Sweet&Tie

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/65506624.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandoms: Wind Breaker - にいさとる | Nii Satoru (Manga), Wind Breaker
(Anime)
Relationship: Sakura Haruka/Suo Hayato
Characters: Suo Hayato, Sakura Haruka (Wind Breaker), Kiryu Mitsuki
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Bodyguard AU, Childhood Friends
to Lovers, Kinda, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining, Light Angst, Fluff
and Humor, Eventual Smut, Top Suo Hayato, Bottom Sakura Haruka
(Wind Breaker), cliché tropes but cute, sakura is an idiot in love wbk,
give suo a break he deserves it, Happy Ending, Childhood Trauma,
Aged-Up Character(s), Original Character(s), author struggles with
structure
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2025-05-12 Updated: 2025-05-23 Words: 11,064 Chapters:
3/6
 Sweet&Tie
by indigoblo0m

Summary

“Sakura-kun?” Suo appears, and to Sakura’s surprise, he’s already changed back to his
regular clothes.

“Huh?!” Sakura turns his head from left to right numerous times. “The training’s already
over?”

Suo tilts his head. “Indeed. You spaced out for quite long.” He then leans in, and his smile
shifts to something rather mischievous. “You shouldn’t take your eyes off me, you know.”

Notes

i honestly have no idea how this ended up being so long, I wanted something short for this
idea... but anyways, the bodyguard au is finally finished! this will be 5+1 chapters in total,
and i will post these consistently because i have already written and edited (most of) the
chapters

this one is a lighthearted story. mostly soft, cute and funny (according to me idk) bcz its my
fave thing to write. I also added a little smut this time SO if you make it far enough in the
story you will be rewarded

hope you'll enjoy~

 Chapter 1

“C’mon,” Sakura kicks the terrace door open, like it’s the most normal thing to do first thing
in the morning. “Yer dad’s callin’.” He adds, keeping his hands in his trousers’ pockets while
his impatient eyes are scanning the otherwise peaceful, small area.

The lone presence of another is what he finds, and one would expect him to flinch upon
Sakura’s loud interference, but no such reaction. He merely takes another leisurely sip from
his crimson-colored hibiscus tea before he looks up to lock eye-contact.

“A pleasant morning to you too, Sakura-kun.” He smiles at the familiar intruder, his
brightness as dazzling as the waking sun behind his seated figure. Sakura often finds the
young master of the house outside, doing all sorts of curious activities, including but not
limited to: meditating, reading books in foreign languages, and bird-watching. Other times he
simply enjoys a cup of tea, maybe two. There are often handmade teacakes on a platter as
well, carefully placed in aesthetically pleasing compositions. Sakura must confess they look
inviting, even to someone like him, a person who struggles to understands the value of these
fancy things. However, he rarely sees the young master touch any of those tasty teacakes. He
recalls one or two occasions at most, the ones that involved bad days. When the young
master’s tea tasted more bitter than usual, and the wind blew from the wrong directions,
messing his hair up.

On that note, today must be a good day, because the teacakes are intact. So why does Sakura
feel a strange mood in the air ever since he woke up? It might have to do with this other
thing…

“Quit it, I gotta take you to yer old man. Now.” Sakura stresses, already at the end of his
patience. Seriously, why does this family treat him like a damn errand boy. Or an assistant of
some sort. Hasn’t he been hired to be a bodyguard?! Okay, there’s no official contract or job
description, since he’s in a somewhat complicated and special position, but regardless.

“Get yer fancy ass up and let’s move.”

The young master sighs as a response, but it’s more of an empathetic gesture than anything
else.

“Very well,” He places his cup back on the small table, and pushes his nicely crafted elegant
chair further back to create more room for standing up. He then takes one final glance at the
pair of robins on the nearby tree before making his way towards the other. Sakura nearly
takes a step backwards when he comes too close, but manages to hold his ground.

“You are aware my father doesn’t accept less than an immaculate appearance.” The young
master lectures while fixing the collar of Sakura’s white shirt.

“You’re one to talk, huh,” Sakura turns his face away from him, blushing just a tiny bit. “Still
in yer robe n’ stuff.”
“Hmm,” The taller hums, considering his words. He’s indeed wearing his satin housecoat,
lavender in color with golden details. Unnecessarily luxurious for a loungewear. “I am his
son, it shall be fine. Besides,” He places both hands on Sakura’s shoulders once the shirt is
proper and presentable. “My robe is rather stylish, wouldn’t you say so?” He smiles.

Sakura gets confused whenever something complicated such as style is involved, and so he
shakes him off. “Whatever, let’s get goin’ already.”

The other sighs. “We both know what type of meeting this is going to be, so no need to be
impatient, Sakura-kun.” He says, but then acknowledges his duty with a more serious
expression. “But I suppose you are right. Let’s get it over with as soon as possible.”

The taller turns, clasping his hands behind his back. Sakura doesn’t necessarily want to
follow, he’d rather skip these semi-formal family meetings, especially now that he’s received
a hint about the topic. It’s a sensitive one, a long-standing issue between father and son,
which means this definitely won’t go smoothly.

Again, Sakura wonders whether his non-existent job description mentions such a thing, but if
he really has to transform into an emotional support bio-décor while those two get through of
the must, he might as well have a suggestion to make it less painful and awkward.

“Suo,” He calls him by his name now, in a friendlier, more confidential tone.

The other turns, gaze questioning.

Sakura sighs and folds his arms. “If it’s gonna be that type of discussion again, ya might
wanna change, after all. Don’ piss him off too much.”

Suo watches him with that deep red eye of his for a while. Eventually, his face softens with a
fond smile. “Alright, give me ten minutes, and let us meet in front of my father’s office.”

Sakura does exactly that. He waits for Suo in front of the ominous double doors, preparing
for the worst. He knows nothing irks Suo’s father more than his son flashing a perfect smile
while refusing to comply.

But it can’t be helped. What Suo doesn’t want from the heart, or doesn’t feel the personal
need to do, he says no to – fast and easy. Obviously, this leads to family drama ninety percent
of the time, if not a hundred, and while one would think this is none of Sakura’s business, he
does get dragged into these situations way too often. And he hates when that happens, truly.
It’s so awkward.

Today’s discussion is no exception. The conversation between father and son is quite one-
sided, nearly painful to follow. Although Suo listens his father’s statements calmly and
enduringly, the atmosphere only deteriorates each time he replies.

“She does not only speak five languages fluently, she also excels at playing the koto
beautifully.”
“Remarkable.” Suo beams at his parent, who’s sitting behind an enormous oak desk. “But
father, you are aware I take no pleasure in listening to traditional Japanese instruments. I
prefer the qin.”

“She’s three years older than you, but consider it an advantage. A mature, elegant young lady
from a prestigious family who could help you grow.”

“I believe I am mature enough for my age, thank you. Besides, our family is already
prestigious enough, no?”

“And she’s considered a divine beauty in the Kanto region.”

“I must confess she’s not really my type.”

Suo’s smile is unwavering, and Sakura can feel the tension as it gradually builds in the dark
room. There’s only one beam of light coming through the tall, moody windows. Most of them
are covered with thick and heavy-looking curtains. It seems like the sun is purposely
prohibited from peeking inside, creating a mood of intimidation for whoever dares to enter
this space.

