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Hiyori startled slightly when she walked into the living room and saw a stranger there. The man didn’t look up, just continued carefully dusting the shelves.
Oh right, she remembered Mother was planning on hiring someone to help keep the house clean while the family was busy dealing with Grandmother’s poor health. Hiyori sighed at the thought of everything her grandmother was going through.
The man looked over at the noise and Hiyori jumped, embarrassed, “Oh I’m sorry! I was just thinking of something else.” His eyes are so blue, she continued in her head.
She shook herself, “I’m Hiyori Iki by the way.”
The man, still looking at her, blinked and responded, “Yato.”
“Nice to meet you Yato!”
Yato nodded in response, his silence made Hiyori rush to fill the quiet, “Thank you for helping out. Those shelves have never looked cleaner!” She winced internally, what an awkward thing to say!
Yato nodded again and went back to his task. Hiyori turned and sped out of the room, grateful for the chance to escape her embarrassment.
It seemed everytime Yato came over during the next couple of weeks Hiyori was always home and always managed to run into him. She made a habit of asking how his day was. It seemed the least she could do for someone who was cleaning her family’s home. Thankfully she didn’t completely embarrass herself every time she saw him.
She was grateful that he did a better job than any else they had had come in and help over the years. No one else ever gave such care as they moved the Iki’s possessions around. Hiyori didn’t even think her family members did.
On one of these occasions they actually struck up a conversation. Not about anything of particular importance. Hiyori just somehow ended up talking about the courses she was taking and the interesting facts she was learning about the cardiovascular system in one of them. After rambling on for a while Hiyori blushed and apologised, “I’m sorry, this is all probably terribly boring for you.”
He shook his head. “No, go on, it’s fun to listen to you when you are all excited about something.”
Hiyori was grateful he looked away after saying that so hopefully he would miss the heavy blush on her cheeks.
Before she lost her nerve she blurted out, “Would you like to go get a coffee sometime?”
She saw Yato freeze and kicked herself mentally, who was she, to ask out someone who is paid to be at her house.
Hiyori opened her mouth, about to take back her request when Yato spoke up, “Yeah… sure. That would be nice.”
Hiyori arrived at the agreed upon coffee shop far too early. She had been nervous all morning and decided to just arrive early since she wasn’t going to get anything else done anyways.
She lingered outside for a bit, enjoying the fresh air and scrolling social media. She couldn’t help but laugh to herself when she saw Ami had posted one of the photos from their most recent karaoke night out. The photo was of Ami, Yama and Hiyori. Leaning up against each other and flushed from their energetic singing.
Hiyori checked the time and sighed when she realised that it was still ten minutes until the meeting time. She decided to go in and wait for Yato inside. Hiyori entered and gave her order to the cheerful barista. Once her drink was done Hiyori made her way over to a table that was easy to see from the door and wrapped her hands around her mug for warmth and comfort while she waited.
She was just starting to get worried that Yato was bailing on her when he sped through the door five minutes late. She raised her hand in greeting and blushed to see Yato’s face light up when he found her.
Yato called a hello and made his way over to her table. He started to sit down and Hiyori said, “Don’t you want anything to drink?”
“Oh,” Yato looked down at Hiyori’s partially empty cup, “sure yeah.”
When he got back with his drink Hiyori saw that it was just water inside. She was just about to ask why he didn’t get something more when Yato interrupted her thoughts, “So what is your major?” he asked.
Hiyori moved her eyes away from his cup and replied, “Oh yeah! Pre-med.”
“Damn, that must be hard.”
Hiyori laughed, “Yeah but I really enjoy it.”
Their conversation continued, Yato asked Hiyori all about her program and Hiyori was surprised at how genuinely interested he seemed. Every time she tried to redirect the conversation to ask about him he answered quickly and adeptly turned the conversation back around to her. She wanted to learn more about him, but he was making that difficult.
But despite his reluctance to talk about himself, he seemed to be enjoying the conversation.
After a bit Yato looked down at his phone and just about jumped out of his seat. “Sorry sorry,” he said, “I have to go!”
Hiyori only just managed to stop him long enough to exchange personal contact information before he fled.
Hiyori was left feeling a bit confused over where she stood with Yato. But she really hoped they could do something like this again.
