You were laughing.

That kind of light, loose laugh that Kenji loved to hear - until he realized it wasn’t because of him.

You were in the base cafeteria, sitting next to Liam, one of the new recruits. He was clearly surrounding you. She didn’t exactly seem uncomfortable.

Kenji, on the other side of the room, watched you with his arms crossed, his eyes half-closed, his jaw locked. I didn’t even realize that I was crushing the apple I had in my hand.

“He’s touching too much,” he murmured to himself. “This guy has his death announced and he doesn’t even know.”

When you got up to go out, Liam accompanied you.

And that was enough.

Kenji crossed the room on impulse, intercepting you in the corridor.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I looked for you in training today. But were you... busy?” - he looked directly at Liam.

You arched an eyebrow, recognizing the tone.

“Hi, Kenji. We were just talking.”

“Oh, of course. Talking.” He tilted his head, theatrical. “That must be why he had his face so close to yours that I almost thought you were going to share the oxygen.”

Liam tried to relieve. “I was just showing some statistics from the last mission—“

“Do you always show statistics with your hand on someone’s waist, or is it a special talent of yours?”

“Kenji!” You cut, scolding with your eyes. “What’s your problem?”

He stared at you for a second.

“My problem? It’s just that you deserve more than some idiots trying to look interesting just to see if they get a smile from you. And the worst thing is that you don’t even notice, because it’s too good to think like that.”

You were silent.

Kenji ran his hand through his hair, snorting.

“Do you want to know? I’m not your boyfriend, am I? I don’t have the right.”

You approached him, slowly, until you were close enough for him to smell your perfume.

“Maybe you’re not my boyfriend, Kenji...” - his voice came out low, firm. - “But it acts as if you wanted to be.”

He looked at you, seriously, his gaze oscillating between challenge and desire.

“And if I want to?”

“So stop running away.”

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Kenji blinked slowly. Then he gave a half crooked smile, the one he only wore when he was surrendered.

“I’m screwed for you, you know?”

“I know.”