Originally posted on Tumblr (FlipSideOfC)

Kisumi hummed to himself as he prepared pictures and texts to upload on his blog, 'Kisumi's World'. The last roundtrip had been rewarding. He'd managed to take all the photos that he'd planned and lots more.

After a few hours he looked over the result. The blog looked beautiful, in his opinion. Thankfully, it was also the opinion many others, so Kisumi didn't have to rely on his own vanity to know that. The modest blog that he'd started a while back just to practice the technique and English, as well as showcase his amateur photos, had grown larger than he ever could've dreamed. He posted pictures from his travels, pictures from his photo commissions, jokes, news and a lot of other tidbits.

The funny thing was that one part of the blog, which he'd only uploaded as a joke, had amassed a small fan-base in itself. He'd mentioned his friends and made a bit of a joke of himself being the 5th wheel in a group filled with soulmates who stubbornly refused to realize it themselves. Kisumi wondered what said friends would say if they knew they were the ones making his tags '#friends in denial' and '#5th wheel' so popular…

Kisumi happily pressed 'post' on the latest beauty – a picture of Rin and Sousuke (aka denial couple 2) on the beach, putting sunscreen on each other. The picture also included himself in a corner of course, as usual doing his trademark 'kiss' gesture.

#5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #yes best friend pls slowly put sunscreen all over my almost naked body #you missed a spot #body worship.

%%%

Kisumi hummed as he uploaded a true masterpiece that he'd managed to take last night. A photo from dinner with all six of the guys at the same time. Makoto could be seen wiping Haru's cheek, Nagisa was almost climbing on Rei and Rin and Sousuke were sharing dessert and sitting very close together.

#5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 1 #couple 2 #couple 3 #yes all of them #do I get bingo for catching all 3 at once? #do I get a pokemon badge? #yes I do #so much cuteness #I don't even

Kisumi wondered what he should post for the blog's anniversary. He already had a few ideas for the regular tags, but he wanted to do something for '#5th wheel' too. Suddenly he had an idea. He giggled a bit and finally pressed 'post'.

'Who do you think will confess first? Please vote below for denial couple 1, 2 or 3. A selected winner will receive an entry ticket to the annual Photo Mania (any year now…). You can even get a date with yours truly if you like :-)'

%%%

So far denial couple 1 led the race, which wasn't too surprising, as they had the most pictures uploaded, followed by couple 3. While the blog contained quite a few pictures of Rin and Sousuke, Rin did live in Australia at the moment. Kisumi couldn't travel there as ridiculously often (or stay as long) as Sousuke, who by now had to know all the airline staff and have a second wardrobe in Rin's apartment.

Kisumi took a look at the comments and messages. There were quite a few.

'I vote for couple 3 and I want to get an invitation to the wedding'

'Couple 1 will win hands down - they're already married'

'If couple 2 don't make it, can I get either of them?'

Kisumi grinned and opened one of the messages.

'Hello, I actually know couple 2 (and I agree with you, they are ridiculous). I study with R. If I send you a sappy picture of them that you don't have, can I get a date anyway? You're cute J'

Kisumi's eyes widened and he blushed slightly. He hesitated and replied 'sure why not'. Soon enough, he got a picture. Kisumi fiddled with it and posted it on the blog. He then replied 'you've got a date', his heart beating faster. Comments and likes started to come in for the latest update - Sousuke arriving at the airport and Rin looking almost euphoric to see him, tagged #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #the dorks have missed each other a lot #airport romance

%%%

Kisumi texted Rin that he was on his way. It had taken some time before his schedule allowed him to travel to Australia to collect his date, but that time had been spent chatting and skyping, so Kisumi was even more excited about meeting the guy – James - now. He'd told James that he was staying with Rin and they'd booked a date for the following day.

Kisumi spent the time he didn't see James by catching up with Rin and Sousuke, which was great fun. He also got a ridiculous amount of new photos for the blog. Really, he thought, they're making it way too easy for me. The dash now contained several great shots – and if he managed to get himself in there dressed in his tightest shorts for James' benefit, that was just a coincidence…

'Sousuke cooking with Rin sitting on the counter next to him, tasting, chatting and stretching after training, #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #indirect kissing in progress #he looks good in an apron #but even better in swimming trunks #yes we can all see that you're flexible'

'Rin and Sousuke brushing their teeth together in matching shark underwear, #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #matching underwear #so cute #i'm dying'

'Rin and Sousuke fallen asleep all tangled together on the sofa playing videogames, #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #dorks cuddling #i am going to tuck them in'

'Rin driving and Sousuke next to him, pointing at the map - which was upside down - while Rin looked at him with a half-fond, half-exasperated look, #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #dorks on romantic trip #probably lost in his eyes'

%%%

"Hey James. Sorry about Kisumi leaving, but I'm sure he'll be back soon."

