Chapter Text
With your chin resting on your hand, you stare out of the car window, watching the trees and other cars as they blur by. The faint sound of calming jazz continues to play on the radio, giving off a joyful start to a new day. Although the music doesn't exactly soothe you right now.
You feel tense. Stuck in an almost two hour drive with your family, your stomach is constantly churning with nerves. You never liked moving house. It always feels like you're starting life all over. Leaving behind a world you once knew to begin a new one.
It would have been harder for you if you were leaving tons of friends behind, but you didn't really have many in your old town to begin with, not ones that you grew a strong bond with anyway. You are an extremely shy person and never like talking much, especially around your family. If anything, this should be for the better. It will give you a chance to try and meet new people and make new friends.
Letting a deep sigh escape through your nostrils, you start to hear your mom and dad in the front seats, bickering at one another about taking a wrong turn.
"Maybe we should ask someone for directions."
"Well, I don't see anyone walkin' around right now to ask them, honey."
"I think we were supposed to take the next turn back there."
"You said it was this way!"
"I'm just following the map on my phone, dear. There's no need to raise your voice."
Your vision reverts to the car window again, taking in the scenery as you try to block out the loud noise of your parents. You take a quick glance over at your older sister beside you, who doesn't seem bothered by any of this. She is happily sitting, her hands on her phone, browsing through her social media apps and replying to comments.
Your older sister was certainly a lot more of a social butterfly than you were. She always seems to make a ton of friends very easily. The complete opposite to you. Guess that's what you get when you're the favourite child of the family. Everybody loves her.
Another deep sigh leaves you and you turn back towards the window again. You shut your eyes for a moment, trying to vision yourself in a different situation. Maybe flying free in the sky, like a bird. Or swimming gracefully in the ocean, like a dolphin. The movement of the car certainly made you feel like you were in one of those situations, bringing with it a small feeling of calmness.
After what seems like an eternity, you finally arrive at your new home.
"Okay, we're here." Your dad calls out. "Are you girls excited?"
You open your eyes and glance out of the window at your new home. A modern looking two story house behind a gate and a stone fence. Big windows to allow light in with a small balcony upstairs to dry off the laundry.
Opening the door and stepping out of the car, you gaze up at the building. You can hear the distant sound of small birds singing all around you. The fresh green shrubberies and small trees are trimmed neatly to give the place a more orderly look to it. The outside of the house certainly is pretty. You have to admit that you like how welcoming the place is.
Your peaceful feeling of tranquility is quickly interrupted by your dad as he takes out a large cardboard box from the trunk of the car and shoves it into your hands. You are almost caught off guard by the sudden heavy weight and quickly hold the box properly in your hands.
"Quit daydreaming, Y/N." Your dad huffs. "The faster we get the car unloaded, the faster we can enjoy our new home." He walks past you with another heavy box in his own hands and makes his way towards the front door.
You decide to kindly wait for your mother, who is grabbing a few bags of items from the trunk. She rummages through her pockets for the new house key. "The moving truck isn't here yet. Should we wait for them?"
"Nah." Your dad replies to your mother. "I'm sure they will be here soon. We can sort out these boxes in the meantime."
You walk beside your dad and wait patiently while your mother places the key into the lock. Once it's open, you step inside and take in the large empty room. There's a fresh scent of new paint and wood, giving off a pleasant feeling to the place.
Placing the cardboard box beside the front door, your dad turns towards you and your sister with his hands on his hips. "I've already decided which rooms you girls are gonna have." He turns his head towards your sister. "You get the big room at the back."
"Yes!" She beams, already making her way towards the hallway with a large box in hand to claim her new room.
Your dad's vision turns to you. "Y/N, you're getting the small room over there. The one that's close to the living room so we can keep an eye on you."
A soft sigh leaves you. You want to argue back with your dad, you really do, but there's no point anymore. Everytime you try to speak up for yourself, you are just constantly met with arguments. Instead, you pull a fake grateful smile and make your way towards the tiny room that has been claimed as yours against your will.
Being the youngest sibling, you always seem to get the smallest rooms, and your older sister always gets the biggest ones. Honestly, it doesn't seem fair. Your parents could at least give you both a choice, or let you have the biggest room sometimes. It wouldn't hurt them.
'Just be grateful you have a roof over your head!' You mentally tell yourself in your parents voice. It isn't your fault your dad can't find a stable job.
Making your way down the hallway and opening the door, you take a look at your new bedroom. Already it seems so cramped! You could barely fit a bed in here, let alone a wardrobe too!
With the cardboard box still in your hands, you place it onto the floor and open it to reveal your stuff inside. Your laptop is sitting at the top. The most important item in your belongings. Your dream is to become a teacher, and teach foreign languages to the younger generation. Which meant you took online classes every weekend, so you can get the qualifications you need to fulfill your dream.
So far, you've been learning two languages. English and German. Your German lessons have been relatively easy recently, but English is the one you're struggling with the most. But you are determined, and you want to work hard at it so you can get a successful career and finally move out of your parents house.
You are twenty two years old after all. People your age have already moved out of their parents houses and started lives of their own, even settling down and starting their own family.
Closing the lid on your belongings, you continue to help carry more boxes into the house until the moving truck finally arrives. Your family and you can start carrying in the heavy furniture.
After everything is eventually unpacked and your new house starts to look more like a home, your family orders a takeout for the night and you spend the rest of your evening laid on top of your bed sheets. You stare up at the ceiling, trying to take in the fresh feeling your new room gives you.
Since you have nothing planned tomorrow, the first thing you want to do is explore this new town. Have a walk around and take in the beautiful scenery.
You grab your phone from the side and browse the internet a while until you eventually feel your eyes growing heavy. Placing your phone back onto your bedside cabinet, you pull the sheets over your body and you let the busy day take you into a lull of sleep.
_____________
Morning arrives quicker than you expected, but you are ready to take on the new day with determination!
Sitting up in your bed, you take a moment to remind yourself that you are in a new environment. You're so used to your old room that your tired brain needs a minute to remember the events of yesterday.
As soon as you feel a lot more conscious, you sling the bed sheets off your body and stand up with a stretch. You open your wardrobe with what little space you have and browse your clothing until you find something comfortable to wear. Skinny blue jeans with a white tank top and a cute grey cardigan.
Stepping out of your room now fully dressed, you enter the kitchen to see your parents already wide awake. The fresh smell of eggs and toast linger in your nostrils from your mother's cooking, making your stomach growl. Your dad is already sitting at the table, with a large mug of coffee beside him and a newspaper in hand.
He pulls his vision away from the paper briefly to take a glance at you. "Good morning, Y/N." He utters. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did, thank you." You reply, taking a seat at the table. "How about you guys?"
"Just fine, thank you."
"I was thinking." You start. "Since we've just moved here. I was gonna take a walk and get to know the place better."
A harsh huff leaves your father's breath, one that causes your chest to tighten. "If you're going to do that, at least look for a job too while you're at it!" He barks. "You're not living in this house rent free!"
You scoff at your dad, furrowing your eyebrows at him. "It's the first day! Can't I look tomorrow instead?"
He shoots you a strict glare, burning away what little fight you had left in you. With a defeated sigh, you stand up from the table. "Fine!" You hiss, already losing your appetite as you make your way towards the front door to put on your shoes.
"And you can fix that attitude of yours while you're at it, young lady!" You hear the condescending tone in his voice as you continue to ignore him and exit the house.
_____________
With frustration bubbling up inside, you shove your hands into your pockets and make your way down the sidewalk with a huff. You pull out your phone and browse a few apps until you find a good one with a tracking device so you can find your way back home later.
You continue down the path until you eventually reach the heart of the town. Small businesses such as bakeries, coffee shops and cafes were opening their doors, ready for the morning rush. The smell of the crisp, clean air finds its way into your nostrils and you take in a deep breath, enjoying the feeling it brings to your lungs.
Plummeting yourself back into reality, you begin to visualize the annoying voice of your dad, nagging you to look for a job.
You sigh deeply. As much as you would love to try all the cafes and take in the scenery, you should at least look for somewhere to work first before you enjoy this place.
Walking down the street, you take quick glances through each store you pass by until you see a vacancy on the window of a small coffee shop. Seems they are looking for someone to work part-time. It isn't much, but it will at least get your parents off your back.
Opening the coffee shop door, the delightful sound of the small bell above your head jingles and the alluring scent of fresh coffee beans finds its way into your senses.
The store itself is small, but just the right size for a few tables and chairs to eat inside. The walls, tables and counter are made of dark oak wood and the soothing sound of jazz playing on the radio could be heard faintly in the background.
Taking in such a calming place, your vision moves over to a young girl waiting behind the counter, with short brown bobbed hair and brown eyes. She glances over at you with a welcoming smile. "Hi there. How can I help you today?"
"Oh, I, uh..." You stutter for a moment, almost forgetting how to communicate with people. You take a deep breath and walk towards the counter. "I was uh, looking at the job vacancy in your window. I would like to apply."
"Oh, of course!" The young girl beams. She reaches under the counter and hands you a couple pieces of paper. "If you just fill out this application form, I can hand it over to my boss later today."
"Great, thank you."
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" She asks.
"Oh." Your eyes flutter for a moment. You take a quick glance at the menu above her head. It wouldn't hurt to order yourself something while you filled out the form. You wanted to enjoy the town a little before you headed home anyway. With another smile, you answer. "Sure. I'll have a small iced coffee, please."
Your vision moves towards the glass display case beside her. All kinds of sweets are on display, such as cupcakes, buns, muffins and croissants. Your eyes are drawn towards the delicious blueberry muffin that is practically screaming at you to eat it. "And I'll take a blueberry muffin too, please."
"Sure thing!" The girl beams, tapping your order into the computer. "Are you eating in or taking out?"
"I'll eat in." You reply, grabbing your purse from your satchel and paying for your food.
"Thank you very much. I'll bring your stuff over shortly."
"Thank you." You take a look at the tables around you until you see a nice quiet one in the corner of the room. You sit down and take out a pen from your bag.
You begin to fill out the application form, trying to keep your handwriting as neat as possible as you look at your home address from the tracking app. Within a couple of minutes, the nice girl from the counter walks towards you with a tall glass of iced coffee with plenty of ice and a straw, along with your blueberry muffin on a small plate. "Here you are. I hope you enjoy."
"Thank you very much." You smile up at the girl and decide to take a small break from the form.
You turn your vision towards the delicious muffin that seems to be staring right back at you. The cake itself is so fluffy with just the right amount of blueberries. The alluring colour of purple is almost bursting out of the cake, looking almost too good to eat. You can smell the fruity scent making your stomach growl as you take the small knife from the plate and cut the muffin in half.
You bring the muffin to your lips and bite down, the fruitiness completely satisfying your taste buds. It's so fresh and fluffy, you couldn't help the pleasing hum that leaves your breath. Almost like it's melting in your mouth.
It's so delicious!
You enjoy your yummy snacks and finish filling out your form.
After a few minutes, you hand the finished sheet over to the girl behind the counter, thank her for the food and leave the shop.
_____________
With your tummy full and your task complete, you explore the town a little longer before making your way back, keeping your phone in hand so you can find your way home.
Reaching your front door, you open it and take off your shoes. "I'm home!" You call out.
No one answers you, but you can hear the faint sound of the TV in the background.
After hooking your satchel behind the door, you put your slippers on your feet and make your way into the living room, where your mom and dad are sitting watching TV together.
You sit down on the sofa and let out a content sigh. "This town is so adorable!" You beam. "The little bakeries and shops are so small and cute! And the stores are so welcoming! You have to try the coffee shop I went to! The blueberry muffins are-"
"Did you look for a job?" Your dad cuts you off, not even showing a little bit of interest in your story.
All the enjoyment you had today quickly vanishes from within you, and you return to your timid posture. "Y-Yeah...I did." You quietly mutter.
"Good." His answer is quick and cold, turning his vision back towards the TV.
You take a glance over at your mother, who doesn't seem interested in your story either. It's like you aren't even there. Like you are completely invisible to them right now, far too interested in watching TV.
If you were your older sister, they would probably shower you with praise.
But you're not.
You're just you.
Just regular, boring old you.
Feeling a sudden tightness form in your chest, you stand up from the sofa and hide yourself in your room.
You lean your back against the door, feeling tears pricking at your eyes. You try to fight them and give them a quick rub with your arm.
Suddenly feeling your phone vibrate in your pocket, you quickly pull it out and look down at the screen to see a number that you've never seen before is calling you.
Maybe it's for the job you applied for today?
If that's the case, that was quick!
You press answer and place the phone beside your ear. "Hello?"
"Hello. Is this Y/N?" The voice on the other side of the line is deep, low and almost soothing.
"Y-Yes, it is." You nervously answer.
"I'm calling from the coffee shop you visited earlier today. I received your form and I would like you to come in for an interview. Is tomorrow morning a good time for you? Say, 10am?"
Your heart starts to race with excitement. Tears begin to prick at your eyes again, but this time, they are tears of happiness. Wiping the water away with your wrist, you quickly answer. "Yes! Of course! Tomorrow morning would be perfect! Thank you!"
"Great. See you bright and early tomorrow morning."
And with that, the mysterious voice on the other side of the line hangs up. You feel a bubbling excitement begin to overwhelm you, causing a quiet happy squeal to leave you.
You can't believe you handed in the form and got a phone call back all on the very same day! This is so exciting!
You quickly plummet yourself back into reality. This is only a job interview. You might not even get the job yet. Don't get your hopes up.
Taking a deep breath, you sit down on your bed and begin to contemplate. Should you go and tell your parents that you have an interview tomorrow?
No, not yet.
They will probably find a way to shut you down somehow and erase all the happiness you are feeling right now. Best to keep it quiet for now until you know for sure that you have the job.
_____________
Making your way back down the pleasant town the next morning, you try to make yourself landmarks, so you don't always have to rely on the app on your phone.
Entering the building with the sound of the small bell jingle above your head, you are greeted by the same girl you met yesterday.
"It's nice to see you again!" She beams. "Are you here for the interview?"
"I am." You answer. "I was told to come here at 10am. I think I'm a little too early though."
"That's okay." She replies. "I'll let him know you're here."
She disappears into the back and you are left awkwardly stood in the open. Unsure of what to do with yourself. You begin to twiddle your thumbs slightly with apprehension, trying to ignore your heart that was pounding painfully hard against your chest.
After some time, the girl returns to the counter and another person steps out from the back with her.
A tall, slim built man with piercing dark eyes and messy, tied back shoulder length black hair. He gazes down at your form. His facial hair is almost in a stubbly, unkempt state and his attire mostly consists of black pants, a smart white shirt and a navy blue tie. His clothing certainly suited the role of a manager, but his hair and face however did not.
"It's nice to finally meet you." He spoke, the same deep and soothing voice you recognise from the phone call yesterday. "I'm Shota Aizawa. I'm the manager of this place. Shall we begin your interview?"
You smile up at the slender male, trying to hide your uneasiness. "Yes, sir. I'm ready."
"Follow me." He turns on his heel and makes his way into the back.
You quickly follow after him, taking in the new area you just entered. A large oven could be seen in the middle of the room with a wooden table in front of it for baking. Silver shelves are almost completely covered with pots, bowls and baking ingredients in the corner of the room, giving off a comforting scent of fresh coffee beans and flour. Seems this is where they prepare the sweet treats.
You continue to follow Aizawa as he leads you into his office. A small room mostly covered with plain white walls, a desk and a computer is in the middle with two chairs.
"Have a seat." The older male utters, walking over and sitting down at his desk.
"Thank you." You sit on the chair opposite to his.
He gazes down at your application form that is sitting on his table and takes another quick scan through the sheets, occasionally turning the pages back and fourth. He takes a subtle glance up at you to see your stiff and uneasy form.
"I understand you seem a little nervous." He reassures you with his soothing voice. "But don't worry, we don't bite." His vision is now fully on you. "I want you to tell me a little about yourself." He starts. "What makes you think that you'll be perfect for this job?"
Your vision stays sharp on his piercing dark eyes, trying to ignore your racing heart beat. This is the part you hate the most. Trying to sell yourself and talk about yourself in a positive light. Honestly, you don't see yourself as a very great person. You don't have much confidence in yourself to begin with.
With a deep breath, you answer. "Well...I just moved here with my parents and I'm looking for a job to help me learn new skills. I work hard and I'm a fast learner. I'm also very reliable."
"I see." Aizawa gazes down at your form again. "And what do you want to gain from this job?" He asks. "Don't worry. I know everyone's true answer to this question is to earn money."
Hearing his joke causes both of you to chuckle a little, one that seems to calm your nerves slightly. You take another deep breath and answer. "I wish to meet new people and gain better experience for the future."
"Have you ever worked in a coffee shop before?" He asks.
"No, sir. This is my first time."
"I see." He gazes down at your paperwork again and continues to ask you a few more questions.
The interview with Aizawa is nerve wracking and almost straight up intimidating with how serious his face is, but he is gentle towards you. You can tell by his fatherly like nature that he is an extremely caring person, even with his scary stare.
After your interview, you decide to head straight home and try to enjoy the rest of your day, despite waiting anxiously for a phone call to see if you got the job.
_____________
After taking a nice hot shower, you dress into your pajamas and begin combing your damp hair when you hear the ringtone of your phone on your bedside cabinet.
Quickly grabbing the device, you press the green button and hold it to your ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, Y/N." You could instantly recognize Aizawa's calming voice on the other side of the phone. "I'm calling to congratulate you. You've got the job. I think you have what it takes to work for this company."
You feel ecstatic! You begin to silently kick your legs back and fourth with joy. "Thank you, sir." You answer. "I promise I won't let you down."
"I'm glad. I'd like you to start bright and early on Monday morning at 8am. Have a good weekend."
"You too, sir. Thank you."
Hanging up the call, you quickly throw your phone onto the bed and fall onto your sheets, squealing with happiness into your pillow. You begin kicking your feet up and down. You can't contain your excitement.
Finally, you'll be able to save money and move out of your parents house! Have a home that you could call your own! Maybe even find someone and start a relationship.
One step at a time though. No need to rush into anything like that just yet. You've only been in this new town for two days and you've already taken a big step by getting a job. Best thing to do is focus on that first, along with getting to know the town a little better.
With exhilaration flowing through your whole body, you step out of your bedroom and make your way into the living to break the great news to your parents.
"Mom! Dad! Guess what!? I got a job! It's a cute little coffee shop in town! The one I was telling you about with the nice muffins! The people there are so nice, and they-"
"Does it pay good?" Your dad quickly cuts you off, only caring about the money side of your story.
You are shot down once again, erasing all the happiness that you had about the new job. "Y-Y-Yeah, I think so?" You nervously answer.
"Good." His reply is quick and his vision returns to the television, acting like you aren't even there anymore.
You feel your entire body begin to shiver. You don't even have the courage to yell at your own parents. A little praise from them wouldn't go amiss. They were ones pestering you to look for work. You do as they ask and they don't even give you any commendation.
With a soft defeated sigh, you turn on your heel and hide yourself back in your room. You fall face first onto your bed, feeling like your world is turning black and white. Like you don't deserve to exist.
This can't be it.
This can't be the rest of your life.
Feeling like you don't matter to anyone.
You want to fade away.
You want to disappear.
_____________
After your online language classes in the morning, you spend the rest of your weekend days trying to find your way to the coffee shop and back without having to rely on your phone app. You walk around the town a little more, trying to get your bearings.
Monday finally arrives and you're so excited to start your new job.
Stepping into the coffee shop with that adorable bell jingle you've grown so fond of, the smell of fresh coffee beans quickly finds its way into your nostrils again as you head towards the counter.
Expecting to see that same nice brown haired girl, you are instead met with a new face you've never seen before. A different girl with teal eyes and long orange hair tied into a high ponytail on the left side of her head. She gazes at you with a positive grin.
"You're Y/N, right?" She asks.
"Yes, I am." You reply.
She places her hands on her hips with confidence. "It's nice to meet ya! The name's Itsuka Kendo! I'm the assistant manager of this place, so if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
You smile, taking in the warming welcome she brings you. "It's nice to meet you, Kendo."
"Ok, first things first. We better get you a uniform." You follow her into the back where she hands you a few pairs of different sized black pants, smart black shirts and a green apron. She gives you time to try on a few of the outfits until you find your perfect size.
Stepping out of the bathroom in your new uniform, Kendo grins at you. "You look perfect!" Her gaze moves to your hair. "You're gonna have to tie your hair back though, since we work around food and drinks." She reaches into her pocket and hands you a scrunchie. "Here you are. You can borrow my spare for today."
"Thank you." You take the scrunchie from her hand and begin tying your hair into a ponytail.
Kendo places her hands on her hips again. "Now you look the part! Ok, I'm gonna walk you through our morning routine. Mr Aizawa mostly handles the baking part, so you don't need to worry about getting your hands dirty. He comes in every morning at 7am to prepare the baking. Which means we only need to put them out on display and brew the coffee, ready for our doors to open at 9am. Since it's your first time today, you'll only be watching me when I serve customers. That sound good?"
You nod. "Sounds good to me."
"Great. Let's start by refilling our display case with treats. Think you can help me with that?"
"Of course!"
Working with Kendo throughout the day is extremely delightful and fun. She is confident and caring, almost like she is the big sister of the shop. She is thoughtful and always made sure her instructions were well thought out and easy to follow.
In no time at all, you follow the routine easily and pick up on difficult tasks quite quickly.
_____________
Your work days seem to fly by and by the third day, Kendo feels you are ready to take on the new task of serving customers.
Stepping into the coffee shop that morning with the adorable bell jingle, you are greeted once again by Kendo. "Mornin', Y/N." She grins with her hands on her hips. "You ready for your new challenge today?"
"I think so." You answer, letting your nerves get the better of you.
Kendo rolls her eyes playfully at you. "You'll be fine, trust me. Let's finish our morning routine and then we'll start your new task."
The two of you work together and replace yesterday's treats with fresh ones in the display case. Kendo lets you take charge this time and guides you as you brew the coffee alone.
Another task which you nail with flying colours. Itsuka Kendo has taught you well. The more you work with her, the stronger your bond with her grows.
With the doors open to the public dead on 9am, customers come in for the morning rush and Kendo begins to observe you as you handle the counter on your own.
You remember to keep your friendly smile on your face, always be polite and make the customers happy.
It feels wonderful, a warm comforting ember begins to form in your chest, making your cheeks glow with happiness.
Already, it is 10:30am, and the morning rush is slowly starting to die down.
The bell above the door jingles and a new face enters the coffee shop. An average height male with a slim and narrow build makes his way towards the counter. His golden brown eyes are sharp yet calming and his ash blond hair is swept back with the odd loose strands dangling just above his eyes. His outfit is neat yet casual, a loose white shirt with a denim jacket over, skinny brown jeans and sneakers.
What drew your attention to him the most were his large red feathered wings on his back, that seem to almost touch the ground. They were so large and beautiful, almost hypnotizing.
You've never seen a person with wings before. Is he half bird? An angel sent from heaven? Or is he perhaps a quirk user? A member of society born with special powers which most of the public see as taboo?
An old fashioned way of thinking, you thought. People born with quirks are treated differently, but there's never been reports of them actually harming anyone, so you don't see a problem with it. It's probably just the older generation with their stupid rules.
Regardless, a welcoming smile returns to your lips. You want to give him the same kind treatment you give every customer who enters the coffee shop, quirk or no quirk. "Good morning!" You beam. "What can I get for you today?"
He takes a couple of steps closer towards the counter, carrying with him a calming presence that lingers on his form. His golden eyes are on you for a brief moment before they move to the menu above your head. You can see his irises scanning it quickly, watching them move back and fourth, up and down.
After deciding his order, a warm smile forms on the side of his lip, seeing the dimple appear on his cheek. "How about a nice hot coffee?" His voice is so calming and confident, causing a sudden flutter to linger in your chest, one that you've never felt before. "With plenty of sugar." He adds. "I like it sweet."
"Of course." You answer, trying to ignore the dancing butterflies that seem to be going crazy in your stomach as you type his order into the computer next to you. "Is there anything else I can get you?"
"Hmm..." You can almost feel the ripple in his throat vibrate on the counter as he leans forward a little and glances over at the glass display case beside you. He takes a moment to observe the treats inside, his hand finding its way onto his chin.
He suddenly raises his eyes towards you. "What would you recommend?"
"Me?" Your eyes flutter a little, taken back slightly by his question. He wants to know your opinion? That's something no one has ever done to you before.
You glance over at Kendo from the corner of your eye, who seems to have a huge grin on her face. Keeping her vision on you, she jerks her head towards the male, ushering you to answer.
Your gaze returns to him. "Uh, well...I would recommend the blueberry muffins. They are really fluffy, almost like they are melting in your mouth."
A charming grin paints onto his handsome demeanor. "Then I'll take one of those too!"
You watch him from the corner of your eye as he takes out his brown leather wallet from his back pocket and you type the rest of his order into the computer. "Oh." You remember, turning your vision back towards him. "Are you eating in or taking out?"
He jerks his head behind him at the beautiful blue sky outside the window, with a couple of tables and chairs you and Kendo put out earlier this morning for people to enjoy the sunshine. "Seems like a beautiful day outside." The male comments. "Would be a waste to enjoy my food inside. I'll be sitting out there."
"Oh, uh, okay." You finish his order and he pays for his food. Placing his wallet into his back pocket, he makes his way to the tables outside. His beautiful red feathers almost flutter with every step he takes.
As soon as he's outside and sitting on one of the chairs, you quickly turn your vision towards Kendo beside you. "How did I do?" You beam.
The large grin on her face hasn't even left her. "You did great!" She answers. "You kept your smile and you were polite. Plus, I think that guy likes you."
A sudden flush of red burns on your cheeks. "M-Me?" You stutter. "You...think he likes me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She asks, seeing how oblivious you were to your interaction with him.
You feel a burn from inside your chest. "No, no. He probably doesn't." You comment. "He's probably just a really friendly person, that's all."
Kendo says nothing, the cheeky grin forever on her face as she turns away and begins prepping the male's coffee.
Within a few minutes, you carry the customer's coffee and muffin along with plenty of sugar sticks on a large grey tray and make your way outside to his table.
You can feel the warm sun kissing your skin as you place the tray onto his table and hand him his order. "Here you are." You utter softly, taking back the tray. "I hope you enjoy it."
"Hey, thanks." He smiles up at you, causing a flush of red to form onto your cheeks and you subconsciously clutch the empty tray tightly to your chest.
You stand there for a moment before you realize that you probably look stupid staring down at him while he’s trying to enjoy his food. You quickly clear your throat and step back into the coffee shop.
Once back inside, you can feel your heart flutter with a feeling you've never felt before. It's almost terrifying.
With quivering steps, you make your way towards Kendo. "Hey, uh...I'm just gonna use the bathroom real quick."
"Sure." She replies, going back to brewing coffee.
Quick as you can, you turn into the back and almost slam the bathroom door shut.
You stare at yourself in the mirror, trying to control your fast paced breathing. What the hell even is this? Why do you get a weird feeling in your stomach whenever you are around that guy with wings?
Is that his quirk maybe? Hyperventilation manipulation, or something like that?
Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Kendo, lightly tapping her knuckle against the door. "Hey. You okay in there?" You can hear her voice faintly through the door. "You left for the bathroom so fast. I was gettin' a little worried."
Taking a deep breath, you decide to open the door for her and she's quick to notice your flushed cheeks. "Are you okay?"
You stutter, trying to find your words, but it's proving to be very difficult. You take a deep breath, trying to calm down your racing heart. Finally, you muster your words. "I just...feel weird whenever I was around that blond guy, that's all."
Kendo's face softens. "Have you never had a crush before, Y/N?"
Your face quickly burns and you stutter again. Eventually, you admit. "No. I-I'm new to all of this."
You've never had a crush on anyone ever before in your life. Not even a relationship. Not even sex! You are twenty two years old and you feel stupid to admit that you're still a virgin. Girls your age are already having children, but that's the last thing on your mind. Even in your old town, you never knew anyone that seemed relatively appealing to you.
You can hear the gentleness in Kendo's voice. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, Y/N. You're your own woman. You live life the way you want to. Don't feel pressured to rush into anything just because other people do."
Hearing those words causes a smile to brush faintly over your lips. "Thank you, Kendo." You could feel a comforting warmth forming in your chest. Kendo is already like a loveable big sister to you, even more so than your own big sister, who doesn't seem to care about you in the slightest.
By the time the two of you step back into the coffee shop, the guy with wings has already left. You step outside to clear the table, when you see that he has left you a tip. Your eyes almost widen. For a waitress tip, this is a lot of money! Far more than an average tip!
Notes:
Every story I've written in the past, I've always given Hawks a small role. This is my first time writing Hawks properly, so to all you Hawks stans out there...please be gentle with me! ;3; All jokes aside though XD I hope you all enjoy this story ❤
Chapter 2: First Date
Notes:
Hawks treats you to ice cream ❤
Warning! This chapter contains self harm, if you or anyone you know is experiencing thoughts, please call your prevention hotline.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Making your way to the heart of the town, the early morning dew brings with it a cold shiver that causes you to wrap your jacket tighter around your body.
Entering the coffee shop with the jingle of the bell, the fresh coffee bean smell quickly finds its way into your senses. You see that Kendo is already hard at work, sweeping the floors for the morning rush.
"Good morning, Kendo!" You call out, taking off your jacket.
She turns her head to you and smiles. "Mornin', Y/N. Think you could brew the coffee for me? After that, we'll refill the display case and set the tables outside."
"Of course." You hang your jacket in the back and make your way towards the barista machine to fill it with fresh coffee.
After Kendo finishes on the floor, she places the sweeping broom in the back and grabs the carton of milk from the small fridge below you. "Mr Aizawa is gonna be here for most of the day today."
"He is?" You ask.
She nods. "Don't let his glare scare you, he does it to me too. That's just his way of observing to make sure we're doing everything adequately."
"Thanks for the warning." You giggle slightly. "Oh, I've been meaning to ask. What happened to that nice girl I met when I had my interview here? The one with brown hair and brown eyes?"
"You mean Ochaco?" She asks. "The day you saw her during your interview was her last day working here. She's moving to the city so she can spend more time with her parents."
"Oh, I see. I would have loved to have gotten to know her more."
"Yeah, it's a shame. She's really nice too. I think you would have gotten along with her perfectly. Ok, enough chit chat. We better refill the display case."
The two of you fill the case and carry the tables and chairs outside.
With everything ready, the doors open to the public at 9am and already people are rushing in for a refreshing cup of coffee to start their day.
_____________
The next hour and a half is almost completely hectic, but you and Kendo manage to stay level headed and bring out orders as fast as they come in.
With a tray full of hot drinks in her hands, Kendo glances over at you. "Hey, Y/N, think you could brew some more coffee? The machine is getting pretty low."
"Of course." After serving a customer, you finally have a bit of spare time to do as Kendo asked. You leave the counter for a moment and grab a bag of fresh coffee beans from the back.
Walking back behind the counter, you pour the beans into the case at the top of the barista machine and begin crushing the coffee into the portafilter.
Feeling the presence of another customer already waiting on the other side of the counter, you softly call out. "I'll just be a minute."
"Take your time."
Hearing that same confident and carefree voice you remember from yesterday, you glance over your shoulder to see the guy with beautiful red feathered wings is back.
He stands there, waiting patiently with a hand in his pocket and a charming smile on his lips. A jacket is around his body, one that you've never seen before. It's a thick colour of yellow with white fur lining around the cuffs of the sleeves and up to his collar. It looks almost like an aviator's jacket.
Feeling a sudden flutter form in your chest, you clear your throat and turn your head back to focus on your task.
Once the coffee is brewed, you take a small deep breath and turn to face the blond, the welcoming smile returning to your demeanor. "Thank you for waiting. What can I get for you today?"
His golden eyes lock onto you, almost making your heart melt. He's so charming. He hasn't even said anything yet, but his handsome features are already enough to speak volumes.
"How about another hot coffee?" He asks, seeing the dimple form on his cheek again when he grins. "Oh, by the way. That muffin you recommended me was to die for, so I'll take another one of those too."
"Sure thing." You tap his order into the computer beside you. "Are you eating in?" You ask, returning your gaze to him.
He jerks his head to the tables outside, particularly the one he was sitting at when you first met him. "I'll sit in the usual place, so you know where to find me."
"Ok, sure." You finish his order and he pays for his meal. After slipping his wallet into his back pocket, he steps outside and sits at the table to enjoy the sunshine.
As soon as he's exited the shop, your heart begins to race with a feeling you've never felt before. You feel the tips of your hands begin to shake. As strange as this new feeling is, you try to stay level headed and begin prepping his order.
Stepping outside with his order on a grey tray, you make your way over to his table. You take a subtle glance at him from the corner of your eye to see that he's removed his jacket, leaving his toned arms on full display.
You feel a sudden flush of red come onto your cheeks as you try to hide your face. You hand him his hot drink and muffin, taking back the tray. "Here you are. I hope you enjoy it."
"Thanks." He smiles up at you, catching a small glimpse of your flushed face. "I've never seen your face around here before."
He almost catches you off guard, causing a quick gasp to leave you. "Oh. I uh...I just moved here with my parents."
"Do you like it here?" He asks, smiling again but this time it's a smile that seems to calm you and remove the tensity from your shoulders.
"I do." You nod. "Everyone is so friendly. I do still get lost sometimes." You giggle lightly, one that causes another warm smile to brush across his lips. "I still don't know my way around yet."
He hums a little, his hand finding its way onto his chin. He suddenly asks. "Why don't I show you around sometime?"
Hearing those words makes your heart race. You clutch the tray tightly to your chest. "Y-You would do that? I-I don't wanna take up any of your time or anything. You're probably busy with other things."
He smiles again. "I'm offering. It's the least I could do. Give you a warm welcome an' all that." His voice softens. "Plus...I wanna get to know you better."
Those last words from him cause the butterflies in your stomach to flutter like crazy, your heart races and you hold the tray even tighter.
Your conversation with him is cut short however by your boss, Aizawa. You could see him glaring at you from inside the store. His sharp dark eyes almost cut like blades at you through the window. As much as he likes you talking with customers, you've been talking to this one a little too long.
"I uh...probably should get back to work." You turn on your heel to leave, but you hear the blond speak up again.
"Oh, hey, you forgot my sugar packets." He comments. "Can't have my coffee without sugar."
He raises his head at you and shoots you a grin at your confused expression, one that hints at you to grab some sugar so he can have a little more time to talk to you.
With a flush of red forming on your cheeks, you nod and head inside to grab him a small handful of sugar sticks. Once you return outside, you place them onto his table and you hear him speak softly again. "How about we meet up here this Saturday? Say, 10am?"
"11am would be better." You reply. "I have online classes weekend mornings."
He grins at you, his charming and charismatic being is enough to turn your entire world upside down. "It's a date!" He beams. "I'll see you Saturday."
Leaving him alone to finish his food, you feel a sudden rush of exhilaration flow through your entire body, causing a healthy glow to brush to your cheeks.
By the time you are back in the shop, Aizawa has already gone back into his office and you make your way over to Kendo, who is cleaning one of the empty tables. You walk over and help her clean, leaning towards her a little so you can whisper. "I think that guy with wings just asked me out on a date."
She raises her head at you, almost completely flabbergasted. "He did?" She asks. "What did he say?"
"I told him I was new to the area, and he offered to show me around."
A huge grin forms on Kendo's lips. "Look at you making outstanding progress! I'm proud of ya! You go, girl!"
The redness forms onto your cheeks again and you can't help the uncontrollable smile brushing against your lips. Your heart races and your entire being glows with vigorous joy.
You haven't felt this kind of happiness in a long time.
You want to cherish it for as long as you possibly can.
_____________
The weekend finally arrives and you can't contain your excitement that's been building up inside you. Stepping into your tiny bedroom with a towel wrapped around your body, you try to open your wardrobe all the way. You rummage through your clothing to find a nice outfit to wear for your date tomorrow.
As soon as you find an outfit you like, you hook it onto the wardrobe door and change into your cozy pj's.
You throw yourself onto your bed, letting the small excited squeak leave you as you pull the sheets over your body. Grabbing your phone from the side, you browse the internet.
After a few minutes, you feel your eyes grow heavy and you place your phone onto the bedside cabinet, pull the sheets towards your cheeks and fall asleep.
Morning arrives and after you've finished your online classes, you change into your cute outfit.
Making your way down the street towards the heart of the town, you gaze down at your outfit, worried it might be a little too much or maybe not enough to keep you warm. A denim dress with an overall styled skirt, a white under shirt and pure white sneakers. The spring season will soon be coming to an end, and it'll soon be summer, so the weather is in perfect condition. Not too hot, but not too cold either.
You can feel your heart in your throat, your hands shaking slightly as you grip your fingers tightly against your small leather clutch bag.
Your nerves are getting the better of you, and you begin to worry that you aren't good enough for someone like him. The guy with wings. Everytime you gaze your eyes at him, it's like you're looking at a God. A being not from this world. And he seems interested in you of all people, someone who you feel doesn't have much importance or value.
You're nothing compared to him.
Reaching the heart of the town, you raise your head to see that he's already waiting for you outside your workplace. His back leaning against the wall, looking around for you.
You can see the beautiful red feathers on his wings almost glistening in the sunlight. A pair of yellow headphones are hanging around his neck. He is wearing a brown jacket, a loose white shirt underneath, skinny blue jeans and white sneakers.
Fuck, he looks so beautiful. Almost too much to bear.
Feeling a sudden tautness form in your chest, you walk a little closer until he turns his head to see you. A charming smile brushing across his lips.
"Hey there." He utters. "It's nice to see you again."
"H-Hey. You too." You murmur. Your nerves are getting the better of you again, you quickly pull your eyes away from his and stare at the concrete floor. Your heart begins to race.
Seeing your nervous and stiff form, he smiles again, trying to bring back your self-assurance. "You look great."
Hearing the pure honesty in his kind tone, you raise your head at him once more, feeling a flush of red flow to your cheeks. "Oh...th-thank you. You look great too."
He smiles and you finally lock eyes with him. His irises are a beautiful colour of brown and gold, almost gleaming in the sun's rays.
"Where would you like to go first?" He asks.
"Um..." You ponder slightly. "I don't know. I'm still new here, so I don't know where would be the best place to start."
His fingers find their way onto his chin. "Well this is a seaside town, so there's plenty of markets if we head down that road. If you're looking for good food, then your best bet is to head that way. For decent views and sceneries, we head in that direction. Your choice."
Those last two words from him are almost completely foreign to you. It's like a breath of fresh air that someone is letting you choose instead of choosing for you. Preferring your opinion over their own.
Taking a look at your options, you decide to go for the scenery first. You smile up at him. "I'd like to take in the views first if that's okay."
He beams down at you, seeing the dimple form on his cheek. "Fine by me! You can get a great view of the ocean from the top! The wind will feel good in your hair too!"
"Do you go up there often?" You ask him, following him down the road.
He shrugs his shoulders. "Sometimes. I mostly fly up there though. This'll be my first time walkin' instead."
"I hope I'm not being a burden for that."
"Not at all!" He grins. "I would never turn away a chance at good exercise. Oh, by the way. I never gave you my name. It's Keigo. Keigo Takami."
"I'm Y/N L/N."
He glances down at you from the corner of his eye, a handsome grin curling on the side of his lips. "Cute name."
Those words cause a flush of red to flow across your cheeks. You continue to follow him towards the walk path that leads to the top of the hill.
Taking in the scenery as you walk by, the beautiful sound of birds singing can be heard faintly. Honey bees flutter around from flower to flower, gathering nectar for their nests. The garden around the walkway is almost like a rainbow with how many colourful flowers are around. You can smell the refreshing scent of spring surrounding the area.
It is truly beautiful.
You never knew this place was even here when you first explored the town. It is like opening a door to a new world.
"This place is beautiful." You let the words slip from your lips. "I never knew this was here."
Keigo smiles. "You should see this place during the summer festival. It's decorated with lights and you get a great view of the fireworks from here. Great food too."
"There's a summer festival?" You ask, gazing up at him.
"Sure!" He replies. "Lots of tourists come to visit around that time, so it can get a little hectic. If you like, I could take you to it."
Red burns across your face again, and he's quick to notice your shy nature. As cute as you are when you blush, he chooses not to tease you about it, not yet. "Shall we continue on?" He asks.
You nod and the two of you make your way up the large hill. You can feel your legs almost aching by the time you reach the top of the hill, and your heart is pounding hard against your ribcage. You take a moment to catch your breath, that is, until you raise your head to see the view of the ocean.
The beautiful and different colours of blue surround you from both the sky and the ocean itself. You can hear the distant sound of the waves crashing against one another, bringing with it a calm and gentle breeze. The light from the sun glistens ever so gently on the ocean waves.
Your breath is almost completely taken from you and you take in the astonishing view. You shut your eyes for a moment and let the warm feeling flow against your skin.
You feel so free and weightless.
"Do you like it?" Keigo asks beside you.
"Yes. It's beautiful. We’re so lucky to live in such a wonderful town."
The blond hums slightly and he takes in the view with you. The two of you stand there for a while, enjoying the gentle breeze that brushes through both your hair.
After some time, you both make your way back down the hill. Reaching the heart of the town once more, Keigo begins to stretch his arms out above his head. You can't help but watch his beautiful red feathers spread out with him.
After placing his arms back down, his gaze moves to you. "Where would you like to go next?" He asks. "You hungry?"
You shrug your shoulders slightly. "I am a little hungry. The walk up that hill brought it out of me a bit."
"Where would you like to eat? Your choice."
Those last two words leave his mouth again and you can feel a warm tenderness building up inside you. It feels so nice and you can't help the fluttering in your chest.
You ponder a little, glancing over at your choices of cafes and bakeries in your view. After your walk up that large hill, you did break quite a sweat. In addition the weather seems like the perfect opportunity for something cold. After finally deciding, you glance up at him. "How about ice cream?"
He grins. "Good choice! I know a great place that does really good ice cream. Follow me."
You walk beside him as he leads you down the path and towards a cafe painted in the cute colour of mint green. A blackboard sign is outside with a cartoon drawing of an ice cream with a smiley face on it, drawn with different coloured chalk.
Following him inside, Keigo kindly opens the door for you and lets you enter first. The inside of the cafe is almost laid out the same way as Aizawa's coffee shop, but with plenty more room and enough tables and chairs for everyone.
You follow Keigo towards the counter where a large menu is above the server's head. Already knowing what he wants to order, Keigo pulls out his wallet. He glances over at you to see you still staring up at the menu, contemplating on what you want to order.
He leans in towards you, not too close to invade your personal space, but close enough so you can hear him speak softly. The strong scent of his cologne finds its way into your nostrils, an alluring smell of citrus and spice. "See anythin' you like?" He asks.
Trying to ignore your heart that is racing fast against your chest, you answer him. "I...don't know. I don't really know what to order."
"Well, what do you like?" He asks.
You take a moment to think about it. "I like caramel."
He smiles. "Then I would recommend the caramel swirl. It's just the right amount of sweet. Not too overwhelming."
Taking his advice, you gaze at the small display photo and decide to order it. "Ok. I'll take a small caramel swirl."
"A small?" Keigo asks. "You sure you don't want a big one?"
You shake your head. "I still want you to show me around. I don't wanna end the tour early because of a stomach ache."
You shoot him a soft smile, one that he immediately returns with a smile back to you. Keigo turns his vision towards the server and places both your orders.
Lifting your clutch bag, you open it to grab your purse, but Keigo gently rests his hand on your wrist, stopping you. "None of that."
You quickly glance up at the blond. "But-"
He smiles again, one that makes your stomach flutter. "It's my treat. Lemme pay for you."
Hearing the honesty in his tone and the kindness on his face, your heart starts to flicker and you put your purse back into your bag. Once Keigo has paid for your orders, you follow him to one of the tables and the two of you sit opposite one another.
"I'm paying for my own next time." You pout slightly.
Keigo huffs, a grin brushing across his lips. "Not when I'm around, so you can keep your money in your purse."
You break eye contact with him and stare at the floor. You still can't help that guilty feeling building up inside you.
Trying to lighten the mood, he asks. "You said you take online classes during the weekends, right? What kind of classes are they? If you don't mind me askin'."
Your vision quickly returns to him and you see the look of attentiveness on his face. He genuinely seems interested in whatever words leave your mouth.
It's honestly refreshing, something you've never seen from anyone. Every time you try to even talk about yourself or what you're interested in to your family, they often cut you off and show little to no interest in what you're saying.
So you started to assume that everyone wasn't interested in what you have to say, but he's looking at you right now like he wants to know, wants to learn more about you. It makes the fire inside you burn hotter, brighter. You can feel the embers dancing wildly inside your stomach and coursing rapidly through your veins.
Fluttering your eyes for a moment, you answer. "Well...my...dream is to become a teacher and teach foreign languages to the younger generation. So I take a lot of online classes through the weekends to learn the new languages and get the qualifications I need."
"I see." His tone is unhypocritical, which brings a form of relief to you. "What languages are you learning so far?"
"English and German."
"Is it hard?" He asks.
"Sometimes." You can't help the light chuckle that leaves you when you answer. "Learning German is fun, but English is pretty hard."
A warm smile brushes across his face, one that makes your heart flutter. "Seems like a pretty fun hobby and a great dream. From what I've seen, you're a very hard workin' gal, so I believe you are gonna pass it with flying colours."
Blood rushes to your cheeks again and you break eye contact with him, you can't help the sincere smile curling onto your lips. "Thank you."
Right on cue, your orders arrive and the waiter places both your ice creams onto the table. You glance up at Keigo to see that he's ordered himself a parfait, with plenty of ice cream, fruits, sauce and sprinkles.
"That looks good." You comment. "I hope you enjoy it."
His gaze moves to you and he smiles again. "You wanna try a bit?"
"Oh, no no, I couldn't."
He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't mind. I'm the one who offered, after all."
Seeing the look of sincerity in his eyes, you can't deny that his ice cream does look pretty good, compared to your tiny tub. Grabbing your spoon from your plate, you reach over and take a small scoop of his ice cream, feeling the cold and refreshing flavour of vanilla burst in your mouth.
You hum, pulling the spoon away from your lips. "It's good. Did you wanna try mine too?"
He smiles again. "I'm good. You enjoy yours, okay?"
Nodding, you scoop up some of your own ice cream and enjoy the sweet taste of caramel.
The two of you enjoy each other's company for a while, just enjoying your ice creams and one another's presence.
_____________
Keigo gives you a tour of the rest of the town when you leave the cafe. He shows you around the markets and parks until you feel the cold air begin to form and the sun starts to set. It brings its warm colour of orange in the sky.
