Work Text:
In a rather quiet morning, Inui walked through the gardens of his school campus in order to reach his classroom. Or, he thought it would be quiet, until he spotted a tiny figure trying to climb a brick wall. Inui got closer to the figure, enough to identify him as a baby from the day care. More specifically, it was Kashima’s little brother.
‘What is that slow brat doing?!’ Inui thought while hiding behind a tree. ‘He could hurt himself if he does climb that.’
Inui was tempted to leave, since in a few minutes the bell would ring and he had to be in his classroom, but he noticed that Kashima wasn’t in near sight, nor the other angry student that helped in the day care, nor that lazy adult; and since this child was totally unattended, he decided to intervene.
Before Koutarou could fall from the tiny distance he had managed to climb with great difficulty, a masked man took him in his arms.
“Mista Mask,” Koutarou recognised the man with the brown paper bag mask, smiling.
“What are you even doing?” Mister Mask (Koutarou’s nickname for Inui with the brown paper bag) asked, trying his best to hide his exasperation.
“Pii-cha,” Koutarou answered, pointing at the top of the wall. Upon closer inspection, Mister Mask noticed a little chick sitting, and he also noticed a cat that was dangerously getting closer to it.
“I get it,” Mister Mask said while sighing, then lifted Koutarou high enough so he could rescue the little chick. Once Koutarou was standing on the floor with the little animal in his hands, Mister Mask swatted the cat away before it could get close and harm the baby and/or the chick.
“Koutarou!” a voice could be heard in the distance. “Koutarou! Where are you?!”
The kid excitedly recognised that voice, replying with a happy “Nii-cha”. Upon hearing it, Mister Mask became red under the brown paper bag. Even thinking about Kashima made Inui’s heart skip a beat, having developed feelings for the first year student. He definitely didn’t want to see Kashima in his cute, embroidered apron, looking at him with those big, round, cute eyes, with that cute, bright smile he always had.
‘He’s way too cute for a guy!’ Inui thought. ´No wonder I was fooled and fell in love with him.’
He shook his head. ‘It’s all in the past. I know fully well he’s a guy. Even if he’s so cute, fluffy, cuddly and caring.’
Still, he didn’t know why he was so nervous at the idea of seeing Kashima. When he heard the voice of the big brother coming closer, Inui clicked his tongue and decided to run away, leaving Koutarou behind, but not before whispering a “be more careful!” to the baby who waved at him with a “bye-bye, Mista Mask”.
Hiding behind the nearest building, Inui saw the silhouette of Kashima picking up his baby brother. Then, sighing in relief, he took off the brown paper bag and continued the way to his classroom.
He took two steps and felt something furry fall on his face.
The cat from before, who surprisingly recognised him without the mask, attacked him in what seemed revenge. The sharp nails were pricking his face, making him yelp loudly in pain; trying to pry the cat off made him lose balance and fall onto the floor and when he succeeded he was left with a scratch on his cheek and bleeding lightly.
Inui was about to stand up and go to the infirmary now, before a high-pitched voice interrupted him.
“Are you okay?”
It was Kashima, who was already offering his hand to help, with his little brother close behind and the little chick still on his hands.
“I-I’M FINE!” Inui accidentally yelled. He became a mess whenever he was near Kashima.
“You’re bleeding, senpai,” Kashima said in a flat tone, giving him a half-lidded stare.
“A stupid cat attacked me, that’s all,” Inui refused to look at Kashima, while his cheeks became redder.
Kashima let out a little laugh, and Inui’s heart skipped a beat at hearing the most angelic sound ever. “I’m sorry, senpai, I don’t mean to laugh at you, it’s just…*”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Inui said, standing up on his own. ‘At least I got to hear him laugh.’
‘Wait, no! he’s a guy!’
“Let’s go to the day care room,” Kashima said, “we have rubbing alcohol and band-aids.”
“I don’t need help,” Inui said in a harsh tone.
“Is that so?” Kashima retorted, in his usual flat tone when speaking to Inui (which, to be fair, he deserved). “Let’s go, Koutarou.” He said, picking the little boy up.
“Wait!” Inui yelled, putting his hand on Kashima’s shoulder in order to not let him go, “I-I might need a band-aid,” he stuttered, face fully red.
“Then follow me,” Kashima replied.
Inui obediently followed Kashima to the day-care room, trying to have his mind somewhere else so he could cool down. It didn’t help at all the way Kashima was holding his little brother, carrying him and the chick, smiling at the kid tenderly. That shouldn’t affect Inui at all. It’s just a male underclassman in a ridiculous embroidered apron holding his slow looking little brother. Yet, the sight was unbelievably cute.
