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♔ | 𝐗𝐈𝐕

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This was too much.

After everything that's happened between the both of you, you were now expected to be completely alone with him?

You rested a hand over your heart, the speed at which it was beating making you even more nervous. But why should you be nervous? Didn't you want this? Isn't that why you kissed him in the first place?

Your internal issue seemed to grow larger and larger as your body unconsciously traced Ozo's steps, suddenly finding yourself in the doorway of the main room. Your eyes were instantly drawn to Ozo.

The sun filled the room with light, the bright glow shadowing Ozo's figure as he sat on the matted floor, casually leaning back on his arms with his eyes closed, basking in the sun's warmth. A white shine outlined his body, lighting his face aglow and burning his hair a deep auburn.

He looked ethereal. It was as if he didn't belong here, on this plain Earth.

"[Y/N]?" He called, casting his dark orbs over to you, half-lidded with a lazy, almost sleepy grin. He waved a hand over, beckoning you closer. "If you don't sit down soon, I'm gonna end up eating all the food before you get a bite!"

Snapping out of your daze, you nodded in response before seating yourself across from him, averting your face down towards the table. You couldn't look him in the eye.

"What were you planning on doing today?" Ozo asked after a few moments of silent chewing. You paused, chopsticks stuck between your pursed lips.

"I... I don't know," you answered truthfully. "I haven't actually thought about that yet."

"Oh? Then you can hang out with me!" He grinned widely.

"Are we going somewhere again?"

"Hmm..." he thought for a moment, cupping his chin and screwing his eyes shut (in a way that you most definitely did not find cute) before sighing heavily.

"We can't. There's nowhere for us to go today, everyone's busy," he began counting off his fingers. "Chorosuke's already out teaching for the day, Takashi said that he was busy reorganising his kitchen at the cafe, and Jyushimatsu is already off doing his own thing. I tried to find him this morning, but he was gone by then."

"I see... But what can we do here?" Was it really okay to do anything without Chorosuke's or Dayoko's permission? You didn't want to do anything that would make them angry.

"Plenty of things! Like..! ... Like..." he hung onto the word, leaning back onto his arms again. Each time he repeated himself, he sunk lower onto the floor until he was laying flat out on his back, humming to himself in deep thought once more.

You glanced down at the table, absentmindedly eyeing the assortment of breakfast foods spread out for you. Suddenly, your eyes lit up as a thought passed through your mind.

"Would Chorosuke mind if we borrowed his kitchen for a little while?" Ozo raised his head, barely able to see you over the low table. Heaving himself upwards, he replied:

"Probably not? Why do you ask?"

"Maybe we could do some baking? Cupcakes are really easy for me to make," you proposed, setting your utensils down. A small smile etched onto your face, your excitement to bake all too clear, and too adorable, for Ozo. He blinked at you, breaking out into a grin.

"Seeing as it's you, he won't mind at all!" He swiftly stood up from his seat, hurrying to you and pulling you up as well. "Let's get started, then!"

"Wait! The dishes—"

"They'll get picked up, don't worry about it!"

You didn't get to say much else as you were led down the corridor in a new direction, presumably towards the kitchen so you could make a start.

┊ •° ੈ ⋆° ┊

The kitchen was huge, but you shouldn't have expected anything less at this point. Despite the house being mostly traditionally styled, the kitchen was more modern, with sleek table tops and the walls almost entirely covered in cupboards.

You ran a hand over the marble top, awing at how smooth and clean it was. You could almost see your reflection if you squinted.

"Nice, right?" Ozo whistled. "That idiot's just lucky his old man was loaded."

"This is really nice..." you muttered. With a small shake of your head, you focused on the task at hand. You listed off all the items and ingredients you would need, and set about to find everything in order to begin baking. Ozo sat idly on a tall wooden stool at first, seemingly bored as he watched you scurry back and forth, unable to find anything seeing as this wasn't your kitchen.

With a sigh, he heaved himself up off of his seat, removing his tie from his shirt and leaving it on the table as he came up behind you. You were busy rummaging through a cupboard above you, arms straining to reach the large pot of sugar just above your fingertips. You stilled as you felt his chest press into your back, his own arm snaking past your own to reach the pot for you.

