Shokugeki OTP Week Day 2: Future
It wasn't Shun's fault. Zenji had to keep reminding himself of that. Shun didn't want to leave him. At least Zenji hoped not.
"It's okay Zenji." Shun's gentle voice did little to lull his anxieties. "I know Texas is a long way from Greece, but we can still chat and call."
Zenji's heart tensed. The two of them had worked hard to make it through Totsuki Academy, and during that time neither had really made a move. It was only occasionally Zenji caught glimpses of affection from his reserved and stoic dorm mate, but both of them knew something was there. Thinking about it just made the whole situation that much worse.
"I..." Zenji shook as he reached out to take Shun's rough, calloused hand. "I don't want you to go. I want to stay with you."
Shun looked from their hands to Zenji's taut face and back.
"It's alright Zinnia." Shun gave him a soft smile and that's when Zenji just couldn't take it anymore. He mashed their lips together almost as though it had been reflex, breathing in Shun's scent of wood, smoke, and strangely citrus. Shun took a moment to respond, but when Zenji felt the other boy's hand caress the back of his head, he felt like all was right with the world. The two of them detached their lips from each-other and Zenji carefully pushed the hair from Shun's eyes.
"When did you start calling me Zinnia?"
"Now. Unless you don't like it."
"I love it, please don't stop."
Zenji briefly pressed another kiss into Shun's lips. The wonderstruck look on Shun's face when he pulled away once again, fully visible thanks to Zenji's hand still pinning back his bangs, made Zenji feel like he was floating, completely submersed in the sort of sweetness and sublime tenderness that comes with seeing someone look at you like you're the most beautiful thing in the world.
"I think I'm going to faint." He quavered. Shun chuckled a bit and ran his thumb over Zenji's cheek.
"Shut up." Zenji said, leaning into his touch. "I don't want you to go. You can't just disappear."
"I don't want to leave you. But we have to. We have futures ahead of us."
"But I want a future with you."
"I just wish I had worked up the nerve to say that... before it was too late."
"... Promise you'll stay in touch?"
"We can work out the other stuff later then." Shun pecked Zenji's lips lightly. "I'll miss my flight if I don't go now."
He turned and started out the gate, stretching his arm as far as it would go until he had to let go of Zenji's hand. They looked at each other a while as Shun continued down the walk.
"Goodbye... Goodbye sunshine!"
Shun paused a moment before smiling a pure and genuine smile.
"Goodbye Zinnea. I'll message you as soon as we land!"