|

♔ | 𝐈𝐕

»»-----　♔　-----««

Chorosuke had long since given up on trying to kick the two out, seeing as they had absolutely no intention of moving. Instead, he hesitantly sat himself down amongst you all, eating with a sour frown on his face directed towards Ozo, who either didn't notice or didn't care.

"So, why Akashika?" Ozo asked suddenly after a few moments. You stifled a laugh at the crumbs scattering his cheeks, taking a sip of water to stall for time, noticing how all eyes were now on you.

"Well," you started, pushing your food around lightly with your chopstick, "I just wanted to go on a holiday for a little while. Akashika seemed like the best place." You shrugged nonchalantly, going back to eating your food.

"Akashika? Really?" Ozo drawled, raising a brow.

"Is.. Is there something wrong with that?" you asked nervously.

"Not really," Chorosuke replied, a thoughtful look on his face. "It's just that, since Akashika District is a small village in the countryside, not many people know that this place even exists. We rarely ever get visitors, other than those who already have a direct connection to this place."

You hummed. That did make sense, in a way.

"How did you find out about this place, anyway?" Ozo pushed, resting his chin on his palm.

"I came across an article online about Akatsuka Village," You paused, thinking about the contents of the article with a slight smile. "It was talking about a bunch of mysteries this place has, and after a bit of digging around, I found that this area of Japan was quiet and unknown, which was convenient for me."

"'Mysteries,' you say..." Chorosuke groaned.

"'Convenient?'" Ozo asked.

"Karamatsu-niisan must've wrote that article!" Jyushimatsu chimed in.

"Karatsugu." Chorosuke iterated.

Your mind raced to come up with an answer to Ozo, leaning away from him as he came closer, waiting for you to say something.

"Uh, 'convenient' as in..." you cleared your throat, "..I-I've never been to the countryside before. I've always lived in the city, so I wanted to start somewhere that wasn't overwhelmed by tourists and such." You ended with a nervous chuckle, which quickly died down under Ozo's unreadable stare. Should.. Should you say something? Did he even listen to what you said? Why was he looking at you like that? Your cheeks turned pink the longer he held your gaze.

"Ozo," Chorosuke kicked him from under the table, a 'huff' leaving said man's lips. "Stop being creepy. Ignore him, [Y/N]."

"Yeah, yeah..." Ozo muttered something under his breath, which you couldn't quite hear, but it didn't seem to matter as his grin came back onto his face.

"How long are you staying for, [Y/N]-chan?" Jyushimatsu suddenly spoke from beside you, making you squeak. You did your best to ignore the chuckles from Ozo and Dayoko, although the flush on your cheeks only darkened in embarrassment.

"T-Two months."

"Aw, that's it?" Ozo whined. "Well hopefully by the end of it, you'll want to stay for longer!" He winked your way. You glanced away, taking larger sips of water to distract yourself. With that, everyone focused back on their food, finishing the last bits from their bowls. It was mostly silent, save for the clinking of utensils and the gentle song of birds from outside, adding a sort of serenity to the air. It was comforting, an atmosphere you very much appreciated. It was a far cry from what you were used to.

Eventually, you all let out a hum of satisfaction, praising Dayoko for the fulfilling meal. Ozo and Jyushimatsu lay comfortably on the floor, spreading out their limbs as they shut their eyes, large sleepy grins on their faces. You smiled softly at their antics. With the way they acted, you would have thought they were brothers. You didn't want to jump straight to conclusion, though. You'd probably make things awkward if you said something like that.

Dayoko stood up and began gathering everyone's dishes. You attempted to get up and help, feeling bad about her doing all the work, but she waved you off with a smile. Chorosuke placed a gentle hand on your shoulder, gaining your attention.

"[Y/N], why you don't you head on upstairs, instead?" He offered with a smile. "I've had a bath drawn for you. I'm sure it will help you relax before heading off to bed. You've had a long day, after all."

"Can we have one too?" Ozo perked his head up, eyes hopefully.

