Touch [Renga]

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at [Link]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: SK8 the Infinity (Anime)
Relationship: Hasegawa Langa/Kyan Reki
Characters: Hasegawa Langa, Kyan Reki
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - No S Races (SK8 the Infinity), Gay Hasegawa Langa,
Bisexual Kyan Reki, First Love, Soulmates AU, Friendship/Love, Friends to
Lovers, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Strangers to Lovers, Internet Friends,
Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Hasegawa Langa
Needs a Hug, Coming Out, Light Angst, Soulmates, Kyan Reki is a Ray of
Sunshine, Depressed Hasegawa Langa, Touch-Starved, Emotional, Emotional
Hurt/Comfort, Soft Hasegawa Langa/Kyan Reki, Langa lives in Canada, Reki
lives in Japan, Insecure Kyan Reki, Kyan Reki In Love, Hasegawa Langa In
Love, Langa and Reki are About to Graduate, Some Chapters might hurt, First
Kiss, Love Confessions, Langa is Touch Starved, Minor Original Character(s),
Kyan Reki Loves Hasegawa Langa, Social Media, Social Anxiety, My First
Fanfic, Coming of Age, Getting Together, Mutual Pining, Lucid Dreaming, Cute
Kyan Reki, Cute Hasegawa Langa, Hurt Hasegawa Langa, Hasegawa Langa is
Bad at Feelings, Pining Kyan Reki, Pining Hasegawa Langa, Dorks in Love, reki
and langa need a hug, Sad Hasegawa Langa, Parental Nanjo Kojiro | Joe, Most
POVs are from Langa, Mentioned Hasegawa Oliver, Rekis Dad is an idiot, Kyan
Reki Needs a Hug, Protective Hasegawa Langa, Oblivious Hasegawa Langa, First
Time, Everyone Is Gay, Boys In Love
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2021-10-21 Completed: 2023-08-20 Words: 94,560 Chapters: 16/16
 Touch [Renga]
by IsaHopez

Summary

In a world where Langa never moved to Okinawa after his dad’s passing, he starts having dreams
about a guy he has never met.
He thinks it's only part of his imagination, then why does he feels nostalgic every time he wakes up?

Notes

Hello everyone, here’s my first SK8 the Infinity fanfic! I dreamed about this a few months ago so I
knew I had to write it. I’ve been planning it carefully since then :)
Please don’t forget to read the tags, hope you enjoy it <3

You can read the spanish translation here

Also, keep in mind that english is not my first language, so please let me know if I accidentally
misgender one of the characters so then I can fix it. (Google Docs tends to change some pronouns and
it's confusing...)
 Chapter 1
Chapter Notes

[English is not my first language, so i’m sorry if there’s any mistakes or misunderstandings!]

Before we begin, here's a few things to remember:

- Langa NEVER moved to Okinawa. All events take place after the anime end timeline (january-
february).
- This story is not graphic BUT there will be mentions of anxiety, death (Langa's dad), and
depression.
- This is a soulmate au.
- Main POV will be from Langa. There might be some of Reki's in future chapters.

That's it, enjoy the journey~~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Touch, sweet touch

You've given me too much to feel
Sweet touch
You've almost convinced me I'm real❞

» Touch - Daft Punk

Langa remembers that day perfectly.

It was a cold afternoon, something very normal in his city, and he was at school. Everything happened
so fast; from one moment to another, the principal called him during class, saying that his mother had
come to pick him up. When he left the building, he found his mother waiting in front of the car. He
could notice that her eyes were somewhat glassy and a little swollen. From there, he knew that
something was wrong. It wasn't until they got home that his mother spoke to him.

"Langa, darling... I need to talk to you."

With a raspy voice, his mother told him everything. An accident, a terrible car crash; his father was
one of the victims and died on the way to the hospital. The news washed over Langa, a chill seeping
into his veins, and he felt his world stop...

The day of the funeral was exceptionally cold and rainy. He remembered perfectly the smell of wet
grass, the soft sound of the rain falling, and the wails of his family and friends. Langa stood in front of
the grave where his father lay. His mother was kneeling beside him, crying loudly and drowning in
sorrow. Langa just stared at everything that was happening. He hated seeing his mother in such an
ugly state; everything felt too unreal to be true. The blue-eyed knew perfectly well that his father had
left their lives forever, that he would never see him again, that nothing would be the same. His soul
broke at the fact, however, Langa's eyes could not shed a single tear... he only remained static, staring
at that stone that said "Oliver Hasegawa: 1975 - 20XX".

Langa had only one thing clear: death had not only taken his father from him, but it had also taken
away a piece of himself as well…

Present
BC, Canada

"Hasegawa!"

The teacher's voice cut through his dreams, causing Langa to wake up flinching. It was a matter of
seconds to recognize the environment where it was. He was in his seat in the classroom, his teacher
was staring at him, and there was a small drool stain on his book. Shit, he had fallen asleep… again.

"I- uh... I'm here, present, teacher." Langa said, his voice drawling with sleep and confusion.

He felt so awkward. He could hear some giggles from some of his classmates around him.

"If you say so, Hasegawa." replied the teacher. "Please continue reading where we left off."

Confused, Langa took the book and tried to guess which part of the reading he had to read. Glancing,
he tried to look at his classmates' notebooks to see if he could guide himself with that, but it wasn’t
much help. With sweaty hands, he took a deep breath and picked a random paragraph.
He was about to start reading when the bell suddenly rang, ending class time.

"Saved by the bell, yet again, Hasegawa. You'll start the reading on Monday." said the teacher,
exhausted. "You're all done for today. You can leave."

At his order, his classmates began to gather their things and leave quickly, rushing home for the
weekend. Langa sighed in relief, he could leave now; all he wanted to do was go home and sleep.
Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Langa grabbed his backpack, placed his books in his bag, ready to
head out of class.

"Hasegawa, I need to talk to you." his teacher called.

Ah shit, just what I needed. Thought Langa, walking towards Mr. Jhonsons's desk, who was eyeing
him critically.

"Um... do you need anything?" Langa asked, trying to figure out how to start the conversation.

"I should be the one who should ask you that." the adult replied. “You fell asleep in my class again.
Do you have something to say for yourself? Are you okay?"

No, I am not ok

Langa wanted to tell him, but he knew it wouldn't help with any of his problems. Since his father's
death, his emotional stability had taken a nosedive off a cliff, getting to the point where he was unable
to go to school for almost a month out of grief. It had been almost a year since the accident, but the
wound still festered, still not healed.

"Sorry." His head hurt too much to think of a better excuse. "It won’t happen again."

His teacher only sighed in response. "Listen, I know things haven’t been well since the incident, I
understand that perfectly. I went through similar grief when I was about your age." his voice softened,
its edge fading to gentleness. "I'm just saying to please try not to neglect your studies. You’re in your
final year of high school and close to graduating... Make an effort, for your mother at least, if not
yourself. She’s a good woman, and you’re a good kid..."

Langa didn’t know how to respond, instead choosing to just look out the window.

"If anything has been getting difficult for you, you can always ask for a tutor or talk to the school
psychologist ---"

"No." Langa interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. "It isn't necessary. I can handle it."
Hypocrites.
I don't need them, they don't care about me at all.

"If you say so, Hasegawa... you can go now. See you on Monday."

He just nodded and left quickly. Walking down the hall, several students were leaving things in the
lockers, others talking or attending extracurricular activities. He felt exhausted. All he wanted to do
was get home, eat, and take a break from reality.
Walking around unconscious, aimlessly, lost in thought, not knowing what was happening around
him.

"Hey Langa, what did he tell you !?" He heard a loud feminine voice behind him and felt a punch on
his shoulder. Langa flinched, directing his gaze to the other person: Zoey Anderson.

Zoey Anderson, 17 years old, 162cm (5’4). Deep complexion, green-eyed, curly-haired friend of his.
They had met in 10th grade and became fast friends. Always ready with a smile and a joke while
showering him affectionately (Langa still wasn’t sure why she kept trying to hug him, but she kept
insisting he was touch-starved). Her hair glimmered in the sun, half black, half light blue, which she
had dyed in support of him once his father died.

"He said something to you for falling asleep, didn't he?" Zoey said, a mischievous smile on her face
before proceeding to stand next to him. “Ugh, I don't blame you. Mr. Johnson's classes are too boring.
"

"What’s up with you and sneaking up behind people?" A familiar soft masculine voice could be heard
approaching from his side. Glancing sideways, he caught sight of Aoi Matsuoka, the last person to
make up their trio.

Aoi Matsuoka, the shyest of their group, which was saying something, considering Langa was a part
of it. His eyes were slit in annoyance while he shook his head in disapproval. He played with a strand
of his golden hair as he joined the conversation, a nervous habit of his.

"Come on. If you already know how I am, why don't you prepare for it?" Zoey laughed, bopping Aoi
on the nose.

He sighed in disappointment, turning his gaze to Langa. "Anyway... did the teacher say something to
you? Are you okay?"

"Same as always, that I should worry more about my grades, you know..."

"Hmp! What gives him the right to tell us what to do?" Zoey complained, crossing her arms. "I don't
understand why he’s so nosy about our lives and grades. We have a right to privacy!"

"Zoey, his job is to care about us..." Aoi replied.

"But only the grades part!"

"I don't blame him for being worried. He's right." Langa laughed softly. "I should think more about
my mom and support her where I can..."

He proceeded to walk towards the exit of the building while Zoey and Aoi playfully fought behind
him. He felt himself rushing more as he got closer to the door, racing across the entrance to the
school. He breathed deeply, panting, calming himself, focusing on the scent of maple trees wafting
around him.
Silently, Zoey and Aoi joined him once they noticed he had left.

"Hey Langa, my bro." Zoey said, breaking the silence. "Do you wanna hang out with us? You deserve
to have a little fun."

Langa only gently shook his head. "Not today, I'm too sleepy... I'd rather tomorrow. I promise I'll be
better then."

"Alright, as long as you feel comfortable." Aoi said. “Please just remember that you can call us
anytime, okay? We're here for you."

He nodded, smiling slightly, his own little way of thanking them when the words wouldn’t come out.

The three of them got on the bus and looked for a place to sit. Langa noticed people busy with their
own business around him, each one of them droning on endlessly. The trio chatted all the way home
about anything and everything. The same cycle everyday: get up, go to school, take the bus home, do
homework, sleep. It only changed on weekends or when he went to his psychologist. Days were a
monotonous loop. He didn’t think about the reason why. Monotony was preferred over grief. At least
he could function in repetition.

Half an hour passed before the bus slowed at their stop. Aoi and Langa got off together, saying
goodbye to Zoey. Both boys walked with one another until they reached the apartment building they
shared. Langa muttered his goodbye and headed to the third floor, apartment 302. Lazily, he took the
keys and opened the door.

"I'm home," Langa called, taking off his shoes and waiting for his mom's response. Instead being met
with silence. "Mom, you here?" Silence. Entering the living room, he noticed a paper on the table and
walked over to read it.

Langa, darling, I'm sorry for not being at home. I had to go to the hospital to attend an
emergency. I left you some food that you can heat in the microwave. I'll be back late tonight!
Never forget I love you.

-Mom
“Oh.” he thought. It didn’t surprise him. Occasionally, his mother had to work double shifts at the
hospital to pay the bills. Langa loved his mother and admired her effort to help them both move
forward in life after everything. However, sometimes he couldn't help being depressed by an empty
house. It made him more aware of the aching loneliness that dragged at his steps. Langa yawned, he
was so tired that he didn't even want to eat.

He entered his room, throwing his backpack to the side, and collapsed on the bed, letting the softness
of the sheets and pillows comfort him with their embrace. He didn’t care about laying in bed in his
school uniform, he felt too physically and mentally exhausted to change. Insomnia haunted Langa
after his father’s passing, so he would get any opportunity and take as much sleep as he could. Some
nights were worse than others, but it was still horrible. Just the night before, he had slept badly, unable
to fall asleep before 4am and woke up two hours later for school.

Lying down, Langa glanced at the photo on his desk, a picture of him as a child with his father and
mother snowboarding. He didn’t remember much that day, but he treasured that photo of when he was
happy. He closed his eyes, hugged one of the pillows, and sighed.

"I miss you," he whispered, his eyelids weighing heavy over his eyes, his body falling asleep
gradually and sinking into the sheets. "Night, dad….”

That was the last thing he thought before falling into the sweet embrace of sleep.

"Langa"

A voice in the background called him.

"Langaaaa~!"

The voice called once more.

He could feel the sun's warmth soaking into his body, its light beckoning him to wake up with its
light. He tried to change positions and settle away from the light, but it stuck him as strange. He
thought he had left the curtains closed that morning. In a matter of seconds, he realized he wasn’t on
his bed. Confused, Langa snapped his eyes open, only for the bright light to blind him. Instinctively,
he covered his eyes with his hand and closed them again. It was a bad idea to wake up so abruptly.

"Man, are you okay?"

This time the voice was heard at his side.
He opened his eyes again, this time slowly, letting his vision adapt to the environment, rubbing the
sleep out of his eye as things became clear. Langa was always slow when he woke up, but he was
aware to know he was not in his room. He was outside, under a tree, the sun high above. Had he
dreamed about that he left school and came home? The sun was setting when he got home. Where
was he?

"Earth to Langa, you here?"

Langa saw around, his eyes widened in surprise. Next to him was a guy who looked more or less his
age and was staring at him, waiting for him to answer something. He was thin, tanned, and wore a
school uniform. Langa tried to analyze the stranger and find out who he was. However, his face was
blurred for some reason, as if he was being censored. Everything was in perfect clarity except the face
of the stranger. Still, putting that aside, Langa couldn't help but be fascinated by how the sunlight
reflected against the stranger's skin, firey hair sticking up like crazy. He couldn’t help thinking that he
looked so real, so alive, even he couldn’t see his face. He had never seen something so beautiful
before.

"Pretty. " he blurted out, staring at him.

"Uh?" asked the sunny boy. "What are you talking about? Man, you’re speaking in English again. I
don't know much of it, you know...”

Langa slapped his hand over his mouth. Shit. He really made a fool of himself in front of a pretty
stranger and spoke to him in another language.
Wait, what was he doing alone with a foreigner? At what point did his social anxiety go away? The
only thing he could process was that he was speaking in japanese. Langa was lucky that he
remembered it thanks to his parents.

"I..." Langa slowly replied in japanese, the language a little rusty on his tongue. "Where am I?" He
was too confused. All he wanted was answers and to know why he woke up with a cute guy beside
him.

"You fell asleep again, dummy." The boy laughed. “We were taking a break from skateboarding; I was
talking to you and you freaking fell asleep!. Am I that boring to you, Prince Langa? " he spoke
jokingly. "But all jokes aside, are you ok? You don’t usually fall asleep when we’re together, so I
brought you here."

"...Skate?"

Slowly he looked around again. He was in a skate park. He could hear the laughter of some children,
people talking, and cicadas in the distance, the environment smelled somewhat salty, and it was hot as
hell. A small breeze hit his face, gaining his attention to look ahead… he hadn't noticed the sea.
Everything in front of him was the sea, the waves crashing on the shore, the sun above, causing the
water to sparkle. It was a sight he’d never seen, so different from the one in Canada. It was stunning.
“You’ve been distracted today. Are you sick? Should I take you home?" the redhead asked, putting his
hand on Langa's forehead. Langa looked at him again, he had no idea who he was and why he was
with him, but the concern in his voice was thick with affection.

"I'm fine..." he managed.

"Well, if you say so, I believe you." the redhead replied. “Oh, right, I almost forgot! I bought you ice
cream, thought it would help you feel better! Now eat it. I want you to be ok..."

Langa grabbed the chocolate ice cream and shoved it in his mouth. The taste seemed too real, too real
to be a dream. Real or not, he just wanted to enjoy this little moment of peace and escape from reality.
He lost track of time, existing eternity in a moment as the redhead excitedly told his stories, his hands
waving all over as he spoke. Even without seeing his face, he was the most engaging person he ever
met. He truly was… different, in a good way. He was unique. Thanks to him, for an eternal moment,
he could forget the sadness that plagued him.

He tore his eyes away from the sea and looked at him again. His face was still blurred, Langa tried to
focus as much as possible to see it, but it was useless; his face remained stubbornly blurred. The
redhead was fascinating. He couldn't stop staring at him. His voice, his expressions, the way he
moved his hands as he spoke... everything. Constant energy, constant motion. He couldn’t remember
the last time he had this much fun with a friend, a stranger, no less.

"...Then I recommended that to Yua and--" Suddenly, he stopped talking. "Langa, you dropped your
ice cream!"

Langa looked down and saw his shirt slightly stained with chocolate. "Oh, sorry, didn’t realize…."

"Don't worry, I got you covered!" he replied, searching in his backpack for something. "I carry wet
wipes with me, you know, because of my little sisters."

"Don't worry, I got you covered!" he replied, searching in his backpack for something. "I carry wet
wipes with me, you know, because of my little sisters." He approached Langa, bending down to clean
the shirt as best he could, using the wipes to scrub off the ice cream. “Sorry if this is a bit cold,” he
apologized, pressing the wipe to his chest. Usually, Langa would have backed off if someone else had
touched him without his permission, but he didn't. He didn’t want to. He didn't understand why, but
for some reason, safety emanated from the redhead, covering him in a blanket of comfort.

"Thank you..." Langa replied when the redhead finished cleaning.

"Wait, I'm not done yet."

Instantly, the redhead took another wet wipe and cleaned some chocolate from the edge of the Langa's
lips. He was so delicate, his touch feather-light, he didn’t speak as he focused, so Langa couldn’t
bring himself to interrupt.

"Done, problem solved!" he laughed.

Langa had no words to describe this.

Why did he feel so comfortable with his touch?
Why did he feel he could trust him?
Boy of my dreams, what did I do to deserve this caring presence?
Who are you? Hopefully, you're real...

Langa had a thousand and one questions in mind but only had one thing clear:

He didn't want this to end.

"Hey, you spaced out again. You’re more distracted than usual." The redhead commented, a slight
laugh in his voice, likely paired with an unseen smile.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me..." Langa spoke sincerely, gazing at his blurred face.

Gently, the stranger put his right hand on his cheek.

"You’re adorable, you know?" he spoke sweetly, laughing, stroking Langa’s cheek with his thumb.

Langa felt his face get warmer. He was sure his face was now at least pink if not a crimson red. When
was the last time he allowed himself to be caressed by someone? Has it always felt this good? He
didn't remember, but that simple touch felt so warm, so good... That slight caress, that sweet gesture
made his throat tighten.
 If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up…

“Langa, you okay?

A little sob escaped his lips as he stared at the unknown boy.

"What... what’s your name?"

He barely choked out the sentence before everything froze and the dream world began to distort,
fading away into a deep darkness.

Please don’t leave me.

His eyes opened.

Langa woke up gasping, sitting up on the bed. He was panting hard, but he tried to calm himself and
get his breathing back to normal. After a few awful minutes of attempting to calm down, he looked
around and saw that he was back in his room in Canada. He came back to reality. He was alone again.

What was going on in that dream?

Slowly, he put his hand on his cheek where he had been caressed. It was warm, just as if it had
actually happened. Although it was not the only thing he felt, his cheek was wet; he felt the contours
of his eyes soaked...

Langa had woken up crying.

Chapter End Notes

And that's all for today. Thanks so much for reading!

Langa finally dreamt about Reki, but he has no idea who he is. What do you think about it?
Reki will be formally introduced on the next chapter~

Also, shoutout to Riuconeco for creating the beautiful art for this chapter, please check them out!
And in case you're wondering how Langa's friends look like. Here they are:

Zoey belongs to me, Aoi is @papervico oc!

All pics were made in picrew: Link1 Link2
Again, thanks so much for reading.
See you next chapter <3
 Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

After that dream, for some reason Langa’s been feeling lonely the whole day.
Maybe a little help from his friends and someone new will help him overcome it.

Chapter Notes

TW: Intrusive thoughts.

Enjoy the chapter <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝The time is right to put my arms around you

You're feeling right
You wrap your arms around too
But suddenly, I feel the shining sun
Before I knew it, this dream was all gone.❞

» Digital Love - Daft Punk

That morning, Langa woke up, feeling drops of salt water coming out of his eyes and rolling down the
sides of his face. Confused by what just happened, he brought his palm up to his sight, which was
blurry due to the tears. Still in shock, he held his breath briefly, then let a sob slip from his lips.

Trying to control his breathing and stop crying, Langa replayed that scene in the park with the
stranger in his mind. The way his hand caressed his cheek, the warmth of the touch, his sweet laugh,
to feel that for a moment everything in his life was fine. Langa laid his hand against his chest. His
heart beat fast, yet he felt a terrible and inexplicable emptiness.

What was all that? He wondered to himself.

Why had his mind made up this boy? Why did he appear in his dreams? He already had too many
worries; this was just another to add to his list.
After calming down, Langa reached the bedside table and grabbed his phone. When he turned on the
screen, he could see that it was full of notifications from his group chat, but he didn't really pay
attention to it. Honestly, he was more surprised by the time since it was almost 7:30 am. He couldn't
believe it; for the first time in a long time, Langa was able to sleep for almost 14 hours straight. It was
strange, and although he rested a bit more than other times, he couldn't help but feel exhausted both
physically and mentally, with a light headache.

In his mind, it had all happened too fast.

When was the last time he had such a lucid dream?

He couldn’t remember. Maybe this was the first time.

Langa looked at the dim sunlight reflecting lightly on the walls. He could tell that it was beginning to
dawn. He sighed, lying back on the bed.

“I just need a little bit more time...” He said to himself.

Without any problem, he fell asleep again, hoping to meet the boy of his dreams again.

It was around 10:00 am when he woke up again; however, he was unlucky this time. He didn’t dream
anything. Langa was disappointed. Of course, he was not going to dream of him again. After all,
every good thing has its end and lasts only for a short time. To be fair, he didn't even understand why
he had gotten his hopes up about it.

Five more minutes passed, and Langa lay down as he stared at the ceiling. It finally processed to him
that he was fully awake. Lazily, he threw off the covers and got out of bed, shivering as his feet hit the
cold floor.

I need a hot bath. He thought to himself. He felt dirty from falling asleep in his uniform, but his
stomach growling changed his mind. Oh well… maybe I should eat something first.

As he walked down the hall and headed to the kitchen, his nostrils were invaded by the sweet aroma
of coffee and toast. His mother was at the kitchen island, eating while looking at her phone.

"Good morning," Langa said, his voice still a little deep.

"Oh," His mother sounded surprised and then looked at the blue-haired boy and smiled at him. "Good
morning, darling. You slept a lot, huh?"

Embarrassed, Langa just put his hand on the back of his neck. "Oh, sorry. I was really exhausted
yesterday.”
"Don't apologize. I'm happy for you," she said sincerely. "I know how hard it is sometimes for you to
sleep."

For as long as he could remember, Langa knew how lucky he was to have a mother like his. She was
always so understanding and good to him. She loved him and was always there to support him.
Especially since his father’s death, both became closer than ever after the accident. However, Langa
wasn't stupid. He couldn't help but notice how she tried her best to smile at him and show that
everything was fine when she was tired and with a fresh mourning wound. Maybe both of them
weren't as different as he supposed.

Sleepy, Langa was just trying his best to process what his mom was saying.

“I have no idea how long you were asleep, but when I got home last night, I found you stiff in bed. I
could tell how tired you were just by looking at you.” She told her son, "I tried to wake you up so you
could eat dinner, but that didn't work either!"

His mother laughed a little. Langa scratched the back of his neck and couldn't help but feel a little
embarrassed. He knew his mom could have possibly gotten worried at some point for not getting up.
Wow. Did he sleep so much? How much time passed? For him, the dream was merely a blink of an
eye, a beautiful blink that had fascinated him.

"Sorry-"

"Stop apologizing so much. You didn't do anything wrong," the brunette interrupted, smiling at him,
leaving Langa silent. "You're still sleepy, but I notice something’s different... did you have a good
dream last night?"

For a moment, Langa considered telling his mother all about the dream but chose not to. It would be
too weird to explain it to her, not to mention all the questions she could ask him about his ideal type
of guy. She last asked him about that when he was 15 and came out to her. Langa perfectly
remembered how his mother gave him the safety talk, and his father just stayed there trying to calm
her down. At the end of the day, they both supported him, which was the important thing. Still, he
didn't want to feel that embarrassing moment again.

"Um, yes, I had a really good dream... but I don't remember anything," Langa replied.

“Mmm… if you say so.” his mother said smiling, knowing he was lying, but she preferred to change
the subject. "I'll give you breakfast. You must be starving."

And she was right. Langa’s stomach hurt because of how empty it was, he hadn't eaten anything since
yesterday at school.

“Honey, by the way, Zoey and Aoi texted me to ask if you were alive..." she said, shaking her head
while chuckling. "Answer them when you can, honey. They must be worried."
Oh right, there were other people apart from him and his mom… how lazy to exist.

Langa said, "I'll be right back" to his mother, and then walked down the hall and into his room. He
grabbed the phone from the bedside table, opened the group chat and looked at his unread messages
from the night before and today. It was all memes and random stuff until they started asking for him.

[Zoey:]
Langaaa, are you alive??

[Aoi:]
It's Saturday, he's probably sleeping…
Or maybe he's dead drunk on a sidewalk, who knows. lol

[Zoey:]
Oh no!! You’re right, he hasn't been online since yesterday.

[Aoi:]
Huh?? Really?

[Zoey:]
Please tell us that you're okay. I don't want to think that something has happened to you again...

The following message was sent hours later.

[Zoey:]
We texted your mom and she said you're fine-
You worried me, u idiot.

[Aoi:]
I told you, lol. You didn't need to be so dramatic…
And I already thought you were dead, don't make me cry, bro.
Just answer us whenever you can, ok?

Langa couldn't help but find the little drama they made in his absence a little amusing. His fingers
began to touch the keyboard and type two words. After that, he pressed send.
[Langa:]
I'm alive

There was silence for about 30 seconds in the chat, and suddenly his phone buzzed again.

[Zoey:]
Dang it Langa!!

That same afternoon, Langa hung out for a while with his friends since he had promised them that the
day before. The sky had a few clouds, slightly obscuring the sun. The trio of friends were at Zoey's
house, to be exact, in her backyard.

“So, let's see if I understood correctly. You had a lucid dream last night where you were having a date
with a dude… and for that reason, you couldn't reply to us even one message? Zoey asked, trying to
process everything Langa told her.

"Mhm," replied the light blue-haired one, not knowing whether to regret having told her everything.

"That's so gay of you–" Aoi mocked him, but Zoey hit him on the arm to shut him up.

“Ok, but you haven’t said much, even though you slept for almost a full day. Give me more details,
what did he look like? What things did you talk about? Was he cute?" She said that last thing
mockingly, wanting to frustrate Langa. "Come on, man; I’m sure you guys did something more
interesting than just watching the sunset and eating ice cream."

Even in the cold weather outside, Langa could feel his face heat up just by remembering the dream.
He was honest and told them that he didn’t see his face since it was blurry, so he wasn't sure if he was
cute or not. However, although Langa couldn't see his face, something about the stranger caught his
attention and was adorable. Langa didn't know if it was the way he moved his hands when he spoke,
the sweet tone of his voice… oh, the little he remembered about that voice was that it was beautiful,
and he could hear it all day long.

Unconsciously, Langa gently touched his cheek again. He still felt the boy's warm hand on his skin.
That sweet touch had left him stunned.

"It felt… it felt so real, I don't know how to explain it." he answered, looking at the grass. “I was so
depressed that it was just a dream; I woke up with a heavy emptiness in my chest and...”

He had no words to say exactly how he felt.

"Oh, I’m jealous!" the girl said, sighing. "The only thing I dream about is weird things that I don't
even end up remembering when I wake up."

"Don't complain. At least you have a partner." Aoi said, sitting beside Langa, looking at his cell
phone. "We’re single and can't know exactly how those things feel. We can only imagine them."

"Don't involve my girlfriend in this... and are you even listening to what we're talking about? Why are
you looking at your phone so much?"

Curious, Langa sat closer to Aoi, close enough to see his friend's phone screen. He could see the dark
blue background, a video on Twitter.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just a guy’s account I started following a little while ago," Aoi replied, showing
them the screen. "He’s funny, I like his content. Wait, I better show you a video.”

The blonde's thumb scrolled down the boy's profile, looking for what video to show them. After a few
seconds, he pressed the play button and put his cell phone in Langa's hands. The video was horizontal,
in a skate park, and two voices could be heard talking.

“Oi Miya, are you already recording?” The energetic voice of a boy was heard speaking in japanese.
There was no one in the frame.

“Just do your thing, slime. I don’t have all day." This time it was the voice of the person recording.
They might be a child, and their voice was a little softer, but it sounded sarcastic.

Having said that, there was only one person instead in the video: a guy with messy red and spiky hair.
A bandana wrapped around his forehead. His skin was tanned, and he wore a yellow sweatshirt.

“Hey guys, welcome back to another video of Reki-Tricks!” t he guy on the screen said energetically.
"Today, I’ll teach you a basic trick to those just learning how to Skate: an ollie!"

“Hurry up, this app only lets you post 2-minute videos.” said the boy behind the camera.

"Hey, don’t you dare interrupt your elders!" he replied mockingly.

The three friends stared at the skateboard tutorial video, especially Langa, who was mesmerized by
the two boys' interactions and skateboard tricks. To be exact, he was extremely curious about the red-
haired boy. He was strangely familiar to his ears (in a good way), which caught his attention. He
couldn't explain it well, but Langa felt a strange feeling of deja vu just by looking at him… he felt his
heart beat fast when he saw a focus on the redhead's face… he was an absolutely beautiful boy.

"What's he called?" Was the first thing that escaped Langa's lips when the video ended.
"Oh, his username is @REKI_SK8, but I don't know if that's his real name. If you want, I'll send you
a link."

Langa nodded, instantly feeling his phone buzzing in his pocket. He opened the chat and pressed the
link directly to the guy's profile. The bio said:
REKI, 17 years old, he/him, SK8 is infinite! Goal?? 130 followers☆ / Location: Okinawa, Japan. 129
followers.

Langa had never been a person to use social media a lot or follow unknown people, it was not a
priority for him. However, a strange urge in him drew him to do it, as if his conscience told him that
this moment should be happening.

For several seconds, which felt like minutes, Langa stared at the follow button until he finally decided
to click it.

I'm the 130th follower. Will you notice it?

He turned off the phone screen, leaning back on the porch's wooden floor, and looked at the sky. He
wasn't sure of what he did. After all, he knew having something fun and different in his life wouldn't
hurt.

“Oi Langa”

The canadian's eyes snapped open, a light suddenly crashing into his pupils. The first image his eyes
saw was the beautiful blue sky with some clouds. A cold gust of wind brushed his delicate porcelain
skin. He stopped looking at the sky and tried to analyze where he was. Oh, again, he couldn't
recognize the place. He was in an area that looked like the roof of a building. He looked both ways,
trying to find the exit, but to his surprise, there was a familiar person beside him.

It was the boy he had dreamed of; just like last night, his face was blurry.

What was he doing here again? Was he dreaming? What's up with his mind creating weird scenarios?
Usually, Langa never ended up making a continuation of what he dreamed of. The way his mind was
allowing him to do this was something of a miracle.

“Um…hello?” Langa said, confused, unable to believe that everything was repeating itself.

"Did I wake you up? Oh, I'm so sorry, man,” replied the red-haired one laughing, putting his hand on
the back of his neck. "I just wanted you to pass me the ketchup. It's on your skateboard."
Langa looked down at his feet, noticing the skateboard next to him. He rolled the board towards the
guy so that he could take the sauce. After giving it to him, the blue-haired one took it in his hands and
appreciated it up close. The wood had a few scratches, and the top was a bit scratchy, but what
impressed him most was the design on the back: it was a yeti design on a blue background. Although
it was not the best drawing he had ever seen in his life, for Langa, it was beautiful. He let his
fingertips delicately caress the board as if it were made of glass and could break easily.

It was the first time he had seen a board or at least one that wasn't for snowboarding. He couldn't take
his eyes off it.

“You're staring at it a lot. Is everything ok with your skateboard? Did you break it again, bro? Don't
tell me I have to fix it, hahaha.” the boy asked in an amused manner, not leaving behind any worry.
"We can go to my workshop after school if you want to."

Ah, so here we go to the same school… Langa thought. He just nodded to go along with it and
hopefully find answers about what was going on.

He looked again at the skate on his legs. It was a matter of a minute until he decided to get up. He
walked a little until he was far enough away from the other guy. Langa put the board on the ground
and carefully tried to get on top but failed. His body shook so badly that he fell behind.

“Tsk–” Langa groaned at the blow to his back, it felt too real.

“Langa, are you alright?!” asked the redhead, running to where his friend was lying. “Did you hurt
yourself? Give me your hand, I'll help you up."

The one with light blue hair accepted the gesture and took the other's hand, trying to get back on his
feet, feeling the warmth of his skin against his. He had no doubts, he definitely still had that nostalgic
feeling, just like last time.

"Dude, what's wrong with you? Did you forget how to skate?"

“I...” Langa had no idea what to answer, he was just trying to play along.

Him skateboarding? It was something too strange to be true. He had not stepped on a single board
since the accident. It was not the same feeling anymore.

“Can you… help me remember it?”

Langa heard a confused sound coming from the other guy; however, he agreed to help him. The
redhead decided to teach him (or remind him) of the basics: keep his balance on a board and, most
importantly, move.
The canadian carefully got onto the skateboard, feeling the wheels under him move, everything
around him shaky, but suddenly a pair of hands grabbed behind his shoulders before he could fall.

"Don't worry, I got you." he whispered, trying to get his friend to stop shaking. "Trust me, I won't let
you go."

For a second, Langa felt his heart beating faster.

They had a good time practicing skateboarding until Langa felt confident he could do it alone. The
redhead never let go of him; he stayed by his side, supporting him. It was just the two of them
enjoying each other's company in their own little world.

"Let me try alone, I think I got it," says Langa after practicing for a while. "Push me."

The other one just laughed and obeyed him. With much more ease, Langa mastered skateboarding as
if he had been doing it for months and was a professional. It was similar to snowboarding, however
this was something different. He felt so good and free, as if this moment he was living should be
happening.

"That's the Langa I know!" the guy yelled excitedly, a laugh coming from his throat. "You're back to
normal. You worried me for a second."

Langa stopped in front of his friend, getting off the skateboard. The redhead had his hand raised,
asking for a high five. Due to the emotion of the moment, Langa did not hesitate a second to
reciprocate and shake his hand. At that moment, he felt something click, something inside of him said
to not separate from him.

The canadian kept his palm pressed with the guy's one. Neither dared to move. On the opposite,
Langa unconsciously (and hesitating) intertwined his fingers with the other's, feeling the warmth of
his hands and how they began to sweat from his nerves. He could notice the colored bandages on the
other's finger and how his hand was a little smaller than his; it seemed adorable.

Looking up again, Langa could see that the other seemed to be staring at him, and although he
couldn't see his face clearly, he could feel something special in it: a sweet and innocent sensation.
Neither dared to speak, but the silence wasn't awkward at all.

Langa wanted so much to be able to see that face clearly, not just a blurred figure. He needed to know
who was the person that made him feel this way, no matter if it was just a figment of his imagination.

The boy approached Langa, their intertwined hands positioned between their chests, their faces a few
centimeters apart, feeling each other's breath. Langa could feel his cheeks heating up, and he was
convinced that his heart would explode at any moment from how fast it was going. He was also sure
that the other could feel it.

"You know, Langa, you're acting a little weird today." The redhead broke the silence. “But it doesn't
bother me at all, don't worry. I find it cute how you’re acting this way. You make me feel special.” A
small chuckle was heard from the boy's lips as he gently stroked Langa's thumb.

Yep, Langa would definitely explode at any moment.

Suddenly the bell rang, announcing that they had to go back to class. The redhead gently separated
from Langa.

"Ugh, I don't get why breaks always end too quickly," he complained, going to get his stuff. "Come
on, it's time to go back."

The tanned boy held his hand again, not giving Langa time to react, and quickly led him towards the
door to the stairs. For a moment, he thought he would get more clues as to where he was when he
passed through the door, but to his surprise, all that was on the other side was an intense bright white
light. Langa tightened the boy's grip, swallowed, and stepped forward to follow him. They both
entered thru the door. After that, everything faded again.

Langa woke up back to his reality.

About a week had passed since the dreams began.

Since that day, almost every time Langa slept, he dreamed of that unknown guy. Most of the time, the
dreams were domestic, or sometimes they would skate together. They were such simple dreams,
something that could easily also happen in his reality with his friends. However this was different;
that boy made him feel special and free.

Thanks to that, sleeping had become an activity that he liked more than usual. Somehow, that had also
lifted his spirits a bit, something that his mother, friends, and teachers could notice. It was as if
someone had brainwashed him. Still, not everything was perfect, waking up in the real world
depressed him more since it all started.

It wasn't that he hated completely living. He just missed being in a carefree world.

When he was awake, Langa had the same routine as always. The only difference was that he would
log into Twitter more and watch videos of the boy that Aoi showed him: @REKI_SK8. Langa had to
admit that he was amused, in a good way; that japanese seemed like a sweet boy and a sunshine. His
videos made his dark days into happy ones.

Langa wasn't the most expressive person, but sometimes he would like his tweets and comment:
"you're funny" "lol" "Nice video" or some thumbs-up emoji. His friends teased him, saying he acted
like a boomer because of how he wrote. He didn't care at all, he was honest with what he said, and
that made him feel at peace.

Coming back to reality, it’s February 8: Langa's 18th birthday.

The day wasn't too out of the ordinary- He just went out to eat with his friends and mother at his
favorite restaurant. It had been a good day.

Still, he couldn't help but feel incomplete, empty. It was his first birthday without his dad, which
depressed him. When they got home that night, they couldn't help but bring up the subject, his mother
couldn't help but hug him and let out some tears.

"Your father would be proud of you," said his mother sweetly, stroking Langa's hair.

After that and saying good night to each other, Langa went to take a shower. He let the hot water run
down his thin pale body, hoping that it could somehow wash away the negative thoughts that invaded
his mind. Returning to his room and changing into his pajamas, he lay exhausted on the bed.

Even after days like this, filled with company and distractions, he couldn't help but feel lonely. He
hated that. He hated the feeling of wanting to say everything that was hurting and yet not feeling
capable of doing that.

He was afraid. He was so scared of the future. He was going to graduate soon and still didn't know
what to do with his life– what would happen to him? Was he actually ready? He could barely manage
his life, how was he going to survive such a cruel world?

What if he disappeared and avoided that problem?

His mind was filled with intrusive thoughts. "Please leave me alone, just today." Langa thought,
hugging his pillow, to then open his cell phone to distract himself from his misery.

Scrolling down the screen, a video of @REKI_SK8 appeared. Strangely, this time it wasn't something
related to skateboarding. It was something more casual and lasted only a few seconds. It was just him
pulling a prank on two guys, a green-haired and a pink-haired one.

"They seem to be good friends," He thought, and then gave him a "like". He also couldn't help but
wonder: Do I really deserve love?

Langa never posted things, but now he really felt the urge to.

"Who am I?"

Langa was tired.

I want to live, not just survive.

After posting that, he shut the phone and left it on his nightstand. He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes
getting watery from the inexplicable thoughts that invaded his mind. For a while, he thought about
seeing his mother and asking her to comfort him, but he didn't want to bother her. He knew how tired
she was.
Closing his eyes, he sobbed.

"See you soon…"

After that, he tried to fall asleep.

Langa couldn't sleep, and that disappointed him.

He had no idea how long he moved and turned around, trying to get comfortable, but it felt like an
eternity. Why does this always happen to me? I'm tired, he thought. Suddenly, a notification buzzed on
his phone. Oh, he forgot to put it on silent mode

With his burning eyes and a headache from lack of sleep (and crying), Langa took the phone in his
hands. The screen said 1:45am and a notification said "You have received a message". Confused, he
opened the app and saw the requests.

@REKI_SK8 wants to send you a message!

"The fuck?" Langa saw the notification again. Did he see well? Did they put something weird in his
food? He had never received messages this late, especially from a stranger. It was a matter of seconds
until his mind could process who messaged him.

"Huh?" escaped Langa's lips as he realized it was the skater boy he was following. "Is this a joke?"

Langa checked the profile to confirm if it was not a troll account, but it was the real one. Not knowing
what to expect, he accepted the request and opened the text.

[REKI:]
Hey buddy, are you alright?

That was written in english.

Yep, they definitely put something in his food…

Confused, he reread the text. This was real; that guy had actually messaged him. It took about a
minute for Langa to decide whether or not to reply.

“Um…hello?” he sent the message, throwing the cell phone beside him out of embarrassment. This is
useless, surely that guy just got confused and texted the wrong chat.

After a minute, he felt his phone buzzing and saw the screen.
[REKI:]
Oh wow,
Hello!
I didn't think you were going to answer me... after all, you are my favorite follower and I was nervous
xd

His what follower? This can't be

That boy wrote to him again in english. Instantly, Langa changed his keyboard language to japanese
and began to reply to him.

[Langa:]
Do you know me? How am I your favorite?
Oh, and you don't need to write to me in english, I do know japanese.

[REKI:]
Oh!
Thanks, thanks!
You surprised me, how lucky you are to be an intellectual. You saved me from continuing to use the
translator.
My english is broken! :'D
And of course! You are my 130 follower!! You made one of my dreams come true hehe

Langa felt great happiness, which was immediately suppressed by his thoughts.

What Am I doing with my life? Langa thought. He was really taking the time to write to a stranger on
the internet...

[REKI:]

I read your tweet and, I don't know, bro

Sorry for being so direct
😖
I know this is weird because I don't know you, but are you okay?

Langa didn't know how to feel. Why did he care about his personal life? It's not like he was someone
famous or important, although he admitted that he was tempted to answer because he needed someone
to talk to but preferred to avoid the question.
 [Langa:]
How did you read my post?

[REKI:]
Oh sorry!
I'll explain, it's just that I always see you commenting in a super monotonous way on my posts and
giving likes . You’re always one of the first to comment, and apart from that you’re my 130th, and
well…
Anyway! I saw your comment today, and I wanted to browse your profile. Although later, I saw your
tweets and that's why I couldn't help but ask if you were okay :T

Langa just sighed, embarrassed.

Note to self: do not post about personal problems on social media.

[Langa:]
Oh, that.
Sorry

[REKI:]

Hey, don't apologize for that!

We all vent on the internet~
It's normal ^^
Anyways, my friend
I know it's not very helpful, but I'm here if you need anything, okay?
You don't know me, but I kinda know you. lol
But I'm here, and I don't like to see one of my internet friends going around feeling that way.
I hope you feel more like yourself soon!
Remember that you deserve to be happy
You knowI' m here, friend!!
Peace <3

Peace? Internet friend? I’m here if you need anything?

What's going on?

Langa had no idea, but those messages gave him peace, and he felt like he could finally fall asleep.
Unaware of his actions, his fingers went back to writing something and sent it.

[Langa:]
I don't know what to say, but thank you very much.
 I needed it.
Thanks stranger
Bye.

“It was ok that I talked to him, right?” he thought, he was too tired to think straight, he just knew it
felt safe.

[REKI:]
No problem man!
And you can call me Reki :)
Yes, that’s my real name, lol
And you are?

[Langa:]
Langa
That’s my name

[REKI:]

Nice to meet you, Langa ^^

Was he going too fast? Langa had only one thing clear: This had only just begun.

Chapter End Notes

Hey hey hey! Here's chapter 2 after some months of writing it.
Sorry bout taking so long, college has really drained my energy and mental health, I'm in the
process of changing careers and stuff, but oh well, here's the chapter!
Reki and Langa finally meet (kinda) and it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship. What do you
guys think will happen? I wanna see what you think <3

See you next week, ly <3

 Chapter 3
Chapter Notes

Hey hey hey! Just letting you know that the first part of this chapter will be kind of a chat (since
Langa and Reki have only spoken there, you know.) But don't worry, the rest of the story will be
narrated normally like I usually do. Please keep that in mind, I know some people get annoyed
by chats on fanfics, but I swear it's gonna be the only time I do it because it actually matters to
the story.

Also, this was supposed to come out on friday but college got me busy + my mom got covid so it
got difficult for me to upload it sooner. Sorry about that.

Please let me know If I should put a TW somewhere or If I made any writing mistakes. That's all
I guess.
Enjoy the chapter~~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Stay until the morning

'Cause, baby, loving you's the real thing
It just feels right
So give me all of your love,
give me something to dream about❞

» Daydream - Harry Styles

It's been 7 days since Langa's life took a 180 degree turn.
Exactly one week since another strange thing joined his life. And he wasn't just referring to the lucid
dreams he used to have, but also that Japanese skateboarder he had started texting. If he thought his
friends texted him a lot, Reki did more. Regardless of the time zone difference, he wrote to Langa to
check if he was alright or if he had already eaten, asked him random questions, and even involved in
his small daily decisions such as what he should have for breakfast today: “if toast again or cereal".
Sometimes he just sent videos or memes, etc. No matter what it was, he always kept in touch.

Although Langa wasn't exactly the most outgoing guy in the universe, he wasn't going to lie that
talking to Reki all the time had helped improve his days.

Reki was too nice to him and strangely he always texted back quickly. Perhaps he had realized that
Langa spent a lot of time alone and that made him feel sorry for him. He hadn't the faintest idea. Still,
he was just making the most of his company for as long as it lasted.
For Langa, Reki and the dreams he had of the stranger came at the time he needed it most. They were
almost the same as free therapy. Without realizing it, his mind became only occupied by the two of
them. Even his friends began to notice this change and now they teased him that he was starting to
crush on someone. Langa was just trying to avoid telling them much about his situation, since it
would be too much work for him to tell them everything that was going on with his life, and he didn't
have as much social battery to expand on that. To be exact, he still didn't have that much energy to
communicate the new good in his life... or maybe he was afraid of being judged or that someone else
would take Reki from him.

Returning to the present; It was Sunday afternoon and Langa was home alone. The tv was on but he
didn't pay attention to what it was saying, he only had it as a background noise.

Langa was in the kitchen trying to make dinner before his mother returned from the hospital. He
wanted to surprise her with a lemon pasta. Maybe he wasn't the best chef, but he could handle himself
well in the kitchen

Cooking the last details of the pasta, Langa could hear his cell phone buzzing and looked at it out of
the corner of his eye.

Oh, speaking of the devil.

It was a notification from Reki.

Luckily he had just finished, so he covered the food to prevent it from getting cold, took his cell
phone and lay down on the sofa to read the message.

[REKI:]
Hey hey hey, good morning!
Or is it afternoon/night? Ugh, the time difference is still confusing me horribly.
I still have to download that app to have both time zones on my phone screen :'D
ANYWAY
how’s my favorite internet friend today? ;)

Reki was as talkative as usual… the canadian thought, not bothering him at all. His fingers quickly
typed the answer.

[Langa:]
Hi
I'm fine for now.
I didn't do anything special, I just cooked dinner.

[REKI:]
OMG, LANGA MASTER CHEF!
Yeah bro, show who’s the boss~~
What did you cook?
For some reason I can imagine you making dino nuggets, lol.

[Langa:]
Just pasta, it's not a big deal.
And I don't think my mom wants nuggets, lol.
What are you up to?

[REKI:]
Oh man, I'm just waiting for my friends to pick me up.
I'll go skateboarding in a super secret place!~

Langa frowned while looking at the text, what did he mean? Why should a sport be kept a secret?

[Langa:]
Um, secret place?

[REKI:]
That's right, just like you read it~
And I'll never tell you which one it is!
Mua ha ha >:D

The light blue hair one couldn't help but chuckle. Reki had such unique and rare occurrences, but that
made him special. Langa was sure that if twitter had the option to send audios, Reki would spend the
whole day talking to him like that.

[REKI:]
Ugh, who am I kidding. I'll tell you, I trust you a lot.
I doubt you can report me or the place if you are thousands of miles from here, lol.
I'm going to S, an underground place where only certain Okinawan skaters can go to compete or hang
out.

[Langa:]
So it's an illegal place…
You’re a criminal?

[REKI:]
I'M NOT A CRIMINAL!
The disappointment, the betrayal brother. I didn't think you would see me like this </3
[Langa:]
I know, I just wanted to bother you.

[REKI:]
Oh
(Let's just ignore how naive I was)
It's really cool to be there, my friends are too.
I'm sure you'd get along with them.
Cherry is the most mature but he's actually cool, Joe is kind of a father figure and he bothers Cherry
24/7, Shadow is kind of bipolar and likes my manager. Miya is the youngest, he still has trust issues
with us but he still loves us.

[REKI:]
We've known each other for less than a year but we still get along pretty well.
We are a strange herd! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Langa's light blue eyes carefully read everything Reki said, trying somehow to imagine how they
would all look. Although the group seemed like chaos at first thought, Langa could understand their
harmony. Oh well, not really, he just assumed that by being Reki's friends they would have something
special.

[Langa:]
Joe… Shadow… What kind of names are those?

He sincerely asked the japanese.

[REKI:]
Oh, we need nicknames when entering S.
We can't use our real names.
Since I'm an anti-system, I still ended up using my name /jk

[Langa:]
If my life wasn't so weird, I'd say this is the most random thing I've ever known.

[REKI:]
Hey don't say weirdo to me and the squad </3

Along with that message, Reki sent a meme reaction of himself as if he was crying. Getting a subtle
smile to form on Langa's lips.

[REKI:]
Hey bro, now that I realize it, I've never seen your face. How unfair!
How should I know if you're not an old man living in your mother's basement.
All I know is that you're 5 months older than me and canadian.

It was true, Langa never posted a photo of himself on social media. It wasn't because he was afraid of
the internet or anything like that, he just didn't feel like he had the energy to put together a pretty
profile. Langa only knew about Reki's appearance from his videos, but Reki didn't know anything
about him and still trusted him too much. Now Langa couldn't help but feel guilty about it.

[Langa:]
I'm sorry.

[REKI:]
Hey, don't apologize. I don’t want to pressure you.
Sometimes I am just really intense without realizing it...
Just do it when you feel comfortable and confident with me.
Consent is everything~~

[Langa:]
I don't know, I don't take many photos.
Let's say I’m not very confident of myself. But I guess I can describe me.
Um... my hair is straight and light blue, I have blue eyes, I'm pale, I'm also half Japanese... I'm really
bad at this, sorry.

[Reki:]
Wow, you have the best of both worlds, Japanese and Canadian.
How envy :')
Now I'm more curious about how you are, damn.
Anyway, I hate to leave so soon, but they already came for me.
We should make a videocall someday, consider it.

[Langa:]
I'll think about it.
Enjoy S.

[REKI:]
I will, see ya soon!
Langa turned off the screen and sighed, letting himself lie down on the sofa. It had only been a chat
but he felt that all his social battery had run out with it. A video call with Reki… did he really trust
him enough to do that? He knew him relatively recently and on another occasion he would feel
nervous, especially because he is an “internet stranger”. If Langa mostly kept quiet in a text chat, he
couldn't imagine himself in that situation. He could already imagine his mom panicking if she saw
him talking to another boy.

He remembered the messages again, maybe he should send him a picture. His thoughts were
interrupted by the sound of keys trying to unlock the front door.

Oh well, maybe that's for another day.

“Hasegawa, you still haven't handed in the homework that was due yesterday. I give you the
opportunity to hand it in in my next class with the grade above 80%. Don't let this mistake happen
again."

It was the email from his math teacher that was on the screen.

Langa was confused, he had a clear image of doing the homework with his friends and giving it to the
teacher. What does the teacher mean? Did he lost the mail?

Determined to find out what happened, Langa left his house and went to Aoi's apartment, which was
downstairs. After ringing the bell and waiting a few seconds, the golden-haired boy opened the door.

"What's up?" Aoi asked, confused by Langa's unexpected visit, "Did I invited you to my house and
didn't remember? I’m so sorry—"

"It's not that." Langa clarified. "The teacher just told me that I never did the math homework, when in
fact I did it with you at Zoey's place and we even submitted it at the same time. Did they send you that
mail too?"

Langa only saw how Aoi's facial features looked at him strangely, trying to understand what his friend
was saying, but it seemed to be clueless.

"Langa..." Aoi said, with a certain tone of concern in his voice. "You never did homework with us and
we haven't been at Zoey’s place since last week."

"Huh?" was the only thing that came out of Langa's lips.
What just happened?

Darkness, Langa only saw darkness.

Langa was in his room, but he knew it wasn't real and he was in a dream. It looked like a windowless
and abandoned version of his room, the light was almost dim, things were worn, the floor was full of
water up to his ankles, there was not a single noise, Langa could only hear his breathing and the water
moving under him.

Langa was calm, maybe this nightmare would be static, so he decided to sit on the bed and wait for
when he woke up in real life, looking at an exact point in the room. Suddenly, he noticed something
that began to worry him... the water level was rising quickly.

Desperate, he got up and tried to open the door of the room, but sadly, it was locked and he could not
open it no matter how hard he tried. Without realizing it, the water was almost up to his chest, he
could see around how his things began to flood. It was a matter of a few seconds when the water was
almost through the roof. Langa took a deep breath before he felt the ground disappear and a strong
water flow dragged him away.

That current left him in another place, it was similar to the ocean and he could see the blue surface of
the water far away from him. Langa moved his legs and tried to swim as best he could, but he still felt
like his body was strongly dragged towards the black bottom and did not give him a chance to save
himself. He could feel his anxiety growing, especially when he suddenly began to hear screams from
his parents and friends asking for help everywhere.

I must save them , Langa repeated to himself.

Without realizing it, his legs stopped moving from exhaustion, causing his thin body to sink down.
Langa wanted so badly to scream and his lungs ached. Without realizing it, his blue eyes began to go
numb. Was this how he was going to die? He had too many questions.

Splash

The impact of someone or something else falling into the water was heard. The last thing Langa saw
before he fell unconscious was the silhouette of someone reaching out their hand trying to save him.

.
.

Langa woke up startled, coughing heavily and gasping for air. He was drenched in cold sweat, and his
ears heard a loud ringing. Strong nausea invaded his stomach. With his legs still semi-numb, he
weakly went to the bathroom, knelt in front of the toilet and vomited. With one hand gripping his hair
to keep from messing it up, Langa stayed there for a while. It was only a few seconds, but the ugly
feeling felt eternal for Langa.

Ah shit… he whispered, his voice raspy and weak. Either the nightmare was too much for him or it
seriously affected him that he hadn't eaten since morning.

Once his stomach calmed down and he flushed the toilet, Langa was able to recover his five senses
and managed to notice that he was at home, he was safe and sound returned in reality. Walking to his
room, Langa couldn't help but cry uncontrollably with relief. It was horrible, for a second he thought
he had really died.

It was so ironic how although sometimes he wanted to die and give up to exist, when he was close to
it he was so afraid that it would happen.

Lying back on the bed, he covered his mouth with one hand so he could hide the sobs. Although what
he wanted most now was to be comforted, he really didn't want to wake his mother, he knew how
terribly tired she was.

“I don't want to go back to this…” he thought quietly, it had been some time since the last time he had
a nightmare, especially one this intense. Ever since his dreams with that unknown boy began, Langa
had managed to sleep peacefully every day, something that was almost a miracle for him

Various intrusive thoughts filled his mind and did not let his mind silent for a while. He needed to
distract himself, and only one person who would be awake and willing to listen to him came to mind:
Reki.

Sniffling and with his eyes burning slightly, he grabbed his cell phone and typed.

[Langa:]
Reki, are you busy?
It was a matter of two minutes until he felt the vibration of his cell phone, showing a new message
from the japanese.

