𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐅 || 𝐉𝐮𝐣𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐮 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧

Chapter 10

There's a huge snowstorm on the night of the 29th and Toji wonders if Y/N is going to able to get back as planned. He's running into work for a couple of hours in the morning, mostly to check on everything and head back out home. Toji almost never takes sick days, which leads to a surplus of sick and vacation days, which mostly means getting kicked out of the office solidly at Christmas and for the summer camping trip.

Unfortunately, everything is fine, so he doesn't have anything to distract him from the text he gets at nine- flight a little delayed, just got in! see you tonight, 7?

you need a ride from the airport? Toji sends before he can think better of it.

nah, thanks we left the car out here we're fine to drive. Need me to get anything for dinner?

nope see you then he sends back after torturing himself for a couple of minutes and burying his head in his hands.

Toji is really only proficient at a limited number of foods- but he makes a good chili that's perfect for days like this, when the wind stings your face and your fingers feel stiff and numb on the steering wheel. So he stops at the supermarket, avoids being howled at by any five year olds, and picks up the ingredients he needs.

Megumi "helps" and Tsumiki actually helps, measuring out ingredients while Toji browns the meat. It's best if it can cook for longer than two hours, so he tries to get everything done quickly. He doesn't even attempt cornbread anymore, just buys it at the store. But the house smells like cooking chili all afternoon while Megumi and Tsumiki watch cartoons on the couch. Toji tries to distract himself- working out in the basement- but even after he pushes himself through a fairly grueling work out, he's just tired and restless.

He just has enough time for a shower before Y/N should get there, checking the chili before he gets in. Toji's dressed and finishing toweling his hair dry when he hears the door open downstairs.

"Hellllllo? Cold woman carrying presents here!" Y/N calls.

Toji can hear Y/N yelling and Tsumiki talking over each him as he heads toward the stairs.

"Ms. L/N! We missed you!" Megumi says, joyfully hugging her, as Y/N crouches down to hug back.

"It was pretty boring here," Tsumiki sighs. "Without you around."

"Dad makes the worst cocoa!" Megumi whines.

"Dad missed you. A lot." Tsumiki adds.

Toji scrambles down the stairs before this gets any more embarrassing.

"Well, I missed all you guys, too," Y/N says. She glances up at Toji. "Hey, Sourpatch."

"Y/N," Toji says, trying to sound normal.

"Smells great in here- chili?" Y/N asks, standing up out of her crouch. Y/N's cheeks are bright pink from the cold, the tip of her nose red. She looks like she got some sun. Toji wants to pull her close and kiss every single spot.

"Yeah," Toji says. "You want to come try it, see if you want it spicier?"

Y/N groans. "God, I ate the spiciest food while I was in Valencia. No extra spice, I beg of you, I thought I was going to die." But she drops the presents off under the tree and follows Toji into the kitchen anyway; takes a beer and helps the kids set the table. Toji feels like an itch between his shoulder blades has finally been scratched, like a tightness in his skin has been loosened.

The kids demand to know all about Y/N's trip, the beach, her family, the flight. Toji just sits back, nurses his beer and feels his body relax. Y/N keeps glancing over, as if she's checking in with Toji and Toji can't do anything but smile. Y/N stumbles through the stories, forgetting parts and going back to add things- obstacle courses and zip lines; a close encounter with a crab. Toji is strangely comfortable, completely the opposite of how he'd felt before Y/N had gotten to the house.