Suo’s father can’t help but pinch the bridge of his nose, and pair the act with a heavy sigh.
He’s not yet defeated, but not far from it either.

“You haven’t even laid eyes on her, son.”

“Correct, and forgive me, but it’s not among my plans.” Suo continues to display that
delightful expression, without the slightest sign of care in the world. His hands are clasped in
his lap, as relaxed as ever. “I am not interested.”

The older man leans back in his chair. In the absence of proper daylight his hair appears to be
darker than it actually is, and he wears it slicked back with a generous amount of gel. He’s
wearing a western style suit, neat but not too formal. An everyday set in graphite. Some of
his facial features resemble those of his son’s – if one takes the time to compare – but his
bone structure is more masculine. A wider jawline and thicker eyebrows, matured with a
number of forehead wrinkles. However, his eyes are sharp and unexpectedly youthful,
reminding Sakura of a fox. A wise and sly one. There is something similarly cunning about
his son, but in a gentler manner. Suo’s features are soft and pretty, almost prince-like. And his
eye is rounder, bigger, and more comforting to look into. At least most of the time.

“I cannot fail to notice that you are never interested.”

Suo shrugs, like he doesn’t care in the slightest, to the point of not answering.

Sakura fears in his place as well, swallowing a big one. He’s considerably far from the two,
standing by the door and quietly spectating, but he wishes he didn’t have to be here at all. He
feels like he’s guarding the gates of hell.

The older man now leans forward, elbowing the desk while focusing his eyes on his son,
sitting in front of him. Sakura quickly turns his head away from them, studying the millions
of books on the thousands of shelves. He wonders whether Suo’s father has read them all, or
it’s simply some form of self-expressive decoration among the rich and noble. Probably the
latter.

“You will visit her nevertheless. You may even change your mind, son.”

Suo sighs, crossing his arms. “I highly doubt, father, but very well. I shall pay her a visit
tomorrow to satisfy you.”

His father finally allows a relieved sigh as well.

“Magnificent.” He says with little to no enthusiasm after winning the battle, and calls for his
tall butler. The person in question emerges from the shadows, startling Sakura with his
sudden movement. He curses to himself as he calms his jumping heart, watching but not
really listening to the following conversation between the parties.

The butler finally bows, but before he could leave, Suo holds his hand up in the air. “On one
condition, though.” He proposes in a serious manner. His father motions for him to continue.

“I shall take Sakura-kun with me.” Suo points at his bodyguard behind himself, smiling anew.

It all happens in a matter of fast-forward seconds, so quick that Sakura doesn’t even have a
chance to protest when Suo’s father glances at him.

“Fine, just keep him out of trouble.”

Huh?!

“Why, of course.” Suo nods happily, having found a middle ground between him and his
father. He then rises from his seat, and leaves the office after a bow, followed by his confused
bodyguard.

Once outside and having the doors closed behind them, Sakura hurries to catch up with Suo
and confront him.

“The hell was that?”

“Pardon?” Suo asks, but the devilish smile on his face tells Sakura he’s very well aware of
what he’d done.

“Why ya need me there?” Sakura growls as they walk down the hallway, hands back in his
pockets to cope. “You’re just gonna reject her anyway, like ya always do.”

Suo side-eyes him. “Is that what you are hoping for, Sakura-kun?”

The quick response leaves Sakura speechless for a moment. He then reddens, annoyed. “W-
Why would I—”

“To answer your initial question,” Suo interrupts. “I feel more comfortable when you are
around, especially in a foreign environment. Besides, it’s your job to follow me around,
remember?”

“Tch,” Sakura clicks his tongue. “But why are you the one who needs to keep me outta
trouble? Ain’t that my job too then?”

Suo chuckles lightly. “Sakura-kun, I am merely joking. You know these are just formalities,
so please don’t take everything so seriously.”

Sakura rolls his eyes at that, because even though Suo tells him to loosen up, at the same time
he purposely tells blatant lies just to confuse and mislead Sakura. That’s just how he is. He
finds entertainment in the way Sakura takes everything at face value. No malicious intent,
simply for the fun of it. It is still pretty annoying though, but it can’t be helped. The two of
them are vastly different in many ways. For example, Sakura wasn’t born into the same world
as Suo. The strict upbringing, and the academic and social training that noble children go
through is still quite new and alien to him. Moreover, his personality doesn’t quite match the
criteria of noble kids either. He’s admittedly hot-headed and explosive, especially compared
to Suo, who has a calm nature. It is true that he has to pay attention to his composure, given
his high social status, but Sakura knows him better than to assume he is only pretending.

Sometimes Sakura believes he knows Suo more than he knows himself. From the moment he
was taken in, his sole focus became the other boy. He doesn’t recall anything specific from
his previous life. Before all this.

It’s not that he was too young at the time. If he really wanted to, he could probably grasp a
handful of childhood memories, prior age 10. That’s how old he was when he saved Suo’s
life, and thus earned his right to join the upper class of society. Everything before that
remains blurry and distant, because that’s how Sakura prefers it to be. He doesn’t need to
remember and submerge in those pitiful years of his early life. He’d rather focus on
everything after. The bright and sunny.

With Suo.

Growing up with the young master, always staying by his side. That’s what he’d promised,
after all. In exchange for this new, shiny life, Sakura had vowed to follow Suo on his journey,
protect and care for him until he is no longer needed.

And Sakura knows that day is slowly approaching.

They’ve been together for over 12 years now, and although Suo hasn’t shown any interest in
getting married, his father is right; that mindset could easily shift overnight. The next
marriage proposal may involve a woman Suo actually finds attractive and enjoys the
company of. Even if he doesn’t, he’s getting closer to the age where marriage is inevitable –
in his position, that is. His father is visibly running out of patience as the months and
marriage proposals pass by. Suo has to take over the family business, whether he likes it or
not, and he can only do that with a partner by his side. Even Sakura understands the
importance of that. Suo’s already under tremendous pressure, he needs someone who’s
willing to share and carry his burdens with him.
Sakura has been trying to be that person, filling a void from day one that he hadn’t even
known existed within Suo until they became adults. But, for this is a temporary position,
Sakura needs to remind himself that he is nothing more than a placeholder. The time will
come for Suo to choose someone for the long run, and it will also be the end of their journey
together. The end of the road where Sakura’s promise to him and the whole family expires, in
one way or another. After all, a married man does not need a clingy shadow anymore. A
married man wishes to be private with their significant other in a new chapter of life.
Sakura’s current purpose will cease to exist, and even if Suo takes a pity on him and allows
him to stay in the manor, that would just make him feel pathetic and lost. He has to have his
own life outside of Suo, but it scares him because he doesn’t know how that should look like.

“Sakura-kun?” Suo appears, and to Sakura’s surprise, he’s already changed back to his
regular clothes.

“Huh?!” Sakura turns his head from left to right numerous times. “The training’s already
over?”

Suo tilts his head. “Indeed. You spaced out for quite long.” He then leans in, and his smile
shifts to something rather mischievous. “You shouldn’t take your eyes off me, you know.”

Sakura would prefer to take a step backwards, but unfortunately the wall of the training room
is right behind him. All he can do is turn his face to the side, gently pressing his palm against
Suo’s chest to keep him from moving even closer.

