Chapter Text
Hirose, for one, was scared. He just tried not to show it, but he was pretty sure he was failing at that, too.
Tamura, the head of the drama club, had come to Hirose and his friends and asked them to participate in a little film he was going to submit for the annual film festival.
Tamura was a sneaky little snake.
He appealed to Takeuchi, telling him about all the girls–Hamaoka–that would be coming.
For Mukai..? Hirose didn’t know what Tamura whispered to him, but Mukai was coming and that was that.
And Hirose… joined under peer pressure. Oomori, a guy he had known since elementary school, was Tamura’s assistant, and he begged Hirose to join. Of course Hirose couldn’t say no!
And that was this morning. Hirose stood by his friends during lunch, laughing at whatever witty thing Mukai had said, but his mind was elsewhere.
Hirose was terrified of all things horror.
He couldn’t stand them. Haunted houses were a no-go. Scary movies gave him anxiety and very, very bad nightmares (and gas, but Hirose tried not to mention that). Imagine what being in that kind of situation would do to him! He might double over and die!
His sister, the one who normally held his hand and convinced him it would be alright, wasn’t going to be there. And Hirose didn’t want to act like a wuss. Not around his friends. And not around…
Nakamura! His brain jumped when the boy opened the door.
Unfortunately, Tamura peeked out from behind him, shooting Hirose a grin that almost scared him more than whatever he would be doing for the horror film.
“Hirose!” Tamura called. It gave Hirose goosebumps, and not the good kind. “You’re still coming tonight, right?”
Wait, he could have backed down???
Hirose mentally kicked himself. He could have talked to Tamura alone and told him something came up. But now, around his friends, around Nakamura, he couldn’t change anything.
“Yeah! As long as you still bring the snacks!” Hirose walked over to the other two boys, trying to make it seem like his legs weren’t going through an earthquake.
“Nakamura!” Hirose practically yelled. Forgive meee, he thought. “Are you coming?” Hirose gave him his biggest ‘pleading’ eyes. He knew Nakamura was trying to escape it, if the glare he shot Tamura when they entered meant anything. But Nakamura was perfect! Well, not in that way. But he was perfect for tonight, when Hirose really needed someone by his side.
“Y-yeah! Of course I’m coming!” Hirose smiled widely. He had to resist pumping his fist, hugging Nakamura, or doing both and ending up punching his friend.
“Yes!” Tamura shouted, raising his arms to the sky. “Great, I knew you’d come around Nakamura!” Tamura clinged to Nakamura’s arm, looking up at him like a fox. Nakamura’s expression darkened.
Nakamura kicked Tamura. Hirose could see Tamura trying not to flinch. Deserved, Hirose thought.
“Get off,” Nakamura said. It sounded like a warning, and somehow sent butterflies swirling in Hirose’s chest.
Tamura looked at Hirose, and he schooled his expression to one of interest, instead of an expression of oh-no-Nakamura’s-made-me-nervous-again.
And that train of thought led to: Wouldn’t Nakamura be the perfect boyfriend in these situations? Holding hands… Carrying–
No! Hirose warned himself. You’re supposed to be scared, not dreaming of dating one of your best friends.
As if Tamura read his thoughts, he grinned again.
“Nakamura says he’s not afraid, but we’ll put that to the test!”
Curse you, Tamura, for fueling my fantasies!
Instead, Hirose turned to Nakamura, eyes glowing. “Really? That’s so cool!” And sort of hot. “W-well, not like I’m afraid either.”
Hirose was a big, fat liar.
He sat through their last class of the day, thinking.
It made sense, really.
Sure, Nakamura acted scared sometimes. He looked uncomfortable at times, but never scared. And he seemed perfect for the stoic, deadpan character that always gave Hirose a bit of relief in the horror movies he was forced to watch. It made sense why Tamura wanted him so bad.
Not like that! Hirose thought, though he still felt himself get uncomfortable.
