Chapter Text
Chapter 1: What is between us is nothing more than an illusion
“..The heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good, and [that] thanks to this artifice we manage to endure the burden of the past”
― Love in the Time of Cholera
700 Years ago
Atsumu came down to the ground, holding a chipped sake cup in his hand, relishing the bright moon that shone him beautifully. “Samu….”
Osamu quickly trodded in his fox form, his grey fur shimmering in the moon- before he morphed to his rather handsome man, which his reflection reflect his fox form. “Atsu….” He wiped the blood dribbled in his mouth, feeling sick to his stomach that he locked lips with another woman in a nearby pavilion. “It has been 500 years since you decided to wager with the mountain god to be human….”
“You know that old geezer, if he is in the best mood would allow us mercy, otherwise we would be transformed into evil entities determined to eat women’s livers and gallbladders…” Atsumu chuckled to Osamu “But I am thankful he is such a pretty face….”
Osamu nearly retched at the rather scandalous comment of Atsumu, perhaps he drank too much of that cup, quickly snatching it away from his hands. “It is not like I am trapped with you at a cave, given a diet of raw garlic cloves and mugwort, to make us human….”
Atsumu grinned madly, leaning his head on his brother “That….” Atsumu took the time to drink that sake cup. “That was…actually horrible, who would survive this shit…”
“You….”
Atsumu shrugged his shoulders. “Samu, be kind to your soon-to-be former fox brother….”, pinching his cheeks like a chubby baby. “I simply figure a way to sustain my energy by…well…carnal means…..you are the other hand the prettiest bitch….. you can simply seduce any human and you will be human”
His reason for being human, is to share an experience, though fleeting.
And yet he could never.
He might as well bargain with the stupid mountain god to give him more time.
///////
Kita, meanwhile read his book pensively, and his grandmother Yumie glanced at him. “Shin-chan….”, pushing him a plate of pickles and rice balls
He blinked a little, to see Yumie nudging him. “Please eat up, you cannot be simply reading books all of the time…”
“Sorry grandma….” Kita pouted a little. He must go way too deep on reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love at the Time of Cholera. “This book which was lent from Aran, I cannot understand that obsessive love…..It feels….frightening ”
“To compare love as a disease that it eat you…” Kita quietly closed it, only barely glancing at a strange quote
“He is ugly and sad... but he is all love.”
Yumie sat to him quietly. “Shin-chan….You cannot rush the process….”
Kita quietly munched that little rice ball, relishing its vinegary taste. “There are things that proves to be mysterious, and sometimes, the gods if they think it is fated, they will lead it.”
And as if the gods decided to play a mischievous trick on Kita.
A sudden text flashed on his phone
Hey Kita.
Aran? Kita thought to himself. Does he need my help?
Bad news, Ginjima just broke up with his girlfriend on the phone. Should we go to his house to comfort him?
Kita texted him back.
Oh….I will come.
“Grandma…I am sorry….” Kita bowed to her. “Well, it..is that my friend broke up with his girlfriend….” Yumie quietly nodded to him. “I know….but….whatever you do, just be gentle with him…..” Quietly she clapped her hands in prayer for the unspoken forces.
Gods, watch over my Shin-chan….He is a good boy but he needs to see….
The mountain spirit Suna stared at Yumie.
Old lady….why did you ask the impossible…
“That is going to be interesting, if I did this on this boy…then….” He rubbed his chin, ignoring the yelling of another voice. “I wonder…who…” He recalled many aeons ago about a moony-eyed fox who observed sadly of humans laughing in great company.
No that could not work.
Wait it could….
Suna watched Kita receive a bento box of freshly made rice balls and the other hand that dog-eared book, stuck with rice grains.
Did this guy read this?
Suna gave a tsk on his lips.
Humans are weird…..Hmmm what should I do…
Kita picked up the call “Hey Aran, grandma gave me a bento box of rice balls for Ginjima…..I make my way to the convenience store to buy some drinks….”
“Yeah…..”
Little did Kita know that a certain Kitsune would be there at the same store, hungry perhaps….
////
Kita calmly place the basket full of different drinks and snacks in the convenience store which will go well with the sorrows of Ginjima, he did not mind the quiet hum of the freezers and the beeping of the microwaves. It seems so peaceful until he saw a grey-haired young man-Osamu examining the package of yakisoba over and over again.
“Hey….well the cashier is at the…..”
Osamu blinked at him. “Oh….I….I….”, little did he know that Kita walked by the cashier, quietly placing the cans, bottles and dried snacks on the table.
“They do not bite….” Kita quietly simpered to him. “It is nice when they reheat it for you…”
Suna meanwhile sneaks by the fridge to snatch a bottled milk tea, only to bump into Daichi chugging another round of bottled coffee drinks. “I know….I know you have good intentions for the fox…..but we cannot meddle that much…..”
“Alright….” Suna quietly opened that bottle of milk tea, allowing its sweetness to travel to his tongue. “I think he is good-looking, but he is just hopeless….I would be laughing from hell if he got that human….”
Little did Suna know that Osamu gave a quick bow to Kita.
‘Thanks….’
For that moment, Osamu felt his heart pierce a little over a small act of kindness from this white-haired man.
A/N: Soooo hello there!!!! I hope you are well and safe- in case why I decide to cave to these two, I have been a Haikyuu fan since like late Jan/Feb since I went to Osaka/Kyoto in Jan and seeing so many merchandise of Haikyuu and watching it. What I dabble in is much shorter pieces in Haikyuu which I am scared as hell- as there are so many damn good writers in the fandom, I decided that I want to try a longer piece and Osakita become my little obsession which amplify more when I got Covid this year 🤣, IDK why I always feel that they gave me that Studio Ghibli-esque vibe and coincidentally I am watching this adorable K-Drama (what a shocker) My Roommate is a Gumiho, which I love the plot too much, so it has been a plot bunny to do that story, but however I have to Frankenstein it, to make it more substantial per say.
I hope you enjoyed this little story of mine which I will try to do time after time!!
Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The loneliness never left me, and I enjoy the pleasure of your company.
Summary:
Osamu thinking of that encounter with the rice-coloured hair human-Shinsuke Kita, which he accidentally passed something precious to him 👀
Title from No Choir by Florence + The Machine
Notes:
Sooo thank you all, who read my tiny offering- I want to actually get this started because I am obsessed with this story and its humour. There is a lot of meat, which we talk about Osamu's past encounter with Suna! Atsumu living in his cheerful oblivion world, and of course the beginning of all troubles.
I am so sorry if it is a little bit of a slow burn but I enjoy them so much!!
(You may notice a little too much later that the story title is based on High as Hope by Florence+ The Machine, which is actually my theme song for Miya Osamu)
Chapter Text
Chapter 2: The loneliness never left me, and I enjoy the pleasure of your company.
During the whole journey back home, Osamu holding the plastic bag of the Yaki-soba like a precious treasure, caught up with his unusual habit of people-watching, he did not know why- but for eons of time, Osamu had this habit of watching ‘humans’ expressions,-making assumptions how are they feeling, did someone face a heavy burden, or perhaps they are elated to meet a lover or a friend, regardless, he thought of that white-haired man which he met by the konibini, it was perhaps not one of the romantic places in centuries, or decades, but there is a simplicity that the white-haired man held in one little action.
That echoed over and over again, and he cursed himself for actually not observing the habit of actually paying for his instant yaki-soba.
That is until, he received a text from another man- Atsumu, which he labelled him as “Former Pox”
SAMUUUUU
Osamu stared at the text, giving a blank expression, a moment to think over.
You finally text.
Atsumu as usual, blurted something random to Osamu which is accompanied by a new sickly sweet selfie of Sakusa (He frowned at why he was wearing his mask when the weather is fine) hanging out at some stupid posh cafe with a tall tower of parfait, and Atsumu’s lips slicked with lip gloss giving a duck face, which he chronicled his story, worried that he will be late for their twice a month dates if he is not caught up in his uncle’s sake brewery.
Osamu instantly kept his phone in his pocket, and instead teleported himself to the ticket gate. That is enough people watching this evening. Osamu thought to himself unaware that a cloud of smoke disoriented the passengers that a smoke alarm blared through the carriage.
Osamu heaved quietly, passively took his transport card out, tapping in on the gate, relieved that the strange warmth in his hands from the recently heated yaki soba is still present, perhaps that is an advantage for 520-year-old fox that if he ever felt uncomfortable, he could manifest in his mind that he wished to spirit himself away to another venue. For now, it is a way to keep his mind off Atsumu’s badly applied lipgloss lips and a cheeky caption. “Look how cute we are #blackcatgoldenretriverenergy.”. He felt a little better when he reached for the small rows of shops, continuing his habit to watch people, with some kindly shopkeepers entertaining customers, one or two shopowners cleaning the surroundings, and one shop with a derelict sign, which had a faded notice telling the elderly customers that the owner went for a holiday. However, it seems that no one bat an eyelid on Osamu, other than a rare hello, as he scurry to his apartment building, blinded a little by the fluorescent light, with his shadow cascading on the floor.
Deep breath.
He followed himself to the sterile lift, pressing the “7” button, just staring at the blinking numbers that reached to that apartment. It is not too long ago like 2 years ago that he was handed the keys to the apartment by the owner of an onigiri shop that he used to patronize by an indifferent granddaughter in a funeral, claiming he could do whatever it was in this apartment, quoting her ‘Look for an eternally young man with grey hair”.
It was a dark and gloomy evening, Osamu recounted quietly in his mind, taking the keys out of his coat pocket, thinking how an indifferent granddaughter sounded like that god he met at the in-between.
Sounds like that weird god.
He focused himself not to think about the past encounter, and instead open the apartment door, to be welcomed with the aroma of burnt cigarettes from the previous owner, and light cascading strange shadows inside the apartment.
“I’m home, Take-san….”
Osamu gazed at the photo of Take as a handsome young man,grinning ear to ear for a happier prospect.
He plopped the coat unto the worn-out couch, switching on the lights, showing the extent of the apartment, Figments of Take-san littered the apartment, with him grinning proudly at the little shop on its last day before it closed with his loyal customers, along with Osamu wearing thick glasses staring at the camera sadly, faded posters of old samurai movies, a telephone clung to a layer of dust, contrasted with the mementoes of his past that he managed to keep mum from that old owner, like scrolls of ancient poetry he wrote to impress a fellow fox, but his heart taken away, a flute kept in the glass cabinet ,a posed portrait of Osamu wearing his finest suits, which gave little away to his kitsune past. All cluttered with stories to tell and yet.
Some are too painful to think about in his mind.
Yet.
Yet.
There is no one to tell, or hear.
The dull reflection of the bathroom mirror in his house gazed at him alone, unlike Atsumu who simply danced with carnality like an old lover, barely gazed at his fox form reflecting back on him, thankfully fogged by the steam.
After Osamu took a shower, now dressed in a college t-shirt and boxer, he forced himself to settle into a simple tv, flicking the T.V remote to a stupid variety show, slurping his noodles to the exuberant sounds of host daring comedians to reenact scenes but in different annotations, it was simple to keep himself distracted from the kindness of a white-haired stranger, However he grew bored by the content, only to switch it off to gaze at that fox shadow in the bright light.
“Tsumu, you are lucky, you are easy to please…” Osamu chewed through the noodles watching through the crazy antics of the host, recounting a time that was 500 years ago, with a mountain god who did not behave like a saint, but a drunkard. He gazed over the dimly lit park with the swings in the children’s playground moving up and down, which he could guess is a god taking a form of a child to live merrily, it seems dull comparing to the beautiful garden where the lanterns glimmer like fireflies in a summer’s night, perhaps a century ago which he in his fox form saw Atsumu languidly painting little dots at the sides of his mouth into polished glass, smiling quietly on his handsomeness “You know that it will make you like the fool…”
“And the fool I shall be…”
Atsumu came off as glorious in a crismon furisode with flowers floating around his back, and his neck tied with a red rope, Osamu sighed a little, as Atsumu took a fan to conceal the dots in his mouth, and waved to him goodbye. “At least I could put on a show….unlike you, no wonder why our clan disassociated with you” Then again Osamu was left alone, quietly transformed into his human form, wearing a simple navy kimono, gazing at the fading lanterns, and he decided as a distraction to walk around between the spirits who led joyful parades, and gods without objects to be bound, simply wander aimlessly.
Suddenly he gazed at a young man with small slitty eyes and his hand pointed like a mane on the street, rubbing his cheek between his knuckles.
“Ahh….”
Osamu blinked a little, to see that his daydreaming led him to a period drama of samurai barking orders to keep their honour. Boring. Perhaps I should not be hunched over watching this dull shit. Osamu thought to himself as he switched the television off, only to hear the hum of the fan, promptly throwing the empty yaki-soba container into the neatly lined dustbin. Perhaps he should retire for the evening but instead, he felt stifled in his apartment, perhaps one day- he should actually spring clean this apartment, part some treasured goods from Take-san or perhaps.
Perhaps.
Perhaps.
His thoughts went blank, perhaps I should walk it out, Osamu thought to himself, Fresh air will do me some good, as he searched through the wardrobe for another set of clothes,taking out a weathered navy blue sweater, a white t-shirt (which thankfully did not have moths chewing his closet), and dark jeans, fitting for a chilly spring night.
Osamu examined his hands slipping onto the simple white socks onto his human feet,lost in memory of that slitty-eyed stranger.
“Could you help me out….” The stranger squeaked a little. Osamu chewed his lip a little, as he grabbed his hand, only to feel a gentle pulse of energy in his veins. He is no ordinary human, nor he is one of the youkai that parade themselves in the twilight, and yet the stranger quietly flicker his energy to something good-natured. “Fox….”
“How do you know I am one…”
The stranger chuckled a little. “I am just attuned Fox …unfortunately I am kicked out from a previous district, and I am planning to go to another, less chaotic per say….” He pressed his finger unto his lips. “Just call me Suna.”
The stranger, now in Osamu’s mind, Suna shook his hand firmly with a slight smirk. “I am usually up to my tricks….” Suna shrugged his shoulders, gazing over the maikos with their bare napes walking gracefully amidst the light Suna whispered to him. “You see fox, you will make a pretty woman…because the big bosses will discount my price thinking I am your lover with your powers.” Osamu frowned a little. That seems suspicious, Osamu thought to himself, observing Suna grinning happily at the aroma of stewed pork innards, and one youkai with a mask perched on his head chewing the fats of the meat. “Fox, you helped me out by actually noticing me, instead of kicking me in the face or spitting vulgarities,” Suna smirked a little. “You can help me back, let’s say- how we test a round of drinks with you as this handsome form…” He snapped his fingers triggering Osamu’s transformation from a grey-haired gentleman to a rather sleek womanly form, a merchant’s daughter with small pins in her hair “And much later…as a woman and we will see if the prices went down…”
“That is cheating!” Osamu sighed a little, bathing himself in smoke into his masculine form. “I will not do that….I just…want…” However, Suna slowly pulls out a silk pouch with heavy coins that jingle like the getas worn by the entertainers. “I bet you are short on cash, based on your simple wares….I would wager a mon to see if these owners will give me a discount.”
Osamu felt the warmth of the mon in his hand. “And what if not, Suna…” Suna shrugged his shoulders, “Then we shall part ways, and I bet you will be spending 5000 years Fox, simply pouting at the rain, with little company…” He quietly took away the mon from his hand. “And not being able to enjoy the food cooked by the best, and indeed the very best….”
The word ‘company’ stung Osamu’s heart. Suna smirked quietly sliding the mon back in his hands. “Fox, you seem silent like the wordless moon….” Osamu slipped that mon into his pocket, mumbling upon Suna’s shift in his eyes and his inner thought. That should be so fun…
“Your definition of fun is amusing.” Suna smiled a little “Better than your pouting Fox.”
Osamu mumbled quietly “I do have a name, that is not Fox, Osamu”, which he showed the bushy tail. Suna frowned a little. “Osamu, means to rule right? Or to cure?”, he gazed over his moony eyes “Whatever I said, take heart I did not intend to harm you, and I think I have an idea where to go…” Osamu saw Suna’s aura changed a little, where they are quickly transported into a small district. Osamu barely picked up the kanji of that said district. “Worry…”
“Worry little Fox, and live….” Suna chuckled a little. Osamu hissed a little. “My name is Osamu…”
“I know, I am just teasing you ‘Samu…” and Osamu smelt the sweet aroma of mirin, soy sauce and dashi from the distance. He suddenly felt a rumble in his stomach, but he tried to restraint that feeling. Suna smiled quietly, allowing Osamu to follow along the small joints in the ‘Worry’ District, to the source of the aroma, which is a stout man stewing pig innards in his huge pot. “What…..” Osamu made a hand sign to say two people.
“Come on, you are like a mouse hovering over for scraps come in…” and one of the nekomatas slowly served them with a small appetiser of stewed eggplants. Suna placed his hand on his chin, “Can I have your best sake please….”, which the server gave him a little porcelain cup. Osamu, meanwhile slowly chewed on the cold eggplant- enjoying the subtle taste of the mirin on his tongue. His muscles finally relaxed with the good food in his stomach, but however, it was left so briefly that he formed a little pout, unsatisfied by the briefness of taste.
Oh I cannot pay for such an indulgent feast.
“Gone in a flash huh Osamu?” Suna gazed over a small marble that swirled around his body, swirling red and blue, while sipping the sake. “We just started….”
Suna kindly raised his hand to order another sake, which the nekomatas served another round of food-rapeseed leaves covered in sesame sauce, deep-fried tofu, grilled skewers of vegetables and innards. “You are enjoying what you eat, despite the limitations…Fox….”,before Osamu can take the chance to run away, he notices Suna’s eyes from a dull olive green to an intense brown, holding him tightly with a small golden string in his thumb.
“My name is….” Osamu protested loudly, before giggles interrupted the atmosphere of the joint. The stout man staring at them closely, with an icy glare which caused a shiver down his spine. “Do you want me to be kicked out…”
Osamu swallowed his pride, and whispered to his ear. “We take in people’s energy, either by the conjoining of bodies or…uhmmmm kissing a human…his appetiser is so good….but….” Suna, frustrated by Osamu’s blurting slapped a kanji of ‘Big’ unto his back, making him sit down on the rickety chair causing stares to the patrons, and thankfully a distraction came to mind which Suna timed it so perfectly.
“Two bowls of tendon stew coming right up….”, and Osamu suddenly drooled at the aroma of it.
Suna quietly placed his hands on his Osamu noticing a shift in,“You do not need to rush…you can use the mon to pay for that” noticing Osamu’s anxious hiccups, as he scooped the spoonful of that stew. “I bet that is why you came here…”
Osamu felt torn, he was simply roped with a stranger and yet Suna is dangling his love of food like a carrot. “Do not worry, they do not know my secret….” Suna happily took that part of that stew. “Just enjoy…”
////
For the first time in weeks, Osamu began to laugh loudly leaving their bellies full, and Suna pouted a little that he got his prediction correctly that he was overcharged for the meal, but what is priceless is that his new companion- Osamu displayed many emotions, other than hesitation upon their first meeting. Somehow in the pleasant buzz, Osamu mutter to himself. “You know what- I would like to try this oden place, I saw the humans sitting by the stones, eating that warm bowl of tofu, fishcakes and….”, upon recalling the way to eat it, his overheated body transformed into an elegant lady- with cheeks flushed over how the humans enjoy it.
“You know Osamu, you are a peculiar fox-oden, this dish….do you enjoy it because it has tofu…”
Osamu, now speaking in a feminine tone. “I like how they gathered in the winter, where the snow blanketed our feet…and how people gathered together in warmth and company…” as they walked over other small joints to aptly stumble upon a busy cart with a kindly middle-aged woman scooping the chipped bowl to a tired pilgrim.
The pilgrim thanked her quietly, before proceeding to sit on a simple stool, slurping the contents of the warm soup, which Osamu dreamily watched the old lady lovingly prepare each bowl of oden, and making small conversations with her customers, before the old woman noticed the duo. “Young lady and young man, would you like to try that…”, passing two empty bowls to them; for Osamu; a pale pink bowl with hand-painted peonies and for Suna- a navy bowl with a kitten at play,
Suna cleared his throat. “Yes please…”, passing 4 large coins to the old lady is filled with a dark broth like the sea, and the boats are the fishcakes, boiled eggs and daikons. Osamu watched the pilgrim holding an amulet of good luck, slurping that last bowl of soup before thanking the old woman. “I wonder why humans live short life spans and yet they can connect through food and I…”, which he thanked the lady quietly, before making himself comfortable sitting here Suna whispered to him, “I will take that….”,holding that warm bowl of oden. “You know what we should ask if she has some drinks…” Osamu raised his hand. “I will pass slightly, I just do not want her to see me as a fox….”
“Why….”
Osamu shrugged a little. “I think it feels disconnecting, you see I do not take pleasure carnally, unlike my brother Atsumu, so I was frowned upon, to simply connect with a human without them suspecting I would crawl in between a woman’s breasts, or simply seduce them with my good looks.” The once cheerful air becomes somber, with Suna raising an eyebrow, pondering over Osamu’s solemn expression. That is such a damper for the otherwise nice evening, observing Osamu gazed over the old lady helping the child out, by letting her choose her favourite bowl. “Sometimes I just want to find that…” Suna heaved a little, feeling sorry for that fox, despite that Osamu is obviously drunk and in his goodwill, he should not be preying over his loneliness.
For a fun night out, it become a heart-to-heart session, which Suna cannot help but to think- allowing Osamu some space to chew through the fishcakes soaked in the dashi broth.
“Well….I should have told you the truth…fox….” Suna’s golden eyes turned bright green, as he held Osamu’s hand. The world they resided in seems to take a pause, with the humans unaware for his powers. “I am a mountain god, per se- wait that is vague, as there are many of us…” Osamu grew perplexed over Suna’s change of aura. “I could grant your wish to be human, per say Osamu however I cannot intervene with you directly, because we mountain gods are watchers of humanity and protectors of the barrier of two worlds- which we sat tonight with that cute grandma-”, as Suna munched on one of the daikon slices.
“That is the human world…. A world where lifespans are short and fleeting like that stupid god who decide that humans”
Suna pressed his finger between his cleavage changing him into a moony-eyed fox. “And you, you are in the spirit world, you take energies from your surroundings, and that is why you are miserable during our first joint…” Osamu pouted quietly, placing the bowl at the corner. “Could you tell me how did you take that energy….”
Osamu thought quietly, he could only recall a few flings with humans or spirits, but nothing sparked in his mind. Suna took one of the daikon slices, transforming it into a small marble, allowing Osamu to swallow it. “You take those energies that would fit you, and you learn how to be cunning, witty and of course charming, that is the nature of a fox….” allowing Suna to glimpse through the past memories of his life, from the moment he is a kit trodding through the forest floors with a golden fox, another memory came in again, Osamu pressing his lips softly upon another man, he has soft scales, another memory where he tried his hand to make candy for a child, but got turned away, another memory, another memory, another memory.
Suna sulked at these memories that he watched them over and over again- gazing at the marble he cast, fading into the darkness. It is spelt out simply, it plays with Osamu’s need for connection and understanding. “You are indeed an odd one ‘Samu….” Suna frowned to Osamu, squishing his cheeks over and over again, checking his fangs and pulling his tail and ears. “You are handsome, mind you and yet…you are like a wet stray cat stuck in the rain, using your soft gaze, in hopes that someone would pity you….” Osamu felt a burn in his cheeks from Suna’s words.
“However, I think Osamu, you need to assimilate yourself to the human world, not simply flings to maintain your energy but actually living and talking with them, which will be a challenge for you Osamu- but I think you can navigate it better than I, a god….” Suna saw that mon in Osamu’s hand, which he bet moments ago. “I am going to use that mon, as a reminder of our conversation, I will give you a hint Osamu, there is a pilgrim who has two paths to hike to pray to their god….one path is which leads him to trek through snowy paths, which he wished he would brought something warm or the other path poured by rain, which no umbrellas would be provided by strangers, so he needs to navigate through the storms. We will see which path you would take…”
“We shall meet again, at that oden shop cart- should it survive the crevices of time, if that calling to be human is what you wanted….”
Suna snapped his fingers again, and the once floating world became lively again with chatter and happy music playing loudly in the distance.
“There are foxes like you who wanted to cross that threshold, however, there are few who could survive that, without falling to their old habits….” Slowly Suna wrapped the bowl with his aura, blessing her little humble oden shopcart for many years of business, leaving Osamu sitting at the corner of the shop, now in his masculine form, and the old woman noticing Osamu’s silence. “I think the bowl go cold, may I make it warm for you…”
Osamu muttered quietly. “Yes…Obaa-chan…please…” He only glared at the bowl again, shimmering with Suna’s aura, feeling that realization that the easygoing man was actually a mountain god. Somehow he feel like crawling up to a fetal position that he confesses something drastic to a god.
There Osamu is back again, picking up another snack from the convenience store, this time-Matcha pocky sticks that reminded of that god. Damn it Suna, what is your idea of which path should I wander.
///////
“SHITTTTT why did Shokan abandoned me…..I am…..” Ginjima cover his face in shame, eyes red and puffy from the constant crying, and voice slurred from the many beers that he drank, Kita calmly gazed at him, passing many rounds of tissues to wipe over his snot, as Ginjima mumbling over his girlfriend Shokan’s smile and wonderful voice, opening another can of beer- which accidentally split unto his long-sleeved shirt.
Omiomi calmly throwing facts at him. “There is no point crying over such a small matter….”, propping Ginjima in the chair, trying to avoid his drool to slather his best dress shirt, adjusting his tie from the warmth in his body.
