a/n: time skip one shot ahead for y'all simpin for suna (and I simped a lil after writing this lol)

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Being frugal college students wasn't easy, especially when the cold winters of Japan that hit each year made you and your roommates question your sanity. But, you'd finally decided, after scraping together some extra money with the help of your housemates, that it was high time you bought something nice for yourselves.

So, when a knock sounded on the apartment door one afternoon while everyone was out at volleyball practice, you practically jumped for joy and shuffled over to the entrance. Never in your life had a box on your doorstep excited you as much as it did today. Using all the strength your chilled bones could offer, you dragged it inside and grabbed a pair of scissors to slice open the tape sealing it shut. Inside was a disassembled table with a built-in heater and a small instruction manual. Pushing your (h/l), (h/c) strands of hair away from your face, you sat down on the floor and got to work.

While the small, white flakes of snow gently floated down towards the ground outside, you worked diligently on following rather simple instructions to build the kotatsu table that you had all pitched in money to purchase. And, when your roommates returned from their long practice with an additional member in tow, they walked in to find you snuggled underneath the heavy futon sandwiched beneath the top layer of the table in the living room, enjoying the heat radiating from the underside of the kotatsu you'd put together as you watched TV.

"Oh, sick," Suna commented, dropping his bag on the floor and instantly rushing over to settle himself down beside you.

With a chuckle, you teased, "I think that was the fastest I've ever seen you move, Rin."

"Awesome! You are my savior, (f/n)!" Komori chirped, his eyes wide with awe as he took off his shoes and set his bag down next to Suna's.

The guest he'd brought along didn't look too pleased, however, that two, slightly sweaty--but well bundled up--volleyball players had already made themselves at home beneath the kotatsu. "That's unsanitary," Sakusa groaned, his voice muffled by the mask over half of his face. Unlike the others, he hadn't had practice, so he was dressed in his normal street clothes instead. Grabbing a blanket draped around the arm of the couch, he wrapped himself up in a cocoon of warmth and sat on the cushions instead of on the floor with everyone else.

The final member of your household silently entered behind Sakusa and seated himself at the remaining edge of the kotatsu. All he said was, "Great job, (f/n); this was an excellent decision."

"Thanks, Washio!" you replied with a bright smile. He was a man of few words, so hearing any sort of praise from him was enough to make you feel accomplished. Turning to Suna, who was leaning back against the couch behind him with a dopey grin on his face, you asked, "Enjoying yourself?"

His sandy-colored irises tinged with a hint of gold slid over to the corners of his eyes to regard you with a half-lidded gaze. "I'm not leaving this spot, like, ever," he murmured, moving his hand to his forehead and lazily brushing his dark bangs to their respective sides.

Reaching for the television remote resting atop the table, you announced, "Well, that's great to hear because you guys came back at the perfect time! A new episode of 90 Day Fiancé is about to come on!"

"Cool. Good thing I wasn't gonna take a bath 'til later anyway," Suna hummed with satisfaction as his body practically melted into the warmth surrounding him.

Komori cheered, "Yes! I can't wait to see what happens this time. And I know Sakusa's all caught up now since he can't stand not finishing things and knowing what's going on."

"I hate that I'm invested in this show," his masked cousin grumbled, charcoal eyes set on you with annoyance.

Chuckling at everyone's commentary, you found the appropriate channel and turned up the volume.

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From the moment of its arrival onward, the kotatsu became the new centerpiece of your apartment. Every movie night spent with your roommates saw the four of you--five if Sakusa was around--gathered underneath the plush duvet. Homework and study sessions also took place with everyone ensconced by the furniture's warmth. It gave you a sense of security that you were sure was akin to that a mother's womb offered her developing fetus.

While all of your roommates appreciated and enjoyed the newest addition to your home, you and Suna seemed to spend more time around it than Komori or Tatsuki did. It wasn't uncommon for either of them to come home from class to find you, Suna, or the pair of you completely knocked out, halfway underneath the kotatsu, open textbooks and journals scattered across the table's surface.

