Summary: Hanamiya finally snaps and breaks up with his god-awful gfriend, after that very bad woman insults his old friend aka Reader-chan. That makes him realise some important truth.
Kou Miho had it all. She was beautiful and awfully smart, her witty comebacks and retorts lighting Hanamiya's day like a warm bonfire.
Once she agreed to be his, he knew he hit the jackpot. A package deal of great looks and brains. Who could ask for more?
However today as Hanamiya looked at his girlfriend, sipping onto a hot, black coffee, he couldn't see any of the traits which made him fall for her anymore. Kou's eyes were that of a stranger.
"Do you ever shut up?" Hanamiya asked with a scowl.
Kou looked up at him from under lashes, her moves ridiculously slow as she laid the cup back on the table. "Can't recall it's ever bothered you. Why?"
"So you don't think you've done anything wrong, Miho?" Hanamiya quirked an eyebrow.
The girl gave a small laugh. "And did I? What could I possibly do to deserve a scolding from you of all people?"
Hanamiya's jaw clenched, the picture of (Last Name)'s smile being swiped of upon one of Kou's many snarky remarks. This time his girlfriend crossed the line, stomping on it with a combat boot and marching few miles past it. Hanamiya ruffled his hair, wondering what moment exactly lead to this situation. Or maybe how had he never noticed that?
"Whoa... don't tell me it's about that little dimwit?" Kou leaned on the table, cupping her face, that aggravating smirk of hers rubbing Hanamiya the wrong way. "No way. I'm right?" She challenged, but a little glare from the man was enough of a proof. "You're actually serious, Makoto... Honestly, I don't understand why are you getting yourself so worked up. (Last Name) is a dolt. I just voiced what everyone's been thinking."
The way Kou indifferently stated that, was like a slap on Hanamiya's cheek. His face stung with a cold pain as if the girl actually whacked him. Hanamiya couldn't believe how had he managed to stay with such a person for so long.
(Last Name) warned him a long time ago but he dismissed it. After that his friend never brought up the subject again, not even when Kou became nearly unbearable to his friend to handle, her snaps and hidden insults becoming a daily thing.
Until now, Hanamiya hadn't thought about how (Last Name) had been feeling all this time. The realisation hit him with the force of a canon bullet as he saw that utterly ridiculous, warm smile melting into a flinch. (Last Name) trying to avert Hanamiya's gaze in shame, made something snap inside of him and there was turning back from that.
"You're so self-important, Kou." Hanamiya crinkled his nose. "Let's call it a day."
"Whatever you say, Makoto," Kou smirked, bringing a cup to her lips. "Let's do so."
Hanamiya sneered, looking at the girl who had been his partner in crime for the last years, unable to recognise her. "You're going to act like this till the end, huh?"
"If you're asking am I going to hold onto you the answer is no," Kou said matter-of-factly. "I don't cling onto lost cases."
Kou raised her impassive gaze at Hanamiya. Seeing her dark, glacial eyes Hanamiya couldn't help but think that she was even more twisted than he was. And he was a fucking Gordian Knot.
The sky turned grey, letting the stars faint light illuminate trees in your garden. The air smelled like snow and despite the weather reports you strongly believed today the first snow would fall, marking Autumn's end.
Hanamiya always mocked that exquisite sense of yours, calling you a dog but after few times when he had been caught in a middle of a snowstorm, he reluctantly acknowledged your skills. He still kept calling you a dog-nose, but the harsh note was completely gone from his usual scowl.
Watching over the kitchen window and waiting for a kettle's whistle, you began to wonder how your friend had been doing. After the unpleasant exchange with Hanamiya's atrocious girlfriend, you hadn't heard from him. The upcoming storm clouds kept reminding you about his odd habit of unexpectedly popping up at your house, hair threaded with snowflakes, his face twisted in distaste as you were yet again right and he didn't bring his umbrella.
During those days you'd hand him a towel and make a tea. If you were free for tonight the two of you would end up watching some random movie, Hanamiya constantly commenting on the plot or/and about what he thought about actors. If not you'd end up doing so anyway since it was easier to get up earlier the next day than to deal your friend's glaring and picking up popcorn from your hair he'd start throwing at you as you tried to focus on your work.
A whistle drew you out of your musings. You turned the stove off, but before you could pick the kettle to pour boiling hot water over your tea a doorbell rang. With a sigh, you put the kettle down and got to the doors.
"I'm coming!" You snapped as the doorbell had been fervently abused by the new commoner. You fought with the locks, aggravating ringing resonating in your ears. "For goods-sakes..." You muttered under your breath and cracked the doors open to see your old friend furiously pushing on the bell's button.
Hanamiya jumped at your appearance, his face turning from blank to scorn in a matter of seconds.
"Why did you keep me waiting? I froze my arse off thanks to your sluggishness. This bloody weather..." He drawled, pushing you aside and toeing his shoes. "I'd kill for a tea."
"Hello yourself, Makoto. Why don't you come in?" You said in a deadpan manner, more to yourself than for Hanamiya to actually hear. With a sigh, you cracked the door shut. "I haven't really expected to see you. Something's wrong?"
"Actually there is. I'm coming down with a cold. Thanks to you obviously." Hanamiya informed snappishly. He was already getting cosy in your living room. "Black. Just don't put lemon in it!"
