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Tsukasa had heard the stories and the warnings about walking alone without an umbrella at night. He was more than aware of what a fiend could do to you: they could grab you, they could hurt you, they could do other threatening things that he couldn’t particularly recall within that exact moment, but he knew they were bad because that’s what his parents had told him and Saki since they were young, and he knew in his heart that they were real.
So, why was Rui about to take off as if he had no care in the world?!
“Rui!” Tsukasa shouted from across the hall, in shambles from witnessing something almost truly horrific happen– he knew it would! The taller, on the other hand, had turned to him with wide eyes. Did he had no clue as to why he was yelling???
Quickly, Tsukasa continued to close the distance between them despite a teacher coming out to scold him. He couldn’t even bother to look at her properly, though he would desperately apologise later on. This was the most important thing though!
“Rui, you need an umbrella before you go out! You can’t go outside alone while it’s raining or else a fiend will find you!” he huffed, taking Rui’s hand and shoving his umbrella into the other’s palm. Rui glanced down at it before looking back towards Tsukasa, who had placed his hands on his hips in a frustrated manner.
“Tsukasa-kun looks like a mother right now,” Rui chuckled, wrapping his fingers around the umbrella and pulling the bottom part until it snapped into place. “But I’m surprised… no, perhaps I’m not, actually…” Tsukasa grew flustered at the other’s knowing expression, but before he could defend himself, it seemed the teacher had caught up to him.
“For once it’s not Kamishiro who put you up to something, but that doesn’t mean you can just ignore me, Tenma!” she scolded. The blonde was caught between a rock and a hard place, looking pleadingly at Rui to take the umbrella without argument, but it seemed his message was misinterpreted as a catlike smile crossed the taller’s features.
“Ah, but sensei… Tsukasa-kun and I have some plans up our sleeves that we have to take care of! You see, I was wanting to test if I could make a large enough umbrella to cover the entire school. You know what the kids say about those umbrella fiends, after all,” he giggled, causing the teacher to grow even more flushed with anger.
Before he realised, Rui and Tsukasa were both situated in detention, for one reason or another. Honestly, Tsukasa probably wouldn’t even had to have been here, just listen to a lecture and leave a little later, but he supposed he had no choice, and at least Rui would have to listen to his advice this way. If he had to hold an umbrella over him the entire time they walked home, so be it! It was the only way to protect him.
As the gears worked themselves out in Tsukasa’s head, he could see Rui folding some paper from the corner of his eye, and he couldn’t help but curiously peek. Who knows how he got paper, but the aforementioned was at least entertaining with it. His fingers gently folded the edges and created an origami umbrella, pointing it towards Tsukasa as he slid it open and closed.
Tsukasa would never admit it aloud to the other’s face, but despite his complaints, he was rather happy that they got to have time like this together, even if it was in silence and even if it was at the expense of an otherwise free afternoon. Of course, he was relieved that Rui wouldn’t be taken by a supernatural creature, but he also sort of just… missed the inventor.
They weren’t explicitly dating just yet, but Tsukasa was aware their feelings were mutual at this point (though it had taken a while for him to realise, even moreso for him to realise Rui felt that way as well), and the only thing that had stopped them from a label was his own paranoia. He felt bad, but Rui seemed to understand, and they still got to share special moments like this. Even if it was mundane to an outsider, Tsukasa cherished every second that was spent alongside Rui.
As Rui continued to fold origami, and Tsukasa eventually tore his gaze away to work on any leftover coursework he would’ve had to take care of anyway, they were both soon released from detention and back to the initial dilemma at hand, which didn’t seem to improve much in the long run.
“Rui, you can’t just walk out in the rain! You’ve heard the myths, I know you have. Even Nene takes her umbrella with her, just in case. Besides, fiend or not, you’ll get yourself sick if you walk home in this kind of state! It’s not the most efficient solution, but it would make more sense for you to walk home with me, and then I can walk home myself!”
