]]>It was Kunimitsu's personal discovery. If Keigo was petted for long enough he unwound, forgot to be driven and arrogant, and relaxed into a languid sprawl of limbs, lounging against Kunimitsu's chest for hours at a time without protest.
]]>He couldn't believe Fuji had misread Kunimitsu that badly. No, wait, he could believe it; after all, it wasn't as though he hadn't known plenty of intelligent, talented individuals who where, nevertheless, gifted with the people skills of dried seaweed. It was just that he expected this kind of thing from Ryou, not from Fuji.
]]>This was Mizuki without the calculation, and Yuuta liked the honesty of this raw, insistent desire.
]]>He'd really never thought a simple trip to the music store would be so harrowing.
]]>"You should have someone you can actually trust, every now and then, that's all," Momo said. His mouth tugged up at one corner. "Someone who can talk, instead of meow."
]]>That furball was the only living creature he had ever seen Ryouma look at with open tenderness, and Momo had a good idea of who would lose if it came to a choice between the cat and himself.
]]>Ryouma snorted a laugh. If he ever admitted to Momo that his protective streak made Ryouma feel better, he'd be doomed. Probably for life. Momo would never again believe Ryouma was serious when he grumbled or swatted Momo away.
]]>Momo remembered going from being a bit worried about Akutsu's dismissive contempt to being a little alarmed at his absolute, devouring, manic focus on Ryouma, once the game heated up. At no point had Momo really been surprised, though. Even then, he'd taken it pretty much for granted that Echizen could hold any fire barehanded, on the court.
]]>Despite his startlement, Momo could hold back a delighted grin. Lately, Ryouma had been descending to physical retaliation, in their teasing; it was almost as good as having another little brother.
]]>Momo didn't mind that Ryouma was quiet and obnoxious, and Ryouma didn't mind that Momo was loud and obnoxious. They met in the middle, and it all worked out.