Let me Love You

Let me Love You - Chapter Nine:

Hajime awkwardly walked into Nagito's home, carrying some bright flowers. You give flowers to friends, right? He had to work an extra shift to make sure he could afford some really nice ones from the florist near his home, but... that's what any friend would do, hopefully Nagito wouldn't see anything weird with Hajime giving him flowers.

Hajime's face flushed slightly, pulling the flowers from behind his back, and handing them to Nagito. "Umm..." His face got redder, and he struggled to get his words out, as he thrusted the bouquet into Nagito's hand. "T - These are... for you!"

"For me...?" Nagito muttered, glancing down at the red and white carnations in his hands. "Red and white... carnations...?" He swore they meant something... oh well, he'd look it up later. Especially the red... it was a dark shade - which he felt was deliberate somehow... Ah, he should put these in a vase.

Nagito quickly turned around and headed to the kitchen, dumping the flowers he bought yesterday into the trash, since he only had one vase, and put the carnations into the newly vacant glass container. He added some clean water to the flowers and placed it briefly on the counter. He moved to dry his hands, but a piece of hair got stuck in his eye, and he used his hands to brush the hair out of his face.

Hajime turned into the kitchen as Nagito placed the vase back onto the windowsill, sparking in the sunlight.

"Ahh! So pretty!" Hajime said, his eyes shining. However, his eyes weren't directed at the flowers, but instead...

Nagito turned around, the sunlight making his soaked hair shine. "Yes, the flowers are nice, aren't they?"

"The... the flowers?" Hajime then came to his senses. "Ah, yes! T - The flowers! You're - they're - pretty!" Ahh crap, what am I saying...? Hajime thought to himself. "The flowers are... very pretty..." He lightly scratched at his blushing cheeks, feeling a bit awkward. I hope Nagito didn't catch what I said...

"Are you alright, Hajime?" Nagito asked, slightly concerned. "You're stammering and muttering more than normal... I could barely hear anything you said..."

"Phew." Hajime muttered. "I - I mean, I'm fine, let's get to work!" He brought out a small bag from his backpack and lifted it up so Nagito could see. He opened it and pulled out one of the many bagels the bag contained. "I brought some snacks!"

---TimeSkip---

Hajime sat next to Nagito, going over their work. The bagels had been polished a while ago, and Geography has never been his favourite subject - neither was it Nagito's - so they were both struggling. And that struggling... kept tensions high.

"Urgh, I don't know this at all!" Hajime sighed, leaning back slightly.

Nagito's eye twitched in anger. Of course Hajime didn't know anything, he was a simple Reserve Course student! How would he know anything useful about Geography? Not that Nagito knew much anyway, but with his luck he'd at least have a higher chance of writing down or finding something useful. Honestly, he might have had an easier time doing the entire project himself.

"Of course you wouldn't." Nagito muttered. His eyes widened after he spoke, not meaning to say his thoughts out loud. He was just annoyed - he didn't mean what he said! But somehow, he found he couldn't speak anymore, stuck in his shock and horror at what he had said.

"Nagito..." Hajime muttered in return, bending his head back down, so his fringe covered his eyes, shadowing his face, "... what did you mean by that?" Nagito realised he had messed up, but his mouth was opening up again against his will. He had to say something - anything to explain his actions and make it up to Hajime. He-