"I love you."
Naomasa freezes, the hands on his cheeks radiating a gentle warmth. The words were something he'd only ever expected to hear in daydreams and wishful thinking on his part – but for it to come out this way was more distressing than anything.
Pushing aside the way his heart skipped a beat, Naomasa focuses on the glazed over, hazy look in Toshinori's eyes. Covering the backs of Toshinori's hands with his palms and squeezing lightly with concern, he asks, "Are you hurt?"
Naomasa was still winded from the chase; when a petty crime that even a powered-down Toshinori could handle just unfolded right in front of them, the retired hero ran straight after the villain.
Well, less of a villain and more a run of the mill purse snatcher, but it didn't change the fact that his friend took off even after the very stern warning not to.
Between the young age of the thief and Toshinori's long legs, the detective was wheezing just trying to keep up with them. It's also why he wasn't hit when the burst of bright pink smoke billowed around the corner, revealing a dazed Toshinori in the middle of the sidewalk.
Immediately Naomasa had rushed over to check for injuries, his quickened breath catching in his throat at the confession. "Toshi, you… is this from the smoke?" Both the dilated pupils and the pink tinge in his cheeks were more than obvious. Whatever the smoke did, it was affecting Toshinori's thoughts."You were hit by a quirk, so you don't know what you're saying."
Half of him wasn't sure if the words were for the man in front of him or for his own benefit. It was hard to tell. Naomasa noticed right away, of course, that what his friend said was laced in truth. But there were many ways of loving, and Toshinori was just that kind of person.
He cared – loved – everyone. So Naomasa had no doubts Toshinori loved him… it just wasn't the same way he felt back.
"Nons'nse, I know exactly what I'm saying!" The slight slur in his words is cause for concern, as is the way he wobbles side to side. Leaning forward, his face presses close with a wide grin, and if Naomasa didn't know him, he would have said the blond was drunk. "How long have we known each other? Of course I'd love you!"
Closing his eyes, Toshinori tries to decrease the space between them, his mouth parted slightly for a kiss.
"T–!?" The detective jerks backward in shock… was it some sort of love quirk? Multiple thoughts are racing in his head just as fast as his heart thudded in his chest. Toshinori had just tried to kiss him.
It wasn't him, though. It wasn't as if he would do it in a normal state.
"Hey, let's – ah– get out of public view, alright? People must think you're drunk." He pulls Toshinori to his feet, acutely aware of the people staring in their direction. Some people were pulling out their phones, glaring at Naomasa with suspicion. A teetering man in the middle of the day, leaning heavily on his obviously sober friend; Naomasa brightens to a surprising shade of pink at the implication.
He pulls out his badge and tries his best to bow with the full weight of Toshinori against his back. Seeing the words "police" relaxes most of them, and phones start to disappear back into purses and pockets.
"We should hurry to the car…" Picking up the pace, Naomasa drags the blond behind him, who whines and stumbles with a pouty look on his face. Fixing his gaze at where his car is parked in front of them, they hurry on.
"You're so worried for nothing. It's cute."
"It's not nothing." Naomasa vaguely wonders if he would be this way to everyone he knew, or it was because they interacted with one another first.
"Always so serious. Did you know your eyebrows wrinkle up when you get that way?"
"I'm sure it does." Maybe it was better that he was there, and it wasn't a random citizen that became the object of Toshinori's affections.
It stings, thinking that his best friend would say something like that to a stranger. Though, he supposes it would actually be worse if it was someone they knew well.
"Tsu~ you aren't listening to me. I love you."
"I know, Toshi." Pulling his hat down over his eyes, Naomsasa changes his grip on Toshinori's wrist to lead them even faster toward the car. He can hear the warble of the low voice behind him, a disappointed whine from being ignored.
"No, you don't. I. am. in. love. with. you." Toshinori yanks him to a halt just two feet away from the safety of his vehicle, and away from curious glances of passerby.
Naomasa drops his hold with a flinch, hesitant. There was nothing though, no pain or feeling of unease that accompanied Toshinori's words. A part of him gets lightheaded and hopeful.
"In love? Love." His body shakes with the vibrations from his heart. It's loud and noticeable from his stomach to his fingertips, the thudding of it in his ears. Sneaking a peek at Toshinori's face reveals he's still flushed and lackadaisical, the smile on his face with almost a sleepy quality to it. "With me?"
"Yes! Like I've-been-wanting-to-kiss-you-for-a-few-years-now love!" His face shakes up and down with enthusiasm, and Toshinori chuckles at the way Naomasa's eyes widen and snap to the ground with embarrassment.
"Oh." His words are quiet, disappearing in the breath of disbelief he lets out. It wasn't a lie, because he would know if it were. Naomasa wonders how long this quirk was supposed to last, because he would love to ask Toshinori again once the effects were gone.