Chapter Text
Mayu's Mayumayu. Mayu's Mayumayu... Mayu's Mayumayu...
That was all Mikoto could think about once he was actually alone and in his bed after Mayu left, not as wired from earlier. He'd replay their conversations as Mamiko and Mayumayu, he'd think about all the bragging he did about Mayumayu and how amazing she was as an artist. He'd talk about how he got closer to Mayumayu and really admired her, and even talked about how cute he thought she was at times.
Holy shit, how embarrassing.
Honestly, he couldn't even really find it in himself to be mad at Mayu for keeping it from him. His initial reaction was definitely angry, thinking about the possibility Mayu jerked him around, but he figured Mayu wasn't the type. Mayu did say he liked him.
Which begged the question if he liked him before or after the Mayumayu incident. Did he like him because he was Mamiko or did he like him as Mikoto?
More importantly, did he, Mikoto, like Mayu like he likes Mayumayu?
Chiyo and Kashima teased that it was a crush but Mikoto never fully acknowledged it. Mayumayu was just someone who was someone he admired and sometimes chatted with. Sometimes he'd go to Mayumayu for companionship but… was it a crush? If he weighed the two personas, he'd probably say he was much much closer to Mayu than Mayumayu.
"But they're the same person!" he wailed, pressing his face into his pillow.
He needed to stop thinking again. Sleep, sleep. Just sleep, Mikoto. But every time he tried to, Mayu's face would flash in his mind again.
He was so close. Way too close. Much closer than he'd ever been to Mayu. And he saw how Mayu was looking at him! How Mayu stared a little too long at his lips —
Holy fuck he didn't even want to entertain what Mayu was possibly thinking about at that time.
Ding!
It was his phone. Mikoto reached around near his pillow before pulling it towards him, squinting in the dark to see who it was from.
Mayu.
> ill do my best at prac
Ah, was it because of what he said? But as far as he knew, Mayu always did his best at practice. Before he could even respond to it, however, another text came.
> will u come to my match?
He thought about it for a moment.
> When is it?
> next wk. sat.
Mikoto paused a bit. Should he? Should he not? He was a little worried how it would come across if he would show up in front of Mayu before he figured out… feelings and shit.
> I'll think about it. If I'm not busy.
Thinking he was coming off as a little cold, Mikoto quickly sent another.
> You should sleep already! An athlete needs his rest!
> ok. see u. goodnyt, mikoto-san.
Was his name the only thing he bothered to spell correctly? Mayu sure was amusing.
> Night, Mayu.
He placed his phone back on the side of his pillow. He'll think about it. About everything. Once he figured things out, he'll show up at Mayu's match.
Seemed simple enough.
It wasn't simple. Mikoto had many sleepless nights and his friends had to constantly come to him to ask if he was okay because he was spaced out all the time.
But in the end, he was here, in the local gym where Mayu's competition was being held. It wasn't really a big competition, it seemed more of a place for middle school judo clubs to gather and practice against one another, mostly to get ready for high school competitions.
Definitely a Mayu goal.
Mikoto stepped into the local gym where the competition was being held, passing a group of middle schoolers who arrived with their coach. He quickly turned his head away.
He hasn't told Mayu he was going to watch. It felt like there was a significance if he showed up, as if he needed to come with an answer to Mayu's confession. While he had done some thinking, and he was pretty sure of some things, it still felt… too early. Mayu was so sure of his feelings, shouldn't Mikoto be the same?
So he decided to go but not tell Mayu. In an attempt to not stand out, Mikoto put on his sunglasses, a plain black cap, and a black jacket (a genius move, he'd say), nervously strolling into the building as if he was a normal spectator, taking a seat somewhere in the middle. He looked around, hoping not to see anyone who'd know him before fiddling with his phone.
It took him minutes before he could finally decide, typing on his phone a simple message.
> Good luck on your match.
He almost jumped out of his seat when it buzzed in his hand a second later.
> thank u, mikoto-san.