"I can't believe you still haven't figured out where the fridge is yet," he chuckled, his voice unbelievably close to your ear, to the point where you could feel the vibrations of his laughter travel down your neck. You pushed away the shiver threatening to run down you spine, and you swallowed, glancing back at him.

"Is it meant to be obvious?" you hoped the tremor in your voice would go unnoticed, but judging by the way his smirk widened, it was clear he had heard you.

"So obvious." He moved away from you -- a part of you hating how quickly his warmth had left you -- and over to a large cabinet in the corner of the room. He grasped the handle, opening it to reveal one of the biggest refrigerators you had ever seen. It was full of fresh food and drinks, a flow of cold mist falling from the shelves. You couldn't see the back of the fridge.

"Whoa..." you gasped. You swiftly picked up a few eggs, milk, and some other items that caught your fancy before laying them out on the table. You looked back with a small glimmer of hope in your eyes towards Ozo, who was busy stealing a green beer can from the fridge. "Do you think you could tell me where all the utensils are, too?"

"Babe, I know this entire kitchen like the back of my hand," he winked, already cracking open the drink with one hand whilst the other knocked on a cabinet door behind him, the door automatically opening up to reveal stacks of bowls and other baking supplies, clean and shiny, ready for use.

You paused for a moment, your brain fighting over what it should react to first: the way he smoothly opened up that cabinet or how he so easily called you 'babe' ... You chose the former, not wanting to embarrass yourself.

"Thank you," you nodded gratefully. With everything you needed set out before you, you washed your hands before rolling up your sleeves, brushing your hair away from your face. Ozo tapped your bare shoulder, waving a baby pink apron in his hands. With a smile, you took it from him and placed it over your head, although you struggled to tie the strings behind your back.

"Here," Ozo laughed, gently moving your hands out of the way as he deftly tied the knot securely against your back. Your body was hypersensitive to his soft breaths wafting over the back of your neck and exposed shoulders. Your face felt so hot, and your hands were getting clammy.

"Hey," Ozo started. "If I help out, can I lick the bowl at the end of it?"

You stared at him incredulously before bursting out into a fit of giggles.

"You didn't have to ask for permission to do that!" you covered your mouth with your hand, attempting to smother your laughter.

"Wha- I didn't? Really?" Ozo responded, eyes shooting wide open in genuine surprise. "I've always had to ask my dad!"

"Do I look like your dad?" you chuckled. Taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you turned back to the ingredients. "Let's just get started, shall we?"

Ozo was clumsy at times, and messed around playfully during the whole weighing process, but he aided you a lot better than you initially thought he would. With his help, you managed to mix all the ingredients together easily until you got the right texture, soft and fluffy.

You turned away to grab a few cupcake cases, picking a stack of pale blue ones decorated in darker petals. Turning back, you gasped as a sudden splatter of flour hit your face. You coughed harshly whilst Ozo laughed with no shame nor regret.

Wiping the flour from your mouth with a splutter, you glared at him, the fire of a challenge in your eyes. Whilst he was still laughing away, you dug three fingers into the flour, scooping a fairly generous amount before you threw it at him, revelling in how his eyes widened in surprise and how he was knocked off balance, sending him crashing to the floor.

You struggled to convey any kind of empathy, your hands clasped to your sides as you gasped for air, your cheeks hurting and tears filling your eyes. You took a few deep breaths, still giggling as you spoke.

"A-Are you okay?" You held out a hand for him, trying to help him up off of the floor. The man sat up with a groan, wiping away the flour from his face with a free hand as the other reached out for yours, only to wrap his fingers tightly around your wrist, pulling you down with him. He easily placed you beneath him, his right leg settling between your own, his hands pinning your wrists above your head.

"Tut tut, [Y/N]," he grinned devilishly, "You're playing a dangerous game, here."

"H-Hey! You started it!" you squirmed underneath him, your arms twisting in an attempt to free themselves. You dared not to move your lower body, dangerously aware of what was there. "Get off me, you're heavy!"

