#I just finished reading Scattered Showers and quite frankly it changed me as a person

[cuteasamuntin]

My favorite thing about reading a @rainbowrowell book is how I have to lie down and be temporarily insane for a while afterward on account of all the Big Gotdamn Feelings I’ve got

[alreadyblondenow]

Angeled | Lee Taeyong (TEASER)

Mafia!Taeyong x Nurse!Reader  

▸ TOO MUCH FLUFF, TOO MUCH SMUT, TOO MUCH ANGST ▸ Strangers to lovers, Mafia au ▸ A fic out of nowhere by B

Summary: A young mafia boss turned his back to his old life when he experienced the calmness that peace brings when you came and saved his life on that stormy night. You and Lee Taeyong fell in love deeply without you knowing that you're sharing a bed with a dangerous man who is hated by many people. Little did he know, you are hiding a secret from him too. One that will break his heart in the future. 

Warnings: Smut on smut on smut. The reader has heart disease so if you are uncomfortable with it, please click away. Mentions of: bruises, wounds, blood, guns, hospitals, drugs, alcohol, blood money, murders, and medications. Unprotected sex, nipple play, handjob, rough sex and intimate sex, oral sex female and male receiving, Somnophilia (with consent of course), heavy and mature themes. serious character death. SMUT UNDER THE CUT!!!!! A/N: Pure fiction. Now that I already finished my back to back smut fic for Jaehyun, it’s time for me to write a back to back smut fic for my number one man. So if you loved Sweet, you’ll love this too. Read Sweet here! Also idk if ‘Angeled’ is a word HAHAHA

“Tae, are you okay?” You heard loud thumps from the bathroom while Taeyong is having a shower.

“I am, but can you help me? I slipped” he groaned loudly. He doesn’t sound fine so you made your way towards the bathroom and slightly opened the door.

“Are you hurt?” you asked.

“A bit and, I’m naked too. But I badly need help if that's fine” you entered your bathroom and saw him in the tub with the shower on.

“Of course it's fine” you said as you enter and turned the shower off, making your clothes wet and your nipples visible through the fabric. He hurt his back but nothing seems to be serious, you checked his forehead and the cut on the side of his eyebrow is kind of deep, and it's bleeding badly so you cleaned it immediately.

“I’m sorry, I’m not usually this weak” he admitted and let out a frustrated sigh.

“You got shot and stabbed two times, of course, you’re weak. And don’t worry, the cut on your eyebrow won't ruin your handsome face” you tried to cheer him up which is successful.

“You think I’m handsome?” he was teasing you but he’s blushing so much. You nod and helped him get up, trying not to look at his big cock, but too late. You already had a peek. “It’s alright to look, your nipples are exposed too and I’m sorry- I can’t stop myself from looking” You let out a nervous laugh before you leave him and let him finish his shower, you told him to be extra careful and you will wait for him outside the bathroom.

And while you’re preparing the stuff you need for Taeyong’s wounds, his warm hands startled you when you felt him touch you by the waist. You turned around and saw Taeyong with only a shower towel wrapped around his waist, looking so handsome and hot with his wet hair and great body. “Sit here,” you said and pat the edge of your bed.

First, you tended to his fresh bruise by his eyebrows, and you didn’t miss the way he looks at you. You pretend that you see nothing and continue doing your job but deep inside your heart is beating so fast that your hands are starting to shake. He let out a soft giggle when he saw your hand and caught your wrist, making you let go of the used cotton.

By this time, your heart is beating faster than earlier. But when he kissed your cold palm, in a matter of seconds a warm feeling scattered around your body and it brought you great calm. “Don’t be nervous. It’s just me” he says and made your hand rest on his shoulder while he boldly proceeds to unbutton your soaked dress shirt. He was quiet for a few seconds and reached for your hand again only to kiss it and ask for your permission.

“Can I?” he was talking about removing your shorts and exposing more of yourself to him. You’re not stupid, you know exactly what will happen if you say yes. And quite frankly, you wanted it to happen as much as he does. So you nod calmly and watch him remove your thin shorts.

His hand moved immediately from below your knee, all the way to your waist, and give your ass a gentle squeeze. It was not too long before he finally continued and remove your panties, letting it fall on your ankles. And lastly, your dress shirt, which swiftly falls down from your arms and made you fully exposed to him.

“Tell me if you want me to stop and I’ll stop” he says when he pulls you closer to him without any warning and made you sit on his lap. His kisses on your body were tickling you, but there is a slight hint of roughness already because you feel his teeth brushing on your skin and his grip on your body becomes tighter. He pushed you on the mattress and grab hold of both of your legs, spreading them to his likeness and massaging your wet slit with his right hand. Lips locking finally, bodies to bodies, and slowly with all his strength he’s finally on top of you, comfortable in between your legs. Grinding his semi-hard cock on your wet slit while his hands roam freely around your body.

You exchange moans and catch each other’s breath with every kiss, stopping both of your worlds when he finally lined his cock on your hole and push in slowly, only to pull out and thrust a little bit harder this time. Taeyong did not hesitate to be rough and showed you how he usually fuck. "Tell me how it feels, hmm? Tell me” he commands with a hoarse voice as he rolls his hips deliciously, sharp, and deep, making you both moan so good.

“Good- ah!” He went a little bit faster while he pins both of your legs on the mattress and kisses your neck. “Fuck Taeyong what do you want me to say” you moan out, clawing his back but careful enough not to touch his bruises because you know his whole body still hurts right now. But he doesn’t care because this has been the best sex he had in a long time.

“Does this hurt?” He gave you a sharp piercing thrust that dragged your body near your headboard, his thrust was so rough that you needed to grab hold of your board instead of his body. It’s like he hasn’t had sex for years and now he’s pouring everything to you, and it hurts so good.

In no time, you started to clench and unclench around his cock. He was busy sucking your boobs and kneading them when he felt it and it made him crazy. “Pill?” he asked quickly, you can only nod and let go of your headboard and hug him again. You wanted to feel his body shiver and hear him moan closely while he cums, little did you know he wanted the same thing too. So he tightens his embrace and kissed you while he holds you by the waist tightly for he’s about to shoot his cum.

He groaned near your ear while giving you sharp thrusts and fucking you through your orgasm. Sucking and biting your right nipple as he shivers on top of you and continues to shoot his cum inside you while moaning, “Oh- ohhh” over and over again.

“Tae. I need uhm- I need you to get off, uhhh. I need water. I’ll be quick-“ you croak. Completely out of breath but you have to keep breathing.