[Reki:]
Hey buddy! I'm already free.
Are you okay? Isn't it early morning in Canada?

[Langa:]
Not really… I had a nightmare and I feel horrible.

What was Langa doing telling him about his problems? Why did he trust him so much? It had been a
while since he started talking to Reki and yet he couldn't help but wonder the same thing every time
he did.

[Reki:]
Oh, I'm so sorry you feel this way.
Do you want to talk about it? I'm all ears (or eyes because I only read you, lol)

[Langa:]
No– I want to talk to you.
Real talk.

Langa was sensitive and was getting carried away by his feelings, which made his mind write without
overthinking. Was it okay to ask this?

[Reki:]
I don't get what you mean…
OH—
I— Are you sure?
I'm delighted, but I don't want to pressure you into anything.
I'm fine if we just stay on chat.

[Langa:]
I said I want to do it, I want to talk to you.

For a minute, neither of them texted. Langa stared at the screen, waiting for a response from the other.
[Reki:]
If that's what you want, then that's fine.
Call me whenever you want through the app that I told you the other time.
And don't worry if you come to regret it, I understand that you are shy.
I'm here for you <3

Langa rubbed his eyes with his hoodie sleeve, feeling his heart beat a thousand per hour from the
growing nerves. He couldn't believe he had agreed to do this. After turning on the lamp beside him, he
exited the app and went to Discord. He stared at Reki's profile and the little camera icon in the corner
for a few seconds.

"It's now or never..."

He instantly pressed the button, leaving him in the waiting room. It was about 15 seconds before Reki
answered.

He could only see yellow on the screen but could hear Reki's voice, listen to him babbling something
while adjusting his camera, or so Langa supposed. A few seconds later, he moves away from the
camera, showing a wooden room full of posters, to finally focus on his face.

Langa didn't know what to say. He already knew what Reki looked like from his videos, but seeing
him this way was so different he could see more details. His messy red hair, tanned skin, and a bit of
freckles, his golden eyes, those dimples in his cheeks when he smiled…

Shit, he was fucking beautiful.

“Ok, I think the camera is ready. Can you see me, Langa?” Reki asked, even his voice sounded
different, in a good way.

“I can see you…” Langa answered. He was fascinated and shy at the same time.

“Good good! I'm glad you can see me hahahaha…”

Silence, a small awkward silence. Oh wow, it was really happening, it wasn't a dream, he was really
talking to Reki.

"Um, I don't want to sound too nosy, but are you okay?" asked the redhead, a little nervous. "Don't
worry, you don't need to give me details. It's just that– Well, this is really weird.”

“Reki–” Langa tried to reply but was interrupted.

“In a good way!!! I'm happy that you want to see me and talk to me, but... this is not very common of
you and- ”

“Reki…”

“Well, I can't even see you, and the truth is I'm afraid that you're not my Langa and that someone else
has kidnapped you or something like that."

Wait… did he say… that I'm his Langa?– Don't think about that, it's not what matters now Langa
thought, trying to process what he heard.

The redhead kept talking, becoming more and more anxious and upset.

"...and I swear I don't have any money, oh my god, I'm so far away and I'm the only one who knows
that Langa is kidnapped and I don't know what to do–" Reki tried to sound dramatic, but at the same
time he could feel a slight hint of concern in his voice. “He is innocent, I swear! I know him!! Oh
well, not so much– but I trust him, and Langa is not the one you're looking for!”

Langa couldn't help but laugh, his finger immediately activating his phone's camera. A few seconds
later, his face also appeared on the screen of the video call.

"Reki, calm down bro... it's me." Langa said in his soft voice.

And wow, the redhead's face lit up like he had never seen. Going quiet for the first time since the call
began. Langa didn't look so good because it was early in the morning, his hair was messy, and he only
wore a gray sweatshirt. Even his eyes were slightly pink from crying. Still, Reki's pupils dilated, and
Langa could swear he was even…blushing?

“Holy shit…” was the only thing that came out of Reki's lips. "Tall, light blue straight hair, half
Japanese and Canadian…" he muttered the last thing, going back and repeating it twice, without
giving Langa a chance to process what he meant.

“Um… are you okay?” was the only thing that came up to Langa to say

“I— Oh wow, I'm sorry, it's just…” Reki tried to answer after coming out of the little trance he was in,
his voice sounded nervous and he could see that his hands were fidgety. “How do I say this without
sounding so gay? Oh, um, you are very cute. Too much to be true, much more than I imagined.”

Oh
OH-

Langa took a few seconds to process what they told him, feeling his cheeks heat up. “I'm—” He tried
to reply. For a second, Langa forgot all the japanese he knew, causing a strange mixture of japanese
and english to come out from his lips.

“Oh god, did I break you? I'm sorry!” Reki said, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject. “I
— I meant that your Japanese accent is adorable. YES, THAT!”

“Um… do I have an accent?” asked the Canadian, confused.

"Yup, and it's unique just like you."

Oh god, somebody please save him.

He had no idea what was happening, but they both went back into awkward silence. Langa wasn't
used to receiving so many compliments in such a short time. He rarely did. If it weren't for his
nightmare, this would be the strangest thing that happened to him today.

“Ugh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I already made everything too uncomfortable.” The
redhead tried to apologize, looking away from the camera. "You just wanted to distract yourself, and I
just ended up making things awkward between us..."

"Don't worry, it's fine..." Langa replied, honestly, he had to admit that deep down, he felt good
because of all the affection he received. "It doesn't bother me, thanks, really."

“Oh, so all good. I'm glad!” he could feel Reki's voice calm down, returning to normal. “Anyway,
ignoring everything that happened. Well, L, now if I introduce myself personally: I’m the great and
incomparable Reki!”

Reki spread his arms, laughing, striking a 'victory' pose, causing a giggle to escape the sky-blue-
haired's one lips.

“Oh by the way, what time is it in Canada? It seems later than I thought.”

Langa looked at the top edge of the phone screen. "4 in the morning or so."

“Are you telling me you just started your day? Wow, it's 8pm here... that means I'm from the future."
Reki said proudly.

"I mean yes but actually no, that's not how things work."

"I know Einstein, I was just kidding with you." The tanned one laughed, for then to get a little more
serious and played with his fingers. “So, changing the subject… Are you okay? Do you want to vent
about your nightmare, or do you prefer to talk about another topic and distract yourself?” he asked,
his voice that had always sounded cheerful was now lower and calmer, Reki sounding genuinely
worried about Langa. "Sorry if the question is kind of silly; I didn't think we'd get this far." he
chuckled.

Langa was not going to lie. He was in the same situation. He had managed to reach this level of trust
with Reki, who until recently was just another stranger of the internet, and now he had no idea what to
do.
"I really don't know..." Langa answered with sincerity in his voice. "I guess I just needed to talk to
someone."

"Well, I'm all ears. I'm here for you, friend."

Langa sighed, ready to tell Reki everything. He didn't mind looking weak; he knew that Reki would
never judge him, which made him feel confident.
It took a while, but Langa told the redhead his entire nightmare in detail, trying to force himself to
translate it into japanese. As he spoke, Reki just sat quietly, listening carefully, his head resting on his
knees. Even if it was through a screen, Langa knew Reki was seriously paying attention to his story.

At times, Langa felt his throat ache from the urge to cry as he recalled the nightmare, but Reki
comforted him by saying that he was doing well and to take his time. He really was almost like an
angel, just what he needed in his life. Not even Langa, going to the psychologist for years, could feel
the same level of trust and connection.

Life is so strange, it's so rare how sometimes unknown people come to impact your life more than
those who have known you for years.

"I don't know, sometimes my mind sucks. It damages everything for no reason." added the one with
blue eyes, with a certain tone of disappointment in his voice. "Everyone thinks I'm cold. They tell me
I shouldn't complain because there are people with worse problems than mine and having a worse
time," he said the last sentence in a lower tone. "But actually... I'm actually so weak and I can't
sometimes help but feel lonely."

"Hey, just because there are people with worse problems doesn't mean yours don't matter." Reki told
him, his voice as sincere as ever. "I'm so sorry they said those things to you."

Langa froze upon hearing this, feeling his throat swell again. Shit, he wanted to cry again. He
swallowed hard to ease the pain. Shit, how could a person be so nice and understanding? Reki just
looked at him sweetly, as if wordlessly he told him everything he needed to hear at that moment.

"Thank you." was the only thing that escaped from Langa, smiling slightly while he wiped some small
tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. "I really needed this."

“Hey, I'm here for you, okay? Whenever you need to." Reki answered, his smile showing the dimples
in his cheeks. “Although I only met you recently, I know that you are a beautiful person and I am
proud of you.”

If this is a dream, then I don't want it to ever end...

Did they send me an angel?
Oh, he felt so good, so happy, so understood.
“So L, do you want to keep talking, or should I let you sleep? You must have classes soon, and I want
to let you rest at least for a while”. Reki looks at him curiously, waiting for his answer.

“Well, my alarm was going to wake me up in a few hours, and I doubt I'll be able to go back to
sleep… so I'd rather keep talking to you. ”

“As you wish, that's fine. I can tell you about S! Or, well, anything you decide. Oh man, it would be
great if you could ever come here.”

Langa nodded, Laying his back on the back of the bed, seeing the redhead doing the same in his chair.

“Hey Langa…” Reki spoke again. "Thanks for trusting me."

Langa smiled lightly, feeling his heart feeling full. “Thanks to you for always listening to me.”

That night, Langa did not sleep again, but this time by his own choice because now he had someone
good with him, someone who understood him, and he wanted to make the most of it. With so much
going on in his life, he wasn't sure if this conversation was real or a continuation of his dream, but one
thing was clear: he would treasure this moment forever.

The next morning, Langa was at school. The bell rang, ending the class schedule.

The blue-haired boy had his forehead resting on his desk. He had just taken an exam and felt
physically and mentally exhausted. His eyes burned a little from lack of sleep. Thank god tomorrow
there would be no classes because of a teacher meeting; at least he could rest.

He heard footsteps stopping next to him, then felt a touch on his shoulder. He looked up to find Aoi
next to him.

"Hey Langa, are you alright?" Aoi asked worriedly.

Langa stretched, stretching while sitting in his chair. A yawn slipped from his lips. “I feel like my
head is going to explode at any moment. It's horrible to procrastinate because I don't know how to
study.”

Aoi nodded. "I understand, but look on the bright side; if we fail, we will be together." He tried to
cheer up his childhood friend.

“You know what can cheer you up?” Zoey asked, appearing in front of both boys. "Let's eat at our
hangout place. What do you say?"

The place they were talking about was a small Bubble Tea joint. It was not so well known. They only
ran into it once the 3 of them had to take shelter from a rainstorm. They stayed there until the weather
calmed down. Still, they returned a few more times until it inadvertently became their hangout spot.
Even the owner and employees of the place already knew them, and they considered them loyal
customers.
Both boys looked at the curly-haired girl before responding:

"That sounds good."

They had been on the bus for a few minutes when they arrived at the tea shop.

The place only consisted of 4 tables and some little plants, but it was cozy and well-decorated, and
above all, the drinks were good.
The trio of friends were at a table by the window while they had their drinks. As always, Zoey was
telling them about something that happened during class. Aoi was drawing on his notebook as he
listened. Langa was just sitting across from them, drinking chai tea while paying attention to his
friend's words.

Suddenly, the blue-haired felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Taking out the phone a little and
looking at the screen, he saw it was a notification from Reki. It just said, “ Look what I did with my
sisters~” and had a picture of a smiley face made out of macaroni and glitter. It was just a random
message, just Reki being Reki, and he didn´t mind being messaged by him at all. He instantly replied
to him.

"Are you still talking to him?" Zoey asked, in a teasing tone, wanting to annoy Langa. "I still can't
believe you actually made an internet friend."

Langa just nodded, setting the cell phone aside.

"I also guess he's the reason why you're sleeping so late now." Aoi joined the joke, referring to
Langa's dark circles. "Am I wrong?". He smiled, saying the last thing.

"Mmm… maybe." The light blue-haired one tried not to make it so obvious, but the small smile on his
lips said otherwise.

“I knew it! Lately, you’ve been smiling more. I haven't seen you like this in a long time." Aoi
chuckled. “And I don't know, man, I'm sorry, but it feels a little bit fruity to me.”

Zoey just sighed, gently teasing him, turning her gaze back to Langa

“Anyway, you told us he was asian, right? Have you ever seen his face? Please be careful. What if it
turns out to be some old dude living in his grandma’s basement."

“I have only seen him through photos and some videos.” Langa replied, not knowing if that video call
he had was real or not. "Not gonna lie tho, he's really cute."
“Hey, what about the boy who appeared in your dreams? You haven't told us about him in a long
time."

“I didn't see him yesterday, but I think I dreamed that I was making a videocall with my internet
friend. We just talked about our problems; we vented. It was the first time I had truly seen him… it
was such a strange lucid dream.”

"Oh, Langa, you’re so adorable." Zoey sounded fascinated. "I feel like I could even make movies
about your dreams. They sound so beautiful, especially the way you describe them."

As the two continued to chat, Aoi decided to quickly check twitter. Suddenly, a tweet from reki
appears on the screen, which said:

[@REKI_SK8]
Yesterday I finally made my first call with my internet bestie and it was the best thing that happened
to me in a long time. We stayed up late talking, as if we had known each other all our lives. Hopefully
it can be repeated~ Ly man <3

Aoi read the tweet calmly until his brain processed everything. He choked on the tapioca from his
bubble tea for a few seconds just because he realized what was happening. Suddenly, everything made
sense. Zoey and Langa looked at him, confused after helping him; Aoi simply turned his gaze to the
blue-haired one.

"Langa, give me your phone!” Aoi exclaimed, holding out his hand.

“Um, why—” Langa couldn't finish his sentence.

"Just give it to me!"

Confused, Langa handed his cell phone to the blond. Instantly Aoi unlocked the device and went to
the video call app, confirming every suspicion he had in mind.

Video call with REKI / 4:42am / 1h 45 minutes.

"Langa..." said Aoi, calmer, while staring in shock at the screen. "I love you, but sometimes I don't
understand if you're seriously this distracted or playing dumb."

Langa frowned, not understanding what he was referring to. "What are you talking about-."

"Dude, that wasn't a dream you told us about. It actually happened."

Aoi showed him the phone screen, causing Langa to go into shock, a clear expression of confusion on
his pale face, feeling his blood pressure drop.

"EEHHH!?!?!?!?"
Chapter End Notes

And that was chapter 3 to you!

Langa and Reki finally talked to each other (literally) for the first time, and some love might be
in the air!
And Langa's starting to get confused of what is real or not on what he does. Do you have any
theory? I'd love to read them~
If you got any questions please don't be shy to ask them, I'll gladly respond.

Thank you all for the comments and kudos, I love reading them! I'm already writing chapter 4, so
look forward to that.
Don't forget I'm proud of you and you're a beautiful human being <3
~See you next chapter!
 Chapter 4
Chapter Notes

TW: subtle mentions of self harm.

If you wanna avoid that, please skip the part of Langa's dream.
Besides that, the chapter is pretty much chill/fluff.
That's all, enjoy your reading.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝I'd like to think that we're the same

I don't even know your name
All I'm really tryna say is
I've never seen Something quite like you❞

» Role Model - Blind

"EEHHH!?!?!?!?" a cry of confusion came from Langa's lips. His face was confused, while his blue
eyes kept looking at the cell phone screen.

Videocall with REKI / 4:42am / 1h 45 minutes.

"So you're telling me that Reki, the one and only japanese skateboarder Reki I showed you weeks
ago, is your internet friend you talk to so much!?" Aoi exclaimed to Langa, still unable to believe
what he had just discovered. Making some two employees of the shop look curiously in their
direction.

So he had actually talked to him? Everything that happened in the middle of the night turned out to be
real? Oh god, Langa couldn't even remember well what they talked about. He just hoped he hadn't
said anything embarrassing. Where had he gotten the courage to speak to someone for almost two
hours straight? With luck, he could carry on a long conversation with his friends and mother. Still,
even amidst the cloud of confusion, his mind was made of, he couldn't help but feel weird and with an
empty feeling in his stomach.

If that was real, then why had it felt so far away?

Oh shit, this wasn't right. He would have to talk to his psychologist about this.

"Langa, how can you not tell the difference between reality and a dream?" Aoi asked in a concerned
and surprised tone.

"I- " Langa tried to answer, but his mind was too overloaded with thoughts. "I have no idea." he
sighed in frustration, feeling his fingernails starting to scratch his arms. He was lucky to be wearing
long sleeves and could avoid scratching himself. "I've been getting more distracted than usual lately.
My dreams being too realistic doesn't help me either."

Too much was happening in such a short time.

Flooded in thought, the brunette touched Langa's restless hand, snapping him out of his little trance
and getting him to stop. The two exchanged glances. "Um, do you need to get some air? You look
kind of pale." Zoey asked calmly.

"I'm fine. I just need to process all of this." Langa replied with a sigh, running his hand through his
hair.

Noticing his friend's anxiety, Aoi changed his attitude and sat back down. "Hey, L, I'm sorry if I
overreacted," Aoi said, his voice being soft and sincere as it always was. "It's just that you took me by
surprise. I didn't expect your friend to be Reki at all. It was too sudden. You know how funny I find
him. It just feels kind of unreal."

And Langa didn't blame him for reacting that way. That happened to him for not entirely telling the
story. It wasn't the first time he made his life complicated by wanting to hide something.

"May I... may I ask how and when you started talking?"

Langa turned his gaze to the window, watching people walk by. "It was the night of my birthday... I
just posted something venting, and he DM'ed me to ask if I was okay. After that, everything just
flowed."

"That was almost a month ago."

The light blue-haired one just nodded. For a minute, none of the three wanted to speak, leaving them
in an awkward silence. All they could hear was the background music of the place and other
customers chatting.

"Langa, you trust him?" It was Zoey who broke the silence.

"Uh?" Langa looked at her for the sudden question, a sound of confusion escaping his throat.

"Don't take me wrong, I'm happy for you. I like how he brightens your days. You deserve that and so
much more. It's just that I can't help worrying; I don't want you to end up hurt..." added the two-
colored-haired one.
Langa wasn’t dumb. He could sense the tone of concern in her friend's voice. Ever since his father
died and his mental health started to become more unstable, Aoi and Zoey were always on the lookout
and tried to help prevent him from having an emotional breakdown again. (Obviously, his mother
helped him too). One of those times was when Langa returned to school after the accident; he had had
an anxiety attack during physical education classes. He remembered perfectly how he went to hide in
the bathroom and Aoi stayed there hugging him until he calmed down again, feeling his hair being
caressed as if that small action helped him get rid of all his bad emotions. Even after that, they were
given permission to leave school early and accompanied him home to spend the afternoon with him
until his mother returned.

Returning to reality, Langa thought about how relatively recently he knew Reki and how he still didn't
doubt him. Even if their friendship didn't work out and ended, he believed in him completely right
now, and that's what mattered to him.

With a strange feeling of security growing inside him, not knowing where he had gotten it from,
Langa looked into Zoey's eyes and said:

"I trust him. Reki is a good guy."

And he could see the brunette's gaze soften just hearing that. A slight smile formed on her lips. "If
you say so, then I believe you."

"Tell him we'll be his tour guides if he ever decides to come to Canada," Aoi added.

At that moment, Langa felt grateful to them for the way they took care of him and the good friends
they were. They spent the next 15 minutes finishing their drinks, the atmosphere among the three of
them returning to the usual, but in a way, Langa felt freer.

After leaving the place, the familiar chill of Canada hit his pale face. As they walked to the bus stop,
Langa pulled out his phone to answer Reki's message; he didn't expect Zoey's hand to snatch the
device away from him. Without having time to react, she took a selfie of the three of them and then
sent it to the chat room.

"I'm sorry, I had to do it. I think he deserves to meet us." Joked the two-colored-haired girl, handing
the cell phone back to Langa.

Langa looked at the phone screen again. Oh, Zoey sent the picture to Reki; now he finally understood
what she meant. It was the first time he had ever sent a picture of himself, and he couldn't help but
feel nervous about it. For that very reason, Langa felt the need to make everything clear.

[Langa:]
My friends already know you exist. They say hi.
He wrote that under the photo, then kept walking. Not even a minute passed when he felt his phone
buzzing again and looked at the notification from the japanese.

[REKI:]
<3

That message alone was enough for Langa to almost trip over a light pole.

Langa opened his eyes widely, feeling his whole body get soaked. After covering his eyes with one
hand, he noticed it was a place he did not recognize. It was nighttime, raining heavily, and seemed to
be in the backyard. The only light source in the area came from inside a japanese-style home.

It was then that Langa realized this was a dream, but he was not afraid this time. The atmosphere felt
too different compared to his last nightmare. Would he meet the unknown guy again? It’s been a long
time since he last saw him.

Exploring the backyard, he noticed some toys lying on the ground and that the back door was wide
open, revealing the house's interior. Approaching it to seek shelter from the rain, he noticed that
someone was lying in the middle of the living room. It took a matter of seconds for Langa to realize
that this person was the boy of his dreams. Without thinking twice, Langa ran towards him,
confirming that it was indeed him, and as always, his face was still blurry. He was only wearing an
orange sweater and black shorts. However, what surprised him the most was seeing him with some
bruises and open wounds.

"Hey, wake up. Are you alive?" Langa touched his shoulder and moved it a little, waiting for some
reaction from him.

He could feel the boy weakly twitching and moaning within a few seconds. "Langa?" he asks in pain,
though he also seemed surprised to see him, not in a good way.

"Yes, it's me. I'm here." Langa couldn't help but sigh in relief after hearing him. "What happened to
you? You're bleeding."

The canadian couldn't help but worry and helped him sit down on the couch across from him. The guy
was only telling him that he had an accident with some thugs on his way home, but Langa could feel
that he wasn't telling him the whole truth. He knew perfectly well what it was like to hide things out
of fear. Still, Langa preferred to focus on treating the boy's wounds at that moment. He didn't want to
get the truth out of him just yet.

"Where do you keep the first aid kit?" asked the canadian.

The other one just looked to the side, pointing his gaze towards a room. "It's in the kitchen, in the
drawer next to the fridge."

Langa nodded, trying to follow the other one's gaze and acting as naturally as possible, as if he had
been in this place before.

The kitchen had a few dirty dishes, but for the most part, it was clean. It also had some drawings stuck
on the fridge. They seemed to be a large family. After finding the drawer and taking the first aid kit
out, Langa looked down the hallway with the doors to other rooms. He was not going to lie; he had
the urge to go that way and explore all the rooms. There was something in it that called him to that
place and said that all the answers he needed would be there. Still, he was strong enough to resist it
and return to take care of his friend.

After returning to the room, the stranger had his face hidden between his legs. Langa slowly
approached him, not wanting to scare him off.

"I'm back." Langa whispered, catching the other's attention. He could see him rubbing his eyes with
the sleeve of his sweater. Was he crying? Oh, Langa wasn't good at comforting sad people. If he could
barely control his emotions, worse, other people’s. "May I sit next to you?"

The japanese nodded slightly, neither of them wanting to speak. Langa just sat next to him, putting the
first aid kit on his legs, analyzing with his eyes the wounds he had. Some were bleeding a little. And
oh, since he was a kid, Langa wasn't very strong at seeing blood, but he could handle more seeing that
of others. He had to be strong for his friend. He wasn't a medical expert, but having a mother who was
a nurse had its advantages, and he knew something basic about treating wounds.
Putting some alcohol on the absorbent cotton, the light blue-haired boy began to clean the wounds on
his knees and put band-aids on them. After finishing with his legs, Langa looks up and notices that the
sweatshirt is dirty and somewhat dyed red, leading him to believe that he was hurt over there as well.

"Um, are you wearing a shirt underneath?" Langa asked, to which the other nodded. "I have to treat
your wounds, so... you know."

"NO-" he could sense tension and nerves in the boy's voice as he grabbed his sweater. "Please don't
check me there."

"I'm not going to judge you, I promise." Langa replied, his voice soft, trying to calm him down. "You
can trust me."

After a minute that felt like an eternity, the young stranger sighs, accepting the canadian's help.

"Can you... Can you help me undress? My arms hurt..." He whispered the question, looking to the
side.

Langa agreed. Carefully, his hands lifted the other one’s sweater, throwing the piece of clothing
somewhere on the floor. He saw his slim, tanned body wearing a sleeveless T-shirt that reached his
belly button. He had a small scar on his appendix and some bruises on his arms. However, Langa was
more surprised by some old scars he had on both wrists, but next to them were some freshly made
scratches, still bleeding a little bit.

It was a matter of seconds before he reacted.

Did he... Oh god. That's why he didn't want to show his arms. Where was his family when he needed
them? Why was he home alone? In his 18 years of life, he had never seen anything like this, or at least
in person. He knew what it was. He was not dumb. Langa also had intrusive thoughts that made him
want to disappear, but they just stayed there, killing him mentally. He had never gone to the limit of
hurting himself. Langa couldn't explain how much it hurt him to see that the boy had reached this
point.

Without a second thought, Langa gently grabbed the other one's wrists and repeated the same thing.
Cleaning their wounds, neither spoke; only the thunder could be heard outside, and the other guy let
out whines from the burning feeling of the alcohol against his skin.

"I’m done." Langa broke the silence after finishing bandaging him.

But instead of hearing a thank you from the other, he only hears something he wasn't expecting:

"How do you do everything right? It's not fair." his voice cracked.

Langa just looked at him, confused by what he said, noticing that his face was no longer so blurry
compared to his previous dreams, but it was still impossible to tell who he was. He could only notice
the tears coming out of the unknown one's eyes.
"I’m..." he wanted to answer him something, but he couldn't, he didn't have the slightest idea what to
say. He unconsciously caressed the other's bandaged wrists. It had been a while since the last time
someone broke down in front of him.

"I'm sorry." The guy sobbed, small teardrops coming down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Langa. I didn't
mean to do it again. My mind is so shitty- I know I promised you and-"

On instinct, Langa tightened his arms around him. The boy was shocked at first, trying to push Langa
away, but after a while, he could feel his grip surrendering and accepting the embrace, his hands
clutching at the canadian's back. The japanese was crying, sobbing in his arms, hiding his face in the
nape of Langa's neck and breathing shakily against it.

Langa felt so weird. Usually, he was the person who was broken, whose mind was playing tricks on
him, and who needed to be comforted. But here, in this dream or universe, the roles had changed.

They stayed silent for a while, taking advantage of each other's company. After calming down, the
boy breaks away a bit and looks into Langa's blue eyes. Or at least that's what he felt.

"Stay with me tonight, please, don't go... don't leave me alone." was all he said, almost in a whisper.

And Langa couldn't say no to him. He knew perfectly well how it felt to be broken. That's why he
refused to leave him alone.

Leaning back on the couch, the canadian felt the other’s weight lying on him. He was lighter than he
looked. Langa hadn't expected the boy to lie down like that and use him as a pillow, but the warmth of
his body with his own felt so good, so comforting. Langa was sure that if this was real, he would have
already exploded just from his simple touch. He slowly put his hands back on the other one’s back.
He felt his breathing and body lighten.

"Thank you..." he whispered faintly, giving Langa a peck on the cheek before falling asleep.

Langa looked up at him, feeling his throat begin to ache. Even if this boy was imaginary and a mere
figment of his imagination, he was too fond of him and didn't want to see him cry. So he just stayed
there, comforting him, holding him in his arms, and waiting for the dream to end. Without realizing it,
Langa felt his eyelids grow heavy and his body gradually fell asleep. He didn't notice the moment he
closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

When he woke up back to his reality, Langa was lying on his couch, back in his cold canadian
apartment. That empty feeling in his heart had returned, but the warmth of the boy of his dreams was
still present along his abdomen and cheek.

Vancouver, Canada
March 31st, present
Another day was over at Langa’s high school.

The sky was filled with gray clouds, and there was some wind. The friend trio were walking to the
bus stop. They were walking along quietly until a car horn interrupted them. As they turned their gaze
to it, they were startled.

"Langa, honey." It was Langa's mother who was in the car and waving at them. They were not
expecting to see her here at all. "Hi guys, long time no see."

Aoi and Zoey just waved, returning the greeting.

"Mom, why are you here?" asked Langa, approaching the car.

"I got off work early today and wanted to pick you up from school." his mother replied, smiling at
him. "Don't you think it's exciting? It's been a long time since we've done this."

And she was right. The last time they did that was when he was 16, or so he thought. He couldn't
remember.

"Come on, hop in. I have to go grocery shopping and I need you to help me." said Nanako, opening
the passenger door. Langa heeded and sat down. "Aoi, honey, do you want to join us, and then I'll take
you home?"

"No thanks, [Link]. I must get home fast to take care of my little sister." replied Aoi. "Maybe
another day."

Nanako just nodded. "As you wish, sweetheart. Tell Erin and your uncles I say hi."

After that, the four said their goodbyes, and the car pulled off, leaving both students behind. Langa
just looked out the window; his mother focused on driving. Neither spoke. All that could be heard was
the radio playing in the background.

"Well, how was school?" asked Nanako, trying to make conversation with her son. "If I remember
correctly, I think they gave you an aptitude test today, right? How did it go?"

"Fine, I guess." he just answered that, not taking his eyes off the window. He didn't have that much
energy to think about the future.

"Sorry to ask you this, but have you thought about what you want to study?"

And oh, Langa hated that question too much. His mind could barely survive his daily life, and he
found it so frustrating that society was already forcing him to know what he wanted to be when he
was only 18. It seriously didn't make sense to him. He had barely become of legal age.

Worst of all was not knowing what made him happy or his passion. It sucked. To be honest, Langa
didn't think he would make it this far by existing, so he never came up with a plan for the future.
"I don't know." he had no idea how to answer her. It was horrible to feel that he wasn't good at
anything. Langa was so afraid that he would never be able to find that thing that would make him
happy.

"You'll find it, don't worry, I believe in you." His mom replied, trying not to pressure him. "I'm sure
that test will help you anyway. We can start from there."

Silence once again ruled the atmosphere. None of them dared to speak for another few minutes.
Suddenly, it began to rain. Langa just watched the raindrops sliding down his window. People outside
could be seen taking out their umbrellas or sheltering under the roof of some shops.

After getting bored of watching the environment, Langa took out his cell phone to check Twitter, and
almost instantly, his timeline showed a post from Reki.

It was a new Reki-Tricks video. This time, it featured a man dressed as a punk clown and a kid in a
green hoodie. Langa couldn't focus much, but he could figure out that those were his friends Shadow
and Miya. For that reason, he left the post and decided to watch it later.

"Honey, can I ask you something?" Langa didn't answer, but Nanako knew his son and could
understand that was a yes. "Lately, I’ve seen you smiling a lot on your phone, and I noticed that you
can spend hours typing... Are you talking to someone? Maybe to a boy?"

Langa couldn't help but choke on his own air after that question. Oh, his mom had finally figured it
out. It took her so long. Even once she had caught him talking to Reki in the middle of the night, he
was sure that she only got more suspicions after that. At this point, he was already being too obvious.

And Langa seriously thought that maybe it was time to tell her about their friendship. He had no
reason not to trust her, but he also didn't want to worry her for that very reason, cause in a way, Reki
was still a stranger.

"Listen, I know things haven't been easy since your father died. I know it was easier for you to talk
about these things with him and that I can never replace him." Nanako's voice became softer than
usual but sounded somewhat nostalgic. "We've drifted apart a bit this past year, and I apologize for
that...I'm just saying you can trust me with anything, okay? I'm still your mother and love you more
than anything."

Those words couldn't help but make Langa feel a little guilty. Even though they lived under the same
roof, in a way, they had grown apart from each other. His mother was mostly busy with work, wanting
to keep moving forward with their lives. On the other hand, Langa was usually busy with school. But
what they both had in common was that they fought daily with their inner demons, either one way or
the other.

His father would not have wanted this.

Langa thought to himself. If it weren't for the fact that she was driving, he was sure his mother would
be hugging him right now.
It was a matter of another few seconds of silence until Langa decided to break it. He had to tell her the
truth, or at least part of it.

"I... I've been talking to this guy for over a month now, since my birthday, so to speak. His name is
Reki." Langa said; his mother just made a sound of approval for him to continue. "I was just
following him on the internet, but one day, he started texting me, and it became a routine without us
realizing it. Now we text each other every day, we video call sometimes..."

Langa didn't know how to tell her the whole story. He just said whatever came to his mind about Reki.
He was always so quiet or only answered just enough, but when talking about Reki, the words came
out on their own to the point that it seemed like someone else was controlling him. Only he had that
effect on Langa.

"Reki, how do I explain it? He made my life a little bit happier; he made it better..." This time, he
turned his gaze to his mother, who was still focused on the road but knew she was listening to him.
"He's the sweetest, most understanding boy I've ever met. He cares about me; he's thoughtful, a ray of
sunshine...and god...he's so beautiful."

The only thing on Langa's mind for that second was Reki's beautiful smiling face and dimples
marking his cheeks. Without realizing it, his heart began to beat rapidly against his chest, and he put
his slender fingers in front of his lips.

When they least expected it, they had already arrived at the inner parking lot of the supermarket. After
parking, Nanako looked at her son.

"Langa, sweetie... Do you care for him?" she asked seriously.

"Of course I do, he's my friend-"

"Not that, I mean... you know, something deeper than that."

Oh? He didn't understand.

OH-

Langa's pale skin got slightly pink. He couldn't help it.

Him liking Reki? It wouldn't be possible, would it? The one time he'd had a crush, it didn't go well,
and he'd suffered a lot.

Langa considered himself a broken human being to be with someone as brilliant as Reki. Why would
he hurt him like that if they ever got together? He didn't want it. Reki didn't deserve that; he deserved
someone as beautiful as him. On the other hand, their huge distance didn't help either, nor did he
know what his friend's sexuality was.
The light blue-haired one was speechless, making him anxious, and his leg unconsciously bounced a
little. His mother noticed that.

"I don't know... I really don't know." Langa swallowed, his throat aching. "I don't want to get hurt
again."

His mom was silent. Was she angry? Was she panicking? He could already imagine her calling Oliver
for help. But no, she wasn't; she just ruffled his hair, leaving Langa confused.

"Oh sweetie, don't be afraid to love." smiled Nanako, her eyes expressing affection to her son. "It's
such a scary and beautiful feeling, I understand, but it's totally worth it. Don't run away from it."

Langa swallowed again, holding back the urge to break down. Maybe life was finally giving him a
chance to love again, to feel the happiness he deserved. He had no idea what the future held for him,
whether Reki would just be a friend or something stronger than that. However, he only had one thing
clear:

He wanted to be by his side as long as he could.

That same night, Langa was re-watching Reki's new video in his room. Even though he had no prior
knowledge of skateboarding, he was still analyzing their tricks in the video.

"And this was Shadow for you guys. Now let's go to Miya; do your thing, dude!"

"I doubt this child can beat me in backside flips."

"You wish, and at least I'm not as old as you, slime."

"I'm 24 years old, damn it!"

With the video still playing in the background, Langa couldn't help but glance into his closet, where
his snowboard was hidden. When was the last time he'd stepped on a board? If he remembered
correctly, it was the weekend before his dad died. The last time they snowboarded together. That was
almost a year ago.

Seeing them skateboarding, seeing reki skateboarding... There was something that got his attention.
Especially after that dream where his faceless boy taught him how to use a skateboard. It had been
more fun than he thought it would be, and he had the urge to feel that again.

Determined, he picked up his phone and videocalled Reki. It was noon in Okinawa. He supposed it
was a good time to call him. A few seconds later, his friend answers. He was in uniform and appeared
to be outside.
"Hello, my moon! You called at a good time, my break just started." replied Reki, energetic as always.
"We haven't talked since my yesterday. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just had to help my mom with groceries."

"Oh, ok, that explains a lot. Don't worry." the redhead said, taking a bite of his onigiri. "You better
watch my new video anyway."

"Actually, I just watched it and... that was Miya and Shadow?"

"Yep, that's them!"

"One question... Why is Shadow dressed as the Joker?"

"But-" Reki let out a cute and funny laugh. He could listen to it all day. "Aw man, you made me
laugh." said the redhead, wiping a tear from his left eye. "But all jokes aside, that’s just his S disguise.
Shadow shows himself as a gangster and badass, but he works in a flower shop in his spare time.
Lol."

"Okay?" said Langa, thinking about how someone like that could be able to take care of flowers.
"And I know you said Miya is the youngest, but how old is he? I didn't think he was that young."

"He just turned 14. Still, don't underestimate him because of his height. He skates amazingly. Can you
believe he's a candidate for the national skateboarding team? Ugh, how lucky!" he said the last thing
between happy and a little jealous.

The two spent a few minutes talking. As usual, Reki told his anecdotes of what had happened during
his day, and Langa just listened. It didn't bother them at all, they enjoyed this kind of harmony. It felt
so natural.

"Reki, I have a weird question for you..." spoke Langa, thinking whether to suggest that or not.

"Sure, tell me."

" Canyouteachmeskate? " he said quickly and muttering. He was so embarrassed.

"Huh? Can you repeat it slower?"

Langa took a deep breath. "Can you teach me how to skate?" This time, he said it slowly and clearly.

And wow, Reki's eyes lit up like he'd never seen before, a goofy grin forming on his tanned skin. "Are
you serious?" he asked somewhere between happy and excited, even his voice made it noticeable.
Langa just nodded. "Wow, I- I'd be honored. I've always wanted to teach someone!... But how come
you want to learn it?"

"I don't know, I guess I want to learn something new." he wasn't lying. Actually, Langa still didn't
know why he wanted to do this. Maybe deep down, he wanted something else to connect him to Reki.

"Oh well, I'd be happy to help you. I could teach you over video call, but it wouldn't be the same. At
most I could with something basic like keeping your balance and moving, but the tricks– do you even
have a skateboard?"
"Um, I'll take care of that."

He could see Reki's smile get bigger. He thought that smile was so cute. "Then it's a deal, I'll be your
teacher now!" his voice sounded so excited. "How about we start on Saturday? I mean YOUR
Saturday, I'll manage whatever time it is."

"Okay." Langa nodded nervously at what he had just agreed to.

Langa had no idea that this hobby was only a tiny part of the beginning of his story with Reki.

Saturday, April 2.

Saturday came faster than I expected.

The light blue-haired young man was in a park near his house. The afternoon was average and there
was not a cloud in the sky. Langa found a spot where he could be in peace and no children would
bother him. Oh well, he simply needed a place where he wouldn't feel embarrassed to talk 'alone' to
the screen.

"Sorry to make you get up early for this," said Langa, putting on his headphones and then propping
his cell phone on a seat.

"Don't worry, I'm used to it. I always spend all day here on weekends anyway." Reki responded.

Because of the big time difference they had, coinciding in an hour turned out to be more complicated
than they thought. After much discussion, they both agreed to meet at 5:00pm Vancouver time, which
would be 9:00am on Sunday in Okinawa. It was the only reasonable thing for both of them without
needing to either get up early or be in danger by staying late.

"Can you show me your board? I need to see what kind it is." requested the japanese; Langa nodded
and focused it on the screen. "Ok, you have a popsicle skateboard just like me. I have no idea where
you got it from, but it looks to be in good shape. It's fine for a beginner."

"If you say so." After that, Langa walked away from the camera until his body was fully visible. "Is
that good?"

"Mhm!" affirmed Reki. "Hey Langa, is this your first time using a board?"

And Langa didn't expect it, but that question made him tense up a bit, having slightly quick memories
of when he used to snowboard with his father. Reki wasn’t dumb; he could tell his discomfort by the
sound of his breathing and the way Langa stood still so suddenly.

"Are you all right? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable–"

"It's not your fault." interrupts the canadian, taking a deep breath. "I used to snowboard since I was a
kid, but I quit."

Langa didn't want to tell him why he quit, not because he didn't trust Reki, but because he thought it
wasn't time yet. Maybe, deep down, he was just afraid of being judged and that Reki would leave
because of it.

"Oh, if you want, we'd better do this when you feel ready–"

"I want to." replied Langa seriously.

Reki just sighed. "This is not going to stop being a skateboard to become a snowboard; they're
different, they're not going to change." he commented in his soft voice, trying to calm down the
canadian. "Are you sure about this? I won't judge you if you'd rather change it to another day."

Langa nodded again, this time looking confidently into the camera. "I'm ready."

The mood lightened. Telling Reki more or less about his snowboarding past had lifted a weight off his
shoulders.

"I'm gonna try to teach you the best I can, okay? It's weird doing this on live."

After saying that, Reki cleared his throat, and Langa put the board on the pavement, waiting for his
friend's instructions.

"Okay, first of all, put one foot on the floor and one foot on the board. When you're ready, bring the
other foot up..."

And so they both spent a good part of the afternoon like that. Between laughs and falls, Reki tried to
be a good teacher, and Langa did his best to follow Reki's advice and remember what that stranger of
his dreams had taught him. They just virtually enjoyed each other's company. Both in their own little
skateboarding world.

The minutes passed, the sky was slowly turning orange, and the people were leaving the park. After
falling off the board again for the thousandth time that day, Langa simply lay down his back against
the pavement, sighing.

"Ugh, this is impossible. You make it look so easy." said Langa, tired, then picking up his phone and
focusing the camera on his face. "I think I scratched my elbow."

"It's always like that at first. You'll get better as the days go by. You're still good for a beginner tho."
Reki responded, sitting down. "Although it's still a lot easier and faster when they teach you in person
and can guide you."

"...I wish you were here." escaped from Langa's lips, he had thought out loud. It was a matter of two
seconds until he analyzed what he said, going blank. Reki looked at him, somewhat surprised, as if he
hadn't expected that comment from the canadian. "I-".
Reki just laughed shyly, putting a hand behind his neck. "Don't apologize, I think the same thing."

For a moment, Langa swore his heart stopped for a second. He started thinking about what his life
would be like if Reki was with him in Canada. Would they have met at the same school? Maybe he'd
even get along with his friends, perhaps he'd even speak english with that adorable accent of his.

Maybe there would be some universe where he lived in Okinawa with Reki, went to school and S
together, and maybe even hung out with his friends there... The possibilities were endless. Possibly, in
those universes his life would be happy and have more color.

"Calling earth to Langa, are you still there?" the redhead spoke, snapping Langa out of his trance and
looking back at the screen. "Dude, you spaced out."

"Oh?"

"You almost scared me. At least you're back to normal now. What were you thinking about?"

"Um, nothing." lied Langa, he was embarrassed to say it.

"You were thinking about what it would be like to have me by your side, weren't you?" he says
mockingly.

And oh, Langa could feel his face heat up, he was sure he was completely blushed too. He covered his
face with his hand, dead embarrassed. He could hear how Reki laughed out loud.

"Aw man, don't be embarrassed. I think it's cute. I sometimes think of things like that, too."

Langa showed his face again. "Really?"

"Uh-huh. My mind is weird. I know I've only known you for a short time, but somehow, I already feel
you so close. It was inevitable that I would start imagining things like that."

Somehow, Langa is relieved to know that he wasn't the only one who felt the same way. The
friendship between the two had grown so quickly that he felt like he could rely on Reki for anything.
This was so rare for Langa. With other people, it could take him several months to trust them, but it
was not the same case here. Reki had managed to break down his barriers.

"Hey L, did the sun go down over there yet?" asked Reki.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Just stay quiet and look at it. Do as I say."

Without hesitation, Langa did as his friend told. He stopped watching the screen, sat up, and focused
on the sky, which was now orangy, and the sun was almost hidden between the city buildings. A
sweet breeze refreshed his face, moving some rebel hairs. It had been long since he had spent time
gazing at the sky. It was more relaxing than he remembered.

"Do you still see it?"

 "Yes." answered Langa, stunned.

"So am I. That means that right now, we're seeing the sun at the same time. Somehow, we're not alone
anymore. We're together." the redhead said softly.

Wow, Langa had never thought of it that way. As much as they lived on the same planet but thousands
of miles away from each other, these little details and moments brought them together. Reki had such
a different way of looking at things, and that was what he loved about him. He always showed the
other side of things.

"You're amazing, Reki." Langa smiled genuinely, lying on the ground, those words escaping his lips
again.

"You should stop hiding it." the redhead said, smiling stunned, he couldn't stop looking at the
canadian.

"What do you mean?"

"Your smile, it's cute. It's the first time I've actually seen you smile." Reki's voice sounded so gentle
and honest.

And fuck, Langa could feel his face blush again. At least the colors of the sunset helped him
camouflage that. Still, Reki noticed it but decided not to say anything to him so as not to frustrate the
canadian further.

"Same to you." replied Langa, also managing to frustrate Reki with that simple sentence.

At that moment, Langa felt so complete, at peace, everything. Only Reki had been able to make him
feel that way. And so they spent the rest of the call. They just talked and enjoyed each other's
company, but mostly they enjoyed their present.

Langa wasn't sure about many things, but the one thing he still didn't notice was that his feelings for
the japanese skater were just beginning to bloom.

Chapter End Notes

That was chapter 4 to you~~

Langa's feeling are finally blooming, but he has no idea what to do with them. What will he do?
Will he avoid them? I guess we'll know as the story goes by. Next chapter will have a little
surprise, so look forward it~~

And I finally got the courage to post a little piece of my art here. I know I'm not the best and still
got a long way to go, but I really wanted to do this. You can follow my artpage here
Also, my goal is to update weekly or every two weeks. College is driving me crazy but I'll try my
best for you <3
That's all I gotta say. See ya next chapter~~
 Chapter 5
Chapter Notes

I'm so sorry for taking so long writing this!

Here's a +7K word chapter to make up for the delay.
Enjoy your reading <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Help me make the most

Of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world.❞

» Everybody Want's to Rule the World - Tears for Fears

»One week later«

The morning was just beginning, and the weather was already sunny. Some birds were singing and
some people were already doing their daily routine. Among the room's darkness, a faint light came
through the curtains, revealing a slim figure sleeping in bed, which had the sheets covering his head.
There was only peace and the sound of the air conditioner accompanying him.

Making a groan as he settled in, someone opened the bedroom door. Small footsteps slowly
approached the bed until...

"Brother, wake up!" shouted the 5-year-old girl, getting the other one to get up and fall off the bed
from fright.

Instantly, and already on the floor, the young man pulled the covers off himself and sat up. His red
hair was more messy than usual and he was not wearing a shirt.

"Chihiro?" the redhead asked, still sleepy.

The younger girl just smiled at her brother. "Reki, breakfast is ready."

"Ah? What time is it?" he asked himself, turning on his cell phone screen.

8:00am
Four notifications
"Oh god, I'm super late!" said Reki to himself. He had forgotten to set his alarm.

After getting Chihiro out of the room and locking the door, he immediately started getting dressed,
trying not to trip over things on the floor. He wore his strange combination of school uniform and
yellow hoodie as usual. And, of course, he couldn't forget his bandana and wristbands.

Leaving the room, he quickly entered the bathroom and brushed his teeth. After that, running down
the hallway, he almost bumped into Koyomi.

"Hey!" exclaimed the 12-year-old girl.

"Sorry!"

Entering the kitchen, Reki greets his mother with a kiss on the cheek and takes a sandwich that was
on the table.

"Good morning, mom. I'm late, see you later." he spoke faster than usual, then went to the porch and
put on his shoes.

"But Reki, you-" said his mother, trying to reach him, but by bad luck, Reki had already left the house
and didn't manage to hear her.

Reki was already on the other street, skating freely as he always did. He was wearing headphones and
listening to Everybody Wants to Rule the World . Admiring the view of the sea and the sun shining, his
messy hair waved in the warm breeze.

Another day in his beautiful Okinawa had just begun.

Arriving in the city, he evaded some locals until he reached the subway station. His days were usually
like this: skating from place to place, which was his way of transportation. After going up the stairs
and almost tripping, Reki managed to get on the subway that almost left him. Tired, Reki sighed and
found an empty seat at the back; it was nearly a 10-minute ride to the stop near his school.

He leaned back in the seat, finally, he had some time to relax his mind from such a crazy morning.
However, his mind brought only one thing: his friend who lived on the other side of the world.

Oh right , Langa thought Reki, he had forgotten to check if he had written to him and check up if he
was okay.

Since meeting him almost two months ago, Reki quickly got used to interacting with the canadian, to
the point of making him part of his daily life. It's true that Langa didn't talk much, but Reki didn't
mind at all. He still knew they both cared about each other, which was enough for him. And well, he
also loved to hear what little Langa told. It was not much, but it was interesting. Reki thought it was a
very harmonious friendship.

He had included him in his life more than he should have, which scared him a little. Even Koyomi
was now bothering him about it. According to her, he tended to stay daydreaming a lot now.
Checking the chat, he sighed as he saw nothing new; everything was still the same since the last time
they had texted. If he remembered correctly, Langa had told him that these days, he would be busy
with his final exams and might be unable to answer quickly. Not wanting to leave the chat 'dead', Reki
just sent a picture of a cat and said: "It reminded me of you."

It wasn't even two minutes after Reki got off at his stop when he received a call from Oka.

"Hello?" asked Reki, starting to skate once outside the station.

"Reki, where are you at? I have to make a delivery soon and I can't leave the store alone." said Oka on
the other end of the line. He sounded frustrated.

"What are you talking about? I'm going to school." the redhead replied, confused.

He could hear him sigh loudly. "Reki, what are YOU talking about? It's summer and you graduated
from high school 3 weeks ago."

That was enough for Reki to stop his skateboard abruptly, almost hitting a fire hydrant. It was at that
moment that he remembered that he had already graduated... Now, he understood why his family
wanted to stop him from going to school.

"Oh shit, not again!"

Okinawa, Japan
Friday, same day.
Dope Sketch

"Ugh, this is embarrassing!" said Reki, feeling humiliated as he entered the store.

Oka just laughed with his arms crossed. "This is the second time this has happened to you."

"Don't remind me, I still can't believe I'm already a graduate. Do you see me as someone out of high
school? Well, I don't!"

"I mean, that's why you'll be working full time now, right?"

"Uh-huh. It's only for this year anyway, so don't get too used to it."

"Your mother didn't say anything about wanting to take a year off?" asked Oka.

"She's supportive. She said it's okay as long as I work. She doesn't mind if I start college later."
replied the red-headed boy sincerely. "Maybe that gives me more time to choose what I want to study,
so it's better for me."

After saying that, Reki went to the store's restroom to change into his work uniform. As he took off
his top garments, he saw his slim, tanned body in the mirror, the tiny freckles decorating his
shoulders. He could tell he was thinner than last week. He was so focused on making a skateboard
that he had forgotten to eat properly.

"I'm such a mess. Sometimes I don't recognize myself." he whispered to himself, then resumed what
he was doing. He had such a bad habit of self-destructing with comments.

As he put on his T-shirt, the fabric hid his slim figure. He had to wear a larger size because his
uniform was at home. At that moment, he wondered if this would fit Langa. Was he as tall as he
claimed to be? Reki wondered.

Returning to the main area of DopeSketch, he saw Oka with the keys to the van, telling him to take
care of the store in his absence and not to worry if he was late.

"What am I going to worry about? You'd still call Shadow and he'd be there in no time to protect you.
I'm just saying, have you seen his muscles? They're bigger than my future; they'd scare anyone."
mocked Reki to his manager.

Oka just coughed and got goosebumps. "Man..." he replied, then went to the door and said, "And you
better remember to attend to the customers and don't just stand around chatting to your little american
boyfriend."

After that, he left Reki alone in the store without a chance to answer him.

"He's not my boyfriend..."

It was so rare for Reki to have a moment of silence and to himself, as he was used to the constant
noise of his home. For that very reason, he turned on a speaker and played some music. In a way, he
admired Langa for being able to be alone and not going crazy with so much silence. If he remembered
correctly, he had told him that he spent a lot of time alone at home. He was sure he would have lost
his mind by now if he were in his place.

Sitting at the cash register, with time passing slowly, he spent his time waiting for a customer to
arrive. Suddenly, he received a message from Langa.

[Langa:]
Day 2 of exams passed.

And oh, Reki couldn't help but smile like a little girl for seeing that Langa was doing well. He knew
how difficult academic life was for him, so it was inevitable to feel proud. No matter how cold the
canadian was with his messages, somehow Reki could feel his affection.

Reki still had a long day ahead of him, but with Langa by his side, he knew the time would fly by.

Okinawa, Japan
One day later.

For some reason, that Saturday, S started earlier than usual. It was only 11:00 pm, compared to other
days that started at midnight or later. Still, the atmosphere was as lively as ever. People were shouting,
the smell of dirt, rubber and nature, and the sound of competitors skateboarding.

Reki was with his usual group, waiting their turn to participate, but compared to other times, he wasn't
paying attention to the skateboarders. Oh well, he was in a way, only this time he was watching the
skate recordings Langa had sent him. He was too focused on analyzing his tricks and moves, seeing
where he could improve and where he couldn't, and so on.

To Reki's surprise, Langa was improving a lot even if he was only learning from the internet,
especially for only being on it for a week.

He was so deep in his thoughts that he couldn't even notice that someone was next to him, looking at
his cell phone screen.

"Who are you looking at?" asked a deep male voice, startling Reki into almost dropping the cell
phone on the floor. Turning his head toward the voice, he saw a muscular, tanned, green-haired figure;
it was Joe.

"Damn it, Joe, you almost gave me a heart attack!" complained the redhead, almost out of breath but
relieved that it was just him and not Adam. "And I thought you were competing. Did you get beat that
easy?"

"No way, I always win! I'm just waiting to see Cherry's race. " replied Joe, sitting down next to Reki.
"So, will you tell me who that guy was or not? I've never seen you ignore a skate race just because of
a video."

"Oh- he's nobody. Right, absolutely no one." excused Reki, trying not to be so obvious in front of his
friend. "He's just a mere internet pixel."

Joe looked at him seriously. "...That's the Canadian guy you're talking to, right? You’re really a bad
liar."

"Ugh, you win. Yes, it is!" he replied, even Reki didn't know why he had lied to him about that.

Did he actually look so focused?

What would other people think about seeing him act like that?

Reki wondered that and a thousand other questions. Langa had changed him so much to the point that
he couldn't imagine his days without him. They would be too boring.

"Seriously, you're too obvious. You're literally just missing the heart eyes while looking at your
phone, " the green-haired man jokingly added.

"So what’s the deal with it? You look the same when you look at Cherry! Don't play innocent." said
Reki, trying to defend himself, but Joe didn't seem affected and just laughed.
"This is about you, not me." Joe leaned his back against the rocky wall, resting. "Anyway, let's cut the
drama, how's it going with being a virtual teacher?"

"Oh?" Reki didn't understand for a second, but then all his wires connected. "Oh! I'm doing great.
Langa learns very fast. Just watch him."

Instantly, Reki played the video and handed the phone to Joe.

In the video, Langa was in the same park where he practiced the first time, but this time, he could
already be seen skating decently and moving well. He was able to boost himself without any problem,
stop properly, etc. The green-haired one was analyzing the video the same way Reki did a while ago.

"He has potential for being just a rookie.." Joe said, somewhat surprised.

"Who has potential?" This time, a sharper voice was heard on the other side of Reki. It was Miya,
who also had his eyes glued to the redhead's phone.

"Where are you all showing up from? You look like ninjas." Reki asked himself, but no one paid
attention to him.

"What, I can't see this?" the black-haired 14-year-old asked sarcastically. "Who are you talking about?
I need to know."

"Reki's friend."

"The american?" asks Miya.

"He's actually Canadian..." clarified Reki, starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the situation. He
felt like he made it bigger than it should be.

"Who cares? He lives on the other side of the world anyway." said the black-haired boy. "Let me see
the video; I don't think he's as amazing or advanced as you guys say."

