sometimes I think about the insane amount of care and TRUST suni have shown for each other in the direst of times they each might never find out about. (and especially the way suo shows such delicate affection towards nirei). Suo snapping when nirei got hurt during keel. suo placing a leaf over an unconscious nirei's head and apologising. Suo catching and supporting an injured, unconscious, falling nirei to protect him from getting hurt any further and being genuine the second he knows it's safe for him to show his real emotions, his kindness, affection and care for him cuz there are no eyes watching, no ears listening, no reason to keep his mask on anymore. at least for the moment.
Suo praising nirei behind his back and being proud of his growth in front of others, seeing him for his true strength that does not lie in the physical but the inner core, the strength that wbk series portrays and values and then the huge "see? I knew it. You've grown a lot stronger now. nire kun" moment that needs to be recorded in the angst hurt no comfort history books in gold.
Switching to nirei defending suo by himself in front of all of 1-1+ kaji kusumi enomoto ume hiiragi and exclaiming over anzai and the others misunderstanding suo while proving to us readers how deeply he'd alone read suo and seen+noticed so much of him that no other person had. He'd read him perfectly. almost too perfectly.
Nirei feeling broken over being unable to stop suo from leaving, being unable to help him, being unable to be someone suo could rely on, could turn to for help, to TALK. suo refusing to have a conversation was actually the thing that HURT nirei. The physical hits didn't. It was these realisations of not being enough (when it's not his fault at all cuz no matter what and even if he wouldve been physically on par, the fact is that suo would've left already cuz the guy's a one big idiot who would do anything but talk cuz self sacrificing and intentionally getting himself hated and pushing friends away is the way to go)
But despite all that, vowing to get suo to talk to them, lifting sakura up to look for him without giving up. "We still can't give up". Because nirei akihiko would never. would never give up on people he cares about and especially suo who is undeniably someone important to him.
And yet, the two would never know of the things they have done for each other. The words they have spoken for each other. Even tho witnessing those very words and actions could save and heal them, if they were to know. And yet.
