Chapter Text
There was a person who hated when things got in his way. A boy with eyes shining like gold that burned like an inferno.
His name was Chika Takiishi.
His fist will meet your face the moment you block him. Just one punch and you're out like bugs that've been crushed on the floor. If you're lucky, you might be able to crawl away.
To him people are mere obstacles that he has to force away; he often punches them out of his way or lets them be when they give him what he wants—and that still varies on the person.
But there was someone he couldn’t take down no matter how annoying it felt having them get in the way. It was a boy with an unusual look, and people referred to him as a freak, a monster, a motherless child, or a curse. Takiishi thinks those people who called him that are stupid, judgmental, and moronic.
He couldn't shake off that boy, even though they were weaker compared to him. He held something Takiishi couldn’t and could never have. He didn't know what it was, but that was enough reason to believe that he’s worth the bother, not that he particularly cared. He could go away, and he won't even bat an eye.
In contrast to what people say, the boy was beautiful in his own way. Subjective, but it was the truth, if you believe in it.
The boy had mixed-colored hair, a third covered in void black and the other a pristine white snow. His eyes were two different colors; his right was the color of a deep sea under the moonlit sky, and the other feature was the same color as Takiishi. A rich yellow gold, just like the sunset, the sunrise, and the burning flames.
Takiishi never felt anything for the boy, and he never really cared. Although, it bothered him that people had thrown insults and curses at that boy who could only look at the floor.
‘He was weak,’ that’s what Takiishi first thought as he saw the boy stumble and endure the abuse.
At first their paths would meet. It's nothing to be concerned about, especially since they live in the same house. Takiishi lived in a warm house, and the boy lived next to it in the stale shed in their backyard.
Even when they cross paths, they never stop to talk; they often ignore one another and get out of each other's way. That was fine, and it worked for both of them.
But then a punch met Takiishi's face, mad and unrestrained.
“Oi! You bastard?! ”
“…”
“You have to be lame to pick on someone already down! ” The boy yelled… right at Takiishi. It wasn't anything new; it's no different than those he fought before. So Takiishi punched back, and the boy stumbled. But he held his ground and glared at him. So he attacked, again and again. He met the other's punch, and he gave one back. He kicks, and he kicks back; they fought until the boy was down.
“That was fun,” Takiishi said, not even giving him a glance. There was no lie behind his words. It really was fun while it lasted.
He turned to walk away, leaving the boy on the ground, just like how he usually does after a fight. But the boy gripped his ankle with the bit of strength he had.
Takiishi felt his skin itch. ‘They’re getting in the way,’ he thought as his feet met the boy's body with a smooth hit, thinking they would fly out and lose their grasp. But the grip tightened. So he did it again and again. The boy's grip didn't falter, and it stayed annoyingly strong while he kept his narrowed and angry eyes on him.
With one final kick, the boy fell down, meeting the cement by the face, but not a moment later stood up again.
“I can’t lose to a lameass like you! ” The boy was loud, his eyes never leaving Takiishi’s figure.
For the first time, Takiishi shuddered in place, and his mouth twitched into a smile. ‘This boy is different from them,’ he thought.So he fought the boy again to chase the feeling and stood tall over the boy’s beaten and wounded body.
He looked pathetic lying on the floor, groaning in pain. It didn’t deter his newly found interest, and weirdly enough, he wanted to know more.
The boy on the ground grimaced, his face in pure disdain, his body covered in bruises, and his breathing hollowed out. The pain he felt reminded him that he'd lost, miserably. Takiishi wasn’t any better with red angry marks that covered his face, but at least he’s not lying down on the ground.
Instead of going and leaving the boy, he sat beside him watching intently. He looked at Sakura as if he were a new toy, a new object he didn't have. The boy glared and was about to yell, but Takiishi spoke quickly.
“Why did you stop me? ”
“HAH?!”
“Why did you get in my way? ”
“YOU WANNA FIGHT?! …”
The boy stared at him, giving him a scrutinizing gaze before cursing and looking angrily at him. Looking at him as if he were human trash.
“You're fucking lame.”
Takiishi stared at him, trying to process those words, ‘Lame? How can he be lame? He clearly won, he thought as he tilted his head to the side and looked at the boy before him.
“How so? ” he asked.
“Lame asses like who beat up someone already down make me sick.” The boy spat, rough and almost like a yell. He coughed as he tried to sit up, but his body was too strained to even move.
