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♔ | 𝐈𝐈𝐈

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Chorosuke sighed deeply, pressing his forefinger and thumb against the bridge of his nose with his eyes screwed up in frustration. The knocking became more frequent and obnoxious the longer Chorosuke sat there, with you and Dayoko glancing at each other with unease.

"My apologies," he spoke through gritted teeth as he tried to keep his composure. "I'll have this issue sorted soon. Please, continue to eat." Nothing more was said as he swiftly got out is his seat and left the room, grabbing a rolled up newspaper from somewhere and rolling up his sleeve before closing the door behind him.

The silence was somewhat tense and awkward as you held your utensil up in midair. Did you really want to keep eating? A dark pit was forming in your stomach.

Clearing your throat, you looked over to Dayoko, who was chewing her food slower than before.

"Dayoko..?" You asked cautiously. She looked towards her, inclining her head. "Do you.. Do you know who's at the door?"

"D-Dayon!" Her smile was tense and shaky. She isn't too sure? Somehow, that made you feel worse. Even though you had never been to Akashika before now, you knew that the District as a whole was small. Everyone would know each other, right? That was what you had initially thought.

You decided to drop it, seeing as the girl was clearly just as uncomfortable as you were. The small voice in your head began filling you with doubt as you chewed on your food. Had you made a mistake coming here? Were they right, saying this was a dumb idea?

A loud thud from the hallway made you jump. Fear crept into your veins for a moment, only to hearing Chorosuke's annoyed tone.

"I am not giving you a meal! Not after the mess you made last time!"

"Huh? But you're rich! Just hire some maids or something to clean it up!"

The arrival of a second voice startled you. You spared a look at Dayoko, who's face and turned sour. So she did know who it was. Your curiosity was peaked.

It sounded... familiar, the voice in the hallway. Slightly more boyish than Chorosuke's, maybe a little too laid back. There was a teasing lilt that hung onto his words, although whether it was intentional or not was unclear to you.

"Choromatsu-niisan is hiding something!" A third voice called out. It was cheerful and loud, giddy and child-like, and a lot closer than the other two, sounding right outside the door. The door itself began rattling, sliding itself open. Dayoko appeared tense in her seat, glaring wearily at the doorway.

The door slid away to reveal... Chorosuke? Only it wasn't Chorosuke. Was it? Your brain was hurting from the confusion.

He had the face of Chorosuke, only his pupils was larger and his smile was more of a normal curve than a 'V'. His clothing was different, too; he wore a pale yellow polo-shirt with grey slacks, and he walked barefoot, not bothering to put on any house slippers. Your gaze landed on the paper bag in his hand, slightly crumpled from where he held it, with two large holes on the front. What was that for?

His own dark eyes bore into your own for a moment, though to you it felt like a long, drawn out time. It was like he was studying you carefully, even though his eyes were glued to your face. A small chill ran up your spine. Was it cold in here?

"Osomatsu-niisan!" He suddenly called out, making you jump again. You were glad you had settled your food onto the table earlier, or else it would have been thrown onto the floor by now. "There's a girl in here!"

"It's just Dayoko! As if this guy could pull a girl— OW!" 'Osomatsu' (a peculiar name, you thought) cried out in pain after a 'thwack' was heard. It seemed that Chorosuke had put the newspaper to good use.

"No, it's someone else! A different girl." The man glanced down at your chest briefly before looking back at your face. "She's pretty!" You flushed deeply, quickly covering your chest with your arms. Dayoko places her arms around you, her angered glare doing nothing to deter the man from leaving the room.

"Oh?" Osomatsu sounded much closer now. "Has she got a nice pair of tits?" Another 'thwack' followed by a pained whine. "I'm just kidding!"

"Stop terrorising my guest, you idiots!" Chorosuke hissed.

"We haven't done anything! Jeez, chill out, will ya? So uptight all the... time.."

The other man had stepped into the room, half of his body peeking through the doorway as he paused. Your gaze was drawn to his, locking onto his familiar large brown eyes, tracing the curve of his soft-looking face and over his slicked back dark hair, a few locks falling over his forehead. He wore a white dress shirt, with the tie and upper buttons loosened greatly and his over-coat draped over his shoulder.

His own eyes were looking you over, too, albeit with less subtlety. He followed the way your hair framed your face, the curve of your shoulder down to your chest, lingering there for a moment before going back up to your [e/c] orbs.

