A.N: Unexpected Valentine's Day fic yea :)
Chapter One: Me and Them
It is a sunny day on the campus of Hope's Peak Academy. The bell has just rung, ending classes for the day and leaving the students to return to their dorms or spend some free time together. Shuichi wipes the sweat from his forehead, trying – and failing – to catch his breath.
Kokichi walks beside him and makes a snarky remark about him being out of shape. Gonta asks if he needs anything. Tenko loudly praises Himiko for finishing her last lap. It's nothing unusual for the class, the proof that today is a perfectly normal day. PE class has just ended, and the students are heading back to the locker rooms to change.
A typical day.
Shuichi sighs and drags himself back to the locker room. Kokichi's right: he's out of shape. No matter how much late-night training he does, his physical condition doesn't seem to improve. Not that following Tenko's pace has ever been the goal, but he would like to perform just a little better. The detective doesn't want criminals outrunning him so easily.
"Hey, sidekick!"
Shuichi turns around and notices Kaito catching up to him, Maki in tow. They're both sweaty in their shorts, although neither look as drained as Shuichi does. Kaito has a broad smile on his face. Maki, as usual, keeps a rather emotionless expression.
"H-Hey... Kaito... Maki..." pants Shuichi. "How... How's it going...?" He realizes after asking that he's more likely to be the one they need to worry about than the other way around, but he decides it's not important. He's tired but not about to have a heart attack.
Right...?
"As well as a man can be doing after working up a good sweat!" Kaito says enthusiastically, clapping the dark-haired detective on the back. Shuichi yelps in surprise. Maki sighs.
"You barely ran," she adds, to which Kaito smiles sheepishly. She turns her attention to Shuichi. "You, on the other hand, look like you've run a marathon," she says, and Shuichi keeps trying to catch his breath. The observation is logical, but Shuichi knows he hasn't run even a tenth of a marathon.
"We need to do more training, then!" Kaito comments, unaware of how Shuichi is about to collapse at the mere mention of any more physical effort. "I'll have Maki Roll prepare a special training regimen for you, Shuichi! We'll get you back in shape before long!"
He's too out of breath to say it, but Shuichi ironically notes that he's never been in shape, to begin with. Maki mutters something under her breath about how Kaito may want to be careful about what he asks for. Kaito doesn't seem to notice.
"Anyway," she cuts. "I'm going to go get changed. Let's meet at the usual spot after dinner."
It's difficult, but Shuichi nods. He knows he won't improve without further training, as painful as it sounds. No pain, no gain, as they say. Kaito gives Maki a thumbs-up. Before she leaves, they exchange a quick kiss. Nothing unusual, just a peck on the lips. The norm for high school lovers. Just like Himiko and Tenko, Gonta and Ryoma, Kokichi and Rantaro, or Miu and Kaede always do.
But as they do, Shuichi's breath is taken away once more. And for a whole different reason.
His voice stays stuck inside his throat, and Maki walks away back to the girls' changing room. Kaito leads the way to the boys' room, where Kokichi and Keebo are loud as usual. The astronaut nearly jumps to the roboticist's defense, adding a loud voice of his own to the chaos. Soon, the teacher will be there to scold them all.
Kaito... is someone Shuichi would easily call passionate. His love for space was unmatched, and his determination to one day touch the stars was inspiring. Their personalities have always been total opposites, but if anything, Shuichi thinks it's what brought them close. And Kaito always looks out for him, too, which Shuichi appreciates more than the other boy knows. He wishes he could say it more, sometimes.
The detective steps out of his shorts and observes the argument unfold. Just like the ten thousand times this has happened before, it's about a mean comment Kokichi made about Keebo. At this point, the whole class has gotten used to it, and the silent consensus is they're thankful Miu's in the other changing room.
Shuichi gets changed quickly and waits for Kaito by the door. Eventually, Rantaro plays peacemaker and tells his boyfriend to cool it. Gonta tells Kaito that gentlemen do not raise their voices, which is surprisingly enough to convince him. Keebo, on his end, warns the supreme leader he'll launch an assault on his dorm room with an army of robots.
