224 || Kurokawa Izana

- 3 -

"Izana? I'm home!" You called as soon as you entered your apartment, alas you received no response.

Your brows pulled together in confusion as you took off your shoes, putting on your home slippers before entering fully into your apartment.

You decided to check his room first, perhaps he was listening to music and couldn't hear you calling.

When you reached his room you knocked twice, waiting a moment before twisting the knob and pushing the door open.

Upon entering you were surprised, eyes widening when you spotted the boy sound asleep in bed, like he had been earlier today when you woke him up.

"Izana!" You frowned, walking over to the bed and shaking him gently. "It's 4:30!"

"Huh?" He grumbled, rubbing his eyes. He blinked, adjusting his vision before his eyes were trained on you. "Oh you're home."

"Please don't tell me you were sleeping this whole time."

"I don't really know," he mumbled, yawning tiredly.

"Are you okay?" You asked.

He gave you a weird look. "Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know," you sighed, sitting next to him on the bed. "Just felt like I should ask."

"Don't act like you care, I know I live here now but you don't have to force yourself to look out for me," he scoffed.

You raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. "Genuinely, I care about you because you're human... and you're also pretty."

He stared at you, genuine confusion painting his expression. "What?"

You shrugged. "I'm just being honest, that's what you want isn't it?"

"I— you..." He couldn't find the right words to say, you'd just stumped him into speaking gibberish.

"For real though, you took a nap for so long, are you sure you're alright?" You asked again, just to make sure.

He let out a sigh, "I'm fine, please stop asking."

"Okay, I'm sorry," you apologized. "I brought some snacks home from the cafe if you're hungry. It's okay if you don't wanna eat, just don't force yourself."

"...Thank you, Y/N." He mumbled awkwardly, sitting up straight on the bed.

"I'll go wash up, if you need anything just shout for me," you grinned, winking playfully as you stood up and exited the room.

As you walked through the hallway toward your bedroom, your mind wandered and sorted through a million thoughts, perhaps most relating to that of your late brother.

One that you hadn't seen for over three years, you should probably visit him soon, you owe him a lot of stories to make up for lost time.

Your expression dampened down slightly at the thought of him, and you shook your head, ridding yourself of those sad thoughts.

It was definitely much easier to wash away those thoughts when you showered, feeling fresh and clean as you stepped out and dried up.

You noticed that no sounds circulated the apartment and decided to check back in on Izana just in case, telling yourself this would be the last time so that he wouldn't find you irritating.

You knocked on the door again, waiting for a moment and when no response came, you turned the knob and pushed the door open before stepping inside.

When you entered you saw Izana simply sitting in bed, spacing out with his eyes trained on the window in his room.

"Izana," you called worriedly.

That seemed to finally snap him out of his trance as his head snapped in your direction. "Huh?"

"I knocked, you didn't answer," you spoke slowly. "Is something bothering you?"

He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Just... thinking, I guess."

You stared at him doubtfully before nodding in faux agreement. "If you say so."

There was something suspicious about his behavior, but at the moment you were technically still strangers to one another, so who were you to judge and pry?

"I-uh, I'm a little hungry," he muttered awkwardly, breaking the small patch of silence.

You smiled, ruffing up his hair as you stood up from your seat next to him on the bed. "I'll heat up the snacks for you."

"...Thanks." He gave you a slanted smile.

Even then, he still looked pretty. You couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

"Do you want the blueberry or chocolate muffin?" You asked.

"Chocolate," he mumbled, looking away from you, almost as if he was embarrassed for choosing chocolate.

You couldn't help but crack a smile as you nodded, backing out of his room with a playful salute. "Got it chief! One warm chocolate muffin coming right up!"

You exited his room and headed over to the kitchen, grabbing the paper bag with the two muffins before putting them on a plate and heating them up.

A few moments later, just as the timer went off, you heard Izana making his way down the hall before emerging into view.

"Nice timing," you laughed, taking the plate of muffins out of the microwave before holding it out to him as he picked up the chocolate one.

"Thank you."

"You know, you should really stop thanking me so much. I'm just doing what I want," you told him, taking a bite off your blueberry muffin.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize, I'm not angry," you smiled at him reassuringly. "I just don't want you to thank me for things I do that are just basic human decency."

"You're too kind," he mumbled.

You laughed, shaking your head. "I'd like to think so too, but I'd disagree."

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