The soft spring sun filtered through the canopy of the old cherry blossom tree, petals fluttering lazily to the stone path in front of the campus bench. It was quiet here, just far enough from the bustle of students returning to class. The perfect spot to steal a little peace—or, in Shin's case, to stir some chaos.
Aiko clung to Shin's left hand, her slender fingers tightly laced through his. Her grip was strong, possessive even, but trembling with unspoken joy. Her face was flushed, lips parted in a half-smile she couldn't suppress.
Yuki sat on Shin's right, legs drawn together, back straight, his hand curled nervously into Shin's right palm. His cheeks were puffed with defiance, his blue eyes avoiding Shin's, yet that tiny, almost imperceptible upturn of his lips betrayed how happy he really was.
Shin glanced from one to the other, his own hands squeezed between theirs like treasured possessions. "Huh…" he said, tilting his head dramatically, "I've got a beauty on my left, and a cutie on my right. What's a guy like me supposed to do?"
Aiko let out a soft giggle, squeezing his hand tighter. "Be quiet and let us enjoy this…"
Yuki, however, groaned. "You're so full of yourself, idiot…"
"Language," Shin teased, lifting their entwined hands and tapping Yuki's nose with his thumb. "That's no way to talk to your beloved."
Yuki turned crimson. "Wh-What beloved?!"
"You're holding my hand. In public. Voluntarily." Shin smirked. "That's basically a confession in itself, Yuki."
Aiko giggled again, leaning her head lightly against Shin's shoulder. "You really like making him squirm, don't you, Taa-kun?"
"Only because he makes it so easy." Shin grinned.
"I-I'm not squirming!" Yuki growled, puffing his cheeks harder. "You're just… being weird again!"
Shin shifted a bit on the bench, stretching his arms with a theatrical sigh, letting their hands dangle between them like trophies. Then he turned to Yuki, his voice casual, playful, but with that edge of teasing mischief he wielded like a dagger.
"Hey, Yuki…" he said, lifting his brows, "So… what do I tell people when they ask about us?"
Yuki blinked. "Huh?"
"I mean," Shin continued, voice all innocence, "if someone sees us together like this—hand-holding, blushing, maybe kissing—what do I say?"
Aiko watched him with amused curiosity, already sensing where he was going.
"Like, do I say 'This is my boyfriend, Yuki'? Or maybe, 'This is my girlfriend, Yuki'?" He looked down at Yuki's small hand in his. "I mean… you look like a girl sometimes, but you're a boy, right?"
Aiko burst out laughing.
Yuki's face turned redder than a tomato. "Wha—! I—I—!!"
Shin leaned in, whispering teasingly close to Yuki's ear. "So which is it? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Or should I just say… my pretty little enigma?"
Yuki gasped and practically folded in half from embarrassment, hiding his face behind their joined hands.
"S-stop saying that stuff out loud!! Someone could hear you!"
Shin cupped a hand to his ear. "And? Let them! I want the world to know my Yuki is mine~ Whether you're a boy, girl, or magical bunny alien—doesn't change how cute you are."
"B-baka!!" Yuki cried out, twisting his body away, but not letting go of Shin's hand.
Aiko was doubled over now, her laughter gentle and warm. "Taa-kun, you're awful. But I get it… Yuki really is cuter than me sometimes."
"Wait—! Don't say that!!" Yuki snapped, turning to her, wild-eyed.
"Why not?" Aiko smiled, a touch devilish. "You're adorable when you pout."
"You're both bullying me…" Yuki muttered, hiding behind his knees.
Shin leaned back, stretching, the smile on his face softening. "You're lucky I'm so generous. I'd kiss you right now if I wasn't worried you'd explode."
"I—!" Yuki opened his mouth, then froze.
Shin raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Yuki glanced away, still red, but this time he didn't shout. "I wouldn't… explode…"
Shin's smirk widened. "Oh? Progress."
"Shut up!" But Yuki didn't let go of his hand.
Aiko squeezed Shin's hand again, tugging his attention back to her. She was watching him with eyes full of warmth. "You're really something else, Taa-kun."
"Flattery won't get you out of your turn," he said with a grin.
"Huh?"
"If I teased Yuki," he said, leaning toward her, "It's only fair I tease you too."
Aiko laughed, brushing her hair back. "Oh? I'm not afraid. Go ahead."
Shin tilted his head, thinking aloud. "Let's see… How about this. Haa-chan, you're always pretending to be cool and composed. But when I touch you—just a little—your whole brain short-circuits, doesn't it?"
Aiko gasped, looking away with an embarrassed laugh. "T-that's not—!"
"And don't think I didn't notice how your hand hasn't let go of mine once since we sat down."
"Th-that's because… because I like it!" she admitted, her voice cracking a little.
Shin chuckled, reaching over to gently tug one of her twin tails. "You're so easy to read, Haa-chan."
She groaned. "Don't call me out like that!"
"I think it's sweet," he said, voice softening. "You both are."
Yuki glanced up, blinking. "Both?"
Shin looked between them—Aiko flushed and pouting, Yuki red and scowling—and smiled. "Yeah. I mean, come on… I'm sitting here with two of the people I care about most, holding hands under the sakura. This might be one of the best moments of my life."
Neither of them spoke. Aiko's fingers curled tighter around his, and Yuki looked away again, but not before Shin caught the little smile tugging at his lips.
He took a deep breath, tilting his head up to the sky, letting the sunlight wash over him. "You know, sometimes I think I'm the luckiest idiot alive."
"You are an idiot," Yuki muttered.
"But you're our idiot," Aiko said, smiling.
He looked at both of them, that familiar warmth blooming in his chest. "And you're my precious disasters."
"Oi!" Yuki growled, but his tone was softer now.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop for now," Shin said, lifting their hands and giving each of theirs a light kiss. Aiko gasped softly. Yuki squeaked.
Shin grinned. "That's your reward for enduring my teasing."
Aiko leaned her head back on his shoulder. "You're going to keep teasing forever, aren't you?"
"Probably," he said, resting his head on hers.
Yuki turned his face away, but his voice came out barely a whisper. "Jerk…"
But he didn't let go.
Petals drifted down around them as they sat in silence, hands still linked. Three hearts tangled together in the sunlight—awkward, messy, warm, and sincere.
Shin closed his eyes, listening to their soft breathing, the rustling wind, and distant laughter of other students.
This was real.
This was his.
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END OF CHAPTER : 114 : HOLDING HANDS, TEASING HEARTS!
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