#naomi miso

[haejnws]

蒙 ⌢ 🍕 . ♢ sugar rush

蒙 ⌢ 🍨 . ♡

[theramenrater]

miso

[magicshopaholic]

A Guide to the OCs of the Idolverse (with faceclaims)

This guide to the OCs consists of my personal faceclaims for them. These are not accurate, in that no living person on Earth (that I know of) can replicate the exact images of them I have in mind, but these ladies are pretty close. You can also refer to this post for a more detailed description of their appearance.

If you have different images of them in mind and don't want to ruin those, you can check out the guide without faceclaims. Feel free to picture them as you like - and I'd love to hear your versions as well :)

(I'm also shit at graphic design of any kind so please excuse the super amateur-ish edits; they were just fun to do)

Kaya Madaan is South Asian-American and grew up in the suburbs of Connecticut with her parents. An only child, she lost her father in a car accident when she was in high school and her mother has since never remarried. During her senior year at NYU, a few months before graduation, she was assaulted on campus, an experience she doesn’t talk about but has shaped many future decisions in her life. After completing her masters in London, she moved to Amsterdam to do her Ph.D. during which time she met Namjoon in Seoul while visiting her Korean aunt (her father’s adopted sister) and her family.

She lives by herself in a studio apartment, content with her independence and solitude. Her close friends largely include select people from college and university, and later Taehyung’s on/off girlfriend, Dilara, as well. She tends to be a bit of a workaholic and in the process becomes a bit scatterbrained and ends up being absent-minded about other things. Being the one of the youngest doctoral students in her program, she’s very conscious of coming across as mature and capable. She takes a lot of pride in her intelligence and is not shy about disagreeing with opinions.

(Naomi Scott as Kaya)

Nari grew up in Anyang, Gyeonggi province, as an only child. Sometime in early middle school, she and Seokjin met in the same class and formed a life-long friendship. Her dream as a child was to always become a doctor, though her focus on surgery developed years later when she dated a classmate whose older sister was studying to be a surgeon. She currently works in Seoul as a surgical resident and lives alone in an apartment a block away from the hospital.

While Nari is secure in her skills and her career path, she finds it difficult to devote an equal amount of time to her personal life which sometimes leads to insecurities, especially when she sees her old classmates and other people her age move on with their lives. She also tends to forget to take care of herself when she’s caught up in the chaos of her job, leading to missed meals and an occasionally unhealthy diet of food and alcohol.

(Im Jinah as Nari)

An only child of a business tycoon father and an ex-model mother, Miso grew up in the Gangnam district of Seoul, in the Cheongdam-dong neighbourhood alongside equally wealthy and affluent peers. Her family keeps appearances and status above all else and as a result, Miso attended school with children of her parents’ colleagues and neighbours, most of whom grew up to be heirs and heiresses to businesses and fortunes.

Miso left Seoul for university in Australia, where she spent four years getting her degree in business management and two additional years working various jobs, including bartending and music managing a pub, before she was forced to return to Seoul. She current works as an assistant music producer at Big Hit, where she keeps her parentage and connections quiet.

Miso does not enjoy or show interest in going down the same road as her peers, much to her parents’ disappointment. She makes an effort to distance herself from them as well as her parents’ unhappy marriage, and has since high school earned the reputation of being “unfriendly”, which has continued into adulthood as well.

(Park Sodam as Miso)

Chaeyoung grew up alongside her older brother, Chanyeol, in Gwangju. She lost her mother at a very young age; three years later, her father married Soyeon, whose attempts at building a relationship have been resisted by Chaeyoung. As a result, she spent a lot of her time growing up with her friends and classmates, including her brother and his best friend, Hoseok. While Chaeyoung and Chanyeol were always close as children, they naturally grew apart as they became older.

Chaeyoung currently works at a publishing house as a junior researcher, a job she Ioves. She’s outgoing and charming and enjoys meeting new clients and talent, even if she sometimes feels inadequate and anxious about her performance. Due to her young age and surrounded by so many people older than her, she can tend to be a bit impressionable and prone to be taken advantage of. She lives with a senior from college, Sungmi, who has a questionable social circle but later becomes friends with Sooah, whom she meets at yoga class and looks up to as an independent, single working woman in Seoul.

(Danielle Marsh as Chaeyoung)

Sooah grew up in Busan and later moved to Seoul, the only child of two doctors. She realised as a teenager that her parents' marriage was an unhappy one and sometime during her early teens, discovered that both were having quiet affairs with other people. As a means of escaping her home, she threw herself into extra-curricular activities and her friends circle, choosing to be around people as much as she could. Captain of the girls' volleyball team, Sooah was a popular girl in high school, had a large group of friends and a string of short flings that extended into college and her adult life, the only exception to this being Park Jimin. She currently lives in Seoul and works at an event management firm.

Sooah is confident and outgoing and still maintains an eventful social life, staying in touch with friends from school and college that are now acquaintances. She still harbours insecurities, however, aware of her lack of deep friendships and the reputation she had when it came to dating. She eventually forges a friendship with Chaeyoung, who she secretly admires for being far more put together in her early twenties than she herself ever was.

(Nam Jihyun as Sooah)

Dilara was born in her mother's native country and spent her first few years there before leaving for the UK, due to the stigma she and her mother faced for being and having a child out of wedlock respectively. Her mother met Rudy Komyshan in London when Dilara was in her early teens, and Dilara officially took his surname when she turned fifteen. At a young age, she discovered a love for both dance and racing but eventually chose the latter as her career path. Being in a heavily male-dominated environment, Dilara at times had to prove her worth by going over and above what was expected of her and seeming outwardly tougher to blend in with her peers.

She is the first female F1 driver in the history of the sport and is currently signed with Red Bull, alongside Dutch prodigy Max Verstappen. She sometimes faces unwarranted sexism from journalists and fans of the sport that she is learning to deal with, and copes with the help and support of her friends Lexie (also her trainer), Chris and Fred. Having travelled the world and working closely with people of various nationalities, she has a deep appreciation and interest in different cultures. Dilara is competitive by nature and a bit of a perfectionist, staying for hours on the simulator to perfect every move. She's also a bit of a gym rat, finding it therapeutic to work out alone or with a friend.

(Ananya Panday as Dilara)

Lia grew up in Incheon with her parents and a younger brother. When she was in high school, her parents went through a peaceful and amicable divorce. They were open about the process with their children and didn't hide anything from them, something Lia is forever grateful to them for and since holds communication in the highest regard. Lia was a studious teenager, involved in extra-curriculars and student council activities, as well as a part of the girls' basketball team. She did not give much thought to dating in high school, despite catching the attention of many fellow students. She attended college in Seoul and started working there after graduation, sharing an apartment with her long-time best friend, Dal.

Despite the demands of a corporate career, including the workload and the politics, Lia enjoys her job and is a fast learner. She is able to stay very focused and, like Kaya, doesn't realise her tendency to become a workaholic. She does struggle with stress, especially with the fast-paced environment she works in. This sometimes extends to her personal life as well, despite her efforts to become more laidback.

(Han Sohee as Lia)

~

[daffodilsinspring]

GIVING BSD CHARACTERS JAPENESE FOOD

Atsushi - Oden

Dazai - Tempura (prawns and daikon mooli radish) and Somen

Chuya - Gyudon

Higuchi - Okonomiyaki

Yosano - Yakisoba

Kenji - Chawanmushi

Gin - Soba with a side of Tamagoyaki

Rhyu - Yakitori (negima-chicken and spring onion)

Kunikida - Champon

Ranpo - Ginger Pork and Wagashi

Poe - Donburi (oyakodon-simmered chicken,egg,green onion)

Tachiara - Tonkatsu

Hirotsu - Unagi no Kabayaki

Mori - Nikujaga

Fukazawa - Sukiyaki

Lucy - Miso soup and Takoyaki

Sigma - Kitsune Udon

Tanizaki -Karaage and Natto

Naomi - Gyoza and Onigiri

Kyouka - Teriyaki Tofu

Koyo - Sushi

Dishes found on these websites

https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tsukiji/article-a0002670/

[inyuhqs]

TASK: CLUB SWAP !

Como funciona o CLUB SWAP?

Durante o CLUB SWAP, que neste semestre ocorre entre segunda-feira (11) e quinta-feira (14), os estudantes têm a oportunidade de se tornarem membros de um clube diferente do seu clube original. Essa tradição, altamente valorizada pelos Violets, proporciona uma semana repleta de novas experiências, onde eles podem mergulhar em atividades diversas e interagir com pessoas que talvez nunca tenham conhecido de outra forma.

Nessa semana, os Violets continuam participando de seus clubes, mas se escolherem um clube da mesma categoria que o clube atual, a prioridade é dedicar seu tempo às reuniões do clube escolhido para o CLUB SWAP.

É fundamental que todos os membros dos clubes se abram para receber calorosamente os visitantes durante o CLUB SWAP, pois isso enriquece suas próprias experiências e fortalece a comunidade dos Violets. Encorajamos a todos a serem receptivos, amigáveis e a compartilhar o que torna seus clubes especiais. Vamos tornar esta semana uma lembrança positiva e enriquecedora para todos os envolvidos!

SOBRE A TASK "CLUB SWAP"

Quando estão extremamente imersos em um cenário unicamente acadêmico, onde as datas limites e as cópias acumuladas são seu maior temor e único pensamento, os violets tendem a buscar alternativas que os façam relembrar daquilo que mais gostam: a socialização entre os discentes.

