Chapter Text
He gets woken up by the feeling of fingers running through his hair, and for a second, Gen thinks he hasn’t slept at all.
“Awake?”
“No.” He immediately responds, throat and mouth dry.
Burying his face in the space under her chin, he wraps his arms tighter around Ashiro.
She laughs, and he feels the vibration of it. “We need to get breakfast and check out.”
Groaning, Gen feels his eyelids shut because no matter what time it is, it’s way too early.
Although if he’s being honest, he’s not exactly tired anymore. He just doesn’t want to leave Ashiro’s side.
Today is the day they return to Tokyo and their respective divisions.
“I’m going to wash up.” She says, and Gen absolutely does not complain when she leaves his grasp.
As she walks off to the bathroom, he pulls the blanket over his head and hugs the pillow she’d used.
He doesn’t want to go back.
When Gen hears the door of the bathroom open, he curls up tighter, frowning in the darkness.
A force lightly hits his back, and he blinks.
She just kicked him.
“Oi, Ashiro!” He screeches, jumping out from under the covers and adjusting to the light in the room.
Ashiro simply beams at him, looking way too cheery despite it being their last day, “Good morning, sunshine.”
“You kicked me, didn’t you?!”
“Heh,” she chuckles, looking away and picking out her clothes. “Who knows?”
Infuriating.
Infuriatingly annoyingly adorable.
He seethes the whole two steps to the bathroom, before slamming the door shut and sighing as he takes in his expression.
Of course his face is red.
Going through his morning routine, he steps back out and grabs his clothes before changing.
They head down to eat breakfast, another simple meal that he can’t be mad over, because it fills him right up.
Admittedly though, Gen does miss Ashiro’s mother’s cooking. He calculates the time it’ll take to head back to her house, and hopes they’ll reach in time for lunch.
“What time is our train back to Tokyo?” He asks as they pack their stuff up.
“Just after sunset, around five.”
“You’re not staying for dinner with your mum?”
Ashiro smiles at the question, and he instantly understands it wasn’t a choice she’d made.
“My mum didn’t want me to return to Tachikawa too late. And I’m back on duty tomorrow morning.”
Suddenly, he feels bad for monopolizing Ashiro the entire time she’s been back. Although, she’s the one who was dragging him around to places, so was it really Gen’s fault?
Scratching the back of his neck as they lock the door of their room and head to the lobby, he clears his throat.
“If you need me to… leave for the afternoon… I can find somewhere to-”
She snorts, ushering him into the lift. “It’s fine, you still have to keep your promise, remember?”
He blinks.
For a moment, Gen thinks back to the playground, and he swallows.
“The weeds.”
Oh.
That promise.
“Right,” he nods. “The weeds. Your front yard.”
“What did you think I was talking about?”
She knows damn well.
Shrugging, Gen opts to keep his hands in his pockets, and she walks ahead of him to speak to the receptionist.
“How did you enjoy your stay, Ashiro-san?” She asks, collecting their room key.
“It was lovely, the onsen was great too.”
“That’s a relief to hear, we hope to see you again!”
As she speaks to the lady for a bit more, Gen realizes the scarf wrapped around Ashiro’s neck is his.
He didn’t even notice he’d walked out of the room without it.
Oh well. She always looks good in his clothes anyway.
When they exit the inn, Gen doesn’t bring it up, following her towards the town’s bus interchange where their bus awaits them.
At the very least, they’re not dodging through crowds of people this time, and are actually the first few people on board.
Ashiro gestures for him to sit inside, and he happily accepts the window seat.
She easily puts their bag into the overhead compartment, and without even needing to think twice, he passes the right earbud to her.
Softly, she smiles at him and he pretends it doesn’t cause his heart to skip a beat.
On the journey back, Gen sees the way her head lolls to the side, before resting it on his shoulder instead.
It’s rare for her to be the more tired one between the both of them.
Since he didn’t get the chance to do so on the ride to the village, he takes the time now to admire the scenery, thoughts drifting to Ashiro anyway.
It’s such a shame to return back to Ariake. It’s a shame, but Gen can’t help but be excited to go back to the First Division.
