Looking back, he probably shouldn't have even come.
Hajime Hinata was trapped. In Ibuki Mioda's basement. With his roommate, Nagito Komaeda, whose white hair rested across his forehead nearly as naturally as his half-smile did. He was almost chuckling at his predicament. Quickly as the door snapped shut and the lock clicked, Hinata's eyes darted upwards, and he raced up the stairs.

"Ibuki! Let us out!" Hinata yells, pounding weakly against the locked door without much effort. He peeked through the crack at the bottom of the door, and squints to try to spot Ibuki's feet. Instead, his eyes met her face.
"You'll thank Ibuki for this later, Hajime-chan!"
He swore he saw a wink through the door, then off ran Ibuki giggling with the other girls.

Hinata sighed and slumped against the door in frustration. He stepped down the wooden staircase into the partially finished basement. Normally, Hinata would expect Ibuki's basement to be as decorated as uniquely as her room was, but instead the room was mostly concrete. It was bitterly quiet down there, save for the occasional obnoxiously loud laugh of someone- probably Ibuki, guessed Hinata. Being locked in the basement would have been troubling enough if he was alone, but he wasn't. As Hinata slumk down step by step, a pair of minty green eyes met with his curiously. Specifically, Komaeda's eyes.

"Any luck, Hinata-kun?"

Hinata shook his head no. A sigh escaped from his roommate's thin lips. "Oh, well. I guess if it was going to be stuck down here with someone, I'd rather it be you." A small, almost sheepish smile formed on Komaeda's face. Quickly Hinata tried to make the slight flush in his cheeks go away. It was too humid down here, and it was already hot enough outside.

"How long do you think Ibuki will keep us trapped in the basement?"

"Knowing Mioda-san, I'd guess for a while."

Another sigh. "Great..."

Komaeda's eyes flickered as he grinned slightly. "What, Hinata-kun, do you not want to be down here with me?" he teases. Hajime's face heated up in humiliation as he attempted to justify himself.
"N-no! I never said that!"
Komaeda laughed a little, as if enjoying Hinata's embarassment, but after it the bare basement went quiet again. Expressionless, Hinata tilted his head back, trying to take in the uncomfortable silence.

"Hey..."
His attention snapped back to Komaeda as soon as he spoke.
"It's very peaceful down here, don't you think, Hinata-kun?"

Hinata's face crinkled up in distaste.
"No. It's creepy, and a little unsettling."
Komaeda's expression softened, and he looked down.
"Ah, yes. You're right," he replied, and shut his mouth. Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly, observing his friend's face. After a minute, Hinata spoke up again.
"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"You know." Hinata shifted. "You always agree with everyone even when you don't really agree."

Komaeda's lips tightened, then curled up. "Haha, Hinata-kun, are you calling me a pushover?"

"What? No, I'm just telling you that you should be more open, you know?"

But, trying to advise Komaeda was as pointless as trying to sled without snow, and they both knew it. His white-haired friend stared down at the ground, not really responding to anything Hinata was saying. Then he surprised him.

"Oh, Hinata-kun..." he said simply, and laughed. Frustrated and not really understanding, Hinata sighed and looked around. His eyes widened when they set their grey-green sights on a short, wide window near the ceiling.
"H-hey! Komaeda, look!" he pointed, and Komaeda's eyes follow.
"Oh-!"
Hinata smiles, determined, and Komaeda seems to reads his mind. He chuckled slightly. "Ah, too bad."

He stands up from his seated position on the concrete. Hinata watches him walk over to the window, then beckon him over.
"Come on, Hinata-kun, we don't have all night."
Hinata rushed over, and then squatted down.
"Okay, get on my shoulders."

Komaeda smirks and complies, resting his legs on top of Hinata's shoulders. Hinata struggles for a bit, then slowly stands up, thankful that Komaeda is pretty light for his age.
"Don't enjoy yourself too much, Hinata-kun," he says as the blood rushes back to Hinata's cheeks, a mixture of being flustered and getting overwhelmed from holding a body on his shoulders.
"Urgh- Wha- What's that supposed to mean?"

Without an answer, Komaeda flips the lock on the window, and pushes it open with ease. With a slight jump that left Hinata breathing heavy, he slipped through the short window onto the grass. Not hesitating, he slipped his arms back into the basement to assist in Hinata's rescue. He pulled his friend up.

"Thanks, Komaeda," Hinata managed to breathe out nonchalantly. Set expressions on their faces, the duo began to reenter their friend's home. Quickly Komaeda held out a hand in front of Hinata's chest, stopping him.
"Wait, Hinata-kun. It was Mioda-san who trapped us down there, right? I think a little revenge is in order."
His roommate smiled a devilish smile. Hinata narrowed his brow.
"R-revenge?"

