes! Which leads to this predicament.
None of his outfits looked good enough.
"Aaagh!" he groans as he quickly starts changing out of his current outfit to try on a different combination of clothing. Why was this so hard?! Each set he tried, he managed to find something wrong with it! There was a chic outfit he had, but he had worn it on a shopping trip with Emu in search of artsy supplies, and the absolutely wonderhoy paints that Emu picked up happened to fall out the bag, and had popped open and stained the bottom of his pants and that stain wouldn't come out no matter how hard he tried. Saki had told him that it was completely unnoticeable, but just his own knowledge that it was there rubbed him the wrong way and therefore that outfit wasn't good.
There was a comfy tan sweater that he enjoyed, but he had been wearing it more often that the day won't feel special. Plus, what if Rui commented on how often he'd worn it? He didn't want to seem like a slob that only owned one sweater! The tropical outfit, though noticeable, definitely didn't match the current season and he'd look like a nutjob wearing summer clothes in the winter. And he could not wear the T-shirt that Rui had bought him.
(Nothing was wrong with it, he'd just embarrassed himself at the prospect of wearing something that Rui got just for him with the comment that it "complimented his eyes".)
As he was changing, he just so happened to glance at the clock on the wall and almost did a double take. Tsukasa was supposed to leave 10 minutes ago. This was not according to plan AT ALL. Frantic, he tossed on the sweater again with a pair of knee length white shorts, with the guilt of the outfit just being good enough before tidying up his hair, grabbing his phone and dashing out the house to go meet up with his friend.
---
Okay, the shorts were a bit of a poor choice.
He managed to make it to their meeting spot on time, a bit embarrassed that Rui managed to get there before him and therefore saw him huffing and puffing as he ran over. At least the weather was cool so that the little sweat he had was refreshing on his skin, but soon after, as they walked to the cafe Tsukasa suggested, he very quickly started feeling the chill. But he wouldn't admit it, because then Rui would notice, and would suggest something like going somewhere else that's closer, or suggest that they try hanging out another time and go home, or--god forbid--offer the scarf or jacket he was wearing to warm up. And the blonde wouldn't be able to handle that. Even the thought of it made his face flush--he shook his head, he had to shoo away the thoughts.
"Tsukasa-kun?" Rui caught his attention, Tsukasa looking over to see his friend looking at him. The blonde couldn't read his expression, and he hoped he could hide his shivers from the other's keen eye.
"Yes! What's up!" Smooth. Rui quirked a brow.
"Are you... alright? Normally by now, Nene would be complaining about her hearing, but you've been quiet for once," he joked, but the small smile didn't reach his eyes. Tsukasa didn't like that.
"Of course I'm fine! I'm just," he paused, thinking for a brief moment. "I'm just setting the atmosphere! The cafe is really nice, so I felt that building a calm atmosphere would make the experience better!"
Once again, an expression he couldn't read. Whether or not if Rui believed him, Tsukasa wasn't sure. "Is your attire part of the experience as well, then? One would think that with how much care you put in making sure Saki-kun stays warm you'd be properly dressed for the weather," the taller one commented, eyes still on the shorter man.
"O-Of course! It just makes it more memorable, doesn't it?!" His words don't make sense at all, but either he managed to convince Rui or the other simply deduced that the blonde wouldn't tell him, because they continued to walk in somewhat silence. It would be peaceful if it wasn't getting a little awkward, and the weather was getting to him a little. Thankfully, they finally got to the cafe, and Tsukasa never felt more grateful for the existence of heaters. They took a seat, Tsukasa honing in on the table next to a window for the view, and they looked over the menu. The blonde smiled with pride; he had only heard good things about this place, and with Rui's sweet tooth, it was the perfect place to treat his dear director to! A foolproof idea!
Plus, the pastries were delicious, and despite burning his tongue a little on the hot chocolate he ordered, it was worth it for the small laugh Rui made. Who would've thought that even small things like Rui tucking his hair behind his ear to keep it from touching the food, or Rui accidentally getting a little bit of the frosting on the side of his mouth and trying to discreetly wipe it would make Tsukasa's heart swell. Gosh, perhaps the romantic shows they've been doing recently have been making him feel more of these... feelings.
As the waiter brought over the bill, Tsukasa took it before Rui would reach for it, with a smile. "As I was the one that suggested this place, I will obviously cover the cost!" Of course, this was part of his plan! Tsukasa made sure to keep money aside for this, so that Rui could order anything off the menu and enjoy himself guilt free! He reached for his wallet, and
its not there?
"Huh?" Tsukasa patted his pocket, then patted his other pocket. His wallet? Where is it? Trying not to panic, as the quiet pat pat sounds happened, he thought about where his wallet would be. Until he realized. That he never grabbed it off his bed. Because of course he had tossed his items on his bed, but grabbed his phone because he happened to check it in the middle of his fashion crisis and placed it on his desk where he would see it. But none of that mattered, because that meant that Tsukasa couldn't pay for the bill.
It meant that it went from a nice cafe treat to him looking like a cheap man that made his friend pay for his meal when he asked said friend to hang out! His faced reddened with embarrassment. In the midst of all this, Rui looked on with a questioning look. After a moment, Tsukasa finally confessed.
"... I left my wallet at home."
"Ah."
