Work Text:
The school day went as it usual did for one Kageyama Shigeo; relatively difficult and slightly boring. He enjoyed most of his classes, but the dread he always felt for math and some of the other tougher subjects usually weighed on him quite a bit.
Thankfully for him, though, he always had 3 positives to the ends of his school days.
The first was going to work. Now, he didn’t go as often as he used to and barely considered it his job at this point, but going to see his Shishou whenever he pleased just on a regular basis made him happy. He was always excited to see Serizawa and Tome-San too, of course.
The second was going to the body improvement club. He struggled a lot less with his physical strength, and was starting to be able to run longer distances and lift weights with more ease, and he was proud of himself for that. It lightened his heart beyond words that the people around him were proud, too.
Finally, recently his most favorite of them all, was seeing Hanazawa-Kun everyday after school.
It was a routine he never expected to happen. It just.. did. One day he left school, and Hanazawa was waiting for him. Then it started to happen more often, to the point where he started to look forward to it more than anything else during the school day.
So, when the bell rang, signaling the end of class and school altogether, he wasn’t surprised to feel the immediate tug of anticipation in his chest, and he felt himself smile just a little.
He never really knew what to call this emotion, as he was still rather unused to paying them much mind at all, but he knew it was a good one that he rather treasured.
Gathering his things, he headed to his locker to grab some textbooks and notebooks before moving to the school gates, since he didn’t have club that day.
He stopped in his tracks though, when he didn’t catch a hint of Hanazawa’s strike of blond hair in the crowd of students at all.
It was a bit perplexing, since he was always waiting for him in the same place right at the school gates, but he wasn’t too bothered by it. He was fine with waiting, since Hanazawa always waited for him.
So he leaned against the wall outside the school next to the gates and waited.
Five minutes turned to ten, and ten soon turned to twenty, when Mob realized Hanazawa wasn’t coming.
He felt a spike of a certain emotion, but he knew it wasn’t anger or sadness.
Worry would be more like it.
Hanazawa has had a few times before where he couldn’t make it, and he always called or texted before hand to let him know. So it was odd that he didn’t this time.
Gnawing on his bottom lip, he flicks open his flip phone, making sure he didn’t miss any calls or texts, before hitting Hanazawa’s contact. He hesitates for a moment, not wanting to bother his friend, before hitting the dial button and pressing it to his ear.
The phone rings 3 times before it’s picked up.
“Ah, Kageyama-Kun? Hello!” Mob notes with a frown that his friends voice sounds a bit scratchier than normal, like he’s been coughing a lot. And he doesn’t sound completely all there.
“You didn’t come walk home with me.” He says after a moment, looking up at the sky as he hears his friend go silent.
As soon as the silence started, it ended just as abruptly, though.
“Oh- Kageyama-Kun, I’m sorry! I-I totally forgot. I woke up with a fever so I stayed home. It completely slipped my mind to call you. I apologize, I hope I haven’t worried you..” Mob could hear the panic edged in his voice, and how he sounded much more aware of what was going on.
Mob felt his heart clench at his friends sincere apology, as unnecessary as it was. Hanazawa-Kun was very kind, though, so he couldn’t help but smile.
His smile slipped though when he remembered what Hanazawa had said.
“You’re sick?”
“Yes, I don’t get sick very often so it came out of the blue.. it’s nothing I can’t handle though, Kageyama-Kun, so don’t worry!”
Mob hesitates, clenching the phone a bit tighter. He knows he doesn’t need to come over, and that his friend is serious when he says he can handle it, but a strange part of him wants to be there with him and take care of him anyways.
He feels his cheeks flare. What an odd feeling.
“Kageyama-Kun?”
With a start, he realizes that he went silent for too long and worried his friend.
In a moment of sudden clarity and bravery, he utters, “Can I come over?”
He hears Hanazawa inhale in surprise, before he speaks. “You-.. You really don’t have to go out of your way, Kageyama-Kun. I don’t want to be a bother.”
Mob shakes his head, even though he knows Hanazawa can’t see him. “I want to. You’re never a bother, Hanazawa-Kun.”
There’s another moment of silence, before a more uncharacteristically shy tone of voice utters over the line. “Ah.. Then, you’re welcome at any time, Kageyama-Kun.”
Mob feels his cheeks blush a bit more at the voice his friend made, before confirming he’ll be there soon.
