Chapter Text
The way Komaeda feels about Hinata is…complicated.
…No, he takes that back. There’s no real point in denying the unmistakable, indisputable, and most of all, infuriating crush he has on the stupid boy.
He hadn’t really expected it to happen - and not at all with a talentless Reserve Course student. In fact, they were actually the type of people Komaeda would’ve steered clear from in the love department and really, any department.
And…as embarrassing as it is to admit, he liked to daydream about his very improbable love life. To imagine himself in these cliché settings with the love of his life, to imagine them holding hands while walking underneath cherry blossoms, kissing against the tree, and his partner, whoever they would be, smiling and stroking his cheek and-
And it was pointless, considering he’s literally going to die at some point in the near future. But…he can’t help it. He supposes he’s a hopeless romantic of sorts.
He figured if he were to delve into some ridiculous, erotic teenage romance with some unfortunate soul at Hope’s Peak, it'd at least be with someone in the Main Course. He was already quite obsessed with their talent - it wasn’t very far off to assume he’d latch onto someone with said talent during his time there too.
…But, no. Of course, it has to be the most boring, most basic student in Hope’s Peak.
…Most beautiful too, perhaps…and sweetest as well…and cutest…and smartest…
Komaeda is abruptly brought out of his thoughts by the sound of the bell, and he flinches, blinking when he realizes that his classmates around him are all gathering their backpacks to leave for the day.
He glances down at his notebook, frowning when he realizes that he’s been drawing pictures of a certain soft-eyed, freckled, Reserve Course student.
He quickly shuts the book, and gets up to begin gathering his own things, wallowing in his own embarrassment of having not even realized he was drawing Hinata. He’d thought that was a thing that only happened in movies, but he supposes that when someone crushes…they crush hard.
Then with a start, and despite all the thinking he’d been doing about Hinata, he suddenly remembers that today is no ordinary day - it’s Friday, which means that he’s supposed to go out with Hinata right after school. Meaning now!
Hinata had invited him out to go shopping with him a few days ago - apparently, he needed a new backpack and it required Komaeda’s assistance. Komaeda was, of course, more than happy to serve.
He also wanted to try out the new ice cream shop down the block with Komaeda too. If Komaeda didn’t know any better, he’d say it sounded a lot like a date…but he isn’t going to make any inferences. Or assumptions. This is definitely just a friendly outing between two, platonic, male friends. (At least, to Hinata, it certainly is.)
After Komaeda bids a quick farewell to his teacher, he leaves the classroom and makes his way outside of the school to meet Hinata. As his heart begins beating faster, and a wave of anxiety ripples through his body, he clutches his bag a bit tighter.
He isn’t really sure how this…infatuation he had with Hinata even developed. How it was possible, for that matter. Komaeda and Hinata’s relationship had started off terribly. No, terribly didn’t even do it justice - it was horrific, if he remembers correctly.
He’d gone out to the fountain to meet Nanami - they were meant to work on a project together with one of their other classmates and when he’d seen her laughing and conversing with that infernal Reserve Course student who was somehow always around, he guessed he thought it was about time he introduced himself properly.
…And by introducing himself, he’d called Hinata a “pathetic excuse of a human being that has the nerve to think he’s good enough to be around Nanami-san and Souda-kun” and Hinata had proceeded to dump the soda he’d been furiously clutching in his left hand on top of Komaeda’s head.
Komaeda had laughed then, having completely expected that type of reaction from someone like Hinata, and he’d stepped back to continue spewing the worst insults he could, voicing all the pent up annoyance and venom he had towards every worthless, talentless student in the Reserve Course department.
Hinata had watched him as he did this with his mouth agape and his cheeks flushed, seemingly confused about Komaeda’s aloof reaction to the soda dripping down his head, and Nanami had been staring at Komaeda in both concern and offense for Hinata. Though it was clear she was at a complete loss of what to do.
But suddenly, when his eyes caught Hinata’s, and he was met with a fiery green that held a gaze so angry, so passionate, so dangerous, so…unlike anything he’s ever seen before…he stopped.
That anger. Anger could, in a way, be able to birth a new hope, couldn’t it?
When Hinata had raised an eyebrow, and his eyes flashed once more, as if challenging Komaeda to keep talking, he’d felt something in his heart…
Skip a beat.
It was strange.
Hinata had then taken advantage of Komaeda’s sudden silence, and stepped forward to jam a finger in his face and yell things like, “Who do you think you are?!” and “Y-You have no right or place to talk like that, just because you’re an Ultimate! Like, are you kidding me?!”
And once Komaeda had snapped back into reality, and he’d brought his gaze away from Hinata’s soul-mesmerizing eyes, he’d smiled once more and started to go off on his typical, you’re-just-as-worthless-as-I-am rant, and before he knew it, Hinata was swinging his fist at his face.
When Komaeda stumbled back from the impact and fell to the ground, his head spinning from the strength of the blow, Nanami finally decided it was a good time to intervene by grabbing onto Hinata’s arm and frantically pulling him away from Komaeda - stopping him before his very obvious temper took over.