“Y-You’re too close, Suo. I told ya not to do that.”

“Oh?” Suo doesn’t draw back, only chuckles darkly. “And I’ve been nagging you to call me
Hayato for years, yet you still never do. So aren’t we even at not complying?” He teases
while piercing into Sakura’s soul with that devilish crimson eye of his. Sakura can’t see, as
he’s still avoidant, but he can tell nevertheless. He feels the gaze, and his face heats up as a
result.

“Ya know I can’t, people would misunderstand.”

“Ah,” Now the taller finally pulls away, and the air lightens. “But titles aside, we are quite
close, and it irks me that you call me the same way people refer to that stick-in-the-mud
father of mine…”

Sakura snorts. He tries to hide behind his hand, but Suo hears him anyway, and it makes him
smile. He often jokes about his father, calling him funny names, which is quite comical
considering how serious the old man is. It’s probably only his own son who’s allowed to say
such things about him, especially out in the open.

After composing himself and clearing his throat, Sakura returns to the main topic.

“Ain’t this a normal thing though? You call me by my last name too.”

“That’s because whenever I call you by your first name you are hopelessly embarrassed and
try to kick me.” Suo complains, turning his palms upwards. “Even though I am able to block
those ruthless attacks, it’s still pretty troublesome that I have to stay alert, you know.”

Sakura’s annoyed. “Then just don’t do it, stupid.”

“Mmh… Unfair.” Suo sighs with a hurt expression, but then he turns to bow and wave a
cheerful goodbye to his Master and his training partners before they leave.

After Suo’s daily training session, there’s not much left to do. At least for Sakura. When they
get back to the manor, the taller boy and him separate. Suo goes to the library to progress
with his studies, and Sakura’s left to the company of his own thoughts again.

He figures he could go out on a walk to clear his head, or visit that dark alley later, where he
secretly wanders to every once in a while. It’s usually filled with gangsters and all types of
low-lives, perfectly fit for kicking ass and letting off some steam. Sakura’s grown up among
them, after all, and that’s the only way he knows how to fight; the street style. Moving in
with a noble family sure has changed a lot of things, but not this one. Several times he had
been offered to try martial arts with Suo, or some competitive sports, but he refused. It’s just
not him. He may not want to remember specific details about his childhood and his biological
family, but he wants to stay true to himself. And this is not only about fighting. He feels
incredibly dumb when he attempts to speak and act like some sort of gentleman. It doesn’t
suit him like it suits Suo. He’s just not that kind of person.

His adoptive family never made him feel less, and they never forced anything. They’ve been
incredibly tolerant with him from the start, probably because Sakura has been trying his best
to adapt in ways he finds appropriate. But this aspect of Sakura, the core that he is, will never
change. He’ll always be a street kid. The expensive suits and the rich dinners will not make
him forget that.

He wonders whether Suo knows where he goes and what he does when they are not together.
He probably does, as Suo knows everything. How ugly and unpleasant Sakura can be if he
wants, and how lonely he gets when looks at family photos on the walls that don’t include
him.

How he will never truly feel like he belongs here, or anywhere.

 Chapter 2
Chapter Notes

tysm for the kudos, comments, and subs so far! i appreciate every feedback that i get ♡

i added some more tags for clarification, and i will probably continue to add them as i
remember things, please bear with me.

The next morning is seemingly no different from any other. Following a quick morning
shower, Sakura dresses up and goes to find Suo before breakfast. He expects to spot him
outside, sitting at his small iron table with his tea and the pretty pastries, reading or
birdwatching as per usual. However, by the time he reaches the back terrace, a housemaid has
almost finished cleaning up the table.

He asks, and the lady tells him the young master’s already finished with his morning tea.
Sakura finds that unusual, since Suo prefers waking up early – as opposed to him. But over
the years, Sakura has gotten accustomed to the early morning routine. On most days, he
manages to catch Suo while he’s still in the middle of his tea ceremony.

Apparently, not today. Which is mildly worrying.

Even though Suo’s a certified oddball, he’s pretty consistent and diligent when it comes to his
routine. It is out of the ordinary for him to finish his tea in a hurry, so Sakura can’t help but
wonder why. Suo does and says weird things on the daily, often merely for shock value, and
although Sakura tries his best to take everything with a grain of salt, he usually falls right into
the traps. It’s annoying, and he wishes he could just ignore these tricky situations without
overthinking, but since he’s pretty much part of the family –well, employed by them, he has
to keep his eyes on the young master, and… go look for him when he’s missing.

Sakura asks all the household staff he stumbles upon on his way back inside the house, and
someone from the kitchen tells him Suo had been seen going upstairs, possibly withdrawing
to his room. Sakura thanks for the information and runs up the stairs as well, knocking on the
young master’s door.

It takes a while for Suo to open the door, but he does.

And he’s half naked.

“Sakura-kun! There you are!” He smiles widely. “Come on in,”

Sakura manages to keep his focus elsewhere, but when Suo turns away from him, he can’t
help but peek – really, stare – at his back and wide shoulders. Thankfully, he quickly snaps
out of it and closes the door behind himself, joining Suo inside the room.

He clears his throat. “Yer up early today….”

“Oh, you noticed?” Suo giggles before he disappears into his huge closet.

Sakura rolls his eyes. Of course he noticed, he’s not stupid.

“I am at a loss as to what to wear for my date today.” Suo adds, and that word echoes in
Sakura’s ears over the high-pitched metallic sound of the hangers, sliding on the hanging rod.

Date…

Sakura’s heart drops immediately when it hits him. Suo does take the marriage proposal
seriously this time.

“How does this look?” Suo reveals himself, dressed in all black. “Perhaps too dramatic and
intimidating for a first impression?”

Sakura stares at him, still in shock.

Suo tilts his head. “Earth to Sakura-kun?”

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise, so why…

Sakura turns his head, looking away. “Why… ya care so much? You don’t do stuff to impress
people.”

There’s a short pause that feels like an eternity, and Sakura wishes he could add “that’s what
I like about you”, but there’s no way he can form the words right now.

Suo allows a small sigh.

“Right. But as it happens, I must showcase the best of my qualities today, which includes the
perfect outfit.” Suo disappears again. “That’s what my father told me. And remember,
Sakura-kun, I am already taking risks by taking you to my private marriage proposal meeting.
I shall at least amuse my father for allowing us to go together.”

“…Not that I asked to go.” Sakura mumbles, but it comes out somewhat accepting.

Suo ignores the comment, and emerges once more, this time dressed in warm purple and
creamy white, and Sakura despises how complementary that purple looks on him.

“How about this set? Amiable enough?”

“Lovely.” Sakura snickers, making sure he sounds as sarcastic as possible. It’s a new skill he
has developed not too long ago, and he’s pretty proud of it.
The taller can’t help but laugh at his attempt, and the cheerful sound instantly lifts Sakura’s
mood.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Suo smiles at him afterwards. It’s one of those times that Sakura
finds his expression genuine and unmasked, and so he manages to force a small smile onto
his own face as well.

“We shall leave after breakfast.” The taller adds, and begins unbuttoning his purple
changshan with the embroidery details on the front.

“So soon?” Sakura asks, a bit perplexed by the information. On weekdays, Suo usually
attends business meetings and handles other family matters before noon, and following lunch,
he visits his martial arts Master for practice. His leisurely time comes afterwards, which he
usually spends focusing on his language studies until the evening. Well, if there isn’t anything
urgent or more important to do.

