Chapter Text
Yellow and brown leaves scattering on the ground,
Autumn breeze in the air,
Blowing leaves around,
Dancing around…
A 23 year old blonde male stares up to a tree near the train station he’s standing on, waiting for his train as he is heading to his university.
He shivers as he can feel the breeze blowing towards him. Even though he’s wearing appropriate clothing for the season and the weather, he still feels cold.
Because he couldn’t stand cold weather.
Even though autumn shouldn’t be this cold.
It’s not, right?
According to the people around him, it seems like they’re not bothered by the breeze.
Especially the highschool girls who are standing next to him, giggling and chattering about.
They’re probably talking about life and whatnot.
Ah, how he misses being that carefree.
… Not quite.
High School was tough for him but not as bad as uni.
Ugh, he doesn’t want to go to class today. He wants to wrap himself and hide himself under his futon.
But if he does that, his older brother would give him an earful of nagging- Um, lecture.
Yeah, that’s what his older brother always mentions.
I’m not nagging! I’m just lecturing! It’s for your own good.
And then the youngest brother would scoff and find his way to escape from their older brother.
Such is life.
Nanaki Kazuaki is the middle child in his family. He’d always be the punching bag for his brothers.
Punching bag is an exaggeration.
He always has to listen to his brothers’ complaints and everything.
It frustrates him sometimes but he’s too nice to say no or to tell them to shut up.
Anyway, skipping class would be a bad idea. It’s not like nobody is at home. His older brother is at home today since it’s his day off from work.
Kazuaki wouldn’t feel safe if he skipped class today.
I don’t want to listen to nii-san’s nag.
Kazuaki sighs.
There are other things that are bothering his mind at the moment as well.
His assignment/project and also… Ugh.
Something that is always being talked about in his class.
Relationships.
Everyone in his class seems to be obsessed about dating lately. Gee, oh gee. He wonders why.
It’s the stress from having to complete mountains of assignments and a project.
What was it that he had to work on?
Oh, he wishes to not think of it at the moment.
It’ll just make him stressed and depressed.
He hasn’t had the time to play his favourite video games or hang out with his online friends!
Kazuaki sighs again.
He feels so miserable today.
Once the train arrives,
Kazuaki tries his best to make it into the train but suddenly, a sea of people appear in front of him.
If they’re decent and calm, Kazuaki wouldn’t mind but it seems like everyone is rushing to work or wherever they’re heading to.
They’ve been pushing each other as they’re entering the train.
Kazuaki keeps getting pushed behind. He grumbles in frustration but also, he feels a bit claustrophobic after being swamped by humans.
Ack!
He needs to get out of here.
He decides to take the next train. That would be a little bit better.
He tries his best to back away from the crowd but then, today isn’t his day.
He accidentally tripped on someone’s foot and someone elbowed him in the stomach.
He gasps as he can feel himself falling backwards!
“Watch out!”
He closes his eyes tightly, accepting his fate.
He expects himself to be laying on a hard concrete floor, maybe having his head hit hard on the concrete but this leaves him confused…
He can feel someone’s arm wraps around him.
It’s like… someone caught him before he could fall.
Kazuaki slowly opens his eyes.
Walnut-coloured hair flowing in the air,
Messy yet flawless,
Walnut eyebrows knitted,
Looking concerned,
As violet eyes met golden eyes.
Kazuaki’s eyes opened widely as he realised a random guy caught him with his right arm before he could fall.
This guy… He has long walnut-coloured hair, tied in a loose ponytail while he has shoulder-length side hairs resting on his shoulders. He has sharp, violet-coloured eyes with a hint of eye bags underneath and he’s wearing red rimmed glasses.
He’s wearing a purple collared shirt, red-purple-white striped necktie and a grey vest underneath his black trenchcoat.
He…
He looks……..
He looks so dreamy………
And he seems to look a bit older than Kazuaki too.
“Are you alright?” The man asks. His voice is deep and husky.
Oh, dear. He’d be a guy that ladies would fall for!
No, Kazuaki is totally falling for this guy!
Kazuaki realises how close their faces are.
Blushes slowly appear on his cheeks as he nods to the man’s question.
The man helps him to stand on his two feet, holding Kazuaki’s right hand as he pulls the blonde up.
