Rui sighed as he scrolled through the list of pick up lines Mizuki had sent him one more time. None of these sounded like anything he’d say. Granted, Rui was not a flirt. Despite this, he wanted to give it a try. Maybe Tsukasa would love it? Noticing he was at the door that led outside to the courtyard, he realized he had to choose one quickly. Now was his chance to tell him!! He blindly chose the first one he saw and pushed open the heavy doors. He was quickly greeted by the smell of flowers and grass, spring was here and with it brought beautiful scenery. What better season to ask your crush out?
He spotted Tsukasa sitting at their usual bench, and he froze. Was he really nervous? Come on!! Just do it!! He forced his legs to walk forward as he shut off his phone. His heart was beating way too fast. Surely this was unsafe. He took a deep breath as Tsukasa’s features became more clear. God, he’s just so beautiful. Especially under the rays of the sun. And oh, those eyes, he could just stare at them forever—
“Rui? Why are you just standing there? Sit down and eat your lunch.” Tsukasa said, snapping him out of his thoughts. His eyebrows were crinkled in confusion, he just looked so cute!! He took another breath, picturing what he was gonna say.
‘Hey I’m going for a walk, will you hold this for me?’ He would say as he held out his hand. Tsukasa would blush and then take it and Rui could use this as his opportunity, and—
“I have to go walk. Hold this.” He said, almost robot-like, and gave him his phone, which had been left in his hand.
“What…? Um, ok. See you later, then? When do you want your phone back?” The blonde was very clearly confused as he accepted the phone, glancing up at Rui for confirmation.
“Whenever I’m back. Bye.” He says quickly before walking off. Once he’s out of sight from the boy, he groans loudly. Clutching his burning hot face in his hands, he silently curses himself.
“What’s wrong with me???” He asks himself, “why did I say that?? Why did I do that??” He spent the rest of lunch wishing he could crawl into a hole and die, and spent the rest of the day feeling the same way.
At rehearsal, Tsukasa returned his phone. “You never came back during lunch and I didn’t see you at school the rest of the day so… here you go, I guess. I still don’t know why you wanted me to hold your phone all day, but I’m used to your weirdness…” He laughed, a little awkwardly.
Still embarrassed, he accepted the phone with an out of character ‘thanks’. He quickly changed the subject before Nene could laugh at him and then question him. Later, he did answer when she asked him why he gave Tsukasa his phone.
“Seriously?? Oh my god you’re so pathetic!” She laughed hysterically over the phone. “Clearly pick up lines aren’t your thing…”
“Then what is my thing??”
“Well, you could just ask him normally..?”
“Nope, no way. I’d be a complete mess if I even attempted that.”
“Rui, I don’t think that’s a good idea…” Nene sighs. “Playing hard to get might just make him think you hate him. Have you even considered what I said?”
“No, no. Akito said this worked for him when he was asking out Toya, so it’s gotta work for me, too! I mean, Tsukasa and Toya are basically siblings, which makes them similar, which means this should work and—“ Rui begins a long winded rant but Nene stops him before he gets out of hand.
“Ok, ok. Whatever. Good luck, I guess.”
The next day, a Saturday, they had rehearsals. Their show was in a week so it was mainly just touching up certain parts that could be better. “What did you think of that, Rui? Has it improved since the last time? Is there more I should do?”
Rui hadn’t fully been paying attention to Tsukasa’s new and improved performance of the scene. He’d been too distracted by the boy’s gorgeous smiling face to pay much mind to anything else. He couldn’t let Tsukasa know that, however. He had to make him come crawling, after all. “Eh, I guess I wasn’t really paying attention,” he shrugged, “doesn’t matter to me.” Nene held back a facepalm. Meanwhile Rui was imagining Tsukasa realizing just how important his opinion was to him.
‘Wow, what's this feeling,’ He thinks. ‘I must be in love! I need to ask Rui now before he gets too bored of me. I love him so dearly!!’
But Tsukasa’s actual thought process was something entirely different. “Rui, what the hell?” He scoffed. Oh no, Rui realized in a matter of seconds. “I spent my time practicing because you told me I definitely had some room for improvement last rehearsal, only to say you don’t care?! What’s going on with you??” Rui got scolded for a while after that. So, maybe playing hard to get was the completely wrong choice. Why did it work for Akito but not him..?
