Eccedentesiast | A Reigen Arataka Fanfic

| 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 |

✎ 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙰 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎'𝚜 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚏𝚞𝚕

Every minute passed by while she was in the bar serving the customers made her not think about the conversation hours ago. Nami's words couldn't exit her mind and every time she rewinded that exact time, it hurt even more.

In the end, neither her coworkers nor the manager found out about her swelling heart tonight because of the facade she put on; always smiling and cheerful.

Well, that was what she had always been good at right from the start. But how come Reigen could already feel her heartache by just hearing her voice? Or by meticulously observing her facial features?

That night-or early morning rather- as the exhausted woman lied her back on the sinking mattress, her phone loudly vibrated. Rolling to her side, she placed the phone next to her left ear as she answered the call.

"Hey, Y/n." Upon hearing the man's soothing voice, Y/n just closed her eyes while taking a deep breath to ease her concealed emotions, numbing them until she could no longer bottle it up.

Y/n then asked him with a relaxed tone despite what she was currently feeling towards everything, "Why did you call so late in the evening, Reigen? Did you wanna talk about something?"

"I-uhm.. just wanna check in on you. Nami told me about you today. She was delighted in getting to know you but... she noticed you were feeling kinda down when you were about to leave."

"Is that so? Maybe it was just a misconception. I am doing fine, Rei-! ...Reigen."

"Can't you be a little more honest with me?"

Y/n then laid flat on her back, returning to her original position from earlier, while covering her eyes with the back of her forearm. "Reigen, it's already 3 in the morning. Don't you wanna head to sleep?"

"You're right. But, I won't go unless I know you are okay."

"I just told you though."

"Y/n."

The tone of the man's voice weakened her heart. To her, it felt like this kind of tone used by him was too familiar that it tugged a special spot in her beating heart.

"Yes, Reigen?"

"What do you think of Nami? Don't you like her?"

"Don't get me wrong. She's perfect the way she is. When I talked to Nami, she's such a flawless person."

"I think so too."

What she said about Nami wasn't a lie she made up to create a good image to Reigen. She was only speaking of the truth, of what she thought of the kind friend. Y/n just chuckled and said in a soft-spoken voice, "Of course you do. That's why you're friends with her, right?"

"Yeah."

"Do I sound okay now to you?"

"You sound like you're trying to be okay for me."

"Hehe, okay. Alright. You got me. When was the last time I felt okay? I don't even know how to answer that simple question."

"Hmm. Today's a Sunday. Do you wanna go somewhere later? I'll accompany you."

"R-Really..? You'll do that?"

"If that will make you feel any better, then it's no problem. Besides, the office is closed."