“Uhm that is not the best advice…” Aran glanced at Omiomi, cueing Kita to find some wet wipes and a mop to clean the beer spill, which by now, forming puddles of amber onto the table, drenching Ginjima’s jeans. “It is clear as daylight, that Shokan did not think Ginjima is not his type, and yet, like every K-Drama lead heroine, he believes that Shokan is the one.” Omiomi feels like puking over this K-Drama comparison. “Look, breakups are awful…I know…but Shokan…I…” Kita gave a calm stare to Omiomi and Aran who were now bickering over the extent of Shokan’s love for Ginjima, like it was a celebrity gossip show speculating the factors that caused that disastrous breakup, whenever it was a long voice message in Ginjima’s DMs or that photo on her feed showing off her new man with bleached blond hair and chiselled chin like a certain English cucumber, captioning “Found a new bae 😘”
“Aran, Omiomi, enough….”, Kita pushed the pink rubber gloves, wet wipes and mop to Omiomi. “Aran,I trust you, I suggest you cool off-we are not gossiping about Ginjima’s love life like high school girls with their crushes….” Aran sighed a little, as he looked over the time in his phone. “Perhaps you are right…Shinsuke, just do not be so harsh to Hitoshi…”
“I will…”
Kita quietly reassured Aran, waiting for Ginjima to compose himself from glaring at the dull reflection at the table. In in his drunkenness, Ginjima was tempted to take another beer can from Aran’s goodies. “Hey…” Kita wiggled himself comfortably, taking the beer can away from Ginjim but instead gently pushed the box of his grandmother’s onigiri to Ginjima, who stared at him lovingly. “Shoooo-chan!!!! What did I do….” Kita placed his hand on his shoulder. “You know that you have calculus class this morning, and drinking one more can of beer will make you like a living zombie…” Ginjima glared at him dreamily. “Sho-chan…..”, Kita sighed, as Ginjima’s flushed face constantly rubbed his cheeks and his hands nearly crushed Kita’s shoulders. “Hey… we should go to that cafe, the one with the stupid fat mermaid floating around, I know you like the strawberry shortcake, I can buy as many…”
“You know you cannot be drinking beer on an empty stomach, it happens that grandma decided to make extra onigiri…” Kita quietly opened the box of onigiri which Ginjima paused from his sniffling, awed by the glistening of the rice, perfectly blanketed by a strip of seaweed. “Shinsuke what is inside the balls of onigiri….I always like your grandma’s Tarako onigiri, hers are always good…”, Kita, without a word,passed him that particular one, initiated by a slightly rounded shape.
Kita quietly observed Ginjima taking that first bite and began to sob loudly like a child. “Shinsuke….Shinsuke….shit…am I that hopeless…”
Kita’s silence somehow becomes a spot of comfort for Ginjima, watching Ginjima’s hands become sticky with the rice grains and every tear staining the rice ball, relishing that comforting salty taste. Kita allowed Ginjima some space to eat all the onigiri.
Aran muttered to Ginjima “Take all the time you need Ginjima, perhaps we should burn off some steam by playing volleyball on the weekend……” , as he rolled his wrists up and down. Kita quietly whispered to him. “Not now….” Aran frowned at Kita. “All he needs is space and silence….”
Omiomi, exhausted from cleaning the beer spills, nodded to Aran, laying the gloves down on the tabletop. “Hate to admit, but I have to agree with Shinsuke,I think it is time for us to go and leave Ginjima be….I let ya know if I can make it to the game as I may have to do double shift…..See ya guys soon….”
“No pressure Omiomi….” Aran muttered quietly. “If you cannot, maybe you can meet with us for ramen…”
“See ya…” Omiomi slung his bag upon his back, made his way out of the apartment, and Aran gave a salute to Kita. “ See ya, are you planning to move soon Shinsuke…”
“Yeah…”
Kita smiled at Ginjima still sobbing over eating a precious onigiri, which Kita finally spoke to Ginjima. “Hey we are going now, good night Ginjima.” Ginjima, with his mouth full, mumbled to Kita and Aran. “Thanks…”
////
Kita began to place his earpieces to listen to the Lofi music, walking to the station, mindful that he needed rest for another day of studies. After all, everything is a process and a byproduct, no shortcuts, just taking it one step at a time. He heaved a little, unaware of the crowds, only to take that first step in, to rest his feet on the train.
He heard a ring from his phone, seeing the picture of his grandma making a peace sign in front of the shimmering golden pavilion. “Hello….” He took one of his earpieces off, and placed the phone on his ear
“Kita, are you making your back home now…”
“Yeah grandma…Ginjima is not doing so well, I am scared he will be sluggish tomorrow by the number of beer cans- I will try to wake up early and make his favourite: meat-covered potatoes…”
“You are such a kind boy Shin-chan….” his grandma reassured himself. “But Shin-chan, make sure that you will rest…”
Kita did not look over his surroundings, absorbed by his grandma’s words of wisdom expect a grey-haired man-Osamu staring at the blaring sign of the train station, gazing over the people either silent by the burdens of work or happy that the day is simply done. His eyes widened over the white-haired man standing over the sea of black, blue and grey listening quietly to a conversation that he did not know
“Shin-chan, people will figure themselves eventually that even a heartbreak is nothing but a scab that you constantly peel off…” Kita laughed quietly. “Grandma, that is a funny comparison, hey I am going to hang up now, see ya soon…”
“See you soon, I will make you some miso soup and yaki-onigiri for you…”
Osamu grew enamoured by the source of gentle laughter, that he wished to grab a nearby beer bottle and encapsulate it in his hands. Quietly Osamu spoke “Excuse me”, as he tried to check if it is the same man whom he met at the konbini, few hours ago.
Kita quickly takes his phone, looking for Ginjima’s profile picture, him smiling with his ex Shokan over hanging wisterias. Kita felt a twist in his lips. I will never resort to this, heartaches are not worth it. He can only do is to give a text to Ginjima
“Sleep it off, staying up is useless as you cannot focus on your lectures…”
Kita observed the dots moving up and down, Ginjima is perhaps fighting staring at the screen, in false hope that Shokan will reply back. Kita sighed a little. That is no point, he helped what he can.
Little did he know, that Suna, wearing a olive green turtleneck and slacks was in that same crowd, sighing to himself to see Osamu’s actions. “Osamu, fox…stop staring at that man into space….it just looks damn creepy…” He tried his best to be discreet in his actions by snapping his fingers to get Osamu’s actions, but he is endeavoured by Kita’s silence.
Kita mumbled to himself. Better not to worry about Ginjima and just go home. After all, he should go back to his routine, having his warm bath, finished reading the material for the next lecture, prepare his clothes, wash up.
And.
And.
And.
However a group of drunken men swaying back and forth, with one limping his way, another humming to Mayonaka no Door, and another cackling loudly about some inside joke between colleagues, which he accidentally knocked over by one of them, nearly causing Kita to trip upon the subway floor. Kita shook his head, brushing off the dust out of his clothes.
This is nothing.
And Kita simply stood in, waiting for his train to come, however, one of the boisterous drunken men, unkempt with his navy suit and tie, pushed Kita out of the queue.
Kita rolled his eyes over his inconsideration. Suna’s eyes widened in horror, mouthing these words. “SHIT….this human is inconsiderate…I agree with you, rice flour hair human” However the sound of the train announcement echoed loudly in the passengers’ ears “This stop…This stop….”, and the three drunk men walked over Kita, pushing themselves to the front of the train, which one yelled at the other straddlers. “SEE you tomorrow at work…”
Kita sighed a little.
This is nothing, his most treasured value is patience, however, Suna grew bored with the ‘rice flour hair human’, “I am amazed, I would cause a fit if these assholes pushed me over…”, however, Osamu managed to wiggle out of the crowd which he gave a small wave, trying his hardest to get Kita’s attention, however the flow of humans passed through the train, which Kita wiggle himself in the train carriage, lost in his music, with only Osamu barely brushing the shoulder of Kita’s.
Kita frowned a little at that new action, but dismissed it as a coincidental action of a stranger, instead focusing on holding the handrail of the train, unphased by Osamu constantly observing his little actions, either pretending to text a loved one or perhaps trying to find a dropped book to pretend that he is reading, as he texted the chat group. He gazed over the drunken men unstable on their feet, nearly bumping into Kita, who was unaware of swaying through the bumpy tracks in the train
Aran, U sure?
The dots continue to flicker back and forth, with Aran pinging the chat. Meanwhile one of the three drunken men- the milk tea brown hair male, slowly inching towards’s Kita’s personal space, by slumping his hand on him, which Kita gave a side-eye towards him, and purposefully moved a step up to a blank spot
We could invite Kotasu along for the game…
Kita quietly texted Aran in his phone. “We could get Aka…..”unaware that the train made an abrupt stop which led Osamu to push Kita from the weight of the three men, with Kita’s mouth agape over that action. Little did that he knew when Osamu wanted to say hi to him, his marble- now grey changing into bright crimson like the rouge worn by the entertainers was lunged out from his body, by one of the drunk men swaying to his direction, grumbling to himself some moments which he did not understand
Kita glanced over the changing landscapes of the train station, where he felt an immersing power that burned in his veins, smelling gunpowder from guns, savouring the savoury oden in his tongue confused about a deal with a green-eyed man, the sway of shimmering lanterns and that moment, Kita crowned his eyebrows to see himself helping Osamu to purchase the yaki-soba from the konbini.
Before Kita could say something to Osamu, he felt dizziness in his body and slowly slump upon the handrail of the train carriage, which startled the whole crowd, with one of the passengers offering her bottle of water, pouring it to Kita’s lips, and another taking out her portable fan, cooling him down.
Suna, meanwhile, still waiting at the train station feels a prick in his aura. “Fox…what is it this time…..” He closed his eyes, to see the small red marble from Osamu’s mouth suddenly lodged into Kita’s throat, which he accidentally swallowed like a sweet. Somehow a small golden thread slowly formed between their pinkies “OH GOD……” Suna quickly walked away from the train station, perplexed by his vision, taking the transport pass out, and running to the nearest konbini store to get 5 beer cans and instant noodles. “Alright….Fox…..that….I cannot help you with that…..”
I am going to get a lecture from Daichi for my mistake, at least he did not know that I made a deal with that fox.
That is a comforting thought at least.
///
Osamu found himself breathless after the marble is lodged out of his throat, forced himself to stand on his feet, which he quickly picked up the phone dropped on the floor, forming a crack and texted to Atsumu.
Hey….
Atsumu, meanwhile sitting on the TV, binging on some cheesy K-Drama dabbing the tears with snot-filled tissues.
Yah,
It seems that a group of drunken guys knocked over me….and….a human
Atsumu reluctantly paused his watching of that K-Drama show, pouting that he could not simp over his ‘oppa’, which the words jumped out to his head. “Oh, that human may have taken my marble….” Atsumu wished he could dial his brother and scream his lungs out. However he is a human now, and human are supposed to be rather civilised.
Instead Atsumu gave a long text to Osamu about what to do, given his limited experience as a mythical fox.
“Samu. You know, if the human ate the marble, you are going to be the worst fox in the universe Can you like use your poof poof to at least get away from this situation, you know the power I lost that like 50 years back….”
Atsumu heaved heavily after texting Osamu, which he mumbled to himself “If I could convince Sakusa as this hot dude….black turtlenecks and jackets….hnnggg he will look like a dream….” Osamu gazed over the text, and he quickly gazed over the panicked crowd on the train, one of the drunken men stared at Osamu, mumbling him the lines of being too girly or so. Quietly his grey eyes turn golden, causing that man a headache and the rest crowding around him, he quickly grabs Kita in his arms and proceeds to teleport himself to the apartment covering the whole train carriage with smoke.
At least the smoke could make the passengers forget what had just happened.
Osamu cannot help but gaze at Kita’s quiet face, placing his hand on his forehead. “Just hang on human, I will explain.”
Osamu came back to his apartment, glad that the white-haired man was slowly taking small breaths, which he laid Kita down on the worn-out couch, unaware that his capsule of his past was now filled with the present which is Kita, with the gentle wind blowing in the apartment.
—
Suna felt a sense of relief when he quickly grabbed 5 cans of beer, two instant noodles (he chose the most cursed flavours that he could put his god mind on, which today is Italian Carabona and caffeine Yaki-Soba) and he scored himself a Melon flavoured popsicle, which he languidly sucked it, regretting that he bet with Osamu with a single mon that he learnt an ounce of humanity, that he could potentially wither and die. It did not help that he saw Daichi who happened to be in the same store as him, which gave him a heavy cloud. “Don’t pout at me Suna, I know you and your relationship with the moony-eyed fox- he asked you to be human by learning about humanity…”
Suna shrugged his shoulders “No Daichi, I believe in free will…” mindlessly munching the end of the popsicle, scrunching his eyebrows. “I guess an accident happened.” Well, his choice of words did not go well with Daichi, as Suna observed Daichi’s face blackened with despair. What type of accident? “Do not tell me…”
“Oh god….”
“Daichi, hold on, I can fix this, it has nothing to do with the moony-eyed fox…” Suna reluctantly took another ice cream container, this time, a basic chocolate flavour. “I know my place and you know yours Daichi….” Suna knew that he should not answer to Daichi with the response ‘Not so well, I am afraid…’
Suna quickly skipped himself to the cashier, paying for the ice-creams, ramen and cans of beer. “Hey, should we move away, and do ‘God’ things…” Daichi grew silent, only hearing a loud clap of prayer in the distance, snatching a small bottle of black coffee. “Suna, you have a weird sense of timing, your relationship with the fox is questionable, an immortal can’t be human instantly, it needs a little sacrifice, that even us Gods, cannot reach….”
Perhaps. Suna thought to himself, as he exited the konibini, peeling the plastic layer out of the ice cream tub, before taking the wooden spoon, scooping a thin layer of chocolate ice cream and sucking into his mouth. Perhaps, it is time for me to figure out if my suspicions are right.
///////
Kita’s eyes tried to focus on the wide horizons at sea, which a soft womanly voice spoke to him. “Osamu, it is good to get away from here, I heard the new things from the Europeans that women read Shakespeare and the men are driving cars on the road.” Osamu. Kita thought to him . Am I him? No that cannot be my memory, I could recall that I was trying to make space to rest for the night.
Kita found himself replying to that voice. “It does not matter to me Ichika….I just need a change of space…”
Ichika gazed at him, and gave a girlish giggle. “Do not call me Ichika, Osamu-san, it is old fashioned, you can call me by my English name- Juliet….”
“You have to think of a Christian name Osamu, Japanese names do not roll well with the Western tongue.” Ichika constantly poked Osamu’s puffed cheeks.
I think…if I choose a name for you….I think Hugo would fit you, as you are gloomy like that French author.
That memory washed him away like the rolling sea, only to hear the hum of the fan and a wobbly voice echoing in the distance.”Hey, are you alright?” .Kita blinked a little, gazing over the long ceiling of the apartment. It smelted like it had been recently clean with a pleasant mildew aroma, cluttered photos of a younger man gazing sadly at him, to focus on the grey-haired man sitting on the side, passing him a messily made onigiri, and a half-empty bottle of barley tea. Kita cannot help but gaze at his grey eyes gazing peacefully over him.
Kita gazed at his half-empty fridge which seemed sparse with bottled drinks of coffee, bentos labelled with the half-discount stickers and a few (perhaps over-ripe) bananas. Osamu sheepishly took a cup of Instant noodles which he switched on the tap and poured the water into it. He clasps his hands making the water warm. “Sorry, I cannot make anything substantial….”, and decided to slurp the noodles to encourage Kita to take a bite of the onigiri.
Kita smiled a little. “Oh…it is fine, I am not hungry…” pushing the onigiri away from Osamu’s sight. “Thank you for the thought, all I…what happened….” Kita cannot help but be endeavoured by his grey hair that looks like moonlight shining upon a rock. He is indeed a beautiful man.
No Kita, do not think about that.
This is not the byproduct of the process, but an interference.
Osamu quietly put aside the half-eaten instant noodles on the kitchen countertop. “I am going to explain it to you right now….” Osamu purposefully moved some of the items of his past to sit on a lacquered stool, waiting for Kita to push his head up, making himself sit comfortably on the couch.
Kita found himself blinded by a pewter cloud gazing over the outline that Osamu’s human features slowly grow more vulpine, and the smell of the room to be like young unfermented sake. “It seems that unfortunately, you swallowed one of my marbles which is a part of my life force, I… I, unfortunately….”
Kita frowned a little, to see Osamu’s true form, a silvery fox like the Inari statutes that littered the shrines, holding a rice stalk in his mouth. Osamu’s thoughts ran clear like a crystal bell in Kita’s mind. “You do not have long to live, mortal?” Kita found his stomach turning slightly over that revelation. “Then what are you Osamu….”
Osamu’s pupils widened in shock that Kita knew his human name “A fox, a fox yokai .” He slowly descends to his human form, his legs slowly crossed and his gaze serene to Kita. Kita frowns at how Osamu manages to hold his pointed ears and the fluffy nine-tails in his human form. “My memories and my past lives may be too much for a human per se, when you are separated from me…..”
Kita quickly snatched the half-empty bottle of barley tea, gulping it down as Osamu explained the possible side effects of swallowing his marble-like he would be startled by dogs barking at him.
Oh no! Kita thought to himself. No more wandering through the park with Grandma, as she passed that area with the cute puppies, no big deal- it is not like I am a big dog fan.
“You may have a huge craving for anything tofu or red bean rice….that is what foxes like” Osamu added quietly. Kita squinted his eyes. Huh, it is fine, I do like tofu burgers… that is alright with me… that is not a drastic change. “ However you never feel full from eating these items…”
“You may accidentally be able to speak many languages which you will never.”
Kita frowned at Osamu’s claims which were not that convincing. I think it is cool to be able to speak many languages, maybe I do not need to switch the subtitles when I watch English shows.
“However I am worried if you recall my memories…” Osamu spoke calmly, quietly holding Kita’s hand, feeling the gentle throb of his marble. “You will yelp like a fox, and your human body will overheat…there is no way that any human could save you, except for me…..” Kita held his breath, yeah this is so awkward. Kita could excuse himself right now at this every second, he was supposed to promise Aran and Omiomi that they would play a round of volleyball to distract Ginjima from pouring his thoughts on his ex.
“It…is…better if….” Osamu bit his tongue “If you stayed with me….mortal….until we can find a solution together to get my marble out of your body mortal…”
“First of all, let’s introduce ourselves properly….I am Shinsuke Kita, a second-year graduate student…Osamu.” Kita felt his stomach twisting as he spoke, and usually he never lost his temper, but he could. Osamu froze at Kita’s firmness, and the fluttering of the wind went wilder at every second.“So you are saying that Osamu…..whatever that marble holds on me, I would have a chance of dying anyway or basically I will be going mad anytime…..”
It must be the effect of my marble reacting to Kita-san’s energy.
Kita spoke firmly “I am waiting….”
Osamu tried to calm himself down by digging his nails into his knuckles. He cannot answer him how or why “....Mortal….I mean….Kita-san?...” Osamu blurted quietly. “Apologies, yes I am Osamu, this is my current name if you like to use it….” feeling the pulse of the marble slowing down to Kita’s breaths. Kita sat down quietly, begrudgingly accepting his apology. “Osamu, can I get my phone please, I need to call my grandma…” Based on Kita’s worried tone, Osamu took out his phone from the charger that he scraped from Atsumu as he recently changed it to the latest phone and it is not needed, as he recalled from a text in his phone ‘Have it brother, you need to stop using that pager….it does not fit that world….”
“...Uhm….take the time you need Kita-san….”
Osamu quietly scooted himself to his bedroom, which he closes the door, allowing Kita some privacy to process that one, his marble was inside a mortal’s stomach, and second, he did not seem pleased to stay with a stranger that he barely knew. And thirdly, he needs to be way more charming if that idea of staying together will work, because eventually his mortal spirit will conflict with his kaleidoscopic memories.
Osamu begrudgingly took one of Take-san’s records, and placed it on the vinyl record player, which he ironically chose ‘Sound of Silence’ which echoed the nihilistic lyrics in his mind and simply stared into the ceiling. He quietly opens a gap of the door, endevoured by Kita trying to take small breaths, gazing over the lock screen of Kita smiling happily with his grandma over bright flower fields.
I must tell grandma that I am okay…. Kita thought to himself, unaware that a golden thread slowly formed over his pinkie finger, leading to Osamu’s room where his pinkie was tied to him.
///////////
Yumie gazed over the half-moon of the room, holding that now cold cup of tea and midnight snack. She quickly clapped her hands. “Gods, if you are kind, I am worried that Shin-chan is not back, lead him home….” Kiryu, a young man with a broad nose and beady eyes dressed in a simple grey sweater and slacks, happened to walk over to Yumie’s house. “Alright granny, I will find your Shin-chan….but I think….” feeling a growl in his stomach. “I am actually hungry….” Kiryu closed his eyes thinking about where that ‘Shin-Chan’ could be.
Kiryu scrunched his nose, to see Kita trying to compose himself in the rugged sofa with a golden thread bound to his pinkie finger, and a glowing marble rippling back and forth snaking towards the other room. He shut his eyes again to see Osamu pouting slightly in bed.
“Shit….”
Kiryu heard of that rumour about an unusual development with a certain grey-haired fox who tried to be human from his peers, but he knew the perpetrator of this act. “I better investigate why….” And he knew where would Suna hang out. He closed his eyes, transporting himself to a brightly lighted gyudon store, which a teenage part-timer asked Kiryu. “How many people?”
“One please….” Kiryu’s eyes gazed over Suna relentlessly pouring a mountain of spice over his gyudon, and sipping the chilled water. “And next to this fella, wearing an ugly ass coat….” Suna’s golden eyes frown a little, which he reluctantly snapped his fingers, pausing the action of the gyudon store.
“It has been a while Kiryu…..”There is a slight sarcasm in Suna’s tone when he saw Kiryu, yes he is a junior mountain spirit, perhaps 300 years older than him, but he has that irritating habit of over-analysisng the dynamics of humanity like it was a math problem. “A mortal old lady just prayed to a god to find a certain Shin-chan, and I am guessing it has to do with you….” Kiryu stated clearly, searching in the menu for a yakiniku don.
“If it is about the fox, he can deal with that problem by himself- intervening is not my forte, I have been told off by Daichi….”, purposefully stirring the raw egg inside the gyuudon, making the loud sloppy noises to irritate Kiryu. “You are even worse than Ushijima, that man’s smile scared the shit out of me….”
“I saw in my foresight that Shin-chan has a fox’s marble in his body…” Kiryu slowly helping himself to the plastic cup of cold water. “You know that it will deplete his life, if not taken out quickly…..”, trying to drink it slowly.
Suna chuckled a little. “I know…a fox will be clever to figure its problems….even Daichi know that….”
“No….it’s complicated…..” Kiryu blurted quietly. “The mortal….the mortal…….has the golden thread tied on his pinkie….” Suna indifferently chomped the stringy beef, savouring its flavour. “And I am guessing it has to do with you…” Suna suddenly felt a twist in his stomach on the mention of the gold thread, perhaps ordering a huge bowl of Gyudon is a big mistake on his part.
“That matter aside, we need to answer the prayer to the mortal old woman, she must be worried sick….”
“Why don’t you do that…” Suna rolled his eyes. Great, my quiet time is over thanks to this bastard… Kiryu meanwhile gazing over to add natto or a raw egg. “I could….but I have a suspicion, you do not want it to happen and yet it happened…do not take this as your big chance” Suna reluctantly snapped his fingers as he munched at the last spoon of gyudon, in hopes to shut Kiryu up from the karmic patterns of the mortal world “I answer that mortal’s call, Kiryu if you want the short answer….” soon the silence become chaotic again, with the server asking Kiryu, who gently placed his meu down. “What do you like to have….”
Suna ignoring Kiryu’s cheerful order, pouting to himself. Fox, I don’t think it is the way to find humanity, having a part of your lifeforce to a mortal, it is almost like a bond, I hope you are not doing anything stupid, and he quickly leave the store, with Kiryu blessing them wih his energy.
/////
Yumie waited anxiously by her small table, when the phone started to ring loudly. Quietly she made her steps mummering to herself. Thank you gods for hearing my prayer. “Hello?” Yumie blinked a little.
“Hello Granny…”
“Shin-chan, thank the gods….what happened to you…..”
Kita sighed a little. “I will explain later, grandma, I….am afraid….that…..” Kita observed Osamu peering through the conversation, his tone barely trembling over that situation, “My phone died, and I am with my senior’s apartment, in hopes that it will be half full…I am afraid I will come home late grandma, can you help me to keep the snack tonight….”
From what seems like an apology, becomes a gentle reminder to Kita to not fret and allow the gods to put their agendas to him.
“I will try to get a bus back or something …” Kita gave a small smile trying his hardest not to look at Osamu gazing at him lovingly, unaware that the golden thread pulled further. “This situation I am in, that is so hard to navigate that I do not know how to explain it, granny….”
“Shin-chan, just focus on the present, it is getting late….worry about this matter tomorrow….” Kita felt slight courage over grandma’s words. “I just want you to be back safely, if you are hungry tonight- you know where to find it….”
“Thanks grandma, see you soon….”
Yumie beamed at Kita. “See you Shin-chan…” He slips his phone in his pocket. Osamu stood there nervously over him, trying to reach for his shoulder. “This grandma, does she know…..”
Kita frowned a little. “Do not act so concerned, Osamu….I am sorry if I accidentally bumped into you….”He tried to walk out of the living room, a capsule of memories and times bygone, hungering for reality where he could enjoy the half-moon, eating small snacks, and finish up his presentation for agricultural safety, instead of meeting a stranger who claimed to be a real-life kitsune and swallowing his marble that contains massive powers that could be detrimental. “Let’s forget about tonight and go our separate ways, my grandma is worried about me….”
It all seems like a dream. Kita thought to himself. I live in this reality where I have friends to be concerned about, food to eat and family to stay with.
He could not simply abandon this for a stranger’s wish to cohabitate.
Osamu blurted to him. “We can figure something together, like I could….”
“Just give me a few days Osamu….”, Kita quickly made his steps out of the open door. “Fox or not, you need to give me the free will to decide, I am not one of the many items you collected…..”
Suddenly Kita’s body reacted to the fiery power of Osamu’s marble and he slipped into a dream of meeting a blond man who looked like Osamu himself, giving a shit-eating grin to his brother, dressing in an oversized blazer, a paisley patterned kerchief on his neck and patent shoes. “Samu….I am finally human…..”, Osamu meanwhile staring at the reflection of the whiskey glass. “From what, a heartbreak….”
“Samu you are such a killjoy….life is not simply about moping and groaning, this is ain’t a funeral”
Kita muttered to himself. “I….I….”, he found his body overheating and his lungs clouded with grief. It is nothing but a dream, Kita quietly deluded himself. A byproduct of mistakes and coincidences.
“I am going home, Osamu…..”Kita shut the door, barely muttering good night to the fox, leaving Osamu to dwell in his house of memories. Kita pushed his body through the bubbling heat, by plugging his headphones to his ears to listen to some calming lofi music, trying to push through the flooding memories out of anger and spite.
No that is not real. I am sinking.
I am sinking.
These memories are not mine.
I am Kita Shinsuke, and I am…..
No I should mediate, clear my mind out of the words of Osamu, wash and sleep it off, forget about what happened tonight.
Kita found his sneakers growing heavier at each step, passing through the vacant shops, gazing through the bright glow of his phone for the nearest bus stop.
Sheesh that means I cannot read up the notes for the evening.
Kita knew that he need to focus on his journey now, which according to the map in his phone. “Alright if I turn right from that konbini, I should reach for this bus stop called ‘Yam….”, take the bus to Miya station which…” Kita mumbled to himself, squinting at the dimly lit sign and a small queue building up “Alright, if I want to go Yami…”
That must be a joke.
