#1 Lesbian

:: H. SUGIMOTO walks you back to your apartment after a movie night, and with the recent disappearances making the city way too dangerous, you're absolutely not letting him leave.

Hyugo had a terrible habit of rambling during the movies.

You had noticed this habit pretty early on in your friendship with him. He liked to react and comment on the scenes unraveling on the big screen. Whether it was a dramatic gasp, a snarky remark, or a tap on your shoulder to tell you how unrealistic a scene was.

It had become a habit for you both to frequent either the cinemas or the arcade. You never questioned how it happened, but you were grateful nonetheless. Your years at college had been quite lonely, if not isolating. Sure, you had friends here and there, but none of them stuck around long enough to count.

Both of you had decided to watch whatever film was showing that week to celebrate accomplishing the last of your midterm exams. Excitement had quickly taken over you as Hyugo asked you to accompany him; it was like a little date of some sort. 

Not that you’d admit it, but you liked being around him. It was like a breath of fresh air every time he was around. You couldn't quite place your finger on it, but you knew that he was good company. You oftentimes found yourselves talking for hours on end, til the noise eventually faded into the background, and the gleaming moonlight began towering over you both.

His boyish humor, with his corny jokes that seemed to crack you up no matter how unfunny they were, was a part of this charm that drew you further in.

Your thoughts were interrupted as Hyugo had been calling out to you, “—can you hear me? Hellooo—” he playfully taps the side of your head with a finger, feigning concern for your short-lived catatonic state. 

“Yeah? Sorry, I started thinking—”

“Wow, for the first time I see” he retorts quickly. 

You nearly yank on his hair before he stands up from his seat, “I was kidding!” he grins playfully, “the movie ended three minutes ago, it's just us in here now, you know.”

Stepping out of the theatre, you both made your way to the exit, before the untimely realization hit you that the night had completely turned. The moon was almost hidden completely behind the clouds, leaving the streets nearly pitch black. You recall the news of the recent disappearances of individuals around the area, and the reminder began to make your heart race with anxiety as sweat began to pool at your palms. 

You avert your gaze to Hyugo, who seemed to read your mind, “I think I should walk you home, it isn’t safe for you to go alone right now,” his formerly unserious tone from the theatre shifts. It had quickly sharpened into that of a cautious blade, complementing the cool air that breezed past. “...especially with the recent disappearances going around.” He looks to you with a softer edge, almost as if he didn’t want you to worry further.

___

“Well, we made it.” You turn to Hyugo, digging through your bag for your keys. The walk back to your apartment was mostly peaceful, he had let you intertwine your hands with his, and he kept talking about whatever came to mind to keep your head occupied. 

 “Thank you, Hyugo. I really appreciate it.” You smiled warmly at him, and he seemed to return the gesture. “Anytime, really. I can't have you dying on me this early.” he chuckles. 

“I think I’ll head home too, see you tomorrow–”

“Wait,” you interrupt, pulling his arm closer to you. “It’s really late, nearly 11 pm,” you kept pulling until his body stumbled a little forward, his shoes landing on your apartment’s wooden floors. “Why don't you just stay the night?” Your bold suggestion leaves your lips faster than it processes in your head, and you quickly realize what you say.

You stick to your word anyway.  “Like— only if you want to, but I really insist… I wouldn’t want you dying on me this early either.” the laugh that leaves your throat comes out dry, it's almost pathetic. 

“It’s really okay, you don't have to do that.”

Before he could further protest, you quickly close the door behind the two of you, and usher him further into your humble abode, “Here, sit on the couch,” you toss your keys onto the counter, “I can make some food if you’re hungry?” 

He shakes his head, grinning lightly once more, “I think I'm good, but thank you for the hospitality.” He eases down onto your sofa, stretching his legs out. He examines your living room, taking in every detail carefully curated by you. 

“You know, this is a pretty nice place you got.” he pats the cushions, “I could honestly just crash right here. You should go get some sleep.” 

You take a long look at the couch, then at him. 

“Will that be cool with you?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

An idea forms in your head, “Why dont— why don't you just take my bed, dude…” You say slowly, feeling bad from the mere thought of HIM feeling bad for bothering you. How could he bother you?

The least you could do was let him sleep in your bed.  

You continue your statement, “The couch isn't comfortable to sleep in, trust me.”

Hyugo pauses, an amused and curious curve of his lips form as his eyes meet yours, “And where are you going to sleep? On the floor? On the couch?”

“We can just share,” the proposal hangs in the air long enough to trap whatever comment he has stored right down his throat, the sudden silence stretching between you until you follow up, “The bed’s big enough for the both of us, don’t worry about it.”

The playful smirk completely dies on his face, cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to impose too much, I’m perfectly fine staying here.” 

“Hyugo, just come. Take a shower first, second door on your left.” You say quickly before shutting the door to your room to take a shower yourself.

