Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 12! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!

A/N: I realized that I have messed up writing Zenki and Goki incorrectly. Zenki is the blue Oni that carries a shield while Goki is the red Oni that carries the battle axe, so from now on, I'll be changing it to Goki instead of Zenki. Sorry to everyone for the confusion!

Normal POV

A few hours after managing to save the Earth, Kai had woken up in an unfamiliar bed as he soon recognized it as the room in the VF Circuit building. He then got up and started looking around as he went in search for someone's room.

" Oh, Kai!"

Kai sighed in slight annoyance as Ren came up to him waving.

" Had a good sleep?" Ren ask

" I guess."

" If you're looking for Aichi-kun, then just look for his two bodyguards. They're just standing guard in front of his room and not letting us go in." Ren said

" Hm? You can still see them?" Kai ask

" Yeah! I'm surprised too! Not just me though." Ren said

Kai shrugged as he walked to a room where Zenki and Goki were guarding as he sighed.

" ... Let me through." Kai said

Goki just stared at him with its eye while Zenki completely ignored him.

" What? You want me to add a 'please'?" Kai ask

A small giggle was heard from inside.

" Zenki, Goki, let him in." Aichi ordered

The two then stood aside as Kai carefully opened the door. Once he stepped inside, he closed the door behind him.

" Aichi?"

" Over here." Aichi said

Kai turned his head a little in the room as his eyes widened when he saw the iron maiden standing inside.

" What's wrong?!" Kai ask

" Like you said, I haven't fully recovered. Shamash is healing the wounds I still have. I should be recovered by the time the VF Circuit Final Stage takes place tomorrow." Aichi said

" How bad is it?" Kai ask

" Hm... Just a few external burns here and there. But I'm pretty sure Leon-kun had no intention to kill me at all, otherwise I would've been ashes instead of a charred mess." Aichi said

" Right..."

" So why did you come here?" Aichi ask

" I just wanted to see how you were doing." Kai replied

" I see. I would like to talk to you face to face but... Shamash takes away my clothes whenever I'm in this thing so it'll be awkward to open it in front of you." Aichi said

Aichi... naked body...

Kai blushed immediately after realizing that he let his thoughts out as he tried to explain himself.

" ... No, I mean..."

" K-Kai-kun...?"

" D-Don't think about it! It's nothing!" Kai exclaimed

" O-Oh..."

" ... I have a lot of things I want to talk to you about... But I think I want to wait until you've fully recovered and after the final stage tomorrow." Kai said

" ... Okay."

" Until then, um... Can I sleep in here tonight?" Kai ask

" S-Sure..."

Kai then scratched his cheek before turning to exit the room.

" I'll return with some of my belongings." Kai said

" Okay..."

Kai walked out the room and retrieved his belongings before making his way into Aichi's room again to sleep for the night.

The next morning, the VF Circuit Final Stage had begun as the four teams fought each other with Team Q4 clinching the win, becoming Asia Champions. Kai entered Aichi's room to grab his belongings as he spotted Aichi packing his own belongings.

" Oh..."

" Hey." Kai greeted

" Hello..." Aichi greeted

" Congratulations on your win." Kai said

" Thank you."

There was silence in the air before Kai closed the door behind him and walked further into the room.

" Uh... I want to talk about yesterday. Can I sit beside you?" Kai ask

" Sure."

Aichi scooted over on the bed as he set his bag on the floor to make space. Kai sat down next to him and they were silent for a few minutes before Kai finally spoke.

" How's your body?" Kai ask

" I feel much better. My body's completely healed up." Aichi replied

" That's good."

" ... Is that all?" Aichi ask

Kai looked over to him as he immediately pulled Aichi into his arms.

" H-Huh?"

" ... I was so worried..." Kai whispered

Aichi just looked over to Kai while his head rested on his shoulder as he blushed red.

" I thought I failed to protect you and you died..." Kai whispered

" Kai-kun... I'm fine now, aren't I? I'm alive and well." Aichi said

" Yeah... I know. But it doesn't change the fact that you almost died." Kai said

" I'm sorry for worrying you." Aichi said

Kai shook his head and held Aichi tighter.

" That's why I..." Kai said as he released the hug and looked into Aichi's eyes, " ... I like you, Aichi."

" Huh?"

" I like you, Aichi Sendou. I really do." Kai repeated

Aichi's face was red and Kai was sure his was too.

" ... Remember when I asked what it feels like to have someone I like?" Aichi ask

Kai nodded.