Once inside the day-care room, Kashima looked for the first aid kit, while Koutarou left the chick on its rightful place and neared the bookshelf. Inui was sitting in the middle of the room when Kashima approached him, first aid kit in hand and proceeded to lift Inui’s face, so he could apply the rubbing alcohol.
“Senpai, are you feeling sick?” Kashima asked, seeing Inui’s cherry-red face.
‘Get a grip, self!’ Inui thought once he imagined his sweet (and very false) ‘Inomata-san’ in Kashima’s concern for him. “I’m feeling just fine. Just hurry up and get on with it!” He barked.
Kashima gave him a blank stare.
“Because class is starting and all…” Inui reasoned. He just couldn’t act properly with Kashima around, even when he sorted it all in his head. Kashima is a guy. No matter how cute and fluffy he was. He is still a guy and he has no right to affect Inui in any way.
Then why was he feeling extremely happy at Kashima touching his face and putting a simple band-aid on it in such a caring and tender way?
“There, all done,” Kashima said, smiling at his work.
“Th-Thanks,” Inui stuttered, “I’ll leave then.”
‘One more minute here and my heart will explode!’
He intended to leave. But right before he could stand, Kashima’s little brother decided to pull on his pant and ask for something.
“Inu-cha,” Koutarou called while extending his tiny arms towards Inui.
“What do you want?” Inui barked while raising an eyebrow at the little boy. He was just making unintelligible noises while doing a tiny jump towards Inui.
“He probably wants you to hold him,” Kashima said, surprised.
‘I’m definitely not holding that snotty brat,’ Inui thought, but seeing those sparkly eyes looking at him and the little effort on reaching Inui on his own won. Inui sighed and picked up Koutarou, placing the baby on his lap.
Koutarou then reached for Inui’s face, giving him a kiss on top of the band-aid.
“Chuu, Inu-cha, good,” Koutarou said while patting the place he just kissed.
Inui was frozen in shock, while Kashima blurted apologies and took Koutarou on his own arms.
“Koutarou! It’s not good to kiss people without permission! I already discussed this with you!” he said, trying to be stern, but his voice failed him, “Senpai, I’m so sorry!”
“I’ll just leave immediately,” Inui blurted, reaching for his bag and still not knowing how to react.
“Inu-cha, hurt. Kouta, chuu, inu-cha.” Koutarou said, pointing at Inui.
“Ah, so that was it,” Kashima spoke to himself.
“I’m sorry, I believe this is because of a book I read to him yesterday,” he explained. “In the book, a princess kisses a prince when he is hurt to heal him, so I guess he just wanted to heal you with a kiss too.”
“Nii-cha,” Koutarou spoke, “nii-cha, too. Nii-cha, chuu, Inu-cha.”
“T-That’s not possible, Koutarou,” Kashima said, slightly flustered.
“I’m totally fine already!” Inui spoke, “the band-aid works just fine…”
Round eyes filled with disillusionment met his.
“I-I’m already leaving anyway,” Inui said, effectively reacting to Koutarou’s wish, “I don’t need your brother to, k-k-kiss me. Who wants a k-kiss from your brother anyway? We’re both guys! It’s impossible…”
The look of shock and sadness in Koutarou’s eyes because someone rejected his beloved brother was unbearable. Inui instantly felt a pang on his chest for making such an adorable kid be disappointed. He was a big brother too, after all, he knows that’s nothing worse than disappointing your little sibling, no matter how much he fights with Mika.
“Make it fast, Kashima,” Inui said, gritting his teeth, almost whispering.
“Eh?” Kashima was understandably confused.
“Or just pretend it! I don’t know! I don’t wanna feel guilty all morning for making this brat sad!”
‘I definitely don’t want that guy to, k-k-kiss me. It’s just because that slow looking brat. I can’t bear a heavy conscience all day for this.’
Kashima’s face grew red in embarrassment, as expected. He put his little brother by his side, looking at him with expectant eyes. He gulped and got closer to Inui, who was slightly trembling, hands balled into fists by his sides.
Inui’s mind instantly was filled with a pink background, he felt like he was sitting in clouds as Kashima grew closer to his face, his eyes shut, long eyelashes caressing those lovely rose-tinted cheeks, and slightly puckered pink lips.
‘Just for the little kid. It’s just so the little kid isn’t sad. It’s not like I’m happy for this.”
Just when Kashima’s lips were about to reach Inui’s cheek, the day-care room’s door opened.