He had been having a hard time with this recently. Convincing himself that he didn’t have a… a… y’know, on Nakamura.
So far it wasn’t working.
“Hey, Hirose!” Takeuchi waved a hand in front of him. “Are you ready to go? We’re meeting on the east side.”
“Uh…” Hirose took a second to look back at Nakamura. His head was down as he was organizing everything into his bag.
“Give me a second! You guys can go ahead. Plus, I already saw Hamaoka-san leaving.”
That got Takeuchi, and by extension Mukai, out of there faster than a jet airplane.
Hirose walked over to Nakamura.
“Nakamura! Do you want to walk over there together?” Hirose smiled.
Nakamura flushed. Which made Hirose flush, which was ironic because they were two idiots blushing in a room because Hirose had asked his crush to walk with him, and Nakamura had just received an invitation to walk with his crush.
Wait… Hirose paused. Does he even have a crush on me?
Again, it made sense, but Hirose decided to shove that thought in a box for a moment.
“Yeah! Let’s go!” Nakamura said, enthusiastic. Hirose laughed.
“Great!”
They took their time walking over there, Hirose coaxing Nakamura into telling him why he hates Tamura. That sent Nakamura into a spiralling rant where he was waving his arms around and complaining about ‘poetic expression’–”It’s evil!”
They still had a few hours to kill, so they met on the football pitch and sat down to watch their classmates play. It was boys vs. girls, and with Takeuchi still head over heels for Hamaoka, the girls were beating them into a pulp. Hirose chuckled as Takeuchi stumbled while watching Hamaoka dribble the ball. Hirose noticed that Kawamura was also doing pretty good, but since Nakamura wasn’t looking at her, Hirose didn’t mention it.
Hirose started up a conversation with Nakamura about the future. It was a mundane topic, but Hirose didn’t have any other ideas besides “How confident are you in your hand holding?” or “How do your eyes look like a million stars right now?” or even “Why the heck haven’t I seen you like this before?”
Surprisingly, Nakamura had many plans for the future. He had already decided that he was going to major in marine biology, which made sense in a way that made Hirose wonder why he didn’t think that before. He also confided that he wanted to join the school archery club next year. Hirose blushed at the thought.
Hirose didn’t know what he wanted to be yet. He told Nakamura that a nurse was a good option, since he was a part of the health committee. Nakamura suggested a teacher, which was something he hadn’t thought about, but Nakamura said Hirose would be a great teacher. He also wanted to join the student council. Nakamura beamed, telling him that it was a great idea. Hirose blushed again. It felt nice to have someone acknowledge him and his ideas.
“I really hope we’re in the same class next year.” Hirose said.
“Me too,” Nakamura responded.
When Tamura finally came and took them to the benches (their meet-up spot), the sky was starting to turn a rosy shade of red. Hirose and Nakamura had talked for hours, and Hirose had shared some things he was glad to get off his chest. He felt even more comfortable around Nakamura, if that was even possible.
The two shared a bench, sitting in silence. Now that he wasn’t talking to Nakamura to distract himself, Hirose felt scared. The school would be empty, of course. But dark classrooms, shadows… Hirose shook himself out of it and turned to Nakamura.
“Excited, Nakamura?”
Hirose hoped his eyes didn’t betray his nervousness.
“Huh? Oh yeah. I guess so.” Nakamura said. His eyes seemed to look right through Hirose. He knew he wasn’t fooling Nakamura, at least.
Hirose chuckled. “You don’t sound too excited. Are you really not afraid of anything?” because there were a lot of things Hirose was afraid of.
“Uh…” Nakamura looked deep in thought. Hirose waited for his response, even leaning in closer as if that would make him think faster.
“N-no! I, um, sure!” Nakamura said.
Huh?
It made no sense, and sent Hirose into giggles.
“What?” he asked.
“Sorry…” Nakamura blushed.