"No." Chorosuke shot sternly, glaring at the man as he let his head fall back to the floor with a grumble.

"Choromatsu-niisan's no fun..." Jyushimatsu's voice was muffled, his face pushed against the floor.

"Stop calling me that.." Chorosuke was exasperated by now, but he opted to ignore the both of them, turning back to you expectantly. You mulled over the offer. A soothing bath after a warm meal sounded very appealing to you, especially since your back did feel a little sore still after sitting on a rocky train for most of the day.

"That sounds lovely, actually. Thank you, Chorosuke," you smiled appreciatively, slowly picking yourself up from the floor.

"It's nothing. Our guests always receive the best of treatment here in the Midorito Estate," he stated proudly with a bow of his head. Ozo glared up at him from the floor.

"Careful. You're rising again, Chorofappysk-"

A pillow was thrown harshly onto his face, startling him as his head smacked onto the ground with a hollow 'thud.' You gasped, covering your mouth to hide the giddy smile from the others in the room. You felt bad that he got hurt, but you couldn't deny that their childish ways of bickering was starting to become comedic for you.

Dayoko re-entered the room before things could escalate, hooking her arm with yours.

"Ah, Dayoko!" Chorosuke's smile was thin and forced, his brow twitching dangerously as the pillow he threw hit against his side. "Could you please escort our guest to the washroom while I deal with those?"

Dayoko looked unimpressed, not even replying to her brother as she tugged you out of the room, closing the door behind her without so much as a second glance. As soon as it slid shut, loud voices erupted as an argument broke out. You managed to pick out a few insults that were so ridiculous, you couldn't help but splutter a laugh. You tried to cover your mouth to stop them leaving your mouth, but eventually, you couldn't hold it in any longer.

"S-Sorry..!" You apologised to Dayoko through your bouts of laughter, clutching at your stomach as you followed her on shaky legs down the hallways. She looked at you for a moment in surprise before joining in with a playful roll of her eyes. You both giggled and chuckled endlessly, almost completely breathless by the time you had made it to the washroom.

Slowly, you both regained your composure, wiping a couple of stray tears from the corners of your eyes. Dayoko sighed happily.

"Dayon! Dayon!"

'That's the most I've laughed in a while!'

You smiled brightly along with her. "Same here!"

Dayoko took your hand, opening the door to the washroom to reveal, yet another, large washroom. It was slightly steamy in the room, a low mist of wafting over the tiled flooring, which was emitting from a wide bathtub on the other side of the room. You glanced around with wide eyes. The mirrors were somehow clear of any fog, the small plants scattered around the room were perked up and lively, the towels looked so soft and fluffy, hell -- even the toilet seemed to sparkle in its environment.

The girl tugged on your hand, snapping you out of your daze. She wore an amused smile on her face, but didn't comment on your surprised look.

"Dayon, dayon..."

She began telling you where everything you needed would be, and that she would leave fresh set nightwear for you to put on once you were done. You thanked her profusely once more as she left you to your own devices, closing the door to give you privacy.

You looked around, somehow feeling unsure of where to even start.

'..That's stupid,' you thought to yourself with a shake of your head. You began stripping down, neatly placing your clothes in a basket nearby so they could be washed later. Then, you moved over to the bathtub, gingerly placing the tip of your toe into the water, delighted to find it just the right temperature.

You slid in, settling down comfortably with a long sigh of relief, feeling the tension in your muscles fading away. There was a faint aroma of lavender and peppermint in the air, and you took deep and steady breaths to help clear your mind for a moment. It was truly heavenly, sitting in the warm water with your eyes closed and body relaxed. You wished you could do something like this all the time, but of course your situation back home wouldn't allow any kind of relaxation for you...

Another sigh left you, heavy and full of built up emotions. You brought a damp hand up to your face, resting it against your forehead as you frowned sadly. Your chest felt tight for a moment as a memory flashed through your mind. Your ears rang with loud voices, yelling and screaming, a complete one-eighty from what you had just heard downstairs a few minutes ago. It made your head throb uncomfortably, and your eyes suddenly prickled with un-shed tears.

