Hizashi had no idea what he'd done wrong.

One minute, Yono was in his arms, a picture-perfect moment that one could pull straight from a romance novel. The next she's in tears, evading his questions, and trying to rush out. She managed to slip out of his hold and back into the bedroom, her hair still soaking wet, throwing her clothes on haphazardly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Can't do what right now!?" - He watched her, helplessly, as she struggled to tug her dry jeans and those ugly Best Jeanist socks onto her still-damp skin. - "Come on, you know you can talk to me!"

He reached out to her as she grabbed for the black t-shirt that she'd requested from the night before; funnily enough, it was Put Your Hands Up Radio merchandise, a callback to the joke he'd made the night before. He quickly pulled on a discarded pair of sweatpants from however many days ago along with his white t-shirt from the night before.

"Nono-chi?" Hizashi spoke softly, his eyes locked with her own, the confusion and fear evident in her expression. He searched her face, worry creasing his brows, desperately trying to figure out a way to make her stay. She tensed under his touch, making him wince at the sudden change in her demeanor. She pulled her wrist from his grasp as she looked away, her whole body turning from him. He let his empty hand drop to his side limply.

"Sweetheart, let's just sit and take a moment to talk it out." He pleaded, following Yono as she pulled the shirt over her wet hair. She grabbed her phone and left the bedroom, forgoing the living room and heading straight to the entryway where she leaned over to tug on her boots.

He stood there dumbfounded, seemingly incapable of saying anything to stop her. She stayed silent all the while, the only sounds coming from her were sounds of effort and indignation, mixed with soft sniffling as she attempted to conceal her tears.

It's only when Yono made a grab for the doorknob to leave that Hizashi forcibly inserted himself in front of her, his back flush against the door, physically keeping her from leaving. Eyes wide, brimming with apprehension as his tone turned desperate;

"If you think I'm letting you go-"

She abruptly took a step back, holding her hands up as if it would help put distance between them. Her movements were frantic as she shook her head from side to side, the stray wet hairs that hung over her face clinging to her forehead and cheeks;

"Yamada, please, I just really need to get out of here right now, okay? I can't handle all of this-"

Hizashi took two steps forward, the additional step to make up for the one she'd already made, arm raised with his hand outstretched in hopes of bringing her into his arms;

"Yono, let's just sit down-"

With a grace that only a seasoned pro-hero could have, she ducked under his arm and yanked the door open, slipping out with haste as she made her getaway.

Hizashi would have chased after her had he not realized; she refused to look him in the eye and called him Yamada. His chest tightened as a foreboding feeling settled upon his shoulders.

He may have gone straight back to square one. And he has no clue what he did wrong.

Once he gathered his bearings, he rushed back to his bedroom and immediately grabbed his smartphone. He tried calling her several times but was sent directly to voicemail.

He wouldn't trust his voice at that moment, his throat felt dry and he couldn't tell if his voice would shake if he spoke aloud. So, rather than leaving a voicemail he pulled up his LINE app, frantically sending off some texts in succession.

August 25th

Hizashi

1:24 PM

Please come back- we can talk it through. I can change whatever it is I did wrong.

1:27 PM

Can you tell me what I did- Was it something I said?

1:30 PM

Oh god, was it because we didn't use a condom? I'll pay for any medicine you need! Please let me know! I'm not ready for that responsibility! ? ﾟﾘﾱ?

Yono

1:55pm

I went to the pharmacy and picked something up.

Don't worry about it.

Hizashi

2:00 PM

Okay. Please let me know when you get home. I'm gonna worry til you do. ?

4:36 PM

Hey, I hope you got home okay. I'm here to talk when you're ready.

Yono

4:37 PM

. . .

She stopped typing.

Hizashi dropped his phone and let his head rest in his hands with a heavy sigh. He'll take that as a yes, but for her to start to type a response and delete it?

The silent treatment was the icing on the cake. But the silence gave him time to think.

He reflected back on every instance that he could, where Yono had hesitated with him, trying to put this seemingly-impossible puzzle together.

