Chapter Text
How haruhiko and Nikolai met.
I gasped after colliding with someone around the corner.
BAM!
“Ack—!” I heard a cry as I fell to the floor. Opening my eyes, I saw another student about the same age of me.
We were both on the floor.
Patting myself as I got up, I noticed a keychain on the floor, it must’ve dropped off due to the collision. Wait a minute— taking a closer look, isn’t this one of the characters from the manga I liked?!
That silver haired knight sama! My eyes widened at the realisation, and I took a good look at the student still lying on the floor. Glossy pitch black eyes only having registered the fall. Messy, long hair settling around his shoulders, with dark red glass frames as well as the same uniform as me. Well, excluding my fancy cape.
“You…” I let out subconsciously, causing him to look at me. I glanced back down at the keychain, as he followed my gaze, realising what I was referring to. “Ah- you know him?” The student clumsily responded.
I slowly nodded my head, trying to get a gauge on him. “..what about you?” There’s been plenty of times I had mistaken someone for a serious fan, when it turned out it was just a gift from their friend… I couldn’t let this chance go!
A determined glint seemed to light up in the boy's eye. “Of course I know him! You don’t think I could ever forget the name of the legendary character, Ruto, from” “I got caught up in a guy who got caught up in a saint summoning and the silver haired knight sama wont let me go?!” He almost yelled as he clenched his fists determinedly, before he opened his eyes and blinked up at me. He definitely hadn’t expected me to know the manga either, or yell our the name! A grin made its way onto both of our faces as we came to a realisation.
We were both serious fans of the same niche!
-
I swallowed my food with a gulp.
After our encounter, we both started talking animatedly about the manga and its contents, unexpectedly walking towards a fast food chain.
But it was just our luck since all the walking had made us hungry, so we sat down to eat together while discussing more.
I sneaked a glance towards him as I had just finished my classic cheeseburger. He was still picking at his fries.
“Hey, now that I think about it, we still haven’t exchanged names.” He looked up with a start. He seemed to get startled easily, huh. “Totally! How’d you know it was on my mind?!” I didn’t.
“E-eh, I guess I should start.” He seemed extremely nervous, total whiplash from when he was talking excitedly about the manga. “Ahem! My name is Nikolai Izuru! …Nice to meet you..?” Nikolai Izuru? Strange name, he must be mixed? I realised I was spacing out when I noticed his hesitant gaze.
“Ah, it’s Haruhiko.” I reponded curtly with a nod.
“I noticed we have the same uniform. Are you a 2nd year as well?” “Yes! Wait, as well? We’re the same?!” Honestly, I couldn’t mask my surprise either. ‘I got caught up with a guy who got caught up in a saint summoning and the silver knight sama wont let me go’ was extremely niche. To find a guy who liked it too in real life, went to the same school as me and is the same age? I was a bit skeptical now. He seemed extremely pleased with this development though, so if he were some sort of kidnapper, he hides his emotions extremely well.
“S-so. I know we aren’t in the same class, so what club are you in?” He asked while fiddling with his straw. After our long discussion on the manga, we both seemed to have winded down to more casual talk. “Student council, you?” Although I responded casually, Nikolai’s jaw dropped. “T…the, the student council…?” At my nod, he only seemed to be in more disbelief.
“I can’t believe, it.. n-not to be rude, but now it feels like theres some hope for me! Otakus rule the world right?” He blurted out, before seeming getting embarassed. “Eh, I don’t even know if you’re an otaku, s-sorry…” he seemed to have mumbled under his breath. If I hadn’t strained my ears, I probably wouldn’t have heard him.
I slammed my hands onto the table at his statement, scaring the wits out of him.
“No! Otakus do rule the world!!!” I yelled out loud.
I didn’t want him to feel embarassed for expressing himself, especially when it was a sentiment I shared. Only after I said my piece, I realised we were still in a public place and that everyone was staring. Sinking down into my seat, I covered my head with my hands.
Surprisingly, I heard laughter above me. “Pff- heh..he, hahahahaha! Unbelievable, did you just say that out loud!” He laughed out with a big smile on his face. “Hey now, don’t start laughing when I was trying to save you from your embarrassment!” I said with a flushed face. At that, Nikolai had a small but appreciative smile. “..yeah. In fact, I think we might become great friends.”