"I DO IT BECAUSE YOU CHANGE ME. YOU MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON."

~☾☘︎︎☽~

"Um," Ania said, her hands leaving mine and hovering awkwardly near her chest. "I'll ah, I'll leave you to it."

"Aina!" I whisper shouted as she stood up, "Aina don't you dare leave, Aina!" She walked out the door, past Iida and I watched as she winked at me through the glass walls.

I narrowed my eyes at her through the glass, watching as she walked away, most likely towards a vending machine.

"Don't want to be alone with me?" Iida asked, taking small steps toward me, wringing his hands. "I understand completely."

"No! It's not that, I just..." I looked at him as he stared at me, cracking a small smile. "Ok yes it is that, but can you blame me? We both professed our love for each other in a matter of less than twenty-four hours and we've known each other for only a few minutes more than that. It's not an ideal situation."

He sat down in the seat Aina was in, leaning forward on my hospital bed. I sat myself up, crossing my legs and looking down at him.

"I understand, if you'd like me to leave I will."

"No, I don't want you to leave." I said, putting my hand on his. "Unless you want to leave, then feel free!" I exclaimed in a hurry, pulling my hand away, "I don't want to chain you down!"

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"A lady shouldn't be alone right now. Not in your state."

"Well thank you, my humble prince." I smiled at him, the awkward atmosphere melting away. "Hey, Iida. Can I ask you a bit of a weird question?"

He nodded, looking at me intently and adjusting his glasses on his face. He looked exactly like he did the first day I saw him at the Sport's Festival. The only difference was the slight stubble on his chin and tired look in his eyes.

"Why do you act so... rigid? I'm not trying to be rude, but you always act to proper. But when you're around me, you're more laid back. Why?" I looked down, playing with the heart rate monitor on my finger.

"That sounds like two questions." He said, clearing his throat.

"Well then, I'm expecting two answers." He laughed at my words, making me look back at him.

Who in the hell gave him the right to be so pretty?

"Well, as you probably know, my older brother was the first Ingenium." It was his turn to look down at his hands, but instead of fiddling with his fingers he clenched his fists as hard as he could. "I looked up to him through my entire childhood and I wanted to be just like him. And Tensei always followed the rules, so I thought that if I followed and enforced the rules, I would be just like Tensei. But when I'm with you," he swiftly looked up at me, eyes softening when they reached mine.

"I'm comfortable. They say you're a different person around the people you love. And I'm different with you, (L/N). I've never done anything irrational in my life, except for that one time in Hosu, but I can tell you that story later. But you make me want to do everything I thought I never would." He reached over, wrapping my hand in his and squeezing as lightly as possible.

My eyes widened and I felt my cheeks get warm. The consistent beeping of the heart monitors sped up slightly. "You can't just say stuff like that, Iida!"

"That's what I'm saying!" He chuckled. "I would never just grab someone's hand, or proclaim my love like I did with anyone else! I do it because you change me. You make me a better person."

"Iida," I put my hand on top of his, rubbing my thumb across his hand. I open my mouth to say something, but close it when I find I can't think of what to say.

"Yes?"

"You're not fair." He widens his eyes in alarm. "I always have something to say, it's not fair that you leave me speechless." I slap my hand over my mouth when I realize what I said, looking down at my lap out of utter embarrassment.

"That's exactly what I mean (L/N)! We change each other!" He exclaimed, smiling. It was strange to see him smile. He never really smiled on television, not like this. This smile was real. He smiled with his whole face, making my chest feel warm.

"So what if we do change each other?" I said, my voice muffled by my hand that was still placed firmly on my face.

"Well, what if," he chuckled, "this is weird, I've never done this before, what if we gave this a try? Gave us a try?" My eyes widened at his words, this was not the Ingenium I knew.

"Iida, I don't... wait a minute, you've never done this before? Have you never been on a date before?" Iida started stammering, flustered that he was out on the spot.

"Well, that shouldn't matter! If anything, you should view it as romantic!" He looked down, hiding his face but not letting go of my hand.

"Oh, I should?" I asked playfully, holding back my laughter.

"Yes! It's like I was saving myself for you!" I burst out into laughter, Iida soon joining me. We laughed and laughed, throwing our heads back and letting tears fill our eyes.

When I finally looked out the windows that were my walls, I saw there were nurses and doctors looking in, looking rather worried. I disregarded their stares, looking back down to the blue haired male below me.

"Ok." I said. "Let's give us a try."

One more chapter!

Iida is so out of character in this book oh my god.

I love you all 💞💞💞

Over and out.