Need You (ShinDeku)

Ch. 93 - Flirting

A/N: pro tip - when you're feeling sleep deprived, it's not a good time to try your hand at flirting with your friend/caretaker. (Or maybe it is, who's to say?)
Have fun Reading!

Midoriya POV

     I pulled out my phone, opening up Hitoshi's contact.

Me:
I'm on my way back
Hizashi bought us rice bowls and miso, if you're hungry

Hitoshi:
I'll be waiting
See u soon

     His response came almost immediately and I bit back a smile, sliding down into the seat a bit further.

     Shota dropped me off at the dorm a few minutes later, and Hizashi fussed over me and slipped the chips and candy bar into the takeout bag before letting me go with a goodnight and a half-hug.

     "Make sure you eat well and get some sleep, got it?" Shota called out through the window, and Hizashi followed it with a "Goodnight!"

     I bid them goodnight and went inside, headed straight to Hitoshi.

     I found myself knocking on our door when I made it upstairs, which was opened to reveal a very handsome, shirtless Hitoshi with an easy smile on his face.

     "I'm home," the words left my mouth almost teasingly, before I thought about them. It must have been how tired I was.

     "Welcome back. How was the appointment?" He stepped aside to let me in, closing the door behind me and taking the takeout bag to set on my desk.

     "It was okay," I said after a bit of consideration, "but it's made me exhausted. I feel like I'm always tired now."

     "That makes two of us. Well, I've been like this for years though." He let out a small, humorless laugh as he began to unpack the contents of the food bag. "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. I've got lots of tricks up my sleeve." He looked back at me just as I turned to look at him and he gave me a wink, turning back to the food.

     I looked away, heart racing. What was that? It was so cute! Whatever Shota said to Hitoshi, he needs to hear more of it because wow. Or maybe he shouldn't, because it's doing things to my heart.

     "Uhm, I uh..." I cleared my throat, still facing away from him as I took my shoes off. "The best I've ever slept is when you're next to me, so..." I trailed off, suddenly feeling like I made a mistake. That was too forward, wasn't it? I shouldn't have said something so suggestive.

     "Well then I guess I've gotta be sure to stay extra close tonight." His voice is teasing, but I catch a nervous edge to it. Or at least I think I do. "It's a good thing you're so comfortable, like a weighted blanket."

     Holy shit.

     I think I stop breathing. That's flirting, right? Am I crazy? It has to be. I'm not well versed in friends and neither is he, but I think we both know that's not... no, what am I thinking?

     Our friendship isn't exactly normal anyways. How could I know what he was thinking, unless...

     "You're pretty comfortable yourself." I throw it out cautiously.

     "I'm glad, I'll be your pillow any time you need it." No way. No freaking way. I did not expect to get this far. What do I do from here?

     It was then that he handed me an uncovered rice bowl and a pair of takeout chopsticks.

     "Thank you." I wasn't sure if I was thanking him for the food or his pillow offer.

     There was always a chance I was overthinking it, right? Maybe he just doesn't realize how it sounds.

     He's the sweetest person I know, and just as socially inept as me. Cuddling could be a friend thing too, right? Uraraka told me her and Tsu do it all the time.

     Yeah, think rationally Izuku. Don't rule out the possibility, but don't assume he's flirting when you don't know anything. Especially when you've never been flirted at before. You don't even know what it feels like.

     "Izuku?"

     "Sorry?" I startled, turning around to see him behind me by the beanbags.

     His brows furrowed in concern, shadowing his lilac eyes so they shined a deep amethyst. It seems like he wants to ask something, but he keeps it to himself.

     "Come. Eat, and then you can sleep early if you want." He sat down on one of the beanbags.

     "Yeah I- yeah okay." I sat in the other beanbag and dug into my bowl.

     You're too tired for this. Think about it when you're in your right mind, and can think clearly.

     When I was in the bathroom 20 minutes later, brushing my teeth and about to change out of my clothes, I took my phone out of my pocket.

     I paused before setting it down on the small counter, contemplating the dark screen. The internet didn't really help me before, but maybe a friend would. I refrained from chewing my lip with my mouth full of toothpaste, debating for a while before swiping my phone open and going to Uraraka's contact. I typed out a question and hesitated again with my finger over the send button before pressing it.

Me:
Hey, I had a question. How do you know when someone is flirting with you?

     I read it over again and felt immediate regret. Should have just waited until morning. I'm not thinking rationally right now. I had to remind myself that I wouldn't be bothering her either, she'd probably be excited that I'm reaching out at all.

     I set my phone face down onto the counter again, putting my toothbrush away. I had my shirt halfway off my body when a quiet ding sounded from my phone. I startled, taking a small step back and knocking my head against the wall behind me. A quiet groan of discomfort left me though it didn't really hurt much, and when I brought my hand down instinctually to touch the back of my head I was hindered again by the shirt that was only halfway off my body, and knocked my elbow into the wall. That one hurt just a little bit.

     "Are you alright?" Hitoshi spoke from just outside the door. He must be sitting on the edge of the bed, and whatever he's hearing from within the bathroom probably sounded like a mess. It was a bit of a mess.

     I quickly wrestled the shirt off of myself, holding up my elbow in the mirror to look for damages. It was hardly even red.

     "Yeah," My response was clipped, face a shade of red that was certainly much darker than that of my sore elbow. "All good." I glanced back down at my phone and it dinged again, practically begging me to pick it up and face my dumb decisions. Why did I have to go and text her?

     I snatch it back up and swipe it open before I give myself the chance to read the notifications, opening Uraraka's contact again to see two new messages.

Ura:
Ahhh I have so many questions! Can I come over? Like rn? We can't have this convo over text I gotta see ur face for this.
Wait no. I think I know who it is. The day has finally come!!! We'll talk alone tmrw at lunch. Can you do that?

     She seemed more excited than me about this, and I was stuck between feeling more nervous and reassured that she would help me figure this out.

Me:
Yeah, thank you.

Ura:
Ofc, anything for my sweetest bff :) ttyl.

     I set my phone back down, remembering I still needed to finish changing and let Hitoshi use the bathroom. I guess I'll talk to Uraraka tomorrow. It's probably for the best. Well, the best would have been to not say anything.

     I'm pulling on my sleep shorts when I remember one of the lines in her text, and the way she avoided coming here. Wait, she knows who it is? I nearly fall back against the wall again.

1313 words.