So This Is A Bit Different From My Typical Drabbles. See, I Found This Wondrous Au By @karugoround And

So this is a bit different from my typical drabbles. See, I found this wondrous au by @karugoround and it infested my brain. Where Nagito becomes Izuru Kamakura instead of Hajime. I love it a lot. You can check it out here.

And I loved it so much, I wanted to try my hand at it. And this is the result! I hope you like it!

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

The endless noise of the small plastic clock hung far up on the wall. Much too high for a person to reach.

Well, most normal people. But Izuru Kamukura was not normal. He never was, even before the lobotomy.

But even if he wanted to reach it with his now superhuman abilities, to perhaps smash it and acquire a sharp shard to use on an intruder to his presence, his body was failing him. Due to the copious amounts of sedatives that made him feel foggy and heavy. Like his limbs were filled with lead and his thoughts couldn’t find a place to land. It was maddening. Almost enough to drive one insane.

But again, he was not like normal humans. He was no longer that pathetic and weak Nagito Komaeda. He was someone else. Someone far superior.

Someone who desired something else to happen.

It had been so truly boring lately. He didn’t have many visitors. The incidents with doctors had led to their demise. Either from his hand or his luck. Especially his luck, whose recent disaster had led to this solitary confinement. So none dared to enter his place of forced residence. Well, except one.

And speaking of him, he arrived. Right down to the very second. The door to his empty room opened, revealing the one he had grown to know better than any other. Hajime Hinata.

His chain clinked as he moved, his expression remaining neutral. But Izuru could tell his eye lit up ever so slightly at the sight of the other individual in the room. “Good day, sir. How are you feeling?”

A soft laugh rose, though it had a sinister hint to it. “You know you are allowed to call me by my name, Hajime. You have my special permission.”

“I could never. You are far too important of a person for me to be so casual,” Hajime insisted, pulling a cart in behind him. It had a combination of sustenance and medical equipment. Nothing different from normal. How dull. But it wasn’t like he had much choice. Such was life as a human experiment.

“I see. Perhaps one day. Is it time?” He sat down on the one other object in his room. The bed with the stiff mattress, flat pillow, and thin sheet. It was the place he was most of the time in this room. There weren't many other options. So it was logical that he would choose it over the cold, hard floor. He swept his long white hair to the side before resting his hands on his legs. “Very well. Proceed.”

His caretaker nodded, expression not changing. He grabbed the blood pressure cuff, approaching him and winding it around his upper arm. And so began the series of tests that ruled over his life. Nothing changed, so he no longer held any interest in the results. So he would simply sit quietly and watch Hajime write the results down on a clipboard. Thankfully, it didn’t take long. Not with the person in front of him.

For what reason was he allowing such contact without consequence? He would never tell.

Finally, the last test was conducted, familiar pen scribbles the only sound in the room. If Izuru focused enough, he could tell exactly what was being written by sound alone. But it wasn’t of interest to him. So he made no mention of it.

“Done. You can eat after the injections. I know they make you feel nauseous if administered before, but the higher ups insist I do it in this order.” Hajime turned his back to him to organize the tray. A bold move. A reckless move even. It left him so open to attacks from behind. And he should find himself lucky that the danger in the room had no intention of causing damage.

Instead, he did something else. He felt Hajime stiffen and shudder when his long, pale arms wound around his waist, cold skin against the rough suit material. “So serious about your job. So committed. To some, it would be considered admirable.”

Hajime didn’t try to move. A wise decision on his part. “Are you one that finds it admirable?” he asked, voice laced with the barest hint of fear.

It made his already present smile widen. “I shall leave that up to your interpretation.” One hand began raising, moving up the caretaker’s form. “I’ve been thinking. A lot, as I’m sure you can guess.”

The one in front of him shivered, though he did try to suppress it. Quite cute, in his opinion. “A-about what?”

The hand toyed with the collar and chain, making the links clink together. “About this place. The scientists and doctors have all referred to it as the ‘lighthouse.’ Correct?”

A nervous swallow, but a nod was performed.

“I do find it quite ironic. A lighthouse is meant to be a method to guide lost ships to safety. And in a metaphorical sense, it represents hope.” The pale fingers raised even higher, lightly brushing over the covering Hajime used over his blind eye. “But I see none of that here. No hope. No salvation. No bright future. Just pain, darkness and misery. What do you think about that?”

The caretaker remained motionless. “I would prefer to not answer that question.”

A pause, then Izuru’s hand gripped the chain tight, yanking it just enough to get his point across. “Oh, I insist. I would love to hear your thoughts.”

Hajime was smart enough to recognize the implied threat. “Okay. I’ll answer.”

His smile again widened. “Good, good. Now speak.”

“I… will not deny the presence of despair in this location. And… I have bore witness to it multiple times.” Yes, the man certainly had some other marks hidden beneath his suit. Ones he didn’t let many see. “But… there is a light. One that I know I can cling to when I have nothing left.”

That made the white haired experiment curious. More than he had been in weeks. “Oh? And what is the source of this light?”

“You.”

Now that he had not unexpected. And it thrilled him more than he could possibly express. “Myself? I wish for an explanation.”

“You are the peak of humanity. Everyone’s radiant hope. All who see you surely feel lifted by your very existence. At least, I feel that way.”

Izuru pondered over the words for a few seconds. All the while keeping up his hold on the chain. Then he softly laughed. A very rare occurrence nowadays. He knew it threw Hajime off, if the subtle change in position was anything to go by. “Interesting. So very interesting.” He withdrew his arms from around the other, taking a step back and sitting back down. “My curiosity has been satiated. I shall allow you to administer the sedatives. Whenever you are ready.”

He watched as Hajime took a deep breath and released it, calming himself before turning again. “Okay. Thank you.”

He did very much despise this part. He knew exactly how much was about to be pumped into his system. Enough to last until the next mealtime. Every day he cursed the doctors and scientists for this solution of theirs. It was the only way they could contain him and keep themselves safe from his luck. To send in a sacrifice and load him up with drugs. That way, their souls would live another day. Pathetic and worthless.

But… he would admit to only himself that they chose right on the caretaker. His simplistic way of thinking felt like a breath of fresh air. Amid all the talk of highly complicated matters and terms, a person with a regular education was very nice. Different perspectives offer different solutions, he supposed. So he felt intrigued enough to leave him be. To let him come close of his own volition. Which he did, even after seeing the disasters his luck was capable of. A brave soul. One he wished to continue observing.