It’d no doubt leave Komaeda with much more than just a bloody nose. He almost wanted to taunt Hinata for how hilariously easy he was to frustrate, but he managed to stop himself when he saw how serious Nanami looked.
She’d spoken to Hinata urgently, told him to stop with a voice so soft yet so desperate and suddenly, all that anger, that rage, seemed to somehow dissipate from his expression when he locked eyes with hers.
Something about their friendship had always made Komaeda feel disgustingly bitter - a Reserve Course student and a Main Course student had no business being around each other. Or being as close as they so clearly were.
Or perhaps…he just longed for a friendship of their magnitude.
After she’d finished calming Hinata down, she stared down disappointedly at Komaeda, told him that he wasn’t allowed to speak to her friend that way, and then they’d left Komaeda on the ground but not without Hinata casting a hesitant glance over his shoulder, as if checking if Komaeda was still there.
He was almost surprised, and offended that Nanami had left with Hinata, but at the same time, he could really care less. It’s not like he wasn’t used to being left alone like this.
He’d sat up, and wiped the blood rolling down his nose with the soaked sleeve of his shirt. Blinking slowly as droplets of soda dripped to the ground from his white curls.
That night, he couldn’t get the vision of Hinata’s eyes out of his goddamn head.
Then, to make matters even more confusing for Komaeda, when he’d seen Hinata standing right outside the school for him the very next day, he nearly thought he’d been imagining him.
But he most certainly wasn’t, because Hinata was literally right there in his stupid, Reserve Course uniform and he’d been rubbing his neck, and holding a box of what looked like…green…cookies?
“Hey…” Hinata muttered.
“Hello.” Komaeda glanced down at the box of cookies in his hands, before snorting derisively.“You bake.”
"They’re for you.”
“...What.”
“I - “ Hinata winced, before letting out a frustrated sigh and staring up at Komaeda helplessly. “Look, I’m sorry. I - what you said to me yesterday was obviously not okay, but…it didn’t give me a right to pour my drink on you…or punch you. I’m sorry.”
Komaeda blinked. Then looked around the campus. “Did Nanami put you up to this?”
“W-What?”
When Komaeda simply stared back, giving no indication of wanting to elaborate, Hinata cleared his throat and stuttered out a quiet reply of, “No. I - I wanted to do this.”
He looked down at his shoes. “I mean, yeah, she was upset, and she told me to not do it again, but, you know, then I thought back and I’ve never really…done that to anyone before.”
"And I kept thinking about it, and replaying it in my head or whatever and - I just…it was wrong of me. I’m really sorry.” Hinata’s hazel eyes slowly brought themselves up to meet Komaeda’s gaze, and the minute their eyes met, Komaeda felt himself falter.
Hinata held out the box of cookies to Komaeda, and Komaeda could only hold his breath. Wait for the catch. Perhaps Hinata would throw the box in his face, or smash the cookies on his head.
But when nothing came, and Hinata’s frown only deepened and his hands tightened and loosened around the box, Komaeda released the breath he’d been holding.
He took the box.
“Well, I appreciate the apology.” He said slowly. “But you really have no reason to apologize. I was berating you, and being nothing short of disrespectful.”
“Is…that your way of saying you’re sorry too?” Hinata chanced a small smile, and it was so jarring to see it stunned Komaeda. It was almost as alluring as the anger in his eyes yesterday - if not, more so.
“Because if that’s the case, I guess I forgive you.” He said cheerily, which seemed to snap Komaeda out of his daze.
Komaeda let out a wry laugh. “It wasn’t really, because I still stand by what I said.”
“H…Hey!” Hinata widened his eyes, frustration and incredulity beginning to replace his cheeky expression. His gaze landed back down on the box of cookies in Komaeda’s hands, and he reached out to snatch them away but Komaeda side-stepped him easily.
“Give those back!”
“Mm, no, you’ve already given them to me.” Komaeda grinned, enjoying this a bit too much, before reaching into the box and popping them into his mouth.
Green tea cookies. They were pretty good.
“Thank you by the way.” Komaeda mused, with a mouth full of cookies. “They’re not bad for a Reserve Course student.”
“I - ! Y-You’re such an asshole!” Hinata said angrily, his cheeks flushing and that ridiculous piece of hair on his head seeming to stand up straighter.
“And you’re very easy, Hinata-kun.”
Hinata stared at him in disbelief for another seven seconds, with his jaw slack as Komaeda threw yet another cookie into his mouth.
“Jesus,” Hinata finally murmured, his shoulders beginning to slump, frustration beginning to melt into helpless exhaustion. “Why do I even try…”
Hinata cast one last wary glance at him, before turning away and shoving his hands into the pockets of his uniform, leaving Komaeda with his box of cookies all the while muttering curses underneath his breath.
