Love and Hate ‒ ʰᶦᵗᵒˢʰᶦ ˢ.

five

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THE SOUNDS OF LAUGHTER ECHOED through the walls of your house as Hitoshi cracked another joke about your disastrous classmates. Eri was asleep and the two of you are now drinking cups of hot cocoa that you had made. The marshmallows floating on the hot drink and the aroma spun around you like perfume. For once in your life, you felt relaxed and calm. And for once, you forgot that you even resented the guy in front of you.

The way his lips hugged the mug and the way his calloused fingers held it gently made the pits of your stomach warm and happy. "You ever wondered why people think we're dating?" he took a sip from the cup, making a strong slurping sound. You raised your shoulders and put them down again in one swift motion. "I don't know really. I mean, I..." you stopped yourself as you tried to think of another word to say, trying not to ruin the already good atmosphere between the two of you.

"...hate me?" Hitoshi smirked while he placed the mug down on the table beside him. Both of you were sitting on the couch, your knees close to your chins. You looked down and watched as a few marshmallows sink down your hot cocoa. "No... it's not like that..." your eyes trailed up to meet with his purple ones. "I probably just get annoyed by you easily, Hitoshi." Hitoshi looked at his knee and furrowed his brow as he thinks. "Can I do something about that?"

"What do you mean by that, Hitoshi?"

"I want to get to know you better again, (your name)," he smiled. "Just like last time."

Your head found itself leaning to the side as you parted your lips, a smile forming on one side. "I...? I don't understand? Pardon." Hitoshi managed to roll his eyes while smirking, knowing full well that you understood what he meant but for your sake, he rephrased what he had told you a few seconds ago. "I want us to be friends again... I don't like you to hate me anymore," you watched as the male extended his hand to you. Your grin widened as small giggles went off from your throat. You took his hand in yours, shaking it softly. "I think that'd be nice, Hitoshi..."

That evening, the two of you did not exactly get enough sleep thinking about what happened. Maybe it was just the way the atmosphere was set that Hitoshi had to make such a decision.

But he was willing to work hard for it.

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"WOAH? HE DID THAT? HE SAID THAT?" Momo virtually squealed as she listened to you talking about what happened. It was a good thing that Eri and he were busy downstairs coloring stars on Eri's notebook. You were also kind of glad that the blush evident on your face can not be seen by the other dark-haired female as this would cause her to tease you more. "Yeah, he did." Momo noticed the slight doubt on your tone making her exhale on the other line. "Then, what's bothering you about it, (your name)?"