"Woah... WOAH!" His dazed mutter was overtaken by a yelp of surprise as he stumbled into the room, looking back with a glare at Chorosuke's outstretched arm. "What was that for?!"

"You were blocking the way," Chorosuke seethed, his glare burning into the man before he rushed over to you. "[Y/N]! I am so terribly sorry for these imbeciles! Had I known they were coming, I would have made sure to keep them away!"

"Why are you acting all high and mighty all of a sudden?" Osomatsu cut in, his brow raised incredulously. "You're even worse than we are, Chorofappyski!"

Chorosuke paled, freezing in place. His eyes looked devoid of life as he refused to move. It was beginning to concern you.

"Chorosuke..?" You waves a hand in front of his face, receiving no response.

"Dayon.." Dayoko stood up with a roll of her eyes, easily dragging her brother by the arm and laying him down in his previous seat, making sure his head was resting against the pillow.

"Don't mind him. It was the only way I could get him to shut up." Osomatsu sat down with a sigh, a cat-like grin crossing his lips as he studied you once more. "So. Do I get a name for that cute face?"

Your cheeks were set ablaze again. You averted your eyes down to your lap, fingers fidgeting with your clothing. You mumbled your name timidly, picking up the way he repeated it, each syllable rolling off of his tongue like honey.

"I'm Akashika Ozo! Always at your service," he winked, leaning closer to you. You furrowed your brows slightly in confusion.

"'Ozo'...? But, didn't he say your name was 'Osomatsu?'" You pointed out, glancing to the other yellow-shirt man to see that he was busy grabbing the food from Chorosuke's bowl.

"It's just a.. nickname he's come up with," Ozo answered quickly, looking away from you. The man in question raised his head towards you, smiling widely.

"I'm Jyushimatsu!" He laughed. You didn't know why he was laughing, but it was certainly contagious, causing you to smile back at him.

"Stop telling people that that's your name!" Chorosuke rose from the dead, pointing a finger accusingly at Jyushimatsu.

"Call me Jyushimatsu! It's way better!" Came the reply.

"His real name is Ogami Toshio," Chorosuke sighed, "He's the son of the mayor in Akatsuka Village. He's quite unpredictable, so I highly suggest you stay away from him," he whispered the last part to you, only to be pushed out of the way by Ozo. He settled comfortably next to you, grabbing a bowl for himself and ignoring Chorosuke's protests.

"This food looks great! Let's just eat already!" Quickly following Jyushimatsu, Ozo piled his bowl with various morsels of food before digging in, noisily chewing away at his food.

"Hey! Where's the beer?"

"You're not invited to this dinner!" Chorosuke cried, powerless to the two 'intruders' in his house.

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♔

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»»-----　♔　-----««

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲↴ 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: @𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫_𝟏𝟐𝟑

┊ •° ੈ ⋆° ┊

❝Don't 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 too much; otherwise you become a 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧

Don't 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩  under the 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Don't  𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧

Hide your 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥  without hiding your 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝

Don't 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐝𝐢𝐞 like a 𝐝𝐨𝐠

It will become a 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐠 if it is made 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲.❞

♔ | 𝐕𝐈

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You woke with a start, heart pounding. You quickly sat up, hands clutching your covers with a white-knuckled grip. You were breathing too quickly, too heavily, leaving you lightheaded. Scrambling out of your bedsheets, you rushed over to the bathroom, fumbling with the tap and splashing cold water onto your face. Your head throbbed harshly, but you didn't stop until your felt your face cooling down.

With a deep sigh, you hesitantly glanced up at your reflection. Your hair was a mess, sticking uncomfortably to your face, your skin didn't look right to you at all, your eyes looked weighted and dull, rimmed red from the sudden awakening — all in all, you looked just as terrible as you felt.

A part of you wanted to remember what exactly startled you awake, but another side of you decided it was probably best not to remember. If it scared you this badly, would you really want to have it in your thoughts for the rest of the day?

Instead, you began washing up, taking your time so that you could recollect your thoughts before showing your face to your hosts. You brushed through your hair, making sure it wasn't all in your face, grabbing a hair tie and placing it around your wrist just in case. Wandering back into your room, you looked around for your phone, checking the time.

[Tuesday - 10:36]

You wondered if anyone would be awake yet.

'Guess there's only one way to find out.'

You went to open your door, sliding it open—

"AAAH?!" You jumped away in fear, arms raised in fornt of your body. You blinked, then relaxed. It appeared that Dayoko was also planning on opening your door at the same time as you.

