You're Gonna Make Me Blush (Asahi x Reader)

Chapter 22: What My Heart Truly Desires

The hot sun beamed down on the sandy roads welcoming the new day. A cool towel collected the sweat from the men's brows as they stumbled through Khan Al-Khalili, one of the most famous marketplaces in Cairo.

People shouting in Arabic, the sound of coins being counted, the smell of freshly-made baklava and stuffed dates, and displays of gold, copper, and spices; the sights of the Egyptian marketplace were thrilling!

"Why does it smell like we just walked into a camel's butthole?", Nishinoya said in disgust, pinching his nose. Asahi quickly slapped the back of his head scolding him. "Nishi don't say that!"

"No, it is OK", Mahmoud laughed. "Camel butthole is a normal smell here. Means you get a good price!"

He shot a smile to a merchant who had gold as far as the eye can see. Necklaces, bracelets, headpieces, and much more. The men began chatting in their native tongue, catching up on the current events in each other's lives.

Mahmoud gestured for the Japanese men to come forward and feast their eyes on the gold treasures displayed on the table. "You come all the way from Asia to my shop, I give you the best price just for you, my friends!", the merchant projected, "Eh? Do you like? Pick anything you want!"

The overstimulation of how much gold there was, it was like a candy store for Nishinoya.

He didn't know where to start but he wanted to get something for his mother. As he looked his hand hovered over the necklaces like a claw machine until he found the one he wanted. "She's gonna love this"​​​​, he said to himself.

"Beautiful choice! I'll wrap it for you." The merchant took the necklace and asked if there was anything else. Another treasure that was laying caught Nishinoya's eye.

"Nishi, is that really necessary?", Asahi rolled his eyes. A large gold crown sat on Nishnoya's head as he stood in front of a mirror inflating his ego. "It's not my fault, it's like the crown chose me or something.", he shrugged.

"It was made for you!", the merchant smiled, slapping his customer's back lightly. "I will wrap it up with your necklace and I give you very low price!"

"Shukran."

Nishinoya's total was run up and the merchant gave his attention to the other customer who couldn't figure out what to purchase. "My friend, buying gold should not be... what you call... rocket science", he laughed.

"Choose what your heart truly desires."

Personally, there is nothing Asahi would get for himself. Being flashy was more of his best friend's area of expertise, but the question really sat with him and made him stop worrying about how much money it would cost and how it would make him feel.

What my heart truly desires...

After a few more seconds of thinking, Asahi's hand gravitated to the item of his choice. He held it up in front of everyone as they all gazed at its beauty.

The way it spoke to him. The way he was meant to pick it up. This was no mistake he was drawn to this one out of all the others.

It's what his heart truly desired.

"Man, that's sick!", Nishinoya exclaimed, "You really have your heart set on it, huh?"

"Yeah", Asahi smiled warmly, "This is the one..."

The items the men picked out were wrapped up and placed in shopping backs. "Alright my friends", the merchant said, "I give you low low price since you are good friends with my sadiquk."

Asahi and Nishinoya paid for their items, grabbed their bags, and thanked the merchant one last time. Continuing through the market Muhammad reminded the men it was their last day in Cairo and they had a limited time before their flight back home. All that was left to do was to take a little piece of Egypt home that could fit in a suitcase.