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“What’s falling in love like?”
Sakura remembers seeing Suo’s lips forming into a knowing smirk when that question escaped his tongue a while ago. The two of them were just done from patrol. Nirei had gone ahead to help Anzai with his math homework. It left him and Suo going on their way to send their report to Umemiya.
That day, the weather was particularly sunny. And somehow seeing the sunlight reflected on Umemiya’s shiny hair as the older boy busily filling in a watering can, kneeling at his usual spot near the veggie pots, did something to Sakura’s poor racing heart.
He had expected Suo to tease him, to mock him, or even calling him dumb just for that question. Yet, contrary to his expectation, Suo actually pondered on his question seriously.
“Falling in love… Hm… If I have to describe it from my experience, I guess, whenever Nire-kun shows me affection, I feel warmth spreading inside my chest.”
“Like a fever?”
“Nope. It’s just a strange feeling, but it’s not scary at all. I feel comfortable when Nire-kun is by my side—”
“Like a comfortable sweater?”
“I guess you can say that. When I hold hands with Nire-kun, it kind of feels like I’m wearing my favorite coat. It’s the kind of feeling that gets you addicted.”
“Like chocolate candies?”
“Sweeter than chocolate candies. It’s the sort of feeling that makes me want to spend my time with Nire-kun as much as I can. It makes me feel giddy, you know?”
“I don’t know…”
“Well, if you’re in love with someone, I think you will know it, Sakura-kun.”
Suo was not wrong. Not at all.
Because it does feel like his body is being filled to the brim with warmth whenever he listens to Umemiya talking excitedly about his potted veggies. Even if he thinks it’s stupid. Even so, Sakura feels the warmth spreading to his fingertips. Even with the autumn air blowing harshly on the rooftop, even with winter chilly air surrounding them, it always feels warm whenever he hears Umemiya’s voice.
It’s warm and it’s strange.
And yes, it feels comfortable. When he’s got nothing to do, Sakura sometimes would simply sit on one of those rusty benches and watch as Umemiya diligently watering his pot. It’s boring, yet somehow it’s fascinating.
And some people think that he’s doing all of this to win Umemiya’s affection. They think he’s got some sort of weird rivalry going on with Sugishita. No, they’re all wrong.
Sure, it kind of irks him whenever Sugishita follows Umemiya around like a lost puppy. It annoys Sakura to no end when Sugishita appears in his supposedly alone time with the leader. Despite that, Sakura understands enough that the kind of feeling he’s harboring is fundamentally different from the sort of attachment Sugishita has for their beloved leader.
For months, Sakura has kept his silence.
For months, Sakura has been careful to keep his lips sealed tight.
All of his efforts are eventually ruined, thanks to Shishitoren’s Year-End party and those guys who bring along with them some booze to hype up the night.
Well, technically speaking, Sakura really only has himself to blame for his careless drinking. Last time he’d gotten drunk was about a year ago when he’s still living in the big city slums and some older thugs would sometimes let him into their little parties.
If only Sakura is smart enough, he would remember the glaring fact that his alcohol tolerance has always been rather low. As it is, apparently, his decision-making skill is an absolute shit. It only takes him a couple booze to start feeling lightheaded, mildly nauseous, and strangely yearning to get touchy with someone. A particular someone.
He spots Umemiya talking animatedly with some other guys from Shishitoren by the entrance of their basecamp. Against his better decision, Sakura makes his way towards them, staggering on his feet until his beloved Umemiya seems within his reach.
“Sakura…?”
Umemiya’s bewildered frown looks ethereal in Sakura’s eyes. That tan skin’s glowing. That wavy hair’s so shiny. And maybe it is simply his distorted vision playing tricks on him, but honestly, Umemiya looks very, very kissable right now. Sakura wants to taste those lips.
So he does.
Balancing his weight on Umemiya’s broad shoulders, snatching the front of Umemiya’s shirt to pull the older boy down with gravity towards his personal space, Sakura finally kisses him.
He likes it.
It’s all blurry in his head. Umemiya is saying something but Sakura is unable to really hear his voice. Because everything’s blurry in his head, yet inside his mind it’s all floaty and nice. Like flying to a cloud nine. Like sleeping on those fluffy clouds.
The world tilts on his axis, but luckily his object of affection is catching him in his arms.
Umemiya’s beefy arms is really the last thing Sakura can recall from that night.
Evening turns to morning.
Dawn turns to dusk.
Sakura wakes up in an unfamiliar room with a mild headache pounding his head.
“Where is it…”
He gingerly raises himself into a sitting position before sweeping his gaze across every corner of the room, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar place.
“Is it… Togame’s…?”
He must’ve passed out last night. Someone had brought him to their room, and since the party was held at Shishitoren’s turf, Sakura assumes it must be one of the Shishitoren guys who had brought him here.
Although the room is a little too neat and tidy to possibly belong to either Togame or Choji. Neither of those two is this much of a clean freak.
From the teddy bear perched on the study desk, though, the room looks like it belongs to a girl.
“Is it Kiryu’s?”
He recalls Kiryu once talking briefly about his older sister.
Sakura is just about to climb off the bed and get out of the room to solve this mystery himself when the door suddenly swings open.
Umemiya stands at the entrance with a huge smile, carrying on his hands a tray full of pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a glass of milk.
“Oh, you’re awake!”
Sakura stares dumbly. “You—”
“I think you drank a bit too much last night. You passed out so I decided to carry you home. I hope you don’t mind, Sakura!”
“Um, thanks…” Sakura mumbles. His face burns slightly. “B-By the way, did I say anything weird last night…?”
He would kill himself if his drunk self stupidly said embarrassing stuff in front of his crush. Or worse yet, drunkenly confessing his feelings out in the open for everyone to hear.
“Anything weird? Hm…” Umemiya seems to ponder on it. “Well, you did say some stuff that took me by surprise. Haha!”
Sakura’s heart stops. Blood rapidly drains out of his face. “What?”
Umemiya giggles a bit. It’s such a cute laugh and Sakura would certainly appreciate it more if only he’s not in this sort of predicament right now.
“You kissed me and told me that you like my cute smile. You also told me that you loved the way I always smell like fresh fruits, like tomatoes and oranges. And then you fall asleep in my arms after that.”
Sakura stares in horror.
That’s it. He’s going to jump off the bridge and say goodbye forever to Makochi.
“Well, Sakura, I didn’t know you liked me that way,” Umemiya says teasingly. His bright grin indicates that he’s not bothered at all by the awkward situation last night. Yet, Sakura is too embarrassed to even think of any excuses.
“Please… Please pretend it did not happen… It didn’t happen at all…”
Sakura snatches a pillow and buries his face in it. He thinks he’s going to cry now.
“Hey.”
Umemiya tries to pry away the pillow from him. “Come on, Sakura, it’s not the end of the world! I mean, honestly, I didn’t even mind the kissing. I won’t mind kissing you again.”
Sakura peeks up hesitantly. “For real?”
“Yes, of course!” Umemiya’s smile widens. “Besides, you’re cute. I won’t mind doing a bit more than just a kiss, like going on dates and stuff. Hell, I think I can fall for you for real if you give me the chance!”
“Um…”
His heart’s beating loudly. His face’s burning hotly.
In a split-second spur of courage, Sakura lunges forward to taste those lips again— this time, he’s completely sober.
Absolutely no regrets now.