“Oh dear. These people need to start to show some decencies. One day, someone is going to get hurt and it’s not going to be pretty,” The man mumbles to himself.
Kazuaki realises something… He gives off these serious, cold and mysterious vibes… Just like Yi Sang from this game Kazuaki loves to play on his mobile and PC whenever he has the time to.
… Not at the moment.
He’s probably missing out on a lot of banners.
“U-Um…” Kazuaki holds his own hands together as he approaches the man. The man, who was facing the crowd, turned his head to Kazuaki. The man raises both of his eyebrows as he looks at Kazuaki. He is not showing any expressions but Kazuaki can tell that he’s trying to be polite.
“T-Thank you… for helping me,” Kazuaki says.
The man nods, “Not a problem. I do not want to see anyone getting injured first thing in the morning.”
“Right… That would be unfortunate, wouldn’t it?” Kazuaki chuckles.
The man nods again.
“Anyway… We missed the train,” Kazuaki mentions as he feels guilty. Because of his own carelessness, the man missed the train. Maybe he was going to get into the train but he had to stop because of Kazuaki.
Ugh… Kazuaki feels so bad right now. He wants to bury himself 6 ft under and disappear without a trace.
He’s being a burden to a stranger.
A good-looking stranger.
“No worries. It’s not like I’m in a rush anyway,” The man shakes his head. “In five minutes, another train will arrive. I will be taking that one instead.”
Kazuaki nods, “Same here…”
Aaaand……
They stood in silence.
Kazuaki would like to strike another conversation but he doesn’t want to bother the man anymore. Especially after he became a burden to the man, for saving him from getting injured.
Ghh… When can he not do this? Getting people involved in his shit?
Kazuaki frowns as he thinks about what just happened.
“If you’re still thinking about the incident earlier, do not worry about it. I’m glad I’ve helped you. I’m in no rush and helping someone in need is a priority,” The man says, even though he has his eyes on the train track.
Kazuaki nods as he buries his nose under his cream fringed scarf, wrapped around his neck.
Ah, he’s so cool…
Kazuaki couldn’t stop thinking about that man.
He kept spacing out in class, during lectures and tutorials. He couldn’t stop thinking about… that messy yet flawless walnut-hair and sharp violet eyes.
The deep, husky voice.
The mysterious man…
It does feel like he’s head over heel for a stranger who he just met today at the train station.
Oh no, that’s bad.
He knows nothing about the man but… He wants to see him again.
Kazuaki didn’t even ask for his name either!
How unfortunate!
Kazuaki stares at his laptop screen as he sits in the library after class, trying to think of something to write for his project.
He has to write a poem based on how he feels currently.
What should he write? He can’t stop thinking about the man! He can’t focus on his project.
Nope!
This frustrates him.
Kazuaki slowly faceplants on the library’s desk as he tries his best to focus on his project.
Try thinking of something!
Something that he likes!!
…. The man’s sharp violet eyes.
NO!!
The season that he likes!!
… Meeting the man early in an autumn morning….
Definitely not helping!!
Kazuaki grumbles as he lifts his head. He starts to randomly type some words on his empty word document file before closing his laptop, packing his stuff up.
He had enough of thinking about his project. It’s time for him to treat himself after a stressful day.
He decides to walk to a cafe close to his campus, buying himself a chocolate frappe with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top.
He starts making his way to the train station where he usually waits to take the train to his place.
On his way, he wonders…
The man seems older than Kazuaki… Maybe he’s in his 30’s?
Gah, that’s too old for Kazuaki but then again… He’s a grown adult. He can do whatever he wants… Even though he knows his brothers will judge him for liking a man who is 10 years older than him.
It’s not all about the age, it’s the man that he’s attracted to!
Wait… What if the man is married?! Being that old and attractive, Kazuaki bet the man is already married.
Kazuaki wasn’t paying attention to the man’s hands so he couldn’t see any wedding band or if there was a wedding band around the man’s finger.
Kazuaki frowns at the image of the man being a married guy. If that’s the case then, he doesn’t want to be a house wrecker… But then again, he knows nothing about the man.
The man…
Ahah, it’s funny to refer to him as ‘The Man’.
He throws the cup away once he’s finished with his drink. He stands on the train platform, waiting for his train so he can go home and tell his brothers about how he feels.
.
.
.
.
Kazuaki reaches the small apartment where he resides with his brothers. It’s a small 2 bedroom apartment.