'No,' you thought immediately. You sat up and reached over to a shelf beside you, grabbing a bottle of shampoo that Dayoko had pointed out to you earlier. You squirted a handful of the liquid into your hand, the scent of cherries hitting your nose as you began lathering it into your hair, using the time to give yourself a brief massage over your scalp.

'I have two months to not think about that,' you reminded yourself, finally pushing away any other intruding thoughts from your mind as you busied yourself with washing up.

After a nice long while relaxing and cleansing yourself, you stumbled out of the bath, rubbing at your wet skin with a towel (which was just as fluffy as it looked). You looked over to the door, finding your nightwear and undergarments folded neatly on a small tabletop beside a pot of blooming Dahlias. You admired their vibrant layered petals for a moment before taking your clothes

You slipped on your oversized short sleeved shirt and shorts, perfect for the warm summer night, briefly ruffling your hair with the towel before exiting the washroom. Upon not seeing Dayoko nearby, you decided to make your own way to your bedroom, somewhat confident in being able to find it yourself.

It was clear to you, though, that after only a few turns, you found yourself lost.

"How can I get lost in a house?" you muttered with slight panic. You glanced behind you, turning around. "I'll just... head back to the washroom. She's probably there right now, waiting for me..."

You turned back down the corridor you were sure you had just come from, but... you couldn't' find it. You couldn't' find the washroom you had just been in two seconds ago. Worrying your lip between your teeth, you wondered if it would be childish to start calling out for her, or Chorosuke, to come and help you. Just as you were about to make a decision, a set of footsteps sounded behind you.

You breathed a sigh if relief, turning with a sheepish smile.

"Finished with your bath already? And here I was thinking I could jump in with you!"

You froze, cheeks ablaze for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. It was Ozo, not Chorosuke or Dayoko, wandering causally down the corridor towards you, a hand tucked into his trouser pocket. He kept walking until he stopped right in front of you, leaning against the wall.

" 'Sup?"

»»-----　♔　-----««

♔ | 𝐗𝐈𝐈

»»-----　♔　-----««

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?

»»-----　♔　-----««

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭:

「 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 ⇀ 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」

「𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 ⇀ 𝑶.𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」 [OLD]

「𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ⇀ 𝑲.𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」

「𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐲 ⇀ 𝑪. 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」

「𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 ⇀ 𝑰. 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」

𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬:

𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬

✧ Osomatsu - Cool down

✧ Osomatsu - Cherry Boy

✧ Osomatsu - Consequences

✧ Osomatsu - Courage

✧ Osomatsu - Deal

Osomatsu - Monster?

Osomatsu - A Promise I'll Break

Osomatsu - Something Eternal

Osomatsu - 'Hymn for the Missing'

✧ Karamatsu - Ravenous

✧ Karamatsu - Warm

Karamatsu - Prepared?

Karamatsu - Cold!

Karamatsu - Lycoris Radiata

Karamatsu - Dark Forests

Karamatsu - Learn

Karamatsu - My Love For You

Karamatsu - Special Treatment

✧ Choromatsu - By The Pool Side

✧ Choromatsu - Sweet Stimulation

✧ Choromatsu - Surprises

✧ Choromatsu - Slightly Sadistic

✧ Choromatsu - 'Tell Me'

Choromatsu - A Gracious Green

Choromatsu - Attention Seeker

Ichimatsu - Gamble

Ichimatsu - Distant Future

Ichimatsu - A Winter Carnival

Ichimatsu - Patch You Up With Kisses

Ichimatsu - Reaching You, Finally

✧ Jyushimatsu - Our Little Secret

Jyushimatsu - "It's Okay."

Todomatsu - Nice And Simple

Todomatsu - Kill her? Why Would I?

