A TORE COPPER COIN, ON THE BACK OF YOUR POCKET

— A TORE COPPER COIN, ON THE BACK OF YOUR POCKET —

takeomi akashi x reader x shinichiro sano

angst. +2.5k words. @lostinthe-jojos @saturnmitsuya @souyawn @kallikrein @blondbirb in case you’d like to read it :)

coins always have two sides, heads or tails

there are always two versions for each story. just as the sun spreads its light, the latent darkness that remains hidden, later takes over everything around. what is defined as right, and what is known as wrong. the desperate crying and the constant laughter. good people and the ones that want see you fall to pieces. death and life

whether it was day or night, april or december, in those times of youth that now seem abandoned and marked forever with the traces of tires from multiple motorcycles and cigarette leftovers, they used to fight over everything

every aspect. every joke. every bet

they knew each other since they were infants, after all. always running around, chasing the one after the another

among their inseparable gang, shinichiro always challenged takeomi. and intentionally or not, he always won

from the most insignificant thing with the cheekiest and childish purpose, to the most serious matters about the future of their crescent gang his nature was like that, showing his affection to others in that particular way he could only manage to achieve, carefree, charismatic and noble

-what’s so important about winning?- the older sano used to inquire his partner as if it were nothing, looking into his eyes, sideways. akashi’s teeth twisted inside his mouth every single time. shinichiro spoke serenely, but to takeomi was a direct scream into his ear, buzzing, deafening. impending defeat. why things always have to be like this?

on one side, akashi was used to make himself look disinterested to his friend antics. the best at hiding his emotions, the best liar, the best at pretending. but deep down inside his guts, in the remotest part of his self, the growing feelings of resentment that took over him, only strengthened with time, wishing to be the winning voice, even if it was just for once

while on the other, resided shinichiro. that even when he shamefully lost in a fight, he owned the victory. when he was silent in an argument, he still had the reason, the upper hand above everyone. all of this unbeknownst to him, actually

heads or tails?

sano was the head after all, the leader, the great, the admirable. takeomi just watched all this happen from afar, second in command. in reality, it never bothered him that much since that was his place from the beginning, he was well aware of it

but he was also a greedy man, money and success ruined him, and he was never good at making decisions. that’s why he kept behind, always behind

he was weak, and he knew it

except that, if there was one thing takeomi longed to be the first to, other than winning stupid games against one of his comrates or some cash in a dangerous entrust. it was to be owner of your desire

exactly, that

it’s always been him and the guys, his crew against tokyo. but with shinichiro, it came you. and you may not be part of the world they both shared, but you were certainly equal in importance. you were always near, shinichiro’s love since middle school, his forever girl and the only thing he ever talked about. the four of them could rely on you anytime, you were just another member

a loving soul that added an undescribable warmth to takeomi’s monotonous life, and you weren’t even his

maybe that was the problem

he doesn’t exactly know when did it all start. sure, since the first moment he saw you, he could tell how alluring you were. shinichiro really scored, a nice smile, a delightful personality, a lovely pair of eyes, pretty hair, pretty body. he was speechless, that you were with a guy like sano? wakasa and benkei weren’t doing any better  

not only that, quite dangerous feelings started to terrorize his mind at night, in the intimacy of his bed, with the moon as his only witness, while he soflty chanted your name before dawn, the forbidden prayers of a hidden sinner

those were the kind of things he started to seriously get worried about

it started innocent, it started subtle

from small gestures, like the blooming tingles he felt creeping in the tip of his fingers whenever he walked near you, and you both accidentaly grazed your hands. it meant nothing to you, but it surely did to him

to the serious issues that got harder him to ignore, to supress

like that one day, when it finally snapped it was pouring, and you were waiting for shinichiro outside of his newly opened store with a small umbrella as your shield, to bring him dinner, since he was staying late to finish the order of a client. but much to your misfortune, he was gone. probably running off to the store to get something he forgot. defeated, on your way home, you found akashi walking under the rain, drenching in his clothes, probably heading to s. s. motors too and when the two of you encountered each other, you decided to keep walking to part ways, not minding the already sopping clothes. both were casually talking with the water falling over yourselves in the middle of some street, when you saw how his hands were trembling, it was obvious, he was not around his usual cloud of smoke because of the weather and he was probably feeling a bit anxious. you were still using your umbrella, so you offered it entirely to him. now completely ruining your clothes in the process. he didn’t even react -what the hell are you doing?- he wasn’t expecting that at all, he is used to be the one who offers himself to others, in many ways more than just getting wet in the rain. he was already soaked, so it was no use -it’s been probably a while since you lighted a cigarette with this rain, so go on. i’ll hold it for you, sorry for not bringing a larger umbrella so we could both fit- and you grinned, inocently

it was such a naive thing, that’s just how you were. an effortlessly beautiful person. for an insignificant moment, you placed him before you, and you stood on the rain, the bento on you bag all wet, so he could smoke and calm himself for a few minutes before arriving home

a rather innecesary and weird thing to do, yes. nonetheless, it spoke a lot about how you were, caring and considerate. that’s why you were with shinichiro, and not him. there was no way he could possibly deserve you

then one night, he passed

and suddenly, on one grey afternoon you had to say goodbye to what remained of shinichiro in this world, and you were numb. you remember akashi waking you up, but you didn’t move. shin was not next to you in bed, how cold. you saw takeomi’s lips move, but you were not able to hear him. you stared at the corner, where some of shinichiro’s things stood, quiet and lonely. he undressed and prepared you to go out, what day was today? where was he taking you?

it was sano’s household, everyone were black dressed, and they all stared at you, faces full of sorrow

takeomi sat you down on the floor next to some people you couldn’t recognize, and when you finally lifted your head, you saw a picture of your boyfriend greeting you at the front, with that charming smile of his, all types of flowers, everywhere, and a small box in the middle with a black ribbon adorning it. please no, this is not real, please no

you shivered and left akashi’s side, slowly. he called you, but it was useless

wakasa and benkei noticed from the distance, standing against the door of the room, until both started walking towards you, something was odd

-sh-shin?- you leaned closer, and caressed the box the same way you were used to touch his cheek in the mornings, when you slept together. he was always warm. and now, it was all just lifeless, cold wood -there is no way he can fit in there. it must be hard to breathe. it’s just a tiny box, he is not there. benkei, where is him? is he really there? take him out, he can’t breathe! akashi! please, please help him, it must be difficult to be in there alone. please! someone!- the three of them were now next to you, trying to calm you down, keeping the most quietly possible. you were shouting, crying, whispering, all at the same time. it was real

he was gone

-take her out, she is going to scare the kids- benkei looked at takeomi, while he held you close to his chest. you were sobbing and babbling incoherences 

-shh, it’s okay, pretty. we are here, everything will be fine, he is fine- wakasa stroked you hair gently, he then looked around, searching for the younger ones

-please help him, please- you couldn’t keep your eyes open and you started to feel how the air in your lungs left your body, everything went dark

-y/n! y/n! she is fainting- takeomi held you tightly and grabbed your face, seeing how you grew unconscious with every passing second

-then hurry the fuck up! she needs air, take her out! i’ll go with mikey and emma, they don’t need to worry over this- wakasa mentioned, and left the three of you. benkei followed him soonly after

akashi went to the backyard, there were no people and it all seemed full of gloom. he sat down, leaning on one of the walls to hold you between his arms. your lips parted slightly and you began to breathe normally again

how did this even happen? why him?

his eyes were on you, watching you gain your composture again. you blinked very subtly, and one of your hands weakly got up to fondle his neck, tenderly

you were the most sacred thing to him in his small infamous world. where he was the god of war and you ruled by his side

he wanted you more than all that for which he cried at night after going to sleep, when he was a kid, and he lost a fight. all those foolish dreams couldn’t compare to you

beautiful, kind

he got near to your lips, and he stared at them in a trance, he wanted it

he wanted it badly

so he finally did it

the light touch of his lips rested on yours, and he tasted the victory that he has longed for, all these years

the victory that has never belonged to him

he moved away and you looked at him directly, with your eyelids half closed, to then whisper

