Chapter Text
Kouta had to go to the university earlier than Naoya since he was asked to assist with something. Of course, Naoya would've offered to go early with him too but Kouta knew that and he didn't want to break Naoya's workout routine so he left a note and headed out, bringing a sandwich to eat for breakfast along the way.
When Naoya woke up and saw the note, he was a little disappointed. He knew that it wasn't like Kouta doubted his honesty, that Naoya really didn't mind being with him to keep misfortune away, he also knew that Kouta had a certain pride to him. Now that he wasn't actively taking advantage of him, Kouta continued testing and managing how he handles the unfortunate things that happen to him. In any case, Naoya went through his usual routine quickly to meet up with Kouta soon.
Ever since Mugi and Saku revealed knowing who his lover actually was, it's been easier. That is, it's always been easy being with them. But more to the point, they've been very helpful assisting him in evading or escaping from hoards of girls still trying to flirt or ask him to spend time with them with the intention of being more than friends with him.
"I wonder why girls are asking you out again," Mugi mused as they walked along the corridor. "They mostly stopped after hearing about you already having a lover months ago."
Saku shrugged, "They don't know who Shinomiya-kun's lover is." He said, "maybe they think it's not really true and just a tactic to avoid being asked about it a lot."
"Hey, hey that's actually smart. How rare."
"Oy, oy, shut it. I don't need to hear that from you." Saku nudged Mugi.
Mugi laughed before turning to Naoya, "If Saku's guess is right, why don't you tell everyone who it is already?"
"I told you, it's not something you broadcast." Shinomiya reiterated.
Mugi and Saku made pouty faces.
"What about Fukuhara-chan? You should think about him, too." Mugi pointed out, "more girls are trying to aim for you again since they could be thinking you don't really have a lover."
Saku hummed in agreement, "Yeah, yeah. If I had a pretty girlfriend and many guys kept trying to ask her out when we're together, I'd be unhappy." He said.
"We talked about it," Shinomiya shrugged, "Kouta told me he didn't mind. He didn't want to be the reason I stop being nice to others," he said. "It was okay because he knew I wouldn't entertain propositions going further than friends."
Mugi and Saku exchanged glances with one another. Then, they both smirked.
"What if it was Kouta who got that attention?"
Naoya blinked, staring at them. That never occurred to him. Surely, it shouldn't make a difference. If Kouta was okay with people crowding on him every now and then, he would extend the same courtesy to Kouta. Especially since he knew Kouta's never really had close friends till Naoya, and now, Mugi and Saku.
But why does he feel uncomfortable all of the sudden?
"I, I actually have a crush on you, Fukuhara-chan."
"Eh?"
Naoya and his friends stopped on their tracks, looking ahead they see Kouta carrying some books with one of the guys that attended the welcome drinking party at the start of the semester. Now though, with books still at hand, they were looking at each other intently.
"Will you go out with me?"
The uncomfortable feeling intensified. "I should talk to Kouta later about coming out..."
Mugi and Saku smirked, exchanging fist bumps with each other.