Work Text:
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Togo's POV:
Bringg, bringg- thump!
"Eughh.." I groaned out while that stupid thing was still blaring with my alarm. Looking at the digital clock, it was only 7 in the morning. Are you saying I woke up for nothing? My head ached with stress and irritation from the loud noise from the clock as it still rang in my ears. Goddamit. To add to my already annoying headache, I heard two trucks slowly backing into the side of the road, at least that's what I'm hearing.
Getting out of bed, I harshly pulled open the window and its curtains, I push my head out ready to give an earful to whoever was causing so much noise when "she" appeared in my sight. Before I knew it, my heart was already pounding quickly in my chest and the headache from earlier was already gone.
Am I seeing things? Am I still dreaming?? Questions like those filled my mind with heat rushing to my cheeks— god it hurts so much.
While I was thinking of those things and doing fangirl or whatever activities they do, the raven-haired girl suddenly looked at me.
Shitshitshitshitshit, she saw me, didn't she!?! Oh god, what do I do!? What if she thinks I'm a creep or a pervert!- wait, does she even remember me??
Were my thoughts after I immediately crouched just to hide from her sight and then suddenly, a voice broke me out of my crisis.
"Ah! Put that down over there and be careful, please!" Her voice sounded worried yet still had that cheerful tone from when we were still in school. I slowly looked over my window and sneaked a peek.
Ryoba Aishi.
A kind and smart girl in Akademi High and was also well-liked by the teacher yet she approached me with kindness despite my tough act and bad reputation. Even when I threatened her, she stood bravely and asked if she could help me.
I never thought of interacting with her. Afterall, she was a natural beauty and had done good deeds unlike me, who was a delinquent and had an older brother that was part of the Yakuza. She was way beyond leagues.
But imagine my surprise when she approached me out of nowhere and said she was willing to help me. For context, I was in some deep shit with some gang in the town and she offered to help me by beating up those guys.
At first, I thought she was just some weak goody-two-shoes but what I saw that day made me see her in a different light. She was a good fighter, much better than those cowards who used weapons to fight while she fought only with her bare hands. Who would have thought the third-year's beauty and brains was a fighter strong enough to beat 5 dudes taller than her and has weapons?
And that was how I slowly fell for her. I was a coward back then for not dealing with them and for not confessing to her or at least show some emotion other than being tough in front of her.
Graduation passed and I never saw her again. I swore to myself that I'd be a new man by the time we meet again. I quit my delinquency, started studying properly and got into a good college that provided great help to my plan on having a perfectly normal but genuine life. I told my brother he won't need to worry about me being in his crime-filled life ever again. I moved out of the house and got my own place, right next to a beautiful park that I was sure she would love. It also had a cute cherry blossom tree, almost as big as the one from behind the school. (I mean, didn't she believe in the myth?.. I'm sure she would love it.)
But now, years after, I saw her again. And she's my neighbor! Which means I can man up and ask her out!
This time, I'll be brave and show her my true self. And if she were to run away?.. well.. I might have to resort to.. extreme actions.
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"Ryoba, is something wrong? You look like something's bothering you.. Talk to me?" Togo stopped our walk and made us stand in the side, standing in front of me with his eyes staring at my own.
I stared back and donned a thinking look, watching as he squirmed under my gaze. How cute. He's so different from when he was still a delinquent, acting tough and rough. Now, he's grown into a young man with good looks and a smart brain. Although there were still some of his scars from school here and there.
Actually, I've always known he had some form of affection towards me. In the past, I paid no heed to him for I spent all my time admiring my beloved and getting rid of those pesky girls.
But I failed on getting rid of one girl and my beloved fell for her and they got together. I could only watch them being happy. Then I realized something..
I didn't actually need his love.
I didn't get any emotions such as jealousy or anger from the turn of events. I even felt.. disinterested. Which brought great shock to me, of course. How could an Aishi suddenly lose interest in their beloved? What would Mother think? She'd be disappointed. Afterall, she told me that an Aishi has their fated partner for eternity and when I find them, I must do anything to get them into my arms..
But.. how could I when I didn't have someone like that?
However, something unexpected happened. My dreams that always showcased me and Senpai, was different. The man beside me was someone completely different yet familiar and comfortable. And I knew who it was.
Everywhere I go in school, I find myself looking for this boy. Even when I was doing some chore for a teacher or a fellow student. And everytime I find him looking back at me, I could feel something in my heart. It was warm and soothing, much different from what I felt from my beloved.
This new emotion then became my greatest fear. It was unpredictable. For my "beloved", I only felt obsessed and mad for him but with Togo, I felt like I could tell him everything I've been keeping secret deep into my heart and expect genuine feelings back. That is why I was scared. After all, I only saw my beloved as an object created perfectly for me, having no opinions. I saw Togo as a person that can love and hate things.
I feared that someday this emotion would grow stronger and I would eventually hurt Togo and it would pain me greatly. So I ran.
I avoided him with everything I've got. Changed my routes so I couldn't bump into him. Insisting to myself I did not hold feelings for this boy. Even did some evil things as to make sure he doesn't see one hairstrand from me.
But.. no matter how hard I tried, I have always kept the urge to see him and confess my love for him deep down. And when we graduated, I moved as soon as I could! Far away so I will eventually forget these feelings and let Togo have a normal life without me.
And so the years passed and I buried myself into work. Day in and day out, work and work.. Yet his small smile never left my mind.
I decided to move back to my hometown. I didn't have a particular reason to, just felt like it and the tall buildings and gross men in my workplace was getting too much.
Imagine my surprise when I found out Togo was my neighbor! The mixed emotions I felt, the memories from before came flooding back to me. The walls I so wanted to keep Togo out crumbled in an instant.
I didn't care anymore if I would someday hurt him. I didn't care if he would someday leave me. My feelings are genuine and have been sealed away for too long and I can't just shove them down again when I have the chance to have a relationship with Togo again.
This time, I won't run away. I'll stand my ground and show him my true self whilst cherishing and treasuring him.