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It was the way Okuyasu looked at Josuke. Josuke remembers the moment he realized it. They had been walking home from class and Josuke had been complaining about something or other but stopped mid-rant and shook his head.
"Nah, you probably don’t want to hear all this."
And Okuyasu turned to Josuke and said with complete sincerity, “You know I always care what you have to say, dude.”
And his eyes went soft around the edges and Josuke felt his face heat up and “oh no.”
Josuke went home that night and did a lot of thinking, decided it was probably a fluke and that it would pass, and went to bed.
He decided it was not a fluke when the very first thought he had upon waking up was that look. And the next morning and the next and it suddenly seemed like his every waking thought was filled with Okuyasu. And it only made it worse that they were best friends and hung out practically every day.
It actually wasn’t so bad when they were together. The casual feel of their friendship helped Josuke think that this was how it was supposed to be they were great at being friends they should just be friends.
But when he wasn’t around the other boy is when his mind really started to heat up with “what if” scenarios. What if the next time I see him I tell him? What if he’s okay with that can I kiss him God I want to kiss him. Maybe we can take things up to my room maybe we can—Maybe I should stop this train of thought so I don’t get a boner in the middle of math.
After weeks of this Josuke decided he needed to do something about this before it drove him mad. So he went with a casual plan that any two boys one of which was totally not in love with his best friend would come up with: he invited Okuyasu over for some beer and Mario Kart to which of course he said yes.
So two grand prix, four beers, and countless winnings on Josuke’s side later, the two boys were feeling pretty good both sitting on the floor with their backs against the couch in front of the tv.
"Dude you are so fucking terrible at this game why are you even letting me kick your ass so badly" Josuke laughed and waved the controller in Okuyasu’s direction.
Okuyasu returned the laugh and smile, “Yeah well I know I fucking suck but it’s still fun if I get to play with you” and his eyes softened and Josuke’s smile dropped.
"Josuke? You okay?"
"Why are you always looking at me like that?"
Okuyasu gave a confused look, “Like what?”
"Like you’re in love with me."
There was a pause that felt way too long for Josuke’s comfort as Okuyasu tried to process what his friend had just said. Josuke threw his head back against the couch cushions. His face was burning.
"Hey dude I… I mean I do love you y’know"
Josuke shook his head, “Not like that not like how—” he wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. He lifted his head up to see Okuyasu staring at him still looking confused.
"Are you saying um…." Josuke could see color spreading on his cheeks and was glad to know he wasn’t the only one blushing, "Do you like… got a crush on me or something?"
This was it Josuke could either lie and laugh it off and turn this situation into a joke and they would never speak of this again or he could let the courage only a lightweight could glean from two beers and his emotional fatigue get the better of him. It really wasn’t much of a decision.
"I dont know, man, I dont know how this happened." He couldn’t look Okuyasu in the face anymore and looked down at the game controller. "One day I just woke up and I saw how you were looking at me and I thought man I’d really like to kiss you."
Josuke wiped his hand over his face and groaned, “I think about kissing you so much, dude, it’s the worst.”
Josuke expected disgust or shock or literally any other reaction than the one he got which was a hand on his arm. “Hey” He looked up and Okuyasu had shifted sitting face to face and he had that look in his eyes again, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
"Why?! Dude how was I supposed to tell you? this isn’t normal! I’m your best friend and a guy! Most guys would be freaked out you should be freaked out! If my bro told me he wanted to kiss me I’d at least be shocked okay! And I couldn’t tell you because I…” He felt tears prickling at the corner of his eyes, “I didn’t want you to leave me. I can’t lose you, dude, not again.”
Josuke could see Okuyasu’s hand coming up to wipe away his tears and he swatted it away, “I’m fine.”
And there was silence between them because frankly neither one knew what to say to each other now that everything was out in the open. A full minute must have passed before Okuyasu finally spoke up.
"Look at me." and Josuke did. "We’re best friends. We’ve saved each others asses more times than I can count okay we’ve been through hell for each other. You really think I’m gonna leave you just ‘cause you said you want to kiss me?"
How could he be so calm about this? Josuke had been a wreck for weeks and here everything is just fine? He felt frustration rising in his chest, “Man how the hell was I supposed to know you’d be cool with it!”
Okuyasu smacked him upside the head “Because I’m your best friend, dumbass!”
Oh. He had a point.
Josuke looked around at the discarded beer bottles and the level select screen on the tv still playing in the background and then back at Okuyasu. “What now?”
Josuke watched as Okuyasu’s face suddenly turned bright pink again, “Well I mean you can kiss me. I um… if you really did want to and you weren’t just makin’ that stuff up to mess with me.”
Josuke smiled, “Do you even know how to kiss?”
"Better’n you."
"Put your money where your mouth is."
"How about I put my mouth where your mouth is?"
And Josuke was so stunned by that comeback that he didn’t realize Okuyasu had made good on that promise until he felt warm wet lips upon his own. Josuke moaned in relief. Finally.
Josuke felt a hand wrap around the back of his neck as Okuyasu pulled him closer heating up the kiss. Okuyasu ran his tongue across Josuke’s lips and the other opened his mouth in compliance. Josuke’s other hand moved to brace itself on Okuyasu’s thigh and Okuyasu’s hand had now found its way to Josuke’s hip.
Josuke made a strangled gasping noise suddenly and pulled back, out of breath. They were both panting and flushed.
"See? Told you I was a better kisser than you."
Josuke wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Yeah well… you suck at Mario Kart!”
Okuyasu laughed and he and Josuke faced each other again ready for a round two when there was a sudden click of a key turning and the sound of a door slamming and Josuke’s mom was back from her girl’s night out.
"Josuke! I’m home!" Tomoko called. Josuke could hear her footsteps coming closer.
"Welcome back!" Josuke and Okuyasu both called, scrambling for the controllers and sitting themselves back in their original position against the couch.
Tomoko Higashikata found her son and his best friend sitting on the floor of their living room “Oh Okuyasu’s here too! How are you?”
"Very well, Mrs. Higashikata, thanks." He and Joskue had started another race and were concentrating very hard it seemed.
Tomoko nodded and began walking towards the kitchen “Will you be staying the night? If so I’ll prepare dinner for three!”
Josuke and Okuyasu both knew that if they looked at each other right now they’d see the other one blushing. “Yes, ma’am. Thanks!”