Komaeda paused, watched as Hinata made his way down the steps of the Main Building’s front entrance, and for some reason, he found himself speaking.
“Hinata-kun.”
Hinata perked up, and turned, looking nothing short of defeated. Komaeda felt something like guilt rise in his chest, and for once, he pushed his pride down for someone other than an Ultimate.
“...I’m sorry too. For how I treated you yesterday.”
Moments of silence passed between them, before Hinata could probably sense Komaeda’s increasing, apparent discomfort and quickly said, “It’s okay.”
He turned around fully then, and stepped forwards again, looking up at Komaeda with big, green eyes.“Are we…can we just start over then?”
Then, the smile returned, and the sun shone down on Hinata like a halo and Komaeda felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs. “Maybe we can be friends.”
Komaeda found the words to be lost on his tongue - hell, his breath had been taken away completely , but when he finally sought out his voice, it came out softer than he’d ever heard it. “Friends. Yes.”
“But I - I wouldn’t push it.” He added, more nervously than he intended it to come out and Hinata only snorted, before giving Komaeda a goofy, half-smile, and leaving without saying anything else.
Komaeda stood there, watching as Hinata left, a slight bounce to his steps. He clutched the box of cookies to his chest.
Komaeda had no idea that there’d be any coming back from a first impression like that - but somehow, they managed to stay civil in the times they met again. Of course, there were still the bitter comments now and then, and the fiery comebacks, but otherwise, their relationship was…almost pleasant.
Komaeda found himself looking forward to Hinata’s sudden appearances in their classroom, or his awkward ramblings when they’d bump into each other after school.
Then after that…they had found themselves running into each other more and more, and Komaeda hadn’t known at the time, but it was the longest stroke of good luck he’d had in a while.
Incredibly good luck, in fact, because every time they saw each other, they would talk more, and every time they talked more, Komaeda found himself actually…not minding Hinata’s presence.
More than that, he enjoyed Hinata’s company. And when snide comments turned into light-hearted banters, and light-hearted banters turned into laughter, and laughter and deep conversations and friendly greetings and long walks home developed into a blossoming friendship…
Komaeda wasn’t completely sure.
But he guessed at one point, he’d been able to identify what that skip in his heartbeat was.
It’s what Komaeda is feeling now, actually, as he looks around the campus for Hinata’s spiky, brown hair, trying to spot him among the group of Reserve Course students filing out of the building.
He’s pretty nervous and he isn’t even sure why - they’re just going to spend some time together. As friends. Outside of school. There is nothing to be nervous about.
“Komaeda!”
Komaeda turns to where Hinata’s voice had come from, smiling when he sees him approaching him with his ratty book bag slung across his shoulder. He’d been hoping that seeing Hinata would ease him, but indeed, his heart does not slow down, and his palms don’t become any less sweaty.
When Hinata comes up to him, Komaeda can see him more clearly now - the freckles dotted across his warm, tan cheeks, and the soft smile dancing across his features. He’s glowing in the sunlight. “Hey.”
“Hello, Hinata-kun.” He greets, his voice coming out slightly breathless but he covers it up by clearing his throat and following up with, “How was your day?”
“It was okay, I guess,” Hinata shrugs, as they turn to begin walking out together. “The English exam didn’t go as well as I thought it would though…”
“Really,” Komaeda hums. “I always thought English was your strongest subject.”
Hinata snorts, glancing sideways at Komaeda as they begin out of school grounds. “Well, clearly, someone doesn’t know me as well as he thinks he does.”
“But it’s true!” Komaeda protests. “Your English is very good, Hinata-kun.”
Hinata lets out an indignant sigh, before smiling softly. “Well, thanks. At least you think so.” He quickly glances at Komaeda, before adding almost shyly, “It means a lot coming from you.”
“Oh? Really? What’s that supposed to mean?” Komaeda asks, leaning down to get a clearer look at Hinata’s face as they’re walking down the sidewalk.
Hinata averts his gaze, mumbling, “Just that you’re smart…”
Oh. Komaeda hadn’t expected Hinata would seriously answer.
Almost like an instantaneous reaction, he feels his ears begin to burn and he leans back up, laughing softly but it comes off slightly shaky even to his ears. “Ahaha, don’t say things that’ll inflate my ego, Hinata-kun.”
Hinata chuckles, shaking his head and Komaeda can tell that he has something he wants to say but as far as Komaeda can tell from the way Hinata’s acting, the conversation has already come to an end. Hinata’s eyes are fixed to the concrete and he’s squeezing and releasing the strap of his bag anxiously.
Komaeda smiles to himself, choosing to ignore it. He’s sure Hinata is just uncomfortable around him, as people tend to sometimes be - he finds that the realization kind of hurts, but again. He ignores it.
“Anyways, where are we headed for your new bag?”
“Oh yeah.” Hinata looks up, “Well, I was just walking us towards the nearest department store. It’s just a few more blocks - I, uh, go there for school supplies sometimes.”
