Chapter Text
But my beautiful stranger will have to remain a stranger until i see him again.
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The sunlight beamed through my window, I forgot to close the curtains again.. I groaned and blinked to adjust to the lighting of the early morning, I stretched my hands behind my head and sat up from bed, and got up, almost stumbling because I stood quickly and my head spun around momentarily. I went outside my room full of boxes and headed my way to the kitchen to prepare some natto and egg rice bowls, which made me even more homesick. I groaned and finished my food. I wonder where Ibe-san is?
I went to the bathroom to take a quick cold shower and brushed my teeth, and walked back to my room and plopped face down onto my messy, but comfortable bed. Scrolling on my socials to check what I can do in New York, but most of them I already did with my guardian.
It's been a few weeks since I've moved to New York from Izumo, but I already feel homesick—maybe New York just feels too different from my hometown. What should I do here..? It's boring, there's nothing to do, I have no friends..I've been waiting for school to start to make new friends. Hmm, I wonder what American schools are like.. If I get bullied it won't really matter, I don't care what people think anyways.
Suddenly I heard my door creak open, it was Ibe-san, I sat up and wonder what he has to say
“Hey, Ei-chan, why not take a walk outside? You seem really bored. Maybe taking pictures will make you have a bit of fun. Oh! And I really like how you shoot your pictures. It feels nostalgic, keep it up you might get a well earning part time job from me.”
I stutter before replying, Ibe-san is complimenting my pictures?! I feel so cool when I get complimented by someone.
“U-uh, yeah, thanks for the suggestion Ibe-san! I'll get going.”
I grabbed my camera and its sling bag, and changed into nicer clothes. I picked out my favorite nori shirt and a plaid collar t shirt to go beneath it, with beige pants and an admiral blue jacket. I look pretty decent enough. I went outside my room and waved bye at Ibe-san and he smiled back as he was doing some work stuff.
As I stepped into the elevator, I thought—Hmm, Where should I go first? Right, I kinda wanna take a picture of the New York City public library, maybe steal a shot from a person I find attractive I guess.. I took out my phone to search for its location, luckily it's just a 10 minute walk. I decided to listen to music while walking, took out my earbuds and played songs. I took out my camera and took a few pictures of the buildings I took interest in. I closed my eyes for a second before bumping into someone's chest. Oh no.. I quickly apologized and bowed and kept saying relentlessly until the stranger stopped me from bowing, holding my shoulders indicating he wanted to look at me and I quickly looked up to meet jade eyes. They were so gorgeous, I could admire his green eyes for hours.
“Geez, You don't have to apologize that much.. Japanese people are so apologetic, it's a bit funny, yet endearing” he let go of my shoulders, I just stared at him, looking at his hair then back at his eyes; he looked like the perfect muse, but I can't ask him that! Ugh, we just met and will probably never meet again. I realized what he said a few seconds after and stood up straight.
“Uh.. Uhm, how'd you know I'm Japanese?”
I ask while rubbing my neck, averting my gaze to not get pressured by his pretty face and eyes. Wait, did I call him pretty? No way, it's probably my mind messing with me.. I looked back to him when he spoke again.
“Ehh, it was quite obvious by your accent and I've been around with Chinese people. And Japanese people tend to apologize a lot. Anyways, see you around pretty boy”
He walked away while I was just standing there stunned, pretty boy? I felt heat rushing up to my face. Why am I so flustered?! Who is this guy? I shook my head and remembered I was gonna take pictures! Yes, that'll probably empty my mind.. Hopefully.
I look back at my phone to check the directions, a 8 minute walk left. I took multiple pictures again while walking, New York is pretty interesting..
My thoughts ran back to that stranger, I wanna be friends with him. But that bеautiful stranger will have to remain a stranger until I see him again. Those Oh-so-beautiful Jade eyes that I could stare at without getting tired. His blonde thick hair that I wish my hands would run through, oh and the multiple piercings on his ear, they look cool on him. Then my head banged into a light post. Oww, I rubbed my head where it hit me and.. Damn.. Did he affect me that much?
