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"It's just so stupid, you know? An always has to rub it in my face how she's so happy with Kohane, or how they finally had their first kiss! I mean hell, even those fucking weirdos Rui and Tsukasa starting dating! I think even my fucking sister is edating! It's just aggravating honestly," Akito explains, sighing.
Toya looks at Akito quizzically. "Are you perhaps just jealous that you aren't in a relationship yourself?"
"Dude fuck no. I'm just annoyed because it's so damn cringy. Literally nobody gives a shit if you kissed this person or that person."
"Okay calm down... we need to focus on studying."
Akito sighs, picking up his pencil again and staring down at his math homework. He looks like he's about to explode at any given moment. "Toya, I physically cannot do this. Can you just copy down your answers?"
"I can, but if I do that you won't learn the actual material and you'll fail the tests."
"Maaaaannn."
***
And oh boy, was Akito stupid. Not even a few weeks after he claimed to be tired of everyone dating, he realizes that he loves Toya. It felt just so natural to be around him that he had overlooked it. An used to tease him about a double date with them and her and Kohane, and he would get embarrassed and shrug it off afterwards. Even Toya himself would laugh at it.
It wasn't worth sacrificing his ego to admit he actually liked somebody else.
But An was the first of the bunch to catch on. So there was no point in lying to her and sounding stupid.
"So you do like him, correct?" An asks.
The two were alone in the cafe.
"I already said that, dumbass."
"Akito, if you're going to be a dick, I'm not helping you get a boyfriend."
"And why would I care? I don't need to date him! Unlike your ass who was busy thirsting over Kohane for weeks! You were lucky that girl is blind as fuck, even with her damn contacts she couldn't see you were practically begging her to make-"
"Shut the fuck up Akito. Do you know how many fucking times I've had to watch you drool over Toya unknowingly? Every single time after a show, you'd run over to him, pinch his cheeks, ruffle his hair, hold his hands or call him 'outstanding', 'amazing', 'the best partner ever', etcetera. You cannot be insulting my girlfriend and I when you and Toya are literally the same exact shit. Then even after that, and after you left, I'd have to listen to Toya talk about how he misses you and thinks your pretty? You can pipe down, fucking ginger ass."
Akito smiled to himself. "He thinks I'm pretty?"
"I hope you die."
***
The next day, Toya came back over to Akito's house while Kohane and An went out shopping. They were originally going to practice today, but An was dead set on Akito asking out Toya, even though he didn't think he would with the intense fear of ruining his only close friendship. If it were to make Toya feel comfortable and happy, he wouldn't mind holding himself back.
"Hey Toya, can I ask you something kind of goofy?" Akito says, slinging his arm around Toya's shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"An and I were at the cafe together talking a little, and she said that.. you tell her that you think I'm pretty?"
"She... yeah, I do think you're pretty."
Akito smiles to himself again, feeling his heart clench. He wasn't a huge fan of compliments, but genuine compliments from Toya were kind of a rarity, so he couldn't help but feel excited.
However, he shivers a bit when he feels Toya scoot closer into him and resting his head on his shoulder.
Akito can't help but wish that the two of them could be like this forever.
***
Later that day after Toya had left his house, Ena had callec Akito into her room so that they could have a "sibling heart to heart", or as she called it. Akito instantly knew that it was going to be about Toya, but he didn't try to refuse her. Even though she was annoying and pushy at times, he cared about her.
"So, you...?" Ena flicks her wrist and shrugs, asking Akito the forbidden question indirectly.
"Yeah, Ena, I like him."
"So are you going to ask him out, or are you just going to sit on your ass and pray to Jesus that he gives you a smooch?"
"I'm not going to ask him out."
"And why is that?"
"Because I don't want to make him uncomfortable."
"You're so fucking dense sometimes. I don't even talk to Toya and I can tell he's super sweet. Pretty quiet too. You being you and him being him, I would never in a million years understand why he would put up with your ass if he didn't like you back. Toya probably hasn't confessed because of the same fear, because he knows how.... snarky you are. And about your little anger issue shit."
Akito sighs. "He's my friend, alright? Him and I share the same passion, that's why he puts up with me, it doesn't necessarily mean that he likes me back."
