Chapter Text
You’re in your favorite coffee shop when you meet pro hero Hitoshi Shinsou for the first time, though you didn’t know it. It’s almost the end of winter but heaps of snow still line the streets and the wind outside is cold and biting.
The shop you frequent is a hole in the wall down the street from your apartment- and they conveniently make the best cold press you’ve ever had. They have a few small, healthy plants in the windowsill and a small selection of baked goods daily- they’re usually frequented by an older crowd so you never really have to worry about all the seating being taken. Bulk teas line one wall and jars of chocolate covered fruits sit on the ledges in front- available to buy by the pound. You’re ordering a cold brew and a scone, getting ready to sit down and maybe get some actual studying in, but when you reach into your pocket for your wallet, you realise it’s not there. Frantically you give yourself a pat down, jacket, pants, inside jacket (why do you have so many pockets?) when someone lightly taps your shoulder.
“Here. I think you dropped this, it was by the door.” A firm masculine voice says behind you.
You whip around to see that sure enough, there in his hand is your stupid wallet, worn with age, and slightly dusty from the drop from your pocket to the ground.
“Oh thank you!” You say, ecstatic you don’t have to go on a goose hunt through all the streets you’ve walked today, and trying not to make too much eye contact with the handsome stranger that happened across it before you did. His lavender hair puffed out around his head in soft tufts, in a way that should look sloppy but came across as surprisingly well kept. His eyes of the same hue were intimidatingly sharp- like he was seeing straight into you. He was dressed simply in a loose black turtleneck and black pants, a charcoal scarf resting loosely on his shoulders.
The late afternoon sun is pouring in through the windows and the stranger is almost haloed in golden light, his dark lashes casting small shadows on his cheeks. He didn't look real.
You could feel your face getting warm in the short pause before your response.
“Let me buy your coffee!” you blurted. The man certainly seemed like he could use one if his dark circles were anything to go by, though he certainly didn’t need you to pay for it according to the leather boots he wore.
“No of course not, there’s no need for-”
“I know it sounded like an offer,” you cut him off, “but it wasn’t really a question. I’m buying your coffee today, as thanks.” You handed the barista your card. “I’m getting his order too,” you told her.
Turtleneck made a pointed look at you for a moment, like he was considering arguing anyway, but instead he sighed lightly and stepped up to the counter.
“Just a medium Americano please.”
You tried not to feel smug about winning- you were paying a stranger back for their kindness which did not call for competitiveness- as you accepted your card back from the barista.
Your stranger seemed to be avoiding looking at you.
You shifted on your feet, kinda tense. Should you ask his name? Is that too much? You steal a glance over but he’s still stone faced facing the drink counter. Maybe you were a little zealous in your drink offer- but how could you just let someone go without thanking them like that?
The barista calls out your name and you go to step up to the counter to retrieve your beverage, moment missed you suppose, but your stranger is faster and steps up to accept both of your drinks. He thanks the woman behind the counter and turns to face you, handing you your iced beverage directly.
“Kagehana.” He states, “and thank you.”
Your arms stutter for a second reaching for your drink. His name? It seemed like it should fit him but it didn’t really. You met his eyes and offered your name in turn.
“And hey- don’t thank me, this is my thanks for picking up my wallet” you chide, and you think you see the hint of a smile on his lips.
“Yeah, do try to keep a better grip on that in the future.”
You felt your face warm slightly as he skulked away and out of the shop, tucking into his scarf to brace against the cold winter winds outside.
What a weirdo, you thought to yourself.
Yet, sitting down and pulling out your books, it seemed impossible to focus on your schoolwork.
In the back of your mind- you just saw violet eyes.
***
You began to see Kagehana more frequently at your coffee shop. He scarcely acknowledged you, maybe a nod in your direction or slight hand wave on his way out. You tried not to let your face flush each time he looked at you- he was weird but his aloofness seemed to make him more appealing. You always came to this coffee shop specifically to study because it was a quiet atmosphere with just enough social pressure to force you to actually work- and suddenly your work haven was interrupted.
