A/N- Anonymous on tumblr asked: Can you do a oneshot for Yagi and Nezu i think their so cute together~

They really have a special dynamic, don't they?


Most people didn't realize that Chuukichi had a very expressive face, but Tomoya knew. He couldn't have been best friends with the boy for so many years without becoming fluent in Chuukichi's various looks. The fact that most of them were directly related to Tomoya was irrelevant. The fact that the ones Tomoya knew best were 'Can you not?', 'Use a tissue!', and 'Back away from the kid before someone calls the cops god damn it!' was also irrelevant. He was still trying to figure out how Chuukichi managed to condense that last one into a single glare. The point was Tomoya knew his best friend almost as well as he knew himself, because that's just the way they were.

XXX

"Yagi-kun! Come have lunch with us!" exclaimed a red-haired girl from where she sat with her friends.

"No Yagi-kun with us!" called another girl from the opposite end of the room.

Tomoya smiled charmingly at them, and they squealed in delight.

"I'm sorry," He said calmly, "but Chuukichi and I are having lunch together today." There was a chorus of disappointed groans and he sighed. "You're welcome to join us if you like."

He didn't really expect them to take him up on the offer, but apparently he had underestimated the girls' dedication to a cause. When he turned up to the roof with 7 girls in tow, Chuukichi fixed him with a look that screamed 'why are you like this?' but simply rearranged himself until Tomoya could drop down next to him and the girls take up positions around. He was polite as ever in response to the girls' flirting and only elbowed Tomoya in the ribs a couple of times when he tried to steal the pork from his bento.

"Nezu-kun, you're always by Yagi-kun's side, huh?" asked one girl, daintily popping a piece of egg into her mouth.

Chuukichi simply smiled politely at her, so it was Tomoya who answered. "Of course. He's my best friend after all." He said, slinging an arm around his friend's shoulder.

"I'm mostly around to keep him in line." said Chuukichi dryly, making the girls giggle.

Later when they headed back to class, Chuukichi shook his head at him.

"You know you're allowed to deny them things without offering to make it up to them, right?"

"Yeah, but it makes me feel bad."

Chuukichi's exasperated glare said more than words could have and Tomoya laughed, taking a strange comfort in the easy familiarity between them.

XXX

Class had been over for 4 hours and Tomoya couldn't find Chuukichi anywhere. He knew he hadn't gone home yet and he didn't have work today, which meant there was really only one place he could be. Sure enough, when Tomoya entered the library, he saw his friend bent over a book, studiously copying notes into a thick notebook, bathed in the pink-orange light of the setting sun that filtered through the large windows of the library. Tomoya sighed, he was willing to bet that the other boy had completely lost track of time. He walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Chuukichi turned to look at him, mildly irritated that his concentration had broken.

"Time to go." Tomoya said with a smile, and Chuukichi seemed to suddenly realize what time it was, shaking his head and carefully packing up his things. Tomoya waited patiently as Chuukichi closed his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

They left the academy, walking in relative silence. Tomoya was humming quietly under his breath while checking his messages on his phone, confident in the fact he wouldn't walk into anything or anyone since Chuukichi had placed his hand on his elbow to guide him, long used to his friend's habits.

"Hold on a minute." Said Tomoya suddenly looking up from his phone. They were passing buy a convenience store, and he darted inside, tugging Chuukichi along with him. He gave the cashier a disarming smile as he opened his wallet.

"Two pork buns please." he said, sliding over the exact amount.

The cashier, an old lady with a friendly, open face smiled back, handing him the food, and he pressed a pork bun into Chuukichi's hands, and the other boy gave him a look. Tomoya had been on the receiving end of Chuukichi's 'I don't need your charity' looks for years and was far beyond the point of rolling his eyes. So instead he just bumps his shoulder, and continues to force the bun into his hands.

'You haven't eaten since lunch, have you? Consider it a thank you for getting me through last week's history test."

Chuukichi relented at that, and Tomoya felt a bubble of satisfaction at the small smile that graced his face as he bit into the warm bun. Too soon, they were in front of Chuukichi's house. The twins were on the front steps, playing beyblades. Tomoya knew they were Chuukichi's old ones, not that they were much different from the ones popular now.

"Hey Chuukichi my uncle bought me some beyblades, but I already have Dragoon and Driger. Do you want them?"

"Why would I want them? They're just tops aren't they? I can get tops anywhere."

Tomoya made an outraged noise at that statement and started detailing exactly what made beyblades a hundred times better than boring old tops, refusing to stop until Chuukichi sighed and took the beyblades out of his hands. Tomoya wasn't sure if he imaged the smile on his face but he definitely felt the gentle pressure of the other boy's hand on his shoulder.

The excited of shouting of the twins, who had just realized their brother had come home, broke him out of his memory. He watched from the gate as they hugged Chuukichi's legs while he ruffled their hair. They caught sight of Tomoya at the gate and scowled. He waved at them, feeling the familiar pressure in nose that had him reaching absently for a tissue. Chuukichi gave him another look which could be roughly interpreted as 'Dude you need to chill', so Tomoya gave him a cheerful wave as well.

