Jouska

That was the best part of living in a rustic town. At midnight, there was no one in sight, a sky crowded with starts that lighted the whole street by itself and a comfortable silence that followed any passer-by through their way. It was such a small and reserved town the criminality rate was almost nonexistent, and that was probably one of the reasons why two teenagers had no fear of running through a corn field in the middle of the night.

Their breaths and the rustling of plants being stepped on were the only sounds filling the air, apart from small chuckles when someone's foot got stuck on a root. Kei had a hard time understanding why he was always the one who tripped when he was such a good runner. It was hard to believe that he, a talented volleyball player full of graceful movements tripped almost a hundred times in corn roots, almost losing the race for Tadashi, his best friend.

Perhaps it was because his eyes diverted a lot to the sky so he could memorize most of it for later. Or, maybe, he tripped every time Tadashi giggled. Kei liked the sound of it, it brought him a warm feeling to know he was the cause. And there he was, tripping again. He took it as a confirmation. Yes, he tripped a lot because he thought about the adorable sound his best friend made every time he grunted in protest for getting his feet stuck on a root.

Kei had never lost a race in the corn fields. He always got distracted, tripped, got cramps in his legs, but he had never lost their usual midnight race. So, when he saw Tadashi jumping to his side and speeding away from him, surprise was the most simple way to describe his feelings. A weird sound escaped his lips, even, something he had never made before. He quickly moved, jumping two times over a root to release his foot.

A series of short breathless giggles escorted his steps to the side of the lake, their designated finish line. At that point, Kei wondered why he still bothered to run, but his annoyance was quickly brushed to the side when he stepped into the glade. Even for someone who rarely expressed emotions, it was a wonderful view. There was not a night Kei would not gasp at the sight.

The lake was small and lifeless, but the clear water reflected the sky and in nights like those, when the stars were out and bright, it all looked like a dream. To step into that lake was like stepping into the sky itself, how clear the water was. Kei blinked his thoughts away and watched as Tadashi stepped into the water, shoes and socks forgotten at the lakeside.

He had a hard time telling people how he felt, he did. His family suffered to take an opinion out of him, and so did Tadashi. Even being the one who knew him better, there were a lot of things Kei managed to hide from his best friend. And one of those things - and he was certain of it himself - was how much he loved him. Their friendship was not new, it was a year-old one, so for everyone who asked, Tadashi always had a confident 'I love Tsukki!' at the tip of his tongue.

It was obvious Kei liked him, otherwise they would not be friends. What Tadashi did not know was how deep that love became over the years.
Kei thought about it while he took his shoes off. It was an amazing feeling to have someone who understood him so wholeheartedly. It did not matter how rough with words he was, Tadashi never left his side or gave up on their friendship.

He was beautiful, passionate and gentle, everything Kei was not. He smiled at the tiniest thing and gave a part of him to every one who needed it. He helped, he cared and he always managed to bring a little bit of happiness to the people around him. Everything about Tadashi was love, including his flaws. Over the years, he somehow learned how to love himself - and, modesty aside, Kei had a hand in that -, but it was still a long way until his insecurities stopped playing such a huge role.

Kei stepped into the water, eyes locked in Tadashi's smile. Behind that happy expression, a bullied child was still alive. Someone who was once physically weak and remembered about it constantly. A teenager that still doubted his strength and asked for help with things he knew how to do better than anyone. Tadashi was emotionally unstable, and although Kei hated to see him cry in times anxiety took its toll on him, he loved the fact his presence worked as a solution.