Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kuro sighed tiredly as he walked down the stairs towards his next class.

As he passed, whispers filled the air, he was not concerned with it though. Rumors always were a pain he rather not deal with.

“Brother!” the loud and cheerful voice of Hyde was heard behind him and Kuro sighed again. Something else he didn’t want to deal with. 

Arms wrapped around his neck, almost choking him as Hyde clung to him.

“Brother! My angel is coming back!” Hyde yelled tightening his hold on him. Kuro could barely squeak a “What?”

“Licht! Licht Jekylland Todoroki! My angel, he went away for a whole month! remember?!” Hyde hit him hard on his back with each word, making Kuro lose his balance and almost tripped but was stopped by a hard pull.

I didn’t come to school to be this mistreated. Kuro thought as he turned to face Hyde, ready to give him a piece of his mind. Then came face to face with brown eyes as Mahiru Shirota, the class president and the famous go-to-guy, who frowned at him.

“Be more careful! You could have hurt yourself!” Shirota yelled before rounding him and just like that, walked away. Kuro couldn’t defend himself and blame Hyde, he couldn’t even thank him, only stood there blinking in surprise then groaned annoyed, closing his eyes tightly to try to block Hyde’s laugh out.

“Shut up. I got yelled at because of you.” Kuro hissed. But Hyde only laughed louder.

“Hey! at least he spoke to you! You should be thanking me! ” Kuro instantly opened his eyes and glared at his brother.

“What a pain.” Kuro shook his head, turned and resumed his walk down the stairs.

“You should have seen your face when you realized who it was brother! Priceless.” Hyde elbowed him and Kuro looked down wondering if falling down the stairs would make Hyde shut up.

No, he would start screaming more.

“I was surprised, that was all.”

“Yep, tell yourself that bro. I mean is not like anybody knows that Shirota has you worshiping the floors he steps on.” Hyde said behind his hand, pretending to be telling a secret but for all Kuro knew he could have been holding a speaker.

“What a pain, I don’t even know the guy. What are you so loud for?” Kuro replied.

“Who doesn’t know him?!” Hyde opened the door of their classroom and Kuro cursed as he realized they would be together for three more classes, three more hours of Hyde plus lunch break.

He started to see why people hated Mondays.

“Me.” Kuro threw his bag under his desk and let himself fall face first, hitting the desk, not caring of the pain it caused him and absently hoping that it would knock him out and block Hyde out.

“Don’t be a drama queen! I know you’re dying to be noticed but it’s no reason to hurt yourself!”

Kuro’s shut up was blocked by the desk but he knew Hyde probably heard him. Not that it mattered.

“You could get to know him though.” Kuro hugged his desk tight, he was not going to turn his head to the side and prove Hyde right. “Haven’t you heard the rumors about how many people have dated Shirota? The guy dates a new person every week.”

“He’s not that kind of person.” Kuro murmured staring at a blinking Hyde.

“So protective!” Kuro was then startled at his position facing Hyde and sitting straight. “And he is! But not the kind that you’re thinking!”

Kuro lowered himself against the desk again, gave up on pretending that he was not interested.

“So now you’ll hear? Huh?” Hyde poked him but kept on. “Apparently this thing has been going on since like… a year ago! He dates whoever asks him out, for a week, seven days, and if he doesn’t fall in love with them by day seven, they break up.” Hyde stared pointedly at Kuro as if expecting a reaction that Kuro wasn’t really feeling. He was only confused, could someone truly fall in love with only seven days?

Was that possible?

“Brother, can’t you see?” Hyde yelled taking him by the shoulders and shaking him away from the desk. “The week’s only starting! This is your time to shine! Ask him out!”

“He would break with me in a week’s time, why would I do something so troublesome and pointless?” Kuro asked and ignored the sting the thought made him feel in his chest.

“Because at least you would stop staring uselessly at him like a cat in the shadows and would at least be able to cross a word with the guy!”

“And then I would never be able to speak to him again.” Kuro whispered looking down.

“Why? Plenty of people who tried it are now good friends with him!” Kuro shook his head annoyed at Hyde for not understanding. “That’s how Lily met him!”