"What a dick," Kaito says, scratching the back of his hair as he joins Shuichi. "The only reason I don't punch his ass to the moon is that I know I'll get suspended if I do! And Maki Roll would be lonely if I got suspended."
As they walk back to the dorms, Kaito does most of the talking. It's nothing unusual, and Shuichi doesn't mind listening. His eyes turn sweet as he does. Kaito's voice may be loud, but Shuichi always loves hearing it. He always has, and he thinks he always will.
When it's not about space, most of it is about Maki. Kaito never fails to find new ways to sing her praise. He says she's cute and that even if she looks grumpy all the time, she's different when it's only the two of them. Shuichi can agree, as he's seen the assassin crack a smile or two around Kaito during training. He talks about their future date plans and how he caught her looking up nearby amusement parks.
As they walk, Shuichi's smile turns sad. It's been about a year since Maki and Kaito started dating. The whole class was caught off guard at first, as even if it was obvious the astronaut had a thing for the girl, the reverse was way less apparent. Ironically, no one's ever seen them fight, which can't be said for most of the couples in the class. She may call him an idiot, but everyone realizes she's just as much in love with him as he is with her.
Shuichi is happy for them, of course, but he cannot help but feel frustrated. After all, the truth is Shuichi has feelings for Kaito. Romantic feelings. And the truth is Shuichi also has feelings for Maki. Romantic feelings.
In the end, the truth is that Shuichi is in love with his two classmates and friends who just happen to be dating. Shuichi wishes he didn't have to be in the most awkward position ever.
It had been a strange realization. Shuichi had come to terms with his crush on Kaito first. After all, they had spent much more time together, and he remains the classmate who brings him out of his shell the most. But not unlike the astronaut, seeing Maki slowly open up had affected him. He has grown fond of the mysterious girl, enjoying her serious yet friendly behavior. The side of her barely anyone knew about is one Shuichi likes a lot. Enough to make his heart skip a beat from time to time.
"Man, I'll marry her one day, for sure," Kaito says, still about Maki, and Shuichi feels like he's been stabbed in the heart. It's hard to hear his crush discuss his plans for the future with his other crush. Shuichi knows it's stupid and probably counts as jealousy, but he feels they'll soon disappear from his life. He despises the thought.
He says nothing and lets Kaito ramble. Each word stings more than the last. Shuichi wishes he would have the courage to fess up and tell Kaito how he feels about the two of them. Maybe it would break their friendship, but his heart wouldn't feel as heavy. Every time they kissed, Shuichi found it was the hottest thing in the world, but it also hurt him terribly.
"Do you..." Shuichi pauses. He ponders his next words. Eventually, they leave his mouth before he can stop himself. "Do you think I'll ever have what you two have, Kaito?"
"Yeah, for sure!" Kaito replies with confidence. Shuichi appreciates his crush's belief in him. "Didn't the gremlin have feelings for you before he got with Rantaro? As much as I hate the dude, you would have made a pretty cute match."
It has always been unclear to Shuichi what Kokichi felt for him. His flirty comments had confused him a lot back when they had first met. Given his nature, the supreme leader could very well have been teasing him all along. Not that it really matters anymore.
"Maybe he did, but... I never asked him out because I was afraid of being rejected and making things weird between us," Shuichi says, and Kaito nods, utterly unaware of the true meaning of his friend's words. The Ultimate Detective sighs sadly. "The truth is, I'm afraid of being lonely my whole life. I've never been in a relationship, and I sometimes feel like I never will."
His tone almost turns depressed as he says that. Shuichi is not the type to complain. He's a student at the best high school in Japan, has precious friends, a promising career and his uncle and aunt have been looking after him the way parents would. But his heart always feels both heavy and empty. The clap on the back Kaito gives him takes him out of this dark train of thought.
"You worry too much, sidekick!" he assures him. "You'll never be lonely with Maki Roll and me around, for one thing. On top of that, I'm sure there's someone who likes you, Shuichi! What's there not to like about you, after all?!"