Cute…
“Don’t apologize! Actually… I was a little nervous. But! Now that you’re here, I’m a little less nervous.” Hirose was telling the truth. He really was glad that Nakamura had come, or he might have faked having the flu to get out of it, which was embarrassing since he had a very good immune system and Oomori wouldn’t have believed him for a second.
“Okay!” Tamura called, getting everyone’s attention. “Right now,” he paused to tap on his watch. “18:40… According to, ahem, external sources,” he stressed, then continued. “...is the best time to enter a haunted school! Let’s go!”
Tamura should not have said ‘haunted school’ in that tone of voice.
Tamura led them into the school, using a handheld camera he insisted was for “dramatic moving shots.” but with all the happy skipping and pauses to capture windows he did, Hirose wasn’t sure he would get much usable footage from that thing.
Nakamura asked Tamura how he had gotten the key he had been using to get them through the school.
Tamura winked. “An actor never tells his secrets!”
Nakamura looked vaguely disturbed. “Don’t you mean magicians?” he muttered, not loud enough for Tamura to hear, though Hirose did. Hirose chuckled. Nakamura did make him less nervous with the funny looks he was giving Tamura as they walked.
If anything, Nakamura looked more at ease in the dark, silent school than the one they went to in the daytime.
Takeuchi, obviously aiming for the female part of his audience, spoke up.
“Just so you know,” he said. “I’m here to protect anyone,” he paused. “Not you Mukai,” he said, then continued on, turning away from a not very impressed Mukai. “If they get scared.” he finished, puffing out his chest. Not even a second later, he flinched at a shadow of a tree.
It was already funny enough as is, but Nakamura made it funnier.
“And I’ll make sure to hold your hand if you get scared by a door, Takeuchi.”
It sent their whole group into laughter, Mukai’s taunting one the loudest. Hirose looked at Nakamura and smiled softly. Maybe Nakamura was trying to lighten the mood. Or piss off Tamura, who had been trying to film the interaction and looked put off by Nakamura’s remark.
“Wow, Nakamura,” Hirose said, leaning in. Nakamura returned his gaze, and Hirose smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.” he was trying to tease, maybe even flirt, but his voice caught at the end when he spotted a bright light turn out right outside the window and make the shadows grow.
Nakamura came a little closer, and spoke in a soft voice, seeming to want only Hirose to hear. “If you get overwhelmed, we can ditch Tamura and go back outside.” He pointed back through the hallway they had come in by.
“Really?”
“Y-yeah.”
Hirose was tempted to go right then and there. But he wanted to seem brave, to show Nakamura he was.
“Okay,” he replied in a small voice, choosing to walk a little closer to Nakamura. For, y’know, safety reasons.
Right when Hirose was getting himself out of his nerves, a voice spoke.
“Oi, Tamura!”
Hirose nearly jumped into Nakamura’s arms. Instead, he accidentally dug a hand into Nakamura’s arm. Nakamura didn’t seem to notice, because he was staring at the figure the voice belonged to in disgust.
A girl that Hirose had only seen a couple of times before walked towards them, looking manic. Similarly, Tamura looked at her as if she was the scum of the earth. Nakamura looked ready to dive into a hole.
“Aokiyama.” Tamura addressed. “What brings you here, after I explicitly said that I don’t need anymore of your help?”
The girl, Aokiyama it seemed, made a noise and then turned to Nakamura as fast as humanly possible.
“I need Nakamura,”
“No,” Both Tamura and Nakamura said. Unbeknownst to them both, Hirose had also said no, but he shut his mouth, embarrassed.
The girl pursed her lips. “But Nakamuraaaa, I have a ritual to do! And you’re perfect. Come on~”
She wasn’t flirting with him, or maybe she was. In a very disturbing, cultish way.
Nakamura rubbed his temples and groaned. “For the last time,” he sounded annoyed. “I’m not joining your stupid club. And no, I’m not being a human sacrifice for you again.”
A what. Hirose thought, shooting a glare at the girl.
