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That day, Kento and Rintaro had a special guild event, and even though both thoroughly extended invitations to Touma, the man decided to leave the swordsmen to themselves and get ahead of his next manuscript.
His next story was a tale of consequences. The bittersweet time a hero goes through after saving the world, facing the fallout of his decisions. But he's not alone, never alone. His friends, his family, they're facing the world together.
Touma started drafting this story back when he was spending a year writing people back into existence. He knew he had to write it, and back then - despite what he says - there were times he wasn't sure he was ever going to see his friends again. He regretted a few things he didn't say, didn't do.
That's why, as soon as things quieted with his friends, he planned to pull Kento and Rintaro aside, just the three of them, to talk. Funnily enough, Rintaro beat him to it, as he would.
He gave a speech, his eloquence broken by clear nervousness. Saying something about love and forms of it, Rintaro tried his best to meet his eyes. Kento, next to him, looked just about mentally checked out, face red and hands wringing together.
Touma's first reaction was to laugh. Both other men looked horrified. Then Touma pulled them into a crushing embrace - long overdue - and held them there.
Kento all but melted into it, clinging to Touma's body like he belonged there. Touma thought he did. Rintaro didn't hold back for a moment, maybe surprise or shock, or both. But when he did, the three of them must've looked like they were trying to merge together.
He doesn't remember who pulled away first, but Touma won't ever forget cradling Kento's face in his hands as he leaned in and kissed him. Won't forget when he turned to kiss Rintaro too. How they looked pained, tears in their eyes and sharp breaths. That was when Touma knew for sure, the other two had been longing for him just as much as he'd been longing for them.
Touma cried with them that day. Promised he would never leave again, that he'd stay. That first day turned to night and the three of them held onto each other, so no one knew where one ended and the other began.
Kento brought them to his room, too desperate to walk any further for proper privacy. They threw themselves onto the bed, a little awkwardly, but they were eager. Touma kissed every patch of skin bared, and swore to himself he'd worship these men like they deserved to be.
They'd be the reason Touma would publish a poetry book, but that was neither here nor there, really. What mattered was the real thing, anyway.
Some time later, writing alone in his bookshop, he'd miss them for a few hours, knowing that they'd come back to him.
And write he did. Not enough time had passed - after he came back - to know how exactly things would go, now that people who were lost had returned. But Touma knew it would be okay, he'd make it so. And he hoped his words would give hope, if anything, to someone in need.
Time flew by, apparently, if the way his eyes started to strain until he turned a lamp on was any indication. But he didn't stop, not when he was getting to such a good part in the book. He became so engrossed in it, he even fantasised sounds into his ears.
Touma jumped, however, when a voice suddenly called his name. Looking up, Rintaro and Kento stood, side by side, staring at him.
"Wait, you're back already?" Touma asked.
"Already?" Rintaro said, eyes wide. "The event's over."
"Do you know what time it is?" Kento asked, pointedly looking at the clock in Touma's shop.
Truly, time had passed, as it would. However, Touma wasn't informed of the fact, nor did he notice it go by. The many hours were lost on him, translating themselves into a hard worked novel in Touma's desk.
"I've been working..." He said, sheepishly.
"And did you take a break?" Rintaro asked, hands on his hips. If he didn't look so angry, Touma would laugh. He knows Kento would too, but now's not the time to bring that up.
"Well, I'm taking one now."
"Touma."
"It's fine! I got so much work done, I didn't even see the time pass."
"Did you eat anything?" Kento asked, his voice much softer than Rintaro's, but he could see the worry in his eyes.
Touma shook his head, guilty for bringing that unhappy look to his partners. He went to get up, but a dizzy spell forced him down again.
"I knew it," Rintaro pointed a finger at him. "You stay there. We'll close up."
Kind of funny, how that worked. Having people who liked him well enough, and took time to care for him. They must be tired, especially Kento, after socialising for hours. Still, they came, and were locking up and shutting off the lights.
Touma wasn't so sure he was dedicating as much time for them as they were for him. He spent too much time working, the days just ended up passing by without him even registering it. An entire year of doing just that must've written itself into his brain. Things were different, then.