“Y-yeah sure,” you pushed him to the mattress and off of you, quickly you made your way to the kitchen with heavy breaths. Reaching for your medication and drinking it in secret while waiting for its effect before you go back. That was close, you thought. He can’t know that you have heart disease.

With weak legs and a pale face, you went back to your bedroom, but Taeyong came out of nowhere and scoop you off the ground, and carried you bridal style back to your room. Which reminds you... he’s married.

He was all smiles and giggles with a soft cock as he puts you down the mattress and started kissing your body again. “I’m a terrible person” you said and turned your back from him, covering your face with your arm and trying your breathing exercises without him knowing.

“What? No- you’re literally an angel. Because of you, I’m still alive” he protests, making you face him and intertwine his fingers with yours. “What’s wrong?” he kisses your hands. Again. Something that makes your heart soft in an instant.

“You’re married. I found this in your pocket the night you... well, you literally fell into my arms” you reached for your drawer and showed him the thick and gold ring. Both of you stared at its beauty before you hand it to him.

“Well, I hate to break it to you but it’s not a wedding ring” he snorted and kissed your chest, trying to put you in the mood again. “Keep that ring, that’s important” he added and helped you put the ring back to the drawer.

Now that you're that he's not married and you're not fucking someone else's husband, you showered him with deep and lustful kisses. Tongue sucking and lip biting lustful kisses that made you both horny. “Okay, okay. I believe you, but I can’t go again” you said, slightly pushing him away with your hand on his chest. Thankfully he respects what you want and covers your body with your thick duvet.

“Can I at least keep you close?” He asks with a hopeful tone.

“You can,” you said with a smile that changed the mood and you invited him under the covers. His skin is cold, rough in some parts because of all the scars and bruises, but his whole being is beautiful. Oh you wanted to ask him why does he have a lot of scars, but you would rather not.  

“By the way, are you okay? Was I too rough and that’s the reason why you can’t go again?” He asks with a soft tone while his fingers dance around your skin and go wherever it pleases.

The thing is, you’re not a liar but you can’t tell him about your condition. Maybe someday, but for now, you believe that he will see you as a weak person if he knew the truth. And you don’t want that to happen. So you don’t have a choice but to lie. “Yes, you roughed me up. Why though? Were you stressed?”

“I’m sorry, it won't happen again- I got carried away,” he said sincerely.

“No, it's fine. I needed it too, and it felt good” you pulled him closer and cup his cheek, “you were great” you said shyly, avoiding his eyes because you just said he fucked you good. He let out a laugh and wrapped both of his arms around you, trying to hide his blush and his big smile.

What happened between you and Taeyong on this beautiful afternoon is a clear explanation that you like each other. And if love grows between you two, Taeyong will not hesitate to embrace this second life. Although he is not worthy of a peaceful and quiet life, he knew that well, but when it comes to you he can’t help but be selfish.

[whynotwinnie]

Wounded: a Kylo Ren x OC part 3

VENUS

"X2, can you please watch over the supreme leader, and if there are any irregularities in his heartbeat or oxygen levels come get me."

X2 beeped a yes and you left the operation room with General Hux

"What were you thinking, out of everyone on the field you had to choose Ren to help," he said

"I almost didn't help him but he was going to die I couldn't just leave him out there. And keep your thoughts down he can hear them," you said glancing back into the operation room's window the IV finally worked and he was sedated but you weren't sure what the extent of his powers was.

"He read your mind right?" he said smirking slightly "I know I've worked with him all this time he's been in my mind many times." He touched your coat stained with blood "Is this yours?"

Your hand shot up to your head forgetting about your gash on your head. It wasn't bleeding but the wound wasn't closed.

"I guess it is it will be healed soon."

"You fixed Ren up?"

Oh yeah, the supreme leader almost bled to death in your infirmary.

"Yeah, a blaster shot wound in the abdomen causing internal bleeding, broken ribs that should be mending currently and a really bad concussion."

"Ren doesn't get shot," he said matter of factly

"I don't know who shot him Artimedge I just do my job."

"Alright, no need to catch an attitude Venus I'm just saying something definitely went wrong."

"Well yeah a lot of things went wrong doesn't mean i-"

And then you saw them, six huge masked men dressed in all black. You heard stories of them of what they and the supreme leader do. Your stomach turned as they headed straight to you. You grabbed Artimedge's arm and he pushed you behind him making him some sort of human shield.

"Where is Master Ren girl?" one said to you

"He's resting right now." You surprised yourself your voice came out even and calm even though on the inside you felt like you could cry

"Why didn't you inform anyone that he was taken here." The one speaking broke from the group and approached you. Artimedge didn't move an inch as you were still behind him.

"For the safety of the supreme leader and myself I didn't put his name on the record because if I would they would've came and finished the job. The supreme leader was severely hurt and I'm afraid if I wasn't there he wouldn't be her-"

The knight grabbed your arm and dragged you out from behind Artimedge and pulled you to the operation room and shoved you against the wall. The rest of the knights and Artimedge followed you in the room. X2 beeped wildly.

"Where did you find Master Ren?" he said

"In a trench near the enemy base." now you were definitely crying.

The knight grabbed your jaw and moved it so you were facing to your right he examined your gash and then turned you the opposite direction and then he let go of you. You stared into his mask he turned and looked at the supreme leader as if he spoke to him and then finally spoke after what seemed forever.

"You are the only one that can work Master Ren no one else, there will be two of us at the door at all times you are not to leave this room until Master Ren is healthy, no one in or out." the knight said.

You finally let go of the breath you were holding you lived to see another day.

"You have thirty minutes to get your belongings and to be back here." you stared at him not knowing if you could move or if he was just going to change his mind and kill you.

Artimedge pulled you out of the room and started to drag you to your quarters.

"Venus are you okay? Please say something you look terrible."

"That's not very nice," you muttered

He sighed "You should've just left Ren on the battlefield."

"Please don't reprimand me for doing my job Artimedge. Why are you saying all this stuff wishing the Supreme Leader was dead, aren't you on the same side."

"Ren gets distracted with his own personal matters and frankly it's giving the First Order a bad rep making us look like fools compared to the Rebels."

You finally got to your quarters. Artimedge sat you down on your bed and started packing your clothes. You were thankful that he was there because you were still traumatized by your experience with the Knights of Ren.

You stood up and started helping him "Do you know that knights name?"

"Vircrul, he's sort of the next in command after Ren of course."