Despite sharing a bedroom, you and your longtime friend spent your midnight study sessions in the living room, basking in its newest source of heat. Doing that was much easier than sitting on your individual beds, bodies disappearing under layers upon layers of blankets as you tried to finish up assignments at ungodly hours. It was safe to say that the two of you practically lived under that kotatsu now.

The warmth emanating from the new piece of furniture came in handy on one particularly icy evening, where the weather hadn't been the only thing chilling your bones. As the snow descended from the dark sky above, you walked silently through the night, scarf wrapped around your neck and clothes bundled tightly enough not to grant a single sliver of wind access to your skin. Your boots crunched softly against the sidewalk coated white, and your duffel bag hung with more weight on your shoulder than it had before.

When you finally reached your apartment complex and stuck the keys inside your front door following a short trip up the stairs, you felt a wave of relief at seeing the kotatsu sitting in the middle of the living room. You undid the notions on your boots, slid off your heavy layers, and shuffled over to the table, placing your bag of belongings on the floor. Though it had been turned off, it was still radiating warmth from its last use, which you assumed had been by Suna.

Sliding your lower body under the duvet and crossing your arms in front of your chest, you let your head fall back against the couch, sending your (e/c) gaze towards the ceiling. There was a lot on your mind, and though the heat from the kotatsu was helping to bring life back to your frozen body, there was little it could do about the emotional chill that plagued you like frostbite.

Going back home had always been a gamble for you. Sometimes, your parents acted neutral about your goals and chose to celebrate the fact that you'd gone to college in the first place--which you were fine with, since finding some middle ground was better than war. Other times, they questioned your decisions to no end, wondering why you'd chosen to do this instead of that when that could get you more money, more success, and more implied happiness as result. As a kid, you'd learned to tune out their doubts, since there hadn't been a way back then to escape from their criticism aside from going over to Suna's house to play video games or study for a few hours.

Now that you had the choice of whether you wanted to stay and get caught up in their war of words, however, you often chose to leave... and not return for months at a time. It pained you deeply to have such a distant relationship with your parents, since there were times where they treated you like their pride and joy. But, those times were becoming too few and far between, unfortunately. Despite your warnings, they continued to prod and question, and, thus, drive you away.

Tonight had been another one of those nights where you'd chosen to leave and cut your weekend with your parents short. After putting up with their frustrating behavior and underhanded comments for a whole day, you packed up your belongings and got a ticket for the next train out of your hometown. You didn't care that it was a dark and freezing night. For you, anything was better than the chill that always permeated your previous home. You thought it'd get easier to walk away each time you did it, but the pent-up emotions you'd held back while at home always weighed down on you the entire ride back, and lingered for days following your visits.

Because of this, it was no surprise that your vision began to swim, making the light fixture on the ceiling blur. Pressing your fingers into the corners of your eyes, you lowered your head and sunk further against the floor, trying to absorb as much warmth as you could from the kotatsu to make up for the lack of it you'd received from your family.

From where he sat in his bed, reading manga and snacking, Suna had heard you enter the apartment. He knew it was you because everyone else was home, and you were the only one who'd be awake at such a late hour. However, he'd expected you to come into the room you shared and tell him about your visit, as you always did, so when he heard nothing but silence after the door had closed, he became worried. Setting his book aside and shoving his hands into the pocket on his hoodie, he ambled out into the living room.

In the darkness only interrupted by slats of light seeping in through the blinds from streetlights outside, Suna saw your figure huddled beneath the kotatsu. You had your hands shielding your face and muffling the sniffles you let out every now and then, and he could see your body shaking with emotion. Since he'd known you for many years, this sight was nothing new to him and he knew that nothing needed to be said. Wordlessly, he sauntered across the room and sat himself down beside you, slinging an arm around your shoulders that would've made you jump if you hadn't heard his socked feet sliding along the floor.

It was incredible how such a simple gesture reminded you of how deprived you'd been of human contact. Your reaction of moving closer to him and wrapping your arms around his body was instant and done without any hesitation. His hand pressed against your back, holding you securely as you clung onto him and continued to cry silently. He waited patiently, not saying a single word until you spoke first, and simply offering his silent support through physical contact.