Todomatsu - Malicious Deity

✧ Matsuno - School Grounds

✧ Matsuno - 'Ragdoll'

✧ Matsuno - Take Care Of You

❀

𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀

You write to me about roses, About roses opening as roses die. Always, you say, there are roses, So that people get used to them And cease to wonder. Now I am on a hilltop, Bare, with a few pine trees Twisted by an inexhaustible wind, By a wind that is never tired, A wind that passes and passes and is never gone. I cannot think what it would be like for the pine trees If there were no wind.

——

Your roses would not be happy on my hilltop. They would be scornful of my huckleberry bush With their plain, blue fruit.

——

They would not care for the white meadow-sweet That leans against a rock. Roses must have rich soil, And careful pruning. They must be sheltered from the wind and cold And have stakes to lean upon. They do not stand alone like the flames of vervain On my windy hilltop.

——

Roses are gifts for lovers. Lovers have always had much to say about roses. When you sent me a rose Folded in a letter, Did you know I would open it on a hilltop Where the wind searches me As it does the pine trees And my skirts are brushing The fine flame of the vervain?

—𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡

♔ | 𝐗

»»-----　♔　-----««

The car rumbled over a gravel pathway, entering though opened steel gates and down a road lined with tall pine trees. You craned your neck upwards, hand blocking out the sun in an attempt to see just how high they reached.

"Where are we?" You asked for the hundredth time, still hoping Ozo would give you even the slightest hint of where he had planned to take you. The whole time, he had avoided the question, and he did just the same now, grinning cheekily as he gave you same answer.

"You'll see when we get there!" He laughed at your exasperated sigh.

"You can't even give me just one hint?" You tried.

"[Y/N], you're smart. If I give you a hint, you'll know the answer straight away! Then there'd be no surprise!" He tutted, not giving in to your pouting, no matter how cute you looked. If he could get past Takashi, he could get past you. Albeit, with a lot more struggle.

And so, you waited, leg bouncing in anticipation as the road finally widened out, the trees dispersing to reveal a modern mansion, with large windows almost completely covering the entire front of it. It was pale in colour, it's tiled roof a matte black.

Ozo manoeuvred the car around the fountain in the front drive way, steadily coming to a halt.

"Where... Who's house is this??" You stated in bewilderment. How many mansions did this place have? Ozo only continued to remove his seatbelt, prompting you to do the same until he stopped you.

"Stay in the car for a sec. This isn't the final destination," with that, he jumped out of the car, walking up a small platform of stairs and knocking loudly on the large dark oak doors. You watched him as he leaned his weight on one foot, resting a hand in his pocket as the other fanned his face.

As you both waited for someone to arrive at the door, you began to think about who this person could be. If Ozo thought you would guess who it was easily, then that meant you had to have met this person before, right? You cupped your chin, brows furrowed as you thought further. You knew Chorosuke and Dayoko definitely didn't live here, Takashi lives in Iriabi, so it's not him... If Ozo lived here, then he wouldn't have to knock on the door... Then the only other person it could be was...

"Osomatsu-niisan!"

The doors swung open violently, a yellow blur tackling the driver, close to knocking him over. Ozo yelped in surprise, quickly melting into a laugh.

"Jyushimatsu!" Ozo patted his brother's back affectionately. "See, this is why you're my favourite!"

Ah, now the mansion made sense. Jyushimatsu was the son of the mayor here, so of course they would live in luxury.

As you observed the scene with a fond smile, you noticed that Jyushimatsu was actually wearing the paper bag he had with him the night before, his large eyes peering through the two holes haphazardly cut into the front of the brown paper. You wondered why he wore it; was he self-conscious?

'No,' you thought. 'If he was, he would've kept it on when we first met.'

"What are you doing here, niisan?" Jyushimatsu asked, leaning away.

"I'm taking [Y/N] around Akashika, to show her the sights and stuff," he glanced back at you. "Wanna come with us?"

The two caught eyes, an understanding glimmer flashing between them as Jyushimatsu nodded eagerly, already running towards the car. He jumped into the back seats — literally — and greeted you loudly.

