𝐶𝐻𝐼𝑁𝑀𝑂𝐾𝑈 ┊ 𝑇𝑂𝑅𝑈 𝑂𝐼𝐾𝐴𝑊𝐴

30

『 Chapter Thirty: Future Steps 』

unedited
---

3rd Person
●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●

"There's a step."
Oikawa was walking backward with Jun's hands on his shoulders, directing him to their destination.
"Can I turn around now?"
"No. Be patient."
Carefully going up a wide set of stairs, he felt his feet stop.
"Okay, now you can look."

Turning around, Oikawa's eyes widened, seeing the bright signage that lit up the dark sky.
"Shit-Jun."
He smiled, signing, "I thought I'd go all out for our first date."
Oikawa's gaze remained fixed on the sign of the building. His skin warm, flushing from the gesture. Jun had brought him to a planetarium.

"Let's-let's go!" He cheered, taking his boyfriend's hand and rushing inside.
After paying admission, Oikawa led the way, awing at every sight and sound.
Jun just liked to marvel at Tōru's handsome face, completely star-struck.
They took a stroll down a long hallway, the ceiling a projection of space, decorated with hundreds of stars, reflecting the dotted pattern onto the dark floor.
The illuminated and quiet empty hallway left Oikawa speechless.

He walked to the edge of the wall, eyes trailing up the glass, counting every detail.
"Are you okay?" Jun jokingly asked.
"This is amazing," he signed, close to his chest. "You-thank you."
He planted a kiss on his forehead, "I knew you'd love it."
The projection of the sky moved with them as hand-in-hand, they entered a large circular room with the solar system displayed on its ceiling.

"Jun, you outdid yourself."
"Did I?"
Tōru shook his head, "how am I ever gonna top this?"
"Don't take me to a movie and you'll be fine."
Standing in the center of the room, Tōru wrapped his arms around Jun, caressing his face.
"I'm in love with you," he whispered, letting his lips be read before planting them on Jun.
"I love you too."

Oikawa looked at Jun's eyes which looked navy in the lights of the room, holding the stars from all around.
"I want to be with you forever."
Tōru loved to watch Jun blush. It was such a rare occasion which his face painted itself pink. He tried to cover it before Oikawa gripped his jaw.
"I want to love on you for eternity."
Jun's skin turned a crimson red, making him close his eyes so he couldn't see Tōru's words any longer.
"Stop talking," Jun breathlessly whispered, "you can't just say that, Tōru."

Oikawa touched his finger to Jun's chest, drawing a question mark.
"I want this to last forever," he softly mumbled, feeling his own voice crack. "I want to-" his stomach churned, face burning as he decided to silence himself.
Tōru whispered into Jun's jaw, planting a kiss there before writing on his chest again, "tell me what you want."
"I w-want to-to t-t-taste your lips again and again."
Giving him what he wanted, Tōru smashed his lips onto Jun's, pushing his tongue past his teeth.

Jun stumbled backward, his back hitting the wall as Tōru tasted his mouth.
Jun's lips prickled with flame, burning like the rest of his body and tasting the strawberry chapstick on Tōru.
He kept his eyes closed, feeling Tōru's soft fingers hold onto the nape of his neck and smelling the milky shampoo of his hair.
Tōru's waist felt small, with his heart thumping hard against his palm. Dragging his hands up, he felt the pulse in his neck, before cupping Tōru's face and kissing him roughly back.

He prayed and he prayed that he wasn't making noises. He tried his best to keep silent, relying on Tōru to be his ears for any lonely worker that might come upon them.
When the cold of the room touched his face, Jun peeked his eyes open, seeing Tōru's smiling, flushed face.
"Marry me."
Eyes widening, he stumbled to form a word.
"R-repeat?"
"Marry me, Jun. Someday in the future. Please say you will."

Jun thought he'd pass out right there, his entire body getting goosebumps as felt Tōru grip his hands.
He lifted them, forming Jun's hands into the signs of yes and no.
"Please...answer me. I feel like an idiot already."
Sucking in breaths through his gaping mouth, his lips turned dry before he slowly nodded his fist.
"Tōru...I...I'm so young."
"So am I. It doesn't have to be now. It can be whenever we're ready. I just-I want you to know that I'm yours."

His quivering lips turned into a smile, bursting out in laughter.
"Of course!" He cheered, wrapping his arms around Tōru, "I love you!"

---

Sitting on the frozen steps outside, the two boys sat in the orange light of the street.
"I was invited to Japan's Youth Camp."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure if I wanna go though."
"What?" Tōru waved his hands around, "you should! It's a great opportunity! Everyone deserves to see you."
"You think?"
"Isn't it what you wanted? You said before that no professional team would ever take you, but Japan Youth is nationally recognized."
"I guess so," Jun fiddled with his fingers, pressing down the crevices in his skin. "I think I'm debating it so hard because of fear. It took a long ass time to get my current team to work well with me. Opening myself up to other teams is-kinda scary."

Oikawa shrugged.
"It can be. I doubt anyone there knows sign language."
"Which is a little troublesome, but if I can't allow others to communicate with me, I don't know how I'll ever move forward."
Jun scratched his head, letting out a troubling sigh, "it's very weird, Tōru. I go from being this lonely figure on a court, relying on others to speak for me, and now I'm supposed to present myself to all of the country?"
"That's just how good you are," Tōru explained, "moving up quickly."
He didn't seem all too impressed by those words.

"Jun," Tōru waved his name in the air, "listen to me."
Jun couldn't even bring himself to joke about that request.
"I've seen all you can do. I know the kind of person you are. I know you can do this and I know you are worthy of it."

He nodded, a smile growing.
Tōru raised his hand, quickly spelling out a word.
"Argentina?" Jun interpreted, "what of it?"
"I think that's where I'm going."
Jun had been so caught in the moment that he forgot Tōru was graduating, leaving him with two more years in high school.
"What will you do there?"
"Defeat everyone."
He chuckled at such a simple answer. Tōru lied his head on Jun's shoulder, signing out to him, "we can marry in Argentina."
"True," he fought the cheeky grin tugging on his face.
"We'd have to learn the language though."

Jun laughed, "could also learn their sign language."
"Too many."
Jun squeezed Oikawa's hand.
"I'll miss you."
Tōru looked up, seeing the tears form in Jun's eyes.
"Hey," he cooed, wiping them before they fell, "I'll still be with you. I'll still talk to you."
"It wouldn't be the same."
"No, but you're good enough to wait for."

Jun pulled Oikawa into an embrace, before pulling back.
"Thanks," he lowered his palm from his chin, "for everything. I'll follow you anywhere."
"What are you thanking me for?" He signed in question.
"For changing my life."
Oikawa flashed a smile, "Then let me thank you too."

Jun had no words to describe his gratefulness and his love. He had no way to thank Tōru for the greatest gift.
For now, Jun loved himself.

---

I'm done! Yay! I know this chapter was short, especially for being the last one, but I think it was better to conclude with their future in question.

Thanks for supporting me even through my hiatuses, especially since these chapters used to come out every Friday and suddenly they were very few months.
This book has been through a lot and I'm excited to share those details in an author note, but for now, thank you so much for your support on Chinmoku.

I hope to see you in my other works.
Thanks for reading!
-May