Submission requested by @todithy-tzance.
Authorâs note: Thank you for the wait! I finally sat myself down and finished it today. I hope youâll enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!Â
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Although growing in a loving family, Nazoâs family members werenât necessarily the safest people. To add up, having a rather bad history and resentful memories towards the number 2 Hero Endeavour didnât help either growing up with a father as a villain and a dead mother. Thatâs why U.A. felt like a fresh new start that soon enough became a home for fifteen-year-old Nazo Kagyaku. It was, after all, the place where you found a second family that, although chaotic, helped him discover more of himself. Being fair with himself, he didnât mind the chaos between the students as they all lived together at the schoolâs boarding school plan. After all, it kind of reminded him of his first home, with his father.
Nazo blinked a few times, coming back to reality. He looked around, soon locating the familiar voice that called him. Next to him stood a boy with a birdâs head who looked at him with a curious look. At the sight of the boy, Nazo felt his heart skip a beat, before overflowing with joy. Soon after becoming friends, Tokoyami took a soft spot in Nazoâs heart. Ever since, the two became particularly good friends.
âWhatâs up?â Nazo asked, his lips curling into a smile.
âIâve been looking for you everywhere. Are you free this evening?â
Nazo frowned lightly. It was a Wednesday. He wasnât going anywhere, and itâs not like he could, anyway. The examination period was right around the corner. But stillâŠ
âYeah, Iâm free. Why?â
As if reading his thoughts, Tokoyami smiled. âWell, since the examinations will be next week, I was wondering if you wanted to study with me this evening.â
Tha-dump. Tha-dump. Nazoâs heart beat so fast and so hard that Nazo was sure that the whole Japan could hear it. Tokoyami was known for enjoying individual work, especially when it came to things like studying. He preferred the quiet and the peace when he focused, something that became clear during classes.Â
âJust⊠Just us?â Nazo asked, the words slipping from his mouth before he could even realise.Â
âMhm,â Tokoyami hummed, âYou know how loud the others are. Youâre honestly one of the calmest people I know.â
Nazo couldnât help but feel his face heat up, along with a smile that set itself definitively for the rest of the day. Him and Tokoyami, studying together. Alone. Although theyâve been good friends, theyâve never actually spent time alone before. So Nazo couldnât help but think, Wow. To be friends with someone was to have private moments with them as well, something that had yet to happen between Nazo and Tokoyami. If they were to study together with no other friends around, it meant that they would get closer, and maybe, just maybe, Tokoyami would like him better, Nazo thought.Â
A couple of hours later, at 3 PM, the classes ended, allowing Nazo to finally take a breath of air. His heart began speeding at the thought that he'll finally spend some time alone with the boy that made him feel so special. If words could describe the way how Tokoyami made Nazo feel, let alone allow the boy to speak those words out loud, Nazo was sure to be the happiest person in the world. It wasnât as if he didnât try to put those feelings into words before; he did it only so often that he could talk hours about it. But when it came to actually tell the one his heart longed for so much, things changed a lot. Suddenly, Nazo would feel like his throat would run dry and his heart would beat loudly with the strength of ten suns.
As he walked through the hallway, Nazo felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking behind him to see who tapped him, Nazo couldnât help but smile. âTokoyami!â
âLetâs go to the library, shall we?â
âTokoyami, are you alright?âÂ
Ever since the two arrived at the library, Nazo couldnât help but notice the tensity within the other boy as the two studied. Tokoyami stood as stiff as a stick on his chair, barely saying anything without being asked something. Every now and then, Nazo saw him open his mouth as if to say something, only to be pushed away by a light, forced cough. Upon hearing the question, Tokoyami sighed and looked at Nazo with a heavy look that made Nazo fear for the worst. Did he do something wrong?
âListen. I asked you if you wanted to study with me here because⊠we need to talk.â
It felt as if the world began to spin around Nazo. Although Tokoyamiâs voice remained as calm and melodious as ever, the words that the boy spoke were meant in a way that pictured either the best news in the world or the worst. And for what Nazo has experienced, the phrase âwe need to talkâ didnât mean anything good.
âWhatâs wrong?â Nazo asked, his voice almost trembling.
âI⊠I donât know how to say this. Ever since we met, ever since we became friends, youâve always been there for me, Nazo. Youâve always had a certain uniqueness that stood out to me, something special that Iâve grown to care about immensely. I care about you more than I can describe in words. You are the most amazing human being in this world, and the most amazing person in my life. Iâm in love with you, Nazo Kagyaku. I love you more than life itself.â
For a few moments, silence fell between the two boys. It felt as if time stopped flowing and as if the people around them didnât exist anymore. Looking into his eyes, Tokoyami couldnât help but feel a suffocating feeling growing in his throat. Why didnât Nazo say anything?
âPuh-Please excuse me, I-I donât know what-â Tokoyami began, only to be stopped by a warm feeling on his hand. Looking down, he saw Nazoâs hand shyly resting over his.Â
âNo,â Nazo said, âDonât apologise. I love you too.â