putting under a read more cuz i am scared of beign cringe, a bit, maybe but uh...
UsuIbaNagi's first I love you to eachother (idk if I ever explained how they got together but ig u can kidna get a picture of their development through this) *this is all copy pasted, as I have made this for my close friends discord n not for tumblr. I'm sorry if shit doesn't make sense </3
We do have Nagisa canonically saying he loves Ibara, but we never got Ibara as far as I can remember. I imagine she must've said it in the aftermath of Secret Service? I need to read it still, but I imagine Secret Service being tied to it.
Now onto the good stuff:
Nagisa's first I love you to Usu was very nonchalant. They were spending time together, before Usu tried his best avoiding Nagi like the plague. They must've been maybe in the library at the Stardorms, talking together, when Nagi made Usu laugh accidentally, and then with that face that Nagi does (the one with lidded happy eyes and a sweet expression) he said it. N that was the start of Usu avoiding him. After he heard Nagisa say that. I don't think Usu ran away immediately, but after that day, his demeanor changed almost entirely. Evasive, sometimes seemingly dismissive, and for a while Nagi kept going after him, and after Nagi did his first confession, n Usu said they shouldn't be near each other, Nagi respected his wishes n only yearned from afar. Ofc until Ibara intervened.
Usu's first I love you for Nagi was on their technically first official date, before they got together. Ibara convinced Usu to go on a date with Nagisa, as to "either accept his heart or break it properly" since Usu being on Nagisa's mind was fucking up Eden activities n rehearsals. The date was honestly perfect, it was a rainy day, n the 3 of them went to a Café n later to the park to see the lake while it rained. N Usu quite honestly had a breakdown bc he actually liked Nagisa too. He did for a while. But he was so so scared of hurting Nagisa. He is scared of hurting anyone, but hurting Nagi physically or plain right losing him entirely felt like it would hurt way more. And in the midst of the breakdown Usu said he loved Nagisa, n that's why it hurt, and why he shouldn't be near him. Idk if I wanna say everything, bc I actually want to write or draw this scene, bc it is a very specific vibe I want.
Imma do Usu for Iba n Iba to Usu last mainly bc Ibara was the last one to ever say it.
Usu and Iba, at first, hated each other, n were only somewhat nice for Nagisa's sake. Ibara was condescending and backhanded, ready to stab Usu if need be. Usu would tease and mock her for stuff a lot, usually stuff that he was good at. I cannot say it enough how, at first, they were only together DUE to Nagisa. But at some point, they grew used n comforted by the presence of each other. They gave up expecting the other to just leave at any moment (due to Nagi) n accepted that they r stuck together. N that meant growing nicer n less two faced with each other. At some point, Ibara started actually doing stuff for Usu, without a clear expectancy of return (tho that is always there, as she is technically his boss), n Usu, over the course of months, ended up falling for her. His I Love You was said half awake, during a sleepover at Nagisa's dorm, while Yuta n Kaoru were not there. Nagisa was already deep asleep, and Usu had woken up from a nightmare. Ibara ended up helping him calm down, mainly cuz him waking up woke HER up. And with that, Usu said it. Not awake enough to build walls, but just enough to be able to be as genuine as one can be. There was no light in his eyes, but there was a clear fondness, one that made Ibara uneasy. She did not say it back, or accept it. In fact she said she still despises him. And Usu accepted that. He did not want or expect her to say it back, or feel the same. He just needed to say it.
Ibara's first I Love You was like, the one furthest from the other 2 by far. I would even go out of my way n say it was either by the end of Y1 or beginning of Y2 at the earliest. Usu became part of Ibara's routine. She is well aware he is staying, and no fighting will make him stop liking Nagisa AND her, so, slowly, she became used to him, and ended up looking forward to seeing him. Teasing and mocking him, but also taking care of him because he CLEARLY doesn't do it himself. She also ended up growing fonder of the “muse” position Usu would put her and Nagisa. All in all, over the course of months, she grew to expect Usu to be there for her, the same way Nagisa was. And with that, Ibara ended up yes, becoming meaner, but also becoming genuine with him. She did not say it when her feelings started or ended up fully changing, she just acted like it, and she thought she was obvious enough with it for him to get it (He didn’t get it). So, at a merry day, Usu went to drop some valkyrie reports to Ibara, and since Ibara didn’t sign the documents right away, Usu just… lazed around in her Office. And at some point, while saying lots of nothings, and teasing each other (Usu would hug Ibara from behind her chair and watch her checking stocks, Ibara would say that usu thinks he is a doll to just stay being pretty instead of working), Ibara just very nonchalantly said “You truly are lucky I love you”. And Usu went like Pause. He did not get a bad reaction from it entirely, just was too dumbstruck to move or say anything. Ibara… ngl she was a bit of an asshole, and didn’t care for Usu’s silence, and kept doing her stuff. I think it would’ve taken like a minute or 5 of Usu in complete and utter silence till he asks “You… love me?” and then they both just stare at each other, not knowing what to do next. What happens next, however, is not the focus rn so I won’t say it lmao