and they were roommates,

[biconfused]

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FROM THIS THREAD.

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[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". ]

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[ 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?

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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.

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[ 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.

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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. ]

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[ 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. ]

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[ 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.

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[ 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. ]

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[ 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.

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[ he can tell he’s being teased (at least a little), but hien’s hand in his hair feels good, so he closes his eyes and lets himself enjoy it. ]

First off: it’s a lot because it’s you. And even if it wasn’t, all the little things build up, too.

[ if he’s been happy since day one, then his happiness stock is pretty high. ]

But… I’m glad that you’re glad.

[selfconcept]

Yeah?

[ Hien finally starts driving the car back to the dorms. Away they go! ]

I'm not really good at this dating thing though. So you might have to lead me.

[biconfused]

[ haiga lead? uh ok ]

Me? I can try but you’ll have to hold my hand probably. Maybe be my soundboard.

[ THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TALKING IT OUT. ideally he’d like for them to encourage each other and get to where they need to go together, but he’s determined enough. ]

Wait, am I… your first serious boyfriend?

[selfconcept]

Yeah. I never dated.

[ Yet he casually accepts Haiga anyway. ]

Never had a reason to. Never really liked anyone like that yet. I'm hoping to see if it changes with you.

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[ he glances at the side of hien's face. that's surprising, both that hien's never dated and has never liked anyone like that. and for some reason, he's decided to try with haiga of all people? haiga's nothing special. ]

Changes... Well, Hien, honestly? I wasn't looking to change much about us. I like how we are already, so...

[selfconcept]

If you really liked how we were, you wouldn't have confessed.

[ Hien isn't saying this to bully him. It's just one of his moments of casual bluntness that doesn't mean anything other than the words spoken. ]

[biconfused]

No, I don’t want us to stay that way either. I really do mean that I don’t want us to change much - as in how we interact. But of course, I want to kiss you or be closer to you.

[ back up, he’s getting things all jumbled. ]

We get along, I want to keep getting along. We talk and I want to talk about more things. We’re comfortable together and I want - [ he cuts off. then starts again: ] I want what we have but more. At our own pace.

[selfconcept]

... Yeah.

[ Hien keeps his eyes on the road as he drives. ]

That's what I mean. It's a small change, but it's a change nevertheless. I also think what we have is really comfortable.