“Yes,” Suo lays the silky material on his bed before he starts unbuttoning his white undershirt
as well. “I’ll have other things to do later.”

That can’t be right. Sakura checked today’s schedule already, and there was nothing. He’s
pretty sure he knows how to navigate the calendar app by now, he couldn’t have missed it.

“Ain’t ya free after practice?” He raises an eyebrow. “Something came up?”

“I suppose you could say that.” Suo smiles at him once more, taking off his undershirt as
well.

Sakura suddenly averts his eyes, staring at the carpet beneath his feet instead.

“W-Why’re you undressing now?!”

Suo chuckles, enjoying his reaction. “Aren’t you a little too shy lately, Sakura-kun? We grew
up together, and you’ve seen me naked before.”

Of course, Sakura knows that. They spent their teenage years together, doing all sorts of
things. They went to places together, including training facilities, hot springs, and the kind.
But now that they’re grown, they are not so stuck together anymore. They have their
respective rooms and schedules, and although Sakura’s supposed to follow Suo whenever he
goes out – the bodyguard thing – they do have their personal privacy times. It’s important to
know the limits and set boundaries as adults.

Or, at least he remembers the housemaids telling him once. About the importance of personal
space, and all that. The ladies sort of scolded Sakura after finding out that the two boys had
been sleeping in the same bed, and quite often at that. It had been natural for both, so Sakura
didn’t understand it at the time, why the maids labelled it as something inappropriate.
Regardless, he took their advice and never asked to sleep together with Suo afterwards. Ever
since, he’s been trying to keep an appropriate distance from the young master.
“T’was long ago! We ain’t children anymore!” Sakura presses, refusing to look up. The last
time he’d seen Suo naked was probably who knows how many years back. “Put something
on already!”

Suo laughs, caving in and putting on his robe. “I find it quite fascinating that the more you
grow, the more sensitive you become. Isn’t that supposed to be the other way around?”

“Tch, whatever.” Sakura clicks his tongue, leaving the room.

He’s really annoying sometimes, that stupid Suo. He’s always covering up from neck to toe
when he goes out, but when he’s alone with Sakura, suddenly clothes become optional.

Besides, it was unnecessary for him to take off an already well-composed outfit. He never
misses to follow table etiquette, even when it’s just a private breakfast between the two.
There’s no way he’d ruin his clothes for the date, so why set them aside?

If he cares about looking so immaculate, maybe he really does fancy this potential bride. He
will wash his hair again, won’t he? Even though he washed it yesterday already. And he’ll
use his most expensive perfume for sure. The one you can only import from a certain town in
China, because it’s so niche and limited in quantity and –ugh, Sakura’s not hungry anymore.
That rarely happens.

He manages to fill his stomach enough to sit through the entire car ride anyway. The journey
to Kamakura takes more than an hour, which is relatively long. But, there had been several
lengthier trips just so Suo could formally reject an offer, so that doesn’t necessarily mean
anything – Sakura tells himself.

Once he decides to focus on their conversation, it doesn’t feel so heavy in his head anymore.
Suo keeps him busy with various topics so the minutes seem shorter. The mood is light and
the ominous word marriage doesn’t come up even once, so Sakura’s relaxed, shifting closer
to Suo in the backseat as he pulls his phone out to show something on his phone screen.

It’s a picture of a birthday gathering, a bunch of people posing in extravagant glittery clothes,
illuminated by colourful lights in what appears to be a night club setting. The person in the
middle is smiling widely behind a massive and glorious birthday cake, holding up a peace
sign.

“Oh wow,” Suo’s eye widens, studying the picture. “That’s quite excessive.”

“Right?!” Sakura snorts. “Look at this big ass cake! Ain’t it obscenely large?! Even a person
coulda fit inside!”

Suo contemplates for a moment.

“In fact,” He starts. “I heard Umemiya-san was hiding inside the cake the whole time. That’s
why he’s not in the picture here.” Suo reveals, and Sakura turns to him with a shocked
expression.

“For real?!”
Suo leans even closer, poking his forehead.

“Of course not.”

Sakura reddens, pulling away. “Yer so annoying, I ain’t gonna show you nothing ever again!”

Suo can’t help but let out a tasty chuckle. “Sorry, sorry. The real reason why he’s not in the
picture is because Umemiya-san couldn’t make it either.”

“Ah,” Sakura’s anger disperses, and it’s replaced by a saddened expression. “Now I feel even
worse that we couldn’t go… I shoulda been there.”

Suo allows an exhale of sympathy. “Tsubaki-san was aware not many of his close friends
from Japan would be able to show up at the party in Milan. Still, he seems rather content with
being able to celebrate his birthday in his favorite city.” He ruffles Sakura’s hair
affectionately. “I am sure he had a wonderful time, and we sent him a video message, so
don’t worry.”

Usually, Sakura doesn’t like when people treat him like a kid, but with Suo it’s quite alright.
His gentle touch feels comforting, although he would never admit it aloud.

He nods and drops his phone back into his pocket.

Not long after that, the chauffeur informs them that they have reached their destination.
Sakura peeks out the darkened windows, and the sight nearly takes his breath away.

While the Suo family manor has received several make-overs over the years, and the modern
design is heavily inspired by western gothic architecture, this residence in Kamakura is the
exact opposite. It’s a beautifully renovated, traditional Japanese Machiya. The front garden
with the driveway is rather minimalist, which makes the building look even more enormous
and generously detailed. Although the colors are warm and welcoming compared to the
manor back home in Tokyo, somehow Sakura feels unworthy of setting foot inside. It’s
almost like a historical drama set, featuring a palace where only the royal and noble are
allowed to enter. Worst is, there are a handful of household staff, already gathered to greet
them. It only makes Sakura even more anxious. He’s really not good with people, especially
during formal events.

The car’s parked and Suo opens his door, but before stepping out, he glances at the other.

“Are you alright, Sakura-kun?”

Sakura hesitates with the answer. He really doesn’t want to seem socially incompetent, and
like a sole loser, but whenever there’s a new situation or environment he hasn’t encountered
before, he gets terribly nervy. Usually, Suo is patient with him and explains what to expect,
but right now… Sakura feels this is different. Like he has no reason to be here, let alone ask
about what happens next.

“You needn’t do or say anything.” Suo tells him, using a gentle voice. “Merely stay behind
my figure and follow us. I’ll entertain her for a tea and we shall leave afterwards. I’ll try my
best to make it quick, okay?”

“…’Kay.” Sakura turns away from him to get out of the car as well.

Stay behind?

Figures.

They are led to the house by the staff. Instead of entering in the front, they are walked
towards the back of the residence, using the wooden veranda. The back garden, as opposed to
the front one, is more spacious and rather decorative. It has well-kept greenery, cherry and
peach blossoms, a pond with water lilies and a small waterfall. And let’s not forget the arched
wooden bridge with the graceful koi-clan beneath. Sakura hates to admit it, but the sound of
flowing water is pleasant to listen to. Regardless, he ignores it and follow in Suo’s way, not
too closely behind.