You were shaking as you were folding your clothes, Artimedge took the piece of clothing from you and folded it himself and grabbed your hands.

"It's going to be okay Venus, Ren will be fine in a week and then you never have to see him after that or the knights."

You shooked your head, Artimedge was always right in a week you could just go to your normal life. You looked down at your hands still holding on to Artimedge's you didn't want to go back and he knew it. He let go of your hands and grabbed your bag.

"I wouldn't be late Venus." you took a shaky breath and followed him back to the infirmary. Right before you got into the infirmary he handed you your bag and grabbed your face with both hands you both stared at each other until you hugged him he wrapped his arms around you and you both stayed there for a while until you heard footsteps coming from down the hall you let go and gave him a small smile and then you walked into infirmary.

Once you stepped into the operation room you were stopped by one of the other knights. He grabbed the bag that you brought and dumped everything out on the floor.

Are you kidding me?  You had to bite down on your tongue.

"He's just making sure that you didn't bring anything to harm Master Ren," Vircrul said suddenly he was nonviolent with you.

If I wanted to kill him don't you think I would've just left him on the battlefield to die. Or killed him when we were alone?

You gave him no response you just started picking up your clothes that were now scattered all across the floor.

"The kitchen is going to send both of your meals here. Three times a day your droid is allowed to assist you." Two of the knights came in holding a recliner chair. "As far as beds go that's the best the infirmary could provide."

You shook your head in confirmation. Of course, after the battle, all the cots were being used you were glad they provided you with the recliner.

Once they left the room X2 came straight to you and you knelled hugging his metal body. X2 was the only familiar thing to you on The Finalizer he always knew how you were feeling and what to do. You were just so worn out from the events of the day, you looked at the supreme leader's body still unconscious before deciding that you were going to take a shower in the small refresher in the operating room.

"X2 please keep an eye out and get me if anything happens, it just going to be a quick shower."

You stepped in the refresher that had a small toilet and a small walk-in shower and quickly undressed knowing your luck he would wake up while you were in the shower you. Once you were finished you checked your head again the gash was now closed but it was still sore. Changing quickly into nightclothes a pair of black loose-fitting pants and a black tank top you were able to see bruises where Vicrul grabbed you. X2 beeped at the entrance of the refresher

His heart rate is rising he is going to wake soon.

You shooked your head and tied your hair up and left and he was in fact moving around the table not quite awake yet. He jerked and woke himself up and you grabbed his shoulders.

"Supreme leader my name is Venus and I am your healer I'm not sure if you remember but you had a blaster shot woun-"

"I remember."

"Are you in any pain or discomfort?"

He didn't speak.

"Are you hungry they are going to bring dinner soon I believe."

"What's the time?"

"It is currently 7:51."

He started to sit up despite his wound on his stomach.

"Supreme leader you can't go anywhere until you are healthy again the Bacta shot is going to help speed up the process but ultimately you just need time."

He ignored you.

"Your knights said you are to stay here until you're ready."

"I am their Master not the other way around nurse so if you can just shut up that would be wonderful."

You stopped talking immediately and watched him rise wincing as the bandages started spotting with blood. He was almost off the table when Vicrul walked in with someone from the kitchen staff holding with two trays.

"What are you doing girl I told you he is to stay here and rest. Why is he trying to get up?"

"I told him he didn't allow me to-"

"Shut up girl that's all I need to know about you of course you couldn't do the one simple task I asked of you."

Crying for the second time today you looked at the supreme leader and he was staring right back at you. What do you want from me? you thought knowing he could hear. A silent plea hoping he could save you from his knight that was yelling at you.

"You worthless girl you shouldn't even be a healer you are irresponsible and frankly not skilled enough I am going to see it immediately that you are terminated and kicked off at the next planet we stop at."

That was the end of the line for you as much as you hated conflict and yelling you knew your worth as a healer and you knew that you are the best at what you do the best on the Finalizer and probably in the galaxy.

"If I was so irresponsible and incompetent would I have saved the Supreme Leader? Who else do you know that could've done that or would have been willing to do it as I have? Where were you and your stupid knights to protect him? Isn't that your job?."

The knight took a step back so he was not so close and looked back at the Supreme Leader you looked at the Supreme Leader and he nodded but not to you, to the knight that was just yelling at you. With that Vicrul turned back to you and cocked his head to the side as if something was wrong with you and then turned and left.

With that, the Supreme Leader laid back down. There were tears still coming out of your eyes still very confused to what has happened. X2 beeped grabbing your attention.

"Are you done crying because I'm not sure if you noticed but I am now bleeding."

You looked at him and wiped your eyes, grabbing a pair of scissors you cut the bandages that were now bloody not talking to him while you replaced them with clean ones. Once you was done you heard his stomach grumble and that amused me somehow because someone as powerful as the Supreme Leader still needs to eat.

You stared at the plate brought to you before Vicrul  started yelling and then you stared at the Supreme Leader.

"Do you want to see what they brought you for dinner? Or are you okay."

No response.

That shit was going to get real old real quick

You walked over to the metal tray you noticed it was 2 different meals, one that the infirmary calls soft diet for people who are injured semi-badly and they cant handle anything heavy so the vegetable and lentil soup that came with a roll was his. The other seemed like a feast compared to his a bowl of white rice with some type of chicken curry on another plate some flat circle bread and even something chocolatey for dessert.

You grabbed his bowl of soup and walked towards him he was staring at the ceiling

"Did you want it? Its vegetable soup."

He wrinkled his nose in disgust and you had to smile a little. The Supreme Leader didn't like vegetables.

"There is something else if you want it?"

You turned and grabbed the other plate and pulled a small table to the Supreme Leaders side, You put the food on the table and slowly started to incline the hospital bed the supreme leader he wasn't sitting all the way up but he definitely wasn't laying down either.

You grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and put it next to his bed and sat on it.

"May I assist you with your meal?" You asked softly

He shook his head, yes and you exhaled.

Finally, he's working with me.

"Its just food don't be so dramatic," he said

"Well I was just trying to save your life and I almost got killed twice so maybe I will be a little dramatic."

You put some of the curry chicken on the rice and mixed it up it was surprisingly hot still considering it stayed out when you were getting yelled at and when you were bandaging the supreme leader. You blew on the food before putting it to his mouth and he was just staring at you. His eyes were filled with disbelief and you were just confused.

"Are you okay?" You asked body still stretched out towards him one hand holding the spoon and one hand cupped under the spoon just in case some fell

He responded by eating the food.

