Chapter Text
If denial was a blanket, Asa buried herself deep within it everyday.
The sting of not disappointment cinches tight in the middle of her chest. No, it’s an ember of anger that burns low at Denji’s failure to follow basic social etiquette. If one couldn’t carry out their promise, they should have the decency to inform the promisee of their inadequacy.
Hot and heavy on her mind, her thoughts are the only thing that entertains her in the midst of her boredom; eying Yoshida tending to a takoyaki stand.
There’s no particular reason why she agreed to come with him. Call it a whim because it was not a distraction to ward meddling emotions at bay. Not when their acquaintanceship is built on fragments cast in a pool of obscurity; he’s a stonewall that rejected Yoru, the flame on a dynamite’s wick of a rooftop argument, an image that reflects in the glass of a rippling aquarium—the ringing of said glass in the form of nervous laughter when bits of her phone scatter across tiled flooring.
Actually, this guy isn’t any good either.
“Careful, it’s hot.” Yoshida offers her a cardboard tray; four takoyaki balls sprinkled with bonito, seaweed and a drizzle of mayonnaise lays inside.
“No thanks,” Asa murmurs, mouth pressed into a line. “Deep fried food builds plaque in the arteries, leading to heart failure and coronary artery disease. Also, it’s high in carbs which will put me at risk for diabetes.”
Not a hint of a confused wrinkle mars Yoshida’s face as he pulls the tray toward him. “I don’t think four takoyaki balls will cause that.”
“I’m not hungry,” Asa claims.
Right at that moment, her stomach decides to growl.
“Feel free to take it. It’s on me.” Yoshida gently ushers the tray into her hands as heat floods her cheeks. “You must’ve gotten hungry from waiting for so long.”
“You were watching me,” accuses Asa, still not making a move to pick up a ball.
“Aha, a little. I was walking by and saw you standing there.” Yoshida spears a takoyaki with a toothpick. “Who were you waiting for?”
Asa glances to the side, chewing on the inside of her mouth. “Nobody important.”
“That sounds right,” Yoshida agrees, plopping a takoyaki into his mouth. “Somebody important wouldn’t make a girl wait all day.”
Asa ceases her movement, slightly taken back at Yoshida’s empathy. It’s been a long day, hours washing away underneath a fading sun, only her and herself at towering gates. So alone and awaiting, that the crumb of sympathy soothes her heart.
“I mean who stands someone up like that? Asa’s eyes narrow, the need to rant surging through her veins, to dump it onto the only person lending her his ear. “It’s common sense to let the person know that you can’t make it.”
“Exactly.” Yoshida chimes. “That person doesn’t seem to be the brightest.”
“He’s an idiot who gets up to no good.” Irritation thrums against her rib cage as ripples of blue flutter by. “I told him interesting facts about the ocean but he didn’t listen at all.”
“Octopuses have three hearts,” Yoshida provides robotically.
“Yeah!” An excited tremor rocks through her body as forgotten books of knowledge are spewed back onto shore from an endless sea. “In fact, they have over 2000 suction cups. Two-thirds of their neurons are in their arms, so they use their suction cups to feel, taste and smell because of the chemical sensors on them. Fun fact, each cup has more taste receptors than we have on our tongues.”
“I didn’t know octopuses could smell with their arms.” Yoshida strokes his chin. “That’s interesting.”
Asa blows out a breath, a puff of pride sweeping beneath her pulse. Finally, someone was listening. “It is, and he would’ve known if he hadn’t left for the penguins.”
“So, you were here to meet Denji.”
“Yeah but he—“ Asa gasps at her slip-up, stitching her lips together.
“I had a feeling it was him. You two seemed close in the aquarium.” Yoshida responds with a small tug of the lips. “I’m surprised he stood you up, he seemed to really like you.”
Asa’s fingers dig into the cardboard tray, focusing elsewhere but Yoshida. “Then he didn’t like me like you thought he did.”
“I can’t see why. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have gotten out. You’re smart and not bad on the eyes.” Asa’s eyes widen and she swerves her head, finally taking a good look at the boy next to her. “Denji missed out.”
The colour of dusk sits high on her cheekbones. How can he say these things so casually? But she’d be lying if she said it didn’t tinge her heart with a hint of happiness.
“Well, it means you have good taste.” Her voice rides into a crescendo. “I deserve so much more than that idiot!”
“That’s right.”
“He’s a selfish moron who only thinks about himself!”
“Denji is a bit of a lost cause, isn’t he?”
“That doesn’t scratch the surface, he rips off the homeless. Who does that?!”
“How about I take you out on a date instead?”
“Yeah and—“
Wait, what?
