The day after their awkward encounter, the tension between Aizawa and Yamada still hung in the air. Their new shared dorm room, though cozy, felt like a battleground of unspoken words and hidden feelings. But there was no avoiding it now. They were stuck with each other, and no amount of grumbling could change that.
Oboro had been relentlessly enthusiastic, bombarding them with plans for how they should "make the room their own," insisting that it would be a "collaborative effort" since they were roommates. Of course, his idea of "collaborating" meant dragging them into a whirlwind of pillows, posters, and fairy lights. Despite himself, Aizawa had found a strange comfort in the idea. There was something oddly domestic about it all, even if it did make him feel... a little exposed.
"So, what do you think about this?" Yamada asked, holding up a poster of a popular hero team. The edges were frayed, clearly from overuse, but the smile on Yamada's face was infectious. He seemed completely at ease in this shared space, as if it was already his home, while Aizawa couldn't help but feel out of place.
Aizawa glanced at the poster, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It's too bright," he muttered. "And the colors are... overwhelming."
Yamada rolled his eyes but smiled. "Come on, it's supposed to be fun! A little color never hurt anyone."
Aizawa grunted, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He didn't care much for the 'fun' vibe Yamada was going for, but he had to admit, there was something about the poster that made the room feel... alive. Maybe it wasn't the worst idea.
"Fine. You can put it up if you want," Aizawa said, gesturing half-heartedly toward the wall. His eyes flickered briefly to Yamada, who was looking at him with that knowing grin, as if Aizawa had just given him the green light to go full force with his decorating plans.
Yamada didn't need to be told twice. He bounded to the wall and started to peel away the back of the poster, his energy practically bouncing off the walls. As he did, he shot a glance over his shoulder. "You're not totally against it, are you?"
Aizawa's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than he intended before he quickly looked away. "It's just a poster," he muttered. "It doesn't matter."
Yamada grinned, as if he could hear the unspoken "but I'm glad you're letting me do this" underneath the words. He quickly taped the poster in place and took a step back, admiring his work. "See? Doesn't that make the place feel less... like a boring, old school dorm?"
Aizawa sighed, glancing around the room. Yamada had already put up a few more decorations—some small fairy lights in the corner, a few pillows scattered across the floor, and a small potted plant next to the window. The space was looking warmer, more inviting. It was strange how Yamada had a way of making even the simplest things feel a little more... alive.
"Fine," Aizawa repeated. "It's... not the worst." He managed to avoid looking directly at Yamada this time, though the words carried more weight than he intended.
"Hey, you're warming up to it!" Yamada said with a grin, moving closer. He plopped down next to Aizawa on the bed, causing a small jolt of tension to run through Aizawa's body. "I knew you'd come around. You just need a little time, right?"
Aizawa stiffened but didn't pull away. "I didn't come around," he said, his voice a little sharper than he meant. "I just don't mind the decorations as much."
Yamada smirked, leaning in slightly, his face too close for comfort. "Uh-huh. Sure. Totally. You know, it's kind of nice having you around." His voice lowered, becoming softer, more sincere. "I wasn't sure how you'd feel about this whole... living situation. But it's not so bad, right?"
Aizawa's heart skipped a beat at the way Yamada's gaze softened. It made everything inside him feel too exposed. He cleared his throat, forcing his mind back into its usual defensive mode. "It's fine," he said, though this time the words felt less convincing.
Yamada's expression didn't change. He stayed close, his presence like an unspoken challenge to Aizawa's carefully built walls. And for a moment, Aizawa almost let himself sink into it. Let himself enjoy the proximity. But then—
"Hey, what are you two doing in here?" Oboro's voice rang out from the doorway, filled with that over-the-top enthusiasm that was so characteristic of him.
Yamada shot upright, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks, but it was impossible to miss the smile tugging at his lips. Aizawa quickly stood up, his chest tight as he forced himself to act nonchalant.
"Nothing," Aizawa said too quickly, clearing his throat. "Just... organizing. You know, dorm stuff." He turned his back to Oboro, as if pretending he hadn't just been sharing a moment with Yamada that was a little too close for comfort.
Oboro raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sure. Organizing. With your face practically in his personal space." He winked dramatically. "Look at you two. I knew it! You're totally a thing now, aren't you?"
Yamada's laugh was quick, nervous, as he threw a glance at Aizawa. "Oboro, seriously. Knock it off."
Aizawa, however, was less composed. "We're not a thing," he snapped, his voice almost too sharp. He quickly moved toward the door, avoiding Oboro's teasing gaze. "Let's just finish up this stuff and move on."
Oboro was practically glowing with amusement, clearly enjoying the uncomfortable energy between them. "Sure, sure. No need to get defensive, Shouta! I'm just saying, you two are totally giving off 'roommate with benefits' vibes."
Yamada's eyes widened in surprise, while Aizawa's face turned crimson. "Oboro—!"
Oboro held up his hands, feigning innocence. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. For now."
Yamada, clearly trying to steer the situation away from anything more personal, gave Oboro a look. "I thought you were gonna help, not make things weird."
Oboro shrugged dramatically. "Hey, it's not my fault you two are obviously meant for each other. Can't blame a guy for being excited about his friends, right?"
Aizawa groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is exactly why I wanted a single room." He muttered under his breath, though a small part of him couldn't help but notice how Yamada was looking at him out of the corner of his eye, that same quiet smile tugging at his lips.
It was a moment of awkwardness, yes. But there was also something else there—a growing sense of closeness. Despite the teasing, despite Oboro's relentless matchmaking, there was something undeniably comfortable about being here, in this room, with Yamada.
And somehow, Aizawa was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the worst thing in the world to have him around.