-shin?-

no

no, it wasn’t him. he was no one in particular

-i love you-

no

those weren’t words for him, he knew it. you were hallucinating, rambling in the middle of the bliss within your unconsciousness. you didn’t love him. his heart was yours entirely, but your soul and whole being belonged to shinichiro sano, your forever foolish lover

and in this fleeting moment, you saw him in takeomi. it was all a fantasy, a brief and painful one. the last moment you would share with shin now that he is gone, and only the shadow of him remains, a greedy man who will never have your desire

but he was satisfied

he couldn’t ask for more

in that instant, he had what he most wanted, and even if it was a lie, he would live in it forever

-i love you too-

and he meant it. every breath, every blink of his eyes, every caress to your wet cheeks. he meant it all

he was giving himself into you

he loved you, more than what he could understand

but it was not right

-what the fuck do you think you are doing, huh?-

trapped in his illusion, ears deaf to the footsteps coming his way. benkei took him by the collar of his shirt and made him drop you abruptly, he didn’t expect it. air leaving his lungs when he impacted the wall, it hurt him

-answer me you bitch, this is not time for your bullshit- benkei’s gaze had an unbridled anger, the same one he uses in fights to terrorize his opponents, only that this time, it was totally raw and authentic, he couldn’t feel any other way, he was disgusted

-how did you dare to take advantage of her in such a state?-

-i’m sorry-

slap

-oh your sorry? for her? for me?- he was looking for the answer in his eyes, almost harassing him. akashi couldn’t lift his stare from your weak figure on the floor -or for you? and how miserable you are? huh?-

slap

-you are lucky i was the one who saw you, wakasa would have already fucking smashed your pathetic skull-

-i’m in love with her, benkei. and it’s not something new-

slap

his cheeks were bleeding, skin split open. but he said it, it was unbearable, just a matter of time

he has never said it out loud, to anyone. he shouldn’t, but it was done now

-i don’t give a fuck. she was shinichiro’s woman, that he isn’t around anymore doesn’t give you the right nor the permission to go and try stupid delusional bullshit like this. learn to live with it- benkei’s voice faltered for a second at the mention of his friend, in sour realization. those were words they would have to get used to, unfortunately

a dry and emotionless laugh emanated from takeomi

-and what do you think i’ve trying to do all this fucking time, huh?-

benkei remained silent for 34 seconds, to be exact, both only staring at each other. guilt, sorrow and misery mingled together to form a thick aura between them, dull as cigarette smoke and distressing as betrayal

-well try harder. she is not yours, she will never be. so get your shit together-

-death did them apart- he stood in silence, realizing what he just said. he didn’t really mean it, his poisonous heart was clouding his mind out of pure despair. he could already feel the loneliness creeping through his veins, and he couldn’t stand it

benkei just barked a laugh, pathetic as always, he could only think

-but i’m sure they will be together again someday, motherfucker. so stay away from her until then-

benkei picked you up from the floor and took care of your delicate state himself, while takeomi just watched you walk away from him, once again

even after shinichiro’s death, he kept himself in the dark. second in command. he never changed, he could still hear his orders in his mind, vividly. he was not enough to be a leader, he was not enough for anything at all

and his feelings never changed, either

he would be there for you, always. hoping that one day you may look at him the same way you used to look at sano

nothing really changed

shinichiro and takeomi were the two sides of the same torn coin, plated in the same way

heads or tails?

takeomi akashi stayed as the tore copper coin on the back of your pocket

he remained there, silent

he remained there, alone

forever missing his other half

and waiting for you, to give it a use in your grieving slot machine heart, someday

no way😭😭😭🔫🔫💕🥺🥺💕💕

chibi doddle requests log 3

GETTING WELL FED TODAY YES SIR

Thinking about how Yuuji would be so warm and sturdy to hug when you're feeling affectionate. How he'd oblige and fuck you against the wall or while carrying you because it's a huge turn on and because HE CAN make it happen. How he'd cook together with you and clean up after because he wants you to relax on the couch after feeling satiated from the bomb ass meal. Yuuji is just everything. There's just too much Yuuji brainrot going on

18+! All characters are of age here. Minors don't interact.

Yuuji is the perfect boyfriend! His hugs are the BEST. He's so warm and cuddly and so so affectionate. When he hugs you, you feel so safe in those strong arms. He is so happy when you come to him and just snuggle against him. And HE is initiating that all the time too. Coming up to you and pulling you into his arms. Hugging you so tightly during movie nights. Or pulling you onto his lap while he's playing video games because he wants you close to him. When you're cooking, and Yuuji hugs you from behind. Or when he surprises you by joining you in the shower, and suddenly you feel his strong hands on your hips and his buff body pressing against your back.

And yes, Yuuji is a STRONG BOY! He can just pick you up and carry you and bounce you on his thick cock while walking around. He's just so horny and can't wait until you're in the bedroom! And when you whisper in his ear, "Just fuck me right here, Yuuji." He'll moan and slam you against the next best wall and just wreck you there.

He can be so gentle and sweet despite his strength, but he can also fuck your brains out, turning you into a sobbing mess when he rails you with such hard and fast thrusts that your eyes roll back.

And he will always take such good care of you afterwards! Licking you clean and kissing you and making sure you have something to drink and you're comfortable. He is so sweet!

Yuuji knows how to do all household tasks, he's used to doing all of those on his own, so you know that Yuuji is the type of guy who doesn't need to get asked to do something. He just does it! And yes, he loves taking care of you, and if you had a long day, he is adamant that you do nothing and just relax. "I'll clean the kitchen real fast, baby! You go relax! Please pick a movie for us, and I'll join you in a few minutes." You can reward him with cuddles, and he'll be the happiest guy!

He is the perfect boyfriend aww!

— A SWEET THING CALLED LOVE —

for tiny mikey

@keizos @kallikrein @nozomiasl @saturnmitsuya @souyawn @mqtsuno @blondbirb @lostinthe-jojos felt like tagging you guys, hope you all like it ! ♡

-have you gone insane, mikey?! -emma! your dolls are dead! -no! mikey! i’m sorry!

kindergarten it’s a weird period of a person’s life. and to manjiro sano, it was no exception

he couldn’t complain though. barely assisting to the classroom, spending the day eating in his seat, watching other kids do the things that, well, kids do. and ignoring his exhausted and poorly paid teachers, observing them while they attempted to get the class attention, unimpressed and mostly bored. he has always been a reserved and mature (only when he felt like it) kid. certainly one of a kind

there were actually just a few things he could count with his palm that caught his attention, but they were all outside school and all involving his older brother at some point 1. his motorcycle 2. his gang 3. all types of candy  4. showing off his talent at the dojo 5. and his brother somewhat girlfriend this last point, we could say, it’s the most important for him now

it was tuesday, and on tuesdays, mikey has a two hours class with miss yukishi, an elder woman that imparts writing to the lower grades. she has decades of experience at his school and an impeccable record in the field of teaching

mikey didn’t like her class at all, simply because he always had work to do as shameless as it sounds, and she smelled like rosemary and wet soil much to mikey’s disguise. but she was kind after all, one of the few professors that managed to get him to focus. and on that particular day, he felt like attending and giving her a chance. mistake or not, he was surely glad he took the decision to be present

the assignment for the day, was writing a note with a minimum extension of 10 words, to whoever he wanted about any topic. his options were:

his older brother, no. he is dumb his little sister, no. she will make fun of him his grandpa, no. he is busy and he probably don’t like those kind of things keisuke from the dojo, no. he is even dumber y/n from his brother middle school oh, y/n from his brother middle school

