Chapter Text
Souma Kanzaki wasn't sure when his dear friend had changed to beloved friend. It had seemed very natural, as expected as the waxing and waning of the moon, the turn of the tides, and the change of the seasons. There with him was Adonis Otogari - an ever present warmth that radiated with life beside him.
His gentle smile shone in his memories. The dimple of his cheek, highlighted by the early morning sunlight, stippled between the branches of the trees which arched over the path they took every morning run. The softness of his slight chuckle that would set his heart aflutter as he handed over his bottle, and, following, his face would redden...
"Souma, the turtles are going to get "fat"~"
"Buchou-dono!" The light lilt of the previous President of the Marine Club, Kanata Shinkai, yanked him from his thoughts of his best friend and jogging partner. Indeed, there was too much feed being poured into the tank. Turtles clambered over rocks for the mush of seaweed being dropped in at an ever-increasing pace.
Souma readied his hand on his sheath, "I'm sorry Buchou-dono. For this crime, I will commit-"
Kanata ruffled his hair, his voice as soothing as the incoming waves, "That's alright, it's alright. I am sure Souma has a lot of "important" "things'' to worry about~."
Important? Amber eyes and a deep mellow voice illuminated his memory, calling his name, "Kanzaki-" At the thought, Souma's cheeks heated up. The many images of his beloved friend's face, touch, and words bounced around in his head, appearing and dissipating as quickly as sea foam.
"Hey Kanata-kun, I think the seaweed should be for the turtles, not for Souma-kun." A blonde greasy mullet popped into view. Souma's former senpai and former member of the Marine Club, Kaoru Hakaze, waved his way in.
"Ah but Kaoru, look at how Souma is heating up." Kanata continued adding more seaweed to Souma's dripping head. The seaweed did nothing to cool down Souma's reddening face.
This unexplained blushing. The rapid beating of his heart. The headache. There was no other explanation besides that he must be -
"You're right Buchou-dono! I must've been struck by some affliction!"
"No, you have a crush on someone," replied the former Disgrace of the Marine Club.
"A "kurasshu"?" Usually Souma would disregard the aforementioned former Disgrace of the Marine Club, especially when he was late to another one of their meetings. Though he would not draw his sword at the mere thought of the senior as he once did (at least, not immediately) the knowing gleam in his grey eyes affixed him.
"The faster heartbeat? Blushing? That's symptoms of a crush right?" Had Souma said his thoughts out loud? Kaoru continued. "I've got lots of experience with that kind of stuff. Can give you tips for date plans, which should be easy for a muscle meathead like Adonis."
"Like when I go on my "dates" with the ocean~" Chimed in Kanata.
"Yeah, yeah, I suppose you can say that."
"Or when I think of the whole planet drowning after Global Warming~"
"Hey! Not that!" Kaoru turned to Souma. "And in your case, it's simple. Just tell Adonis-kun you like him."
His tumbling thoughts slowed to a grinding halt. "Kurasshu? On... on... Adonis-dono?".
Souma lingered on the memory of that one autumn's day, where the afternoon light dappled the tea room between the maple leaves. When the cool breeze came in and caressed his cheek, Adonis, with his earnest, amber-gold eyes gazed at him and said, "You're my home, Kanzaki." Even then, he had wanted to reach out, to brush aside that stray purple lock and reflect those words back to him.
But to attach the phrase, "I love you?". It could break the friendship they had built over the years, from the moment Adonis had laid eyes upon Souma and asked for his signature as a "samurai idol".
"You're all he talks about y'know. Kanzaki this, Kanzaki that. Look, I'm his unit mate and senior too, just trust me."
Could he reach his hand out this time?
Souma leapt up from his spot, then promptly bowed to both former Marine Club members, "Thank you Hakaze-dono! Buchou-dono. I will make haste." Sword firmly attached to his side, he swung round and marched out of the Marine Club room, a serene smile and kind eyes on his mind, seaweed slopping off his head in a sludge.
"Jeez if only I could only be as straightforward as Souma-kun is," sighed Kaoru. "The juniors sure have it easy."
"Perhaps Kaoru should try being more "honest" too."
"Hey, I'm plenty honest with the girls I date... And, Souma-kun, I think you need to do something about that seaweed!"