A/N: Happy Birthday Allie! This is a gift for my friend, also known as tetsup on tumblr! She requested this prompt some point last year but alas I am lazy and did not do anything about it until now... regardless, I hope you like it! Everyone else; enjoy this little drabble on an ImaNaru confession!
Imaizumi could not focus.
All day- before school, during school, during lunch, after school, during practice- Naruko had been acting weird. He was twitchy, tinted a red slightly lighter than his hair, and he kept staring off into space with a vacant expression. It was more than often in Imaizumi's general direction, so he got the feeling he was being stared at, but he couldn't accuse Naruko of staring at him- after all, Naruko was looking in his direction, but it wasn't clear if he was looking at Imaizumi, the window behind him, the wall…
"What are you thinking about?" Imaizumi grumbled during practice while Naruko seemed to be gazing at him, but Naruko focused elsewhere after he was questioned.
"The Inter-High," he murmured, then got overly excited, as usual. "I'm gonna show off like crazy! Everyone will remember me, Naruko Shoukichi, the fastest…"
He went on, but Imaizumi merely sighed and focused on pedaling. He was back to his usual chatter, but only temporarily- he slowly faded back into zoned out staring. Even when Onoda talked to him, he seemed focused on something else.
After practice, everyone headed out, Onoda included, and Imaizumi and Naruko were about to go their separate ways. Imaizumi refused to pedal off to his house, staring at the back of Naruko's head as he drifted, pedaling lightly.
Soon enough, Naruko turned over his shoulder. "What's up, hotshot? You're following me."
"You're acting weird today," Imaizumi commented bluntly. "You keep spacing out. Is there something you… need to talk about?" He murmured, but then got flustered. "Not that it matters, really, but-"
"I like someone."
It was straightforward and quick, like Naruko himself, and Imaizumi blinked in surprise. He grinned shortly after. "I can always tell, you make it so obvious. Who is it?"
Naruko seemed to ponder the question, glancing at the sky like he had been all day, then looked back at Imaizumi.
"You."
Imaizumi completely stopped pedaling, staring at Naruko with wide eyes. He had to reach down with his foot to stop the bike from tipping to one side. He then grinned to try and hide the flush of red rising to his cheeks. "Hah, funny, you just wanted to see me look shocked. Good one. But really, who-"
"I said it's you," Naruko repeated irritably, "I'm not kidding, Imaizumi."
He definitely sounded serious, especially for Naruko, and Imaziumi's heart began to race. "S-Surely you're just messing with me-"
"Ever wonder why I call you hotshot?" Naruko turned around on his bike and hopped off, allowing the bike to lean on its kickstand. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and lifted his chin high. "Because you're a smartass, yeah. But your stupid genius face is hot to me and I keep thinking about kissing it."
"Shit, you're not joking," Imaizumi stammered a little, blinking in shock. "So… you really do like me."
"That's kind of what it looks like, hotshot," he grinned his toothy grin. "I'm not ashamed of it, but I have no clue what you're thinking."
Imaizumi was silent for a moment when he got off his bike and stepped closer, looking down at Naruko. "You're such a midget," he mumbled, "Even though you're so… minuscule… I think about you too often."
"Speak Japanese," Naruko rolled his eyes, "You're too poetic. So that means you like me too? I mean, I'm not the best in riddles and rhymes, so you're gonna have to tell—"
Instead of answering with words, Imaizumi leaned down and kissed Naruko lightly. Naruko's eyes were wide, his mouth parted slightly in surprise.
"God, finally, I found a way to make you shut up," Imaizumi regarded affectionately, and Naruko scoffed a moment later.
"And you're too damn tall, I feel like I'm Jack climbing the goddamn beanstalk," Naruko growled, "Now get back down here, hotshot, and kiss me properly-"
Within moments, they couldn't get enough of each other's taste, each other's kisses and body heat. Naruko was in Imaizumi's arms, his thighs held by Imaizumi with his legs wrapped around Imaizumi's waist. He was conveniently light, and he pressed against Imaizumi in all the right ways- in all the little gaps Imaizumi seemed to be missing.
When they came to school holding hands the next day, they were shocked at how many people said, "Finally!" and "I knew it!"
Even worse, they witnessed Kinjou receiving money from Makishima and Tadokoro, claiming he "won the bet."
"Were we that obvious?" Imaizumi grumbled under his breath, and Naruko grinned wide.
"Everyone can tell when I, Naruko Shoukichi, is in lov—"
His mouth was covered by Imaizumi's hand. "Not yet, moron!" He was burning all sorts of reds at this point, and Naruko was fighting to free himself from the hand, embarrassing proclamations and threats muffled by Imaizumi's palm.
Even if their relationship progressed, it was so natural that everyone adapted to the minor change with ease, and life continued as normal for Sohoku's bicycling team.