Kyuu: Me O Samashimasu No Tonari Ni Fuwafuwa No Ke
Nine: Waking Up Next To Fluffy Hair
Tadashi's eyes fluttered open the next morning as the sunlight in the room forced him to start waking up. For some reason though, he felt tired and he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. He let his eyes close and his head fall forward. Once he did though, he could feel something fluffy underneath his chin. He opened his eyes and spotted something that looked like a black fluffy pillow of sorts. He knew that it could only mean one thing.
"Hiro?"
He was now fully conscious and could see that his arms were wrapped tightly around his baby brother. "What happened last night?"
He had absolutely no memory of ending up like that. Suddenly, he could feel something on his shirt. He felt around it, and felt what seemed to be dried up tears. Tadashi was eventually able to put the pieces together. "...Oh Hiro, I'm sorry."
Tadashi saw as Hiro's eyes opened up and he started to regain consciousness. Hiro was face to face with his brother's shirt and he recalled the events of the previous night. He tilted his head back to look up and see if his brother was still asleep. He was surprised as he encountered worrying brown eyes looking back at him.
"Uh, Tadashi." He said out of surprise.
His older brother smiled. "Good morning, knucklehead."
Hiro blinked in surprise. "I, uh, I didn't know you were awake."
Tadashi's smile faded and he looked at him seriously. "Hiro, did you have another nightmare last night?"
Hiro blinked and Tadashi could see the fear in his eyes. He didn't speak, but instead he lowered his head back down and rested on Tadashi's chest, giving him his answer. Tadashi sighed. "These are only getting worse and I don't know how to stop them."
He noticed as Hiro was getting up out of the bed, getting ready to start the day. Tadashi sat up along with him, with concerned eyes never leaving Hiro. He really wanted to help Hiro and cheer him up, but if his nightmares kept on persisting like this, then he didn't think that there was much he could do. Unless...
"Hey, Hiro."
He turned to face his older brother with a curious expression. "Yeah, what is it?"
Tadashi had to refrain from letting an evil smirk across his face. "Can you come here for a second?"
Hiro raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Sure, his brother looked innocent enough, but after the nightmare, he knew that he would be willing to try anything to 'cheer him up'. He would have to proceed with caution. "Uh, okay."
Hiro slowly approached the foot of the bed, watching for any change in his brother's expression. "Okay, what?"
It was at that moment that an evil smirk spread across Tadashi's face and his true intentions were revealed. 'I knew it' was all Hiro could think in the moment. Before Hiro could make a run for it, Tadashi quickly scooped him up in his arms bridal style and started throwing him in the air and catching him repeatedly. "Tadashi! Stop!"
Tadashi's smirk grew wider as Hiro's protests grew louder. "I'm sorry Hiro, but my arms seem to be moving on their own."
As it went on, Hiro's protest were beginning to become muffled by laughter, until eventually, all Hiro could do was laugh. And that was when Tadashi knew for a fact that he had done his job correctly. He gently stood Hiro upright, but it proved to be useless when Hiro sank to the floor in a laughing fit.
"I love spending time with you." Hiro half-whispered.
Unfortunately, it wasn't out of Tadashi's earshot, and Hiro had immediately realized what he had just said. He looked back up at Tadashi, who seemed to be thinking about what he had heard. "Did you just say...you like spending time with me?"
Hiro immediately scrambled to his feet and shrugged it off. "What? No. I don't know what you heard, but I definitely didn't say that."
A smirk appeared on Tadashi's features and he spoke in a mock stern voice. "Hiro Hamada, either you admit to me that you love spending time with me, or you will feel my ticklish wrath."
Hiro scoffed. "Go ahead. There is nothing that you could possibly do that would make me admit that."
Tadashi's smirk grew wider. "Okay then."
Hiro's cocky smile faded quickly and he started backing away. "Tadashi, I was just kidding. No need t-to take this seriously, r-right?"
"I'm sorry Otouto, but once my mind is made up, there's no changing it."
Hiro was about to flee, but Tadashi was quick, and he immediately started ticking Hiro. He couldn't help but fall on the floor, laughing, while Tadashi was tickling him mercilessly from above. "Just admit that you like to spend time with me."
Hiro's laughing spell continued. "I-I will never."
Tadashi's smirk grew. "Alright, if you say so."
The tickling persisted and it was getting to the point where Hiro couldn't take it anymore. "Alright, Alright, I-I admit it, stop!"
Tadashi did as promised and stopped, leaving Hiro to recover. "What was that?" Tadashi asked in amusement.
"I-I like spending time with you, okay, I said it." Hiro was trying his best to sound stern, but it all came out sounding drunk with laughter.
Tadashi's evil smirk was replaced with a genuine smile. "I love spending time with you too, Otouto."
He reached down and gave Hiro a kiss on the cheek. Hiro got on his knees and wrapped his arms around Tadashi's own arm, smiling. Tadashi didn't mind of course, but it was a bit different from what Hiro would normally do.
Hiro frowned as his thoughts went back to his nightmare. Tadashi just keeps on leaving and being consumed by flames, and he doesn't know what it means. He didn't want Tadashi to disappear like that, because deep down, he loved him too much, even if he refused to admit it. He looked back up at Tadashi, smiling at him reassuringly. It only caused Hiro to smile as well, because Tadashi was here, right now, and he knew he had it better in real life than in his nightmares.
Hiro rested his head on his brother's arm and smiled. Tadashi smiled as well, putting a hand on Hiro's head. Hiro immediately realized what he was doing, and let go. "I-I'm sorry, I-"
"Hiro, it's okay, I'm here for you."
Hiro couldn't help but smile. "Thanks Tadashi."
He smiled. "No problem." He leant over and kissed Hiro on the cheek. Hiro smiled and hugged Tadashi's arm, hoping to embrace it for just a little while longer.
"Tadashi." Hiro started.
He had his older brother's attention. "Yes Hiro?"
He looked up at his brother and was apprehensive about saying what was on his mind. In the end, he just let it go and smiled. "Never mind."
Tadashi smiled genuinely. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
Hiro rested his head on Tadashi's arm and smiled, while Tadashi sat there and comforted his little brother, ready to be there when he needed it.
