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With all his might, he can’t place it; he can’t place his finger on it. He can’t get why. He’s become so flustered around her. The once meek and crass girl, who was like a weak young flower sapling grew into a brightly and healthy grown sunflower.
He was dare to say; impressed with how far she had come along. At first, he thought of her as dead weight, something that would only drag them down in their shared goal. He was wrong. He watched it. He watched it all, he wasn’t the only one. An, Toya. Ken, too. They watched it. Perhaps, however, had he been the only one to find his heart flutter when she came into passing. She became one of his most treasured teammates and became something as a leader to their little group.
They found each other becoming close friends and that only made his feelings grow. She was shy and cautious before around him, but she really had opened up, she’s more cheery and her smile felt like the sunshine weather after rainfall. Truly, that girl was warming and finding her way around his heart. Finding himself looking fondly at her (Toya has told him he has done this a lot. An just teased him, but supported him.)
He thought that he was the only one who felt like this, that in all honesty, he didn’t think could like his personality. He was brass, rude at times, and even nagged like a mother. (Even An calls him one at times, though he is the youngest.)
So, when she confessed to him. His mind shut down for moments to pass, he remembers every word. It truly warmed his heart.
” You seem like a big scary dog on the surface. But... You’ve truly been a sweetheart to me as well as everyone else. You might be a precious teammate to me, I still think of you like one! But... I like to be more than friends. ”
It shouldn’t have soothed him as it did, but it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and his heart tightened. He remembers his throat closing up, like they were stuck in his throat. God, he even remembers how red his ears and neck felt. Maybe even a bit of red on his face too.
That’s how their relationship started. And it's been feeling like a dream ever since, though he wouldn't call them— Dates. They began to hang out more often, whether that would be at Street Sekai or visiting nice little cozy cafes or even going out shopping. He does(n’t) like to admit that his favorite thing is helping Kohane find outfits, and in turn Kohane helps him find places with the best pancakes and cheesecakes. It’s a win-win.
Though, now he’s standing outside in a little narrow street, handed in with plastic bags. One with cakes and other sweets and one with clothing. And watching Kohane talk to a cat. She meows and the cat meows back.
” You know how to talk to cats...? ” He couldn’t help but to find it... A bit cute, he already knows the little ardent look he’s giving her and that cat. He’s stupidly in love.
” Meow? ” Kohane turns back and responds in cat language without thinking which makes a laugh erupt from his throat, soon muffled by a hand of his own. She turns back a bit embarrassed, having been twiddling with her fingers.
“ Uhm.. Yes! I can talk with multiple animals actually not just cats! Like snakes, dogs, and hamsters! ”
He’s a bit speechless, it’s adorably cute that she can talk to animals but the question that winds up his gears is how? But she continues, “ Like this! Meow meow meow meow. ” He tilts his head a bit in puzzlement.
” Now what does that mean? ”
“ I love you, Akito. ”
And just like that— He’s out of the game. Home run for Kohane because he shouldn’t be so flustered yet he is. Again with that, throat clogging, and feeling it tightened especially when she smiles at him, maybe he should say this is a good thing. However, feeling his heart about to tear through his ribcage doesn’t seem like one. ” I..I.. Um.. ” God, it’s like the words he was about to say didn’t even exist.
He finds himself, knocking himself out on Kohane's shoulder, too embarrassed to meet her eyes. And small whispers slither through, muffled.
“ What was that? ” She puzzles, he knows she heard it. She just likes to feather-light tease.
“... I.. I love you too. ” Slightly less muffled but even if someone was next to him they still would’ve probably heard him.
He feels himself become even redder when he hears Kohane giggle. ” I know but I love you more. ”
This isn’t a competition.
” Shut your mouth, you hamster. I love you more. ” She places her hand on top of Akito’s head with a hum and a giggle of ‘I know.’
He’s so stupidly in love, but he knows she’s stupidly in love with him too. And that’s all he needs to know.