Masaomi was always so impulsive, Mikado expected him to be different when they started dating. He expected constantly being tackle-hugged in the hallways at school. He expected kisses being blown to him through geometry. He expected sharing an umbrella on rainy days and taking the long way home. Mikado prepared himself for this.
All of his preparation had been for nothing. Their relationship had not been broadcast all across campus, and the daily tackle-hug statistic hadn't increased. He asked Masaomi about it once, and the blond had doubled over laughing.
"Give me a little credit, babe," he said finally, grinning when Mikado faltered at the nickname. "Maybe I just want to keep you all to myself."
Before long, Masaomi was practically living with him, coming over to his apartment every day after school and lying with his head on Mikado's lap while Mikado tried to do his homework. After an hour or so, Mikado would feel the textbook being tugged out of his hands, and he would have to turn his attention to Masaomi.
"I haven't even started my history assignment," Mikado would mumble against his boyfriend's lips. Masaomi would smile and make some stupid reply ("A little less past, a little more present? Ha ha!"), Mikado would sigh, and, before he knew it, he would have forgotten his homework entirely.
Truthfully, it felt nice. Masaomi showered him with affection and paid so much attention to him. On the way home from school once, he insisted that they stop at a convenience store. Mikado waited outside for a few minutes until Masaomi emerged with a bottle of milk.
"You were out," he said, throwing an arm around Mikado and pulling him close. At that moment, with Masaomi's goofy smile and that bottle of milk triumphantly in hand, Mikado wanted to kiss him more than he ever had before. Until they got back to his apartment, he settled for resting his head in the crook of Masaomi's neck. He smelled like soda bubbles and sunshine.
The first time they were alone in his apartment after becoming a couple, Mikado had been the one to say something stupid. In between sweetly unsure kisses on the couch, he said the first thing that came to mind.
"I keep thinking I'm going to wake up any minute."
Masaomi's confused expression brought a blush to Mikado's face. Recovering, Masaomi leaned closer, rubbing his nose against his.
"Nope. You're not dreaming." He grinned and spread his arms wide. "And if you were, you wouldn't have to worry about waking up because I'd be the biggest snooze button ever!"
Masaomi threw his arms around around him, and Mikado laughed. With his face centimeters from Mikado's, Masaomi froze, his eyes wide.
"Did you just laugh at my joke?" he asked. Before Mikado could answer, Masaomi cupped his face in his hands and pulled him into a kiss. Their first real kiss.
Mikado closed his eyes and put his arms around his boyfriend. When Masaomi pulled away, Mikado sighed.
"You see?" Masaomi whispered. "This is why I love you."
"Because I laugh at your awful jokes?" Mikado opened his eyes.
"Because you make me feel awesome," he said. "Because I want to make you feel awesome, too."
Mikado smiled and curled up against him.
"And because you laugh at my hilarious jokes."