Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 34: How to confess

After a successful and surprisingly eventless patrol, Heisuke-kun offered to take me to Sanjo Ohashi Bridge. That was currently where we were now, standing in the middle of the bridge looking down at the water running underneath it.

"So, was there a reason you wanted to bring me here?" I asked as I hoisted myself up onto the wooden railings, positioning myself facing inward.
"Well, it's quiet around this time and I thought it would be nice if we just took advantage of that" Heisuke-kun admitted with a blush.
"It certainly is quiet. There's barely anyone here" I swung my legs as I looked around the area. "Arigato Heisuke-kun, it is nice to submerge yourself in silence sometimes. Helps one gather their thoughts and whatnot"
"True, I also thought you'd like to enjoy some sweets while gathering your thoughts" Heisuke-kun revealed a small pouch.
"Sweets? I'm listening" He handed me the pouch and I opened it to discover its contents. The pouch was filled with the sugar candy known as Konpeitō. "Arigato Heisuke-kun!" I ate some of the multicoloured candy and rejoiced as its sugary taste graced my tastebuds. "Do you want some?"
"Nah, I got my own pouch. Don't want a repeat of last time" Heisuke-kun chuckled as he took out a second pouch.
"Yeah, good call..." I ate more sweets to distract my mind from the awkward moment.
"So, how're you finding life in Kyoto?" Heisuke-kun asked after finishing his mouthful of Konpeitō.
"It's great! I mean, joining the Shinsengumi is the top of my list of great things that happened to me in Kyoto"
"I know that, Chiyeko-chan" Heisuke-kun chuckled. "I meant other than joining the Shinsengumi"
"Right..." I let out an awkward chuckle. "Well, my painting has really had a chance to flourish here in Kyoto. I'm enjoying painting the people and stuff that happens here"
"That's good. It's nice you have something to fall back on in case the Shinsengumi ever disbands or something like that"
"Well, that's true but...Why would you say something like that? The Shinsengumi disbanding?"
"I don't know...Ignore me, I'm talking rubbish anyway"
"Heisuke-kun, daijōbudesuka?"
"Yeah, I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I guess this trip is beneficial to both of us" Heisuke-kun smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Yeah..." I want to know what's troubling him...I want to help rid him of all his troubles. My own thoughts startled me. I know he's my nakama, but I don't usually find myself feeling like this towards him...I didn't have much time to dwell on it as a woman approached us. Or more specifically, Heisuke-kun.
"Can I help you?"
"That depends. Would you be willing to come with me and give me some of your time?" The woman stood awfully close to Heisuke-kun. She's certainly bold. For some reason, her close proximity to Heisuke-kun made me unhappy.
"I'm with a nakama so maybe later?"
"Oh come on, ditch the little girl and come play with a real woman"
"Excuse me?" I wasn't about to say silent after she insulted me like that. "I don't know who you think you are, but you best back off. Heisuke-kun has no time for you" My words lacked any warmth. "Can you not take a hint and leave him alone? He obviously doesn't want to go anywhere with you"
"Nani?!" My emotional outburst upset the woman who raised her voice in disbelief and irritation. She reacted using actions instead of words. She pushed hard on my shoulders.
"Whoa?!" Her reaction surprised me leaving me with no time to react. I fell off the bridge and into the river with a loud splash.
"Chiyeko-chan?!" I swam back to dry land. As I reached it, a hand stretched out to help me from the water. I grabbed it and he helped me back onto the ground. "Daijōbu!?"
"I-I think so..." I nodded while coughing. I looked up at the bridge to see nobody. The woman must have left after pushing me in the water. Heisuke-kun held his hand out to me, even though I was dripping wet.
"Let's get you back to the compound. I can't have you catching a cold, now can I?" Heisuke-kun smiled and I managed to send him a small smile back as I took ahold of his hand. We walked back to headquarters, hand in hand. As it had been doing recently, holding Heisuke-kun's hand was causing my heart to beat faster in my chest and my face to flush. What is wrong with me? This has been happening for a while now...I put a hand on my chest to try and calm my heart. However, Heisuke-kun saw me do this and mistook the action. "Does your chest hurt? Wait, you didn't swallow any water, did you?!" He stopped walking and began fretting over me.
"M-My chest is fine...! I swallowed some water, but it was only a little bit. I didn't have time to hold my breath because she surprised me"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Hai. I coughed out the water I swallowed after you helped me up"
"Hmm..." For some reason, he still wasn't convinced and stared at me.
"N-Nani?" Heisuke-kun suddenly scooped me off my feet. "W-What are you doing Heisuke-kun?!"
"Your face is red, I think you're already getting a fever"
"I'm not! I'm fine!"
"Even so, me carrying you allows us to get to headquarters faster. And the faster we get to headquarters, the faster you can dry yourself off"
"That's true but...!" I couldn't come up with a good argument for him to let me down without revealing my embarrassment. In the end, I closed my eyes and tried to divert my mind's attention elsewhere as Heisuke-kun ran, carrying me through the streets of Kyoto.