"Not until you give in," he teased. He pinned your wrists under one large hand, the other reaching up for the flour bag, which he waved above your head. You jerked your arms suddenly, hoping to catch him off guard, but it only made him shuffle upwards, leaning his body weight against you.

Bad idea.

You bit your lip harshly as his knee brushed up against you, the pressure sending a pleasurable tingle up your spine. You held back a whine, eyes squeezing shut.

"O-Ozo, wait!" you whimpered, cheeks darkening considerably. He paused his movements. For a moment, he thought he had hurt you, and released his hold on your arms quickly, leaning back on his legs.

"Sorry, did I hurt--?"

He glanced down at his knee. He saw where it was. He looked back up towards your face, the slowly traced his eyes back down.

"...Oops."

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♔ | 𝐗𝐈

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You were glad Jyushimatsu had chosen a more shaded route, or else you were sure you would have collapsed from the harsh heat by now. Ozo's hand had slipped into your own at some point, and when you noticed, you simply squeezed his hand lightly, smiling when he did the same.

"Just through here!" Jyushimatsu called, pushing away a small tuft of bushes and wandering through. You glanced at Ozo.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Yup. Trust me — you're gonna love it."

He took the lead, carefully manoeuvring you over the poking branches and fallen leaves, breaking through the darkly shaded area to a bright field, stretching far beyond the eye can see, rows and rows of soil filled with tall stalks of sunflowers, pointing their heads high towards the sun. They reached just up to your waist, surrounding you in a sweet scent.

You gasped softly, mouthing breaking into a wide gleeful smile. A bubble of laughter escaped your throat as you released your hold on Ozo's hand, running straight into the field. Your hands gently cupped the large yellow petals, running a finger over the soft texture, like velvet, bringing it close to take in its scent. You wandered in further until you were stood in the middle of the sea of flowers, twirling with a giggle as your eyes tried to soak in the beauty around you, sparkling and full of wonder.

You came to a stand still as a breeze flew over you, rustling your hair and stroking your skin. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath, lost in the moment. It felt so peaceful, so calming, the kind of place you could only ever hope to find, and now you had found it.

"What d'ya think?"

Ozo's voice sounded from behind you as he slowly, carefully, wrapped his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder. You tensed at first, then almost melted into his hold, leaning against his chest as your own hands came up to press against his.

"You were right; I do love it."

"Told you so," he grinned. His teasing tone murmured against your ear, the sound not unpleasant, and more comforting than anything. You relaxed further, sighing blissfully as you opened your eyes again, staring up into the clear sky.

Although it seemed like such a childish thought, you couldn't help but wish you could stay like this forever, free from any worries, with the wind pushing you forward and a warm hand as your guide.

┊ •° ੈ ⋆° ┊

You pressed the cold can to your temple before opening it up, sighing deeply as the drink cooled your body.

After exploring the field for a while, you had decided to give your legs a break, seating yourself down on the green cut grass close to where you had entered the field. Ozo joined you, saying it was the perfect time to break out the drinks. Jyushimatsu, however, said that he would go exploring, to 'add more bugs to his collection.'

He took off before you could reply, leaving the two of you behind.

"Will Jyushimatsu be alright?" You asked after a moment. Ozo hummed, taking a swig of his drink.

"Yeah. He does this all the time, so there's nothin' to worry about. Instead..." he shuffled closer to you, shoulders practically touching as he grinned down at you, "Why don't you and I have a little chat?"

"Chat? About what?"

"Anything, and everything! I wanna know more about you!"

You blinked, chuckling wearily. "You wanna know about me? I'm really not that interesting..."

"C'mon, sure you are!" He nudged you. "I already have something I wanna ask you, anyway."

"Oh?" You raised a brow. "And what is it?"

"Are you single?"

Your eyes widened, spluttering for words at the sudden question. You looked away from his wide eyes, nibbling at your lower lip. Why had such a simple question flustered you this much? It wasn't fair, the effect this man has on you.