“Again?” someone in their group asked.
“Cult!” Aokiyama protested.
“Sacrifice?” Takeuchi squealed, color draining from his face.
Seeming to have found her new victims, Aokiyama whirled on them.
She started rambling about some old school legend that Hirose definitely didn’t believe. He didn’t believe it, but it didn’t help when she was telling it inside of said place of legend.
She was cut off by both Nakamura and Tamura who… inhibited her ability to speak.
“Go away, Aokiyama. I have a film to shoot!” Tamura grabbed her arm and hauled her away, running back with a look that said ‘I just locked her in a classroom’.
“Phew! Let’s keep going!”
Hirose stayed closer to Nakamura, cautious of further ambushes. He almost held his hand at one point, but ultimately decided against it.
Tamura stopped their group in a darker part of the school, around where the kendo club practiced, which meant way back, away from most light. Ideal for a movie, but not for Hirose.
“So,” Tamura said, sharing his idea. “I’m thinking we start by turning the corner, for now there’ll be no one there, but I’ll edit in a monster or something. Once we turn, everyone needs to scream and run in the opposite direction. Okay?”
Normally Tamura would never be so lax, but it seemed that he was tired of working with ‘untrained actors’.
Someone spoke up. Hirose was looking down at his feet so he didn’t see who.
He tuned it out, trying to suppress his again growing nerves.
Hirose felt his eyes dart around the hallway, assessing all potential dangers and creating scenarios in his head. What if–
Nakamura tapped him on the shoulder, pointing to the wall. Hirose followed him and they stood against it. With only a concrete wall behind him, Hirose felt much safer than before.
“Thanks, Nakamura, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” he said, hoping to joke, but his laugh came across as a nervous sway to his voice.
Nakamura looked at him, and suddenly his earlier offer was much more tempting.
“It’s alright to be scared,”
“Um!” he continued. “N-not that you’re scared of course! You’re very brave!” Nakamura waved his hands around. “One of the bravest people I know…”
Maybe he was just saying that last part to himself, but Hirose heard him, and it almost made his eyes well up with tears. Of course Nakamura would think it alright to be scared of something this stupid. He was just that… Well, he was just Nakamura. And that made it better.
“Thank you,” Hirose breathed, trying to get his heart under control.
Nakamura smiled at him.
“Alright!” Tamura looked ecstatic.
Their group all clustered together before turning the corner. It didn’t help Hirose’s nerves that he was near the front, basically getting pushed by the others. Nakamura stood beside him and shot him a nervous grin.
“And…” Tamura called. “Action!”
Hirose hesitantly turned the corner. He was beginning to think this wasn’t a good idea.
And it wasn’t.
It was something straight out of Hirose’s nightmares. He didn’t even get a good glimpse at the giant mass before he ran. He didn’t know exactly why he was running. First to get away, then maybe because he didn’t want to face the others as a coward. But still, he was scared.
“Hirose!” Nakamura called, apparently chasing after him. “Wait!”
Hirose didn’t wait. He was close to crying.
What kind of sick joke… A stupid prank. He thought. And he had fallen right into that trap.
Hirose rounded the corner and thought of the irony of his earlier sentence.
That may have been the scariest moment of his life.
He had never really disliked heights. Now he definitely did.
It was as if everything slowed down and went faster at the same time.
He tried to turn around, tried to avoid it. He would go back and face the monster, and his laughing friends.
He didn’t want to get hurt.
Hirose shut his eyes tightly. Maybe it would reduce the impact. The impact of his head hitting the–
Hirose felt an arm grab his waist. His eyes shot open, and there he was.
Nakamura, who looked like someone had tried to take away the air in his lungs.
Hirose felt similar.
He felt himself shake. He wanted to twist and pull to get comfortable again. Everything was wrong. Up was down, left was right. He was alive. His lungs were screaming for help. His eyes looked down.
Thirteen. Thirteen steps.