Finally I've arrived, it took longer than 8 minutes to get to my destination by me taking pictures all the time..it's way more different than I expected. It has a beaux-arts architecture, I didn't expect that to be honest. I grabbed my camera from the sling bag and adjusted the settings to my liking, then took a picture. I went inside as well and took a photograph of the hallway leading into the main library. I loved the composition. I looked around for other things to take a picture of the library just to see the blonde guy again. What?!
My eyes widened and was about to turn back, till I saw his eyes on me, he smirked and winked at me, my legs were shaking, come on Eiji Okumura, get out of this library! Why are you panicking?! Calm down, Okumura! He's just a guy hitting on you! Worse, he's probably a playboy..! But he's not just any guy.. He's rather handsome, charming eyes, thick hair.. Wait, shut up. Stupid brain. But how'd he get here? He went the opposite way to where I was going..
I looked back at him and he gestured for me to come and sit with him. Weird, I gave him a glaring look before I reluctantly came over to him. He pulled me a chair and gave him a confused look when I sat down, the warm lighting from the window sat on his face. He looked so majestic, I took a picture with my mind, I do have a photographic memory.
“What's your name?” The blonde boy asked me, he turned away from his book to meet my gaze,
“Are you staring at me? I mean I am quite the looker, don't you think?” he fluttered his eyelashes, they were blonde too.
“I just noticed your lashes are blonde too.”
“Down there too, wanna see?”
I gave him a scathing glare, I looked away from his eyes before answering his question about my name
“Ei-Eiji Okumura, nice to meet you. ”
Why am I stuttering?! Get your shit together Eiji! I feel like I'm gonna melt out of embarrassment, I want the floor to swallow me whole right now.
“Ahh, My name's Ash Callenreese, Eiji-kun” Seriously, why is this guy such a tease? I pouted and puffed my cheeks and he started poking it. I don't know why but I just let him poke it, I'm quite used to getting called cute because of my baby face anyways.
"What's the word for cute in Japanese again?.. Oh, is it..kawaii?” When I heard him say that, my face immediately flushed and I turned my face away. He called me cute?! EHH?! My mouth gaped at him and blinked at him, processing if he actually called me cute, and I know for a fact my ears don't deceive me.
“Stop being such a tease! We've just met!!” I yelled out of embarrassment while slamming my hands on the table and stood up, I forgot we were in a library and we almost got kicked out. I was so embarrassed, if only he didn't say that we wouldn't be scolded.. I stole a glance of him again, then something crossed my mind, and my mouth spoke before I could actually think about it.
“Hey, can I take a picture of you here? You look very good with this lighting and it feels nostalgic for some reason, maybe how the warm light shines on your rather cold face, but you look very captivating, I can’t help but stare at you! I think you grab many people's attention when you walk past them!” I then blabbered more compliments enthusiastically, how did I say that much English? I can't even comprehend what I just said. My mouth took over my brain again… before I could speak again, he gave me an answer.
“ I'm not good with cameras, sorry, Eiji..” Ash's eyes start to glisten with tears, but he's holding back.. I think I reminded him of a bad memory? What should I do?! Can I hug him? I think that's the least I can do right now. I reached my hand for his shoulders to make him face me and I pulled him into a hug. Maybe I should say sorry as well..
“I'm sorry if I accidentally unlocked a bad memory.. Ash. It's okay if you don't want your picture to get taken” he hesitated to hug me back, but he eventually did, he was probably shocked by my reaction. After a while, he pulled back and grinned at me, hmm, Did I succeed in comforting him?
“Maybe just one picture won't hurt..”
“Are you sure? You looked pretty hurt when I mentioned it”
“It's fine, I think I trust you.”
Woah, he trusted me so quickly? That's kinda nice, I mean I am quite easy to trust, maybe because of my kind demeanor.
