Angels Fly | (Shohei Ohtani x Reader)

Chapter 16: Spaces

Shohei's POV:

Y/N stood in front of me, with Yoshinori by her side. What the hell was she wearing? Yoshinori's shirt? I clenched my jaw as I considered the possibilities.

But I couldn't be angry when I saw how she looked then. Her face was blank, as if she couldn't move. She appeared lifeless, with her lips slightly open. I noticed bruises on her thigh.

"What are you doing here?" she tried to speak, sounding like she was struggling.

"I... I'm sorry, about yesterday," I said, forcing out each word.

"I don't want to see you right now," she choked, and I saw her eyes sparkle. It wasn't the usual loving look she gave me. Her eyes seemed to blame me. And yes, it was my fault for abandoning her and putting her in this situation. How could I even stand in front of her and ask for forgiveness?

Yoshinori stepped forward, patted my shoulder, and whispered, "She's not in a good mood, Shohei. Just go home. I'll take care of her."

I looked straight at Yoshinori, swatted his hand away, and pushed him aside in frustration. Take care of her? Who did he think he was to say that? I glared at him. Yoshinori didn't say anything. He looked at me with disapproval, like a winner looking at a loser without saying a word.

We faced each other, the tension was so thick that all I could hear was our heavy breathing. Like two lions growling before they attack. Yeah, what was I afraid of? Just the thought of Y/N wearing his shirt made my brain stop working, I could only think of one solution: to direct all my anger at him.

"Yoshinori, just let it go" Y/N said, interrupting my thoughts. I looked at her, she was holding Yoshinori's arm. What was going on? Had they become close?

"Y/N, I need to talk to you" I said as I grabbed her hand, hoping to pull her away from Yoshinori.

But when I touched her, she immediately pulled back and hid behind Yoshinori. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, protecting her from me. My heart broke. Since when did my touch make her so scared? It was just a touch.

A touch.

Touch.

I understood. Those bastards had touched her last night. That's why she reacted like this. And since Yoshinori had saved her, she felt safe when he was around.

I should have noticed. I closed my eyes. Why hadn't I noticed? Why had everything happened so fast? If I had paid more attention, I would have saved her. But I couldn't do anything now. She wanted some space. That much I knew. But I couldn't do anything until she told me she wanted me. And then we would talk.

"Go home, Sho. I have nothing more to say to you. At least for now," Y/N uttered, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and disappointment.

"Thank you, Yori, but I want to be alone. You can rest too," She continued, her words laced with a heavy sigh. Yoshinori nodded in understanding, acknowledging her request. I watched her as she turned and entered the room, forcefully slamming the door shut behind me.

The hallway now stood vacant, save for the two of us. The air hung thick with tension, suffocating and dense. It was as if the weight of our unspoken words and unresolved emotions pressed upon us, making every breath feel laborious and burdensome.

"Yoshinori, do you have time? I wanna talk to you."

Yoshinori's POV:

At Poirot cafe, amidst the swirling steam of custard coffee, I found myself seated across from Shohei Ohtani. Our first encounter had taken place about 30 minutes ago, right in front of Y/N's house. I recognized him immediately; after all, in Japan, there wasn't a person who didn't know the superstar of the world baseball league.

At first, I couldn't comprehend the nature of Y/N's relationship with Shohei. However, when I witnessed his gaze fixated upon Y/N while my arms encircled her, I understood it instantly. It was a reproachful look, tinged with a mixture of hurt and overwhelming care.

If I wasn't mistaken, those were the eyes of someone deeply in love.

"Did you save Y/N last night?" Shohei spoke up. Now that I noticed, his hair was disheveled, dark circles marred the skin beneath his eyes, and his beard was unkempt. He must have endured a rough night. Well, so had I.

"Yeah, I arrived in time. I took her home and tended to her wounds," I replied, recalling the events vividly.

"But how did you know?" I inquired.

"I saw it. I heard a commotion across the street at that time, but I never imagined it was Y/N. I was about to rush over, but then I saw you lifting her up. I assumed my presence was unnecessary, so I drove home. Today, I arrived early and waited in front of her apartment. I called her numerous times, but she didn't answer," he explained, retracing the sequence of events.

"You seem to care about her deeply, don't you?" I commented, breaking the silence.

Shohei fell silent, slowly raising his eyes to meet mine once again. Then, he nodded slightly.

"She's everything to me," he said softly, as if stating an irrefutable fact, as certain as the Earth revolving around the sun.

"All? Then why did you leave her alone in the middle of the night like that? Do you realize what could have happened if I hadn't arrived in time? You can say all the right things, but what have you actually done? Other than causing trouble for her?"

"I won't lose her again," Shohei asserted firmly.

His words took me by surprise. The sincerity in his voice struck a chord deep within me. Despite the tension that lingered between us, it was evident that Shohei genuinely cared for Y/N. His disheveled appearance and the sleepless night he must have endured only underscored the gravity of his emotions. The pain etched upon Shohei's face served as confirmation.

Yes, Y/N was beautiful, sweet, and possessed the ability to make others feel safe in her presence. However, I was the one who had been there with her before. The one who wiped away her tears and provided solace during her moments of distress. She was there for me as well, offering solace when I faced the lowest point of my career due to a devastating injury. She used to be mine, and now she was undoubtedly mine once again. I wouldn't allow her to slip away. And I had a strong feeling that Shohei wouldn't let her go either.

I sighed, "Shohei, I've been with Y/N for years. I know Y/N better than anyone. Once you lose her trust, you won't hold a significant place in her heart anymore."

Shohei turned his gaze towards the window, a distant look in his eyes. "I knew she was your ex-lover. I don't care how much you loved her in the past. She isn't yours anymore, Yoshinori. What I want to know is Y/N's safety. Period."

My anger clenched my jaw, but I made an effort to maintain my composure. Engaging in another argument with Shohei wouldn't serve any purpose. I couldn't predict what might escape my lips next—whether it would be something foolish, a scream, or even an urge to harm him with my bare hands. Yet, I suppressed it all. I didn't want Y/N to suffer any further. So, I chose silence, at least until my anger subsided.

"But she's not yours, either," I replied quietly.

Shohei's eyebrows furrowed, reflecting his attempt to comprehend the tumultuous thoughts swirling within my mind. He opened and closed his mouth several times, searching for the right words to convey his thoughts. Finally, he offered me a faint smile and turned away from me.

"You're right. But that doesn't mean she should be taken away from you," he paused, a shadow casting over his face. "You should give her space. Time will reveal who she truly needs."

Shohei stood up abruptly, leaving the cafe without waiting for my response or even sparing me a single glance. He might not remember me, but I'll remember what happened here.

*the mature scene is really close. can you guess who is it and what could possibly happen? I always love your support <3