And then Hirose couldn’t breathe. Not at all. He was gasping for air. His vision swam and turned and was all convoluted; it almost seemed normal. His fingers felt longer, but not long enough. He felt so uncomfortable.
Nakamura called his name. Hirose barely registered it.
“...pull you up.” Hirose caught him saying. He shook his head.
No. He didn’t want to get up. He would fall. And Nakamura wouldn’t catch him. And his arms were itching and his face was dripping and there were sirens and–
Nakamura slowly pulled Hirose up, backing away from the staircase. Hirose found the first thing in front of him, Nakamura, and clung to it.
He was scared. He didn’t want to go back. Not to the staircase. Not to the group. Not ever back to the school.
Hirose fell again. Nakamura caught him again, and lifted him up into his arms.
Hirose felt like he was underwater. In the deep, deep ocean. He couldn’t breathe. It felt like acid was entering every time he tried.
Nakamura walked slowly, and Hirose saw his head bob up and down while they walked.
Up… and down. And up again. Then down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down.
Hirose’s legs were laid against the ground. His back faced two walls. And it still felt so open.
Nakamura was holding his face, trying to calm him down, it seemed.
Down. Then…up?
“In, Hirose.” Nakamura instructed. In what?
“Please,” Nakamura begged. He exaggerated breathing in, then out.
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
It helped.
Hirose felt more air entering his lungs, and more acid leaked out. His throat was still on fire, but it was more on a campfire level than a forest fire.
Nakamura looked worried, both hands cupping Hirose’s face. It felt warm. The nice warm.
More tears left Hirose’s body. He cried silently. He had felt so afraid, there wasn’t even a word to describe it.
Nakamura hugged him, and more of that nice, sleek warm enveloped Hirose.
Nakamura apologized. Said something about “Aokiyama and her tricks.”
Hirose hated her.
He tightened his grip on Nakamura’s shirt, choosing to close his eyes and try to breathe.
Nakamura’s scent filled his head. It must have been cologne. No one smells like the ocean naturally.
After some minutes, and a very embarrassing second where Hirose realized he was crying, in Nakamura’s arms, Nakamura cupped his face and Hirose got a good look at him.
It was as if Hirose’s eyes had focused for the first time that day.
“Nakamura?” he asked, voice cracking.
Nakamura just stared at him. He probably looked terrible, with red eyes and the reddened nose his sister always teased him about.
“Yeah,” he answered. He was giving Hirose a concerned look. Hirose always felt like Nakamura gave him his full attention, but feeling it so closely made Hirose feel faint, so he leaned forward and rested his forehead on Nakamura’s.
He felt so grateful.
“Thank you.” he said, but it wasn’t enough to express how he was feeling. “Thank you. I don’t know what–”
Nakamura interrupted him. “Let’s not think about it.” he whispered.
Nakamura must have been scared too. Hirose thought. Scared for Hirose. It was comforting in a way that shouldn’t have flattered Hirose.
He nodded absently, trying hard not to think about what had happened.
“Do you want to get up?” Nakamura asked him.
“Not really.”
“Okay.” Nakamura said simply.
Hirose sighed, closing his eyes. Nakamura was so nice to him. He felt Nakamura’s hand rest on his head, then he started running his fingers through Hirose’s hair. Hirose’s lips parted with a silent gasp, but since Nakamura didn’t stop, Hirose relaxed. It felt nice, like Nakamura knew exactly where Hirose’s head was hurting.
Hirose didn’t think of anything until Nakamura spoke, instead focusing on the way Nakamura brushed his fingers through Hirose’s hair. When one of his fingers caught, he was careful to untangle the knot, then he continued as if nothing happened. With their foreheads still connected, Hirose could feel Nakamura’s breath on his face. It was slow and calming.
“Hirose,” Nakamura whispered finally.
Hirose opened his eyes, leaning back upon seeing how Nakamura’s eyes bore into him with how close they were.
“It’s getting darker outside. We should leave.” Nakamura told him.