“Okay then.. Just read the book and act like it's a stolen shot! Got it?” He hummed in response and I pulled out my camera, and adjusted with the settings, I felt his eyes carefully observing my hands adjusting the camera, but it didn't feel uncomfortable. Not at all.
I took a few shots of Ash. He looked so charming underneath this lighting, even without it as well. Even charming feels like an understatement.. What am I saying? When I pulled down the camera from my face I found him, cheeks on his palm and staring at me. Is there something wrong with my face?
“Is there something on my face?..”
“No, don't worry. Can I see the pictures?” I nodded and opened the gallery in my Camera, showing him the picture I took of him, he gave me a grin and nodded, approving my picture
“Do you like it?”
“ ‘Like’ is definitely an understatement, do you have any more pictures? I love the vibe of how you took it.” he continued to ramble on how my pictures looked. My face flushed at his words, I showed him more pictures I took and he looked amazed. I was happy seeing his reaction, I felt proud of myself
“Are you a professional? They look so nostalgic in a good way. The way you set the lighting is amazing, it really sets the ambience.”
“Uh.. No, I'm still a high school student, senior this year. this is just a.. What’s the word? Ah.. hobby! I do pole vaulting most of the time.”
“You're a Senior? Damn.. Never would've guessed with that face of yours, we might be classmates this senior year but who knows?”
I pouted when I heard him say something about my face and gave him a scowling face that made him chuckle. I'm really annoyed, I wish I didn't have a baby face.. I looked around and saw a guitar case sitting next to him, he plays guitar.. I wonder what his band is? My finger pointed at it before asking.
“Hey, what's your band?”
“Banana Fish is the name, quite silly right?”
“Mhm, how did you even think of that?” I snickered, and he gave me a playfully mean look.
“I got it from a short story titled ‘A perfect day for banana fish’, I think you should read it sometime later.”
I nodded, maybe when I'm good at reading English I'll read it.
Then we talked for a while, somehow, we instantly clicked. He was so interesting to talk to, and there's this weird feeling in my stomach as well when we giggle about something.
We exchanged phone numbers mid-talk. He suddenly checked the time on his phone and got up, taking his guitar case on his back, his book and phone in his hands.
“I have band practice, see you around, Eiji-kun~” he giggled before leaving me alone in the library stunned, Seriously what's this effect he has on me?
After a while of just sitting there, I sat up, took my camera and left the library. I looked up on the internet on where to take pictures in New York, but most of them were too far for my liking. So I decided to go back to Ibe-san's place, but I was getting hungry, so I went on a ride to Chinatown to fill my stomach.
I went to a restaurant called ‘Chang dai’ I went in and was greeted with a cold air of the air conditioning and by a guy with purple mohawk with shady glasses and bowed back at him, he gave me a menu and I went for some steamed pork buns—it was delicious! I've never had steamed buns this good. I praised their cooking and was about to go home, but I wanted to take a few pictures again. I'll definitely come back soon when the place is packed.
As I was getting the battery out of my camera, I saw the blonde coming out of the staff door with the Purple haired guy.. Why is he everywhere? I sighed and just walked towards the door and was pulling it and stopped when he called out my name.
“Eiji!!' I stood for a few seconds, I let go of the door and looked back to see his face, he was already behind me, I didn't even feel footsteps behind me! How does this guy have so much stealth? I realized our face was so close our noses almost touched, my face was so flushed I bet he noticed.. Ash smiled before backing away.
“Do you wanna listen to us?”
I mused for a bit before nodding in response, he walked towards the guy with a mohawk.
“Shorter!” And said something I couldn't catch. and they led me to a music studio inside the restaurant.. They sat me down and Ash picked up his electric guitar and Shorter sat on his drums, a chinese teen, most likely 14 and they started playing.. Ash sang and I felt my heart skip a beat
“ Good times for a change
See, the luck I've had
Can make a good man
Turn bad
So please, please, please
Let me, let me, let me
Let me get what I want
This time”
When I heard him sing, I felt my eyes sparkle with awe and my stomach felt something unfamiliar. It felt sad to listen to. I wonder if Ash wrote it. I continued to listen, Ash's voice was somehow all I could hear, the instruments were muffled and I'm not sure why..
