Pairing(s): Hiro Hamada x Gn!Reader
Divider Creds (in order): @/strangergraphics-archive, @/uzmacchiato (base)
It had been a while since you and Hiro had gone out anywhere just for fun. Between school, missions, and an overload of assignments, it had been hard to find time for anything that didn’t involve stress. And honestly, ever since you two had started dating, things had gotten a little… complicated.
Not in a bad way– it was just different now. Hiro was still Hiro, he was smart, awkward, and easily flusterable. But something about the new label, about both of you knowing you were in a relationship, made things just a bit more complicated. Your friendship had always been easy. You’d talk for hours about nothing, tease each other, mess around in the lab, and it all felt natural. But now, sometimes, even sitting next to each other felt like too much to think about.
So when the idea of going to the carnival came up, it felt like a good way to reset and bring back the comfortable relationship you used to have.
When it came down to the actual planning and to avoid any more awkward silences or long, nervous pauses, you made sure to invite the whole friend group along this time. Gogo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred all agreed instantly. Hiro didn’t object either– though the slight relief on his face said enough.
As a group, the night started easily. You all took turns choosing rides: Fred wanted the roller coaster, Honey Lemon insisted on the spinning teacups, and Wasabi refused to go near anything that looked “structurally questionable.” You laughed until your stomach hurt, tried every carnival snack in sight, and watched Hiro’s shoulders relax bit by bit as the evening went on.
When you stopped to catch your breath, Gogo and the others decided to check out a food stall across the fairgrounds. You made sure to let them know it was alright for them to go on without you and Hiro when you had seen a perfect solution. You’d noticed the Ferris wheel earlier, but now, seeing it glowing against the sunset, you realized it was the perfect chance to get on.
“Hey,” you said, nudging Hiro. “Wanna go on the Ferris wheel before we leave?”
Hiro froze, blinking. “Just us?”
“Unless you want to drag everyone else back,” you said, giving an unlikely proposition.
He startled, hesitation clear as day and spoke with reluctance. “No, no, that’s fine. Yeah. Let’s, um… go.”
You both joined the short line, and when it was finally your turn, Hiro let you climb in first before following and taking the seat directly across from you. The cart creaked softly as it began to rise. And the silence settled in almost instantly.
It was as bad as it was obvious. You could feel it immediately– the kind of tension that made the air feel heavier than it should. You tried to play it off, focusing on the hem of your sleeve, on the skyline, on anything that wasn’t him. But the higher you went, the more aware you became of every sound, every breath, and just how close he really was even from across from you.
Then, as your eyes wandered aimlessly while trying to bear the tension, you caught sight of the view. You stood straighter and saw the entire city of San Fransokyo beneath you. The city was bathed in an orange light, fading into pinks and golds at the edge of the sky. “Wow,” you murmured before you could stop yourself. “It’s… really beautiful.”
Hiro looked up, his expression softening. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “It is.”
For a while, that was enough to break the stiffness. You both started talking, little things at first like how weird carnival food combinations were, what ride was the best so far, and how Fred nearly lost his shoe on the coaster. The laughter came back, and it slowly started feeling comfortable between the two of you again.
But as the Ferris wheel slowed near the top, the quiet returned. This time, it wasn’t heavy– just delicate, in a way. You glanced at Hiro, your nerves creeping back as you realized you’d have to address the elephant in the room first.
“Hey,” you started, then paused when you realized he’d opened his mouth at the same time.
“You first,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.
You took a breath. “I just… wanted to talk about how things have been. Between us, I mean. It’s been kind of awkward lately, and I don’t want it to keep feeling that way.”
He listened, his eyes glanced down as he wore a thoughtful expression. “Yeah,” he said after a moment. “I’ve felt it too. I didn’t know how to act without making things weird, and I think that made it worse.”
You smiled faintly. “We’re both terrible at this, huh?”
That earned a small laugh from him, soft and honest. “Maybe a little.”
The tension started to ease. Talking about it didn’t solve everything, but it helped. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward anymore– it was way more comfortable, and even calming.
When the ride finally reached the ground, you both stepped out, and the noise of the carnival rushed back in, reminding you that the world hadn’t stopped for the two of you. You spotted Wasabi’s light green sweater somewhere in the crowd and were about to call out when you hesitated.
“Hiro?” you said quietly.
He turned to you, curious. “Yeah?”
You hesitated again, then took a small breath. Might as well shoot your shot before you lose any nerve.
“Can I… hold your hand?” Your poker face broke immediately, as you felt your face heat up exponentially.
Hiro looked at you stunned, while his state of self seemed to reflect yours. “I– yeah. Yes. Yes, you can.”
You smiled, and when your fingers brushed against his, he tensed for half a second before his hand slowly curled around yours. It was warm, shaky, and a little sweaty.
Together, you stepped back into the crowd, weaving through the crowd of people as you searched for your friends. And for the first time in a long while, everything between you two felt normal again.
