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The wild onions filled Hanta’s senses as he swung open his back door facing his vegetables. “Smells good don’t ya think, Kiri?” He said out loud to a small rose-colored cat sprawled out on the porch. The cat leaped onto his feet, nuzzled his head into Hanta’s leg, and greeted Hanta with a soft but vivacious mew. As Hanta knelt down to scratch Kiri’s chin a blonde cat hissed from the bottom of the steps, “Jealous, Bakugo?” Hanta jabbed lovingly at the golden feline as he gracefully leaped down the three rickety stairs of his seasoned wood porch and landed softly onto the emerald green grass. He took a moment to turn around and pat both of the troublemakers on the head before the two of them took off into the woods to sleep in their usual spot. “Dinner’s at six! Be home before then, lovebirds!” Kiri mewed loudly in response while Bakugo silently trotted ahead, occasionally checking behind himself to make sure he wasn’t alone. The gardener was left to be alone with his work, just like he always was when his little friends ran off to do whatever it was they did together. I wonder what that’s like . Hanta couldn’t help but pause to reflect on his choice to be out on his own. I’m sure I'll find out eventually, I’m only 23. I’ve got plenty of time, He thought. Not that I could find that kind of thing around here, much less likely in my garden.
Hanta smiled as he took in the air around him, ignoring and almost forgetting about the thoughts swarming in his head. He swung his basket back and forth while walking in a giddy manner as if he’d find something he didn’t find every morning. As he got closer to the garden, the air felt clearer, the flowers in the fields surrounding his house perked up prettier, and even from a distance, his twenty four rows of vegetables seemed more full of life than normal today. Hanta glanced over each row and found that almost nothing was out of place. Of course there was the occasional missing plant, a few tracks from animals, a bite taken from one or two plants, and a naked man. Well, everything seems normal. Hanta was relieved to see that there wasn’t very much destruction caused by the scattered storms that stomped throughout the nearby town and tiptoed his property the night before. He took in a massive breath of air before checking through his mental list once more. Yes, two missing radish plants, deer tracks near the corn and through the tomato row, four half-eaten tomatoes, naked man in the carrots. Wait. Hanta’s gaze slowly scanned the row of carrots before he lost his composure, No I was wrong, there is an ATTRACTIVE naked man SITTING IN MY GARDEN “Wh-Who are you?!” He shouted, stumbling backwards into his onions, his eyes wide with disbelief at the completely exposed man sitting right on top of where a carrot had been just the day before. Although there was a flash of fear that dispersed throughout his legs, Hanta couldn’t help but let his obsidian eyes travel from the man’s face all the way to his feet and back up again. His gaze gently traced down the man’s torso, lingering just above his hips before sliding down his thighs and gliding all the way back up to his collarbone, chin, and into his eyes once more. It was for his own safety, of course. There is nothing wrong with analyzing a potential opponent and deciding if you can take a pounding. The man’s skin appeared to be smooth and of fair complexion save for some splotches of rich dirt that painted his body. The splotches that continued into his hair dusted the colors, desaturating the hue of the soft straight strands that hung just above his brow. Even with the slight obstruction, Hanta could see that his hair was split colored; one side was a brilliant red that outshined every radish in the town, the other side white like a canvas waiting to be painted. His eyes were heterochromatic, one a bright turquoise color that was comparable to the feathers of a peacock and the other a deep dark gray that felt even more alluring and entrancing than its brighter, more vibrant counterpart. The man had a large reddish patch surrounding his left eye that miraculously sustained what appeared to be little sprouts similar to how every plant in Hanta’s garden began. Before Hanta could gather himself, he was met with the feeling of something tickling his cheek and a piercing gaze that broke through any kind of personal space he may have made for himself, “My name is Shoto. I came from the ground. I believe you are the one who tended to me and cared for me.” Shoto’s expression was soft and sincere as his words hung in the air and crashed down onto the gardener. “Y-you grew from my carrot?” I hope he doesn’t think I’m like his dad or something Hanta thought to himself. “Don’t worry, I don’t. After all, you did kiss me,” Shoto’s response did not match Hanta’s question at all. Did he just read my