Time seemed to stand still as the two high school boys continued to walk under the relentless rain, their shoes weighed down by water and mud. But nothing could dampen their spirits as laughter erupted between them, their mirth defying the gloomy weather. It had been a while since Sakamoto had shared such a genuine laugh with Yuuji, and he cherished every moment of it.
The mischievous rain played tricks on them, creating puddles and splashes that only added to their amusement. Each step taken was accompanied by peals of laughter, and the dark sky above seemed to lighten with their joy.
"If not Hasegawa, it's gonna be Morikita-san himself who will kill me!" Sakamoto laughed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
"You're close with him, Naoki-kun. How was I supposed to know?" Yuuji giggled, which was a delightful sound that tugged at Sakamoto's heartstrings. "Besides, you told me he has a good heart."
Sakamoto shook his head, trying to compose himself. "Geez— I've never said I was gay!"
"B-but you did say only crazy people would fall for him," Yuuji teased, his laughter increasing.
"Yeah, and that crazy person is Hasegawa."
"Then why did you say people would think you're crazy?"
Sakamoto tried to force out another laugh, but his heart was growing heavy. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Yuuji, enchanted by the sweet sound of his laughter. Unconsciously, the contagious laughter that had enveloped him earlier began to fade.
"But even if I did love Morikita-san, I wouldn't let it ruin my friendship with Hasegawa," Sakamoto declared, trying to steer the conversation away from any personal implications.
"Uhm, yes!"
"It is better to just stay as it is."
"You're right, Naoki-kun. Ruining a friendship for selfish reasons is a terrible idea. I learned that the hard way," Yuuji admitted.
"But you never ruined our friendship," Sakamoto replied with a soft smile, though inside, he was holding onto a threadbare string.
"I almost did, though…"
Sakamoto's chuckle belied the pain he felt as he listened to his dear friend's confession. Yuuji was unaware that with every step they took together, Sakamoto's heart was growing heavier.
"I'm just lucky that the person I was involved with is you, Naoki-kun," Yuuji said with a cute smile.
Sakamoto chuckled, masking his true emotions.
But curiosity got the better of him as he pondered aloud, "Yuuji… what if we ever fell in love with the same person? Would we give up or fight for them?"
Yuuji's smile never wavered. "That's impossible, Naoki-kun. You're not gay."
"Ah, yeah," Sakamoto chuckled, though the weight in his heart increased.
"But if it were to happen, I'd rather see you happy with that person," Yuuji said, his eyes shining with sincerity.
The rain continued to pour, and the chill of the night seemed to deepen the silence that fell between them. As they arrived in front of Yuuji's house, he opened the front gate and took a step forward. However, before he went inside, he turned back to face Sakamoto.
"What about you, Naoki-kun? Would you do the same for me?" Yuuji asked.
Sakamoto smiled warmly, his heart aching yet filled with love for his friend.
And he replied, "Of course, Yuuji."