Because ultimately, like Ashiro, he has something to work towards. He has to become Commander, he has to beat Shinomiya Isao.
And he can’t do either of that unless he trains harder. Unless he gets his personal weapon. Unless he surpasses the old man.
While he’s enjoyed being with Ashiro, and her mother, this isn’t where he belongs.
Regardless, Gen finds himself treasuring it anyway. He treasures the friendly folks who seem to look out for Ashiro. He treasures Ashiro’s family home, and the room she’s let him crash in the past week.
He treasures the time he had with her, and Ashiro’s mother who has been generously cooking meals for them. He treasures sitting at a dining table, with people who don’t hate his guts.
People who care about his well being.
Not that the people in the defense force don’t, but it’s different. They care about him because Gen is a troop member.
Ashiro’s mother… Ashiro, herself - there’s something deeper in the way they show concern for him.
It might have to do with just the way she was raised, and it’s probably her kind personality - but Gen knows what it’s like to be disregarded.
And the incident on the first day told him all he needed to know about Ashiro.
She mumbles something in her sleep, and he huffs out fondly, looking over at her.
This is the person who will be Captain of the Third Division, undoubtedly.
Together, they will be the strongest two of the new generation in the defense force.
Despite everything - despite Ashiro’s fears, despite Gen’s bad attitude, they’ll be the best damn Commanders in the defense force.
He smiles at the idea of that.
As lightly as possible, so Gen doesn’t stir her awake, he rests his head on hers and closes his eyes.
He’s always stood at the top on his own, because there wasn’t anyone who could match his strength. He would stand at the top alone, willingly, because it felt best.
Ashiro stood at the top on her own, because there wasn’t anyone else in the force as capable as her. She would stand at the top alone, unwillingly, because it was her duty.
Now, he thinks, they’re both a little less alone. And it’s a change Gen doesn’t find himself hating.
When they’re finally back at her house, he stretches, hating how he had to be cramped in a tiny seat for an hour.
Before he can complain about it, Ashiro’s already turning away from him, unlocking her front gate.
“You kept the keychain.” He points to the sea angel, voicing out what he noticed on the first day.
She looks at her set of keys, and then at him, eyebrow raised.
“Obviously? Did you not keep the one I gave you?”
The jellyfish.
“Of course I did, what do you take me for?!” He hisses out, and if Hasegawa were here, he’d be making fun of Gen and imply that he’s sulking. “It’s hanging on my duffel bag.”
He’s not sulking, for the record.
As they take off their shoes, Ashiro’s mother pops out from the living area, greeting them, “Welcome home, you two!”
“I’m home.” Ashiro replies, pulling her mother in for a hug.
Gen doesn’t know what to say, so he doesn’t respond, merely nodding before he tucks his boots away in a corner.
Only because her mother is watching.
But when he turns back, they’re still hugging, and looking right at him.
Expectantly.
“Uh.”
“Naru-chan,” Ashiro’s mother calls him over, smiling. “Come here.”
It’s not an order, it’s not exactly a command.
It’s a request, and Gen can’t find the words to decline the offer.
So he joins in, letting Ashiro’s mother wrap her arms around him too, and he ends up pressed against Ashiro.
He doesn’t complain.
All he does is close his eyes, tentatively bringing his hand to rest on Ashiro’s mother’s back, whilst his other arm wraps around Ashiro’s waist.
How nice.
Her mother pats his head, and Gen doesn’t cry this time. He doesn’t cry, but oh man. He’ll miss this.
For someone who’s been constantly passed from one orphanage to another, from one school to another, Gen never held an attachment to any of the places he’s been to.
This might be the first time he’s ever felt this way.
Ashiro’s mother slaps them on their backs, and his eyes snap open hearing the loud smack and Ashiro’s groan.
“Mum,” she whines, and Gen watches as she frowns. “That hurt.”
“You’re a big girl, Mina! No complaining.” Ashiro’s mother laughs, and Gen finds the corner of his mouth twitching upwards without his permission. “I’m going to finish preparing lunch, it’ll be done soon.”
She lets go of the two of them, and Gen mourns the loss of warmth as they walk up to Ashiro’s room.