A sliding door opens, and a traditional tatami room is revealed with a tea-ceremony already
prepared. Sakura remains in the back and watches as Suo introduces himself to the family,
including the young lady in question, and she’s… a really really pretty woman. Suo’s father
was not exaggerating at all when he’d called her a beauty of the region. The rumors claim
nothing but the truth. She has gorgeous long black hair, immaculate and shiny. Her makeup is
light and modest, but clearly apparent and complementary. As for her kimono, it’s a rich and
warm tone of yellow, like a pool of honey, with orange flowers varying in size and shape for
decoration. Smaller ones around the obi, bigger and more detailed ones near the ends of her
sleeves and the bottom.

“Himari-san, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Suo flashes his best smile, bowing. “I am
deeply grateful for your kind invitation.”

She bows as well, along with her personal maid. “The pleasure is mine, Suo-san.”

After another set of formalities, only a few people remain in the room. The pair finally get
seated on the tatami and begin the tea ceremony with the help of a tea master. It’s quite
informal, as they are allowed to converse during the event freely.

They could have just sit at a table if they were going to ignore the tea master anyway, but oh
well. What does Sakura know about stupid ceremonies, right?

“If I may, you look even more gorgeous in real life than on the pictures.” Suo compliments,
like the cheesy gentleman he is.

“Why, thank you,” The young lady hides behind her sleeve. “I could say the same about you,
Suo-san. You are quite handsome.”

Sakura can barely fight the urge to roll his eyes and throw up at the same time.

“I see you are fond of traditional Chinese clothing. That’s quite interesting, given that your
parents lean towards western aesthetics. Or so I’ve heard they do.” Himari adds with a soft
smile. “May I ask if there’s a reason? I hope you don’t find the question intrusive.”
“Not at all!” Suo gestures with a hand for emphasis. “My parents don’t mind the way I dress
on the daily, but business-related occasions, such as company meetings are obviously
exceptions to this. I wear a western suit when it’s necessary.” He reveals openly. “As to why I
wear Chinese clothing most of the time, I would say this is simply a personal preference. My
body moves more freely, and I appreciate soft material that’s pleasant to the touch.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” She nods approvingly.

“But, on second thought…” Suo adds, contemplating. “I might be biased, since my Master in
martial arts, whom I respect deeply, happens to be Chinese.”

“How exciting!” She covers her mouth again with a sleeve, supposedly surprised by the new
information.

Sakura sighs in the back. Suo’s dating profile certainly states he’s good at martial arts.

“What type?”

“A bit of everything.” Suo smiles in an apologetic manner. “Forgive me, I am not so sure
myself. I suppose I absorb everything my Master teaches me without questioning. It’s only a
hobby of mine, after all. But it helps me focus, and keeps my body fit, so it’s beneficial in a
number of ways.”

She visibly blushes at the last sentence. “Yes, I can tell.”

She’s so obvious with her gestures, it almost makes Sakura scoff.

Except, accidentally, he does let out a small yet unfortunately audible snort. And now the
young lady is glancing at him, death-wish glittering in her golden brown eyes.

“Excuse me, may I ask why that person is present during our private talk?” She asks with her
voice and manner completely shifted. All of a sudden she sounds obnoxious and entitled. If
Sakura hadn’t witnessed the whole scene of before and after, he’d think she’s an entirely
different person.

Suo turns back to face the culprit. He’s giving a slightly uncomfortable look to Sakura, as if
saying “You had one job, and it was to keep quiet.”

“Suo-san, you introduced him as your bodyguard, so why is he sitting with us instead of
standing outside by the door?” She continues with the whining, and it really pisses Sakura
off. Just who does she think she is, telling Sakura how to do his very serious job! He’s
keeping his distance from them, so what’s the big deal anyway?!

Suo turns back to her. “Please accept my apology, Himari-san. The truth is, although Sakura-
kun is indeed my bodyguard when it comes to a formal setting, he’s part of my family and
closer to me than anyone else.”

Sakura grins, straightens his back and folds his arms in front of his chest like a victorious
warrior. The young lady does seem a bit taken aback by the revelation, but has her reply
already prepared.
“Regardless, he should know proper etiquette! This is supposed to be a private conversation,
but instead of practicing good manners and respect, he keeps making faces at me!” She
accuses with puffed, offended cheeks.

“Does he, now…” Suo sighs, and that’s when Sakura realizes the tea ceremony master has
given up on brewing and serving tea as well. He now follows the argument with unconcealed
curiosity and interest. Definitely a fan of drama and gossip, that guy… Highly
unprofessional.

The fact that everyone stares at him makes him redden and turn away. Luckily, his visible
embarrassment and shame earns him sympathy points. Instead of scolding Sakura publicly,
Suo chooses to skip that part and offers a gentle smile to the offended young woman.

“I am truly sorry on his behalf. Would you be so kind and allow me to compensate you for
the trouble he’s caused?”

Her features soften at once, and she’s more curious than annoyed at this point. “Perhaps you
have something in mind, Suo-san? I’d be pleased to hear it.”

The innocent, angelic smile is on display again, and Sakura suddenly craves to drown himself
in the pond outside. Or better yet, drown her in it. But honestly, any of the two options would
be satisfactory at this point. That’s how much he despises sitting in the same room with that
nasty bride-wannabe, trying to seduce Suo.

“My mother is hosting a picnic party next weekend at our property. Nothing too grand, only
some friends and relatives, but if you happen to be available and the trip is not too
burdensome for you…”

“Oh, I’d love to!” She exclaims, and then covers her lips immediately, composing herself. “If
you really mean the invite. I’ve never been to a picnic party before.”

“Naturally, that’s why I offered. Perhaps we’ll have the opportunity to chat some more.” Suo
confirms politely.

The conversation doesn’t last too long afterwards, since a second date is already scheduled.
They mainly focus on the tea ceremony master – who continues as if nothing had happened –
and once they are done with their tea the participants bid a formal farewell to each other.
Sakura’s already outside, standing on the wooden veranda while listening to the small
splashes and the flowing of the water. His eyes are focused on the white lilies, floating calmly
as the fluffy clouds reflect on the clear surface of the pond. The weather is nice too, not too
windy and not too hot. The air is a bit humid though, but this could have been such a nice day
if he hadn’t need to tag along and come to this place. There are about a thousand things he’d
prefer to spend his time on, instead of this one.

Yes, he’s pretty annoyed.

When Suo finally appears beside him with a nod, Sakura finally relaxes his shoulders. He
inhales deeply as they are being led outside, and when the taller notices his heavy exhale, he
bumps against him with an empathetic smile. Looks like he’s not bearing any grudges, so
Sakura returns the smile clumsily. He then opens the door of the black car that had been
waiting this whole time.

The chauffeur starts the engine, and as they roll out, Sakura still feels somewhat awkward.
Suo doesn’t say anything, which is very unlike him. He’s merely staring out the window
silently. No impressions, no questions, not even a little bit of teasing. That can’t be good.
Even if he’s not mad, he must have something on his mind, and Sakura fears that something
might just be related to the events in the tatami room.

He clenches his fists in his lap, staring at them intently as he forces some words out.

“Weren’t ya… supposed to end it? Why’d ya invite her to the picnic?” He asks, trying not to
sound weird about it.

Suo turns to him with a blank expression, which eventually turns into a dirty, nearly
condescending look. “Because a certain someone wasn’t able to control their attitude, despite
my father’s very specific request.”