Criado após dois anos da fundação oficial da universidade, o CLUB SWAP é a chave de partida para maiores desenvolvimentos interpessoais dentro do campus, além da obtenção de novos interesses, paixões e, muitas vezes, até desavenças entre membros que decidem abandonar seus clubes de origem, o intercâmbio entre os clubes ocorre todo início de semestre, sendo o grande agente fomentador de rotatividade entre os grupos.

Nessa TASK #1, vocês são convidados a compartilhar como foi a experiência do char de vocês no CLUB SWAP, seja por meio de fotos, vídeos, self-paras, etc.

O importante é utilizar as hashtags #TASKCS + #NYUPOV (self-paras) ou #NYUGRAM (fotos e vídeos) para sinalizar a postagem! Essas postagens podem ser feitas a partir de 12/09 às 00h, até 20/09 às 23h59.

A participação é obrigatória, pois, assim como falamos lá atrás, queremos que o desenvolvimento acadêmico dos personagens seja o intuito da comunidade, e vemos o evento como uma boa ferramenta para começarmos com isso.

Nós incentivamos que vocês participem da TASK em conjunto, ou seja, podendo criar self-paras e outros projetos como vídeos e threads, mas nesse caso, ainda é necessário que cada personagem faça a sua postagem para concretizar a participação.

Qualquer dúvida, nossa ask e dm estão abertas! 💜

LISTA DE INSCRIÇÃO

35Expo: Park Hoonki, Jacob Hwang, Nana Hikari, Choi Taehwan, Seo Jiwon, Jung Nayul Bausch: Namtae "Jonathan" Jo, Chwe Taekyeon, Yoo Saeyi, Vianna Kang, Buddy Yoon Pot Spot: Summer Hwang, Julieta Choi, Rachel Song, Seo Hyeol, Choi Sungwoo, Na Juno, Jade Song. Echo: Oh Haneul, Ilya Sohn Global Talks: Gama: Hugo Lim, Jade Song. Bergman: Song "Lucas" Minkyu, Nana Hiraki, Amethyst Yoon Cetus: Choi Sarang, Nipharuk Jon Pawityakul Lynxes: Vórtex: Harper Bang Skyliners: Green Fellas: Naomi Yoshida, Kim Saeroyi, Choi Sungwoo, Chase Jung, Vianna Kang Loved Paw: Song "Lucas" Minkyu, Choi Sarang, Hwang Miso, Ilya Sohn 7 Colors: Chwe Taekyeon FORMULÁRIO DE INSCRIÇÃO - ABERTO ATÉ 23h59.

[heroic-endeavors]

Tomura really didn’t want to go to the doctors the next day and almost had a full on panic attack which couldn’t be good for the baby and Dabi definitely needed to go to the doctors.

Shota had woken up pretty early and had been preparing breakfast. Dabi too was awake he still looked somewhat pale but he did at least look a little bit better compared to the day before.

Shota set various foods on the table. He fixed some omelets miso soup and rice. He also brewed some coffee. Dabi had a bowl of soup with rice but seemed to not be interested in the eggs for some reason.

Shota wondered if it would be easier for Shiro and her assistants to do a house call instead of going to the clinic. He sent a text to Shiro. She responded quickly, "Sure, I can bring Tento and Naomi with me."

"That the doctor?" He asked when he heard the phone go off.

"Figured it might be easier to have her come here than it would be to go to her."

[cpmebqck]

Draft. I came back to Deathnote after, what, 10 years. I do really be shipping Naomi and L

[wellsygrahams-a]

♡ ⋯ ⤳ couples a to z    

[terezis]

okay I'm sorry but the "Taako's Published Cookbook" has me by the throat. fake writing in the margins by both him and Lup? getting artists to illustrate the various food items as though they're pics taken by Taako? the dumb little anecdotes food bloggers put at the beginning of their recipes but it's TAAKO? yelling and screaming and kicking over here. "My husband hates these, but his taste buds have been dead for hundreds of years so what does he know really?" etc... pwease Mcelroy's...

THIS... NAOMI YOU UNDERSTAND MY VISION...

the anecdotes at the beginning of the book is big. that's very important. and i'm not just saying that because i've both read and written fanfiction with this premise.

like there would be stories about how he made this recipe during /this/ cycle or that one, or how this recipe impressed a goddess and that one was the only thing magnus would eat for three months...

also notes helpfully informing you that if you find yourself on a plane without chickens, you can substitute eggs for xyz. and if you can't transmute your own miso paste, store bought is fine!

taako and lup bickering in the margins over how much seasoning the dish needs...

for a limited time u would be able to buy a "signed" book and it would really be signed but justin would have to do taako's signature for those copies. like with his non-dominant hand or something

[moonlightjinko-kun]

Chocolates [vday fic]

Characters: Nakajima Atsushi, Izumi Kyouka, Tanizaki Naomi

Pairing: Izumi Kyouka/Nakajima Atsushi (Atsukyou)

Tags: Fluff, Crush, Valentine’s Day, Chocolates, Tanizaki relationship (implied), headcanon

Rating: Teens and up

Word Count: 2.2k+

Read it on AO3!

Summary:  For her first Valentine's Day, Kyouka makes chocolates for Atsushi (with help and guidance from Naomi).

A/N 1: Heavily implied that Kyouka has a crush on Atsushi, please scroll past if you’re not comfortable. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Since it’s a short piece, I’m also posting this in full here. 

Feb 14, 1.08am

Kyouka listens to the soft, steady breathing from behind the closed door of the wardrobe. Satisfied that he’s sound asleep, she slips out of their apartment and pulls the door close with a soft click. Guided only by the thin strip of moonlight, Kyouka makes her way to Haruno’s house, where Naomi is waiting. Excitement thrums through her veins and she hurries, eager to start. Kyouka knocks, two soft taps that resounded in the dead quiet of the night. The door opens, and she’s pulled into the house by Naomi.

“You’re so late! I had to start or we wouldn’t have enough time to finish. Here, here, Haruno-san left this for you.” Naomi slips a light pink apron over her, tightens it around her waist, then pulls her along while babbling “So, I’ve already prepared the chocolate. All you have to do now is to shape them!”

Kyouka nods, earning a beaming grin from Naomi. Naomi drags her to a table, its top crowded with chocolate making ingredients and tools. Kyouka’s eyes widen slightly as Naomi points out each item to her.

“Pick a mould and then you can get started too.” Naomi says, a cheerful lilt in her tone.

Kyouka casts a quick glance at the moulds, searching for the one she has bought. She finally finds it at the bottom of the stack and eases it out gently.

Naomi peeks over her shoulder and giggles. “That’s perfect for Atsushi-san! Here, just pour the mixture into the mould and if there’s anything you want to add, like sprinkles or nuts, just sprinkle them.”

Kyouka follows Naomi’s instructions and fills up the mould. Excitement flows through her as she adds chopped nuts in half of the cavities and rainbow sprinkles in the rest, while thinking of the smile he would make when he receives the chocolates. She thinks of his bright smile that always sends a rush of warmth through her, a spark of happiness igniting in her. She couldn’t wait to give them to him as she eyes her finished mould, while waiting for Naomi.

“All done?” Naomi asks, minutes later. Kyouka nods and Naomi picks up her mould in response and places it into the fridge, next to hers. A vague worry of the chocolate turning out bad flutters across her mind, pulling her lips down in a slight frown.

“Kyouka-chan, what’s wrong?”

“The chocolate, I’m worried.”

“Ah, don’t worry, they look fine to me. I’m sure they’ll turn out perfect!” Naomi turns her smile on her.

“Mm, I hope so too.” Kyouka mumbles.

A short laugh pops out of Naomi and she teases, “Don’t worry too much, he’ll like the chocolates no matter what, since it’s you who made them.”

A flush creeps across her face at Naomi’s teasing. “Mm.” She agrees, her voice soft, barely a whisper as Naomi’s eyes twinkle.

“Have you thought about how you’ll give them to him?”

A small shake of her head.

“That won’t do! You have to have a plan for this, what are you going to do and say? And when are you going to give them?” The questions and advice firing out of Naomi stuns Kyouka. She has never given much thought to this. Judging from Naomi’s babble, this step seems as important as making the chocolates. Kyouka’s eyebrows crease in thought.

A moment of silence draws her gaze back to Naomi, whose eyes spoke of only encouragement.

“Take some time to think about it first. I have some craft paper in my bag too, if you feel like making a card. I’ll start on the cookies first, so join me when you’re done, okay?”

“Okay, thank you.”

Naomi nods and heads off to her side of the table, starting on the mix for the cookies.

Kyouka sorts through the different scenarios swirling through her mind, before settling on the best plan - breakfast, chocolates, speech. A hum from Naomi drifts toward her, as she works out the details. Chazuke, his favourite for birthday. Give it in a casual manner. Wish him. Thank him, but so many things to thank him for, where to start? Thank you for everything?  A small sigh escasps her. Thank you for saving me?   Kyouka shakes her head, worried about the pressure it would give him. Thank you for being by my side? A flush heats her cheeks. She puts her head in her hands, her cheeks growing hotter. That wouldn’t work. Thank you for being my friend? Thank you for being my friend. That would work and it wouldn't be a pressure on him. Kyouka lifts her head up and meets Naomi’s gaze. A knowing smile plays around Naomi's lips.

Kyouka returns a quick smile before she pulls a baking tray to herself to start on the cookies. They hurry through this, shaping the cookies as fast as they could and 30 minutes later, the first batch is in the oven.

