Linked Paths

Arc II - Many Firsts [Chapter 2: Dates]

But, although I'm already pretty fueled up, I plan to enjoy the karaoke event with the others a little longer, as we're having a lot of fun. Then at the right moment, when the tension between us has almost become too much, I'll leave with her to get down to the main point of the evening.

However, that's not the only reason why we're not already at her place having a great time. The other reason starts with 'De' and ends with 'ku'. And why, you wonder? Well, Mr. Beanpole can't keep his filthy mitts to himself, and Deku can't say no. That really annoys my inner stupid protective instinct and ties me to this location additionally.

The priority is my sex date, though, so I'll try not to be unnecessarily distracted by that. Besides, Hasegawa and the others are still there to keep an eye on Deku when I'm absent. That will have to be enough.

I turn the corner and notice first thing that the door to the men's toilets is half open. The locking mechanism is probably defective. Undeterred, I approach and am still wondering whether I should tell one of the staff when I hear suspicious noises, obviously coming from these very toilets. Instinctively - a side effect of my hero training - I sense that I shouldn't barge in there straight away. Instead, I sneak forward silently, lean flat against the wall right next to the door and dare to take a peek inside. There's no one in sight on this side directly, but I can see the reflection of the opposite through the mirrors above the washbasins, where the source of the murmur is.

None other than Mr. Beanpole.

I adjust my auditory and visual senses. The creep is half leaning over one of the basins, looking at himself in the mirror. One thing about him I notice immediately. It's what his eyes reveal. To me, it's as if I'm seeing the reflection of a completely different person. His eyes speak of something dark, something bitter. His facial expression speaks of something crazy. Something that doesn't suit right with me at all and that solidifies my feeling that this guy is dubious.

I watch as he then touches his lower lip, almost perplexed.

Mr. Beanpole: "Izuku..."

It sends shivers down my spine not only to hear him use Deku's first name but with such a note in his voice. Things get even crazier as he starts to gurgle deeply and darkly suddenly. What the fuck's wrong with him?!

While he is still gurgling creepily to himself, he then turns on the tap, washes his hands, then - stopping gurgling - his face. The moment he takes his hands off his face again, it's as if a switch has been flipped inside him, since his face has reverted to the way I'm used to.

That creep...

Now I have to make a quick decision to either leave or go inside. I opt for the latter, as the pressure on my bladder is too insistent to be ignored. I tiptoe a little back in the direction I came from and then, once I'm far enough away, I pretend to just arrive, and head to the toilet as normal as ever. Luckily, the door fully slides open when I press the button. I enter and intentionally ignore that shit excuse of a Beanpole.

~End of flashback~

I can't tell if I should have shared this with Deku when we were standing together in the backyard of the karaoke bar or at some point afterwards. Probably yes. But I haven't (yet) because, for whatever reason, he has a huge crush on this douchebag, and I didn't want to mistakenly ruin things. I may have taken that asshole's demeanor the wrong way because I detest his mug anyway. On the other hand, he was just too weird, no-longer-ignorable-weird I mean.

Fuck! I've rarely been so damn irresolute! Continue to keep quiet or tell him as soon as possible? No matter what I do, I have the feeling I can only screw it up. Well, I would want to know...but, maybe it's too late now?