A/N: I cannot for the life of me find the artist of the image I used above. It inspired the story, and I'd love to give them credit for their work. I found it on Google and saved it because it inspired this little piece of fluff you're about to read. Just so we're clear on this: I. Did not. Draw this. I take no credit for creating the artwork.
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Drowning out the world with music was one of Hizashi's favorite go-to methods of destressing. With his headphones up over his ears and his eyes closed, it was almost like he was anywhere but sitting on the bench he was on. With exams right around the corner, he was starting to feel the pressure weighing down on him.
He was just staring to feel the weight of the world lift from his shoulders when his headphones were ripped from his head, plunging him back into the business of the city. He reached up, even as the headphones settled around his neck, and his head jerked to the side, trying to catch sight of whoever had pulled them free. "Hey," he heard from the other side.
His expression softened when he recognized Shota. "Hi, Sho."
He turned his music off at Shota came around the other side of the bench and sat down next to Hizashi. He wondered if he should just tell Shota what was wrong. Part of him was certain he'd feel better if he just said it aloud to someone else. He glanced over and saw that Shota was looking the other way. No. He liked quiet. He preferred when Hizashi was quiet. No, that wasn't entirely true. He'd once told Hizashi he'd prefer that he was himself. It was in moments like these, however, he wasn't sure exactly who that was.
He loved being the center of attention, almost all the time. The moments he didn't, though, it was as if there was a switch that simply turned itself off, and he had nowhere to go to get away from the excited crowed that he'd usually amassed. He could never control the switch, either.
"You've been quiet." Shota's voice once again cut through the noise in his mind, and he realized he was still looking at him. Even though his black hair was hiding them, Hizashi knew his eyes were focused on him.
Shota's scowl deepened as he looked at Hizashi, his face getting closer. He reached out and brushed a few stray strands of Hizashi's blond hair behind his ear. "'Zashi," he said, his voice as serious as ever.
"Do the thing."
The...thing? Hizashi's brow furrowed as he looked at Shota. "What?"
Shota nodded. "Yeah. The thing." He reached up with his hands, his index fingers pointing to his own face where Hizashi's dimples would be if he smiled. "The thing there."
Hizashi watched as Shota's hands dropped back to his lap. "Shota, do you mean...you want me to smile?"
Heaving a sigh, Shota nodded, still looking as serious as ever. Hizashi, if he didn't know better, might have wondered if he had another expression. Instead, he held a shocked expression for another few seconds, wondering if Shota was serious or not.
Whether it was looking at Shota, or the realization that Shota wanted him to do it, his mouth curved upward into what so many thought was its natural expression. "That's better," Shota said, seemingly satisfied, as though he'd won an argument.
Standing, Shota turned back to HIzashi. "Come on."
Hizashi followed, not sure where they were going, but as usual, glad for the company.