Was it possible that he’d never be able to get it out?
“Rui stop moping around… you need to head home soon.” Nene said, watching as Rui still sat on the Wonder Stage with a frown on his face.
“Yeah, Rui!” Emu piped in. She wanted to walk home with Nene, but of course the girl was waiting to make sure Rui left. “What you said today was kinda mean, It’s natural Tsukasa would be upset but you’ve already apologized and the moment has passed.” She was oblivious to the real situation, and assumed he was moping over the scolding he’d received.
“That’s… not the problem, Emu!! The problem is that none of the advice I’ve received has worked so far… how am I gonna ask him out??” He groaned.
“Ask him out??” Emu’s face brightened, but she went ignored.
“Have you considered—“ Nene began but Rui swiftly cut her off.
“Nope, not happening. Maybe I’ll just ask Toya next. He knows Tsukasa pretty well, right?”
“You have a crush on Tsukasa?? Ohhh this is the best! You guys would be sooo wonderhoy together!” Emu excitedly waved her arms around.
“Yeah. They would, if Rui stopped being such a loser.” Nene teased lightheartedly.
Toya’s advice had been rather abstract. What did being ‘cool’ even mean? How was he meant to do that? It wasn’t something that came naturally so he’d just improvise… at least he was good at that. The bell rang, so he collected his things quickly and stepped out of his class. Tsukasa asked him for help in getting some things for his sister’s upcoming surprise party. It was only April but he loved to plan ahead. By the entrance of the school, he found Tsukasa waiting for him. Ok. This is it. Be cool, Rui, be cool.
“Hey… Tsukasa.” He shot finger guns at the boy. That’s what cool people did in movies, right?
Tsukasa stares at him in disbelief. “What… what was that?”
“Huh? Was that not… cool?” Rui asked, now feeling embarrassed. He’s totally just making a fool of himself again, isn’t he?
Tsukasa just stares for a moment, “I’m just gonna ignore that.” He says before turning and walking ahead. Yep, he definitely looked stupid.
They arrived at the store soon enough, and Tsukasa was browsing some of the items he wanted to buy when Rui saw a rack of sunglasses. Of course! Sunglasses are cool. He knows that for sure! He walks over to Tsukasa, readying himself for his second attempt at coolness. He could just imagine how cool Tsukasa would think he was.
‘Wow, Rui, you’re so cool and awesome! I love you so much.’ Tsukasa would say, and then they’d kiss and get married!
Rui clears his throat, gaining Tsukasa’s attention as he wears the sunglasses he tried on. As the boy looks over, Rui leans against the nearby wall. He had a casual smirk on, “Hey, come around here often?”
Tsukasa blinked. And then he burst out laughing, “Rui, you’re such an idiot.” He shooed him away, “go put those back before you accidentally steal them.”
Rui frowns as Tsukasa turns his attention back to deciding what to get. Did Tsukasa see him as a joke..? He was being totally serious! Was it really that bad? He takes the sunglasses off, placing them back where he found them. He didn’t need lame sunglasses anyways. He was gonna mess it up regardless.
Rui moped as he sat at a local diner with Nene, having just filled her in on his failed attempt to woo Tsukasa. He was tracing patterns on the wooden table with his finger, with a large frown, resting his head in one hand.
“Rui… you know you’re not cool, right?” Nene reminds him of the painfully obvious. Although her tone seemed kind, her words seemed mean.
“Wow, thanks, Nene. You’re such a big help.” He said sarcastically.
She shook her head, “no, really. You’re not cool, so obviously it wouldn’t work. If you want Tsukasa to like you, you have to be yourself.”
“No, I think I just need a different strategy. An is in a good relationship, right? Maybe I’ll ask her.”
Nene sighed, “ok, whatever.”
Rui seemed confident this time around. According to An, all he had to do was give Tsukasa lots of praise and affection! He could do that easily. Plus, he wanted to make up for when he’d been rude to Tsukasa for the sake of confessing. During rehearsal today, he’d definitely be able to compliment him plenty. He sees Tsukasa arrive at Phoenix Wonderland, slowly approaching their stage.
“Tsukasa! Hello!” Rui greets as Tsukasa gets much closer. “I… like your bag!”
