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Shuichi shut the door behind himself, slumping against it as all that anxious energy that’d been stirring in his stomach all day finally began to settle in the comfort of his own dorm room. He dragged a shaky hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut with a heavy sigh. He genuinely could not believe how well that went. He’d been so prepared for disgust and looks of betrayal… maybe even hatred but, somehow, they were happy for him. Months of dread for nothing.
How had he wound up so lucky in life?
“That bad, huh?” Kokichi called, peering in from the small living space. He hadn’t expected Kokichi to be waiting for him, but maybe he should have. Of course, Kokichi would want to know how it went.
Shuichi pushed off the door and shook his head, grabbing a bottle of water on his way over to where Kokichi was perched on his small sofa. “No, um…”
Kokichi tilted his head, scooting forward as Shuichi trailed off. “Come on, what’d they say? About you of course, y’know since you were so nervous. Obviously, I don’t care at all what they think of me and-”
“I don’t know, I guess they think I’m, like, a good influence on you or something?”
Kokichi made a face, dramatically gagging. “Gross. I’ll have to be extra mean to Momota next week then. Can’t have them actually liking me no way! I’m all for you.”
Shuichi snickered, almost choking on his water at Kokichi’s antics. “Please don’t.”
Kokichi quieted down as Shuichi took his hand, growing distracted by playing with Shuichi’s fingers. “So?”
“Kaede congratulated me and said she was really pleased we were happy. Kaito even suggested we go on, like, a double date with him and Maki, although I think Maki still isn’t a fan of you so, um. You’re still succeeding on being a villain on that front, I suppose!” Shuichi smiled reassuringly, a warmth spreading through his chest as he watched his boyfriend wiggle his fingers around like it was a fascinating new discovery.
“Great. Can’t wait to express my pure joy at dating you through a very artistic mural on Akamatsu’s piano tomorrow!” Kokichi shrugged.
“Well, don’t look so put out.” Shuichi teased, nudging him.
“It’s just very cruel of them to not consider how their positive reactions might affect me, you know!? I work very hard to make them hate me! I deserve a little respect for my efforts.” Kokichi pouted, arms all crossed high on his chest and chin tucked in.
Shuichi was a little bewildered by this bit he was doing so he just squeezed Kokichi’s hand and hoped it was helpful. After a play sniffle, he seemed to get over it, nearly leaping off the couch towards the small storage space around Shuichi’s mini-fridge.
“At least I have this to console me!” Kokichi grinned, waving a gold-wrapped box in Shuichi’s direction. Mostly Shuichi just wished Kokichi would curl up next to him again. He was kind of cold.
“You… have treats just stashed in my room?” Shuichi asked even though he honestly wasn’t that surprised about it. Better than the first few weeks of their relationship when Kokichi was taking his things to stash in Kokichi ’s dorm.
Kokichi giggled - in a way he likely thought was diabolic and insidious but only made Shuichi positively giddy - and flopped back down on the sofa. “I gotta have some secrets from you or you’ll find me super boring and leave.”
“You could never bore me,” Shuichi said too quickly and a little too sincerely. Enough to make Kokichi’s theatrical expression fall slack. He blinked dumbfounded for a moment before collecting himself enough to pretend to struggle with opening the candy.
Shuichi merely watched, both emotionally drained from his day and just a bit enamoured. Besides, Kokichi enjoyed an audience. It was a good thing too because otherwise he likely wouldn’t have noticed the peculiarity in the chocolates.
“...um, sorry if I’m wrong, but, don’t you kind of hate dark chocolate? Once referred to it as the death of all joy?”
“Yeah, duh, cuz it is. But this is milk chocolate. Very tasty,” Kokichi corrected him and popped a whole chocolate in his mouth. Shuichi did not miss the slight wince that followed so he picked up the lid.
“And you’re a liar. Why are you making yourself eat something you hate exactly? Please tell me this isn’t some weird backhanded way of punishing me for things going well.”
“Of course not! I’d never torture myself to hurt you, stupid. This is totally super good and I definitely enjoy it, okay?” Kokichi could barely get the words out without gagging.
“Please stop,” Shuichi said, trying to take away the chocolates.
“No, no it’s fine, really! The gross bit will melt and then it’ll be sweet raspberry. It’s like a reward.” Kokichi pointed out the rest of the box’s description to him.
“I’m sure we could find a version of those that don’t have something you can’t stand-” Shuichi fretted, growing more and more distressed by this display.
Kokichi smirked, somehow both stupidly fond and intense as he climbed onto Shuichi’s lap. “Okay, but then I couldn’t do this .”
Kokichi’s mouth tasted overwhelmingly sweet, but Shuichi’s used to ignoring it in favor of kissing his boyfriend. He was a little confused at what Kokichi was aiming for but dismissed his concern. Sometimes it was better to let Kokichi play out his plan rather than press him for answers. And who was he to resist the soft press of Kokichi’s lips on his own?