"I-I'm so sorry, Dayoko! Did I scare you?" You fussed over her, resting a hand on her shoulder with a concerned frown.

"Dayon...!" She sighed heavily with relief.

'I should be asking you that!'

Seeing she was fine, you moved away, taking in her outfit for the day. Her kimono was a warm yellow, reminding you of the sunflowers you had seen in the fields on your train ride yesterday. White lines of thread wrapped around the fabric, twisting and swirling elegantly. In her hair was a yellow primrose, vibrant with its petals unfurled.

"I love the flower in your hair," you smiled, watching as Dayoko smiled bashfully.

"Dayon, dayon 'yon!"

'Thank you! I can show you how to put it in your hair too after breakfast!'

She took hold of your hand once more, leading you happily down to the main room. You made sure to take note of where you were going this time, not wanting to get lost again anytime soon. Speaking of which...

"Dayoko? Where did you go last night?" she looked back at you with a confused look before her eyes widened in realisation. She halted in her tracks, whipping around to face you with a worried look in her eyes.

"Dayon! Dayon, dayon!" her arms were waving around as she explained herself, saying she was waiting for you but then Chorosuke needed her for something so she had to go and then she lost track of time and then when she realised what time it was she rushed back to the washroom but you weren't there and—

"Dayoko! Wait, slow down!" you paused her rambling, an amused but gentle smile on your face. "It's okay, I understand that you got busy. You don't have to apologise," you reassured her. She didn't look entirely pleased with herself, but she nodded slowly, sending one last apologetic look your way before heading down the hallway again.

"Dayon..."

'I'm just glad you managed to make your way back.'

"Well..." you rubbed the back of your head sheepishly, "I did get a little lost at first, but I got help, so it's fine!"

"Dayon? Dayon?"

'Help? From who?'

You hesitated. "From Ozo..."

Her face fell flat. Of course that idiot was still hanging around when he said he was heading off. She should have known he was going to try something, but you didn't appear to be hurt (or traumatised) by something he did, so Dayoko left it at that.

Entering the main room again, you smiled brightly at the sight of Chorosuke, who was already sipping away at his tea, seated comfortably on the wooden walkway in front of the garden. He perked up when he heard your greeting, turning with small nod of his head.

"Good morning, you two. Please, help yourself to some breakfast." He gestured to the table, various foods spread over the top in a neat arrangement. You eyed the table setting with awe, mouth salivating at the delicious scent of food. You quickly sat down, saying your thanks before digging in, keeping an eye on how quickly you were eating so as not to appear gluttonous.

Dayoko joined you, but Chorosuke stayed where he was.

"Are you not gonna eat, Chorosuke?" You asked after swallowing a rather large mouthful of omelet. He shook his head, lowering his cup from his mouth.

"I woke up quite early today for work, so I'm afraid I already ate. Perhaps next time I shall join you," he gave you an apologetic smile, to which you nodded in understanding.

The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, a simple summer morning rolling by as the clock ticked on. Chorosuke placed his cup down on a coaster beside him, folding his hands together onto his lap.

"What will you be doing today, [Y/N]?" He asked, breaking the silence. "The weather is perfect for some sightseeing today. Do you have anywhere in mind that you'd like to visit?"

Yo tilted your head in thought, taking a sip of your own drink. "Hmm... That's a good question, but to be honest, I don't really know any places around here," you admitted shyly. "I'd love to see some more of the scenery in Akashika, though. It's very beautiful here."

"Indeed," Chorosuke agreed. He sat in thought for a moment before lighting up. "How about you visit Iriabi? There's a cafe there that my brother runs. It's quite lovely — even though I hate to admit it — and the scenery along the way will surely satisfy you."

You mulled over his suggestion, the name Iriabi ringing a bell. Ozo had talked about it last night too, didn't he? Well, if they were both suggesting it, then it really can't be that bad.

"Sure! That sounds like a great idea!" You beamed. Chorosuke returned the smile, picking himself up off the ground.

"I'm glad that's settled!" He straightened out his kimono, which you noticed wasn't as plain as yesterday, having light decorations of sewn on white flowers scattered across the clothing. "Well, I must be going back to work. I'm sure Dayoko can help you should you need anything," he glanced fondly at his younger sister before bowing. "Take care, [Y/N]."

With that, he left the room, leaving you girls alone. Dayoko turned to you with an excited glint in her eyes, bouncing in her seat.

