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He's sipping a bubbling drink that bends the blaring lights passing through the curved, slender glass, containing the color of the party.
Naturally, he stands beside her; they form a pair, not a couple. Her lips move as her hand moves down a familiar braid. He seems to respond, offers his hand and they walk off together further away from the dance floor and to the exit.
Ryuuen takes that as his cue to leave the party.
The metallic screech mixes with the music rising from the ground before everything is solidly shut out and he's left with a cool night. Blackness covers the landscape. A creak behind him and the party noises rise before fading again.
He joins his side at the edge of the roof.
Ryuuen's back leans against the railing, his wrist dangling on it. Meanwhile Ayanokouji just stands there and watches the sky or horizon.
"It's been a while, Ryuuen."
"Thought you left with Horikita. She still a stick-in-the-ass or what?"
"A bit."
Ten years later and he's still such a bland bastard.
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Forgot."
"It's the first time I've seen you in a ponytail."
"Meh, usually save it for formal occasions."
Ayanokouji hums.
"…It feels like we always meet for the first time on rooftops."
Ryuuen shrugs. "What a stupid thing to say."
They spend around five more minutes of silence together just gazing at the sky that Ryuuen thought had a new shade of blue to it. Pale, but a hint of color at the edges, and a couple inconsequential stars here and there.
"I guess I better leave."
Ayanokouji stands there for a few more seconds before slowly turning.
Ryuuen stares, tensed, before saying flatly, the tone of reciting a page from a school textbook,
"I love you."
Ayanokouji spares a glance at him. His eyes always look a bit sleepy, always half-lidded as if he were bored.
He does that to hide his nature. Ryuuen used to put on an act too. But now that they're through with those days, it shouldn't mean anything to spill some things pent-up or let loose.
But Ayanokouji always defied common sense. Basically, he's a dumbass.
"I see."
He doesn't seem to believe him, probably thinks it's another one of Ryuuen's throw-away remarks.
He's turning away again. The breeze sings in their ears, cold on their fingertips. The blue of the night is dark and deep enough to swim in, while small stars find their way in the spaces between clouds. The strands of his hair wave as he turns.
Ryuuen grabs his wrist from his suit pocket. Ayanokouji turns halfway towards him.
He looks into his eyes and finds a faint amber glimmer along the rim of his iris.
"I…love you."
The words seem to ring with the breeze.
Ayanokouji's eyes widen. He opens his mouth as if to say something but no sound comes out. And a flicker of curious emotion colors his face.
Ryuuen smiles triumphantly.