i'd tear my heart into pieces and build you a home, a home in which we could grow old

everything requires a strong foundation and without knowing it, you were my first block

let us be the last

-

one:

"toshi!" i exclaimed quietly, as to not bring attention to the two of us.

"hey, princess."

the boy wrapped his arms around my waist, rocking us side to side slightly in the hug.

"how'd you do on the test, my love?" shinsou pulled away from the hug and cupped my face, nothing but a smile on his face.

"i aced it. and mistress kayama offered me a slot at one of her studios, as a teacher! it's just an internship but it's extremely good for my resume."

"i told you you had nothing to worry about, didn't i?"

"yeah," i sighed contently into the space between us.

"my girlfriend, the most talented dancer at Yuuei University." shinsou peppered kisses onto my face, blatantly ignoring the fact that we were in public.

i felt bashful at his words and actions, "hitoshi, don't say things like that."

"no, you're right. the most talented dancer in all of Yuuei history."

i sighed, enamored by his support, he rivaled my mom's pride in my talent.

"come on, say it with me." shinsou urged.

"hitoshi, let's go." i changed the topic, "i'm tired."

"i'm not moving until you say it." shinsou crossed his arms over his chest and i had known him for too long to know that he was serious.

"i'm the best dancer at Yuuei," i rushed the words, "okay, let's go."

"nuh, uh, uh. in all of Yuuei history, say it loud and clear." he restated, unwaveringly.

"i'm going home, hitoshi." and i began to walk away from him.

"my girlfriend, everybody," he addressed a few passing student around us, loud and clear, the way he wanted me to, "is the best dancer."

i whipped my head back at him, "hitoshi, don't."

his grin only grew wider and he brought up a finger to point towards me. "she's the best dancer in all of Yuuei history and she's going to be the biggest dancer in the world. bigger than abby lee and all of her students." he told the last bit to someone walking close to him.

i could only stare in disbelief.

"abby lee is not the only dance teacher in the world, toshi." i explained exasperatedly.

"i know, but i like the reaction i get from you when i say that." he grinned cheekily, not even trying to hide his amusement.

"okay, you've gotten your reaction, now let's please go home."

"home?"

i bit my tongue, "i mean, my apartment. or yours if you want, but let's stop bothering people."  i try to reach out to tug the boy in hopes that he would follow.

"you mean so i can stop embarrassing you." he raised an eyebrow, accusingly.

"that's exactly what i mean, hitoshi. now let's get going."

"you wound me, my love." shinsou clutched his chest and dropped to his knees.

he just didn't stop.

at a loss for words, i stared down at the boy.

his eyes were screwed shut in his false agony and he waited before peeking out of one eye.

"have i convinced you yet?"

i sighed, "no but i'll entertain you. what is it that you want?"

in record time, shinsou was back up on his knees, already leading me towards something. "there was this music major or something down at the square." he informed me and interested, i followed him less reluctantly.

"let me show you off, pretty girl."

-

two:

"you're here? again?"

"ouch, toshi, you make it seem like you don't like seeing me." i feigned a frown, placing a hand on my chest in mock-hurt. the bell above the door chimed from behind me.

"of course, i like seeing you." the boy rolled his eyes at my antics.

"love you too, toshi." i sang as i approached the counter.

"you don't love me, you love the fact that you can get a discount from me."

"you see through my act so well, pretty boy." i leaned over the counter, relishing the fact that shinsou did too, eyes flickering to my lips.

"ah, ah, ah," i stopped his advances with my hand, digits soft on his mouth. "it's very unprofessional to kiss the customers, hitoshi."

"you're very cruel, you know that, y/n?" he sighed, opting to just kiss the pads of my fingers.

"but you love it," i grinned because i knew he did, and proving my point, shinsou didn't deny it.

"so," i rested my elbows on the counter, hands cupping my face, "what's on the menu today, hitoshi?"

-

three:

"what's up with the pajamas?" the boy waves me over to where he was sitting on the edge of his bed.

"ah, it was mina's idea. something about having a pajama day." i explained as the boy wrapped his arms around my waist. "you like them?"

he laughed, eyes shining with amusement. "yeah, makes me want to have you in my bed even more."

i smacked him lightly.

"i'm serious, y/n. let's take a nap."

"you tired, pretty boy?" i whispered softly, tucking a stray lilac strand behind his ear.

"mmm, yeah." shinsou answered, eyes already closed.

"then let's sleep."

"i wanna talk to you, though." he replied, words slurred as he laid down reluctantly.

"come on," i climbed into bed i had grown so familiar with, "we can sleep and talk at the same time."

"no, we can't."

"well then, we can just talk until we fall asleep. how's that sound?" i shifted around.

"sounds good." his answer was curt but he raised his arm, bed covers following.

after scooting under the cover, shinsou let his arm drop and draped it over my side.

