#aoashi

Love— or a relationship, is not meant to change/fix someone into a whole other human, it's supposed to bring out the better side of both partners. If he feels comfortable around you, the sient changes can be felt by those around him. It's overly subtle and not at all notable, but those who know him are quick to catch on.

He’s not a romantic individual, and he’s definitely not the biggest fan of public displays of affection—but he never stops you from being yourself. Of course, that doesn’t mean he lets you do whatever you want. If your teasing crosses a line or your affection becomes a bit too theatrical in public, he'll give you a quiet look or a subtle, muttered “enough.” Not cold, not harsh—just firm in that way he always is. But in private? That’s where the walls lower, if only slightly. That’s where you get the rare, quiet affection: a steady hand on your back, the way he says your name a little softer, or the small smirk he tries to hide when you make him laugh. It's not grand, but it's real—and it’s him.

Akutsu values his privacy—fiercely. The longer he can keep you hidden from extras, the better. He tries, of course, but it doesn’t take long for him to slip up. Kuribayashi is the first to find out, completely by accident, stumbling upon the two of you sitting side-by-side at an izakaya, quietly sharing a meal. No PDA, nothing suspicious—just proximity that’s a little too natural. Kuribayashi doesn’t say anything at first, just raises an eyebrow, but the look on Akutsu’s face is enough to confirm everything.

I'd like to imagine that at the start of your relationship, Akutsu was stiff—painfully awkward with physical affection beyond simple hand-holding. Not cold, just unsure. The kind of guy who would overthink where to place his hand on your shoulder, or freeze up the second you leaned against him, like his brain short-circuited. It's not uncomfort, it's the total opposite, because never did he thought that he'd be someone's romantic partner, or that someone would chose him to settle with. That hesitation never quite disappeared. Even as the years pass, and the relationship matures, that little quirk follows him into adulthood. The difference now is that he likes it—quiet, intimate touch. And while he still occasionally freezes when you surprise him with a hug or press a kiss behind his ear, there’s this unmistakable softness to him afterward. It’s almost adorable, the way he tries to play it cool when he’s clearly melting from the love.

Unlike his younger self in first year, the older Akutsu becomes a man of few words. He lets his actions speak for him. He’s not one for grand declarations or flowery language—but you never doubt how he feels. It’s in the way he massages your feet while the two of you lounge on the sofa, eyes on the TV, half-watching something neither of you are really paying attention to, just enjoying the silence of a shared day off. It’s in the way he’ll go out of his way to pick up that dessert you’ve been into lately, or bring home a meal you casually mentioned in passing, he doesn't need words to hold your waist in the bed, fingers gingerly petting the skin under him, keeping you awake with the ticklish feeling.

He doesn’t say, "I love you." Not often, anyway. But when he hands you your favorite drink without a word, or nudges your leg under the table just to make sure you're still there, you hear it loud and clear.

His upbringing turned him into a bit of a clean freak—someone who finds comfort in routine and order. He often insists on doing the chores around the house, even when it's technically your turn. Not because he doesn’t trust you, or thinks you can’t do it, but because somewhere along the line, cleaning became something calming for him. A ritual. A way to steady himself when everything else, especially his career, feels like it's slipping through his fingers. You’ve offered to help, tried joining him in the middle of it more than once, but you quickly learn—this is his space. His quiet. He doesn’t push you away, but you can tell: he’s most at peace when he’s scrubbing counters in silence, sleeves rolled up, mind somewhere distant. And in those moments, oddly enough, he looks content. Especially when he's cleaning beside you— Akutsu is on cloud nine.

He only has eyes for you. At the beginning of the relationship, though, he’s cautious— always. You’d never catch him stealing glances now and then, since he makes sure he's not looking never for too long. He’d turn away quickly, like staring too long might give something away, like someone might notice and start asking questions he’s not ready to answer. He likes you— more than he knows how to admit— but he doesn’t want the whole world to know just yet.

That logic, however, begins to shift.

Because one day, his sharp, observant eyes catch you staring at him. And instead of looking back or calling you out, he does something entirely unexpected: he pretends not to notice. Keeps his posture relaxed, his gaze fixed ahead— but something about the slight curve at the corner of his mouth gives him away. He knows. And he likes it. From that point on, he never minds being watched—by you, at least. It's like your eyes on him become a quiet reassurance, and he makes no effort to hide the way he carries himself a little differently when he knows you’re looking.

The only exception is football. When he’s on the field, everything else fades—his vision narrows, his focus razor-sharp. In those moments, not even you can distract him. His world compresses into movement, strategy, the ball at his feet and the pulse of the game in his veins. He doesn't glance at the sidelines, doesn't search the stands. It’s not personal—it’s just who he is when he plays.

But during halftime, when the adrenaline settles just enough and he’s catching his breath, that’s when he looks. Just once. He finds you in the crowd, his eyes scanning instinctively until they land on you. He never waves, never smiles, but there's something in that brief glance— like a tether, like he's silently saying "You’re here. I see you." And then he’s gone again, swallowed back up by the game. But that flicker of recognition lingers, warming you from the inside out.

Although later, when you two have been with each other for more than a couple of years, he becomes too careless in his stares, a shameless man— he is, staring at your body like a starved man who had never seen another of its kind. So what that you call him out on it? You do the same.

His loyalty runs deep, unshakable. Once he's yours, he’s only yours. No wandering eyes, no mixed signals. He doesn't need to prove it with big declarations; it shows in everything he does. In how he speaks about you— rarely, but with reverence. In how he turns down attention from others without hesitation. In how, no matter where he is, it’s you he thinks about when the noise dies down.