Warnings: Spoilers for Episode 43
Disclaimer: Dekaranger is no mine
--
He should tell Ban.
There's a part of him that still thinks it's insane, but it really is the sensible thing to do at this point. He's tried ignoring his feelings, denying them, hoping if he kept them far enough down they might go away. And for awhile, it seemed to be working-- until the day with the meteor and the Browgul. Even though Ban apparently had some dumb luck saved up and returned safe he still couldn't quite shake the chill of how close he came to losing him, and as absurd as it was, found himself paying a visit to Ban's room just to make sure he was there. Ban had been half-asleep when he answered the door, but more than happy to let him in... along with other things.
The sensible thing to do is to tell him. After all they've been through, after all they've been through tonight anything else would be foolish and to be blunt, almost cowardly. He could do it right now. Just wake Ban up, tell him and possibly kiss him one last time before going to sleep. He should do it.
Except he won't.
Right now, when it's just him and Ban in the dark he can convince himself how easy it would be. But he also knows that once the sun comes up, the pride and disdain at Ban's work methods will come back and they'll be back where they started. He wants to believe otherwise, that he's just waiting for Ban to wake up so he doesn't have to shake him awake. But how can he when he can't even admit it to himself?
Hoji knows he won't be able to tell Ban what should be said. All he can do now is embrace him and hope that somehow, he'll understand.