He took the cell phone out of Joe's hands and replayed the video. Miya seemed too focused for the
whole minute that lasted. He even replayed it more than once. Reki couldn't help but feel tense about
it.

"Not bad...like Joe says, he seems to have potential. I'm sure it's just beginner's luck anyway," said
Miya, but there was a little jealousy in his voice, and he wanted to avoid admitting outright that he
was good.

"Has he skated before? His movements are coordinated and good."

"Mmm, if I remember correctly, I think he used to snowboard, but he quit it. Still, I've never seen
anyone skate like Langa. He's full of surprises."

Joe just nodded, a slight smile formed on his lips. For that very reason, Reki couldn't help but get
nervous. Was he coming up with a plan? Did he say something that was out of pocket? Oh god, he
didn't understand what was going on. He just wanted to analyze a video in peace.

"Hey, how long have you been talking to Langa?" the tattooed one asked out of nowhere.
"Oh?" The question hit Reki like a bucket of cold water. "I've been talking to him for almost two
months now. Why do you ask?"

"Do you talk to him every day?"

"Shit, yes, I do. But why don't you answer me-"

"He's trying to see if you like Langa, you idiot." interrupted Miya, stressed that the redhead wasn't
taking the hints. "I can't believe even I figured it out before you did. You're so dumb when you want
to be."

Oh, he just thinks that.

"I– Langa's just my best friend." he tried to clarify Reki, but his voice sounded so nervous. He still
didn't understand at what point the conversation drastically changed the topic to whatever this was.

"Sure, a best friend who leaves you daydreaming several times a day. Sounds reasonable," said Miya
sarcastically, putting his hands in his pockets. "Believe me, you do it too much and don't realize it.
Sometimes you get so dreamy and it's hard to snap you out of your trance."

"I do what–" Reki couldn't believe what he was being told, just trying to process everything. Was he
that down bad for him?

"I hate to side with the kid, but I'm not going to deny something that's true." said Joe.

"Oh god, I must look like a complete idiot!" replied Reki, dead embarrassed, covering his face with
his hands. This was going too far. He was sometimes distracted, but he had never reached the level his
friends were telling him about.

"And yes, you are, slime."

"Miya, you're not helping much with his situation..." the green-haired man said, stressed to the
younger one.

"Sorry, I had to, or he was never going to react. Just look at him!" pointed out Miya to Reki, who was
staring at the ground, blushing and whispering things no one else understood.

And Joe didn't say anything, just gave Miya a serious look, which was enough for the younger boy to
understand.

"Whatever, I'd better leave you two alone." sighed Miya, complaining. "And stop behaving like you're
my dad. You're not."

After that, Miya walked away, leaving Reki and Joe alone in silence.

Reki was so deep in his mind, overthinking everything that had been said to him. It didn't affect him
that he got to look foolish in front of others. That wasn't his priority. What bothered him most was the
simple fact that without realizing it, his mind was only thinking about Langa, to the point that it
seemed to affect his reality and daily activities. The truth was:
How could he not think about Langa?

He could still perfectly remember the day he DM him to ask if he was ok, the beginning of that
strange and improvised friendship. And oh, he remembered every detail of how he felt the first time
he saw Langa's face. The way his heart stopped for a second and then beat a thousand beats a minute,
how he felt the warmth invade his cheeks to his whole face. Skin as white as snow, his long light blue
hair, eyes as blue like the atlantic in which he felt he could get lost, how those beautiful eyes looked at
him curiously... In his almost 18 years of life, Reki had never seen someone as beautiful and sweet as
Langa.

It was the first time Reki found a guy so cute. It wasn't like he was someone who fell in love easily
either. Throughout his life, he only had 1 or 2 crushes, and those were girls. But now things were
different, his life was upside down, and he was so confused with so many things.

"Kojiro- I'm sorry, Joe... Can I ask you a personal question?" Reki broke the silence, still looking at
the ground.

The green-haired man only made a sound of approval.

Reki took a breath before speaking. "Well...how do I explain it without sounding so nosy?" he
scratched the back of his neck, nervous. "...How did you find out that, you know, you like men too?"

"Oh-" escaped the older man's lips. He was surprised by the blunt question; he expected anything but
that. "Mmm... I guess I always knew that, but I liked several people growing up. Still, there was only
one I always had in mind and cleared up all my doubts."

Saying that, Joe just stared at one point, after which Reki looked at the same spot. In the distance,
Cherry could be seen raising his skateboard after passing the finish line, then heading to where
Shadow and Miya were. The grennete's gaze softened and he had a slight smile on his lips.

"Still, everyone has a different experience, so I can't tell you exactly what it's like." Joe added after
coming out of his little trance.

Reki sighed in frustration. "Dude, I feel so weird...this is all so new."

"The only thing I can tell you is to take as much time as you need in figuring yourself out. Get to
know the person well before you decide if you really like them or not." as he said that, Joe grabbed
his skateboard and got back up. "Don't let that keep you awake at night. It'll be alright. Langa seems
like a nice guy."

Reki could feel his throat tighten for a second, and a strange urge to cry invaded his being, but he
swallowed and remained composed.

"Come on, let's go with the others." said Joe.

It will be alright. Maybe that was all he needed to hear amid all the confusion his mind had created.
Amidst all the darkness of his insecurities, that one little sentence felt like a piece of light at the end of
the tunnel. Walking beside Joe, Reki could feel peace with his present for that small moment in his
life.

»One hour later«

The evening hours passed quickly, but the atmosphere in S was still so lively and full of energy. Reki
had just returned from a race in which he had won. Walking towards his group of friends, Reki felt his
phone vibrate. Excited, he immediately unblocked it, thinking that Langa had written to him, but in
reality, it was something else. The notification was a message from his mother, which only had three
red flag emojis.

What is this? At first, Reki was too confused, but it was only a matter of a few seconds until his mind
could remember. They had assigned that coded message years ago but never used it until now.

It wasn't true, was it?

This couldn't be happening, not now.

HE couldn't have come back...

The redhead could feel his breathing slowly begin to hitch, a lump forming in his throat, and his ears
listening to a high-pitched ringing. His arms were starting to itch horribly underneath his sweatshirt.
He had to go home right now to protect his mother and little sisters. He had to stop anything terrible
from happening to them.

"I have to go home. They need me." This was the only thing that kept repeating in Reki's mind. Little
by little, he felt his vision blurred, and his feet moved automatically without any direction.

"Reki." a voice could be heard in the background, but he didn't recognize who it was. "Reki." he heard
again. This time, he felt himself being stopped. "REKI!".

That last one snapped him out of his trance, managing to regain his five senses and realize he had two
hands on his shoulders. Looking up, he could tell it was Cherry, who strangely wasn't wearing his
mask. Around him were Joe and Miya, looking at him confused.

"Reki, are you okay?" the pink-haired one asked. "You look pale and you've been talking to yourself
for a while."

"I- I need to go home right now. I don't have time to explain." Reki tried not to sound more worried
than he was. However, it showed otherwise by the way he scratched his forearms. "Where's Oka? I
should get there before it's too late.

"He left a while ago with Shadow..." replied Joe.

Oh shit, he'd forgotten that Oka had other business that night. Reki felt frustration invade his whole
body again. Other times, he wouldn't have minded skating home at all, but today, he couldn't afford to
take so long. This couldn't be happening. Everything would be all right, wouldn't it? This was just a
nightmare... was it?

The redhead's brain clicked as he thought of the only person who could help him now. "Cherry, I
know you hate being asked for favors, but please take me home. It's just for today. I promise not to
ask you for anything else, please."

Kaoru could tell Reki's genuine concern and desperation; he had no idea what was wrong with him,
but he couldn't say no to someone who seemed so desperate for help.

"Let's go. Hop in on Carla."

After saying goodbye and walking to where Kaoru's motorcycle was, they sped quickly out of S, not
realizing the darkness and blizzard on the road had already greeted them. Holding onto the older one,
Reki looked up at the sky, which was more clear and starry than usual. The only thing he wished at
that moment was to be able to arrive on time.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" asked Kaoru, serious but concerned.

It was almost one in the morning, and they were already outside Reki's house. Only a few outside
lamps were on, including the ones in his home.

"I’ll be ok, my mom just needs me to help her with something." replied Reki, looking in the direction
of where he lived. He was convinced Kaoru wasn't convinced of the lie he told one bit, but for now,
he just thanked him for not asking so much about it.

"If you say so. Just don't hesitate to call me if anything goes wrong. You know I have my contacts."

Reki nodded, waving goodbye to Cherry, then watching as the motorcycle sped away from where he
was. Walking towards the entrance of his house, he nervously watched the front door. He was so
afraid to go inside and see what awaited him. He usually would enter through his bedroom window,
but his mother finding out he wasn't home in the middle of the night was the least of his worries right
now.

Opening the door slowly and trying to make as little noise as possible, Reki sees a can of beer in the
doorway. The smell of that drink alone brought back bad memories. After taking off his shoes and
dodging the puddle, Reki went to the source of the noise, which was his living room, and found the
sliding door closed. Behind it, he could hear his mother arguing. He took a breath and took courage
and then opened the living room door, not knowing what was waiting for him on the other side.
On the other side of the room stood his mother, her back against the wall and trying to get away from
someone. Reki got goosebumps when he realized who was with her.

He had long reddish brown hair reaching his shoulders, wore a jacket and ripped jeans, glasses, and
had a beard on his tan skin. His foul smell of alcohol... That man he hadn't seen for more than 6 years
and thought he would never hear from again was under the same roof as him.

For a second, Reki forgot how to breathe. "Dad?"

The redhead was in shock. He couldn't believe who was in front of him. The last time he had seen him
was when he was 12 years old, and his twin sisters were just born. One day, after an argument, his
father simply decided to leave and never came back, something that deep down was a total relief for
his little family. He could still remember how much he humiliated him and his mother, the horrible
words he used to say to them, how he spent most of his time drunk, etc. Sometimes, he seriously
wondered how they came up with such good children from a beast like him.

"Reki? Don't tell me that's you?" the older one asked, with a tone between amused and sarcastic. He
hadn't missed him at all. "You've grown so much, you're almost my height. The last time we saw each
other you were just reaching my shoulder... Still, that doesn't take away the fact that you still look just
as much of a sissy." he said that last thing with disgust, a smirk appearing on his face. "Just look at
you; you're still wearing bright colors and painting your nails!"

Reki didn't know what to answer him. Not even a minute had passed and his feelings were already
hurt. He couldn't move a muscle, everything still felt too unreal. Having him in front of him brought
flashbacks of his childhood's ugly moments.

"What are you doing here?" asked Reki, trying to sound serious but failed.

"Can't I go visit my wife and children?" his father asked, offended. "What's your problem?"

"You treated us horribly, and you're already divorced. That's the problem!" exclaimed the red-head.

"What little manners you taught your son, Masae. I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to get rid of
him."

"Daisuke, don't you dare talk to him like that! Reki is a good and much better man than you!"
exclaimed Reki's mother angrily.

"Ha! Tell me a better joke and stop talking bullshit. You're always denying reality. You haven't
changed a bit." scoffed the elder, putting his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, where are the girls? I
want to see them. They must be grown up by now."

Masae didn't dare speak. She refused to tell the location of her daughters to a crazy person like her ex-
husband. Although nerves were also what kept her from speaking, she was scared. This only made
Daisuke angrier.

"Answer me, dammit!" the older one shouted angrily, slamming the furniture next to Masae.
Reki just watched as his mother did her best not to burst into tears and stay strong. At that moment,
something sparked inside the redhead. With a strange feeling of courage growing inside him, Reki
stood in front of his mom, defending her. His father was only slightly taller than him, so he was
perfect to stand up to him.

"Don't you dare look or lay a finger on them, not to my sisters and mother. You don't even deserve to
be here and breathe the same air as us." said Reki, serious, without breaking eye contact.

"Oh, so now I'm the bad guy? What's the worst I could do?"

"You know yourself what you're capable of doing, or don't you remember? Just look at you!" clarified
Reki, frowning.

"Shut up, you piece of shit, just let me go and see them!" the adult said impatiently.

"Make me."

From one moment to the next, the older man grabbed Reki's shoulders and pushed him hard into the
wall, managing to hit his back and head. A groan of pain escaped Reki's lips from the impact. His
body simply slid down until he was sitting on the floor. It had been a while since he'd been hit this
hard. Everything hurt too much. He couldn't even open his eyes because of it, he could only hear
distorted to his mom screaming in the background, begging the other adult to stop.

But even in the midst of all the pain he was feeling, Reki felt grateful that he was the one in pain and
not his mom.

Slowly opening his eyes, he could tell that his vision was somewhat blurred. He could only see the
silhouettes of his parents arguing. However, he noticed that through the window some red and blue
lights were becoming more and more intense.

Everything happened so fast. From one moment to the next, the police entered the house, finding his
father in full action and about to hit Masae. Reki, trying to analyze everything while injured, saw his
father being handcuffed and taken away. It was only a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity for the
red-head.

After being treated and recovered, the first thing he did was to go to his mother, who had just told an
officer everything that had happened. She looked tired, both physically and mentally.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" asked Reki, worried.

Masae just looked at him sweetly and hugged her son. "I'm fine, don't worry. The real question is if
YOU are okay." she replied, worried about Reki. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry you had to go through
that. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't call the police."

Reki broke away from the hug, looking confused at his mother. "Mom, I didn't call them. I thought it
was you."
"Huh? If it wasn't you, then who called them?"

And as if by magic, a sudden small cough was heard. They both looked to the room's entrance, it was
Koyomi and she was holding the phone in her hand. Her face showed concern and the rims of her
eyes were slightly pink.

"It was me. I called them." said the 13 year old girl, approaching them both. "I know you asked me
not to leave the room no matter what happened and take care of the twins, but you never forbade me
to call for help... I did right, didn't I?"

Masae just sighed in relief and opened her arms. "Come here..."

Instantly, the younger girl ran and hugged her mother, whispering things Reki couldn't understand. It
had been a long and horrible night for him and his family. He felt completely exhausted. For now,
they were all safe, and that’s all that mattered to him.

It was a while before things with the cops calmed down and they had to leave. Before he knew it, it
was already around 2am. Reki helped his mother clean up the little mess his dad made in the living
room, but under her insistence, Reki had to go to rest in his room.

And there he was, in the dark, sitting on the bed with the sheets on top of him. He had been trying to
sleep for a while, but his thoughts couldn't stop talking to him and wouldn't let him rest. He was just
staring at a random point in the room, his bruises still hurting. He wanted so much to cry and vent, but
he couldn't no matter how hard he tried. Maybe it was the shock of the incident; he really had no idea.

Not knowing what to do and wanting to distract himself for a while until his body decided to get tired,
Reki grabbed his phone for the first time in hours and went straight to the chat with Langa. This time,
he didn't even ask if he could do it; he didn't care about the big time difference. He just pressed the
phone icon and started voice calling him. They always made video calls, but he didn't want to do it
this time. He didn't wish for Langa to see how bad he was. Right now, all Reki wanted to hear was his
sweet, calm voice.

The waiting tone sounded for a while, unsettling Reki and his little patience at that moment.
Suddenly, what he needed was heard.

"Reki?" spoke Langa, his voice sounding somewhere between asleep and awake but still soft as
always. He had forgotten that in Canada it was just starting the day.

"Langa–" Reki's voice broke a little from just hearing him. He couldn't help it but instantly tried to
disguise it.

The canadian could tell. He may be distracted but not dumb. Maybe he couldn't see Reki, but he was
absolutely sure he wasn't well. He never called him unannounced, so it had to be for something.
"Reki, are you okay– "

Reki didn't let him finish the sentence, he interrupted him instantly. "Can you tell me a story? Please."
he asked almost in a whisper.

It was the first time Langa had ever heard Reki like that, so destroyed and dull, it just broke his heart.
What had they done to Reki to break him? He had always been a little sunshine in his life, and now he
had been badly broken. It felt so horrible to have a friend feeling like shit and not being able to do
anything about it because of the distance. He felt so helpless about that.

"Okay… let me think." Langa replied quietly.

He didn't know what to tell him; he was never good at telling stories, but he would make an effort to
help Reki even a little bit. Thinking about what story to tell his friend, a sudden memory came to his
mind.

Langa sighed before speaking. "When I was 11 years old my parents wanted to take me for the day to
Vancouver Island. They took advantage of the fact that they canceled my classes because it was
snowing and..."

Langa talked for quite a while, telling Reki all the details he remembered from that trip. He talked
about everything he had never talked about in his life. Compared to other times, the japanese was
unresponsive, completely silent, only his breathing and sniffling nose could be heard through the line.
Still, Langa knew he was listening to him, and that seemed enough for him to be able to calm him
down.

"I remember that we came to this frozen lake, surrounded by the whitest snow I'd ever seen."
continued Langa. "My mom and I were so stunned by the place that my dad surprised us by throwing
snow at us. After that, the three of us spent the whole afternoon making snow wars and playing in it."
Without realizing it, his voice grew nostalgic. "It's just a simple core memory, but it was so
unforgettable for little me...I was so happy and I didn't know it."

Reki could feel his heart shatter after hearing all that and just kept quiet, biting his lip to not cry.
Sometimes, it was so weird to him to think that there were people with a not absent father and they
had a healthy relationship with him. There were actual people who could trust them with everything,
could go about their day peacefully, etc. To Reki, that seemed like a mere fantasy. Why didn't life give
him that? Didn't he deserve it? What did he do in his past life to have such a monster like him as a
father? He didn't understand.

"Reki, are you still there?" asked Langa.

The redhead took his time to respond. "Mhm."

"Can I ask you what happened? I know you're not okay. I may not be able to see your face, but I know
you want to cry..."
A lump formed in the japanese's throat, feeling his eyes water. Langa already had his problems, it
wouldn't be right to vent his demons on him as well. He didn't deserve to get more depressed because
of him.

"...Reki, you always help me when I feel horrible and my thoughts are killing me. I don't know what I
would have done without your help. Just please... let me do the same for you."

He didn't know at what point it was, but suddenly, Langa had turned on his camera. He was in his
room and it was daytime. His light blue hair had grown a bit and was kind of messy. Where did he get
the courage to do that? Reki wondered. Although Langa had no idea either, he was just following his
instincts. Maybe it was his way of telling him I'm here for you.

And oh, Reki had no idea why just the sight of him brought a few tears to his eyes. Was Langa an
angel? Every day, he was more and more convinced that meeting each other was never a coincidence,
that no matter if their friendship was just a fragment of his life or eternal, it was all part of destiny.

"I’m– It's been a shitty night..." At last, Reki spoke, his voice cracking and breaking into tears.
"Everything was fine. It had been a good day, but my dad showed up again after many years and it
was all a mess. He almost hurt my mom, and I don't want to imagine what he would have done to my
little sisters and...damn it, I haven't felt this scared in a long time. For a second there, I seriously
thought I was going back to that ugly little part of my childhood." he said that last bit in agitation,
wiping away his tears with the sleeve of his sweater.

Langa couldn't believe he was listening to him, had Reki's father been such an asshole? He didn't want
to imagine the ugly things that happened. "...Did he hurt you?" he dared to ask, afraid of what his
friend would answer.

Reki hugged himself, stroking his arms over the fabric. "He just pushed me into the wall and I hit my
back, but it doesn't hurt that much anymore. Don't worry."

At that moment, the light blue-haired one couldn't help but feel guilty for just telling him the story
with his father at the lake. It was such a bad timing.

"Reki, I'm so sorry. If I had known about this, I wouldn't have told the story–"

"Don't apologize; It still calmed me down to hear it. It was very nice." interrupted Reki, responding
honestly. "Your dad seems like a nice guy."

Langa sighed, a small nostalgic look forming on his face. "Yes, he was."

"Was?"

Oh, Langa thought he'd fucked up. He still hasn't told Reki about his past. Maybe this was the perfect
time to tell the truth. Reki was no longer just a stranger, he was now his closest friend.
"He died last year, and it was too sudden. Since then, it's has just been me and my mother. From there,
several of my problems started." replied Langa, his voice soft and beautiful. "I miss him very much.
I'm sure he would have gotten along with you."

Reki now couldn't help but feel guilty. "I'm so sorry, Langa. I must look like an idiot for complaining
about my problems. Maybe my father was right, I do suck."

"Don't say that!" replied Langa. "Reki, you are such a wonderful boy, beyond perfect. Your smile,
your beautiful fire-colored eyes and hair, your sense of humor, the way you get excited about the
things you like, I could listen to you all day long. You even seem to be an amazing big brother.
Everything in and out of you is amazing, and there's nothing negative I can say about you..." Langa
had no idea where he got all that from; he was just saying the things his heart told him. "If your father
can't see that, he can simply fuck off."

A sob escaped Reki and a small smile formed on his lips. More tears rolled down his flushed cheeks.
It was the first time someone had spoken to him like that. He had never felt so loved until that
moment. Reki had so many self-esteem issues, so having someone say all those nice things to him just
broke him. He accidentally turned on the camera, causing Langa to panic at the sight of him crying.

"Oh god, was that too much? I'm sorry–" Langa said, somewhere between embarrassed and worried.

"Thank you, I really needed it." replied Reki. His golden eyes seemed to shine more from the tears, a
small laugh coming out from his lips.

Was it normal to think someone looked so pretty while crying?

Langa felt like he was crazy for believing that. Still, seeing what he said made Reki smile gave him so
much peace. He deserved to be happy and so much more.

"Maybe we're just beautiful people with beautiful problems," Reki said out of the blue.

Langa didn't question it. He just let him cry for as long as he needed. Even for just a second, both felt
like they were next to each other. It was about a few minutes until Reki calmed down a bit and
stopped crying.

"Can you tell me another story? I love to hear you talk." the redhead asked.

Langa nodded without doubting it. They both got lost in their little world; they didn't know how much
time passed, but Langa told another story from his childhood. Only Reki was able to make someone
like Langa talk. At times like this, they both felt grateful to have come into each other's lives.

"And then..." The canadian was telling, but stopped when he saw Reki's camera looking up at the
ceiling. "Reki, are you asleep?" he didn't answer, just listening to his peaceful light breathing. He
finally seemed to be resting from that ugly day he had.
 And for some reason, a strange urge to cry came over Langa. He turned off the camera, and with the
phone in his hand, he said:

"I love you Reki... I'm so confused, so many things have happened and... ah shit." shutted up Langa,
embarrassed by what he was saying. "Good night, Reki." he hung up the call.

That day, Langa not only confessed an important part of his life, but also Reki gave him full trust in
him and told his problems. He understood that even the person who seemed the happiest had to
constantly fight with his demons.

Langa was broken, Reki was too.

But he would do his best to help him.

Chapter End Notes

We're officially halfway through the fanfic and things will get more interesting! ~~
I'm so happy to finally write Reki's pov, I've been wanting to do it for a while now.
There's already romantic tension between Langa and Reki, but their personal problems just
confuse them too much. "Is it love or admiration?".

💜
As always, I'm more than happy to read your theories and comments, you don't know how much
they make my day better .

I love you guys so much, I'm proud of you.

See you soon~~~
 Chapter 6
Chapter Notes

Hey loves, just wanted to let you know that one part of the chapter will be kinda chatfic.
I'm sorry if this discomforts you, but I promise it has its purpose.
Next chapters will be narrated normally.

Thanks so much for your patience, enjoy your reading! <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝And they say that we can't be together.

Because, because we come from different sides.❞

» My Universe - Coldplay ft BTS

It was around noon when the intense Okinawan heat woke up Reki. Sitting in his bed, staring at a
fixed point in his room and waiting to wake up fully, the red-haired one still felt tired. His eyes still
burned a little, but he supposed it was from crying himself to sleep.

Seeing the little mess he always had in his room, the japanese looked to his right side and noticed his
cell phone, which had a notification that said Goodnight Reki <3. It was received at two in the
morning.

Oh my god, why was he so tender and good to him?

It took only a matter of seconds for his mind to recall everything that happened the night before. He
had fallen asleep during his call with Langa. At that moment, he couldn't help but feel so
embarrassed, to the point that he hid his flushed face in his pillow and screamed there to avoid scaring
his family. Oh god, Langa must have taken pictures of him while he was sleeping. Maybe he even
recorded the screen so that he could embarrass him in the future.

That wasn't all; he remembered that his mother was left cleaning up last night, so he decided to help
her with whatever was left over. Stretching while yawning, Reki got up from his bed and went straight
to the living room. To his surprise, everything was in perfect condition. It was so spotless that it
looked as if nothing had happened the night before, just as if it had been another quiet, regular night
in their lives.
Going further into the room, he could recognize his twin sisters watching TV quietly; while their
mother was asleep on the couch next to them, she looked exhausted.

"Mom," Reki said, looking at her pitifully as he moved her a little to wake her up. "Mom."
Tired, the woman in her 40s opened her eyes and looked at her son. "Reki?...What time is it? Where’s
Koyomi?" she asked softly.

"Noon. She's still asleep." the redhead replied, sighing. "Looks like you stayed up all night cleaning
up. You should have woken me up so I could help you."

Masae just sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bother you any more than I had. You and Koyomi were
exhausted." she replied. "I could only sleep for a while until the twins woke up and I had to take care
of them."

"Mom, you're the one who got affected the hardest in all this. Don't feel bad about asking for our
help."

"I know, and for a while, I seriously considered doing it. It's just that I heard you crying yesterday, and
I just couldn't interrupt you. You needed to vent as much as I did."

Reki couldn't help but feel a tiny bit guilty about that. "Mom..."

"I also heard you talking to a guy whose voice I didn't recognize... Was that your new friend? What
was his name? Ethan, Allan..."

Oh
OH-

For a second, he forgot how to breathe. His mother had seriously overheard him talking to the
canadian. He just hoped she hadn't heard too much.

"Langa." he replied a little embarrassed.

"Yes, that boy!" confirmed Masae, then resumed the initial topic. "But well, what I mean is that you
sounded so comfortable talking to him, so sad, that I simply didn't have the courage to interrupt you."

Reki softened his gaze. "...I, on the other hand, didn't want to overwhelm you anymore with my
emotions. You had already been through too much that day. That's why I vented myself to him." he
replied honestly but felt somewhat guilty for not saying anything to her.

A small smile formed on the redhead's mother's lips. "We really are more alike than we think, aren't
we? We always think of others before ourselves."

"We're family. Sometimes, some things are unavoidable to inherit." replied Reki, looking out at the
backyard.

They were both silent for a few seconds, each thinking over everything that had happened so far.
Maybe he had turned out just like his father physically. However, in the rest, he was just like his
mother, which was all that mattered. The less he looked like that disgusting man the better for Reki.

"You go rest; I'll take care of my little sisters." Reki broke the silence.

Masae only nodded, but not before telling him to wake her up in case of any emergency, to which the
redhead only said that everything would be fine and to go to sleep peacefully. Once his mother left,
Reki sat on the floor next to his little sisters, who instantly smiled and hugged him. At the end of the
day, everything would be fine as long as he could protect his little family.

Vancouver, Canada.
Sunset.

"How long has he been doing this?" asked Zoey, looking off into the distance as she ate potato chips.

"Half an hour I think." replied Aoi, sitting beside her. "Let him be, I'd rather he let off steam this
way."

The trio of friends were in a small park near Langa's house. The light blue-haired one was
skateboarding, lost in his world and thoughts. He still had some skating mistakes, but he had
improved a lot over the week, or so Reki had told him. He was too focused on perfecting what he was
doing.

"Reki truly has changed him, hasn't he?" the bicolored-haired girl added. "You don't know how much
peace it gives me to see him happy. He deserves this after everything he's been through."

Aoi refocused his gaze on Langa, "Yes, he has."

Langa boosted himself towards his backpack, which he had placed as an obstacle, he had to try once
more. Acting on his own, the light blue-haired one managed to jump over the object, feeling how his
body and the board were in the air for a few seconds. It was the first time he had ever jumped with his
skateboard.

"Did you see that?! I finally did it!" asked Langa excitedly, then picked up his phone and stopped the
recording.

Aoi and Zoey were amazed, but it wasn't just because Langa had pulled off a trick, but also to see him
express himself so happily, as a slight smile decorated his face. The blue-eyed man sat down next to
his friends, taking a break.

"Yeah, we saw you; you were amazing," Zoey said, ruffling Langa's hair. She liked to tease him with
that. "Dude, you don't know how joyful it makes me to see you being happy, it's been so long since
I've seen you like that."

"Really?" asked Langa, somewhat surprised.

"Obviously. You've been down for so long, so dull, and I finally see you looking better and with a
spark in your life. How can I not be happy for you? You're my best friend and I care about you." The
curly-haired girl replied, her voice saying it honestly and with affection.

Langa paused for a moment and analyzed what she said. It was true, even if he sometimes had his
bouts of sadness, they were less constant than before. He finally seemed to be healing just a little bit.
At that moment he felt so good about himself.

Aoi sighs while smiling, looking up at the sky. "I'm gonna miss this when we graduate."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, seeing each other every day, having free time...the next time we start classes, we won't be
together anymore."

"Oh, that..."

Langa could feel the atmosphere getting a little heavy. In September everyone would go on with their
lives elsewhere. His friends already knew what to study, but he still had no idea. At that moment, he
thought about his career possibilities but couldn't see himself in them. Please change the subject, he
thought. He didn't want to ruin how peaceful he felt just because of his fear of the future.

But even in the midst of all his confusion, a random thought from Reki came to his mind, leaving him
calm again but reminding him of the real reason he had wanted to meet with his friends.

"Hey, I need your help with something..." said Langa, trying to lighten the mood.

"What's wrong? Is everything okay?" asked Aoi.

"Eehh sort of, more than anything, I'm confused. I need some advice."

Both friends frowned, confused because they had no idea what the blue-eyed boy would ask for. In
general, he only asked for help if he really needed it.

"How do I explain? Lately, just one person has invaded my mind and- ugh, this is embarrassing. He
makes me feel so good, so happy. I can talk for hours with him, we can even spend time in silence,
and it doesn't even feel awkward." Langa tried to elaborate, he felt his heart beating fast. "You know I
only talk to people I trust and he makes me feel so..." He paused, his hand on his chest, just above his
heart, then looked sideways. "I've thought a lot and... I think... I think I like Reki more than a friend."

Silence, oh, no one dared to speak. Langa could feel his face heat up for having said all that. Were
they angry for not telling them sooner? What if they didn't like the idea of having fallen in love with
Reki? A thousand questions came to Langa's mind. He was nervous to face his friends again and see
their reactions, but when he returned his gaze to them he saw something he hadn't expected.

Zoey was smiling from ear to ear, and Aoi just looked at him with curiosity and a silly smile... Were
they happy?

"Oh, my goodness. Oh Langa, congratulations!" exclaimed Zoey, breaking the silence. "I'm so happy
for you. Can I hug you?"
"It's about time you figured it out. You were taking your time." chuckled the tanned guy. "Zoey and I
have been betting on this for a while now."

"You...you guys already knew?" asked Langa, more confused than he usually was.

"You're the last one to figure it out. We were just waiting for you to confirm it. Sorry." Zoey nervously
replied, scratching the back of her neck. "If anything calms you down, only the two of us know; I
doubt your mother noticed."

"Oh god, this is so embarrassing." said Langa almost in a whisper, resting his hand on his forehead. "I
know I'm usually distracted, but sometimes I seriously get dumb."

"Hey, don't be nervous." Aoi tried to reassure his childhood friend, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Can I... can I ask when you realized you liked him?"

The light blue-haired one looked at the horizon in front of him, he tried to think of the exact moment
in which his feelings began to bloom, or at least remember when he realized everything. From the
beginning, Langa thought that Reki was a very cute guy, not only in his personality but also
physically. And it wasn't that other people weren't nice to him; it was just that Reki had something
different that caught his attention... it was as if some external force attracted him to him.

"That day I left with my mother, I started to think about it, but I swore I was confused and thought it
was just admiration, that maybe I just wanted to be as sociable and happy as he was." Langa tried to
explain as best he could. "But yesterday... yesterday Reki called me crying. He was so devastated. I
can't explain how horrible it felt to see him like that. I even felt like crying with him. I felt so much
anger with the person who hurt him...I've never felt so much like protecting someone and- and I-" he
was silent for a few seconds. "...I really love him..."

"Aw, Langa, you really are in love." said Zoey sweetly. "You've gotten so low for Reki, it makes me
tender. Anyone who gets to be your boyfriend would be so lucky."

"I don't know what to do, should I tell him? We don't even know each other in person or know if we'll
be able to meet someday... Is it worth to sacrifice my feelings for him?"

"Hey, don't overthink the situation either. Your feelings are worth it. YOU are worth it." added Aoi,
reprimanding the contrary.

Langa tried to remain calm and listen to them. "So where do I start, what do I do?"

"Mmm, let me think." said the curly-haired one, leaning her back on the seat. "Oh I know, I know,
this is difficult because of the distance, but do you know his friends? I feel like you should talk to
them to find out more about Reki. I'm not saying to stalk them, just ask them basic things about his
life. You know what I mean, bro?"

"Um, I guess so." replied the light blue-haired one. Now that he thought about it, the only thing he
knew about Reki's friends were their S nicknames and that they were kind of special. He had almost
no recollection of their faces. "Are you sure this would help... You know I'm not good at talking to
new people."

"Come on, I'm 100% sure! It worked perfectly for me with Anne. You just have to tell them to help
you with info to gradually win Reki’s heart."
For a second, Langa choked on his own saliva. "W-win his heart?". He whispered.

"Obviously, you didn't expect to keep your feelings to yourself forever...did you?" added the blond-
haired boy, waiting for an answer from Langa, but Langa said nothing. "Langa!"

"I’m sorry! This is so new to me. I don't want to get hurt again because of a misunderstanding. "

"But you said that Reki is a good guy. Why are you so afraid now?"

"I don't know!" replied Langa, frustrated, only to get back up and stand with his back to his friends.
"My mind has always been a mess, but now I feel like it's worse than ever."

"...You're afraid Reki won't reciprocate and abandon you, aren't you?" asked Zoey, unsure if she had
been right to tell him that.

Langa was a little shocked by the question because, deep down, he knew she was right. How many
people hadn't he lost in his life? Reki was such a wonderful guy and made him so happy. He didn't
know if it was seriously worth risking everything and losing him over his feelings. He'd rather keep it
all bottled up than never hear his beautiful voice and laugh again. He was so deep in thought that he
didn't even notice his friends standing in front of him.

"Listen and repeat after me." the girl spoke, snapping Langa out of his thoughts. "I am Langa
Hasegawa, I am worth a lot, and I can do this."

"I don't understand–"

"Just say it again, Langa."

Langa sighed and looked into the girl's eyes. "I am Langa Hasegawa, I am worth a lot, and I can do
this."

"That's the spirit! We trust you and are sure everything will be fine."

Langa had only two options: to live in regret for not having tried and to swallow everything he had in
mind, or the other to be heartbroken if things went wrong... but in the opposite case, he would have
absolute happiness and be with him. He knew perfectly well that only one option was correct.

"Okay, tell me what to do."

That same afternoon, after returning home, Langa spent the rest of the day alone.

His mother told him she would be visiting an aunt and would be back soon, so it was just him and the
things in that apartment where he had lived all his life. But compared to other times when he felt bad
about the silence, he was grateful for it this time, as he needed to think about all the conversation he
had.
I need a hot bath.

It was the only thing that came to his mind. Maybe that would help him think better.
He locked himself in the bathroom. Once fully undressed, Langa turned on the shower, let the hot
water run over, and cleaned his slender body. The chamomile-scented shampoo and soap invaded his
nostrils. Langa was exhausted, not just from skating for several hours but also from his mind that
would not shut up. " What should I do?" "Do I have to talk to the S gang?" he asked himself that and
more.

As Langa got out of the shower and put on his underwear and pants, he looked in the mirror and saw
his arms with small scratches from the falls he had today. "I wonder if Reki's body will also be as
scratched as mine." he thought. Now that he remembered, Reki had a tiny waist... How cute.

Oh god Langa, calm down, change the subject, and stay focused.

Entering his room while drying his hair with a towel, Langa saw his phone on the bedside table,
picked it up, and then laid it on the bed. He looked at the time in Okinawa; it was afternoon there. It
was now or never, he had to do it.

Entering Reki's profile, the blue-eyed guy searched Reki's mutuals until he found a familiar name. To
his luck, he only followed a few people, and it was about a minute when he seemed to recognize
someone. He clicked on the profile and saw:

MIYA☆, 14 years old, he/him, Sometimes I skateboard and play games. I like cats / Location:
Okinawa, Japan / 1307 followers.

The photos showed a black-haired preteen boy in a green and purple sweatshirt, and he even had a
picture with Reki. This had to be one of his friends.

Should I write to him or look for someone else?

To his misfortune, his fingers accidentally pressed the follow button.

Oh shit, I have no choice anymore...

Going quickly to Miya's direct message, before he regretted doing so, Langa sent him a "Hi. Sorry for
writing you, but I'm a friend of Reki's... I don't know if he told you about me". The instant he sent
that, he threw his phone on the bed. Oh god, what was he doing with his life...why was he doing this?

Oh right, because he liked Reki.

All the discomfort he did was because he liked him.

It was about 5 minutes until his phone made a notification sound, scaring him a little. The screen
showed that Miya followed him back and wanted to send him a message.

[MIYA:]
Oh wow, it's about time I could even meet you around here.
Of course, I know who you are (more or less).
The slime won't stop talking about you.

A silly little smile formed on his lips. Oh wow, was Reki really talking about him to his friends? Now,
he was curious about what he was saying. He just wished it wasn't anything too embarrassing.

[MIYA:]
Anyway, I’m Reki's friend. Call me Miya.
Now tell me what you want from him and what your intentions are.

For some reason, he could sense a defiant tone in that message.

What was he doing talking about this with a 14 year old?

[Langa:]
I just need to ask you a few questions about Reki.
It is nothing serious.

[MIYA:]
What kind of things?

[Langa:]
I just need to get to know him better...
I cannot give many details.

[MIYA:]
Ngl, you’re very suspicious :T

[Langa:]
I know you don't know me well, but I swear I
have good intentions with Reki.

[MIYA:]
I do not know.
...
Just give me a second.

Oh God, that's just what he needed. Now, that kid didn't trust him. Honestly, he had his reasons.
Langa seemed to sound like a perverted maniac.

The chat was silent for two minutes until another message came in, but this time it wasn't from the
youngest. He was added to a group chat with Miya and three other people. Checking the few
messages they were sending, he noticed they were all writing in japanese.

[MIYA:]
Ok, I just added him to the group.

[Shadow:]
Are you sure it's the guy Reki is talking about?
I don't know, it seems fake.

[MIYA:]
He looks foreign, has light blue hair, and his name is Langa.
Who else could it be?

[Cherry:]
Why do I always end up involved in these things?

[Joe:]
Because you want to help but always act like you don’t, sweetie.

[Shadow:]
HAHAHAHA he got you!

[Cherry:]
Shut up, clown.

Langa just watched as the four of them talked, realizing what Reki meant when he said their group of
friends was especially weird. "A strange herd." They were all so different, yet they seemed to get
together often, so they were used to it.

[Shadow:]
The american doesn't say anything. Doesn't he understand what we are saying?

[MIYA:]
Joe, say something to him. You're the one with the best english here.

[Joe:]
Ok, ok, I’ll do it.
Hey Langa, are you here?
Sorry if these idiots scare you. I swear they're normal.
That last was written in english. If it weren't for that, Langa would have never realized that he wrote
to Miya in english and that's why he was confused. That explained a lot. Instantly, Langa switched the
keyboard language and wrote:

[Langa:]
I'm here. I was just analyzing everything.
And don't worry, I'm half japanese, so I can understand you.

[Joe:]
Oh

[Shadow:]
Oh shit, he knows Japanese.
Reki hit the jackpot with this guy.

[Cherry:]
We'd better change the subject and introduce ourselves.
I'm Kaoru, but I'm usually called Cherry.
Nice to meet you, Langa.

[MIYA:]
I guess I'm going.
You already wrote to me so you know me.
The name is Miya.

[Joe:]
I'm Kojiro, my skater nickname is Joe.
Just call me whatever you remember best,
It doesn't matter to me.

[Shadow:]
And I am Shadow, the king of the rock!
You don't need to know anything else.

[MIYA:]
His name is actually Hiromi, and he’s a florist.
He’s also Reki's manager's boyfriend.

[Shadow:]
OH YOU KID!!!

Langa no longer had the slightest idea what was going on. He only knew that he had to introduce
himself.
[Langa:]
I’m Langa.
I don't know what else to say.

[Cherry:]
Miya told us that you need to ask us something.
What do you want to know?

[Langa:]
I need to know a few things about Reki.
I only ask you to NOT tell him that I spoke to you.

[Joe:]
If you say so, so be it.

What was he supposed to ask? He honestly didn't think I would get that far. Langa had absolutely no
idea what information to get out of them. Maybe he should start with something softer and then level
up the questions.

Oh god, what had he gotten himself into?

[MIYA:]
Did the signal go away?
You’re not saying anything anymore.

[Langa:]
I'm still here. It's just... this is embarrassing.

[Cherry:]
I doubt it's as embarrassing as you think.
Just ask the question.

Thinking of the thousand questions he could ask overwhelmed Langa's mind a bit. There were too
many options, and he hadn't been given any direction on how to start this. It was so stressful that his
fingers unconsciously typed a question and sent it to the chat. By the time he realized what he said, it
was too late.

[Langa:]
Is Reki single?

And oh, those few seconds of silence in the chat room were enough for Langa to almost turn off his
phone and forget about it for the rest of the night. He was too embarrassed about the whole thing.
Luckily, he couldn't see their faces. That would be worse.
[Shadow:]
IT CANNOT BE-

[Miya:]
I don't know what I expected, but I am satisfied.

[Cherry:]
Uh-
Reki is single, don't worry.

[Joe:]
Wow Langa, are you interested in Reki?
This is gold.

For some reason, Langa could feel that they were laughing at him behind the screen. Embarrassed, he
answered them again.

[Langa:]
I could say yes, it is complicated.
I’m still processing everything.

[Cherry:]
What if y’all stop bothering him?
You’re scaring him.

[Shadow:]
As you wish, I'd better leave.

[MIYA:]

Now that the clown has left...

[Cherry:]
You too, go away. This is an adult matter.

[MIYA:]
Ugh... okay.

[Joe:]
Thank you, shortie.
[MIYA:]
Don't you dare call me that or I swear I'll castrate you.
Ok, I'm leaving now— peace out.

[Joe:]
ANYWAY, NOW WE ARE ALONE
Congratulations on liking Reki. He's a nice guy.
I guess you want to know things to win him, right?

[Langa:]
I think so.

[Joe:]
Just ask us questions without fear.

What should he ask now? His mind was blocked, and he couldn't think of anything. The fact that he
still didn't trust these two didn't help either. He was just getting to know them. Think Langa, it's not
that hard, you just need to know basic information about Reki... he said to himself. Suddenly,
something came to his mind... now that he thought about it, the redhead had never talked to him about
what he liked, whether girls or boys. Oh god, he'd have to ask them that... hopefully, it would be
worth the embarrassment. He quickly typed the question before he regretted it .

[Langa:]
Does Reki like boys?

I ask to restart the game. I don't like this so called life. - Langa thought, embarrassed, but he preferred
to be taken down from his cloud now before making any misunderstanding with Reki. He also wasn't
going to lie. He felt a little guilty for asking his friends this, not him.

[Joe:]
He's figuring it out. That's the best I can tell you.

[Cherry:]
Although, well, if we are helping you it is because
we are sure that Reki would give you a chance.'
We wouldn't waste your time if it were the opposite.

[Cherry:]
I know this would be easier in person,
apologies for that

[Langa:]
Don't worry,
I still appreciate the help.

[MIYA:]
Or we may actually see each other someday in real life. Who knows?

[Cherry:]
Why are you still here?

[MIYA:]
I wanted to see the gossip.

[Cherry:]
Please leave the chat.

[MIYA:]
Ugh, ok, I still have things to do.

MIYA exited the chat.

[Cherry:]
Ok now that we are alone again...

[Joe:]
If anything calms you down, I'm sure he's bisexual and doesn't know it yet.

He wasn't going to lie, that relieved him a little, now he had a little better chance of being with him.
Or that, at least if Reki denied his feelings, he wouldn't be homophobic and leave him.

[Langa:]
Um, another question.
How do you see Reki?
A close point of view would make me understand it better.

[Cherry:]
Mmm...
Reki is the second most energetic guy I've ever met, often stays up until early hours of the morning
working. He cares more about other people than himself.

[Joe:]
He once told me that his ideal date would be at an amusement park or just eating ice cream, or he
would skateboard with his date if they also skate. He's a very... let's say a special guy. He's kind of
affectionate when he gets to trust someone. And I'm not going to lie to you; sometimes he has self-
esteem issues, so you better comfort him when you see him like that.

That little sentence made him remember how Reki cried that time he called him, how through the
camera he could see his tears rolling down his cheeks, the helplessness Langa felt at being away and
not being able to wipe away his tears, not being able to comfort him directly, to tell him in the eyes
that everything would be all right. The canadian's heart shattered every time he remembered.

[Joe:]
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to see him in person?

[Langa:]
I always do. I can't help it.
I would give anything to visit him.

[Kaoru:]
You will get to meet each other, that's for sure.

[Langa:]
I hope so...

At that moment, Langa wondered again what it would be like if they were together in Okinawa or
Vancouver. Would it be as nice as he imagined? Would they have the same conversations? How would
it feel to have Reki by his side?

Usually, Langa preferred not to idealize things, but with what a nice person the redhead was, it was
impossible not to.

The three of them spent a good while texting, Langa learning stuff from Reki. It seemed enough to
him, at least for now, even if only from a distance. Little info that could help him understand his
friend better. Kaoru and Kojiro were very different, but he got along well with them. It was the first
time he got along with adults who were not his family.

[Langa:]
Seriously, thanks for the help.

[Kaoru:]
You're welcome.

[Joe:]
You are welcome!
Now I get why Reki keeps talking about you.

For some reason, strangely, Langa had the impulse to ask a question and so he did.

[Langa:]
One more question...
Are you guys dating?
Instantly, he saw the notification that Kaoru closed his chat. Was he wrong to ask that? This time, he
could see that Kojiro replied to him by direct message.

[Joe:]
It's complicated.
Let's say I'm in the same situation as you.
However, Kaoru is my childhood friend.

[Langa:]
Oh, sorry.

[Joe:]
Don't worry, you didn't know.
You're a good guy, Langa. No wonder Reki cares for you so much.
Anyways, do not hesitate to write me.
See you later!

Langa saw how Joe and the rest had begun to follow him. He turned off his phone and then left it on
the bedside table. He lay back on his bed, his eyes felt a little tired. He had spent almost an hour
talking to them. Langa wasn't sleepy, but he still closed them and let his imagination take him to a
world where Reki was by his side.

It was Monday night, and Langa was home having dinner with his mother. As they usually did, they
both ate in silence, but it wasn't because they were fighting, it was just a habit. His father was the one
who usually made conversation, and well, he was no longer with them.

Eating grilled chicken, Langa was deep in thought, analyzing the dream he had with the unknown boy
the night before. But suddenly, a voice snapped him out of his trance.

"Honey, I need to talk to you." Nanako broke the silence, her voice sounding somewhat uncertain.

Langa stopped eating and looked at his mom. " Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I just need your opinion on something."

The light blue-haired boy couldn't help but worry. Did his mom realize that he liked Reki now? Oh
god, this was the end of him. He was going to die of embarrassment.

"Sweetie, you're graduating soon and I was wondering... How would you feel about spending your
last vacation before college in Japan?"

Langa arched his eyebrows, confused whether he had heard right or not. "W-what? How so?"

"I've given it a lot of consideration, and I've been saving up for a while, but I haven't bought the
tickets yet. I wanted to ask you first." his mother explained, looking at him, waiting for some reaction.
"We would be going to my hometown for a few months and staying with some relatives of mine. I
feel like a change of environment would be good for us."

And Langa couldn't believe his ears. It had been a long time. The last time he visited Japan was when
he was 6 years old and he remembered almost nothing about it. He barely knew the names of his
relatives there.

"Which city did you grow up in?" asks Langa curiously.

"Oh, in Okinawa. I was born and raised there." he replied quietly before shoving another mouthful of
food into her mouth.

Langa felt his heart stop for a second, making him almost choke on his saliva. That word left him in
shock. His brain related that to only one thing: REKI. If he remembered correctly, Reki lived in the
city of Okinawa and his mother was offering him to spend a few months there. Oh god, was this
actually happening?

Langa tried to keep his composure and hide his great excitement; he didn't want his mother to attack
him with questions. It was his big chance to finally meet Reki. Oh , to be able to see his beautiful face
in person. It would be a waste to miss that opportunity.

"I'd like to," Langa replied, trying to hide his noticeable excitement with a serene tone, but the slight
smile on his lips and twinkle in his eyes showed his true intentions.

Nanako also smiled at her son's reaction, happy that he was finally showing interest in some things
again. "Say no more; I'm buying the plane tickets tomorrow. I'm already so excited about this, you're
going to love Okinawa and..."

And as his mother talked about the things that they would do, Langa just couldn't wait for dinner to be
over so he could tell Reki the good news. Everything was going well, too well to be exact.

As soon as he finished eating and helping his mother wash the dishes, Langa went straight to his room
and closed the door. He instantly turned on his laptop and waited for it to start, which felt like forever
for the light blue-haired one. He couldn't wait to give him the news.

Once it was on, he went to the app where he video-called with Reki and typed, "Reki, can I call you? I
have good news."

Not even 10 seconds passed when his laptop received a video call notification from Reki, which
Langa answered instantly, showing the tanned one's face on the screen. Reki appeared to be at a desk
and was wearing his pink uniform; he had forgotten that he worked at that hour. No matter how often
Langa had seen him in uniform, he always thought it cute how Reki looked wearing pink.
"Hello, my moon! " exclaimed the japanese one, cheerful as always, his dimples marking his cheeks.
"How are you today? Did you do well on your exam? I missed you so much~"

Lately, Reki had gotten into the habit of calling him that. He had no idea why, but it didn't bother
Langa at all. He thought it was cute, by his name being so rare, it didn't give him the opportunity to
have many nicknames. It was a rare occasion when he wasn't called by his name.

"Hi, Reki." replied Langa. He wanted to say a nice nickname to Reki too, but his mind wasn't helping
him much. "I'm fine, I had a good day. Although I think I passed my exam with just the right grade."

"That's my bro. Show who's boss!" said Reki; Langa laughed a little at his reaction. "Ah, by the way,
what did you have to tell me? The curiosity is killing me~" he asked as he rested his arms on the
table.

Langa felt his hands start to sweat from nerves. The time had come. "Reki, you live in Okinawa,
right?"

The redhead only nodded, paying curious attention to his friend.

"Remember I told you I'm half japanese and have family living there?"

"Of course, I remember. Your pretty face and accent always remind me of it." replied Reki, then
reacting to what he had said. "You're different in a good way, and your face looks foreign but not that
much. Yes, that's what I mean!"

Langa could feel his cheeks heat up slightly, and he could also see how Reki was going through the
same thing.

Oh my god, why are you like this?

You are so beautiful, what did I do to deserve you?
Why stay with a fool like me?

"So– just hear me out." continued Langa, trying to evade what had happened. "My mother just told
me that we were going to spend the whole summer with my family in Japan and they... Reki, they live
in Okinawa."

He could see Reki's expression go from calm to shocked.

"Can you repeat that? I think I misheard." asked the redhead, between confused and happy,
approaching the camera.

"Reki, I'm going to visit Okinawa soon."

The japanese was silent, as if he was trying to analyze everything the Canadian had said and was not
making false illusions. He had no words. Seconds later, which were eternal for Langa, Reki finally
broke the silence.

"Are you serious?" said Reki almost breathlessly, his hands doing his messy hair back. He couldn't
believe it. "Please tell me it's not a joke."

"I'm serious; I wouldn't play with this."

Langa was sure he saw his beautiful golden eyes watery. Did Reki want to cry? He didn't quite
understand what was going on, if he was sad or not, but the redhead had a big smile forming on his
lips. That confused him more.

"I'm going to get to meet you..." whispered the redhead. "Langa, we're going to be able to break the
distance!" This time, he exclaimed with laughter, spinning in the chair as he celebrated. Reki looked
so happy, so full of life. I could listen to his laughter all day if I could.

"I know, I still can't believe it. It's finally going to happen." Even in Langa's calm tone of voice, he
sounded so happy.

"When are you coming? You said you were staying for the whole summer, right?"

"I think early June. And yes, I'll be there ALL summer."

"Oh god, this is so amazing. It feels so unreal!" said Reki, speaking a little faster than usual out of
excitement, fiddling with his fingers as he did so. "There are so many things we could do together. I'll
have you meet my friends, I can take you sightseeing, I can even teach you how to skateboard like
you deserve- Wait, I can take you to S. The possibilities are endless!" A chuckle escaped Reki at that
last sentence. "Oh Langa, I'm so happy I could hug you right now!"

Both boys fell silent and blushed at that. Did Reki say he wanted to hug him? Oh my god. Langa had
never been one to have much physical contact. Even as a child, he wouldn't let himself be embraced
and would just stiffen up when he was hugged; he never knew what to do in those situations. But now
that he thought about it, it definitely wouldn't bother him at all to have a hug from Reki. To feel the
warmth of his skin against his, his heart close to his, to hold his tiny waist in his hands, oh, to pull him
closer to him and... oh god, he had to calm down. His thoughts were getting out of control.

"Are you serious?" asks Langa, softly.

"O-obviously, but only if you want to. Remember that consent is sexy!" replied Reki, trying to fake
his nerves. "I know you're not much for this kind of thing and-"

"I wouldn't mind if it were you...."

Oh
OH~
 Reki looked at him again, being more flushed than he was. Those dimples that Langa loved marked
his tanned cheeks.

"Then I'll make sure that the first thing I do when I see you in person is hug you. Rest assured," said
the red-haired one, determined.

A goofy grin formed on Langa's pink lips. "You'd better."

Both boys were left talking about their future plans, excited about everything they would do together,
together in real life. That little moment of happiness they were having was just a small fraction of all
the memories they would have together that would be worth it.

The countdown had officially begun~~

Chapter End Notes

And that was chapter 6!

Reki and Langa are finally gonna meet each other in real life, they deserve this and much more!!
<3
How do you think they'll react? I wanna know what you think.
Next chapter might finally be THE ONE ;)
Things are just about to get interesting~

Also I'm so glad Langa meet the gang, I was waiting to finally write their interactions. And yes,
Matchablossom and Shadoka are a thing here.

Anyways, thanks so much for reading, next chapter might a little bit longer.
See you next reading <3
 Chapter 7
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

❝I’m in love with a fairytale

Even though it hurts.
Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed.❞

» Fairytale - Alexander Rybak

Vancouver, Canada.
May 27th

"Our next student is…!"

The day was clear and the weather was finally starting to get warm again. The atmosphere was lively;
several students were outside, and their parents watched them from the audience. In the background, a
woman could be heard giving a speech, calling one by one for the students to come forward.

And then there was Langa, sitting in the middle of his two friends while wearing a black tunic and
graduation cap, with a diploma in his pale hands.

When did time fly so fast? Even Langa wasn't sure. He felt like it was only yesterday he had told Reki
the news that he was going to Okinawa, but it had been 45 days since then.

Looking up into the sky, Langa could see his classmates' graduation hats flying through the air. The
shouts of excitement all around him were not lacking. It felt as if that whole moment was going in
slow motion.

