Ray has a lot of feelings for Daisuke, and he's dying to know if he feels the same way about him. Unfortunately though, he has no idea how to finally confess to him and the fear of getting knocked back never leaves him. Hopefully, the sunset at the top of Flounder Heights can give him the courage he needs to take a chance...
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The sun was beginning to go down to the horizon, soon plunging the town of Splatsville into another black inky night. On Flounder Heights, the apartments around the complex were slowly coming back to life as the inhabitants were heading to their beloved home, willing to take some rest after a tough day.
Ray was sitting on a high spot of the stage, looking at the landscape. The sky was passing through every shade of pink, red, orange and yellow, casting a glowing golden light on the dull buildings, transforming the view into a beautiful timeless scene.
When the maps were open outside of turf war and anarchy hours one week per month, Ray enjoyed coming to Flounder Heights to watch the sunset. He always thought it was one of the best places to admire it and although he couldn't really tell why, he found it quite relaxing.
His smallfry, Sunny, jumped on his lap to ask for some cuddles, which Ray gladly gave him. It's now been five months since he met him during a Big Run mission. At first, the little salmonid was very bitey and rude but as time went by, he ended up creating a strong bond with the inkling and for nothing in the world he'd leave him now.
Things have changed a lot for Ray since he arrived in Splatsville. Gaining independence from his fathers, improving his player's skills, finding Jamal again, making all the friends he had here... And meeting a certain demiboy he couldn't get his mind off.
Just the fact of thinking about him made Ray's heart race faster in his chest. Those feelings, he stopped denying them a long time ago but it was still difficult to admit them properly. He didn't want to shut them or want them to disappear, not at all, it was just kind of complicated.
As an absolute bisexual mess and disaster, having crushes wasn't unusual for him but all of his past attempts to even confess to one of them failed and he started to try forgetting the idea of a serious relationship. So there was no reason this new crush wouldn't be the same.
With him though, it seemed like it was different. Ray wanted to believe it was possible, because it was special between the two of them. Their chemistry, ever since their first meeting, was strong, and kept getting more and more. But could it become something that surpassed rivalry, friendship, and even bromance ? Could it turn into a... Romantic relationship ?
Ray shook his head, the problem wasn't about him, but about himself. Because he was scared of doing something wrong, messing things up, and losing the thing that mattered the most to him. And he couldn't allow it.
This was the reason he wasn't able to convince himself he had an ounce of courage to confess, which was sort of ironic since he was the one who was giving the wisest relationship and personal advice among his friends, while not applying them for himself.
Don't get him wrong though, Ray wasn't jealous of his friends who had a partner. Hugo, Jamal, Yuka... He was happy for them. He just wanted the same as them, and wished he could have this opportunity. Basically, relying on hope a bit more. Things he unfortunately didn't have right now.
So yes, he was here all by himself, again. Well, not totally because he was with Sunny but he was playing more the role of an emotional support than a pet sometimes. Did it even count ? Anyways, Ray sighed and the smallfry looked at him with a compassionate gaze, like he understood what was making him sad.
Come on now, he wasn't here to self-pity about himself. After all, he truly wanted to keep having those feelings for the one he loved. They were a part of him now and he wouldn't let them fade away for anything in the world.