“They were in my way.”
“…You're still lame.”
“…”
Takiishi doesn’t understand what this boy meant, and the boy only stared daggers at him. Curiously, Takiishi asked a question he never once uttered.
“What’s your name? ”
“HAH?!”
“What’s your name? ”
“You!…”
“… hah? …” The boy grunted, his face wrinkled, defeated, and frustrated. He gave Takiishi one look down before he gritted his teeth.
“Sakura, Sakura Haruka.”
“Takiishi, Chika”
There was a moment of silence between them before Takiishi got up from where he sat and offered a hand to Sakura.
The boy looked at the hand and then turned his gaze at Takiishi with clear confusion. “What are you doing? ”
“I’m offering a hand to help you get up. Isn’t it obvious?”
“Yeah, I see that? Why? ”
“… Because you're interesting.”
Sakura gave him a glare and slapped the hand away, getting up by himself. “You’re just like the rest of them,” he said; his eyes never left the other before walking ahead.
Takiishi only stared at the hand he offered before looking back at the boy and speaking flatly.
“We live next to each other.”
“Shut it! ”
Their days went by like usual, never really talking, and whenever they saw each other, they went the other way or ignored one another like they usually do. Takiishi didn’t really mind; he had other things he wanted to do.
But food appeared and was left on the shed table. Sakura didn’t know where it came from, but the food smelled good and tempting. His stomach would grumble at the sight.
He ate, but not before giving the rats a piece. At first he only took small bits; it wasn't until after a few more times it happened that he left the plates clean—with the exception of the vegetables. No one can really blame him for eating a meal given for free.
It was just a month into the food situation that he caught the offender in action. Just as the suspect was placing the food on the table, Sakura went into his shed with his fist raised, noticing the open door before staring at the intruder with wide eyes.
Takiishi was in the middle of wiping his hand when he turned, finally noticing the boy’s presence. “Oh, you're here. Eat,” he said pointing at the food.
“Hah?! What the hell are you doing here?! ” Sakura yelled, while Takiishi only looked at him with bug eyes.
“I’m giving you food; Mom doesn’t give you much.”
“I don’t care. Why are you here?! ”
“To give you food, I just told you.”
“Why?!”
“Because Mom doesn’t give you food, I just told you…”
“No. Why do this?!
“…”
Takiishi looked at Sakura and then at the food. He stared motionless as the room felt more tense. ‘Had he done this out of a whim? Definitely not,’ but he doesn’t know why. He did find the boy really interesting, but that didn’t seem like the right answer.
He stayed there looking at the food as if it were the most interesting thing in the world before it was taken from his sight. Blinking to himself, he turned his head to the culprit.
Sakura took the plate and ate a portion with ease before looking at Takiishi with a mean pout and a blush to his cheeks and ears.
“Don’t give me that look! You gave it right, so I’m eating it! ”
“…”
Takiishi nodded at that, and he made his way to the shed door and was about to leave when his stomach grumbled, loud and angry. He blinked to himself and then looked at the place where the growing hunger slowly crept up.
The other boy stared at him with disdain before sliding his half-eaten plate to him. “Why did you give me food if you're hungry? ” he grumbled.
His eyes lingered at Sakura, then the food. He took a spoon and ate a spoonful before giving it back to the boy, who stumbled a bit at the gesture. Looking unsure, Sakura lifted his face to meet Takiishi, then ate the food again. This time before giving it back, he used the spoon to divide the remaining food into two and gave the spoon back to Takiishi.
He scrambled to his small backpack that he kept at the corner of his room and took out plastic utensils. Then he got himself another chair—a makeshift one, leaving his previous seat.
Sakura looked at Takiishi, with sweat running down his face and a deep blush on his cheeks. It took a moment for the other to understand and sit on the now unoccupied seat, holding onto the spoon. They settled in each other’s presence, eating part of their food. Sakura with his plastic spoon and Takiishi with his silverware.
It was new; different than Sakura could imagine, having someone by his side just to eat. Despite not speaking and the room being quiet, it wasn't awkward; instead, it was peaceful and almost nice.
When the food was all gone, Takiishi stood up and took the plate, walking up to the shed door. He stopped right at the entrance and looked back, giving a curt nod to the other before he disappeared to the main house.