“Lily dated him?!” Kuro didn’t know that. How come he didn’t know that?

“How do you think I got to know the rumor is true, huh? I wouldn’t be telling you to try it if I didn’t know from a good source that it is true!” Hyde replied offended.

“Lily dated him?” Kuro repeated feeling strange, almost nauseous.

“Don’t get jealous of our brother, he was doing research, he said Mahiru doesn’t allow kissing or anything else and that once Lily tried to strip it was an absolute no.”

Kuro let go of the breath he didn’t realize he was holding and nodded, looked away and firmly tried to ignore Hyde again.

“It’s Monday, you got a chance and, I would hurry if I was you before someone else does it and you have to be reminded to blink when you do your creepy Shirota observing thing you do for yet another week.”

“He’ll just break up with me.” Kuro whispered, still not looking back at Hyde. There was a sadness taking over him and he didn’t want to give in and have to deal with his own messed up feelings. He felt pathetic.

“Even if that happened, you still would get to speak and be around him for a whole week, and maybe be his friend after. Wouldn’t that be better than just keep watching from afar?” Hyde’s tone became soft, almost pitying and Kuro was mad at himself for letting them see.

“You’re being dramatic, I’m not like you with Licht. If anything I might have a small crush that will fade and it won’t matter.”

“You’re head over heels gone for Shirota. You even called him Mahi, that time when you were telling Lily about how you finally got to cook with him and got to taste first his, and I quote “ way too delicious to be so simple, he has the touch of a god with food, Lily he is perfect husband material, I flushed like mad all the class we teamed up.” Hyde was smiling evilly.

“I never said that.” Kuro cursed under his breath and turned away again.

“You don’t even remember what you said! You were so excited and we have never see you rant like that before but you were all “ Mahi this, Mahi that” holy shit bro, you were babbling about how cool he is.”

“I did not.” All Kuro remembered was telling Lily “He is an annoying, loud, simplistic housewife, a total pain to deal with, but the cookies were good.” As answer on his way to his room when Lily asked, because somehow he found out that he had been assigned with Shirota.

Maybe they were dating that week?

“Yeah, of course.” Hyde was about to say more but a classmate, Koyuki , Kuro reminded himself, asked him about pizza?

“Uh! Brother! Can you be a dear and go wait for the pizza, I vow to give you a slice if you go, please!”

“Why don’t you go? What a pain.”

“I need to go pee.” Hyde whispered and was only then that Kuro noticed his fidgeting.

“I want two slices.” Kuro sighed taking the money from Hyde.

“You’re the best!” Hyde yelled rushing out of the classroom.

Kuro tried to ignore his feelings and more importantly his own thoughts as much as he could. Between his self-hatred, insecurities and that small hopeful idea from Hyde, his head was a mess.

“What you did was disgusting, you are disgusting. Don’t ever get anywhere near me again, monster!”

No, he didn’t need someone else telling him that again. He was alright. All he needed to do is wait for Shirota to leave his head.

He walked out of the school and sat on the ground, thankfully there were enough clouds allowing him some protection from the burning sun.

“Hello Kuro!” Kuro will deny the jump he made at Shirota’s voice on his deathbed.

“Hello.” Kuro murmured barely turning his head up to look at Shirota.

“Are you waiting for something?”

“Pizza, you?”

“Oh me too!”

Mahiru smiled brightly at him and Kuro couldn’t respond, he was busy shutting down the little voice telling him to do it.

“I…uh…Shirota…” Kuro was interrupted by loud music. Shirota was startled for a moment then excused himself and turned to answer the call. Kuro contemplated him all the while. Maybe it wasn’t a secret that he did observe the guy a bit too often, but what else could he do?

Mahiru radiated warmth, he was always happy to help others, even if he didn’t known them. There was always a smile on his face and it was Kuro’s favorite since he transferred there. The shining amber eyes, soft looking brown hair and pale skin had him on a trance until the loud yell of the pizza man woke him out.

“Finally! I’ve been making noise for a while kid! About time you woke up!”