Each time Kagehana came in for his caffeine break- always an americano you noticed- you were pulled out of your zone and left daydreaming about broad hands and soft, expensive sweaters. It maybe wasn’t the dumbest crush you’d ever had, but it was definitely the most annoying. The man was handsome and mysterious, he picked up your wallet once, that was it. He clearly wasn’t interested in communicating with you further, or he would have one of the several times he’d seen you since then.
Things have been… different lately. There seems to be a general sense of unease in the air. People have been going missing. People with quirks, people without quirks. All different social classes. Some come back, but different. Some never do. Crime is up in general- burglaries, car thefts, sales of drugs and quirk enhancers; it seems everywhere you look things are getting rough. It wasn’t weird for people to be cautious about engaging with strangers right now.
You sighed and put your books away; you clearly weren't getting anything done. You debated leaving but your latte was still half full, and if you were being honest with yourself you were still holding out to see if Kagehana came in for his regular americano. While your coffeehouse crush was maybe a little dumb, you couldn’t help but feel eager to at least see what your shadowy stranger was going to wear that day.
You walked into the corner of the store where they had a few games sitting on a shelf. You sifted through them- well loved and well worn from the hands of a thousand strangers. They looked like they'd all been here for the 30 years the shop had been open and most likely they had been. You picked up the weathered chess board to carry back to your table- the soft, worn wood felt comfortable in your hands as you set up the pieces in order. Were you good at chess? No. Did you have fun strategizing against yourself anyway? Always.
You were about 5 moves deep on either side, engrossed in your faux game, when the chair across from you scraped backwards.
You looked up and saw those violet eyes staring back at you as Kagehana took a seat at the other side of the chess board.
You held your breath, you hadn't even noticed him come in.
He gestured to the board and offered a slight smirk. "Mind if I play?"
You felt yourself nod and you realized maybe you should speak too.
"Yes-yeah! Of course!" You said a bit too hastily, and you tried not to wince at how eager you sounded. But Kagehana seemed unperturbed, just wearing a contented expression on his face as he reset the board.
Today he was wearing a faded dark green sweater tee and nice dark jeans- he looked expensive as usual, he must make a comfortable amount of money at whatever he did. But that's not really what had you stumbling over your words- it was that before when you'd seen him he was always wearing thicker sweaters and coats that only gestured to what he might look like underneath. Today's fitted short-sleeved option was an outlier to say the least. He was more lean than bulky but he definitely had a physique that took work. His shoulders were broad with muscle, leading into strong arms and wide calloused hands
He quirked an eyebrow at you and looked at your pieces on the board.
Oh shit. You were staring and you had to make the first move.
You hoped he couldn’t tell your face was hot as you moved your knight out onto the field first.
After that you both sat in what you hoped was comfortable silence for the first few moves, the occasional chatter of the shop drifting into your space. You prayed he didn't think anything of your staring. It was quiet but it felt like it should be as you each strategized your next moves. It was Kagehana who spoke first.
"You don't work?" He asked as he stole your second bishop. "You're in here all the time."
Damn, another one you thought to yourself as you studied the pieces in front of you, hunting for your next move.
"I'm a full time student," you respond, "I got enough scholarships to pay for my schooling so the fund my parents set up I put towards housing. Honestly it's cheaper than school would have been and I can focus on my studies and not lose my scholarship."
You took another one of his pawns and added it to your small collection.
"You know you're in here quite a bit too." You looked up at him inquisitively.
"I work odd hours. What are you studying?" He moved one of his knights into the messy battlefield at the center of the board. He was trying to bait you but it wasn't going to work.
"Quirk studies. Cultural impacts, quirk friendly design and accessibility. What impacts they've had on us socially. That sort of stuff. What do you do for work?"
He seemed surprised by your answer, but glossed right over your question like he hadn't heard it. He seemed distracted as he moved his next piece.
