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A prickling sensation crept up Narushi’s neck. He knew how beautiful he was, it was only natural that others stared at him no matter where he went. The conscious feeling of being watched wasn’t one that was new to him. But when the person watching him was Shinkuro, Narushi couldn’t help but become much more aware of it.
He kept his usual demeanour, acting natural, even though a mix of curiosity and confusion flitted inside of him. Narushi wasn’t completely oblivious, though, he’d figured out that this, this change in atmosphere, had started after one incident. The Ousama Monster. Ever since that… well, awkward moment, Shinkuro had been staring at him frequently. And it wasn’t only him, even Narushi had become more aware of Shinkuro since then.
Narushi sat down in his dorm room. Sousuke was off cleaning somewhere, so he had the room to himself for now. Normally he’d partake in some beauty rest, but his thoughts were in unbeautiful disarray. It was because of a monster, but… Shinkuro had seemed like he’d be all for kissing him.
Should he even pay it any mind? He was Shinkuro—earnest, happy-go-lucky and carefree, and while his inability to read the atmosphere could cause problems for people, he cared for his friends. And he was beautiful. Even if not as much as Narushi. Because no one on earth would ever be as beautiful as Narushi.
But still, it was a game, a whim, he shouldn’t think about it aga-
“Naru-san!”
The cheerful voice startled Narushi out of his reverie. He jumped up and dusted himself off. A prickle of nervousness shot through him. What was that? He, the beautiful Sukayu Narushi did not get nervous. Shinkuro was his friend.
“Shin-chan,” Narushi greeted. “I thought we were all meeting in your room later?”
Shinkuro didn’t reply. He walked right up to Narushi, his expression uncharacteristically serious. Why did it feel like Narushi was being studied? Shinkuro peered at him, taking another step closer. And then he nodded to himself.
What was going through this person’s head? Narushi would pay many yen coins to find out. He really would.
“Hey. You’re too close…” Narushi said with a swallow. He could feel sweat forming at the back of his neck as his face heated. Despite Shinkuro’s eyes being a mesmerizing shade of green, beautiful indeed, Narushi was on edge, he wasn’t sure how to react.
“Naru-san is blushing! How Haikara!” Shinkuro beamed.
Narushi stared into Shinkuro’s eyes blankly. Shinkuro looked so pleased, while Narushi was in internal chaos. Now that he didn’t expect. And Narushi didn’t expect himself to blush either. That was new.
“What’s going on, Shin-chan?” Narushi’s voice wavered. Huh, was he really that nervous? Anyway, he knew he was beautiful, but how much longer was Shinkuro going to stare at him from up close like this?
Shinkuro finally stepped back and Narushi inhaled a full breath.
“Hmm,” Shinkuro said. He put his hands on his hips. “Yep, it’s different.”
“Huh?” Narushi’s eyebrows raised.
“You’re so cool, and beautiful, of course. All of my friends are equal to me, every single one of them is number one, of course. But yep, after all, I only want to kiss Naru-san.”
Narushi choked on his own saliva, coughing as he stared wide-eyed at Shinkuro. Rather than looking embarrassed, he looked pleased, like he’d figured out a hard equation.
“Me?” Narushi managed to say.
“Yep, I thought this during the Ousama Game. It’s interesting and haikara! You and me, we have fun together! Well, that’s the case for everyone, but.. Hmmm. It’s different with Naru-san! Just a feeling! That’s all!”
That was all? Shinkuro really wasn’t that aware of what he was saying? He was bad at reading the atmosphere, but he was also straightforward when he liked something, and whether it was haikara to him. Even though Narushi and the others had teased Shinkuro about using haikara for everything, it clearly had meaning to him.
Kissing was a very intimate thing, and Narushi was flattered that Shinkuro had that feeling about him, even if he wasn’t aware enough to think it through as to what it meant. But maybe Narushi wasn’t giving him enough credit. After all, Shinkuro had a certain type of magazine in his room, which Sousuke had found that one day.
“Naru-san what do you think?”
Narushi’s heart started pounding. It raced faster and faster as the situation processed further in his mind. He’d had admirers before, confessions weren’t new for him, but this wasn’t quite that, and Shinkuro was much more to him than an admirer or classmate he wanted to impress but wasn’t close to. Shinkuro was Shinkuro, eccentricities and all, and that’s why Narushi liked him for who he was.
Narushi cleared his throat. The moment from before flashed through his mind. Shinkuro was eager, while Narushi tried to push back. It was flustering, it was sudden, but most of all…
“If I think about it, it’s not like I was opposed to kissing you. I protested harshly because being forced to do something like that for a game, in front of an audience, is not beautiful in the slightest.”
Shinkuro nodded. “You’re right, Naru-san, everyone should get a choice in the matter!”
“Yeah, so then…”
Narushi made his choice. And he felt more than beautiful about it.
It was Narushi who stepped forward this time, reaching for Shinkuro’s arm. He was deliberate in his touch, pulling Shinkuro a bit closer.
Shinkuro smiled. He stepped closer, and they met in the middle, kissing each other. The kiss was gentle, but exploring. Narushi’s hand moved from Shinkuro’s arm to his waist, and Shinkuro’s arms wrapped around Narushi’s middle.
Narushi cared about Shinkuro, watched out for him, enjoyed his presence, but this? This was new. New, but good. Something that Narushi hadn't seen coming, but felt natural all the same. When they ended the kiss, Shinkuro stayed where he was, his arms around Narushi.
“So what did you think of that?” Narushi smiled. “Was it what you expected?”
Shinkuro had a light blush on his face, looking dazed. “It was nice… it was haikara?”
Narushi laughed. “Hahaha, Shin-chan is always Shin-chan. But seeing you like this is cute.”
“Really?” Shinkuro shook himself out of it, looking at Narushi intently. “Let’s kiss again.”
The smile on Narushi’s face shifted into surprise. He could feel his own face heating up again. This side of Shinkuro wasn't one Narushi had seen before, but he was intrigued and flustered in good measure. Dare he say... it was haikara.
Narushi could feel his lips turning upwards into a grin. "I won't say no to that."