Chapter Text
Five years ago, Nene Yashiro became only the second person in history to change her fate. She was destined to die, her future was set in stone. Mr. Tsuchigomori had insisted it was impossible to alter one’s fate. Impossible… Yet one boy had done it before her, and she became the next.
The first person to escape his fate was Amane Yugi. He had been meant to live his life as a school teacher, science, to be precise. But after taking his own twin brother’s life, he took his own shortly after. In death, he became an apparition known as Hanako, bound to haunt the school bathroom and grant wishes to those who summoned him. However, only those close to death could call upon him. That was how Nene met him, she had been near death herself when she made her wish.
Over time, they became close, and Nene even developed a crush on Hanako, despite the fact that he was a ghost. But one day, after school, he begged her not to leave the bathroom, not to go anywhere. She was confused, to say the least, but she listened.
From that day on, she never saw Hanako again.
He had prevented her death by keeping her in the bathroom. Her fate had been to trip and fall off the hill she walked every day on her way home, an accident that would have killed her. But Hanako stopped it from happening. Her death was no longer inevitable. She would live a long life.
And so, she graduated high school and left for college in America, seeking new opportunities.
-
Now 21 and attending NYU, Nene had never imagined she'd end up here. She had always assumed she'd stay close to home after graduation, or worse, never even make it this far. But here she was, in a new country, in a vast city, living a life she never thought possible.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She answered without checking the screen.
"Hey, what's up?" she asked.
"Nothing much. How’s American life?" Aoi’s voice came through.
Before Nene could respond, she bumped into someone.
Looking up, she saw blonde hair and dreamy green eyes.
"Sorry! I wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay?" the man asked, extending a hand to help her up.
"I—I’m okay! I wasn’t paying attention either," Nene spluttered, flustered.
As he pulled her to her feet, she noticed him eyeing her up and down. Nene had learned that bell bottoms helped her get asked out more often. Then, on her dates, she’d reveal her ankles, and they'd leave.
"Would you wanna come to a party tonight? You can bring someone."
"Uhmm, yeah! Sure."
He pulled out his phone and held it up to Nene’s face.
"Put in your number. I’ll text you the details."
"Hold on, Aoi," Nene whispered into her phone before tucking it into her pocket. She quickly typed her number into his phone and handed it back.
"Great, thanks!" He smiled before walking away.
Nene immediately pulled her phone back to her ear.
"Did you hear that, Aoi?" she gushed.
"I don’t understand English. I only know a little. What happened?" Aoi muttered, giggling.
"Well, I bumped into this cute guy, and he asked for my number to invite me to a party!" Nene squealed.
"I guess American life is treating you pretty well, then," Aoi teased.
-
An hour later, Nene's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number, it was the party details. She turned to her roommate for advice.
"Do I cover the ankles or wear a skirt?" Nene asked Charlotte.
Charlotte, also choosing her outfit, looked over at Nene. "Definitely don’t cover them. Seriously, they’re not even that big, so if ‘Mr. Asks-You-To-A-Party’ doesn’t like them, you might as well find out now. Plus, you look cute in a skirt."
That was enough reasoning for Nene. She picked out a short gray denim skirt, a fitted light pink tank top, and a bedazzled belt. She paired the look with cute white socks and black Mary Jane’s. Her hair remained the same curls and pins on both sides of her head.
Since the party started at 9 PM, that meant they’d arrive at 10. It was 9:30 now, so she and Charlotte took the subway and walked the rest of the way. Both carried pepper spray, just in case.
Luckily, nothing happened, and they arrived at the house around 10:15.
Nene knocked.
The guy from earlier answered, grinning. "Glad you could make it."
Then, his eyes flickered downward, landing on her ankles.
For just a split second, a look of disgust flashed across his face. It was gone almost immediately, but Nene saw it.
And just like that, he turned his attention to Charlotte.
"And what's your name? Why haven’t we met before?" he asked, flashing her a charming smile.
That fast? Nene thought. That fast, he was already moving on?
It stung. Even though she had expected it, it still hurt.
Charlotte didn’t seem to notice, happily engaging in conversation. Nene tapped her on the shoulder. "I’m gonna grab a drink."
Inside, the party was loud, dark, and packed. Neon blue lights barely illuminated the old, worn-out furniture, and the air reeked of beer and cheap cologne.
She poured herself a drink, glancing around.
Maybe I shouldn’t have left Charlotte alone… Nene thought. But when she wandered back toward her, she saw Charlotte chatting with a group of girls she knew. She’d be fine.
