and they were roommates,

[biconfused]

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FROM THIS THREAD.

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[selfconcept]

Ramen sounds good. I want spicy curry ramen... or spicy tonkotsu ramen...

[ He starts thinking about food instead of what just happened between the two of them. It doesn't look like Hien thinks much of it... danger? What danger? ]

Sure. You can blow-dry my hair. Today is such a busy day.

[ He says that offhandedly, despite not having done much today--he woke up, went to have lunch with Haiga, took a nap, going for dinner now, will take a shower, and then probably sleep again. This man is a lazy cat. ]

[biconfused]

[ hien’s brave for wanting spice before bed. haiga is definitely not that brave, nor does he have an iron stomach. ]

Haha, I figured you’d melt back into bed asap. But let’s not sleep with your hair wet - I don’t want you to get sick.

[ more a roommie request than a boyfriend request. ]

Busy in a good way?

[selfconcept]

Mm. I don't usually like busy days, but these kinds of busy days are nice.

[ Because they're not actually busy at all and he can keep going at his own pace. God forbid this guy has an actual busy day. He's just perish. Probably. ]

I haven't gotten sick in maybe two decades, so I don't think wet hair can stop me.

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[ how does hien survive exam season… ]

That long, huh? I can’t remember the last time I got sick, but I’m probably average.

[ when he works too much, he just gets exhausted and sleeps a lot. usually when he has to cover for coworkers or around the holiday seasons when he picks up extra shifts. ]

[selfconcept]

[ what exam season. cant stress if you dont acknowledge it!! He's a terrible student. ]

It just means that you take good care of yourself. Many people can't do that for some reason.

[ Hien yawns while turning his head away from Haiga and still walking. Walking, walking, walking... he is so hungry. ]

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[ guess haiga doesn’t have to worry about hien graduating first after all - ]

Where would you put yourself?

[ he touches hien’s arm absently to signal that they need to turn around the corner since hien is looking away. and through the open double doors, the cafeteria doesn’t look too full. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien turns with the signal. ]

I can take care of myself. It's not like you saw me being terrible at that and finding the room a mess, right? If anything, I have to be self-sufficient.

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[ they haven’t talked about their childhoods all that much, so maybe this is one of those things. ]

You have to? [ because they’re adults now (ok… almost) or because of something else? ] The only mess is definitely your hair, though mine’s just as bad some days.

[ making his way to one of the lunch ladies to request the dish he wants. if his height is useful for anything, it’s to subtly divert people out of their way. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Haiga's answer makes Hien smile a little. The only thing messy is his hair, huh? ]

Mm. I can't depend on others to do things for me, so I have to do them myself. It's... hard, depending on other people, when all I learned is that I shouldn't throughout my life.

[ He looks up at the menu. The ramen he wants is there. Thank god. ]

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… Damnit, I wanna touch you right now.

[ this is a part of liking someone, isn’t it? they say stuff and your fingers tingle with the need to just - reach out and touch. as though physical touch will connect your feelings with theirs… ]

Well, you have me now - as a friend and um, more - and we’re gonna be together for a long time, so even though - even though I know you’re capable of a lot, depend on me a little.

[selfconcept]

... I'll try, but like I said, it won't come as easily.

[ Though Hien thinks he knows when to admit that he needs assistance from someone who's actually reliable. He thinks Haiga is just that, so he shouldn't have a problem.

However. His previous life experiences make him hesitate either way, regardless of what he's seen for himself. ]

Spicy tonkatsu ramen. I want hell level.

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[ hell level… ]

Uh, just normal shio for me, please. I’m the weaker one.

[ it’s a testament to what these ladies deal with that they don’t even bat an eye. one of them looks like she’s even taking it as a challenge to make hien’s dish at spicy as possible. ]

Will you tell me at some point? More about you.

[selfconcept]

I don't mind talking about myself if you want to know. I don't usually find it too hard to talk about something if someone asks.

[ But only if they ask. Hien will stay quiet about it otherwise. Other than that, he waits for the lunch ladies to make his food. No matter how spicy it is, Hien will eat it without batting an eye. ]

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I wanna know. Eventually I wanna know more about you than anyone else.

[ he hopes that doesn’t come off as too unhinged or possessive. it’s not really what he means. ]

How about that seat in the corner?

[selfconcept]

[ Luckily, Hien doesn't see it as anything but simple curiosity, which he finds normal. He nods when Haiga suggests the seat in the corner over there and walks over to it to sit. ]

Do you have a question now?

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[ urk, decision paralysis. it’s all over his face as he sits down. he wants to ask so many things that he doesn’t know where to start - ]

… Birthday?

[selfconcept]

August 20.

[ He says without hesitation. ]

You?

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[ WOW I SURE WISH I KNEW !!!!!!! aims dart ]

October 1. So you're right at the end of summer and I'm at the beginning of fall. Anything you want for your birthday?

[selfconcept]

Nothing in particular right now. I haven't thought about it... and I don't really need many things that I don't have, if at all.

[ Hien is difficult to buy for, supposedly. ]

I just want a good day.

[biconfused]

[ even if by then they've broken up, as hien's underclassman and friend he wants to deliver on that promise anyway. ]

A good day - got it. I'll make Hien Day a success.

[ look forward to it! ]

[selfconcept]

[ "Hien Day"... The mere concept of it makes him smile a little. Is this how it feels to be special to someone? Maybe so. He's trying to keep himself from being too over his own head though. It's that forced independence again. ]

It won't take much. You know how I am.

[ Naps all day. ]

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[ there’s their orders being called out. he flashes hien a grin as he stands to retrieve their dinner. ]

I do - and by then I’ll know lots more about you. So you’ll get your good day and if you can spend it smiling just like that, it’ll be a good day for me too. Be right back. Oh - and you’ll still get a gift, of course.

[ off he goes. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien's about to say that he doesn't really need a gift, but Haiga is off to collect their dinner. Hien goes to nab a table and makes sure that Haiga will know where he is by waving if Haiga looks his way. Simple. Foolproof.

Now that he's actually thinking about it, celebrating his birthday feels a little strange to him. Especially with the idea of celebrating it someone else. It feels so personal, like he deserves to be celebrated for his existence.

...

Another thing that he'll have to get used to, he supposes. He sits around the table he chooses and waits for Haiga. ]

[biconfused]

Hehe, dinner get!

[ and it’s thanks to his job that he handles the two trays with ease. he sets hien’s down first, then his own and slides into the free seat. hien’s bowl looks dangerous, like a promised date with the toilet. ]

Let’s eat.

[ but of course he’s distracted watching hien take the first bite with fascination and a tiny bit of horror. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien nods to Haiga in thanks for bringing the food. He claps his hands together once, mumbling a thanks for the good before taking a spoon to sample the ramen's soup first. It's so vibrantly and violently red, yet Hien sips it without a care.

He proceeds to eat the ramen normally after that. Hien makes it look like it's nothing. ]