If I can help you (an Amasai fanfic)

Mysteries and chuckles

Rantarou was relieved when Shuuichi seemed to have recovered as he was finally going back to school again. Rantarou also tried to encourage Shuuichi to keep going, which surprisingly has worked. However, Shuuichi was still shy and did not make eye contact, Rantarou guessed that he wouldn't be seeing his smile again anytime soon. He was glad that at least Shuuichi responded to him more on their walks home. It seemed as if Shuuichi was becoming more comfortable with him, adjusting to the fact that he would see Rantarou everyday instead of Kaede. He spoke less and less about Kaede, he did seem a little sad but he was trying to move on.

On their walk home, Rantarou decided to mention about it for a little bit. "You know, Saihara, I'm proud of you. I've seen a lot of improvement in the last few days, it really makes me glad." He said in his normally calm and soothing voice. He was expecting Shuuichi to say 'you remind me of Akamatsu-san' but instead he said,
"T-thank you Amami-kun, I-I'm glad too.."
his voice soft and flustered as ever. Rantarou cleared his throat in an attempt to not distract himself.
He was sure that he liked girls but..

Why did he find Shuuichi oddly cute?

He couldn't help but to feel some sort of adoration when Shuuichi had said those words to him. Maybe he's just really happy that Shuuichi finally separated him from Kaede.
Yeah, he'll just go with that.

Shuuichi was looking away from him as he said that, his misty eyes showing a clear embarrassment. He smiled at Shuuichi. There's no way he's going to tell him that he's cute, that would be awkward. "Y-you know.. Amami-kun I really am starting to.. l-like your co-company.." the last part was almost inaudible but Rantarou sworn that he had looked at him for a bit before looking back at the ground. "Ah, I enjoy your company too Saihara. It's good to see we got so close, huh?" Rantarou replied nonchalantly, smiling a little bit while looking up.

Rantarou was right, they are getting closer. They started sitting next to each other at lunch, Rantarou would start picking him for group projects or work when they had the same class, but most importantly, Shuuichi was talking to him more. Sure he still sounded so flustered when he uttered 'Amami-kun' but it was still a major step. Hell, Shuuichi, who would usually blush furiously and yelp, now accepted Rantarou's hand going on his head or shoulder. Rantarou would see his soft eyes closing and his face growing serene when he pet his head or when he seemed to comforted when Rantarou placed his hand on his shoulder, despite the small blush that lingered.
Though their closeness was starting to get a little embarrassing. Rantarou could recall when Shuuichi accidentally put his hand on top on Rantarou's when they were reaching for the same thing, he heard Miu loudly yell "GET A ROOM!" Or when Kokichi would giggle and say "I wonder how far it'll take till it escalates~." Or when Tsumugi kept saying how her "ship will sail." It was all so embarrassing, especially when sometimes Shuuichi would ask to use the bathroom to run out of the class with his hands over his red hot face. It was so odd, they clearly weren't in a relationship. Rantarou was just helping Shuuichi recover yet everyone thinks it's all so inappropriate. Nonetheless, they stuck together. He needed to do this, he genuinely cared about Shuuichi, especially after the incident of Shuuichi staying home for almost a whole week.

"A-amami-kun.." Rantarou felt a delicate hand tug at his sleeve. He suddenly shook out of his clustering thought. "Yes, what is it?" He asked, looking back at Shuuichi. "T-this is my home, you almost walked past it.." he said softly. Rantarou didn't get it, was he asking for a goodbye?
"Oh, my bad! I was a little distracted, see you tomorrow, yeah?" He asked as he saw Shuuichi let out a soft sigh of relief, the gentle air escaping from his pretty lips. "R-right, s-see you tomorrow, Amami-kun...!" He said, waving his hand while actually making some sort of eye contact for once.

Everyday passed by usual, as they would stick with each other. Most of their conversations were light since they still didn't know each other too well, usually it was talk about what was happening around the school or Rantarou making small jokes. Rantarou kind of wished he knew Shuuichi as well as Kaede did.
One day at lunch, he met up with Shuuichi to notice him absorbed in a murder mystery book. He's a detective so of course it'll make sense. Rantarou sat next to him, he didn't want to disturb him. He looked at Shuuichi's focused face as he was buried nose deep into the book's pages. After a while, Shuuichi put down his book to notice Rantarou was sitting next to him the whole time.
"Ah! A-amami kun, I'm sorry..!" He exclaimed, he looked more flustered than usual. "Nah, its fine. It only taught me a little more about ya." He said to him in his nonchalant voice. "I-it's still rude though.." He said ever so softly, using the book to muffle his words. Rantarou couldn't help but to chuckle a little. "H-hey..!" Shuuichi exclaimed, even if he seemed a little offended, it was a kinda hard to take him seriously. "I'm sorry about that." Rantarou replied while still chuckling a bit, he's clearly not sorry at all. Rantarou decided he'd joke with Shuuichi for a bit. "If you like mysteries than.." he paused on purpose to keep suspense.
"Solve the mystery about the development of this friendship!" He exclaimed while trying to keep his laughter. He was clearly making a joke that mocked what everyone else had been saying.
"N-nooo stoop!" Shuuichi basically whined, his face was red hot as he hid himself further in the book. Rantarou kept chuckling to himself. "Alright, alright, I'm done here." He said, referring to his joking. Shuuichi was still looking away from him and it seemed like he was pouting.
Nonetheless, Shuuichi still agreed to walk home with him. Rantarou decided that perhaps he should get more into murder mysteries so it may be easier to talk to Shuuichi.