Ethereal - Suegiku

7

        "Are you... crying?" Tecchou's voice was faintly heard over the river.

"S-Shut up. No, I'm not." His partner spoke with hesitance, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"You are, aren't you? You're sniffling. Are you okay, Jouno? Do you want this?"

"...I do, and I'm fine. Don't expect me to keep saying stuff like this, and I hate to admit it, but..." The man hesitated for a moment. "I'm happy."

The brunette seemed stunned, clearly not expecting that response. "Are you really?"

"Yes... now shut up and kiss me again, bastard."

And with those words, the two wrapped their arms around each other, struggling to not push each other into the water.

"Commander, when do you think those two will come back?" The redhead sighed as he stared into the freshly stocked fire.

"Whenever they're done... I don't know, making out?" The girl pondered, attempting to properly tie her hair up for what seemed like the hundredth time. "You told me you had a discussion with Jouno about their, uh... friendship a week ago, right?"

"Yeah. Though, if I wasn't properly trained to read body language and stuff like that, he would have had me sold on his 'hatred' for Tecchou-san." Tachihara chuckled softly, glancing back up at the commander, who was wearing a shocked expression as she stared into the distance.

"Hey, hey! Look!" The girl began shaking her subordinate by the shoulders in excitement.

"Jeez-! I'll be able to look once you stop shaking me!" As soon as the man was able to look over in the same direction as the girl, he understood her surprise as their coworkers approached. "... You're both soaked, what happened?"

"Jouno fell in the river, so I helped him." Tecchou spoke with a blank face, with the exception of insanely red cheeks and the slightest smile that anyone could miss.

"Really? Why are you two so red, then? Are you sure Jouno-san fell in and that was it? Nothing else?" Teruko spoke in a teasing manner.

"Well, we did-" The brunette was interrupted by his partner covering his mouth immediately, whispering a frantic "shut up" in hopes that the two in front of the fire wouldn't catch the hint. Unfortunately, Teruko's smug smile gave away that it didn't work.

"See? Told you they were making out." She turned to her red haired subordinate with a grin, clearly happy with herself.

"Well, I wouldn't say making out, but..!" Tecchou, for the second time throughout the week so far, spoke with an incredibly flustered look on his face. The man beside him facepalmed, clearly embarrassed.

"A few kisses aren't the same as that, commander..." Jouno shuddered. "Can we perhaps warm up in peace?"

"Fine, fine. You two can cuddle all you want." The girl teased. "Are there any grocery stores nearby, Tachihara? We should give these two a bit, and I'm hungry for lunch."

"We're in the middle of the woods, why would there be-?" The redhead was quickly interrupted by Teruko's threatening glare. "... I'll check my phone."

"Good! Now you two will have some time together. Thank me later." The girl smiled widely, patting Tecchou on the shoulder as he attempted to wring his hair out. "Anything, Tachi?"

"It hasn't even been a minute! Give me a second to look!" The man panicked slightly before frantically typing on his phone, leaving the 3 in front of him waiting for him to speak. After a few moments passed, he sighed in relief.

"There's one about... 30 minutes from here. That would give them a solid hour or two if you include how long we'll be in there." He paused. "... When have you ever called me Tachi, by the way?"

"... I don't know, I just think it's cute." Teruko smiled, before mumbling in her subordinate's ear. "And that sounds perfect! That's definitely enough time for these two to, uh... talk. You know?"

"Why... why did you say it like that?" Jouno quickly questioned the girl upon realizing what she was implying. As the man spoke, Tecchou; who was already taking advantage of his circumstances; carefully hugged him, making sure he felt comfortable with it through his hesitance. After a moment, Jouno sighed softly and leaned into him.

"That's exactly what I meant! Jeez, you have a dirty mind." After she said this, it quickly became clear that Teruko simply wanted to tease her subordinates; especially now that she had a great reason to.

"No, that's not at all what you meant! I could tell by your tone of voice!" Jouno seethed, shaking slightly due to a mix of anger and how cold he was becoming.

"I'm not doing anything if Jouno doesn't want me to. Sorry, captain." Tecchou mumbled as he shut his eyes and buried his face in the man's shoulder, tightening his grip slowly. "Are you cold? I can grab you a blanket."

"Thank you, Tecchou-san. Jeez." Jouno sighed, before turning his head in the direction of the fire and focusing on its warmth.

"Uh, commander... should we go now?" The redhead turned to Teruko with a strained look on his face; it seemed that he knew that if he didn't say something now, things would get bad. "Do you two want anything?"

"Soy sauce for my coffee next morning, please. I forgot mine in my kitchen, and didn't notice until earlier." Once Tecchou finished speaking, Jouno gave him a look of disgust.

"... You're... Nevermind." He wanted to say 'disgusting', but the current situation he was in wouldn't let him do that without feeling guilty.

"I'm what?"

"Let's just say... no matter how well I know you, I will never get used to those disgusting food combinations of yours." The man sighed, quickly burying his face in his partner's neck. It seemed that his insults wouldn't have much weight anymore; not that they ever did.

"I expected you to say something much meaner." Tecchou pulled his partner even closer to him, effectively making it more difficult for him to breathe.

"Y-You never take my insults to heart anyway, you idiot!! And stop squeezing me so hard!" Jouno spat, squirming in an attempt to free himself. Once his partner noticed this, he let him go.

"Jeez, can you lovebirds wait for us to leave?" Teruko laughed a little, before turning to her subordinate. "C'mon, let's give them some space. Want anything, Jouno?"

"Well, I might need some tea if you're gonna bother us like this all week. Green, please."

"On it!" The girl smiled before skipping over to the passenger's side of the car, with Tachihara close behind.

As soon as the two drove off, Tecchou wrapped his arms around his partner's waist and muttered yet another "I love you".