mind? Hanta thought, hoping that this was some weird coincidence and that the man was just on something strong enough to convince himself he was a carrot. “Yes, we’re bonded. The past couple of months I had nothing to base your feelings on besides your thoughts. Love is hard for me and I'm bad at reading body language, so I relied on reading your thoughts instead.” Shoto once again retorted, seemingly out of nowhere. “Love?” Hanta shouted in disbelief of what he was hearing. "And when did I kiss you, I feel like I’d remember kissing a naked guy in my garden.” Not that I think I would mind an interaction like that. Shoto looked up at Hanta and softly parted his lips, “I was worried about this, especially since I'm bad at explaining things. You tended to my needs for some time and I wanted to be with you outside of the garden. You kissed my leaves and gave me water every day. You gave me the chance to dream. I was in worse condition than any carrot out here, but you cared for me as if you really wanted to save me.” Shoto’s eyes grew misty as he spoke about the giddy gardener he had taken a liking to. Hanta decided he had no other option than to bring the guy inside, let him shower, offer him some clothes, and a place to stay until he sobered up enough to go home. "Let's go inside and get you cleaned up. I’m Hanta, by the way. But, if what you say is true, I’m sure you already knew that much." Shoto nodded in agreement and was lightly tugged forward as Hanta grabbed his arm and calmly started back up to where his house sat. Surely, he’ll be sober soon enough, right? Or maybe this whole situation is some sort of a fever dream. I’ll wake up soon and be by myself again, just like every other day. He could feel the weight of the thought weighing him down as he began swinging his basket back and forth to simulate simpler times when it was just him, his cats, and his garden.
Oh no, Oh my god. What am I going to do? Hanta paced his living room floor back and forth as he waited for Shoto to come out of the bathroom. What if he was for real, and what if he really does think I’m his lover? Hanta scratched his head and ruffled his jet-black locks nervously with a dash of excitement. He is more than good looking enough, but I still shouldn’t get my hopes up like this. He probably really is just on drugs or something. I mean the likelihood of this ever happe- The sound of water abruptly stopped causing Hanta’s heart to leap out of his chest in both fear and longing for what this could mean for his simple little life. His gaze darted to the bathroom door in anticipation and no more than thirty seconds later, the door to the bathroom opened slowly. Hanta’s eyes almost fell out of his head as he saw the almost six-foot tall Shoto walk out with not a single article of clothing on his body. “Shoto, what are you doing?!” Hanta lifted his hands up to his eyes in order to censor any parts of Shoto that may have been a bit too private for a complete stranger to be gawking at, “What do you mean?” Hanta’s entire face turned a bright red and his voice grew shaky as he tried to speak, “clothes, Sho.’” Shoto stared blankly at Hanta’s hand, not understanding the issue. “That’s okay, you don’t have to give me those, I don’t mind walking around like th-” “I mind, please go put on some clothes.” Shoto turned around and walked back into the bathroom obediently. Twenty minutes later he walked back out, naked once more “Um…Hanta?” The carrot walked out shamefully holding the pile that Hanta gave to him before the shower. “Oh god, Shoto, I thought you were going to wear some CLOTHES this time” “I’m not sure how to put them on.” Hanta cautiously moved his hands from in front of his face to look directly into Shoto’s eyes and began to wonder if somehow he really did grow this guy in his garden. "Sorry, I didn't realize how odd it was since I've been naked all my life." Shoto looked at the floor ashamed as if he was being scolded. "It's alright, it's not weird if it's just us, we're both guys anyway," Hanta’s words burned his throat as he tasted the regret of adding that last bit. He ruffled the top of Shoto's head to reassure him that everything was okay before slipping a shirt over his shiny hair and putting his arms through the holes. Why does he have to be so cute? Hanta’s thoughts gave his true feelings away once more. Shoto didn't say anything this time, instead his lips curled into a small smile as pink spread through his cheeks and ears. “These are a bit trickier, so step into these two holes and pull them up over your uh-” “I got it” Shoto pulled up the underwear easily and quickly grasped how to put on the pants as well, much to Hanta’s relief. "Okay, I have to get dinner started, what do you like to eat?" Hanta asked half expecting something like ‘fertilizer’ to be the immediate response. Shoto looked down and pondered the question before his eyes