The exhaustion that has been creeping up on her finally overwhelms her, pulling her down to a seat. Naomi sinks into a seat next to her, her face lined with tiredness. Silence stretches between them, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. She keeps her eye on the clock, watching the minute hand tick closer to 2.55am. She sneaks a glance at Naomi who has slipped into a light nap, wishing she could take a nap but the excitement swirling in her keeps her up. Ten minutes… Five minutes… One minute… 2.55am and the ding from the oven chimes, waking Naomi up. Closer, Naomi takes the trays of cookies out of the oven and places them on the table. The fragrance of the freshly baked cookies permeates the air. The cookies are baked to perfection, its brown surface cracked like dry earth in the hottest summer. She feels her hunger sneaking up on her, encouraged by the smell and the looks of the cookies. Before she could decide if she should take one cookie to try, Naomi has pulled her into a hug.

“They look so good, we did it, Kyouka-chan!” Naomi exclaims. “While I’m putting in the next batch, can you help to take out the chocolate? It’s been an hour already, I think.”

Kyouka nods. She places the chocolates on the table and waits for Naomi, who comes over a minute later.

“Wow, they’re done! Kyouka-chan, yours look so cute! I still can’t believe you manage to find this paw print mould.” Naomi squeezes her in another hug. A shy smile crosses Kyouka’s face at the compliment and she lets Naomi hugs her for another minute. When Naomi lets go of her, she removes the chocolate from its mould. After checking the pieces, she puts them in the bag that she has prepared and seals it with a red ribbon. A surge of unexpected satisfaction warms through her.

A giggle bursts out of Naomi. “Are you going for a white tiger theme this year, Kyouka-chan? Even the bag, I can’t believe you managed to find this! How hard did you search for this?”

“I actually bought it months ago.”

Naomi’s eyes widen, and another bout of giggle ensues. “You’re pretty excited for this, aren’t you?” Naomi teases again.

Kyouka gives a shy smile. “It’s fun.” She pauses. “But I wonder if he will like them.”

“Don’t worry, he will! No matter what happens, just give them to him. You put in so much effort, he’ll definitely like - no, he’ll love them!”

Naomi’s confidence brings a smile to her face and she thanks Naomi with a small hug. The small pat on her head sends a small wave of encouragement and reassurance through her.

Another ding from the oven. Naomi lets go of her to take the trays out. “Kyouka-chan, let’s finish this quickly so we can have some rest!”

Kyouka hurries over to her side and packs the cookies into small pink bags, tying them up with ribbons. She counts the bags, making sure that there are ten before putting them away.

By the time they’ve finished cleaning up the kitchen, it’s already after four. They hurriedly make their way back to the dormitories. Naomi gives her a quick hug in front of her door before slipping through a small crack she has opened. Kyouka crosses the short distance back to their small apartment with quick, hurried steps. Once through the door, she takes the bag of chocolate out from her bag and hides them in the fridge behind some jars. She snuggles into her futon and within seconds, sleep pulls her under.

                                                                                   ***********

Feb 14, 6.14am

Clang clink-

Her hand instinctively reaches for the sword she has hidden under her futon. She bolts up, pausing to listen.

-cluuuuuuunk

The sound dies down after a few seconds. An exasperated sigh reaches her, its familiarity draining away the tension in her. She tucks her sword up her sleeve and steps into the kitchen.

“Good morning.”

Her voice, though only a whisper, manages to shock him, and the metal bowl that he has just picked up crashes to the floor again with another loud clang. He spins around with widened eyes and an opened mouth.

“Kyou-kyou-kyouka-chan!”

Her gaze drops to the bowl. “What are you preparing?” She points at the bowl, drawing his gaze to it.

A sheepish smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Nothing much, just an egg roll and miso soup.” He glances away, his fingers ruffling through his hair absentmindedly.

“Do you need some help?” Her gaze flits across the kitchen, and lands on the counter top with various ingredients scattered atop it.

“Ah, no. I can manage.” A smile fleets across his face before he hurriedly says, “Why don’t you go take a bath first? Breakfast will be ready by then!”

He fidgets under her long stare.

“Go on, go on!” He insists, while giving her a small shove.

Kyouka relents and heads to the bathroom. The silence in the bathroom quiets the buzz of surprise in her, giving her time to think. The fridge door was open just now so the plan to bring the chocolates to him during breakfast might not work if he sees the bag, she reasons. A new plan is needed; she has to get the bag of chocolates out. She plays out various scenarios but couldn’t shake off the feeling that he has found out. A sigh slips out of her. Maybe she should have just stayed awake, it would have been easier.

“Kyouka-chan, is the water warm enough?”

The warmth in his voice fizzes through her, and she decides that there would be no plan good enough. Naomi’s advice from a few hours ago resurfaces in her mind, “Just give them to him!” She takes a deep breath, clearing the uncertainties in her. No plan needed, she just has to give it to him.

“Kyouka-chan? Is everything okay?” A tint of concern colours his tone.

Kyouka pulls open the door and crosses the short distance back into the kitchen.

“Eh? Kyouka-chan?” She gives him a quick glance before crossing over to the fridge. Atsushi follows her and asks, “Is something wrong?”

Kyouka shakes her head while she pushes the jars away to reach the small bag of chocolates she has tucked away. She pulls it out and turns to see Atsushi, his face just inches from hers. A flush warms her cheeks and she backs a few steps to the fridge before standing up.

“What’s that?” Atsushi asks, his eyes alight with curiosity.

Kyouka holds it out for him, her gaze meeting his. “It’s for you, a Valentine’s Day gift.”

His eyes blink a couple of times before widening. He points at himself, as a bewildered “me?” slips out of him.

Kyouka nods. She feels a slight quiver running through her as she waits. His hand stretches towards her before stopping just within reach of the bag.

“Is this … is this really for me?”

Kyouka nods again and pushes the bag into his hand. His fingers close over the bag and lift it from her hands. Her gaze drops to the ground.

“Thank you, Kyouka-chan. I… I’ve nev- ah, I…” He pauses. “Thank you, Kyouka-chan.”

She looks up at him at the crack of his voice, his eyes brimming with tears. He sniffles and smiles a small, shy smile at her. Her gaze shifts away from his face again, as her heart drums to a faster beat against her chest. “Thank you for everything in the past year.” Kyouka manages to choke out before her flush forces her to look away. She mentally scolds herself for not sticking to her script, but her mouth clamps shut, unable to correct herself.

A sniffle draws her gaze back to him. He hugs the small bag of chocolate close to his chest, his hand swiping at the tears that are leaking out of his eyes. Her heart constricts with joy at the wide smile brightening his face, the tiredness draining out of her.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Her voice comes out in a whisper. Their gazes lock. She feels her cheeks heat up, sure a blush has appeared in her cheeks

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Kyouka-chan.” He says, a smile in his voice as a blush rises to his face.

A/N 2:  Thank you for reading this! I've never posted an Atsukyou fic set in canon but alas, this is the piece and I'm happy with how it turned out. I hope you’ve enjoyed this too! Please reblog or like this if you like it, and I’m always open to comments! :) 

[tk-productions]

Mystic Sisters- Ch. 6 Trust

Author’s note: This book is based in Tokyo so the currency is written in yen 

Flashback

“Here’s the last of the final paperwork Mr. and Mrs. Hano. When you're done I’ll take you to the girls.”

“Thank you.” Naomi smiled.

“Do you think the girls will be okay? Last time Yua was a little cold.” Koshiro grabbed his wife’s hand to reassure her. 

“Honey everything will be fine. I'm sure she’s just worried about living with a new family. And she’s young, she’s only 11.”

Naomi sighed before smiling at her husband. “You're right. Let's go get our girls.”

“Hikari your room is on the left and Yua your room is right across. I'll let you unpack. Let us know if you need anything.” Naomi beamed before heading downstairs. 

“Oneesan will you help me unpack?” Yua nodded following her sister into her new room. The girls unpack mostly in silence, exchanging a few words here and there.  

“You're quiet. What’s up?” Yua asked, folding the last shirt and putting it in the drawer.

“You have said anything either.” Hikari mumbled. The room stayed silent before Hikari spoke again. 

“Do you not feel comfortable here?” she asked.

“I don't know.” Yua answered “ Something just doesn’t feel right Hikari.” 

“About what?”

“Everything. I feel like I’m forgetting something really important and I can’t figure it out.” Yua confided in Hikari sitting on her sister’s bed. 

“Maybe you're just overthinking it. Let it go for now it’ll come back.” Hikari told Yua

“Maybe you're right.” Yua nodded getting up. “Ok i’m gonna go check out my room and unpack.

Yua walked into her looking around at all the cardboard boxes that filled her new room. She walked to the boxes on her bed and started to put things away.  “I guess this is home now.” she thought to herself looking at the photoframe she pulled out of a box. It was a picture of her and Hikari one summer at the beach. She smiled and placed the picture on her dresser. Yua continued to unpack but the uneasy feeling never left.  A few hours later she laid in bed starting up at the ceiling unable to fall asleep. 

“Maybe I should watch something.” Yua sat up and pulled her laptop from her desk. Sitting crossed legged looking for something to watch. After a few minutes and finally finding something to watch it was time to get comfortable.

“Inuyasha is it.” I clicked play. 

Yua binged Inuyasha for about an hour and a half before my eyes grew heavy. Closing her laptop and pulled the blankets over herself. She tossed and turned all night before finally falling asleep. 

Upon hearing my room door open and Hikari running in with a big smile on her face. Jumping on my bed she looked at me. “How did you sleep?” 

“It was ok but I still don’t feel too comfortable.” 

“It’s ok. Let’s go, they made breakfast.” Hikari excitedly hopped off the bed running towards the kitchen. Yua yawned, lazily followed after her. Walking into the kitchen she sat next to her sister. Yua looked at the food on the table causing her stomach to growl. To be fair it did look pretty good and I'm really hungry. There was salted salmon, miso soup, rice, a rolled omelet, and tofu. Yua knew her sister would be happy since it was one of her favorite meals.