Inside, Shuichi's mind is screaming about how he wants him and Maki to like him. This feeling of resignation never leaves him as he mutters something about hoping Kaito's right. The two reach the dorms and split ways, planning to rendezvous after dinner for their daily training session with the Ultimate Assassin.
Shuichi absentmindedly walks to his door and bumps into Kaede. He apologizes for not paying attention, which causes the pianist to tease him. He blushes slightly, and Kaede explains she is returning to her room to play the piano for a while. Not that it is much of a surprise. When she asks him what he's up to, Shuichi says he just walked back with Kaito.
And it must be obvious he's not doing too well because Kaede immediately notices. "Is something wrong?" she asks, worry seeping into her voice and expression. Shuichi gives her a fake smile and says he's just tired. Kaede doesn't buy it. "Wanna talk?" she suggests. After a few seconds, Shuichi nods.
Shuichi's been inside Kaede's dorm a few times before, and it remains as tidy as ever. A grand piano stands in the center of the room, with bookshelves upon bookshelves of CDs adorning the walls. Some music is playing on loop in the background, and Shuichi quickly notices Debussy's Clair de Lune.
"So, what's up?" Kaede asks, sitting at her piano and lightly tapping some of the keys, producing a few melodious sounds. Shuichi allows himself to sit at her desk and observes the pianist's skilled fingers warm up her instrument.
"It's... nothing important," Shuichi says. Kaede gives him a disapproving look. Shuichi relents. "Just a childish case of heartache..." he adds, somewhat embarrassedly. He knows it's not Kaede's type to laugh at others' problems, but he can't help but worry.
Kaede's expression softens. "Aw, poor Shuichi..." she says kindly, and Shuichi rolls his eyes. He knows in another world, she's the one he has a crush on. "Heartache sucks, yeah. I've been heartbroken a couple of times, and it can be tough to bounce back. It takes a toll on your self-confidence."
Shuichi keeps to himself the thoughts about how low his self-esteem already is. She's right, though: it's definitely not helping. This feeling of not being good enough for the person you like is daunting. Even more so when you like two people and feel you're not good enough for either.
"It's okay if you don't wanna tell me, but... did you confess to someone, and it went badly?" Kaede tries, and Shuichi shakes his head. She can't tell if he doesn't want to say or if she's simply missed the mark. When she opens her mouth, Shuichi beats her to the punch.
"No, I never even got to confess..."
Kaede raises her hand to stop him. "I think I get the picture," she says with confidence. She stands up from her seat at the piano and sits next to Shuichi, gently stroking his back. "It's Kaito, isn't it?" the pianist asks. It takes him a few seconds, but Shuichi nods. "Yeah, I thought so... You two are really close, after all."
Shuichi isn't sure what to say, so he lets Kaede talk. He simply wonders if his feelings for Kaito really were so easy to notice.
"It's true that he's madly in love with Maki, so I understand why it seems kinda hopeless for you..." Kaede looks puzzled. "And I guess confessing randomly would probably make your friendship weird moving forward..." She scratches the back of her head in thought. Shuichi knows she's reaching the same conclusions he did. "I don't know Kaito as well as you do, but I don't think he'd be the type to outright reject you, honestly. He's honest to a fault, so honesty might be the best policy!"
The blonde smiles. Shuichi does, too, although it's more forced than anything. He's thought of confessing to Kaito just to get it off his chest. However, knowing that he has no chance makes the thought terrifying. His heart already hurts, but Shuichi knows it's nothing compared to what it would feel like telling him.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
"There's... something else," Shuichi admits. Kaede seems curious, but the detective's voice suddenly becomes much more strained. There's still some embarrassment, obviously, but also pain. "Please don't say I'm a creep or something..."
"Hey," Kaede says, her voice much more severe. "Do I look like I'm about to laugh at you or call you a creep, Shuichi Saihara?" she asks, and he gulps. She laughs it off, saying, "As long as you don't tell me you want pics of my feet, I think I'll be able to understand whatever it is."
Shuichi sweatdrops. It seems Miu's rubbed off on her, whether that's good or bad.
"It's nothing like that," he dismisses, a chuckle making his voice much sweeter. He takes a deep breath. "The thing is... I have a crush on Maki, too."