"Uh... Y-Yeah, I am..." you answered after a moment. "But why would you wanna know that?"

"'Cuz it means that I can actually have a shot with you!"

You whipped your head back around, staring at him with cheeks ablaze.

"W-What are you talking about? A shot with me?? Why would you want that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ozo stared at you with a confused grimace. "I mean, look at you! You're so hot! Who wouldn't want you?!"

Your mouth was hanging open, unable to speak. Receiving such compliments, hearing such a confession... All things that you were a stranger to.

A strained silence passed before you sighed, averting your gaze to your lap.

"..Ozo, we've only just met. I doubt it's that quick to fall in love with someone, let alone me..."

'But weren't you feeling the same way only a few hours ago?'

"You put yourself down too much, [Y/N]." Ozo stated firmly. "I know what I'm saying, and I know that you're probably the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

You clutched your drink tighter in your hands, ignoring the prickling cold at your fingertips. A part of you knew that this was all moving way too fast for it to be possible. There was no such thing as 'love at first sight.' And yet... And yet, the other part of you wanted to give in so badly. You wanted to wrap your arms around him and say 'yes,' as if it were meant to be.

"...Can I... have some time to think about it?" It seemed to be the only rational thing to do.

Ozo, on the other hand, couldn't have been more thrilled to hear that. He was actually being considered, by you. He actually had a chance..! This was all too good to be true for him!

He smiled giddily as he leaned his shoulder against you, looking out into the sky, the sun lowering slowly, resting above the tips of the far away trees. His lips stretched wider as he felt you lean back onto him, hesitantly resting your head against his shoulder, allowing him to rest his cheek on the top of your head.

"Take as long as you need, sweetheart. I'll be here waiting' for ya'."

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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.

»»-----　♔　-----««

♔ | 𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

»»-----　♔　-----««

The taxi came to a slow and steady halt, the rumble of its engine dying down as the keys were removed.

"Here we go.." Ozo muttered to himself, removing his seatbelt. He quickly left the car, leaving you to start opening your own door until he opened it himself, extending a hand down to you with a grin.

"Allow me," his chivalrous act didn't fail to make you smile again. You slipped your hand into his, realising just how small yours were compared to his larger palms. He wrapped his fingers around yours firmly, tugging you up and out of your seat. You stumbled slightly as you stood, but Ozo was quick to wrap his other arm around your waist, pulling you against his broad chest so you wouldn't fall. Your eyes met, wide and flustered. There was a tense silence between you both for a split second before you nervously laughed, being the first to pull away.

"Uhm.. thank you.." you looked down at your shoes.

"It's nothing.." he rubbed the back of his neck, turning away and heading towards a nearby building. "The cafe's just over here."

You nodded silently, following along behind him, hands latching onto the strap of your bag. You walked up to an average sized building, the front of which was simply lined with small bushes and a set of chairs and tables for outside seating. Above the opened doorway was a wooden sign, white letters written across it spelling:

'Cafe New York'

"Has your brother been to New York before?" You asked as you walked through the door behind Ozo.

"Nope," he grinned. "The cafe's just named after Iriabi. It's a play on words." He looked back at your confused face before laughing. "Hey, you're a smart girl! You'll figure it out, easy!"

"You have too much confidence in me.." you shook your head with a smile. Stepping into the cafe, you were hit instantly with the smell of sweet coffee and sugared pastries. Your eyes were immediately drawn to the vast display case by the till, lined with cakes, cookies and other delicious delights that made your mouth water.

Ozo walked over to the front, leaning against it as he peered about the empty cafe.

"Oi! Takashi! Where are you?" He called. "Your favourite big brother's here to visit you!" You giggled as he looked back at you with a joking smile. You heard a muffled voice call from somewhere in the back, past a closed door.

"Wait a minute!" There was a set of footsteps approaching the door before it swung open, revealing a man similar looking to Ozo and his brothers, busy frowning down at something on his phone. His hair was shorter than Ozo's, though it was mostly covered by the black fedora he wore. He wore a pink V-neck T-shirt, a beige apron on top, with a brown beaded necklace on his neck and a similar bracelet hanging from his wrist.