So he said nothing as the needles entered his veins, chemicals intruding. He was grateful that Hajime had learned exactly where his veins were and how to quickly and efficiently administer through syringes. It made the whole process quicker. And so he didn’t have to choke down pills every few hours.

His caretaker backed away once the syringes were empty. “Done. You can eat now. I think the soup should still be warm.”

Izuru just continued smiling, reaching out to grasp the bowl and spoon. “Yes, it does appear to be higher than room temperature.” It was bland, like usual. The staff here didn’t allow for Hajime to use many ingredients and spices for his meals. Those quality ingredients were reserved for them. If only he could leave this room to make himself something by stealing their supply. That would be nice. But until that day, he would tolerate what was given to him.

Hajime collected everything once he was finished, again organizing them. It was a habit of his. Or maybe compulsion. Either option was possible. But he wasn’t able to focus on finding the answer for very long. The chemicals had begun affecting him again, stronger than ten minutes before. So he laid down on his pillow, staring up at the ceiling. “If that is the last of your duties, you are free to go.”

He felt the sheet being pulled up and over his body, tan hands tucking him in like a mother would do her child. “Get some rest. I will be back in the evening.” Then he took hold of his cart, dragging it to the door. A clang, a squeak, another clank with the additional locking mechanism. And silence, save for the clock.

He was alone again. Nothing but him and his thoughts. He was certain any other would have gone insane from this. And who knew? Maybe he was slowly going insane.

But at least he was allowed conversation. That was most likely the one thing keeping him grounded. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. He filed away every talk with Hajime into his memory, playing them back on loop when he was alone.

But he would have to do that later. His consciousness was slipping away from him. He would be forced to sleep soon. But before he shut his eyes, he once more glanced up at the clock. Only 21534 more seconds to go until Hajime returned. And he eagerly awaited that time.

Masterpost

Personal Life: December 16th, 2022 (Warning: Sad)

This is something I did not want to ever have to post. But life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are sad moments, too.

This morning, my cat Baby, who I have had since I was 12, passed away. My family took turns sitting with her, so she wasn’t alone when it happened. I spent most of the day with her yesterday, giving her as many pets and as much love as I could.

But even though I internally knew this was likely to happen and was trying to mentally prepare myself, it still hurts. Thankfully, I have a couple days off work to grieve. But I will need some time to do this. So I will probably need to put a hold on posting for a few days at least.

Rest in peace, Baby. You filled my life with so much fun and love. You were the best cat I could have ever asked for. I love you so much.

It is time! For the best gamer girl!!! Hype!

So my research into the matter says that bruised ribs can take up to three to six weeks to heal. Man oh man. Doesn’t sound fun for our dear Hajime. Good thing he has such great help!

This idea was one that @tortadecereji and I came up with. So we hope you like!

And also, I hope you like the art they made for this too!

Hajime had come to the incredible and wise conclusion that bruised ribs sucked. A lot.

“Will they ever get better?” he muttered, wincing as Makoto helped replace the bandages winding around his chest. He was grateful that his coworkers had been more than willing to come visit him to help him out once he explained what had occurred. Sadly, Nagito was simply too big to properly help.

“I bet. I have never had this kind of injury before, so I hope I am doing alright,” Makoto commented, tying the last of the knots.

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Hajime said with a grimace, pulling his shirt back down to cover the injury. “And thank you again. I’m sorry that you have to come out all this way to help me.”

“It’s fine!” his coworker reassured quickly. “But I will admit that I do worry when I leave. It really would be better if you had someone keeping an eye on you more closely.” He then waved his hands frantically. “I mean while in the house! I know Nagito is very devoted to you. But…”

Both glanced out the open patio door, seeing the giant naga basking in the sunlight, eyes closed with relaxation. A rare sight nowadays, considering how much fretting he had been doing the past week.

“Yeah, he isn’t capable of doing much. Not while I’m on bed rest,” Hajime agreed. “What to do…”

Suddenly, his phone made a noise, indicating that he got a text. He took a glance at it, reading the name on top of the message. It made him grin. “Actually, I think the problem was just solved.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“So your friend from your previous hometown is coming to visit? To help you out? And her name is… Chiaki?” Nagito asked with an inquisitive tone, currently serving as a seat for Hajime.

“Yeah. I told her about my injury and she insisted to come and stay with me to take care of me. She can be quite stubborn and persistent when she wants to. So she will be here later today,” Hajime explained, reclining back into the creature’s palm. He was glad that the pale skin was so comfortable.

“I see! That is nice of her! I’m sure you will have a great time together! But… uh… do you know how long she is staying? So I can stay in the forest until she leaves.”

Hajime looked over, a casual expression on his face. “Oh, you are welcome to stay. She won’t react too much.”

“Huh?”

Hajime continued. “She plays a lot of video games. So not much phases her anymore.”

“HUH?”

The human threw up an eyebrow. “What’s so unbelievable about that?”

The naga looked very confused. “I just… every other human I have encountered has reacted in a more intense way. So the idea of practically no reaction is… bewildering.”

Hajime laid down fully against the fingers behind him, closing his eyes in relaxation. “Everything will be fine. I can guarantee it. So if you want to meet her, it’s up to you.”

“Oh! If… you truly think it will be fine, then yes! I would love to stay and meet her,” Nagito exclaimed, trying really hard to keep his hand still.

“Cool. Now I’m gonna take a nap for a while. That alright?” he asked as he started dozing.

“Of course! I’ll let you know if anything changes!” was the response. So he felt comfortable enough to pass out for a bit.

And true to his word, Nagito only disturbed him when something happened. He carefully used a claw to tap him awake, making sure to do it on his legs and avoiding his chest. “I hear something. I believe a car is approaching the gate.”

Blinking himself awake again, Hajime checked his phone. Sure enough, there was a text from Chiaki sent a minute ago. She was close by. So he went ahead and opened the gate remotely. Once that was done, he let his arm and phone fall to the side. “Thank you. She’s almost here. You ready?”

Nagito smiled sheepishly. “I think so. I want to make a good first impression. She’s someone important to you, right? So she deserves only the best.”

That in turn made Hajime smile as well. “I appreciate that. She is my best friend who I’ve known for years. I’m glad you will finally be able to meet her.” He hummed to himself, staring skyward. “Two of the most important people in my life in the same area together. Sounds like a good time.”

A quick glance over revealed that his statement had left the naga with a flushed face. “Do… you really mean that?”

“With every fiber of my being.”

