What Love Can Do to You

Happy

It felt good to have privacy again, both of them could easily admit. At the same time, it had been much too long, though.

Shoya realized that back in that dark, empty classroom, they'd planted a seed, together. A seed that was slowly blooming, their friendship. It was something much more important than any other kind of friendship, for the time being.

He wouldn't call them best friends, but whatever it was, it was absolutely good enough for him.

It was just good enough.

Being Shoko's friend was more important to him than anything. He treasured it, and he thanked her for being there for him. Because, unlike many people in his life, she believed in him. That's the greatest thing you can do for a person.

With her gentle eyes and her faithful smile, she says, you can do it. Keep going!

And so he did. For Shoko.

--

Shoya avoided the Nishimiya's house at all costs, for various (but valid!) reasons. Shoko was the only reason he had any business there, however...she ever so kindly invited him over for her mother's birthday, once again. She wanted him to come and help out with baking the cake. Shoko was so adorable when she asked, so he couldn't resist, of course.

He was wearing a t-shirt from his favorite band, but...he found it to be a bit questionable, so he changed. He didn't want to make it any more weird than it would be already.

-

Mrs. Nishimiya wasn't home, so it was the perfect time for party planning, and planning Yuzuru and Shoko did.

"Hey Shoya!" Yuzuru smiles from the table. She seemed to be doing something important with her camera, for she didn't even look up to meet his nervous gaze. That, or Yuzuru hated him now. She did find out the truth after all.

He needed to break the ice somehow, so he sat next to her at the table. "How's it going, Yuzuru-san?"

"It's...goin'..."

He chuckles, and a bead of sweat rolls down his face. A few more button presses on the camera.

"Uh-so, what are you doing?"

He peers over her black hair, (absolutely overstepping the line of personal space!)

"...Nothing."

A few more moments of silence leads to awkward solutions and...

"Have a fun summer break?"

Shoya's eyes flick up to the clueless girl.

Her hearing-aids sweat nervously on the table. She was just preparing the pots and pans for the birthday cake...

"But it's not...summer break?"

"Don't worry. She didn't hear."

Shoya laughs a bit and scratches his head before contemplating on what he should say. "I dunno what you're talking about, Yuzuru-san, really."

Yuzuru decisively directs her attention to his stupid face. Her glare is hard and cold and suspecting...

"I-uh..."

"You really don't know anything, do you..."

She neatens her demeanor, and she's tense but composed...

"I'm not...sure what you're talking about?" he offers up his only excuse. It fails desperately.

"Is there anything in that stupid brain of yours?"