The clothes he’d put to wash two days ago after their training session are neatly folded on her bed and his heart does a thing.
“We should start packing our bags.” Ashiro says, and Gen nods, carefully taking the clothes with him to ensure he doesn’t mess them up.
“I’m gonna play some music.”
“Sure.”
So he does, putting on the same playlist he’d used on the bus rides, and they go about doing their own things like that.
When Gen is done, with some extra space to spare in his bag, he fiddles with the jellyfish keychain.
Glancing over at Ashiro, he looks at her bag and realizes her own jellyfish, the Lion’s Mane, is hanging on it.
Matching.
Or whatever. He doesn’t care. Much.
“Narumi.” She suddenly speaks, close to his ear and he blinks to find her right in front of him. He’d been so focused on her bag he didn’t even see her move to him.
She’s holding onto a small box, and he raises an eyebrow.
“What is…”
“A gift,” Ashiro thrusts it in his hands, looking shy. “Your birthday is in a month, isn’t it?”
He blinks at her.
“How… How do you know that.” Swallowing, Gen feels his heart do a thing again, except he can pinpoint what it does.
It’s thudding loudly in his chest, and if it weren’t for the music, his heart beat might’ve been possible for her to hear.
“I asked around.”
That in itself is bizarre. Why-
Why would she- Why does she need to know?
And to give him a present-
He feels sick.
The orphanages- they never celebrated his birthday with him. It wasn’t that they didn't celebrate at all, because other younger kids would get grouped together and be given the chance to blow out candles each month.
But Gen was never included in the December batches.
Not that he ever minded, or needed to be.
Oh. Oh, he swallows again, throat so fucking dry like it always gets - whenever Ashiro manages to catch him off guard.
This might be the first birthday gift anybody’s ever gotten him.
When he received his first salary, Gen spent so much money on himself, on action figures, on games - on everything he’d ever wanted, but could never afford.
Last year, he bought a slice of cake for himself. There weren’t any candles for him to blow out, because Narumi Gen doesn’t make wishes.
Despite celebrating in the darkness of his room, as snow fell outside, it was nice.
Because it was the first year he’d been truly free.
He looks down at the box, unsure of how he initially missed that it’s wrapped with a pink ribbon attached to it.
When he reaches to untie the ribbon, hands rest on top of his own, and Gen looks up at her - hoping his expression is impassive.
“Don’t- Not now.” Ashiro mumbles, gently removing his hands from the box. “It might be a little lame.”
She’s embarrassed?
“I don’t mind.” He says, hand returning to the box, only to carefully place it in his bag when he sees the way Ashiro frowns.
“But if the Ashiro Mina insists, then I will determine how ‘lame’ of a present it is when I’m back in Ariake.”
She breathes out a sigh of relief, and man.
Man.
A gift.
A gift for him.
A gift, because Ashiro asked different people to find out when his birthday is.
“You’re unbelievable,” he chuckles, finding himself inching towards her. “So damn unbelievable.”
Blankly, she stares at him, before bringing a hand to his cheek.
As she holds onto him, Gen wonders what he’s done to deserve this.
To deserve all of this.
He’s so glad he’s alive.
“You know, Ashiro…” He starts, stretching his legs out and manoeuvring hers so they rest on top of his.
She lets him do whatever he wants, before acknowledging him, “Hm?”
Gen thinks back to last night, and frankly - if Ashiro had told him that was his birthday present, it would’ve been more than enough.
But the trip, this entire trip - wasn’t really meant for Gen. He knows full well the purpose had been for her to come back to her hometown, to unwind, because life in the defense force had been stressful.
It’s easy for him to forget that though, when he recalls everything that’s happened, and how it feels like Gen is constantly being given things each day.
He rests his hands on her waist, pulling her slightly closer.
“I hate you so much,” he breathes out and leans in, tilting his head to the side. “But at the same time-”
Ashiro mirrors his movements, as if they’re bound together, and patiently waits for his follow up.
“I like you so fucking much.”
And then their mouths are on each other’s, and she’s guiding him even closer with the hand on his cheek.
Tachikawa is an hour from Ariake. It’s fifty kilometres away from Ariake. It’s a bus, and two train lines away from Ariake.