'I can help you get ready!' She offered, standing up and ushering you out of the room. You were glad that you managed to finish your breakfast, else you were sure she wouldn't have waited for you be done.

"B-But, the dishes—!" You started, only to be cut off.

'They'll get picked up, don't worry!'

She led you down a series of hallways that you were sure you hadn't been down before; although, every hallway looked almost exactly the same as each other. You whizzed past a few more doors before coming to an abrupt halt, and you just managed to catch yourself before you fell straight into Dayoko.

The door slid open to reveal a bedroom, coloured in a girly pink from head to toe. The furniture was a blush pink, the carpet was a rose gold, the flowers strewn about the room were a shocking hue... You felt like you had walked into Barbie's bedroom.

Dayoko pushed you over to the lavish vanity, which had a multitude of perfumes, cosmetics and accessories daintily organised across the surface. She seated you down on the plump stool, moving away to gather a few things as you made yourself comfortable.

She returned with a hairbrush in hand, and a large box. She placed it down, opening it to reveal bunches of fake flowers, like the ones she had placed in her hair. You admired each one before Dayoko tapped your shoulder, catching your eyes in the mirror in front of you.

"Dayon!!"

'Time for a makeover!'

You giggled at her excitement, a similar feeling welling up inside of you. In that moment, she felt like a little sister to you, too. It was cute and endearing. You grinned back at her saying with a hint of a laugh:

"Make me as pretty as you, Dayoko!"

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♔ | 𝐈𝐗

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"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Takashi sang, renetering the room. Thankfully, the few minutes the two had disappeared were enough for your deep red flush to subside and for you to calm your racing heartbeat.

"It's fine, don't worry about it! ... Uh, w-where's Ozo..?" The taxi driver was nowhere to be seen, which made you raise a brow. Takashi sat down in Ozo's seat, humming thoughtfully.

"I think he said he's going to the bathroom? I'm not sure though, I wasn't paying attention to him," he smiled casually. You laughed awkwardly, hoping deep down that he was joking. "So? How's the food?"

"Oh! It's delicious!" You gushed. "You're dad must be an amazing baker!" Takashi's smile faltered slightly, his eyes averting down to the table.

"Yeah.. He was..." his eyes clouded over with old memories, getting lost in them for a split moment before he straightened up. "But now it's my job to look after his cafe, so I have to make sure I'm always on his level, y'know? Even if this place barely has anyone coming down.." he grumbled, glaring at the doorway.

"I've noticed that even in Akatsuka Village, it's really quiet. There's hardly any people around," you mused.

"That's how it's always been. People here tend to keep to themselves a lot. They don't know how to let loose and have a little fun!" He complained. "It's like everybody knows everybody, but at the same time, we don't. Does that make sense?"

You thought about it before nodding slowly. In a way, it did.

"I just thought that it would be like a close knit community, seeing how small the village itself is," you shrugged. Takashi agreed, nodding along.

Just then, you both heard a shuffling from behind the back door before it swung open, revealing a slightly disheveled Ozo. He was breathing quite heavy for someone who just walked down a corridor. His shirt looked ruffled, with his tie undone and hanging around his neck.

Your eyes met briefly before snapping away, a heated flush painting itself back onto your cheeks. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Takashi grimace at his brother, scooting away from him as he moved to sit down across from you.

"So... What have I missed?" Ozo started casually, his grin wobbling at the corners.

"You didn't even bother to look half decent after that?" Takashi chastised, groaning as Ozo shrugged in response.

"Hey, at least I didn't take as long as Jyushimatsu!" Ozo crossed his arms over his chest, his rolled up sleeves pulling taught against his lightly defined arms.

"As if that makes things any better!" Takashi ran a hand down his face. "Now I'm gonna have to burn my bathroom because of you..."

"Uh, what are you guys talking about?" You asked, feeling left out of the loop. Ozo's grin slipped back onto his lips, widening as he met your gaze confidently enough to hold it.

"We're just talkin' about how I—"

"NOTHING!!" Takashi screeched. You jumped at the sudden outburst, even more confused at the fact that Ozo burst out laughing. "It's absolutely nothing! Don't worry about it okay? In fact, just forget you heard anything!"

Your curiosity was begging you to ask more, but Takashi looked as if he was fit to burst, so you reluctantly nodded along with him.