"Thank you for today, Keigo." You comment, walking beside him. "I've had an amazing time. I never knew this town was so beautiful."
With a carefree grin, he shrugs his shoulders. "It's just the fact of knowing the right places and where ta' look."
You stop walking and smile up at him, gazing into his golden brown eyes that seem to almost darken with beauty at the setting sun. You can't help the blush forming on your cheeks as your vision moves to the sky again. You sigh lightly, not wanting this moment to end. "I should...probably get going."
"I'll walk you home." He offers. "It's no trouble."
"Thank you."
He's beside you again and the two of you pass your workplace and make your way down the street towards your home.
"I never asked you where you work, Keigo." You comment, watching the sky as you walk. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."
"I work at a men's department store." He answers. "I have a way with words, so my boss has me on the front, sellin' products."
You giggle a little. "Don't people find it a little overwhelming to have a quirk user at the front as soon as you walk in? I know there are people out there who aren't keen on quirks."
"Not at all." He grins. "If anythin', customers love it! While I'm servin', my feathers can stock and help others."
"Your feathers can do that?" Your eyes widen slightly.
He nods. "My feathers can also do some pretty neat tricks too."
You giggle slightly. "I didn't know your wings were so useful. And here I thought you just used them for flying."
He chuckles lightly at your comment, one that causes a flutter in your entire being. "They're pretty handy."
"I bet." Once again, your pleasant conversation with him is cut short as you can see your house slowly coming into view. "Welp, this is my stop."
You both stop and you gaze up into his eyes again. You can feel your heart racing with a feeling you've never felt before. You don't know if it's anticipation, or if your nerves are getting the better of you, but whatever this feeling is, it causes you to suddenly break eye contact with him.
"I'm sorry." You breathe out, scared of admitting your next words. "I'm...kind of new to all of this, so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do." You quickly glance back up at him. "B-But I've had a really good time with you today. You've been an amazing guide and...I wanna do this again, but...I'm not sure how."
He smiles. Seeing your shy and innocent nature, he wants nothing more than to make you happy and help you build your confidence.
With a calmness in his tone, he speaks. "Why don't we exchange numbers? That way, we can plan out another day together."
Your eyes meet his again, letting a smile brush across your lips. "I'd like that."
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, the two of you trade numbers and he gazes down at you once more. "Have a good night, Y/N."
"You too. Thanks again."
With a charming grin, he turns on his heel and leaves. You make your way to your house, to your front door and wrap your fingers around the handle. Taking a deep breath, you decide not to tell your parents about Keigo. Your day with him has been amazing and there's no way you are going to let them ruin your happy mood.
Opening the door, you take off your shoes and put on your slippers. "I'm home!" You call out.
No answer again, but you could hear the TV in the distance. Choosing not to talk to your mom and dad, you decide to head straight for your bedroom, which means passing them. Keeping your head down, you walk past the sofa that your mom and dad are sitting on, not even bothering to talk to them, that is, until you hear your dad speak up.
"Where have you been?" He asks.
"For a walk." You quickly answer.
"In that?" He asks, gazing at your outfit with a look of disgust. "You could have worn something a little better, Y/N. It makes you look fat."
Hearing those words, like the twist of a blade into your appearance. All the happiness you had with Keigo today immediately vanishes. Your heart is tormented to pound painfully hard against your chest. Tears pricking at your eyes as you desperately try to hold them back.
"You need to start dressing more your age, Y/N." Your dad continues. "Try wearing a bit of make-up or dress more like your sister. You'll look prettier."
His words are like a sharp knife cutting agonizingly through your chest. Without saying another word, you storm into your room and slam the door behind you.
You're about to let the tears fall from your eyes when your dad suddenly bursts through your door. He glares down at you with a look of pure revulsion. "You keep slamming doors like that again young lady and you are out of this house and on the fucking street! Do you hear me!?"
Feeling so small and helpless against him, you quickly nod and he slams your door again, leaving you all alone in your tiny room.
The tears burst from your eyes and flow down your cheeks like a waterfall. Your chest feels like it's diminished. Your hands are shaking in an uncontrollable pain that leaves you feeling hollow and empty.
You'll never be good enough.
You'll never be pretty enough.
Falling onto your bed, you bury your face hard into your pillow and let the tears flow. You can't control anything inside you, everything is falling apart.
You are ugly!
You are worthless!
You are useless!
_____________
With a wet sniff, you gaze down at the small sharp blade sitting in your left hand that you had hidden in a book. A book that you kept inside your bedside cabinet. A book that you didn’t want to find solace in.
Your eyes are puffy and bloodshot from all the tears. Your cheeks flushed and red from your uncontrollable despair.
Your gaze moves towards your wrist. Old scars from previous cuttings are on full display, leaving behind an empty feeling of nothingness. You are numb. You can't feel anything.
Pain is the other thing you can feel. Raising the blade towards your wrist, you begin to slowly slash across, feeling a stinging sensation form onto your skin.
You can't feel anything inside you. You don't know if you even deserve to live. Why were you even born on this planet when everyone treats you like you're not worth anything?
A small part inside of you reminds you of a certain someone.
Keigo.
He made you feel like you were the most important person in the world today. Like you matter. Like you mean something.
Not once did he comment on how bad you look or how ugly you are. He brought you nothing but kindness.
It won't last though.
As soon as he discovers the real you, he will leave.
Blood begins to drip from your wrist and onto the floor. You can feel tears pricking at your eyes again from the pain as you finish the final slice and place the bloody razor blade back into the book. You sit there, letting the blood drip from your skin as you lift your legs and lay out across your bed.
You shut your eyes tightly, trying to force yourself to sleep. Sleep is your only form of escape from this world. The one place you feel safe. A peaceful world of stillness. Weightless and free.
With the stinging sensation still lingering on your skin, your eyes eventually grow heavy and you fall into a restless sleep.
Notes:
This ending part was extremely hard for me to write. I'm so sorry to anyone if this has also triggered any of your traumas. That is not my intention.
Chapter 3: Keigo and Touya
Chapter Text
Your head is throbbing by the time you wake up. Staring up at the ceiling, you feel a vast emptiness surrounding your entire form. The whole house is silent. Your family has already left for work, leaving you all alone in your home. The stinging sensation is still within your skin, the blood on your wrist has dried and crusted over.
You don't even know what time it is and you don't know if you have the strength to even lift your hand to check. You are mentally exhausted. Everything around you feels so cold and dark.
Hearing a quick vibrating sound coming from your phone, you slowly turn your head towards your bedside cabinet to see that you've received a text.
Finding what little strength you have, you raise yourself from your bed slightly and reach for your phone. Looking down at the device, you see his name.
Keigo.
Unlocking your phone, you read his text.
Keigo: I had a great time with you yesterday. It was really fun! I'd love to do it again sometime. When are you free?
Just reading his text is enough to flush away the darkness inside you, like your black and white world was starting to show a bright light of colour. A small spark inside of you, telling you there might be hope.
You take a quick glance at the time on your phone, 9:32am. You have thirty minutes to clean yourself up before your online language class starts.
Holding the phone properly in your hands now with a racing heart, you reply to his message.
You: I'm free today, but I have an online class soon. Would you like to meet up outside my workplace again at 11am?
Within a few minutes, Keigo replies again.
Keigo: Sounds good! I'll see you then.
Holding the smartphone close to your chest, you let a content sigh leave your breath. Even just a simple text from him warms your entire being. You want to hold onto this feeling for as long as you possibly can.
Placing your device back onto your bedside, you pull the sheets off your body and make your way into the bathroom to shower.
After your online class, you make sure to keep your wrist hidden in a long sleeve hoodie. Some skinny blue jeans and your white sneakers to complete the look.
_____________
Arriving outside your workplace, you see Keigo is already waiting for you. The weather is a little cooler than yesterday so you can see that he is in his yellow aviator's jacket again.
He smiles down at your form, seeing the dimple form on his cheek. "Good to see ya again!" He beams. "It's a little chilly today, huh?"
You nod. "It is. Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go today?"
His hand goes onto his chin, a habit you've quickly grown quite fond of. After a few seconds, he shrugs his shoulders. "It's your choice. You can choose wherever you wanna go and I'll follow."
Hearing those words causes a colour of pink to quickly rush to your cheeks. "I would like to see the view of the ocean again." You answer. "After that, how about a nice hot drink?"
"Sounds like a perfect plan!" He grins.
You walk beside him and the two of you make your way up the hill on a new day to enjoy the scenery.
_____________
Three weeks pass and you and Keigo have been spending every weekend together after your online classes.
In no time at all, the two of you start to bond a lot more. You learn more about Keigo, and you quickly find out that he's a bit of a foodie. He always seems to know the best places for good food and you also find out his favourite food of all is chicken. You make a mental note of that for the near future.
The more you spend with him, the warmer your spirit starts to feel. His carefree nature is a breath of fresh air. You never feel tense or anxious when you're around him. He always brings with him a kindness that radiates off his entire being.
Walking down the street together, Keigo has invited you for a day out at the arcade and to also meet his best friend and roommate. It's a bit of a walk out of the town, but he knew the arcade was a perfect place to have a bit of fun.
"So...we're meeting your best friend there? At the arcade?" You ask, gazing up at him.
Keigo nods. "It's his day off work today, so he said he'd make time for us."
"Is he...nice, like you?" You ask.
Those words cause a grin to brush across the side of his cheek. "He can be, at times. It's best to decide for yourself on this one. He's an acquired taste, but he's not a bad guy."
Feeling a slight tightness in your chest, you stay close to Keigo's side and continue to follow him down the street until you arrive at the arcade. The outside of the building is huge. Pink and green neon lights shine brightly and swirl all kinds of patterns around the structure.
Making his way towards the entrance, Keigo kindly opens the door for you and lets you enter first. Inside, the walls and carpets are dark with enough neon lights to let you see where you're going. The various sounds of jingles, tunes and noises coming from the arcade machines is almost deafening. You can see plenty of people around, placing their coins into different machines to play the games, but it wasn't too overwhelming. In fact, you like the sounds. It feels almost retro and somewhat nostalgic.
Staying close to Keigo's side, you follow him as he turns to the left of the arcade and towards a large dance dance revolution machine. It’s where his best friend is already waiting for you both.
You gaze up at Keigo's best friend. He has a tall slim, almost slender like build, maybe an inch taller than Keigo himself with spiky raven black hair and ocean blue eyes. Several silver cartilage piercings in both his ears and a triple nostril piercing on the right side of his nose.
His appearance is certainly something you've never seen before. Patches of what looks like burnt purplish skin coming down from his eyes, lower face and neck. They go all the way down past his collarbone with staples that look like they are holding him all together.
His outfit is more on the gothic side, with a black leather jacket, a small black shirt over a larger white one, torn skinny black jeans and black vans sneakers.
Despite his unusual display he isn’t bad looking.
Raising a hand to wave, Keigo speaks up. "Hey Touya! Sorry for taking a while. We stopped for a little snack on the way here. By the way, this is Y/N L/N, and Y/N, this is Touya Todoroki."
You glance up at the tall dark haired male with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Touya."
However, Touya isn't as jovial as Keigo. He takes one glance at you and huffs through his nose before turning his vision towards his best friend. "That damn rabbit has beaten our high score again." His voice is rough and hoarse, enough to send shivers down your spine. "We better get to work and beat it before she comes back." He turns towards the dance dance machine and pulls out change from his pocket.
Feeling completely disregarded by Keigo's friend, you feel the tightness increase. Your hands start to shake and you can't help your heart beats that are thumping hard against your ribcage.
Sensing your anxiety, Keigo gently nudges your arm with his. You quickly glance up at him. He shoots you a warm smile, one that soothes you slightly, but not all the way. "Sorry about him." The ash blond’s voice is calm and comforting for you. "I'll have a word with him later, so he doesn't do it again. Are you ok waitin' here while I take care of this?"
You nod and Keigo leaves your side for a moment to join Touya on the machine. You watch his beautiful red feathered wings spread out behind him as he stretches his arm out across his chest. "We goin' for the big league?" Keigo asks Touya with a slight cockiness in his tone.
"Just keep up with me this time, bird brain." Touya places his last coin into the slot and the loud music blasts out of the machine.
The song starts and you see arrows pointing in all kinds of directions making its way very quickly from the bottom of the screen to the top. In no time at all, the two boys begin slamming their feet onto the different coloured buttons beneath them. They are both moving so fast, your eyes can barely keep up with them.
You stand there with your jaw almost hitting the ground as you watch the two of them hit every button at just the right time. You can hear the announcer on the game, constantly showering them with praises.
Wooooow! Have you done this before!?
Perfect!
Great!
You're killin' it!
Already a small crowd has gathered around, watching the two boys kill it at the game. As soon as the song is over and the crowd begins to disperse, they have already beaten the highest score on the machine. Keigo first place and Touya second. Panting, Touya reaches over and types their initials, seeing the words ‘Kei’ and ‘Tou’ appear on the screen.
Keigo turns his head towards you and smiles, seeing his chest raise up and down rapidly from his workout. Your eyes meet his and you return the smile. "That was amazing, Keigo! I didn't know you had a talent for speed!"
Your comment causes him to chuckle and his grin to grow bigger. "Was I too fast for you to keep up?"
You shake your head. "Not at all. It was amazing watching you both. The two of you did an awesome job."
Pulling out a pouch of tobacco from his pocket, Touya walks past you both. "I'm goin' for a smoke." He murmurs, making his way outside of the building to roll up a cigarette.
Keigo's golden brown eyes quickly turn to you again, a soft smile curling on the side of his cheek. "Wanna give it a try?" He jerks his head towards the dance dance machine.
You begin to stutter. "Oh, no, no. I'm terrible at those kinds of things."
"Come on, it's easy! I'll show ya, come on."
With a deep breath, you follow Keigo towards the machine and step onto the small stage. You gaze down at the lit up buttons beneath your shoes, trying to visualize where to put your feet.
Making his way towards the controls, Keigo begins browsing the list of songs appearing on the screen. "Any song you want in particular?" He asks you.
"N-Nothing too fast, please."
You hear him chuckle, one that causes your chest to flutter. "I'm not that cruel. What do you take me for, Y/N?"
His slight teasing causes a flush of pink to rush to your cheeks. Suddenly hearing a song you recognise from when you were a kid, you quickly speak up. "Oh, that one!"
"You want this one?" He presses the arrow back and the screen hovers over the song again, quickly bringing with it a feeling of nostalgia.
"Yes, please." You beam.
Pressing accept, Keigo moves away from the screen and stands next to you. He shoots you a warm and gentle smile as the music begins to play and both your eyes lock onto the screen, paying close attention to the arrows as they make their way up the screen at a steady pace.
Trying to stay in rhythm, you miss the first few steps and you huff out in frustration. After some time though, you manage to pick up the pattern and you can hear the announcer on the game shooting you small praises.
You take a quick glance over at Keigo, who isn't missing a single step. Already he's acing this song with flying colours on advance level.
Trying not to feel discouraged, you focus on your side of the screen and you eventually start to break into a slight sweat. You can't help the light giggles that leave you, listening to the announcer calling out to both of you.
Amazing!
You're doing great!
Keep it up!
After a second game and choosing another song, you lean yourself on the pole behind you as soon as both songs are over, trying to catch your breath. "That was fun!" You pant.
"I thought you'd like it." Keigo smiles, hardly even breaking a sweat. "We can come here as many times as you like and I'll gladly join you."
He smiles again, one that makes the butterflies in your stomach dance. You return the smile, feeling a colour of pink glow on your cheeks.
"Are you two done flirting?" A hoarse voice asks.
You both turn around to see Touya behind, with his hands in his pockets and a poker-face expression. "Cause if you are, I'm starving. I'm gonna get some food upstairs."
Hearing those words from Touya causes the red on your cheeks to burn hotter. Keigo grins at his best friend. "Food sounds great right now!" His vision returns to you. "You hungry?"
You nod. "I could eat something, sure. Especially after that. It felt like a workout."
The blond chuckles again and you both step off the dance stage.
You follow the boys up the escalator, the sound of the arcade machines begins to draw more and more distant the higher you go. You feel like your ears are going to pop from all the noise of the machines. Reaching the top, the sounds are replaced by the hustle and bustle of the restaurant upstairs.
The restaurant itself looks so cozy with an almost retro feel to it. The seats are cushioned with the calm colours of yellow and blue.
Following the boys towards the counter, Touya orders his food first as Keigo leans towards you slightly, just close enough so you can hear his voice. "What are you in the mood for?" He asks.
You gaze up at the menu above your head, taking in the different options of meals. With a smile, you answer. "Think I'm gonna go for a milkshake, and maybe a burger too."
"Good choice." Keigo beams. "The milkshakes here are to die for."
"What about you?" You ask him. "What are you getting?"
His hand finds its way onto his chin again, humming slightly. "Your choice of food sounds pretty good. I'll make mine a chicken burger though."
Making your way towards the counter, Keigo places both your orders and he's quick to stop you again when he sees you taking out your purse. "Ah, ah, ah."
You quickly pout up at him, causing him to chuckle.
"You have my word when I said that you aren't spendin' any money when I'm around, and I tend to keep my word."
With a defeated sigh, you place your purse back into your satchel, feeling a slight guilt build up inside you again when you see him paying for your meal.
Now that your orders are placed, you turn to see that Touya has already picked a seat for the three of you. Making your way over, Keigo kindly lets you sit first and he decides to sit next to you, so you are both seated opposite Touya.
Attempting to make conversation with him again, you glance up at Touya and ask. "So, Touya. W-What do you do for work? If you don't mind me asking."
His piercing blue eyes pull themselves away from his phone and they look towards you, enough to make a shiver run down your spine. Surprisingly enough, he answers you, shrugging his shoulders first. "I work nights at a warehouse. No big deal."
"Is it hard working at night?" You ask further.
He shrugs again. "I guess. I don't sleep much anyway, so it don't bother me."
You stare down at the table, unsure of what else to ask him. His character is completely different to the kindness and charismatic personality you've grown so used to with Keigo. He seems like the complete opposite to him.
Glancing over at his best friend from the corner of his eye, Touya could see Keigo staring at him with a slight frown. The blond jerks his head towards you, ushering him to make conversation with you.
Rolling his eyes slightly, Touya speaks up. "Bird brain here tells me you work in a coffee shop, is that right?"
You glance back up at the dark haired male, almost taken back slightly by his sudden return of the question. You stutter slightly before answering him. "Y-Yeah. That's right. I just moved here with my family a few weeks back and working at the coffee shop is really nice. Everyone is super friendly."
A grin suddenly curls on the side of Touya's burnt face. "Does that old geezer still own the place?" He asks. "Aizawa or somethin' like that?"
Your eyebrows furrow a little. "Y-Yeah? Aizawa owns the shop. Why? Is something wrong with him?"
Your question causes a rough and hoarse chuckle to leave his throat, one that makes your spine shiver once more. "Aizawa doesn't like me very much, so he doesn't like me comin' into his shop."
"Why?" You ask. "Did something happen?"
Without giving him time to answer, your orders arrive at the table and Touya is already sinking his teeth into the bun of his burger.
Keigo decides to take up answering for him. "Him and Aizawa don't see eye to eye very often. They just both see things in a different light, that's all."
"Oh." You raise your eyebrow slightly. "S-Should I be worried?"
The blond chuckles. "Not at all. There's just some people out there that don't see the world the way we do, is all. Aizawa ain't a bad person, and neither's Touya."
Suddenly putting the pieces together, you look at both the boys. "Does...Touya have a quirk too?"
Touya takes another bite into his burger, forcing Keigo to answer again. "He does, but we'll save that conversation for another time, okay?"
His soft tone is enough to soothe your concerns and you nod before turning your vision back to your burger to eat.
The meal with the boys is quiet and peaceful, taking in one another's company, but you couldn't help but feel Touya's sharp blue eyes glancing down at you every now and then between bites. You try to ignore it, but you can't help the tightness in your chest.
With your meal over, the three of you make your way back down to the arcade to enjoy a few more games.
Reaching the bottom of the escalator, Touya jerks his head towards the hardcore gaming machines behind him. "Gonna go shoot up some zombie games. You know where ta' find me."
"Have fun!" Keigo calls out with a grin. His vision immediately turns to you, the softness in his smile returning on his demeanor. "See any games in particular you wanna play?"
You take a look around at your options, instantly spotting a coin machine in the distance. "How about that one?"
Before Keigo has time to answer you, you both hear the sound of someone from behind. A voice you've never heard before.
"I was wonderin' when you'd be back in here, Keigo Takami! Come ta' beat my high score again, have ya!?"
Turning both your visions towards the voice, you spot a woman walking towards you both. Her tanned skin and long white hair coming down to her thighs made it almost impossible for her to not stand out from the crowd. Your eyes however are immediately drawn to her long white rabbit like ears where her normal ears are supposed to be.
Her crimson red irises stay sharp on Keigo's form, the smirk on her face growing bigger. "I've been waitin' for you and that emo boy to come back in here so I can show you up!"
Her voice is loud and rough, almost drawing attention from the people around you. Her vision suddenly turns towards you. "Hey, who's this? Your girlfriend?"
Hearing those words, you can feel a flush of red burning across your cheeks.
Chuckling lightly, Keigo answers. "This is Y/N. She's new in town, so I've been showin' her around."
"Is that so?" The rabbit girl suddenly wraps her arm around your shoulder and pulls you closer to the side of her chest. You can feel the muscles in her strong arms just from her holding you and you can't help the small gasp that leaves you.
Despite her invading your personal space right now, you don't seem to mind it. You can already tell by her presence that she's confident and friendly, just like Keigo.
"It's nice to meet ya." She speaks. "The name's Rumi Usagiyama, people around here call me Mirko though."
You smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mirko." Working up the courage, you speak again. "I really like your ears."
She grins at you. "Aww, thanks, kid. I like you already." She glances over at Keigo with a wink. "You've picked a gold mine here, birdie boy! Take good care of this one! She's pretty cute, too!"
Those words cause your heart to race so rapidly, you can barely keep up with it. Feeling heat rush to your cheeks, you take a quick glance up at Keigo to see he is also slightly taken back by her words.
"So, we playin', birdie?" Mirko suddenly speaks again. "I wanna try my feet against you again on that dance machine."
The charming smile quickly returns to Keigo's handsome demeanor. "Maybe some other time, k? I promised Y/N I'd show her around a lil more."
The rabbit shrugs her shoulders. "Fair enough. You know where I'll be. Where's emo boy anyway?"
Keigo jerks his head towards the horror games. "Playin' zombies."
The smirk on Mirko's face grows bigger. "I'll go annoy him instead. Have fun, love birds!"
Your cheeks blush again and just like that, Mirko is gone. Keigo's vision turns to you. "I hope she wasn't too overwhelming for ya."
You shake your head. "Not at all. I like her. She's really cool."
Keigo smiles again. "She always likes to beat our high score, so Touya and I come back in here a lot to reclaim our rank."
Giggling slightly, you answer. "I didn't know you were so competitive."
Keigo chuckles with you. "Ain't nothin' wrong with a bit of friendly competition every now and then. Now...which game did you wanna play?"
The rest of the day at the arcade is both extremely pleasant and fun. Spending time with Keigo is like a dream and after Touya left to play zombies, you didn't see him again. Keigo quickly reassures you that he's fine and the doubts in your mind begin to fade.
Leaving the arcade, Keigo decides to walk you home again.
Making your way down the street together, Keigo speaks up. "Did you have fun today?"
You nod, not being able to contain the huge smile on your face. "It's been so much fun! Thank you again for another amazing day. Although..." Your smile fades. "...I'm worried that Touya doesn't like me very much, that's why he left."
Keigo is quick to reassure you. "Give him time." He answers. "Like I said, Touya's an acquired taste. It takes him a while to open up. I'll have a word with him later."
Your smile returns. "Thank you, Keigo."
The two of you continue down the road until you reach the heart of the town once more. With the sky turning the beautiful colour of orange, a grin curls onto the side of Keigo's face. "Wanna take in the ocean sight again before you go?"
You smile up at him. "I'd love to."
Heading towards the walkway, the two of you trek up the large hill until you reach the top.
The view never fails to take your breath away. The ocean is the calming colour of dark blue with the beautiful orange sky and the setting sun. It is like looking at a painting. You can't help the warm feeling it brings to your chest.
"I love it up here." You breathe out, taking in the gentle breeze.
After enjoying the view a little longer, you glance up at Keigo with a smile. "Thanks again for all of this. You truly are an amazing person."
Hearing those words from you, a handsome smile curls on the side of his lips and you see the dimple appear on his cheek. Looking up at him now, with the sky a calming colour of orange, you can't help but admire his golden brown eyes, darkening once again in the light.
He gazes down at you, admiring the flush of pink forming on your cheeks. You suddenly feel your heart start to race faster and faster as he slowly leans down and leaves a gentle peck on your cheek.
His gesture warms you and you can feel the butterflies dancing wildly in your stomach. He starts to pull away and you begin to panic, not wanting this moment to end.
Your body moves on its own and you suddenly raise your hands and caress his cheeks, stopping him from moving. You both stare at each other's eyes for a moment, both confused slightly by the quick action.
Feeling sheepish, you start to stutter your words. "S-S-Sorry. I-I shouldn't have done that, I-"
Seeing a look of pure sincerity in your eyes, Keigo cuts you off and swiftly leans back in, connecting his lips with yours.
His kiss is so warm and so gentle, unlike anything you've ever experienced before.
Shutting your eyes, you enjoy the softness of his lips, your fingers releasing from his face and gripping tightly onto his brown jacket.
Keigo moves his lips softly against yours, his hands coming up to cup your face at your jaw. You feel like your brain is about to short circuit, your thoughts being replaced with a feeling of longing and warmth.
He deepens the kiss, holding your face so tenderly as he continues to envelope your lips with his own.
After what felt like an eternity, you both pull away, almost panting.
You both gaze into each other's eyes, unable to process what had just happened. Your lips ghost over one another's, still feeling the sensation of the kiss. Keigo is still holding onto your face in his hands, his golden brown eyes giving you a deep feeling of wonder and satisfaction.
"You have no idea how long I've been waitin' to do that." He softly purrs, feeling the passion burn wildly inside his chest.
"I wish you would have said something sooner." You lightly chuckle. "I've...been wanting this too."
"If you'd like, we could see where this takes us?" He speaks softly. "One step at a time, no pressure at all."
You can't help the new colour of red rushing to your already pink cheeks. You smile up at him, not being able to contain anything in your body right now. "I would love to, Keigo."
Hearing those sincere words leave your lips, Keigo smiles again. He connects his lips with yours once more. You don't want this feeling to end. Sadly though, after some time Keigo releases your face and pulls away.
"Let's get you home safely." He smiles.
You return the smile as you walk with him back down the hill, past your workplace and towards your home.
_____________
Walking beside him, you can't stop repeating the image of the kiss over and over inside your head. It makes your heart flutter, your insides sing.
That happiness soon begins to vanish however when you see your house slowly coming into view. With a small sigh, you speak up. "Guess this is my stop."
You gaze up at him, trying your hardest to contain your excitement whenever you look into his golden eyes. He leans in and you can feel your heart racing once more as he presses a soft and tender kiss onto your lips again.
After a few seconds, he pulls away, gazing into your eyes. "Have a good night, Y/N." He purrs.
"You too, Keigo. Have a good night."
He turns to leave and you can't help but watch his beautiful red feathers almost bounce with every step he takes.
You smile, but it quickly vanishes again as soon as you make your way to the front door of your house. You gaze up at your home for a moment to see that the lights aren't on.
Does that mean you're home alone?
Are your parents working late tonight?
Feeling a sudden rush of exhilaration, you take out your keys from your pocket and unlock the door.
Just to be perfectly clear that you're alone in your house, you slowly and carefully open the door and peek your head in to find that the living room is pitch black, but you can hear the sound of music coming from your sister's room.
With a huge grin forming on your face, you step inside and quietly close the door behind you. You carefully take off your shoes and step your way towards your room.
Once inside the safety of your bedroom, you let out an enthusiastic squeal and fall onto your bed. You bury your face deep into your pillow and squeal loudly with excitement, kicking your legs up and down.
You feel ecstatic!
You feel so thrilled!
So many emotions are racing all around you and what makes it even better is that they are all good emotions. Not a single negative thought is in your mind. You feel so weightless. Being around Keigo made you feel like you could breathe freely. Like you can fly.
With the amount of enthusiasm in you right now, you don't know if you'll be able to sleep.
The taste of Keigo is still on your lips and the alluring scent of his cologne.
Everything just feels so good right now!
Changing out of your clothes and into your pajamas, you crawl into your bed and pull the sheets over your body, feeling your entire body tingle with happiness.
You lay there for a while, unable to fall asleep with how overjoyed you feel.
After some time though, your body finally gives in and you fall into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Notes:
Writing this chapter was extremely enjoyable for me ❤ It reminded me of when I used to go on arcade dates with my husband when we first started dating ❤ so I wanted to share the same experience with you guys in this chapter ❤ I was also gonna save the first kiss for a later chapter, but now seemed like a perfect opportunity!
Chapter 4: We're in a band
Notes:
Hawks takes you flying with him for the first time ❤
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Making your way down the street and towards the coffee shop that morning, you enter the building with the jingle above your head. Kendo was already brewing in the barista machine.
"Morning, Kendo!" You call out, taking off your jacket.
She shoots you a quick smile before returning to her task. "Mornin' Y/N! Think you could sweep the floor for me?"
"Of course!" Hanging your jacket in the back, you grab the broom and begin sweeping the floor.
Whilst you are working, you hear Kendo's voice again. "Mr Aizawa is gonna be here again today, so pay him no mind. He's just gonna be on his regular observation duty."
"Thanks again for the warning, Kendo."
"Did ya do anythin' fun over the weekend?" She asks.
A flush of red begins to glow across your cheeks. "Well, yeah, actually. That guy with wings, Keigo is his name. We...started talking more, we got to know each other and we...kissed."
Hearing those words from you, Kendo's jaw almost hits the ground. "Are you serious?"
You nod.
She beams at you. "That's amazing news, Y/N! I'm so happy for ya! He seems like a really nice guy too, so I think he's perfect for ya!"
Blushing once more, you smile. "Thank you, Kendo."
_____________
With the doors opening at 9am, the morning rush flies by so fast that you almost lose track of time.
Refilling the barista machine with more coffee beans, you turn back towards the counter to serve your next customer when you are met with those same handsome golden brown eyes.
Keigo smiles at you, seeing the dimple form on the side of his cheek. "Work keepin' ya busy?"
You return a smile to him, letting a quick sigh leave your breath. "It's been crazy since this morning. Aren't you at work today?"
He nods. "I am, but I thought I'd stop by on my lunch break to check up on ya. Order some food ta' go too."
You feel a warm blush cross your cheeks and you smile again. "What can I get for you?"
He leans over the counter slightly. "How about another blueberry muffin?"
"Sure thing." You lean down and grab a small paper bag from behind the counter.
While you prepped his order, you hear Keigo speak again. "Oh, by the way. I have band practice this afternoon. Was wonderin' if you wanted to come and hear us play?"
Raising your head, you glance at him with widened eyes. "You're in a band!?"
Your response causes the blond to chuckle. "Well, yeah, I've been in one for a while."
"How come you never told me?"
"You never asked." He teases, causing a blush to flow across your cheeks again.
You pout up at him slightly. "It's not really a question you ask people everyday." The smile returns to your lips again. "But I'd love to come and listen to you play."
"How about I stop by and pick you up this afternoon when you finish work?"
You nod. "Sounds good. I finish at 4pm."
"It's a date!" He grins.
After bagging up his blueberry muffin, Keigo pays for his food and leaves the shop. You can't help but smile when you see his feathered wings bounce with every step he takes.
After serving the next few customers, Kendo steps out from the back. "You can take your lunch break now, Y/N. I'll take it from here."
"Thanks Kendo." You finish serving your last customer and give the counter to your co-worker.
Making your way into the back to grab your lunch from your jacket pocket, you faintly hear what sounds like a cat meowing in the distance.
Is there a cat stuck somewhere in the shop? The poor thing might be in distress.
You follow the sound as it leads you further into the back and towards the back door of the coffee shop.
Opening the door, you glance down outside of the street to see Mr Aizawa with his back to you, squatting down on the ground with what looks like small pieces of chicken in his hand. A scraggly looking calico cat is sitting in front of him, eating away at the scraps of food he's handing it, and by the looks of the cat's slightly round belly, she is pregnant.
"M-Mr Aizawa?"
Hearing your voice, Aizawa quickly turns his head your way and shoots you a scary glare, one that almost causes your soul to leave your entire body. His icy cold stare nearly freezes you in place and you quickly close the door, leaving him in peace to feed the cat.
Well, that was...awkward, and somewhat...cute? You never knew Aizawa had a soft spot for animals, especially cats.
With your lunch still in your hands, you make your way to the front of the shop, where Kendo is prepping a customer's order. Standing briefly beside her, you whisper. "Uhh, Kendo...I just caught Mr Aizawa feeding a cat out the back. I tried talking to him, but he gave me a scary death glare."
Completely unfazed by your story, she smiles. "Yeah, I already know. He's a little sensitive about people seeing his soft side, so it's best not to mention it to him. He really loves cats."
"Yeah, no kidding." You reply. "It's actually kind of...adorable."
"That's what I thought too." The two of you giggle.
Leaving Kendo alone to finish her orders, you make your way into the back again and step into the staff room to finally eat your lunch.
You pull away at the saran wrap to reveal a cheese sandwich that you quickly prepared this morning before leaving your house.
Taking a bite into the soft sandwich, Mr Aizawa suddenly steps into the staff room with his hand on the back of his head. You awkwardly stare up at him, unable to finish chewing the food that is in your mouth.
Aizawa grumbles, rubbing the back of his neck with a slight look of unease on his face. "I'm...sorry you had to see that, Y/N." His voice is deep and almost soothing.
You quickly shake your head and swallow your food. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Mr Aizawa. Without you, I don't think that cat would survive for much longer."
He sighs. "She's due to give birth in one month and there are no shelters nearby. I hate knowing that those kittens will have to live rough on the streets."
An idea suddenly comes into your mind and you speak up again. "Mr Aizawa, sir. If I may suggest something...why don't you turn half the coffee shop into a cat cafe? You can take in the stray cat and give her a good home. That way, you know the kittens will be safe when they are born, and they can live here in the coffee shop with us?"
Aizawa hums slightly, folding his arms over his chest. "It's gonna take a while to get a license for the cats. I'll have to give the mother a medical check up at the vets, not to mention refurbishing the back of the shop...I'll think about it. Thanks, Y/N."
You smile and return to your sandwich while Aizawa boils the kettle to make himself some tea.
_____________
With your work day over, you say your goodbyes to Kendo and Mr Aizawa and step outside the shop to see Keigo is already waiting for you.
He smiles down at your form, bringing with him a warm feeling of solace. "Had a good day at work?"
You nod. "It's been so busy today, time went pretty fast. So, where do you guys go to practice?"
Keigo walks beside you as you follow him down the road. "One of our band members lets us use his parents' garage to practice, so we often play there."
"Don't you get complaints from the neighbors about the noise?"
Keigo chuckles, causing your chest to flutter. "Nope, not a thing. He lives pretty far out of town, so we can be as loud as we want. I usually fly over there, but we're gonna walk today. Think you'll be okay? We might finish pretty late."
You shake your head. "I don't mind. I have nothing else planned."
Keigo smiles again and the two of you make your way out of the town and down the next street.
_____________
After the long walk, the two of you arrive outside of a large modern looking house with a garage beside it. Already you can hear the loud and slightly muffled sound of electric instruments being tuned. Keigo makes his way towards the garage door and pulls it open to reveal the inside of the garage, along with his band members.
The garage itself has a lot of open space, perfect for playing music, with foam soundproofing on the walls, a sofa in the corner of the room and plenty of music amps for the instruments.
Glancing over at the band members, you instantly recognize Touya, who has a bass guitar in his hands. The other member is a short male teen with an unusual head that seems to resemble that of a crow standing beside Touya, holding an electric guitar.
Raising a hand to wave, Keigo speaks up. "Sorry to keep you waitin', we were running a lil late."
Touya is quick to shoot you another sharp glare before turning his vision towards Keigo. "Maybe give us a little heads up next time you decide to bring your girlfriend along, bird brain."
His rough and hoarse voice is enough to cause the tightness in your chest to appear again.
"She ain't harmin' anyone, so I don't see the problem." Keigo's vision turns to you. "By the way, Y/N. This is Fumikage Tokoyami. He's a good friend o' mine. Tokoyami, this is Y/N L/N."
You smile down at the bird like teen. "It's nice to meet you, Tokoyami."
"Likewise." His voice is deep, but his tone is friendly, causing the tightness in your chest to fade slightly. "It's an honor to finally meet you. Hawks has told me a lot about you."
"Hawks?" You raise an eyebrow up at Keigo.
Keigo answers, smiling down at you. "We have band names. I'm Hawks, and Tokoyami is Tsukuyomi."
You turn your vision towards Touya. "What about you, Touya?"
"I go by Dabi." He answers in a lazy, nonchalant tone.
"Oh, ok." Your gaze returns to Keigo and Tokoyami. "So, what's the name of your band?"
"Phoenix." Tokoyami answers. "Hawks and I represent the bird, while Dabi represents the flame."
"Do you also have a quirk, Tokoyami?" You ask.
The young teen answers. "It's mostly just my appearance. I don't have any powers like Hawks."
"Oh, I see." You smile again. "Well, I like it. Both the band's name and the code names."
"I'm glad you do!" Keigo grins. "Why don't you sit down over there, Y/N." He jerks his head towards the sofa. "You get a front row seat to our performance."
"Sure." You smile and take off your jacket before sitting down on the sofa.
Once you are seated, Keigo squats down to your level and you can see the calmness in his golden brown eyes. "Can I get you anythin' before we start? A drink perhaps?"
His voice is so soft and comforting. You smile at him, feeling a small flush of pink flow to your cheeks. "Just a cherry soda if you have any."
Hearing your request, Tokoyami makes his way over to the mini fridge sitting on the cabinet and pulls out a cold can of cherry soda. He pops it open and hands you the can.
"Thank you." You slurp the drink slightly, feeling the cooling flavour of cherry tingle on your tongue.
Touya rolls his eyes, tapping his foot slightly in frustration. "If you're done coddlin' your girlfriend, can we get started?"
Standing up from the ground, Keigo grins over at his best friend. "I didn't know you were the jealous type, Touya. Want me to coddle you too?"
Clicking his tongue at his best friend's annoying mockery, Touya strums his bass guitar. "Whatever, bird brain. Let's just play already."
Making his way over towards the microphone in the middle of the room, Keigo takes a deep breath. With the sound of the two guitars playing behind him, the blond opens his mouth and begins to sing.
Hearing such a beautiful and calming singing voice coming from Keigo, your breath is almost completely taken from you. It's so captivating that you can't help your jaw almost hitting the ground beneath you in wonderment. You never knew Keigo had such a beautiful voice, it makes your heart race and the butterflies in your stomach flutter.
The rhythm of the guitars syncing up perfectly with Keigo. Almost makes it feel like you're entering a weightless world of tranquility. You feel so moved by their performance.
Suddenly, they stop playing and you quickly gaze up at the boys. "Why did you stop?"
Keigo's hand is brought onto his chin. "It would sound a lot better if we had a drummer. I'm just not gettin' the vibe."
"You don't have a drummer yet?" You ask.
The blond shakes his head. "We've had a few flyers handed out, but we haven't heard anythin' yet."
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, Tokoyami speaks up. "You might be in luck, Hawks. I just recently discovered that someone from my college used to take drum lessons when he was a child, so we could recruit him. I should warn you though...he has quite a temper on him."
"What's his name?" Keigo asks.
"Katsuki Bakugo."
The blond hums and shrugs his shoulders. "Wouldn't hurt to ask."
"I'll send him a text and ask him right away."
You sit and enjoy the music as the boys continue to play a little longer. After a few more sessions, Tokoyami orders pizza for everyone and you all enjoy the good food before you listen to them play again.
_____________
It's pretty late by the time the boys have finished practicing and Keigo kindly offers to walk you home. After saying your goodbyes to Tokoyami and Touya, you step out of the garage with Keigo and walk down the street together.
Now alone, you glance up at Keigo with an uncontrollable smile. "Keigo, you were amazing! I didn't know you had such a beautiful singing voice!"
The blond chuckles. "I'm glad you had fun. Once we get a drummer, we'll sound a lot better and you'll be able to come and watch us perform at the big league."
"I'd love to!" You beam. "I'll be your number one fan, cheering you all the way."
Hearing those words causes a handsome smile to brush over his lips. "Are you workin' tomorrow?"
You shake your head. "I have a day off."
"Wanna go out somewhere together then?"
"What were you thinking?"
He smiles. "You can pick somewhere to go."
That warm feeling flutters in your chest again and you blush slightly. "I'd like to go to the arcade with you again. Or maybe a park we haven't been to yet."
Keigo grins. "I like your way of thinkin', Y/N. A park sounds pretty nice."
"Can I text you in the morning so we can arrange it properly?" You ask.
"You can text me anytime you like and I'll always reply."
You can't help the colour of red rushing on your cheeks at his words and a warm smile brushes over your lips.
Reaching the heart of the town and passing your workplace, the two of you head down the road towards your home. Knowing that your day spent with Keigo was soon coming to an end, you feel a sudden tightness in your chest. You never like leaving his side, especially when you knew you had to go back home.
Keigo always brought with him a warm sense of happiness that you want to hold onto for as long as you possibly can. Knowing that as soon as he's left your side and you're back in the toxic environment of your home. All the joy he brings you quickly vanishes and you're back to your quiet and timid self again.
Once the two of you reach your house, you smile up at Keigo. Feeling your heart ache and your chest burn, you want so badly to stay beside him, but you know you can't. "Thank you again for today. I've had a really good time."
His warm smile radiates from his body and you start to calm yourself in his golden brown irises. "Anytime."
His gentle voice soothes you as he leans down to break the distance between you both and he presses his lips softly against yours.
You feel your heart race and you lean further into the kiss, letting a quiet hum leave your breath.
As he slowly pulls away from the kiss, he gazes into your eyes and purrs softly. "Have a good night."
"You too, Keigo."
He turns to leave and you watch his beautiful red feathers bounce with a smile. Turning towards your front door, all the happiness you felt with Keigo has already vanished. You can't help the intense pressure growing in your chest.
With a deep breath, you open the door and take off your shoes as soon as you've entered the house.
You can hear the TV in the distance. You walk past the living room with your head down, trying your hardest to avoid any conversation with your parents, but your dad is quick to turn his head and glare at you. "Where the hell have you been?" He asks.
You don't answer. You don't want to hear another harsh remark about your appearance from him. Your silence however only seems to make things worse.
"Oi! I'm fucking talking to you, young lady!"
He stands up from the sofa and quickly follows you. Walking faster, you try to avoid him as much as you possibly can to reach the safety of your room, but he catches up to you and grabs your arm, gripping it tightly.
"When I ask you a question, you fucking answer me! Is that clear!?"
"Y-Yes! Yes!" You whimper, feeling the tears pricking at your eyes from his painful grasp.
"Then where the fuck have you been!?"
"O-Out!" You cry out. "H-H-Hanging out with friends!"
"Who are your friends!?" He barks.
"Ju-Just work friends!" You lie.
Satisfied with your answer, he releases your arm and pushes you hard into your bedroom. "That wasn't so fucking hard, was it?" He growls. "Now get to fucking bed!"
He slams the door behind him, leaving you alone in your bedroom. You let the tears fall down your face as you hold onto your bruised arm, feeling an aching pain begin to form. Your entire body starts to shiver, you feel so small and worthless.
_____________
With the wind flowing gracefully through his feathers, Keigo glides softly through the night sky, letting the breeze brush gently through the blond locks of his hair.
Hearing the sound of his ringtone coming from his pocket, Keigo lands on top of a nearby street light with only a few wing beats and pulls out his phone to see that Tokoyami is calling him.
Accepting the call, Keigo holds the phone to his ear. "Sup, Tokoyami."
"Hawks. I'm sorry to call you so late."
"It ain't a problem!" Keigo answers, propelling himself off the street light to fly through the air again. "I haven't gone home yet. What's up?"
"I think Y/N accidently left her jacket here. Do you think you could come and pick it up?"
"Sure thing. I'll be over in no time." Hanging up the call, Keigo's wings flutter as he turns in the opposite direction and flies back towards Tokoyami's house.
_____________
Flapping his wings, Keigo lands safely outside the front of your house. With your jacket under his arm, he walks towards your front door and rings the bell.
Expecting to be greeted by your face, he is instead met with your ruthless father. The first thing your dad notices are his large red feathered wings on his back and his vision quickly glares down at Keigo. "Who the hell are you!?" He growls.
Completely unfazed by your dad's attempt at intimidating him, a charming and charismatic smile brushes across Keigo's lips. "I'm just here to drop off Y/N's jacket, sir. I want no trouble at all."
Your father's ice cold eyes narrow down at him. "How the fuck do you know my daughter?"
Hearing the commotion from inside your room and instantly recognising Keigo's voice, you leave your bedroom and storm towards the front door.
Passing your dad without even daring to look at him, you quickly grab your shoes and put them on your feet as fast as you can. You can feel your dad's eyes glowering down at you the whole time.
"Who the hell is this, Y/N!?" His terrifying tone is enough to cause a large shiver to run down your spine. "Care to tell me what the fuck is going on!?"
"Later!" You quickly answer, stepping outside and closing the door behind you.
You can feel a strong and almost painful tensity building up inside you. With a shaking hand you reach out and grab hold of Keigo's. His arm is nearly pulled out of the socket as you drag him down the street. He can see your shoulders growing more and more tense, desperately trying to get as far from your house as possible.
Reaching a bench far enough away, you release his hand and the two of you sit down. You stare down at the ground, afraid to look Keigo directly in the eyes. You are worried about what he'll say or how he'll react, now he's seen how unnerving your dad can be.
You feel so scared. So vulnerable and anxious. Terrified that he'll leave you, now he's seen your father. Working up the courage to speak, you stutter your words. "I-I'm...s-sorry you had to see that."
"Y/N." Keigo continues to stare down at your timid form. He's never seen you look so small before. All the confidence and happiness you have when you're with him isn't here right now. Only a scared and apprehensive being.
His silence causes tears to prick at your eyes, your shoulders start to tremble and grip onto your bruised arm.
Seeing your uneasy form, Keigo's face softens. He suddenly stands up and stretches his arms up above his head, his feathers spreading out with him.
His vision returns to you with a gentle smile on his lips and he offers you his hand. "Come on."
