Small Victories

"Mom! I've come for a visit!"

Kusuke walked in to see Saiki and Akechi cuddled up against each other on the couch. They were covered in blankets, eating sweets.

Saiki was being affectionate? And with some random stranger? Who was this? And why was he so friendly with Kusuo?

This was awkward...

Akechi's face heated up as he made eye contact with Kusuke. He looked up at Saiki.

"K-Kusuo-kun, who is this?"

Saiki sighed and stood up, placing a pot of coffee jelly on the table.

'What are you doing here? I thought you were teaching in Tokyo for the month.'

Saiki couldn't project his voice, but Kusuke knew him well enough to guess what he was trying to say.

"I am," said Kusuke, still glaring coldly at Akechi. "It's the weekend, so I flew here. I couldn't pass up a chance to see my adorable baby brother."

Akechi tugged at Saiki's sleeve. How childish.

"Kusuo-kun? This is your brother? I didn't know you had a brother. You've never told me about him. I did notice he called you his 'baby brother', but I'm not sure if that's an affectionate nickname, or if he's really that much older than you. You said he was teaching in Tokyo, so I'm guessing he must be a professor of some sort. How old is he? If I had to guess, I'd have to say he at least four years older than you. Actually, no, maybe he's-"

Saiki put his finger to Akechi's lips, flustering him enough to silence him.

Kusuke looked Akechi up and down.

"Who's this little brat?"

Akechi was a bit offended at his comment, but he hid it well.

"My name is Akechi Touma, and I'm a... friend of Kusuo's."

"Is that so?" Kusuke scoffed. "I would've thought you guys were a little more than friends, the way you were clinging onto him. I suppose Kusuo has told you?"

Akechi brushed off his embarrassment and let go of Saiki's shirt.

"Yes, Kusuo-kun has told me about his secret. You two are brothers, so I believe it's safe to assume that you're talking about his powers. Well, he didn't really tell me, I found out on my own. I followed him asking for about six months, studying his habits, and trying to see if he did anything suspicious. I already suspected that he was hiding something, but when I went to confront him, he told me all about it. The strangest thing happened, though. It was if I had blinked and a day had passed. I had never experienced anything like it, but the Kusuo-kun explained what had happened."

Kusuke smirked in a way he did she he was competing with Saiki.

'This won't end well.'

"Really? You're such a little genius. I suppose you think that's enough. I suppose you think you're worthy of Kusuo, just because you know about his secret. But that's not enough. You're an ignorant child, and you'll never be deserving of Kusuo. How old are you, anyway, twelve?"

Akechi felt his face heat up.

"We're in the same class."

Kusuke snickered and walked over to Akechi. He slung his arm around Akechi's shoulder. He leaned close to his face.

"Kusuo will never love you. You will never reach his level. You might as well stop trying," he whispered.

He pushed Akechi away, as if he was the one who had grabbed him. Akechi looked down at the floor, attempting to hold in tears.

Saiki saw how upset Akechi was, and knew he said something. He didn't hear it, but he said something stupid again.

'What did you say to him?'

Kusuke looked at Saiki and laughed. He held his hand up to his ear.

"What? What did you say? I can't hear you, you'll have to speak up."

Saiki cleared his throat. He wasn't going to let him get away with this.

"What did you say to him?"

Akechi looked up at Saiki in surprise over hearing his voice. His eyes were wet.

'He'll pay.'

Kusuke only laughed harder.

"None of your business. Now where's mom-"

Saiki interrupted him by picking him up and holding him in the air by his shirt.

"Tell me."

Akechi had never seen Saiki act like this before. He was just as frightened as he was flattered.

"K-Kusuo-kun? What are you doing? I'm fine. He was just... it doesn't matter. Just, calm down, okay? This has gotten a bit out of hand, so-"

Kusuke groaned.

"Geez, do you ever shut up?"

Saiki shook him midair, trying to make him stop. Akechi was freaking out at this point.

Kusuke just kept laughing.

"I know you wouldn't hurt me, Kusuo. You're too sweet. Another reason he doesn't deserve you."

Saiki let him go. Kusuke fell to floor, flat on his back.

At least he stopped laughing.

He sat up, rubbing his back.

"Ouch, Kusuo. That hurt. You're mean after all. Is he really worth it?"

Saiki gracefully floated back down. He looked back at Akechi, who was now frozen in place. He looked like he was about to cry again. Saiki hadn't seen him this scared since they were kids.

Saiki looked down, now realizing what he'd done.

"Yes."

Akechi blushed, still a bit dazed.

Saiki walked over to him and grabbed his hand.

"He did something you'll never be able to do."

Kusuke scoffed.

"Really? And what could that be?"

"He won."

Kusuke took a step back. It felt like the life had been knocked out of him.

"He won? This little brat beat you? How?"

Akechi had calmed down a bit, and could tell that Saiki was getting tired of talking.

"I think Kusuo-kun is referring to the time I visited him. Of course, I visit him very often, hence my being here right now. Maybe I should be a bit more spe-"

"Get to the point!" Kusuke yelled.

"Anyway, we were watching TV, and we bet a slice of cake to whoever could guess who would win the horse races, which is what was playing at the time, and I won."

Kusuke laughed again, but it seemed more empty this time.

"Y-you won?"

Akechi nodded.

"Yes. Twice in a row, actually."

Kusuke looked down at the ground.

'What is he planning now?' Saiki thought.

He started to laugh, harder and harder. He was holding his stomach and laughing like a maniac. His laughter was unsettling to both Akechi and Saiki. He seemed like he was trying to say something, but he was still laughing.

When he finally calmed down, he walked over to Akechi and grabbed him by the shoulders. He looked deeply into his eyes, which scared him even more. Saiki was ready to tackle Kusuke, if need be. Akechi bit his lip and stayed very still, as a smile grew on Kusuke's face.

"Am I invited to the wedding?"

Akechi nearly fainted.

Kusuke snickered and looked at Saiki. He was staring down at the floor, his face a bright red.

Neither of them said it, but they both knew that this time, Kusuke had won.