Chapter Text
About two hours later they’d taken over the couch and the overwhelming excitement of the fight had worn off, leaving both tired and a little melancholy. Micchi hadn’t minded the actions from before, not really, but something inside him still felt…off, he supposed, as though he’d betrayed his feelings for Mai even though he had long since admitted to having feelings for Kouta as well. But that wasn’t normal, was it? You didn’t love multiple people at a time, not like that.
“Kouta-san…” Micchi’s voice was soft, cautious. “Can someone love more than one person at a time?”
Micchi knew he’d be in trouble with his brother for not coming home, but he already had an excuse in mind that he could use if prompted. Meanwhile Kouta knew Akira would worry somewhat, but she was used to his occasional disappearances and didn’t really give them much thought any more.
“I mean,” Kouta said, “I do. I love my sister and my team, and that’s lots of people.”
“No, that’s not quite what I meant,” Micchi replied. “I mean, the sort of love that should be for…one person.” He fidgeted a little bit on the couch.
Kouta scooted closer and hummed low in his throat, a noise he always made when he was thinking. “I don’t think it’s impossible,” he said at length. “I think it’s something that can happen, and does, though I can’t really say I’ve ever experienced it personally. You having trouble?”
For as long as he’d been on the team, Micchi had come to Kouta for advice and help. He’d viewed the older boy as the brother he’d always wanted, rather than the one he had. True, Takatora cared about him, probably more than he could even understand, but Takatora was still distant and busy and tended to sweep certain things under the rug. Micchi had asked him about love once, and his older brother had flushed uncomfortably and said something about focusing on studies, as though crushes and romance were not for children of his age. He snorted at the memory, causing Kouta’s head to turn.
“Sorry,” Micchi said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean, ahh….”
“You’re allowed to love more than one person at once,” Kouta replied, turning to face the other. “You have a big enough heart, Micchi. It can hold lots of people who are special to you.”
Micchi nodded slowly, thinking everything over. He could love more than one person, he supposed. There was enough room in his heart to support lots of people, if he really tried: his brother, his team, Mai-san….
Kouta too, he thought, eyes falling to the side.
“It’s just frustrating,” the younger boy finally remarked, combing his fingers nervously through his hair. “I love both these people, and I’m always worried that if I choose one it’d be the wrong decision.”
“Then choose both!” Kouta’s smile was wide. “You can do that, you know.”
“But what if they don’t understand, what if they think—“
“Micchi.” Kouta’s voice was even. “That’s on them, then. It’s okay.” He reached out to grab the smaller rider and tug him close, pulling Micchi’s head to rest against his shoulder. “It’s been a hectic week, with the drivers and everything. I’m sure you’re also nervous.” Kouta’s fingers threaded through the younger boy’s hair.
“I love Mai-san.” Micchi’s voice was still quiet.
“I know.” Kouta smiled gently. “It’s sort of obvious, you know.”
Micchi laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. I know.” They both stayed there like that for a time, chuckling softly together on the couch, Kouta’s fingers still in Micchi’s hair. They fell into a comfortable silence, content to simply exist at one another’s sides for a fleeting moment.
“I love Kouta-san, too.” Micchi confessed at length, nuzzling into Kouta’s shoulder.
The room remained silent for a few nervous, shaking breaths.
“I knew that, too.” Kouta’s voice still had his usual laugh, though certainly not as bold as it usually was.
Micchi rested his chin on Kouta’s shoulder and blew on his cheek childishly. “Then what’s taken you so long?”
“Don’t be a brat,” Kouta said with a snort, leaning over to kiss the other.
Micchi closed his eyes, concentrating on the warmth and the feel of an actual kiss, of someone’s breath mingling with his. Their noses bump together, just a little, causing Kouta to laugh.
“Sorry,” the older boy said as they pulled away. “I didn’t mean to…ah.”
But Micchi was laughing as well, a light blush coloring his cheeks. “No, it’s fine. It was nice.”
Kouta raised an eyebrow, a grin creeping onto his face. “Oh, it was?”
Micchi nodded, feeling sheepish only for a moment, because Kouta turned back to press their lips back together. He moved a hand up to thread once more through Micchi’s hair, tugging slightly as his other hand moved to cup the side of Micchi’s face.
Micchi allowed his arms to twine around Kouta’s waist, encircling him. This was different than the kiss from earlier: there wasn’t the same sort of fiery insistence there had been before, or the unbridled energy that had consumed them then. This kiss was soft and gentle, almost timid in its way.
They broke apart after a short while, Micchi still curled next to Kouta on the couch. “That was….warm,” he concluded. Kouta chuckled, sending a vibration through both of them.
“Yeah.” He was close to laughing, a slight blush still coloring his cheeks. “I wouldn’t mind…”
Micchi raised an eyebrow. “If we…?”
“Mmh.” Kouta tugged him closer. “The team doesn’t have to know, but I’d still like to be with you.”
“And Mai..?” Micchi felt for a brief moment like he was going to throw up. There was no way she’d love him now, if he was with Kouta.
“We can always ask,” Kouta replied. He didn’t look upset or put off or even mildly judgmental, and Micchi felt himself relax, if only a little. “You can love both of us, Micchi.”
Micchi laughed happily, nuzzling into the other. “I’d like that,” he said. “I think I’d like that a lot.”