"Sasuke~", Naruto glomped him from behind, then proceeded to hug him tightly, "Gotcha~~", He laughed.

Sasuke looked at him, trying not to smile, but failing miserably. His wildly beating heart that Naruto felt under his arms that still held Sasuke, gave away Sasuke's true feelings quite easily. Though the man himself wasn't aware of it. Naruto properly noticed it all.

Naruto's eyes softened as he smiled at him gently.

Sasuke looked away, unable to keep his composure.

Naruto quickly changed the topic and walked next to him as they both headed over to their university campus to attend their morning lecture.

It's been nearly 3 years since they met in this very university and lately Naruto has started wondering about what he should do to be something more than just friends with Sasuke.

As far as Naruto noticed, Sasuke did seem a little into him, but he didn't want to rush it.

So he was trying to take it slowly and steadily.

Naruto looked at Sasuke who was now seated next to him and smiled to himself.

I love him...

Sasuke who noticed his stares, whispered out, "what..?", whilst desperately trying not to look mesmerised by the sweet smile he was receiving.

"Nothing", Naruto whispered back, smiling wider.

Sasuke couldn't stop himself from smiling back, so he immediately looked away, smiling lightly.

I love him...

Sasuke immediately pushed the thought aside, trying desperately to not think about it.

He was just too scared to cross that dreaded line between friendship and love.

Naruto who noticed the sudden change in his mood, slid his seat closer to Sasuke's and held his hand from under the desk, ever so preciously.

Startled, Sasuke looked at him agape, eyes widened.

Naruto leaned in and whispered, "I'm cold, warm me up?", then smiled. Just trying to distract him from whatever was darkening his mood. And also, sneakily trying to flirt him up while he was at it.

Sasuke blushed, he knew that he should probably pull his hand away or at least joke about it casually, but he couldn't stop himself from being carelessly hopeful.

He tightened his hold on Naruto's hand and proceeded to jot down his notes for this lecture like his life depended on it, desperate to stop himself from thinking about it further.

So when the class ended before he even realized it, he couldn't have been more disappointed.

I need to let go of his hand... But I still don't wa-

Sasuke shook his head, cutting off his own thoughts halfway, trying not to think about how he didn't wanna let go yet and loosened his grip on Naruto's hand.

Naruto let go of his hand as he proceeded to pack up, talking about what he has for the next lecture and where he needs to go for it, though Sasuke was already aware of it. He'd unintentionally memorized Naruto's schedule for this semester.

Since they were from different departments to begin with, they were only together for their one optional lecture that they had at most thrice a week.

It was too little, but that was alright, since they were together almost every day after they were done with classes for the day.

Sasuke knew that he should stop hoping to spend more time with Naruto, and let him have some space for other things too but his feelings of wanting to monopolize him, rendered him helpless.

Naruto tried not to be too pushy, but he was almost at his limit. He wanted to take it slowly but that doesn't mean he was willing to compromise on his feelings for it.

He wondered How Sasuke might react if he were suddenly slip in a confession.

He really didn't wanna rush it but still...

And so, after agonizing over it for the whole day, he decided to go about it in a roundabout way.

They were hanging out at Naruto's that day, and taking the chance as soon as they were settled down in his room.

"Say Sasuke, what do you think about me..?", Naruto carefully questioned him.

"...What? ", Sasuke was taken aback by this sudden change in topic. Even though they were casually talking about what game to play just before they entered his room.

"What am I to you?", Naruto asked again, in a serious tone.

"You are...", Sasuke looked away, unable to call him a 'friend' or a 'best friend' for that matter. He wondered since when he was unable to think of him as his bestfriend.

Just when did it all change..? Is it too late to go back already..? Has.. He already noticed?... I'm scared-

Sasuke's thoughts were cut off when he felt Naruto's hand on his.

"It's not that you hate me, right..?", Naruto asked him in a soft voice.

Sasuke quickly shook his head, "No, I- Well...", he trailed off, head hung low.

Naruto gently cupped his face with his free hand and smiled fondly at him when they met eyes.

"If I say that I'm in love with you, will you be troubled, Sasuke?", Naruto asked carefully, in a tone that seemed slightly nervous.

Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief but he knew better than anyone else that Naruto would never say something like this without actually meaning it.

"...I... Would be troubled, I'm sacred of being more than friends with you...", he trailed off, clenching the hand that was gently stroking his face, looking down guiltily.

"..Do I scare you maybe?", Naruto asked nervously, gripping his hand tighter.

Sasuke shook his head lightly, so as to not shake off his hand, and hesitantly looked at him, "I don't want to start something, only to break everything we've built up so far"

"Hey, why do think that it'll break..? I'll do my best to never disappoint or hurt you, so won't you please give me a chance?", Naruto asked as he slightly leaned in closer to him.

"..There's no garentee you wouldn't be dissapointed in me", Sasuke shrinked away.

"Sasuke, Look at me", Naruto said firmly. Lightly lifting his face up from the hand that still cupped his face.

Sasuke looked at him anxiously with trembling eyes.

"You are very special to me, and I just want to be someone special to you too, it doesn't matter in what way, I just want to be special to you", Naruto said confidently.

"Special... You already are, very special to me...", Sasuke admitted honestly, albeit in a low voice.

"Then, it's all good, please let me be your number one?", Naruto smiled gently.

"You already are...", Sasuke said softly.

Naruto chuckled softly, "Then that's more than enough, let's just be friends who are very special to each other", he grinned lightly.

"...Is that alright..?", Sasuke questioned hesitantly.

"If you're scared to be something more than friends, then I'll wait for as long as I need to, even if you tell me you want us to be lovers after a good 60 years have passed, I'll still gladly be your lover then, you're special to me, Sasuke. You are precious", he slowly retracted both his hands and gently hugged him.

Ah... He makes me feel stupid to have been so scared... I love him

"Thank you, Naruto, I feel so blessed to have you in my life", he hugged him back tightly.

"Me too..." I love you, Sasuke...

I love you, Naruto... One day, for sure, I'll tell it out loud too...