“Mm,” Komaeda nods, before throwing a small smirk in Hinata’s direction. “Is it because you’re often unprepared for school?”
Hinata rolls his eyes.“No, it’s because I am prepared, Komaeda. Don’t get it all…twisted.”
“I’m just kidding, Hinata-kun.” Komaeda laughs softly, before playfully brushing one of Hinata’s shoulders with a thin hand. “I know you’re very on top of your school work.”
“Yeah…?” Hinata stops in his tracks all of a sudden to stare at Komaeda in surprise, and Komaeda stops with him, turning on his heels to look back at Hinata.
“Yeah.” He grins. “You’re my favorite Reserve Course student, after all!”
“Y-Your favorite-” Hinata’s mouth drops, before he clamps it back shut and scoffs incredulously. But even then, a smile is across his lips and his cheeks are flushed as he walks past Komaeda and says, “Geez…for some reason, that sounded super back-handed.”
“It’s not!” Komaeda calls out, laughing as he runs to catch back up with Hinata, who’s already walking away from him into the dip of the setting, afternoon sun.
“I think this is the one,” Hinata says, holding up a yellow, checkered print book bag in his hands. Komaeda hums, looking away from the sling backpacks to see what Hinata is holding.
But the moment he sets his eyes on the bag, which is wearing the most horrendous shade of flaxen yellow, he frowns deeply. “Hinata-kun, please. Not this.”
“What? Why not?”
“Are you really asking me that?” Komaeda takes the bag from Hinata, and holds it up at arm’s length, looking back from Hinata to the abomination of a bag in his hands.
“Not only is this an awful design, but the color would not suit your uniform one bit.”
Hinata crosses his arms defiantly, leaning his weight on one foot. “Black goes with everything,”
“Yes, everything but this.”
“...Well.” Hinata pauses, before pouting and then swiping the bag right back from Komaeda. “M-Maybe it’s not that nice looking, but it’s cheap!”
Komaeda warily eyes the bag clutched in Hinata’s hands. “And don’t you believe there’s a reason for that, Hinata-kun?
“Alright, Komaeda , not everyone is loaded like you.” Hinata rolls his eyes, and Komaeda has to bite back a wince at the words.
Oh…
Well, he’s definitely not wrong. Komaeda hadn’t even considered that Hinata may be making his decision and weighing his options based solely on the money he has in his pocket and nothing else.
It may sound horribly entitled of him to admit but…it’s been a long time since Komaeda has actually accounted for how cheap, or how expensive something might be when out shopping. Normally, the housekeepers are the ones that buy the groceries for him, and when he’s out shopping himself, he just gets whatever he needs without really considering the price.
“Okay, okay, you’re right.” Komaeda relents. “I’m sorry.”
He gestures towards the bag, his voice softening when he says, “If you need to, we’ll get that one for you. But let’s keep looking, I’m sure there are better, cheaper options. You can do much better than that.”
Hinata pouts some more, looking down at the bag, then back up at Komaeda, and his eyes are adorably large but Komaeda has to ignore it. He has to. This is really not the time to be swooning over Hinata doing virtually nothing.
“Fine,” He finally says, before putting it back to the shelf he’d found it on, and Komaeda’s grin comes out wider than he’d wanted it to, but he can’t really help it.
“Don’t worry, Hinata-kun, we’ll find the perfect replacement bag for you soon.” He says gleefully, more than happy that Hinata had put away the unsightly bag and Hinata only grumbles at him in response, turning back to keep browsing.
Komaeda wanders towards the other aisles, deciding that he’d be able to find more discounts for Hinata if he was able to find the clearance section. They’ve only been browsing the school essentials aisle after all - Komaeda is bound to find something if he just looks a bit deeper. He’s not completely sure if this department store will even have a clearance section, but there’s no harm in looking.
As he walks through the store, glancing idly at the different aisles he passes and the items left up for display, he stops in his tracks when he sees rows and rows of rollback items, bright, yellow tags on them signifying their discounted prices. He smiles to himself, happy with how fast he’d been able to find it and begins browsing idly.
There’s not much - only a few sparsely placed items in desperate need for reorganization - including some opened toys, bathing suits, cheap makeup, an expired pack of soda…but no backpacks. He sighs, and already at first glance, he can tell that he’s not going to find anything for Hinata here.
That is, until he glances up and sees a clown mask, likely from the Halloween sales, staring back down at him from its place above the markdown sodas. He frowns, cocking his head.
Curiously, he reaches up and takes it off the rack, widening his eyes when he sees a lone, dark green bookbag dangling right behind it…!
Unhooking the bookbag in one hand and holding the mask in the other, he grins when he realizes how perfect it would be for Hinata - the color is nice, and it looks almost identical to his old one. He’s sure he’s found something Hinata will like - what amazing luck!
As he’s about to put back the mask in its previous place and leave to find Hinata, he pauses, and stares down at the grinning clown face in his hand. The most amusing idea suddenly comes to him, and he feels himself smile maniacally, before taking both items with him and leaving the aisle.