"Langa, are you okay?" asked Aoi, concerned, bringing him out of his thoughts.

The light blue-haired boy just nodded, took his cap in his hands, and then threw it up in the air as
well. Langa had made it. He made it out of school regardless of all his ups and downs. He finally
finished the highschool stage. He looked at the blue sky again and said:

"Look dad, I made it."

To celebrate that night, the three of them decided not to make a big plan. They just wanted to eat pizza
and watch movies at Aoi's apartment.

While eating, they were in the living room watching 'The Truman Show'. Aoi's uncles said they were
going out for a while with Erin, his little sister, so the trio of friends were now home alone.

They were quietly watching the movie and discussing a few things until Zoey's cell phone suddenly
rang.

"Sorry." said the curly haired one, grabbing her cell phone as she stood up. "I have to take this call.
Can you pause the movie? I promise not to take long."

Both boys nodded; the girl thanked them and went into the hallway to answer the call. After pausing
the movie, Aoi and Langa were left alone. The light blue-haired one was shoving a bite of pepperoni
pizza into his mouth until Aoi spoke.

"Hey L, when did you say you're going to Japan?" he asked out of the blue.

Langa swallowed before answering, looking at his friend. "In five days."

"Oh, ok... I guess you'll meet Reki, right? You must be nervous about that."

Langa nodded. "I kinda do. I don't think I've processed the news yet."

"You have almost 3 months to win his heart. You better do it and make it worth it. Otherwise, you or
Reki will have to deal with me," Aoi replied, punching his shoulder jokingly and laughing, but Langa
could notice something strange in his voice. "Reki will be so lucky to have you as a boyfriend."

The blue-eyed one simply didn't understand. "Are you all right?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Aoi's eyes glazed over, pouting a little at Langa. "Ah shit, these invisible ninjas
again are chopping onions." He said as he covered his face with the sleeve of his sweater.

"Aoi..."

"You'd better not forget me– Don't you dare forget us, Langa," he said, glaring at the taller one.

"I promise..."

They couldn't talk anymore because Zoey came back into the room, and they recapped the movie.
They both pretended that nothing had happened. They hid everything by acting like they always do.
"Langa, can you pass me the screwdriver?"

The blue-haired got out of his trance after hearing that voice. He looked to his side to see who it was.
It was the unknown boy from his dreams. Oh wow, it's been a long time since this happened.

Langa looked around. This time, he seemed to be in some kind of shed, which was really hot. The
desk in front of him was a bit messy; it had papers everywhere and a skateboard in the middle. There
was also a small fan and speaker playing music in the background.

After seeing where the screwdriver was, Langa passed it to the other one, who thanked him and went
back to what he was doing.

The blue-eyed one analyzed the boy with his gaze. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts
because of the hot weather. He could also notice that he had bandages on his forearms.
It was only a matter of seconds until Langa remembered his previous dream, how that guy hurt
himself and had to cure him.

"Do they hurt?" asked Langa softly.

He could see how the redhead looked at him. "What?" he asked in confusion.

"Your wounds," he said, pointing to his arms with his eyes. "You're still wearing the bandages."

The guy took a while to respond, he seemed not to have remembered it. "Oh, that..." he answered,
somewhat embarrassed. "They don't hurt anymore, don't worry. I just prefer to hide them until they
heal completely." he laughed uncomfortably.

Cautiously, Langa took the redhead's forearm and stroked it over the bandages, he could feel him
tense up from the way his skin got goosebumps.

"Do you mind...do you mind if I see it?" asked Langa, almost in a whisper.

"I..." the boy sounded nervous but then just sighed. "It's okay, I trust you."

Langa slowly removed the bandages, feeling the tension building in the small shed. After exposing his
arms, he could see how he still had scabs from the cuts, but for the most part, they were almost
healed, although it was still possible that he could get scars. He couldn't explain how sorry he felt to
see him, how much he wanted to protect him even if he wasn't real.

"So?" the boy broke the silence nervously.

"Well... they look a lot better."

"Phew, at least..." he went silent for a while, then continued. "Hey, I don't think I ever thanked you. So
thanks, Langa, for staying with me and taking care of me the other night. I mean it. " he intertwined
Langa's fingers with his, which he reciprocated. "I seriously don't know what would become of me if
you weren't in my life," he said that last with a certain tone of tenderness.
Langa was embarrassed by those words, but he wasn't going to deny that they felt good.
Unconsciously, his thumb stroked the other one’s hand. He couldn't see his face, but he was sure he
was looking directly into his eyes. The unknown boy moved closer to Langa.

"Sometimes I seriously think you're an angel. You're too good for me." the boy said, leaning closer.

He was so close to his face that Langa could feel their breaths collide. The unknown guy's hand was
positioned on the blue-haired’s cheek. And oh, Langa could feel the warmth of his hand, that warmth
and touch so realistic that it drove him crazy since the first time he experienced it. He moved his head
a little until he rested it on the stranger's palm and closed his eyes for a few seconds, letting himself be
carried away by the moment. He loved this nameless sensation so much, he just knew that it made
him happy. Their lips were almost brushing. Langa felt like his chest was on fire, but he no longer
knew what kind of heat it was from.

"M-may I?" he whispered.

"Just do it." replied Langa on impulse.

And without realizing it, their lips broke distance and collided, trying to be in sync with each other.
Langa closed his eyes and let himself be carried away by the moment, putting his arms around their
shoulders. They didn't care that it was hot. Their bodies were getting closer and closer, having friction
with each other, making a moan escape Langa's lips during the kiss.

Oh shit, why did it feel so good if it was just a dream.

He felt he was overheating.

Opening his eyes a little, Langa was surprised. For a second, he swore he didn't see the blur on the
boy’s face, but when he blinked again everything was back to the way it always was, blurry. He
couldn't see much being so close to him; he only noticed that he had long, curly eyelashes and light
freckles on his tanned skin.

If this were real, this would be Langa's first kiss, but it was be better for him that this moment was
fictional. He wanted his real first kiss to be with Reki. Honestly, he wanted his first everything to be
with the redhead.

They both felt so good and into the moment, forgetting about the world around them and discovering
themselves, but suddenly, a shout interrupted them.

"@̸͉̰̞̾͌͌͝ͅê̸̩̗͈̻͗̍̃̈́#̵̟̭̩̟̓̎̀̌!̷͔͇͍̖̿̌͐͝, honey, I need your help with something!" an adult female voice was heard.

The lack of air separated both, and their thoraxes rose and fell agitatedly. A small trickle of saliva was
the only thing that united them. Langa could feel the other one's gaze, he could notice his blush in the
middle of his blurred face. Neither of them deigned to speak. Only their breaths could be heard. The
boy separated a little from Langa.
"I... they're calling me." he said, catching his breath. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't leave!" After
that, he walked out of the shed, embarrassed, leaving Langa alone.

For a second, Langa swore he heard a shout of excitement outside.

Alone with his thoughts, he was trying to analyze everything that had just happened. Oh shit, did this
count as cheating? He liked Reki, not this unknown boy. Why did he do that? He didn't even know
why. He didn't even know his name!

His mind could not shut up until he remembered that he was finally alone and his dream was not over.
This was the perfect opportunity to search for what he needed to know about the boy's identity.
Looking around, he decided to start with the notebook on the desk. He flipped through the pages, but
it only had drawings and a few skate designs. Standing up from his seat and looking for clues on the
shelves, Langa almost fell when he tripped over something. Looking down, he noticed a black
backpack decorated with pins. Inside, there should be his wallet, which might have his ID in it.

Squatting down, he searched for the wallet, pulled out all the papers and notebooks in it, and there he
found it at the bottom. Instantly, he opened the wallet and saw a card. He took it in his hands, but to
his bad luck, his sight blurred some letters. Only one thing was visible in the part of the name: it had
the letter E on it.

A door slammed behind him. He could feel his heart stop for a second.

"Langa, what are you doing?" asked the japanese one in confusion, looking at the mess.

The blue-eyed one turned around, still holding the ID in his hands. "I can explain-."

Unfortunately, he never got the chance to excuse himself. The second he said that, his whole dream
came crashing down. As always, he woke up again in real life...

Four days had passed since that dream. In those days, he hadn't dreamt of him again, which, in a way,
relieved Langa. He felt he had been lying to Reki and wasn't proud of it. However, that was ironic
because they weren't a couple. Still, Langa was convinced it was all a game in his mind because he
felt so lonely.

Back to the present. Time flew by, and before he knew it, his trip to Okinawa was already the next
day. It was morning, Langa was packing in his room, and he was on a video call with Reki. The blue-
eyed one had clothing choices all over the place, but at least he was almost done. He had spent a large
part of the morning doing this.

"Pack that one over there, you're going to need it!" said Reki, pointing behind the camera.

Langa took a lilac sweater in hand. "I thought Okinawa was only hot, worse in summer. If I get
heatstroke, it's gonna be because of you," he replied, teasing Reki.
"Don't act so sure of it. Sometimes, at night, it can get cold. And let's not even talk about shopping
malls, those get colder than freezers!"

"What are you, my mom?" said Langa sarcastically, wanting to see the redhead's reaction. "And may I
remind you that I'm from Canada. I can survive any cold weather."

"I have little sisters to care for and only live with women. Sometimes this kind of thing slips out of
my mind." replied Reki, joking while pretending to be offended. "Sorry for worrying about you,
prince Langa~." he said that last thing in a dramatic tone.

Langa laughed a little, packing another outfit in his luggage. Reki's occurrences never failed to bring a
smile to his face.

"Oh Langa, by the way, have you told your mom yet that we'll meet?" the redhead asks, his voice
showing curiosity. "I don't think I ever asked you."

"Well..."

"Mom, remember that boy I told you I was talking to?" said Langa, helping his mother put groceries
into the cart.

"Sure, what about him?" asked his mother, looking for something on the shelf.

"It just so happens that he lives in Okinawa, and...we've decided to meet in person."

He could see his mom's hand stop what she was doing, then turn around and look at her son. "Oh."
was all she said.

"...Are you okay?" he asked, waiting for the worst outcome.

"Yes, yes. It's just that it was very unexpected." she laughed nervously. "I've never seen you so
determined to meet someone."

They both stood in a strange, awkward silence in the middle of the supermarket aisle.

"... Are you considering telling your feelings to Reki?"

"I think so."

Let's not go into too much detail, but let's just say that when they got home, Nanako spent the rest of
the afternoon giving 'safety' talks and calling Oliver for help. Langa just wanted the earth to swallow
him up.
.

Langa nodded, cringing at just remembering it, and shook his head as if that would get rid of the
memory. "Let's just say she does support me, though she still couldn't help but get nervous."

"Oh well, that's something." laughed Reki, imagining all his friend had to go through. "I guess it
would have been worse if he'd seen us by surprise."

"You have no idea." replied Langa, somewhat nervously. "I still can't believe that tomorrow is already
the trip."

"So am I. In a day we can finally see each other! Or well, technically, it would be 2 or 3 because your
flight is almost 16 hours and the time difference is confusing!" the redhead said excitedly, trying to do
math with his fingers. "But well, this week will already be the big day~."

Langa imagined a thousand scenarios about how he would finally meet Reki in a short time, how he
would see him in real life, not just as a mere pixel on the internet through his laptop. He had no idea
how to act when that moment came; he was just sure that he would probably explode from
nervousness.

"Reki." He could see how the red-haired one was looking at him. "Have you ever thought about what
it would be like to see me in person?"

"I'm not going to lie to you; yes, I have a few times." the japanese looked sideways, avoiding eye
contact. "...I've even thought about where..."

Langa tilted his head slightly in surprise. He wouldn't have guessed that Reki thought about it as
much as he did. "Really? Where?"

"I don't know, it's very embarrassing-"

"Please." insisted Langa, something he rarely did, but now curiosity was killing him.

"All right, you win. I like it when you get like this." Reki nervously smiled, putting his hand on the
back of his neck. "...There's an amusement park 30 minutes away by metro, and I thought it would be
perfect for us to meet for the first time. There are people, so our moms wouldn't get nervous. I feel
like it would be perfect; the place has really good rides, the food is tasty- But if that's not your kind of
plan, we could change the place. I just want you to feel comfortable."

He couldn't help it. Langa burst out laughing as he listened to him. It wasn't because he was teasing
him, it was because of another feeling he didn't know how to describe. No one had ever considered so
many things for him, and it simply filled his heart. Oh Reki, what have you done to me? I don't even
recognize myself.

"Hey, don't make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun of you, I'm just feeling happy." he replied after calming down. "Thank you,
seriously, for thinking of me." A small smile could be seen on Langa's lips. "Yes, I would like that
plan. I would love it."

And oh, Reki felt butterflies just hearing Langa's laughter. It was as if serotonin had been injected
straight into his veins. "Let´s do that then. Is Saturday okay with you? That way, I give you time to get
used to the timezone and that sort of things."

Before Langa could respond, there was a knock on his bedroom door.

"Sweetie, are you decent?" his mother asked from behind the door.

"You can come in."

Nanako only opened the door slightly and leaned against the frame. "Sorry to interrupt you, but we
need to leave now if you want a ride."

Langa nodded, and after that, his mother left the room.

"I have to visit someone. I'll write you later." said Langa. "And you'd better go to sleep now; it's late
for you."

Reki yawned. "As you say. See you later, my moon~" he posed his hand in a peace sign before ending
the call.

Immediately, Langa grabbed his backpack, put his cell phone in his pocket, and left the room. To see
each other was a little long way off. He was impatient and curious about what would happen, but the
only thing he knew for sure was that he would never forget it.

It had been some time since Langa had last visited that place.

The day was cloudy and somewhat windy. His mother had asked if he would prefer her to accompany
him, but Langa said he needed some time alone and to wait for him in the car. Walking down the
small path in the middle of the graves, the smell of wet grass invaded his nostrils, which did not bring
back good memories. It made him remember that whole day perfectly. How he last saw his father
inside that coffin, neatly combed and groomed, as if he was just sleeping.

Looking for his father's grave, Langa passed by some families going to visit their dead relatives,
others were just going to bury them. He hated the heavy energy this place gave, but Langa had to be
there; he had to visit him before he left to Okinawa.

It was a while before he could find the grave. He stood in front of it and saw that gray stone with the
name of the man who once used to take care of him. The one that, as a child, he used to call his hero
and admired so much. Langa sighed.
"Hey, dad, it's been a while..." he whispered as he sat in front of the grave. "I'm sorry I didn't visit you
sooner, I've had my struggles, though I'm sure you knew that already. "

Langa was silent for a few seconds as if he let his father respond.

"How's it going up there? I hope you are well and rested. It's been ten months since you've been
gone." Langa pulled his diploma out of his backpack and showed him. "Can you believe I've
graduated already? I didn't think I'd make it this far... I still don't know what career I should study, but
at least I made it through school. Mom says she's proud of me and told me you would be too."

He put the paper back in the backpack, then turned his gaze to the grave.

"Anyway, I came because my mother and I are going to Okinawa tomorrow and won't be back for a
while." he paused for a second and thought about what the conversation would be like if his father
were here. "I wanted to say goodbye, but I also have to tell you something else."

This time, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and showed a picture of Reki. "On my birthday, I met
this guy. His name is Reki. He makes me so happy, and he even teaches me how to skate, it's fun. He
helped me a lot when I was thinking about ending it all..." Langa was telling everything, nostalgic. A
gust of wind was moving his hair. "He's amazing, I'm sure you would have gotten along with him." he
rested his arms on his knees. "I just wanted to introduce him to you somehow."

Langa felt his throat begin to ache. "I'm not going to lie to you; I like him a lot, more than a friend. I'll
finally get to meet him when I go to Okinawa. I'm excited...but I have to admit I'm also terrified." his
vision started to blur a little, his hands clenched tightly to the sleeves of his sweater. "I'm so afraid I'll
ruin everything if I tell him how I feel...what should I do?" a single tear ran down his face. "I wish
you were here. I miss you so much." Langa felt so weak he hid his face in his knees and hugged
himself. "Please try to help me from wherever you are."

And finally, his voice broke, sobs escaped his lips, and tears spilled uncontrollably from his blue eyes.
He felt so vulnerable. Langa let out all his sorrows for his dead father for the first time since the
accident.

His mother, who was passing by to see what was taking her son so long, saw him in that state and
immediately ran to hug him, stroking Langa's hair as if that would help to take away his pain. They
didn't know that Oliver's soul was by their side at that moment, comforting them.

Vancouver, Canada
June 1st

And suddenly, the long-awaited day arrived. Today, they were finally going to travel to Okinawa.
It was evening, Langa and his mother were at the airport and Langa's friends had come to say
goodbye to them. They had just checked in, Nanako had insisted to her son that she would stay to
check the bags and that he should talk to his friends until it was time to leave. So Langa stood near the
immigration gate with Zoey and Aoi.

"Are you ready?" asked the girl, excited.

"I feel like I want to throw up from nerves." replied Langa, paler than usual.

"Because of the flight?" asked Aoi, looking at him in confusion.

"Because of Reki"

"Relax, bro, everything will be fine." said Zoey, trying to calm her best friend. "Try to eat something
after you pass migration, so you trick your brain that you're calm."

Langa nodded. In just 24 hours, he would be setting foot on japanese land, a culture totally different
from what he was used to. He wasn't going to lie to himself that that didn't worry him, especially
since he would have to interact with other types of locals and relatives he didn't even remember. But
aside from all that, the main cause of his nerves was Reki. He was going to see that gorgeous redhead
who had him crazy

"Don't forget to text us when you land or if the plane has internet." adds Aoi, stuffing his hands in his
sweater pockets. "No matter what time it is, just text us."

"Don't worry, yes I will." replied Langa, laughing a little at the attitude of his friends. "You're treating
me like a little kid."

"Ok, sorry, you know we love to tease you about that." Zoey laughed as she jokingly tapped Langa's
shoulder.

They spent some more time talking until Langa's mother came towards them with the tickets in hand,
capturing the attention of the three youngsters.

"Honey, I already have the tickets," her mother said, holding them up. "It's time to go. Go say
goodbye."

Langa watched his friends, not knowing exactly how to say goodbye. He knew perfectly well that he
would be back in Canada in a few months, yet why did he feel as if that was the last time he would
see them?

The light blue-haired one sighed, opening his arms. "I'll let you hug me just this time. Don't get used
to it." he said, somewhat embarrassed.
Instantly, Aoi and Zoey lunged toward Langa, causing him to almost lose his balance. They were
ready for the day he would offer this just as he had thought. And as intense as his friends were
sometimes, Langa wasn't going to lie, he was going to miss them a lot.

"I'm not going to forget about you." Langa whispered during the hug, feeling the golden-haired one
tense up a bit, understanding what he meant.

After a while of hugging, the three of them separated. Langa and his mom walked toward the
international gate. Before passing through, the blue-eyed turned one last time to look at his friends,
waving goodbye. He returned the gesture.

"GO GET HIM, ROMEO!" he heard Aoi shout and Zoey laugh.

And Langa smiled at them, then resumed his walk and went through the door.

Once they entered the plane and went to their seats, Langa couldn't help but get nervous again. He
was looking at a fixed point, but his mind was thinking of all the possible good or bad situations that
could happen there with Reki. He brought his hand to his mouth, and unconsciously, his leg started to
bounce, catching his mom's attention.

"Honey, what's wrong?" asked Nanako, worried, her hand was on her son's shoulder.

Langa stopped his leg but did not look at her. At that moment, his anxiety was stronger than he was.
"...What if he doesn't love me? What if I'm not what he expected?" whispered Langa, still holding his
hand in front of his mouth.

Nanako sighed. "Son, look at me." she said, Langa heeded. "It'll be alright, don't worry, he's going to
love you."

He didn't know if it was because his mom said it or it was just the phrase, but that calmed him down
so much, and he really needed to hear it.

At that moment, the captain announced they were about to take off. Quickly, Langa took a picture of
the plane's window and sent it to his chat with Reki. Almost instantly, the redhead replied to the
message.

[REKI:]
See you soon <3
He sent him a heart. Oh, he felt like he would explode at any moment for that symbol.
Leaving his cell phone in airplane mode, Langa could see how, little by little, his city was getting
smaller and was moving away. Finally, what he had wanted so much was happening...

It was around 4pm when Langa and his mother came out of passport control and picked up their bags.
The flight had taken forever, but he did his best to sleep to get used to the timezone, yet he still felt
tired from the trip. They had barely arrived, and the hot Okinawan weather had already welcomed
them. The japanese language could be heard and seen everywhere, a whole different structure and
society than what he was used to. You could see the atmosphere busy with locals and tourists arriving,
others being welcomed by their families or tour agencies.

At this moment, he regretted not telling Reki to meet him at the airport.

Holding his luggage and heading to the car rental center with his mom, Langa saw the large sign that
said, "Welcome to Okinawa!"

"Reki, I'm finally here..."

That adventure that had started well ended badly when the car they had rented broke down in the
middle of the road. They were stranded in the middle of the road, and to make things worse, the sun
would set soon. They tried to look at the engine, but there seemed to be no solution. They were
screwed.

"What do we do now?" said Langa as his mother closed the car’s hood. "We can't call anyone. We still
have the phone line out of service."

Nanako looked at him. "I don't know, your father was the one who knew about these things." the adult
sighed wearily. "I guess we'll have to ask for help my way."

"...Your way?"

Nanako didn't think twice. She pulled a scarf from her purse and started waving it, hoping someone
would try to help them. Langa was a little embarrassed; he hated being the center of attention, but it
was either do this or have to walk a long way to town and let them borrow a phone.

He had to join in to help her.

They spent some time trying to attract attention, but the cars passed by and ignored them. But
suddenly, he could see how a vehicle slowed down and parked in front of them. Langa looked closely
at those who got out of the car; they were a woman with dark red hair and a girl with pigtails heading
toward them.
 "Hi, do you need help?"

Chapter End Notes

This is probably the fastest chapter I've ever written, omg-- Last time I wrote this fast I was still
in highschool, lol.
I didn't expect the last chapter to blow up, so thanks so much for your sweet comments, you have
no idea how much I appreciate them and helped me thru the shitty week I had <3

If everything goes well (and time is by my side) I'll update chapter 8 next weekend. I'm just
gonna say some amazing things will happen there ;)

Don't forget I'm proud of you.

See yah next week!~~
 Chapter 8
Chapter Notes

No warning here, enjoy the chapter <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝In a wonderful memory

The rain pours even when I dance alone
By the time this mist clears
I'll run to you with my feet wet
So hug me then❞

» Still with You - Jungkook

"Hi, do you need help?"

In front of them stood a woman with short dark red hair and a girl with pigtails. Langa and his mom
looked at them, trying to see if they could be trusted or not, they were speaking to them in english and
seemed to be waiting for a response from them. Sometimes he forgot that other people saw them
differently.

"Oh, I don't think they understood my english," said the woman, uncomfortably, in japanese. "Honey,
could you try to speak to them? You have better English than I do."

"I've never talked to a foreigner, but I can try..." the pre-teen replied, then turned her gaze back on
them. "Hello-"

At that moment Nanako reacted and interrupted both women. "Oh, don't worry. We’re japanese, we
can understand you." she said, in her mother language, smiling nervously at the misunderstanding.
"And to answer your question, yes we would be very grateful for your help."

"Oh thank god" sighed the other woman, realizing what she said. "I don't mean your accident, it's
because of the language, that's what I mean!" she tried to clarify, pouting, as the younger girl tried to
hold in her laughter. "Anyway, from what I see you have some problems with your car, right?" she
drastically changed the subject.

Langa just nodded, and let his mother explain everything. No matter how many good vibes they gave,
his social anxiety simply wouldn't let him speak. However, for some strange reason, that woman and
her daughter were familiar to him. He didn't understand why, it was the first time he had ever seen
them in his life. He looked at the red-haired woman, trying to analyze her, and then turned his gaze to
the younger one, who was also staring at him while frowning. Was it his idea or was she judging him?
What was wrong with her?

"Have you tried calling anyone?" the woman asks sincerely, crossing her arms, and looking at the car
engine.

"We just got here and we're still without phone service. So we're stuck." said Nanako, tucking her
brown hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry, I think this is beyond my expertise. My cell phone is out of battery too, so I don't think I
can help you much with a call." The red-haired one thought a bit. "Although, if you want I could drag
the car to my house and I'll lend you the phone. It's about 10 minutes from here."

"Are you sure? We don't want to disturb you and change your plans for today–."

"Don't worry, it’ll be a pleasure." the woman answered sincerely, smiling. "Besides it's going to rain
soon, it's better to be indoors than in the middle of nowhere." she pointed to a faraway point of the
sky, where some gray clouds began forming.

"Thank you very much for the help... Ms… umm..."

"Oh, excuse my manners, I got distracted!" the redhead said, giving a quick bow. "I'm Masae, this is
my daughter Koyomi."

"Hello." greeted the younger girl.

"I'm Nanako, nice to meet you. This is my son Langa, we come from Canada."

Langa felt his mother subtly poke his rib, it was a matter of seconds until he understood the message.
"Hey." that's all he replied.

Nanako laughed. "He's kind of shy at first, don't take it personally."

Both mothers seemed to get along well, something that surprised Langa very much. Now that he
thought about it, it had been a long time since he had seen his mother socialize so well. Because of
her job she rarely went out with her friends. Even though she had only met her a few minutes ago,
Langa thought that Masae seemed very sweet, she inspired confidence in him, something he didn't get
from just anyone.

Langa spent a few minutes helping both women hitch the cart to the other. He just kept quiet as he
listened to the other women talk. He felt exhausted, he just wanted to get to his relative's home and
lay in bed (and hopefully his body would let him sleep).

Once everything was ready, the four of them got into Masae's car. Both mothers got in the front seat,
leaving the children behind. As he sat down, a squeak sounded beneath him, pulling out the object,
Langa could see it was a stuffed animal.

"Sorry if there are any toys over there, I have young daughters." clarified Masae.

"Don't worry." said Langa, quietly.

On the way, Langa spent his time looking out the window at the landscape, that new environment to
which he was not used to. Everything was so different, a little greener than his city, he even swore that
here the sky was bluer. He was calm, until he felt something strange, when he looked to his left he
saw the girl, who was still looking at him seriously and was sitting by the other window.

"Um... is everything okay?" asked Langa, unsure.

The pigtailed one only narrowed her eyes more. "You look too familiar... where did you say you're
from?" said Koyomi.

"Canada." he replied confused, not understanding what she was getting at.

"And you say your name is Langa?"

"Uh-huh."

The younger girl said nothing, just looked at him.

"..."

Koyomi just leaned back in her seat again. "Funny, but not funny haha. Funny weird."

After that, he didn't say another word to her, just put on her headphones. What had just happened?
Returning to minding his own business, Langa redirected his gaze to the road, listening to the mothers
talking up ahead. He still had a long day ahead of him, he had no idea what was gonna happen later.

REKI
2 hours ago

It was late afternoon and the redhead was at Sia la Luce. He had no specific reason to be there, he just
wanted to distract himself from the same four walls (called Dope Sketch) and have lunch somewhere
else during his break time. Although, well, he was also there because he once beat Joe in a race and he
offered him a free meal as a reward. So he took the chance to claim his prize.

He was sitting at the bar table, in front of him was a plate of pesto pasta, yet he hardly paid attention
to his food. Reki was more focused on his cell phone, waiting for Langa to show signs of life. His
right leg was bouncing a bit from anxiety. He needed to know if he had arrived safely.

"Is everything in ok?" asked Kojiro, who was on the other side of the bar cleaning a glass. "You're
checking your phone worse than Miya and you still haven't finished your plate."

"Oh, sorry! I got distracted." he replied in embarrassment, going back to eating.

"You're acting weird today."

"May we know why you are so anxious?" asked Kaoru, who was sitting next to him drinking red
wine.
"It's nothing serious, don't worry." clarified Reki, looking at both adults. "It's just that Langa should
have texted me by now if he arrived safely. If I remember correctly his flight should be landing any
minute now." he tucked in another mouthful of food before continuing to speak. "What if the
government sends him back to Canada, what if his plane went down? Oh no way- " he spoke faster
than normal from stress, thinking of every possible scenario.

"Or he simply has no phone data or his flight is late" said the pink-haired one. "Relax, I'm sure Langa
is fine."

"I thought he would arrive on Saturday. Now I get why you're so nervous." the green-haired man
added, standing next to Kaoru.

"Well no, that's the day we'll finally meet, but he arrives today to Okinawa. We'll be in the same place,
breathing the same air..."

Kojiro laughed at Reki's panic. "You're seriously dying of nerves."

"You have no idea. I've never been this nervous about something this simple. Not even when I skated
against you guys for the first time!" said Reki, loudly, then putting a hand on his red hair. "I seriously
can't wait."

"But the important thing here is: is Saturday a date or not?" suddenly, Shadow’s sarcastic voice was
heard, who was standing at the entrance with a bouquet of hyacinths, he had his ordinary life look.

"Who are you and where did you come from?" teased Kojiro.

"I'm Shad– Hiromi. Stop pretending you don't know me every time I dress normal!" said stressed the
orange-haired man. "I just came to drop off your order."

Reki and Kaoru looked at Kojiro in confusion.

"They're for decorating the restaurant, don't be jealous." said Kojiro, while paying Shadow.

"Ok, but is it a date or not? " Hiromi repeated the question, smiling mischievously and hitting him
with his elbow, wanting to annoy Reki.

"Damn it, it's not a date! We're just going to get to know each other and go out as friends!" replied
Reki, frustrated. "Can't someone just hang out with another guy platonically anymore!?"

Right now Reki was thankful that they were the only customers in the place. He was sure that if there
were other people this would be twice as embarrassing.

"Yes you can hang out platonically, but you know perfectly well that Langa is different." said Kaoru,
putting his glass down on the table. "If you're so eager to see him why don't you go meet him at the
airport?"

Kaoru said that last with a certain tone of sarcasm in his voice, but Reki thought about it for a bit,
dimples marking his tanned cheeks from the big smile he had.

"CHERRY, YOU'RE A GENIUS!" shouted the redhead, excitedly.

"Please, I'm just Kaoru here." said the pink-haired one, he was going to keep talking but stoped as he
watched Reki quickly finishing his food and picked up his skateboard from the floor.

"Hey, Kaoru was just kidding–" added Kojiro.

The red-haired one was already at the door. "Well too bad, because I'll do that. I'm out, see you
tomorrow at S!" after that, he walked out of the restaurant, leaving the three adults confused.

"...Who’s gonna tell him that it's 30 minutes to the airport?" Shadow broke the silence.

Kojiro just sighed with a small smile. "Let him be."

By the time Reki entered the international arrivals area of the airport, the first thing he did was sit
down and wait for the canadian to come. He felt very tired. He spent quite a while waiting for him to
show up, but no one was Langa.

"What's taking so long?" he asked himself, then pulled out his cell phone.

He logged into his chat with Langa to see if he had any new messages or if he was online. Rereading
his old texts, Reki noticed something. Flight AC707 . Langa sent him that the day before yesterday.

At that moment, Reki realized that all this time he had been waiting for the wrong flight, Langa's real
flight landed hours ago.

"OH ARE YOU KIDDING ME–"

LANGA
Sunset

It was a matter of minutes before they arrived at Masae's house.

They were in a cozy neighborhood, the sunset was beginning to paint the houses orange and the
weather was mild. Getting out of the car, Langa felt the sandy soil beneath him. He saw the traditional
japanese style house; it was one floor and had a small terrace, it was well maintained, the fences were
made of stone and had pretty pink flowers decorating it. It was the first time he had seen a house like
that in real life.

Walking up the main entrance, Langa saw toys lying on the ground in the yard and a small shed in the
middle it. And he didn't know what it was, but for some reason the sight of that house made Langa
feel strange. He felt dizzy just by appreciating it. The light blue-haired one decided not to complicate
things, he just assumed that his mind was playing with him because of the drastic time change.

After entering the house, with Masae's permission, he left his shoes on the porch. Langa looked at the
decoration of the place, he felt his eyes wide open in a matter of seconds. The long hallway that led to
other rooms, the living room to his right, the kitchen to his left, that wooden decor and architecture...
Langa couldn't explain the huge deja vu he was having at that moment, it was all so strangely familiar.
His mind didn’t let him process his thoughts well, but he knew perfectly well that somehow he had
been there before.

"Do you want water? You must be exhausted from traveling so far" asked Masae, snapping Langa out
of his thoughts.

They both agreed, following Masae into the kitchen, while Koyomi went to another part of the house.
After being served, and drinking water, Langa saw the drawings pasted on the refrigerator. If he
remembered correctly, they were exactly like the ones he had seen in one of his dreams. His mind was
really playing tricks on him, this wasn't fun anymore, he just wanted a quiet moment.

"Langa, right?" said Masae, sweetly, waiting for the blue haired to say yes. "How old did you say you
are?"

Langa took a while to respond. "Oh- I'm 18."

"You're almost my oldest son's age!" the woman commented happily. "He's not at home right now, but
he should be back any minute. I'm sure you'd get along well."

Langa nodded. The mothers spent another while talking until they finally let her make the call.
Leaving both women behind, the blue-eyed boy walked into the living room. The first thing he saw
was not the furniture, but how familiar the front yard looked to him from where he stood. Seeing the
living room was no different, he had the same feeling as he stared at every piece of furniture in the
room. Even the scent in the air made him think more than he should have.

"Can you help me? My arms hurt."

"How do you do everything right? It's not fair."

"I'm so sorry, Langa. I didn't mean to do it again."

"Stay with me, please."

He kept repeating those phrases endlessly, he felt that at any moment his head would explode from the
pain, it was too much information in such a short time. A whimper escaped from his lips. Langa
closed his eyes from the pain and put his fingers on his temple, trying to massage it.

"Don't do this to me now please." said Langa to himself, almost in a whisper.

When he opened his eyes, Langa swore he had gone mad. For a few seconds he swore he had seen a
mirage of something that happened in his dreams. It was the moment when he was sitting on the
couch and healing the wounds of the unknown boy. His mind was recreating the scene. He could
perfectly hear his conversation, the pain in his voice, etc.
At that moment his head began to spin from so much confusion, to the point where he began to feel
dizzy. Staggering, he leaned against the armrest. His mind was talking to him worse than ever, he was
going crazy, he wanted to throw up. What the hell was going on with him?

"Honey, I just called the mechanic and your uncle will pick us up in an hour–" his mother stopped
talking at the sight of him. "Langa, are you all right? You're looking paler than usual." after saying
that she immediately went to his side.
Langa couldn't hear very well what she was saying, everything sounded so blurry. He didn't know if
this was an anxiety attack, panic, or if he was just sick, but it didn't feel like anything he had ever
experienced before. It was a few minutes before he was finally able to relax and return to normal. His
mother was at his side, stroking his back.

"Don't worry, it's all right now..." said Nanako, in a low voice, trying to calm him down. "How are
you feeling?"

"Do you want me to make you something to eat? I got no problem." added Masae, trying to help him.

"I think I need to get some air." was all he said, then got up (carefully) and went into the hallway to
get his shoes.

"Stay in the garden, please." said his mom, to which Langa nodded.

As soon as he put on his shoes, Langa walked out, leaving both women confused.

Outside, Langa was sitting on the front porch. He had been watching the clouds for a while, letting the
sound of nature soothe him after all that had happened. The beautiful orange sunset painted the sky, a
gust of wind moved his hair and cooled his face. It was so beautiful, much more than he expected.
Not even when he saw the sunset in his first dream did he amazed like this.

Still, in the midst of the calmness he was feeling again, Langa was still trying to figure out what had
happened to him inside the house. Why couldn't his mind leave him alone for even one day? What did
it need to tell him?

What else do you want from me?

So far it had been such an eternal and weird day. He couldn't even write to Reki and tell him the news
that he already arrived in Okinawa. He was sure Reki must be worried about him, he couldn't help but
feel a little guilty about it.

Langa was quiet in his thoughts until he began to hear the sound of wheels. Taking his eyes off the
sky, he could see that a person was passing behind the stone wall, only the reflection of the sun on
something red.

"Ugh, how humiliating, I can't believe I waited for the wrong flight." a male voice was heard.
"Seriously, sometimes you're just such an idiot."

Langa swore he felt his heart stop for a second. That voice, he recognized that beautiful voice. That
boy who was talking stopped at the entrance, he looked so rushed, he was talking to himself things
that Langa couldn't understand, he was carrying a black backpack and a skateboard. Langa stopped
instantly after realizing who he was. It was a matter of seconds until the other finally looked straight
ahead, meeting his gaze with Langa's, dropping all his stuff on the ground.

A few meters away from him was the boy he talked to so much, the one who sometimes kept him
awake at night, the one who helped him when he needed it most. That boy who one night on February
8th changed his life forever.

His messy red hair fluttered in the wind, the sun reflected his beautiful tanned and freckled skin, he
had a bandana on his forehead and wore a big yellow sweater that hid his slim figure. He looked a
little shorter than him. His amber eyes showed the same surprised expression as he did.

He could feel the world stop, only the two of them were in it. The rain was starting to fall all around
them no matter that it was still sunny, giving a beautiful scenery at the perfect moment as they both
started to get soaked. This couldn't be happening, it had to be another dirty game of his imagination.
He wanted so badly for this to turn out to be real.

"R-reki?" whispered Langa, unable to believe it, but it was loud enough to be heard.

"Langa...Is that you?" replied the opposite one, in that voice he loved, he also seemed to be as
surprised as he was.

The blue-eyed boy felt his throat hurt just by listening to him, nodding several times.

"LANGA!" shouted Reki, starting to run towards him.

"REKI!" A choked laugh escaped the canadian's lips, then rushed to the redhead.

And suddenly something that they never thought possible happened , they ran into each other's arms,
almost losing their balance. To their surprise, Langa returned the embrace. At last they finally had
found each other.
Reki cried during the embrace, unable to believe what was happening, getting Langa to catch his
feelings and several tears to flow from his blue eyes. He could feel the other's breathing, as Reki's
hands found their way down his back. For the first time in a long time, Langa was finally crying of
joy. He felt so happy, so full of life and love. This was real, he was finally with Reki, HIS REKI. They
stood there, hugging in the rain, appreciating each other's existence.

Reki broke away slightly, smiling at Langa. "I can't believe it's you." he said, tears mingling with the
raindrops falling down his face. His beautiful amber eyes seemed to sparkle at that.

"I can't believe it's you." replied Langa, smiling so genuinely, as he rested his hands on the redhead's
cheeks and wiping away the tears with his thumb.

"I thought I'd have to wait until Saturday to see you, so I wanted to surprise you and go meet you at
the airport, but I got the wrong flight." he said, talking fast and excited as usual. "But oh god, this is
so much better. You're here– Wait, how did you get to my house?" he playfully ruffled Langa's wet
hair.

"It's a long story." Langa laughed, slicking his hair back again. "Thank you for keeping your promise
and hugging me."

When was the last time he felt this happy and loved? For the first time in a long time, he finally felt
that he did deserve that happiness and many better things.
Langa hid his face in the curve of Reki's neck. "I feel so happy~" he whispered, his voice sounded so
genuine.

Reki let out a laugh. "Welcome Langa, thank you for existing." he said sweetly.

The canadian looked at him again. "Thank you for finding me, my sunshine."

Langa swallowed saliva to avoid crying again. Reki was as cute and sweet as in his messages, he
could even say much more so to say. It was so precious to see him so close, to see his freckles and
dimples, to see his whole existence in real life.

Oh, he loved him,

He loved Reki so much.

They stood in the rain for another while, with the euphoria level up to the sky. This was only the
beginning of an adventure that had just begun.

After such an emotional and unexpected encounter, and even playing a little in the rain like a couple
of little kids, Langa and Reki had to go inside the house and take shelter from the downpour. When
they passed by the kitchen, their mothers saw them all soaked, but especially smiling, both women
couldn't help but ask them what had happened outside. Obviously Langa and Reki had to tell them the
whole story, but not before changing into dry clothes.

And there they were, both sitting on the tatami floor of the living room, explaining the whole situation
to their moms. The sliding door was open, showing the rain in the background.

"Let me get this straight, you're telling me that all this time I was helping your internet friend and his
mother?" said Masae to her son, surprised, trying to process everything she was told.

"Just like you said." replied Reki, as he ruffled his red hair with a towel and tried to dry it. "I'm
actually surprised you forgot, I had told you before what he’s called."

"I got confused with another name," Masae replied, laughing somewhat embarrassed. "Though I won't
lie to you, it gives me peace to know that I was able to get you together earlier and that Langa didn't
turn out to be someone with bad intentions."

"I knew there was something familiar about Langa. I’ve heard you talking to him more than once,
that's why I could recognize his voice. I knew I wasn't crazy!" said Koyomi, watching them from the
hallway, then retreating again.

"Oh, this child. She's smarter than she looks" laughed the red-haired woman.

Masae seemed to be positive about the situation, trying to make conversation with Langa, but Nanako
was another story. She just looked carefully at Reki, not saying a single word. However, her face
didn't show anger... she seemed to be worried and confused. He wasn't going to lie, Reki felt nervous
about it, he felt like she was judging him. The three were still chatting, but suddenly, Nanako
approached the redhead.

"Reki, right?" asked Nanako, looking at him curiously.

The redhead just nodded, as calmly as he could.

Nanako smiled slightly. "I'm glad to finally meet you, Langa always tells me about you." she said
honestly, as she held out her hand to greet him, Reki returned the gesture. "Thank you for being his
friend and taking care of him."

Langa felt a little embarrassed by what he said. "Mom-"

"Oh my god, yours does the same? Reki also keeps talking about Langa every chance he gets. I've
even found him in the middle of the night writing to him."

"But mom-" Reki covered his eyes with his bandana, he was embarrassed, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"What have I told you about telling others about this?..."

Both women just laughed, instead the two of them were dying of the embarrassment they were
feeling. Their mothers were definitely getting along, more than they expected.

"Ok, I think we'd better leave them alone now, we've done enough." said Masae, after laughing. "Let's
let them get to know each other for real."

Langa's mother nodded, both left the room, finally leaving Langa and Reki alone. They both sighed
with relief.

"Mothers, who understands them?" said the redhead, taking off his bandana again and arranging it on
his forehead.

Langa nodded. The two remained silent, looking out into the yard. The only thing they could hear was
the sound of the rain falling outside. They always talked most of the day, but now that they were in
person they had no idea what to say.

"I'm sorry for not saying anything, it's just that I still can't believe you're here with me, in my house."
said Reki, breaking the silence. "It feels too unreal, I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"I guess I accidentally ruined saturday's plan." replied Langa, jokingly, but he could see the redhead's
expression change.

"Hey, don't treat yourself so badly, you didn't ruin anything" the japanese repressed him, crossing his
arms. "Who said we wouldn't go? A plan between just us wouldn't hurt either. That way we can act
more freely, you know what I mean, dude?"

Just us. Oh, those two words made Langa's get goosebumps. They finally got to do something
together. Hanging out alone with Reki? It was all he ever wanted since he met him, still he couldn't
help but get nervous. This was real life, not a chat or video call, it was something different and he had
to adapt his social battery to it.

"Langa, you're zoned out again." Reki waved his hand in front of Langa, trying to snap him out of his
thoughts. "You were thinking about that, didn't you?"

The blue-eyed boy said nothing and looked away, which is why Reki knew he had guessed right.

"How do you always know what I'm thinking?" asked Langa, not making eye contact with his friend.
"What can I say, I know you better than you think." laughed the redhead.

He didn't understand why, but that last sentence made him have deja vu, starting to feel a little dizzy
again. At that moment, Langa tried to find something else to talk about and change the subject.

"Reki, Ive got a question..." he said the first thing that came to his mind, speaking softly. "What was
the first thing you thought of when you saw me in person?"

The redhead thought a bit before replying. "That you're taller than I thought, I imagined you to be
almost my height."

"...Are you serious?"

"Nah, just kidding. I actually thought I had knocked myself out while skating and you were just part
of my imagination." he replied sincerely, as he looked out into the courtyard. "Of all places I would
have found you, I would have figured anywhere but here." he turned his gaze back to the light blue-
haired one. "What about you?"

"I... it's embarrassing." Langa was regretting asking that question.

"Relax, don't be afraid, we trust each other!"

Langa sighed. "I just saw you and thought… I thought you're much prettier in person than on
camera." he confessed, realizing how awful that sounded. "I'm not saying you're ugly, it’s the other
way around, you're cute on video and much cuter in real life–"

He didn't know what else to say to excuse himself and try to fix what he said, he only saw how Reki
quickly covered his eyes with his bandana, trying to avoid eye contact. Langa has no idea where he
got the courage to say that, but he said it, and maybe he didn't regret it at all.

"Ah shit, I didn't expect you to say that, sorry." said Reki, as his face started to blush. "J-just give me
a minute and I'll be back to normal."

Slowly, Langa put his hand on Reki's bandana, removing it from his eyes. "Reki, you're as red as your
hair." he said innocently.

"I'm so sorry, it's just that no one had ever told me that before. You sounded too honest and it got me
down so bad. Let's just say that at my school a lot of girls thought I was unbearable and stayed away
from me" the redhead replied, looking at the floor, smiling sadly. "Thanks, Langa. I really appreciate
it."

"You’re always helping me, now let me help you."

They both fell silent again, letting their gentle gazes communicate whatever they had to say. Langa
saw Reki's hand, it was full of band-aids, he wanted to hold it so badly. But it wasn't the right time,
not now, maybe another day.

However, all his thoughts were swept away by the sensation of Reki's pinky brushing against theirs,
then intertwining them. Neither said anything, they just let themselves go as if that was a normal thing
for friends to do. It felt so good, this was okay, for now, as long as they were together everything
would be okay.
 They stayed like that for a while longer, until the lights of a car parking outside distracted them.

"I think they came for me." said Langa, almost whispering.

He wasn't going to lie, it made him sad, his moment with him was over. Instantly he stood up next to
Reki, having to break contact. It was a matter of two minutes as Langa said goodbye to Masae and
thanked her for the help.

"Langa" Reki called him, before he could walk out the front door. Langa looked at him curiously.
"Let's meet again tomorrow, I'll send you the location later."

The blue-eyed one nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "See you tomorrow, Reki."

"See yah later!"

This was no longer a simple goodbye, it was finally a 'see you soon', just as if they lived in the same
city. It felt so good, so joyful, and for another 3 months Langa could see him and be with him as often
as he wanted. After almost a year, he was finally positively curious about what his life would be like
the next day.

Chapter End Notes

And Langa and Reki finally met in real life, I'm so happy 💜
This is NOT the end of the fanfic, we still have to see Langa's personal journey in Okinawa.
There's a lot left for both of them to discover together, get to know each other well, experiences,
love, etc. I have good plans for the next chapters, I hope you get to like them as much as I do~.

What do you think will happen between Langa and Reki,?

What will they do together in these months?
I want to know what you think, I love reading your theories <3

Remember that I love you guys and I'm proud of you!

See yah next chapter!!
 Chapter 9
Chapter Notes

I was gonna post this earlier but my mental health wasn't exactly the best + I've been trying to
take care of myself... I'm so sorry about the delay, but I'm finally back!
This chapter will be chill, nothing extreme, just Langa getting used to Okinawa and meeting new
people~
Hope you enjoy your reading <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Though I’ve lived that long,

Everything I’ve been through is like a dream.
Everything looks attractive,
But still you’re the only one for me.❞

» Kirari - Fujii Kaze

It had been hours since it started raining, but it still fell heavily, soaking everything around them. Reki
was alone, leaning on the front door's frame, watching as the car where Langa was slowly drove away
from his house. Now, his yard was empty again. Only the sound of the rain, the summer humidity, and
the cicadas were his company.

The redhead was just trying to process everything that had happened in the last few hours. Wow, that
just happened. It hadn't been a lucid dream or foul play of his mind. He had just met Langa in real life
and lived with him for a while... in his own house. It sounded too crazy to be true, but it had
happened.

Langa in real life was so different, in a good way. He wasn't only referring to his introverted
personality or how he seemed to express himself better texting than speaking, but also his
appearance... It was so cliché to think about it, but for him, Langa was the most beautiful person he
had met in his almost 18 years of life. Reki had seen him before, but now, in real life, he could see
more of the details that weren't visible behind a camera. Langa's skin looked like porcelain compared
to his, and he was sure he'd end up tanned by the time he returned to Canada. His body was tall and
slim but slightly toned; the brown roots of his hair blended slightly with the light blue, innocent look.
And oh, his pink lips... he was beautiful, he looked like the gods themselves carved him.

Reki always had something to say and talked more than he should. However, Langa had managed to
make this one of the few times where he had no words.

A quick little memory of him entwining the canadian's pinky came to his mind. Oh god, why had he
done that? His impulse of idiocy had made him go too far. He didn't know if he did right, but the fact
that Langa hadn't broken away seemed like a good sign to him. Looking down at his pinky, Reki
could swear he could still feel the warmth of Langa's skin against his, managing to unconsciously
make a goofy smile form on his lips.

"Reki, stop daydreaming about him and come help us with dinner." complained Koyomi, wanting to
embarrass her older brother.

Reki just nodded, glancing back at the empty front yard.

If all went well, tomorrow, he would see Langa again. He was too excited about it.

Entering the apartment, the trio closed the door behind them.

It had been a long day full of emotions. Langa felt completely exhausted and just wanted to sleep in
his room. Examining his surroundings with his eyes, the place seemed much bigger and more modern
than Reki's house.

He was about to take his luggage and go to the room where he would stay, but it was a matter of
seconds when suddenly a woman he didn't know hugged him and his mother. Langa didn't know how
to react. It was too sudden. He just let his arms hang down.

"Welcome, I missed you so much!" the woman in her forties said, smiling, letting go of the hug,
fixing her short black hair. "Nanako, you look beautiful. And oh my, Langa, is that you? You've
grown so much! I haven't seen you since you were six."

Langa just looked at her, confused. At times like this, he wished he had a good memory for useful
things, not just random, unnecessary facts.

"I don't think he remembers much, but I'd better introduce you ." laughed Nanako. "Sweetie, this is
your Aunt Asami, and this is your Uncle Ayato, my older brother."

He could see him better now that they weren't in the car. His uncle was thin and taller than him. His
hair was brown and tied in a man bun. His short beard didn't go unnoticed. He was the masculine,
introverted version of his mom.

Nanako tapped her son on the shoulder, managing to snap him out of his thoughts. The couple was
looking at him, waiting for some response from him.

"Oh, hello." said Langa, in his usual tone of voice.

His aunt just chuckled, looking at Nanako. "He still has the same shy personality, just like Ayato."

The conversation continued to progress on its own. Oh god, now it was his turn to stay a while longer
and greet them... he didn't have the energy for that, he hadn't slept for 24 hours, all he asked for was
for the conversation to last a short time.

It took him a while to figure it out, but at least he was able to "escape" from the family conversation.
He was finally free for the day. Langa looked at the place that would be his room for the next three
months. It was a bit smaller than his room in Canada, but at least he wouldn't have to share it. Still,
the window overlooking the sea caught his attention the most. It was beautiful.

Leaving his luggage in a corner of the room, Langa lay down on the bed. His tiredness made him not
mind being dirty, he just needed to rest for a while. After connecting his cell phone to the wifi, several
notifications from the group chat with his friends filled his lock screen. They were DMs from
yesterday and today.

[Langa:]
I survived

He wrote to them, and it wasn't even a minute or so before they wrote back.

[Zoey:]
OMG
Langa, you're alive!!!
How was your trip?

[Aoi:]
You're finally here, it's about time.
How is everything in Japan?
Are you OK?

[Langa:]
Tired, but I'm fine.
It was the longest flight of my life.
We had problems on the way,
that's why it took longer than I expected.
Sorry if I worried you

[Aoi:]
It’s ok, don't apologize.
At least you're already there.
You deserve to rest~~

[Zoey:]
This~
And look on the bright side, soon you'll be able to finally meet Reki ;)

Langa sighed. Should he tell them that he met Reki by accident or not?
He honestly didn't care anymore. They already knew about the redhead's existence and his obvious
crush on him. They always helped him, so there was no point in him hiding what happened that
afternoon.

[Langa:]
Oh, about that...
I've already met him.

[Zoey:]
YOU WHAT?!

[Aoi:]
AYO???

Langa wanted to sleep but couldn't do it for another while. The second he got that message, his
friends video-called him, and he had to answer them. He told Zoey and Aoi everything that happened,
even more than they needed to know. If this was just his first day, he didn't want to imagine what the
next three months had for him. He just wished they would come to pass slowly and chill.

The next day, Langa woke up in the afternoon. It wasn't even an hour or so when he left his aunt and
uncle's house and went to see his new neighborhood. He took the opportunity to spend some time
alone and get a taste of Okinawa, or at least that's what he told his mother. He actually went out to
meet Reki again, as they had arranged.

And there he was: in the middle of an alley, next to him was parked the motorcycle that his uncle lent
him. The canadian looked confused at his phone, trying to analyze if he was in the location Reki sent.
It was in front of a shop called Dope Sketch, the skateboards on display and the aesthetics of the place
full of stickers were so Reki... it definitely had to be the right place.

Langa took a deep breath, and he entered the store without trying to hesitate a second longer and not
regret it. The crazy decorations greeted him, the intense smell of rubber and wood invaded his
nostrils, and rock music could be heard in the atmosphere. Langa gazed for the red-haired boy but
couldn't find him. He didn't seem to be there... how strange.

"Welcome to Dope Sketch. Can I help you with anything?" a male voice was heard.

Langa startled a little. The voice came from up ahead, it seemed to be from the cashier. He took a few
steps and saw it. There was a brunette and tanned guy on the desk, looking at the canadian, waiting
for an answer from him… Did he have a dog next to him?

The blue-haired one didn't know what to say. He was nervous as he tried to translate everything
mentally before saying it. "I’m... is Reki here?"

The other guy only arched his eyebrows. "Depends on who you are. I've never seen you around here.
Who are you?" The brunette stood up from his chair, hands in his pockets, standing in front of Langa.

Oh no, that sounded very passive-aggressive, Langa thought. Had someone already visited this place
before and had bad intentions toward Reki? Poor thing, he didn't deserve that. Reki was a sunshine;
why would they bother him with that? That couldn't help but make him feel a little nervous.

"I'm a friend of his; my name is Langa."

"Langa? I've never heard your name before and–" the tanned guy stopped mid-sentence. He could see
his expression go from serious to wearing a big grin.

Oh god, he was laughing at him.

What had I done wrong? Am I wearing something weird?

Now, what did I do besides being born?

This only made him more nervous than he already was.

"Reki, someone's looking for you!" exclaimed the adult, unable to hide his laughter.

"I'm coming!" that familiar voice replied instantly.

That beautiful voice made Langa's heart beat a mile a minute. Reki entered the store through the back
door a few seconds later, wearing an oversized pink baggy shirt. He could notice how his yellow eyes
lit up and his lips formed a smile when he saw who it was.

"Langa, glad you made it!" the red-headed boy said happily, approaching his friend.

Reki made a brofist as a greeting. Langa looked at him for about two seconds until he understood
what that was. He greeted back awkwardly, trying to play along with Reki. He heard a small laugh
from the redhead, but it didn't seem to be mocking him. Quite the opposite... It was as if Reki thought
that he was cute. Langa would have time later to perfect it, or so he wanted to believe.

"Oh man, you were taking so long. I even thought you were lost and I was going to look for you."
laughed Reki.

"Sorry, I got up late..." replied Langa, honestly. "And I thought Okinawa was safe."

"Just because this is Japan doesn't mean it's always safe. We have a lot of crazy people here, too..."
No matter how many times Reki showed that he really cared about him. Langa would always think it
was so rare, the way he always sounded so genuine.