First and foremost was what had happened the other day; her bursting into tears and running away from him so suddenly was bizarre; he couldn't wrap his head around it. At least, he couldn't comprehend it while he was under duress. With this moment of silence and clarity he was able to look back with a clear mind.

[makes me wish every morning could be like this.]

Oh.

His face paled at the sudden realization; a slip of the tongue like that must have spooked her away. He was so stupidly love-drunk that, if she hadn't reacted to that, he might have even confessed to her afterwards. What a fucking idiot.

Hizashi thought more on it and began fearing it was all one sided. Did he ignore the signs? Was he making up this relationship? He shook his head to try and stop the depressing train of thought that sought to overwhelm him.

Maybe I misunderstood?

But then he could clearly remember every single ridiculously bright smile she threw his way. Every sassy comment and flirtatious insinuation she'd made. Not to mention just how comfortable they were with one another when they weren't influenced by their libido's.

There was no feasible way that she didn't feel something for him. It couldn't be one-sided, no way. Not with the way she looked into his eyes. You can't fake that.

But he would give her space that she seemingly needed. It upset him even further to know that she was likely hurting and he couldn't help her; he can only hope that they come out closer and stronger after this.

As the days passed, Hizashi started to participate in one-sided text conversations with Yono in hopes of picking up where they left off and just to let her know that he was still there.

August 27th

Hizashi

2:28 PM

Hi Nono-chi! I saw Kayama and she said you guys are sharing a moving van for dorm move-in day. I'll keep my schedule free to help out!

Yono saw the message from Hizashi and sighed, recalling a previous conversation regarding the dormitories and how he had offered to help her move in. She assumed he would have got the hint from the radio silence on her end, but to no avail. She didn't have time to deal with hi- the situation right now, packing was her main priority.

She scrolled through the messages he had sent her over the last couple of months, the feeling bittersweet. The dozens of memes they'd sent one another, various pieces of hero fanart that they'd found while scrolling through social media, even candid videos that citizens took of them from SupaGram that may have fallen through the digital cracks. She noted their tones change after their first sexual encounter, their conversations turning more risque and open. She blushed as she saw the various images she'd sent him, not to mention his in response; she quickly deleted them. She tried to tell herself that it was for security reasons, hackers and all… but in reality, she didn't want to risk the temptation.

Shaking her head to bring her mind back to the present she turned her phone on silent and placed it in the kitchen.

After the initial texts from the day she had run out of his apartment, he'd kept from sending anything but to inform her of his plan to help out.

I need to pack. This can be dealt with later.

[Yono was not prepared for the drunk texts;]

August 29th

Hizashi

5:07 PM

Hey. Yono? I miss you.? ﾟﾘﾭ

5:10 PM

Sho says I'm an idiot for crying and day drinking. ?

5:13 PM

I didn't mean to make you mad? ﾟﾒﾔ?

5:17 PM

Yono, it's Aizawa. I've taken his phone from him.

Put him out of his misery and talk to him.

He's getting on my nerves. -Aizawa

8:46 PM

I know you read these.

You have your read receipts on.

Since you didn't reply, I'll be deleting the messages on his end.

Deal with that however you wish. -Aizawa

TW: DRUNKEN STUPIDITY

Hizashi

Video Call - 11:48 PM

Don't give Hizashi access to the internet and cellular services while he's drunk. He will make horrible impulsive decisions that may or may not break his heart.

Aizawa was long gone, which meant that Hizashi had complete unsupervised control of his smartphone. He'd already received a thorough lecture from Aizawa about texting while under the influence, but… A few taps on his screen and a couple of rings later, he had Yono's likeness on his screen.

"Sho said it wasn't very Plus Ultra of me to text you while I was drunk, but he didn't say anything about a video call sweet thing! You miss me?"

"Yamada, are you for real right now?" Yono was getting ready for bed when she received the call, and to be honest, she intended on hitting decline, but a slip of the finger led her to hit accept.

"I miss you." His voice softened as he looked at her image, blurry-eyed. His glasses were nowhere to be seen and his hair was down and wild. He held his phone with uneasy hands, but no amount of shaky camera work could hide his flushed cheeks from her view.

