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There was something off about Sho, he was never too attached to the Wicked Twisters, rarely spoke, and never truly fit in with them. That didn’t stop him from observing Nagi’s small habits. She could go on forever about her favorite manga, animes, and video games the same way he could talk about math for hours. Her purple strands would be played with whenever she was nervous. It was cute, she was cute , her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her everything. Sho would freak out whenever she got hurt in battles although he wouldn’t actually show it because that would mean he had a soft side and he CAN’T show that he has a soft side. He’d only show it when everyone else was asleep and he’d place his coat over her so she wouldn’t get cold. Even that was cute seeing Nagi pull it closer to herself. But he was the tough loner guy of the group and he couldn’t let them take him less seriously because of those dumb feelings. Those dumb feelings where his heart would beat faster and his cheeks would burn and- oh fuck he was in love .
Nagi on the other hand was the opposite, usually very open to her other teammates, always voicing her opinion, and she fit in with them like a puzzle piece. Even though Sho was reserved and quiet she tried to always include him in the group. He looked like one of her favorite characters, of course he was his own person and once she came to terms with that she saw the real him. His love for math,his ability to make art out of trash, how he could come up with witty solutions to their problems. He could also bring common sense to the table whenever Nagi and Fret got too carried away when it came to creating plans needed to carry out missions. And God his hair looked fluffy under the hat, like she could lay with it and make little pigtails out of it. He could and probably would kill her if she attempted but the thought of the brute Sho Minamimoto with piggy tails never escaped her. It’d make him look more cute than he was hot. Oh no was this a crush on another boy that doesn’t love her back?
It was awkward for Fret and Rindo watching the other two trying to get closer to each other. Not in a bad way just to a point where it was painfully obvious they liked each other but didn’t realize. Fret would beg Rindo to just let him spill the beans about how Sho and Nagi love each other obviously. It was always a no, Rindo would say people can’t rush the inevitable then kiss his boyfriend’s forehead. Thankfully Sho had too much confidence in him sometimes and would be dead set on getting close to Nagi and wouldn’t tiptoe around it as she would. It would usually result in a flustered Nagi not able to look Sho directly (she already couldn’t anyways she’d have to look up to him unless he bent down). The closer they got the more Sho became protective of her as well. He wouldn’t hesitate to protect her from noise attacks if the threat was larger than she could handle. There had been instances where he would have to throw Nagi over his shoulder and carry her away so she couldn’t go back to fight the T-Rex noise she wanted to. She’d trust him to keep her safe.
Sho never imagined himself being so vulnerable to people, especially to a girl he didn’t want to be close to originally. He felt he could trust her with thoughts of his past (minus his time as a reaper to be safe) and his dreams. She trusted him similarly, she talked about how the boys she dated didn’t love her or made fun of her interests even if they were important to her. There were times he’d willingly comfort her if she cried recounting the events, it made her feel guilty for burdening her teammate but being in someone’s arms again was . . . relieving. Nagi couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so loved by a boy.
Of course though Sho remembered he had a mission, use the Wicked Twisters as a way to get through the game. He had to betray them, there was no other choice for him to choose. Fret and Rindo took as well as they could, trying not to worry about it and keep working towards coming back to live together. Nagi however took it as poorly as anyone could. He was a lying deceitful, two faced snake. She trusted him, with her past, her feelings, her interests and this is what he did. They all trusted him and he betrayed them. All those times she had been lied to came back to haunt her now. As soon as she saw the note Sho left the night he left she couldn’t help but scream from anguish. It was pathetic for him to believe that leaving at night so there were no proper goodbyes to the Wicked Twisters would hurt them less, it only hurt Nagi more.
The time eventually came to where they had to fight Sho because that prick couldn’t just let them live because they had been friends. Fret and Rindo were ready as they’ll ever be, they’d do whatever it takes to win the game. Nagi froze at the sight of seeing the boy she loved ready to fight her and her friends. Not a sign of hesitation or fear in his voice. That’s when it happened; as soon as the Wicked Twisters were about to make the first attack Nagi collapsed on the floor crying. She wanted to attack him, unleash all the anger and sadness he had caused her but she just couldn’t bring herself to do, she still loved him . Fret and Rindo stopped dead in their tracks looking over to the girl. To their surprise Sho stopped as well. “C’mon what are you crying about, I have a fight to win?” Sho asked, his voice slightly shaky this time.
Nagi looked up at him and glared dead in the eyes, “Y-you. . . YOU IDIOT, YOU BETRAYED US AFTER BEFRIENDING US AND YOU EXPECT US TO BE OKAY?” She shouted at him loud enough Fret and Rindo winced at her tone.
“Yes, you zeptograms weren't supposed to think of me as a friend.”
“DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT YOU? HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT YOU, I LOVE YOU SHO, BUT YOU’RE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER BOY I’VE LOVED, A HEARTLESS LIAR!”
It hit him like a bullet, Nagi loved him the same way he loved her. He had to stop this now, he ran towards where she was on the floor. “GET AWAY FROM ME YOU SNAKE YOU LIAR YOU YOU you-” She stuttered as she tried to scoot away from him.
Sho pushed through Fret and Rindo trying to block him from Nagi. Sliding down to her level he almost knocked her over when his arms went around her. She was frozen in shock as Sho joined her in crying. “I should’ve given up on my mission as soon as I fell in love with you but now I will.” He admitted to her.
Nagi looked into his eyes, wiping her tears, “If you did I could have done this a lot sooner.” She admitted quietly.
She placed her hands behind his head and pulled him in to kiss him. He let it happen, he might have wanted it more than she did. After they had become breathless from the kiss they pulled away, “Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.” He chuckled.