Characters: Hanatarou, Isane
Summary: Hanatarou is not.
Pairings: Hanatarou x Isane
Warnings/Spoilers: No spoilers
Timeline: No timeline needed
Author's Note: I like to imagine Hanatarou having a crush on Isane (I'm sure I've said this somewhere else before, but I'll just go ahead and say it again).
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
"Kotetsu-fukutaicho?"
Isane barely passes a glance down at Hanatarou as she rifles through the library shelves, looking for a text on a rare blood disease. Hanatarou blinks tremulously up at her, intensely nervous, waiting for her to answer him.
After what seems an eternity in the cavernous, silent and utterly empty library, filled with the late afternoon light from the high, rectangular windows, Isane acknowledges him, looking down with a welcoming gleam in her wide gray eyes. "Hello, Yamada-kun. I'm sorry; I didn't see you there."
He can imagine she didn't, considering how much taller than him she is.
Hanatarou takes this as being as good a cue as any, and tries to launch in to what he's been trying to tell her for the past… It's been three weeks, hasn't it? And it's gone completely over Isane's head every time; Hanatarou knows he's going to have be more clear this time.
"Kotetsu-fukutaicho, I was wondering if… Well, I…"
Hanatarou groans inwardly; he's mumbling again. He tries to focus on her face to give him resolve, but all Hanatarou can see is the tired droop of her normally bright eyes and wonders how long it's been since she last slept.
Isane's kind eyes soften in pity and Hanatarou flushes a deep shade of scarlet; he knows she thinks he's some sort of stutterer or something.
Momentarily, he squeezes his eyes tightly shut. I have to tell her, I have to tell her, I have to tell her now…
"I was wondering if you would go to dinner with me!"
It's a moment before Hanatarou realizes that, in his desperation to finally spit the words out, he's shouted the blurted question. His face goes even redder than before, and he starts to murmur apologies, head bowed, before Isane cuts him off.
"Uhh…sure…"
Isane is smiling slightly and Hanatarou feels hope spread through him like the way alcohol makes someone feel warmer.
"Kotetsu-fukutaicho!" Someone is calling from the door all the way across the huge library, the edge of urgency sharp in their voice.
"I'm coming!" Isane shouts back, running off.
Hanatarou sighs wearily as she leaves.
He knows Isane just forgot completely about his asking her out.
Again.
