Chapter Text
“You know, you’ve been coming over a lot lately,” Haru piped up suddenly, breaking their peaceful silence, and watched Daisuke’s reaction carefully.
Daisuke, with his cheeks full of the dish they cooked together, looked at him and nodded slowly. He then went back to his food, unbothered.
Haru smiled at the picture, and couldn't resist the urge to compare Daisuke to a chipmunk or a hamster. “It’s been kinda fun, uh, having you around.”
Daisuke perked up and he chewed quickly, swallowed his food, and looked at Haru expectantly with slightly wide eyes. “Really?”
Haru nodded, “Really. Surprisingly,” he chuckled, “considering that I used to think you’re an egotistical dumb bastard.”
“Used to?” Daisuke noticed his choice of words and brought them to attention with hope.
“Ah, I used the wrong words,” Haru grinned, “I still do think you’re an egotistical dumb bastard. Just… I got used to it. Or maybe you toned it down.”
Daisuke’s hopeful face fell and he scowled at Haru. His dirty look went unnoticed since Haru’s attention was back on his food.
“Whatever the case,” Haru shrugged and continued eating, “at the end of the day, I still like your presence.”
“What brought that on?” Daisuke raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know. I just noticed your frequent visits, lately. It’s almost like… we… we’re... nevermind.” With that, Haru embarrassedly shoved rice in his mouth as he avoided Daisuke’s questioning looks.
Once he’s sure that Haru’s not looking, Daisuke allows himself to smile, just a tiny bit, in front of the man he harbors feelings for. It’s almost like we’re what, Haru? Continue your sentence for me…
“Daisuke, you’ve been visiting Kato a lot,” Suzue innocently said as she stirred their tea, offering him his usual tea.
Daisuke took off his sunglasses, cutting off the clip he was watching through his sunglasses, and gave Suzue an inquiring look. He accepted the cup of tea, carefully stirring it just the way he likes it. “Yes, what of it?”
“Oh, nothing, it was just…” Suzue hummed as she tried to find the right word, “...just an observation.”
Daisuke nodded curtly and put his sunglasses back.
Suzue watches her relative quietly, sipping her tea.
It was silent for a while, the only sound coming from Daisuke absentminded stirring of his tea. Finally, Daisuke sighed out loud and took his sunglasses off again, giving Suzue an exasperated look.
“What?” Daisuke asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Suzue said unconvincingly, “I’m just thinking.”
“About?”
“About you. And Kato,” Suzue smiled slyly, “and what your relationship is.”
“We are merely work-partners--”
“But what about outside of work?” Suzue cut him off, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Like, when you stay overnight and turn off HEUSC.”
Daisuke gave her a warning glare, “Outside of work, we are associates.”
“Right,” Suzue laughed, clearly not believing him. To not push her luck and have Daisuke storm off again, Suzue changed the topic. “So, what are you watching? A new case?”
Daisuke shifted, and his stirring slowed down. He pointedly ignored Suzue’s question.
“Daisuke?” Suzue blinked at him.
“I was,” Daisuke cleared his throat, “looking at clips.”
“Of a new case?”
“...Yes, of a new case.” Daisuke agreed, oddly flustered.
“Would you like my hel--” Suzue paused when Daisuke abruptly stood up, setting his cup of tea down with a slight slam. He dusted off his expensive suit, adjusted his tie, and cleared his throat.
“I must go now, Suzue. I don’t need help, thank you.” Daisuke walked away, his footsteps echoing across the great halls of their mansion, leaving Suzue to herself. “Goodbye.”
Suzue blinked, looking after her relative leaving. She tilted her head, wondering what that was all about.
“Ugh, today’s work is rough,” Haru groaned as he stood up, stretching deeply. “I’m done for today.”
“Good work today, Kato!” Shinnosuke said to the tired man.
“Bye, Kato!” Mahoro waved. “Want some gummies? They’re your favorite flavor!”
“Ah, no thanks,” Haru rejected politely. He pushed his chair in and bowed to their chief, “Good work, everyone. Goodbye.”
