Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff

Plot: Shihai confessed to Kinoko. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Thankfully, he has someone there for him.

A Shoulder to Cry On

The last bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Fumikage finished jotting down one last note before closing his notebook and packing it away. He felt mentally exhausted after a long school day. Good thing it was over, though. He wanted nothing more than to go back to his dorm and sleep.

But fate had other plans.

On his way back to the dorms, he could have sworn he heard what sounded like muffled sobs. He stopped and looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

You hear them, too? Dark Shadow asked in his head.

Yes. I'm trying to figure out who it is and where they are.

Dark Shadow emerged and took a look around the pathway. Then he pointed to a nearby tree. "In there." the quirk said, softly.

"Thanks," Fumikage said before walking over to the tree. The cries got a little louder to his ears as he approached, confirming that Dark Shadow was right. When he got to the tree, he looked up, but didn't see anything at first.

Then he felt something wet hit his face. He wiped it off and stared at the clear droplet that was now on the back of his hand. A tear.

He looked up to the source and saw a familiar wisp of fluffy white hair.

"Kuroiro?" Fumikage called out.

The shadowy boy of 1-B hesitantly poked his head out from the shadows cast upon the tree trunk. His cheeks were stained with tears and his eyes were red and puffy. "T-Tokoyami?" he called back, his voice cracking slightly from crying.

"Are you all right?" Fumikage asked. "Has something happened?"

"I-I appreciate the concern, but I assure you, I am okay," Shihai said before disappearing back into the shadows. He immediately resumed his sniffles and sobs.

Fumikage felt a pang in his chest. For a while now, he has had a crush on Shihai. It hurt him to see the 1-B student who had stolen his heart weep like this. He wasn't sure what happened, but he was now determined to help out in any way he could. Carefully, he climbed the tree and plopped himself on the branch next to the spot where Shihai had disappeared.

"Kuroiro, you are obviously not 'okay'. You can talk to me. At least ... let me try to comfort you."

The crying stopped a moment before Shihai poked his head out again. He and the avian head locked eyes for a moment before he fully climbed out of the shadows. He took a seat next to his fellow darkness dweller. Shihai hesitated a moment before leaning his head against Fumikage's shoulder. Fumikage immediately felt his face heat up and he prayed that Shihai wouldn't notice. He carefully wrapped an arm around the upset boy and held him.

Shihai choked on a small sob before proceeding to cry onto Fumikage's shoulder. Fumikage held him tighter with both arms and rested his chin on the top of Shihai's head, gently rubbing his back. Shihai gripped Fumikage's shirt and continued to let out his emotions.

After a while, Shihai managed to calm himself. "I- ... I confessed to Komori after the last bell..." he finally said.

Fumikage tried not to stiffen at that. He knew Shihai had a crush on Kinoko. It was the one thing preventing him from confessing the feelings he harbored for Shihai. "Oh?" Fumikage asked.

Shihai slowly nodded. "She ... said she only saw me as a friend. I-I'm fine with that, but ... it still hurts... to get friendzoned by someone you wish to be more with."

"I'm sorry," Fumikage said.

"I-I'll be okay, though ... eventually. I confessed to her, thinking I had a better chance with her than my other crush since I know they like someone else," Shihai explained.

He's got another one? Dark Shadow asked.

Apparently. Fumikage replied as his heart sank.

Don't give up hope like that! Dark Shadow encouraged. It could be you!

I doubt it. He said they like someone else. Fumikage reasoned.

Maybe he just thinks you like someone else?

Don't get your hopes up. There's no way it's me. Fumikage though, full of doubt. "If you don't mind me asking ... who is your other crush?"

Shihai didn't respond. His cheeks just turned a dark shade of red.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me," Fumikage said, getting the message.

"It's Fumikage, isn't it?" Dark Shadow asked, suddenly popping out of her host's back

"D-Dark Shadow!" Fumikage scolded, his face suddenly burning.

Shihai's eyes became saucers as his face turned completely red.

"I-I am so sorry about her!" Fumikage frantically apologized.

"S-She's fine. Um ... Dark Shadow ... h-how did you know?" Shihai hesitantly asked.

"I was able to tell just by the look on your face!" Dark Shadow explained with a happy chirp.

Fumikage's blush deepened. Did he really hear that right?

"G-God, this day just gets worse and worse!" Shihai said as he buried his face in his hands. "I got rejected by one of my crushes and now I'm about to get rejected by the other!"

"W-Woah, what? I didn't even give you my response yet!" Fumikage said, placing a hand on Shihai's shoulder.

Shihai flinched away from his touch. "You don't have to. I know you like Shoji."

"That's ... actually not true," Fumikage said softly.

Shihai snapped his head up and looked at his crush. "W-What?"

"Yes, I hang out with Shoji frequently. But I assure you, we are just friends," Fumikage explained. Then he smiled. "The person I truly love ... is you."

Shihai's blush deepened further. "Y-You ... like me in return?"

Fumikage nodded and took Shihai's hand. "I do. I love you ... Shihai."

Shihai broke into a smile. "I love you, too ... Fumikage."

The two of them leaned against each other, hand in hand, nuzzling their foreheads together. After several months of pining, they were finally together.

I wasn't really sure how to end this, lol. Hope you enjoyed and remember to leave any ideas or prompts that you have!