He snaps the phone shut, staring at it in his palm in contemplation.
It’s strange, but he has a feeling his feelings toward Hanazawa are changing.
Mobs feet carried him all the way to Hanazawa’s apartment with little problem. He smiles slightly to himself when it entered his sight and he was only sweating a little and only breathing a bit heavy. He really has improved.
Walking up the stairs to his apartment, he knocks twice before trying the lock. Thankfully Hanazawa unlocked it for him, so he invites himself in.
He slips out of his shoes, neatly lining them next to Hanazawa’s own, and places down his bag before walking further in.
As soon as he rounds the corner in the hall, he’s greeted with the sight of his friend sprawled out on his bed, a cloth resting on his head.
He pads over to him quietly, unsure if he’s awake or not.
Thankfully, glossy eyes slowly move to look at him, before lighting up with recognition. At the sight of Mob, Hanazawa’s whole face practically brightens, and he can feel his face heat up in response to it.
“Kageyama-Kun! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in..”
Mob moves one of the chairs next to the bed, and takes a seat, folding his hands neatly in his lap. “It’s okay. How are you feeling?”
Hanazawa shifts, rolling over so he’s facing Mob, pressing his hand to the cloth so it doesn’t slip off.
“Not too terrible. Just a bit of a common cold and a stomach ache, but nothing too serious. I was a bit dizzy this morning, so I didn’t attend school. I was so out of it I forgot about our routine. I hope I didn’t upset you by making you wait so long..”
Mob shakes his head, smiling gently. He scoots the chair a bit closer so his knees are practically pressing against the bed. “You don’t have to apologize, Hanazawa-Kun. I was only worried if you were doing okay. I wasn’t upset.” He tilts his head to the side for a moment. “Did you eat today?”
Hanazawa’s face flushes, though whether it’s from the fever or because of Mob he’s uncertain, before he answers. “I’m glad.. I- um.. didn’t. I wasn’t sure if I would keep it down, and I slept for quite a while.”
He didn’t eat? Maybe his fever was worse than he made it out to be.
His answer awakened some kind of instinct in Mob, and in a second he leaned in closer.
He gently lifts the cloth from his friends face, ignoring his confused stare, before pressing their foreheads together.
Before he closes his eyes, he sees Hanazawa’s eyes widen drastically, face flushing. He sits there for a few seconds, before pulling back.
His friend looks utterly bewildered, and he stares back at him until he speaks.
“A-ah, What was that for, K-kageyama-Kun?”
Mob pauses. Was that weird to do? “To check your temperature.”
He can tell this wasn’t quite what Hanazawa was expecting, since he seemed to deflate a bit.
Immediately feeling guilty, he back tracks. “Ah- I’ve seen Shishou do it to Serizawa-San before, and mom with dad, so I thought..”
Hanazawa stares at him blankly for a moment, before smiling at him fondly.
He feels his insides melt a bit at the look.
“I see then. Thank you for checking, Kageyama-Kun.”
Mob nods a bit too eagerly, blush spreading to his ears.
“D-do you have any soup? I can make you something..”
Hanazawa seems surprised at the offer, but doesn’t protest. He seems to mull it over a bit before nodding.
“Yes, I think I should have some in the cabinet above the stove.”
Thus began Mob cooking Hanazawa soup, finding some more medicine for him when Hanazawa’s fever started to rise again, and soaking a new cloth for him.
His friend looked utterly content as they sat in comfortable silence as he ate his soup quietly.
Mob watched him, feeling that odd stirring feeling in his stomach again.
Without thinking, he blurts, “Sorry.”
Hanazawa pauses, spoon hovering in the air for a moment before he lowers it. “What for?”
Mob fidgets. “For making you uncomfortable before. With.. The fever check..”
Hanazawa seems surprised, before laughing lightly. Mob doesn’t take offense, but is unsure why it’s funny.
“Sorry- I’m not laughing at you, Kageyama-Kun. It’s just, there’s no need to apologize. I wasn’t uncomfortable, just surprised, is all.”
Mob fidgets again. “Are you sure?”
He nods. “Yes- usually couples check each other’s fevers like that. It caught me a bit off guard.”
Mob can both simultaneously feel the color leave his face and return full force at the same time.