He shut the door behind him, finally placing his phone down on the counter with a roll of his eyes before looking up. He ignored his brother, his eyes landing straight onto you as he gave you a cutely curved smile.

"Well, hello!" His voice was dripping with honey. "I don't think I've seen your face around here before!" He rested his chin on his hand, leaning forward.

"I just arrived here yesterday from the city!" you admitted, closing your eyes with a smile.

"Uh, hello!" Ozo glared at his brother. "I'm here, too!"

"I literally saw you yesterday. You're not important." Takashi flatly told him, not even sparing a look his way as a smile came back into his lips. You felt a stab of pain from the coldness of his words, watching as Ozo froze, mouth flailing open and closed as he clutched a hand over his heart.

"I'm Momose Takashi!" The man continued, holding a hand out to you. "What's your name?"

"..Uh, it's [L/N] [Y/N].." you stared slowly, shaking his hand (and taking note of how incredibly soft it was) before placing it back by your side. Then something clicked. "Wait.. Do you all have different second names?"

"Oh no.. You've met those idiots?" Toshio groaned, coming to terms that his opportunity to make a lady friend was promptly thrown out the window before he even got a chance.

"No, not all of you. I've met Chorosuke and Jyushimatsu, though." You clarified.

"What d'ya mean, 'those idiots?!'" Ozo suddenly cried.

"You know exactly what I mean, idiot," Takashi hissed, turning back to you. "As for the name thing... It's kinda complicated. You really don't wanna know."

You frowned slightly as the quick dismissal, but you also knew better than to pry, so you left it there. Instead, you gestured over to the display case.

"Did you make all these? They look amazing!" You praised. Takashi blushed, rubbing the back of his head, gladly taking all your kind words.

"Aha, yup! My dad taught me how to make all these!"

Ozo grinned devilishly, sidling up to your side as covering his mouth in a mock whisper, his voice still loud enough for Takashi to hear.

"He says that, but really, everything here is just from the sto-"

"WOULD YOU like to try some?" Takashi cut him off, slamming a box of assorted desserts onto the counter, his smile tense and shaky. "Since you're new here, I'll let you have these, on the house!"

"Really? Are you sure? I can pay for them!" Your hands flew to your bag, but Takashi stopped you.

"No, really! You can try as many as you'd like! I can't force myself to allow such a nice girl to pay for everything when she just got here," he winked. You blushed, thanking him kindly as he gestured for you to take a seat anywhere you'd like. "I'll make us some coffee while you get comfortable."

"What about me?!" Ozo's complaint went unheard as the back door slammed shut. He grumbled, dragging a chair out and plopping himself down beside you. Feeling bad for him, you turned the box towards him with a small smile.

"You can have some, too. I don't mind."

"[Y/N], you're the best!" He exclaimed, swiftly taking a frosted cupcake and taking a large bite, humming at the taste. You took a bite out of your own cupcake, eyes widening at the sweet taste of chocolate hitting your tongue.

"Wow, this is really good!" You spoke after swallowing a bite, licking your lips. Ozo agreed, sighing when he finished, licking the frosting off of his thumb. Looking over to him, you giggled, finding a touch of frosting on his cheek and around his mouth.

"Ozo, you got a little something here," you pointed to your own cheek, watching amusedly as he attempted to wipe it off, missing entirely.

"Did I get it?"

"No— here," you laughed, grabbing a tissue from the table and leaning forward, removing the frosting yourself. Focused on your task, you didn't realise how close you had gotten to his face until you looked up, finding yourself mere inches away from his lips. His face was tinted as red as your own, praying that you wouldn't be able to hear how fast his heart was pounding in his chest. His hands twitched, wanting to instinctively hold onto you, but he clenched them into fists on his lap instead.

"...I got it.." you breathed. A part of you didn't want to move away just yet, so you stayed there, close to him, revelling in the warmth he seemed to constantly give off. After a moment, Ozo's blown eyes relaxed back into their lazy look, finally bringing his hand up to your face.

