starlit skies | kazubajifuyu

first we feel, second we fall: three

FOUR MONTHS LATER

"Ah! Nothing beats a warm bath in this cold season," Chifuyu said while drying his hair as he walked outside his room. "Ah! That smells nice, y/n."

"Sensei, the food is ready. You should eat before you transform," you said while putting the hot soup on the table.

"I will!" Chifuyu happily sat at the table like a kid who's having a treat. After you finished preparing everything, you stood a bit far beside him.

When he felt that you weren't coming to the dining table, he looked at the food and then at you with a confused face. "Why are you standing there? I told you already that you don't have to wait for me to finish before you could eat. Come, have a seat; eat with me."

"Oh, no, it's okay. You should eat first, Sensei. You're the owner of this house."

"What do you mean? In this household, we're on the same level, though I'm still your teacher. There's no owner whatsoever, and besides, you're my wife. And a husband and wife eat together, so come here."

Hesitant, you walked towards the table. When Chifuyu noticed that there were no plates for you, he quickly stood up. "I'll get you the plates; go sit there," he instructed, and rushed towards the cupboard where the plates were stored.

He placed the plate on the table and put some vegetables and meat on it. He served you... This is the first time someone has put you first before themselves.

This is the first time that someone looked after you and treated you as an equal because, in your previous home, it was always your father first before you. It happened almost all your life that you forgot how it feels to be taken care of.

It's overwhelming, yet it feels so warm.

"There. Perfect! Let's eat!" Chifuyu clapped his hands and returned to his seat.

Still feeling shy, you waited for Chifuyu to take the first bite before looking at your plate. "Go on; no one will hurt you from now on, y/n." Chifuyu said. With his words, the way you felt became so light that you picked up the utensils and started eating.

While watching you enjoy the food, Chifuyu smiled.

You both began to eat silently, and then, after a while, Chifuyu started to tell stories about his life, trying to lighten up the mood.

"And then, salt was thrown at my cousin, Baji, by his now wife, thinking that he was a bad ome—" Chifuyu stopped talking when he saw you looking down, sniffing. He immediately panicked and stood up.

"Hey," he gently said, kneeling in front of you. He held your chin, raising it a little to meet his gaze. "Why are you crying? Did something happen at school? Did someone bully you?"

You quickly shook your head, and as you were about to wipe your tears, Chifuyu wiped them for you with his fingers.

"Then why are you crying?"

"I don't know. I never felt this feeling before. I... I thought I was not capable of feeling any emotions then now... How come..." you paused and lightly shook your head. "The food tastes a lot better when I eat it with someone. I'm sorry. I look like a kid... I shouldn't be crying..."

Chifuyu's eyes soften. "Don't force yourself to grow up. You're still a kid, after all, y/n. Now that you're free from your father, I want you to live your life... Experience what teenagers would suppose to be experiencing now. Meet friends, talk to guys, and after you graduate and you can already stand on your own, we'll have a divorce so you can find yourself a good boyfriend."

His last words felt like a sharp sting on your chest.

From the start, you already felt nothing. Like the world was just revolving and you were just waiting for the day to end, then repeating everything again and again. It's like you were alive and breathing but numb inside.