You raise your head and stutter. "Wha-What are you-"
"Just trust me, okay?" His tone and expression towards you is so warm and so genuine that you can't help the feelings inside you, screaming at you to go with him.
Listening to your gut, you raise your arm and take his offered hand as he kindly helps you up from the bench.
Keigo then suddenly scoops you in his arms and you quickly gasp. A burning rush of red flows quickly to your cheeks and with one quick leap of his feet, the two of you are abruptly in the air with just a beat of his wings.
Feeling the cold breeze smacking your face so hard and so quickly, your heart starts to race. You bury your face deep into Keigo's shoulder. With a squeak, you wrap your arms tightly around his neck for safety. It takes you a moment to realize that the two of you are flying. Slowly pulling your face away from his shoulder, you peek down to see the houses beneath you are growing smaller and smaller.
Gaining a decent altitude in the sky, Keigo spreads his large red feathers all the way out and allows the wind to glide the two of you gently through the air. With your heart still racing and your hands still shaking slightly, you finally take in the breathtaking view. Everything beneath you looks so tiny. You feel so weightless and free. You can't help the smile that begins to form on your lips. Keigo can hear the odd chuckles leaving your breath.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" He asks.
You nod. "It's so beautiful. I never knew flying like this could be so breathtaking."
"You're my first ever passenger I've brought along with me. I normally fly alone."
Hearing those words causes a flush of red to flow to your cheeks. Knowing that you are the first person he's ever taken flying with him makes the butterflies in your stomach flutter.
"How about we go somewhere a little more exciting?" Keigo smiles.
You glance up at him. "Where?"
Hearing his wings beat once more, he increases the speed of his flying.
In no time at all, you see the beautiful ocean coming into view, along with the hill that the two of you normally walk up. You can't help the huge smile forming on your face. With a flap of his wings, he swoops down and glides just above the ocean water and you reach out your hand, letting the water splash against your fingers.
Relaxation takes you and the sea salt air courses through your lungs, causing a cheerful sigh to leave you. The breeze feels so nice through your hair. The calming wind and beats of Keigo's wings every so often almost sends you into a peaceful world of tranquility. You lean your head gently onto his shoulder and enjoy the sounds as you both glide softly through the air, taking in the breathtaking view of the ocean.
_____________
With your small flying trip over, you gaze ahead as Keigo makes his way towards the hill that the two of you often walk up together.
Hearing the fast beats of Keigo's wings, he lands safely on the soft grass and he kindly helps you down from his arms, feeling solid ground under your feet again.
The two of you sit together and watch the night sky over the horizon, listening to the ocean waves crash against one another. You feel a sense of peace begin to surround you as you take in the breathtaking view.
A content sigh leaving your breath. "I never get tired of this view."
Plummeting yourself back into reality, the smile on your lips quickly fades. Without Keigo right now, you would probably still be in your room, surrounded by pure dread and misery.
You want to tell him everything, you really do.
But you can't.
You're scared of what he'll say or what he'll do if he discovers the real you.
Instead, you lie. "About what happened back there, I'm...sorry you had to see that. My dad can be pretty strict, so he can be a bit scary at times."
Keigo glances down at you from the corner of his eye, seeing the timorous being return to your form. Just from looking at you, he can already tell that there's more to your story than meets the eye. However, he chooses not to pry.
Trying to bring back your self-assurance, you can hear the gentleness in his voice. "You still wanna do somethin' tomorrow? Together?"
You finally glance up at him, catching the beauty in his golden brown eyes and the softness in his smile. Knowing that he still wants to spend time with you, even after that ordeal with your dad, you can't help but return a smile back to him. "I'd love to."
Your gaze returns to the ocean again, listening to the calm waves as they continue to clash against one another. A warm feeling begins to form in your chest again and you shut your eyes, taking in the relaxing sounds.
The next words slip from your lips without even thinking. "I...just wanna stay here with you a little longer. Please."
A light chuckle leaves Keigo's breath. "We can stay here as long as you want."
His voice soothes you and you can't help but lean your head gently on his shoulder, taking in his warmth. "Thank you, Keigo."
The blond smiles again and lightly rests his head on top of yours.
Enjoying the sound of the waves, the two of you sit a little longer, letting the calm tranquility send you both into a peaceful world of stillness.
_____________
Sadly though, all good things must come to an end and Keigo kindly flies you back home. With a flap of his wings, the two of you land safely on solid ground.
With his arms releasing your legs, he kindly helps you down. You smile up at him, admiring the colour of his eyes that almost seem to stand out in the darkness. "Thank you again for tonight, Keigo. I've had an amazing time. I really like flying too. It feels wonderful."
"I'm glad you do." He smiles. "I'll gladly take you flyin' with me whenever you like."
You can't help the rush of pink that flows to your cheeks at his words. With a racing heart, you reach up and press your lips softly against his.
Keigo lightly purrs and returns the kiss, enveloping his lips with yours.
After a few seconds, you pull away and gaze into his eyes, admiring the golden gleam in his irises. "Have a good night, Keigo."
"You too, Y/N."
Stealing one last quick kiss of your lips, you lightly giggle as Keigo steps back and spreads out his large red feathered wings. You watch with a smile as the wind takes him up into the sky and he flies off into the distance.
As soon as Keigo has left, the smile on your face has already vanished and you turn towards your house, feeling a tightness grow inside your chest. Making your way to the front door, you unlock it as quietly as you possibly can and peek your head in to see that all the lights are off.
You take out your phone from your pocket and glance over at the time.
1:43am.
You didn't realize how late it was. Luckily, your parents have already gone to bed, so you can sneak back into the house without having to face the wrath of your father.
Carefully closing the door behind you, you take off your shoes and quietly creep your way back to your room.
As soon as you're in the safety of your space, you fall backwards onto your bed and let out a satisfied sigh. Staring up at the ceiling, you try to enjoy as much of this joyfulness as you possibly can. You feel so lucky to have Keigo, you don't know what you would do without him.
You feel so free around him, almost like you could fly yourself, even without wings.
Holding onto this pleasant feeling, you change into your pj's and crawl into your bed, taking in the warmth of your blanket as you snuggle up into the sheet and let the silence send you into a peaceful sleep.
Notes:
A little headcanon of mine is that Hawks would spoil his partner rotten!!!! In this story, I want Hawks to be the best damn boyfriend anyone could ever ask for! So I really hope you guys are gettin' that vibe in this :3
Chapter 5: Nara Park
Chapter Text
Waking up the next morning to the sun's rays, it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust. With a stretch, you pull the sheets off your body and sit up in bed. You reach over for your phone on the bedside cabinet and check the time.
9:48am.
That explains why everything is so silent. Your family must have already left for work, leaving you all alone inside the house.
With a smile and another stretch, you stand up from your bed and make your way to the bathroom to take a shower.
Stepping back into your room with only a towel wrapped around your body, you take another quick glance at your phone on the bedside cabinet to see that you’ve received a text from Keigo. Picking up the device, you read his message.
Keigo: Good morning, Y/N. Would you still like to do something today? I know a great place we could go.
With the phone properly in your hands now, you reply.
You: I would love to! I'm sorry for the late reply. I was in the shower.
Keigo: Not a problem. Wanna meet outside your workplace again?
You: Sure thing! I'll be ready in 15 minutes.
Keigo: Ok. See you soon :)
Placing your phone back on the bedside, you open your wardrobe as wide as you possibly can and pick out an outfit to wear for the day. A black square neck overall dress with a white turtleneck shirt underneath, a black mini backpack for keeping your things and white sneakers.
_____________
Making your way to the heart of the town, you see that Keigo is already outside your workplace, waiting for you.
He's wearing the same outfit he wore the day he first met you, with the denim jacket over a loose white shirt, brown pants and sneakers. Your eyes are instantly drawn to the sunlight that seemingly makes his red feathered wings almost a warm colour of orange.
Spotting you walking towards him, a charming smile brushes across his lips. "Good mornin', Y/N."
"Good morning." You smile up at him, catching the golden spark in his eyes. "So, where's this special place you wanna take me to?"
"You'll see." He grins, seeing the dimple appear on the side of his cheek. "It's pretty far out, but I think you're gonna like it. You okay on trains?"
You smile again and nod. "I'm fine."
Keigo returns a smile to you and jerks his head behind him, ushering you to follow him. "Let's get somethin' to eat first. You hungry?"
Nodding once more, you walk beside him. "I haven't had any breakfast yet."
"Then let's go to the second best coffee place I know."
"Second best?" You raise an eyebrow up at him. "What's the first best?"
You see a charming grin brush over the side of his lip. "Aizawa's, of course! Only because you work there."
His words cause your cheeks to burn bright red and your heart starts to race. The two of you continue down the street and towards the coffee shop just outside of the town.
The shop itself is a little smaller than Aizawa's, with only a few tables and chairs outside of the building for people to enjoy the sunshine.
Ordering yourself a small latte and a fried egg on toast, Keigo orders himself a coffee, with a chocolate crepe. Once again, Keigo refuses to let you pay. A reoccurring habit of his.
_____________
With breakfast over, the two of you make your way outside of the town itself and towards the train station. Already, people are queuing to pay for their tickets, and the morning rush for jobholders will soon die down.
Staying close to Keigo's side, the two of you wait in the queue to pay for your tickets. Boarding the train to Kyoto, the two of you take in the passing view of rice fields and farm land until you pass over the bridge. You see the beautiful low lying mountains as you race past them to reach the next station. You see the ocean during spots where it is clear, and a familiar sense of calm washes over you. It looks so wonderful.
Keigo enjoys the views with you, glancing over at you every now and then from the corner of his eye to take in your wondrous expression of admiration.
Until you arrive and are waiting once again in another queue to pay for your tickets.
Standing in line with Keigo, you look at the signs around you to see plenty of pictures of sika deer. Suddenly putting the pieces together, you glance up at Keigo. "We're going to Nara Park?"
He nods. "Seems like a pretty fun place."
A huge feeling of guilt showers over you and you grip onto his sleeve. "Keigo, please! Nara Park is really expensive! There's no way we could-"
He shoots you a warm smile, one that seems to calm your worries, but only slightly. "You've had it a bit rough lately, so I think you deserve to be spoiled a bit. It's my treat."
"You do nothing but treat me, Keigo. I feel awful that I can't repay you for this."
A soft chuckle leaves his breath. "Just hangin' out with you is rewardin' enough. I like your company, Y/N."
Your cheeks burn red at his words and your grip on his sleeve begins to tighten. You feel your heart start to race once more and the butterflies in your stomach flutter. Keigo is always so kind to you. He's spoiling you rotten. You feel like you don't deserve it.
With the tightness forming in your chest, you watch as he pays the two tickets for you both and the two of you board the train once it arrives.
The inside of the train is a lot more spacious, with plenty of chairs to sit down on. Sitting next to Keigo, the two of you gaze out of the window, watching the station disappear. You take in the passing houses, fields of rice, and beautiful forestry as the train flies by at a fast pace. You listen to the calm rattling of the tracks beneath you.
_____________
After the train ride, the two of you finally land in Nara station.
Stepping off the train with Keigo, you stay close to his side as the two of you make your way out of the station and towards the park.
As you both walk further down the street, holding hands, the concrete soon becomes a huge forest, with plenty of trees that begin to surround you. Already you can see a few sika deer peacefully roaming around the area with a couple of them resting on the grass.
The calmness of the park and the distant sound of birds singing feels so enchanting, it's almost unreal. It's like stepping into a fairytale world.
Walking further down the stoned path you spot a large wooden building in the distance.
The Nara Temple.
Your breath is almost completely taken from you. "It's so big."
Keigo smiles. "Wanna head there first? Pay our respects?"
You return a smile to him. "Sure."
Passing the many pilgrims who are just as amazed at the temple as you are, you stop at a nearby sign that explains the history of Nara Park. Reading it, you smile. "It says here that twelve hundred years ago, a God arrived at the shrine of Nara, riding on the back of a deer. So the deer here are seen as messengers of the Gods and are sacred."
Keigo joins your side, reading the sign with you. "Sounds pretty neat." He smiles. "Kinda reminds me of a movie I saw a while back...with a guy ridin' an elk or somethin'..."
Instantly recognizing what movie he is talking about, you beam up at him. "You mean Princess Mononoke?"
Keigo grins. "Yeah, that's the one. It's a pretty good movie."
"It's one of my favourites!"
The blond hums lightly, smiling down at you from the corner of his eye. "We should watch it together sometime."
You return a smile back to him. "I'd like that."
With another grin, he jerks his head towards the temple. "Shall we head inside?"
You nod and follow him towards the large wooden shrine. The inside of the temple is huge, with a large buddha statue in the middle. Plenty of candles, flowers and lanterns lay in front of the statue and many people are gathered around to pay their respects.
_____________
After spending a bit of time in the temple, taking in its history and paying your respects, the two of you step out of the shrine to see even more sika deer roaming around the area.
You can't help but reach out your hand, gently petting the odd deer that passes by you. It's so breathtaking, you feel like a fairytale princess, surrounded by woodland creatures.
Spotting a feeding stall in the distance, Keigo smiles down at you. "Whaddya say? Wanna feed the deer?"
You nod. "Sure."
Making your way over to the stall with him, Keigo pays for a handful of deer crackers and already a few deer begin to surround him.
You can't help but giggle as one of the deer begins to nudge the back of Keigo with its head while he's paying. Keigo grunts, trying to keep his balance. "I'll feed ya in a sec, buddy."
With the crackers in his hands, Keigo hands you a few and you can't help the chuckles leaving you as more deers begin to crowd around you both.
"Don't forget to bow at them, Y/N." Keigo calls out to you. "A bit of courtesy goes a long way."
Gazing down at one of the deer that is standing in front of you, waiting with anticipation for you to feed them. You bow your head, not helping the huge smile growing on your lips as the deer bows its head back at you.
"That is so cute." You reward the deer with a piece of the cracker.
Glancing back over at Keigo, you see that a huge swarm of deer are crowded around him, a few of them taking nibbles at his feathered wings to get his attention.
"Keigo!" You laugh out loud. "Your wings!"
"I-I know!" He grunts, trying to step away from the deer but they continue to chase after him. "These guys are relentless!"
You feel tears arriving at your eyes from laughter as you continue to watch the madness unfolding in front of you.
The craziness didn't stop there however as more deer began to surround you too, taking nibbles at your backpack and skirt, pestering you to feed them. Giggling, you reward the deer that bow their heads to you and try to avoid the overwhelming ones.
Ignoring the distasteful looks the two of you are getting from other tourists, you both continue to laugh. Not caring in the slightest at the stares you both are receiving for Keigo's wings. Just enjoying one another's company is all you need.
Once the two of you are out of crackers and the deer begin to calm down and disperse, you can finally enjoy the park together and take in the scenery.
Pulling out your phone from your pocket, you snap a few photos of the deer that are resting on the grass.
Keigo joins your side, watching you take a few pics here and there. "We haven't got a photo together yet. Shall we?"
You smile up at him. "I'd love to."
Pressing the button on your phone to turn the lens around, you stand next to Keigo and the two of you smile, snapping a few selfies and switching poses every now and then.
Browsing at the photos you've taken together on your device, the blond smiles. "Perfect. You should send me those. I'll keep 'em."
"Okay." You smile. "Would you take some of me with the deer?"
"Sure thing."
Taking out his own phone, you stand next to one of the deer that is peacefully resting on the ground and Keigo snaps a few shots. "Perfect. I'll send you these."
"Thank you, Keigo."
A charming smile forms in his demeanor. "Do you like mochi?"
You nod and Keigo jerks his head behind him. "Follow me. If we time it right, we'll make it in time to watch the poundin'."
"The pounding?" You raise an eyebrow up at him.
Keigo chuckles. "We get to watch the owner pound the mochi paste."
A smile brushes to your lips. "I'd love to see that."
Walking beside him, his hand finds yours and the two of you leave the park and make your way further out towards Nakatanidou, an award winning shop that’s known for making traditional daifuku mochi.
_____________
A crowd of people are already gathered around the area as soon as you arrive outside the Nakatanidou shop.
Squeezing yourselves through the crowd, Keigo kindly lets you stand in front of him, giving you a full view of the mochi pounding.
You watch in amazement as the mochi owner and another worker holding mallets work in unison, hitting the mochi paste together in a perfect rhythm.
Hearing the workers calling out, they switch positions. As the worker pounds the paste with the mallet, the owner slaps the mochi with his hands. It is so intense to watch, it's almost like the mallet is going to hit the owner's hands but misses at the last second.
After the wonderful performance, Keigo pulls out his wallet from his pocket and buys a few mochi for you both to share.
Finding a nearby bench, the two of you sit down and Keigo hands you one of the mochi. You take a bite into the rice cake and the deliciousness of red bean paste and matcha fills your taste buds. You can't keep your lips from humming. "It's really good."
"Glad you like it." Keigo smiles. "It's got a pretty sweet flavour to it."
"Mhm." You take another bite, enjoying the pleasantness of the moist cakes.
_____________
With your fun day soon coming to an end, the two of you take one last walk through Nara Park together before heading back towards the station.
Stretching his arms out above his head, you watch Keigo's red feathers spread out with him. Placing his arms back down, he glances down at you. "Might be a lil late by the time we get back. Did you have fun today?"
Nodding, you beam up at him. "It's been an amazing day. Thank you so much for this, Keigo. Really. You spoil me too much."
The blond chuckles lightly. "It's my pleasure. Now let's get that train home."
You follow him towards the station and the two of you board the train as it takes you both back to Kyoto.
Arriving at the next station, the two of you quickly notice that the train seems a lot more crowded than it was when you first arrived earlier this morning. Seems the jobholders are finishing their work day and are traveling back home to their loved ones.
A sudden tightness begins to form in Keigo's chest. Crowded trains at this time are notorious for sexual harassment, especially towards young women such as yourself. There are too many people around, so he can't use his wings to bring you home. In addition, it will be against the law for any quirk user in this area to use their powers, not to mention he's already paid for the tickets.
Gently taking your hand in his, you quickly gaze up at Keigo to see an expression on him you've never seen before. If you had to describe it, it seems...apprehensive.
"Stay close to me, okay?" The tone of his voice is firm, yet gentle.
"O-Okay..."
You walk with him onto the cramped train. Keigo guides you through the overwhelming large group of people and towards a small open space near one of the already closed train doors.
Letting go of your hand, you take off your backpack and keep it on the ground in between your legs. You stand with your back leaning on the door and Keigo rests his hands beside your shoulders, shielding you with his body. Trying to ignore the looks of pure disgust he is getting from other passengers, his large red feathered wings fold over the sides of you, providing you with protection.
His form completely towers over you and you feel a sudden flush of red burn over your cheeks. With his hands near your shoulders and his body almost pressing up against yours, it feels...strangely intimate.
Having him so close to you, your heart is beating abruptly fast against your chest. The butterflies in your stomach are growing wild and the scent of his cologne surrounds your form.
"You okay?"
Hearing the gentleness in his voice, you glance up at him and catch his golden brown eyes gazing down at you. It makes your heart race faster. Louder!
You quickly break eye contact with him, trying to hide the colour of red that is burning even hotter onto your cheeks. "I-I'm fine..."
"Good. We'll be home soon."
Nodding, you continue to stare down at the floor, trying to ignore your heart that is racing so rapidly, you are unable to keep up with it.
The train stops and more passengers begin to board, filling the cabin with less and less space.
Feeling the train move again, you keep your eyes firmly on the floor, trying to blank out this overwhelming feeling in your chest.
It isn't until you hear a faint groan escape Keigo's fast breath that you quickly glance up at him with concern. "Keigo? Are you okay?"
Another agitating groan leaves him and he's quick to shoot you a reassuring smile. "I-I'm fine, Y/N. It's just...people keep nudgin' my wings. It's a little uncomfortable."
The strong feeling of guilt showers over you. Keigo is putting himself in an unbearable situation just for you. Just to keep you safe.
An idea suddenly comes to mind and you swiftly take hold of Keigo's hand. "Here." With what little space you have, the two of you switch places, so his wings are safely pressing up against the door. You then lean your back gently against his chest, keeping your backpack beside your leg and Keigo's as you glance up at him. "Is that better?"
A soft smile brushes over Keigo’s lips. "Thanks, Y/N."
Returning a smile to him, you take out your phone from your pocket. Reaching down towards your bag, you pull out a pair of earphones. Closing the backpack again, you hand one of the buds to Keigo.
He kindly takes it and inserts it into his left ear. You place the other side of the speaker into your right ear and browse through the list of songs on your phone. "Any particular song you wanna listen to?"
Keigo smiles down at your device. "What songs ya got?"
"Uhhh…" The two of you browse through your list of music until Keigo spots a band with an unusual name.
Rammstein.
Smiling, Keigo raises his finger and points at the name. "Hey, who's that?"
Stuttering a little, you answer. "O-Oh, t-that's just a German band I really enjoy. You might not like them."
He shrugs his shoulders. "I'm a pretty open minded guy. I think I can take what you offer me."
"Ok…but I should warn you…they're pretty heavy. I'll pick one of the calmer songs for you."
Choosing the song called Ohne Dich, you press play and Keigo listens to the music, hearing the language he's never heard before. "What song is this?"
"I-I can switch it over if you don't like it."
"No, no." Keigo quickly answers. "I like it. Just wish I could understand what they're sayin'. It sounds pretty deep."
"The lyrics are pretty deep on this song. It's about losing a loved one. I'll have to translate it fully for you sometime."
"Sure thing." He smiles.
Working up the courage, you ask. "Do you think…Touya would like this band too?"
Keigo grins. "Absolutely! Maybe translate it for him too."
With a giggle, you nod and continue listening to the sound of the music playing in your ears.
With the feeling of protection still on Keigo's shoulders, his wings fold over the sides of you again and you feel his hands rest gently onto your hips, bringing with him a calm and peaceful presence. You smile, enjoying the warmth of his touch.
_____________
Arriving at the station and finally free from the unbearably restricted space of the train, the two of you step outside. You both take in the sea salt air of your hometown. The sun has already set and the warm colour of the setting sun surrounds the sky.
You watch Keigo as he spreads out his large feathered wings with a stretch. "I'm pretty tuckered out after today, what about you?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired too." You smile. "We'll sleep well tonight."
Keigo returns a smile to you before jerking his head in front of him. "I'll walk ya home."
"Thank you, Keigo."
As he joins your side, the two of you pass your workplace that has already closed for the day and you both make your way towards your home.
Knowing that your incredible day spent with Keigo is soon coming to an end, you can feel that painful tensity growing inside your chest again. Every hour spent with him is like opening a book to a fantasy world. A place that you never want to leave. Once he's gone, your world starts to feel cold, dark and empty again.
Stopping outside your house, you glance up at his golden brown eyes, catching the sun's rays almost gleaming in his irises. "Thank you again for another amazing day, Keigo. I've had a really fun time."
"Anytime." He smiles down at your form, a smile that is so genuine and so content that you can't help your heart that is racing unbearably fast.
You reach up and press your lips softly against his, deepening the kiss as you envelope your lips with his. A gentle hum ripples from his throat. His hands reach up and gently cup your face at your jaw.
After a few seconds, you both pull away for air. Letting your lips linger with the sensation of the kiss. You can't control the butterflies dancing in your stomach as you gaze up at his stunning golden brown eyes.
"I never get tired of your taste, Y/N." Keigo gently purrs, causing a light giggle to leave your breath. "Have a good night. Sleep well."
"You too, Keigo."
He slowly releases his hands from around your face. The blond steps back and you watch with a warm smile as he spreads out his large wings and takes to the sky.
With Keigo gone, your smile has already vanished and you turn towards your front door. After that scary ordeal last night, you still haven't faced the wrath of your dad yet. No doubt he'll be wanting to know everything about Keigo, now he's met him in person.
With shaking hands, you reach into your pockets for your keys and unlock the front door.
Stepping inside, you glance down to see that your dad's shoes aren't at the entrance, but your mom's are. Is your dad not home yet?
Entering the living room, you see your mother almost sprawled out completely on the sofa, half conscious. Like she's about to fall asleep any minute.
"Mom?"
Hearing your voice, she opens her tired eyes and gazes up at you. "Y/N...Your dad's workin' late...think you could cook dinner tonight? Would you cook that foreign dish? A Shepherd's pie?"
You stutter slightly. "I-I mean, sure, but...I-I'll need to go out and buy the ingredients."
She lazily raises her hand and points towards the kitchen. "No need...I already went for you. They're in the kitchen."
"Um...okay? Are you alright, mom?"
She groans. "Work has drained me today."
"Oh...okay...I'll...start on dinner then."
Making your way into the kitchen and switching on the light, you see the vegetables and other ingredients are already laid out on the counter, ready for you to start cooking. With a sigh, you take off your backpack, and tie an apron around your waist, washing your hands before preparing.
As soon as food is ready, you place a couple of slices of the Shepherd's pie onto two plates and bring them into the dining room, where your mom is already waiting.
Placing the plate down in front of her, she gazes up at you. "Thanks, Y/N."
Her tone is so gentle right now, it comes across strange to you. It's rare for her to speak like this. The gratitude in her voice. Regardless, you sit down at the table with her and begin to eat.
"How was work?" You ask.
"Exhausting." She answers. "How was your day?"
You glance over at her, taken back slightly by her sudden question. She wants to know about your day? This isn't like her at all. Most conversations with her are often one word answers or she shows little to no interest when you try to tell her about yourself. Still, you shrug your shoulders and answer. "It was...fine. I went to a park."
"A park? Oh, that sounds lovely."
Her tone is so unhypocritical. Why is she acting so nice? This is so foreign to you. She's actually showing genuine interest in something you're talking about. Maybe she's finally realizing that she has a second daughter and is finally appreciating you. Or maybe she's showing gratitude because you cooked for her.
Either way, you try to enjoy this unusual kindness you are receiving from her and continue to eat your meal. That is, until you hear her speak again.
"Your sister is doing amazing at her new job by the way. We've been here for nearly two months and she's been exceeding our expectations. She's so confident and has made so many friends. Why can't you be more like your sister, Y/N? It might be good for you."
You knew this was too good to be true. Hearing those words immediately makes you lose your appetite. An extremely painful pressure starts to build up in your chest. You knew your mother would try and compare you to your sister somewhere during this conversation. Even after doing everything they ask when you first moved into this town, they still don’t acknowledge your efforts.
They would rather give praise to the golden child of the family. Your older sister. It makes you feel sick to your stomach. You wanna fucking puke!
Placing down your fork and leaving the rest of your food completely untouched. You stand up from the table and walk past your mother. "I'm going to bed." You pick up your backpack as you walk away.
Completely oblivious to your sudden change of emotion, your mom continues to eat. "Ok. I'll leave the leftovers in the fridge."
Starting to grind your teeth, you feel the tightness in your chest grow significantly. You resist the urge to knock the food off the table that you've just slaved over, for her , and scream about how you really feel. Instead, you continue to walk through the living room in silence and make your way into the safety of your bedroom.
Closing the door behind you, you toss your backpack to the side and fall face first onto your bed. You can feel the tears desperately trying to escape from your eyes and the burning in your chest grows more and more painful with every breath you take.
Why?
Why do they keep doing this?
Why do they always compare you to your sister and treat you like someone who doesn't matter?
Do they not care how it makes you feel?
You feel so fucking useless!
So worthless and ugly!
You feel like you're suffocating!
Letting the tears finally escape from your eyes, you sob hard into your pillow, trying your hardest to muffle out your cries so your mother doesn't hear you.
Feeling the sudden vibration of your phone in your pocket, you pull your watery face away from your pillow and pull out your device.
With a wet sniff, you gaze down to see that Keigo has text you.
Keigo: I've had a lot of fun with you today :) Are you at work tomorrow?
His text is enough to cause the burning in your chest to fade slightly. You hold the phone in both your hands and reply.
You: I had a lot of fun too. Thank you again for today. Yes, I am at work tomorrow.
Keigo: Would you like to do something together after work?
You: I'd like that :) Thank you.
Keigo: Anytime :) Goodnight, Y/N.
You: Goodnight.
Placing your phone onto the bedside cabinet, you suddenly feel a slightly warm ember forming inside your chest. You think back on the time you've had with Keigo today. How much fun you've both had and how happy he makes you feel.
Trying to hold onto this warm feeling for as long as you possibly can, you slowly shut your eyes and let the calm silence send you into a lull of sleep.
Notes:
Deers are my favourite animal of all time, thanks to watching a lot of Bambi as a kid, so Nara Park is at the top of my bucket list of places I’ve always wanted to go. I sadly can’t write the true experience because I’ve never been :’( I had to go off youtube vids to write this ;3; I’m so sorry!
Chapter 6: Netflix n' Chill
Summary:
A little party doesn't go so well, so you settle for a movie instead :3
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Making your way towards the coffee shop that morning, you step into the building with the delightful bell jingling above your head. Kendo is already in the shop, sweeping the floor ready to start the day.
"Morning, Kendo!"
She instantly stops sweeping and her finger quickly rests on her lips. "Shhh...We have a new member that's joined us today."
You tilt your head slightly. "A new member?"
Leaning the sweeping brush on a wall nearby, she jerks her head for you to follow her. The two of you step into the back and you glance around the area until you see a pregnant calico laid in a pile of blankets in the corner of the room under a cat tent. The same calico cat that you caught Mr Aizawa feeding a few days ago.
A warm smile paints across your lips and you slowly walk over to the cat.
Kendo speaks again. "Mr Aizawa couldn't stand seein' her on the streets any longer, so he's taken her in. She's already had a medical check up and she's due to have five kittens in a few weeks."
"That's amazing news." You kneel down and reach out your arm, letting the cat sniff your hand first before you gently pet her soft head. Already you can hear the soothing sound of her purring. "Has Mr Aizawa thought of a name for her yet?"
"Uh, not yet." Kendo answers. "But he's taken your advice and he's gonna turn the coffee shop into a cat cafe soon. He has a new name for the shop too. He's gonna call it The Lucky Cat Cafe."
You smile again. "I like that name. If that's the case, I think we should call her Kichi."
Kendo grins. "That's a pretty good name, Y/N. You should mention it to Mr Aizawa later."
Nodding, the two of you spend a little more time with the cat before you both refill the display case with fresh treats and open the doors to the public at 9am.
Most of the day is pretty busy. With Aizawa keeping an eye on the cat in the back, you and Kendo continue to work through the bustling hours.
_____________
With your shift almost over, Mr Aizawa kindly lets you finish ten minutes early as a reward for working so hard.
Saying your goodbyes, you step out of the coffee shop and stretch your arms above your head, taking in the refreshing sea salt air that flows through your lungs.
You have a bit of time to spare before Keigo finishes work. Maybe you could go and surprise him before his shift is over. He said it's a men's department store just on the outside of town.
Bringing up a map on your phone, you follow the tracker as it leads you down the road and towards Keigo's workplace.
_____________
Reaching the outside of the department store, the building itself is pretty wide, with large glass display windows to advertise the latest fashion for men.
With a smile, you step into the store and a comforting smell of new fabric and men's cologne finds its way around your senses. You take a quick glance around the room to see Keigo in the corner of the store, helping a gentleman with a fashionable garment.
You watch with a smile, admiring him as he continues to talk to the customer.
You spot a few of Keigo's loose feathers gliding around the store, placing stock onto shelves and helping other customers if needed.
Spotting you from the corner of his eye, a handsome smile sweeps onto the side of Keigo's lip and a nearby feather flutters over and gently brushes across the side of your cheek. You giggle slightly and a flush of pink glows onto your face.
You continue to watch him until the customer leaves and Keigo has a bit of free time to talk to you.
With a gentle smile, he walks over and gazes down at you. "Well, this is a nice surprise. Came to see my performance?"
You nod. "Mr Aizawa let me finish work a few minutes early as a reward for working so hard, so I thought I'd come and see you." A small colour of pink brushes across your cheeks again. "I'm glad I came. You certainly have a way with words. I think that customer is going to buy that suit you were selling him and then some."
Keigo chuckles. "It's the only reason why my boss keeps me at the front. Which reminds me..." He glances around the store for a moment. "He should be around here somewhere. Was wonderin' if you wanted to meet him? He's quite a character."
A smile paints across your lips. "Sure. I'd love to."
Taking another quick scan around the store, Keigo spots his boss in the distance and a grin forms onto his handsome demeanor. "There he is. Follow me, Y/N."
Staying close to Keigo's side, the two of you walk towards a male, wearing a large top hat. He's busy re-stocking shelves to notice you both yet.
"Ayo, Mr Sako!" Keigo calls out to his boss.
The male turns around and you get a full view of his character. He is a tall, slim man with brown eyes and curly brown hair. His attire is certainly something you've never seen before. A striking top hat and a dark orange shirt underneath a black waistcoat and dress pants. Hanging around his neck is a green striped bolo necktie with an oval-shaped azure brooch. He looks almost like a performer or a magician more than a manager.
Upon seeing his best employee, the brown haired man smiles. "Ahh, Keigo, my boy. That was quite a performance! You never fail to amaze me!"
A soft chuckle leaves Keigo's breath. "Thanks, sir. By the way, this is Y/N L/N. She's pretty new in town."
Glancing over at your form, Keigo's boss removes his top hat from his head and gives you a magician's bow. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, my dear. The name is Mr Atsuhiro Sako."
Taken back slightly by his courteous introduction, you decide to play along and you return a small curtsy to him. "The pleasure is all mine, sir."
Your gesture causes Mr Sako to chuckle loudly. "My, my, you're quite the performer, my dear. We should offer you a role."
Smiling up at the male, you giggle lightly. "Thank you, sir."
Mr Sako turns his vision towards Keigo. "Your shift is just about over, my boy, so you're free to leave. I shall see you again tomorrow."
With a smile, Keigo makes sure to check out and get his things from his locker before he exits.
Waiting patiently for Keigo to return, the two of you make your way out of the store. He waves his hand towards his boss as you both leave. "See ya tomorrow, Mr Sako!"
"Remember, my boy! Always stay in character!"
You quickly smile up at the blond. "I like your boss. He seems like a really fun person to work for."
A soft chuckle leaves the male's breath. "Yeah, he's quite a character. Oh, by the way. There may have been a slight change of plan for tonight."
"Oh?" You gaze up at him.
Keigo nods. "Touya's invited us both out. Said somethin' about a house party he's been invited to, but he doesn't wanna go alone. Would you like to go? It's totally fine if you change your mind."
You feel a slight tension form inside your chest. Honestly, you've never been to a house party before. If you had to go off what you've seen on movies and TV shows, house parties mostly consist of booze, sex, loud music and a shit ton of people. It's certainly not your type of atmosphere. Being around a huge crowd of people makes you extremely nervous, but you'd rather be there right now than at home, facing the terrifying wrath of your father.
You've done well to avoid him so far. No doubt he will be asking you twenty questions about Keigo after their unnerving encounter at your front door.
As long as you stay close to Keigo's side at the house party, you should be fine. With a small smile, you glance back up at him. "I...should be fine...I think?"
"You sound a bit unsure, Y/N. We can cancel if ya want."
"No, no." You quickly speak up. "We can go. I've just...never been to something like this before. I'm a bit...nervous."
Keigo's face softens. "Just stick with me, okay? I understand this type of place can be overwhelming for people, but trust me. You'll be fine."
His voice is so gentle and you can't help the small butterflies that flutter in your stomach. With a faint smile, you answer. "O-Ok. Thank you, Keigo."
_____________
After walking around the town a little and enjoying the ocean view at the top of the hill together. The night sky begins to awaken and you and Keigo decide to have dinner at a small ramen shop before meeting Touya.
Making your way down the road with your hand in Keigo's, the two of you spot Touya ahead, leaning against a black honda civic.
A cigarette is in his hand as he inhales a large amount of the smoke. Spotting you both walking towards him, Touya flicks the cigarette onto the floor beside him. He puts it out with his boot, blowing the remaining smoke out of his nostrils. "You guys sure took your sweet ass time."
His hoarse voice and nonchalant tone still causes small shivers to run up and down your spine. You hear a soft chuckle leave Keigo's breath beside you. "Thought we'd get some food before we came ta' see ya."
Touya's ice blue eyes narrow at his best friend. "Ya didn't think of invitin' me?"
"Thought ya might have already eaten. I woulda text ya otherwise. We could stop by some fast food place for you."
The black haired male shrugs his shoulders. "Tch. Whatever, feather brain. Ya lucky I ain't that hungry anyway."
"Like I said, you couldn’t handle any of the chicken that I have in store. So where's this party at?" Keigo asks.
Touya answers. "It's a lil far out of town. A work buddy o' mine invited us, so the party's at his house."
"Great." Keigo grins. "Just give me directions and I'll drive us there."
"Up yours, bird brain. I'm drivin'." Already you see Touya taking the keys out of his own pocket. Opening the car door, Touya steps into the driver's seat and slams the door behind him. The two of you follow as Keigo decides to sit in the back with you.
Once you are both seated, Keigo shoots you a warm smile. "You okay?"
You nod and reach for your seat belt before fastening it across your chest. "I'm fine."
"Good." Smiling again, his vision turns to Touya at the front. "Just open the window if ya gonna smoke."
"Yeah, yeah. I hear ya." Placing the keys into the ignition, Touya turns it and you hear the sound of the engine begin to start.
A sudden feeling of unease starts to linger in your stomach, but you try your hardest to keep it hidden from Keigo. As the car begins to move, you listen to the boys talking to each other during the journey and you occasionally join in on their conversation.
_____________
After driving quite a way out of town, the three of you arrive outside a large modern looking house just opposite a few farming fields. Already, you can hear the heavy base of the party music bursting out of the building from inside the car.
Taking the keys out of the ignition, Touya opens the car door and the roaring sound of the music quickly grows louder. You and Keigo follow and step out of the car with him.
A strong feeling of apprehension suddenly showers over you and you're quick to cling to Keigo's arm. The atmosphere of this place is already overwhelming enough and you haven't even stepped foot inside the house yet.
Staying extremely close to Keigo's side, you follow Touya as he opens the front door and the heavy base of the music vibrates through your entire being. What looks like hundreds, maybe even thousands of people are crowded in the house, with plastic cups full of cheap alcohol in their hands. Conversing with one another and dancing to the music.
Turning towards you both, you hear Touya call out, making it almost impossible for you to hear him from all the noise. His hoarse voice breaks at nearly every word he utters. "I'm gonna get a drink!" And just like that, Touya disappears within the crowd.
Keigo glances down at you, leaning down a little so you can hear him more clearly. "Do ya want a drink, Y/N!?"
Still feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the noise and the large amount of people, you quickly shake your head. Feeling your heart race with unease.
Seeing your tense form, Keigo calls out again. "You sure you're okay!?"
You nod your head.
"Stay close to me, okay!?"
Nodding again, your hand finds his and you continue to stick to him like glue as a couple of people who recognize Keigo walk over and begin a conversation with him. He kindly introduces you to the people and tries to involve you in their chat, but most of the time you stay quiet, trying to ignore the pain that's beginning to form in your chest.
After socializing with a few more people, Keigo glances down at you every now and then to see that the tensity from your shoulders hasn't left you.
Guilt begins to manifest within Keigo. This place just isn't you at all. Your body language reveals more about you than you know and he can tell that you aren't enjoying yourself. Your body is stiff, your hands are sweating. Sure, you agreed to come, perhaps you just said that to keep the peace, so you aren't being a burden.
With a warm smile, he leans down towards you slightly so you can hear him through the noise. "I'm gonna go take a leak real quick! Wanna wait outside the door 'til I'm done!?"
Gazing up at him, you nod.
"If you start to feel uneasy, look for Touya! He'll keep you company 'til I get back, okay!?"
You nod again and Keigo holds out his hand, offering you to take it. You quickly clutch it and the two of you push through the crowd of people to reach the bathroom.
Once you reach the door, Keigo releases your hand and smiles down at you. "I'll be back!"
With Keigo leaving your side, you stand there awkwardly, holding onto your arm as you wait for him to finish in the bathroom. Standing here is already strange enough, you subconsciously feel like everyone in the area is staring at you. A large rush of distress building up inside you, like your chest is burning alive.
Scanning the room as quickly as you can, you look around for any sign of Touya. You can stick with him until Keigo gets back. That's when you spot Touya in the distance in the corner of the room, with a dark haired girl. Your stomach starts to churn when you see that he has his tongue down her throat.
Well, so much for Touya keeping you company. Seems like he's got his evening planned, so you don't want to be rude and disturb him.
You turn back and make your way back towards where Keigo is, trying to squeeze your way through the crowd of people.
With Keigo gone briefly and the extremely large amount of people surrounding you along with the deafening sound of the music, the unsettling pain lingers in your chest again. You suddenly feel trapped, like the walls are closing in all around you. Bringing with it a disturbing feeling of claustrophobia.
You feel so small.
You feel like the room is spinning.
You suddenly can't breathe.
Your heart begins to race at an alarming rate, your hands begin to shake. You're panicking. You begin to sweat. You can't keep up with your own breathing.
"Hey! Are you okay!?"
Hearing a voice you've never heard before, you quickly glance up to see a tall male with short brown hair gazing down at you with concern. He calls out again. "You look a bit uneasy! Can I get you a drink!?"
You try so hard to speak, but the words refuse to leave your mouth. Instead, you're stood there like a stuttering mess. You can't even look this guy in the eyes. You don't know him and already he's invading your personal space, causing your heart rate to increase even more.
"Do you need some air!? I can take you outside if you want!"
The male moves closer, and you quickly take a step back to grow some distance between you both. He’s about to touch you when a large red feathered wing comes between you and him.
Glancing up, you see that Keigo has returned. His sharp golden brown eyes are quick to glare at the male in front of you.
"Y/N! Sorry to keep you waitin'! Why don’t we step outside!? Thanks man, I'll take it from here!" This is a warning to the stranger to back off. Taking the hint, the brown haired male turns on his heel and leaves.
Pulling back his wing, Keigo glances down at you to see that your breaths are rapid and your hands are shaking.
You're having a panic attack.
Remaining calm, Keigo gently takes hold of your stiff hand. His fingers intertwine with yours, letting you know that he's with you. He lightly tugs at your hand and you're quick to follow. He leads you towards the front door and away from the noisy house so you can breathe in some fresh air.
Keigo can hear your rapid breaths as soon as you are both outside. He lightly squeezes your hand. "Take deep breaths for me, Y/N."
Without the sound of the party music blasting in your ears, you can finally hear the gentleness in Keigo's voice. He continues to talk to you, guiding you as you continue to take deep breaths.
"Keep breathin' for me, Y/N. I'm right here, okay? Slow and deep breaths."
You continue to listen only to his voice and you breathe in slowly through the nose and out gently through the mouth.
"You're doin' great, Y/N. I want you to do one thing for me, okay? I want you to open your eyes and just tell me what's in front of you. Think you can do that?"
Nodding, you slowly open your eyes and look ahead of you.
"What do you see, Y/N? Just tell me the first thing you see."
"I-I...see...cars...yours...and Touya's..." You continue to breathe slowly.
"What else do you see?" Keigo asks.
"I see...other cars...and a field up ahead."
"Is it a rice field?"
You shake your head. "I don't...think so...it looks...more like a farming field."
Keigo continues to talk to you softly and you start to feel your heart rate begin to slow into a more calm and steady pace. Your hands are no longer shaking and you feel a comforting warmth find its way into your system.
Returning to your old self again, you glance up at Keigo with a smile. "Thank you, Keigo."
"Anytime." He returns a smile to you. "I can already tell this kind of place isn't your vibe. How about you and I go watch a movie instead?"
You quickly glance up at him. "A movie? B-But...what about Touya?"
A light chuckle leaves his breath. "From what I saw when I left the bathroom, I think Touya's got his company for tonight. He won't even know we're gone."
"I-I guess...but I still feel kinda bad for leaving when he asked us to go with him."
Easing your concern, Keigo speaks up. "I'll send him a text later. That way, he knows we've left."
You nod. "O-Okay. Thank you, Keigo. So, where are we going to watch a movie?"
Keigo smiles. "How about my place?"
With a slight blush forming on your cheeks, you smile up at him. "Ok, a-are you sure?"
He nods. "I can fly us there. Ya ready ta' go now?"
You nod and Keigo scoops you up into his arms. With just one beat of Keigo's wings, the two of you are quickly taken up into the sky. This new feeling still causes your heart to flutter and your cheeks to flush once more. The house party beneath you grows smaller and smaller the higher you go.
The breeze feels so nice through your hair that you can't help but lean the side of your head on Keigo's shoulder, taking in the view as he continues to fly through the night sky.
_____________
Reaching the outskirts of town, Keigo prepares himself to land. With just a few beats of his wings the two of you land safely outside of an old styled bungalow house. With a gravel path surrounding a cobblestone walkway, you see a kousa dogwood tree at the side of the house in bloom. A porch can be seen leading to the entrance of the house.
Gently helping you down from his arms, you feel solid ground beneath your feet and you glance up at the building in front of you. "So this is where you and Touya live?" You ask.
Keigo grins. "Sure is."
You smile. "It's beautiful."
Taking out his keys from his pocket, you follow Keigo towards the porch until the two of you reach the front door. Inserting the key, Keigo unlocks the door and slides it open, kindly letting you enter first.
After taking off your shoes, you look up at the space around you. The inside of the house is quite large and there's a calm yet masculine scent. Despite having two men living in this home, the place feels comfy and unexpectedly welcoming.
The room itself is decorated with a few unique artistic pictures on the walls and a couple of large plants here and there. With mostly white painted walls and an open kitchen, along with a small dining table. In front of a large television, a sofa can be seen in the middle of the room. There are two closed doors behind the couch. You take a wild guess that those are both Keigo and Touya's bedrooms.
Another smile brushes across your lips. "Wow, this place looks so cozy."
With a smile of his own, you hear Keigo ask. "Can I get you anythin'? A drink perhaps?"
"Just a glass of water, please."
Keigo makes his way towards the open kitchen and grabs an empty glass from the cabinet above his head. He turns on the cold tap and lets it run for a few seconds before placing the cup under the running water. Turning off the tap, he walks back over and hands you the cold drink.
"Thank you." You smile.
"Make yourself at home, Y/N. I'll get us some blankets for the movie."
Stepping towards the door behind the sofa, you can't help but watch Keigo's beautiful red feathered wings bounce behind him as he steps into his room to grab a few blankets.
Listening to the faint rustling sound of Keigo in the other room, you slowly walk over to the sofa and sit down. You take a small sip of water and place it onto the small table in front of you.
A slight feeling of awkwardness showers over you. This is your first time in Keigo and Touya's house and even though Keigo said to make yourself at home, you still can't help but feel like you're being intrusive.