It suddenly hits him how obvious that should’ve been. His parents only did it to each other, and Shishou only recently started doing it to Serizawa. When Mob had fevers when he was younger both his mother and Reigen always checked with their hands on his forehead. A platonic and caring gesture. Whilst the forehead touch was a more romantic gesture between people.
Suddenly feeling a bit guilty, he can only utter an, “Oh.”
Hanazawa smiles, repeating. “Yeah, oh.”
Mob sits in silence for a long moment, hesitating as he watches Hanazawa continue to eat, before asking, “Did it bother you?”
Hanazawa only shakes his head.
“So I could do it again?”
Obviously this wasn’t what his friend was expecting, as he nearly chokes on the broth of the chicken noodle soup.
He coughs twice, Mob flailing his arms helplessly for a moment, before he calms down.
“That’s-“ He coughs, before continuing again, “That’s.. Is that something you really want?”
Mob stares at him for a moment, searching his eyes, before steeling himself.
He noticed earlier. And it’s something that he knows has been blossoming for a while now. So it’s only fair if he’s honest with Hanazawa, whether or not he returns the sentiment.
“I like you, Hanazawa-Kun.”
He watches with slight satisfaction as Hanazawa reddens and fumbles with the bowl, before using his powers to gently lower it to the floor.
“You-“ He looks up at mob, blush only worsening when they make eye contact. “You really mean that?”
Mob nods, dwindling his fingers together. He was nervous, but didn’t break eye contact. “Yes, I think I have for a while now, but I just realized today..”
There’s a moment of silence, before Hanazawa’s face practically blooms into the biggest grin Mobs ever seen. He feels himself smile in return, and doesn’t hesitate to return the sudden hug he gets as Hanazawa practically throws his arms over his shoulders.
It’s a bit of an awkward position, but he finds he doesn’t mind it one bit. Hanazawa squeezes him once, before pulling back just enough to look him in the eyes. “I like you too, Kageyema-Kun. I’m really happy.”
Mob smiles wider, eyes crinkling up at his friend. He feels just as happy, like he’s floating on air. He’s sure he hasn’t felt like this in a very long time.
He moves his hand, grabbing Hanazawa’s one hand that was resting on his shoulder, before lacing their fingers together. “I’m happy, too.”
Hanazawa squeezes his hand once, before leaning in. His lips brush against his own, soft and gentle, before he pulls back. The blush on his cheeks hasn’t gotten worse, but it hasn’t replenished either.
Meanwhile, Mob feels as hot as a tomato. That was his first kiss, and he’s glad that he gave it to Hanazawa.
Smiling, he leans in and kisses him himself.
He knows he’s inexperienced and probably a bit clumsy, but he knows enough to make it at least enjoyable, if Hanazawa’s smile against his lips is anything to go by.
When he pulls back, he mutters “Shigeo.”
Hanazawa pauses, tilting his head to the side. They were still so close, and his short hair brushed against his forehead. “Hm?”
“You can call me Shigeo.. Ah! That’s if you want to, That is!”
Hanazawa seems shocked, before he grins again. “Okay, Shigeo-Kun. You can call me Teruki, then. Or Teru, if you would prefer.”
Mob leans into him a bit at the sound of him saying his name. “Teruki-Kun.. Teru-Kun..” he mutters, getting a feel for the words on his lips.
He feels Ha- Teruki- sigh, leaning into him in return. They practically hug again for a long moment, before Mob leans back.
The clock chimes at the same moment, signaling that it hit the hour. Both boys look over to see it displaying that it was 5 PM.
“You should head home, Shigeo-Kun.”
Mob was already shaking his head before he was finished talking. “I want to stay, Teruki-Kun.”
Teruki smiles, like he already expected that. “Are you sure?”
Mob nods, smiling in return.
Teruki sighs, still smiling, before getting up.
Mob notes that he looks much better than he did before, and hopes that he was able to help him.
“I’ll start dinner, then. You can call home and tell them you’re staying over late, if you’d like.”
Although Mob was hesitant about Teruki cooking whilst still being sick, he eventually agreed and called his parents.
In the end, he ended up staying the night, cuddling on the couch with Teruki after watching an action movie.
Watching his new found boyfriend sleeping so peacefully, chest rising and falling with every breath, brought a sense of contentment over him, and he couldn’t help but press his forehead to his one more time before kissing it.
He made sure to press his forehead to Teruki’s more often after that, and every time, Teru would smile like nothing made him happier.