Days went by as they worked on the Project together and with time, Kunikuzushi notices Aether getting comfortable with him. Kunikuzushi feels good despite knowing that Aether is in love with someone else. Both Aether and Xiao have started hanging out with him. He has also stopped arguing with Aether too much, it just affects their relationship negatively, not to mention that Aether is usually right and they have the same opinion most of the time. He wonders what made them clash this much in the beginning. He has also found out that he is older than Aether by a year and is also a senior to him and that Xiao is their senior who is about to graduate in a month.
Kunikuzushi and Aether finished their Project discussion early today as Kunikuzushi had plans. His dog died today, 5 years ago. He cannot help but feel nostalgic and sad about it and Aether had noticed his glum expression but did not comment on it as they parted their ways.
Every year, he casts Daffodils at the Naka River in Fukuoka, in remembrance of all his loved ones who had passed away. Daffodils are used to honor someone who has passed away, a reminder of the circle of life and the hope of a new beginning after death. He stands there glancing at the river shining in the golden hour, holding three Daffodils to his heart, no person in sight beside him. He hopes his precious pup had reincarnated somewhere, living a better life that Kunikuzushi could ever give that angel. He hopes that his childhood friend can live a healthier life in another world, with no illnesses. No one might expect this kind of melancholy from him but he is quite an emotional person despite all his harsh exterior, he just could not get rid of that part inside him completely, but he wishes he can.
He casts the daffodils in the river and stands there with a sad expression on his face, a tear drop falling on his face-
"Oh hey Kuniku-" A voice calls out to him but stops after noticing Kunikuzushi's expression.
Aether is standing beside Kunikuzushi, three forget-me-nots in his hand. Kunikuzushi wipes away his tears as Aether bends down to cast the flowers in the river. This makes Kunikuzushi wonder about Aether and his past, in fact, he knew nothing about Aether at all. Who has he lost? What is his life story? He knows absolutely nothing. Then a new wave of sadness engulfs him, wanting him to let it all out but he prevents the tears by biting his lips and clenching his fists tightly.
Kunikuzushi wants to leave but his feet aren't moving, he does not want Aether to see such a pathetic sight of him so he decides to glare at the river instead.
Before he noticed, Aether had approached him and embraced him gently.
He opened his mouth to say something but no words came out, it felt as if he was choking. He hates when people touch him but for some reason, he feels safe with Aether.
"It's okay," Aether gently said, patting his back, "Let it all out, I am here for you."
This broke something in Kunikuzushi and he wept like never before in Aethers comforting embrace.
.
.
.
"Well, Fuck," he said, his voice horse from crying, as he let go of Aether.
"Feeling better?" Aether chuckled.
"After crying like a twip in front of you?" Kunikuzushi spat, "Never felt worse than this."
"We both know that's a lie," Aether smiles at him, beckoning him to sit on the ground with Aether, "You look refreshed, the tears did your face good."
"Asshole," Kunikuzushi commented while sitting beside Aether, peeking at him.
"I come here sometimes just to ponder about some things," Aether smiles at him, his hazel eyes holding an emotion Kunikuzushi cannot decipher,"You know, my parents passed away in a marine accident when I was 12, so I visit this place sometimes to talk with them."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Kunikuzushi says consolingly.
"Mhm, dont worry about it," Aether is staring at the river but it seems as if his mind is elsewhere.
"Today is the day my dog died five years ago," Kunikuzushi decides to tell Aether, after all of what Aether did for him, this is the least he could do. He was never consoled like this by anyone so he never knew how much someone's presence was comforting to him.
"I come here every year on this day in his remembrance." He said, lost in his thoughts, " He died because he was left alone in the burning house."
"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly happened?" Aether asked.
"I was sleeping when the gas leak happened at home and the house caught fire," he started, "I was told that I had gotten unconscious because of the gas so the rescue team only saved me from the burning house, they did not know that Goldie was inside." he looks at Aether and is met with a comforting smile, "If I had not gone unconscious, I could have saved him."
"How is that your fault Kunikuzushi?" Aether said and put a comforting hand on his back, "You were also a victim of that fire so don't beat yourself up with something you had no control over."
"I heard he suffocated and then burned to death Aether," this might be the first time he had called Aether by his name, "How painful it must have been." his voice cracked thinking about his poor Goldie.
Aether did not say anything but rubbed his back with comfort, they sat like that for a while in silence.
"Fuck, I am embarrassed." Kunikuzushi said abruptly, disturbing the silence.
"Took you a while," Aether smirked at him, mirth in his amber eyes, "You look like a mess with puffy eyes and a snotty nose."
"Wha-" Kunikuzushi touched his nose, "You liar." he accused bumping his shoulders into Aethers jokingly.
Aether laughed with joy in his voice, he looked so beautiful like this that he couldn't take his eyes off of him.
"What?" Aether asked, checking his face with his hands, "Is there something on my face?"
"Let me see," Kunikuzushi doesn't know what came over him but he grabbed Aether by the chin and brought his face closer to his and kept staring.
"Wh- What?" Aether asked, flabbergasted.
Kunikuzushi let go of him, knowing that he had made Aether embarrassed and smirked.
"I'm leaving," he said and got up to go home.
"Hey, you didn't even tell me what's on my face," Aether called but he kept walking, smiling to himself and a faint blush on his cheeks.