That is the underworld.
Kita stared again at the bus stop sign. “Oh…it is Yamamiya…..” gazing over that character of Mountain “山”, he looked over the bus route map quietly before forcing himself to sit on the seat of the bus stop, heaving a sigh of relief,at least that thing is not burning his inside. That should be fine. Suddenly a little old lady with a small scarf on her neck trotted her way, pushing a trolley which he heard was a little dog yapping loudly, which the old lady started to shush her. “Momo-chan, it is ok, it is ok…”He felt his heart racing over the loud yapping.
Kita quickly stood up from leaning at his chair. “Excuse me, you can have a seat, you must be tired….” The old lady gave a soft smile. “Thank you young man….”, he found Momo’ss paw touching his back which he bolted away from its touch, which the old woman sighed at Momo. “Momo-chan do not do that. That cute dog just tapped on me Okay…okay…okay… I can make it…. Kita forcefully reassured himself as he purposefully forced himself to join the queue for the bus. It is all nothing but mere circumstances, I am not afraid of dogs at all, they are so cute.
And thankfully the bus came just in time, Kita took his card out, tapping it at the side,-trying his hardest not to cause a scene, by sitting at the corner of the bus, avoiding eye-contact of every stranger, instead glaring at the reflection of a fox struggling in a human body.
I wonder what is up with that fox…he seems torn-up.
Nah, I must be hallucinating. I am Kita Shinsuke and I am an ordinary human, whatever happens tonight is simply a byproduct.
Thankfully the journey to Nishi-Umeda station was quick, as Kita quietly step out of the bus, making his way to the ticket gate of Nishi-Umeda station, gazing at the word. 入り口.
The crowd seems a little quieter, with exhausted salarymen, Office ladies gossiping over their crushes like high school girls and students carrying the books, determined to make their way home.
Yes. Home.
I just need to…
Kita felt that immerse burn in his body as he smelt something deep fried, Kita forced himself to search for his transport pass to tap on the surface of the ticket gate. To Kita’s horror, the source of the delicious aroma came from a young man with bleached blonde hair carrying a plastic box of fried tofu, chomping it wolfishly “Shit I am not hungry…” Kita muttered to himself, purposefully focused himself to look away from that young man’s action, which unfortunately lead to another with one of the older ladies holding a packet of red bean dango, speaking over the phone. “Rei-chan…. Yes I brought you that….” He found himself giving a small yelp in his throat. The crowd stared at him, which he quickly snatched a surgical mask to cover his foaming mouth- and moved himself quickly to the long line.
SHIT. SHIT. SHIT.
Kita found his body burning like a consuming flame, that he hid his yelps by pretending to make a slight cough. This is not good. This is not good. Kita quickly tried to text Aran.
‘Hey….Aran…..I think….I am under the weather….can you help me….” before he could finish his thoughts, Kita felt white light bathing him,finding himself munching on that dango. “Osamu-sama….do you….”
He tried to gaze over the curve of a woman’s breast, as she held that warm cup of tea, gazing at the big moon. “Do you feel loved, by me….”.
No. I promise grandma that I will be home.
“The train is departing for….This train is…..”
Kita tried his hardest to fight off the many voices in his head, unaware that his phone is slowly slipping off his hand, and no one notice Kita fainting in the station, except for that half-typed text, and Kita gripping the station map with his hand.
What the fox spoke is not true, I did not swallow the marble from of a fox, perhaps it was one of the food we ate with Ginjima
////
Osamu found himself looking at the indentation of his couch, finding himself saddened that he refused to take his offer. He decided to slump by, only to hear a buzz from his phone.
“Hey can I bunk it tonight…..”
Osamu stared at the phone, barely reading the name of the contact to be Atsumu, when he felt a punch in his stomach ,and feeling cold sweat in his forehead, quickly he snatched an embroidered kerchief from an old contact.
Shit.
The mortal….Kita….is feeling my marble….his energy is too little to comprehend…..
Osamu shut his eyes, to see Kita laying on the floor of the station, with his body temperature burning up, and his movements spasming. He is so….so…..He is so stupid.
Why did that mortal worry about another that he refused my offer? Suddenly he could hear Kita’s voice. Grandma, wait for me.
Osamu found himself gazing through Kita’s eyes on an older lady busying herself, cleaning up the table. ‘The gods are always watching, they will watch my Shin-chan….’
She is not even aware that her Shin-chan is at danger. Osamu thought to himself,examining the humble entrance, neat and tidy, as opposed to his- not a merangiere of haunting memories but warmth that Osamu desired.
‘He will come back….’
Yumie simply sat herself comfortably, and switched on her television to watch a mindless variety show. ‘The gods will lead him back…’
Out of compulsion, Osamu decided to walk out of the apartment- which his body transfixed into a veil of smoke, making him look like a celestial maiden floating upon the inky blue sky- flaring through the many buildings to find Kita, whom by now numb by the overwhelming force of his marble.
////
Kita found himself held by soft hands, he tried to open his eyes to see Osamu’s grey eyes staring at him quietly. ‘Close your eyes….Kita…..” Kita closed his eyes, unaware of the murmurs of the crowd, breathing through the comforting aroma of roasted rice. Osamu found himself shocked that the white haired man’s name rolled so easily in his tongue. “I am bringing you home….”
Within a blink of an eye, Osamu bathed the whole station with smoke, and the aroma of sake made the crowd fall asleep, allowing him to pick up Kita and taking mindful steps to not stir Kita’s mortal energy.
////
Yumie found herself, fighting off sleep- as the host chatter over the promotion of a new play, ‘Shin-chan, I hope you are alright….’ A cloud of pewter smoke bathed over the living room, which Yumie she smelt sweet sake in the air, the tinkling of the wind chime echoed two shadows, which she barely picked up in the night due to her dimissing vision, slowly a sithoulette of a man with fox ears slowly dropping Kita unto the floor. Without a word, that man disappeared in thin air, leaving Kita lying on the floor.
A clear voice came to Kita’s ears. “Welcome back…Shin-chan….” Kita began to smile upon seeing his grandma trying to lift him up. “I am home…..I am sorry if I took too long”. Yumie felt a strange presence moments ago, but it disappeared in the flash with a faint aroma of sake perfuming the air. Quickly she closed the door of the house, unable to see Osamu staring at that tender moment between Kita and his grandma. She muttered quietly. “Do not worry Shin-Chan, get some rest, you seem to have an adventure this evening, now it is the time to allow the gods to quieten your mind.
Kita.
Osamu thought to himself. “North….”, before he closed his eyes to teleport back to his apartment. “At least you have your direction….I just….”
—-
Osamu forced himself not to think of the quiet moment between Kita and his grandma, after all it should be the gods that should witness such a serdenptious event, but instead he bathed himself in the pewter smoke, lamenting on that fact that ‘Kita’ can never understand the longevity of his life, only himself and his now-human brother Atsumu.
Speaking about Atsumu.
He barely recalled a text from his brother, but he is so concerned about bringing Kita home that he brush off his texts as fueled by cheerful oblivion.
Osamu found himself heaving with exhaustion,when he finally made it through the lift lobby, and out of pure habit, he started to search for his keys, but came to that realisation which he search through his pants that he is too used to his fox habits, by the snap of his fingers, he could simply teleport anywhere, without the mortals blinking an eye. After all their superstitious thinking dulled with the advancements of technology and ideals that Osamu could not even understand, despite gaining some wisdom from experiencing the mortal world.
He can only do is to walk to the corridor in hopes that no one would enter his apartment, not even Atsumu without his fox abilities.
However Osamu is simply mistaken, as he could hear a certain supermarket jingle from barely muffled phone speakers and the sound of lips smacking happily. Osamu forced himself not to roll his eyes at that sight glimpsing at Atsumu holding Sakusa tightly in his arms, with plastic bags littered with a cheerful penguin waving at Osamu mockingly on the table. He guess that they took away cheap bottles of sake, discounted bentos of fatty tuna don and umeboshi rice, little flavoured chips flavoured with cheddar cheese, avocado and spicy peppers that would go perfectly with beer, cans of sugary soft drinks.
“Welcome home…….” Atsumu playfully teased Osamu. “Samu….”, swinging a set of keys with a fox keychain dangling around, before smouldering Sakusa with a forehead kiss. Sakusa meanwhile gave a long frown, as he chided Atsumu. “Babe….it is not like we are in Don Don Donki, which I…..”
Atsumu pouted a little “You are right Omi-chan…..”, purposefully making his voice coquettishly to irritate Osamu, purposefully leaving out of that embarrassing first meeting which Atsumu drunkenly wandered to that store, meeting that mask-clad man, and…..
Osamu knew that story, because Atsumu told him at one of their rare meetings in an old izakaya which the owner recognized that blonde-haired man from ages ago, gave him a special discount for his loyalty- in his drunkenness and heart-ache from a previous break-up- wrestling with his human emotions, lead him to that store and Sakusa buying pickles for his mum, felt someone rubbing against him.
If he could summarise it simply, the rest is history perhaps, with Atsumu now comfortable with Sakusa, with annoying pictures of their dates together, when it was Disneyland as they dressed as Nick and Judy (With Atsumu dressing as Nick, as a joke between these two), or annoying selfies of them trying the latest night parafit.Osamu purposefully pushed the boyfriends out of the way, giving a one human space to himself.
“ ‘Samu, I just texted you…..and the keys, we agreed if shit hits the fan, I made a spare one so I can check if you are not dead…..” Atsumu puffed his cheeks, allowing Sakusa to hold him tightly. “And it is unusual that you left the door open, I bet something has happened that you rushed out of the door….” Despite that Atsumu’s powers diminished to a life of mortality, he could sense something was wrong with Osamu, as he lazily took a can of beer, gazing at the decades and millenia of memories of yore, and his breaths growing slower at every second.
Atsumu quietly pushed Sakusa out of his arms. “Babe, you can use my brother’s bathroom to wash up if you want….” Sakusa frowned a little. “I suppose, it has to do something with your…..” he did not need to question him again, because the topic that he is talking to his brother is something that boggled his human mind. Sakusa quickly searched for his face mask and covered his face. “Is it clean….”, tempted to take out a small bottle of sanitizer out of his backpack.
“Omi-chan, it is clean….”
Sakusa sighed a little on Atsumu’s infamous puppy eyes and sly grin. “I promise….”, Sakusa slipped the bottle back in his backpack, observing him pressing his hand on Osamu’s forehead. “Osamu…” Atsumu, out of his playfulness, no longer using his nickname ‘Samu’, grew serious. “You are getting cold….” Osamu blinked a little, watching Atsumu take away the beer can from his hands. “....I have a feeling that something is taken away from you…..”
Osamu frowned a little. “Yes….my marble has be swallowed by a mortal…..his name…..is….Kita……..and….”, slowly he fell asleep in his brother’s hands, only dreaming of happier days where Atsumu and Osamu in their fox forms, trodding down the field, only Osamu following a small rice field to a white-haired man sitting down quietly taking his time to sip the tea, which he find him sinking below the ground, with the fallen kitsunes staring at him coldly, and gods giggling at his softness. He wished he was bold to reach for his hand and allow him to pet his soft fur.
“Omi-chan, I think I would need that sanitizer….” Atsumu sighed quietly, gazing at Sakusa coming out of the bathroom. “I guess we cannot do our shenanigans, until my brother is alright….” Sakusa heaved a little.
“It is fine babe….”
///////////
A coquettish voice trailed in Kita’s ears “Osamu-sama…”
Kita felt a heavy grief in his heart, which he tried to focus his eyes unto the voluptuous woman, kissing her sweaty forehead,gazing over the moon. Carnality did not fit him, watching a child giggling as he receive a long stick of candied fruit and a perfumed letter “Master Osamu, a letter from your brother…..”
The woman slowly embraced him, which he felt quesiness in his stomach. “How is he…..” Kita replied to the woman, similarly to his. “I…..I…..”
Kita felt his lungs tightened at every breath, as he found himself heaving back and forth in deep panic. Soon he began to cough loudly, scrambling through the darkness to find his phone.
1 A.M.
What??
Kita’s coughs rattled again to the point that he feel that his body is submerged to the deep seas. He felt a deep sense of grief in his body.“Shin-chan…..” Yumie poked her head out “What is wrong……” Kita gave a small smile to Yumie, rubbing his white hair back and forth. “I do not know grandma, I feel my body is getting heavy…because….” Kita bit his tongue, if he told his grandma that one, that he accidentally swallowed a marble that belongs to a fox that could be old as the mountains, and secondly the memories that he saw, how could he explain to her simple and plain.
“Shin-chan, let me get you a hot flask of water to drink for the night…” Yumie purposefully switching off the air-conditioner. “Perhaps it is too cold for you…”
“I will pray to the gods to give you a restful night….”, she lovingly laid Kita to his bed, quietly shutting her eyes to petition to the gods to resolve Kita’s sudden wheezing.
‘Gods, please give Shin-chan, a restful night….’
Little did Yumie know that Suna-the mountain god somehow entered the house, halfway slurping his carbonara ramen. “Ah that must be the house where the fox’s stupid marble went to….”, Suna gazed at Yumie quietly, boiling water for Kita to drink. “This seems nice….”, as he gazed over the recently dusted shrine. “And new sake, this old lady know what the hell is she doing……”
Focus, you need to find the mortal that swallowed the marble.
Suna quietly walked to Kita’s room, to find him writhing under his blanket, noticing hot flushes in Kita’s face. “Huh, rice-coloured hair guy……” Suna quietly placed the instant noodles on the table, which he gazed at his notes. “A university student, I did not know that he is into…..” Suna shook his head to see Kita’s golden thread fading back and forth.
“Ok, this may hurt, but I am just checking if it is true….” Kita winced at the slight touch of Suna’s hand as he pressed through his stomach. Slowly he saw a purple marble swirling back and forth, which Suna cursed under his breath. “Well shit…..”Suna quietly converted his half-eaten instant noodles cup into a glass bottle of medicine which the tablets like holographic stars. “I better talk with Osamu about why he did that….”
Before Suna could spirit away to another shrine, Yumie saw Suna,as clear as day. “Kami-sama……”, which she nearly spilled the flash down the floor which Suna quickly catch it with his hands. “Are you here to heal up Shin-chan….” Suna sighed a little. “Huh, you are the rare human, that actually see me….”
“Kami-sama…..” Yumie averted her eyes from Suna. “Please give him a restful night….”, Suna gently pushed her chin up. “Old lady, your grandson has something in his stomach that is conflicting with his aura, when your grandson wake up, ask him to eat this tablet- it should calm the ‘something’”
Yumie frowned quietly. “What is it Kami-sama….”, Suna stared at the big moon, pointing at the bottle of tablets. “I am also figuring it out, old lady…”
Well this is going to be troublesome…..
A/N: So hello there! I am hoping you are enjoying this little chapter of Better Than This! I tell you I actually procensinate this story since my last update in June/July, because I am just unsure how I am going to write this story as a whole, because I am a queen of ✨vague ✨concepts which I wrote some ideas when I was in Japan on the meeting, nothing more, nothing less, it was until I worked on ‘The Strange Heir’ for Inuyasha reverse bang (BTW you guys should read that, if you want some spooky thing), in short- I was pretty burn out after doing this project alongside with my recent bout of illness thanks to my travels that I need a break, to do something lighter and hence I made it my Nano project to actually get back into writing when I am stuck with Midokirin (Ok I love them), and I find this pair so refreshing which I really put a lot of myself here- *Coughs* my recent bout with a dragged out cough *coughs*, with Kita as a whole (A huge shoutout to Lomusings who spoke about a sassy Kita, that he is so fun writing his words).
So I want to give a shoutout for BKAK colleague for actually encouraging me when I sent my snippets to the chat, basically being ‘a trampoline’ to my osakita clownery, like writing a rare ship and let alone a huge fandom is scary as hell, as they point out which areas I could develop like dichotomy between Kitsune!Osamu and Mountain God/Spirit!Suna and see my cringe writing. I hope you enjoy this cute fest as we go as I love it alot.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3: And at least I understood then the hunger I felt , And I didn't have to call it loneliness
Summary:
Osamu realises that he made a grave mistake when his marble is lodged into his stomach, and wanted him to stay which leads him to realize that his world is not simply his.
Title from Hunger by Florence + The Machine
Notes:
First of all, I wish you all a Happy New Year! (明けましておめでとうございます (⇀‸↼‶)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ), so I hope you have a lovely 2024!!
Thank you so much passionbootys for giving my adorable story a chance. I am pretty insecure about it myself but I am glad you enjoy that adorableness 💖
So enjoy Osamu and his little shenanigans :)
Chapter Text
Chapter 3: And at least I understood then the hunger I felt , And I didn't have to call it loneliness
Osamu woke up with a throbbing headache, as he found his legs draped by a huge hoodie and medication strewn on the table. Sunlight soon bathed the apartment, which he noticed that nothing changed much, except for that the table was cleared and his phone was laid on the table with a long text.
‘Hey, just take it easy for today, until you can actually figure….” Soon another round of text pinged to Osamu. “ Thanks bro for the night in, sorry about the mess 😏….”
What mess? Osamu thought to himself, imagining that Atsumu actually had a hot makeout session in his small bedroom with Sakusa, while he was assigned to lie in his sofa, haunted by his many life experiences. He forced himself to crawl out of his sofa-leaving the phone on the table, and go to the nearest bathroom, where he brushed his teeth, feeling his energy drained from yesterday’s quarrel, and his marble dislodged into Kita’s body. Perhaps I would need that cup of coffee.
He quietly spit out the remnants of the toothpaste, and switched on the tap to rinse out of the foam in the sink. Note to self. Osamu thought quietly. I need a day to clean the bathroom. He quietly made his way to the fridge, grabbing the bottle of coffee, taking a few sips- gazing over the playground where teachers pulled the young ones in the cart- and salarymen walking away from the joyous moment of childhood.
At least they are interconnected, whenever it was intentional or not.
Osamu distracted himself from that serendipitous sight, by snatching the medication that Atsumu left on the table, and popping the pill to alleviate the headache that has been throbbing since forever.
Did humans have to deal with this shit, if so it is pretty awful.
Osamu gazed over the framed pictures of Take-san and himself staring at him-not minding his silence. However a knock interrupted his train of thoughts. Osamu nearly split that half-drunk bottle of coffee onto the floor, which a familiar hand caught that bottle of coffee, and purposefully sipped it.
“Osamu, Cafe Au Lait in a bottle….”
Osamu blinked a little, to see a hazel-eyed man and he could sense from his aura that it was a mountain god that he spoke millennia ago. “This brand is not even that nice….”
“I got this at discount….” Suna rolled his eyes at that statement that Osamu made. “I think the other one is better, it seems we have a sticky situation, and you reading konbini coffee would help in your dire need….” Osamu took a good look at Suna, he is dressed in a plain white tee,a simple parker jacket and doc martens, but what makes him a mountain god is that he purposely chose moss green and he has some strewn wild flowers growing at his boots, perhaps hidden to mortal eyes.
“Should we go back to our favourite haunt….”
Osamu frowned a little. “Is it the oden store? I thought it was long-gone….” Suna laid his hand on his shoulder. “Do not dismiss what ifs but now ... .anyway I can wait for you to get changed, no one wants to see you in these clothes, like take what you think fits….” Suna helped himself to check over what is in the fridge, which is actually pathetic, expect for that tanalising egg sandwich- which he took a small bite from that delicious filling.
Suna nearly laughed at Osamu's choice of clothing when he wore a crisp beige shirt, a pair of acid-washed jeans and loafers. “I have never seen this style in years…it makes you very old” He purposefully rolled his sleeves, popped a simple striped t-shirt and rolled the jeans’ hems. For a final flourish, he changed into a pair of grey sneakers “Osamu, you look much better….” Suna placed his hand on his shoulder. “Now we shall talk about that very matter on why I showed up to the apartment without any notice…”Osamu’s body is swallowed by the moss of the mountains which he tried to catch his breath, expect to recall at one morning which he decided to walk to one of the shrines which he stay there, listening to the wishes of humans to mute gods.
“It has been a while…..”
Instead of the rustle of the wind, it was the slurping of noodles from customers, the bubbling of the oden soup and the pleasant greeting from the servers. Suna gave a loud sigh as releived that they are no longer cramped in Osamu’s apartment but actually have human interaction. Osamu gazed at the old photo of the cart framed at the top of the store that they met in a millenia, which Suna listen to Osamu’s desire for companionship.A realization came to Osamu that they proudly displayed the dark blue bowl with the small shrine “Welcome….”
Suna spoke to the lady confidently. “Two Hayashi sets please….with rice please….”
“Right away….” Osamu quietly sniffed at the aroma of the soup, it seems that the recipe never changed. Suna cracked his knuckles as he took the pair of chopsticks and passed it to Osamu
“Now to talk about your predicament, I pride myself as a god who wishes not to dabble in affairs, and I thought you will be able to figure yourself to make yourself human……”
Soon as the two bowls of oden and rice laid on the table, Suna snapped his fingers causing the bowl to shake, making the crowd pause. “But it seems that your lifeforce, the very thing that actually made you exist is passed to a human…..” Suna allowed Osamu to clap his hands and say “I partake this meal” in Japanese.
“So I checked on the human who is affected by your marble’s power- and I suppose you tried to convince that said human to stay with you….” Suna watched Osamu to chew on the fishcake, and drinking the soup, with Osamu staring at Suna’s eye rolling.“Just an update, your rice-coloured hair human is suffering with the millennia of your memories”
Osamu purposefully stuffed his face into that fishcake, before heaving an exasperated sigh. “I did…..but…..he seems pissed off….” he scratched at his grey hair.“Suna by the way-the human, I think his name is Kita….”
“Of course, I know that fox” Suna chuckled lightly, purposefully squeezing the mustard on his plate, before breaking the egg into half. “Your face screams stranger danger to that rice-coloured hair human- simple as that…” Osamu felt a wince of guilt in his body. “I wish I could leave you alone and resolve your ‘little’ problem , however I think you may need my advice, perhaps you should start actually getting to know the person….”
“I did that….” Osamu remarked quietly.
“Not in your direct manner fox….” Suna rolled his eyes. “Humans, I say are complicated, they need a connection, a common ground, not simply, yes ‘I am willing to stay at your place’, did you notice anything with him last night…..” Osamu paused a little that he remarked about his grandma. “His grandma???”
“Do you want to marry her???”
Osamu shook his head vigorously.
Suna scrunched his eyebrows in disgust, mumbling under his breath. I hope not. making a sucking noise. “Almost close, that is a start ...this is where I came in……”He snapped his fingers back to reality while Osamu could feel the wind behind his back and the merry chatter of the customers. “I think we should set up a meal together, you- handsome little fox, rice coloured hair human and grandma- strange as it seems but she can see me….”
“Huh??????”
Osamu suddenly saw the golden thread manifesting in his pinkie, just like last night which my brother kept mumbling that I had something strung up that he took a butter knife and tried to cut it.
“Perhaps she is one of those remaining humans who can see gods and spirits…” Suna smirked a little. “Anyway I will speak with her, telling her that she is expecting a visitor….” Osamu frowned a little on Suna’s proposal. “And I bring you here.. Just wait for my cue..” Osamu’s eyes widened a little. What?
Before Osamu could ask Suna the questions, he simply disappeared, which Osamu is now alone, with the background noise being the chatter of the crowd. The cashier asked him, “That will 3200 yen please….” Osamu shut his eyes and manifested his wallet with a thin note of 5000 Yen. That should suffice for us huh? He gave a nod, nervous over the new situation, how Kita would react, if he tried again to ask him to stay at his place. He imagined him with a deep gaze, with a slight scowl that sent shivers down his spine.
And his words echoed in his mind.
“You are trying your luck again Osamu, I say no…..”
Osamu found himself sweating amidst the steam of the oden store, which the cashier reply to him. “That would be 1800 Yen, thank you so much.” He gave a sheepish grin when he came out from the oden store, and the rapid heat caused him to sweat through his outfit. “Alright ... .it could be a date, like what humans do to connect how ‘Tsumu' would do with Sakusa…”
What the hell is a date…..
I better text ‘Tsumu for advice.
Osamu hated to admit it, but he is actually hopeless at these kinds of things.
/////
Kita woke up with a throbbing headache, which he pressed the fleshy part of his palm upon his eye- trying to squint for the nearby objects, what seems the same except for a small bottle of round tablets. Huh, that did not appear in my bed last night. He only recall the events before his massive headache that he is there, that one- he is there to console Ginjima with grandma’s onigiri, next, a grey-haired man who claimed to be some ancient fox accidentally lunged his marble unto his mouth, and now he is afraid of cute dogs, have a huge craving for tofu and red beans, and actually seeing things that he did not want to see like watching a busty courtesan's afterglow, or speaking that said ‘fox’ voice that he take on a Christian name.
Was it Hugo?
It felt like it was played like a scene from a movie with some sweeping soundtrack.
Kita consoled himself. It is a byproduct of me being careless that evening. I should have walked another route home. Kita picked up his phone, to gaze over the schedule of his class. Perhaps I should go and eat breakfast and simply show up to class. Maybe I should hang out with Ginjima, restraining him from stalking his ex- wait was there a bubble tea store that Aran raved about, maybe I could go there, I could…..
Without the fact that a fox marble is residing in his stomach, if Kita could simply ignore it, he is actually an ordinary college student learning how the plants grow, and cultivate delicious food. He could focus on the now, as he started to make his bed, picking up the tissues that rolled on the floor, and promptly throwing it away in the dustbin..
He then proceeded to brush his teeth, holding on to the chipped cup that he bought at one of the day-trips of Aomori with his grandma, gazing at the mirror. “Maybe I could simply lie to my friends that I have been mugging for our presentation….”
“I could simply avoid tofu…and….”
However Kita grew enticed by the smell of freshly cooked rice, grilled fish and miso soup made lovingly by Yumie, that he spit the foam from the toothpaste and used that chipped cup to gargle out the remaining form stuck in his teeth. “Morning Shin-chan, feeling better?”, which she poured him a cup of hot mocha on the chipped tea cup.
The food that grandma made is always filled with care and detail. A byproduct of hard work and care.
Kita settled himself comfortably on the bedside, preparing the clothes for the new day. That should be a good day. Kita thought to himself. For once he enjoyed the stability of his life, without any hiccups. I hope it would stay that way.
“...At least….I can sleep well grandma….” Kita slowly sipped the mocha, savouring the grassy notes of the tea. “Though I have awful flashbacks which I feel are not my own….” Yumie gave a small smile. “That is good, at least the gods are watching you…” Kita noticed that his grandma also made her own breakfast set, sitting comfortably at the table. “Shall we eat before it gets cold….” Yumie chirped to Kita, as she clasped her hands in prayer
“...Yes….”
