Hanako sat the following morning on her balcony with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to the birds chirping in their wooden house at the opposite end of her balcony.

Not long after she had hung up a bird feeder, her balcony had become a frequent stop for many local birds- one mated pair in particular. When Hanako noticed the same pair of Azure-winged Magpies hanging out around her apartment- and not just because of the feeder- she decided to set up a birdhouse and the pair moved in soon after. Since then, Hanako has enjoyed their song every morning and even named them- Akira and Satsuki.

A subtle ding and vibration let her know that someone was trying to reach her and she looked down to find that Kana had sent her a text.

"Hey, what happened to you last night? Ryushi and I couldn't find you or Hawks anywhere."

"We left a bit early and grabbed some dinner. Sorry, I should have told you."

*ding*

"It's alright, I'm just glad you're safe. You get home OK?"

"Yeah, Mr. Hawks took me home after dinner."

*ding*

"Oh? Did something happen?"

Hanako's face erupted in blush. "Not really."

*ding*

"OMG but something did happen?!"

"He just kissed my hand and said goodnight, that's all."

*ding*

"Wow, that's super cute, also cheesy, and totally not something I would have expected of him. What a gentleman!"

Hanako smiled and shook her head, sipping her coffee as she replied. "He was, though, the entire night. It was really nice and I had fun spending time with him."

*ding*

"Now, I want you to be straight with me, OK? No fibbing, no dodging the question, nada."

"OK...?"

*ding*

"How do you feel about him?"

Hanako spit what coffee was in her mouth, caught off guard by her friend's blunt question. She coughed and grabbed her napkin, drying her face and the table where the coffee had gone.

"Where did this come from?"

*ding*

"Uh, uh, uh! You gotta answer the question!"

Hanako sat there for a few moments, mulling over her question.

*ding*

"Hanako? You still there?"

"Yeah, sorry, I was thinking."

*ding*

"So...?"

Hanako sighed. "He's always looked out for me, even when he didn't have to. He saved my life, brought justice to my brother and all those who were hurt by Nitro, he's given me a good job and helped me in more ways than I can count."

*ding*

"But how do you feel about him?"

"I think he's kind, strong-willed, a bit stubborn, and he can be a bit reckless at times. But even with all of that, I find that I admire him more and more every day."

*ding*

"Is admiration all you have for him?"

"I've been starting to wonder that myself lately. For a long time, I thought whatever I felt towards him was because I was grateful that he saved my life, that he gave me a job, and that he brought Shihei peace and justice. But then we started becoming friends and I respect him a great deal."

Hanako thought on it some more, then added, "There's a lot about him to like if I'm being honest. He's handsome, charming, a bit cheesy and immature at times, but he's also good-natured, knows what he wants and has the confidence to go after it, and he's always there when people need him."

*ding*

"Could you see yourself in a more personal relationship with him?"

"Maybe, but even if I did, he's still my boss and I don't want to complicate things by becoming romantically involved with him. He has enough to worry about as a hero, the No.2 Hero to be exact."

*ding*

"Fair point, but even heroes need someone to lean on. And from what Ryushi and I have been seeing, it's starting to look like he's searching for that kind of connection. With you."

"Really? You think so?"

*ding*

"All the teasing, the asking you to eat lunch with him every day, the way he looks at you, the way he smiles whenever you're near, there are a lot of signs there. And you should have seen the way he was eyeing you in that dress last night. It was like he had never seen anything beautiful before."

"He did compliment me a few times throughout the evening on how pretty I looked."

*ding*

"See?"

"What should I do then? I really don't want to misread anything."

*ding*

"Think about what everything that we've discussed so far, then see how things play out from now until say a few months from now. There's that big office Christmas party, so maybe you guys can go together!"

"Maybe. It would be fun and we did sort of agree that we should do something like last night again."

*ding*

"Well there you go, then! And way to leave that bit out earlier lol."

"Sorry :P I guess I should tell you then that dinner was on me next time?"

*ding*

"Um, you think? What are you going to do? Take him out for a nice dinner?"

"Actually, I was thinking of just cooking him something here at my place."

*ding*

"Oh, way to bring him in!"

"Kana! Nothing like that! Just a nice simple dinner, that's it."

*ding*

"Hehe, whatever you say Hanako."

"He did say something that caught me off guard, though."

*ding*

"What?"

"He wished me happy birthday."

*ding*

"Wait, yesterday was your birthday? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because my parents died on my birthday nine years ago and ever since, it hasn't really been a happy day for me."

*ding*

"Oh... I'm sorry, Hanako."

"It's alright, but that's why it came as a bit of a shock and it makes me wonder if he asked me to the charity dinner as a way of celebrating my birthday."

*ding*

"Maybe. I think you should ask him."

"Maybe."

"Well anyway, I'm meeting Ryushi for brunch soon so I'll talk to you later?"

"Sounds good. Have fun and say hi for me :)?"

*ding*

"Sure thing and happy belated birthday :D!"

Hanako shook her head, but smiled, and finished her coffee before going back inside to get ready for the day.

'I wonder if she's right...' she thought as she rummaged through her wardrobes. 'Do I have feelings for him? Does he have feelings for me?'