" I already knew who I liked when you gave me the answer." Aichi said as he circled his arms around Kai to hug him, " Me too, Kai-kun. I really, really like you..."

" I'm really relieved..." Kai said

" Yeah, I know."

" I promise, I'll protect you properly the next time. I won't let you get hurt like you did yesterday." Kai said

" Thank you, Kai-kun."

" ... Now your grandfather won't find a marriage partner for you. Once he finds out that we're together, he won't be able to say anything about it." Kai said

" That depends. He kept talking about wanting me to have heirs. I don't know what his reaction will be if he finds out." Aichi giggled

" So we can't be together?" Kai ask

" Of course we can. We can overcome anything together. I believe in that fact." Aichi said

" Yeah, we will. For sure." Kai said

Aichi nodded as Kai pulled him into another hug while Aichi smiled and returned it.

" ... Oh, right. How will we tell the others about this?" Aichi ask

" Hm? They can find out themselves." Kai said

" You're so mean." Aichi said

" Only to those guys. Right now, I want to stop pushing you away like I did in the past. I want to be honest with my feelings." Kai said

" Me too, Kai-kun."

" We can go on dates and all those couple things whenever we're free. We have a few months to do that before you have to take entrance exams for high school in a few months." Kai said

" That's if I graduate middle school." Aichi said

" Come on, I overheard from that Morikawa that you're literally the smartest student in the class and year. You won't fail." Kai said

" Thanks."

Kai nodded while smiling before finally pulling away from Aichi.

" Will you be coming to Hitsue High after that? We can spend even more time together that way." Kai said

" That does sound wonderful, but... I want to go back to Miyaji." Aichi said

" Why? Weren't you bullied there before?" Kai ask

" Sure, I was. But it's something like... facing my inner demons of the past and moving on." Aichi said

" ... Makes sense. I'll be rooting for you." Kai said

" Thank you."

" So... we still have some time before we check out. Why don't we talk about what we want to do for our first date?" Kai suggested

Aichi blushed a little before smiling and nodded his head, both intertwining their hands together.

" ... By the way, what's Goki's problem with me? He seems to really hate me." Kai said

" I don't think he hates you. Zenki doesn't even react much to you anyway. Maybe it's just his personality." Aichi giggled

" Hm... I hope so."

Both continued talking about themselves while deciding for a place for a first date. Soon, it was time to check out of their rooms as they grabbed their luggages and went to the main counter on the first floor.

" Kai!"

Kai sighed as he turned in annoyance to see Ren approaching them.

" Where were you?! I couldn't find you in your hotel room!" Ren pouted

" None of your business."

" Huh?! That's so mean!" Ren exclaimed

" Kai-kun." Aichi called as he walked over to them before realizing belatedly that Ren was there, " U... Um, Ren-san..."

" Hi, Aichi-kun! What do you need Kai for?" Ren ask

" N-Nothing much... I just wanted to talk to him about today's finals..." Aichi muttered, hiding a pink hue on his cheeks

" Hm... I see, I see." Ren hummed before giving a small, sly smirk to the two, " Okay! I'll leave you two alone then!"

Ren then skipped off to Asaka and Tetsu as Aichi kept his eyes down on the floor, fiddling with his fingers.

" ... Where are you going after this?" Kai ask

" B-Back home... Mother and Emi wants to celebrate my win in the Circuit..." Aichi replied

" I see... Find one day you're going to be free. I'll cook up something for you... as congratulations..." Kai said

" O-Okay..."

Both went their separate ways in different vehicles afterwards as Kai made good of his promise a few days later and invited Aichi to his apartment to make him some food.

" Sorry for the intrusion..." Aichi greeted as he looked around the apartment

" I'll leave the guest slippers here." Kai said as he placed the slippers beside Aichi

Aichi nodded, blush on his cheeks as Kai hid his own blush before moving back to the kitchen to cook.

" Do you need some help?" Aichi ask

" No, it's okay." Kai replied

" Smells delicious." Aichi commented

" Thanks..."

Aichi then looked around the apartment as he took in the simplicity of the place.

" It has Kai-kun written all over it." Aichi thought as he giggly lightly

" What?"

" Oh, no... I just thought how this apartment is so like you." Aichi said

" Oh... I'm planning to... change it a little." Kai said as he side eyed before turning back to the frying pan

" Change it?" Aichi ask

" There's a lot I would love to change about it... Maybe the bed or a new dining table. I'm not used to having guests around, so the dining table is cramped, but I think... it'll change from now on." Kai admitted, holding in another blush

" O... Oh..."

