Pulling the curtains closed to block out the sun, Tamaki wrapped himself in his blanket and curled into himself on his bed. He felt so embarrassed over what Nejire said only minutes ago that he just wanted to hide from the world for the rest of his life. There was a knock on the other side of the wall, indicating Mirio was there, no doubt wanting to talk about what happened.

"Go away," Tamaki mumbled into his blanket, not even sure if his friend could hear.

"Come on, Tamaki." Mirio persisted, phasing his head through the wall.

"You know she didn't mean to blab about your secret. Nejire just gets excited. She feels real bad about it." Mirio informed, phasing the rest of his body through the wall and sitting at the edge of his shy friend's bed.

"She didn't have to tell you in front of the whole class." Tamaki was on the verge of tears as he remembered the blue haired girl excitedly go on about his crush on his best friend. Tamaki had only told her the day before and she had promised not to say anything. But as soon as she saw Mirio she just couldn't help herself. It was out of her mouth as soon as he was within earshot, her hands clapping over her mouth as she realized too late what she just said.

Tamaki went several shades of pale from his seat before getting up and all but running out of the room. The whole class was silent as they stared on, wide-eyed at the three. He didn't expect anyone to come looking for him at least until class was over, if not the whole school day. He had even planned on giving the lame excuse of having a stomach ache from some bizarre food Fat Gum had given him the day before.

The two sat in an awkward silence for a while before Mirio stood suddenly, the movement making Tamaki feel skittish and anxious.

"If she didn't tell me how you felt today, would you have?" Mirio wasn't looking at Tamaki as he spoke. His face oddly expressionless as he thought about the words he just said.

Tamaki buries his face in his pillow, attempting to ignore the situation.

"You weren't ever going to tell me, were you?" Mirio didn't seem bothered that he wasn't getting an answer. Tamaki's reaction was answer enough.

"Would it have mattered?" Tamaki mumbled again, closing his eyes to brace himself for the rejection he knew was coming.

It was bad enough when Tamaki discovered he liked boys, but when he noticed developing emotions for his closest friend, Tamaki felt like he could die. Even in a crazy world where everyone is different and has powers, things like this were still rather taboo and there was still a lot of progress that needed to be made. There were very few heroes that were open about their sexuality, none that Tamaki could think of. This made him feel so isolated and alone.

Mirio sat back on the bed before leaning against the wall, thinking of how to put his feelings into words. The last thing he wanted was for his shy friend to misunderstand him. He opened his mouth, to speak before changing his mind. Instead, pulling Tamaki out of his blanket burrito and making him sit up and face the blond.

"Look at me, Tamaki." Mirio smiled at the nervous brunette, who averted his gaze. His face was heating up and he wasn't sure what to expect.

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

Tamaki looked at him confused. Wasn't who he was as a person answer enough? His mind was blank as he stared at the blond with glassy eyes.

They were quiet again. Tamaki was sure he would die in his room like this. It wasn't like Mirio to let him wallow like this for so long. He must have really blown his chances. Sitting up on his bed and picking at his fingernails to distract him he mumbled something under his breath.

"Tamaki?" Mirio questioned.

"I thought you would hate me," Tamaki spoke slightly louder. He never talked to Mirio about any crush he's ever had. He wasn't even sure his friend knew that he was gay. Hell, he just recently found out.

"I would never do that." Mirio was smiling now, which confused his friend.

It was hard to look at the blond, So Tamaki focused on the floor. He was still repressing the urge to cry, he was still waiting for Mirio to tell him his feelings were gross and weird and that he didn't want to be friends anymore. He just wanted to rip the band-aid off and move on with his depressing life. What he didn't expect was to have Mirio grab his chin lightly and lift it up to look at him.

"You're spending too much time in your head." Mirio smiled, pulling his face closer.

"Uh…" Tamaki was so confused about everything now. When their lips finally met, he was sure he had died.

The kiss was clumsy like every first kiss is. Their lips were slightly dry and neither of them knew where to put their hands. But Tamaki was in heaven. His face was so red and he was sure he was shaking when Mirio pulled away.

"I like you too." Mirio grinned, knowing how lame he sounded.

Tamaki wasn't able to form words as he stared at the blond. The words bounced around in his head as he tried to understand everything at once.

"You...what?" Tamaki was barely able to say, making the blond laugh.

"I have for a while now. Didn't want to say anything and scare you off." Mirio laughed again, Tamaki's face flushed again.

"We're so stupid." He couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Mirio pulled the pale boy to his chest as he leaned back on the bed again. The silence this time was comfortable and welcomed as they processed what just happened.

"So, how long have you…?" Tamaki was beginning to lose confidence as he heard his own voice shake out of his body.

"Hmm...remeber when we first got our hero costumes?" Mirio thought.

"That long ago?" Tamaki asked in disbelief.

"Let me finish," Mirio chuckled before going on about the first time he saw him in costume and couldn't stop thinking how he looked good in the skin-tight black body suit. Tamaki went red again but didn't say anything as his friend went on about the costume.

"But I didn't start really acknowledging that I had romantic feelings for you until a few months ago."

"Oh." Was all Tamaki could manage.

"Yeah, pretty lame right?" Mirio laughed at himself as he absentmindedly stroked messy black hair.

"Do you wanna tell me when you found out?"

Tamaki looked up frantically. Since he never planned on Mirio finding out, he never thought about what to say.

"It's okay, you can tell me when you're ready." Mirio kissed his forehead and pulled him closer.