A moment of silence, before Rui chuckled. The moment the sound left his lips, Tsukasa's eyes snapped over at Rui, confused on what was so funny. The purple haired man smiled.
"You know I can pay for the meal, right? No need to look like you're on the verge of death, star," he commented, holding a hand out to be passed the bill as he used his other hand to pull out his own wallet. Defeated, Tsukasa handed over the slip of paper.
"I'll... I'll pay you back later."
"Fufu, there's no need to."
---
They walked toward's the Tenma household, the sky starting to turn into it's darker tones. The blonde told the other that he didn't have to be walked home, but Rui insisted, saying that he must "lest the star turn into a popsicle on the way home". He even lent Tsukasa his scarf, so not only was he embarrassed on the complete failure on his part, but also blushing from the fact that he could just smell the lavender shampoo on the scarf. At least the fabric was helping cover his face. As they neared the house, Rui spoke up.
"No matter what you may be thinking, I enjoyed the time we spent together today," he said, Tsukasa hearing the smile in his voice. "I feel that perhaps spending time with you without my inventions involved can be rather enjoyable."
"I-I see, I'm glad you at least enjoyed it, then," Tsukasa replied, a few worries going away as Rui at least seemed to imply that he didn't hate the outing. He played with the end of the scarf as they continued walking. "My apologies again for making you pay for the meal."
"And again, Tsukasa-kun, there's no need to apologize. I was willing to cover the meal, considering you invited me to join you." The shorter one furrowed his brows and made a face, partially obscured by the scarf. It wasn't part of his plan, though...!
"But I wanted to treat you at least! Who even invites someone for a date and makes them pay..." he huffed, a tad annoyed. After a moment, he noticed that Rui was no longer walking next to him, and he turned to see his director frozen in place, as if time stopped for him mid walk with his eyes glued on himself.
"... a date?" the taller one repeated, and Tsukasa realized that he just made his day worse. If there were any higher beings in the universe, they would grant him mercy and strike him down at this very moment. But alas, he must pay for his slip up, a stuttering mess and face red.
"W-Well! You know! A friend date! A date that you have! With friends!" he practically yelled out, words spilling out of his mouth as he covered his face with the borrowed fabric. "Yes! Like the ones Saki goes on! Completely platonic you know! She was the one that recommended the place actually--"
"Tsukasa-kun."
The blonde paused, anxiety growing as he stared at the ground. This isn't how it was supposed to go at all. Surely after all of this Rui would not be friends with him any longer, and he'd leave the troupe again and it would be Tsukasa's fault again. Well, if there was no longer any hope for their friendship, he might as well lay his feelings out for the other to see. Taking in a deep breath for the minimum amount of comfort, he finally confessed.
"I LIKE YOU!" he practically shouted, with his face buried deep into the scarf but with a voice that can't be muffled or contained by something as weak as a scarf. Surely he's as red as a tomato now, like how when he was younger and messed up in a play and someone commented on it they'd call him a cherry tomato because if it was him and Saki embarrassed together it would be like a pair of cherries--
"Tsukasa, may I hug you?"
Tsukasa jolted a little, not realizing that Rui had gotten closer to him. A moment of silence, before Tsukasa made the smallest of nods. Gently, he felt arms wrap around him. It was warm, and comfy. He was glad that Rui was at least staying warm in this weather, since he doesn't usually take care of himself--oh gosh wait he's being hugged by his crush. His feelings and emotions and mind are going on a mini rollercoaster and his focus is all over the place, like a speck of dust that kinda floats everywhere until it just lands on something for a moment before some wind blows it off onto another surface--oh Rui's hair is going through his hair.
"My star, would you mind if I speak a little?" he hears, the tone of a whisper but heard so clearly from how close the other is. Another nod, and Rui continues.
"I thoroughly enjoyed our time together today. Honestly, I was surprised that you had invited me to this cafe without inviting the others," he spoke, as Tsukasa focused on his words. "But I was happy that you wished to spend time with me. That you had thought of something and even thought that it would be something you wanted to share with me first."
He pulled away from the hug slightly and Tsukasa mildly missed the warmth, but then the director cupped his cheek, eyes locking with each other. Rui's face was a little blurry, and that's what made Tsukasa realize that he had started tearing up at some point.
"Tsukasa, I like you too. Would you mind if I gave you a kiss?"
He couldn't believe his ears. Perhaps this was a dream and he had passed out from his confession, and this is some sort of fantasy he was having. But the warmth of Rui felt real, and the chill on his skin felt real, so perhaps he can believe that this was actually happening. The blonde leaned forward slightly, eyes closing as he doesn't bother replying with words, but rather with a kiss that the other had requested.
It was a short kiss, unlike the kisses seen in movies and shows; Tsukasa could only think about how warm and happy he felt as their lips were connected. He only knew how to do stage kisses, and aside from kisses that he would give family members as he grew up, this was genuinely his first kiss. And with how still Rui was, either he was stunned or this could've been his first kiss too. Their first kiss, together. With a blush, they parted, and he opened his eyes to see the red on the taller one's cheeks. Perhaps finally out of his shock, Rui ran his thumb over Tsukasa's cheek, wiping a couple tears away. Ah, he must've started crying too. Despite this, he couldn't help but giggle. Rui smiled, kissing his forehead. Despite the cold, Tsukasa felt so warm inside.
It didn't follow the perfect plan he had, but the imperfections made the day more memorable.