A Pretty Face (KNY x Reader Fanfic)

Chapter 3

The winter had long passed, with eight more following since then. Gyutaro was almost an adult, and Y/N would soon follow. Ume was close to turning thirteen, and as such, Gyutaro had been working himself to the bone to provide everything she could want.

Although Y/N didn't like the way he handled his work, she decided to mind her business and keep her mouth from saying something. She knew they were devastatingly poor, and even though she offered financial help, Gyutaro refused nearly every single time. The only way he would accept help was when Ume needed something he couldn't provide. He wouldn't take anything for himself, urging Y/N to instead give his share to Ume.

Not only was he slaving away to support Ume, but something caught his eye in the upper market. That day, he was busy tracking down a client. They owed a substantial amount of money that Gyutaro was supposed to retrieve.

He wouldn't have noticed the trinket if it hadn't caught the light at that specific moment of passing. Pausing for a few moments, he kept his eye on the target while also taking a second to peek at the item.

It was a ring. The band was silver, with a tiny diamond gemstone as the setting. His lips curved upwards the smallest bit, recounting what Y/N has shared with him a few seasons ago.

"Did you know that in the west, couples use rings in marriage?"

Gyutaro was busy sharping his sickle, but stopped to hear what she had asked.

"Rings? As in those little things of metal that go around your finger?" He scoffed, and then chuckled under his breath.

"Hey! They're not stupid like you may think they are...if anything, that's what I want later in life." Y/N sighed, going back to preparing the meal she planned on sharing with him.

His smirk faded, replaced by a serious look. "You...like the idea of a western traditional marriage? The ring part?" He turned around to face Y/N. She had a soft smile on her face, with her cheeks slightly turning pink.

"Yeah...I don't care for how expensive it is, or even if the gemstone in it is real," her smile grew the more she thought about it.

"It's the thought that makes me happy. The idea of having something physical resembling a bond like that...it...makes my heart race, you know?"

It made his heart race too.

The memory faded away when Gyutaro realized he didn't have enough to buy the ring that day. Turning his back to the stand, he focused on pursuing the person who owed money.

"Hey, young man? Were you looking at something in my store?" An old, croaked voice asked. Gyutaro grumbled, settling his grip around his sickle just in case.

"I didn't fucking steal anything if that's what you're wondering."

"Of course not," he replied, instead grabbing the small box with the ring inside. The gemstone caught the light once more, peaking Gyutaro's interest. "I saw you eyeing this a few moments ago. I also assume you don't have the money for it?"

Gyutaro nodded, and then awkwardly scratched his neck. The street vendor sighed, setting the box back down.

"Listen, this trinket has been sitting here for months. I'll make you a deal," from the other side of his stand, the old man grabbed another box that was larger. Picking up the ring's box, he then placed it inside the larger one and locked it shut. "I'll hold onto this for one more week. If you can bring me the payment within that time frame, I'll give you a large discount. Deal?"

His eyes widened. With the price reduced by so much, he could easily afford the ring if he worked every day next week without breaks. After nodding his head excitedly, the street vendor smiled, and a deal was struck.