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Hachiware did not expect to find any friends due to his living situation.
Hachiware did not expect to fall in love at all.
But when a cute, perhaps anxious little hamster finds their way into his life, he couldn't help but feel a slightly warm sensation in his chest.
“Ah... ” He sighed, staring up at the rocks that made the ceiling of his cave. He could be with Chiikawa right now, sleeping on their soft sleeping mats... sleeping next to...
Them.
He was thinking about them.
“Why can't I sleep....” He continued to toss and turn, hoping that at least one position would make him satisfied. But there was no position. “Why am I thinking about them so much?!”
“This feeling... it's making me go all crazy!” He found his paws covering his face, his ears tilted forwards in distress. “Is this... what being in love feels like?”
--
Hachiware spent the next few days in the internet cafe, researching love, crushes and, most importantly, how to confess. He was so dedicated to it that he brought a pencil and paper with him every time he visited the place.
It was not easy. Turns out, love was more complicated than he imagined!
From what he could see on the screen, he could only make sense of a few things:
1. Don't confess right away
2. Take your time
3. Be aware of the possibility of them rejecting.
Although the third one was written more messily than the other two.
Hachiware absolutely feared the idea of rejection. The thought of Chiikawa standing there in front of him, shocked, then quiet, then awkward, he didn't dare see it!
Nonetheless, he continued to jot down notes, writing every single bit of information he thought was important. He was determined to tell them, one way or another!
And suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Huh?” He turned, “Oh, right! My time's up! Sorry!”
And once he reached back home, then came the hardest part, practicing.
“I- I like you!” He said to the mirror, “No... too nervous.”
“Uhm, hey! I like you! No...”
“Hey, wanna go out sometime? Not that too...”
“Hi! I wanted to tell you that... I like you!”
... Another sigh, and he found himself flopped backwards onto his mattress, staring back at the rocks above once again.
“This is going to be hard,” He said to himself, “But... I can't mess it up...”
--
Hachiware could feel the nervousness creep in when he knocked on Chiikawa's door. He hopes that they're home, or else, things would be really awkward.
And that's when he saw that familiar white body behind the door.
Although His heart had begun to beat more when he first arrived there, he could feel it race faster when he actually saw them. Was this fear? Was it excitement? Was it... admiration? From seeing them?
Hachiware almost couldn't see the way they shook after opening the door. To his intial shock.
“W-what? What's wrong? You thought I hated you?” He could almost feel his heart shatter when they nodded. “I... I wasn't spending time with you?”
That's right! He was so caught up in his feelings that he forgot about actually meeting Chiikawa in person! Oh, he felt horrible! How could his friend ever think that he hated them? Especially since it was the opposite!
“I'm so sorry! I was just so busy that I couldn't come!” He quickly said, hoping that they'd understand. He couldn't lose them now, not like this! “Actually, I... I have something to tell you too...”
He could feel his nervousness come back when Chiikawa tilted their head.
“I... I like you! I like you more than a friend!”
Hachiware opened his eyes to see his friend standing there in shock, and then quiet, and then awkwardness. No, no! Was his biggest fear happening?!
Or maybe, that wasn't the case?
“... Huh? You... you like me too?!” He said in surprise as he saw them nod again.
And suddenly, everything felt right.
He knew that if Chiikawa saw him from behind, his tail would be wagging, he was so, so, incredibly happy. A nervous laugh managed to escape from his throat.
“Ha... hahaha!” He wrapped his paws around Chiikawa for a hug. “I... I never knew you'd like me too!” And they kept that embrace for a long, long time, for what felt like an eternity.
“I-I'm so happy! I love you!” He tried to mutter through sniffles, “Oh, I'm crying? I guess that happens when you're just so happy...”
Hachiware would never admit it, or maybe he would.
But he should've brought his camera that day, to commemorate such a day in his memory forever.
And maybe, to even get another picture of Chii's cute face.