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There was no reason for Shouta to be so nervous. He had a romantic interest in Fukukado, so the next logical step would be to ask her on a date. Stalling for so long was irrational- it just prolonged this uncomfortable dance around his feelings. He wants to know if she likes him, so he asks - it's simple. Shouta was usually very good at cutting to the chase, at being blunt and straightforward, but something about Emi made him act so utterly irrational. This post case celebration was his last chance to see her so Shouta decided to finally cut the shit and ask her out - the worst she could say is no.
Though he had finally got his mind straight, Shouta‘s body was still a bundle of nerves as he pulled into the parking lot round the back of the bar. He stepped out of his car, smoothing down his dark green sweater as he rounded the corner to the front of the building. Shouta paused when he spotted Emi, a beautiful figure draped in the moonlight- no better time than now to ask her “Fukukado” he called, “Miss Joke” he corrected as she turned to face him.
“That’s my name- don’t wear it out!” Emi said with a smile that rivaled the sun (though all of her smiles did).
“I was wondering if you would, possibly, be interested in getting coffee, or dinner, or- anything you want” were the words that tumbled out of Shouta’s mouth- a lot less concise than he had planned.
Emi laughs; nervous, surprised laughter “Like a date?” He nodded yes, unphased by her laughter at first: she had told Shouta once ‘I laugh before I think- it buys time’. Her light laughter continued, and she scrunched her eyebrows as she asked, “With me? Why?”
wasn't it obvious?
Shouta expected a yes or no, not a question why. “I enjoyed working with you the past few months. You’re smart, a great hero- and very pretty” he smiled as he reasoned.
At his answer Emi broke down in loud cackling laughter, it was the type of laughter she used on villains, or reporters. It was impersonal and meant to push him away. The sound of her laughter was drowned out by the blood rushing in his ears, and his face grew hot in embarrassment. As Emi doubled over in laughter, Shouta retreated back around the corner of the bar to his car.
Shouta sat with the car off, head pressed against the steering wheel for what felt like an eternity. Why did he think this was a good idea? When Shouta had decided to ask Emi out, he was well aware of the possibility of rejection, but he didn’t expect it in this way, he didn't expect it to hit him so hard- he would have rathered a no.
He sighed, finally pulling himself up to start the car and pull out of the parking lot. She wasn’t interested in him, he was okay with that, he thought as he drove back to his apartment- life would move on. Despite his reasoning, and against all logic, he still repeated the events of the night over and over in his head instead of sleeping.
Shouta didn’t expect to see Emi again after that night, their work didn’t often overlap, and they weren’t assigned together often. Even still, he saw her at the occasional meetings and conferences and other such hero events. The next time he saw her, Shouta expected her to mention or acknowledge the fact that he had asked her out, even just a joke about it, but as a month turned into a year, turned into 3 years, the ball never dropped. And so, Shouta forgot about it, convincing himself it was never that much of a big deal in the first place. Whenever he saw her, Shouta always distanced himself from her. He liked to see her doing well, but hated talking to her. Before his failed confession, they used to talk so easily, but after; every interaction with Emi felt so shallow and impersonal, a series of bad jokes strung together with small talk and short responses before one or both left the ‘conversation’. At first Shouta left their few interactions annoyed; had he ruined the friendship he had with Emi over his stupid feelings? Or had their interactions always been so empty? As time stretched on Shouta had come to terms with the state of their relationship, he was distant with most people, and now he would be distant with her too.
……….
Eraserhead was invited to a full day work conference, along with many other heroes, he never liked events like this, the information rarely pertained to him, they were more pleasantries than anything useful to anyone. It wasted time: he could be sleeping or working instead of listening to Best Jeanist talk about marketability.
The mid conference break had finally come, most people were using it to network and eat, but Shouta just wanted to find a secluded place where he could maybe sleep. He had found a room with only a few people, and an uncomfortable chair in the corner- it would do.
Before Shouta had the chance to even sit down, he heard a familiar voice call “Eraserhead” from behind him. He quickly turned in the direction of Miss Joke, he wasn’t looking forward to the hollow interaction that would ensue, still, he didn’t mind the company when it was her. Emi came up beside him with no smile, her brows knit together as she drew in a deep breath, he hadn’t seen a face so serious on her in years. “ For a long time now, I’ve wanted to say that I’m sorry-“
Shouta couldn’t recall anything she did to him that warranted an apology, they had barely talked in years; “For what?”
“A few years ago when you asked me out… and… l laughed at you-” Emi reminded him.
“Oh” That was the last thing he wanted to talk about, ever. Shouta was immediately brought back to how embarrassing that night was. He tried to brush it off: “No need to apologize, you weren't interested in me- it’s okay”
“No no” She said, resolute in continuing her apology “laughing in your face was a really shitty move”
Shouta told her the same things he had told himself over the years; “You were 21, drunk, and I probably caught you off guard- it's fine, really.” He assured her.
But dammit- she was unwavering, a trait he would usually admire, but not when she was bringing this up. “no- I shouldn’t have laughed, it was the wrong response, back then, I couldn’t fathom that anyone would want to date me, I thought you were making fun of me.” Emi sighed “I thought you were going to laugh at me; so I laughed first. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” Shouta finally accepted, pushing past the bad memories of that day, and actually listening to what she had said.
And it finally hit him; what she had said, “Why did you think that nobody would date you?” That was hard to believe; she had all the traits that people typically looked for in a partner, she was kind, smart, pretty, and (though, he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing it) funny - it was only logical to want to be with her.
Emi laughed, a soft, breathy type of laugh that he hadn’t heard in years “I hate to break it to you Aizawa, but I'm not exactly a pretty girl.”
Who told her that?
“Fukukado, you’re beautiful- objectively” Shouta said bluntly, almost correcting her.
“thank you” she said, smiling like nobody had ever told her that before.
“Not a compliment- it’s a statement of fact” Shouta clarified, because to him, it wasn't a statement of flattery, it was one of truth.
For the first time in years, the shallow awkwardness in their interactions had completely dissipated- it wasn’t imagined after all. Their relationship hadn’t been ruined, or if it was, it was so easily repaired. For the rest of their break, Shouta was so distracted talking to Emi, that he completely forgot about the nap he was trying to take.
Their break, and inevitably their conversation was nearing its close, and the heroes would have to return to the grueling second half of the conference. Before they parted ways, Emi looked up at him; “I'm a couple years late, but would you still be interested in that date?” She asked with one of her sunny smiles.
Shouta looked down to her, face stoic, trying to hide the fact that internally he was so happy that she was asking. “Would you laugh if I said yes?”