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ukitake was used to the squeals and chatter that filled its walls as he walked by. it was a common occurrence whenever the two most popular students were there, namely him and his friend, shunsui. even though he was used to it, he couldn’t help but feel flustered every time other students fawned over them both. but even with all the attention on him, his eyes would always drift off to a classmate of theirs. one who excelled in kido and waved their sword with the grace of a seasoned dancer.
you, who had caught his attention the minute he laid his eyes on you. you, who made him continuously lose sleep from dreaming of all the what-ifs. you, who got him wrapped around your finger unknowingly.
he doesn’t remember the exact moment, but he remembers when he started seeing you differently. it was on repeat on his mind, continuously being replayed over and over again like a broken record. a broken record that he could never throw away.
it was a late afternoon when you asked ukitake for a favor. the both of you had decided to wait for shunsui who was surrounded by your other classmates. he had noted that your eyebrows were furrowed, the outcome from finding out your results on your swordsmanship. out of the three of you, you were a little behind when it came to using your sword. but your mastery in kido made you on par with both of them. perhaps it was your frustration in being behind that led you to ask him for help.
“i just need a little more practice, please?” you had pleaded with such a hopeful look that ukitake couldn’t help but agree. not that he was ever going to deny you, though. when he asked why you didn’t ask for shunsui’s help as well, you responded, “he’s too flirty and will just try to distract us.” he agreed with that sentiment.
days go by as the both of you train one another. what was once training in swordsmanship evolved into training with both that and kido. of course, you were the one teaching him how to master more difficult spells. each time, ukitake couldn’t help but to look forward to it more and more. sneaking glances at the clock, wishing for it to go faster so he could spend more time with you. wishing for time to slow down once you two are together despite the fluttering that fills his chest and stomach at your smiles.
shunsui had noticed all of this, what with him being observant of both his friends. it was amusing to him to see ukitake start to grow more nervous and flustered around you each time. but it was also annoying that ukitake insisted that he only thought of you in a friendly manner. especially when his feelings were so obvious! that’s why he took it upon himself to force his friend to realize it.
“i told you, i don’t see her that way!” despite what he just said, ukitake couldn’t help the blush that appeared on his cheeks. it didn’t help that shunsui looked at him with a disbelieving expression. “come on, you stare at her all the time. you stutter, you blush, you even get distracted while training!” ukitake couldn’t deny any of those.
“i bet she likes you too.” shunsui said, watching his friend’s eyes turn downcast. “don’t joke around like that...” he whispered, feeling his heart ache a little. “even if she did like me, she doesn’t deserve someone who’s sick like me…” shunsui only sighed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to change his friend’s mind. all he could do is hope that you’d realize your feelings too before his friend loses hope.
many years have passed, the three of you now being in your last year at the academy. it came as no surprise that the three of you dominated the rankings, having devoted a lot of your time studying whilst still being able to fool around. ukitake’s friendship with you and shunsui has grown even stronger than before. it had become a norm to see that if one of you was in the room, the other two would be nearby.
with the strengthening of friendship came the strengthening of ukitake’s feelings for you. he had learned to embrace it, no longer trying to suppress it, as it always had the opposite effect. though that didn’t stop him from yearning to be your lover, to be the one at your side as the days go by. seeing that sweet smile and hearing that bright laugh of yours never failed to fluster him and make his heart flutter.
just like this moment, with the two of you sitting beside each other in the courtyard. your hands being only mere centimeters apart, hushed whispers and quiet laughter are being shared between you two as to not break the warm and comfortable atmosphere that has been created.
you quieted down for a moment, a tender look in your eyes as you gazed at the sunset that graced you two. ukitake couldn’t help but drink in your expression, silently memorizing and cataloguing it into one of his mental folders filled with you. and when you spoke, it took him a few minutes before finally registering what you just said.
“i wanted to thank you... for helping me, that is.” you turned to him, your gaze warm with a hint of something that he couldn’t decipher. “if it weren’t for you, i don’t think i would have gotten as good at the sword. i initially wasn’t planning on asking you for help, but i’m glad i did. i had gained such valuable people that i don’t want to imagine a life without them.”
facing him fully now, he felt the heat rushing up from his neck all the way to his ears. he ignored his heart that started beating faster, wanting to earnestly listen to what you wanted to say.
“i’m glad i met you, ukitake-san. i’d like it if you’d be able to stay in my life for as long as we both live.”
his cheeks darkened in color at your words, his heart skipping a beat at your confession. he’s sure you only meant it in a friendly way, but he couldn’t help but put a different meaning in your words. he couldn’t help but break out in a smile, his eyes softening at you upon seeing the lightest of pink on your cheeks.
“me too. i would like it if you stayed in my life forever, (y/n).”
you would never know that he had marriage in mind when saying it. but that’s fine; he didn’t need you to know just yet. he’s happy enough just being able to be by your side, seeing you smile, seeing you laugh, and seeing you be yourself. nothing else matters now, as long as he’s able to be by your side for as long as you allow him to.