"Aww, are you sure you don't wanna know?" Ozo leaned forward across the table. "I have a feeling you'd really like it if you knew what we're talking—"

"You know what?!" Takashi slammed his hands on the table top, standing up far too quickly than any human was able to. He grabbed Ozo by the scuff of his neck, dragging him without mercy to the cafe's entrance. You watched in shock as Ozo was flung out the door, tumbling onto the pavement outside with a yelp.

"I don't want to see your face here again, shitty eldest!" With a crude hand gesture, Takashi swivelled on his heel, taking a deep breath as he stood in front of you with a plain smile. "Now that he's gone, what are your other plans for today?"

You blinked, glancing at the doorway, then back to Takashi. You gulped.

"A-Actually... Ozo is supposed to be like my escort... I can't go anywhere without him driving me around..."

He stared at you, his large eyes blank. Eventually, he sighed heavily, shoulder sagging in disappointment.

"I guess if that's case, then I can't keep you here. But before you go, can we exchange numbers?" He asked hopefully, already clutching his phone in hand. "It's not everyday I get to make a new friend!"

"Oh, of course!" The prospect of making a new friend made you beam, eagerly handing over your phone so he could put in his contact details. After a few taps, he handed your phone back, smiling cutely.

"I can't wait to chat more with you, [Y/N]-chan!" He winked. You giggled, smiling wider at the name he had given himself.

[💖Takashi💖]

"Oh, and one more thing.." he stopped you as you stood up, ready to leave. He placed a hand on your shoulder, eyes firm. "If that asshole tries anything with you, just say the word and I'll kill him. I promise." With a final pat, he ushered you out with a wave, disappearing back inside to attend to his cafe.

"[Y/N]!" Ozo whined, leaning against his car on the ground. The grimace on his face made you rush over in worry.

"Are you okay? You're not badly hurt, are you?" You brushed his hair away from his eyes, looking for scratches or bumps. He had a little bit of dust on his face, and you quickly swiped it off with your hand.

"I'm fine.. My head hurts a little though.." his eyes were wide and pouting, staring up at you as he searched for sympathy. You huffed, a small smile creeping onto your face.

"Does this help?" You began gently rubbing at his scalp, massaging through his soft tresses to remove the 'pain.' Ozo hummed, eyes closing, looking very similar to a happy cat.

"Very much.." he purred, leaning into your hand. You laughed out loud, moving your hand away despite his hum of confusion.

"I think we should go before Takashi throws something at you," you whispered with a grin, standing up and walking over to your side of the car. Ozo sighed, standing up and dusting himself off before joining you. As you both settled in, you made the bold choice of addressing the elephant in the room.

"Uh.. About before..." you started awkwardly, twirling a strand of hair around your finger. "I-I'm really sorry... I don't know w-why I did that..."

"Hmm? Oh, that!" Ozo rubbed a finger under his nose, grinning with a small blush on his cheeks. "Don't worry about it! I enjoyed it a lot more than you think." He winked at you, inserting the keys and starting up the car again.

His words left you flustered, affecting you a lot more than you liked to admit. You began to wonder what would have happened if you hadn't been interrupted... What his lips would feel like... Where his hands would go... How he would say your name in that same, breathless and addicting way...

"Uh, [Y/N]?" A hand waved in front of your face, making you jump.

"Huh?" You whipped your head to him, biting your lip sheepishly. "Sorry, I-I wasn't paying attention.."

Ozo watched the way your lips caught itself between your teeth before smirking.

"You weren't paying attention to me? That's not polite of you to do.." he leaned closer to you, backing you up against the car door. "Do I have to make you pay attention?"

You stammered, unable to string together coherent words. His lidded eyes surveyed your glowing cheeks before he spoke.

"Where are we going now?"

"...W-What..?"

"I was asking, where are we going now?" He moved away, face casual as if nothing had happened. "Unless you want me to take you somewhere instead, since I don't think you know any places around here, right?"

"Uhh..."

"Oh, I got it! Let's go pay someone a visit!" He snapped his fingers, putting the car into gear and driving back onto the road, heading back towards Akatsuka Village.

You sat in silence once more, breaths slightly jagged and face as red as it could go. Your mind was full of fuzzy static, slowly clearing away as you straightened up in your seat, locking your gaze pointedly out the window as your hands clenched to your dress.

'He's such a tease..!'

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♔ | 𝐕𝐈𝐈

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You walked down the stone steps you had traversed the previous day, holding down a lock of your hair as it swayed in the breeze. The petals of the azalea flowers glistened in the sunshine, fluttering in the wind as they kept your styled hair in place.