It had become very clear to him that Nagito could pass out compliments, but had a harder time accepting ones that were given to him. As such, he buried his face in his arms, hiding his face from view. But that was alright. Hajime was glad he found a way to make the usually composed creature flustered. He couldn’t allow him to have all the power.

But putting that aside, he definitely could hear the sound of crunching gravel and a motor running. Looks like she was here.

He sat up carefully, wincing a bit when his ribs pulsed with some pain. But it faded not long after. Looking up, he saw his friend step out of her car, sleepily walking over to them. “Hey Chiaki. How was the drive?” he asked, feeling Nagito lift his head slightly behind him.

“Long, but fine. I took a lot of breaks. Four hours is not fun to do all at once. Again, I wish fast travel was possible in real life. It would make things so much easier.” She came to a stop next to them, looking up with no change in expression. “You certainly look like you are comfy. Is he helping take care of you?”

Hajime patted the skin under him. “Yeah, he is. Here, I’ll introduce you two.” He shifted his position so that he could see both of them. “Chiaki, this is Nagito. And Nagito, this is Chiaki.”

“Nice to meet you. Please continue taking care of Hajime while I’m away. He sometimes doesn’t know what’s good for him and needs supervision,” Chiaki stated with a smile.

Before Hajime could respond with exasperation, he heard a snicker from the naga. “I swear to do all I can to keep him in one piece. He’s done so much for me, it’s the least I can do.” Nagito raised himself more, nodding politely towards the other human. “It’s nice to meet you as well. And I hope you don’t mind me being here.”

Chiaki tilted her head. “Why would I mind? You seem to be pleasant company. I am far more concerned for how we will do activities as a group considering you can’t enter the house.” She closed her eyes as she thought hard. It took a minute, but she seemed to come up with something. “Hajime, do you have extension cords?”

“Huh?” He startled from the unexpected question. “Yeah, I do. Why?”

Chiaki got a smirk on her face. “You will see. It involves my great technological prowess.” She took a step forward, easing into a more normal expression. “But that can wait. First we should discuss your injury and how to best handle things around the house.” She made eye contact with the naga. “Would you mind terribly if I stole him for a little? It won’t take very long, I promise.”

Something seemed to communicate through the stare. Something he couldn’t decipher. But whatever it was, it caused Nagito to nod. “I can’t go into the house, so I will leave his well-being up to you while in there. Please be careful with him. His ribs are very bruised.”

“Gotcha. I’ll use extreme caution.” Chiaki reached up and grabbed Hajime’s hand, lightly tugging. “Do you need help getting down?”

The brunette slid himself to the edge of the naga’s hand, moving his legs over so that they were hanging off the edge. “Yeah, can you help stabilize me once I get down. I’ll probably stumble from the impact.”

Nodding, his friend braced herself. Nagito also assisted with slowly tilting his hand to help him slide off as gently as he could. His feet touched the ground and he shifted into putting weight on his legs. As he thought, it did make him stumble from pain. But luckily, Chiaki was there to catch him and hold him steady while he regained his balance.

“Thank you both. I’m okay now,” he assured after a few seconds. He stood straight and managed to take some steps forward. Satisfied that he was walking fine, Chiaki let go.

“Let me know if you need help. I’ll follow close behind just in case,” she told him, rushing forward to be by his side. Together, they made it to the door, opening it and stepping inside. But they both turned around to wave at Nagito before going further. They both smiled when he perked up, waving back. Then they went further into the house.

He didn’t feel confident in his abilities to give a proper tour of his home, so he pretty much let Chiaki go exploring on her own while he sat down on the couch. She returned after her adventure, first aid kit in hand. “This is a nice house. It looks comfortable. So you like it?”

“I do. The neighbor is especially nice to have,” he responded, earning a knowing look from his best friend. “And I see that you found the first aid kit. Do you want to go ahead and check out what we are dealing with?”

“Yeah. Show me what you’ve been doing.” And so he did, lifting his shirt to display the bruises. Chiaki didn’t react other than a sympathetic look, getting right to work and following Hajime’s instructions.

Once done, he lowered his shirt and sat back with a sigh. “Done at last. Thank you.”

Chiaki closed the first aid kit, setting it on the side table. “No problem. I’m not squeamish around injuries. I’ve seen far worse in some of the games I’ve played.”

“Of course you have,” Hajime laughed. “And I was correct on that being the reason you didn’t react to Nagito being here. I told him you wouldn’t be phased.”

“I am glad you have such faith in me. And I’m equally glad that you two are so close. This seems like a very beneficial relationship for the both of you,” she said with an easygoing tone. “It’s always nice to see you make a new connection. I know it’s hard out here, but you still managed to do it. Congratulations.”

He rolled his eyes, but kept his smile. “Yeah yeah. Thanks.” He then recalled her earlier request. “By the way, the extension cords are in that storage closet in the hall. Will you now reveal why you wanted them?”

But he only got a sly smirk. “Nope. Not yet. But don’t worry, you won’t be in the dark for much longer.” She approached him again, holding out her hands. “Now that I know where the cords are, I have everything I need. All that is required now is for me to set things up. So I’ll take you back out to your naga and let you two wait together while I finish.”

Knowing very well that he wasn’t going to get any hints, he nodded. So the two humans stepped back outside and to the large creature, who’s tail tip began swaying with happiness once he caught sight of them. “You’re back! How are you feeling?”

The brunette shrugged. “I’m fine. Chiaki is being mysterious so I’m gonna hang out with you while she does her thing.”

“Oh? I am most curious now,” Nagito admitted, laying his human half fully on the ground. His face was now in reach for them. Which Hajime made full use of by leaning against his pale cheek.

“Guess we will have to wait and see.” His and Nagito’s eyes followed the other, watching as she grabbed a few bags from her car and scurried into the house like she was on a mission. They heard several noises, both electronic and thuds. And he honestly was pretty stumped as to what she was doing.

“Is this… normal for her?” he heard being asked from behind him in a whisper. He felt the vibrations from the vocalized question from where he was leaning, too. It was very fascinating to feel.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Hajime answered. He trusted that she knew what she was doing so he didn’t worry. “Her usual mood is sleepy. But when she is excited about something or an idea she has, it’s truly amazing what she can accomplish in such little time.”

Right as he finished saying that, Chiaki reappeared holding two wireless controllers and a projector connected to an extension cord. She looked over to them before gesturing back to the patio table. “Hey, Nagito? Can you help me move that table over here? I need it to set this up.”

