Kotetsu found himself drawn into the camaraderie of the heroes' break room one afternoon. The usual banter and lighthearted teasing filled the air as they all took a much-needed respite from their duties. Kotetsu, ever the social butterfly, joined in a conversation about their favorite video games.

"Fire Emblem, huh?" Kotetsu said with a grin, joining the circle where Barnaby, Nathan Seymour (Fire Emblem), and Pao-Lin were discussing their recent gaming adventures. "I used to play that all the time with my daughter."

"Same here!" Nathan exclaimed, clearly excited. "It's such a great game. Hey, Barnaby, who's your favorite character?"

Barnaby leaned back, a rare smile gracing his features. "I'd have to say Dimitri. His story arc is so compelling, and his dedication to his friends is admirable."

Pao-Lin chimed in. "Yeah, Dimitri's great! But what about the support conversations? Any favorites there?"

Barnaby shrugged. "I've always enjoyed the deeper, more complex relationships. But not every character needs a love story, right? Sometimes, it's just about strong bonds without romantic feelings."

Kotetsu, who was passing by to grab a drink, paused when he overheard Barnaby's comment. His heart sank as he misinterpreted the context, thinking Barnaby was talking about their own relationship.

Nathan chuckled. "Not in love with any of the characters, huh? That's fair. Sometimes the friendships are more important."

Barnaby nodded, missing the subtle tension in Kotetsu's posture. "Exactly. It's not always about being in love."

Hearing this, Kotetsu felt a pang of sadness. Misunderstanding Barnaby's words, he assumed Barnaby was making a point about their relationship—or lack thereof. Feeling hurt and dejected, he quickly left the room without anyone noticing his sudden departure.

Barnaby, meanwhile, had no idea what Kotetsu had overheard or how it had affected him. He continued chatting with the others, unaware that Kotetsu's heart was breaking over a misunderstanding.

Later that evening, Barnaby decided it was time to clear the air with Kotetsu. He had been feeling the growing tension between them and knew they needed to talk openly about their feelings. Gathering his courage, he headed to Kotetsu's apartment.

Kotetsu opened the door, surprised to see Barnaby standing there. "Barnaby? What's up?"

"Can I come in?" Barnaby asked, his expression serious.

Kotetsu hesitated but stepped aside to let him in. Barnaby took a deep breath, ready to discuss what had been on his mind, but Kotetsu's earlier hurt and confusion bubbled up, and he couldn't hold back.

"Look, Barnaby, if you're here to talk about how we're just partners and nothing more, I get it. You don't have to spell it out," Kotetsu said, his voice tight with emotion.

Barnaby blinked, caught off guard. "Kotetsu, that's not—"

But Kotetsu, overwhelmed by his own pain, didn't let Barnaby finish. "It's fine, really. I'm glad we're good partners. Let's just leave it at that."

Before Barnaby could explain or clarify, Kotetsu grabbed his coat and headed for the door. "I need some air. We'll talk later, okay?"

Kotetsu left, leaving Barnaby standing in the middle of the room, confusion and sadness etched on his face. He had come to open his heart, but Kotetsu's misunderstanding had created an even wider gap between them.

As Kotetsu walked through the streets, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a mistake but didn't know how to fix it. Meanwhile, Barnaby returned to his own apartment, determined to find a way to make Kotetsu understand his true feelings.