"See you tomorrow Chuukichi!"

"Yeah, see you."

Tomoya shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket and grinned, beginning the short walk back to his own house. He knew Chuukichi thought that he gave him things out of pity, but for such a smart guy, Chuukichi could be abysmally stupid sometimes. Pity was the last thing Tomoya felt towards him. If he had to put a name to it, he'd say it was a mixture of gratefulness and envy. Grateful that he stood by his side so many years, and envious of his home full of talk and laughter and admiring eyes which made his own perpetually empty one feel cold and hollow, no matter how much love it held. There was another emotion there as well, one that was tied up so closely with Chuukichi that he hasn't been able to identify it. That being said, Tomoya has never pitied him. How could he pity the boy who'd taken one look at him, sad and alone on his birthday, and given him his friendship? It was the one thing Chuukichi didn't understand. When he had offered his friendship that day in their childhood he had given Tomoya a gift he could never repay.

XXX

In hindsight, it was painfully obvious that he had fallen for his best friend. What other reason would he have for the absurd happiness he felt every time he got Chuukichi to smile, or the worry every time he'd show up to school with deep dark circles under his eyes and exhaustion entrenched in his every movement after a particularly hectic cycle of school-work-chores. And what with the looks Kashima was giving Kamitani, and Inomata was giving Ushimaru, falling for your best friend was becoming an epidemic at Morinomiya Academy. Of course there's a reason they say hindsight is 20/20.

Instead of a slow revelation, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Dropped from an airplane. In the middle of a hailstorm.

He had gone to the park along with Chuukichi and his youngest siblings, because as much as he advised caution, as much as he didn't like Tomoya squealing over his younger siblings, he trusted him enough to let him tag along. Tomoya had taken a break from the three on two, big vs. little soccer match that had turned into a "let's see how hard we can make the ball collide with Tomoya's legs" competition between Suekichi and Kichi. He collapsed into a nearby bench, massaging his shins as he watched Chuukichi continue to play a much calmer game with his siblings. He found himself paying more attention to the way Chuukichi moved, the muscles visible through his thin shirt, the way his bangs lay askew after he ran a hand through his hair, the way he grinned seconds before Kichi and Seukichi convinced Kyouko to help them tackle him to the ground. Chuukichi caught his eye as he attempted to pull his siblings off of him, lips parted in the familiar little huff of a laugh that was maddeningly inaudible from where Tomoya was sitting and suddenly it became very clear that he was in love with his best friend. He looked away, quickly, guiltily, though part of him knew that that would be enough to tip off Chuukichi, and sure enough, before he knew it, the other boy occupied the space next to him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, don't worry about me." Tomoya said, hoping the accompanying laugh didn't sound too forced.

Chuukichi gave him a look. This one was definitely a 'don't think you're fooling anyone with that act Tomoya' look, which was, unfortunately, a common one in his arsenal, but he didn't push, content to watch the twins teach Kyouko the proper way to kick a soccer ball. Tomoya found the fond look on Chuukichi's face a far more interesting sight.

XXX

Normally, when someone likes someone else, and they would like for the relationship to progress, they confess. Tomoya was not going to confess. He knew what he felt, he was certain of it, really. But Chuukichi had never been one for relationships. He never even glanced at the girls who fawned over him, and to be honest he rarely socialized with people other than Tomoya, and more recently the babysitteing club. Chuukichi is Chuukichi, and Tomoya is just his weird, flighty best friend and he knows there isn't room for anything else between them.

XXX

Knowing something and accepting it are two entirely different things, which is why he ends up in the day care room complaining to Kashima-kun. Again.

It was a habit that had started about a month back, when he was coming to terms with- everything. He figured that coddling the babies in the day care room would help him take his mind off of things and ended up staying later than expected, so he helped Kashima clean-up as thanks. Tomoya hadn't meant to let his own issues slip, but Kashima was just such a good listener that before he knew it, he was recollecting how he'd met Chuukichi and the next thing he knew he blurted out the fact that he had feelings for him. Kashima had given him a sympathetic smile and offered him a friendly ear whenever he needed it. Like right now.

"It's just that he's right there, all the time" Tomoya groaned into his hands from his seat against the wall as Kashima tidied up around him.

"Well, he is your best friend." replied Kashima absently, setting Kotaro and Taka up with a book. They were the only kids in the day care, just waiting on Kamitani's arrival so that they could all leave. Making sure the boys were comfortable and involved in their picture book, Kashima moved to join him, sliding down the wall until he was seated next to him, knees pulled up to his chest in a perfect mimicry of Tomoya's own position, which made it easier to shoot him a pitiful glare.

"I know he's my best friend, Kashima-kun. That's part of the problem." He sighed and let his head fall onto Kashima's shoulder and the other boy patted him on his head. It was more reassuring than it should have been.

"Have you considered actually talking to him about this?"