Asa almost drops her tray as shock freezes her over. Composed and collected, Yoshida draws closer and looms above. She’s forced to crane her neck to accomodate for their height difference, strain needling through her muscles — was he always this tall?
“Mind if I take you out on a date, Asa?” Yoshida repeats, cocking his head.
Her breath snags in her windpipe. Try as she might, she’s unable to pry out any words behind her teeth. Especially when Yoshida seems to be closing their distance. Unintentionally, she traces how the cusp of evening pools shadows and light down his face in flawless droves.
It’s inhumane for someone to look this good in bleak lighting.
“This Yoshida boy may be a better option,” Yoru pipes up somewhere behind her. “He’s not stupid like the punk and he seems to be pretty interested in you.”
There’s a rush of wind, a howling that echoes across the perimeter as invisible hands separates her from her body, tossing her out into the street. As the world melds together once more, she watches herself, heavily scarred with spiraling scarlet eyes sidle up to Yoshida like the snake she was.
Oh, crap.
“Very well,” Yoru says. “I accept, let’s go on a date.”
Asa wants to rip Yoru’s hair out.
Which isn’t anything new but overtime, she’s grown used to having another albeit vicious voice in her head. There’s a degree of tolerance toward the devil since most of the time, she’s given free reign over her body. The keyword being ‘most’ because right now, Yoru walks beside Yoshida, oh so casually, donned in a striped tank dress while she’s dragged across the grass; blades phasing through her skin like she’s a ghost.
Her guts twist upon themselves as Yoru leans against Yoshida; skin brushing against each other and she almost jolts when a chillness lances down her arm.
Forget her predicament, is there any blood circulating in Yoshida’s body?
“You have such boring tastes in date locations,” Yoru starts, a slight sneer spoiling her nose, “why did you bring me to a park?”
“What the hell?” Asa’s eyebrows rocket up to her hairline. “Don’t insult him like that!”
“I figured you’d enjoy a simple view,” Yoshida responds, unoffended. “You didn’t strike me as the type who’d want to go somewhere costly.”
Asa blinks twice. How Yoshida nailed her preferences when Denji couldn’t is beyond her.
Yoru returns his answer with a haughty ‘hmph’. “There’s only dogs and children here, this is not a place suitable for couples.”
“You think we’re a couple?” Yoshida asks, amusement colouring his tone.
“Hey, you’re being too on the nose!”
“Are we not?” Yoru challenges as she loops her arms around his bicep, making sure to press the side of her breast against his skin.
“Stop pushing yourself onto him!” Asa yells, embarrassment flushing down her neck with a drop of horror added to the mix.
“Hmm.” Yoshida hums thoughtfully, not pulling away nor leaning in. “This is a first for me, I never had a girlfriend before.”
Asa scoffs. It’s hard to believe someone as handsome as Yoshida could be single his entire life. Not that this means she’s attracted to him, but she can see that somebody is good-looking albeit reluctantly.
“Then it shall be simple, you and I are a couple now.”
“Hey!”
“What would you do as my girlfriend?” Yoshida quips and a pang of irritation spikes through Asa at the way he worded it, as if she owes him something.
“I’ll wear something sexy for you,” Yoru declares.
If Asa was drinking tea, she would’ve spat it out.
Yoshida spares her a glance, a small gleam of a smile playing upon his lips. “Like what?”
“Those undergarments that barely cover anything,” replies Yoru, “Asa, what is it called—a thong?”
“Shut up already!” Below her, a small Pomeranian whizzes through her ankles. “Also, don’t talk to me, he’ll think I’m a weirdo talking to herself!”
“You’re always straightforward,” Yoshida quips and horror sinks in as a snapshot of their first meeting crawls into the spotlight.
Yoru tilts her head, ebony strands cascading past her shoulders. “It does not seem like you hate it.”
Gravel crunches beneath Yoshida’s shoes. “Maybe, I don’t.”
“Then, let’s make it official.”
Yoru releases Yoshida’s arm, halting as a strange idea bubbles in her mind. Asa’s heart-rate skyrockets when she hears it, protests spilling forth from her lips. Yoshida suspends motion as her fingers ascend onto his cold cheeks. There’s a flash of annoyance when Yoshida doesn’t bend to meet her so Yoru yanks at him but he refuses to budge. Adamant, Yoru heaves up onto her toes, inching closer as Yoshida stares at her; eyelids not fluttering close and Asa wonders if this is gonna be the most awkward kiss ever.
Until a stray soccer ball smashes against her skull.
Crying out, she collapses onto the ground with pain frenzying at the side of her head. Hissing, she props herself up onto her arms; gravel scratching her palms and there’s a chorus of blurred voices somewhere in the background. Through the ringing in her ears, she faintly makes out an apology.
