When They Realized (GenMui)

24

It was a quiet weekday afternoon, and Muichiro and Genya had chosen to lose themselves on the couch, letting time slip by unnoticed. The television screen shined vibrantly before them, displaying scenes of clarity. On his shoulder, Genya experienced the soft weight of Muichiro's head as he rested. The smaller one was always resting, just like his brother, his subtle breaths, a symphony to potential hums.

Slowly, Genya huffed through his nose, slumber catching up to him as well as Muichiro's soft melody swam through his ears. As the two rested comfortably, the house remained in its usual routine. The house consisting of Sanemi, who insisted in the semblance of his room, Yuichiro, always relieving built up stress with satisfactory videos, and Mr. Tokito, his time spent productively in a forest of wood. However, the very latter would return home shortly, a day well spent in the dunes.

As the front door of the abode creaked open, the entrance of Mr. Tokito occurring, turquoise and violet eyes began to flinch awake. Genya was first to awaken, facing the older male immediately after, adorning a look of fret. Mr. Tokito looked back at him understandably, hoping his expression of reassurance served as a realization to Genya. Luckily for him, the taller one began to nod slowly, realizing he was in the know-Muichiro, the blatant culprit to his awareness, but he didn't mind.

"Oh, uhm, good morning, Mr. Tokito," Genya slurred, still somewhat subconscious.

"Yeah, good morning to you as well," Mr. Tokito returned with a smile, acknowledging the closeness of his youngest son and family friend. He could hardly contain his excitement about informing the newfound relationship to Kyogo.

Although the two families had since connected from the very beginning, Mr. Tokito liked to believe that the recent romantic relationship had called for new opportunities within their tiny little circle. He internally hoped Kyogo would embrace the news with open arms.

"Yuichiro!" Mr. Tokito suddenly yelled up to the second floor, inevitably startling Muichiro to an immediate consciousness. "Come down here! We've got some shed work to do today!"

You could practically hear Yuichiro's groan from a mile away. It was meant to be universal.

As Mr. Tokito's voice echoed through the house, Muichiro stirred groggily, roused from his peaceful slumber. Genya, ever the considerate one, gently eased him back into the warmth of the couch, his arm draped protectively around Muichiro's shoulder. He murmured soothingly, "It's okay, go back to sleep," as he nestled closer.

Mr. Tokito, observing the scene with a mixture of amusement and mild disapproval, raised an eyebrow. "Alright, that's enough of this teenage lovey-dovey stuff," he declared, his tone brooking no argument. "You two need to cut it out and find a room. My couch isn't for all this PDA." His words cut through the cozy atmosphere, and Muichiro, startled, blinked awake.

Genya's cheeks flushed a deep red, the embarrassment clear on his face. Mr. Tokito, shaking his head with a bemused smile, walked away towards the shed, leaving the teenagers to each other's company. From the stairs, Yuichiro trudged down with a loud groan, clearly displeased by his father's command.

Genya and Muichiro exchanged a glance, silently communicating their shared decision. There wasn't one time they weren't reading each other's minds. Yuichiro had even begun to get jealous, considering that was him and his brother's little inside thing ever since the womb days.

With a shrug and a soft chuckle, Muichiro and Genya got up, ready for a change of scenery. They prepared for a walk, and as they stepped out of the house, their fingers intertwined naturally. The warmth of their touch brought a blush to both their faces, especially Genya's, who struggled to maintain his composure. Every time they convinced themselves that they were getting used to the physical contact, their flustered expressions would immediately preach a different sermon.

Muichiro, always composed and at ease, seemed to bask in the tranquility of the environment. His eyes occasionally flitted to the colorful petals swaying gently in the breeze or the sunlight dappling through the trees, a content smile playing on his lips. Genya, on the other hand, tried to maintain an air of casual nonchalance. Yet, his fingers subtly tightened around Muichiro's, betraying the excitement and nervousness that bubbled just beneath the surface. He stole glances at Muichiro, his heart fluttering at the sight of the boy's serene demeanor.

"So," Muichiro began, breaking the comfortable silence, "when are you heading back home?"

Genya's face grew thoughtful. "Well, my father is planning to get Sanemi and I about a week before school starts. So, we'll be here just a bit longer."

Muichiro's shoulders sagged imperceptibly, his lips forming a faint, disappointed pout. "Oh..." he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of sadness.

The sight of Muichiro's downturned expression tugged at Genya's heart. The gentle breeze seemed to carry the weight of their unspoken emotions, and Genya's own heart ached at the thought of leaving Muichiro behind. He squeezed Muichiro's hand reassuringly. "But I'll be back next summer," he said, his voice steady, "and the summer after that. You don't have to be disappointed."

Muichiro's fingers fidgeted with a strand of hair, which he absentmindedly tucked behind his ear. His gaze fell to the ground, and he sighed softly. "It's just... it'll be lonely without you," he admitted, his voice tinged with discontent.

Genya looked down at Muichiro, his heart swelling with affection as he ensued a gentle smile. It was already so hard reasoning with the boy. Why not just admire him?

The warm sunlight cast a golden glow over Muichiro's features, accentuating the fluidity in his turquoise eyes. Genya wanted nothing more than for this peaceful moment to stretch on indefinitely, to stay lost in the serenity of their shared space.

As they continued their walk, a memory surfaced in Genya's mind-an image of the previous night when Sanemi had come into the bedroom, prepared to sleep, and ignored the mumble of a goodnight.

"Hey, Muichiro," Genya started, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "I've been wondering... why hasn't Sanemi been talking to me lately? Last night, I said goodnight, but he didn't respond."

Muichiro's face shifted, a shadow of guilt passing over his features. He remembered his own actions from the day before, when he had revealed his relationship with Genya to Sanemi, Yuichiro, and his father. "Genya, I... I might've made a mistake," he confessed, his voice faltering as he bit his lip.

Genya stopped walking for a moment, turning to face Muichiro with a reassuring smile. "Muichiro, you could never make a mistake to me," he said earnestly. "Everything you do is a blessing."

Muichiro's cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue as he gave Genya a playful shove. "You're so cheesy," he teased, though a smile tugged at his lips. However, it wouldn't take long for his expression to grow serious once more. "But seriously... I might've allowed Sanemi to know about us, and knowing him, I don't think he's taking it too well."

Inevitably, Muichiro's admission settled heavily on Genya's shoulders. Genya's eyes widened in shock, the weight of the revelation settling heavily in his stomach. He imagined Sanemi's possible reaction and felt a pang of unease. There were only so many ways his brother could make his intolerance known.