Chapter Text
Prologue
A HUSTLING BUSTLING road, closed for the week. The smell of pungent diesel and petrol fumes that would usually pollute the air a dirty grey colour was replaced by an aroma of frying food and sweets. Instead of creeching tires and beeping of horns, shouts of stall vendors advertising their products and delighted yells of little children weaving in and out of the constant buzz of the crowd were heard.
The Tanabata Festival had hit Tokyo's street full-swing, and the step of a sandalled foot, followed by bright eyes, a satchel hung over a shoulder supporting the weight of a rucksack echoed in that main-character intro style - and then did the story of L/N Y/N begin.
A fairly pretty young woman standing over the heads of most of the other women in the festival, she looked like she both belonged and did not belong in the Tokyo scenery. The spark in her eyes was that of a newly arrived tourist eager to tour around the pleasant and extremely busy Tokyo Metropolis, though the practiced stride and nostalgic undertone in her e/c irises said otherwise.
Someone who had never gone to Japan in a while, but had forgotten most of their time there - that was her situation.
Her fingers trailed over the countless displays of small trinkets and souvenirs unique to Japan and only Japan, eyes lighting up at the sight of a rectangular-shaped keychain with a black-inked miniature painting depicting a stunning mountain view painted on the flat, rectangular surface.
The stall owner was a middle-aged woman standing a head shorter than Y/N, crow’s feet’s pressed onto the corners of her soft, light brown eyes which seemed to twinkle with a sweet, motherly look. Black ringlets of hair, some locks highlighted a shades of grey and white standing out in the sunlight — she had aged gracefully.
“Ah, auntie, can I buy one of these keychains?” After waiting for the stall owner to handle an elementary schooler who had come to buy a snow globe, the h/c-haired woman called out for the stall owner, Japanese slightly halted but otherwise fluent enough to get by.
“Of course, dearie!” The woman beamed, as she took the one Y/N had pointed to when calling for her, slipping it into a white paper bag with cherry blossoms printed on it. “It’s 500 yen.”
Y/N put her hands in her skirt pocket, the soft fabric brushing her knees. She handed the cash to the lady, who gave her the paper bag with a caring smile. To Y/N’s surprise, the kindly woman had put in yet another keychain along with the one she had picked out.
“Ah!” The woman noticed Y/N reaching into the bag to take the extra keychain out and reached out to stop her from doing so. “Don’t worry, that extra one is on the house!”
Instead of relaxing, though, the younger female frowned, taking out yet another 500 yen to pay the lady. “I can’t accept this, you’re being too kind —“
The ravenette pushed Y/N’s outstretched hand back to her person, shaking her head graciously. A wide smile had overtaken her porcelain features, crow’s feet becoming more prominent yet complimenting her appearance pleasantly. “Really, young miss, it’s on the house! You can keep the keychain you chose, and give the other one to your partner.”
At her words, Y/N blinked rapidly, thoughts of money left forgotten in her head. Heat began to rush up her cheeks, and she tripped over her reply. “E-eh? But I don’t have a significant other…! I …”
“You’re bound to find someone right for you someday, trust me in my words,” the stall owner said. “I hope you’ll live a long and fulfilling life, my dear.”
At her words, the h/c-ette blinked again, before her lips lifted up in a genuine smile of gratitude. “Thank you so much, auntie! I hope you sell well —“
“ Just my type. ”
A rugged, baritone voice crooned in her ear, Japanese syllables tainted by a heavy accent that made the soft syllables rough and uneven. Hot breath stirred the skin on and around her ear, and she barely registered her satchel literally getting ripped off her arm, causing her to stumble to the side.
When Y/N whirled her head to the side, whoever had taken her bag was gone.
“ What the —? HEY! YOU!” She dashed into the crowd of people, suddenly full of men taller than her. She shouldered her way through the crowd, using her elbows as much as possible, ignoring the withering glares sent at her.
She emerged onto the other side, no trace of her satchel or the thief visible in her line of sight and beyond.