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Chifuyu has a special ability. That ability is too weird so that he didn't think Baji would believe so quickly.
When Chifuyu touched a person in the picture with his right index finger, he could sense that person's mood.
"Digital pictures too? Or do they have to be printed?"
Baji sat on the floor of his room, stroking Peke J while asking. The black cat followed Chifuyu to Baji’s room to play.
Hearing his serious question, Chifuyu tilted his head to the boy beside him, showing hesitation.
"You… believed what I said?"
"So you don't want me to believe it?"
"No, that’s not what I mean... Well, it must be a printed picture."
This ability does not bring much benefit, nor does it do any harm. What Chifuyu knew was only the mood, not the precise thoughts of the person in the picture. So he told Baji about this ability for no great reason, simply enjoying sharing everything with him.
Baji then asked him to guess his mood in pictures taken with family or friends. Of course, Baji didn't remember the feelings of those times too well, but he still believed that Chifuyu's guess was correct, which also seemed to match his vague memories.
Chifuyu's ability is kept secret so he won't be seen as a weirdo. Neither of them mentioned it anymore.
Until one day...
"The other day, I went to print pictures of our gang to stick on the wall, and I met Chifuyu on the way back. He begged me for one of yours." Draken told Baji when the two sat in a restaurant together. "Of course I did. But did you refuse to give him your pictures, Baji? Why did he have to beg me so badly?"
"I won’t hesitate to do that." Baji seemed a little thoughtful, chewed a piece of cake, and replied to Draken sitting across from him. "If he asks, I'll..."
Hold on.
Baji paused, thought for a moment, and then asked Draken.
"What was I doing in that picture?"
"Um... you were sitting on the temple step."
"Is Chifuyu in that picture, too?"
"Why are you asking so much detail?" Draken found it funny and confusing but was still happy to answer. "Yes, but not clearly..."
According to Draken, in the picture, only a part of Chifuyu’s hair is in the corner. He seemed to be talking to other members while sitting on the lower step. But that information was enough for Baji to rush back to the apartment building and go into Chifuyu’s room.
"Ah, hello Baji-san." Chifuyu got up from the bed, put down the love story comic in his hand, and chirped. "You came over to play... Eh...?"
Chifuyu’s expression changed from cheerful to nervous, and his voice was lower because Baji's eyes were too severe. He often used that look when he found out Chifuyu had done something wrong. Although Baji often overlooks his mistakes, Chifuyu is instinctively bewildered. But this time, he didn't know what he was about to be scolded for.
"Is there any problem, Baji-san...?"
"Give me my picture."
Baji got straight to the point, sitting down on Chifuyu's bed to show his waiting. After thinking for a moment, Chifuyu understood what he was talking about.
"Did Draken-kun tell you...?"
"Yes. Give it to me."
Hearing Baji's steely voice, Chifuyu sadly got up at his command, walked towards the desk, and took out the notebook from the desk drawer to find the picture inside.
In the picture is the figure of Baji absentmindedly looking down at the bottom corner, seemingly indifferent. His gaze just fell on Chifuyu's bright blond hair.
Baji must have guessed that Chifuyu asked Draken for this picture because he could read his feelings through it.
Chifuyu suddenly regretted telling Baji about his special ability and not telling Draken to keep his request for this picture a secret. This stuff was so petty; he didn't expect them to discuss it. But really, Chifuyu didn't want to hide anything from Baji. Given a choice, maybe he still told Baji about his ability.
"Here..." Chifuyu hesitantly handed Baji the normal-looking picture. "B-But please don't confiscate it..."
Chifuyu looked sad and pitiful, which made Baji unable to refuse. Instead of replying to him, he just glanced at the picture and returned it.
"Thank you, Baji-san!"
Chifuyu immediately picked it up joyfully, returning to the desk to store it quickly. In the middle of stuffing it into the notebook, he accidentally touched his index finger to Baji's face in the picture. Chifuyu's cheeks involuntarily heated up, and he smiled.
Seeing the corner of Chifuyu’s lips curve, Baji’s body temperature also heated up. Embarrassed to think that Chifuyu already knew his mood every time he looked at him, Baji called out in a loud voice.
"Chifuyu, come here."
"Ah, yes."
He obediently walked closer to Baji.
Chifuyu's expression still radiated shyness and happiness, making Baji unable to be serious anymore. He pulled Chifuyu down onto the bed and hugged him gently.
"So what could you read?"
"Read what...?"
Despite knowing Baji would ask about this, Chifuyu bought time out of embarrassment.
"You know how I feel in the picture, don’t you? Tell me.”
"Ah... Yeah, well..." Chifuyu crouched as if to snuggle into Baji’s chest to hide. "Baji-san... Baji-san is very... Uhm… but it's just feeling, okay? I don't know exactly what you thought. This is just…”
"Okay, no need to explain anymore. What did you sense after all?"
Even though Baji urged that much, Chifuyu still took a few seconds of silence to speak.
"I know that Baji-san... loves me very much."
Chifuyu spoke in a low voice, then buried his face in Baji's chest with red ears. His reaction also embarrassed Baji, so he grumbled a little to dispel the embarrassment.
"...Idiot. Why would you have to ask for my picture and then be so shy?" Baji ruffled Chifuyu's back hair, which is also his hair's part in the picture. "I've been doing this all the time, but you still need the picture...?"
"Do what...?"
Chifuyu looked up at him, then startled as Baji pulled him into a gentle deep kiss. Baji’s hand slipped through his hair, lovingly stroking, causing Chifuyu to close his eyes. The sweet kiss came quickly and unexpectedly but lingered on Chifuyu’s lips for a long time. Their kisses often lasted until Chifuyu's mind was floating.
"Did that picture or this kiss make you understand better?"
After pulling away, Baji asked in a deep voice.
"Understand... what?"
Chifuyu purposely pretended to be stupid to hear Baji say that sentence.
"Come on. You know that I love... Wait, you're faking, aren't you?" Baji came to his senses, exposing him. "You are brave today, Chifuyu."
"It’s true that I don’t understand." He stubbornly replied, disappointed that Baji had discovered his scheme. "Baji-san just said I'm an idiot.”
"Then we'll continue until you understand."
Baji turned to lie on top of Chifuyu, faking anger in the middle of their joke.
"Ah..."
As soon as Chifuyu pretended to be surprised with a smile on his lips, Baji also laughed and gave him a second, third, and fourth kiss...
Baji promised himself he would say that sentence when he no longer felt shy.
But for now, Baji will kiss Chifuyu every day, hoping that whether Chifuyu uses his special ability or not, he will still realize that Baji loves him so much, more than Chifuyu can see.
End.