Chapter 4: Awakening

The memory of that night lingered, a sweet afterglow that seemed to permeate every waking moment for Izuku. He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder, a sense of awe, at the way Hitoshi had awakened a part of him that he never knew existed. As he went about his day, he found himself stealing glances at Hitoshi, his heart skipping a beat as their eyes met. Hitoshi, too, seemed to be basking in the afterglow of their encounter. He moved with a newfound confidence, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint that made Izuku's heart flutter. Izuku couldn't help but wonder what Hitoshi had planned for their next encounter, and he found himself eagerly anticipating the next time they would be alone together. As the days passed, Izuku began to notice that Hitoshi was growing increasingly distant, his mind preoccupied with something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. At first, Izuku thought it was just his imagination, but as the days turned into weeks, he began to realize that something was amiss. One evening, as they sat on the couch, Hitoshi's eyes fixed on some distant point, Izuku reached out and gently touched his arm. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. Hitoshi's eyes snapped back into focus, and he turned to Izuku, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm just a little...preoccupied, that's all," he said, his voice vague. Izuku's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew that Hitoshi was hiding something from him, and he was determined to find out what it was. As they sat there, the silence between them grew thicker, until finally, Izuku couldn't take it anymore. "Hitoshi, I know something's going on," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You can tell me, you know that." Hitoshi's eyes locked onto Izuku's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Then, slowly, Hitoshi's face relaxed, and he reached out, his fingers wrapping around Izuku's. "I've been offered a job," he said, his voice low and husky. "A job that requires me to travel, to be away from here for extended periods of time." Izuku's heart sank, a cold dread creeping up his spine. He had known that Hitoshi's work was unstable, that he often had to travel for his job, but he had never thought about how it would affect their relationship. "Where would you have to go?" Izuku asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Hitoshi's eyes locked onto his, filled with a deep sadness. "I'm not sure," he said. "It could be anywhere. But I have to take it, Izuku. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I couldn't live with myself if I passed it up." Izuku felt a pang of fear, a sense of loss that he couldn't quite articulate. He knew that he and Hitoshi were still in the early stages of their relationship, but he couldn't help but feel a deep connection to him, a connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. As they sat there, the silence between them grew thicker, until finally, Izuku spoke up, his voice firm but uncertain. "I'll come with you," he said, his heart pounding in his chest. Hitoshi's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Then, slowly, Hitoshi's face relaxed, and he reached out, his fingers wrapping around Izuku's. "Would you really do that for me?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion. Izuku nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yes, I would," he said, his voice firm. "I want to be with you, no matter what." As they sat there, their hands entwined, Izuku knew that he had made a decision that would change his life forever. He was ready to take a leap of faith, to follow Hitoshi into the unknown, no matter what lay ahead.