[chan-yolo]

Artificial love: part 2

A/N So I have finally gotten round to part 2 of this scenario. It was requested so long ago, I am such a bad person i’m so sorry!!! I said before but, I finished my first year of University this year so that was an experience, also i just got out of quite a serious relationship so I’ve been a mess for a while. 

But hopefully I’m back and can get some more scenarios out there. 

Anyways, I hope you guys like this, I have tried my best to do part 1 justice, this turned out longer than I expected, but I hope it’s okay- Shay xoxo

Genre: Angst/ Fluff

Pairing: Oh Sehun/ Reader

Requested: Yes

Part 1    I’d advise reading part one to get the gist of what happened to get to this point, but you don’t really have to if you don’t wanna.

The ceiling fan above you circled around and around, creating a blur. Almost representative of your life. You were only a blur next to Sehun. A mere smudge next to the vibrant colour of life he is. You could hear the muffled sound of the shower running. Your brow creased in confusion, it was unlike him to stick around. You sat up, looking around at the different items of clothing scattered across your carpet, the clothes from last night. You felt sick to your stomach, sick because you still let him do this. But simultaneously numb, it didn’t mean anything to him, so it shouldn’t to you.

You sighed, looking at yourself in the mirror that sat on your table adjacent to the bed, the smeared mascara and eyeliner under your eyes, the smudged lipstick, your hair ruffled, the purple marks making their way from your neck, past your collar bone and on your breast. You looked a mess. You looked wrecked. You looked like you’d been recently fucked, that thought made you chuckle a little to yourself, not at the truth of it, but more of the irony, to think once you thought that’s what making love was.

You swung your legs over the side of the bed. you put on some new panties, and a big t-shirt Sehun had left there once, and never came back to retrieve. you rid your face of the mess made by last nights sin, and made your way to the kitchen in search of some coffee. You leaned against your kitchen counter, looking in your mug, trying to answer so many questions in your head.

Why hasn’t he left yet?

Why didn’t he leave last night?

Did he actually care for you?

Were you a toy?

Was Jongdae okay? was he thinking about you right now? 

You shook your head at the last one, getting rid of the thought as soon as it came. You couldn’t think like that, you weren’t aloud to think like that. 

There was silence as the shower had stopped running. But that was soon interrupted by footsteps. He was probably getting ready to leave. Shortly you saw him walk past the kitchen and into the living room, dressed in his suit from the night before. You followed his movements, seeing him turn, look down at his phone, before heading to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway and your eyes never left his face.

He looked up at you, his brown eyes looking you up and down, his lips turned into a smirk. 

“Did you make any for me?” He questioned, his eyes looking into your own.

“I gathered you’d leave so I didn’t bother.” Your voice was somewhat challenging, and that surprised him, you could tell by how his eyes changed from intense to confused. You smirked inwardly at yourself, proud of your comment. 

You watched as Sehun walked towards you, standing next to you at the table, pouring his own coffee. You refused to move, or more like you couldn’t. You’d never been this bold and now you didn’t know where to go after this. Do you apologise? Or do you stand your ground?

“I hope you learnt your lesson last night.” Sehun was back to his normal self, leaning against the kitchen island in front of you, his smirk back on his face.

“I didn’t think there was a lesson to be learnt.” Apparently you were going for the latter, your brain choosing to battle with Sehun. A look past his face, one of annoyance, but also of slight confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“I did nothing wrong last night Sehun.”

“You know what you did. Who knows what would’ve happened if I didn’t take you back.” 

“Maybe I would’ve taken up Chen’s offer to treat me right, god knows I deserve it.” You placed your cup down, crossing your arms over your chest. Your eyes matching Sehun’s icy ones. You’d hit a nerve, you wanted a reaction, and you sure as hell wasn’t going to stop now. 

“You are treated right! I treat you like a princess! And since when have you called him Chen?” Sehun placed his cup down also, standing up straight. He was angry. But angry at what? That his possession was fighting back?

“Since he so politely asked me to call him Chen, I kinda like how it sounds.” You smirked at him. A new side of you was coming out, the old you had come back, and you were loving every part of it.

“You have no right to be saying his name like that, I am the only one you should concern yourself with. I look after you Y/N, I treat you well, He was wrong, i’m the only who can treat you right!”

 Sehun was in front of you, his face so close you could smell the coffee on his breath. But you weren’t backing down. Not now. You squared up to him, getting close enough that your chests touched.

“I can call anyone whatever I want to Oh Sehun! And since when have you really taken care of me, like really? Yes you give me gifts, this apartment, we go to your stupid little parties, where you parade me around in little dresses, But how is any of that for me? There is no love in your actions Sehun, it’s all just a rouse to try and make me stay. To make you look better. We don’t do couple things. You pick me up, show me off, fuck me, then leave! That is not love, that is playing a game, I am a toy to you.

And to think I loved you, I was so in love with you, I did everything for you. Everything you liked, under the false pretence that you loved me back. But your words meant nothing, they mean nothing. Your love is just artificial. Jongdae was right, I do deserve better.”

You walked right past Sehun, opting to hide in your bedroom, not wanting to wait to hear what he had to say. But before you could leave the room he had gripped your arm spinning you around to look at him. You couldn’t read the expression on his face, this was all so unfamiliar to the both of you. A first in this strange relationship you have.

“You don’t get it do you?” Sehun whispered, confusing you even more.

“There’s nothing to get Sehun, i’m done being your toy.” Before you could shake out of his grip, his other hand came up to grip your other arm. He dipped his head down to make sure you were looking at him before he spoke.

“You really don’t see it... no one does.” The tall boy in front of you tilted his head up, letting out a heavy sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. Even though you were free from his grasp, you didn’t move. Intrigued by what he would say next.

“you’re not a toy Y/N, I’ve never seen you as one, never wanted to treat you as if you were one. When I first met you I was enchanted. I liked you, it was genuine. the things I gave you were never to just merely keep you interested, they were to show some sort of affection, I wanted to show I care, but I’ve never known how to, and when things got too real, I started to feel something for you I’ve never felt for anyone ever before, so I did the only thing I know how to do, and that’s just be who I am, who people think I am.” Sehun looked at you with sadness in his eyes. You opened your mouth to say something, but he beat you to it.

“Ever since people had known me they thought I was this cold person, someone who never cared about anyone but himself, they didn’t know anything about me, yet I got labelled all because I stayed in my office and did my work instead of socialising, I grew up to match the persona of my father, and eventually I accepted that, I lost who I was when I was younger. But then I met you.” Sehun looked you in the eyes, you were unable to move, he had never told you anything about himself before, about how he felt, and now he was opening up to you, and quite frankly you didn’t know what to do.

