He didn't like this.
Not one bit.
He didn't like the way your eyes shined with fascination as Tōru allowed you to examine his gun, or the way Yōhei's face flushed a deep, crimson red every time you spoke to him, or how you followed Ren around the base like a little puppy dog; obeying her every command and showering her with constant praise and admiration, and he most certainly did not like the way Yōsuke ever-so-casually threw his arms around you, pulling you into his tight embrace as though it was something he did all the time.
That bastard didn't need a hug, he needed a beating.
Shuji diverted his burning eyes back to the vivid screen before him, the faint silhouette of his distressed expression reflecting back to him. He sighed, and stood up from where he had been sitting and found his feet subconsciously wandering towards the adjoining kitchen. The sienna eyed boy massaged his left shoulder as he rummaged through the cold food haven for something that would ease his growing hunger, eventually settling on a simple glass of water to suffice as the base seemed to lack much of anything else even remotely appetizing. He made a mental note to get around to doing some actual shopping whenever he had the chance, else be subjected to the preparations of whatever that spiky haired, spear wielding nuisance in the other room managed to adjudicate.
Running a tired hand through the jet black hair atop his head, he clicked his tongue. 'Since when do unit leaders actually have to do any desk work?' the exasperated boy speculated to himself, 'wasn't it usually the operators job to deal with any and all inside problems that needed to be taken care of? So why was something like this given to him?'
Upon returning to the room he had sat previous (very agitated, mind you), he glanced over at said operator, what work was she even doing that had forced him into filling out those papers anyway? Only to find, much to his utter surprise, her nowhere to be found. What he did see, however, was not anything like he expected to... or ever wanted to.
Tōru had since left the room as well (probably too exhausted too deal with all the excited chatter of the other members), and the now angered boy presumed that the younger shooter had followed his senpai in hot pursuit. So if they were both gone why, why, was this idiot still here, his face only inches away from (y/n)'s?
It's hard to recall what even happened next, for any of the three parties in the room. One moment (y/n) was madly blushing at the close proximity of the eccentric male before her, and the next, a crash, and she felt herself being ripped away from his hold and slamming into a hard, yet somewhat cushioning, presence of another. The atmosphere surrounding the three of them following the event was silent, yet immensely tense, until the sound of a low growl emitted from the newest member to the interaction.
"Keep your filthy hands off of her, you rodent," he spoke sharply, each word coated in a form of poisonous venom that dared the one across from him to utter his excuses for daring to touch his most precious person in such a way.
Said girl glanced up the enraged male once she had been able to comprehend where she had now been roughly moved, "Shu-chan...?"
His expression stayed the same and the boy pulled her closer to his chest, angry eyes narrowing at he who dared to do the same only moments ago.
However, much to his surprise, the other black haired male only shrugged and held his hands out in front of him in a form of surrender.
"I didn't mean anything by it, man. She's yours, and I wouldn't ever dream of taking her away from you," Yōsuke dropped his hands, moving them swiftly from the air to his pockets below, "Besides, she seemed much more interested in whatever you seemed to be so immersed in over by your lonesome than anything the rest of us could have done to try and steal her attention away."
A farewell wink and the wayward team member was gone, leaving the two (a little stunned) to contemplate what the meaning behind his parting words were. A while past, with neither a sound nor squeak uttered from the either of them. (y/n) could feel her heart racing, this was the second male she had been so close to today, and this one made no signs of releasing her from his grasp anytime soon.
After what seemed like centuries later, the flustered girl was the first one to break the ice, "Are you... perhaps... jealous, Shu-kun..?"
His face instantly lit up. (y/n) watched as the stoic man beside her hastily released her form and hurriedly turned his back to face her.
"I am no such thing, I-I have no clue where you would you even come up with such a preposterous claim."
He was stuttering, she noticed, and blushing madly as he glanced his sienna orbs over every surface around them except her own (e/c) ones.
"You're avoiding eye contact," she pointedly stated.
"W-well you're avoiding me," he defused.
The girl smiled, "Ah, so you are jealous, then."
His fidgeting form spun around briskly to face her, "I am not!"
The pair stood facing each other, silent as they gazed at the other in hopes that they would come to be the first to drop the topic at hand and move on, or at least that's what he was hoping. Secretly, on the inside, his partner was beaming with joy just with the thought that the burning feeling was lingering somewhere inside the man she adored. Moments past, and Shuji took one of her small (I apologize if you have big hands) hands delicately in his.
"Come on," he sighed, "let's get you home."
"But I don't want to go home yet," the girl protested.
He smiled down at her, "I know you don't, but I finished enough work for now so I think it's about time we head out."
A small pout formed on the girl's face, earning a mere smile from him as he began to lead her out of the building. The cuteness she was radiating seemed to seep into all of him and he couldn't help but feel his heart leap at the sight of the girl he cared for more than he could ever imagine. He loved her, he was certain of that, and he knew that she loved him as well. Their joined hands swung between them as they followed the familiar path back to the female's abode, the warmth that each of them felt on their palms proof enough of the presence of the other. The boy couldn't help but shoot his eyes over to her physique, his watchful gaze gradually turning into one filled with happiness and love as he watched the smile light up her entire face; and his body.
Shuji couldn't even begin to describe how lucky he was, to have someone so wonderful as she, to hold, and to cherish, and to bask in the beauty of her entire self. He was happy with her, and when she was with him - not so much when she decided to join in the company of others, especially those of his other unit members. He cringed at the thought, already getting defensive when he remembered just how close that b*****d was getting to her. 'The next time that happens,' he mused, 'he'll be regretting ever laying eyes on his girl.'
This sudden change of demeanour didn't go unnoticed by the girl, who only happily smiled to herself as she found her spirits beginning to pick up from the previous lonely state they had been in before. She felt him grip her hand a little tighter, and she took that opportunity to edge a wee bit closer to him, an action which neither of them obliged to.
• • •
Turning the last corner, the girl smiled up innocently at her handsome companion, "You look so cute when you're jealous."
"(y/n)!"
• • •
A/N: Hey, Kyo here and I would just like to thank you for actually reading this far and, hopefully, you enjoyed it as much as my heart raced publishing it. It's my first fanfic so this is actually pretty important to me (despite how cheesy that sounds), so it would be appreciated if you could give some feedback in the comments (it's up to you, though, so I don't mind). Anyway, I know Shuji's not that popular of a character, and World Trigger doesn't seem to even be that well-known of a show or manga, but I love it (and him) and wish to share even more of him and the wonderfullness of their world with all of you in this lovely community :)