Hiyori was in the mall with Ami and Yama. The three of them were chatting as they walked towards their next store when Hiyori spotted someone who looked distinctly like Yato.
Before she could stop herself, she raised her hand and called Yato’s name across the hallway. She could already feel herself smiling, which she seemed to do a lot of around Yato.
Yato jumped slightly and raised his arm in reply. Hiyori quickly interrupted her friends to tell them to come over and meet Yato. Hiyori saw them glance at each other in anticipation of meeting the person Hiyori had been talking about so much.
When they reached each other Hiyori introduced her friends. He greeted them politely and shook their hands. He then gestured to a younger boy who was standing behind him. That must be Yukine, Hiyori thought.
“You didn’t tell us he had a little brother Hiyori!” Ami complained.
Yukine rolled his eyes and responded, “Ugh he’s not my brother. As if I’d be related to him”
“Yukine!” Yato said under his breath. “Sorry about him, he’s uh, my adopted kid I’ve been looking after for a while.”
Hiyori saw Yukine roll his eyes again but didn’t correct Yato this time.
“Oh,” Ami said, awkwardly, “well that's nice.” Ami and Yama exchanged another glance. Hiyori could tell she would be hearing about this later.
As much as Hiyori wanted to spend time with Yato and get to know Yukine, she knew her friends would just make it awkward. So she cheerily said, “It was good to see you, Yato. And good to meet you Yukine!”..
Hiyori and her friends headed off to another store. Hiyori knew how good of a person Yato was, and she hoped her friends would be able to see that too. Even if they couldn’t right now.
She did indeed hear about it later. They were sitting around in Yama’s dorm room, the spoils of their shopping trip strewn around the room.
“OK so.” Ami said firmly. Yuki looked up and also turned towards Hiyori.
Hiyori had a sinking suspicion what this was about.
Yuki spoke up before Ami could continue, “He has a kid Hiyori.”
Hiyori replied, tensely, “So he does, and?”
Ami and Yuki exchanged a terse glance. Hiyori appreciated their concern, and she understood, Yato was… a bit rough around the edges. But they didn’t know him. They hadn’t seen the care he put into everything he does. How sweet Yato could be when he did speak. And how funny he was, though she would never admit that to him.
Ami continued, “Don’t you think it’s a little… odd that he isn’t much older than us but has a preteen kid?”
“He said Yukine is adopted.”
“Yeah but still,” Ami went on, “it's unusual.”
“Yeah and like, are you ready to be a mom?” Yuki added.
Hiyori laughed slightly, “It’s not like we’re talking about marriage next week! Relax, I just think he’s nice. And I like spending time with him. Is that allowed?”
Ami sighed, “I suppose. I will admit that he is attractive.” Yuki nodded in agreement.
Hiyori tried to hide just exactly how much she agreed with that sentiment by looking away and letting her hair fall over her face.
That didn’t fool her friends in the slightest and they both burst out into laughter and teasing.
A couple days ago she had asked Yato if they wanted to go see a movie together. But now it is here and she is second guessing herself. Hiyori brushed her hands down her skirt for what felt like the millionth time as Masaomi drove her to the theatre. Of course he immediately noticed and started teasing her for it.
“Don’t start please,” Hiyori asked.
Masaomi laughed, “Too late for that.” He went on more seriously, “Honestly though, I’m happy for you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so serious about a guy you just met.”
Hiyori tried to hide her blush by looking out the window. “I don’t even know if it's like that.”
“Fair. But you could do a lot worse.”
Hiyori looked back over, making sure Masaomi could see her rolling her eyes. “Sure, thanks for the encouragement,” she laughed lightly.
As Masaomi pulled into the parking lot she felt her heart jump a little in her chest. She wasn’t sure why honestly, she had wanted to see it for a bit, and plans with Yama and Ami kept falling through. But why was her next thought was to go see a tragic romance with Yato. She had other friends she could’ve asked! But when she had seen his shirt lift up as he leaned over the table to clean the dining room table something came over her.
Yato had seemed a bit surprised that she was asking him but agreed. Hiyori made sure to offer to pay for him. She didn’t want to assume about his financial situation but he didn’t exactly seem well off. And Hiyori was aware she had more than others and had always been happy to share her family’s wealth. Even if just by buying friends movie tickets now and then.
