A Umataro and Hoshie Tenma One shot
She was tired. After a full day of fixing robots, measuring the data of a few researches and having to put up with really annoying and argumentative but somewhat productive colleagues, Hoshie Saruta was officially tired. One of these days, she promised she would take a really long needed rest from the stress of her work. However, like the day she was already having another bad thing was added to the list of things that did not go her way today. It was raining, and the young Robot Scientist did not have an umbrella on her. She stepped outside the ministry staying under the shade of the dome shaped awning. Stretching her hand out slightly to catch a few raindrops on her palms, she sighed while imagining her tired body stretching on her comfy bed at her apartment.
"Saruta." A deep monotone voice called from behind her. Doctor Umataro Tenma. He was part of a research team that she was also in. A brilliant Roboticist, a mysterious man but a terrible ass. She remembers what a big crush she once had on him in her youth when her Grandfather was still alive. What a big regret she has now. He was always too productive, always had his head buried in a robot, always arrogant and almost always in her way.
"You did well on that new research of yours." He spoke while he stood a few distance away from her. She let out a sigh in response. He responded with a deeper sigh before opening a long black umbrella and stepping down a few steps below her.
"If you're still upset about me resetting the data of your Peace Robot project..." He reminded, which made her angrier than she already was about the updates the Peace Robot has, but Hoshie had a thought. Could Umataro Tenma, the most arrogant Robotist in her research group be apologizing to her right now?
"You know with the structure of the Robot and the materials that went into it. You know the modifications were necessary." He spoke, much to her disappointment.
"It's a peace Robot. Meant to keep the peace of traffic and road related incidents. It didn't need all the horsepower you transferred into it." She argued.
"And waste it's potential to be greater? Why even bother making it when you aren't using your resources to the fullest?"
Umataro pointed out. Hoshie shifted her head to the side avoiding his handsome gaze.
"It was my blueprint and, you modified it without my consent." Hoshie grumbled loud enough for him to hear. Beyond the sound of raindrops pitter- patter on the steps of the Ministry, Hoshie could hear a deep sigh and the sound of heels moving up three steps.
"I'm sorry." Umataro apologized, catching Hoshie's attention. He was standing one step below her looking straight into her eyes, a small noticable blush creeping up his cheeks. She lifted up her head to look at him. A sincere, apologetic gaze graced his handsome face. It was strange hearing it from him, since Tenma was notorious for being unapologetic. There was something soft about hearing those words from him. Hoshie hadn't noticed her cheeks burning as their eyes locked gazes for a longer time than she'd expect.
"What did you say, Tenma?" She asked, not because she hadn't heard it but rather, because it gave her a reason to hear him apologize to her again.
"I'm sorry for modifying your robot without your consent." He repeated with a frown this time, clearly aware of her true intentions. Hoshie cleared her throat before looking away from him once more as she noticed the tension building between them.
"Thank you. I appreciate your apology, Tenma." Hoshie smiled gently refusing to meet him in the eye to hide the blush forming in her cheeks.
"Oh and um, Happy Valentines Day. I get, you have someone to be with tonight? I must go home now."
Tenma stated as he went down a step.
"Oh, thank you but I actually don't have one. I'm just waiting for the rain to clear so I can get home."
Hoshie replied.
"Oh? You don't have anyone to have dinner with tonight?" He questioned looking back at her from the 4 steps he had taken.
"Yeah, as I said I'm only going home. No one has really asked me out tonight so, I will be staying with my Mother tonight." She responded.
"I bet you have someone, Dr. Tenma. I hope the two of you will enjoy yourselves." Hoshie smiled while waving her hand to him goodbye. But, Umataro did not leave. He stood on the second to the last step of the Ministry just looking at Hoshie, his right hand holding unto his umbrella while his left on his briefcase, she's noticed him playing with the button on his long black trench coat since he had apologized to her, it was a sign or nervousness, a quality that Hoshie never knew Umataro Tenma could possess.
"I'm just like you, I have no one. Just going home to maybe sleep and cook ramen for myself." He informed.
"Oh that seems nice." Hoshie replied.
"Want a ride?"
He asked pointing to his car in the distance.
"No thank you. I don't want to take too much of your time." Hoshie said with gratitude.
"Oh okay. I'll be going now."
Umataro nodded to her.
"Take care, Tenma." Hoshie spoke sadly. Sad that she would have to wait another night just to see him again at work tomorrow. Just before he placed the ball of his foot on the last step of the Ministry he turned around to her once more.
"Hey!" He called out to her.
"Are you doing anything for tonight?" He asked going up the stairs slowly.
"No, like I said I'm just staying at home with my Mother tonight" Hoshie replied, watching as he returned to the same step below her.
"Have dinner with me, Saruta."
He stated, making Hoshie's blush intensify.
"Is that a question or an order?"
Hoshie cocked her brow in question.
"It's whatever you want it to be." Umataro chuckled nervously. He hand out his hand in front of her, his palm facing her.
"What?" She asked gripping the sling of her sling bag.
"Your hand." He smirked. Hoshie held herself back but, kept her gaze on him as she stretched her hand slowly out to him, placing her hand on his. She kept a watchful gaze on him while he had her hand on his palm.
She noticed him pressing something small and round on her palm before closing her fingers around the object.
"Here" He handed her the handle of his umbrella.
"How about you?" She asked taking back her hand from him.
"You aren't taking my offer of driving you to your home so might as well give you my umbrella."
He stated bringing the umbrella closer to her. Hesitantly she took the umbrella handle from his hands, fingers softly grazing each other. Hoshie brought the umbrella over her head, while her other hand remained closed housing the mysterious object that Tenma had given her.
"Thank you, Tenma." She smiled gratefully.
"You free at 6?"
Tenma asked.
"Yes I am."
She responded.
"I will pick you by then. Wear something nice." He smiled gently at her. His smile was so different, he didn't look mischievous or cunning anymore. He was, but he didn't look like it anymore. He looked almost genuine, almost loving and human.
"Thank you..." Her voice was caught in her throat, he had already been going down the stairs already.
"Thank you Tenma!"
She yelled for him, noticing his black coat, lacking the second button.
"Your welcome! I'll see you tonight!"
He yelled back waving to her before running for shelter to his car.
"Stay safe!"
She yelled just before he got in his car. A smile crept up her face. Hoshie Saruta is going on a date? With Umataro Tenma? This was a dream come true!
She opened her hand and looked at the object Umataro had pressed onto her palm. A large sized black button sat smugly in the crook of her palm. She raised an eyebrow in question, then remembered seeing the absence of Umataro's second button on his long black coat.
The button closest to his heart. The button usually given to the special someone of the owner of the coat. Their most special person.