“I met you, and you reminded me of what I was like when I was nineteen. Passionate, strong, able to love. I see now that I took that away from you and I am sorry Y/N I am so sorry. I was so scared of loving you I took what made you special away and turned you into another one of those girls who I have thrown away. I want to love you, I think I already do, and seeing guys so close to you, seeing Chen so close to you, kills me inside because I want to be the only man you see.” Sehun took your face in his hands, sniffling as he rested his forehead on yours.

“Please don’t leave me for Jongdae, please don’t leave.” Sehun pleaded closing his eyes tight, as if he was scared of your answer.

“I won’t leave you... but I don’t think I can carry on like this.” You whispered looking down.

“W...what do you mean?”

“I mean that I will still stay by your side, but not like I am now, guys come up to me because they rather think I am single, or they think that I really am a toy to you, and i’ll easily cheat and you won’t care. If you like me, and you mean it you’ll change how you treat me, we’ll be a normal couple and start from the beginning.”

“I can do that...”

“You need to give me my stuff back from your place, and you need to take yours from mine. We can’t be sleeping together until we establish what we are. If you need me to go to any events with you I will, but I want to date like a normal couple. I don’t want to let you go, so we really need to try and make this work.”

Sehun exhaled loudly, looking at you, hope in his eyes. He leans in pressing a light kiss to you forehead, something you haven’t experienced with him for a long time, not since the first few months of you seeing each other.

“I’ll get someone to drop off your stuff, and pick up what you have of mine. You have my number, so whenever you’re ready to try this, just give me a call.” Sehun coughed pulling away from you. As he walked to your door, you watched his back, his shoulders slightly slumped, and it was then you knew you couldn’t let him leave, at least not like this, not right now. You wanted it to be on good terms.

You quickly walked up to him, just before he opened the door you called his name quietly. “Sehun....” He turned around towering over your small form, a questioning look on his face. “Stay with me today, just this once, before we have to start all over again.”

“But you said...”

“I know, please just this once, we’ll just talk, we need to talk more, but I think we need this moment.” He nodded, letting you take his hand and lead him to your room. You sat on the bed and waited while Sehun changed into some other clothes. He’d never really cared about it before, but now was different. When he came back into the room he sat next to you on the bed, looking you in the eyes. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his hand coming to cup your cheek. 

“I’m sorry.” He whispered out after a while. “I’m sorry I made you feel like this.” Your hand came up to rest over his as you looked at him, really looked at him. You saw something you’d never seen before, the look of emotions he’d never let you see before. The worry, the scared look he held, the apprehension. But most importantly you saw the love, the one emotion he was hiding from you. It was then that you knew you could make this work.

“I know Sehun, I know, we’ll be okay, it’ll just take time.” You smiled weakly at him. You stared at each other in silence. 

“Is it okay if I kiss you? Just this once.” Sehun looked at you hopefully, and you had to think for a minute, was this okay? Despite your hesitation you nodded. He leaned in slowly, looking you in the eyes as if to double check that this was truly okay. His eyes fluttered down to your lips, hesitating as he leaned in. His lips ghosted over yours. Your breath caught in your throat,as you watched him. This is the mos gentle he had every been with you, his hand rested on the nape of your neck, gently playing with your hair. You closed your eyes as his lips pressed against yours gently. The butterflies in your stomach erupting, the familiar feeling you thought you’d lost coming back even stronger than before. 

As you sat and kissed Sehun sweetly, almost cautiously, you knew things were going to be okay. You would help Sehun become who he really is, and you’d love him just like you always wanted to, knowing he could love you back.

In time something so dirty will become pure. The artificial love you once had will be real, like it was always meant to be.

[shuturquibble]

Finding You Chapter 1: receiving

Fandom: Hibike! Euphonium/Sound! Euphonium Pairings: Kumiko/Reina; Natsuki/Yuuko; implied Asuka/Kaori/Haruka; Nozomi/Mizore; Hazuki/Shuuichi Summary:  Two years have passed since Reina left after their second-year. Two years have passed and Kumiko is now a freshman in college. Two years have passed and she receives a letter from Reina. Two years have passed but something Kumiko thought she lost is making its way to her. Words: 3.8k+ Links: FF link is here! AO3 is here!

hi friends. another kumirei story, but this time, it's multi-chap! and i actually finished! it's a miracle! i actually completed the story a while back, and intended to post it as a big oneshot, but i thought it would be better to post in chapters. the main story is roughly four chapters long, and i'm considering about creating an extra chapter. this has been, to say the least, a very personal project of mine in more ways than one. all the relationships portrayed in this story isn't necessarily what i ship, but they all serve a purpose in telling the story. i hope that you guys enjoy. 

i also recc reading it on AO3 because the formatting of the story is much easier there.

Kumiko never got much in the mail.

 Well, no, that wasn’t entirely true. Kumiko did get mail (she wasn’t that much of a recluse), but mail, more often than not, disappointed her. Whenever she went down to her PO box as part of her morning routine, her mailbox would hold bills, bills, the newspaper if it was Sunday, a sheet of coupons if she was lucky, and even more bills. Checking her mail was always a dreary start to her day (although, Kumiko had to admit, she did get giddy whenever she saw the coupons because who wouldn’t want a buy-one-get-one-free meal?), and it was certainly not one of the most eventful aspects of her life.

 If anything, checking the mail reminded her of the struggles of young adulthood, and that never failed to get Kumiko down.

  Kumiko stifled a yawn as she trudged down the stairs of her apartment complex, clad in her pajamas and rabbit slippers. She tasted the inside of her mouth, scrunching her nose at the rancid flavor; maybe she should have brushed her teeth before going down.

 But then again, no one would be down except for the landlady on a Saturday morning.

 Kumiko grunted as she pushed through the stairwell entrance, the door creaking with protest. The smell of lemon-scented cleaner and sunlight greeted her. She squinted as the door slammed shut behind her, trying to get used to the sudden change of scenery.

 “Kumiko-chan?”

 An elderly woman poked her head out the counter that overlooked the entire lobby (which wasn’t much in the first place). The chains of her glasses rattled, and the sound made Kumiko smile.

 “Mornin’, Gram,” Kumiko greeted.

 The wrinkles on Gram’s face made way for a smile. “Aren’t you on break for college? Why are you up so early?”