Nene sighed and wandered out to the patio.
The night air was crisp, the backyard far less crowded than the chaos inside. She took a sip from her drink, enjoying the quiet—
"This may sound stupid," a deep voice murmured behind her, "but I swear the stars look better in your eyes than in the night sky."
She turned.
A tall, tan, brunette man stood before her. Unlike most of the people at the party, he wasn’t holding a drink. His dark brown eyes locked onto hers with such intensity it sent shivers down her spine. He wore baggy dark blue jeans and a black graphic T-shirt. His choppy haircut reminded her of Hanako… but that was where their similarities ended.
"Is that how you normally start conversations?" Nene teased, arching a brow.
"No, not usually… I just say whatever's on my mind." He said playing with his fingers.
Nene smiled. He was charming, someone she could immediately fall for.
Maybe, she already had.
"You can barely even see the stars tonight, much less in my eyes." Nene let out a breathless laugh.
But he kept staring intently at her.
Like he was trying to read her mind.
She took another sip of her drink, breaking the gaze.
"My name's Noah, or no, or yes, whatever you’d prefer," He grinned. "May I have the honor of knowing yours?"
"Nene Yashiro. In Japan, people usually call me Yashiro. Here, they call me Nene. Cultural differences, I guess."
Noah smirked.
"Nene Yashiro... or would you prefer if I called you mine?"
Nene giggled. It felt like he had looked up ‘Flirting 101.’
"Do you go out much?" Noah asked. "Because if a girl like you had been at one of these parties before, I would’ve noticed."
“No, I bumped into a guy I’m not sure of his name, and he asked if I wanted to go to a party and for my number.”
“So you’re here with someone? Should I leave?”
“He took one look at my ankles and had moved on, I think you’re okay to stay.” Nene took a breathless laugh when she said it but to think about how her ankles made a guy not want to engage with her hurt.
“You’re ankles?” Noah said, looking down. “They’re like normal, what are you talking about?”
Nene was a little taken aback he didn't call them huge or thick. Maybe he didn’t understand what cankles were.
“I mean they aren’t normal sized but I’ll live, they’re ankles.” Nene noted.
Noah smiled at her “ You’re right they’re ankles. Couldn’t stand to be without them.” Noah purred.
Flirting tips 101 and corny puns, Nene is definitely intrigued by him.
“Who was the guy that invited you?” Noah asked
“Like I said I’m not sure his name, but he was blonde with green eyes,” Nene said
“Issac? Don’t worry about him he invites tons of girls to these parties. He is a total man-whore but still my friend so.” Noah said rolling his eyes at the thought of ‘Issac’
“How often do you come to these things? You just don’t seem like the type”
“What would you consider the type?” Noah cheekily asked
Nene thought about it for a moment. Noah didn’t have a drink in hand first of all, which means he could be the driver, but it also seems he's looking for sober conversations.
“You just don’t fit it, I’m not sure how to describe the type.” Nene explained
Noah just looked at her and grinned even wider.
“Well I don’t normally like parties, but my friends are notorious for throwing one every weekend. So to supervise make sure nothing happens I'm here.” Noah said dryly while still grinning.
“May I ask you on a date now?” Noah pleaded looking her straight in the eyes.
Nene was somehow surprised even though Noah has proven again and again he is very forward.
“You do like to say whatever comes to your mind,” Nene giggled.
She pretended to ponder on it for a little, even though she knew her answer was yes, but she had to keep him on his toes, right?
“I guess I will go on a date with you, no scary business right?” Nene asked as an obvious joke.
“I wouldn’t dream of ever hurting a goddess like you.” Noah responded. He was very quick with his responses.
Noah pulled a pen out from his jean pocket and handed it to Nene. She opened it with a ‘Pop!’ and held her hand out as if for him to give her his hand. He does hold out his hand and Nene gently grabs it. She wrote her number, trying not to push to hard and hurt him. She finishes writing her number and looks up at him smiling.
“Her touch was light as an angel’s wing, yet it left an imprint on my soul.” Noah smoothly said.
Of course he knows poetry as well.
“I need to meet up with my roommate again, we both agreed we wouldn’t stay too late.” Nene murmured now coming to terms with the fact SHE was asked out.
“I will text you soon, I’ve always waited for a girl like you.” Noah said grinning at her.
Nene found Charlotte and they both headed back to the dorms. She kept her phone close constantly waiting for a text from Noah.