Tsukasa looked confused, glancing down at his bag. “Thanks..? It’s the same one I always use.”
Rui just smiles, “I… I know! That’s why I… like it.” Tsukasa looked confused as that reasoning didn’t exactly make sense. However, Rui never really made sense to him so he just chose to ignore it.
“Um… ok…” Tsukasa set the bag down, beginning his warm-ups. Rui just stared for a moment, admiring the boy as he stretched and did jumping jacks—Tsukasa looked cute no matter what he was doing!
“You’re very athletic…” Rui commented, hoping Tsukasa read it as a compliment.
“What are you up to, Rui?” Tsukasa questioned with suspicion. He seemed to be thinking Rui was doing this to try and convince him to be his guinea pig again, like usual.
“Hm? Nothing, nothing. I’m just… admiring you—“ Rui almost left it at that. He wanted to be straightforward so badly, but he chickened out, “—your work ethic.”
Tsukasa just raised an eyebrow and squinted, like he definitely didn’t believe what Rui was saying, “whatever, just… hurry up and start your warmups, too.”
Rehearsals were just more of the same. Rui would attempt to compliment Tsukasa, but it never resulted the way he wanted it to.
‘Rui you just compliment me on everything! I really value your opinion and I like you so much!’ He could imagine Tsukasa saying after rehearsal was over.
That wasn’t the case, of course. Rui had just complimented Tsukasa once again as the boy was packing away his water bottle into his bag. Emu and Nene had already left, so it was just the two of them. The perfect romantic scene! However…
“Rui, if there’s something you want me to do, you can just ask. I’ve already told you; you don’t need to flatter me to get me to test your latest invention.” Tsukasa declared, looking over at Rui with a certain determination in his eyes. “As your troupe leader, it is my duty to trust you no matter what you throw at me! So whatever it is you want, I’m willing to do it! How could I be a star if I cowered away?”
Rui admired his determination. But it just wasn’t the reaction he was looking for. I want you, he thought. But he wouldn’t dare to say it out loud. “Reliable as always, Tsukasa. You really are admirable,” he complimented one more time, in the hopes that Tsukasa would finally get it.
Obviously, he doesn’t. “Of course I’m reliable!” Tsukasa boasts pridefully. And even though he doesn’t get it, Rui still can’t help but smile. He loves seeing Tsukasa so confident—well, he loves seeing Tsukasa in general.
Alas, this still isn’t what he wants.
“Isn’t this just kind of giving up…?” Nene questioned, taking a sip of her tea. Her and Rui found themselves at a diner once more.
“No! It’s not like that…” Rui claims, “Kohane said that all she did was wait for An to make the first move, perhaps that’s what I should do!”
“But…” Nene furrows her eyebrows, “that’s so unlike you. Are you really happy just waiting around for Tsukasa to maybe make a move on you…?”
“I’m sure it’ll work. Have a little faith, Nene.” Rui tries to appear confident, but he’s really not. Nothing has worked so far, but that won’t stop him from trying!
The next day was a Saturday, and Tsukasa had invited Rui out to get some coffee and go over the details for their next show. As director and troupe leader, it was important they talked about these things with each other. Although Rui, with his new plan, was a little delusional. He was fully convinced that Tsukasa really wanted this to be a date.
‘Rui, I don’t want to talk about shows. I want to talk about us… I’m in love with you.’ Tsukasa would declare while reaching over the table to hold Rui’s hands. ‘I want this to be a date, and I want to be your boyfriend.’ And Rui would, obviously, say yes! And then they’d date, get married, have 2 kids and a cat and live in the same neighborhood that Rui grew up in so that he could be close to his mom still, and—
“Rui?” Tsukasa furrowed his brows, Rui had totally just zoned out there. “Did you not hear a thing I said?”
“W-what? Uh…” Rui blushed, he’d gotten so carried away with his imagination. Like he always did when thinking about Tsukasa, “no, sorry, I must’ve gotten lost in my thoughts, could you repeat that?”
Tsukasa sighs, “it’s fine. I was just saying that Saki’s birthday will fall on one of our show dates and she wants to come and see the show. She’s also been really into ‘Beauty and the Beast’ recently, so I was wondering if we could do a rendition of that for her.” He explains.