There are a few seconds of silence. Shuichi watches as Kaede goes through surprise, confusion, surprise again, shock, then understanding, in that order. She tugs away a strand of her hair behind her ear and takes a deep breath. She places her hands on her thighs and looks Shuichi right in the eyes.
"That's a messy situation you got yourself in, Saihara."
"You can say that again..." Shuichi mutters ironically. Kaede takes some time to think, almost a whole minute before she speaks again.
"So you're simultaneously in love with two of your friends who are dating. Did I get that right?"
Shuichi nods.
"Ah, the wonders of bisexuality," Kaede says, laughing. She sees it doesn't appear to make Shuichi laugh. "Sorry," she says, her laughter quickly receding in favor of a supportive smile. "Shuichi, you know you're a trusted friend of mine, and I only want the best for you, right?"
Again, Shuichi nods. He also gulps. He has a bad feeling about whatever Kaede's about to tell him. His mind can only make guesses about what she's about to say to him. At least, she doesn't seem to find it weird.
"If you don't want to live with regret forever, you must tell them, even if it's weird. I know the task sounds herculean, but I'm not about to let you live with heartache forever. The three of you are friends, and I know them pretty well, especially Maki. They'll probably be surprised, but I know they won't laugh at you. They're not like that."
No, they're not, Shuichi thinks, knowing well that Kaede's telling him the truth. He knows it should be enough to boost his confidence, but it does the exact opposite. The only scenario to play inside his head is the one in which, against all odds, Maki and Kaito are disgusted and remove him from their lives the second he tells them.
"Honestly, I think the three of you would be very cute together, but what I feel isn't exactly what matters, is it...?" Kaede says sheepishly. She doesn't wait for Shuichi to reply before adding, "I know you aren't exactly the most confident person in the world, and there's nothing wrong with that. But whatever it's worth, know I support you, okay? If you decide to tell them, I'll be rooting for you all the way, Shuichi. And if they were to say anything mean to you – which won't happen – I'll kick their asses for you, okay?"
Shuichi laughs at the idea. When Kaede pumps her fists like that, the detective knows she can take on the whole world. Not that trying to kick Maki's ass sounds wise to him. Maybe Miu could design something to help her with that. In any case, he doesn't want to involve her any more than he already has.
"I appreciate it, Kaede," Shuichi says, and a genuine smile returns to his lips.
"Hey, you're my friend and the first person I talked to here, so it's only natural for me to help you!"
Her smile is friendly. Shuichi is happy to have people like Kaede in his corner. When he smiles back, Kaede returns to her piano and starts to play. Shuichi sits there and listens, finding the doubts in his heart to fade away. Right now, he just wants to stay there forever and let Kaede's soothing music ease his worries away.
Training, as he feared, feels awkward. Shuichi's just not in it, and not only because of the earlier PE that has left him drained for the week. Maki makes a remark, asking him if he's alright, which Shuichi dismisses with an air of confidence he knows wouldn't convince anyone. Kaito is stargazing as usual, and Shuichi is kind of thankful for that, as it gets Maki off his case.
He somehow works through his pushups, but his mind is fully occupied by thoughts of his two crushes. Sitting close to them, Shuichi feels his heart about to burst out of his chest. He cannot help but stare lovingly as Maki breezes through countless sit-ups. Kaito praises her, making her blush, and his tone makes Shuichi blush just as much.
"Let's do one more series and call it a night," Maki says, glaring at Kaito. The astronaut understands he won't get to skip that one. Shuichi gives a wordless nod and gets into position. The girl's eyes don't leave him as he does. "Shuichi. What's wrong with you tonight?"
Shuichi wants to say so many things, but he doesn't. Instead, he mutters a weak and feeble excuse that he knows for a fact this time doesn't convince her. Her eyes turn worried.
"If you're feeling sick, we can stop there," she says.
"N-No, there's no need for that..."
A blush appears on his cheeks as Kaito begins to look at him with curiosity. Feeling Maki's care makes him feel all tingly, and the heartwarming smile Kaito gives him makes the butterflies in his stomach go crazy. Luckily, he gets a lucky break when Maki mistakes his blush for a fever and sends him to the bathroom to wash his face.
