Work Text:
It starts that day when they're talking at the stairs. When Kenya is offering Satoru laughter and a hand and saying, you already are a superhero, in that soft serious voice. When Satoru takes that hand and watches light from the window touch Kenya's hair, face, eyes. When Satoru's cheeks flicker flushed after a flip in his chest. Inadequate. That's how Kenya seemed to feel earlier, talking about how he couldn't help Hinazuki. But like this, Satoru is in awe. The scene before his eyes is so pretty.
It's never been like this before. Kenya has always been a friend, but now things feel different. Satoru's eyes are glued to him and his heart is going a little too fast and Kenya's talking but it's just a hum in his ears.
I thought I was straight, Satoru thinks, dazed. Immediately he knows it's a stupid thing to think, that it's the least of his problems. It's not like Satoru would mind it, if he wasn't. It's never mattered to him, what gender people prefer, and his mother taught him better than to judge for that. But he's always thought he liked girls, and he doesn't even have time to have a crisis or a crush. He has to stop the killer. He has to save everyone.
Minutes later they're returning to the classroom and then being sent to hold buckets of water. By then, the thoughts have slipped from Satoru's mind. Maybe it was a fluke, he decides later.
Except that it's not.
It's a different day, and the bell's just rung. Kenya and Satoru are walking together before they have to go separate ways. Kenya is talking about some comic or other, but Satoru is only half-listening. There's a bit of soft blond hair sitting out of place, and Satoru really wants to fix it. He's not looking where he's going. It shouldn't really come as a surprise when he trips over his own feet, but it does.
Kenya snickers, but he covers it up with a polite cough and a hand over his mouth. "Satoru, you should really watch where you're going."
"I was― I was trying to fight the floor," Satoru mumbles lamely, looking at a very lovely speck of dirt by his shoe.
Except then Kenya is really laughing and he can't even cover it up, and Satoru is peeking up and― uh. Was Kenya's smile always that cute?
"Oh. I definitely like boys," Satoru thinks. "Or at least Kenya."
Kenya stops and stares at Satoru, wide-eyed. Satoru freezes like a deer in the headlights and feels his face go on fire.
"I... I said that aloud, didn't I?"