||Call It Epiphany Or Serendipity|| [BNHA × Reader]

CHAPTER 26|SODA POP

Scorching sun, reflective eyes, soda ice.
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   WHEN THERE'S A KNOCK on the door, you expect to see your pops, Kan, or maybe even that bastard Enji - and yet.

You had been winding the last wrap around your hand when you paused. His smile is twitching, eyes closed with dark circles you don't remember being there. He's so stiff you're wondering if he's trying his best to hold in a shit.

"H-Hi...um, so, our parents told me to tell you to help..me..." he stutters with a crease in his brow, "if you can? If not, that's fine too. But you know...toilet paper can be pretty heavy, so..."

You raise a brow at this. This was your first time talking to Casper in weeks. Seeing him like this - trying so hard - you nearly frown.

"Help with...toilet paper? Or?" You confirm.

The only reason you see your pops making you buy some toilet paper with Casper was to get you two talking again as it normally wasn't a two-person task. That was cool and all, but also, he could've been a little more subtle.

It's not as if you weren't going to help him but you hadn't expected his visit.

His pale face flushes with color for once, "N-no! I mean yes, but-!"

He takes in a breath, seemingly cringing at his actions before just looking away and scratching his hair which seemed to lighten ever so slightly.

"Can you just help me run some errands? Mom said you guys are coming over and asked us to pick some stuff up. Unless..you'd rather not..?" He, at last, got his question out. Voice finally sounding like it always does.

You have to bite your tongue to not chuckle at his actions. Light clicks trot up to the door, fur scratching your calves as your dog, Kan squeezes between your legs and the door.

A frown replaces his nervous look, "Hey, I know you're laughing!"

"N...no...i'm-!" You let out a raspberry, stumbling back and barely catching his glare through your giggles. Kan tilts his head, barking once at you. You place a hand on his head. "I - I mean, I've never seen you try so hard to..to a..ask to, pfft, buy toilet paper!" You laugh out, drawing in a breath while he begins to walk away.

"I wonder whose fault that is." He mumbles enough for you to hear as he stomps away.

You feel a twinge in your heart, your eye twitching when Kan barks and runs toward him.

"H - Hey! Wait!" You call out to them both, fumbling to throw some shoes on, grabbing the leash, and stumbling out the door.

The cul-de-sac was pretty empty other than a few neighbors enjoying the breeze as golden hour rolled around. Always light chatter and salutations, a sort of quiet wind blowing leaves and old lady Sachiko's abundant petals onto the sidewalk. A salty stew bursting with flavor slithering out from a screen door. On days you fought 'til you nearly passed out, Mr. Tanaka's cooking was your saving grace. Just next door; Casper's house was bustling with its usual chaos as yells lightly echoed out an opened window.

This was your only safe space and it was all thanks to a quiet but calm man you all knew best as Iwatani-san. His eyes were always closed but he was as steady as a rock and twice as sturdy. Although he was hitting 67 years on this planet, the boundary had never once faltered.

Everyone here consisted of people who were never welcomed by society or safe anywhere else, yet time and time again he extended a hand. Iwatani-san was your neighborhood's best-kept secret. Without him, no one here would be so safe and at peace.