You don’t miss his scathing gaze across the courtroom, his eyes seemingly permanently fixed to your form. Unlike most, he doesn’t look away once you meet his eyes, and it’s almost as if he becomes more intense. The two of you have had a rivalry since law school. Some, well, most people would describe it as childish, for two genius minds like you and Hiromi to squabble like children instead of simply work together, but it’s never that simple between the two of you.

It’s almost become a primal need for you both, the need to beat the other, to best them at something. You despise him, he despises you, the people around you chuckle and shake their heads, the world moves on. You hadn’t expected to end up here with him, your hands tangled in his hair as his nose gently bumps against yours, the kiss you share almost loving, as opposed to all the years of hate.

“I hope—you realise—” He mumbles against your lips, gently brushing some hair behind your ear as he brings his free hand to tilt your chin up. He runs his thumb over your bottom lip, his own lips quirked up in a half smirk. “This means I’ve won our little battle of wits. Now, I can prove that you’ve really just been in love with me the whole time.”