“Dig in girls.” Naomi said, placing a hot cup of tea next to our plates. 

“Thank you for the meal.” Hikari and Yua said in unison before completely demolishing their plates.

After breakfast Yua and hikari went to their rooms and changed out of their pjs so they could start the day. Yua walked into Hikari’s room smiling. Hikari was standing in front of her mirror trying to decide what top to wear. She finally settled on the yellow plaid top before turning around to face her sister. “So sis what are we gonna do today?”

Before Yua could respond Naomi peeked her head through the door. “You girls wanna go to the mall with me and Shiro?” She politely asked 

“Yea why not better than being cooped up here.” Yua said while Hikari just screamed out “Yay the mall!”

A couple hours later at the mall…..

Yua’s pov 

Naomi allowed us a little freedom and told us to meet her at a store called Daiso in an hour. We had tons of fun exploring the mall and were able to buy a couple snacks and toys since Naomi gave ¥3000 to spend.

“Yua do you like your new Sesshomaru doll!” Hikari asked me as we walked towards the direction of Daiso.

“I don’t like it. I love it.” I smiled before grabbing Hikari’s hand and swinging it as we walked.

Hikari suddenly let go of my hand and walked over to a big shelf of toys grabbing one and looking at me with a hopeful smile on her face. “Oneesan do we still have some money left?”

I walked up to her and looked at her toy.”We have about ¥1200 left. How much is it?”

“Maybe I'm lucky. It’s exactly that we can get it, Yua please.” Hikari begged ,pouting. Nodding my head I walked over to the merchant and paid for it. “ We are officially broke now Hikari.” I laughed, grabbing her hand once again and continuing to walk towards Daiso.

“So what’s the name of that toy?” I asked Hikari curiously as I watched her pull the toy out of the bag excitedly.

 “It's Kero-chan! Isn’t he cute Yua.” she asked while shoving the toy in my face.

“Yea it’s very cute Hikari but let's hurry to Daiso. Our hour is almost up and we have to meet Naomi and Koshiro.” Hikari nodded and we walked for a couple more minutes before stopping in front of Daiso. 

As we were waiting and minding our own business peacefully I couldn’t help but notice this man staring at us and he had been staring for a while. Growing uncomfortable I grabbed Hikari and got ready to walk inside the store but as soon as I had my back turned a pair of arms swooped me and Hikari off the ground and we were being rushed outside. I saw Naomi frantically scream our names running after us along with Koshiro. 

“Hey you big meanie put us down!” I yelled as I started to kick my legs around.

“Stop moving you little--” he stopped talking and yelped in pain as Hikari bit his hand forcing him to drop her and stop running . The moment he stopped, Koshiro caught up to us and punched him in the nose then he finally released his hold on me. As soon as I was free, Koshiro didn’t hold back tacking the man to the ground and punching him repeatedly. I walked over to Hikari to check if she was ok when Naomi came running tears in her eyes.

“Are both of you ok, are you hurt anywhere.” Naomi asked us, pulling us both into a tight hug.  Her eyes were full of worry. I could see that she was truly worried about us and our wellbeing.

I nodded my head “Yes I’m ok but he dropped hikari.”

“I’m fine and I still have my toys!” Hikari said happily and I just looked at her in disbelief. “We almost got kidnapped and you're happy about toys?” 

Hikari looked me dead in the eye. “Duh! And you still have your bag. Yua so you should be happy too.” 

“Naomi, did you call the police?” Koshiro asked as he walked over to us and kneeling in front of Hikari and I. 

“I called a long time ago and they should be here any minute.” Naomi told him 

Nodding his head still kneeled in front of us he gave us a smile. “You had me scared there for a bit. You're not hurt right?” he asked and when both me and Hikari nodded he pulled us into a hug. I felt so calm as he hugged me. “Maybe I can trust these people.” I thought as I unexpectedly hugged him back, shocking myself in the process. 

I heard Naomi talking to someone and when I looked up it was the police who had already cuffed the man who tried to take us. Turns out the guy was already being searched for as he was sexually harassing little girls in certain neighborhoods and one of the little girls were able to give a facial description and they had been looking for him since.

“Let’s go home ok.” Koshiro said as he picked both me and Hikari up and walked towards the car with Naomi right behind us. 

At home….

When we got home Hikari and I played and ran around the rest of the day in the backyard. Koshiro even came out to play with us and it was really nice. I was finally feeling comfortable and safe. I started to feel like I belonged here. But I wanted to make sure these people wouldn’t abandon me and Hikari before I put my full trust in them.

After taking a bath it was time for dinner. The table was set with curry rice and tonkatsu which was my favorite and my mouth was watering just looking at it. Naomi sat a cup of iced passion fruit tea by our plates and sat down in her seat after she finished serving everyone.

Dinner was quiet but my food was speaking directly to my stomach so I was very busy chowing down to be worried about the silence. After we finished our food I looked at Koshiro and Naomi. I really wanted to know if I can trust them.

“Are you guys gonna give us away soon?” I asked seriously. 

Koshiro choked on his tea and started coughing at my question. Naomi patted his back and turned towards me. 

“Why would we give you away?” she asked,confused. 

“Because the last people we were with gave us away as soon as I felt comfortable. We wanted to stay so I need to know we can trust that you won’t give us away.” I said with my head down so they wouldn’t see my sad expression. They seemed like nice people and I was really warming up to them and I love Naomi’s cooking, she has this strong motherly vibe. While Koshiro feels more like a dad than anything. 

“Honey you and Hikari are our daughters and we wouldn’t give you away for anything in the world.” Koshiro told me making my eyes water as I nodded. 

“Ok then. Remember that you said that. ok? I will haunt you if you lie.” I said before walking to my room and shutting the door. Hikari came in after me.

“I told you we can trust them. We are a family.”

“We can trust them for now, but i’m gonna keep my eye out for them. No way is anyone that nice.” I said before getting in my bed. It had been a long day and I was tired.

“You're going to bed? It’s so early!” Hikari whined and I just looked at her.  “It's 10pm, go to bed.”

“I’m gonna go play with my new toys but goodnight!” Hikari started to walk out of my room before I yelled after her. “No Hikari go to bed!”

I heard a loud foot stomp. “Ugh Fine!” she yelled as she stomped all the way to her room.

[theramenrater]

Makin' miso

[magicshopaholic]

Hi I really love your oc's and i want to ask if you don't mind to put a face claim to see how they look like in your opinion and their body type love you 💗 and thank you for your hard work.

Thank you! This is such a nice message and I’m glad you find the OCs so interesting. I don’t have exact face claims for them; I do have a certain face for each of them in my mind though. I’ll give it a shot anyway 🤓

Bear in mind, these face claims aren’t exactly how I see the OCs, particularly because the the FCs are all celebrities, but they capture most closely the vibe and general feel I get from them.

Kaya - Naomi Scott. I don’t think they share the exact same features but i think she has, in Namjoon’s words, Disney princess eyes. She has the exact combination of vulnerable doe eyes that I think would activate the protective instinct in him (as we’ve seen in fics already) but also gives off a very independent, girl power kind of vibe that I think fits Kaya really well.

In terms of body type, she’d be around 5’6” and have her fair share of curves that she wouldn’t mind showing off sometimes. She’d pretty much walk everywhere in Amsterdam so would be getting her quota of cardio. Her hair would be black and overall straight, usually a few inches below her shoulders, but she would start letting it grow it a bit once she sees how much Namjoon likes it.

Nari - Nana (Im Jinah). Obviously while Nana is known for being one of the most beautiful visuals ever, I think her closest similarity to Nari is the very casual kind of beauty I think she has. I think Nari would be the kind of person where when you first look at her, you probably wouldn’t do a double take, but when you take a good look at her features, they’re actually very soft and pleasing overall.

Nari would be tall, around 5’9”, which would automatically make her look slender. She’d have heavier hips and thighs though, something she’d be a bit annoyed about sometimes. Her hair would be relatively straight and maintained at a manageable length, something she can easily tie up and not think about.

Miso - Park Sodam. Again, I don’t think her features are exactly like Miso’s but I think she has a great poker face that would suit Miso immensely. There’s a sort of aloof quality to her smile where you don’t know what she’s thinking that I think is very similar to Miso.

She would be of average height, around 5’5”, and very slender. She wouldn’t have very prominent breasts at all, but this wouldn’t bother her; she’d ditch bras fairly often because of this. She would tend to wear a lot of black which would only accentuate her thinness, much to her mother’s displeasure. Her hair would be short and straight just an inch or two below her shoulders, with a fringe.

Chaeyoung - Danielle Marsh. Once again, I don’t think Chae’s features are much like Danielle at all, but I think her vibe is exactly the same - very youthful and playful. Even before I knew the names of the members of NewJeans, I remember noticing her and immediately thinking of Chaeyoung.

Chae would be relatively shorter, around 5’3”. She would wear clothes to try and seem taller though, including shorter skirts and heeled boots. She would attend yoga classes regularly. She does have natural curves as well and would be prone to weight gain easily; given her industry and her impressionable age, she might also tend to go down the unhealthy route of regulating her food too much. Her hair would be long and flowing, and she’d regularly experiment with bangs, layers and colour.

Sooah - Nam Jihyun. This is largely due to Jihyun’s smile; it’s one of those 1000 watt smiles, wide and blinding when you see it. That’s really the only similarity they share in terms of features. Jihyun also gives me a very free and fun vibe, something I think is a defining characteristic of Sooah.