Embarrassed, Kuro apologized and paid.

“There’s five missing.” The man said staring exasperated at Kuro.

“That’s all my brother gave me.” Kuro cursed Hyde again and searched on his pokes, only for show since he knew he didn’t have any money with him.

“Take it from what I gave you.” Shirota interrupted.

“Thank you, I’m sorry, I didn’t ask how much it was before coming out.” Kuro hold tightly the box on his hands and vowed to ask Licht to kick Hyde out of the country.

“No problem! It has happened to me too.” Shirota moved to leave and Kuro stared at his back.

Don’t

“Shirota!” He called out, heart raising.

Stop

“Kuro, I’ve told you to call me Mahiru.” Shirota, no, Mahiru turned to look at him.

This

“Will you…”

Won’t

“Date” Kuro bit his lower lip and looked away.

End

“Me?”

Well.

“Yes.”

Chapter Text

“Yes”

Kuro blinked.

Mahiru said yes.

The phrase circled through Kuro’s mind.

Mahiru had taken his pizza, flashed a quick smile at Kuro and walked away while Kuro stood there barely holding the pizza for his brother wondering what that strange ringing in his ears was.

“Brother!” It seemed as if Hyde had been speaking to him for quite a while but Kuro could only hear “yes” echoing inside his brain.

What now?

The question surprised him, even when it was his brain asking.

“Mahiru said yes,” Kuro whispered, so low and slow that he hoped his brain would kick start the answer out of him.

“You asked…? OMG brother you actually asked Shirota out?!” 

“I did.” Kuro affirmed more to himself than Hyde. 

“That 's amazing! I'm so happy for you brother! What are you going to do this week?” A smirking Hyde sat in front of him 

“I don't know, I just asked, I never thought he would say yes,”

Kuro scratched his cheek nervously.

“Kuro!” A cheerful voice which could not belong to anyone but Mahiru Shirota called everyone's attention.

Every single person in the classroom turned to look between the door where Mahiru stood and Kuro. Confused and curious whispers already filled the space between them.

“Go, brother go!” Hyde, pushed from his chair to grip Kuro's uniform and forcibly made him stand up then pushed him towards Mahiru.

“Hey,” Kuro tried his best to smile at Mahiru but he was sure it came out as a grimace.

“Hi, Kuro, Do you have anything else to do? I mean, another class, club or something?” Mahiru smiled up at him, with ease that Kuro did envy as much as loved.

Liked. Liked.

“No, I don't, why?”

“I just thought we could go together to get something to eat. If you want, of course.” Mahiru was suddenly shy and Kuro's heart skipped a beat.

“Yes, I could eat.” Him! Hyde shouted from somewhere behind Kuro.

Mahiru looked amused, moving to the side to look behind Kuro, and Kuro quickly moved to block his view. The last thing he needed was Mahiru having to indulge Hyde's shenanigans.

A few minutes later Kuro found himself walking beside the guy he had been admiring for almost six months after transferring schools.

Mahiru had been the one showing him around. A job Mahiru assigned to himself after noticing a lost Kuro walking through the exact opposite building where he should have been going.

That coupled with Mahiru’s weird and sudden pops ups whenever Kuro needed help made Kuro’s usual distant demeanor open up to allow Mahiru’s constant chats and smiles to worm past Kuro's walls.

Kuro was no stranger to feeling longing for someone and he knew very well what his feelings for Mahiru were. It didn't mean he ever saw himself actually doing something about them.

Something as simple as walking next to Mahiru wasn't even a dream for him. He expected someone like Mahiru to fall for someone cheerful and kind like Mahiru himself. Someone compatible. Which was why Kuro often scolded himself whenever the brief illusion found its way through his mind.

Yet, walking beside Mahiru was where he found himself.

The silence was not as suffocating as Kuro had expected. In a way Mahiru already knew Kuro's weak point was his perpetual silence. It was their companion whenever they were paired up in some class.

“We could go to the arcade!” The instant crawl of his skin made Kuro flinch.