"so," he began, "how was your day, pretty girl?"

"tiring, if i'm being honest. i mean i'm grateful for the job at kayama's studio but i'm just overwhelmed with the choreography. but of course, i know it's lucky i am to even have the internship so-"

"hey, you don't have to invalidate how you're feeling, pretty girl. it's okay to feel tired so don't try to push down any feelings like that, don't bottle them up."

"you know," i brushed hair away from shinsou's forehead, "for someone who's tired, you give really good advice."

"only for you, pretty girl."

-

four:

cold hands, rivaling the cold tiled floor, slid into my shirt and wrapped themselves around my waist. "you look so good in my shirt."

shinsou rested his head on my shoulder, his sigh close to my ear.

"you think so?" i finished washing the last dish, placing it off to the side to dry.

"i know so, pretty girl."

i spun in his grasp, turning to face him and was greeted by shinsou's messy bedhead.

"and you also look really good in my apartment, in the morning."

"i'm here, like, all the time, toshi."

"no, you're not. you still go to your dorm, sometimes." hitoshi sighed his claim into my neck.

"you're sighing an awful lot, toshi. something you want to say to me?"

"i'm not even sighing, y/n." and even though i couldn't see the boy, i knew he was pouting.

placing a few soft kisses on the crown of the boy's head, i waited until he was seemingly content. shinsou murmured something quietly, the ghost of his words tickling the expanse of my collarbones. 

"what's that?" i probed, letting shinsou take his time.

and he followed the call of my words, letting the rising sun paint his features, eyebags prominent yet not taking away from his beauty.

"y/n."

"yes?"

"let's move in together."

-

five:

"i think the color looks good."

"you think so? i'm still not sure."

"yeah, yeah. it has a nice undertone."

shinsou laughed, "yeah, whatever that means. i chose it because it reminds me of your eyes."

the sudden confession caught me off guard, response stuck in my throat.

"i'm kidding!" shinsou laughed loudly and approached me.

"oh, you're so fucking evil." i pushed the boy's shoulders only for him to catch both my hands and pull me close.

shinsou was only mere inches away from my face and at this distance, i could smell his minty toothpaste. i smiled, amused by the thought of shinsou brushing his teeth right before i came over.

"what are you smiling at, pretty girl?" shinsou queried but didn't even give me a chance to reply as he pressed a slow, dizzying kiss into the corner of my mouth.

i hummed, letting my eyes flutter closed in response.

"nothing," i answered when shinsou pulled away.

i watched as he sat down on the lone couch in the living room, the plastic meant to protect it from the paint crinkling under him.

"do you... are you happy?" shinsou asked out, demeanor calm but his right leg was bouncing, restless.

"of course i am, pretty boy." i made for the couch, "are you?"

"yeah but..." he trailed off, deciding to let his gaze roam around the room. i wondered if it was to avoid looking at me.

"but what?" i bit my lip, suddenly nervous.

"i think it's too sudden but-" shinsou's leg continued to bounce so i placed my hand on it, the motion immediately ceasing.

shinsou finally looked up at me and i silently urged him to continue.

"ah, never mind." shinsou rubbed the nape of his neck awkwardly, chuckling but the sound was dry and unconvincing.

squinting at him for a moment, i decided not to push too much and just let him be.

"anyways, what color are we painting the kitchen? i feel like a grey would be good, don't you think?" shinsou refocused on the task at hand; getting all the rooms of our house painted.

"a grey? hmm, i'm not sure. what other colors do we have?"

shinsou slung an arm over my shoulder, pointing to certain cans of paint on the floor. "we have a lilac, a soft blue, a yellow, and a teal."

"we'll have to take another look at the kitchen, we could swatch some of the paints." i shifted so i was pressed against shinsou's side.

"sounds like a plan, pretty girl." shinsou beamed and pressed a kiss into my temple.

his merriment was contagious and i couldn't help but smile back at the boy; his leg began its judder once again.

"you're so gorgeous, y/n." shinsou admitted with no diffidence. "be mine."

i laughed lightly, "i am."

"no, like mine."

i cocked my head to the side, brows furrowed, but connecting the dots together, from his awkward questions to his nervous attitude. 

"oh."

the curt answer seemed to set shinsou on edge, adding to his nerves.

"i meant yeah, yes." i answered, feeling just as panicked as shinsou looked.

"okay," we both settled, hearts both racing, yet we didn't know if it was because we were flustered or because of what we agreed to.

the silence continued for an extended moment, the thrumming of my heartbeat extant in my ears.

but i broke the silence when i felt the pitter pattering come to a slow.

"is that how you're going to ask me, though?" i joked, the way he asked the question wasn't important.

"tell me what you want, i'd do anything and everything." there was a glint in his eyes.

"for me?"

"for us."

~