Sakura blushes, realizing that this indeed was a formal meeting, and he, in fact, fucked up
and embarrassed the Suo family. The tea ceremony master might have been unprofessional,
but Sakura wasn’t too far from the same word either. Okay, maybe he was even worse in that
sense. At least the ceremony master knew how to shut the fuck up.

“I need to compensate her for your mistake, dear sir.” Suo adds, and this time he sounds like
he usually does. Mischievous and teasing, but in an endearing way.

“F-Fine! Whatever…” Sakura turns away from him, crossing his arms. “As long as I won’t
be there to see her…”

Suo blinks, surprised. “Of course you will be there. Where else would you be?”

“Any other place!” Sakura argues, turning back to face him with a firm look.

They keep eye-contact for a few seconds, until Suo can’t control his entertainment. An airy,
light chuckle escapes his lips.

Although Sakura’s annoyed, he doesn’t hate the sight nor the sound. His features soften as
well.

“…What now?” He pouts.

“You really don’t like her, do you?”

Sakura shrugs, looking away once more.

It’s… not that he hates her. He has no reason to. She’s beautiful, clearly educated and well-
mannered. Perfect wife material. The fact that her humanly side slips out on accident only
makes her more charming, in a way. If it weren’t for the fact that she’s interested in Suo,
Sakura would even go as far as to call her demeanor cute.
But, because this is about Suo… Sakura’s conflicted. Irritated. Scared.

And he doesn’t know how to digest this strange mixture of emotions.

They’ve met potential brides before, but this is different somehow. Perhaps because Suo’s
reached the stage in his life where this is actually… ideal. Although he still studies to
improve his skills, he’s graduated from university. He’s been promoted to a lead role in the
family business as well. He’s doing great, career-wise, and he’s reached the age where he
might actually desire to find a long-term partner. Family plans slowly emerge in people as
they become more stable in their lives. It’s only natural.

“She seems nice, so give her a chance.” Suo adds with a smile, and Sakura’s heart tightens.

“Alright.” He replies.
 Chapter 3
Chapter Notes

okay so fyi a lot of things are gonna happen here and some scenes may seem kinda
messy but i tried my best to make the chapter cohesive i swear (im a oneshot author and
idk how to write chaptered fics properly someone pls save me)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“What’s wrong, Sakura-kun?” Suo asks, turning to see his companion. Sakura has stopped
following him soon after getting out of the car.

Sakura stares at the ground, too embarrassed to look up and face the world. He doesn’t feel
well, not in this particular outfit. Even dress-shirts and proper trousers are uncomfortable to
wear when you grew up as a street kid, let alone a stupid tuxedo with a bow tie. It is not an
exaggeration to say he feels like a proper clown. The clown of penguins, to be exact.

Ridiculous, especially when he stands next to Suo, who’s wearing a wine red suit with a
matching tie and vest, and a dark shirt underneath. Hell, if Suo’s wearing a suit with muted
colors and a simple tie, why can’t Sakura? Why can’t he wear all black, and be more casual,
like other normal bodyguards? If that’s how he has to present himself anyway, he’d prefer to
have the advantages as well, like blending into the night and staying invisible.

Suo chuckles, and approaches him to fix his bow tie. “Still mad at me for forcing this outfit
on you? Hm?” He smiles somewhat empathetically, but Sakura knows he doesn’t feel
apologetic at all. He enjoys this, doesn’t he?

“I look fuckin’ stupid… With my hair slicked back an’ everything…” Sakura murmurs,
blushing. “Like I’m ‘bout to receive an award for a spy movie or somethin’…. An’ I hate
those.”

Suo fails to contain his amusement, but he manages to at least hide it behind his hand.

“Oi!!!” Sakura looks up finally. His face turns even deeper in red, but his eyes are
threatening. “Are ya makin’ fun of me?!”

After reclaiming his composure, Suo locks eye-contact with him. He seems sincere, and his
voice is rather calming and confidential when he speaks.

“Apologies, Sakura-kun, I would never make fun of you.” He places a hand on Sakura’s
cheek, gazing into his mismatched eyes. “I knew this tuxedo would look dashing on you, and
I wasn’t wrong in the slightest. Believe me, you look stunning.”
Sakura’s blush grows even heavier, if that’s even possible, but for a split second he doesn’t
want to run away. He wishes to hear those words, spoken to him so clearly. He wishes to
savour every last one of them, knowing Suo would never lie to him when he looks at him
such as this.

But his courage lasts only for so long, and he slowly averts his gaze to the side. He doesn’t
tell Suo to pull away though. His warmth is comforting.

“If… you say so. ‘Guess it’s fine then.”

“Mhm!” Suo giggles happily, and pulls away eventually. Sakura has a feeling he hesitates to
do so. Maybe. “Now let us hurry. We wouldn’t want to miss the play.”

Sakura nods and follows him inside the theatre.

For the vast majority of the public, especially for foreigner tourists, The Kabukiza Theatre in
Ginza offers what one would expect: an interesting and fun experience in the form of a
traditional Japanese play. However, every once in a while, a special performance takes place
on the stage, and tickets for these plays are incredibly difficult to obtain. Nearly impossible.

These tickets are exclusively reserved for special guests. This tight circle mostly consists of
filthy rich businessmen, nobles, politicians, gangsters, and the Imperial House of Japan. They
gather in the theatre during these plays to discuss important matters, often those of illegal
nature.

Needless to say, if you are the young master of the Suo family, you get a pass, and although
Sakura doesn’t mind setting his foot into shady places, this theatre makes him feel
particularly uneasy. The air around these people is way too… repulsive.

And Sakura would like to think Suo is different.

No – he knows Suo is different. He’s not like those pigs who buy women for their
entertainment, or those who make dirty money by selling drugs, guns, or confidential
government information. He’s heard it all, all kinds of things. The whispers behind the seats,
grossing him out.

The first few times, Sakura found it challenging to keep still. He found it difficult not to call
those bastards out, and not to throw punches in their wrinkly faces. But, whenever he’d been
on the edge, nearly snapping from pure disgust and raw fury, having to share the same
species as those rotten pieces of scum, Suo would knowingly find his gaze, or he’d put a
hand on his shoulder. He’d always find a way to let Sakura know that he understands his
anger, but this is something they can’t—and shouldn’t even try to fix. Something way above
their level.

Sakura understands now, that this place is different. No matter what, he must stay put.
Otherwise, he’ll cause more than a minor inconvenience to Suo, his parents, and the entire
name of the family. The consequences could be downright fatal, in every sense of the word. It
takes great trust for Suo to bring Sakura here, knowing his temper and attitude, and Sakura
wouldn’t want to betray that trust. As a result, he remains quiet and obscured in the dark, like
a shadow. Perhaps the only occasion when he takes his bodyguard job seriously.

As they walk up the stairs to reach their reserved seats in one of those fancy boxes, above the
general audience, Suo acknowledges and bows to some acquaintances. Mainly business
partners of his father. However, he does not stop to chat with them, and Sakura’s grateful for
that.

Besides, he knows Suo’s only reason for coming here is to meet one specific person.

By the time they arrive in the box, one seat is already taken, and there are two bodyguards –
real bodyguards, those huge muscle-head types – closely behind.