Sooah would be around 5’5” and definitely a curvy girl. She’d have nice and shapely breasts, curvy hips and full cheeks with a soft dimple. It would annoy her once in a while because she wouldn’t be able to wear certain tops but she’d overall be quite happy with her curves. She would do yoga too (I think she and Chae would go to the same class) so she’d have decent stamina and strength, but would have flesh that she wouldn’t go out of her way to hide.

Dilara - somewhere between Sofia Black D’elia and Ananya Panday. Despite she being the first OC to ever come to life in my mind, she’s the hardest to describe physically. Her facial features would be slightly sharper and angular and she, too, would have a slight dimple in her left cheek.

She’d be 5’1” and a natural C-cup; but as an athlete, she would definitely be extremely fit and work hard to stay lean and light, especially since she’s in F1. Her diet and workout would be defined to the T and would take great care of her health (despite certain vices). Her hair would stay purposely long and is naturally curly (she’d blowdry it almost always).

Lia - somewhere between Han Sohee and Park Minyoung. Unlike Nari, she would absolutely be one of those people where you see them and do a double take. She’d be quite conventionally beautiful, with high cheekbones, full lips and a clean, white smile.

Lia would be about 5’7” and would work hard to keep her body toned and muscled, frequenting the gym and playing basketball. Naturally though, she would also tend to gain weight easily and would continue to keep some flesh around her stomach and hips. Her hair would usually be long and she’d typically have an elaborate hair care routine, wanting it to be shiny and presentable at a moment’s notice.

Thanks for the question, anon!

Read more about the OCs here

[fifteenleads]

all in a day’s work (2/?)

Bungou Stray Dogs  x  Cells At Work.

.

"Atsushiiiii! " Naomi quickly envelops Atsushi in a tight hug as soon as they get back to the dorms. He still feels dazed after getting away from the scene; Tanizaki had immediately come to pick him up after hearing what happened, even pushing away the Killer T Cell that had been questioning him about the creature's whereabouts. The whole body had been placed on red alert since that afternoon; apparently, the remaining stragglers had managed to escape the Neutrophils' initial attack efforts.

"You probably shouldn't go to work tomorrow," Tanizaki says later over dinner, eyebrows furrowed with worry. "Just call in sick. I'll tell the boss for you."

"N-No, I'm fine," Atsushi manages to find his voice, "these things do happen on the job. I'm prepared."

"The  hell  you are!" Naomi slams a hand on the table, almost spilling her miso soup. "Pneumococci are really dangerous! Pneumonia's just the beginning; they can also cause severe bacteremia and worse, meningitis! You're not going anywhere! Nii-sama, too!" She directs her glare to Tanizaki, as well, who does not protest his sister's outburst, but remains frustrated nonetheless.

Later that night, Atsushi remains wide awake while in bed, his mind replaying the day's events. He wouldn't describe himself as some sort of hero at all. Those would be the immune cells, the body's own elite military force that defended against attacks from harmful pathogens. Unlike him, they are fully trained to detect and annihilate any and all threats that come their way. It's just how their world works.

Even so, Atsushi knew he could not just stand back and watch a helpless cell die. Just like back then—

"Do you really want to die that quickly?!"

That... Neutrophil, Akutagawa. If he hadn't arrived on time, Atsushi would have probably been killed right there and then. Everything happened so quickly— the way his coat fluttered in the acrid air, and the swiftness with which he wielded his knife... It was like watching a dance of death, the blood splatter extending like a flurry of red petals.

"Like a blood knight," Atsushi mumbles to himself. Even he has heard of the rumors of the "Rabid Dog" that had joined the Neutrophil Division a few months ago, around the same time as when he started to work as a Red Blood Cell. To think that he'd been saved by that very person just this afternoon— what were the chances, indeed.

It was all too familiar to him, for some reason— something, back in the recesses of his memory, that he couldn't recall, no matter how hard he tried.

Atsushi immediately stops that line of thought, sensing a headache coming on. He turns to his side and closes his eyes, thinking of how to spend his break tomorrow. He doesn't want to worry Tanizaki and Naomi any more than he already has. Time to move on.

-

The riverbank is quiet in the early morning, with only a few red blood cells milling about with crates of gas tanks. It seems that the body hasn’t woken yet from its slumber, lending to the more relaxed overall atmosphere.

It is actually one of Atsushi’s most favorite times of the day, starting from back when he worked the night shift for a few months. The slower pace had given him more time to think and learn things.

Today, too, he is seated in his usual spot, notebook and pen in hand. He has forgone the red jacket for a pale, brown cardigan, over an old white shirt and black jogging pants. The gentle upwind caresses his face as he watches the sun rise.

Atsushi flips to the most recent page and begins to write. It had begun as a coping mechanism of sorts; Ozaki-sensei had taught him how to deal with his old nightmares in this manner. The first entries have been rigid and restrained, then have eventually grown more detailed as he learned to let his words flow more naturally. It had certainly been a long time since he’d had to use his notebook, but now is probably as good a time as any to start again.

He is already three-quarters into the entry when an angry baritone intones from behind, “What are you doing here? Somatic cells are not allowed to leave their homes until further notice.”

Atsushi immediately turns around to explain, and is again met with those jet-black irises, this time flashing in mild annoyance. Likewise, the scowl on the other man’s face is replaced with brief surprise, before settling into an amused smile.

“Oh, it’s you,” they both say in unison. Atsushi follows this up with a smile of his own, eliciting a raised eyebrow in response.

For someone who has apparently been patrolling all night, Akutagawa doesn’t look any worse for wear at all, the additional blood splatter on his dirty fatigues notwithstanding. His posture remains taut even as he uncrosses his arms, in what Atsushi presumes is an attempt to diffuse the tension between them. He lets out a small chuckle at this before he could stop himself.

“What’s so funny?” Akutagawa growls at him. It makes the couple of red blood cells nearby flinch, but Atsushi only laughs harder instead. 

“N-Nothing at all,” he says while wiping a tear with his gloved hand. “I just didn’t expect you to react the way you did just now.” The explanation does not convince Akutagawa at all, whose expression is currently something between a grimace and a frown, as he tries to process what he has just heard.

Atsushi finds it unexpectedly endearing, and his heart almost skips a beat at the thought.

The sun has just fully risen, and the background chatter gradually becomes louder as more blood cells arrive in the area. It sets Akutagawa on edge once more, and he quickly turns to leave, taking much larger strides than usual. 

“Akutagawa-san,” Atsushi calls out to him, stopping him in his tracks. Akutagawa whips his head back, tired eyes in a dead-set glare once more. “I’m actually on break today,” Atsushi continues anyway, carefully standing back up and dusting the grass that stuck to his pants, before jogging lightly towards Akutagawa. “Can I walk with you, at least part of the way?”

Akutagawa’s glare only deepens, as he gives Atsushi a quick once-over from head to toe. He doesn’t say anything for a while at first, the silence between them making Atsushi’s skin prickle. Finally, Akutagawa’s face relaxes into a more neutral expression as he turns back to continue on his path.

He doesn’t say no, at least, Atsushi thinks as he falls into step beside Akutagawa. This is fine for now.

-

The continuation of Akutagawa’s foot patrol brings them to a puncture wound at the right median cubital vein, where a blood sample had just been drawn earlier. Atsushi notices a small group of platelets there, repairing the damage to the vascular endothelium there. A relatively simple job order like this would only take twenty-four hours, tops, yet Akutagawa observes the goings-on with an ominous frown.

He’s just normally like that, Atsushi tries to convince himself, but the longer he thinks about it, the more he starts to believe Akutagawa, as well.

“Big Brother Red Blood Cell?” a tentative voice calls from behind him, and Atsushi whirls around in surprise. The platelet he had saved yesterday shyly waves back at him, with an excited grin that reaches up to their ears. “It is you!” they confirm in delight, immediately running closer to him for a hug.

Atsushi bends down to the child’s height and accepts the small embrace, giving them a gentle pat on the head before adjusting their lopsided cap. “Hello there! Glad to see you’re doing well.”

The platelet nods enthusiastically, gesturing to the ongoing construction work behind them. “Yup, all thanks to you, Big Brother and the Big Brother White Blood Cell!” Atsushi instinctively looks behind him, just in time to see Akutagawa flinch at the mention, a pale hand over his face as he looks away, trying to suppress the rosy flush that is now growing there. “I… was just doing my job,” he deflects, as if to ask the child to just go away and get back to work, as it were.

Atsushi nearly snorts at this, but resists that temptation in favor of telling the child just that. “I think your team leader’s calling for you,” he says, gesturing to the taller, dark-haired girl in twintails now approaching them. She gives Atsushi a hesitant smile, bending down, too, to tap the child on both shoulders.

“Thank you for saving one of my teammates,” she nods her head as if in a bow, the mobile phone hanging around her neck bobbing with the action. “All of us platelets appreciate your bravery, good sirs.”

“You’re welcome,” Atsushi smiles back, now feeling the same embarrassment Akutagawa is trying hard to suppress since earlier. He settles for putting a hand behind his head to show just that, and the girl understands at once, taking the child by their hand before standing up to leave.

“Do let us know if there is anything you need in the future,” she offers. “I’m Kyouka, one of the platelet team leaders, and this is Q.”

“All right, Kyouka, Q,” Atsushi acknowledges with another nod. “It was nice meeting you both.” 

“Likewise. We must get going now, good sirs.”

The short meeting ends soon after, and Atsushi turns back to Akutagawa, who has now lost the pink blush on his cheeks, yet remains in silent contemplation. “Thanks for waiting, Akutagawa-san. Where are you going next?”