Your concerns soon fade however when Keigo returns with a couple of blankets under his arm. He gazes down at you with a warm smile. "Any movie in particular ya wanna watch?"
"You can pick this time, Keigo." You smile up at him and he immediately returns a smile back to you.
"I was thinkin' we could watch Princess Mononoke. You said it was your favourite."
You nod. "It is, but...what about you? I wanna know what your favourite Ghibli movie is."
He chuckles lightly. "I have a few. How about we look through the list first?"
"Okay."
Unfolding one of the blankets from under his arm, Keigo gently lays it over your legs and sits down beside you. Already you can feel his warmth radiating off his body as you share the other half of the blanket with him. Moving closer to you, his scent quickly surrounds your form. It's a calming smell of cinnamon, along with what smells like cooked poultry.
You can't help the giggle that leaves your breath. "You smell like chicken."
With a slight chuckle in his tone, Keigo answers. "Let's hope it's the good kind of chicken."
You nod. "It is. I like it."
Smiling, Keigo grabs the remote from the arm rest beside him and turns on the TV. He then chooses the streaming app, Netflix.
Writing the words 'Studio Ghibli' into the search bar, a list of movies begin to appear on screen.
"So, which one is your favourite, Keigo?" You quickly ask.
"Uhh..." He browses through the list of movies until he finds his favourite.
Howl's Moving Castle.
"Oooo, that's a really good one." You smile. "Can we watch it first?"
He grins. "Sure thing."
Pressing play, the movie starts as Keigo leans back slightly to enjoy the film with you.
Halfway through the movie, you enjoy one another's company. Keigo takes subtle glances down at you every now and then from the corner of his eye, taking in the soft smile that is forever on your face. You seem so happy and content.
A sudden feeling of affection fuels through Keigo's veins. He feels so relaxed in your presence that he wants to cuddle you so badly, but he's afraid he may be pushing things too far.
With a racing heart, Keigo takes the opportunity. He slowly raises his arm and wraps it around you, resting his hand gently onto your hip.
His gesture only makes you feel warmer and you slowly move yourself closer so your head is resting on his left underarm. You can't help the warm colour of pink flushing to your cheeks.
Already you can hear his heart is racing.
Is he nervous too?
With a small giggle, the words leave your lips without even thinking. "Your heart is racing so fast."
A quiet chuckle leaves his breath and you can feel the ripple of his voice against his chest. "What can I say, my heart flies when I'm holdin' a pretty girl like you."
Those words cause your cheeks to burn hotter and your heart to race twice as fast. Despite your entire body feeling like it's about to short circuit, you can't control the smile growing bigger onto your lips.
Trying to ignore your heart that is almost bursting out of your chest, you focus on the movie and listen to the comforting sound of Keigo's heart beats.
_____________
Once the movie is over, Keigo smiles down at you from the corner of his eye. "Whaddya say? Wanna watch another?"
You quickly nod with a smile.
"I know just the one." Grabbing the remote from the arm rest, Keigo selects your favourite. Princess Mononoke.
Pressing play, Keigo leans back and you snuggle yourself back into his chest, taking in his calming scent as the movie starts.
Watching the battle at the beginning of the movie, the two of you discuss amongst each other about the fun time the two of you had at Nara Park, and how the elk, Yakul, reminds you both of those adorable sika deer.
Halfway through the movie and the two of you have switched into a more comfortable position. With you both now laid out across the sofa, you gently press your back up against Keigo's chest and his arm is wrapped securely around your waist.
You can feel his thumb softly rubbing circles against the fabric of your shirt, bringing with it a calming feeling of ease.
With the warmth of Keigo behind you, and the movie soon reaching its climax. You feel your eyes begin to grow heavy with drowsiness.
You feel so safe in his arms that you don't want this moment to ever end. You try your hardest to keep your eyes open, but eventually, your tiredness gets the better of you and your eyes close on their own, sending you into a peaceful stillness of sleep.
Keigo isn't doing any better himself either. With your warm back pressed up against his chest and the soothing sound of your soft breaths, Keigo's heavy eyes close on their own and the two of you fall into a peaceful lull of sleep together.
Notes:
i'm going to be taking a small hiatus due to mental health problems. i've been having some issues in real life at the moment and no matter how hard i try and write, nothing sounds good to me ;3;
i'm so sorry to suddenly stop writing like this. i promise i'll be back soon ❤
Chapter 7: Burger Time
Summary:
You and Touya finally talk...kinda.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Slowly stirring yourself awake, you open your drowsy eyes and briefly look at the room around you. The calming cooked poultry scent of Keigo quickly finds its way into your nostrils. Your brain takes a moment to remind you that you are still in Keigo and Touya's house.
You gaze up at the TV in front of you. The words 'Are you still watching?' are showing on screen. The two of you must have fallen asleep during the movie.
"Oh, crap."
Glancing over your shoulder, you find Keigo sleeping peacefully behind you, his arm still wrapped securely around your waist.
Turning yourself around, you raise your hand and grab his shoulder, lightly shaking him awake. "Keigo? Keigo?"
Groaning a little at first, his hazy golden eyes open slightly and gaze up at you with a warm smile before he comes to the realization that the two of you fell asleep. "Ohh, crud." He gently rubs his eyes with his fingers. "What time is it?"
You can hear the rasp in his sleepy voice, causing your heart to race and your stomach to flutter. Trying to ignore the feeling, you rummage through your pocket for your phone and check the time. "I-It's roughly 8:30am."
Keigo groans again and the two of you sit up from the sofa. The blond stretches his arms above his head and you can't help but watch his feathers spreading out too.
With one last groan, Keigo stands up. "We both must have been pretty tired." He turns around and smiles down at you. "You hungry, Y/N? I could cook us up a real good breakfast if ya want."
You gaze up at him. "Aren't you at work today?"
Keigo shrugs. "I am, but not 'til 11am. We've got time."
"Oh, okay, sure. Breakfast sounds great. Thank you, Keigo."
As he makes his way towards the kitchen to start on breakfast, your vision moves to the ground and you take a moment to ponder.
In a way, you're glad the two of you fell asleep. Not only did it give you more time to spend with Keigo, but it also meant you didn't have to go home last night to face your dad.
Sadly though, you know you will have to go home eventually. Having breakfast with Keigo right now is buying you some more time, sure, but you know what's to come when you step back through that door. You will have to face that scary obstacle of your dad. He'll want to know all about Keigo, so you'll need to mentally prepare yourself for an argument.
Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Keigo's voice. "Does chicken omelette sound good, Y/N?"
With a smile, you answer. "Chicken is fine, thank you."
"Would you like coffee too?"
"Yes, please."
You stand up from the sofa and stretch before making your way over to the small dining table to sit down.
Once seated, you watch Keigo as he cracks eggs open and you hear the sizzle of the frying pan once the whites of the egg touches the heat.
Subconsciously, you rest your chin onto your hand, admiring him while he cooks. With the smell of freshly cooked breakfast quickly finding its way into your senses, a heat of red flushes to your cheeks without your knowing.
Even when he's doing something as simple as cooking breakfast, he still manages to do it with such beauty and grace. You admire his wings that seem to twitch every so often while he cooks. The smile that is forever on his face and the gentleness in his voice when he talks to you is enough to make the butterflies in your stomach flutter like crazy.
Once breakfast is ready, Keigo walks over and places the plate of freshly cooked food in front of you, along with chopsticks and a mug of hot coffee. "Here you are, I hope you enjoy it." He smiles.
You immediately return a smile back to him. "Thank you. I will."
Grabbing your chopsticks, you pick up a slice of the chicken omelette and take a bite. The amazing flavour instantly satisfies your taste buds as soon as you begin to chew and a pleasing hum leaves your throat. "Mmm, it's really good."
Keigo chuckles lightly as he joins you at the table. "A bit of salt n' pepper goes a long way. Gives off more flavour. Added a lil bit of seasoning in there too."
"I never knew you were so good at cooking. Are you self taught?"
Keigo nods and chuckles lightly. "It was a lil bit of trial 'n error, but I think I nailed it over the years. Bein' a foodie an' all, ya gotta know what tastes good with what."
"So are you the cook of the house?" You ask.
He nods again. "Touya has a habit of burnin' food, so we agreed that I'd do most of the cooking."
With a warm smile, you take another bite of your tasty omelette and sip some of your hot coffee.
Breakfast with Keigo is extremely enjoyable. While the two of you chat, he occasionally cracks a few jokes here and there and you can't help but giggle, almost choking on your coffee a few times from laughter.
_____________
With the beginning of the day over, Keigo kindly offers to fly you home. The wind brushing softly through your hair and the warmth of Keigo's arms holding onto you, you can't help but rest your head gently onto his shoulder, listening to the calming sound of his wing beats.
Being around Keigo always makes you feel so warm and cheerful. His presence and carefree nature is enough to flush away any negative thoughts you have in your mind. This time however as you grow closer to your home, it doesn't seem to be working.
The nearer the two of you get, the harder you can feel your heart slamming against your ribcage. You know this is coming, and no matter how much you try to mentally prepare yourself, you don't know if you'll ever be ready.
Your dad terrifies you.
Landing in front of your house with only a few wing beats, Keigo gently helps you down from his arms and you feel solid ground beneath your feet.
You quickly turn around and gaze up at him with a smile. "Breakfast was amazing. Thank you so much for cooking it. I've had a really good time."
He smiles. "Anytime. I've had fun too." A charming grin suddenly curls on the side of his demeanor. "Plus, you're pretty cozy to cuddle. Woulda happily slept all day with you beside me if I could."
Hearing those words causes a heat of red to flush across your cheeks and a small giggle escapes your breath.
Keigo smiles again, admiring your adorably shy nature before leaning down and pressing his lips softly against yours. You happily accept, enjoying the sweet taste he leaves on your lips.
After a few seconds, he pulls away from the kiss and gazes into your eyes. You smile, taking in the morning sun that seems to be gleaming in his golden irises.
"Have a good day, Y/N." Keigo purrs, hearing the slight rasp in his voice again.
You smile back, trying to ignore the crazy fluttering in your chest. "You too, Keigo. Have a good day at work today."
Stealing one last quick kiss of your lips, you giggle and he takes a step back. With just a couple of wing beats, Keigo takes to the sky and you watch with a smile until he has completely left your sight.
The warm feeling inside your chest quickly becomes harsh cold and grows tight as soon as you turn to face your front door.
Stepping onto the porch with shaking hands and a racing heart, you rummage through your pockets for your keys and unlock the door.
Once open, you peek your head inside, gazing down at the welcome mat to see your dad's shoes are still there.
He hasn't left for work yet.
Your heart pounds harder, you can feel it within your ears. The constriction in your chest grows significantly.
Finally stepping inside and closing the door behind you, you begin to take off your shoes when you hear that terrifying voice.
"You didn't come home last night."
Your heart almost jumps out of your throat. Gazing over at the source of the voice, you find your dad. Sitting on the sofa with his arms folded over his chest. His ice cold stare is enough to make the hairs on your arms stand up.
He speaks again. "Care to tell me where you've been all night? You were with that freak , weren't you?"
Working up what little courage you have, you speak up. "He isn't a freak, dad. He-"
"So you think it's okay to keep secrets from your own family!?"
"Dad, if you would just listen to me, I can-"
"How does he know you!?" He interrupts. "Are you sleeping with him!?"
"What? N-No, of course not! We're just friends. We-"
"So then, where were you last night!? With him!?"
You feel like your dad is backing you into a corner, forcing you to submit to him. No matter how hard you try to explain yourself, he's never going to listen. With a defeated sigh, you answer. "Y-Yes...I was with him."
Your dad scoffs, and utters a quiet 'slut' from under his breath. Hearing such a degrading word towards you, like a sharp dagger being pierced and twisted through your chest. His next words however make you feel even more worthless than you think you already are.
"As soon as he finds out how ungrateful and childish you are, he'll leave your ass."
Those words hit you harder than anything you've ever felt before. You try to battle against the negative thoughts flooding into your mind, but they do nothing but overpower you more.
Your dad speaks again, proceeding to talk down to you, like an ungrateful child. "I'm only doing this to protect you. The world isn't all butterflies and rainbows, Y/N. You're too gullible. People like him will see how naive you are and take full advantage of you."
Your head becomes foggy. Your entire body begins to shake. All that prepping for this argument. All that fight you thought you had, and for what? Nothing!
You feel pathetic. Worthless. Like you don't deserve anything.
Trying your hardest to hold back the tears that are desperately pricking at your eyes, you ask with a squeak. "M-May I please be excused?"
"You may." Your dad answers coldly. "But you are not to leave this house for the rest of the day. Who knows what other guy friends you have waiting for you to spread your legs."
Every word from him just makes you feel more and more inferior. Turning on your heel, you make your way towards your bedroom. You can feel your dad's ice cold stare. Watching you like a hawk as you step inside your room and close the door behind you.
You collapse face first onto your bed, letting the tears finally escape from your eyes. You don't know if you can do this anymore. No matter how strong you think you are, you are always going to be knocked down by your dad.
Belittled.
Worthless.
Unimportant.
You wish you could just disappear and wake up as a completely different person.
Start life all over again with no worries or struggles.
Giving in to the sharp and burning pain in your chest, you grab your book that hides the razor.
_____________
Having been confined to your room, you spend the majority of the day in tears, until you can't cry any longer and you exhaust yourself to sleep.
Your dad left for work hours ago, leaving you in complete solitude inside the house.
Finally raising your tired and flushed face from the damp pillow, you take a moment to glance around your room. Nothing but pure darkness and utter silence. With a dry sniff, you rummage through your pocket for your phone and check the time.
5:16pm. You should probably eat something, even though you're not really hungry. You should at least try and eat.
With a sigh, you lift yourself from the bed with what little strength you can muster and stumble your way towards the door. You shuffle like a zombie through the quiet living room and towards the kitchen to make yourself a tuna sandwich.
Sitting at the table, you force yourself to eat. Chewing slowly at your food and taking in the pure silence of the house. Everything around you feels so cold, dark and empty. Your body feeling like it’s almost on the verge of shutting down at any minute. You're so mentally drained that you aren't even taking in your surroundings. Not that it matters anyway.
At this point, you feel like nothing matters. That is, until a small glimmer of hope grows inside you. A tiny spark of fight still left within you. Why is your dad treating you like a child and trapping you inside your own home like a bird in a cage anyway? You've done nothing wrong!
You're twenty two years old, for fuck's sake!
This is your life to live, not his!
You have full control!
Why should you be stuck inside your home wasting your life away when you could be outside, living it!? Who cares what your dad says or thinks!
You want to be free!
With determination flowing through your veins, you grab your plate of half eaten food and place it into the kitchen before making your way into the bathroom to take a shower.
Allowing the warm water to fall gently onto your face, Keigo crosses your mind, causing a smile to paint across your lips.
You always feel so relaxed and cheerful around him. He makes you feel like you matter. Like you're worth something. Maybe he's the reason why you suddenly have this spark of hope.
A will to fight.
A burning desire to be free, just like him.
With the smile still proudly on your face, you finish cleaning and step out of the shower before wrapping a towel around your body.
Making your way into your bedroom to get dressed, you grab your phone from the side and check the time.
6pm. You have an hour before Keigo is due to finish work.
You don't know why, but you suddenly have this powerful urge that you want to see him. You just hope that deep down, he wants to see you too.
Tapping your fingers on the screen, you decide to send him a text.
You: Hi Keigo! If it's not a bother, I was wondering if I could see you for a bit when you finish work? If you have other plans, it's totally fine.
Within a few minutes, Keigo replies.
Keigo: Hey Y/N. I'm really sorry, gonna be working late. The new stock that was supposed to be delivered this morning arrived late. I promised Mr Sako that I'd stay and help. Why? Is everything okay?
You: Oh, nothing like that. I'm sorry if I worried you. We can meet up tomorrow when I finish work instead if you like.
After a couple of minutes, Keigo responds again.
Keigo: No, it's fine. We can still meet up tonight, but it'll be pretty late. Is that okay?
You: It's totally fine. I'm sorry if I'm being a bother.
Keigo: You're never a bother, Y/N. If I'm being honest, I wanna see you too :)
Reading those words from Keigo causes a flush of pink to flow to your cheeks and a smile quickly brushes across your lips.
Suddenly receiving another text, you glance back down at your phone.
Keigo: I'm going to ask Touya if he'll meet with you. It's already pretty dark out, so he'll keep you safe until I finish work. Is that okay?
Reading Touya's name, you feel a slight tightness condense your chest. You're going to be hanging out with Touya for a while? Alone? Is that really a good idea?
When you first met Touya at the arcade with Keigo, you had this unnerving vibe from him that he didn't like you and that unsettling feeling has never left you. Even at the house party last night, you felt like Touya didn't really want you there, even if he did ask both you and Keigo personally to come with him.
Despite the doubts swirling around inside your head, maybe Keigo is right. Maybe the two of you just need to hang out more. Take some time to get to know each other a little better.
Meeting with Touya is gonna be tense, but you want to see Keigo so badly.
Nervously gulping down the large ball of spit at the back of your throat, you hold your phone properly in your hands again and reply.
You: Yeah, that's okay.
Keigo: I'll text Touya now and ask him. See you soon :)
As you wait with anticipation for Keigo to text you back, you anxiously browse a few apps on your phone.
_____________
Slouched on the sofa with his legs spread and video game controller in his hands, Touya continues to listen to the loud music of the radio blasting through the living room. His fingers continue to tap hard on the buttons of the controller, trying to beat the boss of the game playing on the TV screen.
Suddenly feeling the vibration of his phone in his pocket, Touya rolls his eyes and pauses the game. He shoves his hand into his pocket and grabs the device, glancing down to see that Keigo has text him.
Bird Brain: Hey man, I have a favor to ask. I know you'll be heading to work soon, was wondering if you could meet up with Y/N and keep her company for me until I finish work? Just hang out, I don't want her alone at night. Is that okay? :D
An irritated sigh leaves Touya's nostrils. Why the hell is he suddenly on babysitting duty? It isn't his job to look after you.
He doesn't care.
Hell, why should he care?
You're not his girlfriend. You're just a stranger to him as far as he's concerned.
So why is he suddenly your caretaker when Keigo isn't around?
Holding his phone properly in his hands, Touya is about to decline, when a thought crosses his mind. If he doesn't do as Keigo asks, and something bad happens to you, he'll never hear the end of it.
What a pain in the ass.
Then again, Keigo could owe him a favor back if he does this for him. Tossing the game controller across the sofa with a huff, Touya stands up and turns off the radio before replying back.
Touya: Whatever. Where am I meeting her?
_____________
After a few more minutes, you finally hear your phone vibrate in your hands. You glance down to see that Keigo has text you back.
Keigo: Hey Y/N. Touya said he'll stay with you. He said he'll meet you outside your workplace, so you don't have to walk very far to meet him. Sound good? :)
A quick sigh of relief leaves your breath. You're so glad that Touya has agreed to meet up with you so you can see Keigo, even if meeting with Touya is gonna be super awkward.
Judging by his character you've seen, you have a feeling that he isn't going to be in a good mood about all of this.
Maybe you should just call the whole thing off?
But if you do that, you feel like you've just wasted both of their time. Keigo has already gone out of his way to ask Touya to meet with you. So canceling now would not only piss off Touya more, and you would also cause Keigo to run around for you.
You want to see Keigo so badly, but you're being a nuisance in the process.
Trying to ignore all the conflicted thoughts swirling around in your head, you grab your phone and text Keigo back.
You: Sure, that's fine. Are you sure Touya is okay with it?
Keigo replies back a few minutes later.
Keigo: Don't worry. He'll be keeping you company. I should be done before he has to leave for work.
You: Okay. I'll get ready now.
Placing your phone on the bedside cabinet, you quietly open your bedroom door and peek out your head.
Seems your family are all home from work. You can hear music blasting in your sister's room, and the sound of your mom and dad bickering in the kitchen.
With everyone distracted, now seems like the perfect opportunity for you to sneak out, but you can't leave through the front door. They'll know that your shoes are gone.
Maybe you could sneak out through your bedroom window instead?
Closing your bedroom door again, you quickly search through your small wardrobe for a spare pair of shoes. Luckily, you find a pair. Some white sneakers.
Putting on the shoes, along with a thick hoodie to keep yourself warm. You grab your phone from the side and shove it into your pocket.
You make your way over to your bedroom window and open it as quietly as you possibly can before carefully climbing out of it.
The cold night air quickly causes you to shiver slightly as you slowly close the window, leaving it slightly open at the bottom so you can get back in.
As you sneak around the front, you can feel a rush in your veins! Once you are at a safe distance from your home, you can't help but let a slight chuckle escape from your frosted breath.
You did it.
You actually did it!
You managed to sneak out of your home without your family knowing. You feel like a rebel! Or a character in a movie! Escaping from a kidnapper or something.
With adrenaline flowing, you shove your hands into your pockets to keep them warm and head down the street to meet with Touya.
_____________
Reaching the heart of the town, you raise your head to see that Touya is already waiting for you outside of your workplace. With a lit cigarette between his long fingers and his back leaning against the wall. You can see the light of his cigarette glowing ominously in the distance.
Walking closer, you see that he is wearing a dark blue zip up hoodie, with his hood up to hide his burnt face. Dark blue sweat pants and black all star converse sneakers.
Your heart starts to race, anyone would have honestly mistaken him for a mugger with the way he is dressed.
Spotting you in the distance, Touya flicks his half smoked cigarette onto the floor beside him and puts it out with his shoe.
Blowing the remaining smoke out through his nostrils, his ice blue eyes almost glow menacingly in the moonlight as he gazes down at your tense and timid form.
His sharp stare and poker-faced expression is enough to cause a shiver to run down your spine as you hear his rough and hoarse voice speak. "Hey."
You quickly break eye contact with him, your hands begin to sweat with apprehension. "H-Hi Touya."
The tensity inside you rises. You're so used to Keigo's kind and charismatic personality, that hanging out with someone the complete opposite to him just feels so...intimidating.
Your thoughts are soon interrupted when you see Touya turning on his heel to leave and you quickly walk over to catch up to him. Following him down the high street in pure and utter silence. Unsure of what to say to him as you try to keep up with his walking speed.
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, Touya sends a quick text to Keigo.
Touya: Y/N's with me.
Within seconds, Keigo replies.
Bird Brain: Thanks, man :D Keep her safe.
Placing his phone back into his pocket, Touya takes a quick glance down at you from the corner of his eye to see your body is tense.
A sigh of annoyance leaves his nostrils. Why the hell is he being forced onto babysitting duty anyway? He just wants to go to work and get shit over and done with so he can go back home and sleep.
He takes another quick glance at the clock on his phone. He has a bit of time to kill before work. Maybe getting some food will help pass the time? Even though he's not really hungry.
Glancing down at you once more, you hear his rough voice again. "We're stoppin' by a burger joint to get some food. Sound good?"
You quickly gaze up at him, catching the luminescent glow of his blue eyes from the moonlight. Maybe you should eat something before you meet up with Keigo. That tuna sandwich you made earlier didn't exactly fill your stomach.
Slowly nodding in response, you stay by Touya's side, keeping pace with him again as the two of you make your way down the street and towards the nearest fast food burger joint.
_____________
Stopping just on the outskirts of town, the two of you arrive outside of a fast food restaurant. You see the logo of the place above the door and neon lights from the signs almost glowing through the cold night. Staying close to his side, you follow Touya towards the entrance.
Stepping inside together, the interior of the place looks almost retro, like the two of you have gone back in time. With colours mostly consisting of red, yellow and white. You can see red cushioned seats, scratched up white tables and yellow painted walls. You hear the faint sound of music playing on the radio in the distance.
You're quick to follow Touya towards the counter as he begins to place his order, completely ignoring the unnerving stare he is receiving from the employee at the sight of his half burnt face.
After his order has been placed, Touya glances down at you from the corner of his eye. Seeing how long you are taking, he starts to grow impatient to see you staring down at the laminated menu on the counter, unsure of what to order.
As you take in your list of choices, you suddenly feel Touya's tall form hovering behind you. Looming over you and almost breathing down your neck.
"Just pick somethin' already."
The irritation in his hoarse voice and his slender body towering over you is enough to cause your small frame riddle with unease. The strong smell of kindling coming from his cologne quickly overwhelms you as he continues to invade your personal space.
With your heart pounding hard against your chest, you raise your shaking hand and point your finger towards the closest thing on the menu. A small cheeseburger meal with fries.
"Tch, took ya long enough." Touya steps back with a huff, pulling out his wallet from his pocket to pay for his meal.
You're about to do the same, when you realize that you haven't brought your purse with you.
The tightness in your chest grows significantly. How could you have been so stupid and forgot to bring your purse? Then again, you didn't know you were going to get food before meeting with Keigo.
As Touya finishes paying for his meal and makes his way over to the waiting area to receive his food, you quickly cancel your order and find a table for you both to sit at instead.
After a few minutes, Touya's order is called out and he grabs his tray of food from the counter. Turning around, he finds you sitting alone on a table in the corner of the room and he walks over to join you. Sitting on the opposite side of the table to you.
With only a large burger and a soda on his tray, he is about to sink his teeth into the burger bun, when his vision moves to you to find that you haven't ordered yourself anything.
"What, you suddenly decide you're not hungry?" He asks.
You glance up at him, feeling a cold shiver run down your spine as soon as his sharp blue eyes lock with yours. You quickly break your vision with him, feeling a slight flush of embarrassment fall to your cheeks. "I-I'll be fine."
"Tch." Touya shrugs, about to sink his teeth into his burger bun for a second time, when he suddenly hears the loud growling sound of your stomach.
Knowing full well that he heard your gut by the puzzled look on his face, your vision moves to the floor and the colour of red on your cheeks burns hotter.
An irritated sigh leaves Touya's nostrils. Why say you're hungry but then not buy yourself anything?
What a pain in the ass.
Sighing again, Touya places his untouched burger back onto the tray and turns it around, sliding it across the table in your direction. "Here."
Having been caught completely off guard by his random act of kindness, you stare up at him with a look of disbelief. Almost flabbergasted.
Did...Touya just offer you his food? Touya? Of all people? Someone who you thought would be the last person on earth to do something kind for somebody?
Sensing your hesitation, Touya frowns and pulls back the tray of food. He stands up with the tray in hand and makes his way towards the trash can.
Wait! Is he really going to throw the food away?
"W-Wait!" You quickly call out, causing him to stop in his tracks and almost glare down at your timid form.
Having his sharp, irritated and intimidating eyes back on you, you break eye contact with him again and answer with a quiet squeak. "I'll...take the food. Th-Thank you, Touya."
"Tch." Sitting down, he places the tray of food back onto the table and pushes it in front of you before pulling out his phone and browsing the web instead.
A feeling of awkwardness looms over you like a dark shadow as you take a small bite of the burger. You chew slowly, trying to ignore your shaking body.
With nothing to do but wait for you to finish eating, Touya continues to browse through his phone, taking subtle glances over at you every now and then from the corner of his eye.
He can see your shoulders are still tense. Your vision moving everywhere but towards him, hesitant on where to look.
This little meetup isn't exactly enjoyable for him either. He feels more like a babysitter than a friend meeting another friend. He just wants to get this shit over and done with as fast as possible.
As you continue to eat your food, Keigo is on your mind. Causing a warm feeling to grow inside your chest. With you and Touya being alone, now seems like the perfect opportunity to try and break the ice. Maybe strike up a friendly conversation with him so your future meetups together won't be so...awkward.
Working up the courage, you swallow your food and gaze up at Touya. "So...um...how did the rest of the house party go last night? I saw you were with a girl. Do you...know her? Like, is she your...girlfriend...or something?"
His piercing blue eyes pull themselves away from his phone and towards you again, causing a shiver to run down your spine.
At first, he shrugs his shoulders, then a small grin suddenly curls on the side of his burnt face. "What, you never heard of a one night stand before?"
You tilt your head at him slightly. "Can't say that I have."
Touya stares at your puzzled expression for a moment before scoffing.
Are you for real?
Do you seriously not know what a one night stand is?
Where does Keigo pick his girls?
Moving his vision back to his phone, he utters. "Whatever. It's not important anyway. That girl was a nobody."
"...Oh..." You mumble, taking another small bite of your burger. Maybe trying to make conversation with him was a bad idea. This whole thing feels kind of one sided.
Continuing to browse through his phone, Touya suddenly receives a text from his best friend.
Bird Brain: Hey man! How are you both doing? Is Y/N okay?
Touya: We're at the burger joint.
Bird Brain: Oooo! Think you could get me a chicken burger? :D I'll pay you back!
A sigh of frustration leaves the male's breath. Not only is he a babysitter, now he's a goddamn UberEats delivery boy. That's two favors Keigo owes him now. Although, it wouldn't hurt to order himself another burger while he's at it. Since his previous burger is currently being eaten.
Standing up from his seat without saying a word, Touya makes his way back over to the counter and orders two more burgers.
Suddenly being left alone at the table. A feeling of unease begins to settle in your stomach.
He just left without saying anything.
He's probably ordering himself another burger. He shouldn't be too long, right?
Trying to ignore the slight fluster in your gut, you take another small bite of your burger and stare out of the window, watching the night traffic as it races by.
That is, until your moment of peace is quickly interrupted by the sound of two rowdy guys stepping into the burger joint, half drunk.
You observe them from the corner of your eye while you eat as they stumble towards the counter to order a meal.
You don't know why, but you suddenly feel your chest growing tighter. Maybe it's because they are reminding you of the house party last night, or maybe because you're extremely distressed around drunk people…
Either way, your heart is hammering painfully hard against your chest and you keep your vision firmly on the view outside of the window.
You try to look invisible and keep your eyes strictly on the window, pretending that they aren't there; but somehow, the two guys seem to notice you from across the room and come waddling over. You can feel your whole body trembling the closer they get.
One of them slams their hand onto the table to get your attention, and you almost jump out of your skin.
"Hey." You hear one of them purr. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing all alone in a shitty dump like this?"
"Yeah...we can take you somewhere more fun if you like?"
The two of them begin to snigger amongst themselves, making your heart race more with agitation. You try to speak, try to tell them that you aren't eating alone, but the words refuse to come out of your mouth.
Your heart rate quickens once more and you're finding it harder to breathe. Like you're about to have another anxiety attack.
One of the guys is almost about to touch your shoulder, when Touya returns with two burgers on a tray.
Shoving himself past the two drunk guys without a care in the world, Touya places the tray down at your table and sits at his chair.
The two strangers are quick to scowl down at Touya. "Oi!" One of them calls out. "Who do you think you are, budging past us like that without saying 'excuse me'?"
But Touya just bites into his burger, completely ignoring the two idiots yapping beside him.
"Oi! Are you deaf!? I'm talkin' to you!"
One of them is about to slam their fist into Touya's food, but he quickly grabs their wrist tightly in his hand and stands up. His tall, intimidating form and piercing blue eyes is enough to send shivers down their spines. What scares them more however is Touya's half burnt face and stitches holding him together.
He is in no mood for this bullshit right now, and you can already sense the frustration in Touya's eyes. Glaring death at the two drunk guys in front of him.
With a defeated scoff, the guy yanks his wrist away from his grasp and the two of them begin to back off, leaving you both in peace to eat, but not without saying a few nasty words before they leave.
"Tch! Whatever, man. Your face makes me wanna puke."
"Let's just get outta here. Ugly bastard. The bitch ain't even worth it anyway."
"Burnt ass fuck."
With the two of them finally leaving, a quick sigh of relief escapes your breath and your heart slows back into a steady pace.
Your vision however quickly moves to Touya, who sits back down and proceeds to eat his burger in silence. Completely unfazed by the harsh comments they were making towards his face, but even you can tell by his tense shoulders that those words were hurtful.
Working up the courage, you clear your throat. "Um...T-Touya?"
Swallowing the food in his mouth, his piercing blue eyes quickly lock with yours and you almost immediately break eye contact with him.
Trying to collect your words, you speak. "I just...wanted to say thank you...for getting rid of those guys."
You bite your bottom lip slightly, thinking of your next words carefully, as not to piss him off any more than he already is.
Finding the right words, you raise your head and look him dead in the eyes. "And...I don't think you're ugly at all, Touya."
At first, he frowns at you, assuming that you are joking.
But It isn't until he can see the pure honesty in your eyes and gentleness in your smile that his chest suddenly begins to grow warmer.
For a moment, it feels like the whole world has completely frozen around him. All he can see is you.
This is something that's never happened to him before. Why does he suddenly feel like his heart races faster when he looks at you.
Shoving this strange feeling to the back of his skull, Touya picks up his burger and you hear his hoarse voice again. "Whatever. Just hurry up n' finish eatin' already. You nibble at your food like a damn mouse."
Picking up your burger, you take another bite and stare out of the window.
You don't know why, but you feel like you may have finally had a small breakthrough with Touya. It isn't much, but to you, it means the world.
But you know you still have a long way to go before the two of you can bond more without the feeling of awkwardness weighing on your shoulders.
Just like Keigo says, Touya needs time.
_____________
After your meal, the two of you leave the burger joint and head back down the high street.
With the chicken burger for Keigo in Touya's hand, you stay by his side as you both make way towards the department store, where Keigo is due to finish his shift.
Drawing closer to his workplace, you can already see Keigo in the distance, looking around for you both.
Just the very sight of him is already enough to release the tension from your shoulders and a warm smile paints across your lips. Even at night, the beauty of his feathered wings almost stands out in the dark.
Spotting the two of you in the distance, he raises his hand to wave and a carefree smile appears on his demeanor. "Heyyy, there you are! Did you two have fun?"
Walking towards his best friend, Touya tosses the chicken burger in Keigo's direction and he quickly catches it in his hands. Touya then shoves his own hands into his pockets and scoffs. "You owe me big time, bird brain. I gotta head ta work."
As he begins to leave, Keigo calls out with a grin. "Thanks! I promise I'll pay you back!"
Continuing down the high street, Touya raises his hand and flips up his middle finger before disappearing into the night and leaving you alone with Keigo.
The blond quickly turns his attention to you and you smile up at him, feeling a slight awkwardness linger inside your chest. "I'm sorry." You breathe out. "I don't think Touya was very happy about this little meetup."
Keigo shrugs his shoulders and he smiles again. "Don't worry. He'll get over it. Did you have fun?"
"It was..." You decide to be honest. "...tense, but I think I may be having a slight break through with Touya."
"Oh yeah?" Keigo grins. "Wanna tell me all about it while we head up the hill? I can eat while we walk."
You smile. "Sure."
_____________
Making your way up the hill together, Keigo begins to eat his chicken burger while you tell him about your short time with Touya.
As soon as you both reach the top, you sit down and enjoy the ocean view. The sound of the waves instantly soothes you as you watch the moon's light glisten on top of the water.
Sitting down beside you, Keigo lifts his wing and wraps it gently around your shoulder. Feeling like a warm blanket around your body, you smile and lean your head onto his shoulder. A soft sigh of blissfulness leaves your breath.
Everything feels so perfect right now. You feel so safe and warm in his presence. A warm ember begins to burn brightly inside you, causing a healthy glow to radiate from your cheeks.
You are honestly so happy. Nothing could possibly ruin such a perfect moment. That is...until your brain starts to wonder. Reminding you of the awful comment your dad said to you earlier today.
As soon as he finds out how ungrateful and childish you are, he'll leave your ass.
You hitch in your breath and your chest suddenly grows tight.
You can't keep doing this!
You can't keep switching between these two worlds.
Light and Darkness.
As soon as you go back home, all this happiness you feel with Keigo quickly vanishes, and you'll be miserable all over again.
Maybe it would be best if you just call this whole thing off. Just end this relationship with Keigo and head home. Stay unhappy and live the rest of your life in a ball and chain. Never feeling freedom ever again.
With a racing heart, you suddenly push Keigo's wing away from around your shoulder and stand up.
Keigo is quick to gaze up at you with a look of concern on his face. "You okay, Y/N?"
You try to speak, try to explain to him that this isn't going to work anymore. But the words refuse to leave your mouth. Instead, you stand there like a stuttering mess until you eventually blurt out whatever words you can find.
"I-I'm sorry. I...need to leave. We can't keep-"
Without giving both you or Keigo a chance to say another word, you turn on your heel and practically run down the hill.
You can feel tears pricking at your eyes when you let go. You sprint down the hill and past your workplace, back to your home.
_____________
You're almost there!
Almost home!
You can practically see your house in the distance.
But before you could take another step, your body suddenly freezes and refuses to take another step.
Why?
Why!?
Just go!
Move!
Why won't you move!?
You stare down at your legs and then back up at your parent's house. You can feel a river of tears desperately trying to escape from your eyes.
You know what's to come if you step back inside that house.
Trapped forever.
You want so desperately to be free, but you feel like you're holding Keigo back, to pick up after you.
You're stuck at a crossroads.
Maybe your dad is right. Maybe you are being childish and ungrateful. Once Keigo see's the real you, he'll leave you, just like your dad says. As heartbreaking as it is to imagine such a horrible thing, you know it's true.
Giving in to the sharp pain in your chest, you find a nearby bench and sit down. Letting the tears escape from your eyes. You sob loudly, not caring if anyone can hear you. You raise your knees onto the bench and hug them tightly, trying to hide your face.
You are alone, and it's better if it stays that way.
Crying, you feel a slight gust of wind gently brush through your hair, along with a familiar sound of wing beats.
You can already tell that it's Keigo. You don't even bother to raise your head and you keep your face hidden. At first, he says nothing and joins you on the bench. The two of you sit in silence for a few seconds.
Even just having him beside you is enough to cause the tension on your shoulders to fade, but only slightly. You can feel the warmth of his body radiating from the bench.
Almost choking on your tears, you try to speak. "Keigo...I'm so sorry. I-"
"I see myself in you, Y/N." He utters softly, leaving space between his words. He lowers his tone. "I see a small Keigo, trying to be free, trying to see the world, and had an abusive family that he had to go back to."
Hearing his words, you raise your head from your knees and your watery eyes gaze up at his form.
He continues on. "That didn't defend him, even at his lowest." It was hard for even himself to talk about his past, but for you, he'll do it. "Both my parents were quirkless. So when I turned seven, and started developing my quirk. My dad was furious. He'd take his anger out on both me n' my mother. Blaming her for makin' me this way.
By the time I turned fifteen, I found my mom had taken her own life, leaving me all alone in this world. My wings were still so small back then.
That's when I decided to run away. I flew all night, going as fast as my little wings could take me. And that's when I met Touya, alone in the middle of the woods. All I remember were blue flames, scorched trees, and a young boy almost burnin' ta death."
A wet sniff leaves you and you continue to gaze up at him, taking in his words.
"He was just as alone as I was. Both sides of a coin, him and me. When I flew over that forest fire that night, I could see Touya. I tried to save him without burnin' myself. I thought it was too late for him by the time I reached his burnin' body. But I grabbed him and flew as fast as I could.
My small wings couldn't fly very far and I eventually passed out. By the time I woke up. I was in a hospital bed, with Touya as my roommate." A light chuckle left Keigo's breath. "While we were recovering, I would try everything to get him to talk to me. I wanted so badly to be his friend. I felt this connection with Touya. Like we shared the same pain. Eventually, he started to open up. We've been through a lot together."
Another wet sniff leaves you and you gently wipe your nose with your wrist. "I'm so sorry both you and Touya had to go through all of that, Keigo. I-"
He suddenly turns to you and wraps his arms tightly around your body, almost catching you completely off guard. Your heart starts to race, but feeling how warm and sincere his embrace is around you causes your vision to blur once again with tears.
"I want you to know you're not alone in this, Y/N." Keigo speaks softly beside your ear. "I'm here for you. You can talk to me about anything. I'm your light, and I will not let anythin' lead you into that darkness ever again."
Every word he utters only makes the tears in your eyes grow bigger. Finally giving in to the burning sadness you've kept hidden for so long, you bury yourself deep into his chest and finally let the tears escape.
Your fingers cling to the back of his jacket and you sob loudly, allowing the frustration to release itself from your tight chest. Keigo just continues to hold you in his arms, softly running his hand up and down your back to bring you comfort.
_____________
After some time, you eventually start to calm down and you pull your face away from his chest. You glance down at his jacket to see that you've left a huge wet crying stain on his clothing.
Blushing slightly from embarrassment, you gently wipe your wet eyes with your wrist and breathe out. "I'm sorry. I've ruined your jacket."
Keigo shrugs his shoulders and smiles, a light chuckle leaving his breath. "Don't worry about it. It'll wash out. How are you feelin'? A little better?"
You slowly nod.
He raises his hand and tucks a small strand of your loose hair behind your ear, causing your watery eyes to glance up at him. The softness in his gaze is enough to flush away all the negative doubts in your mind.
He speaks softly. "I want you to know that you can talk to me any time you feel like this, okay?"
You slowly nod again. "I'm...I'm really sorry."
Keigo smiles. "You don't need to apologize. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
He then leans in and presses a warm and tender kiss on your forehead. He holds it there for a few seconds, letting you feel the compassion in his gesture.
It means the world to you.
After pulling away, your eyes meet and you begin to relax yourself in his warm golden brown eyes. You can't help the small smile that paints across your lips briefly and Keigo is quick to return a smile to you.
"Are you going to be okay tonight?" He softly murmurs.
You nod.
"If you need anythin', you can call me, okay?"
You nod again.
"Do you have a way to get back in without anyone knowing you were gone?"
Another nod. "I got out through my window. I left it open slightly, so I can get back inside."
Smiling, Keigo stands up from the bench and offers you his hand. You take it and he kindly helps you up from the seat.
The two of you walk slowly down the road as you try and wipe away the rest of the tears from your eyes. Glancing up at him, you speak. "Thank you for telling me all of that back there, Keigo. I'm really sorry you had to go through all of that."
He smiles. "Don't worry about it. It's in the past now."
You suddenly ask. "Even after all of that, how do you manage to stay so positive?"
A light chuckle leaves his breath and he smiles. "I always like to think three steps ahead when it comes to the future. It's best to always be prepared. Also, I'm a pretty optimistic guy."
You smile at his words and gently squeeze your hand within his. He squeezes back and a light giggle leaves your breath.
By the time the two of you reach your house, you glance up at him and smile again. A sudden tightness grows in your chest. Almost like you don't want to leave.
You don't know what you've done to deserve this but right now, you feel so grateful to have met Keigo.
He's always so kind and so caring towards you. He never looks at you like you're worthless. He never ignores you and makes you feel like you don't matter. He treats you with nothing but benevolence and respect.
As the tightness fades slightly from gazing into his golden brown eyes, you step forward and wrap your arms tightly around him for another hug.
Keigo happily accepts, embracing you with both his arms and his wings.
A warm glow quickly flourishes to your cheeks and a soft sigh leaves you.
"Thank you, Keigo." You softly utter.
"Anytime." He utters back.
After a few seconds, you pull away from the hug and gaze up at his handsome demeanor. A warm smile is on his face, one that brings you calmness and solace.
Reaching up onto your tiptoes, you press your lips softly against his and lightly hum at the warmth of the kiss. Keigo purrs, gently raising his hands and cupping your face at your jaw.
After what feels like an eternity, you both pull away and gaze into one another's eyes again. A calm feeling lingers in your chest as you admire the moon's light gleaming in his irises.
"Goodnight, Keigo." You whisper.
"Goodnight, Y/N." He replies. "Sleep well."
"You too."
Resisting the urge to carry you off into the night, Keigo releases your face and takes a step back.
With a playful wink, he takes to the night sky and you watch with a warm smile as he flies off into the darkness.
No longer feeling the tightness inside your chest. You turn towards your house and make your way over to your bedroom window.
You carefully climb through and close it behind you. Holding onto this warm feeling for as long as you possibly can. You change into your pj's and climb into your bed, pulling the sheets up to your cheeks and letting out a calm sigh.
You can do this.
You can make it through this hardship.
You just have to stay optimistic for the future.
Just like Keigo.
The very thought of him causes the ember inside you to glow across your cheeks and before you know it, you've drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
Notes:
I'M BACK!!!! I'M FINALLY FINALLY BACK!!!!! :D :D :D :D
I'm so so sorry I have kept you all waiting so long for this chapter ;3;
What was meant to be a small hiatus, ended up being even longer than I wanted it to be >.< it has literally been one problem after another, after another, after another and I want to apologize for keeping you all waiting ;3;That being said; Chapters may take a little longer to write for the future. Since both Hawks and Dabi's personalities are completely opposite to one another's, it's very hard to write them both if my mind isn't in the right place to write that certain character on that certain day.
So I want to thank you all for your patience in the future of this story ❤
It's good to be back :3
Chapter 8: Meeting New Friends
Chapter Text
The weekend arrives quicker than you anticipate, and plans with Keigo have been abruptly changed. Thanks to one of the favours Keigo owes Touya for keeping you company the other night, Touya had planned a day of playing video games with the guys.
Walking down the morning street together with your hand in his, after meeting you outside your workplace, you hear Keigo lightly chuckle. "Sorry about the sudden change of plans, Y/N. I promised Touya that we'd hang out today."
You gaze up at him with a smile. "It's okay. I don't mind. We can always hang out later, just the two of us. Plus, I'm looking forward to meeting some more of your friends today."
A slight tightness begins to linger inside your chest. Aside from Touya, most of Keigo's friends you've been introduced to have always been super friendly. The tension soon leaves your shoulders once you hear Keigo's reassuring words.
"They're an interestin' bunch of characters, but I think you're gonna like 'em."
Stepping onto the porch of his house together, Keigo slides the front door open, where you are met with a bunch of new faces.
You're quick to spot Touya slouched on the sofa with a video game controller in his hand. Two other guys are sitting beside him. The first male on the left is a rather well built man, with short blond hair and grayish blue eyes, no eyebrows and a large scar splitting down his forehead.
The second male on the right is a slim built man with pale skin, red eyes and white shoulder length hair, tied back in a messy ponytail.
Keigo grins lightheartedly, raising his hand to wave. "Hey guys! Listen up. I'd like you all to meet Y/N L/N. She's a newcomer to this town."
Before you even have a chance to speak, a new face quickly runs over and invades your personal space. A girl with yellow eyes and ash-blonde hair, styled in two messy buns grabs your hands and stares directly into your eyes. A hot pink glow rushing to her cheeks.
"Ohmigosh! Birdie boy!" She squeals. "You never told me that your girlfriend would be so cute! Hi there! I'm Himiko Toga! It's nice to meet ya!"
You begin to stutter, trying to collect your words as she continues to invade your personal space.
A pair of hands grab Toga's shoulders and lightly pull her back, saving you. "Toga, sweetie. What have we told you about getting too close to people's faces?"
