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This is you and your best friend Takahashi Fumiya, spending a weekend simply idling around the house and doing your own things. On the couch, the sleepyhead Fumiya is napping again. Though you doubt he's deeply asleep.

You share an apartment. Being best friends for 10 years, comfortable is an understatement describing your relationship. You've grown too accustomed to each other's character and moods. It's almost as if you can finish each other's sentences and read each other's minds. That's how close you are. That's how your bond works.

But for almost a year now, you've been hiding a secret he hasn't found out about yet. You fell in love with him. But of course, you're too scared to tell him. And it's probably gonna take you a whole decade to. For now, you're satisfied being with him. At least before he gets a girl friend.

And that's not all. There's another secret you've been keeping from him. You remember to have started doing this a few weeks ago when you saw him sleeping. He was home from work and he fell asleep on the couch and not even bothered to eat dinner. He was too tired to change and even lift his body to his bed. It was a sight you were used to see but that night, it felt different. You were already in love with him. And when you looked into his features, you were easily enchanted. It was a moment you knew, you could never go back to the way you used to be. Cuz in his sleep, you stared at him. And in his sleep, you kissed him.

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"Ohayou! (Good morning!)" You greet him as you prepare breakfast.

He has just woken up and with a sweet smile he greets back, "Ohayou, Kisa."

This is your daily routine, but it's usually him preparing breakfast. He works as a part time chef at a french restaurant and a part time model for a magazine. He hasn't really figured out what he wants to do more so he keeps his options open for both careers. Meanwhile, you're a regular 9-5 office employee. And you mostly do household chores than cooking.

"I think I'm working late tonight. Don't wait for me. They want a night time shoot at the park," he told you.

"Hai, ganbarimasu! (Ok, good luck!)" You cheered with a smile.

"Hai!" He replied.

You're satisfied with everyday being like this with him. Supporting him with his everyday work and helping with anything you can. He does the same for you. He's always there whenever you need him.

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You just got home from buying groceries. "Tadaima... (I'm home...)" you said as you enter the house.

You look around, wondering where Fumiya is. He usually welcomes you at a time like this but it seems he's nowhere near the kitchen.

Looking around, you find him at last. He's sleeping again, at the porch, on a Sunday afternoon, his head leaning on the table over an arm. You don't know what he was doing, with a laptop on the table, but it seems he's tired again. He needs more rest to recover his energy. You get a blanket and put it around him. And while you're at it, you feel your heart race again. Seeing him like this makes you want to protect him even more. Makes you want to do everything you can to support him. And without even thinking, you steal a kiss from him again. A short peck on his soft lips. You know it's not the right thing to do, but this is the only way you can express your feelings. So you smile to yourself as you turn away and close the door.

A few moments after you've gone, he opens his eyes slowly and blinks for a while.

He sits straight and finds the blanket around his back.

"Kisa?" He murmurs. "Was that a dream?"

He said with a confused face before touching his lips.

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Whenever you see him sleeping, you'd kiss him. Though not always on the lips, you'd give him a kiss on the cheek, his hair or forehead. It's become a routine for you, it makes you contain your feelings. And it makes you calm whenever you get to kiss him in his sleep.

You thought you were doing it discreetly. You thought he hadn't notice anything, but you were damn wrong. For a while now, he has been slightly waking up from his sleep, every time you kiss him.

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You arrive late from a party at work and you find him already sleeping in his room. You sneak in and give him a kiss on the forehead and said, "Oyasumi.. (Good night..)" and left.

He looks like in deep sleep, but it's just an act. He opens his eyes after you've closed the door and stares at the ceiling. He has been suspecting for some time now but he needs more proof. He hasn't caught you enough. He needs more evidence to end everything. He needs to know the reason. Before he makes his move for better or for worse.

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"Kisa, can we talk for a minute?" Fumiya asked.

You have just finished showering, with a towel around your neck and you're on your way to your room for a good night sleep.

Both of you sit on the couch, as he sips on his freshly brewed tea. He then puts his cup down and starts talking.

"I've been meaning to tell you this for a while. Actually, I've been keeping a secret from you."

"Eh? Are you serious right now?" you replied, with a hint of annoyance. Keeping secrets is never a thing between you two. Well, not from him.

"There's someone I've been dating for a while now.-"

Hearing those words, it felt like your world started crumbling down. He's dating someone. It's something you never expected. Cuz you promised each other, that if one of you ever finds someone, you'll be the first know. But here he is, talking about that girl.

