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He may only be out to his little sister, but Kai being bisexual is no grand secret, it just hasn’t come up. What is more intentionally under wraps is that he may or may not have a crush on Zane. Zane, one of his best friends, who has just acquired himself a girlfriend. This is a fact that Kai is not at all bothered by, thank you very much. He’s self-aware enough to admit that he can be a fairly jealous person – not that it needs to be said, with the whole “Green Ninja” debacle – but that’s not relevant here. Kai just wants Zane to be happy. He’s good with just being friends, he’s never been one to dance around his feelings for no good reason, it’s just that this is enough for him. Kai isn’t willing to risk messing up his relationship with the nindroid on the off-chance he might return his feelings, not to mention how awkward it would be considering they share both the same support system and home.
Kai is perfectly content being Zane’s friend, but that doesn’t mean seeing him and Pixal together doesn’t sting. Kai has nothing against Pixal, she’s kind and funny and confident. She makes Zane happy, Kai could never resent her for that. The two are inarguably perfect for each other, he would never get in the way of what they have. It's just that thinking about how he’s missed his chance to tell Zane how he feels does something to Kai’s stomach. Which is stupid, considering he’s long since decided to not do that. Regardless, Kai do be feeling feelings no matter how much he would rather not.
In his attempts to avoid excessive longing, Kai offers to help Nya clean up the control room a few days after their battle in the Digiverse. Entering the bridge after lunch as they had discussed, Kai finds Nya sifting through a box of parts under one of the main panels. “How’s it going?” He says as a means of announcing his presence.
“Oh!” Nya sits up, apparently having not heard him open the door. “I’m good, pretty good. You?” She says, narrowly avoiding hitting her head on the counter as she stands.
“I’m alright, what am I helping with?”
“Well, I’ve got some spare parts to sort and cables to untangle, but I actually wanted to talk to you.” Nya doesn’t get nervous, nearly ever, but something similar to apprehension leaks into her voice now.
“You know you don’t have to make an excuse to talk to me.” He tells her, tone edging on teasing but words entirely genuine.
Nya smiles slightly. “I know,” She agrees, “It’s just a bit easier, y’know?” She takes a seat in one of the room’s chairs, Kai follows her lead.
“Yeah,” He agrees with a ghost of a laugh, “So what’s going on?” Admittedly, Kai already has a pretty good guess. Nya’s little love triangle drama with Jay and Cole has died down now, but she hadn’t talked to him about it the entire time it was going on. Nya has always been independently minded, Kai trusts her to take care of herself and to ask for help when and where she needs it. If what she needs from him is an escape from a stressful situation, he’s more than happy to be her shelter. He won’t deny his curiosity, though.
“I’m aromantic,” She says simply.
“Oh, okay!” He says, mildly surprised but happy for his sister nonetheless. “That’s in the same sphere as asexuality, right?”
Nya laughs, “Something like that. They both describe a lack of attraction, just different types of attraction. I guess I’m probably also asexual, but a lot of people don’t separate the two and ‘aromantic’ just sounds right.”
“I get that.” He says, giving her a lopsided smile. “I’m really proud of you, sis.”
He stands from his chair and Nya just smiles as he comes and wraps his arms around her. Nya melts into the hug and Kai just holds her. When they finally separate, Kai figures he might as well poke her about it. “So I take it this has something to do with the whole ‘Perfect Match’ thing?”
“Oh, don’t even get me started,” She says mock-seriously. “But kind of, it led me to realize I don’t really understand or want that kind of relationship at all.”
Kai thinks of how on edge Jay has been since he and Nya called it. The blue ninja has been trying (poorly) to act like everything’s normal but he’s pretty clearly down and easily frustrated. “Does Jay know?” It’s not about him, it really isn’t. Nya will always come before anyone else, but that doesn't mean Kai isn’t worried about his friend, too.
“Not in so many words,” She admits, “I told him I don’t think that sort of love is for me, but he’s still well within his rights to be upset.”
“Hurt? Sure,” Kai agrees, “But if he’s mad at you, I’m not gonna stand for that.” He says firmly, even knowing Jay could never resent her.
Nya scoffs, “I don’t think he is. I hate seeing him sad, though.”
“Hey,” He starts, resting his hand on her shoulder, “Even if you weren’t official, it’s still a breakup to him. He’s gotta feel his feelings, even if we all wish he didn’t have to.” Kai knows he’s a hypocrite, alright? By the look Nya sends him, she’s picking up on that too.
“Speaking from experience?” She asks, pressingly lightly but giving him an out.
“Maybe,” He admits, “I’d rather not get into it, though.”
Nya hums in acknowledgment and lets it slide. “Let’s get to work then,” and they do.