On the way there, Shuichi takes a deep breath. Keeping his composure during training is never easy, but it has only worsened since his earlier conversation with Kaede. The Ultimate Detective knows she believes in him, but he fails to put the same stock in himself. As he reaches the sink, Shuichi clenches his fist and slams it on the cold ceramic.
He wishes he could just man up and tell them how he feels. Shuichi knows no one would blame him for being honest. Especially not Kaito, the most honest of the honest. But a secret like that is not an easy one to let go of. It genuinely irritates him.
"Hey, you alright, Shuichi?"
Shuichi jolts in surprise as Kaito enters the bathroom in careful steps. His hands still grip the sink as he turns to face him and sees the worry printed across his face.
"I... I'm okay, don't worry..." The lie is forced, and frankly, Shuichi didn't even try to make it sound convincing. When Kaito frowns, Shuichi wants to stop him from asking more questions. "Let's just go back to training. I'm okay."
"If... you say so..."
It's clear he's done nothing to reassure Kaito, but they join Maki again, nonetheless. She asks if he's doing better, and Shuichi nods. They complete their last series, even if the Ultimate Assassin has to scold her boyfriend for the umpteenth time of the night for him to finish.
As a punishment for his carefreeness during training, Maki orders Kaito to return their equipment to the storage room. Kaito pouts but knows better than to argue and quickly complies. Maki sighs, puts her hands on her hips, and walks to stand next to Shuichi.
"He truly is an idiot, isn't he?" she asks, but Shuichi knows it's a rhetorical question. "He's a little kid, a dreamer in the body of a high school student." She lets out a rare chuckle. "But I guess that's part of why I like him so much. The positive energy he brings into my life... it's invaluable."
Shuichi realizes how rare it is to hear Maki display her feelings like that. She's the silent type, so it catches him off guard. Only when she looks him in the eyes does Shuichi understand what she means.
Somehow, he understands. And that's why her next words do not surprise him as much as they should.
"And I guess that's also part of why you like him so much."
Of course she would know. They spend almost all their evenings together, so Shuichi feels dumb thinking she would never have noticed. Maki may not talk much, but she's smart, and there is no way she could have missed something so obvious.
Shuichi says nothing, both out of shame and uncertainty. Maki sighs again.
"I don't blame you. I am in love with him, so it would be hypocritical to say you have no reason to be. There are thousands of reasons to love this doofus."
Maki sits on the grass and grabs one of her twintails. Shuichi watches curiously as she stares at the sky in a way that reminds him of Kaito. He can't tell how she feels about it. Shuichi knows he would be frustrated were he in her shoes. Kaito is her boyfriend, and he has a crush on him. As understanding as he knows she can be, Shuichi knows it can't be easy to deal with.
"Feelings are hard, I get it," she says, stroking the end of her hair. "You and I aren't so different when it comes to feelings. The only difference is you express your shyness through low self-esteem, and I express it through anger. But even now that Kaito and I are dating, I still have moments when I struggle with my feelings."
"You... do...?" Shuichi timidly asks. Maki nods.
"Yeah. Despite all his flaws, Kaito is the best boyfriend I could ask for. Without him, there's no doubt I would still have no friends here. He always walks me through my issues, and being in love with him has been the best thing I've ever experienced. And yet..."
She pauses. It feels dramatic to Shuichi. Maki opens her mouth to speak but closes it when she notices Kaito's coming back. He waves at them from afar, and Maki waits for him to be back.
"Hey, idiot," she says, getting his attention. "Shuichi has a crush on you."
Shuichi's jaw drops. His heart immediately wrenches from betrayal. He stares at Maki, eyes wide, wordlessly asking her why. Tears appear in the corner of his eyes as the girl he likes simply stares back and says nothing. Kaito squirts at first, appearing to be confused. He then turns his attention to Shuichi, visibly expecting him to say something.
"Um, Shuichi...?"