darted up to meet Hanta’s gaze, "Cold Soba!" "Have you ever had cold soba, Sho?" Hanta scoffed, certain that this was Shoto sobering up. Maybe he was just a weird stalker and not actually some guy he grew in his garden, not that that would make the situation less awkward but perhaps a bit more believable if ever he decided to do a dramatic retelling of this story. Of course he isn’t a carrot guy, Hanta. You’re too fucking gullible man. "No, I haven’t, but I know when you tended to me you often ate it and offered some occasionally to your cats," Shoto once again ignored Hanta's thoughts. Hanta looked down disappointedly as if all of his worries and fears began to bear some weight in his reality. It’s not like he knew the guy, he really could just be some weirdo but for some reason, the thought of Shoto leaving upset him. Can you still hear me? Maybe it was all a coincidence. Even the tone of the thought came out as desperate. It’s not that Hanta didn’t love his life where it was just him, his garden, and his cats, he just thought maybe it would be nice to have another person around. He hadn’t had anybody to talk to in person for quite some time since most of his friends didn’t like the idea of moving out to the middle of nowhere where it was hard enough to get cell phone service let alone any kind of streaming service or wired internet provider for entertainment. All Hanta had was his garden, his cats, and a few other little hobbies he started out of boredom. " I still hear you. I'm sorry, I know it's a bit intrusive." Shoto once again adopted the shameful look he wore twice in such a short span of time. Not intrusive , Hanta thought, relieved that at least the mind reading part was true. Kind of cool even , this time intentionally communicating with Shoto. They both looked into the other’s eyes for an uncomfortable amount of time before Hanta turned his head and placed his palm over his mouth and across his cheeks to prevent Shoto from seeing the red that danced on either side of his face. “Cold soba it is.” Hanta completely turned his back to Shoto as he started stomping toward the kitchen like a baby learning how to take their first steps. He even ran into the coffee table and bumped the counter twice while trying to maintain his composure.
The kitchen wasn’t large by any stretch, but it was perfect for a single guy like Hanta. It had everything he needed, a small oven, a microwave, a sink big enough for hosting up to six plates, enough cabinet space for some pots and pans, a regular size refrigerator, and a small closet for storing canned goods or other non-perishable items. There wasn't much room to work but it was plenty for Hanta, or at least it used to be. As Hanta began chopping some scallions he felt the presence of someone standing over him from the other side of the counter. Hanta glanced up to see that Shoto was standing there fidgeting with his fingers as he stared directly at Hanta’s knife. His new friend looked paler than ever before and his eyes were wide with fear. “Are you alright?” Hanta asked worriedly. Shoto gulped and his hands became shaky as he tried to calm himself, “Is that a vegetable from the garden?” Hanta looked down at the scallion and back up at Shoto multiple times before he processed exactly why Shoto was colorless. “Shoto, you’re a human now. We typically grow vegetables to eat with our food because we need the nutrients.” Shoto’s pale complexion grew ghostly the more Hanta spoke, "Even carrots?” “Yes, Shoto. Even carrots.” “Oh, is it okay if I go out to the garden for a bit?” Shoto looked down the entire time he was speaking to Hanta. “Sure, I will come w-” “NO! I mean, that’s okay, you are busy! I was just going to take a look.” Hanta grew more aware of the problem as Shoto’s slight shaking grew into full blown trembling. I probably should have lied, now he probably thinks I am going to cook him and eat him. Hanta thought without fully understanding the consequence of having a mind reading carrot man who was terrified of eating vegetables standing in front of him. Shoto’s expression grew more obnoxious as he stepped outside onto the rickety porch. He sighed as soon as he clicked the door right before making a mad dash for the garden. Hanta watched Shoto dash from the window that looked out at the garden and made the executive decision that it was a good idea to tail him. This is going to be the weirdest story to tell Mina, He thought as he slipped into his boots. Mina was Hanta’s best friend. She moved out of her parents’ house and into a nice little apartment in Tokyo where she and her girlfriend Tsuyu were going steady for three years now. She’d never believe that I grew a boyfri- Hanta caught himself thinking about Shoto like that once again. Friend. She’d never believe I grew a friend in my garden. The back door flung open and slammed shut hastily as Hanta bolted after the