"But how would you know that? Are you Akinator?"
Akito can't help but laugh. "It's just hard... I don't want to burden him with all of my problems either.."
Ena sighs and sits next to Toya, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I get it, okay? I know a lot more than you may think. He loves you Akito. And only you."
***
After that talk, Akito had gained more courage. He was going to ask out Toya. Although he was shaking and trying not to piss his pants.
He decided to invite Toya over again the next day, promising to An he'd finally do something and then return to practice with the two of them. And of course, Toya didn't mind coming over. He never objected to anything.
Akito couldn't help but want to dress a bit better for the occasion, so he wasn't in pajamas or stained clothes, even if he was aware Toya wouldn't judge him if he was. He just had felt like being extra.
Akito opened the door to reveal his friend.
"You look different," Toya says with a soft smile.
"Is... that a good or bad different?"
"Good." Toya steps forward into Akito's house. "I think you look especially pretty today."
Akito gulps and his face heats up. His courage was going to run out just from that alone. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
Toya picks up on his expression change and laughs. "You alright?"
Akito nods. "Yeah, let's go up to my room."
He begins his way up the stairs, Toya following him. They eventually reach his room and both sit on the bed next to each other, Toya sliding off his sneakers.
Toya rests his chin on Akito's shoulder and hugs his waist.
"You're acting kinda strange today bud, is something up?"
Toya instantly pulls away. "Ah no.. I'm sorry. I'm actually in a really good mood today. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything."
"You're not! I was just- you don't usually act this affectionate so I was surprised," Akito explains.
"Are you sure you're okay with it?"
"Yeah. Swear on my mom's kidney."
Toya brings his face closer to Akito's. "Your mom's kidney?"
"I don't know dude."
Akito looks over at Toya, his eyes glancing from his lips back up to his gaze. His smile was so pretty. Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, he turned red and subtly moved away. "Umm so do you wanna play Mario Kart?"
"No."
Toya responds so quickly it almost scares Akito.
"There was actually something I wanted to tell you first," he continues. "It's been on my mind for a bit."
The realization hits Akito immediately. But he won't let Toya beat him to the punch.
"I like you so much."
Toya just sits in silence and Akito awkwardly glances over at him.
Shit... did I assume too fast? Maybe he wanted to tell me that his dad fucking died... I mean it's about time he did- wait what-
Toya had placed his hand on top of his, and was practically beaming.
"I really like you too. That was exactly what I was going to say, but I guess you already knew."
"Truthfully... I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for An and Ena. I sort of talked to them both... and they wanted me to confess first."
Toya's eyes widened. "Really? I talked to Kohane about this too. That's why I was in a good mood, because she told me that you liked me."
Akito scratched his head with his free hand. "That obvious..?"
Toya nods and laughs a little. "It was apparently obvious on my end too."
"I love you so much."
Akito quickly places both hands on either side of Toya's face to kiss him. Toya immediately reciprocates and leans forward to deepen the kiss and grab the back of Akito's shirt.
The two of them were both the happiest they had ever been. And as for Akito, he can't remember the last time he had genuinely smiled this much.
***
Toya and Kohane's conversation earlier!
Toya had entered the cafe in the street sekai, in which Kohane was busy cleaning up. He had expected to see Meiko, but it didn't matter much. Kohane was also in a relationship so maybe she knew more.
"Oh.. Hey Toya!"
"Hey.. can I ask you about something?"
"Sure!"
Toya takes a seat and sighs. "So I was at Akito's house earlier, and so An knows that I like him and I guess you know now too, and she told him some stuff I said but he didn't seem weirded out by it? And I guess I'm just looking for opinions on it because I don't know if it's a sign for me to finally say something.
Kohane stops cleaning and sits down next to Toya.
"Well, I think he likes you."
"Really?"
"Mhmm.. An thinks the same too. She tells me that her behavior towards me is kind of like his behavior towards you, and since An and I are you know..." She nods shyly. Kohane still gets nervous talking about her relationship.
"Oh.. I see.."
"I wish you luck if you try though. You two seem like a really good pair!"
"Thank you Kohane."