With a quick sigh of relief, you follow the pair of hands up to another new face with quite a wide, muscular build. She is a transwoman with an effeminate face. Silky shoulder length maroon coloured hair and a pair of triangular, white framed sunglasses.
The woman gazes down at you with a smile. "Sorry about her. Toga can be a little too much for some people, but she means you no harm. The name's Magne, but you can also call me Big Sis Magne. Whichever you prefer."
You smile. "It's nice to meet you Magne. I'm Y/N L/N."
"It's lovely to meet you, sweetie. Let's introduce you to the boys." Magne points her finger over to the sofa, particularly at the blond male on the left of Touya. "That's Jin Bubaigawara. He's a super sweet guy, but he was in a car accident a couple of years back, hence the scar running down his forehead. It gave the poor boy a lot of head trauma. He is living with a condition called DiD, 'Dissociative Identity Disorder'. Jin, sweetie. This is Y/N L/N."
Jin pulls his eyes away from the video game and raises his hand at you to wave. "It's nice to meet ya! Who the hell are you? "
You are taken back slightly by his sudden backlash from his triggered anxiety of meeting new people. Magne quickly reassures you that it is a switch of his.
She then points over at the white haired male on the right. "That's Tomura Shigaraki. We call him Shiggy for short. He's not very big on eye contact or talking, but he's really nice once you get to know him."
"Oh, is he shy?" You ask.
"He's Autistic." Toga adds. "So he doesn't really talk very much. The only one he talks to the most is Touya, because they share the same interests."
"Oh, I see." You smile. "Well, it's really nice to meet you, Jin and Shiggy."
"So tell us a little about yourself, Y/N." Magne turns her attention back to you. "How did you meet our dear boy Keigo?"
As you begin to chat and get more comfortable with the girls, Keigo smiles and decides to leave your side to join the boys on the sofa.
"Well, I moved here with my family a couple of months ago and I met Keigo on my third day of working at Aizawa's coffee shop."
Hearing the name of your workplace, a pink blush quickly rushes to Toga's cheeks again and she squeals. "Ohmigosh! That's where Ochako used to work!" Her smile suddenly drops. "It's a shame she's moved away now. I never got the chance to tell her how I feel."
"I'm sorry, Toga." Your face softens. "But hey, don't let it get you down. You may have missed your chance with Ochako, but there are plenty more fish in the sea."
"You're right, Y/N." Toga sighs. "Big Sis Magne said the same thing. I still have my whole life ahead of me, so that gives me plenty of time to find the right person." Her eyes twinkle and she suddenly gleams at you. "In the meantime, tell us more about yourself, Y/N! You and birdie boy look so cute together!"
In no time at all, the tension on your shoulders quickly fades the more you chat with Toga and Magne. The two of them are so kind and so friendly that you feel like you can be yourself around them without the fear of being judged.
As the three of you talk more, you discover that Toga is bisexual, and that she has grown more distant with her parents over the years. Her family continuously forgetting her sexual orientation again and again, and pushing boys down her throat.
As for Magne, you find out that she is successfully going through transitioning. And that her friends see her as the big sister of the group.
With a warm feeling beginning to grow inside your chest, you can't help the gentle smile that forms on your face when talking to them. The girls seem to radiate the same kind and carefree energy as Keigo.
Magne turns her attention to you. "Say, do you like shopping, Y/N?"
You answer with a nod, causing Toga to giggle. "Ooh! Big Sis Magne! We should take her shopping with us! We can try on some cute clothes, maybe get some milkshakes! Have a girlie day out, whaddya say?"
Toga doesn't even give you a chance to answer, already she's grabbing your hand and dragging you towards the front door, with Magne following not far behind.
Giggling, the blonde girl turns her head and calls out to Keigo. "Oh, birdie boy! We're going to borrow your girlfriend for the day, 'kay?"
"Okay! Don't hog her all day, I want her back!" He teases.
With one last giggle, she replies. "We won't!"
Keigo shoots you a warm smile, one that you immediately return back to him as Toga is already ushering you out the door.
From the corner of his eye, Touya watches you leave, feeling his chest tighten significantly. The whole time you've been talking with the girls, he's been taking subtle glances over at you every now and then. Feeling his heart almost skipping beats every time he saw you laugh or smile.
Why?
Why the hell does he suddenly feel like this whenever he looks at you?
His heart is racing.
His entire body feels like it wants to explode.
It just doesn't make sense.
Ignoring the unusual feeling and shoving it to the back of his mind again, he turns his attention back to the videogame, huffing in frustration when he loses the match from being too distracted.
"Pay attention, Dabi! You suck! " Jin calls out.
"Whatever, Scar Face." Touya scoffs. "Just hurry up n' pick the next stage already."
_____________
Once the three of you make it outside, Magne reaches into her pocket for her car keys. "We can take my car, girlies."
"Magne! Magne!" Toga calls out. "We should go shopping for yukatas first!" She grins and turns her attention to you. "Do you know about the upcoming Summer Festival, Y/N?"
"The Summer Festival?" Come to think of it, you do remember Keigo mentioning it to you on your first date together. "Yeah, I remember Keigo telling me about it when we first met. He said he wanted to take me there."
The blonde girl giggles. "Then what are we waitin' for! We should head there first! We know a great guy that sells amazing yukatas! He's like a walking sewing machine!"
"A walking sewing machine?" You tilt your head slightly.
Big Sis Magne steps in. "The guy that runs the store is a quirk user. He can manipulate any kind of fabric, so all of his yukatas are handmade."
"That's amazing." You smile.
Making your way towards Magne's car, she unlocks the vehicle with the button on her key fob and the three of you step inside. You decide to sit in the back, where Toga immediately joins you so she can talk to you more.
Taking the opportunity, you turn to her with another smile. "So, what do you do for work, Toga?"
"I'm a phlebotomist technician at the hospital." She answers. "And Big Sis Magne works part time at a grocery store, since she spends most of her time caring for Jin and Shiggy now."
"Oh, so you're a carer, Magne?" You ask.
She gazes over her shoulder at you from the front seat. "Jin and Shiggy are my roommates. After Jin had his car accident, most of my time was spent caring for him. So I had to leave my full time job and move to part time. My boys are a handful, but I love 'em."
A warm smile brushes across your lips. "That's really nice of you, Magne."
She grins at you. "Thanks, sweetie! Now you see why they call me the big sister of the group. Alright, girlies! Let's have fun today!"
Placing the key into the ignition, the three of you fasten your seat belts as the car starts and Magne turns on the radio full blast.
I come home in the morning light.
My mother says when you gonna live your life right.
Oh, mother dear, we're not the fortunate ones.
And girls they wanna have fun.
Oh, girls just want to have fun.
_____________
After spending most of the car ride chatting with each other, singing to the songs on the radio and overall just enjoying one another's company, the three of you eventually pull up on the outskirts of town, where you spot the yukata store ahead.
The outside of the shop has large glass display windows, with wooden mannequins wearing yukatas, all with unique patterns and colours to give off the sense of summer.
Stepping out of the car together, Magne locks the vehicle with her key fob and the three of you make your way towards the store entrance.
Opening the door, you hear a delightful jingle of a bell above your head, giving off a warm and welcoming sound. The inside of the store has a delightful smell of fresh silk and cotton. The different coloured yukatas can be seen neatly placed on display to advertise the latest fashion, along with a table of hair clips, pins and jewelry.
Spotting someone in the corner of the room, dressing up one of the mannequins, they turn their attention to you and you are met with a tall, slim and elegant man with blond hair that's drastically combed over one side, covering his left eye.
"Welcome to my store, ladies." He proclaims with a calm and welcoming tone.
The two girls beam at the male as Magne rests her hands on your shoulders. "I'd like you to meet Y/N L/N. She's new in town, so this'll be her first time going to the Summer Festival."
"I see." He utters, turning his attention to you. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Y/N L/N. My name is Mr Tsunagu Hakamada. Please feel free to peruse my store and please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions."
You gaze up at him with a smile. "Thank you, sir."
Toga is quick to grab your hand. "This way, Y/N! This way! There's some really cute yukatas over here!"
The blonde girl nearly pulls your arm out of the socket as she drags you towards the corner of the store where you can see different types of coloured fabric laid out on hangers in front of you.
Without giving you a chance to choose yourself, Toga is already grabbing different fabrics from the hanger and shoving them towards you. "Oooo, you would look so cute in this one, Y/N! Or this one! Or maybe this one!"
With a stuttered breath, you are almost caught completely off guard by the sudden weight of cloths. You quickly balance to hold the pile properly in your hands.
Sensing that you are overwhelmed by Toga's excessive personality, Big Sis Magne walks over and takes the piles of materials that are being forced into your hands. She then places them back onto the shelf where they belong.
"Toga, sweetie." Magne sings. "You're being too much again. I understand you're excited, but let Y/N choose for herself."
She then turns to you and smiles. "Sorry about her, Y/N. Toga absolutely adores the Summer Festival, so she's wanting to pick matching yukatas for us all. This is your first time here, so you should be free to choose for yourself. Do you see any you like?"
"Um..." You take a look at the fabrics on the hangers in front of you, not finding a colour or pattern in particular that really peaks your interest. "I'm not sure."
"Well, is there a colour you would like to wear?" Magne asks.
Taking a moment to think about it, Keigo suddenly crosses your mind, causing a pink blush to rush to your cheeks. You are reminded of the colour of his beautiful red feathered wings, and the captivating colour of gold in his eyes.
Feeling the flush on your cheeks grow bigger, you answer. "How about red and gold?"
Big Sis Magne grins. "An excellent colour combination, Y/N! Let's look together and see what we can find."
Helping you search for the perfect yukata, you and Magne browse the many hangers and piles of patterns on display until you eventually spot one you like. A red yukata with golden flowers and a hummingbird pattern on it.
Taking the robe from the hanger, you walk over to Magne and show her the item. "How about this one? I really like this one."
Magne grins from ear to ear. "Oh, that one is perfect! You're going to look so beautiful in that, Y/N! You're gonna sweep dear Keigo off his feet for sure!"
The blush on your cheeks grows bigger once more as you smile and lightly clutch the yukata in your arms.
"You should get a complementing hair clip too, Y/N." She comments. "Have a look on the display table and see what you can find. If you need help with anything, you can also ask Mr Hakamada."
After a few more minutes of browsing, the three of you finally have the perfect outfits. Keeping your red yukata with gold hummingbirds, Toga decides on a dark purple yukata with white flowers and Magne has chosen a pink one with cherry blossoms on it. All with hair clips, jewelry, obi's and sandals to complement your designs.
Giggling, you make your way towards the counter together to pay for your items, where Mr Hakamada is already waiting to serve you. "A fine choice of outfits, ladies." He comments. "The three of you are going to look stunning."
With another giggle, the three of you pay for your outfits as Mr Hakamada neatly folds your yukatas, wraps them up and places them into bags.
After saying your goodbye's, you leave the store together. Magne then pulls out her car keys from her pocket. "How about we leave our yukatas in the car? We can walk to the mall from here."
You smile. "Sounds good to me."
"Magne! Magne!" Toga calls out. "Can we go to my favourite store first!?"
"Yes, Toga. Don't get excited, we can head there first." Unlocking the car with her key fob, Magne takes the yukatas and places them into the back of the trunk before closing and locking it.
_____________
After walking a few miles, the three of you arrive outside a large shopping mall building. Gazing up at the structure, you see that the roof is made entirely of glass, letting in plenty of light from the outside. The front of the building is mostly decorated with small shrubberies and trees. The entire premises looks almost as tall as a skyscraper.
Without giving you a chance to take in the rest of your surroundings, Toga is already grabbing your hand again and dragging you inside. "This way, Y/N! This way!"
The excitement in her grin grows bigger, eager to show you her favourite store as she pulls you inside the building and up the escalator.
Once you reach the top, you see the store ahead, with the latest fashion for women displayed in the windows.
As Toga continues to drag you into the shop, you see many colours of pink and purple on the mannequins, as well as shoes, hats and dresses.
A squeal leaves Himiko's excited breath. "Ohmigosh! They have new stock in! Magne! Y/N! Let's take a look!"
Before the blonde girl could drag you any further, Magne steps in and releases your hand from Toga's grasp. "Toga, sweetie, calm down! We have all day to shop. The store isn't going anywhere. And for the love of god, let Y/N look around herself! She's her own woman. She doesn't need you holding her hand all the time like she's a toddler."
Realizing that she's getting a little too carried away, Toga's smile drops. "I'm sorry, Y/N. It's just really nice to have another girl to hang out with us. Magne and I are the only girls in our group of friends."
Your face softens. "It's okay. I understand. I'll tell you what, how about we split up and look around the store, then meet at the dressing room to try on clothes once we find ones we like?"
Himiko grins. "Great idea, Y/N! I'll take this side!"
And just like that, Toga vanishes. Leaving you and Magne to giggle amongst yourselves.
Big Sis smiles. "Well, see you here in a few minutes, Y/N. I'm going to have a look at some cute dresses first."
"Great idea. I'm going to look at some outfits over here."
As the two of you separate, you start by browsing the shirts first. You spot the odd nice shirt here and there, as well as a cute cardigan and a nice pair of denim jeans to go with it, but nothing that really peaks your interest yet.
So you try the opposite side of the store, where you find a white laced ribbed camisole with bows and a black short circle skirt.
Taking the top and skirt, you decide to combine them with the cardigan you found earlier.
A couple more minutes of browsing, you make your way over to the dressing room to meet up with Magne and Toga.
Spotting you in the distance, a large grin curls onto Himiko's lips. "Yay! Y/N is back! Let's try on clothes!"
"How about we take it in turns trying on the outfits?" You ask. "That way, we can give each other our opinions on the clothes."
Big Sis answers. "That's a great idea, Y/N. Who should go first?"
You smile. "How about you go first, Magne?"
"Me?" She giggles lightly. "You're too kind. Thank you."
Reaching the changing rooms, you and Toga wait patiently outside as Magne heads into the small room and closes the curtain behind her to try on her outfit.
After a time, Toga calls out. "Do you need help with anything, Big Sis?"
"Thanks sweetie, but I think I got it."
Pulling the curtain open, you and Himiko quickly turn your attention to Magne to see her in a beautiful sleeveless white mini dress and a white summer hat.
The two of you gaze at her, completely flabbergasted.
"Ohmigosh! Big Sis! You look so beautiful!" Toga squeals.
You nod. "The white really compliments the colour of your hair and the hat makes you look very elegant."
A pink flush rushes to Magne's cheeks and she beams. "Oh, you girls are too kind! Thank you! I'm going to buy these for sure!"
Once Magne changes back into her regular clothes, she steps out of the changing room and smiles at you both. "Ok, who wants to go next?"
You gaze over at Himiko. "You can go next, Toga."
"Thanks, Y/N!" Wasting no time at all, the blonde quickly steps into the room and draws the curtain.
Not even a minute later and the girl is already fully changed. Opening the curtain, you and Magne gaze up at Himiko to see her wearing a cute black turtleneck sweater, with a red checkered pattern pleated skirt and black tights.
Magne beams. "Toga, sweetie, you look so cute!"
You agree with another nod. "The turtleneck and skirt really suits you. You look adorable!"
The blush on Toga's face grows bigger as she gently clasps her hands onto her cheeks. "You girls really think I look cute?"
You nod again. "The cutest girl we know."
Hearing those words causes Toga to giggle to herself as she steps back into the changing room with a grin and changes back into her regular clothes.
Last but not least was you. Stepping into the changing room alone, you draw the curtain and you start to undress, leaving your bra and underwear on.
You change and gaze at yourself in the changing room mirror, turning side to side as you watch the short circle skirt flare out to your movements.
Then your vision moves down to your chest, worried that your breasts might be a little too big for such a shirt. You can see your cleavage almost bursting out of it, causing your chest to tighten and your stomach to churn.
Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Magne's voice on the other side of the curtain. "Y/N? Sweetie? Is everything okay?"
"I-I'm fine. I'll be out in a second." Shoving your insecurities to the back of your mind, you take a deep breath and open the changing room curtain to reveal your outfit to Toga and Magne.
The two girls scan your outfit up and down before Toga rushes over to you with a gleam in her eyes and a pink flush on her cheeks.
"Ohmigosh! Y/N! You look so cute! I bet your clothes don't stay on you for long when birdie boy is around, huh?"
Your clothes won't stay on you for long? What does she mean by that? As your brain finally registers what she meant, your cheeks burn as red as a tomato and you take a step back with a stuttered breath. "I-It's a little t-too early t-to think about stuff l-like that, isn't it!?"
Toga frowns. "Too early!? Exactly how long have you and birdie boy been together now, Y/N?"
"Um...a-almost three months now."
Toga's jaw almost hits the ground. "And you're telling me that in those almost three months, you and birdie boy and haven't even-"
Magne quickly steps in, saving you from any further embarrassment. "Toga! That is a very private matter between Y/N and Keigo! It's rude for you to be asking such things!" She turns her attention to you. "I'm really sorry about her, Y/N."
You can feel your chest begin to tighten slightly as you try to ignore it and answer with a small smile. "Oh, n-no no. It's okay."
Big Sis smiles, trying to reassure you. "The outfit does really suit you, Y/N. Are you going to buy it?"
"Um..." You take a moment to think about it. "I really like the cardigan and the skirt...I'm not so sure about the shirt though."
"Well, you can always come back another day to buy the shirt if you change your mind."
"I guess." You make your way back into the changing room to change back into your regular outfit.
As you close the curtain, you can faintly hear Magne lecturing Toga for being rude to you, causing the tips of your fingers to shiver slightly with anxiety.
_____________
After paying for your outfits and leaving the store, the three of you decide to window shop for a while before stopping at a cafe for a refreshing milkshake.
Sitting at the bar together, you slurp your strawberry milkshake slowly through the straw, gazing out of the window to watch the people passing by.
Your mind begins to wonder, on what Toga had said earlier. This is your first time in a relationship with someone, and even though you love Keigo and find him very attractive. The thought of sex hasn't even crossed your mind yet.
Keigo is very sweet and respectful towards you. He's never overstepped your boundaries or done anything to hurt or upset you.
With how supportive and kind he is towards you, anyone else in your situation would be more than willing to take the relationship to the next step, but...you don't know if you're even ready for anything like that yet. With everything that's happening at home right now, that's the last thing on your mind.
Your doubts are soon interrupted by the sound of Magne's voice, who is quick to notice your sudden change in mood. She gently pats your shoulder. "Hey, Y/N. Are you okay, sweetie? You haven't said a word since we left the clothing store."
You gaze up at her with a faint smile. "Oh, I-I'm fine. I'm sorry. I think I'm just a little tired, that's all."
Her face softens. "That's okay. It's been a long and exciting day for us all. We can start heading back soon if you like."
You nod and continue to slurp up the rest of your fruity drink.
_____________
As you leave the mall together, Magne stops at a small grocery store nearby to pick up a few essentials before the three of you head back towards the car.
While you wait patiently outside for Magne to come back, Toga gently grabs your sleeve, causing you to glance over at her.
There is a genuine look of regret on her face as she gazes up at you with watery eyes. "Y/N. I'm really sorry about earlier. It was wrong of me to ask you such personal things."
Your face instantly soothes and you smile at her. "It's okay, Toga. I'm not mad at you."
Hearing those words, Toga invites herself into your chest for a hug and you instantly hug back, feeling the tightness in your chest fade.
Just as Magne steps out of the store, she spots the two of you hugging and she giggles. "You girls are having a group hug and didn't invite me?" She teases, joining in as she wraps her whole arms around the two of you. "It's been a really fun day today. We should do this more often."
"I agree." You smile.
Magne then releases herself from the hug. "Alright. Let's head back. The boys will be wondering where we are." She then pulls out her phone. "I'll also send dear Keigo a quick text to let him know we're heading back."
_____________
The car ride back to the house is calm and pleasant. After spending the day together, the three of you are ready to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.
As the house comes into view, the three of you spot Keigo waiting patiently outside the front door for you. Your heart instantly begins to flutter when you see a tender smile on his face.
Pulling up into the driveway, Magne gazes over her shoulder at you from the front seat. "Why don't you go and spend time with your man, Y/N. Toga and I are going to stay here at the house a little longer."
"Oh, okay." You smile. "Well, thank you so much for today, girls. It's been really fun."
"Likewise." Magne grins. "Now go on, don't keep dear Keigo waitin'."
Before you have a chance to leave, Toga quickly reaches over the seat to give you one last hug. "Bye, Y/N! We'll miss you!"
"Bye Toga and Magne. Thank you again for today. It's been amazing." You smile and instantly hug her back before stepping out of the car and grabbing your shopping bags from the trunk.
Making your way over to Keigo, he smiles at you before glancing down at your shopping bags. "Heyyy, looks like you had a fun time."
You quickly nod and return a smile back to him. "It's been a really good day. Magne and Toga are such wonderful people. I've had a lot of fun."
The blonde grins. "That's good ta' hear! I'm glad you had a good time."
"What about you?" You ask. "Did you have a good day too?"
A lighthearted chuckle leaves his breath. "It's been pretty chill. I managed to beat my high score. Wanna head up the hill and take in the view again?"
"I'd love to."
With a smile, the two of you begin to hold hands and make your way down the street.
As the two of you walk, you hear Keigo speak once more. "Oh, by the way. I have some good news."
"Oh?"
"We finally have a drummer for our band! It's that loud blonde kid Tokoyami was telling us about. Which means we'll be able to finally compete in the big league."
"That's great news, Keigo! I'm looking forward to hearing you play again."
His other hand suddenly finds its way onto his chin. "Hmm...that reminds me. I have a favour to ask of you, Y/N."
You gaze up at him. "What is it?"
He smiles at you. "I was wonderin' if you have any good songs we can use for our first performance? I don't wanna use just any old song, I wanna blow the audience away with a really good one! Do you have any? Maybe one in a different language?"
"A different language?"
"Is that okay?" He suddenly asks.
"No, no." You quickly speak up. "It's more than okay. It's perfect. I'd love to help you. We can look through some songs now if you like?"
He smiles. "Sure thing."
The two of you find a nearby bench and sit down. Taking out your pair of earphones from your backpack, you kindly hand one side over to Keigo and he inserts it into his right ear.
You then place the other side of the speaker into your left ear and pull out your phone to browse through the list of songs. "So what kind of song do you want?" You ask.
"One that's heavy on drums and bass." He answers. "That's a request by Touya and our new drummer."
Giggling, you scroll through your many lists of songs you have that are big on drum and bass until you find a good one.
No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age.
Listening to the song, a huge grin curls onto Keigo's lips. "Oh, this one is perfect! The notes seem pretty easy to follow too."
You gaze up at him. "Do you want to sing the song in English too? I can help you with that if you like."
He smiles. "That'd be great. Thanks, Y/N."
You return a smile to him as the two of you enjoy the rest of the song before making your way towards the hill to enjoy the sunset together.
_____________
Taking in the warm colours that lay on top of the ocean water, you lean your head onto Keigo's shoulder. Listening to the waves as Keigo lifts his wing and wraps it gently around your body to keep you warm.
A sigh of contentment leaves your soft breath. With the soothing sounds of ocean waves and the warmth of Keigo beside you, you feel a moment of blissfulness and tranquility.
The words slip from your mouth without even thinking. "Out of all the fun things I've done today...this one is by far my favourite."
Hearing a soft chuckle leave his breath, Keigo leans down and places a tender kiss on the side of your head. "Me too."
Your heart flutters as you snuggle yourself closer towards his chest so you can listen to the peaceful sound of his heart beats.
His wing pulls you closer and you get a quick whiff of his alluring cologne.
Citrus and spice.
Your heart suddenly begins to race as you are reminded of what Toga said earlier, causing your mind to play tricks on you.
With an unsettling feeling beginning to bubble inside your stomach, you are about to ask him a question...but you stop yourself.
No.
Don't ask him such silly things.
The two of you are happy.
You will take the next step when you're ready.
You trust Keigo.
You know that he would never do anything you aren't comfortable with.
Besides, he's been kindly helping you with your mental health. Surely, sex is the last thing on his mind right now.
He just wants you to be happy within yourself.
Trying to counter your doubts with positive ones, you ignore the conflicted feelings and continue to snuggle yourself into Keigo's chest, listening to the soothing sound of his heart beats.
Eventually, the two of you sadly have to part ways for the night. Going into your dark home and avoiding your parents, you climb into bed. You pull your sheets up to your cheeks and shut your eyes. Letting your mind focus only on the fun day you've had today until you eventually grow tired and fall asleep.
Notes:
Ages are being changed for this story.
Toga is now 20 years old
Twice is now 23 years old
Shiggy is staying 21 years old
And Magne is going to be 24 years old.
I feel like this chapter is a little shorter than my earlier ones, but I hope you still enjoy it :)
Chapter 9: The Lucky Cat Cafe
Summary:
Dabi is being nice??? :O
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Over the next few weeks, you spend the majority of your time helping Keigo and the rest of the band practice for the upcoming battle of the bands. During that time, you're introduced to the new drummer, Katsuki Bakugo. And you didn't think it was possible to meet someone who is even more rude than Touya.
That evening inside Tokoyami's garage, you sit with Keigo on the sofa, helping him pronounce his English words correctly for the song while the others practise their chords. "Okay, watch my lips. Pi-lls to swal-low."
Keigo tries to imitate the same movements as your lips and tongue, only to tease you by pulling a silly face instead. You giggle and playfully slap his shoulder.
Touya watches the two of you flirt from across the room, feeling that unusual burn begin to sear inside his chest again. The more he watches you both, the harder he strums on the thick strings of his bass guitar in frustration.
He can't understand it!
He can't understand why he's suddenly feeling like this!
Why does his heart race every time he looks at you?
Why is there a burning feeling growing inside of him whenever he sees you laugh with his best friend?
He just can't understand it!
He's never cared about you before. So why does he suddenly crave the need to be closer to you?
He wants to share that same bond you have with Keigo. You always look so relaxed and so cheerful around him.
Stepping off his instrument to take a small break, the new drummer Bakugo walks over to the sofa where you are both sitting and frowns down at Keigo. "Oi, Featherhead."
You both stop and turn your attention to the spikey blonde. "Bird boy and I have to study tomorrow, so there won't be any band practice."
Keigo smiles. "Fine by me. Ain't nothin' wrong with taking a break once in a while." He turns to you. "Are you working tomorrow, Y/N?"
You shake your head with a smile. "I have a day off."
He grins. "How about you, me and Touya head out somewhere? Spend the day together?" He then glances over at his best friend. "How about it? That cool with you, man?"
The dark haired male strums his bass guitar one last time, not even bothering to make eye contact. "Fine by me."
In a way, this might be a perfect opportunity for Touya to try and bond with you, in hopes that you'll start to feel more at ease around him.
Keigo grins again. "Then it's a date! I heard there's a new food place that's opened up not too far from town. Maybe we could head there for breakfast?"
You smile. "Sounds good to me."
_____________
The early morning arrives as you make your way into the heart of the town to meet up with the boys after lying to your parents that you have work today. The three of you travel in Touya's car, chatting with one another as you drive through the outskirts of town until you eventually find the new cafe.
The building itself is a farm cafe, made entirely of pine wood. You spot many flowers and vines hanging from the roof trellis, giving off a warm and cozy vibe to the place.
You also spot a small garden patch at the side of the cafe, along with a mini chicken coop to let customers know that their food is fresh and organic.
Entering the cafe, the three of you sit together at a table and browse the breakfast menu. After deciding your orders, Keigo orders himself pancakes, you order a buttered croissant and a latte, and Touya orders himself a simple cup of coffee.
Breakfast with the boys is extremely pleasant. The three of you take your time to eat so you can chat and enjoy one another's company. And you're honestly surprised that Touya seems to be a little more talkative than usual today, not by much, but you appreciate him joining in on the conversation nonetheless.
With breakfast over, the three of you pay for your food and leave the cafe. Pulling out his phone from his pocket, Keigo takes a quick glance at the time. "It's only 10am. Whaddya say, you guys wanna kill some time at the arcade?"
Before you even have a chance to answer, you suddenly hear your phone ringing from inside your pocket. Reaching for the device, you glance down at the screen to see that your boss, Aizawa, is calling. "Mr Aizawa?"
You quickly press accept and hold the device to your ear. "Hello?"
"Good morning, Y/N." You can hear Aizawa's soothing voice on the other side of the phone. "I'm sorry to bother you on your day off, but it's an emergency. Could you come in to work today? I need your help with something. Don't worry, I'll pay you for your time."
You stutter slightly, almost fumbling your words. "Oh, y-yes, of course. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Thanks, Y/N. See you soon."
Hanging up the call, you place your phone back into your pocket and gaze up at the boys. "Mr Aizawa has asked me to come into work, so I won't be able to join you guys at the arcade. I'm sorry."
Keigo smiles. "Not a problem. How about we drive you to work? It's no trouble."
"A-Are you sure?" You ask. "I don't want to be a bother or anything."
Without saying a word, Touya is already grabbing his car keys from inside his pocket and makes his way towards the car.
You smile softly. "Thank you."
_____________
It doesn't take long for the boys to drive you to your workplace. Pulling up outside the coffee shop, you spot many wooden crates and boxes full of items piled up outside.
"What's going on?" You mumble to yourself as you step out of Touya's car. The boys are quick to follow and step out of the vehicle with you, curious to see what is happening.
Just before you enter the building, Kendo steps out to grab a few crates. Raising her head, she eyes you and smiles. "Mornin', Y/N!"
"Good morning, Kendo. What's going on? What's with all the crates and boxes?" You ask.
She grins at you. "Mr Aizawa has decided to go ahead with your idea. He's turning this place into a cat cafe."
A huge smile quickly brushes across your face. "Really? That's amazing news!"
"We're still waitin' on the building crew to arrive so they can replace the logo outside, but we could really use your help inside." Kendo then gazes up at both Keigo and Touya with a grin. "If you boys aren't busy, we could really use your help too. I'll even throw you in a free coffee n' cake on your next visit once this is all over."
A cheery grin quickly brushes across Keigo's lips. "I would never turn down a free coffee. Thanks a lot."
"No problem." Kendo turns her attention to you. "Mr Aizawa has a lot of things for us to do, so we shouldn't keep him waiting."
The three of you enter the building with Kendo to see that the once small coffee shop is being completely refurbished to have a bigger, more open space. New chairs, tables and sofas are being placed, along with cat trees and cat jungle gyms across the walls.
You are in complete awestruck as you take in the new surroundings. "Wow, this place looks amazing!"
At that moment, Aizawa steps out from the back with a sheet of paper in his hand. He raises his head to see that you've arrived. "You've made it. Good." Before he has a chance to say another word, he instantly spots Touya standing behind you and shoots him a sharp glare. "Any particular reason why he's here?" Aizawa growls.
Having been spoken to in such an impolite manner, Touya shoots daggers straight back at Aizawa.
You quickly step in, trying to ease the tension that's beginning to rise inside the room. "I-I was hanging out with them before I came here. They kindly offered to drop me off. They're also here to help too, if you need it."
Aizawa turns his attention back to you, his tired expression quickly returning to his demeanor. "I see. In that case, I have a task for you and Kendo." He then hands you the sheet of paper that he was holding. "This is a list of things I need from the stores at the mall. Think you and Kendo could handle that?"
"Of course, sir." You answer.
"Thanks." Aizawa then turns his attention to Keigo. "You're Keigo, right? I could really use your feathers. They'll come in pretty handy with helping me lift a few things at the back."
"Sure thing." Keigo smiles.
A thought suddenly crosses your mind, causing you to quickly speak up before Aizawa and Keigo leave through the back. "Um...sir? There's only one problem. The mall is pretty far out, so it's going to take us a while to get there and back by foot."
Without even thinking, Touya grabs his car keys from inside his pocket. "I'll take 'em."
He's surprised himself by the words that just slipped from his mouth. Normally, Touya couldn't care less about helping people, but seeing the pure distress in your eyes causes a fire to burn up inside of him. A spark to want to help you.
Even Keigo is caught off guard by his sudden act of kindness. Turning to his best friend, the blond chuckles. "Wow, Touya. I didn't take you for the helpful type. Why the sudden change of heart?"
He gazes over at Keigo, answering in a nonchalant and almost flat tone. "I'm feelin' nice."
You stare up at Touya in disbelief, dumbfounded that he is actually willing to help you. You thought he would have left the coffee shop by now so he didn't have to do any free labor.
After a moment of silence, you remember to respond. "Touya, a-are you sure? I-I don't wanna bother you with-"
He doesn't even give you a chance to finish your sentence. Already he's making his way towards the door, forcing you and Kendo to follow.
Stepping outside with him, you and Kendo glance at each other with a look of confusion. Unsure of what to say to one another. He's offering to help you, sure, but...why? He's never helped you before. He's always been so cold and distant with you. You're bewildered by his sudden change of attitude.
Making your way towards his vehicle, Touya unlocks it and sits in the driver's seat. You decide to sit in the back with Kendo, an act that makes the tightness in Touya's chest grow significantly.
He prefers if you sit in the front with him, so he has a chance to talk to you. But in a way, he's never given you that chance to have that trust in him. He's always been so cold with you, so of course you're going to have that wall of defence built up towards him. Touya needs to try building up that trust with you so that wall will eventually break down.
Placing his keys into the ignition, Touya starts the car and heads down the main road. As he begins passing many cars and roads to make it onto the freeway, he takes subtle glances at you from the rear view mirror.
You're far too busy talking with Kendo, gazing down at the sheet of paper and taking in the list of items that Aizawa has left for you.
"So, Mr Aizawa wants some toys and blankets for the kittens."
Kendo points at one of the items on the list. "This one shouldn't be too hard to find. I know a great place that has cheap prices for these kinds of toys. We can head there first."
"Sure." You answer. "Do you think baby stores would be a good place to get blankets for the kittens?"
"Sure, that could work." Kendo replies.
_____________
After a few more minutes of driving, the three of you arrive outside of the mall.
Wasting no time, you and Kendo step out of Touya's car and take one last glance at the list in your hands. "So where's that store you said to head first, Kendo?" You ask.
"It's on the top floor, by a shoe store. I'll show you the way."
You walk beside Kendo and enter the large skyscraping building, with Touya following not too far behind.
Heading up the escalator together, Touya stays behind the two of you, as you reach the top and head towards the first store.
Both of you enter the shop, Touya waits outside. You begin to browse the store, looking at the many toys and items on sale.
Kendo then walks over and leans in slightly to whisper to you. "So uh...is that Touya guy always like this?"
You glance over at her. "What do you mean?"
"He's been occasionally glancing over at us from the rear view mirror the whole drive here. It's kind of...uneasy. His eyes are almost as scary as Mr Aizawa's."
You bite your bottom lip slightly, unsure on how to answer. In a way, she's right. Touya hasn't stopped watching the two of you the whole time you were in the car together. It makes you feel a little uneasy too. At the same time, Touya is the one who offered to help you. An act that you have never expected from him.
Is he trying to be nice?
Maybe he's finally trying to be less...antisocial?
Touya is such a hard person to read. You can never tell what he's thinking. Regardless, you remember what Keigo said to you on your way to the arcades when you were first going to meet him. You trust Keigo, and you trust his views on people.
Taking a deep breath, you collect your words and reply. "I've...been told that he's an acquired taste, but he's not a bad guy."
Somewhat unconvinced by your answer, Kendo shrugs her shoulders with uncertainty. "Okay, I'll...have to take your word for it."
The two of you continue to browse the store a little longer until you find the items and toys for the kittens. You pay for the items and leave the store, heading to the next one.
_____________
By the end of your shopping trip, you and Kendo have obtained all the items that Mr Aizawa has asked for on the list.
Before the three of you leave the mall, Kendo quickly stops in her tracks. "I'm gonna use the bathroom real quick." She gazes over at you with a smile. "Can I leave my bags with you?"
"Oh, um...y-yeah, sure." You answer.
"Thanks, Y/N." She then places her bags by your feet. "I'll be back soon."
And just like that, Kendo is gone, leaving you alone with Touya.
The two of you stand in silence, unsure of what to say to one another as you both lean against the wall behind you and watch the people passing by.
With nothing to do but wait, Touya is about to pull out his phone from his pocket to browse the web, but instantly stops himself. He takes a quick glance at you from the corner of his eye. The two of you are alone. He can finally try and break the ice with you, but for some reason...he can't.
Touya knows he's not very good when it comes to people. He's not a social butterfly like Bird Brain. He has no idea where to even start or what to even say to you to try and ease your apprehension.
Feeling even more disorientated, he awkwardly rubs the back of his neck with his hand.
His body language is already enough to give you unnerving vibes and you begin to subconsciously rub your arm.
It's only been a few seconds since Kendo left, but it feels like an eternity! Part of you really wishes she would hurry up and come back so you aren't left any longer, awkwardly standing in silence with Touya.
Despite your worries, Keigo crosses your mind once more.
This is the perfect opportunity for you to try and talk to Touya again. You made a small amount of progress with him at the burger joint, sure. And he seems a little more talkative this morning at the cafe, but it's nowhere near enough.
Wanting to try and remove that tension, you work up the courage and quietly clear your throat so you can try to talk without squeaking. "So...uh...how are you...finding the song? L-Like, the...chords and stuff? I hope it's not too...uh-"
"It's fine." Touya's answer is quick, but sincere nonetheless.
You are honestly surprised. Thinking he will shut you down again with a cold answer like he did at the burger place, but his response was...genuine. You could faintly hear a slight gentleness in his tone.
The next words from him however catch you completely off guard. Glancing down at you again, he utters. "You did good."
Hearing such an unexpected praise coming from the one person you don’t think you will hear it from, you quickly gaze up at him in disbelief.
You finally lock eyes with him and you catch the serenity in his blue eyes. A smile slowly begins to paint across the side of his burnt face. It's small and subtle, the warmth and tenderness is indescribable. It’s enough to cause a smile to subconsciously brush across your own lips.
You quickly break eye contact with him and stare at the ground, trying your hardest to hide the slight red flush that's beginning to glow onto your cheeks. A warmth begins to grow inside your chest and your heart flutters.
You have received praise from Touya. The last person who you would ever think to hear such kind of words from. It means the world to you.
"Th-Thank you." You quietly utter.
Feeling a sense of pride shower over him, knowing that he had finally made you smile, Touya stares back out at the crowd and continues to watch the people passing by. He feels a warm ember begin to flare inside his chest as Kendo returns from the bathroom.
_____________
The drive back from the mall is mostly calm and peaceful. You spend most of the ride chatting with Kendo until the three of you arrive back at the coffee shop.
Stepping out of the car and entering the building together, you spot many of Keigo's loose feathers gliding around the store, carrying boxes and placing them in the right areas.
At that moment, Keigo steps out from the back to see that the three of you have returned. His kind smile is already enough to bring you a feeling of blissfulness. "Heyyy, good to see you all back! Did you have a good shopping trip?"
With a joyful smile, you walk over and show him the items you have in your bag. "Kendo and I got these. Do you think they will be good for the kittens?"
"Looks good to me." He answers with a charming grin. "I don't know much about cats though, so you're better off askin' Aizawa."
"Are you scared they'll attack your feathers?" You tease.
The blond chuckles lightly. "You caught me. Those kittens have been jumpin' up at my wings the whole time I've been here."
You giggle. "They probably see you as a giant bird they can play with."
Standing at the entrance, Touya couldn't tear his eyes away from you and Keigo as the two of you began to talk and laugh together. It feels like a personal attack to see you guys get along so well. And here he thought he is making progress with you at the mall, but now it seems like you don't care.
Regardless, Touya knows you're already in a relationship with Keigo. So of course you're going to be cheerful around him. Keigo has already put in the hard work and built up that reliance with you.
An excruciating burn begins to form inside his chest. Maybe it would be best if he stays distant with you. Keep you at arms length so when he sees you interacting with Keigo again, it won't be as painful.
With the unknown feeling rising inside him once more, Touya grabs his pouch of tobacco from his pocket and slinks out the front door without saying a word.
_____________
The rest of the day almost flies by as you, Kendo and Keigo continue to help Mr Aizawa inside the store. During that time, the building crew finally arrives to install the new cafe logo.
Finishing the last few touches here and there, the four of you step outside and gaze up at the new cafe logo above the entrance door. An emblem of a cat sitting beside a hot cup of coffee, curling its tail around the mug.
Feeling proud of the work you have done today, you and Kendo take a glance over at Mr Aizawa to see a warm smile painted across his lips. The expression is something new to see from him.
He's normally so grouchy and tired, but it was nice to see a look of satisfaction and joyfulness on his face. Mr Aizawa is truly happy, and you could tell by the heartwarming presence his body was giving off.
Catching the two of you grinning over at him, a moment of shyness sweeps over Aizawa and the tired expression quickly returns to his demeanor. He then clears his throat. "I'd...like to thank you all for helping me today." He then glances over at Keigo. "I really appreciate your help today as well. Your feathers came in real handy."
"Anytime." Keigo smiles. "Glad I could help."
Aizawa rubs the back of his neck, still feeling slightly flustered from the three of you catching a glimpse of his soft side. "You're all free to go home for the evening. I'm going to head inside and check in on the mother and her kittens. No doubt the noise of today has put a lot of stress on them."
Saying your goodbyes to Kendo and Mr Aizawa, Keigo kindly offers to walk you home. He joins your side, intertwining his fingers with yours as the two of you head down the street.
As you walk, you gaze up at Keigo with a look of concern. "Hey, Keigo. Do you have any idea where Touya went after we came back from the mall?"
The blond lightly chuckles. "Touya has a habit of sneakin' off when no one is looking. He probably left hours ago."
"...Oh..." Your vision moves to the ground and your smile drops. "I never got the chance to thank him properly. What he did today was really thoughtful." The smile returns to your lips and you gaze up at Keigo again. "But hey, Touya said I did good with the song choice for the band!"
"Oh yeah?" Even Keigo is surprised by Touya's unexpected compliment, causing him to chuckle again. "You're makin' good progress, Y/N. Touya's a tough nut to crack."
Giggling slightly, you gently squeeze Keigo's hand in yours and rest the side of your head onto his sleeve. You shut your eyes for a moment, letting the feeling of tranquility take over you.
You always feel so calm and content around Keigo. Every time he smiles at you, it makes your heart race and your stomach flutter. You honestly don't know what you have done to deserve such a kind and caring man.
Before you reach your house however, an unexpected thought suddenly rushes into your mind, causing your stomach to churn.
You are reminded of what Toga said to you when you went clothes shopping with her and Magne. You've been dating Keigo for almost three months. Surely now would be the perfect time to talk to him about taking the relationship to the next step, right?
But...are you even ready?
Why does your heart race whenever you think of this!?
Are you nervous?
Are you not ready yet?
And what about Keigo? Do you think he's even considered the possibility of sex yet?
Keigo is always so kind to you.
He's never overstepped your boundaries.
Maybe he's waiting for you to make the first move?
Or maybe he's -
Stop! The more you think about it, the more you're going to drive yourself insane!
Your thoughts are soon interrupted by Keigo, who stops just a few metres away from your house. You quickly glance up at him and catch the gentleness in his gaze, instantly erasing the doubts that were flooding your mind.
You smile up at him. "Thank you so much for helping today, Keigo. You've been amazing and I think you've made Mr Aizawa's day too."
"Anytime." He grins. "I've had a lot of fun."
You gaze up at him with another smile, feeling your heart flutter as he leans in and presses his lips softly against yours. Your body almost melting at the sensation of the kiss.
After a few seconds, he slowly pulls away and gazes into your eyes, admiring the colour of the evening sky that almost glistens in your irises. "Have a good night, Y/N." He purrs.
"You too." You smile. "Thanks again for today."
"Anytime." Stealing one last kiss of your lips, a recurring habit of his that you adore, you giggle as he takes a step back and with one beat of his beautiful red wings, he takes to the sky.
You watch him leave with a warm smile before making your way towards your house. You climb through your bedroom window as carefully as possible and close it behind you.
A sigh of contentment leaves your breath. Today has been so eventful and enjoyable. You can't contain the healthy glow that's forming on your cheeks.
Laying on top of your bed, you browse the web on your phone. You begin to relax, checking your emails and notifications on instagram, when the negative thoughts begin to flood your mind again. You groan slightly in frustration.
Turning over, you stare up at the ceiling, taking in the silence as you slowly shut your eyes.
Why does this thought keep haunting you?
The pressure to take the relationship to the next step?
You don't know if you're even ready yet.
You've been catching up on other things that you didn't think about it at the time. As soon as you are alone with Keigo, your mind starts to play tricks on you.
With an agitated growl, you hold your phone properly in your hands to text him, but instantly stop yourself at the last minute.
What's texting him going to do?
Surely, this is something you will want to discuss with him in person rather than by text.
This is a huge step for both of you.
Maybe sleeping on it will help ease your mind a bit, even though you're not really tired yet.
Holding your phone properly in your hands again, you turn over on the bed and browse the internet again.
You keep glancing at the time on your device as it grows more and more late. Your mind is constantly swirling with doubts. Afraid you're not good enough for Keigo. Scared that you'll mess up if you try to talk to him about your relationship.
You begin searching the web to see if anyone is having similar situations so they can maybe offer advice. Although, nothing seems very helpful to you. Most forums advise you to talk to your partner and take the next step together.
Eventually, you're forced to stop using your phone due to low battery. You place your device back on your bedside cabinet and plug in the wire to recharge.
You then pull the sheets over your body and shut your eyes tightly, trying to force yourself to sleep. The harder you try however the more irritated you get.
Taking a deep breath, you think of the positive things you've done today, in hopes that it will block out the negative thoughts.
After a few minutes of breathing therapy, your mind eventually begins to shut down and you drift into a night of slumber.
Notes:
This is my first time writing love triangles, so I'm sorry if any of it doesn't sound very good ^^; Also, sorry for another short chapter. Hoping the next one will be a little longer :P
Chapter 10: Under the stars
Notes:
Slight NSFW warning in this chapter, but not full smut...not yet >:)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The battle of the bands was only two weeks away, Keigo and the rest of the band members tried to squeeze in as much practice as possible before the big day.
Making your way into the heart of the town that morning, you feel the cold breeze gently brush through your hair, causing you to shiver. You lightly tap on the door of your workplace to let Kendo know you've arrived.
Walking over and unlocking it for you, Kendo smiles. "Mornin', Y/N!"
"Good morning, Kendo." You answer, taking off your thick jacket. "It's freezing out there this morning. Are the kittens still asleep?"
"Yeah, they're still sleepin'. I'm sure they'll wake up once they hear us movin' around though."
Word had quickly spread around the town of Mr Aizawa's coffee shop that had now been refurbished into a cat cafe. Many townsfolk and regulars of the store queued up outside everyday to get a glimpse of the adorable kittens.
