I Just Wrote to Say I Love You [Uta no Prince-sama]

I Just Wrote to Say I Love You

Today, Otoya found that it was more exhausting for him to keep his usual smile than he thought it would be. Each step to the door became heavier than the last, and even his favorite guitar was beginning to weigh down his back. The school bag on his shoulder was simply a burden, his body couldn't help but be slumped, and his eyes had their gaze stuck on the floor.

"Otoya! Don't forget to hurry back home, okay?"

A small sigh left his lips. "I--Yes, Mother."

Opening the creaky door, Otoya couldn't help but let out a small, weak grin from the sight of a familiar figure standing there on the sidewalk. "Tokiya."

The dark-haired male turned around, his wide eyes melting into a soft smile. "Otoya, good morning."

Otoya nodded and shut the door behind him. Taking light steps towards Tokiya, he took a deep breath and allowed himself a moment to calm his heart thumping against his chest. "Sure. Yup. I mean, good morning. How've you been, Toki?"

"Don't call me that." Tokiya huffed, but reached his hand up to playfully ruffle Otoya's candy-red hair. Given that he was taller, and had caught Otoya by surprise, he was able to mess up Otoya's hair with a chuckle as the smaller male whined and giggled.

"Aw, you know you don't really hate it, huh Tokiya~?" Otoya casually leaned onto Tokiya's chest as he smoothed down his hair even though it was pretty wild to begin with. Slowly, the two began to stroll their way to school.

Tokiya hummed. "On another note, do you want to share what's wrong?"

"Eh?"

"You seem a bit unhappy. Am I correct?"

Otoya was silent. Gosh, Tokiya's too observant . . . Hm? His hand is . . .?

Peeking upwards, Otoya slowly reached his hand out to Tokiya's, which was still on his hair. "Tokiya?"

"I like how your hair feels," the other boy admitted with the shake of his head. "But tell me, Otoya. Did you go to bed late because you couldn't stop playing your guitar again?"

"What, so mean, Tokiya." Otoya let out a small pout, though it soon became a sigh as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, I did that, yes, but I . . . Um, I'm moving. To somewhere far away."

". . . Oh."

Otoya had to pause in his steps to turn around and see Tokiya had stopped walking. His face was unreadable as his eyes stared at the ground, a small frown on his face. Above them the cherry blossom trees swished in the silence while its petals fell to their feet, and off to the side the sparkling sea that stretched into the horizon seemed to come to a still.

"I see," Tokiya murmured. Otoya, with slumped shoulders, watched his friend's grip on his school bag tighten ever so slightly. "When, exactly?"

"What?"

"When are you, well, moving?"

". . . Tonight. More specifically, a few hours after school ends."

Tokiya's struggle for words showed in his eyes. Left and right they flickered, trying fruitlessly to find something to say.

"I-I know it's really sudden. But just last night, my mother and my father kind of . . ." Otoya winced. "Anyways, my mother's going to be spending all day packing, I guess. She's leaving as fast as she can, and she's bringing me with her. I'm really sorry. I didn't expect it either." Otoya took a deep, shaky breath.

"No, it's not your fault," Tokiya said quietly. "There's no need for you to apologize."

Otoya smiled softly, walking up to Tokiya to put a hand on his back. "Hey, I'll come back as soon as I can. I'll probably only be in Agnapolis for a year anyways, at most. If I can convince my mother." Otoya gulped. "But it's okay, 'cause we can still call, and I still have your songs to be with me forever, too!"