___

Hyugo stares at your bedroom door for quite a while. You had left him one of your oversized shirts and returned the shorts he had lent you last time. With a borrowed towel in one hand, he knocks and you quickly answer.

“Hey.” You start, seemingly fresh out of the shower as well.

“Hey,” Hyugo replies. His voice is a little rougher than usual, the steam from the bathroom still clinging to his damp blue hair. He looks ridiculous in your shirt as he steps into the room, tossing the towel into your laundry basket.

You crawl onto your side of the bed, pulling your comforters up to your waist, “Lights out before you come here.”

“Okay…” Hyugo flicks the light switch behind him, plunging the room in complete darkness, save for the faint glow of the streetlights filtering through the curtains. 

The mattress groans under his weight as he finally settles. The foam dips deeply and unevenly, the sudden tilt pulling you slightly toward his side of the bed before he intentionally nestles on the very edge.

Now, Hyugo was typically talkative, which was why it was so unlike him to suddenly freeze up silently on you. You’d expect he would normally be more energetic.

Minutes pass and you both haven’t exchanged a single word to one another. The night is completely wordless aside from the sound of crickets and owls outside, along with the gentle patter of rain.

It suddenly dawns on you on how fucking awkward this is right now.

You blink into the darkness, and turn your head ever so slightly in Hyugo’s direction. 

He isn’t moving either. 

Fuck.

You decide to turn to the side and face his silhouette, “Hyugo..?”

“Yeah?” His voice drops. It’s lower and quieter, unfitting to his usually bubbly, energetic demeanor. 

“Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? It’s creeping me out.” You shift closer to him, the mattress dipping between you both once again. “Are you cold? You’re practically falling off the bed, move over.”

Before he could answer, you reach out into the dark, your fingers catching the fabric of his sleeve—your own oversized shirt— giving it a firm tug, you pull him closer to the center of the bed. 

However, the second your fingers brush against his sleeve, you could basically feel how rigid his whole body was. You wonder if he was cold, or maybe nervous, but on his side of the mattress, he was drowning in the frantic, erratic thumping of his own heartbeat. Your touch burns right through the thin, cottony fabric of his shirt. He suddenly feels hyper aware of the situation he’s in; the scent of your shampoo, the warmth of your skin, the soft feeling of you pressing closer to his side. His initial idea of playing it safe and staying still for the rest of the night to give you some space had backfired on him completely.

He turns his head in the dark, his sharp blue eyes catching the faint streetlights as he faces you. “You’re too trusting, you know?” he laughs dryly, the sound low and slightly rough. “You’re lucky I’m not some crazy ass killer. If I wanted to, you’d totally be dead by now.”

You shove at his shoulder, “God, asshole. Don’t say things like that.” 

He lets out a quiet chuckle, the tension in his shoulders melting slightly at the familiar annoyance. Another beat of silence falls on the both of you, as something that neither of you were willing to admit first lingered in the air. 

“Well… I’m kinda cold.” you admit softly into the dark space between you.

Hyugo doesn't hesitate, “I’ll go turn up the AC,” he murmurs, his weight already shifting as he prepares to sit up.

“No— wait,” You say quickly, reaching out to his arm again before he can leave the mattress.

He freezes in place, hovering over to his side of the bed. In the dim light filtering through the curtains, you see him turning back toward you. “Why?” he asks, dropping to a puzzled register. 

You tighten your grip, pulling him back down, “Just… stay here instead, please. The bed's already warm.” 

Silence stretches over the bed again, but this time it feels less awkward. You can hear the heavy rhythm of his breathing. “Why?” Hyugo teases softly, though there’s a distinct tremble of nervousness beneath his words. “Are you scared?”

You don’t answer him. Instead, you just pull the duvet up to your chin and turn your back to him, leaving the invitation open. Your silence lets the steady thrumming of the rain fill the room.

He stares down at your silhouette for a while, he knows he should just tell you to suck it up for a bit while he turned up the temperature, that he would take less than a minute, but seeing you huddled under the duvet makes him completely give in. He also knew that Sol would never let him hear the end of this, but as he looks down at you, he figures that he was in a much better place than the other man when it came to liking someone. 

He exhales a soft sigh and scoots closer, closing the distance until his chest presses on your shoulder, sharing the thick comforter. The radiating heat is instant, and the steady warmth and the sound of the rain lull you both into a deep, heavy sleep.

___

When the faint, gray morning light finally begins to bleed through the window, Hyugo blinks his eyes open. His arm is completely asleep, but he doesn't care. Sometime during the night, you had shifted, completely tucked into the space against his chest, your face buried right into the fabric of his oversized shirt. You are sleeping soundly, your breaths even and warm against his collarbone. 

Hyugo looks down at you completely helpless, with a stupid happy smile taking over his face. He wasn’t going to say a single word about how much he was holding back from you. He doesn't feel the need to rush, not when he can wait as long as it takes.

@ miripopopo 2026