“Good morning, Ryuu-chan, Koutarou- oh,”
Usaida had entered the day-care room.
“Ah, so Inui-senpai is here too…” Usaida snickered, “I’m gonna leave for a minute and give you guys more privacy since I interrupted something-”
“No, wait, Usaida-san!” Kashima stopped him, standing up and leaving Inui frozen on the spot, “it’s not what it looks like! I mean you didn’t interrupt anything! I mean-!”
“Usa-cha,” Koutarou pulled at Usaida’s pants, catching his attention. “Inu-cha, hurt.”
“Hmm, I see, Inui-senpai is hurt, so Ryuu-chan is giving him a get-well kiss,” Usaida spoke.
“Usa-cha, too,” Koutarou babbled.
“A kiss for the injured Inui-senpai, hmmm,” Usaida brought his hand to his chin in mock-thought, “I think Ryuu-chan’s kiss is more than enough,” he snickered while seeing Inui slowly panicking, “Nothing is better than a true love’s k-”
“Ah, I’m running late!” Inui shot up from the floor and ran towards the door, leaving the room.
“Koutarou was worried about senpai so he kissed him and told me to kiss him too,” Kashima sighed, picking Koutarou up and taking him to the bookshelf, “Senpai had also agreed, we’re both weak when it comes to little siblings.”
“Don’t worry, Ryuu-chan, you don’t have to explain,” Usaida said. “Although, poor Inui-senpai.”
“Yeah, he even explicitly said he didn’t want another guy to kiss him,” Kashima said, “I don’t really mind, but it seemed like it took him all what he had to stay still so he wouldn’t disappoint Koutarou.”
“On the contrary, Ryuu-chan,” Usaida spoke, “I don’t think that’s why Inui-senpai left running like that with his face as red as a tomato.”
“I knew it,” Kashima spoke in a sad tone, “Senpai must be exceptionally angry. He probably feels like I was mocking him, since I had accidentally fooled him with the whole ‘fake Inomata-san’ thing,” he sighed, feeling a little down. “I should properly apologise later to senpai.”
‘I really don’t want senpai to hate me.’ Kashima thought.
“Ah, no Ryuu-chan...” Usaida started, but the sound of the door opening and Taka screaming ‘stupid aniki’ while crying to an angered Kamitani stopped him.
“Ah… True, Ryuu-chan is as dense as a rock. Poor Inui-senpai indeed.” Usaida thought.
Entering the classroom, Inui approached his seat and let his body hit the chair and his face hit the desk. It felt like his soul wasn’t inside anymore.
‘Why do I feel so dissatisfied? I want to punch that lazy man. No, no, I should be thankful to him. He stopped me from being kissed by a guy. Yes, I’m grateful.’
‘then why do I feel like crying? Ahh… Kashima was so close…’
“Why do you look so dead today?” Nekota, already sitting in front of him, asked.
“I don’t even know myself,” Inui sighed.
“I-is there something I can help you with?” Nekota asked, slightly embarrassed.
“You, nah,” Inui answered, uninterested, “Or maybe.”
Nekota’s eyes light up as she looked at Inui, who had raised his face to properly look at her.
“Do you know any cute, fluffy girls you can introduce me to? I’m tired of cute, fluffy guys in wigs already.” Inui whined.
Nekota’s disgusted expression was present on her face, “You’re so gross.” She threw him some tissues, since he had tears prickling his eyes, “and insensitive on top of that.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘no’ then,” Inui sighed, ignoring that last part, “thanks for the tissues, though.”
Inui wiped his eyes and face, and accidentally touched the band-aid in his cheek.
‘His soft, cute lips were so close…’
The bell for lunch rang, and Inui was walking through the hallway that lead to the cafeteria to buy his usual bread. On the way, Sawatari-sensei called out to him.
“Good afternoon, Inui-kun,” she smiled.
“Yukari-, I mean, Sawatari-sensei, good afternoon too,” he responded, startled. Inui was honestly surprised that Yukari would call him, and that he could answer her with a normal tone, and a normal expression.
“Could I ask a for a favour?” she spoke softly, “I accidentally left this rattle in my bag when I packed it this morning,” she handed him the rattle, “could you take this to my Midori in the day-care room?”
“Yeah, no problem, sensei,” Inui answered.
“Thank you, Inui-kun,” Yukari smiled brighter, that beautiful, dazzling smile that made Inui fall for her in the first place. Yet, that same smile right then caused little to no effect on him.
