When They Realized (GenMui)

18

The warm afternoon sun filtered through the window of Muichiro's room, casting a soft glow on the two boys seated in front of the large monitor. Both were leaned back in their respective chairs, fingers poised over their controllers, eyes narrowed in intense focus as they played a fierce round of Mortal Kombat 11. The room was filled with the sounds of rapid button-mashing, the occasional grunt of concentration, and the thrilling background music of the game.

Genya leaned forward, biting his lip as his character launched a series of devastating attacks. “You’re not gonna win against me, Muichiro,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with a playful challenge. “I’ve been playing this since forever.”

Muichiro’s eyes flicked to the side, his expression neutral but a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Please, Genya. I’ve been playing this since the womb.”

Genya scoffed, the sound almost drowned out by the intense combat sounds on the screen. “Doubt that, but we’ll see.” They both chuckled, a rare break in their otherwise concentrated silence.

As Muichiro’s character began to gain the upper hand, Genya shifted in his seat, his brow furrowing in frustration. “Ugh, this chair is distracting me,” he muttered, leaning back slightly as he tried to find a more comfortable position.

Muichiro arched an eyebrow, not taking his eyes off the screen. “Excuses. Just admit you’re losing.”

“I’m serious! It’s like the chair’s working against me.” Genya shifted again, trying to focus as Muichiro landed another combo.

Muichiro shrugged, his tone teasing. “Maybe you don’t fit the chair because you’re too tall.”

Genya scoffed again, his concentration momentarily broken as he glanced over at Muichiro. “What, is this one of those junior gamer chairs from Walmart or something?”

Muichiro rolled his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. “No, you butt. It’s a normal chair. As I already said, you’re just too tall for it.”

Genya fell silent, his focus back on the game as he tried to regain his momentum. His character started to make a comeback, and a smirk tugged at his lips as he began to turn the tide.

Muichiro scowled, his eyes narrowing. “You were just trying to distract me,” he accused, his fingers flying over the controller as he tried to recover. “I should’ve known better than to fall for that.”

Genya chuckled, the sound low and triumphant. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. Besides, 'looks like it worked.” His smirk grew as he started to take the lead.

But Muichiro wasn’t about to let him win so easily. With a burst of determination, he focused intently, pulling off a series of quick, strategic moves that left Genya’s character reeling. Before Genya could recover, Muichiro delivered the final blow, winning the round.

“Yes!” Muichiro let out a victorious shout, pumping his fist in the air. “Another win for Muichiro.” That certainly wasn't the first time he referred to himself in the third person. For some unknown reason, he felt significantly more comfortable being weird in Genya's presence.

Genya groaned, slumping back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. “I guess that’s twelve to zero, isn’t it?” he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Muichiro nodded enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Yep. You’ll have to step up your game if you want to even the score.”

Genya sighed, glancing at the screen as the post-game stats flashed by. “I thought I had you for a second there. Maybe I need a new strategy… or a new chair.”

Muichiro let out a laugh, rolling his eyes. “It’s not the chair, Genya. You just need more practice.”

Genya grinned, leaning back in his chair with a teasing glint in his eye. “Or maybe I just need to stop going easy on you.”

Muichiro rolled his eyes, but the fond smile on his lips softened the gesture. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence as they both caught their breath, the excitement of the game still lingering in the air. Genya turned to look at Muichiro, his gaze softening as he took in the serene expression on Muichiro’s face. “You know,” he began, his voice quieter now, “I’m glad we’re doing this after y'know... everything that happened last week. It’s nice to just hang out, even if you keep kicking my ass in these games.”

Muichiro glanced at him, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, I guess it is nice not sulking all depressed and alone in my room every once in a while.”

Genya smiled, a warmth spreading in his chest. He was about to say something more when his gaze fell on Muichiro’s lips, the soft pink color standing out against the cool tones of the room.

For a moment, his breath caught, and he found himself leaning in slightly, almost without realizing it. His heart pounded in his chest as the idea of closing the small distance between them took hold. It wasn’t just a passing thought—it was a temptation, the urge to feel the softness of Muichiro’s lips against his own. But then, just as he inched closer, a memory flickered in his mind—that time at the bonfire and the vape that had passed between those very lips.

“How was it?” Genya asked suddenly, immediately interrupting any semblance of want, his voice breaking the quiet.

Muichiro blinked, tilting his head in confusion. “Huh? How was what?”

“The vape,” Genya clarified, his tone even as he tried to keep his curiosity in check. “I’ve always wondered what it's like.”

Muichiro’s expression shifted, a small sigh escaping his lips. “It wasn’t worth it,” he admitted, his voice soft. “I’d never do it again. It was just on a whim… I guess I was just stressed out enough to hit it.”

Genya frowned, his gaze thoughtful. “Stressed? Why?”

Muichiro looked at him, his eyes searching Genya’s face for a moment before he answered. “Remember? I came out…”

Genya’s eyes widened in realization, and he shook his head, a surge of protective emotion rising in his chest. “Muichiro, you shouldn’t have been stressed. You should’ve felt accomplished, proud of yourself for being honest and true to who you are.”

Muichiro looked away, flattered by Genya’s words but unsure how to respond. He reached up to absentmindedly fix his hair, even though it wasn’t messy. “Wow, Genya, I didn’t know you cared so much,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with surprise.

Genya blushed, his eyes widening as he realized just how much he had revealed. He slid a hand down his face in embarrassment, sighing deeply. “It’s just… I care about you, and it affects me a lot when you’re hurt. That's why I try so hard to get you to smile.”

Muichiro immediately blushed, his cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. He wasn’t sure how to process Genya’s words, the intimacy of the moment catching him off guard. Not knowing what to say, he quickly turned his console back on, his voice hasty as he tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Umm! There’s this new game I got the other day. We should definitely try it.”

But before he could navigate to the game, Genya reached over, placing a hand on Muichiro’s shoulder to stop him. “Let’s take a break from the video games,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “I just want to talk to you more.”

Muichiro hesitated for a moment, the warmth of Genya’s hand on his shoulder grounding him. Then, slowly, he relaxed, turning off the console and nodding. “Okay,” he agreed softly. “Yeah, let’s talk.”

And so, the afternoon stretched on, filled with conversation and laughter as they grew closer, the bond between them deepening with every word shared.