"Uhum... I'm still here." the adult interrupted them, catching both of their attention. "By the way, my
name is Oka. I'm the store manager."

Langa returned the greeting, not knowing if he was bowing correctly or not.

"Oh, sorry." replied Reki nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, I almost forgot. Can I leave
early today? You know what I want to do." he said the last, trying to sound sneaky, but it didn't work.
Langa could feel Reki pointing at him with his eyes.

"Did you even finish THAT thing?"

"Shh-" hushed the redhead to the manager. "That'll be for another day, trust me."

"Are you serious? You've been working on that thing all week. I thought you were done with it."

"Don't say anything else–" chuckled Reki nervously, trying to keep his composure. "Anyway, can I
leave early today or not? Please," he said, pouting, wanting to annoy Oka.

Oka just sighed. "Alright, but you better not do this all the time."

"Thank you, thank you very much indeed!" said Reki happily, bowing several times. "Let's go,
Langa!"

Reki didn't even let Langa think. He just grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him out of the store; he
was taking him somewhere and had no idea where it was.

"Reki, what about my motorcycle–

"It'll be fine; we're close and the area is pretty safe."

"If you say so... can you at least tell me where you're taking me?" said Langa, completely confused.

"Relax, my moon. It's a surprise~"

Oh god, what was going on? Langa thought he was just going to visit him and talk, but it turned out to
be the opposite. He didn't know if it was because of the curiosity of surprise or because Reki's hand
was on his wrist, but his heart was beating uncontrollably. He didn't know that his heart was in sync
with the redhead.

"And we're finally here~ Welcome to my favorite place!"

Both boys walked for about 10 minutes until they reached their destination. They were at a skate park.
Cicadas and people talking could be heard everywhere. In front of Langa was a halfpipe with several
skateboarders; however, Langa felt stunned at the sea beyond it. Suddenly, Langa began to hear a
slight but unbearable ringing in his ear.

The blue-haired boy's feet began to move unconsciously until he stopped in front of a tree. He looked
at it, then at the view of the sea, and repeated the process. This couldn't be happening, could it? It had
to be a foul play of his imagination.

"I've been here before..." said Langa to himself, still staring stunned at the view.

It was identical to the place of his first dream with the unknown boy, it was too accurate to be true.
What did it all mean? Was he still dreaming and hadn't woken up? Ever since he set foot in Japan,
Langa felt like he had lost his mind.

Several traces of deja vu invaded his mind, leaving him static and forgetting everything around him.

"Langa."

He could hear in a blur.

"Langa."

It got louder.

"LANGA!"

His whole mind went quiet when he felt someone touch his shoulders, bringing him back to reality.
His blue eyes refocused and adjusted to his surroundings. Reki was in front of him, with both hands
on Langa's shoulders. He had a worried expression on his face. He could tell they were under the
shade of the tree.

"Langa, are you alright?" asked Reki quietly, trying not to sound more worried than he was.

The blue-haired boy looked at him for a few seconds before responding. "I think so. I don't know
what came over me."

"You're not getting heatstroke, are you? Oh man, I should have known the weather here would affect
you."

"I'm fine," Langa clarified.

Reki just sighed. "Ok, I'm sorry, it's just that I somehow feel responsible for you and I couldn't help
but worry." he laughed nervously.

"...Why?" those words escaped Langa's lips.

The redhead looked at him in confusion. "Why wouldn't I be? You're my best friend and I appreciate
you."

I APPRECIATE YOU

Oh

Oh no, there go his feelings again.

Damn it, why was he so precious?

I ask to restart the game, I don't like this so-called life.

"Oh right, I want to introduce you to someone!" replied Reki, sincerely.

With nothing more to say, this time, Reki took him gently by the wrist and led him near the halfpipe.
A few teenagers were skating on it, but someone in a neon green hoodie stood out among them all.

"Oi Miya!" the redhead shouted, catching some people's attention, but he didn't seem to mind.

Now that he thought about it, that name sounded too familiar.

He watched as a boy with green eyes, black hair, and a green hoodie, looking much younger than him,
approached them. Now that he saw him up close, he could remember him perfectly. It was the boy he
asked for help months ago and made him meet Reki's friends.

"What do you want, slime? I was practicing." said the youngest, stopping in front of them while
holding his skateboard under his right foot.

"Stop acting surprised; we planned to meet around this time." replied Reki, pulling the canadian to his
side. "Anyway, I want to introduce you to-"

"Langa, right?" the black-haired boy interrupted him.

Langa and Reki were surprised. They didn't expect him to guess so quickly. "How did you know?"

"It was too obvious. Who else that you know has light blue hair and is a foreigner? You talk too much
about him; it's impossible not to recognize him." the younger one replied sarcastically, then turned his
gaze to the taller one. "You know me, I'm Miya."

"...Touché," snapped the redhead snapped his fingers.

Langa analyzed him from head to toe, unable to believe that this was the one who helped him.

"You're shorter than I thought." thought Langa aloud, only to realize what he said.
Instantly, he could hear Reki start to laugh loudly. The younger boy's face reddened as he frowned.

"Hey, I'm only 14. I'll grow up to be taller than you!" said Miya, offended. "It's not my fault you're so
tall and look like slenderman."

"Ok, but don't get mad." added Reki, between laughs, looking at both of them.

"Whatever, let's change the subject. I don't want to waste my energy on this." said Miya. "Anyway,
are you going to S tonight?"

"You know the answer, I never miss a night." replied Reki.

"Are you planning to take Langa? As far as I know, he's just a noob."

"Only if he wants to, I'm not going to force him."

"Stop talking like I'm not here..." added Langa, then looking at both boys. "And I don't know about
tagging along. I don't skate as well as you guys." he replied, a little nervous.

"Mmm... how about you show us how you skate?" asked Miya.

"Come on, Langa, show what I taught you~"

Langa knew that sooner or later, this was going to happen. It was only a matter of time before Reki
asked to skate with him, and now was the time. He had to do it.

"Ok, fine." sighed the light blue-haired one. "All I ask is that you don't judge me if I do something
wrong."

"Go ahead, broski!" the redhead exclaimed excitedly, putting his arm around the canadian's shoulders.
"Don't worry, I'll lend you my skateboard. Mind you, you have to take good care of it; it's like it's my
child~"

He wasn't going to lie, Langa felt too nervous. Everything he had learned from Reki was online. He
had never practiced it in front of other people besides his friends. It shouldn't be that hard, right? It
was the same thing; he was just on the other side of the world and that was it.

Langa set Reki's board on the floor and looked down at it. It was now or never. He stepped on top of it
and started to impulse himself with his opposite leg, trying to get caught up in the moment.

Skating in Okinawa felt so different. He didn't know if it was the feeling of a warm blizzard instead of
a cold one on his face or because he was doing it in front of other people, but being in that moment
with Reki made him feel complete. Langa moved from side to side, dodging some objects as he
skated around the halfpipe.

"Look out!" someone shouted.

He watched as another skateboard rolled in his direction, blocking his path. Oh shit, he was going to
trip over that, he was going full speed. Langa doesn't know how he did it, but suddenly, his legs acted
independently and boosted himself upwards. He jumped over the other skateboard... he was doing an
ollie. It was the first time he had ever done one perfectly. It felt amazing.

Touching the pavement again, Langa slowed down in front of Reki and Miya.

"...How was it?" asked Langa, tired, his chest rising and falling as he took a breath.

"Dude, that was awesome!!!! I'm an amazing teacher~" exclaimed Reki excitedly, giving Langa a
high five. "What do you think, Miya?"

The youngest had a surprised expression, but when he heard his name, he returned to his usual
attitude. "Uh, yes, he has potential. At least he won't be killed inside S."

"Good, now all that's left is to get you a pin."

"A pin?" asked Langa.

"Not everyone can enter S. Only those with the badge can do so." explained Reki. "You know we're a
clandestine group. No one knows we exist." he whispered to the canadian's ear.

Langa just nodded.

"I think I can help you with that." The younger one said, catching both of their attention. "The other
day, I found a badge I thought it was lost. Langa can use it."

"Miya, you're a genius."

"I know~" Miya said, closing his eyes with a proud smile.

Reki turned his gaze back to the blue-haired one. "So...do you want to go to S with me tonight?"

Langa thought a bit before answering. He didn't think he was good enough to go there and be
humiliated in front of many professionals; it wasn't part of his plan. But god, the sparkle in Reki's
amber eyes begged him to go. He was too good at convincing people, he looked like the Puss in Boots
when he made his cute little face.

"All right, I'll go."

"That's what I'm talking about!" shouted Reki excitedly. "It'll be awesome. You'll get to meet my
friends, skate by..."

The red-haired boy began to tell him everything they could do there and his plan on how to get there.
While the three of them walked aimlessly and listened to Reki, Langa only thought about what he had
gotten himself into.
The calm summer night breeze made its way across the fields of Okinawa. The street stretched for
miles, with greenery scattered across the horizon. There were no clouds in the sky, nor were there any
cars to be seen near where they were. It was a perfect night for their plan.

On a dirt road, though nothing stood out in any significant way, was Langa riding his motorcycle,
having Reki sitting behind him and holding onto him, telling him where he needed to go. Around him
were a few skateboarders heading to their destination, which Langa guessed was also S. It was so
weird to think that maybe, whether it was today or another day, he'd get to race them all.

Was this even legal?

Well, Langa knew it wasn't, but the mere thought of his mother's reaction if she ever found out about
this was enough to make him nervous.

Reki touched Langa's back, catching his attention. It was his way of telling him that they had reached
their destination. After parking, Langa looked at his surroundings. It seemed to be in some sort of
abandoned mine. The smell of dirt and the hustle of the other skaters couldn't be missed at all. So this
was the famous Crazy Rock that Reki had told him so much about. It was a real place full of life.

"Do you think I can fit in here?" asked Langa as he removed his helmet.

Reki nodded as he reached into his backpack for something. "Yup, don't worry about it. Every now
and then new people come to Crazy Rock."

"I feel like I'm going to throw up from nerves."

"Hey bro, don't lose me now, it'll be alright!" Reki snapped his fingers in his friend's face. "What's the
worst that could happen? You're just going to skate and meet my friends."

"I just feel like everyone is staring at me..." whispered Langa. Somehow, he could feel that he was
being watched behind his back.

"It's because there are almost no foreigners in S. They don't have bad intentions." sighed Reki after
taking the skateboard out of his backpack. "Listen to me; we can just watch the races today if you
want to, okay? Or, if you prefer, we can leave and come back another day when you're calmer..."

"No!" replied Langa instantly. He could see how the redhead was surprised by his reaction. "I-I want
to stay and watch the races with you, please. "

"If you say so, Langa, I trust you." smiled Reki, his amber eyes seemed to glow with excitement.
"Let's go, the race will start any minute."

Walking towards the starting line, Langa kept to Reki's side to avoid getting lost in the sea of people.
Though for some strange reason, he felt like he was being followed this time. Langa looked behind
him every so often, but no one seemed to be stalking him. It must be a figment of his imagination,
right?

Once they were settled, they spent some time watching the other skaters do their thing. They were like
that until suddenly Reki shouted, making Langa slightly startled by his reaction. Turning his gaze to
the red-haired boy, who was pale from shock, he noticed the muscular green-haired man beside him
laughing.

"Damn it, Joe, what was the reason to scare me like that!?" exclaimed Reki, as he hugged himself and
scowled at the opposite.

The tattooed one just laughed. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You're fun to scare."

Wait, did he say Joe?

Oh my god, he was one of the guys in the group chat months ago. He was the one who helped him the
most and even wrote asking for advice. Of all the members, Langa was able to get closer to the
brunet. It wasn't that he distrusted the others; he just felt more comfortable talking to Joe.

"Damn it, gorilla, you seriously are so annoying when you want to." spoke another man, his long pink
hair and a slim figure standing next to Joe.

"Easy, dear, I didn't kill him." the green-haired man replied sarcastically.

Even behind the mask, Langa could recognize the pink-haired one as Cherry. It wasn't just that,
though. The way he interacted with Joe made it impossible not to recognize the older one.

Langa was so deep in thought, analyzing, that he could forget his surroundings. He could only listen
in a blur as the three of them spoke.

Reki's applause in front of his face was the only thing that could bring him out of his thoughts.

"Ah?" was all Langa said, adjusting back to his surroundings.

"Dude, you were daydreaming a little. Was your software updating or something?" said Reki jokingly.

"Oh, sorry, I guess I'm still getting used to the timezone." replied Langa. It was the best excuse he
could come up with.

"Mmm, that makes sense. Sometimes, I forget that you live in the past. Well, kinda, you get what I
mean," replied the redhead, convinced by what his friend said. "Anyway, as I was saying, I want you
to meet my friends Joe and Cherry~"

Reki stretched out his arms in a pointing plan. Langa looked curiously at both adults and analyzed
them. They seemed to be in their mid 20s and looked different compared to the social media photos,
in a good way. It was weird, but somehow Langa felt like they were doing the same thing to him. Was
it normal to feel nervous? Not even with Reki's mother he felt this way.

"It's about time we get to meet you," Kojiro said, expanding his hand to greet Langa. "Reki always
tells us about you, more than he should." he added that last one with a certain mocking tone in his
voice.

Reki just laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck. He didn't say anything, but Langa
could understand that just by looking at each other they had communicated, silencing the green-haired
one with a mocking smile.

"I'm Cherry, you know me." added the pink-haired one, calm. "I didn't expect you to come so soon to
S. Let's just say It's not a very easy place to get into."

"I gave him a confidence boost. You know what a good teacher I am," responded Reki, putting his
arm around Langa's shoulders.

Langa couldn't see his friend's face, but he was 100% sure that Reki had gleams of pride in his eyes.

"I already know everyone... but where's the Joker? He’s the only one left." Langa asked genuinely.

Cherry pointed behind the two younger ones, where there were two people with some public around
them. Looking more closely, Langa noticed that Miya was trying to do some tricks while he seemed
to be arguing with another taller oranged haired man with clown makeup. Oh, so that had to be the
famous Shadow... how funny. Langa couldn't hear the conversation well, but he was sure they were
insults. Ironically, most of them seemed to come from the younger one, not even the other adult.

"This is normal between them, don't be surprised. They always argue, but they get along just fine."
Cherry said as he crossed his arms. He seemed to be used to this sort of thing by now.

So this is what they mean when they say something is funny weird... Langa thought as he continued to
watch Miya and Shadow doing their tricks. They caught his attention so much.

The light blue-haired felt stupid and embarrassed for even thinking about this, but seeing the height
difference between Shadow and Miya, his mind couldn't help but flash back to when he and his father
snowboarded together.

"Reki, I want to skate now." Langa said suddenly, getting a confused look from the other three.

"Wow, wow, slow down, kid." said Joe, calming down the blue-haired one. "Skating at Crazy Rock as
a beginner is dangerous. You should practice and gain some more experience before you enter a race.
"

"I hate to say this, but the gorilla is right." stressed the pink-haired one. "I've seen your videos, and
you're good, but I think for today it's best if you just watch the races or practice in a safer place."

"Oh, come on!"

While Reki and Kaoru went ahead to talk, Langa stayed quiet, waiting for his friend's conversation to
end. However, he could feel the green-haired one glancing at him sideways, trying not to be
suspicious but failing in the attempt. Was there something wrong with him? What was going on? This
was so awkward.

"...Do you need anything?" asked Langa, trying to break the silence and not sound so nervous.
"So, Langa..." Kojiro broke the silence. The blue-eyed one just looked at him curiously. "Have you
made any progress with Reki?"

Not a second passed when Langa felt himself choke on his own saliva. Oh god, Joe had taken him by
surprise. He had expected any question but that one, he had been more direct than he thought.
Luckily, Reki and Cherry were up ahead and couldn't hear him.

"Could you keep your voice down? I don't want all of S to know about it . " the canadian complained,
earning a chuckle from the green-haired man. "And I haven't been able to do anything. I only got to
Okinawa yesterday… What's up with your question?"

"Ha, you're the one who asked for tips for Reki. Don't act so surprised."

Langa couldn't deny it. No one else knew, but he corresponded with Joe more than once. All of them
were to ask for love advice and to ask the brunet about Reki. Somehow, in a matter of a short time,
Langa managed to trust him. At least that helped him not to feel so embarrassed now. Mind you, Reki
and Kojiro were different cases. Nothing and no one could get the redhead out of his head.

The blue-haired sighed, keeping his hands in his pants pockets. "I do want to make some move on
him, I just don't know how and when the time will be right. Emotions aren't my strength. If I can
barely handle my own, worse with someone else's."

"Come on, kid, you just need a confidence boost and that's it." the greenete said.

"It’s easier to say it than doin' it…" the light blue-haired one replied, sighing. "I wish I had your
confidence, being an extrovert seems to make life easier in every way."

"Well, I won't deny it, it does." said Kojiro. "Sorry for the blunt question I'm about to ask you, but
does Reki know that you're... you know." he whispered in the last sentence.

Although Joe didn't say the word, Langa knew exactly what he meant, so he just shook his head. He'd
been friends with Reki for a long time; ever since the redhead called him crying, their relationship had
only become closer than ever. Still, he hadn't found the right time to tell him that he liked boys. Langa
was gay, his friends and mother knew it and accepted it. So far, Reki was the only one who didn't
know about his sexuality. Until now, he must have assumed that Langa was straight.

He knew the first step to getting closer to Reki was telling him the truth.

So why was it so difficult for him?

Reki was such a sweet and good guy; he was sure he would accept him as he was, yet he was afraid
the opposite would happen. Maybe Langa was just scared of losing him if he told the truth and felt
low into his depression again. He didn't want that. He'd rather anything than lose him.

"I guess I don't know how to tell him... he's my best friend, and I don't want to lose him." Langa said,
whispering crestfallen, as in the distance he spotted Reki.

Joe just laughed. "You'll find the right time. Just enjoy the ride."
 He would have liked the talk between both to last longer and ask Joe more questions, but Reki and
Kaoru returned after a while. The redhead stood next to Langa with a certain 'defeated' expression on
his face.

"I talked to Cherry, and I hate to admit he's right." said Reki to the canadian. "I guess we'll just
practice today, I hope you don't mind. It'll just be until you skate better."

The light blue-haired one shook his head. On the contrary, Langa was relieved. He was too nervous to
compete against professionals. He didn't want to do that, at least for now. Someday, he'd skate
alongside Reki. That’s what he promised himself before he traveled to Okinawa.

"Trust me, tonight is not a good night for you to skate here." added Cherry.

Langa frowned. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Suddenly, in the distance, a loud and powerful laugh could be heard in the background, mixed with
the shouts of excitement of some people from S. Langa could see Cherry's expression got shooked.
What was going on?

"We should go." said Reki. "Follow me; there's a part of S that's more private and quiet."

With nothing more to say, Reki grabbed Langa's wrist and started to take him somewhere else. He
couldn't even say goodbye to both adults because of how fast the japanese was taking him away. Was
something wrong? He only hoped not and that this was a mere coincidence. Still, amidst all the
confusing scenery and the nervousness of Reki’s warm touch, Langa knew that everything would be
okay as long as he was with him.

Chapter End Notes

Hello again my loves, I'm finally back!

It's been a wild ride, I had to work on the timeline for the second part of my fanfic. I'm so glad
it's finally here, I missed you all <3
As I said before, this was pretty much a more chill chapter, the boys deserve to be happy and
calm, you know? Enjoy it while you can, Langa's and Reki's Okinawan adventure have just
begun... and things will get more interesting when you least expect it.
What do you guys think will happen?? I'd love to see your opinions.

As always, feel free to ask me anything and tell me if I wrote a something wrong.
Thank you all for existing, see yah next chapter~~
 Chapter 10
Chapter Notes

I wanted to post it on Christmas but I had to finish some minor corrections. I'm so sorry for the
delay.
Enjoy the chapter <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Words don’t come easy to me

How can I find a way to make you see I love you?❞

» Words - F.R. David

It was late, but the night had just begun for the members of S.

Reki had taken Langa to a place away from all the hustle and bustle. There were only a few people in
the distance with them, but they were all busy with their lives. So far, the light blue-haired one didn't
understand why he made him run away from the other place, but he was sure Reki had a good reason
for it. He knew the redhead well; it was more than certain that he just wanted to protect him from
something... or someone.

It had been a while since that. Since they arrived at the new location, they had been skateboarding.
Reki was dedicated to giving him instructions and guiding him while skating beside him. It was just
the two of them in their world, ignoring everything around them.

"Ugh-" complained Langa after falling backward onto the floor. "This is taking me harder than
usual..." he said, lying still as he caught his breath.

The red-haired one got off the skate and then squatted down next to him. "It's because you're on a dirt
road, it's normal for you to feel it harder." said Reki. "We should take a break; we've practiced too
much."

Langa just nodded and sat up, his eyes meeting Reki's hand, offering to help him up. He didn't hesitate
for a second to accept and take his hand. For him, that was a lot. It meant he already trusted this
person. And oh, even though he had only met Reki personally a few days ago, the warmth of his hand
was already so familiar and comforting. That warmth felt so good against his pale skin.

They both sat on a nearby log, resting their legs from the exercise. He could see how Reki took a
water bottle from his backpack, drank some, and then offered it to his friend. Langa just looked at
him, confused.
"You must be thirsty. Have a sip, I don't mind sharing the bottle with you."

"...are you sure?"

"Uh-huh. No worries, I don’t get disgusted easily." replied Reki jokingly.

Hesitantly, Langa took the bottle in his hands, looking at it for a while. He usually preferred not to
share bottles or things like that. It was a weird habit he had since he was a child.

Could this count as an indirect kiss? He thought, instantly feeling cringe at himself.
What was that? My god, Langa, please calm down. You look like a high school girl thinking things
like that...

Not wanting to overthink things any further, Langa drank water as if his life depended on it. He hadn't
realized how thirsty he was, and now he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed about finishing
Reki's water.

After swallowing the last drop, he handed the bottle back to Reki. "I'm sorry." he said softly.

"No need to apologize for... " the redhead replied, but he didn't finish his sentence. His facial
expressions changed. "Langa, your elbow is bleeding!" he exclaimed.

"Uh?" he looked to where Reki pointed. His sleeve was slightly torn and dyed crimson red. "Oh for
fucks sake..." he said that in english, out of panic. He had never had a good relationship with blood, or
at least his own.

"Don't you dare faint in my presence; I'll heal you." replied Reki, pulling band-aids from his backpack
as he tried to calm his friend. He knew perfectly well that Langa couldn't stand the sight of blood. "Do
you mind?"

The question was not specific, but Langa understood what he meant. He nodded, taking off his white
shirt and only being left with the black undershirt. His skin stood out in goosebumps as he was
exposed to the breeze. He rarely showed the skin on his arms, so it was inevitable not to feel naked.
The way his arms were so pale made the blood and wound stand out more.

"Really, butterflies?" giggled Langa softly, seeing that Reki's band-aids were childish-themed.

"In my defense, they belong to my little sisters, and I'm always looking out for them." the redhead
continued the joke, smiling proudly.

Langa watched as Reki carefully placed the band-aids over his scratches. He did it so delicately as if
he was made of porcelain and would break with the slightest movement. The red-haired guy was so
focused that he stuck out his tongue a little bit and frowned slightly; his skin tone seemed more
tanned by the yellow lights in S. They were small details that he was sure Reki hadn't even noticed,
but Langa thought it was cute.

And oh, Langa's heart couldn't take so much. It felt like it would burst out of his chest because of how
fast it was beating.
"Done." said Reki, after placing the last band-aid.

Langa looked at his elbow, which was now covered with pastels and butterflies, giving color to his
pale skin. "Thank you."

"You're welcome; that's what I'm here for~."

And for a moment, they were both silent, a comfortable silence, where they both just enjoyed each
other's company and appreciated the night nature around them.
Langa closed his eyes, trying to enjoy his present, but a thought of what happened earlier came to his
mind. His head was definitely not going to leave him alone until he knew what had happened before.

"Hey Reki, I have a question." the canadian broke the silence, meeting the other one’s gaze. "Before
we came here, someone yelled, and you just quickly pulled me away from there. I could tell how
everyone acted; Cherry looked confused and in shock, and Joe was angry..." he tried to find the right
words. "What I mean is...what was going on over there? What are they so afraid of?"

Reki just sighed, his gaze drifting to the ground as he scratched the back of his neck. "I guess there's
no reason to hide it anymore." the redhead admitted tiredly.

The canadian nodded, his silence inspiring confidence.

"Who you heard screaming is Adam, one of the founders of S." Reki began to explain. "I'm not going
to deny you that he's an amazing skater, and I used to admire him a lot, but well, that doesn’t matter
right now..." said the japanese, turning his gaze back to Langa. "Adam is completely insane, really
messed up in the head... I don't want to give heavy details, but he has hurt us while skating, some
more than others." Reki clenched his fists on his legs. "What I mean is that it's better that he doesn't
know you exist. I don't want him to hurt you. I wouldn't stand to see that."

Langa didn't know what to say. No one in S seemed to be sane; everyone was unique in one way or
another, but still, what kind of psychopath was that guy? He didn't want to imagine the kind of
damage he had done to Reki and the others to make them act that way just by hearing his voice.

The light blue-haired one thought about everything he was told. As he dissociated himself from
reality, Reki looked at his friend, waiting for him to answer something.

"Dude, I'm so sorry. I think I ruined the moment." said Reki, not knowing how to feel.

Langa just looked at his friend. "You didn't, you never ruin anything. You just wanted to protect me,
and I really appreciate that." he replied honestly, wanting to cheer up the redhead. "I'd do the same for
you." he said the last in a whisper.

"Really?"

"I wouldn't hesitate for a second."

Reki would never admit it out loud, but it felt so good to be told that. He wasn't used to it. As a child,
his father often made him believe he wasn't worthy of protection or care. Even though it had been
several years since that, and his mother always told him it wasn't true, deep down, his inner child
sometimes still believed it.

The redhead smiled slightly. "Thank you." he whispered.

They both fell silent again. Langa looked at Reki; his amber eyes were a bit crystallized and showed
some nostalgia and other feelings he couldn't quite decipher. All he could do was support him by
being by his side.

Reki was a wild and free soul, yet he had also proven to be a lover of quiet and simple moments like
these.

Langa was the opposite of Reki; he was introverted and quiet, and that's why they complemented each
other so well. Maybe for that reason, life had made them meet.

Suddenly, Reki stood up. "Come, let's keep skating."

The light blue-haired looked at him, confused by his sudden change of mood. However, he didn’t ask
and went along with it. They spent a few minutes skating along the quiet side of S, going aimlessly
and with nature keeping them company. They were calm and happy in their world but didn't count on
a small bump causing them to trip and fall.

After hitting the ground, Langa opened his eyes seconds later and saw how Reki had fallen on top of
him. He could feel his weight on his chest; he was much lighter than he thought. Reki, after placing
the bandana back on his forehead and seeing the position he was in, instantly moved and quickly sat
down next to Langa.

"Ah shit, are you okay?" asked Reki, concerned. "Don't tell me your wound opened up again."

"I'm fine." replied Langa, looking at how messy his friend was from head to toe. He looked like a
little kid coming from the park. "You're covered in dirt."

"Well, you're in the same boat as I am." he pointed to the taller one’s attire.

And for a few seconds, they were silent, but suddenly, they both began to laugh. They didn't know if it
was tiredness or any other reason, but their laughter was genuine.

At times like these, Langa thought life wasn't so bad.

They were so caught up in the moment that they didn't even notice when someone got behind them.

"Oh, mind explaining the joke? I want to laugh too~" A male voice was heard behind them, making
them both stop.

Immediately, they both stood up and took steps back. Langa looked at the guy from head to toe: he
had blue hair and white complexion, wore a red Spanish-style suit, and the mask over his eyes
prevented him from seeing his face well. His presence was too strong and heavy. He had no idea who
he was, but the way Reki's face went blank said enough. Langa had never seen him like that; he
looked so afraid. This had to be the famous and bastard, Adam.

"Huh? And who are you? I've never seen you before?" asked the adult, in a commanding voice,
looking at Langa.

Should he introduce himself, run away or what? He had no idea. The best he could think of was to try
to stand composed and not show fear.

"I-"

"He's just visiting, Adam," Cherry said seriously, suddenly appearing, his arms folded. "They're just
about to leave."

"So soon? I want to have some fun with the new guy~" crooned the blue-haired adult, trying to get
closer to the canadian.

Langa swallowed his saliva out of nervousness. Now he understood why everyone was so afraid of
Adam. His aura was too frightening.

Before he could get any closer to Langa, Cherry stood in front of the taller one, stopping him.

"Don't you dare bother the rookie." said the pink-haired one, threatening him.

Adam only moved closer to Cherry. "Is he your friend? What if I don't? I doubt you can stop me."

"You know what I'm capable of, Ainosuke."

"Don't you dare use that name." hissed Adam, his voice sounding furious.

As both boys watched the adults discussing, Langa gently shook Reki's shoulder. The red-haired one
was too stunned, so it took him a few seconds to react.

"Let's escape now," whispered Langa, pointing with his head to the exit.

Reki nodded, and they quickly grabbed their things and ran away from there.

He wasn't going to lie; Langa felt too guilty about leaving Cherry alone with Adam, but Reki assured
him that he could handle him and he'd be fine. He would have time to apologize the next time he saw
him, but for now, all he cared about was that they were safe.
"What will you tell your mom for being so late?" asks Reki, leaving the helmet on Langa's
motorcycle.

It took much longer than they expected, but they managed to get out of S without any problems (not
counting the minor chaos caused by seeing Adam). They arrived at Reki's house around 1:00am. All
the house lights, including the redhead's, seemed to be off from the outside, which implied that
everyone at his home was sleeping. Only the illumination of the streetlights accompanied them.

Trying not to make noise, both boys walked outside towards Reki's bedroom window. According to
him, it was so that his mother wouldn't notice he had gone out.

"I don't know, but I must think of a good excuse for her not to kill me." replied Langa as he followed
his friend.

"Mmm, let me think..." the redhead whispered, grabbing his chin. "I know; you can tell him we went
to the cinema."

"...This late at night?"

"It may not seem like it, they do exist, but they only do it with old movies. " said Reki. "We’ll just
have to look at the billboard and pick a random movie if they ask us."

"I know they exist, it's just..."

His mind couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to go to the movies with him, share a
popcorn bucket, and watch a film they both liked. Maybe even hold hands amidst the darkness of the
theater. Oh shit, he was seriously touch starved and it showed.

Reki looked at him, confused. "What's wrong?"

"It's just... telling my mother that I went to the cinema this late seems like a... you know," the light
blue-haired one said, a little uncomfortable. He could feel his cheeks heat up. Right now, he was
thankful that the darkness could hide it.

It was a matter of mere seconds before the redhead understood. "...Oh."

"Yes..."

Reki cleared his throat before speaking. "Well- We're friends, I don't think she should think
otherwise." he said, with some nervousness in his voice. "Didn't you ever go to the movies with your
friends in Canada?"

Langa nodded quickly. "Yes, I went a few times. It's just that they were a different case..." he
emphasizes. "Zoey has a girlfriend, and Aoi is just my childhood friend. That's why my mom never
questions anything about them."

The japanese only raised his shoulders slightly. "It makes sense. Still, don't worry about it. I'll take
care of convincing her if she doesn't believe you."
WE’RE FRIENDS... He wasn't going to lie. It had hurt him a little when he called him that. But it was
true; that was all they were, and they would remain just like that. Langa had to fight and be honest
with Reki if he wanted them to someday be more than that.

But how could someone like him, who has such a hard time expressing himself, accomplish that?

"Okay, this is my bedroom window, you better remember it." pointed out Reki.

Of course it would be impossible not to remember it. What kind of person besides Reki would put a
small skateboard ramp in front of his window? Exactly, no one, just him. He could see how the
redhead quickly climbed it and tried to open the window.

"Why should I remember it?" asked Langa, genuinely, looking at his friend.

"You know, for the next time we escape to S." he replied. "...Or don't you want to come back
anymore?" he said the last, his voice is soft.

"I want to. I just hope next time you'll remember whether or not the crazy blue guy comes."

A chuckle escaped the redhead's lips. "Okay, I'll be more careful next time."

After opening the window, Reki threw his things into the room, then slid back down the ramp and
stood in front of Langa. Both were silent, waiting for something to happen that neither understood.
The canadian looked at him from head to toe; the dim moonlight reflected beautifully on Reki,
especially his amber eyes.

"I guess this is when we say goodbye," Langa whispered.

"I think so..."

Returning to silence, their gazes met, and unconsciously, they both took a step forward, standing close
to each other. He could see Reki's beautiful lips in more detail and feel his breathing. Oh shit, what
should one do in this situation? He wanted so badly to kiss him but didn't want to give in to his
impulses and ruin everything. But still, even during the silence and calmness of the night, Langa
wanted to be a little selfish and stay like this longer, just the two of them.

"I– Good night Langa." whispered Reki, breaking the silence and giving him a gentle fist on the chest.
His sweet smile was not missing.

Langa swallowed before speaking. "Good night, Reki." he said, trying to hide his nerves.

The redhead climbed to the window before turning and looking back at Langa. "Please text me when
you get home."

The blue-haired one nodded. Once Reki entered his room, Langa turned around and started walking
back, but not before looking at that window again.
What was all that? He didn't have the faintest idea. He didn't want to get the wrong idea. It was best to
try not to think about it until he got home; he knew he would be too nervous to drive if he did.
Although, he knew that these fantasies would help him fall asleep well.

Tomorrow will be another day with Reki.

Langa opened his eyes, and an intense burst of white light attacked him. Instantly, his hands covered
his face, staying that way until he could adjust to the environment. Everything felt so different: the air,
his existence, the light, everything. For those little details, the sky-haired man suspected he was in a
dream.

It was about a minute before he could get a good look. He was in a kind of white void; it seemed the
opposite of that nightmare where he almost drowned.

He was definitely dreaming; there was no way this was real life.

Surprised, he inspected his surroundings with his eyes. He could see how small particles began to
recreate some of the places he had dreamed of around him. On one side was the school roof, on the
other the shed, the tree in that park from the first dream... everything seemed to be connecting at that
moment. His dreams were colliding into one.

Had he lost his mind?

Did he have an accident on the way home and this was the edge of life and death?
Or, well, maybe the melatonin gummy he ate had too much effect.

Amid the dilemma that his mind created in whether to stay in one place or explore everything,
something snapped him out of his doubts. He could feel his heart stop for a second and his skin
crawled with goosebumps.

"LANGA~" that voice was heard half-distorted.

He knew that voice perfectly well.

That was the unknown boy from his dreams calling out to him.

Without hesitating a second longer, the light blue-haired one approached where the voice came from.
Langa went through several of his past dreams, repeating the scenes and seeing them in third person,
feeling the same as he was thinking at that moment. He spent a long time walking and following the
voice until he came to a large, completely white, empty room.

Or so he thought. At the back of the room, he could see someone completely dressed in white, but this
time, it was not the unknown boy. On the contrary, this time, it was a person he did not recognize at
all.

L̵̢͖̖̆͐̕ a̴͍̳͍̅͒̐ n̷̛̗̮̲̈́̊ ģ̷̲̼͋͂̂ ä̴̢̭̮́̐̇

"L̵̢͖̖̆͐̕a̴͍̳͍̅͒̐ n̷̛̗̮̲̈́̊ ģ̷̲̼͋͂̂ ä̴̢̭̮́̐̇ "

As soon as he said that, he could notice how the blur of his face disappeared, but because of the
distance, he still couldn’t see who he was. The canadian would have responded by shouting his name
if he knew it, but all he did was run as fast as he could toward him. He needed to see the face of this
figment of his imagination that made him lose his mind so much. He was so close to get there, he
could already see it more clearly, but from one moment to another the ground disappeared, panic sank
his whole being, he raised his hand trying to reach the stranger, while he saw how he moved farther
and farther away as he fell into the void. Langa just closed his eyes, hoping to wake up from his
nightmare.

And when he least expected it, he felt his body hit the ground hard.

Langa's body jerked, groaning in pain. It took him a while until he could slowly open his eyes,
adjusting to the atmosphere of the place. He could tell he was still dreaming; his mind just took him to
a completely different and safe scenario. This time, the environment looked like someone's room, or
that was what he could perceive from the silhouettes of things, as he couldn't see much since the only
source of light was through the window. It seemed to be the blue hour (dawn).

Sitting up slowly from the pain, he put his hand where his heart would be, trying to catch his breath
and calm himself.

"It took you too long to wake up, Langa" he heard next to him.

Langa turned his head in the direction where the voice came from.

To his left, there was the boy from his dreams, sitting on the bed, wearing pajamas. The weird thing
was that he wasn't making eye contact as usual; this time, he was staring off into nothingness. Even if
it was the same person he always saw and interacted with in his dreams, there was something different
about him now: he wasn't in his usual mood. Was he angry... or was he sad

"What happened to me?" asked Langa in a low voice. The last thing he wanted to do was upset the
other.

"You just fell out of bed." he replied, his voice raspy.

"Really?"

The contrary nodded, still not looking him in the eyes, looking at the sky through the window. Langa
was confused about the drastic change of scenarios his mind made, but he tried not to overthink the
issue and wanted to believe that that horrible fall was a dream in this reality.

Ah, great, the only thing he just needed to have a dream within a dream...

Langa's gaze softened. He was worried. "Are you okay?"

The boy just sighed tiredly. "Please just come back to bed."
For a second, Langa hesitated whether to do it or not. It had been a while since he had last shared a
bed with someone, especially such a small one. It seemed like they could barely fit the two of them.

Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer, the light blue-haired one got up from the floor, climbed
onto the bed, and settled his body into the softness of the blankets. He wouldn't lie; it was softer than
he expected, and his friend's body heat was comforting.

They were not lying with their backs to each other. On the contrary, they were facing each other. Even
in the midst of the blurriness of his face, Langa could tell that the other was also looking him in the
eyes. The boy's hand was nervous and outstretched as if he didn't know whether to touch Langa or
not. The canadian could notice it, and after hesitating for a few seconds, he only nodded. Slowly, the
stranger removed a few hairs Langa had on his forehead, then placed both hands on his cheeks.

Langa got goosebumps with that touch. It was so delicate, familiar, and nostalgic, as if he didn't want
to break the distance and stay in this moment forever.

In little moments like this, where everything felt so fictitious but comforting, Langa wondered: Why
that boy felt like the only thing real and alive?

Langa placed his hand on top of the other. After that, the opposite gently caressed the taller one's lips
with his thumb. The light blue-head closed his eyes and tried to let himself be carried away by the
moment, having a wave of shivers all over his body. It felt good, too good, and even safe. But even
amid so many strong feelings, his mind was never quiet.

Is this okay?
Should he feel guilty for being like this with a fragment of his imagination when he was actually in
love with Reki?

It was true that they were not a couple, for now, they were just friends. However, he felt that this was
not the right thing to do. It was amazing how every time he thought his feelings were clear, his mind
played dirty and did this. Still, only one thing was clear to him:

Langa wanted to experience this with Reki, not the stranger of his dreams.

"Listen, I-" tried to say the taller one but could not.

"Don't say anything," said the other, his voice breaking. "Just let me stay with you a while longer.
Don't leave me..."

After saying the last, he innocently wrapped his arms around Langa's body, hiding his face in his shirt.
The blue-eyed boy could feel his breathing begin to heave, and faint choked sobs could be heard from
the shorter one. He was crying. Something was definitely happening to him, and Langa didn't
understand why. All he could do was stay by his side and comfort him. It was so strange to think that
over time, his dreams with the boy had turned bittersweet; they no longer felt as happy as they did in
the beginning.

And amidst the confusion and sobs of his unknown boy, Langa stood there, with the other guy
wrapped in his arms and silently questioning his feelings. They preferred to live in the little lie he was
living at that moment rather than return to reality.

The days flew by, and suddenly, this was already Langa's third week in Okinawa. Three weeks since
he had met Reki in person and since the last time he had dreamed of the unknown boy.

During that time, Langa's life took a 180-degree turn. He went from being locked up in his cold house
in Canada all day to going out every day. His routine was based on sometimes hanging out with the S
gang, going skating in the park, or just hanging out with Reki. Obviously, his favorite activity was the
last one. And as weird as it sounded, the blue-haired boy had already gotten more used to the island of
Okinawa than he expected. Somehow, he already felt like it was his home and had lived there for a
long time. It was sad to think that this was all temporary, that someday he would have to return to his
reality in Vancouver, but Langa tried to ignore that and make the most of what was left of his stay.

On the other hand, his friendship with Reki grew and strengthened much more than he expected. That
included expressions of affection from the redhead, who over time (after becoming more trusting),
had become more physically affectionate. Sometimes, he would hold his hand, play with his hair,
share food, intertwine pinkies, or simply brush against his knees as they sat together on the subway.
They never wondered why they acted this way; Langa liked it, so he just accepted it and cherished
those little moments together. Even for their mothers, it was no longer a surprise that they saw each
other almost every day. They didn't even ask them where they were going. They just let them go.

To Langa, Reki was amazing in every way, a beautiful human being who was too underrated.

"Langa, wake up. You zoned out again," Reki said, snapping his fingers in front of his friend's face.

"Huh?" was all he could say after snapping out of his thoughts.

The canadian looked around, adjusting back into reality. He was sitting in the middle of Reki and
Miya. In the distance, he could see Cherry, Joe, and Shadow talking to each other. The sound of the
sea and seagulls invaded his ears, and the salty breeze cooled his pale face.

Oh, he remembered it all. They were on a ferry on their way to Miyakojima beach, where he would
spend the weekend with his S friends.

"Does this always happen to him?" asked Miya, as he played with his nintendo.

"Sometimes, but that's part of its charm." laughed Reki, then looked back up at the taller one. "Are
you okay? Aren't you getting heatstroke?"

Langa shook his head. "I'm just thinking about what we'll do when we get there."

"Well, it's only another half hour and we'll find out. I'm excited!" the redhead replied, smiling.

He still didn't know why, but Langa felt this weekend would be more interesting than he expected…
Chapter End Notes

Hello my loves, how are you? I hope you are super well~~

Anyway, our S squad is going to the beach! I wonder what wonderful things will happen there ;)
Do you have any idea what they will do on their mini-vacation? You guys know I love reading
your theories~.
I'll just say that from here the story will take a more intense route into Reki and Langa's
relationship, their personal discovery, etc. And of course, the dream boy will already start to have
more influence. I'm so excited to show you this universe~~.

I also wanted to let you know that I finally finished the timeline of the fanfic, so from now on I'll
be able to write the next chapters faster, or at least that's what I want to aim for. ^^

Happy New Year 2023!!! 💜

Please remember that I'm proud of you.

See you in the next chapter~

 Chapter 11
Chapter Notes

TW: A small part of this chapter contains intrusive thoughts.

Besides that, everything is just fluff and hurt/comfort.

Enjoy your reading!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝Oh, oh woe-oh-woah is me.

The first time that you touched me
Oh, will wonders ever cease?
Blessed be the mystery of love❞

» Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens

It was noon and the heat in Miyakojima was worse than ever, with only a brief breeze to cool people
down. The S squad had just arrived at the hotel where they would be staying, which was a big place
of traditional architecture but well-maintained.

Entering the room that was assigned to them, the boys were surprised to see the size of the place. It
was a suite with two rooms. It was bigger than they expected for a one-night stay.

"Wow." said Reki and Langa at the same time.

"Dang, Cherry, I knew you had a lot of money, but not this much." said Miya, feeling like a king, as
he lay down on the tatami floor. "It must be nice to be rich."

The pink-haired man refreshed himself with his fan. "Don't get used to me paying you everything; I
just wanted to be nice to you this time."

"Just admit that you have a little bit of affection for us, sweetie~. Joe teased him.

"Don't call me that."

"I say nothing but the truth."

Shadow stepped in between the two adults. He was carrying several suitcases and looked upset. "Why
the fuck did you’ll leave me with all the luggage!" he exclaimed.

"What can I tell you? We just saw an opportunity and took it, " the black-haired boy sarcastically
replied.
"Oh you little–"

Ah yes, this was the usual fuss Langa had become used to in the last month. He wasn't even surprised
anymore; for him, this was already another casual Saturday in his life. This was the ‘strange herd’ he
was now interacting with, but it didn't bother him at all. He liked it just fine.

The redhead looked around, taking a few steps forward. "How are we supposed to split up? I mean,
the place is big, but no idea if we'll all fit in here."

"There are three futons per room; we'll have to split half and half." replied the pink-haired one.

He didn't give much detail, but Langa understood that the adults would be in one room. That meant he
would have to share space with Reki and Miya. Oh god, they had been planning this for a while, and
Langa was just realizing that he would have to share a room with Reki. He would sleep with him in
the same place. It was going to be with someone real, not just a fragment of his imagination. When
was the last time he had shared a room with someone? He couldn't remember, but he guessed years
before the accident. Langa prayed internally that he wouldn't make noise while he slept, although,
according to his mother, he sleeps as stiff as a corpse.

His day was just beginning, and this was already making him nervous. He didn't want to imagine what
the night would be like. He only asked that his mind would not betray him and everything would be
calm.

"Sunayama Beach must be passing this way."

It was about 15 minutes of skateboarding until they reached the beach entrance, a long path with palm
trees all around. The group was wearing their bathing suits. Langa’s attire was light blue shorts and a
black water shirt. Reki, on the other hand, was wearing a yellow shirt and black shorts with flowers.

The redhead looked at the dirt road. "There are too many bumps. We'll have to walk."

"Or we could run." Miya tapped Reki and Langa's shoulders. "Let's see if you're faster than me and
can beat me at this, slimes!" he told them, then ran off.

"Hey, wait!" shouted the redhead.

Langa didn't hesitate to play with both of them for a second and joined the race, trying to catch up
with the younger one. At times like this, Langa felt like a little boy playing. They spent a few minutes
running in the middle of nature, under the blue sky and powerful sun of Okinawa. But suddenly,
Langa's ears were invaded by the beautiful melody produced by the ocean, distracting him. He no
longer cared about the race or what was happening around him. The only thing he wanted to do was
to reach the sea and see it with his own eyes.

He didn't even notice when he passed both boys. From one moment to another, the road ended and the
beach horizon was all he could see, the white sand reflecting on his skin. Langa stopped in front of the
seashore, fascinated at the almost transparent blue water. He closed his eyes, feeling the cool blizzard
on his face and the salt water wetting his feet. A faint smile made itself on his lips. It felt so good,
much better than he expected.

"Has he never seen the sea in his life?" asked Miya, genuinely, as he took a breath after running.

Reki lifted his shoulders, stopping near Langa. "He's spent more time of his life seeing mountains. Let
him enjoy himself."

"Yes, there’s sea in my city, but it’s different and cold." replied Langa, turning his back to them, still
looking at the water. "It is warm and beautiful here."

The red-haired boy stood next to his friend, looking at him from the corner of his eye. Langa seemed
so at peace. He had the same innocent look his little sisters had when they saw something they liked.
The wind elegantly ruffled the Canadian's long hair, highlighting his profile and features.

Shit, he's fucking beautiful .

Reki thought, a slight blush appearing on his cheeks.

"Is everything ok? Do I have something on my face?" asked Langa after feeling the redhead looking
at him a lot.

Reki froze for a second, trying to regain his composure. They had caught him. "It's all right, man. It's
just that you're already turning pink and we just got here." He chuckled, excusing himself, even
though what he was saying was true.

Langa was so pale that he sunburned too quickly. It was so obvious that he was a foreigner. His
cheeks and nose were painted a faint shade of pink.

"Oh." he touched the tip of his nose; it was warm. "But I did put on sunscreen before I went out..."

"Aish, you're so sensitive." smiled Reki sweetly. "Come, I'll help you with the retouch."

The redhead took him by the wrist and led him to the umbrella, where Cherry was reading a book
under the shade. They both sat on the towel. It was much cooler. Reki took the bottle of sunscreen in
his hands and opened it, leaving the white liquid on his fingers, and then began to apply cream to
Langa's face. It was strange. For the first time since they met, Reki didn't ask if he could touch him;
he just did it. Although, well, Langa didn't care either. It was Reki who was doing it; he felt
completely safe and trusted him 100%. This was the point that their relationship had reached; he knew
the japanese boy would never do anything he didn't want to him, and Langa would do the same for
him. He spent a couple of minutes putting sunscreen on his arms, legs, and any skin that was exposed
to the sun.

After finishing with the blue-haired one, Reki asked, "Would you mind helping me with my back? I
didn't reach to put myself there."
Langa looked at him for a second before accepting. How could he say no to that sweet look? It was
impossible.

Reki instantly took off his yellow shirt, leaving him only with his black and flowered bathing shorts.
Langa tried not to look more than he should and to be subtle, it was the first time he saw him shirtless.
The redhead was much thinner than he thought, but his abdomen was slightly marked. He had a
couple of stretch marks around his waist and a small scar where his appendix should be. And god, his
tanned skin was decorated by tiny freckles he had on his shoulders.

Langa swallowed a few times before touching the shorter one's back and starting to put sunscreen on
it.

Reki's skin crawled with goosebumps from that sensation. "It's cold." he complained.

"It's no big deal, it'll pass." replied the light blue-haired one as he rubbed the cream onto his
shoulders. "I don't want to imagine what you'd be like if you ever visited me in Canada during the
winter." he teased. "I'm sure you'd be wearing a hundred sweaters."

"Hey, it's not my fault that you're used to the cold. I've lived in heat and humid weather all my life!"
clarified Reki, and they both laughed.

Staying quiet for a while, Langa felt as if he was in an exam. He had to make sure he was doing it
right. He didn't want Reki to end up burned because of him and suffer the consequences. Instead, the
redhead was in the opposite mode: he had his eyes closed, relaxing with whatever Langa was doing.
He seemed to be doing a good job.

"Done," said the canadian, closing the bottle and setting it aside.

Reki opened his eyes, then turned around and made eye contact with his friend. "Thanks, man."

Reki's voice sounded a bit raspier, as if he'd fallen asleep during the minutes he'd helped him and was
just waking up. Langa wasn't going to deny it; that sounded very hot, and he felt like his heart would
explode at any moment because of it. How could it not explode when Reki looked like a god in his
eyes? No one could be that pretty. No matter how many months had passed since he realized his
feelings, Langa still couldn't believe how low he had fallen for this boy.

Quickly glancing back at the redhead from head to toe, he noticed that he was wearing wristbands.
Something that was normal and part of Reki's usual look. However, now it seemed strange since he
didn't think he would ever wear them on the beach.

"Aren't you going to take them off?" asked Langa, pointing to the wristbands. "If you get burned,
you'll get a mark from that.

Reki reacted quickly and grabbed his wrists. "No- I, uh- I feel very comfortable with them, don't
worry." he said quickly.

Langa could notice the nervousness in his voice. Something was wrong with Reki, it wasn't the first
time he avoided being looked at that part of his body. Whether it was with wristbands, bracelets,
band-aids, or the sleeves of his clothes, he always hid them. The blue-haired boy wanted to ask what
was wrong and help him, but the way Reki was looking at him said it wasn't the time. They were
having a good time, and he didn't want to ruin anything.

The taller one sighed, wanting to believe that the opportunity would come. "If you say so..."

Reki's body relaxed when he saw that he wouldn't ask anything more. "Let’s go swimming with Miya
and Shadow; the weather’s too hot." said the redhead, trying to sound happy as always.

They both got up to go to their friends, but Cherry's voice interrupted them, catching their attention.

"Reki, I need to talk to you." said the pink-haired adult, closing his book. Both boys looked at him
curiously. "Alone." he pointed out.

"Go with the others, I'll catch up." was all the redhead said.

Langa didn't want to ask any more questions and just listened to him, he left the umbrella, leaving
Kaoru and Reki alone in it. He walked to the shore where his friends were, listening to the birds in the
background, sinking his toes in the sand and the waves of the sea wetting his ankles. He wanted to
wait for Reki before he went swimming.

Shadow swam over to where the Canadian was standing. "You do know how to swim, don't you?"

"Yes..." replied Langa, confused by the silly question the other one asked.

"Are you stupid or were you raised by a teletubbie?" said Miya, throwing a ball at Shadow's head.
"He lives in Canada, not in the middle of the desert. They have summer and swimming pools there,
too."

"But-"

Langa laughed a little at the reaction of both of them, trying to be subtle so that Shadow wouldn't
involve him in the discussion. It was about a minute when Reki arrived where they were; he seemed
to be in a better mood than before.

"Did I miss something?"

"Not much, same as always, just Miya bothering Shadow over for anything."

The redhead smiled, thinking about how things never changed between them. "Always." he said, then
looking at the light blue-haired one. "Shall we swim?" he asked, pointing at the sea with his head.

Langa just nodded.

The day at the beach was fun. They spent the vast majority of the afternoon swimming, enjoying
themselves as a group, and playing pranks on each other. Like when Miya wanted to ruin a flirt Kojiro
was having by putting ice inside his swimsuit and pretending to be his son with Kaoru. It had been a
good afternoon, and why deny it, it was one of the most fun he had had in his 18 years of life.

It was getting dark, the group had just finished eating barbecue and wanted to rest a little more before
returning to the hotel. Then there were Langa and Reki, who decided to take a walk for a while. They
wandered along the seashore, chatting while the orange hues of the sky kept them company.

"Oh man, and the look on Joe's face when those girls left him after believing he had a son– it was
hilarious, don't you think?" the redhead asked, laughing, walking with his hands in his pockets.

"It was fun." replied Langa, brief but honest, as he kicked the sand as he walked. "Off topic, but
you're tanner than usual." he teased.

"Oh?" questioned Reki. "Well, I'm not the only one. You're walking around all burnt and pink too.
You look like a shrimp, " he said, but he got embarrassed as he processed how weird that sounded. "A
pretty shrimp to be exact. I mean– You look good with a tan, okay? Ignore everything I said before."

The canadian let out a laugh. Reki's occurrences never failed to make him laugh. "It’s okay, I get what
you mean. Golden looks good on you, by the way."

"Really?"

Suddenly, a gust of wind hit their faces, interrupting them, making Langa instinctively cover his eyes
with his hands. Once it passed and he was able to recover his sight, the first thing the light blue-haired
boy saw was the sun hiding in the water. It was beautiful.

At times like this, he couldn't help but compare his life in Okinawa to his life in Canada. He tried not
to, but everything was so different. It wasn't that he didn't miss Zoey and Aoi. He cared for them very
much; it was just that here he felt so at ease with the moment he was living. Maybe he just had bad
memories of his hometown...

A year ago, he was completely depressed, lying in bed and finding it hard to do even the simplest
tasks. Those feelings were still not completely gone, but at least he was doing much better than
before. Those last six months of getting to know Reki had been medicine for Langa.

He still couldn't believe that he was living more than he had planned.

"My moon, you dissociated again. Are you all right?" asked Reki, touching the taller one's arm in a
soft voice. "You were mute for a few minutes and acting in autopilot mode."

Langa snapped back to reality, looking at the redhead's tanned face. "Sorry, I was just thinking about
home."

"Canada?"

The light blue-haired one nodded. "It's just that I haven't had this much fun in a long time and it still
feels so unreal."

Reki stood in front of Langa, looking him in the eye. "Why?" he asked genuinely.
"Well... this is awkward."

"Easy, don't rush, you can trust me." the redhead put his hands on the taller man's biceps.

"It's just that... you know that my mental health is not very good..." Langa started to explain,
embarrassed. Reki was listening to him carefully. "In Canada, I had everything: friends, home, a good
mother, but my mind was so shitty and made me believe otherwise." he had so many things to say, but
didn't know how to tell them. He just let them come out alone, no matter how uncomfortable they
were. "What I want to say is... Thank you for coming into my life, Reki. You've seriously helped me
and made me so happy."

