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It was late at night after training. Shuichi was exhausted, and Kaito was practically carrying him back to his dorm room.
"Alright, goodnight sidekick! See you tomorrow!" Kaito exclaims, as he leaves Shuichi at his door, and starts walking away torwards his. But before he can go much further, Shuichi takes hold of him by his jacket. "W-Wait..." he murmurs.
Kaito turns his body towards Shuichi, wondering what the boy could need from him.
"Uhm... I..uhm.. c-could you stay with me a l-little longer?"
This was a bold request by Shuichi, there was something he wanted to tell Kaito it's been a while now. The truth is, the boy had started developing feelings for his friend. He thought he could keep it to himself but, just recently, Shuichi is freaking out at the thought of never seeing Kaito again, of losing the boy he likes, before he could tell him how he truly feels. He wants to be there for him, just like he was there for him all this time, and tonight was the night he was ready to admit it.
Kaito was silent for a while, which gave Shuichi a feeling of dread, but quickly he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up, and was accompanied by a huge smile.
"Of course! If you need me for anything, there's no way I can refuse! So why don't we go in?"
Upon saying that, the two get into Shuichi's dorm room, it was a bit messy, Shuichi forgot to clean it up before bringing Kaito, he immediately starts apologising and picking up some of the clothes lying around. Letting him do that, Kaito makes himself comfortable by sitting on the bed.
"So, what is worrying you bro?" Kaito asks, seeing as Shuichi is almost finished.
Shuichi throws the last piece of clothing inside his closet and then approaches Kaito, standing in front of him, a few steps away.
"There's... something I've got to tell you..."
Shuichi initiates, but he was so quiet, Kaito could barely hear it. So, Kaito stands up and walks closer to Shuichi.
"What is it? You know you can tell me anything!" Kaito reassures.
But this only seemed to make the boy even more nervous. He was scared that admitting his feelings for Kaito would make him see him differently. He didn't want their friendship to end. But, he wanted to make this confession, and that's because, he was confident about something. Shuichi had been thinking for a long time and, never would he just admit his feelings if he was sure Kaito didn't like him back but, he was getting mixed signals. He knows Kaito is just kind and touchy with anyone, it's his nature, but Shuichi is sure Kaito is hiding something from him. And he wants to make sure Kaito knows he can tell him, so he can't back down now, he has to say it.
"I.. I-I like you..."
And he said it. He murmured those words, and buried his face. But, not to his surprise, Kaito didn't seem to have gotten it.
"I like you too, bro! Now, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"
Shuichi sighs. Ok, he can do it again.
"Momota-kun I... I like you... as .. more than a friend..."
There, he needs to have gotten it now. Or... maybe not...
"Of course you do! I'm the hero and you're my sidekick!" he answers, placing a hand on Shuichi's shoulder.
Shuichi sighs again. Kaito isn't this oblivious, he knows. Maybe.. he's trying to deny it. Shuichi decides to look Kaito in the eyes for this time now, his determination was so strong it even took Kaito aback. He holds Kaito by the arm and pours his heart out.
"I love you! I love you, okay?! I have feelings for you, I... really want you to know that-!"
There was no denying it this time, not only did Shuichi's face become red, so did Kaito's, as he stared into Shuichi's determined eyes. "S-Shuichi..." Is all he says before he avoids the boy's gaze.
The silence consumes Shuichi, so he keeps talking.
"I- I know this p-probably came out of nowhere...I just.. I wanted to tell you..."
Then, Kaito pushes Shuichi's arm away, and turns his back towards him, but doesn't leave. Shuichi is surprised by this, the Kaito he knew would just play it off with a joke, or maybe even shout at him. But turning his back? And.. not leaving? What could he be thinking? Then, Kaito says something.
"Why...?"
Why? Why do I like you? Shuichi thinks. There's many reasons, and the boy detective doesn't hesitate to start listing them out in his head. He could mention many things, everything Kaito did for him, everything he does for others, and everything he is, Shuichi loves all of it. But deep down, he also wanted to be someone for Kaito, which is why he couldn't just keep these feelings to himself.
Shuichi opens his mouth to respond, but immediately, he hears Kaito speak again, still with his back turned.
"Why... do you make me feel this way?"
Suddenly hearing this, Shuichi is confused. So he isn't asking why he likes him but instead... He comes up with only one conclusion, which he immediately says it out loud.
"Momota-kun are you... are you scared.. to tell me how you-"
But before he can finish, Kaito turns to Shuichi on impulse, it's for a brief second that Shuichi can see his eyes are red, and there's tears on his face.
"I'm not scar-!"
But before Kaito finishes it, his eyes lock with Shuichi's, and immediately he turns away once again. "You don't know what you're talking about." Kaito murmurs.
Now, Shuichi knew, there was something Kaito was holding back. He didn't know what, but he wanted to. Kaito starts walking, as if to leave, but Shuichi didn't want it to end like this, he grabs a tip of his jacket, and Kaito stops. Shuichi takes this as a sign to keep talking.
"Momota-kun... if.. if anything is worrying you, you can tell me too. We're friends... right?"
Almost as if trying to brush away the confession he made earlier, Shuichi tries to understand what could have gotten Kaito like that. But his question is followed by silence. So, Shuichi decides to do it. If he can't get through Kaito with words, maybe he could get him with touch. Shuichi takes a few steps towards Kaito and then... hugs him from behind. Shuichi rests his head on Kaito's back and wraps his arms around him. Kaito is immediately surprised by this, he takes hold of Shuichi's hands and looks behind him. But before he does anything, Shuichi speaks.
"Even if you turn your back towards me, I won't leave. You wouldn't leave me, I know. So I won't leave you."
Kaito is speechless, but he doesn't fight back. He just stares over his shoulder, at Shuichi resting his face on his back. He looks at him for a while and then his body relaxes. Shuichi feels this, and when Kaito grabs his hand, he detaches from the hug, Kaito turning to face him now.
"Geez.. you're so stubborn."
"Uh.."
Is Kaito back to his usual self? But if he's just trying to brush it off and act like nothing-
"I won't be able to call myself a man if I just leave you hanging after you confess to me like that."
W-What?! Shuichi feels like he was hit with whipsplash from the amount of emotions he was feeling at the moment. He can't even say anything and just waits for Kaito to finish.
"I can't believe you were faster than me... I wanted to be the first one to say it.. but I couldn't after all.."
S-Say it? What is he talking about? Shuichi isn't sure how he's supposed to take this. Is Kaito saying he likes him back?
"Damnit, I'm not good with words after all... so..." then, suddenly, Kaito takes a few steps closer to Shuichi and takes his hand, intertwining his fingers with Shuichi's. With the other hand he lifts up Shuichi's chin, and proceeds to ask."...will you let me, Shuichi? Will you let me show you how I feel?"
Shuichi was too paralysed to speak, and his face was burning, but, without a second thought, he nods. He was expecting to wake up at any moment, there was no way any of this was real, that's what he thought, until he felt the touch of the lips, of the boy he fell in love with, on his own. It was warm, and tender. Kaito's goatee also tickled him a little.
And as soon as it came, as soon as it went. Shuichi couldn't take his eyes off, but immediately Kaito was looking away, blushing.
"I.. I love you too, Shuichi." Kaito whispers, so gently, it made Shuichi's heart melt.
He was just too enchanted by what happened, he barely reacted until Kaito left his room. Then, Shuichi immediately jumped into bed and buried his face in his pillow. It was real, it was all real.