#saihara

once again, you remained quiet, staring at the floor. but your silence only lasted for so long. eventually, you managed to mumble out a couple words.

“maybe it would be better… if i wasn't around you.” you forced yourself to say. “i don't think kaede would appreciate it…”

shuichi didn't understand a thing. what did kaede have to do with this? if anything, she wanted you and shuichi to spend more time together! so what could possibly make you think that kaede–

“she's your girlfriend, isn't she…?”

your words snapped shuichi out of his thoughts. kaede? his girlfriend?

“w-what…?” he stuttered out. “who told you that i was dating kaede…?”

“i saw the two of you together a couple days ago. she said that she loved you! and it didn't seem all that platonic…”

shuichi's mind raced back to that day. he tried to figure out what you had seen and heard that made you get that idea. until he realized…

“t-that's not what happened–!” he blurted out over eagerly. “i mean… that's what she said, but the context–”

“shuichi, you don't need to explain it to me… really, i'm– happy, if the two of you are–”

“kaede helped me practice my confession to you–!” shuichi blurted out once more, this time finally managing to render you speechless. “i know you've heard her say ‘i love you’, but she was just… telling me what to say to you! though that's kinda not going to work anymore…”

for a moment, there was an awkward silence between the two of you. shuichi wasn't sure if you were mad at him or if you even believed him. but then, you finally spoke up again!

“you… wanted to confess to me?” you asked, a soft smile on your lips.

“well… i suppose i kind of just did, huh?” shuichi pointed out, awkwardly chuckling, only for you to hesitantly laugh as well, before the two of you were laughing together, the tension between you finally gone. and eventually, after you finished laughing, you finally said what needed to be said all along:

“i love you too, shuichi.”