Before Our Loss (Pregame Komahina/Hinakoma)

I'll Buy You a Drink

"I'm Hajime Hinata, as you already know I'm a reserve course student".

This much was already clear to Nagito since Hinata had worn a white shirt with a black suit and tie. While the ultimates had brown uniforms with red ties, white shirts, and an optional red and green vest that Nagito wore.

"And I'm Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky student. Nice to meet you." Nagito sat down and held out his hand for Hajime to shake, which he did.

"So... a reserve course student..." He said to himself with a bit of salt in his tone.

"Well, It must be hard not to be an Ultimate at Hope's Peak, right? I can't imagine, but I do know what it's like to be hated" He said, trying to sound empathetic, but he still unbeknownst to him came off as rude. Hajime brushed it off though, he knew the poor boy probably didn't mean it.

"Hated..?" Hinata wanted to avoid this topic, the topic of being an 'underdog'. It would be weird to talk about with a stranger, and it would be way too cliche for him. He wanted to change the topic, Komaeda could tell this much.

"So, about your talent..? It sounds cool, care to shed some light?" Hajime sounded interested and Nagito had a lot to say, you can read it on his face.

"It's really not... I swear, when you hear it it sounds like "How can anyone ever be unlucky with someone like me around?" But it's just a never ending cycle of good and bad luck, nothing more..."

This part caught Hajime off guard. Bad.. luck?

"I can't help but feel like it must be the most worthless talent in the entire world... Its absolutely disastrous, My parents died because of it.. innocent people.. everyone... But hey, it's all good because I have money now... but I can never love, or even be close to anyone..."

Shit... this got dark fast— wait.. he's rich? With those double zipper ... things, I would've never had known. So he really just has bad fashion or...?

"But it's all good, not like I want love or anything." Nagito said nonchalantly. This was the biggest lie he's told so far, even Hajime could tell. He only said this because he felt bad that Hajime— a complete stranger, had only felt pity now, but it only made Hajime feel worse.

Komaeda continued, he didn't want to look at Hajimes pitiful face anymore, he wanted Hajime to feel happy, or look less... sad. "But luck can change your life. That's why I believe the only thing you need in order to never lose hope is hope itself!"

And with Nagito leaving off on that cheery note, it caught Hajime off guard. "Wow... Komaeda, you are surprisingly ... hopefully... no pun intended."

Nagito only smiled at this.

Hajime couldn't fight his curiosity, he was confused by the boys claim that he was widely hated. So he decided to ask.

"Your hated?"
wow... great way to ask

"huh...?" Nagito's eyes widen in confusion, he was also a bit hurt. It was clear hajime had to specify.

"Oh I mean uhm.. you said earlier you know what it's like for everyone to hate you..."

"Oh yeah..  I did say that.. and you remembered.." Nagito seemed slightly impressed that Hajime has actually listened to him.

"Course, why would I forget?"

"I dunno. What I say is never really that important."

"Well it is to me."
Hajime stood up, looking down at Nagito and held out his hand. This only rendered Nagito speechless, he was also probably red.

"Come on... take my hand, Nagito" Hajime said moving his hand a bit since it was clear Nagito didn't know what to do.

"Oh... I didn't know I was allowed to."

That was strange...

Nagito took Hajime's hand and stood up. "Where exactly are we going?"

"I'm going to the vending machine... I had forgotten my lunch, if you want, I can buy you something."
This sounded much more like a statement than a question, and once again Hajime's generosity left Nagito blushing.

"Oh, you would really do that? For me..?"

"Yeah, I mean... we're friends, right? Or atleast acquaintances? Close enough that your fine with me calling you by your first name."
"So it would only be nice of me to buy you something when I get something for myself."

"I- I can pay don't worry I-
"No, I'm paying, it's want good people do, it's bare minimum manners. And since we're friends I have to do more than that."

"Friends...? You think we're friends..?" Though Nagito's voice was soft and it sounded more like a question that he was shocked about. He chucked, "Hinata-kun, your really are kind, really, I just insulted you earlier and you already forgave me!"

"I could tell it wasn't on purpose"

"Your way too kind. Nobody treats me like this.."

"They should."

"Someone like me..."

"Someone like you?"

"Yeah.. trash, like me..."

"No, your a good person Nagito"

"A... good person?" He blushed more as he looked down, but Hajime only looked straight ahead.

"Why are you surprised? Your, as far as I know, one of if not the nicest person I've ever met."
Hajime lept a straight face as he continued to praise and reassure the fluffy haired boy.

"You like me."
And for the first time Nagito said it like it was a fact, and not a question. It was like he finally had gotten it through his diseased brain that he was loved.

"Hm..?"

"You actually like me.."

"Course, why are you so surprised?"

"Because you actually enjoy trash like-"

"Stop it"

"Your being too kind"

"No, I'm simply doing the minimum, I already said this"

Nagito finally looked up, he realized he and Hajime were holding hands, but he didn't mention it.

"Either way, i've never had someone do this much for me..."

"I'm only buying you lunch, your over reacting. I don't get why you think so little of yourself."

"I don't .. hate myself,"

"Your acting like it" Hajime shot back. He sounded upset, but didn't want go make Nagito sad.

"No..." Nagito felt like he was being pressured now.

Hajime sighed, holding his hand a bit tighter and walking now. He knew he probably made Nagito uncomfortable and decided to approach this matter in a different way.

"If I talked about someone else exactly how you talk about yourself how would that look?"

"Rude. Like you hate them and your talking shit..." Komaeda answered quickly, showing that he understood the point Hinata was trying to make.

A moment of silence paused before Nagito admitted.

"Yeah, I guess I should work on that."