"I'm telling you because I know he won't ever have the guts to do it. Don't make it weird," Maki orders, glaring at her boyfriend. "And the fact that you never noticed proves you're not as observant as you claim, Kaito Momota. He's been staring at you the way you stare at those stupid stars of yours all this time."
Shuichi wants to dig a hole and never crawl out of it again. He doesn't know where to look, and he knows it's too late to try to deny it. His heartbeat quickens, and he wishes Kaede had never convinced him to remove his hat. He has nowhere to hide.
"That's, uh... wow."
Maki crosses her arms annoyingly. An awkward silence rapidly surrounds them, and Shuichi thinks of running away. Unfortunately, his legs hurt way too much for that to be possible. The girl mutters something under her breath that Shuichi isn't focusing enough to understand and walks toward her boyfriend.
She forcibly grabs his hand and kisses him. Hard. Passionately. Shuichi looks at them, and his mouth forms an 'o' of surprise. Kaito is just as taken aback as Shuichi is, and the Ultimate Detective can see his eyes widening. Only a few seconds later does he kiss back before quickly pulling away.
"W-What was that for, Maki Roll?!"
"It was to make sure Shuichi feels jealous and doesn't try to hide his feelings anymore."
"Hey, that's pretty mean," he scolds. Kaito scratches the back of his hair. "I'm surprised you feel this way about me, Shuichi. I thought you saw me as a sort of brother! And if I have to be honest... I would have thought it was Maki Roll you liked more than me."
"W-What?!" exclaims Maki, and her cheeks turn red. "W-Why would Shuichi like me, you idiot?! I'm not sure we would have ever talked if it weren't for you!"
Kaito shrugs. "You two are a lot more like-minded than you think. That sounds reasonable to me."
It sounds reasonable to him, and Shuichi knows it's for a pretty damn good reason. Then, he notices the irony of the situation: Maki's realized Shuichi's feelings for Kaito, and Kaito's realized Shuichi's feelings for Maki. It would have made Shuichi smile if the situation wasn't so awkward (and, quite frankly, tense).
Right now, though, it just makes him want to wake up from the nightmare this is turning out to be. Not only have his feelings for his best friend been laid bare without his consent, but they're about to cause Kaito and Maki an argument.
"Foolish! I-It was way more obvious you're the one he likes!" She laughs mockingly. "You're the only idiot who could like a girl like me, and you know it."
"Don't go there, Maki Roll!"
"Go where, you idiot?! He's told me you're the one he likes, so it's not like it's up for debate!"
"And I'm just saying I'm surprised! Geez, aren't I allowed to be surprised my best friend has a crush on me?!"
"Sure, but you don't have to bring your baseless theories into this! Do you want to die?!"
"U-Um, can I say something...?"
Shuichi's voice makes them realize they've totally forgotten about him.
"What?" they say in unison. The detective figures it's as good a time as any to come out with it.
"I, um..." Shuichi's hands begin to shake. "W-What Maki says is true... I... I have a crush on you, Kaito... But, um... the truth is..." His voice lowers, and it's barely above a whisper. "I also have a crush on you, Maki..."
They're not sure they understood him correctly. Their argument is put behind them to be rescheduled at a later time, and boyfriend and girlfriend look at one another confusingly. Shuichi feels freer now that the words have left him. A huge weight has been lifted off his chest.
"I'm not sure I understood that correctly."
"Yeah, same here. Could you repeat that just a bit louder?"
Shuichi hates the torture this is. He wonders if love confessions really have to be so difficult. What he does know, though, is that he's gone too far to back down now. If he's going to embarrass himself, he might as well go all out and embarrass himself to death.
Surprisingly, his voice becomes much clearer and louder. "I said I also have a crush on you, Maki," he says, and when Maki looks about to scream, he stops her more firmly than he thought possible. "I know it's stupid, but seeing the two of you look so in love made me realize how much you both mean to me. At first, I realized I liked Kaito, but it didn't take long to figure out I liked Maki, too. Every time you two kissed, it made me think of how much I wanted to share this with you. Being the third wheel like this made me cry myself to sleep."