As he made his way out of the room, Haru waited for Daisuke to follow him. Not a moment later, the doors opened to reveal Daisuke in all his suited glory.
“Let’s go, inspector,” Daisuke led the older man outside.
Haru snorted, “Not even a ‘please’?”
“No.”
They walked silently. Well. It would’ve been silent, were it not for Haru making small talk with Daisuke. “I had to look at a bunch of confusing intel-- barely made any connections. Did you find anything about that?”
“No.”
“Ugh,” Haru rolled his eyes, undeterred by Daisuke’s rather rude unresponsiveness, “this case is already so tricky. I say give it a day or two before someone ends up getting murdered.”
“Why would they?”
“Okay, listen here,” Haru’s tone changed and he forced Daisuke to look at him, “I actually looked at it closer, right? And I kept seeing things that were contradictory, like the bank incident- you know, when the suspect said it’s for money- but then the next incident was completely different?”
Daisuke nodded, “I noticed that as well.”
“Yes! So, here’s what I’m thinking…”
Their voices faded as the two men continued walking away, talking about the case and their ideas. With each sentence exchanged, the two men
Mahoro, Teppei, and Shinnosuke were secretly spying on the two men from the doors. They shared looks with each other, all of them on varying degrees of excitement.
“That was so adorable!” Mahoro squealed her hands on her cheeks.
“What the hell, Kato’s still talking about work outside of work,” was what Teppei focused more on.
Shinnosuke shrugged, “When did they get so close with each other? Wasn’t it, like, last month that they hated each other?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not complaining,” Teppei chuckled, “remember how tense it would get whenever they butted heads?”
“I wonder what happened, between them...” Mahoro mused thoughtfully, tapping her chin.
Yes, Daisuke is aware he’s been visiting Haru very often. Yes, he is aware of his developing feelings over the interesting older man. Yes, he is aware of everyone talking about the two of them, wondering about their relationship.
Daisuke is aware of everything, and, no, he’s not going to do a thing about it.
Whatever his and Haru’s relationship is, he is quite content with. Obviously, any sane man would want an intimate relationship with the person they fancy.
But Daisuke is also aware that he doesn’t know exactly what Haru feels about him. He’s aware that Haru may like him platonically, and only that.
How would Daisuke know if Haru’s into him as well? Haru is naturally a caring person- his behavior towards Daisuke could be the same as someone else.
So, rather than make things awkward between them, Daisuke pretends not to be aware of his feelings for Haru.
Anything to keep their current relationship, the way it is.
Okay, okay.
Daisuke can literally give a speech on how he’s content with their current relationship, he can literally say anything to anyone.
But anyone can also see that Daisuke yearns for something more, that Daisuke daydreams about a deeper relationship whenever they’re in a moment of silence together.
Anyone can tell Daisuke lies about being happy being platonic. But anyone would understand his dilemma, and anyone would understand him and his decisions.
Daisuke blinked when Haru waved his hands in front of the millionaire, Haru had an irked expression.
“Yo, Kambe,” Haru snapped, “are you even listening to me?”
“Yes,” Daisuke lied, shaken out of his thoughts.
Haru raised an eyebrow. “What was I talking about, just now, then?”
Daisuke paused.
“And you can’t use HEUSC, so put your hand down,” Haru demanded, eyeing Daisuke’s gloved hands.
Daisuke smirked, huffing, “Fine, I’ll admit I wasn’t paying attention.”
Haru gave him a frown, and Daisuke swears his heart stopped for a few seconds from the beautiful pout on Haru’s face. “What are you even thinking of, that could possibly be more important than the Keroe case?”
“Kato, there is more to life than work,” Daisuke reprimanded the older man.
“And there’s more to life than money,” Haru rebutted with a snort.
Daisuke smiled at him, “You got me, Kato.”
Haru laughed and Daisuke happily imprinted the memory of the beautiful laughter in his head.
As Haru continued talking, stopping every so often to make sure Daisuke’s listening this time (and that’s adorable in itself), Daisuke wistfully wishes that his words were literal.
Wistfully, Daisuke wishes that Haru truly has him. And that he can truthfully declare Haru, his.