A/N: Coffee does not own Nagi no Asukara.
He understands that she is frightened of change. He understands how important it is to maintain the delicate equilibrium of their friendship.
...And for her, he is willing to set aside his feelings to be the shoulder she can cry on and the sea slug she can confide in.
Although it's painful, staying by her side is more than enough for the moment.
If she is the sea, then he is the rocky shore that awaits her return every time she pulls away. No matter how far the sea ventures from the shore, it always comes crashing back. And the rocks will always be there, constant, unchanging - just the way she wants things to be.
But he is slowly wearing down. As the sea comes back with heavier and heavier feelings, the rocks slowly erode until there's nothing left but the core. And when that is exposed, he can do nothing but watch the sea pull away once more.
He's tired of setting his own feelings aside, and he wants to be selfish just this once.
Instead, his actions only push her further and further away. But there is nothing he can do, but stand there and wait for her eventual return. It doesn't matter how long it will take - surely the sea will always come back.
But things changed after the hibernation.
She's changed. He hasn't. He understands her need for consistency, but it's frustrating to see that all he's ever done for her has amounted to nothing.
Because the sea is calm now. It doesn't roar and crash against the rocky shore anymore - instead, it laps gently at the sand, drawing near but never close enough. Instead, it basks in the heat of the sun.
The sun warms the sea. The sun watches over the sea. But most importantly, as he watches jealously, the sun makes the sea shine. Under the sun, the sea is at its most brilliant - compared to the sun, he is nothing.
A/N: Written as a present for my friend, Peace-chan. Her OTP was shot down, so here's a little gift to cheer her up. Eh, I still ship Tsusaki though.