"[Y/N]-chan!" He exclaimed happily, leaning through the gap between your front seats.

"Hello, Jyushimatsu!" His enthusiasm was infectious, your own smile widening greatly.

"You look really pretty today!" He added. "I can tell Osomatsu-niisan thinks so, too!" He pointed to said person as they sat themselves into the car, freezing at the sudden call-out. You giggled, cheeks flushing.

"I'm sure he does," your mind went back to the first car ride, unable to stop the butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you watched Ozo's face darken to red. He glared at Jyushimatsu from the rear view mirror as he started up the car, driving away from the mansion.

"So you live here, Jyushimatsu?" You did Ozo a favour, diverting the subject easily.

"Yup! This is the Ogami Family Estate!" He pointed back to his home as it slowly disappeared from view. "My dad and I live here! You can visit anytime you like!"

You smiled, keeping the offer in mind. Ozo stayed silent, squinting at the road as he drove back the way he came, taking a left towards the mountain peaks in the distance.

"Boobs!" The sudden call from Jyushimatsu made you jump. You glanced back at him with a raised brow to see him pointing straight ahead towards the two twin peaks.

"He thinks they look like tits." Ozo's blunt explanation didn't help the burn of your skin.

"O-Oh..." you mumbled, shrinking slightly in your seat.

'That's one way to look at it, I guess...'

The rest of the car ride was mostly uneventful, the only noise coming from Jyushimatsu as he hummed a tune you hadn't heard before. It sounded like a nursery rhyme.

At one point, the stretch of road ahead of you was devoid of any trees or shade, allowing the sun to shine down on you with no mercy.

"Man, it's hot today...!" Ozo sighed, rolling down his window. You nodded, doing the same.

"Hey, Osomatsu nii-san..." Jyushimatsu called from the back, tired as he fanned himself. "Can't you put the AC on?"

"Ah, well..." Ozo laughed nervously. "I still haven't gotten it fixed yet..."

"What?!" Jyushimatsu cried. "I'm gonna die..!"

"How can you survive this summer heat when you're driving around all day?" You asked incredulously, peering over to the driver who was busy unbuttoning a third button from his shirt, tousling his hair to provide some kind of cool breeze for his head. His sleeves were sticking to his biceps, clinging onto his skin and defining his slightly toned arms.

"I don't." Ozo replied, not noticing your blatant stares, unlike a certain someone behind you. You heard Jyushimatsu giggle, making you avert your eyes with a silent huff in turn.

Soldiering through the dizzying heat, the car eventually pulled to a stop in front of the beginnings of a mountain trail. Clambering out, you squinted your eyes at the path as it trailed upwards.

"Are we climbing all the way up to the top?" Wearily, you took a subtle step back. Jyushimatsu laughed loudly, readjusting the paper bag on his head.

"Nope! Just a little further up this way!" He headed off, waving a hand back towards you and Ozo. "Let's go!"

The heavy slam of the trunk of the car caused you to turn around, watching as Ozo adjusted his grip on the handle of a blue and white box before following behind you.

"What's that?" Ozo glanced at you then down to the box, grinning.

"I always carry a few extra drinks with me on the job. Don't tell my boss, though!" He mockingly held a finger up to his lips, winking at you.

"Don't tell me there's only beer cans in there.." you raised a brow. As nice as the thought was, you weren't planning to get drunk during the day, especially on a mountain trail.

"Nah, 'course not!" Ozo waved a hand. "As much as I love my alcohol, a soda or too aren't so bad every now and then, too!"

You felt something slip around your wrist, your steps faltering. Recognising that warmth, your eyes widened slightly as Ozo's hand wrapped themselves around you again, gently tugging you forward along with him.

"Wouldn't want you to trip or anything, right?" His dark lidded eyes moved over to you from over his shoulder. His stare made you want to bury your face into your hands.

"Not when you're looking that gorgeous."

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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.❞