Chapter Text
With Hirose’s confession of being easily scared, Nakamura took his courage to invite him to the scary house in the carnival in town. He didn’t ask him directly. Knowing he would probably failing to talk to him normally in the class, he just wrote his question on a paper he gave to him with shaking hands. Of course, Hirose being the kind guy he is, he replies yes with his big smile Nakamura fell for.
There, he suggested to try the haunting house as a test of bravery and for the fun, since Hirose said he wasn't afraid by this. That was his plan to show Hirose how cool he could be and that he is more than capable to protect him and of course, to have an occasion to hold his hand.
So here he is, in the haunting house with Hirose hiding behind him, his whole face against his back and his eyes shut. This time, his hand is clutched to his shirt instead of his belt, so Nakamura could appreciate more the contact with the smaller boy. He could even feel his breath against his back. He never was this close to him before. He’s in heaven and might be go there for real with how fast his heart is pounding inside his chest.
Hopefully, he doesn’t have to speak to complete his task: making Hirose go out of this house in one piece. It should be pretty easy in theory. He just has to walk in this labyrinth, managing all the cheap decorations and sound effects which make him smile more than scare him. There was an actor in costume near the entrance but he didn’t have to do much. Just stared at him with his dead expression and murder eyes for not getting close to Hirose who looked at him with stars in his eyes for “saving” him. Since then, he is his knight in shining armour who is panicking on the inside. His shyness is both his malediction and benediction, because it makes him so much slower than it should be, giving him more time to appreciate Hirose’s presence next to him.
But every good thing has an end just like their school trip as they finally go out of the fake mansion.
“Few! Thank you, Nakamura! I thought I would handle this better this time! Sorry for the spectacle, I wasn’t as brave as you…”
“It was… already brave to go in, you know… I wasn’t brave since it doesn’t work for me.”
Nakamura hates how his voice is so small compared to his internal, real, voice. But his words still make Hirose smile.
“Thanks! Oh! You said it was fine with you if I stay close, but was it ok? I know you’re not a touchy person…"
“It’s… it was ok. I don’t mind it with… my friends.”
He wanted to say, to scream WITH YOU! but know he couldn’t. Shouldn’t. Otherwise, he would lose Hirose's friendship he worked to hard to acquire.
"To repay you for you protection, I should reward you with candies! Do you like cotton candy?”
“Sure!”
This time, he speaks too fast, too loud. Why can’t his voice by normal like everyone else?
“What flavour do you prefer, Nakamura?”
“Any you like, it’s fine.”
“Let’s go with the classic one, then.”
Hirose is just his classic enthusiastic smiling self with Nakamura following him like an enamoured puppy.
After the cotton candy, they go to the shooting stall with toy guns to shoot balloons. Hirose was surprisingly good at it.
Surprisingly? Only because of his cute face? Nakamura shouldn’t babify him like everyone else. Hirose can be strong enough to hold his ground to unfair teachers after all! He wouldn’t mind a confident Hirose just like he imagined because of his *fake* PE uniforms.
He realises he would love him more with anything new he learns about him, just happy to grow closer to him.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Hirose managed to win him a octopus plushie.
“So my crab key-chain could have a friend!” he said with his big smile.
He could die this instant just from his cuteness, really.
The plushie wasn’t the jackpot price, but Nakamura doesn’t care. It’s a present coming from Hirose who remembers his fixation for octopi and doesn’t make fun of him for it, who won enough tickets just to buy him a plushie he would love. It was small enough to fit in his pockets and maybe it could turn it into a key-chain to indeed match the one Hirose proudly wears on his school bag. That would be their connection, their secret almost. That they both love sea animals and love quiet and peaceful – dates? – in an aquarium.
“I didn’t know your favourite colour, so I chose the classic red one… I hope you like it! It’s to thank you for the key chain and also the time you saved me back then with the tugs. And also because I’m at ease with you. I don’t have to push myself to do things to please others. You ask for my opinion and you let me choose most of our activities and it quite refreshing to have another friend where things are that easy. So thank you, Nakamura!”
Inside, the poor boy is tearful, devastated even (in a good way!) with such beautiful words.
“Thank you too, Hirose... for not laughing at me… for being my awkward… self.”
“Well, we won’t thank each other all day. Let’s do other attractions! Do you wanna try the roller coaster?”
“Maybe this time, you’ll be the one holding my hand.”
He blushes instantly. Those words really left his mouth? Does that make him a closer friend to Hirose now?
This one just laughs. A genuine laugh. Not mocking or even disgusted.
“Of course you can! It would only be fair!”
Nakamura is indeed on cloud nine for all the afternoon.