Just a Tsuguko? - Sanemi Shinazugawa x female Reader

1. Saved by the Wind.

Golden rays of sunlight slip through the thin curtains of our small apartment, warming the worn-out furniture just a little.

I'm sitting on the couch between my grandma and my mom, the three of us quietly watching TV. No one really pays attention to what's on-it's just comforting background noise.

From the other room, I can hear my older brother, probably playing video games again. His room is always filled with the clicking of his keyboard and his loud voice as he talks to his friends.

Our apartment isn't big.

A kitchen. A living room. A bathroom. My grandma's bedroom. My brother's bedroom.

Mom and I sleep in the living room.
It's too small for four people-but it's home. And I'm grateful we even have one.

That night, I lie down on my thin mattress on the floor. I've been sleeping like this for two years now.

My body feels heavy with exhaustion; sleep hasn't been kind to me lately.

It's already 11 p.m.

I pull the blanket closer around myself and mumble my usual, "Good night. I love you," to my mom before my eyes finally close.

I wake up to a noise.

A dull, unfamiliar sound comes from the kitchen-cabinet doors opening and closing. I sigh quietly.

Great. Midnight snack.
It has to be my brother.

But then I hear footsteps.

Slow

Heavy.

They don't sound like his.

My heart starts to race. I sit up and listen more carefully as the footsteps move closer to the kitchen door. The one that leads straight into the living room.

Before whoever it is can step inside, I quickly stand up and walk toward my brother's room. I press my ear against the door.

Keyboard clicking.

His voice

He's still playing.

My blood runs cold.

Then... who is in the kitchen?

Carefully, I step back into the living room and peek around the corner.

I almost scream.

A hand is rummaging through the cabinets-but it isn't human. Long, sharp claws extend from blue-tinted skin marked with pale white, unnatural patterns. A low growl fills the room.

Suddenly, the creature's head snaps toward me.

Bright red eyes lock onto mine.

My breath catches in my throat.

Is this the day I die?

I rush to my mom and shake her awake, panic flooding my chest.

"Mom-"

I don't get to finish.
The creature lunges forward.
I scream and throw myself in front of her without thinking, trying to shield her with my body, but I'm too slow.
Its claws tear into her chest.

"MOM!!

My grandma and brother burst out of their rooms at the sound, but it only makes things worse. The creature turns on them next.

I can't move.
I can't breathe.

"Mom! No-! B/N! Grandma!"

I scream, tears blurring my vision.
The demon looks at me and smiles.
Behind me, I hear my mom's weak voice.

"Y-Y/N... run..."

My heart shatters.
I turn and run.
Out the door.
Into the freezing night.

I'm wearing nothing but shorts and a loose shirt. The cold bites into my bare feet as they hit the ground, but I don't stop. I can't stop.

The creature is fast - too fast.
It catches up easily and slams me to the ground.

"LET ME GO!"

I scream as it pins me down.

Pain explodes through my body as its claws tear into my chest, dragging downward to my stomach. I scream until my throat burns, feeling warm blood soak my clothes.

Please... I don't want to die.

"HELP ME!"

I cry out desperately, hoping, praying someone will hear me.

Then-

Footsteps.
Fast. Controlled.

The demon looks up just as a green-and-black blade slices cleanly through its neck.

Its body dissolves into nothing.
The last thing I see before darkness takes me is a man standing over me.

Messy white hair.
Lavender eyes filled with sharp focus.
A dark green uniform-and a white haori flowing behind him.

He rushes toward me, saying something I can't hear.

And then everything goes black.