Work Text:
"Good afternoon, Yoisaki!"
Kanade blinked in surprise, even forgetting her name for a minute. Just a second ago, she saw a green dragon in front of her: huge, intimidating and ready to eat her. And now a sweet young boy, from whose blond hair horns grew, was already standing in front of her. Behind him was an emerald scaly tail. Yoisaki blinked a couple of times as million thoughts ran through her head. Is she still asleep? Or is she hallucinating? She clearly drank coffee in the morning, not strong sake. Or maybe there is a cosplayer in front of her? No, but she certainly saw a giant dragon in front of her.
The guy continued to smile, and then suddenly asked,
"May I come in?"
"Y-yes, of course," the shocked Kanade, who concluded that she had just dreamed it all, was unable to answer the other way.
Just think about it, a real dragon, that suddenly became a human right before her eyes. Maybe she should have called the police? Kanade didn’t know. She hadn’t felt so lost since the moment her father got into the hospital. Now, for two years already, she has been a graduate and worked in an office in order to somehow pay her housing and debts for the treatment of her parent. Perhaps, the fatigue was taking its toll on her.
But for some reason this strange dream didn't want to end.
"Let me introduce myself, Yoisaki!" the guy chuckled. "Like a pegasus that conquers the sky, Tenma! As the one who rules the world, Tsukasa! And my name is Tenma Tsukasa!" when Kanade, slightly squinting at his loud voice, didn'tt answer, the blond continued, "I am a dragon! Came from another world and you helped me yesterday! In the mountains!"
"You're awfully noisy," Yoisaki whispered.
Tsukasa didn't seem to pay attention to her words and calmly sat down at the table opposite Kanade. The girl, on the other hand, began to recall yesterday. In the mountains, yeah... well, she really remembered going off into the distance with a bottle of sake. Usually she's an immobile and very reserved person, but alcohol worked wonders with her: from somewhere energy appeared, yet in the morning didn't remain at all. Still, her lifestyle isn't the best and this affected her body and mind.
Kanade managed to remember how she found the dragon in the mountains, but being drunk to death, she wasn't afraid and even pulled the sword from his back. And after... they drank together? "God, I really have to stop this drinking habit," the girl decided to herself. But there was little she could do with herself. Guilt for the fate of her father still gnawed at her and soon she had to give up music altogether. And to drown her desire to write songs in strong drinks.
Now, through because of them, a living dragon, to whom she offered to "live with her", sits in front of her.
"You said that if I feel lonely, I can come to you!:" the guy continued with a smile. Kanade felt uncomfortable. She didn't plan any roommates for herself. "So let me work as your butler."
"No," the girl replied, sighing heavily. Tsukasa looked at her in genuine surprise. "Dragon or not, I'm not planning on hiring anyone."
"I... I can work without pay!"
Yoisaki rubbed the bridge of her nose. This guy wasn't only loud, but also... stupid.
"That's not the problem," Kanade explained. "I don't want to live with anyone. I feel good alone."
"But I... I can be useful! Just like you helped me, I will help you in everything!" the blond still didn't give up. "A star, like me, will be able to do everything! Do you want to curse someone or make an apocalypse?"
"D-don’t! You can't do that."
The boy and the girl exchanged glances for a long time. Kanade looked into Tsukasa's large eyes and noticed that their pupils were sharp. So she really isn't sleeping. Before her is a dragon that asks to be her butler. God, it couldn't be worse. Yoisaki is used to living alone. The appearance of even one person, and especially a male, will push her out of her comfort zone too much.
"Sorry," the girl breathed. "But I can't keep my promise. You have to leave."
Tenma looked at her for a while with pain in his eyes. Then he glanced down. He was silent for a couple of seconds, and then suddenly put on a smile again and gave out in a trembling voice,
"I understand. My apologies, Yoisaki, I think I... got carried away too much," after he got up from the table and slowly moved towards the exit. "Well then, goodbye."
He walked around Kanade and she closely followed his green tail that went from the boy's tailbone. Tsukasa himself was visibly depressed and Yoisaki was suddenly pierced with a prick of guilt. What's wrong with her? Why does she always feel this way? Why does she always hurt men by making them suffer? Tenma's shoulders dropped, and he himself walked as if he was about to burst into tears.