‘My goddess’ smile is even more dazzling and beautiful, after all.’ He thought while walking towards the day-care room.
‘Wait, she’s no goddess! She’s a guy! An underclassman! It’s just Kashima!’ He shook his head. His mind picturing Kashima’s smile wasn’t helping at all. Looking at the window on the hallway to distract himself, he saw that very same smile he had been thinking all this time, and that very same smile that he was smitten with.
There was Kashima at the school garden, surrounded by the kids while that lazy adult played with the baby in a nearby bench and his angry classmate played baseball with other guys.
Inui went to the garden, to effectively give the rattle he was asked to. After he gave the rattle to the lazy adult and the baby, Kashima called out to him.
“What is it?” He spoke harshly, not looking at Kashima.
“Erm, senpai, I wanted to apologise for- ouch-,” he didn’t finish the sentence, as a ball hit him in the arm.
“Sorry Kashima!” Usokawa yelled. He was trying to pitch the ball to Kamitani, but his aim was very off. Though on his defence, Kashima was in the same direction as the batter.
After checking that none of the kids around him was hurt because of the ball, Kashima shouted a “Don’t mind!” back at his classmate.
‘He’s sure a caring guy,’ Inui thought, inevitably smitten. However, a tug on his pants made him come back to earth.
Koutarou was reaching out to him like he did in the morning. He remembered that’s the signal for picking him up, so Inui did. He gestured to get close to Kashima, which Inui followed instinctively.
“Nii-cha,” Koutarou said, touching his brother’s arm now that he could reach him, and kissed it.
“Inu-cha, too,” Koutarou said with a serious expression. His big brother was hurt, and he was doing whatever he could to heal him. Koutarou gestured to Inui to put him down and when he did, he gathered Taka and Kazuma that were close by, to tell them to kiss the injured Kashima.
“I will heal Ryuu!” Taka excitedly shouted, climbing up Kashima’s legs.
“Wait, Taka-kun,” Kashima knelt down instead, so Taka could reach his arm.
“Kazuma too,” a shy voice could be heard after Taka kissed Kashima. Kazuma timidly kissed the injured arm too. Then, Taka and Kazuma went to bring Kirin and Takuma so they could also heal Kashima.
“Inu-cha, too,” Koutarou insisted.
“Wait, your brother’s healed already! You three kissed him!” Inui tried to reason with the disillusioned Koutarou, “That should’ve more than enough!”
“Yeah, Koutarou,” Kashima followed the argument, “I’m plenty healed already, you three cured my arm,” he smiled and flexed his arm to show he was okay, but that didn’t convince the little boy who was still looking at them with the same sad expression he had in the morning.
“Nii-cha, hurt,” Koutarou said.
“I’m so sorry, senpai, again,” Kashima said with a worried look in his face.
“It’s only because your little brother,” Inui spoke through gritted teeth, face growing hotter by the second. “Just close your eyes.”
A panicked Kashima did as he was told. ‘There’s that absolutely cute look again…’
Inui took a deep breath and placed his hand on Kashima’s soft, rosy cheek, bringing his face closer.
“Erm, s-senpai?” Kashima stuttered, peeking through his eyelashes.
“Keep your eyes closed,” Inui said, with a little stern tone. It really took him all he had. “I’m going to kiss you.”
Kashima’s face grew warmer against Inui’s palm, his rosy cheeks became a full red, he closed his eyes tighter and puckered his lips oh so slightly.
Inui was really going to die at the sight. In a rare moment of bravery, he took Kashima’s hand in his own free one, gripping it in a reassure gesture, trying to diminish Kashima’s tension and stop the trembling. He knew it worked the second Kashima returned the grip. Time seemed like it stopped in that moment. Everything disappeared and it was just Inui and his beloved crush, Kashima, in the same pink background, standing on fluffy clouds in a world on their own.
Since Taka and Kazuma brought him, Usaida approached the scene. He took his phone out while Inui slowly approached Kashima’s face.
‘My, my no one said the kiss had to be on the lips.’ Usaida thought as he snapped photos with his phone, ‘Rather it should be on the arm, where ryuu-chan was hit… well ryuu-chan is not complaining.’
Inui leant in, close to touch Kashima’s lips with his own, his heart racing and his mind finally giving in to his feelings. He was ecstatic.
Just before he could kiss the love of his life, a stray ball hit a side of his forehead with immeasurable force, effectively knocking him out.
A distant cry of “Kamitani! You’re not supposed to bat the ball over there! The diamond isn’t in that direction!” could be heard.
Usaida whistled. “What a heavy blow.”
