despair | h. rindo

XVII

"There seems to be nothing wrong." Mucho finally stood up after a quick check on the bike's engine. "Really? Like the chains or something?" You asked, putting away your phone after Souya had texted.

You finally met up with the twins' friend to have Rindou's bike checked, but he seemed to not even care about it. He was just silently eating a popsicle he forced you to buy on the way to Mucho's. "Nope, everything's fine." Mucho confirmed with a smile. "Thank you." You stood up and bowed.

A sound of the crack of wood made both your's and Mucho's attention turn to Rindou as he held a broken popsicle stick. "Whoops." He reacted blankly.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with it, we'll be going then." Rindou said in a hurry, pulling you along as he stood up. "Wha- Wait!" You halted him, pulling away your arm. "Aren't you gonna pay him?" You asked.

Rindou looked between you and Mucho, silently groaning in frustration. "It's fine, I owe Angry a favor anyway." Mucho said, nervously smiling due to the glare Rindou's been giving him. Rindou took out the wallet from his jacket, taking out a ¥5000 bill and giving it to you.

"What's this for?" You asked. "Could you be any more stupid?" He asked, getting more irritated by the second. "I needed to pay him, right? Come on, I'm hungry!" He whined. You looked at him dumbfoundedly, handing the bill to Mucho. "Thanks again, Mucho-san."

The male smiled, handing you an envelope. "Give this to the twins, it's a thank you for helping me with my car last week." He said, your hands touching each other sending an electric tingle down your spine. Rindou could feel his eyes twitching at the sight of your flustered face and Mucho's gentle smile.

Rindou gagged, rolling his eyes at the view. "Alright, we're leaving." He said, pulling you by the collar. He let go of your collar after much struggling, pushing his bike out of the garage. You waved Mucho goodbye, Rindou still reacting saltily as he started the engine.

As Mucho walked back inside his home, you turned to Rindou with a glare who, of course, mirrored your expression. "What was that for?" You asked. "If you're gonna flirt with him, do it when it's just you two." He clicked his tongue.

"Huh? What?" You asked, tilting your head in confusion. "Ooooh, you're gonna go and bat your eyelashes at him and act STUPID!" He mocked.

You stayed silent for a while. Deciding not to bother with him anymore, you walked away to the direction of your house. Or maybe you'll go to the restaurant, take your mind off whatever stupid things he just said.

"Oi! Where are you going?!" He called, driving slowly to match your pace. "Home." You answered bluntly, crossing your arms, looking straight ahead. "Ha? Come on, then!" He urged. "No, thanks."

Rindou groaned. He'd almost forgotten how stubborn you are. "Seriously?! We're heading to the same place, just hop on!" He said, still driving at a slow pace. "Same place? Oooh, no you're not! You." You pushed him slightly with a finger, "Are going to your own home."

"No, I'm not?" He said, confused. "What's with you?" He asked, catching up to you. "Oh no, what's with you?!" You retorted. "You can't just expect to yell at me and ask me what's wrong? What are you? Some kindergartener?" You mocked.

Rindou was about to open his mouth to reason. But what was there to reason? That he was jealous? That's stupid.

Silence fell between you two as you continued to glare at him. Until somebody broke it. "Rin?" You turned to see a girl with a confused look, two men in suits behind her.

Short, wavy, blonde hair with pink roots that fell down just by her shoulders and fit her face flawlessly. She had the same purple irises as the boy in front you. Her physique was ever just so perfect.

She skipped towards the male beside you, engulfing him in a tight hug. It almost seemed like they haven't seen each other for ages, when it's only been at least 3 days.

What were you thinking? Of course, someone like The Great Rindou Haitani would have a girlfriend. Who knows, maybe it's plural. Why should you be concerned?

The girl turned around, pulling Rindou only to come to a halt as she laid her eyes on you. She looked you up and down before letting go of the boy's arm as she leaped in joy.

"Oh my gosh! Omg, omg, omg!" She squealed excitedly as she circled you like a little girl seeing her idol. "You're Y/n! I read your blog! I can't believe it's you!" She said, her eyes holding a look of amazement.

Rindou felt uncomfortable, you were confused and the girl was excited.

She continued to blurt out compliments and words of astonishment. She stopped for a moment before turning to Rindou with a sinister look. "You didn't tell me you were dating my favorite blogger, Rin-rin!" She smiled brightly.

She definitely knew what she was doing.

"N-no! No, no, we're no- not dating!" You denied, panicking, your body tensing up, But the boy uttered no word. He didn't even make an effort to deny it himself. "Oh? You're not?" She asked sadly, turning to you. "So, Rin, you wouldn't mind if I asked them out?" She asked with a bright smile, turning giddy once again.

Rindou's eyes widened as he watched his cousin latch onto you like a leech. "Tomiko Haitani," She said, "It's my greatest pleasure to meet you!" It seemed like she was surrounded with flower petals and rays of sunlight that blinded you. "N- nice to meet you too."

"Oh no, you don't!" Rindou said, hopping off of his bike and pulling you out of her grasp. Tomiko just hummed confusedly with a menacing grin. "I'm bringing you home. Come on!" He announced angrily, pulling you with force.

Tomiko grabbed your arm, clicking her tongue in dismay. "You can't just take away my date, Rin. That's immoral." She looked at him with darkened eyes as if she was taunting and challenging him. "And you can't just force someone on a date, Tomi." He retorted.

The girl gasped dramatically. "I'm not forcing them! If anyone's forcing them, that's you!" She defended. "C-can you both, uh, please let go. You're hurting me." You winced as the cousins gripped on your wrists tightly. "Sorry." Tomiko said timidly, letting go of your arm. Rindou on the other hand didn't, but he did loosen his grip.

"I'm bringing them home." Rindou announced firmly. "Fine." His cousin huffed. "But I'm taking them out next Saturday. Bye, Y/n-san!" She waved goodbye, walking past you with the men behind her following suit.

Rindou stayed silent, still not letting go of your arm. If not, he was gripping tighter. Enough to show assertiveness, but also making sure he wouldn't hurt you again.

Tomiko wasn't actually going to take you on a date. Rindou's already had enough on his plate with the paper nerd and the giant mechanic, he wasn't going to add his own cousin as a potential rival.

Because after that, there was no going back.

A/n: Last Chapter for the year! Planning to end my Kisaki book on its anniversary. Okay, time to hibernate again lmao.