Kuni is sitting on his bed, thinking of how it all came to this. Aether is in his kitchen, making him food while he sits and waits for him to be done. When they reached Kunis' home, Aether asked what he was going to have and after looking inside his fridge, he was horrified to find that it was empty except for some water bottles and a milk carton.
That prompted a lecture from Aether about getting proper food and taking care of nutrition's needed in one's body to function properly. Then he went to the groceries to get some ingredients to cook Kuni a proper meal.
Kuni sigh's to himself as he scrolls through his Instagram feed, waiting for Aether to finish. He cannot help but think how caring Aether had been towards him despite his temper and behaviour. He does not deserve the love and care this dude shoes him and it cannot help but make him like Aether more than he already does.
"Here you go." Aether barges into his room with a tray in hand, there's grilled chicken breast with white rice and Quinoa Salad on side. A mint smoothie is filled to the brim with it.
"You made all this?" Kuni exclaimed with wonder while sitting down to take the tray from him carefully.
"What else do you think I have been doing for an hour?"
"No need for your sass." Kuni takes a bite of the chicken and hums in satisfaction.
"Do you like it?"
"I don't want to say this but this is actually chief level cooking."
"Such big praise coming from your mouth feels weird. Who are you?"
"Are you serious?" Kuni deadpans munching on the rice, "Won't you have any?"
"Oh yeah lemme go grab mine."
When Aether bought his food, they ate together in comfortable silence and made small talk only. Afterwards, Aether washed the dishes and decided to leave as it was getting late.
"Don't leave," Kuni said as he got up to get futon for Aether, "Just stay the night, I'm sure you're just as tired."
"Really." Aether's eyes sparkled as he looked at Kuni with anticipation.
"Here you go." Kuni settles the futon for Aether and gestured at it.
"Aww you even made the arrangement for me."
"Shut up and turn the light off, I'm sleepy." Kuni laid down and covered his blush with the blanket, pretending to be asleep.
After a while, he heard the light switch turn off and Aether rustle in his futon before settling down in silence.
Today was a long day, but it was amazing as Kuni spent most of his time with Aether. No wonder he feels so smitten with Aether, he is a great person who even fed Kuni just because of his minor wounds. He finds himself falling more for Aether and hates himself for not being able to control any of this. He couldn't sleep well the whole night as he kept peeking from under the covers to observe Aether's serene face.
.
.
.
"Ohh, you want to join Venti's birthday party? He told me to bring more friends with me."
"Who's Venti?"
"The guy who went with us to the club Kunikuzushi!"
"Ohh the guy Xiao like-" he stopped abruptly and peeked guilty at Aether.
That made Aether laugh out loud, "You didn't have to look so guilty, I told you I will get over Xiao."
"I will go if you want me to go."
That earned a gasp from Aether who sat up and dramatically put a hand over his heart, "You will go for me? Oh how sweet of you!"
"Not going." said Kuni with deadpan.
"No no no I'm sorry," Aether said and begged him "Please I will be so bored."
"Ah here you are!" A cheerful voice joined them as Ajax walked towards them. "I hope I am not intruding." he looked at Kuni meaningfully.
"Hello Ajax." Aether said sweetly smiling his sunshine smile that earned a scowl from Kuni, how can this guy smile like that for everyone.
"Actually I am here to get Kuni," Ajax said pointing towards him, "This jerk was supposed to come to our meetup today so I am here to get him."
"He's all yours, Imma run back home then, I have groceries to buy. Bye bye." Aether got up and walked with such speed that Kuni couldn't even stop him.
"Don't look at me like that!" Ajax pouted "And why don't you start dating him already, you are so frekin obvious dude."
"He already likes someone else."
"Well fuck, is he planning to date?"
"Nup, he said he wants to get over him as he is already taken."
"Wait wait, so you're telling me you are in love with Aether who is in love with another dude that already has a partner?"
"Mhm."
"Fuck that's complicated yet good for you."
"How exactly is that good for me?"
"What do you mean? He's single and wants to get over his crush, you rizz him up and steal his heart."
"I don't want to be in a coping relationship."
"No you won't be, make him fall for you and then play hard to get."
That earned Ajax a look of interest from Kuni and he smirked.
"Okay so here is what you are going to do…."
Kuni decided to take Ajax's advice of making Aether fall for him by expressing himself better and then playing hard to get. Ajax is right, if not now then when? He already likes Aether so much attachment issues be damned. Aether had won his heart for a long time now so he had decided to pursue Aether with an intention of dating him. But due to his zero experience in dating, he had decided to listen to Ajax, he's an expert in love