Aichi's face also heated up as he realized what Kai meant. A few minutes later, Kai set a portable low table in front of Aichi and set down the plates.

" Wow! It looks delicious!" Aichi exclaimed

" Fried rice with crab and sauce. After the lobsters we cooked together, I kind of came up with this. Be honest with your opinions about this since it's my first time making it." Kai said, taking off his apron

Aichi nodded as Kai settled down next to him and they began eating.

" The seasoning is perfectly balanced. You held back on the seasoning of the fried rice so the sauce doesn't get overwhelmed. This is really delicious." Aichi said

" I-I see..."

" Yeah! I would love to try making this too and have you taste it. I've never tasted anything this delicious before." Aichi continued

Kai continued eating, hoping that the red on his cheeks wouldn't look obvious as Aichi continued to compliment his dish. Once they finished eating and washing their plates, they sat down on Kai's bed as Kai held Aichi's hand.

" Thanks for coming today..." Kai said

" You invited me. I wouldn't miss it." Aichi said

" Yeah... No one else other than Miwa barged into here without my permission. Also my first time actually inviting someone..." Kai said

" Oh..." Aichi muttered before a word Kai said repeated in his head, " Barged?"

" When he finally found out where I lived, he barges into here uninvited for free food and lounges." Kai sighed

" Oh..." Aichi giggled awkwardly before going closer to Kai, " He won't suddenly barge in here and see us, will he?"

" Not on this day and time, probably. He's unpredictable with his visiting periods." Kai said

" I see..."

Kai looked over to Aichi and his eyes softened.

" Aichi."

Aichi made a questioning hum as Kai leaned in to connect their lips together. Aichi closed his eyes along with Kai as he reciprocated. However, it didn't last long as Aichi hastily released the kiss and glared a little outside Kai's window.

" What is it?" Kai ask

" ... Zenki, Goki!"

There was a commotion below the apartment block as Aichi pulled the curtains shut and huffed before plopping down back beside Kai.

" It's Grandfather again..." Aichi sighed

" Huh?"

" His men sometimes follow me to 'protect' me as he claims. Seems like today was another day of it." Aichi explained

" T-Then they..." Kai sputtered

" I'm sorry..."

" I-It's okay. I don't blame you. It's not like we knew this would happen anyway." Kai said

" I know, but I'm really sorry. Now Grandfather might find out about us earlier than we expected." Aichi huffed

" ... I want to talk to him if he does confront us about it. I want to declare to him that I'm his grandson's boyfriend and will one day... m... marry him! " Kai admitted, his face finally showing red

Aichi's eyes widened a little as he turned to Kai in shock.

" A-Are you... You're sure you want to be with someone like me in that sense...?" Aichi ask

" Of course! These feelings... Maybe you didn't know but... I didn't understand it at first but when I first saw your beautiful eyes, I knew that I liked... loved you from the first time we met. I could never forget it." Kai said

" Kai-kun..."

" So Aichi... If I would ask you to one day, will you... will you marry me?" Kai ask

Aichi's eyes widened even further before they glazed over and tears started spilling from them. Kai panicked and started wiping them.

" I-I'm sorry! W-Was I too hasty?! Did I hurt you?!" Kai exclaimed

" No..." Aichi sniffled as he wiped away his remaining tears with his sleeves, " I... I never thought someone like me would... would have someone to love and be loved back... I always grew up thinking I was a cursed child and I would die alone one day..."

Kai gritted his teeth inwardly and hugged Aichi tightly in his arms as Aichi clung onto the front of Kai's shirt.

" You're not alone, you'll never be. I'm here, Miwa's here too, you have friends now. So stop thinking like that from now on. You have so many people that loves you, including me. So... don't think like that anymore." Kai said

" Thank you... so much..." Aichi sobbed

He stayed in Kai's arms until his sobbings seized as he finally calmed down enough to removed himself from Kai's chest.

" I... I'm sorry... your shirt..." Aichi muttered

" It's okay. You needed some time to calm yourself." Kai said

Aichi nodded before leaning back down on Kai's chest, his ear pressed onto it to listen to his heart beating steadily.

" Stay as long as you want, Aichi. I'm here." Kai assured

Smiling, Aichi relaxed into Kai's embrace and closed his eyes.

And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!