Kintsugi: the golden repair // Hanemiya Kazutora x Reader

Chapter Fourteen soft hands that would ruin lives and eyes that would burn

Kazutora was apprehensive. He had parked in front of his childhood apartment complex, but couldn't confidently get out of the vehicle. He looked at his reflection in the rear-view mirror adjusting his hair and redoing the ponytail he had created. Then he began fidgeting with the rings he had put on his fingers. Second guessing with wardrobe decisions, he had made. Before he could shift the gears and drive himself back home, he puffed out his chest, filling his lungs with air. He got out of the driver's side of the car and brushed his hands down the nude-colored sweatshirt he had paired with casual black dress pants. Cats' fur always seemed to find its way onto his clothes but he had used a lint roller religiously before he left his apartment earlier. He ascended the stairs and when he got to Y/n's apartment number decided he needed to retie his Converse instead of knocking. I just have to knock, that's easy enough. His hand hovered over the wood. She said yes to the date so I have nothing to be nervous about. He rapped on the door three quick times, then stood back with his hands in his pocket.

Y/n had been looking herself over in her full-length mirror, adding last minute touches to her outfit. I haven't been on a date in so long. But it's Tora so I have nothing to be nervous about, right? She heard the knocking on her door and butterflies began to threaten her core. Right? Y/n shut off her lights, grabbed her purse, and opened her front door. Taking in Kazutora's appearance squeezed her heart; pieces of his hair framed his face while the rest was pulled back. If he wasn't so tall and well-built, he would've drowned in his slightly oversized clothes but it just made sense on him. His style impeccable. The small smirk on his face was to die for, adding desire to her admiration for him. He motioned to her with a hand he slipped out of his pocket, "You look beautiful, wow." Y/n felt warmth in her cheeks and the need to make him blush too. She took the hand he had out in her own, looking into his eyes, "So do you." It worked. A warm shade of pink dusted his face but he let out a deep chuckle and led them back to the car.

Y/n recognized the ride right away, raising an eyebrow at the man now opening the passenger door. "Chifuyu's car?" Her tone slightly concerned, a little sarcastic. Kazutora gave her a clever looking grin, "He's letting us borrow it tonight." He slapped the roof of the BMW. Y/n nodded and began to sit down but stopped herself. "Tora?" He looked down at her with his own eyebrow raised and hummed in response. "Do you have a license?" His eyes widened for a split second and he rubbed the tiger on the side of his neck, nervously laughing, "Just get in the car Y/n. Don't worry too much about the little details, okay?" She let out a genuine laugh and settled into her seat, speaking to herself as he made his way around the car to get into the driver's seat. "Some things never change. Haha."

"So, Tora, where are we headed tonight?" He put a finger to his lips, "Confidential at the moment. I know patience isn't your best virtue but try it out." He side-eyed her with a look of cocky victory. He used to do this too her often when they were younger. Surprise her with a different adventure every day – back then several of these adventures weren't legal. It had been a lot of trespassing on private property. Occasionally running from the cops. Throwing rocks at abandoned buildings. Sneaking into R rated movies. Y/n relaxed into her seat; it was true that she wasn't a very patient person but she wanted to enjoy every minute of this date tonight. The two of them slipped into simple small talk, asking about each other's week and work. Catching up on tiny details. Curiosity got the best of him and Tora coughed into his hand, "Have you, uh, have you dated anyone else? In the meantime?" The question caught Y/n off guard. She debated on what to saw but decided she should answer as honestly as possible. "Eh," She shrugged her shoulders, "I had a boyfriend my third year of high school but I broke it off for college. And then college was just a whole bunch of nothing serious. Since then, I mean I've gone on dates, but I really haven't settled down with anyone." He nodded at her answer and feigned acceptance. However, inside the answer she had given him had made Kazutora more upset than he knew he had to right to be. His own lack of experience was now mocking him, and jealousy of not being with Y/n this entire time was bubbling in his stomach. She continued, "I've had commitment issues," she said those words slowly, "in the past, I guess." Now sadness washed over him, guilt. They were at a red light and he turned towards her, "Because of me?" She stared into his golden-brown eyes, "Truthfully?" He nodded and she turned her gaze back out through the windshield, "Maybe. I never really got over you properly. Plus, my mom never dated anyone seriously; that was the model for relationships for me. I just never really knew what a successful relationship would look like."