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Kusakabe likes sweets. It's hardly a mystery, but even though the tooth-rotting lollipops rarely leave his mouth, he's not the first gluttonous beast his coworkers think of. He definitely doesn't mind staying away from the spotlight.
Which is why sudden attention leaves him restless.
It starts soon after the fight with Sukuna. He's forced into reconvalescence and despite all his complaints and grumbles, he has to admit his muscles are still sore and not many students are in a good enough shape to attend his classes. They're staying at the school under Ieri's watchful eye, everyone receiving the necessary treatment. Eating meals together or queueing for bathrooms don't feel too awkward, the sorcerers used to it already. If anything, it's a significant improvement from their situation prior to the showdown in Shinjuku, with no schedules to keep or trainings to attend. They're fine now.
Sometimes the first person to arrive in the kitchen cooks for everyone, sometimes the food is prepared individually. The lack of a one system is Kusakabe's current worry. Every time he's last to get up for breakfast, it's already waiting for him. There are several culprits – Itadori likes to make big portions and share, ijichi ensures they don't run out of ingredients, Nanami stubbornly refuses any help and proves his independence by serving them personalised sandwiches (it fails to convince Shoko he can return home). Fushiguro always offers assistance. Atsuya sees all of them bring snacks to Gojo's room, but no one knows anything about the lollipops spawning next to his plate. Gojo himself is forbidden from leaving the bed, and Kusakabe can't think of another prankster. Once the box he chose for storing the suspicious gifts is full, he decides to investigate further.
"Hey, about the lollipops–"
Higuruma spits his coffee. Kusakabe wanted to ask if the lawyer became a witness in this case of his, considering he rarely appears in the cafeteria with others, but... Well, that's an unexpected reaction.
He prides himself in getting close to the new recruit. Kind of. At any rate, he didn't see him talk to anyone but Itadori and him. Maybe the man didn't have a choice is most situations, Kusakabe being his mentor and a roommate the previous months, but he did respond to his small talk and even asked him a few jujutsu-unrelated questions. They're pretty much best buddies by now.
For someone who wanted to believe this, he sure is gaping at him now.
"I'm sorry... I did it spontaneously at first, and then it felt weird to ask what flavours you like. I saw you took them with you, so I assumed they were fine, but if you want me to stop–"
"They're delicious!", Kusakabe almost shouts in the comically high-pitched voice that comes out when he's lying. He hopes they're not "best buddies"-y enough for Higuruma to realise. "They're fine, you're fine, I just wanted to know where they're coming from, haha. Thanks, I appreciate it."
Higuruma nods and looks away. There's the silence that made Kusakabe nervous at the beginning of their acquaintance, but feels surprisingly comfortable now.
He plotted to the kitchen earlier than ever in order to talk to Hiromi before he locked himself in the room or left the school premises. He didn't want to disturb him, and the circumstances seemed natural to bring up the topic. They're alone, only the scents of scrambled eggs and the lawyer's drink sharing their space. The quiet ticking of the clock reminds of all the people still asleep in the dorms.
"I wanted to thank you."
"Wuh?"
The man catches him off guard, his eyebrows shooting up as he pauses chewing the toast. For what? Higuruma gestures he should finish first, and he's probably right.
"For what?", he voices the thought after swallowing, the quick analysis of their time together not bringing any results.
"For... everything, I suppose."
Higuruma shifts in the chair, fiddling with fingers. The swordsman's never seen him this anxious, and it gets his heart in his mouth.
"You've been good to me. When you trained me and everything. You're nice. I know you were doing your best to make me feel like I belong and I might not show it but– It means a lot. I'm still... I think it's all a bit overwhelming, but you definitely helped. So... thank you."
This time, the silence is making Kusakabe implode. He has to say something. "You're welcome" is not enough. "I didn't do anything deserving your gratitude" is what he thinks, but he doesn't want to sound cold. "Can I kiss you" is new and objectively horrible, what the hell, stop this. He shakes his head and clears his throat.
"We all want you to feel comfortable", he mumbles, suddenly Hiromi's piercing gaze burning his skin. "A-And I'm here if you need anything. It's not like I have anything better to do... Wait, no, that's no what I– Uh, I enjoy spending time with you so– Yeah."
Fantastic performance, idiot. He hangs his head and prays for the ground to open and swallow him whole – until he hears Higuruma's snort.
"I enjoy spending time with you too. I've been busy with work after... everything that happened, but we could grab a drink next week? A light one if you don't want to carry me back here."
I want to!, screams his soul, and he has to mentally punch himself. "Sure. Yeah. Sounds good. I'm not that heavyweight either, so no worries." A half-truth. He can handle his alcohol just fine, but he's not a monster like Nanami or Ieri. It'd be too embarrassing if it turned out Higuruma is just being humble.
"Great. It's a date, then."
"A–"
His brain short-circuits while the lawyer chuckles again. A what?! His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of the water. Is that a trick? A joke? A friendly tease? Can Higuruma read minds too now?! The last option becomes even more believable when the other man gets up and leans down to brush his lips against Kusakabe's cheek. That or he died. He died and went to heaven.
"Thank you... for reaching out to me."
Their eyes meet and ohgodfucktheyaresoclose. Atsuya lets out some incoherent noise that makes the shorter sorcerer smile, the prettiest shade of pink across his cheeks.
"See you later?"
He gulps and nods. What else can he do? He's being hit on! He's not imagining it! Higuruma is a sneaky little flirt! He doesn't move from his seat long after he's left alone, busy overanalysing every second of their encounter. He hides his face in his hands, feeling like rolling on the ground, giggling and kicking his feet. What is he, a teenage girl going through her first crush?
Crush.
He smashes his head against the table.
He's done for.