Ashiro Mina is an hour away from him, if he rides his motorbike.
A round trip would be two hours.
Kisses will be a rare occasion.
He probably won’t see her again until next year.
So Gen presses his lips against her mouth, her cheeks, under her eyes, on her forehead, on her ears, on her nose, everywhere he can reach because he’s selfish.
He’s selfish, and greedy, and he doesn’t want to forget what she feels like.
Halfway through it, Ashiro starts giggling again, and Gen can’t help but grin against her neck.
She whacks him when he brushes his teeth against the skin there, not really trying, but stops to face her anyway.
“What?” He asks, innocently. Because he is. He’s totally innocent.
“You know what.” She says, rolling her eyes but she’s still smiling and it’s so cute.
Unable to help himself, because again, Narumi Gen is greedy - he presses another kiss to her lips.
He smiles into it when he feels Ashiro hasn’t stopped smiling either, and fuck.
He’s so happy.
They only stop when Ashiro’s mother knocks on her door, and they jump apart with their quick reflexes. Gen narrowly dodges her hands that were definitely about to push him backwards again.
“C-Coming!” Ashiro yells out, face red, and Gen savours it.
When they’re by the dining table, he’s seated directly across from Ashiro’s mother again and he tries not to arouse suspicion.
Ultimately, it probably fails, because he can’t stop his face from burning.
The food is delicious, so he’s quick to forget his embarrassment. Her mother’s karaage is too good, he wishes he had the ability to eat it everyday.
And it might just be possible, because when he voices his sentiment out, she gushes about how Gen is so nice. She then tells him she can send him all the recipes she’s made for them in the past week.
A part of him wants to refuse, because that would be so much work for her. But another part - that eyes Ashiro and considers how she might miss her mother’s cooking once in a while, eventually agrees.
He bows his head in gratitude, and decides it’s a good chance to mention the weeds in her front yard, boasting about his years of experience.
“Whenever I got in trouble, I’d always get sent to do the weeding!” Gen expresses his confidence like he’s applying for a job.
“Oh my,” Ashiro’s mother says as she brings the empty plates to the sink for Ashiro to wash. “Our front yard will be in your care then, Naru-chan!”
As he passes his plates to Ashiro, she simply nudges him before deadpanning, “I don’t think you’re supposed to brag about how much you’ve been punished for misconduct like that.”
“Your mum loves me, misconduct or not.”
Ashiro turns around, watching her mother wipe the table and she smiles.
“She really does.”
And it’s such an unexpectedly sincere answer that Gen feels his face heat up.
But do you? His mind supplies, and he bites down on his bottom lip so he doesn’t accidentally ask her.
Instead, he ruffles Ashiro’s hair, dodging when she tries to elbow him and asks her mother for gloves that he can use.
Zipping his jacket up, Gen stations himself outside and begins working out the weeds in the yard, earphones in and oblivious to the rest of the world.
It’s a surprisingly pleasant activity he’s come to enjoy, even though he’d spent the first time doing it complaining and cursing his teachers out in his head.
Every time after that, knowing he could listen to music and tune everything out - only stopping to double check that what he was pulling out was invasive, the punishment became more like a reward.
Without needing to deal with people, Gen found company in the grass, and even now - he still has it in him.
Since it’s autumn, it’s also the perfect weather, and the sun isn’t hot at all as it descends west.
He doesn’t know how long he spends outside, but what Gen does know is that he’s incredibly proud of his work.
Tossing the weeds in their respective bin, Gen heads back inside and gets told that a bath has been prepared for him.
“For all your hard work, Naru-chan!” Ashiro’s mother praises him, and he relishes in it. Nobody ever told him he did a good job, since weeding was always meant to be a punishment.
She passes him a glass of water too, and he downs it within seconds, grabbing more on his own.
The soak is much needed, and he leans his head against the rim of the bathtub, thinking about how he’ll likely stay up tonight to get extra practice in.
To make up for the lost time.
It’s most certainly not wasted time though.
Gen is undeniably thankful that Ashiro invited him here, and he’s absolutely finding a way to repay her.