Dayoko had done a beautiful job of your hair, twirling and plaiting your locks in an elegant fashion, pinning everything in place with bunches of azaleas, red and eye catching.

'I also saw you had no dresses with you, so you can borrow one of mine!'

You smiled down at your attire, admiring the black floral material that rested over your upper body, feeling the loose flow of the red skirt around your legs. A black shoulder bag rested just above your hips, swinging lightly to the left and right with each move you made. Your small black heels clicked against the grey stone beneath you satisfyingly, filling the air around you with the gentle sound.

You had thanked Dayoko profusely, tracing feather light touches over your locks in awe. You would never be able to do something this pretty with your hair. You did look just as pretty as Dayoko, but she insisted you had surpassed her looks greatly.

She sent you off with a bright smile and a wave, watching as you ventured away from the Estate and back down into Akatsuka Village.

You were too busy glancing up at the trees bending up around you, smiling fondly as the leaves seemed to wave as you passed by, rays of light filtering through from above. As you reached the last step, the sun suddenly glaring down at you making you squint, you heard a low whistle from ahead.

"You clean up nice, doll!"

A deep blush coated your cheeks at the compliment, immediately recognising the voice with a small sense of dread. Memories of last night flooded your mind, embarrassingly increasing your red glow.

Ozo stood in front of a parked white car — most likely a taxi, you thought — leaning against the side of it with a green can in his hand. He grinned over at you, brushing a hand through his hair. You couldn't help but notice each strand falling through the gaps of his fingers, resting over his forehead with a slight sway.

"You... actually waited? F-For me?" You mumbled timidly, taking slow steps closer to him.

"I told you I would, didn't I?" He replied, soft and gentle. "Besides, how could I pass up the chance to help such a pretty lady?" He pushed himself off the car, closing the gap between you both as he reached a hand up to your hair, brushing over the decorations. He chuckled lightly, "They look good on you. I'm starting to think that red really is your colour."

"Ah, th-thank you..." you averted your eyes downwards, accidentally resting over the hand that clutched onto what you could now see was a beer can, the cooled droplets of water cascading downwards and over his fingertips, glistening as they rolled down his warm skin...

"Where are ya' headed?" Ozo suddenly asked, moving back.

"Huh..? Oh!" You snapped out of your daze, cursing yourself for getting so.. distracted like that. "I was going to head over to Iriabi, actually. To that cafe you told me about."

Ozo's smile brightened, rubbing a finger under his nose. "Wow, you're taking my suggestion! I'm flattered," he joked. He tucked a hand into his trouser pocket, taking out a ring of keys, spinning it around his finger. "Let's get going, shall we?"

"You're gonna take me there?" You questioned, following him nevertheless as he nodded.

"I mean, it's kinda my job to do that," he laughed. He moved around to the passengers side, opening the door with a deep bow. "After you."

You chuckled at his performance, taking up his offer and slipping into your seat, catching a glimpse of his large grin before he closed the door, moving back to the driver's seat and strapping in. He brushed his hair away as he inserted the keys, the engine causing the car to rumble.

Carefully manoeuvring the vehicle onto the road, you started to pick up speed on the empty dirt road, driving past the shops and houses you had seen before. They looked just as empty as yesterday, and you felt slightly uneasy at the stillness of the area; not having any bustling streets and crowds of people wasn't something you were used to.

A little further down was a large building standing on its own. On the roof was a sign, which looked to be similar to neon lights, although they weren't activated due to it being daytime. As you passed by, you squinted to try and make out what they were shaped to be, raising a brow as you saw they looked similar to two chickens on either side of some words you didn't get to read.

"What's that building?" You asked, pointing back to it. Ozo glanced over to where you pointed, smiling widely.

"That is my favourite place in this entire District," he leaned an arm against the window edge beside him, using one hand to steer the car around a soft bend. "That's the Bang Bang Chicken Bar. I'm a regular, but I guess that's 'cuz it's the only bar around here."

He sounded pretty proud of himself, although you felt a slight concern fester inside of you. How often did he go there? That was a bad thing, wasn't it? Also; 'Bang Bang Chicken Bar...' Another interesting name, but why chickens? Before you could voice your questions, Ozo continued.

"I'll take you for a drink sometime! On me, since I've actually got money now!" He seemed to find this quite funny, laughing loudly at his own words.

"I'll think about it," you replied. You hadn't gone out for a drink with anyone for a while. You wondered if you'd even be able to handle your liquor as well as you used to, or if you'd just make a fool of yourself in front of him.