The thought alone of going to a loud, crowded place where he wouldn't know what to do with himself let alone the machines which probably would make him embarrass himself in front of Mahiru…

One hour later

Kuro had fallen twice, almost fell like five times, had hit himself with a door, lost every game he tried to play because the noise was too loud and the lights around him made him blink every two seconds. 

Kuro had told Mahiru to wait for him so he could go hide and breathe for five minutes in the bathroom for the third time when Mahiru finally snapped.

“You know you could just say you want to leave,” Mahiru looked rightfully pissed and Kuro wondered if there had been someone who didn't even last the week.

Out there, the students must have a record of the worst people that have dated Mahiru. Kuro was about to break it.

“You know, I never asked the rules for this sort of thing.” Kuro commented.

“Rules?”

“Yeah, I mean I get this is kind of a date thing, a week will go by in the blink of an eye, it would be best if I knew what not to do.” Kuro babbled. 

“It's not like that Kuro!” Mahiru looked pissed and Kuro regretted every choice he made that landed him there. “I just hate when someone clearly doesn't want to do something but just keeps quiet and goes along with it. It's unfair for both parties.”

They stared at one another in the middle of a suffocating silence.

“There's a small noodle place around here, like I said I could eat,” Mahiru stared at him, then nodded.

The small noodle place Kuro frequented was, thankfully, almost empty, they sat down, ordered and started eating, all in silence.

What a pain Kuro thought as he observed Mahiru play with his noodles.

“Mahiru, we don't have to eat this if you want something else,” 

“The food is good, that's not the problem.”

Ah, it is me then

“We don't have to do anything else if you don't want to,” Kuro was not surprised, it still hurt.

“Well is late, we should be going to our homes,” 

“I meant as for the rest of the week as well,” might as well give him a way out.

“What? Why?”

“You look upset,” before Kuro could explain further Mahiru interrupted him with a tone that he wasn't expecting.

“I'm upset because you were uncomfortable and you didn't think to just tell me! If you don't want to do something it is okay to just say so!”

“I just wasn't expecting to go there, the noise and so many people irked me, I didn't want to bother you!” Kuro answered.

Mahiru sighed loudly, and then laughed.

“We need to communicate better, we both wanted to be nice and ended at the opposite end,” Mahiru smiled at Kuro, “let's just be honest about that kind of thing, alright? Let's just discuss plans beforehand.”

Kuro found himself smiling back and when Mahiru sent him a “Good morning 🌞” text at 7am the next morning, after they exchanged contacts the night before, Kuro was extremely honest about not being a morning person and quickly went back to sleep.

Chapter Text

Cooking has never been Kuro’s strong suit; cooking with Mahiru next to him has always provided a double edged knife experience.

Kuro can feel so comfortable and at ease following Mahiru’s simple instructions that their assignments get perfect grades and Kuro delicious desserts with a proud smile from Mahiru on the side…

Or it could be like the scene in front of him:

A high flame burning bright red mixed with orange and a touch of blue at the bottom blows heat towards him, Kuro is petrified.

It wasn't the first time that Kuro has fucked up while cooking with Mahiru.

It is easy sometimes when Kuro gets carried on the borderline nagging instructions and hurried preparations when Mahiru gets fretting over the limit and cooking to perfection. 

But times like this? 

When Mahiru gives a sweet smile his way whenever he catches Kuro staring and Kuro scratches his cheek nervously looking away or when he corrects Kuro firmly but patiently while taking his hand on his and directing Kuro each step at a time…Kuro tents to get clumsy and uncoordinated, fucking up step after step so fast that it looks like a marathon.

The fire alarm is blasting somewhere, he can only hear it in the back of his mind alongside the yelling of his classmates and teacher. Mahiru left him alone for a couple minutes, Kuro tried to help and now somewhere outside is Mahiru hurt after the blast of Kuro's oil bomb.

And Kuro can't move, he is frozen staring through the flames at the spot where Mahiru was standing before it all went to hell.

Kuro can't even recall what exactly he did. The scene is on replay in his mind, at the forefront of his head resounds Mahiru's scream, the panic in his eyes when he looked at Kuro that last second.