"Well you'll be guaranteed a job at least. Why quirk studies?"
You took in a breath. It's not something you usually tell people. You considered lying. But for some reason telling a stranger seemed more comfortable than telling people who knew you already. He didn't have any opinions about you already made.
"Because I hate my quirk."
You pulled your queen out from the safety of your other pieces to move her into the fray.
He looked up sharply at that, eyes studying you hard. He didn't move to touch any of his pieces. Maybe he was waiting for you to elaborate, to say something more.
And you don't know why, but you do.
"I can read and influence the emotions of people around me." You began, toying with one of his stolen pawns as you spoke. "And when I was a kid I didn't have a great handle on it- I mean who does? But unlike a physical quirk that might manifest, my quirk affected everyone around me. People felt like I was invading their privacy and they couldn't tell if their emotions were their own or if they were mine. People were pretty distrustful of me, and my quirk never really had a good use- so as soon as I got a handle on it I tamped it down and I've just left it off. I haven't really used my quirk around other people since highschool." You shrugged, staring at his unmoved pieces across the board. “I usually just tell people I’m quirkless to be honest with you.” you sighed.
“But you know… as I started growing up I realized just how many problems there were for people with unideal quirks. Quirks that weren't normal, weren't heroic, quirks that were uncomfortable, gross, horrifying even. People were uncomfortable with my quirk… but there are people who endure downright hostility and violence for theirs. I want to help influence people, spaces and businesses to be friendlier and more adaptable to people with quirks that are…less than ideal.”
He snapped out of whatever trance he was in and took one of your knights.
Fuck, got caught monologuing, you thought dryly.
"I see." Was all he said.
I just spilled out my insecurities at his behest and he just says 'I see?' Never mind that he hadn't asked about all that, you’d just- yikes - you’d just dumped that on him. Why didn’t you lie like you always did? Why didn’t you just-
“Why tell me about your quirk then? If you usually just lie?”
You hadn’t actually expected him to ask you that question, though now that he has you’re not sure why you thought he wouldn’t. Your initial panic at oversharing was subsiding somewhat but your mouth was still dry as you tried to answer his question and move your other knight to safety.
“You-you just seem like you’re trustworthy I guess.” you reply lamely, watching him stare intensely at his game pieces as he seemed to ponder his next move.
“You know, your quirk doesn’t sound so bad. Not really.”
He took his fingers off his piece slowly.
You stared.
“What’s your quirk?”
You didn't necessarily expect him to answer, especially the way he brushed you off about his work, but you felt compelled to ask after his statement.
He blinked. He looked pensive before he met your eyes and said “I’m quirkless.”
Oh. Shit.
“Checkmate.” He said, gesturing to the board. Your king was pressed into a corner, trapped between allies and enemies alike.
You stared at your pieces, like they had betrayed you by letting you lose, but really you were thinking about your tentative acquaintanceship. It felt silly now, to be ashamed of your quirk when he didn’t even have one.
As if reading your mind, he rushes to say “It’s okay, really, I do well enough for myself- you’re allowed to dislike your quirk. But, I genuinely think you could do a lot of good with it, if you really wanted to.”
He was arranging your chess board back to your original game against yourself- how he’d remembered the setup was beyond you- but you did feel oddly a little bit better. It seemed like he understood your confliction about your quirk, maybe because he didn’t have one.
“Thanks, Kagehana.” you said, and again he looked a bit surprised, but brushed it off quickly.
He nodded. “I should probably get going- I do have to work soon.” and he looked back up at you.
“We should play again together sometime.”
You felt your face getting hot, not for the first time this hour, and you hoped he couldn't tell.
“Yeah, this was fun. Thanks for going easy on me.”
His smile was half smirk, all teeth, and your heart thumped.
***
You found yourself a little bit more at peace with your study haven having been ruined as Kagehana began to stop by your table more frequently in the following 2 weeks- and maybe you started pulling out more games every day in the hopes of stoking his seemingly competitive nature. After he had schooled you in chess a few more times you decided you could maybe pull out a game you were actually decent at, and so today you were absolutely obliterating him in mancala.