The naga smiled with glee. “Yes, absolutely! Just tell me where you want it.” He reached over and took hold of the table, transporting it over and setting it down right where Chiaki indicated.

She tested the stability of the table, nodding in approval when it didn’t move. “Perfect.” She busied herself with setting the projector up and aiming it at the side of the house. Soon, the home menu of her gaming system was on display. “There we go. Now we can play out here.”

“Oh, I see. You were hooking up your game system in there.” Now things made sense. Chiaki always seemed to know how to do these types of things. When it comes to games and systems, she knew all.

“Yeah.” She got closer to them, handing a controller to Hajime. She then stared into one of the reptilian eyes. “I’m sorry I don’t have a controller big enough for you to play as well. But you can watch now. Is that alright?”

Glancing back, Hajime saw hints of moisture at the corners of his eyes. “The fact that you went to such lengths for me is so touching. You are a kind soul.” The eyes blinked, trying to regain composure. “But yes, watching is more than fine. I’m sure I would stand no chance against either of you anyways.”

“Glad to hear. Now then, where to sit…” Chiaki pondered, looking around to try and gauge their options.

But Hajime got an idea. He knew a great spot. So he tapped the cheek near him, getting the naga’s attention. “Hey, Nagito. Can you lift us up to your hair? We would be at a good angle to play from there.”

Another smile, this one much wider. “If you want to, then sure! I can keep still!” Both faced Chiaki again, questioning expressions. “Are you comfortable with that placement?”

Expressing no concern or fear, she nonchalantly walked forward and stood next to her best friend. “Sounds good. I was just thinking about how fluffy your hair looked. I wanna touch.”

Seeing that he had consent, Nagito laid a hand down next to them, palm up. He waited while staying perfectly still, watching as the two humans climbed on and sat down. Once confident, he raised his hand up to the top of his head, letting the smaller bodies climb off his hand and onto his hair. “Everything alright?” he called out.

Hajime patted the white locks beneath him. “I’m all good.”

Chiaki did the same. “Yes. It’s like a cloud. If I were Hajime, I would stay up here forever.”

Nagito laughed at that. “I’m glad it meets your approval.”

Chiaki then got into a comfortable sitting position, hands on her controller as she navigated the menu. “Are you ready? I have some games downloaded, including some of our favorites.”

Hajime joined her in sitting, grabbing his controller and preparing himself. “Yeah, I’m ready. Ready to get my butt kicked at everything.” Nagito and Chiaki both giggled at the statement, to which he grinned as well. “I’ll let you choose the first game, since you are doing me a favor by being here.”

“Okay.” His friend picked one pretty fast and they watched as it began loading. It wasn’t long until they were battling, fingers moving in a frenzy on the controllers.

Underneath them, they felt a happy sigh. Nagito was enjoying what he was watching, quiet and pleased. It was a nice feeling, knowing that everyone present was content and having fun. It was very comforting.

But Hajime pushed back those thoughts to think over later. He had games to play.

Masterpost

Another one. And another one. And another one. And… yeah you get it.

Another suggestion from IsabelleFukawa. They had a ton of great ideas so I felt the need to use a lot of them!

Though I will say I put some extra editions in here cause I could. It’s fun!

And also, this is dedicated to @moontail13 and @tortadecereji for both inspiring me to create this series. Thank you guys!

Plz enjoy!

It had been a routine video call for work. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing urgent was coming up and the mood had been relaxed. Some people had left and currently, it was just him and Makoto.

And since he knew his coworker well, he often divulged more details than he would with other people. Like how Nagito was doing.

“Yeah, we had an unexpected situation. Well, at least on my end it was unexpected. I don’t have much experience with reptiles and he often doesn’t tell me when things are wrong. I don’t think he fully realizes that withholding information to keep me from worrying makes me more worried.”

Makoto laughed. “Yeah, that doesn't sound fun. But what was it this time? And is everything alright now?”

Hajime waved a hand. “Oh yeah, everything is fine. So you don’t have to worry.” He heard his coworker let out a sigh of relief before continuing. “He was just shedding. It makes snakes less mobile and tired. So once I figured that out, I helped him. Sometimes leftover bits of shed stay stuck on the scales, making the areas itchy. But thankfully I did some research and was able to get a better understanding about it. I was even able to help get the extra bits off. So I am much more prepared for the next time he goes into shed.”

“Wait, you know how to help a snake shed?”

A new voice joined in, asking the question. A quick look showed that two other coworkers had joined the call while he wasn’t looking. Not that it was a bad thing. “Yes I do. Is there a reason you asked?”

His young coworker lit up at the acknowledgement. “Yes, sir. See, my friend went out of town and asked me to look after his ball python. But… it is about to shed and… I don’t really know what to do. I’m kinda panicking to be honest.”

“How is this the first time I have heard about you pet sitting a snake?” the other chimed in. “I demand pictures! What morph is it? How long? What colors?”

Hajime rolled his eyes with fond exasperation. “Cereji, Luna, focus please. Let’s get back to the original question.”

The two sat up with a straightened posture. “Right. Well, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what to do. I want to make sure the snake is comfortable and does well.”

“Snakes shedding is such a cool process. And you can keep the skin afterwards! Perfect sheds can be cool decorations,” Luna tacked on, clearly enthused at the idea.

Hajime shook his head, but had a smile present. “Let’s stay on track again. But yes, I can give you some advice.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Hajime wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, but somehow the advice turned into a plan for Makoto, Cereji and Luna coming over to visit his house. Cereji bringing his friend’s snake as well.

He wasn’t worried about this, as he liked having company over. But he did make sure to inform Nagito of this new plan. He told him that he could stay nearby, but to try to not interfere unless it was important. The naga had agreed, way more understanding than the first time he had Makoto visit. Already he was feeling better about things.

Hajime wasn’t terrified about people finding out about the large creature living nearby. After all, the world knew they existed. But if he could help it, he would like to keep the number low. Mostly so that the peace and quiet remained the same. But partially, and he only would admit this to himself, he liked having the naga’s attention focused on him.

Hajime pushed that thought back, needing to concentrate on his preparations. Snacks, a clean space, and a bowl of warm water to prepare for the snake. While he was sure that some advice and maybe some videos would have done just fine, he couldn’t deny the thrill of company.

Speaking of company, he heard the notification of movement at his gate. The cameras confirmed that it was who he invited, so he let them in remotely. Then he headed to the front door, stepping outside and into the yard to better watch his guests approach.