young manjiro thought about love the same way he felt about santa claus. an illusion, something that makes people freak out, and act stupidly. he was used to feel embarrassed of his brother and the weird things he did for girls, so he swore to the gods that he would never lacerate his dignity like that. until he met you

see, he never felt attracted to any of his classmates, of course not. girls his age were missing teeth, wore funny pigtails, used too much glitter on their school artwork and were extremely nosy. they bothered him. while you, you were quiet and sweet, way too tall compared to his diminute height, your hair was perfectly combed and you always smelled nice. besides, the best thing of all, you hanged around his house sometimes, and you always watched him practice at the dojo, complimenting him and bringing him snacks. you were amiable, you were pretty

and he likes pretty things he likes pretty victory, he likes pretty praise, he likes pretty candy, he likes pretty girls like you

so one day, he definitely saw why his brother was whipped for you, he understood it and reciprocated it, much to shinichiro’s misfortune

he vividly remembers a few nights ago, catching the two of you sharing a few pecks on the lips in his house backyard, when you both thought no one would see you. and it certainly was a strange feeling for him, like when you want something from a store and you arrive just in time to see that someone else is taking the last piece, exactly like that. he was mad, he frowned, and he went to sleep without having dinner

a very much concerning thing coming from him

in that moment, he decided that he was taking action by himself, and with miss yukishi most recent assignment, he had a plan

you might have shared some kisses or whatever disgusting things, but he knew his older brother was a dumbass and that he probably hasn’t asked you out yet. so he was taking advantage on that later, mostly like plan b. for now, the card was his holy grail

a couple of classes later, staying a few hours after school time for practicing, some elderly advices for troubles with the ladies and thousands of attemps in the trashing can, he finally wrote something eligible. miss yukishi was patient and she was good at what she did, so little manjiro finally accepted her to what she truly was, a great teacher

now, he just had to give it to you

but how?

it shouldn’t be that hard, right?

-how did you dare to write stuff like this to my girl?! you tryin’ to ask her out or something?!

the thing is that, emma found the card under mikey’s pillow while roaming curiously on his room and she had the brilliant idea to run to shinichiro and make fun of him together. it seemed like a good plan for starters, until the older one figured out who the card was for, and his burlesque smile turned into a disgusted grimace

-she is not your girl yet! you are a coward enough to not make a move, so i will beat you to it!

lie his brother was a lot of things to him, a prick, a pathetic gangster wannabe and a lovefool. but shinichiro sano was not a coward, and he was just talking things that he knew would get on his nerves. a risky road to take, indeed

-that’s so not happening! and it is actually not your problem! thank god emma told me about this -she is a snitch! snitches deserve to die!

the little girl was hiding under his big brother’s leg, fearing for her life and the safety of her toys. fat, hot tears falling from her cheeks, regretful. that’s just how kids were, doing things without thinking. she didn’t expect all of this to happen, not at all

-hey! apologize to her! and to me too! how can you stab your brother from the back like that, huh?! -you both can kiss my butt! -you little shi-

-good evening, grandpa sano. can i come in?

the three pair of eyes gleamed and directed down the hall at the same time, where your voice was heard

-she is here!

emma screamed and mikey jumped to snatch the piece of paper from his brother’s hand, running to you -give me that! -no! y/n! don’t read anything he gives you!

you were just greeting the old man, and in an instant, you felt the three of them ambushing you

-hi y/n. this is for you, i wrote it. open it now- mikey was sweating and clinging to your waist, subsequently grabbing your hand and carefully placing the piece of paper inside. it was not just paper, actually. it was his tiny heart, his innocent emotions harboring for the first time, all of this, in your palm -huh? are you guys okay? -please don’t- shinichiro was practically on the floor, with pleading eyes. what the hell was going on? -please hurry, could you read it now? -o-okay, calm down you too

they didn’t even greet you, and you noticed emma’s watering eyes, something you will take care of after this mess. you needed to open it

and when you did, it had the words

you are sweet like dorayaki that is why i like you

mikey

it was done, you read it. he followed your eyes scan the paper in front of him, his effort, his feelings. everything stood there, freezed. relying on your reaction, waiting. certainly not patiently, but waiting

he was, nervous? he doesn’t really know. his heart felt like stopping from how fast it was beating, and he was breathing so harshly that he even felt dizzy for a moment. this is all new to him, and he wasn’t sure if he was really enjoying it anymore

so this is love? ew

until you crouched in front of him, and folded the tiny piece of paper on a square, holding it close to your chest. you looked at him tenderly, and smiled

-this is really nice of you, manjiro. your writing improved a lot, i’m very proud of you- you even noticed that -you really think so?- his eyes were glowing. compliments fell on his ears every once in a while, in the dojo and sometimes at school. but hearing it from you was a diferent level, you were that special, and you had no idea -yeah, of course. and also, you know i like you too, mikey you leaned closer and smooched his left cheek twice, leaving marks of your cherry chapstick all over it -be good, okay? and be sure to thank miss yukishi for teaching you what you now know, treat her nicely and be grateful always, can you do that for me? you were well aware of his blind hatred to miss yukishi, and with this, you hoped he learned a lesson. he was a kid after all, and he still needed to learn about a lot of things -sure thing. can i ask you something too? you hummed, stroking his hair gently, placing his gold locks behind his ear, carefully listening his words -can you give me another kiss? -hey!

before shinichiro could even bark again, you grabbed his face and another big loud kiss was now planted on his right cheek. from all the smeared balm you couldn’t really see if it was a natural nervous blush or the cosmetic pigment, but you decided to believe it was the first option, and your smile went wider -there. now i payed my debt, right? -can i have another? -absolutely not, go get a shower or something. we are going out- shinichiro interrupted, stepping between your crouched figure and his brother -whatever, mom -yeah, yeah. go to your room, you smurf

-thanks again mikey, i loved it

you loved it

-before you leave, i want to know something

you and shinichiro were going out together, and he was staying at home, as usual. other times, when the two of you spend time alone, he is left with this certain sensation of emptyness that makes him sleepy and uneasy. but now, this feeling in his heart is due the way he emptied it completely that night, he wasn’t glad you were his brother’s, but you were aware of how he felt, and not only that, you even said you liked him too, so he was content. you even kissed him three times

he was so ready for not washing his face in months and running tomorrow to the dojo to show keisuke your marks on his cheeks

oh, first love 

-are you serious right now? -let him talk, shin- the older one rolled his eyes, squeezing your hand tighter

-can i be next? -next in what? -when you get rid of my brother, can i be your next man? -are you sure you are four years old, manjiro? -sadly, yes -that’s it, you are done

— FOUR TEA MUGS —

shinichiro sano x reader

fluff at the start. expect a wild turn. shinichiro is not the only guy in love with you, keep that in mind

wc: 3k

a/n: hello stranger that came across and kept reading :) this is my first fic ever *panic* but i’m glad i can share it with you. this story could have been separated in two different parts because of the turn it has, but i decided not to do it because this is the way i visualized it at first, and i wanted to stick to that, plus, i had so much fun writing it. hope you all like it too! in advance, thank you so much for being here and giving this a chance, means the world to me. also, i want to specially thank my dear friend @saturnmitsuya that helped me to make this possible, te amo bonita

reblogs, comments and likes are very much appreciated. please forgive any spelling mistakes and the constant editing

the day was serene and it was cold outside. 4:02 p.m. s.s. motors still open

shinichiro was holding is his arms what he enjoys, a little way too much, to call the woman of his life. both bodies over an old chair that stood behind a tore small desk where he wrote down things about motorcycles that he needed, making calls and all those sort of things you have to arrange when you run a store. you mockingly named it ‘’his office’’ just to piss him off

the situation right now, started because he decided to behave like the most pathetic and cute big baby ever, stating that ‘’he was freezing’’ all pouty and shivering, which was all bullshit, just to have you sitting on top of him. yeah. the sano’s family ability to find ways to convince people, runs just as hard as oxygen through his veins. but you didn’t really put up much resistance either, saying no to him it’s a pretty much impossible thing to do

hands playing with the black locks on the back of his head, arms snaking through your hips and waist, exploring under your sweater to slightly rose your free breasts, kissing his neck, moving to his cheek and finally his lips with wide grins in between. the position was provocative, yes. making out at the corner of his store while straddling his legs. but that was really it, just making out. simple, right?