He didn't know if it was the effect of the sunset, tiredness, or just being with Reki, but it felt too good
to get it all off his chest.

On the other hand, the redhead's eyes were glassy. He seemed moved by what he said.

"Thank you for still being here and being born, Langa." his voice broke, but in a way, he sounded
happy. "I'm happy to have met you and that you came into my life."

They both stared at each other in silence. He was once told that "eyes were the window to the soul,"
and he never understood it until now. The sweet way Reki was looking at him was telling him more
than a thousand words.

Should he seize this moment to confess his love?

He had no idea. He didn't even have time to think about it. When he least realized it, Reki grabbed
him by the wrist and began to take him to the sea. The water was getting deeper and deeper and
already reached his belly button.

"What are you doing!" asked Langa, confused.

"Let's live life to the fullest!"

The red-haired boy didn't let him answer, he instantly pushed him into the water (as a joke). The sea
was already colder than in the afternoon. Langa came to the surface, completely soaked, while
rubbing his eyes to get rid of the salt. He looked at Reki, who was laughing loudly and splashed water
on him.

"This is the rematch!" shouted Langa, then approached Reki and threw him into the water.

And so they both remained, playing in the sea like a couple of little children. Enjoying each other's
company, ignoring the world around them. Amidst the sound of laughter and waves crashing on the
shore, Reki and Langa's hearts were in sync. But above all, the light blue-haired one had never felt so
happy and alive.
Back at the hotel, the sun had already set, and the lights were beginning to turn on.

The group was getting ready for the next plan of the day: the onsen (hot springs).

Some were still showering, others were changing clothes, but Langa was ready. While waiting for the
others, he decided to go to the vending machine in the hallway and have a drink. Sitting on a bench,
Langa quietly drank a soda while answering texts from his friends.

"Are you having a good time?" said a voice beside him. Looking up, he could tell it was Cherry.

Langa nodded, leaving the phone in his pocket. "Okinawa is beautiful."

"What about Reki? Do you have fun with him?"

The canadian choked on his drink at the question.

"I'll take that as a yes." Kaoru just smiled teasingly. "It's amazing how obvious you can be with him."
he said, sipping his tea.

Langa couldn't help but cringe a little. "Are you serious?"

"At this point, even Miya knows. It's just you two who are still oblivious." replied the pink-haired
one. "I don't want to imagine how you two will get in the hot springs."

The light blue-haired one frowned. "Why should I feel embarrassed?"

Cherry looked at him, confused, not knowing if Langa was joking or not. "...You do remember that
we don’t have to wear any clothes at the onsen, right?"

Langa hated how many seconds it took him to understand what he was referring to, his drink falling to
the floor in shock. He had forgotten the small, or rather large, detail of how was the tradition of
japanese people at hot springs.

His face couldn't help but turn completely red from the embarrassment he felt. He was screwed.

It was around 8:00pm when Reki and Langa arrived at the entrance of the onsen.

It was still hot, but at least it was cooler compared to the afternoon. This was their last plan of the day,
so the group had no better idea than to skate race to the hot springs building. They split up on the way.
It took a while to get there because of the amount of hills, but they made it. The blue and red duo
stopped to catch their breath; it had been hard to get this far.

"God, I'm exhausted." said Reki, as he vented with the collar of his yukata, beads of sweat trickling
down his hair sideburns. "At least we got here before the others; we're a great team~."
The red-haired one raised his hand, wanting to give Langa a high-five, which he accepted. Compared
to their first days in Okinawa, where the greeting was chaotic, they now did it smoothly and without
any problem.

"I can't wait to get in the water and relax. What about you?" asked the japanese, looking at his friend,
as they walked together into the building.

"I think the same thing." replied Langa, trying not to sound more nervous than he was.

Since Cherry reminded him of how things were here, his mind couldn't help but overthink everything
to the point of making him too nervous. Being 'exposed' in front of others was not part of his vacation
plan, especially in front of Reki, the boy he likes.

Once they reached the lockers, they began to put their things into it

"Calm down, Langa, the only thing you have to do is undress, take a shower, and go quickly to the
water... just that." thought the light blue-haired one.

It was so ironic. Even if this plan was something to be able to relax and lose sense of time, he was
feeling completely tense. This happened to him for not doing his research before getting into this
situation.

He was so deep in thought that only the sound of the locker slamming brought him back to reality.
Flinching a little, he saw beside him; where Reki was standing just wearing a towel. At what point did
he take off his clothes? Had he been thinking for so long?

"Bro, you haven't even changed." teased Reki. "Do you want me to wait for you or-"

Langa felt panic fill his being. "Don't worry, go ahead and enjoy the water." he tried to excuse
himself. "I'll be there in a minute."

Reki just arched his eyebrows a little but decided not to question anything. "If you say so. I'll be
waiting for you over there." he said, then retreated and left his friend alone.

The canadian sighed; he was finally alone. He should take the opportunity to undress and shower
while he had privacy. He quickly took off his yukata and the rest of his clothes and put them in the
locker. His slender body was exposed just as he came into the world. Langa went to the showers and
rinsed all the sweat from his body, the cold water giving chills after contact with his skin. Once clean,
he wrapped a towel around his waist and looked with his eyes for the door to the hot springs. After
locating it, Langa sighed and counted to 3 before entering.

The rustic japanese and nocturnal atmosphere was the first thing that greeted him, which was
illuminated by some traditional lamps. The steam from the water was rising a little, making the
atmosphere feel warmer than it was. Reki was already inside the pool, turning his back to him as he
relaxed. Langa swallowed saliva as he walked in his direction.
Reki turned around when he heard the footsteps, his body still in the water. "Oh, you're here already;
you were taking too long." he said happily, his red hair messier than usual, it was so weird to see him
without his bandana. "Come into the water, it's delicious ~" he crooned.

And, of course, Reki acted like nothing was wrong. He was used to these things, and Langa was the
only one who was nervous. God, he had been excited about making this plan all week, but now his
mind was betraying him with it.

"Reki, do you mind closing your eyes until I get in the water?" asked Langa, a little embarrassed.

"Sure, just let me know when I can open them again." he replied, doing as he said.

Reki was someone to be trusted, so he knew he wouldn't be peeking. Langa put the towel aside and
slowly stepped into the water. It was warm but relaxing. Luckily for him, it was sea green colored,
which made it so that nothing could be seen underneath it. The canadian decided to sit on the other
side of the pool, facing Reki.

"I'm done." said Langa to his friend.

Reki opened his eyes.

They were quiet for a while. The sound of water and nature was the only thing that could be heard.
Langa tried his best to relax but couldn’t. It didn't matter that they couldn't see each other; just
thinking about the condition they were both in didn't help him at all. That was enough to make him
tense.

Damn it, mom and dad, why didn't you get me used to this culture. Langa thought.

"Langa, your face is red." said Reki, breaking the silence. "Is the water too hot?"

The light blue-haired saw himself in the reflection of the water. He hadn't realized it, embarrassing
himself further. "I'm fine, it's just- how do I explain it? I'm not used to this and... you know... I didn't
grow up with this culture, and I'm having a little bit of trouble adjusting to it." he clarified.

And oh, only at that moment did Reki realize the reality of the matter and why Langa had been acting
like that all this time. Embarrassed, he stuck his head under the water, pulled it out immediately, and
then turned his gaze elsewhere. All the confidence he had was gone.

"Oh, man, I'm sorry– I should have thought of this; sometimes I seriously forget that you didn't grow
up here." said Reki, with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." replied Langa, somewhat embarrassed. "Just give me a few minutes
until I get used to it and I'll be back to normal."
Ah shit, just what they were missing, another awkward silence between them.
Even the atmosphere already felt a bit heavy.

Langa just played with his fingers under the water, looking at his reflection without knowing what to
do. Both he and the redhead felt uncomfortable. When would the others arrive? He needed them to
help him break the tension.

"Langa." Reki called him.

The canadian looked up. "Yes?"

"You have a flower on your head."

"Uh?" He put his hands in his long, light blue hair, trying to look for the plant but failing in the
attempt.

Reki smiled a little, unconsciously. For some reason, it gave him tenderness to see him like that. "I'd
better help you." He was going to go toward his friend but stopped as he remembered the situation.
"Can I get close to you, Langa?" he asked shyly.

The canadian thought about it for a few seconds but ended up accepting. It was Reki, his best friend,
nothing more than that.

The redhead swam over to where he was, standing face to face, their gazes meeting. He's close, too
close. Carefully, Reki's hands went over Langa's straight hair, pulling a pretty little white flower from
it.

"Done." whispered the redhead, setting the flower down somewhere outside the pool.

"Thank you."

They were quiet again, keeping eye contact, but this time, it wasn't awkward; it was a different kind.
Although they didn't know exactly how to describe it, it was only clear to them that this was
comfortable and innocent. It was something they only experience and live being together.

Reki looked at him innocently, brushing a few rebel hairs off his forehead and tucking them behind
Langa's ear. The canadian didn't flinch at all; he just let it go.

"I think I should get back to my place," Reki said, starting to move.

Langa gripped his arm tightly, stopping the other one. "Stay, please." he begged.

The japanese looked at him in surprise but ended up nodding his head seconds later. Facing each other
again and silent but saying a thousand words just by looking at each other, Langa's hand slowly slid
down on Reki's arm until it reached his hand. The way the canadian looked at his fingers was enough
to understand what he wanted to do. Reki didn't know what was up with him, but he slowly
intertwined his fingers with Langa's, surprising him.
Langa looked at Reki for a few seconds, which felt like hours, his face turning as red as his hair. He
was sure that if it weren't for the fact that they were naked and so close to each other, he would have
already sunk his head underwater from embarrassment. The only thing that could give away any
emotion was his eyes, but even so, Langa couldn't identify them even if he tried.

It was weird. On one hand, he wanted the earth to swallow him up, on the other, he wanted time to
stop at this moment and cherish Reki forever.

Unconsciously, and without breaking contact, they both moved to the center of the pool but somehow
ended up getting closer. The tips of their noses almost touching.

Now that he was in front of Reki, he had never noticed the height difference and how small he was…
Or was Langa too tall?

"Langa." muttered the redhead without breaking eye contact. His amber eyes met the blue ones.

"Reki." he replied, feeling his heart almost leaping out of his chest.

"I’m–"

But unluckily, all that beautiful moment they were living was interrupted by a loud noise, bringing
them back to reality.

"WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!" shouted Hiromi, entering dramatically (as usual) and laughing like crazy
after entering the onsen. Behind him was the rest of the group.

Instantly, they both turned away from each other, watching their friends enter the place.

From that point on, the evening was relaxing; nothing out of the ordinary happened. They both
pretended nothing happened. Whatever Reki wanted to tell him was already history; they preferred to
avoid talking about it. Still, without admitting it out loud, they both hoped someday that moment
could be repeated without any problem or interruption.

Langa woke up startled in the middle of the night; his skin was sweating cold and he was trying to
catch his breath. Looking around as he tried to familiarize himself with the place: the sound of the
palm trees outside swaying in the wind and the dark atmosphere of the tatami room reminded him that
he was on vacation with his friends from S. A mixture of relief and despair filled his being as he came
back to reality.

The canadian had dreamed of the day before his father's accident, the last time they had seen each
other and interacted. That had been a good day, they had even talked about repeating the plan. But
who would have thought that his dad would no longer be alive the next afternoon? It had been a little
over a year since then.
Crying silently and staring blankly into the darkness, he could recognize Miya curled in his futon,
sleeping on his left. On Langa's right side was Reki's futon, who was sleeping soundly with such
peace and tranquility, his chest rising and falling as he breathed.

Not wanting to disturb them with his crying, the canadian got up from the bed and left the room
silently, heading to the small terrace next to the living room. Sitting on the edge of it, Langa's blue
eyes turned his gaze to the starry sky, thinking about how most of these have been dead for millions of
years but continue to shine.

Oh, Langa, being weak again?

How pathetic you are.

Not this bullshit again... his mind was filling him with intrusive thoughts. Not now, please, he already
felt horrible and didn't want to get worse. Unconsciously, Langa began to scratch his arms, he felt
himself starting to get short of breath.

HE HAD SO MUCH LIFE TO LIVE.

I SHOULD BE DEAD, NOT HIM.
IT'S MY FAULT, IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
YOU ARE A WASTE OF AIR.
END YOURSELF ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Please leave me alone... The blue-haired one hid his face between his knees, hugging himself while
tears rolled down his cheeks. Slowly running out of air.

He was so deep in his misery that he didn't even hear footsteps approaching. It was the redhead who
had woken up to go to the bathroom, but when he noticed that Langa had not return to bed, he became
worried.

Reki yawned as he entered the terrace. "Langa, are you here?" he asked but stopped when he saw the
state his friend was in, kneeling beside him. "Oh my god, are you okay–".

"Don't touch me!" exclaimed Langa in panic.

The redhead didn't want to upset him any further and listened to him. He had seen Langa cry before,
at least virtually, but this was the first time he had to deal with one of his anxiety attacks in person.

He stood by his side, not touching him. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. You're safe..." whispered Reki,
trying to reassure him.

Langa hesitated for a few seconds before heeding him. He pulled his face from his knees, his teary
blue eyes meeting Reki's. He wanted so badly to crawl into his arms and cry, but his body wouldn't
allow it.

"I need you to breathe with me, okay?". said the redhead. "I promise you'll feel better."

The canadian nodded slowly. They spent a few minutes doing breathing exercises, which seemed like
hours. At certain times, Reki would ask him questions like 'Tell me three things you can hear', trying
to distract him and bring him back to his present. It was hard for him to answer, but he ended up doing
it.

After a while, the canadian could feel how his body could finally relax. He knew that his anxiety was
still there, hidden somewhere in his mind and waiting for the right moment to strike again, but at least
he would leave him alone for now.

They stood in silence, waiting for everything to go back to normal.

"My body hurts..." said Langa, his voice is raspy.

"It's all over now." Reki comforted him. "...May I ask what happened? Just answer if you want to. I
don't want to force you into anything."

The canadian felt his throat tighten. "I... dreamed about my father. "

Reki was surprised, falling silent for a few seconds. "I'm sorry you had to go through that again, my
moon." he replied, his voice sounding so gentle and soft.

The redhead was acting more affectionate and concerned than usual, but Langa wasn't complaining.
Even if he wouldn't admit it out loud, that was just what he needed at that moment.

"Can I help you with anything?" murmured Reki, his eyes looking sweetly at his friend.

"Just stay by my side, please."

"Always."

Amid the silence that was finally peaceful, with only the wind keeping them company, Reki noticed
how Langa's eyes were closed at times; he seemed to be trying to stay awake.

"Tired?"

"I'm afraid to dream about the same thing again."

Reki thought for a few seconds, hesitating whether to say what was on his mind or not. "How about...
How about we sleep together?" he asked, hesitating if it sounded weird.

Langa looked at him, confused, his nose still a bit pink from crying. "Sleep together?"

"My mom used to let us sleep with her when we had nightmares." he replied honestly, trying to
explain as best he could. "I know you're not 12 and can deal with this on your own, but I thought I
could help with something."

Maybe it was his feelings taking control of the moment or his inner self wanted to do it; he wasn't
clear, but it was a matter of a minute until he answered:

"Okay, I trust you, Reki."

They both got up from the floor and walked to the bedroom, trying to make as little noise as possible.
Everyone seemed to still be asleep. The futon was big enough for both of them, so it was no problem
to get comfortable. Once they were under the softness of the sheets, their gazes met again. The faint
moonlight illuminated Langa's face, which was still a little pink from crying.

Was it weird to think someone looked pretty after crying?

Reki thought, while appreciating those beautiful ocean eyes.

On the other hand, Langa felt a deja vu of that dream with the unknown boy. They were in the same
circumstances, only that he was the one who needed to be comforted this time. Even so, he preferred
this moment a million times more. Knowing that he was living this with Reki and not someone else
gave him peace. He loved him, he loved him so much.

All of a sudden, Reki placed Langa's head on his chest, just above where his heart would be. It took
the taller one by surprise, but did not refuse at all.

"Reki..." muttered Langa, turning his gaze to the redhead.

"It will help you sleep. Believe me, it works." replied the redhead drowsily. "Good night, my moon."

"Good night."

Langa had never slept cuddled up to someone before; it felt so good, and he couldn't believe what he
had missed all this time. It felt so good. It made him feel so loved. He would never get tired of Reki's
warmth, the scent of his coconut shampoo, and how comfortable he was. He was such a great guy, and
he wasn't just talking physically, he also talked about his heart.

He finally closed his eyes, letting Reki's heartbeat lull him into the world of dreams...

"How do you think they will act when they realize how they are?" asked Miya, who was standing at
the door of the room next to Kojiro and Kaoru.

It was already morning when the black-haired minor woke up and saw his friends in that position. He
could not help but call the others.

Cherry lifted his shoulders. "They're so obvious, but they're the only ones who don't realize their
situation."

"For real, sometimes I wanna punch them in the face and make them think clearly," replied the
youngest.

Joe laughed. "They'll get their reality check one of these days. For now, just let them sleep."

The trio left the room, leaving them alone for a while longer. Reki and Langa were left sleeping in
each other's arms, spooning. The redhead's arms around the other's body. No nightmare harmed their
 peace; it was all beautiful dreams.

Chapter End Notes

Hey hey hey!

Here's chapter 11 of the fanfic~~ From now on the chapters will be much longer. I hope you like
it.

This was the equivalent of the beach episode in this universe. I don't think I need to say it, but I
wanted to show how Reki and Langa's relationship is changing in one way or another, leading
them to moments of attraction and tension, and how they share this stage of discovery.
On the other hand, Reki has a secret that will be revealed along the way.

What other adventures will Reki and Langa go through? Will they be able to figure out their
feelings for each other? What happens to our sunshine (Reki)? I love to read your comments~

I also made a Spotify playlist for the fanfic, you can check it out here

Anyway, don't forget that I'm proud of you <3

See ya next chapter!
 Chapter 12
Chapter Notes

Hey everyone, here's an extra-long chapter like I promised! Thanks to everyone who voted on
the poll.
Also, I finally got grammarly premium, so my writing will be a lot better from now on, I'll be
correcting some past chapters. <3
Anyways, enjoy your reading~~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝To me, the one who is getting closer gradually

What shall we do?
Where shall we go?
How does it feel to be happy?
Let's go find out together~❞

» Damn - Fujii Kaze

"Man, that was awesome!"

Reki exclaimed, giving Langa a high five as he approached where he stood. It was another Friday
night at Crazy Rock, and the canadian had just won a race against Shadow. It was amazing how Langa
had improved his skating in a short time; he was now almost at the same level as the professional
skaters. Everyone was surprised by that, and well Reki was no exception. Of all the people here, he
was the one who had noticed it the most since he was the one who taught him everything he knew,
and to see him doing it without any problem still seemed so... unreal.

"I don't understand how you get better so fast, but you're amazing." added Miya, as he had his hands
in his jacket pockets.

"I'm very normal." Langa lifted his shoulders, brief but honest. He didn't look great like everyone
said; he did this for fun.

"Are you kidding?" said Joe, frowning. "You've been here a little over a month and improved
tremendously. You've even become popular with the S members!" he clarified, looking at the sky-
blue-haired man. "You even have a nickname; they call you SNOW!"

"It's no big deal..."

Reki listened to them talking while his gaze focused on Langa's skateboard, which he had lent him the
first day they met and was already starting to wear out. That strange feeling made itself present in his
stomach.
He wasn't going to deny it. He felt a little envious of the canadian, something he wasn't proud of. He
knew he should feel happy for his friend; however, his mind betrayed him and told him to feel the
opposite. And even if it cost him, the redhead did his best not to let it eat his mind.

"The wheels are wearing out." the red-headed man thought aloud as he touched the taller one's
skateboard.

Langa turned his gaze to these. "Really?" he asked.

Reki nodded. "If you want I can take it to my workshop and change them." he suggested. "Is there
some kind of wheel you'd like to use?"

"Let me think..." replied Langa, putting his skateboard on the ground and rolling it to see how worn it
was, but suddenly, it slipped somewhere else. He could tell it had gone beyond the bushes. "I'll go get
it, be right back." He commented.

With nothing more to say, the Canadian went to look for his board. Walking through the bushes and
woods of Crazy Rock, he spent some time trying to find the lost object until, without realizing it, he
ended up in a remote part surrounded by trees. Coincidentally and strangely, his skateboard was in the
middle of it. After approaching the board and taking it in his hands, Langa could feel someone's gaze
on him.

As he turned around and wanted to return to his friends, his pale skin crawled with goosebumps as he
noticed who it was...

The first thing that met his gaze was that red Spanish-style suit. The mask, messy blue hair, his slim
and tall figure, that exotic way of walking, and his strong presence made Langa nervous. But above
all, how he acted was the worst... it was as if he was crushing him with his eyes alone.

Adam was in front of him, and to his bad luck, this time he didn't have any of his friends to defend
him. It was the first time the two of them were alone, with no one else to interrupt them.

Langa tried his best not to let his guard down. Even if he couldn't see the older man's face, his smile
was more than enough to show his true intentions. Should he say something to him? Wave? Distract
him and run away? The canadian had no idea.

"Oh Snow, at last we can be at ease." crooned the eldest, his voice between husky and playful. "It's
about time we could get to know each other well. You've been coming to S for a while now, and I've
only just been able to appreciate you up close. You're much more attractive in person. AH~"

Langa felt cringe at the groan he made at the last and the strange way he spoke. God, he was
disgusting. Everything they said about him was no exaggeration.

"What do you want, Adam? Get straight to the point." the light blue-haired one asked, trying to sound
as serious as possible.

From one second to the next, he could see Adam's expression become serious. "Don't get defensive
over nothing, I just want to skate with you, my Eve. You're so talented and I need to take a bite out of
that." he replied as he slowly approached the opposite. "It's a shame you only hang out with your
redheaded friend, he's a complete noob and I've beaten him many times. That useless little shit always
ends up getting hurt!"

He could feel a great fury forming in his chest. How dare he talk about Reki like that, he was an
excellent person and a good skater. "First of all, I'm a man; my name is NOT Eve, and worse, I'm not
your property." he stressed, his hands balled into fists. "Second, don't you dare call Reki that name
again, you fucker."

The older one just laughed for a few seconds before responding. "Forgive me, Langa. I didn't mean to
offend you."

The canadian felt his heart stop briefly as he processed his words while his blue eyes widened. Adam
had called him by his real name; the only ones who knew it were his S gang, and they only used it
outside of Crazy Rock, he had never exposed it here.

"How did you-" escaped the canadian's lips.

"I know everything, my dear Langa." Adam whispered in his ear. "I'm everywhere in S. I can hear
everything."

Langa unconsciously swallowed saliva as he felt a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face.
Nervously, his blue eyes met those of the taller one, which expressed satisfaction and dominance.

"I only have one thing to tell you." Adam said as he cupped his chin. "I'm doing all of this just for
you."

The canadian felt so much disgust at what they were doing to him, but his body didn't react. It was as
if someone invisible was grabbing him by his limbs and doing its best to keep him from moving.
"What do you mean?" he asked, frowning.

"You'll soon see." was all he said.

As soon as he could feel control of his body again, Langa pushed away Adam, and without turning his
back on him at any point, he moved as far away as he could. His first instinct was to cover his
abdomen with the skateboard. He could feel his heart beating a mile a minute from the panic he felt
throughout his entire being.

Instead, Adam was serene, with that damn smile forming on his lips as he looked at him like it was
his last meal. He was seriously insane, much more so than he had imagined.

"We'll see you soon, mon amour . Be safe~" he said, flirtatiously, then withdrew and left the canadian
alone.

As soon as he felt the older one’s presence disappear, the canadian's body could finally relax, an
exhausted sigh escaping his lips. At last he was alone, safe, and sound.
What had all that been?
It was going to be okay, wasn't it?

His mind wondered that and a thousand other things.

Not wanting to be targeted again by Adam or anyone else, Langa returned to his friends. Back in the
central area of Crazy Rock, things had changed a bit. For some reason, most people gathered near a
stage, concentrating all their hustle and bustle in that area. Looking for his friends with his eyes, he
could find them gathered in the distance and then went to join them.

"Dude, where were you?" asked Reki, concerned, as Langa approached him. "You were taking so
long. I was about to come out and get you."

"We already thought you got lost in the woods." added Shadow.

The sky-haired one sighed, relieved to have found them. "Long story, but basically Adam-"

From one moment to the next, all of S's lights went out, leaving them in complete darkness for a few
seconds until several sparks and LED lights lit up the place, the smoke machine setting the mood all
around them.

" Hey bitches , bros, and non-binary hoes!!!". shouted a figure as he epically emerged from
underneath the stage, only to reveal that it was Adam.

That simple greeting made almost everyone in the place scream excitedly, as if they were seeing a
Hollywood celebrity or the god himself. Instead, the atmosphere in their group became tense, with a
different flashback coming to each of them. Each acted differently; for example, Cherry clenched his
fists while Joe patted his shoulders to calm him down. Reki seemed to be trying to remain composed
and pretend not to care, however, his eyes were blank and reflected nervousness.

It was impressive how no matter how many mean things Adam did to anyone, the rest of S didn't
seem to care at all and still loved him. He felt so helpless about it.

"Are you ready for tonight's announcement!? We will experience passion at maximum levels you
could never imagine~."

Couldn't Adam talk like an average person? Why did he have to sound like he was always moaning?
It was so disgusting.

"I've noticed lately, and I think everyone has noticed too, that we have new faces in S." The blue-
haired man commented as he walked across the stage. "Especially foreign faces." he strongly
emphasized the last.

Langa could not help but feel targeted. He was not the only foreigner in Crazy Rock. There were
many more nationalities. However, he could perfectly feel the stares of others on him. God, he hated
being the center of attention so much; he wasn't born to be one and just wanted to live quietly. At
times like this, he just wanted the earth to swallow him up and spit him out of there.

"Anyway, I'll cut the chit-chat and get straight to the point. I'm organizing a party in S for all the
newbies, and of course, you're all invited!" exclaimed Adam excitedly as he laughed. "There will be
music, alcohol, and other substances if you know what I mean- you're free to do whatever you want!"
he commented, as some excited murmurs could be heard from the audience. "Mark your calendars.
This August 8th will be the party of the year and it will be legendary! NOW GET BACK TO
SKATING MY DEAR SLAVES!". said the last, laughing like a maniac.

Now Langa understood perfectly well what Adam meant when he said this was for him. None of this
was a coincidence.

Amidst the shouts of the excitement of S members celebrating and others returning to their skating
route, the sky-blue-haired one didn't know what to think. His first reaction was to turn his eyes to
Reki, who was strangely quiet as he counted something on his fingers, seeming to be concentrating.

Langa approached his friend, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Sunshine, are you all right?" he
asked, catching his opponent's attention.

Reki looked up at the taller one. "That day..."

"What happens that day-"

It was a matter of seconds before Langa realized what he meant. It would be August 8th in two weeks.
That day was Reki's birthday.

"Oh."

The redhead nodded.

They were screwed.

Soon after that announcement, they stopped skating and decided it was time to go home.

It was almost midnight, and the sky and the stars were clear. Usually, Langa accompanied Reki to his
house and left him there so that he could go on his own after. But today, they wanted to do something
different, so the redhead proposed to do the opposite, and well, as you will see, he ended up
accepting.

And there they were, entering the building complex where the canadian was staying. Going up the
stairs to the 6th floor, since the elevator was under maintenance, Reki talked about what had happened
during the day since the elevator was under maintenance. Langa simply listened to him attentively,
enjoying his company. Usually, he would be lazy to use the stairs, but now he didn't mind at all since
he could spend a few more minutes with the redhead.

"You know, I feel like I'm in an american sitcom talking to you on the stairs." commented Reki as he
walked upstairs. "It's like we're the main characters in a series."

"You want your life to be a series?" said Langa, frowning, as he leaned on the handrail.

Reki nodded as he smiled. "Yep, I feel like it would be more fun than it is."

"Thank you for telling me I'm boring," replied the canadian sarcastically while pretending to be
offended.

"Hey– that's not what I meant! You know perfectly well that I think you're cool."

Langa laughed as he saw the panic on his friend's face. "I'm kidding, dummy."

"Ugh, don't scare me like that. You made me think I said something bad to you." the red-haired boy
playfully slapped the taller one on the shoulder.

They spent a couple more minutes going up the stairs until they reached the 6th floor and arrived at
the entrance of Langa's aunt and uncle's apartment. It was time to say goodbye. However, neither
wanted to do so, so they simply rested their arms on the balcony's edge. Resting, they both gazed at
the starry sky in front of them. Neither spoke, but still, they enjoyed each other's company amidst the
silence. For a while, Langa couldn't help but glance at Reki. His messy red hair waved in the blizzard.
At that moment, he remembered the party announcement in S. Could it be that Reki was worried
about it? Should he ask him how he felt about it? It was his special day, and Langa feared it might
ruin him one way or another.

"Hey Reki," the sky-blue-haired man broke the silence, causing Reki's gaze to meet his, expressing
curiosity and innocence. "You're okay, aren't you?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" asked Reki, genuinely.

"For the party that Adam announced... That day is your birthday."

"Oh, that," he replied, then sighed and quieted for a few seconds. "How do I explain it?" his fingers
began to fiddle with each other, "I'm fine. For some reason, I'm not bothered...shall I say excited?"

The canadian looked at him in confusion, unable to believe what he was saying. "Are you excited?"

"I know it's weird because the one organizing it is Adam, and I'm really scared of that guy, but at the
same time, I'm excited about the idea. I feel like it would be cool to go together," the redhead was
trying to explain himself as best he could. "At school, I was never invited to parties. You know
perfectly well how I got treated, but that's not the point– But seriously, I want my first party to be
with you... and obviously the squad!"

Oh

OH.

"Do you really want to go with me?"

"Hey, don't put yourself down. Sometimes, you might stay in your own world, but you're fun and cool
in your way."

Being an introvert, Langa had never thought of himself as someone entertaining to spend time with.
He usually was the quiet one in the group and just went along with the plans his friends organized, so
the fact that someone told him he was fun got to him.

Suddenly, a noise in the background brought him out of his thoughts. As he snapped back to reality
and looked at the source of the sound, he could tell it was fireworks that seemed to be coming from
the pier. They were beautiful.

"Oh crap, I almost forgot." commented Reki, drastically changing the subject. "Now that I remember,
we never went to the amusement park I promised you. Sorry." He said, scratching the back of his
neck.

It took seconds until Langa's brain could remember what he was referring to. It was true, they had
talked about this before he arrived in Okinawa, but due to time issues they were never able to fulfill it.
"You shouldn't apologize for that..."

"No, man, I promised to take you there and now I have to fulfill it," the redhead replied, pointing to
himself. "We can go there tomorrow if you want to."

The canadian was not a fan of plans made at the last minute, but he would make an effort for the
person he loved. "I'd like to, but I don't think I can tomorrow. I have a family lunch." he admitted.

"Oh, no worries. What about Sunday?"

The sky-blue-haired one thought for a second before answering. "I think I can, but I must–"

Langa was unable to finish his sentence. Suddenly, he was interrupted by the opening of the front
door, which made them startle a little. In the doorway stood his mother, her big brown eyes looking
curiously at them both.

"Oh, it's just you guys." greeted the adult, as she leaned against the door frame. "Hello, Reki."

The redhead stood in front of the brunette, looking at her. "[Link], good evening-" he
stuttered a little, while bowing.

The adult returned the gesture.

"How did you know we were outside?" asked the blue-eyed.

"I'm your mother, I know everything." she joked. "And I was helping your uncle prepare tomorrow's
food and heard you. I can recognize your voice anywhere." as she said that, a male hello could be
heard in the background. The adult just laughed at her brother's reaction. "On the other hand, sorry to
be nosy but I thought I heard you guys wanted to do something, didn't you?" She asked, smiling; this
time she looked undisguisedly at her son.

Earth, swallow me please...

That was Langa's only thought at the time.
Reki looked carefully at the adult, standing in front of her. "[Link], on Sunday, could Langa
go with me to the amusement park for a completely platonic hangout?" he asked, leaving both
Hasegawa speechless at how he said it. It was at that moment that Reki realized how weird he
sounded. "I-I know you prefer Langa to stay home on Sundays, but–."

"Sure he can, honey." laughed Nanako. "One Sunday doesn't hurt."

Langa's hands fiddled inside his shirt pockets. Why was Reki making this seem like a date? Why was
he making it worse for him? Things like this only confused the canadian more, making his love for
the redhead grow.

But God, how could he not love him so much?

Reki simply smiled, giving the adult a handshake. " Oh, thank you so much !" he said in english for no
reason, but it was surely out of excitement.

"You don't have to thank me."

"Oh geez, it's getting late; I should go." he said, seeing the time on his watch. "See you on Sunday,
Langa! I'll send you all the details when I get home." he walked over to Langa, grabbing his
skateboard. "And I'll take care of this, don't worry about the price. See you later!" was the last thing
he said before disappearing down the stairs.

Once his friend left, both Hasegawa entered the apartment. The light blue-haired one greeted his
uncle, then went to the refrigerator and filled his glass with water. As he did so, Nanako leaned
against the kitchen counter, looking at her son.

"So... Did Reki ask you out on a date?" the adult asked.

Langa couldn't help but choke on the water at that question. "I-it's not a date, mom..."

For now. he wanted to tell her. For the first time in his trip, Langa was determined not to hold back
everything he had and tell Reki how he felt about him. He wouldn't know when exactly; he was still
planning it, but it was clear to him that he would have to find the right time, and that would be soon.
Whether it ended well or poorly, he was going to do it.

Another hot afternoon in Naha, Okinawa was coming to an end.

Reki was inside his workshop (shed), where he had spent the whole day working non-stop. Inside, his
only company was the sound of the fan and the kpop music coming from his cell phone. At his desk,
which was messy as usual, the red-haired man was concentrating as he worked on the final details of
Langa's skateboard. It had been so long in the making, and after so many failures and attempts, it
finally looked like this was the perfect design.

A soft knock on the door distracts him from his world and captures his attention while he is looking at
his finished work while rubbing the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

"May I come in?" an adult female voice was heard from the other side, it was. It was his mother.

"Come in."

After that, the short, red, dark-haired woman entered the shed, holding a tray with food in her
unoccupied hand.

"Honey, you've been here all day. Are you all right?" asked Masae, her voice being gentle as always.
"I figured you must be hungry, so I brought you lunch. I made tonkatsu and lemonade." she said,
leaving it on the table.

"Thanks, mom." replied the redhead, stretching in his seat "And I'm fine, I'm just busy with
something."

"Oh, are you still with the board for Langa?"

"Yes..." he laughs nervously as he puts his hand on the back of his neck.

"Would you mind if I look at it?"

Reki shook his head. Masae glanced at the desk, on which the board was almost finished. A few cans
of paint could be seen, some papers with finished sketches and others crumpled around it, implying
that they were discarded designs. After that, she looked at her son; paint stains and band-aids
decorated his hands, and slight dark circles could be seen under his amber eyes.

"You should take a break, you look exhausted." suggested the adult.

"I can't. I have to finish this by tomorrow and I'm almost done."

"Ten minutes won't hurt you, at least give yourself some time to eat-"

" I JUST CAN'T, MOM!"

Silence. Both Masae and Reki were surprised by the way he responded. He had never yelled at her
like that before.

The redhead guy sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice." he apologized, this time
speaking calmly. "It's just that this gift must be perfect, Langa deserves it. I... I just want him to accept
me and not leave me..." he said crestfallen.

For a while, neither of them said a word. Reki's leg bounced slightly from nerves; he didn't want to
look up and see his mother, he was too ashamed of what he did and said. After a minute, which felt
like hours to him, he could notice how the opposite sat on the bench in front of him.
"Reki, can I ask you a question?" Her voice sounded genuinely gentle, the redhead nodded. "What do
you think of Langa?"

That question took him by surprise. Reki knew perfectly well what his mother was referring to and
didn't know what to answer him. His hands gripped the edge of the chair as he thought about Langa,
how since they had met in person their relationship had become much closer than he imagined,
sometimes even acting in ways that friends shouldn't. Everyone teased them about it.

The canadian had completely turned his world upside down. Until he came into his life, Reki was sure
he only liked girls, but he often questioned whether it was normal to be so affectionate with him or
what his lips would feel like next to Langa's.

Langa was the opposite of him; he was the peace he needed in his life and that's why they
complemented each other so well. He wanted to be with him as long as he could before he had to let
him go.

Reki gulped. "Mom... I've been thinking about it for a while and..." he stopped for a few seconds, still
crestfallen. "I think I'm bisexual, I also like boys..."

He didn't want to dwell on the matter and went straight to the point. Although he had been so afraid to
say those words, at the same time, he felt so free, as if some weight was lifted off his shoulders. On
the other hand, his mother said nothing. Was she angry? Disappointed? Should he expect a scream?
All he could do was close his eyes and expect the worst.

But no, there was no screaming or fussing. He just felt his mom gently holding his hands.

"Sweetie, look at me please." said Masae, her voice sounding sweet. "Do you have feelings for
Langa?"

Cautious, Reki looked up, feeling his throat tighten as never before. He swallowed, his vision blurring
as he nodded several times. "I'm so sorry mom-"

Masae didn't let him finish. Instantly, her arms wrapped around her son in an embrace. "Oh my angel,
don't apologize for that. You can always count on me. I’m your mother and I will always love you no
matter what."

Oh, those words were enough for Reki to burst into tears, his hands clutching his mother's shirt as he
returned the hug. After so long of existential crisis over that issue, he finally felt like he could be
himself without a problem. He just stood there, letting his mom comfort him. He didn't know what
would happen next, but everything was okay now, and that was all that mattered to him.

Sunday came quicker than expected. In the middle of the bustling subway station, Reki waited for
Langa at the meeting point they had agreed upon. All around him, local people were going about their
business and life, trying to reach their destination.
The red-haired boy was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and ripped jeans; of course, he couldn't miss
his wristbands. It was the perfect outfit for a hot day.

"What's taking him so long?" he muttered to himself.

They had arranged to meet 10 minutes ago; however, there was no sign of life from the Canadian.
Putting his cell phone to his ear after dialing Langa, he could see that light blue head in the middle of
the crowd. It was impossible not to identify him. After moving his arm so that his opponent could see
him, the two of them met. And oh, Reki was not ready for what was coming.

Langa's hair was in a bun, showing how much he had grown in the last while. The loose lilac shirt,
jeans, and converse matched his color scheme perfectly. He looked good, too handsome to be true.
Reki wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He had to keep his composure and act normal.

"Sorry I'm late; I got distracted on the way." Langa said, stepping up beside his friend.

"Don't worry. What did you get distracted with?"

"With a cat." Langa admitted, in his usual tone.

"That's so you." laughed the redhead. "Shall we go?"

Langa nodded. "You go ahead, I'll follow."

I'll always follow you if you let me...

The canadian wanted to say out loud.

"Oh, shit, the train's about to leave!" exclaimed Reki, grabbing the other one's hand.

They ran through the crowd between apologies and excuse me, trying to get to their station on time.
Luckily, they jumped into the metro just before it closed the door and started moving. Reki and Langa
laughed as they sighed from exhaustion, earning the stares of some people, but they didn't mind at all.

"Is it normal to be so excited?" asked Reki, as he took a seat in an empty spot he found. "I mean, the
last time I came here was with my little sisters and I didn't get to do much. Going with you is
something new and exciting..."

And as always, Langa was by his side, listening attentively. He was never going to get tired of how
expressive Reki was. Their day was just beginning and they had a long way to go.

"It's too crowded and too hot." said Langa, surveying his surroundings.
The amusement park was located on a pier. The hot weather was typical for everyone except Langa.
People could be heard all around him talking, laughing, and shouting coming from some of the rides.

"I know this isn't Disneyland, but you're going to have fun." joked Reki, as he showed the place off.

"I've never been to Disney, so I can't compare them."

"Well, we're in the same boat, neither have I."

The taller one looked at him in confusion. "I thought there was one in Japan."

"I mean, yes, but it's in Tokyo and that's 4 hour's flight. I don't have the money for that." explained the
redhead, smiling a little embarrassed. "But now that I think about it, it wouldn't be a bad idea for
when you come back to Okinawa, we could save up and spend a few days in Tokyo and go to the
park!" he said excitedly.

When you come back.

Langa's heart clenched at those two words. For a moment, he had forgotten that this was not his life,
and at some point, he would have to return to his reality in Canada. But what pained him most was the
thought: Would he ever be able to return?
Traveling here was a big expense and it might take years to return here. He didn't want to think about
it, he didn't want his friendship to be based on video calls. He didn't want to be alone again, he
wanted to spend in Okinawa with Reki.

And luckily, Reki's fingers snapping on his face made him stop overthinking anymore, bringing him
back to reality.

Langa blinked a few times, adjusting back to his surroundings. "Sorry, I think the heat is getting to
me." he excused himself, though it wasn't entirely untrue. The weather was horrible and he couldn't
stand it.

"Oh right, I should have guessed." said Reki. "How about we go to the roller coaster and cool off?" he
asks, the opposite nods. " Then let's go there! ".

They walked until they reached the line; luckily, it was shaded and not so crowded. They passed the
time playing heads-up on Reki's cell phone until it was their turn. It was about 15 minutes before the
cart was finally in front of them, and the park employee assigned them to sit in the front row.

"Nervous?" asked Reki as he put on the safety bar.

"A little bit."

"Me too. The last time I rode a roller coaster was when I was a kid, so don't judge me. "

"I would never..." whispered Langa.

When they least realized it, the game began to move. Although it was smooth for the moment, and
they were going up some 90* rails, they knew that the adrenaline would start at any moment.

"Do you want me to hold your hand so you won't be afraid?" said Reki, teasing Langa.

"Ha ha, how funny." he replied sarcastically.

But before they could say anything else, the trolley arrived at the drop-off and they began to speed
off. The horizon of the sea of Okinawa expands in front of their eyes. Feeling a strong gust of wind in
their faces and that weird feeling in their stomachs, Reki screamed from the fear and adrenaline he felt
in his whole being. He concentrated on enjoying himself, but the screams of excitement next to him
caught his attention more.

As he looked to his side, he could see it. Langa laughed like he had never seen him before, which
simply gladdened Reki's heart. He knew how hard his friend had struggled with depression. He
deserved to be happy and so much more.

Between the ride's curves and upside downs, they felt so many things that they didn't even realize they
were holding hands…

After the adrenaline rush that both boys had on the roller coaster, they decided to relax in the arcade
of the place and, of course, take advantage of the air conditioning. Walking among the games and
gacha machines, the sky-blue-haired boy's eyes saw something that caught his attention and made him
stop.

"Do you see something that interests you?"

"I want that." whispered Langa.

In the vending machine in front of him were various stuffed animals of all sizes and colors, but the
one that caught his eye was one of a blue and red alien that had a heart-shaped head. Langa took ¥100
out of his pocket and deposited it without thinking. He tried to win it, but after several attempts and
wasted yen, the doll fell back down with the rest.

"Ugh, what a scam." complained Langa, wearily. "I better stop or I'll run out of money."

"Where’s Miya when we need him? He would have won this already." joked Reki.

"...What if you give it a try?" he asked out of the blue.

" Me? Are you sure? I'm not very good at this stuff and-".

"Stop treating yourself like that and just do it. You’re not Miya; you’re you." the taller one said.

"Okay, okay. I'll try."

The red-haired one inserted the coins into the machine. Those seconds of tension as he grabbed the
plush and tried to pull it into the hole felt like forever. Concentrated, they looked through the glass
and prayed it wouldn't fall. Reki was so focused that he did that little twitch of sticking out his tongue
a little bit.

And the miracle happened: the stuffed animal fell down the hole, they had won it. Reki and Langa's
eyes were starry with excitement. They even shouted a little and earned some people's stares, but then
they returned to their business.

"That’s what I’m talking about!~" exclaimed Reki as he high-fived his friend. "Congratulations!"

Langa took the stuffed animal from the machine and looked at it. He looked at the stuffed animal,
then at Reki, and repeated the process for a few seconds. After that, he held it out to his friend,
earning a confused look from him.

"Here." said the light blue-haired one, looking at Reki.

The redhead arched his eyebrows. "But you wanted it; you deserve it."

"Actually... it reminds me of you, and that's why I wanted to give it to you..."

Oh.
Oh.

From one moment to the next, Reki's cheeks flushed, feeling warm all over his face. Realizing that, he
patted his cheeks, trying to relax. Damn it, this guy would wipe out his emotional stability at any
moment.

"D-do I remind you of an alien?" the Japanese hesitated, not looking the other man in the eye out of
embarrassment.

"Yes, but it's because you're not very ordinary." replied Langa, honest, but seeing the opposite
frowning, he realized how he sounded. " In a good way! You're someone very cool and out of this
world." he tried to explain himself but was bad with words. "I just want you to have it, okay?
Consider it your early birthday present."

Hesitantly, Reki took the stuffed toy in his hands and looked at it. It was soft. He tried to pretend and
look calm, but unconsciously, a silly smile formed on his lips, and his cheeks dimpled. It was the first
time someone besides his family had given him a gift, making him feel so good, complete, and happy.

"Thank you, Langa." his gaze softened as he looked at the opposite.

"Always."
They started walking toward the arcade exit while Reki put the stuffed animal in his backpack and
tried to hide what was inside it.

"So, is there anything else you'd like to do?"

Langa thought briefly. "Maybe the flying chairs. I like the feeling of floating."

Reki smiled, "Whatever you want, my moon. I think that's over there..."

Their day at the amusement park was just beginning, but for Langa and Reki, it had already become a
core memory they would never forget.

And without realizing it, their day together was ending, and the orange-tinted sky was proving it.
They knew perfectly well that they had to leave soon; they promised their mothers to be home before
8 pm, but none wanted to do it. Still, they decided to stay longer and go to the Ferris wheel. Reki and
Langa were alone inside the cabin, sitting across from each other. The view keeping them company.

"God, my feet feel like they're burning from exhaustion, but every minute was worth it." commented
Reki, leaning back in his seat. "Did you have fun?"

"You're always fun to be with." he admitted, not realizing what he had said.

They were both exhausted. They had spent the whole day running from side to side without stopping.
The orange atmosphere of the cabin and the sound of the sea in the background didn't help them much
either, it lulled them to sleep. They tried to make conversation to stay awake, but suddenly, the
reflection of the water bothered their eyes. When they saw the view, they were speechless, as if it
were the first time they had seen it. From above, they could see perfectly how the sun was setting in
the water.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of the sunset in Okinawa." Langa said with a certain nostalgia
tone as he looked out the window.

"Me neither." replied Reki, not looking at the sky but at Langa.

He loved those little quiet moments where he could see him happy and at peace. The way Langa's
eyes lit up at the sight of something he liked seemed so unique to him.

He would miss so much when it was his time to go...

After a minute, Langa turned around and noticed Reki clutching his backpack tightly. It wasn't the
first time he had seen him like that, he had been acting that way all day, protecting his bag as if it had
a pandora's box inside.

"Reki, you've spent the whole afternoon like this. What are you hiding?" asked Langa, genuinely.
The redhead panted a little. "Oh, it's just that I have something to give you, but I don't know if it's a
good time, " he laughed nervously.

The canadian looked at him in surprise. Something for him? It wasn't even his birthday or anything
like that.

"Well, we're on our own and I guess now is better than ever."

Reki sighed. "You're right, who cares. It's just you, after all!" He became energetic and extroverted as
usual.

After taking the box out of the backpack, Reki got up from his seat and sat down next to his friend,
very close to him, to the point that their knees collided. Langa couldn't help but swallow and feel
nervous about it.

"Relax, it's not like I'm going to jump on you...unless you want me to~" the redhead said the last
thing, whispering mischievously.

It was a matter of seconds before Langa's face turned completely pink, and he became hot, covering
his face in embarrassment. He hated that he had understood the double meaning so quickly. God, why
had he said that? Now he was trying his best not to think stuff he shouldn't. He shouldn't imagine
what it would be like to feel the touch and warmth of his skin against his and... get out of idiotic
impulse. Now’s not the time !

" Reki, what the fuck-" he blurted out in english in embarrassment.

Instead, the redhead just guffawed loudly. "Ok, sorry, I saw that quote on a show a long time ago and
finally saw the opportunity to say it." he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Oh man, don't tell me I
broke you."

Langa removed his hands from his face, still a little flushed. "I-I'm fine." He whispered, trying to
regain his composure.

"If you say so." he let out a chuckle. "Ok, back to serious mode. I wanna give you this."

Reki stretched out his arms, showing a poorly wrapped rectangular gift with blue paper. While he
took it carefully, Langa analyzed it with his eyes.

"Should I open it now?"

The redhead nodded, looking nervous as he observed Langa carefully opening the gift. After
removing all the paper and the object from the box, the blue-eyed one felt his heart stop for a second.
In front of him was a new black and light blue skateboard with a drawing of a yeti painted on the
back. His fingertips caressed the board, feeling its rough and fresh texture.
For a moment, an intense ringing invaded Langa's ears, distantly hearing the familiar voice of the boy
of his dreams and several quick memories filled his head. But he simply shook his head and ignored
them. He was so immersed at this moment that he cared nothing about what happened outside this
one.

Now he understood perfectly why Reki had been acting weird, why he never let him into his
workshop, the back of Dope Sketch, or simply wouldn't let him see certain pages of his notebook. All
this time, he had been working on this.

"I should have given this to you the day you arrived, but I was unsure if you would like it or not." said
Reki, breaking the silence. "I spent months making so many sketches thinking about what would be
the perfect board for you and came up with this. I even adjusted it to make you ride better." nervously,
his fingers fidgeted with each other. "Do you like it-"

"I love it." interrupted Langa, not hiding the excitement in his voice and how it broke a little. His blue
eyes looked up at him sweetly. "I love it, Reki. Thank you, I mean it."

Reki looked at that beautiful, genuine smile on Langa's lips. He wanted so much to take his hand, to
approach him and kiss him slowly, but he knew it wasn't the time and he had to control himself. So,
for now, seeing him smile was more than enough, or so he wanted to believe.

"I'm glad you like it. I'd tell you to debut your skateboard in a race to the station, but my feet hurt too
much, " said Reki, chuckling.

"Don't worry. If you want, I can carry you on my back." joked the canadian.

"Well, that wouldn't be a bad idea, my slave." he said sarcastically.

"Hey-"

And they both laughed. At times like this, it felt so lovely to be alive. Suddenly, Langa looked out the
window behind the redhead, noticing how the moon was beginning to rise in the middle of the lilac
sky.

"The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?" whispered Reki, with a slight smile on his lips, knowing that the
other would not understand the message.

"It is." replied Langa, looking at the sky.

The rest of the night was peaceful. It had been a long day full of emotions. They had already spent the
day together several times, however, deep down, they both knew that today was different and unique,
and that simply filled their hearts.

When Langa opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was an all-white version of his canadian
classroom, which was also mixed with details of a japanese class from his earlier dreams. The only
 color in the place was the blue sky showing through the windows.

As usual, there was not a single person. Only the boy of his dreams stood facing him back while
looking at the empty blackboard. At first, all the dreams with him were nice, but now they always
vary and end up being something weird. Langa walked towards the boy, but the other person noticed
his presence before he could say anything.

"Langa." he said, then turned and looked at him through that blur on his face.

"Hey... is everything okay?" he didn't know what to say.

"I don't have much time, but I just have to tell you to be careful with your thoughts. You have to
watch out for him." he could tell the panic in the stranger's voice.

The sky-blue-haired one frowned. "Him? Who's him? I don't understand." he moved closer to him
until they got face to face. "The real question is WHO ARE YOU? " he exclaimed in despair.

The boy sighed. "You'll know the answer soon enough." he replied curtly. "I'm way closer than you
think."

" What do you mean? Just answer me! "

Suddenly, Langa could feel the ground begin to move and everything around him began to distort.

"JUST TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, LANGA."

And suddenly everything went black.

When Langa awoke, he was back in his room in Okinawa. Amidst the nighttime ambiance, he
recognized the skateboard and other things he had brought from the park in the corner of his room.

He put his hand over where his heart would be, feeling it beating rapidly.

What was all that?

Chapter End Notes

Hey my loves! I hope you enjoyed this very long chapter.

This one focused more on Reki and his character development, seeing how their relationship is
getting stronger and how moments of tension are increasing. Although well, both of them are too
obvious but none of them realize it.
Also, we are getting closer and closer to the truth of the dream boy. I'm so excited to show you
everything~. We already got two fluff chapters, now shit is about to get real next update.

Will Langa be able to stop being so clueless and notice the hints? What is the warning that dream
boy left for Langa? I want to know what you guys think~
Fun fact: The stuffed animal that Langa gave to Reki is tata from bt21 ;)

Anyway, don't forget that I'm proud of you guys. Please don't forget to drink water and eat~

See you soon!

 Chapter 13
Chapter Notes

This is gonna be such a good chapter~~

Ah yes, it's all coming together.

TW: Mentions of alcohol.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝ You can dance

You can jive
Having the time of your life
Oh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen❞

» Dancing Queen - ABBA

August 8th - Sunset

Another warm afternoon in Okinawa was ending, but unlike other days, today was special: Reki's
18th birthday. They didn't make a big plan for that day; they just planned a dinner. Of course, they had
invited Langa and his mother.

Nanako and Langa were walking toward the front door outside the Kyan residence.

"I notice you are distracted. Is something bothering you?" asked the adult as she held a small plate
with sweets.

Langa looked at his mother. "I'm fine," he replied.

He was actually worried that today they would escape to the party at S, and although he wouldn't
admit it out loud, he was nervous about what would happen. The canadian had never been one for
socializing and attending events with so many people, but he made an effort to see Reki happy,
especially for his birthday.

"Did you bring everything you need? Will you be okay?"

"I'm only staying over for one night, don't worry," Langa replied, grabbing his backpack. "Why are
you so worried?"
"Because it's Reki, and I know he's different for you. I can't help but worry." said the brown-haired
adult. "Promise me you won't do anything crazy."

"What would we do? It's just a sleepover..."

"Langa Oliver Hasegawa, look me in the eye and promise."

The sky-blue-haired one sighed and looked at his mother. "I promise."

And to the luck of the youngest, the door in front of them opened. Not even two seconds passed when
he suddenly felt something bump against his legs. Looking down, he could see the twins hugging him.

"Langa, you’re here!" exclaimed Nanaka, the youngest Kyan, "I want to show you the star I drew."

"As you'll see, they were also excited for you to come." said an adult voice he could recognize as the
redhead's mother.

"I can tell you spend a lot of time here, don't you?". joked Nanako as she looked at her son.

Langa scratched nervously behind the back of his head. "Yeah."

"Well, don't be shy. Come in." said Masae, entering the house with her guests. "Nanako, you can leave
the plate over here..."

While both mothers went their separate ways, Langa stood in the hallway with the twins, who looked
at him intently and curiously. They looked so small standing next to him.

"So...where's Reki?" asked the canadian.

Nanaka and Chihiro said nothing. Each took one of Langa's hands and guided him to the living room.
The room was the same as usual; it only had some balloons decorating the place, and the sliding doors
were wide open, letting him see outside. Looking for Reki with his eyes, he could find him sitting in
the back while answering some texts. Instantly, Langa went to him. And oh, he could see how the
japanese one's gaze lit up at the sight of him.

"Reki." said Langa, with a slight smile, greeting him their special brofist. "Happy birthday."

The redhead returned the gesture. "Thank you." he replied. "Are you ready for tonight?" he whispered
the last.

