Bad Habits - (Shouto x OC)

Same Words, Different Meaning

A/N: votes and comments are appreciated

Shouto POV:

My foot tapped repeatedly as I sat in the living room of Momo's parents' house all alone.

This whole scenario felt really familiar—um, I think it's called 'deja vu'—But, I also might be confusing that word with the movie about the people who went into the board game and had to find their way out of the jungle...

'Jumanji,' it might have been called? Denki Kaminari watched that movie on repeat for two years straight.

Anyways, I feel like I lived this day already, or I at least lived this particular situation before—well...a few different times, actually. All of it was the same—sitting here in Momo's living room, in this exact chair, wearing a suit and waiting for her to come downstairs so we could go to an important event. Back then, my suit was cheaper, and the event was just a school dance.

But, even though I'm a few years older now, the empty feeling in my chest remained the same. And, when I thought of Momo, my eyes still flashed to a future that was dull and unexciting. Something obvious and 'logical,' or that's what everyone told me.

I used to agree with them, even if I didn't understand it myself, hoping one day...it would just....I don't know, make sense.

And, I guess, it does make a little more sense now, but not in the way I was expecting.

It makes sense in the way that I no longer feel so trapped. I don't feel broken anymore, or like a failure for not wanting this life with this specific person. I realize—well, kind of, that there's nothing wrong with me because I can't open my heart to Momo. It doesn't mean I'm incapable of opening my heart at all. It's just...

My opinion. My preference.

Momo is not the right person for me. And, in my mind, that makes sense. Well....a lot of sense, too.

Because now I have something to compare everything, too. My feelings. My emotions—that do actually exist.

When I look at Momo, I don't think about her, and her eyes don't get my heart racing. I don't have an ache in my chest when she isn't here, and I can't remember her how she looks when she smiles. I don't even know if she likes coffee or tea, and really, I just consider her a friend. Um...an acquaintance, even.

I understand....that I don't want to be taking her to the banquet.

And I also understand...that I'm not really doing this for Momo...

I checked the time on the wall clock for the countless time before pulling out my phone with a tired sigh. I was hoping to see a particular name in my notifications, but Lani hadn't spoken to me much today. We did message sporadically for a few hours, but it was mostly just about work stuff—like how she wanted me to style my hair for tonight (I thought she would have come over and styled it herself. I guess...I was wrong).

Then she said she had things to take care of, and that she'd be able to speak with me more at the banquet.

And then, her messages stopped altogether at 7:30, which is the time she knew I'd be arriving at Momo's house. And, I don't know....it feels like the closer I have to get to Momo, the further Lani gets away from me, and I don't....I don't like that.

It's part of the reason I was trying to end things with Momo.

Maybe Momo wears a secret witch repellent I don't know about, and that's why Lani is avoiding me when I'm with her. I still haven't ruled out the possibility that Lani could be a witch—or the love child to a witch, perhaps. This scenario would only further support my witch theory.