Chapter Text
Yushi and Sion had just graduated from high school. It was a milestone that should have felt entirely celebratory, but the relief was tangled with a quiet, lingering anxiety. They were happy, course mostly because they knew the terrifying shift into adulthood wouldn't pull them apart.
They were heading to the exact same university, an unspoken promise that their friendship wouldn't be forced to endure the strain of distance. Yet, both of them carried a secret nostalgia for the years they were leaving behind.
Of course, they were already missing the reckless innocence of being teenagers, the endless weekend parties, the shared groans over strict teachers, and the comfortable routine of a life that felt small and safe. Starting university was the threshold of a completely new chapter. Stepping into the first real pages of adulthood brought a heavy wave of stress and fear. Sion, true to his nature, did his best to keep his composure. He locked his negative emotions away, refusing to let the cracks show. He forced himself to believe that everything would turn out fine, that he would adapt, meet new people, and that his life would finally gain a fresh, exciting flavor. Yushi, however, couldn't mask it so easily. Being naturally shy and deeply sensitive, the upcoming changes weighed on him far more heavily than on his best friend. Sion could read the fear written plainly in the trembling cadence of Yushi's voice, the nervous twitch of his hands, and the hesitant way he carried himself
Three days had passed since graduation night. When Yushi finally blinked his eyes open, the digital clock on read 11:00 AM. His hair was messy tangled against the pillow and a few of his favorite plushies had migrated to the floor during his restless sleep. He felt completely exhausted.
The previous night had been a battle against his own mind; stress had kept his thoughts racing until the early hours of the morning. Instead of enjoying the hard earned freedom of a two-month summer break and focusing on recharging he had spent the night tormenting himself with endless, irrational worries about the future.He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, letting out a soft yawn as he stretched his aching limbs. Reaching blindly for his phone, the bright screen illuminated a staggering sight: five missed calls from his best friend and a 99+ messages hovering over their chat history.
Yushi’s eyes widened in sudden shock. Throwing his blanket aside he hurriedly called Sion. Naturally, he didn't have to wait more than two rings for the line to connect
"Well, let’s see who finally decided to wake up and grant me a sign of life" Sion’s voice drifted through the speaker accompanied by a low, fond chuckle
"I'm sorry, hyung," Yushi murmured, his voice still thick with sleep, rough around the edges.
"I couldn't sleep at all last night. That’s why I slept for so long."
"Hey it's fine, don't apologize" Sion replied softly. A second later, the call shifted to video, and Sion’s face appeared on the screen, followed quickly by the lens tilting downward to reveal a small, furry creature
Yushi sat up instantly, his exhaustion forgotten. "Is that a cat?! What’s its name? Where did you get it from?" The words tumbled out of him in a rush of pure excitement
Sion smiled, a faint, warm flush creeping up his cheeks. He always found his friend incredibly cute whenever he got excited like this, his eyes lighting up over the simplest things "To answer all your questions at once: yes, it’s a cat," Sion chuckled, smoothing a hand over the animal's fur. "Her name is Kuri. I actually rescued her from the street"
"That’s a beautiful name," Yushi said quietly, his voice softening. "And you have a really good heart hyung. I'm sure Kuri is so grateful that you gave her a home." Mended by four years of an unbreakable friendship, Yushi still found it strangely embarrassing to compliment Sion out loud. A familiar warmth bloomed in his chest, making his cheeks tingle
"Thank you, Ushi," Sion murmured, his expression softening further before a playful glint entered his eyes. "Anddd... can I ask you something?"
"Of course!" the younger boy replied, his tone growing more confident
"Would you like to go out somewhere tonight? There’s supposed to be a full moon and since I know how much you're fascinated by that kind of stuff I thought we could go for a walk or head down to the park"
Yushi fell silent for a few seconds, the phone trembling slightly in his grip as he processed the invitation. A wave of quiet shock washed over him. He couldn't believe Sion still remembered such trivial details things Yushi had mentioned months ago in passing conversations, assuming they would be forgotten "That sounds really nice," Yushi finally managed, a small smile tugging at his lips "What time works for you?"
Sion’s smile widened, bright and reassuring. "I’ll be at your place by 8:00 PM"
Yushi nodded offering a soft goodbye before hanging up the call. For a long while he just lay back down against his pillows, staring up at the ceiling as the gentle curve of a smile settled on his face. "It’s going to be a good day" he thought to himself