Though he did get curious. He looked back towards the forest’s edge. And sure enough, he spotted green scales. But thankfully, Nagito was far enough away that he wasn’t easy to spot. He looked more like a grassy hill to those who weren’t actively looking for a naga. So this worked fine. The creature could be close enough to keep watch, but hidden so that none would be suspicious.

The brunette turned back to the driveway, not wanting to give away any indication of the extra guest. He didn’t want to frighten off his young coworkers. They had just moved here, it would not do if they immediately wanted to move away again.

He waved as Makoto pulled up first, the other two cars following right behind. Hajime guessed that he had led the younger two to his place, having been here a few times already.

The three stepped out of their vehicles and waved back, Luna doing so with far more energy and enthusiasm. And he was sure Cereji would have done the same, if he hadn’t been carrying the ball python in a box.

“Welcome to my place. It’s quiet and restful when the wildlife allows it,” Hajime began, inducing laughs from his guests. “But anyways, make yourself at home. I have food and drinks. And I have a warm bowl set up for the snake. This shed should be fairly easy after a soak.”

He stepped to the side and let his guests enter in through the front door, each of them thanking him as they went in.

But on a whim, he glanced back towards Nagito. And to his surprise, the large creature had moved. There was an opening in his coils, to where the emerald eyes were peeking through. But at this distance, he couldn’t make out the emotion. So he just waved before shutting the door.

Putting Nagito briefly out of his mind, he focused on his guests. Showing them around much like he had with Makoto. And similarly, Cereji and Luna became heavily interested in the green naga scale.

“Oh my goodness! Where did you find this!? It’s gorgeous!” Luna cried out, reaching out and gently touching it. “So smooth! You are certainly lucky to have this! I would love to have one, too.”

Cereji nodded in agreement, reaching out to touch it as well. “For sure. And it looks amazing as a decoration as well.”

Awareness seemed to pass over their features at the same time. “Ah, sorry. We touched your things without permission.”

But Hajime shrugged. “You are fine. It’s durable and can handle a few touches. And to answer your question, someone important to me gave me it.”

“Oh! That was nice of them!” Cereji then turned back to the table, where he had left the snake box. “So… should we begin now? Should it soak for a little before shedding?”

Hajime nodded, bringing the bowl of warm water closer. “Yes, let us do that. It will most likely want to stay in the bath. So we can eat while it soaks.”

And so they did just that. The ball python, which Luna stated was a banana morph, happily laid in the bowl as the humans ate and conversed. And half an hour later, they watched as the snake squeezed out of its previous skin.

“This is so amazing! I’ve always wanted to witness this in person. Makes me want to get my own!” Luna said with excitement, holding up the shed at its full length.

Cereji agreed as he put the ball python back into the box. “I am thinking about it too. And now I know I can go to someone for advice.” He faced Hajime again. “By the way, where is your snake? The one that you were talking about yesterday?”

Both he and Makoto suppressed a flinch. “Ah. He isn’t in the house currently. He lives outside and comes by a lot.”

But that sadly wasn’t enough to convince them. “What? But snakes aren’t terribly social creatures. While they can show affection, it isn't common. Is yours a special one?” Luna asked with a head tilt.

It seems that she had a lot more knowledge on reptiles than he thought. Now how was he supposed to go about this…

“Well, I can go look outside for him if you want me to. It won’t take long if he is here,” he answered. This would provide him with some time to think of a good excuse. So he went to the patio door and opened it, stepping out into the evening air.

But when he stared off in the direction where Nagito had last been, he saw nothing. The naga had disappeared. That could only mean two things. One, that he had gotten bored and went back into the forest. Or two, that he was somewhere near the house, in an area not immediately visible.

His answer was provided as he felt claws hook around his waist and drag him backwards. He managed to swallow his surprised shout, not wanting to alert anyone of what was happening. And when he finally felt himself come to a stop, he turned to give Nagito a piece of his mind.

Only to be met with an equally miffed expression on the naga’s face.

“And what are you so upset about?” Hajime demanded, crossing his arms and trying to step out of the creature’s hold on him.

But it got tighter, his waist being pinched hard enough that he couldn’t get out without some serious effort. Nagito’s tongue darted out frequently and rapidly, eyes narrowing with each second. “I have every reason to be upset. Your attention is being stolen! The company you are keeping is taking you away from me!” Tears began gathering at the corners of the reptilian eyes. “Am I not enough? What do I need to do for you to not replace me!? I can do more!”

The brunette raised an eyebrow. “What on earth are you talking about? I’m not replacing you! My coworkers only have my attention for tonight. They aren’t moving in. Surely you know that.”

“I’m not talking about the other humans!” Nagito cried out with distress.

Wait… he wasn’t talking about Makoto, Cereji or Luna? So that meant… “Hold on. Are you jealous of the ball python?”

Nagito buried his face into the human’s body as best as he could. He rubbed his cheek against him as if trying to replace the previous scent. He must have smelled the new snake when it entered the property. “I’m the only one you need! So don’t let that one live here!” One of his eyes made contact with his. “If it comes to it, I’ll defend my territory. I’ll make sure it knows who the superior reptile here is. And who has claim over this land and its inhabitants.”

Hajime patted the skin in front of him. “First of all, the snake doesn’t even belong to any of us. One of my coworkers is pet sitting for a friend. Second, it would be no match for you. Third, we need to really work on these abandonment issues. We have been having so many crises lately.” He sighed. “I don’t know how long it will take until you fully accept that I’m not leaving you or forgetting about you. But I’ll remind you as many times as it takes.”

“Oh…”

“My…”

Sudden voices from right behind him made him freeze. He saw Nagito’s eyes widen as well. They both glanced over, seeing Cereji and Luna staring wide eyed at them.

Makoto looked frantic. “I’m sorry! I tried to stop them! But they wanted to know who had been speaking!”

So they had heard Nagito and him talk. Guess the walls of his home weren’t very soundproof. So it naturally attracted the attention of his guests. And he would have felt the need to panic, if not for the fact that the two looked thrilled and excited.

“Hajime! I can’t believe you kept the fact that you know a naga a secret!” Luna cried out.

“He must be the one who gave you the scale! The rest of him is just as amazing!” Cereji tacked on.

Hajime managed to escape from the claws in the moment of confusion as Nagito didn’t look like he knew quite how to react. “Before anything, I need you two to promise me to not tell anyone. I don’t want loads of people on my property trying to see a naga. Would ruin the peace around here.”

“Of course we won’t say anything!” Cereji quickly assured.

