A/N: Mizurui talk time! also akito is suspiciously eager to let rui stay at his house tbh

no tws unless specified. tsukasa angst next chapter SLAY

—

"Hey, Mizuki-kun–"

"Can you drop that?" They said, suddenly, surprising even themselves.

"Drop what?" Rui didn't sound mad or annoyed, but they still felt bad.

"I'm sorry." Mizuki quickly apologized. "I mean the '-kun'. I'm just Mizuki. Mizuki-san if you really have to."

"It's alright, it's not a problem. Whatever you feel comfortable with, of course." He reassured. "May I ask why? You've never had an issue with it before."

"I don't know. It just feels weird." They tried to explain. "Like it doesn't belong there."

"Hm, alright. I'll do my best to correct that habit of mine, then." Mizuki could tell Rui was thinking about something else, but since he didn't bring it to attention, they figured it probably wasn't important. "So, Mizuki-chan? No, now I feel weird saying that–"

Mizuki didn't hate it, but it did sound weird coming from Rui himself. "Let's just stick to our names. I think we're past that point. I'm Mizuki, and you're Rui."

"Sounds like a fair compromise. Alright then, Mizuki."

—

True to her word, Nene left with Tsukasa and his sister a bit after the show ended, following Emu's departure. Despite knowing that nothing bad would happen just by talking with him, they couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, like they were forgetting something important that had happened between them they should be anxious about discussing with him.

Regardless, they waited near the park entrance, after having looked around for a bit and indulged themselves in cotton candy and other sweets at the park. Being able to gain money from their music uploads was great for moments like these where simply everything caught their eye, and they couldn't be more grateful to have the ability to spend money on things they wanted.

Nene-chan wasn't lying... he really does take a long time... They thought with a sigh, checking their Nightcord after noticing some DMs from their friends.

"Mizuki?"

"Ah, there you are." They smiled at the sight of him, putting their phone into their skirt's pocket. They were so smart for sewing that in. So convenient. Screw most skirts for not having pockets on them.

"Were you waiting for me? How bizarre." He smiled at them.

"Hm? What do you mean? Can't I talk to my old friends when I want to?"

"It's been three months since we last talked, Mizuki. You haven't gone to school in one, and before that, you never came up to me."

"Oh." They said, "That's... I had no clue it had been that long..."

Did he think that I abandoned him?

It's true that Mizuki had forgotten about Rui lately. They ended up focusing on their new friends, such as Ena, that they simply didn't realize that one of their best friends had slipped their mind until now. Knowing Rui and how he was about losing people didn't help their case.

And the fact he knew exactly how long it had been...

"I'm sorry." They quickly apologized. "In all honesty, I forgot about it. I'm not the best at this whole people thing."

"Ah, no, that won't do. I feel truly betrayed, Mizuki, and this is how you repay my days of depression? With a small, meaningless apology? Don't you feel any sort of sympathy for your dear old rooftop friend?" Rui responded, dramatically, but Mizuki recognized that he wasn't actually upset through his expression– that, and, he reached out to pat their head, a habit that they were very much used to.

It was something Rui had started doing when they met in Middle School, simply because expressing affection through words was unimaginable for either of them at that time. Mizuki, however, was not tall enough to return the gesture unless he bent down, so they got used to simply being the one on the receiving end of it.

"No, I truly mean it! To make up for my terrible, horrific misdeed, how about... I buy you some soda candy from the sweets store nearby?" Mizuki offered, watching as Rui's eyes immediately brightened up. Mizuki knew all of his weaknesses, really.

"Sounds like a fair compromise." Rui agreed with obvious excitement, and Mizuki laughed at how easily he gave in, despite the fact there wasn't much of a fight anyways.

—-

And so, there they were, candy box in hand, Mizuki managing to sneak their hand in to rob a few of the sweets for themselves as well, much to Rui's dismay.

"I was wondering..." Mizuki said, after a bit, watching as Rui practically devoured the whole box in one go. Rui did turn to them as they spoke, though. "It's pretty dark. Could I ask you to walk me home? Even if just for safety?"

With everything, it had turned 7 pm much faster than either of them noticed, and while the city wasn't exactly dangerous, it was still terrifying to go walking alone on the streets at dark.

"Of course, Mizuki. You just had to ask." Rui offers the candy box to them, which they gratefully accept. Rui checks his phone, once, maybe to look at the time, and then stuffs it into his pocket. "Let's go."

"Oh, yeah! About that—"

—-

"Hi, otouto-kun~!"

Akito looked clearly unimpressed at the two people now present at his front door; one, Mizuki Akiyama, friend of his sister and an annoying little troublemaker, and two, Rui fucking Kamishiro, local Mr. Weirdo Explosions.

He should slam the door shut while he has the chance, but unfortunately, he's actually nicer than that.

"I didn't know you let yourself be called such childish things, Akito-kun." Rui giggles, because of course he fucking does, very clearly enjoying his suffering.

"...Good afternoon, Senpai." He sighs, reluctantly. "And it's not like I can get her to stop now that she's started."

"Them," Mizuki says, a silent communication between the three of them.

This means that they all know Mizuki's little Middle School secret, and therefore, don't need to hide it from each other.

"Doesn't change the fact you're annoying." Akito says, anyway.

"How rude of you, Shinonome-kun." Rui laughs. "Well then, I'll see you two later— it was nice talking."

"Wait–" Mizuki grabbed onto his wrist, stopping him from leaving. "Otouto-kun, can he stay? Please? Please please?"

"Are you out of your mind? Do you want my house to be on fire by tomorrow morning?"

"I know how to make fluffy pancakes." Rui added helpfully to Mizuki's side of the argument.

"..." Akito seemed to be much more convinced by that, and he silently cursed himself and his weakness for pancakes... that, and, it had been a while since someone had stayed over with him and not with his sister, even if that someone was Kamishiro Rui.

"Fine. But don't expect this to turn into a regular thing." He sighed, opening his door further for the two to walk in. "And you better keep that promise on those pancakes."

—