Akutagawa does not answer this, and the strange foreboding from earlier creeps back, sending slow chills down Atsushi’s spine. The body had blood drawn just recently; was there any reason for that?

He then remembers that the red alert warning, too, hasn’t been lifted. It makes him hesitate— was he holding Akutagawa back?

“A-Akutagawa-san?...” Atsushi begins again tentatively, but is taken aback when Akutagawa’s radar suddenly picks up a distant signal, and he suddenly runs back in the direction they came. Atsushi is only briefly stunned by the sudden start, before he, too, starts running.

He catches up to Akutagawa before long, barely sparing him a glance as he asks, “I-Isn’t this already the axillary vein? What’s going on?”

Akutagawa’s radar only buzzes louder in response, and they both pick up the pace. They reach a minor valve, which Akutagawa expertly jumps over, while Atsushi is momentarily thrown off as he attempts to clamber over it. He could normally pass through the venous valves if he were wearing his uniform and ID, but this just had to happen while he’s off-duty, of all days.

In that short instant, the distance between him and Akutagawa has already increased exponentially, and Atsushi shouts in his loudest voice: “Wait for me!”

Akutagawa���s shoulders tense up even more, but he doesn’t stop running. “You stay there, Red Blood Cell! It’s not safe!”

You’ll only hold me back, is what Atsushi hears, and it frustrates him so much— the tail-end of Akutagawa’s last words, the mechanical beeping of the valve alarm, and the soft, angry growls rising from his chest as they end in a cry of frustration out of his trembling lips.

“Red blood cells run from bacteria, not fight them!”

He knew that—  knows that. This was never his fight to begin with.

Atsushi returns to the dorms, dejected, and buries himself under the covers. The area-wide sirens from outside wail loudly, announcing evacuation orders, but he couldn’t care less about that now.

There’s no point, after all— there was never one, for him.

.

(2/?)

[datura-foxglove]

(Dazatsu Week Day 5) Hypnos’ Thrall

Prompt : Trust - Sleep

Rating : T

Summary :

“Atsushi-kun, what kind of place is your ideal world?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you ask Kunikida-san about ideals?”

“His ideal world is boring. I want to know yours.”

“Uhh… when you ask me suddenly like this, I don’t know what to answer…”

“Just tell me what is the first thing you thought of when you think about ideal world. A world that you can shape to your will and desire.”

“Well… maybe…”

It was cold.

The cold sank into his bones, the only thing he could sense for a few moments as he floated. The next thing he felt was the way his lungs burned, his lips opened in panic to inhale air but the water choked him instead. His eyes couldn’t see well, only faint glimmering of light from what he assumed was the surface above him the only thing standing out in this cold world.

His legs weakly kicked in the water, desperately trying to reach the surface before he drowned. He was so focused on moving his weirdly really weak and sluggish body that he jerked when something white floated beside him, slithering to the surface like a snake.

‘Bandages?’ Atsushi eyes widened seeing a few long rolls of unraveled bandages rose from below him to the surface, elegantly swaying in the water. The sight of those white strips of cotton, however weird, crushed his chest in different way than the pressure of water.

For a long moment, it was like time itself had stopped in wonder. His burning lungs forgotten, Atsushi ceased his desperate attempt to return to the surface and looked down. Somewhere in the back of his mind, horror stories that he had read long ago about monsters that lurked in the depths of the ocean nagged at him.

But his eyes didn’t stare into eyes of hungry monsters. No, instead they stared straight into a pair of chocolate eyes of a man slowly sinking to the depths of the water where the light couldn’t reach. The man smiled, a painful yet hopeful smile, as he spread his arms around him in waiting. The bandages unraveling from the man’s body like a curtains that hid the two of them from… something.

Despite the presence in his mind warning him of the danger, Atsushi dove towards the waiting man. It was like answering a siren’s call, a song so sweet and tempting filled his head as his hands reached towards the beautiful man with sad smile. He was so close, so close to touch the man and sank together with him to the depths—

“Atsushi!”

Atsushi jerked awake, his widened eyes blurry and unable to focus at all as he heaved his lungs out. It felt like he had just drowned, taken out of the water just before his consciousness disappear within the watery depths. A hand touched his shoulder gently and it took a few minutes to calm his breath and tilted his head to his side.

Kyouka, his beloved and sweet younger sister figure, looked at him with worried eyes. “Are you alright? I’ve been trying to wake you up for a while.” She rubbed his back comfortingly, like how she usually did whenever one of them woke up from bad dreams. “Nightmare?”

“I—“ Atsushi cleared his throat, his throat felt dry and scratchy. “I don’t think so? I don’t feel any fear at all, I think… it’s a weird dream, but not a nightmare.”

Kyouka listened attentively, like she usually did. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Atsushi shook his head. Somehow, the dream felt too intimate to share, especially now that his emotions still felt so raw. He looked towards the alarm clock on his bedside table and his eyes widened once again. “Kyouka-chan, we are going to be late!”

To his dismay, Kyouka was already prepared for school. She left him to change his clothes and brushed his teeth in peace. Atsushi’s feet stomped down the stairs loudly, although no one in the house protested. He found Kyouka sitting on the dining table with his parents, munching on the last of her sausages and calmly drank her miso soup.

His mother caught him by his collar before he could even run and abandon his breakfast. “You are a growing boy, Atsushi. Eat your breakfast.”

His father chuckled from behind the pages of his newspaper. “The school won’t run away, take your time.”

“I’m going to be late!” but Atsushi obediently sat and wolfed down his sunny side eggs and octopus shaped sausages, drinking his miso soup in one go despite how it scalded his tongue. “There, finished!”

“This boy, really…” His mom put a bento box wrapped in blue cloth on the table beside his arm. “Go, study hard today too!”

Atsushi hurriedly put the bento box on his school bag and almost sprinted towards the door, jumping like bunny as he shoved his feet to his shoes. “I’m going!”

“I’m going too.” Kyouka bowed before she left, ever polite to Atsushi’s parent despite having constantly stayed at their home for years whenever her parents had to go overseas.

Atsushi heard faint ‘be careful on your way’ from his parents before the door shut behind him.

“Atsushi, don’t run.” Kyouka tugged at the bottom of his school uniform. “You are going to get stomachache later.”

“My first lesson today is with Kunikida-sensei, Kyouka-chan.” Atsushi felt shiver going down his back. “If I want to stay alive, I can’t be late.”

Kyouka nodded sympathetically, keeping pace beside him with no sweat despite that Atsushi was dashing forward like the devil was on his tail. He only stopped when they arrived at a crossing and they had to wait for the light to change to green before they could cross. Atsushi fidgeted nervously, his eyes keep flicking towards the clock displayed on his phone. If they continued in their pace, they should barely make it before the bell rang. He sighed and pocketed his phone, his eyes dazedly surveyed his surroundings in vain attempt to make the light change sooner.

On the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse on tan colored coat blown back by the wind. His eyes followed the coat and finally found himself staring at the owner of the coat. He was standing there, across the street. Short brown hair and chocolate eyes, a small smile as that person noticed his stare.

Atsushi blinked, and the person was gone. Before he could even fully comprehend what had just happened, Kyouka tugged at his hand and pointed towards the green light.

The bell for lunch break rang noisily. Ranpo-sensei cheered louder than the students and immediately packed away his books, the first one to leave the classroom while the students just stared for a few moments before packing up themselves.

Atsushi heaved a loud sigh and slumped on his desk. He felt the beginning of headache and wondered if he should just sleep on the break but an insistent poke on his shoulder disturbed his peace. Atsushi lazily moved his head so he could see Tanizaki looking at him weirdly. “Are you okay, Atsushi-kun?”

“’m fine…” he mumbled, but he relented and rose from his seat with his mother’s bento on his hand. “I just can’t focus at all today.”

“Are you staying up late yesterday?” Tanizaki walked beside him, the ruckus of school lunches made it almost impossible to hear the boy if it wasn’t for the fact that were almost squished together in the hall.

“No… I had a weird dream and I keep seeing things today.” Atsushi swore that whenever his mind wondered, he would see glimpses of tan coat or bandages.

Tanizaki put a hand on his forehead, which made Atsushi yelped in surprise. “I don’t think you are sick, but do you want to go to Yosano-sensei after we eat?”

“No.” Atsushi vehemently refused. If he wasn’t dying, then he wouldn’t offer himself up to the doctor who had too much fun traumatizing students with her ‘treatment’.

Tanizaki smiled sympathetically, as a fellow brother who had been subjected to the terror of the school’s doctor. “You should go home after the school is over and rest then. We can go to the book store tomorrow.”

Atsushi nodded, trying to smile despite his head throbbing faintly.

“Are you sure you can go home on your own?” Kyouka stared intensely at him, daring him to lie to her. They had grown up together and while Atsushi was a bad liar, it was harder to see the extent of his pain. No matter how much he suffered, Atsushi always brushed it under the rug. He never broke down in front of anyone before and he preferred to keep it that way.

Atsushi’s head throbbed again, this time the pain was stronger than before. Atsushi hid his wince, there was a buzz on his ears and distorted images appeared in his mind.

He was hugging his knees, sitting on a wooden crate. He hid his face as he muttered how no one would even notice if he got killed. How he had no place in the world.

The scene changed, and this time he was on his elbow and knees as he sobbed into his hands, screaming that he was not good after all.

The last scene was him sitting on a bench in a park, his face crumpled in confusion whether to smile hysterically or sobbed his heart out.

The scenes were all different, but there was one similarity each time. Each time Atsushi broke down, his heart crumbled under the stress and unable to go on… there was a person there. Always nearby. Always listening. Always helping him get back to his feet.

