The response isn't unexpected, but Riku's honesty and authenticity -- those are reasons why he's so beloved among IDOLiSH7 fans, his group, mom and dad...
...That applies to Tenn himself, too, he's realizing. He always knew he loved Riku, but often times he found himself trying to block those feelings out, to remind himself that he had to be cold and callous and put up a wall between them for his own good. He walked away from the Nanase family because he wanted to keep them safe, and he thought that if he ever opened up to Riku in the way that he used to again, Riku would be the one who'd have to suffer for it.
Here, though, that doesn't work. Here, where Riku needs someone most, Tenn doesn't have it in him to keep those same walls up.
He wants to be Riku's brother. As much as he told Sami they're no longer related, Tenn knows and has always known deep down that Nanase Riku is his beloved twin. There is no one else who can take that spot away from him. And if there is anything that this cruel, wicked game has done for Tenn, it's that it brought him and Riku closer together again, as family. As brothers. It's reminded him that this -- being beside Riku again -- is where he really, truly wants to be.
His expression softens. The words slip out from between his lips -- he can't help himself. He can't bring himself to hold them in anymore. ]
I love you too, Riku. And I hope you know that I always have.
oh god the tl;dr -- spoilers ahoy!!
The response isn't unexpected, but Riku's honesty and authenticity -- those are reasons why he's so beloved among IDOLiSH7 fans, his group, mom and dad...
...That applies to Tenn himself, too, he's realizing. He always knew he loved Riku, but often times he found himself trying to block those feelings out, to remind himself that he had to be cold and callous and put up a wall between them for his own good. He walked away from the Nanase family because he wanted to keep them safe, and he thought that if he ever opened up to Riku in the way that he used to again, Riku would be the one who'd have to suffer for it.
Here, though, that doesn't work. Here, where Riku needs someone most, Tenn doesn't have it in him to keep those same walls up.
He wants to be Riku's brother. As much as he told Sami they're no longer related, Tenn knows and has always known deep down that Nanase Riku is his beloved twin. There is no one else who can take that spot away from him. And if there is anything that this cruel, wicked game has done for Tenn, it's that it brought him and Riku closer together again, as family. As brothers. It's reminded him that this -- being beside Riku again -- is where he really, truly wants to be.
His expression softens. The words slip out from between his lips -- he can't help himself. He can't bring himself to hold them in anymore. ]
I love you too, Riku. And I hope you know that I always have.