Bring him back

chapter 9

The heavy silence remained there for what seemed like an eternity, until one of them broke it

"Why did you want me to stay, Kariya?" Tenma didn't know if the said defender flinched because he broke the dense silence or because he was finally willing to talk to him, but either way, he wasn't looking for an answer to that. The said defender seemed hesitant for the first few seconds, but then he finally gathered up the needed courage to answer

"Well... I just wanted to take the chance and get closer to you..." Tenma was fairly surprised from hearing that, he expected Aoi, Shinsuke or maybe even Tsurugi to be the first ones to do something like this, but he definitely didn't expect Kariya to take the first step

"Well you're not gonna get any closer if you plan on staying silent." Tenma knew that it was a harsh criticism, but he wasn't about to show a soft side just yet since he wasn't all that acclimated to him

"I know..." Kariya's voice was dangerously soft in Tenma's opinion, this was a whole new side to Raimon's ex-captain. He never knew that his ex-teammate could be genuinely this soft and fragile looking, and he would be lying if he said that this 'new' Kariya's softness didn't get to him even the slightest bit

'No, no, no! Can't be soft, stay stern you idiot!' He kept scolding himself on the inside, especially because he suddenly had a massive urge to hug the teal headed defender and beg for forgiveness

"I also know that you probably don't even want to hear my voice, but... I have to tell you no matter what, even if you decide to ignore me..." The ghost boy didn't look at him nor change his expression, but the teal headed defender was already used to him being like this, so he just proceeded on with what he came to say "I'm... Sorry. I know that you probably don't want to hear a meaningless sounding apology, but I had to say it. I know it doesn't sound much, but I really mean it, even though it can't take back the hurt that I've inflicted on you, I... Just had to say it, it didn't feel right to me to not start things off with at least a proper apology..."

Tenma was shocked, not only by the amount of humble honesty that he has never seen before in his ex-teammate, but also because of the way he said it. It's true that he has no interest in a simple apology, but the end part is what really surprised him, 'Start things off with a proper apology', Tenma doesn't know why, but that single paragraph has really gotten into him

"I can forgive you..." Mumbled the ghost boy, loud enough for Kariya to understand, Tenma wasn't sure if it was the right call, but after thinking things through, Kariya wasn't the worst, frankly speaking. He did neglect him and ignore him whenever he needed help, and unlike Hikaru he didn't seem to have any resentment during those times, but other than that, there wasn't really a point on hating him. After hearing those words, the teal headed defender was overjoyed to the point where he started jumping up and down on the couch, not giving a care if he seemed like a total fool. Tenma on the other hand, didn't think that he was a fool, he was actually fairly happy to see his forgiven ex-teammate so joyful, in the past he never would've imagined seeing him like this, but now he certainly did, although that wasn't the only feeling he felt, he also felt an anxious feeling seeing Kariya jumping around with that wide smile on his face, it reminded him of himself. He used to be just like the current Kariya, always happy with a stupidly wide smile on his face, it was a bittersweet memory

"Nee, Tenma, can I tell you one more thing...?"

"What is it?"

"Umm..." Kariya seemed to have a hard time saying whatever he had to say "Well..." He ended up whispering to Tenma, unable to properly project his voice out loud. The ghost boy froze after hearing Kariya's words, as for the defender, he moved away from Tenma's ear and saw how shocked he was, understandably. But then, slowly, he closed the gap between their mouths for a few seconds that seemed to have lasted for an eternity, Tenma was still unable to move a muscle, he didn't return the kiss either, he was just... Paralyzed.

After Kariya had separated again, he realized what he had just done and thought that it was a major mistake of his part for doing it without the other's approval

"I-i'm sorry... Please, don't hate me..." As his words began falling out, his tears also began falling out onto his cheeks "I... I'll just go now..."

Tenma finally came back to his senses and he reached out to grab the other's sleeve, which he did. The defender turned around, only to see the ghost boy looking down with his gaze shifted to one side

"I didn't say I like it-" At first, Kariya thought that this was over for him, he screwed up majorly "-but I also didn't say I hate it..."

And then, the heavy silence was back again. Neither of the boys really knew what to do in regards of a situation like this, it was weird and dare they say it's even weirder than when they were left alone in the beginning. In the end, Kariya had to go because he promised to be back on time and Tenma was left on the couch with the weirdest feeling he has felt so far.

~'0'~

Tenma's feeling the butterflies in his ghost stomach~ XD