Way Back Home (HiruHoshi) Hirugami X Hoshiumi

Chapter Four

The neighbors approached Hirugami more than Hoshiumi as expected. It wasn't a bad thing, but Hoshiumi was a bit annoyed by it. He thought Hirugami might be uncomfortable with the storming neighbors of all ages, especially women—coming for the city boy tourist.

Hirugami gave them a smile, which could make the entire neighborhood's women faint. Hoshiumi was surprised why he was bothered about that. He had a bad feeling whenever the girls—about their age— went closer to Hirugami and greeted him. Maybe Hoshiumi was just embarrassed by the way they welcomed Hirugami.

"I'm sorry. I told you they were loud. Many tourists come here often, but it seems like you're different from others—Hey, Naomi, stop touching him!—Probably because I brought you here." Hoshiumi said. Hirugami was already exhausted by greeting them back and bowing nonstop, hurting his neck like crazy.

But he managed to smile at Hoshiumi. "No reason to apologize. The people here are nice." He said, accepting the coconut drink an old woman offered to him.

"Thank you."

"You can visit us anytime. I'm sure Kourai would be with you all the time right?" The old woman winked at Hoshiumi. For the third time his jaws dropped again, and he finally decided to have a long talk with his mother later.

"Yeah! And wow—you're tall too!" A girl Hoshiumi shoved earlier named Naomi appeared in front of Hirugami. She was just about their age, but she looked younger than them. Everyone looked younger than their age. Hirugami was stunned in his place as he nervously smiled at Naomi.

Hoshiumi noticed that he was a bit uncomfortable—or maybe it was just his thought—but he glared at Naomi and pulled away Naomi enough distance from Hirugami.

Naomi heaved out a sigh. "And maybe that's why someone's staring at you all this time it looks like you'll melt." She bantered, glancing over Hoshiumi. He knew she was pertaining to him so he averted his eyes. "I see someone is a bit annoyed." She chuckled.

"I am not!" Hoshiumi protested. Somehow his face was on fire, getting hotter minute by minute. Was it because of the sun? Or was it because he met his eyes with Hirugami—his smirk getting bigger?

"What are you even talking about?" Hoshiumi denied though he was obviously irritated it made Naomi's statement even true. He wanted to crawl somewhere underground, but he himself couldn't even make up an excuse when he didn't even know what he was feeling.

Why was he suddenly irritated? And why was he annoyed when other girls approached Hirugami?

Naomi eyed Hirugami, whispering something. He seemed to understand it because he giggled and almost choked on his coconut drink. Hoshiumi glared at Naomi then at Hirugami back and forth. When he's had enough and Hirugami finished his drink, Hoshiumi stood straight and grabbed Hirugami's wrist tightly it would cut his circulation.

"He's my tourist. That's all." He said to Naomi, but somehow it was for Hirugami as well. He didn't say a word and let himself get dragged under the sun, greeting the neighbors with nothing but a smile. Hoshiumi's grip loosened when Hamada called for him.

"Hey, Kourai!" His voice didn't sound like he was getting old. Everyone had loud voices, resonating throughout the whole village. Even Hoshiumi manifested that too.

"Oh, is this the guy you're talking about?" He asked as he got closer, taking an examining look at Hirugami. He murmured something like good-looking or lucky. Hoshiumi let out a small sigh.

"What's your name?"

"Hirugami Sachirou, sir." Hirugami bowed politely.

"No need to call me sir!" The old man's smile was up to his eyes, and Hoshiumi wondered if he could even see with that. "Hamada is fine. We don't need all that formality and stuff. All that matters is happiness!" He added, then mumbled something again that had something to do with respect.