Today was Valentine's Day. The single-most romantic day of the year. Yet somehow, the former Phantom Thief leader found himself all alone today. One might think that such a charming guy would have already had his sights set on one of the dozens of girls that are always around him, but Akira just wasn't really into in any of them. Every single girl who had confessed to him, he turned down. This may or may not be because of his infatuation with a certain detective.

Akira sat at the counter finishing his breakfast when he was suddenly overcome with the urge to invite Akechi over. Would that seem too forward? Surely the ace detective would see right through him. Despite this, he found himself pulling out his phone anyways.

He wrote and rewrote the message several times before finally deciding on a simple, yet straightforward approach.

Akira: Want to come over later?

Akira hesitated, thumb hovering over the 'send' button.

"Just send it already, will you!" Akira jumped. He almost forgot that Morgana had been sitting beside him, peering over his shoulder at his phone screen the entire time. After a long period of silence, his phone beeped. Morgana let out an amused snort.

Akira nearly choked on a mouthful of curry as he noticed that he had accidentally sent it.

"Fuck." Akira cursed himself while his mind raced with different ways to play it off. 'Maybe I can just pretend I meant to send it to someone else...'Before he even had time to think over his possible actions, his phone chimed, alerting him of a new response.

Akechi: I won't be busy this evening, so I don't see why not. I'll see you then, Kurusu-kun.

Akira winced at the formality. Hadn't they grown at least alittlecloser over the past couple of months? When they agreed to take down Shido's palace together, Akechi had felt like someone he'd known for years, and he evensmiledat Akira. Not that fake smile that he puts up in public, but a sincere smile. Now, ever since the Phantom Thieves destroyed Yaldabaoth and erased the Metaverse for good, Akechi had become more distant than ever. Maybe inviting him over onValentine's Dayof all days wasn't the greatest ideas... Well, Akira wasn't exactly known for making good decisions.

What did he have to lose?

*

Akira spent most of the day helping out Sojiro downstairs in the cafe. As the day began winding down, and fewer customers came in and out, Akira finished up the dishes whileSojiro saw the elderly couple out. After a long pause, Sojiro sighed and looked up from the counter.

"Oh right, today's Valentine's Day. No wonder there were so many guys bringing girls in here." He turned to the messy-haired barista with a sly smirk.

"Don't you have anything exciting happening? I mean, you've been here nearly a whole year. Y'know, when I was young,hoo boy..." Just then, the bell chimed as someone entered the cafe. Sojiro and Akira turned to see a brunette teen standing by the door.

"Good evening Sakura-san, Kurusu-kun. I hope I'm not late." Akechi grinned politely.

Sojiro blinked back and forth between the two teens for a brief moment before turning to the door, waving a hand dismissively.

"Nah, I was just about to head out for the night," he turned back to Akira once more, flashing him a knowing smile, "I'll leave the place to you.Have fun." Then he was gone, Morgana following behind him, muttering something under his breath about how Akira was 'so oblivious'.

Akira simply sighed in relief before leaning forward over the counter to stare into crimson orbs.

"So, how would you like a cup of coffee first?"

Akira joined the detective on the other side of the counter, watching the brunette sipping his coffee. When he set his cup down, he took a moment to gaze around the cafe.

"It's been a while since it was just you and I here, hasn't it?" Akechi stated almost sadly, a tight smile playing on his lips. Akira wanted to grab the detective and do anything he could to make him truly smile again, but he refrained.

Akira recalled the last time he had invited the brunette over. He had hoped that his subtle gestures were reaching the other teen; forming a heart with the foam in his coffee, letting his hand linger almost a second too long when he handed the cup to him, sitting directly next to him.

Before he knew it, Akechi had finished his coffee. Akira took the cup and placed it in the sink, and the two wordlessly made their way into the attic.

*

The two had spent the past twenty minutes talking about everything and nothing, and Akira noticed that Akechi's demeanor from earlier had disappeared, instead replaced with his regular television facade. When Akira realized that Akechi wasn't planning on telling him on his own, he decided he needed to say something.

"Hey, Akechi, is something bothering you?" Akechi stopped and stared at the ravenette, a bit taken aback.

"No, I'm alright. Besides work being a bit stressful, nothing's wro-" Akira cut him off, sighing.

"Don't give me that shit. You and I both know that I've at least known you long enough to tell when something's wrong, and when you're lying to me." Akira crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow, as if to say 'Do you really think I'm that stupid?'

Akechi, of course, stared dumbstruck. After a moment, thebrunette found his words.

"Ah... I suppose you're right." Akechi mumbled. Akira stood from his seat on the bed and walked over to join Akechi on the sofa.

"Wanna talk about it?" Akira expected to be turned down. Akechi was the kind of person who carried all of his weights and burdens on his own, and he never opened up to let anyone help him. Akira was determined to change that.

However, instead of being pushed away, Akira was surprised when Akechi turned to him, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Well, there were some things I had meant to tell you for some time now, but I suppose I just couldn't bring myself to do so before now." Akira's eyes widened a bit.

"What kinds of things?" Akechi paused, eyes cast downward.

"There's no point now..." Akechi moved to turn away, but Akira would have none of it. He reached out and snatched the detective's wrist, making the brunette's eyes snap back to him.

"Please, tell me." Akira asked softly. Was it just his imagination, or did Akechi's bottom lip tremble at that?

"I... I can't. I apologize, Kurusu-kun," Akechi stood and straightened his shirt, "I really must be going now." With that, Akechi turned and made his way to the stairs.

Almost immediately, Akira sprung up and grabbed the brunette by his shoulders, stopping him before he could make it to the stairs. He'd be damned if he just let him walk away now.

Slowly, Akechi turned to face him, and Akira wrapped him in a tight embrace.

"Don't leave." Akira whispered it softly into the other's hair, and it took everything in the brunette to not shudder at the touch.

Akechi mumbled something unintelligible into Akira's nape, and Akira pulled back to look at his face.

"Wha-?" He stopped when he saw the vulnerable look in the detective's eyes, and the flush spreading across his face. Akechi wouldn't meet Akira's eyes.

"I said... I don't deserve this." Akira's heart nearly melted when the brunette's words sunk in.

"Akechi..." He wasn't expecting for the other to burst out.

"I don't deserve any of this! I don't... I don't deserve your kindness, or your patience, none of it! I don't understand why you don't hate me; I almost killed you! Why won't you just hate me?!" Akechi huffed, and Akira almost stepped back in surprise when he saw the tears pooling in his eyes.

After a moment to let Akechi regain his breath, Akira stepped forward and took the detective's hands in his own. Akechi's breath hitched at the touch.

"...Goro." Akira said it experimentally, letting the name roll off his tongue. Akechi stiffened instinctively and gaped incredulously at the dark-haired teen.

"I'm sorry, but it's impossible," Akechi blinked at him, as though he had no idea what he had just said, "I can't hate you."

Akechi exhaled sharply.

"Why?" A hand left his and moved up to cup his cheek gently, making the brunette's eyes widen.

"I guess it's because I love you too much..." A long pause.

Akechi simply stared at him as though Akira had grown a second head right then and there. Then, he let out a short, breathy laugh and let his head fall down onto the ravenette's chest.

"...Me too..."