"I'm aware there are two guys, yeah..." How about they just... Focus on the gay men topic? That could potentially make this conversation less embarrassing (it wonât). "Why do you think I'm not having this conversation with her?" Because Riko would surely take this the wrong way, and Hyuuga wanted to live to see another sunrise.
While Hyuuga did think she would be nice enough to help him navigate this, it just felt... Awkward. Look, it was painful for him to even be talking about this with Izuki, okay? Give him some credit for at least trying to organize his thoughts.
(For the record, even if Hyuuga wasnât able to read Izukiâs thoughts: no, he wasnât imagining him as a girl at all.)
It was then, when Izuki asked him why he was 'bothered' about it, that Hyuuga realized maybe he was... Still wondering about some things from years ago / things he had never brought up to Izuki (he definitely was bothered about it, he was just trying to gaslight himself). "Iâm not bothered by it." He said it a bit too quickly, sounding defensive. "I was just curious. I donât really think Iâm attracted to men after all."
He thought maybe... Kissing Izuki, who was also a guy, might have given him a change of heart. Like a switch. But nope, nothing at all (this would definitely bite him back later on). "I know being, uh, bisexual? Is also a thing, but I guess itâs just a phase I'm going through." Morbid curiosity, and Izuki just happened to be there.
"...Because you're alive?" Izuki rolls his eyes. Riko may have punted Hyuuga into orbit if he had come to her with such an idiotic set of questions. (Idiotic said as a term of endearment, mostly, because they're friends.)
At least Hyuuga is talking to him. That's a start. Izuki isn't really sure how to help him, and the conversation is making him feel a bit... itchy. No reason, really. It's not like Izuki had a brief crush on Hyuuga when they were kids that he never mentioned that he pushed aside because his friend was an idiot (endearing?). That, and he likes women. Most of that affection from before had faded into something manageable, though sometimes Izuki is reminded of it against his will. Like when Hyuuga decides to use him for kissing practice out of nowhere.
"That's... good? That you're not bothered. I mean... don't take this the wrong way, but you seemed a little on edge around Mibuchi before." Something about him being feminine had either threatened or upset Hyuuga, but maybe he's over it now? That's some good progress. Not that Izuki is really invested. It's not his business whether he gets over that or not.
Phase of what, if you're not attracted to men? Izuki takes a deep breath. "A phase of just wondering...?" Can he go back to puns now? This serious conversation is stressful. "...Do you want to talk?" They're already talking, but maybe he needs a formal intervention... of something?



















