Tamaki's POV
"Now is your chance to tell her!" Mirio exclaimed loudly. Nejire nodded along enthusiastically before talking quickly about how 'cute' we would be together.
"D-don't say that so loudly Mirio, she might hear you..." I say looking around to see her talking on the phone through the restaurant window. She looked so pretty today, not that she didn't always look pretty! She had tied her hair up into two quirky space buns which perched slightly wonky on her head. She wore an oversized purple knit jumper and skinny jeans, the purple in her jumper making her violet eyes look even more animated and bright.
"You love her Tamaki. You have since you were 15! We leave UA at the end of this year, this is your last chance to tell her how you feel." Mirio said, for once sounding serious.
"I know but, she works at UA ... I don't want to make things awkward or you know ... get her in trouble. She probably doesn't even like me in that way." I mutter out. There is no way she could like me back. Her personality shines as brightly as Mirio's. She has always been so kind to me. Whenever I felt nervous she helped me feel calm. I've tried to tell her my feelings for over a year but I always get too nervous and back out at the last minute.
"We won't be in UA next year. We'll be heroes and this year is your last chance to see her every day. Besides you're 19 now grandpa!" Mirio laughed and I tried to focus myself. He's right. Not about me being a grandpa. But if I want to be a hero I have to overcome my shyness. I have to tell her how I feel even if she doesn't feel the same. If she rejects me it's fine ... I'll just move country or hide in my house until she forgets what I ever looked like.
Just as I was calming my racing heart Kimi began walking back to our table and I felt it speed up again. She's smiling at me! Why is she so pretty when she smiles?! I swallow a growing lump in my throat.
"Sorry guys! What I miss?" Kimi smiled brightly.
"We were talking about you and - " Nejire began before Mirio cut her off. Thank goodness!
"We were talking about whether you'd come see us at the up coming sports festival? We know you're working but even for the closing ceremony? It's going to be our last one after all!" Mirio interjected making me slightly relax.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it! You guys were awesome last year!" Kimi smiled looking between us.
Mirio gave me a knowing look and I managed to nod slightly back at him. It is now or never. I need to tell her.
"Oh hey Nejire we have to do that thing over there!" Mirio declared pointing towards the back of the sushi bar whilst Nejire just tilted her head in confusion. Mirio grabbed her arm and pulled her away though not before sending me an exaggerated wink and miming the words 'good luck'. And just like that Kimi and I were alone.
"Huh, that's weird. You think they like each other?" laughed Kimi before taking a sip of her water.
"L-like? I don't know about that hehe ... umm actually Kimi there is something I need to tell you." I manage to mutter. My voice shook but the words were clear enough for her to look up at me, those beautiful violet eyes filled with concern.
"I'd everything okay Tamaki? You know you can tell me anything, right?" She asked reaching out to squeeze my hand. My heart felt like it was about to explode when I felt her smooth skin against my clammy hand. She was not making this easy but it had to be done. I took a deep breath.
"Kimi ... I love-"
"Suneater? Is that you?!" An all too familiar voice boomed at us interrupting me. I stopped short and looked up at Fatgum who was walking towards us a platter of sushi rolls piled high on his plate like a tower about to topple at any minute. He tooks a seat on the sofa where Mirio and Nejire had just left taking up the entirety of the space and continuing to tower over us, his head just brushing the lamp above us.
"Didn't expect to see you here! How are ya kid?" He asked popping a Dragon roll into his mouth before smiling widely.
"J-just celebrating my birthday with a few friends ... oh this is Kimi, she is a big fan of yours!" I manage to say gaining confidence. This might be a good thing. Kimi said Fatgum was her favourite hero, so meeting him is bound to make her happy!
"Ahh happy birthday kid! Kimi it's good to see you again! Hope that Hawks is treating you right!" He boomed happily to which Kimi just smiled giving a small nod.
"That he is. It's lovely to see you again! Tamaki here said you're his mentor, that's amazing!"
I stared between them both in confusion. They know each other? How? The two were talking like casual acquaintances and I felt my head tilt awkwardly.
"Y-you two know each other?" I ask breaking up their light hearted conversation.
"Oh yeah! Kimi and I met a few weeks ago at a halloween bash Miruko was throwing. Kimi here is dating Hawks, he introduced us!" He chuckled and I felt my heart sink.
'Dating Hawks' ... the words rang in my head like an distant bell. Kimi was dating someone. More than that, she was dating the number three hero! I knew it was impossible for her to like me back. Besides she is far too good for me anyway. She is like a ray of pure sunlight, of course she is going to want someone more than a stuttering loser like me.
My heart broke as my earlier words died in my mouth. Knowing how close I was to confessing made me feel like throwing up. That would have been so awkward for the both of us but more importantly it would have put pressure on Kimi and changed the way she thinks of me forever. Her not loving me will never stop me loving her. And if I can only be her friend then that is good enough for me. It will break my heart to see her with someone else but it would break my heart even more to not see her happy.
"Wow t-that's amazing!" I force myself to say, my words thankfully sounding more believable than I thought they would. And so the conversation continued on happily. I glanced up to meet the round blue eyes of Mirio who looked on sympathetically. He had heard every word and he slowly nodded back at me in comfort. For the first time in my life I had witnessed Mirio with the smallest of frowns on his face and it only made my heart sink further.