The next day, Nathan Seymour (Fire Emblem) noticed something was off with Barnaby. During their break, Nathan found Barnaby alone in the break room, staring into his coffee with a troubled expression.

"Hey, handsome," Nathan said, sitting down across from him. "What's eating you? You look like you've lost your best friend."

Barnaby sighed, lifting his eyes to meet Nathan's. "It's Kotetsu. I tried to talk to him last night, but it went completely wrong. He misunderstood something I said earlier, and now he thinks I don't have any feelings for him beyond being partners."

Nathan leaned back, crossing his arms. "That explains his mood today. So, what exactly did he hear?"

Barnaby recounted the conversation in the break room about Fire Emblem and Dimitri, including Kotetsu's abrupt exit. Nathan listened intently, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Alright, handsome, here's the deal," Nathan said with a determined glint in his eye. "We need to clear this up. If you don't, you'll miss your chance with Wild Tiger."

Barnaby hesitated. "But how? Every time I try to talk to him, something goes wrong."

A mischievous smile spread across Nathan's face. "How about you be his secret admirer? It'll give you a chance to express your feelings without the immediate pressure. You can reveal yourself later when he's ready to hear it."

Barnaby looked skeptical. "A secret admirer? Won't that just complicate things even more?"

Nathan shook his head. "Trust me. Sometimes indirect approaches work best. Besides, it'll give Kotetsu time to realize he has feelings for you too. If you don't do something, you might lose him."

Barnaby considered Nathan's words. The idea was unconventional, but Nathan had a point. He couldn't let his feelings go unspoken forever. "Alright, I'll give it a try. But how do I start?"

Nathan grinned. "Leave that to me. We'll start with something simple—a note in his locker."

That evening, Nathan helped Barnaby craft a heartfelt but anonymous note. They kept it simple, expressing admiration and appreciation for Kotetsu's dedication and strength. The next morning, while Kotetsu was distracted, Nathan slipped the note into his locker.

When Kotetsu found the note later, he was puzzled but touched. He read it several times, trying to identify the handwriting, but came up empty. The note was signed, "Your Secret Admirer."

Over the next few days, Barnaby, with Nathan's help, continued to leave small tokens of admiration—another note, a coffee from his favorite shop, and a small trinket related to his hobbies. Each time, Kotetsu's curiosity grew, and he found himself looking forward to these small gestures.

One evening, after a particularly tough mission, Kotetsu found another note in his locker. This one was different. It expressed deep admiration for his bravery and hinted at feelings beyond mere friendship. Kotetsu's heart raced as he read the words, wondering who could be behind them.

Meanwhile, Barnaby watched from a distance, his heart aching with both hope and fear. He wasn't ready to reveal himself yet, but he hoped Kotetsu would start to see how much he was cared for.

Nathan noticed Kotetsu's growing interest and decided it was time for the next step. "You know, Kotetsu, you should try to figure out who this secret admirer is. Maybe they're closer than you think."

Kotetsu chuckled. "Maybe. It's just... I don't want to assume anything. What if I'm wrong?"

Nathan patted Kotetsu's shoulder. "Sometimes you have to take risks for love, Wild Tiger. Just keep an open mind."

As Kotetsu pondered Nathan's advice, Barnaby prepared for the possibility of revealing his feelings. The secret admirer plan was working, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he had to come forward. For now, he hoped these small gestures would help Kotetsu see the depth of his feelings and that they might eventually bridge the gap between them.