"You've got some too, y'know.." his tone matching yours, breathless and hazy. He swiped his thumb over your bottom lip, the feeling sending a jolt of electricity up your spine, catching the bit of icing before bringing his thumb to his own mouth and licking it off. You stared, flushed and dizzy, unable to break away.

What was this? You had only just met, and you felt like your high-school self all over again. As if you were head-over-heels for him already, right? That would be ridiculous...

So why were you leaning in closer?

His breath fanned over your cheek, his hand resting itself on your waist, pulling you closer. You clutched tightly onto the front of his shirt, fluttering your eyes closed, the tingle of his lips just oh-so close to your own making you heat up considerably, and—

"I've got the coffee!"

You fell back into your seat with a jump, directing your body to face entirely away from the other two in the room. You were sure you looked akin to a tomato, and you hoped that Takashi hadn't just seen that..!

"Uh, are you two.. okay?" He asked after an awkward moment, observing your withdrawn form and Ozo's frigid look. His face was practically steaming. "Is it that hot in here? I guess I can turn the AC on.."

Takashi placed the coffee down on the table, and upon closer inspection of his brother, he paled. He struggled to contain his scream of despair as he suddenly latched a death-grip onto Ozo's arm, dragging him away.

"I-I'm sorry, [Y/N], but can you wait there a second? I need to have a little chat with my brother, haha.." he didn't wait for an answer, pulling a stuttering Ozo behind him and slamming the back door for the second time.

"What the fuck did you do?!" Takashi whispered hotly once they were out of earshot, his face morphed into horror and absolute anger. Ozo blinked, his mind still reeling after what had just happened.

"W-What? What happened? Nothing happened, why?" His voice was trembling, but he kept up the act. Takashi wasn't convinced though, ready to punch his brother in the guts.

"I'm seriously gonna kill you in a minute!" He grabbed Ozo's shoulder tightly. "If nothing's happened, then why the fuck have you popped a boner, you bastard?!"

»»-----　♔　-----««

♔ | 𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈

»»-----　♔　-----««

A dark hallway. Stretching far ahead of you, far behind you, the narrow walls beside you unmoving.

Nothing could be seen. Nothing could be heard.

Take a step forward, and the walls will follow you. There is no where to move, forever stuck in the same place.

A set of footsteps sound from behind. Or is it ahead? They grow closer and closer, louder and louder, echoing fervently in the hallway — or your mind.

Faintly, a light flickers before you. A single bulb, twitching dangerously. It's buzzing. A glimpse of a shadow amongst the shadows. Then silence.

You blink. The shadow is in front of you, now. Shorter than, staring up at you. Although, it's hard to tell what it is looking at when the face is obscured.

A little boy, you realise. Though, the innocence of such youth is lost to you, with your heart beating in your ears at a rapid, terrified pace.

He stares. And stares. And stares.

A gaping hole appears where his mouth should be. Distorted noises fill the tense silence, filling you with a deep sense of dread.

┊   •° ੈ ⋆°  ┊

You jolted up, gasping for air. Your hands come up to clutch at your night top, scrunching the fabric tightly between your fingers to give you something, anything, to hold on to.

What was that? Was that a dream? A nightmare? Whatever it was, it scared you. Really, really scared you.

You shakily got out of bed, wincing as rays of early morning sunshine hit your eyes. Moving to the bathroom, you went through the same process as yesterday; cooling your face with cold water, and taking deep breaths to calm down.

As you brushed your teeth, you hesitantly gave in to your curious thoughts and began wondering what the hell you had just dreamt about. You rarely had dreams anymore, and nightmares were something your childhood-self experienced for a short while.

So where did this come from?

You didn't feel afraid of anything until that... kid, or whatever it was, popped up in front of you. Nothing that had happened recently had left you scared or worried. So that couldn't be it.

Drying your face with a towel, you sighed. Your mind must be playing tricks on you, then. That seemed to be a reasonable explanation, didn't it?

Either way, you didn't want to think about it anymore. The whole sequence just made you feel sick and uneasy.

Heading back into the bedroom, a set of folded clothing was left on the dresser for you, a small handwritten note on top.