Talk about a quick response. Mikoto left it at that, sending a sticker before scrolling through his phone until the competition was about to start and the participants all came out. There weren't that many people so it wasn't that hard to spot Mayu.
Mikoto couldn't help but raise his phone and take a picture.
The opening ceremony went on its way without a hitch and soon enough, the matches were starting. Honestly, Mikoto had forgotten a lot of the basics of judo. He forgot how the points were scored and the techniques they did. One thing's for sure — Mayu looked really cool. How he moved and quickly racked up points had the crowd ooh-ing and aah-ing. Mikoto never would've thought that the Mayu who slept beside him as he drew was the same Mayu pinning his opponent on the mat.
Mikoto took another picture. Maybe a video.
He was cheering every time Mayu scored, cheering every time he was close, and groaning whenever he got a point against him. With every round, his eyes were glued to Mayu, and as the competition went on, he found himself feeling Mayu's disappointment when he finally lost. Mayu didn't show it, his face undisturbed as he bowed to his opponent, and left the court.
Mikoto made a mental note to text him later.
The competition was over not long after, Mikoto deciding to sit through the awarding ceremony. Mayu was getting third place, after all. He could watch him take his medal. Maybe take a picture or two, before dispersing with the crowd.
That's what he thought. When the first placer was being called and congratulated, Mikoto raised his phone again to take a picture. He saw it clearly through the screen — Mayu turning his gaze towards Mikoto. Staring straight at him. Right through his phone.
Fuck.
Mikoto quickly put his phone down. He could feel his heart beating in his ears. Did he know? Surely he did. He looked straight at him! With no hesitance at all! Mikoto debated going out now or later, fidgeting for another minute or two when he realized the tournament was about to be over and Mayu was definitely absolutely going to catch him.
So he did what he did best and scrambled through the bleachers, down the stairs, trying not to cause a disturbance but also trying to be as fast as possible — which wasn't really that easy.
Thankfully, he was finally out of the gymnasium. He could hear the applause and people murmuring, a signal that it was probably over by then. Maybe he could disappear into the crowd that was about to form -
"Mikoto-san."
He had no idea how Mayu spotted him so quickly but he pretended not to hear, walking briskly to some random direction where he figured the exit was.
But of course, he had no luck. Mayu had caught up to him. Mikoto didn't really know where he was but there didn't seem to be anyone around them.
"Thank you for coming."
Mikoto finally stopped walking, turning to face Mayu. He pulled his cap down, a little embarrassed at how easily he was caught.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"Of course I'll know it's Mikoto-san." He said it so matter-of-factly, as if there was no reason he couldn't know it was him. "I also saw you come inside the gym earlier."
Mikoto sighed, taking off his glasses and cap and ruffling his hair a bit before looking up at Mayu with an amused smile on him.
"Man, you're way too perceptive."
"Only when it comes to you."
How can he say such cheesy lines?! Mikoto chose to ignore it, though his face was slowly turning red from those words.
"A-Anyway, you were really good out there! I knew you were good but I didn't think you were that good!" Mikoto smiled, looking up at Mayu. "Congrats, Mr. Third-place!"
He was about to reach up to Mayu to pat him on the head for a job well done (as was habit), but caught himself. But then Mikoto realized his hand was already between them so he just… awkwardly gave Mayu two quick pats on the shoulder before retreating his arm.
Mayu didn't seem to mind that at all, a bit of surprise on his otherwise emotionless face.
"Wh-What is it?"
"I'm just really happy you came, Mikoto-san." He reached out, a hand on Mikoto's shoulder, staring intently at him. "I'm really really happy."
He was looking at him so seriously Mikoto could feel himself melting under his gaze. So he avoided it, blush now prominent on his cheeks.
"Sorry I didn't tell you I was going to come…"
"It's okay. I'm happy you did."
Shit. He could really hear how happy Mayu was and the thought that his mere presence there made him that happy only made Mikoto's stomach flutter.