Sakura was left confused and conflicted about the whole ordeal. ‘It’s a one-time thing,’ he thought to himself as he stared at the now empty table. A small wave of warmth settled in his chest. It was a weird feeling, stemming from an ‘awkward’ situation that he debated fighting off.
‘It's not so bad to eat with someone else,’ he thought, his eyes looking at the shed as a whole, a place that supposedly only housed one person. He gave the table one last look before he went to his futon and drifted to sleep.
***
Their little meetings went on for a month. Little by little, Takiishi's visits became longer than before. Often bringing trinkets and food to savor as he stayed. Sakura thought it was weird and unusual, but he didn't say anything, nor did he complain; he just let the boy stay.
Later down the road, as they spend more time together, they speak more and sometimes lose track of time. It’s not always linear; there will be silent moments and just their presence known to each other. But it was comfortable; the awkward tension between them was long gone, replaced with a newfound connection.
Before they knew it, they began to walk together, go places, and just waste time. They’d beat people up who messed with them, they go to explore new areas, and occasionally Takiishi buys things he could afford with his money for the both of them.
They created a routine for themselves—whenever they meet, that is—Takiishi goes to pick Sakura from the shed, they go somewhere, eat, talk, fight, fix their bruises, and then go home. A routine often comes whenever Takiishi is free or he stumbles to new places.
They weren't the type to talk and were more of the type to do. It may seem that they weren't friends due to them not talking and looking indifferent to one another. That's far from the truth; as they understood one another, they just weren't the type to be vocal. From understanding the likes and dislikes to picking up on simple cues and shifts of the other.
Their time together was quiet and often lacked words. But it was the small details that mattered, and they found themselves adjusting to each other's rhythm.
If there's a subtle shift of Takiishi balance as they wait, it means he was impatient.
Noticing the way Sakura clenched his fist open and closed would tell how he wants to be somewhere else.
Takiishi would often stare, but it wasn't out of malice but more out of interest.
If Sakura put his hand on his pockets, it often meant he’d be fine whenever they wanted to go.
Takiishi buys Sakura food, knowing the food given to him by the family wasn't enough, and takes him anywhere that isn't the shed because he couldn't get around without people bothering him, and the boy would follow with no complaints.
Sakura would defuse and call out when Takiishi felt impatient or went too far on an opponent. He’d take them somewhere quiet, especially those places with a nice view of the sunsets. It helped get Takiishi in place.
They didn't need words; they took action, and that was enough for the both of them.
This whole ordeal was new to Sakura, and it surprisingly felt easy. He didn’t have to do anything; he didn't need to do anything to maintain it, and they always ended up being fine at the end of the day.
There was no need for big gestures, no need for too many words, and Sakura was fine with what they had. He’d rather have this than deal with anything else.
*Crack*
*Pow*
Takiishi often finds himself annoyed at the people who stared; it wasn’t at him but at Sakura. It just made him more upset; it shouldn’t have, but here he was beating the crap out of them.
“Hey, that's enough. He’s down!” Sakura shouted, and only then did he stop and look back at him.
“Why do they keep running their mouths when they can’t back it up? ” Takiishi spewed as he looked down at the offenders. They were a bunch of no-name gangs, a bunch of morons.
Sakura could only stare at him with his fist clenched. Takiishi observed, tilting his head in interest. The look only made the other sigh and scratch the back of his neck.
“Let it go already,” Sakura grumbled, his eyes not meeting Takiishi’s.
The older man stared in silence before nodding and giving a final kick to the body he had just beaten. Staring intently before walking out the alley with Sakura in tow.
The two of them walked around as the sun was setting; the view of the sea was much more serene. Way before he met Sakura, aside from the view of the moon in the night sky, Takiishi often finds himself captivated by the beautiful scenery of the sunset, feeling warmth blooming every time he sees it.
These days, he finds himself comparing that same scene with a unique boy. The sight of the sea, dark blue, tinged with orange and yellows of the sun that is brightly shown in warmer tones. It felt like he was staring at those eyes that were fierce yet pure and kind.
“It reminds me of your eyes,” Takiishi said as he stopped and stared at the sunset.
“…Hah?!”
“The sunset, it looks like the color of your eye.” He looked at the two-toned boy, who glared at him.
“You want to fig—“
“It’s beautiful.”
He said, staring straight at Sakura, who froze. Takiishi swayed to the side, unblinking as he saw Sakura's face morph with a deep frown and a glare.