I need to stop thinking about that dire situation, and simply eat.
“Itadakimasu!”
Kita decided to pick up a few grains of rice and scraped the flesh of the fish, placing it on his mouth. “Mhmmm, this….is good….” Yumie pushed him a small plate of pickles. “Take this Shin-Chan, Ayako-san, a friend from the gardening club made….” Kita hesitated a little before picking up the pickles and placing them in his mouth, savouring its sour taste. “...It is good….”
Yumie smiled quietly. “That is good that you have an appetite…you may have noticed a little bottle of round tablets….” allowing Kita to grab that bottle of tablets from the table. “I am told by a friend of mine, that it will ease your symptoms for the day, if you take one….”
Kita frowned a little. “Are you sure grandma, and it is not one of those frauds….” Yumie clasped his hand. “No Shin-Chan, it seems when I prayed for you for a good night’s rest, that I received this gift….”
The point should be: Who cares?
Kita thought to himself, obeying grandma’s words as he quietly twisted the bottle open, shaking one of the tablets unto his hand, and swallowing that pill into his mouth. It would not change the circumstances of what happened just now. I am an ordinary college student and that fox marble is something out of a fairytale which we would spook each other out at camps.
The taste of the tablet feels similar to the salty taste of instant noodles, which he gave a scrunch, before it grew so mellow into a taste familiar to his taste buds. Kita slowly sipped his tea to digest the tablet, suddenly feeling a slow warmth blooming in his stomach. It did settle a little of his queasiness in his stomach. At least I do not need to buy stomach ache medication from the pharmacy today, all I need to do is simply focus on actually going through the class without any hiccups or weird-ass dreams.
Yumie smiled at Kita’s ease through his system. Suna’s little bottle worked on my Shin-chan. “I guess I can leave you alone to get ready, Shin-chan, remember that the gods are always watching us…” Kita shakes his head off. “Grandma, do not worry, I am fine….”, allowing Yumie to clear his tray of food from his tabletop. “I work on the little everyday things…..”
“You always do, Shin-chan, by the way I left a bento box in the fridge, you can take this for lunch….”
“Thanks Grandma….” Kita closed the door, not knowing that Yumie chuckled a little, as she clapped her hands into the clean shrine. “Kami-sama, thank you for the medicine, watch over Shin-chan….”
Yumie walked away from the shrine, to start clearing up the items from breakfast, smiling quietly to herself that the medication seemed to work on her grandson, and she started to help herself by making a cup of mugi-cha. “Good morning old lady…..”, Yumie could sense a faint presence of a god walking through her door, and the smell of crisp mountain air perfumed her humble living room. Suna came in dressed in a parka jacket and jeans, holding a plastic bag of onigiris, noticing that Kita slung his bag from his bed and put on his headphones, listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the journey ahead. Yumie stared at him. “Kami-sama, you can wait, right….”, Suna forced himself to make space for Kita to wear his weathered grey Converse sneakers.
Suna whispered to Yumie. “What if I told you that he cannot see me…..” Yumie frowned slightly, poking at his ribs. “Humans generally cannot see us gods, and you, you are the only….” However, he forced himself to remain silent when Kita calmly told Yumie “I will be off grandma, see you later….”
Yumie waves her hand goodbye. “See you soon….” Suna finally plopped the snacks down the table and stretched his legs onto his mat. At least this is nice, and she took in the effort to clean the place, unlike a certain fox, watching Kita close the door, leaving Yumie and Suna alone.
“Kami-sama, how is my Shin-Chan….”
Suna rotated his neck muscles back and forth. “It seems the tablet is stabilising your ‘Shin-chan’ aura however it is a temporary measure unless we can let the marble’s original carrier stay with you or vice-versa…..”, calmly opening the container of onigiris and munching on the Tarako onigiri. Yumie placed a chipped indigo tea cup on the table. “Kami-Sama, you cannot have the onigiri without a drink….”
Suna grew quiet, as he took that small sip of tea. “Thank you…” cupping the warmth with his hands. “Old lady, I think I may need your help….because I can do the pushing, but I can sense your grandson is hesitant, and you have met the carrier…..”
“What do you mean Kami-sama….” Yumie frowned a little, as she took the stewed konbu onigiri and placed it in her mouth. “The original carrier….”
Suna took a deep breath, dipping his finger unto the tea, and drawing figures for Yumie. “As you see, your grandson accidentally swallowed a marble of a kitsune ... .well in simple human terms a mythical fox that has supernatural powers, and you may wonder granny how the hell a regular fox gets powerful, I do not know…..”
Yumie watched how the little fox slowly trodden through the fields, climbing through the cliff to stare at the big moon, there it slowly morphed into a handsome human- kissing every man, woman or godly creature- forming little orbs which are lodged to its mouth. “It would be harmless to a creature like him because he has years of experience, and your grandson does not, and I am guessing that person did not make a good impression on him….”
Slowly Suna took a rice grain, and it bloomed into a busy ramen store, the air was filled with chatter, which Kita was making his way to the bus station. “I am thinking, instead of you tending the flowers outside, though lovely- why not you meet your grandson at this ramen shop over Friday afternoon, and I will try my hardest to bring that ‘person’ so we can start on a good note, by getting to know each other, after all….”
Suna manifested a bowl of ramen in front of her eyes, making Yumie hungry, yet she frowned a little on his plans. “Do you know Kami-Sama, who is that sad person ... .like Shin-chan would not take anyone…..” Suna quickly wrote down the number in Yumie’s hand. “I suggest you take a pencil and paper and slip a note to your grandson, I guess he needs it more than you and I…..”
“I will simply bring him….” Sunna’s mind went blank. Whether he likes it or not. I have to be sneaky.
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Meanwhile Kita is glad to see his campus, where normalcy seems to reign in his mind- as he looked over the time in his phone. Yes I should hurry to that room now….
His lecture went without a hitch that he is able to ask his lecturer about the irrigation process, another period in his class where they watched a documentary about the effects of climate change, which feels like a trickle in his brain, another class where they are partnered with business students about the finances, which he is paired with a student that look strangely like Osamu, which the marble reacted a little.
Kita scoff off that thought. This is not real, and appearances are simply a coincidence. Like there is no such thing at moony-eyed foxes giving marbles, nor there are gods that totally interfere with his life.
Thankfully his lectures ended off smoothly, which Kita made himself comfortable to sit on the shaded bench eating his grandma’s bento, which consisted of leftover karaage, steamed rice and rolled egg. Kita quietly shut his eyes. “Itadakimasu….”, quietly picking up the egg omelette, and placing the fluffy omelette in his tongue , glancing at Aran coming into that seat, holding a plastic bag of konbini sandwiches . “So any updates about the volleyball practice….”,
Aran scratched his head. “Well sorta, I managed to squeeze one on a Saturday….just need to text Ginjima if he is okay….” Kita felt a slight burn in his stomach as he ate the omelette, as if the incident came to bug him. Aran frowned at Kita's reaction, as he seemed to space out over . “Hey…you looked pale….” he shook his head. “Nah, it…is just the weather….” Aran quickly passed him a small bottle of peach juice to Kita. “Take this….”
“No, I am fine….” Kita took his small flask of cool water and drank the liquid. “I am…fine….” Coincidentally Ginjima did come along, with a dour expression on his face. Aran called him. “Hey come and sit with us….”
Ginjima squeezed between them. “Hey….are you still on for the volleyball match….”
“Kinda….” Ginjima mumbled a little. “Well, at least….I am…a better player….than….” Kita observed the swaying breeze in the court, he is glad that he can forget about that misgiving, only to hear a small buzz in his phone alerting him to another lecture."
"I better go, see you this Saturday...."
Another lecture passed by, and Kita felt some sense of relief. Maybe I should try to go back home and finish up my studies. At least going to college made Kita feel normal, as if it is simply a daydream, which he observed the changing landscapes on his bus route- that he glimpsed over the shadow of the grey fox simply watching with him. Kita blinked again, only to see his reflection. It is nothing but mere coincidence, Kita thought to himself, only happy to see the sight of the bus stop on his way to his grandma’s house.
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Yumie sat quietly, clapping her hands to the clean shrine “Kami-sama, thank you…..”, Suna gave a click in his tongue,purposefully opening the door, allowing Kita to come in. Old lady, the show is yours… Suna quietly thought of himself. “I’m home…” Kita taking off his converse sneakers. Yumie gave a sweet smile. “Welcome back Shin-chan….”, she held Osamu’s number tightly to memory as she prepared a simple cup of mugi-cha. “How is school….” Grandma still have her old habits of checking with me as if I am an elementary school kid, however it feels so comforting that she asked. “It is good….”
Kita could feel the aura of the marble still floating on his stomach. It seems to react to the environment. “It is just some project work…here and there….” Yumie sat down with Kita quietly, placing a small plate of picked vegetables on the table. “Ahhh I see, Shin-chan, just remember to take….”
“I know granny, one step at a time, it is a process that I will diligently keep….”
“Shin-chan…..” Yumie munched the pickled slice unto her mouth. “I just recalled something….”, she held Kita’s hand allowing the number that Suna wrote in her hand to transfer to Kita, which he felt the marble burning in his gut. “I was observing that you never come out of the room, aside from your morning run- and random meetings with Aran-chan- perhaps we should try this new ramen store at the block instead of me making your usual snacks….”
“Ramen?”
Kita frowned a little. Grandma is usually picky over ramen, but she seems so sincere about this offer. “Why grandma….”
Yumie gazed over the clean shrine, with the cup filled with new sake. “I heard from my gardening friends that it is highly raved, and the ‘chef’ is very handsome….” Kita seems unconvinced over Yumie’s words, as he munched the pickles into his mouth. Perhaps grandma is right, I am feeling stiff since that marble is lodged into my stomach.
‘When grandma….”
This Friday.
Somehow the marble reduces the burn in his stomach. Yumie frowned a little. “Are you alright Shin-chan….” Kita chuckled to himself. “Grandma, I hate to ask ... .I am skeptical over the incident which something was lodged into last night, somehow I feel connected with something, or someone ... .could it be a coincidence….”
Yumie sighed quietly, noticing that Suna’s magic is slowly working on Kita. “If you believe in that….”
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Osamu curled himself in that indented sofa, simply staring at the photographs of his past, and Take-san with his hand stretched out to the cooling fan, as he ironically chose ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ playing at the old record player, he could sink into memories of his past, just forgetting about today- until he heard a knock in the door from Suna, carrying bottles of coffee and microwaveable meals “Hey….fox…..”
Osamu blinked at the sight of Suna coming inside his apartment,admiring the relics that he collected, a testament of his long life- some that ceased to exist in the blink of the human eye. “Don’t simply shrivel in fear because of what I said….” Suna decided to snap his fingers to change to a more hopeful song. Ahh that is much better, Suna thought to himself, as he purposely opened the curtains out of his window. “Take it as a new adventure, fox with his fangs blunted….”, nudging Osamu out of his misery, Suna gleefully looking over his reaction. “I think you detach yourself from the human world, and instead embrace its beauty….”
Osam pushed a stray cowlick to his ear, gazing at Suna pushing himself to that worn-out couch.” A way for you to get out of your museum….I am thinking about trying this new ramen venue….I heard that the broth is something the locals craved for….” Osamu’s eyes sparkled a little on the sound of a new food venue. “It is rich and fascinating….”
“Perhaps, I should go there alone….” Suna shook his head. “Not by any chance, because I know you fox, as your brain will wander into ‘POOR ME I AM SO ALONE….’ ' Suna passed him a bottle of konbini coffee. “How about you instead, change your mind and say to yourself ‘Loneliness is like a slurp of the ramen, it may take a while, but….it is worth the flavour’.” Osamu took a sip of that coffee. “If you want to be human, loneliness is that one experience, but there are many, and you do not need to shut up about it…”
“In short, just show up at that ramen store this Friday, and you will see why…..”
Osamu found his hair fluttering with the strong wind, only leaving him alone with a small moss path on his musty apartment. He mumbled to himself. I wonder if he actually replied to my question.
Atsumu quietly adjusted his camera to the make-shift studio, where he nearly dropped his lip-gloss on the floor. ‘Atsu……I could use some help ’, which thankfully Atsumu still have his reflexes from his fox heritage, which he quickly facetimed his brother. “Hey…..”
Osamu scrunched his hair quietly. “I…..I…..Think….you can help me…..as I am….” Atsumu gave a pout as he adjust the ring lights. “I am going for a meeting….”
“That is unusual….is it catching up with one of the old folks”
Atsumu cannot help but to withheld a chuckle, usually Osamu prided on his independence that he would take any job, which recently included working part-time in a small pop-up event and yet he seems to drift like a plastic bag in the wind. “I…hate to say it…..it’s a date….and I am honestly terrible at this….” Atsumu’s pupils started to widen in shock. “A date, after 700 years…..”
Atsumu playfully bit his lip. “Who,, tell me ‘Samu, you can tell a former fox like me, what man or woman has caught your eye….”
“No one…..” Osamu shrugged his shoulders. “It happens that someone said that I am going somewhere nice to eat….” Atsumu felt his soul just died at Osamu’s deadpan wording. “Hey, if you are going somewhere nice…..” Atsumu pouted a little. “Then you should at least dress like what the young people do….”, gazing over Osamu’s slightly worn out navy sweater and gray slacks. “That screaming old man playing bingo with his friends….”
Atsumu wished he had his fox powers to simply teleport himself to raid at Osamu’s closet, but the chances of his wardrobe attracting hot people is zero. He thought very hard and very long. “When is your meeting…..”
“Friday….” Osamu squinted his eyes. “If I am not wrong….”
Atsumu grinned like a cheshire cat on a devious idea.
“Perhaps, we should do some shopping, so we can make whoever is meeting you…..have a good impression on you…..” Osamu quickly switched off his facetime camera in deep panic, which Atsumu pouted a little. “No wonder why no one gets you….old man…..” however a mischievous grin came in between of his lips, if he has something remaining from his former life as a mystical fox, is that he has charm, and he knew something from his brother from the many years they were together, is that he cannot resist a good meal- and he thought for a change for Osamu’s boring life- that he could go to that cozy izakaya after the day of shopping, after all Sakusa is personally delivering his father’s sake to the owner.
Cute date night, a-check.
Get Samu something than his grandpa clothing, a-check
Have some good brother bonding time, a-check.
Atsumu wrote his text to Osamu. “Hey, maybe we should go for a drink, you should try the new sake which is made in honour of me….”
Atsumu pursed his lips. You will not resist that offer.
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Osamu settled himself in his little part-time job as a simple promoter in a kiosk, which he would exchange simple conversations, collect some coin and once in a while clean up the goods. However he felt that isolation in his heart, as he closed that small kiosk, observing the couples holding hands having that glow in their eyes, and children tugging their mothers’ coats. True he has that interaction with the mortals, but it is just a hello and how is the day, nothing deeper than the ocean or as high as the mountains.
And yet he felt….
“ ‘SAMUUUUUUUU”
Osamu’s dour train of thoughts is broken by Atsumu dressing handsomely in a tight white collared shirt, ankle-length sleek pants and maroon chelsea boots, alongside with Sakusa garbed in black- with a puffer jacket, corduroy pants and sneakers, giving a wave, given his gaze- Osamu could deduct that he is going to be dragged for the sake of making his boyfriend happy.
Sakusa gave a low ‘sup’, while cringing at the gazes of the school girls, thinking that he is a real K-Pop star. Osamu chewed his lip. “I….did….not said…yes…to this….”, Atsumu smiled cunningly. “What if….I tell you that, we could get ourselves silly with the new sake in a new izakaya which you never went…..in exchange…..” , showing a picture of the new izakaya through his phone. “If you want to come, we have to look good for the camera, and your future date….” Osamu rolled his eyes when Atsumu purposely annotated the word ‘Date’ which he has none, to be honest.
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“ ‘Samu, the pleasure of a human is going to the mall….” , Atsumu pressed the button of the auto door which bright light blinded Osamu’s eyes, before absorbing the sights of the ‘mall’, with brightly lit signs selling cute toys to children, mannequins modelling the latest fashions, school girls gossiping about their latest idol crushes and their bags dangling their anime boys, which Atsumu teased him that one of them looked exactly like him, moony and grumpy, which he gave a shove, and the rows of food displays showing the cutest parfits and jiggly pancakes screaming to Osamu that they should be eaten.
“This is where we are going to find you the outfit that made your…..”
Sakusa whispered to Atsumu in his ear, which he playfully pushed back, causing Osamu to cringe a little. But if there is an expert in power and control- it would be his brother Atsumu. If he ever reincarnated to another life, he would be fitted as a Tennyo or a more benevolent creature. The mannequin of a man dressed in a turtleneck, tight pants and loafers caught Atsumu’s eye. “I think we should go there…..” Osamu sighed a little, only gazing lovingly at the dessert store. And oddly that shop blasted some cheesy 90’s-2000’s era music to entice the trio to that store.
Atsumu , as usual charmed the store staff, a young girl dressed in a fun band t-shirt, mini skirt and platform sneakers with her hair filled with fun hair-clips. Sakusa sighed quietly. “He still have that charm huh….”
Osamu remained mute, as he saw Atsumu carrying hangers of clothes, and piling into Osamu’s hands. “That should look so cute on you….” Osamu constantly stared at the many reflections in the shop, which one betrayed a shadowy silhouette of fox ears. “The humans….” Sakusa cleared his throat for Atsumu to not proclaim his fox heritage out loud. “The ladies, gentlemen and if some in between will fall in heels in love with you- after all first impressions count….”
Atsumu led Osamu to the fitting room. “See what catches your eyes….”, which he also took the time to look through the selection of clothes offered here. Sakusa whispered to Atsumu. “It seem that you should guide him, than throw him to somewhere dangerous…babe….”
“Omi-chan…”
Atsumu gave his signature pouty look to Sakusa. “He would have it on the bag….” and of course Osamu came out from the fitting room, with a sleek turtleneck, baggy pants and sneakers. Atsumu scrunched his eyebrows a little. “Perhaps, let’s sway for another, maybe a blazer, collared shirt and a harness….” Another outfit, as instructed by Atsumu, Atsumu shook his head, mumbling to himself that it looks better on him. “ ‘Samu, let’s go to another store, maybe bad boy vibes did not fit you….”
Sakusa simply stood up, walking away from that store, allowing Atsumu to charm the young girl. Osamu, meanwhile felt a sense of relief from entering this store, as these outfits made him look like a sore thumb.
Another store named “Lune” seems cleaner in contrast as they played bossa nova music, and the young man dressed in a relaxed blazer and striped shirt, with dark-washed jeans. “Welcome! Promotion is 50% on selected clothes….” Atsumu gazed over the choices of clothes. “Huh you wanna go boy next door, the one which your date’s parents are cool with and it screams ‘responsibility’….” he somehow chose certain pieces that would suit Osamu, who by now was distracted by the fake plants that decorated the shop. “Not my thing- the cute store staff picked some things that perhaps suit you…..” Osamu sheepishly walked over to the fitting room, carrying the mountain of clothes with his hands, while Atsumu chose a cute two-layered shirt for Sakusa, which he barely heard the comment that he would look so cute with that outfit.
Osamu rubbed the sweat around his ears, thinking over the mortal- Kita’s words in his mind- he seemed so harsh, versus the time which by the fates, he held a small gesture. Was he holding that mask which mortals are capable of? Osamu shut his eyes. *No I must be overthinking, they would not….*Hurriedly he took a strange combination of a baggy white shirt over a wool olive-coloured vest- with some grey baggy pants. He quietly slipped it into his body, examining himself in the mirror. Great. Osamu thought to himself. I do not look great at all….. Sheepishly he came out from the flimsy curtain, gazing at Atsumu choosing an oversized knitted black vest for Sakusa, gazing at him. “Well….this does not look good on you, ‘Samu…..”, which he promptly went back to the dressing room, which he took a sigh of relief. At least ‘Tsumu is honest….if not for his wicked charm.
Another outfit, this time it was a baby blue sweater, a cream bucket hat and white cargo pants, which he heard from the store staff “This look is popular with young men like you….” Osamu nearly want to chuckle to himself, knowing that he is talking to an 800-year-old fox. “Uhm…thanks….”, he slowly slipped into that outfit, and if he is honest- based on his shrugging shoulders- this outfit did not work for that meeting. He might as well, just call it off and sit on his museum of memories.
“ ‘Tsumu, should we just call it off….”
Osamu walked out of the fitting room, with his heart indifferent and dejected over the mortal activity of 'shopping’ . Why buy the material things in the world? It is not what makes me happy, for ‘Tsumu- it is his way to show power, by flaunting his beauty.
Atsumu puffed his cheeks. “You cannot simply give up, I want you to bring the ‘milkshake’ to whoever it's in the yard!”, which caused stares from the customers in the store. “‘Samu, should we just try one more store, even if it is nothing- at least we can have a nice drink….” Osamu heaved a little, shutting his eyes to change his grey eyes to golden, causing the customers to be bewildered, holding their hands to disappear in thick smoke, only landing themselves outside of the mall.
Atsumu sulked at Osamu finally being able to breathe in the fresh air, with Sakusa gazing at the bright sky, which a whiff of boiled ramen soup perfumed the air.
“Look…if it was not for my quick thinking, we would be kicked out of the store…..”
“No ‘Samu….” Atsumu protested loudly, nearly want to dig his fingernails into his eye. “You keep gazing and gazing, and you have nothing- what the hell are you doing….”
“ ‘Tsumu, stop acting like you are 5 years old.” Osamu scolded Atsumu who seems miserable over their shopping trip. Atsumu felt that he lost hope to find an outfit for his brother to meet his ‘date’ on the meeting, based on Osamu’s expressions- he did not like the choices at all. “I thought I can make you hot, ‘Samu….” Atsumu protested to Osamu. “I swear, you cannot simply give up…” Slowly Sakusa restrained the squabbling foxes. “Babe….” Somehow Sakusa’s deadpan tone calmed down Atsumu’s temper. “Maybe having branded clothes may not be your brother’s thing, perhaps instead of shuffling what you think it looks so hot, based on the likes on your stupid page where you pucker your lips as if it is stung by bees, and your chest thrusting- that we should make more comfortable by allowing your brother a say….” Atsumu’s eyes widened with bemusement, and fell in love with Sakusa’s words like a schoolboy.“How about we walk around the shopping street, to see what is around, and perhaps it is less intimidating to him…”
“If you said so….” Atsumu sighed a little, and slowly the trio’s eyes gazed upon a very small shopping street, “Perhaps we can start with this one….” Somehow Atsumu and Osamu have a silent truce where they wandered in silence, under the watchful eye of Sakusa, they wandered over the shopping streets, allowing Osamu to be absorbed in thought- with the quiet chatter from stallowners, chuckling to himself that one elderly lady pinching the cheeks of Atsumu saying that he is tasty as mochi, and them sitting down at an old coffee-joint, which Sakusa quietly munched over the fluffy souffle pancakes with Atsumu pouting away over the stillness of the shop and Osamu savouring the hand-dripped coffee.
Osamu somehow felt more relaxed after walking around that street, not caring if an outfit is picked for him, he enjoyed the sights of a small street, even if Atsumu was pouting over the simplicity of that trip.
A small thrift store caught Osamu’s eye- with a mannequin wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a vintage scarf tied around its neck, he quietly walked over to that store by himself, without mentioning to Atsumu, whom by now is grimacing that his outfit is ruined by the wet puddles in the creaky store “Huh? That? Ugh….’Samu….why….” Sakusa restrained Atsumu from his hands grabbing what he thought were pieces that looked good on Osamu. “Babe, I think we should let him wander and decide, plus I have a feeling he would like this….” Osamu searched over the cluttered thrift store, enjoying the aroma of mildew mingling through his nostrils- absorbed by the eclectic choices of clothes, transporting him through a time of stillness, until he gazed over a blue plaid shirt with a white tank top floating in the wind. Osamu somehow pictured his mind that he could picture himself wearing that. Maybe that would be nice…
Without any interference, Osamu quietly picked this outfit and placed the hanger on his collarbone, envisioning himself wearing that. A quiet store staff wearing a baggy Florence + the Machine sweater and jeans came to Osamu, holding a thick pair of medium-wash jeans . “Would you like to try this with that….”
Osamu smiled a little, taking these clothes, unaware that Atsumu still sulked over that store, hating the sight of baggy-clothed youth searching through rare finds and Sakusa gazing over an old silk scarf, taking one of the baskets, plopping that thing in. “Omi-chan, this place is making me feel old…..” Sakusa did not reply, instead searching for a new ring to slip upon his finger.
“The fitting room is this way….” Osamu grew silent, as he slipped away from the commotion of the shopfront to a cosy fitting room, with a small door to lock away from the passersby. He took a deep breath, deciding to slip through these clothes, let his mind blank a little.
Osamu gazed a little at the mirror at that look, he purposely rolled the sleeves of his plaid shirt, tucking it under his jeans. He looked much younger, as he made a little twirl around the cramped fitting room, lost in his own world. Finally, after many years, he actually smiled.
That could fit.
That is until he heard Atsumu’s heckle. “What took you so long???” Osamu grumbled at him under breath, as he opened the door while Sakusa and Atsumu gazed over Osamu’s new look. Atsumu tried his hardest to hold his laughter, and Sakusa gripped Atsumu’s bicep quietly. “Uhmmm, you look like a mangent ... .for old ladies with that outfit……”
“If I see this outfit, I would run so…so…so….”
Sakusa frowned at Atsumu’s words, his mask hiding a scowl in his face. “....Do you like Osamu?…be honest …” Osamu shrugged his shoulders. “I sorta…..”
“But….It will not…..” Atsumu grumbled at Sakusa. “His date would not dare to look at him….”
Sakusa dryly spoke to the squabbling brothers. “Well, maybe that date is into Uncles, like Uncles I would like to…” Purposefully blanking out the f-slur “Like that dude from that Hong Kong film I watched with Motoya-The actor Tony Leung wore something similar like this….” Atsumu pouted a little, he may have lived very long, and yet he did not find ‘Tony Leung’ that attractive. “At least it looks decent, sorry Atsumu, as your boyfriend I would have politely disagree with you, if you want to dress for a first meeting- at least there is something that makes him comfortable….”
Sakusa stared at him, deadpan at Osamu’s eyes. “I have to give you a tip just to spice up this oufit….” Sakusa whispered to Osamu’s ears, which his eyes widened with confusion.