As you and Kendo get the store ready for the doors to open to the public at 9am, the two of you make sure to feed the kittens their breakfast before brewing the coffee.
_____________
With the hectic morning rush soon dying down and lunch hours arriving shortly, you and Kendo work hard. You both keep the cafe clean and the orders prepped, all while trying to avoid the little kittens running around under your feet.
Hearing the delightful jingle of the bell above the door, two familiar faces enter the cafe. Keigo, along with a very bored looking Touya, step inside and take a seat on one of the comfy sofas.
Spotting them from the corner of your eye, you shoot them a warm smile and finish serving a customer their order.
You then walk over and smile at the boys. "This is a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting you guys to come and visit today."
A light chuckle leaves Keigo's breath, seeing the dimple form on the side of his cheek when he grins. "We have a day off today, so we thought we'd stop by and check up on ya. Took me a while to convince Touya to come out, but here we are."
You smile again, feeling a slight pink glow form on your cheeks. "I'm glad you both came. This morning has been crazy." You then take out your notepad and pen. "So, what can I get for you boys?"
"Just the usual for me, thanks." Keigo answers.
"Sure thing." You write down 'coffee and blueberry muffin' before turning your attention to Touya. "And what about you, Touya?"
The dark haired male shrugs his shoulders, not even bothering to make eye contact with you as he answers abruptly. "I don't care."
"Oh, um...o-ok." Taken back slightly by his harsh response, you decide to just write down 'coffee' on your notepad. "I'll...be back soon with your orders."
As you step away to prepare their drinks, an unsettling feeling begins to sink in your stomach at Touya's reaction.
What happened? You thought you were making progress with him back at the mall when he gave you that unexpected compliment. Now his attitude feels like you're back at square one again. The way he spoke to you just now was the same as the day you first met him. Cold and distant. But why? Did you do something wrong?
You begin prepping their orders, trying to ignore the doubts swirling around inside your head while a few of the kittens curiously walk over to investigate the boys.
Reaching over and plucking out a long feather from Keigo's wing, Touya holds it out and waves it around to get the kitten's attention.
"Maybe a lil heads up next time before yankin' out one of my feathers, Touya." Keigo grunts slightly.
But Touya ignores his best friend and continues to play with the kittens with a poker-face expression. His eyes occasionally glancing over at you while you work.
After serving the boys their orders and tending to other customers, Keigo remains on the sofa, playing with the kittens. He patiently waits until he can see you are no longer loaded with orders.
Once it's quiet, the blond stands up and makes his way over to the counter, where you are busy filling the barista machine with more coffee beans.
Feeling the presence of someone behind you, you glance over your shoulder and smile when you see that it's Keigo. "Hi Keigo. Are you okay?"
"Just peachy, thanks." He answers, leaning his arms on the counter with a handsome grin.
Feeling his warm eyes watching you, you can't help the light pink glow that begins to form on your cheeks. You finish your task and turn your attention to him. "Um...I wanted to ask. Is Touya okay? He seems a bit...cold today."
The blond is quick to reassure you. "I wouldn't worry too much, Y/N. He's been like this with me all mornin'. Like I said, took me a while to convince him to come out today."
The tensity inside your chest fades slightly. "I hope he's okay."
He reassures you again. "I'm sure he'll talk when he's ready."
You nod and smile. "So, what can I get for you? Do you want another refill on your coffee?"
"Actually..." He grins. "...I have something I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
"This music gig that's comin' up. It's gonna be pretty late by the time we finish. Was wonderin' if you wanted to stay over at my place for the night when it's over?"
Hearing those words causes your heart to race and the tips of your fingers to shiver.
You're going to be alone? At night? With Keigo? Is that really a good idea? After what Toga said to you that day at the mall, her words won't stop constantly looping around inside your head.
The two of you will be alone together. This would normally be the part where you-
Trying to shove the implicit thoughts to the back of your mind, you smile again and answer. "Sure, that would be great."
"Great!" He grins back. "Since we're the band, we'll be arriving before everyone else, so we'll be takin' Touya's car to the gig. Magne said she'd happily take you in her car if you'd like."
"Oh, well, actually, I was going to ask Kendo if she wanted to come and support you guys. So if we have an extra person, I can always text Magne and let her know."
"Sure thing." He grins again. "Oh, and I'll take that coffee refill while I'm at it."
"Sure." You smile and turn your attention back to the barista machine. "I'll bring it over to you when it's ready."
"Thanks, Y/N." With one last smile, Keigo lifts himself from the counter and makes his way back over to his table. You can't help but admire his beautiful red feathered wings that bounce behind him.
As soon as he's left however, your heart starts to race and the tips of your fingers begin to shiver once more.
You can't believe it. You're going to be alone with Keigo...in bed.
Fuck, this is all happening so fast!
It's a lot of pressure. You don't know if you're even ready and you're scared that you're going to mess it up somehow.
Should you make the first move? Is Keigo going to make the first move?
Hell, has sex even crossed Keigo's mind this far in the relationship yet?
Trying to ignore the conflicted thoughts racing around inside your head, you finish making Keigo's coffee and bring it over to his table.
_____________
With the lunch hours soon dying down for the afternoon, you and Kendo continue to keep both the customers and kittens happy.
Keigo and Touya had left hours ago, and the pressure of your opposing thoughts soon began to fade.
Walking over with a tray full of empty used coffee mugs, Kendo smiles over at you. "Why don't you go and take your lunch break, Y/N. I'll take it from here."
"Ok. Thanks, Kendo." You're about to step into the back, but stop yourself and make your way back over to Kendo, who is busy filling up the dishwasher with dirty dishes. "Actually...there's something I wanted to ask you, Kendo."
She smiles, not taking her eyes away from her task. "Sure, what is it?"
"So, remember when I told you that Keigo and Touya are in a band?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, they have this gig coming up in two weeks. A Battle of the Bands music contest. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to listen to them play and show our support?"
Closing the dishwasher, Kendo places her hands onto her hips with a grin. "I'd love to! Keigo really helped us out with this place, so it's only fair we go and support him. I'll ask my boyfriend too. If he's not working, he could take us in his car."
Caught off guard by the words that just slipped from her mouth, you gaze at Kendo with widened eyes. "Whoa, whoa, wait! You have a boyfriend!?"
She grins again. "I've had one for a while, Y/N."
"How come you never told me?"
"You never asked." She teases.
"Oh, yeah...good point."
The two of you giggle for a moment before Kendo grins again. "I'll ask my boyfriend about it after work. How about I text you later and we can arrange somethin'?"
"Sure, that would be great. Thanks, Kendo."
Leaving her alone to work, you grab your lunch from your jacket pocket and make your way into the staffroom to eat.
_____________
Two weeks soon fly by and after working your shifts, cooking dinner for family at home and trying to avoid conflict with your parents, the Battle of the Bands finally arrives!
After planning to head to the gig with Kendo and her boyfriend, you make sure you have everything securely packed inside your backpack, ready to stay over at Keigo and Touya's house for the night.
As you neatly fold your pajamas, you can feel your heart in your throat.
You can't stop thinking about tonight. Can't stop thinking about what will happen between you and Keigo.
Who will make the first move? Hell, why are you even thinking about this? Keigo has never given you the impression or hinted that he wants to take the relationship to the next step, but for some reason, you can't stop this uncontrollable pressure that something has to happen.
Your thoughts are soon interrupted by the sound of your phone vibrating on your bedside cabinet. Placing your folded pj's into your backpack, you reach over for the device to see a text from Kendo.
Kendo: Hey Y/N. We're outside work.
Holding the phone properly in your hands, you reply.
You: Ok, I'll be there soon.
Luckily, you had planned in advance to meet up with Kendo and her boyfriend outside of your workplace instead of your home, so your family don't grow suspicious about you sneaking out tonight.
With the last few things packed up inside your bag, you zip the backpack closed and sling it over your shoulder. You carefully climb out of your bedroom window and slowly close it behind you, leaving it open slightly at the bottom so you can sneak back through in the morning.
You practically power walk down the dark and quiet street, in hopes that you aren't keeping Kendo and her boyfriend waiting too long.
_____________
As soon as you arrive outside your workplace, you see that Kendo and her boyfriend are already waiting for you.
Spotting you in the distance, Kendo grins. "Hey, Y/N. You ready to go?"
"Yep." You smile. "All packed and ready."
"Great. Well, Y/N, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend. This is Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, and Tets, this is Y/N L/N."
You glance over at her boyfriend to see that he is an inch taller than Kendo herself, with chin-length, messy gray hair and black eyes. He is casually dressed in a warm brown leather jacket, denim jeans and sneakers. A huge friendly grin on his face, showing off his unusual shark-tooth like canines.
You smile at the male. "It's nice to meet you, Tetsutetsu."
"Likewise!" He loudly proclaims, his voice almost echoing throughout the quiet night town. "Kendo's told me a lot about you! You can call me Tets for short!"
Kendo lightly nudges his chest with her elbow. "Try to introduce yourself more quietly without wakin' up the whole town next time, Tets."
He chuckles. "Sorry, Kendo."
You giggle slightly at their light bickering before the three of you make your way towards Tetsutetsu's car.
Sitting in the back and fastening your seat belt, you feel your phone vibrate from within your pocket. Reaching for your device, you see that Keigo has sent a text.
Keigo: Can't wait to see you tonight :D I'll keep a look out for you in the crowd.
A warm smile quickly brushes across your lips. You hold your phone properly in your hands and reply.
You: I'll be at the front, cheering you on! Do your best, all of you!
Placing your phone back into your pocket, Kendo glances over her shoulder at you from the front seat. "Sorry we can't stay the full night, Y/N. Tetsutetsu has work in the mornin', so we'll have to leave as soon as Keigo's band finishes playing."
You smile. "It's not a problem. I really appreciate you both coming to support him nonetheless."
Kendo returns a smile to you before turning on the radio at low volume. Starting the car, Tetsutetsu heads down the main road while Kendo gives him directions with the tracking app on her phone.
_____________
After driving out of town, the three of you pull up outside the large building of a live music bar. Already you can hear the loud and slightly muffled sound of electric instruments coming from inside.
Stepping out of the car, the three of you enter the building. The inside of the bar is huge with plenty of tables and chairs for guests. Paper lanterns hang above the open bar, along with different coloured stage lights on the ceiling. The large wooden stage where bands will be playing is seen at the front, with a microphone and amps for the members. A sizable red curtain is the backdrop.
Following Kendo and Tetsutetsu, the three of you traverse through the busy crowd to get to the front. You can feel your chest tightening slightly from the overwhelming amount of people, but you try to stay close to Kendo until the three of you reach your seats.
Sitting down, Kendo leans in so you can hear her voice over the loud echoing sound of electric instruments. "So, what's Keigo's band name!?"
"Phoenix!" You answer. "Keigo is on vocals and Touya plays bass!"
"Keigo's on vocals!?" Kendo grins. "That's great! Can't wait to hear 'em!"
Smiling, the three of you chat for a while until the lights around you dim slightly, signaling that the contest is about to start.
The three of you gaze up at the stage to see a male announcer making his way over to the microphone to test the audio.
"Testing, one, two. Alright. First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by this evening to show your love and support to the many talented artists who will be playing for us here tonight. As you know, the judges will be taking scores throughout the show and at the end of the contest, they will be choosing two candidates based on their performance. The grand prize for those two lucky bands will be given the opportunity to play live at the upcoming Rock Festival this summer!"
You, and the rest of the crowd clap hands together in unison.
The audience soon dies down and the male continues. "So, without further ado, I want you all to put your hands together for our first performance. This band has traveled all the way from South Korea. So give it up for: Ecstasy!"
As the band members make their way onto the stage, you and the rest of the crowd begin to cheer. Despite Keigo's band not being the first to play, you still want to give the other participants the same love and support that you would for Keigo.
With the instruments ready, the vocalist steps towards the microphone and holds up his arm. "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!"
The music starts as the loud vibrations from the amps echo throughout your entire body. The beats from the drums and the strumming of the guitars almost deafens you, but you continue to cheer, jumping up and down with Kendo to the rhythm of the music.
_____________
After another three bands have played on stage, the contest takes a small intermission to give the backstage members enough time to prepare for the next performance.
During that time, you and Kendo take a small bathroom break. Your bodies almost feel like jelly and your ears feel like they are about to pop from all the loud music and heavy bass, but you don't care. The music only fuels you with more excitement.
Exiting the bathroom together, the two of you make your way back over to Tetsutetsu, when you hear a familiar voice call your name.
"Oh, Y/N~!"
Turning your vision towards the voice, your face instantly lights up with joy when you see both Toga and Big Sis Magne walking over.
With a happy squeal, you practically run towards the girls and hug them.
"It's so good to see you, Y/N!" Toga grins. "We've missed you!"
"I've missed you girls too!" After a few moments of hugging, you lightly pull back. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you two in the crowd."
Magne is quick to reassure you. "Don't worry about it, sweetie. We've only just got here. We were running a little late. Has Keigo and Touya played yet?"
You shake your head. "Not yet. I'm hoping they will play soon though."
A quick sigh of relief leaves Toga's breath. "That's good. I don't wanna miss our boys."
You smile at Toga before glancing up at Magne again. "Is Shiggy and Jin here too?"
"They are." She replies. "But they are sitting backstage. I wasn't going to bring Shiggy along because of all the loud music, but he insisted he wanted to come and support Touya. So he's sitting in the back with a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Jin also wanted to stay backstage to keep him company."
You smile. "Aww, that's really sweet of him."
"So, where are you sitting, Y/N?" Toga asks.
"We're at the front." You answer. "Come on over and I'll introduce you to Kendo and Tets."
You begin to chat with your group of friends, enjoying one another's company, when the lights start to dim once more and the contest is ready to continue.
The announcer makes his way onto the stage again.
"Alright, I hope you've all enjoyed our small intermission. Our next band is from a small seaside town in Japan, so please put your hands together for: Phoenix!"
Hearing the name of the next band, you and the rest of your friends quickly stand up from your seats and cheer as loudly as you possibly can.
The boys begin making their way on stage and your heart quickly starts to flutter at the sight of Keigo.
Spotting you at the front of the audience, a handsome smile sweeps onto the side of Keigo's lip and he shoots you a playful wink, causing your heart to race once more and your cheeks to glow a pleasant pink.
Seeing his best friend flirt with you from across the stage, Touya rolls his eyes in frustration before plugging his bass guitar into the amp machine beside him.
With everything set, Keigo makes his way over to the microphone. He then spreads his large red feathers all the way out, allowing the audience to witness the full beauty of his wings.
"Hey there." Keigo utters, letting the cockiness in his voice echo throughout the whole bar. "I'll skip the intros. We're just here to blow your minds with some good fuckin' music."
Standing up from his drum set, Bakugo slams his drumsticks together. "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!"
The spikey blond then hits his sticks hard on his instrument, signaling the others to begin playing. The music blasts loud vibrations throughout your bodies again, causing you and your friends to jump up and down to the beat of the music.
Both Tokoyami and Touya strum in unison with their guitars, staying in rhythm together. Keigo then places his lips towards the microphone, ready to sing.
We get some rules to follow!
That and this, these and those!
No one knows!
We get these pills to swallow!
How they stick in your throat!
Tastes like gold!
Oh, what you do to me!
No one knows!
You and the rest of your friends cheer loudly in the crowd to show your support. Kendo quickly leans in towards you so you can hear her over the loud music. "I never knew Keigo was so good at singing! And he's singing in English too! That's amazing!"
You quickly nod with a smile. "He's worked really hard and I'm so proud of him!"
"You should be proud, Y/N!" Kendo grins. "He's doin' great!"
Excitement begins to fuel your entire body. Feeling ecstatic, you're proud of Keigo for fulfilling his dream. And what's even better is that he's singing his English words perfectly! A skill that you had helped him achieve. It causes the butterflies in your stomach to dance wildly!
Your heart is racing!
You are so proud of him!
With the smile growing bigger on your face, you continue to cheer, watching Keigo and the rest of the boys blow the audience away with their music.
Halfway through the song, Bakugo and Tokoyami stop playing, allowing Touya to show off his kick-ass bass guitar solo.
Toga quickly calls out from the crowd. "Kill it, Touya!"
With another huge smile, you decide to join in with her. You raise your arm and call out to the dark haired male. "You're doing great, Touya!"
Hearing only your voice amongst the roaring crowd, Touya tries to stay focused on his chords. Feeling his heart race with something he's never felt before at the sound of your praise.
After his solo, he begins strumming low on his thick bass strings. Keigo then holds his lips to the microphone again to finish the song.
Heaven smiles above me.
What a gift here below.
But no one knows.
The gift that you give to me.
No one knows.
With the song over, you and everyone else in the audience cheer loudly for the boys. Almost deafening them with applause and praise.
As they begin to leave the stage, you and your friends quickly hear a couple of men behind you, scoffing at the boys’ performance.
"Did you hear that bullshit? Sounded like a cat being strangled to me."
"Yeah, and did you see those disgusting wings? And that burnt ass freak playing bass in the back? What makes them think they'll ever make it big?"
You and your friends burn holes through their skulls before standing up from your seats and cheering ten times louder, blocking out their hateful comments.
_____________
After saying your goodbyes to Kendo and Tetsutetsu, and listening to a few more bands, it is time for the judges to tally up the scores.
You join Toga and Magne while you wait with anticipation for the results. At that moment, you spot Keigo, Tokoyami and Bakugo stepping out from backstage to join you in the audience. As they walk over, a huge smile quickly brushes across your lips. You congratulate Bakugo and Tokoyami before inviting yourself into Keigo's chest for a hug.
"Ohmigosh, you guys were amazing! You definitely blew the audience away! My heart is still racing!"
The blond lightly chuckles with a handsome smile. "Thanks, Y/N. I'm glad you had fun. Where's Kendo anyway? Didn't she come in with you?"
"She did." You answer. "But her boyfriend has work in the morning, so they sadly had to leave after you finished playing. But Kendo said you were amazing and she wishes you the best of luck!"
Keigo chuckles again. "I'll give her my thanks next time I see her."
You glance around the area for a second. "Where's Touya?"
Your boyfriend replies. "He said somethin' about his work buddies comin' to support him tonight, so I think he's with them."
"...Oh..." Your smile drops and your chest grows tense. You were hoping you could catch him before the results so you have a chance to try and talk to him. He's been so cold with you lately. You don't know why, but you have this unsettling feeling that you've done something to upset him.
Sensing your concern, Keigo's face softens. "I'm sure he'll be back when the results are in. How about we go and chat with the others in the meantime?"
Hearing the pure tenderness in his tone is enough to relieve the doubts in your mind. You nod with a smile and the two of you join up with your group of friends.
_____________
The announcer makes his way back on stage with a small handful of envelopes in his hand.
"Alright. I want to thank everyone for your patience tonight. The judges have tallied up the scores and have finally made a decision on the two lucky band winners. The winners of course will be called out and they will be handed an award and an entry form for the upcoming Summer Rock Festival. So, without further ado, let's call out our two lucky winners!"
Opening the first envelope, you and the others stare intently at the announcer, waiting for him to declare the first one.
"Our first winner is...Ecstasy!"
The audience begins to applaud and cheer as the Korean band steps on stage to accept their award. The vocalist steps towards the microphone to give a small appreciation speech.
"We'd like to thank all our friends and family back home who believed in us! We're very excited to play at the Rock Festival this summer and we're looking forward to bringing our Korean culture with us! Thank you!"
The audience applauds and the band makes their way off the stage.
The announcer steps towards the microphone again to declare the next winner.
"And our second winner is...Phoenix!"
Hearing Keigo's band name, you, Toga and Magne quickly stand up from your seats and cheer as loudly as possible.
As you watch the boys make their way on stage, you feel a great sense of pride shower over you when you see Keigo accepting the award. Gifting them the form to officially confirm them as a certified band.
With a confident smile, Keigo makes his way towards the mic to give his speech. "I just wanna give thanks to our supporters, you know who you are. And with that, we're out. Peace."
They begin to leave the stage and you cheer once more with Toga and Magne. Toga quickly turns around and sticks out her tongue at the two haters who previously made unpleasant comments about the boys. "Suck it, haters!"
You and Magne can't help but giggle at Toga's spicy attitude.
_____________
With the contest over and the hours growing late, it is time for the bar to close for the night. Most of the audience have already gone home, leaving the bar staff to clean up before closing.
Standing alone inside the entrance, you wait patiently for Keigo, feeling your heart still racing from all the excitement of today.
Within a few minutes, the blond steps out from backstage and a charming smile brushes across his lips when he spots you waiting for him.
You reach up on your tiptoes and kiss him lightly on the cheek. "Congratulations on winning the contest, Keigo! I'm so proud of you!"
He chuckles lightly, the smile still remaining on his face. "Thanks, Y/N. Couldn't have done it without you. You've been my top supporter."
Hearing those words causes a pink glow to form on your cheeks.
Keigo joins your side and hands you the award form so you can read through it. "Touya already left with the car, so how about I fly us back to my place?"
You smile again, trying to ignore your heart that begins to race with apprehension. "Sure."
As the two of you exit the building, you quickly hear a commotion outside.
Glancing over, you see Jin squatting on the ground, with his hands on his head and tears streaming down his face. Toga is beside him, gently rubbing her hand up and down his back to try and calm him while Magne is busy placing a few bags in the trunk of her car.
Walking over, you ask. "Magne? Toga? Is everything okay?"
Big Sis quickly glances over her shoulder and smiles. "Hi cuties. I'm sorry you have to see this."
"What's happened? Is everything alright?" You ask again.
"It's Jin." Toga answers. "He's having a panic attack. After his car accident a couple of years back, he gets very anxious when it comes to getting into cars. It's also why we were a little late earlier."
"Oh...I'm sorry." You then glance over at Magne. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
She quickly reassures you. "Thanks, Y/N, but we can handle it. I don't wanna risk putting any more stress on our sweet Jin if everyone starts helping. We'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" You ask again.
"Positive." She answers with a kind smile. "Now you two go and enjoy your evening. And congrats again on winning the contest, Keigo."
"Thanks Magne." Keigo smiles.
"Bye Y/N! Bye Birdie boy!" Toga calls out. "Have a good night!"
You wave at the girls and the two of you begin to leave. As you walk, you feel a slight strain linger in your chest. "Poor Jin." You let the words slip from your mouth. "I feel really bad for him."
Keigo is quick to calm your concerns. "He's got Toga and Magne with him, so you don't need to worry. They're good people, he's in good hands."
You feel the tension fade from your chest. "I guess you're right."
Smiling back, Keigo intertwines his fingers with yours. "It's good that you care about him though. It shows that you're a good person."
Hearing those words causes a flush of pink to rush to your cheeks. "Thank you, Keigo."
He smiles once more. "Anytime. You ready to go?"
With a nod, you feel your heart skip beats when Keigo lifts you into his arms. Spreading his wings all the way out, he takes to the sky with only a few beats.
Once the two of you are in the air, you lean your head gently on Keigo's shoulder, trying to calm yourself to the colours of the night sky.
_____________
As the house comes into view, you can feel your heart in your throat once more.
Preparing himself to land with just a few wing beats, Keigo touches down softly on the driveway. He gently helps you down from his arms and you feel the gravel beneath your feet.
"Thanks, Keigo." You smile.
"Anytime." He smiles back.
The two of you make your way towards the porch, when you suddenly hear the sound of men cheering and laughing coming from inside the house.
Keigo chuckles lightly. "Seems Touya brought his work friends over to celebrate our win."
Hearing those words causes your heart to race with unease. You are already nervous enough with the fact that you're going to be sleeping with Keigo tonight. Not to mention you haven't had a chance to talk to Touya yet. And now that he has brought friends over to drink without telling anyone causes the tautness inside your chest to grow unbearably tight.
Sensing your anxiety, Keigo glances down at your form. "You okay?"
You nod aggressively, but even he can tell that you're apprehensive.
His eyes soften. "We'll skip the intros and go straight to my room, okay? Just stay behind me. You don't have to talk to anyone if you don't want to."
Hearing the calmness in his voice eases your nerves, but only slightly. You nod and stay close behind him as he slides the front door open.
Once inside, you are met with Touya and a group of his work friends slouched on the sofa, with bottles of beer in their hands, half drunk.
Spotting the blond male entering the home, Touya's work friends raise up their drinks and cheer loudly, congratulating Keigo on his win.
"There he is! The big man!"
"Keigo! Congrats on the win, buddy!"
"Come have a drink with us, man!"
Keigo lightly chuckles with a grin. "Thanks, but I'm gonna pass on drinkin' tonight. Don't let me stop ya from enjoyin' yourself though."
Touya's gaze quickly moves over to you, feeling a strong tension flare up inside of him when he sees you hiding behind his best friend.
To his knowledge, this is your first time staying over at their place, and he's fully aware of what might happen once the two of you enter that room.
The very thought makes his chest burn with what feels like resentment. Maybe it's a good thing that he invited his work friends over for the night. Touya knows you aren't a very confident person, so there's no way in hell that the two of you would do anything when there is company over.
As he watches the two of you make your way towards Keigo's room, Touya decides to tease you. Allowing the alcohol to rush to his head, he takes a quick swig of his beer before calling out. "If you guys are gonna fuck, keep it down. We're tryna enjoy a drink out here."
Touya's friends quickly begin to laugh loudly, impersonating the sound of orgasms and moaning Keigo's name.
Hearing them ridicule you only makes you hide further behind Keigo's wings. Your entire body feels like it wants to disintegrate from embarrassment. Your cheeks burn a chilli hot red and your heart starts to pound painfully hard against your chest.
You want to disappear right now!
It is taking everything within your power to not run out of the house.
Despite their teasing, Keigo remains completely calm. He lightly chuckles before deciding to sass his best friend back. "Aw, I didn't know you were the jealous type, Touya. If you wanted a fuck, you should 'ave asked me. I'll be gentle with ya."
Touya's friends quickly begin to laugh again at Keigo's response, putting Touya in his place.
As the two of you step into Keigo's room, you feel Touya's sharp blue eyes almost glaring at you, causing you to hide further into Keigo's wings.
Closing the door behind him, Keigo flicks the switch and fills the room with light. Now alone in the safety of his room, the blond calmly utters. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I had no idea Touya would bring his buddies over tonight."
"I-It's okay..." You quickly respond, feeling like your entire body is about to shatter into a million pieces. You continue to cling to Keigo's feathers, trying to comfort yourself in the solace they bring you.
With your tense fingers practically clutching onto his wings, Keigo smiles again, trying to bring back your self-assurance. "It's just the two of us now. They won't come in here, so you don't need to worry, okay?"
The gentleness in his tone is enough to soothe you and you slowly nod.
Keigo speaks again. "Bathroom's on the left if you wanted ta' change."
With another nod, you pull yourself away from the safety of his wings and take off your bag, placing it onto the floor. As you zip it open to find your pajamas, you glance around the room to take in your surroundings.
Half of the walls are painted red, with the other half painted white. A wardrobe can be seen on the right beside the door and a double bed in the middle of the room with two nightstands on either side. The bed sheets are also red and white with a black cushioned headboard behind to relax your head. The bedroom itself is relatively clean, and you can smell the cooked poultry scent of Keigo surrounding the whole area.
Smiling, you let the words slip from your lips. "Your room looks so warm and cozy."
You hear him from across the room. "Thanks. Had a lot of fun paintin' the walls myself. Was pretty easy with my feathers n' all."
You respond with a light giggle before finally grabbing your pj's and making your way towards the bathroom.
Entering the room and closing the door behind you, you take in the environment of his bathroom. It's a lot bigger than you imagined, and cleaner too. There's a half wall separating the bath and the counter areas. The stepin shower, tub and tiles are completely spotless with a scent of bleach, along with what smells like citrus.
As you begin to change, you gaze around the room a little more.
There's a black electric toothbrush in a small glass cup by the sink, with half a tube left of peppermint toothpaste. You glance over at the wash area to find his shampoo bottles and shower gels neatly placed on the side, along with a razor to shave his face beside them.
There's also a clean white towel outside of the bathing area hooked on the back of the door, to dry himself off with after showers.
You can't help the soft smile that brushes across your lips. It's sweet that Keigo takes pride in his appearance, as well as his possessions.
Once you are changed into your pj's, you fold your regular clothes and hold them in your arms before opening the bathroom door.
Entering the bedroom again, you raise your head to see Keigo laid on top of the bed sheets, with a laptop on his lap. His wings are closed and nestled comfortably behind him. You can see that he has already changed while you were in the bathroom, into a loose grey t-shirt, showing off his alluring toned arms and a pair of black boxer shorts.
He gazes over at you with a warm smile. "Thought we could watch a movie if you're not tired."
Feeling your heart race at the sight of him, you try to hide the red that's beginning to burn across your cheeks. "Oh, s-sure."
Placing your folded clothes on top of your bag, you walk over, trying to keep your blushing cheeks hidden as you slowly crawl onto the bed.
Once close enough, you lay down and rest your head gently onto his shoulder. His scent quickly surrounds your form as he opens the laptop and begins browsing a few movies on the Netflix app.
"Any movie in particular ya wanna watch?" He asks.
"M-Maybe another Ghibli movie?" You quickly answer, trying to ignore your heart rate that's about to skyrocket. Your entire body is about to explode.
He smiles. "Good choice."
The two of you look through the list of Ghibli movies until you finally choose one together.
Spirited Away.
Pressing play, Keigo raises his arm and rests it gently onto your hip, pulling you in closer so the two of you can cuddle. His wing follows shortly after, wrapping around you so you can feel his soft feathers blanket you with warmth.
As the movie begins, you try to calm yourself to the soothing sound of Keigo's heartbeats, but your own heart rate quickly overpowers the sound.
Your stomach turns into knots. You can't stop thinking about what Toga said to you that day at the mall.
Is now the best time to make a move?
Is that why Keigo suggested watching a movie before going to sleep?
Maybe he wants you to make the first move?
Your thoughts are soon interrupted by the sound of Touya and his friends, laughing and cheering loudly from outside. It causes your insides to churn.
Knowing that people are in the other room discourages you from trying anything, but you know if you don't do something, these uncontrollable urges will never stop haunting you.
For now, you try to disregard them and nestle yourself further into Keigo's warm chest, taking in his delightful scent of cooked chicken and cologne.
You feel his thumb lightly rubbing circles on the bare skin of your hip and you lean further into the touch.
You begin to calm again, but the pressure to take the relationship to the next step soon begins to overwhelm your thoughts once more. You focus on the movie, but they quickly come back ten times louder. At that same moment, you hear Touya and his friends laughing again in the other room.
With an irritated groan, you sit up from Keigo's chest and begin to rub your eyes with your fingers.
Sensing your frustration, Keigo pauses the movie and gazes over at you. "You okay, Y/N?"
You answer him, almost aggressively. "Yes, I'm fine...I'm sorry, I just-" You take a deep breath and decide to lie. "I'm sorry...I just can't seem to settle. For some reason, I can't focus on the movie...b-because of all the...n-noise."
"Want me to go talk to 'em?" Keigo asks.
"No, no." You quickly respond, feeling your stomach churn again. "I don't wanna ruin their fun or anything."
You really want to enjoy your night with Keigo, you really do. But more importantly, you just want these impulsive thoughts to just leave you alone.
With a hum, Keigo's fingers find their way onto his chin. Suddenly, he asks. "How about we sleep in the car? I know it's a little unexpected, but I know of a really great place that'll give us a view of the stars and the ocean. We'll fall asleep in no time."
Hearing his suggestion causes your heart to pound hard against your chest. "A-Are you sure?"
Keigo nods. "It'll be our own little paradise. A secret of ours. Whaddya say?"
You stir, your heart rate increases. You really appreciate how much Keigo is trying to help you. At this point, it's better than having a never ending battle inside your mind while Touya and his friends are being noisy in the other room.
With a nod, you answer. "Okay. Let's go."
_____________
After the two of you change back into your regular clothes, Keigo makes sure to grab plenty of blankets before leaving the safety of his bedroom.
Stepping out of the room together, Touya spots the assortment of quilts under his best friend's arm and quickly narrows his eyes at the two of you.
Ignoring Touya's scary glare, Keigo grabs the car keys on the side and raises his hand to wave. "We'll be back in the mornin'. Have a good night!"
Touya's friends wave back, saying their goodbyes. Touya, however, quickly moves his eyes over to you and you hide yourself behind Keigo's wings again.
His eyebrows furrow once more as the two of you leave the house.
Once outside, you make your way towards the car. Keigo unlocks the vehicle and steps into the driver's seat while you sit in the passenger seat.
You can feel your heart in your throat again as Keigo places the key into the ignition and starts the car. Making your way down the quiet road, you stare out of the window, trying to ignore your implicit thoughts that are practically screaming at you from the inside.
_____________
It didn't take long for the two of you to reach your destination. Stopping the car just above the hill, Keigo turns off the engine and a pleasant grin brushes across his lips. "What a view, huh?"
Your vision moves to the windscreen and you are met with a breathtaking view of the town below and the ocean beyond the horizon. It looks truly beautiful! The dim lights from the houses and the stars of the night sky almost make it look like the two of you have stepped into a painting.
As beautiful as the scenery is however, nothing seems to stop the everlasting twisting of knots inside your stomach. Your entire body begins to shiver, from both the cold night and the continuous amount of stress on your mind.
Glancing over at your trembling form, Keigo asks. "You okay, Y/N?"
You nod.
"You look cold." He softly utters. "I'll set up the blankets so we can sleep in the back."
You quickly shake your head.
Sleep is the last thing on your mind right now. You've been trying so hard to ignore these opposing thoughts, that no matter how hard you fight them, you can't seem to contain them anymore.
Your mind is racing! Your heart is pounding!
All these emotions have been putting so much stress on you lately. Your mind hasn't stopped harassing you about it since that day at the mall with Toga and Magne. You know the voices in your head will only continue to grow louder and louder if you keep choosing to ignore them.
Turning the car engine back on, Keigo reaches over and turns up the heat of the car. "It's pretty cold tonight, so maybe this'll help. It'll warm up soon, 'kay?"
You nod again. Trying to calm your restlessness, you gaze over at the view to ease yourself in the beauty of the stars, but it doesn't seem to help much. You don't know if you're even ready for this, but you know if you don't do something now, your brain will never shut off from this insufferable pressure. This is your only chance. The two of you are alone. It's the perfect opportunity for you to try and make a move.
With a racing heart, you work up the courage and quietly muster your words. "K-Keigo?"
"Hm?"
"Can I...please hold you for a second?"
He gazes over at you, confused at first, but if holding him will bring you a sense of clarity and help you with whatever it is you're feeling right now, he will happily abide.
With a soft smile, he answers. "Sure thing."
Without warning, your body moves on its own. You crawl over the passenger seat and onto the driver's seat so you are straddled on his lap.
Caught completely off guard by your action, Keigo's body grows stiff for a moment and he hitches in his breath.
His response leaves you feeling even more apprehensive and you quickly wrap your arms around him, burying your face deep into his neck to try and calm yourself in his scent.
Now Keigo can definitely sense that something isn't right. Wrapping his arms around you to bring you comfort, he quietly utters beside your ear. "You sure you're okay, Y/N?"
You nod.
"Are you sure?"
You nod again.
Remaining calm, Keigo slowly begins to rub his hand up and down your back, bringing with it a feeling of composure. "I'm here whenever you're ready to talk, okay?"
The tenderness in his voice soothes you and you begin to relax into his touch. His hand feels so warm on your back. His calming presence almost sends you into a lull of sleep.
That is, until your mind quickly haunts you again, reminding you of the words.
Your heart races, there's no turning back now. You've gotten this far. You can't stop these thoughts racing around inside your head. You have to do something now! Otherwise they will never go away!
With a fluttering heart, you utter. "K-Keigo?"
"Hm?"
You finally raise your head from his neck and gaze into his eyes. You take a moment to admire the colour of his golden brown irises that almost seem to glisten under the stars.
Feeling your heart race once more, you swiftly lean in and connect your lips with his.
Your gesture almost catches Keigo completely off guard, but feeling the pure tenderness in your kiss quickly throws any reservations out the window and he moves his lips softly against yours. His hands come up and cup your face, almost sending your brain into overdrive.
Already starving for your taste, after waiting for so long, Keigo deepens the kiss. His tongue finally slips into your mouth and you openly allow him inside, tasting him at last.
Fuck, he tastes so good!
You can't stop now!
You begin to relax into the sensation of the kiss and you raise your hands to caress his cheeks.
Feeling a bit more confident, his hand grasps the back of your neck, pushing you further into his mouth. He is so soft and so warm, it drives your insides insane.
Heat quickly floods to your core. The more he kisses you, the harder it is to keep yourself together.
Keigo isn't doing much better himself either. Now fully aware of his erection growing inside his pants, he doesn't know if he can ignore it for much longer. A raspy purr vibrates from within his chest, making his heart pound harder.
Like a possessed man, his hands trail up from your thighs to your hips, gripping them lightly. You pant heavily in response and clutch your fingers into the soft locks of his hair. Your breaths grow heavy, feeling your senses heighten.
Breaking himself away from the kiss, his lips slowly move to your neck. He ghosts over your skin for a while, letting you feel his hot breath.
It sends waves of electrical currents through your whole body as he starts to leave feather-light kisses on your neck and collarbone, causing your body to quiver.
Your breath catches his name.
"K-Keigo..."
Your voice sends him dizzy with desire and his kisses grow more fierce. He lightly runs his hot, wet tongue along the side of your neck, making your insides burn with excitement.
You can't help the soft moans that leave you. He begins to gently suck on your skin, exhilaration fueling his entire being at the sound of your cries.
The dampness between your legs grows more intense. Your heart is racing! Your stomach is fluttering! You can feel his hard length pressing against your inner thigh.
You lean yourself back to give him more room...maybe...a little too far. You move back and a loud horn-like sound suddenly comes running to your ears.
It's blaring throughout the nearby area, quickly causing the two of you to jump out of your skin. Almost scaring you both half to death. Releasing your back from the steering wheel, the sound stops and it soon grows silent once more.
Having been interrupted by the car horn, an accident that you had carelessly caused, you feel a strong sense of humiliation loom over you like a dark shadow.
Your gaze moves over to Keigo, who seems confused at first, but he quickly begins to laugh loudly at the situation.
However, you're not laughing with him. In fact, you feel the complete opposite. Upset and shame washes over you like a tidal wave.
You messed up!
And it's all your fault!
Tears begin pricking at your eyes and you quickly bury yourself deep into Keigo's neck again, wrapping your arms tightly around him as an agonizing pain begins to burn inside your chest.
"Y/N!" Keigo grunts, feeling like you're almost about to suffocate him with how tight you're holding him.
A sense of dread rains over you. You can't control anything in your body right now. You feel like you're about to shut down at any minute.
Keigo can hear your rapid breaths hitting his skin. He raises his arms and wraps them around you to try and comfort you, but you quickly pull back.
You desperately try to hold back your tears, but they quickly overflow and begin racing down your cheeks.
You start to hyperventilate, almost like you're having an anxiety attack.
"I'm so sorry, Keigo! I tried to-...I-I wanted to-!"
You try so hard to speak, but the words refuse to leave your lips. Tears quickly overflow and run down your face once more.
Remaining calm, Keigo raises his hand and gently tucks a small strand of your loose hair behind your ear, causing your watery eyes to glance over at him.
He smiles and you soon start to relax yourself in the softness of his gaze.
"Take deep breaths for me, Y/N." He utters. "I'm right here. When you feel ready to talk, just talk, okay?"
You nod and bury yourself into his chest again. You proceed to take deep breaths as Keigo gently rubs his hand up and down your back to bring you comfort.
His gesture soothes you and you soon begin to slow down your rapid heart rate.
After a few minutes, you release yourself from his warm embrace and gaze into his golden brown irises once more. He smiles at you, bringing with him a feeling of ease. "How are you feelin'? A little better?"
You slowly nod, wiping the water away from your eyes with your wrist. "I'm...I'm so sorry."
"You have nothin' to apologise for, Y/N. You know I'm always here if you wanna talk."
With a few deep breaths, you finally decide to tell him the truth. "I'm sorry...it's just...we've been together for three months now...I was worried that you wanted to take the relationship to the next level, b-but I was too scared to ask you and...I just felt this uncontrollable pressure that you would get bored and leave me if I didn't do something."
"What makes you think that?" He calmly asks.
"I...I don't know..."
His face softens. "Y/N. I would never dream of doing anything like that to you. We're taking this relationship one step at a time. I would never pressure you. And when it comes to sex, we'll do that when we are both ready to, okay?"
The kindness in his words and the pure honesty in his gaze brings you a sense of solace and you respond with a nod.
"Thank you, Keigo."
"Anytime." He smiles.
You smile back and hug him once more, calming yourself in his warm embrace. As you hold him, you feel those never-ending doubts finally erase themselves from your mind, and clarity takes over.
A cheerful sigh leaves your breath as Keigo places a tender kiss on the side of your head. "We should get some sleep." He utters softly beside your ear.
Nodding, you lift yourself from his lap. Keigo respectfully looks away while you climb off him and through the gap of the seats to get into the back. He then reaches over and grabs the piles of blankets before opening the car door and making his way into the back seats with you.
Opening the door and leaning over, he unfolds the blankets and lays them gently over your body before closing the door behind him.
The two of you lay out across the car seats with your back pressed up against his chest. He wraps his arm around your waist, and his scent soon begins to surround your form.
You smile and quickly turn yourself around so your head is resting onto his warm chest. You bury yourself deep into his shirt, inhaling his calming scent of cooked poultry and citrus cologne.
The words then slip from your lips without thinking. "I love you, Keigo."
His face softens. "I love you too, Y/N."
He leans down and leaves a tender kiss on your head, causing the butterflies in your stomach to flutter. He then lifts his wing and gently lays it over your body, providing you with an extra blanket of warmth.
The silence of the night soothes you and you begin to relax yourself to the sound of his heart beats.
In no time at all, you soon fall into a peaceful lull of sleep in his arms.
Keigo however, is still wide awake.
He gazes down at your sleeping form, angry at himself for letting his impulses take control like that.
The scene won't quit repeating itself inside his head. The way you were kissing him. The subtle sounds of your timid breaths. Not once did he take into consideration how you might have been feeling.
The whole drive here, Keigo knew that something was bothering you, but instead of stopping you and asking what's wrong, he let his urges get the better of him.
The very thought makes his chest burn with guilt and disgust.
He knows he's better than this.
Keigo wants nothing more than to make you happy. He would never objectify you in any way. He wants to be a good man to you, and yet, he almost ruined that chance by letting his impulses overtake his mind.
He gazes down at your form once more, listening to the sound of your breaths. You look so beautiful and peaceful when you sleep.
His wing pulls you closer into his chest as he soothes himself to the sound of your soft breaths. In no time at all, his eyes drift off to sleep.
That night, Keigo held you like you were the only other person in the world.
Notes:
My original plan was to have this chapter finished before Christmas day, but my stupid ADHD has been refusing to cooperate ;3; and I really am sorry for keeping you all waiting ;-;
That being said; the next chapter might take longer to write, so I want to thank you all for your patience in the future ❤
Also, side note: I don't know why, but I really love writing Keigo's wings in a way that brings the reader a form of protection! So I really hope you guys are getting that vibe! :P
Happy New Year, everyone!
Chapter 11: Clipped Wings
Notes:
Warning of both mental and physical abuse in this chapter, as well as self harming and suicidal thoughts.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
You are stirred awake to the sound of rain tapping on the roof of the car. Opening your eyes, the memories of last night come flooding back. And even though you solved the issue with Keigo, there's still that small sense of embarrassment lingering in the back of your mind.
The cold air from the rain causes you to shiver and you bury yourself deeper into Keigo's warm chest, soothing yourself to his calm scent.
Feeling movement, Keigo groans slightly before pulling you closer with his wing. You hum lightly in delight.
"What time is it?" He murmurs beside your ear, hearing the rasp in his sleepy voice.
"I don't know." You reply. "I think I left my phone at your place."
Forcing himself to move, Keigo reaches into his pocket for his phone. He checks the time before lightly chuckling. "We both must have been pretty tired."
"Why? What time is it?"
"It's almost lunch time. Whaddya say, wanna get coffee together before we head back? I know a great place we can go."
You smile. "Sure."
The two of you get up with a stretch and climb through the gap of the seats to get into the front. As you sit in the passenger seat and fasten your seat belt, Keigo gently lays the blankets over your legs to keep you warm before placing the key into the ignition.
"We'll take a drive-thru, so we don't get wet from the rain." He utters.
You agree with a nod.
Starting the car, Keigo makes his way down the hill and onto the main road to reach the coffee house. As he drives, he takes a subtle glance over at you from the corner of his eye, still feeling a sense of guilt loom.
What happened last night is still fresh. He can't stop thinking about it. Can't stop thinking how the outcome may have been different if he just ignored his impulses and asked you from the beginning if you were okay. He's disappointed at himself for not having any self control.
Keigo wants nothing more than to give you the love and care you deserve. He wants to make you happy, so when he does finally make love to you, he wants to make it an experience you will never forget.
Taking the next junction, the blond glances over at you one last time, admiring the look of contentment on your face as you gaze out the window and watch the raindrops lightly hit the glass.
A free hand of his reaches over and his fingers intertwine yours, squeezing lightly.
Caught off guard by the action, you quickly glance over at him and catch the warm, tender smile on his face. You instantly return the smile and gently squeeze back with your hand.
Seeing the look of serenity in your eyes is more than enough of an answer for Keigo. You seem happy, and he wants to continue to keep that smile forever on your face, as well as help you grow more confident.
Eventually, the two of you reach the drive-thru coffee house. Stopping the car near the order window, Keigo orders himself a large breakfast wrap and a black coffee, while you order a small latte and a slice of banana bread.
As soon as your food and drinks are ready, Keigo parks in the car park and the two of you eat breakfast together. Chatting amongst yourselves and overall just enjoying one another's company. And with Keigo mostly talking, you can't help the smile painting across your lips as you reach over with a napkin and lightly wipe the mess away from his cheek.
_____________
With breakfast over, the two of you drive back to the house so you can collect your belongings before heading home.
Trying your best to avoid the rain, you both step out of the car and jog towards the porch. Keigo quickly unlocks the front door and slides it open. Once inside, you both shake yourselves off from the rain before making your way towards Keigo's room.
You gaze down to see that your bag is right where you left it, on the floor beside the door. You quickly use the bathroom first before grabbing your belongings, ready to leave.
Keigo smiles over at you from the bed as he gets up. "I'm gonna take a leak real quick."
"Okay." You reply. "I'll wait for you by the front door."
"Sure thing."
You both part ways and you step back into the living area to wait for Keigo's return.
