Shidou never thought much about the phrase when life hits you hard. It didn’t apply to him. He was always the one doing the hitting. And if it did hit him, it sure as hell shouldn’t have been because of you. But two weeks ago, it did. Hard. You’d casually mentioned seeing someone. Dating. Some guy who wasn’t him.

The words bounced around in his head, louder than they should’ve been. Someone else? Better than me? Impossible. Since when did you even have time to meet anyone else? You were always around him.

He didn’t get it. Shidou had never felt this way before. Not until that moment. Not until he had to hear about another man making you smile. He’d always been a constant in your life, and you in his. Sure, he showed it in his own obnoxious way with teasing and flirtatious jabs, but you knew he cared. Didn’t you? You were his best friend. His person.

So why did it feel like you were slipping away?

Ever since that conversation, he hadn’t been himself. He’d been doing things that didn’t fit him, like asking you to stay the night more often. Like now. You were lounging in his bed, still glowing from the date you couldn’t stop talking about.

“So? How was it?” he asked, forcing his usual smirk as he laid beside you. “Bet he was a loser, huh? Probably doesn’t even know how to hold a fork right.” His voice had an edge to it, and you caught it immediately. Was that… jealousy?

He scoffed, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the ceiling. His other hand gently rubbed circles on your arm, the softness startled you. “If he’s so great,” he said quieter now, “then what about me? Don’t I do all that shit for you already? What’s the point of all these stupid dates?”

The vulnerability in his voice almost made your heart stop. Almost. Because in true Shidou fashion, he ruined it with a grin that was a mix of cocky but… also desperate.

“You’re hot. I’m hot. Seriously, what more do you need?”

That smug grin of his didn’t meet his eyes though. Not at all. If anything, his chest ached.