Luna then noticed more details. She rushed forward to Nagito’s face, patting the skin. “Oh you poor dear. Were you upset? Did we take attention away from you? Don’t worry! We can shower you with attention now!”

Cereji approached the other side, patting the skin as well. “We have lots to give!”

Nagito finally reacted, a smile growing as he relaxed. “Attention sounds wonderful. I would like that a lot.”

Squeals of excitement sounded before the two younger humans plastered themselves to the naga, giving him the best hugs they could manage.

Makoto walked up to stand by Hajime, who honestly was baffled by the turn of events. He had not expected this to happen whatsoever. But he wasn’t complaining. Seeing Nagito so happy made him happy.

“I guess… we won’t have anything to worry about,” Makoto commented, laughing a bit at the sight.

Hajime grinned. “Yeah. I think things will be just fine now.” They definitely had some things to work on, but he felt content for the night. They could experience the joy of company all together, without leaving anyone behind.

Masterpost

Smol! Smol!! Smol!!!

You know, I genuinely can’t decide if I like big snek or small snek better than the other. They are both just so good.

Sapphire really got lots of good ideas. Thank ya for all the great suggestions!

There were so many benefits to living with a human. So many. In fact, Nagito couldn’t fathom going back to live in the wild now that he had experienced these benefits.

And it was made all the more better with the human himself. He was just simply perfect. There was no other way to describe him. So caring. So devoted. So attentive.

And at the current moment, so warm.

It was the beginning of the winter season and it was starting to get colder. So naturally, he sought out sources of warmth. His favorite being under the human’s shirt when he was laying down. The most ideal place, really. And that’s where he placed himself overnight while Hajime had been sleeping. He knew that the human wouldn’t move in his sleep. So all he had to do was climb up the nightstand and slither onto the pillow nearby. Then, he could curl up anywhere he wanted on the human.

Hajime hadn’t stirred when he did this. So he was able to fall asleep quite fast once in position. He was only roused when the blinding morning light suddenly appeared due to the shirt collar being lifted.

“Again? You know you have a heat lamp,” Hajime said with slight exasperation. He covered his yawn with the back of his other hand, staring at the naga on him.

Nagito, in response, sleepily smiled. “It’s getting colder. You’re warm. Makes sense.” He then laid his head back down, intending to go back to sleep.

Sadly, his attempt was unsuccessful. “Sorry, Nagi. I have to get up now. I have a test for a class this morning.” A hand reached in and gently pinched the area where skin met scales. He felt himself be lifted and transported out into the colder air.

“Noooooo… my warm spot,” he whined, hanging limp as he was carried away. He must have looked sad enough to warrant Hajime placing him on his neck. Instinctually, he coiled around the source of warmth, squeezing tight to ensure he couldn’t be removed easily.

“Again, I’m sorry. I wish we could stay in bed. But I do have to leave soon. You can stay there while I get ready. Okay?” Hajime asked, rubbing his hair with a pointer finger.

Nagito didn’t verbally reply, too sleepy to do so. He began dozing off, eyes closing and relaxing. Hajime must have understood what was happening because he didn’t ask again. The naga could feel Hajime begin his morning tasks. Changing clothes, preparing and consuming food, and gathering his required materials. Too soon, it was time for the human to leave.

“Come on, Nagito. Let’s put you back under your lamp,” he said as his hands reached for the green tail.

But Nagito tightened in response. “No. I’ll stay with you. You’re warmer.”

Hajime sighed. “I know. But I have to go to class. This test is really important.”

“Take me with you! I’ll be your good luck charm!” the naga cried out, trying his hardest to be convincing. “I won’t move or speak! I won’t be distracting! Please?”

He deployed his puppy dog eyes, looking as cute as he could possibly be. He didn’t do this very often, as he knew how effective it was on the human. He was well aware of Hajime’s level of immunity to this.

Which was pretty much zero.

“Fine. If you promise to not make any noise during class, you can come with. I’ll wear a scarf to cover you. Happy?”

Nagito squealed and hugged the hand near him. “Thank you! I’ll be completely silent for you. And with me there, you will have no trouble on this test! I shall give you all my luck!”

The other hand stroked his tail gently. “If you say so. I could really use it right now.” The hands pulled away, much to Nagito’s disappointment. They had busied themselves with grabbing the thick scarf and carefully winding it around the human’s neck. Soon, the naga was snuggly wrapped up in a cozy enclosed space. “You comfortable? Can you stay like this for the whole time?”

Nagito tightened his coil a tiny bit. “It’s perfect. So warm. Cozy…” He began trailing off as the drowsiness returned. He barely heard the human reply, but the words didn’t register. He was already dozing again.

He was grateful that Hajime was extremely smooth in his walking, as he was not jostled at all when they were moving. The miniscule chill he could feel from the outdoors was soon replaced with the heating from the building. He felt Hajime sigh in relief from the temperature change. But the scarf remained on. Most likely to not draw attention to him and to keep him warm. He again thanked his lucky stars for the existence of this human. No one else would ever begin to compare.

Hajime sat down somewhere and briefly touched the snake tail underneath the scarf. He was checking in on his passenger, it seemed. Nagito squeezed in response, knowing that Hajime liked it when he did this. It apparently was comforting and soothing, helping to keep him grounded and calm.

That gave him an idea just then. Maybe he would do it periodically while Hajime was taking his test! He could be helpful!

And so he did. While relaxing under the scarf, he would keep up his occasional squeezes throughout the next hour. Whenever he felt the human starting to tense or stress, his squeeze would calm him right back down. It made the naga feel nice and warm inside. He was helping and doing something good. Making a difference in this stressful time.

The hour passed. Soon, Hajime was putting his pen down and sighing in relief. “It’s over. All done,” he muttered, standing up to turn his paper in.

“Good job,” Nagito told him, leaning his human half against the larger creature’s neck. “How are you feeling about it?”

“Better than I originally thought. And it’s thanks to you. I need to bring you with me to all my tests now,” he said, the smirk very evident in his voice.

Nagito felt elation. “Oh, yes! I would love to accompany you during such stressful times! Please allow me to assist!” he exclaimed.

“Not exactly what I thought you would say… but yeah. You can come with me when I have another test.” Hajime began walking again, out of the classroom and into the rest of the building. “Here, you can peek out now,” the brunette said as he used a finger to pull down a bit of the scarf.

Nagito had to blink a few times to adjust to the light. But he was so glad when he did. The building they were in was so different from Hajime’s apartment. A variety of display cases with different plant and animal species in them. Giant models of what Hajime had said were DNA strands. And lots of students walking around.