see, the real core of shinichiro sano’s charm is that everything is just so simple when he is with you, and somehow, it always manages to feel perfect. as if you were pieces made for each other, and nothing else in this world could ever change the ideal way you both fit. or like two planets aligned together that dance around the same orbit, in one melody created by the universe just for yourselves to hear

-what do you want to have for dinner, bunny? i’ll close earlier so we can go eat, it’s on me today- he commented, lips a bit reddish from kissing, looking at you with the goofiest flushed expression ever, weak to women after all

-well, your grandpa’s miso soup could be real awesome right now cause it’s pretty chilly outside- you furrowed your brows in late realization -speaking of the weather, did you bring your jacket? i don’t want you to go out with that plain shirt, weren’t you freezing a few minutes ago? you will catch a cold you awful liar!-

he honestly wasn’t even listening to your attacks, well of course he was, but his eyes were mostly fixated on the movement of your lips, how you were scolding him

you really were the woman of his life, for sure. always so caring, always so loving, always you

-i love you y/n-

words just slipped in the middle of the bliss within his embrace. then, he started caressing your back, going all the way to your rear with a cheeky grin, planning to kiss you again. you stopped talking, cheeks and ears burning red. you couldn’t believe him, this bastard

-s-shin! don’t change the subject like that, i’m being serio-

-are we interrupting something?-

indeed, an interruption happened, one of shinichiro’s younger siblings, manjiro, stood by the door of the shop hands in pockets, deadpan. while keisuke, the friend of his that was following behind, was as pale as a corpse

both reactions shared a reason, later revealed

-oh! m-mikey! and keisuke!- shinichiro said looking up and removing his hands off your body immediately, taking a glance behind your back, nervous as hell. his little brother just busted him groping his girl’s ass right on top of his lap after a kissing session that lasted like, solid 20 minutes, fuck, did they saw that too? he might be 23 years old but he felt as a hormonal middle schooler all over again

-hello!- you greeted turning around as nice as ever, still on your compromising position. not giving a single damn. now it was time for your boyfriend to be embarrassed

-um w-we can come back later if- baji started, not knowing what to do with his stare, he was just as uncomfortable as shinichiro. sweaty palms and everything

while mikey was really quiet, just staring. strange you thought

-no! no! there´s no need, you didn’t interrupt anything. i will go make something to drink so you guys can talk okay? tea is fine baby?- you said twirling shin’s hair on your fingers, looking straight to his eyes, oh how you wished you could take a picture right now, then turning to the boys for approval

-sure love, it’s perfect thanks- the kids nodded and shin’s blood finally started to dissipate from his facial features. thank god

-alright- you said, giving him a last peck on the cheek while you placed your palms on his chest, getting off from him. -hey baji- you called him turning halfway -would you mind coming with me? i might need some extra hands-

-s-sure!- shit he thought

at this point, the explanation of the boys reactions earlier it’s revealed

there’s this thing that has been pestering baji since the moment that mikey, told him they were heading to see his brother to ask him for some advices, and that most probably, they would encounter his girlfriend too. actually, this comes from many years back, but he is just oblivious about it, until now

keisuke baji was a nice kid, since you’ve known the sano family for quite a while, you’ve come across to meet the friends they have made along the way. so since a very young age, baji has been around

you used to go to the same school and shared some classes with shinichiro as a teenager, and he always tried to get closer to you by intentionally pairing up in teams for projects, inviting you to eat at his household and such. you were his high school sweetheart, the girl he liked the most and for the longest time. and last but not meat, you also were the last 11 rejections of his lucky 20 until he won you over, but he decides to not bring that out very often

so when baji saw you for the first time, it was one of the times shinichiro took you to his house. you were peeking all over the dojo watching everyone practice, entertained. when suddenly, you landed your eyes on his tiny figure

and simply smiled

-so, how’s the shop thing going on?- you asked, pouring some water to boil, opening some tea bags and preparing the containers. there was a kitchenette at the very back of the establishment, with just a stove and a small freezer with water and some snacks

-s-shop thing? what do you mean?- shit! stop being an asshole, he pleaded his brain, or was it his heart?for some mercy. he didn’t really knew which one of them was messing things up and that was definitely a problem

-you already forgot? your dream of owning a pet shop that you told me about a while ago, you were much younger. i hope that you didn’t drop it- you mentioned, smiling, just like that one day

why?

why did you remembered that about him? why did you have to bring it out? the stupid dream, that he still desires, he told you once. making him feel weak for the 3rd time in a couple of minutes

why was he feeling this way?

he believed he was strong, he proudly called himself a member of a gang, but he started to sweat with a simple question like this? there has to be something real wrong with him, it can’t be that-

oh

you were leaning on the counter next to the stove, waiting for the water to be ready, hair a bit messy, black leggings, some slippers and your boyfriend’s silver chain freshly stoled from him this morning decorating your chest. you weren’t wearing a bra, and the loose fabric of an oversized sweater that was trying to keep you warm couldn’t stop your hard nippled breasts from showing. his throat closed and he felt he could die suffocated at any second, look somewhere else you piece of shit, he mentally slapped himself

-yeah i guess, i still like animals a lot- he scratched his head, avoiding your gaze by looking down. you noticed it but just decided to let it slip, and turned back to turn off the flame and pour the water over four identical red mugs to prepare the drinks

-that makes me so happy, keisuke. your shop will be the best in town, i’m sure of it. cats alredy love you. oh! and i’ll be your first client. don’t even forget that, okay bug?- you teased, poking his nose. dear god, he forgot you used to call him like that

you weren’t like the senior girls at his school that every boy his aged pathetically stalked, nor the older ones that lived near his apartment complex that elderly men disgustingly desired. hell, you weren’t even like the women of the porn magazines that pah kept hidden under his bed, which made them all drool over like a bunch of idiots

your beauty was anything but perfect. your beauty was the vivid personification of the word home, you felt like home, an immensely loving one. perfect wasn’t a word he could use to describe you because he would be lying, you were making tea in clothes you used for sleeping, and still, you looked like an angel to his eyes

he finally saw it

-y-yeah okay, i won’t- he stuttered, blushing. you grinned pleased and grabbed two of the cups on your hands, asking him for his help with the remaining ones, finally heading back to the front

you took a sit next to your boyfriend who was now casually smoking, and his brother, in some spair chairs he found, carefully offering them the steaming hot cups

he was sure he liked you, since the day he first saw you at the dojo. but he never truly paid any attention to his blooming emotions, ‘’who cares about that sappy crap anyway?’’ he did

still, he would never spill a word. it was no use

if he kept his feelings ignored and buried all this time, he could just keep doing it, right?

shinichiro draped an arm around your shoulders while all of you were chatting and making jokes, getting closer to blow breathy kisses in your ear every once in a while just to tickle you. mikey scolded him with pouts because of his clinginess and you laughed until your stomach ached, things were always like this with them, and you wouldn’t have it any other way

baji stared at your interactions for a while. he likes it a lot when you smile, he discovered that years ago, but he also discovered that shinichiro sano is the person who makes you do it the most. so he must be fine with that. he is just a kid with a dumb crush and you are a woman in a relationship that most likely, will last forever

the first taste of bittersweet teenage love in his life

so for now, his dream had a new meaning. the fact that you remembered it and wanted to be there when he fulfills it, made him feel like blushing again. and it was enough to keep him content

mikey finished talking with his brother, mugs went empty and it was time to leave. both boys decided to go back on their way

when they went out of the store and started walking along the cold breeze that provided them company, keisuke looked back to one of the windows, and he could see how shinchiro bent down to carry you, positioning himself between your legs in the air, both smiling widely at each other, enamored, and probably still joking about random things. he turned away, not wanting to pry anymore into the comfort of your intimacy