"Oh I'm sure that'll go over really well. 'Hey Chuukichi I know I've spent a good chunk of our lives casually flirting with every girl who looks my way, but lately I haven't been able to get your eyes out of my head because I'm madly in love with you.'" Tomoya snorted "He'll run screaming the other direction, and I- that can't happen, Kashima-kun, it can't. He's been at my side through all of my… me-ness. I don't want this to be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"You won't know anything for sure if you don't say anything Yagi-kun, and if you want to move on from this, it might be best to speak to Nezu-kun and see if he feels the same?"

"And how did that work out between you and Kamitani?" Tomoya said snidely, and felt Kashima stiffen beneath him. It was a low blow, he knew, and he felt a stab of guilt about it. Kashima had his own issues to deal with, and his own reasons to not pursue Kamitani despite his feelings. "He doesn't feel the same way." He said quieter.

"Maybe you should let him decide that for himself." Said a new voice from the front of the room, and Tomoya's head snapped up to lock gazes with Chuukichi, who was standing with Kamitani at the door.

"I- what- how- how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know that we need to talk." Chuukichi replied, voice laced with some unidentifiable emotion that made Tomoya's breath catch.

He unfolded himself, aided by the gentle push of Kashima's hand against his shoulder, and moved slowly toward the door. Chuukichi jerked his head towards the main exit. He nodded and made to follow, not before he heard Kamitani's gravelly voice from the day care room.

"What was he saying about you and me?"

Tomoya winced, wishing both the boys good luck. He wasn't sure who was going to need it more. He glanced at the back of Chuukichi's head, and gulped. On second thought, he needed more luck than either Kashima or Kamitani.

They made their way outside, almost to the gates before Chuukichi stooped and turned to face him.

"You have something to say to me."

It wasn't a question, and Tomoya couldn't stop the words tumbling from his lips.

"Hey Chuukichi I know I've spent a good chunk of our lives casually flirting with every girl who looks my way, but lately I haven't been able to get your eyes out of my head because I'm madly in love with you." He blurted, and a corner of his brain noted that he had perfectly echoed his sarcastic statement to Kashima. He stared at the ground, colour slowly rising to his cheeks waiting for Chuukichi to laugh. Or leave. He wasn't quite sure which would hurt more at this point.

That was a lie. He could handle laughter if it meant continuing to have Chuukichi by his side.

"Okay."

Tomoya whipped his head up to stare at his friend, mouth hanging open.

"Okay? I bear my heart out to you and all I get is an okay!?"

A small smile curled at the edges of Chuukichi's lips, the kind that made Tomoya's stomach flutter and his heart beat in double time. "I wouldn't call that bearing your heart out."

"You're okay with it!?"

"Do you not want me to be?"

"No! I mean yes! I mean, I don't know anymore! I thought you would leave if you found out, that we'd stop being friends! I was ready to suffer in silence because I can handle a lot of things but I can't handle not having you with me! I've been psyching myself up to deal with flat out rejection and you give me an 'okay' so forgive me if I'm a little confused right now!" He vaguely notes that he's yelling, and he can't make himself stop, tears stinging at his eyes and face flushed for a different reason now. He opened his mouth ready to launch into another rant when he was cut off by Chuukichi pulling him into a hug.

"Tomoya, we've been friends for years you weirdo. If I was going to leave I would have done it years ago." He said, voice low in Tomoya's ear. "Besides, you haven't given me a chance to answer."

Tomoya was fairly certain his heart stopped beating for a moment. "Answer?" he breathed, voice muffled by Chuukichi's shoulder.

"Well, people usually expect answers to their confessions." came the matter-of-fact response.

Tomoya said nothing, just buried his face further into Chuukichi's shoulder, preparing himself for the inevitable. Just because he wasn't going to leave didn't mean he reciprocated his feelings. He could feel Chuukichi sigh beneath him, and his heart sank. He pulled himself out of the embrace, trying not to let his disappointment show, when he was stopped by the arms that still held his shoulders. Chuukichi calmly leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Answer enough?"

Tomoya couldn't answer because his brain was too busy short circuiting. Chuukichi gave him a fond look, the one that meant 'you're being kind of stupid now but I don't really mind'. It was a rare one.

Tomoya gave him a watery smile, and Chuukichi laced their fingers together, pulling them both towards the gate.

"It's getting late, let's head home. I'll buy you a pork bun."

Tomoya gave a real laugh at that, quickening his pace until they were walking side by side. He looked down at their linked hands and a warmth bloomed in his chest. He gave the fingers a small squeeze not quite able to believe in this new reality, but the answering squeeze was all the proof he needed. Chuukichi was by his side, as always.


A/N- Let this be a lesson to you all children, don't make assumptions about other people's feelings! So this is my first time paying so much attention to these two (I'm calling them Yazu and you can't stop me), and I hope I managed to crack them. In my head their relationship is really complex, because they're best friends, and have been for a while, but Nezu is still wary enough of Yagi to drag him out when he starts becoming weird, and Yagi is a hot mess who's been left alone a good chunk of his life. I will defend Yagi in the end, from what I understand from the manga, the whole nosebleed thing is supposed to be equivalent to a squee. ANYWAY I love these characters and if you want to see more of the things I write, I'm bards-against-hoomanity on tumblr. Shoot me a message if you'd like to see something in particular, usual terms and conditions apply.