“I-Inui-senpai?!?!?” Kashima panicked, kneeling down to check on Inui, “He’s not answering!”
“He’s probably just unconscious,” Usaida said, giving Midori to Kashima and trying to pick up Inui.
“Hayato! Be more careful on taking down your enemies! Don’t kill them next time!” Usaida shouted while trying his best to not let the heavy body in his arms fall.
“Killed…” Kashima said in a small voice. A look of panic and sorrow was visible on the Kashima brothers that were behind Usaida.
“Ah, he’s not dead, just unconscious.” Usaida reassured. “I’ll take him to the infirmary. Ryuu-chan, stay here with the kids.”
‘My goddess. No. Kashima. Our first kiss…”
Inui groaned. He slowly opened his eyes and recognised the infirmary. He was laying on an infirmary bed. He felt warmth by his left side. When he turned, he saw the slow looking brat, Kashima’s little brother, soundly asleep beside him. He smiled and instinctively patted his head with his right hand. Koutarou looked cute. It reminded him of how cute Mika was when she was his age, sleeping like that.
He also felt his left hand warm. While trying to sit up, careful so he wouldn’t wake up the peacefully sleeping kid, he noticed Kashima’s hand gripping his. Kashima was sitting on a chair next to him, his head on top of the bed near Inui’s legs.
He suddenly felt his body growing warm. Kashima was nursing him.
“Oh, senpai,” Kashima straightened his position. He slowly let go of Inui’s hand to stand up. “You’re awake.” He smiled in relief.
“The day is over already, everyone went home,” Kashima informed him while pressing a package of ice on his injured side. He also gave Inui a glass of water and painkillers that the nurse instructed him to take.
“Are you okay, senpai?” Kashima asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Inui said. Apart from a huge headache, he was mostly fine. Seeing his goddess, no, his angel right next to him was enough anyway.
“I’m sorry for this afternoon,” Kashima apologised, “and also for this morning. I know senpai must be very angry at me. It’s normal to be against all the forced attempted kisses-”
“No, it’s okay,” Inui said. “I’m not angry. It’s all for your little brother, though. It’s normal to be weak against our little siblings.”
Kashima smiled in agreement, while picking up the sleeping Koutarou in his arms.
‘Rather, I’m grateful I could see you making that cute, flustered expression. And that I could hold your hand.’ Inui thought.
“Please rest a little more, senpai. The nurse said to wait for her before you can leave the school, though.” Kashima informed him.
As Inui nodded while holding the ice pack against the injured part of his forehead, Kashima leant down, leaving a tiny, shy peck on Inui’s cheek.
“Heal properly, senpai,” Kashima said, his face red, although smiling.
Inui didn’t react until Kashima was out of the room and the ice pack had fallen onto his lap. His face promptly matched his hair colour as he realised that, his angel, Kashima, had kissed him on his own volition, since his brother was asleep in his arms. Inui curled on the bedsheets, overjoyed, while telling his heart to “shut up!”.
‘He’s definitely my angel.’
Bonus: After he had calmed down, Inui sat up and put the ice pack back on his head. That ball had surely hit him hard. The nurse discharged him while advising him to go to the hospital, just to be sure.
Inui arrived home and let his body fall on his bed. He couldn’t believe the day he just had. It has probably been the happiest day of his youth yet. Right then, his phone rang, it was a text message.
“A lovely picture of you almost kissing Ryuu-chan. I’ll charge you 1200 yen for it. – Usaida.”
It had an attached file, and his heart almost leaped out of his body when he saw the photo. He promptly saved it, reminding himself to pay for it, thank that lazy adult and ask him where the hell did that man get his phone address.
His phone rang again. Another text message. But he didn’t check that one. Inui was on cloud nine with such a perfect moment between him and his angel.
“Oh, and I also have pictures of you getting hit by Hayato’s batted ball. I’ll give you those for free. – Usaida.”
Bonus 2: “It is a shame that we could not use the red beans today,” Saikawa said as he prepared everything to make dinner. “I had even set and washed them already.”
“Why the red rice, Saikawa-san?” Kashima asked, helping Saikawa in the kitchen along with Koutarou.
“Why, of course, Ryuuichi-sama’s first kiss,” Saikawa answered. “This afternoon I witnessed what could have been Ryuuichi-sama’s first kiss, but it didn’t happen, tragically.”
“Don’t worry, I will save them to celebrate when it actually happens,” Saikawa spoke, fixing his glasses.
“You don’t really have to do that!” Kashima exclaimed, face red in embarrassment.