Work Text:
Aoi Mukai raced up the school stairs. She needed advice, and she knew just where to get it. And nothing would slow her-
Aoi tripped and fell, burying her face in a trash bin. She got back up, brushed herself off, then took off again. She knew where to get it and nothing would stop her. Normally Nozuki would have helped her from such a fall, but right now he wasn’t here. Aoi didn’t want him to overhear this conversation.
She needed advice because she wanted…to confess to him.
When Aoi made this decision, she wanted advice, but realized she had almost no one to ask. Nozuki was probably the only person she was close to, and he wasn’t an option. There was Tsubame, but he’d been absent for a few days. Miyake hadn't shown up for a long time. Yuki knew romance, but she was out sick.
That left Fujiyama. She was the class representative and had spoken to Aoi about Nozuki before. Aoi wasn’t close to her. Something about the girl rubbed Aoi the wrong way, but she seemed reliable enough. So, Aoi entered their classroom and walked up to Fujiyama. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
The bespectacled girl looked surprised, and nodded.
Hibari bid the rest of the class an enthusiastic farewell before following Aoi Mukai out of class. She considered putting a slight bounce in her step, but decided it wouldn’t fit with the gravity of Mukai’s tone. Instead she adopted a casual stroll, like Mukai’s.
“ This may be your opportunity to befriend the assignment. ” Op said into Hibari’s earpiece. “ If possible, see if you can also support Yodaka’s mission of becoming her boyfriend. ”
Hibari made a show of wiping her glasses to hide the flinch from that last comment, all while ignoring the ache in her chest. Hibari didn’t understand why someone would want to date “Nozuki”, a persona with all of Yodaka’s weakness and almost none of his strengths. Nevertheless, their mission demanded it to better protect Mukai from her enemies.
But Yodaka’s useless at everything except combat. Hibari thought. He can’t fake feelings for her, let alone a relationship. In fact, the only reason he’s managed to get as close to Mukai as he has is because his natural awkwardness makes him beneath suspicion.
And yet, that awkward wallflower had managed to form a closer bond with their target than two shinobi that were highly trained in social interaction. Hibari still didn’t understand it, and thinking about it made her want to hit something. Yodaka was incredible when one saw the real him. Powerful, skilled, yet also earnest. But without the first two? He was honestly kind of pathetic.
And yet, every time Hibari thought about Mukai and Yodaka together, her chest tightened.
When the two found an empty room, Mukai turned around. “I need your advice.”
“What with?” Hibari said, putting on a friendly smile.”
“I…I want to confess to Nozuki.”
Hibari’s eyes widened. “Wait, you don’t mean-”
“Yes. I want to ask him out.”
“ PERFECT!” Op screamed in Hibari’s ear. “ Encourage this! That way Yodaka will finally be able to date the assignment! ”
I know, I know, Hibari thought. Would you keep it down and let me think? Turning her attention to Mukai, she said with forced cheer. “You are? That’s great! What’s the problem?”
“The problem is…I suppose I’m nervous.”
“Nervous? About what?” said Hibari. Isn’t that supposed to be Yodaka’s job?
“ Isn’t that supposed to be Yodaka’s job? ” said Op.
Not. Helping, Hibari thought.
Mukai fidgeted. “I suppose…it’s just weird. I mean, Nozuki’s my best friend. I don’t want to overwhelm him. You know how nervous he gets. What if…what if he doesn’t want to have that kind of relationship? What if I scare him away?”
“A rational fear knowing him. ”
Hibari didn’t disagree. Instead she said, “I get that. Nozuki does seem jittery around everyone that isn’t you.”
Mukai flushed. “Yeah. He is. He’s a really sweet guy and loves to be helpful, and he tries really hard. He’s just scared of talking to people. Or doing stuff with them. Or being around them. It’s honestly kinda cute.”
Agree to disagree. “Well, he does seem to like talking with you, and has no other friends anyway, so I don’t think he’ll run off…I say go for it!”
Mukai pursed her lips. “You do?”
“Yeah! I guarantee that there is no way he’ll say no!” Because he’d been ordered not to. “Besides, you’re really pretty and sweet! He’dl be lucky to have you as a girlfriend!” Seriously she was way out of “Nozuki’s” (not Yodaka’s) league.
Mukai looked up. “You’re sure?”
Hibari gave her a thumb’s up, ignoring the familiar ache in her chest. “Absolutely!”
Mukai’s expression firmed. She pumped her fists slightly and said, “Alright. I’ll do it! I’ll ask him out!”
“Great!”
“ Perfect!” Op said. “Yodaka will have to say yes for the sake of his mission, so she’s guaranteed to succeed!”
Hibari’s smile faded.
As Mukai turned away, Hibari felt something. It wasn’t the usual ache. It was something…else. This was wrong. Hibari gripped her glasses, then let her other hand reach up, as if to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. That hand plucked out her earpiece and hid it in her pocket, where Op couldn’t hear.
“Wait.”
Aoi turned around. Fujiyama had taken off her glasses and now was staring at Aoi with an expression completely unlike any she’d shown before. One that was focused, determined, aggressive even. It was nothing like the bouncy girl she normally behaved as, but somehow felt…right.
“Do you want to make sure Nozuki likes you back? That he wants to be your boyfriend and isn’t just saying yes because you asked?” Fujiyama said, her tone eerily intense.
“Yes,” Aoi said. “I do.”
“Then ask him.”
Aoi tilted her head to the side. “I’m already going to ask him out?”
“I mean ask him if it’s what he wants!” Fujiyama snapped. She sighed and said, “Nozuki is timid, terrified of social interaction, and a lot of other things. But, he’s always been honest about his feelings for you. So, if you ask him if he truly wants you to be his girlfriend, he will tell the truth.”
Aoi slowly nodded. Yes, that sounded very much like Nozuki. “I’ll do that. Thank you.” Aoi then lunged forward to hug Fujiyama. Unfortunately she just tripped and fell into her, but it was close enough. Aoi then strode off, feeling confident in her decision.
Hibari placed the earpiece back into her ear and donned her glasses again. She’d gone against orders, possibly jeopardized the entire mission, and yet, deep down, felt sure she’d done the right thing.
“ My sound went out. What happened? ” Op said.
“Oh you know. I wished her luck and she hugged me as thanks. Typical girl talk.”