"Yamada, drink some water and go to bed." Yono scolded, her finger hovering above the red disconnect call button. Hizashi's flushed face turned into a pout as he jokingly glared at her through the phone.

"You've stopped calling me Hizashi." He crossed an arm over his chest, childishly. Yono rolled her eyes at his antics, typically it would be amusing but definitely not now.

"Hizashi, it's near midnight. Why are you calling?" She couldn't help the flutter in her chest as he beamed when she called him his given name. Her finger moved away from the button, a frown settling on her face.

"So, funny story! I was scrolling through my playlists and I found an absolute BANGER that made me think of you!"

Oh, oh god no.

"And what, pray tell, is that song?"

She should have disconnected the fucking call.

"So- I can't remember the name but… I know the lyrics!"

Disconnect. The fucking call. Yono Makura.

"Hizashi- wait!"

"I'm telling you~~~~~! I softly whisper… Tonight! Tonight! You are my angel~!"

"Oh god." - Yono facepalmed, familiar with the song immediately. She was the one who suggested the band ONE OK ROCK to Hizashi in the first place. - "Hizashi, you really don't have to-"

"Wherever you are, I'll always make you smile~~! Wherever you are, I'm always by your side~~~~~~! I promise you ~forever~right now! Ooooooohhh yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!"

Hizashi had begun spinning right at the end and dropped his phone. Yono watched as the video call showed that he was in his bedroom, the smartphone careening off somewhere onto his bed and Yono sighed as she hung up, but not before she saw that he was only clad in a t-shirt and boxers.

She tucked her phone under her pillow and a small smile graced her face.

What a loveable idiot… wait what?

She turned over and hid under her covers, hiding from her own flushed face and thoughts.

Nope!

August 30th

Hizashi

11:04 AM

So tomorrow is the move-in day! I won't be moving my stuff in until the day after, but I'll be around to help Shota. If you need a hand, you can always ask.

Yono was sitting on the floor, surrounded by her Hero Mugs collection when she received his message. She had been struggling to figure out exactly which 5 mugs she would bring with her to the dormitories, so she welcomed the distraction. Though, it seemed as though Hizashi had no recollection of the previous night's events. Or he was just a really good actor.

Lucky bastard.

Yono grinned at the memory of the mess he was yesterday, singing his heart out and dancing. Her heart clenched, remembering his bright smile at her use of his first name; she concluded that she needed to talk to him properly about the situation and their feelings. She couldn't avoid it forever, the silent treatment only works for so long. They worked together and will be living in the same building for fuck's sake.

She sat staring at the message, wondering how to say what she wanted. After a while, she decided that talking to him face to face would be the best option.

"That would be easier…" She mumbled to her mug collection. Now, what stupid excuse would she use to see him? She looked around and her eyes fell on the home decor magazine that sat on her coffee table. An idea struck her as she fiddled with her phone to draft him a new message.

August 30th

Yono

11:32 AM

So, I ended up getting that loveseat I told you about.

The sleek black one? For my dorm room...

Pretty sure I'll need an extra hand if you're still offering.

Hizashi

11:35 AM

SURE!

When you need me?

Yono

11:38 AM

Midnight and I are shooting to get to the dorms by 2:30.

11:40 AM

Also, uh...

I think I'm ready to have that talk if you're free afterwards.

Hizashi

11:40 AM

I'm here whenever you need me.

Hizashi couldn't help but jump to his feet and punch his fist into the air, hollering loudly in excitement. She was finally ready to talk! But then he glanced at the message logs and saw something that stopped him dead in his tracks.

Video Call with Nono-chi ?; Yesterday 11:48 PM; Duration 10 Minutes;

What the crap?!

I- oh no. I drunk called her. Oh fuck. I don't remember anything I said either…

Should I even be concerned though? I mean, she texted me back finally. And she's finally ready to talk it out.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. Fuck! Why is this so damn complicated!?

Hizashi took a deep breath and tried to focus on the positives;

Yono was finally ready to open up and discuss what happened, ready to explain why she ran out. He felt the stress on his shoulders ease a little.

They will be able to figure this out and move forward.