“Ah, you guys have finally arrived,” The person stands up upon hearing the sound of their
steps. He sounds rather enthusiastic and joyful.

“Always a pleasure to see you in person, Kiryu-kun,” Suo smiles. “Apologies for being late.
Sakura-kun needed some affirmations regarding his outfit for tonight.” He shares, much to
his own bodyguard’s embarrassment.

“Oh, is that so? But Sakura-chan looks as handsome as always!” The pink-haired young man
winks, his silver piercings glittering in the dark. “Love the vibe! So Bond-ish!”

“Stop that…” Sakura murmurs, trying to hold back as much as possible.

It’s true that Suo and Kiryu have been close friends for years, and that their relationship
involves Sakura as an extension, but in this theatre, it would be reckless to act so buddy-
buddy with the son of such a wealthy and well-known family. Sakura is only a bodyguard,
after all. Having a private box helps at keeping their conversations private, but he can’t be
careful enough.

Kiryu and Suo sit down, and since Sakura feels uncomfortable standing right next to those
two giant gorillas in the back, he attempts to keep a decent physical distance. He then crosses
his arms, trying to focus on the upcoming play that he knows will be painfully long and
bizarre, but hopefully distracting enough.

“Sakura-chan!” Kiryu’s voice finds his ears again. “How many times do I need to tell you?
Sit with us!”

“B-But… Uhm,”

“Come on, you are not like those guys!” Kiryu waves his hand in the air lazily. “You are
family! Sit next to Suo-chan!”

Sakura glances at Suo, and when the other smiles at him approvingly, Sakura nods and
quietly sits beside him. He won’t say, but having those two gloomy mountain dudes out of his
sight helps him feel a little bit less uneasy. And, it does feel nice to know Kiryu considers
him a family member too.
It’s also a relief Suo’s sole reason for coming here is meeting a close friend. Not that Sakura
doesn’t trust he’s a good guy, but still… It’s nice to know Suo only ever comes here to meet
Kiryu when he’s finally available, since the pink-haired is, more often than not, busy
traveling around the country. His parents own a very successful jewelry manufacturing
company, and since his sister’s currently studying overseas, Kiryu is the one they keep
nagging about procurement matters regarding the business.

Jewelry manufacturing is indeed all they do on paper, and it’s what the public knows them
for. However, the true secret to their incredible wealth is what they call forwarding. Which
mostly translates to art theft and smuggling. From museums, private and public galleries, and
the like. Running this little (very prosperous) side-business is a family tradition, with decades
of history. Needless to say, the Kiryus do it professionally, and that’s where 80% of their
income actually comes from.

Obviously not the most ethical things to build a whole secret business around, but if Sakura
had to pick something to smuggle and sell on the black market, pieces of art seem to be the
least dangerous. Old paintings and sculptures are certainly on the safer side to steal and
smuggle, at least compared to drugs and guns. In the world of the filthy rich, it’s like,
whatever.

Besides, Kiryu doesn’t seem like a bad person.

Suo happens to be an avid antique collector, and Kiryu helps him find rare gems, often for a
very friendly price. That’s how they had met, basically. Suo commissioned Kiryu several
times over the years, and they’ve become good friends. Sakura approves of this friendship
too, because Kiryu has always been nice and doesn’t make him feel inferior. The diamond
prince, – as the public refers to him, – may even be more untouchable than Suo, but he
doesn’t act superior to Sakura in any way whatsoever. Once you get to know him, he’s an
average guy who likes pop-culture and enjoys dissing incels online.

About 15 minutes into the performance, Suo finally brings up the topic he’d come to discuss.

“Is it in the country?” He asks.

Kiryu glances at him from the corner of his eye. “What you’ve requested this time took a
while to acquire, and it’s currently stuck near the border with some other goods as a cover.”

“Is there an issue?”

“I suppose we just have to stay patient. I’ll give a sign to my men sometime next week. Does
that work for you?”

“Next week, is it?” Suo sighs, closing his eyes. “Don’t give me false hopes again, Kiryu-kun.
I need it as soon as possible. My father keeps bothering me, and I need to show him my true
intentions.”

Kiryu smiles. “You would think he knows already. It’s pretty obvious, even to me.”
“He never really cared about me as an individual, so how would he notice?” Suo opens his
eyes, observing the stage play. “But this is not the only reason, of course. I’ve been meaning
to do this since graduation. Besides…” He now turns to Kiryu as he complains. “Someone’s
getting really impatient and demanding lately, and I have trouble controlling myself.”

That catches Sakura’s attention, but he doesn’t look or say a thing. He only listens.

“Now, now,” Kiryu pats Suo’s shoulder with a small laugh. “Aren’t you a lucky man, Suo-
chan? Don’t make me envy you! But alright, I’ll try my best to get it delivered to your place
before next weekend. I’ll go and check it myself.”

“Thank you, it is much appreciated.” Suo smiles with relief.

They continue to quietly converse during the rest of the play, but Sakura doesn’t pay much
attention after that. The exchange about the mysterious order keeps replaying in his head, and
he’s trying to make sense of it. He could ask Suo later, but that would make it seem like he’s
sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Or that he doesn’t trust him.

Sakura figures he’ll just wait until Suo tells him, hoping that he eventually will.

After the play, they are not so lucky at slipping out unnoticed. Suo gets held up by a number
of big guns, and Sakura finds it extremely challenging to keep a straight face. He’s tired after
such a draining day filled with unpleasant events. He longs for a time in the past, when life
had been easier for both Suo and him. When they had been free from the games they are
forced to play at present times.

Back then, Sakura hadn’t known he would one day recall those carefree days with nostalgia
in his heart. Simply being two boys, and hanging out – it sounds so nice now. And it was, in
fact, very nice. Suo would always suggest some fun activity, impressed by the number of
things Sakura’s never seen, never been to, never tried before. As for Sakura, he would
vehemently decline at first, out of fear for the unknown. Nevertheless, after being convinced
or dragged along, he’d feel happy and accomplished that he’d done something new, finally
stepping out of his tiny and fragile comfort zone.

He misses those days, and he misses hanging out with Suo so casually.

Sleeping in the same room… In the same bed.

That was all before this mess. The formal titles, jobs, business deals, and marriage proposals.

Before growing up.

With these thoughts occupying his mind, Sakura keeps quiet during their car ride home. Suo
doesn’t bother him too much, probably also tired after the long day.

Back in the manor, Sakura heads back to his room, and then for a quick shower. Except the
shower stretches way longer than intended. The hot steam relaxes his muscles, while the
sound of dripping water hypnotizes his already numbing mind.

Eventually, Sakura turns the water off, and in the sudden silence a strange need occurs.
In the end, he can’t stop himself from showing up in front of Suo’s door, knocking faintly.

Suo opens up, visibly surprised to find him there. “Sakura-kun?” He asks, looking up and
down on the other. “I thought you already went to bed?”

Sakura’s hair is still wet from the long shower. He keeps staring at the coffee-colored carpet
beneath his slippers, a few drops falling from his hair and painting the brown with small
round spots of black.

“I did, but… Can’t sleep.” He lies. He didn’t even try to get into his own bed before coming
here.

Suo huffs with a warm smile. “Is that so?” He opens his door further, allowing Sakura to
enter. “I wonder why. You seemed to be pretty exhausted.”