 Kumiko gave a one-shouldered shrug as she shuffled her way over to the PO lockers next to the counter. “It’s a habit now, I guess,” she said, fishing for her keys in her pajama pocket.

 Gram chuckled. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re here so early. Here”—Kumiko looked back at Gram and saw that she was holding out Tupperware full of food—”for you.”

 “Thanks,” Kumiko said with a crooked smile as she took it.

 It was still warm.

 “You take care of yourself, hm?” Gram said.

 “I will.”

 Gram’s laughter filled the air as her head disappeared from view. Kumiko’s smile, on the other hand, stayed where it was, even when she struggled to open her mailbox.

 Kumiko never knew her grandparents, maternal and paternal. Gram was the closest thing she ever had to one, and, quite frankly, Kumiko loved her with all her heart. Though their conversations were mostly short-lived, Kumiko always felt at-ease whenever she was around Gram.

 “Oh crap.” Kumiko watched as her mailbox vomited its contents on the floor, envelopes and sheets of coupons scattering everywhere. She sighed and rested her food inside her locker, bending down to scoop her mail in a haphazard pile she tucked under her armpit.

 As she stood up to take the Tupperware and shut the locker, she noticed her food rested on a lilac-colored envelope.

 Kumiko’s heart lurched in her chest.

 The color purple made her uneasy because it reminded her of high school.

 And high school reminded Kumiko of her.

 A chill went down Kumiko’s spine as she gathered her food and the envelope. Sparing the front of it a quick glance, she noticed that there was no return address, and the only thing decorating the envelope was her name and PO box address in flawless cursive.

 Kumiko couldn’t deny how clammy her hands were getting as she tucked the letter with the rest of the mail. She had to wipe them on her pajamas when she stuffed her mailbox keys into her pocket.

  You’re stupid for getting antsy over a letter, a part of her jeered. It’s words on paper. It’s like the other things that you get in the mail. What’s so special about this one? The possibility that it might be from her?

 Kumiko didn’t know the answer to her own question as she flung the door open.

 -X-

 The heat her living room was suffocating.

 Even with the miniature fan blowing at her face on full blast, Kumiko felt sweat rolling down the back of her neck. It was almost eleven now, and on a normal day, Kumiko would have been in the bathroom enjoying a blood-chilling shower.

 Instead, she was staring at the purple envelope like an idiot.

 Kumiko didn’t know what she was expecting. It’s an envelope, said Logic, and it’s going to sit there like all the other envelopes beside you. It isn’t going to grow a mouth and start screeching at you.

 She took a breath and decided to listen to Logic for once. With a gentle hand, she grabbed the envelope and swept a finger under the flap to break the seal. She took the letter out of its purple case gingerly, and unfolded it as if it were text from a time long forgotten.

  Kumiko,

  You probably won’t be expecting this letter. But, knowing you, you probably don’t receive many letters in the first place (and no, bills don’t count).

  I would start out by saying that it’s been a long time, but that’s something that the both of us know. There’s no need to be redundant when it comes to correspondence; there’s only so much space on a piece of paper.

  I’m writing to you now because I want you to know that I’m back from my time abroad so that I can finish my studies here. You would think that homesickness would go away after two years of being in a foreign country, but there was always something pulling me back here.

  You can find my mailing address below.

  Reina.

 Kumiko’s lungs froze once she reached the end of the letter.

 She had a gut feeling that this letter was from her.

 She knew it

 She expected it.

 She anticipated it.

 Why couldn't she believe it?

 Kumiko found herself scanning the letter over and over again. Each time she did, the stitches she sutured on her heart began to snap with every word. She had to put the letter down, lest her wounds reopened.

 She sunk into her couch and sighed.

 She mused that if Reina had sent this letter a year earlier, Past Kumiko would have been over the moon sobbing her eyes off with snot dribbling down her nose. She would have been so happy, touched, and relieved.

 Present Kumiko’s, on the other hand, didn’t know what to feel. She didn’t know if she was happy, touched, or relieved. Hell, she didn’t even know if she felt anything positive toward this turn of events.

  She honestly has the audacity to send you a letter after all this time? It’s been nearly two years, Anger fumed.

  But why a letter of all things? Confusion asked.

  At you least know she’s doing well, Optimism whispered. It could be a chance to find some answers….

 Frustrated at her thoughts, Kumiko got up from her coach with a sigh.

  Maybe a cold shower would cool you down, Logic suggested.

 For the second time, Kumiko agreed with Logic and shuffled to the bathroom.

 -X-

  Call Transcript

  Asuka Tanaka → Kumiko Oumae

  12:33 PM

  AT: Hello? Oumae-chan?

  KO: [voice sounds far away] Guh—ah! [rustling is heard, and her voice is clearer] Hi, I’m here.

  AT: Did I startle you? [laughs]

  KO: More like scared the living shit out of me because my phone rang on full-blast right next to my ear. Think my soul’s on the floor with the rest of my stuff.

  AT: Well, that’s not good. Sorry about that.

  KO: [scoffs] No you’re not.

  AT: It’s the thought that counts.

  KO: So…why’d you call?

  AT: What do you mean why did I call? It’s time for our monthly talk, Oumae-chan!

  KO: That time already?

  AT: Indeed! Shall I start?

  KO: If you want. [rustling is heard once again, and her speech sounds muffled] Crap, the pen’s under the desk...

  AT: Mm…what haven’t I told you yet?

  KO: [muffled] A lot.

  AT: [with light sarcasm] How specific.

  KO: Well…has school ended for you, yet?

  AT: While ago. About…two weeks ago, I think?

  KO: [still muffled] Really? Same here.

  AT: But Kaori’s on her last week this week. Since her university started late and all.

  KO: [rustling] That kind of—[a loud bang is heard] OW, FUCK!

  AT: [laughs raucously] A-are you—[sharp inhale]—o-okay?

  KO: [groans] Never better. [rustling once more, and then her voice is clearer] Glad to see you haven’t changed since the last time we’ve spoke.

  AT: Why would I ever?

  KO: Good point. Are you still working on majoring in music?

  AT: [in English] Of course!

  KO: You’re doing…instrumental performance, right?

  AT: Indeed! Although, I did consider instrumental conducting.

  KO: You?

  AT: Hm? What’s with that tone?

  KO: Well, it’s just surprising, you know. Seeing you lead a band isn’t really the first thing that comes to mind.

  AT: Why’s that? In case you’ve forgotten, I was drum major during your first year.

  KO: Well, I don’t know. I think it’s because whenever I think of band director, I think of Taki-sensei, you know? Someone serious, full of tough love and secrets, but always has good intentions, you know?

