my (cringe????) hq one shots ♡

realizing love . kozume kenma

WORD COUNT/ 1.26k
NOTES/

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it was when you came over for dinner that he realized he loved you. the day went smoothly; the both of you had a snack at a cafe, did some aimless shopping together at the mall and caught up like regular friends did after not seeing each other for a while. with university and work now a part of your schedules, it was harder to see one another so often. high school was almost like some sort of illusion with time and kenma became hyperaware when it dawned on him that more often than not, the both of you communicated through texts.

even then, the texting wasn't as frequent as it would have been had you two remained in an environment like high school.

so he did what he felt was right and invited you over for dinner, not wanting the day with you to end just yet. thankfully you suggested to head to the grocery store to buy some ingredients to cook together as his fridge was a little bit on the emptier side. you decided to go above and beyond, relishing in the fond memory of kenma's love for apple pie, and opted to bake the treat for him. his heart swelled in his chest at your thoughtfulness and he made a mental note to do something for you the next time a chance to surprise you, like you did him, presented itself.

dinner went smoothly. and along with the delicious meal made by the both of you, you two also got a taste of domesticity that seemed to be an experience that would only really become much more familiar in the future. there was no rush but kenma wanted to feel it all too soon.

he wanted today to become everday.

he would put his games on pause for you without being told twice if you asked him to help you in the kitchen. he would let you play your wild variety of music to listen to while you two worked to make dinner. he would dance with you to the beat of your favourite love songs, let you guide his stiffer body to move along with yours that could move so effortlessly to the melody. he would take over washing the dishes for you because he knew you'd end up doing most of the cooking and you deserved to rest. he wanted to experience it sooner than later and he knew that this sort of lifestyle would be special only if it was with you.

it was safe to say that he loved you, yes, and he was hoping you returned his genuine feelings.

"thanks for staying," kenma mumbled softly, letting out a small yawn as he sat himself down beside you on his couch. it was a love seat and had enough space for him to sit on the other side but he decided he needed to be seated right next to you. you didn't move, thankfully, and let him relax by your side with his body leaned against yours. his eyes closed and his head soon dipped and rested on your shoulder, almost as if his body was melting right into yours. "it gets lonely and i miss having you around all the time."

you only chuckled, reaching for his hand and taking it into both of yours. the gentle squeeze you gave him made butterflies appear in his stomach, flying panicked inside of him.

"i know i asked you to stay for dinner... but could you stay the night?"

this time you spoke up, however giggles still leaving passed your lips.

"are you just tired kenma?" you asked teasingly, not wanting to think too deeply about his words which pulled at your heart. even you felt the same as he did, but, because you couldn't exactly read his thoughts, you felt that he might just see the whole situation as platonic. you wanted to play it safe, finding it quite dangerous to suddenly act outside of your bubble of platonic love as you both have been friends for a long time now. "you get a little clingy when you're tired you know~ and as your best friend, i'd gladly drag you to your bed."

kenma hummed, dismissing the sting of your last words. it was all or nothing, he told himself, and one misses 100% of the shots not made. "will you drag me to my bed as my lover?" he asked, voice soft but seemingly loud as only he spoke through the silence around you.

you heart skipped a beat and you felt tears sting at your eyes. it wasn't the right reaction as you wanted to give him a smile and a tight hug, but the feeling was overwhelming and you couldn't help the pool of warm tears already rolling down your cheeks. it was only when you sniffled that kenma was brought out of his sleepy state and into one that became anxious and aware.

"s-sorryㅡ" he choked out, his nerves suddenly becoming like shocks to his body. negative thoughts ran through his mind and all he could do was scold himself for thinking he could just say something so out of the blue. he was certain he ruined what he already had with you. "i didn't... um..."

his hands reached out to you and held your cheeks gently, as if any pressure against your tear stained skin would shatter you further. you were beautiful even when you cried and it pained him to think that you might not ever want to spend a night like this by his side ever again. his thumbs wiped your tears away, touch as light as a feather.

"are you okay?" he whispered.

you nodded and your crying ceased quickly. "sorry, kenma, i was just overwhelmed all of a sudden," you confessed, pulling away from his gentle touch to wipe your own tears. you were a bit more aggressive with yourself, wiping your own tears away as if it was sin to have been crying to express emotion. oddly enough, though, you returned to look at him with a smile.

he was confused, obviously, as he interpreted your tears to have been from negative emotion, but he hoped for a better outcome as you haven't rushed yourself out of the situation. he felt that maybe if you didn't feel the same way you would have pulled away awkwardly, apologized and then ran out the door. he wanted to smile back but was unable to, only staring at you with curious eyes and pursed lips.

"i like you too," you cleared up, laughing sheepishly, "would it be weird if i told you i've liked you since our third year of high school?"

finally, a smile broke out on his face and he laughed, shaking his head in response to your shy inquiry. his arms brought you into his embrace as if he's done it multiple times, which he has, though this time with an intention to hold you like a lover. this sort of embrace felt different, a bit warmer and much more closer despite it physically being the same as any other hug he's given you. this time he was hugging you as your lover and he felt that the feeling of it all just seemed much better.

"so you'll stay the night?" he asked softly, cheek rested against the top of your head, "or maybe even just come move in with me?"

you laughed. "stay the night? of course. move in with you? let's cross the bridge when we get there."