Work Text:
Knock, knock.
Maki hit her fist against the metal door of Miu's ultimate lab. No response, again. It's noon by now, and the inventor hasn't been in class all day. It's far from abnormal- Miu is often known to skip whenever she has a project she wants to work on, and it's not against Hope's Peak rules as long as her grades are decent. But it's strangely irritating to Maki. Miu is always in her head these days, with that dumb grin and her pretty strawberry blonde hair. It's so distracting, keeping her up at night wondering if she ever thinks about her, if she appears in her dreams.
On second thought, Maki thinks, Miu's dreams are probably not territory anyone should discover.
The door slams open shaking Maki from her thoughts, and Kiibo appears in the doorway.
"Oh hello, Harukawa! Did you need something?" He asks, exaggeratedly tilting his head to the side.
She blinks. "Uh, yeah, I was looking for Iruma. Is she here? I've knocked a few times in between classes but-"
"Yes, she just finished working on an upgrade for my chassis today. I have a larger range of motion for my neck joints now!"
"That's, uh... great," Maki says. Kiibo is nice enough, certainly preferable to many members of their class. But she's come here for a purpose, and being so polite takes up far too much of her patience.
He nods enthusiastically. "I agree! However I really must be going, I will see you later Harukawa!"
Kiibo slips out of the way with confidence, and Maki wonders how she got stuck with such strange classmates.
She lets herself in and spots Miu with a face shield on, intently welding metal into… something. Maki can't quite figure it out, but she's not sure if she wants to know if her past inventions are anything to go by.
"Iruma," she shouts over the sound, hoping Miu doesn't startle and hurt herself. At least she knows how to treat major wounds, not that she'd like to have to explain that it's based on first-hand experience.
The welding torch is switched off, and Miu pushes the shield above her head.
"The hell do you want, Harukawa?" She replies incredulously. "I'm working on some important shit here!"
Maki sighs. She's not sure how to explain that she might possibly be attracted to her and think of her in all of her waking hours without sacrificing her pride or some remark from Miu about her figure.
"You're overworking yourself."
Miu laughs. "Have you met me? I'm a gorgeous girl genius, I can't overwork myself! The world needs my inventions anyway!"
"Just take a break. Come walk around campus with me, or something," Maki mutters, directing her eyes to the floor. Since when did she get flustered so easily?
"Oooh," Miu says, dramatically crossing her legs. "Trying to take me out on a date, huh?"
"No. You're just never in class and you're always working, maybe it would be good to see the light of day for once. You look pale."
"So are you, ya emo! But fine, I'll go with you for a few minutes, but only 'cause you don't beat around the bush." She smirks, and Maki sighs yet again.
They soon find themselves outside in a common area, Maki walking with purpose and Miu shuffling along.
"Why's the sun gotta be so bright?" She squeaks. Out in the light, Maki can see the dark circles under the inventor's eyes. She'll need to find a way to force her to go to bed, next. She doesn't look forward to that conversation.
"Because it's noon," Maki says dryly. "Have you even eaten anything?"
Miu huffs, standing a little straighter. "I'm smart enough to keep food in my lab, duh!"
"Good. The last thing you need is to be malnourished and burned out."
"I'm not burnt out!"
They walk for a bit and share a somewhat meaningful conversation. Miu interjects with lewd references every once in a while, and Maki shuts them down within seconds. But Miu is passionate about what she does, and Maki finds herself interested in listening. She is smart , something Maki thinks is often overlooked by her intense personality . Some of the terminology corresponds with things involved with weaponry, and while she despises that she knows how to work them, she finds Miu's work to be more meaningful to her. Plus, her blue eyes glitter as she talks, and it's weirdly intoxicating.
"You really gave me a workout there, Harukawa!" Miu says, winking. They've arrived back at her lab 30 minutes later, longer than Maki expected to be out, but not an unwelcome surprise.
Ignoring the connotation, Maki lets herself smile a little. "You needed a break."
"Oh, sure." Miu rolls her eyes. "Thanks for that, though I really should get back."
Instinct taking over, Maki grabs her sleeve as she turns away. "Wait."
Miu's eyes look into hers. "Oh, what are-"
"Here." Maki shoves a bouquet of colorful wildflowers into her hands, a blush now painted across her cheeks. "I… had fun today."
Miu stutters. "I- you're so, I mean! They're so pretty, hahah!"
The door is shut abruptly, but Miu peeks her head out seconds later.
"Hey," Her voice is soft, shy. "Thank you. They're really lovely and uh, soareyouokthanksbye."
She slams the lab door shut again, and Maki's blush deepens. Oh no, she thinks, she really had it bad.