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So, you see, Oboro was an idiot. There was no other explanation to him, reading some cheesy romance manga on Shouta's bed. Out loud.
"It was like I saw him for the first time. He was shining as bright as the sun and I couldn't look away..."
"That's so stupid. She new him since they were kids, right? What does "saw him for the first time" even mean?"
"Shouta, it's romaaantic. She noticed him, because he was all grown up now, not the little boy she met. He protected her and she realised her feelings." Oboro waves his manga in the air and Shouta shakes his head in disapproval.
"It never happens in real life. It's such a ridiculous trope too."
"How would you know how it happens in real life, you are single."
"Well so are you. And so are Hizashi and Kayama."
"Hizashi would agree with me that it's super romantic, though. When is he coming home already?"
"Of course he will agree with you, he is also an idiot. And he only left a week ago. He will come back the day before school starts. Didn't you listen when he was explaining?"
"I was too upset that he was leaving. Why did he even need to leave to states for the summer break? We are much better than whatever Hizashi is doing there."
"Yeah, because reading stupid romance junk is so endearing." Shouta rolls his eyes and checks his phone for missed messages and sighs, not seeing any. It was kinda annoying that Hizashi was so busy, he rarely had a time for texting them. Even though Shouta was staying up at night to chat with his friend, when he finally had time. Not like he's gonna admit that he was sacrificing his sleep for Hizashi. Nu-uh.
"It is!" Oboro keeps talking about his romance junk, but Shouta only hears a half of it, because there is a photo of a cat, with a message from Hizashi to their private chat and Shouta hides his smile with hair, that frames his face.
The day that Hizashi comes back he apologises in their group chat, saying that he got a lot of stuff to do, helping his moms. Shouta sighs loudly at his phone, but just says that they will just see each other in school next day.
Future Mic
I knooooow but I wanna see ya guys rn!!!!!! I missed y'all!
Proud Cloud
Shouta how can you say that! Hizashiii forget about him I missed yaaaaa, I wanna see ya right nowwwww!!!!
Afternoon
I can't even see him until the end of the school, I hate uni!!
PencilHead
You're all so dramatic. We'll see you at school, Hizashi. And Kayama will see you afterwards. Go help your parents.
Future Mic
AAAAAAAAH!!!!!!! I WILL SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW BYEEEE!
Shouta snorts and takes off his shoes, going back to his room, watching the chat go crazy with messages from Kayama and Oboro.
"I thought you were going out to meet Yamada. Change of plans?" He lifts his head to see his dad in a stairs and nod.
"Yeah. Hizashi is busy with his moms today. I'll meet him tomorrow at school anyway, so it's not a big deal."
"Okay. Text us tomorrow, if you are going to be late for dinner, alright?"
"Yeah. Maybe I'll stay at Hizashi's or something. I will tell you, when I know."
"Good. I'm heading out. Lunch is at the fridge, make sure you eat something."
"Got it." Shouta goes upstairs, receiving a head pat from his dad and flopping on the bed in his room. Even though it's irrational, he really wanted to see Hizashi today too.
The next day Shouta is so tired, he forgets that he didn't see Hizashi in a while. That's his excuse, when he says bye to his parents, goes outside and trips over his unmade shoelace, hearing an excited "Hey, Shouta!" in front of him. He doesn't fall and his "hero" instincts have nothing to do with that, unfortunately. Long arms catch him and his face plants in guy's chest, feeling soft laugh before hearing it.
"I'm super glad to see ya too, buddy! But you should really tie your shoes properly." Shouta is silent, when the guy squeezes him in a short hug, then puts him straight on his legs and lowers himself on one knee to tie Shouta's laces. "Well, at least I was here to save you, ha! Your personal hero, straight from USA."
Hizashi stands up with a toothy smile and Shouta's jaw silently drops, because this is definitely Hizashi, but also what the hell.
First thing that Shouta sees is that his rainbow braces are gone, which is something new. Hizashi got his braces right before UA and now they were in their third year, so Shouta never really saw a guy without his braces. It's kinda strange and it throws him off. Second thing is his hair. It's gotten a bit longer and it's not styled (probably because Hizashi didn't unpack his things and couldn't find his hair gel first thing in the morning) so straight blond strands are going down to his shoulders, a bit shorter than Shouta's own hair, but long enough. Third is that Hizashi got taller. Shouta was pretty sure that the last time they saw each other, they were the same height, but now the guy is a bit taller. Still noticeable though. Forth is Hizashi's voice. It still cracks, because he needs to control his quirk all the time, but it's a bit deeper and when he's talking calmly with Shouta, it sends slight shivers down his spine. Hizashi tilts his head in silent question and Shouta feels his face heat up a little bit.
