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

Chapter 13

Kirishima stood at the train station, the sun setting low behind tall office buildings looking dark and mostly abandoned on a Friday night. One hand in his pocket and the other holding the gift bag, he turned as someone called his name. She looked beautiful. Kirishima figured he should be nervous...but he wasn't. He felt calm, like nothing could stand in his way...and this time he'd make absolutely sure that he was by her side the entire night.

"Hey! Wow, how do you always look so pretty?" He met her in the middle, picking her up by the waist and spinning her around before kissing her. She laughed at the dramatic move, and he was always happy to hear her laugh.

"You're starting out strong tonight! Nice tie, I like it. Very...Kirishima." She grabbed him by the hand. "You ready?"

"Absolutely!" he said, hiding the gift behind his back as she led the way to the restaurant.

They approached the front doors of the fancy-looking restaurant, Ryuko giving the hostess her name for the reservation. Kirishima was a bit overwhelmed at first; this was definitely on the nicer end of places he'd been in, and honestly they stuck out a bit from the other patrons as he looked around, mostly filled with older couples or business men chatting with colleagues and clients. He still held onto Ryuko's hand, his other concealing the gift bag as best he could.

They were led back to a candlelit table where they sat down, Kirishima concealing the gift next to his feet until he felt it was the right time to pull it out.

"You look anxious, it's just dinner," she said, taking a sip from her glass of water on the table.

"I know, I just don't think I've been anywhere this nice before." He scratched the back of his head, his nerves starting to come back just a little.

"Then it should be memorable, right?" Looking at her in the soft glow of the candlelight across the table made his heart flutter, so he swallowed down the uptight feeling in his stomach. He'd make tonight a nice memory to the best of his ability.

They ordered a bottle of nice sake, making light conversation. It seemed like the past couple of weeks were filled with one thing or another that caused drama or tears, and they were just ready to put those memories behind them and move forward with something that was still new and invigorating. Kirishima's foot brushed up against the gift bag under the table, bringing him back to the reality of the moment. It was now or never, right? Confidence was manly!

"Uh, Ryuko..."

She paused in her conversation to look across the table. "Hm? What's that look for?" His shoulders were tense and he avoided her gaze. "What's on your mind."

"I uh, got something for you! Just open it first and I'll explain so it makes sense." He reached under the table and grabbed the gift bag, handing it over. His hands fidgeted in his lap as she opened it.

"Kiri you didn't have to get me anything..." Taking out a couple pieces of tissue paper something red poked out from the bag. She removed it, now holding a dragon stuffed animal in her hands. It was bright red with sharp teeth and small horns. Spikes trailed down its back to the end of the tail.

"It's so cute! It looks kinda like you right?" She held it up to compare her boyfriend's spiky red hair and unusually pointy teeth to the dragon in her hand. "I love it, thank you." Kirishima swallowed, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants. Be bold and confident and straightforward, be manly! No regrets!

"Ok so! Uh, yeah I saw it and besides the fact that I like dragons and thought it looked pretty cool it reminded me of you? Because dragons are supposed to protect what's precious to them, right? Ignoring the whole kidnapping princesses thing, I just thought that I wanted you to have something to remind you of me! Something you could keep. So even if I'm not there with you, this little guy can be a stand-in so you know you aren't alone. And it's not like I don't think you can handle yourself or anything!" He was gesturing wildly and looking literally anywhere other than her face, cast shadows of his animated hands dancing on the wall behind them from the candle in the middle of the table. "You're brave and strong and really amazing, but...I just uh, want to keep you safe. I want you to reach out to me if you ever need help. I...uh..." Why was he breathing so hard? He chanced a glance at his date who held the dragon toy delicately, eyes glistening and unreadable in the dim light. Finally she looked up, and the words he wanted to say were locked in his throat.