Escapism °• | NANA Fanfiction

[Chapter 8] Always second place

That Saturday, Shin woke up to the sound of chairs scraping against the kitchen floor. He rubbed his eyes, still half asleep, and called out, "Nanami?"

"Oh, Shin! Good morning! Did I wake you? Sorry," Nanami replied, glancing over her shoulder with a sheepish smile.

"What are you doing?" he asked, noticing her hair was now considerably shorter. It had gone from waist length to just under her chin.

"Ah, I'm taking out my braids," she explained, her fingers working deftly through her hair.

"What?" Shin's eyes widened in surprise.

"My hair, it's fake," she said, laughing at his astonishment.

"Really!?" he exclaimed.

"Did you think I was a natural blonde?" she teased, her laughter infectious.

Shin blushed at the realization. "Wanna help me take them out?" she asked.

She didn't need to ask; he would have offered. He sat on the chair while she sat on the floor, toothpick in hand, unbraiding each braid carefully.

As they worked, Shin found the process oddly soothing. "So, how often do you have to do this?" he asked, gently tugging at a braid.

"Every few weeks. It takes a while, but it's worth it," she replied, smiling up at him.

"I never would have guessed," he admitted, concentrating on his task.

Nanami chuckled. "Well, now you know one of my secrets. I'm thinking of having red hair next. Would that be good? I think being blonde has helped me when meeting new people."

"I think you'd look good in any colour," he said honestly.

"Aw, thanks, Shin!"

With both of them working, her hair was detangled and washed in three hours. Shin even helped her dry and straighten it. Nanami looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She missed being blonde already.

Her phone rang, and she answered. "Hello?"

"Hey beautiful, are you free right now?"

"I am, why?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I'm in Tokyo."

The speed at which Nanami rushed to the airport was unheard of. She didn't even have time to change shoes, her sliders making an embarrassing flapping sound.

"Nanami! Slow down!" Shin called out, but she wasn't listening. She saw Yasu waiting casually for her with his things in tow, a pair of drumsticks under his arms.

"Yasu!" He turned to see her barrelling towards him. He smiled and opened his arms, and she jumped into them, her legs wrapping around his torso.

"Hey there," Yasu said, his voice warm as he held her up. "Missed you."

"I missed you too," she whispered, her face buried in his neck.

Shin finally caught up, panting slightly. "You're really fast, Nanami." He held her jacket in his arms but never expected her to be this fast.

She laughed, still clinging to Yasu. "Sorry, Shin."

Yasu set her down gently, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "You changed your hair."

"Yeah, I needed a change," she said, touching her shorter strands. "Do you like it?"

"I love it," he said sincerely. "But I'd love anything on you."

Nanami blushed, her heart fluttering.

The drive home was full of talking, Nanami chattering excitedly about everything that had happened since they last saw each other. Yasu loved to listen, his eyes always on her, absorbing every word.