Cerulean Hearts ||a Karamatsu x reader||

Melody

"Karamatsu, do you have any experience with... kids?"

It had been about a week since I'd fallen out of the olive tree. At the moment, the two of us dangled our legs over the edge of the bridge. Rhythmically, we both kicked our limbs in sync, one leg bouncing to trigger the other's movements. And my friend looked at me like there were lobsters crawling out of my ears.

"Kids?"

"Yes- I mean... yes, kids."

He coughed to try to cease the now thick awkwardness, though I don't know why it was such a difficult topic. We were both barely out of being children as well. At least by my standards.

"Well, no. Why do you ask, my Karamatsu girl?"

I rolled my eyes at the title, and explained, "'Cuz, I'm feeling like a failure as a teacher, lately. Child development classes didn't help at all." I pouted a little and groaned, "A whole two years just to know nothing."

Karamatsu stared at me incredulously.

"I never knew you were a teacher."

"Oh," I said indifferently, "Yeah, I guess I must have forgotten to tell you."

"That explains why you always come to visit in the late afternoon." He plucked a few strings on his discarded guitar, and asked, looking a little hurt, "Are you a teacher at an elementary school?"

I suddenly felt a bit guilty for not telling him. It would have made a nice conversation.

"No, it's more like I'm a singing instructor for a group of children. The number of kids just seems to be getting bigger and bigger," I spread my arms a little wider, "and I keep feeling smaller and smaller-"

"You can sing?!" He blurted out in disbelief. I blushed, embarrassed. He must have unknowingly tricked me into this. No matter, the truth was out. I shrugged it off like it was nothing, though part of me still felt guilty for not telling my only friend here one of my main talents.

"W-well yeah." I finally said.

"Yet another thing you haven't told me." He sighed, breaking out into a smile. "Why didn't you say anything before? This is great news!" Karamatsu took his guitar in his arms and strummed loosely. Warming up. I could see exactly where this was going. He even found a way to end the conversation! "I must ask you, (Y/N). Will you sing for me?"

I flinched away from his hopeful gaze, now fixed on me. The blood rushing to my face made my legs feel heavy, and my chest began to tighten again. I coughed a little, and replied reluctantly,

"Sure. 'Nothing I can't do. I think I should use what extra juice left in my voice for the day."

"Of course!" He suddenly looked eager as ever, pulling the guitar over his lap. "Any preferences?"

"Well I mainly only know English tunes, so, which of those do you know?"

He beamed and clapped me on the shoulder with his free hand. "I know just the thing!" A soft tune resonated through the acoustic. It took me a moment to remember, and then I almost clutched my heart. I used to absolutely love this song! And so, I immediately began.

'If you'll be my star
I'll be your sky
You can hide underneath me and come out at night
When I turn jet black

And you show off your light
I live to let you shine
I live to let you shine.'

I turned to look at him, my gaze remaining soft as my lips moved. This felt... different. He remained focused on keeping with my voice and wore his half smile I adored so much. I closed my eyes to block out the now probing thoughts in my head and tried to focus, letting my voice ring a little.

'But you can skyrocket away from me
And never come back if you find another galaxy
Far from here with more room to fly
Just leave me your stardust to remember you by'

As I sang, that now familiar anxiety rose in my chest, warmer this time. The guitar strumming a little louder, his experience rang clear and softened as we returned to the next verse. The lyrics made me smile.

'If you'll be my boat
I'll be your sea
A depth of pure blue just to probe curiosity
Ebbing and flowing
And pushed by a breeze

I live to make you free
I live to make you free'

I caught a glimpse of Karamatsu swinging his feet to the tune.

'But you can set sail to the west if you want to
And pass the horizon, 'til I can't even see you
Far from here
Where the beaches are wide
Just leave me your wake to remember you by'

The long solo came next. He stood and helped me up a moment. We both awkwardly swirled and swayed, and 'danced' if that's what you could call it. It took us both a moment to get into it. Our cloudy guardians even joined in, twirling above us and letting those cold ribbons of blue lights drift down. Karamatsu laughed, bobbing a little as he made his way closer to me. I nervously approached as well until I was close enough to brush his chest. He stopped playing suddenly, but I barely noticed. I kept singing with a dreamy smile.

'If you'll be my star
I'll be your sky
You can hide underneath me and come out at night
When I turn jet black

And you show off your light
I live to let you shine
I live to let you shine.

But you can skyrocket away from me

And never come back if you find another galaxy
Far from here with more room to fly
Just leave me your stardust to remember you by

Stardust to remember you by.'

Slowly I opened my eyes and found myself face to face with Karamatsu. He stared at me, with his big brown eyes. The traces of pink spreading over his face. The baby blue of his hoodie. My cheeks began to burn, as I realized he was staring in shock.

"Never before have I heard such a beautiful rendition of Boats and Birds. My (Y/N), you never cease to amaze me." He put a hand on my arm and grinned at me through a loose bit of dark hair. We both looked at the ground. I replied quietly as the earth seemed to stop turning,

"Well, you were just as amazing, Kara."

"I think its best when we sing together. Every Sun needs its moon, I suppose."

"Every Ying needs it's Yang." I agreed. He set his guitar aside and sighed. The somber dragons had left us by now. It was far past the time that my train was to leave. We sat together in silence, part of me wondering what just happened. "I'm not sure what to do now," I confessed, watching the sky darken to a navy blue. "I suppose I can take the bus because the train is long gone."

Karamatsu unsurely put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me near him. It was so sudden that I must have forgotten how to breathe. I looked over at him with wide, (E/C) eyes. He was staring up at the sky. I realized the moon was out and reflected a steely gray-white sliver of light into his eyes. The moon revealed his red cheeks as well. I rested my face on his chest hesitantly and felt him tense up. Seconds passed before we relaxed into the interaction.

This was nice.

"I-I'd be glad to go with you, it might be dangerous to go alone..." He said, finally.

"But then you'll have to walk home alone." I reminded him. He shrugged, ruffling my hair a bit as he did so, and said,

"That's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make." Karamatsu smiled bitterly and added quietly, "My brothers won't mind anyways." I felt a pang of sympathy for him and pulled myself out of his strong arms.

"We should go then, it's getting late." I held out my arm for him to grab. He took it with a smile.