The exhibition for the sea angels should be reopening soon, but taking her back to the aquarium doesn’t seem to be sufficient. Gen wants - needs, to do something more. Something greater.
He taps his fingers against the bathtub as he tries to think of ideas, but keeps drawing up blanks.
There’s no home for him to bring her back to. There’s no family he can introduce her to.
Sighing, Gen splashes his face with water and figures he’ll be struck with a stroke of genius eventually.
Narumi Gen is smart as hell, after all.
Getting up, he changes into a shirt, layering a hoodie on top of it. He puts on his jeans, because they’re set to leave soon, and he frowns.
Despite knowing he won’t be able to accomplish his goals if he stayed here any longer, Gen still finds it difficult stomaching the thought of going away.
Even though it’s only been seven days.
But in these seven days, he’s found out so much about Ashiro.
He’s found out so much about himself.
He’s found out what it’s like to be loved, to be appreciated, to be wanted, to be accepted for who he is.
When he steps out of the bathroom, the hallway is dark, and he blinks - trying to adjust.
Towel drying his hair, because Gen has learnt his lesson, he walks to the kitchen.
“What the-?”
Before he can finish his sentence, a party popper goes off and he watches as confetti falls in front of his face.
From his side, the room slowly lights up and he realizes it’s because there’s a candle.
A candle on a cake.
Not just a slice of cake.
It’s an entire cake.
Ashiro snorts at what must be his reaction, inching towards him, and all Gen can do is balk at the situation.
There’s no way.
He registers a soft voice singing, and he turns to see Ashiro’s mother smiling at him as she claps along to the birthday song.
They sing it. Both of them.
And when it’s over, Gen still hasn’t accepted what’s happening but he turns to face Ashiro who holds the cake in front of him.
The wax is melting, the flame on the candle flickers, and the way it casts a shine on Ashiro’s face is beautiful.
It’s almost hilarious how all he can focus on is how pretty Ashiro looks.
“Make a wish already, Narumi.” She urges him, sounding annoyed but her fond expression gives what she really feels away.
He clicks his tongue at her, before shutting his eyes.
Narumi Gen doesn’t make wishes.
He doesn’t make wishes for things that he knows will come true through his own efforts.
So he thinks about this place. He thinks about this house. He thinks about Ashiro’s mother.
I wish Ashiro's home, Ashiro, and her loved ones will stay safe and happy forever.
And then he’s blowing out the single candle, for the first time in what has to be his twenty years of living and the lights flicker back on.
Ashiro sets the cake onto the table, and Gen rubs his eyes.
He won’t cry.
He won’t, but he pulls Ashiro into a hug anyway, burying his face into her neck as he hears Ashiro’s mother chuckle in amusement.
She smells nice, and he realizes she must’ve taken a bath while he was outside.
God, Gen never considered himself lucky. He’s never been lucky.
But as he squeezes Ashiro in his embrace, and feels the way she runs a hand on the back of his head, Gen might be the luckiest person alive.
“Naru-chan,” He hears Ashiro’s mother call out, so he turns to face her, stepping away from Ashiro when he realizes what he’s done. “Can I take a picture?”
She’s standing at the other end of the table, and he sharply nods. Gen can’t say no to her.
Ashiro keeps her arm around his waist, and Gen keeps his arm around her shoulder. He throws a peace sign up, mimicking bunny ears above Ashiro’s head and he watches in delight as her mother laughs.
“Can- Can we-” he rushes out, when Ashiro’s mother is about to walk away. Both Ashiro’s look at him, and he flushes under the intensity of their gazes.
Taking a deep breath, he eyes the cake as he makes his request, “A picture- A picture with all of us.”
There’s a beat of silence, and he keeps his eyes trained on the chocolate cake.
“Of course!” Ashiro’s mother finally responds, and he helps her set up her phone so they can use the timer function.
With Ashiro and her mother by his side, he realizes how awkward he must seem in the picture - standing in the center but he decides it’s fine.
Because Ashiro’s mother pats his hair, while Ashiro holds his hand and- fuck.
He squeezes Ashiro’s hand when the shutter goes off, and she softly smiles at him when he looks over.
