Red doesn't like to be touched unless there's something in it for him.

It's frustrating, and yet predictable, because Red is just the type of guy to be like that and Hibiki knows better than to think that they can do things like hold hands in public needlessly. He likes Red (a lot), but sometimes he wishes he didn't have to have such a stubborn boyfriend. He's being selfish, but so is Red, and Hibiki doesn't see any of it changing. Even when they kiss, it's a fight just to allow the younger to grip the more experienced trainer's shoulders. He doesn't try that often and settles for shoving slightly shaking hands into his pockets.

Hibiki likes to imagine that the warmth emanating from himself is actually Red's.

Touching is important for someone like him, who was raised on contact and love and showing affection. For someone like Red, whose father left without a trace of the same tenderness that Hibiki's father did, touching is just something people do. It's like talking; it fills up space that doesn't need pervading.

Sometimes Hibiki slips up and reaches out to grasp at Red's hand, kiss Red's cheek, lean his head on the Champion's shoulder, just because he feels that need for closeness. He soon realizes what he did to cause Red to stiffen up like that, and laughs a little, smiling apologetically. All he receives in return is a blank stare, but the meaning is clear- why?

And someday Hibiki will show him why. He'll tell Red how much he means to him, how much he admires him, how much he just wants to be close to him.

He'll do all the unnecessary things he possibly can.