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Nakamura shyly glances over at Hirose, his friend, from his normal seat in class. It’s a few days after they got back from the Yokohama trip and he still can’t quite believe it.
All this time, Hirose already considered them friends? He’s allowed to go over and say hi, he’s allowed to walk home with him after school, he’s allowed to ask if he wants to hang out. It’s too much, but it makes Nakamura feel so fuzzy and warm inside.
He’s still nervous though, and he subtly observes how Hirose is laughing and talking animatedly with his friends — today it’s Oomori and Takeuchi crowding around him. He’s so bright, it’s not surprising everyone is drawn to him.
Takeuchi blushes as a few of the girls walk into class. Break time isn’t over so everyone is talking loudly. He places a hand on Hirose’s shoulder (why is he doing that!!) and grins.
“Eh, Hirose, you never talk about girls with us,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
Now with the knowledge that Hirose sometimes finds Takeuchi’s remarks uncomfortable, he picks up on how Hirose’s smile strains, just a little. “Ah, is that right?” He laughs.
“Yeah!” Takeuchi says. “I’m really curious, out of everyone in our class, you do you think would be best to date?”
At this, Nakamura piques an ear. Well, he can’t say he isn’t curious also…
Hirose rubs his knuckle on his chin, looking deep in thought. “Hmm, best person to date…” he says. Then, lighting up like he just made a connection: “I’d say, Nakamura.”
Nakamura’s jaw drops. He misheard, right? He must have—
“Nakamura?!” Takeuchi exclaims. He looks around and lowers his voice a bit, but Nakamura still hears. “B-but he’s a guy!”
“What about Okuda, or Kawamura?” Oomori questions confusedly. “Aren’t they better?”
“Or Hamaoka,” Takeuchi sighs dreamily.
Hirose tilts his head. “Huh? We’re talking objectively though. Gender doesn’t matter.” He smiles softly to himself. “Nakamura is thoughtful and kind, a good listener. He’s funny too. He’d be a great person to date.”
Nakamura can feel his heart beating, and he can’t even find it in himself to get anxious about how his face is probably flushed.
Me? Really?! What did I do to deserve this? Does this mean… I maybe actually have a chance?
He feels shy at the thought. Is this really his life?
“What about looks though? The girls are so pretty…”
“Nakamura is handsome,” Hirose defends casually, like he didn’t just call Nakamura handsome what what what—
Takeuchi scratches his head. “Well, I guess. You know him better than us, so you’re probably right.”
Oomori nods in agreement, not really knowing what to say, and then their conversation leads off in a different direction, the momentary topic glossed over and forgotten.
Well, not quite. Hirose hadn’t really posed that question to himself before, but when he thinks about it, Nakamura would definitely be a great boyfriend. They’re already good friends, too. He can’t help considering it more — them hanging out, maybe leaning over to steal a kiss, going on another date at an aquarium — and finding he really likes the idea. After all, everything he said about Nakamura was his true thoughts.
Does this mean Hirose is gay? Or there’s that other one, bisexual, right? He has liked girls in the past, so that sounds more like him.
He glances over at Nakamura, who’s staring intensely at his notebook like usual.
Wow, the more I think about it, the more appealing it sounds. Maybe I should ask him to date me? No harm if he says no.
If Nakamura knew Hirose could have those thoughts so casually, he’d probably combust on the spot.