“Oh! Yeah, I like that idea…” Rui got right to thinking about it. What he could do with his inventions and directing for this play, and what they could do to spice things up a little. This didn’t feel like a date at all! “Tsukasa should be the beast, then…” He mutters to himself.
“I expected as much, but who should be the ‘beauty’?” Tsukasa wonders.
“Probably Nene…”
“Hm…” Tsukasa seems a little disappointed at that response, but Rui can’t pick up on why. “We could spice things up, for a change. I feel like Nene and I are always playing the romantic leads.”
Rui tilts his head curiously, “is that so? Well I suppose Emu could do it, I just can’t imagine her playing Belle.” Rui continues to think, before catching himself, “n-not saying she’s not beautiful or anything, I just think that Belle’s character is so different from Emu that the play wouldn’t be as believable… Emu is more fit to be a character like Chip. Or maybe even LeFou…”
“Then it doesn’t have to be Emu. What role did you have in mind for yourself?” Tsukasa asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Myself? Well I assumed I’d play Gaston, since I usually play the role of the villain…” Rui said. Why was Tsukasa asking about that?
“Gaston?” Tsukasa frowned, “I don’t think you’re much of a Gaston. I think it’d be more interesting if Nene played Gaston.”
“Oh, I kinda like that…” Rui chuckles, imagining his best friend playing the role of Gaston. “Weirdly, it kinda fits. Not that I’m calling Nene egotistical or anything, I just think she could make a great Gaston.”
“Then it’s settled, Nene will play Gaston.”
“But we still don’t know who Belle is…” Rui frowns, “I mean, perhaps we could ask Sakurako for assistance, since the phoenix doesn’t have a show that weekend. I’m sure she’d be happy to help us, especially since this show has to be good for your sister—“
“Why don’t you play Belle?” Tsukasa suggests. But he doesn’t seem to be saying it in a ‘I want you to play Belle because I like you’ kind of way, “honestly, I think you could do an amazing job, and you’re both intelligent. Plus, you’ve never given yourself the lead, before.”
Rui feels time slow down. Tsukasa wants him to be the lead? And more importantly, Tsukasa will be his love interest. Belle and The Beast kiss in that play!! Does that mean… Rui will get to kiss Tsukasa? For a moment, Rui wonders if Tsukasa just wanted to kiss him. But then he reminds himself that this is for Saki’s birthday and Tsukasa would definitely want it to be the best it could be—so he definitely wouldn’t have suggested it if he didn’t think Rui was perfect for the role.
As flattered as he is… that totally bums him out. Tsukasa isn’t all blushing or nervous at the thought of getting to pretend to be in love with Rui, and that means he wasn’t making a move on him like he hoped. And this coffee “date” wasn’t a date at all. “I… I suppose I could be Belle. I’ll do more thinking about it, alright?” He tries to hide his disappointment with a smile.
“Awesome! I hope you’ll decide to play her part, you’d do such a wonderful job.” Tsukasa compliments, but all it does is add salt to Rui’s wounds. He’s gone from being delusional and thinking this is a date, to being fully convinced that Tsukasa harbors no romantic interest in him whatsoever. “Well, that’s all I really wanted to talk about today, and I’ve finished my coffee, so…”
“Oh, yes, I’m done too.” Rui understands that this meeting is now over. He kind of wants to cry.
“I’ll pay, since I’m the one who asked to meet today.” Tsukasa offers, and Rui doesn’t have the heart to decline.
After paying, Tsukasa leaves and they walk together until they reach the spot where they have to part ways. The tiniest bit of Rui’s mind is desperately hoping Tsukasa will suddenly offer to walk him home. Please please please—
Tsukasa opens his mouth, but not for what Rui wants, “So I’ll see you Monday?” He says.
Rui doesn’t speak for a moment, he feels like his heart is truly shattering, “yeah. See you Monday.” He waves, and then walks towards the direction of his home.
