My Happiness - Renga

Smiles.

The bell rang as the boys opened the door and entered their workplace.

"Late are we, Langa-", Oka's jaw dropped as his eyes met the redhead.

"Uh, I- I mean, Hey.", Reiki smiled looking away, knowing for sure the older man wouldn't leave him. He scrunched his nose while mentally preparing himself for a possible two-hour-marathon of Oka explaining responsibility.

"Reiki!" Unexpectedly Oka jumped at him, "Where were you?", and even more unexpectedly, he asked with a voice that spoke of worry and concern, unlike the usual angry tone he used when Reiki was late.

"Eh?" Reiki's head that was already overworking itself by all the thinking had finally decided to give up on him, "Eh?"

Oka released Reiki from the sudden hug, but didn't let go, he was still worried, and it was written all over his face.

He always had a special place in his heart for the boys, maybe it was because of the huge age gap or they're immature actions which made him feel even older to them; he always had a sense of responsibility towards them. He felt like their guardian, he loved them, they had become a huge part of his life, especially Reiki, since he'd practically seen the boy growing up, and anyone who saw the pair would without a doubt say Oka had raised him, Oka felt it too, but he would never admit it. That was why the days that Reiki took a sudden leave, he at first thought it'd be best to not bother him and have himself figure out what he wanted. But he'd been getting even more anxious as the days passed, even if it was hardly three days, for him it wasn't the best, since all he could do was worry, worry and worry. He knew the kid better than anyone, and he was right about that. He raised the kid, they'd been inseparable since Reiki was just eight. Reiki would always tell him all that bothered him and told him how he was closer to him and trusted Oka more than his own mother, which would make Oka happy, but he'd never say it, instead he'd scold him for not appreciating his mother enough.

That was why his brain ran more than the many few laps it usually would have, because he knew Reiki's insecurities—and even more his habit of thinking things all on his own— he was of age to feel so. To worry about stupid things, do stupid things, but all those things were only stupid in everyone else's eyes—for at an age of seventeen all those stupid things mean the world to you—and all those small, stupid, insignificant things build your world for you.

When Oka saw Reiki entering he blanked out, —he was already stressed because of a huge order that was placed the night before and promised a lot of profit, the order was sudden and gave us hardly two weeks as the deadline. He was planning a whole speech to scold Langa for being late; he would for sure scold Reiki for being irresponsible and leaving work, but that was for after he made sure Reiki was okay, yet Langa was now learning from Reiki being late— he had so much on his mind since the night before, and the sight of the redhead caused him to sigh in relief. He couldn't help but jump onto him, and it was when he was jostling the younger boy in his arms that he finally picked up the bruised attire. At first, his heart dropped at the sight of an injured Reiki, then he finally managed to keep his calm and speak.

"What... is this?", he asked masking all the questions he had, causing him to tense Reiki because of the indecipherable expression he was making.

"Ah- Ah- This, this is just, you know-", before Reiki could finish his rambling, Oka made sure to give him a good glare, the redhead knew he couldn't hide and just had to tell Oka, "I just went back to the old town cuz' I was bored and I met Shin and the others...", Oka's eyes grew wide, but he didn't say a word, neither did he let go of the stern look, "They asked me if I wanted to smoke, and I made a disgusted face and you know how those pricks are.", Reiki added, "Also I went there on my own, they are all cowards so they wouldn't search for me after you filed a report on them.", he made sure to say knowing all too well Oka would blame himself for having ever introduced the boy to those kids.