"Eraser!" Hizashi crows, and Shouta doesn't even stiffen when he throws his arms around him, bending down to drape over his back where he sits in his chair. "How's it hangin'?"
"Mic," Shouta says neutrally, but he hasn't shrugged him off.
"Mic," Shouta says neutrally, but he hasn't shrugged him off.
Hizashi doesn't wait for a reply, just taking a breath to start talking Shouta's ear off about the classes he's taught today. But--there's something different. Something in the air.
He stops, sniffing again. There's a faint hint of something spicy. Sandalwood and cloves.
He stops, sniffing again. There's a faint hint of something spicy. Sandalwood and cloves.
"Is that...a new soap?" Hizashi says before he can stop himself. What does it look like, that he's that attuned to how his friend *smells*?
He's never known Shouta to use anything but the most basic, cheapest bath products. He's seen his shower--4-in-1 bodywash, shampoo,
He's never known Shouta to use anything but the most basic, cheapest bath products. He's seen his shower--4-in-1 bodywash, shampoo,
conditioner, and shaving cream. It's *logical.*
"Cologne," Shouta admits, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. His hand comes up to touch the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "Do you...like it?"
At some point, Hizashi's stomach has dropped down through the floor.
"Cologne," Shouta admits, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. His hand comes up to touch the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "Do you...like it?"
At some point, Hizashi's stomach has dropped down through the floor.
Fancy soap is one thing, but *cologne*??
His mind races through the possibilities as he pulls back and drops into his own chair. There's only one he comes up with: Shouta is trying to *attract* someone. He *likes* someone.
Hizashi forces a smile on his face.
His mind races through the possibilities as he pulls back and drops into his own chair. There's only one he comes up with: Shouta is trying to *attract* someone. He *likes* someone.
Hizashi forces a smile on his face.
"Uh, yeah! It's nice!" He swallows hard, trying to squash down his suddenly flaring jealousy. He leans forward, even though that puts him in Shouta's space again, and asks, because he *has* to know, "So who is it?"
Shouta stares at him blankly. "Who's what?"
Shouta stares at him blankly. "Who's what?"
Hizashi waves a hand. "C'mon! Who are you crushing on??" He doesn't quite get the way he smiles right, more like he's pleading than fishing for juicy gossip, but maybe Shouta won't notice.
"Nobody," Shouta says, sounding just a little too fast for the bored tone he's going for.
"Nobody," Shouta says, sounding just a little too fast for the bored tone he's going for.
And--oh shit, is he *blushing*?? He's really got it bad, and Hizashi doesn't even know for *who*.
"Come on," Hizashi whines, putting on his best puppy-dog eyes. "I'm your best friend! Who is it??"
Shouta glares, face still pink. "Nobody," he insists.
"Come on," Hizashi whines, putting on his best puppy-dog eyes. "I'm your best friend! Who is it??"
Shouta glares, face still pink. "Nobody," he insists.
Suddenly, a whip cracks, a tail of leather wrapping around his chair. He yelps as it's jerked across the floor, spinning him around until Midnight's white-gloved hands grab his face. "Mic," she says seriously. "You oblivious jackass. It's *you*!"
(End)
(End)