The second he’s home, Rui throws himself onto his bed and lets out a muffled scream into his pillow, kicking his legs like a little kid throwing a tantrum. He was so frustrated, heart broken, and upset. All he wanted was for Tsukasa to like him, but no matter what he tried, it never worked. Tsukasa was still just a friend. He sat up with tears in his eyes, rubbing his eyes to prevent himself from crying. It didn’t quite work the way he wanted it to, as the tears slipped out anyways,
“Maybe I should just stop trying…”
Nene sighed as she stared at her best friend. It’s been a while since she’s seen him so… down in the dumps. But there he was, sulking at his desk, not even feeling like working on his props for the show. “Rui…” she sighs, “what happened to having ‘a little faith’?”
“I’ve had my faith,” he grumbles, “and it didn’t work out. So I give up.” Rui had caved and casted himself as Belle for their show, and he should’ve been happy about it. He wouldn’t get to kiss Tsukasa. But he wasn’t. Because Tsukasa didn’t like him like that, and he probably didn’t care about the kiss. He just thought Rui would be able to handle the role, and so he suggested it.
“It’s not like you to give up so easily,” she stated. Nene was very worried about Rui, because she hated seeing him this way. It reminded her of middle school, when she’d been powerless to help her obviously depressed childhood friend.
“Doesn’t matter…” Rui sighs, straightening up in his desk chair and grabbing his screwdriver. He’s got a bored expression as he tinkers with the prop in his other hand. Nene hates that look. “Even if I wanted to keep trying, I have no advice left to try. Nothing has worked, I don’t think anything will.”
“You haven’t tried everything,” Nene reminds him, “there’s still—“
“No.” Rui is quick to deny, “that won’t work. If he doesn’t want me when I’m actually trying, there’s no way he’d want me when I’m just measly ol’ Rui.”
“That’s not true…” She insists, “if Tsukasa likes you, then obviously he’d like you for who you are. All this advice you’ve tried; none of that is you. You’re weird, and so is Tsukasa. Just be your normal, weird self, ok?”
“But—“
“No. No ‘buts’, promise me you’ll try. If it doesn’t work, then you can give up. But until then, promise me you’ll try to just be yourself.” Nene leaves no room for Rui to protest.
He sighs, “alright. Fine. I’ll… be myself.”
And with that, Rui was less sulky for the next couple weeks. He was himself around Tsukasa, but he also wasn’t really trying to ask him out. The thought was far too intimidating, so he’d just warm himself up to it.
Then the Saturday of Saki’s birthday rolled around. The night of their ‘Beauty and the Beast’ show. They were backstage, in 10 minutes the curtains would go up, and the show would start. Tsukasa was talking about how much fun Saki’s party earlier that day had been.
“I hope the decorations I helped you choose were a hit!” Rui said with a chuckle.
“They were! Saki loved how everything was star based. I can’t believe she’s really 17 today…” Tsukasa says dramatically, wiping away a fake tear.
“Yes, and in a week, you’ll be 18…” Rui comments, making Tsukasa shiver.
“Ugh, don’t remind me…!” He shakes his head.
“5 minutes, guys!” Emu says with a thumbs up.
Both boys nod, and Rui takes a deep breath. He finds himself a bit nervous. Not even over the idea of kissing Tsukasa at the end of the show, but just at the idea of being the lead. Rui is never the lead. So he’s nervous, especially since his first lead role is in a musical. He flaps his hands a bit to shake off those nerves, when he feels a hand on his shoulder, “Hm?”
As he looks over, Tsukasa is there, looking up at him with a reassuring smile, “you’re gonna do great, Rui.” His voice was so gentle and soft, and it made Rui’s heart soar above the clouds and the sky, off into space where it’ll probably collide with the sun because of how hot his face feels all of the sudden.
“T-thanks…” Rui mutters, and just like that, it’s time for the show to begin. Tsukasa steps out onto the stage in his non-beast form to begin the first scene of the show before the curse befalls him. Nene was also casted as The Enchantress, since it was such a small role.
The play went on, the audience was loving it. Rui could see Saki’s eyes light up during that first scene when she realized the show was ‘Beauty and the Beast’, as Tsukasa had left it as a surprise for her. Rui’s heart would beat a little too fast during the scenes where he’d have to act ‘romantically’ with Tsukasa. His favorite part was getting to ballroom dance with Tsukasa on stage, while Nene and Emu sang the song ‘Beauty and the Beast’ backstage.