“I am, I just…”

Miss you?

How could Sakura say that after spending the whole day together? It would sound so
ridiculous.

“It’s okay if you can’t find the right words.” Suo reassures, as gentle as ever. He then sits on
his bed, encouragingly patting the silky bedding material beside him. “Why don’t we sit here
for a while?”

Sakura remains quiet, but he accepts and sits next to the taller.

Being close to Suo is soothing, especially when he’s just… him. When all masks and
unnecessary layers of the daylight have been disposed of, and Sakura is allowed to see him
for who he really is. The gentle, kind and affectionate, most honest version, embraced by the
quietness of the evening.

Sakura likes this Suo, the one that smells like vanilla and lemongrass after his shower. It
always places him into a state of tranquillity, as if held by the clouds. A place beyond the
physical realm, where he knows he’s sheltered and cared for. He wishes he could put all these
silly but warm feelings into words, and share them. He wishes he could let Suo know, but
Sakura’s never been good with those kinds of things. He’s always lacked the skills and the
courage to express his emotions.

“Hmm…” Suo reaches for his hair carefully. “It’s time you develop the habit of drying your
own hair, Sakura-kun. Even children can do that nowadays, you know.” He says, mostly
teasingly to break the ice, but to his surprise, the other doesn’t react. Sakura doesn’t flinch or
pull away, which he usually does when Suo’s getting too close. He doesn’t blush or start a
friendly fight either. It’s worrying, how he’s just staring at his own hands in his lap, almost
blankly.

“Sakura-kun,” Suo takes one of his hands from his lap, calling out for him as softly as
possible. “I know I have already inquired today, on our way back from the theatre, but… Are
you really feeling alright?”

Of course, he can tell something’s off. Suo knows him better than anyone. He cares more
than anyone. Or, he might just be the only one who genuinely does.

Sakura finally looks up at him.

“Suo…”

“Yes? I’m all ears.”

There’s a pause, and then Sakura’s focus shifts again.

“Can I… sleep here tonight? With you?”

Suo’s eye widens at the unexpected request. It’s been a while, after all.

“With…me? Together?”

Sakura nods quietly, still lacking his usually sensitive, shy quality.

There’s some hesitation before Suo replies, and he sounds troubled.

“May I ask… why? I don’t think that’s a good—”

“We used to sleep in the same bed, back then.” Sakura interrupts. “Before it all got so
complicated.”

He misses it. The truth is he misses feeling safe and warm at night. And this might be the last
opportunity for him to spend time with Suo like this. He’s getting married soon, and
Sakura… Sakura feels like time is slipping away, flowing through the gaps between his
fingers. He can’t stop it, and he has no right to, so… For one last time, maybe it’s okay.

“Very well.” Suo says, and Sakura looks up at him with disbelief. As if he hadn’t actually
expected him to allow it.

Suo lifts his hand and brings it closer to his lips slowly. “Of course you can, Sakura-kun. You
are always welcome here.” He says, and the words are so cruel, so painfully beautiful, it
makes Sakura’s heart ache. And what hurts even more, is the way Suo presses his lips against
the back of Sakura’s hand, like he’s some delicate being that could break any second. As if
it’s okay for him to feel like that every once in a while.

But the following morning, waking beside Suo, Sakura feels the complete opposite of what
he’d sought. He feels miserable, and as if he’d done something wrong. The guilt for being so
close to Suo is almost unbearable.

What was he even thinking? Forcing Suo to sleep with him in the bed. And then asking for
those cuddles, and wanting to hear those sweet whispers of affirmation…
Not good. Sakura knows that’s not good, and he definitely overstepped. Possibly violated
every boundary in existence.

He finds it would be best to forget about this altogether. Just, act like it never happened and
sneak out as fast and quietly as possible.

It’s early enough to succeed without being caught by the maids and household staff. They
usually start their day at 6 in the morning, and according to the antique clock in Suo’s room
(God bless Kiryu) he has about ten spare minutes. And so he lifts the silky cover slowly and
carefully, sticking one of his legs out. He only wishes it wouldn’t feel so unpleasant to leave
the warmth of the bed.

“Sakura-kun,” A hand grabs his shirt from behind, giving Sakura a severe jolt. He then turns
as slowly as possible, delaying the inevitable awkwardness that awaits.

“Quite early for you to be sneaking around,” Suo smiles, but it’s one of those expressions
that’s hard to read.

“Who’s being sneaky?! I ain’t!” Sakura argues with a scary scowl. Usually, he doesn’t have
this much energy in the morning, but he’s hates being caught. It hurts his pride, and it’s also
embarrassing, so now he’s being defensive.

Suo chuckles at his reaction. He seems genuinely appeased now.

“Good, then.” He says, and sits up in his bed as well. He then presses a finger against
Sakura’s forehead, poking his forehead. “And, just so you know, you are not even a little bit
threatening in your Gudetama pyjamas.”

“S-Shut up…” Sakura looks away, blushing.

“You look rather cute, actually.”

“I said shut up!” Sakura buries his face in his palm, already getting a head-ache from Suo’s
teasing, so early in the morning. It wasn’t even him who wanted these stupid sleeping clothes.
The matching set was a present from Suo, for last Christmas.

The young master giggles happily, and every time he does that, he grows more annoying, but
Sakura doesn’t necessarily mind it.

They chat some more, about… Things. Nothing that would make sense to anyone else, but
Sakura still feels the conversation is a whole lot of everything to him, and it fills his soul with
brightness until it nearly bursts. Because Suo is nothing but light to his dark, helping Sakura
recharge whenever he’s down, or ease his mind when he’s troubled.

“Sakura-kun,” Suo calls, pulling him back to reality. He’s back from the bathroom, done
washing up, and now he’s offering something in his palm. “May I ask your help with this?”

“Oh… Yeah,” Sakura replies.

 It’s been a while since the last time he’d helped Suo with his eyepatch in the morning. He
accepts the accessory, and waits for Suo to sit next to him and turn his head for better access.

Somehow, this small act feels even more intimate than those warm cuddles from last night.
He knows Suo wouldn’t allow anyone else to do this for him, besides his parents and Sakura.
It’s a privilege for a very selected few, and it makes him happy.

“Done.”

“Thank you.”

Sakura remains silent as he notices the first ray of sunlight outside the window. He believes
sunrises are beautiful, especially if you have someone to share them with.

“Suo,”

“Yes?”

Sakura averts his eyes. He’s not so sure what he wants to say. Perhaps he likes calling Suo’s
name for no reason. Or he likes the attention he receives by doing so.

“Forget it.” He closes the thought with a disillusioned sigh. “I gotta get dressed.” He adds,
and crawls out of the bed that had granted them one last night together. Sakura’s not sure he
deserved it, but he definitely needed it.

For closure.

“Alright,” Suo agrees and allows him to leave this time. “See you later for breakfast?”

Sakura’s hand halts on the door handle. “I might eat out today.”

“Hm?” Suo sounds like he’s somewhere between astonished and intrigued. “Where are we
going?”

“…No, just me.” Sakura doesn’t turn, as if talking to the door. He can tell from the following
silence that the other doesn’t like the answer.

Regardless, Suo decides not to press.

“Okay, noted.”

Chapter End Notes

petition to give sakura gudetama pyjamas. who's with me??

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