Secret Hideout

6

Kuboyasu sat at his desk. Tomorrow, at 5:00. He would tell him. He would finally tell him.

'What was I thinking!?'

He held a pen in his hand. On his desk was a notebook. Crumpled papers covered the space around it. On the top paper of the notebook, were the words "Dear Shun".

He felt like tearing his hair out.

This feeling...

How could he tell him?

A letter...

It was supposed to be easier. At least then, he wouldn't have to say it out loud. But...

Would it be the same?

What if he couldn't get the words right?

Kuboyasu was never a writer.

It was his weakest subject in school, and he usually avoided it. This was torture. Especially because the reaction that his writing provoked never mattered before. Not like this.

Kaidou...

He wanted him to feel the same way, but...

What if he didn't?

Even if he didn't, maybe, just maybe...

They could still be best friends.

Kuboyasu loved being his friend.

But he loved him.

More than anything, or anyone.

If he rejected him...

Or worse, cut him off entirely?

He'd be crushed, to say the least.

Was it really worth it? Should he really take the chance? Would it be worth losing Kaidou?

But...

There was a chance. Aiura said there was a chance. A good chance, too.

He sighed and continued to write.

" Dear Shun,"

"I am writing this because I'm too much of a coward to say this to your face. I like you. A lot. And I have for a while, I think. I just like being with you. I really don't know what else to say. If you never want to talk to me again, I'll understand."

"Love, Kuboyasu.

He stared down at the paper.

He groaned as he ripped it out from his notebook and crumpled it up. It was discarded just like the rest of his failed attempts.

"That sounds so lame!"

He grabbed his pen and scribbled yet another note.

"Dear Shun,"

"I love you."

He ripped it out and folded it up. He shoved it into a prepared envelope. He sealed it and threw it on his desk. He walked over to his bed and let himself fall. He sighed.

"Close enough."

He closed his eyes, mentally exhausted.

He was too tired to think. He fell asleep, fully dressed.

***************************************************************

School was normal. His classes, his friends, nothing out of the ordinary.

Until his classes finished.

Kaidou ran up to him and slapped him on the back.

"Can't wait for the surprise!"

Kuboyasu had forgotten since the morning. When he woke up, he threw the envelope into his bag without a second thought.

"Y-yeah, me t-too!"

Kaidou smiled and joined the others.

...

'The letter! Is it ready? I sealed it, so it must have been fine. I completely forgot!'

Kuboyasu ran out of the building. He didn't stop until he reached their fort. He sat down on the couch and caught his breath.

He looked down at his watch. It read 4:39. He opened his bag and took out the envelope. He looked down at it and sighed.

Maybe...

Maybe he didn't need the letter.

Maybe his friendship was enough.

Maybe he shouldn't risk it.

"Aren?"

Kuboyasu turned bright red and jumped out of his seat, dropping the letter.

"Shun!?"

Kaidou smiled.

"Hi! Sorry I'm kind of early, I was excited to see-"

He looked down at the floor.

'The letter!'

Kuboyasu reached out to grab it, but Kaidou beat him to it.

"What's this?"

Kuboyasu panicked.

"T-That's nothing! Give it to me!"

"It has my name on it," he said inspecting it closer.

"Is this your surprise?"

This can't be happening.

"N-No! It's something else!"

He jumped around trying frantically to grab it from him. He couldn't get close enough. Kaidou began to open the letter.

"Come on, it can't be that bad, I'm sure it's fine-"

Kaidou stopped dead in his tracks

'No, no please! He can't read it! Not like this!'

He turned to look at Kuboyasu.

"D-Do you really m-mean... What you wrote?"

...

"I-I... Yes..."

Kaidou smiled.

His smile...

"Shun-"

He was interrupted as Kaidou hugged him

 as hard as he could.

"I'm glad you said it so I didn't have to."

"Wait, what!?"

"Oh, yeah... Guess you know now." Kaidou said as he looked up at Kuboyasu.

Aiura.

She knew.

She knew all along.

Kuboyasu smiled.

'She's such a jerk...'

He began to laugh.

"Hm? What's so funny?"

"Your hugs are really weak."

Kaidou blushed and looked away as Kuboyasu laughed harder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Kuboyasu leaned down and kissed him. He felt Kaidou wrap his arms around his neck. Once they separated, Kuboyasu looked down at Kaidou with a smug look on his face.

"Do you forgive me now?"

Kaidou blushed harder.

"Y-yes."

It felt as if nothing had changed.

Like it was the same.

But it wasn't.

The small talk.

The meaningless chatter.

It was so much better.