Content Enough To Write

Jyushimatsu was on his back with Homura laying on top of him. He rubbed Homura's back, humming a gentle melody.

"Hm...what song are you humming?"

"Ah, it's a song one of my bro's wrote!"

"Let me guess - Karamatsu, right? That's the one who plays the guitar?"

"Yep yep!! He's really good at it!!" Jyushimatsu smiled fondly at the thought of his older brother's talent. "I could totally see him getting into the music field someday. Though maybe that's not in his plans. If it was, he'd probably have a YouTube channel by now…"

"Mm…"

Jyushimatsu began to rattle off about his siblings, Homura snuggling closer as the yellow clad one infodumped about his family.

"You know, Jyushi…"

"Huh? Yeah?"

"I bet you would be a great storyteller."

"Eh?"

"You're always so energetic and full of life. And when you tell me about your brothers, it doesn't sound mundane or repetitive at all. I bet you could write a book or something, and it'd do really well."

Jyushimatsu froze for just a moment, his smile fading and body slumping for just a moment. His usual posture and smile came back so quickly, Homura almost thought she'd imagined it.

"Jyushimatsu?"

"Mm?"

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Homura looked up at him. "I've got you right here, don't I?"

The woman frowned.

"You're trying to distract me."

"Wh - "

"Jyushi, I saw the look on your face a moment ago."

The man paused, pressing his lips together into a thin smile. He looked away.

".......I never really told you. Or much of anyone, really….."

"Hm?"

"But. I've always wanted to write a book or something."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I just." He glanced away, looking a bit sheepish. "I didn't think I had the talent for it." Homura sat up, leaning against the boy's side.

"Why's that?"

".....When I was a kid, some of my brothers found my writing. They made fun of it, saying it was terrible and made no sense."

"Oh…"

"I love my bros, but. We can be pretty shitty to each other sometimes. They kinda just. Sapped my love for it for a good chunk of time. By the time I got back to writing, I always thought about the crap they used to say. Figured others would say similar stuff. So I never really thought I could potentially be good at it. I. Just assumed it was a shitty hobby that wouldn't take off."

"Do you still write stuff now?"

"….Yeah."

"Can I see some of your stuff?"

"U - uh." Jyushi blushed a bit, looking to the side. He tapped his feet a bit at the anxiety of possibly showing his work to anyone.

"Jyushimatsu?"

Ugh, but it was just Homura! If anyone could see his writing and be caring enough to not tease him for it, it'd be her…

"Hey, Jyushi. Jyushimatsu."

The girl placed a hand on her boyfriend's cheek, startling him out of his thoughts.

"I won't say anything mean or bad about it, alright?"

Jyushimatsu nodded.

"O...kay."

He took out his phone, opening up his folder of documents he'd written and saved.

"Okay, um. Here's a thing of mine…"

Homura held out her hand to take the phone.

Jyushimatsu kept it in his grasp.

"Do. You wanna read it to me?"

"Uh - "

"I promise I'll pay attention!"

Jyushimatsu looked at his girlfriend, who gave a sweet smile in return.

"Uh, sure. So, um…"

Homura leaned her head on the sunshine man's shoulder, falling into the world Jyushimatsu had created.

"....And eventually, the child knew things would be okay. They continued to instill hope, dreams, and inspiration inside the hearts of everyone around them, which began to put the burden of the world's pain and suffering to ease. And with that, we close this chapter of their story, and await the next upcoming adventure."

Jyushimatsu set his phone in his lap, still choosing not to look at Homura.

"Uh, so. Yeah. That was an idea I had, and I know it sucked but - "

"Jyushimatsu, that was amazing."

The yellow clad man turned to face the other in surprise.

"It. It was?"

Homura looked at her boyfriend incredulously.

"Um, yes? Hello???" Homura grabbed Jyushimatsu's face, staring him straight into his eyes. Jyushimatsu grimaced, but allowed it. "Write. More. I don't care if it's another story or a continuation, but I need. To see. More. Content."