Atsumu puffed his cheeks. “ ‘Samu, if this makes you happy, I think you should at least sleek your hair with some gel, should get your date swooning over you….” Osamu somehow smiled at both, “ ‘Tsumu, a wet-haired look would not be good for me…” unaware the young girl stared at them, amused by their antics. “So I suppose it is a yes….”
Sakusa nodded to them. “Well along with these…”
Meanwhile in the corner, Suna was in the thrift store, searching for a new parker, giggling to himself. “Mask guy has better advice than your brother, fox now…now….how I am going to get rice-coloured hair mortal to be cool with the meeting….” Before long, he disappeared into the crowd, in search of his favourite lollipops.
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Osamu meanwhile, happily held his plastic bag of items, which he gazed at Sakusa and Atsumu finally made into the small izakaya aptly named ‘The Floating world’, which the old man, which the cigarette is dangling at his mouth started to pull the shutters up from the shopfront gave a wave to Sakusa. “Ahhh you must be Sakusa-san’s son…”
“Hey…..” Sakusa quietly sat over the table, gazing over the display of sake bottles. “Hideo-san, just checking if the new sake is doing well with your customers….”
The old man-Hideo grinned at Sakusa. “Super well, the customers keep snapping the pictures of the label, asking where is this from….” Hideo noticed Atsumu simply drooling over the slices of fatty tuna placed with soya sauce. Sakusa quietly glared at Atsumu wanting to pick the tuna slices and seductively placed over his mouth to arouse Sakusa in an important meeting, which he grabbed the collar of his shirt “Oh Hideo-san…that is my friend….Atsumu….Hideo-san, and his brother….”, Osamu quietly gave a judging glare to Atsumu, which he used his fox magic to enchant Atsumu to restrain himself “Osamu….”
Osamu gave a gentle bow. “Hello….Hideo-san”, and Sakusa slightly grabbing Atsumu’s collar, giving a ahem. “Oh…hello, Hideo-san…..”. Osamu gazed in awe on the busy workers preparing the ingredients for dinner service,, and how one man with a bandana grew precise the cuts are, a young lady have her cheek laid on the phone, getting a reservation, another younger man with a piercing on his left ear- scribbing over today’s specalites.
They seems so happy.
Hideo quietly bowed to them. “Nice to meet you, make yourself comfortable….”, pushing three seats for these gentlemen, which Sakusa quietly rolled his eyes in front of Atsumu, which Osamu whispered to him. “If you are that frisky, why don’t you book yourself a love hotel with him, instead of assaulting the food…” Atsumu pouted a little. “You are no fun….’Samu….”
“You need restraint…..” Osamu rolled his eyes, hiding his hands underneath the plastic bag to magically enchant Atsumu to stay silent. “For the sake for your….partner…..for now if you want to bark, you can do it through my mind”, and for the whole night, no one noticed Osamu’s enchantments as they have an array of food on the table, freshly fried tempura, a board of sashimi, fried brie and rows of sushi. One of the servers carried the bottle of sake. “I highly recommend Hatsu, your sake, that would go well with ika sashimi…”, pouring full glasses for the trio, which Osamu blinked his eyes, reversing the spell for Atsumu to blabber, Atsumu took a quick breath, pouting at Osamu’s slight smirk. “I think you should enjoy the meal as I do….” Sakusa smiled quietly, taking off his mask. “Thanks….”, placing the sake glasses on the table, Osamu felt slightly ashamed for such a wondrous spread of food that it looks like jewels in a treasure chest
“Help yourself, meal is on me….and the sake you are drinking- it was made when I was stuck without inspiration, it was meeting your brother that, it inspired the name- ”
Atsumu’s eyes water with sentimentality, nearly ruining his eyeliner. “Omi-chan…….”, as he took that sake glass, drinking it hurridely to drown his feelings, before chewing on the fried brie. Sakusa patted him quietly. “Babe, do not rush with the food, I got your favourite….”
Atsumu’s eyes flashed in a sparkle over Sakusa’s words.
Osamu quietly took the glass, and sipped it quietly-enjoying the sweet taste, before picking on the ika sashimi and ginger, placing it on his mouth. Somehow Osamu broke into a small smile, enjoying its taste, but he cannot help but to people watch, seeing their reactions on trying Sakusa’s sake and having wonderful chatter over life events, whenever it was catching up on old memories at school or congratluating people on engagements or new jobs, over a plate of food. It feels so wonderful and yet he felt slight isolation that he cannot find the food to savour with others, only focus with Atsumu, with cheeks flushed from the rounds of sake, constantly nuzzling Sakusa’s shoulders, mumbling sweet nothings.
“Hey…are you alright ”
Osamu blinked away to focus on Sakusa’s gaze. “...yeah…I am kinda tired…from today….” Sakusa calmly passed him a slice of yakiniku beef to his plate. “I agreed, Atsumu is a lot, but I wonder what is on your mind, like you seem so silent….you are in good company and yet….”
Osamu felt his tongue tied on Sakusa’s words. “It would be hard for a mortal like you….to know these ‘things’” Sakusa slumped his hand onto his chin. “Hey, I know, I am mortal too, even I, whom has a boyfriend, can still feel loneliness, even your stupid brother too….”, Sakusa raised a glass of sake and slowly sipped it, munching on the tempura. “You just have to find that spark, it may not be a passion like Atsumu showing the world his body, but something….do not expect it to come straight away….” He glared at the reflection on the sake, which hold a shadow of a fox. “Like me, having to manage my studies in business while watching my grandfather brew sake, it takes time….”
Time.
You have little and savour it like a drink. While I have plenty and feel so empty.
Hideo shuffled to their table. “Hey one more special for the night, some freshly grilled onigiri filled with minced pork…” Osamu gave a nod of thanks, before grabbing the onigiri, allowing to savour it, which Sakusa’s words slowly sink into his mind, noticing how hysterical Atsumu is when drunk. Sakusa quietly picked Atsumu up “Hey you can go first, Osamu, we can walk back home…good night…” Osamu picked up the plastic bag of clothes and gave a sad smile to a drunk Atsumu and Sakusa asking for the bill. “Good night…”
Osamu took the time to walk over the small nooks and crannies of the shopping street, sone of the shops has their shutters half-closed, one or two izakayas echoed happy laughter in his ears, and one older man riding his bicycle out of the dimly lit streets and a shrine still holding their lanterns, which he walked to that one, which he made a clap and prayed to the slient gods.
Let me find that purpose.
Suna meanwhile, walked to Osamu, holding a kirin beer can. “It seems that you are getting ready for the meeting…” Osamu shook his head. “No, I am just fine….” Suna patted him on the shoulders. “Fox, do not overthink the meeting, I can hear it loud and clear, I believe when you decide to be yourself, without any expectations….” Suna gave a wink to Osamu. “I think you will find yourself opening up….” Soon the shrine’s lanterns went dim with Suna’s disappearance, leaving Osamu in deep slience.
If it is easy for you. Suna.
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
Friday Afternoon
Osamu waited outside of the ramen shop, dressed in that outfit chosen from the thrift store, purposefully rolled the cuff of his jeans to reveal a fun orange sushi patterned socks with his white sneakers, the line seems to snake around the ramen store, which he simply took the time to observe the looks of the customers, one girl with a septum piercing and the ends of her hair are neon green, which made his stomach turn a little, a father with a pot belly staring at the lines of people reaching his arms for a chubby baby, a pair of businessmen chatting over office affairs and a high school girl holding her briefcase- her body barely twitching from the aroma from the thick broth. They, though different parts are here for a similar purpose, to reach for that bowl of ramen. Osamu reluctantly reached his phone, quietly texting for Atsumu.
‘Tsumu I am nervous…..
He gazed at that profile picture from his chats, which is Atsumu giving a playful wink and his lips pouted with sticky lipgloss.
Don’t be…..
////
Kita slung upon the small plastic bag, picking up the air plants with Yumie-. “Shin-chan….I think this one is cute….” Kita laughed at Yumie. “Granny, I think this will brighten the kitchen….”, admiring the trailing leaves from a certain pot. Somehow Yumie could hear a small crystal bell tinkling in the distance, while Kita chose one of them with the brightest flowers. “Shin-chan….”, she quietly passed him a 5000 yen note. “Can you also help me to buy those petunias too, along with the air-plants….” Suna quietly touched one of the flowers-a bunch of pansies, changing their leaves into a golden hue, winking at Yumie, before disappearing with the crowd.
Yumie gazed over that one plant touched by Suna, seeing this as a sign to hurry their shopping.
“Granny, your change of 189 Yen….”, Kita hold a small tote bag gifted by Ginjima of a vintage beer logo. “Should we start queueing for the ramen shop….” Yumie smiled quietly, allowing Kita to hold the plants.
“Yes….”, Yumie took the time to exit the plant stall, gazing lovingly at the pot of pansies with golden leaves. “Shall we?” She withheld a mischievous gaze in her eyes, reading the meaning behind that certain flower. Yes my Shin-chan is always thoughtful.
And as if Atsumu’s words become a bag of healing herbs, Osamu caught the eye of a certain duo, an elderly lady dressed in a white turtleneck peppered with a small pink kerchief, and flowing skirt, holding an elegant bag and a white-hair coloured man wearing a white t-shirt, a baggy woollen vest, and chunky navy blue sneakers, he gazed from his hand, a small pot of maroon dahlia flowers in his hands.
Osamu barely catch the text from Atsumu: ‘You have to be charming and you are fine….’
“.....Kita…….”
Kita’s eyes widened with shock upon seeing Osamu, nearly dropping the pot of dahlias unto the floor, which thankfully Osamu’s grey eyes changed golden, swinging the pot back into his arms. “Damn it, how do you find me….” Yumie frowned at Kita. “Manners, Shin-chan….we should ….”
Osamu gazed at the golden thread from his pinkie to Kita grew brighter “I….just…want…to….apologize for the other night……” Osamu swallowed his pride down his throat. “Take this lunch….as a treat from me…….” Kita heaved a little. “Huh?, Well I think we did not have a good footing per say, Osamu, …..which, by the way I have your stupid marble lunged in my stomach, so thank you ....” Yumie glared at Kita coldly, watching the golden thread faded a little from Kita’s pinkie, watching Osamu chewed his lip nervously .“My name is Yumie-san, Shin-chan, I mean Kita’s grandmother, pleased to meet you…”
“Your name is Osamu-san….right?”
Osamu nodded a little, feeling ashamed over recalling their first meeting. Shit. Osamu thought to himself. Shit. I forget to introduce myself to the mortal Kita’s grandmother. What the hell am I doing.
“Yes….I am Osamu-san!...” he abruptly bowed to Yumie sharply, daring not to gaze at Kita’s angry gaze. “Uhmmm….nice to meet you….”
“It is nice to meet you- Osamu-san….” Yumie chirped a little. “You seems like a thoughtful young man…” Kita’s eyes widened with horror at Yumie's compliments, nearly dropping the pot of dahlias on the floor, but thankfully Osamu’s eyes stop that same incident again “I see that the line is long, it means that the ramen is good, am I right Shin-chan….”
Shin-chan?
Yumie chuckled a little. “Oh Osamu-san, apologies, my grandson’s name is Shinsuke- usually he is much calmer, but I can guess you struck a nerve on my grandson, so I apologise….” Kita quietly followed Yumie and Osamu to the restaurant where they walked over to the vending machine. “Uhmm….order what you liked……I would pay….” Osamu blurted quietly, fascinated by Kita’s fingers gazing over the buttons of the vending machine. “No I am good….” Kita did not say his choice of ramen, expect to take his weathered wallet out from his tote bag, slipping a 5000 yen note unto the machine, hearing the click of the machine , pressing on a simple shoyu ramen, and it slowly print out a small ticket
“Granny, what would you like…..”
“One Shoyu ramen please…” Shinsuke took what remaining change he could grab on, and pressed the buttons for the shoyu ramen and hot tea. Osamu grew enamoured by the gentle fingers holding the two tickets, passing it to the cook. Meanwhile Osamu gazed over the vending machine, overwhelmed by the many choices of ramen, but also Kita’s gentleness with his grandma as he could hear these words ‘Grandma, are you good ....?”
‘Shin-chan, are the flowers well…’
“My, this is a wonderful place.”
Osamu grew transfixed on Kita’s smile- it seemed so soft and gentle, like how he first laid his eyes at the convenience store.
His grandma seems to place her shopping goods onto the chair. “Osamu-san! We saved a seat for you….” Osamu only replied with a nod, and the savouring the aroma of the rich broth bubbling at the distance, Their lives seems to be so intersected, Osamu pondered to himself that is nice that the mortal Kita, no Shinsuke that he found some company, but not him, and he seems so hostile to his actions. Maybe last night should not happen, and maybe he would not have a frown in his face. Until a text buzz awoke his senses, and a salaryman frowning at his slowness, scratching his head. Osamu bowed his head unto him. “Sorry…” abruptly he slipped the note, pressing the buttons of tonkotsu ramen and cold mocha at the side, only to be awakened by the rustling of coins, which he abruptly grabbed from the dispenser.
“Sorry….”
Yumie gazed at Osamu. “What takes you so long Osamu-san….” Osamu tried to comb down the cowlicks in his messy grey hair, “I just cannot decide Yumie-san….” He finds himself shocked that he said ‘San’, he tried his hardest to maintain his distance to anyone. But somehow he found a connection to someone, but he is here not to date the mortal Kita’s grandma, he wanted to get to know Kita, the mortal, the silent individual who is sitting down on the chair, waiting patiently for his ramen to come.
“It must be overwhelming….” Yumie smiled at Osamu, thanking the chef for making the ramen. “But good things take time…”
Yumie-san sounded like Sakusa from last night.
Somehow in a moment of time, Osamu gazed at Kita meticulously grabbing his ramen bowl, breaking off the wooden chopsticks, before he claps in hands quietly muttering to himself “Itadakimasu…”, Kita quietly took a few strands of ramen, quietly slurping the noodles, savouring its taste. Osamu noticed that mere bliss in his eyes, enjoying the satisfying chew of the ramen, before taking the spoon to the ajitama floating at the sea of shoyu ramen- biting the firm white, before slurping through the jammy yolk . There Kita turned his face to him, giving him a dark glare. “Don’t you think it is so creepy that you stare at me eating ramen….” Osamu felt an arrow pierced into his heart on Kita’s acerbic words. “....Oh….is it good….”
Kita huffed a little. “It is….”, before slurping the ramen, mindlessly chewing the bamboo shoots back and forth, noticing Osamu raising his hands to take his bowl of ramen. He found his fingertips burning from the scalding bowl. Osamu whispered to himself “Itadakimasu….”, which he quietly savoured the thick broth, before scalding his tongue. It tasted salty. Quietly Osamu took the ajitama, and munched it into his mouth, enjoying the softness of the egg melting in his tongue, then he proceeded to slurp the ramen noodles. “Delicious…..” Osamu muttered to himself “I…I….Kita-san… this is the best ramen I ate.” Osamu felt the warmth in his stomach, on adding an honorific-’San’, and not referring to him as a mortal, it feels like he is getting closer to Kita. Yumie smiled at Osamu, while Kita turned his head away from him, focusing on the reflection in his broth and helping himself to pour the water into the plastic cup . “So….” Kita montontously slurped his ramen. “I assume, you just ate junk food and all…..What are you excited about….”
Osamu swallowed quietly. “I…often ate places alone, or with my brother, but you…you seems to enjoy that bowl, as if a devotion to the gods….” Yumie found herself giggling at Osamu's proclamation, it seems out of a script of a period drama. Kita stared at him blank-on, unaware that the golden thread was flickering brightly with fury and the marble pushing him over the edge. “Listen Osamu, if you are trying to win me over, by bringing me here and showering with flowery words so I can stay at your house, it is not that simple- I would say no…Kita distracted himself with constant pouring of water and munching the ramen noodles. “I assume you know how to remove the marble out of my system, so I can get back to my life….”
Osamu sighed quietly. “.....I…just….do not know…unless…we stay together….” which he reached for his callused hand. “So I can feel you….” Kita gave a shiver down his spine, nearly spilling the water onto his pants. Yumie calmly held Kita’s hand. “Shin-chan, Osamu-san is just being nice….”
Kita gave a shrug. “Grandma, this man ...he is the one who thrusted the marble into my stomach, and you wanted to be so friendly to him” Osamu could feel a prick in his heart on his harsh words “…..not by any chance, grandma that I am letting him into my life….”
Yumie stared blankly at Kita glaring at him. “Listen, I do not know why you think a simple ramen date would fix anything….I am not that convinced….” Osamu tried to find the words to say to Kita, however, before he got distracted by the servers shouting ‘Welcome’ to potential customers strolling in.
“Well you better think of something quick Osamu…..”,
Kita mutters a quick ‘Gochisousama deshita….” to the ramen store staff, before taking the plants and Yumie’s hand away from Osamu’s side. Osamu sat there paralysed, with another customer shuffling to Yumie’s seat, that grumpy salaryman stared at him, before reaching for his bowl of noodles
Osamu gazed over the text in his phone, he could guess it must be Atsumu.
How did that date go 😉
…What if…I say…not…. So….well…..
Atsumu gave a meme picture of a red-eyed face staring at the computer to his phone
What did you say….
I said I want him to be together with me…..Uhm I do not understand this thing you sent.
Osamu could hear the loud scream in his mind from Atsumu.
‘You need the foreplay before sucking his…..’
Osamu did not gaze at his message, guessing the content of his text, muttering a thanks to the chef, before walking away from the store, feeling dejected from Kita’s clapbacks . What did I say that made Kita-san so angry and upset? Suna came in, dressed in a simple army jacket, cotton t-shirt and army boots, with his head cocked, passing him a can of beer from his plastic bag. “Hey perhaps we should go to my shrine, for a nice drink…..”, Osamu gently pulls the tab of the can, gazing over the amber liquid, before sipping the beer. “So I assume you messed up….” The world of the mortals seemed to take a pause, as they found an empty shirine, sitting down quietly, while he savours the drink.
Osamu said nothing, except to stare at the half-empty can.
“Well….I have an inkling……” Suna retorted quietly, snatching a small chipped cup of sake and sipping the liquid. “That your words did not impact the mortal….” He gave an eyeroll to Osamu, shuffling his feet back and forth. “You could have…gone for a gentler approach fox…..” He dipped his finger unto the remaining sake, forming an image of Kita now huffed and puffed over the ramen date. “Mortals are peculiar, as they have 4 love languages, oh shit I mean- one being physical touch-” which showed Kita giving hugs to Yumie amidst the lush garden, “I am guessing yours will be quality time huh?”, which the puff of smoke manifest to a human Osamu sitting down in a small cafe with another faceless human. “Some like acts of service, which you can do chores for that said person, or sweet words of affirmation, and I would not discount gift-giving, however it boils down to communication….”
“And you, for a fox who is supposed to be charming, you are lacking the thought ... .perhaps of being like hey stay with me, like a barnacle on a cliff-” Suna quietly formed Kita out of the growing moss, observing the groceries in the supermarket, showing off the marble that is floating in his stomach “Perhaps you can get his affection by getting to know that mortal, not because of the marble that is lodged in his stomach...”, snatching the marble out of his stomach, focusing on Kita himself. “He is more than just an accidental carrier, you can worry about the impact of your marble to him later….”
Osamu puffed his cheeks a little, feeling a slight shame in his immortal veins. “Because I am called the god with second chances, I am going to give you another go…” Suna wrote a kanji unto Osamu’s hands. “It is a silly ritual done by humans, apparently if you write that kanji for a person, it is supposed to banish nervousness in their bodies, but ... .I think you need more than compelling nervousness…” Osamu gazed at the kanji for ‘understand’-粋, Suna gave Osamu that push out from his shrine into the chaotic shopping street. “So good luck fox….”
“Well shit I have my work cut out…..” Suna sighed to himself, gazing over the shimenawa swaying back and forth in the breeze. “I need to talk to the mortal’s grandma, and figure the rest out if I want that stupid fox to actually...succeed….” Thankfully another cup of sake is left on the pedestal of the shrine, which he took another sip of the sake enjoying that quiet moment, until he saw Daichi glancing at him furiously at Suna, along with Kiryu munching happily on a dango stick, frowning at Suna’s easy going spirit.
Suna sheepishly gave a small wave. “Look, look Daichi, I know things did not go as planned…”Suna gave finger guns over to Daichi. “I got this….”, giving tongue clicks to Daichi.
Daichi, however, is left unimpressed by Suna’s cockiness. “You like to play with the mortals and foxes like toys, knowing that the marble will corrode the mortal’s soul….” Suna puffed his cheeks. “Daichi, Daichi, I want the fox to figure the intricacies of relationships, more than simply proclaim to himself ‘MARRY ME IMMEDIATELY’” which he manifest Daichi wearing a Shiromuku, which Suna teased Daichi by pulling his Wataboshi, before snapping his fingers back to his normal clothes. “Or stay with me forever, good when they are more comfortable with each other….but I believe he could do it….”
“Are you sure Suna, if you delay it too long, both parties will suffer….” Daichi warned Suna, nearly breaking out of his cockiness, by snapping two blades of grass, manifested them into two souls, which Kita is writhing is pain and eventually spending the rest of his days, simply in bed and another Osamu, who became a fallen spirit, waiting outside in shops, always hungry for love. “These lifespans will be tricker for me, that I may have to mercifully spirited them….” Suna covered Daichi’s mouth, causing Kiryu to drop the dango out of his mouth.
“Since when have you become the fox’s mouthpiece….” Kiryu blurted to Suna, amused by the change of clothes. Suna shrugged his shoulders, letting Daichi go. “I am simply a pathway…it is up to him to figure what he wants to do….” Suna gave a devious grin to Kiryu. “Daichi, I am good, and too aware of the consequences…” he passed him a can of beer. “I got this….” Daichi puffed his cheeks over Suna’s cockiness.
“I hope you know what you are doing….”
Suna gave a grin, his teeth sinking to his lips. “Yeah…I got this….”
Daichi snapped his fingers, forming a passageway to walk back to their own grounds, with Kiryu sulking at the side. “Hey Kiryu, I know that you have little power, please do not add any more grey hairs to Daichi ….” Meanwhile Suna sat on the shrine alone, his hand on his chin. “Ok…I got this…I got this…”
////
That particular Saturday
Kita distracted himself by jumping over the net, trying to block Aran’s cut shot, which Aran covered his face in shame. Kita cannot help but to get upset that Osamu decided to wriggle his stupid hands on him. Ginjima meanwhile shouted to them, exhausted from constant spiking, laid flat on the floor. “Hey, should we take a break….” Aran wiped the sweat out of his brow. “Yeah…deal….” Kita was left on the court, so he took the time to pick up the volleyball, and placed it on the basket. He is thankful that his life is simply beyond mugging for papers, helping his grandma with the shopping and tending her garden, and practising good habits.
That is the byproducts of the process, which he keeps by.
Aran took a bottle of ionised drink, gulping it down to his throat. “That is a good one….” Omiomi patted Aran on the shoulder. “Yeah….though your blocks could be better…..” Kita sat down with the group, setting his bento box on his lap. “It is just a casual game, no competition….” Ginjima meanwhile flicked his phone to see his ex, giving a puffed up lips to her new boyfriend, Ginjima sighed a little. “Hey….” Aran nudged him. “Should you be unfollowing her….”
“I am hoping she will slip into my DMS…”
Kita shook his head. “She is not….”, as he munched over the tuna mayo onigiri. “There is a time and a place….”
Omi-omi took out a red bean cake, which Kita found himself salivating over the sweetened beans, but he chew his lip, instead focusing on his humble onigiri- swallowing down the burn in his stomach. That cannot be. That cannot be. Ginjima raised an eyebrow. “Kita, are you alright….”, dropping his longing for his ex, and instead focused on gnawing a tamagoyaki. “Why the hell are you drooling over Omi’s red bean cake…”
No I am not….
Kita scratched his head slightly. No I am not…. He could feel the burn of the marble coursing over his veins, so he stifle it into a chuckle, which Omiomi spoke dryly. “Next time that we meet, I will offer you another batch of the red bean cake, since you liked it….” Kita shook his head. “No that is fine…..”
Aran sighed a little. “Hey, maybe we have that break too long, another round of volleyball.”, rolled his shoulders back and forth. “What if for a change, Kita would be a setter…..and Omiomi be a spiker….”
“Sounds good….” Omiomi muttered a little, wiping the sweat out of his towel. Kita heaved a sense of relief, as the marble’s aura quelled a little, as Omiomi kept the red bean cake away. “Yeah…whoever loses…” Ginjima grinned a little. “Will buy us bubble tea….”, causing a reaction between Akagai, Omiomi and Risuke sighing over that deal. Aran smiled quietly. “Kita, I bet it would be Omiomi, and he struggles with his bubble tea order.” Kita closed his eyes happily, imagining that refreshing cup of oolong tea with black pearls on his mouth. That sounds so good right now…
Maintaining an air of normalcy is the byproduct of the process. No foxes telling me what to do or who shall I love. I am….
Suna leaned at the side of the entrance of the court, bemused by Kita’s indifference of his situation, as Kita quietly set the ball for Aran, without looking around his surroundings. “Huh, if I was not a god….” Suna titled his head a little to see Osamu’s marble flickering dimly in the pit of his stomach. “My limbs would have been useful for playing volleyball…” he walked away, noticing how the wind gave away to a lovely breeze. “Alright, it is a lovely day, so I shall let it pass…”
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
Yumie quietly tended the garden, which her thoughts rang well as the brief rain drizzle trickled down the leaves, which she thought to herself. “Rainy season is coming soon huh?”, as she snipped a few wild flowers from the ground to see Suna standing by her side, holding an umbrella. “Hey…Old lady…. May I come in”
“Kami-sama….” Yumie quietly opened the door to her house. “You are welcome to come by my place….” Soon both enter the house, watching the rain grow heavier, with her busying herself to make a snack for Suna. “Well I am sorry if my friend did not connect with your grandson….” Yumie gazed over the process of laying some garnishes over a bed of steaming hot rice. “I offer little, Kami-sama….I hope it will fill you up….” Suna smiled over the kind hospitality over Yumie, he may live many millenials, but he never encountered such radical kindness as her. “After all, the gods will always watch us, so I just make sure you are happy….” Both clapped their hands in thanks, before partaking the food, which Suna enjoyed the simple furikake in the rice alongside with the pickles. “Try this….Kami-sama….”, which he quietly took apart the smoked salmon jerky, placing it onto his rice.
“What should we do with your grandson and the fox….”
Yumie pouuted a little. “You mean Osamu-san, he is quite handsome, but awkward…” Suna gave a dark glare to him. “Believe it or not, old lady….I am also thinking of it too….”