Kanade bit her lip, and then squinted at clock. She was already late for work. And Tsukasa is about to leave, although initially she herself called him to live with her.
"Ugh... why am I feeling this way?!"
"Tsukasa-san!" Yoisaki shouted as loudly as her voice allowed. The guy, who was already at the door, turned around. "Ah... I... um... can you fly?"
She couldn't think of anything better to say, but Tsukasa instantly beamed with happiness. Well, flying to work on a dragon was clearly not on Kanade's list of plans, but as they say, every day is new wisdom. And adventure.
***
Kanade tried to find out all abilities Tsukasa had, but somehow it turned out in vain. Instead of a normal cleaning, he removed absolutely all the things from her apartment, and then returned it back. Instead of washing, he tried to chew the clothes, claiming that the dragon's saliva washes away all stains ("Tsukasa-san, this is disgusting, stop..!"). Instead of meeting the delivery man normally, Tenma frightened him with his loud voice and laughter. Instead of cooking, he just put his fried tail on a plate. Yoisaki almost felt dizzy. Better to eat ramen all her life, like she did at sixteen, than this. Tenma only pouted his lips and ate everything himself. Then said,
"You know, I had to try to get rid of the poison."
"It was with poison?!" the shocked girl quietly squeaked.
Yoisaki exhaled heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose again.
"Tsukasa-san... you don't even know the basics."
"I can learn! Nothing is beyond the power of a star like me!" although he said it with pride, it was still noticeable that Kanade's words embarrassed him. Or maybe even hurt. "I can learn what you don’t love."
"For starters, I don't like direct light..."
Tsukasa looked around and nodded.
"Yes, your apartment is really dark. But isn't it harmful to your human health?" now it was Kanade's turn to be embarrassed, because the guy was telling the truth. "Hmm, anything else?"
"I don't like housework. But have to do it."
Ever since Kanade graduated, she had to give up Honami's services. Having a housekeeper was convenient, no doubt, but soon she had to step into adulthood and teach herself to cope with everything on her own. For two years, the girl has already got used to washing floor and making a simple dinner herself, albeit through hellish power.
Tsukasa suddenly smiled.
"Then you're very lucky, Yoisaki, because now I will help you out!!"
"Y-you're making noise again," Kanade whispered, suffering from the loudness of the blond's voice. He hastily apologized and tried to calm down.
"And I know for sure, Yoisaki, that I really like you!"
The girl blinked in surprise, and then, tilting her head to the side, asked,
"Are you planning to eat me?"
"N-no! I mean romantically!" the guy immediately justified himself, but Kanade was still not sure. "You saved me, Yoisaki. So I'll try to repay you. Mom... taught me to always pay back debts, even to pitiful and pathetic people!"
"You would have sounded more convincing if you hadn't added "pathetic"," Kanade whispered under her breath.
Tsukasa, who heard her well, was embarrassed and apologized again through a nervous smile. The girl looked at him and thought. Indeed, when Honami worked for her, it wasn't so bad. And, although Tenma is clearly very loud and will take up space (besides, Kanade would have to get used to him, which is also not very easy), it won't be so lonely with him around.
Perhaps, she'll won't have to drink and eat a cold omelet for dinner alone to the noise of the TV anymore. Perhaps, the guilt will finally let her go. Perhaps... one day she might even be able to return to making music again. At least as a hobby.
Tsukasa was still beaming with happiness. Wow, he's a dragon — a seemingly terrible creature — but looked like a harmless ball of sunshine. Kanade suddenly smiled at the boy.
"Well, the world is very dangerous these days, so someone has to guard the house..." the girl whispered. "So I won't mind if you stay, Tsukasa-san."
Tenma was silent, and after, it seems, began to sparkle. God, this guy can get happy from absolutely anything — you don't even need to try.
"Ha-ha-ha! The future star will handle everything perfectly, so rely on me, Yoisaki!" he shouted, as Kanade winced.
"You're loud again..."