[ the laugh makes his heart execute a perfect backflip — apparently the change in their relationship status has done nothing to help the way junpei's laughter affects him, every single time. the kiss is a sweet little thing, and charles tightens his arms around junpei a tad, then, to support his weight so he can actually lean against him properly.

he hums in assent at the request, because turns out this is exactly where he wants to be, too; he crouches and tilts his head forward to tuck his face against the crook of junpei's neck, then, breathing in and out for a moment before pressing a light kiss there, before brushing his nose against the line of his neck, up and down again.

as he straightens up, he drops another kiss to junpei's temple, still cradling him in his arms as he says, with a soft kind of awe, ] I don't think I've ever been this happy.

[ it's his turn to laugh lightly, more of a chuckle than anything else — because, really, in hindsight it's somewhat hilarious that it took him so long to understand what he was feeling, especially when he thinks he's been drawn to junpei from the first moment of meeting him. and every single moment they've spent together, no matter the situation, junpei's never once failed to make him feel happy just by being there. ]

Not for nothing, but... you know I've been in love with you since that week, yeah?