soft-spoken [a sonnyban fic]

II. hearts' reverie

Alban: good morning sonny!

Alban: i know it's a bit early, but uki told me that you're usually up by this time so i was just letting you know that you could drop by my konbini if you want some coffee!!!!! (°▽°)

Alban: here's the address!

*Alban pinged a location.*

Alban: also, the coffee's on me!! (*'꒳'*)

Alban read through the messages once, making sure he didn't forget to mention anything. He read them a second time, allowing a smile to take over his once neutral expression. He drummed his fingers on the counter and began humming a song composed of random pitches. He was unaware of the two onlookers observing him behind a wall, curious gazes locked onto his giddy figure.

The pair consisted of a young girl and boy, no older than the age of fifteen and nearly identical in both build and appearance. The only visible differences between the two were very subtle—the girl having a softer shape to her face and fiercer look in her eyes compared to her twin, who had a sharper jawline and much more lax look—though that much was barely enough to tell one from another. Even their hair was the same: unique ivory tresses fluffed up in a short cut.

"Something's off with Tenchou, Takara. He's pretty energetic." The boy spoke to the girl in a low voice as to not alert Alban. "Well, he's always energetic, but today it's like he drank two energy drinks on top of his normal morning coffee."

The girl did not reply, making her counterpart break his gaze off of Alban to look at her, only to notice she wasn't standing next to him, but oddly crouching down and gripping the wall beside her. She looked like she witnessed a murder—her brows were raised and furrowed together and an apparent frown formed on her trembling lips.

"Takara?"

"...This is bad, Dachi." The girl finally replied, looking up at her brother. She suddenly flung onto his legs and wrapped her arms around them, causing him to nearly topple over in surprise.

"Tenchou... OUR PRECIOUS TENCHOU HAS A BOYFRIEND!!!!! WAHHHHHH!!!!!"

The girl wailed, loud enough to startle Alban into dropping his phone and letting out a high-pitched shriek. He spun towards the twins with a scowl on his face and frantically signed in large, exaggerated movements.

("What are you two doing?! Get back to work!")

The twins, Takara and Dachi, flinched and stepped back out of both guilt and fear. But while Dachi was about to leave to do his duties, Takara—always the bolder one out of the two—stepped forward and spoke to Alban in a shaky voice as if she was about to cry. She signed simultaneously, but it was so slow that along with her slouched posture, it looked like she was randomly flailing her arms and hands around.

"Tenchou... is it true? Do you have a boyfriend? Are you... are you finally going to abandon us...?" She sniffled while Alban looked at her in disbelief. Dachi was silent as he stared at his sister's back, seeming to finally realize what she was so worried about.

Dachi shifted his gaze towards Alban, his eyes widening in fear. "Tenchou is leaving us?"

Takara tackled Alban in an embrace, more desperate than ever. Alban looked at Dachi after steadying himself and subconsciously reciprocating Takara's hug, since hugs were so common between him and the twins. Both Takara and Dachi were trembling, and for the first time in a while, they looked so vulnerable, so small. The last time Alban saw them like this was a few years ago, when he first found them loitering outside the alleyway next to his shop.