“This is so amazing! I’ve never seen anything like this!” Nagito remarked, wonder in his tone.

“There’s a chair over there. Want me to sit so you can look a little more?” Hajime asked, keeping his voice low to not attract attention.

Nagito nodded rapidly. So to the chair they went, Hajime sitting down and unwrapping the scarf from around his neck. He placed it and the naga down in his lap. From here, they were able to see beautiful murals of nature painted on the wall. The naga loved it all.

After some time, he still was in awe. Everything was still so amazing. He wanted to stay here for a little longer if he could.

That was what he told Hajime when asked. “Gotcha. We can stay here for a little longer. I might go grab a snack from the vending machine. I can leave you with my stuff so you can continue looking. I won’t take too long.”

Nagito nodded. “Okay! I’ll watch over your things!”

Hajime nodded back, carefully lifting the scarf and naga pile and placing them down on his chair along with his bag. “I’ll be right back. I’ll just be around the corner. Yell if you need anything.”

With a wave, he disappeared to grab his snack. Nagito waved back, even after he lost sight of him. But his attention swiftly turned back to the sights around him. It really was so fascinating. So many types of creatures that he had never seen before, and so many interesting plants. Life really was diverse. Such variety. And this was only a tiny fraction of what the world had to offer. Maybe he could convince Hajime to take him to a zoo sometime.

His attention had been so thoroughly stolen by these thoughts and sights. So much so that he failed to sense the large mass approaching him.

He suddenly felt something pinch his body. But he instantly knew it wasn’t Hajime. His arms were pinned to his ribs, almost painfully. He was lifted up and out of the scarf, up towards an unfamiliar face.

“A naga! Here in the biology building! How peculiar!”

Nagito instantly began wiggling as best he could. But his attempts were not very successful. Gravity was pulling at his tail like several weights and the grip he was in prevented him from being able to lean over enough to bite. He was trapped.

“Release me!” he shouted, glaring at the one holding him. “Put me down!”

But his shouts went unheard. Large digits began poking and prodding him, not gentle whatsoever. “Nagas are so rarely seen. They are really interesting creatures. I am so fortunate to have found this specimen.” The face lit up, as he got an idea. “The lab is still open. I can go run some tests on it. I think there are some animal carriers there too.”

That made Nagito’s blood turn to ice. Was this human… planning to experiment on him? So many terrible mental images ran through his head, fear replacing his previous anger. He was defenseless when pinned like this. He couldn’t fight back. His words were useless to this human. He couldn’t do anything.

Grinning, the human turned to begin heading to his intended location. But his progress was halted by another human.

A very angry Hajime.

“What are you doing with him?” he demanded in an icy tone. In a single quick movement, his own hand grabbed onto the other’s wrist. “Listen very carefully. You are going to release him and give him to me. And I will not take no for an answer. Understand?”

Uttering only a single tiny squeak of fear, the other human did as Hajime said. The fingers pinching his arms together released and let him fall onto Hajime’s outstretched hand. He instantly curled his tail around the wrist, hugging the digits under him. He was safe again. In the hands of one he knew he could trust.

“Nagito? Are you hurt?” Hajime asked, lifting his hand up to his eyes to better see him. He met the concerned hazel eyes and shook his head. Thankfully, he was completely fine and unharmed. He made it in time.

“I… I didn’t realize it was yours. I apologize. Where did you get it? I would love to study one for a project in biology,” the other human asked, curiosity overpowering the fear for just a few moments.

Only those few moments, as Hajime turned to glare at him again. “First of all, Nagito is a ‘he’, not an ‘it’. He has thoughts and feelings like us. He’s incredibly intelligent and can fully comprehend all we are saying. And second, I didn’t ‘get’ him from anywhere. We are living together as roommates. As equals. So change your thinking on the naga species. And respect them as you would another human.” He let go of the other’s hand, turning to gather his bag and scarf. Only to see several students around them staring. “Uh… I didn’t expect an audience for this.”

Nagito, having regained all of his composure, smiled and raised himself to lay against the human cheek. “They are simply gazing in wonder at your heroic deeds. How you are my savior. Don’t worry, for I am doing it as well.”

He smirked as he could see and feel the embarrassed flush rising on the skin in front of him. “Nagito! What did we discuss about this kind of thing?” he almost hissed.

But the naga simply laughed in response. “Ah, yes. My apologies. It slipped my mind.”

“You and I both know that’s untrue,” the brunette muttered as he hurriedly gathered his things, ready to leave.

But he was stopped before he could go. The student stood before them, but with a different expression from before. “Wait. I wanted to apologize. I was so caught up in excitement that I failed to recognize what I was doing. I’m so sorry. I will be more careful from now on.”

Nagito made eye contact with the human, staring hard into the large eyes. “Yes, you should be careful if you ever come across one of my kind. Not all of us have a protector.” He returned his attention back to Hajime, smiling and expression soft. “Shall we go home now? We have had quite a day, wouldn’t you agree?”

The brunette couldn’t help but smile back. “Correct you are. Let’s go relax for the rest of the day.”

Placing the naga back on his neck, he wound the scarf back around him and set off, ignoring the crowd that was watching him leave. Nagito paid no mind to them either, too pleased with his current location.

The warmth and the fading adrenaline started making him drowsy again. Squeezing one final time in appreciation, he soon fell asleep. Looking forward to their future snuggle session.

Masterpost

So, quick thing before we begin. I have been chatting with @karugoround and they have been sharing some details about their ideas for the au. So I went back and changed a few things in the previous fics to better match what they are creating. It’s not much, just a few things here and there. But if you notice some things are different, that’s why!

When they first met, Hajime’s heart skipped a beat.

He had heard from his friend, Chiaki, about this person. How strange his luck tended to be and his eccentric way of thinking and speaking. And how he was nothing but uplifting when conversing with her.

And one day, she desired for her classmate to meet her new friend.

So she guided him over to the bench where she and Hajime played video games. And upon his first look of this teenager, Hajime could say with confidence that he found this white haired man attractive.

For about five seconds. Before his expression changed and his words were spoken. “Chiaki? Why are you leading us over to a useless and pathetic Reserve Course?”

Yeah, that was enough to kill the light, fluttery feeling. And several of their interactions after were similar. Nagito exuding an energy of superiority and Hajime biting back with choice words. He did feel bad for Chiaki, as she desperately wanted them to get along. But as long as Nagito acted this way, there was little room in his mind for compassion and peaceful conversation.

