It was the next morning.

Sanemi could barely sleep that night, yet he still woke up early.

He hurried out of bed, splashing water over his face as he quickly had his breakfast.

Tomioka... Tomioka... Is he okay?
He wondered, walking out.

He quickly went to the Butterfly Mansion.

"Oh my! Shinazugawa-San, good morning!"
Shinobu smiled at Sanemi.

"Morning... How are you?"
He asked.

"All good!"
Shinobu smiled wider.

"How is Giyuu?"
He asked, restlessly.

She scratched the back of her neck.
"He's fine... Just sleeping now..."

"Did he have breakfast?"
Sanemi asked.

"No... Not yet..."
Shinobu replied, sighing softly.

"Can I see him?"

"Why, of course!"
She led him to the room where Giyuu was.

He walked up to Giyuu, who was sleeping quietly, his chest rising and falling as he breathed softly.

Sanemi caressed Giyuu's cheek, smiling warmly at him.

"How has he been?"

"He's been alright... Just..."

Sanemi turned back.
"Just...?"

"He's been talking about you in his sleep since last night..."
She muttered.

Sanemi blushed slightly, looking at Giyuu.
"What was he saying...?"

Shinobu chuckled softly.
"Let's go to the other room, I don't want to make him mad!"

"Huh?"
Sanemi followed her.

"So what did he say?"

Shinobu smiled warmly.
"He was continuously apologising to you, while saying your name. He kept saying- please, I'll try to change, for you!"

She chuckled softly.
A small smile escaped Sanemi's lips.

The two talked for a while about Giyuu, upcoming missions and other things before it grew quiet.

Shinobu broke the silence, slowly speaking up.
"Hey, Shinazugawa-San?"

"Yeah?"

"Um... What do you feel about Tomioka-San?"
She asked, trying to look out for Giyuu.

"T-Tomioka... Uh... He's um..."
Sanemi stuttered unexpectedly, but he composed himself, speaking up in a more confident way.

"He's a quite nice guy. He's pretty skilled, I can say that because we were training the other day. He's a good man."
Sanemi admitted.

"Ah... So you two train together nowadays?"

"...Yeah. I have a lot of fun training with him..."
Sanemi replied, smiling softly.

"I see... Tomioka-San talks a lot about you..."
Shinobu chuckled softly.

Sanemi blushed, almost stunned at the words.
"H-He does?"

"Mhm! He tells me that you're a really nice person!"
She smiled.

Sanemi blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Tomioka...
Sanemi smiled softly.

Giyuu tossed in bed, Shinobu noticed it.

"I guess he's awake..."

The two stood up, walking to the room.

As soon as Giyuu saw Sanemi, he sat up.
"Sh-Shinazugawa-San..."

Sanemi smiled warmly, sitting on the corner of the bed.
"How are you?"

Giyuu blushed, looking at his hands.
"I'm alright..."

"Good to know!"
Sanemi ruffled Giyuu's hair.

"I'll be right back!"
Shinobu said, walking out of the room.
She winked at Giyuu from a distance.

"Hey Tomioka... If you have anything in mind... You can tell me, okay?"
Sanemi held Giyuu's hand.

Giyuu looked at Sanemi as he held his hand. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again.

"How have you been, Shinazugawa-San?"

Sanemi's eyes widened.
"I- I am doing good. It's just..."
He paused.

"Just...?"

"It's just I miss you, Tomioka..."
Sanemi smiled, causing Giyuu to blush.

"I just miss the times we spent together..."
He said, looking away from Giyuu.

Giyuu's gaze shifted to his hand.

"I am sorry for everything yesterday, Shinazugawa-San... I never thought I'd end up doing something like that...
I know I hurt you... Also, I apologise for my behaviour yesterday after the game... and the time when I shouted at you... I really feel bad for doing all that...I couldn't stop thinking about it last night."

Sanemi's eyes widened, but he smiled softly.
"I should apologise, Tomioka... I'm the reason why you were mad yesterday... And in my anger, I said a few stupid things to you... I'm sorry for it."

