Chapter Text
The small boy passed through the poor lit hallways of the Samezuka dormitory after long hours in the library. Being a third year was stressful by itself, add the responsibility of being the swim team captain and Aiichirou was a wreck. All the work was giving him insomnia, he'd lay on the bottom bunk and roll around while Momo's soft snores filled their dorm.
And maybe that was even more reason for his lack of sleep, the thought of the younger male filled his mind giving him all this unwanted energy. That's why he started to avoid the other. He would study in the library as much as he could and pair up with the other boys in the team, the only problem was that a feeling of sinking grew heavier inside of him with each passing day. Sousuke, Rin and Momo were his best friends and he missed spending time together. He did know a lot of the boys in class and in the team, but they were nothing like the three. Especially the last one.
He couldn't help, but feel guilty about betraying the younger's trust. Momo adored him, he even went out of his way to be roommates again, and what did Nitori do? He went and fell in love wit Momo, his cheerfulness and overexcited reactions over bugs included, even though he knew that would only turn things for the worst. So he kept his feelings hidden, but not forgotten. The redheaded boy didn't leave his thoughts for a single moment, even more now that his steps took him closer and closer to the other. His heart skipped a beat when the room he expected to be dark, but was, instead, blinding lit and filled with a sweet smell.
✻ ❉ ✻
The rushed footsteps of a determined Mikoshiba Momotarou could be heard all the way to the cafeteria. He was never a quiet one, especially now that he was a man on a mission.
He tried to ignore how lately Aiichirou seemed to avoid him, tried to convince himself the other was just busy. In the end, he couldn't lie to himself about how lonely he felt, but he kept smiling. He kept pretending that everything was fine, that he didn't love the older boy. But not today.
Today, the younger Mikoshiba had his mind set on a goal and nothing would stop him from confessing all his feelings to his blue-eyed roommate. The scenario wouldn't be like the cherry trees in Rin's movies, but he hoped the warm blankets and hot chocolate would do the trick.
That's why he disappeared right after practice to go shopping and get back the fastest he could to put on his lucky otter briefs. As he rushed making cocoa, warming the room and making the beds the most comfortable as possible. In his excited and busy state of mind, he didn't notice the object of his affection entering the room. He ran around some more before hearing the door slam shut. The redheaded turned to a pair of confused azure eyes focused on his every movement. He stuttered, but managed to greet the other without letting their mugs fall.
"Ai-senpai! Welcome back."
"Momo-kun..." The older yawned covering his mouth with the back of his hand. "... what are you doing?"
"Well you've been coming back really late and you always look very tired so ... I wanted to cheer you up." He couldn't stay still, but he couldn't run away either so he just stood there bouncing on his heels not quite catching Ai's gaze.
"Oh, thank you. That's really nice of you, but ... I'm sleepy now. Aiichirou was trying hard to keep his face unreadable, but Momo wasn't helping at all. His day had been really stressful and all he truly wanted right now was the comfort of his bed. "Let's just call it a day. We can celebrate all you want tomo-"
"No! That's why I did this! Just ... just lay down." Momo could see the other hesitate, but do so anyway. He filled his bright orange cup and A'is pale blue one with the hot beverage he put his heart into making. "Here." He handed it over to a half-asleep Aiichirou on the verge of losing his word filter.
"Momo, you really didn't have to." The sentence was waved off as both sipped their shares of the treat. Momo watched wide-eyed the other settle beside him, sighing contently, The younger boy started to panic seeing his time run out. He rushed his mouth open only to close it again as warm chipped lips met his own.
"I love you, Momo-kun."
"You .. wait, No, no-"
"No?" He saw tears forming in beautiful blue eyes and started spilling all his feelings out.
"Yes, yes. I was going to say that! I love you too, Ai." Relief could be seen taking over Aiichirou's eyes before he blinked tiredly, holding Momo closer while he drifted off to sleep. "Senpai! Oi, wake up! Don't sleep on me now. Oi...!"