In response to the 15-Minute Ficlets challenge, word 55.

Denial

Satoshi has always prided himself on being sensible. Although he does have emotions, he does not allow them to get in the way of his decisions or to cloud his judgement. Emotions are only feelings, and they can have no place in his thought processes if Satoshi is to survive in the harsh world in which he lives.

He is not 'obsessed' with catching Dark, whatever people may say. It is... important for him to capture the thief. And yes, he does care about it, but that does not – in any way – affect the way he deals with it. His actions are based on cold logic, because emotions are unreliable.

He does not allow himself to feel any stronger emotions. He has no time for love, or other such abstract concepts.

And that is why Satoshi does not love Daisuke Niwa.

(Daisuke Niwa...)

...Yes, perhaps Niwa has a childlike innocence and naïveté about him that is somewhat appealing. Perhaps he has an idiotic grin and kind-hearted nature that some might find attractive.

But Satoshi is unaffected. He does not feel love. He doesn't.

And yes, it may be that he refuses to hurt Niwa-kun in any way, despite knowing that he is Dark's winghost, but that is certainly not because of any affectionate feelings towards him. It is merely... his concerns about how the police force might react.

So when Satoshi leapt into the pool to rescue the drowning Niwa-kun, and immediately volunteered to give him CPR upon realising that the boy was unconscious, it was nothing to do with... love, or any sentiments such as that.

It was nothing meaningful... simply the practical thing to do.