He looked back at the sea, the waves calm and quiet, then back to the younger boy, who looked at Takiishi with disbelief, his fist clenched and shaking.
“Are you mess—“
“They also remind me of the sea too. I like it,” he added, not a hint of a lie in his words. Sakura stared at Takiishi with his fist clenched and teeth gritted before he found himself gazing at the same scenery.
The sky’s orange hue turned to jet black as the stars appeared in the sky. Sakura glanced back at the older man, meeting his golden eyes that glowed bright and clear, making Sakura look in awe.
Takiishi then turned and walked in the direction of their house, not sparing a glance at Sakura.
“Let’s go back; it’s late.”
Sakura and Takiishi were always together when they could be. But there were times when they couldn't be. Takiishi doesn't mind much, but it still sometimes annoys him. So after saving up his allowance, Takiishi gifted Sakura a phone just in time for his birthday.
“It’s for us to talk; they said I can chat with anyone there.” Takiishi said as he sat beside the boy.
“Hah? How does that even work? I don't need it,” Sakura said with a blush on his face as he looked at Takiishi.
“Keep it.”
“Oi!”
It took them a while to figure out how the phone works. Takiishi himself isn’t averse to technology, so they both had to learn as they explored.
“This is so complicated.”
“Agreed, but it’s useful.”
“How do I talk to you here? ”
“Hmm, through the chats.”
Takiishi took his own phone and opened an app. “This one… but I only have my parents’ number here.”
Sakura scratched his hair roughly before looking at Takiishi, growing red and pouting. “How do I put in your number? ”
Blinking, Takiishi looked at his chats and saw the plus button just at the top right corner. “Press here, then add my number. Give it to me.”
He took Sakura's phone and inputted his number; once done, they tried it out by chatting nonsense. It worked well enough, and it became one of their forms of communication when one of them can’t go out—mostly for Sakura.
They ended up keeping their little connection a secret. Going as far as to hide their contact in the name of ‘’weather"—deleting the actual weather contact in favor of their secret. It was peaceful, fun, and comfortable for both of them.
——••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••——
[—Weather—]
——••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••——
[Weather] I’ll pick you up
[Sakura] <Weather>
Don’t
—**/**/**—
[Weather] Let's go out, I found a place.
[Sakura]<Weather>
See you in the shed.
[Weather] Are you asleep?
[Sakura] <Weather>
No
[Weather] Go to sleep.
[Sakura] <Weather>
…ok
Goodnight
--Weather liked your reply--
[Weather] *Thumbs up emoji* Goodnight.
—**/**/**—
[Sakura] <Weather>
I found a bird.
*A picture bird staring at Sakura/Camera*
It’s you
[Weather] How is that me?
[Sakura] <Weather>
Your stare
It’s like it
--Weather liked your reply--
[Weather] *thumbs up emoji* ok
——••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••——
Despite their lack of knowledge and understanding of how the phone worked, they found themselves talking through chats more than they expected.
They eventually got better at figuring out how it works. Even having some games that involve multiplayer—although they only ever played privately. Both of them sucked at the game—to the point of almost breaking the phone in frustration—but it was still fun to do, and it makes their hard-earned wins even more satisfying.
—••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••—
[—Weather—]
—••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••—
[Weather] There’s a new restaurant
[Sakura]<Weather>
Are you going?
[Weather] Come with me.
[Sakura] <Weather>
Ok
—**/**/**—
[Weather] Why do birds fly?
[Sakura]<Weather>
I don't know...don ask me.
*Send a google screenshot of the explanation*
--Weather liked your reply--
[Weather] *Thumbs up emoji* Thanks
—**/**/**—
[Sakura]<Weather>
Can I come ober.
[Weather] Sure, the window is open. Don’t make a noise
—You liked Weather reply—
[Sakura]<Weather>
On the way.
--Weather liked your reply--
——••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••——
It was their little secret, just the two of them. No one else knows, and they were safe. They both kept to themselves, and no one ever bothered to ask.
They liked it that way; it's just the two of them that understood. It's them against everything.
Sakura looked at his phone, feeling warmth crawl its way to his chest. He wondered if things would be okay, if this was okay. But one chat was enough to take his worry away.
[Weather] Where are you? I have snacks.
Sakura stared before his fingers moved on the keyboard, slowly typing out the letters.
[Sakura] <Weather>
I'm coming.
It might have been stupid to do this behind their parents backs. But no one would know as long as no one else knew.