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“Aw, crap, we’re out of cereal and milk again! I’ma going to head out to the store to get some more!” Denji shouted as he zipped past two lazy bodies to the front door, snatching his hoodie off the rack with poorly disguised eagerness.
Aki sighed, looking up from the creased daily newspaper. “Again? That’s the third time this month.” His orbs followed Denji’s hasty movements as he shrugged on the clothing.
The blonde barely spared him a glance as he tried to fix his bedhead. “Yeah, yeah, I know, right? It’s bogus how Power keeps eating it all.” He feigned understanding just as the said girl squawked at the blame now delivered to her shoulders. “What the fuck? I haven’t even touched the cereal since two weeks ago!” She yelled, her mouth full of her breakfast; which was unfortunately just an amalgamation of bacon and eggs.
“Ya can’t fool me, Powy, I know you sneak around in the middle of the night, scarfing that shit down.” The gobsmacked look on the blonde’s face was one Denji could remember for centuries.
“You bi—” as the girl was prepared to scream her indignation, she was stopped in her tracks by Aki’s agitated groan, followed by Denji’s so-called reassurance.
“Don’t worry, though,” the boy flicked the lock open, stepping an inch outside the apartment with every syllable. “I’ll make sure to replenish your stash, so don’t wait up!” Denji grinned at that last part, officially saying his leave to both of them, the door narrowly missing his behind with how fast he tried to shut it.
With the boy off and out, Aki’s eyes lingered on the door. But they began to narrow in suspicion, prompting him to rise from the couch and walk into the kitchen for further investigation.
However, his investigation ended as soon as it began. The man found not just one, but several boxes of cereal, moderately filled, as well as the milk, as far back in the fridge as it was, half full. This made his face scrunch up in confusion as he shut the fridge and leaned against it to turn his attention to Power—who now had a lap full of Meowy, the cat clearly ruffled by the morning ruckus and sauntered out of their bedroom.
“Power,” Aki began. The fiend nodded in his direction, still stuffing her face. “We’re still good on breakfast... he’s not just ‘going to the store,’ is he?” He wondered aloud, sighing at the thought of Denji pulling some shit.
“Yes, see!” she jabbed a finger in the air. “He’s up to something. Something... I can assume is very stupid.” Then Power just petted a purring Meowy as Aki shook his head at it all.
★
Geez, that was close, Denji thought as he strolled down the sidewalk. It was getting really tiring having to think of excuses pertaining to various foods they did or didn’t have. Many apologies and more to his family, but he couldn’t let them know the reason why he had those excuses for where he was going—especially not Power, god, he’d probably never hear the end of it.
Oh, what was the reason exactly? He had a crush.
That’s right, the reason why he began waking up early in the morning and trying to make sure not a single hair was out of place—well, in his own unique way—was because someone was after Denji’s heart. And he’d let so them take it if they pleased.
One day when it was actually his duty to do some shopping, he met you at the little grocery store a few blocks down from his apartment.
He was only there to gather the items on the short list that Aki had handed over to him that morning, but when you stepped up next to him while he was eyeing two freaky-looking fish, the shy offer for assistance that flew out of your mouth had Denji a bit touched.
“But you don’t even work here, though?” was what he said back then, now eyeing you.
“Do I have to work here in order to help out some clearly indecisive guy?” The little chuckle that you ended your retort with was unfortunately cute enough that it made his heart jump in his chest. When you leaned over to help him pick the better fish, his heart was absolutely drumming at how close you were and how easily his hand could slip into yours.
He didn’t say a single word of complaint when you offered to help him finish his shopping; he just let his cheeks burn bright pink while he trailed behind you with two baskets and a eyes.
After that day, every other week or so, he’d pop up at the store, yearning to see you, while also juggling his best attempts to make his appearances seem normal and coincidental.
It was a flawless plan in his mind; with every day, the two of you seemed to be getting closer and closer; then soon, he couldn’t deny the hope that lingered.
Even though it should have been embarrassing—considering how easily he fell for you after only meeting a handful of times—he couldn’t really find it in himself to give a fuck.
Denji smiled proudly; maybe he could finally get to do all the things couples do with you.
In the meantime, the blond was gushing... it didn’t occur to him that he had already arrived at the store until he heard the familiar bell’s jingle, signaling so.
Then he let his eyes wander, searching the store and trying to pick you out of the bustling crowd of shoppers. He stumbled upon you just when he almost missed you; you were crouched down by a vending machine, mashing away at the buttons.
With a little pep in his step, he made a beeline for you.
“Good morning, [Name].” Denji jingled the keys in his pocket as he tried to wave. You looked up at his approach and you gave him a soft smile. “Hi there, Denji. You doing shopping again?” you made casual conversation as you inserted money into the slot. Pink dusted his cheeks as he immediately responded with ‘no’ in his head like a fool. But in real life, he stuck with a shy confirmation and told you that he just needed some cereal.
But as you were about to say something else, you were interrupted by two bags of chips spilling out from the bottom.
“Holy shit, what did you do?” Denji cackled at the surprise you exuded.
“I don’t even fucking know,” you chuckled, pushing yourself up from the ground. “But how perfect is this?” The smile on your face was too warm, too soft; he almost ignored the next words that came out of your mouth.
“One for me, and one for you, Denji.”
You held out a bag for him, and he stared at it in disbelief. “You’re... gonna to share with me?” He hesitantly reached for the bag, awaiting your next answer. Still smiling, you told him exactly what he wanted to hear. “I’ll always split stuff with people I like. Obviously.”
Obviously, you said. You also implied that he was one of the people you like. Obviously.
He was so glad it was obvious to you because he had clearly missed a chapter or two—but he didn’t care, this was what he had been hoping for the entire time. Maybe he just might’ve had it. The ball was in his court.
“[Name]...” Denji called out as you were already munching on your bag of chips. You immediately caught his eye, humming as you waited for the moment the boy was ready to speak.
“I... I just want ya to know that I really, really like you.” The blond laid his heart out on the table. “And I wanna to date you and一nd take you out someday...?” He squeezed his eyes shut and focused on the chatter of civilians the longer you kept quiet. And he was actually so ready to bolt out of the store right about now if this went down a road he hadn’t hoped for.
But there you go, exceeding his expectations again.
“I know,” was what you said.
Denji’s eyes snapped open at that, and you laughed at the shock written all over his face.
“You know? Wh–Whaddya mean you knew?” Because of the shock, Denji’s voice also grew louder, so you took his hand and led him outside to avoid any suspicious eyes. You were laughing along the way though, and Denji was angrily pouting as he tried to shush you.
Calming down a bit, you stuttered out apologies before confessing. “I’m sorry, Denji, but it’s not like you tried to hide it or anything—” his mouth fell open. “I coulda sworn I was being subtle!” That was one of his most natural buildups for a confession, ever. But also his first confession, ever.
“You have the subtlety of a puppy,” you covered your face as you snorted. “But that’s okay because it’s one of the things I like about you.” He flushed red under your teasing gaze.
“So... ya really do like me then?” Denji didn’t take his eyes off of you this time. This new smile of yours formed cute little crinkles around your eyes and he thought it was one of his favorites.
“If I say yes, would you be my boyfriend?” The sly question had Denji’s heart doing flips. He’d love nothing more than to wear the title of your boyfriend and to have you as his.
So, he answered with a kiss.