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Kaizan always wears a stern expression, always gazing into nothingness and focusing his eyes only on his thoughts of universal existence. His voice is always calm and collected, and he chooses his words carefully. He wears a knowing smile, but he is never happy. But sometimes, his stone cold exterior cracks, even if just a bit. His ears flush red and his cheeks feel warm, and his eyes twinkle with surprise. Kenji is convinced he’s the only one who could make Nakazato-san that vulnerable.
It’s always nice to eat with someone you adore. It’s even nicer when you share the same diet, same plate, with them.
Kaizan opens his mouth docily when Kenji says “say ahh”. He goes about chewing their shared vegetarian meal mindfully and methodically, even after this bold display of affection. The other guests in the dining hall smile to themselves as they notice Kenji cooing over his significantly taller and older friend. Then, after the novelist solemnly swallows his food, Kenji leans in to plant a kiss. Kaizan briefly opens his eyes wide, unsettled by this abrupt PDA. However, the other guests continue to smile to themselves as they did before, still unsuspecting of their ~special~ relationship. Kenji’s teasing is charming and innocent, and Kaizan is as stoic as ever, and the others resume their chatter.
“Guess who~” Kenji sings as he sneaks up on a Nakazato-san reading on a bench, and throws his arms around him. He glances over to check what the writer is reading.
“Oh, a picture book!” Kenji remarks, as his dear friend turns to him with a smile. They barely graze faces when Kenji whispers, “Wanna see the adult picture books I have in my room?”
Nakazato-san furrows his brows, but his face is so pink! It’s not the first time the Kenji offered to share his special collection with him.
“No, but you can sit with me and I’ll read aloud to you.”
“Okay~” Kenji complies, but he was fully expecting to be denied. He won’t ever get Nakazato-san to go with him, but this look is *just* enough.
Even more unmoving than his face is Kaizan’s stance on romantic love. “Love is no good for the heart,” he’d state seriously, almost to repel any advances. Kenji sometimes gets disheartened thinking about his feelings never being reciprocated, but secretly, he is hopeful. Still, he reserves direct confessions out of respect for the ascetic decision. Kenji chooses to cautiously profess love with his actions instead. Kissing, cuddling, handholding... and more. Much more.
But sometimes, Kenji can’t hold back the happiness his friend brings him, when they lock green eyes together, when they’re alone and their silence is anything but meditation. Those feelings swell in him painfully, and he has to say it.
“I love you.”
Kaizan never responds, but the answer’s on his face. Maybe he feels the same. They’re of one mind, after all. But making Nakzato-san blush that hard—it’s something only Kenji can do.