Hinata is standing in the same place as he was before, and his back is turned to Komaeda when Komaeda turns the corner. Komaeda chuckles softly to himself, before pulling the clown mask over his head and approaching Hinata as quietly as he can manage.
When he’s an inch from Hinata, he taps on Hinata’s shoulder. “Hinata-kun.”
“What - oh my fucking god!”
Hinata curses, causing several heads to turn his way but he doesn’t even seem to notice when he jumps a full, several inches back and his entire body jolts, his eyes shot wide open in absolute terror.
Komaeda tries to hold back his burst of laughter, and instead spreads his arms, as if making a show of his get-up. “Well? What do you think?”
“KOMAEDA!” Hinata cries in horror, instantly clamping his mouth shut and cringing after a few employees shoot him glares. Komaeda breaks his act at the sight of Hinata staring apologetically back at them, and he doubles over in laughter.
Hinata’s head immediately whips back to him, and his cheeks flush angrily, yet the sight is nothing short of adorable. “Y-You think that’s funny?!” He gestures wildly towards nowhere in particular. “We’re in a store!”
“I’m sorry, that was just too good, Hinata-kun!” Komaeda gasps in between short, wheezes of laughter. “You should’ve seen your face!”
Hinata watches Komaeda laugh and wipe tears from his eyes, his jaw slack and his arms hanging limply by his side before huffing, and leaning defeatedly against the shelf. “I hate you,” He grumbles. “So much.”
“Aww,” Komaeda says, his voice spent after having used so much breath and air from laughing his head off, and he turns to Hinata, his heart suddenly skipping a beat when he sees a small, indignant smile on Hinata’s lips.
His head is turned slightly away from Komaeda, but it’s enough to see everything that makes Komaeda so…infatuated.
He approaches Hinata slowly, before stepping close to him - almost pinning him to the shelf he’s leaning on and Hinata widens his eyes, green orbs flicking up to look at him.
“Well, I don’t hate you, Hinata-kun.” He whispers, smiling down sweetly at Hinata.
Hinata is once again, at a loss for words, the blush across his cheeks only darkening at their proximity before quickly shaking his head, pushing Komaeda away from him and spluttering,
“G-Get - go - we’re supposed to be looking for bags!”
Komaeda laughs, before brightening up at the mention of the bags. “Oh, right!”
He holds out his other hand, which had been in possession of the green bookbag he’d found before and presents it to Hinata happily, “While I was going around the store, I managed to find this. It has a clearance marker on it.”
Hinata takes the bag wordlessly, the previous contempt and chagrin on his face wiped clean. Komaeda smiles nervously.
“Your thoughts?”
“Huh…yeah, I like this one.” Hinata mutters, before moving the bag around in his hands in a poor attempt to locate the price tag.
“How much?”
Komaeda leans forward, lifting up the yellow price tag dangling from the strap, and reads to Hinata, “...Only 1800 yen.”
Hinata visibly brightens up, looking as if he’d just received a present on Christmas morning, and nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, that’s definitely good. And it has a lot of uh,” He takes one of the zippers in his hands and brings it back and forth, murmuring sheepishly. “Utilities?”
“Yes.” Komaeda smiles, his chest warm with ridiculous fondness for the brunette. “Are you going to get it, or would you like to keep looking?”
Hinata surveys it some more, checks inside the bag, locates all the other compartments of the bookbag, before glancing back up at Komaeda and smiling. “I think I’m going to get it. I’ve had enough shopping for today, anyways.”
“We’ve barely even been here for ten minutes!”
“Still.” Hinata laughs, “I don’t think I have the patience to keep looking.”
Komaeda chuckles softly to himself as they start towards the checkout counters. “Okay, okay. Well, I think it’s a good pick, anyways.
He nonchalantly looks back down towards the bag in Hinata’s hands, adding, “And it has a nice color too. It’ll match quite well with your eyes!”
“My -” But before Hinata can finish his sentence, his eyebrows suddenly raise in surprise, and he looks down towards the pockets of his pants. Komaeda frowns as they slow to a stop in the checkout line.
Hinata takes out his phone, which must have buzzed inside his pocket and he watches Hinata’s expression sour as his eyes flick across his screen anxiously.
“Who is it?”
“It’s, um…” Hinata swallows, before closing his phone and blinking in what looks like genuine perplexity. Komaeda gives Hinata a pressing look, silently asking him to finish his thought.
Hinata sighs loudly in exasperation. “So, do you remember Taketa?”
Komaeda frowns, recalling the phone call he’d shared with Hinata just two nights ago. Hinata had been complaining about some project he’d been forced upon in his math class. “I do. She’s your groupmate, isn’t she?”
“Yeah…well, yesterday, she told me that she, uh,” Komaeda watches as a familiar shade of pink begins blooming across Hinata’s face, and he frowns deeper. “...has feelings for me…”
“Oh.”