It all led up to the scene where Tsukasa would turn back to human. There on stage, for all to see, Rui held him in his arms and got to stare at him with all the love in the world as he pressed his lips against Tsukasa’s. And with the power of special effects, his beast form faded away, and Tsukasa was a beautiful prince once more. The kiss was sweet and gentle, and the blond’s lips were so soft against his own. How he wished he could’ve stayed in the moment for forever, but it was just for that scene. They had to part and show had to continue, but it would be the only thing on Rui’s mind for the rest of it.
Even after the show, when they went to go say hi to Saki, or when he was changing in his dressing room back into casual clothes. All he thought about was Tsukasa’s lips.
And how that was probably the last time he’d ever feel them.
Rui sighed as he adjusted his bag over his shoulder. Emu and Nene had already left together to go on a date to celebrate the successful show. And Tsukasa had offered to walk with him to their usual parting spot. So there he was, waiting for the boy to finish talk to his sister—who was spending the night with her friends—so that they could go. The feeling in his chest was a bittersweet one. He had to remind himself that it was just a stage kiss, no feelings involved. Not for Tsukasa, anyways.
“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long, Rui!” Tsukasa said as he walked up to the taller boy. “You ready to go?”
“Yup,” Rui nods, “let’s go.”
The two walk together, chatting about the success of their show. The audience really had enjoyed watching their take on such a classic. Of course, the audience loved most things Wonderlands x Showtime did. They arrived at the parting spot. Tsukasa opened his mouth like he always did, “see you Monday?”
Rui looked over. Tsukasa looked so beautiful under the moonlight. The way the stars reflected in his orange eyes, those stupidly beautiful eyes. He loved this boy standing in front of him so much, more than he loved himself, and yet… he could never do anything about it.
‘Of course,’ Rui imagined himself saying. ‘I’ll see you Monday. Have a good night.’
No. He wasn’t gonna let himself run away like he always did. Be yourself, Nene’s words echoed in his mind. “Tsukasa is really going to kiss me and then not walk me home like a gentleman? How cruel…” he says with a fake-hurt expression.
“Eh? B-but that was just…” Tsukasa has a small blush on his face, though it’s hard to see in the darkness of the night. “It was just a stage kiss, not a real one.”
Rui gasps, clutching his chest like his heart was breaking or in pain, or something along those lines, “you hurt me…! How could I ever forgive you for being so mean to your poor director?!”
“What?! But I—“ Tsukasa let’s put a heavy sigh, “nevermind, fine. Come on, I’ll walk you home…” he grumbles, grabbing Rui’s hand and pulling him along in the direction of the purple-haired boy’s home. Although he doesn’t seem truly annoyed.
Rui has a pleasant smile on his face, that actually worked!! Although he wasn’t expecting Tsukasa to just grab his hand like that, it made him a little flustered. His hands were so warm… “yay!”
After walking for a bit, the two arrive upon Rui’s home, and Tsukasa walks him right up to the door, before letting go of his hand. “Are you satisfied, now?”
Rui chuckles, “hehe, sure am…” he smiles, holding eye contact with Tsukasa for a few seconds.
The shorter boy blushes, looking away, “well, I should get going, now.” He begins to walk away from Rui’s porch.
Rui, impulsively, reaches out, grabbing his wrist to stop him from leaving. “Wait,” he says to accompany his action.
“Huh?” Tsukasa turns back around once Rui stops him, clearly confused.
“Um… I…” Now or never, be yourself. “Tsukasa, am I a good kisser?”
“Wh—Rui… why are you asking?!” Tsukasa gets all flustered, Rui finds it adorable.
“Just answer the question~” since when has he ever had this much confidence? Rui doesn’t know, but he likes it right now.
“Ugh, fine…” Tsukasa looks at the ground for a moment, then looks back up at Rui, “yes. You’re a great kisser. It was nice.”
That confidence Rui had? Yeah, it just fizzled away, “i-is that so?” He asks, his face a bright red. “I’m… glad.”
“Glad?” Tsukasa questions, “why glad?”
“Uhh,” Rui glances around nervously. This was a bad idea, what is he doing?! “I j-just wanted to make sure you liked it! Th-that’s all…” he laughs like an idiot.
“Rui.” Tsukasa’s expression is stern, “don’t lie to me.”
