Chapter Text
Hirose wasn't paying attention. He stared at the windows, absentmindedly following the cherry blossoms trickle down the trees. Something about the new year, the new beginning, didn't feel the same as it did last time. The way is heart sat heavy, and he just couldn't bring himself to care much about Math II, his thoughts sat against him like a lump, his shoulders heavy. He slumped in his chair.
He had a problem, a big one. Bigger than anything he's ever had before.
Aiki Hirose (might) not like girls.
Romantically, he means. Girls are great. But, in his time dating Hana, well.
Hirose sighed, the last of his classmates packed up their things. When did class end? He wonders. He stood up, picking up his bag letting it sling up and over to his back. The weight felt grounding. He isn't used to being so lost in his thoughts, it was new and scary.
He began walking to the classroom door, stopping only as he heard his name called.
"Hirose!" Nakamura shuffled to his side, "Would you—can we walk home together?"
Hirose flushed. Crap, he thought.
Because, really, he lied before. This was his biggest problem.
"Oh sure." He said, nonchalantly. Nakamura nodded, his bag slung over his shoulder. Resting right on his hip.
Hirose walked quietly. This problem, he couldn't quite understand. He's coming to realize he may not like girls. But in the realization he suddenly feels different. Specifically around Nakamura. He felt a strange feeling, like nervousness and worry balled up with joy and excitement, something hes never felt before--not like this, at least. He shook his head. Nakamura was a trusted friend, the kind of person he could be himself around, and its natural to compare a close, trusted friend to a romantic partner.
Which he did, many times.
In his time with Hana, Hirose couldn't help but think how much nicer it'd feel to kiss someone taller or...or how it would've been nice being home talking about movies and video games with on the phone with Nakamura instead of the restaurant dates he went on with Hana. She liked coffee too, but not black, and didn't like it with hot chocolate. She thought most sea animals were kind of creepy. She also kept quiet, but not like Nakamura. When Nakamura was interested, he could talk and talk, like a gem that had to be cracked open or—
"Hirose?"
Hirose jumped, "Ah—yes, sorry!" He said quickly, "Lost in thought."
Nakamura tilted his head, "About?"
Quietly he mumbled, "Its nothing important." They passed over the bridge, Nakamura's bicycle rolling along the road over the wrinkling cherry blossoms. Hirose bit his lip, and sighed. "Just...things have changed a lot, you know?"
Nakamura nodded, "They have."
"I mean Oomori and Mukai are still in our home-room but so is Hana . And even then Takeuchi is in the home room next door so I only see him after school and Matsumura is so busy he barely talks anymore." Hirose stiffened, "Er- sorry, Debbie downer." He laughed.
Nakamura nodded, "Its fine." He said quickly, "Some things changed for the better though, yeah?"
Hirose paused. They stood at a walk light, pressing the button, "Yeah?"
Nakamura's eyes widened, "Yeah! Like uh—" he waved his hands around, "Cherry blossoms are nice, huh?" He quickly bent down and picked one up, holding it up to Hirose.
Hirose laughed, "I suppose." He smiles taking it from Nakamura's hand, "They are pretty, aren't they?" He looks up at Nakamura.
"Yes." He responds, quieter.
The light turns green, and Hirose looks away, that same feeling bubbling in his stomach.
They continue down the street, Nakamura talking about the cherry blossoms his sisters been collecting, "And I bet she's giving them to someone, I just don't know who."
Hirose smiled, twirling the blossom in his hand. He stared down at it, then at Nakamura.
They made it to their crossroads, Hirose's house to the right and Nakamura's is to the left.
"Uh, wait." Hirose says, he walks up to Nakamura, who stood very still, and brought the blossom up to his ear, tucking it behind. Against his dark hair it looked even brighter than the ones on the tree. "There we go." He smiles, stepping back quickly. Nakamura feels the bud, and before he says anything Hirose quickly turns around, "Bye Nakamura!" He yells out, and sprints home as fast as he can.