“Call me, Yumie-obaa-san, Kami-sama” Yumie held Suna’s hand, watching him chew the salmon jerly. “I am also worried for my Shin-chan…let me tell you something, since you told me about the marble inside his stomach- that he seems to believe it is all simply fairy tales, though it is obvious that he purposely asked me not to buy tofu or red beans these days…he step away from dogs, so no more visits with my friend Hayashi-san….” Suna tapped his fingers back and forth, listening to Yumie’s rants about her grandson and his day, wishing he had a notebook and a glitter pen to make a long list of what the mortal Kita liked and disliked.
“But Kami-sama, based on our ramen date, I think Osamu-san is a nice young man who wanted a friend….” Yumie munched the remaining smoked salmon jerky. “And if my grandson is not that stuck up, he would like his diligence- he seems sorry for whatever happened to him….” Suddenly an idea came in Yumie’s house. “I wish to invite Osamu-san to my house kami-sama….” Suna nearly spit out the tea from his mouth.
It supposed to be the fox’s tagline, but it seems that old lady…no Yumie-obaa-chan, what the hell, it supposed to be my thing but alright, you do you….
Suna could imagine Daichi giving a whole rant about Suna’s lack of agency for dealing with this mess, but damn she is quick-witted. Suna thought to himself as he saw Yumie walking to the home telephone. “Kami-sama, give me your blessing to say the right words to Osamu-san….”
Suna gave a small sight, closing his eyes, where wild foliage and moss surrounded the kitchen and the living room, where a little bird landed on her shoulder, as she dialled the number of Osamu. Yumie waited for him to answer which she whispered to Suna. “Kami-sama, help yourself with a round of tea, it may take a while….”, Suna sheepishly searched over the glass bottles of tea-bags, which she collected, which he gazed over one particular purple tea packet with an unusual name. Suna tried to recite the golden word loudly "Dar...leee..." That sounds like some sutra to cleanse all of the evil spirits away, which I guess it apply to my little fox friend....
"Baa-chan, is it ok if I take that...." Suna showed that tin-foil pack to Yumie who was busy waiting for Osamu to pick up the phone.
Yumie chirped quietly. "Oh that is special, you can check in the cabinet if there is some honey as it goes well that tea-Darjeeling Kami-sama, in case you want to try to pronounce it again."observing Suna searching over a small mug to hold that vessel
Right. Suna thought to himself, sniffing the tea, before dispersing boiled water into the cup . Darjeeling
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
Osamu sat in his lonely living room, mindlessly watching television over some old movie- (He particularly like the handsomeness of Gregory Peck), when he heard the phone buzz, which he gave a frown over that unusual number, however he felt the golden string tugging at the distance. “Hello….”, Osamu replied quietly, and he found his fingers surrounded by the moss and butterflies floating in the air. “Yumie-san…”
“...I….am….sorry….I….”
“Osamu-san, do not call me Yumie-San, it is way too formal, call me Yumie-baa-chan. I am sorry about Shin-chan’s attitude…” Yumie comforted Osamu. “My Shin-chan, I think he would be win over if you show your sincerity by your actions…it may take many times, but he has that philosophy of working through the process, he got this from his father or someone…you need to land him to the present…”
Suna sighed a little. Well this is going as planned, Yumie-obaa-chan and the fox are taking actions, while I…. He enjoyed sipping the Darjeeling tea which Yumie probably snitched from some fancy hotel.
That should be interesting.
Relaxed by the warm champagne-like taste, Suna formed a small string out of his hands and gave it a pull.
Come on, get going rice-coloured hair mortal,I hate to see you suffer.
/////
Hours seemed to pass so quickly, which Omiomi sighed to himself. “Huh? It seems that I have to buy you all bubble tea tomorrow, after class huh….” Aran quickly pushed the basket of balls away to the court. “It is part of the deal anyway….”Omimoi rubbed his face back and forth. “Any chain in particular…” Kita with his rubber gloves started to mop the floor, making quick dashes around the court. “I quite like that one with a snowman motif….”, Ginjima protested back. “No the tea is bad here, I like Milky Milky sweet…..at least the girls are….” Omiomi rolled his eyes on the comment, it seems that Ginjima probably talked about the staff. “I would take the snowman any day…” Aran slowly slipping the shoes into his shoe carrier. “Sounds good Kita, man I hope they have the Matcha cream cheese foam…” Aran grinned quietly. “It feels like the old days which we have after school volleyball games…somehow I feel young again…”
Amdist all of the nostalgic talk, Kita felt a tug in his pinkie which he could not explain, a part of him tells that he need to go home, and also a part of him (If it is influenced by the fox’s emotions), is hungering for a good meal and a restful night.
“Hey I will be heading back home now….” Kita muttered to his group. “It is nice to play with you guys…”
“See ya soon….” Omi mumbled to Kita, packing his shoes into his bag.
Kita raised his hand goodbye, as he slipped upon his headphones to listen to a piece of classical music and examined the streaks of red and orange that bathed through the sky, before reaching for the bus stop.
He is happy for the normalcy that he could capture in his hands. Like talking with friends about school and how their relationships are like, to keep Ginjima’s mind occupied from stalking Shokan’s instagram and of course enjoying that simple meal (expect for him repressing his craving for azuki beans, which is coincidental). He is of course, a normal guy, if it wasn’t for the supernatural occurrence that could be discussed by fanatic individuals who spend hours in manga cafes, reading about supernatural being walking alongside the mortal world. It is an amalgam of chaos, and Kita desired is a stable moment, the moment he reached for a spot in the bus.
He sat quietly, not thinking of the future or the past- but the present and how it is a byproduct of what is, ignoring the shadow of the fox hovering the glass window
Kita found his stomach twist a little. Shit it is that stupid marble, Kita thought quietly feeling the presence of the fox’s stupid marble is still swimming in his stomach, that he is now craving for cold tofu i the bus, which unfortunately in one of the stops, a young high school girl wearing a sailor fuku is holding packets of cold silken tofu, which he found his stomach growling over that product.
No it is just simply a story that spook the shit out of me.
…I am just fine….
Over the next few stops, Kita forced himself to gaze at the fox shadow- praying that his next stop would be coming soon.
/////
Suna finished whispering to Yumie about his plan which she gave a small gift of snacks to him “Kami-sama….” Suna flet a burn in his cheeks. Yumie-baa-chan is too good for me, she treats me better than Daichi’s scolding , as the door creaked loudly which he glanced at Kita with a soft smile. “Yumie-baa-chan are you sure you know what are you doing?” Yumie give a playful wink to Suna. “Kami-sama, you may have to simply observe the tenacity of humans….”
“Plus Kami-sama, my Shin-chan cannot see you….”
Suna gave a salute to Yumie who is quickly preparing a small meal to Kita, propping the water dispenser on the table. “Then I better be going….”, which he left a trail of moss in the open door
“I’m home….” Kita muttered a little, exhausted from the match, which Yumie smiled at Kita, offering him a warm cup of barely tea and snacks. “Welcome back Shin-chan…”, Kita rubbing his ears with a towel, wiping all of the remaining sweat from his forehead., before ravenously eating the snacks.
“You must be hungry….”
“Yeah….” Kita tried his hardest not to appear childish to Yumie, as he found a rice grain stuck in his mouth. “The bus trip seems to be longer…..” Yumie giggled a little at Kita's childishness. “Shin-chan…”, ruffling over Kita’s sweat-slicked hair. “It is alright to admit that you are tired, or if you enjoy the food, that shows that you are human yourself….” Kita found the marble settling a little on Yumie’s words.
“Speaking about food….Shin-Chan….” Yumie held a certain twinkle in her eye. “We have a guest coming for dinner this Sunday…” Kita frowned a little on Yumie’s cryptic words. “Perhaps this Saturday, we should buy some groceries to prepare for that…”Kita felt the golden string in his pinkie tug again at Yumie’s words. “Do I know this person?” Yumie give a quiet mhm between her lips, refusing to reveal the mysterious guest to Kita.
“You will see Shin-chan….” Yumie gazed over the recently clean shrine. Kami-sama, never underestimate the tenacity of humans, which she gazed loving at her grandson’s hand where a golden string flicker back and forth, as he took another round of barely tea, enjoying the cool breeze.
/////
Osamu laid by his messy sofa-covering his eyes in shame over the ramen incident which he recalled Kita’s angry glare.
Now I am going to that mortal’s house, what shall I do and when?
Osamu found himself frantically sweating at that offer, a gift and what to wear, he cannot help but to feel buckets of sweat pouring through his head. An opportunity to tell his feelings to him that he wanted to form a deep connection, and what if it is just…
Quietly Osamu texted Atsumu at a while “ ‘Tsumu sorry, do you have anything to spare, I have to go to someone’s house and I think I need….…”, Atsumu staring at his phone, his face covered in a clay mask decided to call his brother. “ ‘Samu…..spill it….”
“Who….” Atsumu’s pouting lips nearly nasusate Osamu. “I am a good holder of secrets….like I could…”
Osamu mumbled quietly. “Remember that ramen date, ….”, finding himself thirsty as he grab a bottle of half-empty calpis soda, taking slow slips of it. “I think….the mortal’s grandma is calling me over for dinner….”
Atsumu’s eyes widened with bemusement “You have another chance, you should nail that…”
“That is the problem….” Osamu took another sip. “I….I….” Atsumu frowned a little as he glanced over a golden string in his hand. “What the hell is that?” Osamu gazed over his finger tied to a golden string. “I have no idea…” Atsumu chuckled to himself. “I think some god who got bored and drunk decide to fate you with someone else….oh….was this the guy you met at a ramen date….” Osamu shake his head, finding the string disappeared again. “...It is….It is….a coincidence….” Atsumu pursed his lips calmly, finding his alarm pinging over to remove his clay mask. “Just a moment…” Osamu could hear the splashes of water and him knocking over his beauty products, while he stared at the fan swaying back and forth, holding his now overheated phone, before hanging it up.
“Uhmmm you can start by giving away the junk you collected over the years 😏….” Osamu’s eyes widened with Atsumu’s frankness in his text. “Or I could ask Sakusa to mail you one of the best sakes he have….”
Osamu read Atsumu’s words “Do…..not…..”
“Do not indeed….”
Suna slid himself comfortably unto the empty space in the couch, slurping on convenient store yakisoba. “...It…has been…a while….fox….” Osamu blinked a little. “Did you set up this date for me….”
“No….” Suna feigned a cheeky smirk. “It does not mean you will not be able to mess up, you cannot nail it well on first encounters….” He used his levation to snatch the half-drunk calpis to his hand. “You are not your brother who is charming….You are simply Osamu….think what you want to share with him, not offering a place to stay….”
Osamu frowned quietly on Suna’s words.
“I think the outfit you wear is pretty cute, but I think if….” a buzz interrupted Suna’s train of thoughts. Atsumu texted him back to Osamu. “Yeah, I ask babe to pass you a good bottle of sake, so you can impress whoeever is loving you, you should get it around the next few days 😘”
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
Today seems to go without a hitch, Kita thought to himself as he held his bubble tea order-oolong tea with honey pearls,0% sugar, and little ice as Omiomi paid the drinks for the group of friends. “How are the lectures….” Aran asked quietly, sipping his milk tea order. “I hope you are coping well…like I notice yesterday that you resist Omiomi’s red bean cake” Kita smiled quietly. “It…it is…great….” He slowly slid into his mindscape . If I told Aran that yeah, I have a fox marble lodged into my stomach, which he probably would freak out, and probably snatched some exorcism spray from a nearby temple….
Kita imagined Aran spraying that spray like a cat accidentally knocking down one of his prized anime figurines.
That is not a good image. I am Kita, I am a normal college kid. I am….
Kita shut his eyes. “No that is fine….” when one of the customers in the queue carried a small dog gazing at him innocently, which he quickly clutched to Aran by the shirt. “Dude are you okay….” Kita sighed a little. “Uhmm…I am…fine….” , he rationialize himself to focus on Ginjima humming over at the distance. “Dude are you really okay…”
“I am…I think this dog is cute”
Both Aran and Ginjima looked pretty bemused by Kita’s actions. “I never take you as a dog person, then again, yeah that dog is cute….” Kita heaved a sense of relief, as he purposefully scoot his way out, sipping his oolong tea. Yeah dogs are cute, and unfortunately there is one right now, staring at me which I would to pet, but it will trigger that stupid thing in my stomach. If I acted weird like with Omiomi and the red bean cake, I would be proclaimed as crazy.
“Yeah, perhaps we should not go to a dog cafe, but instead a cat cafe, I like….”
Yeah make some excuse. Make some excuse.
Ginjima gazed over one of the bubble tea baristas shaking the drink, back and forth, and calling for the order “One Brown Sugar Milk with Honey pearls and pudding”, he somehow felt his heart stuck to his throat, at the barista that passed him a drink, she has a septum ring on her nose, her hair wavy, breaking into an unusual smile. “Here is your drink, thank you for….” Ginjima forced himself to think about his ex Shokan, which he snatched it quickly and ran as fast as he can.
Omiomi pursed his lips unto his drink. “What happened to Ginjima.”, watching Ginjima clutching his hand unto his chest. Kita spoke dryly. “Perhaps I am not the only one who is acting strange….” which he make a rueful laughter, gazing at his phone- faking a chuckle as he saw someone saying ‘I would like to have red beans as the topping’, cause a growl in his stomach.
Shit.
“Oh I better go….” Kita slung his bag, forcing himself not to gaze at the fox-like shadow that bounced between the street lamps. “I have something to do for my…grandma….” Aran frowned a little. “I was thinking of going to the arcade to play a round of Dance Dance Revoultion…”
Kita gave a sheepish smile. “Perhaps another day, I will…text you….bye….”, as he pretend to run off in another direction. “See you at the cafeteria…”
“Oh see you….”
Kita felt a sense of relief as he managed to pass through the entrance of the mini-mart. As long I avoid the tofu and the red beans like the plague, I would be fine. Kita heaved to himself, as he embraced himself to the bright fluorescent lights, making the shadow disappear in plain sight. Well that was close.
////
Osamu meanwhile combed his hair in the foggy mirror, processing the news that he is invited to Yumie Kita’s house which he gazed over now feline-like eyes. Huh… Osamu frowned again, it has been 500 years since I was able to see my eyes in that state. The last time that it triggers is when Atsumu proclaims to me that I am human….
Osamu could recall that moment clearly. That time he showed up to a funeral of an old friend-Takaro, which he took the time to eat the meal made by the relatives of the deceased. He frowned at the phone buzzing constantly, which he made an apologetic bow and went outside- only to see the rain pouring down the roof. “ ‘Tsumu, you know that….”
“ ‘Samu, I did it! I am human!”
Osamu felt his heart drop a little over this phrase ‘I am human’, Atsumu chuckled to Osamu over his silence. “It is funny, is when I confessed to Omi-chan that I am a Kitsune then my power disappeared…like I cannot bear to wipe his memory,as I laid my fingers unto his heart..there is no rush…like…..as if the mountain gods think I am worthy…”
Quietly Osamu found his grey human eyes flickering to blazing molten gold, as if he lost a connection to someone dear, though he wish to strangle Atsumu for daring himself to be human “....Well what are you going to do now….Tsumu”
“Invest in good skincare…perhaps pop some supplements….” Atsumu chuckled to himself. “And perhaps tell Omi-chan that I am human….I just need a last name…what would be good…”
Osamu mumbled to himself. “I do not know….”
“How about Miya!! Like those shrines dedicated to us, because my body….” Osamu replied to the overly-excited Atsumu with a curt response. “Hey I cannot chat, I am attending a funeral right…now….you can tell me more….I need some time to decompress ”
Atsumu paused a little.
Sorry….
Osamu shut off the phone, which he took a huge breath in, composing himself, before going back to the house, which he made an apologetic bow.”Sorry….”
Osamu widened his eyes again, to see his eyes turn soft pewter, what if I am rejected by that mortal. Nah, I just have to be myself huh? He gazed over the fridge which he hold Sakusa’s family sake, which he can read the flowery calligraphy.. “I hope it is a good gift….” And it seems that it is probably some inside joke that Atsumu chose the label with a romantic haiku, about how the moon always follow him.
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
“Come in….Osamu-san”
A gentle voice called Osamu, now dressed in a light-wash denim shirt,with rolled sleeves with simple slacks, held the sake bottle, perhaps too tightly in his hands. “Sorry for the intrusion….”, bowing to Yumie before taking off his chelsea boots, revealing his choice of socks- graphic monstera patterned socks with forest green tips, which cause Yumie to giggle. “Osamu-san, do not hold the bottle way too closely, you can leave the bottle on the table….”
“Uhmmm thank you Yumie-san….”
“Please don’t call me Yumie-san, Osamu-san, call me Yumie-baa-chan…” as Osamu sat there curious over Kita’s grandma Yumie religiously folded the onigiri balls gently, there is a calmness in Yumie as if she knew what is compelling Osamu’s heart. He found his feet numb from kneeling for so long. “You are our guest for dinner, perhaps, you can help me Osamu-san….because I see that idleness…did not suit you well….”
“After all, my Shin-chan is coming late tonight, as he is busy with another project…with his friends….and could use some help….” Yumie gazed at the shrine. Kami-sama, let Osamu’s heart be open, and my Shin-chan….
“Osamu-san….” Yumie quietly opened the lid of the rice cooker, and slowly fluff the rice, which Osamu smiled quietly on Yumie’s offer, finding his heart tugging to hear Yumie’s word. “Oh that looks nice…”, she plopped them at a graduated pink bowl which has huge sakura flowers, which Osamu noticed the slight cracks in the bowl, filled with golden threads that look like far-fetched rivers, which he would wonder about with his brother. Yumie smiled quietly. “You seems to be fascinated by that….” Osamu, though he lived for many many years- adored the fascination of the imperfect and the quiet. “Let me tell you that story, this is before my Shin-chan is born, his mother was then 5 years old- and we have to travel to Kyoto for a day trip, which we decided to go around the shophouses around Kiyomizu-dera, there is a little shop at the corner….” Osamu frowned over that story, as he was about to grab the ball of rice, forcing himself to fold it back and forth, the jars of preserved food speaking of Yumie’s loving hands making these food. “It is funny, that my daughter chose a chipped bowl, which the craftsman insinsit that he will sand it down or trade for another bowl, but my husband, Shin-chan’s grandfather-Seiho gazed over that bowl, and asked my daughter why she liked it, and she said it is beautiful as me….”
“My husband laughed on my daughter’s innocence, and asked me if I wanted this bowl….” Yumie felt a small blush in her face. “I thought about it, and I gazed over the craftsmanship of that bowl and said I would take it, cracks and all….”, which Osamu gazed over a framed photo of her husband smiling serenely with Yumie, younger and prettier along with the four children, trying their best to keep still….”
“When we came back from our trip, he searched over his phonebooks and his friends for a craftsman who is able to do kintsugi, and he did find him, though at the expense that he is won over by my homemade pickles which he would eat, alongside with a cigarette in his mouth…I used it rarely, but it seems by fate that you pulled this bowl- Osamu-san, perhaps it is telling you that if you must like or love….”
Yumie quietly passed him an umeboshi to stuff the onigiri, and Osamu grew sad that Yumie had a wonderful life other than his. “You must be able to hold back your expectations a little on the person you liked….” which Yumie finished boiling the miso soup, laying the 3 perfect bowls on the tabletop, pouring the soup on the bowls. Osamu forced himself not to look over the few pictures that Yumie displayed in her wall, one wooden frame of Shinsuke in his kindergarten outfit staring stoically amidst the cherry blossoms, another picture of Yumie beaming proudly at her daughter’s Shichi-go-san ceremony, with her husband gazing serenely into the camera, and a wedding photograph of a couple wearing their finest clothes. At least she lived a happy life. Osamu thought to himself, as he distracted his wandering mind to look for chopsticks and plates to eat their onigiri with, only to be pricked by a fork. He divert his pain to look for a picture, searching for a moment in Yumie’s life.
“What happened to your husband- Seiho-san?” Osamu tried his best to hold his manners, gazing over at that slightly faded photo of Yumie and her husband holding hands in the small morning glory bush.
“He passed on many years ago, Osamu-san, and Shin-chan is staying with me as my house is near to his university” Yumie replied to him quietly, as she prepared a fresh bowl of salad, watching the sunset sky turn into almost dark purple. “He is a selfless boy…his siblings refused to stay with me, except for him…”
“How about his parents….”
“As a parent, you ought to give your children some space, and offer them a place if times are bad, which is rare…” Yumie chuckled to herself, only gazing at the shrine, noticing that his golden string was shining brighter as they spoke. “Osamu, I want to impart you this advice, yes the house can feel empty at times, as I could sense him walking by- making his tamagoyaki for my children or reading his newspapers, however I learnt in solitude and grief- there are areas to love, like Shin-chan or the flowers that I grew in my garden…..” Yumie gazed over the entrance of her house. “You just have to let them in…”
As if by the pull of the string, the door started to open a little, which Osamu gazed over at Kita quietly- taking off his shoes, noticing that his pinkie held his golden string.
“I am back home….”
Yumie chuckled to herself. “Welcome back home Shin-chan, say hello to our guest Osamu-san….” Kita froze a little to see Osamu shuffling himself to set the table ready for tonight’s dinner. Osamu gave a polite bow to Kita. “Hello Kita-san….” Kita’s eyes widened with shock over that unexpected guest. “Huh? You are going to try to convince me to stay with you, what are you… my stalker….” Yumie stared at him, giving Kita a pat on the back. “Grandma, what the hell are you thinking, like you could have told me it was that stupid man….”
“Shin-chan, how about you take a bath…” Yumie stared at the shrine, pleading internally to any god to quieten her grandson’s heart. “You must be tired after all those lectures….” pushing Kita to the bathroom. “Osamu-san can you be a dear….and get Shin-chan’s clothes….” Osamu felt his cheeks burning when entering someone’s room, however Yumie gave him a playful wink, which she coddled Kita with concerns about him being overheated.
Yumie-san, despite being a sweet old lady, she is persistent.
So scary.
Osamu thought to himself. Thankfully I did not drink in front of her, if she did- she would notice my fox features and I know the last time I did that….
Never mind.
Osamu sheepishly open the door, which revealed Shisuke’s room,which he quietly breathed into the room. It smelt of crisp linen and green tea, neatness penetrate through every corner- with stationery laid by colour and type, his textbooks stacked in one corner. And another, a small picture of him smiling quietly, holding Yumie’s hand.
Meanwhile Suna is sitting on his shrine, when one of the minor gods ran to him. “Master Suna…look at this mess…” Suna curled his lip a little. “What mess, it has nothing to do…..” The minor god formed a small circle to see Yumie trying to hold her nervousness to let Kita take a bath, dunking him like a stray cat into a sink, and Osamu picking up that picture of Shinsuke and Yumie, wiping off the dust of it. Suna rubbed the temples in his fingers. It seems they cannot take a break, quietly Suna closed his eyes to hear their thoughts.’
Perhaps he is happy without me. Suna rolled his eyes. Fox, are you supposed to get the mortal’s clothes…. Suna waved his wrist, to push Osamu to search for perfect home clothes, purposefully leaving the photo frame in the same place as before - which a drawer slowly open to reveal a neatly folded old volleyball t-shirt and simple shorts. Osamu blinked a little, to snatch a pair of boxers. “Yea….I should hurry instead of daydreaming….”
Shinsuke frowned at Yumie. “Hey I am not 6 years old, I am capable to bathe by myself….” Yumie gave a chuckle. “I am watching you as I do not want you to be a boiled octopus….” Kami-sama, my grandson is not cooperating with me…. Suna spoke to Yumie’s heart, I got you Yumie-baa-chan , as a small leaf suddenly flew from the garden and landed in the tub. Shinsuke suddenly smelt a fresh aroma of seaweed and shiso. “Grandma, did you buy something new…..” Yumie gave a guffaw. “Yes…this is recommended by my friend….it supposed to destress you…..”, aware that Osamu opened the bathroom door sheepishly passing him a set of new clothes, trying not to look at the glass door.
“Yumie-san….is everything alright….”
Yumie gave a thumbs up. “Osamu-san, could you open that sake, I think we should enjoy it- while we wait for Shin-chan to settle down….” Suna wiped the sweat out of his forehead, watching the scene unfold- which Yumie and Osamu busied themselves to get small sake cups, which Yumie told an embarrassing story of Shinsuke, while setting up the table for dinner. Suna pouted a little. “At least we avert a disaster….”
Is what mortals feel like when they binge-watch K-dramas, because real life is as interesting as those depicted on the box that held pictures and voices? I should ask the spirits what is the most popular drama right now
“Yumie-baa-chan, you are fortunate you have me, now let me check on rice-coloured hair mortal….” Suna lazily made a projection to see Shinsuke, heaving a sigh of relief from the warm bath- which he thought about his grandma’s impulsive action to ask him for a bath. Why did he bring Osamu again? Does grandma know that we just do not get along? What if I told her that I have something swallowed in my stomach by that idiot…
Suna’s face blackened with despair. Wow this mortal is depressing. Well it is the fox’s fault to daydream at the scenarios? Suna wished that he bought enough snacks (He is thinking of those ‘ Jagarico Potato Sticks’ particularly the butter flavour) from the convenience store and munched on Shinsuke giving shade to Osamu, however he had to remember Daichi’s warning. ‘If he did not make agency, he would be a wandering fallen spirit….’ Daichi, let me figure this thing out, there is no way he is going to be a wandering spirit.
Shinuske’s thoughts rang again like a crystal bell. I worry that she would not have her purpose, I feel that ‘Osamu’ is ruining my life by just being him. Was he like that stupid hero in that book that Aran like, that is toxic….
And…..
Suna seems to take a pregnant pause, allowing himself to hear his rants. “ I hate to admit it, I have to disagree with you, the fox is a blockhead. But then again, you have to keep in mind mortal, that…. He needs some time to know….” which he closed the projection to allow the rice-coloured human to clean up and get dressed. At least he is finally relaxed. “Ok my job is done…and I am hungry….” Suna closed his eyes, transporting himself into the oden store, which the server shouted to him. “Irasshaimase….”
Suna smiled to himself, as he settled himself in a corner seat, observing the mortals flood by the store. Good luck fox, I did whatever intervening I could….the mortal who swallowed the marble is a stubborn one.
Shinsuke quietly opened the bathroom door letting the steam out, wiping the water out of his ears, to see Osamu quietly pouring the sake to Yumie’s porcelain cup, which Kita felt his stomach growl at the sight of the delicious spread of food- neatly folded balls of onigiri, grilled fish and warm bowls of soup, alongside with small plates of pickles. “Shin-chan, Osamu-san is so helpful….” Shinsuke’s eyes widened with horror as her face flushed with the alcohol. “Osamu-san, offer the sake to my Shin-chan….” Shinsuke shook his head. “Nah, I will pass…..”, as he clapped his hands muttering itadakimasu, under his breath before elegantly taking the ball of onigiri, taking the time to savour every rice grain and filling that is filled with his grandma’s love . Osamu paused a little, asking him a question. “How are you by the way….”, unaware that Yumie is singing some old folk song that he knew it longer than himself. Shinsuke shook his head. “....I am just…fine….”