He wore a slight frown on his face as you chatted, which was a nice reprieve from the smug look he'd been developing during your other games (“is there even any strategy to this game?” He'd asked exasperated as your hoard of glass beads grew to unparalleled heights.)
He seemed to stay away from more personal topics now, and he staunchly avoided any questions you might have about him. So far all you really knew about him was that he liked americanos, he was quirkless, and he had excellent taste in winter wear. He opted instead to ask you mostly about your studies, what your classes were like, what your favorite subjects were, what you planned to do after graduating. He himself seemed to know a lot on the subject, which surprised you. He was easy to talk to, even if he kept any information about himself private- you found him to have a trustworthy aura anyway.
As he picked up a large heap of little glass stones (a bad choice, you thought smugly) he surprised you by asking “what do you do outside of school? Other than table games at coffee shops I mean.”
A personal question. He wants to get to know you. Your brain supplied.
It really should not have felt so monumental; you couldn't talk about your classes forever. I mean you could , but no one reasonable would want you to. Still, the question gave you butterflies. If only you had a more interesting answer than-
“mostly just this really. My schoolwork takes up a lot of my time. I like to cook, but that really just helps me keep costs down. I just hang out here and then go home and hang out with my cat.”
He perked up at the mention of your cat.
“You have a cat ?” he asked, suddenly more invested. There was suddenly a bit of sparkle in his purple eyes. It was precious.
Another little tidbit of information you could log into your mental journal.
“Yes! Do you want to see her?” You replied excitedly.
He looked taken aback, and for a moment it looked like his cheeks tinged pink before you hurriedly said “a picture! I have a picture of her.”
An expression crossed his face that you didn't quite recognize before he quickly schooled himself into a neutral appearance.
You suddenly wished maybe you didn't keep your quirk off all time, you could have felt whatever he was feeling.
You chided yourself- No, that's invasive .
Kagehana coughed.
“Yes, I'd like to see her if you have a picture on hand.”
You fumbled for your phone, mancala pieces completely forgotten as you pulled up photos of your cat.
“Her name is Ivy!” You tell him excitedly as you hand him your phone.
He handles your phone carefully and a small smile cracks his face as he observes a photo of your gray tabby contorted into a cat pretzel as she slept.
You take a few seconds just to observe him, tired eyes and kind expression as he observes possibly the rudest roommate one could have, and wonder what it is… why does he come here to this cafe almost every day to play a table game and chat with you? But the question is gone almost as soon as it appears in your mind as he hands you your phone back.
“Do you have a cat, Kagehana?” You ask instead.
He sighs, “unfortunately no, my hours at work are very irregular. Not ideal for pet ownership.”
“Oh. That's too bad.” you replied, feeling sympathetic, and not for the first time wondered what it was he did for work.
He quickly changed the subject again though, and picked up another small dish of stones and began doling them out one by one once more.
“You know, you should be careful telling people you're quirkless. I'm not sure if you've heard but people have been going missing lately. It might be better to forgo the lie for the time being even if it is uncomfortable.”
You didn’t need him to tell you that. A girl in one of your lectures had gone missing. You didn't know her all that well, you weren't friends. She was a mild personality, a wallflower, and “she was quirkless” the girl next to you let you know. She'd been one to come back, albeit briefly. She had suddenly inherited some big company, cut ties with her whole family, and told the police the week she was gone was just some sabbatical. For some reason, everyone knew though that that wasn't true. Something had happened, something had changed her. You suppressed a shiver.
You were trying to stay unaffected. Regardless of what was happening around you you had obligations. Grades must be maintained, rent must be paid, the world didn't stop for you just because it was getting a little spooky out. So every day you attended your classes, got your coffee, grocery shopped, cooked, and did homework and housework as though you were completely ignorant of the happenings of the world around you.
You shook the thoughts out of your head.