After they were done performing, Shorter and the other teenager left before I could give them a clap and a grin, I praised Ash and thanked him for inviting me to listen. I asked if they had a gig and when it was, they gave me a ticket to enter a local pub and I was surprised, I don't have enough money for this.. I didn't grab the ticket from his hand yet till he said something.
“For free” Ash reassured, he probably saw my worried face.
“Really? You're sure?”
“I'm sure, Eiji.”
He insisted and smirked at me, I grabbed the ticket and our hands brushed and felt electricity spike through my hands. I stood there before talking again, easing the silence.
“Thanks! I don't get why though? we've just met. ” I couldn't believe how kind this man was, my eyes turned to look at him, confused
“It's nothing.”
I nodded, and waved him goodbye as it was getting late. I wonder why he would give this to me for free.. I hid it in my jacket so it wouldn't fly away by the wind.
I took a ride back to Ibe-san’s flat with a smile on my face, it's my first concert, and it was free. I unlocked Ibe-san’s door and he probably saw my enthusiastic face and I rambled about my day and how I made a stranger into a friend by accidentally bumping into them—he listened and told me I did a good job, and asked about my pictures and he saw the picture I took of Ash, he asked who that person was, I told him it was that new friend I just told him and he invited me to their concert, he told me I was lucky. We talked for a while and he told me my school was far from here so I had to get an apartment a bit closer to my school, only needing a train ride to get there. But, with a roommate so the bills are easier to pay.
“Wait, Ibe-san, how can I pay you back? I don't have a job yet.”
“Just work under me and you can have a part time job if you'd like!”
“Ah, really? Thanks Ibe-san!”
*No problem, Ei-chan”
Good thing I can take care of myself so it wasn't really a big deal, the only problem is what if I won't get along with my roommate? I shrugged it off, and started packing most of my stuff as school was starting next monday, it's Tuesday right now, it was still early in the night so I studied English for the rest of the night till I fell asleep on my messy desk.
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Friday morning dawned on my face,I fell asleep on my desk again for the 3rd time, now I deeply regret it as my back aches. My arms stretched, and I did some back stretching exercises and my spine finally felt a lot better. My face grimaced at how messy my desk was, The urge to finally clean it took over me. And a huge part of me felt proud at its cleanliness. My stomach growled so it was time for me to eat—I decided to try bacon and eggs. Eating natto just makes me miss home even more, especially my little sister.. Right! I should send her some pictures I took here in New York. I washed my plate, walked into my room and pulled out my laptop to edit some of my pictures before sending them and posting them on my social media. I got my SD card and inserted them in my laptop's card slot. The first picture I saw was Ash. I stared at it. I don't know for how long, but probably a minute or two before I shook my head and started editing the photos.
A few hours tick by, I was finally done! I can finally send them to my sister. I scrolled through my contacts and clicked on my sister's name, Yuki. I sent them. I looked at the time, it was 11 am, so it's 12 am there. She won't reply until it's 7 pm here. But suddenly i got a notification, It was her name, I'm gonna scold her for staying up so late
Yuki:
Who's that blonde guy?
Huh?.. I scrolled through the photos I sent, and.. Shit! I accidentally sent the picture of Ash!
:Eiji
My friend that I just met 3 days ago, why? ᯣ_ᯣ
Yuki:
He's so fine! How old is he?
:Eiji
Shut up! He's the same age as me, don't get your hopes up, you're 13! And why are you up so late? You should be sleeping.
<(｀^´)>
Yuki:
So rude! Fine i will sleep, miss you, good night!