Osamu felt the coldness in his words. He must be upset over the ramen date. “Yeah, I want to apologize for the ramen date, I…I….I….worry….that you will suffer….” Shinsuke, with bubbling anger poked the pickle with his chopsticks, and forcefully munched it. “I suppose you could pull it out and we can go as we are…..” Osamu felt his heart sank at his words. “But I see how you make my grandma feel special, what did you do to her, use your so-called magic to sink your spirit in between her breasts….”
Osamu shook his head. I am still terrified over this matter, a huge capacity to love. “You seem to know about me…” Kita pinched the flesh of the grilled fish with his chopsticks. “From tales, at kindergarten and elementary school, I thought they were fibs until I met you- you are not charming, or beautiful- but lost….” Yumie grumbled at Shinsuke. “Shin-chan, that is….not nice…” Shinsuke squeezed her hands. “Sorry…grandma….I don’t know why he wants me….I have nothing….” Yumie gave a soft smile. “Perhaps, if you do not judge Osamu-san quickly, after he help you get a fresh set of clothes and help me with dinner….I in fact understand the scenario……” Osamu swallowed his saliva to see Yumie savagely taking down Kita. I should not give her many rounds of Sakusa’s sake to her. “You swallowed the fox marble……and you are scared……before you jump to conclusions Shin-chan, he wants companionship, as much as you have your group of friends ... .perhaps we can start again….”
Yumie observed the golden thread between these two men’s pinkies growing brighter “Shin-chan, how is your…day….” Osamu catched Yumie by the shoulders, as she is about to collapse to the table from drinking too many rounds, which infuriates Kita. “Granny, are you okay…”
“Osamu-san, are you crazy, what did you do to my grandma, entwine her with your batting eyelashes or perhaps whisper sweet things….” Osamu quietly thinks to himself, well technically your grandma took too much, despite that I am being careful myself, because if I take too many rounds of sake, then she will be suspicious of me as a fox, and…and….
‘Osamu-san…Samu-chan….one more….’
Osamu grimanced at Yumie’s drunk face. ‘Yumie-san, go easy…..your grandson is already pissed off with me….’
‘Nah, he is a good boy…’
Think of something brainless.
I know when Atsu is stressed, he would say that watching a movie with that person helps them to ‘bond’...maybe he would
“Do you want to watch a movie with me at your television, Kita-san ?” Shinsuke found his walls coming down a little at that sentence. Osamu rubbed the back of his head. “...I will clean up for dinner….as my way to make up for you, for the intrusion and possibly make your grandma drunk….”
“Can you drop that formal term-Kita-san, Osamu-san….it is not like we are going to be business partners…..”,instead Shinsuke gaze over Yumie mumbling an old song which his late grandfather used to sing to her “You can call me Shinsuke-san, if you are inclined….”, distracting himself to drink his grandma’s miso soup. “Do you mind if we watch this horror film…..”
“Huh???” Osamu stared at Kita and casually took the remote, to look over the channels, with a blank face, flicking to a streaming site- choosing a picture of a nun with long fangs, with blood staining her mouth. Osamu huffed a little, repeating to himself ‘I got this, I got this…he would be easy….’, quietly picking up Yumie from the table mumbling to herself ‘Shin-chan can you help to clean up….’
“I will grandma….I think that sake goes too easy on you, just like water….”Shinsuke smiled fondly to Yumie, as he stacked the plates on the kitchen counter, gazing over that blown up picture.
“Yumie-san, I think I cannot bring you to the izakayas, you are a fierce drinker, that my brother would be jealous of you…” Osamu slung Yumie’s arm to his shoulder. “Where is your bedroom…” Yumie’s eyes sparkled a little. “Over there, you are such a good boy Osamu-san, my Shin-chan would be happy with your company …”, fighting off her sleepiness, by playing the imaginary string on his finger. “You are so helpful and selfless, as it was the gods’ prayer for someone to be just like you….” For the first time, in perhaps 600 years, Osamu felt a slight warmth in his heart, which Shinsuke gave a death stare to Osamu. “Grandma, go and rest, do not flatter Osamu….” Yumie chuckled a little. “Perhaps it is the gods’ way to show you that, perhaps it is a wonderful way to love….”, observing Osamu opening the door of her bedroom using the little magic in his hands. “Grandma, would you like me to take your clothes for you to wear….”
Yumie chuckled a little. “Of course my Shin-chan, but I would like to have a warm bath….”
Osamu struggled to look through how to use the sink and the nicely hung cloth on the dishrack. Usually, Osamu would use his magic to transmute the dishes to be dried, but he knew that he needed to act ordinary for Kita to be impressed, however he broke a simple glass plate on the sink, “Go and clean up the mess Osamu-san….” Kita pouted to Osamu, before setting up the temperature for his drunk grandma. “I will check on grandma before we watch this film….” Osamu gazed at the poster of the film that Shinsuke chose. He did not like the gaze of that woman staring at his very soul.
No, I am a 800 year old fox, I have heard all of the mortals’ spooky stories….I see lanterns transfiguring to youkais. I can surely stomach some creepy shit.
A pair of eyes would not creep me out.
That would not hurt me.
Yeah it is like Tsumu trying pencil eyeliner for his eyes, which ended up making him look like a homeless tanuki.
Osamu forced himself not to laugh at that said image of Atsumu screaming in his head. “Do I look pretty tonight for my hot date…”
🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
Kita quietly sat at the side of his grandma’s bed, touching the sheets, breathing into that subtle aroma of ozone and green tea, recalling nights when he was in middle school which his asthma attacks were bad due to chill of the rain, which she would pat him on the back, praying the gods to ease the writhing of his lungs. It feels nostalgic to him, and he thought of Osamu’s kindness to Yumie- offering much needed companionship to her. He felt like sobbing into a pillow and wish he would never leave that house for him. Yumie, with her hair wrapped in a towel and her red flush never going away, out from the bathroom came to Shinsuke, wiping away the tears in his eyes. “Shin-Chan what is wrong…”
“I…I….I…have…” Kita felt the glow of the marble floating around in suspense in his body. He kissed his grandma’s cheek. “I wish I told you that earlier….I was scared that you would be upset with me over my carelessness, Osamu-san…you know…he…is….” Yumie held Shinsuke’s hands tightly. “Shin-chan…I know…even if you have to pack your luggage to stay with Osamu-san, it is fine- he seems very kind…..” Osamu observed the conversation between Shinsuke and Yumie, there is something special about these two that he could not reach, and yet for a small visit to her house, and accidentally making her very drunk with Sakusa’s sake, there is warmth and stillness. “I know what happened, and you are fighting it Shin-chan….” Yumie gave a wink to Shinsuke. “Sometimes it can be unexplainable, but Shin-chan, perhaps the gods are teaching you to stay in the present….”
“That is why today is called….” Yumie slowly fell asleep on her bed, where she mumbled these words. ‘A gift….”, he felt his marble swirl a little with excitement. Shinsuke chuckled a little. “Good night grandma…I think you have too much excitement, just like cha-cha classes with grandma Sayaka, in which she tried to hook me up with her granddaughter….” Kita closed the door, allowing Yumie to fall asleep, giving a serene smile. I better make her Ochazuke before I go off to class, just in case…
Meanwhile Osamu quietly sits on a couch like a puppy waiting for its owner to pet him, holding a few cans of soft drinks and some homemade pickles on the other. “Uhmmm…is your grandma alright….” Shinsuke did not reply, but instead flick on the play button, grinning at the sound of rising violin crescendos, watching the protagonist being left alone in the carriage on a harrowing force.
Suna,relieved from his run around the convenience store, shut his eyes, witnessing Osamu huddling Shinsuke’s shoulders for security, as the nun gave a harrowing screech to his ears, which his marble hold to a standstill. He chuckled to himself. “Perhaps, you did something good fox, just keep at it, and please do not make Yumie-baa-chan drunk again…you are lucky that rice-coloured hair human is nice to you….” forcing himself not to chuckle at Osamu trying to bite his lip to withheld his screams.
A/N: And hence the ship has sorta sailed, and I thank you if you are able to read my story- it is no easy feat but I found my words flow so much easier with Osakita, interestingly enough Grandma Yumie is the unexpected character that I love to write, I seen most Osakita fics that she is more of a gentle Ozu-like spirit watching these two develop a relationship-however I made her such a riot- that her lines just flowed through me easily. My favourite part is her instigating with the mountain god, I basically took grandma’s line ‘The gods are watching us’ and made it a buddy-cop like film.
I was texting jokingly on Osamu being such a mess,and he is so stuck in his life, that he did not enjoy the present to find things which are quite poetic to me lately, as I was like that last year- so I enjoyed his interactions a lot- to realize if he stop being in his head and just accept what is this now.
I notice that I wrote it pretty similar to a K-Drama comedy flashbacks, which is new to me, like the K-drama my Roommate is a Gumiho is very similar, expect I really blast off the chaotic, and boy I miss writing comedy all around, it is always a strength to me- so I have to use my comedic chops here which consist of 2000’s lame references to personal anecdotes. I was actually thinking if I have the time, I may want to try to write an Osakita story set in Singapore because having the local slang as my pointers for plotting this AU gave me some life.
Originally Kita telling Yumie is supposed to be angsty AF, but I make it a little more light-hearted as I do not want to damper the tone of the story.
Anyway feedback and comments are so welcome here!
Chapter 4: Chance encounters
Summary:
Osamu must decide to hold his end of the friendship from mere observation.
Notes:
So I apologise for the long delay, unfortunately, the beta readers I have- cannot do my projects due to personal circumstances so I am pretty much on my own. Anyway if anyone of you guys want to take on my project feel free to DM on my socials streamscolour13 on twitter and shade-without-color @ on tumblr.
Anyway enjoy what I have created so much!
Chapter Text
Osamu sat there at the lonely apartment, feeling a little happy, perhaps a little too hangover, watching over the places, fearing the nuns will murder him and eat his liver or something y’all , and decided he would text Atsu: hey you can have that apartment, and oh can you help me sell the things I do not need this shit.
First ray of sunlight bathed over Osamu’s messy apartment, which he tried to process that a touch-starved nun would be hungering for his liver waiting for him at the corner. Osamu frowned a little to know it is simply a figment of his imagination, which he heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh…..” Last night’s horror movie was indeed an experience which end up with him walking with Shinsuke to the nearest bus stop, bemused that he is still grinning over seeing Osamu being frightened for life. “Well….good…night…..Shinsuke-san” Osamu muttered a little. “It is nice that you enjoyed me being spooked out by nuns who craved for liver….”
Great I cannot look at liver without that thought of a nun hulkering in a corner.
Shinsuke did not break into a smile, but instead back to his stoic expression. “Good night….”Like the shadows that danced around the dim street, Shinsuke disappeared into the darkness but only illuminated by the warmth of the street light. Quietly he teleported himself from the bus stop to his apartment of long-forgotten memories, only to feel an ounce of happiness in his long life.
Maybe I should call Shinsuke-san to see how his grandma is doing , which Suna sat on his couch, taking advantage to switch on the television to watch an obnoxious variety show. “Morning, Sunshine I know what you are thinking, how is Yumie-san….” Suna passed him a bowl of umeboshi to him. “She is doing fine, and probably enjoying the bowl of ochazuke….”, Osamu was tempted to make a bowl of rice between himself and Suna to savour the umeboshi.
“Just give her some hours of rest….” Suna chuckled a little, snapping his fingers to two perfect bowls of rice on the table, gesturing Osamu to sit with him. “She probably drank too many…” Osamu felt a burn in his cheeks on Suna reminiscing that otherwise embarrassing incident of making Yumie super drunk. “Horror movies to get to know a rice coloured hair human, how amusing-”
“What are you doing fox is what mortal couples do, as they call it as a ‘date’ “
Suna sat quietly, munching the flesh of the umeboshi and rice. “Aside from scaring yourselves shitless over nuns who have strong liver cravings… you can go to a local onsen to see yourself naked and vulnerable, a nice cafe, and see trapped fish in the aquarium. You will get to know him, as he gets to know you….”
Suna frowned a little to see Osamu being so quiet-reminiscing the happy memory from last night, “God, if I be so bold….Would it be possible that I wanted to move into Yumie-san and Shinsuke-san’s house……”
Suna felt his spirit leave his body when Osamu made that statement, with his puppy-dog eyes and his mouth happily munching that bowl of rice.
That is a little extreme fox, but it is a slight improvement for you to be like STAY WITH ME FOREVER, like Mr Darcy coming out from the pond, because he cannot get that girl.
But it could be disastrous, I guess rice-coloured hair human would be slightly displeased. Suna imagine Shinsuke constantly sassing Osamu out, and them being like elementary school kids eating lunch together, which would be pretty cute in all honesty. I better talk with Yumie-baa-chan about that arrangement…..
“This is a tricky one….. Like you need people to see your apartment, to check if the water is working or no power shortage….like if you left this apartment in this state…..” Osamu did not reply, but to ponder over Yumie’s advice, that he must sacrifice a little to gain many. Osamu quietly picked up his phone and text the very person that could live in this house, and not bunking in the guest room of Sakusa’s apartment, because he got kicked out for not paying his rental and his roommate simply ‘ghosting’ him (What the hell is that term, did that roommate do to manifest himself as a ‘ghost’)
Tsumu, would you know any connections to any local museum- because I am planning to donate a lot of things…
Why.
Well, I am moving with someone….
Atsumu peeling one of the used ocha tea bags from his eyes, gazing at the text. “Huh? What happened you cannot pay for the rent of your beloved landord???”
I will pay this month’s rent upfront with her. Suna’s eyes widened with bemusement watching Osamu trying stupidly hard to convey the situation via phone. “Perhaps you got straight to the point…” Osamu ruffled his grey hair. “Yeah perhaps…I was….thinking if I should call Yumie-san to tell her the news….I mean it would not be nice that I simply drop my luggage and say I will stay with you….”
At least he is trying to be better. Suna thought to himself, observing Osamu pressing the numbers, , which he used his magic to pull Osamu to his seat. “Perhaps, for a matter with such delicacy….I will convey it to Yumie-san.” Osamu frowned a little over Suna’s smirk. “Relax, Fox, I know you can do it…but I want it to be perfect….”
////
Yumie gazed at Suna walking by the entrance of the house, bearing her a sake gourd. “It is always quiet in my house sitting on the tatami mat would it be nice to share a meal again…..”
“Yeah that would be….” Suna knelt to the ground happy to take whatever offering Yumie have, which this time it is a special gift from one of her gardening friends- a box of crab crackers left on the table with a chipped cup of mugi-cha.
“Kami-sama.”
Yumie gently proded Suna, who withheld a cheesy smile in his face, as he happily take a sip of the mugi-cha. “I am guessing it has to do with Osamu-san…..” Suna stared blankly at Yumie, which she shuffled herself to pour the tea to her cup. “Say it, Kami-sama…..”
“Well he wanted to stay with you guys, Yumie-baa-chan…” Suna closed his eyes in deep exasperation. “But first, are you sure that your grandson will be comfortable to stay with him…” Yumie closed her eyes happily, poking Suna’s ribs-mentally noting to herself to give him proper food, and not simply konbini snacks and drinks. “First of all, Kami-sama, anyone can stay as long as they need too….”
“What if I told you that your new housemate, Yumie-baa-chan is a 800 year old fox….” Suna gave that bombshell to Yumie, in hopes that her intentions are sincere. She did not flinch a little, but instead take the tv remote showing a variety show. “It did not surprise me at all, Kami-sama….”
“He fits in our house….”
Suna hear the tinkle from the wind chime, signalling that he must go now before he could simply gorge himself in Yumie’s cabinet of snacks “So how are you going to tell your grandson….” Yumie gave a playful wink to Suna. “We just simply invite him tonight for dinner, and I will let him to tell us ….Osamu-san is simply a sweetheart- fox or not….”
At least Yumie-baa-chan did not mind that unusual arrangement, I wonder how rice-coloured hair human feel with this arrangement. Suna thought to himself. I got to use my strengths to get shit done…
////
Osamu, meanwhile stared at the gates of the museum, waiting for a petite lady-Ms Takara to come out of the door. “Hi! You must be Miya-San! I heard that you have items that you wanted to be donated to our collection….” Osamu rubbed his hair, surprised that he managed to bring the cartons to the museum gates with the help of Sakusa and Atsumu (though he badly want to snatch his old smoking pipe, as he quiped it as it would be so cool in his room). “Yeah Takara-san…it belongs to someone dear….and I think it would benefit for people to glimpse into my….I mean their world….”
Ms Takara gazed over the cartons, which she called her colleagues to bring trolleys in. “Anything in particular that would catch the eyes of our visitors…” Osamu pondered quietly “I wish for them to interpret what it fits…..that long lives can be interesting and yet so lonely, it is easier to share it with the world than to hold it to your heart….”
“How wonderfully poetic Miya-San!” Ms Takara chriped quietly, “Come to our office, so we can start the paperwork of the items, and you can commentrate some items, if you are inclined…” Osamu could heave a sigh of relief that he could let go of some baggage, knowing that staying with Shinsuke and grandma Yumie would be a start of a new chapter.
Osamu walked out of the museum door, gazing over a little child staring in awe of his beauty which he could watch the clouds float by in the dark, to see Suna sitting on the bench, amused by his new smartphone.“Hey, well done for actually clearing that mess….I suppose you did not donate like everything….” Osamu smiled quietly at Suna, which he could read that he did not want to talk about that.
“How about a good lunch Fox?”
Osamu’s eyes sparkled a little on this topic. Suna gave a bemused smirk, as they stumbled upon on a small udon/soba shop. “You never changed fox…..” Suna muttered to himself, as they stumbled upon an old man with glasses shouting ‘Welcome’ to the pair of men. “You know what I fee like eating, maybe tsukimi udon or perhaps Kitsune…”
Osamu withold himself from rolling his eyes on that blatant choice of udon which is the sweetened tofu. “Perhaps how about you….” Suna chuckled a little, he never seen Osamu banter a little, but it is a good change. “I will get Kakiage udon….God….”
Slowly both men slurp their udon noodles, which Suna in the end, took a tsukimi udon which he sprinkled two rounds of the mountain spice blend “Do you need any help to clean the apartment so your brother will not see it as a mess….” Osamu chuckled a little, gazing at the reflection of the Mentsuyu broth, thankful for the simple meal . “Perhaps, like I never move out since…gods the people I knew are either dead or….” Suna gave a clicking sound in his tongue. “Perhaps, as a god I could help….”
“How….”
Suna grinned a little. “I would not tell you fox…..”, instead slurping his udon noodles. “Just enjoy your day….”
///
Shinsuke seems to do his usual jog after class, thinking over last night’s strange dinner, which ended rather happily with Osamu simply clinging to Kita while watching the horror film, which he withdraw the chuckle between his lips. Despite his aracnic speech, Osamu seems so endearing , which he did not mind for that moment. He heard a quiet buzz in his phone, which he monterially made a pause. “Hello….”
“Shin-Chan….” Yumie muttered quietly. “I think we ran out of some ingredients for tonight’s dinner, I am thinking Nabe?” Kita raised an eyebrow. “Why….”
Yumie smirked a little. “I just feel like it….”
//////
Osamu gazed through a slightly bare apartment, with the essentials left in the house, and some boxes sealed with his personal goods, which he heard a rang in the phone. “Hello….”
“Osamu-san…..”
Osamu smile a little. “Hello Yumie-san….I hope you are well…” He took the time to listen to her words. “I heard you are planning to move with us….”
“How do you know….”
“A little bird tweeted about that, I hope the packing is not stressful….” Yumie cooed quietly. “Anyway, I am thinking that we should have a nabe dinner….perhaps you can help me to get some groceries, I was thinking mushrooms, silken tofu..fishcakes….”
“Of course if it is too troublesome, you do not need to get that….” Osamu shook his head. “It is not Yumie-san, I am on my way to get some groceries….” Yumie meanwhile withheld her chuckle over her scheming plan. “Very good, let’s set dinner, maybe like 8pm after Shin-chan finished his classes the day after tomorrow…..”
“Yeah….” Osamu smiled quietly. “That sounds good, so mushrooms, silken tofu and fishcakes am I right….”
“Yes…Osamu-chan….”
Somehow he found his fox ears reddening over that Yumie called him “Osamu-chan”, which he acted coolly on that offer…. Perhaps connection is not daunting as he thinks. Yes. Osamu mentally noted down his head. Mushrooms. Silken Tofu. Fishcakes.
Suna observes Osamu from afar in his gilded shrine. It is nice that you are smiling after 600-700 years. I hate to admit it fox, if you keep this up- I believe good things will come around to you, which Daichi walked over gazing over the crystal clear pond. “What the hell are you grinning about?”
Suna shook his head. “Well, the fox is making a friend….Daichi” Daichi frowned at Osamu making his small steps to wander over a small flower shop which he paid small change for a bouquet of flowers, which he gave a quiet thanks to the old shopkeeper swooning over Osamu’s beauty. Suna found himself chuckling to himself. “A fox entering a flower shop, who knew in a 2000 years that a phenomenon would happen….”, Daichi noticed Osamu’s golden thread burning brighter than the sun as he walked out of the shop. “And a potential grandma killer….”
“I can foresee that…” Daichi rolled his eyes. “Just do not hold your cards too long, as he may be running out of time if he did not give back….”
Suna shrugged his shoulders.”We are not playing Hanafuda, he is fine….”, as he dispense the crystal clear pond and instead snacking on salted egg potato chips. “I have a feeling that something will come by….”
Osamu looked over at the local grocery store, unphased by the bright fluorescent lights-recalling the list, as he causally picked a basket, unaware of the customers flowing in back and forth
Mushrooms
Silken Tofu
Fish Cakes
where he accidentally caught a glance over at a small old bob-hair lady holding a basket of leeks and tofu. “Are you that grey haired man that Yumie-chan talk about….” Osamu stared at it. Huh? Tofu? What is that?
“Yes…..”
She gave a fierce look. “I heard you are moving to my friend’s house, what do you need my dear….” Osamu furrowed his eyebrow. “You know Yumie-san?”
“Yes, once every fortnight Yumie-san and I go for our daily walks in the park…”
Osamu chuckled to himself over that sweet old lady pandering to his every need, as she dragged him to the chilled corner. “My husband owns a moving company, so he can help you move some items for free!” That old lady gave a hearty laugh. “Oh call me Koyui-baa-chan! Handsome silver fox….”
“...Oh…thank you….Koyui-baa-chan….” Soon another old lady-Nea came in “Koyui-baa-chan long time no see!!” and incidentally looking for a packet of fish cakes. “Nea-chan, nice to meet you! Stop flirting with this young man- that is Yumie-chan’s new friend- I think he would fit well with Shin-chan…” Osamu found his fox ears popping out curiously over that lively chatter. “Hey, may I get your name….”
“Uhm Osamu….”
“Samu-chan….” Nea reached out her hands to pinch Osamu’s cheeks. “Yumie-san is so lucky to meet you, you will make a great husband to any woman. “If you need any new clothes, you can get from me, as my son left some in my room….”
Another old lady-Ade wearing a shiitake mushroom pin on her cardigan. “Nea-chan, this young man is not a baby-”, slapping her wrists. “Do not listen to her- she thinks that you are a Korean movie star based on your looks, anyway we are here to help- do you need anything Osamu-san…”
“Uhm….nice to meet you Ade-san, Nea-san and Koyuki-san….I am looking for the ingredients for nabe, mushrooms, silken tofu…and….” A faint blush streaked through Osamu’s cheeks, realising that he gained a new following of ‘fans’. Imagine if I told ‘Tsumu that I earn old ladies’ affection because I was nice to Yumie. “Fishcakes….”
Ade grinned quietly. “Yes I am glad to help, Osamu-san are you cooking dinner for a special someone….” Osamu gulped to himself, shaking his head especially on that phrase ‘certain someone’, as if unable to answer her question. “No Ade-san, in fact I am invited over for dinner, by Yumie-san……”
Ade glared at him. “Oh how sweet, anyway….” She gently pushed him away from the old ladies rom fawning at him. “You need to do your task, if anything you can ask us…we are more than happy to help….” Osamu quickly felt a warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart, akin to eating nabe in a small hut on a winter’s day with a kind stranger.
“...Uhm….thanks…..”
Koyuki gave a playful wink to Osamu, which he quickly turned his head back to focus on his mental list on the list of ingredients. Somehow the soft hum of nostagic hits and the slowness of the crowd, made Osamu realise that he is never alone, but instead find a place where no one believed in gods or youkais wandering around this world.
Osamu thought to himself. “Oh yes….mushrooms and fishcakes….”
///
Kita came out of the shower after his long jog, wiping the water out of his ears with a towel, which Yumie called to Kita. “Shin-chan….”, Kita gave a frown upon Yumie humming a nostalgic tune, as she wiped the dirty glasses. “How is your jog….”
Kita replied to Yumie quietly, unaware of his grandmother’s mischievous grin “Good….grandma, why are you grinning ear to ear…..” Yumie held her little secret to her heart, searching for a broom for Kita to sweep the floor “My bones are aching with that recent chill….” Kita frowned quietly on her quiet lamenting. “Then….should you be resting….”
“Yes…I should….” Yumie settled herself down on a worn-out couch. “Yes…I should….”, she quietly reached for the remote control to watch her favourite J-Dramas, observing Kita taking a clean mug making herbal tea before taking the broom to sweep the floor. “Kita, can you do me a favour…..”,
“Yes grandma….”
Yumie smiled a little. “We have a guest tomorrow coming for dinner…..” Kita frowned a little. “Please do not do that same thing with Osamu-san, leaving me in suspense on the certain guest coming for dinner….” Yumie giggled quietly. “And perhaps you are right, I am inviting Osamu for dinner…” Kita felt a slight warmth of the marble in his stomach upon Yumie speaking to Osamu. “I see you that night that you enjoyed yourself with Osamu….” Kita shook his head quietly. “How do you know….”
Yumie gave a playful wink. “I know…..”
Kita rolled his eyes upon his grandmother’s cryptic words, instead picking up the broom to sweep the floor.
“Just promise that you will be kind to Osamu….” Yumie happily chriped to herself as she watched a pivotal moment which the male lead confessed to the doe-eyed female lead about his bubbling feelings.
I am just being polite.
