Chapter Text
If you asked Kokomi what her favorite place to be was she’d say the Saiki’s home, more specifically Kusuo’s room. The small bedroom was where she felt more comfortable about being herself, even compared to her own room. Things had been tense at the Teruhashi house ever since her confrontation with her parents. It had been about a week since then, and things were only just starting to relax. Her parents had begrudgingly accepted that they couldn't force her to break up with Kusuo, and that Kokomi had formed a life of her own in their absence. Still they expected her to behave properly while at their house, which Kokomi complied with. Limiting her interaction with her parents to basic greetings and small talk. She has noticed them easing up on their comments, which she appreciated. Hopefully they’ll agree to meet Kusuo properly in the future. They were still her parents afterall, it’d be nice if they could at least be civil with her boyfriend. But right now in said boyfriend’s room, freshly out of the shower in borrowed pajamas, she didn’t have to worry about any of that at the moment. She made herself comfortable in his bed, spreading her limbs so she covered as much surface as she could. Kusuo usually called her a bed stealer, but he wasn’t here right now. He was taking a shower, so she had his room all to herself for a few minutes more.
She stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. She’d been crying an awful lot lately, which wasn’t something she usually did. A part of her was surprised Kusuo hadn’t started calling her crybaby, but she also knew he wouldn’t tease her about expressing her emotions, not when it mattered. She was becoming more comfortable expressing what she really felt in front of others, instead of putting on a practiced smile. Kokomi couldn’t help but smile at the thought of how much Kusuo had changed her life. If it wasn’t for him she’d still be that shallow girl who thought everyone was beneath her living only to be admired and praised. Just like her parents wanted her to be. Kokomi sighed, rolling onto her side and letting her thoughts drift. She could remember the version of herself that had perfected the art of charm and poise to the point of becoming her entire personality. That girl had been admired, praised, and envied, but she had felt hollow, always performing, always striving to maintain her perfect image. The thought made her heart ache. She’d been so focused on appearances that she hadn’t realized how lonely she was. She nestled deeper into Kusuo’s pillow, inhaling his familiar scent that instantly calmed her nerves. Her life before Kusuo felt so distant now, like a faded memory.
Kokomi thought back to when she first noticed him, the quiet, serious boy who never seemed interested in her charms. It had stung her pride at first, and she had tried so hard to impress him, to get him to say “offu”, convinced that it was just a matter of time. But now she couldn’t help but be grateful he didn’t, since it kept her trying to get closer to him. She learned that Kusuo wasn’t the shy guy she had imagined him to be, but a generally stoic guy who only really smiled when eating sweets. He didn’t fawn over her, trying to impress her at every turn like every other guy, but she preferred him that way. As she got closer to him, she just realized she wanted to be even closer. It wasn’t enough just to hear him gasp at her. She wanted him to fall in love with her, like she had fallen for him. She really did love her boyfriend, in all his introverted and gloomy self. He understood her better than anyone, and she liked to think she understood him too. As much as he likes to deny it, Kusuo cares a whole lot about others, especially his friends. Always going out of his way to help them without them even knowing. He had told her several anecdotes of how he used his powers to stop his friends from getting hurt or played. Kokomi found it funny how he’d always find a roundabout way of convincing himself he was doing it for his own benefit.
Kusuo never liked when she referred to him as a “tsundere”, but the truth was he simply was one. Always trying to hide how much he cares for those around him. Even now that they are actually dating he’s still not one to show too much affection, at least not in the traditional way. PDA is not really his style, or hers if she was being honest, but he made up for it in abundance of acts of service. Whether it was getting her a snack because “he was already getting one for himself” or using his abilities to help her avoid her fans when she was too tired to deal with them. He always found a way to show he cared, even if he grumbled about it. Because that is just who Kusuo is, a kind, if a bit grumpy, guy, who made her heart race in ways no one else could. She remembered the first time she had stayed over, Mrs. Kurumi had been the one who suggested it, seeing as it was raining heavily. Of course Kusuo could have just teleported her to her room, or simply walked her home with an umbrella like any non-psychic. But she had accepted Kurumi’s invitation way too fast for him to even suggest it. She had been really embarrassed about sounding so eager to sleep next to her boyfriend, her cheeks flushing bright red. Kusuo had been sure to call her a “tomato” about it, and she retorted asking him to specify that she was a “cute tomato”. Looking back it was funny to realize how far they had come in their relationship. She was proud to say she no longer turned into a “cute tomato” at the idea of sleeping in the same bed as her boyfriend. If anything he’s the one who gets more flustered having to hear her thoughts. Which was quite the treat to see. Kokomi laughed a little to herself at the memory. She snuggled further into Kusuo's blankets, breathing in the subtle, comforting scent that clung to them. There was something undeniably soothing about being here, knowing this room was a sanctuary for him and now, for her too.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a damp towel falling over her. She uncovered her face with a groan only to be met by her boyfriend’s annoyed yet flustered face. She hadn’t even noticed when he entered the room. ‘Stop thinking mushy things’, he said flatly, his cheeks tinted pink. Her smile grew wide and a little mischievous, she really hadn’t intended to fluster him while he was getting ready for bed, she had just let her mind drift on its own. But she wasn’t complaining, “Nope”, she said, throwing back the towel. He groaned as he caught the towel mid air with psychokinesis, and moved it to drape over his desk chair. Kokomi wordlessly scooted over to give him space to lay down. She watched as he carefully closed his eyes to remove his green tinted glasses and grabbed his sleeping mask. It had the picture of a cute panda, which Kusuo wasn’t particularly fond of, but he still wore it to make sure he didn’t accidentally turn her to stone. Once he was settled, she scooted closer, laying her head on his chest. She felt his arms slowly wrap around her, careful as to not crush her with his strength, and she sighed contentedly. ‘I love you’, she told him in her mind, the words soft but brimming with emotion.
There was a brief pause before she heard his voice in her head. “Yeah, yeah, love you too.” His tone was as nonchalant as ever, but she knew better. The faint flutter in his heartbeat against her cheek told her more than his words ever could. Smiling to herself, she closed her eyes, the warmth of his embrace lulling her into a peaceful sleep.