-ah man, if i get married someday i hope it’s with a girl like y/n- baji was talking behind mikey, walking slowly through the streets, sighing, arms over his head acting all cool, in an attempt to shake off the rests of wild emotions he felt moments ago, not even noticing in the slightest bit, the low temperature of the environment and the notorious dark aura his friend emanated, still silent and hands in pockets

oh how he wished he never said anything at first, he should have just kept his mouth shu-

-you like her too, right?-

so that’s

why he was so quiet

-hah?-

in the couple of minutes he stood there processing what he just heard mikey say, keisuke baji inaugurated, in a matter of seconds, a whole category in the depths of his mind called ‘’emotionally wrecker-fucker 3000’’ yeah…. to describe the second wave of feelings that literally crushed him in that moment

actually, that whole afternoon can be found saved in that mental file, not just the moments of realization, but all of it. boobs, cold weather, rushing blood, cigarettes, kisses, a mess of emotions, fighting with mikey in the middle of a random street and four tea mugs

there’s no way in hell he will ever forget this day

— MANY TIMES OVER —

shinichiro sano x reader

mostly fluff, some angsty parts in between. i was grieving for draken while writing, so yeah, that's were the inspiration for the sad things come from.

this maintains a discreet connection with my last post, making some subtle mentions of it. so, in case you would like to read it, it's here. i would appreciate it immensely

wc: 6.6k (sorry, i got a bit carried away)

a/n: this is my love letter to shinichiro, i put my heart and soul into this story, so i really hope you all enjoy it and don't get much confused with all the time jumps. i also would like to add that guys, seriously, just love whoever you want and don't ever give up what you desire, okay? don't be like yua's father and just let people be happy (you will understand after reading). life is short, and we stupidly think we have time, but we actually don't. be always joyful and hold onto your dreams with both hands. to anyone who is reading this, good luck! go and confess already or just fulfill that one thing you want the most, i believe in you

reblogs, likes and comments are deeply appreciated. please ignore any spelling mistakes, the constant editing and the awful glitching

yua — "primarily a female name of japanese origin that means love, affection"

eyes slowly opening. 9:11 a.m.

a couple of minutes after waking up, the cloudburst was captured by your senses

you’ve spent the night with shinichiro after he mentioned that today, he was not going to work at the shop and you were mostly free from your duties. so now, you found yourself laying by his side, head on his bare chest while one of his arms was keeping your body close, null distance

sadly, the comforting position didn’t last long. you decided to get up from his clasp to take a look outside, reaching the sliding door from his bedroom that lead to the backyard of the sano’s residence, leaving it open to allow the humid mist of the rain caress your skin, not forgetting to carefully make sure that the bed was far enough from you, so it wouldn’t bother shinichiro. all of this because, when the green of the plants that lie in the garden, moves slightly to the weak blows the water causes when dropping, it relaxes you

appreciating the view, you instantly recognized an old bike drowning on the ground next to some old motorcycle parts, causing a few giggles to escape from your lips

moments after, your boyfriend rolled in bed and felt your absence, making him sluggishly start to wake up too, huffing. he thought you had agreed to stay the ‘’whole day’’ in bed to be lazy together and here you were, up at nine in the morning

when his eyes adjusted better to the dim light the surroundings provided, he saw you standing against the doorframe, looking at the rain outside and laughing softly, in nothing more than black panties and one of his plain white shirts barely covering your thighs. how could he be mad at you for leaving his side when you looked like that? it wasn’t fair

he felt in heaven, he couldn’t describe it any other way. you were his angel, his day and night, his girl

he knew from way back that you loved watching the raindrops fall, and with the passing of years, he came to discover that he loved watching you

-good morning baby, what you doin' over there? what’s so funny?- he stretched out fully awake and placed his arms at the back of his head, getting into a more comfortable position to admire you better

-crap, did i wake you up?- you quickly turned around to look at him, startled by the sudden sound of his voice

-not really. i was missing you in my sleep, so i stopped doing it- he fake pouted and you rolled your eyes, he really beats himself every morning with stuff like this, it never ceases to amaze you

-you are ridiculous- you said and he smiled without saying anything else, waiting for your response

-so?-

-i was just thinking about that one time we ditched a whole day of classes to go for ramen with master kazo, when we were in middle school. the bike outside, it’s the same one, right?-

even if you tried, you couldn’t remember the exact date. you were both young and pretty much dumb, hungry and immensely bored. it just happened

-yeah. you mean our first date?- he asked biting off a smirk

-that wasn’t our first date, shinichiro. it was just one time we hanged out, we were still friends- you crossed your arms in your chest, protesting. he always teases you like this

-what do you mean friends? i already confessed to you like five times and i think i did it again that day- he said, sitting up

-with that one last confession, they were actually eleven-

-you counted them?- his voice sounded so offended that you couldn’t help but laugh in his face

-you didn’t?-

he laughed with you, a blush creeping his neck and cheeks. still the same dork

-that’s so fucking embarrassing- he rubbed his eyes, cringing

you left the door and walked towards him, standing next to his shirtless sitting figure at the corner of the bed, one of your knees on the mattress and both arms around his neck, fidgeting with his morning hair

-it is- you chuckled, gazing at him

-whatever, you were so whipped for me back then that you even kissed me at the end, how about that, hm?- he placed his arms around the back of your bare thighs, stroking them sweetly

-shut up, i just accepted the invitation because you pestered me so much and it really was a boring class. and the kiss was because you got all bruised for me and i felt bad about it- you frowned and looked away, now feigning annoyance

-that’s such an awful lie- he mentioned narrowing his eyes, making you laugh and give up

-yeah, it kinda is- you admitted

he smiled and stared at you for a couple of seconds in comfortable silence, as if he were thinking about something, an idea enlightening his mind

-would you like to try it again?-

-what?- you perfectly knew what he meant, the question simply slipped from your lips. did he really just came up with that?

-it’s raining, kazo surprisingly still makes ramen and i’m still in love with you. how about we take that same date right now? what could possibly go wrong?- yes he did, and you? you were a speechless, blushing mess trying to play it cool

-accidents, shinichiro? that could go wrong, and i don’t want us to die because of your damn motorcycle- who were you trying to fool? you actually loved the idea. but you were worried, you weren’t irresponsible kids anymore

-that won’t happen cause we are going to use the good old bike and take the alleyways, not the busy streets. just like that one time-

-but does it still work? seems pretty worn out, w-what if we crash again, shin?- you asked. excitement slowly starting to creep in the deepest parts of your being

-well, the story will repeat itself. quite tempting don’t you think, love? the bike is fine i promise, i’ll just wash it up- he proposed you, with that fatal closed eyed childish grin

yeah, of course you ended up agreeing

heavy drops tapped against the window that was next to your seat, humming a soft tune that kept you distracted, you were feeling sleepy

physics class. second period. 8:39 a.m. newton's laws of motion

your professor was explaining the theories and you took some notes, or whatsoever. it was raining, and the vibes in schools change entirely when the skies fall above carefree teenagers. no one gives a shit about subjects or activities for the rest of the day, and you were no exception

not even noticing when the teacher left the classroom. you put all your things away, waiting for the next class to start while you kept yourself in your chair, watching the clouds. enjoying the quietness and the water tumbling at your side. this climate always engulfs you in a particular peace that is rather difficult to explain, so each time, you decide to just dissolve within it. and you totally love it. that’s why, when some of your friends gathered around you and mentioned something about going out, you simply decided to keep yourself on the same spot, alone

‘’inertia. the first law states that if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant speed unless it is acted upon by a force’’

in fact, you were the resting object, and shinchiro sano was the force that acted on you

-yo! y/n!- just like that, all the tranquility disappeared in mere seconds. as a loud thunderstruck in the dead of night, he entered your classroom, tripping, coming close to you with his unkempt uniform and that stupid greasy hairstyle

-so, how you been?- he stood next to your sitting self, hands on his pockets, serenely, as if he didn’t almost knock down an entire desk with his disastrous entry

-stop with that, shinichiro, we greeted at the gateway. what do you want?-

-would you like to go out with me? like, right now?- huh?

