The Sun Will Come Up

Seven

Rin still hadn't texted Bachira back by the time he got home, because he was waiting until he stopped feeling stupid about it to do so, and that hadn't happened yet. He didn't think it would happen any time soon, either.

When he did get home, he wasted no time going upstairs and closing himself up in his bedroom. Once he was in the clear, he opened his hand where he was holding the blue flower that didn't quite match his eyes but would have to do that he'd plucked out of his coat pocket before hanging it up. It was a little wrinkled from the trip, but it was still pretty.

It felt wrong to get rid of it. He'd considered it. The whole way home. It was organic, he didn't need it, it didn't mean anything, so he could have tossed it in a bush or something. But he hadn't. He hadn't wanted to. He'd held onto it.

What he decided to do with it was to stick it onto his corkboard. He was meticulous about where he stuck the tack right in the stem to hold the flower up and not damage the petals. There, it could dry and stay there. It was stupid, but he liked it.

He'd all but gotten it hung up when he heard the dreaded pompous steps coming up the staircase. Rin rolled his eyes. It was just reflex at this point. At least he could be grateful it was just one of set of footsteps.

Rin thought Sae might be having a great old time after his stupid date with his stupid little pet Isagi and walk right into his own room to think about it or sharpen his horns over hellfire or whatever it was that he did in his spare time, but of course not. The Itoshis didn't have locks on their doors and a closed door had never stopped Sae.

"Get out," Rin said as soon as he heard the door handle turning.

This had never stopped Sae either, who swung the door open and leaned against the door frame. He had his phone in his hand and was looking down at it, like his intentional bothering of Rin only deserved the minimal amount of his attention.

"You have fun on your fake date today?" Sae asked.

Rin didn't bother defending himself. "I said get out."

"Looks like it," Sae continued. "Nice new profile picture, loser."

"How do you know about that?" Rin's head snapped up. "I thought I blocked you."

"I have a burner account, obviously," Sae said.

"Yeah, and I'm the loser," Rin scoffed.

Rin headed back over to the door, fully prepared to give Sae another shove into the hallway and slam the door in his face, but halfway there, he saw his brother's eyes focus on a spot over his right shoulder and his face morph into an expression that Rin loathed.

"What is that?" Sae asked, eyes focused right on the flower on the cork board.

"None of your business," Rin told him, deciding to add some extra force into the shove for good measure.

But he didn't make it. He stopped when Sae looked back at him and said, "Don't tell me you're actually falling for your fake boyfriend."

Then, he just balled his fists to keep his hands from trembling.

"Get out," Rin said.

"Oh god," Sae said, obviously very satisfied with himself. "You are."

"We're not fake dating, idiot," Rin suddenly found himself defending. "What the hell do you know anyways?"

"I know that it's less pathetic if you're fake boyfriends," Sae said.

"Oh, right," Rin said, horribly sarcastically. "How stupid of me."