A chance encounter

Chapter 3

It took a few days from when we first met, but I finally learnt her name - [Y/N]. As soon as I got back to my apartment in Shibuya I tried to find out as much as I could about her. Unfortunately I didn't have much luck. She had various social media sites but all of them seemed to be private and inactive. It was then that it became apparent to me that if I'd want to learn more about her, I'd have to actually talk to her. I thought for a while about how I could fake a coincidence or a situation where we'd be able to talk and maybe spend some time together. In the end, it seems all that planning was fruitless.

Like I'd been doing in all my spare time, I was following her to build up a better profile (made up of places she goes, people she meets, etc). That's when it happened. Some known thugs, pathetic individuals really, approached her like they've done countless times before with other vulnerable women. That was it, that was my window of opportunity! As a true gentleman should, I went to intervene. I could already hear their wretched voices as they taunted her, preventing her from progressing further.

When I was within reach, I broadcasted "Hey there sweetheart, sorry I'm so late. I hope you weren't waiting for too long." After finishing the proclamation I put my arm around her waist, to further the ruse.

She looked up at me and hesitated, "Oh, no I wasn't waiting that long."

I smiled at her to show her that I could be trusted, "I'm glad. We should probably get going, before that place closes."

"Yo, who the hell do you think you are?" one of the men interjected.

In an almost boasting manner, I said "I'm Izaya Orihara, haven't you heard of me?"

The men looked at each other with an incredibly stupid look on their faces. "Nah, you can't be. It looks like a stiff breeze could push you over." the 'leader' sniggered, which evoked a boisterous laugh from the rest of the sheep behind him.

There was no point in wasting time, so to show them I wasn't lying I unfolded my pocket knife and shaved a line of his hair right in the centre of his head, in one smooth movement. I subtly looked over at [Y/N] to see her reaction. Naturally she appeared to be shocked, but I also detected slight amusement in her features. I'd almost forgotten the people in front of me, but their screams and brutish actions to get away from me, brought them back to my attention. It wasn't until they were completely out of site that she spoke to me.

"Thank you for helping me, but know you can let go of me now." She said, looking up at me still with a slightly amused expression.

"Ah, of course" I snickered, as I removed my arm from her waist "I hope you didn't mind the performance, but I thought it would be the easiest and fasted way to get rid of them".

"It's okay, I thought as much anyway. I don't mean to sound too forward, but you're that guy I accidently bumped into on the train a couple days ago, right?" she asked.

"Good memory, now let's test mine. Your name's [Y/N], correct?" I asked, pretending that I hadn't tried to find out everything I could about her via the internet.

She laughed, almost like she'd just read my mind and said "It looks like we both have quite the impressive memory."

"Indeed it does," I chuckled in response, "We really should get going now, if we want to go to that café before it closes".

"You were being serious before?" she questioned, subconsciously raising an eyebrow.

"I'm always serious about coffee," I mocked "besides, this is to make up for not asking you for your phone number the other day".

"So you'd rather get coffee together, than get my number?" She joked. As she said that, she smiled at me. But just then, a cold breeze swept through us and she shivered. She was obviously cold - as evident from her hands - but she didn't complain, she just pretended that nothing was affecting her. Every time she leaves her house, she never wore a coat or anything similar. A fact which would be insignificant if it were warm enough to not need one, but is far from the case in mid-October.

I took off my jacket and held it out to her, but she just looked at it as if she didn't know what it was. I explained "I'd actually rather get both, and in return I'll lend you my jacket. Deal?"

She paused for a moment, contemplating the offer and at last nodded "Alright, it's a deal" she said as she took the jacket from me "Wont you be cold though?"

"It's only a five minute walk to the café so I'll be fine. Besides, you need it more than I do." I added, gesturing towards her slightly shaking hands.

She looked down and appeared somewhat flustered, "Oh, I didn't even realise". She laughed almost nervously as she put it on.

"It looks good on you, a bit too big but good nonetheless" I complimented. Her cheeks blushed and she mumbled a "thanks" as she focused on the ground. That reaction, as common as it was with introverts, sparked something in me. Something I'd never felt before. My heart leaped out of my chest as it tried to make up for the beat it previously missed, and a wave of fascination and intrigue washed over me. What was it exactly about her that caused me to react that way?