“Couldn't I say the same thing to you?” You asked, “didn't you tell me you were quirkless after knowing me for all of 15 minutes?”
A smirk stretched across his face, “I can take care of myself.” His expression reminded you of your cat before she was about to disrespect you and knock over a plant or coffee mug. “Besides- something about you just seems trustworthy I guess.” He cast your words from that first game back at you.
You tried to focus on the board as your heart pounded in your chest.
You looked at the mancala board.
You looked at it harder.
You looked at Kagehana, eyes narrowing.
“Did you just go twice in a row?”
He met your eyes with a now blank expression on his face.
“... I thought you wouldn't notice.” He deadpanned.
“You cheater!” You shouted out just a little too loudly, drawing mild (annoyed) attention from the other patrons of the cafe.
“You cheater,” you leaned in and whispered at Kagehana.
His face broke into a genuine smile, possibly the first one you'd seen on him.
“Okay okay you caught me,” he said, reaching back to rub his neck in embarrassment.
It was the most expressive and endearing you'd seen him to date, and you felt warm at the thought he was warming up to you.
“Okay so the rules are,” you began, a smug look on your face “since you got caught cheating you owe me a beverage next time.”
He quirked an eyebrow at you, face amused.
“I don't remember agreeing to those terms.”
“No flex on this sir, don't even try to get out of it.” You peered at him harder. “Cheater.” You added once more for good measure.
His hands raised in mock surrender.
“I didn't realize the crime I was committing was such an egregious one. My apologies, of course. I owe you a beverage next time.”
You continued on your game (absolutely obliterating him regardless of his double move) and couldn't help the feeling that something between you had shifted.
***
Quirk accessibility was usually one of your favorite classes. This was what you came here for after all, learning to make businesses and homes and cities more comfortable for everyone. Yet since you've started conversing with Kagehana on a regular basis you'd been a bit distracted, even in your favorite classes.
What was your professor talking about? Some kind of project?
“Of course many of you are here for different reasons, as my course is required for multiple majors. So I've put you in groups-”
Oh God, a group project? You really should pay more attention , you lamented, and your professor continued-
“of two to four students based on your area of study.”
Please let me be in a duo , you begged the universe.
“Several groups will have multiple architect students seeing as there are so many of you this year, and the quirk study and engineering students are assigned to an architect group.”
Your prospects were not good as she began calling out groups. People around you stood and shifted to get to their assigned partners, chairs scraping and squeezing incessantly on the floor of the lecture hall.
There weren't very many students left to group together when finally your name was called-
“... and you'll be grouped with Mara from the architectural program.” She concluded.
Aha! A group of two! The universe smiled upon you today.
Mara actually happened to be the one who regularly sat by you too, and thank the heavens she was studious too!
You weren't sure what you did to deserve this kind of luck but you weren't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
You turned to Mara, your new partner for the next several weeks.
She almost always wore her strawberry blonde hair high in a pony, and her style was always colorful in vivid pinks, blues and violets, if otherwise a bit plain. She had a friendly aura about her.
She smiled at you, and in her peppy voice said, “ Ohmygosh I am so glad to be in a group of two! You're in quirk studies too right? I'm so glad I don't have to work on a team with an engineering student- they're such killjoys y’know? Always killing the vibe of my designs.” She rolled her eyes.
It took you a moment to realize you had actually completely missed what this project was about.
“Um, I'm so sorry,” you began, knowing you were about to embarrass yourself, “but what exactly is the project again?”
She looked at you for just a moment before exclaiming, “oh no, do not worry about it, it was seriously boring while she was talking about it, I barely caught it myself.”
She turned to face you properly and explained, “so we're supposed to find a business, or a park, or some place just generally available to the public, and come up with ways to make it more comfortable and accessible to a variety of quirk users.”
“And!” She began again exuberantly, “I have an idea of a really good one we can do! There's a coffee shop not too far from here that has a door that's only like six and a half feet tall! And it's not even three full feet wide, and there's only one handle.” She clapped excitedly. “I've only ever passed it by but if that's just the door imagine what the inside is like!”