“Okay, Naru-chan, here’s the knife! We can each have a slice before you have to leave, I’ll pack the rest into containers for you and Mina to take back.”
Portioning out the cakes, he places them onto the prepared plates and sits down.
The cake tastes familiar, and he finally figures out why two bites in.
“The cake from the cafe-?” Gen turns to Ashiro, and she nods.
“Oh, Mina, you’ve brought Naru-chan to Hii-chan’s place?” Ashiro’s mother lights up, “Her cake is just the best, isn’t it?”
It tastes so much better than the single slice he’d bought for himself from a chain bakery a year ago.
“Yeah.”
When they finish, he brings the plate to the sink but gets told by Ashiro’s mother to leave it there. They have a train to catch after all, and she passes him the container full of cake.
He’s not surprised to see Ashiro with the same amount in her own box.
Carefully, he packs it into his duffel bag, shifting it so both Ashiro’s present and the container won’t get damaged.
Once they’re by the entranceway and they have their shoes on, Ashiro’s mother pulls the two of them into one last hug.
She wishes Ashiro well, and Gen respectfully chooses not to listen in to their conversation.
When she looks at him, Ashiro’s mother smiles, and Gen reminds himself he isn’t crying today.
“Happy early birthday once again, Narumi.” She says- she says his name, and wow. She’s just like Ashiro, catching him off guard. “Thank you for always taking care of Mina.”
“I-”
He doesn’t do much. He doesn’t do that much. He doesn’t do anything that’s ever warranted something as grand as this.
“I’d love to see you again soon! Come back anytime - I haven’t even gotten the chance to show you Mina’s baby pictures yet.”
By his side, Ashiro audibly reacts in horror at the idea of that.
Ashiro’s mother grins at her daughter before extending her hand out.
Gen laughs, nose prickling again.
A handshake.
He takes her hand and gives it a firm shake.
Just like their first meeting.
“Thank you for having me, Ashiro-san. Really… I appreciate it.”
Thank you for loving me.
“Safe travels back to your respective bases, you two!” She says, grinning wider and all Gen can think about is how Ashiro’s mother definitely influenced the way Ashiro is now.
“Also-” she suddenly follows up, causing both of them to turn around when they’re out the door. “Even if the entire world chooses to stop believing in you, I’ll always be right by your side, okay?”
Gen watches as Ashiro’s eyes widen, sees the way her bottom lip trembles, the way she clenches her fist.
“I’ll make you proud.”
His eyes dart to Ashiro’s mother’s face- and he instantly knows what she’s thinking.
Because he has the exact same thought.
You already have, dummy.
And then Ashiro is turning away, and Gen nods one last time at her mother before taking in the sight of the house.
He offers an arm for Ashiro to hold onto as they walk to the bus stop, feeling the way her hand squeezes his bicep as she cries.
Her shoulders shake, and Gen runs his fingers through her hair the entire time they wait for the bus to arrive.
Momentarily, Ashiro manages to collect herself to get on and for the ten minutes to the station, she doesn’t make even the smallest of noises.
But when they’re finally on the train, this time seated side by side, Gen realizes she must have been trying to maintain her composure.
Because the dam breaks, and she bursts into tears as soon as the train doors shut.
Ashiro doesn’t turn away from him, she doesn’t shy away from his touch as he guides her head back onto his shoulder.
She lets him see the way she is, walls down, and hand clutching onto his so tightly it hurts.
Gen doesn’t say anything. All he does is sit with her, running his free hand through her hair, giving her the time and space to let it all out.
If he feels this empty, leaving a place that isn’t even his - Gen can’t imagine how Ashiro must feel.
Not that he has to, since her uncontrollable crying leaves no room for imagination at all.
When she eventually sobs herself to sleep, wearing herself out, he wipes away the remaining tears that hang on her eyelashes and presses a kiss to the top of her head.
It’s a remarkably gentle move that Gen would’ve laughed at himself for doing, had his heart not hurt the way it does - witnessing Ashiro breakdown.
He’s definitely going to terrorize the First Division’s kitchen to try and recreate Ashiro’s mother’s cooking.
