writing contest entry

Instructions

tw; transphobia "you will never be a boy, [xxxx]." these were the last words akito heard before running to his room and slamming the door. he promptly sunk to his knees, burying his face in his hands and crying. "dangit.." he cursed under his breath. now was a pretty damn good time to call toya. akito shakily stood up and dialed toya's number. "hello?" akito stammered. "i-" before bursting into sobs. toya hesitated. "hey, akito. i'm coming over, okay? unlock your window." akito silently nodded, moving to the window and opening it. toya would be here soon. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Toya arrived, climbing into akito's room through the window. Akito is sitting on his bed, looking up at toya. "Akito, what's wrong..?" Toya plops himself down next to akito. "Is... is it your dad again..?" Akito nods, unable to speak through the tears. "Don't worry, Akito." the two sit in silence for a bit. "you know you're the manliest guy i know?" toya offers, responded with a weak smile from akito. "hey, c'mere." toya pulls akito into a hug, wrapping his arms around his partner as akito buries his face in the crook of toya's neck, crying silently. toya plants a small kiss on akito's forehead, holding him close. "it's okay." toya strings his hands through akito's orange hair, noticing how long it's getting. "hey, you wanna cut this?" a nod. 'okay." toya slowly straightens up. "the scissors are under your bed, right?" akito mutters a small "yeah". after retrieving the scissors, toya sits behind akito, draping a sweatshirt over him. he began to cut his hair, with the care and gentleness of a mother. "thank you." akito whispers, bouncing his leg and averting his eyes. "anytime, love." suddenly, akito's phone buzzes. and then again. actually, lots of buzzes. he opens it to the vivid bad squad groupchat and is suddenly flooded with euphoric messages from an and kohane. "hey, have you talked to akito today? he's a super cool guy and we're really good friends. he's really friendly. he's so cool too. have you seen his hair? i wonder how he gets it like that, it's *so* cool." it's almost enough to make akito cry. scratch that, it is enough. tears spill from his face. slowly, he types. "thank you." toya smiles warmly, continuing with the haircut. "there. you're even more handsome." akito runs a hand through his hair, small orange bits coming off. "oh heck- erm, i'm gonna go take a shower. thank you, toya." toya nods. "i'm always here for you." akito beams. for this moment, all is at peace. for this moment, he is akito.