Ohta hadn't put a lot of thought into it until now, but tanaka has been acting different lately. The change is only subtle, however. Tanaka has slowly been acting a little more shy around Ohta, which is a side he has never seen before. Recently, he's even been denying Ohta when he asks if he needs to be carried, which of course usually ends in him doing it anyway.

He watches as the other sits down at the desk beside him. Well, not exactly sit, more like...flop? Doesn't matter.

"Good morning, Tanaka."

" 'Morning Ohta."

Usual exchanges. Yet something feels off.

He spends the whole day mentally listing possibilities, but eventually decides to just ask him a few things after school.

~
It's silent.

Tanaka is lazily dragging his feet behind Ohta, insisting that this time, he doesn't need help. Ohta lets it happen this time. Then suddenly, Ohta stops walking and turns to face the smaller boy.

"Tanaka, I have to ask, has something been wrong lately?"

The black haired boy stared and tilted his head a bit.

"I mean, is there something you need to say?"

Ohta watches him closely, waiting for a response. He sees a shade of pink rise on Tanaka's face as he fiddles with his shirt collar.

"Ohta, I've had a weird feeling actually..."

Now it was Ohta's turn to cock his head in confusion.

"I-it's really hard for me to explain. It's just lately when I think about you, I get all red in the face and I start smiling, and those are things I don't usually do. I just feel like I wanna be around you all the time and..." He trailed off.

Ohta was surprised for a few reasons; Tanaka definitely does not usually say that much at one time, also that this is something he did not add to his little mental list. But he understood. He understood because he felt the same way. Or he's hoping it's the same way or else it's going to make what he's about to do very awkward-

He takes one hand and runs it through Tanaka's thin hair, then bends down to kiss Tanaka. Even if it was just for a second, it felt so nice. He saw Tanaka's eyes light up, and got reassurance that he didn't mess up.

He heard someone whistle from across the road. He straightened up and looked over at them. It was a pair of students from the same school, one tall with short blonde hair the other short, grinning widely.

Shit. He's never hearing the end of this.