“Eeh, but Tsukasa-kun! I’ll be more than fine, not to mention, I have to run to Wonder Stage, and I’m not sure you would want to continue to stay out as late as you already have! I’m more than capable of walking by myself… on the other hand, I can always walk you home and use your umbrella, if that would provide some assurance.”
Despite Rui’s accurate assumptions, Tsukasa couldn’t help but grow anxious at the thought of letting his basically-boyfriend walk around alone in the dark, stormy night. Sure, he didn’t like staying out late or rainstorms or anything of the sort, but he liked Rui, and he was damned before he let anything happen to him. So instead of answering, he took the other’s hand and frowned up at him.
“Let’s go now so you can get home sooner!” he huffed. In order to keep his own cool, he basked in the flushed look Rui gave him, followed by a soft cough and the both of them heading out of Kamiyama.
Considering the weather, it was desolate aside from a few teachers who had stayed behind for miscellaneous reasons. Regarding students though, they seemed to be the last ones (though there was something slightly relieving about that; Tsukasa wasn’t ashamed to be publicly affectionate with Rui and he knew that the other had no issue with it, but he always felt awkward when there was a sort of unspoken attention on him – it was different than with shows, but in a less ideal way than he was willing to admit or acknowledge).
The walk between Kamiyama and Wonder Stage wasn’t inherently far, but it certainly took a while before they settled in front of the gates, Rui holding the umbrella’s base as Tsukasa shuffled with his keys to let them in. Due to the weather conditions, it was closed to be expected, but Tsukasa was just grateful Rui had actually brought his keys to enter the park versus relying on his usual entryways (he claims he showed the staff all of them, but it seemed not all of them had been uncovered just yet…)
“Do you want to stay here?” Rui teased when they stood in front of Wonder Stage, and Tsukasa couldn’t help but pout as he followed the director into their backstage. Grabbing a small box, Rui seemed to throw in a handful of objects; the blonde was unsure about their purpose, but whatever it was, it made him just more and more scared to sit around. He was glad he wasn’t standing outside alone, but even the small shelter of their dressing room did little calm his nerves.
Sensing the tension resting in Tsukasa’s shoulders, Rui suddenly broke from his trance of collecting to place a hand on his star’s shoulder, though causing him to inadvertently jump from the random touch.
“Tsukasa-kun… as much as I’m teasing you, I genuinely would’ve been alright. Umbrella fiends have no basis in reality, and although I enjoy a good story like anyone else, that’s all they are. Simply a myth,” he tried to reason, but Tsukasa only pursed his lips before shaking his head. He had placed the closed umbrella down to take the hand resting on his shoulder into his own.
Rui’s hand was cold as usual, but it seemed to be even chillier due to the temperature from the storm. Tsukasa’s hands were warm by contrast. Intertwining their fingers, the blonde stared at him head on, ignoring the growing blush on Rui’s cheeks to focus on the matter at hand.
“Myth or not, I want to protect you!” he began, using his other hand to splay across his chest. “I’ve been raised since I was young to always carry an umbrella in hand and to stay with others during storms. I refuse to let you become a victim to such heinous creatures! I don’t particularly know what they do but… I know it’s bad, and I don’t want that for you, Rui.”
The director had to take in a deep breath, gaze turning into something soft. Lifting their hands, he placed a small kiss on the top of Tsukasa’s hand and sighed, shaking his head in a lighthearted manner.
“No matter what I do, Tsukasa-kun is going to say things that make me breathless, huh?” he chuckled. With his free hand, he raised a palm to touch the blonde’s cheek. “I get it though… I too want to protect Tsukasa-kun. I’ve never believed in these umbrella fiends, but I do believe in my star. If it truly makes you feel better to be here, then I have no quarrels.”
Rui seemed to lean in for a moment, holding back mere centimeters away from the other’s face, and it was as if time stopped for a moment. They shared a heavy gaze, unsure of how to act, and Tsukasa almost had the strength to lean in, if not for Rui pulling back at the last moment with a flushed face. Releasing Tsukasa immediately, he turned back to picking up the rest of what he seemed to need while the star caught up emotionally.
