Stuck in the Middle [Hikaru, Kaoru] | ♡

Chapter ♞ 44: We've Got Chemistry

>:-)

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You were furiously chewing on the tip of your pen, as you tried to memorize the rest of the chemical formulas on your sheet. The words and numbers seemed to jumble together but quite frankly, you were running out of time. Midterms were approaching at a quicker pace than you had anticipated. 

It had gotten to the point where your Host Club duties were slowly declining since the clientele was coming to halt. Even the other students were cramming their little hearts out. 

The library had grown a bit quiet as students quietly shuffled in and out, expensive coffee in their grasps, tired dark circles underneath their eyelids. You were one of the few so deeply engrossed into your notes that you hadn't noticed a familiar boy plop down across from you, textbook in his grasp. 

A few minutes had passed before you begrudgingly looked up only to scare yourself, that the chair shook. 

Hikaru was wearing a stern pair of reading glasses, though his eyesight had been trained on you instead of his AP chemistry textbook. 

You opened your mouth then closed it, becoming a bit self conscious. 

"...I should go." You wanted to kick yourself at the statement, since you had technically been their first, but the awkward air settling around you two was an unnecessary source of stress. 

"Wait!" Hikaru was quick to jump up from the chair, annoying the patrons of the library. His orange hair bounced with the sudden movement, as he made a move to get to your side of the table.

You avoided eye contact, shoving your notebook back into your backpack, the tight ponytail in your hair swaying slightly at each movement. 

"Y/N, please," he mumbled, keeping his voice to a minimum volume as he placed his hand over yours. For a mere moment your actions were halted as you were forced to gaze upwards. 

You had never really seen Hikaru frown before. Of course there were times where he dramatically grimaced or showed signs of being annoyed- but there was a genuine sadness to his aura.

His hand gripped yours tighter as he tried to stop you from going, his bangs covering his eyes as he tilted his head downwards. "Why are you trying to run away?" He huffed out, an un-humorous laugh falling from his lips. 

"I don't know." You blurted without thinking. 

Hikaru smiled, though it was quick to falter. He didn't want to cause a scene, and slowly stepped back. You could no longer feel his light breathing or the sweet scent that oddly lingered on him, but you felt the nape of your neck burning as you slowly set your bag down and calmed your frantic heart. 

"I really miss you, you know. And I don't mean in, uh- that way," a quick flashback to the kiss you two shared graced your brain, "but you were a good friend." He finished, finally looking at you properly.

He was taking in your form, and even though you looked tired and stressed, and your dress hadn't been ironed and was crinkling near you waist, he still couldn't help but grin. 

"That's nice," you finally spoke, quirking an eyebrow, "but what's your point?" You refuted, tucking a loose strand behind your ear.