Mitsuba Sousuke was never really interested in making friends with just anyone. Kou knew that much as Mitsuba likes to openly express his annoyance with most people, and that "most people" already includes Kou.

Even without doing anything bad, Mitsuba likes to twist words to his advantage, always making fun of Kou no matter what—it almost seems like Mitsuba is hiding something from Kou which is why he's acting like that; it's painfully obvious that he's coping with it that way.

A tsundere, if you will.

But the blond sees past Mitsuba, the mask he's wearing, the facade he's put up—it's one of the reasons why Mitsuba caught Kou's eye in the first place. Kou likes the real Mitsuba, the cocky brat who makes people annoyed, but Kou also likes the gentle Mitsuba who he's seen glimpses of.

Mitsuba is insecure about himself. And Kou is willing to fix that. He's willing to take the first step for Mitsuba to become more open because Kou genuinely wants to get closer to him.

So it's a surprise to see Mitsuba approach him first.

"What are you doing here so early, Minamoto-kun?" Mitsuba asked, his face in a scowl despite the flush on his cheeks. He's seated on his chair, camera in hand.

Kou, who just entered the classroom, froze in his steps, blinking at Mitsuba in surprise. Mitsuba never started conversations. "Oh— uh, I was going to do something," he admitted. That something was searching for clues as to who his secret admirer could be, but he didn't expect Mitsuba to be hanging around the classroom so early. "What are you doing here?" He asked back as he slid the door close, the soft thud making Kou wince a bit, a reminder that it's awfully quiet because it's only the two of them. Alone.

Mitsuba huffed. "I'm always here early. What are you talking about?" He scoffed and looked away as Kou walked closer. "It's you who's always late, hella-lame, traffic-safety earring boy." As always, Mitsuba would utter that nickname out whenever they talk. If Kou talked with him and he never said hella-lame, traffic-safety earring boy then is that really Mitsuba?

Kou couldn't stop the smile that crept up his face as he sat on the chair behind Mitsuba's. "My brother isn't good at cooking at all so I'm the one who has to do house chores. Nii-chan tries to help me but it always ends up being a big mess. Even my little sister is better at domestic tasks than my 18-year-old brother."

Kou's smile widened as Mitsuba tried to hide a snort. The rose-colored eyes of Mitsuba's flashed to his for a moment before turning away, red seeping in Mitsuba's pale, soft cheeks.

"Are you looking for something here?" Mitsuba softly asked, all of his attention on his camera, rubbing the strap with his thumb. The tone threw Kou off guard. Mitsuba was never the type to act like this ( by this, he meant act all gentle and caring ), you can't blame Kou to get suspicious and also mentally freak out.

Is Mitsuba also trying to befriend Kou?

Or . . . is it only because they're the only two alone in the classroom?

Mitsuba snapped a finger in front of Kou's face, bottom lip jutted out in a pout. "What are you gaping at me for, perv? I was asking a question!"

Kou shook his head a bit and cleared his throat, stuttering, "ah, yeah, uh— I was waiting for Yokoo and Satou because we're on a small mission for something."

Mitsuba lifted his head, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "A mission? What kind of mission are you losers in, huh?" He asked, but the wobble in his tone failed to hide the obvious excitement in it.

Kou grinned. This is a chance for him to get closer to Mitsuba! They'll become best friends by sticking close and working together! "We're looking for a person right now! Satou has a hunch that she may be in this class so we're starting here." Mitsuba owlishly blinked as Kou's face inched closer, and he's oblivious to it. "You in?"

Mitsuba seemed to have not heard the rest of the sentence because his face contorted into a bitter grimace the moment Kou mentioned she. "You're looking for a girl? Why?" He questioned, not even bothered to hide his sourness.