"..........." Jyushimatsu's stunned look was plastered on his face for a moment, before suddenly brightening up into his usual wide grin.

"You really think it was that good…?"

"Jyushi, that was perfection."

The man laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ha ha! Wow, I. M - maybe I have talent after all…?"

"Oh, I know you do!"

"Heh." Jyushi smiled down at his lap, kicking his legs and flapping his sleeves happily. "....Thank you. I. Really haven't been confident about this stuff since. Well, since forever. But I really enjoyed coming up with stories and characters and such despite that. Do. You want to hear mo - "

"Yes!!" Homura beamed at him, eyes shining brightly.

"Ha, okay!" Jyushimatsu grabbed his phone again, scrolling through his text documents. "I do have more to the story."

"Ohh you continued it!"

"How could I not? It's uh." Jyushi gave an unsure smile. "It's actually part of a bigger story. There's a lot of stuff that goes down. Including many plot twists. But the twists are good, and you don't see them coming!"

Homura smiled as Jyushi rattled off about this story project he'd been working on.

"How long ago did you start this?"

"Uh, well. I came up with it all in middle school. Well, with the original idea for it at least. So it's been a long time!"

"Sugoi ne~!

"I'm glad you think so!" Jyushi smiled, no longer feeling unsure of himself and his writing. "I, uh. I've been thinking that it'd be cool to...make a podcast with this."

"Ohh, a story driven one?"

"Yeah, a narrative podcast!"

"That'd be so cool!!" Jyushimatsu began bouncing in his seat, Homura chuckling at his excitement. "I think it'd be a really good idea to learn about what goes into making a podcast."

"Ah - but that's for if I actually decide to do it…" Homura shook her head.

"You should look into it now! So if you do decide to go through with this idea, you'll have a head start on knowledge."

"Hmm. I guess that makes sense." Homura nodded.

"Do you have a lot of the story and ideas written?"

"Mhm!"

"You could probably find people to collab with! To help write it and put the pieces together. Oh, and you're bro is good with music, maybe he could help come up with some original sounds?" Jyushimatsu smiled wider, and he started bouncing more.

"Man - the more we talk about this, the more I feel like I could do it!"

"I bet you could!" The yellow one swung his legs again, laughing. He took Homura's hand in his, squeezing it gently.

"....Hey. 'Mura?"

"Hm?"

"....Thank you. Thanks for letting me know my work is good, and. For helping me see that I can succeed with this."

Homura leaned against the boy, sighing happily.

"It's no problem, Jyushi. I'm glad you told me about this."

Jyushi brought Homura's hand to his face, kissing her hand sweetly.

"You're too good to me, ya know that?"

"Aw, Jyushi."

"I love you lots."

"And I love you more."

"Eh?" Jyushi grinned, a playful look in his eye. "That's not fair. What if I wanna love you more?"

"Sorry, Sunshine - that's impossible!"

"Hah???"

"You can't love me more than I love you! It's forbidden!"

"Boeh!!!" Jyushi let his eyes bulge as he fell on top of a cackling Homura.

"J - Jyushimatsu - ah ha ha!"

The two fell into a fit of giggles, looking up at each other with humor-filled tears in their eyes.

“Hey. Jyushi.”

“Yeah?”

“Catch!”

Homura grabbed a cookie, quickly throwing it at her boyfriend’s face. He caught it in his mouth with ease, chomping it up in amusement as Homura stared.

“Whuh - how?”

“Ha! I can take anything you throw at me! I was raised with five brothers, after all!”

“Oh yeah~?”

“Yeah, I - woah - !” Jyushimatsu laughed as he fell backwards, Homura having tackled him down.

“Can you take this?” Homura gave the man a shit-eating grin as she began to tickle him.

“Ha ha, Homura, noooooo!”

The two continued to rough house playfully, laughter filling up the apartment complex.