Her friendliness was kind of making you feel worse about not paying attention. She'd already put all of this thought into it.
“Sure!” You replied, “that sounds great, definitely worth checking out. Should we go now so we can get there first? In case anyone else has the same idea I mean.”
“Yes! Let's go!” She said excitedly, shoving her book and water bottle into her bag.
And so you found yourself walking, with Mara chittering beside you.
She was talking about anything and everything, her family, her studies, a boy band you'd never heard of.
The snow of a few weeks ago had melted away, the last vestiges of a cold and unforgiving winter fading into the soft colors and feelings of spring. Clover sprouted up all around and the cool air smelled like soil and mist.
“By the way, why quirk studies?” Mara was asking you, her round eyes staring at you inquisitively.
“Oh, um” you really hadn't been prepared for this question, “I guess I've just always been really passionate about quirks and their impact. I think it's all fascinating, the extra layer of genetic impacts, the cultural effects, and I'm passionate about equity too. Honestly quirk accessibility is probably my favorite class.” you answered semi-honestly. You weren't about to spill your guts to a stranger twice in 4 weeks.
“That's good! What's your quirk?” She asked, brown eyes boring into you.
“Uh- I'm actually quirkless.” You lied. Kagehana had warned you against doing so any more than you had, but it seemed a reasonable deception for your classmate whom you had to continue to see on a regular basis.
“Oh, I see. You're getting kind of rare anymore huh? Well I guess that explains the interest in quirks so much then.” She laughed.
Her arms swung exaggeratedly front to back when she walked, a jump in almost every step. It was almost comical, but it seemed to suit her.
“What about you?” You inquired back.
“Mine is pretty boring. I can just adjust the temperature in my hands some. I mean, hey, my coffee never gets cold so I can't complain too much.”
You nodded along as she continued on about why architecture, why this school and this town. She really was friendly - it surprised you that you hadn't spoken more to each other since the semester started. You did have a tendency to get a little stuck inside your own head though.
You approached the cafe Mara had told you about and she was right- anyone who had a meta type quirk would be hard pressed to use it. Your regular coffee shop was more accessible than this and it was in an older part of town.
She opened the door for you and you both stepped into an interior that wasn't much better. There was almost no variation in the seating or tables so anyone large or with extra appendages such as a tail or wings would be very uncomfortable. There were other little things you noticed as you glanced around as well. She was right, this was perfect.
This cafe was much more modern than your usual haunt and it gave a bit of a cold sterile feeling. This place must only be kept open by proximity to the university.
Mara clapped her hands together next to you, startling you out of your train of thought.
“See?? Isn't it perfect?” She exclaimed.
“You were not wrong, this place is a disaster.” you whispered back, eyeing the seasonal coffee menu despite yourself. I mean you were going to be here critiquing their establishment you were going to have to patronize it anyway.
Mara is already at the counter ordering something that sounds criminally sweet from where you're standing.
As you turn to walk toward the counter to order as well, you stop in your tracks.
No way, you think to yourself, as there at the pickup counter was a familiar bramble of lavender hair, unmistakably broad shoulders encased in a light jacket for the weather.
At that moment he turns, drink in hand, and spots you as well.
His surprised expression must mirror yours, you thought as he approached you.
“Gotta admit, I always thought of you as a one cafe kinda girl” he said to you, clearly amused.
Your astonishment at seeing him here fizzled out as you fell comfortably into casual banter.
“I can't believe you would put me in a box like that” you responded, faking wounded, “I'm a woman of complex and varied taste.”
You eyed the cup in his hand.
“Apparently unlike some people. Please tell me that's not just an Americano in your hand.”
He shrugged, “What can I say, I'm a man of specific tastes, and I know what I like.”
The way he said it and met your eyes afterward felt somewhat pointed, and you could feel your heart rate speeding up.
Was he flirting with you right now? Is that what this is? Oh God I'm gonna die if that's what this is.
