Roadtrip // Kubokai

Confession

Half an hour later the boys were enjoying the dinner on the back porch. Saiki couldn't resist constantly looking to his side, where he's just unraveled the unpleasant truth about people spying on them.

His friends on the other hand tried their best to entertain him with their conversation. They asked him questions and involved him in every possible way but... after all it was still Saiki, he never really liked talking.

"Hey Aren" Kaidou kicked his best friend under the table "Wanna work on our manga a little after we finish eating?"

Kuboyasu was ready to answer, when suddenly Kaidou giggled softly. Aren joined him to hide the fact that he was unable to speak. His cheeks turned red. He wanted to drown himself in the miso soup in front of him.

"Alright" he spoke with the biggest voice crack he's ever experienced. That made Shun laugh ever more.

There's no way you two don't see what's going on. Good grief watching you is like watching soap opera.

After they finished, Nendou announced he was going to the town again, Saiki went looking for a quiet place, and Aren sat in the living room with Shun.

"This whole trip is so inspirational for creating! Whenever we were driving through some fields I was imagining my characters in the middle of adventures!"

"Great, do you want me to draw some of those ideas?"

"Of course! What do you think we're doing here?"

Kuboyasu laughed, but it was filled with sadness.

The festival was the next day. That meant one thing - another chance to confess to Kaidou was coming close. He promised himself he'll do it this time. But the closer the festival was, the more doubtful he was. The anxiety was unbearable. It was getting difficult to look at his best friend.

But he knew he had to do it. Nobody was expecting him to do so, but he was still determined. He wasn't a coward, he had to tell him.

He bit his lip and smiled. He focused on the piece of paper in front of him.

"So, what do you want me to draw?"

Kaidou was explaining the scene he imagined in details, and Kuboyasu was trying to recreate it. Even though they were sitting right next to each other, Aren wasn't so stressed about it, because he was only paying attention to the meaning of the words, and not who's saying them.

"Done" he said after a while "Is it accurate?"

"O my... It's perfect!" Kaidou clapped his hands "You know me so well!"

They looked at each other, and held that eye contact for over ten seconds, before Shun looked away, abashed.

Kuboyasu did the same. As his face turned bright red, he turned away and bit his fist to not scream.

God we were so close... I could see his eyes so clearly! I was so close to kiss him!

No, not now. We still have time.

Meanwhile Kaidou was wandering what on earth was he thinking.  Nothing, exactly.

I need to calm down. Nothing actually happened.

They both thought and looked at each other again.

"I... I think I'm going to the town as well. Maybe I'll find Nendou" Kaidou murmured and got up.

"Sure, I'll stay here"

Half an hour later Kuboyasu was still sitting on that couch. That was until someone entered the living room.