and they were roommates,

[biconfused]

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FROM THIS THREAD.

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[selfconcept]

... Yeah.

[ That came out quieter than he thought it would, even though he had nothing in his mouth when replying. Hien is a little embarrassed. Just a tad. It's fine. He keeps looking down at his almost gone food and resumes eating and drinking water like it's his remaining lifeline. ]

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[ ok, things could go wrong - like really wrong and he still could ruin their current relationship - which they’ll have to discuss anyway. he wants to build on what they already have, not change it into something that’s only focused on romance. or, um, sex.

but he’s really happy. in this moment he’s been given a chance and he nearly bursts with happiness. ]

Then, once again, please take care of me. Hien.

[ if he had a tail it would be whipping through the air right now and the entire restaurant would know. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Good thing, because this version of Hien is a little shier than usual despite his blunt and crass personality. ]

... Sure.

[ He quietly huffs and eats the rest of his food. His face doesn't harden when he says that--in fact, his voice gets softer with a sort of fondness when he sees how happy Haiga is. The fact that seeing people happy is one of his favorite things to see hasn't changed in the slightest. ]

What are you planning to do for the rest of the night?

[biconfused]

Honestly? Hadn’t thought that far.

[ he waves his fork around. ]

Either you’d accept my confession - [ wow, what is he? a high school girl? ] - or you didn’t and what happened afterward would be vaguely positive or negative. Like maybe I walk home and we don’t talk anymore.

[selfconcept]

So you knowingly took a big risk, huh? That takes some guts.

[ And bravery, especially since they're roommates. ]

... I wouldn't want to stop talking to you because of that though. I'd never. You'd have to piss me off for me to stop interacting with you.

[biconfused]

Oh man, I was gonna explode if I didn’t.

[ less guts and more desperation probably! ]

And I was running out of time. Once the school year is over, it’ll be harder to see you as much.

[ he wants to reach out for Hien (a very familiar urge by now), but they’re both eating. and also in public. instead, his sneaker inches closer to hien’s until their toes tap, lightly. ]

I’ve never seen you pissed off before.

[selfconcept]

[ When their toes tap, Hien thinks that he overstepped where his feet should be and draws them back since he doesn't want to step on Haiga's feet. rip haiga. ]

I hope you won't ever have to see it. Besides... Even without this relationship, I was thinking about requesting to keep the same room assignment with you.

[biconfused]

[ oops did he overstep - ]

Really?!

[ wait he’s actually so happy to hear that, heart skipping and lips curling up. ]

Oh man, I’d really like that…

[selfconcept]

[ Hien just didn't want to scuff Haiga's shoes—no real boundary being crossed here. ]

Yeah. You're a good roommate, and I thought that I would like another year with you.

[ Not a "wouldn't mind" but "would like". ]

[biconfused]

[ he doesn't catch the phrasing right now. but later tonight, he'll think about all the things hien has said and his mind will trip over every instance of 'like,' heart beating louder than the tick-tock of the clock in their room. ]

Another year... yeah.

[ well, he'd like more than another year, but this gives him more time to convince hien that he's someone worth liking. he'll work hard. ]

I wonder if we could get one of those units with a kitchen.

[selfconcept]

Mm... those are pretty expensive. It's like an entire apartment unit with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small living room, and a kitchen.

[ Right now, they just have a single room with two beds on the opposite sides of the room. Not that it's that far in the first place, since the rooms aren't that big with a closet, desk, and bed for each inhabitant for a maximum of two. ]

You wanna cook stuff?

[biconfused]

Yeah, I miss it. My granny taught me a lot.

[ not that this restaurant isn’t good, he thinks as he keeps eating, but if he’s gonna pay to eat out or for food at the cafeteria, then he’d rather just cook. ]

Maybe I can win your heart through your stomach.

[selfconcept]

Well... we do have a floor kitchen.

[ That the entire floor of the dorm shares, like a public use kitchen. Hien thinks about it. ]

And I'm curious about your cooking. You'll have to let me try some one day.

[biconfused]

[ the boy’s dorm means haiga will be fending off pathetic and hungry dormmates while he cooks, but hien is worth it. ]

‘Course! I only know hearty country recipes though. But if there’s anything you’re craving, I’m down to try.

[selfconcept]

I dunno what counts as a country recipe, but I'm down to try anything.

[ He looks down at his empty plate and then looks back up at Haiga. ]

So lemme try a favorite of yours.

[biconfused]

Definitely curry. I can make it as hearty and spicy as you can take it.

[ oh - when did he fall behind? he starts shoveling. ]

Do you want more? Did you like it?

[selfconcept]

I like it, but I don't want more.

[ His mind has already drifted onto the topic of curry though. ]

... That sounds really good.

[ Oops. He almost drooled just now from imagining how good the curry could be. His wrist flies up to cover his mouth. ]

[biconfused]

[ aside from how hien is when he’s only half awake, haiga doesn’t really get to see him acting a little clumsy. (and a lot cute.)

surely my senpai can’t be this cute etc etc etc homo vision ]

I hope you’ll think so when you try it.

[ like any other growing boy, he clears his plate in record time. ]

Some time this weekend maybe?

[selfconcept]

Sure. That sounds good.

[ Hien looks forward to it. He really does. He even finds himself smiling a little.

It's probably time to go. ]

[biconfused]

[ right! let him just - haiga gives hien a brief smile before going to the counter to pay for their food. normally he’d wait for the bill to come to their table, but this way he can guarantee that he’s the one paying. no sneak payments here.

and when he gets back hien: ]

What do you think? If you’d rate - um - today. As a… date?

[selfconcept]

I gotta rate a date? I thought it was good. Isn't that enough?

[ Hien is standing by the time Haiga returns and leads him out of the restaurant. There's a bit of silence before Hien adds: ]

My rating is the only one that matters anyway. It'll mean a lot to us, but nothing for everyone else since it was a date with me. Just me.

[biconfused]

[ he laughs a little. so blunt. ]

Nah, that’s more than enough. My goal for our dates is to keep you fed. Um, keep things easy and casual. And make you more aware of me.

[selfconcept]

Keep me fed, huh...?

[ He was never really self-conscious about how much he ate, but he wonders if it stands out that much for that trait to be prioritized. To be fair to Haiga, Hien gets incredibly hangry when he doesn't stuff into his mouth, so that's that. ]

I think you'll do a good job of all of that. I like the atmosphere of being casual. And... you're already making me more aware of you.

[ Then he mumbles: ]

As if I wasn't already...

[ He unlocks the car and gets into the driver's seat, turning the car on and waits. ]

[biconfused]

[ he doesn’t think hien eats an abnormal amount. pretty typical guy appetite, in his humble opinion. ]

I’ve never been good at showing off my - y’know, my anything. So cooking’s what I got good at and that’s what I like to share.

[ that mumble though, he does catch. ‼️‼️‼️ follows hien as he gets into the driver’s seat. he’ll join hien in a moment; he needs to cool his happy, blushing face against the car frame. hien notices him? oh man, oh god.

and if he slides into his seat with a smudge on his forehead, that’s his lot in life now. he’s accepted it. he’s quiet as he buckles his seatbelt, but then he asks in a low voice: ]

Really? God, I’m so happy right now.

[selfconcept]

[ After Hien gets in the car, he looks to where Haiga is, seeing his face against the car frame. The smudge is apparent on the forehead when Haiga goes inside the car. He sighs and reaches out to ruffle Haiga's hair. senpai noticed you. ]

It doesn't take much for you to be happy, huh? I'm glad.