The Way of the Fanboy (Male Reader x Shikimori)

A True Keeper

Izumi sobbed quietly; it was a sob of self-hate, anger, and helplessness. "Izumi..." Y/n muttered .

"I'm just a victim aren't I," he squeaked like a broken instrument.

Y/n spotted a huge dark bruise on Izumi's neck, something he should have seen much earlier. It stretched across Izumi's neck horizontally like snake choking him. "Hey!" Y/n pointed at it. "What is that from?" 

Izumi hesitated a few seconds, softly brushing the bruise with his fingertips. "Normally... I walk to school with Shikimori-san, because she worries about me a lot..." Izumi replied hoarsely. "...but... but today we didn't... and I got beaten on the way. Beaten up."

Y/n heard god's hammer of judgement slam the heavenly gavel, for Shikimori had asked him to walk Izumi to school. The whole situation was his fault, and a pang of guilt struck.

"Why don't fight back Izumi?" Y/n blurted out unable to find the right words. "Just fight!" 

"I-I just can't! I can't!"

"Why not Izumi?"

"I'm weak!"

"Then get strong!" Y/n grabbed Izumi's collar, wildly. "How are you supposed to take care of Shikimori?"

Izumi looked at Y/n with burning tears. "Get off!" Izumi pushed Y/n off of him, and ran away.

_____

"Do you know where Izumi is?" Shikimori approached Y/n.

"...No," he replied

"He probably left," she murmured to herself.

Y/n looked at the floodgates of the school packed with tired students finding their way back home. Maybe he would catch Izumi somewhere in the heap of people out of luck, but it was all unfamiliar faces.

"He must be busy."

"I guess I'll head to his house and see what's up," Shikimori toned down her usual energy. 

She joined the crowd exiting the school, while Y/n watched her blushing, rosy hair disappear into the dark blue uniforms. 

Y/n stood their idly, thinking of how sad Shikimori would be if she saw Izumi 20 minutes ago. What would happen if something bad happened to their relation?

"Shikimori!"Y/n chased after her. 

He pushed through the crowd. "Whoops! Sorry. Excuse me," he slipped in between students.

"Shikimori!" he caught up.

"Y/n?" she said. "What happened?"

"I just realized," he paused, running his mind to make an excuse. "Izumi is studying for the midterms, and he told me he doesn't want to be disturbed."

"I could probably help if he wants to study so early," she said.

"Ah, well... he wants to do this alone!"

"Alone?"

"Yeah, he wants to get a good grade by himself, and I think you should respect his decision."

"Really," Shikimori asked. "He's is going to try by himself? But he's not... adept enough for that."

"Woah are you saying he's dumb?"

"No! You're pulling that out of nowhere... I-I'm... Well I guess he should work on somethings by himself."

"Of course."

"Thanks for telling me Y/n," she smiled. "See you tomorrow."

"Cya..."

Y/n clutched on tightly to Shikimori's smile in his mind. The kid wanted to preserve the painting of Shikimori's happiness, from the decay of time. Y/n was a true keeper, one that prevented his possession from others dirt... and his own.