"I'm nervous. It's hard for me to be with so many people."

"Don't worry; everything will be fine. You'll be with the squad and me~" he crooned. "This will be
just like any hangout to S. I've got it all figured out perfectly."

"...Are you sure no one will discover us?

"I assure you, my broski, we'll leave when everyone in my house is asleep." he said, self-assured. "I
always do that and they never notice."

"If you say so..."

From one moment to the next, their conversation was interrupted by Reki's mother entering the room
with a chocolate cake and singing Happy Birthday. While the others continued with the song, Langa
fell silent, Reki's excitement appearing on his face. For a second, the light blue-haired boy felt as if
everything was in slow motion and only the two of them existed. And he didn't understand why, but
seeing Reki so happy at that moment, his heart simply reminded him how much he appreciated having
him in his life.

When things calmed down and all the guests left, the peaceful evening atmosphere at the Kyan's
house returned. It was around 11:00pm, and Langa was in the room with his friend, trying to kill time
until they made sure Reki's family was asleep and they could go quietly to S.

He wasn't going to lie. Langa felt exhausted just thinking about going to a party; that had never been
his ideal fun plan, especially since his social battery was very low. Still, he would try to go because it
was the redhead's birthday. He knew how much he looked forward to this and wanted to make him
happy.

Sitting on the bed while looking at some drawings in the japanese boy's notebook, the sound of
objects moving in front of him distracted him. Looking up, he saw Reki pulling boxes out of his
closet while looking for something.

"What are you looking so hard for?" asked the blue-eyed, arching an eyebrow.

Reki opened a box, whispering a small yes before looking at his friend and setting it beside him.
"Look."

Langa took the object in his hands and looked inside. "Why do we need the neon accessories?"

"Didn't you hear? The party is that theme."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"Don’t worry. I found out a few minutes ago, too. I'm even looking for clothes." he replied, going
back to rummaging through his closet.

At times like this, Langa remembered that Reki had grown up among women. It didn't bother him; it
simply surprised him since he had never experienced such things growing up as an only child.

"Are you looking for an outfit for me?" questioned Langa, a bit embarrassed.

"US~" the redhead emphasized. "Although, well, I don't think it's necessary for you. Your hair itself is
enough and maybe it'll shine under the black light." he joked, then tossed a shirt to the taller one.
"This fits me big, so I'm sure it's your size."

The canadian put the notebook aside and inspected the garment. "Reki... this is a crop top."

"I know, Einstein, I gave it to you on purpose. You have a good body and I thought it would look
good on you."

Langa almost choked when he heard what he said. Did Reki really think he had a good body? Was he
supposed to take it as a compliment or a joke? Reki could be sarcastic sometimes, but he knew him
perfectly well and would never joke with someone's looks.

Looking at the crop top in his hands, Langa tried to imagine what he would look like wearing it. He
was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when Reki changed clothes before him, now
wearing a yellow sleeveless hoodie.

"You actually don't notice, do you?" asks the redhead.

"What?" he arched his eyebrows.

"How attractive you are."

Those words hit him like a bucket of cold water. To be honest, Langa hardly ever paid attention to his
looks. It wasn't a priority to him. Occasionally, his relatives would tell him he was handsome, but he
never took them seriously. He could literally get to have less nose than Voldemort and they would say
to him he looked gorgeous.

His blue eyes looked at the other boy, making Reki sigh, somewhat embarrassed.

"I don't know who made you believe otherwise, but you're one of the cutest guys I know." said Reki;
he sounded so honest. Langa kept looking at him, not saying a single word. "You don't need to answer
me. Just wear the crop top if you want." he smiled gently.

The light blue-haired one wanted so much to shout at him that he must think the same of himself, that
he was such a charming, beautiful boy and many more things that he didn't dare to say out loud. But
no, no matter how hard he tried to tell him, he simply couldn't.

"I'll be in the hallway until you let me know I can enter again, don't worry. Get dressed calmly." after
saying that, he left the room, leaving the canadian alone.

Langa looked again at the crop top on the bed, contemplating whether to wear it. He honestly didn't
care.

Fuck it. I'll do this. He said to himself.

He removed his shirt and put on the other one, feeling shivers through the air in his slightly marked
abdomen. The shirt reached a little above his belly button. Now that he looked at himself in the
mirror, Reki was right; he didn't look bad at all...
Langa knocked gently on the door to let Reki know he was ready. As he let him in, he saw the slight
excitement in the redhead's eyes.

"My family is asleep. It's time." he said as he opened the window. "Ready to go?"

Langa just nodded.

The ambiance at S was never quiet. However, today, it was crazier than usual. The music resounded
loudly throughout Crazy Rock. Its members were drinking while dancing, others were simply
spraying carnival foam or paint. Neon and black lights set the mood, especially by the stage and the
dance floor next to it. A strange smell of drinks and nature was in the air.

It had already been a few minutes since Langa and Reki arrived, but it took them a while to find the
squad because of the number of people. They were a few seats away from the dance floor. Everyone
from the gang was there except Miya, who had to stay home because he was underage. The music
kept everyone going, and they were not the exception.

"Finally, the birthday boy has arrived, I already thought they wouldn't come." said Kaoru, getting up
from his seat as he saw the younger ones arrive.

"Happy birthday, Reki." said the green-haired one, making a brofist to greet them.

"We had some complications along the way." replied Reki, returning the gesture. "And thank you."

"What did we miss?" asked the blue-haired.

"Besides Shadow and Oka making out behind the tree and Adam falling unconscious from
overdrinking, nothing out of the ordinary has happened." replied Kojiro sarcastically.

"Wait, does that mean Adam is gone?"

"I doubt he'll wake up again soon, so we're cool." replied the pink-haired man, with a specific tone of
satisfaction, just as if he had committed a revenge plan.

"Well then, my birthday just got a thousand times better!" celebrated Reki, until he saw a clear bottle
on the table. "What is it? Can we have a shot?" he asked excitedly.

"It's tequila." emphasized the green-haired man, grabbing the bottle. "And I don't see why not, you're
of age now." he poured them some shots. "I'll drink with you."

"That's what I’m talking about!"

Langa thought it was so strange to see Reki like that, but he assumed it was because of the euphoria of
his birthday. The three of them took a shot of tequila, feeling that strong taste go down their throats.
He wasn't born to do this sort of thing. Leaving the glass on the table, Reki made a small cry of
excitement.
"I hate to be a party popper, but I was talking about something important to Joe. Could you leave us
alone for a while?" asked Cherry, sitting beside the taller one.

"In the middle of a party? I don't think that's a good place to-"

"Please." he said, pleading with his eyes.

Strangely, Langa got the message, pushing Reki away from the table and leaving his adult friends
alone.

They walked around Crazy Rock, looking for some way to kill time until they could return to the
others. At one of those, the redhead stopped, and his pupils dilated as he looked somewhere specific.
Noticing it, Langa looked in the same direction and understood everything: it was a table full of paint,
makeup, and neon accessories.

"Let’s go there!" exclaimed Reki excitedly as he pulled the tallest one.

After passing through the crowd and arriving at the table, he saw eyeliners of all colors on the table,
which is why he couldn't help but get more excited. He grabbed a yellow pencil, stood in front of the
small mirror, and quickly drew a perfect eyeliner. Langa looked at him dumbfounded. The makeup
highlighted his beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

"That was fast." said the light blue-haired one, surprised. "You did it amazing."

"Really? Ah, thank you~" he replied, flattered, dimples standing out on his cheeks. "Sometimes I
wear eyeliner, but I don't do it much in public for fear of what people will say… You know some
people here aren't open-minded." he laughed nervously.

Reki didn't have to give details for Langa to know what he was referring to. Even if he didn't say it
directly, he knew Reki's father had somehow influenced him.

"You look great with eyeliner, you should do it more often," Langa commented honestly.

"I'll keep that in mind... thank you." Reki's gaze softened, a faint smile formed on his lips. "Aren't you
going to put on makeup?"

The canadian shook his head. "I've never had a good pulse, I'd rather not."

"Can I do your makeup, Langa?"

He wouldn't lie; that question surprised him more than he expected. Langa could only watch as Reki's
eyes sparkled with anticipation. And god, how could he say no to that little face?

"Okay."

After saying that, Langa sat down in front of him and watched as Reki took the light blue eyeliner in
his hands. He closed his eyes and let the redhead do his thing, feeling how delicately the pencil
colored his skin. Those few seconds were innocent and felt so domestic and close for both of them.
While something intimate for others might be hooking up or drinking with anyone, for Langa those
moments were these, and they were more than enough.

"Done." Reki broke the silence, setting the eyeliner aside.

The canadian opened his eyes, transported back to reality. He looked at the small mirror in front of
him, highlighting a perfect eyeliner. Reki knew what he was doing.

"I like it." he said softly.

"I'm glad you like it, 'cause you look adorable." replied Reki, not thinking about what he said, but
after a few seconds, he coughed as he reacted.

Oh, Langa couldn't help but giggle. It was so funny to him when these things happened to Reki. But it
wasn't mocking; on the contrary, he thought it was cute.

His gaze met Reki's once again, seeing his amber eyes decorated with neon yellow eyeliner glowing,
the lights behind him forming an angelic aura. They wanted to say so many things to each other that
they couldn’t dare to say out loud, yet their gazes were more than enough to communicate them.
Unconsciously, both intertwined their pinkies, remaining immersed in that small moment of peace
amidst all the hustle and bustle.

Unluckily for both of them, the DJ's voice over the speakers brought them back to reality.

"We should get back, Joe and Cherry should be done by now." said Reki.

Langa nodded.

They both began to walk back, not realizing that at no time did they deign to separate their little
fingers. They were still connected, feeling the familiar warmth of each other's hands. Their night had
only just begun.

It was around 1:00am, yet the party atmosphere was livelier and crazier than ever.

Thanks to a shot challenge Shadow proposed, everyone in the squad was under the influence of
alcohol. Cherry was more outgoing and flirtatious with Joe. Oka had to take the orange-haired guy
elsewhere, etc. And then there were them... Reki and Langa barely had a couple more shots, but the
effect of the alcohol was already flowing in their veins. They weren't drunk. They were just a little
tipsy, still fully aware of what they were saying and doing.

The red-haired one was more expressive and happy, while Langa didn't overthink what he was saying
and was more relaxed. In a perfect balance, Langa and Reki exposed their true personalities.
For the first time in his life, putting aside his slight dizziness, Langa was enjoying a party. Now he
understood perfectly when his mother said he had to find the right people to enjoy such an event. S's
squad was an odd group; almost all of them were older than him and sometimes had their issues. He
had met them relatively recently; however, it already felt like his family.

Sitting down while they took a relaxing break, the group talked quietly. Reki was passionately telling
an anecdote of his, which Langa was trying to listen to attentively when suddenly the DJ changed the
song. The redhead stopped as soon as that melody invaded his ears, making his pupils dilate when he
recognized that piano he loved so much. That song was Dancing Queen.

"What is this, my mother's playlist?" joked Cherry, sarcastic.

Reki stood up suddenly, startling the rest. "Langa, let's go to the dancefloor!" he said energetically,
taking Langa by the hand.

He didn't even let Langa respond, he just started leading him toward the dance floor, leaving Joe and
Cherry behind with confused expressions on their faces. They walked, making room for each other
among the people dancing, until they found a space.

"I'm surprised you like this song," Langa said as Reki released him to stand in front of him.

"It's a masterpiece, and it's one of my favorite songs. How could I not like it?" replied the redhead,
trying to move to the rhythm of the music. He wasn't dancing perfectly; truth be told, he was a bit
clumsy, but at least he was laughing.

It was unbelievable. Even making a fool of himself, Langa thought he was cute. Why was he like
this?

Reki danced around the small space they had available while moving his lips, pretending to be
singing. This went on for about a minute, but he stopped when he saw that Langa didn't move and just
looked at him.

The redhead sighed. "Oh, come on, at least dance with me."

"I don't know how to dance." said Langa, a little uncomfortable, as he looked around at the people
around him. "I'm so stiff."

"Me too, but I do it anyway!" emphasized Reki, smiling, then approaching his friend and taking him
by their hands. "This is like skateboarding; just try to get caught up in the moment and move with
me~."

Langa swallowed and nodded. He looked at Reki's feet, trying to imitate him as he let the music
rhythm guide him. Now that he thought about it, the song wasn't as weird as he remembered; it was
too catchy and good.
"You're doing well..." said Reki at times, making Langa's skin goosebumps.

As the song continued and their feet moved across the small space of the dancefloor, the mood
between them began to lighten as they laughed. They no longer cared if they were making fools of
themselves. They didn't care if someone was making fun of them behind their backs. They were both
having fun, and that was all that mattered to them.

The chorus rang out again. Getting caught up in the moment and in excitement, Reki let go of Langa
and stood in front of him.

" You can dance, you can jive! " sang Reki loudly while pointing at Langa with one of his hands. His
red hair moved rebelliously.

Langa's heart stopped for a second, feeling his skin get the chills. Reki's amber eyes looked at him
like never before. They conveyed so many emotions simultaneously that he didn't know what to think.
Still, he was only sure of one thing: the lights reflecting behind Reki made him look like an angel. It
was beautiful.

Langa stared at him, stunned, remembering how much he loved him. It was gigantic how warm his
whole being felt, how happy it made him just to see him smile or be with him. He would give
anything for that moment to never end.

Reki smiled, moving closer to the canadian again. He put his arms around the blue-haired one's
shoulders, chest to chest, with their faces staying slightly close.

Those blue eyes met the amber ones. They weren’t dancing anymore. They didn't say a single word;
they just felt how suddenly everything around them went into slow motion, and only the two of them
existed in that small moment. Langa looked at every little detail of Reki's face: his freckles, dimples,
and lips.

And oh, he didn't know if it was the effect of the alcohol on his body or it was just his inner self, but
today, more than ever, he wanted to kiss those beautiful lips.

Unconsciously, his pale hands gently cupped the other one's cheeks. He felt the warmth on his cheeks,
and his heart felt like it would burst out of his body at any moment. Instead, Reki looked at him
innocently, waiting to see what he would do.

" Damn it, just do it!" a shout was heard in the background.

Langa swallowed and leaned towards Reki's face.

And it finally happened.

From one moment to the next, their lips collided. Finally, that moment he had dreamed of for so long
was finally happening. He kissed him gently, softly, and tenderly.
It was a matter of seconds until Reki reciprocated, gently moving his lips with the taller one, feeling
that he would explode with happiness at any moment. They were so close that they could feel the
other's breath on their face. It was so addictive. At that moment, everything felt right, and he wanted
to stay in this one forever.

The taller one slowly pulled away from him, reopening his eyes and gazing at him. Reki's cheeks
were flushed, and Langa knew he was the same way.

"Let's get out of here." was all the redhead said, taking the canadian's hands and leading him away.

Once away from the party, they arrived at a private part away of S.

It was a viewing point, showing the starry horizon and the moonlight shining on the sea. Although the
bustle and music could still be heard faintly in the background, at least now they were alone and could
talk in peace.

The two boys sat on a bench, not saying a single word. They knew they should talk about their kiss on
the dance floor, but their nerves were gigantic, and they had no idea how to bring up the subject
without it being awkward.

"So..."

"What was that all about?" Reki suddenly asked.

Langa tensed up. Was he angry? Sad? Disappointed? Oh god, this couldn't be happening. He couldn't
stand it if Reki suddenly told him: We can't be friends anymore, I only like girls, and I kissed back out
of pity.

But no, he didn't seem to be. The redhead looked confused. Langa tried to look back at his friend, but
his nerves betrayed him. Even his leg was bouncing slightly out of uncertainty.

Langa swallowed; his throat was sore. "I... I don't know. I just had the urge to kiss you." he replied
quietly.

There was silence for a few seconds. "I know that was a kiss, but... why?". Questioned Reki, his
hands balled into fists. His voice sounded somewhere between desperate and confused. " Why did you
want to kiss me? "

The sky-blue-haired one did not know what to say. The only thing that came out of his throat was
incomprehensible sounds. Should he run away? He didn't understand why he felt so bad. His first kiss
should be magical and feel butterflies in his stomach. He should feel happy about it and not be afraid
of ruining their relationship.
"Please be honest with me." pleaded Reki in a whisper.

The way he said that made Langa's heartache. He was afraid, but he knew it was now or never. He had
to do it. It was time to tell Reki what he felt.

The blue-eyed sighed. "It's complicated. You looked so beautiful in the middle of the LED lights
while you were dancing. It was inevitable not to kiss you." he tried to explain as best he could. "I've
loved so much every single thing we've done together; I've enjoyed them to the fullest because you're
amazing and... Fuck, there are so many things I'd like to tell you and I don't know how to explain
them!" he paused for a few seconds, his fingers fiddling in his pockets. "I like you, Reki." he said
loud and clear. He'd finally made it.

Langa closed his eyes, fearing Reki's reaction and waiting for his answer. Still, amid so much
confusion, he felt as if a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders.

Suddenly, a small sob was heard in the middle of the silence, catching his attention. The canadian
opened his eyes slightly, not expecting what he saw. In front of him, the redhead’s face flushed, and
tears streamed down his cheeks, his gaze reflecting surprise as he looked at him.

He couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario at that moment. He had scared Reki.

"Reki, I'm so sorry-"

"I like you too, Langa." said Reki, his voice broke as his lips formed a small smile.

After hearing those words, the blue-eyed forgot how to breathe, feeling his heart beating rapidly
against his chest again.

"Y-you like boys? YOU like me?" asked Langa, unable to believe it. He sounded so excited, happy,
everything.

Reki nodded, his gaze softening as he gently took Langa's right hand. The canadian wanted to burst
into tears. All those thoughts of Reki abandoning him for what he felt were disappearing. Reki
reciprocated his feelings, Kyan Reki, HIS REKI. Finally, this was real and not a dream.

The blue-eyed tightened his grip, feeling the band-aids on the other one's hands. "I can't believe it—
Reki, oh god, I like you so much." he said. He sounded so happy, his extroverted side coming out. "I
don't know what to say; I have liked you since the first time we talked and saw your face. I'm so
happy. You make me so happy. I've never loved someone so much until you came along." he smiled
goofily, and so did the redhead.

Langa didn't know how to act; the words just escaped by themselves. Tears kept coming out of Reki's
eyes as he looked at him sweetly, seeing how Langa expressed himself so nicely about him.

"Can I kiss you?" whispered Langa, watching Reki's lips.

"Just do it." he let out a chuckle.

This time, Reki took the first step. His lips rested on Langa's again, trying to express all the affection
and desire they had kept for so long. The canadian's hands rested on the redhead's hair, carrying
himself away by that new and beautiful sensation.

It all felt right, so right...

He was so happy with that little moment in his life.

Amidst the I love you that escaped during the kiss, the two enjoyed each other's company as never
before. There was no need to talk about it. They both knew perfectly well what they were now. They
loved each other and that was more than enough. Finally, they were together.

It was around 3:00 am when they were back at Reki’s house.

Giggling, the loving couple entered through the window while trying to make as little noise as
possible and not wake anyone up. They still couldn't believe that they were already together and
official.

With the lamp on the bedside table being their only light source, the loving couple continued kissing.
Although it had started as an innocent kiss, as they let their feelings get carried away, the intensity of
it increased. Gently, Reki pushed Langa down on his bed and then lay on top of him. The redhead
kissed his lips, then went to his jaw, and finished on his neck. It felt so good, and the soft moan
escaping from Langa’s lips proved it. He could feel the redhead's victorious smile on his neck.

"Reki, we're not alone." whispered Langa, embarrassed, after breaking away from the kiss.

That was enough for him to react and stop. "Sorry, I got excited and carried away." replied Reki,
getting off of the taller one. "It just feels unreal that we're... you know."

"It’s ok, I feel the same." he replied, sitting back on the bed. “...I like how you kiss…” he whispered.

"I'm glad. That means we'll have to continue another time." He chuckles.

Langa took a few seconds to process what he said ... another time ...
He couldn't help but blush a little at the thought of that.

"Langa." his name brought him back to reality.

"Huh?"

"I asked if you brought pajamas or if I should lend you."

"Oh." he opened his backpack and looked through it. "I forgot my shirt."

"That's so you." Reki replied, chuckling and throwing a sweater at him. "Be thankful my clothes are
big; otherwise, you'd spend the night shirtless and cold." he joked. "Well, I'll go change in the
bathroom. There are makeup remover wipes in my drawer. I'll be right back."

As soon as he was alone in the room, Langa removed his clothes and changed into pajamas. The
yellow sweater was soft and had Reki's coconut shampoo scent. That familiar smell was so
comforting. After removing his eyeliner, he looked at himself in the mirror. He looked good in the
sweater. This was so nice; he loved it, and deep down, he wished this was the first of many times they
borrowed each other’s clothes.

Now that they were boyfriends, he was sure it would happen again. That simply made him happy.

Tired, Langa lay down on the bed next to the plushie he had given him at the park, letting himself be
carried away by the softness of the sheets. He wanted to wait for Reki, but his eyes gradually closed
without realizing it until he fell fast asleep.

It was about five minutes when Reki returned to his room, already dressed in pajamas and face-
cleaned. The first thing he saw was his boyfriend sleeping, and oh, his heart couldn't help but beat fast
at that. He looked like an angel. He loved him so much, and having him by his side made him so
happy.

Carefully, Reki tucked some of Langa's hair behind his ear, revealing his calm face. He turned off the
lamp light, snuggled up behind the blue-haired one, and hugged him from behind. He couldn't help
but kiss him softly on the back of his neck.

"Good night, Langa." he said before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

It had been a good birthday. They were finally together, all their feelings were clear, and they were
happy. Everything would be fine... wouldn't it?

When Langa opened his eyes, he first noticed that he was in the same classroom as his last dream.
The only difference was that the desks were gone; there were now only two tables in the center of the
room. At one was the unknown boy sitting across from him. The other table was empty as if he was
waiting for him.

The last time they talked, things had ended badly, so Langa was determined to make things right, and
hopefully, he could get some questions answered.

"Are you all right?" asked Langa as he approached the opposite.

The boy's blurry face stared crestfallen at the notebook full of scribbles and crumpled papers, yet
somehow Langa knew he was listening.

"Listen to me. I seriously don't understand what's wrong with you, and I'm so confused about it." said
the canadian, concerned. "Did I hurt you? Do I apologize? What should I do to help you?"
The unknown boy didn't answer, he simply looked up at the other boy. The blue-eyed opened his eyes
wide and gulped. The boy's face was blurrier than usual, and he could feel his concern through it.

"Oh god..."

"...I think it's time." whispered the stranger, showing sadness in his voice.

"Time for what?" asked the Canadian, confused.

"Langa, do you want to know the truth? Once that's said, there's no turning back."

A light blizzard invaded the classroom, ruffling both of their hair. The moment had finally come; he
had been waiting for it for many months. So why is he so afraid to find out everything?

Langa swallowed before nodding, his blue eyes looking determinedly at where the other one’s eyes
should be. It wasn’t even two seconds into his response when the stranger suddenly stood, startling
the canadian slightly.

"Then follow me." was all he said before running out the classroom door.

"Hey!"

Instantly, Langa ran to where his friend was headed, stumbling a bit on the way. He didn't expect what
was behind the door when he opened it. It was a long white corridor that seemed to have no end.
There seemed to be no sign of the stranger, so all he could do was run and try to catch up with him.

A few minutes passed, which felt like forever, running as fast as he could, but he had never been in
physical education, so he tired quickly. In one of his breaks, he leaned against the wall and caught his
breath. It wasn't until that moment that Langa noticed what was around him.

The hallway that used to be white and empty was now filled with pictures of Langa's various
memories throughout his life.

"What the hell..." he whispered to himself.

Walking slowly through his memories, Langa felt nostalgia in his whole being. He remembered
everything perfectly, but the doubts began when he came to the pictures from when he was 17. In
these, he could see himself in Okinawa with Reki and the S squad. The blue-eyed could not recognize
many of the memories; for some reason, they were different... they were things he had never lived, but
somehow they were so familiar.

In one of the memories, he could see him going to school with Reki, another in S competing against
Shadow and Adam, their trip to the beach, etc. But what struck him the most was seeing an argument
with Reki in the rain.

At what point had that happened? Had he forgotten it?

He just wanted him to answer, but he was getting more doubts.

"LANGA!~" the shout of the boy of his dreams brought him out of his thoughts.

The blue-haired boy reacted, remembering why he was there. Now he had more reasons to find him
and learn the truth. His legs acted on their own as he started running again. After a long time, he
finally reached the end of the corridor, which had only one wooden door.

Langa put his hand on the door handle and paused for a few seconds, wondering if he would finally
find the answers to everything after this. Would all his effort eventually pay off? He had nothing left
to do but have faith and trust his instincts. The canadian took a breath before turning the door handle
and opening it, only to be blinded by a great blast of light.

He closed his eyes tightly, trying to adapt to the new environment. From one moment to another, his
ears were invaded by the sound of seagulls and waves breaking.

When he recovered his sight, his blue eyes first saw a largely empty beach and the sunset in the sky.
The atmosphere conveyed so much tranquility that he forgot that this was a dream for a second.

Suddenly, he felt someone tap his shoulder, catching his attention. Turning around, he could see the
stranger entirely dressed in white.

"What are all these memories? I don't understand anything... Who are you!?–" asked Langa,
desperate, but he was interrupted by his opponent.

"Do you want to swim with me?"

Even amid desperation to know the truth and confusion by the sudden question, Langa did not hesitate
two seconds to answer and just said yes . After answering, the stranger extended his hand for Langa to
take, who reciprocated the action. The boy took it gently and guided him towards the sea. They
walked along the beach, feeling the sand under their bare feet. As soon as he stepped into the water,
they both sank completely.

The scenery changed from one moment to the next, and now they were underwater in the open sea.
Everything was blue and the surface was close to them. Strangely, this time, Langa is not afraid of
drowning compared to his other dreams. Somehow, he knew this moment was different and he would
not be short of air.

The dream boy was in front of him. He could feel the sweet and nostalgic way he looked at him.
Langa only wondered why he was doing all this, why that boy seemed to love him so much to take
him to such lovely places and make him feel this way. The blue-haired boy looked at him innocently,
saying a thousand words without moving his lips. The stranger just smiled slightly and swam to be
close to him.

His hands gently cupped Langa's jaw and he moved closer to him...

Suddenly, his lips met his. They both closed their eyes and let themselves be swept up in the moment.
It wasn't the first time Langa had kissed the boy of his dreams, but somehow, it felt so different. It
wasn't a hot kiss, or sweet or chaste... it felt so bittersweet.
Opening his eyes a little during the kiss, Langa noticed how the blur of the other one’s face was
gradually fading until finally leaving his features in sight. For the first time since his dreams began, he
was seeing the stranger's face; those long eyelashes, golden and freckled skin made his heart stop for
a second. That gaze, he knew that gaze perfectly... this can't be happening, right?

Pulling away, Langa's eyes widened as he looked closer. His red hair moved gently with the water as
those amber eyes that drove him crazy looked up at him. Every affection, caress, kiss... it had always
been him.

That boy of his dreams was the same one who had stolen his heart: Reki Kyan.

Langa didn't know how to react, he just looked astonished at the opposite. The other Reki only gave
him a gentle smile, but his face expressed a lot of sadness, as if it was the last time they would see
each other, and this was his way of saying goodbye without a single word.

The blue-eyed one’s throat burned. Even though he was underwater, he could perfectly feel the tears
coming out of his eyes, and somehow, he knew Reki was the same way.

The redhead said nothing. He just moved his hands, telling him I love you in sign language. Langa
wanted to scream not to leave him, to stay with him, but he knew he had to let him go. Even if it
wasn't the real Reki, it hurt him deeply.

With his throat and eyes burning, Langa repeated the gesture, trying to smile even though he knew
this would be his last dream with him.

After that, the last thing he remembers was Dream Reki smiling at him as he disappeared in golden
particles in the middle of the sea...

Langa awoke with a jolt as several tears fell down his cheeks, having that familiar emptiness back in
his heart.

It took him a while to adjust to the environment and remember where he was. The faint sunlight was
coming through the curtains of Reki's room, who was asleep next to him.

He doesn't know why, but when he saw him, his body acted independently. His first instinct was to get
out of bed and put on his jeans. Reki couldn't help but wake up when he felt movement around his
room, but his expression quickly went from sleepy to confused at the sight of the canadian crying like
that.

"My moon, what happened? Did you have another nightmare?" asked Reki, concerned, as he sat in
bed.

Langa couldn't answer him. He just hurried to grab his backpack and run out of the place as fast as he
could. He had no idea what he was doing.

"Langa!"
 He heard Reki's shout before he walked out of there and went home, leaving him alone, confused, and
with a bitter feeling in his heart…

Chapter End Notes

OMG, THEY FINALLY KISSED!!! RENGA CANON~

I wanted to write the kiss so badly and finally the moment came. I've had it on my mind since the
beginning of the fanfic, so writing it was *chef kisses*. Especially while having 'dancing queen'
in the background.

On the other hand, Langa finally discovered that the dream boy was Reki, and he still didn't
know how to assimilate that information. What do you think Langa will do? Will he be okay?
How will he process all this? I'd love to know what you think.

Now a quick announcement: I'll be traveling from April 3 to 20, so I'll be inactive for those days.
Even so, I'll do my best to write during my free time :) I don't want to leave you with the intrigue
of angst, lol. I hope you understand me!

💜
That's all I have to tell you guys. Thank you so much for existing. I'm proud of you guys.
See you soon!
 Chapter 14
Chapter Notes

It's Britney b!tch~

Sorry for the delay, enjoy the chapter :')

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝ Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall❞

» Wonderwall - Oasis

No people were outside in the middle of the streets of Okinawa in the morning. In the middle of the
desolate alleys, a young man quickly walked home. Langa's mind would not shut up for a single
second and be invaded by a thousand thoughts. Everything around him felt so heavy and weird. He
could feel the unbearable heat in his whole being; he saw all his surroundings cloudy, but especially,
he felt short of breath. His five senses were getting too overstimulated, making it too hard for him to
reach his destination. Even so, amid the despair and confusion of his mind, he was able to make it
home.

Langa was struggling up the stairs of his aunt and uncle's apartment, breathing heavily as he felt his
legs could drop him at any moment. He didn't understand what was happening to him, why he felt so
weak and unsteady. But his mind was completely occupied with a single image: that the boy he had
dreamed of so much was Reki, and it was driving him crazy. He longed to get to the apartment and
lock himself in his room to escape from reality and try to understand his feelings.

Finally, he reached the door and pulled out the key, but his trembling hands made it difficult to open
the lock. His fingers did not seem to want to obey him and the key kept slipping. Langa tried his best
to remain calm, but the anxiety invading him did not allow him to do so. After several attempts, the
door finally gave way and he was able to enter the apartment.

As soon as he entered the apartment, he first saw his mother and uncles having breakfast calmly. Oh
shit, he was counting so much on them still being asleep so he wouldn't have to see their faces. Now,
he would have to pretend everything was fine, and he didn't have the energy to do that right now. The
canadian tried to put on a good face and keep his usual neutral expression as he greeted them. Still,
his blue eyes conveyed sadness and confusion. As soon as his mother saw him, she noticed it. With a
worried expression, the brunette immediately got up from her seat and ran to her son.

"Sweetie, what happened?" his mother asked, worried, putting her hands on her son's shoulders. "I
thought you were going to stay late on Reki’s-"
Langa could no longer contain himself. As soon as she asked him if everything was all right, he felt a
great surge of emotions rush over him, and he let out a sob as he encircled his mother in a tight
embrace. That was something he hadn't done in years. Instantly, she reciprocated the hug, comforting
her son as she ran her hand through his hair as if that small action would help him remove all the ugly
things he was feeling.

At that moment, he didn't care what his aunt and uncle might say or think. Now, he just needed his
mother's warmth and support.

"Shh... you're okay now, I'm here, honey...". she told him softly. "No matter what you're going
through, I'll always be here to support you.".

His mother continued to hug him, whispering words of comfort and reassurance. Langa didn't have to
explain anything to her, she simply understood it. She was there for him, and that was more than
enough.

Two days have passed since that incident happened.

Forty-eight hours since the boy of his dreams finally revealed his identity.
Two days since he last spoke to Reki.

Langa was sitting on his bed, phone in hand. He had been locked in his room for days, avoiding Reki
and his problems. Whenever he thought about talking to his boyfriend, anxiety would tighten his
chest, and he would withdraw into himself. The only thing that distracted him from that feeling was
scrolling through social media. He knew perfectly well that he couldn't go on like this forever. He
missed Reki; he missed so much the way his smile would light up any place and how his laughter
would make his heart race just by listening to him. He had no idea how to fix things between them
and didn't even know where to start.

Should he call him or send a message?

Should he wait a little longer until things calm down?

He wondered about that and other things, but no matter how hard he tried to know the answer, he
never found it and only ended up with more doubts.

Langa couldn't shake off the guilt for leaving Reki that day without any explanation. He knew that he
would have to face the problem sooner or later, but whenever he tried to think of what to say, his mind
went completely blank.

The sky-blue-haired one looked at his phone again and saw the dozens of message notifications from
Reki that he had been ignoring. He was so afraid of losing him that he didn't know how to deal with it.
He bit his lip, feeling guilty and ashamed. He knew he was acting like a terrible boyfriend, but
unfortunately, he couldn't help it.
Now that he thought about it, could they still consider themselves boyfriends ?

They had already clarified at the party their feelings for each other. It was more than evident that they
did love each other. However, the fact that Langa left him alone the next day without saying a word
was enough to have ruined everything.

His mother sometimes asked him about the situation, but Langa would not tell her the whole story for
obvious reasons. Telling her the truth about his dreams would only make her think he'd lost his mind.
All she knew was that he and Reki had a misunderstanding.

The only people who knew most of the story were Zoey and Aoi, who finally managed to coordinate
their time to talk to Langa. The light blue-haired one was on a video call with them. Or well, kind of,
they had the camera on, and Langa was only on audio. He didn't want to be seen in such a weak way.
They had been talking for a few minutes, Langa updating them on what had happened and explaining
it as best he could.

"Wait a second, you’re telling me that after so many months of knowing each other, you and Reki
finally realized how you felt about each other, became boyfriends, and somehow, you ended up
messing it up the next day?" interrupted Zoey, trying to understand her friend. Even through the
screen, the disbelief in her voice and face was so evident.

Aoi, who was standing next to the girl, added. "But how? What exactly happened to you two?" he
asked, just as confused. "You guys were so close and things seemed to be going so well,"

Langa let out a sigh. "Yeah... I fucked everything up." he admitted, ashamed of what he did. "I was an
idiot. I let my insecurities and fears get the best of me and pushed Reki away. I hurt him so badly, I
hurt myself in the process." he lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling his throat tighten and
burn. His mind was filled with all his happy moments with Reki, those little domestic moments where
he could see his beautiful smile and be next to him. "And then I have the audacity to wonder why
most people abandon me. I have such a hard time taking care of my relationships..."

For a moment, none of the three dared to speak. There was only silence; the light blue-haired man felt
deeply the weight of his mistake. At that moment, he realized that his doubts and fears had sabotaged
something that meant so much to him, and regret again came over him. He had allowed his
insecurities to dominate him, and he knew perfectly well that he had to face his problems if he didn't
want to lose the boy he loved so much. He didn't want to lose the person who gave him hope and
happiness in his life when he was about to give it all up.

Zoey and Aoi exchanged glances over the video call, their expressions reflecting concern and
empathy. Even though they didn't know Reki personally, they knew how much he meant to Langa and
understood how much the whole situation hurt him.

"Oh, Langa, I'm so sorry you're going through such an ugly time." said Zoey softly. She would have
hugged and comforted him if a screen didn't separate them. "This must be so hard for you."

Aoi nodded, agreeing with what the girl said. "Yeah, man, you shouldn't go through this alone. Even
though we're far away, we're here to help you with anything." he smiled gently.
"You said the argument was two days ago or so, right?" the curly-haired girl asked. The canadian
nodded. "Have you talked to Reki since then?"

Langa shook his head, feeling a mixture of melancholy and nervousness in his chest. "No, not yet. I've
been avoiding him." he sighed wearily. "I...I don't know what to say to him. I don't know how to
apologize or even see his face without feeling like shit for hurting him so much."

Zoey looked at the ceiling and thought for a few seconds before speaking. "Langa, sorry if I sound
nosy, but I need you to be honest with us... Why exactly did you fight with Reki?" the girl asked,
determined. "I feel like you're not telling us the truth, and we need to know why you argued so we can
help you. We are your friends; you can trust us."

That question took him by surprise, hitting him like a bucket of cold water. Just remembering his
dreams made his skin get the chills as if his body knew there was something else behind them. After
all, how could he explain to them something he found difficult to understand?

They wanted to know why he was feeling this way, and he had to explain everything to them if he
wanted to. Aoi and Zoey were his friends; they had never failed him in his most difficult moments,
and he had no reason to distrust them. If anyone could understand, it was the two of them. He took a
few seconds to close his eyes and take a deep breath, and finally, he plucked up the courage to speak.

"Remember months ago I told you I had a lucid dream about a boy?" Langa asked quietly. His friends
nodded. "Well, that wasn't the only time I dreamt about it. There were more..."

For the first time since his dreams began, Langa was able to share everything with his friends. He
explained to them the minutest details of every dream he'd had so far: the moment under the shade of
the tree, when the Reki of his dreams taught him how to skate, the time he healed him, and even the
moment they kissed. But above all, he told them the most important thing: the last time they had seen
each other in their dreams and how the boy had revealed his true identity. His friends listened to him
silently, trying to process all the information Langa was giving them.

Langa wasn't going to lie. He felt so free. After saying everything, Langa was silent, waiting for what
his friends would say.

"Shit, I don't know what to say. This is so weird..." whispered the girl, putting a hand in her hair.
"You're telling us that all this time, the boy of your dreams was Reki? The very Reki who is your
friend? THAT Reki?" she said in disbelief. "But how is it possible?"

"That same Reki." nodded Langa. "And don't ask me how that's possible because I have no idea. I'm
still processing all this." he lay back down on the bed and sighed, sinking into the feel of the sheets.
He felt too mentally drained. "Anyway, that's the least of my concerns right now. All I want to do is
apologize to Reki, but I don't even know how to do that." he admitted, showing sadness and confusion
in his voice. "I seriously fucked up."

The blonde sighed, feeling a lump in his throat as he looked at his childhood best friend in that state.
"Hey, it's okay to feel scared; don't put yourself down for that." he said softly, trying to comfort him
even if it was through the screen. "Just... just remember that Reki is your friend and he cares about
you. He's a good guy." he sighed. "You guys have been through so much, so it's worth telling him the
truth and clarify everything. If he really loves you, he'll understand."

Langa nodded, feeling his eyes glaze over slightly, grateful for the support of his friends. He knew he
had to face his insecurity and deal with the situation with Reki, even if it was difficult and there was a
chance that everything they went through would come to an end. He took a deep breath, saying an
almost inaudible "thank you" to his friends. After a couple more minutes of talking, Langa closed the
call. He changed his clothes and opened the door. Whether it ended well or poorly, he was determined
to see Reki.

For Reki, these last few days have been... strange, a flood of emotions. That "discussion" had left him
with such a bittersweet feeling, with a mixture of pain and nostalgia.

Since then, they had not seen each other's faces or said a single word. Reki had tried calling and
messaging him on all the social networks, but Langa ignored them. The whole situation worried him,
and he didn't know what to do about it. His mind only replayed the moment Langa left his house
without saying a single word to him. He could still remember the cold and strange way he saw him
then. Reki couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened, trying to understand what he
had done wrong to make Langa react like that.

Why had he abandoned him?

Did he realize that he was disgusting and annoying?
Of course he did. It was only a matter of time before he left too.

The redhead's mind kept repeating that and many other things without giving him a moment's silence.

As time passed, Reki began to feel worse and worse. He had spent much of his life doing everything
he could to avoid any kind of conflict, but now he was in the middle of one, and worst of all, it
involved the person he loved the most. He had never cried for love before, for a boy, but from that day
on, he did. And not just once but several times. He even felt like he had run out of tears. Reki's family
had noticed his sadness, especially his mom, but she didn't know what to say to cheer him up.

Finally, after two days cooped up in his house, Reki decided he needed to distract himself a little from
his pain. Or rather, he decided to go out to avoid worrying his mother and sister so much. Even if he
wasn't, he had to pretend to be okay. He didn't have to be a burden anymore.

Wandering through the streets he had known all his life, Reki was lost in thought. The sounds of
people chatting, children playing, and birds chirping mingled in his ears, creating a familiar yet eerie
atmosphere. Perhaps going to his favorite ramen place could help him clear his mind. As he walked
towards the restaurant, Reki felt increasingly anxious, wondering if Langa would be there or if he
would be avoiding him.

Finally, he arrived at the restaurant and sat at his usual place. He ordered his favorite bowl of ramen
but couldn't enjoy it. He looked around, searching for Langa, but he was nowhere to be seen. Reki felt
lonely and sad, knowing he needed to do something to make things right with Langa. The best thing
to do was to accept that he had made a mistake and apologize, but would that be enough? He didn't
even know what he had committed. Reki kept thinking about it as he ate his ramen, trying to find the
answer to his questions.

"Enjoying your meal?" asked a male voice behind him, making his skin crawl. He recognized the
voice immediately. Looking back, his suspicions were confirmed: it was Kojiro standing behind him.

"oh shit, just what I was missing," Reki thought, not looking forward to seeing the taller one. He
didn't want to run into anyone at this moment. He felt horrible, and the slight dark circles under his
amber eyes exposed his tiredness. "Hello," was all he could think to say.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" asked Kojiro, pointing to the chair in front of Reki.

The redhead shook his head and continued eating ramen, trying not to make eye contact with the
opposite. The silence between the two was awkward, and the elephant in the room was so obvious.
All Reki wanted to do was eat quickly and run out of there.

"So, are you going to explain what's wrong with you?" the green-haired one broke the silence, looking
at the younger one. "It's been days since you and Langa have come to S or even stopped by Sia la
Luce." he took a sip of his drink before continuing to speak, looking at him seriously. "Did something
happen between you two? I know if everything ok you'd say something, but no, you're both mute." he
faced him, trying to sound gentle.

"I..." Reki didn't know what to say. The way Kojiro was straight with him surprised him. His throat
hurt just thinking about Langa, and it hurt just thinking about why he left him like that.
Unconsciously, his hands balled into fists, and he looked crestfallen, feeling his breathing grow heavy.

"Reki?"

"I don't know, I really don't know what happened," he replied, his voice hoarse and a little broken.
"I'm just as confused as you are." his lips formed a smile, but one that expressed pain.

Kojiro had expected any answer but that. Throughout the year they had been friends, he had seen the
redhead go through emotional breakdowns, but he had never seen him sink as low as he did now. A
sigh escaped his lips at the opposite's evident sadness. "Oh..." he murmured before adding in a
concerned tone. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I need to," replied Reki without thinking about what he was saying, his voice sounding a little
desperate. "I feel like I'm going to go crazy at any moment."

"How long has it been since you've talked to Langa?"

"Almost three days"

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"I've tried everything. I've tried to talk to him, ask him what's wrong, but he doesn't answer my calls
or messages." said the redhead with sadness in his voice, trying not to cry.

Kojiro nodded his head and settled back in his seat, preparing to listen to the story Reki had to tell. He
knew the redhead wasn't the type to share his feelings easily, so he was willing to be patient and listen
to whatever he needed to get off his chest. He didn't say a single word, but Reki knew he was willing
to help him.

Reki took a few moments to gather his thoughts and find the right words to explain what was
happening. He stared at the empty plate in front of him, avoiding eye contact with Kojiro for a
moment. Finally, he began to speak in a shaky voice.

"Remember when Langa and I got up to dance at the party and left you alone?" He began to speak,
trying to explain everything as best he could. He saw the older one nod and went on with his story.
"We were having a good time. I was teaching Langa how to dance. I don't know what got into us, but
after we kissed after that." he confessed; he felt some freedom to say that out loud. "It felt so good. It
was my first kiss..."

Kojiro couldn't help but make a surprised expression at what his friend said, but he said nothing and
let him continue talking.

The redhead continued. "After the kiss, we said how we felt for each other; everything was going so
well. He even slept over at my house. The next day, he just left without telling me anything," he
explained, then sighed. "This is driving me crazy, and I feel like I did something wrong... I love him. I
love him so much. I don't want to lose what we have."

I don't want to be alone again

That's what he wanted to shout at the top of his lungs.

Reki sighed and began to explain everything, detailing every word and every action that possibly led
him to think that Langa was angry with him. Kojiro listened to him attentively, taking note of every
detail and trying to understand the situation from the perspective of the shorter one.

After telling everything, the green-haired one was silent for a moment, processing everything he had
heard. "First of all, it's about time you two declared your feelings, so congratulations on that." he said,
trying to cheer up his friend a bit, but then he turned serious again. "And I may not know Langa
perfectly as you do, but I know he's a good guy. I doubt he ran away just because. He must have a
good reason to be scared." he explained, looking at the younger one.

Reki's gaze tensed slightly. "You mean I did something wrong?" he said softly, afraid to know the
answer.

Kojiro shook his head. "I'm not justifying what Langa did, but I'm sure he must not have a problem
with you but with himself. I think you should try to talk to him in person." he finally said. "I'm sure
Langa is just as confused as you are. You need to go find him and talk to him. That's the only way to
solve all this."

"What if–"

"If Langa loves you, he will tell you the truth."

Reki didn't answer and only nodded softly. A small lump formed in his throat, knowing that Kojiro
was right. "Thank you, man. Seriously, thanks for listening to me." he replied with a slight genuine
smile on his lips, but his eyes showed melancholy.

Reki got up from his seat and left money on the table. He was fully determined to find Langa and
clear things up, even though he feared what might happen when they finally met face to face. These
were their last weeks together in Okinawa, so they couldn't go on like this. They had to make the most
of the remaining time . He had to do something about it. He said goodbye once more to the taller one
and walked out of the restaurant.

He started skating towards Langa's house as fast as he could, asking permission from the people
around him. All he could do right now was pray that it wasn't too late for them. Whatever happened,
whether they ended up being boyfriends or friends, they had to figure this out today.

Searching for Reki all over Okinawa was a disaster.

Langa had left his house around two o'clock in the afternoon; it was already getting dark, and he still
couldn't find the redhead. The canadian looked for him everywhere his friend would normally be: the
skate park, Sia la Luce, Dope Sketch, etc. He even snuck into S during the day and was almost
discovered by the police, but luckily, he was able to escape. He tried hard all day to find Reki.
However, there were no results.

And oh, poor Langa, he had no idea that Reki was in the same circumstances as him. The redhead was
also looking for him in the same places but at different times. During the whole day, both boys spent
like that, looking for each other, crossing their paths without noticing it even a little bit.

Tired, Langa walked down the sidewalk. The sound of cars and people going about their lives
accompanied him. After so many hours of searching, he hadn't even encountered Reki. It was as if life
didn't want him to see him at that moment.

Walking aimlessly, the light blue-haired man just watched how his shoes kicked a small stone. It went
on like that until the rock collided with another object and ended up in the street. Only at that moment
did Langa look up, noticing how familiar the atmosphere of the place he was in felt to him. It took
him a few seconds to process it, but he could recognize that this was Reki's neighborhood.

Now that he thought about it, this was the only place he had yet to look...
How had he forgotten to check Reki's house? That should have been his first choice.

Trying to avoid overthinking the issue and wasting any more time, Langa walked a few more blocks
until he reached the front lawn of the Kyan’s home. With a strange feeling in his stomach, he stopped
in front of the door. He took a deep breath, then rang the doorbell.

Those few seconds where he waited for the door to be opened felt like hours. Langa was only thinking
about how he would tell Reki the truth without sounding like an insane person. "Oh right, I ran away
because you somehow got into my dreams even before we met. How bizarre, right?". He felt cringed
by just imagining that. He had to plan his words, which did not come easy.
Finally, the door opened. In front of him stood Koyomi, Reki's younger sister.

"What do you want?" questioned the younger girl, looking at Langa with a certain tone of contempt.

"I’m– Is Reki home?" the canadian asked, looking at the younger one. He felt as if she was stabbing
him with her eyes. "I have to talk with him."

"Oh yeah, now you want to see him." she replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry to tell you
he's not here. He left hours ago."

Langa's eyes widened slightly at Koyomi's response. His heart sank slightly at the knowledge that
Reki was not home. On the other hand, he understood why the young girl was acting so cold to him;
after all, he had hurt his older brother.

"Shit," Langa whispered to himself, feeling a twinge in his stomach. "Do you know where he went or
when he's coming back? I need to see him now."

Koyomi let out an exasperated sigh and crossed her arms. Her eyes bore into Langa with a mixture of
resentment and frustration. "I have no idea where he went," she replied. "I don't ask him that
whenever he goes out, you know? You'll have to look for him if it's that urgent."

Langa felt disoriented. He had no idea where to look for Reki at that moment. The redhead used to
spend a lot of time at the skate park or Dope Sketch, but he had already checked them out. Where else
could he be?

"Thanks," Langa muttered, trying to hide his disappointment. "I'll look for him somewhere else." He
was about to turn to leave, but the younger girl's voice stopped him.

"He misses you a lot, you know that?"

The sky-blue-haired one looked at the girl again, arching an eyebrow slightly. "Excuse me?"

"Reki misses you. Sometimes I hear him crying from the hallway, and even the few times I've seen
him leave his room, I can see his sad look." sighed the girl, crossing her arms. "He's suffered so much
because of you and blames himself because you dumped him. He feels his best friend abandoned
him." she clarified loud and clear. "And I'm not going to lie to you; my mother and I are mad at you
for that. Be thankful she didn't open the door."

Langa listened carefully to Koyomi's words, feeling each hit his conscience hard. The weight of guilt
and regret was becoming increasingly evident on his face. He couldn't bear the thought that Reki was
suffering because of him.

"I understand..." The light blue-haired one felt pain in his heart. "I know what I did, and I regret that
so much," he confessed in sorrow and anger with himself. "Believe me, I hate myself so much for
making him feel that way. If I could change what I did, I would do it in a heartbeat... That's why I
need to talk to Reki and apologize. I know I failed him and was wrong to walk away from him like
that."

Koyomi looked at him with some caution, noticing Langa’s sincerity. "Reki is strong, but we all have
a limit. He always appears happy, but it's just a mask. He's actually sensitive." she answered sincerely.
"I can tell you're telling the truth, so I believe you. Although I can't guarantee that Reki will believe
you and forgive you immediately."

"I promise to make things right with him." Langa replied genuinely. "And tell your mom to forgive
me for what I did."

Koyomi nodded, flashing a small smile of approval. "You'd better fix things when you find him."

Langa nodded once more, grateful for the younger girl's words. Determined, he turned around, and
decided to go through the same places and look for the redhead once again, no matter how much
longer it might take.

"Wait!" the girl shouted, catching the taller one's attention. "Look for him at the skate park." she
finally admitted.

"Thank you."

Langa walked away from Reki's house without waiting any longer, his eyes fixed on the road. He felt
a knot in his stomach, and anguish enveloped him completely, but he still had a shred of hope inside
him.

It was a matter of minutes before Langa arrived at the skate park. The sunset gave the place a warm
atmosphere, but no one was there for some strange reason. The area, usually filled with the hustle and
bustle of children and teenagers, was quiet. He looked for Reki with his eyes as he walked, taking
tentative steps as if he was afraid of interrupting something he didn't know.

And then, he saw him. Reki was sitting on top of the halfpipe, immersed in thought as his eyes were
lost in the horizon. Langa paused for a moment, contemplating the solitary figure of his friend. It was
as if the world had gone silent around them, leaving the two of them as the only protagonists of that
moment.

The wind blew softly. Langa approached with a slow but determined pace, not wanting to break the
moment's serenity. As he approached the halfpipe, his heart pounded in his chest anxiously.

Cautiously, Langa climbed the halfpipe until he was behind the redhead's back. He swallowed,
nervous, thinking about how he'd only been away from Reki for two days, but they felt like an
eternity.

"Reki..." he spoke softly, just loud enough to be heard.

He could see how the redhead tensed at the sound of his voice. As Langa got closer, he could see the
expression on Reki's face. The corner of his amber eyes was slightly puffy from crying, and his face
reflected a mixture of sadness and surprise, as if all this time he had been lost in his thoughts. Langa
felt a lump in his throat, and a surge of emotions invaded his entire being. He wanted to hug and tell
him how much he had missed him and how sorry he was for hurting him. He wanted so badly to do
that, but his body wouldn't respond.

Langa took a breath, trying to choose his words carefully. He wanted to show him how sorry he was.
He knew it didn't guarantee that everything would return to the way it was, but he was willing to try.
However, before he could say anything, he was interrupted.

"Langa..." whispered Reki, his voice seeming to have contained so many emotions.

The blue-eyed kept quiet, standing at a respectful distance between them. He could feel the
atmosphere tense.

"May I sit next to you?" he asked, looking around the empty space.

Reki just shook his head and looked at the horizon while hugging his knees. Langa sat next to Reki,
analyzing him with his eyes. His red hair seemed messier than usual, and slight dark circles were
under his eyes. Amidst the silence and tension in the air, the only thing that could be heard was the
sound of leaves moving in the wind. He knew Reki would be sad, but he never imagined seeing him
like this.

"Reki I... I came to apologize to you." Langa tried to speak. His voice was shaky but full of sincerity.
"You don't know how sorry I am for leaving you that morning without explanation and hurting you. It
was a horrible mistake." he looked at the redhead, who was looking to the side, trying not to make eye
contact with him. "I'm not good with words, but I'm seriously so sorry." he sighed. "I can't stop
thinking about you, our relationship, and everything we've shared." He said the last leaning over a bit,
his throat aching.

Silence. There was only silence for a couple of minutes, which felt eternal in the tense little
atmosphere between them. In the middle of the silence, suddenly, a sob was heard. The redhead made
eye contact with him for the first time since he arrived, making his heart break into a million little
pieces.

Reki's eyes filled with tears, and Langa could see the pain reflected in them. He wanted to reach out
and hug him, promise never to leave him again, but he knew he had to give him space to express his
voice.

"Why?" asked Reki, his voice cracking. "Why did you just leave like that without saying anything!?
Do I mean anything to you!?" he shouted, looking at Langa, his voice expressing sadness and anger.
"I had the best night and birthday of my life. You said you loved me, and I was so happy about that;
so happy to finally know that someone loved me no matter how I was," he stressed, tears still falling
from his amber eyes. "Do you know how many times I cried for you when you left!? The times I got
to thinking what I did wrong?!...shit." he closed his eyes, sobbing.
Langa felt like he was stabbed in the chest by Reki's words. He knew perfectly well that he was right
and didn't have a good enough excuse to justify what he did.

"I have no idea, Reki," Langa admitted, his eyes shining with sadness. "I got scared, overwhelmed by
my own feelings, and didn't know how to deal with them. I was selfish to think that disappearing
would be easier for both of us. But I was wrong, and I deeply regret the damage I did to you," he
sighed, looking at the redhead. '

"Don't lie to me. I know you perfectly well, and I know how you are when you hide things to protect
me."

"If I told you the truth, you'd think I’m crazy."

"Then let me lose my mind with you," Reki said, loud and clear. "I just want to understand why you
did this."

Langa swallowed, feeling his heart beating a mile a minute. "Are you sure?"

"Please." the redhead pleaded quietly.

