Blue Spring Tragedy | Kou Mabuchi x Reader

29: Confessions

some dialogue has been taken out from the manga, as well as some scenes
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He didn't realise he had been counting down the days of the summer festival until the day finally arrived.

Light poured in through the windows, hitting his face ever so slightly. During the night, Kou had kicked off the duvet and blanket, leaving him exposed to whatever air would climb in. Dressed in only his white shirt and dark shorts, he groaned at the prospect of another morning. His dark hair sprayed out on the soft pillow cushioning his head. He buried his head further into the pillow, drowsy with sleep. It was heavenly to drown in the comfort of his bed.

The door opened quietly, a head popping through. "Are you awake yet?" Yoichi kept his voice low, just in case his little brother wasn't.

Kou turned around, pulling another pillow over his head.

"Breakfast will be ready in five minutes."

Kou hummed, desperate to return to dreamland, all the while avoiding the light streaming from outside.

Yoichi scoffed. It was nice to see Kou act like a child again, even if it was for these smaller moments.

He remembered waking Kou up when he was a little kid—like always, he was a mess, with his hair curling up at every angle, small hands rubbing his eyes, a light yawn escaping his mouth. Occasionally, Yoichi would have to lift Kou up from his small bed and carry him to the bathroom since he refused to wake up or couldn't. Granted, it was better than whenever Kou wet the bed.

"Thank God that doesn't happen anymore," Yoichi sighed as he swept the eggs onto the plate. As hot as it was outside, he made sure that the both of them had a warm breakfast. Water always accompanied their meals, no matter what. Whenever his little brother drank any soda, he made sure he drank at least one glass of water with it. Health was always important. Whenever he was some, Yoichi made sure it never declined.

Humming a soft melody to himself, Yoichi slid the plates onto the table. Steam protruded from the food: maybe the smell would finally convince Kou to come down? Yoichi thought about heading upstairs. However, he stayed put when he heard the slow footsteps of his little brother.

Black hair curled at every angle, a hand trailing up his shirt, mouth open in a wide yawn.

Yup. Still a child through and through.

Good. Yoichi didn't know if he could have survived another year of Kou's isolation. A numb feeling melted into his chest whenever he remembered the cold dinners, quiet nights, empty silences... A seeping poison consumed itself into Yoichi back then, numbing him, an anchor digging into his heart, dragging him down into a different sea...

Clap! Kou appeared at the table, hands joined together as thanks. Yoichi copied him; the anchor cut free, the dinner piping hot, the silence dispersing, the morning renewed.

They dug into their breakfast, Yoichi pouring water into Kou's glass before he could protest. Not that he would, anyway. It was with his best intentions. The hum of the birds and the faint news reporter dissipated into the background. White noise.

"You're going to the festival tonight, right?" Yoichi asked. "Have you decided whether to wear a yukata?"

"It's too much of a hassle," Kou answered, popping rice into his mouth. "It's only one night, anyway. There's no special event going on."

"But you're excited for it."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I heard you talking about it with your friends when they came over."