Gen spends the rest of the ride looking out the window, hand still in Ashiro’s now looser grip, trying hard not to think about anything at all.
When they arrive back in Tokyo, he shakes Ashiro awake, ushering her out of the train with her bag in his hand and his duffel already on him.
“Wait here.” He says, getting her to sit down on a bench on the platform as he passes her bag to her.
Entering the small cafe that he’d spotted from the window, he’s pleased to see there isn’t anybody in line, and he buys a hot chocolate and two cookies.
He finds Ashiro staring into space, nose and cheeks still red from the tears.
“Here,” he hands her the cup and one of the cookies, “Drink up.”
She readily takes a sip, before sighing in contentment.
“Your train to Tachikawa comes in ten minutes, but it’s the platform closest to this one.” He informs her of what he’d managed to catch on the signboards, before taking a bite of his cookie.
“It’s warm.” She whispers, voice hoarse. Gen raises an eyebrow at the random statement.
“The hot chocolate? It better be!”
“No…”
“It’s not?” He jumps up from his seat, ready to take the drink back to the cafe.
Ashiro snorts, keeping the cup out of his reach. “No, you fool. That’s not what I meant.”
“I meant- You…” She mumbles, and Gen looks down at her before sitting next to her again. “You’re warm, Narumi.”
“Hah?”
And then she’s grinning at him, and it’s such a relief to see her happy, Gen immediately feels his shoulders relax.
“Thanks. I’m feeling better.”
He huffs, finishing his cookie and ruffling her hair because he doesn’t know what to say. It’s not like he was trying to cheer her up or anything.
Once Ashiro finishes her cookie as well, they take the escalator down. Gen nearly falls over from shock when she turns around, having gotten in front of him, and hugs his middle.
“Ashiro-” he hisses, before accepting his fate. “We’re in public.”
Despite that, she doesn’t let go until they reach the end of the escalator, and Gen doesn’t even have to look around him. He knows damn well people are watching them.
But she doesn’t explain her sudden impulse for public displays of affection, simply tugging on his hand and Gen rolls his eyes as she brings him to her platform.
“What if I wanted to take my train back to Ariake, Ashiro?”
“It’s not coming for another ten minutes after mine does.”
“When I told you to be more selfish back then, I was referring to the battlefield.” He reminds her of their fight, and she laughs.
It brings him more joy than he’d like to admit, making her smile again.
Before she climbs the stairs back up, Ashiro swoops in to steal a kiss from him, and he doesn’t even have time to react or respond because she’s already leaning back.
She grins at him, cocky, “You’re kinder than you look, Narumi.”
“Wh- What the hell!” Gen yells, sticking his hands into his pockets. “And you’re more irritating than you look, Ashiro!”
And then she’s walking up, and it’s too late when he notices she’s stolen his scarf. He doesn’t know how he’d missed it for the second time, as they were leaving Ashiro’s house.
But now she has two of his jackets and his scarf.
Yeah. Ten times more irritating than she looks. That idiot.
His heart skips a beat anyway, and he has trouble hiding his stupid grin as he walks to his own platform.
The sight of Ashiro, smiling at last, doesn't leave his mind the entire train ride back to Ariake.
He doesn’t speak to anyone once he’s back on base, opting to grab dinner to go and head straight to his room.
Eating as he unpacks, Gen keeps the cake in his portable fridge, thankful he has his own room.
The meal can’t even hold a candle to Ashiro’s mother’s cooking, and he realizes belatedly that it’s going to take some time for him to get used to this taste again.
When he finally reaches for the present in his bag, he places the box in front of himself - not even bothering to guess what it could contain.
Gen doesn’t have the slightest idea.
The wrapping paper is one of stars, and he can’t help but gingerly unwrap it, even though it’d be faster to just rip it open.
It’s-
It’s a planetarium.
He laughs, he laughs and nearly chokes on the rice in his mouth because god.
Of course.
There’s a card attached to the box, he notices, and he doesn’t even know when Ashiro got the time to do all of this. They’d been practically attached to the hip the entire time.
Dear Narumi, actually no, sorry. That was gross.