"I should've gone with you." He told the two, as they finished up and approached him. "I'm sorry."
"You can come next time." Kento smiled, and took his hand. "Come on, we'll help you."
It was funny too, that he blushed then, and even harder when Rintaro put his hand on his lower back, guiding them to the door connecting to the Northern base.
"Ah, thank you. Where are we going?"
"My room." Kento said. "You're lying down and we'll bring you something to eat."
His tone was final, so Touma just followed, suddenly too tired to say anything. Neither of them had let go of him, and that was probably for the best. Every step he took made him feel more worn out. He hoped he didn't look so bad.
They slowly went through the halls to Kento's room, and promptly beelined to the bed, where Touma sat.
"Did you shower today?" Rintaro asked, kneeling down to remove his own and Touma's shoes.
"This morning." Touma nodded.
"Good enough." Kento said, returning from the wardrobe with clothes in hand. "These are yours, right? Put them on."
One of the many perks of loose clothing was the ease in taking them off. So, with little effort, Touma changed into even looser pajamas. When he looked back, Rintaro and Kento had also changed into something more comfortable.
And looking so adorable, Touma's weakened mind had to remind him that Rinatoro and Kento were not the edible things he was supposed to be thinking about.
"I only have snacks here, I think. But I was told Mei baked a cake yesterday? So I'll go get some of that, and tomorrow, Touma, you will eat a full meal." Kento told him.
"Shouldn't he eat something real, though?" Rintaro asked.
Kento looked offended, which Touma completely understood.
"Cake is real," he said.
Rintaro's eyebrows shot up, and he quickly shook his hand in front of him. "I don't mean it like that! I would never dismiss Mei's work and time! I'm just saying, he should eat something more... Healthy? With more nutrients."
"He probably couldn't take it, could you?" Kento turned to Touma.
"Probably not." He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't feel hungry."
"You know that's a bad thing, right?" Rintaro said.
"I know, but Kento's right, I can't stomach anything too heavy right now. I would actually pass on the cake you're offering but-"
"That's not happening." Kento said.
"Exactly."
"So," Kento went to the door, "I'll be back."
Touma took that moment to get under the covers and rest his eyes until Kento came back. He faintly registered Rintaro going about in the room, but he didn't really try to know what he was doing. It wasn't until he felt the mattress dip next to him that he opened them again.
Rintaro had sat there, and was just looking at him. He looked a little rough around the edges, the day had probably drained his energy. So Touma, with no warning, sneaked an arm around Rintaro's waist, and brought him down on top of him.
Rintaro yelped, of course. He wasted no time to lift himself up, though Touma only tightened his own arms, so they ended up much closer than Rintaro might've intended. Touma was perfectly fine with the arrangement, if he got to look into his partner's eyes with such detail.
"You must be really tired if you didn't see me coming."
Rintaro hummed. "I wasn't expecting it."
"You don't seem to be in a hurry to leave, either." Touma moved his arms to trace tiny circles in the other's hip through his clothes, heart skipping when Rintaro sighed.
"I don't think this is a bad course of action, is all."
"Then," Touma lifted himself closer, "you wouldn't mind if I kissed you?"
"Not at all." Rintaro met him halfway.
The warmth is overwhelming, in all the right ways. Touma quickly melts into it, which he partly attributes to his dizziness, but also because of the man he's kissing. Rintaro guides his head back down, as he props himself onto his elbows.
When he pulls back and gets up a moment later, Touma pouts.
Then the door opens, and Kento walks in with a plate in one hand, water bottle in the other.
"It occurred to me too late," he starts, struggling to close the door until Rintaro goes to help, "that I needed another set of hands to help me carry all of this."
"I too, only thought about it after you'd gone." Rintaro says, and gives Kento a quick kiss. "I apologise."
Kento shook his head. "I managed."
Touma sat up then, graciously accepting the water handed to him. Though true that he hadn't consumed anything that day, it still didn't feel all that nice to see that cake - even if it was beautiful and definitely delicious. At least the water was easier to stomach.
Kento and Rintaro came to sit on both of Touma's sides, and Touma couldn't help but feel a little silly at the situation.