Someone is trying to move him, he doesn't feel them but he's aware that someone is speaking to him, pulling at him, grabbing his arm and sinking their nails through his hoodie to try and make him move.

But he can't, he can't.

“Kuro! Listen to me!” The flames are blossoming into a subtle light orange, “you're having a panic attack,” the heat is intense, “stop fighting us!” He needs to take Mahiru's bag, he can't leave it, Mahiru will be upset if his books and homework burn. He doesn't know when he started throwing things around in order to get to it but it feels like his soul still stands in front of the fire while his body trashes and claws his way out of the person trying to pull him away from the room and goes back for Mahiru's bag.

“Were you trying to die?!” Hyde yells minutes after, Kuro is clutching the side of Mahiru's bag between his fingers. Hyde has been screaming at him for a while but all he can see are red, orange, blue flames and wide hazel eyes.

Kuro spends the second day of the week inside the ambulance and in the principal’s office. 

They didn't expel him, but his suspension and Mahiru's recovery might take away the week.

Why would Mahiru want you near him after that disaster anyway?

Chapter Text

Mahiru was worried.

Misono hadn't given back his phone and he didn't know what happened to Kuro after the accident.

“I hope he's not in too much trouble.” Mahiru sighed, looking towards the night sky, moon shining bright through his window.

“I hope he is! You got burns on your hands and face Mahiru!” Misono yelled, standing with a tray of food at the door.

“It wasn't his intention, Misono!” Mahiru looked down, his hands were covered by bandages. The doctor had given him enough meds to keep the pain low, just a slight throbbing when he moved them. 

“That guy was careless and his stupidity could have ended worse. I was told that the fire reached the curtains and spread for half the room, you are lucky to have minor injuries.” Misono sat the tray on his nightstand and looked him down.

“It was a mistake, anyone could have made it.” Mahiru whispered, wondering just how Kuro was holding up. He probably felt guilty and had to go through a lot that afternoon.

“Do you know if Kuro was injured?” Mahiru pleaded, “Can you give me my phone back, I need to know if he's alright.”

Misono sighed and shook his head, “why are you so worried about that guy?” Misono took his phone out of one pocket.

“He's probably thinking and feeling things he shouldn't. It was a mistake.” Mahiru quickly found Kuro' contact and started writing.

Are you ok? Kuro, I am fine, just text me as soon as you can, please 

A cough pulled him away from staring at the screen, “Is he this week's experiment?”

“It is not an experiment, Misono, we talked about this!” Mahiru tried to keep his voice down. Oh how much he disliked when people thought of dates with him like that. Even Kuro had spoken like it was a given that it would only be a week.

“Alright, is he your boyfriend?” Misono asked, with the most exasperated tone he could do.

“Yes,” And wasn't that a wishful thought. To find that one person and for it to be Kuro. Mahiru had a fondness for Kuro since the day they met, but the idea to date him had not ever crossed his mind, yet somehow when Kuro asked for them to go out, part of him seemed to whisper finally.

“Why is it so hard for you to be normal?” Misono tiredly passed his hand over his eyes and stared at him after with a resigned look.

“Why is it so hard for you to be more positive? I want to believe that the person I'll fall for is out there, isn't it simple just to date someone and get closer to the one by knowing who isn't it?”

“I don't think that's how that works, Mahiru.” Misono's answer echoed, shadowed by the loud noise of his ringtone.

I'm sorry Kuro answered.

Are you ok? Mahiru sent again,

I'm fine, just a couple burns, I'm sorry Mahiru, I don't know how it got to that 

It's okay, it was a mistake.

I hurt you.

It wasn't intentional, Kuro, accidents happen.

I'm sorry, 

I need you to understand that it's fine, I'm okay, it was an accident.

Why are you being kind to me? I burnt you

It was a mistake

A response didn't arrive for many minutes. Mahiru stared at his phone screen and realized that he'll have to get to Kuro.

Misono coughed loudly and Mahiru looked up. Misono was not going to help him. Lily, he could ask Lily.

A message interrupted his planing.

I'm suspended for the rest of the week.