Kazuaki has to share a room with his youngest brother but sometimes, his youngest brother would kick him out of the room if Kazuaki is being too loud with his gaming session.
And when that happens, he always makes his way into his older brother’s room.
His older brother wouldn’t mind but he’d talk to Kazuaki about keeping quiet when it’s night time.
Everyone needs their beauty sleep anyway.
And Kazuaki too!
A lot of times, Kazuaki would stay up until 6 AM because of gaming.
That frustrates his older brother a lot.
Kazuaki walks into the apartment as he takes off his shoes and places them neatly at the genkan, “Tadaima.” he says.
“Oh-, okaeri,” says his older brother from the kitchen that’s connected to the living room.
Kazuaki walks in to greet a dark brunette man, wearing black and white striped long-sleeved t-shirt. His name is Hitori. He’s Kazuaki’s older brother. Older by one year but he acts like an old man sometimes.
Maybe because he feels responsible for Kazuaki and their younger brother after their parents’ death.
“Eh? Where’s Nageki?” Kazuaki looks around, looking for his younger brother. “He’s at the park downstairs with a friend. He’ll come back in 10 minutes.” Hitori says as he’s stirring a pot.
Probably making soup for dinner.
Chicken soup? That would be tasty.
Kazuaki can feel his stomach grumble from hunger.
Kazuaki walks past a dark brown drawer placed in between the genkan and the door to his room. He stops and stands in front of the drawer. A photo of a couple is placed on top, decorated with a black photo frame.
A man with short dark brunette hair with a lady with wavy long blonde hair. She’s hugging the man’s arm as both of them smiled for the camera.
Kazuaki smiles as he looks at the photo, “Tadaima, okaasan. Otousan.”
He then walks to his room, preparing himself for a shower.
After he took a shower and dressed up, he helped Hitori in the kitchen. He then heard the front door open and Hitori leaving the kitchen.
Kazuaki cuts some cabbages quietly as he hears his younger brother's voice, entering the apartment.
“Nageki, go wash your feet. Dinner's almost ready,” Hitori says. Nageki complies as he makes his way to the bathroom.
.
.
.
They had dinner quietly, finished quickly and it's Kazuaki's turn to clean up tonight. He washes the dishes, cleans up the kitchen and makes sure there are no smudges found in the kitchen.
He then returns to his brothers who are sitting on the floor, in front of a brown round coffee table.
Hitori is leaning on the table as his eyes are focused on the TV while Nageki is doing his homework.
Kazuaki decides to join his brothers, taking out his mobile phone so he could play a game-
“Aren't you supposed to be working on your assignments?”
Kazuaki slowly turns around to look at his younger brother, judging him.
Okay, Nageki. I know that you're miserable because you have homework to do but don't drag me in!
Kazuaki averts his eyes, “M-Maybe…”
“And didn't you have a project to work on?” Nageki asks.
Damn it, Nageki! Shut up!
Kazuaki can feel Hitori is staring at him. He feels a bit threatened now.
Kazuaki tears up, “W-Wait! Niisan, you're scaring me!!” He ducks his head. “Then do your homework,” Hitori commands before he turns back to the TV.
Kazuaki frowns as he crawls to his room, dragging his laptop bag with him as he crawls back to the living room.
“I didn't know we had a cat in this house,” Nageki says sarcastically. He has his eyes focused on his book.
Kazuaki frowns at his brother as he reaches the coffee table, taking his laptop out.
“Ugh… I have to write a poem about how I feel recently and I can't think of anything to write!” Kazuaki whines.
“Miserable, I want to play video games but my life is miserable.” Nageki scoffs.
“Niisan!! Nageki is mocking me!” Kazuaki whines again.
Hitori switches the TV off, and he decides to focus on his brothers.
“Try closing your eyes and think of something,” Hitori suggests.
Kazuaki does as he is told. He closes his eyes, trying to understand how he feels at the moment.
Troubled?
Sad?
Stress?
…
Instead, an image of the walnut-haired guy appears in his head.
“KYAAA!!” Kazuaki flails his arms up in the air, startling Hitori. “W-Wha?!”
“Have you finally seen your future, Kazu?” Nageki asks.
His brothers stayed quiet afterwards. They can see red blushes forming on Kazuaki's cheeks.