Kou squinted at the boy in front of him. "Why?" He repeated, sounding unsure himself. "Why . . . not? I know you don't like a lot of things but don't tell me you also don't like girls?" Kou asked Mitsuba, his face so purely baffled that it made Mitsuba blankly stare at him. "Oh. I mean, unless you swing that way—"

Mitsuba used his palm and shoved it on Kou's face, pushing him away as he furiously blushed. "What? What are you talking about?" He blurted out as Kou laughed and tried to pry his hand off of his face. "Stop making it weird, you weirdo!"

"You're the one making it weird!"

"Am not!"

"Am too!"

Then when their eyes met, both half-heartedly narrowed to a playful glare with pouts on their lips, Mitsuba and Kou started laughing. Kou with his loud chortle, and Mitsuba with his poor attempt at hiding his giggles.

Kou felt warmth in his chest until he felt it crawl to his cheeks, eyes never tearing off the boy whose eyes are wrinkled in amusement, his hair reflecting off the bright sun from outside, his snickers showing off his cute smile. Kou went still after that, swirls of emotions growing in his chest. He could faintly hear the chatters outside because he's only relishing in the sound of Mitsuba's laughs.

Mitsuba noticed Kou's sudden silence and forced a wobbly smirk. "I know I'm cute but I just told you to not make it weird!" Mitsuba told him, scrunching his nose adorably, turning away. "You're gaping!" He added, making Kou snap out of his daydream.

Kou cleared his throat. "Ah, sorry. Uhm, anyway— a-are you in or not?"

Mitsuba studied Kou's face for a bit, not helping the red dusting the blond's cheeks. A moment of silence fell over them and Kou is slowly starting to regret his offer. He didn't want Mitsuba to be forced in on this, he just wanted an excuse to hang out with him, but Mitsuba didn't need to—

"I'm— I'm only going because I want to know why you guys are on this stupid mission and not because you asked me to!"

Kou smiled. That's a yes.

—

Yokoo's eyes widened, mouth slightly agape. "Mitsuba!" He exclaimed in surprise.

Mitsuba shyly waved at Yokoo and Satou from his seat, smiling a bit. "Yokoo-kun! Satou-kun!" He greeted, now turning away from the blond's intense stare.

"We're about 30 minutes early, what are you doing here, Mitsuba?" Satou asked as he and Yokoo walked over to the two. Satou placed his bag on his chair before

Kou grumped about how they're ignoring him but, of course, they don't hear it because they're not paying any attention to him. Yokoo placed a hand on Mitsuba's shoulder and smiled before letting go, almost like a reassuring gesture that Mitsuba didn't know he needed.

Mitsuba was never really close with anyone, sure, but Kou, Yokoo, and Satou are classmates he's interacted with most so Mitsuba knew he could be comfortable around them. Kou noticed it all too well, from the way Mitsuba's shoulders relaxed when Yokoo went by him to the way his genuine smile bloomed on his face when they started talking.

"My mom leaves early for work so I just leave the house along with her." He narrowed his eyes, placing his camera down on the table to point at them. "But I should be the one asking questions! You three are usually the last ones to arrive! And it's all because of this— what was it? Girl-hunting mission or something. What's up with that?"

Yokoo smirked. "Why? Are you jealous?"

Mitsuba turned to the brunette, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. "What? Why would I be jealous? Of you three being creepy and spying on girls—?"

"We're not spying on girls!" Kou protested.

"—do not lump me with you perverts!" Mitsuba whined, glaring so hard at Yokoo as if it would wipe away the stupid smirk on his face. "I've already agreed to join so don't make it weird!"

Satou arched a brow, frowning at Mitsuba. "Really? You're going to help us? Don't you always say you have better things to do? Or is it because—" Satou glanced at Kou, then back at Mitsuba— "oh. Okay."

"What? Why?" Kou asked Satou. "Mitsuba is going to help us because he's a good friend!"

Mitsuba's smile turned dim. "Yeah." He snorted. "As if I would consider lame traffic-safety earring boy as my friend," he teased, making Kou smack him on the head. "Wh— owie! Hey, stop it!" But Mitsuba was giggling, too.

Yokoo and Satou looked at each other before staring at the scene before them.