Curate, connect, and discover
Thinking about Hanamaki Takahiro who met the love of his life in high school.
First year, you two were just friends. It started with small jokes and laughing about the teacher and the uptight teachers pet in your shared classes. Then he was getting his homework answers from you. You two began partnering up for every group project, he’d come up with a creative presentation and you’d do the informational part.
Summer between first and second year he gradually spent more time with you. It was you and him, then you, him and mattsukawa, then iwa and oikawa joined in some times. It was great that you fit in so well into his friend group but, Hanamaki couldn’t help but cringe at the way his friends or random guys would blatantly flirt with you. No matter how uninterested you showed you were. It was the weekend before their second year started and that’s when Hanamaki realizes how he feels towards you. It’s under the stars in his beat up 2002 light blue Honda Accord where he comes to terms with the fact that he likes you. A lot.
First half of Second year was spent fighting and growing apart. Hanamaki couldn’t deal with these emotions he felt and still hang around you. It hurt too much, it was too complicated. He started canceling plans, then making up excuses not to go, then ignoring you outright. Mattsukawa knew. He sorta figured it out and yelled at him every day for ignoring you. “You’re pushing her away!” Good. Maybe if you’re far enough he can live his life never having to face your rejection. But instead, no matter how far he pushed you away, you comeback with a greater force. Sometimes it’s not even you specifically pushing back, but the universe sending signs. When he’s not with you everything Hanamaki sees reminds him of you: he orders your coffee order when he’s alone so feels closer to you, on cooler or rainy weather he day dreams about the Saturday afternoons you guys spent dancing in the rain with his sisters.
It’s day 17 without having taked to you in person. He messages you all the time with memes and/or regular conversations but it isn’t the same as hearing your sweet voice. 9:22pm and it’s raining outside. He can’t help but wonder if you’re watching the water drip down as it hits your window right now. It’s 9:27pm when he gets an overwhelming urge to go to you. It’s late, his parents are on their anniversary trip so they won’t know if he goes out this late. And he does. He gets in his car and tells his oldest sister he’s getting sweets from the store but really, he’s driving to you. Hoping he hasn’t pushed you too far. His mind goes into autopilot as he parks, rushes up the pavement stairs, and knocks on your door. He hears you look through the peep hole before unlocking the door to question why he’s here at 9:36 at night. He doesn’t say a thing, he doesn’t hear a thing. His ears go deaf momentarily while you’re probably spewing out questions at him but he shuts you up with a kiss. His hands gently holding your cheeks as they burn red in his callused hands. The two of you break apart for air after what feels like an eternity, his forehead is resting against yours as he inhales deeply before saying, “I’m so sorry, gorgeous. I know I’ve been a dick friend to you. I just,” he pauses, “I-I-uh didn’t really k-know how to go about this. But uh, is this ok? Am I doing this right?” He asks pleading for you to say yes. “This is about the only thing you’ve done right all month” you reply smiling before going in to kiss him in return.