With both sharing a red face, they didn’t speak the rest of the time Rui sorted out his mess. Eventually though, there was no more distractions for them to turn a blind eye to. With a slight tilt of his head to signal the other to leave with, they both exited the dressing room with Tsukasa holding the umbrella this time, tall enough to hold it over the both of them just enough, with Rui having to slouch slightly to ensure he was entirely covered.
“Off to your house right? Or did you have anything else you needed to take care of?” Tsukasa mumbled. With a slightly shift of his weight to the other foot, Rui pressed his tongue to the inside of his mouth in thought before shaking his head.
“I can’t recall if I needed anything else. If I forgot anything, it’s not urgent and I can come back when it’s brighter and less wet. It’s getting quite late though, so we better head off now.” Tsukasa nodded in agreement as they followed the route back to Rui’s house.
Trudging along with a large box, Rui seemed to be rather quiet even by his standards. Usually, Tsukasa would fill the space with noise and rambles, but considering the time of day (or night, in their case) and the leftover awkwardness from before still settling, it seemed neither of them were in the mood to talk.
Even when they reached Rui’s house, taking the occasion to make a rare appearance by the front door instead of entering directly through the garage door. With a polite greeting to Rui’s mom and following him into his workshop to properly bid him farewell, it seemed that it still hadn’t fully dissipated, much to Tsukasa’s visible distress. Now there was something even more dire than the rain.
“Well… thank you for walking me home, Tsukasa-kun,” Rui nodded. “I would offer to take you home as well, but it seems we’d reach an endless back and forth of who shall take the perilous walk home, yes?” Tsukasa stiffly nodded.
Tsukasa couldn’t understand why he felt so weird around Rui all of a sudden. This wasn’t even as bad as Rui confessing to him and him sitting there for a solid 10 minutes before bursting out in a yell loud enough to get them put on cleaning duty that day. Was it that he felt bad for forcing himself upon Rui? Perhaps, but it wasn’t the main reason. Was it that Rui seemed to show interest in him but he wasn’t reciprocating? Definitely not that, probably. He didn’t think he was doing that poorly in their semi-established relationship, and Rui promised to be patient.
No, Tsukasa knew exactly what it was. But it was arguably more embarrassing to acknowledge.
It was the fact that Rui had backed out of kissing him. Whether out of respect for Tsukasa’s feelings or chickening out last second due to his own cowardness, he wasn’t sure, but it didn’t make him feel good, and he was sure Rui was beating himself over it as well. As much as he’d like to tell him to just go for it, he knew the taller was not as bold in his movements.
“I’ll at least walk you to the door. It would be rude of me to not. Would you like any refreshments or anything as well before you go? Sorry, I’m not used to playing host for people other than Nene,” Rui admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Even then, she usually just sits on the couch and talks to me about Emu-kun while I work.”
“It’s… it’s alright,” Tsukasa responded, fidgeting slightly. “But… it is dark… uhm…”
An unspoken question hung heavy between them.
Who would break first? Usually Rui was better at holding out for these sorts of things, but when his confidence wavered, he rarely took action. Tsukasa, on the other hand, was unsure of how to go about this. Was there really any appropriate way to?
No, he supposed there wasn’t, so there really wasn’t anything to lose, right?
“Rui… can you lean down for a second?” Tsukasa asked gently, cheeks growing warm. Rui blinked in surprise at the request before bending down obediently. Without a chance to question it, he was greeted instead by the blonde’s lips pressing against his.
It was honestly gross for a first kiss. It was pathetic and Tsukasa’s hands felt all clammy, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it, and now here he was. Rui took a moment to catch up it seemed, but he quickly fell into the routine as his hands traveled up to grab at the other’s shoulders.
Tsukasa pulled back first, breathing softly as the rain finally seemed to calm. It didn’t matter though.
“Can I stay over tonight, Rui?”