Saioma Month 2023

Let's talk crushes

It's just Kaito and Shuichi training today, and Kaito asks something pretty unexpected. Kaito asks to talk about crushes, and of course Shuichi can't tell him he likes the Ultimate Supreme Leader (especially after the fourth trial). So instead, Shuichi plays dumb; but does fantasize about a certain someone

Or~ Kaito and Shuichi talk for a bit, and then Shuichi fantasizes about Kokichi

Prompt : Forbidden Love

"Hey Shuichi!"

You're on thirty-three, Shuichi mentally tells himself while finishing the push-up and turning to look at Kaito, "Yes?"

"Let's talk about something," Kaito said, looking up at the stars and relaxing, like he had been most of the training session.

"What about our training?" Shuichi asked, although he was very tempted to join his friend.

"I mean, together we've done at least... forty," Kaito counted briefly in his head, "And that rounds up to fifty, so we've got our goal for today."

"That's really not..." But Shuichi also knew it was rather pointless to try and convince Kaito of anything otherwise, "Ok. Sure. What did you want to talk about?"

Kaito hesitated, in an almost embarrassed way, before continuing with such certainty that Shuichi was fairly sure he'd thought about it ahead of time, "Let's talk about crushes."

"Crushes?" Shuichi echoed, almost completely caught off-guard.

"I mean, yeah. Why not?" Kaito asked, "Talking about crushes is a totally normal thing for friends to do."

Shuichi resisted the urge to point out nothing was normal in this situation, and instead resigned to talking, "Ok, tell me about them."

"Are you assuming I have a crush?"

Shuichi wondered briefly how oblivious his friend could be at times, "Yes, I think you do."

"Well, you're probably wrong," even in the dark Shuichi could see Kaito's blush, "Maki roll is just a friend."

For once in quite a long time, Shuichi let out a laugh, "I never mentioned a name."

"Yes you-" Kaito stopped, thinking and putting his hand to his neck in a relaxed pose, "Wow. I guess you're right. You're pretty good at this Shuichi."

There was another pause, before Kaito added, "I'd expect nothing less from my sidekick, y'know?"

Shuichi smiled slightly as well, and began to look up towards the stars - using the hand movements Kaito had taught him to see if there would be any constellations he recognized in the sky tonight. There hadn't been yet, but it wouldn't stop him from trying. Eventually, Kaito asked, "Hey Shuichi, what about you?"

"What about me?" Shuichi hadn't meant to echo Kaito's exact words, but Kaito explained anyway, "As in, do you have anyone? Doesn't have to just be in here either."

That made Shuichi think, still staring up at the stars but without seeing them. Did he have a crush? Did he have someone that made him smile, that made his heart speed up and sing at the same time, or put both a feeling of warmth and butterflies in him? Yes, Shuichi did have someone like that. Or at least he thought he did.

He would feel a smile whenever they even stepped into the dining hall, eyes still sleepy from waking up, looking like chunks of uncut amethyst. And then the way they'd suddenly shine and become like the perfect jewel in a wedding ring, sunlight and something just pouring through them in a way that made them look beautiful. And the emotions in them, from a sly calculation that both made Shuichi nervous, and glad that that gaze was on him. Or when he smiled, both wide and carefree in the mouth - but his eyes would smile as well. They'd somehow sparkle even more, and become even more beautiful.

And then a bit of hair would fall down suddenly, and they'd somehow convey an expression of perfect (and very fake) heartbreak along with annoyance and amusement. The way Shuichi was so desperate for intimate contact with his crush, he'd have to stop himself reaching out and touching that almost silky hair, and gently brushing it out of the way. But there would still be a smile on Shuichi's face as he watched him. Even if he was doing something as stupid as trying to blow on the hair spikes and getting them to move that way.

Shuichi even found his crush beautiful in the moments no-one else had seemed to. The moments when that light in his eyes was still there, but in a different way. Something faster burning, like a fire fueled with rage - one that most people shied away from. But one that Shuichi still kept staring at, for some reason.

Shuichi knew exactly who he had a crush on, from the first second he'd met them and could barely even focus as Keebo made his introductions. But he could never tell anyone exactly who he'd fallen for, especially not after the fourth trial. The fourth trial that still, somehow, hadn't made Shuichi love Kokichi any less. But he also knew he couldn't just tell Kaito all of this. After only the first trial he would've thought Shuichi was crazy, let alone after what had happened in the virtual world.

"Shuichi?" Kaito suddenly broke through his thoughts, and Shuichi became aware of his blush, "You know I won't judge you on anything, right?"

"Y-yeah, I know." With almost anyone, Shuichi knew that Kaito would support him wholeheartedly. He could've said anyone, besides maybe Korekiyo, the entire game and Kaito would be his wingman instantly. Except for Kokichi.

"Like, you know, I don't care if my sidekick likes dudes," Kaito grinned, catching Shuichi's eye and laughing as he began to blush again, "I'm just saying!"

"No, I," Shuichi thought for a second as to how believable the lie would be, "I don't like anyone."

"Sure?" Kaito asked briefly, before seeing that Shuichi wouldn't answer any more than that. Relaxing again, Kaito leaned back, "Well, if you need to talk I'm always here."

"Thank you, Kaito," Shuichi says eventually, shuffling slightly so he can get back to doing push-ups. He knows he'll never tell Kaito, and he probably will never tell Kokichi either, but it's the thought that counts. With a slight blush, and the thought of Oma, Shuichi begins counting his push-ups again.