"Hey." His own voice cracks and Shouta scrunches his nose in embarrassment.
"Hey, Shou. Ready to go? I want to catch Oboro from the bus." Hizashi smiles at him and Shouta stares at straight teeth and a small gap between them. "Ah. Do my teeth look weird?"
"What? No."
"It's okay, I'm not used to see them like that either. C'mon, we are gonna be late on our first day."
Hizashi goes ahead before Shouta can actually say something embarrassing about his friend's new look. He follows and soon enough the situation is forgotten, because Hizashi is chattering about his summer break and Shouta can't help but watch the boy. This is extremely weird and he ends up thinking about it until the lunch. And it hits him, when Oboro talks about his stupid romance manga, that, apparently shit like that happens not only in the stupid romance manga. Because didn't Hizashi kinda save, while also not looking like a twig-boy he met in the first days of high school. And, maybe, Shouta "saw him for the first time" or whatever. Which is ridiculous, because Shouta is definitely not the main character and he is not in romance manga. And he doesn't have a crush on Hizashi. He definitely does not.
"So I came to conclusion that I have a crush on Hizashi. What do I do?"
A week later he sits at Kayama's apartment, petting her cat and not lifting his eyes up. Hizashi and Oboro were stuck at the extra classes at school and Kayama had an evening free of patrol and homework at college. So here he was, asking Kayama for advice, because there is no way he's talking to his dad about it. And Oboro hates keeping secrets. So Kayama it is.
"No way, you finally understood it? How so?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Aizawa, honey, I'm pretty sure you've had a crush on Yamada since the middle of the second year, or so. Remember, when he was throwing you a birthday party and you were afraid that he would invite a ton of people, but it was actually a nice quiet day?"
Shouta remembered. He was kinda scared that it would be awful, but it was one of his best birthdays so far. Hizashi came in the afternoon, letting Shouta sleep and then they took a train to get to the small cat cafe in the next town. Hizashi only invited Kayama and Oboro, paying for Shouta's meal and making sure that cats stayed next to them. And it was the day that Hizashi was talking calmly, without attempts to entertain the public or turn on his Present Mic persona. His smiles were gentle and he had his red hearing aids that were matching with his red-brimmed glasses and a silver ring with the red stone.Shouta felt warm and happy that day, hiding his smile in cats fur.
"Yeah, I remember. Why?"
"You were blushing so bad, I thought you had a fever. Until I saw you looking at Hizashi with bedroom eyes, because he took you to cat cafe on your birthday."
"I-What? I wasn't looking at him with bedroom eyes, what are you even talking about?" Shouta straightens his back, feeling his cheeks heat up and furiously looking at Kayama.
"Alright, with heart eyes. Is it better? Anyway, that was the time that I realised your crush on Yamada. And I was not in the same class as you and Shirakumo, so I probably noticed too late."
"So you are telling me that I had a crush on Hizashi for at least a year?"
"Yes. Something like that. So what are you planning to do?"
"I was asking you for advice, remember?"
"Oh, that's right. Well, I think you should get married and have five cats."
"..."
Well, it's not like Shouta was planing to ever be with someone else and Hizashi was a good choice. It would be rational. They would have no problem with seeing each other in the hospital if something happens, it would be easier to do taxes and Hizashi is pretty good at chores and keeping Shouta alive. And it's only a couple of month until his 18-th birthday. It was a pretty great plan.
"Aizawa, I was kidding. Aizawa?"
"Do you know what Hizashi's ring size is?"
"It's..Wait, no, you are not supposed to seriously propose!"
"Why not?"
"Why?! You haven't even confessed to him! People usually date before proposing."
"Well it would be irrational to waste time. If I want to be with him, I'm planing to be with him for the rest of my life. And the marriage will benefit us both in financial and other ways."
"Well don't say that in your proposal, definitely."
"Why not?"
"Yamada will think you are marrying him only for taxes."
"Fair enough." Shouta sighs and looks at Kayama again. "Do you really think I shouldn't propose? That it's too quick?"
"Well..No, not really. I mean, I could never, but I see how it seems like the best decision for the two of you. I don't believe in soulmates and stuff, but if there are soulmates - it's you two."
"So I can propose."
"You can do whatever you want, sweetie."
So he does. It's his 18-th birthday and the two of them are cleaning the kitchen, while their friends are destroying Shouta's playstation, trying to beat each other in some game. It was a nice day. They went to the arcade, checked out a new coffee shop and just spent time together. His father got him nice new earbuds with noise cancelling option and some money, while Kayama bought him some clothes and helped him dress up for today. Oboro made him an album with photos that he took of their friendship group through three years of high school mixed up with photos of Sushi and street cats. It was nice. Hizashi bought him a sleeping bag, ridiculously yellow, but very comfy.