You didn't get more time to run down the tracks of that train of thought because Mara came up beside you with her abomination of a beverage in hand.
“You ready to get started? You gonna order?” She asked you.
“Yes, yeah, sorry give me just a moment.”
She glanced between you and Kagehana for a moment before wandering to an empty table to begin setting up.
Kagehana had stiffened a bit at her approach, clearly surprised to see you with someone.
“So actually…” you began, kicking the ground nervously, “what are you doing at this cafe? Do you really go to both?”
He paused for just a moment as though he was contemplating. But he quickly just said, “I wouldn't want to keep your friend waiting, and I am unfortunately running late to a prior engagement. It was nice seeing you.” And he offered you a slight smile before dipping past you to make his way out of the shop.
Evasive bastard, you thought to yourself, but “nice seeing you too” was what you said out loud.
You weren't even sure he heard you, and he was out the door.
You ordered your drink from a somewhat surly barista ( like really what is the draw of this place?) and found your seat next to Mara to begin taking out your computer and notes.
She already had a whole setup, with colored tabs and matching hi lighters. The whole deal. Thank God you got paired with someone competent.
“So”, she began, turning to you wryly, “who’s the zombie?”
“Who-wha-I don't-” you stuttered, somehow surprised she asked you, as if she wouldn't.
You cleared your throat.
“He's just an acquaintance, that's all.” You said hoping you sounded more composed than you felt.
You didn’t.
Mara was tapping away on her keyboard as if you weren't having a conversation at all.
“Is he quirkless too?” She asked mirthfully, bumping you slightly with her elbow.
“... Actually, yeah he is.” you told her truthfully. He didn’t seem ashamed about it, it’s not like he asked you to keep it secret, and he’d said he could take care of himself.
She paused her typing at that, clearly surprised.
“What's his name?”
“Kagehana.” You replied, opening the joint document she had shared with you.
“What, no first name?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Well, I told you he was just an acquaintance.” You replied, not meeting her gaze on purpose.
She broke out into a grin.
“An acquaintance you have a thing for huh?”
How was she teasing you, and typing so fast??
“What? I don't- I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to, it's written all over your face.” Save responded cheekily. “He is kinda handsome if you look past the obvious need for some sleep and the messy hair.”
You felt offended on his behalf. His messy hair was part of his charm.
She continued though, “I wonder if he didn't give you his full name out of an abundance of caution. Y'know, cause of all the disappearances and stuff.” She took a moment to sip from her drink.
You had wondered the same thing when you’d first met him, if he was just abundantly cautious. You couldn’t put your finger on it though, it just felt like it was something different. You felt like he trusted you, he said he trusted you, but for some reason he just wouldn’t let himself get close.
“Did you try to look him up on socials?” She asked you.
You hadn't even considered it.
“I-no I hadn't even thought about it.” You admitted.
“Hm, that's crazy. First thing I would have done.” She paused, “but no, there's definitely nothing here. I even tried a couple different spellings. None of these are him.”
You peered over to her screen, and sure enough, though the surname pulled up several results, none of them even resembled your stranger. You stifled your disappointment.
Mara looked at you pointedly. “See? I knew you wanted to know more- cause you like him.” She said smugly.
“Hey, my curiosity confirms nothing.” You pouted.
“Bummer,” she sighed, “I was gonna make you dm him and ask when he was taking you dinner.”
You gasped, scandalized, and she cackled.
“Well let me know if you pry a first name out of him and then we can really do some digging. But for now start riffing on what I have in the document, c’mon you're falling behind.”
You looked at the document again, astonished at everything she'd already put to paper.
“Damn it's not my fault you type so fast.” You muttered- but you got to work and the time passed quickly as the two of you fell into a rhythm.
It was late by the time you wrapped up at the cafe, you and Mara packing up and saying your goodbyes before leaving the cafe in different directions. The early spring dirt was soft under your shoes as you trudged- exhausted- to catch a bus back to your own neighborhood.