"Here," Kento brought a fork up, like a parent feeding their child, and Touma had to laugh.
"You're really cute, you know?"
Kento's skin was increasingly red. "Shut up and eat."
"It is very endearing." Rintaro said. He had his own fork, reaching over to take bites.
Kento started looking like his brain was still trying to catch up, so Touma went and took the plate and fork from his hand and settled on his lap. Rintaro seemed glad at the arrangement.
Deliberately, Touma took a bite. Truly, Mei had done a wonderful job, and he completely understood Rintaro's enthusiasm. Any other day, he'd be inhaling the dessert like nobody's business. However, in that moment he could only take small bites - that he didn't even really want - lest he upset his stomach.
Kento ate too, after his soul had come back to him.
Rintaro put the plate away, but he didn't go far. As soon as able, Touma latched himself onto him with one arm, pulling Kento closer with the other.
"You're clingy today." Kento commented. Touma responded by trying to make them even closer, whining at his own failure.
"Don't tell me," Kento laughed, looking over at Rintaro. "Someone's possessive."
Rintaro was smiling. "It would seem so."
"I missed you today."
"Don't deny the invitation next time, then." Rintaro said. "We missed you too, I assure."
"Why didn't you come with us?" Kento's free hand reached to stroke Touma's hair. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes.
He'll admit, it took him a few seconds - or maybe minutes, to gather his thoughts from the mush they'd become at Kento's hand, wishing for sleep to go away. Eventually he got there.
"I'm not sure," Touma started, "I had a lot of work to do, there's a deadline coming up... And, I would probably be really awkward if I'd come."
"More awkward than Rintaro?" Kento asked, eyes wide.
"What?" The man in question exclaimed, batting a hand at Kento's head. "I was perfectly fine."
Touma laughed then, the others joining in.
"But, Touma, that sounds like an excuse." Rintaro said, once sobered.
Unfortunately, he wasn't wrong. However, Touma was quite a bit unclear on his own feelings. That year he spent away had him gripping onto hope like he never had before. He fantasised about how his friends would react if he returned many times, with many different outcomes.
He imagined Kento and Rintaro so glad to see him, crying and holding him. That much, he had gotten right. Sometimes, though, he imagined them together, just the two of them, happy with their lives.
It seemed not even Touma, in all his convictions, was immune to these insecurities.
"I just..." He whispered, "I felt I shouldn't go."
Kento's hand stopped momentarily before resuming, while Rintaro hummed quietly.
"So you think that you didn't belong there?" Rintaro asked, like it was obvious.
"I guess." Touma shrugged. "It's not like I'm any sort of normal swordsman."
"You saved the world, Touma." Kento said.
"You're both right. However unconventional, you have become a very skilled swordsman, and because of you, the world is as is."
"Yes, but had it been someone else, someone-"
"Better?" Kento said. He took Touma's face in his grip, making eye contact. "Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason things worked out was because of your inexperience? Because you thought in a way we didn't."
Touma didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet, nodding in acceptance. He felt Rintaro pull the both of them closer, arm wrapping around Kento's shoulder.
Then, Kento closed the distance between him and Touma, pulling the latter's face with his hand. The kiss felt like it was calling Touma an idiot, fogging his brain just enough for him to get lost in it and forget whatever they were talking about.
Next to them, Rintaro had started running his hand up and down Touma's arm, sending shivers up his body.
Too soon, Kento pulled back, laying down and pulling covers around them.
"We're sleeping now." He said.
"I don't get a kiss like that?" Rintaro said, faking offense. He was smiling, the fool.
"I'll give you a better one if you wait until morning."
"Wait, why is his kiss better than mine?" Touma asked.
"Because he didn't refuse to spend the day with his partners to work instead." Kento pointed out, quite correctly.
Touma relented, letting words die until the room felt far away. He almost couldn't believe what he had built, even as he basked in it. It still felt surreal, that a wish that good had indeed come true.
In the back of his mind, the unwanted fear of waking up to nothing nagged at him, but Touma forced it down, in favour of clinging harder to the ones holding onto him.
He would sleep, and remind himself again of all the love he felt, and all the people who made his world that great.