The Sound of Your Voice

Chapter 4

At Aizawa's explicit request, Ms Joke left him alone for the next couple of days and did not bring up the issue any more but to his own dismay, he found that he himself could not stop thinking about it.

Every time he saw Present Mic, his mind drifted back to Ms Joke's words and it wasn't exactly easy to avoid a co-worker and close friend. It seemed that the more he tried not to think about it, the harder it was to think about anything else.

Eventually, when even All Might was picking up on his frayed nerves, he realized he had no choice but to accept the reality.

He was in love with his best friend.

For a while, it seemed as if simply acknowledging the fact made it easier to deal with. No longer needing to deny his own feelings meant he had more energy to spare for actually being a functional person. But this reprise did not last long.

Hardly a week had passed before Aizawa's irritation returned in full force. This time, because he found himself more and more frequently day dreaming. It was ridiculous. Aizawa was not typically one for such frivolous activities. But day dreaming he was.

Finally, after two and half weeks of angst and mental torment, he caved and texted Ms Joke for advice.

--- Today 1:14 a.m. ---

I can't do this anymore.

I feel like I'm losing my mind.

???

Everything alright?

Jeez what time is it?

It is one in the morning and that is not the point.

Everything is not alright. You put it in my head that I might have feelings for Present Mic and now that's all I can think about.

I have found myself daydreaming about him, Joke. 

Day. Dreaming.

Oh damn, that is bad :/

Yes, it is.

So what do I do about it?

Hmm, well...

Have you tri d talking to him? :)

*tried

I'm so tired

I'm being serious.

So am I!

Well, mostly ;)

No but seriously, just go talk to him. What were you saying? We're all adults or whatever? So act like one

It's been too long since I've done anything like this. What do I do if he turns me down?

Then at least you'll know, right?

Although I have a funny feeling he won't

Just, like, do what you do best. Think things through logically :D

You're right.

Okay.

I will ask him out on a date. Three days from now. We should both be free then so the only reason he would have to refuse would be because he does not share my feelings. And if he does agree, I will allow him to decide where he wants things to go from there.

Besides, if things go badly, I can tell him it was your idea.

That was a joke.

--- Today 1:32 a.m. ---

Are you still awake?

--- Today 1:56 a.m. ---

Goodnight Ms Joke.

Thank you.

--- Today 9:10 a.m. ---

Oops, I fell asleep XD sorry!

It was a long day okay? XP

LOL you didn't have to plan it out that precisely you dork

Good luck ;)

---

At last the predetermined date had arrived and Aizawa found himself painstakingly building up the courage to call Present Mic.

He tapped his phone against his forehead in frustration and took a deep breath. This should not be so difficult. All he was doing was calling a friend and asking him out to lunch. There was nothing weird about that.

Gritting his teeth he dialed and pressed the phone against his ear, anxiety gnawing at him all the while. Present Mic picked up on the first ring and his voice ringing through the phone eased Aizawa's nerves almost instantly.

"Hey! Aizawa! I must be psychic cause I was just about to call you! I had something important to ask you."

Aizawa blinked, caught off guard both by the fact that Mic hadn't used his hero name, and by the fact that things were not going as planned at all. Warily he let out a breath and nodded.

"Well go on then," Aizawa said stiffly, careful not to betray any emotion.

"Are you sure?" Mic asked, his voice ever so slightly quieter. "You were the one who called, you can say what you wanted to say first."

Aizawa chuckled, feeling a bit silly at how awkward this conversation was already. Act like adults, he reminded himself and shook his head. "No, it's alright. My thing can wait, you ask first."

Present Mic laughed, and was it Aizawa's imagination or did he sound like he too had picked up on the tension?

"Well, if you insist," he said. "Man, there's really no easy way to say this so I guess I'll just go ahead and spit it out. Would you like to go on a date with me?"