Kintsugi: the golden repair // Hanemiya Kazutora x Reader

Chapter Two walking in your shoes

Y/n never brought up the bruises. She never questioned him the morning after the sounds from his apartment could be heard through the floorboards. Kazutora would be on the playground with a new mark under his eye, or a red handprint on his arm. Those were the days it took Y/n a long time to make him smile, and he usually wouldn't unless she put up with being teased. "You're an idiot." that was his usual catchphrase but he said it with a smile on his face so she accepted it.

The first day at her new elementary school, she tagged along with Kazutora for the walk. He had put up a fight when she first started tailing him but quickly gave up. His mind working hard on ways to get her to stop bothering him. He ran away from her halfway through their journey to school. Y/n got lost. She followed the general direction he had run in but found it impossible to sprint after him in her skirt. When she finally turned the same corner as him, he was out of sight. Continuing in that direction she had hopes of spotting him. Y/n became unsure of herself and her surroundings. Everything was still brand new. The street suddenly became louder, competing with her beating heart to throw off her perception. She was about to give up when Kazutora jumped out from behind a car, scaring a scream out of her lungs. He began to laugh so hard he started tearing up, holding his stomach and wiping his eyes. Y/n pushed past him. "That isn't funny."
"Yes, it is."

She was silent the rest of their walk and he didn't make an effort to conversate either.
They didn't end up in the same classroom, so Y/n tried finding him during recess. He was in a crowd of boys picking teams for soccer. "Can I play?" She stood next to Kazutora and looked up at him then to the rest of the group. He was quick to elbow her behind him. He didn't bother to look at her when he said, "Girls can't play this game. You're too soft." The others all snickered and some agreed that this wasn't a place for her. Y/n huffed but figured that they had made a good point. She spent the rest of her time outside with girls from her own classroom. When the day was finally over, she was surprised to see Kazutora waiting for her at the school gate. She stood in front of him, hands on her hips. "Why didn't you let me play earlier?" She stuck her pointer finger in his face, "You know I'm tough." He smacked her finger out of his face, and turned around to start their walk back home. "Because when we're at school you need to pretend like you don't know me." She blocked his way, standing in front of him and looked up with sincere confusion. He stepped around her, "Everyone knows girls are gross. It's embarrassing having you around. I mean it Y/n. Stay away from me at school or I won't hangout at the playground with you."
"You don't hang out with me anymore anyways. You ditch me as soon as Junpeke shows up." She gave him the side eye and kicked pavement.

What the other boys had said during recess starting ringing in Kazutora's ears. Isn't that the new girl? Yeah, she's in my class. She sits right by me. She's cool, the girls never want to play with us. Kazutora tell her to come back, I wanna show off my moves. The other boys wanted to impress the new girl and he wasn't having it. She doesn't need to be friends with any of you. He pinched her hard to get her attention. She rubbed the spot on her arm and reluctantly looked his way. "I won't ditch you today. Let's go get snacks and then go to your place." Y/n's serious face broke and she gave him a toothy smile. "Alright, I'll race you to the corner store." With that they took off.

Inside the store Y/n grabbed her favorite candy and a big bag of popcorn. He's so picky sometimes. This should be alright. She searched around the store but couldn't find him anywhere. He's probably hiding and waiting to scare me again. Y/n went to the register, paid for the items and left the store. Standing outside again, she looked left and then right. No Tora. She was about to head back home, thinking he ditched her, when she heard a pssst. Kazutora was sticking his head out of the alley next to the store and waving her over. She walked into the hidden spot with him.
"Open up the bag." He motioned to the plastic bag holding the popcorn and candy. Y/n opened it up and Kazutora lifted his shirt revealing bags of snacks and candy tucked into his school pants. Y/n's eyes went big, shocked. "You st.." He put his hand over her mouth. "Five finger discount Y/n. Shut your trap." She rolled her eyes as she felt the bag get heavier. She knew better than to fight with him about this; his stubbornness would only lead to him storming back into his own apartment mad at her. She stayed quiet and he kept his promise. Kazutora didn't ditch her. He stayed over doing homework and playing board games until it was time for dinner.
"See ya tomorrow lame-o." He yelled over his shoulder before closing the front door behind him.