As soon as she entered she spotted Yato. He was with Yukine, whose bright hair was hard to miss, especially when the two of them were clearly bickering happily.
Why had he brought Yukine?
As Hiyori got closer she noticed Yato’s clothes. Oh, he dressed up. She thought. Did he think this was a date? Wait, was this a date? Had she intended it to be a date this whole time? Hiyori only had a second to panic about that before she was right in front of them.
“Sorry I’m late,” she rushed out. She wasn’t late really, but she felt bad they clearly had been waiting for her.
Yato waved her off.
It turned out Yato had brought Yukine along so he could see a movie himself. He happily sped off once Yato had given him some money. Hiyori thought about offering to pay for Yukine as well but couldn’t think of a way for it not to be awkward, or insulting.
Hiyori got them their tickets and made sure to get snacks enough for them both to eat.
Once they were settled into their seats in the semi darkness of the previews she suddenly realised she may have made a mistake. She had somehow forgotten just how close you were to someone in a theatre. She was sure she was imagining it but she could swear she could feel heat radiating off of Yato.
She made small talk while the previews were on, though she wasn’t sure what exactly they talked about.
As the movie started Hiyori once again questioned why she had invited Yato to such a romantic movie. There was no way he wasn’t thinking it was weird that she had. She absentmindedly reached in to grab some popcorn. She jumped and immediately blushed when she felt Yato’s hand against hers. She resolutely grabbed her popcorn and tried not to get it all over herself as she ate. Date or not that wasn’t a good look.
After a bit she was able to focus on the movie. Hiyori tried not to be disappointed that their hands didn’t brush again.
Hiyori had a list on her phone titled “Dates to do with Yato”. She would never admit it but she had first started this list because she was struggling to find things to invite him to which were cheap or free. The last thing she wanted was to burden him.
One of the items on this list is how they ended up at a sculpture park. Hiyori hadn’t really done a lot of research on it but it had pretty flowers and was free, that seemed good enough.
She tried not to laugh as they saw the first sculptures. Hiyori looked over at Yato, who looked very confused and also like he was trying to laugh. Seeing this Hiyori started giggling, Yato joined in.
The sculptures were humanoid… well sort of. They were huge and abstract and the poses were joyful and ridiculous.
At first the two of them walked through mostly in silence. Hiyori took out her phone to take photos, mostly of the flowers.
Soon they came up to a sculpture which looked vaguely like a yoga pose. Yato ran up in front of it and mimicked the pose. Balancing precariously on one leg. Hiyori burst out laughing.
Yato did it again at the next sculpture, this pose even more ridiculous. This time Hiyori was ready and managed to get a picture. They went on like this through the rest of the park. Laughing and posing together when the sculptures sort of looked like two people. She even managed to get Yato to wait for her to set her phone up on a self timer so she could get a photo of the two of them.
By the end of the park they were both breathless from laughter. Hiyori grabbed Yato’s hand as they left. She knew it was early in the relationship but she hoped they could enjoy each other's company.
Everyone around her was surprised when Yato and Hiyori still hadn’t broken up, months later. Hiyori wasn’t. Of course, there were times which were difficult. But again and again Yato proved himself to be kind and generous, and willing to put in the work in their relationship.
Today was a beautiful day. Her, Yato and Yukine sat on a blanket under an absolutely beautiful sakura tree which Yato said was his favourite. Yato had planned a whole picnic for them. Usually she would have helped but she had been so very stressed with school that he had ended up doing everything. Including making pretty much all the food himself.
He never stopped impressing her, even when he wasn’t trying to.
“Yato, you didn’t need to go to so much trouble,” Hiyori admonished. “We’re only three people, there’s no way we can finish all this.”
Instead of replying he just grinned back.
Hiyori didn’t have to wait long before she understood. Over the next couple of minutes a whole crowd of people showed up. Her friends as well as his. She had thought today couldn’t get better. Her stress fell away as she watched everyone chatting and enjoying themselves.
She looked over to where Yato was expressively discussing something she couldn’t hear with Masaomi.
Everything was perfect.