Rui looks down at the blond timidly, something that doesn’t happen often. Unless he’s with Tsukasa. “Ok…” he sighs. “Tsukasa, I…” Rui trails off, staring at the front door of his house. He wished to escape this situation.
“You…?”
“I…” it felt like no amount of ‘be yourself’ could get Rui to actually say it. To actually confess. He almost tried another pick up line, but he knew that wouldn’t work. He had no intentions to ever touch another pickup line, considering how horrible the last one went.
“Rui?”
He looked down at the ground, a defeated look on his face, “I’ve been asking for advice.”
“Huh? What’s that have to do with—“ Tsukasa began, but Rui cut him off.
“Just let me speak, okay?” Tsukasa nods. “I’m not good at romance, whenever I’m around someone I like, I get all nervous and flustered and I try to hide behind this fake-confidence I have where I’m just teasing and playful, when really, I’m dying inside by just being next to them,” he chuckles, “but there’s someone special that I know. And I want to be with them, but I have no clue how to ask them out, so I’ve been asking for advice. But all the advice I've received… it hasn’t helped. I always mess it up somehow. I’m a total mess…”
Rui looks sheepish, not daring to look Tsukasa in the eyes as he talks. “I was just about ready to give up. But… Nene talked some sense into me. And so here I am, pathetically confessing my feelings to the most amazing, beautiful, talented star in the sky.” Rui’s hands are shaking with nerves, and he forced himself to look up at the boy he’s been in love with for… who knows how long. “You; Tsukasa Tenma.”
Tsukasa is, understandably, speechless. Rui… likes him? Rui Kamishiro, the most amazing director he’s ever met, the boy who’s so pretty he makes the most gorgeous models look boring, the boy Tsukasa has wanted for so long it just felt normal to want him. He likes Tsukasa, “is this another one of your pranks…?” He asks carefully, still shocked.
“No. But I kind of wish it was…” Rui sighs, “there’s no way you like me back—“
“I do. I do like you, Rui. I like you so much. If… if I’m a star, then… you’re my moon.” Tsukasa smiles so gently, and then blushes from embarrassment, “ah, that sounded so cheesy. Just ignore what I said, and focus on the fact that I’m accepting your feelings, alright!?”
Rui blinks. And then he blinks again. And again and again and again. But then he stops blinking in fear that he’ll blink too much and Tsukasa will disappear and he’ll find that this was just a dream. Tsukasa likes him back. The boy he’s been trying to confess to for, like, a month likes him back. He shakes his head, trying to think of something to say. Only one thing pops into his mind, “but I like cheesy.” He says, his voice teasing.
“I told you not to focus on that!!” Tsukasa yells, but not really out of anger. More so, that’s his natural volume, “well, I should’ve expected that from you…”
“Tsukasa,” Rui says a little softer, now that his teasing had helped to process the fact that the shorter boy also likes him, “does this mean you’d want to… date me?” His voice is so quiet and shy.
Tsukasa loves the sound of it, “yes. Yes, I’d love to date you. All I want is to be your boyfriend, and for you to be mine.”
“Then it’s settled,” Rui agrees, “we’re officially boyfriends.” Internally, he is screaming.
“Then my first act as your boyfriend,” Tsukasa begins, sounding a bit regal, “is to ask if we can join lips once more, only this time not as the characters we were once playing.” He wants to make Rui laugh with his over-the-top speech.
It works, as Rui giggles, “how formal~ I’d love to kiss you again.”
“Then…” Tsukasa blushes out of nerves, looking into the beautiful golden of Rui’s eyes. “Then kiss me.”
Rui needs no persuasion to do so, gently cupping Tsukasa’s face and leaning down. Tsukasa lifts himself to his toes to meet Rui halfway, and their lips join together for the second time that night. Only this time it’s real. This time they’re kissing because they’re in love, and not because the characters they played were in love. The kiss is still too short for Rui, but he’s not worried. He’s certain there will be plenty of times to kiss his boyfriend—he can’t believe he gets to say that now—in the future.
“That… I liked that.” Tsukasa whispers once they pull away.
“Me too.” A moment of silence, “could we do that just one more time, for good measure?”
“Of course.”
And if they stayed outside Rui’s door for a while longer, kissing over and over as neither wished to stop, then that’s their business. And Nene’s, the second Rui gets the chance to call her, of course.