-no-

-cool, we are taking my bike. i know a perfect place we could-

-i literally said no, sano-

-i know, i heard you. but i’m not giving up that easy- you raised a brow and glared at him, unfazed

-our next class starts in like 10 minutes, what do you mean now?- he gulped and continued

-look, it’s raining. teachers are basically hidden, it’s going to be a free day for all of us. so you shouldn’t be here all by yourself, you need to go out and enjoy it you know?-

-i have my own ways to enjoy the rain, thank you-

-by just staring at it? come on, i can see you like that a lot but, please? i bet you are so bored that you don’t even have a nice excuse to give. and you’ve already said no so many times to me so please, please, let me take you out today- he was begging at this point, you almost made fun of him

-this is not the first time we hang around, shin. you invite me to your house very often, you are overreacting. by the way, what makes you think i’m bored?-

-yeah, but this is going to be a different occasion, i can feel it. and to answer your question, everyone is bored after physics class- hold on a second

-did you check my schedule?-

-of course i did! i memorized it, now come on- he grabbed your hand and made you stand up abruptly, taking with him your bag and placing it on one of his shoulders while he held his own with the other

-w-wait! are we are not coming back to take the other classes?!- he was basically dragging you. walking real fast through the school hallways, carefully avoiding to stumble with any teacher that could recognize you

-i don’t think so, y/n. this day is going to be for us only, okay?- he looked back at you, grinning, and your heart tingled

he made it look as the easiest thing ever and you gave in, squeezing his hand back. a little fun couldn’t hurt, right? well…

you had to act quickly to catch the only chance to actually escape classes without getting terribly penalized. the guard on the entrance gate took a 7 minute break to go for a coffee at the school’s office every day at the same hour, so the plan needed to be executed in that certain amount of time

step 1. wait for the entrance to be alone, step 2. be sure to not forget your bags and hold them firmly, step 3. jump the gate, step 4. take the bike out of the secured deposit at the front of the building in the shortest amount of time possible, step 5. run for your lives

the rest is history

a triumphant scream resonated against empty, watery streets, far enough from your shared middle school. shinichiro was speeding with his bike while you were taking a seat behind him, holding tightly to his waist with a huge smile on your face. you made it out neatly, on a path worthy of an olympic medal, and the adrenaline was just washing over your bodies, leaving you with pure bliss. both damped from the rain pouring over yourselves, not minding it at all

in that moment, it was only you and him in the world

-i can’t believe we made it, you good there, pretty?- your cheeks heated with the nickname, the rush surely boosted his confidence

-y-yeah, i think so- you laughed, a bit shy. hugging him closer and placing you head in his wet back. the gesture made his heart beat so roughly against his ribcage that he silently prayed to all the gods and deities he could think about for you to not notice

-but if you get me in trouble, i’ll stab you- you continued

-i would die happily knowing that it was on your hands-

-you are so stupid, shinichiro- he giggled

after a couple of more jokes and some time going around the city, watching together how the houses disappeared in an endless fog, you both started to get hungry, and he decided to visit the most reliable and special place to eat in town

yua ramen house

the owner is a man named kazori okamoto, mostly known as ‘’master kazo’’ for his amazing cooking skills and because he simply enjoys the nickname. he is a funny man and a very important person for the sano family, even to this day. he met grandpa sano in their early teenage years and the friendship still remains alive. he used to dream with being an elite chef, but certain circumstances he had to go through leaded him to abandon his desires. despite all, he claims that he is happy with what he has right now. ‘’life goes on, regardless’’ is one of his known personal quotes and little manjiro´s favorite, for some strange reason

so the fact that shinichiro decided to introduce you to him that day, definitely meant something else

-master! ‘you there?- shinichiro stepped in as if the establishment was his living room and you followed closely behind, taking a glance at everything. it was a tiny place, but very welcoming and warm

quite the opposite to how you felt, drenching in your school uniform

-sano boy! what the hell are you doing out with weather like this and- he looked directly at you. and you smiled, bowing to greet the old man

-nice to meet you sir, you both seem to be really close- you added, sheepishly -my name is y/n-

-of course you are!- he said getting closer to you and mockingly punching shinichiro in the arm, the poor thing almost flies from the ground. he had a nice smile, you noted -it’s my pleasure, sweetheart. i’ve been dying to finally meet you- oh, now that was new

-really?-

-i swear this brat never shuts up when it comes to you, even if i’ve never seen your face before, i could know it was you from all the things he has said to me- shinichiro coughed loudly, completely exposed

-y-yeah well, that’s because she will be my wife someday, sir. i’m trying my best- what the hell was he even saying

-you better, lover boy- kazo mentioned, with the biggest and cheekiest grin you've ever seen

you opened your mouth to answer to the revelation, embarrassed to the most, but master beat you to it

-so, what would you like? what can i do for you?- intentionally changing the subject to avoid any kind of denial from you

both creeps: 1 – you: 0

-u-um, what do you recommend?- you asked still a little shooked and flustered, looking at the menu

-i can surprise you if you let me, just give me the approbation that you don’t dislike any ingredient that you see and i will prepare a random dish for you, deal?-

-okay, deal. thank you so much, sir-

-no problem- he said, starting to roam around the kitchen in front of you, hardly trying to ignore the pool of water you were both making in his recently moped, squeaky clean, floor. one of his eyes twitching

-i would like some- shinichiro started

-yeah, yeah. i know what you always eat kid, so for now, how about you go to the back and look for a fucking mop to wipe the mess you made, you already know where it is. i can bet both of my legs that this was your idea-

-she is into this too!-

-then get her a towel you rat! here, the keys to the shed- kazo threw them his way and you sticked your tongue out to shinichiro while he disappeared to the back of the restaurant

-oh! how rude, i didn’t introduce myself. i’m kazori okamoto, but you can call me master kazo- you nodded and accepted the hand he was offering, containing your laughter, he was just like grandpa sano. all kindness to you and disinheriting shinichiro at the second

-then thank you, master. nice to meet you again and sorry for the disaster we brought- he accepted the apology and smiled back at you, turning to resume what he was previously doing, while you were sitting in one of the bar stools. the shop was empty, obviously, who in their right mind would go out to eat with a storm like this? exactly, only shinichiro sano would

you decided to take another look around, eyes wandering over the place now more carefully, while the old man was working on the food. a picture on one of the walls catched your attention, it was the portrait of a gorgeous woman, she was standing against a bridge that seemed to be somewhere in tokyo, in a red summer dress and an immense loving smile adorning her face, directed to the person behind the camera. it seemed old, a captured memory from a distant past

-master, can i ask you something?- you called him, curiosity winning over you

-yes?-

-who is the pretty lady of the picture?- you thought he didn’t hear you at first because there was a moment of silence, but turns out that he just hesitated

-my eternal muse- his voice faltered, revealing an intimate part of his soul so effortlessly to you. the tremendous sorrow in his expression was evident, but in those words, it also remained the tender affection of a heart whose love will never decline, a perpetual vow

and because of that, you didn’t feel like making any more questions

shinichiro came back, claimed he couldn’t find any towels, kazo called him useless, he moped horribly the floor, and then finally, you proceeded to eat. master prepared the most delicious and exotic shoyu ramen you ever had and some tonkotsu ramen for shinichiro, with an ice cold cola to the side, his favorite, it could never miss

kazo spoke with the heart open in his words, reminiscing hilarious experiences of his youngster era to entertain you while you finished. you were fixated in the way he seemed to relive those moments for an instant, but shinichiro was looking at you, inevitably. your laughing figure, those pretty lips and those pretty eyes shining in delight. if only you could imagine how much he liked you

the hours slid through your fingers like silk, between the anecdotes of an old man and the secret glances of an enamored teenage boy. proving that what they say it’s true, when you have nice company, time surely flies. but school hours ended, and you had little to no time to go back to your house before your parents suspected anything

