Don't Say "I Love You"

Nagisa was the first friend he ever had. Despite Rei's insistent rejections, for some unknown reason Nagisa had persisted, his bright eyes and warm smile melting through his icy exterior. The two had grown much closer ever since. So close, in fact, that prolonged absence of the boy at his side made Rei uneasy. So close that any change in Nagisa's attitude never went unnoticed. So close that when they sat next to each other on the bus ride home and Nagisa fell asleep on his shoulder, Rei's heart would start beating uncontrollably and his fingers would begin to intertwine with Nagisa's, he would have to resist the urge to lean in and leave a kiss on his forehead, his nose, his lips-

Close enough that Rei had fallen in love.