It takes Komaeda a second to fully process Hinata’s words, his heart stuttering slightly in his chest, which grows warm with what Komaeda can definitely identify as jealousy, before he shoves the feelings away and instead wills an excited smile on his face.
“O-Oh! Hinata-kun! That’s-” He laughs nervously, and Hinata only stares at him in exasperation - Komaeda had reacted like this the first time too. Yes, this is not the first time someone has confessed their feelings to Hinata, much to Komaeda’s dismay.
About a month ago, another girl had confessed her feelings to Hinata, and that had gone much less smoothly, with Komaeda standing in shock for what had to be ten entire seconds before Hinata had to physically shake him out of it.
Komaeda’s not really sure how Hinata hasn’t caught on with Komaeda’s hopeless, pitiful crush on him, but it’s not like he’s complaining about Hinata’s cluelessness.
He’d rejected that girl from a month ago, which had made a large part of Komaeda relieved, but another part…nervous. Who could tell how Hinata would react to Komaeda telling him, considering he ever did?
Komaeda clears his throat, recovering as best as he can manage. “Isn’t this the second person now?”
“Yeah. It’s really freaking weird.” Hinata mutters.
“Well…judging from your reaction, I suppose you told her you didn’t feel the same…unless, ah-”
“Yeah.” Hinata nods, shutting down anything else Komaeda was going to say, and Komaeda feels his shoulders, which had tensed without him even knowing, sag in relief. He hopes Hinata doesn’t notice.
“I turned her down. I’m not interested in her like that.”
“I see.” Komaeda says softly, before glancing down at Hinata curiously. “Why not?”
“It’s just - oh, hold on,” Komaeda hadn't even noticed when they’d reached the front of the line, and he steps back politely as Hinata approaches the cashier to pay for his bag.
Komaeda honestly would’ve offered to pay for one of the more expensive bags for Hinata, but he knows Hinata well enough to know that he’d never let him pay for him like that.
He’d still like to treat Hinata today though…perhaps he can get him something on the way home. Maybe he’ll pay for the ice cream they wanted to get together? He brightens at the thought, and tries to hide his smile.
When Hinata turns back to him, now with his new book bag slung over his shoulder (he’s still carrying his old, torn-up one across his other shoulder - it’s a funny sight as much as it is endearing) he gestures towards the exit with his head, and together, they leave the store side by side.
“What were you asking me again?” Hinata asks once they’re out of the store.
“Why did you turn Taketa-san down?”
“Oh yeah.” He sniffs, bringing his gaze to the ground as leaves kick up and around their ankles. The autumn air nips at their noses, and Komaeda wraps his arms around himself.
“Well, I’m not really looking for a, uh, relationship right now. With her, specifically. She’s nice, and smart but she’s not really…my type, I guess?”
Komaeda nods slowly, and a brief, almost awkward silence fills the air between them before Komaeda asks shyly, “What is your type then, Hinata-kun?”
“I - I’m not really sure.” Hinata stutters, the flush reappearing on his face once more. “It’s - It’s just so weird that all of a sudden, all these people are coming up to me and telling me they like me…it’s like someone paid them off to do it, I swear.”
“Hinata-kun,” Komaeda laughs softly, baffled that Hinata could be so pessimistic about something so wonderful - who wouldn’t like having that many people admire you…?
“Is it that hard to believe that you’re just a very…likable person?”
“Yeah, it kind of is. There’s nothing special about me.”
“That’s not true.” Komaeda says immediately, his voice hard with determination, turning his head to stare at Hinata. “You’re amazing, Hinata-kun. Even though you are just a Reserve Course student, you’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
Hinata’s eyes shine as he stares right back at Komaeda, his mouth gaping slightly. Komaeda realizes their proximity - the way their shoulders are brushing as they walk down the sidewalk and he immediately distances them, clearing his throat and clutching on the strap of his own school bag.
“And, t-those girls who’ve confessed to you would beg to differ as well.”
“I - I guess so…” Hinata murmurs, seemingly oblivious to the way Komaeda had practically jumped away from him, before turning to Komaeda once again and cracking a tiny smile.
“Thanks.”
Komaeda nods, returning his gaze to the ground, well aware of his racing pulse.
If he’d allowed himself to ramble anymore, he’s not sure what would’ve happened. He goes on rants and tangents a lot, that much he knows, but he’s at least able to refrain when it comes to something as stupid as his crush on Hinata.
“Oh, yeah the new ice cream store is just up ahead.” Hinata comments, after a few moments of walking in silence. “You still up to hang out?”
“Mm, no,” Komaeda shrugs, feigning disinterest and watching from the corner of his vision as Hinata’s eyes widen. “I think I’ve had enough Hinata-kun for today.”
“Wh-” He watches as Hinata struggles to respond, clearly not having expected Komaeda to say something like that and flicking his gaze from Komaeda to the ground, and then Komaeda again. He has to contain a laugh at the sight - poor Hinata looks so offended yet confused at the same time.
“I’m kidding, of course I am.”