Hirose turned and looked out the window. It really was getting darker. The streetlamps had already turned on. He didn’t want to be in the school when it turned fully dark.
He turned back to Nakamura and nodded.
Nakamura stood up and pulled Hirose up. He thought his legs would be sturdy at that point, but it wasn’t true, as he stumbled again, and Nakamura caught him by the waist. Again.
Nakamura pulled him in closer, which made Hirose’s heart race as he put his hands up against Nakamura’s chest. Nakamura’s heart was also racing, so at least Hirose wouldn’t be dying alone.
Okay, Hirose told himself. Sore topic.
Nakamura chuckled. “Hi,” he said softly.
Hirose took another good look at him, and maybe it was the lighting or the late hour (or the fact that Nakamura had saved his life), but Nakamura was glowing in the evening light. It was incredible. It amazed Hirose at how strong Nakamura had been this whole night. Sticking with Hirose, comforting him, running after him, saving him, and staying behind at the school way later than they should have to make sure Hirose was alright.
“Hi,” Hirose said, his voice failing him. Failing to express how much Nakamura meant to him. Hirose felt strangely emotional about it.
Nakamura smiled at him. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” Hirose said, then stopped. Nakamura’s hand hovered near his waist, but not quite touching. Hirose blushed at how used to having Nakamura’s hand on his waist he already was, and how the absence felt… loud.
“Um, could you maybe…” Hirose didn’t exactly want to say keep a hold of my waist. It sounded too much like something he was trying not to name.
Nakamura paused, then stiffened. Hirose looked up at him.
“Yeah. Yes. Sure.” he said, as red as Hirose was sure he was as well.
Nakamura rested his right hand on the right side of Hirose’s waist, and they began walking. Hirose twiddled with his fingers, wondering if he had asked too much, because they were both pretty stiff.
As if reading his thoughts, Nakamura drew back his hand. Hirose knew it.
But then Nakamura took Hirose’s hand, and interlaced their fingers, stopping Hirose from picking at his nails.
“Is this better?” Nakamura asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Hirose felt himself heat up, and he nodded. He wanted to shout “YES!” but also no, because he kind of liked the awkward way Nakamura drummed on his waist.
The trip outside was uneventful, mostly of Hirose panicking mentally because Nakamura was stroking his hand, and both of them meeting gazes and then looking away as if they hadn’t just seen each other sneak glances.
They stopped at the bush where they had stuffed their bags. Takeuchi’s and Mukai’s were gone, along with the rest of them, except Nakamura’s and Hirose’s. He almost felt betrayed, until he saw the downright look of murder on Nakamura’s face as he tightened his grip on Hirose’s hand.
Nakamura bent down and took both of their bags, easily linking their hands together again. Hirose tried to ask for his bag, but Nakamura refused.
“I’ve got this. I promise.”
Hirose couldn’t say anything, even though Nakamura had already done so much for him. He just walked, feeling more tired and happier than ever, Nakamura still absently running his thumb along the back of Hirose’s hand.
“Hirose,” Nakamura said, stopping in front of a convenience store. “Is karaage okay?”
Hirose almost threw himself into Nakamura’s arms because what a boyfriend move.
Wait, no. Not boyfriend. He thought. Just friend. A good-friend-that-I-might-definitely-have-a-crush-on move.
“Yeah,” he said instead. “Thank you.”
Nakamura pulled him into the store, quickly picked out the karaage, though not after asking Hirose if he wanted something else, then paid for the purchase.
They sat down at one of the nicer tables outside of the store. Nakamura divided the karaage up, and they ate in silence.
Nakamura’s phone pinged. Hirose, who insisted on sitting next to Nakamura, leaned over to read over Nakamura’s shoulder.
It was from Tamura, apparently. He said: “That scene where you ran after Hirose is going to be a hit!” and even attached a video of Hirose bolting and Nakamura running after him.