"Yeah… we'll just have to keep in touch online", James sighed miserably. Kisumi had turned out to be so much cooler and so much cuter than he'd expected and he was suffering withdrawal already.

"Oh yeah, you guys met online, right? Very romantic!" Rin grinned.

"Well yes, through his blog really."

"His blog?" Rin asked, while Sousuke also looked a bit curious. "He's never mentioned a blog. What's it about?"

"Oh - travels, pictures and other fun stuff. It's really good. I strongly recommend you checking it out."

"Do you have the link?"

"I'll send it to you", James smiled lightly, saving the gleeful smile he wanted to wear until later.

%%%

Sousuke cooked dinner, Rin lounging on the counter next to him as usual.

'Here's the link. It's a really fun blog. I recommend checking out the tag #5th wheel. Start from the beginning.'

"Oh hey we got the link to Kisumi's blog", Rin said, scrolling through the phone.

"Strange that he's never mentioned it before."

"Yeah… oh, there are a lot of pictures. I'll bring it up on your laptop instead."

"Sure, I'll be right out."

Rin sat down to look through the blog. "Sousuke", he yelled "There are pictures of Makoto and Haru here!"

"Ah, any fun ones?"

"They look really cosy. So married." Rin giggled. "Oh there's Rei and Nagisa too!"

Sousuke made an amused grunt, while concentrating on finishing dinner.

"Hey this is fun Sousuke, he's calling them denial couple 1 and 3. So true!"

"Who's couple 2 then?" Sousuke asked absentmindedly, only slightly curious. However, he was surprised when he received no answer.

"Rin?"

When Rin still didn't answer, Sousuke went into the living room with dinner. Rin was looking at the laptop with a peculiar expression on his face.

"Rin?"

Sousuke poked Rin, who started and flushed. "Quit it!"

"Rin, what is it?"

"I found denial couple 2."

"Oh, do we know them too?"

Rin turned the laptop so that Sousuke could see the screen. It was occupied by two pictures.

Rin and Sousuke having a water gun fight, laughing like little kids, tagged #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #dorks playing #wet tshirt

Rin and Sousuke singing karaoke, tagged #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #dorks singing romantic duet

"What the…"

"We're denial couple 2 Sousuke! Kisumi's posting pictures of us!"

Sousuke blinked.

"There's even a poll which couple will confess first." Rin's voice sounded a bit strangled.

Sousuke sat down and started scrolling through the pictures and texts from the beginning. Rin was uncharacteristically silent next to him, eyes glued to the screen, a permanent blush settled on his face.

After having gone through the whole 5th wheel tag they ended up looking at a picture collage posted quite recently, containing a photo of Rin looking at Sousuke with a painfully fond smile and a matching picture of Sousuke looking at Rin like he was the sun. #5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #yes I always look at my best friend like this, why?

Rin swallowed, glancing at Sousuke, who also looked a bit red in the face.

Sousuke leaned forward and moved the cursor to the poll to press on the button 'couple 2'.

"What, are you confessing?"

"That was the confession."

"That was not a confession!"

"Sure it was, you understood what I meant."

Rin pouted in mock horror. "Still not a proper confession."

"You do better then."

"Sou…" Rin swallowed. "You're still my sunshine."

Sousuke grabbed Rin's head and kissed him, hard. Rin wasted no time scrambling into his lap. They were both happy Kisumi was no longer there, even if they did look good tangled together without clothes too.

%%%

Kisumi posted a new picture on the blog, curtesy of James.

#5th wheel #friends in denial #couple 2 #no longer in denial! #finally! #seriously #only 2 more to go!

Notes:

Hey this one actually mentions the beach somewhere, in honor of the week's theme (Tumbr, Sourin Summerfest).

I wasn't that fond of Kisumi in the anime (not sure why, he was just smiling and smirking so much). However, I have since grown a bit fonder of him and I've also been wondering what happened to him in the OVA for example. I didn't think of it at first and I am sure there are tons of possible scenarios, but still… there he is, showing up to see Rin and Sousuke (and the others) and they all run around with the water guns, then at the end there are only those three couples left. There is no mention of what happened to Kisumi at all. Did they see him after the water gun fight? Did he just leave?

Anyway, I am just using him to get Rin and Sousuke together in this one. I think he's very well suited for it, as he can see all the couples from the outside. Also, he got a boyfriend of his own too, the poor thing.