(Complete) Taking Her Place (Saiouma/Oumasai)

Like It Was Out Here Just For You

Chapter 16: Like it was out here just for you

Kokichi's POV

The fireworks were almost ready to start. There was limited seating and we got there too late to get any so we were stuck standing. After a long day of beating Shuichi in various games I was reasonably tired, let alone what happened earlier in the bathroom. I think I've figured out who Shuichi likes, I mean he's made it fairly obvious. I don't want to say he likes me though and have it be wrong. Although I guess there no way to know other that asking. I don't want to ruin the fireworks so I'll ask later once we're alone.

Before we knew it the first firework went off. It was really beautiful to watch. A bunch of lights flying in the night sky. I stared up at the sky in awe. I couldn't help but notice out of the corner of my eye, Shuichi not looking up at the sky but down at me. I locked my gaze with his and smiled softly which caused him to smile back.

I guess he was right, he isn't dating anyone anymore. Is it wrong of me to want to be with him? I just... I feel like it's selfish of me to want to see him. How did I manage to go from a wedding to stealing him for myself?

Shuichi walked closer to me and grabbed my hand. I didn't have the heart or energy to take it away. I knew Kyoko would probably say something later but for now I didn't really care right now. I should stop thinking so much and just do what I want. What do I want? I put my head on Shuichi's shoulder, or I guess arm... I'm kinda short, and looked back up at the night sky.

The fireworks didn't last too long, once we noticed people were leaving we turned around to see Kyoko and Makoto had already left without us. We could definitely find our way back to our room by ourselves but they didn't even say goodbye, they dragged us here and didn't even say goodnight or anything. Just seemed a but odd.

I started to walk away and head to our room but Shuichi stopped me.
"Can we just stay up here for a bit?" He asked.
"Sure, what's up?"
"I just wanted to talk and if you got mad I didn't want to have Kyoko and Makoto hear us... plus its pretty out tonight." He smiled.
"Ooookay, what do you want to talk about that might make me mad?"
"I wanna wait until we're alone." Shuichi waited until everyone else had left the main area and go back to their rooms.

"Can I ask a question before I might get mad?" I asked.
"You did, just then. Ok my turn." Shuichi responded causing me to roll my eyes, "I like you."
"Oh, that was straightforward, I was going to ask that actually." I looked away a little flustered.

"I know we said if you figured it out you would have to tell me so I wanted to tell you instead of you figuring it out. I don't think it's fair to make you tell me if you're not comfortable doing so." He scratched the back of his neck.
"Thanks, but I can tell you..." I looked back to him and tried not too think so much. "I like you too... Shuichi."

As if someone was watching us, one last firework went off. We both looked up as he pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly.
"Thank you." Shuichi said softly as though he didn't really want me to hear. I wasn't sure what he was thanking me for so I didn't respond. I just stayed in his arms for a bit while a couple more fireworks went off behind us.

I finally gave in and went with what I wanted wether or not I thought it was the right decision in the moment. This didn't feel real, how cliche is it to confess your love for someone with fireworks going off behind you and no one else around, making everything seem like it was out here just for you.

I pulled away from the hug, it felt like if I didn't we would be here forever. We locked eyes again as I smiled at him.
"I'm sorry I took so long." I laughed.
"You're fine Kokichi! I wouldn't be admitting this at all if you hadn't come to the wedding. So in a way I owe you for coming at all even though you didn't want to."
"I guess I got what I wanted didn't I?" I nervously chuckled.

"What do you mean."
"I didn't want to have to see you get married to someone who... wasn't me. And I didn't, I didn't have to see you get married at all." I looked down to my feet.
Shuichi lifted my head back up to look at him. "Don't say that like you had control over that, the not wanting to see me get married part I mean."

"I feel like I shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that but-"
"That's ok, I don't mind. What are we now then?" Shuichi asked.
"I don't know, we both like each other but what if I really don't want to steal you away from the life you already have-"

"Lives change Kokichi, it has nothing to do with you 'stealing me' if I agree that I would rather be with you than with her, even if it's just being friends with you and leaving her behind, then that's on me. It doesn't have to do with you thinking you're being selfish."
I looked at him without responding, I wasn't sure what to say. I guess he was right but that didn't make me feel much better about anything.

"Just kiss already!" Shuichi and I looked around as we heard a familiar voice yelled at us from far away. "Come on you've got this!" Ibuki skipped to us and shoved our faces near each other.
"Ibukiiiii." Shuichi groaned while I laughed.
"Hey hey! Now kissy kissy! I've got people counting on me to get this to happen."

"Wha-" I stood on my tippy toes and kissed Shuichi's cheek, causing him to stop speaking.
"Sorry-" I started before Shuichi interrupted me. He grabbed my face and pulled me up to meet his lips. I couldn't pull away from him. One last firework went off above us.

"Wooooo!" Ibuki cheered.
After remembering that oxygen is important we broke away from each other. We both just kind of awkwardly stared at the other one smiling. I put my head on his chest and started laughing a bit.
"This is stupid." I playfully pounded on this chest.
"Listening to Ibuki? Yeah I know." He laughed back.
"All of this is stupid!" I pushed away from him.
"Things were going so well-" Shuichi whined.
"I'm tired. I'm going to bed." I started walking away to go to our room.

I could hear Ibuki start talking again but I didn't want to get dragged back in. Part of me still feels like I shouldn't be doing this. I need to be able to know if I want to pursue this before I do anything, this is too much. I was glad Ibuki was able to distract Shuichi so he didn't run after me. I was alone for once. That didn't happen often on this trip.

I got to our room and flopped onto my side of the bed. I didn't know what I wanted. Maybe I could sleep on it... something other than this. I laid there looking up at the ceiling for a while. I heard the door knob start to turn, not wanting to interact, I turned on my side and pretended to fall asleep.

Shuichi sighed. Instead of feeling him get into the bed next to me I heard him flop onto the couch. I was a little disappointed but I guess he's just giving me space. I didn't want him to have to sleep on the couch and hurt his back though, since we had stuff to do tomorrow... obviously.

Without thinking I got up and pulled on Shuichi's arm, trying to get him up and into the bed.
"Huh?" Shuichi tiredly stood up and followed me into the bed.
"I don't want you to not get any sleep... on the couch... alone." I looked up to him. He got into his side of the bed but never let go of my hand. Instead, he pulled me down onto the bed with him. I was stuck laying on top of him but not in a comfortable way. More of a 'halfway off the bed' kinda way.

I tried my best to get off and onto my side but his wrapped his arms around me and wouldn't really let me move.
"Shuichi I have to move." I whispered.
"No."
"I'm not a stuffed animal, I can't sleep like this." Shuichi sighed in response, lifting his arms. I got back onto my side but instead of sleeping close to the edge of the bed, I got close to Shuichi and laid facing away from him. He turned over and put his arms around me. Soon enough we both fell asleep.