  AT: [chuckles]

  KO: W-what?

  AT: It’s funny how you remember a lot about high school.

  KO: Is that…bad?

  AT: No, not at all. It means you’re observant. [chuckles] I don’t even remember half the things that happened during those three years.

  KO: [laughs nervously] Well, a lot of things worth remembering happened during high school….

 [A door opening and closing in the background is heard]

  AT: Welcome back!

  ???: [very faint] Who’s that?

  AT: Oumae-chan.

  ???: Oh! Tell her I said hi. It’s been a while.

  AT: Kaori says hi.

  KO: Hi, Kaori-senpai.

  AT: She says hi.

  KN: [sounds closer] I know, Asuka, you have her on speaker.

  AT: Just making sure. [laughs] How was class?

  KN: Same thing as usual. Boring. Tiring.

  KO: What’re you studying, Kaori-senpai?

  KN: Business management. I want to open my own café one day.

  KO: I can see that happening. I’ll be sure to stop by once you open it.

  KN: [laughs] Thanks. Hey, Asuka?

  AT: Hm?

  KN: Is Haruka here?

  AT: In the room. She has the PM shift for the shop today, so she’s probably resting.

  KN: Oh okay. I’ll leave you two with your “monthly talk.” [laughter]

 [Shuffling is heard, and in the distance, another door is heard opening and closing.]

  AT: Okay, you’re off speaker now.

  KO: Did you always have me on speaker?

  AT: Only when Kaori was inside. [chuckle]

  KO: …Why?

  AT: Why not?

  KO: [sighs] I’m not going to continue with this line of questioning.

  AT: [laugh] Anyways, what’s new with you?

  KO: Eh, you know….

  AT: No, I don’t.

  KO: Well, er, school ended.

  AT: You already told me that.

  KO: Oh. Right.

  AT: Did…something happen?

  KO: Well, yeah. But it’s not anything bad…I think.

  AT: You think?

  KO: Well, I got a letter.

  AT: [laughter] How old-fashioned.

  KO: And it’s from Reina.

 [Silence]

  AT: Now I can see how that’s a problem.

  KO: Glad we’re on the same page. [laughs half-heartedly]

  AT: So…what’re you going to do? Reply to her?

  KO: That’s what I’ve been trying to do for the past…hour and a half.

  AT: Knowing you, you probably haven’t made any progress.

  KO: Went through an entire packet of stationary. Still nothing.

  AT: [whistles] Those poor trees.

  KO: [laughs] That’s what you’re worried about?

  AT: Trees are very important for the environment, Oumae-chan.

  KO: Okay, you got me there.

  AT: So…. [pause] How are you feeling? About all this?

  KO: Honestly? I don’t know what to feel.

  AT: I’m listening.

  KO: It’s just—God, I don’t know—so complicated. Like, why now? Like, I understand why now because she just came back from studying abroad, but, like, why now? You know? She just disappeared without a trace, even after all that shit that happened between us in high school, she just had the audacity to just go up and leave and—[sniffles] G-God, it just hurt, Asuka. It hurt so much….

  AT: [softly] I bet it did.

  KO: L-like, I know she wants to pursue music and she’s so stubbornly set on being special, whatever the hell that means. But she could have said something, you know? [strained laughter] It’s kind of ironic, you know. I always told her that if I ever left her side, that would give her the right to kill me. But I don’t think it ever crossed my mind what I would do if she ever left me.

  AT: [still quiet] I’m sorry, Kumiko.

  KO: [quietly] She never said goodbye. She didn’t break our relationship off. She left a note and she was gone. Like the wind.

  AT: [in her regular volume] Maybe she didn’t know how to break up.

  KO: Maybe.

  AT: Or maybe she thought that when she came back, everything would be normal again between the both of you.

  KO: [sighs] Maybe.

  AT: Or maybe she was abducted by aliens.

  KO: Okay, now you’re just pulling shit out of your ass. [weak laughter]

  AT: Anything for my precious protégé.

  KO: Gee, thanks.

 [Pause]

  AT: Say, Kumiko?

  KO: Mm?

  AT: I—mm—Sorry. For not being a bigger help. Haruka and Kaori are better at this than I am. [chuckles]

  KO: It’s okay. You listening to me is more than enough.

  AT: ‘m glad about that.

  KO: Me too.

  AT: We’ll talk later then, hm?

  KO: Yeah. Later.

  AT: Take care of yourself, Kumiko.

  KO: You too, senpai.

  Call End

  1:26 PM

 Kumiko sighed and set her phone facedown on her desk.

 Despite how liberating venting to Asuka was, Kumiko suddenly felt very sluggish and drained.

 Maybe taking a nap would ease her for a bit. She could worry about the letter later.

 With another sigh, Kumiko wiped away a stray tear that rested on her cheek. She raised herself from her chair, and shuffled her way over to her unmade bed. She collapsed on the mattress and took a deep breath.

 The moment she closed her eyes, she was out like a light.

 -X-

 lights are blinding

you always knew that

but you also knew that

her radiance was

something greater

 she was brighter

than the town lights

on a dark evening

she was brighter

than the sun

on a summer’s afternoon

she was brighter

than your alarm

on an early morning

 her brilliance showed

in the smallest of gestures

like whenever she

brushed back her hair or

spoke to you or

played her trumpet

 like the sun

you thought

she would stay

but

the sun always sets at night

and there will be a time when

it won’t rise

 it was cloudy the morning she left

and the only thing that

brilliant girl left was

a purple note with the words

“i’m leaving today, i love you”

 the hole she left in your heart was

bigger than a black hole

and whenever you walk by

the old rendezvous you remember

that the brilliant girl is

no

longer

there

 -X-

 Kumiko woke with a start when she heard her phone vibrating against her desk.

 Groaning, she rolled off her bed, clumsily landing on her feet. She shuffled her way over to her phone, and picked it up.

 A reminder for her to go buy groceries at 5:30 PM was printed on the lock screen of her phone.

 Kumiko sighed as she rubbed the sleep out of one eye. Almost a three-hour nap and she still felt tired.

 Her eyes hovered over to the blank stationery sitting on her desk, and opted to ignore the pile of crumpled papers next to it.

  Work on it later, a voice told her, it’ll still be there tonight.

 Without saying a word, Kumiko threw on a nearby hoodie, grabbed her wallet, and walked out her room.

 As she shut the door behind her, Kumiko wondered if Reina was just as bright as she remembered.

