Kirishima x Reader // "Sometimes I'm Alone in a Crowd"

Chapter 7

Summary:

The office party is here! As Kirishima observes his date around unknown people and scenarios, he considers his own struggles in comparison to hers. And then, something happens.

Notes:

I want to place a WARNING on the next chapter. I've elaborated on this WARNING at the end of this chapter and what it means for future chapters. Please be sure and read it over before continuing to read.

Chapter Text

They walked down the street, eventually passing the coffee shop. It didn't look nearly as inviting at night as it did during the day.

"Ok so I'm warning you now, I'm going to drink at this thing. Like...I'm not gonna get drunk, hangovers suck. But I'm probably going to act like an idiot, so prep for that." Kirishima tried to stifle his laugh unsuccessfully.

"What kind of drunk are you? Like a happy talkative drunk? Some people get really quiet, or go the opposite route and lose all volume control."

"Mmm, maybe a bit of the first two? I tend to get very giggly, and I laugh at honestly anything even if it makes no sense. I feel like I go back and forth between being social, and then wanting to just sit down somewhere quiet." She led them across the street to a tall office building where most of the lights were out except for a couple of floors about a third of the way up. "Ok, we're here." Swiping her keycard, she opened the door to the building and let them both inside.

"This is basically a house party with adults and the location happens to be in an office. Don't expect a lot of professionalism tonight." They stepped into the elevator, Ryuko pressing the button to the proper floor. She looked to her left at Kirishima, hands in his pockets, looking calm but excited. She held up a finger and gestured for him to come closer. Leaning over, their faces almost touching, she whispered into his hear "thanks for coming," before giving him a peck on the cheek. Before she could pull away, he gave her one right back. The smile on his face could have melted a bucket of ice with its warmth.

"I'm happy to be here with you. Thanks for inviting me." Kirishima was forced to pull away as the elevator doors opened. He nearly gasped at the sight.

This wasn't a normal boring looking office, not by a long shot. They worked at an animation studio, and naturally there was a lot of artwork and creative decorating happening on every wall. Framed posters of shorts and shows they had produced or collaborated on hung on a long wall to the left. All of the desks were simple uniform tables with tablet monitors, but everyone seemed to decorate their desks to suit their personalities. Some had action figures, others had stuffed animals, one desk was piled high with various boxes of tea. The room was alive with not only artwork, but people as well. Laughing employees with their own guests walked around on the floor. This was certainly an unconventional office space, already.

"Oh wow, this place looks awesome! You have to show me your desk so I can see how messy it is." He a little shove for that, but it didn't have any anger behind it.

"Oh my god, you're not wrong though it's honestly a mess." She led him around the crowd towards the other side of the office. While he was distracted taking in everything, Ryuko glimpsed Tsu and Ochako talking across the room. Tsu noticed Ryuko and her guest, and grabbed Ochako's face to turn her towards the couple. Her face was already red, a mostly empty drink in her hand. She pointed excitedly towards them, trying very hard to keep from laughing at nothing in particular. Tsu just gave a thumbs-up. Ryuko hoped that she didn't end up looking like a moron before the night was over.

"Ok, can you guess which desk is mine?" They stopped at a corner room filled with about eight rows of desks. Kirishima hummed to himself as he analyzed the tabletops of all the desks, trying to pick out anything that might remind him of his date. After a few minutes of going back and forth humming to himself, he finally pointed down to one, picking up a book and waving it in the air.