"Why is it so hard for them to accept me?"

I'll always accept you, he thought in response.

Another long bout of quietude ensued from your question asked out of sadness and curiosity. Suna shifted his head ever so slightly so his eyes could look down at you as you moved your head away from his chest.

"Why can't they see that I'm doing what I want and that I'm happy? I'm happy with my choices. I'm happy with my living situation. I'm happy with my friends. But that means nothing to them if I don't lead this shining life that they envisioned for me."

God, why can't I just tell her? Why can't I say it to her?

Your (e/c) eyes met with his own, muted golden ones, as if you were asking him for answers, but he knew you weren't. So, he remained silent, as he had learned to do after becoming your best friend and confidante, and figuring out how best to behave during moments like these. He knew you just liked to vent with no oppositions, even if he wanted desperately to jump in and reassure you, which is why he kept his mouth closed.

"Sometimes I wonder if they actually care... Sometimes I think they'll only love me and care about me if I do what they want me to do."

Do what you want, (f/n). No matter what, I'll still...

"(F/n)." Suna's slow utterance of your name made you close your mouth and wait in silence for him to speak again. There was a short pause, since he'd let your name slip from between his lips without thinking. But, now that he'd spoken, he had to finish what he'd started. He sighed, "I think your parents are wrong. If you're doing what makes you happy, then you're fine." A small hint of a smile appeared across his lips as he regarded you with a gentler gaze than you were used to, given his normally blank expression.

"'Sides," he continued, giving your shoulder a squeeze, "if you hadn't chosen this college, we wouldn't've been able to spend as much time together. And... it probably would've taken me longer to tell you that... I'm in love with you."

It took a few seconds for his words to register in your brain, since your thoughts were already all over the place. But, when you realized that he'd just confessed his feelings for you, a blush rose to your cheeks, and you stuttered, "Y-You are?"

He nodded and brought his other hand to your face so he could brush a few tears off your warm skin. Your heart pounded in your chest at his touch, and you didn't quite realize how small the distance separating the two of your faces was until a small movement forward closed the gap between your lips. You kissed him tenderly at first, treading cautiously into the deep ocean of affection you felt towards him, but he pulled you back in for more before you could break away.

"I love you too, Rintarou," you whispered, your lips turning upwards into a smile in spite of the tears in your eyes. He pressed another steady kiss against your lips. With a quiet giggle, you commented, "You taste like chuupet."

"Are you really surprised?" he joked.

"Not at all."

One of his arms brought your body flush against his, bathing you in his warmth, while his other reached onto the couch to retrieve one of the blankets you had strategically placed around the apartment. He then wrapped it around the two of you before grabbing a few pillows and slowly, but surely, lowering you down onto the floor with him.

"Rin, I have to go and unpack," you argued, albeit weakly.

He nestled his face into your neck, letting your (h/l) strands of (h/c) hair brush against his skin, and responded by tightening his grip around you. "Tomorrow," he murmured with finality.

Knowing that you couldn't evade his sloth-like grasp, you rested your head against the pillow he'd placed on the floor for you and pulled the futon as far over your bodies as it would go. Being wrapped up in his embrace and enveloped by the kotatsu melted away the chill that you hadn't been able to shake, and made it easy for you to sleep peacefully through the night.

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When Komori shuffled down the hallway and saw Tatsuki carefully pouring himself a glass of water the following morning, he opened his mouth to start a conversation. However, his teammate held his index finger up to silence him before pointing towards the living room. After sticking his head around the corner, Komori discovered his other two housemates sleeping soundly beneath the kotatsu, with Suna's lanky body spooning your figure.

His hand flew to his mouth to suppress a loud, I knew it! that he was going to blurt out, and he skittered back to his room to grab his phone. Upon returning, he snuck over to the two of you, snapped a few pictures to use as blackmail the next time Suna refused to do the dishes--as well as some cute candids, of course--and then ran back down the hallway with Tatsuki to look through the photos and laugh without awakening either of you.