T/W : Unwanted physicality. Nothing is done, but wanted to leave a warning.
Hoshino Ai made a mistake…
Hikigaya Hachiman always ate lunch alone. His failed confession moved him from the classroom to an abandoned outdoor stairway. Away from all of those idiotic classmates. Away from all of those stupid rumors. Away from everything.
Everyday he ate alone. He enjoyed the silence. The soft breeze that carried the scent of his fresh curry bread paired with an overly sweet MAX Coffee and an entertaining Isekai light novel to pass the time. It was lonely. It was perfect.
Until it wasn't.
"Hoshino-san, we've been dating for a little bit haven't we? Why don't we fool around here for a little while…" Ugh, a normie couple trying to hook up in the middle of the day at school no less? Have they no shame at all? Maybe they're just exhibitionists.
"I'm not sure Senpai, what if someone's around and we get caught?"
"It's fine, no one ever comes to this part of school so we can get away with a lot." Hachiman grimaced, that's not the sort of thing he wants to witness during his break.
He stands up and sees the couple. The guy towers over the girl, almost pressing her against the wall. It's his classmate, Takahashi- handsome, popular and athletic. In other words, a fucking Riajuu. Then the girl must've been the rumored underclassman that he confessed to last week.
"Still…"
"Come on, we've been dating for the past few weeks and we haven't even kissed yet! You love me, right? So it'll be fine if we go all the way. We can reaffirm our love for each other." Ew. Just- who even says things like that? Tch, whatever it's not his business. Hachiman starts to sneak up the stairs.
"I-I do love you! But isn't this moving a little too fast?"
Hachiman stops as he hears a thud against a wall. He peers over the stairwell and sees Takahashi slamming his hands against the wall, trapping the girl between his arms. "Hey now, I've been patient with you. I held myself back, and went at your pace. Hand holding and taking you on dates but then nothing. Not even a kiss?" The girl shivers in fear, but her body looks almost resigned to what's happening.
"S-senpai- you're scaring me."
What the hell? This hook up just jumped straight into a crime! Unconsciously, Hachiman pulled out his phone and started recording the scene.
Takashi chuckles, "You don't even say my name." He pins her wrists to the wall, "I'm tired of playing games, I waited because you were cute but it's not worth the wait anymore."
"Please, I don't want this!"
"Relax, just sit back and let it happen. I promise you'll enjoy it too…" Takahashi leans in closer, about to kiss her when-
"Oi, Takahashi!" a voice called. Surprised, Takahashi's head turns toward the stairwell. "Smile~"
He's not the only one in shock, Hachiman himself can't believe he called out. Deku, is that you? Did your body move by itself?
Takahashi quickly lets the girl go and starts backing up, "H-hey what the hell are you doing here?"
Hachiman nonchalantly shrugs, and brings his cellphone into view "Oh, me? I was just enjoying my lunch in peace. Reading a new novel while basking in the breeze." His face sharpens into a glare, "And now, I'm apparently stopping a classmate from committing a crime? Hah, what a break I'm having."
Takahashi spots the cellphone in Hachiman's hands, and swallows, "You better fucking delete that- or I'll kick your ass!"
"Or.." Hachiman drawls out, "you can leave that girl alone and get the hell outta here. Otherwise, I'll just send this video to the school." He shrugs, "It's your choice."
"You bastard!" Takahashi clicks his tongue and storms off, "Whatever- that girl is nothing but a tease anyway…"
Hachiman's eyes follow Takahashi until he disappears. He then sighs in relief, nearly collapsing under him as adrenaline leaves his body. Holy shit that was scary. Job's done, might as well leave too. Making his way down the stairwell, he sees that the girl is now sitting against the wall.
"Hey, are you okay?" Curse his patented 'Onii-chan' instincts.
The girl nods her head, before giving a wobbly smile, "That was a scary situation wasn't it?" She bows her head, "Thank you, Senpai. If you weren't here…"
"Don't think of stupid things like that. I was here and nothing happened." Hachiman sits down on the stairwell, and pulls out his novel.
The girl sighs, "You're right." The girl's starry eyes regained some color, and she shot Hachiman an inquisitive gaze. "Why were you out here anyway?"
"Like I said, I was enjoying my lunch period."
"Out here? Alone?"
"Yes. Out here. Alone. It's my spot."
"Aren't you lonely?"
"Aren't you asking too many questions?" Hachiman snipes back. "But No," Yes. "It's much more pleasant than being with those idiotic people."
The girl tilts her head, "Is that so?" She looks around, "Well it is a nice spot- so I can see why you stay here! Oh by the way, my name is Hoshino Ai~ It's nice to meet you senpai~"
"Nn…" Hachiman looks up from his novel, "If you're that excitable- you should head back to your classroom."
…
"Would you walk me back? I don't feel-"
The novel is snapped shut, "Fine."
"Thank you, Senpai!"
For the first time that day, she smiled brightly.
"What are you doing here, Hoshino?"
"Am I not allowed to eat here? Besides, wouldn't senpai like spending lunch with a cute girl like me?"
"I'd be fine if you never came by."
"Hey- isn't that super rude? Your cute kouhai wants to spend some time with you!"
"Cute kouhai? Where? All I see is an annoy- agh! You don't need to hit me!"
"Nee~ Senpai, is it true that you confessed to one of the girls in your class?"
"... Where did you hear that?"
"I heard it in the hallways, a few girls were making fun of a certain scary eyed senpai because he got rejected."
Hachiman snorts, "They're not wrong."
"So you're that Hikitani-senpai?"
"Who the hell is Hikitani?"
"By the way, Hikitani-senpai, I have a secret to tell you!"
"What is it this time?"
"I'm an idol!"
"Ahh… I see."
…
…
"Eh?"
… and Hikigaya Hachiman suffers for it.
A/N
I hate the fact that ideas only come to me while I'm working or drinking- it's such a hassle.
I realized what made the last chapter not satisfactory to me at all. It wasn't Hikigaya Hachiman, rather it didn't feel like a Hachiman I was familiar with. Rather it the Hachiman in the last chapter was more of a vehicle to deliver fluff and fanservice. It also didn't help that it felt like a rehash of every single fanfic here in this fandom- a boring and cliche cafe scene with fluffy moments sprinkled in. It's cute and I don't mind writing it- but I want to be able to add a depth to the characters so that those positive moments feel better. Although it did accomplish the tone that I wanted- the fact that there is an established companionship and comfortability between the two of them.
In this chapter I had a better idea of how to approach it. How would they have met? How would they keep meeting? That's why the chapter title is "Encounters." It feels even more cliched and contrived, using a one-note villain in Takahashi. It felt a lot better to write- especially for Hachiman. He actually felt like Hachiman now. Conversely, Ai doesn't as strong even though this chapter is about her. It sucks, but Ai's backstory in Oshi no Ko is quite tragic- riddled with a lot of trauma and makes her such an interesting character.
Too bad I'm a sucker for fluff and Hachiman will be here to make sure Ai doesn't suffer. Much.