Narumi,
You may be an insufferable fellow, and while it may seem like you have no good points other than your strength-
I’ve come to realize that you’re more than you seem, or what you like to show. It’s almost cute, the way you try and hide how you’re actually one of the kindest people in the First Division.
Maybe it’s because you were always there, during the training camp, that I started noticing.
Maybe it’s because you always manage to give me the push I need to remember why I joined the force in the first place.
But I wanted to repay you for all you’ve done for me, so like how you brought me to your treasured spot, I brought you to mine.
I hope you had fun.
It was hard thinking about where to bring you, but seeing your reaction to the stars at the park, I’m happy you came along.
Although I never expected to…
kiss…in the classroom, or the many times after that… It was nice.Thank you for coming with me, and I know it doesn’t compare to the actual constellations outside, but hopefully this helps you on days where the stars aren’t visible.
Happy early birthday.
I, too, hate you so much.
But I also like you just as much.
Idiot.
The note ends with a drawing of a cat in a party hat, and he chuckles, before realizing it sounds broken.
Water- tears, drip onto the card, and he moves it out of the way as he flops onto his futon.
Even though he wasn’t supposed to cry today.
He reads over the note again, letting the tears roll down his cheeks as he responds in his head.
The kindest person in the First Division.
It’s not him. Far from it.
Not as long as Shinomiya Isao is still around.
But the kiss. He notes how she’d written it out, before canceling it in scribbles.
And she wants to call him the cute one?
He laughs, and he cries, keeping the note against his heart as he looks up at his ceiling.
With the tears still in his eyes, he moves to set the planetarium up, pleased to see it’s already charged.
It even doubles as a bluetooth speaker, how ingenious.
Finishing his dinner, he chews and swallows his last bite as he walks to turn off his lights.
Although it really doesn’t compare to real life, the way the constellations cover his otherwise barren and boring ceiling manages to quirk a smile out of him.
When he shoots Ashiro a message, thanking him for the gift, he’s surprised to see her reply instantly.
ashiro 💢👎🙄
> You’re welcome
> I was thinking…
She spends the next five minutes typing, and Gen sits in darkness as he waits for the message that doesn’t seem to ever arrive.
Narumi
> did u fuckig die or something
> hello????????
ashiro 💢🙄🤍
> Have some patience.
> I was wondering if you want to see the first sunrise together, and celebrate New Year’s.
He blinks at the invitation.
Narumi :/<3
> well!
> if u have no one else to spend it with
> then i, the almighty narumi gen, will grant you his presence
ashiro 💢🙄🤍
> Never mind. I’ll go with Mizuki and Arashi instead
Narumi :/<3
> i
> no
> hey
> u already said u woud go with me
ashiro 💢🙄🤍
> Are you sure it won’t be a hassle for the Great Almighty Narumi Gen?
Narumi :/<3
> anything for the future third division captain
ashiro 💢🙄🤍
> Lol
> Cute :)
Narumi :/<3
> ??????????????????
ashiro 💢🙄🤍
> I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve, Narumi
> Good night
He lets out a groan.
Damn you, Ashiro Mina.
After wrapping up his trash, Gen spends the next few hours training alone, only letting his thoughts slip to the idea of Ashiro in a fancy yukata when he’s on break.
By the time he’s satisfied with his progress and has washed up, it’s 4am, and his futon feels exceptionally cold.
Yet he remembers the fact that they’ll be seeing each other, sooner than he’d anticipated, and Gen falls asleep easier than he’d expected.
Happy.
He goes to sleep happy, and for the first time in a long time - he sleeps feeling completely at peace even though Ashiro’s no longer by his side.
In seven days, he finds out what it’s like to be loved unconditionally, for who he is.
In seven days, Narumi Gen finds out he likes Ashiro Mina - and the realization doesn’t make him feel as bad as it should.
(On his birthday, Gen receives his personal weapon. It’s exactly how he wanted it to look, feel, and be like.
Hasegawa and Isao-san make it clear that it’s not a birthday present, and it was just a lucky coincidence.
Gen doesn’t really care about the details though, informing Ashiro as soon as he can - with a picture of himself and his bayonet.
She congratulates him and they immediately book out one of the training rooms in the Ariake Base, dated for the first of January.)