Yuma and Nicholas are always pushing each other's buttons—but when a bet forces them to up the stakes, teasing turns into something neither of them are ready to face.

*****
"Bet you can't go a full day without blushing."
"Bet you can't go a full day without teasing me."
*****

Yuma had a problem.

Not a big problem. Not a life-threatening problem.

But an annoying problem.

And that problem's name was Nicholas.

It started, like most stupid things in Yuma's life, because Nicholas wouldn't shut up.

"You talk a lot," Yuma muttered one day, stretching his arms as they walked back to the dorms.

Nicholas smirked. "You love it."

Yuma scoffed. "You wish."

Nicholas nudged him with his shoulder. "Aw, come on. Admit it. Your life would be boring without me."

Yuma rolled his eyes but didn't deny it.

Unfortunately, Nicholas noticed.

Unfortunately, Nicholas took this as encouragement.

And unfortunately—Yuma did kind of like it.

Which was, obviously, a problem.

Nicholas called him everything but his name.

"Yo, sunshine."

"Hey, babyface."

"What's up, short king?"

Yuma, the first few times, ignored it.

But after the seventh nickname, he squinted at Nicholas, arms crossed. "You got a death wish?"

Nicholas grinned. "You mad, sweetheart?"

Yuma groaned. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Just wondering how red your face will get if I call you 'darling' next."

Yuma's soul left his body. "Get away from me."

Nicholas, thriving on his reaction, got closer. "What was that, babe?"

Yuma shoved him. Hard.

Nicholas only laughed.

And thus, the war began.

Yuma wasn't about to lose to Nicholas.

So one day, he smirked and leaned against the wall next to Nicholas, lowering his voice just slightly.

"Hey, Nicky."

Nicholas choked on his drink.

"Something wrong, Nicky?" Yuma asked, tilting his head.

Nicholas wiped his mouth, narrowing his eyes. "You did not just call me that."

Yuma shrugged. "What's wrong? You looked a little flustered."

Nicholas scoffed. "Please. Like you could ever—"

Yuma, smiling way too sweetly, dragged a finger under Nicholas's chin.

Nicholas froze.

Yuma smirked. "That's what I thought."

Then he walked away, victorious.

Unfortunately, his victory didn't last long.

One night, while lounging on the couch, Nicholas smirked. "Bet you can't go a full day without blushing."

Yuma raised an eyebrow. "Bet you can't go a full day without teasing me."

Nicholas hummed. "Loser buys the winner coffee."

Yuma grinned. "Deal."

It lasted two hours.

And then Nicholas, completely unprovoked, leaned in and whispered, "You look really good today, Yuma."

Yuma blinked.

Nicholas smirked.

And Yuma, despite knowing it was a trap, still felt his face heat up.

Nicholas grinned. "You lost."

Yuma groaned. "I hate you."

Nicholas, looking way too satisfied, took a sip of his drink. "No, you don't."

And Yuma, annoyingly, didn't argue.

Final Score:Yuma: Lost the bet, lost his patience, might be losing his mind.Nicholas: Thriving.The War? Ongoing.

And neither of them actually wanted it to end.