 -X-

 “Kumiko?”

 Kumiko stopped in her tracks before she exited the grocery store. Turning her head, she saw a familiar face—and horrible-looking pants.

 “Natsuki-senpai,” Kumiko said with a growing smile. She noticed how Natsuki’s hair now curled under her chin in a messy bob. Kumiko thought it suited her. “When did you come back from Tokyo?”

 “Got back a couple of days ago.” Natsuki said as she walked alongside Kumiko out the store.

 “How’s college?”

 Natsuki shrugged and shoved her hands into her pants. “Well, it’s school. So boring. Tiring.”

 A sense of déjà vu hit Kumiko. “Seems to be a popular thought.”

 “Well, ain’t much you can say about it.” Natsuki laughed. “Honestly, I’ve been thinking about dropping out.”

 Kumiko widened her eyes. “Really?”

 Natsuki nodded. “School just isn’t for me. Even back in high school, the only thing that really kept me in was band. Everything else about school isn’t my forte—music pun intended.”

 Kumiko cracked a smile at the quip. Natsuki’s down-to-earth sense of humor was something she missed.

 “Say, do you still play?” Natsuki suddenly asked, kicking the pebbles that dared to stand in her way.

 Kumiko blinked. “U-uh, what? Euph?”

 “No.” Natsuki rolled her eyes. “Duh, euph. What else? Trumpet?”

 Kumiko forced out a laugh to mask the sound of another stitch on her heart snapping. Natsuki’s comment was too soon. “O-oh r-right. Yeah, I still play. Once or twice a week, running through several scales, long tones. Sometimes I even go through an old song or learn a new one if I really feel like it.”

 “Wow,” Natsuki began with a chuckle, “you’re still pretty dedicated, huh?”

 “You can say that.”

 “I honestly think that the last time I’ve touched an instrument was…when I last visited Yuuko in Osaka about two months ago? She said I sounded like a rusty motor.”

 Kumiko raised an eyebrow. “You visit Yuuko-senpai?”

 “A-ah, yeah, well”—Natsuki turned into a bashful shade of red as she scratched the back of her neck—”we’re kind of…dating?”

 Kumiko felt a burning sensation under her gut. “Really? Since when?”

 “Mm…last month was our first year anniversary. We got together sometime after we graduated. It’s a pretty long story.” Natsuki laughed again. “Looking back on it, it’s kind of funny. We used to hate each other’s guts back when we first met. Now, we’re together. We’ve come a long way since high school.”

 Kumiko found herself wishing that she could relate.

 The embers in her gut combusted into a flame.

 “Does…this change who I am to you?”

 Kumiko blinked, and she turned to Natsuki. “What? No, of course not.”

 The tension in Natsuki’s eyes melted as she laughed. “Oh, good. You looked upset, so I thought it was because I was dating, you know, another girl. Haven’t told my parents yet, so I’m still on edge about the whole thing.”

  She’s not entirely wrong, something whispered in her ear, about her dating another girl. Because that should have been—

 Kumiko mentally slapped herself.

 “No, don’t worry about it. I mean, I’m kind of in the same boat.” Kumiko chuckled.

 “You gay?” It felt more like a statement than a question.

 “Yeah.”

 “Explains why you always ignored Tsukamoto’s advances. Or, ‘advances’.” Natsuki curled her fingers into air quotes and laughed. “That guy was kinda pathetic. Made me almost feel sorry for him.”

 Kumiko gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I’m sure he found someone by now.”

 Their conversation died once they stopped at a corner. Natsuki pointed across the street. “My place’s thattaway.”

 “Mine’s the opposite way,” Kumiko said, pointing with her thumb.

 “Looks this is where we part.”

 “Seems like it.”

 “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” Natsuki grinned and tapped Kumiko’s shoulder with her fist. “I know you still have my number. Don’t be afraid to call.”

 Kumiko smiled and nodded. “Got it.”

 “Natsuki!”

 The both of them looked in the direction of the voice, and across the street, Kumiko saw the faint figure of a woman, wearing a comically-large ribbon in her hair, waving.

 The flame in Kumiko’s gut grew, and she suddenly recognized the sensation.

 Jealousy.

 Natsuki waved back. “I’ll be there!” She cried out. She turned to Kumiko and gave a salute. “See you ‘round, kid.”

 Kumiko lamely waved back, watching as Natsuki jogged across the street once she was prompted to do so.

 Kumiko ignored the bitter taste in her mouth as she turned around.

  That should have been you and her, Jealousy jeered. You wish you had that, didn’t you?

 “Shut up,” Kumiko mumbled under her breath.

 Jealousy said nothing else, but the flame still burned her gut.

 -X-

 Kumiko sighed, running a hand through her hair, and read over the letter she finally finished. It was certainly not the best response, Kumiko thought, but an answer was better than none.

  Hi, Reina.

  If I’m being honest, I have no idea how to write a letter. It took me much longer than it should have to write this.

  But here goes, I guess.

  It’s been two years since you left, and well, a lot has happened since then. I don’t know if you’re interested (because you were never into that sort of thing in high school), but I need something to talk about to fill the space on the page.

  I’m in college now. I moved out of Uji, but I’m still a two-hour train ride away. I wanted to get out and see new faces, but I still see some familiar ones once in awhile, like Natsuki-senpai (her family moved after she graduated and it just so happened to be in the same town as me, so I see her around when she’s not in Tokyo for college).

  Midori-chan moved to England for college. Hazuki-chan is still in Uji, I think. It’s been awhile since I last called those two. I don’t know where Shuuichi went. He’s somewhere.

  You know, I’m surprised that you moved back to Uji. I always had the feeling that you didn’t want to come back to a town like that. Something like that.

  Anyways, welcome back. Tell me something new.

  Kumiko

 Stifling a yawn, Kumiko folded the letter into thirds and tucked it into a nearby envelope. She scribbled Reina’s address in the middle and her own address in the corner. After she sealed the envelope, she made her way to her bed and collapsed.

  Is it safe to talk to her after two years? Fear asked as Kumiko crawled under the sheets. What if she leaves you again? For good? How would that feel? You know how heart-broken you were when she left.

 The thought chilled Kumiko.

  She came back for a reason, Logic piqued. She said that in her letter.

 Pessimism scoffed. Probably not for you.

 Logic couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

  Well, whatever the reason, Optimism began, all that matters is that she’s back.

  But for how long? Fear asked.

 A chill went down Kumiko’s spine, and she burrowed herself in her sheets, despite the heat.

 No one answered Fear.