He had not meant to say this much. It's rare for him to get passionate about anything save for detectives. But his emotions are a mess right now, and he knows he has to let it all out, no matter the damage it may cause. He's tired of feeling this way. He cannot go on without telling them the whole truth.
"For the last few months, training has been hell for me because this is when you get all lovey-dovey with each other. Every time you stroked Maki's hair, I wish I'd been the one to do it. Each time you ran your fingers through Kaito's goatee, I wish I was in your shoes. Maybe I'm just a child who doesn't understand his own feelings, but the way my heart beats when I think about you two... I know it's love! It has to be! You'll think I'm weird, and I know I would have been wiser to keep this to myself, but I prefer to ruin our friendship than keep this to myself!"
As he stops talking, Shuichi realizes he's panting. He's showing them the extent of his feelings, and he doesn't even feel embarrassed about it anymore. He knows it's too late for that. A minute goes by, and the only sounds are the wind and Shuichi's loud breathing. After another minute, Kaito sighs.
"Damn, I'd think this was a prank if you didn't look so serious, Shuichi," he says seriously, and the detective feels like he's about to be scolded. Kaito takes decisive steps toward him, and Shuichi closes his eyes for fear of being punched. Kaito had punched him in the past, after all. And after admitting he had a crush on his girlfriend, Shuichi knew it was a possibility.
"D-Don't do anything stupid!" Maki exclaims.
But Kaito doesn't do anything stupid. The punch Shuichi expects never comes, even when he can sense Kaito's warmth close to him. Instead, his breath gets caught in his throat as he feels Kaito's hands cup his cheeks and his lips press against his. He gasps into the kiss, and his body freezes in place. When Kaito pulls away, he can only stare in disbelief.
"W-What...?" Shuichi stammers. "K-Kaito...?"
Kaito crosses his arms and looks too composed for someone who just forced his best friend into a kiss. Shuichi struggles to form a single coherent thought, and Maki looks about to drop dead from shock.
"To be honest... It took me a while to figure out what I felt for you, man... It wasn't the same as with Maki Roll, so I was kinda confused." Kaito wraps an arm around Shuichi's waist and ruffles his dark-blue hair. It makes the Ultimate Detective blush. "But yeah, I guess I like you too. Sorry, Maki Roll. I love you as much as any star in the sky, but I guess Shuichi's one of them, too."
"You're both insane," Maki hisses, glaring at the two boys menacingly. Shuichi shivers, but Kaito stands his ground. He's seen his girlfriend give him that look way too often for it to intimidate him. The arm around his waist only gets tighter when Maki steps forward. "You're a monster for doing this to me, Kaito Momota!" She tears up, and her voice cracks. "K-Kissing your best friend in front of your girlfriend...?! S-Seriously?!"
"M-Maki Roll-!"
"Don't Maki Roll me!" Her gaze meets Kaito's, and she slaps him without hesitation, leaving a clear red imprint on his cheek. Shuichi winces at the sound. "You're an idiot! What would you think if I went around kissing other girls?!"
"W-Well, I'd think it's hot-"
"Kaito," Shuichi whispers and shakes his head disapprovingly. "P-Please calm down, Maki... I-I'm sure Kaito is just confused..."
The Ultimate Assassin clenches her fists and easily pushes Kaito away like he's as light as a feather, making him fall on his bottom in the nearby grass. Shuichi has no time to react as she grabs his hand and forcefully kisses him. For a moment, Shuichi's heart stops working, and he's afraid he's going to die. His brain does, too, but he figures it hasn't been working for a while, anyway.
Maki's kiss is way rougher, less delicate. She pulls him close, and even if it hurts a bit, Shuichi has little time to think about it. The girl forces her way inside his mouth and shoves her tongue against his. Shuichi thinks his alarm clock is about to ring and wake him up. Maki Harukawa is kissing him.
Maki. Harukawa. Is. Kissing. Him.
It makes so little sense that Shuichi would simply dismiss it as an illusion. But there's no denying it: Maki is kissing him, and passionately, at that. He can feel her emotions through the kiss, pouring like a waterfall against him.
