Work Text:
„So, you have a boyfriend?“
Akutagawa doesn’t seem to be aware of the tension in the room, as he continues to scribble down something in that notebook of his.
Their homework, maybe?
Higuchi squints, trying to make out the words. She hadn’t really paid attention in class, this afternoon. After all, the news she received at lunch left her a little shaken.
It’s an open secret that she cares a lot about Akutagawa, after all, Higuchi is not the type to hide her affection. By now, she usually brought lunch not only for herself but also for the Akutagawa siblings. So, when she handed Akutagawa the wrapped box at lunch, it wasn’t really anything out of the ordinary.
It could have been a normal day until one of her classmates pulled her aside. Hushed and nervous the girl told her about the newest development at their school. The girl kept looking at her with badly concealed pity, almost as if she was expecting Higuchi to break down crying every second.
It wasn’t the first time that her feelings about Akutagawa were misconstrued in such a way, so she didn’t care all that much. She cared a lot more about what the girl had told her. It seemed impossible, at that time. Higuchi thanked the girl and went back to join her friends.
Then it had been neither the time nor the place to confront Akutagawa about it. Even if she managed to keep calm, there was no guarantee Gin would do the same. Akutagawa’s sister could be a little over-protective at times.
So, when Akutagawa left them to their own devices, mumbling about getting something from the vending machine, Higuchi could finally break the news to Gin. It made her feel a little better to see that Gin was just as confused as she was feeling herself.
Usually, Akutagawa sucked at withholding any important information from the prying eyes of his sister, and by extension, from Higuchi as well.
Managing to fool them about a boyfriend seemed pretty unlikely. They had to get to the bottom of this.
And so, they ended up here, cornering Akutagawa in the library.
Higuchi is about to repeat the question when Akutagawa finally looks up from his notes his brows furrowing in confusion as he stares at them.
“..Why would I?”
That…wasn’t the answer Higuchi expected. It’s not an explicit “no”. Higuchi glances at the girl at her side, Gin looks just as skeptical as she feels.
“…So..you’re not dating anyone?” Gin asks, just to be sure. Akutagawa looks at his sister in open confusion like she lost her mind.
“Ridiculous. Why would I bother with that?” Higuchi can’t really argue with that logic, but something still feels wrong with the answer. She just can’t put her finger on it.
“Ryuunosuke –“ Gin is about to say something again, but gets interrupted, when another voice calls her brother’s name, loud and excited.
The three of them collectively wince. They are in the part of the library where talking is allowed, but shouting just seems to push it.
That doesn’t seem to bother the grinning youth approaching them. Higuchi knows him, Nakajima Atsushi is in their parallel class and she has talked to him enough to know that he’s easy-going and nice to talk to.
Also, surprisingly popular with the girls. Higuchi doesn’t quite understand why, but she might be the wrong person to judge that.
Akutagawa acknowledges him with an unimpressed stare when Nakajima hands him something that Higuchi recognizes as Akutagawa’s favorite brand of canned coffee.
That seems a bit too accurate to be a coincidence.
But before she can voice her thoughts, Gin drags her down to sit in the two unoccupied chairs, briefly brushing her fingers over Higuchi's lips to shut her up. It’s rather effective, Higuchi’s thought grind to a screeching halt and she feels the heat on her face.
Gin looks smug and Higuchi decides, that her girlfriend is a demon. Gin knows exactly what she is doing and it’s simply unfair.
It takes Higuchi a few seconds to remember the boys in front of them, she hurriedly shifts her attention back.
Nakajima is excitedly chatting, and Akutagawa looks…surprisingly content?
He doesn’t acknowledge the other very much, but his eyes are soft and he stopped his writing to listen to whatever Atsushi is telling him.
“I have to go now,” Nakajima finally tells him. “We’re still meeting for coffee later?”
Akutagawa nods his approval, and Higuchi slowly starts to realize where those rumors came from.
“See you then, babe,” Nakajima chirps, his hand briefly touching Akutagawa’s shoulder when the youth hums in agreement. Nakajima darts off, as quickly as he came and Akutagawa is about to go back to his studying.
“..You two are dating.” Gin says, without any trace of question in her voice. That startles a reaction, out of Akutagawa and he looks at the two of them wide-eyed.
“We’re not,” he replies, a little too fast and Higuchi can almost see the gears turning in his head.
“…You didn’t realize it, did you?” she asks, barely holding back her laughter. Of course, she always knew that Akutagawa was a little bit of a disaster when it came to other people but this is a whole other level.
Akutagawa glares at her for a second but then drops his head to hide his face in his hands.
“...Shit…we really are dating, aren’t we?” He looks a little lost, torn between horror and delight, and Higuchi can’t help it anymore.
She starts laughing. Akutagawa throws a pen at her.
“Go talk to him,” Gin gently suggests, her hand resting on Higuchi shaking shoulder. She feels a little bad about laughing, but the giggles just refuse to stop.
Akutagawa gives his sister another panicked look, before reluctantly nodding. When he leaves them, Higuchi finally calms down and glances at her girlfriend. She knows that look.
“…You’re going to give him the shovel talk, aren’t you?”
Gin smiles at her serenely. Higuchi takes that as a yes.
The poor boy.