At that moment, you hear the door on the other side of the room open and an extremely hungover Touya steps out, with messy bed hair, a baggy white shirt and black sweatpants.
He shuffles his way towards the open kitchen before spotting you in the corner of his eye. His ocean blue irises narrow at you and you quickly break eye contact with him, still feeling a large sense of dread loom over you like a dark shadow. "U-Um...g-good morning, Touya."
The male says nothing and continues to make his way towards the kitchen cupboard. He opens it and reaches for a mug to make himself a black coffee.
Your chest begins to tighten as you watch him from the corner of your eye.
You still have this unsettling feeling that you've done something to upset him, but you're not sure what it is. You doubt Touya will tell you if you ask him.
Nonetheless, whatever it is you've done, you still want to apologise to him in hopes that it might bring him some sense of clarity.
Working up the courage, you quietly clear your throat before speaking. "U-Um...Touya?"
He pulls his eyes away from the task of filling his mug with coffee powder and turns his attention fully towards you.
The tension inside the room grows even greater, but you don't let it stop you from saying what you need to say. "I, um...I want to apologise to you. I'm...not sure what it is I've done or said to upset you, but whatever it is...I'm really sorry."
Hearing your apology and seeing a look of pure remorse on your face. Touya widens his eyes slightly.
It was like a wake up call.
A kick to the gut.
He is mad at you, but...how are you supposed to know?
How do you know how he's feeling if he doesn't talk to you?
You can't read his mind.
At this point, maybe he's just been angry at himself this whole time for not talking to you sooner.
That day when he brought you back from the mall and saw you chatting so merrily to his best friend, he can't deny that he felt envious.
And as much as Touya doesn't want to admit it, maybe that is what he's feeling.
Jealousy.
And a desperate need for acceptance.
None of which is your fault.
And yet, here you are, apologising to him.
Guilt suddenly begins to hover over him and an unknown feeling lingers in his stomach.
Just then, Keigo steps out from his bedroom. His golden brown eyes spot his best friend and a cheerful grin brushes across his lips. "Heyy! Mornin' Touya! How're you feelin'?"
Shoving the strange feeling to the back of his skull, Touya shrugs his shoulders and turns his attention back to his coffee. "Hungover."
Keigo grins again, a light chuckle leaving his breath. "I'll be sure to bring you some painkillers on the way back. Gonna take Y/N home first. We'll see you soon!"
You and Keigo wave goodbye to Touya before the blond grabs an umbrella from the umbrella stand by the door. Once outside, you and your boyfriend try to avoid the rain again as you make your way back to the car.
As the two of you exit the house, Touya stares down at his coffee. Trying to find meaning to these new and unknown emotions.
_____________
The drive to your house with Keigo is extremely pleasant. As always, the blond never fails to make you laugh with his funny jokes and wittiness, bringing with him a calming sense of ease.
Pulling up just a couple of houses before yours, Keigo keeps the engine on and his handsome gaze moves to you, causing you to blush slightly.
"Thank you for treating me out for breakfast, Keigo." You smile.
He smiles back. "Anytime." His vision then moves to the umbrella in your hand. "How about you keep hold of that for now. Don't want you gettin' wet. You can always give it back next time I see you."
"Are you sure?"
Keigo nods.
You smile again. "Okay. Thank you again. I love you."
"I love you too, Y/N."
You lean over and kiss him lightly on the lips. The blond purrs softly to the sweet sensation of the kiss.
After a few seconds, you gently pull away and give him one last smile before leaving the car. You close the door and quickly open the umbrella to protect yourself from the rain.
Keigo drives off and the sound of splashing beneath your feet from the soaking wet sidewalk as you make your way towards your house. Your bedroom window is your destination.
Once close enough, you close the umbrella and shake it lightly before opening your window all the way and climbing inside. In the safety of your bedroom, you close the window and place the umbrella by the wall to dry.
Suddenly, your bedroom door opens and your chest instantaneously tightens.
It feels like time has completely come to a halt as the door reveals your older sister. Your heart races and your body freezes in place. She leans herself on the door frame with a shit eating grin painted on her lips. She folds her arms over her chest.
"So you have been sneaking out. I knew it."
Your heart races faster! Your breaths grow rapid! Your fingers start to tremble! The entire room feels like it's growing smaller and smaller, like the walls are closing in all around you!
Shit!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Trying so hard to find your voice, you gaze at your sister with desperation in your eyes, almost like you're pleading for your life. "A-Aimi...Aimi, p-please. P-Please don't tell dad! I'll do anything, j-just please don't tell him! Please!"
The smug grin never leaves your sister's face. She glances down at her perfect nails, almost like she had planned this whole scenario.
With a click of her tongue, she answers in a cocky tone. "Hmm...I don't know. What will you do for me? What could you possibly do that's good enough for me?" She takes a moment to think about it before shrugging her shoulders. "Nothing. So I guess I'm telling."
She turns on her heel to leave, but you quickly grab her sleeve and stop her.
Tears desperately try to escape from your eyes, but you fight to hold them back. "Aimi, please! I'm begging you! I'll do anything! Just please, please, please don't tell dad! Please! "
She has kept your bad grade from school a secret from your dad when you were both kids, maybe she'll do the same now?
Oh, how she loves seeing you squirm. It only adds more fuel to her fire. To her, you're nothing but second best! Constantly living in her shadow. It sickens her to see how pathetic you are. Like a stray dog scrounging for scraps of self-worth. But at the same time, it intrigues her to see you begging right now. She's superior. It makes her ego grow larger.
With another self-satisfied grin, Aimi answers, shrugging her shoulders once more. "Ok. I won't tell...but I want something in return."
"Yes!" You quickly answer. "Anything!" Anything to keep her quiet.
"I want snacks from your workplace. Where did you say you work again? A small coffee shop? I want a double pump of vanilla, almond milk, extra sugar, mocha with extra caramel sauce and your best selling cake you have, daily ."
"Daily? B-But, Aimi, that's-"
"Do I hear a no!?" She turns to leave again. "Then I guess the deal is off."
"N-No, wait!" You quickly cry out, causing her to stop at the door and glance over her shoulder at you. A defeated sigh leaves your lips.. "I'll...I'll do it..."
Aimi clasps her hands together, satisfied with how easily you cave in. Like a fish on a hook. "Wonderful!" She beams. "Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell a soul. I promise."
And just like that, Aimi exits your room, leaving you alone to simmer on false hope.
You quickly drop your backpack on the floor and fall backwards onto your bed, trying to calm your racing heart.
This can't be happening.
You've just been caught sneaking back into the house by your sister.
After keeping it hidden for so long.
What's even worse is that you've just agreed to giving her special drinks and cakes in order to keep her mouth shut.
As degrading as it is, if your sister can keep her promise, then you will continue to endure this deal for as long as you possibly can.
Little did you know, things were only going to get much worse.
_____________
Over the next couple of days, you continue to bring your sister drinks and cakes from your workplace in order to keep her quiet. It seems to work for a while, but eventually, your sister starts to grow tired of the deal and decides to make things more interesting.
It's getting to be evening, and your parents are due to arrive home from work at any minute. And after giving your sister her snacks for the day, you feel safe for the time being.
Sitting with your legs crossed on the sofa, you skip through a few channels on the TV, when you hear the front door open.
You gaze up to see that your mother is the first to arrive home from work. "Welcome home, mom." You say.
But she doesn't answer you, causing your chest to tighten slightly. Maybe she didn't hear you?
She begins taking off her shoes and jacket. She turns around and finally spots you, but instead of greeting you with a smile, she asks. "Think you could cook dinner tonight?"
"Um...sure?" You answer. "What are you in the mood for? Another foreign dish?"
She shuffles over to the sofa and slouches down next to you, letting out a deep and tired sigh. "Anything with eggs in it."
"Oh, um...okay. I'll start on it now." You stand up from the couch and make your way into the kitchen. Grabbing your apron from the side and washing your hands, you decide to make omurice.
After drying your hands, you make your way over to the fridge and open it to grab a few eggs.
You crack them into a large glass bowl and begin whisking them together.
_____________
With dinner just about ready, you're busy frying the eggs in a pan, when you hear your dad loudly slam the front door, causing you to almost jump out of your skin.
At first, you think nothing of it. You just assume that he's had a really bad day at work.
But it isn't until he storms into the kitchen and grabs your wrist that you feel your entire body tremble with fear.
You gasp as he turns you around and slaps you harshly across the face, causing you to cry out and knock the hot pan off the stove, burning the side of your arm in the process.
Without giving your mind time to register the burning pain on your skin, your dad grabs you again and slaps you brutally across the other cheek.
You cry out once more and quickly gaze up at your dad in terror. He's glaring down at you with pure rage and revulsion in his eyes. It makes you feel weak, small and helpless.
"You fucking slut!!" He blares. "You've been sneaking out, haven't you!? ANSWER ME!!!!"
"D-Dad! P-Please, I-!" Tears burst from your eyes and flow down your cheeks like a waterfall. Your chest grows painfully tight. Your body begins to quiver with uncontrollable agitation and confusion.
How!?
How the fuck did he find out!?
Just then, your gaze moves over to the living room to see your sister standing there with a self-approving grin on her face.
And that's when you realize.
She told him!
She fucking told him!
Even though she promised she wouldn't and made you constantly bring her snacks!
She went and told him anyway!
And now she is watching and loving every second of your torture.
Your dad quickly grabs your burnt arm, causing you to scream out in pain. "Fucking answer me!!! You've been sneaking out, haven't you!!?"
Without even thinking, you quickly answer him out of pure fear. "Y-Y-Yes! I did! But I-"
"You just can't keep your fucking legs shut, can you!? You fucking whore!" With his hand still painfully grasped on your burnt arm, he drags you out of the kitchen and towards your bedroom.
You try to resist his pulling, but it only makes his grip on your arm harder, causing you to scream out in agony.
Tears uncontrollably race down your sore red cheeks.
Your throat feels like it's on fire from crying.
Every rapid heart beat feels more and more excruciating than the last.
Reaching your bedroom, your dad throws you onto your bed before grabbing your phone from your nightstand, as well as your laptop. You try to stop him from taking away your only sources of contacting people, but it only comes with another harsh slap across the cheek.
"Think you can defy me, you little slut! From now on, you will contact NO ONE ! And as soon as you finish work, you come straight home! I'll be waiting for you by the front door, so if you are a minute late, there will be hellfire ! Do you understand!?"
Feeling so small and helpless against him, you nod aggressively, trying desperately hard to hold back tears, but they refuse to stop.
Your dad's scary gaze then moves over to the window. "And I'm boarding that fucking thing shut! All the other windows in this house are gonna be locked with a key and hidden! So you never sneak out again!"
_____________
A couple of hours pass and after having your devices confiscated and your bedroom window boarded shut, you stare down at your blood covered wrist, raising the blade towards your skin once more.
Slash.
After slash.
After slash.
You can't feel anything inside you. Pain is the only thing you feel now.
Your eyes are puffy and bloodshot from all the tears. Your cheeks are flushed and sore from your uncontrollable despair.
Your burnt arm still feels like it's on fire. With no treatment to it, the skin around it forms into a small boil that could pop at any minute.
Your stomach feels empty after being denied dinner for the night from your dad.
And being forced to watch your dad board your window shut, the haunting sound of hammering still echoes throughout your ears.
No one is coming to help you.
Not this time.
_____________
Over the next few days, your life consists of waking up, going to work and then coming straight back home, only to isolate yourself in your room with no means of contact to anyone except your family.
While at work, you try your hardest to remain your old happy self, so Kendo and Mr Aizawa don't grow suspicious. You even cancel your orders for your sister as they are no longer needed.
Over time though, your masking starts to grow more and more exhausting, and you start to feel overwhelmed.
You resort to even more self harming at home in order to feel something, which means you have to start wearing long sleeved shirts to hide your shame.
Your only chance at going outside is when you have to go to work and back, you are limited.
You feel trapped.
With no means of escape.
This is your life now.
And you hate it.
With a tray full of hot drinks in her hands, Kendo glances over at you. "Hey, Y/N, think you could fill up the coffee machine for me?"
"Sure thing." You answer, giving her a fake smile. But once she's out of sight, you return to a dark and hollow shell of a person.
You leave the counter for a moment and grab a bag of fresh coffee beans from the back. Walking behind the counter again, you begin crushing the beans into the machine when you feel the presence of a customer waiting on the other side.
"I won't be a second." You utter.
"Y/N?"
Hearing that soft and familiar voice call your name, you quickly glance over your shoulder to see Keigo on the other side of the counter.
His golden brown eyes gaze at you with concern. "Y/N? Are you okay? I haven't heard from you in days. Did something happen?"
Hearing his calming voice and seeing his kind and gentle demeanor after so long almost causes you to burst out into tears.
You've missed him so much! You want so badly to hold him tightly and tell him everything that's happened.
But you can't.
You have to resist.
You've already caused Keigo enough problems.
You don't want to burden him anymore.
Instead, you pull a fake smile and lie to him. "Oh, I'm fine. I'm sorry I haven't been in touch with you lately. My phone broke, so I've had no way of contacting you."
Somewhat unconvinced by your dishonesty, Keigo chooses to play along for now. "Your phone broke?"
You quickly answer him with another lie. "Yeah, it's a bit embarrassing. I accidentally dropped my phone down the toilet when I was going to the bathroom. I'm going to buy a new one this weekend." You smile again and swiftly change the subject. "So, uh, what can I get for you today? Do you want the usual?"
"Sure thing." He answers with a handsome smile.
You smile back and turn to tap his order into the computer beside you. As Keigo pays for his order, his eyes observe your form.
He can tell just from looking at you that there's more to your story than meets the eye. He's quick to notice your long sleeved shirt under your work apron, almost like you're hiding something. Your eyes look bloodshot and tired, and your skin has grown so pale.
Concerned about you, he wants to know what's happened.
With his meal paid for, Keigo thanks you with a smile and slips his wallet into his back pocket before making his way to the tables outside.
After he's left, the tightness inside your chest grows more and more agonizing.
You hate this.
You hate that you have to lie to Keigo, but you don't want to burden him.
He's done so much for you, but he deserves someone a lot better than an ugly slut like you.
After preparing his meal, you step outside with his order on a tray and place his food and drink onto his table, taking back the tray. "Here you are, Keigo."
"Thanks, Y/N." He shoots you a kind smile and you return a fake smile back to him.
Your heart starts to race.
You want to tell him so badly, but you can't.
Instead, you hold the tray tightly to your chest and step back into the cafe.
It hurts!
Everything fucking hurts!
_____________
After Keigo has left, you try to focus on your work until your shift unnervingly comes to an end.
You don't want to go back to the house!
You want to stay at work, where you feel the most safe.
You could maybe ask Mr Aizawa if you could work overtime, but you're worried that he'll grow suspicious. Not to mention your dad will suspect something if you're suddenly working longer hours.
So many daunting thoughts are spiraling around inside your head right now, you don't know what to think!
As you step out of your workplace, your fingertips quickly start to shiver with apprehension at the thought of going home.
You are about to leave, when you spot someone in the corner of your eye.
Turning towards the figure, spotting Keigo. With his back leaning against the wall, waiting for you to finish your shift. "Y/N."
Your heart races.
No.
No, no, no.
No, this can't be.
He can't be here!
"K-Keigo...Wh-What are you-" You try so hard to speak, but the words refuse to leave your lips.
You want to stay with him!
But you need to leave!
You're trapped. Frozen in place, trying so hard to find your words as you watch Keigo slowly walk towards you.
"K-Keigo...y-you can't be here, I-"
Before you could say another word, Keigo gently pulls you in for a hug, wrapping his arms securely around your form.
In that moment, your world of darkness begins to flood with an ocean of bright and beautiful colours. Your entire being begins to erupt with an everlasting feeling of hopelessness and you subconsciously wrap your arms tightly around him. Your fingers cling to the back of his jacket, desperately fighting the urge to burst into tears.
His body feels so warm against your cold and bitter skin. Holding you in his arms for a while, letting you feel the compassion in his embrace.
You try so hard to call out his name, but it only comes out as a muffle into his jacket.
"Y/N." He softly utters beside your ear. "Talk to me. I'm here for you. You know that."
His words only make the pain inside your chest more excruciating. You grip the fabric of his jacket again. "I can't." You whimper.
"Y/N."
"Please understand...I can't...You're better off without me. Please. You deserve better."
Without giving Keigo a chance to say another word, you pull yourself out of his warm embrace and sprint down the street to get home.
Your chest is on fire!
Every step you take, your breaths grow heavier!
Trying to hold back your tears, but you're fighting a losing battle!
You can't take this anymore!
You want to die!
You're better off dead!
As you draw closer to your house, you can see the porch light glowing ominously in the distance, and a shadowy figure stands under that light.
Your dad.
He watches you like a hawk with his arms folded over his chest. His eye brows furrow at your small and pathetic form as you make your way towards him.
"You're two minutes late, Y/N!" He growls, sending copious amounts of shivers racing down your spine. "Is that all it takes to get you to open your legs for someone? Two minutes?"
He continues to insult you and call you names as you step onto the porch and enter the house, with your terrifying father following close behind.
"Because of your tardiness, or should I say 'tarty-ness'...you'll have no dinner tonight. Go straight to your fucking room, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." You utter quietly, barely having the energy to fight anymore. You're nothing but a dried up waste of space.
Nobody wants you.
Nobody cares about you.
You're better off dead in the mud.
_____________
Slouched on the sofa with his legs spread and video game controller in his hands, Touya taps hard on the buttons, trying to beat his high score, when Keigo furiously slides the front door open.
A look of pure rage is on the blond's face, an expression that rarely occurs to his carefree and lighthearted nature.
With a playful scoff, Touya pauses his game and shrugs his shoulders. "Ain't everyday I see that look on your face, Bird Brain." He teases. "What happened? Someone take the last of the KFC?"
However, Touya's mockery falls on deaf ears. Instead, the blond frantically searches around the kitchen for the car keys. "Touya. Get in the car. Now." His tone is low and his expression holds a great wrath.
"Why?" Touya asks. "What's happenin'?"
"It's Y/N."
Touya's gaze meets his best friend's, instantly reading the urgency in his eyes that something bad is about to happen.
Normally, Touya couldn't care less, but after hearing your apology and seeing despair in your eyes, it seemed to have sparked something inside him.
Tossing the video game controller across the sofa, Touya stands up and pulls out the car keys from his pocket. "I hear ya, but I'm drivin'."
_____________
Sitting on the edge of your bed with the razor blade in your hand, you stare down at your wrist, watching the blood drip slowly onto the floor, saturating it.
The tips of your fingers are like ice. You can feel tears pricking at your eyes, but instead of fighting to hold them back, you give in and let them flow.
Your tears fall from your face and splash onto your thighs, letting whatever darkness take you from this god awful life.
You don't want to be alive anymore.
There's nothing left for you.
Just then, you hear the sound of the doorbell in the distance, but you barely have the energy to acknowledge it.
Ringing the doorbell, an aggravated Keigo is on the other side, wanting to take you home.
Your dad answers and a look of fury fills his face when he sees the winged mutant. "You again!?" He snarls. "What the fuck do you want!?"
The blond doesn't even bother to say anything. Instead, he shoves passed your dad and enters the house uninvited. "I'm here for Y/N."
"Oi, freak! Who the fuck do you think you are, bursting into my house!? Don't make me call the police!" Your dad tries to argue with the male and block him from stepping any further into the house.
It only enrages Keigo more. He glares at your dad with a look of pure disgust. "Where is she?" He drops his tone.
Hearing the commotion, along with the familiar voice of Keigo, you lethargically step out of your room with a heavy body to see what is going on.
Your dad in Keigo's face, intimidating him, but it doesn't seem to faze the blond at all. Both your mom and your sister are on the other side of the room, too afraid and stunned by a quirk user bursting into their house to get involved.
Quickly spotting you from the corner of his eye, Keigo calls out. "Y/N. Come on, everyone's waiting for you."
Your dad scoffs at the blond. "What, so a freak like you thinks he can just barge into my house and take away my fucking daughter!?" His vision then turns to you with such hostility. "Don't you dare take another step, Y/N!!"
Your dad's threat sends copious amounts of shivers through your spine. Freezing in place, you take a step back as your father’s fury consumes you. Shaking, your vision then moves to Keigo, seeing the look of pure benevolence in his eyes. It only drives you to want to join his side.
You want to be out of this godforsaken place!
You want to finally wake up from this awful nightmare!
You want to be free!
And Keigo is giving you that chance!
Despite your entire body trembling with apprehension, you drag each foot forward and pass your dad to get to Keigo.
Your dad grabs your wrist and stops you from leaving, but Keigo roughly clutches his wrist instead, preventing him from touching you.
"You lay one more finger on her and I'll make sure you don't have any fingers left." Keigo mutters. "You've been making her life a living hell. What makes you think she would ever want to stay here with you ?"
Your dad scowls, barking at the blond. "You're telling me how to raise my daughter!?"
"Maybe you should try treating your daughter with some damn respect!" Keigo raises his voice. "She's not an object for you to own, she's a human being!"
Your entire body shivers in distress as you quickly grab onto Keigo and hide behind him. You cling to the safety of his feathered wings. Burying your face deep into his back, you try to calm your dizzy heart.
Despite Keigo handling the situation well with no violence, you're still worried for his safety. You know what your dad is capable of, which only makes your chest more agonizingly tight.
Suddenly, Keigo turns to face you. You quickly glance up at him to see the kindness in his golden eyes. "Let's go, Y/N."
He gently wraps his arm around your shoulder and guides you out the door, letting you exit first.
You're free!
You're finally going to be free!
However, your dad has other plans. Furious that Keigo's attention is no longer on him, he quickly raises his fist. "Oi, freak! We're not fucking done here!"
Keigo turns to face your dad once more, only to be met with a harsh strike across the cheek by a fist. Keigo grunts, but quickly manages to catch his fall.
"K-Keigo!" You cry out, feeling tears race down your cheeks.
Just then, Touya grabs your dad by the throat and pushes him back inside the house.
He gazes at Touya with a look of terror in his eyes from the sight of his half burnt and stitched appearance. "You wanna play rough, you sick fuck?" Touya growls. "I'll give you rough."
Your dad has harmed his best friend, and he is pissed!
With hatred in his ice blue eyes, an extremely aggravated Touya witnessed the whole incident from inside his car, he couldn't just sit back and watch this bullshit unfold any longer.
Touya's fist comes racing towards your dad's face, knocking him down from his imaginary pedestal. Falling to the floor, Touya harshly kicks his boot into the older man's abdomen, causing your dad to wail in pain.
His torture didn't stop there, though. Touya pins your dad to the ground and begins to smash his face, over and over and over again. Turning him into a bloody pulp.
You hear the sound of your mom and sister scream, along with your dad's yowls. It turns your stomach completely upside down. You start to feel nauseous, you hyperventilate and heave as more tears begin to race down your cheeks.
As opposed to Keigo, Touya is ruthless!
Being forced to step in before the situation gets any worse, Keigo quickly races towards his best friend and grabs his shoulder, pulling him away from your beaten up dad. "Touya! That's enough! You're burning up!"
Hearing the sound of his best friend seems to bring Touya back from his uncontrollable onslaught.
Panting, the dark haired male stands up as black smoke wafts from the stitches of his burnt arms and face from his unruly rage. He glares down at your dad one last time, seething death towards him.
Your dad continues to squint up at Touya with panic in his eyes, whimpering and cowering like the pathetic worm he is.
"If I see your face again, I'll be sure to make it look even worse than mine." Touya growls before turning his attention towards you and Keigo. "Let's go. Get in the car."
Your feet are frozen in place for a moment at the horror you've just witnessed. Tears continue to flow down your cheeks like a cascade. You feel Keigo gently grasp his hand with yours and he carefully guides you towards the car, with his other hand on your waist.
Your knee gives out a bit, but Keigo quickly catches your fall, indicating that you aren't at full strength from all the stress, not to mention loss of blood from your recent self harming crisis.
Reaching the vehicle, Keigo kindly helps you inside before deciding to sit in the back with you. He wraps his arm gently around you and pulls you in for a hug.
His warmth soothes you and you bury yourself into his chest, trying to erase the stress from your strained mind.
Stepping into the driver's seat and slamming the door, Touya places his hands onto the steering wheel. His eyes glance down to see his knuckles completely covered in blood, causing his chest to tighten and the guilt to gather over his shoulders.
Placing the key into the ignition, Touya starts the car and takes the long drive back to the house.
He really wishes you didn't have to witness that.
He was so full of anger and resentment, that he didn't take into consideration how scared you must have been.
He probably looks like a monster to you now.
The trip back is mostly silent, with the boys only hearing the occasional wet sniff from you.
Working up the courage to speak, you whimper. "I-I'm...I'm so sorry...I-"
Keigo pulls you closer into his chest, speaking softly beside your ear. "You don't need to apologize, Y/N. We're here for you. Let's just get you home, okay?"
Home.
You cling to the fabric of Keigo's jacket, trying to stop your never-ending river of tears and hiccups. Hearing that word right now causes a warm feeling to grow inside your tense chest.
_____________
Parking the car in the driveway before turning off the engine, Touya exits the vehicle to unlock the door of the house.
After resting your eyes for a few minutes during the drive, you feel your boyfriend lightly shake you awake. "Y/N. We're here."
We are finally home.
Keigo steps out and kindly opens the door for you, closing it behind you. His arm gently wraps around your shoulder again and he helps you inside the house.
Now in the safety of his home, Touya stands in the living area, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. His ocean blue eyes glance over at your form for a moment. Seeing the look of distress in your tired eyes causes an unusual tensity to rise inside his chest.
He's happy that you're safe, but you probably don't want to see his face right now, not after what happened. He's worried that he may have frightened you with his unruly temper.
He knows he's not very good at handling these kinds of situations. It's best to just leave it to his best friend.
With his fingers still bloody, he rolls himself a cigarette so he can smoke it outside on the porch, giving both you and Keigo some time alone to talk.
As Touya exits the house, you stumble as Keigo steadies you on the sofa and sits you down. Once you are seated, Keigo makes his way into the kitchen and grabs you a glass of cold water.
He walks over and hands you the drink, letting you take a good few gulps. After you've had your fill, you hand the half full glass back to Keigo with a quiet 'thank you' and he places it on the coffee table behind him.
Keigo then squats down in front of you and you can see the warm, comforting colour of his golden brown irises gazing up at you with a look of solicitude.
Your eyes begin to fill up again, feeling a large amount of guilt loom over you. You sluggishly break eye contact with him, trying to find your words. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Keigo...I...I jus-"
Keigo is quick to reassure you. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Y/N. I'm here for you. You know that. You can talk to me about anything. I'm here to help you."
Hearing such sincerity and kindness in his tone, you can't help but let the tears escape from your eyes once more.
Finally, you tell him everything. About your parents. About your abusive father. How he favourites your older sister and treats you like you're something he's stepped on. How your mother never even lifts a finger to help you or stick up for you. How your older sister doesn't care in the slightest that you exist.
The more you open up to him, the more a burning rage begins to build up inside him. He just can't understand how someone could be so cruel and treat someone with such resentment.
Looking at your sleeves, you roll them up. Showing the scars on your wrist from your most recent events of self harm to Keigo. They haven't fully coagulated yet.
After hearing and seeing everything they have done, Keigo raises his hand and tucks a small strand of your loose hair behind your ear, causing your watery eyes to gaze up at him.
His face softens and he cradles his hand onto your cheek. You lean softly into his touch, letting his golden brown irises soothe you. "I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. I want to help you, Y/N, to make sure this..." His thumb gently brushes over the old scars on your wrist. "...doesn't happen again."
You slowly nod, feeling your eyes build up with tears again. "I'm...so sorry."
Keigo smiles. "Like I said, you don't need to apologize. Your dad is a control freak and a bully. You'll be safe living with me and Touya from now on, okay?"
Hearing those words causes the tears to fall from your eyes again and your heart begins to race. You start to hyperventilate, worried that you'll just be a burden to him by living here.
"K-Keigo, I...I don't deserve this, I-...you're better off with someone better. Someone who doesn't cause you trouble like this."
The blond chuckles softly and gazes into your eyes. "You're not causing any trouble. You're an amazing person, Y/N. And the only one who doesn't see that, is you."
His words only cause the tears in your eyes to grow even bigger as you quickly lean forward. You bury your face deep into his neck, finally giving in to the burning sadness inside you.
Keigo can hear you sobbing loudly as he continues to hold you in his arms, gently rubbing his hand up and down your back to bring you comfort.
"Thank you!" You cry out. "Thank you so much, Keigo! For everything!"
The blond smiles, allowing you to weep in his arms a little longer until you eventually start to calm down.
After a few more minutes, you release yourself from his warm embrace and gaze into his golden brown irises once more. He smiles at you, bringing with him a feeling of ease. "How are you feelin'? A little better?"
You slowly nod, wiping the water away from your eyes with your hand. "I feel better, thank you...just tired."
"Let's get that wrist of yours looked at first." He answers. "Then we should get some sleep."
You quickly glance up at him as he stands up. "B-But...I don't have any pajamas."
He chuckles lightly. "You can borrow one of my shirts and boxers for tonight."
Your heart races at the thought and a colour of pink quickly rushes to your cheeks.
Keigo makes his way into the kitchen and rummages through the cupboards until he finds the first aid box. Walking back over, he carefully disinfects and bandages your wrists.
Once finished, he offers his hand to you and you take it. He kindly helps you up from the sofa before guiding you into his bedroom. Keigo closes the door behind you and searches through his wardrobe for a spare pair of clothing for you.
Eventually, he finds a light grey t-shirt for you to wear, along with a pair of dark grey boxers. "Here you are."
"A-Are you sure?" You ask, still feeling a hot red burn across your cheeks.
Keigo nods.
You take the clothes from his hand. "O-Okay. Thank you. I-I'll go change now."
Keeping the garments in your arms, you carefully make your way into his bathroom and close the door behind you.
You begin to laggardly undress, keeping your bra and underwear on as you replace your ordinary clothes with Keigo's. His scent immediately surrounds your form. His shirt feels practically colossal on your tiny body, almost like it's about to eat you alive.
Opening the door, you enter the bedroom again. You raise your weary head to see that Keigo has already changed and is waiting for you in his bed.
A gentle smile is on his face as you shuffle over and crawl into bed with him. Once close enough, he pulls the bed sheets over your bodies and wraps his arms securely around your form.
Comfort and mellowness quickly showers over you at the feeling of his touch. His body feels so warm against your skin and his scent almost sends you into a weightless dream.
"Thank you, Keigo." You whisper.
"Anytime." He softly utters, leaning down and leaving a feather-light kiss on your head. He then lifts his wing and gently lays it over the top of the bedsheets, providing you with an extra blanket of warmth.
He's always so kind and so caring towards you. He never looks at you like you're worthless. He never ignores you and makes you feel like you don't matter. He treats you with nothing but benevolence and respect.
Your chest begins to pore with a feeling of solace.
You don't deserve someone as sweet and considerate as Keigo.
You shut your eyes, thanking whatever God is up there.
You have been blessed with an angel.
He's genuine, and you feel so safe inside his warm embrace.
You lay for a short while, feeling a pleasant ember begin to build up. You don't know what you've done to deserve this but right now, you feel so grateful to have met Keigo.
With a soft smile painting across your lips, you swiftly fall into a peaceful lull of sleep in his arms.
Notes:
Thank you so much to everyone who has waited so patiently for this chapter ^-^ You are all beautiful people ❤
The next chapter might also take a while to write too, so I want to thank you all again for your patience ❤
Chapter 12: Burning Bridges
Summary:
You and Touya finally bond a little.
Chapter Text
Slowly, you open your eyes. Your brain takes a moment to remind you that you are now in a new environment. You feel Keigo's arm still wrapped securely around your waist, his warm scent finding its way into your nostrils.
It doesn't seem to calm you this time.
All the stress and emotions from last night's event finally catch up to you.
Everything happened so fast.
You don't know if you've fully comprehended it yet.
And your parents...what do they think of all this?
You doubt they will care.
They never cared about you to begin with.
What makes you think that this would be any different?
They are probably happy that you're gone.
And that very thought fills your entire being with despair. You know that you mean absolutely nothing to the ones who are supposed to love and care for you. A deep sigh comes out with your breath. You did love them at one point, you cared for them and treated them the way you wish they treated you.
A sharp pain grows inside your chest and your vision begins to blur with tears. At first, you fight to hold them back so you don't wake Keigo, but they quickly grow too much to contain and overflow.
Waking to the sound of your whimpers, Keigo gently pulls you closer to bring comfort.
His gesture only makes the tears in your eyes grow bigger and you quickly turn yourself around, burying your face deep into his chest.
"I'm here, Y/N." Keigo softly utters.
You grip your fingers into the fabric of his shirt, sobbing loudly as you feel the agonizing pain grow even greater.
You want to speak, want to thank him for holding you so tenderly during this difficult time, but for some reason, the words refuse to leave your lips.
All you can do is cry.
Keigo continues to hold you in his arms until your tears eventually stop, but you still can't erase this never ending emptiness inside.
He gently rubs his hand up and down your back, speaking softly. "How about I cook us some breakfast? Do pancakes sound good? It's a good pick me up, whaddya say?"
You aren't really hungry, but you appreciate that Keigo is only trying to help. You should try and eat something at least.
Answering him with a nod, he leaves a tender kiss in your hair. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
You nod again and he gets out of bed, exiting the bedroom to start on breakfast.
Once he's left, you sigh and lay on your back, staring up at the ceiling. Despair quickly returns and your hand subconsciously rests on your wrist. The bandage is still there, a reminder of your meeting with a razor blade.
Your mind can't stop thinking about it.
Can't stop thinking about your family.
Relieved that you're finally free, for some reason, a small part of you feels...lost?
It's hard to describe, but...being stuck in such a toxic environment your whole life, you can't help the slight desolation growing, knowing that you no longer have to live in such an awful place.
It's all you've ever known.
Leaving that old life behind feels daunting.
It's going to take you a while to adapt to this place which you now call 'home'.
Wounds take time to heal, you know that, but...healing still hurts.
Sure, Keigo and Touya are here, and you are happy about that, but you still feel like you're being intrusive.
To you, this is still Keigo and Touya's house.
It's their stuff. Their furniture.
You can't bring yourself to call this place home just yet.
Then it occurs to you; you left all of your stuff back at your parents house. Your phone, your laptop and your clothes.
All your valuables are still there.
Shit!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Your heart begins to race.
How could you have been so stupid and forgotten your own stuff!?
You were so caught up in all the chaos last night that it didn't cross your mind.
Fuck!
You can't just leave them there, they are important to you. Especially your laptop. It's the main key to your dream job. And as nice as Keigo's clothes are to wear, you can't keep borrowing them all the time.
You want to borrow the car and retrieve your things, but...you're terrified to go back there alone.
What can you do?
Should you ask Keigo to help? Even if you did ask him, you don't want to keep depending on him. You're worried you are just going to drag him into more of your mess.
_____________
Sluggishly stepping out of his room, Touya wakes up to the scent of cooking. He glances over to see Keigo flipping pancakes over the hot stove in the kitchen.
"Hey." He utters in a hoarse and lazy tone.
Not taking his eyes away from his task, Keigo speaks up. "Mornin' Touya. You want some pancakes too?"
Touya shrugs his shoulders. "Whatever, I guess." Feeling slightly tense about asking his next question, he awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. "How's uh...How's Y/N doin'?"
"She's awake, but...she's taking it pretty hard. You're free to go in and talk to her if ya want."
"I'll pass." Touya quickly answers, still feeling a sense of repentance rain over him after last night's event.
In his mind, he's probably the last person you want to see right now, especially after he turned your dad's face into a bloody, bruised mess.
Instead, the dark haired male turns on his heel and heads back into his room. "I'mma take a shower."
_____________
Hearing the door open, Keigo enters the room with two plates of pancakes, topped with strawberries, blueberries and syrup, as well as two cups of hot coffee laid out on a tray.
You sit up as he gently rests one of the plates on your lap with a smile. "Here you are. I hope you enjoy it."
"Thank you." You quietly mumble, taking your cutlery as you begin to cut one of the pancakes in half. You slowly chew, feeling your body strain with a slight unease.
Keigo sits beside you on the bed, already tucking into his own breakfast. "Thish ish good." He says with a mouth full of food. "I should try to mix the fruit and the batter together more often. I wanna be the first to mix fried chicken in to make a chicken pancake."
You hum lightly, swallowing the remaining food you have in your mouth before quietly replying. "Chicken might be good."
As you continue to eat and chat with Keigo, mostly about food, Keigo cracks a few jokes here and there until he finally breaks you out of your sadness and you giggle at one of his witty puns.
Seeing you smile for the first time this morning instantly warms his heart. His mission to cheer you up and make you laugh was a success.
Once the two of you finish your breakfast, the tension inside your chest quickly returns.
Part of you still wants to ask him if he will go back to the house with you to collect your things, but for some reason, the words refuse to leave your lips.
Fuck, why is this so hard? You really want to ask him, but you're afraid you are just going to burden him again. You've already caused him enough trouble as it is!
Keigo has always been so sweet and so supportive of you, you know that, but you're still anxious about asking him.
Taking your empty plate and used cutlery from your lap, Keigo places them back onto the tray. He's about to leave for the kitchen, when you finally work up the courage to ask him. "U-Um...Keigo?"
"Hm?" He turns around to face you with a smile.
Now having his attention, your chest grows tense. "I...uh...m-my stuff is..." You take a deep breath and start again. "I-I've left all my stuff...b-back at the house. I-I want to collect it, b-but I..."
Keigo's face softens. "I'll go with you. Ain't no way I'm lettin' you go back there alone."
His words immediately cause a smile to brush faintly across your lips and the pressure inside your chest begins to fade. "Thank you."
_____________
Rain pours heavily outside as the drive to your parents house with Keigo being mostly silent.
Your heart hasn't stopped beating in your ears since you stepped foot inside the car. So many daunting thoughts are spiraling around inside your head, filling your entire body with apprehension.
You're scared of seeing your family again. Scared of what they might say or do.
Quickly glancing out of the window, you watch the raindrops tap against the glass to try and calm your nerves. Keigo takes the next junction and drives down that familiar road that leads to the house. Your heart rate increases tremendously and your chest grows more agonizingly tight. You can feel the tips of your fingers begin to shake.
Your hand reaches out to the side and quickly grasps onto the free hand of Keigo, intertwining your fingers with his to get ahold of your racing heart.
Feeling the agitation in your tense grip, Keigo gently squeezes your hand. "I'm here, Y/N. I'm not letting you do this alone."
The tenderness in his voice brings you a sense of reassurance and you begin to take slow, deep breaths.
Eventually, you reach the front of the house. You and Keigo step out of the car together. Quickly opening your umbrella, you hold it above both your heads to keep dry from the rain.
Just the very sight of your parents' house fills your already taut chest with immense pressure. Keigo can hear your rapid breaths beside him and he quickly takes your free hand in his, squeezing lightly. "I'm here, Y/N. You can do this."
The soothing breath of his gives you courage and you take another deep breath.
As you both begin to walk, your heart thumps painfully hard against your chest with every step. Your head is spinning. You feel like the house is becoming more and more distant the closer you step towards it, like a horrible nightmare where you can't reach the door, no matter how hard you try.
Unexpectedly, you make it onto the porch and you take a few more deep breaths. Keigo gently squeezes your hand again, letting you know that he's with you, and you are so grateful that he is.
Handing the umbrella to your boyfriend, you slowly raise your arm to knock on the door, but you suddenly spot something from the corner of your eye.
Glancing over to the side, you see what looks like a mound of wet tarp.
Remembering your old window is on that side of the house, your jaw immediately drops. You let go of the hand and run over to the mess out in the rain. Keigo quickly follows after you.
Once you get a closer look, you see that the pile is dirty, wet clothes... your clothes, as well as your phone, laptop, language books and spare pair of shoes. All of them tossed out of the window by your family.
Everything you own, everything you worked so hard for with your own money has just been thrown out into the rain and ruined.
Confirming that you mean absolutely nothing to them.
Tears begin to blur your vision and cascade down your cheeks like the rain. You fall to your knees on the mud in defeat and stare down at your wet, broken possessions. Your heart shatters into a million pieces.
Seeing your world being crushed before you, Keigo's eyes darken, feeling a bubbling hatred begin to boil up inside him.
How could anyone be so cruel and treat someone so inhumanely!? It makes him sick to his stomach! These are your belongings and they just threw them out like trash.
Resisting the urge to burst into the house and raise hell, Keigo gazes down at you. You are his top priority. He rests his hand on your shoulder. "Y/N, there's still plenty of clothes here that we can save and wash. You don't have to give up yet."
At first, you don't reply. You are at a complete loss for words. You can feel your soul beginning to crumble with hopelessness and despair. It isn't until you feel your boyfriend squeeze your shoulder again that it pulls you out of your isolated mind and you slowly stand up from the soaking wet ground.
Giving up on any hope of salvaging your belongings, you are about to run to the car, when you quickly spot one item in the pile that hasn't been completely destroyed by the rain.
Your red and gold yukata that you bought for the upcoming summer festival with Toga and Magne!
It's still in its box!
And it's still in one piece!
You are so thankful to Mr Hakamada for wrapping it securely in a plastic bag first before placing it into that box.
Quickly picking up the yukata box, you hold it tightly to your chest, letting the rain cover the never ending river of tears flowing down your cheeks.
_____________
Driving back to Keigo's, you kept the yukata box close to your chest. You had to remember, it's not just the boy's home now, it's your home too.
Gathering your wet pile of clothes from the back of the car, Keigo immediately puts them in the washing machine when he gets inside.
After it all, you sit on the edge of the bed with Keigo. Staring down at the yukata box, you try to grasp the saddening ordeal that has just happened.
Seeing the look of utter defeat in your eyes, your boyfriend gently rubs his hand up and down your back to bring you comfort. He knows how important your belongings are to you, especially your laptop. The look of joy on your face whenever you talk about your future job with such certainty always fills him with inspiration.
Knowing how much this means to you, he wants to help you in any way he can. With a smile, he offers. "How about I get you a new laptop and phone? I could get you the latest addition so you can-"
"Keigo, please, I-" You quickly interrupt him, desperately holding back your tears. "You've done more than enough, and you have no idea how much I love and appreciate you for that, but please...this is too much. A new laptop and a phone is going to be really expensive. I could never repay you for them. Please, just...let me pay for these myself. I still have some money saved over."
Despite your protest, Keigo still feels a strong drive to support you. "Then how about we make a deal? How about we both pay half towards the laptop and phone?"
"No, Keigo, I-" Guilt starts to infest inside you as you take a deep breath. "Please, save your money. I don't want to burden you anymore. I want to pay for these myself."
"And I wanna help, so let me help you. I'm here for you, Y/N. You have my word when I said I'm not letting you go through this alone." He then leans in slightly and smiles again. "You wanna know something else? Touya was asking about you earlier this morning. He was worried about you. You're not burdening anyone."
His words only make the tears in your eyes grow bigger and a warm ember rises inside your chest. Even with your objection, you really appreciate how much Keigo just wants to make you happy.
With a smile, you subconsciously rest the side of your head onto his shoulder. "I really don't deserve someone as kind and wonderful as you, Keigo. Thank you."
_____________
Morning arrives as you and Keigo make your way to the phone store to pay half towards a new phone.
For now, you hold back on a new laptop. You know your language teacher is going to deduct you points for not attending the next few lessons, and you'll have a lot of courses to catch up on once you buy a new one. You think about withdrawing from this semester, but think against it in the last moments. Having your syllabus by your side, you have people in your life now who want you to succeed.
Once your new phone is purchased, you and Keigo decide to have breakfast together at a small cafe while he helps you set up your new device. After eating, the two of you get another key cut for the house you are now living in. You can get in and out of your home yourself.
The two of you spend midday together, walking up the hill to take in the ocean view before heading home to watch a movie.
After the film however, Keigo sadly has to leave for a late work shift, leaving you all alone inside the house.
With the sun slowly beginning to set, you fall face first onto his bed. A deep sigh leaving your breath.
You feel a slight tautness begin to grow inside your chest. Now being left alone with only your thoughts, the events of the other night with your family start to replay inside your head. The more it repeats, the tighter your chest grows. The silence of the room doesn't seem to help either, it just makes you more uneasy.
You quickly take out your new phone and browse a few apps, trying to drown out your inner demons, but they quickly grow back ten times louder.
Huffing in frustration, you turn over on your back and stare up at the ceiling.
Isolating yourself inside Keigo's room isn't going to help your mental state, it's reminding you too much of your old room, and that very thought terrifies you.
Sure, Keigo said that you can text him if you need anything, but you don't want to bother him, especially when he's at work. And who knows where Touya is. You haven't seen him since that night he made your dad's face look like a bruised peach.
What can you do? The more you lounge around doing nothing, the worse your thoughts are going to get.
Maybe tonight, just for tonight, you could go out and enjoy yourself. Go somewhere to clear the negativity inside your head and have a few drinks. Maybe even ask Toga and Magne if they want to come too.
Hell, why not? A girls night out sounds fun!
Holding your phone properly in your hands, you begin texting the girls and ask if they are free. Luckily, they are! And they are more than happy to join you for a night out. Toga even suggests karaoke too, how fun!
With a smile, you stand up from the bed and make your way over to the wardrobe, where Keigo has kindly made some space for your now clean clothes. His wardrobe is a lot more spacious, ten times bigger than your old wardrobe. You browse your limited choices of outfits until you choose one you like.
You decide on a turtleneck shirt and a flat skirt. Both black since everything white you once owned is ruined by grass stains and other articles bleeding on them. With what little jewelry you have left, you pick out a nice silver necklace with a heart shaped pendant. And to keep yourself warm through the night, you choose your brown jacket that you've had since high school. The jacket itself comes down just below the length of your skirt.
It doesn't take too long for the girls to arrive, already you can hear Toga calling your name from outside the house, causing you to giggle as you finish putting on your black rain shoes.
As soon as you're ready, you open the front door and step outside, locking it behind you with your new key.
You step off the porch and Toga immediately runs over to you, inviting herself into your chest for a hug.
"Y/N! We've missed you so much!"
You smile and hug her back. "I've missed you girls too!"
Magne walks over and gazes down at you. "Keigo only told us a little of what happened the other night. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Y/N. Just know that if you need anything, Toga and I are always here for you."
Her words almost cause you to burst into tears, but you quickly fight to hold them back. "Thank you, girls. Really. This means so much. I appreciate it."
"Of course, sweetie." Magne grins and joins your side, linking her arm with yours. "For now, let's just enjoy ourselves tonight. Have a drink and forget about all the shitty things wrong with the world. Tonight is about us!"