stupid carrot man that was almost to the garden. “Shoto! I’m not going to eat you!” He shouted as Shoto reached the entrance of the garden. “Book it, guys! I can hold him off while you make a run for it!” Shoto quickly turned toward Hanta and threw up his arms in a protective manner at the edge of the carrot row. “Shoto, what are you doing?” “BACK, BACK I SAY,” Shoto made little jabs towards Hanta with his hand without actually touching him. After about ten minutes of jabbing at air, Shoto glanced behind himself to see that not a single one of the plants moved. “Guys, why aren’t you running?” Hanta placed his hand on Shoto’s shoulder while he was turned away and in reaction Shoto flung his arm out, hitting Hanta directly in the nose. “Ah, geez,” Hanta winced at the initial impact and quickly clamped his hand around his nose as he felt a sudden warmth pour out of his nostrils. “Wait, Hanta, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean t-” Hanta cut Shoto off by patting Shoto’s head just as kindly as he did before, sending an eruption of guilt throughout Shoto’s body. “I’m so sorry, I thought you were going to eat me because I’m a carrot. I thought they would be like me and be able to get away before they suffer the same fate.” Shoto’s eyes began to well up with tears knowing he struck the man he became human to love. “I know. It’s okay, I’m not going to eat you.” Hanta was trying to block the blood from spilling out of his nose so that he didn’t scare Shoto off again, but he couldn’t keep it all contained and Shoto could see little crimson drops spill from around Hanta’s fingers. “Let’s go back inside, okay?” Hanta tried to speak loudly and clearly as he started walking back towards the house. Sorry, Shoto. This was totally my fault, Hanta was stopped by a hard tug on his shirt. He turned toward the movement and was immediately greeted by Shoto’s sleeve pressed to his nose. “It’s not your fault.” Shoto attempted to recreate the comfort that Hanta so easily gave him by patting Hanta’s head while speaking softly but to his dismay, it came across as awkward and lackluster. “Sorry, I wanted to make you feel better, I am not good at this.” Hanta’s eyes and cheeks began to swell with laughter as he tried to keep a calm and serious expression. “Did I say something stupid?” Hanta couldn’t help but laugh at Shoto’s failed attempt at comfort no matter how much he appreciated the effort, “No, not at all, you’re just really funny” Hanta muffled his laughter into Shoto’s sleeve that was pressed against his nose “It’s a good thing, really.” Shoto looked relieved to know he hadn’t messed up again and smiled softly as he watched Hanta’s lashes gather tears from laughing so hard. “You’re really beautiful when you laugh.” Hanta could feel his nose slowly stop bleeding as he lifted his face from the sleeve Shoto lent him. “You’re beautiful all the time,” Hanta replied in response to Shoto before taking him by the hand and walking him back into the house. “Let’s get you a different shirt and finish up dinner, okay?” “Okay,” Shoto smiled at the ground bashfully as the color returned to his face with greater saturation than before.
Hanta and Shoto go on as Hanta would normally go about his days for several weeks. They wake up early and tend to the garden, this time without kissing the leaves of the plants in bad condition for good luck since Shoto turned out to be the jealous type. They sit by the garden and eat cold soba for lunch since it’s Shoto’s favorite. Unluckily for Shoto, Kiri likes to distract him from his cold soba so that Bakugo can steal enough for the two felines to share in the woods together. It always ends in Shoto chasing after the little blond cat until he gets too far ahead of him, Kiri mewing graciously back at Shoto, and Hanta cackling uncontrollably as he watches the quick reflexes of the cats as Shoto lunges at them. Shoto always returns a bit disheartened but perks up as soon as Hanta shares his soba with him. Every day when the garden work is over, they each take a bath and then start preparing dinner together. Everything seems calm, quiet, and normal, at least on the outside. “Goodnight, peas. Goodnight, carrots. Goodnight, corn. Goodni-” Okay maybe it isn’t so normal on the outside either “Shoto, what are you doing?” Shoto looks up at Hanta with his bright, beautiful eyes as he picks up a bag of soil and opens the drawers in the fridge that contain vegetables. “Making them feel like they are at home y’know since we’re going to eat them. Might as well make them feel comfy while they wait.” Hanta stares blankly at Shoto, unsure how he should respond. Due to lack of reaction, Shoto assumes he’s doing the right thing and begins dumping dirt into the drawers before Hanta can get out a full sentence, “W-Wait Wait! Shoto no don’t- ah ya did it.” He wants to be upset, he really does, but how could he stay