Chapter Text
At first, it was just a few shared glances every now and then. Then, it was the occasional greeting as they passed each other. Theeeen it was the two stopping in the hallway to talk to each other. Next it was exchanging phone numbers, more frequent conversations, and overall growing closer in such little time. Finally, it was one of them developing a crush. That one being Nakakita Yuma.
He was late to realizing his feelings, but when he did, Jo was all he could think about. So much so to the point where Nicholas, Euijoo, Taki, and Maki had gotten sick and tired of hearing about it. At lunch, hanging out, over the phone, mid-class, it didn't matter where—Yuma would find a way to bring up Jo, and today was no different.
While at Nicholas' house for a hangout, Yuma somehow managed to bring you Jo in their conversation about childhood stories. Now, he had been going on for roughly five whole minutes already about the guy. "Yuma, please shut up..." Nicholas interrupted Yuma in the middle of his speech about his love for Jo. Nicholas was always the first one to interrupt someone without another thought if they started to piss him off. He had already done this numerous of times, but apparently Yuma didn't get the memo. Or maybe he just chose to ignore it.
"Why do I need to shut up?" Yuma argued while he sat across from Euijoo and Nicholas on the floor. "Because no one wants to hear about how you and Jo just barely touched hands. Again." Nicholas retorted with a roll of his eyes. Euijoo, who had sat beside Nicholas while leaning into his side, nodded in agreement. "As if me, Taki, and Maki haven't had to sit here in pain for over three years while watching you and EJ flirt. We didn't say anything then." Yuma huffed, "that's because Nicholas would kick either us out of his house permanently or beat our us for bringing it up." Maki grumbled from beside Yuma. Yuma opened his mouth to snap back, but after a short moment of consideration, instead decided to finally shut up.
Taki stared at the rest of the group in silence, before he finally spoke up. "Yuma, don't you think it's time to confess to Jo? It seems like the feelings are mutual." He suggested. The group stared at him in silence, all sharing one confused look. "You honestly think Yuma of all people deserves a guy like Jo?" Maki questions. Taki had a record of saying bullshit, but this was almost absurd.
"Jo is far too handsome for Yuma to even begin to handle.." Euijoo mumbled, getting a glance from Nicholas. "Of course, not more handsome than my Nicholas." He added with a soft giggle, and Nicholas visibly relaxed. Yuma fake gagged at the scene before him, then turned his attention back to Taki. "I'm flattered you think I even have a chance with Jo, Taki." He thanked. "Besides, Yuma and Jo barely talk to each other." Maki rolled his eyes. There was nothing he hated more than a couple with no real connection. "What? Me and Jo do talk. A bunch actually." Yuma scoffed. He knew he had no chance with Jo, but he also wasn't gonna act like he and Jo didn't have some type of possible connection.
"When have you and Jo talked? It's just a hallway crush." Nicholas asked with an arm comfortably around Euijoo's shoulder. They all waited expectedly for Yuma's answer with genuine confused faces. Yuma immediately pulled out his phone and showed the numerous of text messages he and Jo had sent back to back to each other for the past months. They all watched as Yuma scrolled through his and Jo's messages with surprise. Seeing Yuma be able to socialize this well without anyone's help was definitely different, but they weren't complaining. "Wow, I guess it could be something more than just a hallway crush." Taki grinned, before giving Yuma a rough pat on the back. "Damm, you might actually have a chance..." Maki muttered under his breath, looking closely at the messages in an attempt to read them all as Yuma scrolled, before he pulled his phone away.
"See! He might not like me back, but I would be surprised if he didn't feel at least a little something for me." Yuma exclaimed with pride.
"Trust me, Yuma. If you really want Jo, don't chase for him like you are now. It took me two years to realize if I acted like I didn't like EJ, he'd eventually fall for me harder than I fell for him." Nicholas suggested with confidence, earning a questionable look from Euijoo beside him. "Nicholas, weren't you the one that ended up begging for Euijoo to talk to you in person after he left you on seen for one day?" Maki pointed out. Nicholas put a finger to his lips with a soft 'shhhh...' "That was one night, and one night only." Nicholas insisted. "Weren't we talking about Yuma and Jo? What happened to that?" Nicholas quickly redirected the conversation back to the other two to avoid his embarrassing past get talked about more.
"So, Yuma, are you gonna confess or what?" Euijoo asked with curiosity. Yuma thought for a moment. It would be a risky idea, but he liked taking risks. "I could, but... I'm far too nervous to confess." He answered firmly. "Prom is coming up, you know. Why don't you ask him to be your prom date?" Maki suggested. Yuma hummed in thought, before nodding slowly in agreement. "But, what if he thinks of it as just a friendly thing? People go to prom with their friends all the time—like Maki and Taki." Yuma inquired, while running a hand through his hair.
"Try to make it romantic—with a flower or hearts. Jo isn't dumb, he'll catch on eventually." Euijoo stated with confidence. Yuma took a mental note of that. If there was anyone he'd take advice from in this group, it would most definitely be Euijoo. Or really anyone but Taki.
There was a short moment of silence, before Taki inevitability broke it. "Nicholas, can you ask your mom to order us pizza?" Taki asked politely with a smile. Nicholas stared at the other male, before he sucked his teeth and got up from his spot on the floor, leaving his warmth behind with Euijoo. "Thank you!" Taki called out to Nicholas, assuming he heard him. For the rest of their hangout they stayed in, played games, and watched TV until it was time for everyone to go home—Euijoo stayed the night.