Giggling, Toga links with your other arm and the three of you walk down the street together, chatting and overall just enjoying one another's company. You walk through the outskirts of town until you reach the karaoke bar Toga suggested.
Booking yourselves a room, you also order yourselves a shit ton of snacks, along with drinks to wash away the embarrassment of your horrible singing talents later.
Sitting down in the room, you decide to chat with the girls first. You tell them the full story of what happened that night. You tell them about your abusive dad, how your sister lied to you and ratted you out, and how you were forced into isolation for almost a week by your dad, with no food and no means of contact to anyone. The more you open up to them, the more tears race down your face.
After hearing your story, Magne gently wraps her arm around you, letting you lean your head onto her shoulder for a hug. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that, Y/N. We just want you to know that you are not alone in this. We've all been through hardships, which is why we all stick together. It makes us stronger. Remember that you have Keigo, and Keigo loves you dearly."
"Big Sis is right, Y/N." Toga joins in. "We all love you and care about you so much. We want you to be happy. So how about we be your family from now on? Magne and I will be your new sisters!"
Hearing their kind words causes your vision to blur with more tears. "Thank you, girls." You sniff. "Really. This means so much." Quickly wiping your watery eyes with your wrist, you raise your glass towards them. "To us."
"To us!" The girls raise their drinks with you and you toast to the fun night ahead of you.
As you chat a little more, the girls open up to you about their own past traumas. Toga explains more on how her parents were still forcing boys onto her, completely disregarding her sexual orientation that she is bisexual, and eventually she had to cut all ties with them. As for Magne, you find out that she once had a best friend. Since her family wouldn't let her get the treatment she needed, she sadly took her own life. Magne lives on in her best friend's spirit and is successfully going through transitioning. However, she lost contact with a lot of family members because of her decision, but she's gained more friends who see her for who she really is. They see her like a big sister and are her true family.
The more they open up to you, the stronger your bond with them grows. Being around Toga and Magne always brings you a calm sense of ease, just like Keigo. And you are so grateful to have met them.
After your long talk, you and the girls finally enjoy your night. The three of you pick out a few songs and sing your hearts out, giggling away and stuffing your faces with sweet treats, potato chips and fruit flavored alcohol.
Now slightly tipsy, the three of you eventually stop to rest your vocal cords and decide to dance the night away at a nearby nightclub.
Jumping up and down to the beat of the music, you lose yourselves to the feeling of the loud vibrations echoing throughout your bodies.
Being good and supportive friends, Toga and Magne make sure that no one tries to touch or flirt with you. You are already in a happy and healthy relationship. You're not looking to hook up with anyone, you just want to enjoy your evening with the girls.
_____________
As the night goes on however, the negative thoughts from earlier start to dig their way back into your mind, which causes you to drown your sorrows in more and more tasty liquor.
Ordering yourself copious amounts of alcohol for your small frame, you shove the drinks down your throat quicker than they arrive, feeling the burn fade in the back of your throat. The alcohol makes you feel warm. Faces start to blur and the music pounds hard throughout your ears.
Toga and Magne quickly notice your constant order of drinks, racking up quite a bill, and they start to grow worried. They decide to step in before anything bad happens.
Stumbling your way through the mass of people to get to the bar, you reach for a random drink that's sitting on the side. You don't know who the drink belongs to, and at this point you don't care. You are about to gulp the entire thing down, when Magne quickly grabs the glass and pulls it away from your lips. "I think you've had a little too much to drink now, sweetie. We should probably get you home."
"Whaaaat!?" You slur your words, barely able to see straight as you feel both the room and Magne spinning. "I'm not thaaaat drunk, Biiiig Sis!" You hiccup. "I cannn...handle annnother."
You go to grab the glass again, but Toga takes it and moves it away. "Okay, Y/N. That's enough. Let's get you home."
"Whaaat!? Nooo! It'sss still earrrlyyy!"
_____________
Slouched on the sofa with his legs spread, Touya has a video game controller in his hand. He taps hard on the buttons, trying to beat a difficult boss fight, when he suddenly feels his phone vibrate inside his pocket.
Rolling his eyes in frustration, he pauses the game and reaches for the device to see that Toga is calling him.
Toga?
What the hell does she want?
She rarely calls him.
Pressing accept, Touya holds the phone to his ear and answers in a hoarse, nonchalant tone. "Whataya want, blondie?"
He's quick to hear the slight apprehension in her voice as she speaks. "Hey, Touya? Do you think you can come and pick up Y/N? She's drunk herself silly, and...we're really worried about her. You're the only person I could think of calling. I know you're not at work tonight and Y/N spent all her money on drinks."
A sigh of irritation leaves the male's nostrils.
Looks like he's stuck on babysitting duty again.
What a pain in the ass.
Why is it always him?
Of all the times for Bird Brain to be at work, why did it have to be tonight?
He's been doing well to avoid you so far, but the thought of seeing you right now makes his heart race with that same stupid feeling he always gets whenever he's around you. Normally, he couldn't care less, but for some reason, when it comes to you, he keeps getting this brainless drive to want to help you. It's irritating and he can't figure out why.
Putting his conflicted feelings aside, Touya gives in with a sigh and answers. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there in a sec."
"Thank you, Touya."
Hanging up the call, he stands up from the sofa with a huff and grabs the car keys from the kitchen side.
_____________
Sitting on the sidewalk with the girls, you sling your dizzy head over your knees. Trying to make sense of the swirling world around you. You can feel both Toga and Magne sitting on either side of you, their arms wrapped around each of your shoulders.
"Touya is on his way, sweetie." Magne calmly utters. "He's going to take you home safely, okay?"
You can't even process her words properly, it feels like your ears are underwater.
After a few more minutes of waiting, Touya pulls up in the car. "Y/N." Toga lightly shakes you. "Y/N. Touya's here. He's gonna take you home."
With her hands still on your shoulders, Himiko slowly helps you to your feet while Magne explains the situation to Touya.
You feel as though you're walking through syrup. Struggling to balance, you stumble side to side. Even with Toga's help, you still occasionally trip over your own feet.
Reaching the car, the girls help you sit in the passenger seat before gently laying your jacket over your body. The jacket which you had sluggishly threw off yourself earlier.
Once you are seated in the car, the warmth of your coat slowly causes your body to relax. Your hands drop where they are resting, and your eyes begin to close on their own. You are out like a light.
Magne reaches over and fastens your seatbelt before gazing over at Touya. "Take good care of her, Touya. Drive home safely."
"Yeah, yeah. I hear ya."
She closes the door and steps back, Touya then drives down the road, taking a few short cuts so the two of you can get home quicker.
As he drives, he takes a quick glance over at your sleeping form, feeling his heart race again with that same damn feeling he gets.
Why?
Why does he keep feeling like this?
He just can't understand it!
It's really starting to piss him off!
Shoving the boneheaded thought to the back of his fucking skull, he huffs in frustration and quickly turns his attention back to the road, stopping at an upcoming traffic light ahead.
A sudden gurgling in your stomach stirs you awake from your short nap. Sluggishly opening your eyes, your blurry vision takes a moment to adjust. You begin to glance around the car until you spot something that looks familiar to you.
Spiky raven black hair.
Instantly recognizing the hair, you murmur. "T-Touya...?"
Hearing you call his name breaks him out of his trail of thought. He takes a quick glance over at you and your eyes meet his, seeing you stare up at him with haze.
Since that night at your parents house, this is the first time the two of you have seen or spoken to each other, and Touya's heart beats fast like a response.
Ignoring the feeling, his vision quickly returns to the road, the traffic light ahead turning green. "Enjoy your beauty rest, your highness?" He teases, trying to ease the tension that's building up inside his own chest.
You answer him with a tired groan and slowly sit yourself up from your uncomfortable slouched position. You then rest the side of your head on the car window, feeling the world around you still spinning. "I don't feel so good."
"If you're gonna throw up, do it out the window." Touya utters. "I just got the inside of this thing cleaned last week."
You groan again and slowly close your eyes.
_____________
Eventually, the two of you make it back to the house as Touya parks in the driveway and turns off the engine. He steps out of the car and walks around the other side, opening the door for you.
Feeling a cold draft, you lethargically lift your head from your seat. You are home. Lazily, you unbuckle your seatbelt and step out of the vehicle, almost tumbling over a few times.
After finally having the energy to stand without wobbling all over the place, Touya closes the car door behind you. He then walks towards the house with his hands in his pockets, occasionally looking back over his shoulder to make sure you're following.
You're struggling to walk in a straight line, the path in front of you looks like it's twisting and turning into all kinds of shapes. You stumble your way up the porch as Touya unlocks the door and the two of you step inside.
Now in the safety of the house, you suddenly feel a strong need to vomit. The acidic burn begins to race its way up from your stomach to your throat.
Quick as you can, you practically run to Keigo's bathroom. Reaching the toilet, you open the lid and fall to your knees, feeling the sour liquid from your insides force its way out of your mouth. The after taste is sickening!
Touya is left standing awkwardly in the living room, listening to the repulsive sound of you groaning and gagging in the other room. It's awful and he cringes at your noises, but a sudden drive inside wanting to help you kicks in again.
At first, he tries to fight it.
It's none of his business.
He has only been asked to bring you home and that's just what he did, but the more he hears you, the stronger the urge to help you grows, causing him to growl in frustration.
It's not his job to care for you.
It's Bird Brain's.
But as he's fully aware, Bird Brain isn't here right now.
It's just him. He's the only one who can help you.
After a few minutes of mentally arguing with himself, Touya finally gives in with a sigh.
His body moves on its own as he makes his way through Keigo's bedroom and into the bathroom, where he finds you sitting on the tiled floor with your head slung over the toilet, practically spewing your guts up. The stench of alcohol coming from the bowl.
Without saying a word, Touya walks over and squats down beside you. He gently grabs a handful of your hair and holds it behind you to keep it out of your face.
Feeling the touch of someone, your watery eyes glance up to see Touya. His ocean blue irises gazing down at you with a poker-faced expression.
A flush of red quickly rushes to your cheeks, embarrassed that he's seeing you in such a horrific state. "T-Touya!? W-What are you-!" You can't even finish your sentence as more vomit begins to force its way up and out of your mouth.
Touya says nothing and continues to keep your hair away from your face.
Eventually, the puke finally comes to a halt and you slowly raise your head from the toilet.
You are a complete mess. You're gasping for breaths like a fish out of water. Tears race down your face. Your cheeks are flushed and saliva hangs like slime from your bottom lip.
With a free hand, Touya reaches over and rips off a few sheets of toilet paper. He then tries to wipe the saliva away from your mouth, but you quickly push him away. "N-No!"
"I'm just tryin' to be nice." He utters.
"I-I know...but..." You gasp your breaths. "I...I feel awful...having you...do this."
His eyes narrow at you and you hear the slight irritation in his hoarse voice. "I don't see how you have much of a choice, princess ." He emphasizes the pet name on purpose. "I'm the only one here ta' help you."
"B-But-"
"You want me to leave?"
"N-No..."
"Then shut up, and let me help you, dumbass."
You quickly grow tense at his reply as Touya reaches over with the toilet paper again and begins to wipe the saliva away from your mouth.
Despite his rude outburst just now, his touch is so...gentle. You never expected such a kind gesture from someone like Touya.
You thought he would leave you to deal with this ordeal alone. You are honestly surprised that he's even here right now, wiping the mess away.
A flush of pink flows across your cheeks and your heart suddenly flutters in a way that leaves you feeling...somewhat confused? If you had to describe it, it's the same flutter you get whenever you're with Keigo.
After your face is clean, Touya tosses the messy paper down the toilet and you flush, sending your vomit down with it.
A sense of awkwardness lingers in your chest. Embarrassed at Touya seeing you in such a despicable state, but you are still grateful for his help. However, the negative thoughts soon begin to flood your mind once more, causing guilt to loom over your shoulders.
You are being a burden again!
And it's to Touya of all people.
Trying to hold back your tears, you lean your head over the toilet. "I-I'm...I'm so sorry, Touya...I've...ruined your night."
Hearing the heartache in your voice, Touya shrugs his shoulders. "Don't worry about it, it's not like I had anythin' planned anyway."
"I-I know…but..." You can't even finish your sentence. Already, the aching inside your chest is growing even greater.
What was meant to be a fun night out with the girls, turned into a disaster. All because you can't get a hold on your damn emotions!
You feel so stupid.
You're making everything worse.
No wonder your family didn't give a shit about you.
At this point, maybe you deserve it.
Your dad is right when he said that you are childish and ungrateful.
You do nothing but put your trouble on people.
As you begin to fall into a deep loathing within yourself, Touya watches your form. He can hear the subtle sound of your wet sniffs, indicating that you are on the verge of tears.
In a way, he knows exactly what you're going through. It's like he's looking at a younger version of himself right now. A memory that still haunts him to this day.
Touya casually lets the words slip from his lips. "Families suck, huh?"
You suddenly raise your head and gaze over at him, seeing the pure heartbreak in his eyes.
It comes as a shock to you. You know Touya has had a troubling past, thanks to Keigo only giving you a brief summary. Never have you expected Touya himself to open up and say anything like this. You can't help but feel empathetic, knowing that Touya may have gone through the same pain.
After a moment of silence, you finally answer. "Yeah...they do." Working up the courage, you ask him. "Do you...have any siblings?"
"Two brothers and a sister. I'm the eldest."
You respond with a hum and turn your vision back to the toilet. "Touya...I just want you to know that I'm not mad at you for what you did to my dad." Your chest grows tight. "It sounds really bad of me, but...in a way, I feel glad that he got to feel the pain I've been feeling for years." You raise your head again and gaze over at him with watery eyes. "Am I a bad person for thinking like that?"
"No." Touya answers in a low, hoarse tone. "That bastard deserved it for mistreating you."
Your chest aches and your vision blurs with more tears. "Then...why do I feel this pain inside me like I've done something wrong?"
Touya answers honestly. "When someone constantly drills into your head that you're a bad person, you start to believe it. That's just how gaslighting works."
His words speak truthfully, which causes the tears in your eyes to grow bigger.
It hurts to know that you've been abused and manipulated your whole life by the ones who are supposed to love and care for you. There's a feeling of comfort, knowing that Touya shares that same experience with you.
This whole time, you thought Touya hated you. You thought you had upset him in some way. Even under his rough exterior, there's a side of him that you're seeing for the first time. A more gentle, caring side.
Letting more tears fall from your face, you softly utter. "Thank you, Touya."
_____________
After a few minutes, you start to calm down and the feeling of nausea slowly begins to fade, but the dizziness of the alcohol still lingers.
Grabbing yourself a blanket from Keigo's wardrobe and wrapping it around yourself, you stumble your way into the living room with Touya.
"You sure you don't wanna just go to sleep?" He asks.
You shake your head. "Keigo should be home from work soon, so I want to wait for him."
The dark haired male shrugs his shoulders. "Whatever. It's your choice, I guess."
As you carefully make your way over to the sofa to sit down, Touya walks into the kitchen and grabs a small bucket from the cupboard below the sink.
He then walks over and places it on the floor beside you. "Here. In case you need to puke again."
"Thank you, Touya." Working up the courage, you ask him. "Would you...please wait with me?"
He quickly raises his eyebrow at you, confused by your odd request.
In your mind, this is the first time ever that Touya has opened up to you, so you want to hold onto this moment for as long as you possibly can.
You glance around the room for a moment, spotting the videogame console sitting by the TV. "Maybe...you could show me some of your videogames while we wait?"
"I didn't think you'd be into that kind of thing."
"Well, clearly you don't know me well enough." You tease.
"And you don't know me." He quickly reverts the statement back to you.
Your smile drops slightly and the intensity returns to your chest. "Well, you don't exactly make it easy for me to talk to you, Touya."
In a way, he knows you're right. Every time you've tried to talk to him in the past, he's been cold, constantly keeping up that impenetrable wall of defense.
At the same time, it's not his job to spend time with you. As far as he's concerned, you're just the girlfriend of his best friend. Even though you are living here now, you're just a roommate to him. That doesn't change the fact that he has to be civil with you.
Putting his jealousy aside, even he must admit that his current strategy of keeping his distance from you isn't working.
Maybe this whole time he's been wanting to be your friend, but wasn't sure how to engage first. This could be the chance he needs.
With a sigh, Touya gives in and sits on the far end of the sofa from you. "Fine...but I'm choosin' the game."
You smile. "Okay."
Reaching over, Touya turns on the console to continue on with the game he was already playing before Toga asked him to come and pick you up.
As the game menu loads up, you decide to lay down. You rest your head on the pillow beside you, keeping your legs close to your chest so you aren't taking up all the room on the sofa. "So, what's this game about?" You ask him.
"Norse mythology, mostly." Touya answers in a lazy tone, shrugging his shoulders. "About a God, and his son."
"Oh, do you like that kind of thing?"
He shrugs again. "I guess."
The tension slowly fades as the two of you talk, mostly about the game. The more questions you ask, the less reserved Touya becomes.
The intensity breaks, and a warm glow begins to rise inside your chest. It honestly feels nice that the two of you can finally bond over something together. Even though you don't know much about videogames, you are still genuinely interested. You can tell that asking questions about the game really means a lot to Touya.
_____________
After some time, the drowsiness from the alcohol catches up to you. The warmth of the blanket around you, along with the comforting scent of Keigo that comes with it, your eyes start to grow heavy with exhaustion.
At first, you try your hardest to fight it, so you can see Keigo when he comes home, but eventually, your tiredness gets the better of you and your eyes close their own, sending you into a peaceful stillness of sleep.
Noticing that you are no longer asking him questions, Touya glances over to see that you've fallen asleep. The blanket over your body slowly rises up and down as you breathe.
Seeing how peaceful you look, a new desire suddenly begins to bloom in the back of his mind. A desire to gently brush the loose hair away from your face and tuck it behind your ear.
A deep desire to carry you to bed and take care of you.
Why!?
This has never happened to him before.
It causes a new emotion to flood its way into his brain and overwhelm his thoughts, making his heart race rapidly.
What the hell is this!?
It's confusing the fuck out of him!
Why does he suddenly feel like this?
Why does he feel the need to touch you?
To hold you?
To kiss you?
What the actual fuck is going on!?
Tossing the controller onto the carpet, Touya stands up from the sofa and bolts into his bathroom.
He slams the door behind him, turning on the shower and lowering it to the coldest temperature.
Quickly stripping and stepping into the shower, Touya feels the ice cold water smack hard against his burnt skin. Hyperventilating, he stares down at the tiled floor, trying to make sense of the sudden impulses that are growing inside him at the sight of you sleeping. His panting grew more and more ragged.
Then it hit him!
It can't be, can it?
Is this really happening right now!?
Is Touya Todoroki...developing feelings for someone!?
And those feelings are towards... you ?
No...no, it can't be.
This has never happened to him before.
He's never been interested in shit like that. It's way too much work for him.
Not to mention, you already belong to someone.
You belong to Keigo.
And that very thought causes a deep burn to sear inside his chest.
Black smoke suddenly wafts out of every part of his stitched body. He's burning up, and the ice cold water isn't doing shit to help it!
Fuck, why did he let his wall down to you?
He knew this would only cause more trouble!
This is exactly why he's cold to people!
Taking down a piece of his wall brings him nothing but misery!
Fuck, fuck! What can he do?
His best option is to avoid you altogether, but even that won't work anymore. You live with them now, so he's going to see you every day. Touya's breaths continue to grow more ragged. He presses his hand on the tiled wall beside him, leaving a scorched mark. An indicator of his tortured emotions.
The only thing he can do is just pretend like everything is normal, go about his life pretending he isn't thinking about you every fucking day.
_____________
Already past midnight, Keigo unlocks the front door and slides it open. Stepping inside, he's quick to spot you sleeping peacefully on the sofa, causing a soft smile to brush across his lips.
Walking over, he squats down and watches you sleep for a moment, gently brushing a loose strand of your hair away from your face and tucking it behind your ear.
You groan softly at the touch and a faint smile curls onto your lips, causing Keigo to lightly chuckle to himself.
Magne had kindly texted him earlier that night and explained the situation, so he knew you would be asleep by the time he came home.
A loose feather from his wing floats its way over to the bucket that Touya left on the floor for you earlier and picks it up. Keigo then scoops you up into his arms and carries you into the bedroom.
Placing down the bucket on your side of the bed in case you need to puke through the night, the loose feather flutters over and pulls the bed sheet open before finding its way back into his wing.
Laying you gently onto the bed, Keigo heads back into the kitchen and makes himself a small snack.
After relaxing, he makes his way into his bathroom. He strips out of his work clothes and cleans himself with a quick shower before drying off with a towel and changing into his sleepwear. A loose grey t-shirt and black boxer shorts.
Entering the bedroom again, he joins you in bed. Wrapping his arm around your waist, he pulls you closer so your back is pressing up against his chest.
He leaves a tender kiss in your hair before drifting off into a deep sleep with you.
Notes:
Happy Pride Month, y'all! ❤
I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to write! ;3; For some reason I've been really struggling with this one and I have no idea why ;-; Again, I'm so sorry I kept you all waiting :(
Chapter 13: A Healthier Environment
Notes:
I wanna flesh out a couple of characters before we get to the main event! :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Waking up the next morning with a serious hangover, you spend most of the day resting in bed. Keigo kindly brings you pain killers, as well as a plate of dry toast and plenty of water to help with both the sickness and the pain.
After a full day of recovering, you get ready for work the next morning.
Making your way towards the town, it feels refreshing to take a new route to work now that you're no longer living with your parents. With this new path, you discover things that you didn't even know were there before. One of the houses has a beautiful garden in the beach alleyway you pass through. The colourful flowers draw the attention of butterflies and honey bees calming your soul. When you enter a new area, the wonderful smell of the sea salt air fills your lungs with peace and tranquility.
Reaching your workplace, you enter the coffee shop, expecting to be greeted by Kendo. Instead, you are met with the sharp and terrifying eyes of Mr Aizawa.
He stands by the door that leads into the back. Arms folded over his chest, glaring at you in a way that almost causes your soul to leave your body.
What's happened?
Are you...in trouble for something?
"Y/N." His voice is deep and low, almost turning your skin pale.
"U-Um...Y-Yes?"
"Follow me into my office. We need to talk."
His tone causes multiple shivers to race up and down your spine. His voice is normally so calm and soothing towards you, but now it's firm and almost threatening.
Cautiously, you follow him into the back.
Your heart starts to race as you walk. Maybe you have done something wrong after all, but what? What could you have done to make Mr Aizawa so mad? As far as you know, you've done everything right. You work hard, you haven't called in sick once and you've never stepped out of line.
Reaching his office, Mr Aizawa opens the door, you find Kendo sitting on a chair. Hearing you both enter the room, she stands up from her seat and gazes at you.
"Kendo?" You ask, confused. "Wha-What's going on?"
Aizawa closes the office door and joins her side. Kendo then smiles, removing the intensity from your shoulders slightly. "Sorry for the scare, Y/N."
Still confused, you work up the courage and ask. "W-What's happening? Did I...do something wrong?"
"No, you haven't." Aizawa reassures you, the softness in his tone returning. "I called you in here because we want to check in on you, see if you're okay."
"Check in on me? Wh-What do you mean?"
Kendo steps in. "We...noticed your change in behavior last week and we're worried about you. Is everything okay? Are you having problems outside of work? You can talk to us."
A sudden constriction inside your chest. Even after trying so hard to mask your emotions last week…Both Kendo and Mr Aizawa could still see right through you, almost like you were transparent.
Tears begin to loosen at your eyes, but you try your hardest to hold them back. "I'm...I'm so sorry I worried you both. I-It's just that-"
With a deep breath, you tell them everything that's happened over the past four months with your family. You tell them about that night and how previously they've been treating you, as well as isolating you inside your room for a whole week with almost no food. It still hurts to talk about it, but venting certainly helps with the pain. Not to mention there is a positive ending to your story.
After that awful night with your family, you tell them that Keigo and Touya took you in and you're now living with them.
Finishing your story, you begin wiping away the tears that fell from your eyes. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you both anything. I-I was just scared, and I-"
Without saying a word, Kendo walks over and gently pulls you in for a hug. The warmth of her embrace immediately causes your eyes to fill with more tears and you quickly hug her back.
"We're here for you, Y/N." Kendo utters softly. "Both Mr Aizawa and I are here if you ever need anything. We want you to know that this is a safe space for you."
Her kind words cause a warm ember to burst out inside your chest. You hug her tighter, muffling into her shirt. "T-Thank you. Thank you, both of you."
Pulling back from the hug, your watery eyes gaze up at Mr Aizawa, who lets a gentle smile brush over his lips.
He raises his hand and places it on top of your head, playfully messing up your hair in the process. You giggle and wipe the remaining tears away from your eyes.
"Feel free to talk to me whenever you like." He utters softly. "My office door is always open if you ever need a quick chat."
You smile at his words, feeling your worries wash away. "Thank you, sir. I will."
Now in a much calmer mind set, you and Kendo open the cafe and get ready for the busy day ahead of you.
Opening up to Kendo and Mr Aizawa certainly helps with the healing process. As you begin to work, you start to feel like your old cheery self again, and it definitely shows! A smile is forever on your face. You are kind, hardworking and extremely helpful to both the customers and the kittens.
Mr Aizawa and Kendo take notice of your cheerful mood and are happy to see you like yourself again.
_____________
By the time midday rolls around, your shift is over and it is time for you to go home.
Before you leave, Mr Aizawa hands you a flyer and kindly asks you to stick it on the inside window.
Once you're done, you step out of your workplace and stretch your arms above your head, feeling the warm afternoon sun kiss your skin. Now that you're living with the boys, it feels refreshing to know that you no longer have to rush home, like you did when you lived with your parents. You can take as much time as you want.
With that, you decide to eat out for lunch before heading back.
Browsing your different choices of cafes and bakeries nearby, you find a nice bistro just on the corner of the street.
You take a seat outside so you can watch the world go by while you eat. You order yourself an egg salad sandwich and a fruit smoothie. Taking out your phone, you begin watching the cute and funny videos of birds that Keigo has sent you, giggling to yourself every now and then while you eat.
Leaving a tip when done, you make your way home, taking the longer route back so you can enjoy the scenery.
_____________
Reaching the house and stepping onto the porch, you unlock the front door. You slide it open before entering, taking off your shoes in the process. "I'm home!"
No answer. The boys must still be out.
You take a quick glance over at the open kitchen to see the dirty dishes from last night are still on the side. A couple of empty cans and wrappers are scattered across the coffee table and both the living room and kitchen floor looks like it could do with a quick vacuum.
Since you're currently the only one in the house, maybe you could clean up for the boys as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for taking you in. Now that you're living here, it's only fair that you help out wherever you can.
With that, you grab your earphones from your pocket and select a playlist from your phone to listen to.
As the music plays, you start by washing the dishes. It takes you a while to remember which item goes into which cupboard, but you manage to figure it out in the end.
After the dishes are clean and put away, you tidy and dust the coffee table. You then search around the living room for the vacuum cleaner.
Eventually, you find it in a small utility closet beside Keigo's bedroom door. You take it out, plug it in and begin cleaning both the living room and kitchen floor.
A good few minutes with the vacuum, both the living room and kitchen look completely immaculate. You place your hands on your hips with a smile, proud of the hard work you've done.
Removing your earphones and placing them into your backpack. You put the vacuum cleaner away and enter Keigo's bathroom to take a shower.
_____________
An hour passes and Keigo is just about to finish his shift. Since Touya was already out at the arcades most of the day, he decides to wait for his best friend to finish work so the two of them can walk home together.
Stepping onto the porch and unlocking the front door, Keigo and Touya slide it open and step inside to find both the living room and kitchen completely spotless.
All the mess that was once on the coffee table is now clean and organized. The dirty dishes are nowhere to be seen and the floors look like they are almost sparkling.
Hearing the sound of the front door opening, you step out of Keigo's bedroom. Now clean and dressed in a pair of light grey sweatpants and a sage green tank top, you smile at the boys. "Welcome home, guys."
"Y/N?" Keigo asks, glancing around the room. "Did you clean up the place while we were gone?"
"Mhm. Thought I would clean up as a way of saying thank you for taking me in."
The blond smiles. "Aww, you didn't have ta' do that."
"I wanted to." You speak up. "It's the least I could do."
Stepping further into the living room area, Touya slides his finger across the coffee table, immediately checking it after to see that it's completely spotless. "She does a better job than you, Bird Brain." He teases.
Keigo chuckles lightly. "Cleanin' isn't my forte. My feathers are better for flyin'." He then walks over to you and leaves a tender kiss on your forehead. "You did a good job, Y/N." He utters softly. "Thanks for doin' that."
You blush at his praise and his loving gesture sends multiple butterflies fluttering in your stomach. You then smile up at him. "I was thinking maybe the three of us could order takeout tonight. Maybe watch a movie together too? Or you could show me how to play one of your videogames so we can race against each other?"
"Hear that, Touya." Keigo chuckles, glancing over at his best friend. "We have a new challenger!"
The dark haired male huffs before slouching on the sofa. "Don't think I'm gonna go easy on ya just cause you're a newbie."
"Ahh, those are just fighting words, Touya." You tease with a grin. "You're just scared I'm gonna beat you on my first try."
Keigo chuckles once more. "Ain't nothin' wrong with a bit of friendly competition. Lemme show you how to play, Y/N."
You follow Keigo over to the sofa and the two of you join Touya. Your boyfriend then hands you a controller. After you've learnt the basic controls, the three of you choose a racer.
It takes you some time to get used to the game but after a couple of matches, you manage to catch up to the boys. Sadly, you don't come first in any of the races, it's a learning curve, and you're just happy spending time with both Keigo and Touya.
After a few competitive matches, the three of you order pizza and enjoy your evening with a good horror movie.
Over the next few days, you enjoy spending more time with Keigo and Touya after work. You start to get a hang of the games rather quickly and you come in first a couple of times.
The more you bond with the boys, the happier the three of you become, especially Touya. He certainly seems a lot softer with you than usual.
_____________
Stepping out of Keigo's room after using the bathroom, you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket. Reaching for the device, you check to see the text you've received.
Toga: Hiiiii Y/N! Are you free today? I was wondering if Jin and I could come over and hang out.
With a smile, you call out to the boys. "Toga just text me. She's wondering if she and Jin can come over."
Keigo answers with a grin, not taking his eyes away from the tense fight he's having on the videogame with Touya. "Sure thing! The more the merrier!"
Holding the phone properly in your hands, you reply.
You: Hi Toga. Of course you can!
Toga: OMG Yayyyy! :D :D :D See you guys soon!
Smiling, you keep your phone in your hand and sit on the armchair so you can browse through a few apps while catching some of the competitive game those two were having while you wait.
Within a few minutes, there is a knock and the front door slides open. Jin and Toga enter the house, taking off their shoes. "Hi guys!" Himiko smiles.
"Hi Toga! Hi Jin!" You smile back. "Where's Magne? Is she not with you guys today?"
"She's working, so we thought we'd spend time together since it's my day off."
You smile again. "Well, come and join us. The boys are about to start another match."
Toga giggles and decides to sit beside you on the arm rest while an excited Jin joins Keigo and Touya on the sofa. You and Toga begin to chat amongst yourselves while the boys have a couple of matches together.
As you talk, a warmth begins to grow. Being in such a friendly, calm and healthy environment is doing wonders for your mental health! Not once have you felt anxious or stressful since you moved in here. You actually feel free, like you could fly!
You're relieved that you never have to rush home in panic and worry, never have to be at anyone's beck and call. And the biggest perk is that you're no longer sneaking in and out of a window. You are free to come and go as you please. You feel like you finally belong, like you can be yourself without the worry of being judged.
Everything is finally settling into place. The friends you've made feel more like family, way more than your own flesh and blood.
Toga also takes notice of your healthy smile and comments. "Y/N, you look so happy!"
You smile again. "Thanks, Toga. I do feel happy. I'm doing a lot better, mentally."
"That's really good to hear, Y/N!" Toga reaches over and hugs you. "I'm so glad!"
The two of you start to giggle.
Upon hearing your words from the couch, a warm smile gently brushes across Keigo's lips. He's proud of you, knowing that you're finally gaining your confidence back.
"Hey, Y/N?" Toga asks. "You said last time you're still in need of some new clothes, right?"
You nod and the girl grins. "Why don't you and I go shopping and get you some cute summer wear?"
"I'd love that!" You beam. "Thanks, Toga."
Jin suddenly raises his hand from the sofa. "I wanna come too! Who are you again? "
Toga giggles. "Of course you can come with us, Jin. Is that okay with you, Y/N?"
"Of course it's okay." In a way, this will give you a chance to get to know Jin a little better.
The ash-blonde girl giggles once more. "Then what're we waitin' for! Let's go!" She waves at both Keigo and Touya. "I'm stealing your girlfriend for a while, birdie boy! Bye Touya!"
"You guys have fun!" Keigo calls out, sending you a soft smile.
"We will." You return a smile back to him before walking over and kissing him lightly on the lips.
Spotting your action from the corner of his eye, Touya's fingers grip tightly onto the controller in his hands, still feeling his chest searing at his unresolved emotions for you.
You join Toga and Jin's side and you exit the house.
_____________
After a pleasant walk, the three of you arrive outside the large shopping mall. You enter together and make your way up the escalator. Your first destination is Toga's favourite clothing store.
As soon as you reach the top, Toga chuckles and takes hold of both yours and Jin's hand before entering the shop.
Just like last time, the three of you split up and browse the many clothes and items on sale.
You spot a few summer shirts and shorts here and there but it isn't exactly what you're looking for. You want something a little more summery, something that you know will keep you cool, now that the days are starting to get warmer.
After a couple more minutes of browsing alone, Jin sees you and walks over. "Y/N! Y/N! Did you find anything you like? What're you lookin' for anyway? "
You pout slightly. "No. These clothes over here are nice, but it's not what I'm looking for."
"Can I help?" He suddenly asks. " She doesn't need help, you idiot! "
Taken back slightly by his offer, you smile. "Of course you can."
"What kind of summer wear are you looking for?"
"Um." You bite your bottom lip slightly. "It's difficult to explain, but I want something that I know will keep me cool."
Jin then points over to the right side of the store. "Then how about we try over there?"
"Sure. Lead the way."
Steering you somewhere new, you start to get to know Jin. You discover that he is an extremely affectionate person, especially towards his friends. He always thinks of others before himself. And over time, you start to grow used to his switches and constant contradictories of himself in his speech pattern.
As you browse the many hats on display, Jin suddenly runs over to you. "Y/N! I think I may have found what you're looking for! I've found nothing! "
"Really? That's great! Where is it?"
Following him to the other side of the store, you find a row of beautiful summer dresses, summer shirts and long skirts to match.
Your face instantly lights up with joy and you beam at him. "Jin, this is perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much!"
The blond blushes slightly. "Aww, shucks, it was nothing. I'm just happy to help out my friends. "
You begin browsing the outfits until you find two that you like. A vibrant red sheath crepe, a light, soft fabric, coord of both a buttoned top and a skirt. And for the second, a pastel turquoise summer floral skirt with a white off the shoulder top made out of the same crepe material. Both are gorgeous.
With the help of Jin, the two of you explore the rest of the store to find bags, summer hats, sunglasses, jewellery and shoes to complement your dresses.
Now that you have what you were looking for, you and Jin meet up with Toga, who has a huge selection of clothes in her hands revealing her haul. You and Toga enter the changing rooms, as Jin waits outside.
Spotting your outfits, Toga smiles. "Y/N, those are so cute!"
You smile back. "Thanks. Jin has been a big help. I wouldn't have found these if it wasn't for him."
She giggles once more. "I'm so happy that the two of you are getting along."
You nod. "He's really sweet. I can see why you like spending time with him."
Pink suddenly glows across Himiko's cheeks and she smiles. "He's like a big brother to me. He's so kind and he never judges me or my life choices. He feels more like family than my own mom and dad."
With a warm smile of your own, you wrap your arm around her and give her a gentle hug.
She giggles and hugs you back. "Thanks, Y/N."
"You're welcome." You pull back from the hug. "Let's try on these clothes."
Entering your own changing room, you draw the curtain behind you and begin to undress the outer layers.
After a few minutes, you both open the curtains and reveal your outfits to one another. You show off the summer floral skirt with the white top. Toga shows off a cute long sleeved shirt with different shades of red panels, and a stressed dark denim shorts. She puts up two sideways peace signs and looks towards you, you turn side to side, letting the soft fabric of the skirt flare out to your movements.
Toga's eyes sparkle and she squeals at your beautiful outfit. "Y/N, you look so cute!"
You blush at her words. "Thanks, Toga. You look cute too."
She responds with a giggle.
Smiling back, you both draw the curtain and try on your second outfits.
_____________
After trying out a few more, you and Toga meet back up with Jin and pay for your items.
Exiting the department store, the three of you then browse a few shops before deciding to have lunch at a fast food restaurant.
Spending the day with Toga and Jin has been a blast. Not only have you got to know Jin a little better, but your bond with Toga has also grown stronger.
As you leave the mall together, Toga mentions. "Before we head back, is it okay if we go and see Magne at work? I have something I'd like to give to her."
"Of course." You reply with a smile. "I could get a few groceries while we're there too."
Reaching a small convenience store just on the outside of town, the three of you enter the building. You hear the welcoming chime above your heads from the automatic doors.
Looking around the store, you find Magne in the corner of the room, re-stocking the fridge area.
"Magne~!" Toga sings.
Upon hearing Himiko's voice, Magne raises her head and smiles at the sight of the three of you. "Well, this is a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting Y/N to be with you both today."
Walking over, she gives you a friendly hug. "It's so nice to see you, sweetie. I hope you're doing well."
"Hi Magne!" You hug back. "I'm doing a lot better, thank you. How are you?"
"Just wonderful, honey. I'm so happy that you're feeling better." She then glances down at your shopping bags. "I see you've had a fun day out today."
You nod. "Jin helped me find some good summer outfits."
Jin steps in. "Yeah, I helped out! I did nothing. "
"That's wonderful to hear!" Big Sis grins. "I'm glad that the two of you are getting to know each other better."
Smiling at her words, you say. "I'm going to grab a basket and do a bit of shopping."
"Of course." Magne smiles. "Feel free to call me if you need anything."
With a nod, you grab a small basket from the entrance and begin browsing the many food items on sale while Toga and Jin talk to Magne.
As you look around, a thought crosses your mind. You haven't cooked a foreign dish in a long time, not since you were still living with your parents.
Despite everything that happened, your mom was always the one who asked you to cook those unique cuisines. So maybe tonight, you could cook an international dish with the boys and ask them to help you out as a bonding experience.
No doubt Keigo will want something that involves chicken, causing you to lightly giggle to yourself.
With a few ideas in mind on what to cook, you make your way over to the small meat aisle near the fridge. You grab a few pieces of raw chicken breast and place them into your basket.
Coming over cause it looks like you are in need of help, Jin knows his way around the store and he directs you to find the rest of the ingredients.
Now that you have everything you need, you make your way over to the check out, where Big Sis Magne is already waiting to serve you. "Do you have any fun plans tonight, sweetie?"
You nod. "I'm thinking of teaching the boys how to cook a foreign dish."
She grins. "That's a wonderful idea, Y/N! Touya needs to get better at cooking anyway. Everything comes out burnt."
Giggling, you notice a bracelet around her wrist as she moves your items across the scanner. "That bracelet is beautiful, Big Sis."
"Thanks, Y/N." She raises her wrist to give you a proper look. "Himiko just gifted it to me."
You smile. "It's so lovely."
The two of you giggle as she kindly places your items in a plastic bag for you. You pay for your groceries and take the bag from her hands.
"Thanks, Magne." You smile.
"Of course, honey. Have a good evening. Invite me over next time you're cooking!"
Giggling, you wave goodbye. "I will." You then exit the store with Toga and Jin.
"We'll walk you home, Y/N." Toga proclaims.
You smile. "Thanks, Toga, Jin."
"Don't mention it! You'll be fine on your own. "
The three of you head down the street, chatting with one another and overall just enjoying each other's company.
_____________
As soon as you reach the house, you wave goodbye to Toga and Jin before you get onto the porch.
Sliding the front door open, you step inside, put the bags down, and take off your shoes. "I'm home!"
Hearing your call, Keigo steps out of his room, now in his casual wear of a dark blue shirt and grey sweatpants. "Welcome back, Y/N." He glances down at your many bags. "Need a help with those?"
"It's okay, I got it." You smile, lifting them up and placing them onto the kitchen side.
As you begin to unpack, Keigo walks over and wraps his arms around your waist, leaving a tender kiss in your hair.
His motion causes a warm pink glow to rush to your cheeks and you lean the back of your head on his chest. A satisfying sigh leaving your breath. "I've had such a wonderful day today."
"I'm glad ta' hear." He says.
"Did you have fun today too?" You ask.
The blond chuckles lightly. "It's been pretty chill. Had a few more games with Touya, handled some bills and then took a shower."
You hum. "Where is Touya anyway?"
"He's just now takin' a shower."
"Oh ok."
As you begin taking the chicken breast out from the bag, Keigo suddenly grins. "Aww, you thought of me and bought me chicken? That's so nice of you, Y/N."
He goes to grab the raw chicken, but you playfully slap his hand. "No, that's for dinner tonight."
"Oooo." He licks his lips. "What're we cookin'?"
You turn to face him. "Well, I was thinking maybe the three of us could cook something together. When I first started to learn English and German, I was curious about the dishes they made and I wanted to know what they tasted like. So I started learning how to cook them."
Keigo shrugs his shoulders, smiling. "I'm willin' ta' help ya cook it."
Upon hearing your conversation, Touya steps out from his room, now clean and dressed in a large baggy white shirt and black sweatpants. "What're you cookin'?" He nonchalantly asks.
You smile over at Touya. "Wanna help us cook, Touya?"
The dark haired male frowns. "I don't cook. I burn shit."
"Then, why don't I give you a job that doesn't require the cooking part?" You ask. "I have three dish ideas in mind that we could try. There's hunter's chicken, chicken parmesan or schnitzel. Hunter's chicken is a French cuisine, and there is also an English version. It's basically chicken breast wrapped in bacon and covered with cheese and barbecue sauce. Chicken parmesan is chicken cutlets covered in bread crumbs, fried and topped with tomato sauce and cheese, and schnitzel is a German dish. It's chicken or any kind of meat, thinned out, breaded and then fried to give a-"
You are interrupted by the sound of Keigo's hungry groans. "They all sound sooo good, Y/N! Are you sure we can't just cook n' eat them all?"
You giggle. "No. I only bought enough chicken to cook one of them, so you'll have to choose. We can always cook a different dish on another night." Trying to involve him in the conversation, you turn to Touya. "Which one sounds good to you, Touya?"
The male shrugs his shoulders. "Whatever. I don't care which one."
"Oh ok." Seems it's up to you to decide. With a smile, you answer. "Well, I'm craving something that's smothered in barbecue sauce, so let's go with hunter's chicken for tonight."
As you gather the ingredients and cutlery you need to make the dish, you assign each of the boys with a task.
Keigo is in charge of wrapping smoked bacon around the chicken, you're in charge of making your own homemade barbecue sauce while Touya peels and chops the potatoes in order to make traditional English chips.
While the three of you are busy prepping the meal, you glance over at Touya with a smile, curious to learn more about him. "So, Touya, what's your favourite food? I know Keigo's is any kind of chicken."
Lazily chopping the peeled potatoes, Touya answers in a low, monotone voice. "I hate fish."
You tilt your head slightly, confused that he told you what food he hates and not what he loves. "B-But...I didn't ask if-"
Keigo suddenly chuckles beside you. "Good luck tryin' to get that answer out of him, Y/N. I've been tryin' for years and I still don't know what his favourite food is."
Hearing that response causes you to grow silent for a moment.
You already know that Touya is a tough nut to crack. He's always so stoic. Even after growing up and bonding for years with Keigo, you think he out of anyone would know what Touya's favourite food is, but he doesn't.
Why won't he tell anyone his favourite dish? It's strange to you that he would keep something so simple like that a secret from everyone.
Maybe he hasn't found one yet?
Or maybe he'll tell you both when he feels ready?
To be honest, you don't really know much about Touya yourself. Even after moving in with them and that night he helped you when you were drunk, you still don't know a thing about him. The only thing you've learnt is that he likes videogames, but that's it.
After a moment of silence, you remember to respond. "I'll...be sure not to cook anything with fish in the future."
_____________
Thirty minutes pass and the food is just about ready to be served.
Plating up the chicken and chips, you hand each the boys a plate of the food, as well as a knife and fork. "Here you are, boys." You smile. "I hope you enjoy it."
"Thanks, Y/N." Keigo grins, groaning again. "Oooo, this looks sooo good!"
Grabbing your own plate, you sit at the table with them and begin to eat.
Having dinner with the boys is calm and pleasant. The dish is cooked to perfection! While you eat, you can hear Keigo's constant satisfying moans and groans with every bite he takes, getting barbeque sauce on the outside of his mouth.
Touya huffs at his noises. "Shut it, Shitbird. You're too loud."
You giggle slightly. "I'm just glad he likes it. What do you think of it, Touya?"
He shrugs his shoulders. "Not bad." But even you can tell that he is secretly enjoying the meal. A smile can be seen forming ever so slightly across his half burnt face.
With dinner over, Keigo kindly helps you wash the dishes while Touya goes for a smoke. The three of you then enjoy your evening with a few episodes of a thriller series.
Before going to sleep, you take a quick shower and change into your cute long sleeve pajamas. Stepping out of the bathroom, you find Keigo already waiting for you in bed with a handsome smile.
You make your way over and climb into bed, inviting yourself into Keigo's warm chest and immediately inhaling his comforting musk.
You lightly hum to yourself as Keigo leaves a tender kiss in your hair. "Goodnight, Y/N."
"Goodnight, Keigo. I love you."
"I love you too."
Holding you in his arms, he lifts his wing and lays it on top of the sheets, providing you with an extra blanket of warmth.
A feeling of stillness washes over you. The day you've had today has been wonderful.
The bonds you've made with friends and the warmth of Keigo makes your soul feel like you're in a weightless dream.
You can't wait to see what the future holds for you and everyone you care about.
Summer is just around the corner.
Notes:
My birthday is coming up, so I'm hoping I can get another chapter written and posted before then. But if not, I'll see you lovelies after 29th July ❤
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Dory888 (DarkWarriorSan) on Chapter 1 Fri 14 Jun 2024 05:28PM UTC
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I_Kinda_Dead on Chapter 1 Sun 20 Jul 2025 05:43AM UTC
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