Kazuaki lays on the floor, covering his face with his hands as he rolls on the floor, “Leave me alone!!”
“Uh, we'd love to if you'd tell us what is going on?” Hitori says, feeling concerned and confused. Just… What is going on right now?
With that reaction, it could only be one thing…
Love struck.
Hitori waits until Kazuaki stops throwing tantrums so he can explain to Hitori about what happened.
“Maybe he could see the future. Failing gacha or whatever games he's playing,” Nageki says, deadpanned.
Kazuaki quickly sits up, “That's harsh, Geki! You shouldn't wish that on me!” he exclaims.
“Don't call me that and tell us what is going on.” Nageki groans.
“Ughghghg…. You're going to laugh at me…” Kazuaki whines.
“We won't.” Hitori shakes his head.
“I can't promise.” Nageki says.
Hitori pinches the boy in arm as he said that. Nageki flinches in pain.
Kazuaki covers his face with his hands again, “Ahh… I think I'm in love.”
Ah, so it's true.
Hitori is having a hard time accepting this.
Kazuaki is love struck.
Kazuaki… Thinking about love… He's growing up…
Hitori clutches his chest, trying to keep his composure, “With who? Someone in your class?”
“I wish…” Kazuaki fiddles with his fingers, “But he's a stranger I met at the train station this morning!”
“... That's tragic.” Nageki says, deadpanned.
“What? Why?”
“There are chances that you wouldn't be able to see him again.”
Kazuaki tears up, “N-No! No, I will get to see him again! I know I will!!” He turns to Hitori, hoping for his older brother to support him, “Niisan!”
Hitori just stares at Kazuaki, “Well… Do you know his name?”
“No…”
“His phone number?”
“No…”
“Sorry, Kazu. I have to agree with Nageki.”
“No!!” Kazuaki wails. He slumps his head on the coffee table, “You two are cruel!! Meanie!! You're supposed to support me! I'm your brother!”
“We're being logical, Kazu. This isn't some sort of fairytale romance.” Nageki scoffs.
“Also, it's not love. I'm pretty sure you got ‘having a crush’ and ‘being in love’ mixed up.” Hitori explains. “As if you have the experience.” Nageki glares at Hitori, who turns away.
Hitori is never in a relationship, even though there have been a lot of women asking him out.
He's too dedicated to taking care of his brothers.
Also, he never had feelings for anyone before.
“You're talking about me. What about you?” Hitori glares back at Nageki.
Nageki just stays quiet. He slowly turns his head away.
“Nageki?” Hitori squints his eyes.
“Wahh!! I want to see him again!” Kazuaki continues to wail.
Well, Hitori should let Nageki go for now. He will question the young boy once Kazuaki has stopped wailing about his crush on a stranger.
“Well, there is a way for you to meet him again and that is… to go to the spot where you met him the first time. Some humans tend to repeat the movements that they did the day before, like standing on the same spot.” Hitori suggests the blonde. Kazuaki stops wailing as he slowly raises his head, looking at his brother with full of hope as he sobs, “R-Really?”
“That might work but don’t hope too much on it. You might end up getting disappointed,” Hitori says.
“If you meet him again tomorrow, you should ask for the guy’s name and contact details,” Nageki continues.
“B-But I can’t do that! What if he finds me as weirdo or a stalker or-”
“You’re already a weirdo.” Nageki scoffs. “Nageki!” Hitori scolds him.
“I don’t know… This is nerve-wracking. I don’t think I can do it… But I want to see him again!” Kazuaki lowers his head on the coffee table again, “I’m doomed. I can’t even do anything easily. I’m so weak and awkward…”
“Your choice. If you continue to complain, you won’t get anything.” Nageki shrugs as he returns to his homework.
“Nageki is right, Kazu. Put on a brave face and say hi to him tomorrow. Make a small conversation with the man. If you really want him, you should push your worries away and work hard on it.” Hitori says.
Yeah, that's good advice.
Even though his brothers can be cruel with his words (Especially Nageki), Kazuaki knows he can trust his brothers with anything and he always makes sure to be supportive of his brothers as well.
Okay, so tomorrow… Kazuaki HAS to push himself forward, introduce himself to the stranger and get to know him a little bit better. Yes, that’s right.
Kazuaki smiles at the idea.
He raises his head and begins typing on his laptop.