︎ IBUKI POV ︎

"Hajimeee~!" she sings, and dashes to the basement door, socks sliding on the wooden floor. She clicked the lock on the door, unlocking it, and cried out a little too loud for comfort.
"Hajime-chaaan! Ibuki's letting you out now!"

She pounded down the wooden staircase, and gasped when the two were nowhere to be found.
"How suspicious!" She hummed to herself, and called up to another party guest.

"Heyy, Chiaki-chan, Hajime-chan and Nagito-chan are missing! I'm gonna go make sure they aren't being weird together somewhere, kay? Checking the roof, garage, outdoors, et cetera!"

A soft sound reached Ibuki's ear from upstairs, a sort of equivalent to saying "got it" to Nanami. Ibuki nodded furiously.
"Alrightyy~! Time for Ibuki-chan to go, go, go!"
Ibuki cheered and leapt to the basement window, successfully. She wriggled out onto the darkened, summer grass and grinned. Instinctively her gaze turned to her parents' porch.
Through the blanket of darkness and clouds obscuring Ibuki's vision, on her porch a curled up figure and a regular shaped one appeared sitting on the stone steps. A grin appeared from ear to ear on Ibuki's pierced face, and she tipped-toed over to her two refugees.

"Hey, Nagito-chan," she whispered loudly. Komaeda's attention perked at the sound of someone's voice, and he glanced at Ibuki with a faraway look on his face.
"Oh, hello, Mioda-san."

Ibuki stuck her tongue out in mock disgust at Komaeda's formal tone, but quickly her attention turned instead to the sleeping Hinata resting in Komaeda's arms.
"Aww, Hajime-chan looks so cute, meow!" Ibuki gushed. "How did he get there?"

A considerably wide smile (at least, for Komaeda) spread across Komaeda's face like wildfire.
"Well, we were going to get revenge on you, Mioda-san, but something came up and Hinata-kun and I decided to steer clear of the party and relax out here."

Ibuki raised her eyebrow. "'Something happened'?" Ibuki teased. "That sounds awfully suggestive, Nagito-chan!"
Ibuki made eye contact with Komaeda who did not converse further. Whether it was because she was right, or because he didn't want to argue with her was unclear though. Ibuki managed a small giggle nonetheless, and wiggled her fingers. "You two have fun out here, then! But if Hajime's not awake enough to walk home by 3:00, I'm kicking you both out!"

Komaeda laughed. "I don't see Hinata-kun waking up anytime soon. I suppose I'll have to carry him, then."

"Orrrr, you could just, y'know, wake Hajime-chan up!"

Komaeda's smile straightened and he looked up with a somewhat solemn expression. "No..." he mumbled. "I'd rather not."

"Whatevs you want, Nagito-chan! Bye-bye!"

"Eh? Komaeda? Everyone's gone now. You n' Hinata should head back."

Souda gave Komaeda a dubious look as he exited Ibuki's home, looking at his soul friend's head resting on the pale boy's lap. Komaeda's mind came back to reality and he nodded, the edges of his mouth quirking up in a smile.

"Right, Souda-kun."

Souda grinned. "See ya tomorrow, then. Say night to Hinata for me."

And Komaeda's eyes rested on his roommate's face once again. He looked peaceful, every muscle in his face untensed. Komaeda placed a finger or two on Hinata's cheek and stroked it, knowing well that his friend was a heavy sleeper. Inhale, exhale, and Komaeda had picked Hinata up, bridal style. A few deep breaths later the snow-colored boy, carrying his companion, had begun to walk down the dark, quiet street to their dorm. Hinata was silent save for a shallow but steady breathing pattern.

Setting Hinata down on his bed, Komaeda breathed deeply. He gazed at his roommate's face in warm love, the face that he wanted to hold, wanted to kiss. He considered resting his head on Hinata bed for a bit, but he was tired too, and he predicted he'd probably fall asleep. He wondered how he'd explain why he was sleeping on part of Hinata's bed, part on the floor. Another impulse wanted to pull the covers over his roommate. It was summer, but Komaeda dragged the comforter over Hinata, who exhaled deeply.

Closing his eyes, Komaeda bit his bottom lip and turned smoothly from Hinata's sleeping form. Not bothering to change out of his current clothing, he carefully slipped into his own bed and almost immediately fell into peaceful sleep.

︎

6:00 am.

Too early. Normally this was around the time Komaeda woke up, but normally they didn't stay at a party until... who knows when Komaeda got back to the room. Remembering, Hinata felt a little guilty falling asleep so early... A curious thought popped in his mind.
Wait, how did we both get home?

