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He didn't realize at first how much has changed or just how much he's been changed.
Ever since they met, hanging out and spending time with Takemichi became a normal part of Chifuyu's everyday routine. It's as if there was this empty space in his life that's been vacant the entire time, which he didn't even know existed, that Takemichi just naturally took over and claimed it as his territory where he made a home for himself and is there to stay.
Forever, Chifuyu hopes.
The changes were small, at first.
Whenever Chifuyu has free time, he'd usually spend it hanging out with his classmates, the guys from Toman, or even studying when he's in the very rare mood to be productive.
But lately, ever since he met Takemichi, he finds himself allocating his free time towards Takemichi more and more.
It started with saying no to his classmates and friends whenever they'd invite him to hang out just so he can drop by Takemichi's place instead and spend some time with him. They don't really even do much, they just hang out while watching TV or Chifuyu will read some Shoujo manga and Takemichi will either be playing videogames or trying to study.
It's really nothing rare or special, hanging out with Takemichi like this. But his feelings disagree.
Time flies by so swiftly every moment he's with Takemichi and he's left wanting more each time. He can never get enough. Takemichi is always so ready to give his all and absolute everything to others while never expecting anything in return.
Brave, adorable, loyal and always has so much love to offer to those around him that you just won't be able to resist no matter how hard you try.
He wonders and begins to understand exactly why so many people are drawn towards Takemichi, including himself.
He doesn't know what to make of this and what he's feeling but that's okay, for now.
He has Takemichi in his life and that's all he can ever hope to ask for.
Or not.
He thought he could fool himself to just be satisfied with how things are but clearly not.
He wants more even though he knows he should be already satisfied with how things are. After all, he's already Takemichi's closest friend and he's always the one Takemichi comes running to for help.
They're partners.
He knows he's the one that Takemichi actually trusts the most, and now, the one he spends the most time with. More than Hina, his girlfriend. More than Mikey, or anyone else in Toman.
Shouldn't it be enough? It really should be, but it's not.
But Chifuyu has always been loyal to his feelings. He always listens to his heart, never ignores or neglects whatever he genuinely feels.
But Takemichi's already taken. And even if he is single, Chifuyu isn't blind, he knows hordes of people will be throwing themselves at Takemichi the first chance they get at the very moment he becomes single.
Huh. So maybe it is a good thing that Takemichi is taken then.
At least this way, Takemichi's relationship status is keeping everyone else at bay and is preventing them from making their move which saves Chifuyu the trouble of having to fight everyone off for the right to be with Takemichi.
So, Hina can stay, Chifuyu concludes.
This is okay, for now.
He really wants to be more subtle but damn it, he just can't help himself.
They're walking home from school together, on their way to Takemichi's home. Takemichi's rambling about what happened during class but Chifuyu can't bring himself to pay attention.
He's been doing a really good job of keeping his feelings at bay. But lately, it's just becoming so unbearable.
He just wants something more, anything. His damn feelings are getting more demanding each day and are becoming harder to fight off.
So, in an act of desperation to keep his sanity, he reaches out for Takemichi's hand and intertwines their fingers together while they're walking.
Takemichi immediately stopped whatever he was rambling about.
Silence.
Then-
"Chifuyu?"
Takemichi calls out, his tone confused and Chifuyu knows he's making that cute confused expression that Takemichi makes whenever he can't quite make sense of something. Chifuyu loves that look on him, he always finds it adorable but he can't bring himself to look at him now, not when he's lost control and is now daring to venture out of the confines of their friendship.
He steels his hearts, tries to keep his composure steady and eyes forward, trying to quell the panic inside him from bursting out.
He musters up all his courage then turns to Takemichi.
"This okay?" he asks with a small smile on his lips and managing to keep his voice steady, in complete contrast to the panic that is his entire being right now.
Takemichi looks down, eyes landing on their connected hands and intertwined fingers, and pauses.
Then, Chifuyu feels Takemichi giving his hand a tight little squeeze, and they start walking again, hands still together.
"Of course, duh. I'll hold your hand anytime you want, okay?" he replies with a bright smile.
Chifuyu looks away, lest he reveals himself. His heart is so full, he can't think straight. It's taking everything in him to fight off his emotions that are screaming at him to just kiss that beautiful smile right now.
Silence befell them again as they continue walking home but it isn't awkward and neither of them feel the need to fill up the silence with words.
Everything just feels right and perfect at this moment.
Ever since then, Chifuyu allows himself to be a little more greedy and grabs any chance he can get to hold Takemichi's hands.