Kokichi’s hands settled on his waist as he leaned into him, deepening the kiss. It was languid and gentle, utterly unhurried. It made Shuichi’s head spin a little, the change from Kokichi’s usual intensity. Normally, he kissed Shuichi like the world was on fire and he had to do everything with him at once, but this? What had Shuichi done that caused this change, for Kokichi to feel so utterly safe and relaxed with him? To kiss him and know that he could take his time because Shuichi certainly wasn’t going anywhere. It was somehow headier than the hastier passion the other always met him with.
He tilted his head, shifting a little to get more comfortable. Kokichi hadn’t exactly warned him before clambering on top of him and if they were potentially going to be there a while he didn’t want to get a cramp. His boyfriend pulled away while he readjusted, peppering little kisses along his cheekbone and jaw.
When they met again, more open-mouthed this time, that’s when Shuichi tasted it, moving in for more instantly to assure himself he wasn’t confused. Notes of that bitter chocolate Kokichi detested and Shuichi loved - and finally, finally, he began to understand. Adoration and laughter swelling up in his chest and Shuichi wanted both to never stop kissing him in thanks yet needed to pull away to giggle into Kokichi’s neck.
He tolerated this with his usual huffiness, hands tugging at Shuichi’s hair demanding to know why he was being laughed at .
“I WORK SO HARD TO SET A SCENE AND SHUICHI MOCKS ME,” Kokichi sobbed against him, the other fist twisting up in Shuichi’s sweater but pulling him ever closer rather than away in hurt.
“I’m not, I’m not I swear I just-” Shuichi faltered, swallowing his snickering to kiss at Kokichi’s exposed collarbones and moving his sweater so he had access to those perfect shoulders. “I love you, you know?”
“You better because I’m perfect and-”
“You really are. You did this all for me, hm?” he hummed against Kokichi’s skin and felt him stiffen.
“I’ve no idea what you mean,” Kokichi said disinterestedly.
“Mhm,” Shuichi smiled, running one hand up and down Kokichi’s back in that way he knew made the other shiver as he grabbed the box of chocolates with his other. Shuichi managed to bite into it despite his brain protesting that it wouldn’t taste very good. Surprisingly, the bitter chocolate coated the sweetness enough to make it tolerable and Shuichi just had to kiss Kokichi again with that knowledge in his brain that they’re a good mix.
“So this was, what, exactly? Sorry, I think I’m missing some pieces here. Tell me if I’m track, but- A way to thank me for telling my friends?” Shuichi asked after pulling away from the little peck.
Kokichi frowned. “I told you I didn’t care about their opinions you know. And this is definitely not me spoiling you. I’ve stolen you away from them, gotten you aaaaall to myself. This is about me only. And I say you’re talking and thinking way too much and should be kissing me already!”
Shuichi kissed him placatingly, letting Kokichi distract him. He was a very good distraction, at any rate. And if Kokichi had gone to so much effort to set this up for him, who was Shuichi to ruin it? Still, it was difficult to make his brain let the mystery of it all go unsolved.
Likely being able to tell Shuichi was not fully present, Kokichi slid his hands up under Shuichi’s back to rest along his shoulders and began pressing and rolling his fingers firmly into the tense muscle there. Yeah this was definitely all Kokichi getting spoiled, all right.
Kokichi took the opportunity from Shuichi’s relieved groan and instant relaxing to nudge them into laying down. It definitely would have been far more comfortable if they migrated to Shuichi’s bed but both were content with staying right where they were. The massage moved up to the base of his neck where his hands were less pinned and the worst of Shuichi’s tension sat. He was quickly devolving into a completely blissed-out puddle underneath all of Kokichi’s attention and gentle kisses. It was a bit overwhelming, the urge to take care of Kokichi in the same capacity, but Kokichi very clearly wanted this to be focused on him for once if his approving noises were anything to go by.
Of course, that didn’t stop Shuichi from tangling his fingers in Kokichi’s shirt, his hair, the loops on his jeans. Something about Kokichi’s softness only made Shuichi hungry for more.
“I’ve got you,” Kokichi whispered; only ever fully honest in hushed tones against Shuichi’s skin. “I love you too.” Another kiss as he poured those words into Shuichi’s mouth, making them for him and him alone.
“I love you, I love you,” Shuichi reminded him, each kiss on Kokichi’s nose, his cheek, his neck, pressing that promise into him. “And as much as that wouldn’t change no matter what anyone thought of you, Kokichi-” his boyfriend fought him as he pulled away, resistant to hearing it. And even if Shuichi was fairly certain he already knew, and definitely would rather they keep making out than actually have a real discussion, he needed those thoughts to be spoken out loud. “I’m even happier that more people are starting to see what I do. Because you’re amazing.”
Kokichi rolled his eyes, but couldn’t hide the way he flushed, even as he dove back in for more kisses, just to shut Shuichi up. “And you’re a stupid, trusting sap.” Just as Shuichi thought that would be the end of it and he’d just shut up again, Kokichi’s mouth landed near his ear rather than his mouth. “And you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” Shuichi parrotted back, marveling at the concept and loving the feeling of it in his mouth and being said to him far more than he would have expected.
He truly was so very lucky.