The chatter died down after a moment, leaving Ozo to concentrate on the road whilst you continued peering out the window, a soft smile playing on your lips as you took in the sights. The sky was a brilliant azure, decorated with light wisps of white clouds, drifting off further into the distance. Fields of sunflowers and tulips filled the empty spaces beside the road, fluttering in the summer wind. The sunshine rested on your face, it's warmth a lot more gentle this time, lighting up your face with a golden glow.

Ozo cleared his throat after a while, his hands gripping the wheel a little too tightly. He couldn't help but turn his eyes to your relaxed form every few seconds, attracted to your plump lips and warm cheeks, your glistening orbs and curled hair. Your dress fit you perfectly, complimenting your curves and skin beautifully, and damn— the colour red was just too good on you.

"[Y/N], y-you..." he swore under his breath, hating that he was feeling so nervous. What happened to his usual confidence? Why did he suddenly feel scared of you rejecting his attempts, even though that was all he was ever used to?

"Ozo?" You turned to him, tilting you head. He stared at you for a minute, his half-lidded eyes widening slightly before he turned away again. He took a deep breath, blaming the flush on his cheeks on the summer heat.

"...You look really good... I mean it.."

There was a stunned silence in the car. Your fingers clutched tightly at the skirt of your dress, legs pressing together nervously. You saw the obvious blush on his face, which made yours multiply tenfold.

Eventually, you broke out of your daze, a bright smile on your face. If Ozo wasn't driving, he'd gladly stare at it all day.

"Thank you, Ozo. You don't look too bad yourself."

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♔ | 𝐗𝐈𝐈

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The sun had set a long while ago.

Jyushimatsu had made his own way home, calling Ozo to let him know. The car was much more silent on the way back to the Midorito Estate, most likely due to how tired the both of you were from the busy day.

Rolling up to the stone step entrance, Ozo left the keys in as he got out of the car, swiftly opening your door for you once more and offering a hand. You managed to get out without a stumble this time, although a share of smiles weren't passed up.

"So, did you enjoy your little tour around Akashika?" Ozo grinned, his hand still wrapped around yours. You squeezed your fingers as you laughed softly.

"I really did. Thank you for that.." you stared into each others eyes, the moon above casting a bluish glow on your faces, enticing and mystical, unable to tear your eyes away.

"I... I should get going," you reluctantly sighed. "Chorosuke and Dayoko are probably waiting for me, so..."

"Uh, yeah, okay.." Ozo mumbled, slowly retracting his hand from yours, his fingertips brushing against your palm before settling by his side. You began turning away, a foot resting on the first stone step, before you suddenly turned back around.

You walked back over to Ozo, who was watching your curiously until you stopped right in front of him, chests touching and faces close again. His cheeks darkened as you rested your hands against his chest, pushing yourself up by the slightest bit to reach his height. You could feel his heartbeat begin to race, matching your own pace.

He could feel your warm breath tickle across his skin as you placed a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek. You pulled back the slightest bit, murmuring against his skin.

"Goodnight, Ozo."

Not giving him a chance to reply, you quickly took off for the stairway, steadily climbing up without looking back. Your hands came up to your own cheeks, the burning skin pulsing against your hands.

Ozo was left by his car, stunned. He blinked a couple times, raising a shaky hand up to his cheek, the feeling of your lips still lingering. A grin slowly broke onto his face, almost splitting his face in two.

As you reached the front door of the Estate, you could hear an echoing yell of celebration from behind you, the voice all to clear. You chuckled, heart fluttering faster in your chest.

'Maybe I should do it more often if it makes him that happy..'

Knocking against the doorway, the door eventually slid open to reveal Chorosuke, who, at first, looked over your shoulder with a look of disapproval.

"He didn't do anything weird to you, did he?" Was the first question. You hoped it was dark enough to hide your embarrassment.

"N-No, no! I had a lot of fun today, actually!" You smiled, prompting Chorosuke to return the look as he stepped aside, allowing you in. As you removed your shoes, you glanced around.

"Where's Dayoko?"

"Ah, she's been waiting for you in the sitting room all day! It seems she's really grown attached to you," he chuckled, leading you along. Your smile widened, a warmth settling in your chest as Dayoko came out into the hallway upon hearing your voice, practically running to you and almost knocking you over as she jumped into an embrace.

