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“byakuya-sama,” the said man merely glanced your way before loosening up from his sparring stance, lowering his wooden sword before wiping off the sweats on his forehead with his tekkou gloves.
you rolled out a checkered tatami mat by the cherry blossom tree, unboxing stacks of bento boxes and laid them out in an organized manner like how he'd like it to be. “i'd brought your lunch. please take a break for the moment.” you bowed lightly with a smile, stood up and waited by the side for him to take a seat.
byakuya nodded at you before letting out an exhausted sigh, sitting down on the mat with his legs crossed, eyes briefly scanning the luxurious meals before pausing at the piping hot mapo tofu .
you instinctively reached out with an open palm, offering to hold on to his wooden sword for him, like how you'd usually do. but he didn't hand it to you today.
or rather, byakuya snatched it away before you could take it, and simply plop it against the tree with a frown. you were startled by his sudden change of mood, unsure what had caused it, at the same time fearing that you may have offended the young master in any other way. no matter what it'd be, you'd still lowered your head as a sign of apology.
of course, your troubled expression never goes unnoticed by him, even if it's only there for a second. his frown only deepened, hands cupping the empty bowl and chopsticks but no sign of digging in yet.
“was the food not made to your liking, byakuya-sama?” your voice was small and brittle, like you were cautious of him. his slate gray orbs glides over to the corner in silence, watching your agitated eyes stray further away from him. despite his young age, byakuya never realized how intimidating he could be when he's quiet.
“you know,” his flat yet youthful voice spoke up, with a huff of annoyance followed behind. “you don't have to address me like that when we're alone,” he muttered with his face turned the other way, though just by looking at his back you could tell of his sullen mood.
byakuya is aware of his responsibilities, the need to uphold his image as the descendant of his clan. but still, he finds discomfort at the distance you'd have to keep up from him.
it's inevitable that he felt this way. for the both of you had spent hundreds of years, his entire childhood playing together. kemari, hanafuda, kendama, or even something as simple as hide-and-seek . if it wasn't you, who else would indulge him in these commoners' games that he had no one to try with. and for that, he's forever grateful to have you as his companion while he still has the free time to relish in the joy of a child.
he understands those days won't last. for he now has the duty of the future heir to shoulder, he can only recount those memories in mind, eyes unable to cast away from the reality that there now exists a borderline of master and servant between you both.
“i'm afraid i couldn't comply with your wish, byakuya-sama.” he half expected those replies, but hearing it in person ground him from pointless anticipation.
hot steam still wafting off above his favourite mapo tofu, but his heart has simmered down along with swallowed disappointment.
byakuya vividly remembered the day he first met you, which his grandfather had assigned you to him on his fifth birthday. he was first skeptical of you. a child of the same age as him to be his personal assistant? can you even serve his tea with those chubby hands of yours?
he chuckled at the reminiscence of his childhood days again. tiny hands of your somewhat clumsily whisking him a cup of fresh green tea, to be served along with seaweed flavoured crackers for his tea time.
he'd be leisurely demonstrating his mastery in calligraphy, fine bamboo brush in his hand perfecting every stroke into the kanji of his name. “and this'd be byakuya. my name,” he adores the twinkle you'd had in your eyes for him, telling him how impressive it is to be able to write his own name.
pulling out another sheet of paper, he set them on his writing board, with two wooden blocks placed on top and bottom of the paper to secure it. “watch closely. i'll teach you how to write your name.”
his daydream got cut short by a couple of chattering noises, and amongst it he finds distinct giggles of yours that he'd been yearning to hear. he paused by the gate of the servant chambers, catching glimpses of your unfiltered smiles that hadn't cast his way for decades.
byakuya wondered when he'd taken the role of an outsider in your life, so much so you'd deprived him of your company and your warmth.
“leave. i can handle this myself,” his tone was calm, yet the irritation in his eyes was perfectly reflected in the mirror ahead.
you retracted your hand as your young master bunched up his hair into a makeshift ponytail with one hand, the other trying to string the red hair tie around it.
it’s a mess. you highly doubt he'd leave his quarter with such haste effort of a hairstyle. but nevertheless, you wordlessly stood up and made your way out, just as you're instructed to.
“so you'd leave if i told you to,” he uttered in petty sarcasm, with a breathy laugh followed after. the shoji door that you left it half opened sheds rays of dawn into his bedroom, and on his disheartened figure.
“then why won't you stay when i need you to,” his hands fell to his side, hair tie loosened by so much of a breeze and now his velvety strands of black stray along the wind with his head hung low.
byakuya wishes to snide at his unbecoming self. it's childish. it's bitter. it's none of the things his pride would condone. yet, his heart wavers at this.
a series of footsteps trudge against the tatami floor until it’s ultimately unheard behind him. he flinched as he felt his hair lightly pulled to the back, soft fingertips brushing past his scalps, combing it all together until he felt a tight knot secured it.
“i'll stay if you told me to,” he finally mustered up the strength to meet your eyes, but only through the reflection of the bronze glass. feeling the warmth of your hands on his shoulder, he clasp around your fingers and placed it on top of his heart.
“then, stay by my side.”
“don't run on the stairs, y/n.” he trudged up the concrete step, brows scrunching at your overly excited figure skipping a few steps ahead of him.
“but it's my first time at a fireworks festival,” you twirled around in grace, hands shyly hidden behind with your lips etching a small smile in meek fashion.
upon seeing that, byakuya could only sigh in defeat. well, he figured he could easily catch you if you ever fall, with the small of your back falling into his arms－
“oh my,” a booming voice emerged at the bottom of the stairs, which byakuya easily recognized out of dismay.
“ byaku boy is having a date with his childhood sweetheart, y/n-chan!” yoruichi shunpoed to his side in the next second, laughing to her heart content with her hands on her hips before escaping in light speed.
you helplessly watched your young master shudder in anger, but the tint of pink plastered over his porcelain cheeks was rather entertaining to behold.
“stay right there, you cat monster! i'm gonna－”
“byakuya-sama－”
you didn't think someone could whip their head that fast , but today you think you’d just witnessed one. byakuya turns to you with his signature glare, and under the dim glow of lanterns he may look like he's pouting with slightly puffed cheeks.
“byakuya- kun ,” you corrected yourself with a nervous smile, still not used to the idea of addressing him so casually. you extended your hand, intending to hold his but paused in the air, curling those fingers back in hesitation.
needless to say, you were overwhelmed. it didn't hit you how much different it would actually be to a step further. dropping formality is one thing, but coming to the realization that this refined young man is seeking a romantic relationship with you. it's a huge step to leap, a line that you wouldn't dare imagine to cross.
“the fireworks are about to start,” byakuya mumbled under his breath mindlessly, slate gray eyes avert to the cheers and crowd uphill. his voice distracted you for a moment before you heard the sharp whistle of a firework rang through the space.
you hitched when your eyes followed several ignited beams shooting up to the air, awaiting for them to hit the peak and gracefully spread into showers of sparks and glitter.
but byakuya couldn't be bothered by that. his eyes can only see you, observing flashes of color complimenting your features. he carefully laced his fingers around yours, feeling a blissful thump on his chest that tells him what love is.
byakuya took a deep breath with eyes closed, taking his time to cherish this moment, imprinting your angelic expression into his memories for the next hundreds of years to come.