“Are you okay?” Yoshida lowers into a crouch, extending his hand to her. “Do you need some ice?”
When Asa’s vision clears, it’s Yoshida’s in front of her and she realises she regained control of her body.
“It’s okay.” Asa pushes past the pain, dusting her dress off as she shoots up. “I should go home and get some rest.”
Yoshida smoothly stands up, the creases of his pants unfurling. “Do you want me to take you home?”
“Nope, bye.”
Asa speeds off for her escape, not looking back to see Yoshida’s reaction.
“Hey, Asa! Return to the Yoshida boy, he was falling for me.”
“No he wasn’t.” Asa’s slippers flop and stick to the undersole of her feet, grateful the pain is preventing Yor from usurping her body from her. “I can’t talk to him ever again after what you did.”
Transversing the beaten path, she paces toward the street ahead. The sooner she leaves, the better. Quietly, she wonders why Yoshida took all of this into stride. Moreover, why did he ask her out when he’s never shown her an ounce of interest before, rebuffing Yoru without a second thought. Charred black eyes, emotionless and unwavering, pitches amongst her thoughts and discomfort dribbles down her spine at the image.
As she makes a turn, Denji plods into view.
Acting on pure instinct, Asa dives behind a tree; heart pounding against her chest. This day couldn’t get any worse, the last person in the world she wants to see is right across from her. Peeking from behind the trunk, she sees Denji accompanied by a pack of huskies trailing around him.
“This is cowardice, hiding from the Denji boy because you don’t want to meet him?” Yoru remarks, standing out in the open with her arms crossed.
“You don’t get it,” Asa chides, planting her hands onto the bark for support. “It’ll be awkward if he sees me.”
“Why, he was the one who stood us up, no?”
Surprisingly, she had a point and it spurs a wave of irritation that carves a path through her fear. Why is she the one hiding? She should be proudly marching up to him, berating him for what he’s done.
“He’s unbelievable,” Asa hisses, nails digging into the tree’s bark. “I should get back at him.”
“Maybe, I can help you with that.”
Asa yelps. Behind her, Yoshida tucks his hands into his pockets and broaches her space, too close for comfort.
Asa’s eyes narrow, the urge to put distance between them is overwhelming. “Did you follow me?”
“I was worried about you. Also, I didn’t expect we would’ve run into Denji.” Yoshida pops his head from behind the tree before inclining it back from view. “I got an idea, why don’t we get back at Denji by making him jealous?”
Asa scrunches her forehead, not quite following Yoshida’s logic. “How?”
“Let’s pretend we’re dating.”
For three seconds, Asa short-circuits and there’s nothing but a quietness that stands between her and Yoshida.
Three. Two. One.
“Excuse me?!” Asa reels back, thumping her back against the ridges of the trunk. “What the hell? No way!”
“Ouch, that hurts,” Yoshida says with a blank face. “Especially when you said we were a couple earlier.”
Asa’s ears burn, silently hating Yoru. “T-that was something I said on a whim! It doesn’t mean anything!”
“Is that so?” Yoshida strokes his chin before retreating, her personal space returned to her. “Good luck getting back at him then.”
Asa shakes her head as he walks away, thankful to be finally left alone. The revenge thing was stupid, an idea that she conjured in the heat of the moment. Instead, she’ll head home and pretend nothing ever happened with either boy, rolling into the next day like it always was.
But first, she waits for Denji to pass by.
Cream-coloured, black and brown dogs circle around his waist and trot upon the path. The unusual amount of dogs must’ve triggered interest as one girl approaches one of the huskies.
Quickly, the girl fixates her attention onto Denji and the two engage in chatter while Asa’s stomach swoops low. His demeanor changes, a wicked grin stretching across and a brightness smudged into the creases of his eyes. The girl has the audacity to giggle like he said the world’s most hilarious joke.
The insidious liquid that puddles in her belly thickens as a blazing anger explodes through her nerves like forest fire.
She’s angry because Denji is more invested in a girl he knew for 2 seconds than he was with her.
She’s angry because they bonded in a life or death situation, prompting him to ask her out on another date yet not enjoying her company enough to turn him into a weapon.
She’s angry because she remembers throngs of people spilling past the gates until it’s only her left with the evening advancing across a murky sky.
She’s angry because Denji never liked her as much as she—
Backing away from the tree, she follows Yoshida's receding form.
“W-wait up!” she calls, wispy and fragile with uncertainty.
Yoshida stops, analysing her with a glance across his shoulder; black fringe smoothing across his forehead as the backlight of the sun emboldens the edges of his frame with a milky halo.
Oh crap, she’s really gonna say this, isn’t she?
“W-will you be my boyfriend?” utters Asa, lacing her sweaty fingers together.