For this one, i actually followed the prompt properly. Look at that, miracles can happen XD

Question, i've finished chapter 23, but if i upload it now will it show up as chapter 18? I know there's a 'chapter number' option, but does that work? Like when i upload the chapters that come before it later, will everything appear in the proper order? I've never uploaded out of order before.

I'm probably being ridiculous, i know, i'm just kind of wary about it.

Anyway, hope you're all enjoying the series so far.

START OF CHAPTER:

This was a bad idea…

This was a really bad idea.

Nagito had always been exceedingly frail, the result of almost a lifetime of various illnesses. And yet, he had brilliantly decided to accept a date to a roller-blading ring from a cute guy he met.

The guy, Hajime Hinata, was both handsome and one of the kindest (albeit often in a blunt, sometimes awkward manner) guys he had met in a long time. So the choice in date wasn't a problem.

Roller blading, now that was the problem. An awkward, frail, and clumsy boy like himself, on what was essentially shoes with wheels? It was a recipe for disaster.

He had rung up his friend Chiaki, only for the conversation to quickly devolve into him panicking.

"-and I'm going to make such a fool of myself, he's going to hate me i just know it!"

"Hmm, i don't think he will." She calmly replied. "If he's as nice as you've implied, then i don't think he'd have a problem with it."

"But it's going to be embarrassing…" He groaned.

"Listen, as long as you show up, and be a decent person, then that should be enough. You don't have to be a world class figure skater to catch his attention."

"But-"

"But nothing. You're worrying to much. Would he have asked you out in the first place if he wasn't remotely interested?"

"Yeah, until he sees that i can't stay on my feet for more then two seconds!"

He heard a faint sigh from her end of the line.

"Nagito, you learnt how to walk just like everyone else didn't you? Just because you can't walk really fast in circles with wheels on your shoes, doesn't mean that he'll think any less of you."

"Yeah but-"

"Everyone has different things they're good and bad at. So don't stress too much."

"I… okay. Thanks Chiaki."

"Your welcome."

—

It wasn't that bad. It wasn't as bad as he'd thought…

It was worse.

Not only had he tripped right in front of Hajime when he showed up for the date, (the brunette had been kind enough to help him up), but now he couldn't even last five damn seconds on the skates.

The arena they were roller blading in had a wooden beam going around the outside, with only the occasional gaps for the doors. Nagito, after several seconds of flailing, had elected to hold onto this beam while he waited for Hajime to put on his own skates.

Feeling brave, he let go and tried to shuffle himself forward, only to stumble almost immediately. As he was about to fall, he jumped when he was stopped by another person behind him.

"I'm so sor-"

He turned his head, only to find his date standing behind him.

"H-hajime?!"

"Are you okay?"

Feeling embarrassed, he felt his cheeks warm.

"I… yeah. I'm sorry, i'm not really good at this."

The other backed up from the edge, and for a moment, Nagito thought he was going to leave him there. But then, he held out his hand.

"It's okay, i'll help you. Is that okay?"

"Yeah…" was all he could manage without stuttering.

He held out his own hand, and Hajime glided along, carefully guiding Nagito next to him. Seeing his unsteady foot movements, the brunette tried to give him tips.

"See? You just have to move your feet like your still walking, except without lifting them."

As if it would be that easy. He grumbled quietly, but complied and tried to move his feet in the way the other said. It helped a little, but he went forward in short, jerky intervals.

They were mostly coasting along now, Hajime calmly rolling on beside him, and he was trying his best not to fall on his backside. He refused to let go of the others hand, knowing he'd most likely fall the minute he did.

Turning corners was awkward, he basically had to stop and turn his feet. Unlike his date, who just glided around the corner effortlessly, he couldn't help but grumble a bit at the sight.

Several tips followed, as he continued to cling to the other's arm.

"Don't spread your feet to wide."

"Don't lean forward, try to keep straight."

And so on, and so forth. He couldn't help but be annoyed though. Not because of the tips, Hajime had never so much as raised his voice once, and never in a negative tone. No, he was kind and supportive.

What annoyed him is that he just made it sound so easy, meanwhile he was basically a giraffe on ice skates. Maybe it was jealousy? He didn't know.

Apart from his own failings, the date actually progressed pretty smoothly from there.

When they broke for food, Nagito had clung to either the wall or Hajime on the way back to the table. He was embarrassed to see small children casually whizz past him, both in and out of the arena. But like Chiaki had tried to tell him earlier, Hajime was nothing but kind and reassuring about it.

Hajime had jokingly asked if he wanted to share a drink with him, to which Nagito had replied by attempting to feed the other. After both of them got over their respective embarrassment, they shared a good laugh over that.

Even though Nagito had been so afraid that the date was going to be a total flop, for whatever reason, Hajime liked him enough to ask for his number, and another date.

He didn't hesitate to agree to either.

—

To no surprise at all, Chiaki was only too happy to point out how right she'd been.

"So, how'd the date go?"

"It went really well, actually. We're going on a second date soon."

"And…?"

" 'And'? He kissed me, and we said goodnight, then he left."

"How was it?"

He was too happy to be embarrassed. He smiled.

"For my first kiss… it was perfect."

END OF CHAPTER:

Inspired by a time i went roller blading with friends, only mine wasn't a date.

I can't roller-blade very well either. I'm eighteen, and yet there were like freaking six year olds balancing better then me. It was embarrassing to see children half my size going at like twice the speed.

Cya next chapter :)

Tairulz