Which is why it surprised him when suddenly, out of the blue on a normal day, Nagito sat down heavily on the bench next to him. Chiaki was nowhere in sight. It was just them.

It startled Hajime for a few reasons. First, he had been thinking hard about something that Hope’s Peak had offered to him. A chance to become something more. The embodiment of talent and hope. And if he decided to go forth, where to go to put his name into the pool. Second, instead of the usual sneer and condescending look, Nagito instead looked at him with exhausted eyes.

It kept him quiet as he allowed the white haired teen to speak when ready. Which didn’t take all to long. “Hajime, why do you go to this school? To try and find your calling? Discover what makes you different from the rest of humanity?” The green eyes looked skyward, a sad smile on his face. “What is it like? To not be special from the start? To be plain and average in everything?”

Hajime felt his eye twitch in annoyance. “I could ask you something similar. What is it like to be blessed with a defining talent from the start? This world adores talent. So having something to excel at is a blessing in this day and age.”

Nagito turned to him, expression practically dead. “Is it a blessing? Or a curse?”

That made the brunette pause. He had… never seen someone look so resigned with life. “Nagito? Are you… okay?”

“It seems that we both seek something that is out of our reach. To be someone we are not.” Nagito commented, eyes like thick steel doors. Not letting anything slip past. “Tell me, Reserve Course. If you were given an opportunity to change yourself and status, would you take it? With no questions asked?”

Hajime paused. Then he answered. “Yes. I would. What about you?”

“Ah, it seems we have found something we agree on. I’ll forgive you for sharing my desires this time. As you assisted in helping me confirm my decision.” The Main Course student stood back up, turning to leave.

Hajime stood up as well, grabbing the thin shoulder. “Wait. What decision? And why are you acting like this? This isn’t like you.”

Nagito shrugged, in the process knocking the hand off. “A bad day. Bad luck. But that’s nothing new for me. Goodbye, Hajime.”

Little did Hajime know, as he stared at the retreating student’s back and soft swaying hair, that those would be the final words he would hear from him.

~~~~~~~~~~

When they first met, Hajime’s heart stopped.

He had signed his name into the pool for candidates for the project. But he was not horrifically surprised when he was informed that he was not chosen. That the picked candidate had already been transformed into something more.

But, they still had a position for him. They offered for him to be the Ultimate Hope’s caretaker. An honorable and important position. And seeing no other option, Hajime accepted.

And now, he was standing in front of the creation. In front of Izuru Kamukura.

In front of the corpse of Nagito Komaeda.

He felt chills of fear and uneasiness flood his body as he stared at the motionless person on the bed. Those red eyes displayed no recognition. The smiling mouth remained closed and silent. And the white cloud-like hair was now a waterfall, reaching the experiment’s knees.

So similar. But at the same time, so different. So much more dangerous.

He had been told details about what Izuru was capable of. His talent had been luck back when he was Nagito. And now with this surgery, it was magnified. But not in a good way. Disasters and horrific accidents were very commonplace here. Especially with ones that Izuru didn’t seem to like. Already, four of the doctors responsible for the surgery had perished in painful ways.

Which is why they needed him. One who was passionate about hope and would do anything to be something more.

Internally, Hajime knew. He now knew the real reason for why they brought him here. To take the place of the scientists and doctors. To be the one to perform the tasks that required close contact.

But despite those facts, and the unsettling knowledge of what was in front of him, he stayed where he was. He wouldn’t deny that he felt slightly paralyzed by the crimson eyes, but also he wanted to remain. He desired to help this person in front of him. To be a part of the Ultimate Hope’s life. And to do this, he would happily become a servant to him. He was ready for this. And he would take any challenge that came around.

With that courage, he stepped forward, catching the experiment’s full attention. The doctors and the security were silent, not wanting to interrupt this. That suited Hajime just fine. He bowed respectfully to Izuru, eyes lowering to the floor. “It is an honor to meet you, sir. I shall work hard to ensure you are well taken care of.”

He glanced back up, meeting the intense gaze. And though very subtle, he could see that the smile was just a little wider. That had to be a good sign, right? He wasn’t dead from either him or the guards, so he must have acted correctly. He filed that away in his mind. If he was to survive this, he would need to learn all he could.

~~~~~~~~~~

“You appear to be thinking fondly of something. Would you care to share what it is with me?”

The smooth voice brought Hajime back into the present. His eye focused and he glanced over to the voice’s owner. Izuru was holding his bowl and chopsticks, with a minimal amount of food left.

“I’m sorry, sir. I was… remembering our first meeting,” he replied.

It was impossible to tell what Izuru’s true feelings to that were. The eternal smile threw him off constantly. It almost never gave anything away. His next comment was equally as unclear. “I see.”

Short and firm. Not an uncommon occurrence. So Hajime wasn’t put off about it. But he did feel something else. A compulsion to ask something. “What were… your thoughts when we first met?”

Izuru didn’t answer until he finished the last bite of food and handed the bowl and chopsticks back to the caretaker. “My, my. How bold of you to ask. One might think you are being quite foolish. Though I continue to think it is entertaining when you do ask for answers from me.”

A few beats of silence, the white haired experiment giving no indication of continuing. Hajime sighed. “I should have known you wouldn’t answer. Can’t blame me for trying though.”

“Try you do. And I will permit you to continue your attempts. Think of it as a reward for surviving this long.” Izuru reached up and caressed his cheeks. “Ah… conversing is truly a hidden pleasure. Especially with one such as yourself. It would be such a shame if this were to end.” The grip on him tightened. “So do be careful, my dear caretaker. The balance of this world relies on you, in a way.”

Surely Izuru could feel the flush warming his face. But he made no comment on it, just a smirk.

Hajime had noticed the Ultimate Hope’s progression in verbal communication. At first, practically nothing was said to him. But as this arrangement continued, and Hajime proved time and time again his loyalty to his charge, Izuru started speaking to him more. To the point where they could have full conversations. That is, if Izuru felt like it. He still liked to be cryptic and secretive occasionally.

And he also liked to invade personal space, as Hajime was currently well aware. Additionally, he occasionally enjoyed physical contact, with the caretaker on the receiving end. And it never stopped being electrifying.

And every time it happened, Hajime could feel a tiny fraction of fear vanish. Was that dangerous? Perhaps. But he couldn’t find it in him to care all that much.

Now whenever they met, his heart fluttered. And he intended to keep it that way by any means necessary.

Masterpost