Hinata makes a small, surprised noise in the back of his throat, before groaning loudly, and turning his head the opposite direction. Komaeda sees the tip of his ears turn red. “G-Geez…this is why I don’t understand how people can even like me…”
Komaeda bursts out in laughter and so does Hinata, his laugh seeming to light up the entire neighborhood as they walk down the sidewalk.
They talk, and talk the entire way to the ice cream shop when Komaeda realizes that the time he spends with Hinata is never a minute wasted. He values his time with Hinata more than he thinks Hinata will ever realize.
He wonders if he feels the same.
The shop is empty when they enter and the smell of sweet chocolate and whipped cream hits them instantly. Hinata’s face lights up and his eyes close while Komaeda’s nose scrunches up almost imperceptibly.
He’s not the biggest fan of ice cream in all honesty, but, he guesses he can make an exception every now and then, especially if it’s just miso ice cream.
The worker smiles and welcomes them politely as they approach the counter, and Komaeda utters a polite greeting in return before standing besides Hinata. They stare down at the selection of flavors, and Hinata presses his hands against the glass like a child.
“There are so many flavors…” Hinata murmurs in awe, and Komaeda chuckles softly. It’s as if Hinata’s never been to an ice cream shop before, what with his shining eyes and palpable excitement. “What should I get?”
“Hmmm,” Komaeda looks over the flavors, pursing his lips. “I think…you should get the chocolate orange.”
Hinata barely even wastes a second before nodding his assent, seeming to be excited to try any flavor. “Chocolate orange it is.”
The worker reaches down into the tubs of ice cream to scoop their desired flavors for them, getting Komaeda his miso ice cream and Hinata his chocolate orange in cones, and Komaeda never really took Hinata to be the type to be this excited to try ice cream, but watching his reaction and the way he bounces slightly on his heels is all worth it.
Hinata adds quite an abundance of toppings to his ice cream, and Komaeda passes on it before they approach the cash register to pay for their selective treats. The total of the ice cream turns out to be more than Komaeda had expected, and he watches as Hinata’s face drops slightly at the price, before he nonetheless reaches into his wallet to pay.
The gears in Komaeda’s head turn before he hastily whips his own card out instead and hands it to the cashier, just in time for Hinata to see.
“H-Hey! Are you-”
“Yes, that’s for both of us. I’m paying for both of us.” He tells the cashier, and the cashier nods, glancing down at the digital pad and processing the order for them. He can feel Hinata’s eyes on him as the cashier gives him back his card with a small smile, and bids them a good rest of their day.
As they walk away from the counter with their cones in hand, Hinata splutters, “W-What are you? My boyfriend? You didn't need to pay for me.”
The words nearly make Komaeda jump out of his own skin, but he covers it up with a small cough and then immediately a laugh, although it comes off awfully nervous. “Ahaha, no, but I’m your friend, and I want to treat you.”
Hinata huffs as they slide into an empty booth, and Komaeda is hit with the notion that he’s possibly offended Hinata by paying for him and assuming Hinata couldn’t afford it, but just as the anxiety begins to sink in, he hears Hinata say,
“T-Thanks, Komaeda.” His voice is quiet and almost shy, and Komaeda instantly brightens up at the sound of it. Not like he doesn’t always brighten up at the sound of Hinata’s voice, but…
“Of course, it’s nothing.” He smiles softly. As they begin digging into their treats, lapsing into comfortable silence, his mind suddenly wanders back to the conversation they’d shared back at the department store.
Hinata had quite literally turned his nose up at the sight of the message he’d received…Komaeda wonders what the contents of the message actually were.
At one point, Hinata whips out his phone, probably to check the time or some missed messages before he meets Komaeda’s eye and apologizes quickly, returning the phone back into his bag.
“It’s okay,” Komaeda shakes his head, giving Hinata a comforting smile before quickly using the broken silence to his advantage and gathering up his courage to ask, “So, uh, I wanted to ask before but…what exactly did the text say? From Taketa-san…?”
Hinata winces. “Oh, right…” He sighs deeply, sucking loudly on his ice cream (Komaeda would be lying if he said Hinata’s table manners are anywhere near courteous…it isn’t attractive, but it is certainly endearing on a scale) before saying exasperatedly, “She was just texting me about how she’s going to change groups and stuff, because seeing my face…’pains her too much’, or something?”
“Aha, oh my.” Komaeda can’t help but chuckle quietly to himself. “She must’ve really liked you.”
“I guess? We literally only talk like…twice a week though. It’s so weird, Komaeda.”
“Well, it’s not too weird.” Komaeda shrugs, looking back up at Hinata and not realizing the words that come out of his mouth when he says, “It’s just because you don’t realize how naturally calming and attractive you - ah, you may be, to other people, in the Reserve Course, that you speak with.”
Oh god, how has Hinata not caught on yet. Komaeda is obvious to the point where it’s painful.