In front of that person, Atsushi could unload the burden in his heart without any fear of being rejected.

“Atsushi?” Atsushi almost flinched when Kyouka grabbed his arm, but he managed a small smile as he shook his head.

“Sorry, just a headache.” He patted Kyouka’s head tenderly. “I will be alright. Go with Naomi-san and have fun, okay?”

Kyouka reluctantly let him went home alone, promising to buy something for him too. Atsushi watched her go away, the pressure on his chest that built up since he woke up that day almost crushed his ribs when there was no one beside him to keep his mind off it. He walked despondently, confusion mixed with frustration made it impossible to keep still for long. He was restless, yet he didn’t know why. Despite the noise of traffic and people chattering like usual around him, Atsushi heard nothing but silence. Even within the throngs of people on the busy street, Atsushi felt like he was alone.

Loneliness gripped his heart like a maw of a beast that refused to let go of it’s prey. But it was ridiculous, he just spent time with everyone like usual and he split up with Kyouka not even ten minutes ago. So why he felt so, so alone?

Why the orange sky of late afternoon only made his chest ache more instead of being soothed?

Again, he caught a glimpse of a man in tan coat standing just across the road, looking at him with such a sad smile that Atsushi wanted to dash across the road, traffic be damned, just to hug and comfort him?

Again, the man disappeared before Atsushi could do anything.

“Let’s have a bet, Nakajima Atsushi.” Someone laughed, a confident smirk on his lips. “If you win, I will turn myself in and even let that man nullify my Ability. If you lose… well, then you will join the other people that I have saved.”

Atsushi groaned as he blindly slammed his hand over the ringing of his alarm. Lately, his sleep was terrorized by weird dreams. People that he never saw, or people in his life in acting in different roles. Places so absurd that it must be just his imagination (really? A flying whale?). Fortunately, he mostly forgotten about the dreams he had before he got out of the bed. Despite the slight exhaustion and constant frustration, the dreams didn’t affect his life much.

He washed his face and brushed his teeth. He changed his pajamas to his school uniform. Atsushi’s mind wander as his body moved in autopilot, wondering if the dreams were really because of the stress from the upcoming last exams. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and winced. Okay, maybe a week of disturbed sleep had made the dark rings under his eyes much more visible. He just hoped that he wouldn’t worry people too much. He thought his school uniform changed into a white dress shirt with black necktie for just a second, but he shoved the thought into the corner of his mind.

He got out of his bedrooms, walking downstairs to the dining room where his parents and Kyouka already seated.

“Oh? My boy finally woke up in time.” His father teased good naturedly. Atsushi was ready to retort but when he looked up to his father his words died in his throat and his eyes widened in shock.

There was a black blur on his father’s face. It was akin to watching an old CD that were already with it’s surface already scratched up.

“Don’t tease him, dear. It’s a good thing he didn’t have to rush today so we can enjoy breakfast together.” Atsushi’s head snapped towards his mother and to his horror, her face was also torn by the black blur.

“Alright, alright. Don’t glare at me sweetheart.”

Atsushi furiously rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was still dreaming. To his relief the black blurs disappeared and he could see his parent’s kind faces again.

“Atsushi?” Kyouka called him, the only one whose face didn’t blur out. Atsushi gulped before he took his chopsticks and started to eat.

His mother’s usually delicious cooking tasted like nothing in his mouth and Atsushi lost his appetite.

“That sounds like horror movie.” The boy beside him gasped. “Oh! That would be exciting if this is truly a horror movie! I wonder if a psychopath will appear soon and murdered us.”

Atsushi sighed, though he had a fond smile on his face. “Dazai-senpai, that sounded too morbid in the morning.” His eyes watched at his upperclassmen, who grinned at Atsushi as he continued on with his horror movie like story.

He had missed Dazai. He had really missed him and Atsushi almost cried when he saw Dazai’s back at the school gates, cheerfully talking to Ango who looked so tired.

“Atsushi-kun? You aren’t listening, are you?” Dazai accused, his lips pouting so adorably that Atsushi couldn’t help but to chuckle.

“I’m sorry, Dazai-senpai. It’s just… I miss you so much.” Atsushi’s face blushed as he realized what he was saying. “It felt like it’s been forever since I last saw you.”

“Aww, Atsushi-kun.” Dazai’s pout disappeared and replaced with goofy smile. “It’s just school trip! I even brought back a souvenir for you. But I’m glad to be so loved by my junior.”

Atsushi choked on air, his face as red as tomato. “N-no! It’s not like that, I just…” he sighed as he rubbed his face, willing his blush away. “Sorry, just forget what I said.”

Dazai smirked, evidently enjoying teasing him. “How can I forget such a passionate love confession, Atsushi-kun?”

Before Atsushi could deny that, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang obnoxiously. Dazai and Atsushi packed away their bento boxes and Dazai waved his hand at Atsushi as they split up at the stairs.

Something stopped Atsushi and he had to climb up the stairs again and caught Dazai’s wrist before he entered his classroom. “Dazai-senpai, where is your bandages?”

Dazai looked at him in as if he suddenly sprouted another head. “Bandages? I’m not hurt so why should I wear bandages? Is this because of that fight with that slug? Atsushi-kun, that slug can harm me as much as a toddler can.”

“I heard that, bastard!” Atsushi saw Chuuya shouted from his table inside the classroom. “Do you wanna go at it again, mackerel!?”

Kunikida stopped the two bickering students and sent Atsushi back to his own classroom. That’s right, Dazai had never wore any bandages except when he got into a fight with Chuuya. But why it was so jarring to see uncovered skin on his arms and neck? Why was it that seeing Dazai so carefree and unrestrained with his expression felt wrong?

On the corner of his eyes, he could see the man with the tan coat again. It took him a moment before he noticed how similar the man was with his senior, but also how different.

“Atsushi-kun, what kind of place is your ideal world?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you ask Kunikida-san about ideals?”

“His ideal world is boring. I want to know yours.”

“Uhh… when you ask me suddenly like this, I don’t know what to answer…”

“Just tell me what is the first thing you thought of when you think about ideal world. A world that you can shape to your will and desire.”

“Well… maybe…”

It was getting worse. Atsushi couldn’t even remember how long he had been having these weird dreams. Each time he woke up, he wanted to do nothing but lay there on the bed or screaming his lungs out. Each time he went downstairs to have his breakfast with Kyouka and his parents, he would see again the black blurs that hid his parents face. It stayed longer and longer each day, until now it completely fixed on their faces and Atsushi couldn’t even remember their faces anymore. Their voices were also distorted, now sounding more and more like broken radio.

What was the color of his father’s hair?

What kind of smile his mother always showed him?

Only Kyouka’s face remained the same, unaffected of the way the world around him distorted. As they walked together to school, Atsushi would see images overlapping. The streets they usually walked to school changed into an unfamiliar yet also familiar street. The faces of people he met on the streets blurred like his parents except for few people that were strangely more detailed than others. Even on the school, most of the students and teacher’s face were blurred except for few that he was always close with.

But even those people felt wrong to him. It felt wrong to see Naomi complaining about her meager allowance her father gave her. It felt wrong to see Kenji needing help to carry heavy things. It felt wrong to see Tanizaki failing his drive test for a motorcycle. It felt wrong to see Kyouka carrying a pink school bag around and not a knife. It felt wrong to see Dazai without his bandages and his worst problem was that Kunikida giving him detention again.

There were so many wrongs that it drove him insane.

Yet, even if the people around him felt more like a mirage… he should be satisfied, right? They were so happy and everyday was so peaceful. The worst thing they had to worry about was exams and not having enough money to buy books or games.

Atsushi should be grateful. He should be happy that people who were precious to him were so happy. This kind of daily life, this boring and peaceful daily life… didn’t he used to wish for these kind of days?

Atsushi should just… let go. He should avert his eyes from the way the world was distorting and breaking. Maybe someday everything would return to normal. Someday he wouldn’t even remember all of this and went on his days like normal.

Ignorance was a bliss, right?

Atsushi was ready. He could do this. He could blind himself to the truth and pretend. It would be easy. Everyone were happier here and he shouldn’t—

A glimpse of a man with a tan coat appeared on the corner of his eyes. Atsushi froze, his heartbeat going wild. Did he know what he was thinking? Did that man saw what Atsushi was doing?

Usually, the one with Dazai’s face would just stand there watching him. But now, when the world keep overlapping and breaking apart by it’s seams, the man… walked away. He turned around and leave.

Before he knew what he was doing, Atsushi stood up. Kunikida looked shocked to see Atsushi dashed outside of the classroom and tried calling for him, but Atsushi couldn’t hear it with all the buzzing in his ears. He ran with all of his might, frustrated at himself for being so slow. He knew he could go faster. He knew he had the ability to dash with speed faster than what could be seen by normal eyes.

To his shock, Kyouka was waiting for him by the school gates. He couldn’t see Dazai’s back anymore, but his instinct knew where to find him. If he rushed then maybe he would be in time to… to what? He didn’t know, but he knew that he had to get to Dazai before it was too late.

Kyouka stance wasn’t aggressive. She just stood there in front of the school gate, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. “Are you sure? You won’t be able to go back if you go from this place.”

Atsushi looked down. His everyday life here was like a dream, a wish that normally would be an impossible thing to be granted. Even short, his life here had made him so, so happy.

“There is still time.” Kyouka walked away, letting him to choose. “Think it carefully. What is it that you really desire?”