-thank you so much for the food master, i really had a lovely time- you started

-no, no. thank you both for keeping me company, the place was alone until you showed up. you could have it all for yourselves, how lucky-

-it’s because today is a special day- shinichiro added smiling, referring to what he said to convince you earlier. putting his hands in his pockets, shrugging, while you blushed

-how come?- the old man asked

-it’s a secret- shinichiro grinned

-oh, i see- kazo winked an eye to him and you couldn’t be more puzzled, deciding to remain quiet

both creeps: 2 – you: 0

-we’ll be leaving now kazo. thank you very much, again- shinichiro payed, not taking any objections from you, and you agreed with his words once again, nodding and smiling at him

-you are welcome anytime, be sure to visit often, okay? bring your siblings and that old fucker of your grandpa that hasn’t stopped in a while too, alright? take care and be good, always-

shinichiro hugged him and you felt the urge to do it after, he just smiled weakly

you gathered your stuff and stepped out, while shinichiro stood inside for a second, master kazo calling him to say one last thing

you never knew what he meant with the words ‘’don’t forget our promise, son’’ but shinichiro surely did

a couple of weeks before that day, kazo sat down with shinichiro outside his store after the boy came back bruised from a fight. the sun was setting and he didn’t want to arrive home yet, so he found shelter with his most confident partner

master was smoking at the front, looking somewhat down, sad, he wasn’t his usual self at the moment and shinichiro noticed it

-are you okay, sir?- he approached him, almost timidly. like an infant, innocent and fearful

-i should be the one asking you that, punk. how’s the eye?- it actually hurt, a lot. he got beat up a couple of hours ago and it was finally getting to him, but he didn’t mind it at the moment, though. he decided to ignore his pain to focus on his friend. shinichiro has always been like this, always selfless about himself and always the most caring about the others, a gentle spirit by nature, destined to be a leader, to be great

-still works i guess, i’ve had much worse- the boy just shrugged, insisting -what about you? is everything alright? you weren’t in the kitchen when i arrived, that rarely happens-

-you are pretty fucking nosy, eh?- shinichiro barely smiled with the remark, he was getting seriously worried

after a couple of minutes in complete silence, master okamoto gathered himself and started to talk

-what are you studying? middle school?- shinichiro nodded. with that question, he opened the topic

-well, i was a bit older than you. it was my last year of high school and i was about to get into college. see, i used to have this teacher i appreciated deeply, he knew how much i cherished the field of gastronomy, and he was an amazing person, so he handed me some school forms abroad that could open my horizons and would be helpful to achieve the career that i wanted, you know? he helped me a lot. i also had the support of the love of my life, her name was yua muraka- the eyes of the man brightened with the single mention of his past lover. saying her name almost in a whisper, staring at nothingness. hoping that by mentioning her, she would appear in front of him with her arms open. thing that he has been waiting for decades, foolishly

-she used to be my girlfriend at that time, my whole universe, and she was happy with the idea of me leaving to accomplish my dream. but i’ve never been a selfish guy, and i wanted her to come with me, to accomplish all of that with me. so, i opened this small shop to raise some money to be able to take her in my journey, and make it one for both- shinichiro remained silent, carefully listening. the funny man he knew and cherished, was now crouched, small and tarnished

-the thing is that, her father hated me, son. he saw me as a punk, a good for nothing. i used to get into fights with your grandpa too, and i wanted to be a chef while he was a doctor. but i couldn’t care less about that crap, she was part of my dream and i was willing to give everything for her-

-the dates were getting closer, school was ending, i bought the tickets, and every day i had more money for finally moving away together and provide her with the life she deserved. but when her father noticed all of this, he started to restrict my visits to her home, and he didn’t let yua out- with every word, kazo started to get more emotional. shinichiro could see the rage in his eyes and the impotence behind his memories

-of course we had our escapades, and let me tell you, those were the best moments of my life. but the little bubble we were living in exploded when he suddenly sent her away. one day he just dragged his daughter to a train far from here, menacing her with the most horrid things that i don’t even want to mention- master took a long drag of his cigarette and continued

-i never found out about his plan or the things he said to her because it was so sudden, in an instant she was just gone. i couldn’t do anything to stop him, i never knew anything about the constant abuse either cause yua kept it all to herself- in minutes, the air turned heavy around them, dark, suffocating. as if the atmosphere absorbed the feelings that kazo’s words professed

-shinichiro, the train collapsed in an accident two hours after leaving the station, a day like this, more than 30 years ago. taking many lives, and ripping my love, my darling, away from me, forever- tears started to tumble from his wrinkled eyes, one by one, violently. the noises of the city turned into a heap of murmurs that made shinichiro’s mind enter a void of dizziness. it was awful, his juvenile heart fell to his feet and got burnt with the remainings of the cigarette that mr. okamoto’s trembling hands dropped, mindlessly

-i couldn’t even say goodbye to her, couldn’t even kiss her one last time- he added, stuttering, dragging his own words and choking with grief. shinichiro felt the urge of crying deep in his gut, but he swallowed it, not wanting to make his friend regret confessing him something so profound and distressing, so near to his core. he needed to remain strong for him

-a couple of months later, i encountered her mother on a random street, and realized that the woman was constantly being blackmailed by yua’s father, and that’s why she never defended her daughter. in that moment, she kneeled before me and asked for my forgiveness, confessing everything to me, all the things that i am telling you right now and how she really did wanted yua to live her life by my side, but that she was too afraid of what her husband was capable of doing- the old man started to gain his posture again, wiping his face. as he is used to doing, since that fateful date

-i never went to college after that and i closed the shop, sticking to the local jobs that miserable men stick to- it all made sense now

-years later i realized that yua probably wouldn’t like the way i was living, so i reopened the shop in her name and here i am, as you can see. ironical how they gave her such a beautiful appellation to edge her life to that extreme, with no love and no affection, huh?- a poisonous laugh escaped his mouth while he took out another cigarette of the tiny box and lightened in silence, shinichiro just remained staring, noting how the man next to him still wanted to cry, and how hardly he was retaining it

-i’m telling you this because you remind me of my younger self. i can sense the love you have for the girl you always tell me about with this tore eyes, that must have glossed the same way when i spoke about yua to someone else. i also suppose that you are concerned because you’re part of a gang and she is just a sweet girl, how you worry for her- the words echoed in every moment of doubt shinichiro recalled having about you, regret clouding his mind. kazo could read him so easily that he even felt embarrassed and disappointed with his own self. something snapped, he took a decision

-but please, shinichiro, don’t ever let her go okay? it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do and vice versa, none of that is relevant if you truly love her, so don’t ever let anything take her away from you. can you promise that to me, punk?- kazo was now clutching to shinichiro’s bloody shirt without even realizing, voice finally cracking with the last sentence, sobbing loudly, all over again. any trace of composure he tried so hard to keep, totally erased from the path they were on

a young shinichiro sano just hugged him, reciprocating all of those times kazo did the same to him as a kid. he opened his arms to let the old man release the huge load of his aching heart -i promise i will, i’m so sorry. i’m really, really sorry- he muttered to his ear, repeating the words almost inaudibly, like a prayer, while the night fell above them

shinichiro took the first drag of a cigarette that day

you were both on the bike again. the rain decreased while you were eating but it started pouring halfway to your house

-be more careful, you are going to get us killed- you exclaimed to the back of his neck, worried about many things, while shinichiro pedaled with all his might. it was actually pretty late, you should have arrived to your house 20 minutes ago and the storm you were caught in was not helping your nerves

