"Hrmm?" The response was half asleep.

"Have you ever been in love?"

A pause. "Love?" the befuddled response came.  "Like really passionate 'bout something...?"

There was a creak of the bed. "Like with another person," the softer voice clarified. 

A yawn. "Nope."

"Oh..."

There was a pause for a moment. "You still hung up on Asuka?"

"Eh? Ah--" the reply was flustered and accompanied by the shift of blankets. 

A soft chuckle. "I'd say that's a yes." 

"Anikiiii...."

"Can't say I blame you though. Nice body, nice deck." His voice grew briefly gleeful despite its tired sound. "Always awesome dueling her."

"You're hopeless," the softer voice laughed, sounding almost saddened.

Another pause. "Something up?" 

Hesitation. "Sort of,.... I've--- just been feeling, lately... that's there's one person I want to spend my life with..." The reply was soft and wistful, warm with emotion.

"Ooooh?" The boy's teasing smile was almost visible in his voice. "Someone you know?"

"Un." The covers rustled again. "Someone I know very well...."

"Someone that I know too?"

A small laugh. "I'd hope so!" 

The laugh was echoed. "So it is Asuka then, eh?"

"No."

A pause. "Really? Not one of her friends, is it?"

"Not them either."

Another pause. "Huh. Who else is there then?"

There was another rustle of covers. "Maybe it's too obvious." The voice was soft. "I didn't realize it for a while... having that person so close..."  

There was a quiet a long, befuddled moment. "But's there's no other girls we hang out with..."

There was no response.

"Shou...? You still awake?"

Again, no response.

Juudai sighed, shaking his head. Figures. Ah well. Shou would eventually tell him what was going on if it was important, he decided, snuggling into his blanket.  He wouldn't waste any sleep thinking on who else it could possibly be, even if it did feel like he was missing something obvious. 

He paused, hearing a soft whisper from his bunk mate. Blinking, he opened his mouth to ask him to repeat it, but paused as his brain slowly processed the words. Had-- had he just-- just said....?

"I love you.... Aniki...."