:Eiji
Miss you too. Good night. (๑¯◡¯๑)
I giggled at her reaction, a part of me does agree with her, he is quite hot. Anyways I proceed to post my pictures on my instagram that has a few thousand followers. I tapped my finger on my cheek, thinking about what to do, then a notification buzzed. I opened my phone and the notification read
AshLynx started following you.
WHATT?! How did he find my account so easily? but then I forgot I told him via text last night when we were talking about our likes and hot takes then it suddenly turned into socials. He liked all of my posts and he texted me on insta. I requested to follow him back and he accepted.
AshLynx:
Can you send me the picture you took of me?
:Eiji
Sure! Here
I sent him the picture I took, he reacted with a yellow heart, I smiled then it quickly turned into a grin. I caressed my face with my free hand and tapped my cheeks. I was quite bored so why not stalk his account? When I clicked on his profile, the picture I took of him was his profile picture, I squealed. Why did I squeal?! Come on Eiji, it's not that big of a deal! Genuinely how enthusiastic are you just because someone put your picture as their profile picture?.. I sighed, hoping Ibe-san wasn't home and didn't hear me squealing.
I followed him back and saw a new post, it was the picture I took of course, and he tagged me—the caption read..
📷:@Eijii_0Kumura
I breathe out a sigh of embarrassment, why did he have to tag me? It's fine, I guess.. He doesn't really have followers, his account is private too. I plopped down on my bed and screamed. Then I scolded myself for having an overreaction. Why is I, Eiji Okumura making a big deal out of this anyways?
I decided to listen to music. My mind wonders if Ash's band is on music apps as well, what was their band name again? It was something silly.. Nevermind that, Just hearing Ash sing makes my heart race for whatever reason, and decided to play my usual playlist and edited more pictures while listening. My eyes felt heavy again, but I won't make the same mistake by sleeping on my desk, so I closed my curtains, slightly cleaned my table before eagerly jumping on my bed as my eye lids closed shut completely and napping the rest of the noon.
-
Suddenly, I was in a strange place, in an unpainted concrete room, sitting down. My body felt numb, then I saw Ash in front of me, smiling and his mouth opened.
“Sa-yo-na-ra” oh, im teaching him japanese. Suddenly, I stood up pushing Ash out of the way. My eyes averted to a suspicious guy at the doorway. I moved on my own, jumping in front of Ash, pushing him along the way. My body won't let me control myself. What's happening, why am I here? Why am I getting nightmares all of the sudden? Many questions raced through my mind. I felt a sharp pain near my abdomen, did someone shoot me? I fell on my back, eyes almost shutting close, but opened them again just to see Ash, eyes wide
“Eiji! Eiji!” He screamed, why?.. Why is this happening.. Can I get out of this dream..? What caused this dream?. Get me out please.. I don't like seeing Ash like this.
I heard gunshots again, I looked to the left, Ash.. Was shooting a guy by a doorway, body shuddering as Ash shot him, then running in the hallway, multiple gunshots were fired from a distance. Ash? Why is he shooting people.. Why did I get shot?
My eyes finally shut and at last, I woke up in a cold sweat, panting as I sat up on my bed. Ibe-san knocked on my door, he opened it when he heard my voice asking to come in. He was asking what food I had in mind, but I didn't have anything I wanted at the moment, so I told him he can make anything to his desire, he nodded before leaving and closing my door. My hands were scrolling on my phone because of boredom. It was still 1pm but I felt like dozing off.
Ibe-san took at least 10 minutes or so to prepare our food, he made some pork cutlet bowls, which made my mouth water at the sight.
“Itadakimasu!” I phrased out, thanking Ibe-san as well as we ate in comfortable silence. I thanked Ibe-san again for the meal and washed both of our dishes before taking a cold shower, brushing my teeth and washed my face at the bathroom then returning to my beloved room, stretching my arms before fully burying myself into my comfortable bed, but my hair was still wet so i sat upright then walked over to my towel hanged on my door. As I walked back over to my bed while drying my hair, my phone buzzed against my pillow, another message from Ash. What did he have to say?
AshLynx:
Are you available right now?
…