Originally posted on Tumblr (FlipSideofC).

Rin sighed in boredom as he sat in the waiting room at the doctor's office. He was early for his routine checkup and had already exhausted his regular online routine on the way over. His red eyes scanned the magazines on the table. Hunting? Nope. Retired life? Nha. Being pregnant? No f-ing way. Rin finally grabbed a girly-looking magazine and started flipping through it.

After having learned more than he ever wanted on the subject of eyeliner and read articles on women in the workforce which made him resolve to hug his mother more (and vow to kill anyone who tried to bully his sister in the future), Rin found himself reading an article on soulmates. "Is he the one for you?" the headline asked, helpfully. Rin internally tried to roll his eyes, but found himself reading anyway. Maybe he was just looking out for Gou… yeah.

1. Is he your best friend?

Well… Sousuke was his best friend, so what? Dumb article…making him think of Sousuke… not that he hadn't immediately thought of his best friend when reading the headline alone. His thoughts had strayed in that direction for quite a while, although he desperately tried not to.

2. Can you imagine living with him, sleeping in the same bed, brushing your teeth together?

Wtf, Rin muttered to himself. That was cheating, they already lived together dammit! He desperately tried to picture himself living with someone else… any other guy… Haru? (mackerel every day…too robotic) Makoto? (kittens everywhere…too sweet) Rei? (even more anal than himself..and that laugh…no) Nagisa? (way way too much sugar…) Ai? (too messy…too adoring… and pink porn) Momo? (obsessed with his cleavage…and stag beatles…and constantly high).

Rin sighed, ok so all other guys were out. He quickly squashed the thought that he might be a little hard to live with himself. He was a neat freak, he knew that, and liked to eat healthy. Still, Sousuke didn't appear to mind. Also, they had a great kitchen routine… Rin wrenched his thought away from the mental image of Sousuke in an apron and how nice it was to cook dinner together every night and moved on to the next point.

3. They inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

Rin thought of Sousuke's support during the past years, how he helped when Rin was captain at Samezuka, how he inspired him now when he was training for the time trials and through university. He was so damn supportive. Sousuke's own training and theory talks pushed Rin to be better every day. Rin tried to wipe the sappy look from his face. Fortunately, there was no one nearby to see it.

4. He knows what makes you happy.

Rin smiled to himself. Only yesterday, Sousuke had… No! No more sappy thoughts!

…Sousuke did know how to make him happy though, he couldn't deny that even if he tried.

5. They don't expect you to solve their problems.

Not that Sousuke didn't appreciate his help, but he had found a good therapist and worked hard to solve his shoulder issue. If anything, Sousuke didn't let him solve enough of his problems, although Rin did that anyway. That self-sufficient idiot, Rin muttered. Well, they were still working on that, but they were so much better at relying on each other these days.

6. You can be yourself around him.

Rin thought of their last lazy night in, when they had played video games for hours and just been copious dorks. He never had to put on a front with Sousuke, he…

7. He loves you for you.

Yeah right, thank you stupid magazine. Very helpful. Rin swallowed. Sousuke did love him for him, even if he didn't love him that way.

8. Being with him makes you happy and excited.

Yes rub it in, will you. And you already had happy in number 4, kind of… Rin pouted.

9. Do you like the way he looks? Do you like the smell of his skin? His touch?

Rin flushed and swallowed, an image of Sousuke in the shower forcing itself into his mind. Other images followed though – how he looked when sleeping, when smiling, when swimming. How much Rin enjoyed his flatmate constantly falling asleep leaning on him. He quickly turned the page, trying to distract himself.

"How to be a total man-magnet, or – how to make him fall in love with you"

Rin tried to turn the page again… he really did, but he just had to read this. It couldn't hurt, right? Not that he needed lessons or anything, except apparently he really did since Sousuke wasn't in love with him. Ok fine, so maybe he did want Sousuke to love him back – and he did not just admit that he loved him either. No way.

But, hypothetically… how should he act then?

1. Lean forward. Body language is important. Show him your interest.

Rin nodded to himself. Ok, he was going to lean a lot, no problem. Easy.

Just then the nurse called him into the doctor's office. Rin reluctantly put the magazine down. Before leaving after the checkup later he hesitated by the table and finally brought the magazine home with him. He could return it the next time.