mad at him when he looks so happy doing it. Hanta could feel his chest tighten up with yearning. He used to be fine with just him, his garden, and his cats, but ever since Shoto showed up in his garden he can’t help but dream of a life where Shoto stays by his side forever. It was like he was falling more and more in love with these stupid little moments and more importantly, Shoto. They weren’t perfect by any means, they fought over stupid things like how many carrots they were allowed to eat and how often or what was considered too much love for the garden vegetables, but they never went to sleep without resolving the problems. Hanta knew he was hooked, but he didn’t want to ruin what they’d built so he keeps his thoughts quiet in order to try and keep Shoto from realizing the severity of how deeply in love he has actually fallen for him. Shoto came here because he was in love with me, so wouldn’t it make him happy to know I feel the same? Hanta thought as he stared at the beautiful shimmering white locks that hung over Shoto’s sleeping face. After all, it wouldn’t be much different. We sleep in the same bed, make dinner, watch movies, and even bathe together sometimes. Even so, Hanta feared the loss of his new friend. Even more than that, Hanta feared they would always be stuck in this friend zone. Any time Hanta said that Shoto was a friend, it left an awful taste in his mouth and a boiling feeling in the pit of his stomach. He worried that his definition and Shoto’s definition of love were too different from one another. I’ll tell you tomorrow Hanta thought before snuggling up to Shoto’s chest and falling asleep just as he did every night.
“Hanta.” A soft palm caressed Hanta’s cheek. What is going on, He felt his hair being stroked. Hanta opened his eyes after a few minutes to see Shoto staring right at him from above. He had never woken up like this before, normally Shoto would have gotten up, dressed appropriately for garden work, and then tapped Hanta’s shoulder to wake him. “Sho, are you feeling okay?” “Of course, I feel just fine.” Shoto beamed one of his melting smiles at Hanta. I wish this would never end. Hanta let the thought slip out and immediately sprung up, hoping Shoto wasn’t listening. “We have to get to the garden to check the crops, let’s go.” He felt his arm get pulled back which sat him down on the bed exactly as he was a moment before and once again, he was staring directly into Shoto’s eyes. “I heard you.” Hanta’s fear and worry flashed across his face that soon turned into shame as he anticipated the rejection he may have just subjected himself to. “What do you mean?” “You said you’d tell me today. Last night. What is it that you want to tell me?” The look in Shoto’s eyes sent a shiver down Hanta’s spine. Hanta tried to brush it off, “Look, I don’t want to change any-” a heavy weight immediately collapsed onto his back and he could feel a tightening grip around his torso. He can’t do this. He’s going to end up telling this stupid man he grew in his garden how horribly in love he is with him. How horribly, madly, deeply in love he HAS been since day one and how he was elated that Shoto wasn’t just some drunk who fell into his crops. As Hanta’s mouth quivered as he tried to get a word, any words out, Shoto’s voice rumbled into his shoulder blade, “Hanta. I am in love with you. I know that you thought it was weird when we were strangers, but now that you know me better and we’ve gotten closer, I need you to know that I truly am in love with you.” Shoto held Hanta tighter waiting for the pain to break his grip. After a few moments of silence he slowly slid his hands down Hanta’s back and onto the bed, believing that the feelings weren’t mutual. He wore the look of shame, knowing this may have ruined everything. “Sho” Shoto didn’t want to look Hanta in the eyes, he couldn’t bear the idea of what Hanta looked like angry. Sighing quietly, he reluctantly scanned upwards until he saw a tear fall onto the blanket of the bed. He flipped his head up and almost leaped out of the bed to wipe the tears from Hanta’s cheeks but as he was just about to wipe the tears he sees that stupid toothy smile Hanta makes when he is overjoyed. “Han-” Hanta’s lips crash into Shoto's, sending the two of them flying onto the bed. Hanta kisses Shoto deeply as if he will never get to kiss him again. Shoto keeps up and deepens the kiss until they both run out of breath. “I love you too, stupid carrot.” Shoto’s face floods with rivers streaming down his cheeks as the man he loves finally confesses his true feelings aloud.
The two of them fill the room with kisses and heartfelt tears until they both become so exhausted that all they can do is lay there hand in hand, looking into each other’s eyes, and seeing the fun and exciting life that they will get to live together, this time as much more than just a gardener and his crop.