In Full Bloom (Shigaraki TomuraXreader)

Apple Blossoms for the Wicked

Running straight to your favorite arcade felt like a breeze after ditching all responsibilities of study and sleep. Freedom came in the form of Mr. Tashigi greeting you like an old friend, readying the coins for the arcade machines.

"Back from the drones of easy living I see..." Mr. Tashigi jabbed as you swiped at the coins.

Gunning for the Dig Dug arcade game, you threw a smirk back at the old fart. "Aren't I always? No customers tonight? When will you learn about advertising online old man?"

A disgusted sound came from the old game store owner. You two had been arguing for years to getting his business an online presence, at the very least a website. The old man is a stubborn old goat however, and never agreeing to Y/n's ideas. He kept going on and on about the old days, but you just always drowned him out with the lovely sounds of the arcade games.

"-one of these days you'll see I was right about the internet and how it's not secure and any villain and vagrant would make this their new hotbed for crime...back in my day-" Mr. Tashigi droned on for the time you got several levels in Dig Dug, the music once again, mercifully drowning out his words.

You smiled inwardly at the familiar setting, Apple Blossoms popping into the top of your messy hive of hair. However annoying these times were for y/n, it filled you with an inner peace you couldn't explain. Here in this building filled with games, nothing outside mattered, like stepping into a time bubble. Seeing your few coins left you decided to move on to another arcade game, scanning, your eyes laid upon the Mortal Kombat game. Instantly it gave your body a bit of a shiver, the last game you played with the most interesting and equally terrifying man you'd ever met. Tomura.

He said his name was Tomura, it was all the information he gave you. He had such a sad and bleak air to him, but back at the shop when you gave him the roses, he gave the sweetest of smiles, the ones that only surface when it's a sigh of relief from the soul. As pretty as that sounded, you seemed to think you'd never voice such a thing to him. He was a polarizing man, one your brain said to be scared of.

Throwing the coins into a pac-man game next to the Mortal Kombat game so you'd get your mind off of Tomura. The game droned on as you mind drifted, barely noticing the pink ghost eat your pac-man, effectively losing the game. Only coming out of your thoughts when you heard a man's voice say-

"Wow, you suck at this game."

You immediately turn to the familiar unimpressed voice. You tried to mask your surprise and happiness as see Tomura, the grey haired guy in a black trench coat leaning on the Mortal Kombat game next to you. He wore a smirk and gave a small wave hello. Gleefully you smiled back, forgetting Pac-man entirely.

"Hey! Tomura where have you been!? It's been months? Do you ghost all your friends?" You said exasperated.

Fully facing him you gave a comically weak punch to his shoulder. You swore you could've heard Mr. Tashigi gasp under his breath, but the old man became silent once again.

Tomura gave a shrug, still smiling. "Been busy, we can't all push daisies all day like you, loser." He explains playfully.

Tonight he seemed more open and calm. Odd for him, but you took it as a good sign. Blue bells spontaneously grew along with the apple blossoms, as you still smiled, gratitude for him meeting you again.

"I used all my coins so I can't play with you tonight, but do you have a phone? I want your number so we can hangout sometime ok?" You asked shyly.

He seemed caught off guard, his humor leaving his scratched face, becoming nervous. It was rather cute he could become nervous of being asked for something so innocent. It made you want to embarrass him more. Leaning in, still smiling, you asked him again.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to talk more? You know, I....really missed you." The last part was added rather shyly.

Tomura, for all his scary vibes, looked absolutely stunned like lightning had struck him from inside the building. He didn't answer, like he was tongue tied.

"Uh, I-, well- ah eh I-" was all that managed out of his mouth.

Internally, you were screaming of happiness, but on the outside you smiled innocent. He was flushed and sweating, as if you'd said something inappropriate. Finally, you thought, the tables have turned.

Sighing, you gave him a pat on the shoulder. "It's ok Tomura, I'll just see you around then, I've gotta get going. It'll be midnight soon." Pitying the poor man you turned to leave giving Mr. Tashigi a nod goodbye. Tomura was still nervously imploding.

The front door jingled as you left, giving yourself a chill as the night breeze blew across your skin. A little elated and disheartened by Tomura's awkward response, you began the shameful walk back home, defeated as you went.

"Y/n! Wait please...I'll walk you home, it's not safe." Tomura briskly walked up beside you, awkwardly trying to find more words to say. You however were just hoping he couldn't hear the sound of your heart beating at the pace of a freight train!

The cold breeze stole any words you would've blurted out as the wind chilled your bones, making you lean into Tomura. He leaned into you too in response, giving you the confidence to loop your arm with his. He didn't cringe away at least.

Minutes rolled by as the two of you strolled in silence. The mixed signals he gave you made you somewhat unsure of what he wanted, so you didn't push anything leaving it to Tomura to speak hopefully.

"..."

"........."

"................."

"Tomura, are you ok? I only asked for your number, if your uncomfortable then don't worry about it, we can just keep having these random encounters that are straight up out of a manga." You blurted out.

He leaned in a bit as another cold breeze hit you two. After crossing a major intersection, he stopped and looked into your eyes, searching for something.

"Y/n. I-you know I'm not a good person right? I don't want to bring you into my business, because it's dangerous....I hope you understand." Tomura looked torn, fragile and even a little scared.

You searched his forlorn eyes, deciding what to do. He was kind to you, but you could remember how Mr. Tashigi had acted in fear every time he came around. "Do you hurt people? Kill them? Are you some sort of bad guy? All I've seen in front of me is a shy guy with deep sadness surrounding him and it's twisting my heart and I barely even know you." The flowers that sat atop your head began to wilt and fall off.

Tomura looked down in shame, thinking of what to say. They both had stopped near quiet park area, near the residential homes of the city, barely anyone around. Together alone made you feel safe even though there was a rift between you both.

"I can't answer any of that. I don't know what I'm doing here with you Y/n, but I know that no one has ever given me inner peace like you have, I don't know if that's friendship or love, but I think about you all the time." Tomura barely whispered his confession to you.

If Tomura was a wicked man, you couldn't see it. His response made you instinctively tug his sleeve till you held his bigger frame in your arms. Hugging in silence, you tried not to think of the word he used. Love. Burying your face into his coat to hide the rising blush shooting across your face. Minutes flew by as you continued till Tomura wiggled from your hold, leaning down to your ear.

"We have to get you home Y/n."