They always hold hands now when they walk home from school. At the beginning, it would always be Chifuyu who will be reaching out for Takemichi's hand but every once in a while, it would be Takemichi who grabs Chifuyu's hand first to hold him and the first time it happened, it took everything for Chifuyu to calm his heart down and not have a heart attack right there and then.
Then one time, they were watching an action movie together in Takemichi's room. They were sitting beside each other on the floor with their backs resting against the side of Takemichi's bed.
Chifuyu couldn't bring himself to focus much on the movie. His thoughts going towards Takemichi, who is basically living rent free in his mind every single waking moment.
His eyes wander towards Takemichi's hands. He really wants to hold them right now but Takemichi's really engaged with what's going on in the movie that he keeps bouncing around in excitement with every next scene that happens that he won't sit still and his hands don't stay in place, always moving around.
But Chifuyu can't help himself, he really wants to hold him. Takemichi has always been holding his hand everyday now whenever they walk together so he's been getting really spoiled lately so he can't help but be more greedy.
So he lets his head fall until it lands on Takemichi's shoulder, and he lets his head rest there.
He feels Takemichi's body go completely still. And suddenly, everything feels silent even though the movie is still playing and its sounds fill the room.
It goes on for a few more moments and it starts to feel suffocating, leaving Chifuyu absolutely clueless and scared on what Takemichi might be thinking right now.
And when he was just about to lift his head up from Takemichi's shoulder and move away-
"Are you tired?" he hears Takemichi ask softly from above his head.
He nods, not trusting his voice to not give him away.
Suddenly, he feels a hand rest on his head that then starts to comb through his hair. He ends up hiding his face deeper into the juncture between Takemichi's neck and shoulder to hide his blushing face but also as an attempt to move closer to Takemichi.
"Wanna take a nap?" Takemichi asks while his hand continues to play with his hair.
"Okay," he manages to reply.
Takemichi stands up then turns off the TV. He walks back towards Chifuyu then takes his hands, pulling him to fall together with Takemichi towards the bed with their arms wrapped around each other.
They end up giggling together for a while before Takemichi moves them so they're positioned where Takemichi's lying on his back with Chifuyu on his side, his face resting on Takemichi's chest with their arms wrapped around each other.
"This okay?" Takemichi asks, in a soft tone.
Chifuyu cuddles further into Takemichi and hugs him tightly in response.
"Yep!" he replied with the happiest smile on his face.
He's never felt so energized and well-rested from a nap before.
"Hey Chifuyu! Sorry I'm late," Takemichi said with a sheepish grin as he entered Chifuyu's room where they were to going to hang out for the day.
Chifuyu looks at him from where he's sitting on the bed reading manga, allowing his eyes to wander and just appreciate all of Takemichi's natural cuteness with his hair left naturally curly, looking so fluffy with not being gelled up and styled as it usually is.
"It's okay. What took you so long though?" he asks just as Takemichi joined Chifuyu on the bed, resting his head on Chifuyu's lap.
"Hina-chan ended up dropping by my place so I spent some time with her before walking her home," Takemichi replied, letting his eyes close as he allowed himself to get comfortable on the bed.
Chifuyu stilled and tensed up. And suddenly, he was not okay.
Jealousy.
It fills him, claws at his heart and emotions, leaving him to ache and feel as if his heart was threatening to stop beating.
He tries to calm himself down, careful not to give anything away.
He's aware that his feelings for Takemichi aren't completely one-sided, with how Takemichi has been reciprocating Chifuyu's little gestures that have long surpassed the boundaries of just a regular friendship.
He isn't just a friend, not anymore. Although of course Takemichi remains to be completely clueless about that fact and of his own growing feelings and affection for Chifuyu.
But that's okay.
Chifuyu can be patient. He'll let things progress naturally between them and he won't pressure Takemichi when he clearly isn't ready for more, not when Takemichi isn't even aware of his own feelings towards him yet, being the sweet oblivious fool that he is.
He moves his hand towards Takemichi's face, letting it rest on his cheek, and begins to lean his face down towards him. Takemichi opens his eyes and remains unmoving.
"This okay?" Chifuyu asks, his tone soft in a whisper.
Takemichi doesn't reply for a moment, his eyes drawn towards Chifuyu's lips and he eventually nods. So Chifuyu plants a kiss.
On the tip of Takemichi's nose.
Blood rushes towards Takemichi's face and his cheeks blush so much that Chifuyu can't help but start giggling uncontrollably which makes Takemichi groan in embarrassment and he covers his face with his hands.
Chifuyu continues to giggle, he's never seen a cuter sight than this.
In that moment, Chifuyu knows he and Takemichi will be okay.
Because for Takemichi, he's willing to wait.