Unshackle: Chapter 22; Nothing to Report
“Get it together, Soshiro,” he hissed at himself, sitting up only to slump again. “Yer ain’t eight years old.”
But no matter how many times he cursed under his breath, the truth didn’t change. His stupid, stubborn heart had shifted.
The phone dimmed, threatening to die. He should’ve charge it now. But Hoshina caught himself staring again.
At her eyes, frozen in that screen, like she’d been looking through the camera at him.
Which was ridiculous.
Really, really ridiculous.
He looked at his phone, two percent and bleeding. Which was fine. Totally fine. He wasn’t waiting on anything important.
Not like he was hoping to see Y/n's name pop up after… what? A week? Three? Long enough that late reply turned into that communication he wasn’t invited to.
Still, muscle memory was stronger than his dignity. He opened their chat. And, always, it was just him. Him and his one sided conversation.
Hoshina; Y'know, keep actin' like that, civilians gotta think yer Hydra property, WWWW
Hoshina; Heard MCU has Ironheart and Shehulk... Ya think yer still have time for an audition? 🤔
Hoshina: If ya did, can i think of the trigger words? How's 'pineapple juice'?
Hoshina; Captain Ashiro Mina’s tea was so bad I died 🍵💀
Hoshina; 🦑🕺
No wonder she hadn’t replied, who would?
Hoshina Soshiro is the type to chat with nothing but emojis and expected people to understand. (at least he's not one of those who send voice message every time)
And because his brain loved humiliation, his thumb typed more;
Hoshina; If Izumo Tech starts sellin' limited edition vibranium, ya want me to preorder two or three?
He grinned and added another.
Hoshina; 👿🔪 That’s yer face when ya caught me and Soichiro messin' with yer sniper rifle in 2007.
That one made him laugh, even if no one else ever would. He could still picture it: him and Soichiro looking like idiots in a tree, Y/n was below staring and thinking whether homicide was worth it.
Then his thumb betrayed him.
Hoshina; 🍜👀?
He stared.
Not a harmless message. Not the 'wanna eat?' kind. No, this one carried weight. The kind that asked questions he wasn’t brave enough to answer.
He deleted it. Typed it again. Deleted it.
The two emojis burned at him like neon; Want to see me outside of work? Want to change… whatever this is?
He leaned back, towel tugging loose at his waist, muttering, “It’s just ramen, idiot.” A beat later, quieter: “…Yeah. Just ramen.”
But it wasn’t. Not with Y/n. Not with Yozora Y/n.
And because he hated himself, he hit send.
The world immediately collapsed. His stomach bottomed out. His mind rushed through scenarios like a checklists;
1. She ignores it.
2. She says no.
3. She says yes... And then what? He actually has to follow through?
Panic settled in, “Shitshitshitshitshit” He lunged for the delete option, thumbs fumbling, not minding that his hair was dripping over his couch,
Battery, one percent.
The screen went black.
He sat there, staring at the dead phone and his own reflection in the glass. Hair dripping, shoulders tense, looking like a clown in a towel.
Oh god, what would Yozora Y/n think about that emojis?.... If she even checked his texts... But what if she did and just never texted back?
Hoshina Soshiro is an idiot and he's in trouble.
He rubbed his face and exhaled, defeated, thinking how he'd been so stupid these past few days,
Why's he even jealous of his brother for? He's not eight, his kiddie crush of Y/n long died since since she punched him in the eye.
Hoshina Soshiro was thinking how he's so stupid right now.
“…Fuck me,” he muttered.
And, because his brain was cruel and predictable, it whispered; What if she actually says yes?
Unshackle: Chapter 22; Nothing to Report
