Chapter Text
Shouta wasn't a big fan of attention. It was mostly just annoying, but it was occasionally unavoidable. He could deal with it if he had to.
When Shouta transferred into Class 1-A, he had to deal with a lot of unwanted attention.
Some of that attention included romantic overtures from his classmates.
Now, Shouta was absolutely aware of the irony in him flirting with Hizashi while also being annoyed by flirting from other classmates. The main difference here, though, was that Hizashi never discouraged any of his flirting, and, if anything, the boy actually flirted back while Shouta would blatantly reject any kind of romantic interest towards him if he wasn't receptive to it.
Shouta was also aware that he was considered "attractive" to many people, a trait of his that he absolutely exploited when flirting with Hizashi. Apparently messy hair and tired eyes and a brooding attitude were mysterious and cool and therefore attractive. He also knew that people were often attracted to those who could beat them up, and it certainly seemed there was no shortage of those kinds of folks in Class 1-A.
However, knowing these things did not make the flirting and love letters any easier to deal with.
"You certainly got a lot of letters today," Hizashi observed, trying his best to not make his rising jealousy prevalent. He wasn't even dating Shouta! He had no right to be jealous!
"It's annoying," Shouta responded. "I wish people just told their confessions to my face immediately so that I can actually reject them."
"Isn't that kind of harsh?" Hizashi asked. "Those people worked hard on their letters, yo! You could at least try to go on a date with them. Who knows-you might actually really like them!"
"It's crueler to lead them on when I know I'm not at all interested," Shouta explained. "The sooner they know their feelings aren't returned, the sooner they can get over me and get on with their life."
"I mean, I guess," Hizashi frowned. "Do you actually meet up with the people who include a time and meeting place?"
"Unfortunately," Shouta said. "It's easier, in the long run, to just tell them I'm not interested in person. If I don't show up, it might not be taken as a rejection."
"Ah." Hizashi turned away slightly from the pile of letters. "So you actually read them?"
"Most of them are from secret admirers. I just feel like it's a waste of time to pursue someone if you're not upfront about your identity."
"Ah." Hizashi wondered if Shouta would ever bother pursuing him. "Is there anyone you are actually interested in?"
"Yes." Shouta wondered if Hizashi had finally managed to pick up on his flirtations.
"Oh! Really?" Hizashi questioned, doing his best to ignore the sudden spike in his heart rate while also trying to mentally douse himself in cold water to prevent him from getting his hopes up. "Who is it?"
Shouta knew it was probably too good to be true, and, clearly, Hizashi picked up on his expression.
"Oh! You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, you know," Hizashi sheepishly laughed. "Crushes are kind of an embarrassing topic, but, I have to admit, I haven't exactly seen you stare longingly at anyone. Oh! Is it an upperclassman? Is it Nemuri? You two would actually make a pretty cute couple now that I think about it-"
"It's not Nemuri," Shouta quickly cut Hizashi off before he could say more embarrassing things. Now that Hizashi mentioned his crush, Shouta was feeling uncharacteristically shy and nervous about actually confessing his feelings, especially after he specifically planned what to do for the confession. What irony.
Blantenly flirting, to the point where the majority of the class knew about his interest in Hizashi? Shouta could absolutely do that, no problem.
Actually confessing his feelings and getting into a serious relationship? Absolutely terrifying and nerve-racking now that he's been confronted by the reality of the situation.
Then again, actually starting to date Hizashi might have the extra side effect of discouraging any more love letters, which Shouta had to say, was a major motivation in confessing.
"Then who is it?" Hizashi persisted.
"I'll tell you later," Shouta decided once he noticed several people staring their way. Just because he wanted the notes to stop didn't mean he was going to confess in front of everyone. Besides, he already had a specific spot he wanted to go to confess.
Hizashi frowned but accepted Shouta's comment, or, at the very least, was forced to once class actually started.
Hizashi could barely concentrate, wracking his brain to think of potential crushes that Shouta could have.
It's not Nemuri, Shouta already confirmed that. Maybe it was Tensei? Or Kan? Or maybe it was someone completely different-it might even be someone outside of school. Hizashi felt a little nervous about the idea of Shouta having a crush on someone who didn't go to their school, but he supposed he was mostly weary of Shouta having feelings for someone he doesn't know at all.
The class was way too long. It stretched on like taffy or cheese. Hizashi couldn't help but allow his leg to bounce as his concerns regarding who Shouta liked ate up his thoughts.
Finally, finally class ended and most of the students exited the room as Hizashi waited for Shouta to put his stuff in his bag.
"So who do you like?" Hizashi tried whispering the best that he could, but he honestly wasn't all that good at that particular skill.
"Follow me," Shouta dodged the question so that he could take Hizashi to the specific place he picked out for his confession. Shouta couldn't say that he was too much of a romantic, but Hizashi was a big fan of sweet and romantic gestures, so he figured that, if none of his previous seduction worked, then this certainly would. And, if it didn't, then Shouta should take his own advice and give up, but he was pretty sure that Hizashi returned his feelings.
So, in confusion, Hizashi followed Shouta all the way to the cherry blossom trees that grew outside of the school.
“Why’dja take me here to tell me who you like?” Hizashi struggled to shove down his hopes.
“I like you romantically,” Shouta stated. “Would you like to date me?”
“Huh?” Hizashi wasn’t exactly sure if he heard that right. It might have been some sort of hallucination, hearing Shouta say those words, but they sounded a little too real to have been a hallucination.
“I said I like you romantically,” Shouta repeated. “Would you like to date me?”
“I’m the one you like!?” Hizashi asked, pointing towards himself, completely and utterly shocked as he yelled perhaps a bit too loudly.
“I’ve been flirting with you since I transferred,” Shouta deadpanned.
“You’ve been flirting with me!?”
“Yeah, you’re oblivious, so do you want to date or not?”
“I, uh, um,” Hizashi stuttered, still trying to process the fact that SHOUTA just ASKED HIM OUT. In a ROMANTIC manner. “Yes, yes, I do!”
“Are you sure?” Shouta questioned. He didn’t know why he was saying this. He was basically sabotaging himself if Hizashi actually didn’t like him back, but he didn’t want to force Hizashi into a relationship either. “Because you sound kind of unsure.”
Hizashi reached out to hold Shouta’s hands in a very purposeful gesture of interest before speaking again.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m just a little surprised is all,” Hizashi gave Shouta’s hands a squeeze, and Shouta had to remember his breathing exercises.
“Can I kiss you?” Shouta asked, just to keep his mouth occupied in case he did suddenly kiss Hizashi without thinking about it.
“Yeah,” Hizashi said, and, the moment he said it, Shouta dived for his lips, their kiss soft and sweet and short. Hizashi giggled when he pulled away. “I can’t believe you took me to the cherry blossoms to confess though.”
“I wanted to try to be romantic,” Shouta had the most adorable blush on his face. “Because you like romantic things.”
“Oh,” Hizashi’s face was probably equally as on fire. “Do you wanna go on a date to the cat cafe?”
“Yeah,” Shouta smiled. “I’d like that.”