"-And we're planning to move in together."

You must be kidding me. Is what you really want to tell him. You are too shocked but you manage to congratulate him half heartedly.

"Omedetou. (Congratulations.)" Is your short answer.

He smiled awkwardly, the look on his face is showing how embarrassed he is, "Gomen (Sorry) for telling you just now, Kisa."

You held it in, all the pain that's slowly ripping your heart apart. You shake your head and responded, "Daijoubu. (It's alright.) As long as you're happy."

"Arigatou. (Thank you.)"

"So when is she moving in?"

"Well,..."

The seconds he talked about his plans with the girl he loves felt like hours. Your chest feels so painful, you might pass out. But you held on. You cannot betray him. You cannot be sad infront of him when he finally found one person he wants to spend his days with, apart from you. You're still his best friend after all.

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It's 2am, just a while ago Fumiya told you about his plans with his girlfriend. And now, you're staring into space, eyes swollen from endless crying since entering your room.

You regret it. You regret not being bold enough. Not taking your chances. You should've told him when you felt sure of your feelings. He may not have felt the same, but at least you tried. Not too late like this. You can't turn back wasted time.

In your hazy state, you walked to his room. You opened the door and find him peacefully sleeping on his bed under the sheets. You silently pace your way to him, and sat carefully by his side, making sure he doesn't feel anything.

You stare at his face, reminiscing about the times you spent together. And tears just continue falling down your cheeks.

Unable to contain your sadness, you touch his face and whisper to him, "Onegai... (Please...) don't-" your voice breaks. You can't continue your words, you're too heart broken to. So instead, you slowly shove down and just kiss him lightly. One time, and then again. This maybe your last time to do this. You should prepare yourself for the coming days, when he brings home the girl he said he's dating. And then before moving away from him, you said, "I love you Fumiya-kun."

And in that instant, you get startled, cuz he grabs your hand and his eyes open, meeting your wide ones.

"Fumiya-kun..." you can't believe he's awake all this time.

"For how long have you been doing this?" he asked, bearing a serious expression.

"Sumimasen. (I'm sorry.) I didn't mean to..."

You jerk to take your hand away but he doesn't let go. He sits instead, tightly holding your hand with him. You then tried to move away but he circles your back with his other hand, trapping you close to him.

"For how long have you been stealing kisses from me Kisa?" he's asking something you can't probably answer cuz it's too embarrassing to.

"Fumiya-kun... gomen. Please don't get mad at me." Now your tears have become tears of worry.

"I'm mad. I'm totally mad!" He raised his voice at you.

You're a little scared now. You've seen him get angry and it's not a nice sight to see.

"I'm really mad cuz you had to keep it from me." His eyes have softened but there's still a bit of anger in them.

"What?" It's a surprise he's saying this.

"I'm really mad cuz you had to make me feel powerless all this time."

"Eh?" Your confusion kicking in.

"It's been so long, I almost thought i'd keep it forever." He leans his forehead with yours and closed his eyes. "I love you Kisa."

You're too dumbfounded to reply him. He's showing too much suffering from all the years he had to restrain himself from showing his real feelings. It's unreal for you to hear something like this from him. It's unthinkable before. But it's happening now. You never expected your whole life to hear it.

He distanced his face from yours and stared at you. You're too confused right now. But he's looking at you like you're the only person in the world. He wipes your tears away as you stare back at him in disbelief.

"What about the girl you're talking about?"

"It was a lie."

"It was?"

"Because i wanted to know the truth. I knew you've been stealing kisses from me for a while."

"You knew?"

"I did but i wasn't sure what your motives were. I wanted to know the reason. And i did today."

"Fumiya-kun..."

"So does my agony. It ends today."

Right then he kisses you. You're surprised at first. Cuz even in dreams, it never happened. But this isn't a dream right? He said he loves you. And he's kissing you right now, over and over again.

With happy hearts, both of you share the sweetest kisses you've been keeping for a while. If both of you hadn't taken the courage to, it would have never come down to this.

After the series of kisses he told you, "I liked it when you kissed me in my sleep but I love it more now i'm wide awake."

He smiles at you but you're too embarrassed to smile back. Your face is burning from the heat. But you still said, "Then don't you ever sleep on me again."

"Hai!" He eagerly replied with an enchanting smile.

He kisses you again and from then on, when you thought it only happens in fairy tales, you finally lived happily ever after.

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The end.

nantokanarusa 23.07.30