#maybe they're kindergarten sweethearts (they met over zoom <3 )

[another-dra-anew]

Hmmm... Tsurugi and Uehara are really close.

Hmmm. They are kinda touchy-feely if memory serves.

HMMM. Didn't Tsurugi call Uehara by his first name once or twice?

Dating? Love birds? Friends who are just close?

Happy late Valentines Day to these guys and "whatever the fuck is going on over there".

This is a difficult question to answer as the writer because by being curious, you're... exactly where I want you to be right now. Maeda isn't quite confident himself, and (while he can definitely be in a different spot than you all at times) that's a reflection of where readers should be! So, regarding the time old question of "friends, or Friends?"... not much I can say! I'd tell you to read ahead, but... hard to do that when I'm writing essays instead of updates.

But, telling you to guess and see is a boring answer, so, some extra stuff to keep in mind;

Your memory serves you exactly right! Tsurugi has called Uehara "Kinji" before (and well... let's not get into all of what Uehara's called Tsurugi. Close the google translate tab!), and there weren't any other characters sharing a mattress at the sleepover. But, then we have to wonder about how the characters factor into this... Uehara's canonically (+ explicitly, it's incorporated into his physical design via patches on his jeans) gay, and Tsurugi's canonically low on boundaries. We also know that Uehara struggles with feeling uncomfortable around others, which starts to beg the question of why he's okay around Tsurugi... but on Tsurugi's end, is it possible that the only reason he seems to have gotten closer with Uehara is because he knows Uehara wouldn't get close with anyone else?

Which, there's also the argument that Uehara's sexuality is separate from his feelings on Tsurugi. That's totally a viable option and something that can happen! But, segueing into our next topic for discussion... that isn't what the class thinks. There's been a few allusions to the kids pointing fingers at Tsurugi and Uehara (more commonly Uehara); the example I always think of is one you don't actually realize is happening, so I can explain it now! Kobashikawa in particular has been going "?" since day one of the killing game. In the prologue (I believe), there's a moment where Ōtori refuses to translate for Kobashikawa (which, to be fair, is because Kobashikawa's mostly just joking around with Ōtoeri with this line)- Kobashikawa is remarking on Uehara potentially crushing on Tsurugi! This is a more pleasant example than, say, some of Higa's comments- but there's also things we don't get to see, because we only get Maeda's perspective. Most of the kids have had some sort of curiosity cross their mind, and of them, Tomori's probably got the most insight...

But of course, no one better to ask than the duo themselves!

...Not that I'm telling you what they're thinking.

It's difficult to give you much insight without revealing things that we'll end up making clear in story. So, instead, let's review some in-story moments between them! Hey guys, remember who Tsurugi went to after the Incident with Higa on the stairs? Remember Uehara trying to prevent Tsurugi from being alone with Higa, just before the stairs incident? Speaking of Higa, remember that scene after the second trial, where we got to see Tsurugi's perspective, and caught what happened after that fight? Or, on the subject of fights with Higa, remember Uehara's response when Higa visited Tsurugi's dorm in Chapter 3?

Higa kinda comes up a lot, huh. Maybe I'd be homophobic too if I was always around this-

Remember Chapter 1, just before we started deadly life- who Tsurugi asked for, and what Uehara's reaction was? Remember the time the kids decided to have a morning soap opera, and the nickname conversation that arose then? Returning to the Rec Room event, wasn't there a bit of a theme in what Uehara was taking interest in, what games he was choosing to follow? Or, speaking of events, which duo was sitting together, painting nails and fetching drinks?

Bringing things up like this, there's definitely a picture being painted of closeness. But, I don't think it really answers your question- is this romantic, or is it really just friendship! There's been a lot of arguing for why it seems romantic on Uehara's end, but may not be on Tsurugi's side, but we can also make arguments that it's platonic to Uehara, too. There's no comparing how Uehara acts around people he's close with, because we know Tsurugi's the only one. As for why he's closer with Tsurugi, there's always the easy answer that they're both foreign students! Similar a bit to how Ōtori and Kobashikawa bonded over sign... and then again, sometimes people just make friends!

TL;DR - Who knows! By thinking about this, you're having the experience I want you to have- and I hope you're having fun with it! The last comment I want to leave you all with is something that applies to all of BTBB/ADRA; don't forget about canon! The in-universe reason for why they're close, and the nature of that relationship is unknown... but to be Doylist, they're close because of canon! See also; Tomori also being friends with Tsurugi, and Mekaru, the third student to diverge from the group in canon, taking a sort of in-between spot, where she's not quite sure of her standing with the group, and they're unsure of their feelings on her, which, while different from what I did with Kinji and Kizuna, does still mean she's on a different path from canon Rei. When in doubt, start to look at canon.

(Which, hey, on the note of relationships, and "remember things are mirror reflections, and remember that may not look how you expect it to"- given any thought to Satsuhiko lately?)

Ultimately, they're definitely a little duo, and it's definitely something Maeda's wondering about- so he'll probably pursue the truth there, sooner or later. He's busy with other things! In the mean time, they're going to keep having their little conversations by themselves in the trial room. God am I glad I chose to use canon podium layout.

Anyways, as a parting gift for making it all the way through a few hundred words of vague non-answers, have a new excerpt from prologue rewrites, under the cut!

Uehara - Jesus Christ!

//Taira, one of many students impairing Maeda’s view, shifts before he can see quite how Uehara stepped in. But Maeda shifts over, and notes one of Uehara’s hands on Tsurugi’s left bicep, and the other on his right hip- before it quickly flits away, as Tsurugi stands on his own feet. Uehara stays leaned over the way he was when he dove for Tsurugi- head dipped down as he nervously pats at Tsurugi- one hand tugging the hem of his shirt, then straightening at his sleeve, and pulling a lock of hair out of his face as the other hand smooths idly at Tsurugi’s face. It’s angled so Maeda can’t see that side as well, but he catches the way Tsurugi moves his head in response to the fingers tracing his features- and pushing at his skin. 

Uehara - Fucking hell… are you alright?!

Maeda - …

Maeda - [Redacted Narration]

Uehara - God- what even happened?

Tsurugi - …

//His face relaxes, but he’s still staring at Uehara, focused.

Uehara - Ts-...Tsurugi?

Tsurugi - …

Tsurugi - Like, mentally- do you have a checklist of words that are funny to say as a priest?

Uehara - …

//Maeda can see the way Uehara tries to process. Tsurugi grins, seeming to be genuinely delighted.

Tsurugi - “Jesus Christ, hell, god”, all a’ that?

Uehara - …I-

//He stands, and flushes.

Uehara - Ah, piss off.

//Tsurugi laughs- and it’s because of Uehara, which Uehara seems to take in stride.

Tsurugi - Also, you have a tongue piercing, right? I like it- it’s shiny- that's how I saw it!