Giyuu smiled back at Sanemi, his hand reaching out to pat Sanemi's head softly.

Giyuu's gentle touch, reminded him of the times when things weren't so complicated, when they would just hang out and have fun... It really felt weird.

But even that weird feeling was comforting to him, because it was Giyuu.
And he loved Giyuu unconditionally.

"I guess I should leave-"

"N-No..."
Giyuu blushed, pulling Sanemi gently by his sleeve.

"Please, I want you by my side... Can you stay?"
Giyuu looked at Sanemi, his big eyes almost too difficult to ignore.

Sanemi smiled, ruffling Giyuu's hair.
"Of course..."

Shinobu walked past the room, only to see the two talking and laughing heartily.

She smiled warmly, walking away.

Love really is sweet, hmm?
She hummed a faint song as she walked off.

___________________________________________

Many days had passed, Sanemi visited Giyuu almost everyday.
He shared his thoughts with Giyuu, while Giyuu acknowledged his company.

Giyuu was lost in thoughts as Sanemi spoke, admiring Sanemi's face.
He smiled as he watched Sanemi speak, so sweetly, so soothingly.

He just wished Sanemi kept talking forever, though he had no idea of what Sanemi was talking about. He just enjoyed listening to him.

He wondered how anyone could just be so, nice...?

Shinazugawa-San... He has always cared for me... Even when I was at my lowest...
Even when I was not able to be the most likable...

His aggressive yet caring words are always tinged with kindness.

When his fingers intertwine with mine, the little space between our fingers is so comforting...

Whenever we share our moments together, I feel like I could stare into his eyes forever... I could listen to him forever...

"Tomioka?"

Shinazugawa-San's warmth... Is something I never have to ask for. He offers it to me, gently... With his open arms. As if he's welcoming me...

During the summer months, he looks at me, his kind eyes always filled with deep affection... Is it only for me, or everyone he sees?

Shinazugawa-San... You're the light in my darkness... The one I feel I can't live without...

"Tomioka?"

My life is problematic... As the crickets make noise everywhere, the heatwaves of the summer months hitting me... You come into this clumsy life of mine... Like a soft sunshine in the morning, or the golden sunset before it gets dark...

And I can't help but cherish these moments with you...

He is so welcoming... It's like I can always be myself around him... My slight anger, sadness, my insanity... He handles them so easily...

He tickles me... And makes me so happy...
He fills my heart up with the endless love I have for him, it increases everyday...

Just how kind he gets each day he's visiting me while I heal up...

"Tomioka!? You okay?"

Giyuu snapped back, looking at Sanemi.

"I've called you three times, yet you don't reply... Everything alright...?"
He shook Giyuu's shoulders.

Giyuu nodded.

"Thanks for visiting me everyday."
There were so many words in his mind that he wanted to say to Sanemi, to thank him, but... He could only say these.

Sanemi nodded back, smiling softly.

"You really care for me, so much. I appreciate-"

"Shut up! It-Its bare minimum!"
Sanemi waved it off.

He blushed a little.
"...I...I bought this for you..."
Sanemi handed Giyuu an Omamori Charm.

[Omamori Charms are Japanese charms to wish people good luck for various occasions.]

"It's for your good luck..."
Sanemi added.

Giyuu gasped softly, taking it.

"Thank you Shinazugawa-San!"
He smiled, his eyes sparkling up, just how it used to.

It reminded Sanemi of the times they shared together in the past, the way sweeter times.

He ruffled Giyuu's hair.
"It's nothing... Just stay safe."

"You too..."
Giyuu replied.

Sanemi brushed it off.
"You don't have to care about me."
He stood up.

"I'll come see you tomorrow..."
He said, walking off.

Shinazugawa-San always cares about me... But when I try to return the same affection to him, he would snap at me, telling me not to worry about him...

How do I ever pay back...

To the only light in my darkness...?

___________________________________________

I'm sorry for being annoying and publishing so much😭😭😭

I just can't help it -

Anyways bye🍩🎀

This and mine all mine by mitski.... What a combo!