just friends [kise ryouta x reader]

"Ah, I'm sorry, Kise-kun." She untangled his arms and turned around to face him.

"It's okay~ Anyway, who's this?"

He gave the guy an up-and-down with a cold stare, giving him the option to either walk away or 'die'. The poor guy quickly bid them farewell and ran away as fast as his legs could take him.

"Let's get ice cream, ne?" he asked with a giggle, carrying her backpack for her.

"Why do you have so much energy even after basketball practice?" she asked.

He pouted. "Mou! That's so mean!"

She laughed lightly and gave her hand a wave. "Sorry, sorry, you're just too funny."

He smiled and took that hand, intertwining her fingers with his. His bright smile widened when she didn't reject his skinship and he felt his heart soaring in his chest. Was she finally caving in and accepting his affections?

"Eh, [Name]cchi, you're so cute!" Kise cooed, then suddenly turned around. "Okay now, wait for a second!"

Kise stuck his ice pop into his mouth, then tugged her shirt collar. "[Name]cchi, I have your popsicle!"

"You can eat it for me."

"No, [Name]cchi!"

"I hear your fangirls, so we better hurry."

The blonde pouted. "Please don't be this way."

"What way?" she snorted.

He huffed and tugged the shorter girl closer, enveloping her in one of his tight embraces. He had hoped she heard the beating of his heart, so she'd understand that he was doing all of this crap (chasing boys away, walking her home, and buying her ice cream) because he was in love with her, and no one else.

"I really, really like [Name]cchi!" he said, in his whiny voice. "So please take your melting ice cream!"

She laughed at him. "Kise, you're so dumb! Why'd you unwrap both of them?"

"How mean! Will you please just take it now?"

[Name] let out another short laugh and took the popsicle from his hands, laughing when he whined at how sticky his hands were now becoming. He loved how she laughed at anything he did, whether is was saying something dumb or acting dumb. She would smile whenever he was with her. Wasn't that love?

After a moment of silence, the girl spoke up, "Kise, we're best friends, right?"

"Of course, [Name]cchi!"

"Then can I tell you something?"

Kise's heart was pitter-pattering in his chest. Was he really ready for her confession? Was he really ready for her to sa--

"I've liked someone for a while now..."

His heart beat faster.

"...And he's a senpai who plays for our soccer team."

His heart suddenly shattered.

This really wasn't happening, was it? His [Name]cchi was only joking, right? She loved playing pranks on him, so this was just a prank. It had to be a prank. But, when Kise looked at the girl to his side, he noticed the lovesick look in her eyes and realized it was true.

"That's really great, [Name]cchi!" He forced a smile.

She blushed. "A-Ah, thank you."

He lost to some guy he didn't even know.

"Was it that boy from before?" he heard himself ask.

"God, no. That was just his friend."

Kise scratched his cheek and avoided her innocent gaze, a sad look in his eyes.

"I'm really happy for you," he muttered.

This was the first time he's ever felt true sadness. He could only watch and half-listen to her happily ramble on about how cool and mature her senpai was. He felt envious. Envious that someone else earned her affections. Envious that she was cooing over someone other than him. Kise wasn't prepared for this.

"You're a really great friend." [Name] smiled.

He continued eating his popsicle nonchalantly. "Of course I am."