Hirose snorted. In the video, Nakamura almost tripped before running after him. It wasn’t nice to laugh at that, and inappropriate considering what had happened after the events of the video, but it was so funny to Hirose that he choked on his karaage.
Soon after, Nakamura started laughing too, and they were just two idiots eating and choking on chicken outside of a convenience store at 21:00 at night.
Nakamura had to pull out his water bottle, and they took turns drinking from it to stomach the chicken.
Somehow, the water in Nakamura’s water bottle tasted better than anything Hirose had ever drank before.
“He’s so dumb,” Nakamura shook his head, though he still looked a little murderous at the mention of Tamura.
Hirose grinned, an idea, though stupid, forming in his mind.
“Do you think we can ask for the profits since he technically was our supervisor, and we got lost?”
Nakamura paused, his water bottle halfway pressed up against his lips.
“You,” he turned, face blank. “Hirose, are a genius.”
And they both burst out laughing again.
Minutes later, Hirose tilted his head up to the sky. The stars weren’t visible, though he liked to pretend there were millions of them in the darkness.
“Thanks,” he said.
“For what?” Nakamura asked him.
“I don’t know,” Hirose said, raising his hands. He did know, but didn’t have enough time or courage to say it all. “For staying next to me when you definitely knew I was scared. For running after me. For catching me before I…”
And Hirose wanted to cry again. Even more when Nakamura turned Hirose and hugged him.
“I know I said I’m not scared of anything, but I was terrified when you started hyperventilating.” Nakamura breathed into his shoulder. Hirose’s vision turned blurry.
Nakamura cared. And that mattered so much to Hirose.
Hirose took a deep, deep breath. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve been comforted like that for a long time.” It was true. He didn’t like crying in front of people, so when he was moody he hid in his room. But crying so openly in front of Nakamura, and Nakamura not judging him, had been something new. And something he didn’t not welcome. “It was nice.”
“Any time,” Nakamura told him.
“Okay,” Hirose immediately answered. “I might have to take advantage of that,” he said. He wanted to be selfish, even just with this.
“Take advantage of me.”
Hirose leaned back, looking into Nakamura’s eyes. They were sincere.
“You can, you know? When Takeuchi gets too loud, or when Oomori tries to convince you to do things you don’t want to. I’ll be here, with a hug and ears to listen.”
Hirose wanted to interrupt, but Nakamura kept going.
“Any uncomfortable situation,” he continued. “I’ll get you out of it.”
Hirose sniffled. He didn’t deserve this. Nakamura didn’t deserve having Hirose to take care of. But Nakamura made him want to believe that he wanted to take care of Hirose. And, truthfully, Hirose really wanted to be taken care of.
“You’re too good, Nakamura.” Hirose said, because how did he deserve this angel?
“And you need a break from being good. I’m serious. We all need someone close by for these things.”
Hirose nodded. At the second part. He didn’t think he was good, but if Nakamura thought he was, he wanted to try harder.
“Thank–”
“No. No ‘thank you’s. Only yesses.” Nakamura teased him, smiling at him.
“Then yes. Please.” Hirose wanted that. He wanted it so bad.
“Anytime.” Nakamura said.
Later, Hirose let Nakamura walk him all the way to his house, and he let Nakamura convince him into letting him come pick Hirose up for school the next day. He let Nakamura pick him up, and he let Nakamura go off on his friends and Tamura for leaving them and not checking back for them.
He let Nakamura continue the cycle of walking him to and from school, and he let Nakamura sneak up to the roof with him for lunch.
He let Nakamura come over and hang out with him, and he let Nakamura take him to the aquarium and buy him ice cream and a crab plush he definitely didn’t say he wanted, but he did.
He let Nakamura hold him when it stormed outside, and let Nakamura wipe his tears when he cried or had more panic attacks.
He let Nakamura drag him to some overlook of the city and he let him speak all his kind words before he let Nakamura kiss him.
All while Nakamura held his hand.