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The afternoon air is warm and bright, the kind that makes everything feel a little lighter after sitting inside a café for too long. The four of them spill out onto the sidewalk together, the bell above the café door chiming as it closes behind them.
Kazuichi stretches his arms over his head with a groan. “Man, I’m stuffed. If I eat anything else today, I’m gonna explode.”
Sonia laughs softly, folding her hands in front of her. “I quite enjoyed it. Their pastries were charmingly delicate.”
Hajime hums in agreement, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. “Yeah, it was good. So… mall next?”
Nagito walks just a half-step behind them, hands clasped loosely in front of him, wearing his usual gentle smile. “If that’s where everyone wants to go, then of course. I’ll happily follow along.”
They stop at the edge of the street, waiting for the light to change. Cars rush by, the noise filling the brief lull in conversation. Nagito’s gaze drifts, unfocused at first, just idly taking in the people across the road—shoppers, couples, someone fiddling with their phone.
Then he sees him.
The man stands near the opposite sidewalk, leaning casually against a railing as he waits for the light. There's really nothing interesting about him, hes basically average. Black hair, brown eyes, a simple outfit—dark shirt with plain sweatpants. But what caught Nagito’s eyes was the way the clothes sit on his body that makes Nagito’s breath hitch.
Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A solid, powerful build that looks effortlessly strong.
Nagito freezes.
For a second, everything else fades into the background—the traffic, the voices, even the people beside him. His eyes linger without permission, tracing the man’s silhouette. There’s something grounding and overwhelming about it, like seeing strength so plainly displayed makes his chest feel tight.
Before he can stop himself, he bites his lower lip.
A faint heat creeps up his cheeks, a soft pink blooming there. It’s not dramatic, not obvious to him in the moment—but it’s real. His fingers curl slightly, and his smile falters into something more vulnerable, more honest.
“…Ah,” he breathes quietly, barely audible even to himself.
“Komaeda.”
Kazuichi’s voice snaps him back to reality.
Nagito blinks, startled, realizing far too late that Kazuichi is staring directly at him—eyes narrowed, gears visibly turning. Kazuichi tries to follows Nagito’s line of sight across the street, then back to Nagito’s face.
“…Dude,” Kazuichi says slowly. “What’s with that look?”
Hajime glances over, confused. “What look?”
Sonia tilts her head, curious. “Yes, Nagito? You seem… different.”
Nagito stiffens.
Oh no.
He feels it immediately—the weight of their attention. He tries to school his expression back into its usual calm, self-deprecating smile, but it’s too late. Kazuichi has already seen it. Hajime and Sonia look closer now, eyes catching the faint blush he hasn’t managed to hide.
Kazuichi’s eyes widen. “Are you blushing?!”
“What?” Hajime turns fully toward him now. “Nagito?”
Nagito’s heart stutters. His hands tighten together, and he looks away sharply, gaze dropping to the pavement. “N-No, that’s—ah—” He lets out a nervous laugh. “You must be mistaken. Someone like me wouldn’t—”
Kazuichi whips his head around to find where Nagito’s earlier stare laid. His eyes land on the muscular man across the street just as the guy shifts his weight, stretching his arms slightly.
“…OHHH,” Kazuichi says loudly, pointing. “I get it now.”
Nagito flinches. “Please don’t point—!”
Hajime follows Kazuichi’s finger despite himself. He sees the man instantly, and understanding dawns a beat later. His stomach twists.
Sonia’s eyes widen softly. “Oh my!”
Kazuichi grins like he’s just uncovered the greatest secret in the world. “So that’s your type, huh, Komaeda?”
Nagito’s face burns hotter. “I-It’s not a type! I mean—if it were, it wouldn’t matter anyway! It’s not like someone like me has any right to—”
Sonia steps closer to him, her expression gentle and reassuring. “There is no shame in finding someone attractive, Nagito.” She smiles warmly. “That man is quite handsome. Strong-looking as well. I can see the appeal.”
Nagito peeks up at her, stunned. “Y-You… can?”
“Of course,” Sonia replies easily. “Physical strength can be very admirable.”
Kazuichi’s grin falters instantly. “…Hey, wait, Sonia—”
Hajime doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t tease. He just stands there, staring a little too long at the man across the street before looking back at Nagito.
Something tight settles in his chest.
Nagito likes that?
Hajime glances down at himself without meaning to—his own arms, lean and unremarkable. Not weak, but not built like that either. He swallows, jaw tightening.
“…Huh,” Hajime mutters.
Nagito finally notices the shift in him. “H-Hajime…?”
Hajime looks away quickly. “It’s nothing.”
Kazuichi, meanwhile, crosses his arms with a huff. “Okay, okay, sure, yeah, he’s handsome or whatever, but—” He shoots Sonia a sideways glance. “You didn’t have to agree so fast.”
Sonia blinks. “Am I not aloud to agree?”
Kazuichi flushes, flustered. “I—I mean—!”
The light changes, the signal chirping for pedestrians to cross. The man steps forward with the crowd, moving closer, then passing by them on the opposite side of the street. Nagito’s eyes flick up again, betraying him, just for a second.
Hajime notices.
That second feels longer than it should.
The man disappears into the flow of people, gone as quickly as he arrived. Nagito exhales, shoulders slumping, embarrassment settling in fully now that the moment has passed.
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “I didn’t mean to… draw attention. It was unbecoming.”
Sonia shakes her head. “You did nothing wrong.”
Kazuichi snorts. “Yeah, relax. It was just surprising, that’s all. Didn’t think you had a visible reaction like that.”
Hajime stays quiet as they start walking toward the mall. His steps are a little heavier than before, thoughts churning.
Nagito walks beside him, stealing uncertain glances his way. “Hajime… are you upset?”
Hajime hesitates, then exhales. “…No. Just thinking.”
Nagito nods, accepting that answer, though worry lingers in his eyes.
Behind them, Kazuichi and Sonia bicker softly, each word to come out of Sonia's mouth only makes Kazuichi more jealous, fueling the argument.
And ahead of them, the mall looms—bright, busy, full of distractions that might help everyone forget the brief moment where something honest and unexpected slipped through.