“@fetteredmoon || continued---
Akihiko had barely noticed Shinjiro’s behavior, though he didn’t find it odd or out of place. This was nearly always how it was between them. After years and years of trying to decipher what they all meant, Akihiko had to tell himself that it was nothing, giving up any hope that there was a chance of anything beyond this bond they’d shared since they were kids.
When a hand found his hair, his lungs deflated in a heavy sigh, as if every ache and pain from the day had been pulled from his lungs with the softness of that touch alone. Did Shinjiro know what that did to him? No, he couldn’t. He shouldn’t be thinking like that- he would never recover if he tried to connect those dots and nothing came of it. He wouldn’t ruin this bond for something like that.
He hummed as he tossed his feet over the edge of the couch, sinking further into the couch and Shinjiro’s touch. One phrase had stuck out- as if misplaced, and he couldn’t help but wonder what he almost said. A glimmer of too much curiosity bloomed in his chest, perhaps his life as a detective encouraging him too much to dig deeper.
“Is something bothering you, Shinjiro? You know, if you’re struggling for money, my offer still stands. There’s plenty of room for both of us at my place.”