Find The Password To Your Heart - Hacker Mari x Reader

Part 3 - Occupied Thoughts

It was surprisingly stressful to smuggle Kel's books into his room. You felt like you were committing some kind of crime. At the very least, his mom didn't really seem to notice anything— she'd gone right to talking with Hero about the evening. She'd spoken a bit to you too, but you'd slipped away to help Kel.

"Thank you so much, Y/N," he said happily as you made it to his room. You found the very clear divide between his side of the room and Hero's pretty hilarious, from the colors to the cleanliness. "I appreciate it!!"

"Don't worry about it." You pulled out a few comics from underneath your jacket and handed them to him. "I'm more than happy to help you out."

"I'll remember you when I'm famous," Kel joked. "I'll dedicate my shots to you. One for every hundred I make."

"How generously generous of you, Kel!!"

The door swung open as Hero entered the room. His eyes lit up when he saw you two. "Successful operation, I see."

"You know it!!" Kel was already bustling to distribute the books to different places across his side of the room.

"I'm so sorry for his side being so messy," Hero apologized. "Though, trust me, this is the cleanest it's been for months."

You shook your head vigorously. "Really, I don't mind. My dorm room is probably worse."

"HAH!!" Kel shouted from the other side of the room. Hero shook his head with a smile.

You grinned as you carefully sat down on Hero's bed, which was probably the nicest thing you'd sat on for weeks (it was an exceptionally nice bed). Meanwhile, Hero sorted through a few stacks of paper on his desk while Kel whizzed around enough to generate the energy of a nuclear power plant.

"Y'all can have the room," he said once he was done. "I'm probably gonna go watch TV or play with Sally or something. It was great to see you, Y/N!! Talk to you tomorrow!!"

And just like that, Kel had hyperboosted out of the room, leaving you and Hero alone.

It was like you blinked and suddenly, multiple hours had evaporated into the past. Talking to Hero felt timeless, comfortable, like you could easily do it forever. Until you looked at the clock, that is.

You'd glanced at your watch out of habit during a break in the conversation. It hardly felt like you'd been talking for an hour, but the watch face displaying the time of 11:32 immediately smacked that idea out of your head.

"How did it get so late?" you exclaimed in shock, hastily sitting up. Hero's bed was comfortable to lay on and talk, but not comfortable enough to cushion your anxiety.

Hero checked his own watch, and his eyes widened a little. "Oh, wow."

"Time flies." Sighing in resignation, you reluctantly stood up. "Thank you so much for having me, Hero, but my family might freak out if I stay out too late. This is already pushing it for them, unfortunately..."

"No worries!! I'll be seeing you tomorrow anyway," he said warmly. "Do you want a ride?"

You smiled in appreciation. "I'd love that. Thanks, man."

"Of course," Hero laughed as you descended the stairs. "That'll be $50,000 and your kidneys, please."

"Damn!! At least let me graduate first!!"

And just like that, you were waving to Hero as he drove off into the night before making your way up the driveway and into the house.

God, it's late...