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"Ya know what my first thought was when we met?"
"Hm?"
Keisuke grins, all teeth. "That yer the cutest boy I've ever seen."
Chifuyu stares back at him in bewilderment, eyes wide and mouth slack.
Then, he laughs, loud and genuine, clear delight in the way he falls on his side with the sheer force of his amusement. His ears are red, face starting to flush from more than just the effort of laughing, and Keisuke watches him, transfixed. The black-haired boy wants so badly to kiss him, but his laughter is like wind chimes, and he needs to keep listening to it for as long as he can.
They are currently sitting on the edge of a halfpipe, handing a container of yakisoba back and forth every few minutes. Chifuyu almost goes skipping down the concrete when he tries to sit up again, and that startles a giggle out of Keisuke, who has to grab at his arm, lest the other boy bust his head open.
"Why's that so funny?" He asks when Chifuyu has seemingly caught his breath, wiping at his eyes.
Chifuyu hums, biting his bottom lip to prevent any more chuckles from escaping, and Keisuke desperately wants to replace the teeth with his own, drawing the boy's gasp of surprise into his mouth.
"Well, I guess it was unexpected? And it also kinda reminded me of some shoujo I read a while back. That's a good pickup line, Baji-san."
Keisuke raises an eyebrow, smile in place. "How's that a pickup line if I was just sayin' a fact?"
Chifuyu doesn't laugh this time, face only growing redder. He looks down, rubbing his neck. "That's embarrassing." He murmurs, face made soft with his nervous smirk.
Keisuke's here on a self-assigned mission, so he only moves closer to the other boy, bumping their shoulders together. When Chifuyu meets his eyes, Keisuke smiles. "Yeah, cute is too little for you. I guess gorgeous would fit better."
He's expecting it when the blonde shoves at his chest, half hiding his face in the collar of his sweatshirt. "Where's this cheesy shit coming from, Baji-san?"
The long-haired boy can't draw enough breath into his lungs. Chifuyu really is gorgeous, especially when he's embarrassed. This is the day he will take his chances. It was embarrassing to pine away like a loser when he could just tell Chifuyu. Keisuke trusted him so, so much, and knew the boy would never make things weird between them if he didn't share his feelings. He had an inkling, though, that he didn't need to worry about still being single after today.
But maybe he should do things properly, like he was raised to do, so he turns fully to his friend, waiting for the other to do the same. It takes Chifuyu a while to let go of the cloth grasped in his hand and really focus on Keisuke, but when he does so, it's with an eyebrow raised.
"Chifuyu. I gotta tell you something, and it's serious stuff, so don't go laughing on me, ok?"
Fuck. How should he go about this? Maybe just being honest is the best option. No wussing out. His friends would laugh at him if they ever saw him hesitating so much.
Chifuyu opens his mouth to say something in return, but immediately closes it again, sitting up straighter. He only nods, eyes lowered to the ground. Keisuke appreciates it, because his friend's eyes would only distract him from what he has to say.
"So, uh..." This is hard. He needs to keep going. "We met like, a little over a year ago, right?"
Chifuyu looks up at that, his eyes' usual effect on Keisuke now heightened by their current position. "Baji-san. This is starting to sound awfully like a-"
"Confession, yes. Lemme finish."
It's when Chifuyu inhales on a sharp breath that Keisuke notices what he just said.
Way to ruin the suspense.
"Ok, shit. Yeah, so yeah, this is a confession, sorry, yeah." Fucking shut up, you stupid idiot. The worst part is that Keisuke had started smoothly, complimenting Chifuyu on his looks and making the boy blush. What happened in two minutes? "Can you, y'know, lemme keep talking, please?" Keisuke, how far did you fall, begging the boy of your dreams to allow you to keep confessing because you have already ruined the moment.
Chifuyu’s face is darker than ever, and again, he nods, hands clenching at his pants.
There's no smooth way to do this anymore.
"Chifuyu, can you look at me?" He waits for the boy to meet his eyes, and swallows audibly at the shiver that runs up his spine when he's faced with the most beautiful blue. He can't go back now.
"I'm in love with you, and I've been for months." Since their first week together, to be exact, but he didn't need to embarrass himself further. Chifuyu's eyes drop to his lap immediately after hearing the words, and Keisuke really hopes it's not a bad sign.
Keisuke waits with bated breath for Chifuyu to say something, anything, that will prove his intuition right. The blonde's hands are visibly shaking as he bites down hard on his lip, and he doesn't move as he says, "Baji-san, are you being serious?"
It's a dumb question, because Keisuke has never been so serious in his life, but the connotation behind Chifuyu’s words gives him pause, before he rushes to clear things up.
"Yes! I'm serious, Chifuyu. I swear I wouldn't joke around about this." The mere idea of someone saying these words to Chifuyu, without meaning them, brings bile to the back of Keisuke’s throat. It's absolutely nonsensical. Who wouldn't love such a wonderful angel?
Chifuyu hums, but it's a shaky, broken sound, and Keisuke almost pulls his friend into his arms right then and there.
"I like you, too, Baji-san." Keisuke’s heart stops at the words, before racing painfully in his chest, and he's ready to jump to his feet and run a marathon in celebration, until Chifuyu continues. "I like you a lot. But..." He pauses here, and Keisuke’s stomach drops. The reversal in his emotions leaves him dizzy. "It's hard to believe, y'know? I don't mean to offend you, but maybe you're mistaken?"
No. Not in a million years. Fuck it, Chifuyu looks on the verge of tears and Keisuke needs to do something. The black-haired boy gently places his hand beneath Chifuyu’s chin, slowly raising the boy's head so their eyes can meet.
"Chifuyu. I need you to believe me when I say I've been head over heels for you since that first week we met."
This is ridiculous. It's ridiculous that Chifuyu has never noticed just how in love Keisuke has been this entire time. Does he think so lowly of himself? It's the first Keisuke is hearing about it. But then again, Chifuyu is great at hiding his feelings, always placing his friends first.
Chifuyu is no longer staring into his eyes, choosing instead to fixate on the collar of Keisuke’s shirt, and it's fair. This is fair enough. Keisuke only hopes Chifuyu is listening to him. "I got no clue why you think I'm mistaken, but nah, I'm really not. I like you so much, and I wanna date you." Maybe he should have waited more before dropping the word, but this confession was unusual from the start. Their faces are so close, and he just wants Chifuyu to know he is loved.
His friend smiles, and it looks more genuine this time, so Keisuke wonders if he can feel relief yet. The older boy will never get used to the effect his friend's eyes have on him, electrifying his skin the moment he can see himself reflected in obsidian blue. Chifuyu takes the hand still on his chin and brings it up to press against his cheek, nuzzling against it, and Keisuke is weak. He is so weak for this wonderful, adorable boy.
"I would love to give it a shot, then, Baji-san."
Keisuke is known for his impulsivity, so he only pauses for a moment before pulling the boy into his arms, hugging him tightly. He is so full of warmth, especially when Chifuyu chuckles against his neck, wrapping his arms around Keisuke’s chest and squeezing.
His mission was a success.