Right, he could do this.
"The past week, um… I was thinking about it and uh… Ah, no, I've been thinking about it even before you came over. " He gulped, trying to look anywhere but at Mayu. "You know, you really made my head hurt a lot… but I know you were just being honest. A-And there's nothing wrong with that! B-But! I thought I should really give you a sincere answer, but I felt like I should be absolutely sure about it because you're so sure! That's why I didn't tell you I was coming. Ah, but it's not like I'm not sure now, I mean, I'm sure I want to, it's just…"
He was rambling. Stopping himself, Mikoto looked up, finally meeting Mayu's gaze.
"Let's try it."
That seemed to catch Mayu by surprise.
"Not-! Boyfriend! Not yet!" He scrambled to explain. "Just - try it! See how it goes! Take it slow!" He could feel how much he was burning by now. "...is that okay -"
"Yes." Mayu didn't even seem to think about it and the happiness he saw on Mayu's face earlier was much more amplified now. Mikoto briefly thought if he could be a little conceited and think it was because of him.
"Oh, o-okay… Then uh, I guess we're… dating…?"
"Yes." Ah, there was a sparkle in his eye Mikoto couldn't help but be embarrassed about. "Mikoto-san, I really want to kiss you."
This guy!!! He was going to make Mikoto explode .
"I said we're taking it slow! Wh-What the hell, Mayu!!!" he whined, curling down into a ball, face in his knees. "'S so embarrassing… and I'm not kissing a middle schooler…"
He could feel Mayu squatting down as well, a hand resting on Mikoto's shoulder.
"What about on the forehead?"
Mikoto looked up slightly. Thinking about it.
"...Okay."
Ah, he was really way too weak to Mayu, who looked much too happy at the indulgence. Still, he couldn't stop his stomach from fluttering when Mayu leaned in and pressed his lips against his forehead.
Mikoto was going to spoil him so much.
"Mayu!"
Mikoto waved from the gates of the school, seeing the larger figure walk up towards him, diploma in one hand, and a ribbon pinned on his disheveled uniform. Mayu told him the judo club was giving some sort of send off for their seniors - that was probably the result.
"Woah, they really did a number on their captain." Mikoto laughed, reaching up to smoothen Mayu's hair. "How was the ceremony?"
"Boring."
"That sounds about right. Oh, I have something to give you."
Mikoto reached into his pocket, pulling out a square, flat box, handing it to Mayu.
"Congrats on graduating, Mayu."
Mayu took the box. Opening it up, he could see a simple, black bracelet.
"I didn't really know what to get you, so I just thought about what would look good on you outside school." Quietly, Mikoto raised his own arm, the same bracelet in white on his wrist. "It - uh - also matches with mine."
Mayu seemed much happier, quickly putting the bracelet on and looking at Mikoto as if asking how it was.
He looked really cool.
"I have something for you, too, Mikoto-san."
Something for him? He wasn't the one graduating.
Mayu, however, reached into his pocket, pulling something out. He took Mikoto's hand with free one, placing a small round thing onto it.
"Your button?"
"I was worried I'll lose it so I kept it."
Huh.
Oh.
Wait, wait. This was definitely one of the highlights of a graduation ceremony in his games, but usually, it was the girls who asked for the second button from the guys they liked. Mikoto felt his face heating up.
"...Were you reading Nozaki's manga again?"
"It's not because of that." Mayu took Mikoto's hand which was holding the button and raised it towards him, gently pressing his lips against the back of Mikoto's hand. "It's because I wanted you to know I like you."
Ahhh, damn Mayu.
"I-I already know that…"
Mayu released his hand, Mikoto looking down at the button. He could feel his chest swelling from the happiness. The past few months of dating Mayu was probably the happiest he'd been in a while. It was just - easy. Mayu was straightforward and comfortable, quick to quell any doubts he had about their relationship.
He never thought he could feel that loved.
"I like you, too, Mayu."
It was time he should show Mayu he was loved, too.