From A-Z, and Everything in Between

Inferiority Complex

"I get it if you don't want to talk to me right now. But it's important," Soraru continued.

There was a long pause of silence.

"You don't have to bother talking to me. I know that all I do is annoy you, so don't trouble yourself with me," MafuMafu mumbled.

"That's what you think? Oh, god no, you're the most wonderful person I've ever met! That actually kind of annoys me, but that's besides the point," Soraru said, trailing off towards the end. "Listen, I didn't mean what I said out there. I was just really frustrated, and it was wrong of me to take it out on you. I'm sorry."

Again, there was another long silence. Then, Soraru heard what he thought was something like a snort.

"Soraru-san never apologizes to me," MafuMafu said.

Soraru looked away sheepishly. "Don't get used to it."

MafuMafu rolled over to lay on his back, finally looking at the dark-haired male. "You said you wanted to talk, right?"

As he said this, he patted the space on the bed beside him. Soraru just looked at him for a few seconds, before hesitantly laying down next to him. They were both laying on their backs, staring up at the ceiling side by side. It was strange that Soraru's night had turned out like this.

"So, what's this about me being wonderful?" MafuMafu started teasingly.

Soraru was tempted to call him stupid and leave that very instant, but he was just too tired to care anymore. He wanted to talk, and he knew this would be the only time when he'd ever say the things that had been bothering him for a long time now. He just had to do it.

"I think you're great. You're talented, passionate in what you do, kind, friendly. Even if you are sort of awkward when you first meet people. You're just an amazing person," Soraru said.

MafuMafu felt his face heat up at hearing those words. He never expected anything like that to come out of Soraru's mouth.

"How am I supposed to compare to someone like you?" Soraru muttered.

"What?" MafuMafu said, surprised.

"It sounds dumb, but I feel so inferior to you. I know you'd do just fine on your own, but me? Without you, there's really not much I can do. We're just... supposed to be a team, you know?" Soraru sighed.

MafuMafu sat up suddenly, earning a questioning look from Soraru.

"Are you kidding me? I've look up to you for years! You're always so composed, and I get so overwhelmed by situations, but you're always there to keep me grounded. Soraru-san, I've wished I could be more like you more times than I can count," MafuMafu said.

Soraru stared at him in disbelief. "What? Why would you ever want to be like me?"

"Because to me, you're the best person in the world," MafuMafu smiled slightly, embarrassed.

Soraru had to admit, it was touching to hear MafuMafu say something like that. Surprising, yes, but definitely touching. MafuMafu laid back down, probably so he wouldn't have to look at Soraru anymore. Even though the room was pretty dark, Soraru could see a light dusting of red on the albino's cheeks.

"You know, I think we make a great team. On our own we both have things we can't do, but together we can do just about anything. And that's because we're different," MafuMafu went on quietly.

Soraru hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe you're right."

Just then, he remembered what MafuMafu had said to him back in the living room. That was something he had to ask about.

"Hey, MafuMafu?"

"Yeah?"

"What did you mean when you said you want me to love you?"

MafuMafu quickly rolled over onto his side so that he was facing away from Soraru again. "Figure it out."

"I can't. Because I'm not you," Soraru responded.

"Just because you're not me, that doesn't mean you have to be dense," MafuMafu said.

Soraru rolled his eyes. "I guess I'm just too dumb to figure it out then. So, explain it to me."

MafuMafu was silent for a moment, before he let out a soft sigh. "I already told you that I think you're the greatest person in the world. It just makes sense for me to want to be loved by someone like that, right?"

"What makes you think I don't already love you?" Soraru asked.

MafuMafu turned around to look at him again. "Huh?"

"It's just like you said, it makes sense to want to be loved by someone you think is great. And I think everything about you is amazing," Soraru said.

It took a few seconds for those words to sink in. MafuMafu laughed nervously and gave Soraru a playful shove.

"Come on, you don't actually think that," MafuMafu said with another laugh.

"I do, though," Soraru replied.

"But I'm... me," MafuMafu said slowly. What was so great about him?

Soraru smiled slightly. "Exactly. You're you. And that's the best thing you could be."

"I could be you. That'd be even better," MafuMafu pointed out.

"What? No way," Soraru said.

They went back and forth like this, arguing about which one of them was the better person, until it became nothing but an endless cycle of compliments. While it was certainly nice to hear all the things the albino thought were great about him, Soraru knew this had to end eventually.

"Okay, then how about this. Instead of me being you or you being me, how about we just be us?" Soraru suggested.

MafuMafu gave him a curious look. "Us?"

"Yeah. You said it yourself, we make a great team. If we're together, we won't have to change a single thing about ourselves," Soraru explained.

"I kind of like that idea," MafuMafu said, smiling shyly. "But what will we do when we aren't working together anymore? We can't make music forever."

Soraru hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe when that time comes I'll ask you to marry me."

"Soraru-san!" MafuMafu exclaimed incredulously.

Soraru laughed at his shocked expression. "I'm just kidding. Maybe."

"Is that your way of asking me out or something?" MafuMafu asked, a blush quickly forming on his face.

"Something like that," Soraru admitted sheepishly.

MafuMafu just stared at him for a long moment, then he smiled. "How can I say no to the best person in the world?"

This, of course, started up another argument of who was better. Neither of them really minded, though. They were happy to be able to spend the night exchanging loving words with each other.

A/N: It's very late and I really should be sleeping but here have this. It's been a while since I wrote something that actually had a happy ending, so I figured it was about time I did that. I think the idea of them having late night conversations where they're just completely honest with each other is cute, so hopefully I managed to portray that well ^^