With a roll of your eyes, you walked to your kitchen and fetched another mug, before pouring water over tea bags. Apparently, Hanamiya had one of his... moods and it was better to leave him be. You took a tired breath and strode into the living room.
Hanamiya was sprawled on your couch in an awkward position. You had no idea how the hell could he be comfortable with his head down and legs propped over the backrest.
"Oi, bat-boy!" You called, leaning over the frame. "Why do I have a vague idea that you didn't just come to say hello?"
Hanamiya flashed the whites of his eyes as he glanced at you, before twisting to stretch himself across the couch. "Do I always need an ulterior, undoubtedly shady motive in mind when doing anything?"
Staring at the ceiling, pensive Hanamiya looked especially odd to you. Sliding on your socks, you set mugs on the stand and settled on a tiny spot not occupied by your friend.
"Your silence is very unnerving, (Name)." Hanamiya deadpanned. "Say something. Anything."
"Sorry... I've just been thinking... I haven't expected you. That's all," you said slowly. "I thought you're staying at Kou's."
Hanamiya closed his eyes and sighed. "Today, my dear Miho and I parted our ways. Rest in peace my love life. You won't be missed."
"She left you?!" You choked out, kind of bemused; for the past years, they had been attached by hip. "That's unexpected. Did she say why?"
"Why do you think it was her, eh? I did it! Happy?" Hanamiya snarled, to which you only laughed. "Am I that funny, you dolt?! I just ended a chapter of my life and all you can do is cackle like a monkey."
"You don't strike me as greatly affected, Makoto."
"I'm not!" Hanamiya retorted. "I just feel..."
"Depressed? At the edge of tears...? Oh god! Don't tell me you want to off yourself?"
"Shut up and let me finish, moron!" Hanamiya grunted; you had to duck and cover as he tried to swat you over your head. Hanamiya gave up after few moments, settling back into his previous position.
"Maybe she'll take you back. You just have to ask nicely," you wondered.
"I'd rather grow a beard and live as a hermit for the rest of my life than to get back with she-devil. I've aged enough because of that..." he paused. "That wench..."
"Just don't forget to tell me before you actually do it. I'll get a camera," you chuckled, before adding seriously: "I've never liked her."
"I know..." Hanamiya admitted. "I'm sorry, (Name)."
Your eyebrows rose at your friend's words. You dipped down and put your palm over Hanamiya's forehead.
"Oi! What are you doing?" He tried to swat your hand, taken aback but you swooshed him.
"I'm checking if you actually have a fever."
"I was joking, you imbecile!" Hanamiya chided. "You're so gullible... I can't even..."
"You seem fine, tho."
"No shite."
"Then you went mad because you're not making any sense," you stated dryly.
Hanamiya stopped wiggling, falling back into his motionless state. The serene look on his face made your stomach twist unpleasantly.
"I'm serious, (Name). I'm sorry," he repeated. "I... I didn't know... I'm sorry."
Having your best friend taken away by someone who treated you worse than a pile of rubbish hurt. But seeing Hanamiya being... happy made you feel happy too. That's why you'd never mustered the courage to ruin his relationship, complaining about what an awful wench Kou actually was. It only happened once, when under an influence of liquor driven courage you told Hanamiya he had been wasting his life. He hadn't spoken to you for months afterwards, before dropping by your house unexpectedly as if nothing had happened.
Feeling awkward with the emotional side your lighthearted conversation turned, you decided it was time to ditch.
"Alright. That would be it. It's certain. You're crazy and I have some paperwork to finish."
With that, you theatrically rubbed your hands and got up. But as soon as you were on your feet, Hanamiya snaked his arm around your waist and hauled you down. The back of your head slammed against Hanamiya's bony shoulder as you timbered down on the couch.
"Let go, you lunatic!" You exclaimed, trying to free yourself but Hanamiya locked his arms around your frame, ostentatiously throwing his leg over your hip as you tried to kick him.
"I have better things to do, important things than laying around with you, psycho!" You drawled, feeling already defeated.
"Just stay like this. I need a moment," Hanamiya muttered, hiding his face in the crook of your neck.
You gave a prolonged sigh before falling into complete silence.
A thickening twilight covered the world outside the window, shiny white flakes glistening as they danced on the wind. It was the very first snow this year and hopefully, you thought, that as you wake up, the whole world would turn white, magically changing from a pumpkin into something fresh and beautiful.
"(Name)?"
"Yeah?"
"I feel old."
"We are old," you replied airily. "We're both adults now."
"It feels shitty..." Hanamiya mumbled as if retreating to the younger version of himself. "I don't like it."
Clumsily, you turned in Hanamiya's embrace. His face was completely covered with long bangs. You brushed black strands from his eyes, gently stroking his head.
"We're old but not that much." You smiled meekly.
"(Name)?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think I did the right thing?"
"That's something you need to answer yourself, Makoto." You cautioned, your voice dropping to a whisper. Even if you didn't need to keep your voice low, it somehow felt inappropriate to speak loudly.
"I think I did well," Hanamiya muttered after a longer moment. "Right?"
Your hand halted halfway through Hanamiya's hair. He'd been observing your every little move, gawking your reaction. You looked back at him, finding a silent agreement in his darkened eyes.
"Right."
[FIN]