Work Text:
“— so I told him obviously not, because what on earth would make him even consider that as a possibility? And you wouldn’t believe the look on his face, honestly, I—what?” Neito breaks off his tirade mid-dramatic flourish as he catches sight of Hitoshi’s face. He wrinkles his nose. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hitoshi doesn’t know what expression his face is making, but it’s probably some kind of gut-punched, dazed-eyed, utterly stunned stare, because he’s just been hit with a realisation so huge he can’t actually think anymore.
“I’m in love with you,” Hitoshi’s mouth says, entirely without his permission.
Neito’s eyes go wide. His mouth works a few times, and Hitoshi watches a bright pink flush begin at the base of his neck, creeping up his fair skin, suffusing his face until even the tips of his ears are glowing. It's incredibly cute.
“Oh!” he says, almost casually, as if they’re not both staring at each other like complete fools. “Well. Me too, obviously.”
Hitoshi says a silent prayer for his recently departed brain. “You… too?”
He didn't think it was possible for a person to blush any pinker, but Neito somehow manages it.
“I'm in love with you too. I would have thought that was extremely clear by now, considering how hard I've been throwing myself at you for literally months.”
Hitoshi's starting to feel rather desperate with stupidity. “You—what?”
Neito stares at him. “You didn't know?” he breathes, and then, louder, “You didn't know? All this time humiliating myself and you didn't even realise?!” His voice is a whisper-shriek now, the blush on his face growing blotchy and bold. “Are you actually serious? I thought you just didn't like me that way, or were shy or playing some kind of long game, but—”
Now that he's started, Neito doesn't seem to be able to stop. He rambles wildly, high-pitched laughter scattered in between his scolding, and almost thwaps Hitoshi in the face at least three times as he throws his hands around for emphasis.
Hitoshi loves him so much.
He's stepping forward before he quite knows it, catching Neito’s hands and trapping them between their bodies as he pulls him in close.
It's like they were made to fit each other, Neito’s waist slots into the curve of Hitoshi’s arm perfectly, his forehead tucking into the crook of Hitoshi's neck. His words shut off completely and immediately; Hitoshi feels the puff of his quick breaths against his throat.
They've hugged a few times before, in the way that friends do, casual and distant, but this is entirely different. Neito melts into him, going boneless and soft and sweet in his arms.
“I thought you didn't like me,” he repeats, a little sulkily.
“I'm sorry,” Hitoshi murmurs, his heart squeezing. “I'm sorry I didn't realise.”
Neito huffs once, and then his arms creep around Hitoshi's back, hands pressing into his spine. Hitoshi can feel them trembling, feel Neito's smile against his neck.
“I look forward to seeing how you will make it up to me, then.”