I had two half-baked ideas for this one (one of which was a prompt), so i combined them. Well actually, what ended up happening, was that i meant to put the prompt idea at the end, but i got inspired and never actually used the external prompt at all.

But this chapter's prompt has been filled, so at least that's good.

Enjoy :)

START OF CHAPTER:

He couldn't tell you what first drew him to Nagito Komaeda.

Hajime knew that they were two very different types of people. Besides their glaringly obvious physical appearances, because goddamn the other was lanky and pale as hell, he was also aware that they had two very different types of thinking.

Nagito was more reserved, while he was more brash. He preferred to manipulate with subtle context in his speech (debate class was an absolute nightmare since he joined), while he preferred a more headstrong, almost blunt way of speaking.

Most people just wrote him off as odd, the strange loner kid. He wasn't a bad person, per say, but the majority of the student body had apparently come to the conclusion that he was just off in some way.

And while Hajime agreed that the pale boy wasn't exactly normal, he didn't exactly get why everyone avoided him.

He'd never paid much attention, focusing on his own friends and studies.

But now, senior year had started, and now that he'd actually looked, he could see that contrary to what he'd thought, Nagito was always alone. And also, no-one seemed to be exactly eager to talk about him.

It made him curious.

And so, to the other's apparent surprise, Hajime started spending time with the other. He wasn't sure exactly why he was so set on doing this, but he figured the worst that could happen is that he could make a new friend.

He soon learnt more about Nagito Komaeda then he thinks anyone else in the school ever had. Later he would be pleased when that thought occurred to him.

He was quiet, yes, but he was exceptionally kind. From borrowing pencils to helping him understand a difficult math concept, the other boy only smiled and agreed to help.

He was also very smart. Most people were aware on some level, or at least suspicious, that Nagito was mentally ill in some way. For some baffling reason, they had 'deduced' that that also meant that he was off his rocker and someone who could barely tie his shoes, let alone debate anyone under the table. Essentially, he was just the crazy quiet kid right? Like he'd be some kind of genius.

Boy, were they all wrong. As he (and anyone that had ever seen the boy speak in debate class) could attest, Nagito may have indeed been a little mentally off, as he later learned, but this made him no less intelligent.

Nagito Komaeda was many different things, and it both intrigued and confused him at the same time.

He was kind and quiet, slightly crazy but very smart. Would help people without question when asked but at the same time humbled himself at every opportunity. He could be your best friend or worst nightmare in a logical debate.

Before he knew it, Nagito was occupying more and more of his daily thoughts. How his hair looks in the sunlight, how his face would scrunch when trying to work out a problem, even the simple way his face would light up every time he'd realise the brunette had come to hang out with him again.

So after a while of thinking, Hajime came to a conclusion.

He was so very, very gay.

And Nagito was very, very cute.

There's no way this would ever be returned, right?

—

He couldn't tell you what first drew him to Hajime Hinata.

He'd always been alone. He'd been the weird kid, the crazy one with the mental illness. The lanky pale weird one that no-one hung out with.

He wasn't stupid, he knew he wasn't like everyone else. He was also keenly aware of how most people at his high school tried to 'subtly' avoid him.

He knew his mind was different from everyone else, but did that really make him so bad?

Apparently it did.

And so, so far he'd gone through his years of high school, resigned to the fact that he'd just have to go it alone. Deep down he knew he was lonely, but if he really was bad as everyone said, then didn't that mean he deserved it? Someone as unusual and alien as him shouldn't fit in with everyone else, should he?

He was aware that to most people, this would sound like very unhealthy thinking, but he couldn't help it. If no-one liked him, then wasn't it just the logical conclusion that there was something wrong with him?

As summer before senior year had ended, he was almost happy. Just one year and he'd graduate. Just one year, and he could move on, maybe there'd even be someone that would like him?

Then, senior year had thrown him for a loop.

At first, it had just been whisperings in the hall.

'Hey, Hajime asked me about Nagito Komaeda.'

'That weird kid? What could someone popular as Hajime Hinata want with the crazy loner guy?'

They weren't as quiet as they thought, but they brought up an interesting point.

He knew who Hajime was, and had occasionally seen him in the hallway. Hajime was an extremely popular guy in the school, the boy himself appeared to be nothing special in terms of special talents or grades, but he mixed well with everyone.

He himself admired Hajime, but that's all he thought it would ever be. Admiring him distantly, and not ever expecting the other to notice in return.

So what would someone like that, want with someone unwanted as him?

Apparently, he would soon find out.

At first, Nagito was confused, why was he doing this? Did he simply need a tutor, and then just disappear again?

He was scared, but hey, the worst he supposed would happen is that he could make a new friend, even if it didn't last long.

He learnt more about Hajime Hinata then he suspected any of his friends had bothered to find out. At the time he wasn't so sure why that thought secretly pleased him so much.

He could be brash, almost rude sounding if you didn't know him. But as they talked more, he'd realised that this was just the brunette's way of speaking.

He was very kind too. Never interrupted him, never ignored or dismissed what Nagito had to say. He would always listen, even if he didn't agree, he'd always listen with a polite smile.

Upon the brunette's encouragement, he even joined the debate club that he was in. He wasn't sure at first, he didn't think he'd be smart enough or even accepted. But Hajime assured him that he carried a lot of weight in that club, so even on the possibility they didn't accept him in the club, they'd at least accept him trying it out. But Hajime assured him that he was plenty smart, and had even joked with him to try and make him feel better.

'Hey, if you can teach someone painfully average as me, then i'm sure you can show those debate guys a thing or two'.

He wasn't so sure, but if Hajime thought he'd be good at it, then who was he to refuse?

Apparently, he was a lot better at arguing then he thought. Hajime had teased him that he'd made it a nightmare for everyone else at the debate club, but assured him he wasn't being genuine, and said that he was happy for him. For him! He wasn't sure what to make of that, but it put a warm feeling in his chest.

He'd even joked that Nagito had blown everyone else away at debate club, and had turned them into something almost like a secret fan club of his. Playfully adding that he'd probably be named president for sure.

It was weird, it was definitely weird. Even if the debate club like him that much now, then didn't Hajime have his own friends? Why was he spending so much time with someone like him? He didn't want to think it was pity, but he had too much self doubt to completely shove the thought away.

But once again, Hajime was incredibly kind.

He was patient, understanding, and never seemed to hate him for anything he said or did.

It made him so happy but also incredibly scared at the same time.

He wasn't naive, somewhere along the line, he'd developed feelings for Hajime. He couldn't help it, he was just so kind, and maybe a little bit handsome…

It couldn't hurt to dream, right? After all, there's no way someone as loved as Hajime would pursue someone like him, right?

"Hey Nagito, can i talk to you?"

END OF CHAPTER:

It was really only set in senior year of high school because i was going to add an external prompt that needed it to be the last year, but even after i axed the other prompt, i didn't bother changing it. It's not like it matters right? And either way, i'd already set the story around senior year so…

Anyway enough rambling. And hey, feel free to send me prompts you think would fit for one of the chapters. (a key of the 57 list is in the first chapters end author notes).

Either way, thank you for reading, hope you liked this.

Cya next chapter :)

Tairulz