Langa took a deep breath with his heart pounding hard against his chest. His hands clutched nervously
at the edges of his shirt. After so many months of strange dreams and confused feelings, the time had
finally come to reveal the truth. He knew it was now or never. He looked at Reki straight in the eyes,
finding in them the determination and confidence to do this.

This was the moment when everything would change, and Langa was determined to face any
consequences that might arise.

"It all started earlier this year..." the canadian started to speak.

Finally, Langa confessed everything to Reki. For an extended part of the afternoon, he took the time
to explain every detail of every dream he had had up to that moment. He talked about the time when
he met him under the shade of the tree, when he taught him how to skate, the time he healed him, his
alternate memories, etc. But above all, he shared the most important event: the last meeting in his
dreams, in which the boy revealed his true identity and how this was Reki.

The redhead did not dare to interrupt him; he simply listened carefully to what the taller one said,
trying to process everything. Time passed, and the sun was hiding in the water when he finished
telling everything.

"And that's it. The last time I saw him, he vanished into golden particles." concluded Langa, feeling
like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "I know it's a lot to process, so I don't blame you
for being quiet."

Reki closed his eyes briefly and sighed, then looked at Langa again. "So, in the end, I was always the
boy of your dreams even before we met?" he asked, trying to understand everything.

"Yes, it was always you." he sighed.

"In your last dream, I disappeared...did I die?" he asked sorrowfully.

The canadian felt a lump in his throat. "I don't know." he answered honestly, looking at the opposite.
"But after taking time to connect all my dreams, I think it's possible."

Reki bit his lower lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He had spent days wondering
what he had done wrong, blaming himself for Langa's departure. Now, to have him in front of him,
admitting the real reason he left was overwhelming.

"Shit," muttered Reki. "How is this even possible?"

"I wish I knew." He replied, putting his hand next to the redheads. He wanted to hold it so badly.

Reki noticed this. Hesitantly and slowly. He intertwined his fingers with Langa's, feeling shivers from
the feel of his skin against his own. God, he had missed being with him like this so much.

"Maybe we're not supposed to find an answer to this." explained the redhead. "Maybe we're just
soulmates who were separated and reunited in this universe." he smiled slightly, looking longingly at
his hand with Langa's. "Maybe life just wanted to bring us back together like this."

The sky-blue-haired one looked down at his hands. "Soulmates?" his voice was soft.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I believe in these things. I mean, if I from another universe found a way
to talk to you, it's not a coincidence, don't you think so?" he explained, looking at the horizon turning
blue. "I've never been smart and it's hard for me to understand many things, worse if they are
situations like this...but right now I don't feel the need to figure anything out. I can only feel it and I
know that all this happened for a reason."

It was strange. Even if Langa didn't know why it all happened, all the doubts and confusions he had
all year began slowly dissipating inside him. A sense of calm and acceptance came over him. Maybe
it was true what Reki said; perhaps they didn't need to fully understand what had happened to them
but to embrace and accept their special connection.

Nodding softly, his gaze met Reki's, and a small flash of happiness and love arose between them.
There were no more questions at that moment, only the certainty that they were together again and
nothing could separate them.

"I love you, Reki," Langa said, his voice gentle. "You’re important to me, my inspiration, my support,
and the first boy I ever loved. I don't know how or why all this happened, but I know I want to be with
you. I want to explore this new chapter of our lives together, no matter what fate has in store for us."

Reki looked at Langa for a long moment, feeling the intensity of his words and gaze. Finally, he
nodded slowly and a lone tear escaped his eyes.
 "I missed you so much, Langa," Reki admitted in a whisper. "I missed you and it hurt so much not
hearing from you. But I want to believe in us. I want to believe that we can get through this together."

A sigh of relief escaped Langa's lips as his eyes met Reki's. Shakily, Langa brought his free hand to
Reki's face, gently caressing his cheek. His fingers brushed against the warm skin and the redhead
closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the contact. They both felt the electricity in the air,
the tension built up during the time they didn't see each other.

Finally, on impulse, Reki leaned his head slightly forward, breaking the distance between them. Their
lips met in a soft kiss but charged with love and desire. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, with
them being the only protagonists. Their heartbeats synchronized, melting into a single rhythm. Their
lips moved in perfect harmony, exploring the taste and tenderness they had longed for so long.

When they stopped kissing, their gazes met again. A shy smile tugged at Reki's lips while Langa
looked at him lovely and tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I love you," Reki whispered, his voice full of sincerity and determination. "I always have, even
before I fully understood."

Langa's smile grew wider. "And I love you, Reki," he replied, his voice full of joy and tenderness.
"No matter what happened, you will always be the boy of my dreams, the one who saved my life."

They embraced each other tightly, cherishing their love and enjoying each other's presence. The stars
shining in the sky added a magical touch to the park. They finally uncovered the truth and believed
nothing could come between them now. They were confident that everything would be okay.
However, Langa would return to Canada in three weeks, so they decided to make the most of the
remaining time together.

Chapter End Notes

Hello, my loves! I'm finally back :')

Sorry for the long delay. College drove me crazy after my trip
back~.
🫠 But, oh well, I'm happy to be
I'm happy to announce that... RENGA CANON AND SOULMATES!!! The boys are reconciled,
and Reki knows the truth about Langa's dreams. What do you guys think will happen now? What
do you think about Reki's reaction to the dreams? I love reading your comments <3

Also, we have one more chapter and the epilogue to go before the fanfic is over. I'm not going to
lie; I'm already missing the boys. ª

I can't say much, just that cool stuff is coming~

See you in the next chapter. I love you <3

Once again, thank you for your patience!
 Chapter 15
Chapter Notes

I'm sorry for the delay, I was also writing the epilogue + some personal issues came up :'D
Here's a +8K word chapter~

[CW ] ⚠️
A part of this chapter includes non-explicit (subtle) nsfw.
If you want to, you can skip it (ctrl f) from "Let's go to my room" to "Nothing would separate
them."
There's also a mention of self-harm.

Enjoy your reading!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝When the night was full of terrors

And your eyes were filled with tears
When you had not touched me yet
Oh, take me back to the night we met❞

» The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Time flew by since Langa and Reki apologized to each other.

Life seemed to take a positive 180-degree turn from that day on. Their relationship was going
perfectly; their family and friends were supportive, everything was on the right track. Since the truth
of Langa's dreams was exposed, their relationship became stronger than ever. Reki and Langa spent a
lot of time together, happy times.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. Three weeks had passed before they knew it, and Langa would
be back in Canada this weekend. Both boys knew that perfectly well and pretended to be calm about
it, but deep down it was clear they were just ignoring the situation by escaping reality by being
together. After all, they only had two days left together in Okinawa and didn't know when they would
see each other again.

When the S squad found out about his departure date, they couldn't help but give him a small farewell
party. They spent the whole day skating and doing some of the things Langa liked to do. After that,
the six of them ended up at Sia la Luce by sunset. Kojiro was so nice that he closed the restaurant for
them to use that day. And there they were, sitting around a table, sharing a delicious traditional Italian
pizza prepared by the green-haired one, in the middle of a warm and cozy atmosphere.

"Do you have everything ready to go back?" asked Kaoru as he took a sip of wine, looking at Langa.
The canadian finished his bite of pizza before answering and looked at him. "I got almost everything
packed. Reki helped me, so it wasn't that hard." he replied, then sighed. "I'm going to miss Okinawa."
he muttered to himself.

"You said you're leaving on Saturday, right?" questioned Miya, sitting beside him.

Langa nodded, but he couldn't help but let a slight tension run through his body at the mention of his
return to Canada. The mere thought of returning to that reality where he always felt lonely and cold
brought a lump to his throat. It wasn't that he hated his home country; he cherished and was fond of it.
However, Langa had changed and no longer felt the same in that place. In just three months, Okinawa
had become his refuge, his new home. The familiarity, warmth, and people he had met there had left a
deep mark on his heart.

"Any idea what you'll do when you get back?" Kojiro's question snapped him out of his thoughts.

"I'm already late to start classes, so... I guess I'll just look for a job until next semester starts."

"What are you going to study?" asked Miya.

"I was thinking about..."

The squad continued to talk and ask Langa questions. The taste of pizza mingled with mixed emotions
among everyone. Amidst the hustle and bustle he was now used to, the canadian's blue eyes focused
on his boyfriend. Reki was always energetic and a ray of light in his life, but at this very moment, he
seemed so lost, distant, and blank looking. His leg kept bouncing nervously, and he hadn't even eaten
his food.

Delicately, Langa entwined his pinky with Reki's under the table, bringing the other out of his
thoughts. It was a small affection but full of meaning for both of them. Their gazes met, and the
redhead only showed him a small forced smile, wanting to assure him that he was fine even if it
wasn't true. It was too obvious why he felt bad, and it broke Langa's heart.

Unable to hold in his emotions any longer, Reki excused himself and got up from the table, walking
toward the bathroom corridor. The solitude of that corridor finally allowed him to take a break. The
redhead sighed tiredly, leaning against the wall as his head filled with a thousand thoughts of all the
moments they spent together.

Lost in thought and in the dim hallway light, Reki didn't notice the sound of footsteps approaching
him until a hand touched his shoulder. He turned his head slightly until he noticed Langa's presence.
His eyes reflected concern and affection.

"Reki, is everything alright?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." he tried to convince his boyfriend that he was fine. He didn't want to
worry Langa about how messed up his mind was. But the taller one's watchful gaze revealed that he
couldn't hide his actual state.

Without letting go of Reki's shoulder, Langa moved even closer, remaining silent so the redhead could
express himself.
"I don't want you to go." Reki murmured, smiling slightly as his heart clenched and his voice filled
with sadness. "You've given me so much, Langa. You are my home now, and the thought of you
leaving me scares me so much..."

"Reki..." Langa's face softened. "I don't want to leave either, but I have no choice..." he replied
genuinely, wrapping Reki in a comforting embrace. He could feel the redhead's body trembling softly.

"Promise me you won't forget me."

"How could I forget you? You saved me when I thought I had no one." he confessed, his voice was
soft. "No matter the distance, I will always be with you," Langa assured, trying to express himself as
best he could. "What we have is stronger than any physical distance. We may miss each other and
long for each other's touch, but our bond will not be broken."

Reki clung to Langa tightly, feeling the comfort and hope his words brought him. Amidst the
hallway's darkness, they found refuge in each other's company.

With small tears in his eyes, Reki looked at Langa. "We'll be fine." he repeated to himself.

Langa gently kissed Reki's lips, trying to soothe him, sealing his promise in that small but significant
moment.

A couple of minutes passed when they decided to return with the rest. The silence was present at
times, each one immersed in their thoughts as they savored the food. Gestures and glances were
charged with affection and nostalgia. There was no need for words to express their feelings, as each
knew what the other meant. Although their hearts were heavy with the closeness of the departure,
they made the most of every moment, trying to treasure every smile, every brush of hands, and every
glance.

Their gazes met as the last pizza bite was savored, sharing a deep and sincere understanding. They
knew they had to part ways for now, but they promised to fight to keep the bond the universe had
given them.

They had only a few days left, but at that moment, they were together, and that was all that mattered.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you home?" asked Kaoru, standing next to Kojiro at the
restaurant's entrance.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine. My house isn't far, and Langa will stay with me." clarified the redhead,
putting his skateboard on the ground.

After the emotional dinner at Sia la Luce, Okinawa's night sky was covered with dark gray clouds.
The air charged with electricity, and it seemed a storm would hit the city at any moment. Still, they
didn't mind getting wet. They knew this moment was special and wanted to make the most of every
moment together.
After spending a few minutes saying goodbye, each went their separate ways. They began their
journey to Reki's house, discussing what movie they could watch, what snacks they would eat, or just
planning insignificant things.

The city lights illuminated their surroundings as they skated down the streets together, their wheels
gliding over the pavement that was beginning to decorate with raindrops. The rhythmic sound of their
skates mingled with the cool breeze that was starting to blow.

"I dare you a race to my house." suddenly said Reki, pushing himself to go faster.

Langa didn't have to answer. The playful smile on his lips was enough to speak his mind. Both young
men were skating, going at full speed side by side. As the minutes passed, the rain intensified, but that
didn't stop them. Their clothes were already completely soaked. Their laughter mixed with the rain
created a unique symphony they could only hear. While everyone around them was looking for
shelter, Reki and Langa were trapped in their small but wonderful world.

Every drop that brushed their faces seemed a reminder of how little time they had left together.

Reki and Langa shared glances filled with love and nostalgia as they skated side by side. As they went
along, the familiar streets of Okinawa seemed to come alive with the moments they had experienced
together. It had been so long since he had last enjoyed the rain so much.

Finally, they arrived at the redhead's house, where they would spend the night together.

With keys in hand, Reki opened the door, and Langa followed. Giggling, they left their skates and
shoes at the entrance.

"Mom, we're here." announced Reki, hoping to hear some response, but there was nothing. "Mom?"

Going further into the house and turning on the lights, they noticed no one was there. The house,
generally filled with the noise of their little sisters and mother, was now enveloped in a mysterious
calm. As if by magic, a message arrived on Reki's phone, getting his attention.

Curious, he opened the message and played his mother's audio. Her loving voice echoed in the room:

"Sweetie, I’m sorry for not being home. I went to visit your grandmother with your sisters, but
we decided to sleep here because of the heavy rain. You will have to spend the night alone at
home with Langa. There is food in the refrigerator.
I love you. See you tomorrow."

That was the only thing Masae's audio said.

Langa felt his heart skip a beat, feeling a mixture of emotions as he processed the information. On the
one hand, he was happy to have the house to themselves, but at the same time, it was strange. He had
slept over with Reki many times before and vice versa, but this was the first time they would have no
company.
And oh, Reki's slightly flushed face looking at his phone showed him that he also didn't know what to
feel. Even in the middle of the storm outside the house, their silence was too loud.

"You're soaking wet." the redhead said, trying to break the tension. "You can shower first. I'll mop up
our mess." he pointed to Langa's clothes and the wet floor.

"You’re also soaked." Langa pointed out.

Reki let out a nervous little laugh. "Don't worry about me; I'll use the other bathroom as soon as I'm
done."

"But Reki, I want to help you."

"You are my guest, Langa." he urged the taller one with his gaze.

The canadian didn't want to bother him anymore, so he simply let out a sigh and ended up giving in.
He didn't understand why Reki was acting like that, maybe his social battery drained and he needed to
be alone for a moment. Langa understood it; the same thing happened to him most of the time. He
glanced at his boyfriend again before grabbing his things and heading down the hall...

It was about 20 minutes when Langa finished bathing and left his wet clothes drying in the shower.
The light blue-haired one came out of the bathroom, feeling fresh in his clean clothes. He walked to
the living room to meet Reki, but when he got there, he wasn't there.

"I guess he’s still showering." he said to himself.

Langa tried not to overthink the subject and sat down on the couch. He took advantage of the time to
grab the remote control and look up what movie they could watch when he returned. Scrolling
through the options, the rain outside was intensifying. It looked like it was going to continue for
several hours. It was a matter of 10 minutes when Reki entered the room. His red hair was a bit damp
and curly, and he wore an oversized hoodie with sweatpants. Shit, he looked so cute. Oh well, for
Langa, Reki always looked pretty.

Entering the living room, Reki's amber eyes lit up at the sight of Langa sitting on the couch. Without a
word, he sat beside him, resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder.

"Feeling better?" questioned Langa, his voice soft as always.

Reki nodded. "I think I just needed to be alone with you. I don't know why I felt so overwhelmed at
Sia la Luce."

"It’s ok. I get what you mean."

The redhead was acting so weird. He seemed nervous about whether it was right to do every action,
no matter how small or insignificant it was… he seemed so nervous. What was Reki thinking? Did he
want to tell him something? Langa wanted to believe this was just his imagination and Reki was tired.

"Did you happen to dream of my other universe self again?"

The light blue-haired one was taken by surprise by the question. "No. He seems to have disappeared
forever." he replied genuinely.

"Okay... hey, Langa."

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you an awkward question about your dreams?"

The blue-eyed one’s cheeks flushed a little but nodded.

"Did you ever kiss or do anything else with him?"

"Anything else?" asked Langa. It was a matter of seconds before his brain could process the double
meaning and understand what he was referring to. "Oh, that." he gulped. "We only kissed once."

"Oh ok, ok..." muttered Reki. "I'm just asking out of mere curiosity. It's not like I'm jealous of myself
or anything."

"I never said that–"

"Let's just watch the movie!"

After choosing and starting a movie, they were both curled up on the couch, wrapped in a soft
blanket. The dim light from the screen illuminated the room, creating a cozy atmosphere. It was
strange, although they were often silent and didn't find it uncomfortable, now it was the opposite. It
felt so different for some reason. As the movie continued, Langa's heart began to beat faster. Reki, on
the other hand, could feel his hands trembling slightly.

The redhead looked up, meeting the taller one's gaze. They looked at each other for a few seconds in
silence, ignoring the movie in the background, feeling their cheeks heat up. Unable to stand the
tension between the two any longer, Reki leaned towards Langa and brought his lips close to his.
Sinking into each other's warmth. The kiss was soft and tender at first, just as they always did, but the
passion unleashed as they let themselves get caught up in the moment. The kisses became deeper as
their bodies drew even closer together.

Reki, without pulling away from Langa's lips, gently sat on his lap, moving his hips lightly against
his, feeling the warmth and connection between them. Wanting to feel the japanese one closer,
Langa's hands went underneath Reki's hoodie, gently exploring every nook and cranny of his being,
getting goosebumps on his skin and filling the room with his sighs.

At that moment, everything else disappeared. Only the two of them existed, surrendered to the love
they had found in each other. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in that kiss, melting
into an intimate embrace and sharing the warmth of their bodies.

Separating due to lack of air, Reki and Langa's gazes met, their breaths ragged, and their faces
illuminated by the moment's intensity. Without saying a single word, they told each other everything
they felt.

"Let's go to my room." suggested Reki between sighs, caressing his boyfriend's face.

Langa nodded.

What had started with innocent kisses ended up being something more intimate for Reki and Langa.
In the middle of the rainy night, both were in the redhead's room, illuminated by the warm LED
lights. The atmosphere charged with anticipation and nervousness.

With slow and careful movements, they began to undress without taking their eyes off each other.
Piece by piece, their clothes fell to the floor until they had nothing to cover them. Feeling shivers
from the sudden air on their skin. For the first time, Langa was naked in front of another person, and
he was not only talking carnally but also opening his heart and showing his fears and insecurities.

Langa was lying on the bed; his body exposed the same way he came into the world. His mind was
somewhat clouded by the sensation of Reki's face between his legs. Breathing heavily, his lips let out
several sighs and moans. The light blue-haired one felt like he was in heaven.

He had heard many times about it, how this had to be done, he had even read and seen about it, but
nothing had prepared him for how he would feel. He knew one should feel good, but this just
exceeded his expectations. It was so weird how they were watching a movie just a few minutes ago
and now they were in these circumstances.

They hadn't planned anything. It just happened. Maybe they unconsciously decided this was how they
wanted to be together before separating for a long time. They didn't know when they would see each
other again; it could be months or years before that.

"Reki~" escaped his lips as he closed his eyes, letting himself go.

Blushing, the redhead stopped what he was doing. At that moment, Langa's gaze met his boyfriend's,
who was almost as exposed as he was, except that Reki was still wearing his hoodie. It was the piece
of clothing left. Even showing his most intimate parts, it seemed that what was under the fabric was
the only thing he was embarrassed to reveal.

"Are you okay?" asked Reki, his cheeks slightly flushed.

Langa nodded, sitting down on the bed. "It's not fair. I want to make you feel good too." he stressed.

"It doesn't matter. I could keep doing this all night."

"Let me make you feel good and loved, please." his blue eyes looked at him fondly. "You deserve it."

The redhead sighed, then smiled foolishly and said yes. Their lips met once more, their bodies melting
in a passionate embrace. Reki's skin tingled as Langa's lips stopped kissing him and began to trail
down his neck, leaving a trail of fiery kisses. Reki's breath hitched as Langa's hands gently explored
his body underneath his hoodie, exploring every curve and soft skin. The room got filled with soft
pants and whispered words of affection as they lost themselves in each other.

Deep in the moment, Langa tried to pull off his hoodie but instantly felt Reki stop him, firmly holding
the edge of it to prevent him from continuing. Langa didn't know what to think about it. Did he hurt
him? Did he do something wrong?

"I want to keep this, please," Reki said, his voice betraying his nerves. "There's nothing good to see."

Langa looked at him in confusion. "I've already seen you shirtless on the beach." he said softly. "Are
you okay?"

"It's different now. It's just… I don't want you to be disappointed in me."

"Why would I be?" he looked gently into his boyfriend's eyes, caressing his face, trying to tell him
with that small action that he could trust him.

"I've done things I'm not proud of." admitted Reki quietly.

"Hey, it's just us here." he whispered comfortingly, pressing their foreheads together. "You don’t have
to show me anything you don't want to, okay?" he cupped Reki's face. "I love you, and all I care about
is that you're okay."

Reki's amber eyes glazed over with those words. It was as if he had been bandaged up in a few
seconds from all the wounds he had dealt throughout his life. With a slight blush on his cheeks, he
looked to the side with a gentle smile on his face.

"Gosh, why are you so nice to me?..." the redhead let out a chuckle, only to meet his gaze with the
taller one again. "Promise me you won't be mad at me."

"I could never be." the canadian replied, not a hint of malice in his voice. He wanted to be there for
Reki no matter what.

Slowly, Reki removed his hoodie without taking his eyes off Langa. The last piece of clothing fell to
the floor, revealing his bare skin for the first time. Blue eyes roamed his boyfriend's body,
appreciating the small details of the person he loved. His gaze went from the small stretch marks on
Reki's hip, his appendix scar, down to his wrists. It was the first time he saw that part of his body
without bandages or bracelets covering it, surprising Langa when he noticed what they were hiding all
this time: Reki had light scars.

"Reki..." was the only thing that escaped Langa's lips. He wasn't angry with his boyfriend, on the
contrary, he was just surprised and wanted to understand him.
"Don't worry, they're old, and I haven't relapsed… it was a stupid thing I did at an ugly time in my
life." he admitted. He could tell the slight pain in his voice at the memory. "I'm ashamed of them."

The canadian had no words to describe how he felt. It pained him to know that Reki once felt so lost
that this was the only way to get it off his chest. He had so many questions to ask, but he knew that
having Reki tell him about this was enough for now. There would be another time when Reki would
be more comfortable explaining to him why he did it. Unconsciously, Langa gently stroked the scars
with his thumb as if that small action could heal them and make them disappear.

"I'm so sorry, Reki." whispered Langa, not taking his eyes off his boyfriend.

"Why?"

"For not being there when you needed me most."

The redhead felt a lump in his throat at hearing that. He felt as if he would break down at any moment
from the caresses and comforting words he was receiving. He had expected any reaction but that, and
shit, he was happy to let that secret off his shoulders.

Amidst the comforting silence, Langa kissed Reki's scars, letting his actions comfort and heal
anything from the past, trapping them in an intimate moment. Reki had never felt so appreciated as he
did in that small moment. Knowing that someone was willing to accept him completely, no matter
how broken he was, was enough to make him happy.

Their lips met once more. The taller man laid the redhead on the bed without separating for a second.
As time passed, the intensity of the kiss increased, as did the temperature in the room.

Langa wanted so much for Reki to feel loved. It was their first time, so he didn’t really know what to
do. The only thing that was clear to him was that he wanted to make this moment feel good. He
wanted to make this night special for both of them.

The light blue-haired one broke away from the kiss and took a breath, looking back up at him. "So,
who's going to...you know."

Reki blushed at the question. "If I'm honest with you, I wouldn't mind being it."

"Are you sure, sunshine?"

"Yes." he replied firmly. "We can switch positions the next time we do it."

The next time...

Langa thought to himself. He liked the idea; he longed for a second time when they would be together
like this.

They kissed again, helping each other prepare for what would come next. With each kiss, their bodies
grew closer, their hands roaming each other's backs, feeling the warmth and familiarity of their skin.
The redhead's fingers found their way into the taller one’s soft hair while Langa's hands gripped
Reki's hips, pulling him closer, making him put his legs around him.

Langa broke the kiss, panting as he looked into Reki's eyes, silently asking for permission. Reki's eyes
held a mixture of desire and trust as he nodded, giving Langa the confirmation he needed.

Positioning himself on Reki, he told him to let him know if it hurt and that sort of thing.

The canadian closed his eyes and mentally counted to three, then slowly began to go in...

A soft moan escaped his lips. It was really happening. It felt so good, loved, and happy to do this with
Reki, the boy he loved so much.

Once fully inside, unconsciously, rebel tears got out from Langa's blue eyes. He felt overstimulated, in
a good way. As he opened his eyes and looked down, wanting to confirm how his boyfriend was
doing, he couldn't help but be surprised by what he saw.

Reki was flushed, whimpering, tears streaming down his face, but he looked at the boy he loved with
the sweetest smile.

"Hey, I should be the one crying, not you." Reki said softly, wiping the tears from Langa’s face.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I've never felt so loved as I do now," he whispered, smiling gently, pressing
their foreheads together. "Let me appreciate every part of you, Reki."

They lay still for a few minutes, speaking words of comfort until they both got used to the new
sensation. When they began to move, it was with a tenderness that took their breath away. Reki
hugged Langa, their bodies pressed against each other, skin to skin. They moved slowly, taking their
time to savor the intimacy of the moment, their movements fueled by love and longing. Filling the
room with their pants, groans, and moans.

Lost in each other’s bodies, they showed how much they loved and would miss each other. They
shared a moment of pure connection, holding each other tightly, their bodies trembling from the
intensity of their emotions.

This didn't feel like lovemaking, it was more than that. This felt like love and passion in its purest
form.

In the middle of those four walls, time seemed to stop for both of them, losing themselves in their
world where none of this would end. For that small moment of their lives, Langa and Reki preferred
to live in that lie and think that nothing would separate them.
And finally, that moment they wanted so much to avoid arrived.

Today was Saturday, the day Langa would return to Canada. The day they would be separated until
who knows when.

The day was sunny, brightening the room as they stood amidst the mess of suitcases and belongings.
It was unbelievable and painful to think that Reki was helping him pack for Okinawa just a few
months ago, and now it was to return home. The atmosphere was charged with silence and sadness,
only interrupted by the occasional melancholy sigh or when they had to check if something was
missing.

As they put the last things in the luggage, Reki looked at Langa for a while, trying to keep his
composure and hide his glassy eyes, biting his lip to avoid bursting into tears. Each object and piece
of clothing he carefully placed brought back memories of a moment they lived together, representing
a small part of their history.

On the other hand, Langa tried to keep his usual serene expression, but his eyes reflected so much of
the sadness he felt inside. Every time their gazes met, a flash of pain could be caught in their eyes.
They knew this day would come, and the weight of parting was overwhelming despite having known
it for months.

After all, they were soulmates. The universe itself had told them so.

How could it be possible not to feel that a part of them was being ripped away?

The metallic sound of the zipper closing the suitcase echoed in the room as if it was a callout of the
approaching reality. Langa turned to Reki, his eyes full of sadness but also gratitude.

"I think I’m all set," Langa muttered, struggling to keep his composure. "Thanks for helping me with
this, Reki."

Reki nodded, forcing a smile and avoiding eye contact. "You're welcome, Langa. I'll always be here
for you, even when you're far away."

The canadian looked at him sadly. "Are you sure you want to accompany me to the airport? I don't
want you to suffer anymore."

"Don't worry about me. I'll settle for just a few more hours."

An awkward silence settled between them as if time had stopped to allow them to process the
moment. They stared at each other as if they wanted to engrave every detail of the other's face in their
memories. They both wanted to say and express everything they felt, but they seemed to be trapped
inside their throats. Still, they understood each other without needing to speak.

Amid the silence, the light knock on the bedroom door interrupted them, only to be opened seconds
later by Langa's mother.
"Honey, it's time to go." said Nanako, looking at both young men. "Only your suitcase is left."

Langa felt like he had been stabbed in the heart with those words. He hadn't even said goodbye to
Reki yet, and somehow, he felt too emotionally drained.

With Reki's help, he carried his luggage to the car. Langa said goodbye to his aunt and uncle, thanking
them for all their help during his stay. He saw the building that had been his home for the last time for
all these months, and then finally got into the vehicle and left.

The drive to the airport was a silent, agony-filled journey.

While the adult was driving and talking to herself, Langa and Reki sat in the back seats. Melancholy,
the light blue-haired boy gazed out the window at the Okinawan landscape he already knew like the
back of his hand. His thoughts were lost in the memories shared with Reki as the scenery passed
quickly before his eyes. His heart would shrink a little more whenever he saw a familiar place,
knowing he would soon be far away.

At times, Langa looked sideways at Reki. They still didn't know what to do or say, but the way their
hands were holding and how the redhead rested his head on the taller one's shoulder was enough for
that moment.

After arriving at the airport and completing the lengthy check-in process, Nanako told the boys to
wait for her as she had another bag to check. She left the boys alone, sitting on a bench, giving them
even a few more minutes before the final goodbye.

Holding hands, silence settled between them once again. Langa watched the people around them,
minding their own business and going about their lives, the sound of announcements and the bustle of
people lightening the mood somewhat.

"Are you nervous about coming back?" asked Reki, trying not to make the moment any weirder than
it was, as he felt the other one stroking his thumb. "I know this is sad for us, but I guess you missed
something about Canada, didn't you?"

Langa looked at the ceiling and thought for a few seconds. "I think just my friends and the poutine.
Other than that, I think nothing else."

"Of course you missed the food. That's so you." he laughed, dimples marking his cheeks as he looked
at the canadian. "Isn't that just fries with cheese and gravy?"

The light blue-haired one nodded. "You have to visit me someday and we'll eat that together. I can
guide you around the city, and if you come in winter I'll teach you snowboarding." he said excitedly,
thinking of all the things they could do together. He was lost in his fantasy world for a few seconds,
but quickly came back to reality.

"When I win the lottery, I'll run away with you to Vancouver." he joked, gently tapping Langa on the
shoulder, showing a small nostalgic smile. "Someday, I'll get out of this little island."
Langa let out a soft laugh and tightened his grip. "It would be cool to run away together and explore
the world," he replied, gently smiling.

The sound of loudspeakers announcing the departure of other flights mingled with the buzz of people
at the airport. Time seemed to pass faster than desired, and the sadness grew more intense in Reki's
heart.

At that moment, Nanako returned to where they were, bringing a mixture of sadness and resignation
on her face. It was time to face the reality of saying goodbye.

"Langa, it's time," Nanako said softly.

Reki and Langa stood up from the bench, squeezing each other's hands one last time before setting off
to the migration gate. Each step they took became heavier, and silence reigned between them, words
had become insufficient to express their feelings.

Finally, they reached the point where they were to separate. They looked at each other, their eyes full
of love and sadness.

"So, this is goodbye." whispered the blue-eyed one.

"Yes..."

Without another word, Reki suddenly got close to Langa, hugging him tightly, letting out his tears in
an emotionally charged embrace.

"I'll miss you so much, Langa," Reki confessed in a sob, feeling a lump in his throat. "Please don't
go."

Time seemed to stand still in that embrace as if they wanted to freeze that moment forever. Langa's
throat tightened instantly, letting tears cloud his vision and roll down his pale cheeks.

Their lips met again in a kiss full of tenderness and sadness. A kiss they didn't know when they would
have again . They didn't care what the people around them said or if they judged or cursed them; that
moment belonged to both.

Breaking away, Langa looked into Reki's teary eyes one last time and caressed his face, memorizing
every feature and expression. However, an intense pain shot through Langa's head at that moment,
causing him to hiss in pain. He closed his eyes, fighting the wave of pain that got him. His body gave
up without realizing it, and he collapsed in Reki's arms.

"Langa!"
It was the last thing he heard before he fell unconscious.

Langa knew this sensation perfectly well. The way his body and environment felt light and his senses
seemed numb was enough to make him recognize what was happening. He knew this was the
alternate reality to which he was already used.

On the one hand, Langa was intrigued to be here, but at the same time he felt so strange. He swore
that his dreams with the other Reki had ended when he disappeared and they said goodbye. He hadn't
seen him since then. So why had he come back just now?

In the middle of that black room that he already knew perfectly well, there was a small sofa with an
antique television in front of it. As he approached it, the pause symbol on the screen tempted him to
find out what the universe wanted him to watch the video. As soon as he sat on the couch, the video
started playing.

Langa's eyes widened when he saw who was on the screen. It was Reki, but not his Reki, but the one
from the alternate reality.

The video showed memories of the redhead, moments of his childhood, etc. Everything was going
perfectly, it seemed like a happy life, but all those happy memories changed when he entered high
school.

Langa was stunned as he watched everything. He could see how Reki suffered bullying at school, and
his father physically abused him almost every day when he got home. As the images progressed, he
could see how Reki's smile gradually faded, being replaced by a sad and lifeless look. The scenes
showed Reki struggling with his emotions, trying to hide his pain behind a mask of joy.

After the ugly memories, Langa's dreams came on screen, implying they had met in that universe. All
those moments they spent together were shown: under the shade of the tree, in the classroom, and so
on. He even saw again the time he healed the red-haired boy's cuts and how he apologized to Langa
while crying.

The light blue-haired one wondered why everything looked different from how he dreamed it. They
were the same scenes, yet at the same time, they felt so foreign. It was a matter of seconds and a
couple more memories when Langa realized what was happening.

Those were not his dreams that were on screen.

He was seeing himself in another universe.

Watching the scenes attentively, the screen showed something that chilled his blood. A part of S could
be seen surrounded by "no trespassing" tape. Amidst the red and blue lights illuminating the place, in
the distance, the redhead could be seen crying and screaming his name in agony while two policemen
grabbed him to prevent him from going there.
In the midst of the anguish that Langa felt at the sight of the alternate reality Reki, his surroundings
suddenly changed, making him dizzy to the point of closing his eyes. It was only a few seconds of
pain, but when he opened his eyes again, he could notice that the room changed. He was now in a
white void, where only he and the other Reki were, although the other Reki didn't seem to notice his
presence.

Approaching the redhead, he felt his heart shatter at the sight of him. Reki was dressed in black,
sobbing silently as he hugged Langa's skateboard on his knees in front of a grave. He had seen him
cry so many times, yet he had never been as low as he was now.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Langa." was the only thing he could understand Reki as he cried.

The moment of realization hit him like a bucket of ice water, causing a lump to form in his throat and
a single tear to roll down his cheek.

Reki was never the one who died in that universe. It had been him.

"It was so obvious... deep down I always knew. It took so many months, but I finally understood
everything." whispered the light blue-haired one to himself. "All this time, the universe was just
giving you one more chance to be with me." he kneeled down to the level of the redhead, who was
still crying. "I'm not your Langa, I never was, but now I'm letting you go." his pale hand went over the
other one’s, as if he could hold it. "You're going to be okay; I promise." his voice was almost
inaudible.

The other Reki looked up, meeting his teary eyes with Langa's. It was as if, for a second, he could
sense his presence.

The other boy disappeared again, making Langa confused for a few seconds until he saw him lying on
the ground in the distance. Without thinking twice, he ran to where he was. He felt his heart tear as he
saw Reki's lifeless body disintegrating into golden particles. He needed to help him, he wanted to, but
his feet stopped as he saw what lay beyond the body.

More tears fell from the canadian's eyes.

A few meters away, the soul of the other Reki embraced the other Langa. Fate had been cruel to them
in that universe. Even if they had a sad ending, they stayed together at least one way or another. He
watched as they held hands one last time, then walked towards the light at the end of the room and
disappeared together.

Officially, the Reki of the other universe had let him go forever.

With tears streaming down his face and the wind ruffling his light blue hair, everything around him
turned white, disappearing into golden particles. Langa simply closed his eyes, mentally saying
farewell to the other Reki and the world that brought him comfort for so long.

Finally, it all disappeared.

Opening his eyes quickly, Langa woke up with a start. He felt that everything around him was
spinning, the atmosphere was too bright, and everything was too loud. He was overstimulated, but
that familiar and comforting warmth made him regain his sense of time and the reality around him.
He was in a seat, in Reki’s arms, who was holding him gently but with a clear expression of
uneasiness in his eyes.

"Langa, you’re finally awake!" exclaimed Reki, sighing in relief. "I was so worried about you. You
passed out for a whole minute."

Langa blinked in confusion. "A minute..." he muttered, trying to comprehend what he had just
experienced. It had all been so fast. "...It felt like an eternity."

He slowly sat back down, focusing on the reality around him. He was at the airport again, about to
leave to Canada. The only one standing beside him was the redhead.

"Where’s my mom?" asked Langa.

"She went to get you water. I don't think it will be long before she’s back." he replied genuinely,
meeting his gaze with his. "Are you all right? You're very pale. Are you sick?" he placed his hand on
Langa's forehead. The band-aids on Reki's fingers tickled his skin.

The light blue-haired one was silent, still processing everything he had experienced. "They're gone"
he whispered.

"Who?"

"Our alternate versions. They finally got back together." That was the best way he could put it. After
all, it was hard to admit that your alternate version lived sadly and decided to end his life.

Reki looked at him silently, reflecting his noticeable confusion. "What do you mean? Are we– are
they okay?" his voice trailed off a bit.

"It's complicated, but I know they'll be okay." he assured his boyfriend, smiling slightly, intertwining
his fingers. "They're finally together and that's all that matters."

Within seconds of saying that, his mother returned with a bottle of water, relieved to see that her son
was awake.

"Rest a little longer, there's no hurry. After all, our flight got delayed." suggested the adult in a warm
voice. "Feeling better, sweetie?"

Langa nodded slightly as he drank from the bottle. His mind replayed over and over again the last
scene he saw of their alternate versions, how they disappeared in the light. It was so weird, he should
be afraid of what he saw, but he was not. For some reason, that last vision of them gave him the
courage and leap of faith he needed. He wanted to be with Reki through thick and thin, to be with the
boy he loved.

"Mom, can I tell you something?" asked the blue-haired one.

"Of course, you can." she looked at her son. "You can always count on me."

Langa tightened his grip, taking the courage to say his following words. He could feel his mother's
gaze, how Reki silently asked him if he would tell her the truth and a thousand other questions.
Finally, he took a breath and spoke.

"Mom, I don't want to go back. I want to stay in Okinawa with Reki." he finally admitted. His eyes
were full of determination, and his heart was beating like crazy.

Both Nanako and Reki were surprised by those words. While the redhead one looked at him with
hope and slightly glazed eyes, the adult watched him with a certain sadness and melancholy. Even so,
she let her son speak.

"Sweetie..." whispered the lady.

"I've lived so many years of my life in a limbo of depression, unsure of what I want and afraid of the
future because of it, especially since Dad died." admitted Langa, trying to express himself as best he
could, feeling his throat tighten again. "Maybe it sounds dumb, but meeting Reki was the best thing
that ever happened to me. He gave me back my will to live, brought color back into my life, got me
out of the dark room I was trapped in... he's been the only one who could find me." he looked at his
boyfriend with a small smile, then back to his mom. "For the first time in my life I know what I want
to do, and I'm not afraid to say it..." his voice cracked a little, taking the redhead's hand as he looked
at the adult. "I want to stay here with Reki."

Silence, there was only silence for several seconds.

He felt so free for finally saying all that, he felt good for finally knowing what he wanted to do, but at
the same time, he felt like his nerves were killing him because of how his mother might act. And oh,
the way Reki squeezed his hand made him understand that he felt the same way.

After a minute of silence, Nanako sighed. "This won't be easy at all. Are you sure about this?" she
asked. She didn't seem angry, on the contrary, her eyes were watery and she seemed more
understanding than usual. "It's not the same living here as being on vacation."

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." he said loud and clear. "I can live with my aunt
and uncle, study at a college here, work at Dope Sketch and–"

He couldn't finish speaking, when he least expected it his mom bent down and wrapped him in a tight
hug. "When did you grow up so much?" she whimpered a little, but she sounded happy and touched.
"You've changed for the better."

"I guess so." whispered Langa, returning the hug.

Nanako broke away from the embrace and looked at him again. "I wanted to hide it longer, but I think
I should tell you the truth now." she commented. "Langa, the purpose of this trip was never just to be
on vacation. I had something more important to resolve."

Both boys arched their eyebrows. "What thing?"

The adult said nothing and just smiled. That smile was enough for Langa to realize in a few seconds
what she was referring to, making his heart start beating fast.

This wasn't a joke, was it?

Hopefully, it is not.

"Are you serious?" the light blue-haired one asked, his gaze lighting up. "We're moving here?" he still
couldn't believe it.

"Why would I joke about this?" replied the adult, smiling gently.

Langa felt his whole being filled with happiness at her mother's words. It was as if he suddenly saw
the world as colorful as he did in childhood, and all his worries disappeared completely. He glanced at
Reki, who was in shock at the news, but his eyes and the small smile on his face conveyed his
excitement. When the redhead noticed that his boyfriend was looking at him, he couldn't help but
squeeze his hand against Langa's.

"So... Can I stay in Okinawa on Reki?" his voice was hopeful.

"Not now, but we'll return to move in permanently in a few months."

The redhead stood up with a start; his dimples marked on his cheeks. "Thank you so much indeed,
[Link]" he said, trying to hide the emotion and desire to cry in his voice.

The adult told him not to thank her, that she was happy to make them happy. And during the small
talk and the unexpected but beautiful moment he was experiencing, Langa finally felt at peace with
himself.

He would have to leave Canada in a few minutes, but knowing that in a few months he would be back
and could be in Okinawa, see his S friends, and be WITH REKI by his side was more than enough to
make him happy. After all, they had fought and waited for each other in infinite lifetimes.

Reki was his. He was Reki's.

Their connection was stronger than anything in the world. They had gone through so many universes
and lifetimes searching for each other... they knew that a few months would be nothing to wait for.

They could finally be together, and that was all that mattered.
 Finally, everything was going to be ok.

Chapter End Notes

The epilogue will be published THIS SUNDAY!! So please stay tuned for the last chapter of
this journey~

Hello, my loves. Once again, sorry for the late chapter. My life has taken a huge turn these past
few months. At least I'm safe and sound now.

I'm not gonna lie, I cried a little bit while writing this chapter. Not only because this project is
ending. Also because I need love like these two have. *cries in spanish*

Now I leave you with a little question since I like to read your opinions :)
What do you think about the past of Reki from another universe?
I had to re-watch the episode of depressed Reki to get more inspiration to write it.

Anyways, see you in the epilogue!

 Epilogue
Chapter Notes

Oh yeah, it's all coming together *cries in spanish*

Also, I will fix some minor errors and improve my writing from past chapters. So if you see any
update notifications, it’s because of that. This won’t affect the course of the story in any way.

Enjoy the last chapter, loves ♥

See the end of the chapter for more notes

❝And if you were to ask me

After all that we've been through
"Still believe in magic?"
Oh, yes, I do
Of course, I do❞

» Magic - Coldplay

Five months later.

The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Okinawa airport, tinting everything around
them with warm golden hues. Reki was nervous, feeling his hands sweat as he waited outside the
international arrivals gate. It had been five long months since Langa had left for Canada, leaving Reki
and all his friends in Okinawa behind. The wait and the distance had been difficult for both of them,
especially since, this time, they were not only friends but boyfriends. During all this time, they had
only been able to communicate by text or video call, something they struggled with after being
together so long in person. They loved each other's company, but it wasn't the same.

But today, finally, everything would change.

It was finally the day Langa would return to Okinawa, and this time it would be to stay.

The redhead's heart was pounding with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, impatiently awaiting the
arrival of his boyfriend. He looked for him with his eyes at times, as if he were a little boy trying to
find his mother in the mall. Reki was not alone. Next to him were the S squad: Kojiro, Kaoru, Miya,
and Hiromi, who decided to accompany him to welcome Langa.

"Oh man, what if I got the flight mixed up again?" the redhead asked, revisiting his chat with Langa.
He felt nerves invade his entire body. "Ugh, how embarrassing. I don't want to go through this again
and have him think I'm a lousy boyfriend."
"Relax, we've already checked more than seven times the reservation." replied Kaoru, taking the cell
phone from Reki. "Yes, we're waiting for the right one, and his flight has already landed, so he'll be
leaving any minute now. "

Standing next to Reki, Miya added, "This is why we accompanied you, to prevent you from panicking
and making a scene." he looked at the taller one.

Reki frowned as he looked at the younger one. "You just came here to see if I’ll do something stupid
and then make fun of me forever." he retorted sarcastically.

"Well, maybe you're right." A small smile formed on Miya's lips, then he turned his focus back to his
video game.

For a few minutes, Reki spent like this: looking at the door, the clock, the status of the flights,
repeating the process. His ankle was already bouncing slightly from the impatience of seeing Langa
after so long, of feeling him in his arms once again, of tasting those lips he loved... he was so excited
to know that, finally, nothing would separate them.

Amid his nerves, Kojiro noticed the state Reki was in, which is why he approached him.

"Are you all right? You look worried," the brunet asked, leaning his arms on the railing. "Langa's
flight was just delayed, but he’s already here. You have no reason to be nervous," he assured him.

Reki sighed. "That's not what has me worried," he replied quietly. "It's stupid, but I can't help but
overthink what will happen to us when Langa comes back." he began to speak quickly. "Will he not
love me the same way anymore? What if nothing is ever the same again? What if our relationship
ruins us? Oh god, what if-"

Kojiro didn't let him finish speaking. He just put his hand on the redhead's shoulder, and the instant he
did that, he could feel the younger man let out a sigh, and his muscles stopped tensing. "Whatever
happens, Langa loves you. You two meeting each other change you for the better," he assured him,
giving him a supportive look. "Just enjoy the ride."

The redhead's gaze went to the floor. "Thank you," he murmured, feeling a weight lifted off his
shoulders.

Another couple more minutes passed waiting, when suddenly, Miya raised his voice, excited, "Here
come Langa’s flight!"

Instantly, Reki looked up. Excited, his eyes searched quickly through the crowd of departing tourists
until he finally found Langa's light blue hair. Nerves made no words come out of his lips, but
eventually, their gazes met across the distance, and in that instant, he felt his heart beat like never
before. Their legs began to move independently, and seconds seemed eternal as they drew closer to
each other, as if time wanted to play with their emotions.

Finally, their bodies almost lost their balance as they met in an embrace full of strength and so many
emotions that could not be described. Reki clung to Langa as if he wanted to make sure it was not an
illusion, that he was really there, back in Okinawa. Langa reciprocated the hug with the same
intensity, their hearts and souls connected as they had always been.

"I missed you so much, Reki," Langa whispered, feeling the lump in his throat unravel as he held him
in his arms again.

"I missed you too, idiot," Reki replied, his voice a little shaky with emotion.

Between laughter and smiles, they looked at each other sweetly, expressing their love for each other.
The canadian cupped the opposite’s face to get closer and have their first kiss after so long apart.
Everything felt so good, so right, as if that moment between them should be happening.

"Welcome home, Langa," he whispered, bringing their foreheads together.

Finally, they were together at last.

One year later

Things took a positive 180-degree turn. Before he knew it, Langa had already completed a year since
he moved to Okinawa. The bond between him and Reki had not only been maintained but had grown
stronger over time. Together, they had finally established a serious relationship and a new chapter in
their lives. They had their ups and downs just like everyone else, but they handled it well and stayed
together.

Now, both are college partners: Reki focuses on the world of art and continues to repair and design his
skateboards passionately. Langa, on the other hand, is studying English literature. He is unsure about
his career but strangely feels at ease in it. He knew that if he regretted it, his mother and boyfriend
would support him in his decision, giving him peace of mind.

On the other hand, they both now work at Dope Sketch. They don't make a million, but they manage.
Little by little, they are saving up so that one day they can rent an apartment together, something they
were looking forward to.

Their hangouts to S were constant and never to be missed in their lives. Langa already felt like they
were his family, his strange herd, in Reki's words. And although time moved on, he did not forget the
friends he had left behind. Despite the distance, he still talked to Zoey and Aoi almost daily. After all,
they were the first to support him through all this.

It was strange for Langa to think he was finally healing. His depression was still there, hidden deep
inside him, and sometimes it brought him down, but at least he felt much better now. It had been
worth it to survive all the shit he had been through. He and Reki were healing together, and that was
all that mattered.
On the other hand, Langa never saw the Dream Reki again. Those memories gradually began to blur,
disappearing like a dream when you wake up. He knew that someday he would forget these and only
have a vague memory of what he experienced in his dreams, yet he felt reassured. He knew that
wherever the alternate Reki was, his other universe self would be watching over him and making him
happy.

They never spoke about it again since then. They had decided to leave the past behind and live in the
present. Each with their own story and path, but always sharing the road together. Most of all, they
were grateful that those dreams were the reason they had found each other. They knew that everything
would be ok.

"Langa~"

A soft voice was heard.

"Langa, wake up."

He felt his shoulder being tapped.

He opened his eyes slowly, letting his vision adjust to his surroundings. Analyzing where he was, he
noticed that he was outside, under the shade of a tree during sunset, feeling the warmth of the sun and
the blizzard on his body. Turning his gaze upward, he could see Reki looking down at him with a
sweet little smile. His beautiful messy red hair and tanned skin reflected faintly in the sun's rays. It
took Langa a few seconds to realize he had fallen asleep and used Reki's legs as a pillow.

"Are you all right?" the redhead asked, running his fingers through Langa's straight hair.

The canadian blushed a little, closing his eyes for a second and letting himself be carried away by that
comforting feeling. "I'm having deja vu." he whispered, smiling slightly.

"Oh really? Of what?"

"I think from a dream," he admitted. "Did I fall asleep again? Sorry."

"Don't apologize. After all, it's your birthday and you deserve to rest."

"What?" said Langa, sitting next to him. He could tell he was on a picnic blanket decorated with a
pizza box and vanilla cupcakes. Today was his birthday, and Reki had invited him on a date for his
special day. "Oh," was the only thing that came from his lips.

"Don't tell me you forgot what day it is today?" joked Reki, looking at him playfully.

"Yes," he replied, somewhat embarrassed. "I think I slept too deeply."

"That's so you, but that's why I love you." laughed Reki, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. After
that, he grabbed a cupcake with a small candle that said 20 on it and lit it. "Blow out the candle,
birthday boy. It's time."
Langa obeyed and blew it at once, earning a chuckle from his boyfriend.

"How does it feel to be 20?"

"I feel the same, but one year closer to death." mocked the canadian, eating his cupcake while
laughing.

Even though he was joking, deep down, Langa was still surprised that he had made it this far. He was
living three years longer than he had planned, and he never thought that one day he would be as
happy as he was now. He felt good about this moment in his life.

"Hey, sunshine."

With his mouth full, Reki looked at him innocently. "Hm?"

"Do you know what today is other than my birthday?"

The redhead swallowed before answering and nodded. "Yes, but I want to hear you say it."

He leaned his back against the trunk, brushing his shoulders against the opposite one. "Today marks
two years since we first spoke. Since the time you wrote me in the middle of the night to ask if I was
okay." he began to recount, feeling the gust of wind gently move his hair. Reki watched him intently,
letting him express himself as much as needed. "That night, I turned 18. I felt so lost with my life, I
felt so lonely, and I was about to end it all..." his throat tightened. Gently, he intertwined his fingers
with his boyfriend's, meeting their gazes. "What I want to say is... thank you for saving me, Reki.
Thank you for finding me."

Amidst the moment's silence, they could feel each other's familiar warmth in their intertwined hands.
In an instant, Reki brought his free hand to his eyes and covered his face with his bandana, the
notorious blush adorning his cheeks as a lone tear slid down his tanned skin. Langa felt a pang of
worry throughout his entire being; his voice filled with concern broke the silence.

"Oh my god, are you crying?" he asked, his blue eyes full of wonder and tenderness.

"Oh, no... I just got something in my eye," he lied, his voice barely a whisper as he avoided eye
contact, trying to hide his feeling.

However, Langa wasn’t fooled by his excuse. He knew him too well. He reached over carefully and
removed the bandana covering Reki, exposing his teary eyes. Without hesitation, Langa gently kissed
the tears that were falling down his cheeks. The redhead sighed in relief as if the weight of his
emotions had suddenly been lifted. Holding his face gently, Langa lost himself in Reki's eyes as the
sun painted the atmosphere in shades of pink and gold.

"Sorry for getting emotional." the redhead admitted, a nostalgic smile on his lips. "Those are the
sweetest words you've said to me so far. I never thought I'd be able to save someone and feel loved
like this." his eyes glazed over.
"You deserve those words and many more. " Langa replied, his voice full of sincerity.

Reki felt so warm, so full of love. "You deserve them too, Langa," he replied. "You were the first
person to see me beyond the mask, and honestly, I'm happy you accepted me no matter how broken I
was." A soft gleam of complicity flashed in his gaze.

In that instant, their gazes met in a silence full of meaning. They needed no words to understand how
much they had grown, how much they had healed, and how much they loved each other. In that
instant of deep connection, the world seemed to be theirs.

"I think we're getting a little corny." said the japanese.

"Yes, a little bit."

There was silence again.

And suddenly, they burst into laughter.

Laughing, Langa threw himself back on the picnic blanket. It seemed to him that everything Reki did,
made his soul glow with life. His laughter subsided as he looked up at him. His lips closed as he
smiled softly. Watching as he let himself be invaded by the moment, he found himself allowing that
love to enter his heart.

At that moment, the two seemed infinite. In their own little world. He no longer cursed the gods for
softening and opening his heart. He felt grateful. A question floated in his mind:

Is this the life he has wanted for so long?

He knew the answer was a yes when he saw Reki lying next to him, looking at him with that twinkle
in his eyes and dimples that he loved so much.

"Hey, Reki."

"Yes?"

"I love you," the words came from Langa's lips sincerely.

Reki took Langa's face between his hands and kissed him tenderly, their lips meeting with a deep
longing as if they wanted to merge into one being. Their bodies drew closer, almost embracing as they
lost themselves in each other. When they finally parted, their hearts were beating fast.

With flushed cheeks, Reki broke the silence. "Thank you for being born, Langa."
 A small smile formed on Langa's lips, resting his head on Reki's shoulder as he listened to his deep
breathing like a song stuck in his head. He closed his eyes and let himself drift into that intimate
moment they had created together.

After years of fighting with himself, dissatisfaction with his life, and searching for happiness, Langa
finally found peace. More than ever, they both felt they had their whole lives ahead of them. They
were happy, and that happiness was reflected in their gazes and every beat of their hearts.

Amidst the setting sun of Okinawa, they finally found peace in each other. They were soulmates,
destined to meet again and again in every lifetime.

Falling asleep in Reki's arms, Langa thought, "I finally found my home."

Fin.

Chapter End Notes

Idk how to feel. I started this story in 2021 after dreaming up the first chapter and saying, "Well,
let's give it a chance and see how it goes."
I didn't think it would get as much love as it did. This is my first serious fanfic, so I was nervous
to publish it. I love writing, so to see people enjoy reading what I do makes me feel not so alone
in this multiverse.

This whole story was inspired by the Daft Punk song TOUCH. It's my favorite song. Each verse
perfectly describes a part of the fanfic, so when you have time, I recommend you to search the
lyrics on youtube. You will get a better perspective of Langa and Reki's feelings throughout this
story.

I've never been good with words, but I’m eternally grateful to you.
Thank you for being with me these last two years. Thank you for reading and giving this story a
chance. Thank you for joining Reki and Langa on this adventure. I will keep your beautiful
comments and love forever in my heart.

Thank you to those who have been here from the beginning and those who will come in the
future.

Please NEVER forget that you’re valid. You’re a beautiful soul and deserve to be happy!

I love you guys so much; thank you for being born.

May our paths cross again in the future.

- Isa
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!