O o f does Hoshi have liquorice in his mouth or a cigarette? I read it was liquorice somewhere but idkk.
Kirumi's POV
At Hopes Peak, the second I arrived on campus people would ask me for favours. They could take a glance at me and know my Ultimate, before actively using (or rather, abusing) it.
In complete honesty, I didn't mind all that much. I'd clean people's dorms, assist with homework and cook for especially busy students.
However, one student had never requested my help.
Ryoma Hoshi, the Ultimate Tennis Pro.
Though it is embarrassing to confess, I'd believed the gossip I'd heard around him. More specifically, about his dead girlfriend. Being used means knowing a lot of people, and those people know a lot of things that I wouldn't even dare pry too deep into.
However, I was busy working in class when a note got passed my way. It was folded both backwards and forwards, in a way that seemed like numerous people had opened it before me. It would certainly explain the slightly chuckling.
I opened it up and read it.
Tojo, please meet me behind the school next free time. If you're too busy, don't.
-R.H.
The initials caused my breath to hitch in my throat. R.H? I knew it could only be. One person.
I pocketed the note and mentally ran over all of my requests. Clean Nagito's room, help Teruteru serve his food at his dinner party (and check it for drugs), help Miu with something, and...
"Mommy!"
Lord no.
"Hello, Kokichi. Can you do me a favour?"
"No no no no, I'm the Ultimate Supreme Leader, so I'll be the one giving orders around here—"
"Let Nagito, Teruteru and Miu know that I won't be able to assist tonight."
"Oooh, got special plans?"
"Oma, please be mature about this."
"Gotcha." He winked, grabbing his bottle of Panta by the neck and making a dash off down the halls, yelling "OOOH TERUTERU HAVE I GOT A STORY FOR YOU!"
As I'd suspected, I found the shorter student leaning up against the wall with liquorice in his mouth.
"Oh, Tojo, you came." His tone sounded almost surprised, but his face remained stoic.
"Hoshi, good afternoon." I bowed respectfully and tried to mimic his pose against the wall. After my foot slipped off of the wall numerous times, I gave up and stood in my usual position. I cleared my throat. "Um, what was it that you needed?"
He seemed mildly hesitant, before signing, tugging at his beanie. "Advice."
"Excuse me?"
"Advice, okay? I need advice!"
I gave him a small smile - someone like him didn't seem to be the type to cough up such a confession so easily, so I felt obligated to give him at least a bit of credit.
"As the Ultimate Maid I will not turn down your request, though you may find my words not to be that useful. What would you like advice on?"
"...A few things, actually."
"Which thing seems to be the most pressing issue?"
"..." He paused, picking out what to say. "...I'm sure you've heard about my dead partner. I feel guilty for saying this, but I found somebody else. Not that she wasn't important to me but... I don't know."
"Who is this somebody else, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Nobody you'd know."
I nodded in understanding. The person must be very discrete, I told myself. "Alright then, if I were you I would probably accept the fact that moving on is healthy—"
"I'm not moving on!" He sharply retorted.
"Oh, I apologise for the way that must have come off." I nervously replied. "What I mean is that it's okay to be attracted to other people. Give yourself time to truly accept the fact that your late significant other has passed on, before pursuing another person who will make you happy."
He gazed at the ground thoughtfully. "Thank you. I... have a tennis bout. Can we meet up again tomorrow?"
"Definitely."
"You won't be too busy?"
"I'm sure I'll get things done."
With that, we both went our separate ways.
It became our 'thing'.
Slowly but surely, we grew closer. We discussed advice and helped eachother. Eventually, I decided to press for the name of his 'crush'. I feel bad for calling it a crush, since he specifically told me not to because he figured that it sounded childish, but I lack a better term.
"Ryoma?" I turned around the corner to find our usual spot empty.
Well, almost empty.
There was a note remaining.
Kirumi Tojo,
Sorry for being awkward like this. I couldn't bring myself to say anything to your face.
I̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶
W̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶m̶e̶?̶
You're an amazing person.
Yours Truly,
Ryoma Hoshi.
I sighed at the note. Why was he always this difficult?
He avoided me the entire day. When we had classes together he'd either skip them or not look at me. It hurt, but I tried to rationalise that perhaps he was too stressed to speak to me, or something like that.
I thought over the note a bit, before a note was passed to me. It was folded both ways like it'd been opened. I opened it - the handwriting was shaky.
Tojo, meet me after class.
So I did. Right outside the classroom door.
"Did you get my note?"
"Yes."
"Willyougooutwithme, Ilikeyou." He spoke very fast, but I could comprehend what he was saying.
"Absolutely."
Word count - 916.