"Woah, are you okay, Dayoko? Did you miss me?" You laughed aloud, gently rubbing a hand up and down her back. She moved back, her smile in place and questions already falling through her lips. "Okay, wait! Slow down!" You held her shoulders. "Let's eat first. I'll tell you all about what happened today afterwards, okay?"

Not needing to be told twice, she then took hold of your hand, rushing you down to the main room to eat as quickly as possible. Chorosuke watched on happily, glad his sister was finally able to make a friend for herself in this small village.

"I haven't seen her this happy since before your passing..." he turned to the table beside him, his hand lightly tracing the single framed photo resting on the wooden surface. His father's eyes — much more similar to Dayoko's than his own — glinted back at him, the photo-taken smile never wavering.

┊   •° ੈ ⋆°  ┊

"Dayon?! Dayon??!!!!"

"Shh! Not so loud!"

Dayoko had whisked you to the washroom so you could wind down after such a long day out, and the moment you stepped out in a fresh set of nightwear, she was there this time to pull you back to your room. Your futon was already lain out, and she pushed you to sit down, begging for details.

You had only just told her about the small incident in the cafe, and she was already freaking out.

"Dayon?!"

'How does that happen on the first date?!'

"D-Date?" You spluttered. "It wasn't a date, Dayoko! He was just being nice and, y'know, showed me around. That's all, it wasn't— it wasn't a date."

"Dayon." She stared at you blankly.

'Yeah, sure it wasn't.'

"I'm serious!" You whined. With a roll of her eyes, she gestured for you to continue.

'And then what happened?'

"Well..." You recounted the trip to the sunflower fields. You couldn't help the smile on your face as you remember the flowers, the sky, the vivid memory akin to a dream with the way you described it.

"And then, he said he wanted to get to know me, and.." you paused for a moment, tracing aimless circles on the fabric of the futon.

'And?' Dayoko raised a brow. 'What did you say?'

"I said... that I would think about it."

'...WHAT?!'

The volume of her voice startled you.

'Why would you say that?! He's clearly interested in you!'

"Yeah, but Dayoko," you furrowed your brows, unsure of yourself now, "We literally only just met yesterday... Wouldn't it be moving too fast?"

'Hm, I guess you're not wrong...' With a reluctant sigh, she moved on, keeping in mind that she would definitely come back to talk about this again at some point. 'Okay, well, did anything else happen on the way back?'

Your cheeks instantly began to heat up at the question, your gaze averting back to the floor.

"Yeah, a-actually.."

'What? What is it?' She leaned closer in anticipation.  

"So... So he dropped me off outside your house, by the stairs, and I was gonna go up... But then — and I don't know why I did this!! But I turned around, and I.. I-I kissed his cheek and—"

The squeal that emitted from Dayoko's throat pierced your ears harshly, the sheer volume and pitch creating the slightest crack in the vanity mirror.

Somewhere on the opposite end of the house, Chorosuke paused his task of sprucing up a few flowers in his room, straining his ears. He turned to look over his shoulder, waiting for a moment, and upon hearing nothing, he shrugged, returning back to his task.

'I can't believe you did that!!! You're so bold ohmygoshican't—!'

Your blush worsened as she clasped your hands, continuing to praise you.

'I mean, Ozo can be a scum-bag at times, but if it's you, then surely it's meant to be!!'

"Y-You're talking about this like this is fate, or something.." you chuckled wearily.

'That's exactly what I'm saying! Just think about everything that's happened between the two of you in less than twenty-four hours! What else could it be?'

Fate. Was it really fate? Did stuff like that really exist? Was she right?

'Listen, [Y/N].'

The girl's voice caught your attention, bringing you back to the present.

'All I'm going to say is this: You should just take a chance and go for it! Who knows? Maybe it will be better than you expected! But you'll never know until you try.'

With those final words, she bid you a cheerful goodnight, slipping out of the room, leaving you to your thoughts.

Slowly, you got up from where you sat, moving to switch off the lights before laying yourself under the covers of your futon, eyes finally resting onto the sight of the moon outside the window, a single glowing orb against the clear night sky.

You had heard words similar to those before. People encouraging you to take the leap, to not be afraid, just take the moment before it's too late. However, time and time again, you were always held back by something. Something more than fear. Thinking back, it was always like a hand, grasping firmly onto the back of your shirt, forcing you back and away from anything new.

Now, though, there was nothing here to stop you. Nothing, other than yourself.

As you closed your eyes, you wondered: did you really want to hold yourself back?

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