To Infinity and Beyond - Reki Kyan - 1215 fanfiction

Episode 26

After Reki's impressive beef against Adam, we hurried home because we had school in two days, and Reki going to school with another major injury would start to make the teachers even more suspicious then they already were. We avoided the hospital and I sat with Reki in his bathroom, Langa nodding off against the cupboard.

I swallowed as Reki slipped off his shirt, showing his back. I mean, it's not like I'd never seen him shirtless before- we went to the beach together, but this was a little different-

Oh my god his back is covered in scratches and black marks-

"This looks worse then it is." I affirmed, "Probably."

"Probably???"

"Well," I began, pressing the hot cloth over Reki's back to clean the wounds, which he flinched at before relaxing, "One time I did rock climbing with my brother. I did this self-pull thing, where you climb the rope yourself. The harness pressed so much and rubbed so much on my back that this giant black line of a bruise showed up later that night. It went away pretty easily though."

"Do I have dark bruises?"

"Some what. Mostly just redness and some scratches. I'm surprised your sweaters still intact." I moved the cloth off of him and dropped it in the sink, grabbing some cotton balls and dipping them in disinfectant. 

Earlier, Reki told us all like seven times to stay quiet because his mom, grandma and little sisters were sleeping, but when I put the cotton ball on one of the (tiny) scratches on his back, he whipped around with a big offended, 

"OW?!"

I smacked him over the head with my free hand, "Quiet! Remember? Come on, it won't take long."

"It hurts." He pouted, and I stifled a laugh, "Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Stop-being cute and laughing at me when I'm literally in pain."

I blinked, processing that sentence. He didn't want me to laugh at him, but he thought it was cute? Well what the heck am I supposed to do then?

I guess the prime response would be, "You think I'm cute?"

"Of course I do."

"I think you're cute too."

"Ow- god, dammit. Thanks, I guess... but I'd rather be cool, or awesome- or you know,"

"Handsome?" I suggested.

He blushed, turning to glance back at me. I stood looking down into his eyes, the bright light from the bathroom shinning into them as he looked up at me. How... was I ever supposed to love him more than I did right now?

"Be honest when you tell me." He said, his eyes serious. 

"I always am. I'm a pretty bad liar."

He smirked, "I believe you."

"You're handsome, Reki."

"More handsome then Langa?"

I smiled, setting the disinfectant down and cupping his already patched face from the car ride here in my hands, "More handsome then everyone I've ever seen."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"I think you're beautiful too. Even when you dress down. When you sleep, everything..."

"Even more so then that girl on the boat?"

He paused, and his eyes shifted from mine when he thought back to who I was talking about. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened, "You were jealous!" He squeaked.

I frowned, my cheeks were probably bright and pink, "You're going to wake up your siblings! And I don't want to see your mom mad!"

-

At the school, the day of Langa's beef with Adam - the final skate of the competition, we sat and ate lunch together and talked about the time we missed together when Reki was going through his existential crisis. As Langa begged to try some of the octopus I had in my lunch, to which I gladly handed over to him, Reki told us about this crazy day he had when he took time off work.
He had eaten his lunch so fast, and now he was blabbering like a loonatic. I guess he's always been the extroverted type, and those days being alone must have been a bit too long without talking for him.

"What about that guy from the love hotel, that invited you to the skate?" Langa asked.

My head whipped over to Langa.

"Oh yeah, him." Reki replied nonchalantly, and my head moved back over to him, "So-"

"Whoa-whoa-whoa, wait, hold on, please, pause the conversation-" I took a moment to swallow, and when I looked back at Reki his face seemed paler then usual, "You... went to a love hotel with another man, when you have ME?!"

"I-It wasn't voluntary!!" He quickly defended, "He took me there after he hit me with his car, I would never-"

"WHAT?!" Langa and I gasped, and I quickly grabbed the rice ball I was saving for last and put it in Reki's empty lunch box, Langa following by adding half of his milk bread bun he bought earlier.

And then, together again, "Why didn't you say something?!"

"Jeez, what are you two, telepaths?" He deadpanned in reply, "I walked out onto the road without looking, it was my fault too. But I didn't get hurt that bad."

"Well, that's good I guess." Langa decided, relieved Reki didn't have any further injuries he was hiding from us, "Just, maybe say something next time, idiot."

"Hey, I may be stupid, but I'm not an idiot."

I spat out my water to the side, choking as I laughed, and Langa just looked into the distance as Reki giggled at my reaction. 

The bell wrung, and the three of us looked up to the sound. 

"Alright. Meet us at the usual spot after we're done work, alright Yuri?" Reki spoke as he stood, stretching, he bent back down and quickly ate the food Langa and I had offered him.

"Yeah, I'll see you then!"

-

My brother rode with me on his motor cycle to the area, and we found ourselves horrified at the line when we finally got there. A bunch of cars had to move and park off to the side, and then we walked the rest of the way to the finish line. The farewell to Langa was short, he had to climb to the starting line where Adam would be waiting alone. 

I gave an uncomfortable look to the very uncomforting grave stone prop Adam probably put along the finish line, and continued on my way to the big screens to watch with the others. Adam had a completely new look and board, as if he was also going through one of his own existential crisis'. Did Reki really hit him that hard, being able to trip him up like that? I rolled my eyes at the dramatic idiocy of it, but let it slide. Reki's way of struggling was getting so lost in his head he walked in front of oncoming traffic, so dressing up as an undead vampire thing wasn't really that bad, if you look at it objectively. 

The two started fast, and even though Adam was in front Langa was never far behind. Around when Adam attempted his love hug move again, Reki grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. Of course, Langa dodged, and I knew that Reki had more faith in Langa now then every before - just like we had faith in him last time. But I guess he still needed a little bit of support, so I squeezed his hand back just as tight and relaxed the muscles in my face. 

I would keep cheering on Langa too, because I'll be damned if I let my relationship with Reki ruin my friendship with the other people I've met these past months. 

These were the happiest months I've had, the most thrilling, the most beautiful, and I was gonna keep going strong with everyone, for as long as this universe would let me.