Suna meanwhile standing outside, munching his dried squid observing the conversation between the rice-coloured hair and Yumie-baa-chan, frowning at every word that both would say, until Inuoka came in with a cheerful grin. “It has been a while Suna….” Suna waved at Inuoka, he is relieved that it was not Kiryu whose spirits would bring him down. “What are you doing here….”
“I just gave a blessing for good business to my patron…..”
Suna frowned a little, noticing a nicely wrapped box of biscuits that Inuoka . I am guessing that Inuoka is too innocent for the world , as he happily unwrapped the box to munch these biscuits. “I never see you as a god of matchmaking, Suna…” crumbs from the biscuits which Inuoka ate slowly bloomed into beautiful wildflowers . “You should leave it to either me….or…” Suna seems to ignore Inuoka’s mumbling over the lifespan of a 8000 year old fox versus the human, which he respond with a shoulder shrug. “Hey Inuoka, focus on bringing more sales profits than to stick your nose upon my business.” Inuoka smiled cheerfully, which made Suna’s stomach turn a little. “Alright, but just be careful Suna…..by the way come by the store if you are peckish, I will get you a good discount”
Was his deal with Osamu to find companionship, in return for a drunken revelry becoming impossible?
“Oh I will Inuoka….”Suna smiled sheepishly. “Oh I will….”, observing Yumie giving a wink to Suna, watching her mouth these words amidst the barrier of glass. ‘God, do not listen to this kid, you are good as you are….help me….”
Suna cannot tell if he is impressive by Yumie’s tenacity or he is hoping to try her homemade onigiris.
////
Hours Later
In a blink of eye the doorbell seems to perk Yumie’s ears, which she purposefully push Kita to the door. “Shin-chan, get the door…” He knew that his grandma hid a mischievous smile, as she started to take the big daikon from the fridge. “Alright, baa-chan….” Kita scratched his head a little, what is with her lately, and sudden dinner preparations. Osamu came in the door holding plastic bags of mushrooms, fishcakes,a bottle of sake and carrier box. “Sorry if I intrude….”, Kita noticed that Osamu dressed differently, in a simple pewter blue sweater, light jeans and sneakers. “Oh…come in….” Kita noticed how meditative Osamu placed his shoes onto the shoe rack, noticing his choice of socks- paisley pattern.
“Welcome….Osamu-chan…..” Yumie allowed him to place the bags onto the kitchen top, which he began to smell the faint aroma of kombu and bonito from the boiling soup, which she giggled at the bottle of sake. “Hi Yumie-baa-chan….” noticing Kita quickly setting up the table for dinner with the sliced ingredients. “Just be careful not to overdrink this time….” Yumie slapped his shoulders, which Kita noticed that Osamu broke out his fox ears, out of embarrassment. “Baa-chan, stop making Osamu to be someone that I should marry….”
“Shin-chan, don’t be silly…..” Yumie chirped a little. “I have great self-control….”, causing Kita to frown. “Samu-chan….my bones are aching from cleaning up the house…..help to bring the ladles and dipping sauces onto the table….” Osamu nodded quietly, biting his tongue not wanting to cause Kita to flip the table. “I will settle with the things you bought…” Yumie began to hum a happy tune, as she sliced the mushrooms into half-moons-allowing the pair to have privacy. Osamu did not think much, but to simply bring the things back and forth onto the table- Kita interjected a little. “Hey….let me do….that….”, as he began to touch his hand unto the mesh spoon. “....Oh….” Kita frowned a little.
“Anyway…..” Osamu swallowed quietly. “How is your day, Shinsuke-san…..”, as he hurrdiely take the cutlery to the table. “It’s….alright….by the way…..Osamu-san….” Kita violently pulled one of his fox ears violently. “Hey…you are lucky that you did not pop your ears in the public….” Osamu cannot help to chuckle quietly. “Baa-chan and I, know you are a fox…..well if you are not sure … just ask….”
Osamu blinked a little. “Oh is this the correct thing to bring out for nabe?” Kita smiled quietly “Yeah, if you are looking for dipping sauces…they are in the…fridge….” Osamu frowned quietly, opening the fridge door to gaze upon the array of sauces. “You can get one of those… look for the ‘ponzu’ sauce, it is good with Tofu….” Osamu searched over the fridge, enjoying the cool air, before finding that bottle, unaware that the rain began to pour in the house.
“Got it….”
The table is filled with fresh vegetables, thin slices of meat, raw eggs onto chipped porcelain bowls, various dipping sauces and the bubbling of the soup stock. Yumie, Osamu and Kita clapped their hands unanimously. “Let’s partake this meal!”, Osamu paused monterially to observe Yumie and Kita dropping the fishcakes down unto the pot, watching these plump mushrooms float in the river of hot stock, like floating lanterns in a river. “Samu-chan…”
“Yes Yumie-baa-chan….” Osamu squeaked quietly, fishing out the thin slices of beef from the broth. “Help yourself to dipping my homemade sauce….”, Osamu made a quiet mhm, before finding a freshly ground Goma-dare, which he coated the beef slice before slurping it unto his mouth.
“Is it good…”
Osamu nodded quietly, which Kita noticed a certain glow in Osamu’s face as he savoured the homemade goma-dare. “...Well…yeah….” Osamu quickly swallowed the beef slice, before he found himself nearly choking over Kita’s dire expression. “Anyway….I made up…my mind…” Osamu gave a soft smile. “I wish to enjoy…watching horror movies…with Shinsuke-san….and Baa-chan….to savour your delicious food……” Osamu found himself, focusing on fishing out as many cooked vegetables upon the chipped dish. Somehow he feel the warmth of the god giving the courage to say what he wanted. “I think it is unfair for you, to move away from Yumie-baa-chan….and learn my way of living…” Osamu found his throat dry from that confession.
“I am going to plan to move into your house, with you-Shinsuke-san and Yumie-baa-chan….”
Kita froze a little over Osamu’s words, which he forgot to fish the tofu out of the boiling soup.
“Alright….” Yumie chirped a little. “When…..”
///
2 Weeks later
Kita quietly woke up to do his stretches, hearing the rumbles of the truck parking at his grandmother’s house, and the boisterous communication of the movers, lifting the boxes unto the floor, which he glanced at Osamu carrying some boxes onto the entrance of the house with the old man slapping his back. Osamu found his fox ears slowly popped out of embarrassment from his loud slap, which thankfully- Kita and Yumie could see that self. “Good morning Shin-chan….” Kita frowned slightly to see Yumie clad in rubber gloves, an apron decorated with cute animals with cartoonishly sparkling eyes and a wide grin. “Shin-chan!” Kita shook his head. “Come and wash up, we are going to have a long day of cleaning!”, passing him a pair of rubber gloves, a surgical mask and bandanna. “After breakfast made by Nea-san!!” Kita heaved a little. It is all the part of the process huh? Kita thought to himself.
Seems that he did not back out his proclamation over nabe.
///
Meanwhile Atsumu gave a loud woohoo as he plopped down on Osamu’s couch, with neatly labelled boxes of his filming equipment, clothes and personal belongings. “Thank you Samu!” Atsumu proclaimed loudly. “Now I can quit that shitty job…being a mascot in the shop…”, which he played an obnoxious K-Pop song to only be greeted by a mildew aroma in the apartment.
Despite that Atsumu began to be human 50 years ago, he never lost his enhanced sense of smell.
“Geez, you know that there is such a thing as opening the window…Samu…..” Atsumu mumbled to himself, which he received a text from Osamu. “Well I cleaned as much as I could…but the rest….you have to figure it out….” Atsumu groaned a little, gazing at the shimmering city lights, pouting that Osamu left many blanks for him.
Note to self. Atsumu thought to himself. Time to be a responsible human adult at buying cleaning equipment.
A/N: So I like to thank you, if you are reading it, I really appreciate you. I said I am on a dry spell as I am working on my Japanese class hence the very long block!
Anyway just a shoutout once again, if you like to help me beta this adorable fic- please DM on my socials which I linked up, and I will try my best to communicate with you.
Chapter 5: Try to see it my way, Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?
Summary:
Osamu and Kita trying to get used to their new lives together, until a summer's day which will change their lives
Notes:
So hello there!! It has been forever, but I am done with that chapter though not as perfect as I miss that comfortabeness in that story, I am sorry if it is a little rusty but I will get better.
For now, enjoy this sweet chapter
Chapter Text
Try to see it my way, Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?
Osamu found himself into his bad habit of people watching, making up imaginary scenarios of people’s lives, maybe they are elated for the arrival of their newborn child, or they are reminiscing of old times, since he is drilled that morning by Kita on the cabinet doors being open wide, exposing the food containers, only soothing his pain by slurping the coffee jelly slowly.
Yumie cannot help but to feel sorry about Osamu. “Samu-chan….I guess you are not used to living together with someone….” Somehow Osamu’s eyes gazed over Yumie as she quietly. “I guess, I know, embarrassing….”
“I know my Shin-chan is a stickler for cleanliness, I somehow blamed myself for his uptight routine….” Yumie heaved a little, slurping the napo spaghetti. “We think our little actions are a way for the gods to notice ... .whenever it pleases them or not, it is up to you…”
Osamu cannot help but to laugh at that image of Suna holding a prism crystal, watching the light bounce back and forth. “My Shin-chan like you, but you must learn that your world is not simply giving things to him, but…the other way around….” He has a strange inkling, as the sun rose higher and he found himself adjusting the collar of his linen shirt. “Should we go back to dusting up those shelves in your room…” Yumie smiled quietly at Osamu, while she walked to the cashier counter, observing him searching through his wallet for some cash. “No…” Yumie gave a cheeky gaze to Osamu. “My treat….”
///
A week ago
Osamu found himself slowly unpacking the boxes that were dropped into the empty room, in his mind he could feel the presence of someone long gone based on the faint aroma of cologne, and the dust layered in the boxes. Yumie peered out of the open door, with Osamu nearly dropping one of the precious items-an old camera that he possessed after making some money as a Kissaten waiter at a small corner on the floor. “I hope it is comfortable for you….” He nodded quickly, dusting off the camera.
“It is….”
Yumie’s eyes grew wide over that sight. “I have never seen this one in years….” Osamu chuckled to himself. “Well I am too nostalgic….” placing the camera on the table. “Come Osamu, perhaps you are hungry right now….” He grew quiet over his past memories, when was the last time that I ever capture a fleeting moment on camera. “Koyuki made extra onigiri balls for all of us….” somehow it lightened the otherwise solemn mood, it did not help that the rain has started to pour, with its aroma perfuming in the air. Somehow he is glad that he is sheltered in Yumie’s house because he did not need to deal with the leaking pipes from the bathroom that he tried to fix by himself.
“How about Shinsuke-san?” Osamu mumbled quietly.
Yumie smiled quietly. “Afraid he cannot come to enjoy the wonderful onigiri…” Osamu pouted at Yumie’s explanation. “Apparently he has lectures back to back…and only back for dinner…” She noticed Osamu gazing longingly at Kita's empty room.
“Shall we wait for the weather to clear up… Osamu….” the fresh aroma of the freshly watered plants perfumed the quiet garden, which he recently gazed at Yumie’s freshly planted Japanese roses that sprouted through the pedestals like bright fireworks in summer. “I think we all need fresh air after doing all that unpacking-how about you walking around the neighbourhood with me, then I can introduce you to my friends….”
Again Osamu’s running thoughts came over his head. “Alright…sure….”, as he slowly take out one of the crumpled shirts and jeans, seeing a shadow of a fox bouncing through filtered sunlight, which he took his phone and messaged to Atsumu.
How is everything?
Atsumu sent a picture of him setting up a new game console along with ring-lights illuminating his bleached blonde hair to Osamu
A message popped into his phone.
Good. Gotta try to play some GIT gud game, I blame Sakusa for that.
You played that. Osamu texted Atsumu, which he snapped a blurry picture of his character holding daggers tightly to his chest.
What the hell is that?
My character, I made it after Sakusa, he would fit as a brooding assassin.
Osamu withholds a small smile “Are you ready Osamu-kun.” Maybe that is part of his fox heritage but the weather seems to change at any fleeting moment, gazing from the dulled window, one of the old ladies fanning herself frantically and complaining about the recent heat wave.
Tsumu stay hydrated….
Atsumu replied to him with an emoji- “😐”
////
Few days back.
“There should be higher temperatures for this upcoming summer….” The television blared loudly at the distance, as Kita noticed Osamu curled up like a ball- with a cup of green tea, and half eaten toast. “Hey, at least clean up the food.” His fox ears perked quickly, which Yumie sighed at Kita. “Shin-chan, it is only the weekend, don’t rush him….” It seems that his fox senses seem correct over the change in the weather since the move. It could be the gods’ retribution for the destruction of nature, and yet he cannot blame humans for their actions. “At least, he is trying to help, give him some rest- he has move out from his apartment….”
“Then, explain why the condiments are mixed up and how he get that habit of not closing the doors in cabinets….” Kita grumbled at Yumie while she gave a blank stare to him. “Shin-chan, take it easy….” Osamu quietly cleared the plate and cup, with Kita heaving a sigh. Osamu quietly observed Kita dressing in a thick t-shirt and jeans, along with a loose polyester sweater
“Hey, just hydrate more, Shinsuke-san,....” Osamu simpered quietly, while Kita shook his head. “Hey I am all good, I can take care of myself….”, as he took an empty water bottle from the cabinet and filled it with mugi-cha.
Osamu simply frowned at Kita’s indifference, which Yumie broke the ice with a sly smile. “Samu-chan, I agree with him, perhaps we should get some fresh air….”, quietly she took the sunscreen from the bathroom. “Make sure, you put on some sunscreen, Shin-chan ... .and you…too…”
The night before
Osamu found himself unable to sleep, due to the extreme coldness of the air-con- which he quietly scoot around the living room, gazing at the old photos, filling his mind with narratives of Yumie and Shinsuke’s past, however his train of thoughts was broken by a quiet hum from the other room. Shit is this a ghost…..
Osamu swallowed his fear to find the source of the music, to see Kita falling asleep amidst of looking the ipad of handwritten notes. He quietly feel the surface of his mug- he forget to drink his peppermint tea. He quietly smiled at his soft expression, trying his best not to disturb his sleep by laying at his bed quietly, snapping his fingers-fireworks appeared in the room.
“Good night….” Osamu mumbled to Kita, quietly tidying up his table filled with his notes and switching off his ipad, before switching off the lights, allowing the projections of fireworks to burst at the room.
/////
This morning’s breakfast
Yumie and Osamu clapped their hands together in unison on the freshly prepared breakfast, to see Kita with a slight frown. “What time is it right now….” Yumie gave a cheerful smile to Kita. “Oh it is 8…Shin-chan….” Kita’s eyes widened with shock on that line, he has packed his bag for the next round of lectures, but he did not even brush his teeth or wash his face. “Sorry grandma….I may run off…..” Osamu could sense the panic in his veins. “Could we…..” Kita quietly snapped at Osamu. “Hey….I am alright….” Osamu felt in his veins that he perhaps lulled Kita with imaginary fireworks and blissful scenes of childhood.
Yumie sighed a little. “My Shin never took his time to be awake so late….” She gave a soft happy sigh. “It is a good thing, I have yet to see him slow down….” Yumie quietly sprinkled the furikake that her gardening friend-Aiko bought from Fukoka onto the hot steaming rice “Well we have finished the move, why don’t we go out……” Yumie held Osamu’s hand, noticing Osamu’s melancholic expression, as he placed blobs of rice in his mouth “I think it is good that we could relax, after all that hard work….”
Osamu cannot help but to nod at her words. “Where….” Yumie pressed her finger unto her lips. “We shall see….”, Kita spoke quietly, as he opened the door. “See you soon!” Yumie waved to Kita. “See you soon….” however Osamu has that sixth sense that Kita would not be alright, gazing over the blazing sun piercing through the glass windows and one of the elderly ladies taking out a small fan, and constantly flapping it back and forth, to beat the heat.
“Let’s clear up breakfast and go somewhere nice….” Yumie spoke quietly, taking away the cutlery and plates from the table. Osamu noticed the gentleness in Yumie’s voice, when she quietly stack the clean plates in a neat line, while passing an old rag. “I am thinking of buying some flowers to brighten the place.” Osamu nodded quietly, taking it and wiping the table- noticing his expression, a furrowed eyebrow and pursed lips.
/////
Meanwhile Kita checked his phone on the bus to flick through the weather app, which he frowned at. Sunny days huh?
I should have dressed in T-Shirts instead.
Quietly the sign blinked to “Daigaku No Mae”, which Kita quickly took his public transport card and tapped the card reader out to see Ginjima sipping Mugi-cha, he seems to be better from his heartbreak “Yo…”
“Hey…” Kita raised his hand up, not looking at the bus moving away, and picking up other passengers. “Dude you look so haggard…” Kita did not reply to Ginjima, explaining to his friend that he attained an unexpected roommate and furthermore explaining that he is not human, would be the butt of jokes. He could hear Ginjima’s voice in his head “Oh that is so cool, can he change into my girlfriend and we could go like dates….”, his hands clinging to his palms, or another reaction could be like “What is that, are you consuming too much manga about a supernatural boyfriend coming to your path….”
Kita instead shake his head off and smile pensively. “Well things has been hectic…..you can say we have someone staying in with us, because…they need to get their shit together….” Ginjima blinked on Kita’s deadpan voice. “Huh?....since when you decided to rent out….” Kita rubbed his hair quietly, still aware that Osamu’s marble is still floating in his stomach. “Maybe 2 weeks back…..” That past 2 weeks were a hassle in his mind, with Osamu just taking the time to unpack his personal belongings, or simply observing his simple breathing when he is frustrated with the mindless lecture, which he is thankful that grandma Yumie distracted him, by either helping her to reach for old sake cups that she could trade with her entourage with old ladies or supermarket shopping to try a new recipe.
Suna came out from a different bus, holding the electric fan in his face- gazing at the blazing sun. “Oh shit….humans need to take care of their environment….it is sweltering…” Somehow in the pit of Suna’s stomach, Kita is not doing alright in the heat.
“Dude, should we hit the local konbini to get some snacks before lectures.” Ginjima snapped Kita out of his logical thinking, by yelling at Aran holding a soft drink and a mentaiko onigiri Ginjima called Aran out “Hey!!!” he nearly dropped his onigiri onto the floor, which thankfully landed on the cashiering counter. As always Ginjima grabbed his iced black coffee (double shot of course), packets of pocky and crispy nuts, and a ham and egg sandwich, while Kita quietly placed a cool bottle of Mugi-cha and two balls of onigiri. “You seem better Ginjima, what is with you screaming loudly in the club in a small store….”
“Well, I was thinking we should walk to college together…..” Ginjima proclaim proudly, which Aran retorted back. “Dude, we are not teenage girls….” Kita, unaware of the argument, quietly paid for their food. “”Hey…let’s get going….”, which the trio stepped out from the coolness of the konbini store,Kita felt his throat parched from the scalding heat, which he opened the bottle and gulped it. Ginjima and Aran, meanwhile squabbling over matters, leaving Kita to his own thoughts on Osamu moving into their lives, especially on the last few days when he becomes increasingly worried for him, like a pandering mother. “
////
As Kita, Ginjima and Aran walked out from the store, Ginjima grumbled to himself, shielding himself from the bright sun “is it or the sun is insane….”, Aran meanwhile unbuttoned his shirt. “Yeah the weather has been so shitty….”
Kita quietly sipped a smoothie, feeling a little wheeze between his lungs. “Yeah….uhm, let’s hurry….” He felt his body embodied into flame as he tried to forgo thinking of the path that is to come. Kita instead hurriedly drank the smoothie, taking his time to walk down the long steps to the university which he half-heartedly listen to Ginjima recovering from his heartbreak and Aran recently looking for internships to spend his time during summer vacation, and at the same time-noticing Osamu’s quiet affections to him whenever it is to bring him snacks on the table, or ironing his clothes with the help from Yumie. All simple actions, and yet he feels unready-
That is…
Aran’s concerned voice broke his train of thought. “Hey are you ok….” Kita did not speak to Aran but instead found his head spinning. “Uhmm, I am fine…..” Ginjima frowned. “Dude you are not okay….should we go to the cafeteria to grab something….” For once Ginjima and Aran did not argue and instead became worried for Kita. “No I am just….” Kita quietly reassured them. “Yeah, maybe we should go here…I just need too….”, laying his hand on the metal bar, trying to take a breath,
Before they could reach for the cafeteria, Kita found his stomach burning a little and his head spinning, and his body fell upon the ground. His mind went blank, only to hear muffled voices of Ginjima shouting “Dude, dude, dude….” Suna, in disguise as a student going to his economics class, notice the panic, as a small group of students tries to call the local ambulance- and one of the girls taking out her portable fan to cool Kita down.
Suna snapped his fingers to pause the commotion, to examine Kita gasping for breath- “Ok, Human, chill….” Suna place his hand on his shoulder, noticing the change in the marble’s aura, it feel chaotic and yet…
Perhaps it is a good opportunity for Osamu to show his selfness. But how? How? Suna thought to himself. That human is a little too dense…that idiot craved connection Suna could feel the moments from the marble, which Kita is constantly ignoring Osamu’s kindness (He knew it is animal sense LOL), either by his curt words before the fainting spell. “Hey human, well this friend of mine cared for you, that he would bend backwards and forth, sure he give too much-but….you….” Suna sighed a little.
Maybe it is best I could find Osamu, and let him do the ‘talking’
Suna noticed a fairly tidy shrine at the corner of the university which he pretended to pray to a nameless god, before he disappeared in thin air, allowing the commotion of the students to brew up.
Now where should I find him?
////
Osamu enjoyed the sight of the market, enjoying the still atmosphere of the stalls opening and the quiet chatter of the passersby, Yumie decided to stop by the ‘tsukemono’ shop, allowing Osamu to examine the new creations created by her friend Takemono-san, which she began to strike her conversation. “Summer is sometimes a hard season for my Shin-chan….” Osamu quietly took the eggplant nukazuke with his hands, quietly listening to Yumie’s recounting of Kita’s encounters over summer. “You must imagine that he must be lonely, with only his inhaler and his eyes to the wide fields…”
“He is lucky to find Aran-kun and Gin-kun during middle school, and depsite his stoic appearance, he is a kind boy….”
Before long, Suna taking a disguise of a regular customer came in wearing glasses also looking at the array of pickles, which Osamu could recongize his squinty eyes. “Hey…. what do you recommend to go well with grilled fish” Osamu slowly walked towards that customer, which Suna purposefully take the Kyuri Asazuke, smiling mischievously to hear Yumie’s phone ring which Yumie quietly picked up the phone, which Osamu overhead the conversation-observing her worried expression, unaware that Suna disappeared quickly from the shop. Yumie bowed to Takemono-san about the sudden interruption “Oh…Osamu, can you buy some cold food and sports drinks, I think Kita just fainted….”
Osamu nodded quietly to Yumie’s words, quickly bolting towards the nearest konbini, while Yumie waited for him at the pickle store. Thoughts raced in his mind, despite that his surroundings seem to slow down, He is right to some extent, he wished to shout to Kita that his instincts is right. The silent hum of the konbini store that break away from Osamu’s thoughts and one of the bespectacled clerks greeting him. Osamu focus on looking over the various brands of sports drinks, confused by the conflicting colours.
The clerk quietly peered at him. “Hello, can I be of help….” Osamu asked quietly. “Is there any drinks that are good to replenish energy….” The clerk paused quietly, examining through the row of drinks, before taking a clear bottle with a bright blue label. “Take this, I think it will help…” Osamu eyed upon a packet of Hiyashi Chuka, maybe Kita would like this. “Oh can I also buy this….”
At the Kita household
Kita found himself lying at his bed, noticing small fireworks bursting back and forth when the outside window shows that it is simply bright and blazing-feeling the coldness of the icepack in his forehead, with Yumie bringing plastic bags with ‘Locari Sweat’, Hiyashi Chuka from the ‘konbini’, a banana and a glass of cold water. Kita gazed at Osamu wrinkling his brow, Yumie prompted Osamu, which his fox ears perked again. Yumie called Osamu “Do not worry, he is alright….” Osamu quietly laid his hands unto Kita’s stomach, feeling the presence of his marble.
It feels like a storm reaching over a perfect garden, determined to destroy its tranquil air.
“What the heck are you doing”- Kita protested to Osamu.
Osamu pressed his fingers a little deeper, absorbing the heat from the marble “Shinsuke-san hang in there….” which he found himself seeing the lovely garden tenderly pruned by Yumie through Kita’s eyes. Wind chimes trinkled the tranquil air, cicadas chirping loudly and him holding a plastic cup of Mugi-cha. “Shin-chan…..” He found his feet buried towards the pebbled pathways, enjoying the smooth surfaces of the stones. “Help me to throw away the weeds from the garden…” Kita observed Yumie laying them in dried newspaper, with his small hands barely holding it. “Alright, Baa-chan” Kita in his childhood glee, quickly ran to one of the designated bins to throw away the weeds, feeling a sense of happiness, before gazing over the young boys playing soccer in the road, before sadness sink upon his bones. Yumie slowly came over him, placing her bony hand unto his shoulder. However that image slowly faded into the sound of chirping cicadas, the slow hum of the fan blowing though the room, which Kita waking observe Osamu now eating a bowl of Kitsune udon and drinking that ‘Locari Sweat’ (Kita could laugh at that joke that Yumie did just now). “You should eat….” Osamu spoke gently, passing the banana, noticing the warmth in Kita’s palms. “Oh….” Kita quietly chomped the banana from his mouth, observing Osamu’s soft smile of relief. “Shin-chan…” Yumie chirped quietly, as she opened the door from the living room, “You made us all worried….”, She sat quietly on Kita’s bed side, observing Kita’s frown. “Baa-chan, I am sorry….” Yumie shook her head. “Shin-chan do not apologise, sometimes things happen and maybe the gods are telling us to slow down….” Osamu quietly nodded to himself, which he was relieved that his energy could revitalise him.
In the meantime, Suna observed Osamu and Kita having a pleasant conversation in the room, with Daichi walking by his side, taking a can of beer and opening it. “Your side project is doing well…” Suna shook his head. “No, it…is…all…fine….”
Daichi paused the hustle of the world, just to isolate Suna from its busy nature but instead it was two gods talking with one another. “You must be lucky that our fox boy is aware to heal his energy to the human, however one more drastic move and our fox ceased to exist.”
////
Fawn_Eyed_Girl on Chapter 1 Fri 21 Jul 2023 01:21AM UTC
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Streamsofstoriesandcolour on Chapter 1 Sun 29 Oct 2023 11:23AM UTC
Last Edited Sun 29 Oct 2023 11:36AM UTC
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