Work Text:
Tatsumi does this thing . Every circle meeting, he comes in– sketchbook in hand– and cozies right up to Hiyori’s place at the table. Not that she minds! Not at all. It’s just that, Tatsumi is so Tatsumi , that he spends half the meeting doting on her. Serving her tea, listening carefully to her gossip, doodling the silly things she mentions in the margins.
Every time!
And it’s terribly frustrating. Of course, it made some sense– he was Tomoe Hiyori, after all. Who wouldn’t hang onto his every word? But Tatsumi did it with such reverence, it made his head seriously hurt. Sometimes even nauseous, a tad overwhelming.
It was worse when Arashi was around.
After the success of their shuffle, the three of them would meet up once a week if they had the time. Usually to some cafe or boutique Arashi or Hiyori absolutely insisted on visiting. Tatsumi would often act as their walking shopping bag, balancing boxes and totes without complaint.
Arashi would walk beside Hiyori, chatting with her about anything and everything. She had this certain look to her when she spoke; an air of confidence Hiyori couldn’t replicate if she tried (and she certainly tried ). Her personality was vibrant and practically unmatched. It left Hiyori stuck in that feeling of bilious anxiety.
Wait. No!
Hiyori wasn’t an anxious person, not at all. He was perfectly fine– this was a normal outing, wasn’t it? It was natural for Arashi to seem so beautiful. Hiyori only surrounds himself with beautiful people, including Tatsumi!
“Hiyori-san,” a voice sounds from behind their stack of purchases. “I believe Narukami-chan is trying to earn your attention?”
Oh?
Oh. Lost in his thoughts, Hiyori missed what she had said. The only thing cutting through his trance was Tatsumi’s voice and the feeling of Arashi gently tugging on his wrist.
“Tomoe-senpai, are you okay?” She asks, brow furrowed as she moves to check his temperature with the back of her hand. “It’s unlike you to ignore me!”
Arashi’s typical wit was absent from her tone. Was she genuinely worried? Ridiculous. Hiyori was fine, as always! There was nothing to be worried about. Distractions were normal, no? It wasn’t Hiyori’s fault that he was so charmed. Tatsumi takes this moment to balance the boxes into one hand– was he always that strong?– placing the other on Hiyori’s shoulder.
“You should really take it easy, Hiyori-san. Even God rested, you know?”
Hah. Such a corny proverb, but so very Tatsumi.
“I’m absolutely wonderful!” Hiyori proclaims, huffing a laugh with her hands on her hips. “Don't worry your pretty heads.”
Tatsumi paused before breaking into a grin, beaming at her from ear to ear. Arashi giggles into her hand at Hiyori’s outburst, pulling him back towards her a moment after.
“Well, our day is almost over, how sad,” she says with a slight frown, tapping her phone open with a free hand. “Let’s take a selfie together, okay? Oh– Tatsumi-chan, let me help you with those.”
“It’s fine, Narukami-chan. Don’t trouble yourself.”
“Seriously? I’m helping. Let me see…”
Watching the two of them fret over stacking boxes was oddly comforting. Two of Hiyori’s friends, caring so much about her being in a photo… God .
To anyone else, it would be a surprise to know that Arashi and Tatsumi got along. They were practically polar opposites, after all. But to Hiyori, it made perfect sense. The both of them were charming and witty, contrasting each other when it came to emotional expression. Tatsumi was naturally a loner, and a bit mellow, so Arashi would make sure to take the time and greet him especially.
She was always so sweet that way.
Tatsumi, as well, made up for his lack of confidence with a fine attention to detail. You could tell her anything; cutting corners on a project, sneaking out past curfew– maybe even killing a man? Truthfully, it rubbed Hiyori wrong during Get Spectacle! ; the way Tatsumi would use his intuition.
But Tatsumi would always listen, and keep everything a secret.
The knots in Hiyori’s stomach began to twist– he’s really acting like some lovestruck school girl, isn’t he? His head was starting to hurt, again. Maybe it was normal to see his friends this way? No, no… there has to be something else going on.
Arashi drops a small item on accident, and both her and Tatsumi instinctively reach for it. It seems Tatsumi was quicker, handing Arashi the box with one of those small smiles he flashes when he’s bashful. She blushes, taking hold of it before looking anywhere but Tatsumi’s face.
Did they have feelings for each other? Weird. Tatsumi smiled like that towards him all the time! Why share that same sentiment with Arashi, if he had a crush on her instead? It didn’t make se–
Wait.
Ah.
So it’s like that . Everything clicked in place, and Hiyori felt a weight lift before immediately crushing her again. Hiyori’s feelings were much more than platonic. Arashi and Tatsumi were showing him as much. Because, of course! Who would ever pass off these emotions as anything other than romantic?
The way the two spoke and interacted with each other was exactly how she interacted with them! Smiling, blushing, stuttering around words– flustering at the smallest of things. The bigger picture was coming together; Tomoe Hiyori– heart fallen victim to two of her circlemates!
And now she has to deal with it? Ugh.
“Tomoe-senpai,” Arashi’s voice breaks through his thoughts this time. “Did you still want to take a selfie together? Tatsumi-chan is putting together a scrapbook, and wants us all together!”
Hiyori nods his assent, shuffling quickly between the two. Tatsumi props his chin on Hiyori’s shoulder, smiling when he meets his eyes. Arashi leans in close, blowing a kiss to the camera as it shutters. Working through whatever this was is going to be a lot of work.
Whatever! A problem for another day.