When Atsushi was still in the orphanage, he wished to have a family. He wished to have a father who would teach him things and praised him with pride whenever Atsushi accomplished something, no matter how trivial it was. He wished to have a mother who would cook for him and tell him bedtime stories, smiling happily as she welcomed him home everyday. Maybe he could have a brother or sister too.

When Atsushi was accepted into Armed Detective Agency, Atsushi wished for the peaceful days to never end. To just be able to spend his time with the people he had thought as family without any life in the line or any danger that could steal his family away right in front of him.

When Atsushi fell in love with Dazai, he wished for the man to be happy. To be free from the void that keep eating him away from the inside until the man was nothing but a husk.

This world. Everything in this world was Atsushi’s wishes made manifest. No matter how impossible his wishes were, this world granted it. He had a family. He didn’t have to worry if next day the Agency would still be there for him to return to. The man he loved was free from the darkness that always clung to him like his bandages.

It was so easy, so very tempting to continue living in this dream world. Even if he never left, what would it matter in the real world? He was just one human in the midst of billions that live in the world, easily forgotten. At least in this dream, he could be happy. He could be happy as time froze in this dream, where the people he loved would also always be happy and safe.

But he had forgotten. Living in this peaceful world had nearly erased a promise that he had made to himself, on the day that felt like forever ago. On the day when Atsushi found Dazai on the grave of his dearest friend.

Atsushi didn’t quite know where he was heading, his memories were mixed up and jumbled. He had to cling to his memories of the real world with all of his might or his memories of the dream world would bury it deep in his brain where Atsushi wouldn’t be able to discover it anymore. Again, the images of the world were overlapping. The sky went from bright blue to warm orange, rinse and repeat, as the cracks on the sky became harsher and bigger. The street turned into river, the noise of streaming water fought against the sound of cars.

Ahead, he could see a bridge. The images’ deterioration became even more rapid, the fissure now even cracked the ground around him. Atsushi saw Dazai standing on the bridge and his heart fell to his stomach as dread clenched his chest. It felt like the time slowed down as he watched Dazai’s body plunged into the water and Atsushi roared.

No, not Atsushi. Byakko roared within him, finally awakened from it’s long slumber.

His legs transformed into Byakko’s legs and Atsushi jumped. The images of water and concrete flashing before him, but Atsushi knew where he wanted to go.

His body hit water, immediately submerged. The warm glow of sunset sky behind him gave him just enough light to see Dazai sank deeper and deeper in the water. Atsushi swam downward, chasing after the bandages unraveling from Dazai’s arms. Atsushi opened his mouth to scream, but all that come out was garbled voice.

“Dazai-san!”

But apparently, it was enough. Dazai opened his eyes, his chocolate eyes so empty and cold. Atsushi swam faster, his hands barely managed to catch Dazai’s sinking body. Only when Atsushi touched him that Dazai’s eyes returned to focus and widened as he saw Atsushi. Atsushi smiled in relief when warmth returned to those chocolate eyes and he wrapped his arms around Dazai tightly, leaning his head under Dazai’s chin. It only took a second before Dazai returned the embrace, his hands gripping the back of Atsushi’s clothes like a lifeline.

The two of them sank into the darkness, warm and content in each other’s embrace as the world was breaking apart around them.

“So you managed to escape from your dream world on your own, that is impressive Atsushi-kun.” Yosano smiled warmly as she wrote down the last of her examination. “Normally, people trapped in the dream created by that Ability won’t be able to do so until their body started dying from being in coma for so long. Thankfully, your Ability healed any kind of damage from nearly a month in coma Atsushi-kun.”

“It’s only possible because Dazai-san helped me.” Atsushi laughed in self depreciating way. “If it wasn’t for him, I would probably choose to stay within that dream.” He tightened his grip on Dazai’s hand that was holding him, but the man didn’t react at all other than returning the grip.

“You shouldn’t be ashamed of that.” Yosano tapped the medical chart on her shoulder. “Humans are creatures of desire after all. The dream world created by that Ability felt so real and fulfilling that only a handful of people are able to choose to return on their own.” Especially people that were so deprived of happiness and had difficulty to connect with reality.

“What about the Ability user?” Atsushi asked tentatively. They had made a bet, even if it was foolish for him to do so. But the Ability user they chased was an illusive man and the numbers of his victims keep growing the longer he stayed free.

“He honored the bet and turned himself in when you woke up.” Yosano frowned. “Kunikida and Tanizaki-kun are keeping an eye on him until the transfer is finished. Director asked for Dazai to nullify the man’s Ability so the victims will be able to wake up, but… well, they are busy with administration anyway so you have some time before they call you.”

Dazai nodded to show that he had heard, but he kept his head hung low so no one could see his eyes hidden by his bangs.

“Alright, I should go.” Yosano hit Atsushi’s shoulder with the medical chart, though Atsushi barely felt the pain. “That was careless of you, kid. Good work, but if you do that again I will make sure you get the best treatment, hmm?”

Atsushi nodded quickly seeing Yosano’s scary smile. Yosano spared a glance towards Dazai for a moment before walking away. Kyouka and Naomi was outside when she opened the door, but Yosano ushered them to leave the two men alone.

Atsushi waited until the sounds of their footsteps fade away before smiling at Dazai. “Thank you for saving me, Dazai-san.”

“I didn’t save you.” Dazai whispered, so low and broken that pain blossomed on Atsushi’s chest. “I nearly gave up. I nearly left you behind.”

“It’s my fault.” Atsushi shook his head. “I… got blinded by the illusions. I foolishly think that it would be better for me to stay there and forget my reason to take that bet in the first place.”

He nearly abandoned hundreds of victims still in coma out there due to his selfishness.

“I won’t fault you. Your dream world is so beautiful.” Dazai laughed, but there was no humor in his voice. “Even I looked happy in that world.”

Dazai’s words stung Atsushi like a slap to the face. He gripped Dazai’s hand tighter, frustrated at how cold the man’s hand was.

“Why don’t you stay?” Dazai asked, his voice so brittle that Atsushi feared it would crumble and whisked away by the wind. “It would be easier if you live in that dream. Didn’t you also think so? What made you change your mind?”

Atsushi remembered his hesitance to return. How easily he turned his eyes away from the truth even when the world started breaking down. Atsushi would have stayed there, if he didn’t saw Dazai walking away and remembering his promise.

“I… made a promise to myself.” Dazai finally rose his head a little, his exhausted eyes peeking at Atsushi from beneath his bangs. “I promised to stay by your side.”

Dazai’s head snapped up, now their eyes meeting each other properly. “I know you won’t trust my promise if I made that promise with you, so I made it with myself. I promised that I will fight tooth and nail to stay by your side, for as long as you would have me with you.”

Dazai snorted, his eyes dark and shadowed beneath so much doubt and pain. “You are right. I wouldn’t trust that promise.”

Atsushi scratched his cheek sheepishly. “I also don’t trust myself to be able to keep that promise, I nearly broke it when I tried to stay in that dream.” Atsushi’s eyes returned to their hands and smiled a little. “But when I saw you leaving… I remembered why I made that promise.”

“Why?” Atsushi almost didn’t hear the whispered question. He wondered if he was meant to hear it in the first place. Yet he still wanted to answer anyway.

“I… I just don’t want to make you sad.” He didn’t want Dazai to experience loss again. “When I saw you leaving, your back looked so lonely… so I knew I had to go back with you.”

For a long moment, Dazai didn’t respond. Atsushi wrapped both of his hands to Dazai’s cold ones, rubbing them gently to warm them up. Dazai slowly intertwined their fingers together and put Atsushi’s hands on his cheeks.

Dazai smiled for the first time since Atsushi had woken up, and if what he sensed from Yosano was true, then ever since Atsushi fell into coma. Dazai gently kissed the tips of his fingers, his breath felt warm and shaky against his fingers.

“You are too good for me Atsushi-kun.” Dazai closed his eyes. “I don’t deserve someone like you.”

“But I want to be with you, if you will have me.” Atsushi scooted closer to Dazai so he could lean his forehead to Dazai’s. “Can I stay with you?”

Would you trust my promise?

“Of course. I want you to stay with me.” Dazai leaned his head closer and kissed Atsushi’s lips, his longing and desire clear as he deepened the kiss.

Atsushi wrapped his arms around Dazai’s neck as the older man climbed into the bed with him, desiring to be closer. To once again be in each other’s arms.

I trust you.

[luckyrabbithunter]

@sukiban​ liked for a starter

____

“Welcome to Kariudo Roadside Food, ma’m!”

It was an incredibly difficult life for Kariudo Seiko, yes, but one she at least had come to peace with. Nineteen years old with a child of five, but at the least she had a roof over her head with heat for her and her daughter. In one more year Naomi could enter first grade, and she wouldn’t have to worry about her being in the ramen shop all day. Her customers were nice and friendly to the child, and to her, but she longed for her daughter to be able to socialize with others her age.

She smiled as she noticed the rough looking girl enter her shop, bowing towards her. All were welcome here. She’d only had this stand for a few months (which included some favors she wasn’t particularly proud of), but she was happy that word-of-mouth was spreading. Good, tasty, but also cheap food... Seiko didn’t want to be a chef for rich people. She liked that most of her customers were of the middle and lower classes (and quite frankly, most were poor). It helped that those from her social class were usually... kinder, about her situation.

“Take a seat and take a menu right away ma’m; I want to tell you though, before you order; we’re having a special today, a rabbit stew!” Not... what you’d expect from a little roadside ramen place. “For the same price as the Ise Miso! It goes quickly... so if you want to try something a bit unique, I would recommend it!” She recommended to the delinquent, walking over and handing the girl a menu just in case.

... And at 6′6, absolutely towered over the only slightly younger girl.