"Hizashi, can we talk?" Shouta says, when the boy makes a pause in his story, looking up from the plates that he has been drying.
"Do we not talk already?"
"You talk. I want to say something. No, I want to ask you something. Is that okay?"
"Ah..sure? Is something wrong, buddy? Was today too much?"
Shouta shakes his head, feeling warms from genuine concern in Hizashi's voice. He feels his hand sweat and tucks his hair behind the ear.
"No, don't worry. Today was great. You are..you are great."
The truth is, Hizashi is great. He is so good. He's funny and smart, and heroic. Plus Ultra and everything. Hizashi is kind and friendly, good with people and so nice in general. He has problems, obviously, they all know it. About a year ago, after bad mission, Hizashi told them all about his childhood in the foster system. About the abuse, the muzzle and his foster families. He goes to therapy every week and sometimes he can't sleep without pills. Sometimes he has nightmares. Sometimes his feelings are just too much and he pulls out Present Mic for the whole day, even when he is alone in his room. Shouta knows all about that and he is amazed with kindness that Hizashi still holds in his heart. Hizashi has so much passion and Shouta wants to see it every day for the rest of his life.
"This is..I don't think I can say everything I want to say this evening, but if you let me..I can share my feelings through our years together." Yeah. That was a good one. He looks up to see Hizashi, who lifts his eyebrow in question, his cheeks dusted with pink. Damn it, he didn't get it.
"What I mean is..I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You know?" Well, he only had one good line in his arsenal, it seems. Hizashi blinks a couple of times and Shouta opens his mouth to continue, but he's interrupted.
"You can't do that, Shouta, I am already so in love with, it's just unfair." They both inhale sharply and Hizashi goes red, covering his mouth with his palm, muttering behind it and looking at the floor. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry, Shouta, just forget it, okay? It doesn't matter, I'm sorry. Just ignore it, o-"
Hizashi goes silent, when Shouta lowers himself on one knee and shows him a simple golden band. It's silent for a couple of seconds, before Shouta remembers, that he actually needs to propose.
"Uh..marry me. Please. No, sorry. Will you marry me, Hizashi? Damn." His body loses balance for a second and his knee hurts from the movement, when he gains stability again. He also is pretty sure his face is red from embarrassment and it's the worst proposal of the time. Can he be more awkward? He wants a remake. Oh my god. "Sorry, this is awful. It was much better in my head, I promise. I'm sorry."
"You are..are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Like..you like me? I mean, romantically?"
"Yeah. I think that's usually why people marry each other." Hizashi puts his hands down and stares at him with an open mouth.
"I cna't even..You proposed to me in the kitchen, when we were washing dishes? On your birthday? You like me back? How do you even..Oh my god, Shouta, this is unbelievable."
"I am sorry."
"This is the best day of my life, I think." Hizashi sits down on his knees, taking a golden band from Shouta's fingers. "I..Can we really marry each other?"
"If you say yes. We are both eighteen now, so yes, we can."
"I want to marry you. Please. Yes. Can we?" He looks back at the ring and Shouta carefully takes it to put on Hizashi's finger.
"We can. We will."
Hizashi drags him outside first thing in the morning and it's eleven at the morning, when they sit outside, now married, eating ramen from the small family restaurant.
"This is crazy."
"Why? Because you are my husband?" Hizashi giggles at that and his eyes sparkle behind his glasses.
"Yeah! Husband. When we go to school tomorrow, we will be married in school. Can you believe it? Isn't it crazy?"
"A bit." It is crazy. But the craziest part is that Hizashi still didn't kiss him. And they have been married for an hour now. Shouta was kinda expecting a kiss. Yesterday, after his proposal. Or when they went to bed. Or in the morning. Or when they were getting married.
"Why is my husband grumpy?"
Shouta sighs and pouts, slurping his ramen.
"Can you stay at my place today?"
"Oh, for sure! I am not leaving you, hubby."
"Can we kiss? When we're at home, that is. If you want."
Shouta feels his cheeks heat up, when Hizashi nods enthusiastically and takes his free hand.
"I will kiss you so much, you will want a divorce, baby."
"I will not."
He doesn't think about divorce when Hizashi kisses him stupid. Or when they have a fight. He doesn't think about it in five years, in ten, or in fifteen. When he comes home to see his husband and daughter curled up on the couch, the cat sleeping on one half of Hizashi's face, Aizawa Shouta feels warm and satisfied. They definitely made mistakes, but marrying each other, freshly eighteen - wasn't one of them.