Chapter Text
The trickling of raindrops making up for the silence of the ramen bar created the perfect ambiance for Takahashi Hiyori as she drowns in her reverie yet again. With her hand cupping her cheek, she stares at her right absentmindedly, her gaze locked on the red paper lanterns outside. She snaps out of thoughts as the cook places the bowl in front of her.
Sometimes, a hearty bowl of udon ramen is enough to satiate a hungry soul.
Hiyori puts her two palms together and mouths the word ittadakimasu.
As she eats her precious ramen, she couldn't help but eavesdrop the conversation to her left. She tries her best not to look to the person and instead focus on the voice, which is feather-soft by the way.
"Mom, I'm really sorry I couldn't eat dinner with you tonigh– yes, I'm done eating now, though— oh that's too bad— I'm okay, I promise I'm not overworking myself—"
Hearing the conversation made the corners of Hiyori's mouth slightly upturned.
The stranger dramatically sighs as he puts his right elbow to the table and palms his forehead.
"Well, I'm off. Thank you for the food." He stands up from his stool and readjusts his shoulder bag.
"Miss, your phone."
With raised eyebrows, Hiyori blinks hard and stops chewing, assuming she was the Miss he's referring to.
Pretty sure I'm the only Miss here.
She turns her head to the left and sees a seemingly concerned pale gray-haired man who probably has the same age as hers clad in a swamp green jacket and dark wash jeans returning the gaze.
Right, phone.
She immediately pats her jean pocket and feels that her phone is literally on the brink of slipping out of it. Oh.
"Hah, my bad." Hiyori grabs her phone out of the pocket.
"Can't trust my pocket on this one." She laughs, or she tries to, anyway. "Thank you."
The stranger nods and smiles pensively. "No problem."
This is when Hiyori gets a good look of the man. Under the jacket is a mustard yellow shirt, and he wears a white pair of sneakers. His height seems pretty average, about 5'7 or 5'8.
Oddly enough, she forgot to take note earlier that he actually has a small mole under his left eye.
His hands are buried in the pockets of his jacket as he turns his back and walks away from the bar.
"What is it with this guy and his soothing voice?" Hiyori wonders.
But most importantly,
why is his hair like that?
"Hiyori-san! I brought something for you!"
Hiyori, who is too comfortable with her sitting position on the brown couch, puts down the book she's reading and shuffles to the door.
She opens it and is greeted by a short brunette with a green backpack. It is also worth noting that her hands are behind her. "Riku-chan! How was school?" She crouches to her level and pats her head.
"Eh, usual good, but wait, close your eyes!"
"Alright," Hiyori closes her eyes and hears the crumpling of– paper?
The child points the tip of her nose. "Okay, you can open them now."
"Ooh, what could this b– oh wow," She grabs a warm pork bun from the paper bag.
"Thanks, Riku-chan. You didn't have to buy these for me, though."
"You know you deserve it, Hiyori-san." Riku says assertively and flashes a toothy grin.
It has been three days since Hiyori took the job of babysitting her eight-year-old niece Akimoto Riku. Her mother, who is Hiyori's sister, asked to take care of her since she's out for a business trip. Riku used to have a nanny, but she left the job recently due to family reasons.
Hiyori, unlike her sister, continues to resent Riku's dad for leaving them behind. God forbid, she even hates how Riku had to bear his surname.
"It's your loss, Akimoto." she thinks to herself.
The two had finished eating dinner two hours ago and are now getting ready for sleep.
Hiyori recently learned that Riku prefers to sleep with the lights on, and that she likes to hug a different plushie every night. This time, she has the pink bunny within her grasp.
"Ah, Hiyori-san, have I shared something about our teacher?" Riku shifts her position to face Hiyori.
"No, what about them?" She's wearing an eye mask, mainly because she is used to sleeping in the dark, but as of the moment it's not covering her eyes and is resting on her forehead.
"Oh, well you see, he's probably the coolest one I've met so far." Hiyori notices the glint in Riku's eyes.
"I don't know if all teachers are supposed to be like that, but he's just so friendly! He gets along with us really well!" Riku says with pure enthusiasm.
"And he looks so young too. It's weird because he has gray hair."
"Gray hair? That's interesting."
"Yeah, and he has this little mole on his right eye, oh no– left, like here." Riku points the area under her left eye.
Something clicks in her head. Gray hair. Beauty mark under left eye. Is that the same guy I saw three days ago?
Hiyori huffs. "Looks like someone has a crush."
"What?! No, I don't!" Riku's draws her brows in denial, which made Hiyori smirk, giving off the oh, really? face.
"Okay, maybe I have a small crush," she declares, her voice sounding defeated. Hiyori suppresses her laughter by knitting her lips shut.
Seconds later, Riku grabs Hiyori's notebook and pencil and scribbles on one of the pages. "But I bet everyone who sees him gets a crush on him too."
"See?" Riku shows off her doodle of his face; thick-browed and has the classic grin showcasing its teeth. And of course, the mole.
"He does look cute... according to your interpretation."
Riku stands up and places the notebook and pencil back to the desk. "Say, Hiyori-san, you are an artist,"
"Can you draw him for me?" She returns to the sleeping mat, lies on her stomach, with her elbows supporting the weight of her head, and persuades her with puppy eyes.
"Mm, I'm not sure about that." Hiyori pulls down the mask to her eyes jokingly.
"Oh come on, Hiyori-saaan."
"I mean, I haven't seen him yet after all." She replies flatly. Or maybe I have.
"Don't worry, I'll give you all the details you need." Riku eagerly says, emphasizing the word all.
"Sooo?"
Hiyori pulls up her eye mask to look at Riku. "Fine, I'll do it, but only if you sleep right now. As in, now."
"You're the best, Hiyori-san." Riku whispers to her ear and pecked her cheek.