'Try this on! - Dayoko xo'

With a smile, you took the clothes and unfolded them. Dayoko had given you another dress, coloured a simple white with gold linings over the frills. It was off the shoulder, the straps of the dress wrapping over your upper arm, holding it firmly in place. The skirt of the dress stopped just over your knees, flowing beautifully around you with each move.

You stared wide-eyed at your reflection.

"..I should ask her where she gets her outfits.." you mumbled to yourself as you turned this way and that, checking how you looked. Your hair tickled over your exposed skin, making you realise that you should probably put on some sun-screen.

As soon as you were done, you made your way downstairs to the main room, finally able to remember your way through the halls. Glancing around, you found it a little odd how you hadn't heard or seen your hosts yet, but you didn't think too much of it. They were busy people, unlike yourself.

The main room was empty, save for the breakfast food spread out onto the table for you, a single plate in place. The doors were wide open once again, only Chorosuke wasn't there. Approaching the table, you saw another handwritten note left for you, the handwriting neater this time, almost as if it were printed.

'[Y/N], I have kado lessons I must teach to my students, and Dayoko is accompanying me, so we unfortunately cannot join you for breakfast this morning. We should be back in time for dinner, possibly an hour later if we are needed for anything else. Please, feel free to roam the Estate or the District of you would like. We wish you all the best. —Chorosuke'

"Awe, man..." you mumbled under your breath. Slight disappointment ran through you, but you willed it away. They had things to do, it's not their fault. Besides, you had made yourself a small handful of new friends you could easily talk with, so it's not like you couldn't do anything without them.

Placing the note aside, you peacefully ate your breakfast, seating yourself so that you could face the back garden. You sighed softly as a cool breeze entered the room, the tousle of tree leaves and the trickle of the pond water doing wonders to keep you relaxed.

You wished you could be here all the time. No continuous and loud noises, no murmurs of voices echoing around you, no yelling or screaming or constant background noise giving you headaches.

Just a quiet place. For you to escape whenever you pleased.

A knock on the front door brought you back to the real world. You hastily placed down your chopsticks and got up, stumbling slightly at the sudden head-rush, moving to open the door just enough to peek at who was behind it.

"Oh, hey, [Y/N]!"

You opened the door wider, standing tensely as your free hand clutched at your skirt tightly, body tingling with nerves.

"G-Good morning, Ozo!" You stuttered. Your fingers suddenly felt clammy, worsening as you watched him grow closer to you, resting an arm against the wooden beam of the door.

His lips, soft and warm, pressed against your heated cheek, similar to what you had done to him. Butterflies erupted in your stomach, your heart roaring at the sensation. Your own hitched breath brushed against the side of his neck, making him shudder.

"Mornin', doll," he murmured against your skin, slowly moving himself away. He broke out into a grin, eyes tracing over your intense blush, his own face adorning a cute honey glow.

"Just thought I'd pay you back from yesterday. Even though I think I should do more than that," he chuckled as you tensed up, "I'll leave it there. You look like you're about to explode."

Your words were stuck in your throat, unable to even whisper a word in reply. You watched in a daze as he reached up to his shirt collar, tugging on it in an attempt to fan himself. He glanced at you, humming in approval at your attire.

"Looking good, Princess," he winked. Peeking behind you, he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Chorofappyski isn't home, is he?"

"Uh.." you took a deep breath, moving aside. "N-No, he and Dayoko left earlier t-today, so it's just... m-me.."

"Sweet! I came at the right time, then!" He exclaimed gleefully. He stepped inside, haphazardly kicking his shoes off and making his own way in to the main room, smile widening at the sight of food. He looked back at you, beckoning you towards him.

"C'mon, let's eat! Can't let all this free food go to waste!"

He left you standing in the entrance, stunned. A realisation slowly dawned upon you, and when it had fully emerged, it left you extremely nervous and knees weak.

It was just you and Ozo. Alone together.

»»-----　♔　-----««

♔ | 𝐕𝐈

»»-----　♔　-----««

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!"

»»-----　♔　-----««