Hinata gives Komaeda a look, and Komaeda almost imperceptibly shrinks in his seat in shame and regret before Hinata lets out a snort, his cheeks the slightest shade of pink.
“You’ve been flattering me too much. It’s starting to get weird and honestly, out of character.”
Komaeda laughs nervously in response, flashing Hinata a playful smile to hopefully cover up his embarrassing slip-up from before. “You are ridiculous,”
He hears Hinata chuckle, shaking his head and taking a bite out of his cone, already half-way done with his ice cream. Komaeda looks down at his own ice cream, which is nowhere near done, before glancing out the window at the lowering sun and the hint of stars in the sky.
He hums. “It’s getting late. Let’s start walking back?”
Hinata checks the time on his phone, before nodding in agreement and saying, “Yeah, let’s go.”
They slip out of the booth, and Hinata thanks the worker behind the counter one last time before they leave the ice cream shop and begin on the path back to Hope’s Peak.
Komaeda savors his treat slowly, enjoying the shared silence between the two and looking straight ahead into the milky orange colors of the horizon - he’s never quite felt so at peace before.
Especially with Hinata walking next to him. He’s almost positive that Hinata has some kind of special ability, or superpower, that enables him to radiate this near addictive aura of…serenity about him. It’s very nice to be around.
“You’re very calming, Hinata-kun.”
“W-What?” Hinata chokes, clearly not having expected him to say something like that and Komaeda freezes in place, feeling his cheeks begin to warm up once again. How many times is he going to mess up like this?!
“Ah, did I say that out loud…?” He mutters softly, looking away as Hinata stops walking to wait for Komaeda. Anxiety takes hold of his heart. “Feel free to ignore me.”
“No, no, elaborate, please.”
Komaeda lets out a quiet sigh, his pulse beginning to beat slightly faster as he tips his gaze up to meet that luminous gaze, which stares back at him in question and…something else Komaeda can’t quite identify.
“Your presence is very…it’s calming, Hinata-kun. I feel really safe - ah, at peace with you.”
“...Oh.”
He watches as Hinata breaks their eye contact, shyly looking down at his feet, and Komaeda can’t help but shrivel in disappointment - he’d been hoping Hinata would say something more than just…”oh.” How is he supposed to know if he did, or said the right thing now?
…Except that he should already know, because he definitely did not do anything right just now. What was he thinking?
No normal person just…says these things about their friend out of the blue, and to their face, he’s sure of it.
Thinking the conversation had ended, he sighs regretfully, and begins to move his feet again before he feels Hinata’s hand on his sleeve, stopping him.
“I do too,” Hinata says, his voice so soft Komaeda thinks he sees colors burst behind his vision. Komaeda stares at Hinata in an expression that can only be described as sickeningly lovestruck, his cheeks beginning to grow a darker shade of pink and his lips parting. He suddenly becomes very aware of their proximity.
They’re standing close.
Really close.
Komaeda feels his eyes beginning to trail down Hinata’s face, to his lips, and everything in his body is screaming at him to stop stop stop stop stop-
Hinata doesn’t want this he would never want this he would never want you just stop before you do something you’ll regret-
Komaeda swallows, and he forces his vision away from Hinata’s lips to the dark green bag Hinata had just bought, suddenly deciding something.
“Your bag.”
“Huh?” Hinata blinks, and something in Komaeda’s stomach flutters at the fact that Hinata had been equally as absorbed in the moment as he had.
“Can I see it?”
“Oh - s-sure.” Hinata lets go of Komaeda’s sleeve, and Komaeda steps back, his heart furiously pounding in his chest. Komaeda hadn’t been aware that feeling both relieved and disappointed at the same time was possible. “The new one, or-”
“Yes, whichever one.”
Hinata slips the new bag off his right shoulder, handing it over to Komaeda and Komaeda takes it by the strap.
As he holds Hinata’s bag in one hand, he rummages through his own book bag in the other for something hidden among his books and folders, trying to fish out the poem he’d made only a few days ago.
He’d made it for Hinata - of course he did - and something inexplicable in him is screaming for him to give it to Hinata now. There’s no better time.
It’s not exactly a love letter, per say, but it’s pretty damn close to one, and Komaeda doesn’t think he can contain these feelings for much longer.
Hinata tilts his head to the side, asking skeptically, “Whaaat are you doing, Komaeda?”
“I’m putting something in here for you.” Komaeda tells him, hastily searching inside his bag for the piece of notebook paper he’d written it on.
“I want you to read it when you get back home.”
“Oh. Okay, what kind of-“
But Hinata never gets the chance to finish his sentence before the events that occur next happen in a blur. Because one moment, Komaeda is staring down at his book bag and aimlessly poking around inside of it, and the next his whole body is being shoved to the ground.
His head collides with the cement, and the air is quite literally knocked from his lungs when he feels something in his other hand being torn from him, his grip instantly falling apart as it’s swiped away. He only manages to catch Hinata’s raised, panicked voice before he loses consciousness and everything goes black.