#but i asked my sister for a random ship and she said renshino so

[xxlady-lunaxx]

“i love you.” that’s all he had to say. three small words. yet they felt so big; intimidating. heavy on his tongue. but it was alright. nothing kyojuro couldn’t do.

except it felt like so much more. so much so that it was all kyojuro could think, barely taking in a single word shinobu said. i love you, he wanted to say. kocho, i love you. i love you, i love you, i love you—

“what?”

kyojuro blinked. shinobu had gone quiet, her eyes wide.

“kocho?” he asked. then the aftertaste of what he’d said hit him. he’d spoken unintentionally. but he recalled, ever so slightly, the recent curve of the trio of words he’d been struggling so hard to say. i love you.

“oh. did i-“ kyojuro stuttered. he looked away, his face blooming red. “did i say-“

shinobu’s soft laugh redirected his gaze back to her. she was smiling, a touch amused, but her cheeks were a dusty rose.

“ah… rengoku-san, did you not to mean to say that?” she asked gently. she was so patient. she was so sweet.

“uhm. no. i- yes!” kyojuro stammered. he shifted. “uhm. i did. i wanted- i didn’t mean to say it now- but i wanted to say it to you.”

“oh!” shinobu’s surprise came back. she was very pretty in pink. “that’s-… very sweet of you, rengoku-san…”

“i’m sorry if i’ve made you uncomfortable now,” kyojuro mumbled. he forced his eyes to stay up, trying to level his anxiety. he realized this must’ve cause discomfort for the bluntness of it. he was worried if he’d made the atmosphere awkward for her.

“no need to apologize,” she reassured him. “may i respond? to your… statement.”

kyojuro nodded furiously. “i would appreciate it!” he said, a nervous exuberance fitting into his voice.

shinobu smiled. “i’d like to say i love you as well,” she told him calmly. “i believe i really like you. i do enjoy your company and… you’re a very kind person.”

somehow, kyojuro’s face burned hotter. “i-“ he cleared his throat. “i’m honored! thank you so much, kocho… i wasn’t- i wasn’t sure if you felt the same! i’m relieved, honestly! i hope… i hope we could try to have a relationship of more than friendship?”

“of course,” shinobu agreed. she seemed suddenly shy, her composure cracking as her eyes flicked away. she bowed her head. “i’m happy as well…”

kyojuro’s smile spread across his face. shinobu returned the smile.

then, intentionally, confidently, he said, “i love you so very much.”