-everything is going to be alright, babe. just hold tight- he said untroubled, as always. it was driving you insane

-that’s what i’m doing! and don’t call me babe!-

a couple of streets later, what was expected to happen

happened

you just remember the impact, but what really occurred was that the front wheel got stucked in a sewer hole that you couldn’t see because of the increasing amount of water on the ground, and both of you were catapulted to the pavement. now it’s a funny memory, but back then it wasn’t, and it ached insanely, mostly to shinichiro

he was weak in fights, for sure. but his reflexes were impeccable, using them to instinctly cover your body with his, scratching his whole face in the process and receiving the impact for both, almost breaking an arm for you, literally

while you just bruised your knees, he was still worried, as if the roles were inversed

-fuck! are you okay? are you hurt?- he quickly asked, coming closer to you, scared to death

-nothing serious, you don’t have to worry about it. what about yo- you said without looking at him, still trying to come to your senses. then you realized- oh my god, shin! you are bleeding. i‘m so sorry! i literally crushed you, and you hurted your whole face. p-please forgive me- you were so preoccupied, inspecting his injuries. but all he did was just smile, blood running over his brows and chin. the asshole entirely enjoying all the attention you were giving him at the moment

-i should be the one apologizing! i got us into this, i’m sorry y/n- he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. you weren’t even mad, the fright was still vivid on your skin

and then suddenly, you truly took a deep stare at his features, while the rain kept making a curtain between the two of you. there was no trace of gel from the morning and his wet hair was now fully down, covering his forehead, the water washing his wounds, his drenched white uniform shirt all dirty from the experiences of the day and his pants had an open scratch in the left knee

you didn’t even notice how close you were, sitting together on the corner of an empty alley he desperately took to arrive faster, just staring at each other in silence for a moment. you both cracked in laughter at the same time, the situation was absurd

even though you wouldn’t admit it or either show signs of, you really had great times with shinichiro sano

you like it when he stops to your classroom between breaks just to wish you a nice day, you like lying on the floor next to him at his house’s dojo when it’s summer to eat popsicles with keisuke and his siblings, and you also like the awful cheesy jokes he invents just to make you laugh. because you particularly know that under all those layers of nonsensical girl-crazy rambling lies the most amiable and boldest heart of all, a kind soul with a presence hard to miss

and you like that too

-you know, you look nice like this, without all that dumb gangster wannabe hairstyle, shin-

-did you just, admitted that i look nice?-

-oh god, of course you were going to focus only on that- you rolled your eyes, wishing to not have said anything at all

-i mean, is there anything else i should focus on? it’s an historical moment to me!-

-whatever, sano- you shook your head, chuckling. and he stared at you for the thousandth time today, blood pumping furiously all over his system. he could even feel it on his ears, like the sound a seashell makes when you put it close to you, but this time, amplified to a deafening point

taking a deep breath, he decided to try once again. he made a promise, after all

-y/n- you looked at him in the eyes, driving all your attention to him. he was shaking, he had done this many times with you and other girls before, twenty to be exact, but there’s something in the way you are staring at him right now that results mesmerizing, intimidating, but mesmerizing still. shit, he couldn’t take it anymore -you look pretty to me always. even now, in the most screwed up situation possible, i think you are the most beautiful girl in the world and i- he stopped, red as a beet. inhaling again, he continued -i like you a lot, you know? i’m p-pretty sure i’m in love with you- stuttering a little bit in that last sentence, but who wouldn’t?

-yes, i already know that, shinichiro. you’ve said it like a million times- you smiled softly, looking down at the puddle you were in

-you do?- he didn’t mean to sound so disappointed, but the ghost of what it looked like his twenty first consecutive rejection started to pester him and it was impossible not to, or that’s what he thought

-yeah-

-g-great, cause i will keep saying it until the day i achieve the billion times ‘cause you are my girl-

-i’m not your girl- you furrowed your eyebrows -at least not yet-

-but you will! wait, what?- he was so dumb, you smiled

-just shut up-

without thinking it any further, you pressed your lips against his. the kiss was sloppy, rainy and embarrassing. but to shinichiro was more like ‘’the long-awaited arrival of divine glory’’, that’s exactly how he described it to his little brother when he got home

the silence and the shout, the euphoria and the lull, his insides felt like exploding, the floor was spinning

and you were, in that instant you really were his girl, no turning back. and you kinda enjoyed it

with that kiss you decided to let your feelings grow, and maybe, in a remote future, you would give him your heart to hold for eternity

thing that actually happened faster than what you expected

back to the present, you were both in the same situation, something like an induced déjà vu

a pair of lovers riding an old and too small bike on their way to yua ramen house under the rain. both with 23 years old now, but sharing the same feelings in the same two beating hearts

you started to go eat to yua ramen house together frequently after that first time, but master kazo got sick a few years later, so he had to stop working for a while and decided to leave the country for a break. he came back a couple of years ago, but you have not visited him until now, so it’s been quite a bit since you’ve seen each other

when you arrived, you couldn’t help to feel nostalgic

-sano boy, it’s that you?- his figure was more hunched than before, hair whiter and the wrinkles above his eyes and forehead were more prominent, but despite the changes that the passing of life produces, he was the same funny man you once met

-nice to see you master, how’s the business going?- shinichiro felt so many things in that moment. he was no middle schooler anymore, he left the gang medium a while ago, his siblings were older, and you were still by his side. he has grown, but sometimes, he forgets about that

-as always, punk. it’s really nice to have you here after all this years- you stepped behind your boyfriend

-hello sir, it’s been a while indeed- the old man laughed joyful, taken by surprise

-i can’t believe what i’m seeing, the same two dumb kids that came in making a mess in my shop once, doing it all over again. right y/n?-

-that’s us- you laughed, reminiscing -i’m so glad to finally see you again, master-

-the pleasure it’s all mine, it makes me so happy to have my two best clients here with me-

-we missed you, kazo- shinichiro added, coming closer to give the man a hug, you followed after

-i missed you too- he smiled -but for the love of god, go get a damn towel, son! and search carefully this time!- shinichiro went out, laughing. you viewed the scene amused and moments later, your eyes drifted to yua’s picture on the wall, you felt your soul clench, wondering if master kazo would still answer the same way. of course he would you thought, eternal is eternal

this time, shinichiro did find the towels. and you both cleaned the mess of water sputtering around, waiting for the cook to finish your meals while you chatted, catching up on your lives

-so you really are together since then, huh? i’m proud of you, lover boy-

-i told you i was going to marry her one day, didn’t i?-

-oh! did you guys already?- kazo instantly turned around, almost dropping the pan he was using

-i’m still working on it, but i’ll make sure you get the invitation soon- you suppressed a squeal. you haven’t spoken about this yet, how dare he just throw it out so suddenly?

-wha- you couldn’t even finish

-i’ll be patiently waiting then! nothing would make me happier- mr. okamoto interrupted you, leaving your head blank, as they always managed to

both creeps: 3 – you: 0 you’re out!

the food orders were the same, and with the first taste you took, you travelled ten years in the past. memory is such a graceful thing

kazo sent a glance at the both of you while you were eating, and he couldn’t help his eyes from watering

he saw the same slicked back dark haired kid with wet uniform covered in dirt, sitting with a lovely girl at his side, hair shorter than now and clothes just as messed as the boy’s ones, but the same smile that once brightened her features still present, dedicated just to him and his silly comments

-are you watching this, yua? we used to love like this- kazo mentally talked with the picture on the wall, looking tenderly at it. he didn’t get an answer, but he didn’t need to, he was certain

your relationship was like this since the beginning, unchanging. always coinciding in a world where only you and him existed, surrendering to each other’s feelings many times over. relieving significant moments of your intertwined lives, and at the same time, creating new ones with each arrival of a new day. discovering together a hundred and one different ways to fall more in love,

if possible