When she pulls away, she lightly shoves Shuichi out of the way and breaks down crying. Shuichi blinks, and Kaito – who had gotten back up since earlier – says nothing, his lips forming a perfectly straight line. Her arm is shaky, but she points her finger at Kaito.
"I-If you think I'm going to let you have him for yourself... y-you can keep dreaming!" she says, her tears making her voice sound less threatening than she intends. "I-I love both of you, and I don't give a shit what anyone says, even you!"
Maki falls to her knees and cries her eyes out. Shuichi tears up, and he's unsure if it's a good or a bad thing. Kaito still says nothing and sniffles. Deep in thought, Shuichi is brought back to reality when he feels Kaito's hand on his back. He looks up and is guided toward Maki by Kaito's gentle push.
"Maki Roll," Kaito says. "I'm sorry I kissed Shuichi like that. I swear I didn't mean to break your heart... It's just..." He takes a deep breath. "I felt there was a chance you liked him, too, and I wanted you to come forward with it. I realize it was a stupid idea, but I promise I didn't mean to hurt you, Maki Roll. You know I would never."
Maki has nothing to say, and Shuichi feels he's getting in the way. He extends a hand in Maki's way, which she grabs after a while. It feels like his body is about to break, but he helps her back up, but her eyes are still glaring at the ground.
"Come here, the two of you."
Shuichi isn't sure how things have turned out this way. He remembers going nuts and clutching his head to figure out why he felt the way he did. Those aren't especially fond memories, and there was a time he thought he was a creep for having those feelings for Maki and Kaito.
Now, they've both confessed to him, and Shuichi is lost. Should he be happy? Relieved? Kaito brings the three of them into a hug, and they share a close embrace. Maki's still crying, and the sound of her tears makes Kaito whimper, too. Shuichi feels the girl grip his shirt tightly as if holding on to him for dear life.
He feels guilty. How long have they been holding this inside their hearts? How difficult must it have been to question their feelings while dating? He's not sure what they see in him, but he's aware it's not something he should be asking now.
What he should be doing is enjoying the moment. It's strange, but he ends up being the most clear-headed of the three. After a while, Shuichi smiles. When he laughs, Shuichi finds himself on the receiving end of two confused pairs of eyes.
"Thanks, you two. I'm not sure I understood everything that's happened, but it makes me realize I love you even more than I thought I did. So yeah... thanks a lot, Kaito, Maki."
He's the first one to pull away from the hug. He stretches his arms and stares at the starry sky. The cold breeze flows through his hair as Shuichi feels freer than he has in months. It's liberating, simply letting go. Now, he regrets not doing it earlier.
He watches as Maki and Kaito continue to cry for a few more minutes. Then, they fall into a hug. It's a tender scene, and Shuichi stands a few feet from them, observing it satisfyingly. He cannot hear what Kaito is whispering inside Maki's ear, but he sees him wipe away the tears in her eyes.
Scenes like those are what made Shuichi fall in love with them. He has tons of love to give, and the young detective sees they would not mind sharing theirs with someone else. Suddenly, he doesn't feel like he's intruding.
He feels at ease.
"Let's go back to the dorms, yeah?"
Shuichi and Maki nod at Kaito's suggestion. It's been a long evening, and they all need some rest. Maki looks relieved. Kaito can't help but grin. The Ultimate Astronaut grabs Shuichi's right hand with his left and Maki's left hand with his right. He makes a joke about being born with two hands for a reason. Maki gently elbows him in the hip, calling him an idiot, and Shuichi chuckles.
Maybe a miracle happened. Whatever it is, Shuichi is appreciative. He's thankful to have the two people he loves with him, and whatever's up ahead, he's ready to face him with a smile. For the first time in forever, training won't feel awkward.
Shuichi discretely grabs his phone and opens the texting app.
To Kaede Akamatsu: it seems you won't have to kick anyone's ass after all
Silently, he snaps a picture of their hands held together and attaches it to the text. It sends, and Shuichi puts his phone back inside his pocket. All is well, and, at last, two have become three.
To be continued...
A.N: Training Trio is good. This fic was inspired by a post by ronpatrash on Tumblr. Thanks for reading, everyone :)