Honestly he was too restless to think about it. Glancing over at Komaeda who was, as expected, still asleep, Hinata tossed his comforter off his warm body. He licked his lips. He needed Nanami, if he was telling himself the truth. Knowing her, she probably didn't bother to go to sleep last night after she got home. He'd knock, but quietly just in case Ibuki decided to come back and was asleep. Hinata grabbed a pillow and opened his dorm door, giving Komaeda one last look before slipping out quietly.

After a short, deathly quiet walk over to Ibuki and Nanami's dorm room, Hinata timidly tapped on their door. After a few moments, Ibuki answered the door.
"Hajime-chan! Come inn~!"

"Sorry if I woke you up, Ibuki," Hinata offered up a quick apology to his friend, and sat down next to Nanami on the ground.
"It's no problem, Hajime-chan! Ibuki-chan was already up, meow!"
"Oh, hi, Hinata-kun," Nanami offered, not taking her eyes off the game she was playing. The television reflected off her eyes, and Hinata watched her play intently.

The two made small talk for a little bit, talking about classes being on hold for the summer, or the weather, or their finals. Ibuki had apparently been repainting her black nails, and she stuck her hands out stiffly straight in front of her.
"So why is Hajime-chan here? Did he want to talk about Nagito-chan's big arms carrying him home last night? You two were so cuuute~!"

"H-huh? H-he carried me home?"

Pause, then Nanami replied, "He didn't tell you? Ibuki wouldn't stop talking about it."

"He's still asleep..."
"That'd make sense. Ibuki said you two left at four in the morning."
Hinata's mouth opened in shock.
"Four?!"

"When did you go to sleep?" Nanami asks casually, starting up a new level. For a second Hinata contemplates her question, and shrugs. Realizing Nanami can't see him, he voices his response.
"I don't really kn-"

"Ibuki-chan locked Hajime-chan and Nagito-chan in the basement around nine, and she found them missing about ten! So Hajime fell asleep somewhere between those times! Wow, Ibuki-chan could totally solve a murder mysery!" Ibuki cut Hinata off with her own account.

"So Komaeda sat with you for almost six hours, while you were asleep?" Nanami inquired, popping a piece of candy into her mouth between button taps, then picking up where she left off. She's really the Super High School Level Gamer, huh...

"I can't really imagine why he would," Hinata admits, looking down.

"He must really care about you," Nanami presses. "Am I right?"

"I- uh, guess."

Ibuki grins and pulls on Hinata's ears.
"Hajimee~ why are you blushing?"
"I-I'm not-"
"Maybe he loves him?"

Hinata's jaw dropped and Ibuki agreed enthusiastically.
"That would totally make sense! I've always felt a vibe around those two that screams guy love! Y'know?"
As Hinata got over his speechlessness, even Nanami was smiling a bit.
"Well, Hinata-kun? Is my guess right?"

"N-no, of course n-"
Nanami and Ibuki's prodding eyes erased any sense of stability he thought he had. Hinata bit his tongue and slowly nodded his head, sort of realizing his feelings as he talked.
"He is my roommate, and I do really care about... Komaeda. I just feel really weird around him, like he could just take me away and I'd be okay with it," Hinata said, slow and brisk at the same time. "And he's pretty- um, cute, too. I haven't really thought about it. I guess it's been mostly subconscious?" he added as an afterthought.

Nanami's face puffed up as she presented her evidence.
"You have a strong, reliable bond with Komaeda, you enjoy his company, he's an overall good and trustworthy person and, most importantally- you feel attracted to him."

Hinata's face blossomed with red splotches at the last one, but nodded quietly.
Ibuki jumped up and hugged Hinata, pressing her cheek against his hairline.
"Hajime-chan, I know how you feel! Sometimes I think girls are just the cuuutest! It's not fair that most of you boys get them!"

"This is the first I've heard of this..." Hinata muttered, still embarrassed.
Suddenly Nanami's screen turned black with a game over. She turned to Hinata, smiling, and reassured him.
"It's okay, Hinata-kun. No matter what, Ibuki-san and I will support you, as well as the rest of our friends, as well as Komaeda-kun when you tell him how you feel."

"Yeah! Ibuki-chan wants to see her two favorite boys happily kissing and holding hands in no more than a year, and that's an order!"

Hinata receded a bit sheepishly, but smiled regardless. He wrapped his arms around the gamer and musician.
"Thank you, you guys."
Nanami nodded and Ibuki simply smiled widely.
"What did I do to get such amazing friends...?"